Board of Estimates – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com The Best of Baltimore Since 1907 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 01:20:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Board of Estimates – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com 32 32 GameChanger: Bill Henry https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/businessdevelopment/gamechanger-bill-henry-future-city-comptroller/ Wed, 05 Aug 2020 11:49:00 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?post_type=article&p=76845
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Photography by Mike Morgan

Bill Henry has a deep understanding of how City Hall functions—and dysfunctions. The lifelong Baltimorean worked under Mayor Kurt Schmoke, and later served as legislative director to Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke and chief of staff to former Council President Lawrence Bell. Running for Comptroller, the 4th District Councilman’s message was clear: If voters knew how the city spent their money, officials would spend it better.

What made you believe you could upset well-funded, six-term incumbent Joan Pratt?
If you make an argument that directly responds to the people’s concerns, it doesn’t matter how powerful your opponent is. My team and I knew that we had a message that was compelling enough to win. The question was whether we’d have the resources to get that message in front of every voter.

The Comptroller’s Office has been beset by controversy and accusations of favoritism for decades. How will you restore confidence in City Hall?
Transparency. In government, sunshine is often the best disinfectant. The public must have greater access to the proceedings of the Board of Estimates, where the business of government is transacted. We also must continue to reform ethics policies and financial disclosures.

What’s the most important function that the Comptroller performs? Is it voting on Board of Estimates contracts?
Thorough auditing can result in immediate and lasting change within city agencies. Unless we change the Board’s composition, the Comptroller’s single vote will rarely make a difference. Just being on the Board, however, provides a bully pulpit for communicating to the public, both what is happening at the BOE and what the Comptroller’s auditors are finding.

You’ve got an extraordinary range of government experience. What elected official did you learn from the most?
That’s an easy one—Mary Pat Clarke. I worked on her re-election campaign for Council President in 1991, in her office as legislative director and assistant to her chief of staff, on her mayoral campaign in 1995, and as her colleague for the last 12 years. I’ve never met anyone more committed to her constituents or to the concept of community empowerment. She’s been a great example of how elected office should be about the people and not the official.

On a personal note, you’re on the board of the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. Where does your love for and interest
in theater come from?
I was on stage for 30 years—school plays from grade school through college and then community theater—until I was elected. Being on the
CSC board gives me a chance to help other people do theater and enjoy theater, which is enough now.

If you could wave a magic wand to make one policy change in Baltimore, what would it be?
A universal basic income, which would directly alleviate poverty in Baltimore City and transform our economy.

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]]> ​City to Pay Freddie Gray’s Family $6.4 Million in Settlement https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/community/city-to-pay-freddie-grays-family-6-4-million-in-settlement/ Tue, 08 Sep 2015 14:25:00 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?p=68496 Continued]]> The Baltimore City Law Department will submit a $6.4 million settlement proposal of all civil claims arising from last spring’s death of Freddie Gray, Jr. to the Board of Estimates during its regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday morning.

The proposed settlement—of which $2.8 million would be paid during Baltimore City’s current fiscal year and $3.6 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016— would resolve all civil claims related to the City of Baltimore, the Baltimore Police Department, individual Baltimore police officers, and any other city-affiliated persons or institutions who might be deemed responsible for the death of Gray.

The proposed settlement, which is expected to approved by the Board of Estimates, does not resolve any factual disputes surrounding the events of April 12—the day of Gray’s arrest. It does not constitute an admission of liability on the part of the City, the Baltimore Police Department, or any of the police officers that interacted with Gray, according to a press release from the office of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

The settlement also does not affect the criminal proceedings against the six Baltimore City police officers now underway, city officials said.

“The proposed settlement agreement going before the Board of Estimates should not be interpreted as a judgment on the guilt or innocence of the officers facing trial,” Rawlings-Blake said in a statement. “This settlement is being proposed solely because it is in the best interest of the city, and avoids costly and protracted litigation that would only make it more difficult for our city to heal and potentially cost taxpayers many millions more in damages.”

At a separate press conference about an unrelated topic Tuesday morning, Rawlings-Blake said she would not comment further until after the Board of Estimates meeting. The Board of Estimates consists of five voting members: the mayor, president of the City Council, the comptroller, the city solicitor, and the director of Public Works

Baltimore City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young, a member of the Board of Estimates, will vote in favor of the proposed payout, his spokesman Lester Davis said.

“This matter is separate from the criminal cases that are ongoing,” Davis said. “In terms of any civil litigation case, the cost of defending against any claims coupled with the potential for judgments makes this right decision for the taxpayers of Baltimore City.”

According to reporting by The Baltimore Sun, multimillion-dollar wrongful death settlements are rare in the City. Since 2011, only six payments exceeded $200,000 in the more than 120 police brutality-related claims. In all those cases, settlements came after months or years of litigation fights.

Baltimore police officer Caesar Goodson faces the most serious charge—second-degree “depraved-heart” murder—in the death of Gray, who was fatally injured while being transported in a van driven by Goodson. Lt. Brian Rice, Sgt. Alicia White and officer William Porter face manslaughter charges. All six of the officers, which also include Edward Nero and Garret Miller, have been charged with second-degree assault, misconduct and reckless endangerment.

A pre-trial motions hearing for the six police officers—all of whom will be tried separately at this point—is scheduled for Thursday when City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams will decide whether to move the cases out of Baltimore.

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