[RP TownTalk] Signs on our northern boarder
Vernon Archer
varcher at gmail.com
Thu Aug 20 11:14:47 UTC 2009
Melisa,
As I wrote separately to Don, I suggest that you write a letter to the
editor telling her that there needs to be a section called "letters to the
editor" whether there are letters to the editor or not. The code
specifically requires the publication of such letters, not that a section be
included in the paper.
Further, the code directs that no elected official direct the editor about
how to run the news letter, except to follow the code if it is clearly not
being followed. Therefore, unless a letter that was submitted by a resident
that followed the guidelines was rejected by the editor, I have no power or
right to interfere. If you are aware of a letter being submitted properly
that was not published I would like to know so I can address this with the
editor.
I also know you are reasonably friendly with Marita Novicky, who was editor
during the vast majority of my time in office, have you discussed this with
her? I'll bet she can provide you with some insight on how the Crier
operated regarding accepting submissions from residents.
I guess the last thing you might do, is contact your councilman, and ask him
to amend section 3 of the code--governing the news letter--so that it
requires a section for letters to the editor in addition to the publication
of such letters. If he is unwilling to do so, just come to the town
council at our next meeting and advocate for your views.
You are correct that it is important that officials follow the rules in a
democracy and I can assure you I will continue to do so and to the best of
my ability make sure that town staff does so to.
Vern
On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 11:05 PM, Melissa Avery <m.avery at rocketmail.com>wrote:
> When I wrote for the town crier - in the late 1980's and early 1990's
> there was was a section called " letters to the Editor" . This section was
> just like the sections by the same name in the Gazette , the Post etc.. on
> the editorial page.
> the "Letters to the Editor" section is a part of the paper that allows
> privet citizens to express their opinion, either pro or con to issues
> important to the community.
>
> The Town crier is suppose to have a section that allows the citizens to
> express their opinions - if the town administration agrees with those
> opinions or not.
> As long as we live in a democracy, we need to follow those rules.
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Vernon Archer <varcher at gmail.com>
> *To:* Don Lynch <dlynch at garretroomstudios.com>; TownTalk <
> TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, August 19, 2009 2:55:45 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [RP TownTalk] Signs on our northern boarder
>
> Don,
>
> I understand the terminology used in the ordinance and it is important to
> look at the whole of Chapter 3 when considering such matters. It does not
> require an editorial section. It requires that the editor publish letters
> submitted to him/her--under certain broad guidelines.
>
> As I am required by the ordinance to not direct the editor (except if the
> editor is failing to follow the ordinance) I can not direct the editor to
> create an editorial section. The ordinance does require the editor to print
> letters to the editor from the public (so long as the letters meet the
> criteria in the ordinance) and if there were ever a case where the editor
> failed to do so, I would promptly order the editor to publish said letter.
> Such an omission has never occurred so far as I know--Rob, Marita and
> Kandese have all been very scrupulous to my knowledge in fulfilling the
> requirements of the ordinance and in fact have periodically gone to great
> lengths to get people to submit letters and articles to the Crier.
>
> Vern
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 2:19 PM, Don Lynch <dlynch at garretroomstudios.com>wrote:
>
>> I apologize.
>>
>> You obviously do not understand the terminology.
>>
>> There is an absence of a "letter to the editor" section, not the existence
>> of an editor.
>>
>> Don
>>
>> Vernon Archer wrote:
>>
>>> Don,
>>> The editor-in-chief of the Town Crier is Kandese Alan who can be
>>> contacted at rptowncrier at comcast.net <mailto:rptowncrier at comcast.net>
>>> There has never been any significant break between editors in my
>>> administration. Roberty Oppenheim was in place when I took office. He was
>>> followed by Marita Novicky, with Kandese taking over after that. Vern
>>>
>>> On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 1:45 PM, Don Lynch <
>>> dlynch at garretroomstudios.com <mailto:dlynch at garretroomstudios.com>>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Well this is indeed, a sad day for Riverdale Park.
>>>
>>> To receive word, late in this discussion, about a very important
>>> issue from one of the town's officials.
>>>
>>> We asked College Park about this issue and got an immediate
>>> response. It took a day later to hear from our own elected official.
>>>
>>> Now we hear that some officials are reciting the exact definition
>>> of transparency.
>>>
>>> Well, anyone educated in the civics, knows that there is a term
>>> called intent. Contracts, legal documents, etc. inherently have an
>>> implied clause called intent.
>>>
>>> To have transparency in government means that it is incumbent upon
>>> the leadership to keep its constituency informed.
>>>
>>> It is obvious to everyone in this town that this listserve, which
>>> was mandated by our town government, is a viable and valid form of
>>> communication.
>>>
>>> So now I'm quoting chapter and verse:
>>>
>>> *§3-2. Letters to the Editor.*
>>>
>>> (a) General Rule - The newsletter shall accept for publication
>>> letters to the editor from
>>>
>>> town residents who are not elected officials of the town. Any
>>> letter must include a name, address
>>>
>>> and telephone number of the person submitting the letter and be
>>> signed by that person. Any
>>>
>>> person writing such letters shall be limited to one letter of two
>>> hundred and fifty (250) words or
>>>
>>> less per edition of the town newsletter. Such letters must relate
>>> to administrative, regulatory or
>>>
>>> Legislative functions of the town, or be of some matter of unique
>>> concern to the town or
>>>
>>> its residents (e.g., obituaries, events of town groups or
>>> town-sponsored organizations, history of
>>>
>>> - 301 -
>>>
>>> Revised 01- 08
>>>
>>> the town, etc.). Such letters may promote a position on matters of
>>> public policy, but may not
>>>
>>> advocate support or opposition for any candidate for public
>>> office. Such letters shall be directed
>>>
>>> to the Editor-in-Chief of the newsletter and shall be printed in
>>> the next issue of the newsletter
>>>
>>> after it has been received.
>>>
>>> (B) Time of Submission - A deadline of the 15th day of the
>>> calendar month shall be set
>>>
>>> for any submission to be printed in the next edition. If a letter
>>> to the editor is received after the
>>>
>>> submission deadline, it shall be printed in the following edition.
>>> In the event multiple
>>>
>>> submissions are received for an upcoming edition, the
>>> Editor-in-Chief shall set forth two (2) full
>>>
>>> pages for such letters and if ample space is still not available,
>>> provide a written rationale for why
>>>
>>> some letters were printed and others were held to the subsequent
>>> edition. No letter deemed
>>>
>>> appropriate under the guidelines may be held for any reason for
>>> more than 45 days before
>>>
>>> publication.
>>>
>>> (c) Editing for Length and Content - In the event a letter exceeds
>>> the two hundred and
>>>
>>> fifty (250) word length, it shall be subject to editing by the
>>> Editor-in-Chief who shall shorten its
>>>
>>> length by removing or replacing words, but who shall not change
>>> the intent of the letter writer.
>>>
>>> In the event any portion of the content shall include curse words
>>> inappropriate for publication,
>>>
>>> the Editor-in-Chief shall have the authority to remove or replace
>>> such words at his or her
>>>
>>> discretion.
>>>
>>>
>>> ==========================================================================
>>>
>>> So, it seems that this administration is in violation of town
>>> ordinances requiring an editorial section of the Town Crier.,
>>> which has not existed for some time.
>>>
>>> I request that the ordinance staff serve this administration a
>>> citation to this effect which is proper under the balance of powers.
>>>
>>> It would be nice if for once this current administration would
>>> focus on the needs of this town.
>>>
>>> We recently had a business fail in town center and not one council
>>> member or mayor bothered to make a comment.
>>>
>>> Again, it is a sad day in Riverdale Park.
>>>
>>> Don
>>>
>>> ================================================
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>>
>>> Vernon Archer wrote:
>>>
>>>> To all concerned about the signs marking our boarders, and
>>>> related issues,
>>>> 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:
>>>> 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.
>>>> 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.
>>>> 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. I thank Audrey Bragg for volunteering to
>>>> beautify the new
>>>> location and Mr. Addison will contact you directly to coordinate
>>>> with you.
>>>> 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.
>>>> 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.
>>>> 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.
>>>> 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.
>>>> Best wishes,
>>>> Vern -- Vernon Archer, Mayor
>>>> Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>> For more information about Riverdale Park, visit
>>>> http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/ <http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Vernon Archer, Mayor
>>> Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Vernon Archer, Mayor
> Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
>
>
--
Vernon Archer, Mayor
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
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