THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, November 6, 2013 g
Page A-11
Maryland celebrates Emancipation Day Living historians (from left) Mirand Lewis of Washington, D.C., portraying Mary Ann Shadd Cary; Patricia Tyson of Silver Spring as Hallie Quinn Brown; and Sandy Wilson of Baltimore as Rebecca Davis Lee Crumpler gave firstperson character accounts of their lives during the Maryland Emancipation Day celebration Saturday at the Oakley Cabin African American Museum and Park near Olney. TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
County executive won’t sign bill for pay increases Raises will take effect without his signature, irking council members
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BY
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
In a move that caught members of the Montgomery County Council off-guard, County Executive Isiah Leggett won’t sign a bill the council passed that would provide pay increases for the next council and executive, but Leggett will allow the bill to become law without his signature. Leggett’s lack of action means the bill automatically became law on Monday and will go into effect in December 2014. The bill would increase the pay for council members by about $32,000 over the next four years, from the current salary of $104,291 a year to $136,258 on Dec. 4, 2017. It would also provide an increase of about $10,000 for the next county executive, to a salary of $190,000 a year from $180,250, and ties the salaries of the sheriff and state’s attorney to a consumer price index. The bill won’t apply to the
current council or executive, who are legally prohibited from giving themselves raises while in office. The fact that the bill passed the council by an 8-1 vote factored into Leggett’s decision not to veto the measure, county spokesman Patrick Lacefield said Thursday. Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg voted no. Six votes are needed for the council to negate an executive veto. “It’s pretty clear any veto would be overridden,” Lacefield said Thursday. The Washington Post reported on Oct. 29 that Leggett might not sign the bill. That came as news to several council members. Council President Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring said Thursday that Leggett never conveyed any hesitations about the bill during the legislative process that led up to the council’s vote on Oct. 22. “It’s unfortunate that this is being raised all over again,” Navarro said Thursday. Council Vice President Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown said he and Leggett discussed
the issue on Oct. 30, but that was the first he’d heard of the executive’s misgivings. “I wish that we had known about it ahead of time,” Rice said. Councilman Marc Elrich (DAt Large) of Takoma Park said Thursday he speaks to Leggett regularly, and Leggett never told him about any concerns about the bill. “People do things I don’t understand sometimes,” Elrich said. In July, Leggett told members of the committee in charge of making a recommendation to the council that he believed a cost
of living adjustment would be enough, Lacefield said Thursday. “We hear the recession is over, but things are still tough for a lot of people,” he said. Leggett had assumed the committee would pass on his reservations, Lacefield said. Leggett should have shared his concerns with the council in a more timely manner, Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Bethesda. There was a time and place for the executive to weigh in on the compensation issue, and it shouldn’t have been after the fact, Berliner said.
Cybersecurity companies eligible for tax credit bonus Program provides ‘vote of confidence,’ CEO says
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BY
KEVIN JAMES SHAY STAFF WRITER
Starting next year, cybersecurity companies based in Montgomery County will be eligible for a bonus — a local tax credit to go with the state one passed by the General Assembly in the spring. The Montgomery County Council recently approved legislation that makes companies involved in the growing cybersecurity field that get certified for the state tax credits to be eligible for supplemental local credits. The program offers cybersecurity businesses not just financial support but provides a “vote of confidence” for those in the industry, said Kwok Li, president and CEO of Bethesda-based cybersecurity business RioRey. The company develops products that defend systems from a type of Internet attack called distributed denial-of-service. “This segment requires continuous innovation,” Li said. “It requires a full spectrum of employment levels.” John Prisco, president and CEO of Rockville cybersecurity firm Triumfant, also praised the program. He said he moved his company to Montgomery in 2006 partly to take advantage of the skilled work force in the cybersecu-
rity industry. The business has eight patents on its products, he said. “The climate is already great, but [this program] really makes it even better,” Prisco said. The program is modeled on a similar tax credit Montgomery officials passed in 2010 for life sciences businesses. A difference is that cybersecurity companies receive the credit themselves, rather than investors in the companies under the biotech program. The county also has a tax credit for investors in green businesses that began this year. Steven A. Silverman, director of the county’s Department of Economic Development, said during a recent council meeting that he did not know of any other local entities with tax credit programs in those three areas. “We think this sets Montgomery County apart as the place to start and grow businesses in these sectors,” he said. The exact amount of the supplement will be depend on the number of companies that receive credits and the amount of funds county officials appropriate each year. The state program is capped at a total of $3 million for next year. Eligible businesses have to be certified by the state as “qualified” Maryland cybersecurity companies, as well as have fewer than 50 employees and be privately held.
Obituary Mr. Lloyd Winfield Geiser, 84, of Ocala, FL and formerly of New Market, MD, passed from this life to be with Jesus his Savior, surrounded by his loving family and his beloved dog “Peaches”, on Oct. 29, 2013. He was the husband of Carol Newbury Geiser, his wife of 58 years. Born June 4, 1929 in Washington, DC, he was the son of the late George A. and Edna May Geiser, and graduated from McKinley High School. Mr. Geiser received his Bachelor’s degree Commercial Science from Benjamin Franklin University and served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Korea during the Korean War. He worked for 40 years as an account manager with Steuart Motor Company and Steuart Investment Company. He enjoyed singing in the Church choir, tropical fish, and bowling. Lloyd and Carol were charter members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg, and longtime members of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Damascus. In addition to his loving wife, Carol, Lloyd is survived by his son, Gregory Geiser, daughters Susan Geiser, Gail Peron & husband Wayne; grandson Ted Gladden & wife Heather; granddaughters, Jeannette Gladden, Sara Peron, and Taylor Peron; five great-grandchildren, Kara Gladden, Daphne Gladden, Katelynn Lewis, Casey Lewis, and Ava Bond; and numerous cousins from the Swab and Newbury families. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 PM on Thursday, Nov. 7th at the Chapel Mausoleum of Resthaven Memorial Gardens, 9501 U.S. Route 15 N in Frederick; where a funeral service will begin at 1:00 PM on Friday, Nov. 8th. Interment with military honors will follow in Resthaven Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of West Team Marion County, 3231 SW 34th Ave., Ocala, FL 34474 (www.hospiceofmarion.com) . Arrangements in Frederick are with Resthaven Funeral Services, Skkot Cody P.A. 1913015
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