Going Forward
Four weeks ago I sat in public session before the County Commissioners alongside staff, colleagues, and community partners. We presented 3 important matters of official county business. Each Board member acknowledged us for the yeoman staff work done to advance the Joint Land Use Study for NAS Pax River, a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for Cedar Lane Apartments, and the introduction of the 2012 Technology Handbook, the annual flagship product of our department. A few hours later I was informed by the County Administrator and Human Resources Director that the will of the Commissioners was for me not to continue as Director of Economic and Community Development. Completely shocked, I chose to resign. Said another way, I was resigned to the fact that the County Administrator and the Commissioner President in particular wished that I no longer be part of the County’s management team. Neither has contacted me since my departure. I was the only native Countian on the team.
“With malice toward none” starts the last paragraph of President Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural Address. Only 700 words long, this is one of the most memorable addresses by any President. Considering the human condition at the time, our darkest hour as a nation, Lincoln conveyed in but a few words the shared sentiment of most. Anyone who has spent time in the Lincoln Memorial and read his First Inaugural and Gettysburg Addresses understands his ability to capture the essence of the moment. My family and I have used ‘with malice toward none’ the last 4 weeks to help us stay focused on the future.
Looking back for a moment I am very proud of my tenure as DECD Director the past almost 5 years. I comfortably leave the department and county in better shape than I found it. Considering the economic and fiscal realities of the last several years, both privately and publicly, this was no small task. Our department is now smaller in both headcount and operating budget than when I started. Yet the productivity, credibility, accessibility, and connectivity are greater than ever. Smart use of social media, electronic marketing, and reallocation of resources are some of the strategies employed. The recent co-location of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) with DECD is further evidence of leveraging partnerships that add value to local business community support, both small and large. Most recently the department recommended – and received approval – to provide development assistance for county-owned and operated assets/enterprises including the Wicomico Golf Course. This type of involvement with sister departments opens new opportunities to maximize county-operated enterprise funds, the side of the budget that has yet to be fully considered.
<!–
–>
