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Fisher Clamps Down on Public Comments
(posted Feb 10)
Jo Ellen Dotlich, like other Speedway homeowners, have lost their opportunity
to speak freely before their town council at public meetings. Without a
council discussion or vote at the February 9 meeting, Town Council President
Eileen Fisher initiated a policy change to end carte blanche public comments.
Fisher made exceptions for proposed ordinances or resolutions. She said
community announcements must be turned into the president or town manager
to be placed on the agenda. The public may contact their councilor to see
if the councilor will raise their concern under council reports.
Public comments are not required at meetings. However, the council has
had a long history of offering the public a chance to speak. Minutes of
council meetings show the process going back to at least 2003. This is
the second time the council has eliminated public comments. Councilor Gary
Raikes terminated public comment session at the end of meetings in 2008.
The closing comment sessions were only in effect for a year.
Dotlich contends Fisher's actions were directed at her because she has
been vocal about the redevelopment over the past year. She has raised concerns
about the town's ability to finance the project when the economy is in
a downturn. She opposes taking property or realigning roads for the redevelopment
when no project can be identified. She is doubtful there will be job gains
as stated by Councilor Bill Suffel.
She reminded the council that they are ultimately responsible for the town's
financial fate, since it is the body that appointed the redevelopment commission.
Gary Raikes said the council is responsible for town's assets. He named
the people as the first and most important asset, with the town's viability
coming in second. He embarked on a history of Speedway, saying that the
last major housing development was in 1970. He talked about the continued
development of the apartments and some of the problems that have occurred.
He said the redevelopment commission is necessary to fix problems and said
the community can no longer set back and watch, it has to take action.
He complained about little development in the industrial parks.
Raikes said “I would like the community to get behind and come out support
this effort because I think it is a critical piece that is missing.”
Raikes is the second councilor this year to make a plea for community support
for the redevelopment.
Dotlich said “if the council feels this project is right then why are they
so afraid of me that they resort to cutting off public comment.”
He failed to mention that some business owners willing to make investments
were stymied by the SRC. Norm Gallivan wanted to redevelop the former Electric
Steel Casting site at 1045 Main Street into a mixed use development with
condominiums. At the April 2007 SRC public hearing, Gallivan asked to be
removed from the acquisition list to pursue his plan, but the SRC refused.
The SRC is now scheduled to close on the property this month at a cost
of $1.8 million, exclusive of funds to clean the site.
The SRC also blocked Circle K Shell from renovating its building at 25th
and High School Road. When the company sought a variance to change setbacks,
SRC Executive Director Scott Harris asked the development be put on hold
while the SRC searched for an alternate location.
The SRC has delayed Area Two's acquisition list for the third time. Harris
blamed HEA 1001, stating a declaratory resolution needed to be passed before
the acquisition list could be adopted. The SRC passed a declaratory resolution
in January 2007 and made the area a TIF district in February 2008.
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