Did anyone else watch to the end of the Talbot County Council meeting on Oct 13, 2020? After experiencing severe audio difficulties early in the meeting, perhaps interest waned when Mr. Pack, Council President, announced upon the Council’s return from a brief recess to fix the problem, that due to ongoing technical issues he was cancelling the public comments portions of the meeting. Mr. Callahan, Council Vice President was not in attendance.
At the end of his County Manager report, 2 hours and 40 minutes into the meeting, the Assistant County Manager turned to the clerk and asked her to introduce the next topic, which seemed strange. The clerk asked the Council for guidance on how to handle an emailed letter to the Council. Acting against Council protocol, Mr. Pack had a letter from Richard Potter of the Talbot NAACP read aloud. Mr. Potter requested a meeting with the Council and other unnamed parties regarding the Talbot Boys memorial. Clearly surprised at this unusual proceeding, Mr. Divilio questioned this item being discussed since it was not an agenda item. It was not listed on the Manager’s Agenda nor an announcement. When Mr. Pack inappropriately continued, Mr. Divilio questioned who were the other interested groups or individuals; Mr. Pack replied he did not know. Remotely, Ms. Price expressed the same concerns and reasonably suggested this be handled per usual practice.
When Mr. Pack attempted to draw Mr. Lesher into the debate, it was clear he was as surprised at Mr. Pack’s behavior as the others. When he found no support for his unprofessional behavior, Mr. Pack no longer attempted to schedule a meeting. Mr. Stamp was substituting for Mr. Hollis, the county manager, who would likely have been more versed in Council protocol, perhaps averting Mr. Pack’s unseemly behavior towards his fellow council members. As a remote observer I was appalled by Mr. Pack’s special treatment afforded one person since public comments had been cancelled by Mr. Pack.
There seems to be a pattern of ill-treatment of his fellow council members and questionable behavior by Mr. Pack as evidenced by an open meetings act complaint, inordinate pressure on council members to agree with him, apparently directing county staff to act outside of normal procedures, and unilateral decision-making. Instead of building consensus, Mr. Pack is not only promoting controversy and division, but also seems determined to discredit his fellow council members.
Althea Dulin
Talbot County
Laura Zagon says
I’m pretty sick of the whole Talbot County Council.
Dirck Bartlett says
It seems odd that Richard Potter would request a meeting with the council after declaring that three of the five county council members are racists.
If I was in their shoes I would ignore this request or seek to meet with other more reasoned members of the community. Mr. Potter has burned the bridge and now demands a meeting?
Clive Ewing says
It is my understanding that the County has spared no expense in technology products and services to ensure these virtual council meetings are fair and open to the public. Given the amount of investment, testing and training, it would seem almost inconceivable that this so-called ‘technical issue’ could happen! I am curious to hear the County’s explanation!
In light of the ‘technical issue’ that prevented public comments from the community, I question Mr. Pack’s motivation to arrange such a divisive letter the privilege of being read aloud during the meeting. This biased decision not only shows that Mr. Pack has no regard for his fellow council members and county staff, but also demonstrates his contempt for the county’s citizens, many of whom, like myself, voted him into office. Perhaps Mr. Pack should review the County’s recently adopted Diversity Statement, for a better appreciation of inclusion and equitable treatment. C’mon man!
Dick Deerin says
When the president of a valued Talbot County organization contacts the president of the County Council to ask for a meeting, there is nothing inappropriate in the president presenting that letter to the full Council. It is time for the Council to stop nitpicking procedural issues and address the disgraceful Talbot Boys statue that continues to stand on the public land in front of our courthouse.
Randolph Murphy says
Maybe Mr.Pack has been there to long? Term limits for our counsil?
Tabetha Evans says
Althy Dulin have you ever considered inviting Mr. Pack to sit down and discuss your differences? Get to know him? Develop some empathy for what drives him and his family? I know you. And thus I know that your commitment to a Caste system that is based on race taints everything warm and loving inside of you. Is the inanimate Poor Boys statue worth the damage you are causing to others (and not just others of color). Is this relentless dedication to a backward cast system where the Agrarian White Landowner calls the shots or destroys anyone who dares to question it’s dominance worth ruining the lives and careers of others who disagree? Perhaps Mr Pack is just tired and disappointed …… as I am
Paul Callahan says
Your statement that we have a “caste system that is based on race” and …. “ where the Agrarian White Landowners calls the shots or destroys anyone who dares to question it’s dominance ….”
Are you trying to state that we live in a 13th century caste system where the White Talbot county farmers organize themselves to both run our society, and to plot against other races to keep them down? Do you actually believe that?
Really?
Tabetha Evans says
I am stating 2 things I know to be true becuase I have watched them first hand my entire life. And to be clear – I am only applying this observation to white farmers that I know intimately.
1. This letter to the editor would have never been written if the letter Mr. Pack wanted read had been from any other organization other than the Talbot NAACP. A letter from the Talbot Lyons Club, the Talbot Bar Association, etc would not have even registered on the writer’s radar.
2. Some (obviously not all) White Talbot County Farmers absolutely hold a deep belief that people of color are of lesser races and they will go as far as the rest of us in society allow them to be comfortable going to ensure that any effort made to advance toward a more equitable society is squashed at every turn. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and their own agenda but if you are unwilling to state it openly you should think long and hard about why that is.
I do not believe anyone is organizing themselves in Talbot County to meet this end…YET. There is and has always been deep divisions in our community based on race. Mr. Pack is not the cause. The cause is the refusal of white society to talk about this and LISTEN with honesty and open minds. None of us can change the skin we are born into or the way we were raised but this is a Republic. We are all stuck on this treadmill until rural white landowners decide they are ready to let go of the idea that everything would be roses if we just turned back time and the people of color among us “remembered their place”.
Your 13th Century line illustrates a huge part of the problem…you are rewriting history …India had a legal Caste Sytem until 1950. Appartheid in South Africa only ended in the 1990’s. Jim Crow laws in the US only ended in the mid 1960’s. This is not an ancient issue. It is very current. there is no shame in the fact that our Country is still working through this issue or that white folks especially older ones are still trying to overcome their upbringings. The shame is in refusing to even try.
Maggie says
Actually I’m more sad and disappointed by the behaviors of Callahan, Price, and Divilio. I find their behavior to be far more divisive than anything your have described here about Mr. Pack. The Council should always hear from Mr. Potter and the position of the NAACP in every single meeting. Mr. Potter speaks for a community that Callahan, Price, and Divilio have failed to represent over and over again.
Eric Bridges says
Mr Pack seems to only want a division among people in the county. I am so disappointed with his actions this past year compared to his past consistent record on the council. What has happened to you Mr. Pack ? I hope you can find a middle ground within yourself that will bring unity and not divide among all Talbot County residents.
Paul Callahan says
I think Mr. Bartlett said it best. Mr. Potter called our council “racist” only because he didn’t get his way. He acted like a child on a playground. Now he demands special status to be heard before the council.
So now if he gets his meeting and doesn’t get his way, we will just hear more “racist” and “white supremacy” allegations against the council. Enough of this. Mr. Potter has shown by his totally inappropriate public comments against our council that he is unable to enter into a mature dialogue on the issues that impact ALL Talbot county residents.
Mr. Potter, as does 99.99% of Talbot county citizens, wants a society where a person’s race and the color of their skin have absolutely no impact on that person’s pursuit of “life, liberty, and happiness” and where all forms of bias, conscious or un conscious are eliminated. However Mr. Potter was the first to use derogatory racial epitaphs in this discussion.
Mr. Potter lost a huge amount of respect from so many of our citizens for his childish name calling and using the race card without basis. He should receive no special favors. He has done more harm for his cause then he has helped.
Henry Herr says
It’s weird to see older white men tell prominent minority leaders that they can’t call out racism.
Paul Callahan says
There is a huge difference in identifying a public policy, law, custom, hiring practice or business practice as “racists” as compared to labeling specific public leaders as “racist” simply because they don’t agree with you.
Age, skin color, or leadership position makes no difference – it was totally inappropriate.
Henry Herr says
People are racist when they demonstrate racism. He explained how the people he called racist were being racist. I guess I’m just too new age but when a community leader tells me I’m racist I’d ask how and what I can change, not deny it and dismiss his comments.
James Richardson says
As I understand it, Mr. Potter was asking in his letter for a meeting with the council to address the Confederate monument. Because this issue should be a priority for the council, I am not convinced his request was out of order as many of the responders have indicated. If some members of the council are insulted by the president of the NAACP’s comments, I’m sorry, but to me, this looks like another of their stall tactics. The council clearly has a job to do and that’s get rid of the obnoxious monument that stands outside their window. I’m also curious why these same responders are so critical of both Mr. Potter and Mr. Pack, both respected leaders of our community who are only trying to find a solution to a very serious problem.
Richard Merrill says
WELL DONE!
It seems that the panic reaction to BLM or Antifa or even the “good people” on the protest lines has settled into the mind of President Pack.
Hopefully the Council can discuss the future of the Talbot Boys without political grandstanding. I was pleased to see Mr Lesher not jump into the fray.
The rush to judgment and forced vote of June (instead of a motion to table the resolution) has hurt the Council severely.
The bright red line down the middle of this issue had been brightened, not dimmed.