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.

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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.

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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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