Preserve Talbot History calls for transparency from County Council on Talbot Boys statue

TALBOT CO., Md. – Preserve Talbot History is asking for complete transparency from the Talbot County Council on matters related to the resolution they voted on 3 to 2 to move the Talbot Boys statue to Virginia.

We’re told there are important matters that have been uncovered during work conducted by volunteers with Preserve Talbot History. President of the group David Montgomery says that the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields sent a letter two hours before the council voted on Frank Divilio’s resolution saying they preferred the statue stay in Talbot County. Montgomery says the letter was delivered but completely ignored by the council before the vote.

“In addition, Mr. Divilio has said that the move to Virginia is being funded by an account at the Mid-Shore Community Foundation with no cost to taxpayers. We want to know some confirmation beyond his statements how much money is really there. The identity of the donor is still being hidden. Preserve Talbot History wants to know who bought this political issue. Talbot County cannot be bought. If you don’t believe me, just ask the taxpayers.”

Preserve Talbot History has also formed a committee of local citizens in the past week that is focused on finding a location in Talbot County for the statue.

Montgomery adds that the letter to the council made it clear that their preferred and long-term treatment of monuments is to keep them where they were originally placed, but that Divilio said that no one in the county wanted it.

Between the funding issue, the fact that there are locations inside the county for the statue, and many other details that have reportedly not been revealed by Divilio and the council, Preserve Talbot History is simply asking for transparency.

“They voted on something with important details that have not been made perfectly clear to the public. It should not be up to us to uncover these items. But, we will if they are not going to be completely transparent with the citizens of our great county,” said Montgomery.

Preserve Talbot History says that for the council to do its job properly, with a thorough public examination of Divilio’s proposal as Laura Price unsuccessfully requested in the council meeting, they would need answers to four questions:

• Has the cost of moving the memorial been estimated, and on what basis?
• Is there a written commitment from some individual or organization to pay that cost?
• What is the basis for the claim that no one in Talbot County would accept the memorial?
• Was any request for proposals to take the memorial ever posted?

Officials also say Divilio contradicted himself on the issue of funding in a series of emails with a constituent. He reportedly first denied knowing anything about the offer to pay for removal to Virginia, then claimed that the information was publicly available from Mid-Shore Community Foundation, which is not. He also allegedly admitted that he did have the information but would not reveal the identity of the donor or the amount donated.

The constituent specifically asked for the names of the donors and the amount donated, to which Divilio reportedly responded with, “I don’t know why I would have any of that information. I sit on a lot of boards and commissions but not this one. They are public so anyone who wants to go ask, certainly is within their right.”

The constituent then asked how could he have claimed in the meeting that there was money already available to cover the cost, if he didn’t know who the donor was and how much was donated. He then allegedly contradicted his first response, saying that he did know “financial commitments to the organization from reputable individuals has me satisfied with my statement. By reputable, I mean people with reputations you have not destroyed yet but I sure plan to.”

Montgomery says all they are asking for is transparency and honesty.