Commissioners set hearing on elected treasurer proposal

Citizens' input sought on change to hired position

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

"There has been no decision as a board of commissioners as to whether or not to enact this legislation," said Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D). "We want to hear from the public."

Prompted by what Hodge called a "very solid, well thought-out letter" written by the current treasurer Jerome Peuler Jr. (R) in favor of appointment over election, the commissioners directed staff to write a bill to make the change.

The letter was sent to Charles County commissioners' President F. Wayne Cooper (D) on Feb. 24, two weeks after Peuler declined to share his opinion on the subject during a public commissioners' meeting.

In the letter, Peuler explained the treasurer's position requires no standard of fiscal experience.

He suggested that by changing the role to an appointed one, applicants would need to exhibit financial responsibility and the knowledge and experience required to monitor a jurisdiction's money.

As for his prediction of the public opinion on the topic, Peuler wrote "[t]here may be some criticism … [Residents'] main concern is that their tax dollars are secure and wisely invested to support the services they need."

Established in the first decade of the 20th century, the county code that provides for the election of the treasurer and subsequent duties would be "repealed in its entirety" if the bill were to pass, said County Attorney Roger Fink.

The treasurer will act as the chief of a new treasury division that will answer to the Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services.

As an elected official currently serving his second term in office, Peuler denied acting as any sort of sacrificial lamb. He explained the proposed appeal is not a reflection on the legacy of past and present treasurers, but rather, a nod to the expanding job responsibilities.

"There are no requirements for the treasury position," Peuler said. "But the total amount of responsibility is weighty. A person can't just slip into it. There's more to it than just being a tax collector. We're the watchdogs of the dollar."

Peuler currently works with a staff of 14 people, among them the deputy treasurer, revenue and tax specialists, deed experts and a clerk.

Peuler said the job used to be considered part time — like the role of the county commissioners — and Maryland jurisdictions have differed over the way to fill the office.

Today, many have removed the election process and gone the way of appointment, Peuler said.

If approved, the appointment procedure will likely be the only major change to the office of the treasurer. "The treasury division will essentially be the same we have now," Fink said. "The treasurer will perform the same functions, but he or she will be an employee of the county."

With the legislation approved for public opinion by the commissioners, it is now time for the five county leaders to sit back and listen to residents' points of view.

"There's a layer of doubt, and I don't want us to get ahead of ourselves," Hodge said. "I don't think we want to go too far down the road before hearing from our constituents."

msomers@somdnews.com