LETTER TO THE EDITOR
COUNCILMAN DONALD BROCK
RESIGN FROM YOUR SEAT ON TOWN COUNCIL!
It is abundantly clear that Donald Brock has self-anointed himself as the sole authority on all matters technical and/or legal as to the business of the Town Council of the Town of Blythewood.
Firstly, can one recollect the last occasion that Councilman Donald Brock did not, upon presentation of the minutes of previous Town Council meetings, challenge and offer an amendment to the wording of said minutes?
Obviously, this represents an apparent belief that town staff is incapable of properly recording and producing accurate minutes because he objects to the wording presented.
Mr. Brock incessantly challenges citizens or representatives of organizations as to the validity and accuracy of presentations or reports made to Town Council when it is apparent that the items presented do not champion or conform to his personal causes or ideas. These challenges are most often presented in a manner that belittle the competency of the persons making these presentations.
Mr. Brock is also, apparently, the only person competent enough to determine the home (zip code or license plate tags) of attendees to events presented by or for the Blythewood community. This is resoundingly apparent by his stated claim that staff, vendors or performers at these events are ineligible to be included in the event attendance presentations.
During the July 25, 2022, Town Council meeting Brock challenged the validity of the qualifications of an individual appointed to the Town of Blythewood’s Accommodations Tax (A-Tax) Committee who has served on this committee for a number of years, claiming that this individual’s recent employment by the Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce would represent a conflict of interest concerning matters presented to the A-Tax Committee.
The facts are that the Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce, since fiscal year 2020-21, has not made any request for A-Tax funding from the Town of Blythewood.
Mr. Brock’s actions are an embarrassment to the Town of Blythewood and its citizens, and the citizens of Blythewood should demand that he immediately RESIGN.
Mr. Brock continued on a path of posturing during Town Council’s August 22, 2022 monthly meeting, apparently believing that he alone is the authority on procedures and publicly seeking a legal opinion regarding procedural actions relative to a requested motion to amend the August 22 meeting agenda presented by a fellow Councilman.
To wit, removement from the August 22 agenda of an action item requesting remaining funding for an event the fellow Councilman believed to have been inaccurately presented for consideration based upon changes made from the original funding request did not occur and the meeting continued with the passing of a motion to approve the agenda as presented.
After unanimously adopting a resolution advocating for civil engagement and the verbal recitation of an oath by all Councilmen pledging to practice and promote civility, this meeting then continued with one Councilman presenting a public apology for the treatment of several citizens by “some on Town Council” during its July 25, 2022 Town Council meeting and citing those actions as “an embarrassment” to Town Council and Blythewood citizens.
Moving on to action items Brock then challenged the validity of an item on the agenda regarding discussion and approval of the Final Hospitality Tax Report for the 2022 Rib Fest presented by the Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce, thus requiring an additional procedural vote.
During discussions following a motion and second to approve the final allocation of $3,200 in H-Tax funds for the 2022 Rib Fest, Brock adamantly objected to the apology made earlier by his fellow Town Councilman, characterizing council’s action as “nepotism.” Publicly referring to council’s motion to approve the final H-Tax allocation for the 2022 Rib Fest as “b—–t” Brock then admonished citizens in the audience who objected to his actions and language.
In defiance of his oath to practice and promote civility, Mr. Brock clearly has his own agenda and most often casts votes that are contrary to the majority of Town Council.
Mr. Brock’s actions continue to be an embarrassment to the Town of Blythewood and its citizens, and the citizens of Blythewood should demand that he immediately RESIGN.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Phillip Frye
Executive Director
Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce
