<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"><u></u> </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 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 border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
        <tbody>
          <tr>
            <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">Subject:
            </th>
            <td>Re: [RP TownTalk] Fwd: Re: [RP Town Announce] Special
              Legislative Meeting Agenda: March 17, 2014</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">Date: </th>
            <td>Sun, 16 Mar 2014 19:07:00 -0400</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">From: </th>
            <td>Jeffrey Yorke <a href="mailto:yorkedial@gmail.com" target="_blank"><yorkedial@gmail.com></a></td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">To: </th>
            <td>James D. Holmes <a 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 href="mailto:Yorkedial@gmail.com" target="_blank">Yorkedial@gmail.com</a></div>
        <div><a href="mailto:Jeffrey@YorkeRents.com" target="_blank">Jeffrey@YorkeRents.com</a></div>
        <div><a 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 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 border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
              <tbody>
                <tr>
                  <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">Subject:

                  </th>
                  <td>Re: [RP Town Announce] Special Legislative Meeting
                    Agenda: March 17, 2014</td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">Date:
                  </th>
                  <td>Sun, 16 Mar 2014 18:51:05 -0400</td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">From:
                  </th>
                  <td>Vernon Archer <a href="mailto:varcher@gmail.com" target="_blank"><varcher@gmail.com></a></td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">To:
                  </th>
                  <td>James D. Holmes <a href="mailto:jdholmes@comcast.net" target="_blank"><jdholmes@comcast.net></a></td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">CC:
                  </th>
                  <td><a href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a>
                    <a 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 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 border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
                        <tbody>
                          <tr>
                            <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">Subject: </th>
                            <td>[RP TownTalk] Special Legislative
                              Meeting Agenda: March 17, 2014</td>
                          </tr>
                          <tr>
                            <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">Date: </th>
                            <td>Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:10:25 -0400</td>
                          </tr>
                          <tr>
                            <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">From: </th>
                            <td>Jessica Barnes <a><jbarnes@riverdaleparkmd.gov></a></td>
                          </tr>
                          <tr>
                            <th valign="BASELINE" nowrap align="RIGHT">To: </th>
                            <td><a><townannounce@riverdale-park.org></a>,
                              <a><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" type="1" start="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" type="1" start="2">
                          <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" type="1" start="3">
                          <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 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 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 href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</a></span><br>
          <span><a 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 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 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 href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</a><br>
<a href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</a> is for automated subscription processing only<br>
<a 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 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>