20070305 CCBOC Agenda

The agenda for the Carroll County Commissioners

for the week of March 5^th, 2007

Board of County Commissioners

Julia W. Gouge, President

Dean L. Minnich, Vice President

Michael D. Zimmer, Secretary

Carroll County Government

225 North Center Street

Westminster, Maryland 21157

410-386-2043; 1-888-302-8978

fax 410-386-2485; TT 410-848-9747

Agenda for the Week of March 5, 2007 ~ Revision 1

Please Note: This weekly agenda is subject to change. Please call 410-386-2043 to confirm a meeting you plan to attend. All meetings will be in Room 300A, (Unless otherwise noted) Carroll County Office Building.

• Indicates Outside Activities

Monday – March 5, 2007

National Association of Counties (NACo)

Washington, D.C.

Commissioners Gouge & Zimmer

Tuesday –March 6, 2007

National Association of Counties (NACo)

Washington, D.C.

Commissioners Gouge & Zimmer

Wednesday – March 7, 2007

Maryland Association of Counties (MACO)

Annapolis, MD

Commissioner Gouge

12:00 p.m. Visit the Carroll County Delegation

Annapolis, MD

Commissioner Zimmer

Thursday – March 8, 2007

9:30 a.m. Board of County Commissioners Open Community Discussion

Carroll County Office Building ~ Room 300 A

Commissioners Gouge, Minnich & Zimmer

10:00 a.m. Board of County Commissioners Open Session

Public Hearing

Proposed Amendments to Chapter 103, Development & Subdivision of Land for

Traffic Impact Studies

Department of the County Attorney ~ Ms. Kimberly Millender

"Get Connected" Resource Center Discussion

Department of Citizen Services ~ Mrs. Jolene Sullivan

Option to Purchase Gilbert Property

Jasontown Road Improvement Project

Department of Public Works ~ Mr. J. Michael Evans

Bid Approval ~ Rehabilitation of Culvert CL305

Twin Arch Road Over South Branch Patapsco River

Department of Public Works ~ Mr. J. Michael Evans

Bureau of Purchasing ~ Mr. Rich Shelton

Bid Approval ~ Northeast Library Carpet Tiles

Department of General Services ~ Mr. Ralph Green

Bureau of Purchasing ~ Mr. Rich Shelton

Bid Approval ~ Water laboratory Analysis Services

Department of Public Works ~ Mr. J. Michael Evans

Bureau of Purchasing ~ Mr. Rich Shelton

Letters of Support for the Agricultural Center and the Hoff Log Barn

Department of Management & Budget ~ Mr. Ted Zaleski

Carroll County Farm Museum ~ Mrs. Dottie Freeman

Chief of Staff Time ~ Mr. Steve Powell

ADMINISTRATIVE ~ Closed

ADMINISTRATIVE ~ Closed

Thursday – March 8, 2007 ~ Continued

3:00 p.m. Quarterly Mayors Meeting

County Office Building ~ Room 300 A

Commissioners Gouge, Minnich & Zimmer

Friday – March 9, 2007

7:30 a.m. Taneytown Business Breakfast

Thunderhead Lanes, Taneytown

Commissioners, Gouge, Minnich & Zimmer

9:00 a.m. Industrial Tour of Taneytown

Taneytown, MD

Commissioners Gouge, Minnich & Zimmer

6:00 p.m. Maryland Holstein Convention Banquet

Martin’s Westminster

Commissioner Zimmer

Saturday – March 10, 2007

5:30 p.m. Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company Annual Banquet

American Legion in Mount Airy

Commissioner Zimmer

Sunday – March 11, 2007

8:05 a.m. “The Commissioners’ Report” – WTTR

Commissioner Zimmer

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to the Carroll County Government and its programs, services, activities, and facilities. If you have questions, suggestions, or complaints, please contact Ms. Jolene Sullivan, the Carroll County Government Americans With Disabilities Act Coordinator, at 410-386-3600/1-888-302-8978 or TTY No. 410-848-9747. The mailing address is 225 North Center Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157. Posted: 07/07/06

03/05/07 ~ dln

CARROLL COUNTY

a great place to live, a great place to work, a great place to play

20070305 A discussion about the legacy of slavery in Carroll County

Many Rivers Crossed

A discussion about the legacy of slavery in Carroll County

March 5^th, 2007

Kelsey Volkmann, writing for the Baltimore Examiner has three great articles in today’s edition of the paper that are compelling “must reads.”

“Carroll County, free at last?”

“A mystery that can be solved”

“Remembering the Dred Scott decision on its 150th anniversary”

Kudos to Ms. Volkmann for once again working hard to bring alive yet another important issue that needs to be further discussed in Carroll County. It is community journalism at its best.

In “Carroll County, free at last?,” I am quoted:

“Explaining (the legacy of slavery in Carroll County) away by saying it was a practice of the times is unacceptable,” former Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff said. “Slavery was wrong, plain and simple.”

Carroll’s future, Dayhoff said, lies in embracing its diversity.

“In order to go forward, we need to meaningfully address old wounds,” he said. “Done correctly, it can bring us closer together. A meaningful portion of the quality of life we enjoy today in Carroll County was built on the backs of African-Americans in bondage.”

The column that I have already filed with my editor for the Westminster Eagle for this coming Wednesday will also explore the subject of the legacy of slavery in Carroll County… and among my ancestors… Paradoxes and surprises abound… More on that later in the week.

On the issue of the Dred Scott decision; if you will recall this was the subject discussed between Maryland Blogger Alliance members Crablaw, Maryland Conservatarian, Soccer Dad and I last November 2006:

“20061115 Taney Taneytown and Tupac Shakur” and “20061120 Crablaw’s stand-up mea culpa.” and “20061122 Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney” and “Thank You to Kevin Dayhoff and MD Conservatarian for Taney Correction.” and “Crablaw’s reflection on Chief Justice Taney” and never mind that Taneytown history stuff…, we got that solved… here and here.”

On March 12^th, 2007 there will be a public presentation on the subject of the legacy of slavery in Carroll County:

“Many Rivers Crossed”

Sponsored by the Carroll County Human Relations Commission

In Partnership with

the Carroll County Public Library and

The Enoch Pratt Library

Carroll Citizens for Racial Equality

Carroll County NAACP

Carroll County Public Schools

With Special Guest appearance by Dr. Jesse Glass

A presentation by Enoch Pratt Library regarding:

v Collecting and Organizing Family papers

v Examples of Documents

v Slaves Census

v Immigration Records

v Vital Records

v Preserving Family records

v What to think about when collecting documents

v The role of informal oral history

v Where the library can help

March 12, 2007

7-9 pm

At the Board of Education Office Building

Board Room

125 North Court Street

Westminster

####

20070304 Truck “decorations” in Maryland.

Truck “decorations” in Maryland.

March 4, 2007

The low down on the raging debate on truck “decorations” in Maryland.

I guess I have avoided this topic because of the lack of a tactful manner in which it can be treated.

“Soundtrack” is not really set up to be the place to discuss such issues, but if ya really – really wanna read two great posts on the raging debate on truck “decorations” in Maryland – the place to go is Crablaw and the Pillage Idiot.

For those who are not aware of this pressing concern, Attila writes, “A state delegate from Allegany County, Leroy E. Myers Jr., has introduced a bill that would prohibit…”

Crablaw helps us find the legislation: “Delegate LeRoy Myers' House Bill 1163…”

What might even be funnier is that the ACLU has deemed it necessary to weigh-in with their opinion…

And OMG - - Reading Crablaw’s ponderings upon a hypothetical cross-examination is a hoot. Of course, one can only imagine that there would be a “legal definition” of the offending “decorations” and that might be the fodder for humor for decades… Where were you Daddy when Maryland struck a blow for civility, taste and the future of the planet?

And he’s only getting warmed-up. The rest of his post is a keeper…

Warning – do not read either post with your mouth full of say, Dr. Pepper…

If Maryland begins to outlaw poor taste, there is no end to where this nanny-state can go.

If you wanna smile – go immediately to here – and here.

####

20070304 Republicans Attack....Each Other

Republicans Attack....Each Other

This is going to be the longest presidential campaign any of us have ever had to endure…

Sunday, March 04, 2007 By Susan Estrich[1]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256525,00.html

LOS ANGELES —

"I'm sure we'll disagree on issues from time to time, but I doubt you'll see the rancor that apparently may exist elsewhere," said Mitt Romney, commenting on the shouting match between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama spokesmen about Obama supporter David Geffen’s anti-Hillary rant.

That was Feb. 23.

A week later, Romney went on the attack against his two major rivals, with rancor worthy of the angriest Democrat. Pushing one hot button after another, he accused John McCain of wrongly promoting amnesty for 11 million illegal immigrants, and Rudy Giuliani of being wrong on abortion, gay rights, and guns.

"He is pro-choice, he is pro-gay marriage and anti-gun," was Romney’s description of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. "That's a tough combination in a Republican primary."

As for McCain, Romney criticized his role in the pending Senate debate about immigration, where the Arizona senator has been working with the man who beat Romney a few years ago, Ted Kennedy, to come up with a comprehensive reform package. "I do not believe amnesty is the right course for the 11 or 12 million illegal immigrants who are living here. It didn't work in the 1980s. It's not going to work in the 2000s either."

He also criticized McCain for not supporting a federal constitutional amendment to limit marriage to heterosexual couples.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Read the rest here.

####

[1] Susan Estrich is currently the Robert Kingsley Professor of Law and Political Science at the University of Southern California. She was previously Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and was the first woman President of the Harvard Law Review. She is a columnist for Creators Syndicate and has written for USA Today and the Los Angeles Times.

Estrich's books include the just published “Soulless,” “The Case for Hillary Clinton,” “How to Get Into Law School,” ...“Getting Away with Murder: How Politics Is Destroying the Criminal Justice System,” and "Making the Case for Yourself: A Diet Book for Smart Women.”

She served as campaign manager for Michael Dukakis' presidential bid, becoming the first woman to head a U.S. presidential campaign. Estrich appears regularly on the FOX News Channel, in addition to writing the “Blue Streak” column for foxnews.com.

20070304 CPAC, Blumenthal, Malkin, Coulter and politics as a contact sport

CPAC, Blumenthal, Malkin, Coulter and politics as a contact sport

March 4th, 2007

I had wanted to go to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington DC last weekend.

Time is not my friend and in hindsight I haven’t a clue as to how I could’ve done it. Nevertheless, grazing through the blogs I came across a video of the event that Max Blumenthal had put together. I found it on the Maryland Federation of College Democrats web site.

If you’d like to know more about Max Blumenthal go here for a brief bio and list of his pieces in “The Nation.” I cannot refer you to his blog because it has lots of “unpleasant words…”

It appears that he is a one-person cottage industry in the pursuit of painting Republicans in a profoundly unbearable - undesirable light – And I guess there’s the rub.

And he seems to have had some success in doing that.

Michelle Malkin was less than pleased to see Mr. Blumenthal at CPAC. She wrote:

“Interlude: Two punks from The Nation with a camera stopped by my book signing to ambush me about In Defense of Internment. Have they bothered to read the book? No. I look forward to their butchering of my comments and the predictable unhinged reaction.”

Mr. Blumenthal wrote:

“I met concentration camp enthusiast Michelle Malkin at her book signing at CPAC today. I merely asked her to autograph this photo and she launched into a prolonged hysterical rant at the lens of our video camera. From the looks of what she wrote on her blog, Malkin is not looking forward to seeing video of the encounter…”

Later Mr. Blumenthal added in a post titled, “CPAC: The Unauthorized Documentary:”

The video is finally ready! I’m having trouble embedding it on WordPress so just click here to view it.

A preview:

Michelle Malkin goes unhinged and launches a hysterical tirade into the lens of our camera. I ask Ann “John Edwards is a (My redact)” Coulter why she isn’t the same person on Sunday morning as on Sunday night. Tom Tancredo fanatics lose their cool when asked about connection between race and immigration, then try to conceal their neo-Confederate paraphenalia(sic). a curiously pale black Republican explains why black Republicans can’t get elected. Bob Barr, Grover Norquist and “Flipper,” the anti-Romney dolphin, discuss the conservative movement. I receive a special gift from David Horowitz…and much, much more!

Then later yet, Mr. Blumenthal writes, “Language police chief Michelle Malkin calls me an “(my redact).” Wait, who’s unhinged again?”

Looks like Ms. Malkin and Mr. Blumenthal won’t be exchanging Christmas cards anytime soon.

Of course with Ann Coulter’s reprehensible remark at the Conservative Political Action Conference, perhaps it really isn’t that hard to paint Republicans in an unpleasant light.

Speaking of Ms. Coulter’s unfortunate remarks, Michelle Malkin has weighed in. I’ll put her remarks in a footnote so that some of my friends who do not care to go to her site can read them absent any philosophical trauma.[1]

I’m just not sure what to make of the video. I sorta-kinda viewed it with an eye for “how not to conduct oneself” with someone with whom I have political disagreements. I believe that when working with someone who disagrees with me – that’s the time to turn on the charm, be profoundly polite and make sure that we can all go out and have a soda afterwards.

And I guess that is what is lacking in politics these days.

To be certain, Mr. Blumenthal is a “brave” person. I would be profoundly uncomfortable at a Cindy Sheehan rally or if I were to attend the YearlyKos Convention[2] with the specific agenda and purpose of gathering only information that paints Democrats in an unpleasant light.

Perhaps I wouldn’t be uncomfortable? Then again hopefully the professionalism simply would take over and I’d report upon the event straight down the middle. Whatever.

Of “left-wing conferences,” Michelle Malkin wrote:

CPAC's Friday night banquet honored many of these troops, along with modern civil rights leader Ward Connerly (who gave THE best, most eloquent, rousing, passionate, stalwart, and courageous speech of the entire conference), and other conservative leaders. After the dinner, journalist/happy warrior Joel Mowbray quipped to me:

"At left-wing conferences, you leave hating America. At right-wing conferences, you leave loving America."

Well, if you’d like another point of view – and I always do - - Mr. Blumenthal’s video came be found here. It certainly has some cringe worthy moments. I’d love to find a video with another point of view from Mr. Blumenthal’s.

####

[1] Enter Ann Coulter.

Her "(My redact)" joke was not just a distraction from all the good that was highlighted and represented at the conference. It was the equivalent of a rhetorical fragging--an intentionally-tossed verbal grenade that exploded in her own fellow ideological soldiers' tent.

There are countless conservatives who bring their children to CPAC. It's a family-friendly event. I brought mine last year and the year before. I met several parents with their kids there this year. We expect CPAC to be a place where conservative role models speak with clarity, passion, and integrity. There are enough spewers of mindless filth, vulgarity, and hatred on TV, at the movies, and in the public schools. We don't expect our children to be exposed to that garbage at the nation's preeminent conservative gathering.

I was in the back of the ballroom and did not see any children in the audience during Coulter's speech. But what if there had been?

Would you want your children hearing the word "faggot" spoken in such a casual and senseless manner? Would you like your first-grader or three-year-old running around the halls of CPAC singing "(my redact)?" Not me. Not anymore than I'd like my toddler singing "(my redack)" or "(My redack)"--favored epithets hurled at conservative minorities by leftist haters groping around in their empty intellectual quivers. There were hundreds of young conservative college students in the ballroom. Would you be proud of your college-age daughter spewing such epithets in her campus debates with leftists?

With a single word, Coulter sullied the hard work of hundreds of CPAC participants and exhibitors and tarred the collective reputation of thousands of CPAC attendees. At a reception for college students held by the Young America's Foundation, I lambasted the substitution of stupid slurs for persuasion-- be it "(My redact)" from a conservative or " (My redact)" from a liberal--and urged the young people there to conduct themselves at all times with dignity in their ideological battles on and off campus.

I made something else explicitly clear: Not all of us treat the communication of conservative ideals and ideas as 24/7 performance art. You can and should use humor to convey your message. You can enlighten and entertain--without becoming a tired old schtick. You can joke without becoming the joke.

[2] The mission of YearlyKos is to encourage and facilitate the promotion of progressive values. YearlyKos uses the term "progressive" to describe the common values held by most Americans, rather than as a reference to any political or partisan agenda. Progressive values include, for example, preserving and promoting the environment, equal rights for all human beings, separation of church and state, good governance and ethics in government, the private sector, and individual behavior, enlightened international relations, media reform, voters' rights, and election reform. YearlyKos intends to pursue these broad goals through social and cultural programs that center on progressive values and worldviews. Specifically, YearlyKos will focus on progressive community building through arts and education.

YearlyKos may develop and conduct classes, workshops, lectures, and seminars to educate the public about progressive values. It will present these programs at its own events and at progressive conferences, such as the annual convention held by bloggerpower.org.

To learn about the YearlyKos Convention, sponsored by bloggerpower.org with the generous support of YearlyKos Inc. please click here.

20070304 True Geek

True Geek

A couch blogger geek in action.

March 4th, 2007

My wife, pray for her, took the picture. One cannot be sure if she was gathering evidence or what. You would’ve thought her mother would’ve warned her from marrying a nerd. Then, again, maybe she was warned and didn’t heed the advice – cuz ya know geeks always get the girl.

Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.

####

20070303 Ann Coulter comment on Edwards is reprehensible

Ann Coulter’s comment about John Edwards is reprehensible.

March 3rd, 2007

And speaking of “20070303 The Pillage Idiot says” and “$)*%&#@(&!” - - whether it was a bad joke poorly delivered or whatever – Ann Coulter’s use of a slur to describe presidential hopeful John Edwards is reprehensible.

Click here to see Ann Coulter's controversial comments on John Edwards.

Or just click: “Ann Coulter uses slur to describe John Edwards @ CPAC”

There are plenty of polite and even colorful words available to disagree with the positions and views of presidential hopeful John Edwards.

Ms. Ann Coulter unnecessarily gave Mr. Edwards relevancy (see “John Edwards Hopes to Raise 'Coulter Cash' After Commentator's … Comment”) when she resorted to using a slur in her Conservative Political Action Conference presentation to describe the person that is John Edwards.

Disagreeing with his views provides more than ample fodder for discussion but attacking him as a person is off the table and cries out for an apology.

Until she apologizes, I certainly hope that Fox News and “Townhall.com” drops her from their repertoire.

Ann Coulter uses slur to describe John Edwards @ CPAC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx9Bi3C4rs8

#### !?*&%#@!! ####

20070226 Tapscott on Internet and government transparency

Tapscott on Internet and government transparency

Internet and government transparency

February 26^th, 2007 – Posted March 3^rd, 2007

I had missed it – but just came across a fascinating commentary by Mark Tapscott, the “editorial page editor of The Washington Examiner and a member of The Examiner Newspaper’s national editorial board.”

_____

Mark Tapscott: They aren’t laughing now about the Internet and government transparency

Mark Tapscott, The Examiner

Feb 26, 2007 3:00 AM

WASHINGTON - There were more than a few skeptical chuckles seven years ago when I first wrote in a Knight Ridder column that posting federal contracts and other spending documents on the Internet could restore public confidence in government by making it more transparent.

They aren’t laughing anymore. Using the Internet to foster greater transparency and accountability in government has not only become one of the few points of agreement between liberals and conservatives, it has even become official government policy.

Exhibit A here, of course, is passage last year of Coburn-Obama, aka the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, co-sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and enthusiastically signed into law by President Bush.

Coburn-Obama directs the U.S. Office of Management and Budget to establish a Google-like searchable database of most federal spending by 2009. You can view the preliminary Web site at FederalSpending.gov. You can also get a good idea of the benefits to come by checking OMB Watch’s superb Fedspending.org, a precursor to the Coburn-Obama database.

Read the rest here. More great links and this informative commentary is well worth the time.

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Kevin

20070303 News from CSM Tom Beyard in the Middle East

News from CSM Tom Beyard in the Middle East

March 3^rd, 2007

Pictured above is CSM Beyard at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Notice that he is close to a delineated mine field – but why is he smiling? I’ll bet that when he and I were working together in Westminster City Hall, we both wish the “mine fields” in Westminster were as clearly marked.

The other picture is CMS Beyard’s…also from “Week 34.”

In an e-mail from CSM Tom Beyard from February 25^th, 2007 he said:

“Just returned from trip to Bagram, Afghanistan to visit our fix forward soldiers there. Had pleasure to present AAM to one soldier and to see our soldiers in action supporting the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade.

“Our soldiers are doing sheet metal work and provided maintenance support for (my redact) aircraft. Bagram is surrounded by the most beautiful mountains you have ever seen. The actual Bagram air base was used by the Soviets in their war against Afghanistan in the 1980s. The temperature there was very cold and damp and I admire all soldiers working and living in that environment. It is a credit to the toughness and training of our soldiers.”

In his recent e-mail, CMS Beyard calls attention to

“… how our soldiers are saving the Army thousands of dollars in component repairs. Also, (take note of the) photographs from my recent trip to Bagram, Afghanistan.”

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20070303 The Pillage Idiot says

The Pillage Idiot says... $)*%&#@(&!.

March 3^rd, 2007

I’d like to echo the remarks the Pillage Idiot recently made in a blog post: “$)*%&#@(&!.”

Kudos for our fearless leader of the Maryland Bloggers Alliance for saying that “George Carlin's seven words you can't say on the radio” rarely appear in his blog.

I must say that it is one of the reasons that I enjoy his blog.

I am dumbstruck to find the use of foul language in the blogosphere. Yeah, it’s an exercise of free speech, but nevertheless the right to free speech comes with responsibilities.

Whenever I come across a blog site or blog post with foul language, I exercise my right to move on to another web site – in haste.

If someone has such little grasp on their language skills and cannot articulate a position without the use of the foul language, my view is that they have little to offer me as to their opinion.

I dare say that I am hardly “little Miss Goody Two Shoes,” (Where did that expression come from anyway?) but I try hard to talk the walk and avoid the foul language on this web site and applaud Attila for his post and his blog.

Find his post here.

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20070228 Reconnecting a friend to Fred Magsamen

Web site helps reconnect a friend to Fred Magsamen

February 28th, 2007 – Posted March 3rd, 2007

Last Wednesday’s Westminster Eagle has a letter to the editor about a column I wrote for the Westminster Eagle – and later a blog post I wrote on the Winchester Report on May 26th, 2006: "On Memorial Day, Freddy Magsamen is No. 11 in our hearts."

Web site helps reconnect a friend to Fred Magsamen

I just blundered (literally) across a story about Fred Magsamen that Kevin Dayhoff wrote for The Westminster Eagle way back in May 2006. ("On Memorial Day, Freddy Magsamen is No. 1 in our hearts," May 26, 2006.)

His story brought tears to my eyes. I am the Ken Van Arsdel whom he quoted in the article.

I can't tell you how much the article means to me. I counted Fred as a good friend É best friend É although I knew him for only a few short months.

The intensity of life as a soldier in Recon Company, CCN, seemed to distill daily experiences into moments that were both potent and poignant. Great friendships were formed quickly in the maelstrom of the events we lived. Sadly, they were often brought up short, as the odds caught up with us.

Mr. Dayhoff's article told me more about Fred than I ever knew, and I miss him all the more for it. Thank you for remembering him, and for sharing those memories with the world.

The Internet is a wonderful thing; without it I would never have seen your article.

Or would I? It is an experience like this that makes one question whether "divine intervention" or "karma" are more than just pop culture concepts.

Ken Van Arsdel

San Andreas, Calif.

(Editor's Note: The Magsamen article and others are available on our Web site, at http://www.thewestminstereagle.com/.)

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20070303 Washington Co MD names Greg Murray County Administrator

Washington Co MD names Greg Murray Co Admin

Posted March 3rd, 2007

Hat Tip: Maryland Politics Today by P. Kenneth Burns. Check out this site the next chance you get, Lots of interesting stuff. I found the post about Greg Murray here.

A week or so ago, on February 21st, 2007, a colleague was named Washington County Administrator.

This public acknowledgment is somewhat belated, however, I’d like to publicly congratulate former Director of the Department of Water Quality Gregory B. Murray, for his selection as Washington County Maryland Administrator.

I had the pleasure and honor of working with County Administrator Murray on the Bay Restoration Fund Committee and I was quite impressed. Not only does he have a keen mind and is technological proficient, he is pragmatic, methodical, and well versed in environmental issues.

He will do Washington County a super job.

Below please find the news release from when he was selected and when he was officially appointed.

Congratulations Mr. Murray. Now get to work.

____

Washington County MD names Greg Murray County Administrator

Washington County Maryland News Release

Document Modified: 2/21/07 1:33 PM

Board of County Commissioners Names Murray County Administrator

http://www.washco-md.net/public_info/new_admin.shtm

After careful consideration of several highly qualified candidates, on Tuesday, February 20th, the Washington County Board of County Commissioners selected Gregory B. Murray, Director of the Department of Water Quality (DWQ), as the new Washington County Administrator.

The Commissioners cited Murray's 24 years of public administration and his leadership role over the County’s $205 million in Water Quality Department assets during his 10 years as DWQ Director. His Management and Public Administration experience includes budgeting, personnel, facility management, design and design review, regulatory compliance, project management, system evaluation, training, computer system and technology implementation, governmental operations and interaction with the public.

The Commissioners said Murray has an extensive knowledge of the County’s infrastructure needs, planning and regulatory issues, and shares a good working relationship all of the County’s departments, with community organizations and businesses, and with the County's nine municipalities.

He has authored regulations for State approval, local codes and ordinances, safety policies and rate studies and is a contributor to a nationally distributed Manual of Practice.

Originally employed by the Washington County Sanitary District as the Laboratory Director in 1983, Murray was WCSD Supervisor of Facilities from 1989-1994, served as Director of Utilities and Public Works for the Town of Hancock from 1994-97, prior to being employed as Director of Washington County's Water and Sewer Operations in 1997. The department's name was changed in 2003 to come in line with environmental regulations.

Under his direction, DWQ was one of the first such departments in Maryland to institute wireless remote technology for control of pumping stations. Electronic payment of water and sewer bills was also put into place during his term as Director.

He worked with the Governor's Office and the Local Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly on Senate Bill 320, the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act, and was appointed by Governor Robert Ehrlich to the Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee. He has worked closely with Environmental Protection Administration and the Maryland Department of the Environment to improve the quality of wastewater processed by all County treatment facilities and ensure the quality of water supplied to customers on the County system.

Environmental Licenses held by Murray include Class 4 Water Treatment and Water Superintendent, Class 5 Wastewater Treatment and Wastewater Superintendent, Distribution System, Distribution Superintendent, Class 2 Collection System, Class 2 Collection Superintendent and Maryland State Sediment Control Inspector.

Murray has been commended on numerous occasions over his 10-year Directorship for helping reduce water and wastewater treatment costs through innovative practices and techniques. In 2005 he wrote a state grant that brought $6.5 million to the County for Biological Nutrient Removal upgrades to the wastewater treatment system as part of the Chesapeake Bay project. He was instrumental in closing of the outdated Nicodemus treatment plant, which saved millions in retrofitting costs for that outmoded facility.

He takes the reins from Rodney M. Shoop, who has served as County Administrator since 1995. Shoop announced his retirement in September of 2006.

The Board will officially appoint Greg Murray to his new role as County Administrator at its next scheduled meeting.

A native of Washington County, he currently resides with his family in the Smithsburg area.

_____

Meeting Summary Press Release

Note: This is a SUMMARY of the Commissioners Meeting for the purposes of a Press Release. These are not the official minutes of the meeting.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: NORMAN BASSETT 240-313-2077

Review of Actions Taken in the Washington County

Board of County Commissioners Meeting February 27, 2007

http://www.washco-md.net/commissioners/summary/2007/070227.shtm#pic

APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners officially appointed Gregory B. Murray as County Administrator. Murray, 46, has been the Director of the Department of Water Quality for ten years and brings 24 years of public administration and leadership to his new role as County Administrator. His Management and Public Administration experience includes budgeting, personnel, facility management, design and design review, regulatory compliance, project management, system evaluation, training, computer system and technology implementation, governmental operations including prior service with municipal government as Public Works Director and interaction with the public. He graduated from Heritage Academy, Hagerstown Junior College and also graduated with Summa cum laude honors from American Intercontinental University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He is currently enrolled in the Masters of Public Administration program of the University of Baltimore. He is a member of the American Society of Public Administration, the American Public Works Association, the County Engineers Association of Maryland, the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation and the Maryland Association of Municipal Wastewater Agencies. He serves on numerous boards and commissions at the state and local kevel. He holds a number of environmental licenses including Class 2,4, and 5 Wastewater Treatment and Superintendent licenses. In 2006 he was selected by the Ministry of Personnel of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), along with State Administration Foreign Affairs Experts to represent Washington County and the environmental community as an international expert for exchange of technologies and ideas with the public and private sectors in Shandiong Province, PRC. A native of Washington County, Greg currently resides with his family in the Smithsburg area. Murray thanked the County for affording him educational opportunities and said he pledged to "work hard to make Washington County a better place to live, work and play."

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