HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistorical Records - Miscellaneous (46) Mr. Mayor, Council members, and Citizens:
Before leaving my seat on the Town council, I would like to make a few
remarks.
Needless to say, I was disappointed that the pro-incorporators lost in
the election to those favoring disincorporation of the Town of Oro Valley.
However, in the general election, the disincorporators received only 50.770
of the votes. The outcome, therefore, cannot be considered as a mandate for
disincorporation.
Even though the disincorporators will have control of the seats of the
Town council, they alone cannot dissolve the Town. As Town council members
they take on a moral and legal obligation to run the Town, and as custodians
of the welfare of the citizens of the Town they had better give their jobs
serious thought and effort. Part of doing a good job is maintaining financial
responsibility. This means not only running the Town economically, that is
within the Town's means, but also making kin certain all income is accounted for
and that all bills are paid.
It never has been proven that the Town cannot be run on the revenues
which the Town can receive without imposing a property tax. In fact, just
the opposite can be shown as a fact since the State and Federal revenues
which the Town should have received based upon the current population would
have been a little over $92,000. This amount is greater than the appointed
Town council majority finally estimated as necessary to meet the 1974-1975
expenditures. Since delay tactics has kept the Town from having a 1974
census, fiscal responsibility requires a close and tight control of the
Town expenditures. The Town council should save money wherever they can.
Recently, the Town council was presented with a copy of a proposed
agreement between the Town and the County. While there are some good
points in the agreement, the thrust of the agreement apparently gives the
County full control over the Town. Adjustments should be made in the
agreement before it is signed. This is necessary to save money and to
protect the rights of the citizens of the Town. Some of the adjustments
should include: 1) a reduction in the sheriff's patrol from 2 hours per
day, per eight hour shift, etc. to 1 1/3 hours per day per eight hour
shift, etc. The two hours has quite obvious become much more patrol than
the area has ever before received. A survey of the citizens show this to
be true; 2) the planning and zoning and the building code service should
be handled by the Town and not the County. Under the agreement as it is
now written it appears the Town would lose thousands of dollars in building
permit and zoning fees; 3) under sewer management the County wants to
take full control of all services including the right to say who services
the area for solid waste pickup as well as control the use of septic tanks.
I would question these clauses in the agreement. In fact I wonder if it
isn't included as part of an attempt to justify 'double taxation' for
sewer services. These are just a few of many issues which should be
examined before the agreement is signed.
Besides looking at agreements, there are other responsibilities to
be considered. problem The of running a Town requires good leadership with
good help. The Town has many individuals whom are interested and would be
dedicated to making it successful. Many of these individuals have been
providing volunteer services even under the most difficult circumstances.
To ask these volunteers-or to even expect these volunteers- to continue
working for a Town council whose members have publicly stated that they
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intend to destroy the Town, would border on the ridiculus. In addition,
to denounce the work they have done would only serve to elucidate the
stupidity of the denouncer. I speak not only for my self but many others
when I commend these volunteers for all they have done while working
under very adverse circumstances. I do,however, suggest that at this time
that they resign their positions,effective immediately,and turn the task
of running the Town over to those who now have the job.
Since at this time there will be change in personnel, and as a
past council member and as a citizen of the Town, I strongly urge the
new Town council to immediately cause a complete audit to be made of the
Town's finances showing all income, expenditures, and all bills which have
and have not been paid. Also, it should show whether or not the Town council
had authorized the' expenditures and the payment of the bills. This audit
should be done by a certified accountant.
Last, it should be pointed out that a meeting of many people
favoring incorporation was held and that the consensus was not to disincorporate
the Town of Oro Valley. Therefore, I am speaking for many citizens when
I suggest that we do not sign the Council members or their followers'
petitions for disincorporation of the Town of Oro Valley. They have the
job of running the Town- let us assure them that they have this job. If
they prove they can't do it- there is other action which can be taken.
Thnak you,
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