And now the Bucks Local News version
Victor Cicero abruptly resigns from Morrisville Council over issue of destroying meeting tapes
By Petra Chesner Schlatter
BucksLocalNews.com
MORRISVILLE -- Morrisville Borough Councilman Victor Cicero abruptly announced his resignation last night after council voted to table a motion to dispose of video recordings of public meetings, while also allowing Mayor Rita Ledger access to previously requested videos.
Immediately after the matter was tabled by a 4-3 vote, Cicero stood up and announced, "I'm resigning!"
Cicero, who had made the motion to destroy the tapes, said, "Good night. I don't know why I got involved. What are you afraid of? What a bunch of fools. I've never seen anything like this in my life."
When asked by phone Tuesday morning if he was indeed resigning, he would only say "I will not be at the next meeting."
Ledger said she had been asking for tapes from 2009 -- particularly November and December -- but hadn't been able to gain access to them despite several requests.
"I still haven't gotten any copies," she said at the meeting. "How can they be destroyed before copies have been given to somebody who has requested this twice?"
Borough Solicitor Todd Eisenberg said the recordings would be available to her before they are destroyed.
Eisenberg discussed the legality of disposing of recordings. He said the state publishes a document every couple of years, which outlines how borough records can be disposed of.
"One of the regulations is that video tapes of meetings can be disposed of after the minutes are approved unless the council finds there is a historical significance in keeping them," he said. "Most of the municipalities that I know destroy them after the minutes are approved."
Eisenberg said, "If a person, not just the mayor, wants them right away and we do not have the ability to make the copies we can send them out and have the copies made."
Ledger said those who request a copy should not have to pay if the borough sends the recordings out for a copy to be made.
Before his resignation, Cicero asked if the borough has the legal right to charge for a copy and Eisenberg said, "Absolutely."
Eisenberg said he would provide more information on the history of the disposal of recordings "so everyone will have a better feel. You have the right to get rid of these tapes. It's just an issue of, 'Do you want to?'"
Borough Council President Nancy Sherlock said prior administrations had conversations on this matter.
"There's no reason to have six, seven or eight boxes of all these tapes," she said.
Sharon Hughes, president of the Historic Morrisville Society, has been videotaping council meetings since she was told the borough's recording equipment was not working. She has volunteered to broadcast and record meetings for years.
"Why are you afraid? What is the word up there, we might be sued? Somebody's asking for tapes now and all of a sudden we have to have them destroyed? They've been sitting there for 14 years," said Hughes.
"They are a historic record of what this board has done...They are the history of this town. They are the history of this borough," she continued.
Hughes challenged the idea that Morrisville should be like other municipalities and destroy the recordings right away.
"Somebody wants records and other people up there don't want them to have them," she said, stressing that a decision should not be made quickly.
"It's not the right thing to do in my opinion," she said.
In a phone interview Tuesday, Mayor Ledger said she wanted the tapes for prosperity's sake.
"I'm the first woman mayor," she said. "I would like to keep the tapes of meetings that I preside over. It would be great for future generations of your family to see it ... and it is a way of making everyone accountable for their actions."
She would not offer comment on Cicero's resignation.
Sherlock said the issue would be discussed at council's Tuesday, Oct. 12 meeting.
"In Febuary 2009, council approved a motion declaring its intention to follow the schedule and procedures for disposition of records as set forth in the municipal records manual that that was approved on Dec. 16, 2008," Sherlock said in a phone interview Tuesday. "Since the resolution has been passed it is our duty to follow the guidelines ... We are not able to dispose of anything the commission deems historic or necessary to keep."
In other news, Ledger reported that she and former Mayor Lee Rockafellow met recently with the Bucks County Parks and Recreation Department about the future of the Morrisville Swimming Pool. They did a walkthrough of what was once a thriving facility, but is now a crippled community hub following a major flood. The community pool has been closed ever since.
Ledger said she will find out whether the county will work with the borough on getting the facility back in shape and open to the public.
The council also:
Awarded the 2010 Emergency Generator Bid to the low bidder, A.C. Scott Electric & Testing Co. for $80,000.
Appointed V.K. Macivana to the Morrisville Economic Development Authority.
Re-appointed John Eperjesi, Patricia Wilcox, Patricia Brofman and Lillian Piscopo for two-year terms to the Recreation Advisory Board.
Showing posts with label Rivella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rivella. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Councilman: 'Nothing is official' after resignation
It's a shame that this is what make the papers. Did anything else happen at the meeting or did they bicker over VHS tapes for a couple of hours and accomplish nothing else. We're sure there was other notable business that could have been covered by the BCCT reporter.
PhillyBurbs.com: Councilman: 'Nothing is official' after resignationBy: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
Morrisville
As of Tuesday, Morrisville Councilman Victor Cicero officially was still on the council.
But late Monday night his status was questionable after he abruptly resigned and left a council meeting.
He didn't want to comment Tuesday afternoon, noting, "I haven't decided" and "nothing is official."
A frustrated Cicero left the council chambers after members voted 5-3 to table a discussion on the disposal of videotapes of old council meetings. Some council members had concerns about getting rid of the tapes, and the issue became a tit-for-tat among council members themselves and the public. That's when Cicero got frustrated and left.
Cicero, along with council President Nancy Sherlock and Councilman David Rivella, was in favor of getting rid of the tapes, some of which are as old as 15 years.
Two ordinances for tapes' disposal were up for discussion but not on the agenda because borough solicitor Todd Eisenberg provided the resolutions to the town the same day of the meeting, Sherlock said.
One resolution explained the reasons for the disposal and how the tapes would be discarded. The other resolution explained the process, Sherlock said.
Morrisville went from VHS tapes to DVD in June 2009, so Sherlock had suggested trashing the VHS tapes only and keeping the DVDs.
In February 2009 the council passed a resolution to follow the schedule of public information retention set by the state, so the resolutions were simply just following through with the 2009 resolution, Sherlock said Tuesday. The state schedule states that the meeting minutes are the official records.
"We don't need receipts from 1968," she said. "We have four or five boxes of tapes that are easy to get rid of. It's simply a procedure thing. The real records (of meetings) are the minutes, not the tapes. They are of no use to the administration."
Mayor Rita Ledger was particularly disturbed of the possibility of the tapes' destruction, saying Tuesday that she requested meeting recordings from November and December and hasn't been given the copies. Borough solicitor Todd Eisenberg assured Ledger she would get those recordings, which wouldn't be destroyed under the proposed resolution, Sherlock said.
To ease the concerned council members, Eisenberg will write a memo to the council explaining the process, Sherlock said.
Sharon Hughes, president of the Historic Morrisville Society, has been recording the meeting for years and suggested the possibility of donating the recordings to the local library or the historical society, Ledger said.
Hughes questioned the reasoning behind the sudden need to dispose of video tapes after years of being stored.
Sherlock assured Tuesday that disposing of the tapes has nothing to do with the public's request for copies of the recordings.
Since the issue was tabled, it will be discussed at the October council meeting.
September 22, 2010 02:10 AM
PhillyBurbs.com: Councilman: 'Nothing is official' after resignationBy: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
Morrisville
As of Tuesday, Morrisville Councilman Victor Cicero officially was still on the council.
But late Monday night his status was questionable after he abruptly resigned and left a council meeting.
He didn't want to comment Tuesday afternoon, noting, "I haven't decided" and "nothing is official."
A frustrated Cicero left the council chambers after members voted 5-3 to table a discussion on the disposal of videotapes of old council meetings. Some council members had concerns about getting rid of the tapes, and the issue became a tit-for-tat among council members themselves and the public. That's when Cicero got frustrated and left.
Cicero, along with council President Nancy Sherlock and Councilman David Rivella, was in favor of getting rid of the tapes, some of which are as old as 15 years.
Two ordinances for tapes' disposal were up for discussion but not on the agenda because borough solicitor Todd Eisenberg provided the resolutions to the town the same day of the meeting, Sherlock said.
One resolution explained the reasons for the disposal and how the tapes would be discarded. The other resolution explained the process, Sherlock said.
Morrisville went from VHS tapes to DVD in June 2009, so Sherlock had suggested trashing the VHS tapes only and keeping the DVDs.
In February 2009 the council passed a resolution to follow the schedule of public information retention set by the state, so the resolutions were simply just following through with the 2009 resolution, Sherlock said Tuesday. The state schedule states that the meeting minutes are the official records.
"We don't need receipts from 1968," she said. "We have four or five boxes of tapes that are easy to get rid of. It's simply a procedure thing. The real records (of meetings) are the minutes, not the tapes. They are of no use to the administration."
Mayor Rita Ledger was particularly disturbed of the possibility of the tapes' destruction, saying Tuesday that she requested meeting recordings from November and December and hasn't been given the copies. Borough solicitor Todd Eisenberg assured Ledger she would get those recordings, which wouldn't be destroyed under the proposed resolution, Sherlock said.
To ease the concerned council members, Eisenberg will write a memo to the council explaining the process, Sherlock said.
Sharon Hughes, president of the Historic Morrisville Society, has been recording the meeting for years and suggested the possibility of donating the recordings to the local library or the historical society, Ledger said.
Hughes questioned the reasoning behind the sudden need to dispose of video tapes after years of being stored.
Sherlock assured Tuesday that disposing of the tapes has nothing to do with the public's request for copies of the recordings.
Since the issue was tabled, it will be discussed at the October council meeting.
September 22, 2010 02:10 AM
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Stay on trackers select Ed Bailey for council
It's official, they did the unthinkable, stay on trackers Worob,Ledger,Burger, and Dreisbach voted to put Ed Bailey on the Boro Council. Luckily this is only till the first Monday in January when the winner of the election will take over. This charade was actually on the local TV channel apparently as a live broadcast. Comcast CH 22. and Verizon CH 38. Rita Ledger made a buffoon out of herself, and when asked if she felt someone was disenfranchised by the selection process, she said yes, even though her "guy" got the spot.
Fom the bcct:
Bailey selected for council
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
A Republican council candidate was appointed to Morrisville Council on Monday to fill the unexpired term of Democrat Edward Albertson, who resigned from council last month because he moved out of the borough.
Ed Bailey, who is running against Democrat Rhonda Davis in next month's election, was appointed by council in a 4-3 vote by council members Rita Ledger, Jane Burger, Stephen Worob and Eileen Dreisbach.
Council members Nancy Sherlock, Kathryn Panzitta and David Rivella voted for Morrisville Environmental Advisory Council member Deborah Colgan, who is not running for election this year.
Davis was the third nominee for the seat, but she did not get any votes Monday.
Quickly before an executive session at the end of the meeting, Rivella told the newspaper that he, Sherlock and Panzitta voted for Colgan because she was not running in this year's election, and that Colgan had said she would hold the seat until Nov. 4, then yield to whoever won the race between Bailey and Davis.
Solicitor James Downey told the council that if Colgan had won and stepped down on Nov. 4, officials would have to go through the whole process of filling the vacancy within 30 days again.
Bailey was sworn in and took his seat at the dais after the 4-3 vote. He will fill out Albertson's 3rd Ward council term, which expires at the end of this year.
Albertson was the second councilman to resign from that seat in a year. He was appointed by council to fill the seat of Republican George Bolos, who vacated the post in September 2008 because he also moved out of the borough.
Fom the bcct:
Bailey selected for council
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
A Republican council candidate was appointed to Morrisville Council on Monday to fill the unexpired term of Democrat Edward Albertson, who resigned from council last month because he moved out of the borough.
Ed Bailey, who is running against Democrat Rhonda Davis in next month's election, was appointed by council in a 4-3 vote by council members Rita Ledger, Jane Burger, Stephen Worob and Eileen Dreisbach.
Council members Nancy Sherlock, Kathryn Panzitta and David Rivella voted for Morrisville Environmental Advisory Council member Deborah Colgan, who is not running for election this year.
Davis was the third nominee for the seat, but she did not get any votes Monday.
Quickly before an executive session at the end of the meeting, Rivella told the newspaper that he, Sherlock and Panzitta voted for Colgan because she was not running in this year's election, and that Colgan had said she would hold the seat until Nov. 4, then yield to whoever won the race between Bailey and Davis.
Solicitor James Downey told the council that if Colgan had won and stepped down on Nov. 4, officials would have to go through the whole process of filling the vacancy within 30 days again.
Bailey was sworn in and took his seat at the dais after the 4-3 vote. He will fill out Albertson's 3rd Ward council term, which expires at the end of this year.
Albertson was the second councilman to resign from that seat in a year. He was appointed by council to fill the seat of Republican George Bolos, who vacated the post in September 2008 because he also moved out of the borough.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Who will fill the 3rd Ward seat?
Three considered for temporary council appointment in Morrisville's Third Ward
Published: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; BucksLocalNews.com
Three people are being considered by Morrisville Borough Council members to fill the vacancy created by Ed Albertson's resignation from council.Albertson, who moved out of the borough, had been appointed to represent the Third Ward in the northern part of the borough when George Bolis resigned. Now, council must replace the council member in the ward for the second timeTwo of the three candidates are running for election in November - Ed Bailey (R) and Rhonda Davis (D). The third person being considered for the temporary appointment is Deborah Colgan (D).A decision is scheduled for Oct. 19 about who will replace Albertson until the term expires on December 3. The three candidates stated their case at the Oct. 13 council meeting.
ED BAILEY
Bailey said he started getting involved in the community when he joined the Morrisville Library Board.But Bailey said when he really delved into the community, was when he got involved in the "Stop the School" campaign. He was asked by now-school board member Robin Reithmeyer to survey residents about whether a multi-million-dollar consolidated school should be built.Bailey said he found that 88 percent of those questioned were opposed to the controversial proposed school, while only 12 percent favored it."Local government has to stay in step with what the public wants," he said. "That motivated me to stay involved in that issue...I feel a sense of responsibility to stay involved.”
DEBBIE COLGAN
Saying she was making a statement by applying for the council seat, Colgan, a member of the Environmental Advisory Council, said "Third Ward voters should be the ones who chose" who will represent them.Council, Colgan noted, is "legally obligated" to fill Albertson's spot within 30 days of his resignation. She said if she were picked by council, she would resign after the term expires in December."We know who you support," she told council members. "I ask each of you to allow the process of Democracy" to take its course... "You have the opportunity to pick an unbiased choice."Council member Jane Burger noted that Colgan is treasurer of the Democratic Party and that she is "working with one of the candidates."Colgan asserted that council's decision on an applicant would have an effect on the outcome of the election in the Third Ward.
RHONDA DAVIS
Growing up in a small town has meaning for Davis and she said she likes Morrisville because it is a small town. "Morrisville has some neat things going on,” she said. “I wanted to work with people my age...to make the community better. I just want to be more active in the community."Council member Dave Rivella asked how she sees herself fitting in with the current council members. "I'm very respectful of people's opinions," she said. "I am not a conflict kind of person...If someone's irate, I let them say their thing."Davis said she prefers places like Morrisville Borough. She and her husband had lived in Yardley. She said she prefers Morrisville Borough to townhouses."I like diversity and uniqueness. I believe that's what we have here," she said. She had told about her experience teaching in Georgia and how she had seen injustices there.”
Published: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; BucksLocalNews.com
Three people are being considered by Morrisville Borough Council members to fill the vacancy created by Ed Albertson's resignation from council.Albertson, who moved out of the borough, had been appointed to represent the Third Ward in the northern part of the borough when George Bolis resigned. Now, council must replace the council member in the ward for the second timeTwo of the three candidates are running for election in November - Ed Bailey (R) and Rhonda Davis (D). The third person being considered for the temporary appointment is Deborah Colgan (D).A decision is scheduled for Oct. 19 about who will replace Albertson until the term expires on December 3. The three candidates stated their case at the Oct. 13 council meeting.
ED BAILEY
Bailey said he started getting involved in the community when he joined the Morrisville Library Board.But Bailey said when he really delved into the community, was when he got involved in the "Stop the School" campaign. He was asked by now-school board member Robin Reithmeyer to survey residents about whether a multi-million-dollar consolidated school should be built.Bailey said he found that 88 percent of those questioned were opposed to the controversial proposed school, while only 12 percent favored it."Local government has to stay in step with what the public wants," he said. "That motivated me to stay involved in that issue...I feel a sense of responsibility to stay involved.”
DEBBIE COLGAN
Saying she was making a statement by applying for the council seat, Colgan, a member of the Environmental Advisory Council, said "Third Ward voters should be the ones who chose" who will represent them.Council, Colgan noted, is "legally obligated" to fill Albertson's spot within 30 days of his resignation. She said if she were picked by council, she would resign after the term expires in December."We know who you support," she told council members. "I ask each of you to allow the process of Democracy" to take its course... "You have the opportunity to pick an unbiased choice."Council member Jane Burger noted that Colgan is treasurer of the Democratic Party and that she is "working with one of the candidates."Colgan asserted that council's decision on an applicant would have an effect on the outcome of the election in the Third Ward.
RHONDA DAVIS
Growing up in a small town has meaning for Davis and she said she likes Morrisville because it is a small town. "Morrisville has some neat things going on,” she said. “I wanted to work with people my age...to make the community better. I just want to be more active in the community."Council member Dave Rivella asked how she sees herself fitting in with the current council members. "I'm very respectful of people's opinions," she said. "I am not a conflict kind of person...If someone's irate, I let them say their thing."Davis said she prefers places like Morrisville Borough. She and her husband had lived in Yardley. She said she prefers Morrisville Borough to townhouses."I like diversity and uniqueness. I believe that's what we have here," she said. She had told about her experience teaching in Georgia and how she had seen injustices there.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)