I read with disgust the recent article in The Sun on how Baltimore County has been cheating its retirees by requiring older employees to contribute more toward their retirement while younger employees were not required to contribute as much ("Balto. Co. could owe more than $19 million in pension case," Dec. 10). What was even more disgusting is that county officials knew this was wrong and decided to fight at each level of the judicial system, knowing they would lose at each level. I'm simply to think they didn't care about anything but "being right" when they were clearly wrong. Lastly, what was even more disgusting is that the administration waited a month to release this information. One doesn't have to think long to see why this occurred — the election.
Those of us who have lived in Baltimore County for years know decisions like this are made by one person: Fred Homan, the county's chief administrative officer. Because of him, taxpayers have to pay at least $19 million in back pay to these employees and rightfully so, but it continues to erode public trust in an administration that is hell-bent on power. Over the years, Baltimore County has lost several cases due to Mr. Homan who holds a law degree himself but believes he is above the law. While we've had several county executives, we in Baltimore County know Mr. Homan holds the power and has been doing acts like these for years.
Mr. Homan has used this power, especially the power of the purse, to bully county executives, department heads and the County Council which makes it all the more disgusting that we allow this to continue. I would encourage County Executive Kevin Kamenetz as he begins his second term and the newly-inaugurated council who were elected to do good work and not just to be a rubber stamp, to release Mr. Homan from his duties as he clearly is dead weight in Towson and is no longer suitable to holding such an important position.
Bill Thompson, Timonium