Members of the Old Line Chapter of the Nam Knights Motorcycle Club

Chesapeake Beach, MD – Strategic voting was employed by members of the Chesapeake Beach Town Council opposed to a plan to spend $350,000 on repairs, renovations and improvements to the municipality’s Veterans’ Park. The vote on an ordinance to appropriate the funds occurred during the council’s Thursday, Sept. 18 meeting.

Just prior to the meeting a public hearing on the measure was held.

The ultimate vote was three councilmembers in favor, two opposed and one abstention. The abstaining councilmember was Dr. Valerie Beaudin, who effectively killed the ordinance, which needed four votes to pass. Had Beaudin voted opposed, there would have been a tie which Mayor Bruce Wahl could have broken.

The outcome resulted in criticism from Wahl. “I hope you’re proud of yourselves, using a loophole in the charter,” said Wahl.

Earlier, during the public hearing, two members of the Old Line Chapter of the Nam Knights Motorcycle Club spoke in favor of the allocation. This past Memorial Day the club unveiled a Vietnam memorial in the park.

“We have a warm place in our hearts for Veterans’ Park,” said Chapter President Mark J. “Rocky” Roccapriore. “I would urge you to spend the money.”

“We know you’ll make that decision in the best interest of the people,” said Ray Nieves, the chapter’s past president, who added that the new memorial “is a piece of history now. This park is important to all veterans of all services.”

“Please appropriate the money and do what’s right,” said former American Legion Post 206 Commander Jack Custis.

The one voice of dissent from the public came from former mayoral wannabe Joe Johnson, who indicated he did not think town officials had given adequate notice of the hearing. “I don’t think the public has been advised about what you’re going to do,” said Johnson. “The dollars are what people care about.”

“I have had veterans over there and no one thinks the park needs to be rebuilt,” said Councilman Jeffrey Krahling.

“We never got a list of priorities,” said Beaudin during the hearing. She indicated then that she would abstain from voting on the issue since her request went unfulfilled.

Councilman Stewart B. Cumbo stated that he has seen “a slow decline of the park. We have a duty to maintain that park. We have the money. It’s an absolute dishonor if the council doesn’t approve this.”
Cumbo stated that the park components in need of renovation included the benches and the waterfall.

Councilman Pat Mahoney called Veterans’ Park “a huge attraction to all families” and declared his support for the allocation. “The money’s already in the bank,” Mahoney added.

Councilman Eric Reinhardt stated he was concerned with the “ever-expanding expenses” of the renovation project.

As he did in July, Councilman Robert Carpenter was in Africa but in attendance via the Internet.

After their remarks at the hearing, the Nam Knights members left town hall. Sensing the issue was not going to prevail during the meeting, Wahl told the exiting club members “I’m sure the outcome isn’t going to please you.”

Prior to the vote, Wahl, a Vietnam veteran, described the park renovation project as “near and dear to my heart” and concurred with Cumbo that some of the park’s components are “falling apart.” The mayor told Beaudin, “veterans in town will be unhappy if you don’t cast a ballot.”

The new business portion of the agenda included the awarding of a $325,000 contract to Keystone Concrete Masonry Construction Company for the Veterans’ Park project. However, with no budget allocation the item was deleted.

Mamma is comin’
Wahl announced that Calvert County restaurateurs Sal and Maria Lubrano plan to open a third Mamma Lucia’s location in Chesapeake Beach. The Lubranos are in the process of negotiating with the current owners of the old Chaney’s bar location on Route 261 with an eye to converting the site as an Italian restaurant.

“We want to work to improve the town,” said Maria Lubrano.

“It is nice to have a family restaurant in Chesapeake Beach,” said Cumbo.

The location was most recently known as Capt. Big’s.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com