Marcell Solomon is losing his seat on Metro’s board of directors, the latest upheaval to hit the 14-member board of the Washington-area transit agency.
The official changeover will occur on Jan. 21, but as of Wednesday he was banned from attending any further Metro meetings, said Scott Peterson, spokesman for new Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker.
Solomon had been County Executive Jack Johnson’s appointee since 2003 yet missed more than half of all board meetings in an 18-month period, according an analysis of board attendance done by The Washington Examiner and published in August. As an alternate member, Solomon earned $39,656.90 from the county in 2009, the most of any Metro board member.
“Prince George’s County residents can be better represented on this board,” Peterson said.
Solomon could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
D.C. Councilman Tommy Wells was also named to the Metro board on Wednesday, replacing Councilman Jim Graham, who came under fire for his leadership as chairman after last year’s deadly train crash. Graham could still be appointed as an alternate, though, as the other three D.C. seats remain in play. Graham did not return a call for comment Wednesday evening.
It was not clear Wednesday who else would fill the District’s other slots. City Administrator Neil Albert is leaving his job with Vincent Gray’s inauguration as mayor, and thus is almost certain to leave his voting seat on the Metro board.
Wells told The Examiner he’ll be focused on selecting the next director of the transit agency and how the system should be governed. He said he would like to see a clear delineation between board members and the general manager so that board members stay out of personnel matters. He said he’d also like to find ways of making the bus system a more appealing choice for riders, with technology such as NextBus and efficiency such as coordinated lights for buses.
Wells added that Graham “will be an invaluable resource” as he prepares to serve on the board.
The changes are the latest upheavals to the Metro board. Last week, Arlington Board member Christopher Zimmerman surprised board members and transit advocates alike when he announced his resignation. Maryland alternate Gordon Linton also did not seek a new term when his tenure expired.
