Candidates rip proposed raise for county commissioners

Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009

Last week the Charles County Compensation Commission wrote in its official report that a recommended salary increase for the county commissioners was "justified and appropriate."

The handful of candidates who've already filed to run against the incumbent commissioners in 2010 say it's "shameful" and "irresponsible."

"It's the ultimate sign of arrogance," said District 1 candidate Ken Robinson (D). "These commissioners need to set an example for the county: Don't vote for getting any raises at all, much less at 48 percent."

"To me I think the legislature is saying ‘we deserve this pay raise; we control the budget and we control the [county] employees,'" said Johnnie DeGiorgi (D), who has filed for the District 2 seat. "It's like asking how much is a person worth."

According to the recommendations presented by the compensation commission, because of the increased responsibilities and hope to cast a wide net for candidate hopefuls, the board members are each entitled to a salary increase starting in calendar 2011.

In 2010 the president of the county commissioners' President F. Wayne Cooper (D) will make $58,000 and the four other commissioners will each be given $48,000.

The compensation commission's salary suggestion increases those paychecks through 2014. If the recommendation is passed as is, the president's salary will be $90,000 and the associate commissioners will get $76,500.

The term "associate" was also incorporated in the commission's official report in response to whether the traditional "part-time commissioner" was an appropriate title given the number of hours each board member dedicates to the job.

"In information provided by both current and previous Commissioners, rare was the week where a full 40 hours or more of time was not dedicated to the elected position," the compensation commission wrote.

Mike Phillips, another candidate for the District 2 race, said he questioned that the commissioners actually work the hours they told the commission they do.

"How many hours are spent doing something like posing for pictures and how much [time] is actually spent doing the business of the city," Phillips (R) asked. "In these economic times [the salary increase] is not the responsible thing to do. [The commissioners] have slashed the budget as needed but they've not slashed it in the right places."

Phillips said if he is wins a seat on the board, he'll do what he can to rescind the salary increases — assuming they are passed.

County Attorney Roger Fink said that, constitutionally the commissioners have to accept the salaries but there is no limit to what they may do with the money once it is received.

The commissioners can adjust the recommendation to a lower amount, but cannot raise it.

When asked about what they would do about the potential salary increases last week, the incumbents' answers ranged from taking a "wait and see" approach to accepting the salary depending on the state of the economy in a year.

A letter to the Maryland Independent from Cooper dated Nov. 23 states that Cooper will not be voting in favor of increasing that position's salary. In a telephone interview last week, Cooper said he would take the raise depending on the state of the economy.

"The recession is wide and deep and the reduction in county revenue which will continue for several more years is forcing us to furlough employees and trim our budget to the bone so in my view we must share in that sacrifice," the letter states.

Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D) could not be reached for comment.

Like Phillips, the other commissioner candidates expressed their desire to see those salaries decreased if they make it into office.

"I think the commissioners should get money, I'm OK with that," DeGiorgi said. "But when they're voting themselves a pay raise and talking about layoffs and furloughs, I can't support [that]."

"One of the first things I said [during an Aug. 5 rally at the board of elections] was that I will do whatever I legally can to reduce salaries," said District 2 candidate Rick Campbell (R).

Campbell said he thought the official report was contradictory and unfounded, and advised candidates that if they had complaints about the salaries, then they shouldn't run for office.

"This is an elected position, a public service," Campbell said. "You should know going in … what to expect."

Jim Thompson (R), running for commissioners' president, said he would not accept the salary and would only consider it once the economic climate was clear enough for regular county employees to get their own raises.

"I don't think the commissioners deserve a raise because they shouldn't [serve] for a paycheck. That's not what it's about," Thompson said. "Public servants are dedicated and willing to sacrifice for the good of the people."

Compensation increases for three other boards and two commissions have also been included in the recommendations.

Though none of the five is raised by more than several hundred dollars the combined totals do near the equivalent of a full time position with the county, said Robinson.

A Board of Appeals member since 2008, Robinson said he was surprised to receive his first check in the mail, as he had signed on for the board thinking it was a volunteer position.

He said he wouldn't resign if that paycheck stopped coming, and he assumed his fellow board members and others like him didn't join those commissions looking for economic gain.

County staff is currently drawing up a bill for introduction which will be open to public comment.

msomers@somdnews.com