MSF letter on open government

This letter, written by MSF member Fred Urich, addresses the importance of open government, which is another principle of MSF’s Statement of Principles.

To the Editor:

At election time a discussion on the open and transparent operation of city government seems both important and relevant. New York’s Open Meetings Law gives us the right to attend, listen and observe our government’s meetings. Prior to any meeting we must be given notice or the time and place of the meeting. The law also provides that any meeting can be photographed, broadcast, webcast or otherwise recorded as long as the equipment used to do so is not disruptive or obtrusive.

Meeting” is defined to mean “the official convening of a public body for the purpose of conducting public business” “Public body” is defined to cover entities consisting of two or more people that conduct public business and perform a governmental function for the state, for an agency of the state, or for public corporations, including cities, counties, towns, villages and school districts (§102(2)). In addition, committees and subcommittees consisting solely of members of a governing body are specifically included within the definition. Consequently, city councils, town boards, village boards of trustees, school boards, commissions, legislative bodies and sub/committees of those groups all fall within the framework of the law. Citizens advisory bodies and similar advisory groups that are not created by law are not required to comply with the Open Meetings Law.

A public body cannot close its doors to the public to discuss the subject of its choice, for the law specifies and limits the subject matter that may appropriately be discussed in executive session. The eight areas that may be discussed behind closed doors include: 
 (a) matters which will imperil the public safety if disclosed; 

(b) any matter which may disclose the identity of a law enforcement agency or
informer; 

(c) information relating to current or future investigation or prosecution of a criminal
offense which would imperil effective law enforcement if disclosed; 

(d) discussions regarding proposed, pending or current litigation;

(e) collective negotiations pursuant to Article 14 of the Civil Service Law
(the Taylor Law); 

(f)the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or
corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion,
demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or
corporation; 

(g) the preparation, grading or administration of examinations; and 

(h) the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property or the proposed acquisition
of securities, or sale or exchange of securities held by such public body, but only
when publicity would substantially affect the value thereof.

The Open Meetings Law requires that minutes of both open meetings and executive sessions must be compiled and made available (§106).
 Minutes of an open meeting must consist of “a record or summary of all motions, proposals, resolutions and any matter formally voted upon and the vote thereon.” Minutes of executive sessions must consist of “a record or summary of the final determination” of action that was taken, “and the date and vote thereon.”

While the Open Meetings Law is silent on our right to speak or participate at a meeting, we hope our city government will encourage the participation of all its citizens.

For further information on the Open Meetings Law, please go to www.dos.state.ny.us/video/coog.html

Frederic A. Urich
Member, Main Street First

Editorials about MSF Statement of Principles

During the next few weeks, the Little Falls Times will be featuring a series of editorials pertaining to the MSF Statement of Principles. These letters are written by members of MSF and other people from the community.

Our first letter, written by Jayne Ritz, addressed economic development in Little Falls:

To the Editor:

This is an excellent time to consider possible strategies for economic development and to seek opinions from residents on how to achieve a more vital economic climate in our city. No one person can have all the answers, but with thoughtful voices joining together, the economy of Little Falls could surely be strengthened.

Here are a few ideas:

Is it possible to find ten new, successful businesses in our area that have chosen to be here? Those CEOs could be interviewed as to how and why they are here–and whether any of their suppliers might be wooed into moving to this area as well. (Those CEOs might also have additional suggestions worthy of pursuing.)

A personal contact could be made with the chair of the Governor’s Economic Task Force. What can we do for them? What do we have to offer?

A package or press kit inviting potential businesses to relocate here should be sent to the summer’s overnight guests of the marina.

Personal contact could be made with the CEO of Bassett Hospital, expressing our desire to be a working partner and our eagerness to grow that partnership.

“Green invention” incubator spaces could be established in the Gilbert Mill, which could be marketed to graduates of engineering schools.

The recreational trail should be completed and enhanced with a bicycle shop (sales and service), bed & breakfasts, and trailside eateries. Bicyclists bring business. Tourists bring business. As a community we need to be ready for visitors.

Finally, local farmers ready to vertically integrate agricultural products should be encouraged and helped. Creating a certified public kitchen would boost this endeavor, as would the development of a microbrewery, cheese factory, hops growers, garlic growers, wineries, and orchards. With promotion of our area’s agriculture we also need to invest in the “branding” of Mohawk Valley food products distributed into metropolitan areas.

Jayne Ritz
Member, Main Street First

Bicyclists Brings Business

If you’re downtown or at Canal Place over the summer, you’ve probably seen a growing number of out of town bicyclists pedaling through the city. Many stop to get a bite to eat or a cold drink. Little Falls has an opportunity to bring in more bicyclists. According to Bicycling Brings Business (B3), bike tourism is hot and growing:

* Between 2002 and 2008, based on data collected by the Outdoor Foundation, the number of bicycle trips of all kinds made by Americans grew by approximately 100 million.

* According to the U.S. Travel Association, half of all adults in the U.S., some 98 million people, participate in adventure vacations each year, and 27 million Americans have taken a bicycling vacation in the past five years.

* Bicycling is now the third most common vacation activity.

And bicycling tourists spend money:

* Eat – a lot and often; bicycling burns up to 450 calories per hour. It has been said that food is a bicycle’s fuel.

* Drink – again, a lot in order to stay hydrated, but also for pleasure, patronizing everything from lemonade stands to wineries.

* Like to explore – take in the sights, visit museums, art galleries and historic places, and learn about the places they visit.

Little Falls already has a great bike trail and some shops to attract riders, but perhaps we could do more. What about a bicycle shop near the trail, complete with sales, service, and rentals?

You can read more about Bicycles Bring Business by clicking here.

Main Street First meeting October 24

There will be a meeting of MSF at 6:30 PM on October 24. All are welcome to attend our meetings. We meet in the commerical building on the corner of Salisbury Street and Main Street in Little Falls.

More on MSF Statement of Principles

A member of Main Street First was recently interviewed by the Little Falls Times. Click here to read the story.

Main Street First Statement of Principles

As elections approach, Little Falls citizens have an opportunity to elect people they believe will improve our neighborhoods and our city. MSF believes that open government and smart growth that is sustainable are keys to a renewed city.

Click here to read Main Street First’s Statement of Principles.

Smart Growth and grocery stores

Many surveys show that people prefer to live in walkable communities, but often development, including development of grocery stores, is at odds with this data. Instead of building in urban centers, many developments over the past few years are based on a suburban model.

Empire State Future’s website has an article about how one grocery store chain, Price Chopper, is investing in urban centers. The article mentions Main Street First and the proposed quarry development, which was a potential home for a Price Chopper store.

From the article:

Empire State Future’s meeting with Price Chopper officials comes less than two years since ESF assisted a local group, Main Street First in Little Falls, in an effort to prevent a sprawl inducing strip mall that would have severely impacted the downtown center. The strip mall was expected to put the existing grocer and other stores on Main Street out of business, stores that countless seniors and other residents who do not have access to personal automobiles rely on. Price Chopper was reported to be interested in the site. Empire State Future remains optimistic that Price Chopper will continue to prove that they are strong community stewards by exploring alternatives that the Little Falls community supports, which reduces the costly expansion of public infrastructure.

Read the entire article by clicking here.

MSF meeting canceled

There will be no MSF meeting tonight. Our next meeting is scheduled for May 9.

April 18 MSF meeting canceled

The Main Street First meeting for tonight has been canceled. Our next meeting is on April 25.

Mayor Peters reports progress on Vertiglo building on Main Street

The Little Falls Times reports that work is proceeding on the building at 542 East Main Street. From the article:

“Crews have been inside the building working and it is my understanding that work will begin on the second and third floors of the building, as well as the section of the building that used to house Ho Ho Chinese Restaurant, in the coming weeks,” Mayor Robert Peters said during a telephone interview on Friday. “There are still some issues that need to be resolved, but everything looks to be on track.”
The company did not return an e-mail request for comment about the renovations on Friday, however, information from the global Web development and brand management firm’s communitylf.vertiglo.com website indicates the Little Falls office will be open in summer 2011.
“I still believe this relocation will be a positive for the city of Little Falls and will provide an economic boost in terms of jobs created and families moving to the city,” said Peters. “When the renovation has been completed and the office has opened, it will be a good day for the city.”

You can read the entire article by clicking here.