Margate Solicitor Conflict of Interest With Baglivo Property?

Watch DownbeachBUZZ Podcast, Part One, for July 18, 2024.

Margate Commissioners pass resolution awarding professional service contract to Dottie McCrosson to be special legal counsel in Margate Gardens / Developer Baglivo matter.

Concerns surrounding Margate Gardens complex have been well documented.

Question: Why does Margate need services of special legal counsel since city solicitor, John Scott Abbott has been handling the matter since it was initially discovered a few months ago?

Usually, local government appoints special legal counsel based on following conditions:

Matter requires attorney with specific and unique expertise. In this case this is rather a straight forward matter that Abbott has been handling since the issue has been discovered and between himself, the city’s construction office and the municipal engineer, should be able to handle and determine if any violations took place.

A permit was issued for project with certain requirements and city must determine if requirements were followed and satisfied or if there were violations. Straight forward.

Neither of these conditions reflect the current situation in Margate?

Question remains: Why now does Margate City need special legal counsel to handle the Baglivo Margate Gardens issue?

The resolution provides no insight into the need so hopefully Mayor Collins and Commissioners and  Abbott will address at meeting.

Public needs to understand why this is taking place.  

Dottie McCrosson is the long time city solicitor for Ocean City.

She also looks to be the personal lawyer for Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian? A conflict?

Her firm, McCrosson and Stanton, specializes in real estate related legal matters in the Ocean City area. 

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7 thoughts on “Margate Solicitor Conflict of Interest With Baglivo Property?”

  1. This is a dirty deal since day one.

    Boglivo gave the finger to Margate voters in a picture when the Collins slate was elected.

    He was in a photo hugging and celebrating with Collins and Horn on election night.

    He was the largest single donor for their campaign fund.

    What does this tell us?
    I know what it tells us…. Corruption in Margate.

    Now Abbott runs for the hills by getting Margate another outside lawyer to handle this at our expense!!

    I am sure Abbott has been covering up something .
    If it walks and sounds like a duck, it’s a duck.

    This Margate secrecy has to stop.

    Abbott states that it would cost $200,000.00 for a zoom connection??
    Really?
    $200.00 for an account and maybe $200.00 Per month for a cyber security contract .
    Who is he kidding?
    Not us.

    Our Mayor sits and lets this go on?

    Our city officials just do not want the tax payers to know what is really going on in Margate.

  2. Man, this is the stuff you hear about.

    Imagine the “behind the scenes” stuff you don’t hear about.

    SMH.

  3. IF building wasn’t built to spec and code for Margate City, TEAR IT DOWN.

    NO SPECIAL FAVORS OR TREATMENTS.

    1. Just stop. There is zero chance of that building being torn down. Remediation and penalties are a far more realistic and likely scenario.

    2. Agree. Tear it down ! And send the corrupt politicians with it. There is no way they didn’t know what was going on. Didn’t anyone read the inspection reports or visit the site ??? Come on. Man !! Get real.

  4. Wow! So many residents showed up to the 7-18-24 Commissioner Meeting to express their thoughts. Please listen to the audio posted on the city website. You will be amazed at how much is wrong in Margate.

    Margate Mayor Mike Collins spends our $$ on his self-promotion with marketing instead of listening to the taxpayers. And Commish Cathy Horn supports him.

    $3 million authorized for his “employee” parking lot! You can complain, but Collins and Cathy Horn do what they want.

    While many neighbors complained, Mayor Collins had no real answers. He just goes forward with resolutions to spend our taxes. Listen to the audio. Wow! What a meeting! I am amazed!

    Mayor Collins says he’s listening, but he isn’t hearing anyone except his insiders. He really believes he knows better than the people living in the neighborhoods. As long as they pass the resolution to pay Colmar! And build him a parking lot. Wow!

    Congratulations to all who attended and shared their voice. You really need to listen to this 7-18-2024 meeting. Follow the $$$.

  5. Why does Margate need a 3rd party counsel? Maybe because the Margate Solicitor is counsel to at least 2 planning/zoning boards not in Margate, and his private practice.

    Stay tuned, maybe he gets Ocean City work soon.

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