Citizen, I'm not sure if it would be practical to put every major decision up for vote by referendum or a ballot vote.
*What would be nice* would be a few fairly easy improvements.
One, announce to the public well in advance what they intend to cover at each meeting. And then, when they do have a major decision to make concerning an issued that affects the citizens, discuss it at a meeting and perhaps extend it to the next meeting.
But, from what I hear, the city meetings are what I heard a couple people describe as "a circus". I'm told there are the usual handful of "regulars", including Hollywood Helen.
Not like Foster Township that gets 30 to 40 people (regular citizens) attending on average, and sometimes upwards of 150 people.
Unionman, I read your comments, and I agree with some of them. I know this web site is accused of being a fictitious site but, most of the time we can debate in an orderly fashion. I believe I know who you are, and I have the utmost respect for you. Stony and Citizen are correct when they keep bringing up a balanced budget. Citizen was a prominent business man in the city for many years. I am not too far behind him for getting out of business in the city. Fifty percent tax increases, the GROSS BUSINESS PRIVILEGE TAX and, for me, competing against my own tax dollars with the OECD. I do compliment JK for investing in Bradford, or Main St. in particular. He is a smart business man. He truly has a positive influence in Bradford. What ever happened to the Early Intervention and Five Year Plan? In my opinion, we have pretty intelligent people on city council. The 5.2 million dollar loan is a done deal, so we as TAXPAYERS will have to trust your decisions for now. You will be judged down the road; "Are we better off now than we were 2008?" When we serve as elected officials, it is difficult to deal with outside opinions, but, it is also our duty to listen to the people who put us in office.
Good points Landlord, on the Gross Business Privilege tax, and the OECD competing with established business. I remember when they set up the Auto center guy from Wellsboro on West Washington street with a fancy building, even going to the extent of moving major utilities for him. This was within sight of a long time locally owned and well established auto repair center. (Colley Auto) and just down the street was Dexters Auto. The out of towner was gone in about 6 months, and we were stuck with the bill. Things like this are the reason we had to float a bond just to pave streets that had been ignored for years, while we spent millions on follies like this, (and it continues with the bridge to nowhere...) How many times has this repeated itself through the OECDs existence? The concept is sound, but the execution is questionable. No wonder Foster Brook is the business center of our area.
_________________ "I have never believed there was one code of morality for a public official and another for a private man." Thomas Jefferson"
It is not hard to throw up the agenda on the website days before the meeting. I do it every week. Also we have an archive of all meeting minutes since the year 2000.
Citizen, I'm not sure if it would be practical to put every major decision up for vote by referendum or a ballot vote.
*What would be nice* would be a few fairly easy improvements.
One, announce to the public well in advance what they intend to cover at each meeting. And then, when they do have a major decision to make concerning an issued that affects the citizens, discuss it at a meeting and perhaps extend it to the next meeting.
But, from what I hear, the city meetings are what I heard a couple people describe as "a circus". I'm told there are the usual handful of "regulars", including Hollywood Helen.
Not like Foster Township that gets 30 to 40 people (regular citizens) attending on average, and sometimes upwards of 150 people.
Very good MM! I'm guessing Bradford has had the internet almost as long as Olean has! LOL!
It would be nice if they informed the residents here, as well as they do in Olean, via the internet.
Anne Holiday is fairly good at recording the meetings and then posting them on the WESB blog, but sometimes the recordings of the meetings somehow seem to disappear!
Taxes are being curbed in the city after a citizen complained that the American Legion 108 was using the Veterans Square and city services, obviously for nothing, therefore the city levied a $100.00 fee. Is this fee levied for every event? Because if it isn't that citizen should complain about all events that use city services if this citizen has that much influence at curbing cost of a 8.9 million dollar budget. I have heard plenty of cries from these threads to curb cost to no avail. Keep up the good work $100.00 citizen! The foot bridge by the legion was 2750 one hundred dollar bills.
resident, are you suggesting that it was Stonys plan all along to keep taxes from going up in the city by using reverse psychology, and titling this post the opposite of what he wanted to happen? Nobody is that good at political chess! But if that was your plan, Thank you Stony, for saving us from an 11th hour tax increase, that should help my bottom line this year!
_________________ "I have never believed there was one code of morality for a public official and another for a private man." Thomas Jefferson"
Last edited by citizen on Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum
Register
