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Showing posts with label Journalists Laxton Vivian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Journalists Laxton Vivian. Show all posts

Monday, December 06, 2010

Unedited file copy of “Horn, Laxton, Evans and Ridgely out as Carroll County terminates appointees”

Unedited file copy of “Horn, Laxton, Evans and Ridgely out as Carroll County terminates appointees”

December 5, 2010

Below, please find my unedited file copy for: “Horn, Laxton, Evans and Ridgely out as Carroll County terminates appointees” with links to original source documents and some subsequent happenings in the matter.

Find the published newspaper story here:

All four played roles in current administration; new commissioners take office Dec. 6

Four get combined $250K in severance, leave payments

By Kevin Dayhoff

With the swearing in of a brand new Board of County Commissioners looming next week, Carroll County government announced Wednesday morning that the commissioners have “elected to terminate the contracts” of four mainstays of the current administration - and pay out more than $250,000 in severance and payment for unused leave time.

The employees terminated are:

• J. Michael Evans, director of the Department of Public Works,

• Steve Horn, director of the Office of Planning;

• Vivian Laxton, public information administrator; and

• Neil Ridgely, sustainability coordinator.

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.”

It was never determined if now-former public information administrator Vivian Laxton, had to write the press release announcing her termination.  It is believed that former newspaperwoman, now Deputy Chief of Staff Cindy Parr wrote it…

Subsequently, in a phone interview, Deputy Chief of Staff Cindy Parr, stated, “… as with most local governments, there are appointed officials who serve in an appointed capacity.”  Before this morning’s action by the board of commissioners, “Carroll County had 21 appointed officials – now 17.

“Four of those employees were terminated by the board (this morning.) 

“Typically appointed officials have employee contracts.  It’s, relatively standard in local – county government…

“In accordance with the particular contracts (that these four employees had) there is provided a severance and leave payout as part of their contract.

“In this particular case that includes a severance package - that provides six-months pay at their current rate of pay.  For the four employees… that amounts to a total (aggregated amount) of $189,144.80.”

Parr continued, “In accordance with existing laws and policies, these employees are also due upon termination, all their accumulated unused leave time.  That amounts to (an aggregated) total of $68,174.44.”

The four will get a combined $257,319.24 in severance and pay for unused leave time.

It was a 2 – 1 decision (by the commissioners) to terminate the four employees, according to Parr

At Wednesday's meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, Gouge called the severance packages a measure of the "stability that we gave each of our directors" as part of their contracts, and she said other such employees had been offered similar options.

Minnich said he "wrestled" with the severance issue, but ultimately decided that it was the "legal, ethical, and honorable way to deal with the situation.”


"They served the interests of the people at some sacrifice to themselves, and to their job security. For that, they are entitled to negotiate a reasonable contract, including the terms of separation," he posted on Wednesday.

"I appreciate their service, not to me, or this board of commissioners, but to the public this board has represented for the past eight years. I'm proud of their work in behalf of the people of Carroll County, and I wish them well as they move on," he wrote.  "It's my opinion that the taxpayers got a great deal."

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.  [http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-1-2010-commissioner-minnich.html]

“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.”

On Monday, Dec. 6, the incoming Board of County Commissioners will be sworn in. In addition to Shoemaker, the commissioners-elect are Robin Frazier (Dist. 1-Manchester/Taneytown), Dave Roush (Dist. 3-Westminster), Richard Rothschild (Dist. 4-Mount Airy/New Windsor,) and Doug Howard (Dist. 5-Sykesville/Eldersburg).

Incoming Commissioner Haven Shoemaker, who will represent the 2nd District in Hampstead and Finksburg, said Wednesday that he was “not privy as of yet as to all the details of the termination of these employees,” but he was concerned about the timing and the severance arrangements.

“It’s a bad deal for the Carroll County taxpayers,” he said.  “It’s a slap in the face of the taxpayers by (outgoing commissioners Dean) Minnich and (Julia) Gouge as they are walking out the door.”

“We don’t have money for a Christmas tree in the front of the (county) office building,” he said, “but we have plenty of money for golden parachutes for these county employees.”

Shoemaker acknowledged an undercurrent of anxiety among county employees as to who will have a job and who will be asked to leave, and said he is looking forward to working with county employees.

"I have nothing but respect for the rank and file county employee," he said. "I think they are exceptional."

The four employees involved in the terminations are “at will” employees — meaning they serve at the pleasure of the commissioners. It takes at least two out of the three current commissioners to make decisions about an “appointed” employees’ status.

The decision to cut ties with Evans, Laxton, Horn and Ridgely was apparently not unanimous.  Outgoing Commissioner Mike Zimmer said he was strongly opposed to the decision.

Outgoing Commissioner Mike Zimmer is outraged by the decision to terminate the employees. 

In an e-mail Zimmer’s office [or find it here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/44721103/20101201-Zimmer-Press-Release] 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. 

To summarize my reaction to this ‘buy-out’ concept in one word could only be described as outrage.”

“I do not approve of these measures,” he wrote.  “Should Commissioners Gouge and Minnich approve, please note my negative vote.  The timing of this situation is not good and will likely do harm to the reputation of many involved.  I hope folks will give serious consideration to backing away from this all together.

Zimmer went to write, “I foresee many negative consequences flowing from the contemplated action.  Some may be less obvious than others.”

“People should also consider the implications this may have on future employment opportunities with other government agencies,” Zimmer wrote in the Nov. 24 e-mail.  “This may be a detriment to such advancements in the future.”

Zimmer’s office released the e-mail to the media on Wednesday.

At Wednesday's meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, Gouge called the severance packages a measure of the "stability that we gave each of our directors" as part of their contracts, and she said other such employees had been offered similar options.

Outgoing Commissioner Mike Zimmer said in a phone interview this afternoon that he was against the decision.  “This is a really dumb decision by Commissioner Minnich and Gouge.  There was no reason to do this.

“It was an in-your-face to the taxpayers decision by the two commissioner,” said Zimmer.

He went to characterize the decision by Minnich and Gouge, “The two of them simply said we have the power to do this and we don’t care about the taxpayers.

“There was a decision made to not have a Christmas tree in order to save $2,500…  Yet, less than two-weeks later they (Minnich and Gouge) burn through $189,000.00 for no purpose.”

Zimmer added, “I would not be surprised if the next board (of commissioners) sued to get the money back… 

In my view, it was pretty questionable.  I told them so last week,” said Zimmer.  After he had sent county staff, Minnich and Gouge a pointed e-mail about the matter, they discussed the action in a conference call, elaborated Zimmer.

Although the commissioners may discuss personnel matters in a “closed meeting,” in this case, a conference call; no notification was made to the public of the “closed meeting,”

Meanwhile, Evans said Wednesday, “Hey, I was very happy to have had the opportunity to work for the citizens of Carroll County...  I was especially pleased to have worked with a fine staff of public works folks.”

As for his future plans, Evans said, “I’m looking forward to retirement.”

Of the four dismissed, Evans and Horn has been down this road before.  

Evans began working for the county in 1988 and, in July 2000, he was told by two of the then-commissioners — Robin Frazier and Donald Dell — that he could resign or be asked to leave.

In 2000, the prevailing wisdom was that Evans continued to have the support of the third commissioner at the time, now-outgoing Commissioner Julia Gouge.

After working for Howard County for a number of years, Evan returned to county employment later after Dell and Frazier left office.

Horn had a similar fate at the end of July 2001. After working for the county’s planning department since 1987, Horn left for Frederick County government in August 2001 — only to return several years later when the voters reshuffled those elected to the commissioners’ offices.

Horn was unavailable for comment.

Laxton was unavailable for comment, either, although late Wednesday morning, after the public meeting with the current board of commissioners, she commented on her termination on Twitter.

“It’s official,” she wrote. “I am looking for a job. If anyone knows of a firm in need of an awesome PIO (public information officer), pls let me know.”

++++++

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.

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

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010


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

+++++++++

Then on Sunday, December 5, 2010, the Carroll County Times accused outgoing Carroll County commissioners of corruption in office, secret meetings, and payoffs http://tinyurl.com/23maxsz


Outgoing Carroll County Commissioner Dean Minnich fired back at the Sunday, December 5, 2010 Carroll County Times editorial: “Buyout reeks of payoff.” http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/article_4657ba0e-fef5-11df-a070-001cc4c03286.html

"The county commissioners offering buyouts and severance packages to county department heads was irresponsible, and taxpayers are lucky that the ultimate cost is only a little over a quarter of a million dollars… 

The secretive way in which they went about ensuring their political allies were well taken care of is deplorable, and their waste of taxpayer dollars is indefensible…http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/article_4657ba0e-fef5-11df-a070-001cc4c03286.html



Outgoing Carroll County Commissioner Dean Minnich fired back:  “Sunday's Carroll County Times carried the editorial I expected; I could have written it in advance. Secret meetings, conference calls, reeks of payoffs, cronyism, all words used to express their editorial outrage at the departure of four county employees under the terms of contracts that allowed them to leave with severance pay and accrued benefits.

“Having worked for several newspapers, I can attest that the contracts were little different that many of those signed by newspaper executives and managers who have served at the pleasure of various publishers and group owners. I can attest that the newspapers also observed the appropriate rules and applicable laws for offering and accepting and announcing -- or not -- the changes in job status. Sometimes it is what is not said that speaks volumes...”  http://www.deanminnich.com/2010/12/its-about-facts-not-crusade-for-open.html

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

20101205 sdosm CC Times accuses outgoing ccboc of corruption


Carroll Co Times accuses outgoing Carroll Co commissioners of corruption in office secret meetings and payoffs http://tinyurl.com/23maxsz

20101201 KED final sdosm Horn, Laxton, Evans and Ridgely out: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/12/unedited-file-copy-of-horn-laxton-evans.html

*****

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


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

+++++++++


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. 



“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.”

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/

20101201 Zimmer Press Release info for Scribd

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




++++++

[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.”

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/

20101201 AppointeesLeave info for scribd

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



+++++++


*****

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. 



“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.”

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/

20101201 Zimmer Press Release info for Scribd

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




++++++

[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.”

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/

20101201 AppointeesLeave info for scribd

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



+++++++


December 1, 2010 Commissioner Minnich statement about the employee terminations                                                                                                                            


*****

Sunday, December 05, 2010

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

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


“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.”

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/

20101201 Zimmer Press Release info for Scribd

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



++++++


20101201 Zimmer Press Release                                                                                                                           

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.”

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/

20101201 AppointeesLeave info for scribd

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


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

*****

Friday, October 10, 2008

EAGLE UPDATE: Carroll County Police Force work group to meet




A task force of law enforcement officials will meet for the first time next week to lay groundwork for the creation of a Carroll County Police Department.

The Unified Law Enforcement Work Group will meet at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Room 003 of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster.

The nine-member group, convened by the Board of County Commissioners, includes: Bowie Police Chief Katherine Perez; Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Thomas Long; Carroll County State’s Attorney Investigator Andrew Mays; former acting superintendent of Maryland State Police John O’Neill Jr.; retired State Police Lt. Dean Richardson; State Police Westminster Barrack Commander Lt. Andrew Winner; Sykesville Police Chief John Williams Jr.; Westminster Police Chief Jeff Spaulding.

The group will be chaired by Cindy Parr, chief of Administrative Services for Carroll County Government.

The meeting is open to the public, but no public comment time has been allotted for this meeting. The meeting can also be viewed on cable Channel 24 and online at ccgovernment.carr.org.

For details, call Vivian Laxton, WAB, county public information administrator, at 410-386-2973.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Sunday Carroll Eagle column for August 24 2008: “Years ago, folks celebrated The Forks in Westminster” by Kevin Dayhoff

Sunday Carroll Eagle column for August 24 2008: “Years ago, folks celebrated The Forks in Westminster” by Kevin Dayhoff

Years ago, folks celebrated The Forks in Westminster

EAGLE ARCHIVE By Kevin Dayhoff Posted 8/24/08 (690 words)

The City of Westminster has recently been working to form a group to study the Pennsylvania Avenue of town.

In that context, it's interesting that back on Aug. 8, 1924, the editor of the now-defunct newspaper, The American Sentinel, wrote an article about the renaissance of the area on the west end of Westminster known as "The Forks."

The 1924 article was titled, "The Forks Regaining Its Old Prestige."

According to historian Jay Graybeal, who wrote a column about the article in 1999 for the Historical Society of Carroll County, it was the demolition of an old general store at the forks of Pennsylvania Avenue and West Main Street that so excited the editor.

"The old frame store and dwelling at The Forks ... has been razed by Mr. Roy Shipley, a recent purchaser," the article read. "The old building had quite a history and was one of the landmarks of this city."

An old photo in my collection reveals what must have been a large structure with an elegant fountain in the front. The sign above the front porch identifies the store as "Geo. R. Grumbine Groceries and Provisions."

Growing up in Westminster in the 1950s and '60s, and especially in this area of town, I recall Pennsylvania Avenue as an elegant and thriving mixed-use residential and business section of town. The Forks was generally considered the "center of town."

And it was a memorable, unifying force in the community. As late as the 1950s directions were still given that cited the location of store, such as "just up the street from where Grumbine's used to be ..."

[…]

The west end of Westminster is rich with history and tradition. It was annexed by Westminster way back in 1825. At that time, that section was known as "Logsdon's Tavern" -- last of the original five towns that were ultimately consolidated into what we now know as Westminster.

Many who follow the happenings of Carroll County government may find it of interest that the Carroll County public information administrator, Vivian Laxton, is a descendent of the Logsdon family that helped form the foundation of what we now know as Westminster -- and whose roots pre-date before Carroll County was a county.

In 1825, what we know from history as Logsdon's Tavern was actually a part of Frederick County…

[…]

The 1924 Sentinel article gives us a great deal of additional insight into the history of this area of Westminster, and the fact that parts of town were then still considered their own enclaves:

"For quite a number of years before the Civil War," the article notes, "Westminster was divided into three distinct settlements known as Dead End, The Forks, and Irishtown."

To read the rest of the column go here:
Years ago, folks celebrated sticking The Forks in Westminster

20080824 Sunday Carroll Eagle column for August 24 2008: “Years ago, folks celebrated The Forks in Westminster” by Kevin Dayhoff


Westminster File PA Ave




Thursday, August 21, 2008

20080807 “La Policía” © by Kevin Dayhoff

“La Policía”

August 7, 2008 © by Kevin Dayhoff
Picture caption: Carroll County Commissioners Dean Minnich, Julia Gouge, and Mike Zimmer on the barricades at the Carroll County Office Building, Westminster, Maryland by Delacroix and Kevin Dayhoff August 7th, 2008

Writer’s note: A shortened version of this appeared in the
Sunday Carroll Eagle on August 17, 2008: “And now, for this week’s installment of ‘La Policia,’ in the Opinion section of the paper.
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Carroll County’s reputation for low crime and an aggressive approach to public safety is not a recent phenomenon.

Over 80 years ago on July 16, 1925, the editor of the American Sentinel newspaper in Westminster, Joseph D. Brooks wrote that many “years ago Carroll county was known to criminals all over the state as an ‘open door to the penitentiary,’ and many there were who entered by way of that door.”

However, as one can imagine when a community determines any public policy to be of paramount importance there are bound to be impassioned conflicts and dramas.

Writing for the Historical Society of Carroll County in 2001, Jay Graybeal noted in his introduction of the 1925 newspaper article, “Why the Listlessness of the Sheriffs of Carroll County?”; that it seems that Mr. Brooks had become unhappy with the Carroll County sheriff and state’s attorney and was letting them know that in no uncertain terms.

Carroll County history is replete with colorful conflicts, many of operatic proportions, between the Carroll County board of commissioners, the Carroll County delegation to Annapolis, the state’s attorney’s office, and the sheriff.

In the most recent act of this ongoing opera, on October 4, 2007 the Carroll County board of commissioners opted to move forward with a plan to form a county police department headed by an appointed chief of police.

Not willing to disappoint future historians, troubadours from far-flung regions of the Carroll County Empire then entered the stage and chaos ensued. I read several of the news accounts with the soundtrack of “Les Misérables” playing in the background.

The only disappointment is that Victor Hugo, the author of the classic 1862 novel, is not available to write about it.

Just as with any good storytelling, “La Policía” the current epic Carroll County constitutional conflict over the future of the police in Carroll County has many layers, story lines, strong personalities, and plot twists.

The frenzied operatic moments are reminiscent of what a collaboration between the famous 19th-century composer Richard Wagner and his father-in-law, Franz Liszt, would have looked like; with the emphasis of folks attempting to promote a plan for the future that cannot escape the past.

The very first act of La Policía is borrowed from Les Misérables. As the curtains rise, the scene before the bewildered citizen audience is the barricaded Carroll County office building.

It’s August 7, 2008 and the commissioners have just voted 2-1 to not move forward with the October 4, 2007 police plan.

As the smoke rises from the stage, there is a break in the action as members of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department are storming the barricades.

Blinking red and blue police lights reflect back and forth in the fog of the smoke.

In the background, the delegation to Annapolis forms the chorus and is softly singing.

The three commissioners are standing on top of the barricades. Commissioners Mike Zimmer and Dean Minnich are on either side of Julia Gouge, holding her steady as she waves an oversized Carroll County flag.

Office building employees have broken out the windows and are showering the storming sheriff’s deputies with office furniture.

The stage is littered with burning newspapers as the local media has shelled all the participants with folded newspapers shot from makeshift artillery.

Off to the side, Channel 13 news reporter Mike Schuh is attempting to interview Westminster Police Chief Jeff Spaulding. The only thing is - the chief has the 1971 Led Zeppelin classic, “The Battle of Evermore,” coincidentally, the title of the first act of La Policía, cranked-up so loud on the car stereo, no one can hear a thing.

Inside the office building the receptionist, Kay Church, is serving cookies, answering the phones and has armed herself with a salad shooter and big bag of carrots.

Ted Zaleski, the director of management and budget is huddled off to the side with Vivian Laxton, the public information administrator as they try and figure out who is playing what character from Les Misérables.

All of the sudden there is silence on the stage as famed local historian; Jay Graybeal emerges from the fog as a narrator, smiles and begins to softly tell the story of the history of the sheriff’s department.

“When Carroll County was founded in 1837, one of the first tasks…” of the newly formed government was to elect a sheriff. As with many aspects of early American government, its origins date back to the history of mother England.

According to some undocumented notes, “1200 years ago, England was inhabited by Anglo-Saxons. Groups of a hundred would ban together and form communities known as a “tun,” from where we get the word, “town.”

Every group of a hundred, or “tun,” as led by a “reeve,” which was the forerunner of what we now know as a chief of police.

According to Mr. Brooks, the reeve was “charged with the execution of the laws … and the preservation of the peace, and, in some cases having judicial powers. He was the King’s reeve, or steward over a shire … — a distinctive royal officer, appointed by the king, dismissible at a moment’s notice…”

Groups of “tuns” banned together to form a larger form of government known as a ‘Shire’” – what we now know as a county; and my old notes reflect that in order to distinguish the leader of a “Shire,” from a leader of a tun, the more powerful official became known as a “Shire-Reeve.”

Which is where we get the modern word “sheriff.”

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20080807 “La Policía” © by Kevin Dayhoff

Friday, February 29, 2008

20080219 Carroll County Commissioner Mike Zimmer Press Release: Waste to Energy and solid waste management deliberations

Carroll County Commissioner Mike Zimmer Press Release: Waste to Energy and solid waste management deliberations

PRESS RELEASE

February 20th, 2008

I have become concerned with certain advocacy I’ve observed regarding our Commissioner Board research and discussion of solid waste management. I’ve concluded that some members of our Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) have engaged in agenda based advocacy rather than factually based advocacy.

When the EAC presented their recommendations to the Board last November 15th, 2007, I expressed grave concerns about comments shared by an EAC member to our special assistants in a private briefing prior to the formal presentation. It would appear that my concerns about politicization by certain EAC members have become reality.

I have observed advocacy by individual EAC members that is not factually accurate and contributes negatively to a dialogue based decision making path. This is most unfortunate.

On the 13th day of December, we held a panel discussion meeting that included EAC members, staff and outside experts. The discussion at that time was very strong from all parties. I do not understand why some EAC members have chosen to depart from this sort of factually based interaction in favor of what I consider pure spin.

Based on emails I’ve received from those attending a recent meeting of the Carroll County Democrat Club I have concluded that EAC member Sher Horosko provided information that was not contextually accurate when she made a presentation to this group. EAC member Dan Andrews recently wrote in a letter to the editor of a local paper that a waste-to-energy facility would contribute to higher taxes in Carroll County.

I find absolutely no basis to support the claim that waste-to-energy facilities lead to higher taxes. Our current system of long haul transfer is actually one of the most expensive methods of trash disposal available to us. In a climate of rising fuel prices this is likely to get worse over time. I’m also gravely concerned with pollution associated with trucking our trash hundreds of miles away.

Once landfills in Virginia are occupied we may be forced to truck trash even greater distances with yet greater economic and environmental costs. The time is now for this Board of Commissioners to consider more thoughtful options.

I consider burning trash to create electricity to be a viable option. That doesn’t make it the sole option. There are positives and negatives associated with just about any decision that the Board of Commissioners make. I retain an open mind on the set of solution paths we might wish to take.

We have been working on this problem for many months in an open and transparent process. One of the decision points we may have to make is whether to join in a shared waste-to-energy facility with Frederick County. The current proposal is to build 1,500 tons per day facility to be located in Frederick County. Staff from both counties believes this would be a smart solution for our mutual long terms needs.

Staff and outside experts advise that 600 tons would meet current and future needs for Carroll County. They similarly target Frederick’s need at 900 tons per day. The chief advantage of joining together in a partnership of this kind would be to lower the cost per ton of burning the trash.

As a Carroll County Board of Commissioners we can only go so far with our research and deliberation into waste-to-energy as a joint project. My view is that the Frederick County Board of Commissioners must first invite us to join in this project. If no offer is made then we need to consider our other options which might include a stand alone waste-to-energy facility located in Carroll County. If the offer is made then we as a Board would have to consider the full implications of such a partnership and the particular technology being proposed.

There are perfectly legitimate reasons to either accept or reject the regional waste-to-energy offer should it be put on the table. The fear that it might raise our taxes is not one of them. I’ve included a recent letter dated 14th day of February from an official from Montgomery County regarding various costs associated with their waste disposal system. I believe this letter explains very clearly that waste-to-energy has not led to higher taxes or fees for them.

There are some individuals who in my view have an anti-waste-to-energy agenda. They are taking things out of context with Montgomery County’s figures in order to further this agenda.

Folks need to keep in mind that in Carroll County people (outside of municipalities) hire private contractors to pick up their trash and recycling and deliver it to our county transfer station and landfill. In Montgomery County the government picks the trash up in the most densely populated areas. They charge a system user fee to cover all services. In other words instead of having private citizens pay a private hauler to pick up trash and recyclables the government does it directly. This service still costs money and the workers who pick up the trash still have to be paid.

How’s this for irony? Our towns follow the same billing procedure as Montgomery County.

According to Mr. Locke’s letter, the cost associated with trash disposal has remained constant between pre and post use of waste-to-energy. He relates, “When compared to inflation, they have substantially declined.”

This is a very simple concept. For particular EAC members to attempt to make political hay by spinning these facts is completely inappropriate. Volunteer members of an appointed government body need to be held to a higher standard.

I’ll repeat my advice to our EAC members. Those who want to wage political campaigns should do so in the right context. Such opportunities include political clubs, advocacy groups, central committees of either party or running for office. Folks should not take advantage of a government appointed position with efforts to spin public opinion.

I have now lost faith in some of our EAC members to contribute in a helpful way to our deliberative process on waste-to-energy. That is most unfortunate for them, for the public and for the Board of Commissioners.

Michael D. Zimmer

Commissioner

CC: Commissioner Julia W. Gouge

Commissioner Dean L. Minnich

Steve Powell, Chief of Staff

Cindy Parr, Chief of Administrative Services

Vivian Laxton, Public Information Administrator

Mike Evans, Director of Public Works

Daniel Andrews, EAC

Robyn Gilden, EAC

Sher Horosko, EAC

Jim Johnson, EAC

Karen Merkle, EAC

Kimberly Petry, EAC

David Pyatt, EAC
Brian Rhoten, EAC

Christopher Spaur, EAC

Robin Davidov, Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority

Jan Gardner, Frederick County Commissioner

David Gray, Frederick County Commissioner

Kai John Hagen, Frederick County Commissioner

Charles A. Jenkins, Frederick County Commissioner

John (Lennie) Thompson, Jr., Frederick County Commissioner

Douglas Browning, Frederick County Manager

Michael Marschner, Frederick County Director of Utilities and Solid Waste Management

County Executive David Craig, Harford County

David Bliden, Executive Director, MACo

Daniel Locke, Montgomery County, Chief of the Division of Solid Waste Services