From Harford County government:
Harford County Executive Barry Glassman took actions Tuesday to streamline county government for improved customer service, and to save money by proposing a retirement incentive for eligible county employees.
Regarding his planned reorganization of the executive branch, Mr. Glassman said, “I would like to thank our county employees and the approximately 70 volunteers on my transition teams who recommended structural improvements to better serve our customers with the use of an attribution model.”
Issuing a series of executive orders, Mr. Glassman plans to:
· Abolish the Office of Chief of Staff, clarifying lines of authority within the executive branch.
· Privatize the essential functions of the Tourism and Marketing Division in the Office of Economic Development by shifting them to Visit Harford! The non-profit Visit Harford! promotes economic development and tourism in the county.
· Promote employment by transferring the Harford Transit Division from the Department of Community Services to the Department of Economic Development. Harford Transit provides transportation to the transit-dependent population. While maintaining the division’s essential social service function, this shift will sharpen its focus on employers and their employees.
Speaking of the shift, Glassman said, “The availability of reliable transportation is essential to promoting jobs and job growth. Through its relationships with current and potential employers, the Office of Economic Development is positioned to leverage Harford Transit’s existing services as an engine of economic growth.”
· Improve government accountability by establishing the Division of Citizens Affairs and Administrative Services under the Director of Administration. This division will provide citizens with a point of contact for getting questions answered and concerns resolved. The division will also be a resource for County Council members serving constituents. The division chief will act as the liaison between the county executive and the community councils.
“Good customer service for our citizens begins with direct access to government representatives dedicated to the purpose, equipped with accurate information and empowered to solve problems in concert with one or more departments of county government,” Glassman said.
· Advocate for Harford County by reviving the Office of Governmental and Community Relations.
“In economic development, with special emphasis on education, agriculture and technology, I hope to make Harford County a leader among the big seven Maryland counties. Furthering this goal, the Office of Governmental and Community Relations will actively promote the county’s interests on behalf of our citizens with agencies, regulators and legislators at the local, state and national level,” Glassman said.
· Improve efficacy by transferring the Risk Management Division to the Department of Law. The exception to this transfer is security, which will remain under the Director of Administration. “Because the Law Department is involved in issues of liability, workers’ compensation and the aftermath of accidents, it can more effectively manage the county’s risk prevention and risk management operations,” Glassman said.
· Emphasize cost savings by transferring the Sustainability Office currently under the Director of Administration to the Department of Procurement as part of a newly created Division of Efficiency and Innovation. “Making sure Harford taxpayers get the best bang for their buck, this change reflects my philosophy of continuously identifying efficiencies throughout county government. It also leverages the skills of my Procurement Department director nominee who has demonstrated the ability to find cost savings in large organizations,” Glassman said.
In accordance with the county charter, the above executive orders become effective in 60 days unless the County Council choses to take earlier action. Previously announced Cabinet nominees were also presented to the council Tuesday; they are automatically approved in 30 days unless the council takes earlier action.
In addition, at County Executive Glassman’s request, legislation was introduced to the council Tuesday to fund a one-time retirement incentive for eligible county employees in the fiscal year 2015. The incentive applies only to employees paid in the classified services before December 1, 2014. The necessary funding is proposed to come from the county’s unappropriated fund balance.
“With gratitude for the service of all our valued employees, I am proposing this retirement incentive because ongoing fiscal pressures will require a reduction in the county workforce. My hope is that, despite these pressures, a portion of the savings can later be reinvested to help county employees get back on their pay scale,” Glassman said.
Regarding his overall actions on the first full day of his administration, County Executive Glassman said, “I look forward to working with the county council on these and future measures fulfilling my pledge to make county government more efficient and customer service driven.”
It’s refreshing to see the county executive sees the bloat and excess in county employment and the need for a good pruning.
For the rest of you county workers, prepare to actually start working.
Thumbs up Barry, you are off to a great start, If your looking for any other places to cut, get a pack of pick slips and spend the morning at the Hickory WAWA. chopping dead wood like the tin man. 🙂
So you eliminate the Chief of Staff but create a whole new section with the Division of Citizens Affairs and Administrative Services?
How many less employees is the goal from the county executive in his re-alignment because I don’t see government actually getting smaller.
The incentive goal hopes to attract 60 employees or so to retire. Only those that are eligible to retire under the State Pension System are being offered the incentive. It is not the goal to cut off employees but to reduce some labor costs if possible. It also may mean that the county will indeed be hiring people to replace them. New blood is a good thing and it ensures that everyone else can have a job. It is not the intent of the incentive to fire people or reduce in force. The county is getting enough funds to keep everyone employed but future raises are the question at hand. To that end, the CE is hoping enough people take the bait, but I predict that only those that were going to retire anyway would take up the offer. A lot of employees use their leave and don’t really have thousands of hours to make it worth and they are getting paid pretty good money while in their 70’s late 60’s for others. These staff can’t be fired in a reduction in force scenario because they have seniority. labor contracts in place favor seniority, and you can only let go of someone older for work performance. Elderly discrimination suit would cost the county more money as firing someone due to age alone would be illegal. There aren’t any easy solutions as the CE has limited powers and can’t make up revenues, the fact is those are going up while tax rates haven’t increased as we are as a local economy getting past the great recession of the 2000’s.
If the same director of admin remains, that will be a joke.
Jimbo,
The retirement incentive is a way to reduce some costs by asking people with over 20 years to consider retirement to reduce overall labor costs. If these guys don’t take the bait, the CE will have to come up with a different plan. Typically, employees that are classified, in good standing or in seniority are safer than newer employees. So the savings are more limited Best case scenario, enough people take the incentive and the county saves some money and worst case scenario reductions in force may happen but CE can’t get rid of seniority ahead of younger guys which will defeat the purpose in the first place.
The CE is not Obama and can’t do what he wants without consequence. Employees have rights, we are not the private market and market forces don’t apply. The county isn’t losing money or working in the red, the budget is balanced. There is a thought to be punitive as Jim would want it to be, so next time I see you at Wawa, say hi so I can buy you a hot cup of chocolate while I drive my car. You will know me by the polo country shirt that says Harford County on it.
to question,
He’s just rearranging the chairs the way he likes it. This move won’t save any money or probably cost any more money. Some moves aren’t about saving money but finding a way to be more efficient which will save the county money in the long run. I don’t know enough about how many people are moving from one to the next to have a definite idea but I support having the previous office than a bloated executive office which are always staffed with Yes men, not people working…
The CE has some good ideas and as an employee I want better management at the top as long as they know that “we” the employees actually provide the services and they take measures that are sound, efficient and don’t take away from front line services. it is about time to have a CE more concerned about our human resource assets than buildings and contaminated lots…
Bottom line is he knows there can be more done with less people.
I’m sure Barry will find a way to rid the county of the worthless likes of you blew.
He needs me on that wall because I provide the services and give citizens quality attention and I provide them with a smile and a Wawa coffee in my hand:) I have outlasted a few Presidents and a couple of County Executives. Employees doing the work won’t get cut. Yeah, they can move things around and make it better or worse as we will see in the near future. Your ilk Jim, will never be satisfied and I am sure you will complain about Glassman eventually.
The county workforce isn’t bloated one bit, as there are less employees now than 10 years ago. BOE that’s probably a bigger source of waste than we can imagine. Did you know that HCG has actually less employees than Upper Chesapeake Hospital? We both serve the same population except that many people don’t even use the hospitals but will definitely use the county for roads, ems, schools, social services, courts, police, transportation, planning and zoning, housing, sewer, water, waste, landfill, and parks and recreation.
We got along just fine before you and will do just as well when Barry sends you on your way.
Have a nice life the tit has run dry and it’s time for you to leave mommy blew.
I am so hurt that you want me gone. Just wait 5 more years when the county does one of these retirement incentives and I cash in. I only have 15 years in but in 5 more I would be more than glad to leave your sorry butt and cash in my pension and my unused sick leave to the tune of, hopefully over 2000 hours. You lose and I win no matter what!!
Jim,
The govt tit doesn’t dry out for those that actually provide front line services. I am not appointed or can’t be fired without cause. I have received commendations and many emails have gone to my supervisors, as I make sure my clients let my bosses know what good job I am doing. I have saved many employees thousands of their $$$ by hooking them up for services that are free and provided by the county, state of federal resources. You probably think I don’t help but my clients think otherwise because I can make a difference in their lives, specially when they are running out of funds and can’t pay for medicines, their children can’t help them anymore or their independence is threatened by life events. I recently helped a daughter coordinate the move for her elderly parents to assisted living and provided her with an excellent resources as her Dad was a veteran and could be eligible for special benefits through the VA. I did this because it made a difference in their lives, the veteran earned his care (I am a veteran as well) and it would allow the family to be closer together without having to spend the all the funds the elderly couple has just to care for Dad. What part of what I do, you have a beef about? Don’t you understand that the government is there for the public good??
I am not a social worker, but do know enough to get people the help they need. If there is a resource to help the access needed and funded services I will do it. Don’t you think a veteran should be taken care of in their time of need? I do..
Mostly blue I’m sure you do a wonderful job, and of course veterans should be taken care of. The point you are missing is what you do and get paid for, shouldn’t be a paid job in the county government. There are plenty of state federal and non profit organizations that do exactly what you describe.
You are the poster child for what has gone wrong with the local government and jobs that need to be eliminated.
Jimbo,
More work can’t be done with less people doing the work!!!. You can be more efficient, provide less care and less services or add wait time to get services but you can’t do more work with less people!!! We can be more automated and use less people such as not having a receptionist so you can spend half your day trying to talk to a human being and we can set up an intricate triage system under which urgent business come first and you sit and wait your turn because there isn’t someone to plow your street as an example, but you can’t do more work with less people.
” it is about time to have a CE more concerned about our human resource assets than buildings and contaminated lots…”
Agreed, he realizes the human resource asset is where the most urgent cuts need to be made.
Go Barry Go!!!!!
Barry could save a lot of money if he would cancel the back door land deal Craig forced on the taxpayers at the last minute and pull the plug on Havre de Grace High/Middle School. That would pay a lot of step increases.
That property can always be sold at a later date. Barry knows where the real waste is and it’s the fat assed non working county employees. I mean how do you get back paying 12 people sitting around a smelly trash can at WAWA every morning?
Answer is….. fire them.
Barry knows this and they are going down…..
Nope!, that’s not the intention of the CE and the county employees aren’t getting fired!!! but you can wish all you want…. You’ll be complaining soon enough about Barry. People like you are probably some of the biggest users of the county services and funds. How may I help you Jim? Do you need some mental health services?
A man who gets his income from the tax payers pocket via a county job claiming others “are probably some of the biggest users of the county services and funds” ..
That’s rich.
dick in hickory,
What part of I work for a living don’t you get??? I am not of welfare or depend on handouts, I work to serve the public, no matter how ingrate you are about it. I don’t use county services, I provide them..
Jim in Hickory, your new fake name is DICK in Hickory.
Yup, the chairs are getting rearranged and I am sure some folks that thought they would be spared are squirming in their soft, cushiony chairs. I don’t know of any rank and file being asked any questions about how things can run better. These folks will actually have to think about the core services such as Harford Transit as it isn’t mean to be a taxi service to work, heck the busses don’t run on holidays or inclement weather. what employer can depend on having employees use it or what employee would use it as a major means of getting to work. Federal funds pay of Harford Transit, not county funds so you better do it right or funding will go away because it isn’t serving the intended purpose if you use it for private gain. Think about it before you make a mess of it. It is always private folks telling government employees how to do it and they end up making it worse.
-Don’t build a new Havre de Grace school (total was of $$$)
-Get Harco Teachers (staff) step(S) so everyone doesn’t leave.
-Save Education in Harco
-Go play Keno
now that would be a good day…..
County could save tax payers $150,000+ a year (that’s with benefits) by getting rid of do-nothing deputy director of P&r —but wait –he’s mixed in with republican party leadership of HC so that won’t happen, never mind. Darn!!
I asked BG why he fired one of p&r’s secretary who was there 20+ years and knew more about dept and rec councils than anyone else in that Bld?! He told me it was to “save money”. I actually believed him at first but then he refills that position with the wife of a “big time” lawyer in town. Who just by the way also is a big time political operative in HC. Don’t kid yourself by that “down on the farm” persona BC puts on he’s still a politician who’ll ultimately do what’s good for his political career and that’s the real bottom line$$$$$$$!
I think Blue already told us people who work for the county government can’t just get fired so your story can’t be true.
Hickory stick in the mud,
Appointed people can be removed and have someone else replace them as they are appointed. The secretary was probably appointed by the previous director that retired/wasn’t reappointed. The secretary for the Sheriff was replaced, I heard as well and I am sure some others were let go. I doubt that saving money goes into that decision making. To the victors go the spoils as they say..
It is my understanding that the former Sheriff’s Secretary and the Secretary for the HCSO Training Academy simply switched positions.
It would be interesting to know how nuch money that big time politically connected lawyer donated to Barry’s campaign? Always follow the money. It never lies.
A local attorney’s wife is a director’s secretary just to give you an idea about the BS this and other administrations bring to the table. There are quite a few county employees well connected and related to officials, former officials and connected campaign donors with every administration.
Jim in Hickory,
You are nothing but a sheep more worried about county employees at Wawa than the real waste in county government. There are sweet deals and connections that enrich others, not county employees, heck we get a raise whenever the county CE feels like it but will get the council to pass a raise for the coming CE and he has chosen to take it.
mostly blue,
Be careful what you boast about because Cindy Mumby (Dagger, formerly} is now part of the administration and can get your IP address if you disclose too many things to the masses.
Boniface is more like boni-farce for sure. That guy is power hungry. Heard his Bonita farm was on the verge of being sold and he needed a high paying job with the county. He has made deals to bring in other appointed people long before the election was even a fact. Hopefully, Glassman will correct the ship and bring some sanity, transparency and efficiency as he claims. Switching the chairs and resurrecting departments long gone may be fine, but don’t staff them with appointed folks from your inner circle as they will always be YES men and won’t tell you the truth!!
Doing this post one time only from my trusty Black smartphone, unable to trace its IP address by those looking to squash the truth, Memo to those looking, we work for the county,, not for the administration and we don’t have to be in lockstep with anyone but the truth.
Cindy Mumby resigned from The Dagger months ago, has no membership role or interest in the company, has no more access to the site than you do, and has far too much dignity and class to ever stoop to something as low as what you’ve suggested.
Your assertion is ignorant, baseless, and flat out false.
As a county employee I am proud of the work I do and I would never really expose the county red meat for the dagger jackals that frequent the Dagger looking to take a bite out of county employees as we get blamed for the abuses of the elected officials. It is quite funny and ironic to hear people profess their alliance to the Republican Party in our county as if they are clean from doing the same things as the Democrats at the state and federal level. I am not afraid to state my opinion, fact or what I think about how our government is working for the public and employees. I am a veteran and I fought for that right for me and others. If they want to check for IP address, let them go ahead.
It is very easy to find out how much a person donated to a campaign. Just look up the information on the Maryland Campaign Finance Donation web site.
JIM, The whole “taxpayers pay your salary’ is played out. Its a typical meaningless and empty rebuttle that is mostly used by camoflauge wearing, overweight, middle aged conservative white male’s.
In some form or fashion even in private sector you will have some tax payer bling bling in your pay check.
Did you know county employees pay state income tax, too? Wow.
Gym-not-be-nimble,
Say there bigot boy… don’t concern yourself with the aging white folks who are sheltering their income and leaving the state in droves. Once you figure out that government can’t tax itself to pay for itself you will have to find some way to get the money from those newly minted millions of immigrants. Unfortunately, over half of those folks are already on the public dole and the rest of them are too poor to contribute. Besides, try guilt-tripping a hard working Hispanic male that he owes the government anything or that he owes some other minority anything. Quite funny.
Perhaps then, you’re going to be trying to love you some “overweight, middle aged conservative white males” to tax and they aren’t around. The host organism has fled for self preservation. Too bad you didn’t figure out who your friends really were. Go ask Pedro for a spare peso.
Where have you gone our Joe DiMaggio?
Dagger nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Best friend you ever have, how could you call me a bigot, when you clearly are one yourself? , but don’t worry ….
I’m hoping (like many others) to see a large influx of proper voters moving up into North Harford here soon.
to the victor belongs the spoils and the spoils system – get out your checkbook citizen taxpayer. What is Billy Boniface’s new job in all this?
Wait a minute, Craig proposed this and was shot down by the Council President, who now works for Barry. Now they all look like geniuses?! I hope the staff and teachers are happy now. What a dog and pony show!
Actually what Craig proposed was better for the taxpayer, it didn’t include the $5,000 bonus, it just paid out the leave at 100%. All the council people voted against that except for Mary Ann Listanti. So if Jim McMahon, Chad Shrodes, Joe Woods and Dick Slutsky are conservatives, shouldn’t they vote against this one as even a greater fiscal outlay?
Interesting article and comments. In the second to last paragraph of the article the County Executive is quoted saying there will be a reduction in the number of county employees. Yet in the comments there are clearly county employees who think they are protected and it can not happen.
Time will tell, My money is on Barry at this point.
A reduction in force (mandated layoffs) can happen in a number of ways. A retirement incentive (if enough people take it, the problem is solved), attrition (hiring freeze and subsequent reduction due to death, retirement or resignations). These would not affect anyone since they would be voluntary for the most part. Involuntary actions would be a reduction in force by any other means which means in most cases either grant funded go first, newer employees go first or a complete reclassification of employees (unlikely since labor laws and the unions would have to be on board). There aren’t going to be mass layoffs as the county’s revenue base isn’t much different from projections, BUT the bigger unknown is the state of Maryland and their already known structural deficit. If Annapolis throws a monkey wrench and transfers more costs to the counties, then all bets would be off.
Either way, retirements, incentives, layoffs won’t shut down that many positions. The CE is hoping over 200 employees (about 20% of the workforce for HCG) which I think is quite high, I’d say no more than 50 will take up the offer. We have some employees with the county for over 30 to 40 years, they make good money and don’t feel like retirement is what they want. The thing the county can’t do is target layoffs to those that are older.
Probably will be a pay based reduction. When you can replace someone who makes $60,000 a year with someone else willing to do the same job for $30,000 there is an immediate reduction in cost with no reduction in force. The fact that most people making higher salaries are older is a just a coincidence.
Seniority means in this instance, years with the county not the employees age. if you been with the county many years chances are that you make way more than your peers in a similar position. An across the board reduction in pay won’t happen, Furloughs (reduction in work hours) have been used before and even during the recent recession a reduction in pay wasn’t used. None of what you are suggesting is likely to happen. I don’t know what will happen either but I outlined some of the tools or ways that counties have used to manage their costs and or less revenues. Also, it isn’t even close to realistic that pay would be cut in half for anyone. Changes are done at the margins as the county still needs to function.
What is it with Dagger readers? They have no problem commenting on something they read but clearly didn’t comprehend. Fish story go back and read what I wrote, read it out loud if you must, because no where did I ever even so slightly suggest people would have their pay reduced.
le me read it for ya!
ya wrote “Probably will be a pay based reduction. When you can replace someone who makes $60,000 a year with someone else willing to do the same job for $30,000 there is an immediate reduction in cost with no reduction in force. The fact that most people making higher salaries are older is a just a coincidence”
it seems that I responded to your scenario that it would probably be a pay based reduction and I told you it wouldn’t be likely, this is called a rebuttal, butthead! Your example was reduction in pay to half of previous salary and you’d think taking a bout in seniority was about older employees, not just merely older in years with the county…
Helen
have a nice day, like today and yes that could mean during the day, or night as long as it is today or tomorrow since tomorrow will be today when we get there.
I’m a guessin the word “replace” didn’t come up on your word of the day calendar.
Helen,
The word “replace” still implies that the county can just fire those in seniority, which can’t! Your overly simplistic solution has been brought up many times and it has NEVER happened. The taxpayer must still pay for their services. What’s next? Should the county just hire a bunch of illegals and pay them less?
Actually they can just because you think they can;’t does not make it so.
Helen,
Not easy to just “replace” people. Reduction in force would have to happen first. The county has many trained positions specific in nature and their skill set not found in the private market. Grant writers, administrators, certificated professionals in government work can’t be just trained and found without paying them a going rate. Many in the private market don’t have a clue what people in government do but know that we aren’t a retail operation and an untrained person can just be plugged in and know rules, regulations and procedures that must be followed by law or process. I suppose you can bring in people and do janitorial work, engineering, roads, and many other jobs but many others aren’t easily replaced even full salaries. The county actually has a real hard time hiring certified folks and the same job will appear again and again because it wasn’t filled. Going back a few years, but when I was hired I was told that the job was posted 3 times over 6 months until I applied with the required certification, experience and skill set.
I cannot argue with your points, they are all good but the majority of county jobs do not require such specific skills.
And another area for potential replacement would be for the county to sub contract more jobs to the private sector to control costs.
Helen,
You mean the majority of the jobs you see people doing, right? Some yes, and the county already does hire private companies to clear snow or to help during high demand times. Public works regularly contracts out jobs to private business because the county doesn’t have the tools, equipment or the job is too big for public works to complete while they maintain their regular maintenance schedule and minor repairs.
There are many jobs in government that don[t transfer to private service just as readily. Courts for example, Sheriff’s office, planning and zoning, permits and any other job that has to do with regulation, government and public interest. I am sure they may actually look at some of these, but I don’t really know that the county would actually save much money. Historically, private contractors inflate their costs and bilk the public sector.
I hear you on the private sector inflation thing because everyone knows no one can do a job more efficiently than the government.
yeah, the private sector record hasn’t been so hot the last few years either. Government isn’t the bastion of efficiency due to the dummies you guys keep electing. But that’s the way you (the voters) like it anyway. every few years a new administration moves in and is going to show us how to do it, but in the end they aren’t any better.
How did that banking industry do when they were lending without care and regulation? There are plenty of other instances were the private industry rips off the government and by default the public. Do you think a private army would be better than what we have now? Yup, those lazy soldiers defending your country. Just say thank you and pay your dam tax bill.
Actually a private army would probably be a much better choice. I don’t see where the present one has offered this country one bit of security in the past 40 years. But heck what do we really expect out of government employees.
A private army would be illegal in the U.S….. Why would you want that anyway? Everyone would be in danger of whomever they are employed by.
Helen,
Cite any examples of private market providing better police, fire, prison, courts and military. Water services? infrastructure planning? EMS? What private employee would put his/her life of the line for you, your property and your family? Not many! Ingrate…
Soul
I know it would be illegal as well. Just making a point that’s all.
Helen,
Government is a public service and needed. The questions regarding efficiency are legitimate always. But our military is 2nd to none. No rent a soldier outfit would ever come close to it. While providing services in a public setting is complex and must be provided regardless of who pays for it, the fact remains that you can always move to another county, state or country where you feel your taxes are better spent. See ya, don’t let it hit ya, you know…
Oh and there are no private contractors doing snow removal in harford county you must be thinking of Baltimore county.
Helen,
The county does contract out some snow removal services. Procurement had a list up of awarded bids for just that. They were listed about a month ago. I work for the county, just not in procurement or public works so I am not saying that I have complete knowledge of the scope of the bids but some bids were in the $100’s so it must be significant enough work. There were multiple contracts and bids. Some were probably in case the county calls the contract in because it doesn’t snow or no ice, there isn’t a need for additional assistance.
Of course “the county” contracts some out, just not the highways dept. You see every dept has there own snow removal equipment and some need extra help. Which is what makes things so screwed up. Why does parks and recs/ schools/ police etc all need their own in house snow removal equipment and personnel? Is it really in the taxpayers benefit to be paying someone $60/hour in overtime to run a snow blower or would paying Jesus to do it for 18 bucks an hour make more sense?
Hopefully Barry will clean up the culture of government nepotism..
Helen, you comment just proves how little you know about county operations. Public works does the brunt of the work during snow days. Contracts to clean parking lots, sidewalks and public access are done by contract for Park and Rec, and other departments with a large physical structure. Other departments are too small or in the same physical building. The Sheriff’s departments fall under the same HCG contract, nothing separate and the same goes for libraries. HCPS has their own equipment as their physical scale is separate from the county. A quick look at the contract bids will show that cost per hour when contracting out is more like $200 per hour and up.
Helen Hunt, oh, you are so incorrect about private contractors working County and SHA roads.
Your comments on here are so ridiculously out of touch you should just stop.
The S in SHA stands for “STATE” which isn’t harford county and they have always used subcontractors on state roads, which there are plenty of in harford county. Ever wonder why all the County highways operations are either on or within a 100yards of a state highway? Care to take another swing you missed that one big time.
Missed what?
The county hires contractors, and the state hires contractors in Harford County.
I just added SHA because they are, well, in Harford County.
Helen,
keep talking about stuff as it is like a train wreck. Not pretty but everyone will stop and look and go OH, not like O’s though.
When a contractor is hired, you are paying for humans and their pieces of equipment. You do realize that when it snows it is not exclusive to Harford County. We need a dedicated force of empl0oyees, and machinery to do the job. We contract out so our people can take care of the major stuff such as primary, secondary and tertiary roads, contracts for parking lots and sidewalks or tree trimming removal are done as needed and their cost isn’t cheap as $18 per hour but also include their trucks, liability and their own expenses.
State law mandates we have these departments. County must follow state rules as we aren’t a jurisdiction independent from everyone. State pays for some of it such as reimbursement for cleaning some state roads but all levels work together to make it happen. Really, public works and highways work well and efficiently. I see no real saving here…
Fish I can understand how you don’t see any real savings. A subcontractor preforms the job in the most efficient and speedy manor in order to maximize their profits. A county employee preforms the job at the slowest possible pace in order to maximize their paycheck. The quickest way for an hourly truck driver to get a raise is take their foot off the gas pedal.
User “Helen Hunt” what’s your complex? Are you Jim in Hickory’s wife? Or perhaps, Jim in Hickory or anyone else using a different name?
Construction contractors make a good chunk of change in their down time (winter) to get a few winter laid off employees/truck drivers a winter storm job spreading salt and plowing.
Figure 4 dump trucks can easily make 15,000 in a 24 hour period during a good storm, figure on 400 dollars of fuel per truck, pay the drivers. Not a bad something-something
You don’t think they pay for the salt, do you?
Huh?
Helen,
The Procurement Office has a contract out right now for grass cutting for all park n rec fields about 48 of them. It is out for bid to private contractors. The county does outsource its fair share of maintenance and repair work as it isn’t done by parks and recreation staff. I will keep you posted when the winning bid is announced..
I use Harford Transit to get to work. But Harford Transit has to change with the ridership . No longer is the bus population mostly elderly and people who don’t work for whatever reason who use it for shopping, doctor’s appointments and trips to social service offices. The majority of the riders like myself have full-time jobs located on the bus line. There is also a large percentage of students who ride to Harford Community College.
They need to run on holidays and weekends, perhaps on a modified schedule. They do provide extended hour service but it’s only limited to people who meet special requirements and approved by a public service agency. The problem is funding. They tried a Saturday run on the Havre de Grace/Aberdeen/Bel Air and Edgewood lines and when the budget tightened, that was the first to go.
If you want people to work and keep their jobs that don’t have transportation, you need reliable transportation that is flexible with varied hours since most of the full-time workers that ride have to work on Saturdays, holidays and their jobs don’t close for a little bit of snow on the ground. Maybe that’s why Glassman is redistricting this department but at the same time, he should not focus his energy on transforming it into a county-run work taxi service. That would mean the bus would only make work-oriented stops, and those same workers also use the bus on their days off to go to the mall or run their errands.