By Anthony Flint,
Boston Globe, 06/23/98
Not always neat and tidy, this business of city government.
With June 30, the close of the fiscal year, fast approaching, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and members of the City Council are scrambling to rework ordinances that have already been passed by the council - creating an air of chaos at City Hall Plaza.
``I wish we could be perfect,'' said Councilor at Large Francis M. ``Mickey'' Roache, who championed the living-wage ordinance. ``It reminds me of the merger'' of Boston City Hospital and Boston University's hospital. ``Some people do well in an atmosphere of crisis. But no piece of legislation ever goes through the first time around.''
Yesterday, 11-hour negotiations at City Hall produced a crazy quilt of policy making, including:
A decision by Menino to shelve new regulations for bicycle messengers, passed earlier this month, so the council can pass a compromise version at the regular meeting tomorrow.
The new version contains ironed-out details such as whether messengers must wear armbands showing licenses and how they must renew their licenses when they change companies.
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The regulation of bicycle messengers was a different story. The council made some minor changes to the new rules, submitted by Menino. They included eliminating the requirement to wear armbands, paying a $25 fee when renewing a license, and reducing the background-check waiting period on messengers from five to three days.
Councilor at Large Stephen J. Murphy, who shepherded the measure through the council, said he thought the administration was in agreement with those changes, but ultimately Menino balked, leaving the measure to die yesterday. That prompted a round of negotiations.
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By Anthony Flint,
Boston Globe, 06/25/98
In addition, the council approved a measure to enact new rules for bicycle messengers. The item was amended to address several technical issues on licensing and identification that Menino had found objectionable. The measure goes to the mayor's desk for his signature and then to the state Legislature for final approval, since it involves regulating bikes on public roadways.
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