Who are the folks listed on the Contact Us page of the Charterboard.org site? What is their background and why are they serving in this position?

Enrico, don't know who they are, but maybe if you used the "Contact Us" button and asked, they might just tell you.

There is also a "Have comments? Send us an e-mail" button.

Might wanna try clicking on one of those, I'm pretty sure that's what they're there for.

Good Luck!

I bolded my question so you could re-read it. I read the contact us page but there are no pictures or bio's. Who are they? Some names I recognize but not all. Would be nice to know who they are, what their jobs are and why this matter interests them. My first thought when I saw the list of names was 'Who are these folks?'. Thus my query.

OK, I get it, but I'm not sure you do.

My suggesting for finding the answers to your questions was to hit that little "Contact Us" or "Have Comments" button and perhaps the little men hiding behind the buttons can answer your question.

I do think it would be more efficient if there were pix/bio's, but Enrico, nobody ever said government was efficient. If you want to know "Who are these folks?", and that's a legitimate question, you'll have to ask someone who knows, hence, the little buttons. I'm pretty confident if folks HERE knew who they all were, they'd answer, but contrary to popular belief, we posters don't REALLY know everything, we just like to pretend we do.

Seek, and ye shall find.

Again - Good Luck.

Or, you could have attended any one of the countless number of open meetings and worksessions that held around the county for the past 18 months

Here is a list taken from the website:

Jeanne Singer
Ron Burgundy
Lee Downey
David Hanlin
Sharon Leatherman
Ben Roethlisberger
Steve Perry
Mary Ellen Walton

Ron Burgundy

I'll go to charterboard.org and post a link to this message. But seems to me that since that site links here for a public discussion on this topic, the friends of ours over there should be members here, read the threads and responds. Maybe each one could write a bio for the other one? That sounds fun to me.

Kid-Sorry, first I heard of this was when I got the mail yesterday. Some of the money spent mailing the little card could be used to inform the public in advance? You can't say I'm not interested in this. You seem to have good knowledge on this topic. Perhaps you'd care to share?

Are these folks are county employees? If so, why isn't this on the official washington county website? or on a .md.us or a .gov domain so it has the official-ness that provides. it looked to me to be private with a .org; thinking lawyers, folks that want to run for office sometime in the future or just simply citizens wanting to change things.

And I still get this feeling that the people here don't really seem to want to talk about the charter change. That's odd since it's promoted. Why promote it if you don't want to talk about it. When I order a sandwich and don't want hot peppers I don't say 'with no hot peppers', I just omit saying 'hot peppers'

there's been signs up all over the county for months... lol....

I completely agree enrico...I don't like hot peppers on my sandwich either

The point there was that if you don't want something you don't ask for it.

Then you can vote no. For me I will be voting yes, because we have JACKASSES like Donoghue that does care what you think and Myers that only cares about BULL BALLS on the back of your truck.

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=display...amp;format=html

Now now, no need for a dig. Certainly there are lots of things all of us know about that others don't such as the air speed velocity of a laden swallow.

I live in the south county and travel rt 67, route 40 and the I-70 & I-81 freeways and visit friends in Hagerstown, and haven't seen one. Where would one of these signs have been. Would I have passed one traveling from Weaverton to Hagerstown? Would I have known what it meant if I saw it?

Like most people here, I agree with everything Enrico has said. In fact just the other day I was having some hot pepper sandwiches with two of the charter board members, Ron Burgundy and Ben Roethlisberger. We weren't there to discus the charter, but the conversation went there anyway. Some of the very same points discussed that day are some of the same issues that Enrico has brought up here.

I don't want to vote no. I have no decision now. The hot peppers was about them asking for discussion and then not seeming to want to discuss. Not at all about my feelings one way or another. Just gathering facts.

it wasnt a dig... there are seriously signs all over. they say "home rule charter! vote yes! and most have the website, i think." especially in hagerstown. all over. they are blue and white. they have them in the grassy areas where hitchhikers stand, cheerleaders collect money, and people advertise avon, and homes for sale.

And where the Statue of Liberty has been lately.

All you folks want to do is attack me. I only asked a proper question that I feel many folks would have. And they have a nice spot for it, on the contact us page. Ever read a company's annual report? There is a list of the board of directors with their qualifications.

If you have a link for this, why not post it, and resolve the question instead of jabbing at me. Gosh, Friendly Place here.

Sorry, another trouble with electronic communication -- you can't heard the tone of voice

But that's now, not before the charter was put on the ballot. We were talking about me just finding out and someone said this was years old. Me said, you should have mailed something, response was 'signs'. Not very effective.

The for sale sign in front of a home helps those going to see it find it but all in all isn't effective in bringing buyers in. The same is true for promoting a business. A sign helps people looking for you find you but not those who don't know who you are in the first place.

I'm on your side Enrico. I think people here are just simply jealous that you have all that sweet, sweet bbs hardware in your basement.

Enrico--

some of your questions may be answered under this topic's 'thanks for your comments'.

Can we do the next Meet and Greet at Enrico's house and have a show and tell as well?

It's considered antique computer hardware. I was going to throw it out and a friend told me that they had value. I have the room, and it's something I spent many thousands of hours working on, much like a work of art. Programming is a work of art and some are good at it, while others just to the bare essentials. You see that when you use the product.

I don't really know what you're agreeing with me on as I thought this morning that I'd post a couple questions here and the nice people at the charterboard would answer them for all to read. Especially since they refer people here I thought they'd participate. Why else would they refer me here? But instead you folks just want to take me on personally. What's sup here?

So I have an education and some of you don't. You probably are better at woodworking, carpentry, art, politics, foreign language, etc then me. I'm not attacking anyone for anything. Just looking for a couple answers. Have a nice day.

Enrico-

DO NOT behave like an elitist here! For one thing, you have no idea how educated some of us here are. I would be willing to bet that at least 1/2 of the regular posters have a degree.

Secondly--I was trying to help you out by refering you to the Thanks for Your Comments thread.

Thirdly -- This Home Rule Charter has been around for some time. In fact, I think this is the third time it has been attempted in the past 20+ years.

I do not mean to sound like a mother, but you got my irish up!

Once again Enrico, I totally agree with you. I've never had much time for all that fancy book learning, but I do know a thing or two about woodworking. I like to whittle things. You haven't lived until you have taken a blank piece of wood and turned it into almost an exact replica of Abraham Lincoln's head.

I'm not sounding like an elitist. Someone dinged me for having an education and what's wrong with learning. I also pointed out that many people of lots of strengths I don't have and I admire that. I don't knock someone for doing something good, learning or having skills.

Why read that whole thread title 'Thanks for your comments' to learn about 'Who's on the charter board'. I tried looking in a cookbook for making 'scrambled eggs' under 'Roast Beef' and couldn't find anything about eggs.

Well, it is more like the link to the title page was under that topic, and once you click on the link you find a list of the members.

I have my doubts that anyone on here knows who these people are. If they did, we being hearing a mouthful from everyone. (kinda strange that nobody has a valid opinion today....) Maybe it's "Be nasty to Newcomers" Day!! lol

Jeanne Singer : jsinger@jsingerlaw.com (ps-she's an attorney).

So far I've learned that some people don't like hot peppers on their sandwich and if you don't have a degree, well you're just too stupid to reply to this thread.

Checks-"Be nasty to Newcomers" Day is always the last friday of each month. I thought everybody knew that

Enrico:

Today's HM had an article about an upcoming debate on this topic :

================================================================

Thursday January 24, 2008
Charter home rule proposal to be debated Jan. 30

The pros and cons of Washington County's proposed home rule charter will be debated Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 7:30 to 9 p.m., at Hagerstown Community College's Kepler Theater.

The public is invited to attend the debate on Washington County's proposed home rule charter, which will be voted on in the Feb. 12 primary election.

Those participating in the debate in favor of the proposed charter will be Jeanne Singer, who served as chairwoman of the charter board for Washington County; James F. Kercheval, a Washington County Commissioner; and Brien Poffenberger, president of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Opposing the charter will be Del. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington; Thomas Berry, who was a charter board member; and Washington County Commissioner William J. Wivell.

The moderator will be David Warner, executive director of the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown.

Copies of the proposed charter will be available at the Kepler Theater on the night of the debate.

The debate is sponsored by The Herald-Mail Co., Antietam Cable TV and Hagerstown Community College.

The debate will be shown live on Antietam Cable Channel 99 and broadcast live on radio station WJEJ AM.

The debate will be available on Antietam Cable, Video On Demand, starting Jan. 31.

It will be re-aired on Antietam Cable Channel 19 on the following dates: Thursday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 2, at 2 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m.; and Monday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m.

The Herald-Mail on Sunday, Jan. 27, will carry a complete package on charter home rule, including an overview of the system of government, answers to frequently asked questions, a look at how home rule is working in other counties in Maryland, and more.

================================================================================


So you'll have some good opportunities to learn more about the charter if you want.

Now, on to your more important issue. When you were referring to the air speed velocity of a fully laden swallow, was that an African swallow or a European swallow?

I thought it was the second Tues of each month and alternating Thursdays. Hmmm , have to recheck the calendar!

Checks, Sammy & Tex r always fun. I enjoy. Much quicker w/ great lines than I am.

Check Channel 19--they will replay the hearing upteen times..

Thanks--my sarcasm has been honed by some of the best.

I must apologize for thinking that since the charterboard.org website linked to here for discussion that this would be a place for civil discussion and not personal attacks. I posted questions I had, following formats on other forums, and you folks have nothing better to do then worry about my experience with this and that and how I brush my teeth -- (oh, up and down by the way because side to side erodes your teeth). Yes, that's really important to the charter issue.

So to feed your attacks on me let me just say this. I took a class in Rockville once that offered free parking validation. The guy in the booth spent all week explaining to me where to place the validation ticket on the parking coupon. I've never been back. Did he do any good teaching each person he saw how to place the coupon on the parking coupon? No. How much effort he made. Wouldn't it have been easier to have a spot marked, or a flyer handed out to everyone?

So, I was thinking that if I had these questions, others probably would and the charterboard.org website links here, and they're really wanting this to pass, that someone with knowledge at charterboard.org would want to answer these questions here since on their site they refer to here for discussion. So instead of being like the parking attendant, and talking to each person individually, my questions, and their answers would serve the public good. And I tried to ask them in a manner that would bring out real discussion. I really don't have any opinion on what's good or bad about this whole thing. Only questions need to form an decision soon.

This is a nice place to live now. Will it be nicer if we vote for the change or against it? Isn't that a great question? Isn't that what we all should be considering.

Sorry that you folks don't get that. I'm just an average person. Thinking about how to vote. Others are in similar situations. The webs resolves this. And yet, no-one from the charterboard answers the questions and yet they are having public meetings. So it can't be that they don't want to answer, but yet they don't. I'm confused by this whole thing.

Right, now its to late, the CC have blessed it and are going to attempt to force it down our throat.

The media here is internet and not public meetings or television or newspaper. If I wanted to listen to the radio or read the newspaper without a way for feedback to those on the media, that's what I'd be doing now. And most of you would probably be enjoying it (the silence from me, that is)

Oh, I suppose I could take a chance on the radio call in that they'd take my call, or on tv they'd read my email. But since charterboard.org wants a discussion on the internet, let's talk about this here and openly without bias.

My questions were, why do we need this, give me an example of why this is needed, and why on the primary election when only really dedicated voters vote (like me). They're quite simple and easy questions in my opinion.

Enrico,

This thread had been on this site for at least 2 months and you are right. why would the website steer you here for info and discussion yet nobody involved with this is in here to answer your questions. The only person I have even seen post in here is Jeanne Singer (hope I got that right). Kid who is also a county commissioner has been nice enough to answer questions every now and then when someone does post one but you are right. If they direct you here they ought to have someone here to discuss your concerns.

Hey, I thought we weren't supposed to "out" people?

Anyway, new day, new mood, I agree Enrico that this should be how it works, but it is not. The goal seems to be to sell the charter to the public, not debate what is or is not in it, nor how it would truly affect the public that will governed by it. That last point goes for both side of the argument actually.

Patton- you are such a conspiracy theorist. If you go to the website you will find only 2 of 5 commissioners have fully endorsed the proposed charter, and you will find my comments elsewhere on this forum under another thread. You iwll also note that at least 1 does not support it, and 2 others, including myself has not taken a position beyond the public comments I have made here and elsewhere. This is the public's decision to make, not mine, and expressing my view one way or the other on what form a government citizen choose to be governed by should not be used to sway the opinion of any citizen that has not taken the time to read the document and decide for themselves.

For those wondering why you are directed here, it seems to be because the original venue to discuss this "virtually" was here, it just received very limited participants. However, I do recall an article in the paper some time back about these threads and how many people were participating in them ( think based on number of posts) and what the general mood of those participants was. I would imagine there may be anothre reference to that affect before the issue is voted on and if they are coutning number of posts rather than participants on these threads, if we keep this going it may look like there has been a lot of virtual discussion on the issue, when half of these posts have been about who likes peppers on their sandwich. Again for the record, I do not.

One individual did make a comment the other day that I found interesting. At last count the charter group in support of the draft have mounted roughly 300 signatures, but the language within the proposed charter requires nearly 6,000 signatures on an issue the new County Council would vote on, to have it overturned. If some profess that support the charter that it is easily conceivable to achieve 6,000 signatures in support or opposition of an issue that the voters should decide upon why has it been an apparent struggle to achieve that many signatures in support of a document that will have significant changes "for the better" on how the County governs itself?

I didnt tell him which one Mr. wivell..........oops

Wivell

The individuals listed on the website are most of the board members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to draft the proposed charter - one of the nine members asked that his name not be listed. In the summer of 2006, the Board of County Commissioners solicited volunteers for this Board - the nine of us were selected from 40-50 residents who applied. We are not county employees nor is the website maintained by the county.

I apologize for the delay in responding to you but have been out of town since Thursday morning with limited internet access.

The purpose of adding this venue was to allow Washington County residents to weigh in on different options that the Board was considering for the charter - districts vs at-large, elected county executive or no, etc. Once the final draft was presented to the Board of County Commissioners, the Herald-Mail removed those threads but agreed to keep the forum open for additional discussion on the charter, not for a sales pitch.

With respect to the signatures, the names that are on our list have come mostly from the website and from some meetings that we have attended. If the minimal work and attention that we have spent on that led to 6,000 signatures, I would say that the threshold set in the charter wasn't set high enough. The intent is that it would take effort and hard work to obtain signatures necessary to send a proposed ordinance to the ballot. Our effort and hard work has been focused on going out to talk to the residents of Washington County about charter home rule, in general, and the proposed charter specifically, not to garner names for the endorsement list on the website.

It was merely a comment, not a suggestion.

One thing I can;t figure out is how this forum for Wednesday came about, ie who selected the debate teams for and against?

Also, the paper had it wrong when they stated I am "not sure" about voting on the charter, when what I stated was the same thing I stated here several times now....it should not be my vote as a citizen that sways the vote of other citizens one or another on how they are to be governed, especially those that choose not to read the document and simply take the word of another individual as the right direction. I have reviewed the document, heard arguments at numerous venues and will decide as every other citizen must when I enter that box on Feb 12.

I have always stated that charter form of govt is the most efficient direction for local govt to achieve for its citizens, whether this draft is the right document in achieving that is up to each voter. My continued concern is how it is being sold to the public for what it is and what it is not, from both sides of the fence, to the point currently, in my opinion, that the waters have been muddied and spread with fear from both views, and the debate on Wednesday night I predict will only serve to continue that effort.

Regardless of the outcome, it is NOT going to change how we govern in a "countywide" thought process, and until we change that through a number of BOCC policies and procedures, that I have identified (I am sure others are out there and would love to hear them), no form of coutny government we agree to be governed by will be as effective as it should be in addressing our entire citizenry.

And that is why I voted for Brightman. HAHAHAHAHAHA

I apologize for being so late in responding to your entries in Forum. I am not as computer literate as I would like. Now that I have overcome the obstacle of getting registered and learning to Post, I may be here more often. But keep in mind I don’t like hot peppers.

I want to answer your question about who were the members appointed to serve on the Charter Board.

The members of the Charter Board were selected on September 19, 2006. Each of the five County Commissioners selected one individual to serve. The other four members were appointed from a group of 25-40 applicants.

I don’t recall the Charter Board ever asking the political party affiliation of each of the 9 people. Given there were 5 Republicans on the BCC, and I know that at least two of the individuals are Democrats, it doesn’t seem that party affiliation was much of an issue.

The members of the Charter Board were:

+Tom Berry is a retired engineer. He served one term on the Board of Education. He is from Rohrersville. Tom is the sole member of the Charter Board to vote against its adoption. He was appointed by Commissioner Bill Wivell.
+Ron Bowers. Ron was a long time member of the Board of County Commissioners, including time as President. Ron is retired from Mack Trucks. After retirement he served a term as Administrator of the Maryland Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board. He is currently working as a realtor from Maugansville. He was appointed by Commissioner John Munson.
+Lee Downey. Lee was a long time member of the Board of County Commissioners. He is a realtor and a farmer. He is from Williamsport. He was appointed by Commissioner Greg Snook.
+Sharon Leatherman. Sharon works with the region’s Methodist Churches in mission and outreach. She has work experience on the staff of Sen. Mikulski. She is from Williamsport. She was appointed by Commissioner Dori Nipps.
+Spence Perry. Spence is a retired attorney formerly with the Federal government. He is very active in various organization throughout Washington County. Spence was from Hagerstown. He was appointed from the group of applicants.
+Brien Poffenberger. He was a member of the Home Rule Task Force that recommended Charter Home Rule. In the past he worked some time on the staff of Senator Mikulski. Brien is President of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce. He is from Sharpsburg. He was appointed by Commissioner Jim Kercheval.
+Jeanne Singer. Jeanne served as Chairwoman of the Charter Board. She is a tax and estate planning attorney from Hagerstown. She was appointed from the group of applicants.
+MaryEllen Waltemire. Mary Ellen is Principal Agent and Regional Extension Director of the Western Region of Maryland Cooperative Extension in Keedysville. She is from Halfway. She was appointed from the group of applicants.

+David Hanlin. I own a small trucking and warehousing company in Hagerstown. I was appointed from the group of applicants.

I trust that this answers your questions. I hope to be back in the Forums soon.

Charter Home Rule has been defeated by a 2-1 vote. The majority have spoken.

http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaysto...amp;format=html

02/13/2008
Charter home rule voted down 2-to-1
Washington Co. will retain commissioner form of government
By JOSHUA BOWMAN
joshua.bowman@herald-mail.com

WASHINGTON COUNTY — An energetic campaign from charter home rule supporters was not enough to sway Washington County residents, who voted down the proposal by a 2-to-1 margin in Tuesday’s primary election.

With all precincts reporting, 15,281 votes were cast against the charter and 7,877 votes were cast for it, according to unofficial results.

The vote means that Washington County will retain its commissioner form of government.

By law, a new charter board cannot be created for 18 months after a charter is voted down.

The margin of votes would be too great for absentee and provisional ballots to change the result.

“The public has spoken with a very loud and clear voice,” said Del. Christopher B. Shank, who was reached by mobile phone Tuesday night.

Shank, who opposed the charter, said the vote mirrors recent charter decisions in other Maryland counties. He said three of four proposed charters in Maryland have been voted down in the last 10 years.

Tuesday’s charter proposal is the third to have been voted down in Washington County.

In 1977, a ballot question on charter home rule failed with 38 percent of the vote. Another proposal in 1988 came closer, but lost with 45 percent of the vote.

Charter proponent Jeanne F. Singer could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

The proposed charter would have changed Washington County’s governing body from a five-member board of county commissioners to a seven-member county council.

Under Maryland law, county councils can pass their own local legislation.

County commissioners must submit bills to the Maryland General Assembly for approval.

Proponents of the charter generally argued that it would give local elected officials and citizens more power to govern themselves.

Opponents said it would have upset a system of checks and balances between the county commissioners and state legislators. Some charter opponents said they were in favor of charter government but disagreed with specific aspects of the proposed charter.

For example, opponents said that referendum requirements were too high to be effective.

The charter would have given voters the right to challenge local legislation through referendum, or public vote.

Under the proposed charter, Washington County residents would have been able to challenge local bills with the signatures of 7 percent of the county’s registered voters.

Some legislation, including budgets, taxes and short-term borrowing, would have been exempt from referendum.

To challenge long-term borrowing, voters would have had to collect the signatures of 15 percent of the county’s registered voters.

Proponents argued that the number was high enough to keep a minority of voters from challenging every bill but still low enough to work.

Nine Maryland counties have charter home rule governments. Six counties have approved code home rule and eight counties have kept commissioner government.