[RP TownTalk] Budget in Town Crier

[Vernon Archer]

Dear Audrey and neighbors,

I want to take a quick minute to address of couple of your concerns--sorry
they are quick, because at end of school and budget time not much time.

Kennedy did finally get her report submitted and we will post it on the town
website soon. I seriously doubt we will be doing any more work with her, as
she has been painfully slow and unresponsive.  However, we do have a plan
with which to run now, and it will require some funding.

The bucket truck will likely be sold off after we finish reorganizing public
works, and the street sweeper was given to the town under a livable
communities grant--costs the town nothing to buy, and we split the
maintenance costs with Hyattsville.

The only way we will privatize trash is if: 1) it saves substantial amount
of money ($150,000 or more); 2) the service remains at the same basic level;
3) it reduces the liability exposure of the town (this is very important in
the modern world); 4) all displaced vested employees receive comparably paid
jobs with the contractor.  It seems we will be able to reach these goals; if
we can't then the proposal will be withdrawn.

Lastly, while it has been slow coming, we do have a constructive policy in
place for the economic development of town center. All parties are
cooperating and we seem to be making some progress, I want us to stay the
course and not get negative just as things are starting to work.
Best wishes,

Vern
On Sun, Jun 1, 2008 at 6:44 PM, <ABragg7393 at aol.com> wrote:

>  I was very happy to see a copy of the proposed budget in the June issue
> of the Town Crier.  In looking it over, I don't have any objections to
> Police or Public Works.  One item is a concern to me and I would like to
> hear what others think.  The Econ Development Promotion.  When I attended a
> recent Economic Development meeting, one issue that came up was that Kennedy
> Smith who was hired by the town to promote Ec D still had not submitted her
> report.  I understand she lives in California.  I remember attending the
> first meeting several years ago when Kennedy Smith showed a power point
> presentation, which was basically a resume.  It was my understanding at that
> time that the town would hire her as a consultant for $5000.  Now I
> understand we have paid her many more $$$$.  She is not someone who is
> noticeably seen around town nor have I seen her at the Economic Development
> meetings, nor at the Riverdale Park Business Associaiton meetings and I
> don't see where we have benefited from her consultations.  I do notice that
> our Rep Eric Olson is doing a great job with EcD and he is FREE!  I object
> to the $35000 if it is going to pay for her without results.  I also think
> that Econ Development Promotion expenses should be upon the backs of those
> who benefit from the promotion - (read Developers)  If we can't impose a tax
> on owners of vacant buildings, there certainly are some things we can do.
> Maybe charge for town owned parking spaces even if the buildings are
> vacant.  Maybe set up some codes to encourage owners of vacant buildings to
> get them rented.  Maybe give owners of rented buildings a break on license
> fees and impose a very large license fee for vacant buildings.  Maybe put
> together a task force to come up with ideas to encourage smart development
> in our town and discourage empty buildings.  I would like the $35000 line
> item for EcD to be deleted and I would not mind if it went to the Police or
> Public Works.
> #2  I also read about the idea of "privatizing trash collection:".  I am
> very much against this. I would like to see the town continue to pick up
> trash.  (It was one of the reasons we incorporated in the 1920's)  If money
> needs to be saved, then I would suggest not purchasing bucket trucks, street
> cleaning machines etc which are very large expenses and instead outsourcing
> these particular jobs.  If we want to outsource town services, then let's
> not stop at trash collection let's go all the way and dissolve our town
> charter and go back to an all county service area.
> Audrey
>
>
>
>
>  ------------------------------
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-- 
Vernon Archer, Mayor
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
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