Lawmakers upset with secretive meetings of a BRAC planning group intend to take their demand for more openness to the group?s leader, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown.
The office of state Sen. Nancy Jacobs, R, is making the request in a letter and said she is optimistic both Republicans and Democrats on the state and county levels will support more openness.
“The citizens have a lot of concerns and it seems we?re being shut out,” said Del. B. Dan Riley, D.
At a meeting in Harford Friday, state and county representatives asked Brown to allow them to sit in on a closed meeting that followed. But Brown said it was a meeting of the governor?s executives and did not deal with Harford issues.
The open session is designed so lawmakers can bring their concerns to the group?s attention, however, said Samantha Kappalman, spokeswoman for the group.
“It?s unfortunate that they feel that way, because that?s their time to shine,” she said.
Riley said he requested time to speak at an open meeting of the group Friday and received a letter in return saying he would have 20 minutes, but when the meeting came, he, like others, were grouped into one 20-minute Q&A session.
“Couldn?t we have our own [time], too?” Riley asked. “I thought it was kind of disrespectful.”
In closed session of the group, which focuses on planning issues surrounding BRAC, group members discuss concerns brought up at past meetings.
Still, lawmakers say they feel they?re being left out of significant aspects of the plan.
“I was there for the open part, which was more of a PR-type event,” said Del. Barry Glassman, R.
Sen. J. Robert Hooper, R, was skeptical a BRAC group meeting in Harford County did not concern issues affecting the county and Aberdeen Proving Ground.
“That seems a little out,” he said. “This is where the majority of it?s coming and you?re not discussing it?”
A period for public input will be held before the group presents to the governor in December, Kappalman said.
“The very small part after the main meeting is actually a staff meeting,” she said. “Our main goal is to have an open and transparent government.”
