Mayors Update
Donna D. Holaday
October 10, 2017
Intermodal Facility/Garage: The bid package for the construction of the garage/intermodal facility has been sent to Project Dawg and should be released within the next 24 hours. Filed sub-bids are due Nov. 1st with General Contractor bids due on Nov. 15th. The next meeting of the Intermodal Advisory Group is scheduled for tomorrow night, Oct 11th at 7 PM in the Police Station conference room. Richard Jones, Geordie Vining, Paul O’Brien and I went to meet with staff in Dover, NH to see their garage to discuss construction, maintenance and operations; it was a very informative meeting. We are continuing to work with the final tenant in the old Fitness Factory site and anticipate their relocation shortly as their new lease begins 10/15.
Ad Hoc Recreational Marijuana: The first meeting of this group is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 13 at 10 am in the Mayor’s Conference Room. Our task is to identify area(s) in the City that could support cultivation and retail. We are beginning to receive inquiries from businesses interested in developing a cultivation site in the business park. Please recall as a community that voted affirmatively to legalize recreational marijuana we are required to support a site in the community as written in the new law.
Superintendent Search Committee: We are still accepting letters of interest and resumes to serve on the Search Committee for a new superintendent until October 20th. The School Committee voted unanimously to select New England School Development Council, NESDEC, as the consultant team to lead the search as we had a very positive experience in their last search bringing us Susan Viccaro. www.nesdec.org
Merrimac River Beach Alliance (MRBA): Since the completed repairs to the north and south jetties, erosion patterns have changed and the MRBA has been awaiting the Army Corps of Engineers’ DOTS Study- The Dredging Operations Technical Support Program. We anticipate a final draft within the next month. Chris Charos, captain and owner of the Captains Lady will be completing another small dredge off their pier on Plum Island and we are looking to see if we are able to move this sand to beach adjacent to North Reservation Ter. Federal and State dredging programs continue to be discussed at the MRBA.
Great Marsh Regional Coastal Adaptation Plan: This important and comprehensive work for Newburyport, Salisbury, Newbury, Rowley, Ipswich and Essex was funded by the Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resiliency Competition through the National US Fish & Wildlife Foundation. The draft report provides details of each community’s vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies. Molly Ettenborough, Julia Godtfredsen, Jon-Eric White, Diane Gagnon and members of our ad hoc Resiliency Committee and Storm Surge contributed to the study. We are also the recipient of a State Municipal Vulnerability Program grant that will advance actionable strategies from this study. Our team has selected Melissa Gaydos to facilitate this process as she is a key leader in the Sandy grant study. Once the draft of the Great Marsh study is finalized, a copy of the report will be posted on our website. This is very important work to protect our city, our assets and plan for our future. A joint community meeting- The Great Marsh Symposium is scheduled for Nov. 9th at 1 PM at Woodman’s in Essex.
Hale St. Residents from the West End of the City have been requesting assistance in making access on Hale St. safer for students who may walk or bike to school. The road is narrow and surrounded by wetlands and ledge but I am organizing the Hale St. Task Force to work with DPS, residents, City Councilors from Ward 5 & 6 to evaluate all options. I anticipate meetings should begin in mid-November. There is a new, small parking area recently added to Hale St. that was created by UFP as the mitigation for their building expansion when the purchased the former Cabot site; it provides access to the trail head at Cooper Farm.
Clipper City Rail Trail: The additional sampling of the soils behind the Wastewater Treatment Facility required by EPA unfortunately was to happen this week but has been pushed out until next week. We have received a few complaints about the speed on contract equipment on Bromfield St. and this was addressed immediately by the contractor with crews today.
Inclusionary Zoning: I am very pleased to see this codified as the Newburyport Affordable Housing Trust has worked individually with new developments with 12+ units to require an affordable unit. Andy Port, Director of Planning and the Trust have worked with your subcommittee on this ordinance. Andy Port presented you with some edits to the final version and including the adoption of the Area Median Income standard recommended by Housing and Urban Development and the State Housing and Community Development; I would encourage the adoption of this standard.
We are also working with the Merrimac Valley Planning Commission on updating our affordable housing inventory and options.
Master Plan: This has been a very long process and the completion of this plan is necessary before the zoning rewrite can be completed. Andy Port is completing edits to the action plan for review and anticipated approval by the Planning Board next week. If all moves forward as expected, the Master Plan will be before the City Council for a vote at your next meeting.
Vigil for Las Vegas: Thank you all who participated in the Vigil last week. It was significant that each of the clergy present all expressed the sentiment that it is time for a Call to Action as we cannot continue to come together to pray for victims of gun violence. I am meeting with the Interfaith Council tomorrow to discuss next steps; Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense is supporting this effort.
NEF & IFS: NHS Dedication of new lights and sound for the auditorium through the generous donations of the Newburyport Education Foundation and the Institution for Savings.
Senior Community Center: Christina Manning has been hired as the new part-time Events Coordinator.
Upcoming Dates:
Oct 19th– New Resident meeting at the Senior Community Center
Oct. 20th: Dedication of the Veterans Memorial Plaza during half-time of the NBPT vs. N. Reading football game
Last Day to Register to Vote for Nov. 7th Election is Oct. 18th