Cannon, Democrats Approve Enviro for Planning Commission

Things are back to usual at the Wicomico County Council.  Nominal Republican John Cannon returned to where he appears most comfortable – on the left leaning side of the council.  By a 4 – 3 vote, Cannon and his Democrat allies approved County Executive Rick Pollitt’s nominee for the Planning Commission – Jacob Day of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy.

With outgoing councilman Bill McCain carrying water for Pollitt, Cannon spoon fed Day a series of leading questions designed to make Day appear to have no bias against development in Wicomico County.  Cannon even went so far to admit:

“I want to dispel any view of bias”.

That’s dandy John.  There’s just one problem.  While any reasonable person will concede that Mr. Day could offer certain expertise to the commission, any reasonable person also realizes that Day’s employer is a strong proponent of stripping county farmers of their property rights through down zoning.  Are we to believe that the ESLC would employ Mr. Day if he does not share those same views?

This is from ESLC’s own website:

ESLC has developed the Regional Landscape Initiative, a program that focuses on one of the greatest landscape protection tools available: strong, proactive planning and zoning.

Translation – down zoning of agricultural lands.  Farmers don’t want to develop their land.  However, to deny them that option reduces the value of their land and in some cases has forced farmers off of their land.

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Will Wicomico County Put ANOTHER Tree Hugger on the Planning Commission?

On the surface, tomorrow’s Wicomico County Council meeting looks pretty tame.  However, one item does stick out as the proverbial “sore thumb”.  Will the council confirm County Executive Rick Pollitt’s appointment of Jacob Day to the county planning commission?

Day’s appointment came to the council last month, along with another controversial appointment.  The item was pulled from the agenda after it was requested that the appointment be discussed in a work session.

At the council’s last meeting, outgoing councilman Bill McCain (D-At Large) jumped up on a giant soap box and berated some of his council colleagues for not approving Day’s nomination (the second nominee had since withdrawn his name).  McCain rambled on and on about well qualified Mr. Day is and what an important contribution he would make, etc. etc.

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Gotta Spend Those Tax Dollars in Wicomico County

In the spring of 2008, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt proposed that the county spend Maryland “Open Space” money to purchase land for a park on Crooked Oak Lane.  Amid charges of insider dealing and bad appraisals, the Pollitt administration told the public that we had to do it.  Gotta spend that tax money.  If we don’t spend it, someone else will.  Fortunately, a majority of the county council saw fit to continue looking for a piece of property that cost less.

Move forward one year …

In April of 2009, the county council saw fit to purchase 100 acres on Levin Dashiell Road for approximately $1 million.  All council members, except for councilman Joe Holloway, voted for the purchase.  While the approximately $10,000 per acre paid out of state coffers (read “YOUR POCKET”) was substantially lower than the cost of the Crooked Oak property, many still considered the price too high.  While continuing to emphasize the supposedly “free” money coming from the state, the Pollitt administration and their allies on council could never overcome one giant hurdle – why is Wicomico County taking more land off of the tax rolls when they free admit that they don’t have the money to develop this park.  The Pirates Wharf purchase continues to sit undeveloped despite promises of a park when it was purchased years ago.

Move forward 10 more months …

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Wicomico NAACP Candidate Forum

Every election cycle, the Wicomico County Branch of the NAACP hosts a candidate forum.  While it should be expected that a forum sponsored by the NAACP would, and should, focus on issues of particular importance to the African-American community the forum gave ALL in attendance an opportunity to see and hear local candidates under fire.

I’ll leave it to my friend Michael Swartz at MonoBlogue to provide his usual (and excellent) blow by blow.  I’m going to focus on a few questions, and some of the surprising responses.

County Executive:

Incumbent Rick Pollitt continues with his normal fence straddling and platitudes.  GOP candidate Joe Ollinger is giving it the ole college try but continues to lack the red meat necessary to get conservatives to whole heartedly support him.  Democrat challenger Tom Taylor gave the best performance of the evening.

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Is Ernie Cornbrooks the One?

Have conservatives found the person to replace Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt?  While Salisbury attorney Ernie Cornbrooks hasn’t declared for office (and I doubt he will), his Sunday op-ed in the Daily Times rings true to many who are sick and tired of hearing nothing more than “repeal the cap” and “we need more tax dollars” from the current ruling elite.

Rather than merely advocating a “slash and burn” approach to county spending, Cornbrooks demands that our county leaders begin “thinking outside the box” and showing a little innovation.  He also doesn’t shy away from tackling the 50% monster in the Wicomico County budget:

The entitlement culture of public school employees is the annual budget buster. From where did the idea come that WCBOE pay levels, benefits and jobs are immune? Why is a job in the school system more worthy than a job in the roads department? Everyone with a child in the school system has encountered employees who do not earn their pay, but stay on the payroll until eligible to retire. This fiscal year, taxpayers paid for 180 days of instruction; the WCBOE obtained a waiver for five of them. If employees had given back five days of unearned pay, some of the 17 county employees who were laid off last week might still have jobs.

How ‘bout it Supt. Fredericksen?  Can we expect a rebate on our tax dollars this year?

Like Woodward and Bernstein’s “Deep Throat”, Cornbrooks argues that we need to “follow the money”.  He’s right.  The county’s “political class” simply doesn’t want to make government more efficient, they just want to spend more.

I don’t know whether Ernie Cornbrooks is a Democrat or a Republican.  Until Sunday morning I only knew that he went to Washington & Lee (a definite point in his favor), is a nice guy, is very active in his church and has a lovely and charming wife (who is probably even more active in their church).  We’ll have to forgive the fact that he’s a lawyer.  While I seriously doubt that Mr. Cornbrooks would take the pay cut to run for Pollitt’s post, WHOEVER our county executive is next year would be wise to seek his advice – IF they are willing to stand up for the citizens of Wicomico County rather than the special interest that seem to swing the big stick right now.  If not, expect more blunt-bladed service cuts until a majority of citizens are willing to repeal the cap.

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Even for Bill McCain – Be Careful What You Wish For

Last night’s “Repeal the Cap Rally”, hosted by outgoing Wicomico County councilman Bill McCain (D) was a rousing success – if you supported keeping the county’s revenue cap in place and opposed increased county budgets.  Approximately 75 citizens came out to express their opinion.  While there were a few of the usual “tax and spend” suspects present, only one spoke up – WET president John Groutt.  His response was mainly to call the rest of us “simplistic” and a bunch of “Tea Partiers”.  (I always get a kick out of leftists who call me simplistic because I don’t support their socialistic policies.)

A Model for Future Councils

While I have agreed with McCain on little during his term on council, and am not sorry to see him leave, he should be commended for last night’s get together.  Granted, it was 3 1/2 years in coming; but this was exactly what the city council needs to do.

Well … not exactly.  The entire council, AND county executive Rick Pollitt, should host such a meeting every quarter.  They could do it from the council chambers.  The council chambers are already wired for PAC-14 broadcast and for Wi-Fi.  Those who couldn’t attend could watch the proceedings live and it could even be arranged for the participants to take call-in questions.  We could even live blog the event, possibly collaborating with other local bloggers.  The costs would be minimal and the potential for increased citizen involvement is immense.

Some may be asking, “What’s the point?  Isn’t this just like public comment at council meetings where a few people come an gripe?”.  No, that’s why I argue that this type of meeting should be a model for future councils.  Here you had an opportunity to actually interact with elected officials and they actually answered questions.  Can you imagine what would happen if Salisbury city councilwoman Louise Smith had to do this?

However, to make this type of meeting a consistent success the presence of Pollitt is necessary.  As I pointed out last night, McCain and his colleagues on council are part time citizen legislators.  It is Pollitt who drafts the budget.  It is Pollitt who proposes almost all legislation.  While some of us may consider it fun to complain to the council, we must no longer allow Pollitt to use the council as a political shield before taking a stand on any issue.

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Mike Lewis and Better Benefits for Deputies

This morning’s Daily Times piece on the need for better disability benefits for Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputies is a well written piece.  Sadly, the headline is misleading.

Wicomico Sheriff Mike Lewis DID NOT call for Wicomico County to adopt Law Enforcement Officers Pension System (LEOPS).  Why?  Is Lewis opposed to the benefits afforded by the system?  Of course not.  It’s just that Lewis is an even better elected official than he is a sheriff and a politician; and he’s a darn good sheriff and the most popular politician in Wicomico County.

I draw the distinction because Lewis has been very prudent in not using his political power (as the most popular elected official in Wicomico County) to force additional hardship on the county’s taxpayers while at the same time quietly lobbying on behalf of the deputies who serve us.  When the county faced its last round of budget cuts, Lewis didn’t complain.  Instead he vowed to work within the fiscal framework placed on him.  While Lewis could have easily attacked the county government and accused them of sacrificing public safety, he didn’t.

Lewis has been wise not to use the power of his office or his own political popularity to force fiscal decisions on our county government.  He should be applauded for that judgment.  We would be fortunate to have our county executive exhibit similar wisdom while exercising the duties of his office.

Contrast Lewis’s stance with that of Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt:

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Wicomico’s Anti – Revenue Cap Slate Begins to Take Shape

Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt wants to end the revenue cap.  His staunchest ally – councilman Bill McCain – is not seeking re-election (nor could he be re-elected without a “one shot”).  Councilowman Sheree Sample-Hughes is on record as an opponent of the cap, but lacks the intestinal fortitude to fight the popular measure.  But, things are looking up for Pollitt’s merry band of tax and spend wannabes.

Former councilman Ed Taylor has decided to come out of retirement to seek an At Large seat on the Wicomico County Council.  His platform?  REPEAL THE REVENUE CAP!

That’s right folks, you need to be taxed more:

Taylor said he felt compelled to return to office because of the problems the county has with the economy and crime. He said he would do everything in his power to help eliminate the county’s revenue cap, a provision that restricts how much new property tax revenue the county can collect.

"I’m a strong advocate for the removal of the revenue cap," Taylor said.

This is typical of so many Democrats in Wicomico County.  If only we could spend more …  If only we could tax more …

While Board of Ed employees fly around the country and eat out on the taxpayers’ dime, Taylor evidently thinks the solution is to spend more.  While taxpayers are struggling to pay their bills, Taylor evidently thinks we should be taxed more.  While Wicomico citizens lose their jobs, Taylor evidently thinks county government should grow.

Thanks Ed.  It seems that the only difference between you and Bill McCain is the hair style.  I’m sure that voters will be very receptive to your message.

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WCBOE – The Big Field Trip (Part II)

In an era when teachers are being forced to pay for school supplies out of their own pockets, why does Wicomico County Board of Education superintendent John Fredericksen seem to think that the taxpayers should foot the bill for taking county executive Rick Pollitt out to lunch?  How about county parks director Gary Mackes?

It ain’t the $20 John.  It’s the principle of the thing.  This isn’t your money.  To be fair, I don’t know that either Pollitt or Mackes knew that their lunches with Fredericksen were on the taxpayers’ dime.  Maybe they did, maybe they didn’t.  One thing is certain.  The next time any elected official or county employee has a “meeting” with Fredericksen, they would be wise to brown bag it.

DOES ANYONE PAY FOR THEIR OWN MEALS AT THE WCBOE?

Admittedly, the question may be a bit over the top.  However, you do begin to wonder when you look at a very small sample of the WCBOE’s “travel” expenses.  An awful lot of receipts are generated for meals IN SALISBURY.

The whole board, along with Fredericksen, has dinner and charges it to us.  To be fair, I don’t begrudge them a free meal.  One or two of the board members actually work hard (maybe only one now that Sue Hitch has left the board).  They don’t get paid very much for an admittedly thankless job.  HOWEVER, these people are responsible for spending half of the county’s budget.  Their meetings are supposed to be public.  While it would be unfair for me to accuse them of wrongdoing, it still shouldn’t happen.  When the Wicomico County Council takes their 15 or 20 minute lunch break, the door is always open and they don’t seem to mind when people walk in and out.

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WCBOE – The Big Field Trip (Part I)

Junkets to Disneyland.  Junkets to Las Vegas.  Junkets to DisneyWorld.  These are just a few instances of where Wicomico tax dollars go thanks to our infamous Board of Education (WCBOE).

Oddly enough, I don’t believe that junkets such as these are the worst examples of the WCBOE’s travel / entertainment profligacy.  I don’t doubt that many of these trips afford some marginal benefit to our public schools.  Some may even be necessary.  Some examples, such as employees going to Hooters on the taxpayers dime are actually amusing.

No.  What frustrates me most is the attitude shown by superintendent John Fredericksen and his merry little band of bureaucrats towards the taxpayers of Wicomico County that I find most disturbing.  To Fredericksen, et al, we are a giant cash register; nothing more.

Eating out at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.  Fredericksen going out to lunch with county parks director Gary Mackes or county executive Rick Pollitt and then charging it to the taxpayer.  The response is that this is allowed in the private sector.  This is true.  However, the private sector does not take funds from citizens by force.  Those same people in the private sector don’t have lifetime job security or a retirement package like WCBOE employees.

HIDE THE EXPENSE ACCOUNT

What is even more despicable is Fredericksen’s belief that he can hide this information from the public.  Last summer, Wicomico County councilman Joe Holloway requested information on the WCBOE’s travel expenses for the last two years.  Here is Fredericksen’s response.

Note that Fredericksen (in his most obtuse bureaucratic lingo) says that he would love to comply, BUT, before he could “assist our County counterparts”, Fredericksen must explain that it’s going to cost a small fortune to provide the information to Holloway.

Now, that might be a valid concern – EXCEPT …  Fredericksen wasn’t being exactly truthful with Joe Holloway.  Holloway is tighter with the taxpayers’ money than he is his own (and Joe can pinch a penny).  So, after receiving Fredericksen’s response he didn’t push the matter any further.  Until … at a council meeting in the Fall of 2009 the usual suspects from the WCBOE showed up for a budget transfer.  WCBOE comptroller Bruce Ford had a printout of some expense categories.  Holloway asked Ford how difficult it was to get that information.  Ford replied that all you had to do was enter the account code(s) and the time period and VOILA!

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