ISSUES WE ARE WATCHING AND WANT TO ADDRESS
LOCAL
Craven County Board of Commissioners:
Regular Meetings: The Board of Commissioners holds regular meetings on the first and third Monday of each month. If a regular meeting day is a holiday on which County offices are closed, the meeting is held on the next business day or such succeeding day as may be specified. Regular meetings are held in the Craven County Commissioners Meeting Room at the Craven County Administration Building, New Bern, North Carolina. The meeting held on the first Monday convenes at 7:00 p.m. and allows the citizens to petition. The meeting held on the third Monday convenes at 8:30 a.m. and does not allow public comment.
Meeting November 7, 2011
Tax Releases and Refunds. Over $18,000 was refunded to citizens at this meeting. Close to $200,000 to date.
Sheriff Matters- Commissioner Jeff Taylor and a citizen named Susan Piller continued to press the Sheriff about allegations of poor training and fiscal control over the Sheriff's Office.
Present use Property Assessments & Voluntary Agricultural Districts. Tyker Gonzales attended a meeting the State conducted in New Bern for assessors and county employees from all over the State. She was told there that she is the only citizen other than government employees and contractors who has ever attended one of these meetings. She says she learned a lot. She can't be here tonight but will report her findings to us at a future meeting. The county Commissioners will consider adopting an ordinance to require a minimum of 10 acres to be eligible for a farm to be included in the Voluntary Agricultural District.
Voter ID Resolution-Legislative Request . We need you to call your Commissioner. Commissioner Dacey does not have the full support on this from fellow Commissioners that you would expect him to.
Convention Center- $150,000 for carpet. The Finance Officer says it came from the settlement with the builder, but I remember that legal fees took all of that settlement but $125,000. How did they get $150,000 out of $125,000?
DSS Crisis Intervention Program- Another $388,779 of tax money was thrown at this program. No Local or state tax money- ALL FEDERAL-That's ok with the Board.
Conduit Issuers of Tax Exempt Debt- A presentation on this subject on the agenda was skipped over. It may be "Tax Exempt" for the holder of these bonds, but I bet it is not "tax exempt" for the Taxpayer!
Craven County Board of Elections
No meeting schedule on their website. No minutes posted since Nov 2007.
Craven County Board of Education-The Board of Education holds two regularly scheduled meetings each month and special called meetings as needed. All meetings are open to the public. The Board Work Sessions are usually held at 8:30 a.m. the Tuesday prior to the Board of Education Meeting which is held at 6:00 p.m. the third Thursday of each month. The Work Session is an interactive meeting in which board members and staff discuss the current business and agree on proposals to be made at the official board meeting. Citizens interested in the details of the work of the school system are encouraged to attend this meeting.
The official Board of Education meeting is held at 6:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. At that meeting there is a Public Participation section for citizen input, an Education Spotlight recognition section and a section for approval of discussed items. Meetings are held in the Board Room of the Administrative Building, 3600 Trent Road, New Bern, unless otherwise announced.
We will continue to explore the quality of education and the accurate portrayal of American history and the values of our nation's founders and adherence to the US Constitution related to instruction and books used in the curriculum.
We are also interested in the process of hiring a new Superintendent of Schools and what values he or she holds relative to the values we espouse for our children.
Havelock Board of Commissioners
Next Meeting 28 Nov 11. All regularly scheduled meetings of the Havelock Board of Commissioners are held in the City Hall Auditorium, 1 Governmental Avenue, Havelock, NC and begin at 7:00 p.m.
We found that the Havelock Board of Commissioners abuse the "Consent Agenda" the same way the Craven County Board of Commissioners did before the present Board came into office.
Concealed Carry- On 28 Nov 11 the Havelock Board of Commissioners will consider an ordinance of prohibit the carrying of concealed weapons in their parks when the State removes the prohibition state wide on 1 Dec 11. WE NEED TO PACK THEIR MEETING ROOM THAT NIGHT!
The Commissioners are angry with NC DOT about the median splitting highway 70.
They did vote down several proposals to recklessly spend taxpayer money. Most will probably come up again. These are big-ticket items coming to more than a half million dollars.
New Bern Board of AldermenWe had a big flap with the Board of Alderman on their move to restrict the Constitutional right to petition the government for redress of grievances. The Mayor helped resolve the issue somewhat with us by agreeing that if we requested to be on the agenda we could have more time that the 4 minutes allowed to petition at the beginning of a meeting.
We also have some concerns with the "Advance Metering Infrastructure/Demand System." It seems ok as it is being conducted on a volunteer basis but they obviously have the ability to make it mandatory and thereby regulate how much energy a customer is allowed.
REGIONAL ISSUES
Global Transpark- A colossal failure. Now actually less than 400 new jobs. Sold as providing 55,000.
Economic Development Commission- 100 Industrial Drive, New Bern, NC 28562--I couldn't find a meeting schedule. Phone: (252) 633-5300, Fax: (252) 633-3253, Jim Davis' Cell: (252) 670-0033,
Email: edc@yescraven.com
Watch out for the Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority. Another way to get into a money spending situation for the taxpayer.
Military Growth Task Force (MGTF)- I Couldn't find a regular scheduled meeting open to the public.
Military Growth Task Force, 656 W. Corbett Avenue P.O. Box 814, Swansboro, North Carolina 28584, Phone: 910-325-8112, Fax: 910-325-8114. Salaries way too high and very unproductive.
East Carolina Council-Down East Rural Planning Organization ~ Board Meetings: January 24, 2012; March 27, 2012; May 22, 2012; July 24, 2012; September 25, 2012; November 27, 2012--9:30 a.m., OMarks Building, 233 Middle Street, Second Floor Conference Room, New Bern, NC. In big trouble without producing much. I'll be surprised if other scandals don't break on this one. Not fulfilling it's mission and the Treasurer left and the Chairman replaced.
Coastal Community Action
"We will persevere as the voice and the catalyst of empowerment and opportunity for those who cannot succeed on their own."
Carteret Community Action, Inc. was established in 1965 as a private corporation with a public mission.
There are 15 Board positions available on the CCA Board. One third of the membership is composed of public officials or their representatives, one-third is composed of representatives of the poor, and the remainder represent business, industry, labor, religion, welfare, or other private groups and interests. One member of the Board of Directors represents the Head Start Policy Council. Directors may succeed themselves for a period not to exceed six year. Huge numbers of taxpayer dollars for health agencies.
STATE ISSUES
Voter ID- Governor Purdue vetoed. Will be hard to override, but there is a plan in place called the Local Bill Option.
Norman Sanderson's Promises Made-Promises Kept! Rep. Sanderson attended our November 15th meeting and gave us and update on the NCGA special sessions and what is happening at the state level.
Who Are These People?
State Superintendent of Schools- June Atkinson
Attorney General- Roy A. Cooper
Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshall-Wayne Goodwin
National Concerns- Lynn Childs (Lynn's report has also been posted on this blog!)
- Supreme Court to hear Constitutionality of Obama Care
- Super Committee
- Job Bill for Veterans
- 2nd Amendment Alert
- EPA Strangling Business
Popular Vote Initiative
HUD
Department of Energy
Department of Education
INVESTIGATIVE TOOLS
Attendance at Governmental Meetings (as many as possible)
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and FOIA Letter Generator
Attorney General's Office
State Superintendent of Schools
Follow-the-money Website
FBI Files (the moment a person dies)
CCTA's Website
Constant Contact
Letters to the Editor(s)
Guidestar.org Search for Non-profits formed by Governmental Agencies)
Liaison with other Tea Party Type Groups
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