Letter to Editor: My Responses to the Talbot Integrity Project Questionnaire

I was presented with this questionnaire from the Talbot Integrity Project so they may summarize, editorialize and form their opinion of me as a candidate to present to their constituents. While I commend their fervor in presenting whom they feel are the best candidates for our next County Council, I felt it better served to view my answers verbatim, and let voters form your own opinion. The questions below are as presented. There are questions I didn’t answer as I felt they had no relevance to my ability as a candidate.

1. What are the three or four issues currently facing Talbot County that you personally most want to address? Can you rank them?

1. Controlled growth following the guidelines of the Comprehensive Plan while focusing on potential infrastructure and environmental issues.
2. Health and Safety
3. Education
4. Affordable housing and higher paying employment opportunities for our younger population

2. Are there long-term issues that are different than short term issues?

All short-term issues will become long term issues unless addressed. Growth and Educational issues are inherently long‐term issues that must be monitored closely, while health and safety are immediate (short term) issues. Affordable housing and employment opportunities are both long and short term.

3. Can you tell us what new ideas you want to introduce into County Government?

I feel a fresh set of eyes on the inner operations of our county government, and being perceptive to our county citizens concerns may bring new ideas to streamline and make our processes more efficient, thus saving taxpayer dollars. We must be frugal with our tax dollars while also fulfilling the needs of our citizens.

4. What do you see as the most important personal attributes of a Council person?

Integrity and commitment to others are incredibly important traits to have as a Council‐ person. A Council‐person must be able to make tough decisions without emotion while performing their duties in legislating the business of the county, all while keeping in mind the best interest of the citizens they represent.

5.About the outgoing Council—

I’m not going to comment regarding the current Council members. The present Council members were presented with some very difficult topics to legislate. With the information provided, they made decisions that were popular with some, but not others, but felt were in the best interest of the citizens of Talbot County. I wish the outgoing members good health and luck in their future endeavors.

a. What overall grade would you give that Council?
b. In what ways was it deficient or did it go astray, if any?
c. In what ways did it do a particularly good job?
d. Is there any sitting Council person you would wish to emulate?

Regarding Lakeside—
a. What is your opinion of that project?

This project has a direct effect on my life as it will wrap around the development in which I live. I’m not in support of any project that doesn’t adhere to the regulations we set forth. There has been much misinformation regarding this project distributed. Decisions by the previous Councils were made based on the information provided, and this Council had the difficult decision to determine if this project fulfilled the requirements in following with the Comprehensive Plan. They affirmed it was in compliance, and allowed it to move forward. If there are environmental issues that must be addressed moving forward, MDE is the organization to do so. I commend your organization in bringing your constituents concerns to light, and these concerns should be addressed to the appropriate organizations. As much as there are great concerns with Lakeside, there are more growth challenges on the horizon, and I would prefer to address those future projects.

b. Should the County just leave future decisions to be worked out by Trappe and MDE?

Trappe has their own Planning Commission. They are tasked with providing what is best for the citizens of Trappe, with oversight from the county to ensure compliance with the county’s zoning and Comprehensive Plan. I feel at this stage of the project, the town, county, and MDE should keep a close watch on this project and report any suspected misapplication or violations of permits.

6. Are the County’s STR regulations satisfactory?

With growth, education, health and safety, housing, and jobs needing such urgent attention, I have not personally engaged the STR issue you are speaking of. I have been hearing there is much concern with citizens, especially in Oxford, Tilghman, and St. Michaels regarding STR’s changing the dynamics of their neighborhoods and am interested in addressing their concerns.

1. If not, what ideas would you propose?
2. Have you had any personal experience with STR’s in Talbot County?

I have had no personal interaction with STR’s in the county. I have used them in other states for vacation and business purposes.

7. Do you believe proper standards of accountability are woven into County government?

Sections 206,220,301, and sections 401‐406 of the Talbot County Charter lay out the protocols for accountability in our local government. If these aren’t satisfactory or as comprehensive as needed, they may be changed by legislation. It is paramount that due process be followed for disciplinary actions, and/or removal from office.

a. How do you see those manifested?
b. What changes, if any, might you suggest?

8. Regarding the Office of Law—
a. Is the County’s arrangement for legal services—private contract—appropriate?

My interpretation of Section 402‐Office of Law, states the county attorney is a county employee serving under the direct authority of the Council.

b. Who does the County Attorney represent?

The County Attorney represents all county agencies regarding legal matters and is the legal interpreter and drafts person for the Council.

c. Should any government bodies or agencies have independent Counsel?

The County Board of Appeals has the authority to seek and employ outside legal counsel, and rightfully so, as appealing to the body to which one reports is a conflict.

9. What is your opinion of the County’s existing Comprehensive Plan?

I feel the county’s existing Comprehensive plan, which was developed by members or our community over a 5‐year period, is adequate to protect our rural way of life, but as with any document regarding guidelines, changes may be necessary, warranted, and addressed as needed.

a. Would you want to see it materially altered, and if so, in what way generally?
b. Can you cite any actions by the Council that you believe undercut the Comp Plan? c. Do you know of any decisions by the Council the reflect a real commitment to the plan?
d. Is it right to press for as much new development as we can attract—jobs, industry,

retail, residential?

I don’t think “pressing for as much new development as we can” is following our Comprehensive Plan. I believe growth and development must happen with careful planning, and be legislated according to our zoning regulations and Comprehensive Plan.

e. Is the development pressure in the past two years or so, about, right? Too little? Too much?

According to the US Bureau of Census, the population of Talbot County was reduced by 256 residents between 2010 and 2020. Residential development (larger developments) over the past 2 years seems to have increased, which may be attributed to many circumstances. Covid induced urban exodus, crime, political tensions, and the ability for employees to work remote more freely may be shifting people to a more rural lifestyle. I don’t feel commercial development has dramatically changed.

10. Do you believe the County’s Planning Department and its Department of Public Works are adequately funded and adequately staffed?

I’ve not, as of yet, met with either department concerning staffing or funding. If there are complaints of deficiencies in funding and staff. These complaints should be investigated and addressed accordingly.

10. Do you have a view on impact fees? A view on an “adequate public facilities ordinance?” What is the difference?

The impact fees and payout structure for developments must be reviewed and addressed to meet our future infrastructure needs. With the county providing funding for a majority of social service expenditures (Education equals roughly 1/2 of the county budget, Emergency Services, Parks and Recreation, Health Department, etc.), the impact fees must be distributed in an equitable manner between the municipalities and county.

An APFO could be a useful tool in providing assurances our infrastructure can handle future growth provided it is created and implemented very carefully.

11. Talbot’s incorporated towns have a high degree of independence. Should they plan independently too, and the County just incorporate the work?

Our municipalities have a high degree of independence, as they should, provided they follow zoning ordinances and our Comprehensive Plan. The county and municipal governments need to work together and do what is best for their municipality, while maintaining the county’s rural character.

12. Regarding the election—
a. Are there any other candidates with whom you generally agree on most issues?

I have been asked these questions for the pubic to get an idea of my position on different topics. My hope is voters will decide who is best to represent them on the council based on merits of the individual and not their associations.

b. Are you, or might you, run as part of a slate? I will not be running as part of a slate.

c. Are there any other candidates with whom you think you sharply disagree?

I feel the place to share disagreements with other candidates would be face to face in a public forum or debate, or in written dialogue where both opinions can be shared and addressed specifically. Part of the problem currently is we form opinions without ever communicating directly with others, often times based on misinformation. Often the opinions are wrong or misguided, and then understanding and cooperation of any kind is lost.

I would like to thank the members of The Talbot Integrity Project for the opportunity to address these sensitive subjects and look forward to working with them in the future if elected to the Council.

I would also like to thank the citizens of Talbot County for their concerns for our beautiful rural lifestyle. We may not always agree on every subject, but we must work together for the better good of our future generations. As a Talbot native, I would like my children and grandchildren to enjoy our home for generations to come.

Thank you for your time and consideration to represent the citizens of Talbot County.

Wade Strickland
Candidate for Talbot County Council