for writing this very amusing letter- it gave me quite a chuckle.  My first instinct was, that it wasn't worth responding to...however, it's too much to resist!

1.  Frank Chaney didn't stand alone - well, there was his paid attorney...Frank, himself, spoke, the Red Cross spoke because they'll stand to gain free land from the deal and CSM - CSM didn't address the rezoning issue - just stated it would be nice to have a facility teaching the trades in Hughesville - and it would be!

2.  More than half the room supported Chaney...I was there - this is totally inaccurate.  There were a handful of Chaney Employees, Chaney lawyers, the Red Cross President and the CSM President.  All individuals paid by or who would gain something from supporting Chaney...

3.  Discussing points not germaine for legal consideration in a rezoning case.  The Red Cross and CSM had nothing germaine for legal consideration in a rezoning case, however, most of those who spoke opposing the rezoning addressed not only the factual elements for deciding a case for rezoning, they also addressed the ties placed on the rezoning by Chaney, such as land donations and threatening to move the business out of the county if they don't get their way.  And, I'd like to remind everyone it's not the job of the county commissioners to make sure Chaney has an edge on his competitors.  That' not germaine for legal consideration in a rezoning case, either.

4.  The most recent tactic was to misuse a state resource.  Misuse?  It is a part of the services MDP provides - providing an unbiased review and opinion on land use.  You don't have to be a commissioner to request that service.  A citizen can make a request, as well, and we did.  Where does the "misuse" come in?

5.  While a letter opposing the proposed rezoning made the front page of your paper, there was no mention of validity of the content or the relevance to zoning law. It made no mention of why the Preserve Hughesville organization mysteriously had first and original copies of the letter or that upon further investigation it was revealed that neither Charles County government nor MDP had requested a review. - I invite you to contact MDP to inquire about the validity of the content or the relevance to zoning law.  I'll take the mystery out of how I had a copy of this letter - after we checked to confirm the letter had been received by the commissioners and submitted into the public record, we requested a copy from MDP and it was emailed to us.  Mystery solved...The county did not request an unbiased review of the rezoning request by the state, the citizens did.  And, why would MDP request a review from itself?

6.  The merits of the case are unquestionable, and if the commissioners are allowed to stand up and make the logical choice based on relevant and factual information, we feel confident the rezoning will pass.  The merits of the case are questionable according to MDP.  If the commissioners consider the factual information as presented by members of Hughesville AND the State of Maryland they'll have no choice but to deny the rezoning. 

I think it's Frank Chaney whose frightened...frightened he might not be able to get his way and that all his money might not change that.