Ruthsburg`s cause was this newspaper`s mission Rural Ramblings - [Bruce Hotchkiss, Delmarva Farmer]

The Delmarva Farmer was born in a sun-splashed room on the 11th floor of a conference center hotel in Ocean City in November 1977. The precise date escapes me, but no matter. Three sketches of the flag (the name of the paper which would appear at the top of Page 1) were spread on the bed. We [...]

Queen Anne`s County Circuit Court House Land Acquisition

One of the critical decisions facing the County is the disposition of the Queen Anne`s County Circuit Court House. Built in 1796, the Court House is the oldest still in continuous use in Maryland and the sixth oldest in the United States. The historic building has been rendered obsolete and a public safety hazard due to [...]

Ruthburg successfully fought the government - [Sherry Adam]

For the past six months or more I have listened to countless people tell me that “you can’t fight the government” regarding the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) and that we were just wasting our time and energy thinking that we could make a difference. Even those who were in this fight to save [...]

Links to articles concerning the demise of the Ruthsburg FASTC

Plans for Queen Anne’s training facility axed - Annapolis Capital Feds pull plug on Shore security project - Baltimore Sun Feds kill terrorism training site on Eastern Shore - Washington Post Feds Kill Plan for Md. Diplomatic Training Center - WBOC-TV (Salisbury). Here is a link to the video State Department nixes foreign affairs facility on Eastern Shore [...]

CLICK HERE TO SEE EVERYTHING ON RUTHSBURG HARD SKILLS FACILITY

Announcements The Department of State (DoS) and General Services Administration (GSA) have determined that the Hunt Ray/CrismerFarm in Queen Anne’s County will no longer be considered for the proposed DoSForeign Affairs Security Training Center.  Click Here for Details News Articles NEW! Links to articles concerning the demise of the Ruthsburg FASTC NEW! It`s Official [...]

It`s Official

After further analysis, the Department of State (DoS) and General Services Administration (GSA) have determined that the Hunt Ray/Crismer Farm in Queen Anne’s County will no longer be considered for the proposed DoS Foreign Affairs Security Training Center. DoS and GSA remain committed to a robust and transparent public engagement process and value the input [...]

Legal Challenge to Bombing, Firing Range Training Complex in Endangered Species Habitat Announced

State Department Facility Would Hurt Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel, Rural Eastern Shore Communities The Center for Biological Diversity announced its intention to sue the State Department and General Services Administration today for failing to protect an endangered species, the Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel, in plans to build a sprawling 1,250-acre training facility on farmland in rural [...]

Opposition kills Ruthsburg security site - [Paul West, Baltimore Sun]

The federal government is expected to announce today that it is abandoning plans to place a new $100 million-plus State Department security training center on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The proposal met with opposition from local environmentalists and others opposed to turning 2,000 acres of rural farmland into a campus-like facility that would include test tracks to [...]

Centreville`s Population is now 3,533

According to the latest figures from the US Census, Centreville`s population was estimated to be 3,533 as of July 1, 2009. This is an increase of 2.1% from 2008 and is lower than the 4.3% increase of the previous year. However, Centreville continues to grow faster than other large nearby Towns like Chestertown, Denton, [...]

The Feds and FASTC – Policy vs. Practice

POLICY: PRACTICE: 1. ARRA (Recovery Act) projects are to be "shovel-ready" 1. Over one year later, FASTC not even near completing environmental, other reviews 2. ARRA is to be implemented with “transparency” 2. FOIA requests on FASTC denied in toto; identity of decision-makers on FASTC withheld from public 3. ARRA will “assist those most impacted by the [...]

Department of State and GSA Forced to Produce FASTC Documents

Public Comment Period on Environmental Assessment Extended to September 30th

Republicans target Shore facility, federal workers - [Paul West, Baltimore Sun]

Senate Republicans are proposing to kill a planned State Department security training facility on Maryland’s Eastern Shore as part of a sweeping spending and tax alternative expected to be voted on Thursday afternoon. The Republican substitute isn’t expected to gain approval in the Democrat-dominated chamber, but the measure represents the second swing at the controversial Ruthsburg, [...]

More delays for troubled Shore security project - [Paul West, Baltimore Sun]

A controversial plan to build a State Department security facility on Maryland`s Eastern Shore is facing additional delays of weeks or months, federal government officials disclosed Thursday. The proposed training center for diplomats on 2,000 acres of privately owned land in Ruthsburg has been under attack from local residents and environmentalists, who have questioned whether that [...]

Sen. Coburn has concerns about Ruthsburg FASTC project

Excerpted from a statement by Sen. Coburn: The State Department`s Bureau of Diplomatic Security is responsible for providing security at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. According to State, the rising threats of terrorism, civil disorder, and crime mean that more and more embassies and consulates that were previously safe are now potential targets. Unfortunately, the State Department has [...]

Ruthsburg Pork Project Discussed on WYPR

During the Midday Program on WYPR, an amendment introduced by Senators Tom Coburn (OK) and John McCain (AZ) that would cancel the proposed training center in Ruthsburg was discussed. Here is some more information about the amendment and an article in the Washington Post. Here is some specific concerns identified by Sen. Coburn about the [...]

QA`s group sues to force injunction of FASTC [The Delmarva Farmer]

Queen Anne`s Conservation Association (QACA) is requesting a federal court to issue an injunction ordering relevant government documents to be produced before the next public comment period on the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) proposed for Ruthsburg, Md., in Queen Anne’s County. The documents, relating to the siting, operations, and environmental impacts of the [...]

Speak up now or don`t whine later - [Candy Busey]

I am adding my voice to the 50 percent (plus?) voices in Queen Anne`s County against locating the FASTC anywhere in Queen Anne’s County, specifically Ruthsburg. Our county needs real, good-paying jobs. We have been told that FASTC cannot guarantee, nor can they give preference to, local residents for the 400 new jobs they will be [...]

Conservation Group Seeks Preliminary Injunction on Ruthsburg Security Training Center Documents

Queen Anne’s Conservation Association (QACA) today requested a federal court in Washington, DC to issue an injunction ordering relevant government documents to be produced before the next public comment period on the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) proposed for Ruthsburg in Queen Anne`s County, MD. The documents, relating to the siting, operations, and environmental impacts [...]

Our Say: Federal bungling touches off battle over training center [The Capital]

These days no one can dispute the importance of State Department officials receiving up-to-the-minute training on security. We just hope the rest of that job is being handled better than the federal government`s quest to consolidate that training at a new facility to be built on 2,000 acres of farmland near Centreville in Queen Anne’s [...]

QA`s group sues for FASTC documents - [Bobbie McMahon, Bay Times]

A Queen Anne`s county group has filed a lawsuit aimed at forcing the federal government to turn over documents about the proposed Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) in Ruthsburg. The Queen Anne`s Conservation Association, a conservation group that has been outspoken in its opposition to FASTC, announced on April 30 that it had filed a [...]

The Corsica River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy named “Best in Nation” see press release for details.

See Mary McCarthy's blog and Andrew Langer's blog for a report of the July 6th meeting.  The Town Council would like to see the increase to five members on the ballot and has directed the Town Attorney and Town Manager to meet with the petitioners. 

Andrew Langer responds to Norman Pinder's letter in the Record-Observer.

Here is a copy of the news release announcing the petition drive to expand the Town Council.

Here is a copy of Andrew Langer's letter supporting the expansion of the Town Council to five members

The proposed 2007 Budget was posted on the Town's Website.  Here is a copy.

Jerry Schram presented a draft resolution to expand the Town Council to five members at the 5/11 Work Session:

	Here is a copy of the draft resolution
	Here is a letter to the editor written by Andi Morony
	Mary McCarthy has some comments on her website as well

Here is a copy of Royden Powell's contract for professional and maintenance services.

FISH KILL ON THE CORSICA - A fish kill was in progress during the Governor's recent visit.  There were tens of thousands of dead fish along the shoreline of the Corsica.  Click here for photos, videos, and news stories.

'Grand Experiment' Will Clean Up Troubled Corsica River article and audio on WTOP-AM

State To Sell Bottled Water For Bay Fund article and video on WBAL-TV

State to clean up Corsica River article in the 5/28/2005 Baltimore Sun 

Md. Plans to Clean Up River As Part of Bay Rescue Effort article in the 5/28/2005 Washington Post

A History of Development Issues Centreville - any additions, corrections, or comments are welcome, send them to admin@centreville-md.net.

Here is Centreville's 2005-2006 budget (pdf file), and as an Excel spreadsheet

Aw Shucks Letter to Editor Record-Observer 6/3/2005 - a response to the Town Council's Statement on media coverage.

Town Council's Statement on media coverage of the Town - 5/27/2005

Bob Norris's Letter and Mary McCarthy's unedited response.

Town Newsletter Volumn 1, Issue 1

FY2004 Audit

Request for a Community Center from Upper Queen Anne’s County Lion’s Competition Cheerleading - "We are asking for the Town of Centreville to have a facility to accommodate our community and the huge growth of the children in Centreville. Building this Community Center in a reasonable amount of time is crucial."

Corsica River Restoration Action Strategy Final Report (6 megabytes)- "The Town’s goal is to ensure that growth does not occur at the expense of the Corsica River."

Minutes of Queen Anne's County Municipal League 

Centreville's 2004-2005 budget - includes detail spreadsheets

FY 2003 Local Government Salary Survey

Open Meeting Act Manual - "For closed meetings covered by the Act, did you also: Record a majority vote in favor of closing the meeting? Identify one or more of the following grounds for closing the meeting? Include in the record a written statement of the reasons and legal basis for closing the meeting and the topics to be discussed? Take minutes or tape record the closed meeting? Include in the minutes of the next open meeting a statement of the time, place, and purpose of the closed meeting; a record of the vote to close the meeting and the authority to do so; and a listing of the topics discussed, the persons present, and the actions taken?"

Public Information Act Manual (1.2 megabytes) - June 2004 revision.  "... if a record is found to be responsive to a request and is recognized to be open to inspection, it must be produced 'immediately' after receipt of the written request. An additional reasonable period 'not to exceed 30 days' is available only where the additional period of time is required to retrieve the records and assess their status under the PIA. A custodian should not wait the full 30 days to allow or deny access to a record if that amount of time is not needed to respond. If access is to be granted, the record should be produced for inspection and copying promptly after the written request is evaluated."

The Town Charter

Section 202. Qualifications of Councilmembers

Councilmembers shall be at least 25 years of age, have resided in the town for at least two years immediately preceding their election and shall be registered voters of the town for at least six months preceding their election. Any Council member who ceases to reside in the town during his or her term of office shall immediately resign, terminating his or her membership on the Town Council. The vacancy created by the resignation of any Council member's position shall be filled as set forth in Section 414 of this Charter. (Res. No.154, 8-21-87)

Section 414. Vacancies

Vacancies on the council for any reason shall be filled in one of the ways prescribed below. All appointments or elections shall be only for the unexpired portion of that term.

(1) If the remainder of the term is less than six months, the council shall appoint some qualified person to serve the remainder of the term.

(2) If the remainder of the term is more than six months, a special election to fill the vacancy shall be held not less than forty nor more than sixty days following the occurrence of the vacancy. (Res. No. R2-97, 4-25-97)