Newburyport City Notebook
Katie Farrell Lovett
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Interim treasurer Julie Languirand was appointed to the treasurer/collector position by the City Council last week. Councilors approved the appointment by Mayor Donna Holaday, agreeing to waive their own rules and take up the matter in one reading. Her appointment as interim treasurer was set to expire Sept. 1.
Ward 3 Councilor Bob Cronin voted against the appointment, citing the waiving of the rules. The council had just received an updated resume for Languirand at the meeting, he said, and it was "premature" to take a vote. The appointment should be vetted in two readings or referred to committee, as was the case for other city positions like the harbormaster or the planning director, he said.
Her annual salary will be $69,625. She replaces Cheryl Robertson, who left the city earlier this year.
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The City Council agreed last week to move its Sept. 27 meeting up a few days to Thursday, Sept. 23, because of a scheduling conflict.
At-large Councilor Ari Herzog voted against the request, saying councilors received the meeting calendar for the entire year in January. If the meeting moves, he will not able to attend, as he has another commitment on Sept. 23, he said.
As they do at each meeting at the request of City Council President Tom O'Brien, councilors had a moment of silence at the start of their meeting on Aug. 30 to remember longtime Newburyporters who passed away recently: Jack Wysong, a former School Committee member, retired Newburyport police officer Sonny Garand and Patrick Welch, a former city councilor.
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Cronin will hold a meeting for residents of Ward 3 on Thursday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
The meeting will focus on specific resident parking needs, Cronin said.
Also, on Sept. 16, at 6 p.m., the Public Safety Committee will discuss a proposal to remove the city marshal and fire chief positions from Civil Service. They will also continue the discussion on citywide parking plan.
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State Rep. Michael Costello, D-Newburyport, has been named vice chairman of the National Conference of State Legislatures' Law & Criminal Justice Committee for 2010-2011.
Massachusetts Sen. and NCSL President Richard Moore made the appointment.
"I am honored to represent the interests of state legislatures in the continuing debate over the changing state-federal relationship," Costello said in a prepared statement.
The Law and Criminal Justice Committee is one of 12 standing committees of the National Conference of State Legislatures.
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The Friends of the Council on Aging received permission from the City Council last week to continue their Got Books fundraiser at Cushing Park, as part of their fundraising efforts to build a new community center at the site.
Since it began last year, the Friends have collected a steady stream of modest revenue, Olga MacFarlane told councilors.
Got Books is a national organization that collects used books, DVDs and CDs. The Friends of the Council on Aging will then get some funds for all the collected items.
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Bethany Lodge is hosting a Wounded Warrior fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at 31 Green St.
The proceeds of this event will benefit the American Red Cross, Service to the Armed Forces Program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Free admission to the public is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will consist of a variety of activities, such as viewing military vehicles, face painting, photos with the troops, historical re-enactors and military artifacts.
A paid portion runs from 5 to 11:30 p.m. and will consist of a social hour, dinner, silent and live auction, and a live band throughout the evening. Ticket cost is $50 per person.
For more information, call 978-432-9671 or e-mail nbptwwf@gmail.com. To view an interactive presentation, go to http://www.brainshark.com/rcfmain/woundedwarrior.
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A new stationary store opened at Merrimac Landing last week.
The Paper Patch opened at the site of the former Provident Bank branch. With locations in Portland, Maine, and Portsmouth, N.H., the store offers all things paper — such as greeting cards, stationary, gift wrap, calendars, napkins, boxed notes and address books.
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The following meetings have been scheduled for this week and are open to the public:
Tuesday
Board of Registers, 8 a.m., City Hall Council Chambers
Conservation Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers
Moseley Woods Commission, 6:30 p.m., 61 State St.
School Committee, 7 p.m., Room 118, High School
Thursday
Council on Aging, 9:30 a.m., 40 Water St.
Street Tree Committee, 7 p.m., location to be determined
Harbor Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers
Fruit Street Historic District, 7 p.m., City Hall auditorium
Local Historic District Study Committee, 7:30 p.m., police station conference room
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Katie Farrell Lovett covers Newburyport for The Daily News. She can be reached at 978-462-6666, ext. 3232, or by e-mail at kfarrell@newburyportnews.com.
