Harken back to the days of the great landfill scandal. After Sheriff Mike Lewis caught the criminals and States Attorney Davis Ruark sent them to jail it was discovered that the miscreants would be collecting full county pensions. Shame on us.
By law, nothing could be done about the problem at hand. However, Wicomico’s county council did take steps to make sure that such an event wouldn’t occur in the future. If a county employee was found guilty of defrauding or otherwise stealing from the taxpayers they would forfeit the county’s contribution to their pension.
Last year it was discovered that a Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE) employee was defrauding the taxpayers (or if you are a lefty - “stealing form the children”). I’m sure it wasn’t the first time; nor the last. Assuming that this woman is convicted and sentence to jail, she will be eligible to receive her full pension. Shame on us again?
Maybe. The WCBOE bureaucrats read the paper. Hell, thanks to their “special relationship” they practically run it. But, I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt as to why they didn’t pass a resolution similar to the county’s soon after the county passed their new pension rules. However, in early December of last year the Wicomico County Council sent a letter to superintendent John Fredericksen asking that they adopt a similar resolution. Almost four months have passed. NOTHING.
If the WCBOE doesn’t act, then the next time an employee is discovered stealing from the taxpayer, the fault will lie squarely on Fredericksen and the board. Perhaps Fredericksen, et al, will argue that their collective bargaining agreements wouldn’t allow them to pass such legislation. But wait, I thought that it was all “FOR THE CHILDREN”.
Tomorrow – Part I of WCBOE – Who Bought the Doughnuts?, our expose of waste, fraud, and abuse in the WCBOE Travel Budget
from Delmarva Dealings
11 comments:
Does this really surprise anyone? We are dealing with a bunch of liberals.
Welcome to white collar crime in government.
They wont support it because WHEN they get caught...they dont want to lose their pensions.
Why didn't they ask the Board, which is the appropriate addressee of this request, not the Superintendent?
"However, in early December of last year the Wicomico County Council sent a letter to superintendent John Fredericksen asking that they adopt a similar resolution."
If a public employee gets caught stealing, should he or she be required to forfeit their home, cars, jewelrey? How is that any different than a pension plan that the person has paid into? Besides the money the person has put into the pension plan, the part the board is paying was earned during the years spent working, and has nothing to do with any crime. If the state can't reposess past paychecks, it also can't take the pension. Shame on the school board for not discovering the employee was dishonest during the first 5 years - thats how long it usually takes to be vested.
Bill @ 12:34
It was a lot more than $1,000. At least 10 times that, if not 20.
Anon 4:15 They would only be losing the portion contributed by the Agency. This portion is not earned it is a benefit that can be taken at any time for a justifiable reason by the Agency. Examples are reduction in salary / furlough days for reducing Budgetary defeicts or take Annual / personal days when suspended for disciplinary actions. When you are fired you lose these benefits period.
Since they receive tax money from the County, does that mean the County Executive is ultimately responsible? This is a County entity is it not? Another example of free spending without accountability from Rick P.
What about the assistant superintendent who sent Board employees on Board time to work on the employee's private property? All of us who work at the Board know about it. The person still is making the huge salary, Board is still covering up the theft. Dr. Fredericksen thinks he is too smart and too slick for any of this to ever surface.
Stay on top of this G.A. The Board we have now is a joke with the exception of Mrs. Holloway. She is the only one who stands up for what is right. But is always out voted. The Board needs to start taking control the Super work for them and not the other way around. But you could never tell. Send him back North and Board members Do What is Right for Once. This Board has gone to H#@)#(. They are like a bunch on monkeys once Mr. thompson became President. Uncontrollable all around.
Bill -
Why should I be surprised? Is this your version of "compassionate conservatism"? If a person is convicted of stealing from the taxpayer, not one dime of taxpayer money should go to their pension. The fact that you argue otherwise leads me to believe you weren't exactly truthful regarding you job and/or political beliefs.
BINGO -
Have you ever been to a meeting of the BOE? The majority of that board thinks they do work for Fredericksen. If he told them that the sun sets in the east they would say "AMEN!".
Anon 1615 -
Are we hearing form the "Amen Corner" over at the WCBOE?
Anon 1711 -
Thank you for explaining it so well. The thing you overlook is that far too many government employees seem to think that benefits are rights.
Anon 1818 -
I would love move info on this one. If true, not only should that person be fired; they should be prosecuted.
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