Cohen & Campbell Hold Budget Meeting

Council women Terry Cohen and Debbie Campbell held their own Budget Meeting Wednesday evening with concerned citizens at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Salisbury.

While the meeting was well attended, the topics were absolutely mind boggling. Are YOU aware that YOU the taxpayer are fronting $40.00 incorporated into your taxes for each and every City Employee to hold a summer picnic? NO, I'm NOT talking about a Christmas Party, that's a whole other issue. I need to expand on this. $40.00 per person! FOR A FREAKIN PICNIC? You could go to Crisfield and eat all you can eat crabs and whatever for $40.00 a person!

Were you aware that Travelers Insurance came to the City and told them that they could easily save the City 20% on their Insurance Bill and Pick and the Mayor refused to hear them out? Oh, wait till you hear why! Before I give you that, the City's liability insurance just went up 77%!!!!!! That's right. The Insurance for the City recently was $51,000.00. It just went up to $254,856.00 OK, who's the President of LGIT? Do you even know what LGIT is? That's the Insurance Company the City buys their Insurance through. Your MAYOR is the President of LGIT!!!!!!!

You know those 5 Fire Trucks that are being purchased? Remember how the Fire Department claimed they were replacing the American LaFrance units because they filed Chapter 11? Well, they're back in business and reorganized. No problem with parts or service, none whatsoever. Nevertheless, the two LaFrance vehicles See & Gordy want to replace, GUESS HOW NEW THEY ARE?????? They're so new that they still OWE money on the financing and they're already replacing them!

OK, here's something no one thought about. Now you're at the new Fire Station 16, an alarm goes off for a fire out by Sam's Club. What route do you take? Everyone spent all that time worrying about how to get Downtown but have YOU traveled Isabella Street lately? Now think about traveling that street with all the new concrete barriers everywhere and a Fire Truck up your a$$! How do you get out of the way? How does several cars heading towards Rt. 13 get out of the way? They Cant!

Did you know the Mayor dropped ALL funding for Creek Watchers?

Want to know more??? Get Involved!

I did get an opportunity to express my thoughts and I stated that I felt the Council should push for a Line Item Budget once every 4 years. We ALL know they're not going to go for this every year. So compromise and make it once every 4 years. What do you think?

UPDATE:

"Mr. Albero -

I wanted to correct my error in citing a 77% increase. The calculation was
a function of the way that the figures were presented in the budget. At
yesterday's meeting, Ms. Oland explained that the increase is 1%. However,
the total amount for non-health insurance lines is in excess of $503,000
rather than $254,856. A 10% savings would be $50,000, and a 20% savings
$100,000. If savings are possible why wouldn't we shop for the best rate
for the services that we need? The same applies to other services like
banking. Yesterday, the council agreed to put some of the services out for
bid during the first and second quarters of FY09.

Thank you for allowing me to correct my error. I apologize for any
confusion that was created by the calculation.

Debbie Campbell"