WICOMICO COUNTY: HOW ‘BOUT THOSE RICK POLLITT-ICKS?
Some folks regard Mr. Pollitt as a bumpkin from Allen who has advanced from a County staff position in Somerset County to Fruitland Town Manager and now Wicomico County Executive mostly as a good old boy with local connections rather than a shrewd professional career politician. That just ain’t so, though, Sherlock.
Rick’s support of Maryland’s current master practitioner of politics, Martin O’Malley, has apparently let him learn “up close and personal” how the game should be played. And this is Rule 1: as O’Malley taught Ehrlich, don’t try to fool the public by calling a new tax a “fee” – remember Marty’s killer ad (“Hey, Bob …”) in last year’s election campaign? Something much more misleading is called for, and thanks to his close affiliation with O’Malley, Rick knows how to do the deed.
The term of choice to camouflage the truth – that means pull the wool over our eyes – is now “revenue stream.” And you don’t use it in the context of getting or imposing, but rather “identifying” one (or more as the case may be).
Those who heard his interview on radio this week know that Mr. Pollitt has learned his lesson well. This statement that he made speaks volumes: “I wonder how people would feel if we identified a new separate revenue stream so that we can [fund] our roads program…”. That’s brilliant obfuscation designed to dupe the public.
Who would be against “identifying” a new “revenue source” so we can fill potholes – that won’t cost county residents and property owners a cent, right?
WRONG!
O’Malley is now telling the public that he will balance the next state budget with spending cuts, not by more or higher taxes, so let’s hope Rick Pollitt knows how to play “follow the leader”!
you need rick. who else would you nag about? i mean im sure you would find someone. but to promote pollitt during the elections then to turn around and rip him several times since the election. what exactly does that say about you joe? ill tell you what it means. it means you NEED conflict.
ReplyDeleteanonymous 12:05, It MEANS that this is a letter to the editor and not written by me. Perhaps, (next time) you'll take the time to read the title.
ReplyDeleteMr. Pollit, you are a cancer on this county that I was sure we were rid. But like a cancer you popped back up again. What will it take for you to stay in Allen. And leave the real taxpayers alone? Please respond by laying down on the ground with your eyes cloesed. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIn my vocabulary, identifying a source means identifying a source. After that is accomplished, we can all debate how we feel about the source. Until then, this is all ridiculous speculation. Facts, maam, just the facts. Please!
ReplyDeleteBefore Mr. Pollitt asks people to pay more...into his new revenue stream, he'd better convince the taxpayers that he's managing the resources he has effictively. The way it looks,he's doing "business as usual". A lot of people didn't reelect him to do business as usual. The trouble is, our county's assessable base is going down rapidly. Look at your tax assessments; throughout the county that was reassessed last year the drop was an average of 22%. Yet nothing has been done to further cut county spending. Yes, they reduced spending a lot last year. They're going to have to do it again this year by another $7 or $8 million dollars,is a good guess. Why are they waiting so long?
ReplyDeleteThey still have the same number of people working for the county. When nobody's building houses, why do they need the same number of building inspectors, the same number in the planning department, or people in the health department to do watera and sewer tests as we had when there was a building boom going on?
Now Mr. Pollitt and the Sheriff want to put speed cameras a half mile away from schools to catch drivers whether schools are open or not. That seems more like a money grab than about safety for the school children.
They better spend their time figuring out cut spending to fit the money they'll be collecting and to do that they'll have to get by with fewer employees. They ought to quit letting employees take their county cars home at night, too. Most other people have to buy their own gas to get to work. These are little things, but they add up. The big savings will have to come from reducing the workforce.
12:05pm Rick needs to be, as you call it, ripped. How dare he "look for a new revenue stream...it may be new but it's coming out of the same pockets...us the citizens of Wicomico County and we can't afford it. Rick should know better. He has heard it from us during his campaign. Guess he was not listening. Thank goodness we have a council with brains. Hopefully they will save us.
ReplyDeleteLook most of us have known Rick Pollitt since a kid, need I say more. My belief is this job was created just for him Period. We never needed a "county executive" we have enough of them already! Just my 2 cents worth. Wish I lived in the city I might run for council if I did. Maybe I could get that law changed, what do you think. Would I need my birth certificate for that job???? Oh my!!! Long day here at the office.
ReplyDeleteSorry folks you can blame Rickk Pollitt all you want to. This week after reading the Daily Slime I became disgusted with Holloway, Prettyman and Barkovich. Why would they kick the men and women of the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office right in the face.
ReplyDeleteThe three know darn well that the implementing of spped cameras all over the country has worked well. There is no cost to the county at all. It would enhance the law enforcement budget. These men and women are still under furlough. They still do not have a disability package they can live on.
The Sheriff of this county presented this syatem as a way to educate, reduce crime and enhance the budget. It seems to be working in Fruitland. It works in D.C. etc...
Prettyman has just spoken without a clue on two seperate work sessions. There is NO cost except to offenders.
Holloway stated "Yea" we can do this but I would direct the funds to the local fire dept.
Barkovich is just plain against it.
Mike Lewis you now know just how much support your fellow Republicans have for you hard work.
The men and women of the Sheriff's Office now know where the council (certain members) stand on your well being or any oppurtunity to get L.E.O.P.S, or any other comprehesive law enforcement package.
To the three deputies that just left. God Speed and smart move. They DO NOT CARE. Pollitt cares. The Sheriff cares. To the other members of council that have supported this effort thank you. Thank you for keeping your "Word". To the three mentioned above thank for showing your true colors. At the end of the day all we really have is our integrity. Take a hard look in the mirror. I know what I see from where I am sitting.
I hope the F.O.P. in this county places a bill board with the pictures of three council members mentioned. Rading they do not support law enforcemnt. The whole story needs to be told.
These three have done nothing but try to shoot down and undermind something Mike Lewis and Rick Pollit have studied and worked hard to implement. I know that these men would not bring anything into this county that would be detremental to the well being of its citizens.
The hollow agruments for not wanting this system by these three exspose the true reason. Has anyone from the council been to Fruitland to ask that council just how the program is working ?? I know for a fact Mike Lewis and Rick Pollitt have. Folks a source in Fruitland told me they have not heard from council members ?? So just where are they getting the facts from ? They have not. This is biased politics at its worst. At the cost of public safety and enhancing an already depleted public safety budget.
The tickets written carry no points and only those that break the law pay ? Why would anyone with an ounce of common sense attempt to negate this effort ?
I would love to hear from all three. I would love to hear what homework you have done. Not quoting an article from a news paper fives years old that implemented an entirely differant system or " I think it will cost to much to monitor the system" I think !! On what grounds do you think this Joe Holloway. Did you do what you are paid with my tax dollars to do. Educate yourself on the issue ?? I would be careful If I where a new council member that has any aspirations to continue in politics do not grab on these coat tails. Just ask John Cannon what happens when you screw the voters.
Sorry folks you can blame Rick Pollitt all you want to. This week after reading the Daily Slime I became disgusted with Holloway, Prettyman and Barkovich. Why would they kick the men and women of the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office right in the face.
ReplyDeleteThe three know darn well that the implementing of speed cameras all over the country has worked well. There is no cost to the county at all. It would enhance the law enforcement budget. These men and women are still under furlough. They still do not have a disability package they can live on.
The Sheriff of this county presented this syatem as a way to educate, reduce crime and enhance the budget. It seems to be working in Fruitland. It works in D.C. etc... It helps on three important levels.
Prettyman has just spoken without a clue on two seperate work sessions. There is NO cost except to offenders.
Holloway stated "Yea" we can do this but I would direct the funds to the local fire dept.
Barkovich is just plain against it.
Mike Lewis you now know just how much support your fellow Republicans have for your hard work.
The men and women of the Sheriff's Office now know where the council (certain members) stand on your well being or any oppurtunity to get L.E.O.P.S, or any other comprehesive law enforcement package.
To the three deputies that just left. God Speed and smart move. They DO NOT CARE. Pollitt cares. The Sheriff cares. To the other members of council that have supported this effort thank you. Thank you for keeping your "Word". To the three mentioned above thank for showing your true colors. At the end of the day all we really have is our integrity. Take a hard look in the mirror. I know what I see from where I am sitting.
I hope the F.O.P. in this county places a bill board with the pictures of three council members mentioned. Reading they do not support law enforcemnt. The whole story needs to be told.
These three have done nothing but try to shoot down and undermind something Mike Lewis and Rick Pollit have studied and worked hard to implement. I know that these men would not bring anything into this county that would be detremental to the well being of its citizens.
The hollow agruments for not wanting this system by these three exspose the true reason. Has anyone from the council been to Fruitland to ask that council just how the program is working ?? I know for a fact Mike Lewis and Rick Pollitt have. Folks a source in Fruitland told me they have not heard from council members ?? So just where are they getting the facts from ? They have not. This is biased politics at its worst. At the cost of public safety and enhancing an already depleted public safety budget.
The tickets written carry no points and only those that break the law pay ? Why would anyone with an ounce of common sense attempt to negate this effort ?
I would love to hear from all three. I would love to hear what homework you have done. Not quoting an article from a news paper fives years old that implemented an entirely differant system or " I think it will cost to much to monitor the system" I think !! On what grounds do you think this Joe Holloway. Did you do what you are paid with my tax dollars to do. Educate yourself on the issue ??
I would be careful If I where a new council member that has any aspirations to continue in politics. Do not grab on these coat tails. Just ask John Cannon what happens when you screw the voters. Say one thing then do the other. The public is sick of politicians paid with our hard earned dollor doing what they and not what the people want or need.
2:40, they don't have the same number of employees. There were layoffs last year. Some of the areas you mentioned may have a reduction of work due to the economy, but for the most part, there is still just as much, if not more, to do. The question is, what services do the taxpayers want to live without. You can't have lower taxes and keep all the services. There were many positions that were open to be filled prior to the crash, those positions never were filled and have since been eliminated. What is left (for the most part) is an overwhelmed staff with too much to do, and not enough people to do it. Cutting employees (in most departments) really isn't an option. Lets hear what people are willing to live without. Lets start with the schools, we can cut teachers pay like the rest of the county workers have faced, cut out any programs not mandated by law (magnet). Parks: Do we have to have them? There should be plenty of things for kids to do in their own backyards. We used to love beating eachother with sticks when I was a kid and bored'.Emergency Management, I mean, how many Emergency's do we really have. Roads, lets all just go to Walmart and buy the lifetime rotation and balancing, btw, to they sell a lifetime alignment? What the heck, just close it down, we don't depend on roads, right? Sheriffs office: 2 deputies per shift should certainly be adequate to cover the whole county, especially when the criminals will have to walk due to the bad roads. Finance: Close it. Let the people just pay their taxes on the honor system. We can put a bucket outside of the GOB, and just drop your payment in it, cash prefferably. Detention Center: Cut it. Just throw the prisoners in their and let them figure it out. Public Works: No need. I am sure the developers will build infrastructure the honest way. No need for plan reviews and inspectors. Honestly, you can't just say cut. Everyone will have their own ideas of what is important and what is not. The county charter spells out what it is legally obligated to provide, I guess that would be a start.
ReplyDelete4:53/4:59, Dead on comment. People will gripe, but in the end, there is no VALID argument against the cameras. People just believe that it is okay to break the law when it comes to speeding. I hope they put every deputy in the county on radar detail, no warnings, all the points, and watch the money for the tickets go to the State of Maryland so the State can screw the taxpayers of Wicomico County once again. Posturing, that's all it is, posturing. That is how crap doesn't get done.
ReplyDeleteAll taxes should be outlawed.........but I should still get a free Rascal when I'm too fat to walk.
ReplyDelete"O’Malley is now telling the public that he will balance the next state budget with spending cuts"
ReplyDeleteAfter 4 years of not doing this? Why should anyone believe him THIS time?
One would think that the only employees that work for Government are Police and Firefighters. Why is it that nobody ever talks about having to lay off HR, Janitorial, Utility, Administrative, or any of the other gazillions of public sector employee categories?
4:53 & 5:52--Pay attention. Obviously you did not. Caldwell and Matt Holloway also supported not moving this forward. Oh, but wait you both seem to know it all.
ReplyDeleteNOT! I was sitting there during the meeting when this issue came up. I was glad when things were questions about this. The council didn't even have a contract in front of them, according to Matt Holloway. Oh, but you must only blame Prettyman, Joe Holloway, & Barktovich for this. You two must be enemies of them. Get facts right and quit blaming. I want questions asked about issues that will affect our county. Thanks Prettyman, Joe Holloway, & Barktovich. I am glad you are all wise and prudent. And guess what...I don't live in any of their districts so I couldn't even vote for them but I'm glad they represent me.
4:59pm Don't ever kid yourself into thinking Prettyman doesn't have a clue! Oh, but, she does and she has your number with LEOPS. I heard her challenge it at one of the council meetings and she even said she met with Chief Phillips of Fruitland about LEOPS and how Fruitland got it for their staff.
ReplyDeleteKeep thinking she has not clue and we'll see how you fair. My bet is on her.
You can start by getting rid of the pig in Finance that has an issue with Women smarter than him or at least teach him how to talk with a little respect.
ReplyDelete7:01, Are you really that stupid? How can you have a contract when the county doesn't even have legislation to allow for the cameras. The contracts, and approval of them, come later. The weren't voting on a contract, but rather the legislation to allow the cameras. Redspeed just happens to be the example. The county could request proposals from any companies that exist, and then make a decision on the particulars.
ReplyDeleteI don't have anything against any of the council members, the new ones I haven't even had a chance to develop an opinion of. I am speaking on this instance.
8:27pm The mock contract for your info was with muncipalities, not a county. Any yes, before legislation, or any legilsation, should be passed the contract should be intact. In other words, do you sign a lease for an apt. before you agree on the price. Let's get real here, you idoit.
ReplyDeleteOur council representitives are their to represent the will of the people who voted for them. I'm tired of my freedomd being taken away in the name of public safety. I'm tired of new "revenue streams" to pay for things that we ddn't need or couldn't afford in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI don't want the police taking pictures of me everywhere I go in the name of public safety, not because I want to break the law, but because I want my freedom. It starts with civil citations for speeding, even when your not the driver. What is next? Its always something.
Spend only what you can afford. reward hard work and remember that we are great because we are free, freewill to do as WE see fit, not what others see fit for me.
This brings so many issues up that Wicomico needs to fix.
ReplyDeleteI do not like speed cameras, however I would agree with these. They can only be issued at above 12mph, and run in the daytime, they do not cost the county anything at all. I would not agree with any further increase of their use.
LEOPS is something that the deputies have asked for after asking the county the fix a HUGE negative in the disability system. Something that has not come to the forefront until just recently is that Mike Thompson (Head of Wicomico County Human Resources) and he and solely he is responsible for not changing the disability. Thompson has been a huge negative, hard to work with, unreasonable in his dealings with all county employees. Thompson could have asked for this change in the disabilty and still refuses to. Thompson refuses to work the sheriff to improve anything for them.
The county revenues are going down with the property value going down, the revenue cap, the lack of vision to bring jobs and enterprise to this county. So what do we do now, add cameras because the HR director refuses to ask for the change, get collective bargaining to be allowed to ask the county ourselves to change it since he will not.
This county needs to come together and all strive and demand for a new and better county.
So what is the answer, change. Which comes very slow to Wicomico County.
8:55, well you "idoit" (lol), you don't need a contract before you pass legislation. The legislation doesn't bind you to any contract. You don't sign a lease before you agree on a price, but you have to agree that you are going to rent an apartment before you even start looking at apartments or leases. It is called putting the cart before the horse the way you are suggesting. All this legislation was is for the county to have the option to use speed cameras. They have to pass it before they can start the process of what, when, and where. Don't know how else to put it my friend. It's hard to argue with stupid.
ReplyDeleteMardela, blah, blah, blah. Nobody is taking a picture of you. The camera is designed to catch license plates. You are probably videoed more daily from video cameras at stores etc. Maybe you should quit shopping. Your argument is weak. You are no less free than if a $50 per hour cop pulled you over and had you tied up for 15 minutes on the side of the road while he wrote you a higher dollar ticket that included points. You all are a bunch of complainers with no solutions.
Mike Thompson is worthless. He does NOTHING for county employees. He got his job by default. He used to be Shea's assistant, but when the executive form was coming, they sliiiiidddd him on over to director of HR so he wouldn't lose his job. No advertisement or anything. Can you say GOOD OLE BOY? He hasn't accomplished anything that he said he was. His latest screw ups include, mishandling of excess fica taken out of employees checks (a couple of hundred dollars) that HR refused to assist employees in recouping. They just got the money, and this has happened back in July. The new life insurance that employees could purchase, which they did in July, but never heard or received anything until October. (have been paying but still have no contract) Maybe that is an area that the county can start trimming. They don't do anything for the employees anyway.
ReplyDeleteSo 8:05 I gues you are saying Prettyman does not support Leops ? Are you speaking from direct knowledge. Yes The City of Fruitland does have the cameras and yes they can afford L.E.O.P.S. Interesting the county under a council could never afford L.E.O.P.S. what does that say about the Barkovich and Prettyman. It is blatanlty obvios this financial fiasco was in place when Mr. Pollitt took over. Why in the heck did the people vote for his very position to be in place. Lets call a spade a spade here.
ReplyDeleteI am no fan of spped cameras, but if it retains good cops and build revenue who cares. It is a no brainer. They look like idiots fighting this thing to protect speeders. I do not get anything being turned down that fines those that break the law. Do they have a reputation of a heavy foot? What i just do not get it.
I know many of the deputies. They own homes in our community, have children in our school. If Princess Anne and Fruitland as well as Worcester county have why do they not have it. I am speaking of L.E.O.P.S.? We have a great Sheriff that believes in the law of the land trying to help his people if what I am hearing here is in fact true. They want the funding to help get L.E.O.P.S, why would we deny this if the package has been picked up by so many municipalities.
Mike Lewis and Rick Pollitt stand tal your law enforcement desrves better. That I know. I am aware of a deputy that suffered with cancer and when all was said and done he owed the county money. What the hell kind of system are they working under.
Oh I strongly think the new council members followed the old dogs lead here. I voted for Joe Hollway and I am very angry to learn he is not supporting the police in this county. Joe sir you are a liar. You will never have my or my families vote again I can assure you of that. As for the rest do as one poster stated " do your homework on this one". Dont go down a road you can not fix.
Also I know Mike Phillips and he supports the cameras. It got his men and women much needed tools to fight crime as well as L.E.O.P.S. I also think this is nothing more then grand standing by the council because Lewis and Pollitt thought of it. They did not. Is Ms. Hughes the only one on that council with any common sense.
I know I will be at the next council meeting to call these sand baggers out. As a retired officer I am disgusted to read this. I was hoodwinked by Holloway. It will never happen again.
If I am not mistaken the local F.O.P. endorsed these snakes in the grass. Wow talk about back stabbing. F.O.P. put your PAC funds to use and exspose this to the public.
10:17pm......the first ones to start "complaining" are those like you, constantly screaming how you want and need more money....always scheming new ways to run your greedy hands in everyone's pockets but your own. If you crooks spent half that amount of energy and hot air concentrating on how to cut cost....youd have what you need. Like it or not your job requires to do more with less, if you cant do your job get the ell out and find another job NOW.
ReplyDeleteEveryone knows how inaccurate the cameras can be, they'll send out umpteen tickets a day banking on 99% of the time people cannot afford to take off work to fight the ticket....$50. ticket or a days wage, not to mention jeopardizing your employment for taking the day off.
QUIT SPENDING!!
2:47am Amen! I must have misunderstood why the sheriff & pollitt want these speed cameras. I thought it was for the safety of the children. Reading some of the comments above I now get the impression it is all about the revenue so the sheriff can get LEOPS for the department. If that is what it is, then where does the revenue come from to pay for LEOPS when the camera's don't produce it anymore? Ah, maybe our pockets? Hope the council doesn't get blindsided by this scam.
ReplyDeleteAh I see Holloway and Prettyman have chimed in. If you feel so strongly then at least sign your post. LOL
ReplyDeleteWho cares if the Sheriff and Pollitt want to use the revenue for L.E.O.P.S.. Who cares if they use the revenue to buy cars. You idiot what do you think happens to all the fine money from thousands of tickets written by deputies each year. It goes to the state of maryland so the troopers and other state employees benefit from it. Revenue is revenue only this time it stays in the county. It does not go to the state. So Ray Charles can see what you are up to here. Bottom line you are posturing. Three republicans not standing with a republican Sheriff.
Did you grow up under the power lines in Parsonburg Holloway?? Your brain if fried. Stevie have another apple martini and bat your eyes at the boys. I do not think it is quite as effective as it used to be, age catches us all.
Mardela go back to kissing the cousin you married. I think you have spent way to much time in the old barn sniffing paint.
Sheriff Lewis and Rick Pollitt keep pushing. You are fighting a just cause.
Sheree Sample Hughes what can say you got more guts in your little finger then the three stooges do in thier whole body. This women stood alone supporting this effort. Keep doing the right thing. Dont play the game Ms. Hughes.
Caldwell can take that superman man hat and ram it.
Joe i will say this. If you had not set up this blog none of this would be exsposed and they say the come heres dont know what they are doing. lol
2:47, quit speeding. No money out of your pocket, no time off work, problem solved.
ReplyDeleteJoe why dont you look into this issue. I know you and Mike Lewis are pretty tight. Maybe the he can shed some light on the issue no pun intended. I just find this hard to believe that any council member would not want this. Every ticket written by any officer in the state goes to the maryland general fund. How does that help the deputies or our community.
ReplyDeleteFrom where I stand you have some cop haters on your council. I would like to know the "Rest of the story".
If I worked for the county sheriff's office I would get the heck out of there.
Mike Lewis time to take the gloves off.
I don't have a dog in this fight but I have to say attacking the council for asking questions and writing hate things about them as
ReplyDelete1:02pm( who I believe is a deputy with a "dog in this fight") has done isn't the way to get this resolved. Let's believe the council has some concern about the details of the speed cameras. I myself question some aspects of it.
To my knowledge the council hasn't voted this up or down. You all are certainly jumping to conclusions before a vote has been taken. Bad move on your part, I say.
the whole community has dog in this fight.
ReplyDelete