I read the Talbot Spy’s report of the County Council proceedings of August 22 under Reconsideration of Decision Regarding MDE Letters with interest.
The County Attorney and Engineer’s August 8 recommendation that the Council respond to MDE’s requests in the 2023 draft Report of the Review – an administrative tool used to catalog properly approved updates to the Comprehensive Sewer and Water Plan – was bureaucratically efficient, yet poorly-conceived, lacked transparency, and appeared to short circuit the review process. I suggest watching the hearing video and drawing your own conclusions: County Council, August 8, 2023 @ 47:42.
Council Member Mielke introduced a motion on August 22 to reconsider the Council’s August 8 decision regarding how to proceed with requests from MDE. That decision was reconsidered with support from Mr. Lesher, Ms. Mielke, and Ms. Haythe. The Council then considered a motion by Mr. Lesher to address MDE’s requests in standalone resolutions rather than as part of the Report. The vote for that decision was 3-2, with President Callahan and Mr. Stepp dissenting.
“Democracy Dies in Darkness” was adopted by The Washington Post and popularized by investigative journalist Bob Woodward. I applaud Council Members Lesher, Mielke, and Haythe for shining the light on Lakeside, for having the courage to reconsider a bad decision and for taking the necessary time to give the water and sewer maps for Trappe and the EDUs for Lakeside proper review and careful consideration – something many citizens have demanded, but heretofore has not occurred. The community wants to see Council Members vote straight up or straight down on Lakeside and not try to bury the matter in an administrative filing. Talbot County residents and our precious waterways deserve at least that much from our elected and appointed officials.
Keith T. Ghezzi
Talbot County
Mike McConnel says
HERE HERE!!
Mike McConnel
Roger and Jane Bollman says
Excellent comment on the votes of Lescher, Mielke and Haythe to give the water and sewer maps a proper review. This is good government.
Bob Wenneson says
Agreed, Council members Mielke, Haythe and Lesher are to be commended for facilitating the reversal of the decision made just weeks earlier to ‘bury’ the sewer map issue in the much broader and less timely Draft Report of the Review. With this reversal, the incorrect sewer mapping of the Lakeside lands will hopefully receive the non-diluted attention it deserves. This incorrect mapping started with approval by prior County Council(s) intentionally or through misunderstandings reaching incorrect conclusions regarding Lakeside’s sewer mapping and development eligibility . Fortunately, the most recent prior County Council was 60% replaced in last Fall’s county elections (3 new members, of 5 total). However, the County Attorney which gave the prior County Council cover to circumvent the interests of hundreds of county citizens remains in place. As long as the office of the County Attorney enables outside, for-profit, developer interests to outweigh clearly and loudly voiced citizen interests in maintaining Talbot County’s rural and historic character this problem will continue to arise.
Reed Fawell 3 says
Mr. Ghezzi writes”I suggest watching the hearing video and drawing your own conclusions: County Council, August 8, 2023 @ 47:42.
This is very good suggestion. Look at the tone, body language, dialogue and atmospherics of this video at starts at the 47:43 minute mark and goes on to roughly 1:26. What is remarkable story this video tells.
Abby Lewis says
Right on Keith Ghezzi!
Thank you Mr. Lescher, Ms Mielke and Ms Haythe for your votes to give the water and sewer maps a proper review. This is way past its time.
Wayne t. hockmeyer says
Keith. Spot on. I completely agree with your comments. Wayne Hockmeyer. Trappe, Md
Eva M. Smorzaniuk MD says
Thank you for this important observation! At the least citizens of Talbot County have 3 of 5 Council members listening to their electorate. This gives the Trappe water and sewer maps the attention they deserve, and allows for Planning Commission input. It’s unfortunate that our Talbot County attorney has not been our advocate in this process. Please continue to let members of your Talbot County Council know that they, and not the developer and its attorneys, must decide what this county will look like.
Dick Deerin says
Thank you. We’ll said.