A Week of Ty Waterman’s City Council activities (April 8 – 13, 2019)
MONDAY and TUESDAY:
ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY: A space study recently proposed by the mayor and funded by the City Council.
I worked with a contracted consultant, a dozen or so librarians. city employees, and friends of the library, reconfiguring how to best use the library’s current space in the future.
1. We imagined:
a) An alternative children’s library on the second floor.
b) A larger meeting room on the first floor.
c) Public concerts in the marble area on the 2nd floor.
d) A more attractive front desk area.
e) Opening up the front entrance and beautifying the lawn in front of the library.
f) Brainstorming about the needs of our library in 2045!
We agreed our library needs to remain in a centrally located, downtown location… preferably where it currently stands.
We agreed the marble second story reading area is stunning and classical.
We agreed the front of the library should stand permanently as a classical piece of archi
We agreed on flexibility as we work towards our future library space.
The consultant will be returning with his findings, thoughts, and our ideas. Then the city will be better equipped to make decisions.
I SUPPORT RESTORATION OF THE ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY. May it last for generations to come.
TUESDAY EVENING: CITY COUNCIL – PROPOSED HUNTING ORDINANCE
The Ordinance Committee discussed a new proposed hunting ordinance. It passed 2-1 in the committee and will soon go to the entire City Council. I voted in
favor of the new ordinance.
1. The original hunting ordinance basically states that residents cannot use firearms on streets, sidewalks or any other public place in the city of Attleboro. I agree.
2. The new proposed ordinance also states that hunting cannot occur in parks and conservation land owned and controlled by the City of Attleboro. This is a logical extension
from the original ordinance. I agree.
3. But we don’t have language in the original hunting ordinance regarding hunting on private property. The new, proposed ordinance states "No person shall hunt on private
property, except with the written consent of the property owner or legal occupant thereof, which consent shall be dated not more than one year prior to the act complained of."
4. I support the need for hunters to procure written permission from property owners. It should be WRITTEN permission, not just verbal permission. If there was just "verbal" permission,
if an incident occurred there could potentially be "he said, she said" issues. Written permission protects both the property owner and the hunter. If I was a hunter I would want written
permission to hunt on private property.
5. Hunters have told me they will steer clear of private property when they see NO HUNTING posted signs. That is fine and I applaud them for steering clear of posted areas.
But I cannot legislate that all private owners put up no hunting signs on their property. That decision is up to each individual owner. I don’t have a NO HUNTING sign on my half acre of land.
6. The new ordinance recommends a fine of $300 for each offense. The original ordinance had no teeth in it, no fines at all. I support a fine if a hunter violates the new hunting ordinance.
But I also hope we never need to fine anybody.
7. I believe there is a place in our society and in our city for hunting. I am not trying to take away a hunter’s rifle. But as a city councilor it is my duty to protect citizens of Attleboro when they are
walking in parks, city conservation lands and all city property.
8. Hunters have a right to hunt and bear arms in safe, permissable areas.
ATTLEBORO IS A REAL CITY. ATTLEBORO IS BIGGER THAN:
BURLINGTON, VERMONT
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
LEWISTON & BANGOR, MAINE
HOLYOKE, BURLINGTON & NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND
WEDNESDAY:
1. I visited a senior citizen in financial distress and helped her figure out her property tax payments.
2. I attended the library board of trustees meeting.
THURSDAY:
1. I went to the Attleboro HS-Bishop Feehan baseball game. Hayward Field is in good shape thanks to the Dept. Of Recreation!
FRIDAY:
1. I spoke at Volunteer Day at the Elk’s club.
2. I attended a meeting of the steering committee trying to create a permanent shelter for homeless in Attleboro.
SATURDAY:
1. I met with the Dept. of Recreation staff regarding future and present capital projects.
THU
Ty Waterman 