Applying their smarts Time for strategy UM program to focus on ideas Fry: Now that BDC has new leader, to help Frederick’s growth. 3A how about cohesive plan? 15A Friday, August 15, 2014 Volume 125 | Number 218 TheDailyRecord.com Time to sue Optimism among the gloom began with Maryland’s high rate of foreclosures may be nearing an end Baltimore city each denial BY ADAM BEDNAR 4th Cir. revives quest [email protected] Caroline County Maryland’s housing market con- Prince George’s for wheelchair ramp tinues posting disappointing foreclo- County sure numbers, but there are signs the trend may be coming to an end. BY DANNY JACOBS A report released by real estate Charles County [email protected] information firm RealtyTrac on Thursday showed Maryland having Gladys Hill might finally get a the second-highest foreclosure rate wheelchair ramp outside her East in the nation behind Florida last Baltimore townhouse after all. month. According to the report, one It was a decade ago Hill first asked in every 553 housing units in the her landlord at Lester Morton Court state had a foreclosure notice in to install a ramp after her left leg was July. Baltimore city, Prince George’s, amputated below the knee due to Charles and Caroline counties had These four jurisdictions have the highest foreclosure rates in Maryland. complications from diabetes. Her sub- the highest foreclosure rates in the sequent requests for accommodations state. at the federally-subsidized housing “It really has been about two complex were denied between 2006 years now ... that we’ve seen an up- and November 2010, leading Hill to ward trend in Maryland foreclosure file suit in U.S. District Court in Balti- numbers even as the rest of the more in February 2012. country’s numbers are going down,” A federal judge threw out Hill’s RealtyTrac Vice President Daren Blomquist said. lawsuit last year, ruling the statute of But Blomquist said that he ex- limitations on her Rehabilitation Act pects Maryland’s days at No. 2 in the claim had expired in 2009, or three foreclosure rate rankings, where the years after she was first denied the state has remained for six months, ramp. But judges for the 4th U.S. Cir- may be coming to an end — possibly cuit Court of Appeals disagreed, find- as soon as the second half of this ing the clock reset each time Alpha year. The major reason for Property Management denied her Blomquist’s optimism comes from quest. the fact that 80 percent of the loans “Because the November 2010 al- in foreclosure in the state were leged failure to accommodate consti- made prior to 2008. See disability 13A See foreclosure 8A State pension official: Reforms have bolstered retirement plan Part of funding burden even as she cautioned that projections and 2012 changes. ice time employees needed in order to made this year may be subject to The $45.4 billion state system that be vested in the plan as well as increas- now on local government changes. covers 331,000 active and retired state ing contribution rates for workers. Sav- Anne E. Gawthrop, director of leg- employees is not without its challenges. ings from that plan were to be used to BY BRYAN P. SEARS islative affairs for the Maryland State In fiscal 2009, the plan suffered $8.1 help pay down the unfunded liability. [email protected] Retirement and Pension System, told a billion in losses — about 20 percent of “I don’t know of any state that did re- gathering of local officials at the annual the trust fund. Just two years later, state form that reinvested the savings back OCEAN CITY— A state pension of- Maryland Association of Counties con- contributions to the plan had grown to into their respective plans,” Gawthrop ficial told a gathering of local govern- vention that sweeping changes made in $1.4 billion and were projected to more said. ment officials that reforms in the last 2011 and 2012 will improve the system. than double to $3.1 billion in nine years. A year later, the legislature approved three years will place the state retire- “There was very little that wasn’t The legislature approved changes in See pension 8A ment plan on sounder financial footing touched,” Gawthrop said of the 2011 2011 that amended the amount of serv- Auction sales 5B News briefs 4A Lawyer to lawyer 17A $269 per year For subscriptions INDEX Calendar 6A Law briefs 12A Public notice 18A call 1-800-451-9998 or email Employment 12A Litigation support 16A Sealed proposals 21A $2 per copy [email protected] 2A TheDailyRecord.com Friday, August 15, 2014 ONLINE TODAY BLOGS UPCOMING SPECIAL Hopkins’ food Generation J.D. needs you! ranked No. 2 PUBLICATIONS AND READ Are you a young lawyer? Do you like to I’ll have the manicotti write? Would you like to write about being FOCUS SECTIONS puttanesca! a young lawyer? Business Buzz No, wait, Generation J.D. is looking for new Eye on Annapolis I’ll go with voices for the blog. The blog posts are August 22 the house- Generation J.D. spaces where you can vent about cases, smoked beef VIP List Awards give advice or seek advice. It’s a space Ground Up brisket. Danny Jacobs Special where you can talk about the challenges of Actually, Publication On the Record finding work/life balance (a popular blog topic) or demon- pretty much Bryan P. Sears strate how you do it. You can also comment on events of TWITTER everything the day, be they serious or silly. served up by Johns Hop- We are looking for people who can commit to writing August 29 FOLLOW kins University’s dining an average of two posts a month, or every other week. … Technology services looks delicious. 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SOUNDCLOUD VIMEO LISTEN WATCH ALERTS INSIDER the-daily-record mddailyrecord For breaking news alerts, Sign up on our homepage for daily emails text tdrnews to 444888 with the top headlines. is hiring 2 sales account managers BANK FORECLOSURE AUCTION Substute Trustees’ Sale Valuable Commercial/Industrial Property in Balmore City If you are an experienced, strategic, entrepreneurial, innovative, and Located Next to M&T Bank Stadium results-oriented salesperson this is the opportunity for you. 1206 Ridgely Street The right candidate has a keen understanding of digital and print Balmore, MD 21230 advertising platforms; a strong understanding of business and legal audiences is a plus. Experience in developing and executing sales Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 10:00 AM strategies across multiple platforms including traditional and digital Sale to be held on the premises solutions ranging from display, digital, email, video, newspaper, 3-story, 14,900 +/- sq commercial building with 2 drive-in bays on sponsorships and niche publications, is vital. 0.11 +/- acres. Zoned Industrial M2-2 Industrial District. The ideal candidate must understand how to sell print, digital Major growth area in downtown Balmore. Just off I-95 and niche products. He or she should have the natural ability to and Russell St. Don’t miss this opportunity! build strong relationships with advertisers and potential advertisers through networking, in-person meetings, conversations, social media No Buyer’s Premium. and cold calling. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of TERMS: A $15,000 deposit in the form of a cashier’s or cerfied check required meeting a monthly sales budget. of all registered bidders at the me of sale. Purchaser shall be obligated to If you enjoy a fast-paced, upbeat, supportive environment and have the increase the deposit to 10% of the purchase price within 2 business days. sales skills necessary to be successful please send your resume and Property sold in “As-Is, Where-Is” condion. Broker Parcipaon welcome. cover letter to [email protected] For complete terms and condions visit To access the full job profile please go to www.atlancaucons.com or contact http://thedailyrecord.com/jobs-at-the-daily-record/ Bill Hudson at (410) 803-4161. Friday, August 15, 2014 TheDailyRecord.com 3A UM students to help Frederick plot smart growth Project to involve hun- dreds of students across 10 departments BY JENNY HOTTLE [email protected] From conducting water quality stud- ies to creating architectural tour guides, some students from the University of Maryland, College Park will spend the upcoming academic year working to im- prove the city of Frederick. Frederick serves as the pilot city for a new program, Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability. The program, part of the university’s National Center for Smart Growth, aims to help commu- nities across Maryland achieve sustain- able economic and environmental growth. Participating students will take one of 28 courses from 10 University of Maryland colleges, departments and programs. They will work with univer- sity faculty and Frederick officials to find solutions for the city’s various is- sues and needs. Courses include a biology lab that will map the biodiversity of Frederick’s FILE PHOTO watershed; a business class that ana- The city of Frederick will collaborate with the University of Maryland to develop programs to improve and sustain its economy.