[RP TownTalk] Fwd: Re: Special Legislative Meeting Agenda: March 17, 2014
James D. Holmes
jdholmes at comcast.net
Mon Mar 17 18:31:19 UTC 2014
Mayor Archer
I never received a copy of the report. Can you send me a copy, or do I
need to file a MPIA request?
J. Holmes
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Special Legislative Meeting Agenda: March
17, 2014
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 13:44:21 -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>
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
<mailto: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> <mailto:varcher at gmail.com>
To: TownTalk <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
<mailto: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 <mailto: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>
<mailto:yorkedial at gmail.com>
To: James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net>
<mailto: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 <mailto:Yorkedial at gmail.com>
Jeffrey at YorkeRents.com <mailto:Jeffrey at YorkeRents.com>
(301) 502-1243 <tel:%28301%29%20502-1243>
On Mar 16, 2014, at 7:01 PM, "James D. Holmes"
<jdholmes at comcast.net <mailto: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>
> <mailto:varcher at gmail.com>
> To: James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net>
> <mailto:jdholmes at comcast.net>
> CC: towntalk at riverdale-park.org
> <mailto:towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
> <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
> <mailto: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 <mailto: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
>
> 2. Motion to waive bid requirements and award a contract
> to McInturff Architects in the amount of $127,000 for
> schematic design of Town Hall
>
> 3. 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 <http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/>
>
> 301-927-6381 <tel:301-927-6381>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Vernon Archer, Mayor
> Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
>
>
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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
--
Vernon Archer, Mayor
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
_______________________________________________
TownTalk mailing list
To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
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TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org
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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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