im Smith was elected Baltimore County executive in 1992. He recently sat down with The Examiner to discuss the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal, crime, the county?s finances, schools and his future political aspirations, among other topics.
The battle against a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal at Sparrows Point seems to be the hot-button issue in Baltimore County. Two legislative attempts to block it have been struck down by the courts. What?s up your sleeve next?
Well, we are following the direction of the federal court in the most recent 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, which basically said, “Hey Baltimore County, you have to submit through the state the amendment to your coastal zone management plan for approval by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.” I?ve already had discussions with Maryland?s Environmental Secretary [John] Griffin, and he?s expediting the transmittal of our amendment to NOAA for their review.
What happens if NOAA says, “Sorry, no can do”?
Then we?ve got problems.
Have there been any attempts to strike a compromise with the company planning this terminal, perhaps asking it to keep some of the gas in the area?
No, we haven?t gotten into that. We are looking at this not as an economic matter but as an environmental matter, as a security matter.
Baltimore County has managed to stay in a pretty good place financially. You still have a triple A bond rating ?
That?s triple, triple bond rating! That means a triple A rating with all three of the rating agencies!
Sorry, triple, triple bond rating! The county also has a $244 million surplus. What types of sacrifices did you make during these tough economic times to maintain that?
We had almost no new programs this year. Increases in department budgets didn?t even take into account inflationary factors. No cost of living adjustments for employees, no cost of living adjustments for department heads.
What do you foresee for next year?
Well, we think we will be in a position where we can do a little more for employees, depending on how the economy goes. At least we haven?t put ourselves behind the eight ball and have ourselvesin a deficit position, which many other jurisdictions are dealing with. We are usually looking three years ahead to see where we think things are going to be. We?re certainly moderate in our approach to spending money.
There has been a lot of discussion in the way the county calculates pensions. The county auditor resigned because he said the county was shortchanging his $87,000.
We had it that way for forever until the auditor decided that he needed his pension upped. It looks like, so far, he?s prevailing.
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission also sued the county because it said its pension system was discriminating against older employees. The county has since changed calculations so every employee makes the same contribution, regardless of age. Is that an acknowledgment the commission is are correct?
That may be a way for you to cut your losses in the event you are not successful in court. It?s hard to really accept that when you think about the time value of money, and that isn?t being taken into account by the EEOC.
You persisted with plans for an addition at Loch Raven High despite strong opposition from parents who want a new school. There have been reports of arm-twisting on the part of your administration.
No. 1, it wasn?t my plan. We did put $2 million in the budget two years ago for a study to consider an addition to Loch Raven because all the enrollment projections supported it. The school system didn?t have to take that $2 million, but the school board approved it, used the money, did the feasibility study and voted again for the addition. No matter what you read in the paper, I never had one conversation with a school board member about the Loch Raven additionuntil the Sunday before they changed their vote. So although it was said by another elected [official] I had threatened each school board member, that is absolutely false.
Do you still see the need for an addition as opposed to a new school?
If you go to their enrollment projections, it clearly demonstrates there is no need. I?m not getting into whether or not they have a new high school or not. If the school system decides they want a new high school and they get the state to approve their location, and get the state to approve their money, Baltimore County will support the school system?s decision.
Does Superintendent Joe Hairston agree there is no need for a new school there?
You know, you?ll really have to ask him.
Baltimore County?s Police Department has an outstandingly high homicide closure rate. What do you attribute to its success?
We?ve got the best-trained, best-equipped police department. We have a great chief. We have an 87 percent clearance rate, which is just phenomenal. And you know, I?m not taking anything away from them, but if you look at this year?s murders, six of them are with relatives. That?s the kinds of murders we have in Baltimore County, and frankly, they lend themselves to pretty quick detection.
That said, the county is experiencing an increased gang presence. What are you doing to combat that?
Two years ago, we started the countywide gang unit. We have trained personnel in every one of the precincts. We have developed great coordination between the Police Department and the detention center. We are also participating in a statewide gang task force. It?s a full-court press.
Speaking of the detention center, there have been three deaths in the county jail this year blamed on inadequate medical care. Have you addressed these claims?
I?ve reviewed them with Jim O?Neil, the director. I don?t know that, other than in the newspaper, they are alleged to be as a result of inadequate medical attention. For example, [in] one of those deaths, they said he hadn?t been seen for two hours. Not true. He was seen every 15 minutes. When he was seen, they looked in the cell, he appeared to be sleeping and breathing. They didn?t go in and examine him every 15 minutes, but he wasn?t left ignored for two hours. We have a doctor on 40 hours a week, we have a nurse on 24/7. We have physician?s assistants that work 10 to 14 hours a day. We have a psychiatrist, a dentist, three social workers. And we spend about $6 million on medical care for inmates. We have 400 to 500 inmates, which is about a third of our population, on medications. The drug addicts, particularly when they get in their 40s, have beat their bodies into a pulp. We have some very sick people that get sent to jail, and some of them die because, in a large measure, of what they?ve done to themselves. I?m not blaming them, but the fact is, they are very sick people.
Election 2010.
It?s coming! I?ve heard. I?ve heard all kinds of rumors.
You?ve been building that campaign war chest but haven?t said what you?re running for. Come on, let?s hear it!
The scoop is, for 2 1/2 more years, I am dedicated to Baltimore County and looking forward to the rest of the things we hope to accomplish.
What do you think of Peter Franchot?
He?s an active guy. He likes everyone?s job. I have certainly seen a lot of him. ?
