Saturday, April 5, 2014

Letter to City Council



Letter to City Council 4.4.14

Note: That the landfill extension is eventually necessary is not in question.

A brief commentary concerning the over use of the emergency clause when enacting resolutions and ordinances.

Example:
At the last meeting the resolution to extend landfill capacity was questioned by some council members but the rush to enact via the emergency clause appeared to stifle the debate.

With the most extended passage format of three separate readings and then 30 days to become effective, the resolution would have become effective on May 17th. A first reading in March and 2nd 3rd tonight would mean an effective date of May 3rd. Or all three reading last month would have made the date April 20th.

The most recent data from OEPA indicates that, using last years tipping rate, current capacity will last until the 1st of December of this year.

Allowing for the usual two months for construction a July or August start date would have been more than adequate.

Did council really need to eliminate time for council members and the public to examine the issue and then make an informed decision? Was the issue so urgent that the resolution had to go into immediate effect? Should the voter's right of referendum be nullified because we just wanted to get the issue passed in a hurry? Was the immediate passage of the resolution necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety of the City and its citizens?

Paul Hunter

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