Yesterday’s Daily Times presented Mr. Comegys’ version of the rezoning of the old Salisbury Mall several years ago that was struck down as unlawful by the Circuit Court. He now claims that when he voted for the rezoning, “based on the advice of the City’s attorney” he was “unaware” that it could be challenged. This very ambiguous comment allows for a couple different readings.
One is that the City Attorney advised Comegys that the rezoning could not be challenged by appeal. But, any attorney will tell you that special rezoning of a single property can be appealed, so it’s hard to believe that Paul Wilber told Comegys that the opponents who were threatening to appeal could not do so. However, Comegys may have completely misunderstood what Wilber actually said to him.
Most likely, Wilber advised him that an appeal would not be successful because the rezoning was proper, despite the warnings to the contrary, which included a memorandum by his assistant who felt that it was questionable. At one meeting, Wilber said the he had found some “cases” that supported his opinion that the rezoning was proper.
The Council majority, led by the Dream Team (Comegys, Cathcart and Dunn) flatly disregarded the warnings and position of the opponents, who appealed the rezoning action to the Circuit Court, which struck it down. Comegys tries to make it appear that the Court’s decision was based on a bizarre “verbiage technicality” and “not on the action itself” – he must be a legal expert as well as an “engineer,” at least in his mind.
Don’t fall for this bubba-speak, the Court ruled that the rezoning “action” was not lawful – that’s why it was struck down. Thus, Comegys and his cohorts on the Council caused the City to run up a big bill for Wilber’s legal services, before and after the rezoning, and also delayed redevelopment of the mall site for over a year by their illegal “action.”
Once again, Comegys falls flat on his face while trying to smear lipstick on a pig of his making – whatever Mr. Wilber may have told him.
Have they ever said how much Wilber charged the city to lose the appeal from the rezoning that he had told the Council was OK?
ReplyDeleteAnd what about the legal fee for losing the suit that came about because of Barrie's personal vendetta to "get even" with Stu Leer because he backed Carolyn Hall when she ran for mayor against Barrie.
Comegys is not an engineer!
ReplyDelete9:57 --
ReplyDeleteHe says that he "are an engineer"!
Gary = Barrie
ReplyDeleteVery Scary!
Do the words "verbiage technicality" sound as though they came from the mouth of Bubba??? I think not. Sounds like Barrie all the way.
ReplyDeleteWho is Barrie giving the bird to in that pic
ReplyDeleteJoe, I wish you could advertise in some media about your web site to attract even more viewers. I know that you dislike the Daily Times but I don't see how they could block you or even the Metropolitan may be a source. This is a great platform for debate and updated news and needs to reach more people concerning the alarming number of issues in our community.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the deal about buying the gas station to provide extra income for his (then) wife? For over 30 years she has had a well paying job with the State of Maryland. Something fishy about that answer, too.
ReplyDeleteBy word of mouoth and almost 4 years of Blogging, trust me, Salisbury News reaches a far bigger audience than the Daily Times could ever deliver me through their Newspaper.
ReplyDeleteThis is well known by the Mayor and other Department Heads as they become more and more vocal about the Blogs. They already know everyone comes here. If they have a computer, they come to Salisbury News. Just ask around, seriously. AQsk anyone you know if they go to Salisbury News and watch what they say. I think you'll be amazed.
does anyone have official numbers on circulation of what the DT used to be and now??
ReplyDeleteI could be wrong but it used to be around 24,000 per day.
ReplyDeleteIm not a lawyer, but I play one on PAC-14.
ReplyDeleteMall loss = about $30,000
ReplyDeleteLeer loss = about $30,000
That's what I remember. Correct me if I'm wrong, Joe.
Many people who didn't follow the saga when it happened will read that and accept it.
ReplyDeletePity.
Long live the Maulers!
1:37 --
ReplyDeleteThat's why this is posted -- to protect the ignorant innocent from Bubba-speak.
Comegys doesn't have the knowledge to run a business more less government. He cost the City of Salisbury alot of money in lossed tax revenue from a looser investor in the old mall. The TIFF allowed the property to sit idle, and give them the ability to do so. Why doesn't the city/county condemn the property, let the county get to build a new civic center/convention center, and then both the city and county will benefit.
ReplyDeleteEveryone will benefit as long as Comegys is not Mayor and just think 2 yrs from now we can get rid of him off the council too. GO IRETON !!!!! GO POLK!!! LETS CHANGE THAT 3-2 VOTE.