The following was offered by Harford County Councilman Robert Wagner at the County Council meeting October 8, 2019:
There have been some issues I have pondered and waited to see change that have spanned our near one year together as a Council, and I would like to speak to them this evening.
Previous Councils have allowed the power of the Council and its purpose to slip away from their control, resulting in issues we, this Council, have to deal with and navigate. The Council and the County Executive all serve the same people. It should be our collective goal to work together, disagreeing or not, to produce results that are designed to serve the best interest of the large majority.
Having served on 4 previous councils, one serving as Council President, I have a different perspective. I envision changes that this Council needs to work on to make our four years productive and beneficial to our citizens. The County Council is not an extension of the Executive Branch but an equal partner that provides the “check and balance” for the Executive Branch and our County Government.
Conflict and confrontation is not my end goal, however our citizens do deserve to view their Council in action and participate, watching dialogue and decisions being made in their presence, more than they have over the past years.
Some rules implemented years ago had a squelching effect on public participation.
Section 216 of the County Charter speaks to non-interference with the Executive Branch. Section 302 references that the Council needs to be provided with any information concerning the Executive Branch which the Council may require for the exercise of its powers.
Both of these sections implore the working relationship by both Branches to cooperate and work together. I have heard from many local business people and citizens that recognize the blockades and policies that are counter productive to providing the best possible local government we can provide.
The Council should have full access to anyone in the County employ to obtain an answer or opinion. I believe this Council understands it is not our role to generate or delegate work without going through the proper channels to get work done for our constituents and County.
Council-people should not have to navigate through layers, involve more people and slow down the response time when trying to get answers and results.
These same Council members need to be allowed to vote without prejudice and retaliation from the Executive Branch. We were all elected to serve the same body of citizens.
On a most positive aspect, Harford County has a great and dedicated workforce that when allowed, is most responsive and committed to getting a task done right.
I would invite my Council colleagues to work with me as we strive to make some changes in the future to our rules to provide a more citizen-friendly environment.
I offer these comments in an effort to make constructive changes and do hope they are heard and understood with the good intention that I meant when formulating my thoughts.
Thank you for allowing me the time.
JFC you sound like my ex wife, passive aggressive crying to anyone that would listen and never telling the entire story. There there little bobbie tell us all who hurt your feelings.
Congratulations Harford county you elected another triggered whiny republican.
I think Bobby is upset because his constituents know he voted against funding in the budget for deputies, teachers and county employees and even has been showing up ground breaking ceremonies for Miracle League and Aberdeen Vol Fire Company when he didn’t even vote for their funding.
Hope you enjoy the bill coming for all those raises…..
Bobby boy has a neighborhood named after him. Billy boy and Barry boy after developing the crap out of this County. Chad is too afraid to vote against Barry or Billy because his wife is a Dept Head. The Council President is too busy carving ducks. Big Joe is a front for big nothing up in Fallston. Curtis is- who knows did he pay his taxes? Andre is too busy being attacked by the Sheriff, same Sheriff that puts his name on the doors of police cruisers, interesting because that isn’t political or anything. Ladies and gentleman, this is your council that you were stupid enough to elect. Have fun
Same Andre who was breaking the law with his surprise fundraiser? Slight detail you left out while attacking Republicans. You must work for CNN.
Quite Likely
Yet I see the sheriff and his sergeant (in uniform) in photos for fundraising events… There is nothing wrong there…
It is amazing how people with no understanding of the the Harford County government workings speak so negatively about a Council Person who is trying to inform the citizens of Harford County.
If any of you have read any of the by laws you will find that over the years the previous Kangaroo council gradually gave more power to the executive branch. I don’t know if it was because they were lazy, scared or some other reason.Yet even as they gave away their power they still kept control to stop things if they got out of hand.
Never have I seen any county council or city councils run like this one. Yes there are some and most of the time they are exposed as corrupt.Yes many things have gone thru the previous county and executive branch that appear to be corrupt. Of course those republicans commenting here believe in corruption.other wise they would be supporting the councilman.
Do any of you know what Mr. Wagner is talking about. Here is an example. Someone calls him for help to find out what is the problem with this problem. He has to go to the executive and jump thru there hoops that they have set up so no one can go to the department to solve the problem. They are not allowed to talk to any county employee unless they go thru the executive branch. This county executive and his assistant have set themselves up as the almighty power in Harford County.
The previous council president and the present council present were/are puppets of the county executive.
May I also suggest those who have written here are also puppets and defenders of the county executive working hard to make him the next governor of the state.
I didn’t think it was possible but you did a worse job explaining it than Wagner. I have no idea what either of you are talking/complaining about. One thing is for sure… if you want to see exactly how fuked up republicans are in Harford county go no farther than the facebook page of Republican Central Committee of Harford County. I appears to be run by 12 year olds that just discovered memes. It was a proud day when I re registered as an independent.
No political party is free from scandal.
There’s a lack of maturity in the world in general, and is not limited by a political affiliation, or lack thereof.
Those here who think they can do a better job than those who are already in office would be better off applying/running for their position, rather than angrily typing behind their computer screen.
Put up, or shut up.
That’s not how it works dumbass, tell me really aren’t a teacher….
I reiterate:
There’s a lack of maturity in the world in general, and is not limited by a political affiliation, or lack thereof.
Thank you for proving my statement correct.
Also, ad hominems are not an intelligent way of stating your disagreement. You’ll have to do better than that.
You posted at 8:21am and if you are a “Harford County (Maryland) School Teacher”
Are you working while you post that?
Of course, “I’m off today” or some other excuse. Or nah?
LOL says
October 11, 2019 at 11:19 am
You posted at 8:21am and if you are a “Harford County (Maryland) School Teacher”
Are you working while you post that?
Of course, “I’m off today” or some other excuse. Or nah?
So let me get this straight:
Because you can’t come up with an intelligent defense for your disagreement, you try to discredit my character? Based on a time stamp?
Oh yeah, you’re definitely a liberal.
If they try this with Trump, they’ll try it with anybody. SMH
Harford County Citizen If you cannot understand simple language then I don’t know how to help you. Maybe you can be more clear of what you don’t understand.
Maybe you just don’t understand the legislative process at all.
If you are able to understand that the first 2 years of Trump’s presidency, he just ran rough shod over the laws of this country and the republicans in the house did nothing and encouraged him.
Now the house is trying to get balance back into government. Much of what Councilman Wagner is atempting to do.
Here is what we get from your explanation. Wagner can’t talk to employees of Harford County. How did you do?
HCC That is what another county council person said. I believe that person while you want to give the executive branch a bye
Wagner was returned to the council in a fair election. The electorate either forgot about or overlooked his nastiness when he was council president and his pissing his pants as he fell out of his truck drunk as a skunk at the nursing home. Citizens put him in there again, now you have to live with it.
There are people who live in Wagner Farms that have no idea who it’s named after.
Sounds like Rob is upset that he can’t use his position to bully rank-and-file county employees into giving him and his cronies special treatment like the good old days of the Wagner’s Farm development.
How about the States Attorney Office?? When is Big Al going to start reforming the corruption in that office. It seems like business as usual because the three ring circus continues in Harford County court rooms.
Big Al seems to be a fraud much like the previous administration.
12 days until the trial of the year will be happening. Corrupt retired HCSO will be answering for Felony Theft. 12 days…. I am amazed Dagger has not picked up this story. This guy was a legend for his shenanigans in HCSO and was busted to PVT before being forced to retire.
What is this about? What did I miss?
Wow, it must’ve been pretty bad if they busted this unnamed deputy all the way down to a non-existent rank before he was forced to retire.
Since whoever it is supposedly going to trial in 12 days, how about you drop a name.
Interesting comments from Councilman Wagner. Discussion is a bit opaque, but seems to be pointed at the more curious activities of county Executive Glassman and his administration. Perhaps some of Councilman Wagner’s colleagues would review those same activities.
THNX
MALLAMO
It seems like business as usual because the three ring circus continues in Harford County court rooms.
Big Al seems to be a fraud much like the previous administration.
I love this man! He is so wise and sexy!!!