Ever since my family settled in its first home in Talbot County on Pleasant Street in Oxford in 1976, I have always loved Oxford and its friendly folks. Its village feel was intoxicating.
I have always understood that small towns face the same infrastructure and zoning issues as larger jurisdictions, with smaller staff.
After watching Scott Rensberger’s superbly produced and well-researched opinion video shared on the Spy, I am disappointed in Oxford’s leadership. But I am hopeful.
I urge town leaders to wake up and smell the fragrance of transparency and communication. And as former Gov. and Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer was wont to say, “Do It Now.”
It serves no useful purpose to wallow in self-imposed silence and self-pity. The town’s human environment will only get uglier.
At a regular town meeting, invite the 600-plus residents and disclose what is now considered non-disclosable. It will hurt a little. Then the air will clear. Follow the lead of other towns and cities.
Reveal the town manager’s salary. Avoid real or perceived conflict of interest. While I understand that concerned and capable town commissioners feel under siege, please escape your isolation and talk openly with town residents.
Scott Rensberger is not an enemy. The Spy is not out to disparage Oxford. Lack of communication is injurious to the town and its inherent goodness.
Though an overused term, transparency engenders trust and credibility. It improves the relationship between a government and its citizens.
Recriminations accomplish nothing. Defensiveness counters healthy communication. Hurt feelings can be healed with human dialogue and trust.
Pull down the ramparts and open an honorable discourse with residents. Ugliness needs to find another home. Trust underscores good government.
“Do It Now.” Waiting only worsens the sense of acrimony. Restoration of grace and comity is not only wholly possible but urgently imperative.
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.
Margot McConnel says
Well said Howard. Somehow it seems so simple; Let the light in Oxford.
Michael Davis says
We should all thank Mr Freedlander for his measured and reasonable response to this issue. He argues for transparency which is not, nor should it be, a polarizing issue. His temperance, in my humble opinion, goes above and beyond the call of duty.
The weaker people among us, such as myself, would have exploded in sarcasm and snark. Soott’s YouTube video was great. Informative AND entertaining. I was so impressed with that I sent it to multiple people. It should be archived by the Talbot Historical Society.
Think for a minute about the powerful trope in American culture held by the small town. Mayberry, a completely fictional all white little town, from the 1950s lives on in America’s culture as a model of good times for white people. All the way up to the recent country music hit of “Try That in A Small Town,” praising small town violence.
But there are other views. My favorite is Tom Lehrer’s brilliant song from the 1960s “My Home Town,” which addresses some of the issues being raised today about Oxford. And Bob Dylan wrote “Oxford Town” about another small town named Oxford. To the leaders of Oxford: some people could be a lot less civil in reporting on Oxford.
The reactions to Scott’s original posting reminds one of Shakespeare’s warrning about being careful of people who protest too much. Scott was “cyber bullying,”?? Really? These people have never met a real troll. Scott was being a pussy cat: witty, a tad of sarcasm, but being a bully? Has anyone in Oxford seen a Trump rally where he mocks disabled people? THAT is bullying,
Where was I? Oh, yeah, Mr Freedlander makes an excellent suggestion about an independent audit of Oxford’s books, and maybe even the entire government structure there where an executive who implements programs may act as the treasurer. Or the town lawyer is alleged to be the personal lawyer for that executive. Hopefully Mr. Freedlander’s recommendation won’t be buried by hysterical defensive screeds.