Harford County lawmakers sent a letter Thursday to the head of the BRAC planning group, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, demanding the group keep its meetings open.
State Sen. Nancy Jacobs, R-District 34, signed the letter, along with fellow Republican Harford County Sens. Andrew Harris, R-District 7, and Robert Hooper, R-District 35.
The letter expresses disappointment over the decision last week of the Base Realignment and Closure subcabinet to hold a closed-door meeting. In the letter, lawmakers also complained that the subcabinet left little time for people to speak about BRAC at a public meeting.
“Legislators were disappointed that we were not only denied an opportunity to attend the subcabinet?s deliberations that were held behind closed doors, but also that we were not afforded ample time to address our concerns to the subcabinet,” the letter said.
It goes on to detail how Jacobs sent a letter to Gov. Martin O?Malley dated June 4, asking about the closed meetings, held after open ones. A return letter dated June 29 from Brown?s office made no mention of the closed meetings.
The closed meetings are staff meetings, held under “executive privilege,” subcabinet spokeswoman Samantha Kappalman said.
But lawmakers said they want to at least observe the closed-door meetings of the subcabinet, which focuses on planning issues surrounding BRAC.
Del. Barry Glassman, R-District 35A, has expressed concern over the issue, but decided not to sign the letter.
“I just wanted to hold off on that until we have more information,” Glassman said.
Brown?s office did not return phone calls.
