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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 class="moz-forward-container"><br>
When you add the fees from the listed services, the 5% franchise
fee could increase to 6.5% of the cable TV bill.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
J. Holmes<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------
<table class="moz-email-headers-table" cellpadding="0"
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<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 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>TownTalk <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 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 class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
<div> </div>
<div>Vernon Archer</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</font></span></div>
<div class="HOEnZb">
<div class="h5">
<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 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>
<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 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-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>
<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>
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href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org"
target="_blank">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</a>
is for automated subscription
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<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>
</font></span></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"
target="_blank">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org"
target="_blank">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</a>
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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">
<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>
<br>
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