Gary Comegys’ New Found Respect for the Rule of Law

May 28, 2009 by Cato  
Filed under Maryland, Salisbury Politics

After six years in office, Salisbury councilman Gary Comegys seems to have found some respect for the Salisbury city charter and the rule of law.  At Tuesday’s council meeting Comegys correctly argued that Mayor Jim Ireton’s last minute budget amendments were contrary to the city’s charter.  I would have stood up and applauded Comegys if not for the fact that he is one of the parties responsible for making the Salisbury city council an irrelevant body.

To date, Comegys has been one of those who disagreed with my stance that rules are to be followed.  When his mistress, the Queen of Barrieland, was in power Comegys argued time and again that Salisbury’s form of government dictated that the mayor was to be given the widest latitude (if not absolute power).  If the recent mayoral election had swung Comegys’ way I am confident that he would still be arguing his bizarre interpretation of the city’s charter.

However, just because the guy I supported is in power does not negate the fact that the city’s budget belongs to council until approved.  Any amendments must emanate from, if not originate in, the city council.  Yes, Ireton was correct regarding the city’s health insurance plan and the inclusion of city council members.  However, any amendment still needed to be adopted by council prior to its inclusion in the final budget ordinance.

While councilwoman Terry Cohen made a persuasive argument that Ireton’s actions were correct, she was wrong.  Simply because there is a precedent for the mayor acting unilaterally does not make it legal or right.  If a majority of council were truly interested in being a relevant body they would simply require all but emergency legislation to come before at least one work session prior to consideration in a legislative session.  Cohen would probably agree with this.  However, the Comegys-led majority simply could not entertain such a notion.  If they adopted this under a Mayor Ireton they would be hard pressed to go back to the old ways if Ireton failed to win re-election.

Perhaps Comegys can learn a lesson from this.  You reap what you sow.