I think the Carroll residents should demand specifically how this forum is being funded. How much in Carroll taxpayer funds and how much private donations. How much are they paying the so called experts in terms of speaking fees and expenses. Having the forum at the Pikesville Hilton. Really! How much will this cost taxpayers? Why wasn't this conducted at the CArroll Community College? why is the public excluded? Why are we giving business to Baltimore County and not businesses in Carroll? I guess the Community College had enough sense not to be associated with these conspiracy cranks. The Carroll Community College does teach real science, not junk science like that at the Commissioner forum.

Here's one of my main problem with the Comm's "summit". With science, you don't make up your mind, then find people that support your argument. You weigh the findings, on both sides, do critical analysis, and form an opinion.

Comm Rothschild and his overpaid crony extremist blogger turned mouthpiece, Jim Simpson, have lined up 5 speakers that already support their views on climate change, sea level rise, septic fields, and water run-off. This is the worse sort of echo chamber for a discussion of science surrounding PlanMaryland.

Thrown in the fact that this is taking place outside of Carroll County and it's a farce at best and a national black eye at worse. At least it may help Comm Rothschild book additional speaking spots outside the county and state to spread his lunacy. The more he's away, the better we are.

So! The "enlightenment event" is

a) being held outside Carroll County,

b) featuring five anti-global warming "experts" (oh yeah, and maybe a token MDP rep), and

3) not open to the public.

And moderate, reasonable Carroll County taxpayers are footing the bill.

Your tax dollars at work!

Ha! "A" "B" and "3" - I could qualify to speak on that panel! Same form of logic!

The Power of The Press!

"After Patch originally posted this story, Carroll County government issued a news release..."

I find it amusing to hear the same crowd charge our Commissioners, elected by the citizens of Carroll County, and particularly Commissioner Rothschild, that there is something being done fraudulently. Was there not tax payer money used to develop this plan? As a citizen who wants to be left alone to enjoy my property as I see fit, I'd like to have my tax money used to look into the science used behind this plan....This is about an equal voice...Something that tyrants don't enjoy..

Are you getting an equal voice if you aren't one of the special invitees to this "forum"? Is there an equal voice if the Commissioners are only inviting people that they know will be favorable towards them? Is there an equal voice if all the presenters already have the same opinion? I can't believe that the taxpayers are footing the bill for this farce.

I don't ever recall being notified nor invited to the development of "Plan Maryland"...Those who relish in shadow government are running scared...The obsessive daily attacks are something that most reasonable people see through...And attacking under names such as WatchinginMtAiry shows the manipulative tactics of the hard left to portray elected officials as criminals when they are simply doing what they've been elected to do....Don't dare get me started on all the tyrannical uses of where my hard earned tax dollars are being used...Why not call the Commissioners Office and request your ability to attend instead of whining. At least you've been made privy to the actions of elected officials, something I've never enjoyed by the left.

@JoAnn - thanks for the continuing the mischaracterization of my comments. I don't think that I've called anyone a criminal. I've called Comm Rothschild a hypocrite for continuing the contract of Jim Simpson, a crony of his, after campaigning to end such practices. That's not calling anyone a criminal.

I've called the commissioners office to inquire about tickets for the general public. They informed me that the priority will be for elected officials, staff, and donors. What ever is left will be sold for $25 each and there is a waiting list. The donors list is still being formed, so those names may/may not be made public. Typical donations are on the order of $500.

Also...this is definitely not open government that the commissioners pledged during their swearing in ceremonies. To quote withavengence from comments on a similar story, "This cant be correct. Howard, above, says "these debates to be held in community halls and libraries in your own community" and #9 on their governing principals, is Citizen Participation: this Board will promote better communication with citizens by scheduling key hearings on evenings or weekends, and provide increased opportunity for two-way dialogue at our public hearings."

Your comment, "Those who relish in shadow government are running scared," are disingenuous. PlanMaryland had at least one lengthy meeting where the public were able to comment.

The left has the media for their voice...The Carroll County Times has become a windbag for a handful of hard left cronies that they seem to be partial to....Jim Simpson is one of the best investigative journalists getting out the truth to citizens who do not agree with your Marxist mentality. This is why you try to assassinate his character, his integrity and his work. When Jim Simpson writes an article it is footnoted with factual information to his claims. Your fear is showing like a beacon...How much more "open" can a government be to say what they believe and take steps to verify how their opposition has come forth with the science to develop this plan? I have been looking through the other posts concerning this move by our elected Commissioners. It is ALWAYS a handful of citizens speaking out in defiance of Richard Rothschild. Richard Rothschild won his election by a two to one margin from his opponent. He is doing what he was elected to do. So sorry that five to ten people are spinning out of control. Get a grip.

Thanks JoAnn. I didn't' realize that Jim Simpson's hiring was actually done in the full light of public scrutiny with a open session that would allow public comments. I thought it was done a in closed door meeting with a limited time frame to limited to cost below the level that would require public job posting. Silly me! </sarcasm>

JoAnne, the ONLY reason you have ANY details about this "summit" is because a group of citizens dug around and tipped off Patch. Frazier told me face-to-face last Thursday night that a press release would be issued the following day. Nothing happened. And so we went to work. We found out the out-of-county location, the time, the speaker line-up, the fact that it would be closed to citizen participation, how it was supposedly being funded, and more. As soon as we gave that info to Patch, they ran with it, posting a story within a couple of hours. So if citizens have to report details of the event to the media in order to get an official statement from their elected officials, how is that "open government"? And how open and effective is their "pr consultant" if he's hiding information about a meeting, which YOU and I are paying for by the way, from the media and the folks who are paying his $150 an hour fees (do the math)???

Just to repeat that, so no one misses it, Rothschild's boy Jim Simpson is soaking Carroll County taxpayers to the tune of $150 an hour. That is equivalent to an annual salary of $312,000!!! Who earns that kind of money in Carroll County??? How is that fiscal responsibility??? (This must be the same kind of math Doug Howard used when he ran CATS...right into a sea of debt!)

And Bonnie, the ONLY reason you're in a tissy is becausevyou own and operate a "green " energy company. You're all about your own personal gain. Be honest Bonnie....Citizens just got hosed $535 million dollars on a failed, secretive, shadow government act of crony capitalism....And last time I checked it wasn't due to a conservative gesture. I am in favor of Jim Simpson....I will gladly pay mine and your share to give our Commissioners a voice....something they cannot seem to get via the Carroll County Times....just send me a bill....and I will send you one for all the wasteful, failed lefty projects that the left has spent via my tax dollars....K?

No, JoAnn, I don't own my own company anymore. You're digging up old, old info. Prior to becoming an energy broker, I ran the largest business advocacy nonprofit in Carroll County. I'm proud to say that I am now part of the green energy industry, and I'm helping to protect our planet for your grandchildren and mine. Surely you don't object to clean air, JoAnn???

Exactly Bonnie...now we're on the same page...No, of course I don't object to clean air, clean water and a clean environment. I want to make certain however that these "feel good" words are not just a rope to hang citizens and take away their freedoms. I want to make absolutely certain that good sound science has been used...that every viable option has been well thought out so that the ENTIRE elected body has a say...That is what this summit is about...It will force BOTH sides to lay out their data and allow the constituents the ability to see all facts....Surely you don't object to a free and open society, do you Bonnie???

I fancy myself a moderate, and I'm a registered (not happy) Republican, and I am not a fan of this summit. People are losing jobs and benefits, and we are here talking about a fluff summit. Fortunately they backed off on the county footing the whole bill, but I think it's money poorly spent. Without even discussing the merits of PlanMaryland, I would rather see money spent lobbying the MD legislature -- at least that's a clear objective.

As for Simpson? He's not much of a writer. There are lot of people here (who live in Carroll) who have the credentials and who would write well worded press releases that would put the commissioners and the county in good light for a lot less money. Look at the county's site for official press releases - http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/releases/default.asp - do the math from when Simpson was hired to today and work out for yourself how much we are paying per release. ** Just had a thought ... maybe those aren't his; maybe his is somehwere else. ** I'd like to see an accounting of exactly what he has done and who he has contacted to promote Carroll -- Frankly, I am not sure if he is promoting releases for the entire county or just for the commissioners....What a mess.

You must be the same kind of Republican as our former Commissioner Minnich...You know, the one who calls the Tea Party, Teabaggers???.....Opinions are like belly buttons, everybody has one....If the charge that Simpson receives an annual W-2 from the Carroll County Board of Commissioners in the amount of $312,000.00, I'd like you folks to produce it....But the big difference between writers like Simpson and those who oppose him are simply people who have a particular agenda that may be in threat of exposure of not exactly good quality thought and science. They like to spew lies and half truths to confuse and frighten people. Rothschild ran on a very Conservative agenda and once again, he won on a two to one vote margin against his opponent. His constituents are pleased that he is performing exactly as he promised. And you see how they've attacked me just as they've attacked him all because my opinion does not fit in to their secret little world...Like Simpson or not, he writes with factual data to connect the dots....

This summit is to ask the side of Plan Maryland to pony up their figures, their data, their method of arriving at the data this plan calls accurate. People who live in a world where they pull the wool over someones eyes don't like people like Jim Simpson....they like half truths....50% of the give to take 100% of the gain....Most reasonable people want the full truth...Based on what Yzzzi (opps forgot a z) says, he/she (whatever because once again they hide behind an Avatar), he/she must also be upset with the years and years of taxpayer dollars to develop a plan without ANY public scrutiny......And to be honest, this movement to gobble up the rights and liberties as should be afforded to us through the US Constitution, has been damaged by many who called themselves "Republicans" and were anything but that...

Sounds like you might have some inside info JoAnn

Paranoid Blues????

http://www.gazette.net/article/20110826/OPINION/708269618/-1/o-malley-zoning-czar&template=gazette Wondering what you folks have to say about this??? Looks like Jim Simpson isn't the only right wing extremist blogger.........And to the "ModerateinCC" who ALSO hides behind an avatar (are you starting to see what these people are really like???) and who's post at 3:05PM miraculously is posted between a 10:37am post and a 10:47am post?!! Rothschild ran on Pathways, which he helped to defeat, and was a local version of property rights tyranny, just like Plan Maryland...And if you'd like to know...the Tea party has many non-republican members, who won't be voting for a democrat anytime soon...As for the Carroll County Times, maybe you can ask the them why it is I and others have to beat and beat on them to post a letter to the editor????Hmmm? Why is it that they say they never received the email...lalalalala...sorry, but many of us have compared notes and this tactic is a reality to many who try to respond to the "over the top" attacks by a handful of people who think they have some special right to railroad this county into an agenda it does not want......Get used to being called a marxist....As long as your side continues to spew out slurs like Teabaggers and extreme right wingers we'll counter it with an equally unfavorable remark....I learned that when I dealt with bullies in the halls of Jr. High School.....

And to "WatchinginMtAiry" ( I cannot believe I am responding to so many cowards who cannot even give their name ).... To your charge that the Commissioners haven't lived up to an open government....How so?...Could you give me some good examples? Perhaps there is something we don't realize? Some masterful scheme to shove an agenda down the throats of individuals in the majority that they do not wish for????....And maybe you could ask the president that promised citizens that no bill would be voted on without allowing citizens a 48 hour period to review that bill on his website, why he has not lived up to his promise of open government? I assume you voted for this man, so maybe he'll explain his actions to the citizens who feel a boot has been shoved down their throat under his rule? Please, your assaults are mildly hypocritical and that's being kind.....

Thanks for the continued dialogue on this topic, it's clear people are passionate about what is happening in our community. So what we can we do, as a collective group of Carroll County citizens, to focus less on the people on the other side of the fence (our neighbors who "live" in the other political parties) and more on affecting change that will mean a better life for everyone in Carroll County? Ideas? Aside from having someone else change all of their ideas to fit in with what you think, what could we do as a community to try to work together to get something done? I'm not sure there's an answer, but how do we know?

There was a very interesting expose' on "Lord" Monckton done. Here's the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=w833cAs9EN0

ModerateinCC.....Your opinion that an elected official should appease the minority of it's constituents is somewhat unreasonable....Perhaps I feel this way because Republicans have absolutely no voice in statewide politics....And now even that isn't enough for the tyrants in Annapolis....They won't be happy until they silence every single opposing voice in this state...the redistricting maps are certainly proof of that...And now, they want to usurp the local governing bodies with their Plan Maryland. THEY want to determine the highest and best use of someone's property in Annapolis. I have spent a good deal of time testifying on issues of importance to me in Annapolis and I know and understand what tyranny is...It sits right under that dome by the water.....Once again, every single Commissioner with the exception of one, attended debates and were completely upfront about what their vision of governing would be. They suffered terrible assaults from the Carroll County Times, particulary, Commissioner Rothschild. For the first time in my life, I have helped to elect someone who is completely fulfilling their promises. I find it not only refreshing but my hopes are that Richard Rothschild will be around for a long time...

JoAnn, as a hairdresser you may actually be more qualified to assess scientific facts than the plethora of scientists at the National Academy of Sciences. two snaps up for your cosmetology school...

@JoAnn- I am a Republican and I think the Tea Party is more dangerous to this country than al Qaeda. I truly believe them to be the "American Taliban", just not Muslim, but perhaps even less tolerant. I supported Doug Howard, because I thought he was a Republican. I never knew he was a Tea Party supporter and am disappointed in myself for being fooled. I knew Rothschild was dangerous during the election and I think his paranoid positions on planning and Agenda 21 to be complete and utter fantasy. I am concerned for him (and our county under his leadership). I honestly believe he suffers from mental illness and should be evaluated by a psychiatrist before being allowed to carry his gun in public. I've read many of Jim Simpson's columns and know him to express hate and to support positions which I feel contribute mightily to racism, divisiveness and disharmony. He was hired without a competitive bid and in an obvious effort to circumvent Carroll's contracting laws. Simpson knows many climate change deniers, one of which is this nut case UK politician Monckton, who calls himself a Lord, but is doing so illegally. He has no scientific credentials and calls some climatologists, 99%+ who believe that man is contributing to the warming of the earlh, Nazis. This forum is a waste of county tax dollars and will prove nothing. The CCT & Patch are reputable news sources that verify facts. The Commissioners offer no science and nothing but erroneous conclusions supporting their positions.

From a previous comment above:
"Most reasonable people want the full truth."

If that is the case, can we interpret the commissioners' decision to have 5 anti-science speakers and 1 pro-science speaker as UNreasonable? With a 5:1 ratio, how will the truth be heard?

That is not open government, it's not reasonable, and I am mad that my tax dollars are being used to "educate" elected officials from other counties.

I challenge everyone who wants to know the truth about "Lord" Monckton to watch that YouTube video that's linked above. It speaks volumes about this phony and the commissioners for bringing him here. .

Sorry Friedhard ( is there anyone out there lurking this that can see how hilarious these people are? ).....Sorry to inform you, I'm not a cosmetologist...I know that disappoints you because when you're an arrogant elitist, you tend to think you're better than anyone else...And to JoeElderburg (another coward who wants open government while he lurks behind his avatar in the shadows).....I'm assuming your disdaIn for the Tea Party being the next "American Taliban".....the same Tea Party who's never had an arrest, who's never even left one piece of trash when millions gathered together......I'm assuming you're equally outraged at the OWS crowd which has been supported by your president and former speaker of the house....I'm assuming the fact that the anti-semitism being freely spewed by a good number of them must be extremely frightening for you....Republican JoeElderburg? Sell it to France Fox Piven.....lol

let's think about this: we are paying for our commissioners to throw an invitation only party for county officials ( home counties and positions TBA) at which a small cadre of like-minded speakers will address an audience of friends and family. in re: the Brit Lord, just go to : utube/lord monkton and get an ear/eyefull of his drivelings.

Has anybody looked into the background of these speakers? They are snake oil salesmen. No wonder they didn't have the balls to hold this meeting of Nutjobs in the county proper.

Now we're moving into using sexual body parts to describe elected officials that you wish an audience with??? Last time I looked in my mailbox, I didn't see an invitation....because that's not how the summit is operating...If you wish to attend, call the Commissioners office and ask to be placed on the list for a ticket that you will purchase....This was decided when you complained about the cost and size. The ticket price will recoup this tax payer money you are whining about.....But you will spin that too because when you are emotionally stunted you behave like a Jr High School punk....I know, I know.....only the arrogant elite can choose a scientist to inflict a Marxist plot against the citizens.....we "little people" (like they depicted hairdressers) must take our medicine and shut up!

They are using taxpayer's money to hire a fraud.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jul/18/climate-monckton-member-house-lords

The Phony Lord called for people with HIV to be forced into concentration camps.

http://news.change.org/stories/conservative-climate-expert-wants-to-quarantine-people-with-aids

Coming from the UK, eh? Land of the failed mandated healthcare....GREAT RESOURCE!!! Gee, this conversation has been so warm and fuzzy peace love and granola liberal style....NOT ONE FACT TO BACK UP ANY CLAIM!!!! Just insults....This is why they are shaking in their booties.....God forbid ( opps,I said God, is that OK?) citizens should be allowed to have two sides to research and decide on their own.....Funny how so many local county zoning offices throughout Maryland are joining in this battle to look deeply at Plan Maryland????? This is the verbal expression of what to expect when you shake up a hornets nest.......Thanks so much for your acceptance towards individual decisions vs herding mentality.....Looks like I've got you all shook up.....Calling out all the avatars ( that is probably one person ) to scare the mass....Why don't you Occupy Court Street like your anti-Semite friends in NYC???......But don't bring your $5500 MAC with you, might get stolen when the wealth starts spreading around.........LOL

Keep shoveling Robert...

@JoAnn - I've held my keyboard long enough. (I'm going to show my geeky side here)

1. Avatars are digital images used to represent one's self online. The word you are reaching for is pseudonym or screen-name.

2. I'm not sure that one could lug down a $5500 dollar Mac as it would be a 12 core PowerMac. I assume you meant this as a slam to owners Apple products because only liberal elitist would Apple products. This is just not true. Apple makes a superior product for laptops, phones, media players, and tablet computers. Lots of people use them. 11.12M iPads and 17.07M iPhone owners from last quarter can't all be fuzzy headed liberals. You just sound silly.

3. Your over use of ellipsis [...] is totally inappropriate. Here's a proper use. Jim Simpson said above "We decided to scale back on spending...We will be inviting city, county and state officials." See how that works. Here's a reference for you: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/ellipsis.htm

Thanks!

Yea, I really hate those MAC owners as I type this from my iPad....nice try whoever you are....on a side note...perhaps you haven't read or selectively decided to leave this article out to sway your mass.....http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/05/24/lord-monckton-wins-global-warming-debate-at-oxford-union/ maybe, just maybe you can admit that if Oxford is filled with idiots, that would mean your Rhodes Scholar Clinton is a fumbling idiot too, eh?

Just like your arguments, JoAnn, your link doesn't go anywhere...

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/05/24/lord-monckton-wins-global-warming-debate-at-oxford-union/

Watching in mt airy couldn't even pick up the fact that the tail end of my sentence was melded in the link.....Only a lazy drone needs to be spoon fed....couldn't even manually type in a link, I see.....Or perhaps, you only want YOUR side of Lord Monokton too......

ROTFLMAO. Carroll County has been taken hook, line and sinker by these frauds.

Check out this satire piece on the phony Lord.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w833cAs9EN0

No wonder they have to hold the meeting in Baltimore County. I am surprised they didn't hold it someplace farther away. Far, far away.....

http://www.thinkorswim.ie/?p=1279

LOL The "Lord" is a birther too!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/richard-adams-blog/2010/apr/16/lord-monckton-obama-tea-party-birthers

You do know that Oxford Union is a totally separate entity from Oxford University don't you?