Dear Editor,
This letter is in reference to the article on page 2 in the October 5, 2023 edition of The Pocahontas Times titled, “MTC has short, yet productive meeting.”
Agenda item #1 under new business was not even mentioned. The item read: Discuss and/or act on Public Safety and Security Fee Ordinance.
According to the discussion, this fee would be used to help pay for a police officer. Nothing else was mentioned. (Note: several days after the meeting, I learned there are more things listed in the ordinance that the fee can be used for). It would be billed bi-monthly. Three fees were presented: $10, $12.50, or $15. The people who will be required to pay the fee are the 550 people who pay the fire fee.
We just had a water increase and a sewer increase is coming soon. And, according to the mayor, our garbage fee will probably be increasing at some point, too.
I asked the council this: Will residents be receptive to another fee, let alone a security fee? One council member wondered what would happen if people can’t or don’t pay the fee and asked, will the police still respond?
Council took no action at this time. However, it will be on the agenda at the next meeting in November. It takes 3 readings for an ordinance to pass. I expect the first reading to be at the November meeting.
The Marlinton Town Council meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the municipal building auditorium and by Zoom. The meeting agenda is posted at town hall and on the Town of Marlinton Facebook page.
Thank you,
Caroline Sharp
Marlinton
Dear Editor,
The Times is doing an incomplete reporting of Marlinton Town Council meetings.
It is the job of a free press to ensure that government is never done in secret. Please report everything discussed at council’s meeting, including the public comment portion.
Wolf Knight
Marlinton
