It soon will be legal to play live music in Catonsville and Arbutus.

The Baltimore County Council Monday night unanimously approved legislation to allow establishments in those towns to have live music. 

Due to a zoning technicality, live music is illegal in Catonsville and Arbutus, as well in some other parts of the county. Establishments that want to provide live music now will need to get a permit.

Councilman Tom Quirk, who introduced the legislation, made changes once several musicians raised objections about the permits costing money and being too complicated. The permits now will be free and the process has been streamlined.

Quirk said the live music permitting can be tried in those two towns, then if it works out it can be expanded county-wide. 

The council Monday night also agreed to hire three law firms to file suit against Monsanto Corporation on behalf of the county. According to county officials, there is PCB contamination in many of the county’s rivers and streams, including Gwynn Falls, Jones Falls, Lake Roland, Middle River, Back River, Bird River, Gunpowder River, Bear Creek and Seneca Creek.

 
Monsanto made the chemical for decades and it was used in a variety of products. PCBs have been banned since 1979 but remain in sediment. Fish and shellfish contaminated with PCBs can be harmful to humans.
 
The attorneys who will file the suit say Monsanto knew for years about the dangers of PCBs and did nothing about it.
 
Monsanto was acquired by Bayer last year. A Bayer spokesman said Monsanto voluntarily stopped producing PCBs in the 70s and that they have no knowledge of what Baltimore County may be considering.