For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Phil Andrews’ Remarks as Outgoing President of the Montgomery Council
ROCKVILLE, Md., December 1, 2009—Montgomery County Councilmember Phil Andrews, on the final day of his one-year term as Council President, delivered the following remarks:
Good morning.
Since our county’s—and our country’s—bicentennial 33 years ago, the County’s motto has been “Gardez bien.” It means to “guard well.”
The motto is inscribed on the County seal that hangs behind this dais. It is an ever-present reminder that to guard well is the County Council’s primary responsibility.
It is the Council’s responsibility:
To guard well the public interest, whatever that may be in a situation, and against whoever would have the Council do something contrary to the public interest.
It is the Council’s responsibility:
To guard well the public treasury from unwarranted claims.
It is the Council’s responsibility:
To guard well those who must have the help of government to live a decent life.
It is the Council’s responsibility:
To guard well the history of the County. AND
It is the Council’s responsibility:
To guard well the reputation of the County for integrity in government.
It is our sacred obligation – as it is of all elected officials -- to put the public interest first. For if the decisions of this Council -- or of any legislative body -- are simply a reflection of the power of temporary, powerful interests, the Burkean ideal of representation is lost.
Here is what English statesman Edmund Burke said for the ages in a speech to the Electors of Bristol on Nov. 3, 1774. Burke spoke about representation:
“Certainly, gentleman, it ought to be the happiness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and the most unreserved communication with his constituents. Their wishes ought to have great weight with him, their opinion, high respect, their business, unremitted attention. It is his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures, his satisfactions, to theirs; and above all, ever, and in all cases, to prefer their interest to his own. But his unbiased opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscience, he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. These he does not derive from your pleasure; no, nor from the law and the constitution. They are a trust from Providence, for the abuse of which he is deeply answerable. YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OWES YOU, NOT HIS INDUSTRY ONLY, BUT HIS JUDGMENT; AND HE BETRAYS, INSTEAD OF SERVING YOU, IF HE SACRIFICES IT TO YOUR OPINION.”
Now, how does Burke’s clarion call apply to the County Council? It means that the Council needs to listen to everyone, to consider all interests and then apply its best judgment on each and every matter that comes before it. Nothing less than this is acceptable; nothing more than this is required.
When individuals and groups come to the County Council to ask for funds or to ask for legislation or for a resolution or for a zoning text amendment or for a master plan change or for something else, the Council should ask the following questions:
1) Is it in the public interest?
2) Is it affordable?
3) Is it sustainable?
4) Is it the next best use of scarce taxdollars?
5) Is it necessary for the County to fund it?
Following this framework is much easier said than done since constituencies that would have the Council spend taxpayers’ funds are almost always better organized than the general public. Most public hearings on the budget are prime examples.
That’s why it is just as important for the Council to think about who is not in the room, who is not at the table, as who is. We have to look out for and represent their interests as well.
So who is typically not seated at the table of government? Who do not have lobbyists to represent them?
Very few people who are poor testify before the County Council. Very few people who work two or three jobs so they are not poor testify before the County Council. Very few people with severe disabilities testify before the Council. Very few young people testify before the County Council. Very few new immigrants testify before the Council. And very few people who are primarily concerned about the cost of government testify before the Council. We need to remember all of these people as we make decisions that affect them.
So how did the Council measure up by this standard this year?
The best place to look is at the budget, because the budget reveals the Council’s priorities. It is where the Council puts most of its time and your tax dollars.
The Council protected essential services – 100 percent of the school system’s educational request was funded, and the Council provided funding to maintain very strong public safety services. In a most difficult year, the Council enhanced public safety services by opening the Family Justice Center, championed by Councilmember Trachtenberg. Since it opened in April, the center has served more than 1,000 victims of domestic violence.
The Council protected safety net services for the most vulnerable – especially important given the impact of the severe recession.
The Council protected employees by avoiding layoffs through not funding general wage increases (COLAs).
And the Council protected taxpayers squeezed by the recession by adhering to the Charter Limit on property tax revenues, and by not raising tax rates.
Another place to look is at transportation.
Recognizing that traffic congestion is a serious problem that affects more people in the County than any other single problem, the Council made landmark and unanimous recommendations to the state:
Build the Purple Line. Build the Corridor Cities Transitway. And widen I-270 by adding two reversible lanes.
Now, we need to work closely with state and federal representatives to get the funding to build these projects as soon as possible.
The Council also approved planning funds for Councilmember Elrich’s visionary proposal for a 100-plus mile system of bus rapid transit lanes.
In addition, under the leadership of Councilmember Floreen, the Council found a way to restore funding for 18 bus routes that were proposed for elimination.
Another place to look is government reform.
The Council took a major first step in reforming the disability retirement review process. The system still needs to have a two-tiered disability benefit structure, however.
The Council passed a law sponsored by Council Vice President Berliner requiring the posting online of expenditures of $25,000 or more.
The Council approved legislation, sponsored by Councilmember Ervin, to strengthen the Inspector General’s office by enabling the IG to hire counsel.
The Council approved a law to require that legislation be limited to a single subject to avoid the potential problem of unrelated provisions being amended on to meritorious legislation to get the unrelated measures passed.
The Council called for suspension and reform of the County’s tuition assistance program. The program was suspended and reform is underway.
A few other Council initiatives deserve mention as well:
To improve pedestrian and vehicular safety, the Council approved Councilmember Knapp’s bill to prohibit large trucks and recreational vehicles from being parked on residential streets.
To improve public health by addressing the serious problem of obesity, the Council approved Councilmember Leventhal’s initiative to require menu labeling of calorie content at restaurants.
And to invest in the future of our County for all those who will follow us, the Council approved a proposal by Councilmember Navarro to add 53 acres of parkland to the Fairland Recreational Park.
All of us are fortunate to live in a great County – a County with remarkable diversity, excellent public services, beautiful natural places, and a highly educated workforce. As we navigate the deepening fiscal storm with County Executive Leggett, we should remain fundamentally optimistic, because the County is well positioned for many reasons to thrive economically in the future.
The challenge we face now is how to best spend less.
To address the significant decline in tax revenues that has already affected the County – and because tax revenues are not likely to grow at the rate that they did in the earlier part of this decade for some time – the County must get leaner and sharpen its focus on where it spends tax dollars. That process began this year, but clearly will need to intensify next year to address the projected budget gap of $600 million through FY 11. I look forward to working with our next Council president and all of my colleagues to work with our state representatives to ensure that Montgomery County is fairly treated in Annapolis as the state grapples with its $2 billion plus projected shortfall for FY 11.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that the County lost four extraordinary public servants this year.
In January, we very unexpectedly lost our colleague Don Praisner. This was a double blow, coming after the death of our colleague Marilyn Praisner the year before. Everyone at the Council, including all of the staff stepped up their efforts. Don’s staff soldiered on magnificently, and Council Vice President joined me in serving on a third Council committee during the very intense four month budget period when there no District Four councilmember. It was a pleasure to welcome then newly-elected District Four Councilmember Nancy Navarro in June to the Council, who all of us enjoy serving with.
In April, the County lost a great civic leader, Wayne Goldstein, who graced the Council chamber frequently with his presence. I was privileged to represent the Council at the dedication of the Wayne Goldstein Playground at Kensington Heights Park last month.
In June, the County lost a remarkable public servant, Blair Ewing, who served 22 years on the Board of Education and four years on this body, including as Council president. Blair is very much missed.
Last month, the County lost Jean Cryor, a member of the Planning Board, a former member of the House of Delegates, and a remarkably engaging person.
Rest in peace Don Praisner, Wayne Goldstein, Blair Ewing, and Jean Cryor.
Let me conclude with thanks.
First, I want to thank my family for enduring a long year. My wife, Staci, and our son, Justin, did not see me much in 2009. I’m very much looking forward to being home more after representing the Council at hundreds of community events the past year.
I want to thank my staff: Lisa Mandel-Trupp, Jackie Hawksford, David Hondowicz, Maria Peck, and John Smith. Lisa, David, Maria, and John have been with me since I joined the Council in 1998; each is outstanding. I especially want to recognize my chief of staff, Lisa, who did a terrific job this year of doing all of those things that the chief-of-staff to the Council president does, which I assure you are nearly endless.
I want to thank all of the Council staff for doing such excellent work this year and for being so helpful to me and to Lisa, David, Jackie, Maria and John. Without question, the Council has one of the best staffs of any government in the nation.
I want to thank County Executive Leggett for a very close working relationship. No one works harder than he does. The County is very fortunate to have such a dedicated and able public servant as County Executive Leggett.
I want to also thank the employees of the County and of the school system, the College, Park and Planning, HOC and other county-funded entities for foregoing cost-of-living adjustments this year to help balance the budget. I know it wasn’t easy, and more will be asked of you, but I want you to know that your sacrifice and everyday hard work for the people of the County is appreciated by all on this body.
Finally, I want to thank my colleagues. In a difficult year, we pulled together well and in one direction –at least the great majority of the time – and got a lot done for the people of Montgomery County. That’s our mission, and I enjoyed working with each of you to accomplish it.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Council President this year. It was a pleasure and an honor. Let us continue to guard well. Thank you.