As discussed during the
November ANC 8C meeting ANC 8C still has
NOT responded in writing to the recommendations and findings by the DC Auditor in the September 2009 audit
OR voted to retroactively approve the paid (but unapproved) $24,300 in rent payments for the ANC office from 2006 to 2009. Despite having been given 90 days to satisfy the auditors demands ANC 8C still has not done so. To add insult to injury at least one of the Commissioners,
Commissioner Cardell Shelton admits that as of the November 2009 meeting he still had not read the audit report in full.
What does this mean for ANC 8C residents? Unless a special ANC 8C PUBLIC meeting is called to specifically address the auditor's recommendations and findings and to finally approve the past unapproved rent payments ANC 8C residents will be robbed once again of $24,300 - this time in future ANC allotment funds.
Commissioner William Ellis has discussed his hopes to address the DC Auditor's deadline but without support from the majority of the ANC Commissioners we are faced with once again with ANC 8C failing to safeguard ANC 8C funds.
There are 9 days left until the written response and the written retroactive approval by the Commission (in a public meeting) of the past rent payments are due at the DC Auditor's office. If by December 2nd these items are not on file with the DC Auditor, ANC 8C and its residents are in danger of losing $24,300 - money that could be used to benefit our community.
Please note that
ANC law mandates that 7 days notice be given to the public for all public ANC meetings. So far, The Advoc8te has not seen any notice of a special pubic meeting having been scheduled to address these important financial issues. The Advoc8te recommends that residents contact their Single Member District Commissioner and ask them to get this taken care of ASAP by calling a special public meeting so that the community is not further penalized for the continued inability for ANC 8C to get on the ball and follow the law!
Commissioner Mary Cuthbert has made it very clear that she has no plans to address any of the auditor's findings or recommendations in a public ANC meeting - despite the fact that this lack of action will cost the residents and tax payers of ANC 8C even more in ANC funds. She is however
totally committed to having more $900 a month checks written for unused and unwanted ANC 8C office space , office rent that has been the ONLY expense reported for ANC 8C for many years, an expense that the DC Auditor calls "an economical waste of taxpayers’ dollars".
If a special public meeting of ANC 8C is not held...and held soon... the next scheduled ANC 8C public meeting will be held on
Wed, December 2nd 2009 at 6:30pm at the UPO Petey Greene Center located at 2907 MLK Ave SE. Please note that the DC Auditor set a deadline of December 2nd, 2009 for the ANC's written response to the audit AND the vote to retroactively approve the $23,400 in past unapproved office rent payments for the ANC office located at 3125 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue.
2009 - 2010 ANC 8C COMMISSIONERS
WILLIAM ELLIS/8C01
2636 Bowen Road SE
Washington, DC 20020
(202) 872-2644
DION JORDAN/8C02
2820 2nd Street SE
Washington, DC 20032
MARY CUTHBERT/8C03
3325 Martin Luther King Jr.Ave, SE
Washington DC 20032
(202) 639-6410
R. CALVIN LOCKRIDGE/8C04
121 Raleigh Street SE
Washington, DC 20032
(202) 562-4974
VACANT/8C05
VACANT/8C06
CARDELL SHELTON/8C07
115 Upsal Street SE
Washington, DC 20032
For more Congress Heights and River East news visit The Congress Heights Examiner website,
http://www.examiner.com/x-13507-Congress-Heights-Community-Examiner
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5 Comments:
Commissioner Ellis –
The ANC currently has an office – the few residents who attend ANC meetings ask “why an office? What are you doing? Where is the money going for an office that you don’t use and is not equipped?” You respond, “You are right – let me file missing reports, prepare a budget, and spend more money on a “functioning office”!
The residents say, “We need to be notified of the meetings – we want to have some say on topics discussed”! Where is our agenda? When and how will we be notified?” You respond: “You are right – let me file missing reports, prepare a budget, and spend more money on a “functioning office”!
The residents say we need a voice to represent OUR concerns! We need to have a discussion about what this ANC is doing, plans to do – how can we make you become more responsive?” “You are right – let me file missing reports, prepare a budget, and spend more money on a “functioning office”!
The residents scream, we don’t trust you, we don’t see any reason for this commission to continue as it currently exists, you are not listening to us, do not effectively represent us, and you respond “ You are right – I have filed the reports, fixed the budget, and we need a functioning office AND grants”????????
I don't know whether you are being naive, obtuse,- or perhaps you are the most diabolically manipulative and fiendishly clever cynic of all time. I appreciate the fact that you are paying attention to the paperwork and the infrastructure -- really, I do...but do you REALLY think that that is the fundamental issue here? That the problems that the residents who attend the meetings cite over and over again and from untold number of neighborhood residents who have long ago stopped paying attention to your commission and stay simply AWAY -- are you honestly trying to convince me that you believe that if the reports get in on time and the paperwork is properly filed that all is well in the land of ANC8C?
1. Every neighborhood partners program, promise neighborhoods program, sustainable, livable communities program that exists – stress ONE thing – community involvement, community engagement or whatever you want to call it. For that to happen, the Commissioners need to canvass the neighborhoods, figure out a way to re-engage residents, listen to ideas…. Does your budget fix that?
2. Before we talk about grants – we need, as a community, to talk about criteria! What kinds of programs do residents want and need funded? With the present Commission, what kind of guarantee can you give that grant money will be distributed fairly, what kind of monitoring, quality control does your budget offer that ensures that THIS money is spent wisely?
3. What guarantee can you give that residents will be notified about legislation, funds, zoning issues, housing plans, hearings in a timely manner? How can we be assured that our concerns, wishes, suggestions are taken into account and that we are “represented” effectively? How can we be assured that you will take your positions seriously, and do the legwork necessary to be well-informed, analytical and thoughtful about the various issues and concerns of your residents and this Ward?
4. What plans do you have to ensure accountability of the Commissioners and the Commission’s actions to the neighborhoods and residents you claim to represent?
If the ANC 8C does meet, legally or not, and can agree to answer the auditor and approve a budget, other than filed reports, a budget, and a functioning office, WHAT IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT?
I respect what you are trying to do – but you are only one Commissioner. I no longer believe that ANC8C, as presently configured, is interested in, or capable of representing this community in an effective manner. ANC8C should lose its recognition. Period.
Here's what I'd do.
Call Ellis and get a list of days in the coming week (it has to be scheduled in the next 7 days, right?) that he is available in the hold a meeting. Maybe run those same dates by the ANC members and get them on record saying when they're free. Call up the other citizen ANC attendee regulars (there's not many, right? you must have each other's numbers), and get them to commit to attending the available dates. Then post it all online -- "Ellis is available "Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sunday. Cuthbert, Lockridge and Shelton avail... Eight regular attendees of ANC8C meetings have committed to attending any of the avail days... So what day will it be Commissioner?"
Get it all on the record, that they had advance notice of the pertinent deadlines and Commissioner/Member availability.
Why aren't one of you guys taking their seats? It doesn't sound like much of a time commitment. (I don't live in SE)
Couldn't help but notice the last comment... Why aren't one of you guys taking their seats? It doesn't sound like much of a time commitment. (I don't live in SE)...
At some point, others may run for those seats. But, at the same time, if none of choose to run, don't we, simply because we are citizens, and residents of this area, deserve good governance? Would you accept any less?
As in any community, we have lots of people with lots of talents. People should be encouraged, and feel free to, contribute to their community, in the way they see fit. But if you are going to run for office, and are elected, then serve and serve well. We deserve thoughtful, intelligent and honest representation, JUST BECAUSE. Same as you do, my friend, in or out of SE. And UNTIL we get thoughtful, intelligent and honest representation, we should continue to object, and critique, and complain, and anything else that the community can do to communicate their dissatisfaction and desire for change.
@treme4ever - Well said.
@ Anonymous there are definetly plans to have people run in the next election which is in November. Hopefully we can replace the entire Commission with capable, dedicated and honest folks. Until then we need to keep the pressure on the folks who were elected and make sure they are held accountable.
Meant to clarify that the next elections are in November of next year!
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