Montgomery planning chief blocked probe of computer failures
By: Bill Myers
Examiner Staff Writer
October 9, 2009
A top official in a key Montgomery County development agency tried to block an internal investigation of failures in the agency's computer security system, The Examiner has learned.
Montgomery County Planning Director Rollin Stanley told his staff that a review of his agency's Internet firewall failures was "a fishing expedition" and intervened to keep investigators from interviewing his staff, internal documents reviewed by The Examiner show. The agency's firewall had problems nearly 300 times -- an average of 24 times per month -- in a little more than a year between 2008 and 2009.
One Friday this spring, the entire system crashed, and officials scrambled to install a new security system, Montgomery County Planning Board Chairman Royce Hanson and board member Jean Cryor said Thursday.
A firewall is a computer program or part designed to prevent outsiders from accessing confidential data.
Hanson said the firewall problems were the unintended consequence of the board's decision to broadcast its regular Thursday meetings on its Web site. It ate up bandwidth, he said.
"There was no breach of security," he said.
When an internal investigation began to probe the failures, Stanley balked, documents show. He refused, for instance, to allow a key aide to be interviewed unless the planning commission paid for a private attorney, documents show.
On April 23, Cryor and her Prince George's Planning Board counterpart, John Squire, wrote a memo to Stanley ordering him to cooperate with the investigation.
"It wasn't moving along as quickly as I wanted it to," Cryor told The Examiner. "I don't think he fully understood it. He was to comply by example."
Stanley didn't respond to requests for comment. As planning director, he supervises tens of millions of dollars' worth of development.
Montgomery County Planning Commission» $18 million agency with 850 employees
» Commission supervised by five-member board, headed by Royce Hanson
» Supervises land use and development for 323,000 acres in the county
» Supervises and protects 32,900 acres of national and local parks
He has been in the public spotlight after reports showed that he secretly waived up to $250,000 in fines against Connelly School of the Holy Child after the elite private girls school in Potomac was accused of violating county environmental laws.
Hanson declined to discuss Stanley's handling of the firewall investigation, citing attorney-client privilege, but said he had full confidence in Stanley's ability.
"He has done extraordinary things since he's come here," Hanson said. "He is an outstanding director."
