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

JR Smith jrarlington75 at yahoo.com
Mon Mar 17 16:28:31 UTC 2014 

Mayor Archer,

Thank you for succinctly explaining the situation about the Emergency Ordinance, and the background of the issue. I support both you and the council regarding this issue and thank you for your service to the community.


J.R. Smith




On Monday, March 17, 2014 12:18 PM, Vernon Archer <varcher at gmail.com> wrote:
 
James and anyone interested in rehashing this issue for the 5th or 6th time:
 
1. The Town Council acts as its own cable review body which is its right. Most municipalities follow this model, and the three administrations preceding my own lead by Mayors Ferguson, Herman and Tiberio also followed this model.  In my 9 years of service the only documented complaint has come from you James. It therefore seems that asking volunteers to staff a separate review board is not warranted. 
 
Your assertion that residents don't have representation and a review process is patently false. 
 
2. As you know the town has investigated your assertion that Comcast is over billing customers on franchise fee. Based on a lengthy and thorough investigation of facts we are satisfied that Comcast is charging 5% through the process defined by the Federal Communications Commission.  
 
Your assertion that customers of Comcast and Verizon pay different rates is false. Your assertion that Comcast customers pay more than 5% is also false.
 
3. The town as franchise granter does not control rates. Just like individual subscribers we can either say yes to the service and the price presented or no. By saying yes to the cable provider, in this case Comcast, then every resident in Riverdale Park gets to make up their own mind whether to subscribe to a cable service or not.  
 
Your assertion that the town can control or even significantly influence cable rates is false.
 
Finally,  your last statement asking the council to in effect hold a discussion on an email list is highly inappropriate.  The Maryland Open Meetings Act clearly defines where and how public business is to be discussed and acted upon.  Such business is to be handled in an open meeting not on a chat list.
 
In that vein the meeting that was scheduled for tonight has been cancelled do to the weather and will be rescheduled.  Official announcement will be forthcoming as to the date and time after I hear back about the availability of the council members, but I expect the meeting will be held next Monday the 24th at 7:30 PM.  The actual discussion and vote on "Emergency Ordinance 2014-OR-02 to amend the franchise agreement with Comcast of Maryland" will likely take place on  March 31 in Special Legislative Meeting. 
 
Sincerely, 
Vernon Archer 



On Mon, Mar 17, 2014 at 10:30 AM, James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net> wrote:

Jeffrey
>
>I am participating.  I have asked several questions that our elected
    officials refuse to answer.  I have requested that the Mayor create
    a Riverdale Park Cable TV Franchise Committee to represent the
    residents.  He refuses!  The Town collected approximately $50.000 in
    franchise fees last year, yet the residents have no
    representation/protection from the undue rate increases from the
    cable TV companies.
>
>Do you think it is fair that residents of Riverdale Park pay a
    different amount for the Cable TV Franchise Fee depending on who
    they subscribe to (Comcast or Verizon)?
>
>This issue needs to be discussed. 
>
>Let's see if anyone from the Council will join in on this
    discussion.
>
> 
>J. Holmes
>
>
>
>-------- Original Message -------- 
>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Fwd: Re: [RP Town Announce] Special Legislative Meeting Agenda: March 17, 2014 
>Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 19:07:00 -0400 
>From: Jeffrey Yorke <yorkedial at gmail.com> 
>To: James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net> 
>
>
>For the life of me, I don't understand where you got that. He is BEGGING you to participate.
>
>
>So do it!
>
>Jeffrey Yorke 
>Yorke Partners
>Yorkedial at gmail.com
>Jeffrey at YorkeRents.com
>(301) 502-1243
>
>On Mar 16, 2014, at 7:01 PM, "James D. Holmes" <jdholmes at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
>Mayor Archer
>>
>>Are you stating that my listed concerns will not be addressed
          by the Council unless I appear at the meeting tomorrow night?
>>
>>
>>J. Holmes
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-------- Original Message -------- 
>>Subject: Re: [RP Town Announce] Special Legislative Meeting Agenda: March 17, 2014 
>>Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 18:51:05 -0400 
>>From: Vernon Archer <varcher at gmail.com> 
>>To: James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net> 
>>CC: towntalk at riverdale-park.org <towntalk at riverdale-park.org> 
>>
>>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> 
>>>To: <townannounce at riverdale-park.org>, <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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>>
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>>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>TownTalk mailing list
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>TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing only
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>
>For more information about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info
>
>


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


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