Posts In The Morning

Please be patient in the morning as I have several important posts I'll be putting up with news no one else has. And The Daily Times jokes about me being a true journalist! Wait till you see what will be coming and then you can ask them, how come you didn't come up with this news/information?

Samples Of Some Of The Major Construction Going On In Salisbury

PRMC is moving along with their new expansion
Happy Harry's started pouring concrete today.


The Salisbury Fire Department was moving "sludge" soil and bringing in "sand," (other known as top soil here on the Eastern Shore) in the hopes it will stabilize the building about to be built there. This is going to get real interesting!

What A Difference 4 Days Can Make!

Four Days in today's society can make or break you any more! Gas prices have jumped at least 7 cents a gallon and even Sam's Club is trying to make up for their losses at the pumps because they expected a much higher rate of their customers to purchase all of their gas there. Yep, elections are clearly over and Bush could give a shit what American's think of his lack of control over this issue. We should have Tee Shirts made up that simply say, "My Name Is George Bush And I Simply Don't Give A Shit."

Delmar, DE. Where Life Is Good.

No TIFF's, no arrogant City Council, no water and sewer overflows, no traffic, no murders, no run down Malls, no animal limit, no tax increases, no sales tax, need I say more?

How Marines Say Goodbye

Whether you are a woman or a man, whether you are for or against the Iraq war, regardless, this will definitely wet your cheeks and pierce your heart. Every American should view this video so please pass it on to all on your list. I don't believe one person will be offended.

Mike Dunn Refuses To Answer The Publics Questions

I felt it was important for "everyone" to clearly see that Mike Dunn flat out asks the Public if they have "any questions or comments" for the City Council and then refuses to answer them.

His arrogance IMO is over the top as these are the very people that put him in the position he is in today. In this film clip from last Monday evening, he knows the answer to Kate's question but flat out refuses to answer it, trying to make her look like a fool. If Mikey doesn't like it, Mikey ain't gonna answer it.

Not only does he clearly state, "does anyone have any questions or comments" before Kate gets up there, he says it again after she walks away. I believe he should respect the public and answer the questions he clearly asked the Public to provide.

Applebee's Special Event

You're invited to a Dining to Donate special event at Applebee's!

Please come out and show your support!

Just PRINT OUT THIS INVITATION and present it to your server onSunday, December 3, 2006 at Applebee's located at2703 North Salisbury Boulevard ~ Salisbury, MD 12849 Ocean Gtwy ~ Ocean City, MD

Applebee's will donate 10% of your food and beverage purchase to: Red Cross Lower Shore

For those with more sophisticated computers, the Applebee's invitation to print out for December 3rd is at this link.

Don't Look Up!

Fertilizer For Our Bay, Eat Your Heart Out!

Now granted, I don't have any babes standing at my fishing hole in bikinis but I do have thousands of fish right at my fingertips. The bigger ones are smart enough to stay low in the pond but we now have thousands of these little guys enjoying the outdoors.

Let's keep in mind, we're almost into December and were hitting temperatures in the 70's! No need to move to Florida any more!

The Daily Times Lied

Look, if you're going to quote me on something, at least use words I stated and not convenient words to fit your article. Perhaps Laren forgot to call me and used someone else's quote? All I can tell you is, I did NOT say the words she had printed this morning.

SECONDLY, let's continue to look at today's FRONT PAGE. WHO broke the story about Major Doris Schonbrunner? I DID! It was a Blog Site that brought you the news, as well as the Debbie Campbell's information. Debbie gave the Daily Times a copy of that letter Monday night, I saw it with my own eyes. The Daily Times chose NOT to run that story and instead is on the war path against Debbie Campbell. Why, because it's election time and Barrie wants Mike & Gary to win their seats again.

Everyone is extremely frustrated because we're not only getting out the news, we're doing so DAYS before the other media gets a chance. Mind you, you have no idea just how many tips I personally give the Daily Times, WMDT & WBOC. I thought we all kind of worked together, in a sense. On some stories I feel it is important to get the word out to "everyone." Looks like I'm going to have to keep that top myself. Is the Daily Times upset because my photos were featured ONCE AGAIN on 47 News because my pictures were better than the film footage they had? YES! I was there MUCH sooner than 47 News and I do NOT have a scanner. People are calling me faster than they're calling 47, 16 & The Daily Times. They know when I report the story I'll tell the truth and NOT pamper it with sissy crap.

Do also notice that the Daily Times said nothing about the exact content of Debbie Campbell's letter! Then the words from Shanie Shields calling Debbie a back stabber. These are the very people that bitch and complain about the Blogs going on personal attacks and then Shanie goes for the throat? Let's also mention Mike Dunn and the rest of the Idiots. I thought you didn't read the Blogs, Idiots! Once again, you're caught in your BS lies because you know the real news is coming through each and every day in real time when the Daily Times is at least 2 to 3 days behind my Blog, at least.

In closing, it's election time and every Citizen knows very clearly that Debbie Campbell is the honorable one in the City Council. You don't LEAK out a PERSONAL e-mail Shanie, once you mail it and it references City Government, it's NOT a secret! I'd like EVERYONE to also know, do you realize that Barrie Tilghman and Mike Dunn do NOT let Debbie Campbell know there is a special work session whenever they create them and there's been a ton of them lately and coming up. Debbie has to read it on the City's website because they REFUSE to tell her.

You're dealing with a group of Idiots. Shanie, I have lost ALL respect for you any more. Attacking an honorable woman was the final straw. You sit on the Council and do NOTHING! Passing Sassafras was the final straw with me because you personally told me the developers had lied to your face and screwed your people. Well, screw you right back Shanie because you gave into Mike, Gary & Lynn and you do NOT belong on the Council. So you also know Shanie, you may think like you know what you're talking about when you're up there speaking but quite frankly you're an idiot! You said Monday night, These are professionals who know what they're doing and I trust them. Dee, Dee, Deeee! Time to go Shanie.

Talk About A Back Seat Driver!

Lynn Cathcart Goes Nuts!

Catch it here! If you didn't see it on PAC 14, click on this link and once again let sbynews take you there. Even if you're on dial up, this is a short download and you can see her yelling at Tim Chaney. Despickable!

There's A New Sheriff In Town And He Ain't Screwin Around!

Last Friday night Sheriff Elect Mike Lewis called Deputy Scott Hamilton and said, I want to ride along with you tonight, can we make that happen?

Deputy Hamilton hooked up with Mr. Lewis and ultimately made two HUGE drug arrests, seizing almost $6,000.00 in cash, drugs and two solid arrests. Keep in mind, these were two separate arrests, not one!

I'm telling you Folks, Chief Webster needs to take a few months ride along with these Deputies, (preferable Mike Lewis) and learn a thing or two about how things are done THE RIGHT WAY!

Thanks Mike Lewis and especially Deputy Hamilton for getting these drugs off the streets! I'm a major property owner in Wicomico County and I'm not coming back till things turn around. I'm confident that's about to happen.

Another Letter To The Editor That Wasn't Published

Kathrine Manizade
500 West College Avenue
Salisbury, MD 21801
410-341-0797

November 19, 2006

Editor, The Daily Times
One Times Square
115 E. Carroll Street
Salisbury, MD 21801

Dear Sir:

In your article on the November 14th public meeting with the developers of the Salisbury Mall property, you quote Jon Natelson as saying that his project will be unlike anything seen before on the Eastern Shore. His masterpiece of understatement made me choke on my coffee: he and associate Michael Dzaman would like to cram 2000 people (think Delmar) into a city already groaning under ill-anticipated development. While we’re experiencing how unlike anything here is their project, they’ll be laughing all the way to the bank, TIF accomplished, amused at the gullibility of the rubes on this “outhouse” side of Maryland.

Possibly the only equivalent to the stupidity and greed of this plan, was the ramming of Rte 50 through Salisbury’s old downtown area, except instead of creating a ghost-town, this will make a lethal snarl near Rte 50. Picture high-rise anthills surrounded by narrow streets, plus rows of Prince George County-style townhouses, on top of retail shopping that caters not primarily to residents, but to traffic on Rte. 50.

As one of the four successful petitioners for justice on the illegal rezoning of this property to Planned Development District (PDD) status, I’ve seen their plans, and heard them balk again and again at reducing density. One might get the impression that they need that density to flip the property to a bigger developer waiting in the wings. They offer no guarantee that they will provide anything they promise. And Natelson is right about this being unlike anything on the Shore: it’s the very worst of D.C. and Baltimore metro-area urban development. There are foreigners who came here to escape the likes the Old Mall development, and there’s nothing funny about that. Natives who think this will gore only the ox of the come-here’s, should imagine more rudeness in traffic, more accidents, more crime and more anonymity in your own small city. Natelson and Dzaman come from a place where people are so punished by daily traffic that they butt their shopping carts together to beat other hapless lemmings to the check-out line, and curse under their breath when they finish last. Think you’ve already seen this? Get ready to see a whole lot more. Is that what you want for Salisbury?

These men have, with impunity, allowed their property to become a public hazard under a 2005 Salisbury BHZ demolition order that has gone un-enforced by a Mayor and City Council arrantly derelict from their duty. YOU try buying an investment property in Salisbury, and then let it deteriorate over the years, allowing bums, drug dealers and other undesirables to infest it. How long do you think you would go un-fined? Do you really think you could demand and get a TIF from the City Council if you otherwise refused to comply with a demolition order?

This is what these slick operators have done, with the assistance of our Mayor and Council (Mrs. Campbell alone dissenting). While in flagrant violation of a demolition order, they have had the colossal nerve to demand approval of their project with a TIF subsidy, (which will take $1600 from each taxpayer in Salisbury) before complying with the law and removing their stinking eyesore. That really may be unlike anything seen before on the Eastern Shore.

Kate Manizade

Another Spectacular Light Show This Morning!

The Night Of The Living Zoo

Tim Chaney attempts to raise his hand for some 10 minutes and Lynn Cathcart FREAKS OUT! "Put Your Hand Down NOW!"
Lynn, (all off a sudden) in a rage of anger decides she's got a perfectly good voice after all as she originally ACTED as if she was ill and couldn't speak.
Barrie Tilghman played her typical RUDE game of running over to Mike Dunn and interrupting Debbie Campbell in the middle of her speaking.
Gary Comegys gives Debbie Campbell that patented look of his, I'm bigger than you and I can beat the crap out of you because you're only a woman, look.

Last night I was even kicked out of the meeting by Mike Dunn. During the break I walked up to Mike and said, "it's interesting how the Daily Times Photographer is moving all around the room Mike, is that distracting you at all?" Mike simple laughed at me in that very gay kind of way and I replied, I'll bet you won't try that on me again. Meaning, if it's OK for the Daily Times to walk around the room and take pictures, so can I.

Mike called over the Police Officer in the room and ask that I be removed immediately as I had just threatened him. He repeated what had happened and the Officer asked me to step outside. I did so immediately and as we spoke, the Officer felt really bad about what he had to do and told me that Mike had made his decision and I had to leave, so I did.

The show was unbelievable, even to the point Tim Chaney threatened to sue the City if they illegally spent the Developer reimbursement money as well as the TIFF money. Looks like this isn't over yet.

More importantly, Mike Dunn barked, attacked and went on the war path against Debbie Campbell about Sassafras and other items they were about to vote on and at the very end the SOB recused himself. He didn't recuse himself during the sale of his version of how this is the right thing to do, he just recused himself during the vote, in which he had already sold everyone on beforehand anyway. A real MAN would have recused himself from ANY conversation about the entire issue.

Just remember Folks, when it comes time to vote in some 5 months, remember who screwed you out of millions of dollars. Might I also add to Barrie Tilghman. You got up there and started ranting about how the City would look credit wise if they didn't pass the reimbursement money. Look you Idiot! The Zoo can't buy from Sisco because the City refused to pay within the Net 30 days ALL customers must pay. Therefore, the Zoo has to purchase all their groceries for the animals at full retail price at the local grocery stores! Don't go walking around like the City of Salisbury has excellent credit because that's complete BS!

Debbie Campbell Speaks Up Loud And Clear

November 26, 2006

My positions on a number of issues facing the city and me, as an elected representative, are too complex to condense into a couple of sound bites. I hope that this written statement and the supporting documents will help the citizens of Salisbury to understand my position on the use of taxpayer funds and process.

At the beginning of the budget process this year, the Mayor described the city’s financial status as austere. Council was also advised that taxpayers face tax increases in the next 2 budget years (FY08 & FY09).

A few weeks ago, the council approved leasing authority in excess of $9,000,000.00 to finance the new fire headquarters. One of the reasons given for leasing was that the city could not afford to make an interest payment the first year if we used bonded debt to finance the building.

Tonight the city will consider Ordinance 2020, (Issuance of General Obligation Bonds). Included in the proposed amount of bonded debt is $2,760,000.00 for the purpose of paying developer reimbursements…taxpayer subsidies to developers by any other name. The amount for the reimbursement represents more than half of the amount that the city plans to borrow. I have been questioning various aspects of the methodology of the developer reimbursements since before I was elected to the council. Recently, I was searching the state code looking for pertinent language that I could vaguely recall, but hadn’t been able to locate elsewhere. That search led me to what I recalled:

(MD CODE: Article 31 § 3. Authority to make contracts) An officer or agent of any county, township or municipal corporation who is charged or entrusted with the construction, improvement or keeping in repair of any building or work of any kind, or with the management or providing for any public institution, shall not make any contract binding or purporting to bind the county, township or municipal corporation to pay any sum of money not previously appropriated for the purpose for which such contract is made, and remaining unexpended, and applicable to such purpose, such officer or agent who willfully or knowingly makes or participates in making a contract without such appropriation or authority, shall be personally liable thereon, and the county, township or municipal corporation in whose name or behalf the same was made shall be not liable thereon.

That language combined with the language in the City Charter:
(§ SC7-29. Overexpenditure forbidden)No office, department or agency shall during any budget year expend or contract to expend any money or incur any inability or enter into any contract which by its terms involves the expenditure of money, for any purpose, in excess of the amounts appropriated for that general classification of expenditure pursuant to this Charter. Any contract, verbal or written, made in violation of this Charter shall be null and void. Any officer or employee of the city who shall violate this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall cease to hold his office or employment. Nothing in this section, however, shall prevent the making of contracts or the spending of money for capital improvements to be financed in whole or in part by the issuance of bonds or the making of contracts of lease or for services for a period exceeding the budget year in which such contract is made, when such contract is permitted bylaw.)

The first response that the city attorney provided to address my concerns was marked “privileged and confidential.” However, in response to a separate question getting to the heart of the process as it relates to the State Code and City Charter, he has confirmed that to the best of his knowledge, no funds were budgeted in advance of executing the agreements (attached). These citations support my position that the payment obligations for the reimbursements are not legally binding. Some might argue that they should still be paid, even so, how could the argument be made that borrowing the money from the bond market is appropriate? Even the contracts, which seem to be illegal according to the citations above, indicate that the money will be repaid when the city has the funds. If the city is going to the bond market to borrow the money, we do not have the funds. Growth is still not paying for growth.

On November 1, 2006, I made a formal request to have the developer reimbursement matter placed on the upcoming work session agenda per the new protocol for having agenda items added (attached). The same memo requested placement of other important issues on the agenda. To date, I have received no response to my request.

On September 25, 2006, I had requested that another item be placed on the agenda after a series of e-mails with John Pick. The response from Council President Dunn was that I must make such requests by phone. Based upon past experience and my belief that the business of the city should be documented and conducted in the open, I asked to have the protocol for adding agenda items clarified when the Rules of Order were amended recently. I thought that the council had agreed to discuss that matter at an upcoming work session, however a few days later the council received a memo stating a new procedure. I am unaware of any discussion by council that led to this change. The items that are listed in my request and the explanation for my requests are outlined in the memo dated 11/1. I will not restate them here, but I encourage you to read the attachments for greater insight.

Tonight, the council is also scheduled to vote on Ordinance 2019 (Bond Ordinance for Northeast Collector, Phase 3 TIF) and Resolution 1457 (approving an agreement to reserve a portion of the capacity in the West Road sewer main for Westwood Commerce Park). The TIF for Phase 3 of the Northeast Collector is the trendy name for another way that the city will subsidize developers with tax dollars. Growth is still not paying for growth. Simply put, the TIF will divert the increased revenue that the city would otherwise benefit from when development occurs out of the general fund (where it would be used to pay for essential services, infrastructure, etc.) and divert it to pay the bond debt associated with the TIF. In this case up to $10.900,000.00. The TIF will may used to pay for things like water and sewer systems, roads, sidewalks, and more. These are all things that the developer should be paying for.

When I was first elected, I was told by Council President Dunn and Vice-President Comegys that the developers were going to give us the road. That is hardly the case. The current taxpayers will be paying their own share of the cost of services as well as taking up the slack for the services that must be provided to the new development and are being diverted to pay the TIF. Furthermore, it stands to reason that a developer who gets a deal like this really makes out. They are paid for the infrastructure, the property becomes more valuable as reflected in the sales price, so they benefit twice and as a taxpayer, you pay for it. An extension of the TIF for the Old Mall, to the tune of nearly $14,000,000.00 is back on the agenda for December 11th.

Resolution 1457, the agreement to reserve a portion of the capacity in the West Road sewer main for Westwood Commerce Park seems quite odd. When you read the resolution carefully, it is not just Westwood, but Sassafras as well. Generally, I do not support providing such an agreement prior to annexation. There are many unanswered questions, such as what would otherwise happen if the pipestem annexation of Sassafras/Westwood is not passed. While I would still support additional sewer capacity for Westwood under that circumstance because of the potential positive economic impact to the city associated with bringing additional employers and higher paying jobs, I am categorically opposed to providing such an agreement for Sassafras.

The city and our citizens were promised 276 units of senior housing as a condition of providing water and sewer lines outside of the corporate limits. Once the property had municipal water and sewer the number of units that could be built on the site increased exponentially from a best-case scenario of 100 units under ideal circumstances (if well and septic had to be used) to the 395 currently planned. I do not believe that the city should provide a sewer capacity reservation, or even additional single-family building permits until the 276 units of senior housing that were originally promised are delivered. I am also concerned that approving such an agreement prior to adopting a formal policy could be construed as favoritism of some developers and developments over others.

In the previous 2 pages I have outlined planned expenditures that total over $27,000,000.00 and are supported by financing tools that place unfair burden on existing taxpayers. If you add in the lease for the new fire department headquarters, we’re at over $36,000,000.00. How can it be that we are giving serious consideration to these expenditures when we can’t adequately fund public safety and are talking about tax increases?

In a related matter, I have raised questions about the annexation of Sassafras/Westwood and whether the developers will be held to the same standard as the Faith Baptist Church development being built by Mr. Esham. The city’s consultant Mr. Jakubiak, was hired to develop guidelines for annexation agreements that would result in growth paying for growth and contributing to the general well being of the city. As a result the Faith Baptist Church development will pay $2,000 per unit into a fund earmarked for affordable housing and an additional $3,000 per unit into a fund for neighborhood restoration such as beautification, revitalization and restoration of existing city neighborhoods. At the current 149 proposed units, Faith Baptist’s development will pay $745,000.00. The council promised the citizens that there would be no more large annexations until these policies were in place, but will they be applied to Sassafras or will the citizens of the city lose yet another opportunity to have growth pay for growth?

There are questions that have not been answered to my satisfaction regarding the legality of the renamed developer reimbursements. There are questions regarding the appropriate use of TIFs, which were originally designed to rehabilitate blighted areas, not get developments built quicker or to revitalize a single property. There are questions as to why we would subsidize developers at the citizen’s expense when we can’t fund public safety at appropriate levels. There are questions regarding fair and transparent process. And there are questions as to why citizens of our city who I represent are being disenfranchised by having items refused from the agendas even as I strictly follow the questionably declared protocols.

Not one more penny of taxpayer’s money should be committed to these projects without satisfactory answers to these questions of law, process, and fiscal responsibility.

If you have questions regarding these matters I can be reached at debbiescampbell@comcast.net or by phone at 410-860-0893. If I am not available by phone, please leave a message and I will return your call.

Respectfully,

Deborah Campbell

7 Alarm Fire In Delmar, 2 Firefighters Suffer From Smoke

7 different Fire Departments came to the rescue of this old abandoned barn on Susan Beach Road in Delmar. Delmar, Hebron, Seaford, Laurel, Mardella Springs & Blades were on the scene and spent a couple of hours putting out the fire and cleaning things up.

It's only a guess but there's no electricity to this property so more than likely the fire was an arson.

Directly From The MDE

The Administrative Law Judge granted a thirty-day extension to the November 6 Hearing on MDE's Order andPenalty in order that the Department and the City might reach an agreement without the need for the Hearing. The copy of the Consent Agreement you requested is being negotiated and once an executed agreement exists, I will send you a copy.

Dave Pushkar

Poll Question #10

Should slots be legalized in Maryland?
	Yes
	No

A Friend Reports In On The New James Bond Movie, Casino Royale

While the rest of the western world was evidently shopping, some friends and I visited the local cineplex and saw the latest 007 offering, Casino Royale.

Gone is the Bond of Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan; the Bond who never gets dirty or damaged, the Bond who doesn't raise a sweat during a chase or fight (and won't run more than a few yards,) and the Bond who relies almost ridiculously on the creations from Q's basement. This Bond has balls.

The franchise, over the last thirty or so years, turned 007 into a cartoon. This film brings him back to the smooth character with roughened edges that Ian Fleming intended: a tough, dedicated, clear thinking agent not afraid to take a challenge head-on and bare-fisted, and who doesn't at all mind getting dirty.

Definitely a winner, worthy of a visit to your local big screen.

Salisbury Is The Best City In America To Kill Someone

Let's take a good look at the statistics. The City of Salisbury has had 6 murders in 2006 so far. Of the 6 murders, only ONE has been solved!

However, Wicomico County had only ONE murder in the entire County and it was solved in one hour, not weeks or months.

Yeah, someone is on vacation and the criminals are laughing all the way to the Bank.

Defacing A Historic Building Was Over The Top!

Between 300 W. Main Street and two other buildings next to this building, Gang Members had a field day spray painting graffiti everywhere this past weekend.

Yeah Barrie Tilghman, you and old Chief Webster are doing a bang up job controlling crime and gangs in the community. NOW it looks like the old Bronx in New York City for sure.

When you hire someone to do a job, you hire them to build the business/community. Barrie Tilghman has brought down the City of Salisbury not only financially, she is defacing the community by not tackling the crime in this community and she has failed the citizens, period.

It's time for a recall petition to get circulated once again and get this louse out of office.

A Great Article

Monoblogue has a great article on tonight's meeting as well as his version to the newly proposed Mall in Delaware, just 7 to 10 miles away from the Salisbury Mall.

Amen!

Red Net Alert

G. A. Harrison will be on the Bill Reddish Show at 7:40 am. G.A. is the owner of Delmarva Dealings and I can assure you, this will be well worth listening to!

Major Doris Schonbrunner To Resign Her Post Dec. 1st

I heard through a very reliable source today that Major Doris Schonbrunner will quit her job on December 1, 2006.

The Wicomico County Sheriffs Department will take a huge blow once this becomes official as even I had hoped Doris would stick it out for a little while, keeping the Citizens and fellow Deputies in mind while such a major transformation occurs with Sheriff Mike Lewis taking over.

Nevertheless, we wish Major Schonbrunner the very best for her future and I'm confident Sheriff Lewis is on the ball and will make the proper choices to fill this position.

It has also been said that Major Schonbrunner has chosen to work 16 straight days at the Salisbury Airport taking in overtime pay at a Major's salary, which could have been given to Deputies who could have used the extra income for the Holidays. You gotta love the politics in Wicomico County!

With All These Signs It's No Wonder Randy Taylor Couldn't Figure Out Where To Park

Actually, Randy outsmarted the Police. By parking OVER the painted curbing, the Police couldn't figure out that it's actually illegal to park there.

What's Wrong With These Two Photos?

I took these two photos of my Pond today and there's something seriously wrong with these two pictures.

Let's see how long it takes for someone to figure it out?

Is This The Kind Of Salisbury You Want To Live In?

Three Canadian Geese were killed yesterday on Carroll Street near Circle Avenue. The birds were struck by a vehicle and killed instantly, (I hope). Feathers could be seen blowing all the way down the road and I'd love to know who did it!

Obviously no one cares working for the City because the bodies are still lying there 36 hours later. More Salisbury Crap To Come..........