Below is the "fleshed" out second item from my "Platform for Tomorrow" that posted at 4:30 AM on the 24th of August and UPDATED once the article in the paper showed on the 25th. BUT was initially posted on on the 23rd of August 2016.
8. Initiate a program to locate all City Residents who have turned 65 in the past 10 years and refund the $3./ month that has been allowed to them for many years but is/ was not so advertised for example on the monthly billing or noted on their Utility Record when signing up for service. Based on the supposed "reduction" in the City Fire Fee at the 08/25/2016 City Council meeting, it will be 1/2 of the remaining Fire/ Police Fee going forward. Posted to blog 08/ 24/ 2016.
This is going to be tougher than the Tax Refund in number 12. This can be dealt with through a monthly credit, a flat refund OR some combination of both based on the age of the Account Holder. This is a MAXIMUM return of $360 per account.
Seems someone had to scramble to get the news to "interview" Mr. Bibbee for the 25 August paper? I am going to apologize to the Metz family for the following error I thought I saw when I first saw the picture in the paper of Mr. Bibbee. I thought it was Mr. Metz's youngest son who is now working at the VUB. Why was he in there I thought? So as I read and it said was "Bibbee", I go out my magnifying glass and by golly it is Mr. Bibbee. Must have been a picture of when he was retiring from the VFD years back? Sure does not resemble him now. He is like all mortals; he ages as he ages.
It is odd how the paper can find an old picture to try and make someone look years younger than they are at the time of the current article? Paper did that for Mr. Ellem too. However, I digress.
I am very suspicious that the City Council did this for two reasons:
1. To try and steal some of my thunder on the refund I plan to return to the older residents that were to receive it since 1974 and does not seem to have happened across the board for more than not?
2. Giving back I think $7.80 for balance of year which is intended to "buy" the votes of as many as they can fool into thinking the City is really doing something for them.
Now Mr. Bibbee rambled for a while about a $.98/month fee reduction for the CityFire Fee that people over 65 received as head of household. He "appeared" to be trying to reduce the $1.95 Fire Fee but as noted in the actual City Code, it is NOT what is said:
729.04 EXEMPTIONS.
In the case of a user who is the head of a household of a residence, and who is responsible for the payment of the fees and charges provided for in Section 729.03 hereof and actually pays the same from his own funds, has attained the age of sixty-five years on or before the first day of any assessment year, and furnishes affirmative proof thereof to the Treasurer, shall be entitled to an exemption of one-half of the fee and charges provided for in Section 729.03. (6-13-74) (my italics).
It could actually be that with the reduction from $6.00 to the $3.00 that some are paying because they are getting the above exemption that the Fire Fee portion is already gone? Could be all that is left is the remaining $3.00/month Police Fee? Makes sense to me? And remember, ALL of the collected Fees (?) go into the General Fund NOT either Police or Fire Budget. To me cute but legal accounting.
Now Mr. Bibbee also said that he did not know what would happen to those who choose to NOT pay the Fire Board Fee (Tax)? In the meetings I attended, it was clear the intent to put a lien on any property that had outstanding Fee (Tax) owed on it. In fact when Mr. Couch said it would not be any problem to anyone if a Lien was imposed until the property was sold. I noted in a posting that was not correct as just try for an auto loan or a second mortgage with a Lien on one's credit history. It is going to have a negative effect in higher interest rates OR possible denial of the loan.
It is sad that Mr. Bibbee, although well intentioned did not know what he was doing? Oh, he was for sure alert and appeared to have reviewed somewhat whatever he had been given to read? But as noted above, some of what he is reported to have said/ read is not quite correct?
Now where am I going with this on the date I am posting this (28th) and what will happen on the 29th when the crew comes in? Well, here goes. On the City of Vienna Website where it says "Libraries" is the minutes of the 25 August City Council Meeting. Only problem is they have NOT been approved and should not be until the City Council Meeting of 8 September 2016 at best. What should have been put on the Website were the Minutes of the 11 August 2016 Meeting which had been approved on the 25th per usual process. Those posted meetings are going to disappear as soon as someone reads my blog this morning or however they communicate with each other?
In fact, I am going to allege that what is on the Website:
Resolution – Reduction of Fire Fees – Effective September 1, 2016:
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VIENNA, that it that it hereby amends 729.03 of the Vienna Municipal Code, paragraph (b) reducing the fire fee presently assessed on the occupants of each residential premise, each manufacturing plant and each business premise in the amount of twenty-three dollars and forty cents ($23.40) payable in monthly installments of one dollar and ninety-five cents ($1.95) per month to zero dollars ($0.00) per year effective beginning September 1, 2016.
Is in actuality a what we might call a "fill in" type of form. Note there is nothing referring to Mr. Bibbee as is noted in the paper on the 25th and the 26th. And the part that says who led the Pledge is blank wherein, it was Mr. Azinger. This is only important because it shows part of the "deception, deceit, misinformation, misdirection and when the chance occurs to lie" that is so prevalent in the City Administration today. With the correct minutes be posted in September? Who knows, the City is notorious for sanitizing/ white washing the minutes to make themselves look as good as possible versus the Truth of what really occurs? I may well get another attack for writing the Truth?
IF and I repeat IF as I suggest that for many the Fire Fee was long gone when they got the $3.00 reduction before than what is left now will be the $4.05 Police Fee and their bills could/ should go up? IF all that is being reduced now is the $1.95 from $6.00; than the bills have to rise; right?
To try and make this make sense; I currently pay the $6.00 as I have never asked for the $3.00 deduction. So I should go to $4.05? But for those at $3.00 now, they should either see nothing or IF all is to correct and equal, their bills should rise to $4.05. And for those who were getting the 50%, should their bills go to $2.03 per the Ordnance? WOW, is this going to be fun????
It would appear that in their mad rush to undermine my refund/ reduction item on my Platform, they screwed this thing up? Some of you may not find it funny IF to make this right, they have to raise your bills? If they leave the current lucky ones at the $3.00/month Police/Fire Fee; than those going down to $4.05 for the Police Fee are not getting same as the above ones?
But what do I know, I have said openly and honestly that I am not very smart? Since it seems the gang on 29th St., has messed this up, I am going to use a cut off of 31 August to determine the initial refunds for those who are eligible. In any case folks, I will make it right after 1 January 2017
If you folks want a Mayor who has time to be all over the County/ P'burg; and even up and down the Eastern part of the U.S. then re-elect Mr. Rapp. If you want a Mayor who will be where he belongs, doing City business with some thought, not just a half fannied effort I am your guy. 'nuff said'.
I am asking for your vote on November 8th. "Change is in the air".
(Paid for by the Candidate-Lawrence J. Wilson for Mayor of Vienna).