The Wagner flyers were abhorrent. That could be considered an opinion, but it’s a widely shared one and an argument easily won.
And we might also all agree that a modest level of health insurance coverage awarded a long-serving and beloved mayor upon leaving office shouldn’t be a problem. That was my reaction; but could an employee benefit not awarded similarly to all Town employees, even one identified as as a gift of special recognition, under certain circumstances become a concern?
Absent either shared experiences or wide recognition of a problem, Al’s “angry” letter wasn’t likely to win hearts and minds. But upon those occasions might we find “payment of health insurance benefits for the appointed town attorney (or any other official) common practice,” whether lawful or not, a step too far?
Offering such a benefit to our very modestly compensated Town Council and Town Mayor is not only understandable, we would all likely agree it’s commendable.
Easton Town Council members are currently paid a fraction of the compensation ($5,000, members, and $6,000, president) awarded County Council members (four times those numbers, and earning every penny). But who else is receiving these benefits?
Compensation moves in the opposite direction for our town and county managers. Those salaries are not not as frequently shared, but they are a matter of public record; and Town compensation at certain levels may understandably have become a concern.
For example, our Talbot County Manager’s salary (2022) is close to the average amount awarded for this position in Maryland, while the Easton Town Manager’s salary is considerably higher.
Awarded by the town council at their discretion, as described in town code, a bit of research would seem to make Al’s concerns understandable and worthy of consideration.
At this point, and despite the Wagner flyers, Al remains hopeful for an opportunity to make progress toward a regional hospital and continue to promote worthy town infill; but however things go Tuesday, he is heartened by the “support of so many new friends” and intends to throw a party to celebrate Tuesday’s election, “no matter the outcome.”
Carol Voyles
Easton
Charles Adler says
Whatever. Willey like most of us are not infallible.
Over 30 years he did make some really bad decisions due to him and his marry band of trusted advisors.
Carol Voyles says
Mayor Willey’s 30 years of service are greatly appreciated.
As you also point out, no one is perfect; but it seems that in some cases assumptions favoring personal biases may be adopted too easily.
Rebecca Ellison says
For those of us who are sick and tired of waiting for the ‘will of the residents’ (expressed in the promises and declarations of our various Comprehensive Plans that a rural setting will be maintained, etc.) to be respected by our elected officials and implemented by the staff of our local governments to control growth and prevent mega-developments, the Wagner flyers arrived just in time to sound an alarm.
Sorry, but the flyers are not a bit of annoying (albeit disgusting) ‘fluff’ to be disregarded. This is life the way the developers increasingly force us to live it. In a nutshell, it is BEYOND time for Easton to WAKE UP and simply ‘connect the dots’. The dots are out there in plain sight and we disregard them at our peril.
With regard to Al Silverstein, I don’t agree that he should be elected. One ‘dot’ is that, whenever he talks about his goals, Mr. Silverstein puts the new ‘regional’ hospital out as the most important goal.
That’s clear. The hospital is seen by others to be his primary interest (as Ms. Voyles puts it “At this point, and despite the Wagner flyers, Al remains hopeful for an opportunity to make progress toward a regional hospital and continue to promote worthy town infill …”.
Another ‘dot’ is that Mr. Wagner has recently bought all the available lots remaining in the former Easton Technology Center on Information Way, across from the Airport and, according to Mr. Silverstein in his Spy interview a day or so ago, Mr. Wagner has told former Mayor Willey that he is planning to build $50 million in storage units there. Gee, that’s an odd use for a Technology Center … but, leaving use aside for the moment, it’s interesting that Mr. Wagner’s Technology Center land just happens to share a long border with the land purchased for the ‘regional hospital’. Hmmm.
Mr. Wagner owns the Easton Technology Park land under his ‘Easton Sunrise Partners, LLC’. Another ‘dot’ might be the identity of the partners …. Just saying.
I don’t live in Easton, but if I did, I would have voted for Mr. Gunsallus. He is a good listener and who seems able (and eager) to connect dots. I believe he would come down on the side of the Comprehensive Plans and in support of the overwhelming number of residents (both towns and county) who seek to simply restore/preserve Talbot County as we know and love it. Talbot County is not for sale. And it does not need a ‘do-over’ or ‘re-do’ by outside investors. It needs to be 100% controlled by the residents and their local businesses need to be kept in mind … the Comprehensive Plans (and the resulting zoning regulations) are the tools. Supposedly.