The Northampton Charter Review Committee held a public forum to get input from current and former mayors, city councilors, and school committee members on issues with the current city charter. Mayor Mary Claire Higgins provided feedback, noting the charter is outdated and the mayor chairing the city council is antiquated. She suggested clarifying roles in the charter and handling more procedural details in ordinances instead. Councilors discussed term lengths, signatures needed to get on the ballot, elected vs. appointed positions, and whether a charter commission or special act would be better to propose changes to the charter.
Charter review committee minutes 2010 10-06Adam Cohen
The Northampton Charter Review Committee held a public forum to get input from current and former mayors, city councilors, and school committee members on issues with the current city charter. Mayor Claire Higgins provided feedback, noting the charter is outdated and could be clearer. She believes the mayor should not chair the city council or school committee. The committee discussed options for revising the charter, including establishing a charter commission versus pursuing a special act from the state legislature. Members debated the pros and cons of different approaches.
This document provides tips for urban planners to effectively advocate for good urbanism and make their plans a reality. The tips are:
1) Preach to decision-makers, not just those already convinced of urbanist ideas
2) Be louder than anti-urban interests who may oppose plans
3) Defend the professional worth of urban planning to resist efforts to circumvent the planning process for political or business interests
4) Change the conversation away from cars if a discussion focuses too much on automotive infrastructure
5) Consider joining the public sector where the ability to directly implement plans may be greater than in other roles
Michigan has the largest stadium in NCAA football known as "The Big House" and boasts the highest all-time win percentage, most total wins, most winning seasons, most undefeated seasons, and largest single game attendance record in college football history according to the document's analysis of Michigan football records and statistics.
The document provides an overview of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It discusses that W3C was founded in 1994 by Tim Berners-Lee to develop common standards for the World Wide Web. W3C sets standards that make the web work and impact how the world communicates and exchanges information. It has a worldwide network of 4 host sites and 20 offices, with 386 member organizations from 30 countries. W3C works on both current web standards like HTML, CSS, and XML as well as emerging technologies like the semantic web, mobile web, and HTML5.
Three County Fairgrounds Stormwater Permit Plans 11-03-2010Adam Cohen
This document provides plans for stormwater permit and renovations at the Three County Fair Grounds in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was prepared by The Berkshire Design Group for the Three County Fair Redevelopment Corp. and City of Northampton. The plans include existing conditions of the site, demolition plans, site plans, grading and utilities plans, and site details. Revisions were made to the plans in October and November 2010.
Charter Review Committee Minutes 12-08-2010 DRAFTAdam Cohen
The Northampton Charter Review Committee held a public forum to discuss revising the city charter. Several residents attended and provided input. There was consensus that the current charter is difficult to understand and in need of a complete re-write. Options discussed for the re-write process included a charter commission or committee. The committee will make a recommendation on the re-write process and aims to complete its work by February.
Charter review committee minutes 2010 11-10 draftAdam Cohen
The Northampton Charter Review Committee meeting minutes discuss the process for creating a new city charter. The committee agrees that the current charter is outdated and unclear, and that a new charter is needed. They discuss two options: appointing a charter commission, which would write a new charter but requires voter approval; or pursuing a special act from the state legislature. The committee feels a charter commission aligns better with the goal of public involvement but notes past failures. They decide their role is to recommend a new charter be developed, not write one or choose specific reforms themselves.
Charter Review Committee Minutes 02 March 2011Adam Cohen
The Northampton Charter Review Committee met to discuss draft reports to present to the City Council regarding revisions to the city charter. Committee members debated the appropriate scope and level of revisions, with some advocating for more substantive edits to the charter itself and others arguing that their mandate was only to review the existing charter and recommend forming a charter commission to undertake more extensive revisions. The meeting did not reach a consensus on a final report and different perspectives were presented on the level of changes needed and the committee's role in the process.
Charter review committee minutes 2010 10-06Adam Cohen
The Northampton Charter Review Committee held a public forum to get input from current and former mayors, city councilors, and school committee members on issues with the current city charter. Mayor Claire Higgins provided feedback, noting the charter is outdated and could be clearer. She believes the mayor should not chair the city council or school committee. The committee discussed options for revising the charter, including establishing a charter commission versus pursuing a special act from the state legislature. Members debated the pros and cons of different approaches.
This document provides tips for urban planners to effectively advocate for good urbanism and make their plans a reality. The tips are:
1) Preach to decision-makers, not just those already convinced of urbanist ideas
2) Be louder than anti-urban interests who may oppose plans
3) Defend the professional worth of urban planning to resist efforts to circumvent the planning process for political or business interests
4) Change the conversation away from cars if a discussion focuses too much on automotive infrastructure
5) Consider joining the public sector where the ability to directly implement plans may be greater than in other roles
Michigan has the largest stadium in NCAA football known as "The Big House" and boasts the highest all-time win percentage, most total wins, most winning seasons, most undefeated seasons, and largest single game attendance record in college football history according to the document's analysis of Michigan football records and statistics.
The document provides an overview of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It discusses that W3C was founded in 1994 by Tim Berners-Lee to develop common standards for the World Wide Web. W3C sets standards that make the web work and impact how the world communicates and exchanges information. It has a worldwide network of 4 host sites and 20 offices, with 386 member organizations from 30 countries. W3C works on both current web standards like HTML, CSS, and XML as well as emerging technologies like the semantic web, mobile web, and HTML5.
Three County Fairgrounds Stormwater Permit Plans 11-03-2010Adam Cohen
This document provides plans for stormwater permit and renovations at the Three County Fair Grounds in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was prepared by The Berkshire Design Group for the Three County Fair Redevelopment Corp. and City of Northampton. The plans include existing conditions of the site, demolition plans, site plans, grading and utilities plans, and site details. Revisions were made to the plans in October and November 2010.
Charter Review Committee Minutes 12-08-2010 DRAFTAdam Cohen
The Northampton Charter Review Committee held a public forum to discuss revising the city charter. Several residents attended and provided input. There was consensus that the current charter is difficult to understand and in need of a complete re-write. Options discussed for the re-write process included a charter commission or committee. The committee will make a recommendation on the re-write process and aims to complete its work by February.
Charter review committee minutes 2010 11-10 draftAdam Cohen
The Northampton Charter Review Committee meeting minutes discuss the process for creating a new city charter. The committee agrees that the current charter is outdated and unclear, and that a new charter is needed. They discuss two options: appointing a charter commission, which would write a new charter but requires voter approval; or pursuing a special act from the state legislature. The committee feels a charter commission aligns better with the goal of public involvement but notes past failures. They decide their role is to recommend a new charter be developed, not write one or choose specific reforms themselves.
Charter Review Committee Minutes 02 March 2011Adam Cohen
The Northampton Charter Review Committee met to discuss draft reports to present to the City Council regarding revisions to the city charter. Committee members debated the appropriate scope and level of revisions, with some advocating for more substantive edits to the charter itself and others arguing that their mandate was only to review the existing charter and recommend forming a charter commission to undertake more extensive revisions. The meeting did not reach a consensus on a final report and different perspectives were presented on the level of changes needed and the committee's role in the process.
Investing in Place: Economic Renewal in N BCSNCIRE
Presentation by Sean Markey of SFU's Centre for Sustainable Community Development at the June 24, 2013 annual general meeting of Skeena-Nass Centre for Innovation in Resource Economics (SNCIRE)
- The Ivany Report failed to address the large problem of bureaucracy in Nova Scotia's government, which has grown inefficient and resistant to change over time under bureaucrats who prioritize maintaining the status quo.
- Reducing the size of the bureaucracy through attrition and a hiring freeze could eliminate Nova Scotia's deficit within a decade while allowing personal income taxes to be cut, putting more money back in citizens' hands to stimulate the economy.
- Municipal government, with its low cost and direct accountability to citizens, provides a model of efficient governance that contrasts with the bureaucracy and high costs of other levels of government.
The document promotes voting for Christine Robbins for Town Supervisor, Harvey Kriedberg and Christopher Foley for Town Board in Somers, New York. It argues that the current administration has failed to adequately plan finances, address infrastructure issues, pursue available grants, improve transparency, and update long-term planning documents. Voting for the promoted candidates is advocated as a way to remedy these issues and better manage the town.
Ultrasound utilizes principles of physics to generate images of the inside of the body, allowing doctors to non-invasively examine patients and make diagnoses to guide treatment before conditions deteriorate, which has become an important part of modern medicine. Physics enables the use of tools like ultrasound, X-rays, CAT scans and MRI scans that give doctors views inside the body with minimal surgery. These technologies have greatly improved healthcare by giving doctors new ways to assess and monitor patient health.
Charter Review Committee Minority ReportAdam Cohen
This letter presents dissenting views from the 2010 Charter Review Committee majority report. It recommends:
1) Having unpaid editors revise the charter to eliminate outdated references and improve organization, bringing it to a "state of good repair".
2) Holding public forums to gauge support for new initiatives like mayoral and council roles before further action.
3) Voting separately on the editorial revisions and any new initiatives that have public support to pass revisions more easily.
The letter outlines a process and timeline for completing the revisions by the next election.
The document proposes solutions to improve placemaking in Sacramento. It recommends that the city adopt a strong mayor system to provide stronger leadership over placemaking initiatives. It also suggests creating a Creative Director position within the mayor's office to coordinate placemaking efforts. This includes expanding community meetings, pilot projects, and arts funding. Other proposals include improving public spaces like parks and riverfront areas, expanding events like farmers markets, and prioritizing transit and hotel development to attract more visitors. The goal is to transform Sacramento into a more vibrant place through enhanced cultural opportunities and experiences.
The 2014 Utah Legislative Session: The Interesting, The Ordinary and What to ...Parsons Behle & Latimer
This document summarizes and analyzes the 2014 Utah legislative session. It discusses key issues addressed like air quality, election reform, and healthcare. It outlines the partisan composition of the legislature and bill passage rates. Additionally, it identifies expected issues for 2015 like Medicaid expansion, education funding, and potential business-related topics. The purpose is to inform clients and friends of the law firm about recent legislative activities and important issues.
Charter review committee minutes 2010 08-11Adam Cohen
The Northampton Charter Review Committee met to discuss setting up a common email address for the committee and soliciting input from past and present local officials on issues relating to the city charter, including the mayor's role in chairing the city council and school committee. The committee debated the level of detail needed in their recommendations and decided to ask a city employee for a list of officials to solicit input from. They also discussed ways to publicize their work, such as through the local newspaper and radio, but decided against using Facebook.
Decriminalize Development - Keynote by Chet Clem - Southern VT Economy Summi...Lyme Properties
Chet Clem of Lyme Properties was invited to give the Keynote address at the 2022 Southern Vermont Economy Summit hosted at Mt. Snow. The theme of the conference was “Cultivate Change.”
Q3 NEWSLETTER
Please click on this link to get the latest update from my role on the Saratoga city council (or find it here http://rishikumar.com/newsletter.html)
The current on-going issues/happenings in Saratoga are covered, and may have relevant and important information for you.
Topics such as:
Saratoga Safety.
Update on water
Highway 85 noise update
Locked Mailbox ordinance
Marijuana ordinance
Q&A with Councilmember Kumar - topics such as registering surveillance cameras, getting CERT certified, reporting out of compliance issues, water filling stations, solicitation reporting and dogs on leash/not.
Meeting agenda for the Southwest California Legislative Council with guest speakers Peter Aldana, Riverside County Assessor/ Clerk/Recorder and Russell Lowery, with an update on a measure to bring back city RDA funds.
Rishi kumar saratoga city council q4 2016 newsletterRishi Kumar
This newsletter summarizes Rishi Kumar's activities as a city council member over the past year, including efforts to address high water bills, launching new neighborhood safety watch programs, and various city council initiatives and events. It provides updates on issues like the village planning process and new local businesses, and announces upcoming community events like the Unity in Community day and neighborhood watch grant opportunities.
Transfer College Essays. Online assignment writing service.Nicole Fields
This document summarizes the key events that lead to Macbeth's transformation from a strong, reliable leader to a psychotic, dependent man. It notes that Macbeth is initially portrayed as confident until his encounter with the witches and his wife's encouragement to kill the king. The document states that Macbeth loses his nobility and gains a devilish nature as he commits regicide at his wife's urging in order to fulfill the witches' prophecy.
This document provides an overview of the U.S. Congress, including its history and structure. It discusses the number of members in the House and Senate over time. It also examines issues like representation, redistricting, gerrymandering, and the impact of incumbency advantages. Additionally, it outlines the legislative process from bill introduction through committee action and floor debates. Key topics covered include how a bill becomes law and the different ways legislation can be brought to the floor if stalled in committee.
The document proposes rebooting the financial infrastructure by creating simple, limited purpose banking through grassroots innovation. It argues the current banking system is too complex, risky and reliant on too-big-to-fail banks. It advocates creating small, specialized financial institutions focused on transparency and limiting risk, such as mutual funds for cash, loans, or other services. These would be regulated based on a formula rather than arbitrary capital limits. Grassroots innovators and activists could pioneer new community-based financial tools and push regulators to support small-scale experimentation.
Owen Freeman-Daniels Campaign Brochure - July 2011 #1Adam Cohen
Owen Freeman-Daniels is running for City Councilor in Ward 3 of Northampton. He has over a decade of experience advocating for the community through various organizations. If elected, Owen will focus on supporting the arts, local businesses, and environment while ensuring affordable housing and responsible development. He will encourage open debates on issues and represent the diverse interests of the ward.
Owen Freeman-Daniels Campaign Brochure - July 2011 #2Adam Cohen
Owen Freeman-Daniels has a proven record of community involvement and leadership in Ward 3. When the community needed help with issues like house fires and forming a neighborhood watch, Owen stepped up to lead the efforts. He has also worked on numerous committees around education, the economy, zoning, and city planning. Multiple community members praise Owen for his dedication, ability to listen to all sides, and getting things done for the ward.
Arnie Levinson Campaign Brochure - May 2011Adam Cohen
Arnie Levinson is running for City Councilor in Ward 3 of Northampton, MA. He is a recently retired orthodontist who has lived in Ward 3 for 15 years. He lists his key issues as road and infrastructure repair, keeping Bridge Street School open, managing development and infill to limit impacts on neighborhoods, addressing concerns at the Fairgrounds redevelopment and Island Road, protecting the Meadows for agriculture, and advocating for public housing residents. He provides his contact information and invites people to volunteer or donate to his campaign.
The document summarizes the campaign of Arnie Levinson, who is running for City Council in Ward 3 of Northampton, MA. Levinson promises to advocate fully for the concerns of Ward 3 residents at City Hall and keep them informed through various channels of communication. Levinson criticizes his opponent's view that a councilor should remain neutral and not get involved in development projects, arguing that a councilor should publicly advocate for residents' interests. Levinson asks voters to elect him to bring balance to decision making at City Hall and ensure residents' voices are heard on important issues affecting the city.
Owen Freeman-Daniels Campaign Brochure May 2011Adam Cohen
Owen Freeman-Daniels is running for City Councilor of Ward 3 in Northampton, MA. He is a lifelong resident of Northampton who attended local schools and currently works in financial services for a local independent firm. He is involved in several community organizations in Ward 3 and the city, including the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association where he serves as Vice President. If elected, he aims to promote economic growth through small businesses and the arts, encourage sustainable land use practices, and build consensus among residents on challenging issues.
Arnie Levinson Campaign Brochure May 2011Adam Cohen
Arnie Levinson is running for City Councilor in Ward 3 of Northampton, MA. He has concerns about deteriorating road conditions impacting local businesses, keeping Bridge Street Elementary School open as an anchor for the downtown community, and ensuring new development through infill and at the Fairgrounds is managed responsibly. He will advocate for traffic calming, a resolution on Island Road that satisfies neighbors and the Marina, and improvements for residents of public housing. The document provides Arnie's contact information and invites readers to volunteer or donate to his campaign.
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Investing in Place: Economic Renewal in N BCSNCIRE
Presentation by Sean Markey of SFU's Centre for Sustainable Community Development at the June 24, 2013 annual general meeting of Skeena-Nass Centre for Innovation in Resource Economics (SNCIRE)
- The Ivany Report failed to address the large problem of bureaucracy in Nova Scotia's government, which has grown inefficient and resistant to change over time under bureaucrats who prioritize maintaining the status quo.
- Reducing the size of the bureaucracy through attrition and a hiring freeze could eliminate Nova Scotia's deficit within a decade while allowing personal income taxes to be cut, putting more money back in citizens' hands to stimulate the economy.
- Municipal government, with its low cost and direct accountability to citizens, provides a model of efficient governance that contrasts with the bureaucracy and high costs of other levels of government.
The document promotes voting for Christine Robbins for Town Supervisor, Harvey Kriedberg and Christopher Foley for Town Board in Somers, New York. It argues that the current administration has failed to adequately plan finances, address infrastructure issues, pursue available grants, improve transparency, and update long-term planning documents. Voting for the promoted candidates is advocated as a way to remedy these issues and better manage the town.
Ultrasound utilizes principles of physics to generate images of the inside of the body, allowing doctors to non-invasively examine patients and make diagnoses to guide treatment before conditions deteriorate, which has become an important part of modern medicine. Physics enables the use of tools like ultrasound, X-rays, CAT scans and MRI scans that give doctors views inside the body with minimal surgery. These technologies have greatly improved healthcare by giving doctors new ways to assess and monitor patient health.
Charter Review Committee Minority ReportAdam Cohen
This letter presents dissenting views from the 2010 Charter Review Committee majority report. It recommends:
1) Having unpaid editors revise the charter to eliminate outdated references and improve organization, bringing it to a "state of good repair".
2) Holding public forums to gauge support for new initiatives like mayoral and council roles before further action.
3) Voting separately on the editorial revisions and any new initiatives that have public support to pass revisions more easily.
The letter outlines a process and timeline for completing the revisions by the next election.
The document proposes solutions to improve placemaking in Sacramento. It recommends that the city adopt a strong mayor system to provide stronger leadership over placemaking initiatives. It also suggests creating a Creative Director position within the mayor's office to coordinate placemaking efforts. This includes expanding community meetings, pilot projects, and arts funding. Other proposals include improving public spaces like parks and riverfront areas, expanding events like farmers markets, and prioritizing transit and hotel development to attract more visitors. The goal is to transform Sacramento into a more vibrant place through enhanced cultural opportunities and experiences.
The 2014 Utah Legislative Session: The Interesting, The Ordinary and What to ...Parsons Behle & Latimer
This document summarizes and analyzes the 2014 Utah legislative session. It discusses key issues addressed like air quality, election reform, and healthcare. It outlines the partisan composition of the legislature and bill passage rates. Additionally, it identifies expected issues for 2015 like Medicaid expansion, education funding, and potential business-related topics. The purpose is to inform clients and friends of the law firm about recent legislative activities and important issues.
Charter review committee minutes 2010 08-11Adam Cohen
The Northampton Charter Review Committee met to discuss setting up a common email address for the committee and soliciting input from past and present local officials on issues relating to the city charter, including the mayor's role in chairing the city council and school committee. The committee debated the level of detail needed in their recommendations and decided to ask a city employee for a list of officials to solicit input from. They also discussed ways to publicize their work, such as through the local newspaper and radio, but decided against using Facebook.
Decriminalize Development - Keynote by Chet Clem - Southern VT Economy Summi...Lyme Properties
Chet Clem of Lyme Properties was invited to give the Keynote address at the 2022 Southern Vermont Economy Summit hosted at Mt. Snow. The theme of the conference was “Cultivate Change.”
Q3 NEWSLETTER
Please click on this link to get the latest update from my role on the Saratoga city council (or find it here http://rishikumar.com/newsletter.html)
The current on-going issues/happenings in Saratoga are covered, and may have relevant and important information for you.
Topics such as:
Saratoga Safety.
Update on water
Highway 85 noise update
Locked Mailbox ordinance
Marijuana ordinance
Q&A with Councilmember Kumar - topics such as registering surveillance cameras, getting CERT certified, reporting out of compliance issues, water filling stations, solicitation reporting and dogs on leash/not.
Meeting agenda for the Southwest California Legislative Council with guest speakers Peter Aldana, Riverside County Assessor/ Clerk/Recorder and Russell Lowery, with an update on a measure to bring back city RDA funds.
Rishi kumar saratoga city council q4 2016 newsletterRishi Kumar
This newsletter summarizes Rishi Kumar's activities as a city council member over the past year, including efforts to address high water bills, launching new neighborhood safety watch programs, and various city council initiatives and events. It provides updates on issues like the village planning process and new local businesses, and announces upcoming community events like the Unity in Community day and neighborhood watch grant opportunities.
Transfer College Essays. Online assignment writing service.Nicole Fields
This document summarizes the key events that lead to Macbeth's transformation from a strong, reliable leader to a psychotic, dependent man. It notes that Macbeth is initially portrayed as confident until his encounter with the witches and his wife's encouragement to kill the king. The document states that Macbeth loses his nobility and gains a devilish nature as he commits regicide at his wife's urging in order to fulfill the witches' prophecy.
This document provides an overview of the U.S. Congress, including its history and structure. It discusses the number of members in the House and Senate over time. It also examines issues like representation, redistricting, gerrymandering, and the impact of incumbency advantages. Additionally, it outlines the legislative process from bill introduction through committee action and floor debates. Key topics covered include how a bill becomes law and the different ways legislation can be brought to the floor if stalled in committee.
The document proposes rebooting the financial infrastructure by creating simple, limited purpose banking through grassroots innovation. It argues the current banking system is too complex, risky and reliant on too-big-to-fail banks. It advocates creating small, specialized financial institutions focused on transparency and limiting risk, such as mutual funds for cash, loans, or other services. These would be regulated based on a formula rather than arbitrary capital limits. Grassroots innovators and activists could pioneer new community-based financial tools and push regulators to support small-scale experimentation.
Similar to Charter Review Committee 10-06-2010 Minutes Draft (16)
Owen Freeman-Daniels Campaign Brochure - July 2011 #1Adam Cohen
Owen Freeman-Daniels is running for City Councilor in Ward 3 of Northampton. He has over a decade of experience advocating for the community through various organizations. If elected, Owen will focus on supporting the arts, local businesses, and environment while ensuring affordable housing and responsible development. He will encourage open debates on issues and represent the diverse interests of the ward.
Owen Freeman-Daniels Campaign Brochure - July 2011 #2Adam Cohen
Owen Freeman-Daniels has a proven record of community involvement and leadership in Ward 3. When the community needed help with issues like house fires and forming a neighborhood watch, Owen stepped up to lead the efforts. He has also worked on numerous committees around education, the economy, zoning, and city planning. Multiple community members praise Owen for his dedication, ability to listen to all sides, and getting things done for the ward.
Arnie Levinson Campaign Brochure - May 2011Adam Cohen
Arnie Levinson is running for City Councilor in Ward 3 of Northampton, MA. He is a recently retired orthodontist who has lived in Ward 3 for 15 years. He lists his key issues as road and infrastructure repair, keeping Bridge Street School open, managing development and infill to limit impacts on neighborhoods, addressing concerns at the Fairgrounds redevelopment and Island Road, protecting the Meadows for agriculture, and advocating for public housing residents. He provides his contact information and invites people to volunteer or donate to his campaign.
The document summarizes the campaign of Arnie Levinson, who is running for City Council in Ward 3 of Northampton, MA. Levinson promises to advocate fully for the concerns of Ward 3 residents at City Hall and keep them informed through various channels of communication. Levinson criticizes his opponent's view that a councilor should remain neutral and not get involved in development projects, arguing that a councilor should publicly advocate for residents' interests. Levinson asks voters to elect him to bring balance to decision making at City Hall and ensure residents' voices are heard on important issues affecting the city.
Owen Freeman-Daniels Campaign Brochure May 2011Adam Cohen
Owen Freeman-Daniels is running for City Councilor of Ward 3 in Northampton, MA. He is a lifelong resident of Northampton who attended local schools and currently works in financial services for a local independent firm. He is involved in several community organizations in Ward 3 and the city, including the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association where he serves as Vice President. If elected, he aims to promote economic growth through small businesses and the arts, encourage sustainable land use practices, and build consensus among residents on challenging issues.
Arnie Levinson Campaign Brochure May 2011Adam Cohen
Arnie Levinson is running for City Councilor in Ward 3 of Northampton, MA. He has concerns about deteriorating road conditions impacting local businesses, keeping Bridge Street Elementary School open as an anchor for the downtown community, and ensuring new development through infill and at the Fairgrounds is managed responsibly. He will advocate for traffic calming, a resolution on Island Road that satisfies neighbors and the Marina, and improvements for residents of public housing. The document provides Arnie's contact information and invites readers to volunteer or donate to his campaign.
The document provides the election calendar for a special election to fill a vacancy for the councillor from Ward Three in Northampton, Massachusetts. It lists the important dates for the nomination process, voter registration deadlines, and dates for a preliminary election and the special election, if needed. The document also provides contact information for the Northampton Board of Registrars.
Lisa Fusco is running for City Councilor in Ward 3 of Northampton, Massachusetts. She has a background in environmental law enforcement and owns several local businesses. She is committed to sustainability, economic prosperity, and representing the views of Ward 3 residents on the City Council. She asks for voters' support on November 8th, 2011.
Transition Northampton Event 21 April 2011Adam Cohen
Transition Northampton Presents a movie and discussion event called "In Transition: From oil dependence to local resilience" on April 21st at the Florence Civic Center. The Transition movement aims to help communities creatively respond to peak oil and climate change by building a more local and resilient future. The event is sponsored by local civic and business associations and will provide information on the positive and solutions-focused Transition movement.
Gateways Beautification Committee Meeting 01 Minutes 05 April 2011Adam Cohen
The Gateways Beautification Committee met to discuss plans to improve entrance areas into Northampton. They made a preliminary list of 8 gateway locations and scheduled a site visit tour. The committee also discussed determining an overall design style, ensuring sustainability, addressing maintenance needs, and gaining community support for the project. Their next meeting will be in May to review the site visits.
Gateways Beautification Committee Meeting 01 Minutes 05 April 2011Adam Cohen
The Gateways Beautification Committee, a joint project of the city's ward and neighborhood-based groups, held its first meeting tonight, and it was a very productive session indeed. We're off to a flying start, and I'm sending along a brief summary of our discussions and decisions for your information. We have a very good core group and hope to expand it with folks who are interested in helping spruce up the gateway entrances to our city.
Here's the summary of our meeting.
Jerry Budgar
Contact Information for Our State LegislatorsAdam Cohen
The document provides information on supporting "An Act to Invest in Our Communities" through attending an upcoming hearing, calling state representatives and senators to ask for their support, getting organizations to support the Act through resolutions, and includes contact information for State Senator Stan Rosenberg and State Representative Peter Kocot.
Summary of Northampton Budget FY2012 as of 31 March 2011Adam Cohen
The document summarizes the general fund budget for fiscal year 2012. Total revenues are projected at $75.5 million, with the largest sources being taxes at $46.3 million and charges for services at $7 million. Total proposed expenditures are $77.1 million, with the largest allocations being education at $29.9 million, public safety at $11.7 million, and employee benefits at $14.9 million. The budget projects a deficit of $1.5 million.
Local taxes and charges for services saw the largest median annual increases from 2000-2011 at 5.3% each. State aid from the Cherry Sheet saw the largest median annual decrease at -9.5% per year. Interfund operating transfers saw the steepest declines with a median annual decrease of -18.6% over this period.
Northampton Budget FY2012 as of 31 March 2011Adam Cohen
This document summarizes the general fund budget for fiscal year 2012. Total revenues are projected to be $75,545,118, with the largest sources being taxes at $46 million and state revenue from the Cherry Sheet at $15 million. Total proposed expenditures are $77 million, with the largest allocations being $30 million for education, $15 million for employee benefits, and $11 million for public safety. The budget projects a $1.5 million deficit.
Memo Reprecincting Committee 29 March 2011Adam Cohen
The mayor of Northampton, MA appoints a committee to oversee redrawing the city's precinct and ward boundaries based on 2010 census data. The committee is chaired by David Stevens and includes one representative from each of the city's seven wards. They will work with the city clerk and GIS coordinator to complete a new precinct plan by May 13, 2011 for city council approval and state submission by the June 15 deadline. The new boundaries take effect on December 31, 2011.
Zoning Changes Proposal Detail 28 March 2011Adam Cohen
This document proposes revisions to Northampton's zoning regulations to facilitate higher density residential development while preserving neighborhood character. It found that the current regulations prevent adding units and lead to a loss of housing over time. Public feedback supported infill that adds units within existing structures or on owner-occupied properties. The proposal recommends allowing accessory units in garages and detached structures, revising dimensional standards, and incentivizing affordable housing.
The Solid Waste Reduction and Management Task Force discussed public forums held to gather input on waste management options for Northampton. Key discussion points included concerns about narrow streets being accessible to trash trucks, the need to set timetables and recycling goals, and where the city's trash will go once nearby landfills close. The Task Force also addressed questions raised at the forums on topics like how dumpsters for community projects would be funded after the landfill closes and whether waste could be restricted just to city residents. Members reviewed correspondence received and sought any additional information needed to make recommendations.
North Street Capital Project Request 18 January 2011Adam Cohen
The document is a capital project request form submitted by the Public Works Department for the reconstruction of North Street. It indicates the project would replace the existing roadway, curbing, sidewalks, and all municipal utilities including water, sewer and storm drains. It is considered a high priority that will correct safety hazards and improve efficiency by eliminating costly maintenance needs. The preliminary cost estimate for the project is $1,400,000 and it is proposed to be designed in house with construction taking place from summer 2012 to summer 2013.
Main Street King Street Charrette Final PresentationAdam Cohen
This document summarizes a charrette for improving safety on Northampton Main/King Street in Northampton, MA. It discusses how overbuilt wide streets encourage speeding, which poses dangers to pedestrians. It presents research showing that narrowing streets from four lanes to three lanes can reduce collisions by up to 60% by calming traffic. The document proposes several designs to narrow King Street from 80 feet to 62 feet wide through road diets and paint changes to prioritize pedestrian safety and walkability while still accommodating traffic needs.
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Pema Khandu, born on August 21, 1979, is an Indian politician and the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He is the son of former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Dorjee Khandu. Pema Khandu assumed office as the Chief Minister in July 2016, making him one of the youngest Chief Ministers in India at that time.
Here is Gabe Whitley's response to my defamation lawsuit for him calling me a rapist and perjurer in court documents.
You have to read it to believe it, but after you read it, you won't believe it. And I included eight examples of defamatory statements/
13062024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdfFIRST INDIA
Find Latest India News and Breaking News these days from India on Politics, Business, Entertainment, Technology, Sports, Lifestyle and Coronavirus News in India and the world over that you can't miss. For real time update Visit our social media handle. Read First India NewsPaper in your morning replace. Visit First India.
CLICK:- https://firstindia.co.in/
#First_India_NewsPaper
1. Northampton Charter
Review Committee
Councilor Jesse M. Adams
Colleen Currie (Secretary)
Councilor Marianne L. LaBarge
Councilor David A. Murphy
Alan Seewald (Vice-Chair)
Margaret Striebel
Marc
Warner
1OCTOBER 6, 2010 - HEARING ROOM - CITY HALL - 7 P.M.
PRESENT: JESSE ADAMS, COLLEEN CURRIE, MARIANNE LABARGE,
DAVID MURPHY, ALAN SEEWALD, MARGARET STRIEBEL, MARC
WARNER
ATTENDING: MICHAEL BARDSLEY, MARY CLAIRE HIGGINS, DAVID
NARKEWICZ, ANGELA PLASSMAN
MINUTES
Agenda
MR. SEEWALD CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND WELCOMED
NEW MEMBER, MARC WARNER.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
2. REVIEW AND APPROVE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 11, 2010
MEETING
COUNCILOR LABARGE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
COUNCILOR ADAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY.
3. PUBLIC FORUM SEEKING INPUT FROM CURRENT AND
FORMER MAYORS, CITY COUNCILORS, AND SCHOOL
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
1
2. MR. SEEWALD STATED BROAD ISSUE IS WHAT WORKS AND WHAT
DOESN’T WORK WITH CURRENT CHARTER. SOME SPECIFIC ISSUES -
TERM LIMITS, MAYOR CHAIRING CITY COUNCIL. HE THEN ASKED
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHETHER THERE WERE OTHER ISSUES THEY
WOULD LIKE INPUT ON FROM OFFICIALS PRESENT.
COUNCILOR LABARGE - TERM LIMITS, MAYOR CHAIRING COUNCIL
AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
COUNCILOR ADAMS - TWO-YEAR LIMITS EXCEPT FOR SCHOOL
COMMITTEE; SHOULD THEY BE LONGER, E.G., FOUR YEARS?
MS. CURRIE - NO PARTICULAR ISSUES; THINKS OUR TASK IS
BROADER.
MS. STRIEBEL - RELATIVE EFFICACY OF CHARTER - RELEVANT TO
OPERATIONS, CONSIDERED IN DECISION-MAKING?
MR. WARNER - COMPARING OTHER CHARTERS - STRONG CITY
MANAGER VS. MAYOR; AT-LARGE VS. DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES;
OVERRIDES.
COUNCILOR MURPHY - NO ITEMS; INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM
THESE FOLKS ON THEIR TAKE ON WHAT WE’RE DOING.
MR. SEEWALD - TALKED A LOT ABOUT SCRAPPING CURRENT
CHARTER AND RECOMMENDING A NEW CHARTER BE CREATED.
IF WE RECOMMEND - THOUGHTS RE BEST METHOD - COMMISSION
(HOME RULE) OR SPECIAL ACT? POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY
INVOLVED IN DECIDING HOW TO GET A NEW CHARTER.
LET’S START WITH CURRENT MAYOR.
MAYOR CLAIRE HIGGINS- THINKS IT’S NOT HELPFUL FOR HER TO
START.
MR. SEEWALD – LET’S START ON THIS SIDE OF ROOM:
COUNCILOR ANGELA PLASSMAN - WANTS TO HEAR FROM THE
MAYOR.
MAYOR HIGGINS - 1883 - ONE OF OLDEST. ONLY NORTHAMPTON
AND TAUNTON HAVE MAYOR CHAIRING COUNCIL. ANTIQUATED,
MAYBE FROM TOWN MEETING FORM OF GOVERNMENT THINKS BEST
2
3. MAYOR NOT CHAIR. WOULD EMPOWER THE COUNCIL IN A POSITIVE
WAY TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
DEFINITELY THINKS OF CHARTER. EXAMPLE OF DAM - ASSET OF
WATER DEPARTMENT.
CHARTER COULD BE CLEARER. SOME THINGS COULD BE DONE BY
ORDINANCE, E.G., STRUCTURE OF FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTAL THINGS. DON’T NEED THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL IN
CHARTER.
NOT IN FAVOR OF TERM LIMITS - THAT’S WHAT BALLOT IS FOR
LENGTH OF TERMS - SOME CITIES GOING TO 4-YEAR TERMS FOR
MAYOR - MAKES SOME SENSE, BUT NOT IF MAYOR CONTINUES TO
CHAIR COUNCIL.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE - THINKS MAYOR SHOULD CHAIR - CAME IN
WITH PROP0SITION 2 ½ - TO LINK BUDGET WITH SCHOOL
COMMITTEE - JUST UNDER 60 PERCENT OF BUDGET. ONE VOTE OF
TEN. NO VETO POWER
CITY MANAGER - WORCESTER, CHELSEA, LOWELL, CAMBRIDGE -
MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND CITY MANAGER. BUT HAVE TO PAY A
LOT MORE FOR CITY MANAGER. AMHERST JUST HIRED MANAGER
FOR $127,000. THAT’S PROBABLY BALLPARK.
COUNCILOR ADAMS - VETO POWER WITH COUNCIL, NOT SCHOOL
COMMITTEE.
MAYOR HIGGINS - MAYOR SETS BOTTOM LINE OF SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT; COMMITTEE DECIDES WHERE MONEY GOES.
MAYOR SETS BUDGET FOR CITY, COUNCIL CAN SUBTRACT BUT NOT
ADD TO BUDGET.
MR. WARNER - CAME FROM CAMBRIDGE - CITY MANAGER
ENORMOUS BUDGET - STRONG MANAGER.
MAYOR HIGGINS - CITY HAS HAD HISTORY OF STRONG MANAGERS
MARY FORD, DAVID MUSANTE, SEAN DUNPHY.
IF ANYTHING OTHER THAN SMALL CHANGES, NEED COMMISSION.
NEEDS TO BE STAFFED AND FUNDED.
3
4. WE’VE DONE WELL WITH MAYORS; ENORMOUS CHANGE TO GO TO
CITY MANAGER.
MR. WARNER - MOST OF NEW CHARTERS - WENT TO CITY MANAGERS
[SECRETARY COULD NOT DECIPHER WHAT WAS STATED IN TERMS OF
NUMBERS OF COMMUNITIES BEING DISCUSSED, NUMBERS WHICH
CHOSE CITY MANAGERS, ETC.]
MAYOR HIGGINS - DISAGREED - GREENFIELD, WEST SPRINGFIELD,
EASTHAMPTON BECAME CITIES; DID NOT CHOOSE CITY MANAGER.
STRONG MANAGER - CHELSEA - COMING OUT OF RECEIVERSHIP.
WORCESTER - AFTER SIGNIFICANT MAJOR FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.
MR. WARNER - RANDOLPH? WATERTOWN?
MAYOR HIGGINS - TOWN FORM OF GOVERNMENT, NOT CITIES.
COUNCILOR ADAMS - TWO-YEAR TERMS SUFFICIENT? WHY SCHOOL
COMMITTEE WARD 4 YEARS, AT-LARGE 2 YEARS?
MAYOR HIGGINS - SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES USED TO
BE ELECTED AT-LARGE; DOESN’T RECALL HOW TERM LENGTHS
DEVELOPED.
EARLIER CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE LOOKED AT SOME OF THESE
TERMS.
MOST COMMON CHANGE - 4- YEAR MAYORAL TERM - SPRINGFIELD,
SALEM.
COUNCIL - MORE CONNECTED TO WARDS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS-
2-YEAR TERMS. THINKS IT’S AN OPEN QUESTION. THOUGH BOSTON
HAS FOUR-YEAR MAYOR AND TWO-YEAR COUNCILORS.
COUNCILOR ADAMS - ANY STRUCTURE FOR WARD AND AT-LARGE
COUNCILORS HAVING DIFFERENT LENGTH TERMS?
MAYOR HIGGINS - UP TO CITY OR TOWN, E.G., OF GREENFIELD.
DIFFERENT THAN ANY CHARTER SHE’S SEEN.
MR. SEEWALD - OPINION RE WARD AND AT-LARGE?
4
5. MAYOR HIGGINS - WARD REPRESENTATION IS GOOD IDEA.
MR. SEEWALD - PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL - ONLY AT-LARGE OR CAN IT
BE WARD REPRESENTATIVE?
MAYOR HIGGINS - COUNCIL’S DECISION - THEY ELECT THEIR
PRESIDENT. E.G., NYC - CITIZENS ELECT COUNCIL PRESIDENT; WE
DON’T DO THAT HERE.
COUNCILOR ADAMS - IS DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN WARD AND AT-
LARGE GOOD. COMPARE HOLYOKE NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION.
MAYOR HIGGINS - 15 UNWIELDY - IMAGINE HOW LONG MEETINGS
WOULD BE. BELIEVES OUR DISTRIBUTION WORKS WELL.
COUNCILOR MURPHY - WOULD YOU BE CONCERNED IF TERM
LENGTHENED, WOULD OFF-YEAR ELECTION VOTER TURN-OUT BE
NEGATIVELY EFFECTED?
MAYOR HIGGINS - ON FLIP SIDE - SALEM GOOD EXAMPLE - GUY WHO
SUGGESTED 4-YEAR TERM WAS THROWN OUT.
MS. CURRIE - LOW VOTER TURN-OUT IS NATIONAL PROBLEM.
COUNCILOR LABARGE - NUMBER OF SIGNATURES NEEDED TO MAKE
BALLOT - ONLY 50 - COSTS CITY A LOT OF MONEY TO HAVE PRIMARY.
$15-20 THOUSAND.
MAYOR HIGGINS - IT’S REASONABLE TO ASK MAYOR AND AT- LARGE
COUNCILORS TO GET MORE - 100 TO 150 - CITY CLERK, ETC.
MR. SEEWALD - DO YOU SUPPORT ELECTIONS FOR SUCH POSITIONS
- CITY CLERK
MAYOR HIGGINS - NO. SHOULD NOT BE POPULARITY CONTEST –
PROFESSIONAL POSITION. WOULD SUPPORT LIFE TENURE. ISSUE
FOR VOTERS.
COUNCILOR MURPHY - SHE HAD TO RECUSE HERSELF IN RECENT
ELECTION BECAUSE SHE WAS CANDIDATE.
COUNCILOR ADAMS - OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE AWAY WITH
ELECTED CLERK, ETC.?
5
6. MAYOR HIGGINS - OTHER CITIES GETTING RID OF ELECTED CLERK,
TREASURER, SOLICITOR - PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS.
MR. WARNER - LIFE TENURE, BUT HEADS OF DEPARTMENT SERVE AT
PLEASURE OF MAYOR.
MAYOR HIGGINS DISAGREED - MOST ARE IN UNION - APPOINTED,
BUT DISMISSAL MUST BE FOR JUST CAUSE - HIGH LEGAL STANDARD.
MR. SEEWALD CLARIFIED - LIFETIME TENURE FOR THOSE IN
POSITION; NEXT PERSON IS DEPARTMENT HEAD.
MAYOR HIGGINS - CITY CLERK, TREASURER, SOLICITOR
COUNCILOR LABARGE - IF WE DO CHARTER COMMISSION - HOW
DOES THAT WORK?
MAYOR HIGGINS - GAVE EXAMPLE RE COUNCIL’S ACTIONS RE
ASSESSORS, COLLECTOR, AUDITOR. UP TO COUNCIL - MANY
MODELS.
MR. WARNER - EXPLAIN ISSUE RE DAM - WHY WOULDN’T CITY
COUNCIL WANT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THAT ISSUE.
MAYOR HIGGINS - NOT BEGRUDGING OPPORTUNITY OF CITY
COUNCIL TO SPEAK. IMPORTANT TO KEEP SEPARATE LINES OF
DECISION-MAKING - ASSET OF WATER DEPARTMENT AND RATE
PAYERS.
COUNCILOR DAVID NARKEWICZ - SIMILAR COMMENTS. OLD
CHARTER. COBBLED TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS. RELEVANCE TO
WORK - PULLING HAIR OUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT - SOME STUFF IN
CHARTER, SOME IN ORDINANCES, SOME IN BOTH.
PULL IT BACK - FRAMING DOCUMENT LIKE A CONSTITUTION –
EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE. ABILITY TO ESTABLISH DEPARTMENTS
WITHIN ORDINANCES. LET COUNCIL DO SO. SENSE IS IT NEEDS TO
BE STARTED FROM SQUARE ONE.
SAMPLE CHARTERS - LESS DETAIL, MOSTLY BASIC STRUCTURE,
LEAVING DETAILS TO ORDINANCES.
SEPARATION OF POWERS - ODD THAT LEGISLATIVE BODY CHAIRED
6
7. BY EXECUTIVE. HE WORKED IN CONGRESS; THOUGHT OF
PRESIDENT ON DAIS OF LEGISLATURE BIZARRE EXCEPT FOR
STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE - MAYOR ON COMMITTEE - CHAIRING IS
SEPARATE ISSUE.
OUR CHARTER SAYS MAYOR IS CHAIR OF ANY COMMITTEE ON WHICH
S/HE SITS.
BUT IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER SIZE OF SCHOOL BUDGET AND TO
MAINTAIN LINK.
TERMS - WARD AND AT-LARGE GOOD BALANCE. COMPARE
SPRINGFIELD. USED TO BE ALL AT-LARGE. RESULTED IN IMBALANCE
IN REPRESENTATION.
TERM LIMITS - NOT A FAN. BALLOT BOX - PEOPLE DECIDE.
ARTIFICIAL.
LENGTH OF TERMS - COUNCIL - TWO YEARS REASONABLE.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE - NOT SURE OF RATIONALE FOR LONGER TERM.
SEES REASON FOR MAYOR BEING LONGER TERM - ABILITY TO
IMPLEMENT VISION.
WILL BE INTERESTING TO COMPARE OTHER COMMUNITIES.
MR. SEEWALD - IF BACK TO SQUARE ONE - CHARTER COMMISSION
OR SPECIAL ACT?
COUNCILOR NARKEWICZ - IN EITHER CASE NEED PROFESSIONAL
CONSULTATION. HAD E-MAILED LINK FROM UMASS RE CONSULTING
SERVICE.
MR. SEEWALD - RECOGNIZES BUDGET AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT
NECESSARY WITH EITHER METHOD, BUT THERE IS A VERY POLITICAL
PROCESS BY WHICH CHARTER COMMISSION GETS ELECTED, AND
VERY STRICT TIME LINES FOR REPORTS AND TO GET BACK ON THE
BALLOT. – MEANT TO ASK THIS OF MAYOR, TOO – IS THAT SPECIFIC
PROCESS BETTER FOR CITY, OR WOULD IT BE BETTER FOR MAYOR
AND COUNCIL TO APPOINT CITIZENS TO DO WORK?
COUNCILOR NARKEWICZ - SO DISCUSSING TWO OPTIONS. ONE
INVOLVES ELECTING A CHARTER COMMISSION, GETTING REPORTS,
7
8. AND GETTING RECOMMENDATIONS ONTO BALLOT. OTHER OPTION IS
TO DO AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, WHICH IS TO AGREE ON CHANGE
WE WANT, GET APPROVED BY MAJORITY OF CITY COUNCIL, AND
THEN SUBMIT TO LEGISLATURE.
MR. SEEWALD - AND OFTEN LEGISLATURE MAKES YOU PUT IT ON THE
BALLOT. VOTERS GET A SHOT AT IT; QUEX IS HOW MANY SHOTS
HE’S INTERESTED IN PROCESS WHICH IS MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED.
HOW POLITICIZED? AND DOES POLITICIZED PROCESS MAKE
SUCCESS LESS LIKELY?
COUNCILOR NARKEWICZ - LAST ATTEMPT - NOT ENOUGH VOTES TO
GET COMMISSION APPOINTED. EITHER WAY, IT’S POLITICIZED.
EITHER WAY, ON THE BALLOT.
ONE ADVANTAGE OF COMMISSION IS INDEPENDENCE OF
MEMBERS - ELECTED INDIVIDUALLY.
MAYOR HIGGINS - THINKS COMMISSION IS WAY TO GO.
COUNCILOR LABARGE - ALSO NOT A FAN OF TERM LIMITS.
HAPPY WITH CURRENT LENGTH OF TERMS.
MS. CURRIE - ASKED COUNCILOR NARKEWICZ HIS POSITION ON
NUMBER OF SIGNATURES NEEDED TO BE ON BALLOT.
COUNCILOR NARKEWICZ - DEFINITELY SHOULD BE HIGHER. IN
CHARTER. TAKES ACT OF LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE NUMBER.
MR. WARNER - BACK TO ISSUE OF CONTROL. E.G., LANDFILL HOW
DIFFERENT THAN DAM?
MAYOR HIGGINS - DIFFERENT THAN OWNERSHIP OF LAND.
COUNCILOR NARKEWICZ - DPW DIDN’T MAKE CLEAR DECISION.
MR. WARNER - CHARTER ISSUE?
COUNCILOR NARKEWICZ - NO. DPW CHOSE NOT TO SEEK
EXPANSION. KNOWS THEY WOULD DIFFER WITH HIS
INTERPRETATION, BUT...
MR. WARNER - ROLE OF MAYOR MORE CLEARLY DEFINED IN
CHARTER.
8
9. COUNCILOR NARKEWICZ - COUNCIL BETTER DEFINED IN
ORDINANCES.
MR. WARNER - A PROBLEM?
COUNCILOR NARKEWICZ - YES, IF CITIZEN WANTS TO PICK UP
DOCUMENT AND BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND FRAMEWORK OF
GOVERNMENT.
COUNCILOR MURPHY - LANDFILL - GOOD EXAMPLE - COUNCIL DEALT
WITH AS ZONING ISSUE. FUNDING OR PERMITTING ALSO WAYS TO
DEAL WITH IT.
MS. STRIEBEL - GREATER EMPOWERMENT OF COUNCIL IF MAYOR NOT
CHAIRING - HOW SO?
COUNCILOR NARKEWICZ - HE’S CHAIRED WHEN MAYOR NOT THERE –
DIFFERENT DYNAMIC. FEELS MORE LEGISLATIVE. WHEN MAYOR
THERE - HAS INFORMATION NEEDED BUT AWKWARD POSITION –
ALSO ADVOCATING ADMINISTRATION’S POSITION.
MS. STRIEBEL - WOULD ALSO ENHANCE ROLE OF MAYOR.
MAYOR HIGGINS - WOULD CLARIFY ROLES. DID WITH FIRE
DEPARTMENT, FINANCE. POLICY, FUNDING, NOT DAY-TO-DAY
OPERATIONS
COUNCILOR ADAMS - ALSO SAW IN DISCUSSION RE DPW FUNDING
FOR FACILITY. MAYOR PRESENTED; PRESIDENT CHAIRED –
EFFECTIVE.
BUT QUESTION - CAN’T MAKE ORDINANCE RE DAM?
MAYOR HIGGINS - RE DAM - CAN’T OVERRIDE CHARTER WITH
ORDINANCE.
RE - DPW FUNDING, E.G., IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO ADVOCATE AS
MAYOR. CLEANER TO SEPARATE ROLES.
COUNCILOR MURPHY - OUR CHARTER DOES NOT ALLOW COUNCIL TO
PLAY MAJOR ROLE IN BUDGET. DIFFERENT CHARTER - SHOULD IT
CHANGE ROLE OF COUNCIL RE BUDGET?
MAYOR HIGGINS - THINKS SOME OF IT IS A FUNCTION OF STATE
LAW.
9
10. COUNCILOR NARKEWICZ - IF MORE LIKE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
WOULD REALLY NEED TO CHANGE STRUCTURE - COUNCIL WOULD
NEED PROFESSIONAL STAFF (ASSESSORS, AUDITOR, FINANCE).
COULD PART-TIME COUNCIL DO THAT? WOULD NEED TO CHANGE
STRUCTURE.
COUNCILOR MURPHY - STATE LEGISLATURE HAS PROFESSIONAL
HELP AND STILL CAN’T FIGURE IT OUT.
MICHAEL BARDSLEY - CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS - WE’RE HERE
BECAUSE OF WORK OF BEST PRACTICES COMMITTEE. ONE OF TEN
CHANGES RECOMMENDED WAS CHARTER STUDY/REVIEW. LOW
VOTER TURNOUT - FEELING OF DISCONNECTION - BEST PRACTICES
SHOWED GREATER LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT. PAST EFFORTS RE
CHARTER REVIEW - NOT ENOUGH INTEREST TO GET ON BALLOT.
BELIEVES THERE IS INTEREST NOW.
PRESENT CHARTER - LANGUAGE OUTDATED. NOT READILY
ACCESSIBLE.
PIECEMEAL CHANGES OVER THE YEARS - WORDY FOOTNOTES; LOTS
OF SECTIONS DELETED.
NOT ACCESSIBLE; ALMOST UNDEMOCRATIC.
SOME SECTIONS NO LONGER RELEVANT.
SOME SECTIONS MORE APPROPRIATE AS ORDINANCES - EASIER TO
CHANGE ORDINANCES.
SPECIFICS - IN FAVOR OF EXTENDING TERMS OF MAYOR AND
COUNCIL. TWO YEARS TOO SHORT. ESSENTIALLY A YEAR OFF FROM
CAMPAIGNING. THREE OR FOUR YEARS MAY BE BETTER
IN FAVOR OF TERM LIMITS FOR EXECUTIVE. COMPARE FEDERAL -
TERM LIMITS FOR PRESIDENT, NOT LEGISLATURE. KEY ISSUE HERE
IS BALANCE OF POWERS. COUNCILORS ARE PART-TIME. TAKES TIME
TO LEARN JOB.
CONSIDER VICE-PRESIDENT FOR COUNCIL. SOLICITOR FELT IT WAS
CHARTER ISSUE.
10
11. SPECIAL MEETINGS - ROBERT’S RULES - NEED TO BE SPECIFIED HOW
THEY OCCUR.
MR. SEEWALD ASKED RE MAYOR PRESIDING OVER CITY COUNCIL.
MR.BARDSLEY - BELIEVES IT COMES UP WHEN THERE’S OBJECTION
TO STYLE. CAN HAPPEN WITH MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
BELIEVES IT WAS TO ALLOW COUNCILORS TO PARTICIPATE. CHAIR
CANNOT PARTICIPATE. MUST STEP DOWN FROM CHAIR. DIFFICULT
FOR MAYORS TO BE ABSOLUTELY NEUTRAL. PROS AND CONS.
CITY MANAGER; ELECTION OF CITY CLERK, ETC. - CONSIDER NON-
BINDING REFERENDUM. TO GET ELECTORATE TO WEIGH IN .
OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION.
CITY CLERK - INDEPENDENCE USEFUL.
HE THINKS MAIN TASK OF COMMITTEE IS TO IDENTIFY KEY ISSUES,
NOT NECESSARILY TO WEIGH IN ON THEM.
CHARTER CONNECTED TO ORDINANCES; ORDINANCES CONNECTED
TO COUNCIL RULES.
SOME OTHER GROUP MAY NEED TO ADDRESS RELATION OF
ORDINANCES AND COUNCIL RULES.
MR. SEEWALD - CHARTER COMMISSIONS OFTEN DO TOTAL REVIEW
TO INCLUDE ORDINANCES.
COUNCILOR LABARGE - PROBLEM WITH NON-BINDING REFERENDUM.
MAYBE MISUNDERSTOOD - KEEPS ISSUES OUT OF PUBLIC
SPOTLIGHT?
MR. BARDSLEY CLARIFIED - BRINGS INTO PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT.
BELIEVES A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE HEARD ABOUT CITY
GOVERNMENT AND WANT TO BE PART OF DEBATE. EXAMPLE OF
NON-BINDING REFERENDUM ON LANDFILL.
JUST A THOUGHT THAT CAME TO HIM - AS A TOOL TO INVOLVE
PEOPLE.
E.G., THIS MEETING NOT LISTED ON CITY CALENDAR OR ON THIS
COMMITTEE’S WEBSITE.
11
12. COUNCILOR LABARGE - THIS COMMITTEE CAN DO MORE OUTREACH.
THIS COMMITTEE AND WHATEVER DEVELOPS FROM IT CAN HOLD
PUBLIC HEARINGS.
AGREES WITH REFERENDUM IF IT HAS A VALUE - E.G., MONEY ISSUE.
COUNCILOR ADAMS - POSITION RE MAYOR CHAIRING COUNCIL?
MR. BARDSLEY - PROS AND CONS. CHAIR CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN
DEBATE; NEEDS TO STEP AWAY FROM CHAIR - HIS READING OF
RULES. CHAIR TO BE NEUTRAL. COUNCILOR AS CHAIR NOT
REPRESENTING THOSE WHO ELECTED HIM/HER.
MS. STRIEBEL - KNOWS MORE ABOUT TOWN VS. CITY. ARE THERE
OPTIONS? E.G., MODERATOR.
MR. BARDSLEY - REQUIRES CHARTER CHANGE - WOULD HAVE TO
CREATE POSITION.
COUNCILOR MURPHY - IF VOTERS UNDERSTOOD ROLE OF
COUNCILORS, I.E, CHAIR NOT BEING ABLE TO ADVOCATE, PERHAPS
WARD REPRESENTATIVE SHOULD NOT CHAIR. PERHAPS LARGEST
VOTE GETTER IN AT-LARGE ELECTION WOULD BE PRESIDENT –
COULDN’T ADVOCATE. VOTERS WOULD KNOW UP FRONT WARD
COUNCILORS WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO BE COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
MR. BARDSLEY - IF KNOWN UP FRONT, MAY EFFECT DECISIONS
ABOUT RUNNING FOR POSITION, I.E., WARD VS. AT-LARGE. AND IF
THERE’S A VICE-CHAIR, MIGHT BE OTHER AT-LARGE COUNCILOR.
WORTH CONSIDERATION.
COUNCILOR ADAMS - POINT - SHOULD ALWAYS LEAVE POSSIBILITY
OF WARD COUNCILOR BE PRESIDENT, E.G., EXPERIENCE
MR. WARNER - CHAIR NOT BEING ABLE TO ADVOCATE - SIZE OF
BODY ISSUE - ISN’T CONCERN CUTTING OFF DEBATE?
MR. BARDSLEY - THERE IS MECHANISM - CHAIR STEPS DOWN TO
ADVOCATE; SOMEONE ELSE CHAIRS THAT SEGMENT OF MEETING.
COUNCILOR NARKEWICZ - DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION – RULE
ABOUT CHAIR DESIGNED FOR LARGER LEGISLATIVE BODIES. CITIES
12
13. WHERE MAYOR CHAIRS - RULES PROVIDE NO LOSS OF ABILITY TO
PARTICIPATE AND/OR ADVOCATE. OUR RULE IS MAYOR IS TO BE
IMPARTIAL.
MR. BARDSLEY - COUNCIL CAN MODIFY RULES, INCLUDING
ROBERT’S RULES. DESIGNED FOR WIDE RANGE OF SIZE OF BODIES.
EXEMPTS BODIES LIKE OUR COMMITTEE. COUNCIL DIFFERENT –
LEGISLATIVE.
MAYOR NOT A MEMBER OF COUNCIL - SHOULD NOT BE
INVOLVED IN DEBATE.
MR. SEEWALD - IS CONCERN THAT ROBERT’S RULES DON’T ALLOW
CHAIR TO PARTICIPATE - THAT IT’S A BAD DECISION -
RECOGNIZING SELF, WEIGHING IN ON EVERY ISSUE?
MR. BARDSLEY - A WAY COULD BE FOUND TO ALLOW PARTICIPATION.
MR. SEEWALD - IF STRUCTURE IN PLACE, WOULD IT CHANGE YOUR
OPINION?
MR. BARDSLEY - WORKS EITHER WAY.
COUNCILOR LABARGE - IS POSITION THAT WARD REPRESENTATIVES
SHOULD NOT BE PRESIDENT OR VICE-PRESIDENT?
MR. BARDSLEY - OUT OF CONTEXT - COUNCILOR MURPHY PROPOSED
IDEA - RESPONDING, NOT ENDORSING.
COUNCILOR ANGELA PLASSMAN - CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC
NOTIFICATION ABOUT THIS MEETING. SUGGESTS ANOTHER PUBLIC
MEETING - WELL-PUBLICIZED.
IF NEW CHARTER - PUBLIC COMMENT AT WARD LEVEL.
IN FAVOR OF TERM LIMITS - NEW IDEAS AND FRESH BLOOD.
TERM LENGTH - E.G., IF 4-YEAR MAYOR - TWO TERMS.
CITY COUNCILOR - LENGTH OF TERM - LEARNING CURVE - LONGER
TERM MAY BE BETTER - GOOD TO TALK ABOUT IT.
MAYOR AS CHAIR OF COUNCIL AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE - AGREES
SHE NEEDS TO GIVE INPUT. DOES NOT THINK SHE NEEDS TO CHAIR.
13
14. ELECTION OF CITY CLERK - TOO MUCH POWER IN MAYOR’S OFFICE.
OPPOSED CHANGE IN TREASURER’S POSITION.
NUMBER OF SIGNATURES NEEDED TO BE ON BALLOT - DEFINITELY
INCREASE - WHY NOT 50 SIGNATURES FOR EACH WARD?
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS - NOW ALL TO MAYOR’S OFFICE; MAYOR
DECIDES WHO IS APPOINTED. SHE BELIEVES CITY COUNCILORS
SHOULD REVIEW AND REPORT TO MAYOR.
MR. SEEWALD - NOW A CHARTER ISSUE. DOES SHE BELIEVE IT
SHOULD BE CHARTER OR ORDINANCE ISSUE? GREATER DETAIL
THAN HE ENVISIONS FOR CHARTER.
COUNCILOR PLASSMAN - DOESN’T KNOW - COUNCILORS DON’T GET
TO SEE APPLICATIONS.
CHARTER LANGUAGE OUTDATED.
SPECIAL MEETINGS - NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED. MUDDY NOW.
STIPEND FOR CITY COUNCILOR SHOULD BE RAISED. WANT GOOD
PEOPLE IN JOB, NEED TO PAY MORE MONEY.
MR. SEEWALD - HOW MUCH IS IT?
COUNCILOR ADAMS - FIVE THOUSAND FOR COUNCILORS; FIFTY-FIVE
HUNDRED FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
MAYOR HIGGINS - ORDINANCE, NOT CHARTER. ANY COUNCILOR
COULD INTRODUCE ORDINANCE TO CHANGE IT.
COUNCILOR PLASSMAN - MORE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN THIS
PROCESS NEEDED.
MR. SEEWALD - BE ASSURED - THERE WILL BE SPECIFIC PUBLIC
FORUM. WILL CALL ON YOU TO GET CONSTITUENTS INVOLVED. WE’D
HOPE FOR MORE FORMER OFFICIALS TONIGHT.
MS. CURRIE - CLARIFYING LACK OF PUBLIC NOTICE - WE’VE HAD
CONFUSION ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY FOR POSTING. THOUGHT WE
WERE GETTING IT TO THE RIGHT PLACE FOR POSTING ON WEBSITE.
APPARENTLY NOT.
14
15. RE NOTICE T0 MICHAEL BARDSLEY - MY RESPONSIBILITY; HAD
WRONG E-MAIL ADDRESS. ASKED THAT NOTICE BE FORWARDED BY
SOMEONE WHO HAD CURRENT ADDRESS. APPARENTLY DID NOT
HAPPEN. MY FAULT FOR NOT FOLLOWING UP TO MAKE SURE IT HAD
HAPPENED.
RE: PUBLIC FORUM IN PARTICULAR - HAVE DISCUSSED HOW TO
PUBLICIZE - NEWSPAPERS, RADIO, ETC., AND WILL DO SO, IN
ADDITION TO ASKING FOR COUNCILORS ASSISTANCE IN EACH
WARD.
PERSONAL OPINION - WE’VE BEEN DITHERING. IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN EMBARRASSING TO HAVE LARGE NUMBER OF PUBLIC ATTEND.
ACTUALLY TONIGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PUBLIC FORUM, BUT
MINUTES GOT OUT LATE AND WE GOT ORDER OF MEETINGS
CONFUSED. PERSONAL OPINION - BELIEVES THIS MEETING SHOULD
HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE PUBLIC FORUM, AS IT HAS. BUT
OCCURRED BECAUSE A MEETING GOT CANCELLED AND BECAUSE
MINUTES WERE LATE.
ALSO UNTIL THIS MEETING DID NOT REALLY HAVE ISSUES TO BRING
TO PUBLIC FORUM. NOW WE DO. EARLY DISCUSSION LED TO
OPINION THAT CHARTER NEEDS TO BE SCRAPPED. I’VE QUESTIONED
WHY NOT PRESENT THAT AS RECOMMENDATION, AND LET REAL
WORK PROCEED. BUT NOW WE HAVE ISSUES TO BRING FOR PUBLIC
DISCUSSION.
COUNCILOR PLASSMAN - BELIEVES PROCESS SHOULD NOT BE
RUSHED. WISHES MORE PEOPLE HAD ATTENDED TONIGHT.
BELIEVES COUNCILORS SHOULD BE AT THIS MEETING. BIG
CHANGES.
SHE MAY THINK OF OTHER THINGS NOT RAISED TONIGHT. HOPES
THERE’LL BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, SEPARATE FROM PUBLIC
FORUM, FOR COUNCILORS TO COME BACK AFTER DIGESTING WHAT
WE HEARD TONIGHT. UNDERSTAND YOU ALSO HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
MR. SEEWALD - WE DO. BUT IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SUBMIT TO
US, WE’LL READ INTO RECORD. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US AT ANY
TIME.
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16. MAYOR HIGGINS - GOING BACK TO ISSUE OF HOW TO MAKE
CHANGES - IN FAVOR OF CHARTER COMMISSION - EVERYTHING
GOES ON THE BALLOT. NOT INTERESTED IN ADVISORY QUESTIONS.
LEGISLATURE GOING TO ASK FOR IT TO GO ON BALLOT ANYWAY.
NEUTRAL AS TO PROCESS. HOME RULE REVISION OR FULL CHARTER
REVISION. HOME RULE REVISION MAY BE MOST EFFECTIVE, BUT
CHARTER COMMISSION IS BROAD-BASED REPRESENTATION. IN ANY
EVENT, ANY CHANGE SHOULD GO ON BALLOT.
COUNCILOR LABARGE - TO COUNCILOR PLASSMAN - WARD
COUNCILORS AS PRESIDENT.
COUNCILOR PLASSMAN - VOTED FOR YOU (COUNCILOR LABARGE)
THIS YEAR. TRIED TO GET VICE CHAIR - WAS TOLD IT WAS CHARTER
ISSUE.
COUNCILOR ADAMS - WOULDN’T EVEN ENTERTAIN RAISE WHEN CITY
EMPLOYEES NOT GETTING INCREASE.
COUNCILOR PLASSMAN - PURPOSE IS TO GET GOOD PEOPLE - HARD
JOB - A LOT OF WORK.
MR. WARNER - DO YOU WANT MORE RESPONSIBILITY , E.G,
APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES?
COUNCILOR PLASSMAN - SHOULD TAKE ON - OWE TO CONSTITUENTS
NOT ENOUGH BALANCE - PEOPLE WANT TO SERVE - COUNCILORS
CAN’T EVEN SEE APPLICATIONS. LIKE A JOB APPLICATION.
COUNCILOR LABARGE - WE HAVE ACCESS TO APPLICATIONS.
MR. SEEWALD - DOESN’T WANT TO GET INTO THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL.
UNDERSTAND CONCERN OVER BALANCE. BUT THE ISSUE OF ABILITY
TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS NOT RELEVANT TO OUR ROLE.
COUNCILOR ADAMS - CAN WE GET BACK TO AGENDA?
MR. SEEWALD - THANK YOU THE FOUR OF YOU FOR ATTENDING AND
PROVIDING INPUT.
4. WELCOME TO NEW MEMBER (MARC WARNER) AND
REORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEE
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17. COUNCILOR ADAMS AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS ASKED MR.
SEEWALD TO CONTINUE TO CHAIR.
MS. CURRIE NOTED THAT MR. SEEWALD HAD GOTTEN OUT THE
AGENDA, KEPT US ON TRACK DURING MEETING.
MR. SEEWALD AGREED TO CHAIR AND TO DO AGENDA, BUT NEEDS
MINUTES SOONER IN ORDER TO DO AGENDA.
MS. CURRIE UNDERSTANDS, AND WILL PROVIDE THEM SOONER.
MAYOR HIGGINS ASKED TO WHOM NOTICE OF MEETING AND
AGENDA HAD BEEN SENT, AND ASKED THAT THEY ALSO BE SENT TO
HER OFFICE. WEBMASTER IS IN HER OFFICE.
MR. SEEWALD CANNOT DO TASKS IN BETWEEN MEETINGS BECAUSE
OF OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.
COUNCILOR ADAMS WILL BE VICE-CHAIR.
MS. STRIEBEL MOVED FOR APPOINTMENT OF MR. SEEWALD AS CHAIR
AND COUNCILOR ADAMS AS VICE-CHAIR. COUNCILOR LABARGE
SECONDED BOTH MOTIONS. BOTH MOTIONS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. REVIEW FUTURE MEETING DATES
NOVEMBER 10, DECEMBER 8, JANUARY 12, FEBRUARY 9.
MR. SEEWALD WELCOMED MARC WARNER ONCE AGAIN.
NEXT MEETING - REVIEW WHAT WE HEARD TONIGHT AND SET
AGENDA FOR PUBLIC FORUM.
MS. STRIEBEL WORRIES THAT SOME ASPECTS OF CHARTER REVIEW,
ROLE OF CHARTER, FUNCTION RELATIVE TO CITY GOVERNMENT WILL
BECOME DEBATE ABOUT TERM LIMITS. IT’S A WAY TO GET
PUBLICITY, BUT DOESN’T WANT IT TO BE ONLY ISSUE.
COUNCILOR ADAMS - HOW IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?
MR. SEEWALD - SEPARATION OF POWERS SEEMS TO BE BIGGER
ISSUE.
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18. MAYOR HIGGINS - FOR PUBLIC FORUM - FRAME CONVERSATION -
ROLE OF CHARTERS, GOALS OF CHARTER. ABOUT POLICY AND
STRUCTURE NOT PROCEDURE. ROLE OF EXECUTIVE. ROLE OF
LEGISLATURE BRANCH.
6. NEW BUSINESS
7. ADJOURN
COUNCILOR MURPHY MOVED TO ADJOURN. COUNCILOR ADAMS
SECONDED. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. (9 :03 P.M.)
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