Cambridge Matters: Considering changes in county manager position

This follows my recent Cambridge Matters regarding the “transparency” requirement that Dorchester Citizens for Better Government is sponsoring (by petition) for approval by the voters in the November 2022 general election. Last time, I discussed the need for greater transparency in Dorchester County’s government and the petition to add a new section 606 in the County Charter to address that need by requiring the timely and reasonable disclosure of information about the conduct and operations of our county government.

This time, I’ll discuss the proposed revision of Charter sections 405 and 406, which pertain to the county manager position. This petition has a summary of what will change and what will remain the same as in the current charter.

The reason for the summary is that the proposed changes are over one page long and would not fit on the petition form. The complete language of the proposed sections 405 and 406 will be sent through a separate Cambridge Matters email and will be available to review when we are out seeking signatures on the petition, which will soon be available for that purpose. As mentioned previously, about 5,000 registered Dorchester County voters must sign a petition for that proposed revision to be placed on the ballot in the election.

A major reason for these proposed changes is the abnormal turnover in key positions in recent years – this causes a lack of stable leadership, decline in morale, and inefficiency. For example, two former county managers have left in the past two years or so, and since January of 2021 this position has been filled by an “acting county manager.”

The proposed revision of Charter sections 405 and 406 provides for appointment of the county manager based solely on education and experience in accepted competencies and practices of local government management “… and without regard to his or her political affiliation,” by majority vote of the entire council, and strengthens the role of the county manager in hiring and termination decisions of both staff and department heads, among other changes, including:

• Instituting a formal process and safeguards for the hiring and dismissal of the county manager
• Setting a time limit on the service of an acting county manager
• Prohibiting any council member individually from directing an action be taken by the county manager without the concurrence of a majority the full council
• Preventing cronyism while in office by prohibiting a council member from assuming an acting or permanent county manager position during his or her term of office and for two years thereafter. 

The council retains its legislative and executive authority and nothing in these amendments will have any significant budgetary impact. Under the current County Charter, the County Council is both the legislative and executive branch of government. That remains the same.

Other changes from the current County Charter include:

• An employment agreement between the county manager and the county is required.
• There will be a specific process for suspension or removal of the county manager that requires notice, reasons for suspension or termination, and, if requested by the county manager a hearing which can be public if requested by the county manager.
• If there is a vacancy in the county manager position, the County Council is required to undertake specific steps detailed in the petition.
• The county manager must be a U.S citizen who has not been a member of County Council for at least two years.
• An applicant does not have to be a resident of the county when applying for the position but must become a resident within six months or such longer period after appointment as the council may approve and remain a county resident.
• The county manager will appoint, hire, suspend and remove county staff personnel; this function may be delegated to the head of a department or office subject to the county manager’s supervision and control.
• Assuring that the appointment and hiring of county personnel are based solely upon training, education, and experience relevant to the particular position.
• Appointment of an assistant county manager, subject to the council’s approval of the appointment and compensation. The assistant would serve as interim county manager if the county manager is temporarily unavailable or that position becomes vacant.

The purpose of the proposed language of these charter petitions is to help ensure that the County government runs more effectively, efficiently and transparently.

We have reviewed the Model County Charter published by the National Civic League and considered other changes but decided that, rather than offering them through petitions, we would bring them to the attention of the Dorchester County Charter Review Commission that is in the process of being appointed. Its purpose is to look at the current charter and make recommendations to County Council for changes in the County Charter.

While that commission was to have been appointed in 2020, it was not. Some of its members were appointed late last year, and I am unsure if the appointments to all of the spaces on that commission have been made.

When the Charter Review Commission becomes a functioning body, we hope that it will recommend to the County Council the charter changes and revisions we are proposing by the transparency and county manager petitions. Whether or not it makes our requested recommendations will not have any impact on these petitions.

If you are interested in helping with this effort, please contact me at srideout@aol.com. If you want to contribute to the cost of this effort, a contribution can be made to Dorchester Citizens for Better Government c/o Ted Brooks. His address is 604 Church Street, Cambridge, MD 21613.

Mr. Rideout is a former member of the Cambridge City Council and is a retired judge.