Michael Hohmann wrote:
> As Bob Miller pointed out, the neighborhood associations that are under
> contract to implement NRP programs/activities at the local level are not
> covered by the state Open Meeting laws.
This is his opinion. I believe that if the issue was taken to the
courts that they would find otherwise.
> As hard as it may be sometimes, we
> must remember that these neighborhood groups are largely volunteer
> organizations with members elected in a public election process. Most have
> limited paid staff positions that handle daily business.
I've heard this excuse a number of times. Neighborhood groups that contract
with the NRP handle millions of dollars. I believe that my neighborhood
organization's budget for Phase 1 was more than $3,000,000. If this money
cannot be properly handled by volunteers then we should rethink the assumptions
on which the NRP is based.
> The NRP programs
> are defined and agreed to by neighbors taking time to participate in the
> many meetings required, and plans must be approved by a public vote within
> the neighborhood. Sometimes these programs/votes get contentious, and
> arguments ensue. (So what's new? I complain about what the City Council
> does on many occasions and if I'm not happy with my elected CC member I work
> to get a replacement I feel will do a better job).
The problem here is that I have guaranteed rights with respect to the my
government and the city council. These rights have been circumvented by
passing decisions to NRP contractors.
> I suggest that if Mr.
> Atherton is dissatisfied with the NRP program in his neighborhood, he work
> to get new people elected to the group and get neighbors with similar views
> more involved in neighborhood meetings and elections.
PPERRIA has forty board members, twenty of whom are reelected each
year. The nominations are essentially an internal process. At one annual election,
the ballot stated (in violation of Robert's Rules) that you had to vote for 20
candidates or your ballot would not be counted.
> We all know that
> these programs are run and operated by 'those that show up'-- it's the
> American way... like it or not. And you are always free to contact your CC
> representative to complain about a given issue.
Decision power in our program ultimately lies with the 40 member board of
directors, not necessarily "those that show up." There is a difference between
a federal election (where everyone's' vote will be counted :-) and a monthly meeting
of a non-profit organization.
> Just remember, for good or bad, these neighborhood volunteers have varied
> skill sets, education and experience (just like all of us) and they devote
> literally hundreds/thousands of hours of their time trying to make their
> neighborhood a better place... many become exhausted and burn out...
> turnover can be high, and it is often difficult to maintain the momentum
> needed to successfully implement activities in a timely manner.
It is the worthiness of the cause that is important, not the amount of time
spent by the people working on. The logical structure of your argument provides
support for the Holocaust. The problem you cite, volunteers having
varied skill sets, is one of the major flaws of the NRP. I believe that these
volunteers often lack the the expertise necessary for making decisions
involving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
> I know the
> process can be very frustrating and tedious for many people involved... on
> all sides of issues. I'm not taking sides pro or con regarding NRP (every
> organization has its unique problems), but they do have pretty elaborate
> control mechanisms in place to keep everyone honest, including recommended
> methods to keep meetings open and functioning.
I'm in the dark, perhaps you could identify their "elaborate control mechanisms."
> It's always nice to have a
> local news reporter at the regular monthly neighborhood meetings, so that
> contentious issues can get a fair hearing. Good luck Mr. Atherton.
Why should it be necessary to have reporters present? Are you conceding
the point that some residents may not get fair hearings?
Thanks for the good luck, but I would rather rely on people's good judgment
and sense of fairness.
Mike Atherton
Prospect Park
Ward 2
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