Anne Arundel voters could decide if the County Council should have more authority over the county executive?s actions.
Five resolutions were introduced this week that would amend Anne Arundel?s charter, the guiding document of the county government, to give the council more discretion in committee nominations, budget moves and attorney privileges.
Changes to the charter must be approved by the council, then placed on a voter referendum.
“I don?t think anyone should read anything sinister into these amendments,” said Councilman Jamie Benoit, D-District 4.
“If [County Executive] John [R. Leopold] and I were golfing buddies, I would still introduce these amendments.”
But the county executive?s administration opposes all of the amendments on their substance as well as their timing ? if approved, the referendum would be on a controversial ballot in November.
“Everyone?s focus is going to be on the president and slots,” said Alan Friedman, government affairs director for Leopold.
“It creates an awareness problem for citizens, and it?s not going to be a topic of discussion.”
Councilman Josh Cohen, D-District 6, proposed allowing the council to pick four of the seven members of the Planning Advisory Board, a group entirely appointed by the county executive that advises him or her on planning and zoning matters.
Cohen said the current board has done a good job but he believes the board members felt pressured to meet a hasty deadline on Leopold?s controversial impact fee bill.
“Do we as a county want an independent body not beholden to either branch of government? I think we do,” Cohen said.
But Friedman said the planning board is 90 percent responsible to the county executive and the council should not have a say in its membership.
Benoit introduced four amendments, most notably one that would require council approval of moving more than $50,000 of budgeted funds within a department.
The concern is that once the council approvesfunding for particular items, such as personnel services or vehicle maintenance, departments can then use the money for something else that the council did not consider, Benoit said.
“That?s micromanagement personified,” Friedman said.
Other proposed amendments include allowing the council to have its own legislative counsel instead of the county executive-appointed attorney; requiring bills approved by the council that go unsigned by the county executive within 10 days of their passage to become law; and allowing the council to pick three of the seven members of the Ethics Commission.
