Conflict and Cover-up?
Eight days after being reported in the “Salisbury News“, the “Tilghman Times” finally got around to reporting that K. Hovnanian wants to pull out its contract to be the primary home builder in the old Salisbury Mall project. In the middle of the article you will find mention that Hovnanian’s local counsel just happens to be a partner of Salisbury City Attorney Paul Wilber.
It should be noted that Salisbury Councilwoman Debbie Campbell asked for the council to discuss this apparent (if not obvious) conflict of interest at their Monday meeting. Needless to say, the Barrie Tilghman rubber stamp of Louise Smith, Gary Comegys and Shanie Shields would have none of that. Despite the fact that Mr. Wilber has acted as the de-facto counsel for the old mall developers, Salisbury Mall Associates, in their failed attempt to defend the legality of their first re-zoning there seems to be no need to discuss this matter.
There is also the question as whether Mr. Cornbrooks, Mr. Wilber’s partner, will provide full representation to Hovnanian. When the original re-zoning was brought before counsel Mr. Wilber assured council and the public that he had thoroughly researched this matter and there was no question that the zoning was legal. Of course a small cadre of homemakers and retirees were somehow able to convince a judge otherwise. You would think that such a fact would part of Hovnanian’s case since SMA evidently used Mr. Wilber’s expert opinion rather that retaining more competent counsel.
Additionally, don’t be surprised if Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman winds up putting additional city tax dollars to work in coming to the aid of SMA.
Technorati Tags: Salisbury, politics, salisburypolitics, BarrieTilghman, PaulWilber, LouiseSmith, GaryComegys
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From a legal standpoint is there any chance of Wilbur facing any ethics violation charges on this fiasco? Not being a lawyer myself–just wondering what we average taxpayers can do regarding this blatant incompetence and conflict of interest.
The potential conflict is very real. Wilber’s bad legal advice on the initial (“PDD”) rezoning –- that was held to be illegal by the Circuit Court in the appeal — might even expose the City to some liability. Had he simply done the right thing back then (2005) the property could have been rezoned, lawfully, as a PRD, and the delay due to the appeal would have been avoided. The property would be under development by now.
The appearance in the case by his partner, “Ernie the Attorney” Cornbrooks, on behalf of Hovanian is astounding – and what gives lawyers a bad name.
Ohhhh, they had better not…
Welcome back! Missed you!
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additional city tax dollars to work in coming to the aid of SMA.
Oops, meant to copy this.
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Looks like Smith, Shields and Comegys think it’s fine for these guys to be working both sides of the street.
A pretty obvious conflict of interest–why aren’t the local reporters digging into this? Don’t they have any ambitions to work at a bigger newspaper? Come on, reporter types–this is the kind of story you can be proud of, unlike many of the repetitious stories of dubious local interest. Start asking questions, and don’t take one person’s word as the truth–investigate! You will find that this is quite a big story.
Does Cornbrooks do any legal work for the City of Salisbury — it sure seems like everyone else in Wilber’s office slops at this City trough?