I watched the Rehoboth commissioners’ workshop July 7, and was shocked by the opening proceedings. Commissioner Suzanne Goode, a chronic target for Mayor Stan Mills' officious bullying and condescension, asked a legitimate question of the city manager, and was promptly shouted down by a novice city employee, then gaveled into submission by the mayor, whose loyal sidekick, the vice mayor, jumped into supporting action to suspend the meeting. Seriously? Watch the workshop YouTube video at about the eighth minute. You’ll be as disgusted by the ballet of hyperventilating bullying as I was.
Watch the lawyer, who had zero previous experience advising small towns, jump into action shouting over a speaking elected commissioner. If she wants to speak, run for a seat. Otherwise, she should behave like an employee, subordinate to elected folks. I was shocked any city employee would dare such brazen verbal attacks on an elected representative. When you see such orchestrated hysterical responses by the mayor, vice mayor and attorney, one begins to think Commissioner Goode is on a track that warrants our attention as taxpayers. One also wonders if the attorney understands she works for us, and not as the personal lackey of the mayor.
Commissioner Goode raised questions about inherent conflicts of interest managing certain matters important to the taxpayers of the city. She has consistently raised questions about the integrity of decision processes, spending agenda and the imperiousness with which the mayor and vice mayor treat taxpayers of our city as if it's a private fiefdom, and our money is theirs. The voters sent Commissioner Goode to city hall to be guardian of our interests, and she serves us well, to the mayor’s obvious annoyance.
The sheer panicked response by the mayor and vice mayor when Goode raises important issues shows how endemic the collusive mismanagement really is in Rehoboth, and who is likely primarily responsible.
I’m fortunate to have a case on the horizon, in a Delaware court, where I get to personally (hopefully) attempt to hold city leaders truly accountable for abuses under the law.
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