According to Mr. Pollitt, when County residents voted to change the Charter to have an elected County Executive, rather than an administrator (manager) appointed by the County Council, they were voting for more than that change. He postures that the voters also intended that the elected County Executive would spend much if not most of his time in non-administrative activity – for example, formulating and promoting a grand vision, quality of life, the poultry industry, etc. – which is (according to him) the real reason for the elected position. In short, the administrative tasks can be handled by assistants.
But nobody else – with the possible exception of his office staff – remembers it that way. Everyone else I’ve talked with recalls that the public was sold (many now say scammed) on the elected executive simply as a full time CEO in charge of county governmental operations. By having an elected CEO, it was widely believed, the cost of the County government would be reduced and its efficiency increased. The only "change" that was intended or discussed was the manner in which the CEO is selected – i.e., by election rather than by appointment, with the tasks and role remaining the same rather than altered as Mr.Pollitt would have the public believe.
So, to see exactly what was intended to be the role of the elected County Executive, I consulted Section 402 of the Wicomico County Charter, in which the "powers and duties" of the elected County Executive were specified when the Charter was adopted by the voters. Rather than quote them, the complete text of that provision is presented with this post. Suffice it to say, it does not support Mr. Pollitt to any extent whatsoever.
I’m sorry and very sad to say that it appears Mr. Pollitt has been conning the public for the past couple months if not longer. In fact, in his 2007 "State of the County" speech, he told us that the primary task of the County Exec. is to prepare the annual budget, which is consistent with the plain language of the Charter. In essence, Rick now is trying to change the Charter to suit his personal view of things, and in doing so has distorted history to say the least.
Joe:
ReplyDeleteI know you don't post stuff from the blob's blog, but here is a good comment in response to the blob's post trashing the County Council -- especially Bob Culver -- for telling Rick to stuff his "chief of staff" BS:
By "Gunpowder Chronicler"
I will say this: looking at the current headcount in Wicomico County begs the question. Why in the hell do you need a Chief of Staff? A skilled Administrative or Executive Assistant could handle the workload of coordinating communication to and from department heads (and none of those departments are that large).
Pollitt seems to compare himself to other County Executives. Okay, lets do that. Unlike Kevin Kamenetz, he doesn't have a county police force, and his sheriff's department is run by a separate elected official. His entire Public Works Department is smaller than the entire group that works at any of Baltimore County's three transfer stations/landfills. An area superintendent in Baltimore County is responsible for more people than John Frederickson.
I am not saying that this makes Baltimore County "better" than Wicomico, I am just saying that if we are going to compare, lets really compare. It seems kind of foolish to argue that the structure that is used by Baltimore County would need to be applied to Wicomico.
Even the idea of a "Public Information Officer" is a little nutty-- Baltimore County's spokesman has to coordinate between 4 tv news operations plus 2.5-3 newspaper operations plus 2 hard news radio stations (and 7 or eight with a Less Nessman kind of news guy). And then make sure that all the departmental information people are coordinated and singing from the same hymnbook.
Again -- doesn't make Baltimore County "better", just using the same comparison.
You don't agree with his view. But to contend that he is lying? The charter, as you have so nicely let us see, leaves an opening for his interpretation of his extended duties. The last sentence of the first paragraph : duties "shall include, but not limited to..." I can wholly support that you don't agree with his view. I think it is really poor to suggest that he is not telling the truth.
ReplyDeleteSame prance about "visioning" that Ireton does.
ReplyDeleteGovernment would be a lot more honest if these "heads" were called "head cheerleader."
The only thing Ireton and Pollitt know how to do is spend money. Their business and management knowledge together wouldn't fill a shot glass.
12:11 --
ReplyDeleteWRONG -- that provision does not say that anything goes or whatever Rick wants is OK.
Certainly if he wants to go to an event, he can do that, but his specific duties are clearly set forth in the Charter and constitute the main role of his position as the County Exec.
And there was no discussion that the County Exec would be mostly a non-administrative position when we approved the Charter -- so Rick is not being truthful about that aspect of things either.
The Baltimore County Police Department has about 2000 sworn officers and cadets, and runs 13 stations and substations and has 3 helos. Wicomico does not even have a county police force or stations -- the sheriff, who is an elected official, is not under Pollitt.
ReplyDeleteAnd there is no County run sewer or water services, except a small distribution/collection system that connects to the municipal plants.
To compare Wicomico to any of those big metro counties is asinine.
now that the Wicomico Counsel has cancel or tabled Pollitt request for the new hires... lets cut his funds for the new hires,,,he said it would not cost and more so he really does not need the extra money now...put it back in the general fund...
ReplyDeleteI'll A Men to that 4:14 !
ReplyDeleteGOOD LUCK GETTING HIM OUT OF OFFICE. He has been scamming Wicomico County since he came on board. What a joke! There have been many infractions brought to his attention - and he turned the other cheek and refused to fix them. Folks you should have checked him out before putting him in office.
ReplyDelete