Answers To Citizen Questions Come Too Late For Many In The Town Of Oxford
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Photo; From Left To Right: Commissioner President Tom Costigan, Appointed Commissioner Susan Delean Botkin, Commissioner Katrina Greer, Town Manager Cheryl Lewis
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It took almost a year and a half and hundreds of Public Information Act requests for citizens to get answers from Cheryl Lewis and the Town Office regarding salaries, budgets, grants, actions, etc. And, when those answers came, they were not substantial or illuminating.
Tuesday, June 11th was the Town Manager's last meeting before she retires at the end of June. As such, the agenda was clearly designed to vindicate and celebrate her actions in the office. The orchestration was evident.
The meeting began with a report from UHY LLP Certified Public Accountants by Roy Geiser. UHY is the firm contracted to do yearly audits of the town's books. The audit is part of "closing the books" from Lewis's tenure. As expected, no problems were noted by the firm and the finding that had been included in reports from the seven years prior was not mentioned as the town had recently remedied the problem with the hiring of a Clerk Treasurer to manage finances as a second person with the Town Manager. This was done after demands by citizens of the town. This article details the previous audit concerns that were finally corrected:
Town Of Oxford Ignores Seven Years Of Financial Auditor's Concerns - Easton Gazette
From there, attendees saw a presentation from the Maryland Department of Transportation/SHA regarding possible flood mitigation measures for the town's Causeway, the main entrance to town which floods during high tides and/or heavy rain. John Martin – MDOT/SHA – Engineer Consultant, described the problem and then proposed possible temporary solutions. However, he cautioned the town that funding for such solutions is not yet approved by the state. He was unable to assure the town that the projects would go forward.
Slide from MDOT/SHA Engineer/Consultant John Martin
After reports from the town's maintenance and police departments, Ordinance 2408 which involves new water and sewer rates passed unanimously. A quick review and unanimous approval of the RFP from Unity Landscaping for the addition of various recreational fixtures for the Dugout Memorial Park for $106,330.00 was next, followed by the approval of going forward with the contract with GMB for the installation of two pumps at Mill Street and West Pier Street and four back flow preventers for Flood Mitigation.
A discussion ensued from a request of Candidate for Commissioner Josh Coder for poll watchers for the upcoming election. Although Town Attorney Lindsay Ryan was out sick, Lewis read Ryan's legal opinion that because the Town Charter is "silent" on this issue, the town cannot act on it. A compromise was presented of livestreaming the voting and counting of votes as they did during Covid in 2020. This would be a livestream without audio and with no interaction between viewers and the people in the polls. The town will present this option to the County Board of Elections for approval. Ryan is also their lawyer.
That's when the flood of PIA "responses" began. Lewis gave her version of the following items which were questioned via PIA's: tennis court resurfacing, creation of the dog park, and refurbishing of basketball courts.
The two most consequential items from the PIA list Lewis described were as follows:
Lewis then went on to talk about other remaining grants including the Strand Beach Project. She informed the attendees that the recently hired Town Planner, Marilyn Williams, would oversee those grants.
That's when the orchestration of the meeting hit its apex. As the Commissioners gathered in the front of the room, Lewis was told to come forward. Former Commissioner Judge Sidney Campen, who played a role in Lewis's hiring twelve years ago, came forward to present her with a Certificate of Appreciation from the State of Maryland. Campen stated that he thanked Cheryl for her patience and accomplishments in the past 12 years. "Things she has done are outstanding." Then he relayed a story of 17th Century architect Christopher Wren who was famous for his many projects in London and throughout Europe. Campen stated that the inscription on Wren's gravestone said, "If you seek his memorial, look about you". The implication being that people can look around Oxford if they want to see the result of Lewis's work.
At that point, President of the Commissioners Tom Costigan recognized Lewis with a proclamation from the Town of Oxford. Costigan called Lewis, " the gold standard of Town Managers on the Eastern Shore."
Lewis was presented with a gift from the town, a painting that has hung in her office for years. Other commissioners also made statements. Appointed Commissioner Susan Delean Botkin appeared to be very emotional over Lewis's leaving.
Lewis, who is at the very least a controversial figure in the town, was given a standing ovation by some residents while others stayed quietly seated. This was a representation of the controversy surrounding her due to the fact that she gives certain citizens and businesses special consideration in town matters, packs committees and commissions in the town with those who do her bidding and is not forthcoming with information.
As one citizen stated, "If the Strand, flood mitigation and other projects are her work, then that's a poor legacy. She has divided this town into the haves and have nots, those who get service and those who do not, and those who are heard and those who are not. Writing grants is great, but when those grants don't serve the needs of the residents, they are worthless."
In her last meeting as Town Manager, Cheryl Lewis finally decided to answer questions regarding the business of the town. For many, it was too little, too late. We wish her the best in her retirement. We also hope that whoever is hired to fill her position is more focused on the needs of ALL people in the town.
Our town needs a new, more responsive, professional approach instead of the same old practices and solutions that have been in place.
THE ONES WHO BROKE OXFORD ARE NOT THE ONES WHO WILL FIX OXFORD!
*After this article was published, we got a nasty comment from someone pretending to be someone else. I confirmed with the person I knew that this was not his comment and he was being impersonated by a coward and a fraud. This kind of harassment will not get us to stop telling the story of Oxford nor will it prevent the truth from getting out. It's nothing new and it has ramped up as we head for this election on Tuesday.
We think we know who it is and who they are aligned with in town. It's not that hard to find out.
