Horribly Bad For County Government: this is the theme today, tomorrow and everyday until, on November 7th, the voters say NO. In my last article, I mentioned some reasons that these are bad for us, and noted that I would supply the ballot question letters.
On the ballot questions we will vote NO to question B which would direct the county government to not exceed the number of positions in each grade for any specific agency as approved in the budget without returning to the council to for approval. This is a time consuming constraint on the ability of the executive to react to emergencies and changing situations. More hands in the wheel when changing lanes is not necessarily the right time for committee decision making.
We will also vote NO to question C which would give the legislative branch the right to ear-mark for its own uses 1% of the total annual budget. This is the so-called “revenue enhancement amendment. Not only would we have to track the executive for grants and contracts but now we would have to follow the money through nine council people. The amount of effort and time to build vertical coalitions of interest group would discourage small and minority business.
NO will also be the vote on amendment F which is the attempt to restrict by adding a consulting by the council feature to the letting of small and minority personal service contracts by the executive. This one would effectively take the very people who benefit, small and minority businesses out of the picture for the same reasons as mentioned in the last paragraph.
G is a NO because it constricts, constrains, and confines the executive from responding promptly, professionally, and purposefully to unforeseen emergencies and situations which arise from changing times and events. This is bad management and bad government. Someone needs to respond when the voter calls. Committees can review later, by the voter needs help now, not after consultation. Equipment needs be purchased before the patient dies, at once, with the shortest amount of delay.
And H is an additional delay which we do not need. We need people appointed and at work for us quicker. We should be asking that government try to move faster not slower. This amendment, which would extend the appointment time for top level and legislatively confirmed positions on commissions from 30 days to 45 days, should get a NO vote.
How should remember these charter amendments for proud Prince George’s? Horribly Bad For County Government. Vote NO!
