Newburyport City Notebook
The state announced recently that the Patrick administration is seeking greater authority for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to intervene in problem landfills.
In a press release issued by the state, the example of the Crow Lane landfill in Newburyport is specifically listed as an example of a "problem landfill." The initiative was listed as part of a larger announcement that Gov. Deval Patrick will maintain the existing moratorium on new facilities for incineration of municipal solid waste.
DEP spokesman Ed Colletta said last week the initiative is part of the state's mission to protect citizens. Difficulty arises when the state can't take over capping and closing a landfill problem site, Colletta said.
"We will now seek statutory authority to intervene more directly to try to protect others from problems like Crow Lane," Colletta said.
The state will work with the Legislature on the initiative in the new year, he added, noting there are "a handful" of other landfills with odor problems around the state.
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Mayor-elect Donna Holaday and members of the Newburyport City Council will be sworn into office during inauguration ceremonies on Monday, Jan. 4 at 10 a.m. at Newburyport City Hall.
The event is open to the public.
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The fifth Annual Merrimack River Eagle Festival will be held throughout the Newburyport area on Saturday, Feb. 13. The day-long festival is sponsored by Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center and The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.
The program includes: guided eagle tours on buses departing from Newburyport's Chamber of Commerce, on-site guides at eagle-spotting locations along the river, live eagle demonstrations at Newburyport's City Hall and activities for the whole family at Joppa Flats and Parker River National Wildlife Refuge headquarters.
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The city announced that there will be no recycling or trash pickup on Friday, Jan. 1. Regularly scheduled Friday pickups will be picked up on Saturday, Jan. 2. Trash and recycling should be placed outside by 7 a.m. on that day.
The recycling center on Crow Lane will be open on Saturday, Jan. 2 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Christmas trees will be picked up during the entire month of January. Trees should be placed outside on regular trash days by 7 a.m.
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The following meeting has been scheduled for this week and is open to the public:
Monday
City Council, 7:30 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers
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.
