{"id":12974,"date":"2025-03-07T12:08:04","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T17:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/?p=12974"},"modified":"2025-03-07T12:08:04","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T17:08:04","slug":"maryland-appellate-court-rules-against-wicomico-county-executive-in-administration-appointment-dispute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/maryland-appellate-court-rules-against-wicomico-county-executive-in-administration-appointment-dispute\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Appellate Court Rules Against Wicomico County Executive in Administration Appointment Dispute"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><br>SALISBURY, MD \u2013 Maryland\u2019s Appellate Court has ruled against Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano in her ongoing dispute with the County Council regarding the hiring of the Assistant Director of Administration. The legal conflict began in 2023 when Giordano appointed Matthew Leitzel to the position, despite the council&#8217;s decision not to approve his nomination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the County Council approved over 30 of Giordano\u2019s appointments, Council President John Cannon stated that the council did not move forward with Leitzel\u2019s appointment. Giordano, however, claimed Leitzel would assume the role starting June 26, 2023, due to the council\u2019s inaction, and announced him as the Assistant Director of Administration. In response, the council removed funding for the position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Giordano then filed a complaint in circuit court to reverse the council\u2019s action and restore funding, arguing the council violated the county charter. In November 2023, a circuit court judge sided with Giordano, but the council appealed, claiming the decision was based on an incorrect version of the charter. The case ultimately reached the Appellate Court, which ruled on March 5, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Appellate Court reversed the circuit court&#8217;s decision, ruling that Leitzel was not confirmed for the position, although he had been in the role since June 2023. The court also upheld the council\u2019s decision to eliminate funding for the position. The Wicomico County Council is now considering recovering the salary funds for the position, which totals $132,300 for Fiscal Year 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-819x1024.jpg?resize=819%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12975\" style=\"width:252px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-scaled.jpg?resize=819%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 819w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-scaled.jpg?resize=240%2C300&amp;ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C960&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-scaled.jpg?resize=1229%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1229w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-scaled.jpg?resize=1638%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1638w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-scaled.jpg?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Photo: Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano <br>from WicomicoCounty.org<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SALISBURY, MD \u2013 Maryland\u2019s Appellate Court has ruled against Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano in her ongoing dispute with the County Council regarding the hiring of the Assistant Director of Administration. The legal conflict began in 2023 when Giordano appointed Matthew Leitzel to the position, despite the council&#8217;s decision not to approve his nomination. While [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-scaled.jpg?fit=2048%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-3ng","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12537,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wicomico-county-passes-dog-kennel-law-faces-backlash\/","url_meta":{"origin":12974,"position":0},"title":"Wicomico County Passes Dog Kennel Law, Faces Backlash","author":"Admin","date":"February 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"SALISBURY, Md. \u2014 The Wicomico County Council passed new zoning legislation on Feb. 4, requiring all dog kennels to be at least 1,000 feet from the nearest home. However, County Executive Julie Giordano said a review found no existing kennels meet this requirement, effectively forcing all to relocate or shut\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-37.png?fit=1125%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-37.png?fit=1125%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-37.png?fit=1125%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-37.png?fit=1125%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-37.png?fit=1125%2C750&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13401,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wicomico-county-executive-julie-giordano-announces-re-election-bid\/","url_meta":{"origin":12974,"position":1},"title":"Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano Announces Re-Election Bid","author":"admin","date":"March 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. \u2014 Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano has announced her plans to seek another term in office. She believes the executive position is essential for maintaining checks and balances in local government and hopes to continue the progress made during her first term.Giordano highlighted key initiatives she aims\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-1-scaled.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-1-scaled.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-1-scaled.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-1-scaled.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14070,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wicomico-county-executive-proposes-budget-with-property-tax-reduction\/","url_meta":{"origin":12974,"position":2},"title":"Wicomico County Executive Proposes Budget with Property Tax Reduction","author":"admin","date":"April 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"SALISBURY, MD \u2013 Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano has submitted her proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget to the County Council for review. The budget includes a significant reduction in the property tax rate, dropping it from $0.84 to $0.80 per $100 of assessed value. This move is expected to reduce\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-1-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-1-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-1-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-1-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Julie-Giordano-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16625,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wicomico-county-council-moves-to-lock-in-landfill-hours-amid-commercial-hauler-concerns\/","url_meta":{"origin":12974,"position":3},"title":"Wicomico County Council Moves to Lock in Landfill Hours Amid Commercial Hauler Concerns","author":"admin","date":"July 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Salisbury, Md. \u2014 Wicomico County Council is set to review an emergency proposal designed to set firm operating rules for the Newland Park Landfill and other waste facilities. The move comes after talks that the landfill might close on certain days to commercial waste haulers. The draft ordinance will officially\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bulldozer-working-2025-03-07-05-05-46-utc-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bulldozer-working-2025-03-07-05-05-46-utc-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bulldozer-working-2025-03-07-05-05-46-utc-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bulldozer-working-2025-03-07-05-05-46-utc-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bulldozer-working-2025-03-07-05-05-46-utc-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18250,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wicomico-county-secures-over-8-5-million-in-federal-and-state-financing-for-septicelimination-and-salisbury-sewer-extension-project\/","url_meta":{"origin":12974,"position":4},"title":"Wicomico County Secures Over $8.5 Million in Federal and State Financing for SepticElimination and Salisbury Sewer Extension Project","author":"admin","date":"October 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"SALISBURY, Md. \u2014 Wicomico County has been selected for potential funding totaling $8,568,657 to support the Septic Elimination and Salisbury Sewer Extension Project, County Executive Julie Giordano announced Tuesday. The funding comes through the Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Water Quality State Revolving Fund (WQSRF) Intended Use Plan.The funding package includes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/salisbury-government-building-.jpg?fit=1093%2C627&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/salisbury-government-building-.jpg?fit=1093%2C627&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/salisbury-government-building-.jpg?fit=1093%2C627&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/salisbury-government-building-.jpg?fit=1093%2C627&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/salisbury-government-building-.jpg?fit=1093%2C627&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17416,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wicomico-county-announces-appointments-to-new-planning-and-zoning-commission\/","url_meta":{"origin":12974,"position":5},"title":"Wicomico County Announces Appointments to New Planning and Zoning Commission","author":"admin","date":"August 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"SALISBURY, MD \u2013 Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano has announced the confirmation of appointments to the newly created Wicomico County Planning and Zoning Commission. This body aims to strengthen community development, land use planning, and long-term growth management in the county. The Wicomico County Council has confirmed the following appointees:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/salisbury-p-and-z-.jpg?fit=1134%2C523&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/salisbury-p-and-z-.jpg?fit=1134%2C523&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/salisbury-p-and-z-.jpg?fit=1134%2C523&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/salisbury-p-and-z-.jpg?fit=1134%2C523&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/salisbury-p-and-z-.jpg?fit=1134%2C523&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12974"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12974\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12977,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12974\/revisions\/12977"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}