In a letter addressed to MARY CUTHBERT in response to her COMPLAINT that the chairman of ANC 8C is refusing to hear community concerns.

In a letter dated March 7, 2003 written by the Legal Counsel Division for Govt Operations, Arabella W. Teal explains, "the statute governing Advisory Neighborhood Commissions provides guidance. Specifically, section 14 of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Act of 1975, effective October 10, 1975, D.C. Law 1-21, as amended by the Comprehensive Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Reform Amendment Act of 2000 effective July 27, 2000, D.C. Law 13-135, 3(d), D.C. Official Code, 2001 Ed. 1-309.11, and provides as follows:

Each commission shall set aside a portion of each public meeting to hear the views of residents within the commission area and other affected persons on problems or issues of concern within the Commission area and on proposed District government actions that affect the Commission area. Community views should be adequately considered in positions taken by the Commission....

Section VIII of Article V, entitled "Meetings," states as follows: Section VIII: Citizen Input: Residents views should be incorporated in positions taken by the Commission. ... The Commission shall make a good-faith effort to involve all segments of the Commission's population in its deliberations regardless of race, sex, age, voting, status, religiion, or economic status."