Highest-paid director misses half of meetings
When Metro’ to approve a major development plan for the New Carrollton station, Vice Chairman Marcell Solomon never showed.
His absence was notable because he represents Prince George’s County, which will benefit from the injection of 6.1 million square feet of economic development. But it wasn’t unusual.
Solomon has missed 51 percent of Metro’s board of directors meetings since January 2009, an analysis by The Washington Examiner has found, despite being paid far more than anyone last year to serve on the part-time board: $39,656.90.
“I don’t think he’s worth 39 cents let alone $39,000,” said Bill Orleans, a Prince George’s transit activist who has noticed Solomon’s absences. “Transportation in Prince George’s County is lousy. … One wonders what he does in his role as adviser.”
Solomon’s absences represent a broader problem. Six of Metro’s 14 directors have missed at least one of every five meetings, according to The Examiner’s analysis of Metro board minutes and observations over 18 months. D.C. Councilman Michael Brown had the worst record, for example, missing 66 percent of 79 committee and board meetings since he was appointed last year.
The poor attendance has come as Metro has been searching for leadership amid its most challenging year. The National Transportation Safety Board slammed the board just last week, saying a lack of direction was a critical factor in safety lapses that cost lives last year.
Yet most of the jurisdictions that fund the agency do not appear to be paying much attention. Only Virginia requests monthly attendance records from the board secretary. And few have clear attendance policies.
Prince George’s County spokesman Jim Keary said he thought Solomon, his county’s representative since 2003, attended the meetings. Yet when told the lawyer has missed half of all committee meetings and 14 of 29 full board meetings, Keary said County Executive Jack Johnson planned to talk to Solomon about “meeting the obligation” and “making sure he made it to the meetings to represent the people of Prince George’s County.”
Solomon did not return calls for comment.
The minutes themselves are generous. D.C. City Administrator Neil Albert showed up for a 9 a.m. finance committee meeting on May 13 at 10:29 a.m. He was counted as present.
The minutes show he has missed 29 percent of the meetings, the fourth worst record overall and the worst of any director with a full vote.
“Whenever I am not here there’s probably a good reason that involves the work of the city,” he said.
He said he misses many meetings partly because he serves on the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority, which meets the same day. He doesn’t think it’s too much to do both, though. “The district has representation,” said Albert, who said he coordinates with two other D.C. directors to make sure the city has its two votes covered.
Yet on May 27, only one D.C. representative voted on the crucial $2.18 billion budget that included major fare increases. D.C. Councilman Jim Graham said he voted for the fare increases, even though he opposed them a month later, to save the measure from a veto as rules require each measure to have support from every jurisdiction.
“All in all I would prefer to vote no on this,” he said at the meeting. “If I were to vote no today, it would throw a wrench into the works.”
Craig Simpson, who coordinates policy issues for Metro’s largest union, said attendance isn’t the only key for board members. They also need to be engaged when there.
Solomon and Brown, who have the worst attendance records, rarely speak. Brown often steps out to make cell phone calls.
“Metro requires a lot of attention to many different areas,” Simpson said. “If you’re not really paying attention or engaged in the discussions, you’re not going to be able to provide the feedback needed in creating policy.”
