Good news from Berkshire Environmental Action Team: Our climate is changing. There really isn’t any debate in the scientific community anymore. The scientific community has moved on to solving the problem of what do we do about climate change. One thing we can do is change our preparedness for more intense storms and heavier rainfall. […]
Charter Drafting Committee Releases Narrative about Proposed Charter
The Northampton Special Act Charter Drafting Committee has just released a narrative to go with its charter proposal. The narrative discusses the pros and cons of various recommendations. The public is invited to attend a City Council workshop on the charter on February 8, 6-9pm in the Community Room of JFK Middle School, 100 Bridge Road […]
Video: Charter Committee Presents Proposal to City Council
Here is a 44-minute YouTube video from the 1/19/12 meeting of Northampton’s City Council. The Special Act Charter Drafting Committee presents its recommendations and the councilors discuss ways to move forward. This video was recorded by Emily Odgers. The Charter Drafting Committee will meet again on January 31, 5-7pm in City Council Chambers, and the […]
Proposed Charter with Video of 1/17/12 Charter Committee Meeting
Here is a YouTube video of the 1/17/12 meeting of Northampton’s Special Act Charter Drafting Committee. This meeting was recorded by Emily Odgers. The video is 2 hour 51 minutes long. The committee presented its recommendations to Northampton’s City Council on January 19 (see NCTV video). The committee will meet again to discuss the narratives […]
“When it Comes to Wetlands, It’s Hard to Improve on the Original”
To compensate for development in and around wetlands, developers are sometimes encouraged or required to create new ones. GOOD reports, however, that these restored wetlands are inferior: …ecologists have found that restored wetlands are not as ecologically valuable as the originals—a new analysis of 621 wetland sites shows that, on average, restored wetlands regained only […]
Videos: Charter Drafting Committee, 1/9/12-1/12/12
Here are videos of the January 9, 10, 11 and 12 meetings of Northampton’s Special Act Charter Drafting Committee (click for minutes, presentations and related material). These videos were recorded by Emily Odgers. The committee will have one final meeting on January 17 before presenting its recommendations to the city council on January 19.Notes from 1/9/12 […]
Video: Board of Public Works, 1/11/12 Meeting
Here is a YouTube video of the complete 1/11/12 meeting of Northampton’s Board of Public Works. This video is 52 minutes long and was recorded by Mimi Odgers. At 47:53 on the video, Ward 7 City Councilor Gene Tacy addresses the board, saying that more communication between the board and the city council is needed. In […]
Video: Conservation Commission Hears Comments about Montview Parcel in Meadows
Here is a YouTube video from the 1/12/12 meeting of Northampton’s Conservation Commission. Many members of the public attended to speak about the process for overseeing a three-acre parcel of land at Montview Avenue and Ventures Field Road. The commission expects to take up the subject again at its 1/26/12 meeting, 5pm in the City […]
Hot Topics at This Week’s Charter Meetings So Far
[Correction: Ward 3 City Councilor Owen Freeman-Daniels did not participate in the debate over preliminary elections on January 10.] Northampton’s Special Act Charter Drafting Committee is holding an intense series of meetings this week to prepare a proposal for City Council. See the city calendar for meeting times and places. We will post videos from […]
Video: Leaders Speak with Charter Drafting Committee
Here is a YouTube video plus highlights from the 12/14/11 meeting of Northampton’s Special Act Charter Drafting Committee. These videos were recorded by Emily Odgers.The 12/14 meeting featured a Leadership Round Table that included Clare Higgins, Pat Goggins, Mary Ford, Michael Vito, Jim Dostal, David Murphy, Paul Spector, Stephanie Pick and David Narkewicz. Topics of discussion […]