In its recent coverage, The Sun made a substantial reporting error in choosing to use the terms "secret" and "secret meeting" to describe the University System of Maryland Board of Regents' discussion and approval of a performance bonus for Chancellor Robert Caret at its June 10 meeting ("University System of Maryland chancellor awarded bonus and raise in closed meeting," June 15). The purported clarification The Sun published on June 29 was wholly inadequate.
Maryland's Open Meetings Act provides that "a public body may meet in closed session ... to ... discuss the ... compensation … or … performance evaluation ... of an ... employee ... over whom it has jurisdiction." Although the chancellor's performance evaluation and the board's discussion and award of the chancellor's performance incentive (the terms of which are set forth in his February 2015 appointment letter) took place in closed session consistent with Maryland law and with the board's practice for discussing employment matters concerning individual employees, the matter of the chancellor's raise and bonus was by no means "secret."
In March 2015, USM staff provided The Sun and others with copies of Chancellor Caret's appointment letter. The letter provides for an annual raise of 5 percent per year in lieu of cost-of-living and merit increases, except in those years in which such increases are prohibited by law. Accordingly, no Board of Regents action was needed to effectuate Chancellor Caret's 5 percent raise for fiscal 2017. Additionally, the chancellor's appointment letter provides for an annual performance bonus based upon the Board of Regents' evaluation of his performance on agreed upon goals.
On June 3, the Board of Regents posted on its public website a statement that it would be discussing the chancellor's performance and approving his compensation for fiscal 2017 in closed session at the June 10 meeting. On June 8, USM staff sent out an announcement with the same information to news media (including The Sun) and others. After the June 10 meeting, following an opportunity for the board to notify the chancellor of its action regarding his compensation, the USM office responded to requests by providing specific information about the board's closed session action regarding Chancellor Caret's compensation. Consistent with past practice, the USM will continue to provide this information upon request.
James L. Shea, Baltimore
The writer is immediate past chairman of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. His term ended June 30.