COULD THAT “STANDPIPE” MAKE THE DIFFERENCE NEXT WEEK?

At the Camden Neighborhood Association’s forum for the candidates who want to be Salisbury’s next mayor, one of the few matters on which there was any real substantive difference involves the old water storage “Standpipe” tank. As you drive along Route 50, between Division Street and the drawbridge, it is to the north and is barely noticeable unless you stop and look. At least half of the City’s residents probably are not aware of it, and only a minority can remember when it was actually used for the purpose for which it was built – it’s been out of service for decades. Although covered with rust because it has not been painted for years, it’s apparently not about to collapse.

At the City Council meeting on Monday (Feb. 23), a capital improvement plan was adopted that includes about $135,000 to refurbish the standpipe for “historical” and “safety” reasons. The funding source would be City taxes and sewer and water fees. The work would not make the standpipe serviceable, and there is no plan to do so or to use it for water storage. Thus, for an amount that would fund 2 additional police officers for a year (or cover the operating deficit of the marina for 2 years), the City may soon have a more attractive “pipe without a purpose” in the interest of “historical” preservation.

In the candidate’s forum, when asked about their position on that expenditure, Mr. Ireton and Mr. Comegys said that it was appropriate, but Bob Caldwell was of a different position, stating that it was not appropriate. He feels that just because the standpipe is old, it is not really historic.

As someone who pays Salisbury’s property taxes and sewer and water fees, I’m surprised and very displeased that the City revenue would be used to refurbish this obsolete structure, which should have been sold for scrap back when the price of metal was much higher. During his period on the Council, Mr. Comegys has had ample opportunity to get that done, but has not even tried.

This matter shows the distinct difference between Bob Caldwell, who is a fiscal conservative, and Mr. Comegys, who is a tax & spend style career government employee in what is probably Maryland’s must overfed (with tax revenue) bureaucracy. He has raised the property tax rate twice since he has been on the City Council and even proposed a possible food tax by the City (he changed his position after a large public protest). Mr. Ireton’s career choice as a public school teacher does not inspire much confidence in his position on taxes and spending either, but to his credit he voted to cut the property tax rate when he was on the City Council in 1998-99.

Mr. Caldwell is the only candidate who states in his campaign appearances and literature that we are in a period in which it will be necessary to eliminate unnecessary expenses in the City budget to avoid further tax increase and maintain the really important governmental functions, such as public safety, roads and other infrastructure. In his brochure, the first point in his plan for restoring Salisbury is that “Budgetary Discipline Is Essential” Sometimes when listening to the other candidates’ plans and promises, I wonder if they follow the financial news. Mr. Caldwell has stated that “the TIF subsidy for private development of the old Salisbury Mall property and the proposed funding for the North Prong of the Wicomico River are examples of projects that need scrutiny” and that “there are many others, such as the City Marina’s continuing deficit.”

In the primary election next week, Salisbury residents, if registered, can vote for two different candidates. Mr. Caldwell’s position on fiscal discipline – the standpipe being a timely example -- is well worth your second vote if you support another candidate. Voters are urged to look at his website: www.Electbobcaldwell.com.