Saturday, March 17, 2012

Another Day in Paradise Lost

There was actually hope for the citizens of Sussex County Thursday night at the Board of Supervisors meeting but it did not take long for reality to take grasp and our trip into purgatory was once again well on its way.
Towards the end of this post I will give you many links to video clips which will give you a slight insight into the sadness. To get a complete and accurate accounting I incourage you to attend the meetings.
THE NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING IS MONDAY EVENING 7:00 pm, a continuation of Thursday evening after Sheriff Bell REQUIRED the meeting be recessed and if not he would be forced to arrest some if not the entire board for disordely conduct. More on the later.

As I said there was some good so I'll start with that.
County Administrator Thomes E. Harris gave the County Administrator's report which included some incouraging information. A graph was shown that indicated the various Department Heads were doing a good job holding down expenditures as compared t last year. Clearly a indication that at least they were being fiscally responsible with our money. Mr. Harris went on to give a report about the animal shelter and it seems that after several years of mis management and mis treatment of the animals the current staff is doing a good job. The adoption rates are up, animals are being placed in rescue organizations or reuinited with their owners. VERY very few animals are having to be put down. As a previous member of the Sussex County Animal Advocates it was good news and showed that a small group of concerned citizens working togther can demand change, hold the authorities accountable and make a difference.
 Valery Ricks and I made a presentation  on the great work being done in the Town of Waverly that will hopefully some day benefit not only the town but all of Sussex County. Again another example of what good can be accomplished when even a small group of folks work TOGTHER for the benefit of ALL.

WELL THAT WAS THE GOOD now with THE BAD
 Surprise surprise a 3 -3 vote to elect a vice chair. Can it be really that hard to select who would be BEST to fulfill the role of Chair should something happen to My Tyler and he was unable to attend meetings or conduct the business of this county. Lets set aside ALL other factors and focus on just that one aspect and then vote. I would demand the supervisors ALL SIX get up and say why either they are best for the position or why they are supporting someone else. Do this in a public meeting then take a vote and let everyone present decide jusy why it is you voted the way you did.
Another inevitable deadlock as it relates to paying bills. Who does this hurt??? The 6 board members who can not agree NO...THEY ARE STILL BEING PAID and in fact have been paid for NOT doing there work. A citizen demanded that those who played games and did not do the work of the county REPAY their nearly $600 a month salary, did they???? NO!!!!
Is it hurting the vendors who provided the services?? In today economy any outstanding payments due someone hurt and every penny could be put to good use but in the case of the 2 lawyers who have not been paid its not going to send them into bankruptcy? No! So who does it hurt? It hurts each and every citizen of Sussex County as OUR Name and GOOD WILL are tanking. We have 2 industrial parks, we are not fiscally or mentally able to manage 1 let alone 2 but thats another story. So who or what kind of companies do you think would want to relocate to a county that has a reputation of not being able to pay their bills.


 Lawyer Michael Drewery one of those vendors/laywers who has not been paid BUT still was providing services to the county because it saw a real need called it quits. He handed in a letter stating that he can NO LONGER provide legal services with out being paid. This now puts US not just the 6 board members it put US the citizens of the county in a serious court case with out representation. maybe the courts can appoint legal defense as they do for indigents.

AND NOW FOR THE UGLY
Not refering to the physical appearances but to the ACTIONSAs they say pictures are worth a thousand words so I let these stand for them selves and you can add your onw words or thoughts. Remember to check out some of the video clips (linked later) and you can hear for your self some of the shameful bantering that went on.






 Some citizens left in disgust while others could not believe what was going on and looked around for help.
 The man in the center of a lot of the County's discontent and strife, Mr Thompson (attorney).

And then when you think things could not get any worse ...........

Sheriff Bell takes the podium and immediately was told by Chairmen Tyler that time for citizen comments is over and he should sit down. Sheriff Bell stated that he was not standing there as a citizen to make comments BUT AS THE SHERIFF and if they did not recess the meeting immediately he would have to consider arresting them for disorderly conduct. I personally had a bad feeling that if something was not done along these lines that it soon would become physical or worse.   Is our safety in jepordy attending OUR County Board of Supervisors meeting now??? Maybe!! As I was leaving the meeting I had an opportunity to say something to my representative and in all due respect to him knowing he just came out of a volital situation he was very abrupt and almost physical with me. We MUST ASK OURSELVES why has it gotten to this and what can be done to put an end to this. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
That's all as I am getting so frustrated all over again just by writing this post.

Please check out the video clips at

              
I had my own caption for this political cartoon I created but I thought it would be more fun if you created your own.

                          

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