What will you do? —John S. Quarterman @ VCC 7 April 2011
Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011,
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Before I started, the mayor noted that many people needed to go to an event at 7PM
(he didn’t name it, but it was the
100 Black Men Annual Dinner.)
He offered to proceed with scheduled business and re-open Citizens to be Heard at the end of the meeting.
Nobody objected.
I had already waited until nobody else seemed to want to speak.
Stonewalling is a good way to get your Industrial Authority
on the front page
of the local newspaper (again).
Here’s video of what Bobbi Anne Hancock said to the board about their minutes (and other things).
First, here’s is VDT reporter David Rodock’s excerpt of what she
said last night:
Bobbi Anne Hancock, the woman who made an Open Records request with the
Authority for meeting minutes from 2006 to the present day, spoke to
board members during the citizens to be heard portion of the meeting.
“The majority of your costs for the request are for the five hours
OpenAustin promotes open government & open data in Austin, TX.
OpenAustin is a member-driven organizantion that promotes open government,
open data, and civic application development in Austin, TX.
OpenAustin was originally formed by Austin residents interested in
the City of Austin’s web strategy and approach. Presently, OpenAustin
focuses on ensuring that all local public sector agencies embrace open
data and open government principles, provide adequate oversight over
public information, and support the civic software development.
Through a series of conversations, common ground was developed between the
City and Open Austin to work together in a formal and recurring way. The
goal is to develop new capacities for the City of Austin website while
reducing or eliminating costs.
A strategic alliance document has been created by Open Austin and the City
represents the expectations and the basis for the working relationship. In
order to advance this partnership relationship, the City and OpenAustin
will partner, innovate and improve.
Starting with one thing, web strategy, led to general open government.
They even have a
candidate questionnaire.
Which most of the candidates have answered.
Every time Frank Barnas asks
one of you representatives
while you all are on that radio broadcast,
he gets answers.
So many people who come before the city council who have answers
don’t get answers.
Frank Barnas @ VCC 7 April 2011
Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011,
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
You know, when Roy Taylor
and
George Rhynes,
about as far apart on the political spectrum as two people can get,
think there’s something wrong with your council,
maybe it’s worth thinking about.
Could the Industrial Authority try any harder to make it look like
they’ve got something to hide?
Of all things to go to the mattresses about: their board minutes?
In response, The Valdosta Daily Times submitted their own Open Records
Request for the salaries of all Industrial Authority employees.
According to the information provided by the Authority, the lowest paid
fulltime employee, the Operations Manager, is paid an annual salary
of $46,526.
When this number is divided by 2080, (52 weeks multiplied by 40 hours
per week) it shows that the lowest paid full-time employee is making
$22.40 per hour.
The salary quoted on the invoice is not the same as either
Continue reading →
George Boston Rhynes said he had recently been to a Brooks County Commission
meeting and there was a lot of actual dialog.
He said here in Lowndes County is the only place he’s seen the kind
of refusal to answer questions he’d just observed earlier in this same
Valdosta City Council meeting.
George Boston Rhynes says Brooks County does it better @ VCC 7 April 2011 Part 1 of 2:
Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011,
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
The mayor prefaced a comment that he’s read (apparently in this blog)
that he’s been criticized for not paying attention while people are speaking.
He clarified that he’s often taking notes.
Then Dr. Mark P. George spoke, wondering when people would get answers
to their more substantive questions.
I have an attorney.
These folks have an attorney.
He’s sitting right there.
Dr. Mark P. George @ VCC 7 April 2011 Part 1 of 3:
Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011,
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Dr. George amplified the not paying attention comments
by adding in body language,
and saying he did appreciate taking notes.
He asked if the meeting is recorded.
Mayor Fretti answered yes.
Dr. George remarked:
It seems to me you are now cloaking the lack of response
in legalities.
…
Legality does not equal morality.
Council Sonny Vickers remarked that he
already told everyone he is for the biomass plant.
Dr. George recommended conversation,
following up on new information.
The mayor asked Dr. George to wrap up.
Dr. George responded:
Dr. Mark P. George @ VCC 7 April 2011 Part 2 of 3:
Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011,
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
More back and forth between Dr. George and the mayor
about how or whether or when he or somebody might answer
questions, followed by interchange between Dr. George
and the audience.
Dr. Mark P. George @ VCC 7 April 2011
Part 3 of 3:
Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011,
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Yesterday I wrote
that interactions about Valdosta Farm Days between the Lowndes Commmission
and the City of Valdosta
“could have been smoother if one or both of the parties had been proactive.”
The VDT reported that the County Commission wants to know
about Valdosta Farm Days,
and apparently there was a disconnect between the staff and the Commissioners.
Here’s how the Commission came to be informed, through interactions of citizens and staff.
First, an excerpt from the paper paper story by David Rodock,
“Farmers market proposal discussed by commission”,
Tuesday, April 12, 2011, page 3A (it’s not online):
Continue reading →
Want to keep track of the road and bridge projects
proposed by the various cities and Lowndes County,
including
those submitted for T-SPLOST funding?
The Valdosta-Lowndes County Metropolitan Planning Organization (VLMPO)
compiles them all in one place and makes them available for public
comment and review.
-jsq
Public Notice of a Public Comment and Review Period and Public Open House
In accordance with requirements set forth in 23 CFR 450.316, 42 USC
2000d, Executive Order 12898, and Executive Order 13166, and other laws
and regulations; the Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organization
(VLMPO) has developed the Draft Public Participation Plan (PPP) which
includes a Limited-English Proficiency Plan and Title VI Compliance
Plan, for the Valdosta Metropolitan Planning Area which includes all of
Lowndes County and portions of Berrien and Lanier Counties.
I wanted to know what the council and the protesters will do
when the biomass plant is canceled.
I still want to know: what will you do?
