1) Posted docs mean $$ for city.

The Birmingham City Clerk is testing the electronic delivery of complete commission meeting packets to city staffers, and will expand the project soon to City Commissioners. By summer, the packets should be available to the public via the Internet. After five years, Clerk Nancy Weiss expects to cut printing costs from the current average of $854 per commission meeting to just $150. The commission held 31 meetings in 2001.

If successful, the program will be expanded to other city boards, Weiss told the commission at its long-range planning session last Saturday.

Commissioners will soon be offered the use of laptop computers and printers at city expense. The commission packets will be distributed to them on CD-ROMs in Adobe Acrobat format. The clerk currently posts summary agendas on the Internet, and distributes full hard-copy packets of information to the commission by hand each week. Members of the public can purchase packets at City Hall for $5 per meeting.

2) Woodward Median Project advances.

The City of Birmingham hopes to begin construction of the first phase of the Woodward Median Improvement project this spring, Community Development Director Patricia McCullough told the City Commission last Saturday. Final construction drawings are being done, and the commission should be presented with a recommended contractor in March or April.

The $520,000 project, which covers approximately one-half mile of Woodward between Brown and Oakland centered on Maple Road will be funded in part by a grant.

It involves landscaping and some minor road construction. Final design work is being done by Land Design Studio, Royal Oak.

Click on the following link to see a drawing of the plan in your browser Woodward.jpg . To save the drawing to your computer for viewing in the graphics program of your choice, right-click the link and choose Save As.. or Save Link As...

Phases 2 and 3 of the project have yet to be approved by the commission. Phase 2 would include landscaping and minor road construction of the remaining 1.5 miles of Woodward from the Mobil gas station at the north to the 555 Building to the south. Phase 3 would add artwork.

3) Quarton Lake planning begins.

Dredging of Quarton Lake is scheduled to begin in the late fall or early winter of 2002, with restoration of the park to begin in the Spring of 2003, the Quarton Lake Ad Hoc Committee was told at its first meeting Monday night.

Lake sediment has accumulated faster than anticipated since the most recent dredging in 1972, the committee was told. Sediment traps will be installed at the north end of the lake to alleviate future buildup. Tests have shown the sediment is environmentally safe enough to be put in a landfill.

Tests of water quality show a level of bacteria unsuitable for full body contact, a condition that is expected to improve upon project is completion.

Committee members include City Commissioner Don Carney, and residents Tom Elliott, Beth Gotthelf, Mark Hester (representing the Quarton Lake Neighborhood Association), Jared Rundell (representing the Mill Pond Neighborhood Association), Ed Schulak and A. Ray Stevens (representing the Parks and Recreation Board).

Also attending the meeting were City Engineer Dennis Dembiec and representatives of Hubbell, Roth and Clark, the city's engineering and environmental consultant, and Wade-Trim, the city's park planning consultant.

Various dredging and transport alternatives will be presented to the committee for evaluation at its next meeting. All involved agree that project needs must be balanced with the needs of the adjacent neighborhoods.

The committee must also consider how the park will be restored.

The project is expected to cost $1.6 million, $900,000 of which will be paid for by grants already obtained by the city. The city is seeking further grants.

The south end dam will be inspected after the lake is drawn down. If dam or valve repairs are necessary, they will be at additional cost.

Committee meetings are scheduled for Feb. 26, Mar. 26, May 6 and June 3. All will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Department of Public Service, 851 S. Eton. Residents are encouraged to attend and help decide the future of Quarton Lake.

Read the City Engineer's Nov. 9 report to the City Manager about the project at http://www.bhambuzz.org/pdfs/quarton.pdf.

Read the city's grant application at http://www.bhambuzz.org/pdfs/grantapplication.pdf.

Read an October description of Wade-Trim's scope of work on the project at http://www.bhambuzz.org/pdfs/scope.pdf.


4) Hungry for hits.

The Buzz is growing quickly, but we're still hungry for hits, subscribers and supporters. We're currently peaking at around 40 hits a day, with roughly 300 subscribers and more than 50 supporters. But those numbers are peanuts when you consider that Birmingham has nearly 10,000 households. Please take a moment NOW to spread the word. Forward our web address, http://www.bhambuzz.org, to everyone in your email address book. Tell them it's good. Ask them to subscribe. Tell them it's free!

Help us meet our first goals of 1,000 subscribers, 100 supporters, and 100 hits per day!


5) Talk is cheap.

So why not participate in the Buzz discussion group? Here's why: Because no one has broken the ice! It's like a party: Nobody dances until some brave soul hits the dance floor. So we're going to try to break the ice by asking our friends -- you know who you are! -- to post some comments.

Just click on the following link -- http://www.bhambuzz.org/public.html -- or on the "Discuss" link on the left side of our home page.

Talk about anything: those monstrosities they call the Willits and Palladium, paving Booth Park, non-native species taking over our town... you name it!

Have some fun!


6) Chuck Moss writes.

To the Buzz:

Thank you for running an excerpt of my January 13, 2002, guest op ed piece in the Birmingham Eccentric. The full version will be available on my web page, http://www.chuckmoss.com.

However, I am warning everybody -- not singling out the City Commission.

Let me re-emphasize: The impacts of Headlee/Prop A are neither pro- nor anti-development. They are cold equations, uncaring and impersonal as a hurricane. The bottom line is simple: To maintain current services and pay for infrastructure costs, EVERY CITY must grow its revenue stream.

How to do this is a matter for public debate, but now no one can say they weren't warned.

Chuck Moss
Oakland County Commissioner


7) Planning packet posted.

January seems to be the time for long-range planning, and both the City Commission and the Birmingham Buzz are in the midst of it.

We'd love to be able to instantly make our site complete, with full, factual reports on everything of interest in Birmingham city government -- including the commission's Jan. 19 long-range planning session -- but unfortunately our resources and time are limited.

We therefore are making available to you the packet distributed in advance of the commission's planning session and used as an agenda and guide to many of the reports and discussion on Saturday. It is well worth reading, and will bring you up to date on several issues of interest. Look to the Buzz for future reports on many of the topics covered. The file is big, so we suggest you right-click on the following link and either Open in New Window... or Save Link As... Find it at http://www.bhambuzz.org/pdfs/comm_lrplan_011902.pdf.


8) Mark your calendar.

* City Commission, 8 p.m., Jan. 28, City Hall.
* Presidents Council, 7 p.m., Jan. 31, 2252 Yorkshire (east of Eton).


9) To be removed, please send a request to info@bhambuzz.org
{{PERIOD}}




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The Birmingham Buzz #4
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January 18, 2002

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Birmingham Buzz. If you missed our first three editions, check out our archives at http://www.bhambuzz.org/archives.htm.

Our mission: To inform and involve all Birmingham citizens.

Visit us at http://www.bhambuzz.org.

In this edition:

1) Fuller buys Paterson Carney building.
2) City will reach out to Jacobson’s.
3) McGraw resigns Planning Board, trashes City Commission.
4) Moss cautions commission: Without growth, tax limits will bind city.
5) City considers proposed code of ethics.
6) City’s long-range planning meeting is SATURDAY.
7) Once devastated, elms start to rebound...
8) To be removed.


1) Fuller buys Paterson Carney building

Ted Fuller's Central Park Properties LLC has purchased the Pierce Street building occupied by women's clothing retailer Edward Dorian and the Paterson Carney Florist.

Paterson Carney is owned by City Commissioner Don Carney and his wife, Jacqui. Fuller declined to disclose the terms of the sale, which closed on Monday.

Fuller owns the site of the former Alvin's bridal salon next door to the florist. Construction has begun on a three-story mixed-use development that will have retail on the first floor, office on the second floor, and residential on the third floor. Fuller said he is considering moving into the third floor himself.

He said he has no plans to combine the two sites, and no immediate plans for the building housing the clothing store and florist. He said both tenants have long-term leases. "At some point in the future it would be a nice site to develop for mixed use," he said.

As Commissioner, Carney's advocacy of slower growth for downtown Birmingham, and his votes in favor of changes to the city's building ordinances, have have put him at odds with Fuller and other downtown property owners and would-be developers.

Carney said he knew of the sale, but had no further comment on it.


2) City will reach out to Jacobson's

The City of Birmingham plans to reach out to Jacobson’s Stores in the wake of the its announcement Tuesday that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and was closing five of its 23 stores.

City Manager Tom Markus said Friday that Mayor Dianne McKeon planned to contact local Jacobson’s management to “see if there’s anything we can do.” If that doesn’t work, he said, he would try to contact Jacobson’s top management in Jackson.

Jacobson’s said it would leave open – at least for now – all of its stores in Michigan.

"The handwriting was on the wall. All you had to do was walk through the store," said McKeon shortly after hearing the news on Tuesday.

Jim Weiner, of Related Retail, who has made several attempts to purchase the Jacobson's property in Birmingham and would have consolidated the two Birmingham stores as part of a proposed downtown redevelopment project, said the stores are "vital to downtown" and will most likely close unless the city "reaches out" to Jacobson's.

"I'm not sure what they could do, but the city needs to make that gesture," said Weiner. "Jacobson's is not bashful. They're very sharp people. They'll tell them what it will take."

"Nobody wants to see them go, that's for sure," said McKeon. "We all want them to stay. But maybe it's too far gone."

McKeon said the topic would almost surely arise at Saturday's long-range planning session, scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 19 at Baldwin Public Library.

Weiner estimated Jacobson's annual sales in Birmingham at $25 million, and said the stores are a significant source of retail customers for other downtown Birmingham businesses. He surmised that if Jacobson's closed, the real estate could be tied up in bankruptcy proceedings, and that Birmingham could drift toward an economy based more on entertainment than on retail sales.

Read the full Free Press story at http://www.freep.com/money/business/jakes16_20020116.htm.

Read the full Detroit News story at http://www.detnews.com/2002/business/0201/16/a01-392081.htm.

Read Laura Berman's column in the Detroit News (Berman lives in Birmingham) at http://www.detnews.com/2002/business/0201/16/a01-392073.htm.


3) McGraw resigns planning board, trashes CC

Lame duck Planning Board member Thomas McGraw resigned his seat last week two months before the end of his term, saying, "It appears the City Commission no longer appoints members of the Planning Board based upon their credentials and knowledge of planning and zoning... Rather, it appears to appoint those who it feels will set aside planning and zoning concepts, zoning ordinances, adopted plans or common sense, and vote solely in an anti-business and anti-development fashion."

Mayor Dianne McKeon denied the charge.

Read the report from the Jan. 13, 2002 edition of the Eccentric at http://www.bhambuzz.org/pdfs/ecc_mcgraw011302.pdf.


4) Moss: Without growth, tax limits will bind city

Former City Commissioner Chuck Moss recently cautioned city officials:

"Look to the future. The cost of providing services will inevidably increase. Headlee won't let you raise taxes; Prop A won't let you raise assessments. Preserving character is good, but without some significant growth and development, how are you going to balance your books?"

Read his column from the Jan. 13, 2002 edition of the Eccentric at http://www.bhambuzz.org/pdfs/ecc_moss011302.pdf.


5) City considers proposed ethics code

A code of ethics proposed to the city last October has been sent to the city attorney, who has been asked to prepare an acceptable draft for City Commission consideration, according to City Manager Tom Markus.

The proposed code was submitted by the Presidents Council of Homeowner Associations.

The code is available for download by clicking on the following link. If you have a slow connection, we recommend you right-click the link, and choose Save Target As… or Save Link As…

http://www.bhambuzz.org/pdfs/code_ethics_pc.pdf.

"Good municipal government should utilize a formal code of ethics that holds elected and appointed officials and staff to a universal standard of civic operation. Unfortunately, the City of Birmingham does not have such a code," said then-Presidents Council President Tim Bannister in his October letter of submission to the commission.

"In the last few years, there have been constant rumors circulating across our community regarding decisions and activities made by public officials -- both elected and appointed -- that appear to benefit special interest groups," the letter continued. "As residents, we feel it is vitally important that such a code be adopted, not only to delineate inappropriate actions, but to eliminate these ongoing rumors that have resulted in mistrust of our officials."


6) If you attend only one city meeting…

... Make it the City Commission's Long Range Planning Session this Saturday, Jan. 19, at 10 a.m. in the basement of the Baldwin Public Library. The agenda features a five-year financial forecast from the city's Finance Department, a comprehensive report from the City Engineer, a report from Public Services on implementation of the Parks Master Plan, and reports and discussion with the Community Development Department on implementations of the 2016 Plan, the Woodward Median Improvement Project, the North Old Woodward Median Project, improvements to Shain Park and other matters.


7) Once devastated, elms start to rebound...

From the New York Times

More than 70 years after Dutch elm disease began to wipe out 90 percent of the magnificent American elms that lined the streets of so many cities and towns, a handful of resistant varieties are beginning to cast their regal shade over the country's lawns and boulevards. Read the full story at http://www.bhambuzz.org/elm.htm.


8) To be removed, please send a request to info@bhambuzz.org
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BE INFORMED...GET INVOLVED...SPREAD THE WORD
Forward this email to friends, neighbors and anyone you know who is interested in EXCELLENCE for Birmingham.
Subscribe at http://www.bhambuzz.org/subscribe.htm


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The Birmingham Buzz #3
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January 15, 2002

Welcome to the third edition of the Birmingham Buzz. If you missed our first two editions, check out our archives at http://www.bhambuzz.org/archives.htm.

Our mission: To inform and involve all Birmingham citizens.

Visit us at http://www.bhambuzz.org.

In this edition:

1) Booth Park plan takes shape.
2) Presidents Council opens to public.
3) Join us MONDAY evening.
4) Positively negative acronyms.
5) Don Carney and the inessential Eccentric.
6) Buzz finances made public.
7) To be removed.


1) Booth Park plan takes shape.

An artistic gateway, inspired by history or Cranbrook or both, appears to be in the future for Booth Park.

About 30 Birmingham residents joined two city commissioners, most members of the Parks & Recreation staff and board, and two consultants from Wade-Trim on Saturday for a workshop to begin developing a plan for Booth Park.

The park, at the corner of N. Old Woodward and Harmon streets, was never fully restored after a major sewer project several years ago. It contains a children's play structure, a backstop for an informal ball field, and it serves as the northern terminus of a wood-chip trail that follows the Rouge River from Linden Park at Lincoln. It is bordered by Harmon on the north, N. Old Woodward on the east and residential property on Bonnie Briar on the west. On the south, the park is bordered by public land that extends up a sharp incline to the parking lot next to the First Baptist Church on Willits.

The parkland was donated to the city by George Booth, founder of Cranbrook.

After a brief introduction and inventory of the park's main features, Wade-Trim's David Anthony broke the group into four sub-groups. Each was given an hour and a half to develop a quick plan for the site and encouraged to plan without regard to any possible restrictions.

Nearly unanimously, the four groups suggested:

* An artistic gateway feature, perhaps with a historical theme, at the corner of Old Woodward and Harmon that would contain seating.

* Keeping and improving the play area and play structure (not necessarily the existing structure) toward the north end of the park.

* Providing an upscale fence or landscaped buffer along the streets to restrain toddlers and to create a transition into the park.

* Improving the turf and drainage.

* Planting shade trees and/or erecting pergolas or other structures to provide shade.

* Adding tables, seating and waste containers at the play area and other areas of the park.

* Taking advantage of the Rouge River to create multi-purpose riverwalks that would accommodate pedestrians and cyclists, and would connect with other Rouge pathways. The paths would include view areas, seating, and possibly historical markers, art and water fountains.

* Keeping the south end of the park in a more natural state

Two groups suggested providing more, or more efficient, parking.

Other suggestions included:

* A skate park for in-line skaters and skateboarders.

* A "health" trail.

* A basketball court.

* Bridges and walkways to connect the park to N. Old Woodward and to the municipal parking lot on Willits.

* A permanent kiosk that could be leased to a food-service business.

Gail Von Staden, whose home on Harmon abuts the park, suggested that Cranbrook provide inspiration for the park's design, in view of the fact that the park was donated by Cranbrook's founder. Von Staden also noted that approximately 100 cars turn around in her driveway daily, mostly as a result of the free parking on Harmon.

Kelly Lewton, owner of Aunt Olive's Good Food 2 Go, expressed interest in leasing a kiosk, or in serving food from a wheeled cart.

Among those attending the meeting were City Commissioners Don Carney and Rackeline Hoff.

Anthony said Wade-Trim will take the ideas from the meeting and develop a preliminary plan, which will be presented at a second, as-yet unscheduled workshop.


2) Presidents Council opens to public...

The Presidents Council of Neighborhood Associations is opening its doors to the public.

At its Jan. 3 meeting, after turning away Eccentric reporter Larry Ruehlin, the council apparently reached a "consensus" that meetings should be open to all Birmingham residents. Discussion is to be limited to presidents of neighborhood associations and their recognized delegates, with inclusion of others at the discretion of the chair, according to proposed minutes of the meeting prepared by council secretary Jean Holland.

This is good news to anyone interested in the council's participation in local politics.

The council ostensibly is composed of the presidents and delegates of Birmingham's neighborhood associations. It is influential and effective. It was a driving force behind the $25 million parks bond issue, approved by voters in the 2001 election, and it has influenced planning and other policies in Birmingham, including adoption of the so-called "bigfoot" ordinance.

It is also the primary liaison on the City's official Neighborhoods Roundtable Committee. It supports such things as historic preservation, sewer improvements, parks improvements and a code of ethics for city officials. When the council speaks, city officials appear to listen.

Expect it to speak on matters such as residential and downtown development, historic preservation, infrastructure improvements, and how the proceeds of the $25 million bond issue are spent.

The council's influence, however, may be far out of proportion to those it truly represents.

Many Birmingham neighborhoods do not have associations, and so are not represented on the Presidents Council. Other associations apparently have chosen not to participate.

Among those that do participate, some are well organized, with bylaws and elected leaders, others appear to be more loosely organized, and still others are nascent.
Furthermore, several associations appear to be over-represented on the council.

The Buzz has emailed a series of questions to outgoing council president Tim Bannister, incoming president Paul Reagan, secretary Holland, and several delegates. None has responded.

Among other things, the Buzz is seeking:

* A copy of the council's bylaws.
* A list of current council members/delegates.
* A breakdown of the associations represented, including:
* The number of members in each association.
* How each association defines a "member."
* Whether or not each association has its own set of bylaws.
* Whether or not each association elects its leaders.
* How each association communicates regularly with its members.

In addition, the Buzz is seeking clarification of the representation of at least three neighborhood associations on the council.

The Quarton Lakes Neighborhood Association, for example, appears to have two active members on the council. Jean Holland, who lives on Brookwood, is its secretary, and Ralph Seger, who lives on Pilgrim, is its treasurer..

Across town, the Pembroke Manor Association appears to be represented by both Ken Gorski (Pembroke) and Dorothy Conrad (Yorkshire), both of whom take official actions in meeting minutes.

And in Central Birmingham, the incoming 2002 council president is Paul Reagan (Purdy), of the Central Birmingham Residents Association. A frequent participant in council business, however, is Anne Honhart, who lives on Frank St.

The questions arose after Buzz editor Clinton Baller attended a Presidents Council meeting Nov. 29.

Reagan, who responded to his email by phoning Baller, declined to answer questions, and instead accused Baller of being a "shill" for developers.
"You're a snake, a--h---, and if I catch you trying to get into a meeting like that again, you better wear a coat, because it's winter, and its cold outside," he said.
Reagan is co-editor of the secretive and staunchly anti-development BeLine newsletter.

Despite the council's goal of fostering communication, understanding and cooperation among residents, downtown businesses and the city officials, Reagan and several other council members simmer with negativism and resentment toward the business community and both residential and downtown development.

At its Nov. 29 meeting, for example, Conrad opened the meeting by gleefully displaying the most recent edition of the Eccentric, with a banner headline announced the City Commission's decision to reduce allowable building heights downtown. "That's 75 cents wasted," declared Reagan, in one of numerous negative references to the Eccentric.

Later, in a discussion of downtown, Gorski noted, "There's nothing downtown that any of us are interested in." Replied Reagan, "Downtown is nothing more than a commercial petting zoo."

City Commissioner Russell Dixon articulates the promise of neighborhood associations and the Presidents Council:

"Neighborhood associations have the potential to make a significant contribution to local government," says Dixon. "They have the ability to provide information and reach general agreement and consensus among their members. They can provide an articulate voice to comment on a variety of issues. To the extent that the President's Council can facilitate communication between associations, and to encourage uniformity in procedures and organization, all neighborhoods will benefit from this type of cooperation."

The Presidents Council's next meeting is Thursday, Jan. 31, at 2252 Yorkshire (east of Eton).


3) Please join us MONDAY.

Our next meeting is Monday, Jan. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at Baldwin Library. Please come, listen, learn and get involved. If you like what you see, please pass the word and allow us to add your name to our list of Supporters. Just send email to info@bhambuzz.org
{{PERIOD}}

4) Positively negative acronyms.

Add to NIMBY the following list of acronyms making the rounds lately:

NIMFYE - Not In My Front Yard Either
PIITBY - Put It In Their Backyard
NIMTOO - Not In My Term Of Office
NIMEY - Not In My Election Year
NOPE - Not On Planet Earth
LULU - Locally Unpopular Land Uses

And our favorites:

BANANA - Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Nor Anytime
CAVE - Citizens Against Virtually Everything


5) The inessential Eccentric?

Soon after the Birmingham Eccentric endorsed his rivals in the November election, Birmingham City Commissioner Don Carney canceled his subscription.

A Nov. 4 letter signed by Carney and several other Birmingham residents said, "We have noticed the Eccentric's bias toward business interests, especially interests of developers, in the past. Still the paper's endorsement of a slate of candidates running for city commission who are clearly not supportive of the interests of residents of this city was shocking. The editorial exposed the paper as a media organization completely out of touch with the community it is supposed to serve."

We recently asked Commissioner Carney in two separate emails to explain his comments. We also tried once unsuccessfully to reach him by phone. We asked:

* If he still does not subscribe to the paper.
* If he doesn't subscribe, does that mean he doesn't read it?
* If he doesn't read it, how does he keep abreast of some of the more mundane things the paper covers, such as obituaries, schools, local sports, local society and feature stories?
* If he does read the paper, how does he get it?
* If he agreed with the suggestion of Birmingham resident Paul Marion Reagan that the City look elsewhere for an outlet for its legal advertising.

Commission Carney did not respond to our questions. If he does, we'll keep you posted.

6) Buzz is an open book.

The Buzz is a grassroots, shoestring operation. Its finances, such as they are, will be published. Check them out at http://www.bhambuzz.org/Our_books.htm.

7) To unsubscribe, send a request to info@bhambuzz.org.


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The Birmingham Buzz #2
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January 8, 2002

Welcome to the second edition of the Birmingham Buzz.

Our mission: To inform and involve all Birmingham citizens.

Visit us at http://www.bhambuzz.org. If you like what you see, please suggest that your friends and neighbors subscribe, and consider becoming a Supporter. To do so, simply send a request to info@bhambuzz.org. Of course, all feedback is welcome.

In this edition:

1) About Us posted
2) Join us
3) Kudos for arts board
4) Voter list released
5) The competition responds
6) To be removed

1) About Us posted. Buzz #1 went out before the About Us section of the website was posted. Our apologies. Nobody's trying to hide anything. It is now posted at http://www.bhambuzz.org/about_us.htm. Please check back often.

2) Join us. Our next meeting is Monday, Jan. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at Baldwin Library. Please come, listen, learn and get involved. If you like what you see, please pass the word and allow us to add your name to our list of Supporters. Just send email to info@bhambuzz.org
{{PERIOD}}
3) Kudos for arts board. Three cheers for the Birmingham City Commission and local artist Gary Kulak, for their work in creating a Birmingham Arts Board. Read about in the front-page Eccentric article of Dec. 20 at http://www.bhambuzz.org/pdfs/ecc_artsboard.pdf.

4) Voter list released. The Birmingham City Clerk has released a list of those who voted in the November election. See it at http://www.bhambuzz.org/pdfs/voter_list.pdf.

5) The competition responds. Peter Gough and Paul Reagan, editors of the secretive and decidedly anti-development BeLine newsletter, were quick to respond to the first Birmingham Buzz. Wrote Gough to the Buzz:

"Thank you.

"I note that you are seeking political donations and have not registered with the State of Mich. to seek political donations.

"I sent my copy of this to Jennifer Granholm, our Attorney General with the suggestion that proceedings be initiated for seeking political donations without registration.

"I suggested that the action might be consolidated with the action against a local developer for his mailings during the Nov. election.

"We, the residents of Birmingham are weary of these developer-related scams and aghast at the monstrosities -Palladium, Willits, Hamilton, etc. which are defacing our town.

"We are seeking calm, peace and reconciliation in our town. Your desperate mailing is just another desperate effort to disrupt this initiative.

"Remove me from your list.

"Sincerely,

"Peter Gough
"cc: BeLine Mail List."

Careful readers will note that neither our newsletter nor our website contains a solicitation for donations, political or otherwise.

Apparently not satisfied with that reply along, Gough was moved to write again:

"A buffoon is your image, a buffoon you are, a buffoon you always will be," he said.

Finally, several days later, Gough, who serves with Buzz editor Clinton Baller on the board of the Mill Pond Neighborhood Association, softened his tone and became more conciliatory in an email directly to Baller.

"I respect your opinions..." he wrote. "For the sake of our Neighborhood Association I propose that we bury our differences..."

Reagan took a different tack. His first email was congratulatory:

"Best of luck in your new endeavor," he said. "Your mission has the appearance of credibility. I look forward to meeting you when you come out into the sunlight."

After apologizing and posting our About Us section, we queried Reagan about the Presidents Council.

He responded with an angry and threatening phone call in which he called editor Baller a "shill for the developers," a "snake," and, at least three times, an "a--h---." He did not, however, respond to questions about the Presidents Council or what had inspired such wrath.

"You're a special guy; I have a special set of rules for a--h---- like you," he said, and hung up.

Unlike Gough, Reagan has not requested to be removed from our subscriber list.


6) To be removed. To cease receiving our newsletter, please send a request to info@bhambuzz.org.


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The Birmingham Buzz #1
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January 1, 2002

Welcome to the first edition of the Birmingham Buzz.
Our mission: To inform and involve all Birmingham citizens.

Visit us at http://www.bhambuzz.org.

In this edition:

1) Website Features
2) Join Us
3) Spread the Word
4) Mission Statement
5) Unsubscribe

1) Website features. Bookmark http://www.bhambuzz.org for access to:
* Archive of past emails.
* Reporting and commentary on issues of interest.
* Resources such as the Parks Master Plan and the first electronic copy of the 2016 Plan.
* Links to useful sites.
* A discussion board.
* Much more.
Come back often for additions, changes and improvements!

2) Join us. Our next meeting is Monday, Jan. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at Baldwin Library. Listen. Learn. Contribute.

3) Help us spread the word. We are totally electronic and Internet-based. We will send periodic emails, and post all emails and more information on our website. Tell your neighbors, friends and others about us. Forward this email to all in your address book who might be interested. Ask them to subscribe at http://www.bhambuzz.org/subscribe.htm{{PERIOD}}

4) Our Mission Statement:

We stand for you and your interests.
We stand for government of everyone, not just an active and vocal minority.
We stand for the silent majority that may not keep up on local issues, may not vote in local elections.
We stand for listening to every voice.
We stand for involvement.
We stand for the right to dissent.
We stand for honesty, integrity, intelligence, reason, fairness and accountability.

We believe that an “interest” is not necessarily a “conflict of interest.”
We believe in advancing informed, reasoned, factually based opinions, even if in opposition to our own.
We believe development means change, which is inevitable.
We believe development includes not only downtown buildings and neighborhood homes, but also parks and sewer improvements, and other public works.
We believe change is an opportunity for improvement.
We believe good development is beautiful, appropriate and has regard for its neighbors.
We believe in preservation of historic structures and areas representing cultural significance.
We believe our town is lucky to count among its citizens many accomplished architects and designers.
We believe our town ought to enlist them and draw on their talents.
We believe downtown is the heart of our city, to which our neighborhoods owe much of their strength.

We oppose hidden agendas.
We oppose assumptions, hyperbole, ignorance, shallow thinking, empty rhetoric, innuendo.
We oppose misrepresentation of others’ opinions and the dissemination of misinformation.
We support open meetings and deliberations.
We support a code of ethics for town officials.
We support good development.
We support a vital downtown.
We support the 2016 Plan, respect the process that created it, and understand that it is a living document.

Our goals are to inform and involve you.

We will attend city meetings.
We will populate official and quasi-official city boards.
We will publish a regular newsletter and deliver it via email.
We will post a website full of information and resources.
We will profile the people who affect our quality of life.
We will report on topics of interest to you.
We will be skeptical, curious watchdogs.
We will not accept votes, appointments and policy decisions on their face.
We will ask how and why they are made.
We will express our opinions, and invite you to contribute.
We will assist in the formation and strengthening of neighborhood associations.
We will bring balance and credibility to the Presidents Council of Neighborhood Associations.

We need your help.
We need your email address.
We need your time and your expertise.
We need you to get out the word.

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