By Adam Pagnucco.
Yesterday, I wrote about state legislation that would establish a task force to study whether County Executive Marc Elrich should take over the functions of Park and Planning. Today, it’s clear that that bill was only the beginning. Now a second shot has been fired in an increasingly tense battle for control of the agency.
Senator Ben Kramer (D-19), the Elrich ally who submitted the first bill, has dropped a second bill that represents an alternative path to executive control. Emergency bill MC-PG 105-23 would institute several new powers by the executive over the planning board including the following:
1. Eight members of the council are required to appoint planning board members.
2. A unanimous vote of the council is required to appoint planning board members over the veto of the executive. That is different from § 15-103 of current state law, which states, “By the affirmative vote of seven of its members, the County Council may appoint a commissioner over the disapproval of the County Executive.”
3. The county executive is entitled to appoint the chair of the planning board.
4. The council may not remove or discipline planning board members without the approval of the county executive.
5. The county executive may remove or discipline planning board members with the approval of eight members of the council.
6. The county executive sets the salary of the planning board chair with the approval of the council. If the council does not act within 30 days, the salary set by the executive will prevail without the council’s approval.
There are many other requirements pertaining to political contributions, outside employment, training and other issues but the above provisions make clear the intent of this bill and the prior one, which is this:
Elrich wants to get rid of the planning board and assume its functions. If that does not happen, he wants substantial control over it.
This sets up an epic battle over the fate of Park and Planning on a scale not seen in thirty years. It’s especially noteworthy given that a new council will be seated next week. Everyone who cares about the county’s parks and planning functions must snap to attention as all-out war is joined.