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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Thank you – this was a much more thoughtful response. I will try to address some of the comments as best as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>-the Town Council does officially adopt and does follow Robert’s Rules of Order. Please see item #1 from the June 6<sup>th</sup> 2011 meeting:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/June%206,%202011.pdf"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/June%206,%202011.pdf</span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>-I am unclear as to what you mean by that ‘the town charter has been altered.’ I do not have the history that you and Don have with the town or general area and would need clarification on this point before I could provide any kind of meaningful feedback or opinion. I guess my basic question would be what exists as it relates to meetings in the town charter do you disagree with? What do you feel needs improvement or attention in regards to meetings?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>-Although your comment concerning the last election results is more or less accurate (189 total votes) I am not sure what the relevance is. Riverdale Park has around 7000 residents though, not 3000 so the turnout was even worse than the proffered numbers. Although I wish everyone turned out on election day and cast a ballot (just as I wish people would turn out to meetings and offer opinions etc.) they did not. This is a problem that happens at every level of government and I am not sure anyone has found the panacea. I assume given how active Don and yourself have been in town and with organizations that you guys both voted. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Can you provide some clarification on what the connection is between personal decisions of registered voters to come vote and the interest of elected officials in the opinions of citizens? For two of us we had not held elected office before voting day so even running meant by definition that we were willing to take a chance on seeing what the opinions of citizens concerning our capacity to serve. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>-I am not sure there is a good response that would satisfy the comments that elected officials do not meet with the people in their wards, walk the streets, or hear from the people. I am not sure what this relates to. Did I make you or Don feel that way when I was elected? Was there something specific I did or said that I or someone else did or said that caused you to feel that way? I see a majority of my colleagues at most major town events be they the Easter egg hunt, weekly farmer’s markets, or the Holiday Market. I do think there is a point you are trying to make here that some citizenry may want more personal attention. It is a valid request and as you know I have an open door policy and if anyone in town (be they in my Ward or not) wants to meet with me I am happy to try to carve out the time. I hope you have always felt welcome to write me, talk to me, or call. If there are specific things it would be completely appropriate for you to address them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I will hazard a guess here (please correct me if I am off base) and suspect that some of the comments have to do with the fact that from time to time we elected to go into closed session. I realize any time a body elects this option rumors swirl around and conspiracy theories spring up. These in the last 12 months have only happened as measures of last resort. At times, when discussing negotiating strategy etc. the Council has had no choice but to go into them. There were sensitive pieces of information that had to be discussed (such as what was our bottom-line walk-away position) that would have been foolish to make public. Once an item is in the public domain it means everyone gets the information . Why bother negotiating at that point. So there are two options. Many bodies will avoid violating the Open Meetings Act by only having discussions with one person less than a quorum. OR you can do what we did which was to fully advertise why we were having private conversations, just not releasing the tenet of those conversations. Either way the conversations do not happen in full public view, nor can they without significant detrimental impacts to taxpayers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I will say this much and take it for what it is worth, on one hand some in the community felt that the Council (especially myself) was abrasive to the Cafritz team, yet in other postings you read that the Council handed the vote over to their team and this was all a done deal. How can one reality have such very different viewpoints? I don’t know but it makes serving a myriad of people incredibly difficult, frustrating, yet also at times exceptionally rewarding. That situation however, is what keeps people from stepping up to run. You have to be willing to be tugged at by two opposite viewpoints yet able to navigate a path forward that alienates neither. It is the toughest job I have ever had.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Jonathan Ebbeler<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Melissa Avery [mailto:m.avery@rocketmail.com] <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 11, 2012 2:50 PM<br><b>To:</b> barrett740@yahoo.com; jebbeler@efusionconsulting.com; towntalk@riverdale-park.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RP TownTalk] Cafritz Vote<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>In my experiences the town government is a closed society, not particularly interested in the opinion of the citizens. the entirety elected by less than 200 citizens out of a citizenry of close to 3000. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The council people do not meet with the people in there wards, walk the streets of there wards or particularly want to hear from the people who live in there wards.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The town charter has been altered to state they can conduct town meetings in any way they see fit, rather than following Roberts Rules of Order which is the accepted norm.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><div><div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><hr size=1 width="100%" align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> "<a href="mailto:barrett740@yahoo.com">barrett740@yahoo.com</a>" <<a href="mailto:barrett740@yahoo.com">barrett740@yahoo.com</a>><br><b>To:</b> Melissa Avery <<a href="mailto:m.avery@rocketmail.com">m.avery@rocketmail.com</a>>; "<a href="mailto:jebbeler@efusionconsulting.com">jebbeler@efusionconsulting.com</a>" <<a href="mailto:jebbeler@efusionconsulting.com">jebbeler@efusionconsulting.com</a>>; "<a href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a>" <<a href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 11, 2012 2:11 PM<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RP TownTalk] Cafritz Vote</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><div id=yiv1089585398><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>That is not very responsive. I too am interested in differing perspectives and was looking forward to a more thoughtful response. Kirsten<br><br></span><i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333'>Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless</span></i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><br><br>-----Original message-----<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>From: </span></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Melissa Avery <<a href="mailto:m.avery@rocketmail.com">m.avery@rocketmail.com</a>><b><br>To: </b>"<a href="mailto:jebbeler@efusionconsulting.com">jebbeler@efusionconsulting.com</a>" <<a href="mailto:jebbeler@efusionconsulting.com">jebbeler@efusionconsulting.com</a>>, "<a href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a>" <<a href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a>><b><br>Sent: </b>Wed, Jul 11, 2012 17:31:06 GMT+00:00<b><br>Subject: </b>Re: [RP TownTalk] Cafritz Vote<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></body></html>