I am curious as to why our elected town mayor and town council members have not taken a role in some of the more significant areas of concern which have become apparent over the last few months (first item below) or year and a half (2nd item below).
If some position or action has indeed been taken on such matters, it is invisible to the average citizen. And if there has been any role, position or involvement by our town leaders, it has not been given media attention. Instead, media attention has been reflecting considerable involvement in ribbon cuttings, public appearances and publishing announcements of past accomplishments and desires for reelection to town positions. Not to denigrate the need for visibility in matters such as those, but effective town governance includes broader responsibilities, in my opinion.
- UMD Shore Medical Center service issues. Repeated public statements of 6-10 hour wait times for Emergency services? This is a critical-services provider for our citizens, a core business prominently located in the middle of our town and the town’s largest employer. Given those features, I don’t feel it’s reflective of good governance to simply take a hands off “it’s a private employer” position regarding the difficulties the hospital is having.
A certain amount of latitude was appropriate some 18-24 months ago when medical systems had high case-loads and the country was grappling with the complex initial problems arising from the Covid pandemic. However, that time has largely passed. Sure, manpower/employment pressures still exist in several industries but other industries are crafting remedies allowing them to at least get by. Can you imagine a 6-10 hour wait at a restaurant? A service station? A hardware store? A dentist?
Has anyone representing the town arranged a meeting with hospital CEO Mr. Kozel to express the town’s concern with this situation? And possibly to better understand the issue and determine whether the town can in any way assist in alleviating whatever pressures are contributing to the issue? I note the town just approved purchasing five more $80,000 police vehicles totaling some $400,000 of funds. The funding comes from state/federal pandemic relief funds, thus are not “our” dollars, so to speak. However, the Act providing for the funds gave great discretion to the receiving jurisdictions — including spending awarded funds to assist critical private businesses suffering staffing impacts arising from the Covid pandemic. To swiftly approve with virtually no discussion the $400,000 spent buying more police cars “because it’s fully funded by outside, non-Easton, dollars”, fails to consider the opportunity costs of that decision.
- The Lakeside issue. This is not just a County issue. Yes, the County Comp plan, the County Water and Sewer regulations and the County Council’s actions lie at the heart of the matter. But this is a matter that will impact all of our Town citizens also, so I fail to understand why our town leaders have played such a hands-off role in the matter. Easton’s citizens make up approximately half of the tax-paying headcount in Talbot County. We Easton citizens will be impacted by the traffic; we will be paying a large part of the additional expenses for County policing, road improvements and repair, student educating, etc. that will obviously be associated with the eventual buildout of the largest subdivision in County history just a few miles outside of town limits. If indeed County procedures, regulations and our Comp Plan are short shrifted (if not downright violated), then it impacts all Easton citizens.
In spite of the heightened visibility and potential bully-pulpit capabilities which come as town leaders, I have seen virtually no evidence of taking a position or trying to encourage the movement of this matter in a direction more reflective of the needs and desires of the town as a whole. Instead, the predominant antagonist in this play has been a private citizen, a Mr. Dan Watson, who has spent hundreds of hours bringing attention to the apparent failure of our those in our county offices and commissions to do their jobs. And now, a privately-funded citizens effort via litigation is being pursued attempting to derail the Rocks/Rauch steamroller over County regulations. But at the public hearings, in media Letters-to-the -Editor, in any forums whatsoever, Easton’s town leaders? Largely AWOL. It’s hard to believe that our Town leaders, representing half of the County’s citizens, have no position on this matter, and have been willing to avoid involvement under the premise that it’s simply a County matter.
Bob Wenneson
Easton
Reed Fawell 3 says
This particular Letter to the Editor is a great public service provide us by its author.
Bob Flower says
Thank you for bring this to light.
Kim Cassady says
Bob, you are right on the money. The hospital doesn’t want to spend more money. What burden will Lakeside add to the hospital? You sited many burdens it wii add to the city. The city leaders are counting the money the added population will add to commerce in the city and hence to city revenue. Follow the money.
Joyce DeLaurentis says
Thank you, Bob for succinctly expressing these critical concerns/issues!