Chief See Wants A New $400,000.00 To $800,000.00 Fire Boat!

Look around Ladies & Gentlemen! I told you this guy was a nut job! The announcement came today where Chiefy thinks that he, Barrie Tilghman and Gordy can get the taxpayers to fall for anything and everything.

Oh well, if you continue to give, give, give to these people, NOTHING will be good enough. I'm going to bite my tongue any further and leave the comments to all of you. Check out what WBOC & WMDT have to say.

http://www.wboc.com/global/story.asp?s=7625623

http://www.wmdt.com/wires/displaystory.asp?id=69443453

A Comment Worth Posting

"In a large scale incident like this you will see stations called in different stages. This particular fire was at seven alarms when I last heard. Can you imagine if all the equipment needed showed up at the same time ? The Chief had a staging area away from the scene and called the help in as needed.

Todays fire wasn't the largest I ever went to, but it did have the most companies by far. From Talbot County to Wicomico and then some. There were guys from DCFD and PGFD helping out. The spirit of the fire service was alive and well today. All those units worked together and you never heard a cross word. Everyone did their best to help Cambridge in their time of need.

I didn't hear of anyone getting hurt and alot of property was saved. Its very hard to get help in the daytime for alarms and todays turnout was massive. Chief Hurley did a great job and everyone worked together."

Respectful, honest & fair, thank you. I will add, when I spoke with Chief Hurley he stated that it was a 6 alarm fire. He went on to explain a 7 alarm fire was, (I believe he said) a Special Operations Fire. I could have that right or it was something close to that. He was a very nice man who was very willing to speak to the Press there.

More Wild Photos

Click on image to enlarge.

Going, Going, Gone!

To give you a better idea of just how intense the fire was in Cambridge, here are three photos that show just how dangerous this fire was. Notice the extended ladder crew on the right. One second they were there and the next they were engulfed in smoke. And some wonder why a Fire Fighters life is cut short!

Boss Hogg Speaks Out On Michael Day

Joe:

Every single time I have been screwed out of money the person trying to screw me starts out with...

You don't understand... you just don't understand how this works...

Michael Day is a very personable man and seems to be a nice guy.

Problem is, he was hand picked by Russell Blake, the undisputed King & lifetime ruler of Pocomoke City.

How does a "Downtown Coordinator" get hand picked by the most openly crooked and corrupt public official on the shore? Could it be his municipal math skills?

What is required to be hand picked by the most openly crooked and corrupt public official on the Eastern Shore to "coordinate" open air unregulated free market cash only small businesses?

Could it be he is a graduate of Russell Blakes Boss Hogg, school of municipal accounting of untaxed cash from unregulated sales?

Sounds like the Salisbury City Council was given a lesson in Pocomoke math at the meeting.

But

Isn't this swap meet / flea market held in the municipal parking lot across from a fully functional fire house that is being replaced?

Boss Hogg heard that the new $1,500.00 per square foot fire house, making it one of the most expensive fire houses in the USA is being located OUTSIDE of the populated areas but close to pet subdivisions owned by city supporters...

Ten Millions dollars for something that would cost two and one half million dollars anywhere else sounds like Pocomoke math.

Michael Day is a very nice guy to speak with and I am sure you would get along with him...

But you have to remember that he was hand picked by Russell Blake and nothing to do with financial reality can pass his lips.

Joe, the bottom line is you just don't understand...

Look Who Showed Up At 1:15 PM!

For a fire that started at 11:00 AM, it sure does make one wonder why a Fire Department from Delaware would finally show up at 1:15 PM??????

OK Guys, I'm awaiting your response to this one? Not knocking anyone. I'd just like an explanation as to why a Fire Company all the way from Delaware would burn all that gas just to show up at a fire they weren't INVITED to?

The Daily Times Is Desperate To Compete

Technology has certainly come a long way. However, Blogs have absolutely pushed the Daily Times into having to respond and put up stories as fast as they can because they know Salisbury News is in fact blowing them away when it comes to stories and the delivery of such. Having a Staff of more than 200 people and Salisbury News only being GA Harrison and myself, they chose to purchase Blackberries and type away at meeting to get the scoop.

Now I'm not so sure it's the quickness of the stories getting out there verses the different styles. Would you agree?

It's simple to me. I'm NOT selling ad space but when and if I do, OMG! They'll be lining up at Salisbury News because we're the Bomb and The Daily Times, well, they're The Daily Times.

In the mean time, I'll be opening at 300 W. Main Street soon and if that won't be quick enough to deliver stories I don't know what else to tell you. I'll change up to a Blackberry when I start charging to view this Site. LOL

You just had to see Joe G. pecking away at this thing like he had Bionic Fingers! It was too funny!

Councilman Joe Holloway Gets Fired Up!

Now Get This!

Councilman Holloway was Fired Up when he came to learn Gary Mackes & Co. were purchasing $23.00 Pens for Holiday Gifts at the Taxpayers expense. As if that wasn't enough, it goes on. They purchased the pens from a County Employee!

Mr. Holloway had seen enough and demanded that Wicomico County look into spending a whole lot further from here on out because NO ONE should have a $23.00 Pen!

Mr. Pollitt leaned over and asked Joe, where did that come from? He replied, Gary Mackes. There was an immediately look of disappointment from Rick right away.

Is Prettyman A Party Animal, Or What?

Wicomico County Council Woman Stevie Prettyman Rocked the Council's World this morning when she reached under the conference table during a LIVE PAC 14 Meeting and pulled out three 6 packs of beer to every one's amazement!

So just what was Councilwoman Prettyman's reason for doing so? Because the Wicomico County Liquor Board Dispensary ONCE AGAIN has broken its agreement with the County and Stevie stated she had just purchased this liquor/beer in one of the Wicomico County Dispensaries.

The County made a formal agreement, (Oct. 14, 2004) with them NOT to sell beer and compete with Convenience Stores and once again Ron Alessi has his hands decision making PROVING, (to me anyway) that the County AND City need to have TERM LIMITS on those people serving on these different Boards. Alessi & Co. flat out took it upon themselves to break that agreement WITHOUT permission and they started once again purchasing beer and selling it to compete with hundreds of Convenience Stores.

County Executive Rick Pollitt, (IMO) was NOT happy! As a mater of fact, he stated that the County was now going to look into whether or not they should even be in that business any more. Looks, (to me) like Alessi screwed up yet once again and I can assure you, Stevie Prettyman was NOT happy. As a matter of fact, most of the Council Members were quite ticked off as their constituents called and raised hell about it throughout the County.

It's time for change Ladies & Gentlemen and I think the County Council is finally about to start acting like a Legislative Branch and start making some new rules. Great work Stevie!

Now, can I have my beer please?

Major Fire In Cambridge

Click on images to enlarge.
The Wm. G. Willikers Antiques Store on Downtown Race Street went up in flames this morning in Cambridge, Maryland. This was a 6 Alarm Fire, yet there were Fire Companies from all over the Eastern Shore there to support Cambridge.

The first photo was about 3 miles from the actual fire as I came into Cambridge. I will put up more photos as I go along here but I wanted to get a few up to get started. You could see the smoke for many miles and in the last photo, (or so) you can see where they were pumping water directly out of the River, (NO FIRE BOAT) where it appeared as if the only building with major damage was in fact the Antique Store.

More to come..........

Pollitt Veto Overridden - Wicomico Voters Cannot Have Cake and Eat It Too

Last week, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt vetoed Bill 2007-03, the County Council's legislation establishing a county labor code and collective bargaining and binding arbitration for the Sheriff's Deputies. At today's meeting of the Wicomico County Council, the Council unanimously voted to override the County Executive's veto.

This legislation has been highly contentious, and will continue to be so. Prior to debate on the motion to override, County Attorney Ed Baker provided an opinion as to the legality of the bill. Since the voters of Wicomico County chose to adopt a County Executive form of government, the Wicomico County Charter prohibits the County Council from introducing, adding to, or reallocating any budget line item. The Council may amend a budget line presented by the Executive by reducing the presented amount. Therefore the Council's legislation, which does not bind the Council to the Executive's budget (as allowed by the Charter) nor permits the Council to engage in any negotiations with the Deputies' bargaining agent, is both legal and proper.

Council President John Cannon gave any excellent summary as to the Council's reasoning. The Council must remain faithful to the Charter. For certain parties to infer that this legislation is somehow "anti - law enforcement" is not only incorrect, it is ridiculous.

The FOP's attorney's designed the ballot initiative which mandated collective bargaining. They did so with full knowledge of the County's recent charter change and the pending turnover to an Executive form of government. Did they expect the County Council to ignore their legal and moral responsibilities to the Charter and the citizens? Perhaps they had attended some Salisbury City Council meetings by mistake.

As Mr. Cannon pointed out, other Maryland counties (including Anne Arundel, Harford and Howard counties) with Executive forms of government and collective bargaining / binding arbitration requirements have adopted similar legislation.

What is most disturbing about this process is the threats of the FOP's leadership. When voters were asked to support collective bargaining and binding arbitration the FOP claimed that their sole intention was achieve better benefits for the deputies. By hurling blame at the Council and threatening litigation many will now question their motives. I have no reason to dispute the words of many fine officers who have shared their concerns with me. I do, however, question the motives of their union leadership and attorneys.

cross posted on Delmarva Dealings

Technorati Tags: Maryland, politics, Wicomico, wicomicopolitics, RickPollitt, JohnCannon, publicsafety, collectivebargaining, bindingarbitration

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FOB's No Longer!

Even the Gillis Family can't get past this new Meter Technician, (or whatever their title is any more). It seems this vehicle is a habitual illegal parker and they finally have had enough. So as you can see, FOB or not, the tide is a changing in the City of Salisbury and Barrie is losing more and more power by the day.

Imagine waking up, going downstairs with all the confidence in the world that NO ONE would EVER tow their vehicle and seeing it gone! What I wouldn't do to get that shot! ROTFLMAO! Welcome to THE REAL WORLD!

YOU Do The Math!

Ladies & Gentlemen, I have been working on a story for weeks that fell right into my lap last night without having to do a single PIA request.

I have always wondered about this Michael Day character. He's always acted like a weasel and back in the day was one of those little boy toys for the Mayor.

Anyhow, last night the Dee, Dee, Deeee got up there and gave out some numbers I found EXTREMELY interesting. You see, I had been investigating this whole Park & Flea thing, wondering how and why this guy would wake up every weekend at 3:30 AM just to go out and collect a few bucks for Urban Salisbury?

You all know I come from Da Bronx and when I smell a Rat, I know something is up. That being said, Michael said last night that in the last year they had EXACTLY 2,665 Vendors participate. I'll start with, BS! I'll state there were a whole lot more than that but for Michael's sake, let's agree with his numbers.

OK, so we have 2,665 Vendors and Michael stated they Netted $5,000.00 last year. OH MICHAEL, STUPID MOVE!

After the meeting last night I waited around till Michael was done with everyone and excited like I said, "Michael, how much do you charge for Vendors to participate?" He replies, "$10.00 each on Saturdays and $5.00 each on Sundays."

Well, if any of you have ever visited, Saturdays are their busiest day but we're going to average the numbers just to make things fair. However, my FIRST challenge is the fact that I believe there are a whole lot more than 2,665 Vendors throughout the year. Heck, even in the winter months they're packing them in on Saturdays.

You see Ladies & Gentlemen, no one ever challenges guys like Michael Day. They just cruise along without saying anything but I kept thinking, unless he's getting paid BIG BUCKS to run this show on every weekend throughout the year, someone could be dropping big bucks into their pocket and the IRS should know about this.

OK, let's get to the beef of this article. At $5.00 each, times 2,665, that's $13,325.00, NOT $5,000.00! At $10.00 each it would be $26,650.00, NOT $5,000.00!

OK, so let's be fair again and say there's OVERHEAD and that's how they Netted only $5,000.00. WHAT OVERHEAD? The City has been BRAGGING how this has proven to be a HUGE success/project, I DON'T THINK SO! It's been HUGE for someone but it wasn't the City or Urban Salisbury.

Now think about it like this. If the numbers seem all screwed up right from the get go, imagine just how many Vendors there really were there throughout the year. I'm going to keep tabs on that. I'm going to go there and COUNT the amount of Vendors there are there even in the Winter months to see if Mr. Day's calculations make any sense.

Accountability, right Louise? I showed these numbers even to Louise Smith last night and she just stood there like a Dee, Dee, Deeee, seriously. She then said, you'll have to ask Mr. Day. I replied, I DID! That's where I got the numbers from. She just said, I don't know Joe.

You know there will be More To Come on this one........

The Politics of Personal Destruction in the Land of Barrie

There are times when I believe that Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman and her council lackeys Louise Smith, Gary Comegys and Shanie Shields all watched too much television news during the Clinton administration. Unable to intelligently debate almost any relevant issue, the stock tactic appears to claim that the opposition is launching "personal attacks".

This bush league debate tactic was brought to its zenith Monday night when simple requests for documentation and a desire for the broad public to enjoy the rights of political participation were deemed "personal attacks" and "slaps in the face" to the Mayor's anointed appointees to various city commissions. Unfortunately Mr. Comegys, who is the only member of Tilghman's "council leadership" with an IQ above 70, was forced to look the fool in order to run the Tilghman railroad down its appointed, albeit crooked, tracks.

To provide some context, this debate really began on December 10th, 2007 when the Mayor proffered her chosen for the Salisbury Board of Zoning Appeals. Few non-elected posts are more powerful in Salisbury City government. At the time, no information was provided to Council as to the background or qualifications of the Mayor's chosen. Questioning by Councilwoman Debbie Campbell and Councilwoman Terry Cohen about the lack of information was pushed aside by Mr. Comegys who claimed (with the concurrence of City Attorney Paul Wilber) that the Council's sole role in this matter was to confirm the Mayor's appointees. When it was pointed out by Mrs. Campbell that the members of this board were to be appointed by Council, not by the Mayor, the Tilghman team fell silent.

At this time, Mrs. Campbell and Ms. Cohen asked that, in the future, background information on all candidates for appointment (or confirmation) be provided in the Council's briefing books. No member of council objected.

Now we come to January 14, 2008. On the agenda there were appointments of fourteen people to six boards or commissions. With a couple of notable exceptions, there was no information given to Council regarding the individuals. Are they city residents? City taxpayers? Do they have any expertise in the areas which are impacted by the commissions that they are being appointed to? Probably most important, were the positions advertised to encourage citizen participation? Nada.

Asking such basic questions in the public square is not appreciated by certain parties. It slows down the Tilghman Railroad and draws unwanted attention to the Tilghman agenda. Consequently, Mr. Comegys was forced to step in.

The Comegys argument goes something like this ...

To advertise a position for which a current member wishes reappointment is akin to "a slap in the face". According to Mr. Comegys, term limits are more acceptable than allowing the public to know that these positions are coming up for reappointment.

As for demanding information on the appointees, this is equivalent to a "personal attack". We must remember the terms of service on these commissions can be quite long. Despite the fact that a person presently serves, council members may not know anything about them. In fact, Comegys admitted this. However, using Comegys' logic this is irrelevant. The Mayor simply would not have re-appointed an individual if they were not competent. Even if he is correct (which he is not), Mr. Comegys simply refused to acknowledge the notion that opening the process up to the public might yield individuals who are more than competent. We might have people serving who actually excel.

After Mr. Comegys poorly thought out, yet sober, argument it was time for a little humor. This is where Councilwoman Shanie Shields shines. Mrs. Shields argues that service on the City Electoral Board, the Planning Commission, the Zoo Commission, the Marina Commission or the Board of Zoning Appeals is equivalent to seeking volunteers to serve on a church committee or a committee at your child's school. A church committee cannot stop you from building on your own property. The Planning Commission can. A committee for the school dance cannot allow the owner of the house next door to rent it out like a boarding house, the Board of Housing Appeals can. A church committee, as a rule, cannot seize your tax dollars yet the Salisbury Marina Commission does just that in the form of a taxpayer subsidy to boat owners. The same also applies to the Zoo Commission.

Always one to go the extra mile, Mrs. Shields exited the debate with this little wonder: She didn't know who any of these people were, but she was sure that they were doing a great job.

Lest you think that I've left Louise Smith out, don't worry. I just stated that she's incapable of engaging in an intelligent debate. She does however have a knack for repeating the same line over, and over, and over ... During the campaign she promised (and promised, and promised ...) that the audit would get done on time under her watch. Guess what? Wielding the gavel Ms. Smith has only a few weapons in her bag: "let's move on", "let's call for the question", "we've already discussed this point".

Unfortunately for the citizens of Salisbury, her constant interruption seems to throw Councilwomen Campbell and Cohen just off of their game. I am particularly disappointed as this applies to Ms. Cohen because she has few peers in a debate (as her campaign for election showed). However, in all fairness, I don't know how well I would perform under those same circumstances (other than to resort to physical violence).

cross posted on Delmarva Dealings

Technorati Tags: Maryland, Salisbury, politics, salisburypolitics, BarrieTilghman, LouiseSmith, GaryComegys, ShanieShields, DebbieCampbell, TerryCohen, debate

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Wicomico Council Meets to Receive Audit

After the agony of Monday's Salisbury City Council meeting we will be treated to more intelligent and civilized political discourse as the Wicomico County Council meets this morning at the GOB. The agenda appears pretty tame, but appearances can be deceiving.

First up is the now infamous Bill 2007-3, the binding arbitration bill. As County Executive Rick Pollitt has vetoed the legislation it is being represented to council for their reconsideration. The are under no obligation to act immediately and I believe it is in the County's best interest for the Council to take as much time as necessary to craft legislation which meets the wishes of the voters, yet preserves Council's budgetary authority.

County Auditors Pigg, Krahl and Stern will present the County's audited financial statements to the Council. Wicomico County is not only receiving their audit presentation earlier than Salisbury (which has yet to schedule an audit presentation), I have a sneaking suspicion that Wicomico County's audit is not full of re-statements and inconsistencies (which are clearly present in the Salisbury audit).

During the Council's scheduled work session, one item that may be cause for much consternation is the "Village Down River" project. While I certainly don't have a dog in this hunt I expect loud opposition from neighbors and the folks over at the Wicomico Environmental Trust.

Last and certainly not least is the item scheduled for a closed work session - discussion of real estate acquisition. While I have no inside knowledge of what parcel is to be discussed, I expect that it is the property for the proposed West Side park. While I understand, and appreciate, the merits for this park I still have grave reservations. Wicomico County is already sitting on land designated for parks (such as the "Pirate's Wharf" tract which is just a few miles from this property) that have yet to be made useful.

cross posted on Delmarva Dealings

Technorati Tags: Maryland, Wicomico, politics, wicomicopolitics, RickPollitt, fiscalpolicy, environment

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The Tilghman Railroad Is Coming Round the Bend

Monday's Salisbury City Council meeting was the most disgraceful display since Louise Smith mangle the oath of office. If there was ever any doubt, it is positively clear that the Tilghman Railroad is rolling through city. All who dare stand on the tracks do so at their own peril.

The conductor is the Mayor herself. Barrie Parsons Tilghman has an agenda. It may not be in the best interest of the citizens and taxpayers of Salisbury, but who cares. The important thing is that Barrie has a plan; and that plan will be implemented ... or else.

The engineer is City Councilwoman Louise Smith. Regardless of the rules, regardless of her precious "Code of Conduct", regardless of the best interests of the senior citizens who voted her in to office, Louise WILL run that train down those crooked tracks. It is amazing how a little power will allow a person to totally give up their self respect.

The brakeman is City Councilman Gary Comegys. Gary wants to be Mayor and has somehow been deluded into the belief that he must sacrifice his beliefs in order to get there. I probably give Gary the hardest time of all, because he is actually a pretty sharp guy. If he was actually willing to serve his constituents rather than the Tilghman agenda and the special interests which control her administration there is no telling how far he could go.

Councilwoman Shanie Shields is equivalent to a passenger. Her role on the city council is merely to do what she is told. It's truly a shame that when her West Side constituents are literally thrown from their homes thanks to the Tilghman-led gentrification plan they will have been represented on council by a woman who actually squeezed the trigger against her own constituents.

The citizens of Salisbury, in effect, are like the proverbial woman tied to the railroad tracks. Trust me when I say that that train ain't stopping, unless the citizens of Salisbury do something soon.

cross posted on Delmarva Dealings

Technorati Tags: Maryland, Salisbury, politics, salisburypolitics, BarrieTilghman, LouiseSmith, GaryComegys, ShanieShields

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