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Jeffrey<br>
<br>
You avoided answering my question! Just like the Mayor and Council
has!<br>
<br>
<b>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)?</b><br>
<br>
As for reining in the cost for cable TV. Chapter 61-11 of the Town
Code gives the authority to do so.<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>§ 61-11. Acts beneficial to subscribers.</b><b><br>
</b><b>The town shall be empowered to include as part of any
franchise such terms and conditions as it deems beneficial to the
subscribers in the franchise area, including the regulation of
rates charged to such subscribers</b><br>
<div class="moz-forward-container"><br>
Dwight Holmes has brought up another concern: <br>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
Personally, I'm much more concerned about the impending merger
of Comcast with Time-Warner and its impact on rates. I hope
everyone lets their representatives know what they think of
that.</div>
<br>
<br>
I disagree with you about the need to only discuss issues at the
Town Meetings. This web site is funded by the Town and is the
perfect place for discussion of Town business. If it was only
used to locate lost pets and advertise exercise classes, I would
object that Town funds be allocated for the web site.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Does anyone have a copy of the proposed Ordinance 2014-OR-02?</b><b><br>
</b><br>
<br>
I hope the Council has not taken the position <b>You have to
Pass the Bill so that you can find out what's in it!</b><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
J. Holmes<br>
<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 11:24:01 -0400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">From: </th>
<td>Jeffrey Yorke <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:yorkedial@gmail.com"><yorkedial@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>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
<div dir="ltr">James,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I am glad you are participating. But expecting Town Council
to do business on Town Talk betrays a certain lack of
understanding of what this medium is all about. Sure, you can
initiate discussion here, but the real questions, probing and
discussion needs to be done in a public town meeting --
TONIGHT. You need to be there, in person, and participate. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Frankly, I don't there there are too many people who
disagree with you. Both Comcast, or Comcost as I like to call
them, and Verizon FiOS are way too expensive and are out of
control. If there is anyway that someone -- even government
can rein them in, let's see it happen. But it is hard.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I was a reporter covering communications on Capitol Hill
when Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was ranking member of the Senate
Commerce Committee. He and the committee tried desperately to
get the cable cabal to offer ala carte programming to
customers rather than huge, expensive packages. The cable cats
said it wasn't possible. When Sirius Satellite Radio wanted to
buy direct competitor XM Satellite Radio, Sen. Kohl (D-WI)
made the same request for ala carte programming to Sirius
Chairman Mel Karmazin. "No problem," said Karmazin and by the
next Senate hearing, the committee was presented with an
acceptable package. But it hasn't happened with cable yet and
Congress can't seem to get out of it's own way. And cable and
internet service aren't pressing issues nationally. That said,
the best weapon a Town like Riverdale Park has is not it's
Town Council but its citizens. Loud, focused, powerful
citizens. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Tonight, be there. You will be surprised how members of the
Council would love to have your energy working on this
problem. And I agree with you -- it is a problem. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Jeffrey </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 class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> 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>
<div>
<div class="h5"> <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"
value="+13015021243" target="_blank">(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 class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px
#ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
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-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Jessica
E. Barnes</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Town
Clerk</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Riverdale
Park</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">5008
Queensbury Road</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Riverdale
Park, MD 20737</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""><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-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="tel:301-927-6381"
value="+13019276381"
target="_blank">301-927-6381</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<br>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<br>
-- <br>
Vernon Archer, Mayor<br>
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland<br>
<br>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br>
<span>TownTalk mailing list</span><br>
<span>To post to the list, send mail to <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org"
target="_blank">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</a></span><br>
<span><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org"
target="_blank">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</a>
is for automated subscription processing only</span><br>
<span><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk"
target="_blank">http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk</a></span><br>
<span></span><br>
<span>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></span><br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
</div>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
TownTalk mailing list<br>
To post to the list, send mail to <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</a>
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>
<br>
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>
<br>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
<br clear="all">
<div><br>
</div>
-- <br>
Jeffrey Yorke<br>
Yorke Property Management, Inc.<br>
Yorke Partners<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Jeffrey@YorkeRents.com">Jeffrey@YorkeRents.com</a><br>
301-502-1243<br>
</div>
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