Stigile: 'Reasonable people can disagree' on Pumphrey parking.
Is it impossible in this city to have a rational discussion about public policy issues without having someone launch an attack on the messenger? In a March 22 posting on Patch, Councilmember Moore encouraged residents to speak out at a public hearing on the Pumphrey parking lot. It was a serious article about a serious issue—whether the current Mayor and Council would honor the approval given by the previous council or would pull the rug out from under Pumphrey Funeral Home, after it had incurred more than $100,000 in planning and legal costs based on the previous approval. Reasonable people can disagree about whether a parking lot should be constructed in an historic district. There are good arguments on both sides of the issue. But …
Stigile: Before 'a rush to judgement,' the city should conduct a 'no-fault investigation' of the fountain incident at the mayor's announcement.
We should all agree that having the fountains come on during the mayor’s campaign event was unfortunate. She and her supporters deserved to enjoy the moment. Once a decision was made to turn off the fountains, steps should have been taken to ensure that the event went forward without mishap. We should also acknowledge that the incident raises important questions about the use of city facilities for campaign purposes. Prudent people should want to get answers to many questions and not rush to judgment. Unfortunately, instead of waiting for a full airing of the facts, Mr. Jordan pounced on the city manager. The words and tone of his posting last week on Rockville Patch were impolite and accusatory. He characterized the city manager's actions…
Jim Coyle
5:06 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012
in addition to the vitriolic rhetoric, I have been surprised that families that have used Phumpreys over the years would turn on a wonderful company and neighbor. Is there so little loyalty left? The other part of this that I find strange is the argument that, by granting expanding parking, the M&C would be altering a non- conforming use. In my mind, it would simply be extending a current use … more ›