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New WSSC chief got job despite history of incidents in utility vehicles New WSSC chief got job despite history of incidents with the utility’s vehicles
(35 minutes later)
In 2006, Carla A. Reid, then deputy general manager of Maryland’s largest water utility, drove an agency-owned vehicle around a curve on the Capital Beltway, lost control and crossed two lanes before rolling over on the highway’s shoulder, according to a police report.In 2006, Carla A. Reid, then deputy general manager of Maryland’s largest water utility, drove an agency-owned vehicle around a curve on the Capital Beltway, lost control and crossed two lanes before rolling over on the highway’s shoulder, according to a police report.
It was 3:45 a.m. The vehicle, valued at $16,000, was totalled, according to an appraiser’s report. Reid, who was not hurt, was cited for speeding. A Maryland state trooper also wrote that Reid registered 0.02 on a roadside alcohol breath test — well within the legal limit and that of the utility’s policies.It was 3:45 a.m. The vehicle, valued at $16,000, was totalled, according to an appraiser’s report. Reid, who was not hurt, was cited for speeding. A Maryland state trooper also wrote that Reid registered 0.02 on a roadside alcohol breath test — well within the legal limit and that of the utility’s policies.
It was Reid’s fifth — and most serious — incident in a vehicle owned by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), according to WSSC accident reports obtained via a public records request. Then second in command, Reid left the utility five months later, after signing a confidential separation agreement. WSSC said she retired.It was Reid’s fifth — and most serious — incident in a vehicle owned by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), according to WSSC accident reports obtained via a public records request. Then second in command, Reid left the utility five months later, after signing a confidential separation agreement. WSSC said she retired.
In January, Reid, 56, returned to WSSC as general manager with an annual base salary of $255,000. Utility officials touted her 20 years of previous WSSC experience and that she is the first woman to lead the utility in its 97-year history.In January, Reid, 56, returned to WSSC as general manager with an annual base salary of $255,000. Utility officials touted her 20 years of previous WSSC experience and that she is the first woman to lead the utility in its 97-year history.
Reid declined requests for an interview about her WSSC driving record. She also declined to release her 2006 separation agreement or explain why she had been driving a WSSC vehicle at 3:45 a.m. WSSC spokesman Jim Neustadt said Reid was not restricted to using her take-home vehicle for utility business.Reid declined requests for an interview about her WSSC driving record. She also declined to release her 2006 separation agreement or explain why she had been driving a WSSC vehicle at 3:45 a.m. WSSC spokesman Jim Neustadt said Reid was not restricted to using her take-home vehicle for utility business.
“She’s moving forward,” Neustadt said. “It has no bearing on what she’s doing now.”“She’s moving forward,” Neustadt said. “It has no bearing on what she’s doing now.”
[WSSC hires Carla A. Reid as new general manager][WSSC hires Carla A. Reid as new general manager]
Many current and former WSSC leaders and public officials declined to speak publicly about Reid’s driving record and why she left the utility in 2006. Most cited the confidential legal agreement or that they must still work with her.Many current and former WSSC leaders and public officials declined to speak publicly about Reid’s driving record and why she left the utility in 2006. Most cited the confidential legal agreement or that they must still work with her.
What is public is that Reid’s support for the general manager position came from two key allies: Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D). She worked for both as a top aide after she left WSSC. Reid and Baker also were college classmates at Howard University.What is public is that Reid’s support for the general manager position came from two key allies: Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D). She worked for both as a top aide after she left WSSC. Reid and Baker also were college classmates at Howard University.
People familiar with the selection process said Baker and Leggett pushed for Reid’s appointment over the preferences of some WSSC commissioners, who had favored other candidates. A consultant that WSSC paid $72,600 to conduct a national search for a new leader initially focused on eight to 10 people, those familiar with the search process said.People familiar with the selection process said Baker and Leggett pushed for Reid’s appointment over the preferences of some WSSC commissioners, who had favored other candidates. A consultant that WSSC paid $72,600 to conduct a national search for a new leader initially focused on eight to 10 people, those familiar with the search process said.
While WSSC has long endured power struggles between Montgomery and Prince George’s — the two counties that govern the utility — Baker and Leggett have a close personal relationship based on both a political alliance and longtime friendship.While WSSC has long endured power struggles between Montgomery and Prince George’s — the two counties that govern the utility — Baker and Leggett have a close personal relationship based on both a political alliance and longtime friendship.
In interviews, both county executives said they had known about Reid’s driving record at WSSC because the incidents surfaced in the background checks that their own governments had done before hiring her — in 2007 as director of Montgomery’s Permitting Services Department and then in 2011 as a chief of economic development for Prince George’s.In interviews, both county executives said they had known about Reid’s driving record at WSSC because the incidents surfaced in the background checks that their own governments had done before hiring her — in 2007 as director of Montgomery’s Permitting Services Department and then in 2011 as a chief of economic development for Prince George’s.
Both executives said they saw no connection between Reid’s driving incidents and her ability to lead WSSC. They praised Reid’s prior WSSC experience, her work for their administrations, her relationships with state lawmakers and local officials, and her deep knowledge of both counties that the utility serves.Both executives said they saw no connection between Reid’s driving incidents and her ability to lead WSSC. They praised Reid’s prior WSSC experience, her work for their administrations, her relationships with state lawmakers and local officials, and her deep knowledge of both counties that the utility serves.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for her,” Baker said. Asked what he thought of the five incidents, he said, “There was nothing out of the ordinary [in the county background check] that raised a red flag.”“I have a tremendous amount of respect for her,” Baker said. Asked what he thought of the five incidents, he said, “There was nothing out of the ordinary [in the county background check] that raised a red flag.”
Leggett said that four of the five incidents were relatively minor. The WSSC records obtained by The Washington Post showed three were fender-benders, and one was a 1995 incident in which Reid hit a curb after she was reportedly reading notes while driving. The utility deemed three of the four minor incidents to be preventable. The fifth and final accident was the Beltway rollover.Leggett said that four of the five incidents were relatively minor. The WSSC records obtained by The Washington Post showed three were fender-benders, and one was a 1995 incident in which Reid hit a curb after she was reportedly reading notes while driving. The utility deemed three of the four minor incidents to be preventable. The fifth and final accident was the Beltway rollover.
“Most were fender-benders and not significant accidents,” Leggett said. “It raises a question, and you need to look at it, which we did” during the 2007 background check for the county post.“Most were fender-benders and not significant accidents,” Leggett said. “It raises a question, and you need to look at it, which we did” during the 2007 background check for the county post.
More recently, after Reid’s name circulated as Leggett’s top choice for WSSC general manager, he said several people from both inside and outside WSSC called him, “almost like it was a campaign,” against her appointment. He said the callers alleged that Reid had alcohol-related accidents. Leggett said he assumed the callers were talking about “something we had missed” that had occurred since the Beltway rollover in 2006.More recently, after Reid’s name circulated as Leggett’s top choice for WSSC general manager, he said several people from both inside and outside WSSC called him, “almost like it was a campaign,” against her appointment. He said the callers alleged that Reid had alcohol-related accidents. Leggett said he assumed the callers were talking about “something we had missed” that had occurred since the Beltway rollover in 2006.
Leggett said he asked Montgomery’s WSSC commissioners to investigate the allegations. He said the commissioners told him that Reid had been “very forthright” and that they had found no traffic citations since 2006 and no alcohol-related incidents or anything else they considered “disqualifying.” Even commissioners who favored other candidates over Reid did not cite her driving record as a concern, Leggett said.Leggett said he asked Montgomery’s WSSC commissioners to investigate the allegations. He said the commissioners told him that Reid had been “very forthright” and that they had found no traffic citations since 2006 and no alcohol-related incidents or anything else they considered “disqualifying.” Even commissioners who favored other candidates over Reid did not cite her driving record as a concern, Leggett said.
He said the police report about the Beltway crash, which noted that Reid had been drinking alcohol before driving, had “raised some questions,” but he pointed out that the rollover was not deemed to be alcohol-related. Neustadt said WSSC policy prohibits driving WSSC vehicles after drinking alcohol only if the driver has surpassed the legal limit for impaired driving.He said the police report about the Beltway crash, which noted that Reid had been drinking alcohol before driving, had “raised some questions,” but he pointed out that the rollover was not deemed to be alcohol-related. Neustadt said WSSC policy prohibits driving WSSC vehicles after drinking alcohol only if the driver has surpassed the legal limit for impaired driving.
“She explained it — that she’d had an accident and it was unfortunate, but it wasn’t alcohol-related,” Leggett said. “She never tried to hide anything.”“She explained it — that she’d had an accident and it was unfortunate, but it wasn’t alcohol-related,” Leggett said. “She never tried to hide anything.”
Leggett added: “I have every confidence she can do the job. She did an excellent job here, and she was a stellar employee here.”Leggett added: “I have every confidence she can do the job. She did an excellent job here, and she was a stellar employee here.”
In an emailed statement, Reid said that she was “extremely honored” to return to WSSC and that her appointment showed the “confidence and trust” of the utility’s commissioners, Leggett and Baker.In an emailed statement, Reid said that she was “extremely honored” to return to WSSC and that her appointment showed the “confidence and trust” of the utility’s commissioners, Leggett and Baker.
“The [hiring] process was rigorous and, as is customary, I went through an equally rigorous background check,” Reid wrote. “The WSSC background information was available to the commissioners. The process is also confidential, so I do not feel it is appropriate to discuss the specifics of the meetings.”“The [hiring] process was rigorous and, as is customary, I went through an equally rigorous background check,” Reid wrote. “The WSSC background information was available to the commissioners. The process is also confidential, so I do not feel it is appropriate to discuss the specifics of the meetings.”
WSSC commissioners who appointed Reid declined to discuss whether they considered her previous WSSC driving record or any potential legal liability if she were to have additional incidents in utility vehicles.WSSC commissioners who appointed Reid declined to discuss whether they considered her previous WSSC driving record or any potential legal liability if she were to have additional incidents in utility vehicles.
“I’m not at liberty to discuss any of her past or personnel matters, but nothing in our process concerned us with Carla taking on this role,” said Chris Lawson, vice chair of the WSSC’s board of commissioners and a Prince George’s representative.“I’m not at liberty to discuss any of her past or personnel matters, but nothing in our process concerned us with Carla taking on this role,” said Chris Lawson, vice chair of the WSSC’s board of commissioners and a Prince George’s representative.
Neustadt said WSSC executives no longer have take-home vehicles. He said Reid, like other employees, may use a WSSC vehicle for utility business but that she drives her own car. Reid’s contract says she receives an “annual vehicle allowance” of $12,000, which includes mileage and toll reimbursements.Neustadt said WSSC executives no longer have take-home vehicles. He said Reid, like other employees, may use a WSSC vehicle for utility business but that she drives her own car. Reid’s contract says she receives an “annual vehicle allowance” of $12,000, which includes mileage and toll reimbursements.
Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen (D-At Large), who serves on the council committee that oversees the utility, recalled that council members knew about Reid’s WSSC driving record when they confirmed her in 2007 to be permitting services chief.Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen (D-At Large), who serves on the council committee that oversees the utility, recalled that council members knew about Reid’s WSSC driving record when they confirmed her in 2007 to be permitting services chief.
“I know eyebrows were raised at that time,” Floreen said. “But I think 10 years later, we collectively view that as water under the bridge.”“I know eyebrows were raised at that time,” Floreen said. “But I think 10 years later, we collectively view that as water under the bridge.”
Magda Jean-Louis contributed to this report.Magda Jean-Louis contributed to this report.