Dec. 3, 2001
 
 Ok, someone has to say it: Destination Allegany, the merging of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad and the Allegany County Visitors Bureau that was supposed to save tourism in Allegany County, is a total failure. Destination Allegany was a stupid idea, and its stupidity can no longer be hidden by the two boards that implemented it.
 
 Note to the Allegany County Commissioners: given the money that’s gone up in smoke in this whole thing (can’t wait to see the railroad’s books THIS year, and don’t get us started on the Visitors Bureau’s finances), you might want to call for the resignation of all members of both boards. It’s pretty clear that neither board knows which end is up, or maybe even what day of the week it is. They’re pathetic.
 
 Of course, part of the problem with the two boards, but especially the Scenic Railroad’s board, is that they followed the advice of that paragon of local know-how, Lee Fiedler.
 
 Mr. Fiedler, as the mayor of Cumberland, wasn’t supposed to be on the Railroad’s board, according to the Railroad’s charter. Elected officials are not to serve on the board, in order to avoid political posturing and manipulation of the railroad. That idea went out the window when Mr. Fiedler was elected. He had been a board member prior to his election, and after his election he took it upon himself to remain one.
 
 For a while he voted on issues on a regular basis, until the media questioned the legality of what he was doing. He then announced that he was an “ex-officio” member, meaning he had no vote. Of course, the Railroad’s charter didn’t really allow for ex-officio members either, but what the heck.
 
 Anyway, Lee Fiedler, ex-officio, led the charge on merging the Railroad, which had been well run up to that point, with the Visitor’s Bureau, which had never been well run and was, for the most part, a mess. The result: the Railroad was no longer well run either. Staff jumped shipped at an alarming rate, and the new organization went through three executive directors in less than a year.
 
 Now the latest director, who had also been president of the Railroad’s Board of Directors, has resigned and announced that the Railroad needs its own manager, separate from the Visitors Bureau director.
 
 Oh. You mean, like it used to be? When the Railroad actually broke even and even made money a few years? When the Railroad had a 10 year plan to wean itself from public support?
 
 Ok, we get it. So the board has noticed that the railroad is being run into the ground by people - such as Lee Fiedler - who have no clue.
 
 We have a question for Mr. Fiedler - since he had taken it upon himself to “save the railroad” from a financial ruin that didn’t exist, and then proceeded to orchestrate the railroad’s actual financial demise, where the heck is he these days?
 
 Why isn’t he speaking up at Railroad board meetings? Taking charge, setting things right?
 
 Mr. Fiedler is nowhere to be seen. In fact, he’s practically disappeared.
 
 No wonder Kelly Springfield retired him.