Thursday, November 17, 2011
Fire Dept Question Sent In
"Why is a chief of a fire department playing games by not letting one of the fire departments have a piece of equipment that they are paying for?"
NO LABELS Hot Topics Of The Day
PARTISANSHIP HURTS: Just days ahead of its deadline, the deficit Super Committee is locked in partisan bickering: Meredith Shiner and John Staton for The Hill: Partisanship Still Hurts Deficit Panel Work
MORE LIKE PLAN C: The Super Committee weighs fallback plans in case of failure. We thought the Super Committee was already the fallback plan, after normal legislative procedure failed: Jake Sherman and Manu Raju for POLITICO: supercommittee searches for Plan B
OPTIMISM PLUMETS: 74 percent of Americans think the country is doing "pretty" or "very" bad. We need leaders to step up, put labels aside and talk solutions: Tim Mak for POLITICO: Poll: American optimism wanes
OPINION: CONGRESS NEEDS REPAIRS: Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) says the 112th Congress has few accomplishments. Hyper-partisanship has made it so only 54 bills were signed into law; last session 383 were signed: Rep. John Dingell for POLITICO: Opinion: Congress must stay in session
COMMON GROUND: In spite of everything, there are still signs of hope. Congress sent a bipartisan veterans bill to the President's desk this week: Charles Hoskinson for POLITICO: Veterans inspire a rare show of bipartisanship
Trek up an Appetite with the 3rd Annual Turkey Trek 5K
(Salisbury, MD) On Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 24 at 8:30am, Pemberton Historical Park will host its 3rd Annual Turkey Trek 5K. Over 200 runners and walkers came out last year to enjoy the mostly flat course through the Park’s beautiful wetlands, forests and meadows. Participants will receive pie, ice cream and healthy snacks after the race. Awards will be given in several age categories. Dress the part by wearing a Thanksgiving costume. The person that participates in the run with the best costume will receive a prize.
Registration is $20 per person. Check in and registration will begin at 7:30am. You can register online at www.WicomicoRecandParks.org via Active.com until November 22nd or in person at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (500 Glen Ave.). Participants can also register at the race. All proceeds will benefit Pemberton’s Environmental Education Programs.
Pemberton Historical Park is located at 5561 Plantation Lane in Salisbury, MD. For more information on how to register, please contact Andy Kitzrow at (410) 548-4900 ext.114 or pembertonpark@wicomicocounty.org.
###
Wicomico Recreation, Parks & Tourism Department
500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
www.wicomicorecandparks.org
www.wicomicotourism.org
www.wicomicociviccenter.org
http://recroundup.blogspot.com
Occupy Event Today In Salisbury
Don't forget today starting around noon at broad street and 13 the Occupy Movement will be in Salisbury.
WINTERFEST OF LIGHTS
WINTERFEST OF LIGHTS will be officially opened at 5:30 p.m. tonight. Come listen to the OC Stars sing and welcome Santa to the Town of Ocean City. Watch as the switch is flipped on and illuminates beautiful Northside Park (125th Street)!
Petition is exercise of democratic rights
What do Norman Conway, Pete Cooper, Gordon Gladden, Bob Gladden, Louise Smith, Lynn Cathcart, Tony Sarbanes, Trudy Andersen and hundreds of others have in common? They object to a recent charter amendment approved by the City Council majority and have signed a petition to take that it to a referendum.
This is not the first time Salisbury's charter has been changed. However, I believe such changes must include a fully informed, participatory, public process. Many municipalities require advertisements and public hearings before considering a charter amendment. Some appoint a charter review committee to recommend changes and require a referendum vote with majority approval before any change is enacted.
Salisbury's "ad hoc" approach does not allow the public to be properly informed and engaged. The decision to transfer the appointment, termination and supervision of the city attorney from the mayor to the City Council was reached too quickly -- in seven days, with only four days' public notice. It changes what is essentially the city's constitution. The idea was introduced at a work session with no warning, briefly discussed and left as "food for thought."
There was no discussion of moving forward with a charter amendment nor were the mayor or other council members privy to further electronic polling, leaving us to wonder when and how that consensus was reached.
There was no effort to check with the rest of the council or the mayor to see if we were in agreement or extend the professional courtesy of asking if we had further questions.
After receiving the nod from Councilman Tim Spies, Council President Terry Cohen emailed the city attorney. Cohen gave Paul Wilber instructions as to what changes were to be made before Monday's council meeting and concluded with, "Please have this ready to go for the briefing book."
This is not transparency, and that's why I embarked on this petition drive.
Other concerns not addressed: logistics for those needing legal advice for items such as easements and rights of way; hindrance of city processes; and the potential for increased costs with extra layers of management between an administration that uses 80 percent of legal services and the attorney who provides them.
I've neither seen nor heard evidence to suggest this change is desired by city residents. I continue to strive for a more civil City Council. Civility, however, does not mean sitting quietly as things I view as wrong or improper are thrust upon the city. Civility means using the democratic processes afforded us.
This petition is an opportunity to exercise your rights. If 2,539 Salisbury voters choose to sign, all citizens will have the opportunity to understand and consider the implications.
You can sign at our "drive-up" campaign at Sage Diner today and Saturday, 7 a.m.-7p.m.; at 3rd Friday; or at Giant Food on Saturday -- the deadline for collecting signatures.
The Deli, Deli 111, DiCarlo Digital Copy Center, Nancy N, Robinson Family Businesses and Weisner Real Estate Inc. are also hosting petitions. Every signature counts. Call 410-422-2694 or email laura@lauramitchell.org. Laura Mitchell is one of four at-large members of the Salisbury City Council.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)