Re: WARD 14 CDO Engagement Agreements (Ward 14 Tremont) -- corrected

Thanks Henry.

 

I was not invited to this meeting.

 

Apparently Jim Pelikan and Gail Long are unwilling to work something out we can both agree on. In that case they had better not publish anything on behalf of Barber-Vega. I certainly hope it doesn't exclude us from receiving benefits and services or from working with the new service model. That would be unfair.

 

There seems to be some miscommunication and/or confusion about whether we, who were invited to these "Community Engagement" meetings with these consultants, represent our Communities. I guess we don't if these "draft agreements" mean nothing but if they impact how things go moving forward then it could be a problem to say that we are not representatives.

 

Jim Pelikan first insisted that we are not representatives when I recorded our first meeting, identified attendees, quoted the wishes of Community members and disseminated those transcriptions to the rest of my community because I believe they have the right to know what is going on with their government and public servants and how it impacts us all and us "not being representatives of our Community" was a big part of Jim Pelikan's reasoning that I should not record these meetings so that I could give the most complete and accurate information possible to my Community.

 

It seems to me that Councilman Cummins referred to us who would be invited to these meetings as "representatives". I could be wrong about that. I'd have to dig back through the communications to be sure. He did refer to us as "representatives" at the November 18th meeting though. I remember that and believe I have that on record as proof.

 

Henry makes a very good point as I have that if these agreements have anything to do with how we move forward in our relationships with one another then it is vitally important for us who do act as representatives of our community organizations, however big or small, when we participate in any such community activity, to be able to come to consensus within our communities in a way that is seen as fair and reasonable as possible by everyone who is effected before signing any agreements. In my Community, for instance, there are people with differing views (I suspect it's that way in all communities) and if I sign an agreement without full consensus I will be rightfully viewed as unfair by anyone who disagrees with the terms.

 

The first draft agreement written for Barber-Vega had some language that I liked including the possibility of working with Ohio City and/or the New Service Model but insisted that I agree that we have been served by Ohio City when we have not. Jim Pelikan insisted that we have no choice at the meeting I was invited to to work out the details of this agreement. The consultants didn't want to continue discussing this at that meeting and we agreed to bat the agreement back and forth until we agreed with each other. Then a day or 2 before the November 18th meeting they sent me another draft recommendation which cut out our option of choosing between Ohio City and the New Service model and only included the the one paragraph we disagreed on at the meeting insisting again that I agree that Ohio City fulfilled the contract of service to us when they hadn't. I put some more complete details about our relationship with Ohio City in a draft I wrote and the consultants asked me to call a special meeting with my Neighborhood during our holiday break before they would even make a comment. I told them that if we can't work something out between us then forget the draft. We will just wait until the consultants are gone I guess and go from there.

 

It's sad you know, it seems like (such as what I witnessed with myself, Henry Senyak and Jerleen Justus in the meetings we attended together), anyone who really asked for genuine accountability to the people from these public servants whose salaries come from the people's tax dollars were attacked by the public servants in what seems to be an attempt to drive them out of the participation process. That's what the people seem to get who are the most passionate, work the hardest for their communities and demand full accountability from their public servants and government in the truest tradition of the American Way. Of, for, and by the People, not the government and public servants. That is the corruption we are entrenched in at every level if I may be so bold as to say.

 

Again, I'm hopeful that we can come to agreement about allocations, services and partnerships and continue to work with each other in a positive manner as much as possible and I am willing to provide consensus and proof of such to our Councilman but none of us in Barber-Vega want to go through all the scandal we have in past years and keeping this Ohio City issue up will make public what has gone on with Ohio City, Bob Shores, Commander Sulzer and the 2nd District Community Relations Committee for sure. I've done my best in using discretion over these issues for the sake of the community and what can be salvaged but it is all too relevant to this issue and will come up as part of it and will be reported along with Henry's referrals.

 

Sincerely,

 

Scott Thomas Eversole

Barber-Vega Block Club 

 

 

 

From: Pelikan, Jim 
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:09 PM
To: Subject: RE: WARD 14 CDO Engagement Agreements (Ward 14 Tremont)

 

Dear Sandy and Henry,

 

Our Engagement process started almost six months ago and we have covered a lot together in these months. We are grateful for the commitment shown by the group of community leaders who have participated, each in their own way. We know it wasn’t always easy and your perseverance  should make everyone in the neighborhoods involved proud and hopeful.

 

As stated from the start the goal of the Engagement Process was to provide some leaders of the involved neighborhoods an opportunity to identify the important starting points on how the community and the service providers interact. It was acknowledged that such a shared understanding of the means for community engagement was just one small way to create some sense of “we are in this together” that might open the door to larger opportunities.   

 

On more than one occasion we clarified that the participants in the process were there as leaders and not as representatives of any group. So Henry is correct when he wrote

that “if anyone one specific individual signs a document they are doing that on their own behalf.” The bulk of concerns expressed by both Henry and Sandy in their recent e-mails reflect the complexity of communication within and among neighborhoods. We say more about this below, reminding everyone involved that the path ahead, as the engagement process itself is one of on-going learning.

 

Both Sandy and Henry affirm what many found in the Engagement Process  --  the opportunity for small steps to a different way of being community together. We are pleased the read Sandy’s statement :”I am not concerned about the content of the agreement that was reached at the November 18, 2010 meeting”  and as well Henry wanting to “request support” for the Tremont Ward of Ward 14 document when he shares it with his block club.

 

We realized the issues associated with any meeting in December. We went ahead with two things in mind. First this has been a long process with the need for closure. Secondly the process has been fluid and there is no reason why some can’t sign at a later time if that supports their best future engagement.  Reversing years of discord, creating some new ways to engage in community, and building some small occasions for trust are what we hope to see.  

 

Below are two important summary points.

 

1.      Representation and Engagement Document:  You were initially invited to participate in the engagement process as a leader of the Tremont section of Ward 14 and not as a representative of a particular block club or a member of the TWDC Board of Trustees.  Therefore, we feel that it is appropriate for you to sign the agreement as a resident of a particular neighborhood in Ward 14.  The document is not a legal document but rather a framework that we hope will begin to build trust and establish a direction in which residents, the Community Development Office and the Councilman can follow.  More importantly, we hope that it has been the beginning of a working relationship between all parties.  The Tremont document in particular was significantly edited over time and represents the collective thinking of the two of you as well as others who attended the meeting on November 18th.

 

2.      Cover letter:  A cover letter will be sent to all invited to attend the meeting on 12/8/10.  In this letter we will put the Agreement documents in context as well as encourage people to invite whomever else they would like to attend.  We will stress as we have from the beginning of the process that we are not talking about the delivery of service but rather how residents can have their voices heard in this new community development model.

 

We hope that this clarifies some of your points.  Unless we hear from you differently, we shall assume that you will not be attending the meeting on the 8th and that you will sign the agreement at a later time.   We shall contact you as to who to contact when you are ready.

 

We thank you for your participation in the process.  Your concerns, ideas and presence were important and valuable.

 

Gail Long and Jim Pelikan

 

From: Sandy Smith
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 2:47 PM
To: Subject: RE: WARD 14 CDO Engagement Agreements (Ward 14 Tremont)

 

Good Afternoon, Everyone:

Dharma contacted me as well about coming to the Ward 14 CDO office on December 8 to sign the agreement between the Ward 14 Tremont residents and the CDO office. Unfortunately, the meeting was scheduled on an evening when I already have another commitment. Due to community/family/professional commitments during this time of year, more than a week's notice would be greatly appreciated to allow for participation by as many people as possible.

I understand Henry's concerns about signing a document on behalf of the members of his block club that they have not had the opportunity to review. I feel similarly. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the MetroNorth Block Club is March 29 as we do not meet during the winter months. Some block club members indicated they wanted to hold a meeting in January to meet the candidates running for the Tremont West Board of Directors, but that is the only item on that night's agenda.

I also have concerns about holding myself out as a representative for any person or group in Ward 14 Tremont other than myself as a resident or the members of my block club as their co-chair. Several members of the MetroNorth Block Club attended one or more of the meetings related to this agreement, so I know they are interested in the process and the ones who attended the final meeting are supportive of the wording of the agreement, but at no time did the block club as a whole "vote" me in as their proxy in creating an agreement with the Ward 14 CDO. I think I would feel more comfortable signing the document if the members of the MetroNorth Block Club had the opportunity to vote for it or if they had been invited to participate in the process from the beginning. That way, had they chosen not to participate in the process, then they could not argue with the outcome.

That said, I am not concerned about the content of the agreement that was reached at the November 18, 2010 meeting. The residents and business owners in attendance at that meeting from Ward 14 Tremont created and approved the agreement document that was forwarded to Gail Long and Jim Pelikan. However, I don't feel comfortable being one of only two or three Ward 14 Tremont representatives signing it on behalf of the thousands of Ward 14 Tremont residents and business owners.

Best Regards,

Sandy Smith

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." ~ Margaret Mead

From:
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2010 12:39:54 -0500
Subject: WARD 14 CDO Engagement Agreements (Ward 14 Tremont)
To: To Whom it may Concern:

 

 

I have been contacted by Dharma from the Ward 14 CDO offices yesterday 12-01-10. This contact was to advise me that a date has been determined to sign a final document agreements with language created at the 11-18-10 Engagement meeting between all parties for service expectations and by who in Ward 14 Tremont for CDBG funded services. The date is set for 12-08-10. I will also state the employees of the Ward 14 CDO especially Dharma and Megan have treated this matter with respect and professionalism and are a pleasure to work with.  

 

I only participated in 50% of the community engagement meetings due to the consultants involved not reviewing the fact several of the meeting dates they have chosen either conflicted with block club meetings or events and/or TWDC Committee structure meetings. TWDC is our CDC and we participate on a weekly basis with our vibrant CDC.

 

I had represented the interests of the Lincoln Heights Block Club at the engagement meetings I have attended. This based on the office I hold, I had the authority to participate in dialog. I do not have the authority to sign any document without a formal presentation to the block club members with proper notice and a said motion from the floor to do so. We do not deviate from the democratic process and follow Roberts Rules of Order.

 

The next meeting of the Lincoln Heights Block Club is not to January 13th, 2011. I am requesting a copy of the document to hold a discussion at the block club meeting on that date and to seek authority to sign any document.

 

The Lincoln Heights Block Club is split into Ward 3 and Ward 14. We are current being served by the Tremont West Development Corporation. Our expectations are to receive the same services from TWDC until TWDC provides written correspondence that they will not be servicing our block club or not providing certain specific services in our geographic territory.

 

As stated earlier I will be happy to bring it to the attention of the block club membership, and request support. There is no meeting in December nor will there be a request to have any meetings until our January 13, 2011 meeting. No-one has any authority to sign documents on behalf of the block club, and if anyone one specific individual signs a document they are doing that on their own behalf.

 

 

Thank you,

 

Henry P. Senyak

Chairperson Lincoln Heights Block Club