Voters in Bolton Hill and three other neighborhoods making up Midtown, the special tax district, have voted by more than a two-to-one margin to keep the community service district operating. While the final vote is expected to be released and certified by the city comptroller’s office on April 18, Midtown officials shared unofficial results.
At Midtown’s annual town hall meeting this month, a new slate of officers and board members will be chosen to move the organization forward. Its very existence after three decades of operation was in question after the city council failed last year to reauthorize the special district, as required every four years by state law. Some blame Midtown’s leadership for not pushing harder to secure council approval, typically a routine piece of council business.
In an unofficial tally widely circulated after voting closed, 877 households voted to renew Midtown and 334 voted against, across Bolton Hill, Mt. Vernon, Madison Park and Charles North. The district includes 4,000 properties that house some 17,400 residents. The 72.5 percent pro-Midtown vote came from only about 30 percent of eligible property-owners. Only property owners, who pay a surtax to finance the district, were allowed to vote.
BHCA endorsed keeping Midtown operating and 17 BHCA volunteers collectively reached 655 households to urge a “yes” vote. BHCA President Lee Tawney, who assembled the door-knockers, said he was pleased with the outcome. “Now we need to get Midtown back to its core mission – keeping the district clean, green and safe,” he said.
Midtown’s annual town hall meeting will take place at Unity Hall at 6:30 p.m. on April 23. Neighborhood residents are invited to attend and vote on the nominees for at-large representatives to serve on Midtown’s Board of Directors. In order to vote during the town hall you must register in advance on Midtown’s website and may be asked to supply proof of eligibility.
Midtown’s interim board nominating committee will put forth an officer slate to be considered by the new board. At-large board nominees are Jo-elle Johnson of Madison Park, Unique Robison of Charles North, Fritz Meyer of Bolton Hill, plus a nominee to be determined representing Mt. Vernon. Additional nominations are invited.
A curiosity in the election were the 144 votes cast against renewing Midtown’s charter from owners of condominiums in the Symphony Place apartment buildings. Those units evidently are owned, and the votes were cast by, Maryland Transportation Administration (MTA). MTA has not explained its actions.
–Bill Hamilton
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