Council Connection: 3/15/19

The issue of housing, personal security and the fragility of life became very real to me this week. I met with several senior constituents who are struggling to make their housing payments, maintain their property and handle normal repairs. I wonder how seniors on fixed incomes can handle a leaky roof, an aging boiler, or a driveway that needs repair? Social security and relatively small savings/IRA’s/pensions aren’t always enough to handle the cost of living. Uncle Sam might increase our monthly checks by 1% a year. It isn’t enough… not even close.

The most frequent calls I receive are from seniors seeking guidance as they grapple with the reality of keeping their homes. That’s why I support seniors being considered for property tax breaks. I am also a strong supporter of Attleboro’s Council on Aging/Senior Center.

If you know a Senior in trouble, suggest they call one of our social workers at the Senior Center on South Main Street. They will find a friendly, caring ear and some sound advice. If you know a Senior who needs to give up their home (a truly sad event) then the staff of the Senior Center will offer sound advice. I don’t want anyone to lose their home.

In the last census, we discovered that there were 8,000+ senior citizens living in Attleboro. I’ve been advised there might be 14,000 seniors in Attleboro by the time our next census is completed. Jan and I are among that group.

We need to cherish and help our seniors. With good health, we shall all be Seniors one fine day.

Ty Waterman – City Councilor At-Large

TyAttleboro@gmail.com
508-455-1918 – Home

Council Connection: Week of 1/7/19

Friends,

      The City Council accomplished a lot last week. We passed a PLASTIC WASTE REDUCTION ORDINANCE.

      #1 – We passed a city ordinance banning single-use plastic bags, effective October 1, 2019. I voted for this ordinance and it passed the Council by a 9 to 1 vote. The hope is that shoppers in Attleboro stores will carry reusable check-out bags, including cloth, and plastic bags that are at least 4.0 mils thick. But the single-use think plastic bags will be gone by next October 1.

      #2.  This ordinance will cover stores of 3,500 square feet. Stores with less than 3,500 may be exempted from the new Plastic Waste Reduction Ordinance for up to six months by the Attleboro Health Officer.  If this ordinance causes undue hardship and a retail establishment needs more time to use up their inventory of thin-film, single-use plastic check-out bags, they can be given an extension by our Health Officer.

       #3. The Health Officer and the City of Attleboro Health Department will administer and enforce this ordinance. The first violation shall result in a written warning to the establishment. The second violation will result in a $50 fine and the third violation results in a $100 fine.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PUT PLASTIC BAGS AND PLASTIC BOTTLES THAT CANNOT BE RECYCLED INTO YOUR TRASH.

—

       THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED THE HIRING OF CATHERINE FEERICK AS ATTLEBORO’s NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

        #1. Catherine began working out of her city hall office on December 26, 2018. I had the pleasure of giving Catherine a two hour tour of the senior center, library, and some businesses off of Pleasant Street. She comes to us from working in Washington D.C. and specializes in downtown revitalization projects. The City Council was very impressed by Catherine’s idea and plans, voting 10-0 to hire her. I was the lucky councilor to make the motion that she be given a two-year term of office. I sincerely hope Catherine will be working for us in Attleboro for many years,

        VISITS BY TY – During the past week I met with the Directors of our Planning Dept. and Department of Public Works. I also spoke with the chairman of the Library Board of Trustees; and spoke at the DARE award ceremony to a roomful of fifth graders at the Brennan Middle School. I was urging the children to speak with their parents if they ever get into a situation where they feel uncomfortable around smokers, drinking, or drugs.

Submitted by Ty Waterman (508-577-1412): City Councilman At-Large.

Council Connection: 1/1/19

I have to admit it. Being a city councilor is fun. I get the unique opportunity to congratulate and help people. Most every week I am nominating interested citizens to the Library Board of Trustees, the Council on Human Rights, Council on Aging, Youth Commission, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Council on Disabilities, Cultural Council, Traffic Study Commission, and several more commissions and councils. It is an absolute delight to invite new volunteers up to the podium to introduce themselves and thank them for their interest.

If you want to volunteer to serve Attleboro please feel free to contact me or the mayor’s office.

I also had the special privilege to nominate Kourtney Wunschel as the superintendent of Attleboro’s Water Dept. and meet many of the Water Dept. city employees, a dedicated group. This Thursday I’ve been invited to go out to inspect the city ponds and reservoir with one of the Water Dept. staff.

On January 8th I will be nominating Catherine Feerick to the new position as Attleboro’s Economic Development Director. Catherine just finished serving almost three years as the Downtown Revitalization Specialist with the Appalachian Regional Commission, situated in Washington D.C.. She work to develop cities in 13 states. I enjoyed giving Catherine a tour of downtown Attleboro in the rain last week. She got to meet the staff at Pleasant Street Auto, our Senior Center, and tour through our Library, along with lunch at Morin’s Restaurant. Catherine is very interested in serving Attleboro and I believe she will do a fine job for our city.

Each week brings new opportunities to listen, greet and thank, and sometimes actually help people in Attleboro. Thank you for electing me as a city councilor. You can reach me at 508-577-1412.

All my best,

Ty

Council Connection: 12/13/18

To my friends and supporters:

First, I apologize for not writing these past few weeks. It’s been a whirlwind, preparing for council meetings, reading tons of material, talking on the phone with people wanting to serve on committees and councils in Attleboro, visiting with city employees both at city hall and throughout Attleboro. I am trying to acquaint myself with lots of new folks.

Since my election on November 6th I have met with Gary Ayrassian (Director of Planning and Development), Deb Gould (City Auditor), the entire personnel office, Laura Gignac (City Treasurer), City Clerk (Steve Withers), and many other folks who work in City Hall. Everybody was very gracious and welcoming. We have a wonderful, dedicated group of city employees and elected officials.

My fellow city councilors, all ten of them, have also been welcoming and gone out of their way to help acclimate me to the Council. Learning the correct protocol takes a little time but I will adjust soon enough.

I am delighted to have been appointed to three council committees:

1. Personnel and Human Services Committee: I am the Chairperson

2. Ordinances, Elections and Legislative Matters Committee: Diana Holmes, chairperson

3. Capital Improvements and City Development Committee: Richard Conti, chairperson

I’ve had the pleasure of nominating and advocating for several people who want to serve Attleboro. To date I contacted, nominated and spoke on behalf of:

1. Kourtney Wunschel nominated to fill a three year term as the superintendent of Water. I visited Kourtney, toured with her through the water department, and her nomination will go before the entire council on December 18 at the 7 pm city council meeting.

2. Paulo Salguero, Jr. – nominated by the Personnel Committee to serve on the Traffic Study Commission. Vote by the council will be soon.

3. Patricia Svendson – nominated by the Personnel Committee to serve on the Library Board of Trustees.

4. Ellen Parker: Nominated and she was confirmed to serve on the Council on Human Rights.

5. Seth Hodge: Nominated to be reappointed to the Council on Human Rights.

6. Donovan Riley: Nominated to the Youth Commission.

7. Kurt Wheaton: Nominated to be reappointed to the Council on Aging.

8. Scott Jones: Nominated to be reappointed to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee.

If anyone wants to serve on City of Attleboro Councils, Commissions or Committees, please feel free to contact me at 508-577-1412, This is a great way to serve our city.

I have visited with the Directors and toured the Recreation Dept., the Water Department, and the Park and Forestry Department. I intend to visit all departments over time and also visit our schools.

I had quite a thrill yesterday when I had a personal tour of the Capron Park Zoo with Derek . Our zoo’s veterinarian, Dr. Romano, gave me a fascinating view of our lion, both lionesses, the two sloth bears (I fed the male sloth bear), and especially enjoyed one of the zoo’s gems, the Rain Forest which opened up this year.

The City Council is very concerned about the Attleboro Public Library. The library leaks in multiple spots whenever a driving rain strikes. The air conditioning is gone. Repairs will be needed in the near future to the outside of the edifice. The Council needs to fully assess the damage and resulting cost of these repairs. I will be meeting with our new library director, Christine Johnson, and the President of the Library Trustees, Charles Oliver, next week to get a first hand assessment of the situation.

As you can see — your votes have put me to work. I really love working for our city and am always open to hearing your concerns (508)-577-1918 or tywaterman1918@gmail.com.

Ah yes… one more important item. Our nominee for Attleboro’s Economic Development Director, Catherine Feerick, will be moving to Attleboro right after Christmas. The City Council will meet Catherine on January 8, 2019, in Council Chambers at City Hall. I expect to be nominating Catherine at that time and introducing her to the Council and the city. We’ve talked twice on the phone and I’m very excited to meet Catherine. She comes to us from Washington, D.C. where she has been the Downtown Revitalization Specialist for the the Appalachian Regional Commission. Catherine has worked on downtown revitalization projects in 13 Appalachian states since April, 2016.

Catherine is planning to live in Attleboro and has visited the city twice while looking for living quarters. She found Attleboro people to be very friendly and likes the city. She told me that the people she met looked her right in the eye. Growing up in Ohio, Catherine appreciates being part of a warm, caring community.

Now I am off to celebrate the gift of a $50,000 donation to the Highland Country Club from David Doran of North Attleboro to the friends of the Attleboro Recreation Center. This money will be used to create a cross-country course, walking and biking trails on Highland Country Club. Thanks you, David Doran!!!!

From your City Councilor At-Large

Ty Waterman

The Sun Chronicle: 11/19/18