WSSC
Miller, Citing 'Incompetence,' Wants Overhaul
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. raised the prospect yesterday of a state overhaul of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission if local leaders cannot address what he called "total incompetence" at the agency before the legislature reconvenes in January.
In a tartly worded letter to Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D), Miller (D-Calvert) cited two recent spills of raw sewage in making a case that major changes are needed at WSSC, which provides water and sewer services to 1.8 million people in Prince George's and Montgomery counties.
"These recent events confirm that WSSC has sunk to levels of incompetence that we should all be embarrassed to see," wrote Miller, whose district includes part of Prince George's. "The needs have been well-documented and yet WSSC commissioners representing our county have sat idly by, while pipe after pipe has burst. . . . We cannot simply shrug our shoulders and accept delays and excuses for such things as raw sewage flowing into sensitive environmental areas again and again."
A spokesman for Johnson would not comment on Miller's letter.
"If it were intended for the county executive, it would have been sent first to him and not The Washington Post," Jim Keary said. Keary then hung the phone up on a reporter trying to get further comment. It could not be confirmed whether Johnson had received the letter yet.
The county executives of Prince George's and Montgomery both appoint three of the WSSC's six commissioners and have joint responsibility for appointing the general manager.
In an interview, Miller said he was not threatening any specific actions but voiced frustration over continued delays in appointing a permanent general manager. He said other lawmakers have raised the possibility of having the governor make appointments to the commission.
In April, Johnson and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett backed away from a joint nominee to lead the agency because of a racial discrimination lawsuit against the nominee and a Texas water utility that resulted in a $635,000 settlement.
Staff writer Ovetta Wiggins contributed to this report.
