[RP TownTalk] [RP Town Announce] Special Legislative Meeting Agenda: March 17, 2014

[Vernon Archer]

Greetings James,

The emergency ordinance is being introduced to extend the existing
franchise agreement until the ongoing negotiations are completed.  The town
is acting in good faith to insure that all cable customers are able to
continue their existing service. It
is expected that the results of the ongoing negotiations will produce a new
agreement that will maintain or improve the existing service.

We will be discussing this matter tomorrow night at the council meeting and
I as always welcome you and all residents to bring your questions and
comments to the council.

Best wishes,

Vern

On Sunday, March 16, 2014, James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net> wrote:

>  Mayor Archer
>
> I am reading the agenda for Special Legislative Meeting for Monday March
> 17, 2014 and noticed that the following Legislative Action Item.
>
> 3.    Introduction of *Emergency Ordinance 2014-OR-02* to amend the
> franchise agreement with Comcast of Maryland.
>
>
> Why is the Town introducing an *Emergency Ordinance* to amend the
> franchise agreement with Comcast of Maryland?  The Town had posted a notice
> in March 2012 under Resolution 2012-R-02 to participate in joint
> negotiations with other Prince George's County and municipalities for the
> renewal of the Town's cable franchise with Comcast.
>
> If you had appointed a Riverdale Park Cable TV Franchise Committee to
> oversee the renewal of this contract, there would be no need to introduce
> an *Emergency Ordinance* to prevent the current contract from expiring on
> April 5, 2014.
>
> Additionally, is the Town planning to correct a problem with the unequal
> franchise fees being collected between Comcast and Verizon?
>
> Comcast has collected up to *6.5%* of the Cable TV Bill vs. Verizon
> collecting *5% *.
>
> The Riverdale Park Franchise Fee should be set at a maximum 5% flat fee
> for the Cable TV portion of the monthly bill.  No other fees should be
> added.
>
> Over the past 10 years, Comcast has increased the Cable TV charges over
> *88%*.  What has the Town done to protect the residents from these
> unjustified increases?
>
>
> J. Holmes
>
>
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------  Subject: [RP TownTalk] Special
> Legislative Meeting Agenda: March 17, 2014  Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2014
> 12:10:25 -0400  From: Jessica Barnes <jbarnes at riverdaleparkmd.gov><javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jbarnes at riverdaleparkmd.gov');>  To:
> <townannounce at riverdale-park.org><javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','townannounce at riverdale-park.org');>,
> <towntalk at riverdale-park.org><javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','towntalk at riverdale-park.org');>
>
>  *Town of Riverdale Park*
>
> *Special Legislative Meeting *
>
> *March 17, 2014*
>
> *8:00 p.m.*
>
>
>
> *AGENDA*
>
>
>
> *Call to Order*
>
> *Approval of Agenda*
>
> *Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items*
>
>
>
> *Legislative Action Items:*
>
>
>
>    1. Motion to reject bid response to the Town of Riverdale Park RFP for
>    the Town Hall Addition project
>
>
>
>    1. Motion to waive bid requirements and award a contract to McInturff
>    Architects in the amount of $127,000 for schematic design of Town Hall
>
>
>
>    1. Introduction of Emergency Ordinance 2014-OR-02 to amend the
>    franchise agreement with Comcast of Maryland
>
>
>
> *New Business *
>
> *Unfinished Business *
>
> *Adjournment *
>
>
>
>
>
> Jessica
>
> Jessica E. Barnes
>
> Town Clerk
>
> Riverdale Park
>
> 5008 Queensbury Road
>
> Riverdale Park, MD 20737
>
> www.riverdaleparkmd.info
>
> 301-927-6381
>
>
>
>
>

-- 
Vernon Archer, Mayor
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
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