Showing posts with label People Miller Sykesville Mayor Mike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label People Miller Sykesville Mayor Mike. Show all posts

Monday, June 1, 2009

Letter to the Explore Carroll editor: Initial meeting for new Sykesville mayor raises concern by Saslow

Initial meeting for new mayor raises concern in Sykesville by Howard Saslow, Sykesville Letter to the editor posted in www.explorecarroll.com on 5/31/09 

On May 27, I attended my first Sykesville Town Council meeting since losing my bid for a council seat and since the new administration took office. 

Though Jonathan Herman, my choice for mayor, was narrowly defeated by Mike Miller, I was, and still am, willing to give our new mayor a chance. 

However, first impressions are that the town's residents are in for a rude awakening. The most telling change was Mr. Miller's refusal to take public comment during discussion of the planned purchase and installation of the emergency generator slated for the police station and town house. 

First, let's remember that the generator was approved by the previous council. 

Second, funding for the generator is included in the current year's fiscal budget. 

Third, the project was already awarded to a contractor, Bangs Generator Systems, and finally, it sets a dangerous precedent that puts many past, current and future projects in jeopardy. 

 One of the things I have always valued as a citizen of the town has been accessibility to town officials and the ability to affect town decisions through public comment at town meetings. 

Certainly if the mayor wishes to eliminate the generator, something that may have tremendous impact on the health, safety and welfare of residents, he should be willing to entertain comments from the community that he serves. Mr. Miller's position is a slap in the face to every citizen whose past participation at council meetings has made Sykesville a better place to live. 

Had he made it a point to attend Town Council meetings prior to taking office, he would be aware of the public/council dynamics that have worked so well for the town during past administrations. 


For more information please see: New Sykesville mayor objects but council OKs generator: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-sykesville-mayor-objects-but.html 

Charles Schelle’s article in www.explorecarroll.com may be found here: Resident takes issue with mayor not taking public comment on matter - New mayor objects, but council OKs generator ______ 


Mr. Culleton’s column may be found in www.explorecarroll.com here: Culleton on Carroll - By John Culleton Posted on www.explorecarroll.com 5/18/09 Herman's loss in Sykesville is a blow to countywide economics ______ Miller upsets Herman in Sykesville mayoral race By Charles Schelle on “Soundtrack.” 

Charles Schelle’s article may found here: Miller upsets Herman in Sykesville mayoral race By Charles Schelle ______ 


Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

New Sykesville mayor objects but council OKs generator


New Sykesville mayor objects but council OKs generator

New mayor objects, but council OKs generator

For more on this unfolding story please see:
Herman's loss in Sykesville is a blow to countywide economics by John Culleton http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/05/hermans-loss-in-sykesville-is-blow-to.html

Mr. Culleton’s column may be found in
www.explorecarroll.com here: Culleton on Carroll - By John Culleton Posted on www.explorecarroll.com 5/18/09 Herman's loss in Sykesville is a blow to countywide economics

Miller upsets Herman in Sykesville mayoral race By Charles Schelle on “Soundtrack.”

Charles Schelle’s article may found here:
Miller upsets Herman in Sykesville mayoral race By Charles Schelle

The election results may be found here:
Sykesville, Carroll County Maryland May 5 2009 municipal election results


*****

Resident takes issue with mayor not taking public comment on matter By Charles Schelle cschelle AT patuxent.com

Posted on
www.explorecarroll.com 5/31/09


The Sykesville Police Department will get an emergency generator despite opposition by newly-elected Mayor Mike Miller.

The mayor and members of the Town Council debated at a May 27 meeting whether to fund the generator in the $2.8 million fiscal 2010 budget -- despite the fact that the council had previously awarded a contract in April to Bangs Generator System for $43,511.

The 80-kilowatt generator will power both the police station and the Town House in emergencies.

Council members Leslie Reed, Frank Robert, Scott Sanzone and Chris True voted to approve to fund the generator in next year's budget, while Miller and council members Leo Keenan and Ian Shaw voted against the generator.

[…]

Miller then said he would not take additional public comment on the generator issue before the vote. That prompted resident Howard Saslow, who unsuccessfully ran for Town Council, to criticize the process.

"It is a slap in the face to all of us who take part in due process," he said.

Miller said he decided to not take public comment because the generator had been discussed at prior council meetings and he thought the audience "was aware of all the nuances."

Saslow said the mayor and council should consider public comment if they are considering reversing the outcome of a vote made by the previous by the mayor and council.

"I hope that the future of the town is not what I saw tonight," he said. "It is really upsetting to me as a member of this town to not be able to comment on something that important."

[…]


Be sure to read the entire article:
New mayor objects, but council OKs generator

20090531 New mayor objects but council OKs generator by Schelle

http://explorecarroll.com/news/2950/new-mayor-objects-but-council-oks-generator/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff

www.explorecarroll.com New Sykesville mayor objects but council OKs generator by Charles Schelle http://tinyurl.com/mxkkfv

Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Herman's loss in Sykesville is a blow to countywide economics by John Culleton

Herman's loss in Sykesville is a blow to countywide economics

Culleton on Carroll - By John Culleton Posted on
www.explorecarroll.com 5/18/09

Sykesville has lost two of its best elected officials. We learned earlier that Jeannie Nichols had declined to run again for the Town Council.

Now, in a surprising development, Jonathan Herman was defeated for mayor. These two were among the most able elected officials I have had the privilege to see in action. I wish their successors well, but undoubtedly Sykesville will be poorer for their absence.

Carroll County has had a persistent and serious problem. The industrial tax base is too small. With residential values falling and hence future residential taxes to decline as well, the county will find itself in a fiscal bind.

The one bright spot in our largely unsuccessful effort to attract industrial taxpayers has been the Warfield Commerce and Cultural Center, which takes a piece of non-taxable, state-owned property and converts it to corporate campus-type facilities.

Mayor Herman was the prime mover in this project. His experience in contracting and construction gave him special skills to handle the details.

He was also well connected with the Democratic committee chairs in the General Assembly. Annapolis is a partisan town, and as a leading Democratic voice in Carroll County, Herman had access other officials lacked.

The election itself is a puzzler. Only 560 voters showed up at the polls?

The population of Sykesville in July 2007 was estimated at 4,417. The median household income was estimated at $91,467.

The vote tally was 294 for Miller, 266 for Herman.

I can only speculate that between his day job and his duties as mayor, Herman devoted insufficient time to campaign. But a turnout of 560 voters is embarrassing.

Those who run for office in towns such as Sykesville are essentially volunteers; the stipend of $200 per meeting for the mayor doesn't cover much. Even our county commissioners, who receive $45,000 per year, must have other sources of income.

All our public officials, commissioners, mayors, council members and elected members of the school board are seriously underpaid.

Volunteerism is all very well, but those salaries are ridiculous.


Read Mr. Culleton’s entire column here: Herman's loss in Sykesville is a blow to countywide economics

http://explorecarroll.com/opinion/2910/hermans-loss-sykesville-blow-countywide-economics/

For more information please see: Miller upsets Herman in Sykesville mayoral race By Charles Schelle on “Soundtrack.”

Charles Schelle’s article may found here: Miller upsets Herman in Sykesville mayoral race By Charles Schelle

The election results may be found here: Sykesville, Carroll County Maryland May 5 2009 municipal election results

20090518 Hermans loss in Sykesville by John Culleton