The Prince George’s County Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee on Thursday heard more than two hours of public testimony on the county executive’s nomination of Dr. Samuel Moki to serve as director of the Department of the Environment and moved the nomination to the full council with a favorable committee recommendation.

The committee vote was 3 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 abstention on the committee motion to send a favorable recommendation to the full council.

Why it matters: The director heads the department that enforces stormwater permits, manages the county animal shelter and solid waste programs, and coordinates climate and resilience planning. The nomination drew sharply divided public response — current DOE staff and local volunteers praised Dr. Moki’s management and outreach since he returned as acting director; several advocates and neighborhood groups opposed the nomination, citing a 2014 termination and subsequent personnel and court rulings.

Dr. Moki, appearing with family, framed his candidacy as a return to public service and pointed to operational changes since his appointment as acting director, including cost savings and capital projects: “I am humbly, humbly asking for your support,” he said.

Supporters who work at DOE described changes in morale, responsiveness and program oversight since Dr. Moki became acting director. Rodney Taylor, associate director for community engagement and beautification, said Dr. Moki’s “empathy, his passion for people, and customer service, he's pushing it to a whole another level.” Several other division directors and deputies, including David Fisher (associate director, animal services) and Anthony Bennett (deputy director), said the acting director had driven cost discipline and operational changes the agency needed.

Opponents and critics recited findings from prior personnel and court proceedings. Several speakers, including environmental advocates and residents, cited a 2014 termination for gross negligence related to the department’s MS4 stormwater program and raised concerns about transparency and enforcement during the period that led to state fines. As one critic, Michael Bloom, said referencing past hearings: “The dishonesty about the budget was a significant violation of his employment by itself.”

Dr. Moki and his supporters disputed that staff-level authority equated to unfettered access to stormwater funds. In committee questioning, Dr. Moki said he did further graduate study after leaving the department, continued teaching and managing organizations, and had engaged consultants and operations staff to find $31,000,000 in cost savings for stormwater projects. He told the committee, “When the dust settled for this county that I love, I was able to save the county $31,000,000 in the next 4 years.”

Committee action and next steps: Council Member Blige moved a favorable recommendation on the nomination; Council Member Fisher seconded. The committee roll call recorded three ayes, one no and one abstention (committee tally: yes—Council Members Bugay, Fisher and Harrison; no—Chair Olsen; abstain—Council Member Dernoga). The committee’s favorable recommendation sends the nomination to the full County Council, which will schedule a confirmation vote; a public hearing had been scheduled for Oct. 21 at 11:30 a.m.

What the committee distinguished in the record: The hearing separated (1) public comment and community concerns, (2) staff endorsements and operational performance since the acting director’s appointment, and (3) the committee’s procedural vote to forward the nomination. The committee’s vote does not confirm Dr. Moki; it constitutes a recommendation to the full council.

Authorities and record: Multiple speakers referenced the county personnel board proceedings and Maryland appellate decisions relating to the 2014 dismissal and the county’s MS4 stormwater permit responsibilities. Speakers on both sides asked the council to weigh those records alongside recent operational results.