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

Mon Mar 17 17:44:21 UTC 2014

James,

I'm fine with disagreeing with you about whether or not the town needs a
separate Cable Review Committee.

Regarding a "report" you know full well a report was provided to you on the
issue you brought to us.

I am now done with this email exchange and renew my invitation to you to
come to the council meetings and present your arguments, concerns or
questions to the Town Council.

Sincerely,

Vernon Archer

On Mon, Mar 17, 2014 at 1:03 PM, James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net>wrote:

>  Mayor Archer
>
> The reason I keep bringing up this issue is because the lack of leadership
> by you and the Council in addressing the need for a Cable TV Franchise
> Committee.  Prince George's County and several other Municipalities have
> one.  Over the past 10 years, the Town has collected approximately $500.000
> in franchise fees.  What has the Town done with this money.
>
> If you believe that all my assertions are false, why has the Town refused
> to provide financial documents that are not redacted (see attachment).  Was
> a report issued on my complaint.  I would like to read the findings.
>
> You are misleading the residents about the 5% franchise fee.  The 5%
> franchise fee is not only on the subscriber's cable TV selection, it
> includes other revenues, (see below) even if the resident did not select or
> purchase the additional service.
>
> Expanded Basic Video Services
> Limited Basic Video Service
> Digital Video Service
> Pay
> PPV/VOD
> Video Equipment
> Digital Video Equipment
> Video Installation/Activation
> Franchise Fee
> PEG Fee
> Other
> Late Fee
> Write-off/Recoveries
> Add Sales
> Home Shopping Commissions
>
>
> When you add the fees from the listed services, the 5% franchise fee could
> increase to 6.5% of the cable TV bill.
>
>
>
>
> J. Holmes
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
>  Subject: [RP TownTalk] Fwd: Special Legislative Meeting Agenda: March
> 17, 2014  Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 12:18:10 -0400  From: Vernon Archer
> <varcher at gmail.com> <varcher at gmail.com>  To: TownTalk
> <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org> <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
>
>
>   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> <yorkedial at gmail.com>  To: James D. Holmes
>> <jdholmes at comcast.net> <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 <%28301%29%20502-1243>
>>
>> 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><varcher at gmail.com>  To:
>> James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net> <jdholmes at comcast.net>  CC:
>> towntalk at riverdale-park.org <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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>> http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Vernon Archer, Mayor
> Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
>
>
>
> --
> Vernon Archer, Mayor
> Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TownTalk mailing list
> To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
> TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription
> processing only
> http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk
>
> For more information about Riverdale Park, visit
> http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info
>
>

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