Published: August 08, 2008 11:59 am      

Commissioners draw fire

CUMBERLAND - The county residents who spoke Thursday at the Allegany County commissioners meeting were a mix of logic and emotion. And there were more than a few accusations of misconduct and wrongdoing.

It also was well-choreographed, at least in the eyes of Commissioner Jim Stakem.

Stakem said after the meeting, which lasted more than four hours in the hot, stuffy Allegany High School auditorium, that he told supporters not to show up because he "knew" Sheriff David Goad would own the 200-plus people in the crowd, which supported calls for all three commissioners to resign.

Stakem called the event "orchestrated" - an effort by Goad's supporters to show support for the county's only elected law enforcement official.

"In all my years, that was the most unruly crowd," Stakem said. "Normally, I would have closed the meeting down."

Goad entered the auditorium to a standing ovation of admirers. Commissioners Stakem, Bob Hutcheson and Dale Lewis entered the stage to a chorus of boos.

The public comment section turned sour during only the second speaker. Paul Williams of Cumberland asked why the commissioners hadn't attended Goad's swearing-in ceremony as president of the National Sheriffs Association a month ago in Indianapolis.

"We have a lot more things to do," Stakem said.

Cumberland resident Michele Puderbaugh, a former student of Hutcheson's at Allegany High School, chastised the former teacher for saying in a Times-News interview last month the national position "doesn't benefit Allegany County."

"I cannot believe a man of your caliber would make such a statement," Puderbaugh said. "If you did intend to run (for office) again, I don't think your chances are so good."

Stakem said the commissioners' decision was made in the best interests of county residents and not based on being re-elected.

Bill Valentine of Little Orleans questioned the commissioners' execution of their own plans to expand the Bureau of Police and take away the sheriff's road patrol duties. He questioned the prouncement by Gary Moore, chief of police, that the county had a "public safety crisis."

"What was that emergency," Valentine asked. "I think you jumped the gun."

But at the end of the day, the commissioners signaled no intent to change their minds about expanding the county Bureau of Police. Time and again, the commissioners said their minds were made up.

A particular hard-hitting bombshell came when Goad, the 50th person to speak, asked the commissioners how long the sheriff's deputies were guaranteed a salary if they had chosen to remain working for Goad. There were accusations by several people that the deputies had no choice.

Goad let that slide - for the moment - and asked Lewis, hypothetically, what would have happened if none of the 14 deputies who applied for the Bureau of Police filled out those applications.

"It's my understanding that if everyone stayed with you, there would have been no Bureau of Police," Lewis said. "There'd have been nobody there. It was their decision to come over."

Cumberland resident Larry Smith was the lone individual who spoke in favor of the commissioners' action. He thanked the commissioners for their "courageous, responsible stewardship" and cited Goad's alleged "failure to manage effectively" as reason for his support.

County officials have said they can control the road patrol budget better than Goad can. County Finance Director Jerry Frantz said Goad was more than $320,000 over his approved budget this past fiscal year.

David Eberly, acting county administrator, said it's the county's objective "to not exceed the budget by $1. We think it's possible. We really do."

To date, no figures - estimates or otherwise - have been provided as to the possible costs of the Bureau of Police. A study authorized on July 24 that could have addressed the associated short-term and long-term costs was halted just five days later, when the commissioners opted to expand the Bureau of Police without benefit of a study.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.