“DUVAFILES” REDUX

In memory of the late William G. (“Bill”) Duvall, here is one of his more memorable laments on the sorry state of things in “Transchoptankia”.

If you have any of his posts, please submit for consideration (only, the better ones, please). His annual “Turkey of the Year” posts are especially desired.

JULY 28, 2004

FIREHOUSE FOLLIES: CHAPTER IV

Monday night was an historic occasion for Transchoptankia. For the first time in living memory, the advanced level of buffoonery came from the public protesters, rather than the governmental unit.

I refer of course to the efforts of the Firehouse No. 2 volunteers to force the City of Salisbury to cede control of fire and rescue operations to the likes of Harold "The Blade" Scott, John Bartkovich and Norman Conway.

The standard joke downtown is that The Blade is not physically fit to crush out a burning cigarette. Persons speculate as to the date when Conway last contributed anything positive to a fire suppression exercise. The same people speculate as to whether Bartkovitch ever made such a contribution.

These folks are, to put it as delicately as possible, over the hill. Financed by the County, they have launched a stream of lawsuits that have no discernible possibility of producing a result which will promote the public welfare. The Station No. 2 volunteer leadership wants to operate as a fifth column, ungovernable and uncontrollable.

For years, going all the way back to the presidential election of 1800, the volunteer fire companies have exerted an inordinate level of influence over local Maryland politics. As a consequence, they developed their own little fiefdoms. Other volunteer organizations have found it relatively painless to integrate their operations with an overall non volunteer chief.

Station No. 2 is the exception, rather than the rule. Sadly, the County government seems hellbent on encouraging what the politically correct would characterize as their disruptive behavior. Efforts to negotiate a settlement of the City-County dispute flounder because General Mumbles is unwilling or unable to move beyond the Firehouse No. 2 talking points memo. The Poodle declines to become involved. The quality of fire services to the county area northeast of the City will inevitably deteriorate, causing homeowners and business fire insurance premiums to escalate.

Similarly, the County residents living in that area, as well as the Fruitland - Allen communities, will see the quality and general availability of sophisticated ambulance services vanish. These considerations appear to be secondary to the political imperatives of providing playpens for old men with political connections in both parties.

WGD

What do you think?

“The Poodle,” we understand is then County Councilman Charles (“Chip”) Dashiell. “General Mumbles” is then County Council President Anthony Sarbanes. The second part of his codename has been attributed to Stevie Prettyman, but we can’t confirm that. What say you, Stevie?

New Posts to fall below.