The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • B1

THE JBfk SUN www.sunspot.netmaryland Section MARYLAND Wednesday, December 4, 2002 Balto. Co. Council, Smith at odds over interim managers Jobs, political donors coincide New executive's refusal to submit personnel for approval upsets panel Authority to do jobs questioned By Andrew A. Green SUNSTAFF Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr.

could be headed for a showdown with the County Council in his first week on the job over the appointment of his top managers. An amendment approved overwhelmingly by voters in November states that these top managers, who are heads of county departments and offices, are to be appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the council. Council members contend that goes for new appointees and top managers from the Ruppersberger administration still in their jobs, many of whom Smith intends to keep on staff at least temporarily. When the amendment takes effect tomorrow, it's unclear, council members said, whether Baltimore County's public works director would have the authority to fix a pothole, the permits director could issue code citations or the budget officer could order an audit without the formal reappointment. Smith disagrees.

"Neither the charter nor the amendment that was approved by the voters provided for a termination date for existing department heads, therefore, under the charter, they continue to have the power to perform their office," said Smith spokeswoman Elise Armacost. If Smith decides to keep any of the sitting department heads on permanently, he plans to send their names to the council for confirmation, Armacost said. In a letter to County Administrative Officer John Wasilisin last week, council members suggested that the executive should send them the names of the current department heads as interim appointments, which are valid for 60 days and do not require confirmation. If after 60 days he still hasn't decided what to do, he could ask the council for extensions. "I had so hoped that he was going to accept the offer of the temporary appointments and you could have written an article about the teamwork that he spoke about in his inaugural address, teamwork between the executive and the council and interested citizen groups," said councilman T.

Bryan Mclntire, a north county Republican. "This would have been a very positive first step on his part, I think," See Appointees, 6b Among new legislators at the orientation yesterday were Stephen J. DeBoy of Baltimore County (top), with his wife, Jenny, and Neil Quinter of Howard County, with his wife, Laura. Freshman orientation begins at State House 3 former lawmakers who gave to Glendening got positions from him 'It looks like a payoff Administration denies impropriety; trio faces confirmation, critics note By Michael Dresser SUN STAFF Three former Democratic legislators who were given plum jobs this year by Gov. Parris N.

Glendening contributed thousands of dollars to the governor's still-active political fund, campaign finance records show. A top Republican described the contributions as "fishy" and said they are yet another example of a "culture of corruption" in Annapolis. The donations were all deposited within a seven-day period in late August and early September at a time when Glendening was using the fund to finance a series of ads promoting a Democratic primary challenge to Comptroller William Donald Schaefer. The former legislators who made the donations to Mary-landers for Glendening are: Sen. Perry Sfikas of Baltimore, who was appointed to an $81,000 position on the state Parole Commission in September.

Records show his campaign committee still flush after he decided not to run for re-election gave the Glendening fund the legal maximum of $6,000 Aug. 8. Del. Thomas E. Dewberry of Baltimore County, who was named the state's chief administrative law judge at a salary of $101,000 in May.

He said he gave $5,000 to Glendening after being solicited by one of the governor's deputy chiefs of staff. Sen. Michael J. Collins of Baltimore County, who was named to a $97,344 post on the state Board of Contract Appeals on May 17. Records show Collins gave $6,000 in leftover campaign funds to the governor Sept.

2. Collins also donated $10,000 to the Democratic Governors' Association, which is headed by Glendening, on May 9. The proximity of the appointments and the contributions raised the suspicions of a leading advocate of campaign reform. "It looks like a payoff," said James Browning, executive director of Common Cause Maryland. Browning said the contributions should be considered when the state Senate considers the former lawmakers' confirmations during next year's legislative session.

"They should be more observant of the appearance. And one could ar- See Donations, 5b from the city makes folks flee for the burbs. Car theft, while not as heinous, is infuriating and downright annoying. My daughter's Dodge Caravan was stolen Saturday in broad daylight. The officer who found the car said five others on the same street were stolen the same day.

It disrupted my entire weekend. I missed the Grambling-Southern game Saturday. The next day, I missed the Atlanta Falcons' Michael Vick provide more excitement in four or five plays than the Baltimore Ravens' offense has in hundreds of plays the past three seasons. I don't have much patience with a thieving See Kane, 4b LLOYD FOX SUN STAFF Vinod Prakash is the founder of the India Development and Relief Fund, based in Rockville. India-relief charity criticized on fund use Academics, activists claim Rockville-based group backs Hindu extremists By Scott Shane SUN STAFF A Maryland-based charity that raises money for relief work in India has come under fire from Indian-American academics and activists, who say it supports Hindu extremist groups that foment hate and violence against Muslims, Christians and other minorities.

At a time when Islamic charities in the United States are being scrutinized for possible ties to terrorism, the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) appears to be the first U.S. philanthropic organization to be accused of financing Hindu chauvinism. Hindu extremist groups, as well as local government officials, have been accused by Human Rights Watch and other international organizations of participating in the killing of more than 1,000 Muslims in the Indian state of Gujarat this year after a Muslim attack on a train. The mob violence in Gujarat shocked many Indian-Americans and prompted a harder look at where their charitable donations were going. About a dozen Indian immigrants, including Hindus, Muslims and Christians, collaborated on a 90-page report analyzing the activities of the 15-year-old fund, which raised nearly $4 million last year for organizations in India, according to its tax return.

"We're not saying IDRF is directly involved in communal violence," said Angana Chatterji, an anthropology See Fund, 6b INSIDE Season's first snowstorm tonight expected to bring 5 inches, meteorologists say. Page 2b Church-labor alliance wants to close loopholes for corporations, country clubs. Page 2b Bank purchases property proposed for elderly deaf residents. Page 3b Rodricks' Christmas list: Less binge shopping and more lasagna (plus world peace). Page 4b Milton Dance horse auctioneer and racing stable owner, dies at 76.

Page 7b Obituaries 6b Weather 22b House minority leader Del. Alfred W. Redmer Jr. (left), exchanges a joke with Del. Michael E.

Busch, the House speaker nominee, as Annapolis Mayor Ellen O. Moyer looks on. AMY DAVIS SUN STAFF PHOTOS record." House Minority Leader Alfred W. Redmer Jr. strongly suggested new lawmakers not ignore their families during the sometimes grueling 90-day legislative session.

And referring to the inevitable policy fights to come, House Speaker nominee Michael E. Busch advised, "Don't take any of it personally." In closing, he added a vital point of information: "Through that door and to the left are the bathrooms." The orientation is a chance for the See Lawmakers, 2b Gregory Kane Please note that the crime driving them to the suburbs (or, heaven forfend, in the case of my daughter and grandchildren, to another state again) is not the homicide numbers Mayor Martin O'Malley has put so much effort into reducing. Murder isn't the only crime in this city that heed, chose stationery and filled in tax forms. Today's highlights include "Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law." Veteran lawmakers offered horse's-mouth instruction yesterday, as well. "There's no rivalry between the House and the Senate, and if you believe that, you believe in the tooth fairy," Senate President Thomas V.

Mike Miller told them. In dealing with the media, House Majority Leader Maggie L. Mcintosh warned: "Everything you say is on the record, even if you say it's off the Introduction: New lawmakers get a quick, personal lesson in cutting the budget. By Sarah Koeniq SUNSTAFF Maryland's newest state lawmakers, still aglow from their election victories, converged on the State House in Annapolis yesterday, affixed large name tags to their lapels and promptly got their first lesson in budget cutting. Their orientation, they were told, was being curtailed in order to save money.

Four years ago, freshman orientation was a three-day affair, followed by a six-day bus tour of the state. This time around it's down to two days, and the tour is cut in half. So the information is tightly packed. Yesterday they learned about ethics laws they must Chairwoman Patricia L. Welch, using the school's new name, "there are some young men and some young women who still dream, and who still think they have somewhere to go, regardless of where they have already been." This month in a unanimous school board vote, the Eager Street Academy was officially christened the new name a more apt reflection of the school's focus on academic turnarounds, second chances and hope.

The change can be felt most, said Principal Dawn Downing, where it matters most in the students' attitudes. "We're unlocking minds here," Downing said. "We've always geared the curriculum toward unlocking the chains that are in these students' minds. They're bound by the See School, 4b Detention center school offers an education in hope Car thieves help steer exodus Eager Street Academy has new name, attitude By Tanika White SUNSTAFF It is true that the school is inside the Baltimore city jail. And the students taking biology, math, and learning French and sign language are the same ones charged with crimes ranging from armed robbery to murder.

The steel bars are still there. Armed guards remain vigilant. However, something has changed at the former Baltimore City Detention Center, School No. 370. An oft-used PR tactic has transformed inmates into students, prisoners into dreamers.

"At the Eager Street Academy," said city school board AND SO, for the second time in a week, I've heard from a Baltimore resident so distraught with crime that bags are being packed for departure. The first was from a disgruntled e-mailer who had his car stolen and then endured some messy red tape in dealing with city officials. The second was from my daughter, a car-theft victim for the second time since she, my son-in-law and three grandchildren moved from Dunwoodie, where it was not stolen once. The e-mailer, my daughter and son-in-law have had it with Baltimore. They're ready to go..