Kathy Smith faces personal problems that take precedence over the political. Three members of her family have cancer and our prayers should be with her. Normally, giving up an elected office is self defeating, but not in this case.
I can't thank her enough for her role in SAVING our town from bankruptcy. Had she not stood alone (very Churchill like) our already staggering financial meltdown would have been fatal. Can you imagine what would have happened if the town manager's pick would have beaten her in the '08 election? (They deny it now, but please remember who was out and about campaigning for the town manager party that year when you pay your outrageous water bills. Those folks deserve to dwell in the political wilderness forever!)
Although she can't be replaced, and we will all miss Kathy, I hope that the commissioners will appoint someone of her calibre to finish out her term. Thank you Kathy!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Town Meeting Report -- Commissioner Smith Resigns
Commissioner Kathy Smith has resigned her position as commissioner of Ridgely. There have been growing disagreements between her and the other commissioners. Although resigning my own planning and zoning commission position has tempted me, I do feel that elected officials should not resign and disregard all the supporters who put them in office -- sorry Sarah Palin. I know what a pain the job is. My late father in law, Paul Satterfield, advised against having anything to do with planning and zoning or town politics in general, observing that it's the best way to make enemies here....words of wisdom.
The scoop on Kathy will come in the Times Record interview due out Wednesday. In the meantime...the long awaited Ridgely Comprehensive Plan that protects our small town way of life was passed by both the planning commissioners and the commissioners. It took five years to craft this guideline for our town's future.
An all out shouting match then broke out between an irate citizen and the commissioners over the 30% waste water sewer rate in town. He was right! Unfortunately, the commission that is now in place didn't make the mess and is stuck with resolving an incredibly AWFUL fiscal problem. There can be no more layoffs to save money or the town will completely shut down. The only solution is for you and me to pony up and pay...sorry for this overall depressing news folks.
The scoop on Kathy will come in the Times Record interview due out Wednesday. In the meantime...the long awaited Ridgely Comprehensive Plan that protects our small town way of life was passed by both the planning commissioners and the commissioners. It took five years to craft this guideline for our town's future.
An all out shouting match then broke out between an irate citizen and the commissioners over the 30% waste water sewer rate in town. He was right! Unfortunately, the commission that is now in place didn't make the mess and is stuck with resolving an incredibly AWFUL fiscal problem. There can be no more layoffs to save money or the town will completely shut down. The only solution is for you and me to pony up and pay...sorry for this overall depressing news folks.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Painting En Plein Air Near Taylor's Island
This is where I work. I took this on the way to Taylor's Island today. Most people not from the area would have no idea so much unspoiled beauty is so near the D.C. Metro area. In fact, the Capitol no fly security zone starts only 1/2 mile from here.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
21 Years Ago Today -- July 30, 1988
Waiting to see what became our first home on August 8, 1988. To quote a certain Mr. Garcia: "what a long strange trip it's been".
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Busking Across Time And Space
Street busking is where you can see and hear some of the greatest performances. Here are some of the best that I've seen.
Amerikanische Rockabilly in Muenchen....
A living statue in Marianplatz in Munich...
a Dane and daughter at Dupont Circle in D.C. .....
Blues at Dupont Circle in D.C. ...
me trying to steal the show in Lafayette Park, D.C. ...
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
WWTP "Cancer" -- The Real State Of The Town Report
The following report is from the commissioner's meeting last night and sums up the dire straights our town is in. (click on report to enlarge.)
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
The Day Of Reckoning Has Arrived
I wrote the post below on March 15, 2008. Now, everything I feared would happen has materialized. There is no developer. We not only have the debt for the waste water treatment plant upgrade, but the former town manager's $238,000.oo deficit as well. And, don't forget this deficit preceded the global financial meltdown. It was made in Ridgely-- excuse me, Westover.
Our town's financial situation requires drastic action on the part of our commissioners. I want to remind everyone that commissioner Smith, and commissioner Gearhart before her, sounded the alarm to their apparently deaf fellow commissioners. Commissioner Mumford has been a vocal opponent of the fiscal foolishness long before being elected in April. Yet, the task of cleaning up after our former town manager has fallen on these two. We need to support both commissioner Mumford and Smith as they are forced to take drastic steps to salvage our town's finances.
No To Ridgely Roulette!
March 15, 2008
The residents of Ridgely should NEVER have to PAY FOR DEVELOPMENT. Yet, there is now a proposal before the Commissioners to borrow $1.5 million to improve our spray irrigation system because the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) won't approve plans for our Ridgely Park project until improvements are made. Paying back the loan could COST RESIDENTS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER WATER SEWER BILLS.Improving the spray irrigation system is an idea that has been around a few years. However, it was NEVER CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY. Money to pay for these improvements was included in the Developer's Rights and Responsibilities agreement (DRRA)negotiated between the developers of the 403 home Ridgely Park development and the town. Ridgely Park was to pay for phase I of the spray irrigation upgrade prior to the issuance of their 185th building permit, followed by the funding for phase II of the new spray irrigation system.ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO, OUR TOWN MANAGER WAS MAKING THE CASE TO MDE THAT OUR SYSTEM WAS FINE AND COULD ACCOMMODATE THE FIRST PORTION OF RIDGELY PARK AND SOME SMALLER DEVELOPMENTS TOTALING 247 UNITS.NOW, WE ARE BEING TOLD THERE IS AN EMERGENCY AND THE TOWN NEEDS TO BORROW MONEY ASAP. What has happened? How in only a VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ARE WE FACED WITH AN EMERGENCY WATER SEWER PROBLEM? A letter to the town received from MDE dated February 15th stating that "any additional allocations should await the installation and successful operation of the newly configured spray irrigation system" highlights our problem. Some small developments totalling 27 homes are permitted but NO OTHER DEVELOPMENT WILL BE APPROVED UNTIL SPRAY IRRIGATION IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE. This is the "EMERGENCY" and it means that it is obvious that the upgrade is to accommodate new development. This means that MDE grant funding is out of the question since there are no MDE grants made for development.The Town Manager's solution is the quick fix or a loan for $1.5 million. Such a course of action is potentially catastrophic. Our budget is already way off target and the loan will be added to what we already owe for our existing system. This, of course, is going to be done with in the context of a record housing market slump.Ridgely Park as noted above is contractually obligated to pay for the system upgrade. But, the agreement allows them 184 building permits for 184 houses on our current system BEFORE this obligation must be meant. Since MDE won't allow this, do we want to carry a $1.5 million loan hoping Ridgely Park stays through this point? If they walk, the debt is all ours.This piece of ground will eventually be developed. If Ridgely Park leaves town it would be a shame for the town. Ridgely Park is an excellent concept put forth by people who have pioneered smart growth and traditional neighborhood development in Maryland. These people and their plans respect our community. However, RIDGELY PARK NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE and to make the improvements to our spray irrigation system FIRST, and not AFTER the 184th home.GOING INTO DEBT IS A HUGE GAMBLE FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIVE HERE. THE TOWN MANAGER WHO PROPOSES THIS COURSE OF ACTION ONLY STAYS HERE A FEW NIGHTS A WEEK IN A RENTAL AND HASN'T BECOME THE STAKEHOLDER IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE HAD HOPED. He certainly won't feel our pain if he is wrong. In fact, the Town Manager can pick up and leave for another job anytime.The Commissioners and Ridgely Staff will be meeting with the Ridgely Park developers Monday, March 17th at the Ridgely House at 6:00 PM. Commissioner Gearhart is opposed to taking out the $1.5 million loan. The best solution would be for the developers to include all the payments for the spray irrigation upgrade FIRST and not after the 184th home. Then, of course, the town would not need a loan. This, in fact, is the only solution to our problem that puts the residents of Ridgely first.There are times in life when we all must take a stand. Let the Commissioners know that WE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WANT THEM TO PUT RIDGELY FIRST. DON'T MAKE A $1.5 MILLION GAMBLE WITH OUR FUTURE. WE THE RIDGELY RESIDENTS DO NOT SUPPORT ANY LOANS FOR DEVELOPMENT!!
Our town's financial situation requires drastic action on the part of our commissioners. I want to remind everyone that commissioner Smith, and commissioner Gearhart before her, sounded the alarm to their apparently deaf fellow commissioners. Commissioner Mumford has been a vocal opponent of the fiscal foolishness long before being elected in April. Yet, the task of cleaning up after our former town manager has fallen on these two. We need to support both commissioner Mumford and Smith as they are forced to take drastic steps to salvage our town's finances.
No To Ridgely Roulette!
March 15, 2008
The residents of Ridgely should NEVER have to PAY FOR DEVELOPMENT. Yet, there is now a proposal before the Commissioners to borrow $1.5 million to improve our spray irrigation system because the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) won't approve plans for our Ridgely Park project until improvements are made. Paying back the loan could COST RESIDENTS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER WATER SEWER BILLS.Improving the spray irrigation system is an idea that has been around a few years. However, it was NEVER CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY. Money to pay for these improvements was included in the Developer's Rights and Responsibilities agreement (DRRA)negotiated between the developers of the 403 home Ridgely Park development and the town. Ridgely Park was to pay for phase I of the spray irrigation upgrade prior to the issuance of their 185th building permit, followed by the funding for phase II of the new spray irrigation system.ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO, OUR TOWN MANAGER WAS MAKING THE CASE TO MDE THAT OUR SYSTEM WAS FINE AND COULD ACCOMMODATE THE FIRST PORTION OF RIDGELY PARK AND SOME SMALLER DEVELOPMENTS TOTALING 247 UNITS.NOW, WE ARE BEING TOLD THERE IS AN EMERGENCY AND THE TOWN NEEDS TO BORROW MONEY ASAP. What has happened? How in only a VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ARE WE FACED WITH AN EMERGENCY WATER SEWER PROBLEM? A letter to the town received from MDE dated February 15th stating that "any additional allocations should await the installation and successful operation of the newly configured spray irrigation system" highlights our problem. Some small developments totalling 27 homes are permitted but NO OTHER DEVELOPMENT WILL BE APPROVED UNTIL SPRAY IRRIGATION IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE. This is the "EMERGENCY" and it means that it is obvious that the upgrade is to accommodate new development. This means that MDE grant funding is out of the question since there are no MDE grants made for development.The Town Manager's solution is the quick fix or a loan for $1.5 million. Such a course of action is potentially catastrophic. Our budget is already way off target and the loan will be added to what we already owe for our existing system. This, of course, is going to be done with in the context of a record housing market slump.Ridgely Park as noted above is contractually obligated to pay for the system upgrade. But, the agreement allows them 184 building permits for 184 houses on our current system BEFORE this obligation must be meant. Since MDE won't allow this, do we want to carry a $1.5 million loan hoping Ridgely Park stays through this point? If they walk, the debt is all ours.This piece of ground will eventually be developed. If Ridgely Park leaves town it would be a shame for the town. Ridgely Park is an excellent concept put forth by people who have pioneered smart growth and traditional neighborhood development in Maryland. These people and their plans respect our community. However, RIDGELY PARK NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE and to make the improvements to our spray irrigation system FIRST, and not AFTER the 184th home.GOING INTO DEBT IS A HUGE GAMBLE FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIVE HERE. THE TOWN MANAGER WHO PROPOSES THIS COURSE OF ACTION ONLY STAYS HERE A FEW NIGHTS A WEEK IN A RENTAL AND HASN'T BECOME THE STAKEHOLDER IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE HAD HOPED. He certainly won't feel our pain if he is wrong. In fact, the Town Manager can pick up and leave for another job anytime.The Commissioners and Ridgely Staff will be meeting with the Ridgely Park developers Monday, March 17th at the Ridgely House at 6:00 PM. Commissioner Gearhart is opposed to taking out the $1.5 million loan. The best solution would be for the developers to include all the payments for the spray irrigation upgrade FIRST and not after the 184th home. Then, of course, the town would not need a loan. This, in fact, is the only solution to our problem that puts the residents of Ridgely first.There are times in life when we all must take a stand. Let the Commissioners know that WE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WANT THEM TO PUT RIDGELY FIRST. DON'T MAKE A $1.5 MILLION GAMBLE WITH OUR FUTURE. WE THE RIDGELY RESIDENTS DO NOT SUPPORT ANY LOANS FOR DEVELOPMENT!!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Remembering D-Day
This is D-Day. I heard my Dad talk about it my whole life until he passed last September. Thanks to all of you who fought for this just cause.
Here in Caroline county we had a D-Day tribute put on by the Caroline County Historical Society at Linchester Mills which or Historical Society just renovated. Thank you J.O.K. Walsh, Mickey McCrea and the Historical Society for all the good work you do.
My father had his uniform and a video of him on display talking about that most important battle. Thank you Dad. (Click on the photo to see the details.)
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