Tonight I represent the Advisory Committee of the Paradise City Forum, as well as myself as a private resident of Northampton.
I don’t envy the position that you are in as a legislative body, over the proposed landfill expansion in Florence. You have been given the responsibility of a policy decision without viable alternatives to choose from and with no money in your budget to perform independent research and analysis. You are being asked to make a yes or a no decision that will have unforeseen consequences for centuries to come.
Recently the Paradise City Forum entered into an agreement with Councilor James Dostal and Citizens United for a Healthy Future, in order to conduct a forum on the proposed landfill expansion over the Barnes aquifer. We arranged for a panel consisting of Councilor Dostal, Clean Water Action, Smith College Professor Robert Newton, Mayor Higgins and her DPW subordinates, and Citizens United for a Healthy Future.
After learning from Attorneys Pill and Sheppard respectively, of the role of the council as a quasi-judiciary body, Councilor Dostal has changed course and now declines to co-sponsor a forum. I suggest to you, that holding a gathering of this nature is precisely the kind of leadership that the council should be exhibiting at this time. I quote Councilor Dostal:
“Daryl: In light of all of the recent developments, I beleive that it is wise for me or any other councilor not to be involved in co-sponsoring any forum about the landfill. I beleive the DPW will get all of the information out at its monthly meetings. If you are not aware the DPW is committed to holding monthly public informational meetings on the landfill. I beleive that this will continue until they apply for a permit or vote to close the landfill and persue another avenue for the disposal of our refuse. JIM DOSTAL”
As some of you know, last night’s DPW landfill meeting was not widely publicized. It was not listed on the city’s online calendar, it was not listed in Monday’s Gazette, it was not posted to the Planning Department’s listserv, it was not included in the mayor’s email update, it was not included in Councilor Narkewicz’s weekly meeting update, it was not posted to persons who signed up for notices at the February 28 landfill odor meeting that was held at Finn-Ryan Road School, and to my knowledge, it was not mentioned at your last meeting. As a result, I believe only two members of the public attended, and no city councilors were present.
I ask tonight that one or more of you join with the Paradise City Forum and Citizens United for a Healthy Future, in order to conduct a series of open public gatherings on the proposed landfill expansion on behalf of your constituents. Attorneys Sheppard and Pill have not indicated, to my knowledge, that you as a governing body cannot conduct your own independent public hearings on this matter, therefore, there is nothing preventing you from proceeding along this course of action. I encourage you to reconsider your position.
Thank you.
Daryl G. LaFleur
413-586-8555
