Right now our collective blood pressure is through the G.D. roof. If you were following our Facebook updates of tonight’s meeting, you would have seen that things were NOT going well. Because of our collective parenting duties, we were not able to turn in until around 5:30, about thirty minutes in. The hour that we were tuned in for caused this Lady Yokel to have to pour a glass of wine.
So we joined the discussion about whether or not the application for the Urbana rezone should pass. Now, we did not hear some of the comments before 5:30, however, at some point Jessica used the word challenging. The main problem some of the council members have is with the word contiguous as it applies to this property and the opinion that this motion should have been three separate applications instead of the one.
Billy, who was absent from the second hearing of this issue mind you, is trying, in his most condescending voice, to explain some things. He used the word “challenging” every time he got a chance just to try to stick it to Ms. Fitzwater. Had the nerve to say that if this was “too challenging” for them to figure out then how would they construct a 20 year comprehensive plan? Went on rant after rant about how this council never does anything, he can’t get questions answered blah blah blah. It was horrible. He even goes after the legal staff, deriding all their fancy law degrees since they can’t answer his leading, dishonest questions. And hey there Urbana parents, Billy claims y’all are just fine with the overcrowding in your district. Tis not an issue! Billy also tried to goad Bud into explaining his reasoning. To which Bud states, “I am not responding to any of your inquires.” You know what is challenging Billy? Having to listen to you!
Kirby, who was quiet for a very long time, tells us that the reason he is being so quiet is that if he said what he really thought he would be kicked out of the room. But please don’t confuse his silence for him not standing up for what he believes in! That’s right folks, just because his fellow council members had a difference of opinion concerning some aspects on how this application was brought forth Kirby has to muster up all the stoicism he can to contain his rightful outrage! How very brave of him! He does eventually succumb to his baser nature and calls his fellow council members corrupt! Billy then echos: Yeah corrupt!!!
To this Jerry cannot not keep quiet!! Nor should he!! We are all sick and tired and sick and tired of fools throwing out accusations without any proof. So our hero of the evening, the esteemed Mr. Donald, tells the idiots to define what exactly is corrupt. Because all he sees is people trying to make decisions based on their understanding of the law! He tells them to “back it up or stop talking!”
We then hear:
Tony’s motion is voted down. M.C. puts forth a new motion stating why she’s against the application in its current form. States that she would like it to be resubmitted in three separate applications. It is at this point that we must address Tony’s behavior and tone this evening. He’s very upset that this application isn’t going to get approved and tries time and time again to pin M.C. in a corner. He calls her motion “convoluted” and says that the last time she made a motion it landed them in court. Real mature, huh? We think that Tony is really used to getting his way, so when someone challenges him he doesn’t know how to handle it in any kind of constructive manner. Kinda like the bookends. Great job Mr. Chmelik, you are now officially one of them.
We are going to have to watch the second half, which reconvened at 7:00, tomorrow. Those three have put us over the edge tonight.
frederick local yokel 
The majority should simply allow Kirby’s corruption allegations pass. Doing so will only encourage more of it.
“In Maryland, misconduct in office is a common law misdemeanor. It is corrupt behavior by a public officer in the exercise of the duties of his office or while acting under color of his office.” Duncan v. State, 282 Md. 385, 387, 384 A.2d 456, 458 (1978). Whether intended or not, Kirby’s external manifestations have the effect of accusing the majority of the common law crime of misconduct in office. One may also reasonably conclude that Kirby’s statement suggests a violation of the County’s Ethics Ordinance.
If Kirby has knowledge of facts that, if true, would constitute misconduct in office on the part of the majority, then he has a civic duty to report those facts to the appropriate agencies. On the other hand, if Kirby has no such knowledge, he obviously shouldn’t make such accusations.
I don’t expect anyone to follow my lead, but if I in the majority’s place, I would, in an open communication, including the media:
– inform the appropriate criminal law enforcement agencies (Sheriff’s Office, State Police, State’s Attorney for Frederick County and the State Prosecutor) of Kirby’s statement;
– also inform the County’s Ethics Commission; and
– request that all of the above agencies conduct full, thorough and complete investigations into the alleged corruption.
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Oh yes!
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Sorry, Council SHOULDN’T simply allow Kirby’s accusations to pass.
Ordinarily, at least one of the agencies will follow up by contacting Kirby asking for specifics.
This phenomena happened a lot during the debate on solid waste collection franchising years ago. Several of the smaller waste haulers distributed flyers informing their customers that the BOCC were taking bribes from the larger haulers. Many of their customers took the bait and regurgitated the charges. When asked for specifics, they obviously had none.
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And we are sure Kirby and Billy don’t have any specifics either. That’s why when Jerry asked them to explain what was corrupt they fell silent.
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If anyone knows what corruption is, these 2 experts know what they are talking about! I believe Kirby is holding back his unfounded conspiracy theories because I believe he thinks he is going to run for the CE in 2018. Please don’t vomit on your keyboard.
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Let him! We don’t have the Electoral College here!
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I must admit that during my tenure as BOCC President I once left the dais out of concern I, like Kirby, would say something I would later regret. The BOE/FCPS presented a budget transfer request. Commissioner Lovell questioned one of the items. FCPS representative Ted Luck came forward to explain. The item was a bus trip to transport prospective “black” college students to one of the “historically black” colleges so they could experience education among their “own kind” or words of similar import. While getting up and handing the gavel to Vice-President Cady, I indicated that I hadn’t heard a government official utter such racist language since the days of George Wallace, Lester Maddox & Orval Faubus.
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Wow! Just wow!
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An intelligent person knows when to shut his mouth The problem with people who can’t should learn & practice self control.
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