A panel appointed by Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and council members issued a report Tuesday recommending a more open collective bargaining process, removing the Department of Liquor Control from the executive branch and eliminating a handful of government departments to save the cash-strapped jurisdictions millions of dollars each year.
Among the changes proposed by the Organizational Reform Commission: make the collective bargaining process more open to public input, merge the Park Police with the county police department, eliminate the Commission for Women and Human Rights Commission and establish an independent revenue authority to be responsible for operation of the Department of Liquor Control.
The group said proposals from employee unions should be published online, arbitration hearings be open to residents, and that public hearings be held before contracts are finalized by the County Council.
Implementing the changes would save the county roughly $30 million annually, the panel said. Montgomery is facing a $300 million shortfall next fiscal year.
