Special Treatment

The following is a copy of the Washington County Ethics Commission's report on its decision in the complaint filed against Hagerstown City Councilwoman Kelly S. Cromer: Hagerstown resident Cathy Ridenour filed a complaint with the Ethics Commission to determine whether the acts set forth herein constitute a violation of the City's Code of Ethics (Chapter 33 of the Hagerstown City Code). This complaint arises out of a traffic stop involving Kelly S. Cromer. Ms. Cromer, Ms. Ridenour, and Officer Watt were invited to present oral or written statements to the Commission concerning this matter.

Editor's note: The following is an introduction from our newest restaurant critic. Reviews will run biweekly, with the first review appearing on this page in the Sunday, July 4, edition. Hello, readers. My name is Anne Chovey and I am the new restaurant critic for The Herald-Mail. You probably guessed that is my pen name, which I will use to guarantee that I do not receive special treatment at the restaurants I review. I am very excited for this assignment because I love to cook and I love to eat. Everything about food interests me. When we go to a new city, I enjoy strolling around the grocery store, just to see what is there.

HAGERSTOWN -- A local Fraternal Order of Police chapter last month rescinded Hagerstown City Councilwoman Kelly S. Cromer's associate membership, and on Tuesday its members visited the Hagerstown Police Department to show support for Officer Christopher Watt, who stopped Cromer for an alleged traffic violation in May. The FOP action was taken based in part on a June 19 story in The Herald-Mail in which Cromer was quoted as referring to Watt as...

WILLIAMSPORT andrews@herald-mail.com A compromise ended a heated argument Monday over whether a committee should pay the town $2,500 to hold this year's C&O Canal Days. Councilman Jeff Cline proposed that amount to cover services - such as about 100 hours of labor, water and electricity - that the town annually provides at no cost. Committee members protested, saying the new charge - three weeks before the event - was a great burden. "There's no way we can afford it - not this year," said Elissa Slayman, the committee's chairwoman.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A memorandum written last year by a Berkeley County commissioner that appears to indicate that some developers are given preferential treatment is being taken out of context, the commission's legal counsel said in response to an allegation submitted to county officials last week. County Commission legal counsel Norwood Bentley said an allegation contained in an anonymous letter dated June 6 that apparently was circulated last week to several county officials - including recent Republican candidates for the county commission - and the media misrepresented the contents of a July 22, 2005, planning commission memo signed by commissioner Ron Collins.

Steele will make a difference To the editor: In reply to the Linda Campbell editorial from the Aug. 9, 2006, Herald-Mail ("Candidate hides in weeds"), one should realize that the distortion, leaks and bias against certain candidates are the "weeds. " For that very reason, Michael Steele has made the decision to answer the questionnaire from The Baltimore Sun, with his policies published on the Web site. For years, the print media has had its way - particularly in a blue state such as Maryland.

marlob@herald-mail.com Now that the Washington County Animal Control Authority has ruled against her in a barking dog complaint, the executive director of the local humane society said she isn't sure if she will appeal the decision. "The process we just went through cost taxpayers' money and an appeal would cost us even more," Maria Procopio said in a faxed response to the Thursday decision. The authority members ordered Procopio to pay a civil penalty of $25 and to equip her dogs with citronella collars and ensure they are wearing those collars whenever no one is at home, the decision said.

Editor's note: To see a copy of the Washington County Ethics Commission's report on its decision in the complaint filed against Hagerstown City Councilwoman Kelly S. Cromer, click here Hagerstown City Councilwoman Kelly S. Cromer did not act unethically during a traffic stop near City Park in Hagerstown, the Washington County Ethics Commission said in a report made public Thursday. A complaint, filed last month by Hagerstown resident Cindy Ridenour, accused Cromer of using her position as a councilwoman to avoid getting a ticket when she was pulled over May 26 after allegedly driving 43 mph in a 25-mph zone.

HAGERSTOWN -- The energy-efficient windows that a developer installed in the facade of the former Walker House in downtown Hagerstown drew praise and criticism during a City Council work session Tuesday night. Councilwoman Penny M. Nigh said The Bowman Development Group was aware of the procedures it needed to follow and should have obeyed the rules like everyone else before the modern, aluminum-clad windows were installed in the Walker House at 34-36 S. Potomac St. She suggested that Bowman Development was receiving special treatment.

Editor's note: The Herald-Mail invites readers to answer poll questions on its Web site, www.herald-mail.com. Readers also may submit comments when voting. A sampling of edited reader comments will run on The Herald-Mail's Opinion page on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The question posted Monday on The Herald-Mail's Web site was: Are you inclined to volunteer to help homeless people? o "When my small business was doing well, I helped out quite a few homeless people in the past.