Is It A Petty Tyrant, or Is It Mikey?
I’m loathe to give Mike Dunn any lessons in politics, but it’s obvious that he needs a few. The first lesson that one should learn in public life is to never tell a lie when it can be refuted. I’m not talking morality here, of course you should never lie. But if a politician does tell a lie, he better not get caught, or hope that something worse doesn’t pop up because of your lie.
Mikey has provided a current example, thanks to the current controversy over Debbie Campbell not being permitted to participate in meetings via teleconferencing. Today I received this e-mail from local community leader Terry Cohen about a conversation she had with Mike Dunn Monday afternoon:
Gentlemen,
I called Mike Dunn to ask why the decision to not accept Debbie Campbell phoning in to the special work session. I must have started on the wrong foot, having said I learned of the broohaha about it today, and he said, “There is no broohaha. It’s simply the consensus of the council.” And added:
1. It was the consensus of the council;
2. Checked with Brenda Colegrove and it just hasn’t been done in 12 years (if I heard him right on that);
3. It’s not done in other places.
4. It’s a part-time council and sometimes people just miss meetings due to travel or whatever.I said, this was the first I’d heard of it, that I thought they did that sort of thing, as it’s done in other places. He said, “Well, we haven’t done it. I’ve missed a few meetings and it wasn’t done for me.” I asked if Brenda shed any light as to why it wasn’t done with previous councils and he said he didn’t know, but “Probably because people understand it’s a part-time council and sometimes meetings will be missed.”
I said I was just really surprised because other places teleconference people in, and he said, “Well, if we had real teleconference or web conference facilities, that would be another matter, but all we have is a little speakerphone and it was the consensus we just aren’t going to do that, not for Debbie, not for me, not for anybody.”
I said I wasn’t calling just for Debbie, that I simply thought it was good policy that when someone is willing to take their time and expense long distance to stay involved, that’s a good thing., that I wasn’t calling just for her, it’s just that reading the blogs todays was the first I’d heard that this isn’t done.
He said, “Well, I doubt you’d be calling in for me, Terry.”
I said, “I don’t know, Mike. I probably would because I think it’s good policy.”
He said, “Well, it’s not going to happen and enjoy reading the blogs because I pay no attention to them.”
*********
This is recounted to the best of my memory…the order of comments may not be exact, but the context is and the stuff in quotes is pretty darn close, even with the distraction of little kids. The 12 years may be the one thing I’m not sure of, because that I found it so odd to have such a particular number picked out, maybe I heard wrong.I left a message with the other three that I think it’s good policy to be inclusive.
(Can anyone tell me what the heck it being a part-time council has to do with anything?)
Anyway, I provide this as background information for you gentlemen.
Terry Cohen
Now let’s examine Terry’s conversation with Mike and pick out the lies.
First - it’s not the consensus of council. How do we know it’s a lie? We know because Mikey won’t allow the issue to be brought before council. Either Dunn has lied about this or he has violated the law by holding a rump council meeting without Ms. Campbell present (or notifying her of the meeting). Which is it Mike? Are you a liar, or are you, Gary Comegys, Lynn Cathcart and Shanie Shield brazen scofflaws, or both?
Second – it’s not done in other places. Depending on your point of view, this may or may not be a lie. It’s either a lie, or Mikey just doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Get on Google and do a search. You will find plenty of local governments that not only permit it, but have formal procedures governing electronic participation in meetings. Mike, if WSCL doesn’t provide you with internet access to check it out, go to the library on your lunch hour.
As to Dunn’s other “reasons†for not allowing an electronic participation, they are just as trite:
It’s a part time council and sometimes people just miss meetings. I can’t believe you even said that Mike. Sure it’s a part-time council. Sure, sometimes members have to miss meetings. Now if you had a way to allow an absent member from missing a meeting, isn’t that serving the people who voted you and the other members into office? Of course it is. Unfortunately for the people who voted, Mike Dunn doesn’t care about that. It appears that he is more concerned with showing Debbie Campbell who’s boss. Gee Mike, I guess we know now.
His best reason is, “Well, if we had real teleconference or web conference facilities, that would be another matter, but all we have is a little speakerphone and it was the consensus we just aren’t going to do that, not for Debbie, not for me, not for anybody.” Guess what Mikey? There are several of us willing to call your bluff on this one. The GOB is full of computers. I’m sure there is broadband internet access. I’m sure a few of us can come up with the money to provide Council with a web cam, a decent microphone, and speakers (if your computers don’t already have them). I’ll find out how much web conferencing on the net costs and see if we can cover your costs there too. If that’s a little too high tech for you, I think we can come up with some teleconferencing hardware. There are plenty of options at reasonable prices. You only need a phone line. We can get you into a nice conferencing phone for around $300. I know you don’t have any money to do the city’s business, only to provide subsidies to your developer buddies and to send flowers to people who have had cosmetic surgery.
Normally I would say “put up or shut upâ€. But let’s face facts; Mikey lives in a world of his own. He has already provided too many examples of saying something on a Monday morning and contradicting himself by Monday afternoon. I think the only option before the voters of Salisbury is to find someone to represent them on council who will put the public’s interest above his own petty desires for power.
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Dunn’s asinine answer to Ms. Cohen’s question reeks with arrogance and reveals his ignorance about even mundane matters. But the real tragedy in the particular aspect of the City Council’s conduct is that three other members are his ready, willing and able accomplices in the atrocious treatment of the other member, Deborah Campbell.
Don’t let Dunn’s outrageous behavior — such as he displayed at the Council’s meeting on Feb. 13 — allow the deference and support accorded to him by the other three (and especially Cathcart & Comegys) go unnoticed.
Unfortunately, the poor performance of the Council majority does not involve only matters of style, but extends into many important legislative actions — development (annexation, rezoning and planning) being the most common topic, but budgetary matters running a close second.
And don’t forget tha the entire situation is largely unnoticed by our mainstream media. Thank goodness for this and the other blogs that devote considerable time and effort to presenting the real news about local government in Salisbury and Wicomico County.
The comment about our mainstream media is on the mark. Take last night’s City Council meeting, for example: personnel from both TV stations were there, but the only coverage on the 11 P.M, news was about a routine item (more funding for salting the roads during snowstorms) – no mention of the capital improvement plan, which is absolutely absurd, and other significant matters, or Mr. Dunn’s meltdown (a news item itself, to be sure). I can’t wait to see what the Daily Times has omitted.
In fact, much of the mischief that occurs in Salisbury’s city government is aided and abetted by the TV stations and what passes for a newspaper. Agreed: blogs are an alternative source of information – keep up the good work in reporting on events in Salisbury that otherwise would not become widely known.
Best thing about last night’s City Council meeting (I watched on TV) — Barrie Tilghman wasn’t there blowing her horn. Thanks for small favors.
I heard about Mike’s breakdown and the other three cronies acting stupid. The whole thing is a joke–Salisbury deserves better–much better than these four clowns trying to act like they know what they are doing. It’s a tragic way to run a City. Mayor, Mike, Lynn, Gary, Shanie must be shown the door ASAP–don’t let the door hit you on your way out!
what’s that saying: “sometimes you’re the statue and sometimes you’re the pigeon”—Mike is the pigeon and he is also now the statue!
Some credit to Monique Lewis (Daily Times) for presenting part of the tenor of last night’s meeting — a pretty good report on short schedule.
Sorry she didn’t mention the traffic circle (”roundabout”) proposed for the Carroll Street/Riverside intersection — a multimillion dollar item — and the “East Main Street” reconstruction item ($520,000) is the opening of the Downtown Plaza as a public street. Both of these are a grotesque waste of public funds.
LINK TO PAC-14 SCHEDULE:
http://pac14.org/auto_programming/programming.asp
Be sure to watch the last 30-40 minutes of the Feb 13 City Council meeting — Dunn begins to simmer, then melts down, while Cathcart & Comegys take pot shots at Ms. Campbell. It’s sickening.
Have you people been to http://www.delmarvadealings.com today????
Sorry, http://www.reallifejustice.blogspot.com
Mr. Albero:
Are you going to attend this meeting:
February 23
SUBJECT: Public information meeting regarding Water Advisory Committee on the Management and Protection of the State’s Water Resources
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: MDE, Terra Conference Room, 1st Floor, 1800 Washington Blvd., Baltimore
CONTACT: Saeid Kasraei, 410-537
Which unfortunately almost coincides with the meeting on the impaired surface waters in Salisbury on the same day:
Date: February 23, 2006
Time: 2:30-4:30pm
Greater Salisbury Committee Offices
200 W. Main St.
Salisbury, MD 21801
Roundabout? I don’t know the details but that is a good idea because that is a nasty intersection that needs to be tamed. Budgetary considerations are apart from the project’s usefulness. The ‘connection’ between Camden and downtown Salisbury is as bleak and uninviting as possible, like a wasteland.
East Main Street reconstruction? Isn’t the downtown plaza already a pedestrian/automobile shared street. The most needed construction needs to occur around the intersection of Route 13 and East Main and further east past the nasty billboards and past the lube joints and gas stations. The wrecking ball needs to come out on that whole intersection. I would be willing to take a few whacks with my sledgehammer at some of the horrid constructions there.
Mr; Gladding:
A traffic circle (it’s not really a “roundabout”) will do little or nothing to improve this intersection, which suffers due to the congestion at the Rt. 50 and other intersections at rush hour. I think we can much better spend the bucks elsewhere — and I doubt that “the developers” are going to put up much of it in any event.
The downtown plaza is a disaster (and a very dangerous one) — that does not warrant becoming a street and should be restored as an attractive public space, but a few downtown plaza owners want the street and the puppets have performed their dance — that’s where the $520,000 goes — hope you enjoy what it brings.
ablogbunny Says:
Do any of you realize just how HUGE the Salisbury Wastewater Treatment Plant story I have exposed is? The MDE not only raided them yesterday, they stayed all day writing violations and get this, they were there all day again today! The head of the MDE has admitted the City of Salisbury broke an unbelievable amount of laws but some of the most important ones were that they never filed for permits in human sludge pits way in the back of the property the MDE was not aware of until they received my pictures!Hopefully this Publius, Bill Duvall and Hadley continue to be the first to expose all this important information as the City has been polluting Salisbury like you’d never believe! The Baltimore and Washington news stations will be in Salisbury tomorrow knocking some doors down. Unbelievable. More to come…………
ablogbunny,
Sorry, I will do my best to be there. There is so much going on with the Wastewater Treatment Plant I’m just blown away at the findings. I’m so used to local Government cover ups, the MDE doesn’t work like this Mayor, John Jacobs, Mike Dunn , Jim Rapp and Ron Allessi. They’re going for the throat because these people are breaking laws and need to be terminated immediately! Let’s see what trickles down from this mess but I will try to be there, certainly.
I like this guy Joe Albero — he knows how to treat the vermin — but don’t forget “Mikey’s meltdown” and the blathering by Cathcart and Comegys at last night’s meeting. Talk about your rubbish and feces — this “Dream Team” sure makes that sewage sludge smell good.
The replay is on at 10 a.m. tomorrow. What channel is it on?
Channel 14, the public access channel. It will also replay at 6 p.m. Monday night. For a schedule of PAC14 offerings, go to http://www.pac14.org and click the Programming link at left.
This is long, so I apologize in advance.
Let me set the record even a little more straight. I didn’t call Mike Dunn to play “gotcha.†I called 1) to express my opinion on the policy, and 2) to get the facts from him, especially before calling other council members to express my opinion on the policy.
Prompted by the Daily Times making Palmer Gillis look like the bad guy in the AIG affair and Debbie Campbell setting the record straight that she knew about the special session for it on Feb. 10 (i.e., that it wasn’t scheduled purposely to exclude her), I shared the conversation with the blogs as an afterthought, to be used by the bloggers themselves as background for the discussion of Mrs. Campbell request to call-in for the Feb. 22 special work session.
I think the two examples above show it’s important to have as many facts as possible before drawing conclusions about people’s roles or intent in the affairs of the City. Since my email has been published here, I want to share additional follow up I did.
I queried Mrs. Campbell about the email exchange that was posted on the Real Life Justice blog since there was a timestamp for when she sent her request, but no timestamp for Mr. Dunn’s reply. She informed me that his email’s timestamp was 16 minutes later. In Mr. Dunn’s decline of her request, he did not state that the decision was the consensus of the council. No reason for the decision was given at all.
Further, I asked Mrs. Colegrove (who is always gracious and professional) if she and Mr. Dunn had discussed the historical incidence of telephone tie-in requests, and she said yes. She said the only other time she could recall was when the late C.T. Webster (who died while in office) requested that he be able to participate via call-in from his hospital room. The request was for both work sessions and regular sessions. His request was denied.
I asked her when their conversation took place. She said, “This morning,†i.e., the morning of this week’s council meeting. I asked if there had been any other conversations to the same effect previously and she said no.
So, the historical perspective that Mr. Dunn cited to me was not part of the decision to decline Mrs. Campbell’s request (Dunn did not say it was, but in the context of the conversation, I felt he implied it since I was asking the rationale of the decision.)
Draw your own conclusions from this information. I did not want to make assumptions about Mr. Dunn’s actions on this matter, so I pursued the chronology and facts as much as possible.
To the substance of the matter, as I noted to Monique Lewis of the Daily Times, it is understandable to want to prevent votes from being taken by phone or from participating in a closed session by phone since there is no way of validating who is doing the “Aye†or “Nay†on the other end or whether someone else is in the room. But work sessions are discussion-oriented, not for vote taking. Since talking with her, I looked at a reference to the Open Meetings Act manual in which it states:
“Meetings can take place with a majority of the members in a single room, or they can take place via conference call, video conference or instant messaging. The manual notes that a requirement for a meeting is ‘immediate interaction’ of members.â€
The council has had consultants participate in work sessions by speakerphone, so why not one of their own? (Perhaps I should research whether the former council had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act in refusing to make reasonable accommodations for the late Mr. Webster?) Also, as pointed out by Joe Albero, the Zoo Commission has routinely had a member participating by telephone in its meetings. As I noted to Monique, the technology to do this with quality audio, even video, is not expensive or hard to implement.
This IS a part-time council, so all the more reason for every available opportunity to be made for the elected officials to participate. (Hence my befuddlement in the posted email over “part-time†being used as a justification for the decision to deny call-in access, rather than allow it.)
Yes, even public officials have to be accorded the right to private time and lives, to be flawed human beings. Yes, it’s not easy for part-time council members to keep up with so many issues.
But it’s not easy for constituents, working or retired, either, yet many have “dug in†and done the homework. Public input should be regarded as a valuable tool in decision making. Citizens who take the time to research issues, ask questions and even recommend solutions are an incredible asset to the process.
And so are elected officials who, despite illness or work, look at their “part-time†positions as a commitment to the fact that their decisions affect us all full-time, now and for years to come. Participation is the greatest quality and gift that representative democracy offers us.
We, as citizens, must continue to insist that personal issues be set aside for the discussion and process of policy. Let the fullest participation possible be a hallmark of our City, for both the elected officials and for the citizens they represent.
– Terry Cohen
A traffic circle at that intersection would place unregulated traffic on Camden Avenue, essentially turning it even more into a thoroughfare increasingly used as an alternate to Salsibury Boulevard. Camden Avenue is a residential street, not a highway, although some would forget that when they have the opportunity to have a traffic circle named after them. Picture a landscaped mound with a statue of Barrie at the middle.
Can I ask “ALL” of you a question here? How many of you can attend a Zoo Commission Meeting at 12:00 noon the third Wednesday of every month? Is it so unreasonable to ask that these meetings be held at 6:00 or 7:00 PM so the Citizens of Salisbury can in fact attend and see how Mr. Allessi handles himself as a jackass, just like Mike Dunn?
Are “ALL” of you aware Mr. Allessi refuses to allow any public comment at all and that you must put your questions in writing to the Commission and they come back via the mail and always says, no comment?
It’s time for “ALL” of these arrogant jackasses to be fired and it’s time you get your moneys worth in Salisbury! These people, the Mayor, Mike Dunn, John Jacobs, Jim Rapp, Ron Allessi refuse to listen to a WORD the taxpayers are trying to state. Think about it, they are only listening to developers and they cut down anyone challenging them!
Two Council Meetings ago Mike Dunn flat out told a concerned Citizen who had politely asked the Developers speak first and Mr. Dunn stated the agenda was already set and that the Developers would speak after the Public made their comments, the Developer NEVER spoke! He LIED to everyone! How big a crime is it when Mike flat out hears no one but the Developers? These people need to go immediately and Salisbury is quicklybecoming the biggest disgrace City I have ever seen!
Even the local news stations are about to break the stories about the Salisbury Wastewater Treatment Plant and even the Salisbury Zoo. They are polluting the waterways as well as the soils around the entire Plant! Can this be related to cancer locally? Are “ANY” of you going to believe the Mayor and all the other people I’ve mentioned here when they say, I never knew about it?
The cover-up is so huge here it isn’t funny. Jim Rapp knows about raw sewage being dumped directly into the ground behind the Jag Exhibit, so does Ron Allessi! Friends of the environment? I think not! They know about the runoff of a main sewage line for the City that runs right through the Zoo, whenever it floods or the lift station fails, raw sewage goes right into the Bison moat as well as the Cavy moat and then into a pipe that goes directly into the river!
So has it been the Bison and Llama’s that have been stinking up the Zoo? Could be raw sewage from human waste. Oh, note this as well. WBOC News is investigating a contact that may have some 20 years of test results of E. Coli results directly from the Salisbury Zoo! That’s right Mr. Rapp, don’t try to sleep now because the truth is about to get exposed. I’ve been telling all of you there are many breaking news stories about to turn this City upside down and here they come!
So Mayor Tilghman, do you still back John Jacobs and Jim Rapp 100%? Seems to me you picked the wrong side to stand behind because right now I’d call my game with you, CHECK MATE! You Lose! I don’t think any one of you are going to ever get away with calling me names again. The media knows who’s telling the truth and your bully attitude towards people is now going to end immediately. It’s time everyone learn the truth about you and your team of liars and it’s time they place someone in as Mayor that will look after the people, not the developers!
One last question, how many animals are at the Salisbury Zoo and how many animals has the Zoo purchased in the last 6 months? When will you hold a fund raiser for Kip Grangier?
That’s all I have to say.
Kurt says: “Camden Avenue is a residential street, not a highway, although some would forget that when they have the opportunity to have a traffic circle named after them. Picture a landscaped mound with a statue of Barrie at the middle.”
Ha, Ha! And maybe a statue of Jim Rapp squatting and taking a dump into a mock up of the Wicomico River.
How about John Jacobs taking that dump? Heck, if he gets any time, maybe Jacobs scooping up the dump!