Watertown
Citizens for Common Sense Government > Council Monitor
Issue:
A more detailed study of the central location for a new police station
March 22, 2005
Thanks to the efforts of the Town Council, we will have a more detailed
study of the central location for a new police station.
We continue to support our wonderful police department.
We hope that they understand that our support of this study is not
an indication that we don’t appreciate their invaluable contribution
to our safety and welfare.
Our primary concern in this matter is and always has been to
ensure that all the possibilities be thoroughly examined before
the town makes a multi-million dollar investment.
The Watertown Citizens for Common Sense Government wants to specifically thank
all those who attended hearings, signed petitions, gathered signatures or otherwise
participated in this process.
We recognize that the greatest amount of the credit must go to the Councilors themselves
who continue to work hard in order to get this right.
Councilors Bailey, Devaney, and Pugliese get special recognition for
introducing the resolution, Councilors Falkoff, Portz, and Sideris are
no less worth of praise. They helped to craft language that could be
supported by a super majority.
We recognize that those councilors who did not vote
in favor of this resolution were voting their consciences. Although
we strongly disagree with their rationale, we acknowledge their hard
work and desire to serve the community as they see fit.
Last but not least, we also appreciate the dedication and diligence
of our Town Manager Mike Driscoll and Planning Director Greg Watson.
The one thing we all share is a love for Watertown. In that spirit,
we look forward to the day when we can all proudly attend a ribbon cutting
ceremony for a brand new state of the art police headquarters wherever
it may be located.
John DiMascio
Communications
Director
Watertown Citizens for Common Sense Government
www.citizensforcommonsense.com
Snow
Shoveling Vote
September
16, 2004:
The Watertown
Citizens of Common Sense Government applaud the good judgment of the
Town Council for rejecting a proposed snow-shoveling ordinance.
Councilor
Mark Sideris worked long and hard to fashion a compromise that mitigated
the fines, provided exemptions and one-year sunset provision. Ultimately
those amendments were not enough to countermand the costly unintentional
consequences. Nonetheless, Watertown was well served by his effort.
Councilor
Fred Pugliese gets our “Parliamentarian Award”. When Mr.
Portz moved the question, there was no second. Mr. Pugliese realized
that if there was no vote, this nonsense could be re-introduced. He
alertly provided a second in order to kill the measure for at least
six months.
Councilors
Bailey and Falkoff had a “Damascus Road” experience. After
listening to our presentations, they expressed concerns about how this
ordinance could affect homeowners’ insurance rates. They ultimately
changed their position and voted nay. We admire the open-minded manner
with which they deliberated this measure.
Councilor
Devaney gets a “thumbs up”. She had suggested common sense
ways of encouraging residents to shovel their sidewalks as well as
those of their elderly and handicapped neighbors.
Councilor
Falkoff gets additional kudos. She suggested the School Committee look
into ways of involving our youth. This proposal is most intriguing.
Involving our youth would serve two purposes. It provides help for
those in need while cultivating good citizenship habits in our youth.
This is exactly the kind of creative, non-intrusive, common sense approach
we whole-heartedly embrace.
However,
there is one councilor with whom we remain thoroughly unimpressed.
Despite our presentation and the Town Attorney’s concurrence,
Councilor John Portz insisted on voting yea on this intrusive attempt
to micro-manage good citizenship.
We cannot
help but conclude that Councilor Portz could care less about our insurance
premiums. He showed no concern about the unrealistic burdens this would
place on homeowners. The man who fancies himself as a guardian of Civil
Rights: (when it comes to the Patriot act) did not care that the ordinance
amounted involuntary servitude at no wages for some homeowners.
Councilor
Portz, when Uncle Sam drafted citizens, he had the decency to pay them
for their service!
The WCCSG
will continue to research issues, agendas, and special interest groups.
We will also monitor the way councilors deliberate and vote. We will
give praise when it’s due, but we will not shrink from informing
the mainstream when councilors fail them.
John DiMascio
Communications
Director
Watertown Citizens for Common Sense Government
www.citizensforcommonsense.com