Anne Arundel County
In Anne Arundel County, voters may be surprised to learn that they have a say on a host of what might best be described as niggling administrative matters in county government. How many days may someone serving as “acting” chief administrative officer retain that position before he or she is either approved by the County Council or dismissed? How long should a newly-hired county police officer be considered on probation? A total of seven proposed amendments to the county charter, Questions A-G, are left to county for a final up-or-down decision.
The good news is that all received bipartisan approval by the Anne Arundel County Council, five of the seven unanimously. Only two, Questions D and G, are considered the least bit controversial. Question D gives the County Council the authority to raise the minimum value of purchases and contracts that require competitive bidding from the current $25,000 to no more than $100,000. Question G would amend the county charter to create a permanent Anne Arundel County Human Relations Commission.
Question Gshould be easily approved, particularly given the nationwide chorus of protests over racial discrimination, and the fact that the commission already exists and has proven valuable in ensuring equal treatment of all county residents. The charter amendment simply prevents a future administration from junking this worthwhile enterprise.
Question D might give some voters pause, however. It received the most opposition on the council (still passing by a 5-2 vote). But giving the council authority to raise the minimum is hardly unique. Montgomery County already imposes a full $100,000 ceiling on no-bid contracts, the philosophy being that minor contracts, particularly for routine purchases, do not benefit from competitive bidding, which itself can be a costly enterprise. In theory, there may even be a cost savings from focusing county employees on major contracts where well-written and executive RFP’s (request for proposal’s) can potentially save large sums of money rather than minor ones where prices for items like software are often standardized.
The shorthand? Vote “for” all ballot questions in Anne Arundel County.