Bill Reid, Chairman of the Council Committee of the Whole stated that he would be through the agenda by 9pm. He was perhaps 10 minutes late before the public talk-a-thon began. It was an interesting 45 minutes that could merit some report by someone who had taken notes. Otherwise the best I could do would be probably inaccurate hearsay.
The agenda was fairly routine with only one 1st reading Ordinance creating prolong discussion. It is the subject of all three blogs today.
Prior to its introduction the Council had OK’d for 2nd Reading a 3mil Bond Ordinance which under many things provided for this year’s roads replacements that were not covered by Grants.
All of this was covered by the Planning 2012 5 year CIP whose receipt has never been acknowledge by the Council.
Like everything else there is no 2013 Capital Improvement Budget much less a 2013 Budget in neither place nor will there be one before July at best.
To continue the rush to upgrade in this election year the city’s road infrastructure a new Bond Ordinace for an additional 5,000,000.00 was on the Agenda. There are about 9 area items including upgrades to the Library listed for this Ordinance. There is one group of about 2 mil for additional proposed road repairs etc. per past and present (?) CIP. That needs to be funded.
Let by Councilor Williams’ concerns about creating too much additional debt in this year without an approved budget there was expressed a desire to create an ordinance specifically identifying the 8 non street items and a 2 million one if practical and desired this year for road improvements.
Once again the Government of OZ is now trying to cover up 6+ years of neglect and fiscal irresponsibility.
There is up for first reading an Ordinance changing the language of part of the City Code on ‘opening of streets” to be more specific about getting Council Approval and the mandated quality of repairs
It is important considering there is a moratorium without Council Sanction for openings for the first 5 years of the pavements life.
There should be no repeat of the 2012 fiasco when less that 6 months after Watching Ave was repaved the water company had made 15+ cuts in the street.
Some more tomorrow.
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I may have said this before re: the Watchung Avenue road openings, but a key part of avoiding that situation is an open communication with all utilities whenever a road project is in the planning stages.
ReplyDeleteTypically, an engineering department will send out notices to the underground utility people well in advance so they can schedule their work before the project is underway.