The Wicomico County Council has voted to override the County Executive’s veto of Legislative Bill No. 2025-09, ensuring that provisions amending Chapter 99 of the Wicomico County Code will take effect. The bill requires that County decals be permanently affixed in a uniform manner to the exterior of both front doors of County-owned vehicles.
The original vehicle policy, established through Legislative Bill No. 2024-12, created uniform guidelines for the use and operation of County-owned or leased vehicles. Legislative Bill No. 2025-09 clarifies and strengthens these provisions by standardizing decal placement for consistent identification of County vehicles, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability. Additionally, the bill recognizes the unique operational needs of the Circuit Court, allowing its employees to receive mileage reimbursement when using personal vehicles for official business.
In vetoing the legislation, the County Executive raised concerns about employee safety—particularly for enforcement staff—and about preserving executive discretion over operational decisions. The Council fully recognizes the importance of employee safety and does not take these concerns lightly.
However, the Council believes that legitimate safety risks can be effectively addressed in collaboration with the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, ensuring enforcement actions can be conducted without compromising transparency.
Regarding executive discretion, the Council determined that uniform vehicle identification is a legislative matter because it directly affects accountability to the public and the proper use of taxpayer funded resources. The Council remains committed to respecting the separation of powers while exercising its authority to set policy where transparency and public trust are at stake.
For Wicomico County residents, the new law ensures that County-owned vehicles are clearly and consistently marked, making it easier for the public to identify government vehicles in their communities. This uniform visibility helps strengthen accountability and public trust by making sure taxpayer-funded vehicles are used appropriately and for official business only.
No hiding now Julie ???
My thought exactly! LMFAO….
Checks and balances at work.
Queen Julie didn’t get her way…
Now lets use some common sense and cut back on several departments driving full size crew cab fuel consuming trucks with no trailer attached and just one driver. One white crew cab Ford truck with a camper top passes me on the bypass daily like a bat out of hell headed west and turns on Naylor Mill and up towards the landfill it goes. Same for a white crew cab truck #49 almost as bad. They all have emergency vehicle across the back. I guess this entitles them to speed everywhere they go. I hope Joe Holloway can get the fuel reports for these vehicles and see what the miles per gallon for these are. My guess is between 6 and 9 miles per gallon. Open Agenda minds want to know!
Get a job with the gov’t and you’ll never have to work again!