Council Considers Tree Recommendations

The July 7, 2014 Council Meeting was called to order at 7:33 P.M. by Council President and Ward IV Councilwoman Mary Louise Madigan.

Councilwoman Madigan read a report from the Committee of the Whole regarding a meeting with the Tree Task Force to review their 19 recommendations. Council and the administration listened to all the recommendations and determined actions needed to fulfill them, including consolidation of some. All affirmed the importance of a strategic plan for the care and planting of trees throughout the city. An outreach and communication plan will be developed by the Task Force in conjunction with Council members Cindy Marx (At-Large) and David Anderson (Ward I) with the goal of engaging the public.

Next Councilman Sam O’Leary (Ward II) read a report from the Rules and Ordinances Committee regarding a proposed ordinance to support the "Movement to Amend the Constitution to Establish That Corporations are Not People and Money is not Speech" and establish an annual Democracy Day in Lakewood. This ordinance was introduced to Council with a petition put together by Lakewood residents. In meetings with the citizen organization that submitted the ordinance, it was agreed that the ordinance be tabled, and no action taken on it, in exchange for a resolution being introduced at the next Council meeting incorporating language from the ordinance.

Council passed the motion to table the ordinance.

The next item was a report from the Civil Service Commission on their recommendations for salary and benefits for the Mayor and members of Council. Council President announced that the report is available to the public if they wish to review it and referred it to the Committee of the Whole for discussion.

Councilwoman Marx then introduced from the Lakewood Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board drafts for a Spay/Neuter initiative this fall. She informed them that a requisition for the printing of postcards and posters will be submitted to Finance once final printing numbers are determined.

Councilman Tom Bullock (At-Large) applauded Councilwoman Marx and the Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board for their work. He continued saying that it doesn’t matter how much you do on the law enforcement and animal shelter side if you don’t educate pet owners and take steps to prevent breeding in strays. He then thanked the leadership of the volunteers on the Board.

With no further business on the agenda, Council President Madigan adjourned the meeting at 7:53 P.M.

Christopher Bindel

I have been a Lakewood resident my entire life and have been covering the Council meetings for the LO since March of 2009. I am a Mayoral appointee to the Citicens Advisory Committee, as well as a member of Pillars of Lakewood and president of Eaters of Lakewood.

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Volume 10, Issue 16, Posted 10:42 PM, 07.22.2014