The councilor from Northampton’s fourth ward, David Narkewicz, moved Thursday night to reform council rules as they pertain to committees that city councilors can serve on. In a five-four vote the ordinance amendment failed which means that it will not come back before the council for more discussion in two weeks.
Councilors Spector, Murphy, Dostal, M. LaBarge, and Ray LaBarge voted no.
Among the more interesting developments, though councilor Spector expressed that he would like to hear from his constituents on the matter because it was new to him, he then voted to kill the amendment making it unlikely that he will weigh it further unless it is brought back in a different form.
As well councilor M. LaBarge expressed strong concerns about members of the council serving on municipal boards like the Board of Public Works, Planning Board, Conservation Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, but then voted against her concerns to kill the amendment. Go figure.
As the chair of the city’s Central Architecture Building Committee councilor Murphy argued against the amendment, as did councilor Dostal, who is a member of the BPW. The amendment would have disallowed this type of service as the boards are comprised presently. Interestingly, these boards have been involved in two of the more controversial issues in town lately, those being the Hilton Garden Inn and the proposed landfill expansion. However councilor Narkewicz argued that the rules that define committees could be modified to formally include council participation. He further added as incentive to continue the discussion that the rules as they are allow members of the city council to appoint themselves to staff the planning board, a separate decision making body.
Councilor Narkewicz’s amendment to section 22-1B of our city code would have codified how members of the council may participate in our government as follows:
"Members of the City Council may only serve on the committees and commissions listed in (1) above or those otherwise created to expressly include City Council representation. New members of the City Council elected while holding appointment to any commission or committee shall resign said appointment prior to beginning their term of office."
Though I have disagreed with councilor Narkewicz on some of his past votes and opinions, on this one I think he got it right and, for what it’s worth, I applaud his effort to reform the rules to the betterment of the community. This change would have closed a loophole and removed some of the, "whims of politicians" from the policy making process as councilor Narkewicz put it. If you get a chance to watch the city council meeting on nctv cable channel 15, give it a look-see.
