Motion to short time denied in legal battle between Wicomico Co. Council and County Executive

SALISBURY, Md. – An update has been released on the legal battle between County Executive Julie Giordano and the Wicomico County Council.

Giordano recently filed a motion that would shorten the response time for the defendant, the Council, and requested an expedited hearing. That petition was denied on Thursday.

Giordano released the following statement:

“While we wish the motion to shorten time was granted, we are still on course and not the least bit concerned. We understood that motion to shorten time is typically used for emergency situations, but we figured we would go ahead and file it. The County Council will be served next week to compel them to make a decision to provide me with an attorney so we can settle this charter language dispute. What we find most unsettling is that this Tuesday, the Council will be voting to give themselves a new attorney, even though they have repeatedly said that we have 8 attorneys at our discretion. I hope the public fully grasps what the Council is doing…giving themselves yet another attorney, all while denying me the Constitutional Right to have one. I guess they are only concerned with taxpayer dollars when it pertains only to the Executive Office. I will continue this fight pro se if need be because I will never stop fighting for what is right.”

The battle stems from a decision to defund the positions of Assistant Director of Administration and Deputy Director of Public Works, which Giordano appointed. The Council argues that action goes against the charter.