Call me crazy. I've always felt/thought the NRP was a really inefficient way
to spend a LOT of money......
JBurns
Cleveland
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Atherton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Mpls List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2001 7:51 AM
Subject: [Mpls] Re: Why the NRP Socks, Part 1
> 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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