Special Note: This interview was conducted on July 12, 2024. Of course, that was prior to the assassination attempt on former President and current candidate for President Donald Trump. While an interview with a newly elected Commissioner in a small town on Maryland's Eastern Shore pales in scope and impact to that awful event, I think there is some connection. Our small town has undergone some of the same strife and division in the past seventeen months as the citizens try to get power back in their hands and the hands of their elected officials.
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In full disclosure I have known Norm Bell for quite a few years now. We passed each other on pre-dawn walks in our town for years and worked on an ad-hoc hiring processes committee together last year. My husband and I also know Norm's wife Paula.
It's been an interesting year for the town of Oxford, Maryland and its citizens. If you can imagine going to bed one day thinking you lived in a small, unexciting but beautiful little town where everyone was neighborly and the next day you wake up in a town that is filled with drama and division. It's cold water thrown over your head!
If you want to see what has happened in the last seventeen months, you can find many stories on THE EASTON GAZETTE by searching for "Oxford." People who read these articles often ask me if I am writing a fiction book. I wish I was.
If you ask Norm Bell if he has been shocked by what has happened in Oxford over the past year and a half, he would probably be one of those people who would agree that the "spirit" of Oxford has changed, not necessarily for the better.
That's why when the call went out this winter for people to run for Commissioner, Norm threw his hat into the ring as one of two candidates. He wanted to get the "spirit" of Oxford back and get people back to working with each other again. Strangely, in light of this weekend's events, we started our discussion with the fact that people need to disagree civilly and not harass each other because of the different candidates they support.
Here are the questions I asked him and his answers:
Question: How have things been going since your election? Anything that surprised you?
Answer: It's been hectic. Lots of papers to sign like permits for docks. It's stuff like that and trips to the town office!
We also discussed the fact that he had a closed meeting two days after he was seated and the seemingly silly idea of opening the meeting, announcing the closed meeting, having the closed meeting, and then opening the meeting, and then adjourning the meeting. It's all part of the open meetings act and Norm commented that the rules have a reason and that he has studied the procedures and rules because it is important to follow the rules.
Norm described meeting with FEMA over the house raising grants and how the town will work on that and the processes that will be used according to the FEMA grant (how you put money in, request funds, etc.) I had a couple of meetings to help me catch up on that kind of work. We have to deal with critical stuff first. And that you learn as you go."
Question: A citizen of Oxford asked why did you vote for yourself for Commission President?
Answer: I thought it would be best for the town going forward. I have immense respect for Katrina and what she does as well as Tom.
Question: How can the Commissioners assure more transparency in how the town works? What do you wish to accomplish in your role as President of the Commissioners?
Answer: I have proposed we have work sessions which will be open to the public so the Commissioners can actually work together to solve problems together. Have commissioners and staff sit down and see how we want to do things. We are having one on Thursday, July 18th and the intention is to start thinking about how we organize. (This meeting was eventually postponed) Marilyn and Vickie put some thoughts down on paper and sent them and so to me that's where we start. I believe we need to show progress. It may not be enough for some people but at least they can see we're addressing issues. I don't want to go to the next town meeting without showing some progress on this issue.
The other part of my role as I see it is to make sure we have more of these types of work sessions. I don't want to go to the next town meeting without showing people what we've done what so far. And it may not be far enough, but they will see us working on these things.
We have new people coming into the administration, we need to support those people, not beat them over the head, far from it. Ask how can we help you? Make sure everyone is on the same page. I think it will be accelerated now. Ask what do you need? We need to ask those questions periodically to see how things are going. I see that as a role.
And I think splitting up the Commissioners into areas of focus for oversight is a good idea. Katrina endorses that. I fully endorse that. And I think Tom said that he does. We have to figure out what the right split is but absolutely we need to do it.
Question: Can people comment during these work sessions?
Answer: They can if the commissioners open it up to comments. In other words, let us do our work.
Question: Since seeing this recent debacle of the search for Town Manager, what do you envision us as the way to implement a search?
Answer: What I think we have to make sure we all have a good idea of what we have in place and what we need to fill the gaps. Katrina thinks we can get to an outside consultant in a matter of weeks. I'm not convinced that we can do it that quickly particularly if we meet once every two weeks.
We have to do it right. That's the balance. If this one gets messed up everyone, everyone will be angry.
We first have to figure out how we are are going to run the town using what Vickie and Marilyn have begun short term. And, as Katrina said in the meeting, splitting up oversight of some functions. I don't know if she suggested the right functions but it's a start. We can talk about it. Let's see if we can work through to get an agreement. We have to get that in place and then based on Marilyn and Vickie's input and Mike Bell, and Matt and Chris, do we need a town manager? Let's go through that. And maybe the answer is yes, we need a town manager with maybe different expertise.
If yes, you have to design it (the position) generally and not just around the staff we have now.
When we search, we are going with a recruiting firm.
Question: People comment about how many closed meetings the Commissioners have. In fact it's two to three a month. State recommendation is that we do as few as possible. How can we cut down on this number? Do more agenda items need to be debated in public as we used to?
Answer: If there's no justification for a closed meeting we don't need it.
Question: We spoke during your campaign about bringing new people onto town committees and commissions. It was mentioned the other night that some people are going off committees and could reapply. Are you still committed to bringing in new people, new energy from the talented people we have here in Oxford? How do you propose to do this? How can we better inform people about occupancies and how to apply?
Answer: We need to have people whose terms are completed need to reapply. Vickie needs to post the openings. I think she said she's going to do that. Vickie and I have already talked and when the decision is made to fill a vacancy, go back to the people who applied and were not successful to tell them and let them know their application is still on file. We need more people and some younger people to apply.
Question: We have a huge deficit. What is your proposal to lower that?
Answer: It's accounting. Where does the money go, where and when does it come in. It's our (the taxpayers) collective money. We are now getting a P&L sheet which is a good summary of revenues and expenses. I don't know why we wouldn't post that. It would help with transparency.
Question: Recently it has been announced that the Sunset Bar and Grill will be adding a second-floor bar. Neighbors on Pier Street complain they were never notified about the addition. They have also spoken about a codicil that prevents the view of the water from being blocked by the restaurant's new addition. You were the chairman of the planning commission, how can you address the concerns of these residents regarding parking, noise, etc.
Answer: They got notice like everybody did. Our Planning Meeting agenda listed it as a permit for review for that month's meeting. The agenda was posted and published on the website. Doc's wanted to expand its floor space so there's a rule that you can't expand over 50% so it had to come before the planning commission. That was the first part. No other aspect was given approval. Management told us they were adding more floor space so they can spread people out more. Capacity is limited by parking. Are they expanding their business? They said "no" to us and I assume they said "no" to other people too.
There are issues, the noise, rowdiness of customers, so are we doing enough to police that or do we have the right rules in place.?
The restaurant and the rooftop bar is staying within the height requirement.
The question is "are the ordinances being followed? Are we enforcing them and are they enough?"
Question: There are issues with the Strand Project, particularly with handicapped access. How should we address the issues of handicapped access, potentially dangerous rocks and logs on the islands, etc.?
Lyndsay Ryan is trying to get answers on that. It's my understanding that we have to have some kind of surface that is accessible to handicapped. It's not there now. The project is not complete.
As for the rocks and logs, at the community meeting with the contractor citizens said we want those removed. I'll look into it.
Question: What about flood mitigation?
Answer: I think we have a plan in place that's moving. On one hand, I would love to say let's do all four projects. I don't know if we can or can't do that. But, let's make sure this approach is going to work before we make a huge investment.
The first priority is the causeway because we have to have access to emergency services, etc.
FINAL NOTES: We didn't get to cover everything that day. I didn't get to the annexation question like I planned to, the audio was a bit difficult at times due to background noise, but I imagine we will get another chance to sit down and talk again at some point.
This interview with Norm Bell is not exciting nor is it earth shaking. There's no drama, no intrigue, controversial plans or statements. He is new in the position and the next few months will give us a clear idea of who he will be as a Commissioner.
I don't think Norm will be a flashy, loud, commissioner with monumental, expensive plans and ideas. But, he will be measured, thoughtful, and steady. And, as he told me, he will follow the rules.
And maybe that's what Oxford needs right now.
