April 16, 2003

 

Norris states his take on city issues

By KATE SPINNER

Staff writer

NEWBURYPORT -- John Norris, the city's new at-large councilor, says Mayor Alan Lavender and the City Council need to learn how to work together for the sake of the city.

Norris was elected by the council on Monday to replace Mark Griffin, who resigned in February. He will bring a new perspective to the legislative body that has been divided over a number of issues ranging from the Community Preservation Act and the proposed Site Plan Review ordinance to police promotions and parking on the waterfront.

A better working relationship between the council and mayor is especially needed when it comes to the Police Department promotions and the fate of the waterfront, said Norris, who served four years as councilor for Ward 2.

Whether Norris will be the one to break the ice on the impasse over the confirmation of Lavender's police promotions is yet to be seen.

Since September, the mayor has been attempting to get the required council confirmation for his promotion of officer Alan Maguire to sergeant. Lavender tried to receive that confirmation again last month, while at the same time putting forth the name of Howard Adams to fill another sergeant's vacancy.

The council has been split over the promotions; half of the councilors believe officer Daniel McCarthy deserves promotion. McCarthy scored highest on the Civil Service promotional exam, followed by Maguire and Adams. That promotional list expired early last month.

Norris said that his support for the mayor's choices in the future depend on the circumstances. "It would really depend on who is on the list," said Norris. " ... It really depends on the legality of it, who we bring forth. Anybody that knows me knows that I tend to support the police."

Norris said he thinks that it is unfortunate that the council and the mayor have not been able to compromise on the sergeant promotions.

He also said the mayor needs to advocate individually with councilors early on, and seek compromises when opinions differ. "These things should be worked out long before the meeting," he said. At the same time, he said the council needs to be open to working with the mayor.

"If there is a need for a sergeant to be appointed, then the council needs to make that happen for the good of the community," said Norris.

The same cooperation is necessary for the city to come up with a solution to parking downtown and the conversion of the waterfront into a park, Norris said. He said the parking garage plan should not be forgotten. "The mayor and the City Council still need to work together to see this happen," he said in reference to parking.

Norris said he does not think paving the waterfront for permanent parking, as has been suggested by Ward 4 Councilor Erford Fowler, is a good idea. "I don't believe in taking that valuable real estate and having it be permanent parking," Norris said.

Norris said he is not certain about Fowler's proposal to reduce the Community Preservation Act (CPA) property tax surcharge.

The CPA was passed by voters in November and applies a 2 percent surcharge on local property taxes in order to generate dedicated revenue for open space, historical preservation and affordable housing. The local CPA receipts are matched yearly through a stable state trust fund.

"I'm for the CPA," said Norris. "I think it makes sense. I was one of the original signers on it." He said there are always two sides to an issue, though, and that he understands the concern of those on fixed income about rising taxes.

Norris said he would like to look at Fowler's suggestion a little closer, but for now he supports what was passed by the voters. "To do anything else," he said, "would not be true to the democratic process."

The latest controversial issue facing the council deals with a proposed new zoning law called Site Plan Review. The law, drafted by the Planning Board, would set clear standards for industrial, commercial and residential developments of five units or more.

The law would also place authority in the Planning Board, over the infrastructure and aesthetic components of developments that fall under its jurisdiction. Now, that authority lies primarily with the Planning Director.

Councilor-at-large John Pramberg and Fowler said Monday that the law may be too strict and that it may place too much authority in the hands of unelected officials. Others, including some developers who spoke during the public comment portion of the council meeting Monday, said the law benefits developers by removing ambiguity from current zoning laws and streamlining the application process for approval.

Norris, who voted to approve the first reading of the ordinance on Monday, said he needs to look at the law a little more. He said amendments can be made if some feel the law is "overreaching," but overall he said the new law is needed. "To have an overall site plan review coordinated things for the developer," said Norris. "It's probably the better way to go as we are in a developing city."


 
 
(This article replicated online with permission of the Newburyport Daily News, an Eagle Tribune Newspaper.)
 
 
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