Councilwoman Vicki Almond is the lone dissenting vote as an 11th hour push to table the legislation fails.
A change to how county employees appeal pension decisions was approved despite an 11th hour attempt to delay the final vote. The Baltimore County Council Tuesday night voted 6-1 in favor of the legislation that moves the appeals process from a seven-member panel appointed by the council to one of two administrative law judges appointed by the county executive. Councilwoman Vicki Almond, a Reisterstown Democrat, was the lone vote against the bill and three amendments. Almond, reading from a prepared statement, said the bill would affect the integrity of the council and "county employees for years to come." She said conflicting legal opinions offered by County Attorney Michael Field and county legislators in the General Assembly was reason …
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County officials say the proposed changes make appeals more efficient, professional while critics say the county is stacking the deck in its favor.
A proposal to change how some pension appeals are dealt with in Baltimore County has some crying foul. The bill, requested by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, would move such appeals from the County Council-appointed Board of Appeals to one of two administrative law judges appointed by the executive. Don Mohler, a county spokesman, said the goal is to improve efficiency and provide another layer of hearings for employees while at the same time improving the professionalism of the system. "These are complex issues," Mohler said of the pension appeals. Labor groups say the county is looking to rig the process in its favor after a number of decisions that have gone in favor of employees. "We're fixing a system that doesn't appear to be broken…
Union representing nearly 1,600 County employees agrees to increased pension contributions in return for guaranteed pay increases and no layoffs or furloughs for the next three years.
The union representing correctional workers, highway supervisors, 911 employees, and office workers has reached an agreement with the county. As part of the agreement, members of the Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees will receive regular step and longevity increases and a guarantee of no layoffs or furloughs through June 30, 2015 in return for increased pension contributions made by corrections officers. Currently, corrections officers contribute 8 percent of their salary to the county pension system. As part of the agreement, corrections officers hired after July 1, 2011 will contribute 10 percent. "I am very pleased that the County was once again able to reach an agreement with labor," said Baltimore County Executive Kevin …
moe green
5:29 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
another member of the stay at home but want to get paid crowd. how about you lose forty pounds, join a gym and stop smoking? more ›