LouiseSmith’s Salisbury Sunshine Band

August 20, 2007 by Amicus  
Filed under Maryland, Salisbury Politics

… with Bubba on tambourine and Shanie on castanet

The scheduling of a closed meeting of the Salisbury City Council — to be held to consult with legal council and then immediately followed by a special (open) meeting to terminate a contract — clearly signals a return to the modus operandi of the former City Council majority (“Dream Team”), when much occurred behind closed doors at the behest of Barrie Tilghman. Having watched for several months since then as Louise Smith has disregarded other campaign promises, we don’t expect that about open (“transparent”)
government to be the one she will keep.

Apparently sometime on Friday (Aug, 17) a notice appeared on the “home page” of the City’s Internet website announcing that “a majority of the of the City Council have called for a Special Meeting to be held August 20, 2007 at 4:30 p.m.”. But for the intervening weekend, that notice would be less than 48 hours before the meeting. Given its “special” status, this short notice should have provided a detailed agenda, but the only information stated is that it will be held “immediately following the Council’s Closed Session (scheduled
for 4:30 p.m.) to take action on the termination of a contract.” The parties to the contract (presumably the City is one) are not identified, and neither the nature nor subject of the contract is mentioned in the notice.

Nor is there any discussion or notice of the “Closed Session” on the home page of the City’s website, where it would be appropriate to post such notice. But, buried elsewhere on the website is a link to the agenda for the Council’s work session on August 20, which under the heading “CLOSED SESSION – 4:30 p.m.” states: “Consult with counsel on a legal matter/potential litigation as permitted under the Annotated Code of Maryland Sections 10-508(a)(7)(8)”.

Again, no details are given – such as the particular “legal matter” or the party who has threatened “potential litigation”, which presumably raises or involves that “legal matter”. It’s possible if not likely that core subject of the legal consultation during the closed session will be the “contract” to be “terminated” in the special meeting to be held immediately
afterwards. However, that’s conjecture at best.

But, the emerging scenario strongly suggests that the Council’s “majority”, who (according to the notice) have scheduled the meeting “to take action on the termination of a contract,” have already reached a decision on that matter – i.e., that this is another “Dunn deal” to use a term that became common during the past few years in regard to the Salisbury City Council. To be sure, the new majority can claim that the current Council has
held fewer closed meetings that the former one, and that the Open Meetings (“sunshine”) law allows closed sessions to discuss legal matters and lawsuits.

But what about that campaign promise by Louise Smith that she would see that the public always would be fully informed. Has it been put in the dust bin along with the other ones that were her mantra earlier this year?

Editor’s Note – Salisbury Council President Louise Smith will no doubt believe that she is being treated “unfairly”. She wanted the power of the council presidency enough to (by her own admission) back out on her word. She is now reaping the rewards of power. Ms. Smith, whether she likes it or not, is responsible for every item on the council’s agenda and for every nickel spent by the city of Salisbury.

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