[RP TownTalk] Fwd: Follow-up Re: Change in Government

Tue Mar 8 16:39:45 UTC 2016

Bob and all interested,

I and everyone on the council share your concern that all voters and
residents have an opportunity to be heard and participate in the process of
considering the change of government that was formally introduced last
evening.  But I do want to point out that as a representative democracy we
are controlled by state law and our charter in the process of proposing,
passing and if deemed necessary referendum.  You cannot take to referendum
a law that has not been passed.

In Maryland the concept of a referendum is designed to give voters a
mechanism to correct the legislative body--council--if sufficient numbers
of voters feel the body either did not listen to the voters or made some
grave error. A referendum is the voters way to say a firm "NO" to
legislation, not a way to express an open opinion  YES or NO.

I would like to point out that now that the legislation is proposed there
will be a minimum of 2 meetings prior to the council taking action on the
proposal, March 28 work session and the April 4 legislative meeting.  There
will not be action until the May 2 meeting that will also give an
opportunity to discuss in the April 25 work session.

Thus, please inform yourself about the proposal. Please work with the
council to improve the proposal if you have limited concerns, but like the
general thrust of the proposal, or let your representative know if you
oppose the idea outright.  I believe that the council is not interested in
proposing anything so divisive and dividing in our town that it will end up
having a referendum where even a significant minority are dissatisfied with
their action.  The goal is a consensus where an overwhelming majority of
residents are happy with the outcome.

Sincerely,

Vern

On Tue, Mar 8, 2016 at 8:19 AM, bob smith <sfmc68 at verizon.net> wrote:

> Recalling the changes in Riverdale Park over the last 28 years, from
> name change to bond decisions, I believe it would be disservice to the
> Town and the citizens if a change in the form of the Town government was
> not decided by referendum.
>
> I urge the citizens of Riverdale Park to consider this matter on its
> merits, thoroughly discuss it, and put the matter to a vote by all of
> the eligible voters. I urge the Town Council to consider this approach
> as means of ensuring voice of the people is heard and listened to.
>
> Respectfully,
> Bob Smith
> Ward 3
>
> On 3/2/16 9:15 PM, Alan K. Thompson wrote:
> >     Will the Mayor and Council be the only ones who decide this matter
> >     or will it go to referendum for a vote by the residents?
> >
> >
> > Unless the citizens want a referendum, it will be decided by the
> > Council. § 4-304 of the Local Government Code of Maryland (which governs
> > amendments to municipal charters) allows referendum only at the request
> > of the voters - the Council cannot initiate a binding referendum.
>
>
> Entire message, to ensure continuity
> \
>
> Hi Audrey,
>
> Thank you for your interest in this.  I'm happy to answer your questions
> for the current draft, but things may change because of feedback from
> the citizens and the Council.  I'll answer your questions after each one
> below.
>
> On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 6:24 PM, Audrey Bragg <abragg7393 at aol.com> wrote:
>
>     Just reading the Town Crier and Mayor's report regarding the change
> in the town government.  A professional manager will be in charge of the
> town instead of the Mayor.  I would like to hear what other residents
> have to say about this and I do have questions.
>     Will the CEO be required to live in the town?  I think this is very
> important.
>
>
> This is not in the current draft.  Greenbelt requires this of their City
> Manager, but I don't think that either College Park or Hyattsville (both
> of which have forms of government closer to the "Council-Manager" form
> than we do) require this.  I can check into that and get back to you if
> you're interested.
>
>
>     What are the education and experience requirements for the position?
>
>
> Currently full membership in good standing in the International City and
> County Manager's Association, which is a professional accreditation
> organization for managers of local governments.  They have stringent
> requirements including educational requirements, and are recognized
> around the world.
>
>
>     Why do we even need a Mayor if the CEO is in charge?  Why not just
> have a board?
>
>
> In a lot of ways the Mayor is just a member of the Council under the
> proposal, but he or she does have some additional responsibilities, and
> is elected to represent the whole Town and not just part of it.  As I
> said in my February Town Crier article about this change, in Greenbelt
> (the closest to a pure Council-Manager form of government near us) the
> Mayor is not directly elected.  The language from the current draft
> says: "The mayor shall be recognized as the head of the town government
> for all ceremonial purposes, by the court for serving civil process, and
> by the Governor for the purpose of military and emergency law."
>
>
>     Will the Mayor and Council be the only ones who decide this matter
> or will it go to referendum for a vote by the residents?
>
>
> Unless the citizens want a referendum, it will be decided by the
> Council. § 4-304 of the Local Government Code of Maryland (which governs
> amendments to municipal charters) allows referendum only at the request
> of the voters - the Council cannot initiate a binding referendum.
>
>
>     Who will the CEO be responsible to?  Can the council hire and fire?
>  Is the CEO elected or appointed by council?
>
>
> The Town Manager is hired and removed by the Town Council, and is
> responsible to them and to the law; the exact language is "serves at the
> pleasure of the Council" and means that the Town Manager can be removed
> for any reason (or no reason, if the Council decides so).  The current
> charter change draft has a specific process for removal of the Town
> Manager.
>
>
>     Do any of the other local towns do this and how does it work for them?
>
>
> College Park, Hyattsville, and Greenbelt all have City Managers, though
> the split in power between the Council, Mayor, and Town Manager in all
> three are different (and that split is still being adjusted in my draft,
> even before formally introducing it).  I would say that this system
> works well in all of those municipalities.
>
>
>     I think this is a very serious and important matter and I think the
> residents need to be involved and notified when we can review any
> legislation and ask questions and it should be well advertised so people
> are aware and know what's going on.
>
>
> I agree.  I wrote my long article on it in the February Town Crier,
> Mayor Archer wrote about it this month, and we can have up to 60 days
> after introduction to discuss it before we have to pass it reject it.
>
>
>     I would really like to hear the opinions and ideas and questions
> from the residents.
>
>
> Me too!
>
> Thanks again for writing, and I'd love to continue the discussion.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Alan
>
>
>
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-- 
Vernon Archer, Mayor
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland

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