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I agree with Vernon and would much prefer a green space or garden welcoming people to Riverdale Park over a Dunkin Donuts or other national junk food outlet. <br><span></span><br><span></span>Hyattsville was successful getting local chains to open at EYA. I think if Jey would partner up with an area restaurant (Chef Geoff's, Matchbox, Shilla Bakery) or a home goods or outdoor store he would get more support from the town. <br><span></span><br><span></span>If he is intent on an automotive business, how about an electric car charging station with a solar roof, Smart Car rental, and Capital Bikeshare with a coffee shop? Did I just give my new business idea away for free?<br><span></span><br><span></span>Andrew <br><span></span>Ravenswood Rd. <br>
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<span lang="EN-US" data-win-res="{textContent: 'str_replyfwd_from'}">From:</span> <span data-win-bind="textContent: from.name">Dwight Holmes</span> <<span data-win-bind="textContent: from.email">dwightrholmes@gmail.com</span>><br>
<span lang="EN-US" data-win-res="{textContent: 'str_replyfwd_sent'}">Sent:</span> <span data-win-bind="textContent: receivedDate Yahoo.Mail.Presentation.Draft.formatOriginalSentDate">March 4, 2013 6:05 AM</span><br>
<span lang="EN-US" data-win-res="{textContent: 'str_replyfwd_to'}">To:</span> <span data-win-bind="innerHTML: to Yahoo.Mail.Presentation.Draft.formatRecipientsForOriginalMessage">Melissa Avery <<span>m.avery@rocketmail.com</span>></span><br>
<span data-win-bind="innerHTML: cc Yahoo.Mail.Presentation.Draft.formatCCForOriginalMessage">CC: TownTalk <<span>TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</span>><br></span>
<span lang="EN-US" data-win-res="{textContent: 'str_replyfwd_subject'}">Subject:</span> <span data-win-bind="textContent: subject">Re: [RP TownTalk] Does Riverdale Park have a bright future to look forward to?</span><br>
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A very timely thought, Melissa... The election will be held on May 6th, which is 9 weeks from today.<br><br>The town's policy on <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1362406348_0">electioneering</span> and this email list is as follows - note that 'electioneering season', if one can call it that, kicks in 60 days prior to the election - by my count, that would mean the day after tomorrow, March 6th:<br>
<br><pre><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><font>Email List Electioneering Policy
Electioneering shall be prohibited on any e-mail list supported by the
Town of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1362406348_1">Riverdale Park</span>. For these e-mail lists, electioneering is
defined as an attempt to influence how people will vote on a ballot
issue or candidate in an upcoming election. Electioneering on the
e-mail lists shall only be regulated for sixty days before an
election. The e-mail list administrator shall ensure that
electioneering does not occur. The list administrator has the
authority to delegate their responsibility for administering policy.
List members who wish to appeal decisions under this policy shall
appeal decisions to the list administrator. An appeal of the list
administrator's decision can be made to the town administrator. The
decision of the town administrator is final.
The list administrator or town staff will post information pertaining
to the election to the Town's official website and do so in
conjunction with the public posting of the notice of candidates. This
posting shall include the full list of candidates whose qualifications
have been verified by the judges of election in accordance with §29-12
of the Riverdale Park Town Code. The posting on the Town website shall
include a candidate's name and street address. In addition, if
provided by the candidate, contact information will be included in the
posting. Contact information is limited to a telephone number, an
e-mail address, and a web site address. A notice will be posted to
Town Announce stating the availability of this information.
The above resolution was passed by the Town of Riverdale Park council
on April 2, 2007.</font></span></span></span></pre><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 6:50 AM, Melissa Avery <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:m.avery@rocketmail.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1362406348_2">m.avery@rocketmail.com</span></a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div><span><font size="3">Sounds like a political speech. I though </font>electioneering<font size="3"> was forbidden on town talk....</font></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr"> <font face="Arial"> <hr size="1"> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Vernon Archer <<a href="mailto:varcher@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1362406348_3">varcher@gmail.com</span></a>><br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> TownTalk <<a href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1362406348_4">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</span></a>> <br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Sunday, March 3, 2013 9:55 PM<br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [RP TownTalk] Does
Riverdale Park have a bright future to look forward to?<br> </font> </div><div><div class="h5"> <br>
<div><div>Friends and neighbors,</div><div> </div><div>I've been trying to catch up on some of the postings from the last 36 hours, and I must admit I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. So before I even start to wade through some of the assertions about the issues that lay before us as a town I want to say this, I <b><i><u>believe that Riverdale Park has an incredibly bright future to look forward to</u></i></b>. You will of course make up your own mind about whether my optimism is warranted or not, but lets look at the facts and I'll share some opinions based on the facts.</div>
<div> </div><div>First, there are some who suggest that the town faces a financial crisis because the residential property tax assessments have declined; however, it is important to look at the whole range of tax assessments not just the residential numbers. When you look at the whole picture you will see that this years "Net Assessable Real Property Base" increased a modest .6%. While this is not a fabulous increase, it is certainly not the catastrophe that doom sayers have been arguing. Staff will post both 2012 and 2013 state "Constant Yield Tax Rate Certification" reports on our web site so you can compare for yourself. </div>
<div> </div><div>As I suggested in my report of January (you can find it in the Crier <a href="http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/Feb%202013%20Crier.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1362406348_5">http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/Feb%202013%20Crier.pdf</span></a> ) the positive news about surpluses from previous years significantly outweigh the modest assessment numbers for 2013. Since writing this report almost two months ago I am all the more confident that we are in solid financial shape based on the current year because I now know with certainty that the overall assessment is up, and not the catastrophic collapse that some were predicting. </div>
<div> </div><div>Thus, the town is in GREAT FINANCIAL SHAPE, and will likely continue as such despite the outcry by an alarmist or two. </div><div> And yes, most residential property owners will see a reduction in their tax bill for town taxes. </div>
<div> </div><div>I also want to make sure you are informed about the state of the town's debt. Riverdale Park has the lowest debt ceiling, as a percentage of the gross value of its real estate base, in the state of Maryland. We are not allowed to borrow in excess of 2% of the total value of all real estate in our town. How much do we currently have outstanding? Less than 1/2 of 1%. The facts show that the council and I have been very cautious in borrowing money. </div>
<div> </div><div>Should both of the current items under discussion by this group go forward (the youth and community expansion to Town Hall and the taking of Jay's property) the town will be indebted to approximately 1% of the total value of all real estate in town. You could also say the town will be utilizing about 1/2 of its total borrowing authority, which again is the most restrictive in the state of Maryland. </div>
<div> </div><div>One last thing I would like to share on the topic of town borrowing. Over the last 3 years we have shifted to a new pay as you go program for capital expenditures for medium term durable goods. That is to say items like police cars, building repairs and information technology investments are now paid off in the year we acquire them, and not financed out over multiple years. This new practice makes the town more able to focus its borrowing authority on big ticket items like major building renovations and the purchase of strategic properties. </div>
<div> </div><div>The youth and community expansion to Town Hall is another matter where some clarification is needed. First and foremost, it is not a new "center" but an addition to Town Hall. Nor is it being put forward with the expectation of hiring new staff in order to utilize it. When doing the needs evaluation it was clear that there are multiple organizations in our region that desire space to run programs for young people. We have been approached by organizations such as 4H, Boy Scouts and the University among others who will gladly do programs if we can just provide the space. As a growing and thriving community, I, the council, and many in the broader community have concluded that the Town Hall must grow too to meet the needs to our residents. </div>
<div> </div><div>Lastly (for this evening at least), as the elected official who has worked to see "Jay's" rejuvenated the longest I am also probably the most exasperated in trying to deal with the property owner. Virtually my entire time in office, creeping up on 8 years now, I have worked with this property owner to bring a renewal to the corner, but to no avail. Most of that time has also been spent in constant struggle to see the property be kept up to a minimal state of safety and cleanliness. </div>
<div> </div><div>Before going forward, there is an important item that has been overlooked in the discussions of the last few days. The Jey's property is THE ENTRY POINT TO OUR TOWN! How do you want our town to be seen to every single driver going up and down Route One? Clearly most of us do not want to be identified with a white box on decaying asphalt. The MUTC zoning design calls for the construction of a signature structure to mark the entry to Riverdale Park. RIVERDALE PARK IS SOMEPLACE! and the entry point to our town should say that. </div>
<div> </div><div>That being clarified, I have worked for almost 8 years to have Jey create an acceptable entry point to our town, but every single plan, assertion, and promise has lead to nothing. Now most recently he promised before the RBA a couple of months back that he had a lease all but done to bring in a Dunkin Donuts! But to do date he still has not produced any evidence of a lease. And if he did, would that be your idea of a welcome to Riverdale Park sign? Dunkin Donuts? Now you are someplace? Well, I for one want and expect more. A LOT MORE!</div>
<div> </div><div>The gateway to Riverdale Park needs to say YOU ARE SOMEWHERE! We the residents of this town deserve better and I for one will not again grant Jey another chance. We shall take this property, give the owner fair market compensation, and make this entry point to our town into a pocket park with noteworthy public art or find a developer who will give us a signature building that will say loud and clear:</div>
<div> </div><div>"You are in Riverdale Park! Someplace!"</div><div> </div><div>LOOK CLOSE! you are in the town where our residents property taxes are going to fall and yet the town finances are in order and all despite the Great Recession; our Town Hall is being rebuilt and expanded to nurture and welcome future generations to a fabulous community; our economy and street scape is being rebuilt to show the pride we have in ourselves; top notch retailers like Whole Foods want to locate here; and oh ya, crime is declining to the lowest levels in years. </div>
<div> </div><div>Good night and God bless,</div><div> </div><div>Vernon Archer, Mayor</div><div>Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland</div>
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