Amidst charges of “cronyism,” the Cecil County Commissioners Tuesday voted, 3-2, to appoint Skip Yust, the former political campaign treasurer for Commissioner Michael Dunn (R-3), to a seat on the important planning commission. Dunn lashed out at critics of the appointment, accusing them of an “orchestrated effort” that was “shameful.” Members of the Cecil...
Read more »
The Cecil County Circuit Court told the county commissioners in no uncertain terms to butt out of political decisions, instead of professional engineering judgments, on road code variances, but some current commissioners still haven’t gotten the message after multiple discussions recently and a new 14-page email from the county’s director of public works. It...
Read more »
Elvis, and Cecil County Economic Development Director Vernon Thompson, have already left the building but Cecil County Commissioner Diana Broomell (R-4) wanted to step on Thompson’s blue suede shoes Tuesday by trying to “fire” him in a closed door meeting, according to informed sources. Thompson formally submitted his resignation, under pressure from a three-member...
Read more »
It’s RIP for the Hatem Bridge discounted toll decal but Cecil County residents won a major victory Thursday with a revised state proposal that would keep the toll at $10 a year with a free EZ Pass transponder. The Maryland Transportation Authority is expected to approve the revised plan next week, according to state...
Read more »
A Cecil Times Special Report Delegate Michael Smigiel (R-36) has launched his long-anticipated campaign for a Cecil County Circuit Court judgeship with a major legal flub: a fundraising appeal that misappropriated the official seal of a state judicial agency. Documents obtained by The Cecil Times show that Smigiel pitched his candidacy—which had not yet...
Read more »
Cecil County Commissioners President James Mullin (R-1) claimed Saturday that Vernon Thompson was ousted as county economic development director because he didn’t “hook” military contractors to locate in Cecil County as part of the BRAC military expansion at Harford County’s Aberdeen Proving Ground. Speaking before a meeting of a church group in Earleville, Mullin...
Read more »
Commentary It could have been a scene out of the Disney classic, “Fantasia,” where the tutu-wearing hippos cavort clumsily in ballet toe-shoes, when the Cecil County Commissioners tried to establish an economic development agenda Tuesday. One hippo was missing from the corps d’ ballet. Commissioner Michael Dunn (R-3) was absent, just as he was...
Read more »
Owen Thorne, the controversial interim appointee to the Cecil County Planning Commission who was expected to get appointed to a full three-year term on Tuesday, is out and the political campaign treasurer for Commissioner Michael Dunn (R-3) – Skip Yust —is in. Under informal County Commissioner procedures, the seat is Dunn’s to fill, with...
Read more »
The Maryland Public Service Commission has approved the sale of most Cecil County water and sewage treatment plants to the private Artesian firm, rejecting arguments by the Appleton Regional Community Alliance (ARCA) that has battled against the sale for over three years. In an order dated 8/31/11, the PSC ruled that Artesian had “the...
Read more »
The Maryland Public Service Commission has issued an order approving the sale of most Cecil County water and sewage treatment plants to the private Artesian firm, rejecting arguments by the Appleton Regional Community Alliance (ARCA). In an order dated 8/31/11, the PSC ruled that Artesian had “the financial, technical, and managerial resources and qualifications...
Read more »
The Cecil County Commissioners voted, 3-2, Tuesday to hire a new lawyer, with close ties to Del. Michael Smigiel (R-36), to review the 2008 contract to sell county water and sewer plants to the private Artesian firm. The commissioners set no dollar limit on the fees the new lawyer can receive. The move was...
Read more »
The Cecil County Commissioners voted in secret session Tuesday to oust Vernon Thompson, a former senior state economic development official, as the county’s Director of Economic Development, according to informed sources. Thompson confirmed that “I will be leaving Cecil County as of September 23 by mutual agreement with the county commissioners.” The move had...
Read more »
Scott Flanigan and his staff at the Cecil County Department of Public Works were declared “heroes” on Tuesday for their “relentless” work to deal with flooded roads and downed trees in the aftermath of tropical storm Irene. But even ‘hero’ status did not deter Commissioner Diana Broomell (R-4) from renewing an attack on the...
Read more »
Cecil County Commissioners backed down, after a battle royale at their Tuesday morning public worksession and a more than three-hour secret meeting, from a bid by Commissioner Diana Broomell (R-4) to demand the firing of the entire Miles & Stockbridge law firm, and not just an individual attorney, from representing the county in all...
Read more »
It took an act of God—an earthquake—to silence the Cecil County Commissioners Tuesday, as the quake shook chairs and made the county office building sway while the local lawmakers were meeting to discuss broadband/Internet issues. Commissioners, county employees and citizens all evacuated the building for about a half hour as county workers checked the...
Read more »
