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Jeffrey<br>
<br>
You are the one that injected your opinion into this discussion by
making the comment<br>
<br>
<div><b>"For the life of me, I don't understand where you got that.
He is BEGGING you to participate. So do it!"</b><b><br>
</b><br>
<br>
I guess that you are not concerned about the cable TV franchise
fees because you are not a resident of Riverdale Park.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
J. Holmes<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<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] Fwd: Re: Special Legislative Meeting
Agenda: March 17, 2014</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE" align="RIGHT">Date: </th>
<td>Mon, 17 Mar 2014 13:43:24 -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 suspect you are not really trying to do good. I think you
are guy looking for a fight. Nothing you have written has been
the least bit productive or logical. In fact, you have wasted
the people's money sparing an unnecessary investigation into
rates. You know, I know that little towns don't set rates for
the cable cabal. You are hiding behind your keyboard, firing
on people in public but not adding at all to the betterment of
the community. Shame on you. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I will have no further discussion with you. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Thanks for your understanding. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Jeffrey </div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
On Mon, Mar 17, 2014 at 12:23 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 text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> Jeffrey<br>
<br>
You avoided answering my question! Just like the Mayor
and Council has!
<div class=""><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>
</div>
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><br>
Dwight Holmes has brought up another concern: <br>
<div class="">
<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>
</div>
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>
<div class=""><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
J. Holmes<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>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 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 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> <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>
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<span>For more information about
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target="_blank">http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info</a></span><br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
</div>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
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To post to the list, send mail to <a
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For more information about Riverdale Park,
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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 moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:Jeffrey@YorkeRents.com"
target="_blank">Jeffrey@YorkeRents.com</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="tel:301-502-1243"
value="+13015021243" target="_blank">301-502-1243</a><br>
</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"
href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</a><br>
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href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</a>
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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>
<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>
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