Northampton City Solicitor Elaine Reall last week circulated a 13-page memo to public officials to explain the new Open Meeting Law that went into effect on July 1. This memo has a bearing on a recent controversy where two city councilors were accused of violating the Open Meeting Law because they met together with the police chief […]
Exit 19: Summary of June 14 Meeting and Comments Posted Online
A summary of the June 14 public meeting and comments has been posted to interchange19.org, along with comments submitted online and by email. One question and response does not appear to have been transcribed accurately: Question: Can the engineers quantify the time savings from more expensive alternatives? Maureen answered that time savings from some of […]
Videos: City Council Public Hearing – Drinking Water Protection Ordinance
Here is a complete blip.tv video of the 7/1/10 City Council hearing on the Drinking Water Protection Ordinance (PDF). This ordinance (Chapter 325 Water – Add Article III, Drinking Water) would prohibit the establishment or expansion of landfills over aquifers or in Water Supply Protection Districts. It would have the effect of halting expansion of the Northampton municipal landfill […]
Video: Zoning Revisions Committee Examines King Street Proposals, 6/30/10
Here is a complete blip.tv video of the 6/30/10 meeting of Northampton’s Zoning Revisions Committee. The meeting includes an extended discussion of King Street and rezoning proposals recently put forth by the Chamber of Commerce (PDF). This video is 2 hours 18 minutes long and was recorded by Ken Mitchell. See also: Chamber Plans to Take King Street Proposals […]
Video Highlights: BPW on the Dam, Landfill
Here are two YouTube segments from the 6/29/10 meeting of Northampton’s Board of Public Works. These videos were recorded by Adam Cohen. In this first 7-minute segment, Ward 7 City Councilor Gene Tacy urges the Board to support hydropower generation on the Mill River system. A network of hydro stations at several dams could collectively generate hundreds of […]
Chamber Plans to Take King Street Proposals to Planning Board if Zoning Revisions Committee ‘Bogs Down’ in Process
Here is a blip.tv video of the first 1 hour and 40 minutes of the 6/16/10 meeting of Northampton’s Zoning Revisions Committee. This recording was made by Lachlan Ziegler. Much of the meeting is devoted to discussing “Rezoning King Street” (PDF), a proposal advanced by the Chamber of Commerce. Here is a 10-minute YouTube video […]
Conservation Commission Considers Changing Rules on Lands Under Its Care; All Fires To Be Prohibited
Northampton’s Conservation Commission is considering the following changes to the regulations on lands under its care. The last changes were in 1996. The new changes were discussed at the Commission’s June 10 meeting (video). A public hearing is planned for this fall before the Commission votes on the changes.
July 1: City Council Public Hearing – Drinking Water Protection Ordinance
Water Not Waste has issued this press release. We urge concerned citizens to attend the July 1 hearing. Water Not Waste supports the Drinking Water Protection Ordinance sponsored by City Councilor at Large David Narkewicz, Ward 6 City Councilor Marianne LaBarge, Ward 7 City Councilor Gene Tacy, and Ward 4 City Councilor Pamela Schwartz. This ordinance […]
Video: Exit 19 Public Meeting, 6/14/10; $10 Million to Save Two Minutes
Here is a complete blip.tv video of the 6/14/10 public meeting on Exit 19. This video is 2 hours 17 minutes long and was recorded by Adam Cohen. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and its consultants presented the current concepts under consideration (PDF, 34MB) and took questions from the audience. The concepts which incorporated three-story-tall “flyover” ramps did not appear […]
Video: Andrew Weir Interviews for Planning Board with Appointments & Evaluations Committee, 6/14/10
Here is a complete blip.tv video of the 6/14/10 meeting of Northampton’s Appointments & Evaluations Committee. This is a committee of the City Council. Andrew Weir, a landscape designer and IT consultant, was interviewed for a position on the Planning Board. The committee voted to recommend his appointment. This video is 30 minutes long and was recorded […]