While Amanda Yeager noted that long-time-Ulman-aide Josh Feldmark had been let go, there was no comment regarding what would become of his one-man department - The Office of Environmental Sustainability. According to the OES website, this position was created by County Executive Ulman at the recommendation of the Commission on the Environment and Sustainability and approved by the County Council. The Office is further described on the website:
The Howard County Office of Environmental Sustainability
aims to protect and enhance natural resources and the quality of life in our
community through the conservation, preservation, and restoration of our land,
air, and water, guided by the principles of science, ingenuity, sustainability,
and stewardship.
Howard County environmentalists have reason to believe that the OES is imperiled. Josh Feldmark was likely to be fired in a Republican administration regardless, and has the credentials to pick the "green job" of his choice, but those in the community who would like to see Howard County continue its leadership role on environmental initiatives also want OES restaffed and maintained. A letter from Lori Lilly and other members of the environmental community to County Executive Kittleman described the following services provided by the OES over the past eight years:
- Needed coordination among County
Departments with regards to environmental initiatives and programs;
- Management of the stormwater utility fee, required
by the Maryland Department of the Environment and Environmental Protection
Agency, and rebate programs. If we
lose the stormwater utility funds, we would need to find new funding to
complete the required work. These funds also support many jobs in
our County for the assessment, design and construction of stormwater
management projects;
- Critical support for programs such as
Restoring the Environment and Developing Youth (READY) and the Watershed
Stewards Academy (WSA) through cross-department coordination, assistance
with grants and provision of staff support;
- Support for efforts of the Watershed
Improvement Network via staff assistance and coordination of networking
forums for members of the community working on behalf of environmental
efforts;
- Advancement and promotion of the storm
drain stenciling program;
- Leadership for energy efficiency within
the Government and in the community;
- Tax credits for green building development
and green businesses;
- Implementation of the Students Branching
Out program for elementary and middle schools, which resulted in the planting
of more than 9,000 trees; and
- Sustainability resources for the community
through hosting of the annual GreenFest and Live Green Howard web-site.
(Full disclosure: I signed this letter before it was submitted to the Executive and County Council)
The County Executive should be permitted room to make the Administration his own and that will include reshuffling of personnel, dismissals, and the closing of departments. But as the County Executive said on the campaign trail, we are the boss. County Government, by its very nature, makes decisions that have dramatic impacts on our local environment, watershed(s), and flooding. The OES served an important role in coordinating the work being done across numerous departments and evaluating the impact of proposed legislation. This boss would like to see it continue.
Have a great Friday doing what you love!
