tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post8967651862590208146..comments2023-10-17T22:56:42.784-04:00Comments on Only in The Republic of Amherst: Still sinking in a sand trapLarry Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-13778364042941724952009-10-29T08:58:56.776-04:002009-10-29T08:58:56.776-04:00God, what is wrong with this town?
It really get...God, what is wrong with this town?<br /><br /><br />It really gets to be not very funny after a while.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-91097340944778713102009-10-28T20:45:48.146-04:002009-10-28T20:45:48.146-04:00Then if it put the town "further in the red&q...Then if it put the town "further in the red" you are admitting that the infrastructure is tired, very tired indeed (which of course it is).<br /><br />What I find hilarious is the town manager (who very well could be you) did not even read his own bid specs because the cover letter said the bidder would be responsible for property taxes (you know something Cherry Hill does not pay but Amherst Golf Course--owned by tax exempt Amherst College does to the tune of $7,500 per year).<br /><br />And of course the town in 2003 had suddenly assessed the Golf Enterprise Fund with a $17,000 annual property tax (that they of course never paid). <br /><br />But it was in the bid specs and Niblick said they assumed that was part of the overall bid on top of their actual bid of $5,000.<br /><br />So the original reason town officials nixed the bid is because they thought it was only for $5,000. <br /><br />None of this changes the fact that a quarterly finance report (issued by an assistant Town Manager no less) clearly shows Cherry Hill revenues are now down 9% and expenses are up 11.4% from two years ago.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-22993554295328523632009-10-28T20:10:40.497-04:002009-10-28T20:10:40.497-04:00Back to the question re: the Niblick conract (that...Back to the question re: the Niblick conract (that you so deftly avoided)...do you not remember reading about that clause re: the TOWN being respnsible for the care, maintenance, and replacement of any/all assets at Cherry Hill? (eg the club house, the mowers, the irrigation system, etc.) If so, you would know that the 30k that Niblick had agreed to pay the Town each year wouldn't have gone very far (you yourself just mentioned a 22k lawn mower that was purchased last year...and deferred maintenance out there...and...???) Bottom line: 30k/year from Niblick would have probably put the Town FURTHER in the red!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-57632109767439136832009-10-28T15:11:09.447-04:002009-10-28T15:11:09.447-04:00No one sidewalk serves everyone. It depends where...No one sidewalk serves everyone. It depends where you live. <br /><br />Why wouldn't you expect a town to have a park with basketball courts? <br /><br />The answer to the question about why they do have basketball courts, slides, sand boxes, and tennis courts is obvious, it's because people want them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-61373978681706860312009-10-28T14:07:14.051-04:002009-10-28T14:07:14.051-04:00Well anon 11:57 at least you didn't answer my ...Well anon 11:57 at least you didn't answer my Why question with "because I said so". Your response of because that is what towns provide does not answer the question why. Also your point about the sidewalks serving a variety of interests just opposes your rational for a golf course which serves the interests of a few.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-80367698035786576662009-10-28T13:13:13.893-04:002009-10-28T13:13:13.893-04:00How many in Massachusetts? Because geography make...How many in Massachusetts? Because geography makes a BIG difference as golf is totally reliant on weather.<br /><br />And it is after all, RAINING at the moment.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-85345164766681926462009-10-28T13:08:21.053-04:002009-10-28T13:08:21.053-04:00Right. There are only 7,955.Right. There are only 7,955.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-85448211861247770362009-10-28T12:02:00.048-04:002009-10-28T12:02:00.048-04:00Not very many communities provide Golf Courses (an...Not very many communities provide Golf Courses (and for very good reasons)Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-64573554273873259932009-10-28T11:57:22.308-04:002009-10-28T11:57:22.308-04:00"Why do parks have basketball courts, tennis ..."Why do parks have basketball courts, tennis courts or soccer fields."<br /><br />Because that's what communities provide. They also provide parking lots, town commons, sidewalks and lots of other things that serve not special interests, they serve a variety of different interests. No one person uses all of the things a town provides. The users of Cherry Hill are not a special interest anymore than the people who use the Bang's Community Center or the landfill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-19129595968600986312009-10-28T11:53:09.902-04:002009-10-28T11:53:09.902-04:00"public building"
It's a town-owned..."public building"<br /><br />It's a town-owned building. You seem to be confused on the difference. That's like saying you have the right to walk into the White House anytime you want because you are a blogger. If you don't have kids that go to school there you don't belong there, especially when they ask you to leave. <br /><br />But that's in ther past and you don't live in the past, except when it comes to flogging the acquisition of Cherry Hill, which was a long time ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-51734499140433949572009-10-28T09:51:18.331-04:002009-10-28T09:51:18.331-04:00At least the ones who like their golf subsidized (...At least the ones who like their golf subsidized (or live in that neighborhood and like the low-volume traffic)Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-65600820712246053582009-10-27T23:43:26.812-04:002009-10-27T23:43:26.812-04:00Yeah and where is that Acting Co-Superintendent NO...Yeah and where is that Acting Co-Superintendent NOW? His replacement quickly vacated the trespass order. <br /><br />I know it's late but try to pay attention.<br /><br />Entry was not illegal as it's a public building. No glass involved as the thermometer was made of plastic and did not contain mercury. <br /><br />And all of this has WHAT to do with a quarterly finance report (issued by an assistant Town Manager no less) that clearly shows Cherry Hill revenues are down 9% and expenses are up 11.4% from two years ago? <br /><br />A fact is a fact is a fact.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-30445695227285495782009-10-27T23:05:30.663-04:002009-10-27T23:05:30.663-04:00Like when the superintendents got a restraining or...Like when the superintendents got a restraining order against you. Preventing you from entering an elementary school after you illegally (and creepily) entered a boys bathroom. Oh, and left broken glass on the floor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-81263319972600069042009-10-27T22:53:40.204-04:002009-10-27T22:53:40.204-04:00Yeah, and I've knocked out (figuratively speak...Yeah, and I've knocked out (figuratively speaking of course) a few town officials as well.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-1458208027863926092009-10-27T22:48:00.861-04:002009-10-27T22:48:00.861-04:00To give you credit Larry you did once knock out Bi...To give you credit Larry you did once knock out Billy Blanks...<br /><br />After that your career paths, wealth, and sanity went in 2 completely different directions...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-74020689556376370952009-10-27T22:34:47.832-04:002009-10-27T22:34:47.832-04:00All I can tell ya Anon 10:26 (not to be confused w...All I can tell ya Anon 10:26 (not to be confused with nitwit Anon 10:28) is that there is nothing more expensive in the recreation business for basic overhead than golf (well, except maybe for a few indoor downhill skiing facilities in Japan)Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-54128037422780139212009-10-27T22:28:22.827-04:002009-10-27T22:28:22.827-04:00Larry Kelley. Proud owner of a dilapidated health ...Larry Kelley. Proud owner of a dilapidated health club, located above a used furniture store and a Mexican Restaurant - WHICH - I guess is an improvement over the Fish Market that used to be there...<br /><br />Larry gets kicked out of elementary schools (trespass order)...<br />Puts fear in town officials by stalking them...<br />E-Mails the superintendent with the subject line VAGINAS VAGINAS VAGINAS...<br />Biggest priority in his life is promoting the hanging of hundreds of flags throughout Amherst...<br /><br />Cherry Hill > AAC<br /><br />fact.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-45565344605824210762009-10-27T22:26:17.473-04:002009-10-27T22:26:17.473-04:00Why is taxpayer money used for the special interes...Why is taxpayer money used for the special interests of a select few? Maybe the town could install a velodrome or groom the property for cross country skiing. I would like that. Or someone might like a curling pavillion or an ice skating rink. How about polo grounds or a race car track, a rifle range, a ski jump. Why do parks have basketball courts, tennis courts or soccer fields. Who determines what sports are sponsered by the taxpayers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-89354205049657333662009-10-27T22:12:04.285-04:002009-10-27T22:12:04.285-04:00Memorial Pool was built in the early 1950s so it i...Memorial Pool was built in the early 1950s so it is indeed antiquated.<br /><br />And I actually agree with the Town Mangler (who very well could be you) that it should be replaced (as Look Park did) with a water spray park. But that still costs a lot of money up front--money the town does not have.<br /><br />Speaking of an "antiquated relic", a 2003 study done by a Town Meeting Blue Ribbon committee to revive the Golf Course because it has "almost closed" a few times discovered that two-thirds of Cherry Hill's heavy equipment (meaning very expensive) were beyond their operationally rated lifespan.<br /><br />Like last year's $22,000 lawnmower for instance (you know, from a Capital account on the other side of the town budget so it does not show up as a cost of doing the business of golf--along with the Clubhouse insurance and employee benefits).Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-12974870362320894452009-10-27T21:50:25.280-04:002009-10-27T21:50:25.280-04:00So, you knew a decade ago that Cherry Hill would b...So, you knew a decade ago that Cherry Hill would bring about the closing of Memorial pool? What a load of B.S.<br /><br />It's Memorial pool that's the sink hole. It's an antiquated relic that's almost been closed a dozen times. Northampton got rid of their pool years ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-25796251810971241002009-10-27T20:25:42.871-04:002009-10-27T20:25:42.871-04:00Because as someone who knows the recreation busine...Because as someone who knows the recreation business I'm offended that the town would squander over the past ten years a million dollars on the operation of a golf course and yet close down an outdoor swimming pool (serving many, many times more children) for the first time in 50 years this past summer to save $50,000 in tax money.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-48447846487042688352009-10-27T20:16:52.505-04:002009-10-27T20:16:52.505-04:00The bigger the government, the smaller the individ...The bigger the government, the smaller the individual is.ChipSealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07095195723481694050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-4485171589678857892009-10-27T18:20:09.236-04:002009-10-27T18:20:09.236-04:00One of the many, many holes in your Cherry Hill ar...One of the many, many holes in your Cherry Hill arguments is your constant reference to the Niblick Mgmt. contract which would have paid the town 30k/year...BUT (and a very important "but!"), the clause you alway fail to mention is the one that stated that the TOWN would still own the land, the equipment, etc. and, as such, would have been solely responsible for the maintenance, replacement, etc. of those assets. Translation: we would have had a bushel full of costs/expenses and yet a VERY limited revenue stream with which to offset those expenses (exactly 30k/year). This arrangment would be faaarrrr from the slam dunk that you portray it as and yet you seem reluctant to scratch a little deeper on this one, instead turning a blind eye to any facts that take away from your ongoing "case" against Cherry Hill and its current management. Why is that? Why is this particular issue so personal with you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-83803860636691937862009-10-27T15:29:25.227-04:002009-10-27T15:29:25.227-04:00But of course. You forget the LSSE (you know that...But of course. You forget the LSSE (you know that socialized recreation empire) Director at the time told Town Meeting that revenues from the golf business would repay the loan.<br /><br />"The sun will come out tomorrow...tomorrow"Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-43957249509949327252009-10-27T15:24:49.861-04:002009-10-27T15:24:49.861-04:00Of course the acquisition cost was out of tax doll...Of course the acquisition cost was out of tax dollars. The town was acquiring land.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com