Marcey House directors unsure of current role

Volunteers want to keep oversight of halfway house

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009

The volunteer board for the Marcey House in Leonardtown came before the St. Mary's County commissioners Tuesday in a testy exchange about their role in the halfway house's oversight.

The board is made up of volunteers, while the county commissioners have authority over Marcey House's budget and its employees, who are hired by the local government. The commissioners select members to the board.

When agencies were combined to form the St. Mary's County Department of Human Services last year, the Marcey House board of directors thought it would be left alone, said member Daniel Slade.

When its bylaws expired, the county attorney presented new standard language that would bring the board under the umbrella of human services and that's where the problem began.

Slade said the board did not want to be reduced to an advisory role. "This is an incredible program. We are the best in the state of Maryland," he said of the halfway house for drug and alcohol addiction.

But he said the board hasn't been able to get clear direction from the commissioners on their future role. "We're here on our third attempt to get before you gentlemen," Slade said.

His voice rising, Commission President Francis Jack Russell (D) said, "You've asked for this now I'm going to tell you how I see it" and explained he thought the board should come under human services.

"You do good work," said Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D). However, "I don't have a clear understanding as to the role you folks are playing now."

Slade said the directors form policy and interview people, but don't make determinations on which clients to take in. The Marcey House administrators do that.

By coming under the umbrella of the human services department, "We'll have too many cooks in the pot," he said. The Marcey House is focused on one thing – drug and alcohol addiction, he said.

Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D) said Marcey House "doesn't appear to be broke. I've never heard any complaints about the organization. You don't hear of issues with the clients there."

He said while human services sought to eliminate the duplication of effort among various groups and agencies, Marcey House has a unique operation. "I don't want to see it as a battle of who's in charge," Mattingly said.

Commissioner Kenny Dement (R) said the role of Marcey House's board should remain as it is.

Slade said that without commissioner direction, "We weren't sure how we were fitting in" with human services. "We have no direction. We're kind of floundering out there," he said.

County Administrator John Savich said he wasn't sure how the board's responsibilities have changed with the new bylaws. "I don't quite understand what we're talking about."

"We want a direct say," Slade said.

The commissioners agreed to work with the board of directors to make clear their responsibilities.

Marcey House has 15 beds, six for women and nine for men. The average stay is six months.

jbabcock@somdnews.com