OSWEGO – Boy Scout Webelos Nicholas Docos and Zachary Maines with Den Leader Charles Barsi led the Pledge of Allegiance at last night’s Oswego Common Council meeting, Monday, September 28, where they also discussed a badge they are working on, ‘Building a Better World.’
Mayor Billy Barlow introduced the them, allowing the three to lead the pledge, speaking with Barsi and the youths afterwards.
Barsi arranged for the boys to take part in the meeting in order to meet Mayor Barlow and learn the highlights of a working government body in action. Barsi is Den Leader of The Arrow of Light Group, Pack 885.
The badge the boys are working on is called ‘Building a Better World,’ with activities ranging from visits to city historical sites to discussions on what building a better world means.
“This meeting – they now had to meet with a government official, and talk about government, their rights as a citizen and stuff like that,” Barsi said. “And then next week, to earn the badge completely, they’ve got to talk about building a budget.”
The boys will enter the Boy Scouts after finishing all the requirements involved in making the crossover possible, the final completion occurring in May 2021.
Barsi has been with the Boy Scouts for almost three decades, staying on after his son left the organization after receiving their highest honor.
“I have been a leader since my son started in 1991. And my son Anthony made Eagle Scout in 2001, and I just stayed on because I enjoy working with the youth,” Barsi said.
Barlow opened up the meeting by ushering in a proclamation of October 4 through October 10 as Fire Prevention Week, reading the declaration out loud.
The acknowledgement covered several fire safety issues that take thousands of lives each year, Barlow encouraging residents to take the necessary precautions to limit fire hazards.
“I urge all people in the City of Oswego to check their kitchens for fire hazards and maintain safe cooking practices during Fire Prevention Week 2020, and to support the many public safety activities and efforts of the City Fire Emergency Services,” Barlow said.
Other topics covered in the council’s agenda included small changes to the Environmental Protection Code, a program the city put together in 2017. The policy is a State-Funded Loan Program, giving property owners the ability to upgrade into clean energy sources.
“It makes it easier for property owners to get financing to do a clean energy project,” Barlow said. “For instance, if they want to put new windows into their home or business, solar project, [or] new HVAC efficiency projects; things like that… It’s a State Loan Program. The state will give you loans to do these projects, and the only reason we’re involved is because the municipality has to pass the local law to allow [it] as a municipality, so property owners in your municipality can take advantage of the program.”
Also discussed during last night’s meeting was the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, a procedure Oswego County administers and updates as needed.
“It outlines basically every risk we as a county face. The main difference this year is identifying the risk of flooding due to the lake levels,” Barlow said. “The risk now is more prevalent than it’s ever been.”
For more information on the Monday, September 28 agenda, please here. All resolutions were passed. Common Council meetings are held the second and fourth Monday of every month.
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