Havre de Grace Drops Redistricting Lawsuit Against Harford County

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — The City of Havre de Grace has dropped its lawsuit against Harford County government and members of the Harford County Council. The lawsuit, which was filed late last year, stemmed from the county's redistricting process. The city called it "flawed."

In a statement Wednesday, the city explained why it dismissed the case:

"The city recognizes that litigation is fraught with many uncertainties, risks, and costs," the city said. "The city confirms that the recent voluntary dismissal of the case resulted from the 'agreed upon process' referenced by the county council members’ attorneys on social media on Feb. 3, 2022."

The law firm representing the Harford County Council, Rifkin Weiner Livingston, LLC, first confirmed the dismissal on its official Facebook page last week.

“Plaintiffs and the County Council entered into an agreed-upon mediation process," the statement read. "The result of which is plaintiffs have voluntarily dismissed their complaint, with prejudice. The case is over. Bill 21-025 remains the redistricting law with no changes.”

SEE ALSO:

• Havre de Grace Sues Harford County, Council Over Redistricting

On Dec. 8, 2021, Mayor William Martin and city council filed a lawsuit in the Harford County Circuit Court against Harford County and county council members alleging, among other things, a violation of the Maryland Open Meetings Act in connection with the adoption of the councilmanic redistricting plan reflected in Bill No. 21-025.

According to Martin and city council, several county council members admitted at the Dec. 7, 2021 county council meeting that they met in private when they rejected the bipartisan Redistricting Commission plan, which reflected the will of a majority of citizens who participated in that process.

Instead, they said county council members chose to adopt their own plan devised in a manner that was closed to the public.

The Harford County Council passed its redistricting bill with amendments, 6-1, keeping Aberdeen and Havre de Grace in two separate districts.

Martin had previously joined Aberdeen Mayor Patrick McGrady in asking the council to support combining their districts due to their shared interests as municipalities in Harford County.

On Jan. 27, 2022, the circuit court issued a memorandum opinion and order allowing the City of Havre de Grace's case against Harford County to proceed.

"In doing so, the court recognized the merits of the city’s claim of an Open Meeting Act violation," the city said in a statement.

While the city ultimately dropped the lawsuit for reasons stated earlier, it still said it opposes the passage of the redistricting bill.

"While Bill No. 21-025 remains the law, the public is now aware of the flawed councilmanic redistricting process– a process that allows county council members to reject the bipartisan Redistricting Commission plan without a formal public vote, and then reach consensus on their own redistricting plan devised through private deliberations not open to public view."

"This is not an example of transparent government. The mayor and city council encourage the citizens of Harford County to participate in reforming the redistricting process, making it more transparent and more responsive to the needs of the communities the county council members represent," the city continued.

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Sun reached out to a legislative aide for Council President Patrick Vincenti who had “no additional comments on this matter.”