Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 3, 2009
On Thursday, July 2, 2009, At Large City Councilor Michael Bardsley and Ward Six City Councilor Marianne LaBarge submitted an Order to be place on the agenda of the meeting of the Nothampton City Council scheduled for Thursday, July 9, 2009. That order requested that the Northampton CIty Council place on the ballot for the November election a non-binding public opinion advisory question to determine whether voters of the City of Northampton approve of the proposed plan to expand the city's landfill over the Barnes Aquifer. Councilors Bardsley and LaBarge submitted this order at the request of several concerned citizens.
"I think it's only right that the voters of Northampton have a chance to clearly express their opinions on the landfill expansion," said Councilor LaBarge. "On the Proposition 2 1/2 Override and the Community Preservation Act, the people had their say. We want to give them the same opportunity on this critical and controversial decision."
"The Board of Public Works has held forums to inform the public about the landfill expansion," said Councilor Bardsley. "That educational effort has had a positive impact on those who were able to attend, or who watched them on the community television. Unfortunately, because of legal advice given by City Solicitor Janet Sheppard, the citizens of Northampton have been prohibited from discussing this critical issue with their city councilors."
Bardsley noted that a formal hearing process will be implemented by the city council once an application for a special permit is filed. "We should have learned by now that a formal hearing does not allow for a real community conversation," Bardsley said. "Though these required formal hearings are often useful, you cannot accurately gauge the opinion of the general public."
"A non-binding public opinion advisory question would let the voters speak on a decision which will affect our city for years, possibly for generations. It's in keeping with the spirit of the Best Practices Committe's recommendations by providing the opportunity for a broad dialogue. Advocates and opponents of the proposed landfill expansion will have a chance to make their case to the entire population, and the voters will be able to express their opinions and hopefully be heard by City Council."
If the Council approves this Order, the question will appear on the November 3 ballot. If the council defeats the Order, the group of citizens supporting this proposed ballot initiative can have it placed on the ballot by having 10% of the registered voters of Northampton sign a petition in support of that question.
The Order submitted by Councilors Labarge and Bardsley is as follows:
Ordered that,
The City Council of the City of Northampton orders that the question below be placed on the ballot for the election in November 2009, allowing the voters of the City of Northampton to give a non-binding public advisory opinion to determine if they would authorize the City of Northampton to expand the City of Northampton's landfill over the Barnes Aquifer.
"Shall the City of Northampton expand the Northampton landfill over the Barnes Aquifer?"
______Yes ______No
