City Assembly, 17th, Godfrey's Triumph, 1809

[MailC3p 2411]

Sitting of the City Assembly, 12th of the first seed, 1809.

Present:
Speaker Carter Komnenos-O’rourke II.
Alderman Rosius.
Alderwoman Hope.
Alderwoman Komnenos (Absent, Replaced by Husband,  Henrik Komnenos)
Absent:

Alderman  Draskovic

Alderman  Carrington

Alderman Halcourt
 

 

The Tax Act, 1807

 To decrease taxes on stalls by 50%

 Aye: - Alderman Rosius

 Nay: - Alderwoman Hope, Speaker  Komnenos,  Alderwoman Komnenos

 Abstain: - 

 Final tally 1/3/0
 

The Tax Act, 1809
To Decrease overall taxes by 10%
Aye:Alderwoman Hope, Alderwoman Komnenos

Nay: Alderman Rosius.

Abstain: Speaker Komnenos

Final Tally: 2-1-1

 

The Veteran Act,1809

give Veterans of 10+ years of service free/reduced taxes for homes

Aye: Alderwoman Hope

Nay: Alderman Rosius, Alderwoman Komnenos, Speaker Komnenos.

Abstain:

Final Tally: 1-3-0
 

Dual Office Removal Act, 1809

Citizens of providence may only have  1 political  office.

Aye: Alderman Rosius, Alderwoman Hope, Alderwoman Komnenos, Speaker Komnenos.

Nay:

Abstain:

Final Tally: 4-0-0.
 

Reformed Elections Act, 1807

Longer seat times for aldermen.

Aye: Speaker Komnenos, Alderwoman Komnenos

Nay:Alderwoman Hope,  Alderman  Rosius

Abstain: 

Final Tally: 2-2-0

Alphonse Sylvester: “Alright, let us get started.”
Alphonse Sylvester: “I am not super versed in the procedures but let us start with nominations for speaker.”

 Edith Hope: “I nominate myself for Speaker.”

Carter Komnenos II: “I also nominate myself for speaker.”

 Henrik Komnenos: “Well we got two candidates, Alderman Otis do you wish to nominate yourself?”

 Alphonse Sylvester: “I recognize both Alderman Komnenos and Alderwoman Hope, any others?”

 Otis de Rosius shakes his head. “I nominate Alderman Komnenos.”

Edith Hope: “I drop my nomination.”

Alphonse Sylvester: “Alright… Alderman Komnenos is running unopposed.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Oh, well alrighty then.”

Otis de Rosius claps. “Congratulations.”

Henrik Komnenos: “Alderman Komnenos, who do you nominate to speak on your behalf if you can't make it to a meeting?”

Alphonse Sylvester: “Alderman Otis, your vote?”

Otis de Rosius blinks. “I'm sorry, Lord Mayor?”

Alphonse Sylvester: “Who do you vote for speaker?”

Otis de Rosius: “Yes, I nominated Alderman Komnenos, sorry.”

Alphonse Sylvester: “Alright.”

Alphonse Sylvester: “Henrik, as the stand in for Alderwoman Komnenos, your vote?”

Alphonse Sylvester: “Alderwoman Hope, your vote?”

Henrik Komnenos: “Alderwoman Komnenos votes for Alderman Komnenos as Lord Speaker.”

Alphonse Sylvester: “Alderman Komnenos, your vote?”

Edith Hope: “I vote Komnenos.”

Carter Komnenos II: “I vote myself.”

Alphonse Sylvester: “I will vacate this here seat, then, welcome Speaker Komnenos!”

Otis de Rosius claps as Komnenos descended to the seat.

Alphonse Sylvester: “I would like to suggest the previous Deputy Clerk Miss O'Rourke for new City Clerk.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Let us move on to vote in the new city clerk, I also suggest O'rourke.”

Otis de Rosius clears his throat, and blurts out. “Aye.”

Edith Hope: “Aye.”

Henrik Komnenos: “Alderwoman Komnenos votes Aye on Miss O'Rourke to be City Clerk.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Otis? Your vote?”

Otis de Rosius stands up. “I suggest Miss O'Rourke aswell.”

Alphonse Sylvester: “I would like to give her the ability to suggest her own Deputy, one of the bills says that I am to appoint the Deputy but I do not know the inner workings of the office like her.”

Carter Komnenos II nodded, he turned to Edith “And your's, miss hope?”

Edith Hope: “I suggesr and vote 'Aye' for O'Rourke.”

Carter Komnenos II: “All in favor for Anastasia O'rourke to be city clerk, wonderful.”

Alphonse Sylvester awaits the next order of business from the Speaker.

Carter Komnenos II: “Next topic is for the bills that where proposed inbetween meetings, we have a lot today.”

Edith Hope raises her hand.

Carter Komnenos II: “Yes, Edith?”

Edith Hope: “I wish to rescind my bills of the Office Act and the City Election Security. Reason for the City Election Security is because of the recent edict by the Home Office giving insight into the electoral process.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Alright, shall we begin our voting on the Tax act then?” He looked around the room for a confirmation.

Edith Hope: “I second that.”

Otis de Rosius: “I vote aye.”

Keaghen Armas taps his fingers nervously as he listens to the votes.

Henrik Komnenos: “I say Aye aswell.”

Carter Komnenos II: “We have multiple tax bills, let us begin with Alderman Rosius's, then we'll do Alderwoman Hope's.”

Carter Komnenos II: “I'll give Alderman Rosius the floor if he wishes to debate his bill.”

Alphonse Sylvester nods and smiles at his former secretary, encouraging him.

Henrik Komnenos looks at a copy of the tax bill.

Keaghen Armas's eyes glance over the legislation prompted to the CA and he chokes on the air. Lowering it down, he sheds a single tear for the Imperial Treasury.

 

Edith Hope raises her hand for a question to Otis'.

 

Otis de Rosius stands up and folds his hands. “The tax proposal will drop the taxes on all businesses by 50%, a survey conducted by me indicated that ten out of ten citizens are in favor. Two out of the ten said the percentage should be decreased.”

 

Otis de Rosius: “Still a unanimous vote in favor of the proposal.” He turns his attention to Hope. “Yes?”

 

Edith Hope: “How do you plan on compensating the loss of the funds? Your bill according to my research decreases the income by 1,000 mina every year. Meaning every four years we are cost 4,000 mina. How do you plan to keep the city afloat with that drastic of a cut?”

 

Otis de Rosius: “I'm open to debate about the percentage, but you would be a fool to say a tax cut on business isn't needed. But to answer your question, the loss is necessary for the economy to stay a float. The city makes enough money to support this change, especially -.”

 

Otis de Rosius: “When more people will be buying shops and homes in Providence if this tax act passes.”

Alphonse Sylvester listens to the debate intently.

Edith Hope: “Alderman Otis. You cannot expect the city to stay afloat with this drastic of a cut. This would quite simply ruin the economy.”

 

Alphonse Sylvester: “I believe we would need to call in an expert witness such as the new head clerk or the Treasury to determine if the cuts would ruin the economy.”

 

Edith Hope: “I call upon City Clerk O'Rourke to brief her opinions on this tax cut.”

Otis de Rosius: “It wouldn't actually, it would be one forth of the flow of income. Once there wouldn't be empty stalls and homes everwhere we would increase the tax once more to adjust.”

 

Otis de Rosius: “I welcome City Clerk O'Rourke with open arms.”

Otis de Rosius takes a seat.

Alphonse Sylvester: “Ah!”

Alphonse Sylvester: “Our new City Clerk.”

Carter Komnenos II: “If the city clerk wishes to speak, I welcome her the floor.”

Anastasia O'Rourke: “What seems to be the problem Lord Mayor?”

Alphonse Sylvester: “If you could have a seat we would like for you to give testimony on if cutting the business taxes of the city would ruin the economy.”

Edith Hope: “By 50% may I add.”

Alphonse Sylvester: “There is debate on a tax bill which you could look at before speaking, if you would like.”

Otis de Rosius: “And I am willing to change the percentage, may I add.”

Anastasia O'Rourke: “That's quite the question Mister Mayor” She'd walk further into the room “50% on all properties?”

Alphonse Sylvester: “Not all properties, on shop stalls mostly I believe.”

Alphonse Sylvester: “It is Alderman Otis' bill, he would be better to speak.”

 

Anastasia O'Rourke: “I see.” She'd turn her attention to Alderman Otis to further explain his bill.

 

Otis de Rosius stands up once more. “The bill would cut business tax by 50%, of course the percentage is disputable.”

Anastasia O'Rourke: “50% On business's is quite a lot, especially when the businesses are the properties that almost always pay their taxes on time.”

Anastasia O'Rourke: “We would be looking at 500-700 profit loss if that was to take effect by my estimate.”

Edith Hope raises her hand for the city clerk.

Carter Komnenos II: “Edith wait until she is done speaking.”

Anastasia O'Rourke: “And as of the moment, the city averages 3000 mina per saints week on average.”

Anastasia O'Rourke turned her attention up to the Assembly Speaker “Is that all?”

 

Henrik Komnenos Rises his hand.

 

Otis de Rosius Actually, I calculated it, it would be one thousand two hundred and fifty mina if you want the specifics.“ He laughs. ”But would you say that a tax cut would be necessary for the revival of entrepreneurship?“.”

Edith Hope raises her hand again.

 

Otis de Rosius: “Actually, I calculated it, it would be one thousand two hundred and fifty mina if you want the specifics.” He laughs. “But would you say that a tax cut would be necessary for the revival of entrepreneurship?”

Carter Komnenos II: “I believe it should be, if you surrender your time on the floor, I'll allow Edith to speak.”

Edith Hope lowers it hearing his numbers.

 

Edith Hope: “I rescind my hand.”

 

Anastasia O'Rourke: “Assuming all the businesses pay their taxes on time.” She'd add on to Otis's statement “I would say it wouldn't be needed. We haven't had an open property on Helvets Ave. For years & when those properties do open they sell our quickly. The same with the Carrington addresses.”

Otis de Rosius: “Actually, when I did take down the numbers, ten out of twenty Carrington Emporium Stalls were vacant or being evicted. And all susa stalls were vacant or being evicted.”

Otis de Rosius: “Helvets may not necessarily need a tax cut, but it certainly is not flourishing.”

Anastasia O'Rourke: “As of the moment, I can confirm that is outdated information. There are only two shelf shops open in Carrington as of the moment.”

Henrik Komnenos coughs at the comment.

 

Otis de Rosius: “Is that including the evicted ones?”

Anastasia O'Rourke: “Five if you'd include the ones pending eviction.”

Otis de Rosius: “How about the empty susa stalls?”

Henrik Komnenos still has his hand up.

Anastasia O'Rourke: “Only two as of the moment are occupied.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Henrik, please wait until they are done.”

Otis de Rosius: “All ten remain empty or in the process of eviction, in fact, homeless citizens took refuge in Susa stall 3.”

Anastasia O'Rourke looked back up to the Speaker & then Mayor “Any other questions?”

Carter Komnenos II: “That should be all, unless Alderman Rosius wishes to add on anything else, you may leave.”

Anastasia O'Rourke: “Any other questions Alderman Rosius?”

Otis de Rosius shrugs as he takes a seat. “I do ask if the act is passed we vote on what the percentage shall be.”

Otis de Rosius: “But no further questions Speaker Komnenos.”

Edith Hope: “I motion for a vote.”

Anastasia O'Rourke goes to exit the hall.

Henrik Komnenos lowers his hand.

Carter Komnenos II: “If no one else wishes to be given the floor, I second the motion.”

Edith Hope: “I actually motion for Keaghan Armas to have the floor.”

Keaghen Armas ahems in the direction of Edit Hope.

Carter Komnenos II: “Why should this man r ecieve the floor, Alderwoman Hope?”

Edith Hope: “He is the Undersecretary of the Imperial Treasury.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Oh, well in that case, I give him the floor.”

Keaghen Armas stands, approaching the Assembly. “I must go so I will make this very quick.”

Keaghen Armas: “While I see merit in the purpose of this bill, that is to help buisness, a tax cut to this extent would be devestating to the City of Providence and the Imperial Treasury. The tax rate at current does not seem to be a problem - the Bazaar once bustled with.”

Keaghen Armas: “The Bazaar once bustled at full capacity at this current tax rate, and at that time there was less mina in circulation. Today, this lends me to believe taxes are not the causes.”

Keaghen Armas: “Of any lack of entrepeurnership.”

Keaghen Armas: “Furthermore, in regards to Susa Stalls, I do not believe their vacancy is a result of cost, but rather utility. It is simply not a very good spot.”

Keaghen Armas: “Susa's utility and market acess I beleieve are things the Assembly should look into, as well as other avenues to support buisness. The Treasury would be happy to assist in support. However, such a huge tax cut I would see as adversly affecting things.”

Keaghen Armas nods his head. “I must run, thank you for all your time.”

Henrik Komnenos nods.

Carter Komnenos II nodded to the man “You're welcome and I'm sure the aldermen here will keep your words in mind while voting here today.”

Edith Hope: “I now motion for a vote.”

Keaghen Armas flashes a quick smile and rushes off!

Otis de Rosius: “I would like to speak.”

Henrik Komnenos: “I Agree with Alderwoman Hope.”

Carter Komnenos II: “How quickly would you like to spead Alderman Rosius? I believe we should head to a vote soon as we've been here for almost a saints hour and have done nothing in terms of voting for bills.”

Otis de Rosius: “Of course, my apologies, quickly I'd like to say Mister Armas actually had a stall at the Carrington Emporium which he was later evicted out of and that he responded 'Aye' to my survey on 'if you see a business tax cut necessary'.”

Edith Hope: “I motion once more for a vote, We have now spent forty five saint minutes debating this single bill.”

Otis de Rosius: “Of course, I motion we vote.”

Henrik Komnenos: “I agree.”

Carter Komnenos II: “We begin vote on Alderman Rosius's tax bill, Alderman Rosius, your vote?”

Otis de Rosius: “Aye.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Alderwoman Hope?”

Edith Hope: “Nay.”

Otis de Rosius chuckles to himself.

Carter Komnenos II: “Henrik, how does Alderwoman Komnenos vote?”

Henrik Komnenos: “While as a business man myself, would love to see a cut in taxes, the number giving is too high. And would make the city suffer, so Alderwoman Komnenos votes Nay on bill.”

Otis de Rosius: “Understandable.”

Carter Komnenos II nodded to the man next to him “I also vote nay, which makes the bill not passed with 1 vote for aye and 3 for nay.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Next, we shall vote on Alderwoman Hope's tax bill, if Alderwoman hope wishes to debate her stance, I'll give her the floor.”

Edith Hope: “I will make this quick and simple for everyone.”

Edith Hope: “My bill lowers all taxes business and residential 10%. Upon the passage of such act the net loss to the city will be 300 mina every year. This makes less of a issue and more of a helpful benefit for all citizens in providence. I will accept questions.”

Henrik Komnenos raises his hand.

Edith Hope: “Yes?”

Henrik Komnenos looks at the Lord Speaker.

Carter Komnenos II: “If Alderwoman hope surrenders her time, I'll allow Henrik to speak.”

Edith Hope: “I yield the floor to any questions or any comments.”

Henrik Komnenos: “If I recall right this bill was first made public to the city assembly based on resident housing within the city.”

Henrik Komnenos: “How could you altered the bill, to cover business and resident housing?”

 

Carter Komnenos II: “If Henrik surrenders his time I'll allow Alderwoman hope to speak.”

Henrik Komnenos: “I do.”

Edith Hope: “I sent out revised versions to include universal coverage of tax relief. That way it benefited every citizen within Providence. I yield the floor.”

Henrik Komnenos rises his hand once more.

Carter Komnenos II: “Henrik, you may speak.”

Henrik Komnenos: “If I am to understand this tax bill right, you suggest 10% on everything but only claim it would cost the city 300 mina yearly.”

Henrik Komnenos: “I find that number abit low.”

Henrik Komnenos: “Where did you get your numbers from?”

Edith Hope: “I do based on the numbers from Miss O'Rourke on our annual income of 3,000 mina which when divided by our 10% cut you get 300 mina.”

Otis de Rosius blinks.

Henrik Komnenos: “I still find your math to be oddly off, but I yield my time and I motion we vote.”

Edith Hope: “I second the motion.”

Otis de Rosius: “Me too.”

Carter Komnenos II: “I second that, Alderman Rosius, your vote?”

Otis de Rosius: “I second that.”

Otis de Rosius crosses his arms and legs. “Although I agree with the tax reduction on business, I find the tax reduction on residential to be rather useless. I vote nay.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Alderwoman Hope, your vote?”

Edith Hope: “Aye.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Henrik, how does your wife,Alderwoman Komnenos, vote?”

Henrik Komnenos: “Alderwoman Komnenos Votes Aye.”

Carter Komnenos II: “I, as the speaker and also the final vote, will vote to abstain.”

Edith Hope: “I motion we skip discussion on the following bills and move to voting: Veteran Housing, Dual office and Reformed Election.”

Otis de Rosius: “I motion we skip aswell.”

Henrik Komnenos: “Aye.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Everyone read over the bills, we'll start with alderwoman hope's veteran act, and we'll go from there.”

Edith Hope has already done her homework and is ready to vote.

Otis de Rosius: “I motion we vote.”

Edith Hope: “I second the motion.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Alderman Rosius, what is your vote?”

Otis de Rosius: “Nay.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Alderwoman Hope?”

Edith Hope: “I vote Aye. For the veterans.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Henrik, how does your wife vote?”

Henrik Komnenos: “Alderwoman Komnenos votes Nay on the Veteran housing act.”

Edith Hope: “I would like to change my vote to Abstain.”

Carter Komnenos II: “I vote nay, hence the bill is recended, we will now move onto the Dual Office removal act, read it and we will vote.”

Edith Hope: “I motion to vote.”

Otis de Rosius: “I second that.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Alderman Rosius, your vote?”

Otis de Rosius: “I vote aye.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Alderwoman hope?”

Edith Hope: “I vote Aye.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Henrik, how does Alderwoman Komnenos vote?”

Henrik Komnenos: “Alderwoman Komnenos would like to cast her vote on Abstain.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Well, as this is my own bill, I vote aye, which makes it 3 aye and 1 abstain, this will be sent to absentee.”

Edith Hope: “I motion we vote on our final act.”

Henrik Komnenos: “Aye.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Okay, final bill, which is the reformed Elections act, read it over and we will vote.”

Edith Hope: “I motion to vote.”

Otis de Rosius: “I second that.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Alderman Rosius, your vote?”

Otis de Rosius: “Nay, I deem it unconstitutional.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Alderwoman Hope?”

 Edith Hope: “I vote Nay as well.”

Carter Komnenos II: “Henrik, how does your wife vote?”

Henrik Komnenos: “Alderwoman Komnenos votes Aye on the Reformed Election Act.”

 

Carter Komnenos II: “I vote aye for the reformed election act, which makes it a tie with 2 ayes and 2 nays, and will go to Absentee.”

 

Edith Hope: “I motion to conclude our meeting.”

 

Henrik Komnenos: “Aye.”

Otis de Rosius: “Aye.”

Carter Komnenos II: “I second this, the meeting has been concluded.”