Good Day Neighbor
Fiscal responsibility, Repudiation Day
Dorothea Mordan
(12/2024) Frederick, Maryland has a long history of calling out leaders, and speaking truth to power.
On November 23, 1765, twelve judges in Frederick County, Maryland, refused to enforce the newly passed Stamp Act. This act of defiance, eight years before the Boston Tea Party, was an early step towards the American Revolution.
The Stamp Act required a tax on various printed materials, including legal documents, newspapers, and playing cards. The colonists, had no representation in the British Parliament, and declared this Taxation without Representation. Those Frederick County judges agreed and took a stand by refusing to use or require the use of stamped paper.
This act of defiance became a line in the sand, and once crossed, led to the Colonies’ Revolution against the British government. Repudiation of the Stamp Act inspired other colonists to resist the King. While the Stamp Act was eventually repealed, the line was crossed and the newly minted Americans created a strong, flexible form of government. Our government, from local all the way up to Federal, functions on participation of the public.
After our contemporary election a couple of weeks ago, it’s a good time to remember how it all started. We have a new list of elected officials to hold accountable, from local to national offices.
Several months ago there was a communication that Maryland was directing municipalities around the state to conduct assessment of pipes in public water systems that bring water to residences. Towns, large and small, including Woodsboro would be conducting such an assessment. It is our responsibility as residents, to follow up on what that means when using the water from the town’s water and sewer treatment plant. Updates should be found at the town website - www.woodsboro.org.
In the last couple of weeks, every resident should have received the letter from the Corporation of Woodsboro. "Public Notice Letter: unknown Material Service Line, Subject: Important Information Regarding Your Water Service Line." This raised more questions than it answered.
It’s not enough to recognize a problem and expect someone else to fix it. We have a government system that is founded on citizen participation. Right here in Woodsboro we have monthly town meetings that are open to the public. We need to help them help us. A good example of an issue that calls for public awareness is the water and sewer treatment facility we have in Woodsboro.
The Woodsboro Council meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the meeting room behind St. Johns Church, 8. N. Second St. Bring your questions to the next Town Council. Their next meeting is scheduled for December 9th.
Get up to speed on the ongoing discussions of water by reading some the articles published by this paper from the last several months by visiting www.woodsboro.net and clicking on the Current Events tab. Once there scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the list of all the news articles related to Woodsboro published by this paper since its inception in 2020.
Specifically, I recommend you read the following news articles titled:
The paper has done a good job documenting the discussions and decisions of the Town Council. As I already said, It’s not enough to recognize a problem and expect someone else to fix it. We need to help them help us.
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So did you vote? Or are you on the Naughty List. Let’s not have another Repudiation Day, or be the cause of one.
We have a responsibility to ourselves and each other, to our home and country.
It’s always a good day to remember how this all started, and it is always the Year of the Vote.
Read other Good Day Good Neighbor's by Dorothea Mordan
