At last night’s “town hall” style meeting, hosted by Councilman Bill McCain, to discuss solutions for the County’s fiscal problem, there was widespread applause at the suggestion that the County should eliminate its “public information office” who reports directly to the County Executive, Rick Pollitt. One speaker even urged Mr. Pollitt (who did not attend) to take the lead in doing so.
Those who attended and spoke were mostly T-party types, including its local leaders, and former VOICE activists. Few persons under 50 years of age were present. Two other members of the County Council – John Cannon and Sheree Sample-Hughes – were there.
As this blog has reported, when Rick Pollitt held a meeting last fall to discuss how to handle the County’s budget problems – before several million dollars in available funds were suddenly “found” – citizens called for termination of the PIO position. Pollitt has responded by saying that it is essential.
This is a quick initial report about Mr. McCain’s meeting. Hopefully, G. A. Harrison, who attended, will provide a more comprehensive account.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
12 comments:
Like you said in a post yesterday, Pollitt is not capable of cutting wasteful spending. To even suggest that his PIO mouthpiece really
is "essential" is absurd.
If Pollitt includes any funding for that information officer's position in the new budget, can we count on the "seven dwarfs" on the Council to cut it out?
Be sure to be at Pollitt's town hall meeting on April 8 and demand that he eliminate funding for the "PIO" position.
9:42 --
Since the "seven dwarfs" have not made Pollitt end the PIO position in the past, we can't count on them to do that this year, even if Joe Holloway tries to amend the budget.
Its amazing that people are complaining about the PIO position but no one has mentioned that the County exec position was to take the place of the County admin yet we have both and the pay remains the same. I think you complainers should dig alittle deeper before opening your mouth.
I think people are so sick of politicians they dont give a sh!t anymore, they have heard and had enough.To busy trying to keep their homes and keep the lights on.
Craemer, Shea, Finneran, Peterson H/R. I think of a couple at the Sheriff's Office, County Roads,about twenty at the B.O.E. so why single out one guy Joe funny he is the P.I.O. sometimes you are so tansparent. Just like the bull shit with your father and the Foxwell girl. They should have never invented Viagra.
Make a complete list and hammer them all.
But if we get rid of the PIO then Rick would actually have to do his job! Let's face it folks, Pollitt is just a handshaker, baby kisser while Fineran does the majority of what the County Executive SHOULD be doing. Both are over paid and neither one does their jobs correctly or efficiently.
But let's look at what the Executive's office costs us tax payers. Here's a breakdown for you of the six (6) positions and their pay grades in the County Executive's office:
Executive Office Associates
-June Sargent & Sharon Morris
-Grade 17: $27,875-$51,558
Public Information Officer
-Jim Fineran
-Grade 20: $43,059-$86,119
Asst Director of Administration
-Sharon Morris
-Grade 23: $64,249-$128,498
Director of Administration
-Theodore Shea
-Grade 24: $72,521-$145,042
County Executive
-Rick Pollitt
-Unclassified Grade: $85,000
These pay scales are obsurd!! Based on paygrades, the 6 people in the County Executive Office can cost us anywhere from $320,579 to $547,775 per year! The budgeted salaries for the 2010 fiscal year were $416,737! THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF $69,456 PER PERSON-That's 2.5 times the median per capita income ($26,400) of Wicomico County!
Now from what I understand, Shea makes $115K! What is so important in his work that he deserves to make that much? Nobody in the local government should be able to make more than $100K! There are 3 people in the Executice's Office that make over $100K or have the potential to make over $100K! And there is no need to have 6 people working in the executive's office. Screw the revenue cap, we need a Salary Cap!
Pollitt is talking about layoffs coming with the next budget, yet his very own office has the highest per capita salary?
Here's a tip for anybody wanting to run for County Executive:
You don't even have to talk about the budget, crime or spending; if you just simply promise that you will eliminate the high dollar positions in the Executive's Office then you're guaranteed a victory!
10:01-
Your point seems to be that the County PIO position should not be ended because Pollitt also has a chief of staff -- that does not make any sense.
11:07-
Overlooking your personal animosity, why should we not demand elimination of the position Fineran now holds even if the others you mention should be ended also? Why don't you make the case for ending those positions and drop the snide abuse directed at Joe Albero.
It is perfectly obvious that the County does not need a public info officer any more than Pollitt needs Fineran for his mouthpiece. Thus, that position should be eliminated immediately.
dump fineran and make sharon morris his p.i.o! she is getting compensated well now for what she does and remember ricky p upgraded her highly when he took office. there are alot of county employees doing more for the same money or less. alot of them that will lose there jobs sometime between now and july, i am sure! so rick do the right thing! maybe get baker to ammend the charter ,dump jimmy, and sharpen sharons pencils.
Ed Baker needs to go! He is a lifetime politician, not an attorney. He should not be the Council's attorney AND administration's attorney. Please! Where is the line of checks and balance? Convenient-Ed makes the charter-Ed sits in on Council sessions-Ed is the right hand of administration. There is something 100% wrong with the picture. Especially when all three of the good ole boys get together from both sides in their private meetings. There are NO checks and balance on either side. It stinks!
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