Editor's Note: We are aware that it is Wednesday, but the Mayor has had a busy week! See his comments below.
Governor
Patrick’s “Town Meeting” last night at City Hall was very well attended
and encompassed numerous provocative questions and discussions. The
governor does a very good job of creating a relaxed atmosphere; he is
straight forward with his answers and is not afraid to challenge the
audience to think about issues from both sides. There were at least
four members of his cabinet in attendance and they assisted in
answering questions from the audience…again a commendable trait, giving
up the floor to someone who has the knowledge to answer questions. As
a municipal administrator it was interesting to listen to the requests
for the governor to restore funding for many programs from services to
the persons with disabilities, to special education, to local police
funding, to concerns about the animals at zoos. It is also as
interesting to witness the overwhelming desire not to raise taxes. The
reality is that budgets must be balanced and that can be done with
decrease in costs or increases in revenues or as in most cases a
combination of both. During this very compromising economic time, it is
difficult to raise revenues without additional taxes, and it is equally
as difficult to cut services in times when they are most needed. In
Newburyport we have had a decrease in revenues, but our employees have agreed to
concessions especially with health care insurance that has allowed us
to maintain almost all essential services to the level we have provided
for the past three years.
Laurie Burt, Commissioner of Department of Environmental Protection, and her staff spent most the day in
on Tuesday viewing the landfill and speaking with neighbors and
concerned citizens about the landfill and the process to complete
closure of this site. The city maintains staff at the landfill each
day to inspect the truck loads of construction and demolition materials
that are brought to the site. The DEP will begin to employee
additional staff to inspect the operation of the landfill on a daily
bases. The City efforts will be to make certain that the material
brought to the site is proper material and it is mixed with soil and
covered each day. The DEP staff will monitor the flare, leachate, air
quality and nuisance odors. The combined effort should insure a timely
and proper closing of the landfill. This is a goal I have given my top
priority; I have lived with this project for my fours years as mayor
and do not wish to turn this problem over to a new administration.
Just
a note on Yankee Homecoming; I hope you all take advantage of the many
events that happen next week. People and organizations expend a great
deal of time and resources to make this an enjoyable week. I have
always enjoyed this festival. There will be Fireworks (weather
permitting) the committee has received increased donations in the last
week so we are looking forward to another great display.