Who contributes to a public official's campaign can sometimes reveal how a candidate might decide on future issues. And if Councilor Ed Cameron has his way, residents of Newburyport will have an easier time tracking donations made to candidates for public office, which could help promote more transparency in city politics. An order authored by Cameron that requires the city to post campaign finance reports on the city website is coming before the council tonight.
He's proposing "that the City of Newburyport shall post on its website in an accessible place the Campaign Finance Reports-Municipal Forms which are submitted by candidates for mayor, City Council, and School Committee."
The order further requires they include filings from the current year and the three years prior.
"These are reports which all local candidates file with their local municipality and are then sent to the State," wrote Cameron. "There isn't a place to find them online on the State's Office of Campaign and Political Finance — unlike candidates for State office, which are very accessible."
Cameron is also requesting the council approve an order sponsored by Cameron and Councilor Tom Jones that requires the city to post union contracts on the city website. The language in the order asks "that the City of Newburyport shall post on its website in an accessible place each municipal union contract for the current fiscal year and the previous three fiscal years."
According to Cameron other municipalities have offered similar transparent policies for their residents.
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The Health Department is hosting a Rabies Clinic on Saturday, May 21. Residents of the city with pets in need of the rabies shot are invited to bring their cats and dogs to the Newburyport Animal Shelter at 16 Perry Way between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon to have it administered. The cost of the shot is $5.
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Newburyport High School wellness teacher and varsity hockey coach Paul Yameen is teaming up with the junior varsity coach to conduct a summer camp program that aims to build confidence and fitness among kids in grades 6 to 8. Camp FASST, an acronym for Fitness, Adventure, Social Skills and Teamwork, will take place the week of June 27 through July 1 at Fuller Field. It will focus on a variety of fitness routines, project adventure activities and team games meant to foster interpersonal and social skills and confidence. The cost of the weeklong program, which will keep kids busy from 8 a.m. to noon is $225. Space is limited to 25. For more information, contact pyameen@newburyport.k12.ma.us or ntwomey@newburyport.k12.ma.us.
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There's still room for participants in Newburyport Youth Services spring programs. Space is available for kids aged 5 to 10 for the American Girl Doll Create and Play "Rock Star" program, Saturday, June 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Kelley School Center; deadline is June 6. And for those who love Legos, there's still space available for kids aged 5 to 10 in the Star Wars Lego Playland program on June 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the center.
A program at Moseley Woods centered on the "fairy houses" one can find in the nooks and crannies of old growth trees and rocks along the river is open, as well. That program will take place Saturday, May 14, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., and the deadline to register is May 10. For the younger set, aged 4 to 6 years, NYS is offering a Learn to Play and Pro Division Sport-o-rama program at Perkins Playground running Saturdays from May 21 to June 25. The deadline to register is May 17. For more information on pricing and availability, go to www.newburyportyouthservices.com.
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Meetings this week:
Monday, May 9
Budget and Finance Committee, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers
Waterfront Trust, 7 p.m., Police Department conference room
City Council, 7:30 p.m, Council chambers
Tuesday, May 10
Youth Commission, 7p.m., Kelley School
Zoning Board of Appeals , 7 p.m., Council chambers
Thursday, May 12
Harbor Commission, 7 p.m., Council chambers
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Lynne Hendricks covers the city of Newburyport for the Newburyport Daily News and can be reached at 978-462-6666, ext 3254, or at lhendricks@newburyportnews.com.
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