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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sorry, I ment to send this to towntalk but didn't
realize it was from Rob Oppenhein. I only send it now because I have mentioned
it to several people and they were looking for it. </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Gerald@geraldking.com href="mailto:Gerald@geraldking.com">Gerald
King</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=oppenheim@email.com
href="mailto:oppenheim@email.com">Rob Oppenheim</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, December 02, 2006 10:27
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RP TownTalk] Mayor and
Council Salaries</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I hear you man. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial size=3>We do need a visionary council.
We do need to attract and keep good people</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>on the council in order to create a better town.
The problem is, I am told by many astute members of this list that our budget
is already strained and cut backs in services are inevitable unless we
increase our taxes. I'm told that police protection has been curtailed, trash
removal is strained, and the little suggestions by naive citizens for social
interaction are pipe dreams. All the past creative methods of selling off our
parkland, allowing the destruction of a historic landmark dedicated by
the late Gladis Spellman, encouraging high-rise high density housing at a
major railroad crossing, selling off the town center to a slum
lord who has destroyed an invaluable populous community center that
initiated many of the social programs that stimulated volunteerism
and served as the headquarters for activating the naive citizen's
pipe dreams. </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3>I'm sure there have been many
'creative methods' suggested and even secretly or quietly implemented
by our town government, but I'm told, by those who know more than I, not
to expect any reversal in the erosion of our life styles unless we raise
taxes, sell off more parkland and attract more creative town
council members by 'first' raising the salaries of the present
members of the council. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV>With all do respect, Mr. Oppenheim, I would vote to raise your
salary anytime; but where is this additional money to come
from? The tax and spend philosophy is not to my liking. The spend and tax
philosophy is even worse. I know my opinion is based on ignorance of
politics and government I'll be interested in this tread.</DIV>
<DIV>Gerald King </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV></FONT>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=oppenheim@email.com href="mailto:oppenheim@email.com">Rob
Oppenheim</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=towntalk@riverdale-park.org
href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, December 02, 2006 5:18
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RP TownTalk] Mayor and
Council Salaries</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>This Monday evening (12/4/06) the council will
vote to change its salary </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>to $300/month ($600 for mayor).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Salaries for towns about our size in Maryland
average much more - </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>$600/month for council members and $1000 for
mayor. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>( <A
href="http://riverdale-park.org/pipermail/towntalk/2006-September/000901.html">http://riverdale-park.org/pipermail/towntalk/2006-September/000901.html</A>
)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Is that too much for Riverdale Park?
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>About 30 towns also pay insurance benefits to
council members in </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>addition to a salary. We do not.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>We need a visionary council. We need to attract
and keep good people</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>on the council in order to create a better
town. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>I spend 60 hours a month on council work. To do
so, I cut back on </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>paid work, which is forcing me to dip into
savings. Ouch. Can't keep </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>doing that, so I am cutting back on the time
spent, yet it pains me to </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>put off addressing so many pressing
problems.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><B><FONT face=Arial size=3>Do you think that our council should be paid
the same as other </FONT></B></DIV>
<DIV><B><FONT face=Arial size=3>towns our size, that is, $600/month?
</FONT></B></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Too much?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Please let us hear from you. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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