From the Trentonian. Don't forget Octoberfest, now through Sunday at Williamson Park.
Octoberfest in Mo'ville
By STAFF REPORT
10/03/2008
MORRISVILLE, Pa. - Morrisville's four day Octoberfest and Carnival, which started yesterday, is open to everyone, not just borough residents, a key organizer said yesterday.
Kimberly Kane, the Morrisville YMCA events director and an Octoberfest coordinator, said any talk about non-residents being banned is wrong.
The world is welcome, including Trentonians.
"As we handed out flyers at the local shopping center near the Calhoun Street Bridge several people said things along the line of 'oh, I heard about this, but I live in Trenton. I heard we aren't allowed to go.'
"I'm not sure why people would think that or who might have told them that, but several people said things along the same lines,'' Kane said. "It just baffles me and I am concerned.
"We would never exclude anyone. It is a community event that is open to the entire public. I would like to officially invite your New Jersey customers and all New Jersey residents to please, join us at the carnival over the next 4 days.''
The events are set for Williamson Park, just on the other side of the "Trenton Makes'' bridge.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
The Principle Police
From North Dakota's in-forum.com.
If you ever want to figure out why regular people get so ticked off with the behavior of elected officials, here's the perfect example.
It's all about a non-issue: Writing a letter of support from one governmental body to another. It just wasn't listed on the agenda as an action item for the meeting, so a community gadfly files an open meetings violation suit.
Now the state attorney general will begin a 17- to 23-week review process. Here's the kicker: Even if board members are found to have violated the open meetings laws, it doesn’t change, overrule or void any action.
There's absolutely no oversight provided. And no matter how anyone feels about the letter, yes, there are openness and fairness principles involved. That's why people get ticked off with unadvertised meetings and decisions shrouded in secrecy.
What a waste of time all around.
Open meetings laws at issue in investigation
Kelly Smith, The Forum
Published Friday, October 03, 2008
A week after the state attorney general decided that the Grand Forks School Board violated open meetings laws, the Fargo School Board is under review for a similar issue.
Fargo School Board members say their approval last week to draft a letter isn’t a big deal. But Fargo resident Dave Engebretson – who filed the complaint with the state – disagrees, arguing it’s more about the principle of government transparency.
“They do things without public input,” he said. “I’m hoping it stops; bottom line.”
School Board member Jim Johnson told other board members Sept. 23 that the city wanted the board’s support for the city’s Southside Flood Control Project.
Johnson made a motion during board reports directing administrators to draft a letter of support.
“We have at least four (school) buildings in the flood plain, so it makes sense for us to support the flood plan,” board President Dan Fremling said this week.
Board member John Strand expressed concern about taking action on an issue not listed on the board’s agenda.
“And that’s a big issue,” he said. “It’s a taxpayer issue, it’s a policy issue.”
A motion failed 5-3 to table the discussion.
Johnson clarified that the motion was for Superintendent Rick Buresh to draft a letter that could be approved at the Oct. 14 meeting. All eight board members present then approved the motion.
“We didn’t take any action to do anything,” Fremling said. Whether the board did anything wrong, he added: “Not a thing.”
“In this situation, you’re talking about drafting a letter,” Fremling said. “It’s ridiculous.”
For Engebretson, though, the issue is about principle. “It’s a poor excuse,” he said. “It’s not just a letter of support.”
He filed the complaint with the North Dakota attorney general Sept. 24, and contacted the Cass County attorney this week.
Engebretson, 50, has been a longtime vocal critic of Fargo public entities and is a frequent writer of letters to the editor in The Forum, advocating lower property taxes and special assessments. The insurance loss-prevention consultant has also twice run unsuccessfully for City Commission.
Engebretson worked on Strand’s School Board campaign this year and considers him a friend. He added, though, that he didn’t contact Strand until after he filed the complaint with the state – which Strand reaffirmed.
“I don’t go back and get somebody to write a letter to the editor,” Strand said in response to his connection with Engebretson.
Bismarck attorney Jack McDonald, who represents the North Dakota Newspaper Association, said it’s not illegal for public entities to add issues to their agendas to discuss or take action on. He said they aren’t required to publish agendas – just minutes.
Just months ago, though, a similar incident happened in Grand Forks when a complaint was filed against the School Board for discussing and acting on an issue – the reassignment of a principal – not listed in the agenda.
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem wrote on Sept. 19 that the Grand Forks agenda “did not sufficiently describe the staff change contemplated and was, therefore, not in substantial compliance with (open meeting laws).”
As for the Fargo School Board, Liz Brocker of the state attorney general’s office said the assistant attorney general is in the beginning of what is typically a 17- to 23-week review process to examine information provided by the board.
Even if board members are found to have violated the open meetings laws, she said, it doesn’t change, overrule or void any action taken last week.
Strand said he hopes it shows transparency is necessary.
“I’m not criticizing my own board,” he said. “I hope we all are held vigil to doing our public business in the public day.”
If you ever want to figure out why regular people get so ticked off with the behavior of elected officials, here's the perfect example.
It's all about a non-issue: Writing a letter of support from one governmental body to another. It just wasn't listed on the agenda as an action item for the meeting, so a community gadfly files an open meetings violation suit.
Now the state attorney general will begin a 17- to 23-week review process. Here's the kicker: Even if board members are found to have violated the open meetings laws, it doesn’t change, overrule or void any action.
There's absolutely no oversight provided. And no matter how anyone feels about the letter, yes, there are openness and fairness principles involved. That's why people get ticked off with unadvertised meetings and decisions shrouded in secrecy.
What a waste of time all around.
Open meetings laws at issue in investigation
Kelly Smith, The Forum
Published Friday, October 03, 2008
A week after the state attorney general decided that the Grand Forks School Board violated open meetings laws, the Fargo School Board is under review for a similar issue.
Fargo School Board members say their approval last week to draft a letter isn’t a big deal. But Fargo resident Dave Engebretson – who filed the complaint with the state – disagrees, arguing it’s more about the principle of government transparency.
“They do things without public input,” he said. “I’m hoping it stops; bottom line.”
School Board member Jim Johnson told other board members Sept. 23 that the city wanted the board’s support for the city’s Southside Flood Control Project.
Johnson made a motion during board reports directing administrators to draft a letter of support.
“We have at least four (school) buildings in the flood plain, so it makes sense for us to support the flood plan,” board President Dan Fremling said this week.
Board member John Strand expressed concern about taking action on an issue not listed on the board’s agenda.
“And that’s a big issue,” he said. “It’s a taxpayer issue, it’s a policy issue.”
A motion failed 5-3 to table the discussion.
Johnson clarified that the motion was for Superintendent Rick Buresh to draft a letter that could be approved at the Oct. 14 meeting. All eight board members present then approved the motion.
“We didn’t take any action to do anything,” Fremling said. Whether the board did anything wrong, he added: “Not a thing.”
“In this situation, you’re talking about drafting a letter,” Fremling said. “It’s ridiculous.”
For Engebretson, though, the issue is about principle. “It’s a poor excuse,” he said. “It’s not just a letter of support.”
He filed the complaint with the North Dakota attorney general Sept. 24, and contacted the Cass County attorney this week.
Engebretson, 50, has been a longtime vocal critic of Fargo public entities and is a frequent writer of letters to the editor in The Forum, advocating lower property taxes and special assessments. The insurance loss-prevention consultant has also twice run unsuccessfully for City Commission.
Engebretson worked on Strand’s School Board campaign this year and considers him a friend. He added, though, that he didn’t contact Strand until after he filed the complaint with the state – which Strand reaffirmed.
“I don’t go back and get somebody to write a letter to the editor,” Strand said in response to his connection with Engebretson.
Bismarck attorney Jack McDonald, who represents the North Dakota Newspaper Association, said it’s not illegal for public entities to add issues to their agendas to discuss or take action on. He said they aren’t required to publish agendas – just minutes.
Just months ago, though, a similar incident happened in Grand Forks when a complaint was filed against the School Board for discussing and acting on an issue – the reassignment of a principal – not listed in the agenda.
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem wrote on Sept. 19 that the Grand Forks agenda “did not sufficiently describe the staff change contemplated and was, therefore, not in substantial compliance with (open meeting laws).”
As for the Fargo School Board, Liz Brocker of the state attorney general’s office said the assistant attorney general is in the beginning of what is typically a 17- to 23-week review process to examine information provided by the board.
Even if board members are found to have violated the open meetings laws, she said, it doesn’t change, overrule or void any action taken last week.
Strand said he hopes it shows transparency is necessary.
“I’m not criticizing my own board,” he said. “I hope we all are held vigil to doing our public business in the public day.”
Mentors needed for Morrisville schools
From the BCCT.
Mentors needed for Morrisville schools
Posted in News on Friday, October 3rd, 2008 at 4:10 pm by Courier Times reporter Manasee Wagh
Morrisville School District 21st Century Community Learning Centers is looking for people to volunteer as mentors for an in-school program called Generations Educating Morrisville, or GEM. Mentors would need to volunteer for just one hour a week for third and fourth grade students in Morrisville schools.
Currently, the district is looking for people to give their time on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Grandview Elementary School.
Training for volunteers will be provided.
For more information please contact Kathy at 215-428-0500 ext. 204.
Mentors needed for Morrisville schools
Posted in News on Friday, October 3rd, 2008 at 4:10 pm by Courier Times reporter Manasee Wagh
Morrisville School District 21st Century Community Learning Centers is looking for people to volunteer as mentors for an in-school program called Generations Educating Morrisville, or GEM. Mentors would need to volunteer for just one hour a week for third and fourth grade students in Morrisville schools.
Currently, the district is looking for people to give their time on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Grandview Elementary School.
Training for volunteers will be provided.
For more information please contact Kathy at 215-428-0500 ext. 204.
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