Harford County Council Makes Appointments, Bennet Does Not Receive Paycheck

HAVRE DE GRACE - The Harford County County Council approved appointees for several county positions at its legislative meeting on Tuesday evening.

Jefferson Blomquist was appointed as county attorney, Shane Grimm as director of planning and zoning, Joseph Sliwka as director of community services, and Kevin Greenwell as director of procurement.

All appointees were approved by the council, even though embattled county councilman Jacob Bennet says he was not given the opportunity to interview the candidates.

At the meeting, Bennet says he had interviews with the nominated candidates that were canceled, likely due to his ongoing conflict with the County Executive, Bob Cassilly.

Harford County filed suit against Bennet on December 9th, saying he is ineligible to serve on the County Council while remaining a Harford County Public Schools teacher. Section 207 of the Harford County charter forbids any state, county, or municipal employee from serving on the council.

Bennet did not receive his council member paycheck on Friday, but at the meeting, he noted that he now has a council email address and office phone number.

Additionally, Bennet was appointed to several county committees. He now sits on the Citizens Nursing Home Board, the Office on Mental Health Core Service Agency of Harford County, and the Harford Center Board.

Other committee appointments made at the meeting include:

• Patrick Vincenti and council vice president Tony Giangiordano were appointed to the county’s Audit Advisory Board

• council member Jessica Boyle-Tsottles was appointed to the Public Library Board of Trustees

• council member Dion Guthrie was appointed to the Commission On Disabilities

• council member Aaron Penman was appointed to the James V. “Capt’n Jim” McMahan Commission on Veterans Affairs.

As Bennet’s seat continues to be contested, he wrote to the Aegis to clarify his position.

“The district board is doing everything in its power to make itself the judge and jury of a situation over which it has no power,” Bennett wrote to The Aegis, “and is demonstrating disrespect for both the citizens of District F and the people of District F the judicial process that we trust to settle this dispute.”

“But until then,” he wrote, “I am the active councilor for District F.”