Another appointee of former Baltimore County Executive Roger B. Hayden was handed his walking papers yesterday.
Frank W. Welsh, 62, director of the Department of Community Development, will leave his post Jan. 13, County Executive C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger III said.
Mr. Welsh is the third Hayden-appointed department head to be removed by the new executive, who took office Dec. 5.
Mr. Ruppersberger skipped over deputy director Frank R. Smith in naming John Wasalisin (pronounced WOZ-a-LISS-in), 39, acting director after Mr. Welsh leaves. Mr. Wasalisin, a county employee since March 1987, now directs the department's job-training programs.
"I'm not interested in the permanent job," he said. "I think my appointment is to give him time to find a permanent relacement."
Mr. Welsh said he is proud of his advocacy for housing programs during four years as director.
He said 1,100 units of low-income housing for the elderly were authorized during his tenure, and $182 million in federal money gotten.
"It's been my privilege to work for Baltimore County," he said.
Mr. Ruppersberger said the slow pace of changes among the county's appointed department heads is the result of a deliberate analysis of each agency with an eye to reorganizing several departments as well as changing their leadership.
"I may combine two departments," he said, without naming any candidates.
Mr. Ruppersberger, a former county councilman, praised him as "one of my personal favorites" who was "always responsive to me on the council."
However, Mr. Ruppersberger said that community development is a key agency for receipt of federal money and that "I want my people, new blood, just to make sure we have the most efficient operation."
He said he spoke to Mr. Welsh several times before announcing the move. "It was a very hard decision for me," he said.
Mr. Welsh was once a district representative for Helen Delich Bentley, the longtime 2nd District congresswoman, and a 14-year state employee in job training programs. He was the second director of the Department of Community Development. The agency was created in 1987 by Executive Dennis F. Rasmussen.
In earlier action by Mr. Ruppersberger, personnel director Richard N. Holloway's firing was announced Dec. 12 and Dr. Phillip H. Pushkin's departure as director of the Department of Aging Dec. 20.
Dr. Pushkin changed to a lower-profile job as emergency management director rather than leave county government. Only one new appointment has been announced -- that of Deputy Recreation and Parks director Charles L. Fisher Jr. to replace Dr. Pushkin.
Yesterday's move leaves the public works, fire, health, personnel and community development departments without permanent leaders.