Accomplishments
Kept Residents informed -- Sent monthly informative newsletters
regarding issues being dicussed and acted upon by the Mayor and Council;
included announcements and issues that were County and/or state related; kept
personal website updated with similar and often more detailed information;
periodically included information in the Message when space permitted. Results – More residents were informed of the
issues; more residents attended various functions and events sponsored by the
City; more telephone calls.
Revitalized Citizen
Involvement – Worked diligently to identify old and new residents to actively
participate on new and old City Committees/ commissions and boards. Currently most of the committees, commissions
and boards are functioning even though many still need members to bring them to
capacity. Results
– City has hard working committees, commissions, and boards that are helping to
move the City forward in its endeavors.
Mayor and Council spend mored time on policy issues.
Preserved property tax
level –
Although our budget is tight and is expected to get tighter, for the past two
years, the City’s budget has not had an increase on property tax, yet has
maintained quality services, and made improvements in its service
delivery. Results
– City property taxes have remained the same for the past three years. On the other hand, the State assessments have
gone up resulting in high tax rates for all residents. Personal proterty taxes of businesses have
gone up, but not at an inordinate amount.
Regulated City finances -- When coming on the Council, the City’s
audit was long overdue with no end in sight.
Worked with members of the Council to determine financial needs; helped
Mayor and Council to move away from a City Treasurer to a Financial Director,
i.e., someone with an exempleary financial background in corporate and
municipal financing (wrote position description); and turned the City’s
finances over to the experts. Results – City’s financial records are in
good order and ready for the next step of financial management and planning to
better insure the City’s financial future.
A new director of finance was hired; financial records reorganized;
financial softwared was upgraded and changed to be more user friendly and
compatable with other office functions, and available on all necessary
computers. Better and more accurate City
Audits.
Completed Personnel
Policy manual – On previous terms, I had attempted to put together a personnel policy
manual for the City, and many Councils after me attempted to do so. During the past two years, drafted, revised,
and implemented a personnel policy manual for the employees of Mount Rainier. Policy Manual provides fairness and equity to
all workers regardles of race, creed, sexual preference, religion or
creed. Also worked hard to include an
independent personnel review board to handle appeals in a more cost efficient
manner. Results
– New Personnel Manual; New Personnel Review Board; future reduction in
litigation costs
Developed Election
Procedures manual – Researched, collected and compiled information on Mount Rainier’s, the
County’s and the States election processes and drafted them into a manual for
use by Mount Rainier’s election Board, Mayor and Council, staff, potential
candidates and residents. It is a work
in progress, but has information in one central location to answer questions
about how elections are conducted in Mount Rainier. Results: Completed and implemented elections
procedures manual.
Reorganized the Mount
Rainier Business Association (MRBA) – Served as liaison to MRBA for the past two
years. Drafted flyers, business
directory, called businesses and invited outside businesses, elected officials
and County representatives to meetings and events sponsored by MRBA. Results: Better attendance at meetings; slate of
officers drafted for remainder of fiscal year; record number of attendees (71)
at last meeting; new interest in MRBA by members and potential members
Secured grant for Community Tool Shed --
Wrote grant proposal for the Mount Rainier Community Tool Shed that was
funded for $21,700. Worked to get tool
shed equipped and operational in accordance with tool shed grant. Results: Mount Rainier’s Community Tool Shed open and
operational with a variety of tools and equipment for residents to use on an as
needed basis.
Improved Council Relations
-- When I joined the Council in 2003, there was a lot of unsettleness on
the Council, and it was difficult to get things done. Frequently serving as a mediator (and the
swing vote) was able to help move things along.
Meetings were held with fewer disruptions, and citizens got a more professional
leadership body. Results:
Better working relationships and fewer open hostilities; fewere blaring
headlines in the Gazette and more cooperation inside and outside of Mount
Rainier that allowed for more positive accomplishments.
Completed the Academy for Excellence in Local
Governance is a voluntary program that
is open to all local officials in
Maryland. It provides educational
opportunities designed to increase understanding of local government and how it
functions. The Academy is a collaborative effort involving the Local Government
Insurance Trust (LGIT), the Maryland Municipal League (MML), the Maryland
Association of Counties (MACo) and the