From Doug Smith, a member of the local group:
For the past 7 months, a group has been meeting to work on the next 'version' of the Market House. We started this work while the lawsuit was still in play... knowing that some day it would get
settled.
It is our feeling that we don't need to fight over the issue of bagels versus crab cakes - what we need to do, as a first priority, is to determine the governance structure for the Market House. Who makes the
decisions? Who determines the terms of the lease? Who determines the product mix? It is great to have charettes and public input hearings –but the real question is: Who makes the decisions?
It is our feeling that these decisions should reflect the needs of the people who live here, work here, and visit here. It has been proven, time and again, visitors want to experience the local culture – they want to know what it’s like to live in Annapolis. If we get it right for people who live and work in the city, it will be right for the visitors.
At great cost to us, the taxpayers, the Site Realty suit was settled. Now we can consider the next steps. We paid the price to get out of the lease, so we have a right to determine what happens next.
Currently, the market house, by city code, is under the control of the Mayor and the Director of Central Services - Rob Schuetz. I compliment Rob on getting vendors into the Market House - it is 1000% better than it was just months ago.
Our group, the Market House Group (MHG) is focused on the long-term – to define the decision-making structure starting January 2010 and for the next 10 to 20 years. MHG is a non-partisan, non-political group –with only one mission – to focus on the long-term vision and
management of the Market House. None of our members have any financial interest – nor are we seeking to gain any financial reward for our efforts.
Members:
Bob Burdon, Chamber of Commerce; Marie Dall’Acqua, past president
Eastport Business Association; Dick Franyo, Boatyard Bar and Grill;
John Guild, Pres/ CEO Historic Annapolis Foundation; Jessica Jordan
Paret, President Annapolis Business Association and owner, Paradigm;
Jim Nolan, Attorney and Chair of HAF; Craig Sewell, President
Annapolis Sustainable Business Alliance; and Doug Smith.
Our Proposal
MHG has offered a proposal to the Economic Matters Committee that a Market House Commission be formed, as a public-private partnership. The City will continue to own and maintain the Market House. The Market House Commission will represent a cross section of residents, business owners, Market House tenants, and representatives of the City. And it will be the Commission that determines the budget, the lease terms, the product mix, and the all of the operating conditions surrounding the Market House. The Market House Commission will present its plan and budget to City Council for approval.
If you would like to receive a copy of our proposal (5 pages) – to request the report, please send a note to Doug Smith at: wardoneresidentsassociation@gmail.com
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9 Comments:
How on earth did Ellen allow you to be placed on that committee? I would expect her to fight that tooth and nail. But regardless--congrats Paul. Good Job!
Uhh, you are more than a little confused anonymous writer. Not only as I not on that committee (whose members were listed) but it was not convened by Mayor Moyer. Thanks for the congrats and pat on the back, but...that was not me. However, the mayor did, amazingly enough, appoint me to serve on the bicycle committee where I thanked here and where I worked hard, along with others, to improve bicycling in town.
Sorry, I read this:
Members:
Bob Burdon, Chamber of Commerce; Marie Dall’Acqua, past president
Eastport Business Association; Dick Franyo, Boatyard Bar and Grill;
John Guild, Pres/ CEO Historic Annapolis Foundation; Jessica Jordan
Paret, President Annapolis Business Association and owner, Paradigm;
Jim Nolan, Attorney and Chair of HAF; Craig Sewell, President
Annapolis Sustainable Business Alliance; and myself.
And assumed that "myself" was you.
Well congrats on the biking commission. I saw the article in The Capital about the guy from Europe (?) that was running it--I guess you guys are behind the "sharrows"
Ah hah--the "myself" was from Doug Smith who sent out the note. I have corrected that. Thank you. As for the "sharrows" I am not sold on them and am concerned that there has been zero public input.
Zero Public input ? seriously. Surely some of the bike shops in town ( or just outside thereof) Velo Orange, Capital can help promote public input. Hell, the input does not even have to come from locals, does it ?
Surly yeah--zero. As in nada--and if you'll identify yourself, I'll you more.
Surly--I mean "I will tell you more" if you identify yourself. It's not up to the bike shops to do this--although they can help.
Ok Paul, I understand you don't love anonymous postings. Anyway, I fear that no one will ever do anything serious about making annapolis livable. Why is this so ? http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/tech.htm
Would you consider a livable community to be a place where everyone was anonymous or unknown to one another?
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