A Guest Editorial by Scott Rensberger, Investigative Journalist and Resident of Oxford
Above: The section of the Oxford Charter covering public comment at meetings
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Dear Commissioners and the Residents of Oxford, Maryland.
This week I watched the Commissioners workshop regarding the future rules for our public meetings. I certainly like the idea of allowing people, like myself, to freely speak without being interrupted by inflammatory words by a few of Norm Bell's supporters. This will make our meetings a lot more respectful. Thank you.
But then the workshop went off track and started talking about the words "may" and "shall." Dear Commissioners, unless you want to have a town referendum this particular discussion is a big waste of time. Norm Bell and Tom Costigan don't have the power, or the authority, to change our Charter. End of story.
If two of our three Commissioners continue this entrenched power fraternity grab it'll end up in court and Norm and Tom will lose in under 10 minutes. And according to the State of Maryland, if a town official purposely breaks the rules that individual can be responsible for their own legal fees. The taxpayers of Oxford are certainly not going to pay the legal bills for two Commissioners who have decided to go rogue against our Town Charter.
When are we going to start acting like a wonderful small town where we treat everyone with respect and dignity? This old entrenched power stuff is really wearing thin. If you want to be in a fraternity, and feel important, join the Lions Club. Like all towns, Oxford has real issues and real problems that need to be addressed. The town literally hid a 2016 Flood Master Plan for 8 years because the "Oxford fraternity" didn't want to help the Black part of town. If you don't believe me -- please read the 2013 and 2016 Flood Reports.
At the next public meeting we should start a drinking game. Everytime President Norm Bell wants to "think about it" we should all take a shot. We'd be drunk before we get to New Business. When Norm needs to think about anything I'm pretty sure he doesn't go home and sit in a chair and think. Raise your hand if you think he goes home and meets with his 5 pals to figure out their next power move? The Town of Oxford is not a toy. We're a community of wonderful people with a variety of ideas and every individual should be respected and heard. Meeting after meeting I see people like engineer Bob who has been carefully documenting the Strand project. He gives detailed information and repeatedly tells the Commissioners that Underwood didn't finish the job. Has the Town of Oxford ever contacted Underwood and said, "We gave you millions of dollars and you short changed us on a zillion plants." Apparently, our past Town Manager signed off on everything and Norm and Tom don't want to touch this stuff. Instead these two men treat resident Bob like an adolescent child and send him to his room. Oxford currently has two Commissioners who don't want to do their jobs. If they both went to Harris Teeter and were overcharged hundreds of thousands of dollars I bet they'd speak up. But, when it's the town's money, the town's historical beach -- crickets.
Sure, if Norm and Tom, on their own, change the Charter to "may" instead of "shall" this new language will give Norm a lot more power like a Roman emperor using his thumb in an up and down motion to pick winners and losers. But, if this absurd carelessness regarding our Town Charter continues Norm and Tom will soon learn the real definition of "shall." Because the residents of Oxford "shall" take this issue to court.
My best to everyone.
Scott Rensberger - Citizen
About the Author: Scott Rensberger is one of the most awarded journalists in the business. He's the only person ever to win both the highest award for investigative reporting (IRE Scroll) and also be named the best news photographer in the United States (NPPA Photographer of the Year). During the past two decades, Rensberger has crossed the globe working as a one-man-band. He's worked extensively throughout Europe and has brought home stories from Central America to Asia and almost all points in between. His work has aired on dozens of networks across North America, Europe and Australia. Throughout the years, Rensberger has also worked as a news trainer. He's lectured throughout the United States, Canada and Europe and has trained thousands of journalists in more than 30 countries. The BBC refers to Rensberger as the "best VJ in the world."
