March 24, 2008

Fayette County Board of Commissioners

Chairman Commissioner Vincent Zapotosky

Commissioner Vincent Vicites

Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink

Dear Fayette County Commissioners:

Since the courthouse was closed Friday for the Easter weekend, I didn't send this request within a 48-hour period for consideration at the Commissioners' Agenda Meeting.  I hope that doesn't detract from such consideration of the request for Tuesday.

In a past administration (1998), at the request of citizens, the board of commissioners adopted meeting rules which included an opportunity for citizens to make a formal presentation for an agenda item or items for board review and consideration.  After meeting rules were expanded to include this feature, my recollection is only a handful of items were presented by citizens during following Commissioners' Agenda Meeting.  A couple of items were adopted as agenda items by a majority-board vote, and were subsequently considered at the Regular Business Meeting. 

I would like to propose reconsideration of the idea for the commissioners' Agenda Meeting of March 25, 2008.  There are four other items I would like to present to the board for consideration which could be adopted at a later Agenda Meeting.  If needed, supplementary material can be made available for those at that time.

Should an item/s be adopted by a majority board vote for placement on the Business Meeting of March 27, 2008, of course, the board would proceed as per public meeting requirements for consideration of such for either adoption or rejection.

Prosposed Citizens' Recommended Agenda Items

1.  Adopt a procedural rule which would enable citizen/s to propose Agenda Item/s to be considered for placement on the Agenda Meeting of the board of commissioners.

Reasoning:  Non-governmental agencies or organizations appear to have a greater opportunity than citizens who are not affiliated with any particular organization to access to local government.  Cases in point are the Fayette Chamber of Commerce with the Hotel Occupancy Tax,  (Tourism Alliance supports tax on hotel rooms By Amy Zalar, Herald-Standard 03/19/2008), and as in the past and near future, Fay Penn Economic Development Council and its proposal (1999) for Keystone Opportunity Zones.

2.  Adopt a Resolution in support of federal legislation known as HR 5036.  Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 17, 2008, the bill known as the Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act of 2008 and sponsored by Rep. Rush Holt remains on-hold in two House committees.  State and local elected officials are being asked to support the bill which could provide local funding for the adoption of a paper ballot voting system in whole or in part for the Presidential Election of 2008. 

3.  Adopt a resolution for the county Voter Registration Commission/Election Board to authorize the Election Bureau to begin a full and official review of the county voter registration rolls which would include official mailings and a potential subsequent 'purge' of ineligible electors remaining on the rolls.

4.  Adopt two resolutions of understanding concerning state H.B. 2297, introduced by Rep. Cherelle Parker, and co-sponsored by Rep. Peter J. Daley which unanimously passed out of a state commerce committee.  The bill concerns Keystone Opportunity Zones and extensions of the program. According to a March 12, 2008 report Daley expedites governor's economic recovery plan