Carroll Commissioner Michael Zimmer refuses to return money he made working as a substitute teacher, rejecting a county ethics board recommendation.
“I?m not sorry I did it,” Zimmer said. “I felt like I was doing it the right way, making a full disclosure at our meeting and at a Board of Education meeting.”
Zimmer held “dual employment” when he decided late last year to accept a challenge from teachers union head Barry Potts to work as a substitute teacher, according to a March 7 letter from the ethics commission. The Republican commissioner received $170 compensation.
“Carroll County officials and employees will not … hold any outside employment or relationship that would impair their impartiality or independence of judgment,” according to the commission?s letter.
Zimmer agreed to take his name off the substitute teaching list, but said it would have been unfair to other teachers and him if he did not get paid for the two teaching assignments, at Century High School and Mount Airy Middle School.
“Far from impairing my impartiality or judgment, I think the experience of doing this twice … has informed my judgment and put me in a better position to make decisions on behalf of Carroll County government and our funding for the Board of Education,” Zimmer said.
Martin Radinsky, chairman of the county?s Democratic Central Committee, said he requested an investigation as an independent citizen to see if any of the commissioners were working with the schools system unethically.
He disagreed with Zimmer?s refusal to pay back the money, saying it is part of commissioners? job to understand all aspects of government without receiving more money to do so.
“Wouldn?t he get just as much insight sitting at other people?s jobs?” Radinsky asked. “If he did that, wouldhe expect to be paid for that service? So my question is: Why does he feel he?s entitled to be paid from the schools system for his insight?
“It?s my $170, and it?s the citizens of Carroll County?s $170, and I want my money back.”
