And speaking of the Rodgers Forge board …

The below item is from the minutes of the May meeting of the Rodgers Forge board, which I posted in June. It’s just one of the things that the board is doing that I think is great. This is the kind of thing that strengthens our neighborhood — helping a resident in her fight to get a reserved space that the county denied based on the fact that she has a garage — which is too small for her to navigate given her situation.

Of course, I’m sure some people will be tempted to yell at me for publicly supporting this person’s quest to make parking even more difficult in Rodgers Forge. … Sigh.

Special Concern/Special Item: On behalf of our residents who require consideration for residential permit for reserved parking space due to handicap – Don Gerding did join a drive around the community on Saturday, May 9, 2009 to determine the number of actual reserved parking signs posted – there are 14 (all photo) although Don may have missed a few in this “joined drive around.”

This concern was brought to Gov’t & External Affairs Chair on March 30, 2009 when a senor resident of 12 years received a reply to application from the County Chief of the Bureau of Traffic Engineering and Transportation Planning, that DENIED a specific address request from our handicapped resident. This resident filed all appropriate forms, doctor comments, etc. and the reason stated for denial “this request in particular does not conform with Item 3B” of the County Policy on Reserved Parking Spaces for Persons with Physical Disabilities. This address has an original built Keelty garage – and as such “shall apply to ALL properties regardless of the time they were built.”

There was no known, to the applicant, site inspection, no hearing or review with the applicant – other than the letter dated March 23, 2009 that basically stated denied. This applicant considered “the only appeal currently available is to appeal this decision to the Baltimore County Board of Appeals.” – which she did and posted the $100 fee and has received a hearing date of June 25, 2009 at 10am with note “parties should consider the advisability of retaining an attorney” – which application did on May 12, 2009.

The applicant has requested that Rodgers Forge Community Inc support the applicants’ appeal on the basis of certain facts. 1) Garage door does not allow the applicant proper clearance to enter and exit vehicle. 2.) to load/unload vehicle within garage 3.) to have reasonable access to rear alley to garage in case of certain weather conditions 4.) to be able to move vehicle in/out of garage in a proper manner if there are neighbor(s) vehicles parking across garage. 5.) certain topography concerns, 6.) the main garage door open/close concerns. All of these were noted on the application form and by resident’s physician.

It is for these, and possibly other, reasons the applicant has requested Donald Gerding, Board member of 40+ years service to the community and committee chair, with support and approval of RFC, Inc. board to review and represent the community position on this specific address application with a resolution related to this specific matter.

RESOLVED: That the Rodgers Forge Community, Inc. Board of Governors, at its scheduled monthly board meeting of May 20, 2009, did review the concerns of Handicap Parking application […] The file shows a need for disability parking space as noted by her attending physician Dr. Stuart Miller as “has a permanent physical disability and is so severe that she would endure a hardship or be subject to a risk of injury if the applicant should enter or leave the vehicle at a less convenient location.

Therefore this Board of Governors of RFC, Inc assigns, for the concern/issue official responsibility for review, representation and action on this matter to its chairman for Government and External Affairs, Donald Gerding Board Member for the entire duration of this matter.