The Baltimore County Council acted foolishly in voting 5-0 to grant County Administrative Officer Fred Homan a $36,000 pay raise while he faces allegations of official misconduct.
At the very least they should wait until the lawsuit filed by a former employee alleging she was demoted, then fired, after walking in on Homan and Assistant County Attorney Suzanne Berger in an “inopportune encounter” after hours is resolved. Joe Bartenfelder (D-District 6), who chose not to vote, and Vince Gardina (D-District 5), who was not present at the vote, both disapproved of the raise bringing his salary to $190,000. They should have voted against it.
Miriam Grice said problems with Homan first started in 1999, when she reported to him evidence of a potential romantic relationship between an unnamed county official and a secretary. She said he threatened her job as a result of the report.
Fast forward to 2005, when her lawsuit outlines the incident with Berger and Homan, who later, with the unnamed person she accused in 1999, turned her down for a promotion. Homan later fired her.
This may be “charges by a disgruntled former employee,” as county spokeswoman Ellen Kobler told The Examiner.
But what if they are not?
If true, Homan and the John Doe should have recused themselves from reviewing Grice for a promotion.
And they certainly should not have used taxpayer-financed county buildings to facilitate illicit affairs.
Both actions would be grounds for immediate dismissal at any private business for all those involved in them.
And for Homan to support a raise for himself right after helping to wrangle pension and health care concessions from county employees shows he believes in public service ? for others.
Delaying his raise would have satisfied justice and show the County Council demands the highest ethical conduct from all of its employees. And while the vote may be over, Homan could show his commitment to fiscal prudence and the spirit of public service by declining to accept it.
