HomeMy WebLinkAboutHiring of consultant is inapproplriate Hiring of consultant
is inappropriate
Brazos County co m- its completion, opening and
missioners, at their Monday operation. Brazos County has a
meeting, agreed to pay former county attorney to handle legal
county judge W.R. Vance $500 a matters, both with the reap -
month to give them counsel. portionment suit and other cases
The Eagle is unalterably that may crop up. Existing
opposed to that concept as a commissioners, various
matter of precedent, practicality department heads and the ad-
and fiscal responsibility. We ministrative assistant to the
simply believe it's highly county judge should be able to
inappropriate for our com- help with other administrative
missioners to pay Vance to do and budgetary situations.
what they've been elected and
are paid to do — run the county We see no good reason for the
government. county to pay $500 a month for
To be sure when a new ad- additional counsel. A great
ministration takes over any many other department heads
office there is an air of inex would love to see that $500
perience. No one expected Dick because commissioners, in
Holmgreen to know everything preparing the 1979 budget,
about county government the lopped more than that off vir-
tually
day he walked into his office. eques
reque every department's
rts.
But no other administration Fiscally, the budget has been
retains an outgoing leader to
help with the transition. Gerald established and no where in it do
Ford didn't stick around to give we see $500 in monthly con -
advice to Jimmy Carter. Bill sultant fees.
Clements didn't ask Dolph By no means do we treat
Briscoe to help him learn the Vance's 12 years of experience
ropes in Austin. lightly.
It's a precedent that shouldn't
be set. But taxpayers elected five
commissioners — whose com-
In principle, Vance will be bined tenure totals 32 years of
asked to work on the completion experience — and are paying
and opening of the Brazos each of them $18,550 a year to do
Center, to give counsel in the their job.
reapportionment suit, to help out
with budgetary matters, and to We can think of no reason why
give legal advice on matters of a the county should be expected to
a civil nature. shell out another $6,000 for those
men to lean on Vance's ex-
Commissioners have named a pertise. They should either be
full -time director of the Brazos able to rely on their own ex-
Center who, we believe, is perience to run the county or get
capable of following through on out.