Citizens organize to testify on county council pension reform

Americans For Prosperity Maryland (AFP) is leading the charge to reform the Baltimore County Council pension plan. This issue arose due to Councilman Gardina’s pending retirement next year from the council, which will allow him to be the first councilman in county history to collect 100 percent of his $54,000 salary under the 1954 pension plan.

Additionally, four other council members may qualify for 100 percent compensation after re-election next year. The four-term councilmen are Sam Moxley, Kevin Kamenetz, Bryan McIntire, and Joseph Bartenfelder. John Olszewski is a three-term councilman and Ken Oliver is the new kid on the block with just 2 terms under his belt. The rules of the pension plan in the county code can be viewed here.

Under the current plan, if Councilman Gardina were to retire next year as stated and live to age 75, it would cost the county $54,000 per year for about 20 years, totaling nearly $1.1 million dollars.

Per Bryan Sears article, Gardina said he would support a 67 percent of salary pension cap if the salary were raised to $65,000 per year. That would put the annual pension compensation at $43,550. Gardina said, "I think with a county this big and with some of the contentious and complicated issues we have to deal with, our base pay should be higher.”

Given the downturned economy and that the position on the council is considered a part time job, AFP believes this to be an outrageous compensation package. Steve Bailey, co-chairman of the Baltimore County Chapter of AFP, said, “Does [Gardina] need to be reminded that …the average social security recipient receives a monthly benefit of only $1,062, an amount four times less than his pension for a part-time job? These same Baltimore County seniors have already been told that once again they will receive no cost of living adjustment next year. What about military retirees, police or firefighters who only receive a 50 percent pension after working in a full-time position for twenty years? These dedicated public servants have had their health and retirement benefit packages reduced in recent years.”

David Marks, an active community member in Councilman Gardina’s district, supports reform of the pension package. “There is a real hunger for reform in Baltimore County. Councilman Gardina may think he deserves $54,000 a year, but the average voter probably thinks he works no harder than the police officer, firefighter, or public school teacher.”

Steve Whisler, candidate for county council in District 1 believes in reform of the pension plan. He was quoted in a Baltimore Sun article as saying, "I will submit legislation to reform the retirement pension plan. The joy of being a politician is serving the neighborhood and the county. It's supposed to be a sense of public service, and not an entitlement."

AFP is calling concerned voters to testify on the issue at the Baltimore County Council’s legislative session Monday night at 7:00 p.m. In order to testify, citizens should arrive by 6:40 p.m. to register. The meeting is held on the second floor of the Old Courthouse, 400 Washington Avenue in Towson.

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