Outburst results in White apology

Town Commissioner Dennis Williams on Tuesday accepted an apology from board President Frank White following a boisterous exchange between the two elected officials at the close of this week's town meeting.

White has been embroiled in controversy since he assumed the role as top town executive in February upon the sudden departure of former town manager Jay Parker. White's use of Parker's town-issued credit card -- charging above $8,500 that included spending at hotels and restaurants -- was documented in a recent Daily Times article, raising questions among townsfolk about possible abuse of power and misuse of town funds.

At Monday's meeting, Williams recommended that elected officials on town business spend their own money, then submit an invoice and documentation for purchases for which they want reimbursement.

"Expenses should be documented -- when, where business was discussed," he told the audience of about 25 residents crowded in the community room at the Princess Anne Townhouses. "Then, they can bring in (documentation) for reimbursement. I say this in a spirit of cooperation."

Williams also called it uncommon for a Town Commissioner to have a town-issued credit card and vehicle.

Shortly after, bystanders watched as White, in an outburst, shouted and made hand gestures at Williams, who hurriedly moved back toward a police officer who had attended the session. White stands about 6 feet 2 inches and weighs about 250 pounds. Williams is about 5 feet 10 inches and is much lighter in weight. Town Public Works Director Tracy Grangier had watched the feud and went to Williams.

Outside the meeting room where a crowd had gathered word circulated that Williams had contacted police. They wondered if he had filed a formal assault complaint against the Town Commissioners president.

"I went up to (Public Works Director Grangier), and she was in tears," said resident Scott Kerton. " 'Frank lunged at Dennis' is what people were saying; I don't know what's going on. I'd love to see (White) out of office."


Contacted Tuesday, Williams said the encounter was unnerving, and described what happened: Just after the meeting adjourned, Williams approached White to comment about the tone of the meeting. "(White) was very upset, and I felt the best thing to do was to go to a neutral corner," Williams said in a telephone interview. "I didn't want anything untoward to happen. But (White) called today and apologized.



"I told him, 'let's move forward,' " Williams continued.

White could not be reached Tuesday to comment and was not at Town Hall when a reporter attempted to contact him there.

Despite the apology, Williams said he wants fellow commissioners to evaluate the expense-reporting process, and intends to request that a discussion is on the July 27 town work session agenda.

Town Commissioners Vice President Garland Hayward told the audience that White has since returned the town vehicle he used after Parker's departure. He did not mention the credit card.

Hayward and Interim Town Manager Brenda Benton indicated Tuesday that they were unaware whether White still had the town credit card.

"You will have to ask him," Benton said while leaving Town Hall.

At Town Hall on Tuesday, Hayward said his concern was whether a town credit card was misused. He also said that he, too, had a town-issued credit card during a period when he was president of the Town Commissioners.

"The issue is anything was inappropriately done," Hayward said. "We have not seen any improprieties."

Constituents have been up in arms since Town Commissioners in June voted unanimously to raise the property tax rate by 11.7 percent, a hike that in view of the credit card spending, led a group of residents to circulate a petition drive for a budget referendum. On Monday, Benton told residents that the petition lacked at least 20 percent of the total voter signatures because 50 of them were invalid.

A group of residents led by John Nicholson on Friday formally requested a legal review of ethics violations. At Monday's town meeting, town attorney Mark Tilghman acknowledged that he had received the request and would review concerns and report findings.

Nicholson told commissioners on Monday that his group also intends to review the list of invalid names.

from DELMARVANOW.COM