Members of the Anne Arundel County Council approved a resolution this past week calling on county and school departments to provide information and review bullying reporting procedures.

The resolution, introduced by Councilmen Chris Trumbauer of Annapolis and Pete Smith of Severn, both Democrats, focuses on the Board of Education and Anne Arundel County police, but also calls on the county health department to provide information and data on efforts to combat bullying.

A county official said County Executive Steve Schuh’s office is supportive of the resolution.

The measure drew swift response from Board of Education President Julie Hummer and Superintendent George Arlotto, who released a joint statement after its passage stating: “No student in our school system — and no person anywhere — should ever be subjected to any type of intimidation by someone seeking to exert themselves as superior in stature or power.

“We are pleased that the County Council has joined us in condemning bullying and harassment in all forms and that it has recognized that while we surely have a role to play in combating this issue, it is one far larger than our school system alone,” Arlotto and Hummer said in the statement.

They also pledged to “continue to develop new initiatives and enhance those already in existence, and we look forward to the active participation by the Council and County government as partners in these efforts.”

The two also made a pitch for the school system’s budget request, saying “we anticipate [council members’] full support of the board’s budget request for 217 teaching positions and 29.2 positions to address social and emotional wellness issues for students, among other crucial line item requests.”

In other business, the council held a lengthy hearing on a resolution that would change the water and sewer connection status of a parcel of land near Whitehall Road from “future service” to “planned service.”

Some Annapolis residents came out in opposition of the measure, saying they believe it could set the stage to damage important environmental land near Whitehall Road and Amberly. The residents said the land had previously been protected by critical area rules until 2006 when a map error removed that protection.

A previous attempt to modify water and sewer plans for the area was scrapped after resident opposition last year. This year’s version adds changes to a larger tract of land closer to Whitehall Creek. This land would be changed from future service to no service for both water and sewer. County officials said that was done to alleviate resident concerns.

That didn’t work for the residents testifying Monday. Many said the county should review its critical area lines before approving the change.

“We believe a corrected map will place more of this property in the critical area,” said Paul Burdett. “I ask the council to again delay any changes to this property until a critical area map is completed.”

The council voted to hold the bill for future consideration.

Most of the property in question is covered by the state’s critical area line, which limits development in the area to one unit per 20 acres. Two plots of land — one zoned commercial and the other residential limited development — are above the critical area line and could be developed. The land is currently owned by Better World Builders, an affiliate of The Hogan Companies. The company has had two complaints filed against them for critical area clearing and critical area buffer disturbance.

A representative of the landowner said there were no current plans for the commercial portion of the property.

County planning officials said the property could only be used based on its zoning and no specific plan had been submitted.

ccook@capgaznews.com