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Mayor Archer<br>
<br>
I never received a copy of the report. Can you send me a copy, or
do I need to file a MPIA request?<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
J. Holmes<br>
<div class="moz-forward-container"><br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------
<table class="moz-email-headers-table" cellpadding="0"
cellspacing="0" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">Subject:
</th>
<td>Re: [RP TownTalk] Special Legislative Meeting Agenda:
March 17, 2014</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">Date: </th>
<td>Mon, 17 Mar 2014 13:44:21 -0400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">From: </th>
<td>Vernon Archer <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:varcher@gmail.com"><varcher@gmail.com></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">To: </th>
<td>James D. Holmes <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:jdholmes@comcast.net"><jdholmes@comcast.net></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">CC: </th>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org"><towntalk@riverdale-park.org></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
<div dir="ltr">
<div>James, </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I'm fine with disagreeing with you about whether or not the
town needs a separate Cable Review Committee. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Regarding a "report" you know full well a report was
provided to you on the issue you brought to us.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I am now done with this email exchange and renew my
invitation to you to come to the council meetings and present
your arguments, concerns or questions to the Town Council. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Sincerely,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Vernon Archer</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Mar 17, 2014 at 1:03 PM, James
D. Holmes <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jdholmes@comcast.net" target="_blank">jdholmes@comcast.net</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"> Mayor Archer<br>
<br>
The reason I keep bringing up this issue is because the
lack of leadership by you and the Council in addressing
the need for a Cable TV Franchise Committee. Prince
George's County and several other Municipalities have
one. Over the past 10 years, the Town has collected
approximately $500.000 in franchise fees. What has the
Town done with this money.<br>
<br>
If you believe that all my assertions are false, why has
the Town refused to provide financial documents that are
not redacted (see attachment). Was a report issued on my
complaint. I would like to read the findings.<br>
<br>
You are misleading the residents about the 5% franchise
fee. The 5% franchise fee is not only on the subscriber's
cable TV selection, it includes other revenues, (see
below) even if the resident did not select or purchase the
additional service.<br>
<br>
Expanded Basic Video Services<br>
Limited Basic Video Service<br>
Digital Video Service<br>
Pay<br>
PPV/VOD<br>
Video Equipment<br>
Digital Video Equipment<br>
Video Installation/Activation<br>
Franchise Fee<br>
PEG Fee<br>
Other<br>
Late Fee<br>
Write-off/Recoveries<br>
Add Sales<br>
Home Shopping Commissions<br>
<br>
<div><br>
When you add the fees from the listed services, the 5%
franchise fee could increase to 6.5% of the cable TV
bill.
<div><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
J. Holmes<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message -------- </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">Subject: </th>
<td>[RP TownTalk] Fwd: Special Legislative Meeting
Agenda: March 17, 2014</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">Date: </th>
<td>Mon, 17 Mar 2014 12:18:10 -0400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">From: </th>
<td>Vernon Archer <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:varcher@gmail.com"
target="_blank"><varcher@gmail.com></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">To: </th>
<td>TownTalk <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org"
target="_blank"><TownTalk@riverdale-park.org></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div>
<div class="h5"> <br>
<br>
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>James and anyone interested in rehashing
this issue for the 5th or 6th time:</div>
<div> </div>
<div>1. The Town Council acts as its own cable
review body which is its right. Most
municipalities follow this model, and the
three administrations preceding my own lead
by Mayors Ferguson, Herman and <span>Tiberio</span>
also followed this model. In my 9 years of
service the only documented complaint has
come from you James. It therefore seems that
asking volunteers to staff a separate review
board is not warranted. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Your assertion that residents don't have
representation and a review process is
patently false. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>2. As you know the town has investigated
your assertion that <span>Comcast</span> is
over billing customers on franchise fee.
Based on a lengthy and thorough
investigation of facts we are satisfied that
<span>Comcast</span> is charging 5% through
the process defined by the Federal
Communications Commission. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Your assertion that customers of <span>Comcast</span>
and Verizon pay different rates is false.
Your assertion that <span>Comcast</span>
customers pay more than 5% is also false.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>3. The town as franchise granter does not
control rates. Just like individual
subscribers we can either say yes to the
service and the price presented or no. By
saying yes to the cable provider, in this
case <span>Comcast</span>, then every
resident in Riverdale Park gets to make up
their own mind whether to subscribe to a
cable service or not. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Your assertion that the town can control
or even significantly influence cable rates
is false.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Finally, your last statement asking the
council to in effect hold a discussion on an
email list is highly inappropriate. The
Maryland Open Meetings Act clearly defines
where and how public business is to be
discussed and acted upon. Such business is
to be handled in an open meeting not on a
chat list.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In that vein the meeting that was
scheduled for tonight has been cancelled do
to the weather and will be rescheduled.
Official announcement will be forthcoming as
to the date and time after I hear back about
the availability of the council members, but
I expect the meeting will be held next
Monday the 24th at 7:30 PM. The actual
discussion and vote on "Emergency Ordinance
2014-OR-02 to amend the franchise agreement
with <span>Comcast</span> of Maryland" will
likely take place on March 31 in Special
Legislative Meeting. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Sincerely,</div>
<span><font color="#888888">
<div> </div>
<div>Vernon Archer</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</font></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Mar 17,
2014 at 10:30 AM, James D. Holmes <span
dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jdholmes@comcast.net"
target="_blank">jdholmes@comcast.net</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote 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"
class="gmail_quote">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
Jeffrey<br>
<br>
I am participating. I have asked
several questions that our elected
officials refuse to answer. I have
requested that the Mayor create a
Riverdale Park Cable TV Franchise
Committee to represent the
residents. He refuses! The Town
collected approximately $50.000 in
franchise fees last year, yet the
residents have no
representation/protection from the
undue rate increases from the cable
TV companies.<br>
<br>
Do you think it is fair that
residents of Riverdale Park pay a
different amount for the Cable TV
Franchise Fee depending on who they
subscribe to (Comcast or Verizon)?<br>
<br>
This issue needs to be discussed. <br>
<br>
Let's see if anyone from the Council
will join in on this discussion.<br>
<br>
<br>
J. Holmes<br>
<div><br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------
<table cellpadding="0"
cellspacing="0" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">Subject: </th>
<td>Re: [RP TownTalk] Fwd:
Re: [RP Town Announce]
Special Legislative
Meeting Agenda: March 17,
2014</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">Date: </th>
<td>Sun, 16 Mar 2014
19:07:00 -0400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">From: </th>
<td>Jeffrey Yorke <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:yorkedial@gmail.com"
target="_blank"><yorkedial@gmail.com></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">To: </th>
<td>James D. Holmes <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jdholmes@comcast.net"
target="_blank"><jdholmes@comcast.net></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
<div>For the life of me, I don't
understand where you got that.
He is BEGGING you to
participate.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>So do it!</div>
<div><br>
Jeffrey Yorke
<div>Yorke Partners</div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:Yorkedial@gmail.com"
target="_blank">Yorkedial@gmail.com</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:Jeffrey@YorkeRents.com"
target="_blank">Jeffrey@YorkeRents.com</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="tel:%28301%29%20502-1243"
target="_blank"
value="+13015021243">(301)
502-1243</a></div>
</div>
<div><br>
On Mar 16, 2014, at 7:01 PM,
"James D. Holmes" <<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jdholmes@comcast.net"
target="_blank">jdholmes@comcast.net</a>>
wrote:<br>
<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div> Mayor Archer<br>
<br>
Are you stating that my listed
concerns will not be addressed
by the Council unless I appear
at the meeting tomorrow night?<br>
<br>
<br>
J. Holmes<br>
<br>
<br>
<div><br>
<br>
-------- Original Message
--------
<table cellpadding="0"
cellspacing="0" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">Subject:
</th>
<td>Re: [RP Town
Announce] Special
Legislative Meeting
Agenda: March 17,
2014</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">Date:
</th>
<td>Sun, 16 Mar 2014
18:51:05 -0400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">From:
</th>
<td>Vernon Archer <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:varcher@gmail.com" target="_blank"><varcher@gmail.com></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">To: </th>
<td>James D. Holmes <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:jdholmes@comcast.net"
target="_blank"><jdholmes@comcast.net></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE"
align="RIGHT">CC: </th>
<td><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a>
<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank"><towntalk@riverdale-park.org></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
Greetings James,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The emergency ordinance
is being introduced to
extend the existing
franchise agreement until
the ongoing negotiations
are completed. The town
is acting in good faith to
insure that all cable
customers are able to
continue their existing
service. It</div>
<div>is expected that the
results of the ongoing
negotiations will produce
a new agreement that will
maintain or improve the
existing service.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>We will be discussing
this matter tomorrow night
at the council meeting and
I as always welcome you
and all residents to bring
your questions and
comments to the council.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Best wishes,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Vern<br>
<div><br>
On Sunday, March 16,
2014, James D. Holmes
<<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jdholmes@comcast.net" target="_blank">jdholmes@comcast.net</a>>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote
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"
class="gmail_quote">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
text="#000000">
Mayor Archer<br>
<br>
I am reading the
agenda for Special
Legislative Meeting
for Monday March 17,
2014 and noticed
that the following
Legislative Action
Item.<br>
<br>
3. Introduction
of <b>Emergency
Ordinance
2014-OR-02</b> to
amend the franchise
agreement with
Comcast of Maryland.<br>
<br>
<br>
Why is the Town
introducing an <b>Emergency
Ordinance</b> to
amend the franchise
agreement with
Comcast of
Maryland? The Town
had posted a notice
in March 2012 under
Resolution 2012-R-02
to participate in
joint negotiations
with other Prince
George's County and
municipalities for
the renewal of the
Town's cable
franchise with
Comcast.<br>
<br>
If you had appointed
a Riverdale Park
Cable TV Franchise
Committee to oversee
the renewal of this
contract, there
would be no need to
introduce an <b>Emergency
Ordinance</b> to
prevent the current
contract from
expiring on April 5,
2014.<br>
<br>
Additionally, is the
Town planning to
correct a problem
with the unequal
franchise fees being
collected between
Comcast and Verizon?<br>
<br>
Comcast has
collected up to <b>6.5%</b>
of the Cable TV Bill
vs. Verizon
collecting <b>5% </b>.<br>
<br>
The Riverdale Park
Franchise Fee should
be set at a maximum
5% flat fee for the
Cable TV portion of
the monthly bill.
No other fees should
be added.<br>
<br>
Over the past 10
years, Comcast has
increased the Cable
TV charges over <b>88%</b>.
What has the Town
done to protect the
residents from these
unjustified
increases?<br>
<br>
<br>
J. Holmes<br>
<br>
<br>
<div><br>
<br>
-------- Original
Message --------
<table
cellpadding="0"
cellspacing="0"
border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th
nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">Subject: </th>
<td>[RP
TownTalk]
Special
Legislative
Meeting
Agenda: March
17, 2014</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th
nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">Date: </th>
<td>Fri, 14
Mar 2014
12:10:25 -0400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th
nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">From: </th>
<td>Jessica
Barnes <a
moz-do-not-send="true"><jbarnes@riverdaleparkmd.gov></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th
nowrap="nowrap"
valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">To: </th>
<td><a
moz-do-not-send="true"><townannounce@riverdale-park.org></a>,
<a
moz-do-not-send="true"><towntalk@riverdale-park.org></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b>Town
of Riverdale
Park</b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b>Special
Legislative
Meeting </b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b>March
17, 2014</b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b>8:00
p.m.</b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b>AGENDA</b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b>Call
to Order</b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b>Approval
of Agenda</b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b>Public
Comments on
Non-Agenda
Items</b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b>Legislative
Action Items:</b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<ol
style="margin-top:0in"
start="1"
type="1">
<li
class="MsoNormal">Motion
to reject bid
response to
the Town of
Riverdale Park
RFP for the
Town Hall
Addition
project</li>
</ol>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<ol
style="margin-top:0in"
start="2"
type="1">
<li
class="MsoNormal">Motion
to waive bid
requirements
and award a
contract to
McInturff
Architects in
the amount of
$127,000 for
schematic
design of Town
Hall</li>
</ol>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<ol
style="margin-top:0in"
start="3"
type="1">
<li
class="MsoNormal">Introduction
of Emergency
Ordinance
2014-OR-02 to
amend the
franchise
agreement with
Comcast of
Maryland</li>
</ol>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b>New
Business </b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b>Unfinished
Business </b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b>Adjournment
</b></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span>Jessica</span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">Jessica
E. Barnes</span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">Town
Clerk</span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">Riverdale
Park</span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">5008
Queensbury
Road</span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">Riverdale
Park, MD 20737</span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/"
target="_blank">www.riverdaleparkmd.info</a></span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="tel:301-927-6381" target="_blank"
value="+13019276381">301-927-6381</a></span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<br>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<span><font color="#888888">
<br>
-- <br>
Vernon Archer, Mayor<br>
Town of Riverdale Park,
Maryland<br>
<br>
</font></span></div>
<span><font color="#888888"> <br>
</font></span></div>
<span><font color="#888888"> </font></span></blockquote>
<span><font color="#888888">
<blockquote type="cite">
<div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br>
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<span></span><br>
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visit <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info" target="_blank">http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info</a></span><br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
</font></span></div>
<br>
</div>
<br>
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To post to the list, send mail to <a
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<br>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
<br clear="all">
<br>
-- <br>
Vernon Archer, Mayor<br>
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<br clear="all">
<br>
-- <br>
Vernon Archer, Mayor<br>
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland </div>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
</div>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
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To post to the list, send mail to <a moz-do-not-send="true"
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is for automated subscription processing only<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk"
target="_blank">http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk</a><br>
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For more information about Riverdale Park, visit <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info" target="_blank">http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info</a><br>
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-- <br>
Vernon Archer, Mayor<br>
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
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