Wicomico Liquor Control Board Attorney Denies Documents
June 20, 2008 by Cato
Filed under Maryland, Wicomico Politics
There seem to be a lot crossed wires over at the Wicomico County Liquor Control Board. The latest evidence comes from their own attorney.
In a letter dated June 9, LCB attorney Victor H. Laws, III informs Wicomico County Council Administrator Matt Creamer that documents requested by the council would not be forthcoming. There was just one problem, the documents had already been sent to the council after much delay.
The humor of this not withstanding, Mr. Laws makes some interesting comments in his piece to the council. Laws asserts that the LCB is “an independent state agency” and that the Wicomico County Council “has no jurisdiction over the Board (LCB) or any right to supervise its operations.” Laws also asserts that the actions of “certain council members represent a form of attempted micromanagement, and even harassment.”
Laws should be ashamed of himself for stealing from the Barrie Tilghman / Paul Wilber school of jurisprudence in such a blatant manner.
It is true that the LCB is an independent state agency. Therefore, they are subject to Maryland’s Public Information Act. Borrowing from the Tilghman / Wilber school, Laws seems to be asserting that council members somehow cease to hold the rights of common citizens upon their ascension to elected office.
In my humble opinion, the council is being too kind. They should simply fill out a PIA request when they want something and run Haemel, et al into court if they refuse to comply.
The council, in providing legislative oversight over the county’s budget SHOULD be making sure that the Wicomico taxpayer is receiving all funds from the LCB that they are due. This will undoubtedly mean that there will be requests for more documents. Mr. Laws would be wise to advise his client to comply.
How else can our elected representatives determine if checks to Kuhn’s Jewelers and Kitty’s Flowers are legitimate expenses?
Tomorrow we will ask the question – What happened to that $400,000 a year that Ron Alessi has been talking about?
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