Council introduces bill requiring council approval for professional services contracts; county executive urges withdrawal

The Wicomico County Council voted 5-1 on June 17 to introduce legislative bill 2025-08, a proposal that would add a subsection to Chapter 19 of the county code requiring council approval by resolution for professional services contracts and defining "professional services" for that purpose.

Council debate during introduction focused on the balance between transparency and executive authority. One council member argued the measure was unnecessary under the county's county-executive form of government and would diminish the executive's operational authority. Another council member said the council sought additional transparency after finding departments were using outside consultants in ways the council said merited closer review.

Andrew Luminotti of the County Attorney's Office told the council the charter requires the county to advertise a public hearing within five days after introduction and that the body has 60 days to adopt the bill. Council members discussed scheduling a work session before the public hearing.

During the public comment period later in the meeting, County Executive Julie Giordano spoke directly to this bill. Giordano asked the council to withdraw the legislation or hold a full public work session, arguing the bill "is in direct conflict with the Wicomico County Charter, egregiously oversteps the council's authority, and if enacted would have deeply negative consequences for how we do business here in the county." She criticized paragraph 7 of the draft as overly punitive toward employees and said departmental operations rely on timely use of professional services.

Council members voted to introduce the bill; a roll call afterward showed the motion to introduce passed by a 5-1 margin. The council set a timeline for a forthcoming public hearing and indicated it would consider a work session prior to adoption.