Would The National Folk Festival In Salisbury Be illegal?

Were you taken by surprise several months ago when Jake Day announced that the City has agreed with the group that sponsors the National Folk Festival to hold the event in Salisbury for three consecutive years, 2018-2020? If so, you’re not alone, because it seems there was no prior public discussion about the City submitting an application, nor any consideration by the City Council, much less a decision by the Jakettes to approve that undertaking.

Two things are emerging about the City’s involvement in this prospective fiasco.

It may not be legal for the City to allow for the use of City property or provide funding, unless the City Council approves whatever commitment Day has made on behalf of the City. No doubt he has kept the Jakettes informed by private discussion, and maybe they have consented to the commitment without any public notice or meeting, which could also be unlawful.

Just as important, this scenario shows how public business is conducted in Salisbury – with as little public knowledge and input as possible – under the current Mayor and Council. Shortly after Day’s announcement that it’s a done deal, the budget was amended with almost no advanced notice to approve using money that had been appropriated in the current budget for the police and fire departments to pay a “manager” for the festival. We can look forward to more of these quickie maneuvers to pay costs of this event unless it is derailed.

It may not be too late to convince the group that sponsors the National Folk Festival to revoke its agreement with Salisbury to hold the event here, if enough persons contact that group. Here’s how to do that:

National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA)
8757 Georgia Ave, Suite 450
Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA
Phone: 301-565-0654
Fax: 301-565-0472
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern, M-F
General inquiries: info@ncta-usa.org

And all County residents, not just those in Salisbury, can contact the County Executive and members of the County Council to urge that they advise that group now, rather than later, that County facilities and funds will not be available for the festival, and that County personnel will not be provided for related services. And you can urge Sheriff Lewis to send a similar message regarding his office and deputies, except for emergency services.

Because attendance at the event would certainly overwhelm the City’s fire and EMS personnel, volunteer stations throughout the county would be wise to also inform the group mentioned above that they may be unable to provide those services without jeopardizing residents of the areas that they serve.