The acting director for the Prince George's County Department of Environmental Resources came under heavy fire from the council, who expressed doubt that he will resolve longstanding code enforcement and permit problems.

“I don’t envy your job,” Councilman Will Campos told Samuel Wynkoop during a tense confirmation hearing Tuesday. “But what you’re hearing is the frustration from our residents.”

Unlike two nominees for other departments who were questioned fairly quickly Tuesday by the council, Wynkoop was told by Council Chairwoman Ingrid Turner (D-Dist. 4) of Bowie to report back to the council Monday with an “action plan” for how he would improve code enforcement and customer service if they confirm him as director.

“I want to see how it’s going to become better now,” Turner said.

Wynkoop, who ran the county permitting and inspection agency from 1995 to 2003 and was a former chairman of the Dimensions Healthcare System board, is one of several former county department leaders that County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) has nominated for key positions since taking office in December.

Wynkoop and other nominees are scheduled for final confirmation votes before the council’s last session of the summer on July 19. If the council fails to vote, the executive’s nominations will take effect automatically.

Baker came to the hearing midway through to watch the inquiry. He told The Gazette that Wynkoop would reform the department.

“It is my hope that [the council] will confirm somebody I trust,” Baker said, citing Wynkoop’s long history in the county and prior experience running DER under former Executive Wayne K. Curry. “Sam can do it.”

Environmental resources is the county’s chief agency for basic resident services. It handles waste management and animal control, and fields complaints on everything from abandoned homes to building code infractions. DER workers are also responsible for all county licenses and for issuing building permits.

At the hearing, council members complained that the department is not performing necessary inspections, doesn’t respond well to resident complaints of unsightly homes in the county and issues permits without actually checking to see if they are complying with environmental and building restrictions.

“These are very serious concerns,” said Councilwoman Mary Lehman (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel, who said that the department rejected applications for taxi licenses this fall for minor reasons like misspellings and has developed a reputation of “stonewalling and foot-dragging” when people call them.

“I haven’t received any assurance from you that it’s going to get better,” she said.

Wynkoop attributed many of the problems to manpower shortages and pledged to improve over the next six months.

“You give us more, we’ll do more,” he told Turner, adding later, “We have challenges. But we’re committed to making the kind of changes we need.”

Andrea Harrison (D-Dist. 5) of Springdale said details are needed.

“[Residents] don’t want to hear excuses that you don’t have people. They don’t care,” she told Wynkoop.

Turner also expressed doubt, noting that Wynkoop has been acting director since December but that problems continue.

“There’s a feeling that DER is not doing its job,” she said.

“I think DER is doing its job pretty damn well,” Wynkoop responded.

Wynkoop said Friday that the questioning was “part of the process.”

“I think I have the credentials and background to get this resolved,” said Wynkoop, who is a former County Council administrator. “I think this will all work out.”

Speaking after the session, Baker said many of the council’s critiques were accurate, but blamed the DER’s poor performance on his predecessor, Jack B. Johnson.

“The problems of DER go back over the past eight years,” he said. “I chose Sam personally because I know I need help over there.”

dvalentine@gazette.net