By Lisa Lucas Gardner, J.D. On June 4 at 10:14 AM
Last night after the regular town council meeting, our town leaders, the press AND the general public were given an open & free basic training session on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by one of our town attorneys, Ms. Elizabeth Dillon.
I wanted to say "thank you" to our local leaders and to Ms. Dillon for the handouts and powerpoint presentation. Thanks to "Frosty" for joining us and inviting us to contact him for future information. Residents who didnt attend last night's free presentation missed out on an opportunity to learn what information they are entitled to by law.
I want to encourage residents to start coming to the town council meetings again and to begin if they have never been to one. You will learn alot by just listening and you are able to speak your mind about things you are concerned about.
Dont be afraid or concerned that the council isnt going to listen to you but at least they know we are there and listening to what they say from now on. The following is an example of what I mean.
I participated in the public forum and voiced my opposition to Councilman Brad Stipes recommendation to lower the proposed licensing fee for professional businesse licenses (BPOL's). I was surprised and thought the town council had agreed to increase the BPOLs 31% to 45% but Councilman Stipes came up with the brilliant idea to only increase it to 39% leaving the proposed budget short $45,000. If I hadnt had been there (not that it mattered much in the end anyway) I wouldnt have known about Councilman Stipes' idea. This increase did not include small business owners.
I argued that the professionals (doctors, lawyers, real estate companies, banks, etc.) are in a better position to afford the increase based on their incomes and assets. I figured that it really didnt matter anyway because the businesses would find a way to write it off on their taxes as an operating expense. The proposed increase would have brought our BPOLs in line with surrounding jurisdiction fees so it was no big deal. I dont think that the professional businesses should be objecting to new fees anyway because it is a drop in the bucket in the big picture and we need that income now more than ever because of this gasoline crisis. I also questioned where the "extra " $45,000 was going to come from if Councilman Stipes' proposal was passed. Town Manager Terpenny advised that it would be taken from the "reserved" funds. Now I asking you residents out there, "Should we take the projected $45,000 out of the reserved fund of should we leave in place the originally agreed upon increase?" Well, since I was the only resident there to voice my objection the council didnt blink about going along with Councilman Stipes' recommendation. The proposal passed and Councilman Stipes' professionals are happy that the money planned extra money is going to come out of the budget's reserved funds.
I am highlighting Councilman Stipes' name because I want all town residents to know whose idea caused the $45,000 to be taken out of the reserve fund in the proposed budget. That money could have been used for public safety items for the police department such as bicycles, scooters, tasers, rubber bullets, spike strips, etc. Thanks alot Councilman Stipes.
For the record, Councilman Mike Barber was the only who who voted against Council Stipes' idea. I want to thank Mike for doing that for us.