Greater Salisbury Committee Comes Out of the Closet

January 9, 2009 by Cato  
Filed under Salisbury Politics, Wicomico Politics

They are almost never mentioned in the press.  When discussed among individuals it’s usually in hushed tones.  I’m talking about the Greater Salisbury Committee.

From Salsibury’s Riverwalk to the broadband cooperative, from the Wallops spaceport to the proposed North Prong project, from Salisbury Neighborhood Housing to identifying solutions for our public schools, it’s hard to find an area of our lives that has not been touched by the work of the Greater Salisbury Committee.  I may not agree with every one of their projects.  I’m not sold on the North Prong project yet, and I vocally opposed the creation of the Wicomico Council of Governments.  However, I can agree to disagree.  There is no question that the desire of the GSC is to improve our community.

The GSC probably gets the worst rap on the Eastern Shore.  The vast majority of folks don’t know anything about it.  Of those that do, many believe that it’s part of some grand conspiracy involving Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman (because of her husband’s purported membership).  The truth is that their biggest sin appears to be an unwillingness to toot their own horn a little.

That’s starting to change a little.  The GSC – whose primary objective is civic improvement – is coming out of the closet, going online, and overtly reaching out to the community they serve.

The GSC now has a website that not only explains their goals, but encourages the rest of us to get involved.  While up and running for several months, the membership apparently did not consider it “ready for prime time”.  You may have heard about it when Wicomico County Councilman (and GSC member) Bill McCain suggested it as a source of information at a council meeting this fall.  While the GSC membership and Executive Director Jan Wiseman are planning on adding additional material, they have something to be proud of.

Included is a section that encourages you to get involved.  Listing opportunities for public service on the Virginia shore, lower Maryland shore and Sussex County, you no longer can claim that you didn’t know there was a vacancy on that board or commission you were interested in.

GSC is also reaching out to community leaders and ordinary citizens to ask their opinon of key topics of concern to our community.  The latest survey was to identify the top issues of concern in Wicomico County.  The next is a survey of business owners about crime issues.

GSC also periodically issues reports on issues of concern to the community.  On their website you can find a report on Wicomico County’s sources of revenue and the effect of the revenue cap.  You can also read a report on funding for Wicomico County schools.  You may disagree with the conclusions of both reports.  However, at least you would be closer to having an informed opinion of the subjects discussed.

I know that this post isn’t going to change some people’s minds about the GSC.  Some folk will still claim that they are some kind of secretive “shadow government” of Salisbury and Wicomico County.  They have a right to their opinion, no matter how ill informed it is.

My beliefs regarding the GSC are simple.  They don’t publish their membership, but they dont’ have to.  They’re not the government and enjoy the sames privacy rights as you and I.  I don’t agree with every one of their ideas, nor particularly like a couple of their members. However, we should all appreciate the effort put in by these people.  I believe that the membership opening their doors a little will lead to that appreciation and respect.