Dayhoff Westminster Soundtrack: Commissioner Minnich provides some additional insight into terminations

Monday, December 06, 2010

Commissioner Minnich provides some additional insight into terminations

December 3, 2010: Commissioner Minnich provides some additional insight into terminations

After I wrote, “Horn, Laxton, Evans and Ridgely out as Carroll County terminates appointees - Four get combined $250K in severance, leave payments” on December 1, 2010 [http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/4975/breaking-horn-laxton-evans-ridgely-carroll-county-terminates-appointees/,] many folks have asked why the employees were terminated.

And the answer is - I think I know but I have never gotten anyone to say it on the record… For one thing, both Mike Evans and Steve Horn have been down this road before and maybe the answer lies in the history I wrote in the final third of my article.

It all began in a December 1, 2010 press release, “County Terminates Four Appointees’ Contracts,” the county said the last day of employment for all four would be today — Wednesday, Dec. 1, and that, “In accordance with their employment contracts, leave payouts and severance will be honored.”

For the subsequent newspaper article written by Kevin Dayhoff, which appeared in www.explorecarroll.com, go here: http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/4975/breaking-horn-laxton-evans-ridgely-carroll-county-terminates-appointees/

Perhaps Commission Dean L. Minnich gives us some additional insight here:

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010

Dean Minnich: Protesteth too much http://tinyurl.com/2dtprpq http://www.deanminnich.com/2010/12/protesteth-too-much.html

Commissioner-elect Haven Shoemaker is apoplectic that he didn't get a chance to carry out the threats he had made against certain staff members of the outgoing board of commissioners. He was a man with a plan, and it was going to happen, "right off the bat." Big changes, fast.

Richard Rothschild's comments in Friday's Carroll County Times smack of disingenuousness. In response to the dismissals of the four directors, he complained about the timing, and said, "the new board has never made plans to come in and make replacements without having talked with every appointed employee". But during the hearings for the Pathways master plan he questioned the abilities and even the motives of at least two of the directors who took advantage of their contracts and vacated the premises before he arrives on Monday.

Former commissioners Robin Frazier was silent: But her actions of the past speak volumes. When she took office in her first term, she requested the resignations of all department heads. If they refused, she said, they could find themselves dismissed for insubordination, without accrued benefits. Of all the members of the incoming board of commissioners, the return of Frazier seems to cause the most concern among county employees.

Doug Howard of District 5 is apparently out of the loop already. While Shoemaker and Frazier have been making public comments about rapid changes and "right-sizing" the county staff, Howard says he thinks the release of four directors was intended to disrupt the transition from the current board of commissioners to the new five-member board. He said, "But it was never our intention to make massive changes without a process first." … http://www.deanminnich.com/2010/12/protesteth-too-much.html

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Labels: Carroll Co Commissioners, Carroll Co Govt News, Commissioner Julia Gouge, Commissioner Mike Zimmer, Journalists Laxton Vivian, People Evans-Mike, People Minnich-Dean, Political Scandal

20101203 Minnich provides some additional insight into terminations

All related……

December 1, 2010 Commissioner Minnich statement about the employee terminations

December 1, 2010 written statement by Carroll County Maryland Commissioner Dean Minnich about the employee terminations - - http://www.scribd.com/doc/44730025/December-1-2010-Commissioner-Minnich-statement-about-the-employee-terminations

In a written statement about the employee terminations, Minnich elaborated: “I would like to express my personal appreciation for their service, their sacrifices on behalf of the people and their collegial work with all of the employees of the county.

“As an elected representative, chosen by the people, I asked these people and every other employee for their skills, best work, the benefits of their education, experience, energy, sense of fairness and integrity, and they delivered admirably.

“Not once were any of them asked to engage in political or partisan activity in the execution of their work, and none of them abused or misused the trust we placed in them.

“It was faith in such people that gave me the confidence to step forward eight years ago, and to continue for a second term, and I am gratified for the experience of having worked with them. I wish them well.”

See also:

December 1, 2010 Press release: Outgoing Commissioner Mike Zimmer is outraged by the decision to terminate the employees.

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-1-2010-press-release-outgoing.html

“In an e-mail Commissioner Mike Zimmer’s office sent to fellow County Commissioner Dean Minnick, the county attorney, Kimberly Millender, Chief of Staff Steve Powell and assistant chief of staff Cindy Parr on November 24, Zimmer said, ‘An exhaustive description of my negative opinion of the action by Commissioners Gouge and Minnich would require a novel length tome’…”

Commissioner Mike Zimmer was responding to a December 1, 2010 press release, “County Terminates Four Appointees’ Contracts,” the county said the last day of employment for all four would be today — Wednesday, Dec. 1, and that, “In accordance with their employment contracts, leave payouts and severance will be honored.”

20101201 Zimmer Press Release info for Scribd

Carroll, county, Maryland, employees, terminated, Dayhoff, Horn, Ridgely, Laxton, Evans, appointed, officials,

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-1-2010-press-release-carroll.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/44721103/20101201-Zimmer-Press-Release

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[20101201 Minnich statement info for Scribd]

Also see: December 1, 2010 press release: Carroll “County Terminates Four Appointees’ Contracts”

Carroll County Maryland government: “County Terminates Four Appointees’ Contracts” December 1, 2010 press release

In a December 1, 2010 press release, “County Terminates Four Appointees’ Contracts,” the county said the last day of employment for all four would be today — Wednesday, Dec. 1, and that, “In accordance with their employment contracts, leave payouts and severance will be honored.”

20101201 AppointeesLeave info for scribd

Carroll, county, Maryland, employees, terminated, Dayhoff, Horn, Ridgely, Laxton, Evans, appointed, officials,

http://www.scribd.com/doc/44717786/Carroll-County-Maryland-government-%E2%80%9CCounty-Terminates-Four-Appointees%E2%80%99-Contracts%E2%80%9D-December-1-2010-press-release

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-1-2010-press-release-carroll.html

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http://www.scribd.com/doc/44730025/December-1-2010-Commissioner-Minnich-statement-about-the-employee-terminations

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