Historically, elected officials like Mayors, didn't receive a salary because they saw the position as a civic duty to their community. Have those times changed or what?
Over the last few weeks, we've heard a lot about Salisbury Mayor Jake Day seeking a $75,000 a year raise from $25,000. Pretty audacious request for a part time, figurehead position, especially since most of his constituents don't make anything close to his proposed salary increase in their full time job.
Clearly, from all the snafus, turmoil and missteps, Day hasn't got a clue about what he's doing but he still insists on seeking to turn his part time, baby-kissing, ribbon-cutting job into a career. Is this how the inflated egos in DC begin? You betcha - because it's power politicians like Day seek - and money only validates that power. However, this power comes at someone's expense, and that someone is you! You're the one working the low-paying jobs to foot the bill for his expensive education in governance.
In truth, the City Administrator, Julia Glanz, is the person who really runs Salisbury - not Jake Day. Taxpayers already pay her in excess of $100,000 per annum so there's really no legitimate need to proffer any raise for the Mayor. Given his disastrous projects like the Main Street endless construction extravaganza, a raise is downright laughable!
Can we put chain-linked fencing and orange cones around the Mayor?
In the corporate world, his bid for a higher salary would be met with laughter and a pink slip based on his performance alone. However, our world consists of a City Council who approves any hair-brained idea that comes forth and considers hiring expensive marketing groups to "re-brand" Salisbury and signing up for multi-million dollar disasters are raise-worthy actions.
The best way to cut the quagmire of bureaucracy in government is to downsize the amount of people generating red tape.
Something to think about, folks!
When you have Police Officers in the City leaving like there's no tomorrow, some paying upwards of $20,000.00 out of their own pockets just to get out of their contracts, this guy wants a raise? The Council and Mayor need their heads examined. Residents of the City should be outraged and ought to know that Liberals always start off at $75,000.00 when their always intended to make it $50,000.00. They want you to think in the end, well, at least it wasn't $75,000.00 and Ladies & Gentlemen, you are the fools if you let this happen.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the article. The Mayor's position is a figure head only. It was Barrie Tilghman, Jim Ireton and now Jake Day who have always tried to garnish more power, just like John Cannon is now attempting to do with the County Executive.
Did John or Jake run on a platform for more power and money, NO! This needs to end immediately.
To the person saying the police should be paid more then $20,000.00, that's not what I said. I said some officers are paying up to $20,000.00 just to get out of their contracts just to leave the SPD. The City makes them sign a 5 or 7 year contract. If they leave before that contract is up they have to pay the City and trust me, quite a few are doing just that. That's how bad your leadership, (Police Chief and Mayor) is/are.
ReplyDeleteThe city administrator also makes to much. If the Mayor wants to make more then make it a full time job and take more responsibility off of Julia Glanz? Down grade her job and put the responsibility on the Mayor. Give that job a raise and lower the scale on the admin job. offset those monies and split the pay. 50,000 is to much for a Mayor in this area. If you look at the average salaries for this area then thats to much. The city admin to. make the city admin 2nd in command to the Mayor and let him take all the responsibility. He wants more money then do the work that is required instead of just doing a ribbon cutting. Want to run the city then do the work that it requires to. Julia can be your secretary. Admin assistant if you will. She makes way to much money. she should only be making about 35.000. If the Mayor wants the 50.000 then he does the work. the two together should only be combined about 80,000 a year. Many will think that to much.
ReplyDeleteSorry Joe i saw that when i went back and re-read it. They do deserve to be making more then they do!
ReplyDeleteI have worked 20 years and make less get out thats what I should have done they like it that you need the job.
DeleteI do not generally disagree with Mr. Crowe. But, when he wrote Day doesn't have a clue about what he is doing, he is dead wrong Day and cohorts know exactly what they are doing. It's a game they play called "Take the peoples money and run"
ReplyDeleteThe swamp
Delete9:30, I agree, somewhat.
ReplyDeleteLet's start with this. What makes you think Jake is qualified to run a multi million dollar business?
Don't you think the voters would think twice before letting someone with NO EXPERIENCE in business run the show.
Why do you think Jake and Council put in people who have NO CLUE, (City Administrator and staff) in those positions in the first place. The want CONTROL and guess what, they have it. If the Charter says one thing, why not have all rubber stampers in all other positions to do what they Mayor, (figure head) wants.
The article is correct, change the form of government, period. OR, take the salary as designed.
Joe, Keep holding their feet to the fire! The people deserve accountability!
ReplyDelete"Can we put chain-linked fencing and orange cones around the Mayor?"
ReplyDeleteAnswer: Only if he has to personally pay the fines for the chain-link fence!
Jake doesn't deserve a raise. I vote for going back to the serving for free civic duty idea. In either case, he isn't qualified to be mayor and he's doing a bad job at it now.
ReplyDeleteThis the work of the "Good Ole Boys" getting what they want for nothing / stealing property from the tax payer by paying basically nothing and getting contracts from the City and not having the lowest bid. So they are trying to keep their puppet in office. I would like a forensic audit of the City and also find out the Mayors kick back in these criminal transactions. If I lived in Salisbury I would run against this idiot and win.
ReplyDeleteDon’t ya just love ❤️ the articles that bring out all the triggers? Well done, Thornton.
ReplyDelete1043 why don't you call the Attorney General and request them do a forensic audit on the city. You'll have to explain why you want it but worth the time for a phone call.
ReplyDeleteLook at Wayne Strawberry's salary for what he does. Outrageous. Worth 80 -90k maximum
ReplyDeleteWho voted him in if so many dislike him? Joe, maybe we will vote you in next term...are you ready willing and able? 😃
ReplyDeleteI agree with Joe. This $75K figure is a trick so when they settle for a lower amount, you'll think Jack Heath did something for the city which will cause you to think he'll do good for the county.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about how much money downtown businesses in the construction areas have lost since it began. No one in our media bothers to get stories like that. Can someone at SbyNews do it?
ReplyDelete300%? That's hilarious. Jake ain't worth a plug nickel. I challenge anyone to tell me one good thing he's done for Salisbury. Just one!
ReplyDeleteIsn't the County already like this -- Culver's staff gets on the order of $250,000, possibly more with the cost of benefits, and his salary could be increased during the next term.
ReplyDelete"Anonymous Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteIsn't the County already like this -- Culver's staff gets on the order of $250,000, possibly more with the cost of benefits, and his salary could be increased during the next term.
November 12, 2017 at 12:40 PM"
If the county was jumping off the bridge should the city follow suit? Your comment makes no sense. Plus Culver works full-time not part-time. and is responsible for a hell of a lot more than Day. He has to watch over the county AND Salisbury all the same time. Quite a task considering the F-up the mayor is.
Now that Day has his independence from Wicomico, he'll have plenty of reasons to bilk the taxpayers because you'll have to have city counterparts for all the county people who used to do the job for both city and county. See what happens when you let a toddler play with your cellphone, pin number and bank account?
ReplyDeleteNo one voted for this 12:50pm. He did this on his own. That's not a democracy, that's a dictatorship. Since when did Salisbury elite feel their will circumvented the Constitution?
ReplyDeleteCrowe, I disagree with you on one point. Day hasn't learned a GD thing in the last two years so there's no learning curve. He's just a wild man looking to cash in with his rubber stamping council.
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens when people run unopposed. Someone from Salisbury should man or woman-up and challenge Day. Chances are they would win.
ReplyDeleteDay, Tilghman, Ireton and Cannon are making every attempt to hijack our forms of government here. They have done everything they can to subvert voters' collective will and impose their own. Isn't that clear to the readers on this blog?
ReplyDeleteThis is a festering pimple about to burst. Lots of underhanded and double dealing sh-- is going on here and its about to get blow way open. The festival and this raise are just the catalyst to reveal more of the deceptions going on.
ReplyDeleteDon’t forget Jake and the Jakettes are working on an illegal budget. Remember? The budget passed on the charter before last.
ReplyDelete444 forgot about that one too. The budget was passed on the charter from the previous year and not the new one. Wow. These cats just keep doing everything they can to get busted for some crime. It's like a Three Stooges clip.
ReplyDeleteYo peep it is not like Joe hasn't been telling ya'll this for a long time. He's been straight up about your Boy Mayor but ya'll didn't listen. Proof in the sauce and da bury's mayor's got some nasty sauce.
ReplyDeleteHow come no brothers run for mayor? Ain't it about time we go ourselves a black mayor?
ReplyDeleteBeta males are ruining the world
ReplyDelete4:44, Please don't forget that Jack Heath is the Council President and us running the City Council on that illegal budget. And this guy wants to run for County Executive!
ReplyDeletewho is "us" running City Council on illegal budget?
Delete6:25, I meant to type IS, not us.
ReplyDeletePlease don't forget that Jack Heath is the Council President and us running the City Council on that illegal budget. And this guy wants to run for County Executive!
ReplyDeleteNovember 12, 2017 at 6:20 PM
Joe, You made a very good point and people need to be reminded of this come time of the elections next year.
Like him or hate him, Culver is the only thing that stands between the Good Ole boys running over you unfettered or working towards getting out from under this Salisbury elitist BS.
ReplyDeleteA lot of posters here are jacked about Day but he runs unopposed. Maybe it would behoove you all to find some contenders and give the boy mayor a run for his money. He has a stack of failures a mile long after only two years, should be easy to unseat him.
ReplyDelete6:04 has a point.
ReplyDeleteGOB is chock full of estrogen dominant beta males.
Where does he get off thinking that what he does is worth 100,000 a year. What he does isn't worth the 25K he's getting. Does he have another job? I pity his employer...oh, that's right, it's his dad. See what you get when you spoil your kids.
ReplyDeleteThere sure are a bunch of people on here that complain but never do anything like vote or run for office. Bornheres alway think they know more than everyone else.
ReplyDeletePresident Trump vs. Mayor Chump
ReplyDeleteAnd, more filler.
ReplyDelete