This week’s editorial in the Kent County News speaks volumes of local government and confirms a needed action I’ve contemplated for a while. The Rock Hall Town Charter empowers the Mayor to appoint a three member Ethics Board. This will be a top priority and I will announce the board appointees once selected. Rock Hall Town meetings require the undivided attention of the elected officials, officers and guests. The elected officials must have accurate facts, current financials and sound advice, both legal and administrative.
On November 6, 2013 the Rock Hall Mayor and Council received an unprecedented (12) page Opinion concerning OMA (Open Meeting Act) violations from Maryland’s Assistant Attorney General Anne MacNeille, of the OMCB (Open Meeting Compliance Board). I’m convinced that an independent ethics board is absolutely necessary today. Once assembled the ethics board shall meet, discuss pending matters, and deliberate. The Rock Hall Town Council must move in a direction where meetings of the board reflect stability and leadership.
When the new Mayor and Council convened in May of 2011, the needs of the Town were front and center. Educational, economic and family enchrichments trumped and each still remains top priorities on my agenda. I am proud of the accomplishments the community at large has achieved. I look forward to building on what started a short two years ago. We are here to serve the people of Rock Hall, a very diverse community where the needs of many truly exist. In the present environment, there are many distractions which interupt the advancement of the business of the Town.
An independent commission is warranted at this point.
Bob Willis
Rock Hall Mayor
Gren Whitman says
Editor,
It’s true that Rock Hall’s Town Council needs “stability and leadership,” and that’s why Mayor Willis should resign and step down immediately.
If he does not, town voters will be invited to sign a recall petition and, if sufficient signatures are gathered, Willis will be subjected to a yea/nay vote to remove him from office.
If he is removed, it will be largely because of his demonstrable failure to conduct himself as an ethical public official.
Once Willis is removed and Vice Mayor Brian Jones has been elevated to mayor, our town will have the stability and leadership it needs and deserves.
Bill Anderson says
Mayor Wills, I have to inquire as to why do you perceive that now would be a proper time to appoint an ethics committee, what would be its specific functions? Why did you not exercise this responsibility much earlier?