The Wicomico County Council’s recent public scuffle over locating 12 pickleball courts at Harmon Field in Salisbury has spun into a major controversy.
Late last month on the day before Thanksgiving, Acting County Executive John Psota dispatched a blistering letter to Council President Larry Dodd, demanding that the legislative branch leader rescind statements he made regarding the project’s process and apologize to county administration officials that were disparaged during the debate.
The three-page letter also blasts Dodd’s alleged lack of attendance at county committee meetings on which he serves as a legislative liaison.
Dodd, who publicly criticized Salisbury Independent’s previous coverage of the pickleball controversy during a Nov. 16 council meeting, didn’t respond to emails seeking either comment, clarification or explanation.
Psota’s letter is a dramatic move for the Acting Executive, whose job hinges on his maintaining four of the council’s seven votes to hold the post. Dodd was the council’s leader when Psota was appointed a year ago and supported the executive’s hiring.
The trouble dates back publicly to Nov. 2, when the council held a public hearing and vote on whether to accept state and nonprofit funds to convert Harmon Field into a hub for pickleball players.
The county’s Parks and Recreation Department – under the leadership of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Steve Miller – had proposed building 12 pickleball courts at the site where basketball and softball has been played for decades.
The plan called for the county to secure some $700,000 in state grant money, as well as $300,000 from the neighboring Richard A. Henson Family YMCA, to change the county site’s public mission.
The debate became emotional, with Dodd and Councilman Joe Holloway adamantly opposed to the plan and Councilwoman Nicole Acle expressing strong reservations.
Dodd, who has a long history as a supporter of youth baseball in the community, insisted the field be leased at a low cost to the Delmarva Pony League, for the purpose of establishing a girls softball program that would serve as a companion to boys program, played on a field less than a mile away.
Viewpoints were volleyed back and forth when Councilman John Cannon dropped a bomb into the debate.
Cannon called out Dodd for sending an email to the Maryland state government’s top spending authority -- the Board of Public Works -- asking that the state “table” or postpone Wicomico’s $700,000 grant.
Cannon said the email was signed by Dodd, declared Dodd’s status as Council President, and had neither been shared with the County Council nor County Attorney.
In the middle of Cannon’s comments, Psota was heard to declare that Dodd’s action had also undermined the executive’s office.
Dodd replied: “I sent a letter saying we weren’t prepared for it at this time. I sent it as a representative of the citizens”
When the Board of Public Works -- made up of Gov. Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp -- met the following day, it tabled action on Wicomico’s funding.
The funding was later restored and the County Council ultimately approved the project.
Psota begins his letter by criticizing Dodd’s observations and statements.
“Your public comments during the Nov. 17, 2021, County Council meeting are a gross distortion of the process followed with regard to the proposed Harmon Field revitalization development
project. I submit this letter as a clarifying position from the County Executive’s Office.”
Later, Psota says that Dodd’s email to state officials was a violation of the County Charter.
“To be clear, it is my assertion that, by your action of interfering with a function of the Executive branch, you violated County Charter Section 314: Non-interference with the Executive branch.”
Psota also steps up to support Miller, who he says was unfairly criticized.
“... I demand that you publicly recognize your misinterpretation of the facts, and that you apologize to Mr. Mifier for your insinuations,” the letter states. “Your choice of a public forum to excuse and disingenuously attempt to explain your actions is your decision, however, to publicly accuse a Wicomico County Department Head of unprofessional actions, to put it mildly, is beneath your position and is unacceptable.”