Elected officials over in Berlin are girding up their loins and building a stone wall to resist increasing pressure by the local news media, and hopefully others, to publish the minutes of one or more closed meetings, during which it is alleged town officials discussed and reached concensus on issues of legal and ligitmate interest to the public.
This is interesting. But it would be more interesting, and perhaps generate greater pressure on the town, if the press actually gave us details about the allegations.
If this is true, it cast our old friend Tom Cardinale, a Republican, in a bad light-- especially since he took pains to tell voters prior to his election as mayor that he would make the town's government "more transparent." Well, it's time to be transparent, Tom; there are unswered allegations and questions that need to be resolved. If elected officials have done nothing wrong, fine, then you've made good on your promise to be honest, truthful and forthcoming. If, on the other hand, you've violated the trust of the citizens, then it's incumbant upon you and the rest of the council to man-up, ownup and take your medicine. That way, you can at least salvage what's left of your political career and begin rebuilding trust.
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Ok, although there is no official smoking gun found at the moment, there are some things that the reporters are looking for. The more Mayor Cardinale tries not to be what "was" local government in the past, the more he becomes that every day.
Mayor Cardinal has taken it upon himself to overstep bounds on many occasions. Just look at the West Street ditch for instance. He knowingly disregarded the Fifth Amendment and went in there and took property that did not belong to him. The residents pleaded with him to wait until the Army Corp had gotten back to the Town to see what should be done with the water problems; however the Mayor knew best. Now it is worse than it was before. Oh, by the way, the Town spent over $140,000.00 for the Corp report.
Look at the Town employee morale. That is in the toilet! He is trying to run the town like Mussolini! The employees are not cooperating with each other, let alone the folks at the top! The Mayor will request "staff input" on certain items, get that input at public meetings, then go and do the opposite!! Why the hell even have staff?
Mayor Cardinale is trying to dispose of the Electric Company that is Town owned. That's right, T-O-W-N O-W-N-E-D! You might think he owns it himself the way he preaches! Since he, nor the Council, has any idea how to run a profitable business they have decided to get rid of it! WHY?? Just because you don't know something about it does not mean you cannot get someone in there to run it successfully. Cost to taxpayers on the "hidden adgenda" here is reported at over $180,000 (source: Town Admin)
Back to the topic at hand. Sorry.
Did you know that when Mayor Cardinale and the Town Council went into negotiations with the various purchasers of the electric company that the purchasers REQUIRED the Mayor and Council to sign a confidentiality agreement? Who were the Mayor and Council protecting? It certainly was not the citizens of the Town of Berlin! Every time a question was asked of Mayor Cardinale he would hide behind the fact that "we cannot answer that question due to the fact of the confidentiality agreement!" Bullshit!
This past Monday night (1/22/07) Mayor Cardinal was so upset that he felt it necessary to change the employee handbook to strike every instance of "including elected officials" so that he could spend money on things like taking his wife to dinner without first getting approval from the Town Administrator. We won that one thank goodness and he cannot do this!
Just come to a Town meeting one night and stand in the hallway upstairs. You can hear them discussing all types of things that do not even come CLOSE to be protected by the "sunshine law" in Maryland.
There is SO much more going on in Berlin that the citizens are not aware of. Perhaps it is time for a Berlin blog?
Aaah, "livinginberlinmd" couldn't have said it better myself...and there is a Berlin blog - www.blog.berlinmd.com. Join us?
Dick: Read this on Craigslist tonight:
Free German Shepard to a good home.....his name is Napoleon and he is 17 months old. He is very friendly but we can't keep him because we have to move. Send me a message @ adidaebonita@yahoo.com or call mike or Jenny 443-235-5978
Jenny Kenney
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