From the Harford Campaign for Liberty:
Dear Harford County Taxpayer,
Unbelievable.
The Harford County Council has ignored the protest from their constituents.
They ignored the throng of citizens that spoke out against raises for elected officials.
When the final vote was taken, the council passed Bill 14-27, which gives the next County Executive a HUGE raise.
Craig’s replacement will make $130,000 per year instead of the current $105,000 salary slated for the Exec.
Pretty sweet. It’s nice to have friends on the inside.
Police and teachers go without but the County Council, led by Mary Ann Lisanti and Billy Boniface, think it’s OK to belly up to the trough with your bucks.
Has anyone explained the meaning of public service to these folks?
Lisanti wants to be your next state delegate. Is this how she demonstrates her sensitivity toward voters?
Mr. Boniface could end up in the next administration. His new boss will be mighty grateful for the big bonus.
And most of the council went along with this bit of government gone wild.
They’ve temporarily abandoned hopes for their own piece of the pie but you can be assured they’ll be back for another try as soon as they think the coast is clear.
County Executive David Craig is expected to veto this bill.
In anticipation, Council President Boniface has called a Special Session for this Thursday, September 25th. They hope to override the veto while you and I are watching Thursday Night Football.
NO WAY!
This meeting will not allow public comment, and according to council leadership should last no more than 5 minutes. Sounds like their minds are already made up.
Will you let them get away with this?
Contact your council member and insist they let this veto stand.
Mary Ann Lisanti
410-638-3526
districtf@harfordcountycouncil.com
Chad Shrodes
410-638-3524
cshrodes@harfordcountymd.gov
Joe Woods
410-638-3520
jmwoods@harfordcountymd.gov
Jim McMahan
410-638-3523
jvmcmahan@harfordcountymd.gov
Dion Guthrie
410-638-3521
dfguthrie@harfordcountymd.gov
Billy Boniface
410-638-3525
wkboniface@harfordcountymd.gov
Will you attend the County Council’s Special Session? Hold these individuals accountable for treating themselves to the goodies that the rest of us go without.
September 25, 2014
7:30 pm
Council Chambers
212 South Bond Street
Bel Air, MD.
You can be sure these abuses will continue if we do not STAND UP and LOUDLY make our dissatisfaction known.
Public service does not mean that they serve themselves first!
Sincerely,
Harford Campaign for Liberty
www.harfordliberty.org
Meetings every Fourth Tuesday, 7-9pm
Knights of Columbus Hall
Forest Hill, Maryland
P.S. – There’s no time to waste! YOU MUST CALL OR EMAIL TODAY IF YOU WANT YOUR VOICE HEARD!
Link to the story about County Executive David R. Craig’s veto of County Council Bill 14-27, which if enacted would raise the base salary of the Harford County Executive from $90,000 to $130,000:
http://www.daggerpress.com/2014/09/23/david-craig-vetoes-legislation-to-increase-salary-of-the-harford-county-executive/#comment-280875
Isn’t it refreshing to read in the original article that “republican” — or “democrat,” (or whatever commentator)–is going to stop voting the straight party line and start voting for “whoever is the best candidate.”
Why isn’t Barry Glassman saying, “drop it I don’t need a 25,000 raise”?!
This is just disgusting in so many ways, and I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear why they’re all REALLY voting for it.
County employees have not had a raise for about 7 years. And nothing is ever written about that. Only teachers the sheriff’s office is mentioned. This happens all the time. I think so many of the public seem to forget that the majority of county employees are also hardworking people that live in this county also AND pay taxes also just like the general public does. They pay income taxes to the county and they pay property taxes to the county and everything else that is associated with living in this county. They have been treated dirty by this administration. There are of course many people (mainly friends and family of the current administration) that have received increases here and there. All they do is give these people a different title with more money connected to it while they are doing the very same job they have done before. The hardworking non-administration connected employees are the ones that have been shafted for 7 years while the administration has thrown money into buying real estate and worthless property or develop property and throw a contract to someone that is connected. The general harford county citizens of course mostly know nothing about this. It is very sad that harford county citizens cannot see the truth as it is presented in so many ways and how they also shaft the general and hardworking employes that work for YOU. Because, believe it or not, agencies have to be staffed to service citizens. There were contracts in place that should have been adhered to, but all of this was done away with by this current administration for a certain purpose. It was not just the economy, it was simple to give more money to the administration to spend on “projects” that are not really necessary. This was instituted by the former HR Director that had been brought in by the current administration and all of this was done to restrict retirement income for future retirees and also restrict their social security payments when they retire after putting in years of faithful work for the citizens of Harford County. Hopefully, citizens will start to realize these truths and start voting with their clear minds and stop being fooled by what politicians tell them.
Didn’t all county employees receive a 4% increase two to three years ago? The County Executive spoke about this in his veto message on the bill to increase the Executive pay. Is he not telling the truth? I realize that a 4% increase over a 7 year period is not very much but it was more than nothing.
No, county employees did NOT receive a raise 3-4 years ago. There was supposed to be a one-time bonus, paid half in December and half in June. But the second half was eliminated. After taxes, it was about $350.
I am not ungrateful. I am falling further and further behind and tired of hearing about the raises the politicians are getting, and not those who do all the work those politicians promise will get done.
All county employees received a 4% raise in 2012, the year after the bonus.
http://www.daggerpress.com/2012/10/04/harford-county-executive-craig-proposes-4-merit-increases-for-county-employees-retroactive-to-july-1-pending-council-approval/
There were many employees who did NOT see that “raise.” It was merit-based. Not a lot of employees have the morale to go above and beyond when there is no reward for it.
Keep in mind that Harford County employees don’t get cost of living or step increases. If you work for Harford County Public Library, for example, and made $7.25 five years ago, you likely still make $7.25 unless you applied for, interviewed, and were granted an open position.
Administrators tell employees that they should be grateful to have jobs, and they are, but it is difficult when they don’t feel valued or rewarded for their work. Most of them continue to do it because they’re surrounded by incredible coworkers and citizens who value their services.
Of course the raise is merit based. If you don’t merit a raise why should you get one?
Honestly, I don’t know how they all sleep at night.
Most of the county citizens would be disgusted to know about all of the back room deals that happen with this current administration! Pay offs and pay outs. Terrible.
Thank you, Irene, for mentioning the county employees. They have been treated like dirt by the current executive and his cronies. They are always told to do more with less, and people are afraid to speak out for fear of losing their jobs to be replaced by someone involved in the “friends and family plan.”
I really wish they did something more clever than the pig, like saying “a $25,000 raise is BAAAAAA-AT $H!T Crazy”. with a picture of one of Barry’s sheep yard signs. Now that is effective marketing.
Slap a sheep on a sign, Fun Fun Fun, and come down to Bond Street tomorrow night!
Let your voice be heard, email the council, I have and it is very easy. You will need one additional email address however- jvmcmahan@harfordcountymd.gov
The correct email for JV McMahan is captain7417@yahoo.com
I’m very disappointed in this. My opponent, Mr. McMahan, stated loudly and early that he was in favor of both this raise, and the 20% proposed for the County Council. I have been quoted in the press, and have spoken many times in public, that I find this to be just plain wrong. Mr. McMahan says that we have to start from the top down with raises; my grandfather taught me that you build from the foundation up if you want a strong structure. And the foundation of our county is the teachers, deputies and county workers – not the politicians!
I was also frankly insulted at the idea that there needed to a 20% raise to get “good candidates to the job” of County Councilperson. I don’t believe that being in office should be a job – I’m not a career politician and I don’t want someone who is. I believe there is, and should be, an element of public service to being in office, that we should have citizen statesmen as our founding fathers envisioned. I believe in putting people above party, and that good ideas don’t only come with a D or R in front of them. I believe in Abraham Lincoln’s government, a government of, by and for the people. Not a government of professional politicians.
We have a choice this November. We can vote for the same people, and keep getting the same results, and not having the voice of real citizens respected and heard. Or we can make a change. I’m hoping to help move Harford County forward, and if you’re in District C, I hope you’ll help me do that by voting for me for County Council. – Gina Kazimir, candidate for County Council District C
A lot of people who don’t merit raises get them…
People who haven’t gotten raises in five years don’t take on a lot of extra tasks for their performance reviews. They’re just trying to get by.
Sad but true. To much of that happening in our country and county…… doing just enough to get by, then, disappointed when they didn’t get more money.
They can hardly keep up with WAWA price increases.
A merit raise is only awarded to county employees–not those that are grant funded. The previous raise did not include grant funded, employees in probation or those with less than a year of employment. Only classified employees with more than 1 year of employment received the raise, thus a few hundred did not get a raise at all so those employees have now gone 3 years without a raise. An employee can’t get a merit raise if he/she didn’t meet annual performance standards, is under probation or corrective work plan (those a few every year) The meets performance standards is pretty simple and doesn’t take into account outcomes but more like work like behaviors that are expected an demonstrated through the previous year. The county has steadily increased funds for developers, buildings and friends/family plans. The county needs to get a grip and pay its workers a fair wage.
One of my neighbors missed out on his merit raise because he was employed 3 days after the cutoff date.
Why should anyone go well above their assigned duties? No raises no matter what you do anyway! Two raises in 10 years, that’s what I have been living on. Our CE and CC have taken our dedication and figure that most are just happy to have a job. Good benefits and a pension doesn’t pay my mortgage or pay my bills. No wonder the county is having such a hard time finding and filling all kinds of positions. I told my son to apply for an IT job and he looked at the pay and laughed. He is making at least 30K more and his benefits are just as good as the county’s. He is also getting a 6% match to his 401K, not to mention bonuses every year.. It doesn’t matter what Jim from Hickory has to say because I see guys like him all the time. He probably pays next to nothing and all he does is complain. Our elected officials need to govern! Which means making choices that may not be popular with the citizens either.
oh hell yea lets take from the taxpayers to reward mediocrity in government workers.At least your son realized what a loser you are.
No one said nothing about rewarding mediocre work performance. My son, I am sure has his own opinion of me but I am pretty sure “loser” isn’t one of them. Stay classy my friend, your doing so well representing the taxpaying public…
hsays: you should be ashamed of yourself with that comment. The majority of county employees are hardworking and do an excellent job. Especially the people that have been working there for many years. They are the dedicated ones. The family/friends plan employees are a whole other story. All new administrations as a matter of fact do this, but it has never been done to the extent as with this administration. The people that work hard and are not appreciated are the ones that are not getting what they deserve, their steps. The people that were brought in always have been taken care of. And for you to make such an ignorant and nasty remark just shows how little you know about anything. You truly should look in the mirror and see what is looking back at you. You are apparently a sad and miserable person to have such opinions and voice such opinions when you in fact do not know anything of what is actually happening.
The majority of county workers couldn’t keep a job in the real world.
blah bro ain’t got no doe,
More BS from blah. Private sector making all this and all that – blah…blah…blah…bletch. BS.
Read the recent Franchot snippet in the Dagger and get a bath of reality.
Also, why did you buy a house you cannot afford? Did you get one of those old liar loans with the escalating rate? Idiot. Ain’t no county money left to bail you out. Maybe your son can help you out since he is making all that imaginary, phoney-baloney, plastic banana private sector money you claim he is.
It’s the good-ole-boy network taking care of themselves. Once they are elected all common sense goes out the window and they forget who put them in office, best thing to do is do not vote for them again and hope that the next elected official uses some common sense.
A copy of my email to the council this morning. Because of short notice I cannot attend the meeting tonight but I feel it’s important to let people know that others are disturbed by this legislation and are taking action as well.
Council members,
As I am sure you have received many emails regarding the plan to override the veto concerning county executive compensation I will be succinct. Setting aside the fact that it should be obvious by now that the public does not support this measure, I am particularly disappointed with the decision to hold a “special session” of the county council only 48 hours after the county executive vetoed bill 14-27. I want desperately to believe that the intent of these proceedings is to allow a transparent reexamination of the proposed legislation. However, the fact that this session was moved up nearly two weeks and is rumored to prohibit more community discourse leaves me perplexed, frustrated, and saddened. Please take the time to consider not only the council’s perceived merits of bill 14-27 but also the effect this type of governance has on the community and its faith in dutiful representation.
Were these council members asleep during the public comments?!
Start at minute 25:00 – people showed up in droves.
http://harfordcountymd.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=361
The council overturned David Craig’s veto last night 6-1. Slutzky was the only no.
Vote ’em out. Clean house.