Over Seven Months Late, Pollitt’s Director Nominations Still Leave Unanswered Questions
The Wicomico County charter requires that at the beginning of each term, the County Executive must nominate all department heads for confirmation by the county council. County Executive Rick Pollitt’s second term began in December, 2010. True to form, it’s over seven months later and he’s finally getting around to sending SOME of the names to council for confirmation.
SOME?
That’s right. Some. John Redden remains “Acting” Director of Public Works (after 3 1/2 years). After publicly announcing that Deputy Director of Administration Sharon Morris would be appointed to replace the retiring Ted Shea, she is “Acting” Director and her name has not been sent in for confirmation. Michele Ennis is “Acting” Director of Human Resources.
There is nothing illegal with Pollitt naming “Acting” Directors. However, this does raise some questions. Not the least of these is abusing the confirmation process.
In the case of Redden, we have to ask why he has remained “Acting” Director since 2008. Is Pollitt actively searching for a replacement? If not, why doesn’t he appoint Redden as Director of Public Works and send his name to council for confirmation?
Morris’ and Ennis’ status raise different questions. First, Pollitt made great public hoopla out of naming Morris as Shea’s replacement. Why then, is she only named “Acting” Director of Administration?
In the case of his “acting” directors, will Pollitt certify to council that they meet all of the requirements for their respective jobs, as laid out in the county’s personnel manual?
What is their civil service status? Will “acting” directors be “at will” employees (as are all department heads), or will they remain “merit” employees (with the accompanying civil service protection)?
Providing department heads with civil service protection can be a dangerous legal quagmire. Just ask the Los Angeles city council regarding the Chief of Police.
We hope that the council will postpone confirming Pollitt’s nominees until these questions can be answered.
Questions submitted to the County Executive’s office had not been answered at the time of this post. – Ed.
7 comments:
LMAO! Ricks has got CZARs! just like the Prez.
It's hard to maintain a dictatorship if you have to share the power!
Maybe his department falls under the Humane Society! He doesn't answer to anyone! Except a fork!
This County needs to get as far away from the County Executive form of Govt. as possible!! Rick's office is not transparent, everything is kept secret. What good has this department done for the County?? At least with the County Council form of govt. everything is out in the open and we see results. Also look at how much the department cost the residents of the County, and what do we get for it?? A speaker at dinners!!
Not even always a speaker at dinners. He blatantly doesn't even reply to some invitations. Only those that will get the publicity he wants. That's a slap in the face to the hard working county employees and our citizens. We need more people like Macciarelo. That is a man that is truly working for our community. Pollitt doesn't care. Point blank. He doesn't.
Morris and Ennis are more than qualified for these director positions. The last thing we need is to lose them over Pollitt's good ol' boy & power hungry attitude. The LMB "acting" director will probably be the best thing ever to happen to them. She can move them forward with true vision.
Stop messing around Pollitt and get these well deserving women appointed already!
Acting Capacity for the County employees only lasts so long.
1 yr.
It addresses this in the County Manual. Maybe they should read their own manual.
If a person that retired, took their payout monthly, the position may not be filled until the payout is done. That means that someone may have "acting" capacity unitl the reited individual is paid out. If someone took their payout in lump sum, the position may be filled immediately. As far as time frame for acting, the manual states that it SHOULD be no longer than a year.
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