The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1962-04-19
An Open Letter To Citizens
Concerning The
County Manager" Bill

The Comfy Commissioners of Garrett County desire,
by the means open letter to the Citizens Of the Coun-
tv to explain their position and express their views
legislation creating the position Of County Business
Manager Garrett County. At the outset it should be
made clear that the Commissioners endorse the County
Manager bill as step IN the right drectoh or uarItl'
County and in the overall pattern Of the County develop
vital factor in promoting the best interests OF all
of the Citizens.
This legislation was not hastily prepared CON
sdered portions of the several bills throughout
the included in the Garrett County bill and
sections of the other counties which were found to
be troublesome were eliminated After great deal OF
consideration and deliberations the present bill draft
ed and passed In order make flexible the quaifica
necessary for the job the bill specified that all APP
pcants be experienced with particular experience
in business administration and engineerng sufficient
responsibility delegated to the manager to make MS
position effective but the ultimate responsibility was
left with the elected representatives, the Commissioners
In endorsing the County Manager" bill, the Commits
soners feel that in the daily administration of bust
with assets of more than S12OOO,OO0OO with an
nua income nearly $3000000O0 including federal and
state aid and with the responsibilities of management
control of County the size of Garrett attention
given by qualified personnel in order to achieve
sound financial policy. Although the County and has
been run bv Commissioners who devote only part
office, the business of County government now re-
qures full time administration, by personnel qualified
and experienced in matters of County government.
Effecting saving of money although not the only
nroblem Of County business is major area of concern
At conference with the Executive Secretary of the
County Commissioners Association he stated that Coun-
ty Business Manager who was worth his salt would
year his employment. AS example, by planning and
aIocating funds the Roads Department. savings of
100000 per could be made by merely taking
advantage the discounts offered for timely payment of
invoices Heretofore this has been impossible because of
overall daily administration of County business Further
the programmng of County expenditures for equipment
and the planning for road work. long-range scale
could only but satisfy many OF the Ct-
zens that his problems being considered and at
tended in due
With the many departments of the County demanding
the time attention of the Commissioners the
sy budgeng and planning for the best interests of
all the Citizens a County Manager would be step in
the direction of making Garrett County more attractive
place for the Citizens here and to
In endorsing the County Manager BILL the Commits
had thought of forcing anything on the
Citizens of County. and if it is the desire of the Cit
zcns the question to referendum, the Commits
sioncrs will Fundamentally, merely asking that
careful study the best interests of the County be
kept in mind in voting the bill
CARL A. SCHELL, President
Garrett County Commissioners