City Council - Ordinance Committee

City Council Ordinance Meeting Meeting Minutes: February 17, 2022 Online via Zoom Councilor Derby called the meeting to order at 6pm. Ordinance Committee Members Present Councilor Salem Derby (Chair), Councilor Tom Peake, Councilor Lindsey Rothschild (arrived at 6:10) Also in Attendance Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Councilor Peake and seconded by Councilor Derby; it was unanimously voted (2-0) to approve the minutes of 1/25/22. A motion was made by Councilor Rothschild and seconded by Councilor Peake; it was unanimously voted (3-0) to approve the minutes of 1/27/22. Public Speak Time: No members of the public present to speak. Continuing Business a. Ordinance Review Committee’s final report review The following updates/revisions to the City of Easthampton’s ordinances are being recommended based on the Ordinance Review Committee’s final report (see attached): Sec. 1-4: When an ordinance prohibits any act without the license or permission of a certain officer, board or committee, such officer, board or committee shall have the right to issue a license or permit for such act to be performed. Sec. 1-7: The City Council shall cause copies of these ordinances posted on the city website, and to be kept in the City Clerk’s Office in print and digital form, where copies or portions thereof may be requested. Sec. 2-51: c. Members of the Council of Aging shall be appointed by the Mayor for terms of three years. Sec. 2-83 Accept change Upon receipt of such a request the City Council shall vote to convene a five member panel to review proposed names, to hear public testimony, including holding a public hearing and to offer a recommendation to the Council. The Mayor shall appoint two members of his/her choosing to the panel, and the Council President shall appoint three members of his/her choosing to the panel. Sec. 6-5 Accept change - Eliminate ordinance Sec. 6-6 Accept change - Eliminate ordinance Sec. 6-7 Accept change - Eliminate ordinance Sec. 8-1 - Councilor Peake will rewrite for ease of comprehension. Sec. 8-21 - f No person shall place upon any street in the city, any glass, crockery, scrap-iron, nails, tacks or other articles which would be liable to injure the feet of animals or people, or injure or damage the wheels or tires of any vehicles. (1945 By-laws, Art. IV, 21, Approved 5-1-1945) Sec. 8-23 Playing games in streets No person shall within the limits of any public street or highway in the city, play any games which interfere with the convenient and free use of the street or highway by any person traveling or passing along the same. No person shall throw stones, snow balls, sticks or other missiles, or shoot any spring gun or air gun or bow and arrows in any public way of this city. Sec. 8-35 Sec. 8-35. Obstructing sidewalks by placing objects thereon. No person shall place upon any sidewalk any object, so as to obstruct the sidewalk for more than one hour, or for more than ten (10) minutes after being notified by a police officer to remove it. Sec. 8-61 Sec. 8-61. Barricading and lighting. Any person who is granted a permit to obstruct or excavate upon any street shall put up and keep at all times a suitable railing around the parts of the sidewalk or street so obstructed or dug up, so long as the same shall be unsafe or inconvenient for traveling. The person granted the permit shall also ensure that there is a sufficient amount of lighting where the the parts of the street or sidewalk are dug up, from dusk to dawn to warn travelers. (1945 By-laws, Art. II, 10, Approved 5-1-1945) —----- Additionally, the Ordinance Committee recommends, as per the Ordinance Review Committee Report, that all gendered language in the ordinances be revised to be non gender specific. Councilor Derby will check in with the City Council President and Clerk about the next steps for these recommendations. The Ordinance Committee will continue to research and work on the remaining recommendations in the Ordinance Review Committee Report. Next Meeting March 3, 2022: focus on Vacant Storefront Ordinance March 8, 2022: continued public hearing with the Planning Board A motion was made by Councilor Rothschild and seconded by Councilor Peake; it was unanimously voted that this meeting adjourn. Respectfully Submitted, Councilor Lindsey Rothschild Clerk to the Ordinance Committee