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BY CHRISTIAN ALEXANDERSENTIMES STAFF WRITER

The Carroll County Board of Commissionersmust soon determine if it will make any changes tothe proposed fiscal year 2012 capital and operatingbudgets before the governing body votes to approvethem.

Residents were given the opportunity to makecomments about the proposed budgets but onlynine people addressed the commissioners. Approx-imately 40 people attended the budget hearing atCarroll Community College Tuesday night.

The majority of those who spoke during Tuesdaynights hearing focused the proposal to cut fundingto the Carroll County Public Library system. Theboard has proposed cutting $150,000 from the li-

brary systems budget in FY12.Shobhit Kumar, a sophomore at Westminster High

School, stressed the importance of the library sys-tem and its benefits to the community. Many stu-dents dont have Internet access in Carroll, Kumasaid, but libraries allow teens to complete home-work assignments and study.

Kumar volunteers at the Finksburg branch of theCarroll County Public Library and said he seesfirsthand the positive impact the library systemmakes. Libraries, Kumar said, provide a basis olearning for younger kids and help continue the ed-ucation for older kids. Kumar asked that the fund-ing not be cut.

Joyce Muller, of Westminster, said the librariesare more than a place to get books, CDs and DVDs.Libraries, Muller said, give kids, adults and familiesthe chance to learn and excel by having access to

the Internet.Carroll libraries, Muller said, have research tools,

databases and Internet access that many people

DAVE MUNCH/STAFF PHOTO

From left, Aaron Geiman helps Taylor Neudecker, Misty Freeman and Leia Price conduct water qualityanalysis tests on the grounds of North Carroll High School Tuesday.

BY CAROLINE HAILEYTIMES STAFF WRITER

Incumbents Julia Betz, Leoeenan and Frank Robert Jr. all

won another term on theSykesville Town Council withnewcomer Al Grasley claimingthe fourth open seat.

Keenan ran unopposed for the

unexpired two-year term and willserve the reminder of the term

originally won by Leslie Reed,who resigned last summer forpersonal reasons. Betz replacedReed but decided to run for thefull-time four-year term insteadof running to keep the unexpiredseat.

Robert and Grasley won the

other two full-term seats, one ofwhich was left open when Coun-cilmember Scott Sanzone decidednot to run for re-election.

Tuesdays election drew 248

voters, or almost 11 percent of thetowns 2,276 registered voters. In2009, about 560 people voted tofill seats for the mayor and threecouncil members.

The top vote-getter was

Weather 59/39SPORTSOwls clinch fourthconsecutive countychampionship /B1

Morning showers,turning partlycloudy /A2

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

www.carrollcountytimes.com 75

Business C5-6Classified D1-4Comics C7Nation/World A5

Obituaries AOpinion A6Puzzles DSports B1-

Westminster, Maryland

INSIDE 2011, Carroll County Times

Dow + 0.15

Nasdaq - 22.46

See Page C6

Pitcher perfect

As summer draws near, so does the funof mixing up refreshing cocktails. C1

TODAY IN THE TIMES

/A3

1911-2011

100TH ANNIVERSARY100TH ANNIVERSARY

1911-2011

Prep Sports

Join the high schoolsports community

at www.carrollvarsit .com.

KEENAN ROBERTGRASLEYBETZPlease see Sykesville, A7

Few offeropinion onproposedbudgets

County library funding cutsmain concern at meeting

Teacher of the Year

BY MEGAN MCKEEVERTIMES STAFF WRITER

HAMPSTEAD Afterfinding out he had been se-lected as the Carroll County2011 Teacher of the Year,Aaron Geiman, an agri-science teacher at NorthCarroll High School, didnthave much time to cele-brate.

I was on a plane to Ken-tucky the next morning,Geiman said.

Geiman, 36, of Westmin-ster, would spend the week-

end developing nationalagriscience curriculum onlyto return Sunday night andstart another school weekfilled with after-school

meetings, preparations forthe county fair and teach-ing, of course.

With only a few weeksleft in the school year,Geiman said his summerwill be filled working withFFA students and continu-ing to develop curriculum

Mark of sucesss

Hampstead election Union Bridge election

BY ALISHA GEORGETIMES STAFF WRITER

A new hearing date hasnot yet been set for an ap-peal filed by a golf courseowner over Hampsteadsattempt to take a portion ofthe property for a well.

Town Manager Kenecker said that as early as

this fall, the court of specialappeals will either upholdthe circuit court level deci-sion or remand it for a newtrial.

It is possible that thecase could be abandoned,but that could result in

BY CARRIE ANN KNAUERTIMES STAFF WRITER

A century ago, UnionBridge was a thriving town,full of an eclectic mix ofbusinesses and industries.

Driving through towntoday, only a handful ofbusinesses remain, andproperties along MainStreet that were onceshops, restaurants and of-fices have been converted

into apartments.The Union Bridge Busi-

ness Association has beenworking to improve theimage of the town and sup-port local businesses inhopes to draw more busi-nesses into town. Associa-tion President CheriThompson said she wouldlike to see the mayor andUnion Bridge Town Coun-cil take steps to bring busi-

nesses to town as well.For example, the business

association is trying to im-prove the towns visual ap-peal. At a vacant property

Please see Budgets, A8

Please see Award, A4

Please see Union Bridge, APlease see Hampstead, A8

Candidates talkabout eminentdomain case

INSIDE

McDaniel grad honored as National Teacher of theYear by President Obama /A3

Hampsteads election will take place Tuesday,

May 10.Today: Oakmont Green TrialThursday: Future Water IssuesFriday: Economic Development

Missed a story? Visit www.carrollcountytimes.com/elections/2011/hampstead

ELECTION COVERAGE

Oakmont Green discussed

North Carroll HighSchool agriscience leader takes home award

INSIDE

For candidate profilessee Page A7, 8

Revitalizingdowntownbusiness hot button issue

Board of Commissioners

248 residents cast votes for council

Sykesville elects incumbents, newcomer