A Letter To The Editor

MY NAME IS RICK, AND I’M A … SPENDOHOLIC

When he proposed the early retirement gift for County employees Mr. Pollitt told us that his grand design was to shrink the size of Wicomico County’s government to save taxpayers’ money by reducing the workforce though voluntary departure and by replacing some employees (especially higher paid ones) with lower paid personnel. Despite Rick’s initial refusal, claiming legal prohibition, to disclose those who decided to take his sugar-coated goody, he recently announced that one of them is the highest paid member of his own staff, Ted Shea, whose annual salary as “County Administrator” is well over $100,000. Recall that Rick once told us, shortly after beginning his tenure as the County Exec., that Mr. Shea would be leaving in a few months (after he had educated Rick about the job of running the County to which he was elected).

Unfortunately, in the case of Mr. Shea’s retirement over four years later the saving for the County will be miniscule, at best, because his retirement pay is nearly as much as his salary, So even if the pay is reduced for his successor, the County will be spending more money, not less. In fact, overall the early retirement boondoggle is likely to cost us dearly in the “out years.”

And if Pollitt’s “reorganization” plan for his office and staff is accepted by the Council, even more taxes will be needed to fund the current and retired employees of that department. The position that Mr. Shea’s successor, Ms. Morris, now holds is not being ended and will be filled. Then there are the two new positions – “chief of staff” and “budget officer” – for which the salary is not yet set. And the “public information officer” position is being expanded and renamed, rather than terminated, which will probably involve a pay increase, too. The only reason Pollitt can keep the same level of total funding for his “reorganized” office in next year’s budget is because the County’s books are cooked so that retirement expense is not included in the appropriation for the County Exec’s office.

His blatant attempt to dupe the Council (and pubic) to accept and fund his empire-building is the impulsive behavior of addiction, generally. He wants us to believe that those new positions are needed so that he can spend more time out of the office, which he claims will have a public benefit, and that there’s too much administration for him to handle and be “successful.” He argues that his presence is essential in getting business to locate here. This patent rationalization disregards the reality that no sane business person would overlook Pollitt’s proposed tax increase at a time like this, not to mention such things as the $300,000 per acre land deal last year.

If Rick really wants to attract business he should simply shift Ms. Morris to Shea’s seat, eliminate the “PIO” position and reduce or withdraw his proposed tax increase. That would signal that he realizes the County must operate within its financial means, which are now at their limit. And who would choose to locate to a County that cannot fund its school construction although the Exec is expanding his personal staff.

Mr. Pollitt’s letter of June 1 to Gail Bartkovich (not to the entire Council) further reveals his compulsive urge and distortion of reality. His attempt to portray his actions as consistent with “transparency” is complete bunk, as is his homage to “seeking public input.” Pollitt did not disclose his scheme and make his special request until after the public hearing on the budget was held. And his proposal to provide the actual salary details only after (“if”) the Council provides funding makes mockery of the budgetary process. His suggestion that it is proper to get an appropriation without prior disclosure and public comment is very disturbing, to say the least.

But the more disturbing aspect of this matter is that four members of the County Council – Bartkovich, Caldwell, Matt Holloway and Sample-Hughes -- have fallen for Pollitt’s gambit. There is real need for a Wicomico chapter of “Spendoholics Anonymous.”