It turns out that vote to overturn the vote to amend the Chestertown tree ordinance . . . no, sit, put it this way: you may still need a permit to chop down big old trees. Anyway, it’s all coming up again at the next Town Council meeting. Because that last vote was illegal. No, stay, I think the term is “not proper.” Now my legal training is minimal having never so much as bitten a lawyer’s briefcase, but I was told by someone who’s a professionally ranked meeting-attender that you can’t just propose an amendment and vote right away without some time for consideration. Like they did. So they’ll have to vote all over again on Sept. 21 — probably.
The last time, all those tree people waiting to vent didn’t get a chance to say a word — because of the way the new amendment to the old amendment got, ahem, jammed through. And it’s not clear, if there’s another big turnout, whether residents will be allowed to comment. But, according to the Maryland Municipal League, the final sentence of Section 9 of Chestertown’s charter requires that “residents of the Town shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard at any open meeting of the council with regard to any municipal questions.”
So be sure to attend, at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 21 in Town Hall, the repeat performance of The Amazing Tree Amendment. It’s been just about the best show in town. And some of the players are out of this world.
Spunkmeyer says
This all seems like an irrational proxy war for people that believe government is taking over their lives.
If we want to be consistent, we obviously need to abolish the Historic District Commission, requirement for Building Permits and following building codes, and while we’re at it, lets get rid of that “government mandate” of a municipal water supply.
Asinine? You bet. That’s my point.