Time to get real and move on

From my new perspective, here in Gloucester (where you have to pay to park everywhere that's a public spot, by the way), I find this whole paid parking debate kind of ... "namby pamby."

Just last week, Gloucester imposed a new law in the city:

Adopted by a council vote of 7-1, the new ordinance language is designed to "regulate the practice of shuffling cars from one metered space to the next throughout the workday."

A ban on the practice has been imposed within the downtown area from Main and Spring Streets to Tally's Corner, at Main and Washington Street.

The new ordinance language declares: "Once a meter expires, it shall be unlawful to park the car in another metered space within the area" on any day except Sundays and holidays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

I've been in downtown Gloucester a few times now, and I don't find coughing up a couple of quarters to park to be too much for me to handle.

I think that this (Newburyport) City Council needs to be a bit more decisive and stop the endless meetings, information sessions and whatnot on every issue. There are plenty of opportunities for people to voice their opinions during the regular process for implementing plans and passing laws.

And you do NOT get to park for free in Gloucester, with a resident permit, except at the beach.

Life's a bitch, ain't it?

Oh Lordie!

My sister just called me to tell me that this story was on the WBZ (radio) news ... it seems the name Heartquist is once again in the headlines. (I'm listening online, but I have not heard it.)

I'm not making any comment until I have all the facts ... you know how it is with me and the Ward 1 councillor ...


Have fun with this one, guys.

Bring out your dogs

I do have to note that there was a meeting of some standing committee or the other (Neighborhood & City Services, perhaps?) before the City Council meeting last night.

City Council chambers was full. Arriving late, I had to stand in the doorway.

For the City Council meeting - and to be fair the word spread pretty quickly that paid parking would not be brought out of committee - the place was medium-full.

Anything involving dogs, however, seems to bring people out in droves. Not being a dog owner (although I did once own a dog), I don't get it.

I do miss my cat, though.

Thanks, Tom Salemi, for turning on the "Bring out your ..." light in my head.

Guest post: A little checking may save you thousands of dollars

Well, the City Council went ahead and adopted the Stretch Code. This will initially have little impact on the average building owner until you attempt to do an improvement project that will require a building permit. Then it will cost you many additional dollars compared to a standard building code to attain the new green standards. Fortunately for most of us, we’re an historic city and many thousands of our homes are designated historic and are exempt from this punitive measure.

Unless of course, you don’t know if your home is historic or not.

Even then, if your home is inside the Newburyport Historic District, it is not necessarily an historic building! The information as to which structures are included is tucked away in the National Register’s Inventory Listing. A listing that is not posted on the City’s website. To find out often requires journeying down to the Library’s archives and painfully digging about. Don’t ask for the copy in the Planning Office, it’s missing pages out of it!

But It is now, in complete form, digitally available at www.newburyporthistoricdistrict.org.

Your home is historic and exempt if it contributes to the National Register of Historic Places. Therefore a designation in the Inventory of a “C” for contributing or “MC” minor contributing puts you in the exempt status.

But let’s say you do due diligence, check out the online listing and you find the code ‘INT’ next to your home. This designation means that your structure is not a contributing building toward the National Register. Yet, you may still be exempt.

There is a sliding scale on the Inventory. It is now 2010 and according to the preface of the listing, the cutoff date for the report in 1984 was 1930. It says, “Finally, those structures built after 1930 have been designated as intrusions [INT]; included in this last category are a number of buildings which may be re-considered as contributing structures once they achieve the age of fifty years.”

Therefore, any buildings that have this designation and are between 1930 to 1960 as the date of construction, need to have their owners appear before the Historical Commission for reconsideration and change of status.

I assure you, there are many City Hall employees who are not aware of the nuances involved in historic house categorizing. If you are still unsure of your building’s history after checking the listing, appeal to the Historical Commission.

As for the building inspector, he has indicated that he will explore other requests for exemptions in accordance with the Massachusetts State 780 CMR 7th edition, Chapter 93 for certain homes older than five years old.

Remember though, the time-honored warning, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” This time, willful ignorance of your historic building’s status may still cost you thousands.

Even at the presently enacted building code, historic homes are often exempt from some restrictions.

So take my word, do some research and be prepared before seeing the building inspector.

Jerry A. Mullins
Newburyport, MA

From Gillian: Sorry, Jerry, about how long it took me to post this.

And finally ...

There were these transfers before the City Council tonight that involved transferring money to pay a settlement of $44,873.07 to former DPS Director Brendan O'Regan.

If you recall, he was removed from his position a while back by Mayor Donna Holaday.

The settlement is being paid out of funds from DPS - 40% from water, 40% from sewer and 20% from DPW/Highway.

The Council was very slick about swiftly approving all 3 transfers, but us reporter types were alert to the situation.

On another note, the water and sewer depts. combined have about $1 million in reserve funds!

Don't ask; or do ask and I'll do my best to explain.

Next City Council meeting

Ah ... I remember last year trying to park for the second July meeting of the City Council, which was during Yankee Homecoming.

I had to park all the way up by Kelley School ... which cost me about 5 mins. of walking, if that.

So the next City Council meeting will be on July 22, which is when the mayor has called a meeting with the Council for 7:30 p.m. about water (don't know what about water, yet).

All because of Yankee Homecoming!

Councillors speak out about surveillance

Two city councillors - At-large Councillors Barry Connell and Tom Jones - stood up during the "Good of the Order" portion of tonight's Council meeting and spoke passionately about the installation of surveillance cameras in downtown Newburyport.

Actually, Jones was a little more general. He spoke about the need for the City Council to approve expenditures from grants because it doesn't now. That's how we end up with things that make us go, "Huh?"

Connell said he had a long discussion with City Marshal Tom Howard about the cameras, which are not yet operational, and while the Marshal presented a strong argument for management (Of what? Crime?), Connell said there was a difference in opinion about necessity.

The reason my notes are so garbled is because he was so eloquent that I was sort of mesmerized.

The upshot is, he asked the Marshal to hold off on finalizing the installation (the software) until there can be further discussion on the need for the cameras "so we can preserve the sliver of personal freedom we still have in public places."

Snow emergency parking

City Councillor At-large Ari Herzog informs me that the Council's Neighborhood & City Services committee - of which he is the chairman - will meet at 6:30 on Monday (before the City Council meeting and in Council chambers) to discuss protocols for parking during a snow emergency, as in how to improve public notification and information.

"I think it's a conversation we should have," Herzog told me.

Apparently during the snowstorm that didn't happen a couple of weeks ago, 2 of the blue lights that notify residents of a snow emergency did not work. Herzog has invited Marshal Howard, DPS Director Brendan O'Regan and Julia Godtfredsen from the Mayor's Office to the meeting.

Also Herzog said the Budget & Finance committee will meet the same evening, at 7:15, probably in the upstairs auditorium at City Hall.

Senior center decision & more

Monday is the day the Senior Center Building Committee imposed on itself as the day it will make a decision on whether to pursue the property at the Towle Office Building. The meeting is at 8 a.m.

I really miss Ed Cameron notifying everyone of these meetings ... although one click takes me to the city's website, where one may find notification of meetings.

I see where The P. Preservationist is listing a joint Planning Board/City Council meeting for Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. I don't see that on the city meeting calendar. The Planning Board meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month ... help, anyone? This would be the discussion of the revised wind energy ordinance and the changes to the ordinance relating to moveable signs (as in, the Germinara truck).

The Preservationist is also reporting that there is a movement afoot to not amend the wind energy ordinance.

A sample letter is being circulated trying to pressure City Council and the Mayor to not only not amend the present Wind Energy Ordinance but to loosen its restrictions even further! Supporters are already sending their versions using pure political frenzy to put pressure on our elected officials.

Does this have anything to do with the money the state is doling to implement rampant construction of giant wind energy conversion facilities?

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for green energy ... but I see trouble ahead. (But then, as a journalist, trouble means good copy.)

Budget & Finance should be good

According to the City Council agenda for Monday's meeting, the councillors making up the Budget & Finance committee next year will be Bob Cronin, Ari Herzog and Ed Cameron (chairperson). This, of course, is a key committee and was most recently chaired by our new mayor, Donna Holaday.

I would not expect as many funding requests to go through in 2010 as in the recent past, but don't quote me on that.

Other committee assignments:

Joint Education
Allison Heartquist
Greg Earls
Steve Hutcheson, chairperson

Planning & Development
(This one should be interesting as well.)
Tom Jones
Brian Derrivan
Barry Connell, chairperson

Public Utilities
Allison Heartquist
Barry Connell
Kathleen O'Connor Ives, chairperson

Neighborhood & City Services
Allison Heartquist
Ed Cameron
Ari Herzog, chairperson

Public Safety
Bob Cronin
Tom Jones
Brian Derrivan, chairperson

License & Permits
Steve Hutcheson
Kathleen O'Connor Ives
Greg Earls, chairperson

General Government
Tom O'Brien
Greg Earls
Donna Holaday

Rules Committee
Kathleen O'Connor Ives
Steve Hutcheson
Tom Jones, chairperson

Well ... you've got 8 committees with chairs split between 10 councillors and three of them new. So wow, Ari got his own committee. I'm impressed.

O'Brien to head up Council again?

I did a little straw poll tonight at the last City Council meeting of the year, and it appears that Tom O'Brien will take up the duty of City Council President next session. He stepped down 2 yrs. ago in favor of James Shanley.

I was told that immediately after being sworn in on Jan. 4, the City Council will convene in a business meeting and take a vote on its president. Current president Shanley, of course, ran for mayor and so is off the Council.

Both Shanley and Ward 1 City Councillor Larry McCavitt gave heartfelt and rather humorous little speeches upon their departure from the council. Mayor-elect Donna Holaday was not at the meeting because her father is ill, so send good thoughts her way, please.

I have high hopes for the new Ward 3 councillor, Bob Cronin, and I don't think anyone will be disappointed.

Yes, I do know that!

I do know that the mayor recommends appointments and the City Council approves, or does not approve, them.

It's just that the City Council so rarely challenges any of them. Aside from the occasional Gary Calderwood and John Morris ... Cliff Goudey ... that's three that I remember as being even remotely questioned in the last couple of years.

Not dead, injured or impaired

I've been very busy lately with recovering from my recent illness, writing stories and semi-secret projects - but I do appreciate people asking where I've been.

Well today I got the City Council agenda.

The city's Free Cash has been certified at $1,281,624. In his letter to councillors, Mayor John Moak points out that this is a 52% increase over last fiscal year and a 111% increase from the amount available in FY2006 (the year before he took office).

The mayor attributes this feat to a bunch of stuff, including not filling 2 DPS positions and "aggressive collection of fees, taxes and revenue sources."

I applaud the latter, but given the deplorable condition of the city's sidewalks and other infrastructure, I'm not that sure about the DPS positions.

As the revenue spins

As Larry McCavitt said at last night's City Council meeting, "I'm really at a loss."

Hey - you wonder where all the money the city rakes in goes, this is one of those places.

Donna Holaday, chair of the Council's Budget & Finance Committee and candidate for mayor, put forth an order that established a "Regional Health Services Revolving Fund relative to shared services."

This fund is at the discretion of the Director of Public Health (you know, the one that's leaving) and the mayor and was written so it could not exceed $30,000 (that was changed so it was only the amount Newburyport actually owes someone or some other town).

I'm no budget & finance person, but all I hear about in City Council meeting these days is this revolving fund and that revolving fund; and apparently if money comes in, it should go into this revolving fund because otherwise it can't go into the general fund this year because tax rate has been certified.

These revolving funds, as I said, are at the discretion of the dept. head and under the direction of the mayor. So next year we'd be hearing about how we had to spend the money in this revolving fund before June 30 because ... yada, yada, yada.

What I want to know is, where is the $10,122.17 in "Newburyport Net Gain" from the 60-day temporary shared services agreement that nobody knew about?

I'm requesting from Councillor Holaday the certified city budget for 2010.

Au revoir.

Beach news

I was just reading this story in the Daily News about the PI Foundation proposing that Newbury take beachfront properties by eminent domain.

Selectmen accepted a citizen petition Tuesday night for a Town Meeting warrant article that would authorize them to "take any and all action, including but not limited to the use of the (state) eminent domain act" to obtain easements to allow the beach nourishment project to proceed. It targets a handful of property owners who have not yet agreed to allow easements over their beachfront land. Without those easements in hand, the project will be delayed several months, until September 2010.

I'm putting it on record right here that a resident proposed this at the last meeting of the Beach Alliance and Vincent Russo replied that, "The term 'take' means 'buy,' and Newbury is not in the business of acquiring private property."


Representatives from the state also said the state would not take any private land for this project.


Newbury selectman can't take any action on this until Oct. 27, and we see from our city's own efforts to "take" the land next to the sewer plant - it's been going on for 9 years, I was told while writing a story for tomorrow's Current - that it ain't easy.


By the way, the City Council went into executive session last night to discuss taking 115 Water St. by eminent domain. It will be on Monday's agenda, I was told.

Meh

I keep thinking - and hearing - about this write-in deal. You know, candidates running for mayor being written in as at-large candidates on ballots.


Now that I am done with all the candidate interviews, I can see that this scheme, if there is a scheme (or two), might work - except that -


The at-large candidates, even the ones not currently in office, all did pretty well in their interviews. Of course, Michael Ferrick did not participate so I have no clue about him.


There are 5 at-large seats and 7 candidates, right? That means 2 of the announced candidates won't get in. Add in a failed candidate for mayor and it gets interesting (not necessarily in a good way).


I'm betting that somewhere, someone figured Ari Herzog and Fran Sullivan haven't got a chance and that Ferrick only has a slim chance.

Fran's got a lot of friends, folks - and every single one of them wants that senior citizens center built NOW. If she does in fact win a seat, I want to be the first to step up and make a movie out of it.

I would say if you're going to write someone in, write in someone like a Gary Roberts. I won't say write in Gary Roberts specifically, because last time I spoke with him, he was reluctant (but not totally dismissive).

Don't write in someone who is running for mayor. It would be setting a bad precedent.

"I won't run for mayor unless John Moak doesn't, but if he doesn't and I do, I'll also mount a write-in campaign so if I lose I won't be off the City Council."

I mean, I thought the first bit was wimpy enough to last us for at least 2 years ...which is mostly why I'm not endorsing anyone.

Shanley speaks

I got this in an email from City Council President James Shanley, who is running for mayor of our fair city. He gave me permission to run it as he wrote it, only I took out the bit about seeing me at the Republican Committee's open mike night (which he won't, since I have to go to the meeting about the sewer plant.)

I wanted to address the coverage/comments regarding my leaving the White Hen Pantry meeting the other night. With the benefit of hindsight, I now realize that it would have been wise for me to explain/announce my reasons for not being able to stay for the entire White Hen meeting. By not doing so, I can certainly see why people would construe my early departure as a sign of disinterest. Nothing could be further from he truth, and I would like to take this opportunity now to explain why I left before the meeting ended. Before the White Hen meeting was scheduled, I had agreed to accompany Councilor Cameron to visit a resident to help resolve a long-standing and complicated issue. This meeting was for the same time and date as the White Hen meeting. Since the White Hen is in Ward 3 where I reside, I wanted to attend, yet I also wanted to honor my previous commitment to Councilor Cameron and the resident.

Horrors!

Continuing on my rant about Monday's City Council meeting ... now that I know how the Patriots game went down, I'm extra peeved ... (I started this post on Tuesday).

Late in the meeting (probably around the time the Patriots were getting ready to win the game in dramatic fashion), the Council had the first reading of an ordinance to ban parking on the northwesterly side of Opportunity Way, in the industrial park.

It seems that the evil company Home Made Brand Foods (aka Greencore Group) has gone and been so successful that they needed to expand their facility, and the influx of trucks from this success-based expansion is causing trouble.

The facts as I understood them (keep in mind this was about 3.25 hrs. into the meeting):

The truck traffic to HMBF has increased 10-fold since they expanded.

Trucks are parking on the edge of the road.

Opportunity Way can't handle the trucks.

The trucks are ruining the side of the road!

I was stunned that they appeared to be bitching about a business in the city being successful. Did anyone from the city approach HMBF to seek a mutual solution to this problem?

Wouldn't it be funny if they do ban the parking and HMBF moves out of the city because they can't conduct business here?

That'll teach 'em to grow and expand. Begone, foul successful business; there is no place for you in this city.

No tweeting, typing in Chambers

The City Council had some (to me) bizarre rules and regs on the agenda Monday night. (I have to say that because it's now Tuesday a.m.)

First, they have banned use of all electronic devices from Council Chambers. That includes laptops - except for the ones they are using, or the ones someone else needs to use to show them something.

Despite Tom Jones turning around and saying to me, "Sorry, Gillian" mid-meeting - lol - I am not the one who ever uses an electronic device in the course of covering a meeting.

That would be (sometimes) the reporters from the Daily News.

I am, however, considering purchasing and toting in a typewriter for the next meeting, if I can find one.

I'm not clear on the motivation behind this. I can see the cell phone thing - ringing phones and chatting with ones buddies during meetings may be a tad disruptive - but texting? You could argue that to text, one needs a cell phone. Or a Blackberry, which didn't used to be synonymous with cell phone but is now, I guess.

Someone sitting near me said, "What's next? What if I decide to pick up a comic book during the meeting and read it?"

Hmmmmm ....

Then there was this list of rules for city parks. There used to be individual rules, I guess, for some individual parks. Now there's one big mess o'rules.

Parks are closed for active use and the playing of loud music at 9:30 p.m. but close at 10 p.m. - so as Greg Earls said (and I'm paraphrasing), you could lounge around for half an hour, in the quiet and in the light because the lights (if applicable) will stay on until 10.

Hey - you could text or type on your laptop.

Activities are not allowed that would potentially endanger members of the public.

What does that mean?

Because you also can't carry a firearm, start a fire, shoot off fireworks (without permission at any rate), drive your car, or ride your horse in the parks. I guess it means that, although not specified, practicing your knife throwing act is also verboten.

Hmmmmm ... I kid the City Council because they the 3.5-hr. meeting made me miss ALL of the Patriots' season opener.

Oh - and they approved John Morris to the Redevelopment Authority, 7-4. They really pulled out all the stops with comments of support for his nomination.

I was not surprised - I was told by several people that the forces were being rallied a la the Goudey re-appointment.

Who knows? He could be the best thing since sliced cheese (if you like sliced cheese).

Upcoming meetings

Ed Cameron is the only city councillor I know who lets me know about committee meetings. Gee, I hope he gets re-elected.

What's that?

Oh.

Anyway - Thanks, Ed!

The following three Planning and Development Committee meetings have been scheduled and have also been posted as Committee of the Whole so other Councillors can attend.

Thursday, August 20th at 7pm to discuss NRA appointment (Council Chamber, City Hall)

Wednesday, August 26th at 6pm to discuss Parks and Rec regulations, Wind Energy ordinance, and other matters (Auditorium, City Hall)

Thursday, August 27th at 6pm to discuss 'small wind' turbine with Mass Audubon (Council Chamber, City Hall) The meetings are open to the public.

And don't forget about that Republican picnic coming up. Who knows? I may show up ...

"It's sick, the price of medicine ..." - The Psychedelic Furs

Damn; I'm in a good mood tonight.