[Md-sligo] FW: Reform Commission to Restructure County Government

Tue May 11 18:20:01 UTC 2010

FYIGood Idea 

Throw away some more money

Yasmin Reyazuddin 
Aging & Disability Services
Department of Health & human services 
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Rockville MD 20850 

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Thank you.

-----Original Message-----
From: Luecking, Betsy 
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 1:23 PM
Subject: Reform Commission to Restructure County Government 
Importance: High

--FYI

Subject: Reform Commission to Restructure County Government 

Montgomery Councilmember Roger Berliner Proposes Reform Commission to 
Restructure County Government

*	Release ID: 10-064 
*	Release Date: 4/20/2010 
*	Contact: Patrick Lacefield 240-777-7939 or Neil H.
Greenberger240-777-7939 
*	From: Council Office 

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 19, 2010- Montgomery County Councilmember Roger
Berliner (District 1) today sent a letter to his fellow Councilmembers
proposing creation of a 14-member panel that would restructure County
government-a move he said "gives us our best chance for meaningful
reform."

Councilmember Berliner's proposed resolution, which will be introduced
before the Council at the discretion of the Council president, has the
endorsement of County Executive Isiah Leggett. Councilmember Berliner
wrote that, under the resolution, "The County Executive and the County
Council would jointly appoint a 14-person Montgomery County Government
Structural Reform Commission.  This Commission, composed of Montgomery
County residents with experience and expertise in efficient service
delivery systems, would be briefed by Executive Branch staff, Council
staff, workforce representatives and other stakeholders on a range of
restructuring options.  The commission would then forward its findings
and recommendations to the County Executive and the Council by Jan. 31,
2011."  

The resolution calls for the Council and the Executive to each appoint
seven members to the commission. The Executive would appoint the chair
and the Council would appoint the vice-chair. The commission members
would be appointed by June 30.

"This initiative is consistent with my ongoing efforts to restructure
County government," said County Executive Ike Leggett. "I welcome
Councilmember Berliner's initiative and look forward to working with him
and the Council on a thorough and comprehensive effort. We must continue
our work to find additional savings."
Councilmember Berliner said that the County should not wait to find
reform methods prior to the commission's report. However, he said it
would take the findings of a joint commission such as this one to make
long-term structural changes that would have significant fiscal impact
on County government.

"This proposal and resolution is not intended to suggest that we, as a
government, should not take immediate action-in this budget-wherever we
can to restructure our services to minimize duplication and increase
efficiencies," Councilmember Berliner wrote. "We can and we should move
forward on discrete reforms that are ripe and compelling.  However, it
is clear that our efforts over the course of the next month will mark
the beginning, not the end, of a serious restructuring effort, and that
the work of the Commission would allow the Council to make significantly
more progress in FY 2012."

The complete text of Councilmember Berliner's letter to the County
Council:

Dear Colleagues:

Over the course of the past several months almost everyone on the
Council has expressed frustration over the lack of progress in
restructuring our county government.   We have all noted areas of
redundancy - including the delivery of recreational services, public
safety, procurement, and after school programming, to name just a few.
The need to provide government services in the most efficient manner
possible becomes even more imperative in the midst of a fiscal crisis
that could last for years.  

I share this frustration and have met with the County Executive to
explore a path forward that seeks to address the institutional barriers
that stand in the way of achieving the degree of progress we all seek.
The County Executive and I are in agreement that the approach reflected
in the attached proposed resolution gives us our best chance for
meaningful reform.  

Under the terms of the resolution, the County Executive and the County
Council would jointly appoint a 14 person Montgomery County Government
Structural Reform Commission.  This Commission, composed of Montgomery
County residents with experience and expertise in efficient service
delivery systems, would be briefed by executive branch staff, council
staff, workforce representatives, and other stakeholders on a range of
restructuring options.  The Commission would then forward its findings
and recommendations to the County Executive and the Council by January
31, 2011.  

Unlike past efforts, these recommendations would not "sit on the shelf."
Under the terms of the resolution, the County Executive would forward to
the Council those recommendations he supports pursuant to Sec. 217 of
the County Charter.  Under that provision, the recommendations would
become law unless the County Council affirmatively rejects the
recommendations within 90 days of the Executive's submission.  The
resolution also calls upon the Council to introduce, in bill form, any
of the other Commission recommendations that were not endorsed by the
County Executive, to hold public hearings on all of the recommendations,
and to vote up or down on all of the measures prior to adoption of the
FY 2012 operating budget. 

This approach recognizes reality-it is almost impossible for a
government to effectively reorganize itself given what is at stake for
our workforce, their managers, and their respective organizations. A
carefully chosen expert Commission, staffed by the Council and Executive
branch, that listens carefully, discerns clearly, and then presents
their findings for an up or down vote provides a constructive,
objective, and timely path to progress.  

This proposal and resolution is not intended to suggest that we, as a
government, should not take immediate action-in this budget-wherever we
can to restructure our services to minimize duplication and increase
efficiencies.  We can and we should move forward on discrete reforms
that are ripe and compelling.  However, it is clear that our efforts
over the course of the next month will mark the beginning, not the end,
of a serious restructuring effort, and that the work of the Commission
would allow the Council  to make significantly more progress in FY 2012.

I will be introducing this resolution next week and would be pleased to
have you as co-sponsors.   

Betsy Tolbert Luecking 

Disability Policy Specialist

Staff Liaison, Commission on People with Disabilties
Staff Liaison, Commission on Veterans Affairs
(240) 777-1256 Voice or via MD Relay 711

Blackberry: 240-418-4865 
Email: betsy.luecking at montgomerycountymd.gov
<mailto:betsy.luecking at montgomerycountymd.gov> 
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/disability
<http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/disability> 

www.montgomerycountymd.gov/veterans
<http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/veterans> 

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