Judge Stephen Rideout (ret.)
swrideout@aol.com
Dear Readers:
In the event you do not receive the Cambridge or Talbot Spy internet magazine, here are two of my recent articles that have been published over the past two weeks as well as the one that is scheduled to be published on Monday the 18th. It is free and also provides you with other important information about what is going on here and along the Eastern Shore.
I hope they are helpful and that you enjoy them.
Steve
Judge Stephen Rideout (ret.)
swrideout@aol.com
Dear Readers:
I saw on a recent City Council agenda an item about extending the contract of Chesapeake Waste for six months while City Council considered what it should do about bringing that service back to city staff to perform.
Attached is my Cambridge Matters report on the history of this issue with the last city council along with the agenda documents from over a period of months that we considered.
While the article and the attached do not address all of the considerations, they do address what I think are the major ones. I hope that this is helpful to our members of city council as well as you in understanding this issue and letting your voice be heard as they make any decisions regarding this issue.
Steve
CAN will hold its ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING on Wednesday, April 13, at 6:30 pm in the Library Conference Room (lower level adjacent to the parking lot). Votes will take place on nominated Board Members and proposed bylaws changes. The featured speaker will be Ward 1 Commissioner Brian Roche.
Please review the attached files, PROPOSED BYLAWS REVISION and NOMINATED BOARD MEMBERS in preparation for voting at the April 13 meeting.
Judge Stephen Rideout (ret.)
swrideout@aol.com
Dear Readers:
I am not sending you a Cambridge Matters article today but rather some documents related to the effort by the Dorchester Citizens for Better Government to obtain enough signatures on the two petitions that are attached to allow these issues to be placed on the ballot in the November 2022 election. I am also attaching a one page explanation for why these proposals were created along with a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. The two petitions have the proposed language on the back of Proposed Section 606 and a Summary of what is being proposed on the back of Proposed Sections 405-406 along with the complete language of those sections including current and new proposed language as required by the law.
The Dorchester Citizens for Better Government is now in the process of collecting the over 4500 signatures for each petition that are required to permit the Local Election Board to approve their being on the November Ballot. This is a monumental job in this county given how spread out we are, so in addition to the above, I am asking for your help.
First please read the attached. If you agree with what we are trying to do, think about how you could help. In order to help, the people who need to sign these petitions are registered voters. It does not matter if they live in the county outside of a city or in a city. We are all citizens of the county. What kind of help could you provide?
Would it be collecting signatures of your neighbors who are registered voters? Collecting them at church or at some group that you are involved in? Volunteering as the weather is warmer by sitting at a table in Cambridge, Hurlock, or some public event where you live and talking with your neighbors about these matters? Holding an event at your church or group and inviting me or someone from our group to come and explain why we are seeking these changes to the county charter? There is no one answer.
If you have questions and want to talk about what we are trying to do, take a look at the zoom link below which is a training video that Gene Lauer and I did to help people understand the issues and also know how to collect signatures. If that does not answer your questions, email me or call me at 703-655-6149.
Passcode: B?^Dl7HC
We need to collect these signatures over the next 3-4 month in order to timely file them with the County Government and the Election Board. We also hope to be able to appear before the County Charter Commission and ask them to propose these to the County Board for placement on the November Ballot, but we are unsure if the County Board would agree to do that.
The proposed changes are not radical. They are common sense solutions to some of the challenges that we see are present in the way that county government is run.
For those of you that are already helping, thank you. For those of you who have already signed these petitions thank you. Please tell people you know why you signed them. Help us get the word out.
Thank you for considering this request.
Steve
Cambridge Waterfront Development, Inc. is presenting a branding event and public information / comment opportunity to the residents of Cambridge on April 7, 2022, from 6:30pm until 8:30pm. The presentation will take place at the South Dorchester High School cafeteria. Doors will open 6:15. No reservations are needed. See attached for details.