An Essay by the Disaffected SNO Past President
MEMBERSHIP in SNO -- "a private club of neighbors that don't want you in it" ?
To join or not to join?
Without a doubt, SNO was instrumental years ago in convincing the City to rebuild, rather than relocate, South Side School. SNO also played a big role in getting zoning changes which encourage renovation of fine old structures. The founders were ethical, friendly, warm-hearted people. SNO's value in the past cannot be questioned. What about today? Does SNO foster neighborhood cohesiveness and goodwill, or does it spawn the opposite? Does SNO voice the consensus of Southside's 3000 citizens, or has it become 'a private club of neighbors' which operates like 'a bridge club'?
Does SNO live up to its name : Southside Neighborhood Organization? >> Can every resident become a full-fledged member? NOPE. Renters (who probably make up a majority of the population) CANNOT vote.
Does SNO live up to its name : Southside Neighborhood Organization? >> Does SNO now make available to the neighborhood its Minutes, Agendas, full monthly Treasury Reports? NOPE. Does it bind itself to Roberts Rules of Order or some other procedural guide? NOPE; Roberts Rules (and its requirements for notice and hearing and free access to information) were ditched in 2011.
The SNO Secretary and President are mother & daughter. These two offices are designed to check-and-balance one another. Why has SNO not chosen one of Southside's other 3000 residents for either of these offices?
Are SNO meetings a pleasure to attend? Is every Southside resident given a warm welcome and a reasonable opportunity to express his/her point of view and concerns?
WHAT A GROUP SAYS ABOUT ITSELF IN OPEN COURT CARRIES GREAT WEIGHT. Read this, then make your own decision about what SNO has become >>
Excerpts from official Chancery Court transcript
In open court on 2 November 2011 ~ Court Reporter Jayne Cox
Bobby MacBryan Green vs.
Jodi Jones, Howell Sherrod, Betty Ann Polaha, and Mary Lee Jondahl
(Filed documents @ Appellate Court Record )
* * * * *
.......
MR. SHERROD: I represent the Southside Neighborhood Organization and the individuals.
[T]his lawsuit is basically a nuisance case filed by somebody who wants to be in a neighborhood club and they don’t want him in it. And it’s like if you want to be in my mother’s bridge club and they don’t want you in there. I’m sorry, you can’t sue to get in. It doesn’t matter that, you know, they’ve taken part or done something .... [interrupted by Chancellor Johnson]
And it’s, basically, he wants to be in a club that he’s not welcome. And I don’t think there’s any legal basis for a person wanting to be in a private club of neighbors that don’t want you in it, and so he’s been removed.
And we have a problem with him trying to bully his way in, you know, an issue that he’s really just not wanted and it doesn’t matter why. So that would be our position.
* * * * *
[Bold & color added.]
[Note: The pronoun ‘he’ above refers to Green, who "bullied his way in" by being elected the president of SNO for the 2011-2013 term by an overwhelming majority in a well-advertised formal election.]
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
September 7th 2013 = Tree Streets Yard Sale 9 til 3 ~ ZERO Fee for the whole neighborhood!!
RECENT COMMENTS
- Liz Layton said...
- how do i get my money back for paying this year?
MacBryan said...- Hi Liz ~ The most certain way is to call 911 (which urges JC citizens to call for much more than just emergencies, unlike most locales) and report that you were deceived. City Hall is well aware of the situation. ~ Best wishes
MacBryan said...
The following was quickly deleted by a SNO webmaster. The truth cannot always be simply deleted. SNO's attempt to collect a $10 - $15 fee from every seller (see/click> SNO August newsletter) must fail.
* * * * * * * *
CITY DECLARES ZERO FEE Tree Streets Yard Sale
Added on 16 August 2013
by MacBryan Green [disaffected SNO past president]
Time: Weekend after Labor Day, especially Saturday 9-3
Location: ALL of Southside
City/Town: Johnson City, TN
Event Type: yard, sale
Organized by: see below
2013 position statement from City Hall >>
The City never requires any fee whatsoever for a yard sale permit, which can be quickly obtained for a residential property on up to three occasions annually by visiting City Hall. For individual yard sales in the Southside Neighborhood during the weekend of the annual tradition known as the Tree Streets Yard Sale, the City requires no yard sale permit at all from any resident. The City does not authorize any person or group to charge a yard sale fee.
To confirm this info, check with City Hall : lbennett@johnsoncitytn.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
On 16 August 2013 I posted the following Discussion Forum item, which was also quickly deleted by SNO webmaster >>
FREE YARD SALE Permits all year @ City Hall 2013
2013 position statement from City Hall >>
The City never requires any fee whatsoever for a yard sale permit, which can be quickly obtained for a residential property on up to three occasions annually by visiting City Hall. For individual yard sales in the Southside Neighborhood during the weekend of the annual tradition known as the Tree Streets Yard Sale, the City requires no yard sale permit at all from any resident. The City does not authorize any person or group to charge a yard sale fee.
To confirm this info, check with City Hall : lbennett@johnsoncitytn.org
The City never requires any fee whatsoever for a yard sale permit, which can be quickly obtained for a residential property on up to three occasions annually by visiting City Hall. For individual yard sales in the Southside Neighborhood during the weekend of the annual tradition known as the Tree Streets Yard Sale, the City requires no yard sale permit at all from any resident. The City does not authorize any person or group to charge a yard sale fee.
To confirm this info, check with City Hall : lbennett@johnsoncitytn.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Postscript >
I
will forever regret letting myself be duped into assisting the SNO
Treasurer with 'fee collection' at the 2010 Yard Sale. I was assured by
the 2010 Yard Sale Chairperson that all was kosher. I was led to believe
that I was doing a good deed for the Neighborhood. ~ Not until almost
a year later, when it was my turn to manage the Yard Sale, did I learn
from City Hall that there was no excuse for SNO's collection of fees
from all sellers (thousands of dollars). Before I could successfully put
an end in 2011 to the SNO collection scheme, others suddenly took
charge. ~ Most sincerely, I apologize to the individuals who
surrendered 'fees' in 2010 because of my efforts. If necessary to obtain
forgiveness from those afflicted by me personally (eastern Pine
Street), I will return those 2010 'fees' from my own pocket upon
individual request. ~ Older, bruised and wiser, I am now the
disaffected SNO past president, with even greater concern and goodwill
for the 3000 hard-working people of Southside.
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
- Liz Layton said...
- how do i get my money back for paying this year?
-
MacBryan said...
- Hi Liz ~ The most certain way is to call 911 (which urges JC
citizens to call for much more than just emergencies, unlike most
locales) and report that you were deceived. City Hall is well aware of
the situation. ~ Best wishes
