Jefferson County Parks and Recreation

[Molina]

NOTICE OF SPECIAL (http://www.spiritofjefferson.com/Legal_Notices_10-11-07.pdf)
MEETING (http://www.spiritofjefferson.com/Legal_Notices_10-11-07.pdf)
The Jefferson County Parks
and Recreation Commission is
announcing the Special Meeting
scheduled for October 15,
2007, at 7:00 p.m. held at the
Sam Michaels Community
Center, 1102 Job Corps Road,
Charles Town, WV. The Special
Meeting is to review and
approve, under majority, recommended
amendments to the
current By-Laws.
10/4/2t
as advertised in the Spirit of Jefferson County


NOTICE OF MEETING (http://www.spiritofjefferson.com/Legal_Notices_10-11-07.pdf)
The Jefferson County Parks
and Recreation Commission
will meet Wednesday,
October17, 2007 7:00 p.m.
at Sam Michaels Community Center,
1102 Job Corp Road, Charles
Town, WV. The public is encouraged
and invited to attend
all public meetings.
10/11/1t

[Willis]

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE
Please, let's get some folks from the MT to attend and become part of the process. I'll even throw in some transfers for S&B, personalized, if you promise to wear a Tee or Sweat Shirt to the meeting(plus a few brochures to give to inquiring minds.
Let's show Molina some support!!

[ministerswife]

OK. I'll bite. I'd love to be there, if someone will come and pick me up and bring me back. It's well known by now that I drive at night only in the most urgent cases. Thanks for the reminder, Willis.

[Jenniffer]

I'll try to go to both meetings. Depends on my husband's schedule.

[Tony]

I suppose someone has to say what a lot are thinking: I'll go if someone pays me. And gives me a ride.

I assume everyone from p&r is getting paid to be there, otherwise they wouldn't come either.

Of course, if there's some particularly important by-law being voted on, and I'll have some input, then I apologize and will be there.

[Theresa]

Tony- P&R board , in fact all the County Board positions , are made up of Volunteers. All the more reason why our neighbors , Shawna Molina and Susie Kennison should be commended!

[ministerswife]

Oooops! Ooooops! Ooooops! I “gotta” say it. I think that any person who volunteers to work toward helping to improve the county and this community for its residents deserves to be applauded. I also have to say, when I asked for a ride (see above) because the meetings are at night, I wasn’t asking for a free ride. Those who know me know two things about me:
1)I have never asked anyone for a free ride.
2)I have glaucoma, and for those who don’t know what it is, it affects your eyesight (eventually unless very well controlled leading to blindness). One particular area it affects is in night driving. Night driving is very difficult due to oncoming lights, etc. It can be done, but to do so without having an urgent situation is folly for those with this eye disease, if they find night driving difficult (and I do). I’m not whimpering, I’m just telling it like it is, and I’ve learned to live with the way it is pretty darn well without burdening anyone. I would never have posted a request for a ride a few years ago, when some of my neighbors who attended such affairs would take me with them. These neighbors are now either dead or moved to places like the Carolinas, Georgia, or Florida. They still keep in touch, but I think asking them to come back to give me a ride is inappropriate. Evidently asking anyone else for one isn’t appropriate either, so I won’t anymore. I hope somebody from the mountain goes and keeps us informed about the p&r decisions, and I wish him and/or her a safe trip.

[Jenniffer]

Photos from Monday's meeting are here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjfbaltzell/sets/72157602441952708/).

There was initially some debate over whether they could address the by-laws with some members not present, but in the end, they decided to work through the proposed revisions (with legal counsel in the form of Stephanie Grove present for consultation) and vote on the proposed revisions at the next regular meeting. I had to leave after about an hour and half, but they were working their way through the document in a thorough and professional way when I left. I took detailed notes if anyone has specific questions.

[Willis]

Am I correct in my understanding that this meeting was open to the public, but no input was being solicited or would be allowed- It was for the purpose of administrative changes? I had heard that these changes were in response to criticism of a "less than professional" manner in the handling of the P&R's affairs. Not that this was in response to any accusations of mis or malfeasance but rather an effort to avoid such pitfalls in the future in light of our exponentially growing population.
My questions, Jenniffer - Was this your take on the proceedings? Out of curiosity, approximately how many good citizens of the County attended the meeting?

I note the next meeting on Wednesday is at hand. Darned if I can find the agenda on the P&R website. I wonder if our representative from the Blue Ridge, Molina, can help me find/locate it??

And thanks Jen-you are extraordinary!

[Jenniffer]

Am I correct in my understanding that this meeting was open to the public, but no input was being solicited or would be allowed- It was for the purpose of administrative changes?



If that's so, it wasn't stated. I know they termed it a "work session". They didn't solicit any input from me, and I didn't offer any, so it didn't come up. The only other member of the audience was Ms. Grove, and she certainly offered input (and input was solicited from her).



I had heard that these changes were in response to criticism of a "less than professional" manner in the handling of the P&R's affairs. Not that this was in response to any accusations of mis or malfeasance but rather an effort to avoid such pitfalls in the future in light of our exponentially growing population.
My questions, Jenniffer - Was this your take on the proceedings?
I got the impression, in some areas, that the changes were being made to address past problems, but I haven't been in the area long enough to know the background/history and just what those problems may have been. They were also concerned with bringing the by-laws into line with state code, clarifying their powers as a commission, and figuring out practical aspects of applying those powers (approval of hiring and firing, contracts, etc). Just before I left, they took a good deal of time clarifying who would be spokesperson for the board and just what that means (in terms of how other members should handle direct questions from various sources--media, county citizens, other boards, etc).



Out of curiosity, approximately how many good citizens of the County attended the meeting?
Just Ms. Grove and I.



I note the next meeting on Wednesday is at hand. Darned if I can find the agenda on the P&R website. I wonder if our representative from the Blue Ridge, Molina, can help me find/locate it??

And thanks Jen-you are extraordinary!

I plan on attending Wednesday's meeting, as well.