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Saturday, May 31, 2008

On Your Side Blog Offers The Following Article About Stuart Leer

Salisbury v. Leer Case Available Here

Since Stuart Leer spoke during public comment Monday night (May 27) as a property owner who had gone through legal cases with the City, many constituents have asked us about the case and its costs. The case originally concerned whether Mr. Leer had reconstructed a porch in compliance with the City's Historic District requirements.

Mr. Leer was cited for performing work not approved by the Historic District Commission. In response, he appeared before the Commission and was denied approval for the porch reconstruction, already far in progress. Representing himself, Mr. Leer appealed to the Circuit Court in Wicomico County, where he won his case based on the bias of the Commission. The City then appealed the Circuit Court's decision to the Court of Special Appeals in Annapolis. Again representing himself, Mr. Leer won that case.

The "unreported" opinion of the Court of Special Appeals (special appeals cases often are not published, but can be obtained by request) is found on the website at right under Documents of Interest, below our pictures. The cost of legal expenses to the taxpayers of Salisbury breaks down as follows:

Historic District Commission Hearing $0.00 (city legal counsel was not present)
Circuit Court - Wicomico County $6,351.00
Court of Special Appeals - Annapolis $11,849.75
Total $18,200.75

We hope this information and the downloadable PDF file of the opinion transcript helps answer the many questions we have received. Citizens will find other portions of the May 27 meeting instructive concerning budget matters and other aspects of city government.

The audio of the May 27 council meeting is available on the city website now and will be available on our website later today. The PAC14 taping of that same city council meeting will likely replay Monday, June 2, at 6 p.m. PAC14 now carries streaming video of its programming.

GO HERE to see their official article.

Disclaimer
The views expressed in this newsletter are those of Councilwomen Campbell and Cohen solely and do not necessarily represent those of other council members.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is it possible to obtain exemption status from an historical district?
We know many who would like to secede.

Anonymous said...

Kudos to Ms. Campbell and Ms. Cohen for providing news that should have been reported in the Daily Times and other MSM weeks ago.

It shows why the City's legal fees are out of control, with Barrie Tilghman using the City Attorney as her junkyard dog. Be sure to catch Mr. Leer's public comment at the May 27 City Council meeting, when he repeated his conversation with her.

Anonymous said...

Did Mr. Leer say that Barrie told him she was going to get even with him for supporting her opponent in an election?

Anonymous said...

If wilbers fee was for losing he'd be a rich man. If he loses he shouldn't get a thing. He shouldn't even bother taking it to court unless he can win, maybe wilber needs legal council himself?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Did Mr. Leer say that Barrie told him she was going to get even with him for supporting her opponent in an election?

8:08 AM

I am sure she did. She threatened me and it costs me thousands of dollars which I can't afford. That bitch needs to leave the GOB in handcuffs.

Anonymous said...

Amen! to 9:21's statement. We tried to get her on the money she wwired to her attorney buddy back in the beginnig of her administration as mayor, as I have said before, but we lost on some darn fool technicallity, or the fact that we had been set up to loose by a retired judge who heard the case. She does deserve to be taken out of the GOB in cuffs!

Anonymous said...

besides handcuffs she needs a great big foot up the tailpipe the wentch.

Anonymous said...

The Court of Special Appeals just issued a Mandate on the leer case for "Costs" to the City of Salsisbury for a additional amount of $741.50. The tax payers in Salisbury are sure getting a good return on their tax dollersw!

Anonymous said...

Don't blame Stu Leer. Paul Wilber stood right up at the council meeting and said the mayor told them to take it to the court of special appeals.

She did in fact threaten Stu Leer and he said it on the record. Joe should post it for all to hear.

Anonymous said...

Here’s what Mr. Leer said at the Council meeting:

In 1998, when Ms. Tilghman became mayor, . . . my partner and I were talking to her . . . and she said “I know you didn’t support me; I will get even.”