One Dept. Head Position Recently Eliminated, More May Go
By Guy Leonard, The County Times (guyleonard-at-countytimes.net)
This table lists the St. Mary's County government department head positions, whose contracts were just renewed by the Board of Commissioners on July 26. Salaries for 7 of the 9 positions top $102,000 per year, not including benefits. IT Director Bob Kelley's department was earlier merged with Public Safety, thus eliminating David Zylak's job. The average salary in Maryland in 2010 was $50,880 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics (BLS). (Table and caption by somd.com)
HOLLYWOOD, Md.—Three out of four attending county commissioners voted Tuesday, July 26, to renew employment contracts for top government employees, but one objected, saying that the vote did not take into account changes the county might still be forced to make in coming budget years.
“This does not take in consolidations that might have to occur,” said Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R-Golden Beach).
Commissioner Todd Morgan was not present at the meeting.
County Administrator John Savich said that talks about consolidating operations of county departments, which would reduce the county’s salary costs by eliminating one or more department heads, would likely begin in the next several weeks.
The commissioners have already decided to shed one department director this year when they voted to merge the departments of public safety and information technology, effectively eliminating the position of former public safety director David Zylak and replacing him with information technology director Robert Kelly, whose contract was one of those renewed at $112,262 annually.
The contracts were renewed for an undetermined length of time per a new county policy that only requires commissioners to give a 90-day notice before terminating any contract.
The renewals include one for George Sparling, county attorney, at $111,000 annually, Susan Sabo, director of human resources at $88,502, public works and transportation chief George Erichsen at $113,362, Lori Jennings-Harris, Department of Aging director at $79,564, Phil Rollins, head of parks and recreation at $107,426, economic development director Bob Schaller at $102,000, chief financial officer Elaine Kramer at $139,024 and John Savich, the county administrator at $142,800.