A Concerned Viewer Writes In

Joe:

I'm watching the City Council meeting that just transpired. . .and I want you to know that I THANK GOD I DON'T OWN PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF SALISBURY!

With the exception of Campbell and Cohen. . . every single one of BPT administration should be fired including John Pick.

Louise Smith who campaigned on accountability . . .and then votes against firming up an audit date is about as hypocritical as one can get. She should go also!!! To stand up and try amd award a 'cherry picked' audit to only one firm without at least soliciting a minimum of three bids is unexcusable and is atrocious to the taxpaying public. Moreover, the similar scenario exist regarding the RFP for the City's sewer/water capital improvement whereby engineering work in the RFP doesn't address recent problems at the Naylor Mill Road/ Parkside sewer pumping stations.

What a fiasco. Also, I remember during a blog some time ago where you commented on the lousy service at Burger King on Naylor Mill Road. . . that I emailed you about the stinking sewer pumping station on the corner of DP&L and I noted in my email that I thought something was very wrong with the equipment because of the stench being emitted.

THIS TOWN AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS MORE CORRUPT THAN ANY SOPRANOS SHOW I'VE EVER SEEN!!!!

My advise . . . STAY AWAY FROM SALISBURY!!!!

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!!! I'M COPYING ALL OF MY RELATIVES REGARDING THE LATEST SCANDAL.

WHAT AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER!!!!! I HAVE NEVER WITNESSED SUCH CORRUPTION IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!!

Are Pocomoke City Bogg Hogg Government Officials Honoring Our Fallen Heros This Memorial Day?

Pocomoke City, MD Memorial Day 2008 I ask if the brave men & women who sacrificed their lives for Truth, Justice & the American way of democracy have done so in vain? Pocomoke City Maryland is home to the most openly corrupt municipal governments since the days of Huey Long and there is no end in site.

Tattler readers may know that we have been trying to get the corrupt city government to enforce the law against one of its own, X-Councilman Honiss Cane for having multiple derelict untagged vehicles on his properties. The only reason we ask for enforcement with him is because the "law" is strictly enforced against others. February 28th 2008 Mayor McDermott publicly stated on the Pocomoke Tattler that:

The code allows for a person to store a vehicle in an enclosed building (such as a garage), but a vehicle classified as "abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, non operating, wrecked, junked, or otherwise discarded vehicle" cannot satisfy the code by simply being "covered".

Mr. Mayor in case the PCPD, "Housing Inspector", City Manager or yourself have not noticed, there is a cloth cover on the X-Councilman's car.

Councilman Cane's vehicles are being addressed by Councilman Cane. I expect to see them all dealt with soon. His business property on Fourth Street proved a problem since he had leased the property out to an individual who then went out of business (leaving the vehicles). In spite of this, it is being handled.

What is that we saw yesterday hiding in the 'overgrown' bushes but the very same vehicle on the very same property the Mayor stated "...would be dealt with soon..." as quoted above? There were only FIVE untagged vehicles in plain site from the Street on Canes "Commercial property" and the one at his former residence on Fourth Street we were told he was "noticed" on December of 2007.

SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF JUNK CAR LAW

It has just come to our attention that Pocomoke City resident Tom Ayres was improperly served notice to remove two "project cars" he was storing in his backyard on Laurel St preparing to register them when his twin sons turn 16 this October. Mr. Ayres is a lifelong resident has volunteered for PCPD events and recently suffered a stroke making it impossible to move his body certain ways. He stated the he immediately contacted the PCPD was told to ask the chief OR Boss Hogg Russ Blake for permission for an extension neither of whom returned his phone calls or e-mails.

On 3/25/2008, Robin Ayres was required to sign for what appeared to be a certified USPS letter (which we subsequently learned had been returned by the Post Office item #7006 2150 0002 6571 1292), that was hand delivered by Officer Frank Wright badge # 0101 of the Pocomoke City Police Department to my residence at 205 Laurel street Pocomoke City Md.

Since when did Pocomoke City Police Officers become federal mail carriers? This story goes from bad to worse with:

On 4/29/08 Captain Brumley and Officer Bratten arrived at my residence with a Henslers’ Towing rollback wrecker, at approximately 10:30 AM. At that point my wife Robin and I met them in the rear yard of the residence and said to Captain Brumley “You aren’t really going to take my boys cars are you? This is our father son project and they will be 16 in October and I had emailed Chief Ervin for an extension. That is when Captain Brumley said the grey/purple1992 Mazda Truck and the green 1974 Chrysler had to be towed. I have known Captain Brumley for over 30 years, and I was surprised at his aggressive demeanor he displayed.

Why does the city send two squad cars and a wrecker 34-days AFTER notice had been improperly served (at best) and a formal written protest had been made to the Chief of Police and City Manager?

To make a long story longer, Mr. Ayres agreed to allow them to remove the vehicles and wanted to move his pickup truck and mothers boat out of the way so the yard would not get torn up.

As I was twisting my 1987 Dodge Truck in my small yard to move it to gain access to the boat (so I could move the boat out of the way so I could jump start the 1990 Buick) so that the tow truck would have access to the cars that Captain Brumley was forcing me to tow. Officer Bratten was standing in the area in a way to make the maneuvering of my 1987 Dodge truck more difficult to accomplish in the limit space I was in trying to help the tow truck remove the two vehicles with minimal damage to the yard, fence and vehicles. I was then ordered by Captain Bromley to “stop and remove the keys from the vehicle”, which I immediately followed his order.

I did not have time to get out of the truck (as I am severely disabled from my stroke and nerve damage) Captain Brumley then aggressively opened my 1987 Dodge Truck door and said “Give me the keys you are under arrest” I advised Brumley that I have had a stroke and nerve damage, (which he knew very well), and I was handicapped and to please let me get out of the Truck on my own, at this point I was brutally snatched out of my vehicle by the two Officers, (which was on the private property that I have lived on since 1976), by my left arm and injured, I told Captain Brumley and Officer Bratten that this was very painful but they kept intentionally using excessive force (over the screams of my wife Robin), and I complied as best I could, and I never resisted them in any way, nor did I fail to follow any instruction that I was given.

.

When I was removed from my vehicle and placed under arrest I explained that because of severe nerve damage that my arms would not go completely behind my back and I requested to be cuffed in front of my body. At this point I was very forcefully put in an extreme arm lock behind my back by Captain Brumley and Officer Bratten with both arms and severe pain started at this point. I said “come on please you all know me I can’t run this is hurting me”!!!!!!!

Mr. Ayres provided us a very long & comprehensive statement submitted to the Court stating he asked for medical attention a number of times throughout the "arrest & fingerprinting" procedure and was denied. He asked for an attorney and was denied and told they were going to see the Commissioner in Snow Hill. He was then allegedly subject to Mr. Toads wild ride in the back of a PCPD squad car at speeds up to 80 miles an hour, without being seat belted as required by law. They ended up towing only ONE of the project cars but took the boat (whose tags were in the house) while he was a prisoner in custody of the PCPD for his heinous crime.

How can Mayor Mike McDermott or anyone involved with the openly corrupt Pocomoke City government look this man in the eye and tell him he is breaking the law, when they refuse to enforce THE VERY SAME LAWS against a man who is illegally and immorally retaining a city council seat?



Tell me again oh honorable governing officials of Pocomoke City how your actions honor these brave men and women, whose ultimate sacrifice is celebrated on this day?

CATHCART COMMENTS … AND GETS CLOBBERED

Although it has no bearing on the City of Salisbury’s budget for the upcoming year, a comment by former Councilmember Cathcart at the recent budget hearing last week warrants attention as does the reaction to it by someone who was in the audience. It seems that Cathcart is no less a supporter of whatever Barrie Tilghman proposes than she was when on the Council from 2003 to 2007 as part of the “Dream Team” that also included Messrs. Dunn and Comegys.

At the hearing one of the speakers prior to her was a local resident who has a deep and sincere interest in the governance of Salisbury but does not live in the City. He presented a very succinct and serious criticism of Tilghman’s proposed budget, which received applause by the audience that must have triggered a mental synapse that caused Cathcart to defend Tilghman by attacking the transgressor, just like she often did when on the Council.

In her statement, which dealt mostly with matters of no budgetary significance, Cathcart pointedly observed that some of the speakers were not City residents and suggested that, for that reason, their comments had very little or no value. By that remark, Cathcart has once again revealed her habit of demeaning those whose view differs from hers, often engaging in absurd argumentation for that purpose – such as the notion that the value of a person’s statements depends upon where he or she lives.

Such conduct became her modus operandi when she was on the Council. Recall, for example, her response to the concern stated by local high school students about the increasingly overcrowded classrooms due the Salisbury’s policy of uncontrolled development during the days of the “Dream Team” -- “it’s always been that way.” Then there was the time that she told a City resident who was trying to ask a question at a Council meeting to “put your hand down.”

Cathcart has a right to belittle others, but not as an elected official. Never again, that is.

Those who missed the public hearing can press above to listen to Cathcart’s statement also listen to the response by ME who took umbrage at her inappropriate statement directed at another speaker.

Salisbury Earns Another Championship!

Salisbury University only had to come back from a 1-0 deficit at the beginning of the game to beat Cortland State 19-13. Salisbury won the scoring race with both teams having flurries of goals at a time to keep a 4 goal lead for most of the game. If you did not catch the game on TV this was full of non stop hits with two teams playing their hearts out.

Senior Nick Fiorentino was the star of the game making 14 saves in his 3rd career start and providing some solid physical play outside the crease (see bottom picture in SU's story). Nick kept his composure through the game and provided his attackers with an easier job to get the win.

Bruce Richardson and Kylor Berkman both scored 5 goals in the win.

Congratulations Salisbury Lacrosse in defending your title this year! You gentlemen earned everything and thank you for giving all of us an exciting successful season.

SU's write up - http://www.suseagulls.com/sports/mlax/2007-08/news/recap_ncaacortland

Full boxscore -http://www.suseagulls.com/sports/mlax/2007-08/stats/SALMLX22.HTM

A very nice program full of information from SU -http://www.suseagulls.com/sports/mlax/2007-08/pdf/salisbury_mlax_champguide08.pdf


Just got back from my weekend off work, sorry for the delay...

Chris Llinus, (Mr. Christianity) Sends In This Comment

Chris Llinus Said....

"Fernando is a fighter, whereas you, sir, are a delusional joke, about as responsible for the departure of any of these former city employees as I am for your perjury indictment . . .

(I know you won't post this, but I just wanted you to know what a laughingstock you are for many of us out here in the blogosphere-- including many you suck up to and consider friends . . . )"

Editors Note: This was the local attorney that was arrested and found guilty for his involvement with a local drug ring. I'll leave the rest up to your comments. I see finding the Lord was a real help for you Chris.

Missing Bodies Found in Johnson's Pond

The bodies of the two men missing since falling into Johnson's Pond have been recovered. More information to follow.

Although the Salisbury Fire Department worked diligently last night trying to recover the bodies of two men that fell into Johnson Pond, visibility was zero once it became dark so they had to call off their search.

This morning they returned with the Dive Team and it only took a couple of hours for them to find and recover the two men that had disappeared. I spoke with the Cousin who was there last night when the two men fell in and he said his back was turned to them when his Cousin and the other man fell in.

One man actually fell in and the other went to help him. The two then disappeared. He said he saw one body floating over to the area in which they did recover both bodies. A third man went in to help but found himself in a difficult way so the 4th man threw out his fishing line and actually reeled him back to safety.

It's a sad day to lose two grown men in a drowning accident as simple as this. My hope is that the City will find a way to stop anyone from fishing in that area as there is quite a bit of people who fish that dam and stand on top of it the whole time. It needs to be off limits.

Public Works was over at the Yard clearing out trees, (I don't exactly understand why) from their property onto the Pond. These were beautiful mature trees and now they're gone. I'm sure it was for recovery purposes but that, (to me) was an unnecessary extreme.

My hat is tipped to the Salisbury Fire Department as nothing was going to stop them from recovering these two bodies. When the water is that dark, it is extremely difficult to do what they just did. My Wife did that for years with the Salisbury Dive Team and there's a ton of training that goes on in such dark waters to make such an attempt a success.

GO HERE to see more photos from Wayne Barrall.

Don't Miss These Programs TONIGHT on PAC 14

Last chance to catch these recent Salisbury City Council meetings on PAC14
today (Monday, May 27):

Starts Meeting

6:00 PM Regular Meeting on May 12
9:25 PM Public Hearing on FY09 Budget on May 21

These are really "don't miss" meetings.

And don't forget the City Council's regular meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, not
today) will be live on PAC14, beginning at 6PM.

Drive-By Shooting Last Week

The drive-by shootings are for induction into gangs and allegedly the 21 year old woman killed in the Bottle Factory drive-by was not the intended victim. She was allegedly pushed out in front by the intended target. She has a seven-month old baby.

But there are No Gangs in Salisbury, just ask the Mayor and Police Chief.

Question of the Day, Mon 5/26

Happy Memorial Day! Are you working today?

Port of Salisbury - a hole in the water the Mayor is throwing your money into.

I've had my boat docked in a slip at the Port of Salisbury since we got it 3 years ago. So much has gone wrong there during those three years that I've actually had to convince myself that it's still worth it because it's convenient. Since it's only 15 minutes from our house, my wife and I slip away on an occasional Friday or Saturday night and stay on the boat. After what I learned today, I won't stay another season. My slip is paid up until the end of this summer and that's it.

When we first rented our slip, we paid an additional $75 a month for unlimited use of electricity. We left our heat units run one week due to the fact that we were back and forth. We received a phone call from the dockmaster stating we we using too much electricity. The dockmaster turned off our power because he thought we had used more than our money's worth. After a huge come to Jesus meeting with him and conversation with his boss at Coastal Property Mgmt. (the co. who runs it for the City of Salisbury), it was understood that the dockmaster has no right to shut off someones power when their bill is paid up. The next thing I knew, the dockmaster installed a meter without my permission and in violation of our lease agreement and asked me if I was trying to use more elecric than I was paying for. How stupid can one company be? Turns out I was using less than $75.....but an agreement is an agreement. He took the meter and put it on someone elses boat.

The same dockmaster engaged in an argument with another slipholder and it appears as though he threw a shoe at the slipholder striking him in the neck. I wrote a letter to Coastal Property Mgmt. and advised them of what went on. The mgr., known only to me as "Mitch" advised that the dockmaster was instucted to take anger management classes as a condition of his continued employment. During that same season, the gasoline pumps stopped working. I contacted the dockmaster to make arrangements for fueling only to learn that the pumps had not been working for a substantial period of time and that they were working on them. He stated that it would likely be another two weeks until they were working again. No letter to the slipholders, no phone calls - nothing. I asked him if he'd thought of calling the slipholders or writing them a letter to notify them of the fact that the pump would be down so that they could make other arrangements to get fuel in advance of any planned outting. He said it sounded like a good idea and that he would consider doing that next time. He didn't hesitate to call me when he thought I was using too much electricity! The pumps were repaired and we were back on line in a couple of weeks. That dockmaster worked there the remainder of that season and another before relocation to some far away nation - no kidding.

There was one hot summer morning my wife and I woke up on the boat and when we went outside, the smell was absolutely horrible. Smelled like shit - like someones holding tank had been dumped into the water. Later we learned that the WWTP had a massive spill and the water was full of sewage.

Here we are three years later. We have a new dockmaster. A kid fresh out of college (or so I understand). I called today to get some fuel so that my wife and I could take a small ride down the river and back. A young man answered the phone and told me that he had just started working there. The dockmaster was gone for the weekend (A holiday weekend!) and that there was no gasoline. WHAT? Yes! There hasn't been any for some time. According to the new kid, they're cleaning the tanks to put something a little more "environmentally friendly" in them. He stated they would be replacing gasoline with gasohol. A methanol blend. No notification of the pumps being down - again. But more importantly.....no notification of the intent to replace gasoline with the methanol blend! Methanol blend has been known to dissolve plastic fuel tanks with the passing of time. Plastic fuel tanks were frequently used in older boats.......like mine - like many other boats in that marina may have. Absolutely no planning.

If you look at the marina it's easy to see that the number of boats dwindle every year. Don't let anyone tell you it's the economy and the price of fuel. The cost of fuel IS affecting boaters - it's keeping them in port. If they choose to sell their boats, they can't - because no one is buying. Common sense tells you that they will stay in port.

The reason boats are leaving is POOR SERVICE! The cleats on the docks and pilings are loose. The trees along side of the walkways grew over the walkways and you had to duck down two feet and almost low crawl to the parking lot before someone cut them back. The grass was two feet high before it was cut. The marina is neglected and improperly managed.

Boaters at the Port of Salisbury have two choices for gasoline now. Wicomico Yacht Club or Deal Island. I'm gonna call a local fuel co. to see if they can send a truck to deliver gasoline this week. I won't be putting the "new" stuff in my tanks.

That's $1600.00 less you'll be getting from me this year Mayor! Could you possibly f**k this city up any more than you already have.

C'MON Pirates Cove!

Who's The Tougher Fighter?

While Fernando and I got in the ring with our hoods on, it makes it kind of difficult to figure out who's the real professional fighter here, doesn't it? LOL

Fernando comes home to Salisbury with a 7-0 victory by way of yet another Knock Out! Obviously this is not a man to mess with but you know I go up against tough guys every day at the GOB. Let's see, what's my record? John Jacobs, Knock Out! Jim Rapp, Knock Out! Carrie Samis, Knock Out! Dan Ciancitto, Knock Out!

I'm still in the ring with Barrie & Chief Webster but my guess would be they're history too. The bigger question is, who's been the tougher opponents?

A Reader Writes In

Joe,

Check out this link and read the post from some guy saying "Enough Is Enough." I didn't want to violate copyright by copying and pasting the whole thing. But, wow! Sounds so much like Salisbury, except Barrie snuck her whammy in last year on the property tax hike, which was ON TOP of the INCREASED assessments. But this year, she wants to make up for her years of water/sewer neglect in one fell swoop or two at a time when the economy is in the PITS! Smart, real smart...NOT!

Anyway, here's the link, and I like the fighting attitude of this guy. Citizens shouldn't lie down and take this any more.

http://share.triangle.com/node/15924?page=1

SBYNews Reader


Enough is Enough!!!
Submitted by gridmaster on May 23, 2008 - 3:50pm.

In response to the proposed 11% increase in property taxes submitted by City Manager, Patrick Baker, to the Durham City Council, I say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! First it was Durham County's flawed tax evaluation based on a database so filled with errors that 9 of the 11 properties in my starter family neighborhood cul de sac were given values either too high or too low. When given proof of these errors, the response from the tax administration was that the area would be examined later and adjustments MIGHT be made. Then came the rejection of my extensively researched, documented, and detailed tax value appeal package with no explanation except that the value would remain the same and was based on the sale of properties in my area. Of course, the rejection was based on the same error filled database that first formulated the wrong appraised value. That was closely followed by the City Council adopting the staggering increase in water and sewer service charges, sewer rates and the adoption of tiered water rates that will disproportionally burden those who live on low and/or fixed incomes. Jumping on the bandwagon Durham County Commissioners are going to propose more property taxes on properties that have been valued at the now unreasonable rates dictated by the old housing boom. Now with everything increasing in cost - food, energy, utilities, gasoline - the Lame Duck City Manager proposes an 11% increase in property taxes!!! Property taxes will increase even with the so called "revenue neutral" decrease in the rate. The increase in property values was so great that even with the revenue neutral reduction, only one property in my cul de sac will have no increase in their taxes. All the rest of us will see a significant rise without the proposed 11%. On the same front page where I read of the increase there was a smaller headline that said "Thousands can't pay their power bills." This is a true sign of the difficulty people are having in paying their bills. Where are we suppose to find the money to pay for the increase in water and sewer rates, property taxes and the spiraling cost of the essentials of life? Wake up Durham City Council! Get Real Durham County Commissioners!!! Durham has the lowest per capita income of the Triangle's major cities and yet is expected to pay one of the highest property tax rates in the state. Do not continue to violate the sacred trust placed upon you by the citizens of this city. Stand up for those who have no voice and do the right thing for once. Do not allow this or any tax increase to be passed. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! Fellow citizens voice your concerns by attending the City Council public hearing on June 2nd! And call and email the Durham County Commissioners and tell them Enough is Enough!!! No more spending.

OC 104 Is In The News Again

OC104 HAS PEOPLE TALKIN' AGAIN! THIS PAST FRIDAY, THEY HELD THEIR "OC104 BLOCK PARTY" UP AT THE STATION IN GEORGETOWN, DEL. THE MORNING SHOW (HIP HOP COFFEE SHOP) BROUGHT IN "PSYCHIC WAYNE" FROM L.A., BETHANY BLUES (A LOCAL RESTAURANT) WAS THEIR WITH THEIR SMOKEHOUSE SERVING UP FREE FOOD FOR LISTENERS, THEY HAD THEIR MOONBOUNCE FOR THE KIDS UP, GAMES, TONS OF PRIZES, ETC ETC. HUNDREDS FLOCKED TO THE STATION FOR THE EVENT AS THEY KICKED OFF SUMMER.