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What appeared to be routine 5-to-0 vote by the Calvert County Commissioners to accept a staff recommendation changed considerably after a high-ranking member of the sheriff’s office stood up to protest. The exchange occurred during the Tuesday, May 8 commissioners meeting. The staff recommendation was to redirect the use of a federal grant allocation.

According to a memo to the board from Department of Finance and Budget Grants Analyst Melissa McCoy, the county received an $18,772 grant allocation from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) is awarded “to assist local efforts to reduce crime and violence,” McCoy stated. In order to receive the funds the county government must forward a budget plan for spending the allocation.

According to McCoy, she met last month with representatives from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Calvert State’s Attorney’s Office, the Calvert Detention Center and the Calvert High School Criminal Justice Program “to discuss priorities for this funding.”

The sheriff’s office request included the use of $6,800 to purchase 17 iPads.

“It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners deny the attached application,” McCoy stated. “The county is not ready to administer this new technology on more than the current test basis.”

A memo from Calvert County Office of Technology Services Director Joe Klausner cited reasons not to use the JAG to purchase iPads for the sheriff’s office. The technology office, Klausner stated, “doesn’t currently have the capability to manage” the 17 additional iPads. He also cited recurring costs, which could run $25 to $40 per month, per iPad.

McCoy instead suggested that $4,849 of the JAG be used to purchase a “high security shredder” and some software the sheriff’s office had requested during the budget process.

After Commissioners’ President Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R] read McCoy’s memo into the record he asked if there was any discussion among board members. There was no discussion and so Clark asked for a motion. Commissioner Susan Shaw [R] made the motion to accept staff’s recommendation. The vote was unanimous. That is when Assistant Sheriff Lt. Col. Tom Hejl stood up to address the board. Hejl told Clark he [Hejl] had his hand up and was attempting to address the issue prior to the vote.

“I wanted to get involved in the discussion,” said Hejl. “It’s not for Business and Finance to decide what law enforcement needs.” Hejl stated the 17 deputies who would be issued the iPads “need these tools out in the field.” He further explained that the sheriff’s office was not looking for support from the county government’s Office of Technology Services for the iPad initiative. Hejl explained the officers would be using the device for such tasks as writing search warrants.

“It’s wrong to take this out and put there shredder in,” said Hejl, “It’s wrong the way it went down.”

When Clark asked the other commissioners if they wanted to reconsider their votes, Shaw requested action be deferred. However, when told the application to the Department of Justice had to be sent before the next board meeting she did not make the motion.

“I have to admit I did not focus on this,” said Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R], who moved to reconsider the previous action and approve the sheriff’s office recommendation. Slaughenhoupt clarified in his motion that the new iPads would not be part of the Calvert County Government network.

County Administrator Terry Shannon defended Klausner’s recommendation not to authorize the iPad purchases. “Ultimately, they [Technology Services] are responsible for all the technology the county government uses,” said Shannon.

While Commissioners Pat Nutter [R] and Steven R. Weems [R] indicated they would support Slaughenhoupt’s motion, Shaw and Clark sustained their concerns about the purchases. “I this point I wouldn’t vote to buy iPads for any county departments,” said Shaw, who opined the purchases would not be cost-effective.

Clark indicated skepticism as to whether the sheriff’s office had enough funding to pay the monthly costs associated with the iPads.

The second vote was three in favor with Shaw and Clark opposed. Clark asked Hejl to present grant application requests in a more timely fashion in the future. Hejl stated he would have approached the board a long time ago about the issue “if I had known I was going to get back-doored by Finance and Budget.”

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com