12/03/08

TITLE: RANT - FREEHOLDER MELICK MAY HAVE FINALLY COMPLETELY LOST HIS MARBLES - TRIES TO GET UNDER SHERIFF FIRED AND THEN DEMANDS THE RESIGNATION OF THE SHERIFF - may be the end of the road for long serving county freeholder
DESCRIPTION:
Time: 12:35:27

ARTICLE

HUNTERDON COUNTY - Sadly everybody has their time when the mental mechanisms start to rust and work just a little slower than they used to. One can remember the famed ball coach Woody Hayes punching an opposing team's player when he intercepted the ball and the look of bewilderment that Hayes held on his face after his actions were complete.

The same type of thing happened to long standing Freeholder George Melick yesterday at the county freeholder's bi-monthly meeting. Melick, behind closed doors, demanded that his compatriots fire Under Sheriff - or whatever he is called - see other article today - George Muller, who served next to Melick for numerous years as a freeholder. When he got no support from his brethren he became visibly agitated, but he should know that the Freeholders cannot go firing employees of other constitutional officers, and yet his vengeance and fury were getting the better of him.

Then, during open session, Melick caught his fellow board members completely off guard when he presented them with a 12 Paragraph Resolution, that was not on the agenda, that demanded the immediate resignation of the County Sheriff.

This little presentation even silenced Freeholder Director Peterson, which is a difficult thing to do. For five minutes the room remained silent as all onlookers briefed through this written rampage and wondered why the sudden melt down

And then what, what to do??? The other board members weren't going to comment on such nonsense. Melick made the resolution public, which of course needed a second to get it to a vote, and none of the others in their right minds were going to entertain such a ranting and while they tried to say it softly, they all were wondering what had happened to Melick's mental state as everyone in their position knows they cannot take another constitutional officer out of office. The only way the sheriff, or County Clerk, or Freeholders, can be removed is to have a recall vote by the people, and for Melick to even suggest such a ranting in resolution form showed that the wheels of time may have finally spun one time to many.  

Melick has served this county extremely well in his many years of service and although the HC NEWS has not always agreed with his position, they have always been respected and his tough stance n many ideas has served us well over time. This latest act though is a desperate on of a person who has lost the idea that an elected official looks out for us all, and shows a vindictive nature that is not needed in our rural counties politics. Instead of asking for the immediate resignation of the sheriff, perhaps it is time for Freeholder Melick to tender his own.

Of course this is just a rant, which means it's only an opinion. Have a nice afternoon.