More than a month ago the Talbot County Council was presented documentary evidence that a strategically important but illegal sewer connection was implemented by the Town of Trappe with the involvement of the Lakeside developer’s agents, and that the County or some staff members had known of the improper connection in advance and done nothing. In other words, TIP claimed evidence that the County itself was complicit. TIP requested an independent investigation. Because in over a month there had been no response at all from the County—not even an acknowledgment of receipt of its email—the head of The Talbot Integrity addressed the Council at last night’s County Council Meeting, as follows:
Good Evening, my name is Dan Watson and I speak on behalf of The Talbot Integrity Project, an organization representing many citizens in Talbot County and focused on honest government. I will not exceed the allotted five minutes.
More than a month ago The Talbot Integrity Project sent to each of you directly an email describing an illegal action taken right under your noses by the Town of Trappe—arranging a significant sewer hookup never approved–as legally required–by the Talbot County Council or by the Talbot County Planning Commission. As you know, before any property can be connected to sewer, you, the Council, must first classify it in our Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan as “S-1, Immediate Priority”. And as you, and all the parties involved, also know, this 20-acre parcel was not, and is not today, classified “S-1.” It is now and has always been classified “Unprogrammed.”
As explained in TIP’s email, this illegal connection was handled by the same individuals who represent Lakeside: Lakeside’s engineer designed the improper connection and handled permitting with MDE, and Lakeside’s lawyer drafted key documents. The Trappe Town attorney, whose fees are paid by the Lakeside developer, handled key aspects of the matter. The email each of you received from TIP included links to documentary evidence of each one of these allegations.
These individuals were the same people who advocated for Lakeside before you, before the Planning Commission, and before everyone else in the County literally for years without mentioning in any of those presentations that they had arranged a sewer connection for a property classified Unprogrammed. And this was not just any sewer hookup—it was the linchpin for Lakeside. The linchpin NOT because it was legally or physically required in order for Lakeside to connect to the existing inadequate Trappe wastewater plant, but because the connection was obviously the essential quid-pro-quo for Lakeside to acquire an easement for its main sewer line to that existing plant.
Surely you recall TIP’s most serious allegation — which is that some individuals in County government appear to have been complicit…because, as information from a PIA request shows, one or more people on Talbot County’s staff knew of this improper hookup in advance and did nothing to stop it. No one appears to have brought that information to the County Manager’s attention, or to your attention. In fact, there is evidence that steps were taken by the County to facilitate this unauthorized action.
Council Members, what could be more serious than this? A credible charge of illegality involved in a Billion-Dollar project that impacted our County in fundamental ways, and in which some in our County government appear to have been complicit!
And yet a month has passed and there has been not so much as an acknowledgement of receipt of TIP’s email, formally or informally, by the County as an institution, or by any individual Council Member personally.
Mark this Truth: at some point, tolerance of corrupt practices becomes complicity, and at some point, complicity becomes corruption itself.
A month ago, TIP respectfully requested that the Council authorize an independent investigation of this entire matter—I emphasize, an INDEPENDENT investigation, not a white-wash. That request will not be ignored, it will not go away. Citizens are entitled to answers here, and we hope not to have to repeat this request at every future Council Meeting.
Dan Watson
Talbot Integrity Project
William Keppen says
Hello Dan/TIP, I have only lived in Talbot County/Easton, for five years, but it seems that this project and related disputes have gone on for far longer that that, yet homes continue to be built in that developement. It seems as though the number of people and agencies that are “complicite” go far beyond Trappe and the county. Are you not getting any help from the state of Maryland? If not, why? Have you/TIP considered filing lawsuits? Surely there are lawyers around to advise and take actions on a contingency basis, if there is anything there. If not, I don’t know how this could be resolved to the satisfaction of TIP and all of the other tax payers of Talbot county.
James O. Siegman says
The taxpaying public needs to get more active on his issue. Once these unscrupulous developers get a foothold, precedents will be established that may be very difficult to undo. Here is the real issue. We want people to come and enjoy the beautiful surrounds that Talbot County has to offer. But we must be mindful to grow our infrastructure simultaneously. And we need to limit growth lest all of Talbot county starts to look like the Route 50 corridor between Queenstown and the Bay Bridge.
We need affordable, starter homes at least as much as million dollar condos in downtown Easton.
This all begins with lots of citizens cramming the hearing rooms for EVERY meeting related to ANY new development in the county. It means talking with our elected officials, before, during and after these meetings to ensure that they understand their constituents wants and needs….and that we make a LOT of noise around elections to ensure that we get the representation we want. Local politics takes a back seat to national politics too often. National elections get lots of attention in the press and most folks, including myself, cannot tell you who represents them at the county level.
Folks….our votes here in Talbot County carry a LIT more weight than in the national and statewide elections. And the issues that confront us are the ones that occur in our very back yards. We need greater involvement from all citizens at the local level ASAP.
Linda Spano says
Is there any way that the state could do an investigation into this matter and start imposing fines due to inadequate and non compliant actions? It obviously seems that MONEY is the only area that has any power to affect someone from doing their job correctly. I am ashamed that honesty is so underrated with these people. They don’t deserve their positions. If they can’t do their jobs honestly without graf then in the next election I hope to see someone with integrity take their seat.
Mary Jane Wyant says
Thank you, Dan, for your determination and persistence. We are lucky to have you pursuing these issues, even in the midst of continued frustration and inaction.
Graham Fallon says
Thanks Dan
Jay Corvan says
I am very happy to see that “ justice” is trying to be served here. Dan watson has continued to do a great job of trying to bend the county toward the arc of justice , and it’s been difficult to get the corruption out of county government, because we all misunderstand and underestimate the strength of power politics and profit in the government. Plus we also misunderstand how deep the corruption goes in county officials , and they are in fact complicit.
The state had been equally corrupt and irresponsible in these matters too , so it is incumbent on citizens to demand justice and keto after council. . And in the end the county can pull out a wild card what is known as “ sovereign immunity” which allows them to make mistakes without consequences and get out of trouble , this is another way that state and local governments avoid their duty to protect by pretending not to know.
I don’t think anything short of a law suit will force the county to act, there’s too much money at stake. The corruption will not be easy to uncover and find out the connections , the developers have had years to burn their paper trail. I would hope that justice prevails but I remain cynical about why judges who guard the gates of the county legal system can also be easily corrupted by power and money. After all when in comes to a showdown capitalism and democracy you can see which wins. The recent election is proof of that fact that power to influence people can be invisible.
BARBARA DENTON says
Keep up the good work Dan. It does not bode well for the electorate when one council person runs on a platform against expanding development and then immediately abandons that position when they are elected. It also does not bode well when another council person is involved in the construction industry and they are voting on an illegal development. Another drawback is electing a lawyer to the council. Too many favors could be owed to a lot of people. We are not doing a good job in vetting our council candidates nor are we doing a good job in calling them out when they do not act according to their campaigns. All politics are local and we are not doing a good job in vetting the candidates. We have another chance in 2026. Pay attention!