TOWN COUNCIL 4/10/07

The town council on Tuesday heard from the Town Manager that the non payment of monies due to the government for Social Security and Medicare for the past 7 years was $27,499.26. That covers the past 7 years (statute of limitations prevented it from going back 10 years.) The town manager stated in his opinion, the auditing firm should have spotted this discrepancy. I believe that such an oversight could be prosecuted as a legal matter....but at least an attempt to recover this money will go forward. According to the article in the EJ today...only one employee and one elected official were affected. Though members of the council wanted to take this into closed session the majority wanted it spoken about in public. It seems members of the previous council would like their actions, especially negative, to remain in closed session. If something comes up that reflects bad upon these councilmembers they want to forget about the past and concentrate on the future. I can't blame them because if you concentrate on the future you bring no light to past mistakes, errors, or indiscretions.
The Down Town project: It was reported by the Planning Director that the project had just submitted another traffic study but that it was still being looked at...and that the DEVELOPERS were not ready to precede with going forward yet but that they were aiming for the May meeting. The town was posed with the question about a rumor that the town may be facing legal actions by the developers...the town was unaware of any legal actions. Apparently, the person posing the question has more information possibly than that of the town.
Liquor by the drink: The question was brought up again and what I guess has to be considered a request to put the issue on the November ballot was made. No action was taken by the council on this subject. **It is my understanding that the ordinances for the town are being rewritten and until that happens, it seems very unlikely the council will discuss the subject at all, but I guess anything is possible** I assume the request is the 1st step to getting a town wide petition to force the issue on the ballot. Though I would like to see this issue up for a vote, I feel it would be better for the town if the ordinances were finished so as to allow the town to manage the businesses that would want LBTD better. The proper ordinances can enable to the town to do it right the first time and actually make the subject more profitable.

In the coming months there will be several public hearings for items coming in front of the council. Keep an eye out for those dates.....being discussed will be the curfew, alarm ordinances. Along with the budget retreat it will be vital for citizen input into the process.

Any questions contact your councilmembers.