Skip to main content

In-de-pen-dent

Let's talk definitions:

(Yes, I Googled it.)
As of this moment, no progress has been made to withdraw the two questionable nominees to the County Council's audit committee (chartered from the County Council resolution to review HCPSS budgets.) Wait, not questionable. That's not an accurate choice of words. That suggests that one might question their appointment. In fact, BOE members Ellen Flynn Giles and Ann DeLacy are, by definition, excluded from this committee. Their participation in such a committee is unethical.
From the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
And language from the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002:


Who is ultimately responsible for the creation of this committee and its success or failure? Why, the County Council, of course, through whose diligence and responsiveness to the community we now have the council bill created specifically to address community concerns in the lack of transparency and accountability in the HCPSS budget process.

 

As much as we owe the Council our thanks, we also must hold all of them responsible for the trustworthy execution of this bill and the choices of members of the committee to do this important work. There's absolutely no point to this legislation if it isn't carried out in an ethical way. None.

 

Do I think the Howard County Council wants to be seen as failing the community when it comes to responsive and ethical governance? No, I do not. But I do think they need to hear from constituents that these appointments constitute an outrageous conflict of interest. That's where you come in.

Send an email. Here are the addresses of the County Council and the County Executive:

councilmail@howardcountymd.gov

akittleman@howardcountymd.gov

Sign the petition if you haven't already, and/or share with friends and neighbors.

I know our community is reeling from the devastation of flood damage in Old Ellicott City. Our community leaders are very likely working overtime to help in any way they can. I get that. But I suspect that the people who made these outrageous appointments are hoping that our attention will be directed elsewhere and that this issue will just go away.

Let's not let that happen.

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Teacher Gifts

Today is the last day of school before the Winter Break. It’s a good time to remember the far-reaching nature of our public school system. You may not have children. You may have sent your children to independent schools. It matters not. You will be impacted one way or another. Yesterday I read a long thread on Facebook about several waves of illness in the schools right now. There’s influenza A and norovirus, I believe. And of course there’s COVID. Apparently in some individual schools the rate of illness is high enough for school admin to notify parents.  When I was little the acceptable holiday gift for a teacher was one of those lovely floral handkerchief squares. (I don’t know what it was for male teachers. They were rare in my elementary years.) These days the range of teacher gifts is wider and I have fond memories of Target gift cards which I have written about before. I think it’s safe to say that giving one’s teacher Influenza, norovirus, or COVID is not the ideal holiday...
1 comment
Read more

Getting Fresh

One of my favorite days in the Spring comes when this year’s list of Farmer’s Markets is released. That happened this week. New this year are markets in Old Ellicott City and the “Merriweather Market” which, according to the address, will be located here . I mistakenly thought at first glance that it was in the new-construction part of the Merriweather District. I find the name confusing considering its actual location. I’m going to guess that this market is an initiative of the Howard Hughes Corporation because the name seems chosen more for branding purposes than anything else.  Alas, the market in Maple Lawn is gone. The thread on the markets on the County Executive’s FB page will provide you with quite the education in who actually runs the Farmers Markets vs what people often think is going on. Short answer: they are not  chosen nor run by the county. Each market is an independent entity, sometimes started by community volunteers, other times supported by local businesses...
1 comment
Read more

They Can Wait

This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday.  Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was  "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018.  2018 .  But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest.  In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...
1 comment
Read more