MUNICIPAL TRASH CANS

According to DPW: “As part of the ongoing effort to keep our neighborhoods and waterways cleaner and healthier, Baltimore City is providing Municipal Trash Cans to every residential address that currently receives trash collection by the City. These durable, wheeled trash cans are equipped with attached, tight-fitting lids that have proven effective in keeping streets and alleys clean, and in deterring rodents. Trash can distribution will begin by early 2016.” More info on the new program is below: Read more

CRITICAL STORM INFORMATION

ALERT as of 11:30 PM on Friday, Jan 29: Phase II of the Snow Emergency Plan will be lifted on Saturday (Jan 30) at 12pm (Noon) in Baltimore City. Once Phase II is lifted, citizens will be able to resume parking along designated snow emergency routes. Effective at this time, Mayor Rawlings-Blake is also ending her declaration of a local state of emergency. (see DOT press release below) Read more

CREATING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH

Councilman Costello helped organize the first Building Trades Fair at Digital Harbor High School, held on Wednesday, Dec 16. The Building Trades Fair is a partnership between Digital Harbor, CHOICE Trades, which represents 17 organized labor trades unions in the Baltimore metropolitan area, and Councilman Costello.  Read more

STATUS UPDATE ON QUADRENNIAL AUDITS

The City Council’s Committee on Taxation, Finance, and Economic Development Committee (TFED), held a hearing on the status of the Quadrennial Audits, on Nov 12. At the hearing, the Director of Department of Finance indicated that three of the five agencies in the first round were on schedule to be completed by Nov 30. As of Nov 30, below is the current status of all 13 audits (including the first round of five). Read more

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR NOVEMBER 30TH

In advance of November 30, this communication provides important information on the first of six trials, related to the death of Freddie Gray, against Officer William Porter; and Baltimore Police Department (BPD) preparations.

For the trial, the very general timeline that can be expected for the trial is as follows: Read more

VALET ENFORCEMENT

In response to concerns raised by Valet Operators and Hosts regarding Valet enforcement, please see the attached response from Parking Authority and Department of Transportation. If you have any questions or concerns about anything in the letter, please direct them to Brian Thompson, Valet Regulations Manager at PABC, at brian.thompson@bcparking.com and he will coordinate responses.

 

Read more

HOMESERVE COVERAGE

As winter is coming, this communication provides detailed information on optional coverage (HomeServe) for your home’s external water service and sewer service lines. My Office has received dozens of requests for information or questions on this optional coverage and we hope this communication will answer most, if not all, of these questions.

As a homeowner in Baltimore City, you are responsible for the maintenance and repair of the external water service line from the exterior wall of your home to your property line; and for the sewer service line, from the exterior wall of your home to the property line or cleanout. If you are unfortunate enough to suffer a leak, break or clog in these lines, it would be up to you to find a plumber and pay for the repairs, which could cost you thousands of dollars.

*** It is important to note that I am not endorsing this optional coverage, merely presenting the critical information you need to make the decision that best suits your home needs and financial situation. *** Read more

COSTELLO PUSHES BACK AGAINST RECOMMENDATION TO CLOSE RENAISSANCE ACADEMY

Below is the letter submitted to the Board of Commissioners for Baltimore City Public Schools in response to the recommendation to close Renaissance Academy.

***** Read more

BMORE, BE BIG CAMPAIGN KICKOFF

BALTIMORE MALE ELECTED OFFICIALS HELP KICK OFF BMORE, BE BIG CAMPAIGN

Sunday, November 1, 2015

BALTIMORE—Tomorrow, Councilman Brandon M. Scott, Councilman Eric T. Costello, and other Elected Officials will help to kick off the Bmore, Be Big Campaign.  Read more

COSTELLO CONTINUES TO PRESS ON QUADRENNIAL AUDITS

Today, the City Council’s Taxation, Finance, and Economic Development Committee held a hearing on a recently introduced resolution: Investigative Hearing – Reviewing Charter Required Agency Audits. I introduced the resolution in response to delays in the delivery of the first five of thirteen Charter-mandated agency audits. In January 2015, we held our first hearing on the status of the audits and plan for implementation. At that hearing, the Department of Finance committed to a completion date of June 30, 2015 for the first five of thirteen Charter-mandated agency audits–yet none have been completed to date. Read more