Questionable land deals, millions of taxpayer dollars thrown at “FOB” developers, persecution of citizens who dared disagree with the mayor; these are just a few of the exploits citizens were forced to endure under former mayor Barrie Tilghman.  Yet, none of these were deemed worthy of a multi-part series in the Daily Times.  Current mayor Jim Ireton attempts to keep a campaign promise, bringing Salisbury’s slumlords under some sort of control, and the DT staff seems to be bucking for a Pulitzer.

Yesterday, we noted that our biggest concern about Ireton’s plan was that it was at least as much political ploy as it was substantive policy.  Today, the DT’s “ace” reporter Laura D’Alessandro gives us part two in a five part series “about Salisbury’s RENTAL CRACKDOWN”.  The imagery makes us believe that D’Alessandro really aspires to pen gothic romances – “hulking historic homes” (I thought I loved alliteration) and “boarded-up homes”,  Daphne du Maurier she isn’t.

This particular part of Ireton’s package – phasing out a non-conforming boarding house over a decade – is a necessary component if Ireton’s plan is to succeed.  Perhaps some compromise is necessary, allowing the phase-out period to be extended 15 years.  This is one reason that Ireton needs to sit down with SAPOA – IN PUBLIC.

There may be some other flaws in Ireton’s phase-out plan.  The belief that conversion to “Bed and Breakfasts” is a viable solution is almost laughable.  Many of these boarding houses are in neighborhoods that simply will not attract the tourist trade.  However, to be fair, a few may be in suitable locations.  Another option may to be allow commercial office space along “Bed and Breakfasts”.  Another may be mixed use for entrepreneurs.  Several areas have experimented with properties that are approximately 1/3 office space and 2/3 residential for the business owners (usually on an ownership, rather than rental basis though).

One element that seems to be missing from Ireton’s approach to taming the slumlords is almost wholly political, but in a positive way.  There are, reportedly, quite a few first rate landlords.  Why aren’t these people being singled out as examples for what the city is looking for in landlords?

Ireton’s plan deserves a public airing,  There may be need for amendment.  The timing may be as much political as an attempt to enact sound public policy.  That doesn’t mean that the public deserves a “five part series” that reads like a SAPOA ad.

NEXT STOP – CITY ELECTIONS

Elections for three Salisbury City Council District 2 seats are less than a year away.  Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton seems to believe that his sledgehammer approach to slumlord regulation is his ticket to a more pliable city council.  Buckle up Salisbury, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Vacuous Salisbury councilwoman Louise Smith is already whining that she wasn’t part of the process that drafted the legislation.  It doesn’t matter that former mayor Barrie Tilghman threw legislation on the council without consultation, or even time for review; Smith supported it anyway.  Now that Tilghman is gone, I guess the rules changed with her too late exit.

Regardless of councilman Gary Comegys’s health status, he’ll be present to oppose any attempts to regulate SAPOA.  Shanie Shields knows where her bread is buttered.  That’s three votes against (if the legislation ever gets a public hearing) and then we’re heading for next spring’s elections.

Expect them to be NASTY!  SAPOA will be throwing 1,000% of their muscle behind a pro-slumlord slate led by Smith.  SAPOA president Kris Adams (photo on right) distinguished herself during the last election round by spreading untruths throughout the city, and even pimping her own kid in an attempt to wrangle votes out of SU.  Expect the money to flow against councilwoman Terry Cohen and whoever else chooses to run (that isn’t anointed by the Slumlord Guild).

IS IT ALL NECESSARY?

Ireton thinks that he has this in the bag.  If the legislation passes, GREAT!  If it doesn’t, Ireton thinks he has a great issue for next spring.  He may, but it’s doubtful.  His refusal to even meet with SAPOA will hurt him in his move to carry out his number one campaign promise.  While there are many of us who support THOUGHTFUL slumlord regulation, Ireton’s moves to date have smacked more of politics than good policy.  His “slumlord of the month” has only succeeded in raising the hackles of the slumlord class.  To single out a property by citing violations and calls for service during a PREVIOUS owner’s tenure but naming the current owner looks more like a political vendetta than a real attempt to bring about positive change.  We expected that would end when Barrie Tilghman cleared out of the mayor’s office.

SAPOA managed to beat him to the punch with a new lease.  It doesn’t matter that the proposal wouldn’t be mandatory.  It doesn’t matter that it wouldn’t have the force of law.  SAPOA could well wind up leading in the game of public opinion just when Ireton needs it most.  Expect Smith, Comegys, and Shields to use SAPOA’s PR stunts as an excuse to slap down Ireton’s proposal.

When election time comes around, expect the Daily Times to be 100% in the slumlord corner and Ireton could be left out in the cold.  Pray for a nasty winter Jim!  The faithful will be out  there when the slumlord elite chooses to sit around the fire.  Otherwise, abandon your Obama-worshipping ideology and bring all parties to the table – IN PUBLIC.  Make them justify their position.  You need to justify yours.  Too many people in Salisbury may agree with meaningful slumlord regulation, but they want it to be just that – meaningful.  To date, the Ireton administration has just come off as arrogant and anti-business.  That won’t do!

A notorious slumlord lies on his application for a building permit of a boarding house.  A shady “counselor” acts as his front man and claims “it’s for the veterans”.  After the fact, the city government learns that city solicitor Paul Wilber has a lawyer / client relationship with the same ‘counselor”.  The shady “counselor” is now represented by a neighbor and political ally of councilwoman Louise Smith.  The slumlord also happens to be councilwoman Shanie Shields’s landlord (and gives her a “really nice break on the rent” according to Shields).  Ace Daily Times reporter Laura D’Alessandro leaves the council meeting before this issue even comes up on the agenda.  So … What’s the headline in Sunday’s Daily Times?

COUNCIL TIE THWARTS VETS CENTER  Discrimination complaint filed with HUD over block by Salisbury

What can I say?  It’s classic “journalism” from the good folks over at the DT.  The problem is, this piece wasn’t written by D’Alessandro.  At least Laura can always fall back on the fact that she’s incompetent.  No, this future Pulitzer winner was penned by Greg Latshaw.  He’s neither stupid nor incompetent.  He’s just biased.  Therefore, we are forced to ask why Latshaw would put his name to a piece that is not only grossly biased, but shot full of half truths and factual holes.

When entrepreneur / developer / slumlord Hebreux St. Fleur decided to build a five bedroom house at 505 Collins Street, he claimed that he was building a “single family home”.  According to Shields, the city should have known that no one would build a 5 bedroom single family home in that neighborhood.  Can you imagine the screams from the folks on the west side if a permit was denied because the city claimed that folks over there couldn’t afford a five bedroom house?  Yet, this is precisely what Shields claimed the city should have done .  Yet, what does Latshaw write?

Hebreux St. Fleur, a Haitian immigrant, sees his five-bedroom house on the city’s West Side as the ultimate thank you to U.S. troops. But the finished house has sat unoccupied since August 2008, even as the number of homeless veterans has grown on the Eastern Shore.

Talk about putting lipstick on a pig!  St. Fleur and company (along with the Daily Times) did just that and then rolled the not so little porker up in the American flag.

Latshaw then proceeds to tell us how many homeless veterans there are in the area and finishes up with a quote from the shady “counselor” (and Paul Wilber client) Jerry Black:

"My hope is that a conversation is created. The city’s residents can help decide this issue. So far it’s been a one-sided conversation," Black said.

I guess Latshaw wasn’t aware of the fact that Black and some cohorts have spent quite a bit of time attacking councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen in the press, on the internet and even going so far as to pass out flyers at the “Pork in the Park” festival.  That’s definitely how you start a conversation Mr. Black.

Black’s attorney, Smith pal Matt Mills, has argued that it isn’t relevant that St. Fleur lied on his building permit application.  I think the public might differ, particularly if the “Vets Center” were going up in their neighborhood.  If Mills feels so strongly about this, perhaps he and Louise could persuade Black and St. Fleur to take over a few units down at Canal Woods.  I’m confident that his neighbors would love him for it.

The facts are simple.  St. Fleur built a home that was always intended to be used as a de facto boarding house.  He built it on a piece of property which is zoned for single family residential use only.  While I sympathize with the needs of many of our veterans, that isn’t an excuse to violate the city’s zoning laws any more than it is when someone illegally rents out an apartment over their garage.  If the city allows this use, what will happen when another “kind hearted” SAPOA member wants to convert an existing home into a boarding house (or build one from scratch)?

There is actually property available in Salisbury that is properly zoned for this use.  I wonder if Lathshaw bothered to ask about that while St. Fleur and Black were saluting the flag.

We can have zoning laws or not.  What we cannot do is simply ignore our laws because “it’s for the children” or “it’s for the veterans”.  Without the rule of law, and laws which protect private property, we will simply become another third world county.  While I don’t expect that Latshaw (or anyone else at the Daily Times) has ever read any of the works of Hernando de Soto (the 20th century economist, not the 16th century explorer), I still hope for the day that they might at least attempt to tell the whole story rather than just the parts that keep their advertisers and political allies happy.

Unfortunately for the readers of the Daily Times, they only get PART of the story … AS USUAL.

Paul Wilber is Salisbury’s city attorney.  He is also an attorney in private practice.  Therefore, it is logical that a conflict may arise from time to time between one client (the city of Salisbury) and another client.  I wouldn’t think that this would be a particular problem – provided that Wilber discloses such a conflict to all parties (and the public) as soon as that conflict comes to Wilber’s attention.

Next Monday the Salisbury City Council is expected to consider a request for a special zoning exception for a property at 505 Collins Avenue.  This property, which was permitted as a single family residence, now claims (or I should say, the owner claims) to be a “Veterans’ Home”.  Translation – the owner wishes to put a boarding house in a district zoned for single family residential properties.  OK, this kind of stuff happens all of the time.  What’s the problem?

Well, it seems that at least one of the parties involved, a Mr. Jerry Black, happens to be a client of none other than Paul Wilber.  That’s right!  The same Paul Wilber who currently serves as the Salisbury City Attorney.  Mr. Wilber serves as the registered agent for the corporation operated by Mr. Black.

So far, Mr. Black has appeared before the city planning commission.  The matter has been discussed in council work session.  The matter is due to be considered in a council legislative session in four days.  YET, Mr. Wilber has not bothered to inform the planning commission, the city council, or the public that he has an attorney / client relationship with Mr. Black.  I have no idea whether he has informed Mr. Black about both relationships, although I’m confident he is aware of the situation (he is using another law firm in this matter).

This isn’t the first time that there have been apparent conflicts between Wilber’s duties as city attorney and his private law practice.  About 2 1/2 years ago, Wilber’s firm represented a party in a dispute with the developers of the Old Mall project.  Given the city’s TIF financing of the project, one would argue that this may cause a problem.

To be fair to Wilber, I have neither heard of any actions by Wilber that were not in the city’s best interest in this matter, nor do I have any evidence of double dealing by Wilber.  However, that isn’t really the point.  The Salisbury City Council needs to demand that Wilber answer some questions IN PUBLIC:

1. What is your relationship with Mr. Black?  Is it ongoing?
2. Is Mr. Black aware of your relationship with the city and has he waived any potential conflict?
3. Why didn’t Wilber disclose his relationship with Mr. Black prior to any involvement on his part on behalf of the city of Salisbury?
4. When, exactly, was Mr. Wilber planning on disclosing his relationship with Mr. Black?

I’m quite sure that councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen have a few other questions.  Needless to say, the Barrie Comegys bloc doesn’t have much concern with little matters like this.  Shanie and Louise still want to give everyone raises and spend money on “worthy projects” like “The Bricks” and that brown field known as “Linens of the Week”.

Remember Salisbury’s NE Collector Road?  You know, the road that was supposed to cut travel time to the mall in half and not cost the taxpayers a dime.  At least that’s what Barrie Tilghman, Mike Dunn, Lynn Cathcart, and Gary Comegys told us (Shanie Shields just votes they way her masters instruct her to).  I’ll admit, it’s a nice road.  I use it from time to time myself.  I just know that there’s no such thing as a free lunch … or a free road.

Well, it appears that the chickens are coming home to roost on that little ribbon of asphalt.  First, the developers stated that they were giving the road right of way to the city.  Then they demanded payment, despite the fact that the city was providing a TIF subsidy for the road.  NOW the developers are in arrears both to the city of Salisbury AND to the TIF bondholders.  According to Salisbury finance chief Pam Oland:

…an update related to the Aydelotte TIF.  Currently for FY 10, all taxes (including special taxes) have been paid on all properties within the Aydelotte TIF, excluding the large parcel still held by the developers.  That parcel owes regular taxes as well as special taxes for FY 10.  The total amount currently due is $410,106.99.  Meetings are currently being held between the developers, the bond holders and the City to discuss how to use the remaining funds in the project account and what are the updated estimates for sales.  If the taxes are not paid by June 16th, the property will be auctioned during the tax sale.

What happens IF the property can’t be sold?  It surely won’t be enough to cover the back taxes AND the bond principle.

Remember, the bonds were issued by the city of Salisbury!  The taxpayers were promised that they would NEVER be on the hook for this blatant subsidy of another developer.  I sincerely hope that this is one instance where the usual suspects actually told the truth.

Thanks Barrie.  Thanks Mike.  You might be gone, but the taxpayers just keep on paying!

Today’s front page story in the Daily Times regarding Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton’s new “Slumlord of the Week” policy fails to answer several questions:

1. Is this “policy” meant to accomplish anything?
2. Why doesn’t Ireton actually do something to fulfill his campaign promise “to ‘close loopholes’ in the city’s municipal codes and get crime out of neighborhoods”?

IF Ireton was actually doing something to close these loopholes and to actually enforce the spirit, as well as the letter, of the city’s zoning laws that would be one thing.  Instead, we have seen one woman loose her rental income because of zoning (last Sunday’s DT), but we’re not seeing any progress in taking care of the scores of non-conforming uses in the city.

Ireton isn’t pushing the issue in the appropriate forum – the city council – because he knows that the “council majority” of Gary Comegys, Louise Smith, and Shanie Shields are owned by the city’s slumlords.  Instead of exhibiting a backbone, my friend Jim is doing what liberals do best – making a show without accomplishing anything.

Does he really believe that a slumlord is going to be shamed?  It’s time for a little reality check Jimmy.

Because Ireton is unwilling to stand up to either the Barrie Comegys bloc on council or the bureaucracy within his own administration, Salisbury’s citizens are being forced to pay for Allan Webster’s six month paid vacation, watch city officials spend money that has not been appropriated, and now they are being given a “show” rather than real solutions to the rental problems that have faced Salisbury for years.

In just over a month, Ireton will present his first budget.  I am confident that it will include a sizable tax increase.  I can’t wait to see what kind of show Ireton will put on to justify that “policy” as well.

Jim needs to learn that the people who elected him expect solutions, not a “show”.  Jim needs to learn that voters want him to DO SOMETHING rather than just claim to “feel their pain”.

We haven’t written much about PAC-14, Wicomico County’s public access cable channel in quite some time.  Because of that, many of you may think that all is well there.  Sadly, you would be mistaken.  The crew running PAC-14 (along with some of the vocal “supporters”) are just as conniving and deceitful as always.

We have to admit that we made a mistake.  We tried to be fair and allow PAC-14 Executive Director Mike Goodson and a majority of PAC-14’s board the opportunity to do what they said they were going to do.  Instead, this merry little band has decided that giving Wicomico taxpayers the “middle finger” is the best route to obtain their goals – and those goals have little to do with providing viewers an opportunity to watch their government in action and providing citizens the opportunity to produce local content.  No, the goal of the PAC-14 board is to siphon money from the taxpayers and build an entity that will eventually be handed over to Salisbury University so that taxpayers will no longer have even a marginal say as to how a portion of their tax dollars are being spent.

Thanks to elected officials like Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt, Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton, Salisbury council members Louise Smith, Gary Comegys, and Shanie Shields, along with unelected “volunteers” such as Phil Tilghman, Elizabeth Bellavance and WCBOE President Mark Thompson, expect PAC-14 to blossom into an organization which wastes money (your money) on consultants and plans for grand schemes while refusing to adhere to the basic rules of transparency (which are in their own by-laws).

A Little History -

The scandal which has surrounded PAC-14 began when Goodson and a couple of bureaucratic thugs from SU refused to meet with the legally appointed board and instead engaged in secret negotiations with Pollitt, Smith, then mayor Barrie Tilghman and Wicomico councilman John Cannon to engage a “transitional taskforce” to make PAC-14 “independent” from the city and county governments while still being the recipients of the taxpayers’ largesse.

Once this became public Pollitt, Smith, and Cannon all ran for cover claiming that they knew nothing about these “goings on” and definitely never took part in these meetings.  Despite contrary claims from members of the “transitional taskforce” we made the mistake of taking these upstanding citizens at their word.  After much hand wringing and shirt tearing, Pollitt and Ireton appointed a board largely composed of the same people want a PAC-14 which sucks scarce resources from taxpayers while refusing to allow any transparency or accountability to the same public which is expected to foot the bill.  Tilghman also appointed board members, but we never expected her to do the right thing.

Bellavance Calls for Deceiving the Taxpayers -

Oddly, the nastiest piece of work on the PAC-14 board has come in the form of Elizabeth Bellavance.  Bellavance, the joint city / county appointee and a member of the library board has argued that board members who serve on the Wicomico and Salisbury councils should deceive both their fellows on council AND the taxpayers.

Last summer, it was pointed out by Salisbury councilwoman Debbie Campbell that the proposed budgets for PAC-14 (both for the current fiscal year and their long term planning budget) did not include ANY sources of revenue other than from the taxpayers and in-kind contributions from SU (also from the taxpayers).  Campbell noted that the primary purpose given by Phil Tilghman, et al in their argument for making PAC-14 “independent” from the city and county governments was the need to fundraise.

Bellavance responded that this was the problem with having elected officials on the board.  She then admonished Campbell (and Wicomico councilwoman Stevie Prettyman) that they had a responsibility as board members not to share this with either their council colleagues OR the public.  Prettyman immediately tore into Ms. Bellavance explaining that she had NO intention of deceiving either he colleagues on council or any member of the public.  Campbell concurred.

It should be noted that while Bellavance was having her little tirade, PAC-14’s $20,000 consultant, Sue Buske, was chiming in agreeing with Bellavance.  A majority of the other board members, including the WCBOE’s Mark Thompson, were either nodding in agreement or speaking out in favor of Bellavance’s malignant statement that the public should be lied to.

At a later meeting Bellavance claimed that ANYONE who though that she meant that the public should be deceived was mistaken.  Sure, Liz.  I was there.  You said what you said.  Oh – and the recording from that meeting  ironically doesn’t work either.

It is also reported that Bellavance has threatened that PAC-14 should cease to broadcast Wicomico Council meetings if the county DARES to cut their appropriation this year.  This may sound radical, but I’m not surprised.  I have personally heard Goodson make the same statement to a group of supporters after a Salisbury City Council meeting.

If You Put the Taxpayers Before PAC-14 … Leave -

Sadly, I haven’t been able to attend any board meetings since this summer.  However, it looks like I’ll have to make time now.  The taxpayers of Salisbury and Wicomico County no longer have anyone looking out for their interests on the PAC-14 board and I have learned that a majority of the board cannot be trusted to keep their word.

It seems that Phil Tilghman and the PAC-14 executive board have decided that both Campbell and Prettyman have to go.  According to Tilghman (in emails to both Smith and Pollitt):

… during the past few months, actions taken by this Board member clearly demonstrate intentions that are counter to the vision and goals of the Board. Thus, we request that the Council appoint another representative who will find our respective visions and goals for the future more compatible with his/hers.

In other words, Prettyman and Campbell believe that the PAC-14 board should be held to the promises made by Tilghman, and others, that PAC-14 would begin raising money on their own AND would stick to their core mission.  Instead, Tilghman, et al, want the taxpayer to foot the bill while they pursue such pie in the sky proposals as a “Community Media Center” (which would duplicate many of the services of the public library).  Perhaps, PAC-14 should be placed under the control of the library?

In addition to Tilghman’s claim that neither Campbell or Prettyman share the same “vision and goals” as he does (thank goodness for Wicomico taxpayers), Tilghman falsely claimed that Campbell missed three meetings in a row and that Prettyman missed excessive meetings.  Of course, when Tilghman moves board meeting dates around – including scheduling them in conflict with council meetings – I’m not surprised.  I also find it ironic that Tilghman had to cancel the last meeting because he would have had to resign if he missed this last meeting.  Needless to say, rules only apply when you don’t share Phil Tilghman’s “vision and goals”.

Campbell has been forced off of the board.  Louise Smith intends to appoint Shanie Shields to Campbell’s spot.  It will be interesting to see if Phil screams to have Shanie removed after she fails to show up.  Shields doesn’t have a very good record of attending the meetings of boards which she has been appointed to.

Tilghman is vainly trying to get Prettyman off.  Fortunately, I understand that Wicomico Council President Gail Bartkovich has made a stand.  If Pollitt possessed a spine, he would demand that Tilghman and Bellavance resign or threaten withdrawal of all county support.  Tilghman forgets that the channel belongs to the citizens of Wicomico and Salisbury.  PAC-14 is merely the steward.  So far, they have proven to be no better a steward of taxpayer funds than their pals Louise Smith, Gary Comegys, Shainie Shields, and Jim Ireton.

Sadly, we should pay much closer attention to the actions of PAC-14 from now on.  Tilghman, and cronies such as Bellavance and Thompson have proven that they cannot be trusted.  They have proven their disdain for those that pay the bills – namely the taxpayers of Wicomico County.  It’s time for them to go.  They clearly don’t share the same “vision” as the taxpayers.

As Salisbury councilwoman noted on the radio this morning, today’s Salisbury City Council work session is “relatively meaty”.    While I haven’t talked to councilwoman Debbie Campbell today, it’s a decent bet that she won’t be there.  Why?  Campbell has to work for a living.  So does Cohen, but fortunately she is self-employed.

The “council majority” of Louise Smith, Gary Comegys, and Shanie Shields don’t work for a living.  They live off of the teat of the taxpayer.  Therefore, why not move work sessions to the morning.  The meetings aren’t televised.  Working citizens can’t attend.  Campbell can’t attend many.  Cohen will undoubtedly miss a few because she has to earn a living.

By this action alone Smith, et al provide an excellent argument for not allowing anyone on a PUBLIC pension to hold elected office.  No – I’m not advocating that action.  I’m just noting that there is an argument to be made when people like Smith, Comegys, and Shields behave as they do.

Coupled with their action to make work sessions difficult for Campbell (and Cohen), these shining examples of public service are also attempting to void Campbell’s and Cohen’s access to health insurance through the city.  The city’s ethics commission has asked the city government to specifically include health insurance within the portfolio of the compensation commission which recommends the salary of both the mayor and council.  Sadly, the “council majority” has recently refused to do that as well.

I can make an excellent argument for not providing the mayor or council members with access to the city’s health insurance.  I can also make an excellent argument for allowing them access, but making them pay full freight.

However, that’s not what this is about.  As soon as Shields discovered that she could get her insurance through the state pool it was time to go after Campbell and Cohen.  Why not?  The taxpayers are footing the bill for Smith, Comegys and Shields – just not on the same account.  They got theirs, so why not screw their political opponents?

Here’s the message coming from the city council offices – working people need not apply.  Only those who are retired or living off of the taxpayers should be able to hold public office in Salisbury.

As I noted above, I can make an argument for taking away health insurance from Campbell and Cohen.  However, if the city wants to do that they should also not pick up the tab for any travel – particularly Comegys’s MML expenses.  There is one thing for certain.  The taxpayers of Salisbury benefit far more from the presence of Campbell and Cohen on council than they do by paying for Comegys to glad hand around Maryland.

Salisbury citizens need working people to be able to serve on the city council council.  They also need retired men and women to be able to serve.  They just don’t need vindictive individuals like Smith, Comegys, and Shields.

When elected officials waste your tax dollars your recourse is limited.  You can complain.  You can lobby your officials.  Ultimately, you can vote those persons out in the next election.  One of the wonders of our great nation is our willingness and ability to replace politicians with the ballot rather than the bullet.

Sadly, there are instances in our local, state, and federal governments when officials steal from the taxpayer – either through embezzlement or spending public monies that are not lawfully appropriated.  Do we resort to the bullet?  Of course not.  This is America; that’s what prisons are for.

During the fascist regime of the former Queen of Barrieland, Salisbury taxpayers witnessed a constant, and consistent, stream of spending public funds without lawful appropriations.  When current Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton ran for his present post he promised voters that this type of behavior would not be repeated under an Ireton regime.  Sadly, this has proven NOT to be the case.

At last Monday’s Salisbury council meeting, Councilwoman Terry Cohen presented a chronology of the illegal spending of almost $100,000 for a dump truck.  While the Barrie Comegys faction of council heaped abuse on Cohen, the Ireton administration has stood idly by and refused to accept responsibility for the lion’s share of this debacle.

Yeah, I know.  It’s not even $100,000.  When Jim Ireton proposes raising your taxes in a couple of months, I hope you’re still smiling.  These little boo-boo’s add up.

Some folks want the head of Councilwoman Louise Smith.  Sadly, I have to report that Smith’s share of the blame is minimal – in this instance.

According to Cohen’s documentation, Smith signed off on the contract for purchasing a 3 ton dump truck.  The award of bid was approved by council.  Yes, Cohen notified  City Administrator John Pick that she thought a budget amendment would be required.  Yes, Pick confirmed that one would be needed.  Yes, I’m confident that Smith received copies of these emails.

Here’s the rub.  It was Internal Services chief Pam Oland that affirmed on the contract that an adequate appropriation existed.  IF Pick notified Oland that a budget amendment would be needed, Oland is chiefly responsible and should forfeit her job.  IF Pick DID NOT notify Oland, then Pick bears the brunt and should be sacrificed.

Yes, Smith probably should have known.  However, Louise Smith is “dumber than a sack of hair”.  She can’t even follow her own council rules.  Oland and city solicitor Paul Wilber have provided Smith with adequate cover.  No one would like to see her hang for something like this more than I.  However, I believe that we are better than people like Smith and Barrie Tilghman.  Therefore, let’s hang her for something with a little more substance.

Some have pointed with glee to Wilber’s signature as proof to his complicity in this brewing mini-scandal.  If you are a longtime reader, you are well aware that Delmarva Dealings has never hesitated to express a negative opinion of Wilber’s supposed service to Salisbury’s taxpayers.  That said, it’s not Wilber’s job to check the budget every time he reviews a contract.  I’m assuming that this contract is legally correct (outside of the lack of a legal appropriation).  Therefore, Wilber did his job regarding this matter.  Regardless of how much abuse I would love to heap on Wilber for past sins, he doesn’t appear to be guilty of anything in this particular case.

SO – who is really to blame in the GREAT DUMP TRUCK DEBACLE OF 2010?  As noted above, the real blame seems to rest with either Pick or Oland.  Sadly, Ireton has decided to turn a problem into a full blown scandal.  Rather than finding out who is to blame, getting rid of the problem, and apologizing, my friend Jim has decided to take a darker path.

Much to their credit, Cohen and fellow Councilwoman Debbie Campbell refuse to vote for an ex post facto budget amendment.  As we witnessed in the infamous Chief Webster affair, Ireton lacks the intestinal fortitude to point out the culprit and dismiss them.  Now Ireton has a new toy for his public works department, purchased illegally with public funds.  The truck is titled and tagged.  It appears that Ireton is waiting things out until the fourth quarter so he can move the funds WITHOUT council approval.  This is where my friend Jim has lost my support forever.

OK.  Jim’s a nice guy.  Jim doesn’t like to fight.  I though Ireton told us that he would “speak truth to power”.  I guess that means anyone EXCEPT the despotic bureaucracy he inherited.  Ireton’s refusal to tackle this matter makes him NO BETTER than the tyrant he replaced.  Ireton’s version of fascism may be kinder and gentler, but putting a smiley face on despotism does not negate the tyranny.

I know – it’s ONLY A DUMP TRUCK.  As noted above, THIS IS AMERICA.  Contrary to the protestations of Ireton hero’s like Barack Obama, we are EXCEPTIONAL.  One of the principles that make America exceptional is our belief in the RULE OF LAW.  Without the rule of law, we revert to Thomas Hobbes’s “state of war”.  Without the rule of law, we are no better than some tin horn, third world dictatorship.  Is this Ireton’s vision for Salisbury?

Sadly, the evidence is mounting.  Taxpayers are already footing the bill so that one incompetent and possibly corrupt official is being paid to fade into the sunset.  Now monies are being spent without being appropriated.  Are we sure Barrie Tilghman didn’t just cut her hair and change her wardrobe?

If anyone in the environs of Salisbury, MD thought that the days of the fascist state of Barrieland were over … THINK AGAIN.

Imagine an employee of your local government coming into your home or office – WITHOUT A WARRANT.  Imagine that same person taking photographs of your home or office, WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION.  Now imagine those photographs showing up on a local blog as part of some bizarre attempt to demean you.

If your name is Joe Albero, you don’t have to imagine it.  It’s already happened.  Before Christmas, an employee of the Salisbury department of Neighborhood Services and Code Compliance (NSCC) made a stop at Mr. Albero’s property at 300 West Main Street.  Supposedly, this individual was there to inspect Albero’s property because of reported code violations due to the recent rain storms we have suffered in the area.

During the reign of Queen Barrie Tilghman Salisbury’s NSCC department was infamous for handing out citations and harassing businesses and residents alike who weren’t part of the political “in crowd”.  Albero certainly qualifies.  However, Mayor Jim Ireton promised that those days were over when he was sworn into office.

Why then, did a picture apparently taken by someone from NSCC appear on a local blog whose primary purpose is to attack and demean Albero?  Unless the publisher of this local cesspool trespassed onto Albero’s property and took the picture, I don’t have a problem with them publishing it.  The first amendment applies to the nasty and dimwitted as much as it applies to you and I.  However, it appears that this photo came from a CITY EMPLOYEE!

In a sense, this was amusing.  It showed that Salisbury city employees don’t have enough to do so they harass local businesses and use city resources to attack political opponents by conspiring with people like Jonathan Taylor.  Jonathan Taylor showed that he lacked the basic intelligence to discern the difference between electrical wiring and a telephone hook-up.

Unfortunately, this issue is a tad more serious.  Any credibility that the city possessed concerning code compliance is now out the window.  At least former mayor Barrie Tilghman was a little more discreet in the way she used NSCC to intimidate city residents and businesses.  It always boiled down to “he said, she said” and Tilghman (often successfully) dismissed victims who came forward as mere conspiracy theorists.  In addition, I never heard of the NSCC under Tilghman actually entering a premise without permission or warrant.

Under the current mayor – Jim “Hope & Change” Ireton – we are learning that good intentions won’t even get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.  An ineffectual and insubordinate police chief is allowed to pick the taxpayers’ pockets to the tune of $50,000 because Ireton lacked the backbone to dismiss him.  Now, city employees are being used to harass a local businessman. If Ireton ever hopes to wrest control of the city government from Tilghman’s minor league fascists he would give NSCC director Tom Stevenson 30 days to find and dismiss the culprit responsible for this attack on basic liberties … or dismiss Stevenson.

Sadly, we shouldn’t hold our breath.  It’s only one more reason why businesses should be reluctant to move into Salisbury.