Toblog has been chronicling the growth and consequences of unelected non-resident executive power in Ridgely. We now have a $238,000.00 budget deficit from a town administration that acts as if the town government is meant to be one that is "by and for the employees". There is hope here, however, that we the residents are about to finally put things back in order in the "Ridgely House".
The problem is national in scope with the best example of the worst case, eminent domain abuse in New London, Connecticut, capturing national headlines. There to keep the administration money go round rolling, middle class homes were condemned to make way for upscale condos to fatten the town's tax roles.
Closer to home we have a deteriorating situation in Pokomoke City. Just how bad things can get is outlined below in a post from another DelMarVa blog, the Pokomoke Tattler. (The "Tattler" is linked to Toblog daily on the "Links To The World" sidebar.)
Pokomoke Tattler -- March 25, 2009
"Did You Ever Wonder How Much the Pocomoke City Manager Makes Per Year?
This is question that I have been asked time and time again: How much does City Manager Russ Blake really make?
Now lets put this into perspective…If he were the Manager of local store or company, it would be absolutely NONE of our business.
However, City Manager Russ Blake works for the City of Pocomoke City, Inc., and because this is a governing body that receives State and Federal money, you and I have every right to know just how much our city employees are being paid.
Since we were told by the former City Finance Director that Russ Blake would routinely tell her to ADD another $1000.00 to his paycheck for his yearly raise; a raise that was not voted on by Council, but decided upon by HE, HIMSELF our interest has definitely been pricked.
Or how about having his water bills regularly adjusted on his rental properties? Yes, this is something that was witnessed numerous times as well.
All of these questions and all of these statements made me wonder !
So a couple of weeks ago a Freedom of Information Act request, was submitted to the City Clerk, asking for this information.
Guess what the City’s response was????
Please deliver a deposit check in the amount of $1,618.oo to cover the costs the clerical costs of finding and sorting and redacting information billed at $30.00 per hour.
Thirty three years of Un-Elected dictatorship, and you and I cannot fire him, but we can’t even find out how much this person makes, how much he gets taken off of his water bill, how much he expenses on an annual basis….NOTHING, without giving them even more money.
This is our money that we have paid through our taxes year after year, this should be available to any citizen at anytime that City Hall is open during normal business hours.
We the Citizens of Pocomoke City are helpless to change this unless we demand that our Council Members change the Charter so that the City Manager does not have complete and final say and rule over everything in our City.
We must demand that they change it so that the City Manager answers TO the Mayor and Council!
At this point in time Russ Blake answers to NO ONE!"
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Damn, if our Town Manager hasn't already thought of this, this will give him ideals of more ways to put the screws to the citizens of Ridgely!
Wait, maybe when we have the Commissioner election, we'll get someone in who will insist the budget be made readable, and will make sure that public information is free for us to access.
Thanks for linking our problems here in Pocomoke to wider audience.
We need all the help we can get down here, and if anyone has any ideas let us know!
Thanks Again!
Stephanie Burke
Pocomoke Tattler
District 4 Candidate
Wasn't mrs gearheart a commissioner when the town manager was hired? If he wants to blame someone, look across the dining room table! Even though she does nothing but complain now, she was definately involved in creating this crisis!
Indeed, friend. I'm more disgusted than you are. Not at Nancy but the town manager. I really believed a good choice had been made and things were going well for a while. The reality has, unfortunately, been the opposite for years. Commissioner Gearhart sounded the alarm while she was still commissioner over and over but to deaf ears. Check your town meeting minutes and you will see she was the lone vote against the other two commissioners for a couple of years on a number of issues promoted by the town manager.. Recently, Commissioner Hunter has come around and seen the light on the police issue and there has been improvement. However, it will be up to the next commissioner working with Kathy Smith to set things straight.
Anonymous #2, you have to be kidding!
Yes, Nancy was a Commissioner when the town manager was hired, but she didn't hire him by herself.
I seem to recall a Committee who interviewed and made recommendations. And, if the person doing the background check on former employment had done their job, I think the choice would have been a different one.
The citizens of Ridgely were snookered right from the get go. Both from the Town Manager who said he didn't have a problem moving to Ridgely as required, and the person who checked references falling down on the job.
And remember, after the town manager was hired and started his shenanigans, who called him on it? Yep, Nancy. What did the other Commissioners say? "But he's doing a good job."
And who CONTINUED to call him on his lies, including lies of ommission? Nancy.
There were lots of town meeting where the citizens questioned the Commissioners about what they were going to do about the Town Manager not living up to his contract. Those concerns seemed to fall on deaf ears. "But he's doing a good job, and we can't go without a Town Manager."
Yes, we can. If we did, we wouldn't be in the financial mess we're in now. I mean, can anyone tell me exactly what this Town Manager has accomplished? I say nothing except take this town for all he can.
Maybe with a new Commissioner coming in, we can finally get rid of him. It can't be soon enough for me!
Somebody better be securing the files in Ridgely House.............
Well eyeson ridgely, lets find out EXACTLY who was the person in charge of the background check and make that public information. They should not be on any future commitees
I'll tell you since I know. It was the temp town manager who was here for about a month. He won't be needed on any committee again. The town isn't over the waste water treatment barrel since other employees have that all important certification. Back then only the tm had the cert. If a change has to be made, it will be a lot smoother.
Post a Comment