AGENDA-CITY COUNCIL MEETING –AUGUST 30, 2010

AGENDA-CITY COUNCIL MEETING –AUGUST 30, 2010

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CITY COUNCIL MEETING
7:30 PM
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1. OPENING PRAYER

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. CALL TO ORDER

4. LATE FILE ITEMS

5. PUBLIC COMMENT

CONSENT AGENDA
NOTE: ALL ITEMS LISTED UNDER CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS. IF DISCUSSION IS DESIRED, THAT ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
August 9, 2010 (Approve)

6. TRANSFERS
1. Mayor (Overlay Surplus) to Charter Commission (10,000) (B&F)

7. COMMUNICATIONS
1. Friends on the Council on Aging, Box Location (Approve)
2. Acting Out Studios/Roald Dahl Festival, Parade (PS)
3. Fuel Storage Change, Shell Station, Story Ave (PS)
4. Block Party, Purchase St, 9/11/2010 (Approve)
5. Block Party, Atkinson St, 9/11/2010 (Approve)

8. APPOINTMENTS
FIRST READING
RE-APPOINTMENTS
1. Thomas Howard 65 Middle Road Emergency Man Dir Concurrent w/
Newbury Marshall Appt

2. Julie Languirand 13 Cushing Street Treasurer/Collector Three Years
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
REGULAR AGENDA

9. APPOINTMENT – CITY COUNCIL - 2ND READING
¬RE-APPOINTMENTS

1. Alan Bull 103 Water Street Cultural Council 04/30/2013
2. David Hanlon 68 Warren Street Sewer Commission 08/01/2013
3. Sherry Moore 62 Marlboro Street Cultural Council 04/30/2012
4. John Tomaz 38 Storeybrooke Drive Water Commission 04/30/2015

APPOINTMENTS

1. Megan Muldowney 87 Fourteenth Avenue, Haverhill Special Police Officer

11. ORDERS
1. Bond Order, (500,000) Sewer Pump Station (2nd Reading)
2. Bond Order, (18,750,000) (2nd Reading)
3. City Hall Revolving Fund

12. ORDINANCES
1. Dog Licensing, Fee Increase, Sec. 3-27

13. COMMITTEE ITEMS
Budget & Finance
In Committee:
1. Room Occupancy Excise to 6% *1/11/2010
2. Local Meals Excise *1/11/2010
3. Hmaster Ret Earnings ($44,750) to Additional Equip *4/12/2010
4. Bond Authorization, WTP (18,750,000) *7/22/2010(8/9/2010
5. Bond Order, (500,000) Sewer Pump Station *8/9/2010

Joint Education
In Committee

General Government
In Committee
1. Atmospheric Pollution Ordinance *2/8/2010

License & Permits
1. In Committee:
2. Daily News vending machine requests *6/14/2010
3. Yard Sales, Amendment, Sec 9-2 *8/9/2010

Neighborhoods & City Services
In Committee:
1. Street Lighting Recommendation *5/10/2010
2. Outdoor Illumination Standards *7/12/2010
3. Newburyport Tree Ordinance *7/22/2010

Planning & Development
In Committee:
1. Residential Handicap Parking Ordinance *1/11/2010
2. Atmospheric Pollution Ordinance *2/8/2010
3. Green Communities Order *3/29/2010
4. Planning Board Report on Wind Energy *3/29/2010
5. Zoning Ord – Sec II Definitions/Sec VI Dimensional Controls
6. Expedited Permitting *4/26/2010
7. Stretch Energy Code *4/26/2010
8. Wills Lane Conservation Restriction *7/12/2010
9. Newburyport Tree Ordinance *7/22/2010
10. Ferry Road Conservation Restriction *8/9/2010

Public Safety
In Committee:
1. Civil Service Home Rule Petition *1/11/2010
2. Residential Handicap Parking Ordinance *1/11/2010
3. Handicapped Parking – Riverside Park *1/25/2010
4. One Hour Parking – Deletion, Riverside *1/25/2010
5. Paid Parking, Riverside Park *1/25/2010
6. Municipal Parking Lots *2/8/2010
7. Street Lighting Recommendation *5/10/2010
8. Two hours Time Restriction Sec 13 -175 *6/14/2010
9. One hour Time Restrictions Sec. 13-176 *6/14/2010
10. Central Business District Lot, Parking, Sec. 13-177*6/14/2010
11. Tracey Place Lot, Parking, Sec. 13-178 *6/14/2010
12. State Street Lot, Parking, Sec. 13-178.1 *6/14/2010
13. Nbpt Redevelopment Auth. Lot, Sec. 13-186 *6/14/2010
14. Resident Parking, Zone Permits Sec. 13-180 *6/142010
15. Res. and Sr. Paid Permits for Parking Sec13-180 *6/14/2010
16. Employee Paid Permits for Parking Sec 13-180B *6/14/2010

Public Utilities Committee
In Committee:
1. Stormwater Management Ordinance * 6/28/2010
2. Outdoor Illumination Standards * 7/12/2010
3. Bond Authorization, WTP (18,750,000) *7/22/2010(8/9/2010
4. Bond Order, (500,000) Sewer Pump Station *8/9/2010

Rules Committee

14. GOOD OF THE ORDER

15. ADJOURNMENT

Ward 4 Issues, August 2010

To Ward 4 residents:

I want to update you on matters related to Ward 4.

Please keep in touch with issues that concern you. Email is easiest (edcameronNBPT@gmail.com) and cell phone is fine too (978-518-0786). I try to use my blog http://edcameron.blogspot.com/ to communicate on general matters of concern.

Over the last several months, I've worked with City Departments on the following neighborhood issues:

Street Repaving: because of limited funding, the City is able to repave only a limited number of streets. In our Ward, Tyng (between High and Munroe) and North Atkinson (closer to High Street) are being repaved this summer. I advocated for others. I receive a lot of communication from constituents about their streets, so please continue to provide me with your input, so that I can work with the Mayor and the Highway Dept. I've heard from people about Arlington, Ashland, Jefferson and others so please keep communicating. The street paving list is updated every year, so the input is helpful.

Potholes: The Highway Dept is usually quite effective in doing these short term repairs. In fact, quite often, I will contact them about a pothole and find they've filled it the day before. However, because of utility trench work and the fact that we don't repave as much as we ought to, there are a lot of potholes and cracks. Over the last several months, I've contacted the Highway Dept to fill potholes on:

• Merrimac St
• High Street
• Jackson Street
• Collins Street
• Jefferson Street
• Ashland Street
• North Atkinson Street (I'm very pleased that a sunken manhole cover at Simmons Drive is being repaired)
• Dexter Street
  

Street Signs: The City has ordered these signs which are missing. I've noticed a few (Pleasant, Lafayette) which look like someone's tried to twist them off. Quite irritating...and costly to the City. The City attempts to make these very secure, but signs keep getting taken.

• Munroe Street (at corner of Oakland)
  
• Tracy Street (at intersection with Columbus)
  
• Jackson Street (at corner of Oakland)
  
• Walnut Street (at corner of Oakland)
• Carter Street (at corner of Merrimac)
• California Street (at corner of Merrimac)
• Savory Street

According to Tony Furnari of DPS, the signs which were ordered awhile ago have been received and we should start seeing them in the next few days.

Quick Update on Last Night's City Council Meeting of August 9, 2010

The official minutes will be approved at the next City Council meeting, but here are some quick updates from last night in roughly chronological order.

"Green Initiatives" Transfer
The Council agreed to transfer $2,500 from the Green Initiatives Special Revenue fund to complete a survey of Newburyport street lights. The City currently does not have accurate mapping of street light locations. National Grid can provide a list of street lights based on pole numbers; the City Planning Departments most recent list is from 1997. The transfer will be used to create an editable database and map with each light's GIS position. The money is coming from a $400,000 rebate from the Nock solar energy project, a fund which is to be used for 'green initiatives'.
The Council approved the transfer by a 6-5 vote. I voted to approve the transfer. Before we continue to talk about turning off streetlights or installing more efficient lighting, we need accurate information.

Clearwell Transfer
The Council approved by a 11-0 vote to transfer $50,000 for emergency repairs to the water treatment plant 'clearwell'. The clearwell is a critical part of our drinking water system. The transfer will enable the City to hire divers to enter the clearwell and repair cracks which have been discovered in recent months. Failure to make these emergency repairs could disrupt the City's water supply. The funds are being temporarily transferred within the Water Enterprise Fund from a line item to eventually repaint the Rawson Hill water tank near Anna Jaques Hospital. When the Water Enterprise Fund final FY 10 balance is certified in the Fall, the $50,000 will be transferred back to the painting project.
The Rawson Hill water tank painting project is tentatively planned for 2011 and will be done in such a way as to mitigate any impacts to the neighborhood and hospital.

Sewer and Water Bond Orders
The Councill agreed 11-0 and 11-0 to set in motion orders to finance $500,000 for improvements to the City's Crow Lane Sewer Pump Station and $18,750,000 for making major improvements to the City's water system, which is in major need of upgrade (see comments on clearwell above).
These matters have been referred jointly to the Council's Public Utilities and Budget & Finance Committees. A meeting has been set for Thursday, August 12 at 7PM at City Hall.

Community Preservation Act
The Council approved 11-0 the recommendations of the Community Preservation Committee.
Specifics on the projects can be found at http://www.nbpt.us/Planning/Community%20Preservation%20Committee/Documents/FY11%20Recommended%20Order%20for%20City%20Council%206-22-10.pdf
The CPC page can be found at http://www.nbpt.us/Planning/CPCPage.html

Disposal of Animal Waste
The Council voted to approve an increase for fines for failure to remove and dispose animal waste by the owners of their animals. The fine currently is $10 for first offense and $20 for subsequent offenses. The increase will be to $50 for first offense, $75 for second offense, and $100 for third and subsequent offenses. The Council also voted to remove language which made it illegal to dispose animal waste in municipal receptacles.

The current language is:

Sec. 3-2. Disposal of animal waste.

All persons owning or in custody of an animal will be responsible for the removal and disposal of that animal's waste which may not be placed in any receptacle owned by the city or in privately owned receptacles other than the owners. The fine for violation of this provision for the first offense shall be ten dollars ($10.00) and the second and subsequent offenses shall be twenty dollars ($20.00).

(Ord. of 11-14-84)

The new language will be:

Sec. 3-2. Disposal of animal waste.

All persons owning or in custody of an animal will be responsible for the removal and disposal of that animal's waste. The fine for violation of this provision for the first offense shall be fifty dollars ($50.00), the second offense shall be seventy-five dollars ($75.00) and subsequent offenses shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00).

Next Council meeting is Monday, August 30.

Budget and Finance Committee: Community Preservation Act

Last night the Budget and Finance Committee approved the recommendations of Newburyport's Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to fund the following projects:

Project Title	Applicant	Category	CPC Rec. Amt.
Andrews Branch Library	City of Newburyport	Historic Resource	$ 5,000
Newburyport City Trees Historic Restoration Project	Newburyport Tree Committee	Historic Resource	$ 10,000
Highland Cemetery Gravestone Restoration and Preservation	City Improvement Society	Historic Resource	$ 2,475
Beach Management Plan Priority Recommendations	Newburyport Beach Management Committee	Open Space	$ 45,000
Open Space Reserve Fund	City of Newburyport Open Space Committee	Open Space	$ 50,000
Downtown Project/Inn Street Mall	Downtown Group	Historic Resource	$ 62,500
St. Anna's Chapel Restoration	St. Paul's Church	Historic Resource	$ 23,000
Atkinson Common	Belleville Improvement Society	Historic Resource	$ 10,000
Clipper City Rail Trail Project	City of Newburyport	Recreation	$ 60,000
Preliminary Feasibility Study	Custom House Maritime Museum	Historic Resource	$ 20,000
Belleville Congregational Church Restoration Project	Belleville Congregational Church Restoration Group	Historic Resource	$ 40,000
Newburyport Powder House Restoration Project	Newburyport Preservation Trust	Historic Resource	$ 27,000
Congregation Ahavas Achim Restoration	Congregation Ahavas Achim	Historic Resource	$ 20,000
Community Housing Reserve	CPA Housing Reserve or Transfer to NAHT	Affordable Housing	$ 10,000
Newburyport Affordable Housing Trust	Newburyport Affordable Housing Trust	Affordable Housing	$ 70,000
City Hall Bond Payment	City of Newburyport	Historic Resource	$ 213,188
Open Space Bond Payment	City of Newburyport	Open Space	$ 140,819
Administrative Expenses	City of Newburyport	Admin	$ 12,000
		Total	$ 820,982

Specifics on the projects can be found at http://www.nbpt.us/Planning/Community%20Preservation%20Committee/Documents/FY11%20Recommended%20Order%20for%20City%20Council%206-22-10.pdf

The CPC page can be found at http://www.nbpt.us/Planning/CPCPage.html

These recommendations will be brought before the full Council on Monday night.

Boston Globe: Energy efficient streetlights coming to....

Energy efficient streetlights coming to Lexington

Posted August 3, 2010 08:58 AM

By Sara Brown, Town Correspondent

Lexington’s streetlights are slated for energy-efficient upgrades this fall, as the Board of Selectmen approved $930,500 for the town-wide conversion at their Monday meeting.

According to William Hadley, the director of public works, installing more energy efficient bulbs and fixtures for the town’s 3,400 streetlights will save Lexington almost $190,000 a year, offsetting the cost of the project in 3.6 years.

The town will also receive $237,724 from energy company NStar for replacing the old incandescent lights with the more efficient lights by November 30.

About 700 streetlights have already been fitted with compact florescent light bulbs, the bulb recommended by the Department of Public Works and the Electric Utility Committee. Paul Chernick represented the Committee at the meeting.

With the change, Hadley said, the streetlights’ energy use would shrink by an estimated 1.3 million kilowatt-hours each year, from 1,989,243 to 668,556.

“Energy efficiency is something that is a goal for the community,” said Selectman Deborah Mauger.

The initiative will also help the town meet their Community Energy Reduction Plan, which was established by the Selectmen. The plan calls for reducing the total town government energy use by 20 percent over five years.

Rob Addelson, the town’s finance manager, said the project would be funded by a third party lease financial agreement, costing the town about $100,000 for the current fiscal year.

After a nearly hour-long discussion about the switch, selectman Peter Kelley said he “didn’t feel comfortable with voting on this tonight,” considering the nearly million dollar initial cost and the “gray areas” involved.

The selectmen eventually agreed to the proposal, with a 4-0 vote and Kelley abstaining. The agreement to proceed came with the condition that the selectmen would monitor the process and discuss it at their next meeting, August 30.