[RP TownTalk] Signs on our northern boarder

Wed Aug 19 18:11:14 UTC 2009

The Gazette is a free paper, the Post and the Times cost money so that is not a valid equation.  Maybe we should have an announcement in the Town Crier letting people know they can call the Gazette to have their service restored, per your conversation with the paper.
As far as attending the meetings go-
I believe there are only 60 some chairs in town hall. I think there are at least 2000 citizens, so this obviously is not a proper forum.
Also, the time the meetings are held is inconvenient for many people.

So we need several other forms of communication that make our government's actions available to the citizens. That is why we have town talk, cable access and the town crier, all mandated in  the town charter.

Melissa 

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From: Vernon Archer <varcher at gmail.com>
To: Melissa Avery <m.avery at rocketmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 1:41:14 PM
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Signs on our northern boarder

Melissa and all,

If your delivery of the Gazette has been cut please call 240-473-7547 and request that service be returned to your block.  The Gazette said in April that they had to reduce home delivery service and they did so based on a survey they did of which blocks residents tended to take in the paper, and which blocks did not.  The ones where few if any took in the paper saw their service cut..  Again, if you want it back please call them and say so.  The Town Government has made its desires know to the editors, but residents actually taking the paper in is what drives them to deliver it. 

Regarding sources that count as "general circulation" the fact that not everyone gets home delivery does not disqualify a publication as a source of "general circulation" information.  The majority of residents in town don't get the Post, much less the Times (Washington), yet both qualify as sources that provide "general circulation" for legal purposes.

It simply comes down to, if you want to know detailed information (like which sign went up and which one came down) you will need to simply attend the public meetings held on the first and last week of the month.   I welcome you, no encourage you, to do so.  

Best wishes,

Vern

On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 12:50 PM, Melissa Avery <m.avery at rocketmail.com> wrote:

Vern you say  -
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>"Transparency as defined by state law and town charter comes from two sources: 1) reports in public meetings (which all are invited to attend and participate in); and 2) reports and postings published in periodicals of general circulation--such as the Town Crier and  The Gazette."
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>this town considers the Gazette a source of community information and yet the paper has cut circulation in Riverdale Park.. This is yet another reason to have them return Riverdale Park in to their delivery rout. We can't depend on a monthly news letter that may or may not have information timely and pertinent to the citizens of the town for important information. What do we need to do to get the Gazette back?
>Maybe a word from the Mayor would help?
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________________________________
From: Vernon Archer <varcher at gmail.com>
>To: TownTalk <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 12:22:17 PM
>Subject: [RP TownTalk] Signs on our northern boarder
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>To all concerned about the signs marking our boarders, and related issues, 
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>Having had the time now to clarify with our public works department exactly what transpired regarding our sign in the proximity of our boarder with College Park I will share the following relevant facts:
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>The town had worked an agreement with College Park sometime prior to June 2005 to place our welcome sign slightly within the boundaries of College Park. This was a courtesy from College Park not a permanent right. When CP decided to follow the example we set some years ago and place signs on there boundaries, they removed our sign, withdrew their permission to post our sign on their territory and returned the sign to us.
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>Riverdale Park's public works is systematically refurbishing all of our town signs that need it--not just the boarder welcoming signs, but all signs--as time and resources allow.  Our welcome signs went up in the proximity of 10 years ago and have shown the ware so are being refurbished.  I mistakenly assumed that the one that came down on College Park's boundary was removed by RP workers, but in fact it was removed by CP workers--this level of detail as to who actually physically performs tasks that are directed by me to be carried out are rarely reported to me in detail for what I assume are obvious reasons, I just want the signs cleaned up and looking good. 
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>Public works informs me that this sign should be back up, in its new location within the boundaries of Riverdale Park by the end of next week.  
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>I thank Audrey Bragg for volunteering to beautify the new location and Mr.. Addison will contact you directly to coordinate with you.
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>There also seems to be some confusion about the property ownership along our boarder with CP.  The property to the immediate south of Albion Street is owned by WMATA, not the Cafritz interest.  The Cafritz property is solely within the boundaries of Riverdale Park--at least in the proximity of Route 1. I cannot swear the the Cafritz family does not own property in CP in the area, whoever the "Cafritz Property" that is currently zoned for single family houses that they wish to rezone and develop in a mixed use fashion along Route 1 is entirely within the boundaries of Riverdale Park.
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>I certainly do not have time right now to give a complete review of where the Cafritz effort to gain rezoning stands. However, it is safe to say that all four relevant governments, Prince George's County, Riverdale Park, College Park and University Park are waiting, and have been waiting for some time now, for the Cafritz team to come back to us with a revised traffic impact mitigation plan that is acceptable.  Until this happens there in no possibility of the rezoning that the Cafritz seek ever being granted. 
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>Lastly, I wish to remind all of you that "Town Talk" is not an official means of giving information to the public.  Transparency as defined by state law and town charter comes from two sources: 1) reports in public meetings (which all are invited to attend and participate in); and 2) reports and postings published in periodicals of general circulation--such as the Town Crier and The Gazette.  I ordered the creation of Town Talk to facilitate the free flow of information to the public and I think it definitely helps to keep the public informed, but it is neither the correct way to report problems, nor is it reasonable to expect quick or flawless answers to every question or concern every subscriber has.
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>That being said, I hope that any concerns about the marking of our northern boundary are now satisfied, but if not please bring questions or comments to the next work session on August 31st at 8 PM at Town Hall.
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>Best wishes,
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>Vern 
>-- 
>Vernon Archer, Mayor
>Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
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-- 
Vernon Archer, Mayor
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland

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