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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Melissa – <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There is not a day that goes by that I do not forget that I am elected by the people and work for all the residents in town (whether they vote or not) and have a responsibility to live up to my oath of office. I believe if you came to one of the meetings in which the Cafritz team was presenting you would see a highly-engaged Council that is asking tough questions and negotiating in the town’s best interest. Given that I live ˝ block from the RR tracks it is impossible not to notice the constant horn and vibration of the house and agree that in the future we should expect to see more, not less, train traffic.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you feel that we as a Council are not doing our jobs or adequately representing the Town there is a straightforward recourse in 1.5 years during the next election cycle. There is a more expedient course of action however, as provided by our Town Code and Charter, that I will list out for you at the bottom of this email. I do not believe this project will be creating an ordinance as part of our comments to MNCPPC/County Council. The good news is that leaves Section 2-2 of the Town Code regarding Action on Petitions (if you had specific action for the Council to consider) which requires much less work on your part (10% of registered voters vs. 20%). Section 803 of the Town Charter does specify the Council’s power as to public ways and if you wanted to change this it would invoke the Section 211 20% Referendum requirement.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>More importantly, I am always up for suggestions for improvement if you feel that I specifically am not living up to my sworn duty as your representative. Please keep in mind I represent many constituents with a myriad of opinions. Regardless of what position I support and vote for, I am always in a position of not representing the needs and desires of at least some portion of that constituency. I have tried to reach out, including holding an open house at the Kelly house last week (thanks again Kate and Joe for your hospitality) for residents in the most immediately impacted section of Ward 1 to have one-on-one time with me. I am happy to do this again or for any group of citizens.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>§ 2-2. Action on petitions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Any petition bearing the signatures of bona fide residents of the Town of Riverdale Park equal to at least ten (10%) of the number of registered voters in the town shall be acted upon by the Council at the meeting at which it is presented. If any member of the Council believes the petition has merit enough to warrant further Council deliberation, action may be taken to refer it to a standing or regular committee or to a special committee or to table it to a committee or table it to the next meeting or to a special meeting. In any event, decisive action must be taken at the next regular Council meeting. Under no circumstances shall such a petition be construed to be a demand, request, or pressure for the recall of an elected official.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>And<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>§ 211: Referendum<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>If, before the expiration of twenty (20) calendar days following approval of any ordinance by the council, a petition is filed with the town administrator, or the mayor in the town administrator's absence, or the vice-chairman of the council in the mayor's absence, containing the signatures of not less than twenty percent (20%) of the total number of qualified voters of the town as reflected in the universal voter registration totals for the town on the date of the approval of the ordinance and requesting that the ordinance or any part thereof be submitted to a vote of the qualified voters of the town for their approval or disapproval, the council shall have the ordinance, or the part thereof requested for referendum, submitted to a vote of the qualified voters of the town at the next regular town election or, in the council's discretion, at a special election occurring before the next regular election.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>No ordinance, or part thereof requested for referendum, shall become effective following the receipt of such petition unless and until approved at the election by a majority of the qualified voters of the town voting on the question. An emergency ordinance, or the part thereof requested for referendum, shall continue in effect for sixty (60) days following receipt of such petition. If the question of approval or disapproval of any emergency ordinance or any part thereof has not been submitted to the qualified voters of the town within sixty (60) days following receipt of the petition, the effect of the ordinance, or the part thereof requested for referendum, shall be suspended until approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the town voting on the question at any election. Any ordinance or part thereof disapproved by the voters shall stand repealed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>And <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>§ 803: Town Powers as to Public Ways<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(a) Establish, regulate, and change from time to time the grade lines, width, and construction materials of any town public way or part thereof, bridges, curbs, and gutters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(b) Grade, lay out, construct, open, extend, and make new town public ways.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(c) Grade, straighten, widen, alter, improve, or close up any existing town public way or part thereof.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(d) Pave, surface, repave, or resurface any town public way or part thereof.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(e) Install, construct, reconstruct, repair, and maintain curbs and/or gutters along any town public way or part thereof.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(f) Construct, reconstruct, maintain, and repair bridges.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(g) Name town public ways, except as covered by other agencies of the state.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(h) Have surveys, plans, specifications, and estimates made for any of the above activities or projects or parts thereof.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(i) Close, abandon, or restrict access to any town public way or part thereof.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Jonathan<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Jonathan W. Ebbeler<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>4711 Oliver Street<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Councilmember – Ward One</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>