Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2020 City Council considers ordinance to prevent animal cruelty By Christopher Roberson T he City Council recently reviewed an ordinance sponsored by Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins that would prevent wild animals from suffering after being trapped. During the City Council’s November 9 meeting, Animal Control Officer Stacia Gorgone said that during the summer two squirrels were caught in a rooftop trap and were left there all day in 95-degree heat. “They suffered for 24 hours, the fact that they were still alive was insane,” she said. “Pest control showed up and acted extremely inappropriately; they laughed at me.” Gorgone said that under the current regulations she did not have the legal right to tell the pest control company to free the animals. “Pest control companies are just leaving them to suffer,” she said. However, under the proposed ordinance Gorgone would be authorized to release a trapped animal after six hours. She said that by law any trapped animal must be released in the same place it was captured, adding that the creatures typically stay away after they are let go. “Once they’re captured, they don’t come back; they want no part of that property,” she said. The council will revisit the matter during its next meeting. “Everett Matters” and technology In other news, Ward 1 Councillor Fred Capone questioned the need for the city’s monthly newsletter, “Everett Matters.” The newsletter is currently sent to residents with their water bill and costs $4,000 per month to produce. “Maybe we don’t need to be doing ‘Everett Matters’ right Dear Editor: Everett Ed. Coalition opposes Charter change through Home Rule Petition As members of the Everett Education Coalition, we are appalled at an attempt to change the Everett City Charter through a Home Rule Petition, rather than through a ballot initiative. One of the proposed changes would add the Mayor of the City of Everett as a voting member of the elected School Committee. We share resident disgust and anger regarding the method of this change, which excludes the voice of now,” he said, adding that money has already been tight with the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ve got three newspapers.” Capone also said information is routinely distributed though the City of Everett’s website and Facebook page and Everett Community Television. However, Deanna Deveney, the city’s communications director, said “Everett Matters” still serves a valuable purpose as none of the newspapers are mailed to residents’ homes. “This newsletter is a direct result of residents asking for it,” she said. City Council President Rosa DiFlorio said technology upgrades remain ongoing in the City Council Chambers and that some projects may have to go out to bid. “We have amplifiers that are 40 years old,” she said. “We have to make sure everything works.” LETTER TO THE EDITOR our voters. As families, students, educators, and advocates we are also alarmed that failure to explore the potential for political influence without an open and transparent conversation could have negative consequences for our students. We represent a diverse coalition that has consistently been under-represented in our City and School government. We are concerned that once again, the voice of a large and diverse constituency is being excluded. Our school district has been making great progLETTER | SEE PAGE 22 For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net
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