Monday, April 30, 2012
Purcellville Election Eve Reflection
I had the opportunity again yesterday to knock on doors in the heart of Purcellville. Again, the same thing that I had been thinking all along, residents too, had been thinking. When I moved to Town in 2001, I moved away from construction projects and shopping centers to retreat to a quiet farm town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. But someone pulled the plug on rural and now have started Ashburning Purcellville.
Yesterday evening's visit through Kingsbridge community was like a knife through me when I viewed what is behind the homes on Wexford Place. I would like to ask Town Council and Mayor Lazaro if you have visited these homes at dark. Let me help with the answer, NO! You haven't visited at dark because these homes will never know what dark is. It is an embarrassment that this project was allowed. Nothing like driving into our quaint town, only to see the back of a shopping center, with loading docks, employee smoking areas, and with the trash receptacles as the welcoming ornament.
I wonder how much the town uses in electricity at Town Hall and the Tabernacle... because the lights are ALWAYS on! We are far from being green. Don't make me laugh when you say we're Tree City either. I think you've cut down the trees at Fireman's Field to send off to be made into paper so you can announce a new recycling program, so that too can get an award. Who are you people?
I know for sure that a lot of time is spent getting us awards, when the fact is that our gems are the people of this town. The days of building the political portfolio on the wallets of the town's people is over. My job is to halt spending, enforce transparency, and step into the 21st century with automation.
I'll be looking for you at the polls Tuesday, May 1. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at: marybeth.barbagallo@gmail.com.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Missing! Campaign Sign
I would have to say, that someone feels threatened by me running for Town Council. Removing my sign that was located at My Deli and Cafe, was I am sure, just the first step. I started this campaign less than 10 days ago with just a small amount of personal funds. From the looks of the amount of signs displayed, there are many candidates that have much more funding than I do. Which means, they are not concerned about their money, which I am sure, they are not concerned about your money. This is theft. We are watching and you will be caught. You know who to write-in - Mary Beth Barbagallo
Simple Questions, Not So Simple Answers
Monday, April 23 I again had the pleasure of attending the Town of Purcellville's Infrastructure meeting. In discussion was the 21st Street project, which had just been given TENTATIVE approval of an additional $300,000 toward sidewalk improvements. According to the Town Council, the $2.3 million in Federal funding will be used to protect businesses from having "backwash" into their shops, also preventing icing as reported by owners.
Although I know everyone on 21st Street, I don't know any of the merchants that are experiencing these issues. So I did some investigation, and I could only meet with five of the business on the east side of 21st Street and NONE of them had water issues.
I checked with the Town for reports made to or by Public Works regarding these issues. I was given a copy of the "proposed" drawing of the improvement project, but no documentation for what initiated the project. As of Wednesday, I am still waiting.
The proposed improvement shows a narrowing of the street and widening of the sidewalks to make it more pedestrian friendly and adding beautification items such as planters. But it doesn't address the current telephone poles that the merchants have asked to have put behind the buildings instead of on the sidewalk, which would free up sidewalk space. The proposal also shows the addition of one handicapped space, but no crosswalk to the west side of the street. Of course, this is just a proposal and I am sure that addition will be addding more funding to the "safety" project.
I asked two simple questions in that night's meeting. When asked what the cost was to taxpayers, the mayor stated that it would be 10%. So that means, based on the current amount given by Federal taxpayers for the beautification project, Purcellville residents will pay $260K. According to the town manager, there will be additional funds applied for.... so are you ready to give more money to the town?
The second question I asked was what was the purpose of the project. In addition to backwash and road design, another council member gave the history of the project. After reading again the background of the project on the handouts given in the meeting, it will "have positively changed the looks, functionality and attractiveness of our Downtown Business Community." While this might seem nice to some, it is a burden on the business owners, which will eventually be part of the downtown area becoming a ghost town. I wonder if the business would be able to apply for a bailout?
Business like Shave and a Haircut that is a fairly new business, who has a history of working on 21st Street, Butterfly Gourmet, that has invested quite a bit of funding to bring a beautiful store to downtown, Shamrock Music, with the service Scott provides to families, ReLove-It has now made a thriving place for themselves, and historic Nichols Hardware, which seems to have had a memorial film made about them, will all suffer from the changes proposed by the Town.
The truth about this project is that business owners and residents were given an opportunity to choose among the projects presented. They were not given a choice of the improvements they all agreed they wanted to see. Again, this is the Town not listening. The real question is, are you as a Purcellville resident either concerned about the amount of money that keeps being taken from your wallet, or do you care about what happens to these independent businesses?
I have asked the town
Although I know everyone on 21st Street, I don't know any of the merchants that are experiencing these issues. So I did some investigation, and I could only meet with five of the business on the east side of 21st Street and NONE of them had water issues.
I checked with the Town for reports made to or by Public Works regarding these issues. I was given a copy of the "proposed" drawing of the improvement project, but no documentation for what initiated the project. As of Wednesday, I am still waiting.
The proposed improvement shows a narrowing of the street and widening of the sidewalks to make it more pedestrian friendly and adding beautification items such as planters. But it doesn't address the current telephone poles that the merchants have asked to have put behind the buildings instead of on the sidewalk, which would free up sidewalk space. The proposal also shows the addition of one handicapped space, but no crosswalk to the west side of the street. Of course, this is just a proposal and I am sure that addition will be addding more funding to the "safety" project.
I asked two simple questions in that night's meeting. When asked what the cost was to taxpayers, the mayor stated that it would be 10%. So that means, based on the current amount given by Federal taxpayers for the beautification project, Purcellville residents will pay $260K. According to the town manager, there will be additional funds applied for.... so are you ready to give more money to the town?
The second question I asked was what was the purpose of the project. In addition to backwash and road design, another council member gave the history of the project. After reading again the background of the project on the handouts given in the meeting, it will "have positively changed the looks, functionality and attractiveness of our Downtown Business Community." While this might seem nice to some, it is a burden on the business owners, which will eventually be part of the downtown area becoming a ghost town. I wonder if the business would be able to apply for a bailout?
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| Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 |
Business like Shave and a Haircut that is a fairly new business, who has a history of working on 21st Street, Butterfly Gourmet, that has invested quite a bit of funding to bring a beautiful store to downtown, Shamrock Music, with the service Scott provides to families, ReLove-It has now made a thriving place for themselves, and historic Nichols Hardware, which seems to have had a memorial film made about them, will all suffer from the changes proposed by the Town.
The truth about this project is that business owners and residents were given an opportunity to choose among the projects presented. They were not given a choice of the improvements they all agreed they wanted to see. Again, this is the Town not listening. The real question is, are you as a Purcellville resident either concerned about the amount of money that keeps being taken from your wallet, or do you care about what happens to these independent businesses?
I have asked the town
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Beauty is Only Your Wallet Deep
As I went through the town today listening to residents and businesses concerns, I couldn't find anyone that agreed that the Town was doing a good job at managing their funds. From high water bills to unnecessary projects, they all had the same concerns.
I have lots of questions myself like, "was the major increase in the debt over the last several years directly related to the purchase and renovation of the new Town Mahal?" Of course, I would expect a yes or no answer, but I haven't found anyone on Council that can give me a straight answer. Its the ugly truth.
I guess I'll try to find out for myself. I'll continue to hit the streets and listen to the concerns of the people and ask for their vote Tuesday, May 1 for Town Council.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Cole Farm Property - Where's the Barn?
I was a surprised last year to see the Cole Farm barn destroyed by the developer during site work. We were assured that the barn would be back... it is, but it looks nothing like the last one.... unless they scrubbed the wood clean. New materials were used to put back the "old" barn and I don't believe it's the same footprint.
What I think the Town should do is continue on their mission to remove anything that is old. Let's start with 21st Street since it is an "eyesore" and put in something that is like the complex in Leesburg where the Cobb theater is. What do you think? Maybe some "real" boutique shops, a mattress store, cell phone store, a bowling alley, and a cinema of course.
Now are YOU ready to pay for it? That's what the Town is doing. When asked what the matching resident dollars were on the project a percentage of 10% was given because, as you know in the situation of the Town Hall project, things don't always end up costing what was originally thought. They have slated $2.3M in Federal funding and just received approval for an additional $300K. But they're not done yet. I think two or three more rounds of grant money and they might come up with a total, which I think it will be closer to $4M. That means YOUR share is $400K to pay for the pretty planter project. Sound good? I'll get you started where to send your money.
What I think the Town should do is continue on their mission to remove anything that is old. Let's start with 21st Street since it is an "eyesore" and put in something that is like the complex in Leesburg where the Cobb theater is. What do you think? Maybe some "real" boutique shops, a mattress store, cell phone store, a bowling alley, and a cinema of course.
Now are YOU ready to pay for it? That's what the Town is doing. When asked what the matching resident dollars were on the project a percentage of 10% was given because, as you know in the situation of the Town Hall project, things don't always end up costing what was originally thought. They have slated $2.3M in Federal funding and just received approval for an additional $300K. But they're not done yet. I think two or three more rounds of grant money and they might come up with a total, which I think it will be closer to $4M. That means YOUR share is $400K to pay for the pretty planter project. Sound good? I'll get you started where to send your money.
Follow Up and Follow Thru
When we opened our business in August 2011, we brought to the attention of the Town that we did not have a mail receptacle to receive mail. I asked other businesses how they managed to get payments, important documents and shipments, and the reply was that they used their P.O. Box, which was free. Although I had rented a P.O. Box prior to our business occupying our retail space, there were some items that could not be delivered to a P.O. Box. What occurred the following four months was a finger-pointing between the Town of Purcellville and the U.S. Postal Service. Seems this question had been posed to the Town several years ago and again in the previous year by a business on 21st Street. But all seemed to fall through the cracks.
Even though a local printed media outlet cited that the merchants didn't feel like going to the Post Office, that as just their opinion, and not of those that had missed critical business payments. I decided to get a mediator involved since obstruction of mail delivery is a violation of 18 USC 1701. After receiving a letter from Congressman Frank Wolf, the Town found time in their busy award submission schedule, to coordinate a meeting with the U.S. Postal Service to determine locations of mailboxes since the Town needed to provided the land for the boxes. Finally, at the end of March the boxes were installed. When I spoke with the Postmaster last week he said he was awaiting the route assignments and the Downtown merchants and residents will be receiving mail for the first time in the history of the town.
If I'm doing the job of the town, I think this qualifies me for Town Council.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Mary Beth Barbagallo for Purcellville Town Council
After a serious family illness and two funerals, I am back to talking about items that matter to our town. I have become increasingly frustrated with the lack of common sense of those running for public office. There is one financial leech that is on the minds of everyone in town - the Southern Collector Road (SCR).
As a business owner in downtown Purcellville, I stand outside most every day and view window stickers on vehicles as they travel Main Street. The majority of the vehicles come from jurisdictions outside of Purcellville. Bringing development to Purcellville and having businesses and services that other towns need is a great way of increasing revenue for the town. I can imagine that the road will provide great opportunities for speeding. Well, I guess that's revenue. I would like to know how the "A" St./Southern Collector Rd./Mayor Druhan Speedway will accomplish removing this traffic coming from Round Hill, Hamilton, and Lovettsville, our three neighboring communites, off of Main Street.
The simple solution instead of spending money, is to direct thru traffic to use Hirst Rd., which is 45 MPH. This works well for those in a hurry, which seems to be the majority of the town. If the candidates have stopped long enough from kissing babies and shaking hands, I would like to have answers to the following:
1) How will the Southern Collector Road accomplish removing the traffic coming from Round Hill, Hamilton, and Lovettsville, our three neighboring communites, off of Main Street.
2) Will the completion of the Southern Collector Road be safer for Main Street pedestrians than Hirst Road?
I can't imagine how this will benefit the tractor trailer drivers, nor be safe for the neighborhoods. All those in favor of tractor trailers going through their neighborhood, raise your hand!
As a business owner in downtown Purcellville, I stand outside most every day and view window stickers on vehicles as they travel Main Street. The majority of the vehicles come from jurisdictions outside of Purcellville. Bringing development to Purcellville and having businesses and services that other towns need is a great way of increasing revenue for the town. I can imagine that the road will provide great opportunities for speeding. Well, I guess that's revenue. I would like to know how the "A" St./Southern Collector Rd./Mayor Druhan Speedway will accomplish removing this traffic coming from Round Hill, Hamilton, and Lovettsville, our three neighboring communites, off of Main Street.
The simple solution instead of spending money, is to direct thru traffic to use Hirst Rd., which is 45 MPH. This works well for those in a hurry, which seems to be the majority of the town. If the candidates have stopped long enough from kissing babies and shaking hands, I would like to have answers to the following:
1) How will the Southern Collector Road accomplish removing the traffic coming from Round Hill, Hamilton, and Lovettsville, our three neighboring communites, off of Main Street.
2) Will the completion of the Southern Collector Road be safer for Main Street pedestrians than Hirst Road?
I can't imagine how this will benefit the tractor trailer drivers, nor be safe for the neighborhoods. All those in favor of tractor trailers going through their neighborhood, raise your hand!
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