It seems every time you turn around, the Town of Cape Charles has hired some out-of-town consulting firm to perform a task that is apparently too difficult for them to handle. We understand that in some instances this is needed. While consultants can offer valuable expertise and assistance, there are a few potential disadvantages to using them for small-town government–it is dangerous to get too dependent on them.
Hiring consultants can be expensive, and Cape Charles has a limited budget. Fees are based on their expertise and time, which, over time, may strain our financial resources.
Sometimes when you see the finished products that the taxpayer has funded, you wonder how much they really understand about living on the Eastern Shore. Do they really get it? Consultants often come from outside the community and may not have a deep understanding of the unique dynamics and challenges faced by rural communities. They may not be familiar with local history, or specific needs, which can limit their ability to provide the best solutions.
In most cases, consultants are typically hired for a specific project. Once the project is completed, they may move on to other clients, leaving us hanging without ongoing support or guidance (unless we pay for long-term support). How sustainable, and affordable is this process?
One of the biggest dangers is that relying heavily on consultants can create a situation where we become dependent on them. This erodes our confidence in being able to do anything. In the long run, how does this affect the development of in-house capabilities? Is this a barrier that prevents local staff from gaining valuable skills and knowledge? How does this affect the town’s ability to address issues independently?
In the future, the town should carefully consider expending resources on consultants without being sure our paid staff could not handle the work.
Herb Thom says
When I ran for TC ,on my platform was to use the knowledge of retirement age men and women that would be a just what we need . But no one seEms to wanted to tap that wealth of knowledge. I think there ego got in there Way . Thanks
Editor’s Note: Always thought you were one of the superior candidates. Not being a business owner may have hurt you.
Barbie says
What consultants have they used? Would be curious for more detail on this including names.
Paul R Plante, NYSPE says
This is indeed an interesting subject, and Cape Charles is far from the only place in America where one finds this “phenomena” of calling in consultants for seemingly everything under the sun, and what needs to be explored is the connections these so-called “consultants” have to the powers-that-be, or more properly, perhaps, what are their relationships, because this has become, in my opinion of studying the issue over a long period of time, another form of wealth transfer from the taxpayers, or a form of tax-payer funded welfare for these consultants, who are often simply chosen by the powers-that-be, because of taxpayer apathy, or ignorance, or helplessness, as the process of choosing these consultants is not at all transparent.
What needs to be looked at and studied and most importantly, questioned, is their work product, and here is where the average citizen is defeated, because the average citizen does not have the specific knowledge required to pick these reports apart and debunk them, and often, the citizens are afraid to challenge the reports out of a legitimate fear of being made a fool out of by the powers-that-be, who of course, defend the process and the work product of the consultants they hired.
As a licensed engineer who stands up for citizens PRO BONO against the corruption that lines the pockets of these politically-connected consultants, because they won’t get chosen, otherwise, if they are not deemed to be “politically-reliable,” which seems to be their only “qualification,” I have debunked many of these consultant reports, as has Ken Dufty of Exmore, who I consider a proven expert at the art, and debunking means making a demonstration that they are garbage.
Always jump to the “conclusions” at the end of the report, and see how many times the report will call for more study, and read the conclusions carefully, because they should make sense to someone with a high school education and some common sense.
Often, the body of the reports are filled with confusing gibberish put in there on purpose to confuse people and get them frustrated so they quit in disgust, which is the ART OF THE CONSULTANT!
Ken Dufty should be teaching master classes on this subject of debunking these “studies” because without political clout, without fancy collitch degreesm and without resources other than pure grit and a sharp mind and a necessary LACK OF FEAR of political retaliation, he has torn apart BULL**** put out by experts, which to me makes him a true American hero!
Paul Plante says
CCM: It seems every time you turn around, the Town of Cape Charles has hired some out-of-town consulting firm to perform a task that is apparently too difficult for them to handle.
Which of course begs the question of why Cape Charles has a “government” that is apparently incompetent, which question goes back to the CCM thread titled “Why do we elect idiots into public office in America?” http://www.capecharlesmirror.com/op-ed-why-do-we-elect-idiots-into-public-office-in-america/#respond
But that question aside, which requires an in-depth analysis of the demographics of Cape Charles, and the “politics” of Cape Charles, there is a psychology involved, because the town can then say to the residents and taxpayers in regard to a decision they have already made, but don’t want to be held accountable for, “well, our consultant says …,” whichy can be deemed a form of intelligent blame-shifting, because the consultant can’t be held accountable, and afterall, if they are a “consultant,” well, that must mean they are an expert, because who else but an expert would be considered a “consultant?”
A slick game, indeed!
And does anyone in Cape Charles ever stand up and demand an explanation from the town as to why a consultant is needed?
I would bet not, so the game goes on, and on and on!
Paul R Plante, NYSPE says
So what does it take to become a “consultant?”
Do you really have to know anything to be a “consultant?”
Do you really have to have any expertise of any kind?
Do you have to take any kind of test to first prove your competence?
As to the first question, all it really takes to become a “consultant” is the ability to be able to spell the word on your own, as it is only seven consonants, three vowels and three syllables you have to master, and that is it.
You simply tell people you are a “consultant,” and because it is a very big word to most people, and very big words impress most people, you have become a “consultant.”
And no, you really do not have to know anything to be a “consultant,” and you really do not have to have any expertise of any kind, other than the ability to spin a good story, or spew a good line of bull****, which is at the heart of being a “good” consultant, and you do not have to take any kind of test to first prove your competence.
All you need is a website, and a letter head, and a fancy business card, and you are in business.
And you don’t need to worry about being exposed as a fraud, as a rule, because the word “consultant” scares people as well as impresses them, and even if they think you are a fraud, they will be afraid to level the accusation, because they don’t know how to prove it, which makes it a slick game to be in for the consultant, and a great example of how the “consultant” game is played is found in an Albany, New York Timkes Union story titled “Lawsuit claims espionage training was cover for abuse” by Robert Gavin on July 16, 2023, wherein was stated as follows on all it takes to be a “consultant” in America today, to wit:
SARATOGA SPRINGS — She wanted to be a CIA agent.
So when a Spa City woman in 2017 read about a ribbon-cutting for a new business run by Shaun Wiggins, who identified himself as a former clandestine officer for the agency, it seemed like the perfect next step.
Six years later, her lawsuit alleges that Wiggins ensnared her in an 18-month campaign of deception and sexual manipulation — conducted under the premise that he was taking her through a “training exercise” for a career in espionage.
Soteryx, located at 18 Division Street, identifies itself on its website as a resource for those seeking risk management and cybersecurity.
Its website still included Wiggins’ bio on Thursday; the site was switched from public to private on Friday.
The bio said he had served as a “clandestine service officer” for the CIA.
The public affairs office of the CIA would not comment on the record.
The agency has a policy of neither confirming nor denying the identities of former operatives — even if those operatives have publicly disclosed their previous intelligence work.
Before it was made private, Soteryx’s website said Wiggins, described as a “leading authority in analytics-based online and offline engagement,” had more than 25 years of experience understanding the psychology “related to what motivates individuals to act as well as their motivations.”
end quotes
And that is it.
See how easy it is to be a “consultant?”