Who Will Lead DNR?
A St. Mary’s County waterman’s ire at a cavalier remark by the man slated to become the Secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources postponed the Senate hearing on his appointment until Feb. 14, 2014.
The waterman, Robert T. Brown, President of the Maryland Watermen’s Association, provoked the creation of a petition to the governor to withdraw Joseph Gill’s name as the DNR nominee. The petition by Brandy Cumberland reads in part:
“As reported [earlier this month] by the Associated Press, the Maryland Senate has delayed a vote on the nomination of Joseph Gill to be the secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. After a hearing on HB 145, Mr. Gill threatened to take vengeance upon the watermen of this state if the bill did not pass.”
The bill is designed to formalize the DNR practice of announcing regulatory decisions with 48-hour public notices. As the bill reads, “This bill allows for Department of Natural resources regulations to authorize specified fisheries management changes, such as opening or closing a fishing season, modifying a harvestable area, or changing a catch limit, to be made by public notice.”
After a hearing on the bill, Mr. Brown wrote Maryland Delegate Maggie McIntosh, who introduced the bill.
“Upon leaving the hearing on Wednesday, my wife Vicky and I were standing in the main lobby of the second of the House of Delegates outside of the hearing room of the Environmental Affairs Committee. Secretary Gill and Frank Dawson of DNR approached us and we turned to speak with them. What happened next shocked and offended my wife, me, and from the look on his face, Mr. Dawson as well. Mr. Gill stated to us: “If this bill (meaning HB 145) does not pass, I will be so conservative and cut quotas and I will hurt you. Did you hear me! I will hurt you!”
After quoting from the letter, Ms. Cumberland’s petition continued, “It was also reported by the Associated Press that, ‘In a letter to Brown, Gill says he only intended to convey a possible outcome if the bill didn’t pass. He apologized if the comments were interpreted personally.’ This confirms that Mr. Gill did indeed make this statement. And, the watermen of Maryland know exactly what that threat meant; Mr. Gill intends to use his power in spite of the watermen, to take food off of their tables, through any means necessary.
“This is an unconscionable threat by a public servant that shows not only that the DNR should not have the power that HB 145 would allow them, but that if they do, Joseph T. Gill should not. Mr. Gill’s malevolence towards the hardworking watermen citizens of this state is evident in this statement. It is imperative that you, Governor O’Malley show that you do not stand for these types of statements and intentions against your constituents. We are asking that you remove your nomination of Joseph Gill to the office of Secretary of Natural Resources, prior to the rescheduled Senate vote on February 14, 2014.
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