WICOMICO COUNTY TO MOVE SOME PUBLIC WORKS FUNCTIONS TO PLANNING AND ZONING

Reorganization Will Offer “One-Stop Shopping” Permitting Process

Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., announced today that his proposed reorganization of the county’s Public Works and Planning and Zoning Departments is being enacted. Pollitt noted that, “This is an important component of my plan to combine all building and development activities under ‘one umbrella’ creating a ‘one-stop shopping’ permit process.”                       

Under this reorganization, certain functions formerly under Public Works will now come under Planning, Zoning & Community Development. These functions include Building Permits and Inspections, Fire Safety, street addressing, and related aspects of development review. Public Works will continue to be responsible for Roads, Solid Waste, and engineering.

Each of these departments has experienced budget and staff reductions over the past several years. According to Mr. Pollitt, this reorganization is “an important strategy for supporting critical services and furthers the commitment to the efficient delivery of County services within the context of new economic realities.”