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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Salisbury City Council and the Daily Times - More of the Same

Monday's Salisbury City Council meeting was pretty much more of the same old thing. The taxpayers get to pay for the (pick one) laziness, incompetence or corruption of city government. Certain friends of the administration are invited to belly up to the public trough. The mayor and her rubber stamp "council leadership" continue to show that they have no intention of providing open government. Controversial projects are pulled from the agenda at the last minute in an attempt squelch public outcry. And, our local paper fails to provide any meaningful coverage.

One key case in point was the budget amendment passed last night. It should be noted that a similar budget amendment failed at the last council meeting only because two council members, Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen refused to buckle under pressure and political threats by councilman Gary Comegys. Because a budget amendment needs a super majority, Campbell and Cohen were able to prevent more of the city's surplus to used. Last night, the administration and their serfs on Maryland's most irrelevant legislative body were forced to cut spending in other areas to pay for their inability to budget properly.

Of course, none of this was mentioned in the Daily Times. Sure, Gannett's local presence mentioned what some of the costs were. There was no coverage of what happened to the appropriation to chemically treat Schumaker Pond. Thanks to Councilwoman Cohen, the city will save several thousand dollars AND the money will not have to come from the general fund surplus.

Interestingly, there was no coverage of the enterprise zone award to Mr. David Moore and his Manhattan Square, LLC. In an exchange that became sadly amusing at times, Mr. Moore was rude and condescending to Councilwoman Campbell (of course there was no lecture from the civility queen, Louise Smith). City Administrator John Pick suddenly thought that he was Barrie Tilghman and tried to tell Louise Smith how to run the council meeting (he couldn't do worse, but that still isn't his place) and the council again provided a subsidy that may not be legally deserving.

Mr. Moore's application was obviously prepared in haste and he lists his "improvements" as being residential condos. By his own admission at the meeting, his "improvements" were elevators and sprinklers that were directly related to the condos. Hopefully the state will be more diligent and refuse the enterprise zone tax credits to the developer, at least until a better application is made.

Stricken from the agenda was the proposed "Westside" annexation. True to form, the Salisbury City Council (as well as the Wicomico / Salisbury Planning Commission) likes to strike items from the agenda when it becomes clear that a sizable number of citizens will show up in opposition. The tactic is simple, and effective. We all know that it is difficult to motivate citizens to take time and come out to meetings. By letting them show up and then pulling the item at the last minute, the probability of a large group showing up the second (or if necessary the third or fourth) time decreases. Mayor Tilghman and her "council leadership" then don't have to face down a group of angry citizens.

This same point was re-emphasized by Salisbury resident Judy Dzimiera during the public comment section of the meeting. As she pointed out, an attempt by local slumlord Captain's Investments to subdivide a residential lot has been repeatedly pulled from the Planning Commission agenda. Of course, what's a little chicanery if it helps a friend?

cross posted at Delmarva Dealings

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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

BOFFO POST, Harrison!

Bravo!

Anonymous said...

Can't the Daily Times just wait a day to report...so the reporter can stay for the duration. The Mayor stalled for time saying "GO CLIPPERS" 85 times in order to make sure Latshaw was gone by the time controversial stuff came up. Latshaw is going to cover the county, so get ready for another new reporter with no background...and this...just before election season starts!!! UGHHHH!

Anonymous said...

csfuhnAnonymous said...
..and this...just before election season starts!!! UGHHHH!

11:48 AM

What election season??

Anonymous said...

Yes, this was the usual BS from most of the council and the mayor. Tim did a very creditable job of nailing them for the TIF at the old mall and had quite a few interesting questions for the administration to choke on for a few days. I want to see what answers are forthcoming, if any do come forth. Tim keep us up to date on this please.

A. Goetz

Anonymous said...

I just don't get the fact that when people ask questions publicly, that the answers from the administration are not given publicly. Maybe the person(s) will make them public when they get their answers in the mail. There you will have it --in writing--to be made public record for anyone interested in those answers. Hmmm, how can this be accomplished?
Nalagirl

Anonymous said...

Just drove past the old mall site, and it looks like they already have "Lake Salisbury" completed.

Anonymous said...

Lawyers , how sick salisbury has
become!! Salisbury lawyers are above the law and do as they please. Nobody can do anything about it either. No lawyer will go
against another in salisbury.
The most corrupt area in the city
can be found on downtown main street .

Anonymous said...

The hypnotic trance, or spell that has been levied on the citizens of Salisbury, I must say is quite impressive. This is the only answer as to why the leadership works unchallenged or untouchable. Any person of sound mind and average intellect should be angry at the inept leadership and questionable dealings that infest Salisbury. People who live in Salisbury must be to afraid to take back their City. It is SAD!

Anonymous said...

G.A.-
I don't know you, but I have to compliment you on your writing style. Always able to follow your points in a very concise, logical and meaningful way. Thanx.

Recieved this e-mail recently and thought others might appreciate. Make sure you read all the way to the end!

FACTS TO PONDER :

(A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is
700,000.

(B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians
per year are
120,000.
(Calculation) Accidental deaths per physician
is:

0.171

Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of
Health Human Services.

Now think about this:
Guns:

(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S.
is
80,000,000.
(Yes, that's 80 million..)

(B) The number of accidental gun deaths
per year, all age groups,
is
1,500.

(Calculation) The number of accidental deaths
per gun owner

is
.000188
Statistics courtesy of FBI.

So, statistically, doctors are approximately
9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.
Remember, 'Guns don't kill people, doctors do.'

FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT
ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR.

Please alert your friends
to this alarming threat.
We must ban doctors
before this gets completely out of hand!!!!!

Out of concern for the public at large,
I withheld the statistics on lawyers
for fear the shock would cause
people to panic and seek medical attention!!!

nalagirl