ROI … Serving the Taxable Community
Caring about my community has made me quite observant. It has created questions in my mind that make me truly consider whether the community is being served or not. When things are not changing for the better in any situation, a concerned individual begins to wonder why.
Basic services should be expected of the residents in any community. These services should be considered an ROI (Return of Investment). When taxes are assessed and paid, the residents are investing in their community. I actually went to a local mall, coffee shop, and 7–11 and asked 25 people from different walks of life what ROI meant. Not many people were familiar with this term.
Need an example? Trash pick up — without leaving a trail knowing that the trash company just came through is a basic service we invest in. Street sweeping — as well as the residents picking up after themselves and taking ownership of their surroundings — should be considered a basic service. Basic beautification efforts like weeding, planting, and maintenance of basic evergreens for year-round beauty or hiring a contractor to provide said service, should be funded by the resident's tax dollars. These are a few of the basic expectations of surface expectations that should be a general part of City Services. Having worked in Public Works before, these are just a few of the basics, although each jurisdiction is different.
When a resident pays taxes and a City has a Charter, there are realistic expectations on the ROI that a taxpayer should expect. Especially when it is written in a City Charter. Most City Charters are available online and should always be accessible to the residents. Here is the one for the City of District Heights. I keep a copy as a reference tool, every resident should.
Here is a link:
I just wanted to highlight a few examples of ROI and expectations from the Elected Officials that represent our Municipality.
Having worked in Public Works before, I am very sensitive to first impressions of any place that I visit and particularly where I live. In my opinion, the easiest job anyone can have is the job of taking pride in your surroundings. I decided to take a look at the 1999 City Charter for District Heights, Maryland. Although difficult to read online, I managed to muddle through it. The 1996 version was easy to read and obviously someone cared enough to make sure the residents could read it.
There were several sections that every resident should read, ask questions, exercise your right to free speech, as well as wonder are we being served? Where is the ROI??
With terms like moral turpitude (Article III -Section 302)
(Legal Definition of moral turpitude as defined by Merriam Webster)
1: an act or behavior that gravely violates the sentiment or accepted standard of the community
2: a quality of dishonesty or other immorality that is determined by a court to be present in the commission of a criminal offense or a crime involving moral turpitude
Section 305 (a) This one discusses Open and Closed Sessions
Section 308 — Minutes of the Commission meetings should be Open for Public Inspection.
Section 310 — Emergency Ordinances, now here is one that is worthy of discussing.
When the Commission deems that immediate action is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare, the Commission may enact an emergency ordinance by the affirmative vote of at least 4 members. Every emergency ordinance shall be plainly designated as such and shall contain a declaration stating that an emergency exists and describing the emergency in specific terms.
ARTICLE IV — GENERAL AND SPECIFIC POWERS
Section 46 — To establish, operate and maintain a police force for purposes of enforcing all laws of the City and State equally within the CIty limits and enforcing laws.
Section 47- To pass all ordinances not contrary to the Constitution and laws of the State of Maryland or this Charter as may be necessary for the good government of the City; for the protection and preservation of the City’s property, rights, and privileges; for the preservation of peace and good order; for securing persons and property from violence, danger , or destruction; and for the protection, and promotion of the health, safety, comfort , convenience, welfare, rights, and happiness of the residents of the City, and visitors thereto and sojourners therein.
These are sections that concern many residents recently. Why we are not getting a Return On Investment of the people that were elected to represent the Community or from the basic City Services that should simply be expected.
When a tree trunk is left standing for over 2 years, riddled with bugs feeding off of the remains and no one is proactive to take a chain saw and simply cut it down - what does that say about how one does or does not care about the community? It is not on private property. The tree is on City property, in front of a home that is up for sale — 2 years. There have been other City trees that have been cut down and stumps ground out within close proximity of this tree...yet the tree trunk stands. This is just one example of how the community is NOT getting ROI.
Not having a Chief of Police or a fully staffed police force, leaves the residents vulnerable to all types of safety issues at a time of the year when it is a necessity. Why is this situation NOT considered an emergency?? Why is it so hard to call an emergency meeting to truly vet the candidates that have applied and hire a qualified applicant sooner than later?
ARTICLE VII — PERSONNEL
Section 710 — This should speak to all residents. If we look at the world we live in today, it is obvious that we need to make the art of having Ethics should be required by anyone who represents a Municipality. Not sure what ethics are? Merriam Webster defines it as follows:
eth·ic | \ ˈe-thik \Definition of ethic
1ethics plural in form but singular or plural in construction: the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation
2a: a set of moral principles: a theory or system of moral values the present-day materialistic ethican old-fashioned work ethic — often used in plural but singular or plural in constructionan elaborate ethics Christian ethics
bethics plural in form but singular or plural in construction: the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group professional ethics
If as a City, we are to move forward in an unquestionable, ethical, PROFESSIONAL manner, can we find a way to expect an ROI? Otherwise, we should get a rebate on our taxes as services are not being delivered and expectations are certainly not being met.
SOS = Sick Of Silence
I am certain that there are other residents in this wonderful City that WANT, a ROI. All is not lost, we just need to read, raise our expectations and ask for help.
