I was dismayed when a small group turned out last Tuesday night to support the candidacy of long-term resident, Cherilyn Widell, to what we thought was an open position on the Historic District Commission (HDC) due to the ending of a three-year term for one of the seven commissioner seats.
Ms. Widell has impeccable credentials to serve on the HDC including once serving as the highest-ranking historic officer in the state of California – an appointment made by then governor Pete Wilson. She even received the Calvert Prize, which is the highest award for Historic Preservation in Maryland. I thought her 45 years of historic preservation activities would make her a shoe-in for the position on our HDC.
I was wrong. It turns out that Chestertown has a little-known and unwritten policy that allows anyone serving on a committee, commission, etc. to ask for reappointment and that will be granted regardless of the expertise of the incumbent or anyone else seeking appointment to that position. In the case of the HDC, each commissioner is appointed to a three-year term – or maybe it is a lifetime term? That is because at the end of the three-year term, if you ask for reappointment, you will automatically be granted a new term. You either have to decline the appointment, or die to relinquish it. Why have term limits at all? Just let people serve as long as they like, and don’t mislead the town by posting that the positions have term limits, because they don’t.
I don’t have to give you examples of why this isn’t the best approach to making the most of the existing talent in our town, nor for long-term town management. The purpose of term limits after all is to encourage greater citizen participation by ensuring regular turnover in key positions such as our HDC.
The Mayor and Town Council have done Chestertown a disservice by not appointing to the HDC someone whose credentials in historic preservation are beyond reproach. The current HDC does not currently meet the Certified Local Government (CLG) criteria mandated by the Federal government and the State of Maryland. They have not complied with this since Ed Minch passed away in 2021 and have not filed the required paperwork since 2020. Having CLG certification allows the town to receive grants that are reserved only for CLG towns – grants that conserve our tax dollars. We risk losing that ability with the continued blind appointment of incumbents. The HDC could have used Ms. Widell’s expertise to address this, and at the same time, our town would reap the benefits from her 45 years of experience in historic preservation.
Will this be the same approach to other positions across Chestertown? I’m afraid it looks that way. If this doesn’t seem right to you, please write to the Mayor and Town Council and let them know that you believe that committee term limits ensure new ideas and new perspectives are infused into the decision-making process while at the same time help avoid the perpetual concentration of power within a small group of people.
The best path forward for Chestertown involves using the extensive talent, commitment, and skills available to support all of our committees and commissions and leave the term limits in place to help support this.
Steven Mitchell
Chestertown, MD
Jenn Baker says
I am proud that our community takes a Design Ideation approach to problem (and opportunity) solving. We need the perspectives of many to tackle the challenges of our of our community. Everyone belongs at the table – not just the loudest.
Age and tenure is not the only measure of worthiness. If that is our measure, we are saying that only those in the twilight of their career are fit to serve. Which means we miss the gift of diverse perspective and creative problem solving. In the case of Rebecca Murphy we gain the perspective of a community member with decades of experience in economic development and planning. A talented professional who listens to many voices, but still makes up her own mind. A professional who has taken all of the criticism in stride, and is still excited to serve. And finally – a professional who, to David Foster’s commentary, started the complex profess of working on one of the most important projects impacting our community in scale and impact – and is eager to help see it through.
I do not agree with “life term limits” but I don’t think two, is too many.
Gren Whitman says
It’s “shoo-in,” not “shoe-in.”
“Why have term limits at all? Just let people serve as long as they like, and don’t mislead the town by posting that the positions have term limits, because they don’t.” Good point!
Andrea Alderdice says
Agreed. I sent an email letter to the Council Members last week making many of these same points and did not receive an answer from any of them.
I was disheartened to hear from the meeting that the term limits are arbitrary and that the HDC does not meet the CLG criteria, thereby risking any grants they may have been eligible to receive.
Isn’t the historical element and any grant opportunities paramount to keeping our small town alive? I just don’t understand how bringing in even more talent to the HDC would not be happily accepted .
Bill Anderson says
Mr. Mitchell is evidently a newcomer to the Chestertown area. Those of us who have known the town and its ways, remember the old adage about the time that George Washington was passing through and a town official asked him for advice on a pressing matter. Mr. Washington, in a hurry to reach Philadelphia, didn’t have the time to consider the question so advised that town official, “Don’t do anything with that matter until I return.” Mr. Washington never did return to Chestertown, but his advice remains in place today.
Alexander Gilchrist says
In response to the letter about the Historic District Commission reappointment, I would suggest a limit of one 3-year renewal. It does take time to develop expertise, but after six years, a rotation off is healthy. This model is used in other organizations, and folks that have rotated off are thought to be “resting”, with the possibility of re-appointment at a later date.
Re-appointment of members ad infinitum surely stifles creativity, and is a disincentive to community engagement in the broader town. …in my opinion.
John R. Leek says
Seems like the commissioner whose three-year term was ending and had to know of Ms. Widell’s credentials, experience and interest in serving on the Council had more self-serving interests in reappointing oneself rather than moving the HDC forward and meeting CLG criteria. Too much ego perhaps.
Joan Berwick says
Very illustrative letter. I don’t live in Chestertown, or even Kent County so a letter from me wouldn’t count for much, but very interesting information. Glad to know.
Michael Lane says
I would like to draw the reader’s attention to an article in the Spy on December 26, 2012 regarding the proposed programmable Garfield sign that came before the Historic District Commission while I was Chairman. It discusses misrepresentation by Ms. Widell of an opinion by the National Park Service about the proposed sign. I believe the article provides another perspective about Ms. Widell for people to consider.
Karen Mack says
I applaud the suggestion to write to the Mayor and Council members. In my experience, these individuals do not appear to believe they are obliged to acknowledge, much less address, citizen concerns. I have written to the Mayor and received a verbal reply via my spouse. I have written to my representative and received no acknowledgement or response to my queries. It seems that there is a fundamental desire to avoid meaningful interaction with citizens taxpayers, and this does not bode well for our town’s future. I hope the concern pointed out in the letter will raise some eyebrows and motivate our citizens to be actively engaged with their elected officials.