The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1957-03-21
Details Told On
County Employees
Civil Service Bill


so-called ripper" bill affecting
Garrett County's Roads depart
ment, introduced by Sen. Clifford
Friend, was dropped into the
House of Delegates hopper just be-
fore the deadline last week
The bill was marked sponsored
by the county delegation but Del.
Kermit Glotfelty said he didn't
know what was in the measure.
The bill would place salaried and
hourly paid employees of the county
under a merit or civil service COM
mission.
Del. Harry Edwards, chairman
of the delegation, admitted Glot-
felty didn't know the details of the
bill but said that the three of us"
had discussed the measure. J. j.
Ashby is the third county delegate.
Edwards said all supervisors
would come under civil service.
This would mean that William w.
Dewitt, county roads engineer,
would keep his job if the bill is
passed.
Senator Friend said the bill was
a political move to attract the road
workers. Friend had sponsored
Senate Bill 141 which provided
that the roads engineer have a de-
gree in civil engineering, an ac-
countant to set up an accounting
and bookkeeping system for the
county roads department, and pro-
vided for letting of bids on pur-
chaseS over $1,000, and required
quarterly reports of the roads de-
partment to the county commits
SionerS.
Critics of Senator Friend allege
that this bill was a move to elimi-
nate Dewitt from office A flyer
mailed to county residents within
the past few days, charges Del. Ed
wards and Del. Ashby of holding
up Senate Bill 141 following its
passage in the senate.
The bill would set up a board
consisting of the clerk of the Cir
cult court, the Register of Wills
and the County Treasurer.
The following would be included
in the bill; the clerk to the Board
of County Commissioners, the
Roads Engineer or Supervisor,
county roads employees, clerk to the
treasurer of the county and all
salaried employees in the offices of
the clerk of court, the county treas
urer and register of wills.
Details Revealed
The details of the civil service
bill were further explained this
week. The bill sets up system the
same as provided in the state merit
system. 1t utilizes the facilities of
the state employment commission
er and authorizes establishment of
classifications, salary schedules
and working conditions that are
provided under the state system.
No present county employe
would lose his or her job, nor
would they have salary decrease.
The board can prescribe standards
of performance in any job, can
authorize facilities for special
training to increase the efficiency
of new and old employees.
The bill was given little chance
of passage The board to be set up
include two state office persons,
the clerk of the circuit court and
the register of wills, and there was
a feeling that state office person
mel should not be included in the
bill.
Other Legislative Routine
Senator Friend also introduced
Senate Bill 566 which would au-
thorizc municipal governments to
discontinue the membership of
their officers and legislative body
members in the employees retire.
mcnt system under certain condi-
tons. He also submitted Senate
Bill $50 which would authorize and
direct supplemental pensions for
certain retired school teachers i'll
the county.
The county delegation also put
in a bill, House Bill S24, which pro-
vides a schedule of payments by
the County Commissioners to
several volunteer fire departments.
Bills Passed in House
House Bill CSC, by Garrett dele
CATION. to extend open hunting
season on squirrel, wild turkey,
ruffed grouse and rabbit.
House Bill 6S7, by Garrett dele
cation. to extend the open hunt
ing season on raccoon and opoS-