Carroll commissioners approved six bills they will send to Carroll?s delegation, but questioned whether they or the state should approve raises for orphans? court judges.
“We don?t have the authority to get in the way of a request of the delegation,” Commissioner Dean Minnich said Tuesday.
Carroll?s Orphans? Court Judges Dorothy Utz, Herbert Reisig and John Carbaugh asked that their salary of $10,000 be raised to $17,000 for the work they do two days a week settling disputes over wills and estates.
With Carroll?s growing population, the court?s docket entries increased from 7,450 in 1999 to 11,394 in 2006, said Register of Wills Paul Zimmerman.
During the same time frame, hearings jumped from two to 48.
County Attorney Kim Millender told commissioners that the judges could go through the county or state with their request.
A pay raise would go into effect after the 2010 elections.
Reisig said he first inquired about a raise eight years ago but has not received a straight answer from officials on how to get it.
“It?s frustrating,” he said.
“We?re in limbo because nothing seems to happen.”
Commissioners voted 2-1, with Zimmer opposing, to present the pay-raise request to lawmakers later this month.
The split vote marked the first time this new board didn?t unanimously approve a measure.
Commissioners approved:
» A routine proposal for local bonds for schools and roads;
» A bill that would give the county the authority to give businesses tax credits to rehabilitate their buildings;
» A bill that would speed up the process for dealing with property owners who repeatedly failto mow their lawns;
» A bill that would give the warden the power to grant furloughs for inmates who are injured or pursuing school;
» A proposal that would require pawnshops to submit electronic reports on what items are pawned to track down stolen goods and arrest thieves.
IF YOU GO
» What: Carroll’s legislative wish list presented to delegation
» When: 10 a.m. Jan. 22
» Where: Room 003, County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster
