Havre de Grace holds hearings on new legislation February 17 | The Locally Times
The City of Havre de Grace scheduled public hearings for Charter Resolution No. 307 and Ordinance Nos. 1217 and 1218, but public notices do not include content details.
The City of Havre de Grace will hold public hearings on February 17, 2026, for Charter Resolution No. 307 and Ordinance Nos. 1217 and 1218. The City's public records confirm these legislative hearings, according to a meeting record dated 2/17/2026 and the City Newsfeed for the same date. However, the public notices do not specify the content or intent of the proposed legislation, leaving key details undisclosed to residents and businesses ahead of the scheduled review. ## Legislative Items Scheduled for Review Public records from the City of Havre de Grace indicate two distinct legislative actions scheduled for public hearing on February 17, 2026. A public hearing for Charter Resolution No. 307 is scheduled, as documented in the City's meeting record for that date. Additionally, public hearings for Ordinance Nos. 1217 and 1218 are also slated for February 17, 2026, according to a separate meeting record and the City Newsfeed. The City Newsfeed groups these items under a general heading that includes other city announcements, describing them as opportunities for public input on new city rules. Other jurisdictions also have public events on February 17, 2026, with varying levels of detail provided in their public notices. Harford County Government, for example, scheduled a budget hearing for the fiscal year 2027 county budget on February 17, 2026, at North Harford High School, specifying the time as 6:30 p.m. Carroll County Government's records show a Planning & Zoning Commission meeting for February 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Baltimore City Department of Public Works public notices list several projects for February 17, 2026, including work at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, providing a specific address. In contrast, the Havre de Grace notices for Charter Resolution No. 307 and Ordinance Nos. 1217 and 1218 do not include a time, location, or any description of the legislative content. ## Public Information Gaps Persist The public notices from the City of Havre de Grace for Charter Resolution No. 307 and Ordinance Nos. 1217 and 1218 do not provide specific details regarding the scope, intent, or objectives of the proposed legislation. The records do not outline what issues these legislative items address or what changes they propose for the city's operations, governance, or community life. Furthermore, the public notices do not specify the exact times or locations within Havre de Grace where these public hearings will take place. This absence of granular information means residents cannot determine where or when to attend to learn more about the proposals. The public records also do not indicate whether residents will have an opportunity to testify or submit written comments during these hearings. Without this information, the process for public participation remains unclear. The lack of accessible summaries or supporting documents prevents residents from understanding the potential impacts, costs, or benefits of these legislative items before the hearings occur. This limited disclosure hinders informed public engagement in the legislative process. ## Unclear Impact on Residents and Businesses The absence of specific content details for Charter Resolution No. 307 and Ordinance Nos. 1217 and 1218 makes it impossible for residents and local businesses to assess the potential impact of these legislative proposals. The records do not specify which aspects of city life, business, or finance these legislative items would affect, nor do they identify any specific economic sectors or community groups that might experience gains or losses. Without this information, the concrete consequences these decisions could have on daily lives and the local economy remain unknown. The public records also do not identify who initiated or sponsored this legislation, or the motivations behind these proposals. The City of Havre de Grace has scheduled these hearings, but the mechanisms for understanding the origins and potential implications of the legislation are not present in the public notices. For residents to meaningfully participate in their local government, city officials must provide clear, accessible summaries of proposed legislation well in advance of public hearings, detailing the substance, location, and opportunities for public input. The current public notices for the February 17, 2026, hearings do not meet this standard, leaving the public to speculate on the nature and consequences of these upcoming legislative decisions.