Sunday, May 20, 2012
P&R bonds: Deception or just poor communication
Take a look at the recent letter to the editor in the Southwest Wake News : http://www.southwestwakenews.com/2012/05/19/18853/mark-digiacomo-explore-options.html
This writer, as well as many other people I have spoken with, seem confused by the council's "casual favoring" of a tax increase. The town council needs to ensure the public's understanding of "why" this tax increase is necessary and why all of these projects are truly necessary. Basically show the return on these investments. Perhaps a forum similar to those when they were promoting getting your yes vote. Example: We need this water park at Jones Park because........
One council member stated "I believe we need a tax increase to do what we need to do.". Now the council needs to show the difference between their wants and what is truly needed. The ball is now in their court.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Superstreet
When you have served in an elected capacity for a dozen years, you get a different perspective on human nature. Right after the Superstreet presentation someone told me something that was so true that I laughed out loud.
He commented that if New Hill Place was permitted to be built with the standard intersections, and the traffic started to jam up at the lights, someone would inevitably complain and ask why the town did not investigate the Superstreet alignment. I had to agree, because I have seen this many times.
As, I hope, many of you know, NC DOT required the Superstreet alignment. We should be thankful that we have government officials who are willing to think out-of-the-box and try to fix problems before they become problems.
I know this is more of an editorial comment, but this issue is about bringing commercial tax dollars to town, which completely outweighs the needs of cyclists who have been critical of this plan....four years after it was approved.
He commented that if New Hill Place was permitted to be built with the standard intersections, and the traffic started to jam up at the lights, someone would inevitably complain and ask why the town did not investigate the Superstreet alignment. I had to agree, because I have seen this many times.
As, I hope, many of you know, NC DOT required the Superstreet alignment. We should be thankful that we have government officials who are willing to think out-of-the-box and try to fix problems before they become problems.
I know this is more of an editorial comment, but this issue is about bringing commercial tax dollars to town, which completely outweighs the needs of cyclists who have been critical of this plan....four years after it was approved.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Residency flap on the town council
Perhaps some of you read the recent story in the Southwest Wake News: http://www.southwestwakenews.com/2012/03/10/16420/holly-springs-councilmans-cary.html
When I heard about this months ago, I asked some of these questions. I found out that more than one legal opinion of the state law was sought and all agreed that Councilman Van Fossen's temporary residence in Cary was acceptable, considering he signed a contract to build another home in Holly Springs. Personally I was satisfied with the vetting that was done, but I expected that some would take issue with it. Others would use this as an opportunity to get some headlines, which was apparently accomplished.
NC state law tends to be written in such a general fashion and it may not apply in every specific circumstance. This is what occurred here. It is disappointing to see that some decided to raise an issue where one did not exist, but it was not surprising. Their ire should not have been directed at Councilman VanFossen, but at the vagueness of the general statutes.
When I heard about this months ago, I asked some of these questions. I found out that more than one legal opinion of the state law was sought and all agreed that Councilman Van Fossen's temporary residence in Cary was acceptable, considering he signed a contract to build another home in Holly Springs. Personally I was satisfied with the vetting that was done, but I expected that some would take issue with it. Others would use this as an opportunity to get some headlines, which was apparently accomplished.
NC state law tends to be written in such a general fashion and it may not apply in every specific circumstance. This is what occurred here. It is disappointing to see that some decided to raise an issue where one did not exist, but it was not surprising. Their ire should not have been directed at Councilman VanFossen, but at the vagueness of the general statutes.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Citizen engagement/Notify Me
A group of local citizen, cycling enthusiasts are currently learning a hard lesson in civic engagement. For years I have encouraged citizens to learn, understand and pay attention to issues facing the town council.. Don't just get involved or interested when it is an issue which affects your "backyard".
As some of you know the town council meeting agenda is published on the town website a few days prior to the actual meeting date ( first and third Tuesday each month). It is there to provide citizens with information about upcoming issues and developments. Accessing this information each month really should become a routine for citizens. When I first took office, would send this info via email, but discontinued this service when the town started doing this. The new town website now has a feature called Notify Me which is a no excuse option for citizens to get info about town.. Too often people get involved or interested because one neighbor learns of an issue and then shares with the neighborhood. Sometimes this occurs well after an issue has been properly discussed and voted on. In most cases the all-knowing neighbor does not have all the facts straight.
This group of cyclists and others interested in the super street intersection configuration on the 55 bypass are now concerned that they will not be able to directly cycle across the bypass in their large packs. They will have to cross using the super street configuration. Well, this super street requirement was put in place in 2008 by NCDOT when the New Hill Place shopping center site plan was approved. Also a condition of the site plan approval was for the developer to have a super street info session for the public, which they did days before the plan was approved.( I don't recall how well attended it was, but it was advertised well). Now almost four years later many are concerned because New Hill Place is actually being built and they claim they knew nothing about it.
So, let's all become well engaged citizens....check out the town meeting agendas, understand the issues and be informed enough to cast an educated vote in local government elections. A good first start is to enroll is Notify Me.
As some of you know the town council meeting agenda is published on the town website a few days prior to the actual meeting date ( first and third Tuesday each month). It is there to provide citizens with information about upcoming issues and developments. Accessing this information each month really should become a routine for citizens. When I first took office, would send this info via email, but discontinued this service when the town started doing this. The new town website now has a feature called Notify Me which is a no excuse option for citizens to get info about town.. Too often people get involved or interested because one neighbor learns of an issue and then shares with the neighborhood. Sometimes this occurs well after an issue has been properly discussed and voted on. In most cases the all-knowing neighbor does not have all the facts straight.
This group of cyclists and others interested in the super street intersection configuration on the 55 bypass are now concerned that they will not be able to directly cycle across the bypass in their large packs. They will have to cross using the super street configuration. Well, this super street requirement was put in place in 2008 by NCDOT when the New Hill Place shopping center site plan was approved. Also a condition of the site plan approval was for the developer to have a super street info session for the public, which they did days before the plan was approved.( I don't recall how well attended it was, but it was advertised well). Now almost four years later many are concerned because New Hill Place is actually being built and they claim they knew nothing about it.
So, let's all become well engaged citizens....check out the town meeting agendas, understand the issues and be informed enough to cast an educated vote in local government elections. A good first start is to enroll is Notify Me.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Taxpayer funded grants to organizations outside of Holly Springs
The town budget has a line item for the town council to award grants to nonprofit organizations. The original intent of this was to provide a little help for locally based groups which benefit the town and it's citizens. In the past non-Holly Springs based groups have asked for and have been awarded funds. This year is no different. You can see the recommendations at http://www.hollyspringsnc.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1216
This year the following non-Holly Springs organizations have asked for funds and the committee of two council members have recommended various amounts for them:
Southern Wake Academy, located outside of town limits near Fuquay Varina
Kraft YMCA on Holly Springs Rd, in the Cary ETJ area
Fuquay Emergency Food Pantry, Located in downtown Fuquay Varina
Interact, located in Raleigh
This year the following non-Holly Springs organizations have asked for funds and the committee of two council members have recommended various amounts for them:
Southern Wake Academy, located outside of town limits near Fuquay Varina
Kraft YMCA on Holly Springs Rd, in the Cary ETJ area
Fuquay Emergency Food Pantry, Located in downtown Fuquay Varina
Interact, located in Raleigh
Monday, January 30, 2012
Closed Session
Recently, our School Board Member Susan Evans, disclosed on her Facebook page, some of the discussion and details relating to the manner which the courts would be handling the criminal cases of William Barber and his cohorts who disrupted a school board meeting back in June 2010. This was very poor judgment on her part and is probably a good time to clarify what is referred to as "closed session". A closed session is when an elected body meets out of public view.
There are only a few topics which are permitted in closed session, they include: consultation with an attorney on a legal matter, discussion on real property acquisition, economic development matters involving a prospective new business or the expansion of an existing business as well as personnel matters which consider the fitness or performance of a town employee. Before such a session is called, a motion must be made citing the reasons for the closed session as well as the applicable General Statute.
The issue before the school board fell within the consultation with attorney realm. Ms. Evans really should not have disclosed anything from those closed discussions. We can chalk this up to a rookie mistake by Evans, but I am sure that the board attorney covered what should and should not be publicly discussed. It appears that she was irritated by some reports written by a N&O reporter and she lashed out on Facebook. This error on her part may not have caused too much harm, but she really needs to be more careful in the future.
There are only a few topics which are permitted in closed session, they include: consultation with an attorney on a legal matter, discussion on real property acquisition, economic development matters involving a prospective new business or the expansion of an existing business as well as personnel matters which consider the fitness or performance of a town employee. Before such a session is called, a motion must be made citing the reasons for the closed session as well as the applicable General Statute.
The issue before the school board fell within the consultation with attorney realm. Ms. Evans really should not have disclosed anything from those closed discussions. We can chalk this up to a rookie mistake by Evans, but I am sure that the board attorney covered what should and should not be publicly discussed. It appears that she was irritated by some reports written by a N&O reporter and she lashed out on Facebook. This error on her part may not have caused too much harm, but she really needs to be more careful in the future.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
How to get a policy changed
A friend in Branchburg NJ is working to rally the troops to get some action on a new grading system in their schools. It appears to be the same type of grading system our elementary school kids have to endure (1, 2, 3, 3*, 4). I am writing this for their benefit as well as your benefit here in Holly Springs, because all too often when citizens try to get a policy changed, it is done with emotion but few facts. As a result, elected officials really cannot use the input provided, which ends up making citizens distrust government.
First, don't insult those who are in those decision making seats. Don't tell them that they already had their minds made up. Yes, individually, as an elected official you would have an opinion on the issue based on data previously provided. However, you cannot meet as a group unless it is an official meeting. So don't accuse them of meeting ahead of time, because you will be accusing them of breaking the law!!
Second, understand how the meeting must be handled. There are certain things that must be done in an open meeting. Sometimes the public is allowed to speak, sometimes not. The best thing you can do is watch and learn the decorum over time. I would also suggest contacting the clerk ahead of time to better understand what can and cannot be done. On the new Holly Springs website they have added some of this information in the town council section.
Third, provide facts about the issue, facts about successes or failures in other places. You can even provide personal experiences, but don't resort to using tactics or phrases like, "the blood of the children will be on your hands". Yes, that is something I was once told!
There was a group of citizens who lived on Skybrook Drive who bought their homes after plans for a pump station were in place behind this cul de sac. Certainly one could say that the pump station plan came first and they did not do their research. However most of the men in this cul de sac came together asked questions, put together facts, were professional and persistent. There was one gentleman who became the lead spokesman for the group which allowed them to be concise and efficient with their comments. As a result, they were able to get some significant buffers added around the pump station, which may not have been perfect, but much more than they would have gotten otherwise. There was one member of the group who did have the propensity to get emotional, but the group often made efforts to stifle him.
I always use this issue an the example of how to complain effectively. These guys fought an uphill battle, but they accomplished much more because they handled the issue professionally and with drive and persistence.
First, don't insult those who are in those decision making seats. Don't tell them that they already had their minds made up. Yes, individually, as an elected official you would have an opinion on the issue based on data previously provided. However, you cannot meet as a group unless it is an official meeting. So don't accuse them of meeting ahead of time, because you will be accusing them of breaking the law!!
Second, understand how the meeting must be handled. There are certain things that must be done in an open meeting. Sometimes the public is allowed to speak, sometimes not. The best thing you can do is watch and learn the decorum over time. I would also suggest contacting the clerk ahead of time to better understand what can and cannot be done. On the new Holly Springs website they have added some of this information in the town council section.
Third, provide facts about the issue, facts about successes or failures in other places. You can even provide personal experiences, but don't resort to using tactics or phrases like, "the blood of the children will be on your hands". Yes, that is something I was once told!
There was a group of citizens who lived on Skybrook Drive who bought their homes after plans for a pump station were in place behind this cul de sac. Certainly one could say that the pump station plan came first and they did not do their research. However most of the men in this cul de sac came together asked questions, put together facts, were professional and persistent. There was one gentleman who became the lead spokesman for the group which allowed them to be concise and efficient with their comments. As a result, they were able to get some significant buffers added around the pump station, which may not have been perfect, but much more than they would have gotten otherwise. There was one member of the group who did have the propensity to get emotional, but the group often made efforts to stifle him.
I always use this issue an the example of how to complain effectively. These guys fought an uphill battle, but they accomplished much more because they handled the issue professionally and with drive and persistence.
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