Dunwoody reacts to Jill Chambers vote against City of Dunwoody

In today's Dunwoody Crier the citizens of the community have reacted to Rep. Jill Chambers vote against the city by posting several letters to the editor. Below are a few comments that I felt were worth sharing.

http://www.thecrier.net/articles/2008/02/12/columnists/editorial/imolundsten.txt

What Ms Chambers did was embarrassing. Her expression of concern for the people of Dunwoody smacks of insincerity. I cannot recall if she has ever attended a DHA board meeting. No one I know has ever seen her at a DHA annual meeting where attendance is regularly 500 residents or more.

The questions she asked in front of the committee were done for political purposes. She had had the bills for months in their current form and not once did she ask any members of the Dunwoody Committee for clarification or explanations. She never raised these last-minute concerns to Rep. Millar who sits just two seats away from her on the house floor. To the best of my knowledge she never once attended any of the City of Dunwoody meetings to get more information. In fact, she sat with members of the committee and agreed in writing not to question the bill in front of the House committee. Instead she played dirty politics and sabotaged years of work for her own political gain. She decided that she knew best and would protect the people of Dunwoody from themselves. She knows better than I what taxes I would or would not be willing to pay. She would be the all-knowing mother superior, protecting her flock from the evils of free democratic choice. She, out of the goodness of her heart will protect the citizens of Dunwoody from choosing for themselves how they want to live and be governed.

She shot down your right to choose, not whether or not we should be a city. Whether you are for or against a city, her actions are insulting.

Ms Chambers then hides behind a press release that supports a “Township” of Dunwoody. She fails to mention that the township bills are nowhere near becoming law and mandate a tax increase to pay for what by law, IS another layer of government. How hypocritical can a person be?

http://www.thecrier.net/articles/2008/02/12/letters/letters.txt

Another letter stated... Ms. Chambers is obviously a "prima donna" who has to be the center of attention. She never had any intention of voting "yes" on the measure, and feels a sense of power at being the one person to defeat the measure. Her vote comes as no surprise in an age in which voters are given no reason to trust politicians. She also added a new measure of distrust in that other politicians can no longer trust her. She lied to the voters and to fellow Republican legislators. It is a shame that she can't be added to Speaker Richardson's enemy list and stripped of all assignments in the legislature.

If you were unable to visit the 1/31 Governmental Affairs meeting, here is the official 2 hour video provided by the Georgia House of Representatives:

http://media.legis.ga.gov/hav/08/comm/gaff/gaff013108.wmv

DeKalb Police Chief to speak at DNCA Annual Meeting on Tuesday

Reminder: This meeting is Tuesday Evening at the DNDC Clubhouse.

The Dunwoody North Civic Association invites you to attend our annual meeting on Tuesday evening to listen to DeKalb Police Chief, Terrell Bolton. DeKalb County Commissioners Elaine Boyer & Kathie Gannon have also been invited so that they may hear any concerns that you have regarding the police services provided by the county and act accordingly to make improvements.

If you want improved police services, I urge you to show up at the DNDC Clubhouse at 6:45 pm & let your voices be heard.

DeKalb County Police Chief, Terrell Bolton has agreed to be the featured speaker at the Dunwoody North Civic Association annual meeting taking place on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at the Dunwoody North Driving Clubhouse, 4522 Kingsgate Drive at 7 PM. Chief Bolton will probably be addressing a number of issues taking place within the Department, including his "Road to Success Action Plan" which calls for the hiring of new officers as well as the Departments switch over to Interactive Community Policing.

If you have any comments or concerns regarding DeKalb's police services, Chief Bolton and his staff will be available for questions after his presentation.

Information on the Chief's Action Plan and other police topics previously discussed on this blog can be found at the link below.

http://dunwoodynorth.blogspot.com/search/label/Police

Jill Chambers spouts FUD tactics to justify her denial of Dunwoody's self detemination

Despite repeated pledges to support the referendum allowing Dunwoody residents to vote on incorporation, Representative Jill Chambers voted against the bill in the Government Affairs Committee of January 31, 2008 causing the bill to fail by a single vote.

It is worth noting that the bills presented this year are identical to the bills presented last year, which Representative Chambers voted in favor of.

Thanks Jill for saving us from ourselves! What would we do without you?

Jill Chambers just saved 40,000 people from deciding for themselves on the feasibility of a City of Dunwoody. Thanks Jill for doing that otherwise we would have had until September to review copious amounts of financial data to determine if a city would work or if it was still desired even under a slight tax increase.

REPRESENTATIVE JILL CHAMBERS VOICES SUPPORT FOR SELF DETERMINATION FOR DUNWOODY

ATLANTA—Georgia State Representative Jill Chambers (R-Atlanta) today issued the following statement expressing her support for the creation of a Township of Dunwoody.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that I completely support the creation of Township of Dunwoody and the right of the residents of that area to vote on that issue,” Chambers said. “I believe that the best form of government is that which is closest to the people. “But I also believe in the right of citizens to know the cost of their government, and to know how their taxpayer dollars are being spent to create and run the local government,”

Chambers continued. “I believe in doing things right the first time, especially when we are spending other people’s money to do it. Openness and transparency at all levels of government is necessary.

“While the feasibility report regarding cityhood for Dunwoody shows that a city could be viable, the tax revenue projections are based upon collection of taxes destined to be repealed and a revenue bill passed last year that will be tied up in expensive lawsuits with the county. This creates a real risk of creating a deficit for the proposed fledgling city that would have to be made up with higher property taxes.

“A Township of Dunwoody gives local citizens the control they want regarding zoning and parks, but will not cost as much as an incorporated city. It would be prudent and fiscally responsible to first create a local form of government that will be solvent. A city of Dunwoody would have raised taxes both inside the new city and for the citizens in the unincorporated parts of the county.

“It is my sincerest hope that we can now move forward with meaningful discussions about the financial implications and obligations that will accompany the creation of the Township of Dunwoody. The citizens of this area deserve nothing less than honest and open dialogue. I remain committed to giving the citizens the right to vote on self determination and to continue working with my colleagues to make that vote happens.” ###

Crier - Analysis: Chambers had agreed to bills

The Crier article below shows that Representative Jill Chambers met with the Citizens for Dunwoody as well as other State representatives and agreed to support the Dunwoody bills with no further changes. A letter from Rep. Fran Millar documented the conversations to the Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman, Austin Scott and he also copied Speaker of the House, Glenn Richardson & Rep. Chambers.

Rep Millar states that he has been ambushed by a fellow legislator and from the looks of the conversation, it is hard to say otherwise.

http://www.dunwoodynorth.org/images/Millar_letter_to_Austin_Scott.pdf

By Dick Williams for The Crier, 2/5/08

For all of her public questions, press releases and web postings about taxes, the fact is that state Rep. Jill Chambers (R-Doraville, Chamblee) interposed herself between the people of Dunwoody and their right to vote on their form of government.

Her flip-flop last week in a House committee - changing her position and preventing a referendum in Dunwoody - was clouded by a haze of her questions and worst-case scenarios.

The essential question to be answered was whether Dunwoody residents were intelligent enough to vote on incorporation, as were residents of Sandy Springs.

“Once a cityhood bill is passed,” said state Rep. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody), “citizens have months to study the research gathered by volunteers and experts and decide for themselves if the numbers work.”

“The people of Dunwoody were once again denied their right of self determination,” said Oliver Porter, former chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Sandy Springs and an expert on new cities. “Unfortunately, Republican Rep. Jill Chambers who represents a very small number of Dunwoody homes was the most vocal in opposition and cast the deciding vote against the bill. It is a shame. The people of Dunwoody deserve better.”

In the view of many in the Citizens for Dunwoody - volunteers who have worked thousands of hours on the feasibility of a city of Dunwoody - what Chambers did after the committee vote was to add insult to injury.

Less than 24 hours after her vote to kill a referendum, she issued a press release under the headline, “Representative Jill Chambers voices support for self determination for Dunwoody.”

The release pledged her support for the right of Dunwoody to become a township, with control of zoning and parks. She did not mention that township legislation has not yet passed the General Assembly.

A few board members of the Citizens for Dunwoody contacted refused comment on what most privately call treachery. Most of her constituents live in cities.

The history of Chambers and the Dunwoody bills is complicated. Ken Wright, president of the Citizens for Dunwoody, noted that she has not attended a single CFD meeting, nor has she ever asked for information or raised a question.

After her performance last year in denouncing the bill and then twice voting for it, Millar and Wright decided to anticipate any objections in 2008.

At a lunch meeting with them and with state Rep. Harry Geisinger (R-Roswell), vice-chairman of the Government Affairs Committee, Chambers agreed to support the Dunwoody bills with no changes and no further antagonistic questions.

Millar wrote the committee chair, state Rep. Austin Scott (R-Tifton), with copies to Geisinger and Chambers of the agreement all had reached.

Despite the agreement, Chambers began raising new questions. At a meeting of the DeKalb House delegation, she peppered the county’s finance director with new issues. A few days before the hearing, she delivered questions to Millar.

“Many questions asked by Representative Chambers were already answered by me and I had no warning that she had any problems with the legislation,” Millar said “We sit two seats apart and nothing was said to me in spite of the fact that I had asked everyone in the committee (Republicans) to come see me if they had any issues. Bottom line, I was ambushed by a fellow Republican whom I have supported financially and on her legislation and her actions speak for themselves. Chairman Scott was the one who lived up to his word on this.”

The fate of the Dunwoody bills is uncertain. As long as the General Assembly is in session, some hope for them exists. But Wright has written his board suggesting that the matter might wait until next year.

Crier - Chambers' flip-flop downs Dunwoody vote

By Dick Williams, The Crier, 2/5/08

A state House committee, by a 7-6 vote, defeated a bill Thursday setting a referendum to create a city of Dunwoody. The bill, in its third year before the General Assembly, was expected to pass along party lines, but state Rep. Jill Chambers (R-Doraville, Chamblee), a resident of Dunwoody North, changed her vote of April 2007 and voted against allowing Dunwoody residents to choose their own form of government.

The bill passed the House Government Affairs Committee last year, with Chambers voting for it. When the bill reached the House floor, Chambers denounced it and then voted for it. The state House voted the bill down. In last year's vote, the length of the debate and the hour caused many representatives to be absent.

Last week, Chambers and one other Republican voted against the bill. The reaction of state Rep. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody) was blunt.

“Bottom line,” he said “I was ambushed by a fellow Republican whom I have supported financially and on her legislation. Her actions speak for themselves.”

Last week’s vote in the Government Affairs Committee was expected to follow party lines, with Republicans in the majority to pass it. Far fewer opponents attended to testify against Dunwoody. Millar was the lead proponent, occasionally asking for facts from members of the Citizens for Dunwoody. The committee also heard from Dr. Paula Yeary, whose Vinson Institute at the University of Georgia updated expected revenue and expense estimates in the event the new city were approved by voters. Her numbers showed a sizable surplus.

Several DeKalb County state legislators and Commissioner Kathie Gannon - whose district includes Dunwoody - spoke against the bill.

Some, like Gannon, supported a referendum for Dunwoody, but opposed including the Perimeter Center business district in the city boundaries.

State Rep. Stan Watson (D-DeKalb) who chairs the county legislative delegation and is running for chief executive officer, agreed with Gannon.

“For the record,” he said, “I am in favor of a city of Dunwoody. For the record, I am not in favor of including the PCID.”

Watson also said he had been “disrespected” because the Dunwoody bill were brought to the floor of the state House instead of going through the delegation as local legislation.”

State Sen. Ronald Ramsey (D-DeKalb) angrily charged that the legislation was “done in the dark.”

“We will have an economic boycott against the entire Dunwoody community and the PCID,” he said.

Speaking for the referendum was Oliver Porter, who chaired the Governor’s Commission on Sandy Springs.”

“I’ve looked at the numbers and Dunwoody can support itself,” said the author of a book on new cities. “There are three major developments in Perimeter impacting roads, schools and neighborhoods while increasing the population by 50 percent. Dunwoody can’t vote on those. That is Dunwoody’s business district. To take the PCID out of Dunwoody is to take Peachtree Street out of Atlanta.”

Still, it was Chambers’ incessant questioning that dominated the proceedings.

Contrary to a written agreement that she would support the 2007 Dunwoody bills with no changes, Chambers questioned if Dunwoody would receive $1.6 million in Homestead Option Sales Tax funds if DeKalb County sued to retain the dollars. The county has been fighting the issue with other cities for seven years.

Chambers noted two bills in the legislature to do away with utility franchise fees and taxes on insurance premiums. Those bills would affect not just Dunwoody but every city in the state.

“Her point about what happens if the insurance premium tax was eliminated has been around for a decade,” Millar said, “and the industry lobbyist says that legislation isn't going anywhere soon. It’s the same with franchise fees. Cities depend on them.”

When DeKalb’s Finance Director, Dr. Michael Bell, told the committee that the county pays $500,000 a year for street lighting in Perimeter Center, Chambers said she was shocked.

“Gosh,” she said, “I’m astonished to find out about the electricity cost. I’m just astonished.”

She also complained that nothing in the legislation specified that Dunwoody would contribute $1.5 million a year to Perimeter Center, as DeKalb does now. In the proposed budget of the Citizens for Dunwoody, the contribution is specified.

A resident of Dunwoody, Bob Speice, appeared to please committee Democrats. One of them, state Rep. Alan Powell, asked him to testify a second time. Speice said he thought the Dunwoody Homeowners’ Association did a great job on zoning issues and made another layer of government unnecessary. But he said he didn’t believe citizens were informed.

“I can say the dissemination of information in Dunwoody is poor,” Speice said. Veterans of the Dunwoody Homeowners’ Association do not recall him as a volunteer there.

In the end, Chambers championed the argument that a city of Dunwoody could cause a tax increase for its residents and for the rest of DeKalb County. She said she couldn’t in good conscience cause that.

A companion bill to the referendum legislation was a measure outlying how county properties would be transferred. The committee voted to table it.

Porter and others said later that the properties bill was not necessary if the referendum bill passed and Dunwoody residents decided to create a city. The precedent for property transfers to new cities was established by Sandy Springs, Milton and Johns Creek, the new cities in Fulton County.