The Great Wicomico Pay Raise Scandal of 2007
I know that some folks are all in a twist because five Wicomico County department heads received an extra 2% pay raise. If this is the biggest mistake that Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt makes this year we should all thank our lucky stars because we got off pretty cheap.
Was there a mistake? Absolutely! Rick should have made a point to inform council members about this ahead of time. For some people to suggest that these five department heads received their raises without budget authorization, however, is simply not true. Unlike the city of Salisbury, Wicomico County does not prepare its budget detail listing the salaries of each and every employee. The raises were included in the supplemental budget; Rick just failed to specifically point them out to the council.
I also am skeptical of Joe Gidjunis’ piece in the “Tilghman Times” where he states that “Pollitt agreed, blindly, without asking for an explanation”. Whether I agree with Rick Pollitt or not, I have never seen the man do anything “blindly”. I asked Rick about this matter and he explained it to me in much the same manner as he explained it to Joe Gidjunis (at least from reading Joe’s article). The main difference was that Rick told me that Ted Shea came to him and suggested the raises and made a case for them. Rick did agree, but that doesn’t mean that he did so blindly. Rick also instructed Ted Shea to include an additional 2% for himself (Shea). Rick argues that Ted’s service to him and to the county since Rick became County Executive has been “invaluable”. I don’t know Ted Shea and have, up to now, judged his performance on the mess that was the Tony Sarbanes led council. Rick Pollitt is in a far better position to judge his work than I or anyone else outside of county government. Until I begin believing that Rick’s truthfulness and judgment are suspect, and neither is the case now, I’m willing to accept his word and his opinion.
Councilwoman Stevie Prettyman is quoted in the “Tilghman Times” as being concerned that all department heads were not being treated equally. While my respect for Mrs. Prettyman is huge, I have to disagree with her on this one. If the executive believes that certain department heads have distinguished themselves and therefore deserve a greater raise then that is the way it should be. If Stevie argued that those five individuals were not deserving of a raise, but that Department Head X was I would be more receptive to the argument. Merit pay increases are a valid tool, both in the public and private sectors.
While I would hope that Rick doesn’t repeat the mistake of not pointing such items out in the future, for right now it appears much ado about nothing.
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Comments
I ain’t spoke up on the blogs in a while. Ole dog just ain’t what the ole dog used t’be.
Seems t’me like the Daily Crime’ll criticize the daylights outta anything the county does, but let’s the city off on even the major stuff. I dang near fell off my chair t’see them wrist-slap the city over the bandstand upkeep. But that’s all it ever amounts to with the city, wrist-slaps. That new reporter gal they got ain’t bad though. A little more balanced than I’ve seen in quite awhile.
I’m also inclined t’cut new folk like Mr. Pollitt a break on mistakes in their first months. Unlike some and the Crime what tore into the county council on the mall TIF pull back (a good thing in my book). Now the Crime’s a beggin’ fer the old mall t’come down. I don’t hear no pig wings flappin’.
Merit pay’s a good thing, though I gotta admit, when I saw the size o’ those salaries, my eyes bugged a little and I did some heavy panting. Guess when ya “get up there,” that’s what ya’d expect. But dang, I hope they ain’t complainin’ none!
Well, that’s about all I can muster fer now.
–CD
Why aren’t the seven dwarfs (County Council) diligent enough to smoke this out even if Slick Rick don’t tell ‘em?
why not just give a one time bonus for work effort “beyond the call”?
A 6% pay raise could conceivably last a long time.
If the county can afford pay raises for those that already make a good salary, they shouldn’t be worrying about lifting the tax cap yet~!!