Newburyport City Notebook
Wildwood Drive resident Ron Klodenski has resigned from an advisory committee formed to monitor the happenings of the Crow Lane landfill.
Klodenski said he made the decision to step down after Mayor John Moak moved ahead and ordered Health Director Jack Morris to file an administrative order, against the wishes of the committee.
In the last several weeks, Klodenski said, it appears that Moak and Morris aren't interested in attending the committee meetings and speaking with the group.
"Over the past several years, this advisory group of concerned and thoughtful citizen volunteers has spent hundreds of hours of personal time attempting to provide you and other mayors with the information they need to make wise decisions regarding the capping and closing of the Crow Lane landfill," Klodenski wrote in an e-mail to Moak and copied to other members of the community. "Unfortunately, I've concluded that further efforts to work with your administration on this issue will be a waste of time because they are unlikely to have any effect on your decision-making. While I regret your determination to move forward on this issue without meaningful consultation with anyone other than the city's attorney, I wish you success in resolving the landfill issue promptly — for the sake of all Newburyport residents."
The committee was formed by former mayor Mary Anne Clancy in 2005.
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At-large City Councilor Donna Holaday told her fellow councilors last week that a proposal to put the utilities in Brown Square underground will remain in front of the Budget and Finance Subcommittee for the time being, after members of the public at a hearing last month shared disapproval of the project.
"There was not a strong sense of willingness from the public" to fund the project through their bills, Holaday said. The committee will keep the proposal until another funding source can be determined, she said.
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A subcommittee of three councilors has drafted a letter outlining the scope of opinion they are seeking from a lawyer regarding Crow Lane landfill, At-large Councilor Kathleen O'Connor Ives said last week.
Councilors agreed to hire their own counsel to review a deal made between Moak and the owner of the Crow Lane landfill, saying they have questions to be answered and they want to know what authority they have in the situation. Moak has ordered Health Director Morris to send the administrative order to New Ventures to cap the landfill. As it is an administrative order, the City Council has no power over the decision,
Ives said the committee will send a mailing to qualified attorneys, seeking responses to their request. From there, they will hire a lawyer and get an opinion.
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Oregano Pizzeria and Ristorante on Pleasant Street has hired a new executive chef, James Parsons III, owner Claude Elias said last week.
The eatery has also been approved to once again offer outdoor seating on Inn Street. Elias said the restaurant also petitioned the Liquor Commission to upgrade their license from beer and wine only to all alcohol, and has been approved to serve alcohol at its outdoor tables.
Parsons is adding new options to the menu, Elias said, including new appetizers, veal and pork chops, and new pizza choices.
During the summer months, Oregano's will be open on Mondays and remain open until 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10:30 p.m. on weekends.
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Members of the public are invited to attend a hearing on Tuesday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the library to give input on the design of the new Senior Center at Cushing Park.
The Senior Center Building Committee is looking at several options.¬
"For the ultimate design to be successful for the entire community, the committee needs input from seniors, neighbors and all citizens," City Councilor Ed Cameron wrote in an e-mail last week.¬
For more information, contact Cameron at edcameronNBPT@gmail.com or city councilor Brian Derrivan at derrivan@comcast.net.
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City Clerk Richard Jones reminds residents that dog licenses are available at the clerk's office in City Hall. Citizens who cannot make it to City Hall during normal business hours can download and print the application online as well, at the city's Web site: www.cityofnewburyport.com.
Owners are required to present evidence of a rabies certificate. All dogs six months or older require licenses.
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As they got ready to mark Arbor Day on Friday, the Newburyport Tree Committee and the children of the River Valley Charter School planted trees last week.
After receiving their tree and site assignments, the group got to work planting 150 new trees to line the city streets. A variety of trees were purchased, including red and white oak, serviceberry, hawthorns and crabapples, silverbells and red maples.
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The 2009 Census must be answered by May 1, Jones also reminds residents.
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The following meetings have been scheduled and are open to the public:
Tuesday
Conservation Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers
Wednesday
Housing Authority, 5 p.m., 25 Temple St.
Redevelopment Authority, 7 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers
Thursday
Retirement Board, 9 a.m., Retirement Office, City Hall
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Katie Farrell covers Newburyport for The Daily News. She can be reached at 978-462-6666, ext. 3232, or by e-mail at kfarrell@newburyportnews.com.
