City Council

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=240488" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="31800640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Message </b></FONT><B>   |     </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Message"><U><B>home</b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I> City Council</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> In your group you will be assigned a role in a decision-making task.  You are to actively participate as the roll assigned.</div> <bR> <div> The Situation:</div> <bR> <div> On March 13, the city council of New Bristol received notification that Stanley and Sophie King willed their property at 125 Ridge Road to the city.  The letter notifying the city of the gift also stated that the following stipulations must be met in order for the gift to be legally binding:</div> <bR> <div> 1.     The council must accept the donation within three months of forego any claim to it.</div> <div> 2.     The council also must decide on its use by this date.</div> <div> 3.     If the council chooses t lease, sell, or donate the property, it may do so to either a non-profit or profit organization as long as the use "contributes to the quality of life in this community."</div> <bR> <div> It is now June 12 and the council members are meeting to make its decision.  Prior to the meeting, the members solicited requests and suggestions for use of the property, which includes a brick structure located on approximately one acre of prime land.</div> <bR> <div> The following bids were received</div> <bR> <div> 1.     St. Stanislaus Church, whose property borders the King property on the east, has offered to buy the property at fair market value.  The church would convert it to additional parking facilities to accommodate its growing crowds on Bingo nights.  Many senior citizens support this use, since Bingo is one of the few recreational outlets for them, and safe off-street parking is at a premium.</div> <bR> <div> 2.     A local women’s group has proposed a three-year lease to set up a women’s center.  It would provide workshops, birth control assistance, abortion counseling (and possibly a clinic), and also serve as a refuge for battered women.  According to police reports, domestic violence has increased drastically as economic difficulties and unemployment create stress in this working class community.  The Rector of St. Stanislaus Church is strongly opposed to letting the women’s group have the property.</div> <bR> <div> 3.     One of the major oil companies has submitted a bid several times the fair market value for the property if the council will grant a zoning change to allow for the construction of a gas station.  These funds could be used to buy sorely needed playgournd equipment for the local park, but the gas station would be an eyesore on Ridge Road.</div> <bR> <div> 4.     John Lake has offered to buy the property for $200,000 and convert it to a "private club."  He has assured the council that it would not be an "ordinary bar."  Rumors are that John is a homosexual.Parents of children of St. Stanislaus School have besieged the council with letters smearing John and alleging that the property would be turned into a "gay bar."</div> <bR> <div> 5.     The Friendship House, a United Fund agency that runs programs for minority and disadvantaged  youth, has requested that the city arrange a  lease-purchase agreement.  New Bristol is primarily an  Industrial town with a growing population of African Americans and Hispanics.  There is clearly a need for programs for disadvantaged young people, but neighbors in the are have vocally come out against Friendship House proposal, crying "we don’t want it over here."</div> <bR> <div> 6.     A local builder offered to buy the property and develop it into a moderately priced retirement Condominium building.  This would require special building permits but raise the tax base and also be aesthetically pleasing.</div> <bR> <div> 7.     Nafco, a statewide drug addiction service, has asked to lease the property to set up a drug rehabilitation center with residential facilities.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Assume that your group forms the city council.  What will you do with the King property?</b> </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>