Countdown to the End of Chief Ervins Contract…What’s Going to Happen?
As the final days of Police Chief Ervins employment contract draw to a close June 30th, I just gotta wonder; what’s going to happen?
Will the Chief retire?
Will he be replaced?
Will he stay on and continue as if it’s not over?
For those of you who don’t know, or don’t remember… Fearing for his job and the job of Chief of Police, on the eve of the 2005 Mayoral election, City Manager Russ Blake, the night before Mayor McDermott was elected to his first term in office, called an off the record emergency meeting of the Mayor and Council. He called them together to write a 3-year 3-month, employment contract for himself and the Chief, that stated they could not be fired for any reason except some sort of grievous action.
It also gave them both significant monetary compensation, tons of perc’s such as car and housing allowances. Wardrobe, travel, and continuing education allowances not to mention the great medical plan.
But the best part of both of the contracts was the part that made the City liable for either man’s entire contract amount in ‘one’ lump sum if they were dismissed. Talk about goo work if you can get it, heck I don’t blame J.D. for accepting it! Russ Blake ys wrote himself & the Chief a sweetheart of an employment contract.
According to the Mayor these were the ‘First’ employment contracts ever written and adopted by the city for any employee.
These contracts were signed without ANY negotiation in full agreement to their specifications by the entire city council.
Why did Russ think that this action was so important? Because he thought that heads were going to roll at city hall, just as every single person who voted for Michael McDermott believed would happen.
In most communities this type of cotnract writing for your self would be called ‘Self-Dealing’ and cause for immediate termination, for cause without any benefits or notice. In other words its criminal, against the law, immoral and wrong. Unless you are talking about Pocomoke City Maryland.
When confronted on the issue of these illlegal and immoral contracts Russ ‘verbally’ rescinded his, the Chief did not. (Billy has FOIA’d the original contract TWICE and has yet to have been provided with it, as the Mayor told him “no one can find it at City Hall”)
Mayor Michael McDermott assured those who were concerned that “Russ was only going to be here for another couple of years. He wants to retire soon”. “And the Chief will just ride out his contract to it’s end and then he’ll be gone”…. So, now here we are at the twilight of the Chiefs contract and we haven’t heard a word about what is to become of Chief Ervin.
Below is the Agenda for Monday Nights Meeting, but I don’t see this particular item listed… Hmmm
POCOMOKE CITY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING7:30 P.M., MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2008CITY HALL
1. Call to Order, Prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Review and approval of minutes from meeting of June 2, 2008.
3. Review and approval of bills to be paid.
4. Special recognition of Chamber of Commerce Cypress Festival Chairman and leaders.
5. Second Reading of Res. No. 415 to set the tax rate for fiscal year 2008-2009.
6. Second Reading of Res. No. 416 to adopt the municipal budget for fiscal year 2008-2009.
7. Second
8. Representatives of the Pocomoke Elks Club to request use of Winter Quarters Municipal Golf Course for a tournament on Saturday, August 23, 2008.
9. Discuss letter from City Loan Review Committee concerning proposed revolving loan for new business start-up at 153 Market Street (Back Pack LTD). (Former
10. Discuss request for waiver of water hookup fee for Hardwire, LLC, offset by recent water system improvements by Hardwire.
11. Establish new priority list for P.O. S. projects.
12. Approve Mayoral appointment of new City Attorney.
Comments from the AudienceMayor and Council items.Adjourn to Executive Session to discuss personnel, real estate, and legal matters as permitted under the provisions of Sec. 10-508 (A), (1), (7), (8) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and perform executive actions.
AGENDAS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL THE TIME OF CONVENING.*************************
It’s business as usual.
It’s Pocomoke…
posted on: Sunday, June 15th, 2008 @ 10:36 pm
INTERESTING CONTRACT. THE LUMP SUM EXIT PAYMENT IS INTERESTING, OTHER THAN THAT IT SEEMS PRETTY STANDARD.
WONDER HOW OUR CITY MANAGER’S CONTRACT READS???? DOES ONE EXIST??
posted on: Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
The City Managers contract “disappeared” in direct violation of Maryland Public law & policy.
I submitted a Maryland Public Information Act request for his contract in April 2005 and was provided Chief Ervins contract but not given a copy of the City Managers Contract.
We FOIA’d the City Managers contract AGAIN earlier this year and the response was ‘unable to locate’ the contract.
Can you imagine a public document, endorsed and signed during a city council meeting, where there would be 5-copies one for each councilman, a copy for the clerk, a copy for the city attorney just vanishes from the face of the earth.
Bad management & open corruption.
It’s Pocomoke…
posted on: Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
The other interesting tidbit is that these contracts were the first employment contracts ever used by the city for ANY employee’s, and they were written at the 11th hour before Michael was elected.
Why were they running scarred before his election?
Because they were afraid he was going to have them removed, because of past corruptive behavior, now he sings a different song and tells us that we should move forward with the positive.
posted on: Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 1:26 pm
Billy, under the FOIA they must give you a timely report or a reason why in writing, did they do this? if not why?
posted on: Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
Billy/Stephanie/et al….
You have got to be kidding me….
Contract not on file with his employer - -that just can’t be.
From what I hear and read Chief Ervin and Blake’s contracts may have been written/renewed in the same time frame. We can locate Chief’s but not the other? Are we sure it was in fact written? Has anyone actually seen it? If not then it may not actually exist. It may not have ever been written. How do we know? Who do we ask?
Surely there must be a employee folder somewhere with W4 info, Vacation Schedule, pay rate, documentation of disiciplinary action, benefits, ….though I am not interested in seeing any of these/nor am I entitled to, but I’d think the contract of a public servant is a different thing. It’s probably just as standard as Ervin’s but not being able to locate it brings a serious cloud of suspicion over the whole deal.
I’ll try that with my water bill.. misplace it then claim that it never existed. When asked why I haven’t paid it I’ll just say that I can’t find it. That makes everything OK doesn’t it?
I know that this website is written purely at the pleasure of the publisher…please tell me that you are joking about this.
But seriously….WTF??
posted on: Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
CL,
Thank you for getting it!!!!
You just can’t make this stuff up!!!
WTF is the only response to this.
It is beyond the scope of comprehension.
They were written the same night, we are thinking sometime before midnight.
All the little ducky’s were in a row ready to sign on the dotted line.
It’s unbelievable….
But No! We are the ones who are unreasonable, bitter, unforgiving; pick one CL and you will get one of them to agree with you.
I’m so glad that someone reading this is getting it!
posted on: Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
CL:
This is no joke and its indicative of the types of corrupt activity that has been going on at City Hall for decades.
Here is a link to the response from Pocomoke City dates January 11th, 2008:
http://www.pocomoketattler.com/Pics/foia_.jpg
We posted this on the Blog last January with commentary and NO ACTION.
Complaints have been filed with a number of agencies but we have seen no action.
This is totally illegal and one of the many reasons I call the Pocomoke City Government OPENLY CORRUPT!!!
X-Councilman Cane is not qualified to retain his council seat, no auction.
City Manager Russ Blake, open self dealing, then LOSING public documents.
It’s bad management.
Now for the cry of the dead horse cavalry.
NOTHING WILL CHANGE IN POCOMOKE UNTIL RUSS BLAKE IS GONE!!!
posted on: Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
How the heck do we get rid of this guy? Who can get rid of him? (Russ Blake)
What are the proceedures? I understand he is not an elected official, but how can he be delt with?
posted on: Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
Section C-22. Removal of Manager.
The Council shall appoint the City Manager for an indefinite term and may remove him by a majority vote of its members. At least thirty days before such removal shall become effective, the Council shall, by a majority vote of its members, adopt a preliminary resolution stating the reason for his removal.
The Manager may reply in writing and may request a public hearing, which shall be held not earlier than twenty days nor later than thirty days after filing of such a request. After such public hearing, if one be requested, and after full consideration, the Council, by a majority vote of its members, may adopt a final resolution of removal. By the preliminary resolution the Council may suspend the Manager from duty, but shall in any case cause to be paid him any unpaid balance of his salary and his salary for the next two calendar months following adoption of the preliminary resolution.
posted on: Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
Here is a link to the Discussion forum thread about the City Manager losing his employment contract and the Mayors response:
http://www.pocomoketattler.com/phpBB-2.0.22/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=2046#2046
posted on: Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS TRUE.
HAS ANYONE SEEN THIS CONTRACT?
I DON’T THINK ONE EXISTS OR IT WOULD BE KEPT IN CITY HALL BY THE CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS WHOEVER THAT IS.
posted on: Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
The Mayor and City Council have seen the contract.
So has the city attorney but he “lost” his copy too.
The Mayor commented on the discussion Board:
http://www.pocomoketattler.com/phpBB-2.0.22/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=222&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
When he led the “raid” on City Hall in the 90’s he said Russ Blake is a crook, he was one vote away from indictment by the Grand Jury and he was not even under investigation.
That was when the former Chief of Police was convicted of high crimes in office (while only reporting to Boss Hogg Russ Blake) and had to do weekends in Jail.
After being elected Mike wimped out, backed down and now is part of the crooked regime.
Yes it’s all true.
Its the same broken record message I keep playing over and over, all the city officials do is their best to discredit anyone who opposes their evil rule.
It’s Pocomoke…
posted on: Monday, June 16th, 2008 @ 8:16 pm
Wait a minute… did someone state the Mayor of Pocomoke City, Maryland, being a duly sworn Investigator for the Worcester County Sheriffs Department, ‘led the raid’ on City Hall back in the ’90s and noted ‘Boss Hog’ was a CROOK? There seems to be some kind of ‘cloudy’ connection here, what with an investigation and raid being conducted back in the ’90s, then currently being the standing Mayor of the very same Government that was raided, that just doesn’t bode well with Honest Thinking Folks.
Let’s think outside the box here…
Is there another investigation of the Pocomoke City Government by the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office currently underway? Being a Duly Sworn Investigator, maybe something is up? Or, maybe not. Citizens never can understand the cloudy statements from the Mayor that seem to divert attention from the real issues at hand. But then again, maybe those ‘cloudy’ statements are meant to divert attention… after being scrutinized by ‘Boss Hogg’ and the City’s Attorney? Who knows…
Is the ‘Duly Elected Mayor’ leading another investigation? Or is he really duly elected? Placed in the Role of Mayor for investigative purposes? From the posts on this Blog, it seems he may have aligned himself with the crooks and is powerless to change the way the City Government takes advantage the HONEST CITIZENS of Pocomoke City, Maryland. Maybe there is some sort of investigation underway that is not public knowledge. If there is, the HONEST CITIZENS of Pocomoke City, Maryland will ultimately pay the price (YET AGAIN) for the gangsters and “GANGSTA’s” that run the City Government. Poor souls!!!
Do the citizens of Pocomoke City really have a Mayor and City Council that represents the best interests of the HONEST CITIZENS of Pocomoke? Good question….
The City Manager’s Employment Contract not being made available according to the FOIA Act? Terribly distressing… these types of employment contracts cannot just “disappear” as they are relevant documents for the way Pocomoke City’s government is run; it’s run as a business. If the employment contracts disappear, then the legally binding operations of the business may become ILLEGAL and this must be reported to the Authorities.
Oh Wait… the Mayor is one of the Authorities, along with the duly elected Pocomoke City Council Members, and all of them probably are already aware that the City Manager’s Employment Contract has just disappeared and cannot be provided under FOIA… Go Figure
Every citizen of Pocomoke City, Maryland should file a FOIA request for the City Manager’s Employment Contract. The Request should be sent the City Hall, with copies sent to the Worcester County State’s Attorneys Office, the duly elected State Senators & Representatives that represent Worcester County, the Maryland State Governor’s Office, and the Federal Government while they are at it.
Maybe, just maybe, the Missing Employment Contract may reappear for everyone to see…
posted on: Friday, June 20th, 2008 @ 11:57 pm
The more I think about how the City Government is operating, and has operated for years, the more distressed I get. Most of that frustration is directed towards myself however, for continuing to pay the salaries of those who put personal interest ahead of those who they are supposed to serve and more frustrating treat stand up citizens like preschool children…”I can’t find it!” (referring to Blakes contract) is a response that doesn’t work with my fifth grader and certainly isn’t acceptable in this situation.
The remedy? Move out of town or stay here and become part of the solution.
Who is in?
posted on: Saturday, June 21st, 2008 @ 8:29 pm
CL:
Stephanie & I are in.
Mike McDermott would no thave gotten elected had it not been for mine & Stephanies help with his election in 2005.
I knew Mike for years and thought him to be a decent and honorable man upon hearing that he was running I wrote him a letter of support and mailed it with a check to put my money where my mouth was.
He came over the day he got that letter with tears of gratitude and I gave him first hand knowledge about the dirty tricks crooked political machine, based on my personal experience of having run for City council TWICE.
Its a very sad report that the Mike McDermott who occupies the office of Mayor today is not the same man who came to my home in 2005. He is know owned lock stock & barrell by Boss Hogg and his cronies.
The people need to write letters to the Attorney General, people with specific information need to use the political corruption link to the FBI.
These incidents all need to be documented.
They (the Boss Hoggers) label me as a nut case because I have written so many letters, filed complaints and started this blog site a little over a year ago. They try to ‘cull the herd’ by using the ‘cult tactics’ of pulling people out to talk to them “one on one to let them know the truth” about the nut cases who would dare say such things about the elected officials.
Mike McDermott was there and personally witnessed X-Councilman Honiss Cane driving crackheads to the polling place, then pulling out the voter registration list and “reminding” the people he gave a “ride” to of their name and address.
This city government is as corrupt as the day is long anf today June 21st is the longest day of the year.
posted on: Saturday, June 21st, 2008 @ 9:58 pm
Frustrated said: Do the citizens of Pocomoke City really have a Mayor and City Council that represents the best interests of the HONEST CITIZENS of Pocomoke? Good question….
I respect the Mayor and council, but with that said when the councilman of my district and the Mayor of Pocomoke do not keep a promises to a citizen of Pocomoke (me) it is hard to keep the respect.
normally when someone avoids an issues or a person, they are wrong and know they are wrong. That separates the men from the boys in my book,
if I am wrong I’ll let you know, not avoid you. it seams like every issue I’ve had that needs the city officials input or diagnoses they just run and hide.
posted on: Saturday, June 21st, 2008 @ 10:05 pm
CL,
I know for sure that Billy and I personally have at least a dozen that are in.
If you would like to get together for a meeting to discuss this and invite anyone you know who lives in the city who is interested we could share our experiences, and show you the documentation.
If you could get a group to together and speak as one voice we can change the face of city hall. Until then it’s just a couple of people ranting.
Steph
posted on: Saturday, June 21st, 2008 @ 11:57 pm
I still believe our Mayor to be a good man..I Do I agree with everything that he does in office? No. For that matter I don’t agree with everything my wife does…but we remain married. I believe his hands are tied by city charter and law. And above all things I believe that he respects law.
I am not opposed to getting together to rationally discuss several issues, and I would prefer to having it with our elected mayor in attendance. He reads this site and knows of our feelings and knows that we we are looking for positive solutions. With the right questions posed, supported by law, I believe that we can get this thing rolling in the right direction.
l
posted on: Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
Agreed
posted on: Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 @ 2:23 pm