Much of the work of your ANC involves making decisions based on information brought to it by the community it serves.  Our decisions, and the public interest we seek to further, is, of course, critically dependent on the quality of the facts we receive.  We rely on our agendas and meeting notices to alert the community and those who may be affected by our actions in advance so that interested parties can be present at meetings and make their views known.  This is not, however, the only method.  Interested members of the community are always welcomed and encouraged to present written views to the ANC.  We are not fussy about the form of the expression.  E-mail to the chairman, our executive director, or any commissioner will work, as wiill formal memoranda.

It is important to note that the DC sunshine laws do not permit the ANC to take actions other than in public meetings.  Our regular public meetings occur monthly. Often, we are pressed for time in taking actions.  Our major function is to advise other elements of DC government to take or refrain from taking some action.  (for example, to protest the renewal of a liquor license or to advise the BZA to grant a special exception).  For our advise to be entitled to “great weight” as provided for by D.C. Code §1-309.10, we must meet the statutory or regulatory deadlines set by the intended recipient of our advice.  This means that written submissions to us are best provided before the public meeting at which the matter is to be decided, since we may not have the flexibility to delay formal action to the next meeting.  No one suggests that this is an ideal procedure.  We do, of course, have the power to call special public meetings on one-week’s notice, but this is difficult to do given that your Commissioners are volunteers with other full-time occupations.  Therefore, we urge that you make sure you are on our mailing lists for meeting notices, act quickly when there are matters on which you want to be heard, and give us your views in writing if you cannot attend the meetings.

Another point is that our fact finding methods are not rigidly prescribed.  By law, our meetings are conducted under Robert’s Rules of Order.  Other than that, we do not require formal rules of evidence, as would a court.  This perhaps has the disadvantage of denying some the protections which are built into those rules.  We do, however, seek to be fair to all, and there are advantages in our more informal procedures such as the greater flexibility afforded the ANC and to those presenting views to the ANC, without the practical need to be represented by counsel or other professional experts.  (Of course, anyone is entitled to be so represented at our meetings, if that is their wish.)

ANC2F continues to seek ways to make its meeting and its procedures more efficient, more effective and more encompassing.  Suggestions for improvement are always welcome.

Sincerely yours,

Charles Reed  

Sadly for the citizens of Logan Circle and PSA307, Lt. Mike Smith is retiring after 27 years on the Metropolitan Police Department.  For those who know him—and many in our community do because of his dedication and zest for police work—we are going to have to look long and hard for someone who can even attempt to fill his shoes.  Mike was the absolute best.  Always there, pitching in, working on and off duty, responding to everybody who called, and even joining in the community programs whether or not related to health and safety.  We will also miss his wife, Colleen Riley-Smith, for whom the community also owes a debt of gratitude for putting up with her magnificent workaholic husband, and who is a community contributor in her own right.

I will not detail here the many accomplishments that Mike has under his belt that have made our community a safer place, although I do refer you to the Logan Circle Community Association website, where some of the Mike stories appear.

I also want to remind you again of the retirement party being held for him this coming Saturday, November 8, as was announced in the agenda for our November meeting.  The event is hosted by the LCCA.  Here is the LCCA Announcement:

Calling All Neighbors and Friends!
It's true.  Lt. Smith is leaving us to retire to sunny Florida next month. We hope you'll join us on November 8 to send him off with a tropical-themed retirement party.   Because this is a pre-paid event, we must receive your payment on or before November 3, so please take a moment and register now - we have set up a link to pay by credit card or you can send a check. All the details are on the links below:
DETAILS: http://www.logancircle.org/smithpop.html
RESERVATIONS:  http://www.logancircle.org/join.asp   
A number of you have indicated that you may not be able to attend the party, but would still like to show your support for Lt. Smith, or that you would like to donate beyond the event price of $35/person (which covers food, entertainment, and venue).   All money raised for this event will go towards the actual costs for the event and towards the gift/honorarium for Lt. Smith, so we encourage you to help us send Lt. Smith off in style with your support!
If you cannot attend but would like to show your support with a donation, please let us know when you donate so we can give the caterer an accurate headcount.  You can indicate donation-only from the drop down menu on the credit card site, or when submitting your check.
* Note that this is not an official LCCA event. It is being hosted by and is open to the community, and we are encouraging participation by our businesses, residents, community organizations, and more so please help us spread the word.

Please come.  I look forward to seeing you at the party!

Charles Reed

Sadly, two of our six commissioners have resigned.  Jim Richardson (SMD 2F-02) leaves the ANC because he will shortly move out of the single member district he represents and loses his eligibility to continue as a commissioner.  Jerome Sikorski (SMD 2F-05), who was elected in a special election to replace Sandra Biasillo, has resigned due to ill health.  Both of these leaders will be missed.  Although Jerome was only recently elected, he willingly took on responsibilities as the Secretary of the ANC and had participated with great verve during the short period of his tenure.  Jim Richardson has served with great distinction, always willing to pitch in where needed and robustly furthering the interests of his constituents and of the community as a whole.

The loss of these two community minded men leaves their respective SMD’s without a voice on the ANC, and it deprives the whole ANC of wise and energetic participation. The ANC has acted quickly to commence the statutory process of filling the two vacancies. Fortunately, the timing is such that fully functioning replacements can be elected in accordance with the DC ANC Act. (While the ANC has a bylaw provision for informal, non-voting delegates, having official representatives is much more desirable.)

So, I urge—as I have often in the past—that those with the interest and aptitude to take on this public service to step up.  Your ANC is important to you and everyone else in this community.  We are the advocates who speak for the community with all elements of the District of Columbia—the Mayor, the City Council the administrative agencies, the police and with the business and other interests which impact our area.  The “job” doesn’t provide an income, but it carries immense rewards, and it is a vital force in building and sustaining our community.

Call me (202.262.5030) or email (creed@kgrmlaw.com) with any questions about being a commissioner or with your suggestions as to who within these two SMDs would make good commissioner.  It benefits us all!