[RP TownTalk] Town Legislation and Transparency

[Heather Cronk]

Councilwoman Dixon --

Thanks so much for this overview. I've participated in one of the
legislative committee meetings and the most recent Council meeting -- and
have been really impressed with the willingness of councilmembers to offer
up those platforms (and many others) for feedback.

I've actually offered critique of the process in the opposite direction --
even leaving one committee meeting frustrated that there has been *so* much
process that it's been slow and laborious. Any claim that this legislation
is being pushed through without input is simply *very* far from the truth.

I look forward to seeing this proposal continue to move through the
legislative process, and am grateful for your leadership in shepherding it
through.

-Heather (Ward 1)



On Fri, Mar 30, 2018 at 12:50 PM Marsha D. <ehmteadee at gmail.com> wrote:

> Fellow residents --
>
>
>
> Though I generally tend to stay off of TownTalk as a councilperson and
> interact with this list primarily as a resident, it was brought to my
> attention that yesterday a resident posted to this list excerpts of a
> private email conversation between the two of us regarding a piece of
> legislation I have proposed. And while I have no issue at all with
> residents holding me accountable to my sworn duties as the elected
> representative of Ward 1, I do take issue with posting excerpts of a
> conversation in order to mislead residents of this town.
>
>
>
> One of my core values – both personally and in my role as councilmember
> is transparency – and I have done everything possible to move legislation
> regarding voter expansion through the governance process with 100%
> transparency. To email this list with portions of a conversation in order
> to make it appear that I have operated with anything other than full
> transparency is not simply a mischaracterization -- it's not aligned with a
> democratic process.
>
>
>
> I recognize that the resolution on voter expansion stirs up a plethora of
> emotions in Town residents. I have received feedback ranging from residents
> who are in full support to those who have been so angry that it has caused
> them to scream at me and point in my face. As a public figure, I have
> chosen to put myself in a position to listen to residents who may find my
> decision-making controversial at times. However, I implore everyone in this
> Town to maintain respect, honesty and integrity with in our correspondences
> — even, and maybe even especially, when we disagree.
>
>
>
> Over the past few months, I have made a concerted effort to ensure that
> full transparency has been provided in the proposal regarding voter
> expansion that is currently before the Council. In addition to notifying
> residents in various issues of the Town Crier, Town staff posted the
> Legislative Committee agendas publicly and I also tweeted to encourage
> residents to attend the committee meetings in order to provide feedback and
> ask questions about the resolution. I have used various mediums to receive
> feedback and answer questions from Town residents regarding the legislation
> -- including e-mail, phone calls, informal conversations at Town Center
> Market, and more. In fact, many residents have attended the meetings we've
> publicized and have offered feedback, and I have made alterations to the
> proposed legislation in accordance with that feedback.
>
>
>
> During the first Committee meeting, we spent hours discussing the
> legislation and listening to feedback from residents. To give legislative
> committee members and residents an opportunity to mull over and understand
> the legislation, the committee waited two weeks before holding its second
> meeting on the legislation. During the second meeting, residents were again
> given an opportunity to provide feedback to the committee members and have
> their questions answered -- which many residents also participated in. The
> proposed legislation was the only item on the meeting agenda and the
> meeting lasted over three hours. Minutes were taken at each of these
> meetings and I have made very clear to residents who have reached out to
> me, regardless of their position on the proposed legislation, how to access
> those minutes -- including to the resident who wrote this list yesterday,
> which he left out of his excerpts. At the most recent work session, the
> full Council heard feedback and answered additional questions from
> residents.
>
>
>
> I continue to encourage residents to provide feedback on the proposed
> resolution to councilmembers and ask for your patience in receiving a
> response. All councilmembers serve the Town in a *very* part-time
> capacity while balancing full-time jobs, family, and other commitments. But
> I know that all of my colleagues will agree that we will all respond as
> quickly as we're able, and will strive to be clear about the timeline for
> response that's realistic for us.
>
>
>
> I will continue to make myself available to residents who wish to offer
> feedback on this proposed legislation and on other Town matters. I continue
> to believe in this Town, and it continues to be an honor to serve on the
> Council.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Councilwoman Marsha Dixon
>
> -----------------------------------------------------
>
> Councilwoman Marsha Dixon, Esq.
>
> Riverdale Park, MD - Ward 1
>
> Phone: (301) 531-4230
>
> website: www.marsha4ward1.com | Twitter: @ <https://twitter.com/cbh726>
> marsha4ward1 | Facebook:  www.facebook.com/
> <http://hyattsvillelife.com/meet-the-2015-candidates/www.facebook.com/cbh.hvl>
> marsha4ward1
>
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