‘Tedder Talks’ should be ‘Rehoboth Talks’

Editor's note: According to an article that appeared in the Friday, Aug. 3 edition, "Tedder Talks" costs $640 per month and is paid for out of the city manager's budget account. Additionally, "Tedder Talks" originated when Tedder was the city manager of Boulder City, Nev., as a nod to the popular Ted Talks.

There's no "I" in government, and it’s time we start asking serious questions about Taylour Tedder and his so-called "Tedder Talks." Who's funding these talks? Who’s paying for the editing, the videography and Tedder’s time? More importantly, why are they not called "Rehoboth Talks?" 

One of the core issues at hand is that we already have a city manager who out-earns the governor of Delaware, unless a court voids his contract due to non-compliance with FOIA and the city charter. As it stands, Tedder appears to have a job for life. To terminate him, a supermajority of six out of seven city commissioners is required, even in cases of gross incompetence or mismanagement. Meanwhile, Tedder enjoys the benefit of residing in a government-paid house, not just during his term but as an enduring perk – a gift no other city resident can claim.

The problem here extends beyond the contract and job security. It’s about the optics – how the situation is perceived and the reality it reflects. We have a city manager who doesn't even pretend to fight for the best interests of Rehoboth’s citizens; if he did, he would voluntarily renegotiate his contract to ensure its compliance with FOIA, the city charter and to gain voter approval of his compensation package. Instead, in his first edition of “Tedder Talks,” he claims he has already identified $500,000 in savings, an amount that ominously aligns with the $500,000 he previously suggested the city could save by scaling back the Rehoboth Beach Patrol headquarters, a building that hosts the guardians of Rehoboth Beach’s safety and economy. 

Tedder’s gross overcompensation and the misaligned interests between himself and the city’s voters are glaring issues. Adding insult to injury, instead of dedicating his efforts to governing on behalf of Rehoboth, Tedder spends taxpayer time and money promoting his own name through these "Tedder Talks." These talks seem just as likely to serve his next job search as they do to provide any real value to Rehoboth’s residents.

This situation starkly contrasts with the example set by past leaders like Presidents John F. Kennedy and Herbert Hoover, who both donated their salaries to charity, embodying the principle that true leadership is about service, not personal gain. As President Calvin Coolidge aptly put it, "No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."

Let’s not be fooled by the illusion of humanity and connection that "Tedder Talks" aims to present to the citizens of Rehoboth. If Tedder could step back and objectively assess his actions, he would realize that there’s no "I" in government. It’s time to rename "Tedder Talks" to "Rehoboth Talks" and put Tedder’s contract up for a vote by the people of Rehoboth to see if they truly approve of his compensation package – a package that is filled with too many ones, zeros and dollar signs, and seems more self-serving and self-fulfilling than any government worker’s compensation should be.