SPAR revolt?

[Springfield Girl]

Good points Alex. You and I see the positive in getting info out but in the end it has to come from the executive board. The people having the authority to post info choose to do it their way. I guess I was thinking about some recent comments I received from younger friends regarding how they like to receive info and a request from Stephen to join Twitter. I was thinking more of volunteers attending meetings and putting the info out via these venues. Board members do not have the authority to speak as the "voice" of SPAR and Lord knows I don't have the skills if I could. I am still working on mastering texting.
Judy Connare is the secretary of the SPAR Board. I will ask the staff to update the website.

[Springfield Girl]

My failure to understand and master the quote feature, as you can see above, tells you everything you need to know about my technical skills.

[strider]

There is a petition circling the neighborhood asking that zoning regulations be enforced and that no more boarding/halfway houses be allowed as that is what is stated in the overlay.

There is nothing wrong with this.  however, is the petition based on the real facts or is it based on the lies that have come out of SPAR Council on this subject?   The lies I am talking about are the ones so proven by the very overlay they claim is not being followed.  Even your statement is not exactly true, the laws have been enforced, you just didn’t like the outcome. And Oh goody, when you turn it in, it becomes public record and we can see it too!

2) Barbara is no longer on the board even though that was recently posted twice by one of the posters who continually accuses SPAR of lying. So is only SPAR held to the perfection standard? Why is it a misunderstanding or mistake when someone else states something incorrect but OMG, the volunteers at SPAR lied!

So, I suppose saying that a person who was indeed on the board until sometime recently was still on the board is the same as saying: the overlay doesn’t not allow four or five adults to live in a single family home.  In my case, I somehow got excluded from the -e-mail that said Barbara left the board, so made an innocent mistake.  As it was still posted on the website as she was still on the Board...who's lying about that after all?  The statement I partially quoted from the August 7th “Spar Speak” is based on nothing what so ever as the overlay does not address the “family’ issue in anyway, it is done in the main code under definitions and states that five unrelated adults are indeed permitted to live together in a single family home.

Many here have misstated the truth all the while calling SPAR liars and accusing them for everything that is wrong in the world

Yes, they have because yes they are…..at least they often spread lies and innuendo to further their causes.  And I have not said all of SPAR Council but certain ones have and I normally classify them as the Executive Board.

The lots on W. 7th were recently included as "proof" of this. Of the 4 lots in question, one parcel (a parking lot) was sold to SRG years ago as a vacant piece of land. Two of the properties are owned by Robert Phillip Neary. One of these had a house that sat empty and blighted for years and was finally taken down by property safety. The last parcel is listed as being owned by the Greene Sisters. I don't know for a fact but I was told that the property was taken back by the hard money lender and it was demo'd at her request by property safety. So the 4 parcels that it has been stated were torn down to be sold to SRG is not true. The only property owned by SRG has been owned for years and was vacant to begin with. Anyone can find this info by searching the property records at coj.net.

And what I said was - in part as it was a long posting:
Another thing of note is that SRG made advances to buy these two houses. The only problem was that if they did, they wanted Phil to at least not fight the demolition of these two houses so that condos could be built on that site. … the lot that was “donated” for the steam boat house on the east side was actually traded for the paved parking lot on West 7th street.  Along about now, JSO brought the houses up for demo in front of the HPC. Perhaps it should be noted that the security fund was in place at this time. No accusation, but a note of interest.

Something else interesting was that the first time that code enforcement took this house to an enforcement board, sitting on the committee was Lisa Simon, who has ties to SRG, who had said they wanted the house torn down. No accusation, but a note of interest.

…27/29 West 7th street, was a duplex built in the teens that had been pretty badly burned.   (we did) About 1/3 or more of the wall and floor structure, the main beams and about 2/3’s of the roof structures were replaced per current codes. A new metal roof was installed.  As soon as the permit was finalized, the house got turned into code enforcement by SPAR Council (per the code enforcement supervisor at the time).  I sold the house. …, the economy tanked before the new owners could secure the funds to get it done and eventually, the lender ended up with the house. The city kept the house in it’s system and so eventually, and I believe with the blessing of the lender, the house came down.

Phil’s house had always had a sound roof ….. but still, code enforcement (at the request of SPAR Council again per the code enforcement people) needed the house done or sold. By now, the real estate market was not the greatest and houses were not selling. However, a buyer was found, but too late to save the house per the city, so down it came.

You will notice I did not say that SRG had purchased the property, however we both know that Mack did indeed want these two properties once, and of course, they came down way to late to do him any good.  You need to go get a couple of your facts straight as well.

4) Lisa Sheppard of the historic planning staff asked me to post that staff, the commission, GC and property safety are working together on a plan for neglected properties. No one wants the properties torn down but the plan is to no longer allow them to sit for years with no repairs or upkeep. Liens are working now on some owners but the new plans are to enforce compliance by imposing fines to be collected as traffic fines are now. If plans move forward negligent owners will face a judge and even possibly face a fine of as much as 30% of the value of the property if a structure is demolished by neglect or intent

.

If this is accurate, then it is a good thing for the most part.  However, rather than use the law to tear them down as punishment then get the city some extra cash,  are you sure the push isn’t or at least should be that they get repaired in some fashion? Or are you still standing behind your statement from  awhile ago that all the worthwhile houses have been done in Springfield? I thought you had come around on that one.

5) There are always two sides to a story and just because one doesn't take time away from their busy schedules and important work to post on a forum board doesn't change that fact.

Yes there are.  And without the forums, we would never get to speak our side of things until it was all but too late.  The lies and innuendo that surrounds this issue would be the only voice and that I suppose, would make you and Louise very happy.

[untarded]

I also was one of the SPAR forum Admins until recently when I have been demoted without any explanation given.

It's becoming quite clear that a community forum should not be run by any organization but rather by the community itself.

I know my way around some php/mySQL apps and lease my own server.  Any volunteers for moderators?

[ChriswUfGator]

Is this "lying" thing a joke? Honestly?

Who's "lying" about Barbara being on the board, exactly? This is straight off of SPAR's website, as of 35 seconds ago:

SPAR Council Officers and Board of Directors

President: Claude Moulton (also Legal)

Vice-President:  Kharis Quaintance

Executive Director:  Louise Despain

Secretary:  Barbara Sweet

Treasurer: Jack Meeks

http://www.sparcouncil.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=6

So if she's not on the board, why are they still saying she's on the board?

And if she's not really on the board, which of course isn't what SPAR's own information says, then how the fcuk are we supposed to know that, when SPAR's own information says otherwise?

ROFL

[Springfield Girl]

 I was not privy to and was not involved in any disscussion that may have occurred between SRG and Phil or any other party regarding the purchase or sale of any of these properties.  After the property was demo'd  I was approached by the Realtor selling the property to see if SRG was interested in purchasing it. I went to them with the offer and they were not interested. I can see how you would be upset if you assumed I was involved in anything having to do with your property but having an opinion about the state it was left in for years was the extent of my involvement.
The info from HPC is accurate. It is felt that more is needed to encourage property owners to quit allowing demolition by neglect. Many owners refuse to improve their derelict properties which in the end causes the demolition by neglect. It is hoped that serious ramifications might show the owners how important it is to do the right thing and bring their properties into compliance. The owners are causing the demise and no one else.
The petition is asking that the overlay be enforced and no new boarding/halfway houses be allowed. How can this be based on any false info? We all know that a boarding/halfway house does not have to be licensed as such to operate as such. Are you trying to say that no new houses are being used in this way during the past year?

[Springfield Girl]

Is this "lying" thing a joke? Honestly?

Who's "lying" about Barbara being on the board, exactly? This is straight off of SPAR's website, as of 35 seconds ago:
Obviously no one has updated the site yet. Seriously? lying? I'm not ROFL because this is beyond dumb.

SPAR Council Officers and Board of Directors

President: Claude Moulton (also Legal)

Vice-President:  Kharis Quaintance

Executive Director:  Louise Despain

Secretary:  Barbara Sweet

Treasurer: Jack Meeks

http://www.sparcouncil.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=6

So if she's not on the board, why are they still saying she's on the board?

And if she's not really on the board, which of course isn't what SPAR's own information says, then how the fcuk are we supposed to know that, when SPAR's own information says otherwise?

ROFL

Obviously they haven't updated the site. Seriously? lying? I'm not ROFL because this is beyond dumb. Not everybody has the free time you do. Why would you even care? You don't live in the neighborhood. Sour grapes maybe? Failed business ventures? Do you worry about your own neighborhood as much as you do ours?

[sheclown]

Lisa:  There is a petition circling the neighborhood asking that zoning regulations be enforced and that no more boarding/halfway houses be allowed as that is what is stated in the overlay.

Cool.  As coincidence would have it, I just placed a petition at the Thrift Store:  "We believe SPAR should quit acting UGLY!"  come on in and sign.

[sheclown]

Lisa:  There is a petition circling the neighborhood asking that zoning regulations be enforced and that no more boarding/halfway houses be allowed as that is what is stated in the overlay.

I wouldn't lean too heavily on the overlay.  You may end up pulling it down.

[sheclown]

Lisa:  There is a petition circling the neighborhood asking that zoning regulations be enforced and that no more boarding/halfway houses be allowed as that is what is stated in the overlay.

Once the petition is handed over to the city, it becomes public record.  Just in time for Christmas cards!  Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men.

[Springfield Girl]

Would that be a considered a conflict of interest? Self hatred maybe? I have wasted enough time posting on this forum today. That is the only time I get mad at myself. I have so many more importand things to do than have schoolyard verbal battles. Can we all just agree to disagree and move on?

[Springfield Girl]

Is this supposed to be some kind of threat? A ploy to silence the opposition? Does goodwill only extend to recovering alchoholics? I'm getting off the crazy train. Have fun!

Lisa:  There is a petition circling the neighborhood asking that zoning regulations be enforced and that no more boarding/halfway houses be allowed as that is what is stated in the overlay.

Once the petition is handed over to the city, it becomes public record.  Just in time for Christmas cards!  Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men.

[ChriswUfGator]

I have wasted enough time posting on this forum today. That is the only time I get mad at myself. I have so many more importand things to do than have schoolyard verbal battles. Can we all just agree to disagree and move on?

No, not when you just called people liars for saying Barbara Sweet was on the SPAR board, when SPAR itself is still saying on its own website that she's on its board! So yeah, despite your catty response, I am definitely ROFL about that.

So then, exactly who's responsibility is it to update SPAR's website according to you? Mine? LOL

Again, people just love deflecting attention everywhere but where it needs to be, which namely is Louise's e-mails.

[AlexS]

Again, people just love deflecting attention everywhere but where it needs to be, which namely is Louise's e-mails.

But that's a different thread! Or is just everything mixed together here regardless of the topic?

[Springfield Girl]

I'm sorry your not the brightest tool in the shed. Trying to equate old information that needs to be updated on the site of a volunteer organization with lying is ridiculous.

I have wasted enough time posting on this forum today. That is the only time I get mad at myself. I have so many more importand things to do than have schoolyard verbal battles. Can we all just agree to disagree and move on?

No, not when you just called people liars for saying Barbara Sweet was on the SPAR board, when SPAR itself is still saying on its own website that she's on its board! So yeah, despite your catty response, I am definitely ROFL about that.

So then, exactly who's responsibility is it to update SPAR's website according to you? Mine? LOL

Again, people just love deflecting attention everywhere but where it needs to be, which namely is Louise's e-mails.