Reply to a comment

Reply to this comment

ajm3s writes:

in response to WizeOlMarco:

Thanks for the link to the Beautification Committee. The City is spending resources on landscape maintenance, why not redirect some of the same money/labor to try selected parts of the Beautification Committee plan...wouldn't this be fiscally neutral? What piqued my senses was the City cutting off communication with the Committee. Your notes suggest it might be wasted effort and resources to pursue resident suggestions outside the City political channels, a learning experience for me, a newcomer revealed.

I do not believe Mr. Pinter was cutting off communication, but simply expressing his need to have his staff attend to maintenance issues; and he would be the city representative for issues raised by the Beautification Committee. He did not feel it was prudent to have other members of his staff in attendance given the limited resources we face as municipalities, counties and for that matter, even in running our own homes.

On this point, I will support Mr. Pinter. However, as you stated, where redirection of labor and materials is appropriate, then we are in agreement. However, if you read the Beautification Committee's mission statement, they for the most part, require additional cost. That is why I raised the issue of swale recommendations, item #9, as an example.

And to your point with regard to a learning experience, I would like to welcome you to this island.

If you wish get up to speed, may I recommend joining one of the many citizen groups on the island: MITA, MI Homeowners, MICA. They provide information for those that do not have the opportunity to attend city council meetings or a host of city committee agendas. These groups have offered recommendations to city council on many occasions.

If you want to make a difference, join a citizens' organization; for your voice to be heard, numbers (memberships) matter.

These groups provide a concise review of pending issues to keep the folks informed, especially with a property owners perspective. In fact, some political forces actually find these citizen groups as a barrier to "development" and "revenue enhancement".

Share your thoughts

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Comments can be shared on Facebook and Yahoo!. Add both options by connecting your profiles.

Features