Greetings!
We join the community in hurt, frustration, and disgust regarding the recent investigation and report by the Howard County Office of the Auditor, a department that resides under the Howard County Council’s authority. The racially insensitive tone, language, and approach of the investigation is unacceptable, appalling, and inconsistent with the reputation and professional standards of the Howard County workforce and prior work products from the Office of the Auditor. Howard County offices are here to help, protect, and serve individuals and groups.
A local civic organization hosted a reception for the launch of their exhibit within the library, highlighting local equity history and 50+ years of service in Howard County. A library partnership is not grounds for the level of scrutiny and harassment as alluded to in the Auditor’s report. The report and actions of the Office of the Auditor have damaged the community’s trust and diminished the credibility of the Office.
Our community deserves transparency and accountability. The published report is not a collection of impartial evidence with findings of fact, instead it is comprised of accusations, inaccuracies, and impressions. The actions of the Office of the Auditor went well beyond the scope of authority; the State code directs a different path, and the Charter only provides for “an examination of accounts.” We are deeply concerned with the leadership, impartiality, and judgment of the Auditor and the Lead Investigator.
We must repair and rebuild trust for the communities we serve and will work to ensure future actions and reports from the Office of the Auditor uphold the highest professional standards.
Our Next Steps:
- Creating a space for those aggrieved by the recent actions of the Office of the Auditor to be heard by leaders.
- Examining and strengthening the Standard Operating Procedures for addressing allegations.
Howard County prides itself on civility, cultural competency, diversity, and inclusion; race, ethnicity, nor creed should be singled out in an official Auditor’s Report. There is no place for intimidation of Howard County residents, biased leadership, or divisiveness in any place of authority within Howard County.
The Office of the Auditor lacked transparency during the investigation and communications with the Council. Therefore, we are calling for the immediate termination of the County Auditor, Craig Glendenning, and the Lead Investigator.
To read the original report from the Office of the Auditor, click here, and the Howard County Library System's Board of Trustees Response to the Auditor's here.
Sincerely,