[RP TownTalk] Attempt to Repeal Town Crier Code

[Rob Oppenheim]

Gerry Kiernan announced at the Monday 11/28/05 work session, that he 
is introducing an ordinance to repeal all of chapter 3 of the town code 
which deals with the Town Crier.

This chapter contains many good and useful guidelines for the Crier.
** It also contains the line that limits political control over the Crier. **
Just a few months ago, in the September meeting, they attempted to 
delete just this line concerning political control, but the change failed 
to pass by one vote. 
 
Open government is best served by an unfettered press. It is shocking that 
they want to reduce open government by politically censoring the Town Crier. 
 
The Crier is produced 10 times/year. There is normally no January issue.
So this attempt to assert political control on the Crier is timed so there will 
be no announcement about it in the Crier. The legislation may well be introduced
and passed before most of the town even knows about it. It is also timed so that
the new Ward One council person will likely be voting on it. Given the narrow 
defeat of the September proposal, the outcome may well depend on the outcome 
of the Ward One special election.
 
Perhaps sufficient outrage expressed here or at the Monday Dec 5 Legislative 
meeting might kill the motion. 

You can read Chapter 3 of the Town Code here:
http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us/AboutRiverdalePark/LawsOfTown/Code.pdf
The line that limits political control is in section 3-9 "Oversight".
 
-Rob Oppenheim
Former Town Crier Editor
Candidate for Town Council, Ward One.

Special election Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.