SPECIAL MEETING                                                                                                 APRIL 16, 2001

Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman                                                                                 Council President Lavonzella Siggers
Council Vice President Joseph L. Scott                                                             Councilwoman Rachel S. Polk
Councilman William Stacey                                                                               Councilman C. T. Webster

City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, Executive Officer John Pick, City Solicitor Paul Wilber and
interested Citizens and Members of the Press.
******************************************************************************
The Mayor and City Council convened in a Special Meeting on April 16, 2001 at 9:00 a.m. in
Room 301 of the City/County Government Building for the sole purpose of reorganization of the
City Council. Council President Siggers called the meeting to order.

Mr. Stacey moved and Mr. Webster seconded to reorganize the City Council. Mrs. Polk
referred to the April 9, 2001 comments made by Council President Siggers concerning housing
for senior citizens which were deemed inappropriate by some members of the City Council. Mrs.
Polk felt there had been a constant behind the scene battle, and sometimes in front battle, with
this Council. There were times when Councilmembers were rude, disrespectful, calling each
other names and disrupting meetings. Mrs. Polk was concerned that Councilman Stacey was the
engineer of discord among the Council since May 15th of last year beginning with problems
within the Fire Department and Administration. Mrs. Polk pointed out that Councilman Stacey
was appointed by the previous Council, not elected by the citizens of Salisbury. Allegations of
Mr. Stacey's abuse against his wife, children and his mother-in-law were brought forth. Mrs.
Polk took exception with that type of person sitting in judgment of somebody because they made
comments.

Mrs. Polk acknowledged Councilman Webster's comments of calling Councilmembers Siggers,
Scott and herself as low life for which no apology was received. Councilman Webster also made
comments about the mentally ill in Newtown and challenged them to buy property near his
property.

Other comments were that the business community did not want Ms. Siggers and she had to go.
Mrs. Polk noted that there were more than 600 businesses in the community, but only a handful
had called Mr. Scott. In her opinion, it was the same handful who fed fodder to the previous
Council to cause discord. There were also comments that she and Ms. Siggers were in the
Mayor's pocket and that the two of them have been referred to as the two aunts.

Mrs. Polk questioned whether the reorganization was based on the comments made at the April
9th meeting or if it was a larger issue. Mrs. Polk opined that the first reorganization was done
for a reason because a lie was told. She believed the citizens deserved better and she was not
prepared to sit on a Council headed by someone accused of abuse or headed by someone who
described her as low life.

Mr. Webster expressed that the City Council had every right to reorganize by a majority vote.
No one was being personally censored, personally insulted or dispelled from Council. The
purpose of this meeting was to form a more effective Salisbury City Council that could function
for the betterment of the taxpayers. Mr. Webster briefly commented on the behind the scenes
moves when he was replaced as Council President. As for the issue of the Go-Getters meeting,
Mr. Webster explained that he called the meeting as a citizen, not as a City Councilman. He was
interested in protecting the neighborhood and trying to see what was happening to the City's tax
base (Go-Getters does not pay taxes). He disputed Mrs. Polk's comments because she was not at
the meeting.

Mr. Webster voiced his opinion that Ms. Siggers' weakness was her attitude toward business and
the business community. He could not support the current Council President and would vote for
a change. Mr. Webster believed Mr. John Schuster (senior housing project developer) was
picked on in a negative manner by the Council President at the April 9th Council meeting. In a
subsequent phone call to Mr. Schuster, Mr. Schuster commented that he had made similar
presentations to many municipalities, but had never been addressed in that manner before.

Mr. Stacey related that he expected the liberals to be out in full force making personal attacks
and using lies, slander and innuendoes to belittle him and anyone else who got in their way.

Mr. Scott acknowledged that he based his decision on the phone calls (more than a handful) he
received at his business and home. Even though he, Ms. Siggers and Mrs. Polk have gotten
along very well, even more so than with Messrs. Stacey and Webster, he felt they must move
forward. In his opinion, the City was not business-friendly.

Highlights of the public comments included:
 

• Mr. Stacey not an elected official, but appointed by three previous Councilmembers;
• an appointed member of the Council should not serve as President;
• disagreement with the proposed location for the senior housing project
  because of safety and environmental issues;
• questioned how many times the Council was going to restructure;
• did not care who was President of the City Council as long as there was
  a consensus on the Council to move things along for the good of the City;
• reference that Mr. Scott goes whichever way the wind blows;
• Councilmembers should be sound in their thoughts, take information from
  other people and build a consensus;
• fighting and bickering observed with Councils over the past several years,
  but for the first time in many years it has been calm;
• concerned with someone causing problems who was not elected and whose only
  concern was their personal agenda;
• if had known this was a reorganization meeting, would have called Mr. Scott;
• concern with having Mr. Stacy as a Council President with his background;
• aware of accusations concerning Mr. Stacey, but should be respected for
  having the strength to come forward to serve the City;
• belief that Mr. Webster was being responsive to the neighborhood on the
  Go-Getters issue;
• difficulty hearing Ms. Siggers because of her soft voice;
• questioned what had occurred to initiate another reorganization of the
  Council;
• belief that the issue was self-gain and that the Councilmembers should
  listen to what the citizens are saying; and
• questioned who paid for Mr. Webster's trip to the Western Shore.

Mrs. Polk opined that people get the government they deserve if they choose someone with the
background of Mr. Stacey, someone who doesn't take government serious as Mr. Webster or
someone who flip-flops on every issue as Mr. Scott. She noted that Council was about to enter
into budget negotiations and opined that the process would be sabotaged. Mrs. Polk expressed
her pleasure in having Ms. Siggers as President of the City Council.

Mr. Stacey reported that no one mentioned the newspaper article which exonerated him from the
accusations or the fact that his former wife stated that the word abuse was used specifically by
the attorney. Mr. Stacey expressed that he was concerned for Salisbury and when the City
Council position became available, he decided to apply for the position in order to serve the
community.

Ms. Siggers read a letter addressed to the City Council apologizing for her personal comments
to Mr. Schuster and clarifying four incidents cited by Mr. Stacey in his April 10, 2001 letter. A
copy is attached and made a part of these minutes.

Ms. Siggers further explained her position concerning the proposed location of a senior housing
project. When she shared information with the neighbors that a senior housing project was
proposed for the area, they too commented on the problem with gas fumes. In questioning Mr.
Schuster on Monday evening on whether he would choose to live there, Mr. Schuster kept
evading the question. Ms. Siggers finally stated that she was sure Mr. Schuster was intelligent
enough to realize that she was simply asking for a yes or no answer. Mr. Schuster finally stated
that he would live there.

Ms. Siggers noted that her apology came out of her convictions, not by virtue of a reprimand or
concerns expressed by anyone else. She thanked the Councilmembers for calling a meeting so
she could make a public apology before the next Council meeting. Ms. Siggers thanked everyone
for their support and the feedback she had received from the public concerning her service as
Council President. In reference to the comment that she was in the Mayor's pocket, Ms. Siggers
related that she and the Mayor do have their contentions and they do not agree a lot of the time.
Ms. Siggers was pleased with her representation as Council President and viewed this as an
opportunity to grow. However, she regretted the instability that had been represented since her
endeavor was to create a different atmosphere in Salisbury.

On the motion to reorganize, Messrs. Scott, Stacey and Webster voted aye. Mrs. Polk and Ms.
Siggers voted nay. Mayor Tilghman presided as President Pro Tempore and read the rules to be
followed for the organization of the City Council.

Mr. Stacey nominated himself as President of the City Council. Mr. Webster seconded the
motion. Mrs. Polk nominated herself as President of the Council. Ms. Siggers seconded the
motion. On the vote for Mr. Stacey as President of the Council, Messrs. Scott, Stacey and
Webster voted aye.

(Mrs. Polk left the meeting at 10:19 a.m.)

Council President Stacey called for nominations for the election of Vice President of the City
Council. Mr. Webster nominated Joe Scott as Vice President. Mr. Stacey seconded the
nomination. No other nominations were received. Messrs. Scott, Stacey and Webster voted in
favor. Ms. Siggers did not vote.

With no further discussion, the Special Meeting adjourned at 10:21 a.m.

City Clerk

Council President