Hello
Joe, I've seen some interesting happenings going on around our county
government. So I would like to put out how I perceive them and then ask our
citizens how they perceive them. I've often heard the word "transparency" used
in relation to our county government. One definition says that you can see
clearly through something without distortion. I like to view transparency as
free from pretense or deception. Let's look at something put out at one of our
recent County Council meetings. I believe our County Administrator was making a
point to the Council that something should be done with the Revenue Cap and
referenced The Sage Group Report. Now for those of you who have not read this
report I suggest you take the time to read it. It's on line under Wicomico
County Government Financial. At this time I would like to thank Mr. Strausburg
for inviting me to this forum as it gives me first hand account as to what went
on, at least in my group. Most of our county government personnel like to keep
a distance between themselves and VOICE members but I have to give it to Mr.
Strausburg because I was invited. First of all I would like to give you my
perception of the Sage Report. If you are in County Government and want to do
something the best thing to do is to pay for a report that will support what you
are trying to do. Thus The Sage Report. Paid for by our County Executive to say
what he's been wanting to do for years and that is to get rid of the Revenue
Cap. Now as you read through this report I want you to take notice that you
don't see any suggestions that weren't already put out at some time in one of
many meeting attended by our citizens. But what the County Executive can now say
is "it was recommended by The Sage Group". That's the reason for the thirty
thousand dollars paid for out of our taxpayers pockets. This I call "deception".
I also want you to note that there is no mention of the names of who attended
these meetings and what comments they said. For some reason the County Executive
appears to not want the citizens to know who attended these sessions and what
they said. Didn't he run on what's that word? Oh yeah, "Transparency". Well
let's be transparent about it Mr. County Executive, who were the people in this
group and what was their input? Perhaps taxpayers would like to know about
suggestions of speed cameras and how they could bring in more revenue. Or
perhaps they could hear from the businessman who said that businesses didn't
support the Revenue Cap because of the negative aspects on the Board of
Education. Yeah, let's hear his name and what business he owns. Here's a point
that came up often in the report and guess where you hear it from all the time?
"The County Can Not Cut Any Spending ". Ever hear that from our County
Administration side of government or the BOE? Almost at every meeting. But how
would any citizen know about what could be cut and what can't be cut? The
citizens are purposely kept in the dark. Just look back a week ago when our
County Executive tried to keep top salaries hidden from the people. After seeing
them I don't blame him because I feel he owes the citizens a good reason for
what he tried to do. For years I have stood in front of our County Council and
ask that a full copy of the BOE and County Budget be put in the Library and
County Office Building for the citizens to review. You know the budget I'm
talking about. Not the 8-10 pages given out at meetings but the four inch copies
used by the County Council. Does anyone know if that's been done yet? I truly
haven't had the chance to check this out. A member of one group stated that he
can see the money going into the BOE but just can't see where it is being spent!
He wasn't in my group and if I knew his name I would shake his hand for pointing
out what just about every citizen knows and the County Government won't do
anything about it. What's that word again? Oh yeah, Transparency". Another idea
that this report keeps putting out is "the citizens didn't really understand
what they were signing when the Revenue Cap was put up for the Citizens to vote
on. How many times have we heard this at numerous meetings by the same people? I
think that the County Executive believes that if he keeps having this put out
(and remember, this is in The Sage Report) he believes people will believe it.
So here's what I would like to see.I would like people to read the Sage Report
and see if perhaps the County Executive's office is now using it to justify
their means. I would also like to see the names of the people who made up the
groups for the Sage Report and have them comment on their inputs. Put your name
on it if you believe in what you said. Don't hide behind "Anonymous"
John
Palmer, President VOICE,Inc.
