Aberdeen City Councilwoman Ruth Elliott says she was wrong to have voted in favor of annexing more than 500 acres of land into the city ? and she?s glad that residents took up a petition to reverse the decision.
“I have to admit, I made a mistake,” she told The Examiner.
She said when the council voted to approve the annexation, she didn?t feel her dissenting vote would matter so she went along with her fellow council members.
Elliott said in the confusion of the June 19 council meeting ? with hundreds of people packed into the council chambers ? she decided to go along with her colleagues despite reservations about annexation.
“Obviously, I was wrong.”
The council voted 5-0 for the project. Residents opposed to the annexation launched a petition drive, gathering 3,079 signatures, about twice the number they needed, to get the question put to a referendum.
Opponents of annexation say that adding more land into the city will only tax a city that already has financial and infrastructure problems, including water supply. Those in favor say annexation will boost the city?s tax base, and attract high-paid professionals through the Base Realignment and Closure commission, and these new residents will pump money into the local economy.
The petitions were turned in earlier this month to the Harford County Board of Elections, whose job is to verify that enough of the signatures came from registered voters in Aberdeen. The matter tentatively comes to a vote Oct. 3.
“I would like to see the voices of the citizens of Aberdeen be heard,” Elliott said.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen City Councilman Dave Yensan is working to set up a town meeting or two next month to air the “facts” about the annexation. He said he hopes that will help those opposed to the annexation see its benefits.
