Last week, we reported on all the contention over the County budget, yet another budget snuck under the radar without much to do until now. Salisbury News has learned, the City's budget is in far worse shape in spite of being passed before their deadline.
Being this is Julia Glanz's first official budget in her new capacity as our City Administrator, one would think she would've taken extra care to check for accuracy, proving her competency; however, this is not the case. The new budget was passed without being in accordance to the new Charter.
Is this incompetence or deliberate?
At this point, we don't know... but as per the new Charter, the budget must be balance in order to pass. And yes, while a balanced budget was passed, it was done illegally because it was under the old Charter based on 12 departments. There's just one problem...
Simply put, the entire budget is null and void. Hence, before anyone hangs their pictures on their new office walls, this issue should be rectified for anyone's new position to be legally recognized (or paid)! Given that Day is supposedly out of town for the rest of June, there's no one here at base camp to remedy this debacle. Guess it wasn't such a brilliant idea to remove of all those seasoned staffers to make room for the millennial brigade!
Don't forget, Glanz was not a lone agent...
This snafu can't pinned on Glanz alone as she has Day's whole administration and others to help with budget creation. For one, where was the City Council when they engaged in budget work sessions? Didn't they notice the difference between the old versus the new Charter? Did they miss the difference in the department count? Surely they knew about the department reduction or is Jake Day downsizing without their knowledge or consent? Were they asleep at the wheel or did they simply ignore Glanz and Day's negligence for the sake of passing any budget by their deadline?
It's a shame the City Hall crew just can't seem to lock down this government thing. These mishaps are literally and figuratively overtaxing to a city already grappling with rising crime, sinking property values, lack of job opportunities, infrastructural breakdown and a host of other issues.
There's been so many strikes, have you lost count yet?
Now, I ask you, my fellow Salisburians, what's the point of having a Charter if no one adheres to it? Is it a meaningless document? If the City's Charter is meant to be a legal guideline, governing how budgets are to be created among other functions, why is Glanz and Day passing anything using an obsolete version?
I'm just a man asking questions...
On a more upbeat note, to all the fathers out there, Happy Father's Day!
55 comments:
Well that ought to upset half a dozen or so Salisburians this morning - the rest don't give a rat's-a$$ - - You and Joe inform us in your opinion of all that is wrong - but nothing changes. It is what it is and might not be what it seems.
Hang em high !! Time for a conservative revolt !
Why is everyone in city government always asleep at the wheel? Geez, it just gets more ridiculous by the minute, hour and day. Can anyone in city government do anything right? I'm thinking NOT!!
$178,000 for the Lemmon Hill Standpipe? What's the plan there? Renovation or demolition?
FOUR MILLION DOLLARS DEBT SERVICE ON THE WWTP???????
How much did they borrow now?
It's too important to be a simple incompetent overlook/accident. Seems they just feel they can do what ever they want despite rules, regulations, charters or even moral and ethical standards. Clearly they could care-less about the charter and have bigger schemes in the plans. They need to be removed from office before they cause much more destruction and damage. Isnt there anyone in this town that will investigate and indite these law breakers?
Can you find anything liberal governed that works ? Except planned parenthood which is the systematic euthanasia of blacks.
727 would you rather not know about anything going on? Stay stupid. Not have a clue how much you're being taken for a ride. If you want changes, make them happen!
I find it hard to believe this is a mistake because they should know the rules by now about these charter things. It is not like Jake Day just started. He did last year's budget to and Julia Glanz has been there since Jim Ireton was mayor. It sounds like something is up with this.
Every time I see this man or boy my heart sinks knowing that the army has sunk to this level. My Lt. and patrol leader was a West-Point grad. 1966 he was approx. 150lbs of man and no fear . This guy Day wouldn't make a pimple on the ass of any enlisted man private , NCO or Officer. Are you guys sure he was in the service? If so , we as a country are in deep $hit.
Since when did news become opinion 727? It either is or isn't there's really no opinion to it. Go back to the sand hole.
855 the only way to calmly remove people from city government is vote them out which means you people have to find a competent candidate to run against Jake in the next election. If he keeps running unopposed you keep getting the same incompetence or deal brokering that leads to things like this happening with frequency. You let Ireton step down by putting up with him for two terms. Is this what's going to happen now?
Agreed! These jokers are supposed to lookout for our tax dollars.
It's a fool's paradise. People running around doing whatever with no checks and balances. Where was the council and why didn't they step in to stop this before now? They are suppose to be doing their jobs so why aren't they? Sounds to me like a lot of people taking advantage of this situation. There seems to be a lot of guilt to go around.
I hear all these Salisburians asking "isn't there somebody better to run for office?" Hey people take a good look who is and has been mayor then ask yourself 'how could I do any worse?" Then run for office of mayor. Quit waiting for that "knight in shining armor " to appear because he is not coming to your rescue. You are going to have to save yourselves!
Amen
I feel bad for Julia because it looks like Jake is making her the scapegoat. It was probably all his idea to not go by the new charter. Glad this post did point out she is not alone. If anything we should cut her some slack because she's new to her position.
Where is Tilghman in all this? He is the city attorney. Didn't he see this was illegal? What kind of lawyer would allow this to go through without checking to make sure everything was legal?
10:38, good point!
Isn't this a violation for the Ethics Commission to investigate? Ch. 2.04 of the 6/7/2017 charter is online and there is a whole list of crap they are supposed to follow in this ethics section that is not being followed. Isn't this grounds for immediate dismissal or suspension pending investigations?
David that's a great answer. It's a hard question because many of the competent people live in the county because within the city limits most neighborhoods are a disaster. Who would want to live in them anymore. When I was a kid the Camden Avenue area was pretty nice but now all the nice areas within the limits is owned by SU and most nicer houses along College (west of 13) are rentals or college professors. Finding a competent person willing to take on this mess is a challenge but it can be done.
Since the Budget is an illegal budget, this means at the end of the present fiscal year budget and no legal budget no City worker, City bills and other debts do not get paid. No bills, debt, salary and benefits for past and present employees are frozen on that day. No City checks are allowed to be written or honored, since there is no proof of available money. The City could be bankrupt for all we know. A Citizen resident should be filing legal action to freeze all City monies until a legal budget is passed. The City lawyer should be fired for being incompetent. Mayor should be removed / impeached for incompetency and dereliction of duty as Mayor.
I disagree with you. It appears City Officials must be doing something right or City residents would have voted them out of office.
When I arrived in Salisbury in 1960 as a young bride, not old enough to vote, Mr. Boyd McLernon was Mayor. Frank Morris was the first Mayor I voted for, I think about 1962. Not sure if my memory serves me correctly but believe Dallas Truitt was next, followed by Elmer Ruark, Paul Martin, Barrie Tilghman, Jim Ireton and at present , Jake Day. I have voted in every City election since 1962 but did not cast my vote for the last three sitting Mayor.
Times have changed. My vote has been in the minority since about 1998, Majority wins and that means the majority are happy with City Officials or they wouldn't have voted for them. Of course Jake had no competition and was an automatic. That speaks volumes for the will of the people = get on a blog and be so concerned but not enough to create change.
All complaints and no one stepping up to the plate. Day ran unopposed. It is your fault he is the mayor.
1103 the problem is when people do run for office around here and they're not a part of our local swamp, they get harassed relentlessly, even by the opposition. Crank calls, smear pieces in the media on fake garbage. The whole ball of camel dung because the Old boy network want to keep their power base in tact. It's not as simple as putting your name in a hat, there's a lot of politics in local politics which is unnecessary considering its a local race. Who wants to put up with having untrue smears on yourself or worse, your family just because you might win a local election? We all know the fire department in a couple districts rigged the second Ireton election because he didn't do a good job in his first term and didn't even campaign for the election. Joe worked his butt off and the votes didn't add up in the end. Should have been disputed but after being constantly harassed it's no wonder Joe decided to just move on instead of fight it. Corruption isn't reserved for large cities, small towns are just as guilty and probably worse!
Retiree, are you ready to lead the charge? I'll sign on as a plaintiff. Question is who will take the case legal wise? Do you have a lawyer in mind?
I read what Joe and Thornton say is happening, but going on 80 I am choosing to not fight City Hall. There are younger folks who could do that if they are really concerned. I haven't seen any evidence of voters going face to face with Jake and company demanding answers. I haven't seen evidence of the two who say this, this and this, on their blog about all the broken rules, laws or "snuck in budgets, confronting Jake and Council. Change might come when the accusations on a blog are proven to be facts.
1125 you can check it for yourself. Look at the charter. It's online. I've been reading and this doesn't have accusations. What is reported is true. Glanz admitted the budget was done by the last charter but the numbers don't jive with what the mayor did by consolidating.
There was a video a couple weeks back where the landlords were ticked about Jake raising taxes on them. Wasn't that where Julia admitted they passed the budget on the old charter?
Joe don't live in Wicomico or Salisbury. He doesn't have any skin in the game. Reporting this offers him nothing but giving you information. If you can't hang with it, don't read it.
Trump won in Salisbury last election and we have a Republican governor. Isn't it time we cared about the local government as much as we care about the federal and state?
Good point 1140.
I agree with Crowe, it's not all Glanz's fault. There's plenty of blame to go around that should end on Day and Tilghman. They're the ones who are ultimately responsible for this mess. She works under the Mayor and he should take ownership of the blame here.
11:03, thank you for your comment. I think, (unfortunately) you are absolutely correct. Times have changed. I believe a lot of the lack of participation was pre planned by the liberal party, allow me to explain.
It started with Mike Dunn and Barrie Tilghman. They publicly attacked and bullied anyone and everyone who dared challenge them. Out of nowhere they created this code and compliance department that seemed to go after those very people who dared challenge them.
Salisbury residents have been bullied for far too long and it continued with Ireton. It seems today these leaders have no accountability. Yes, residents can vote them out, BUT CAN THEY REALLY? Many would agree, when I ran for Mayor, I won. Funny how the results showed the complete opposite. Ireton never campaigned and seems extremely confident he would remain Mayor. He even went so far as to make public statements that would absolutely turn off any voter, as if he wanted to flat out lose. Were my voted changed to Ireton instead, only God has that answer.
Then Jake Day comes along, Ireton walks away from running and no one else stepped up to the plate. I'd firmly state right here and now, Salisbury is like a third world country when it comes to elections and crooked politics/elections.
So yes, people have given up and frankly IF someone were to legitimately step up and try to fix things, well, they'll make sure there's a liberal council who will refuse to let any conservative Mayor make any changes. It's a lose/lose situation and even I knew that when I ran. However, IF I had become Mayor I would've at least expose who they are and what they were trying to do.
The Good Ol' Boys, (all of you know who they are) control Salisbury and your best bet is to get the hell out of there.
for 25,000 a year you are not going to get someone that can do a good job unless they are a charity worker. I make over 100 k and I would not want that job for 100k/year.
12:33, You are somewhat correct. However, there are still some people out there like me who don't need the income and would enjoy taking their past experiences, (before retiring) and using it to the advantage of the City. No more inexperienced boy mayors. In fact, you might even say that Salisbury's true Mayor right now is Jim Perdue and Jake Day's Father. Don't think for a second Jake has any clue what he's doing.
Joe, I was just thinking the same thing. Jake isn't smart enough to tie his shoes without his daddy giving him the go-ahead. Your last sentence is spot on.
12.33 I don't need the money either and I make a lot more than 100k however to many jobs like city and county council to fill and low pay is not going to get you qualified people. You have people making million dollar decisions who can't manage themselves. Remember Rusty our county past president?
You're correct. Talk about a shadow administration. Daddy calls all the shots.
Jake at 33 is still owned by his father? Sounds about right.
Anyone come up with a lawyer who would take such a case or could file it on behalf of himself as a resident?
Can someone explain how the city went from 12 departments to 5? Who lost their jobs in order to bring in this millennial brigade?
What are the 5 departments? Who do they answer two?
Ok lets have some discussion of who answers to who in light of the 2 new Deputy City Administrators and who answers to who?
Chain of Command and Span of Control
Elements of Organizational Structure include all of the following:
· Chain of Command - Answers the question of “who reports to whom?” and signifies formal authority relationships.
· Span Of Control – Represents how many employees each manager in the organization has responsibility for.
The general rule for span of control is one supervisor to five to seven subordinates.
Since there are now only 5 departments with 5 department heads who do they answer to??
The span of control is 5 to 7 per supervisor so in practical terms there are 2 Deputy City Administrator overseeing 2 1/2 department heads?? Where the Hell is the logic and justification to hiring 2 Deputy City Administrators?? One Deputy Administrator should easily supervise 7 department heads and there are only 5. What is going on in Salisbury??
Off-topic, again, but is there any way you could include a button, space, something for us to send you messages about, or links to stories, tips, things of that nature to you besides using email?
Or maybe you have too many now? I don't know how you run your office or what it entails.
Unknown, People mainly send us things through my e-mail. You can always send in a link under anonymous, which we will not publish. We're always interested in what you and others are interested in.
438 and 453 Great questions. I'd like to know, too. Where are all these people, who was let go, why and what people were brought in to fill the gap left. Makes a lot of sense and we should all be asking these questions instead of some who make sarcastic comments and remarks. Thanks. Hope Joe and Thornton can find out some answers. Will be nice to see what they find out. It should be a matter of public record and the city can't hide this information from the public. They need to answer for all this nonsense.
If they roll into the next fiscal year which is supposed to be July 1, does this mean they'll have to close down city government altogether because they don't have money to pay salaries or services which includes SPD? Will there be no services at all? People need to know so they can be prepared if this is the case. They should shut it all down. Day should be removed and the city attorney should be fired.
I just went through the budget and it's apparent it was based on 12 departments. There is nothing in there about two deputy city administrators only one. Wish we could post pictures here because I could post images of this information. There's been a lot of stuff added that wasn't in there from before. Lots of extraneous stuff. City Administrator is a 18 pay grade? The one deputy is a 15 pay grade. Unbelievable. Looking at this budget makes me sick.
We're not not getting our money's worth that's for damn sure. Can we recall this idiot & all his buddies?
Anonymous said...
Well that ought to upset half a dozen or so Salisburians this morning - the rest don't give a rat's-a$$ - - You and Joe inform us in your opinion of all that is wrong - but nothing changes. It is what it is and might not be what it seems.
June 18, 2017 at 7:27 AM
That's more than likely because there are only about that many real owner occupied home owners in Salisbury who care about the place they live. Unfortunately we are stuck because our property values plummeted so badly that we can't afford upgrade to a nicer neighborhood. That breaks my heart because my kids don't have any friends in this crime ridden city.
Anonymous said...
Hang em high !! Time for a conservative revolt !
June 18, 2017 at 7:52 AM
Unfortunately the conservatives are lazy and they don't have the balls to stand up for our quality of life. Look what they are doing to our President Trump.
The way things are going the Democrats will clean house in 2018 and 2020. Lazy ass establishment morons.
Look what we have locally. Julie Brewington, Mark Mcgyver, Carl Anderton, Bunky Luffman, Michelle Bradley, Shawn Bradley, Shawn Jester, Nathaniel Sansom, Jackie Welfonder and Ellen Florio Bethel etc. All friends of Jake Day, Manure Bota, Julia Glanz, etc.
Heck you have Mary Beth Carozza with her nose so far up Jake Day's butt that she needs a snorkel to breathe. Ellen Florio Bethel is supposed to be president of some Wicomico Womens Club and she also needs a snorkel to breathe. She has Jake Day speak at many of their events and I can assure you I don't trust any one of these people and they can't be trusted.
Then you have other elected officials like John Cannon, Matt Holloway and Marc Kilmer that are far from conservative. Cannon and Holloway are RINO's and Kilmer is a Libertarian. The problem with Libertarian is that LIBERal and LIBERtarian are pretty much identical.
I've been at a couple of events lately where the local members of the General Assembly have spoken and Jim Mathias seems more honest and trustworthy that some of our members of the Republican Party. Have you ever heard Carl Anderton, Jr. speak at any of these events? He clearly has no clue what to say so he cracks little jokes, stupid jokes at that. He starts off saying something stupid like "Hey, how was that bacon you just ate? Yeah lets give that bacon a big hand." I kid you not, he always starts off talking about the food you just ate because he doesn't know what he is doing and what to say. He is so clueless that he mentions something like "I'm not going to repeat everything everyone else said so I will give my time to Charles Otto" or someone else. He is good at passing the book in order to save face. He always tries to act cool like he is some wannabe ghetto white boy. You can tell he has lived in Somerset County. As old as he is trying to act cool and cracking stupid ghetto type jokes. THAT is what represents us in Annapolis?? Sad! Charles Otto, Chris Adams and Charles Otto represent us the best. Adams and Otto are always short on words, but they seem honest and sincere. And Manure Bota, don't even get me started on that Libertarian/Fake Republican.
I can't even understand why and how someone like Mine Dunn is relevant in Salisbury politics. The guy is an absolute flamer. Some of the "extra curricular" activities right out of the Ireton guide of what not to do.
727am 6/19 you're right there. The landlord class has run rough over citizens in Sosibeuy for way too long. When does it change? Aren't other people getting fed up with this amateur hour? 💁🏻♂️💁🏻♂️
What someone's personal life denotes is not the concern, 720am 6/19 but it's clear Dunn isn't a in local government for anything more than protecting his own interests. He's like a fireman who starts fires in order to put them out. Perfect example is 4th of July fireworks. He shut them down then resurrected them some time later acting like he's a hero. That he's in it for the little people. Dunn is just another corrupt local yocal who couldn't make it anywhere else but Salisbury. 💁🏻♂️💁🏻
Joe,
Your 12:31 does not include the entire cast -- what about Bubba Comegys, who together with Dunn threw BS at Campbell and Cohen, and then there's Mitchell and Cathcart, and do you recall Jack Powell. And even earlier, Robin Cockey and Tim Sakemiller. It's been downhill slippery slope in Da Bury for at least 25 years now.
The Council, under Bob Cannon and Palmer Gillis, tried to move to the city manager form of government, but Barrie and friends blocked that.
Of course they didn't bother to get the new second admin position and/or budget approved through the proper channels... Just as they didn't hire the deputy admins through the proper channels either. Day no doubt created the job with the specific intention to hand it to his buddy/campaign manager Pulcher. This was a done deal LONG ago, folks. Why else would she plan to stay behind when her husband received his active duty transfer?? Her lease on her apartment was up, her sby housing job contract was up, she was due as scheduled to relocate with her beloved military but.... No..... She decided to stay behind "just in case"???? If you believe that, I also have a bridge you can buy for real cheap.
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