May 10, 2008 05:06 am
To the editor:
This is an open letter to Mayor Kirk:
Bravo to you for your direct and honest communication to the people of Gloucester! Information is power and is motivating. I hope, as many residents of Gloucester, that, under your leadership we are able to improve, repair and preserve this beautiful city. I hope that you will, at the very least, consider these few observations and ideas.
r Assure the correct accounting of beach revenues/park revenues, install vehicle counting equipment at the entrance of all the aforementioned. Place a barcode on resident beach stickers and city vehicles, so they may be sorted out of the total head count.
r Increase nonresident beach parking and park reservation fees. People from out of town will be willing to pay a reasonable increase to enjoy Gloucester.
r GPS on all city vehicles. At no time during work hours should the whereabouts of city workers and city vehicles be in question.
r Privatize street sweeping. If the company does not do the job, fire them and hire a company that will.
r Display large clear signage indicating the street-sweeping schedule. Violators who park in those areas during those times are fined and towed at their own expense. This must be strictly enforced by the Police Department.
r Request that the downtown merchants sweep the sidewalk in front of their business (many already do) on street sweeping days, followed by the city sweeping downtown streets, even if it must be done by blowers and brooms due to the sidewalk configuration (the dreaded "nubbins"). Tourists will not return to visit a filthy city. Make cleaning the downtown, the Boulevard, parks and beaches a priority.
r Have recycling containers at ALL city and major private events (Fiesta) and extra trash receptacles as well.
r Offer larger recycling bins for residents and provide weekly recycling pick up.
r Make a change in tradition: have the last vehicle in a parade be a street sweeper. (Sorry, Fire Department, you can be next to the last. The children sure do love you).
r Request that businesses selling food items, lottery tickets, etc., place a large trash receptacle in front of their business and maintain cleanliness outside of their store.
r Get children and those who work with children involved. Have the Clean City Commission provide a list of projects that would be appropriate for an Eagle Scout to do that would benefit the city and citizens of Gloucester. Have the Clean City Commission provide Scout leaders with a list of projects for troops to perform for community service. Require sports teams to clean up the ball field after each game. Coaches should be required to bring yellow trash bags, which the city already provides, to each game and leave them near the entrance of the park or field for city workers to pick up the next day.
r Physical work requires physically able workers. Offer city employees in positions that require strength and endurance, such as the police (some have already begun this process) and those at the DPW, an incentive to be fit.
r Family name should not be the only requirement for getting a job at the DPW. Applicants should be the best qualified for the job.
r Sick days and personal days should have to be used within the year as in the private sector.
r No member(s) of a decision making body should be casting a vote or offering their opinion on raises, contracts, etc., if they have a family member who would benefit from such a vote. Such member(s) should abstain from voting.
Please consider what I have written among, I am sure, the many letters of ideas that you have received.
One thing that I wish all who live here would consider, as residents of Gloucester, is that we are "The City." It takes all of us to be part of the revitalization of Gloucester.
Thank you.
REBECCA DEXTER ALIBERTE
Cedar Lane, Gloucester
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