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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Dear Mrs. Henry,<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Thank you for your patience in awaiting my response -
recovering from my travels took longer than I had anticipated, and this letter
is longer than I had anticipated as well.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Let me frame my answer to your questions by stating that my motivation
for proposing the change to the Council/Manager form of government two years
ago was to have the town run by a highly qualified, highly trained,
professional manager.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">That said, before I answer your main question, I wanted to
touch on the items that you brought up at the beginning of your letter -
"...said degrees..." and "...a Mayor that
can...vote...."<span> </span><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The only requirement in the Town Charter for the Town
Manager is that they are a full member of the International City/County
Management Association, and that is simply an indicator that they have the
training (and continue to receive training!) in their profession running a
municipality.<span> </span>Just as doctors, lawyers,
and accountants (among others) are required to maintain their professional credentials,
so does our Town Manager.<span> </span>This
requirement was focused on the "professional" and "highly
trained" aspects of my goals.<span>
</span>During the hiring process we on the Council had a wide selection of
candidates for the job, and were able to narrow the list to individuals having
much higher qualifications and experience than the minimum requirements in the
Charter.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The "voting Mayor" issue is something that was
important to some members of the Council, but not so much to me.<span> </span>The Rules of Order that have been used by the
Council for more than a decade strongly encourage (for good reasons) the person
chairing the meeting to remain impartial, and unneeded votes are a good way to
erode at least the appearance of impartiality.<span>
</span>I have, in fact, voted on a few occasions where my vote was needed (to
reach the 4-vote minimum on financial matters, for instance).<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">I'd also like to comment on the "Us against Them"
statement you made.<span> </span>In my almost nine
years as an elected official, there have been many conflicts (both between
elected officials, and between management & staff) in addition to the
"noose" event you mentioned. Almost all of the management/staff
conflicts have been resolved internally (as required by our personnel manual),
so you probably don't know about them.<span>
</span>It may just be my new perspective as Mayor, but in the most recent staff
conflicts, our Town Manager has been very careful to adhere to the policies
laid out in the Personnel Policy section of the Town’s Personnel Manual (as
approved by the Town Council many years ago). Indeed, he has been meticulous in
formally recording (in writing) the reasons for all decisions.<span> </span>I view this as a good thing.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Now, to your main question: how have the residents of
Riverdale Park benefitted from a Town Manager?<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">I'll start with "the residents know more about what the
Town is doing," or more generally "openness and
transparency."<span> </span>I think this is an
essential piece of an effective government.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A big change in this area is the bi-weekly "Status and
Information report" that our Town Manager (TM), John Lestitian, started
less than a month after being hired.<span>
</span>This report details what is going on with the police department, the
public works department, general government, and on the Town's leadership team.<span> </span>This was purely his idea, and something that
would not have happened without him.<span> </span>It
is published in English and Spanish on the TownTalk and TownAnnounce mailing
lists, distributed on the Town's web site, and links to the report are provided
on the Town's FaceBook page (also something implemented, after years of
discussion, by TM Lestitian).<span> </span>If you
want to know what criminal activities the police were dealing with in October,
2017, you can do it as a result of TM Lestitian's newsletter (a burglary, a
domestic violence crime, a drunk and disorderly event, and two arrests
resulting from routine traffic stops, in case it's of interest).<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Still in the works, but nearly complete, is a major revamp
of the Town's web site.<span> </span>This project has
again been in the works for many years, and this year, under TM Lestitian's management
of the Town, a contract was awarded and the project is near completion.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Finally, TM Lestitian has been working with the Council,
staff, and residents to create vision statements for infrastructure,
sustainability, housing and neighborhoods, business and economic development,
etc.<span> </span>When these vision statements are
publicly available, residents will be able to see the priorities of the Council
and Town Government.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A second area where the Town's residents are benefitting
from the Town Manager is in effective and professional operations.<span> </span>This is a broad statement, so I'll discuss it
in detail in the next few paragraphs.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The part of Town government known as "Code
Enforcement" was having problems when TM Lestitian was hired.<span> </span>While some of these problems were outside the
control of the Town (staff turnover and illness), as a council representative I
had been hearing from residents of Ward 2 that there were a large number of unaddressed
code violations (just as an aside, no one likes receiving code violations, so
my measure of an appropriate level of code enforcement is that I receive an
equal number of complaints that code enforcement is too strict and code
enforcement is too lax -- I had been hearing almost nothing except that it was
too lax).<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">TM Lestitian, seeing these issues, reorganized and retitled
(within existing staffing levels) the Code Enforcement division to
"Development Services."<span>
</span>Development Services works proactively with residents, businesses, and
people who want to enhance the town.<span>
</span>Part of this is the "Neighborhood Improvement" program, which
rather than focusing on penalizing residents who have issues with code
compliance, works with them to find solutions.<span>
</span><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As an example, Development Services recently proposed
enhancing an existing program that provides matching funding to assist
residents in removing chain-link fences to include removal of dilapidated sheds
and other accessory structures.<span>
</span>Development Services also works with businesses seeking to locate here
to receive needed approvals, permits, and licenses, and will work with
residents on the same.<span> </span>As another
example, the old code enforcement unit conducted inspections of rental
properties - Development Services does the same, but all inspectors are now
trained and certified, and are more likely to find the health and safety issues
that the inspections are intended to uncover.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A second area where "effective and professional
operations" have improved is in matching policy (what staff are supposed
to be doing) and practice (what they are actually doing), or "Say what you
do, do what you say”. This includes clarifying policy where it is unclear.<span> </span>TM Lestitian is highly focused on harmonizing
policy and practice by improving both.<span>
</span>One example that I know has affected your neighborhood in Ward 4 is the
parking permit program - the permitting process is being modified so that it is
easier for residents to get parking permits and for town staff to give
them.<span> </span>Other policies that are either
almost in place or in the works include aspects of rental licensing/regulation
in single-family homes, the recently adopted economic development grants
program, and the program I mentioned above to assist homeowners with removal of
chain-link fences.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The last area that I'll mention where residents are
benefitting from our Town Manager is the area of financial management and
planning.<span> </span>A simple example is that TM
Lestitian is now tracking restricted income - income that can only be spent on
certain programs (such as "Highway User" revenue from the state) - in
a consistent and appropriate way.<span> </span>This
ensures that the town will be found fully compliant if audited, and will not
need to refund the income.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Another example of improved financial management is in the
purchasing process.<span> </span>Until now, there was
no policy in place that specified which employees of the town could authorize
purchases.<span> </span>TM Lestitian has instituted
written policies that delineate the persons/positions who can approve different
levels of expenditure (large expenditures require higher-level approvals),
requirements for researching the cost of expenditures, etc.<span> </span>This helps ensure that your tax dollars are
being spent efficiently.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A final item under financial management is the 2019 budget
prepared by TM Lestitian and his team.<span> </span>The
presentation and layout provided a much greater level of detail than we have
seen in previous budgets, and (most importantly) this budget contained detailed
projections for both income and expenditures for the next five years that show
the financial challenges that we face ahead. Because he is tracking those
projections, he can advise us on ways to deal with these impending financial
needs with enough notice to allow us to respond appropriately.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To recap, residents are benefitting from the Council/Manager
form of government, and from Town Manager Lestitian, with improved transparency
and communication, more effective and professional operations, and with improved
financial management.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">I'd like to touch on two more items from your letter before
wrapping up.<span> </span><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The first is your statement about the "town
feeling" that you feel has gone away.<span>
</span>I see just the opposite - we have had more volunteers than in past years
(for the ethics board, M-U-TC Committee, and Code of Appeals board just to name
a few), we had an enormous turnout at the recent Arbor Day event, the town is
providing a much higher level of information to residents, and I've been
receiving a positive response to recent changes from most residents I speak
with.<span> </span>It may be that the long closure of
the Lafayette-River Road connection (triggered by construction of the bridge to
the Riverdale Park Station development) is causing your neighborhood to feel
disconnected from the rest of town -- I personally know that it is much harder
to get to your neighborhood from mine. Please rest assured that everyone is
working hard to reopen that connection as quickly as we can.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The second is the "tax increase" statement. <span> </span>We have discussed at Finance Committee
meetings for 2-3 years the fact that an increase in revenue would be needed
this year (at the latest), and we achieved the increase through increased
property values, not an increase in the tax rate.<span> </span>I could discuss this at length, but this
letter is already too long, so I'll just say that even with this year's
increase my own town tax bill will be lower than it was in 2010.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">I hope that I have answered your questions and responded
appropriately to your comments -- if not, please feel free to reach out to me,
or to TM Lestitian!<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Best regards,<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Alan<span></span></p>
<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 2:25 PM, Karon Henry <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:mhenry3240@verizon.net" target="_blank">mhenry3240@verizon.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><font color="black" size="2" face="arial"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><font face="Calibri"><u><span style="color:black;font-size:12pt">A Question to the Mayor: </span></u><span style="color:black;font-size:12pt">Aside from having person(s) with said degrees and a Mayor who can,
but (to my knowledge) has not voted to date on any legislative action.</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><u></u><u></u></span></font></div>
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</font>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><font face="Calibri"><b><span style="color:black;font-size:12pt">Please give specifics on how the residents of Riverdale Park have
benefited in having a Town Manager?</span></b><span style="color:black;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><u></u><u></u></span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><span style="color:black;font-size:12pt"><font face="Calibri">My reasons for requesting this information is simple – I am
a resident of 20yrs – have experienced five Mayors: 1)Ann M. Ferguson
2)Michael D. Herman 3)Guy Tiberio 4)Vernon S. Archer 5)Alan K.
Thompson. Throughout the tenure of the four Mayors, I have witness and
felt Riverdale Park maintained that “town” feeling.<span> </span>The changes made benefited residents and
moved in a progressive state.<span> </span>Even after
the hanging of <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">the</font> “<b><i>noose</i></b>” at Town Hall under Vernon Archer we were able to move forward
in a positive direction. <u></u><u></u></font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><span style="color:black;font-size:12pt"><font face="Calibri">Unfortunately, I view the decision to institute a town manager has
separated the Town at best in creating a <u>Us</u> against <u>Them </u>approach. <span> </span>This change in guard which includes a
structural reorganization and tax increases is <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">not</font> moving in a positive
direction.<span> </span>The services rendered has declined
along with the relationships residents once had with Town staff of Riverdale
Park.<span> </span><u></u><u></u></font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><span style="color:black;font-size:12pt"><font face="Calibri">Note:<span> </span>An attempt to send this
message was made in November 2017 and I received a Town bounce.<span> </span>I do <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">hope</font> it goes through this time. <u></u><u></u></font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><span style="color:black;font-size:12pt"><font face="Calibri">Respectfully, <u></u><u></u></font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><font face="Calibri"><span style="color:black;font-size:12pt">Mrs. Henry</span><span style="color:black;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><u></u><u></u></span></font></div>
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