For whereas, a manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions (often political in nature), the Bill of Rights has always been viewed throughout the county’s history as referring exclusively to the collective name for the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which limit the power of the federal government.
Now, while I have no way of knowing why the president of the board, Doug Howard, chose the latter as the heading of the 12 comments he’d prepared in response to the draft of Plan Maryland (other than perhaps to capture the attention of the state planners by its patriotic title), I nevertheless regard its usage in that context as a gross irreverence toward those hallowed rights, however unintended as it may be.
Thankfully, he didn’t go so far as to label them as a Declaration of Independence, albeit that comes closer yet to reflecting the rebellious nature of the Board and its contempt for the state intruding into its decision-making process on growth.
I’d stayed up extra late on the evening after the forum held at the Community College, in listening to the commissioners going over Howard’s comments with the finest of fine tooth combs, to the point of their being physically and mentally exhausted and slurring their words, not to mention my eyelids drooping over my eyeballs like blinds with broken cords.
Then, as it dragged on close to the bewitching hour, I felt like the expectant father (of which I’ve been five time), and barely able to restrain myself from screaming out loud: For God’s sake, let this prolonged ordeal end.
To ensure that their comments were submitted to the state before the deadline of the 31st (even though they knew that all it would accomplish was to go on record with their objections to the initial draft), Howard jokingly said to the Chief of Staff, “send them by carrier pigeon if need be.”
That the Gov had then allowed a 60-day extension for comments on the plan will, in my mind, only further delay the enviable, and just be another ride on the merry-go-round, with the commissioners still on their high-horses and their theme song being played in the background, “Onward Christian soldiers, marching onto war….”
Moreover, their reasons for having requested a full year to review and respond to it are as obvious as the nose on one’s face: first, to give them that extra time in which to muster support from other counties in opposition to Plan Maryland; and, secondly, to come up with a Master Plan by then, that would get the jump on the state’s final plan and negate, in particular, its emphasis on counties employing the smart growth concept in their growth plans.
But that presupposes that the Planning Commission (PC) will have “thrown in the towel” and adopted the board’s recommendations (or more accurately to its demands) in their re-write of the plan that are considered necessary to gain its approval.
I wouldn’t, however, bet on the PC giving in that easily, and be resigned to acting like meek sheep being led to a slaughterhouse by a Judas goat. For they have more gumption and a sense of doing what’s right for the county’s greater good than that.
In short, the only ones they’re fooling by playing that “shell game” are themselves.
Now, I tip my hat to Delegate Nancy Stocksdale for her personal assessment and candor in forecasting how Plan Maryland will ultimately pan out.
Her statement, which appeared in a local paper on August 28, reads as follows:
“Despite assurances from the state it would not usurp local planning authority, it’s been my experience in the legislature that if the state wants to do something, it will…for it has the power, the hammer… would insist on their plan being adopted over Carroll County’s, and withhold funding unless it’s done the state’s way.”
Ending with, “That’s just the way it works in Annapolis”
She’d said so succinctly in eight words what’s taken me a thousand words to say.
Quote of the week: “One who speaks the truth is always at ease.” Persian proverb.
Grand Times 