The next step was to compare that information with their job description, educational level, work experience, technical skills, and salary. The idea was to provide these “work sheets” to a recently retired businessman/executive who was an “uninterested third party” (with experience in HR, budgets, salaries and compensation, etc.) to ascertain if there was any work redundancy, misplaced talents, or non-compliance with the job descriptions, etc.

The businessman/recently retired executive who we identified and felt was qualified enough to nominate to the town council lived in Cape Charles. More important, he was willing to perform this in depth study for $2,500-$3,000. Unfortunately, one of the council members was adamantly opposed to the idea so we shelved it.

I think it’s a good idea to examine the town’s business practices from time to time. However, I don’t think it was very prudent move to announce that the “starting point” for this endeavor is $10,000. There’s certainly enough talent within this great community to undertake this task without spending this amount of money, and I’m hoping that the town’s leadership re-thinks this idea before it acts on it .

BTW, the guy who was originally nominated to conduct that study 7 years ago still lives in town, but I suspect his price for that same service is now $10,000 — call it a good guess on my part.

Oh, yes, Council wants to raise the transient occupancy tax so said funds can be used for organizations such as Citizens for Central Park, Arts Enter, and Friends of Cape Charles Memorial Library. Really? This is the same crew that has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars attempting to thwart Old School Cape Charles’ attempt to retain public spaces for the ordinary people (basketball courts, 100 year old historic stage, indoor gymnasium, classrooms, etc.). Forgive me for being inquisitive, but what is the difference between OSCC and these other groups? The Town is willing to raise taxes to support them, yet from the beginning has done nothing but head butt the taxpaying citizens of Old School. Is it just plain old obstinance, intractability and pigheadedness? (This same arrogance can be detected in their reaction to the County’s move to cease funding the PSA.)

All that said, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Giese sum things up nicely.

How can Onancock operate with 15 employees? They have more full-time residents and every bit as much summer tourism. I already know our town manager is making way more than Onancock’s town manager.

As far as all this outrage over Mr. Panek and the PSA — of course it’s conflict of interest. The PSA tried to bully Accomack County a few years ago and Accomack County sent them packing quick. Mr. Panek is simply trying to cover himself on this sewer plant mess and we all know it. Oh, and speaking of the sewer plant — it stinks all over town! I for one am tired of paying for water that I would NEVER drink or cook. Maybe the town could send their water guy to Onancock. I lived there for 18 years and the water was great. The water in this town makes my dog vomit, rusts everything, and smells bad!

Clearly our town council is “disturbed,” for lack of a better word. They are always favoring developers and sticking it to the citizens with higher taxes and utility bills.