Official urges repeal of English-only law that’s ‘stain on Carroll County’

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners might repeal a 2013 law that made English the county’s official language.

The board voted last week to hold a public hearing about rescinding the ordinance, which requires all county documents, publications, hearing notices and public business be written and/or conducted in English only.

The ordinance was adopted unanimously by the county’s 59th Board of Commissioners, none of whom still sit on what is now the 61st board.

Commissioner Dennis Frazier, a Republican who represents District 3, raised the subject Thursday of repealing the ordinance. He suggested it has done nothing to change the way the county operates, has “tarnished” the way Carroll looks to outsiders, and makes the county “look bad” and appear “divisive.”

“I think it puts a stain on Carroll County, and I would like to get that off,” Frazier said.

Frazier had been hearing negative comments about the ordinance from Carroll residents since his election in 2014, he said. Over the holidays, he spoke to people who work with politicians in Annapolis who mentioned the ordinance to him — and not favorably — he said after the meeting.

County attorney Tim Burke told the commissioners he believed the intent of the 59th board in adopting the ordinance was to avoid unnecessary translation costs and to “encourage assimilation” in the county. When Carroll adopted the ordinance, it became the third county in Maryland to do so, along with Frederick and Queen Anne’s. Frederick County has since repealed its ordinance, he noted.

Burke said there are exceptions to the ordinance. The law does not apply to anyone in the private sector. It also is preempted by federal and state laws that require certain services the state and federal government fund to be accessible to the public in other languages.

Del. Haven Shoemaker, a Republican representing District 5, said the Englishofficial ordinance was his idea when he sat on the board of commissioners.

“For the life of me, I can’t figure out why anyone would think that’s a bad thing or unfriendly thing,” Shoemaker said. “We just want folks to assimilate and become Americans.”

When he was a commissioner, Shoemaker said he heard of people in other jurisdictions demanding governmental documents in their native language rather than English, which he thought was “kind of silly.” Coupling that knowledge with the fact that many states have English as their official language, Shoemaker said he suggested the ordinance to the 59th Board of Commissioners.

“I know America is the great melting pot, but it seems to me that over the last three centuries, up until relatively recently as a matter of fact, the folks that have come to America have assimilated using a common language, that being English,” Shoemaker said. “That’s helped to make America the superpower that it is today.”

Commissioner Ed Rothstein, a District 5 Republican, asked Burke what money the ordinance has saved Carroll County government.

“We’re not aware of any cost savings,” Burke said. “There was no change. The documents were produced in English before, and the ordinance was adopted and they continued to be produced in English afterwards.”

Commissioner Stephen Wantz, a District 1 Republican, questioned why the ordinance was needed in the first place.

“I kind of think this is silly,” Wantz said. “Why is this in place if it’s done nothing?”

Roberta Windham, county administrator, noted that a public hearing would be required before a repeal could be voted upon.

Rothstein suggested a public hearing or two, while Commissioner Richard Weaver, a District 2 Republican, asked for an online survey as well. Weaver said he’d like to hear from thousands of people, not just the few who happen to attend a public hearing.

Commissioner Eric Bouchat, a Republican representing District 4, agreed with Wantz and questioned whether the ordinance has done any harm or good to the county.

“I think the original motive for this ordinance was purely political to appease a very small minority politically in our county,” Bouchat said.