[Chat] (no subject)

[Daniel Grayskull]

I wonder if I attended the same meeting because my memory of last nights events vary from those stated by Mrs. Floyd
Joan Floyd wrote:

Steve, please feel free to post this brief report:


Last night, the Benefits District held its annual 'hearing' on the proposed budget for 2009-2010, which was passed out to those in attendance.

The 'cash-strapped' and 'limited' Benefits District will ONLY be asking for an increase of 16% percent in surtax revenue over last year, when the increase was ONLY 18% over the prior year, according to 'Executive Director' David Hill, who is asking for $65,000+ for himself, not including benefits.

The figures that were posted on screen, mentioned and handed out in paper format do not match your statement.

Apparently, no one is suggesting a downward adjustment of the surtax rate to fit with current economic realities.
You know perfectly well that any changes to any rates must bedone according to bylaws and that it is the City that finally decides, not the Benefits District

Has there ever been a Benefits District budget hearing that was more poorly attended by the public? Not in my recollection. The staff, Board members and 'special guests' far outnumbered the 'regular folk.'

Many of us regular folk, have lives. Many of us Regular folks like myself have jobs and in somecases have far commutes. I almost did not come to the meeting, I came directly from work. I did so , so I can get the information first hand and pass them on to my neighbors given that many of them due to previous obligations were unable to attend. One neighbor was unable to attend due to the fact she was out of state, and My own Mother was unable to attend because she has the flu.

Supposedly the Board meeting to approve (rubber-stamp? ) this larger-than- ever surtax budget will take place on Tuesday, April 14th at 7:00 pm at the new Benefits District office on St. Paul Street.

This meeting , like all meetings are posted on the website. I will certainly be there.

When asked for verifiable qualifications for all voting Board members, including the address of the property owned, David Hill responded in a way that suggested he does not believe we 'regular folk' are entitled to that information.

Again , were we at the same meeting? Mr. Hill stated that if anyone wanted to contact other members they can send an e-mail or call and it can be forwarded, and if those people wanted to respond they can do so. You made the suggestion that the persons personal e-mails and home addresses be posted on the site. Is the Mayor's personal home address on the Baltimore city website? ..no. In this day an age of identity theft and stalkers, if I was on the board I would not want my personal home address posted on a website where someone might find it and Gods know what could possibly happen.


When asked what number of voting Board members is considered a quorum, and what number of votes is considered to be needed to approve a budget, 'President' Ron Griffin first declined to answer these basic questions, and quickly became very un-presidential in front of the staff, Board members, and 'regular folk' who were in attendance.

Of all people .. You know for a fact that the question you asked is something related to the current law suit (brought by you) and that Mr. Griffin was in no position to respond given the litigation at hand. It seemed like you were backing him into a corner for a response you perfectly well know he could not have nor was he under the authority to respond to. Your question was not only unethical, but also shows in my eyes that you wanted to back him into a corner. Any lawyer would inform you of that.


'Regular folk' to Mr. Griffin: You are not the 'President' of a private organzation. You are the 'President' of the Board of a small local government. You don't get to keep this kind of information close to the vest.

"Regular Folk" to  Mrs. Floyd, you don't represent all of us "regular folk", you especially do not represent me, my family or my friends. We can represent our selves individually, perfectly fine, thank you.

And so it goes.

End of Line...

-- Joan Floyd

Mr. Daniel-Raphael Hernandez-Acosta


 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
"Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide." 

T'plana-hath 
 
(Matron of Vulcan Philosophy)


      
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://charlesvillage.info/pipermail/chat_charlesvillage.info/attachments/20090325/20e63a4b/attachment.html>