Williamstown OKs U.N. Proclamation, With Reservations
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| Kathy Poirot, left, swears Marilyn J. Head to the Housing Authority. |
Selectman Richard Steege read the resolution at the request of Selectwoman Jane Allen because of his involvement with United Nations Day as a sixth-grade teacher. The United Nations had been part of fall studies for many years, said Steege, including trips to the United Nations in New York.
The proclamation, provided by the United Nations Association of Greater Boston, is in honor of the U.N.'s 63rd anniversary on Oct. 24. The association is encouraging towns and cities to sign proclamations that will be displayed at the State House, and to fly the U.N. flag and encourage libraries to have U.N. displays.
This year's anniversary focuses on one of the eight Millennium Development Goals agreed upon in 2000 — Goal 7 for sustainable development and environmental conservation.
But Selectman David Rempell had reservations on the wording of proclamation, particularly about America's commitment to the goal.
"I don't want to get into a big political debate over this but, in certain instances, some of the whereases regarding the United State's demonstrating its commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship and a number of other items mentioned ... I feel torn because I don't feel the United States has done enough in certain areas," he said.
Rempell said the country should be doing more and taking a leadership role. "I feel there's a lot more that should be done."
In particular, the wording "the United States has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable development partnership efforts ..." gave the Selectmen pause.
"... These are important goals and we have not accomplished what the proclamation says," agreed Chairwoman Jane Allen.
Steege said he didn't want to "rubber stamp" the wording but also "that it is important that we back [the goals]."
Selectman Ronald Turbin suggested that the board approve the proclamation but note in the minutes of the meeting that the board believed the United States should do more to live up to its commitments. It was decided to take a consensus vote to reflect that the feelings were not just those of Rempell.
Steege, Allen, Rempell and Turbin agreed to add into the minutes that the Board of Selectmen would wish that the United States would demonstrate more of a commitment to sustainable development partnership efforts with oher countries. Selectman Thomas Costley passed on voting. All five approved the proclamation.
The proclamation also brought up discussion of the many national flags that had been flown at Field Park and later along the walkway of the elementary school.
Steege said the flags had been stored at the school to his knowledge. Allen asked that anyone who knows where the flags are to contact one of the Selectmen or Kathy Poirot at Town Hall.
Housing Authority Election
 Tammy Daniels/iBerkshires
Marilyn Head thanks board members for their votes; at left is Housing Authority Director Betty Ann LaBombard and Chairwoman Mary Kennedy. |
Head, a former state appointee to the board and longtime civic activist, had indicated her willingness to serve again after 24-year veteran Sally Cramer recently resigned.
Head will serve out the remainder of Cramer's five-year term, which ends in May.
Both the housing board and the Selectmen were required to vote on her election; all five selectmen and Housing Chairwoman Mary Kennedy and members Kathleen Thompson and Phyllis Wiles voted unanimously to appoint her. (Two other housing members were absent.)
"I didn't know how much was involved in getting on the board," said Head after she was sworn in by Poirot.
In other business,
- The Selectmen appointed the election workers for 2008. Allen said the list included past election workers, including unenrolled individuals, submitted by Town Clerk Kennedy because requests for names from the Democratic Town Committee went unanswered and the Republican Town Committee no longer exists (a request to the State Republican Committee also went unanswered). Rempell said he would find out why the Democratic committee didn't respond.
- Set a public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 7:05 p.m. on the transfer of an all-alcholic package store liquor license for the Spirit Shop on Cole Avenue from Ronald Gagnon to Tracy E. Baker.
- Confirmed the appointments by Town Manager Peter Fohlin of William Barkin and Linda Conway for three-year terms, Marianne McDonough for a two-year term and Cheryl Shanks to a one-year term to the Historical Commission.
- Fohlin, in his report to the board, wanted to bring to its and citizens' attention the work of the Williamstown Police, noting "the attentiveness and perceptiveness of our police officers."
Several officers' initiative resulted in the apprehension of a burglar and stopping a motorist twice for driving without a license — the second time in the police station parking lot. - Set the next meeting for Tuesday, Oct. 14, because of the Columbus Day holiday on the Monday before.
Update: U.N. proclamation added to story on Oct. 1, 2008
Whereas, the United Nations was founded in 1945, and the anniversary of the day on which the UN Charter came into force is observed each year on October 24; and
Whereas, the central role of the United Nations is to promote peace and security, development and human rights around the world, and is vital now more than ever; and
Whereas, in September 2000, 189 nations, including the United States, agreed upon eight Millennium Development Goals to meet the needs of the worlds’ poorest; and
Whereas, the seventh Millennium Development Goal seeks to integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs, and reverse the loss of environmental resources and biodiversity; and
Whereas, the Goal also seeks to reduce by half the proportion of people living without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, and achieve significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers, by 2020; and
Whereas, the United States has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable development partnership efforts with other countries to create and implement development strategies in areas that include access to clean water and sanitation services; conservation and environmental stewardship; and protecting marine and freshwater resources; and
Whereas, the United States must continue to work with the United Nations and other UN agencies in order to provide a coordinated, multilateral effort to assess the loss of environmental resources and achieve further progress towards global sustainable development; and
Whereas, the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA), in cooperation with other organizations, has declared “Environmental Sustainability as an Essential Tool for Poverty Alleviation” as its theme for the 2008 United Nations Day commemorations;
Whereas, the Governor’s appointed Massachusetts UN Day Chair and local UNA-USA members and community leaders will organize events and activities to educate citizens about the continuing need for the United Nations, and the importance of undertaking efforts on the local and international level to promote global cooperative initiatives toward a more healthy and sustainable world;
Whereas, the citizens of _______________ are encouraged to participate in activities related to UN Day;
NOW, THEREFORE, I _____________________________ officially proclaim October 24, 2008 as
UNITED NATIONS DAY
In witness whereof, I have set my hand and caused the seal of ____________________ to be affixed on this ______ day of ___________ in the year 2008.
Seal Signature
