Saturday Meetings

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

NEXT EVENT:

DAY: SATURDAY
DATE: JULY 11, 2009
WHEN: 10 AM to 11:30AM
WHERE: Upstairs at Library
WHAT: Annual Meeting of WeLoveVentnor membership







PAST EVENT:

DAY: SATURDAY
DATE: MAY 16, 2009
WHEN: 10 AM to Noon
WHERE: Upstairs at Library
WHAT: Citizens Campaign and the 2009 Effort
SPEAKERS: Citizens' Campaign Regional Coordinator Renee Koubiadis & Ventnor City Mayor Theresa Kelly


============================================

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

The Southern NJ coordinator for Citizens Campaign met with the Mayor and Solicitor last Thursday. The Model Reform Ordinances under discussion for adoption in Ventnor were the following:

1. Open Appointments ordinance -- now called the "Public Service Act" by its proponents at Citizens Campaign
2. Competitive Negotiations for Professional Services Contracts
3. Developer Disclosure Reform Ordinance
4. Redevelopment Pay-to-play Reform Ordinance

The Mayor advised that the first mentioned item -- Open Appointments/Public Service -- is one which the Commission will discuss at a future meeting and might not have a problem in adopting, in theory. It would "open up" appointments to volunteer Boards through a qualifications-focused selection process in which any Ventnor citizen could fill out an application to list education/experience making him/her a suitable candidate to serve on a Board.

The other three reforms were cited as items about which the Mayor and Solicitor would prefer to defer consideration until after the election.

Item #2 would seek to fill professional positions with the most qualified at the most competitive wages/salaries.

Item #3 would require Developers, as part of any application for a variance or deviation from normally applicable Planning or Zoning laws, to disclose if they had been partisan donors in a local election at the time they go before Planning or Zoning to seek exceptions.

Item #4 would limit Redevelopers' campaign contributions in a fashion similar to that which now, going forward from its February 2008 adoption, limits the city's "no bid" contractors from making donations in excess of the defined amount.

Pay-to-play reform eliminates from eligibility for city awards, and for a period of several years, those firms/individuals whose donations exceed the amounts stipulated by ordinance.

It has the effect of asking people to support candidates on the basis that they would be "good people in office" rather than upon a basis which is self-interested in nature -- i.e., an attempt to buy one's way into personal gain or profits derived from public funds.

The approach taken on a model reform differs if a group has a Commission willing to adopt that reform, or if a group has a scenario in which the reform might need to be adopted through Initiative and Referendum. Therefore, the Open Appointments/Public Service Act is premature for an April 5th meeting topic.

If the Commission agrees to adopt the model "Public Service Act" ordinance, then its topic-appropriate setting for WLV's meeting at beginning of May would find our group distributing "model application forms" to interested people who would like to serve on a Board.

Perhaps there would be information about how Ventnor intends to maintain a paper-based directory of all Boards with information about unexpired terms, openings through expiration of terms or premature resignations, and application forms at City Hall and a digital display of that same information on the City website. Both would foster an "Open Up Appointments to All Citizens" atmosphere in Ventnor.

If the Commission does not intend to move forward on adoption, then the May meeting of WLV would be to discuss the topic and get I&R petitions into circulation for the November election ballot.

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

LAST WORKSHOP:

SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2008 SPECIAL NOTE: 10 AM

Citizens Campaign will be back.
Renee Koubiadis is again our speaker.
Topic: "Open Appointments"

Atlantic County government adopted the Citizens Campaign's model ordinance for an open appointments approach for selection of qualified people to its volunteer boards. Ventnor residents are invited to attend and learn how open appointments processes work, and to consider filling out an application for a County position!

If Ventnor were to adopt Open Appointments, the process would be analogous.

Ad in May 1st Current to encourage meeting attendance is at the bottom:




PRIOR WORKSHOP:

Saturday, April 5, 2008 -- 2PM

United Methodist Church
Ventnor Ave. at Melbourne Ave.

CITIZENS CAMPAIGN
The Tentative Topic was: An Open Appointments "model ordinance" and Processes

See post at bottom for ADDED INFORMATION about why this Topic will be deferred until the May meeting.

TOPIC: FUTURE OF VENTNOR WEST
Speaker: Matt Steinen, Ventnor Environmental Research Group

There is currently an application before DEP to create an 11.8 acre site for deposit of dredge spoils in part of the 40-acre upland area of Ventnor West. Approximately 175 acres of land listed under Recreation and Open Space Inventory / Green Acres classification was the subject of a delisting request which cited a mistake stemming from past permit submissions which had looked at Open Space, but not formally "dedicated" to Green Acres space.

The Mayor will also be invited so he can have an opportunity to add information which public documents may not address.


OTHER ACTIVITIES:

PETITIONS about Ventnor West for submission to the DEP will be available, for those who may be interested.

VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE will make Voter Registration Forms available to those of any political persuasian.


---------------------
Last meeting was:

Saturday, March 1, 2008

United Methodist Church

Topic: Linked here from Citizens Campaign website

Advertisement was in the Downbeach Current. See below.

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

See top post for SATURDAY, JULY 5th, First Saturday event

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

After the Annual Meeting "membership business" has concluded on Saturday August 30th, there will be an Open Meeting with speakers regarding the Ventnor Theater. That part of the meeting is expected to start around 11AM.

It will explore how community-based efforts have succeeded in acquiring, renovating and operating historic theaters in "sustainable" ways. People are invited to attend and contribute comments about their vision for the business district.

[VentnorMod]

Open House: Casual drop-in for members to view "Nights in Ventnor GO GREEN!" from bayside on Saturday, August 23, 2008 starting at 5PM. Phone 487-6611 for directions on day of event. Potluck bring-alongs welcome.

Annual Meeting for Members: Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 10 AM. United Methodist Church

Open Meeting for Anyone interested starts at 11AM. Topic: Ventnor Theater and how community-based efforts have acquired other historic theaters for renovation and successful operation.


LAST WORKSHOP or EVENT:

Last Event was SATURDAY, JULY 5th, from Noon until @ 4PM and it was not a Workshop, it was

MEET AT THE BEACH



From the Dorset Ave. entrance, enter the beach and TURN RIGHT (heading toward pier) and look for the group's banner!

Hot dogs will be grilled, juice drinks will be supplied, and the rest is POTLUCK!

RAIN CONTINGENCY PLANS: Forecast for rain is prompting questions, so this update is provided. 355 pieces of mail went out, and WLV members are reporting that they got their invitations on Wednesday (in Ventnor) and Thursday (at homes outside Ventnor which had been marked as 'preferred address' for mail on membership applications). Those invitations have a phone number to call if you have rain-related questions. If the party moves to the back-up location mentioned in the invitation, a NOTICE will be posted on a pole (or railing) at the Dorset Ave. entrance to the beach to let people know. Light rain will keep plans in place, on the beach, since an awning tent has been rented. (And prepare for back-up plans of BOILED hot dogs if rainy, high-humidity weather threatens to slow down attempts to grill.) Heavy thunderstorms with lightning strikes will prompt a Retreat from the Beach instead of the planned Meet at the Beach. We plan to take our cues from what the tent-rental firm wants us to do, when they make delivery early on Saturday morning.

Saturday NOON update: At 7:30 AM, the tent rental folks pulled up and said, "Looks like a BEACH DAY to US!"

Everything is set up and ready at the Dorset Ave. beach! We'll be there until around 3:30 or 4 PM.








PRIOR WORKSHOP WAS ...


SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2008 SPECIAL NOTE: 10 AM

Topics:
1. Creative solutions to need for dredging, updates about Ventnor West and CDF

2. Distribution of "homework packet" to allow Citizens Campaign to write a copyrighted article about Ventnor's civic health

3. Planning for a PARTY as WeLoveVentnor's July First Saturday Event (July 4th weekend)

Summer schedule for meetings is posted in our Ad

[VentnorMod]

NEXT EVENTS:

DAY: SATURDAY
DATE: MAY 16, 2009
WHEN: 10 AM to Noon
WHERE: Upstairs at Library
WHAT: Citizens Campaign and the 2009 Effort
SPEAKERS: Citizens' Campaign Regional Coordinator Renee Koubiadis & Ventnor City Mayor Theresa Kelly


============================================

[VentnorMod]

Ad in the Current




Refreshments: Juices, Donuts, Bagels & "while it lasts" coffee