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Frederick County Commissioner Charles A. Jenkins backed down Tuesday from his earlier position that all audio books purchased for Frederick County Public Libraries must be only in English.
Jenkins said he changed his mind after hearing from residents who were upset with the board's Aug. 21 adoption of a new policy that stated all new audio library books must be in the English language, unless it taught a foreign language.
"I did receive a couple of e-mails with thoughtful and engaging comments," Jenkins (R) said.
On Tuesday, commissioners voted 4-1 to overturn their previous decision. Commissioner John "Lennie" Thompson Jr. (R) was the lone vote against the new motion.
On Aug. 21, during a routine request from Frederick County Public Libraries for $441,350 to buy audio books, Jenkins asked to add a condition that the books must be in English only. With Board President Jan H. Gardner (D) and Commissioner David P. Gray (R) absent, the other three commissioners – Kai J. Hagen (D), Thompson and Jenkins - voted unanimously to add the condition and approve the funding.
But Hagen's vote was not what it seemed. Hagen let it be known that his favorable vote was cast so he could bring the issue up again when Gardner and Gray were present. A commissioner can bring up an item again for a discussion and vote only if he has previously voted in favor.
"It's inappropriate to rush a new policy on a moment's notice," Hagen said in an interview. "I think I'd like to put it on the agenda and then we'd have a full discussion."
Hagen also believed by adopting the policy, commissioners had created a problem that did not already exist. So on Tuesday, Hagen made a motion to reconsider.
Last year, Jenkins failed in his attempt to require all agencies, nonprofits and schools that receive county funding to verify that the people they help are living in the country legally.
He continued that fight in April with a proposal to designate English as the official language in Frederick County. His commissioner colleagues instead passed a resolution proclaiming English as the official and primary language. To Jenkins' dismay, the resolution was neither a new law nor a change to the county code. It required the county government to do nothing.
