Neighborhood Notes - Foxhall: 14 March 2001

As anticipated, the joint FCCA/Friends of Hardy meeting last week produced an overwhelming (50 to 4) majority vote in favor of not fencing off DPR’s newly refurbished multi-purpose field at Hardy Recreation Center. Ironically, of necessity, for at least six weeks there will be warning tape around the area with new turf, to allow roots a chance to establish without disturbance. The Stoddert and City Snicker’s Soccer leagues will need to find another field for the Spring season.

Although there was a strong turnout for an evening meeting, FCCA and FOH both have concerns that not all neighborhood constituents got a chance to vote: in particular families with young kids who can’t easily get out at night time. Right now most of these have pre-school age children, but in a few years their kids will want to be out on the Hardy field wanting to play sports like soccer.

It is not only couples with children who feel disenfranchised by the present requirements to vote in person - those whose business has them away mid-week also desire to have a voice. For these reasons, FCCA’s board proposes to amend our bylaws that date back over 70 years, to allow for absentee voting. Consideration is being given to allowing voting either on-line or a paper ballot, so all members get equal opportunity. Unlike other mail-in voting systems, closing date/time will be the same as traditional in-person votes at FCCA meeting, so tabulation is immediate.

 Because not all families have e-mail or web access, local newspapers like this will continue to be vital to present objective and factual background, so informed voting by community associations like FCCA can continue to be effective in presenting their case to ANC’s and city departments.

© Bob Andrew, Foxhall