Two assistant chief administrative officers for Montgomery County government were unanimously approved by the County Council Thursday.
Alfred Jerome Fletcher II and Caroline Sturgis will assist CAO Andrew Kleine in carrying out County Executive Marc Elrich’s priorities.
They will have base salaries of $165,000.
Fletcher, 44, of Woodbridge, Virginia, has spent a career in government, working during the past year as the senior deputy director for the District of Columbia’s Department of Small and Local Business development and as an administrator in the District’s general services agency for several years. His areas of focus will be working with county departments and staff to grow the economy and make government more sustainable — two key pledges Elrich made during last year’s campaign.
Sturgis, 44, of Baltimore, has experience that includes more than one year as deputy budget director for Baltimore City, as well as several other government positions in the city that included chief financial officer for the police department. She will work with the county police department and other agencies to carry out Elrich’s goals of improving neighborhood safety and helping youth and families thrive.
Kleine, during a previous meeting, said his assistants differ from previous administrations, in that they are both managers within the county executive’s officer, but also liaisons to other departments that are responsible for helping the county executive achieve his vision.
This prompted some confusion among council members at Thursday’s hearing, particularly from council member Andrew Friedson.
“Who is the ACAO we’re supposed to call when there’s a DHCA [housing] issue, so Andrew Kleine doesn’t get all of the calls? If we don’t have very specific areas, I don’t think any of us will know who we’re supposed to call,” he said.
Friedson said he didn’t mean the question as a criticism, but as a request for clarity.
“Sometimes it seems like there are specific departments where the ACAO is viewed as directly tied, and sometimes the answer is, ‘we’re looking for collaboration,’” said.
Elrich has yet to appoint five top-level cabinet officers, which will require council approval.
Dan Schere can be reached at Daniel.schere@moco360.media
