The Harford County Council passed bills Tuesday to limit future raises for council members and to provide some modest financial aid to the Harford County Farm Fair.

If county government classified employees don’t receive an annual cost of living raise next year, neither will the council members or the county executive.

During Tuesday’s night legislative session, the county council unanimously approved Bill 10-06, which eliminates a scheduled annual increase in compensation for elected officials, effective July 1, 2011. The bill won’t affect any raises the council might get this year, however, because elected officials are precluded by law from altering their salaries while in office.

Councilman Jim McMahan, whose district includes the town of Bel Air, said the bill eliminates the embarrassing situation of elected officials receiving a raise when county employees do not.

$30,000 for fair

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the council unanimously approved Bill 10-05, transferring $30,000 in the current fiscal year to help fund the Farm Fair this summer.

Council President Billy Boniface, whose family is active in the county’s 4H livestock club, said the fair needs financial help because of the economic downturn.

“It will greatly help them ensure it will continue,” Boniface said, adding the fair promotes the agricultural heritage of the county. “It’s one of the biggest tourism attractions in Harford County.”

Councilman Richard Slutzky, whose district includes Aberdeen and Churchville, emphasized the legislation is for a one-time grant to the fair.

Aimee O’Neill, co-chair for the farm fair board of directors, thanked the county for stepping forward to help.

“We have made more than $1 million worth of improvements to the [Harford County] Equestrian Center,” O’Neill said. “We see it as paying back some of what we have contributed to the Equestrian Center.”

The 23rd annual Harford County Farm Fair will be held from July 29 to Aug. 1 at the Equestrian Center.

Tax credits

A bill to provide tax credits for properties near a refuse waste disposal was also unanimously approved Tuesday night.

A 100 percent exemption for residential property would be granted provided the property owner resides on the property and the county government determines the property has been adversely impacted by its proximity to the landfill.

The bill also increases the structural boundaries of a dwelling on the property from 500 feet to 1,000 feet of a refuse disposal system.

Starting in fiscal year 2012, revenues are expected to decrease by $55,000 because of the tax credits.

“I think it’s only fair to do, especially given the expansion of the landfill,” Councilman Chad Shrodes, whose district includes the northern part of the county, said. “It’s not the same landfill that opened in 1988.”

Shrodes also said Scarboro Landfill has a significant impact on the surrounding community with truck traffic, pollution and potential well contamination.

Diane Burrier, who lives on Sandy Hook Road near the Scarboro Landfill in Street, was grateful for the tax credit.

“It will definitely help to have this break for neighbors who live close to the current landfill,” Burrier said.

A bill to provide an increase in the amount of the Rural Legacy Program tax credit from $35 to $50 for each acre of property preserved was also unanimously passed.

Smaller lots

The council also unanimously approved a bill to provide special zoning exceptions permitting small lot sizes in the village business, or VB, zoning district.

The minimum parcel area will become .5 acre instead of 1 acre in the VB district.

Hearing scheduled

A bill to provide for compliance with new state requirements regarding stormwater quantity and quality management was introduced Tuesday. A public hearing is scheduled for March 16 at 6 p.m. inside the council chambers.

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