Re: How not to conduct an iris salvage
- To: "i*@onelist.com"
- Subject: Re: How not to conduct an iris salvage
- From: r*@dmv.com
- Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 08:21:23 -0400
As mayor of a small town (pop 450) with two state highways for main
streets, I have to come to the defense of the DOT on this one. One of
the most frustrating tasks for public officials, whether elected or
appointed, is getting adequate public input EARLY in the decision making
process. Planning for that bulldozer attack probably started more than 5
years ago and may easily have been in the works for a decade or longer.
Maryland State Highway Administration recently recurbed, milled and
repaved a street in my town. The public document for the project was
over 200 pages, including evaluation of potential damage to historic
structures, potential for disturbing archeological remains and
environmental and ecological impact. I can't imagine the SHA trying to
proceed without such a document in hand.
The most important thing a concerned citizen can do is read every public
notice that shows up in your local paper. If you THINK there is a remote
possibility that the activity relates to you, make inquiry and show up
at the public hearing. If may be too much effort, but believe me when I
tell you that the people on the other side of the table want to hear
from you, so problems just like this one can be addressed in a
reasonable manner.
At some point, a public official will be forced to pull out all the
documentation for the project. That will include minutes of preliminary
meetings, certified copies of advertisements for public hearings,
transcripts of every word that was spoken at the hearings (both
informational and official hearings) and an evaluation of all public
input. If your comments don't show up in that documentation, whose fault
is it? Don't answer, I already know.
Off my soap box.
R. Dennis Hager, Mayor
Millington, MD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make music with anyone, anywhere, through FREE Internet
recording studio software. FREE software download!
http://click.egroups.com/1/3734/0/_/486170/_/957184012/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
