[Peace] County B Mtg HELP!

[Charlotte Green]

Sandra,
What time is the meeting and what room is it in?
Thanks, Charlotte

--- Sandra Ahten <spiritofsandra at hotmail.com> wrote:

> The County Board meeting this Thursday will again
> discuss the inmate jail 
> phone contract. I had thought that perhaps we just
> needed bodies there to 
> show support for ending this atrocious practice...
> but after discussing 
> strategy with some Board members... I think we need
> speakers also.
> 
> The Finance Committee of the Board is going to be
> saying that they want to 
> renegotiate the contract with Evercom without
> sending it out for bid. They 
> want Evercom to make the cost of the phone calls
> less -- but essentially 
> they do not want to give up their little piece of
> the pie ($14000 per month) 
> in order for that to happen.
> 
> I am calling all CB members prior to the meeting
> this week. I am hoping they 
> will agree to this compromise:
> They do renegotiate the contract with Evercom and
> try to get the price of 
> calls to be reduced. The new contract will expire
> November 30, 2005 (with 
> the County Boards fiscal year end). The next budget
> not include the $14,000 
> per month -- or any revenue commission from the
> phone contract -- and the 
> phone contract go out for bid in time for a new
> contract to be implemented 
> in November.
> 
> This compromise gives them the ability to not have
> to alter this years 
> budget which has already been passed. If we have
> enough show of support at 
> Thursday's meeting... and calling all board members
> before Thursday we might 
> get it.
> 
> Even if they do not agree to it... they may agree to
> l do exactly as 
> outlined above... except they won't commit to not
> accepting the $14,000... 
> it will still be a victory in that they will not be
> locked into another 2 
> year contract that can be eternally renewed. In
> actuality it probably takes 
> 4 or 5 months to send a contract out for bid... so
> we just will need to stay 
> on them through the time the contract goes out for
> bid (August?)
> 
> 
> And we will not let them forget that they are being
> watched. I will continue 
> to grow the movement to abolish it unethical
> practice of accepting the 
> kickback. They will be witness to a grassroots
> campaign the likes of which 
> they will not forget.
> 
> Please join us on Thursday night at Brookens
> Administration Building. Please 
> let me know if you will be there. If you are willing
> to speak, please call 
> or email  me. I'll help you write a script if you
> want. Do you know anyone 
> who has had family in jail who might speak? If so --
> they most likely have 
> been touched by this. Please encourage them to join
> us.
> 
> Sandra
> 
> 
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