Carroll County Government
No information is available as I keyboard as to whether or not she “will have to notes,” as a part of her job. (Sorry – it’s an inside joke. And it is a long-long story; let’s just move along why don’t we…)
This is a smart move on the part of the Carroll County Commissioners. One of the most important resources that the county has going for it is its human resource – and my ear to the ground – or rather, the Fountain Building parking lot - has it that the current board of commissioners have understood that and the employees know it.
Ms. Parr has served for the past number of years as Commissioner Perry Jones’ administrative assistant and with Commissioner Jones leaving office, it looked like, there for awhile, Ms. Parr was headed out of the building also, by early next month. That would have been a loss for Carroll County.
Of course, I am partial to a writer getting a job like what Ms. Parr will be undertaking. The press release reflected that “she reported for The (Carroll) Sun and wrote as a freelancer for the Carroll County Times. She also has worked in television and has researched and written about diverse topics in both the public and private sectors.”
Yes, she is a former Baltimore Sun writer that has earned my trust. See, it can happen…
But it was in late April 1991 that Ms. Parr came across my radar screen when she (this is the full disclosure part…) did an artist profile on me for which she free-lanced to the Carroll County Times. It was published on page C2 on May 3rd, 1991. (Tell her she still owes me lunch.)
She did a great job. She came out to the farm and did a piece on the mixed media assemblages, collages, photography and design work. Cynthia Shaw took a great picture of me with one of my favorite pieces at the time, the “bicycle Piece.” (Where is Cynthia Shaw today – is she still around?)
Of course, the fiscal conservative in me likes the fact that the new position is budget neutral, in that, according to the press release: “Funding for her position will come from a streamlining of the zoning administration office and the elimination of the zoning administrator as a budgeted position. In addition, the cable manager post will be eliminated, with Parr continuing to hold those responsibilities.”
The press release reflects her institutional memory and cross-training.
“Cindy will serve the county well in this position,” said Powell. “She brings a unique combination of experience and skills, and has a strong familiarity of county government issues.”
“In her eight years of service in Carroll County Government, Parr, 48, of Finksburg has worked as marketing manager in the Department of Economic Development (1997-1999), communications manager (1995-1997)… From 1999 to 2002, she was a project coordinator with Business Training and Services in the Continuing Education Department at Carroll Community College.”
In working on environmental and infrastructure challenges, she will need all of her background, experience and training.
The road ahead is daunting, to say the least.
Some of the challenges ahead have been written about by me and some of my colleagues at the on-line columnist collective, The Tentacle, for which I have written for several years…
For those who are not aware, one of the best writers in the state is an elected official who has a weekly column in The Tentacle. I’m referring to Maryland State Delegate Richard B. Weldon, JR. Republican, District 3B, Frederick & Washington Counties; whose weekly column ought to be on every political junkies’ reading list – especially during the Maryland General Assembly session…
In his November 27th, 2006 column, “Lowered Expectations,” he wrote: “…Smart growth advocates also would like to see the new administration use a more activist approach to water allocation, using the power of the state Department of The Environment to restrict new water withdrawals from both surface and groundwater sources. Just ask Middletown and New Market town officials how they feel about that!”
No, I did not coordinate my column this week, “Blackwater and municipal red ink run deep,” with Delegate Weldon, but I am proud to say that for the most part, my views are consistent with his.
The no-holds barred, scorched-earth, back to the stone-age environmentalists have discovered that one of the most effective no-growth tools in the toolbox is water allocations.
This is going to be a huge problem for several municipalities in Carroll County and for Carroll County in particular. Especially since many of us are looking forward to the Gillis Falls and Union Mills reservoirs becoming a reality. (Oh, by the way, “Gillis” is spelled wrong. I’m from the “Gilliss” family from South Carroll…)
Like many who have “had it” with residential development in the county, the rub with the new reservoirs is that we don’t want them to facilitate future resdential housing growth and development. At this point in time, in consideration of the new water allocation standards being promulgated by the state, we need the reservoirs to supply our existing water needs.
Of course, the second most effective tool is transportation planning. This is why there was much amusement shared earlier in the week, when the Carroll County Times suggested that the Carroll County Delegation adopt the Manchester by-pass as one of its priories.
Of course, most of us accepted the editorial as yet another manifestation of personal animus towards the Carroll County Delegation…
The Manchester by-pass is totally dead in the water. Deader than dead. If we had an entire Delegation of Senator Hilary Clinton clones, it would still be DOA.
Gov.-elect Martin O’Malley doesn’t even support the Hampstead by-pass for pity sake, much less the Manchester by-pass. Read: “20061007 O’Malley questions Hampstead By-pass.”
The only way the Manchester by-pass is going to be built is if Carroll County builds it. Ay caramba.
Ms. Parr has her work cut out for her. She’ll be fine.
“Cindy will serve the county well in this position,” said Powell. “She brings a unique combination of experience and skills, and has a strong familiarity of county government issues.”
“In her eight years of service in Carroll County Government, Parr, 48, of Finksburg has worked as marketing manager in the Department of Economic Development (1997-1999), communications manager (1995-1997)… From 1999 to 2002, she was a project coordinator with Business Training and Services in the Continuing Education Department at Carroll Community College.”
In working on environmental and infrastructure challenges, she will need all of her background, experience and training.
The road ahead is daunting, to say the least.
Some of the challenges ahead have been written about by me and some of my colleagues at the on-line columnist collective, The Tentacle, for which I have written for several years…
For those who are not aware, one of the best writers in the state is an elected official who has a weekly column in The Tentacle. I’m referring to Maryland State Delegate Richard B. Weldon, JR. Republican, District 3B, Frederick & Washington Counties; whose weekly column ought to be on every political junkies’ reading list – especially during the Maryland General Assembly session…
In his November 27th, 2006 column, “Lowered Expectations,” he wrote: “…Smart growth advocates also would like to see the new administration use a more activist approach to water allocation, using the power of the state Department of The Environment to restrict new water withdrawals from both surface and groundwater sources. Just ask Middletown and New Market town officials how they feel about that!”
No, I did not coordinate my column this week, “Blackwater and municipal red ink run deep,” with Delegate Weldon, but I am proud to say that for the most part, my views are consistent with his.
The no-holds barred, scorched-earth, back to the stone-age environmentalists have discovered that one of the most effective no-growth tools in the toolbox is water allocations.
This is going to be a huge problem for several municipalities in Carroll County and for Carroll County in particular. Especially since many of us are looking forward to the Gillis Falls and Union Mills reservoirs becoming a reality. (Oh, by the way, “Gillis” is spelled wrong. I’m from the “Gilliss” family from South Carroll…)
Like many who have “had it” with residential development in the county, the rub with the new reservoirs is that we don’t want them to facilitate future resdential housing growth and development. At this point in time, in consideration of the new water allocation standards being promulgated by the state, we need the reservoirs to supply our existing water needs.
Of course, the second most effective tool is transportation planning. This is why there was much amusement shared earlier in the week, when the Carroll County Times suggested that the Carroll County Delegation adopt the Manchester by-pass as one of its priories.
Of course, most of us accepted the editorial as yet another manifestation of personal animus towards the Carroll County Delegation…
The Manchester by-pass is totally dead in the water. Deader than dead. If we had an entire Delegation of Senator Hilary Clinton clones, it would still be DOA.
Gov.-elect Martin O’Malley doesn’t even support the Hampstead by-pass for pity sake, much less the Manchester by-pass. Read: “20061007 O’Malley questions Hampstead By-pass.”
The only way the Manchester by-pass is going to be built is if Carroll County builds it. Ay caramba.
Ms. Parr has her work cut out for her. She’ll be fine.
Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org http://www.thetentacle.com/ Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report http://www.thewestminstereagle.com/ www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
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