ACCOMAC, VA – The Accomack County School Board Selection Commission has rejected the only applicant to a vacant seat on the Accomack County school board. They will re-advertise the position.
Former Nandua High School principal Larry A. Thomas was the sole applicant for a vacancy on the school board for District 7. Al McMath, who has held the seat for 16 years is not eligible for re-appointment because his home is no longer in District 7 after the county completed re-districting. The Selection Commission voted Thomas down by a vote of 3-4.
Thomas, who worked for the Accomack County public schools for 34 years, retired in 2005 in the wake of standardized testing investigation. Nandua High School subsequently lost its accreditation as a result of the investigation.
DOVER, DE – By a 12-3 vote, the Delaware Senate passed a bill to clarify the limits of a county sheriff’s powers in Delaware. HB 325 now goes to Gov. Jack Markell for his signature.
EASTON, MD – The Talbot County Council has decided to acquire 86 acres outside of Oxford as a replacement for land adjacent to the Hog Neck Community Center which the county is donating for the new hospital proposed by Shore Health Systems. The property is being acquired from the Conservation Fund and all future development on the property will be prohibited.
GEORGETOWN, DE – After a federal judge ruled that the Sussex County Council was in violation of the establishment clause by opening each meeting with the Lord’s Prayer, the council is seeking a compromise. Under a compromised, which passed by a 3-2 vote, the council president would open each meeting with a non-sectarian prayer. On occasion, the Lord’s Prayer would be used.
SALISBURY, MD – Lt. Ernest Leatherbury, Jr., commander of the Salisbury barracks of the Maryland State Police, has announced his retirement. Leatherbury’s retirement takes effect July 1st.
Yesterday the Wicomico County Council passed County Executive Rick Pollitt’s FY 2013 operating budget. While Wicomico continues to endure one of the highest unemployment rates in Maryland, citizens and businesses alike will face higher taxes; placing even greater difficulty on those struggling to keep their homes and adding one more impediment to to a business sitting on the bubble as to whether or not to hire new employees.
EASTON, MD – The Easton Town Council passed a $17 million budget for FY 2013 Tuesday without any change in tax rates.
SALISBURY, MD – By a 5-2 vote, the Wicomico County Council approved the FY 2013 operating budget. Council president Joe Holloway and councilwoman Sheree Sample-Hughes were the two dissenting votes.
CHESTERTOWN, MD – The Kent County Commissioners will hold their public hearing tonight on the 
PRINCESS ANNE, MD – Somerset County sheriff Bobby Jones claims that he faces financial ruin after losing a lawsuit filed by a former deputy which resulted in a $1.1 million judgment. Because the suit alleged illegal behavior by Jones the county’s insurance policy does not cover the loss. Attorney’s for the county had successfully argued to have Somerset County and the office of sheriff removed from the suit. Jones is personally responsible for the judgment.
EASTON, MD – The 
GEORGETOWN, DE – 
PRINCESS ANNE, MD – The Somerset County Commissioners will not raise property taxes this year, according to the county’s finance director. The Daily Times’ 
SALISBURY, MD – In a press release Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt has announced that he is withdrawing the county’s request for a maintenance of effort (MOE) waiver from the state Board of Education:
ANNAPOLIS, MD – By a vote of 33 – 13, the Maryland Senate has passed 
OXFORD, MD – By a vote of 206 – 161 residents of Oxford have rejected a proposal to lease two acres of land at the end of Pier Street to the YMCA for a pool and satellite facility. In February the Town Commissioners voted unanimously to move forward with plan. 
SALISBURY, MD – Tuesday evening I had the honor of speaking to a meeting of the Wicomico chapter of the Maryland Society of Patriots. The topic was the FY 2013 Wicomico County budget. Almost every seat was taken and attendees included members of the legislature as well as several local elected officials, past and present.
BROOKLYN, NY – Unfortunately, it’s an all-too-American story. Alex Gormakh immigrated from Russia. He opened a small bagel shop on Clinton Street. His business grew as he earned a reputation for baking some of the best bagels in a city that takes their bagels pretty seriously. The city comes in and forces him to spend almost $1 million … to keep sesame seeds off the floor.
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PRINCESS ANNE, MD – If the Princess Anne Town Commissioners adopt a new real property tax rate of $1.12 two things will have happened:
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CHESTERTOWN, MD – The Kent County Republican Central Committee has selected William A. Short to succeed county commissioner Alex Rasin, who announced his resignation in March. Short will take his seat as a commissioner this month.
SNOW HILL, MD – The Worcester County Commissioners will hold their public hearing on the FY 2013 budget tonight at 7:00 PM. The public hearing will be held at Snow Hill High School.
ACCOMAC, VA – Residents of incorporated towns in Accomack County are reminded that town elections will be held Tuesday, May 1st. Elections will be held in Accomac, Belle Haven, Bloxom, Chincoteague, Hallwood, Keller, Melfa, Onancock, Onley, Painter, Parksley, Saxis, Tangier, and Wachapreague. Candidates for office are:
SALISBURY, MD – At Monday’s meeting of the Salisbury City Council almost $700,000 was appropriated to fund legal expenses for the remainder of FY 2012. The original ordinance called for $70,000 in additional funds for the city attorney and $565,000 to fund litigation over the waste water treatment plant (WWTP) debacle. The bill was amended to increase funding for the city attorney by $100,000.
RIDGELY, MD – Ridgely voters elected John Hurley to the town commission Monday. Hurley won over Richard Kellogg by 52 – 33 votes. Both Hurley and Kellogg were first time candidates.
LEWES, DE – Sussex County councilwoman Joan Deaver (D-3) will announce her intent to seek re-election today at 5:30 PM. Deaver, who is in her first term on council, will kick-off her re-election campaign at The Kitchen in the Paynters Mill development off Paynters Mill Road on Route 1 at Cave Neck Road.
