June 1, 2018
Contact: sylvia.tognetti@mdsierra.org
BREAKING: Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett uses a line item veto to axe the Montgomery County Council's sensible changes to his hasty overhaul of the county's stormwater capital budget.
Here's the story. Last month the County Exec proposed shifting $48 million in public money for stormwater management into a single 5-year contract, while cancelling and suspending several projects that are well into the design phase. While we support the need to review and improve the stormwater contracting process, the proposal left unanswered important questions about proper oversight and transparency. Also unknown are what the County's obligations will be over the next 5 years, given that a new permit is expected to be issued in early 2019, for which a draft is expected in the Fall.
We supported the County Council's decision to pause on Mr. Leggett's proposal until these questions could be addressed, which we saw as a sensible and measured response. The Council's decision instead would continue the suspended projects under the current contracting approach, and calls for an open and public review of the program that would allow for consideration of alternative implementation models. This will enable greater efficiency and effectiveness in the next permit, and for unanswered questions to be addressed.
Here's the story. Last month the County Exec proposed shifting $48 million in public money for stormwater management into a single 5-year contract, while cancelling and suspending several projects that are well into the design phase. While we support the need to review and improve the stormwater contracting process, the proposal left unanswered important questions about proper oversight and transparency. Also unknown are what the County's obligations will be over the next 5 years, given that a new permit is expected to be issued in early 2019, for which a draft is expected in the Fall.
We supported the County Council's decision to pause on Mr. Leggett's proposal until these questions could be addressed, which we saw as a sensible and measured response. The Council's decision instead would continue the suspended projects under the current contracting approach, and calls for an open and public review of the program that would allow for consideration of alternative implementation models. This will enable greater efficiency and effectiveness in the next permit, and for unanswered questions to be addressed.
We do not doubt the County Executive's commitment to the environment or to fiscal responsibility. But we are disappointed that he suggests that the Council's motivation was political.
Signed,
Josh Tulkin, Director
&
Sylvia Tognetti, Water Committee Chair