Opponents Claim Victory after the Council Buys Into their Misinformation

Letter: Cheers to councilors for defeating snow-shoveling ordinance
Friday, September 24, 2004
The Watertown Tab
The Watertown Citizens of Common Sense Government applaud the good judgment of the Town Council for rejecting a proposed snow-shoveling ordinance.
Councilor Mark Sideris worked long and hard to fashion a compromise that mitigated the fines, provided exemptions and one-year sunset provision. Ultimately those amendments were not enough to countermand the costly unintentional consequences. Nonetheless, Watertown was well served by his effort.
Councilor Fred Pugliese gets our “Parliamentarian Award.” When Mr. Portz moved the question, there was no second. Mr. Pugliese realized that if there was no vote, this nonsense could be re-introduced. He alertly provided a second in order to kill the measure for at least six months.
Councilors Bailey and Falkoff had a “Damascus Road” experience. After listening to our presentations, they expressed concerns about how this ordinance could affect homeowners' insurance rates. They ultimately changed their position and voted nay.
We admire the open-minded manner with which they deliberated this measure.
Councilor Devaney gets a “thumbs up.” She had suggested common-sense ways of encouraging residents to shovel their sidewalks as well as those of their elderly and handicapped neighbors.
Councilor Falkoff gets additional kudos. She suggested the School Committee look into ways of involving our youth. This proposal is most intriguing. Involving our youth would serve two purposes. It provides help for those in need while cultivating good citizenship habits in our youth. This is exactly the kind of creative, non-intrusive, common-sense approach we whole-heartedly embrace.
However, there is one councilor with whom we remain thoroughly unimpressed. Despite our presentation and the town attorney's concurrence, Councilor John Portz insisted on voting yea on this intrusive attempt to micro-manage good citizenship.
We cannot help but conclude that Councilor Portz could care less about our insurance premiums. He showed no concern about the unrealistic burdens this would place on homeowners. The man who fancies himself as a guardian of civil rights (when it comes to the Patriot Act) did not care that the ordinance amounted to involuntary servitude at no wages for some homeowners.
Councilor Portz, when Uncle Sam drafted citizens, he had the decency to pay them for their service!
The WCCSG will continue to research issues, agendas and special interest groups. We will also monitor the way councilors deliberate and vote. We will give praise when it's due, but we will not shrink from informing the mainstream when councilors fail them.
John DiMascio
Watertown Citizens For Common Sense Government