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Sunday, December 23, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
Winter's here!
Happy Winter Solstice!
With this cold and windy front, please be careful as you drive around the neighborhood: the trashcans are feeling very frisky.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Decatur commissioners vote YES on annexation
MANA's reaction later... for now, Patch has a meeting summary.
Commissioner Boykin recused himself from the discussion or vote on the A.3 annexation zone (the North Decatur Rd./Clairmont Road intersection), which includes his Bicycle South store. On zone B.3 (Suburban Plaza area), he voted against annexation based on feelings of discomfort with the proposal once the referendum option was dismissed by city planners.
Several unincorporated DeKalb residents, including some who are being annexed against their wishes, spoke against the proposal; so did several commercial land owners and shop keepers in the affected area.
No one spoke in favor of the annexation plan.
Commissioner Boykin recused himself from the discussion or vote on the A.3 annexation zone (the North Decatur Rd./Clairmont Road intersection), which includes his Bicycle South store. On zone B.3 (Suburban Plaza area), he voted against annexation based on feelings of discomfort with the proposal once the referendum option was dismissed by city planners.
Several unincorporated DeKalb residents, including some who are being annexed against their wishes, spoke against the proposal; so did several commercial land owners and shop keepers in the affected area.
No one spoke in favor of the annexation plan.
SACS finds "little evidence of the Board's concern for the academic well-being of the district's students and a constant focus on the adults serving the system"
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| SACS stopped short of suggesting these; we don't. Image via brosen.com |
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is
"placing the district on probation, leading to possible removal of the school board. After a six-month investigation, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools found evidence of missing money, school board nepotism and board member influence on which schools students, particularly athletes, attend. Read it and weep @ AJC
The full report appears at http://www.11alive.com/assetpool/documents/121217025005_SACS%20Review%20Report%20for%20DeKalb%20County.pdf. A few choice quotes:
• "The Board models a negative behavioral image that affects leaders and staff throughout the district.... The Board operates in a dysfunctional manner in several areas... Board members brazenly disregard the policies set forth for the effective operation of the school system... Although Board members have participated in conflict resolution... they display what was described as abhorrent behavior including yelling at each other during meetings...."
• "Board members do not demonstrate professionalism, respect for each other, or knowledge of their roles and responsibilities... and interfere with the functioning of schools by demanding information" and insert themselves into "issues that clearly should be addressed by the Superintendent and her staff."
• "A review of the board meetings provided.... Interview and artifacts revealed that the system is dealing with a financial crisis... excessive amount of resources used to pay legal fees, purported to be approximately $11 million annually..."
• "...the district's current policy and procedure associated with drawing attendance zones as well as closing or opening new schools is poorly constructed and ineffectively administered. The result has been community outrage, confusion, and feelings of abandonment." Individual board members "barter with each other for votes to amend the attendance zones to satisfy individual or constituent groups of people in the county rather than establishing a proper infrastructure based on the needs of all students in the county."
• And sadly, the Board's dysfunctional behavior is catching: the report also cautions that "board members-elect... are already visiting 'their' schools and thereby perpetuating a culture of interference and ignoring the autonomy of the staff in its day to day operations of the system and schools."
Monday, December 17, 2012
Contact your DeKalb Delegation to voice your annexation concerns
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| Sign the PETITION |
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| What businesses are affected? Click here to find out. |
If you want to voice your opinion about the proposed City of Decatur annexation of multiple commercial lots along North Decatur Road, you have several options:
• Sign the petition (to be delivered to the DeKalb Delegation and City of Decatur)
• Email your legislators directly (information for the DeKalb Delegation and City of Decatur officials appears below).
• Attend the December 17 City of Decatur City Commission Meeting, which will include a vote on the annexation plan (7:30pm, Decatur City Hall, 509 N McDonough St. (corner of McDonough and Trinity) @ Lower level - City Commission Room. The meeting is scheduled to start at 7:30pm but is typically well-attended, so plan on arriving early. Follow this link to the meeting agenda and the City Manager's Annexation Recommendation memo.
If the City of Decatur Commission approves the annexation recommendation, the plan moves to the Legislature for approval per this schedule:
January – April, 2013: General Assembly considers and adopts local act authorizing referendum, if needed.
November 5, 2013: Referendum is held, if needed.
December 15, 2013: Annexation is effective.
June 1, 2014: First Installment tax bills due.
If the City of Decatur Commission approves the annexation recommendation, the plan moves to the Legislature for approval per this schedule:
January – April, 2013: General Assembly considers and adopts local act authorizing referendum, if needed.
November 5, 2013: Referendum is held, if needed.
December 15, 2013: Annexation is effective.
June 1, 2014: First Installment tax bills due.
DeKALB COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION
GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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Last Name
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First Name
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District
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City
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Email
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Stacey
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84
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Atlanta
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| Bennet |
Karen
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94
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(elect)
| |
Dee
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93
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Lithonia
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Karla
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86
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Avondale
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Michele
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87
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Stone Mountain
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Scott
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82
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Atlanta
| ||
Mike
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80
|
Atlanta
| ||
Dar’shun
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94
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Lithonia
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Rahn
|
91
|
Decatur
| ||
Billy
|
88
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Stone Mountain
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Howard
|
90
|
Atlanta
| ||
Mary Margaret
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83
|
Decatur
| ||
Peterson-Anderson
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Tonya
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92
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(elect)
| |
Pam
|
92
|
Atlanta
| ||
Tom
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79
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Dunwoody
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Earnest “Coach”
|
89
|
Avondale Estates
| ||
GEORGIA SENATE
| ||||
Last Name
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First Name
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District
|
City
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Email
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Gloria
|
55
|
Stone Mountain
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Jason
|
42
|
Decatur
| ||
Gail
|
44
|
Jonesboro
| ||
Steve
|
41
|
Tucker
| ||
Emanuel
|
10
|
Decatur
| ||
Fran
|
40
|
Atlanta
| ||
Ronald
|
43
|
Decatur
| ||
CITY of DECATUR, GEORGIA LEADERS
CITY OF DECATUR
Per the Decatur City Commission page, “The City Commissioners
determine the policies of the City and enact the local laws necessary for the
protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. They provide leadership
in identifying community needs and developing programs to meet community objectives.
They oversee the delivery of services to citizens and are responsible for
adoption of an annual budget and the levying of taxes necessary to finance
local government operations.” http://www.decaturga.com/index.aspx?page=112
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Last Name
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First Name
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Title
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Email
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Floyd
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Bill
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Mayor; District 1 Commissioner
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Baskett
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Bill
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|
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Boykin
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Fred
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District 1 Commissioner
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Cunningham
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Kecia
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District 2 Commissioner
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Garrett
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Patti
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District 2 Commissioner
|
|
Merris
|
Peggy
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City Manager
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Saxton
|
Hugh
|
Deputy City Manager
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