Tuesday's Salisbury City Council meeting was long and, at times, boring. However Councilwoman Louise Smith made it worth waiting 'til the end by her closing performance.
To set this up we all need to remember that Louise only allows questions to be answered IF it is to her advantage. In other words, IF she thinks that the answer will make her or Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman look good. In all other cases the response is: "We'll get back to you".
Tuesday night Tim Spies stepped up to the podium. Tim recounted that he had appeared before council on April 14th to ask for some information regarding the TIF bonds sold by the city to subsidize the Old Mall project. The response: "We'll get back to you."
Unfortunately for Smith, et al, Spies is no dummy. He demanded to know WHEN they "would get back to him". He was told that he would receive information within two weeks.
On Tuesday Spies stood before council again and wanted to know WHEN he would receive a response. He recounted what had occurred since April 14th.
On April 22nd a letter was sent to Spies from ace Tilghman sycophant (and titular Asst. City Administrator) Lore Chambers to the effect that this was very complicated information and difficult to put together. It would take a few more weeks. Tim took his seat; but don't think that the show was over.
A few moments later, former City Council President Bob Caldwell rose to the podium. HE wanted to know WHEN an answer to Tim's questions would be received. Since Chambers was sitting right there, she should be able to provide an answer. NOW the Louise Smith Comedy of Errors began.
Chambers couldn't or (more likely) wouldn't answer the question. Smith decided that it was now the time to give Bob, and the public, a lesson in the Barrieland protocol of answering public questions (I paraphrase):
Smith -
Answering these questions is a VERY COMPLICATED MATTER. All questions are posted on the city's web site (She was then corrected that THIS question was not posted on the web). Then we address many of these questions on Issues and Answers.
Caldwell-
What is Issues and Answers?
Smith -
This is my highly rated TV show on PAC14 (she and pal Eleanor Mulligan watch most episodes). I discuss issues facing the city and answer questions from the public.
Caldwell -
I didn't ask if this was going to be on TV. I simply want to know WHEN will we be given an answer to a question asked over a month ago. If we had filed a Freedom of Information request we would have received an answer weeks ago. I just thought that only certain members of council (Councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen) had to file FOIA's to get information.
Smith -
We'll get back to you on that.
Let's not forget that back in December Councilman Gary Comegys attacked Campbell's remarks that "the city couldn't balance its own checkbook" by claiming that the Finance Department could deliver the balance on any account within a day. If this were true, Spies and Caldwell would have received their information weeks ago. Who's lying Gary, you or Louise and Lore?
cross posted on Delmarva Dealings
To set this up we all need to remember that Louise only allows questions to be answered IF it is to her advantage. In other words, IF she thinks that the answer will make her or Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman look good. In all other cases the response is: "We'll get back to you".
Tuesday night Tim Spies stepped up to the podium. Tim recounted that he had appeared before council on April 14th to ask for some information regarding the TIF bonds sold by the city to subsidize the Old Mall project. The response: "We'll get back to you."
Unfortunately for Smith, et al, Spies is no dummy. He demanded to know WHEN they "would get back to him". He was told that he would receive information within two weeks.
On Tuesday Spies stood before council again and wanted to know WHEN he would receive a response. He recounted what had occurred since April 14th.
On April 22nd a letter was sent to Spies from ace Tilghman sycophant (and titular Asst. City Administrator) Lore Chambers to the effect that this was very complicated information and difficult to put together. It would take a few more weeks. Tim took his seat; but don't think that the show was over.
A few moments later, former City Council President Bob Caldwell rose to the podium. HE wanted to know WHEN an answer to Tim's questions would be received. Since Chambers was sitting right there, she should be able to provide an answer. NOW the Louise Smith Comedy of Errors began.
Chambers couldn't or (more likely) wouldn't answer the question. Smith decided that it was now the time to give Bob, and the public, a lesson in the Barrieland protocol of answering public questions (I paraphrase):
Smith -
Answering these questions is a VERY COMPLICATED MATTER. All questions are posted on the city's web site (She was then corrected that THIS question was not posted on the web). Then we address many of these questions on Issues and Answers.
Caldwell-
What is Issues and Answers?
Smith -
This is my highly rated TV show on PAC14 (she and pal Eleanor Mulligan watch most episodes). I discuss issues facing the city and answer questions from the public.
Caldwell -
I didn't ask if this was going to be on TV. I simply want to know WHEN will we be given an answer to a question asked over a month ago. If we had filed a Freedom of Information request we would have received an answer weeks ago. I just thought that only certain members of council (Councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen) had to file FOIA's to get information.
Smith -
We'll get back to you on that.
Let's not forget that back in December Councilman Gary Comegys attacked Campbell's remarks that "the city couldn't balance its own checkbook" by claiming that the Finance Department could deliver the balance on any account within a day. If this were true, Spies and Caldwell would have received their information weeks ago. Who's lying Gary, you or Louise and Lore?
cross posted on Delmarva Dealings
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16 comments:
So funny to read this--Louweasle is a disaster. She is sooooo over her head and looks like a scared rabbit most of the time. AND so up-tight; what's with that? Let's all go to the next meeting and follow Caldwell's lead in asking questions--Louise will freak!
Hey, everybody out there, have you ever watched Louise's show on PAC14--it's a hoot!! She's over the top on her inability to smooze the camera. Her dialog is scripted and she constantly has a pen in her hand and uses her whiny voice which makes me cringe. Get off the t.v., Louise, you just don't have the ability for it.
I can't stand watching that old biddy at council meetings. Please tell me why I'd watch her on her very own "tell more lies" tv show? Then again, maybe I'll record this show, for posterity. Never know when you might need "evidence".
And you thought Mike Dunn was a clown in the president's chair.
Remember Barrie = Louise + Gary!
Look closely on PAC 14 during the Council meeting and sometimes you can see Barrie giving her signals. What a disgrace.
Dear Louise:
Do tell us how Bubba Comegys can spend so much of the work day at his state job at the govt. office building in Salisbury (when he's not out parking in handicapped spaces)?
Excellant post GA! I watched the whole show the other night and was put off just like you, Tim and Bob Caldwell. These people think this is the way a government in this country should work, unfortunately. Do you think any of them will ever wake and face the music when its played?? It makes me mad beyond belief when they use that old dodge " We'll get back to you on that", knowing full well the chances of getting a straight up answer is totally out of the question. Alessi does the same dodge at the Zoo Commission meetings (and requires any questions be in writing)and that is why I no longer go to those meetings. This is America and what they are doing is UN-American!
A. Goetz
Even filing under the FOIA doesn't necessarily get you the answers in a timely fashion. I can't name names, but I personally know people who did not get their info timely, and the city should be penalized financially for that! Not that I want to see that happen since the fines would come out of taxpayers' pockets, but maybe it would be a wake-up call to this corrupt administration.
Bubba isn't as solid with his day job as he thinks. SHA would like to get rid of him, they are hoping he runs for mare. They should just clear the "dead wood" and move on.
Maybe Louise can explain on her show why citizens have to take an oath to state an opinion during public coment?
While the real wheelers and dealers aren't requested to do so? We have to get that changed, or are they supposed to take the same oath?
It's an insult to the citizens, our word isn't as good as theirs?
Anonymous said...
Bubba isn't as solid with his day job as he thinks. SHA would like to get rid of him, they are hoping he runs for mare. They should just clear the "dead wood" and move on.
9:15 PM
His boss is dead wood also. They are waiting for that deadbeat to retire as well.
Anonymous said...
And you thought Mike Dunn was a clown in the president's chair.
10:49 AM
No not at all, just a FERRY!!
AWESOME post! And Bob Caldwell's "I thought FOIA were just for certain council members" cracked me up.
Go, Salisbury, GO! You've got the witch and flying monkeys on the run!
All there is left to do is for the citizens to light their torches and start heading to Castle Frankenstein.
Except that Dr. Frankenstein and his monster were sympathetic characters.
Not so Barrie and her band.
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