What If No One Came, Part II (Almost)

It almost happened again.

For the second year in a row, the Baltimore County Council was on track to end its annual public hearing on County Executive Kevin Kamenetz's proposed budget as soon as it began.

Just as Council Chairman Tom Quirk appeared ready to close the meeting, in walked Jean Suda, an education advocate and member of the Dulaney High School PTA.

"I was so flabbergasted by the fact that nobody was there," Suda said following the meeting.

The council typically holds the public to a 3 minute rule during public testimony in order to allow everyone to speak and have an equal say. Suda received that and more.

In fact, the council staff didn't bother to turn on the timer as Suda addressed her comments regarding teacher to student ratios to the seven-member council.

"I did get to say my piece," Suda said.

It wasn't all that long ago that Suda would have found herself as part of a larger crowd.

School advocates, teachers, community activists with favored projects and anti-tax advocates would all come and speak. The annual meeting that kicks off the budget review process used to be large enough that the council would hold them in the auditorium at Loch Raven High School.

The meeting Tuesday night lasted about 7 minutes.