League of
Women Voters of Montgomery (LWVM)
2010-2011
Program
Local Program includes studies currently being undertaken, support of National League and State League positions, League Principles, and support of LWVM Positions.
2010-2011
LWVM Study
Continuation of data gathering for the local
government study with data collection on
Emphasis will be placed on inviting various officeholders to speak to the League about their jobs and such topics as the problems facing their jurisdiction, how the problems might be solved and ways that city and county government might do more in cooperative efforts. The members of the study committee would then decide if formal interviews with city and county officials are appropriate and if so, when they should occur.
League Principles
The League of Women Voters believes in
representative government and in the individual liberties established in the
Constitution of the
The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation in government and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizenÕs right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records accessible.
The League of Women Voters believes that every citizen should be protected in the right to vote; that every person should have access to free public education that provides equal opportunity for all; and that no person or group should suffer legal, economic or administrative discrimination.
The League of Women Voters believes that efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing, and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government.
The League of Women Voters believes that responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people; that government should maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation, promote the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest, share in the solution of economic and social problems that affect the general welfare, promote a sound economy and adopt domestic policies that facilitate the solution of international problems.
The League of Women Voters believes that
cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to
world problems and that development of international organization and
international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace.
LWVM
Positions
Transportation
Ñ Adopted 1999
The
League of Women Voters of Montgomery supports a subsidized public
transportation system for the City and
Administration of the city transportation system should be by a board appointed by the Mayor with input from the City Council and interest groups, including the users of the system.
The City should be exploring other transit options, as well as multi-county or regional transportation systems.
Funding sources for the system should include public funds (federal, state and local) as well as advertising. Creative funding sources should also be explored.
Local Election Processes Ð Adopted March
2003
In
order to encourage maximum voter participation and to ensure trust in the
voting process, the League of Women Voters of Montgomery supports the following
actions for
1. Periodic review of election processes to be conducted by a panel of election officials and citizens, including the handicapped. The panel should be empowered to suggest improvements in the elections process, including handicapped accessibility to polling sites, and to review progress toward making these improvements.
2.
Consideration by
3. Continued provision of training for all precinct workers with additional management training for precinct leaders.
4. Review of notification procedures in order to establish better ways to ensure that voters are aware of their new voting sites, the exact location of these sites, and handicapped access points at each site.
5. Better circulation of county-generated sample ballots in order to inform voters of candidates and issues on the ballot and ballot format.
6. Faster handling of voters on Election Day through such means as:
a. use of the most "alphabet agile" at the front sign-in tables;
b. active recruitment of younger poll workers, including college students;
c. direct access to voting lists through laptop computers;
d. more flexible procedures for line management; and
e.
split shifts for poll workers rather than
lengthy single shifts.
Solid Waste
Management (c. 1975; Restudy and update 1981; Readopted 2009)
The League of Women Voters of Montgomery endorses action
to combat the problem of solid waste disposal in Montgomery County by supporting recycling
efforts at all levels of government, waste reduction practices, public ownership of landfills,
mandatory participation in county solid waste programs, monitoring compliance with Alabama
Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) regulations; and educating the public with respect to solid waste issues.
The League supports action in
the following areas:
Recycling -- Mandatory
participation in city and country wide recycling programs, monetary incentives
to promote participation in these
programs, and the creation of markets for recycled products by our local
governments.
Waste Reduction -- Waste reduction practices (such as
buying in bulk containers and avoiding disposable items) and the development of educational programs and materials
to increase community awareness of the many ways we can reduce the
amount of solid waste we generate.
Public Ownership of Landfills -- Continued public ownership of our landfills so that
the public can retain ultimate control over tipping fees, selection of
landfill users, and other issues confronting the landfills.
Monitoring Committee -- Establishment of an independent local monitoring committee to ensure
local governments' compliance with solid waste laws and regulations.
Regional Landfill -- Development
of a regional landfill to reduce the number of landfills in our area thus
reducing the number of potential
environmental hazards, and providing a more cost effective method of complying
with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
The League of Women Voters of Montgomery also believes
environmental and economic conditions
call for conservation of resources and energy. Broad-based, long term planning
should be integrated into decision making on solid waste management. Solid
waste management should be considered an integral part of efforts to conserve
resources and energy. Curbside garbage collection should be integrated into
such a plan.
Others cities have demonstrated that techniques such as
recycling, bioconversion (recovering
methane gas or changing organic waste into compost or feed), and different
methods of applying heat to garbage can result in the recovery of energy and
fuel. Some techniques can result not only in significant cost savings, but can
actually generate revenue. While
voluntarily recycling efforts are worthwhile, they have not achieved the
results of municipally operated programs, which have a record of long-term,
increasing benefits to their communities.
Education (1962;
Updated 1966; 1975; 1987; Readopted 2009)
The
League of Women Voters of Montgomery supports a system of adequately financed
free public schools. The League believes that school funding should come primarily
from increased local property taxes with equalization of ad valorem taxes
throughout
Attempts
to get public support and referendum votes for increased funding should include
the development of a survey of current school system conditions and development
of a long term improvement plan. Both should be created with the assistance of
outside experts and include significant citizen input and participation. Once
finalized the results of the needs assessment and the long-term plan should be
communicated to the public with the assistance of public relations advisors and
community resources.
Quality
education in
Upgrading of physical facilities. Part of the
upgrading should include air conditioning and quality paint that can withstand
repeated washings.
Requiring accreditation of all libraries and
librarians as well as counselors and advisers, including occupational advisers
and social workers.
Special education classes for gifted
students.
Quality teachers receiving higher salaries.
Reduction in the number of students in the
classroom, especially in elementary schools.
More teacher aides for every classroom.
Kindergarten as an integral part of all
elementary schools.
School supplies paid for out of school funds.
Paper towels, soap, and toilet tissue provided in all
washrooms from school funds.
Janitorial services paid for from school funds.
Provision of all textbooks and curriculum
materials free except for breakage and replacement.
Consolidation of
City and
Readopted and
amended 2009)
The
League of Women Voters of Montgomery supports continued evaluation by public
officials of city-county services and offices to determine which services and
offices could be combined in order to deliver services to the public more
efficiently and effectively. If such combination is feasible, the
services/office should then be combined.
Examples of consolidation in place and supported by the League are the
public school system, tax collection, public libraries, and personnel systems.
Urban
Redevelopment (1966; Readopted and amended 2009)
The League of Women Voters of Montgomery supports urban
redevelopment which prepares a workable
program for utilizing private and public resources to eliminate and redevelop
blighted areas. We further support continuing comprehensive planning, which
provides for the growth of the city and the changing needs and health of its
citizens.
Public Parks (c. 1968-1970; Readopted and amended 2009)
The
League of Women Voters of Montgomery believes that public parks should be an
essential part of city life and supports the development of public parks for
the City of
Cemetery Preservation and Maintenance (Adopted May 5, 2010)
The League of Women Voters of Montgomery (LWVM) considers cemeteries an important link to history that should be preserved and believes that properly maintaining a cemetery is crucial to its preservation. It believes that the existence of poorly preserved and maintained cemeteries reflects badly on the image of a people and its government institutions.
The LWVM supports municipal and county governments working for adoption of consistent state laws that insure the preservation and maintenance of cemeteries within the state. When such state laws are enacted, municipalities should adopt laws in support of the state legislation.[1]
Municipal and county governments should enact and/or strictly enforce legislation that holds owners of cemeteries within their jurisdiction responsible for proper maintenance and that establishes procedures to deal with maintenance and preservation problems associated with abandoned and inactive cemeteries.
The LWVM supports municipal and county legislation that would require owners to:
Register the cemetery with an appropriate governmental office.
Register and map all graves within each cemetery and maintain records of these actions for public examination.
Establish separate trust accounts for each cemetery owned that support long-term preservation and maintenance.
Properly maintain the cemetery.
Guarantee access for visitation and maintenance.
It also supports municipal and county legislation that:
Give the governmental entity the power to levy fines for maintenance violations and set increasing penalties for repeated failure to maintain a cemetery.
Protect graves, statuary, monuments and other artifacts from desecration.
Regulate cemetery relocation -- conditions under which it is
allowed, requirements to be met by the cemetery owner or the entity seeking the
property for another use, and requirements for the move itself, including
reburial or alternative actions.
Allow the governmental entity to establish trust fund accounts to maintain and preserve inactive and abandoned cemeteries.[2]
Establish citizen oversight boards to serve as the public contact point for reporting problems and dealing with issues associated with cemeteries, including enforcement of cemetery laws.[1]Counties are not specifically identified in this instance because under the state constitution counties have responsibility for enforcing state law. Whenever a municipality fails to enact legislation in support of a state law, county enforcement extends to within the municipal boundaries.
[2] Funding could come from private and/or tax monies. Possible tax sources include a small tax on burials and/or a small fee to individuals searching and copying of records on burial information on family members.