The Talbot County Council voted last night to table a resolution proposed by Councilmember Dave Stepp. The resolution sought to remove the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statement from the County’s employee handbook.
Councilmember Stepp argued that the statement could potentially jeopardize future government grants, making its removal necessary. However, Councilmember Keasha Haythe proposed delaying the vote to allow the Council more time for evaluation. The motion to table the resolution passed by a 3-2 vote.
The issue will be revisited at next month’s Council meeting.
Here are the highlights of Councilmember remarks, which are ten minutes in length, and representative public comments, which are 15 minutes. There were no comments in favor of the resolution that evening.
Councilmember remarks
Public Comments
MARGOT Miller says
I caution the council members thinking of removing these stipulations to remember that “I was doing as I was told” was not accepted as a defense by the judges at Nuremberg.
Gregory North says
Absolute shame on Dave Stepp;
Eva M. Smorzaniuk says
How discouraging to hear Mr. Stepp try to justify his resolution. The comments made by Council Members Mielke and Lesher were far closer to the truth. Also, Mr. Stepp may not be aware of the fact that neither God, Jesus, nor Christianity appear in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. The framers believed in separation of church and state and intended those documents to be secular.
Rick Hughes says
It was a well run meeting; the council members and public, alike, were very professional and courteous. While I disagree with Mr. Stepp’s position, he kept his cool reading a prepared statement in a professional manner. Although there were dozens of people in attendance that were opposed to his proposed resolution, I saw none of the discourteousness, anger or vitriol that he alluded to receiving prior to the meeting. I know some Talbot County employees who oppose the resolution (to remove the diversity, equity & inclusion statement). Mr. Stepp noted that he’d not heard from any employees in opposition and, in fact, he said that he only heard from those who support him. Mr. Stepp also said that the current DEI statement and practices had not delivered as intended because the number of black employees in the County had actually gone down since enactment of the DEI Statement in 2020. I may be wrong, but I read nothing about numbers and quotas in the statement. Lastly, he referenced Jesus and a section of the bible in his remarks, though the reason for that was not clear to me. A motion was passed to table the resolution to allow the Council to further evaluate and to allow public comment, after which a subsequent motion was made, and seconded, to bring the issue back up for a vote last night. Council members Stepp and Callahan defeated that motion with nay votes and now the vote has been moved to a future meeting. This is an important issue and I can only hope that the drums of disinformation aren’t now loudly beat to rally those who think DEI is about hiring quotas of unqualified candidates or firing this class of employee for another. That is not what embracing diversity, equity and inclusion is about… it is about a safe and welcoming workplace. There is nothing objectionable about Inclusion, Diversity or Equity. No matter which order you put the words in – these are good things!
Brian Schmidt says
Dave Stepp should take a step back. Like back to school so he can understand that Executive orders do not override Federal laws and Statues.
Stepp you should be more concerned with the failing water and waste water systems in Talbot County.
Lead pipes and failing systems that affect the residents in towns other the Easton.
Stay in your lane Stepp, you will never be on federal or state level focus on the real issues.
S.S. Hopkins says
Dave Stepp should watch his own interview with the Talbot Spy from two years ago. The first word out of his mouth when asked about Talbot County is Diversity! Watch the interview.
They should play this video at the Council meeting and ask Dave why would you want a statement removed about Diversity when it is was the one and only word used by you Mr. David Stepp to describe Talbot County in your Spy Interview.
watch the spy video.
https://youtu.be/APQq87pMWew?si=mfucJlXfgYv4635w
Pamela Roberge says
His comments offended me. He has no idea what he was talking about except the thoughts going through his brain. He has no consideration for people with disabilities including my son. I don’t know how someone can be a member of council and speak outright lies.