Elect Ann Gilbert to Westminster Council
Much is being said about sorting through the buzz before going to the polls in local elections. The basic question is who are the candidates in terms of what they bring to enhance our progress. One might also ask who are the people who endorse them.
Let me tell you who Ann Gilbert is as I know her and then who I am. I’ve known Ann since before she ran in the last council election in which she fell short by only 58 and 62 votes to the other candidates. I endorsed her then as I do now. Ann makes an immediate positive impression through her personal demeanor — fully engaging, firm yet affable, direct yet empathetic, and all with a smile. Ann is exactly the person who will “fit in” well on our council, not fit in to get along and go along but as a knowledgeable, strong and positive voice being fully interactive, contributory, and productive.
Ann was runner-up to councilwoman Dr. Mona Becker, among several interviewees, to fill the vacancy when Dennis Frazier was elected County Commissioner in 2014. Ann is a Carroll County native and with her family has lived in Westminster over 50 years. She’s worked for the Carroll County Department of Social Services for 20-plus years. A Leadership Carroll 2012 grad, Kiwanis member, and served our community in many diverse ways — Healthy Care Leadership Team, Healthy Aging Leadership Team, Treasurer of the Class 2009 and 2013 Westminster HS Parent Boosters — to name a few. Please watch her candidate presentation available on the city website under Elections.
With a B.A. in Sociology, a Masters in Counseling, and a ton of practical work, volunteer, and social service experience, Ann is extremely well-rounded and will readily integrate her talents with governance in making Westminster better in every way possible. She’s running to enhance public safety, economic development, and communication with citizens. Ann is Westminster and Westminster is Ann!
I’m a 28-year resident, retired Army Colonel (29-year career), Board of Zoning Appeals since 2004, (now Chair), Public Safety Advisory Council since 2018 (now Chair), Flying Colors of Success, Inc. Quality Committee since 2005, Leadership Carroll Class 2004, Wakefield Valley Property Task Force 2015 (Chair), Mayor’s Technology TF 2006, and former council candidate but withdrew. I love Westminster as does Ann. Please vote Ann Gilbert May 14.
Ed Cramer
Westminster
Entire county should be wary of Sykesville development
I am writing concerning the new housing development on Slacks Road located behind the Springfield Hospital Center. While I am not in favor of urban sprawl, this project is extremely troubling to me and should be a concern to all Carroll County taxpayers. The Mayor and Town Council have been pushing this development without concern for the future improvement of the infrastructure. In some places, Slack Road is barely wide enough for two lanes of traffic and the road could be regarded as one-and-a-half lanes at best. The road will have to be widened to accommodate the new traffic. The two bridges crossing the creeks that feed Piney Run Reservoir will have to be expanded. In addition, the future improvement to other infrastructure should be considered; school expansions, water/sewage filtration plant, electric grid and the displacement of wildlife that will cause costly automobile accidents. Who will be paying for these costs? I guarantee it won’t be the mayor of Sykesville or the Town Council.
While the builder will be making millions off this building project, the taxpayers of Carroll County will be stuck with the bill to pay for the cost to improve the infrastructure. I would encourage the commissioner to temporarily stop this construction project until the costs of infrastructure improvements are addressed and the builder agrees to pay for these Improvements in full. I hope the taxpayers of Carroll County call their commissioner to voice the same concern and compel the commissioner to perform their due diligence on the future cost of infrastructure due to these new homes.
Robert Willey
Sykesville
Illegal immigrants shouldn’t be counted for Census
If a farmer realizes he had set hi harveter too low and his grain had become contaminated with gravel and other foreign debris, it would be dishonest and wrong for him to sell his grain without finding a way to separate the debris out of the grain. I see this as a parallel to the citizen question on the 2020 Census.
One of the main reasons for the Census is to determine representation and the number of House seats for each state. To include the illegal immigrants as equal to the legal citizens is tantamount to the farmer including the foreign matter with his grain. The immigrants would be deported if found because they are not here legally. If someone was trespassing on your property would you expect them to be counted as part of your family?
I can see no reason to include the illegal immigrants as equal in numbers to the legal citizenry and the citizenship question is the logical way to make this determination.
Chris Brighoff
Taylorsville