While there were a number of interesting issues brought before the Easton Town Council last night, including the struggle to find funds to complete the Port Street infrastructure needs, the Spy took special note of Council President Frank Gunsallus’s proposal to remove the requirement for merchants to charge 10 cents for paper bags. The proposed legislation would amend the current town plastic bag ban, which has caused concerns among some council members and citizen groups.
While the proposal will be discussed at a public hearing later in the month, dissent was evident as the council and those in attendance debated it. Here are some highlights.
Council Comment Highlights
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Public Comment Highlights
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Shari Wilcoxon does not live in town limits, yet, she always seems to pop up for public comment to defend Frank Gunsallus when he tries some shenanigans, like with the Pride parade. So, that begs the question- is Frank Gunsallus a puppet for a person who doesn’t live in Easton, or is he a puppet of the GOP (Wilcoxon is also on the Talbot GOP central committee) that he claims to be independent from? Or, did he lie about being independent in the first place?
This runs deeper than 10 cent bags….
Bingo.
Ms. Hathaway, many people who live outside the city limits of Easton are interested in this issue as well as other issues discussed by the Easton Town Council. Many of us have children and grandchildren who go to school in Easton. Where do people in Talbot County go shopping? Easton. There are some things you can only get at Walmart or Target. And I love to shop downtown and at Harris-Teeter. Although lately the bag thing has increased my online shopping and my visits to Grauls in St. Michaels. I have bags in the car nut keep forgetting to bring them in the store. Plus it seems ridiculous to have to pay for cheap paper bags that easily tear, all to keep from using plastic in a store full of plastic. I can tell from your words to Mrs Wilcoxon that Easton people must really want to discourage those of us who live in the county from shopping there. We can always shop online.
Ms Wilcoxon (f that is the woman pictured in the article) would do well to check her anger at the door if she chooses to speak again at a public meeting.
Ms. Miller, after watching the video several times, I do not see anger in Mrs. Wilcoxon but dismay at the disregard of elites for a practice which inconveniences many poor people in Talbot County.
I watched Ms. Wilcoxon berate councilwoman Maureen Curry about how she didn’t know what was in the ordinance “she wrote”.
Funny thing is, Maureen Curry wasn’t on the Town Council in 2022 when it passed, so she neither wrote, nor voted on it. The Ward 1 councilperson at the time was Al Silverstein. The ordinance was passed unanimously by the council.
Perhaps Ms. Wilcoxon should actually know what she’s talking about before scolding others in a public forum.
Thank you, Mr. Bailey for setting the record straight. I believe I made the appropriate decision not to correct Mrs. Wilcoxon Tuesday evening when she misspoke.
I apologize, Ms Curry, for mistakingly saying you voted for the Ordinance. As I’m sure you’ll apologize for misspeaking to the public about there being no fine to retailers if they give away bags.
I sent the Council a copy of the ordinance for their review and education.
Thank you
Is any of this really shocking? Ms. Wilcoxin and those with her political beliefs are not known for researching factual information (or knowing fact from fiction), reading or just general education. Which is how you get sucked into a cult such as Trump Nation. I wish the two on Council with similar “beliefs” would get back to doing the work of taking care of Easton and stop with the circus every week, it is embarrassing and a waste of everyone’s time. There is real work to be done. If you truly have nothing better to do than worry about 10 cents on a paper bag or a pride banner, then you clearly missed the point of your elected duty. BTW, us poor folks have carried bags for decades, because grocery stores in lower-income areas like Aldi and Save-a-lot require you to bring bags. And by the way, was Mr. Montgomery trying to make the assumption all Latinos are poor or just wanted to win over some Latino supporters with his made up example? Are we to believe he cares about the poor, the same man who stated, more than once, in interviews, if you can’t afford to live here, then don’t. Again, try to keep your lies straight, commit to who you really are, we all see it, so own it.
Funny….. Ms Curry incorrectly stated no fines are levied against retailers for giving bags. Will you berate her as well or are you one of those who believes in two-tiers of justice?
BTW I’ve apologized for calling her out for voting for it…. But she should apologize to the Town for her incorrect statement about the fines.
So who was fined? Because it didn’t sound like anyone was. Again, facts, people listen when you have facts and don’t rant and rave like a nut job.
Dear Mrs. Wilcoxon, thank you for your courage in speaking out against taxation without representation. I am against plastic, always have been, even before it became fashionable. But why ban plastic bags when the entire store is filled with plastic containers from floor to ceiling? At any rate, I think the choice should belong to the merchants to charge the fee. I noticed in the comments that people are attacking your politics, but this issue has nothing to do with politics. It certainly has nothing to do with Trump, or the Pride Parade. It is about the people of Talbot County who have no where to shop but Easton. It is one thing for retirees to bring their own bags but working people with large families are grossly inconvenienced dragging their own bags around on Saturdays from store to store and then being fined when they forget them.