Another Summer Sign

Azalea bushes, Snell Street

A BID for Success

Alex Krogh-Grabbe, Executive Direct Amherst BID 

The recently formed Amherst Business Improvement District now has an Executive Director, and he's a townie.

Alex Krogh-Grabbe, age 26, son of Nick Grabbe and Betsy Krogh, will assume full-time duties starting June 1st in an office located on the second floor above AJ Hastings. Krogh-Grabbe just acquired a Masters Degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University where his final thesis compared Amherst's partnership with UMass on the ill fated Gateway Corridor Project to the more successful business collaboration of Storrs, Connecticut with UConn.

Although he has never run a small business, Alex points to his local upbringing and graduate training as his "most relevant experiences." But he does have promotional experience organizing contra dances. Krogh-Grabbe will answer to the BID Executive Committee, who have a wealth of business experience:Barry Roberts President, Jerry Jolly VP, Sharon Povenilli Treasurer and Tony Maroulis, Clerk

UMass and Amherst College are both involved with the Amherst BID and each institution has a member on the Board of Directors, but they are not financial contributors like the downtown businesses, which through a property tax surcharge collected by the town will contribute around $260,000 annually.

The Big 3--UMass, Amherst College, and Town Manager Musante--will sign a "Memorandum Of Understanding" with the BID outlining expected services, such as providing interns or helping with marketing.

The decimation of downtown businesses by malls--with plenty of free parking, common pooling of money for promotions/advertising and a diverse mix of offerings--stimulated the creation of BIDs.  Northampton created theirs in 2009.

But Amherst is nothing if not a tough sell.  Half the property in town is owned by tax exempt institutions.  Of the half that are on the tax rolls, 90% are residential and only 10% commercial business.  And any time a pro business zoning change comes before town meeting it fails to muster the required two-thirds vote.

So Alex Krogh-Grabbe will have an uphill battle for the duration of his service.  A digital whiz kid with almost 1500 Facebook friends and over 100 Twitter followers, Krogh-Grabbe plans to overhaul the current BID website, as for many interested parties it will be the first thing they see.

And a truism of business is, "You only get on chance to make a good first impression."

Fireground: Hampshire Mall Hadley

 Hadley FD Ladder Truck at Cafe Square entrance

Smoke in the food court reported by Hampshire Mall security around 9:30 PM emanating from Fuji Chen Chinese restaurant. Hadley Police and mall security have evacuated the mall. Fire crews up on the roof. Ladder truck deployed at main entrance.

(11:05 PM)  Found the source: a burned out coil in the restaurant air conditioning unit.

Boltwood Place: View From Above

St Brigid's Church, UMass Library looking northwest from Boltwood Place

Boltwood Place tweeted yesterday that the elevator was fully operational, so I couldn't resist hitching a ride to the top floor and then climbing a very secure, ladder-like metal stairway up onto the roof for a breathtaking view on this most gorgeous day of the year.  Amherst could not have looked better.

First Congregational Church, center, Amherst Police Department on right, southeast view

The all-steel frame building is mummified in insulation and heavily soundproofed, so late night downtown noise, or the fire station emergency sirens will not be a problem. The five story, mixed use building, expected to have full occupancy by September, will be LEED certified.

Amherst Fire Department on right, looking west

All 12 apartments have lots of glass for viewing pleasure. Exterior will be finished in red cedar




 

Boltwood Place sits on 3,500 square foot footprint, but upper floors are almost 4,000 square feet

Looking southwest Amherst town center

Like a brewery, Boltwood Place owners are proud enough of their intricate mechanicals to put them on ground floor display. Gas heated water boilers are 96% efficient.  650 square feet of commercial space also located on ground floor along  with main entryway and storage area.

A Fitting Tribute

 A cutting edge building

Since he was unique, I find it fitting that the George N Parks Minuteman Marching Band Building at UMass is the first of its kind on the Amherst campus to acquire LEED gold certification.  Perhaps if George had paced himself a little more over the years, conserving psychic energy, he would still be with us today.

 George N Parks leads his beloved band on the site of his new building

But he always put everything he had into each and every performance, leading the Power and Class and Class of New England...until there was nothing left to give.

Shine on George N Parks

A Vitriolic Debate

The debate over article #25, Form Based Zoning for North Amherst Village Center, veered towards testy a couple times and in both cases from opponents who would eventually rule the day--but only because, in zoning, a minority can obstruct the will of the majority.


Nathan Turowsky, a rare UMass student member of Town Meeting, described by another youthful rookie member as  "an adorable dorky kid" came close to being escorted from the podium by the constable.  Not so adorable.

And over on the privately owned Amherst Town Meeting listserve a vociferous opponent came back to a positive post from Nancy Buffone, UMass Executive Director of External Relations and fairly long-time Amherst resident, by calling her a "buffoon"-- although he quickly apologized:

 "Today I realized that no matter which side ends up winning tonight, I will have lost. I get no pleasure out of this kind of strife and nastiness that's been going back and forth. I'm probably one of the more guilty folk but I am not alone. The bottom line is that I feel drained and depressed. I probably will not watch Town Meeting tonight because I really can't win win no matter what  the vote is. This has taken a lot out of me."

After article #25 failed to garner a two-thirds super-majority, losing 137-73, there are indeed no winners.

It is what it is

 AFD Chief Tim Nelson

Maybe it's a Holyoke thing, as former Police Chief Anthony Scott was widely known and respected for his "call them as he sees them" soundbites the local media thrived on.  Maybe Fire Chief Tim Nelson picked it up from Scott, or maybe--since Nelson served that rough and tumble city for 29 years--the other way around.

While calling a group of Hampshire College kids "idiots" for climbing up on a high roof, in the rain, late at night, may upset the genteel lily white Wimbledon sense of protocol so prevalent in our little town, it certainly was accurate...and succinct.

As the Chief pointed out three months ago when AFD responded to rescue another idiot, "The guy on the mountain made a bad choice but he had a choice. Those people who truly need our help don't have a choice."

Besides, the Chief had just endured almost three hours of Amherst Town Meeting (waiting to defend fire department equipment requests contained in an upcoming capital article), which would put any sane person in a surly mood.

Cost for the 48 minute rescue:  $550

Guess who's coming to town?

Fanelli Amusements returns to Amherst Town Common

Nothing says small town (village center) feel better than the traveling carnival, sponsored by the Amherst Rotary Club, setting up for  a weekend of good old fashioned fun.  Rides, games, fried food, flashing lights, and a throng of teenagers just learning to strut.  What more could you ask for?  (Besides sunny weather).

Zoning Deja Vu (all over again)

 Amherst Town Meeting

Despite a last minute compromise motion half heartedly supported by the Amherst Select Board, the North Amherst Village Center form based rezoning failed to clear that high hurdle of a two thirds vote, as Amherst Town Meeting once again turned down a badly needed pro-business measure by a 137 "no" to 73 "yes" vote, close to last weeks rejection of the same zoning change for Atkins Corner in South Amherst, which failed 130-78.

Once again the stigma of rowdy student undergrad housing takes its toll on progress.  Hey UMass, you listening?

A Deafening Quiet

St Brigid's Church, UMass Library, Grad Research Tower

No noise, nuisance, open container, or unlicensed keg tickets issued over the weekend by APD despite Saturday night being about as gorgeous as New England weather allows.  Of course after Friday's graduation ceremony UMass students vacated the area almost as quickly as firefighters responding to a major structure fire.

AFD weekend calls to UMass were down to almost zero compared to 26 over Patriots Day weekend--many of those alcohol related.

And that other more serious problem with alcohol will not go away over the summer, as APD did make three arrests over the weekend for Driving Under the Influence, each one a potential killer.

Alex Marchegiani, 77 Martin Ave, N Andover, Ma, age 23 OUI liquor, 2nd offense
Amy Cheesman, 11 South Valley Rd, Pelham, Ma, age 25, OUI liquor, leaving scene of accident
Brenda Lee Anderson, 11 Gromacki Ave, S. Deerfield, Ma, age 54, OUI liquor, marked lane violation

Better part of Valour

North Amherst, um, Village Center

Yesterday at the grand opening of the "Little White Houses" exhibit at the Dickinson Homestead, town manager John Musante tweeted an obvious reference to the upcoming session of town meeting, Emily Dickinson Poetry Walk: "Hope" is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul.

Yes, and the Light Brigade was full of "hope" as they charged into the Valley of Death.

As currently written Article #25--form based rezoning for North Amherst Village Center--will never survive the gauntlet of a nay saying town meeting tomorrow night, after its less controversial twin, article #24, was already eviscerated last Wednesday by 130 yes-78 naysayers.

Zoning articles require a two-thirds supermajority vote.   Rather than getting cut to pieces over two or more painful hours the article should be watered down even more by a friendly town meeting member, and if that doesn't work "referred back to the Planning Board," a temporary safe haven for sure. 

And either of those motions only requires a simple majority vote.

Besides, back to back defeats of form based zoning will also cast a pall over article #27, a historic district designation for the Emily Dickinson homestead and properties along that historic corridor, also requiring that difficult to achieve two thirds majority vote.

And if town officials really wish to set the stage for future passage of beneficial changes like form based zoning, they need to encourage charter reform, switching to a more professional mayor/council rule to replace antiquated town meeting governance where a minority of village luddites continually stifle progress.

Sometimes you have to destroy the village in order to save it.

Chainsaw Massacre

Bent over Birch Trees October Snowmageddon storm

So yesterday I had the sad task of whacking three out of five birch trees planted by my wife twenty or so years ago. Taylor Davis came over to give an estimate on some landscaping work and shook his head when I asked about the likely hood of the trees straitening back up via the summer sun.

The town did relatively well recovering from the storm, spending $426,000 of which 75% will be reimbursed by the state. That $319,500 will go a long way towards paying off the $612,000 capital item for 2,000 new trees over the next three years.

Shutesbury Library: Neverending NO

Today attorney Alan Seewald and town attorney Donna MacNicol received official notice that Shutesbury pro-library override proponents are appealing the decision last week of Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup who sustained the judgment of the Shutesbury Board of Registrars allowing the challenged no votes of Joan and Richard Paczkowski.

The judge, however, threw out the yes votes of Jacob Holtzberg-Pill and Shoshana Holzberg-Pill (grown children of attorney Michael Pill, initially allowed by the Board of Registrars) bringing the total vote tally to 522 against and 520 in favor of the $1.4 million override for a new library.

The new library total cost is $3.5 million but the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners granted the town $2.1 million towards construction costs.  After the second defeat at the ballot box the Library Commissioners voted to extend the deadline until June 30 to give the town time to unite behind a single design plan, but made it perfectly clear there would be no further extensions.

The Price of Transparency?

 UMass Du Bois Library

From: Larry Kelley <amherstac@aol.com>
To: aseifert <aseifert@stuaf.umass.edu>
Cc: michaeldwiseman <michaeldwiseman@stuaf.umass.edu>; jeankim <jeankim@umass.edu>; bwburke <bwburke@umass.edu>; buffone <buffone@admin.umass.edu>; jkennedy <jkennedy@admin.umass.edu>; mleto <mleto@admin.umass.edu>
Sent: Fri, May 11, 2012 7:53 am
Subject: Re: Public Documents Request

Annemarie,
Thank you for your prompt response, as I can imagine you are all very busy at the moment. 

Not to be curmudgeon or anything, but just last month the University did break with "standard practice" by giving me the Bentz, Whaley, Flessner report on the UMass Amherst Alumni Association without charge.  And obviously, since my friends at the Springfield Republican eventually did a front page story on the matter, that too was a matter of public interest.

I am also confused why you worry about the need to withhold "materials or data relating to student education records and personal data."  I asked for sanctions imposed against fraternities and sororities (corporations) not individual students. 

Or are you following the flawed Supreme Court edict that corporations are people?  Really?

Have a great graduation day!

Larry

From: Annemarie Seifert <aseifert@stuaf.umass.edu>
To: Larry Kelley <amherstac@aol.com>
Cc: Michael D Wiseman <michaeldwiseman@stuaf.umass.edu>; Jean Kim <jeankim@umass.edu>; Brian W. Burke <bwburke@umass.edu>; Nancy Buffone <buffone@admin.umass.edu>; John Kennedy <jkennedy@admin.umass.edu>; Michael A. Leto <mleto@admin.umass.edu>
Sent: Thu, May 10, 2012 9:42 pm
Subject: Re: Public Documents Request

Mr. Kelley,

I understand your perspective, but we are unable to waive the cost associated 
with your request. The process I have outlined is our standard practice. Take 
care - Annemarie

Annemarie Seifert, Ph.D.
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development

From: Larry Kelley <amherstac@aol.com>
To: aseifert <aseifert@stuaf.umass.edu>
Cc: michaeldwiseman <michaeldwiseman@stuaf.umass.edu>; jeankim <jeankim@umass.edu>; bwburke <bwburke@umass.edu>; buffone <buffone@admin.umass.edu>; jkennedy <jkennedy@admin.umass.edu>; mleto <mleto@admin.umass.edu>
Sent: Thu, May 10, 2012 1:36 pm
Subject: Re: Public Documents Request

I wish to request a waiver of the $368.45 in costs associated with my Massachusetts Public Records Law request.  The data is being gathered for a news article which many--if not most--readers (at least the 1,000 who frequent my hyper-local news site daily) would consider a matter of public interest. 

I am also a homeowner in Amherst and as such contribute (in addition to my wife's annual voluntary contribution to Isenberg School of Management) to the Univeristy's operation costs via state and local taxes, and as an Amherst resident (5th generation) have a vested interest in the town/University partnership on "safe and healthy neighborhoods" an article about which I am gathering this information.

If you are worried about journalistic pedigree or news judgement, I am probably the only person alive who can say they have taken "Journalism Ethics " with Howard Ziff (audited 1983) founder of the UMass Journo program and then again last year (online for credit) with Karen List, current director of the highly regarded UMass/Amherst journalism department.

The death of the Gateway Corridor Project and the impending doom that will befall North Amherst Village Center form based rezoning this coming Monday night is directly attributable to a (mis) perception in town that those worthy projects will create more rowdy student party houses.  Furthermore many in town think UMass is not doing enough to address this problem.  I think my records request would go a long way towards changing that perception.

Do you really wish for my readers to get the impression you have something to hide, and are stonewalling?  I also find it particularly ironic that Ted Koppel--a journalism god--is giving the keynote address at tomorrow's graduation.  What would Mr. Koppel think?

Thanks for your consideration,

Larry K

Form Based Zoning Fails...Again

Roundabout in front of Atkins Country Market

The second attempt to change the zoning in South Amherst to a form based code that would allow denser development once again managed to garner a majority of Amherst Town Meeting support, but article #24 fell short of the two-thirds vote required for passage, 130-78. 

This solid setback all but guarantees a follow up failure for bringing form based zoning to North Amherst under article #25.

Back Story on Front Page Story

Especially Poor Headline

No I'm not bothered that The Republican, finally, followed up on a fascinating story I broke two weeks ago (without citing me) concerning the chaos at UMass Amherst Alumni Association--an expensive bureaucratic fiefdom with a clunky form of governance and inefficient oversight from the mother institution.

I'm bothered they missed the real story.

First off, by saying the report I dragged out of a reluctant UMass via Public Document Law was "kept confidential until recently" almost makes it sound like UMass Amherst simply decided to put their flacks at the Office of News and Media Relations to work and voluntarily released the report.

And since the year old report cites major problems and dissension within the organization, perhaps one or two of those unhappy sources should have been found and given a voice?

Instead we get officials from UMass saying it's all in the past (why they kept it secret for a year, thus putting it in the past) and things are now all better.

My source, who first contacted me two months ago after a paranoid UMass official angrily hung up on him in a phone conversation accusing him of being "Larry Kelley", considers the article a "whitewash".

He is, understandably, disappointed.

So am I.

 #####

From: Larry Kelley
To: "Michael A. Leto"  Nancy Buffone
Subject: Public Documents Request
Michael Leto Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations
4/3/12


Dear Mr. Leto,


Could I please, under Mass Public Documents Law, get an electronic copy of the Bentz Whaley Flessner study performed over a year ago at a cost of $24,500 related to the performance of the UMass Alumni Association (of which I am now apparently a member due to my wife's long time annual contributions)?


Thank you,


Larry  Kelley


From: Nancy Buffone
Cc: Michael A. Leto
Sent: Fri, Apr 13, 2012 4:18 pm
Subject: Re: Public Documents Request


Larry:


In your April 3, 2012 email, you requested an electronic copy of a Bentz Whaley Flessner study of the Alumni Association.


It appears that in order to respond to your request, I will need to search for and segregate the records for materials or data relating to personnel files, and materials the disclosure of which may constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.


Also, I may need to segregate materials comprising trade secrets or commercial or financial information. I may withhold these materials under exemptions (c) and (g) to Section 7(26) of the Massachusetts General Laws. In view of the need for the above screening, the Massachusetts Public Records law, M.G.L. Ch. 66, §10 permits the University to estimate and assess the estimated costs of searching for the requested records or segregating exempt information from non-exempt information.


 I estimate that the cost of your request will be as follows: Search and segregation costs: .5 hours at $129 per hour (administrator) = $64.50 .75 at $18 per hour (clerk) = $13.50 Total: $78.00 In the event that actual costs exceed the estimate, I will bill you for the difference.


 If the actual costs are less, I will refund the overpayment. When I receive your check in the amount of $78, I will compile the records responsive to your request.


Sincerely,


Nancy


From: Larry Kelley
To: buffone NancyCc: mleto
Sent: Fri, Apr 13, 2012 8:09 pm
Subject: Re: Public Documents Request


Hey Nancy,


Geeze, you're killing me.


I find it hard to believe that I'm the first person to make this request and as such an already redacted copy should be easily accessible.The Secretary of State frowns on double charging for public documents, or throwing up barriers of an economic kind.


But your word is good with me...I'll get a check out tomorrow.


Larry

To: Larry Kelley
Cc: Michael A. Leto
Sent: Tue, Apr 24, 2012 5:21 pm
Subject: Re: Public Documents Request

Larry -

I wrote to you via email on April 13, in response to your April 3, 2012 public 
records request, indicating a fee for the cost of staff time to search and 
segregate the requested Bentz Whaley Flessner study of the Alumni Association.  
After review, it has been determined that no redactions will be necessary at 
this time.  I will be returning your check to you via US Mail and will email the 
report to you by Thursday, April 26.

What address would you prefer that I use to return your check? 

Sincerely,
Nancy 

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:24:21 
To: Nancy Buffone 
Subject: Re: Public Documents Request

Hey Nancy,
Business is gone (but some checks remain).  You can just rip it up (save postage).
Care to comment on the report?  I'm going to release it in full.

Larry 

Larry -

I have shredded the check.

Thanks,
Nancy 

A previous Public Documents Request handled poorly UMASSletoSecStateR 

Amherst's BIG 3

31 Spring Street, Amherst

Two weeks ago the Amherst Zoning Board of Appeals approved the conversion of 31 Spring Street to a two family abode, thereby doubling its legal occupancy. The house, contiguous with the newly renovated Lord Jeff Inn, is owned by Amherst College, the largest landowner in town.

The President's House, home to Biddy Martin, is tax exempt

Last year Amherst College, a tax-exempt education institution, paid the town $491,364 for the small part of their vast empire that is on the tax rolls: 31 single family, 5 two-family and 3 three-family houses, the profitable (unlike the town's own Cherry Hill) Amherst Golf Course on South Pleasant Street, the Dakin Property (purchased for $4.3 million in 2005) contiguous with the golf course and the scenic overlook at 69 South Pleasant Street.

In addition last year the college donated $90,000 in unrestricted funds to the town General Fund mainly for emergency services protection provided by Amherst Fire Department.

Although a couple years earlier, before the endowment took a major hit, Amherst College had donated $120,000 to the town they are named after.

Those donations have traditionally (if you call three or four years a tradition) taken place at the start of the New Year.  This past January/February, however, no announcements were forthcoming.  Odd, since their endowment is now comfortably at a historic all time high, $1.64 BILLION.

Meanwhile the "5 year strategic agreement" with UMass/Amherst expires next month.  That Payment In Lieu Of Taxes generated $325,000 per year (plus the regular $100,000 the state always gives Amherst for all state owned land in the town). Umass is the second largest landowner in Amherst--all of it tax exempt except for the Campus Center Hotel that, grudgingly, pays the local option hotel/motel meals tax.

Of course the closing and return of Mark's Meadow Elementary School to the University is a major change.

Former Mark's Meadow Elementary School

According to the expiring 5-year Town/Gown "strategic agreement":

“If, in the future, the Town builds a new elementary school and vacates the Mark’s Meadow facility, the Town, AES, ARPS and the University will negotiate a new agreement in which the University may reimburse the Town for a portion of the net costs of educating students living in University tax-exempt housing. "

Estimates of the number of children attending Amherst Public Schools from our tax exempt flagship University are somewhere between 50 and 60 (two of them Chancellor Holub's children), with our current average cost to educate at $16,413 per student, significantly over the $13,055 state average.

In other words, the $1 million it costs us to educate children coming from UMass tax exempt housing is more than double the amount they currently pay the town.

Last week Amherst Town Meeting approved an Elementary School Budget $218,000 in the red, which had to be made up by tapping reserves, currently around $6 million, but less than 10% of general fund operating revenues. 

The Fire Department also spends about 25% of its time dealing with University related emergencies; and with the AFD budget at $4 million, that too comes to a cool $1 million annually. Recently the firefighers union called upon the town and Umass to consider as part of the negotiations enough (extra) money to fund the addition of two new additional firefighter positions.

Considering the stress placed on AFD just from recent Mullins Center concerts (run by a for profit company cloaked under a tax exempt entity) a reasonable request.

Last night Amherst Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved the town operating budget (police/fire/DPW etc) without a single mention of negotiations with UMass, a guaranteed six digit amount for the FY13 budget.  And no questions concerning the supposedly imminent deal with Blue Wave Capital for placing a $10 million solar farm on the old landfill, thus generating six-digit savings in electric costs on top of $200,000 in annual property taxes.

And then we have the runt of the litter, Hampshire College, who pays the town zero in Payment in Lieu of Taxes and a grand total of $61,613 in property taxes for a few houses and the Bay Road Tennis Club.  Yet expensive trips to Hampshire College are as routine as rain for the Amherst Fire Department.

Black Walnuts near Hampshire College main entrance.  College gave the state a bike lane easement to save trees, but charged the town $200,000 in paving for an easement for Atkins Corner Project

All in all tax exempts own just over half of Amherst, meaning the other half--homeowners and to a minuscule extent, businesses--have to make up that dramatic imbalance. And on top of that we have the most expensive average school costs in the region at $16,413 per pupil, spending a whopping $12 million more per year than our sister city Northampton.

But town officials still act like beggars, pleading with our tax exempt institutes of higher education to "spare a dime." It's time to get serious...and ask (nicely) for real money.

Welcome Back AFD 3

 

From left: Chief Tim Nelson, Earl Bonett ESGR, Reed Frailey, Thomas Messer and William Messer

Amherst Fire Department can now stow the service flag flying under the American flag at AFD Central Station, with three blue stars representing a trio of their own--or I should say "our own"--who were serving in a far off dangerous place, Afghanistan. 

Considering just over 1800 of their comrades returned home to friends, family and loved ones in coffins covered by an American flag, today was indeed a glorious day to celebrate.

Chief Tim Nelson was surprised to receive an plaque from Employer Support of the Guard Reserve  for unwavering support of the men under his charge, which he instantly deflected to include the entire department and all the town officials who continued to show their support by attending today's ceremony.

The ceremony also included swearing in a new front line firefighter (but not a new position), Adam Cormier.  Mike Roy had been acting as both firefighter and fire prevention officer but will now do fire prevention full-time, and will no doubt work closely with the town's other newest employee, building inspector/code enforcement officer Jon Thompson.

Adam Cormier sworn in by Town Clerk Sandra Burgess. Town Manger John Musante (conservative red tie) looks on

Fire in the Hole

Another dumpster fire at Hobart Lane late last night, an almost weekly event over this past year.  And it happened right around the same time AFD was responding to an attempted suicide in another part of town.  Just one of the many reasons dumpster fires are not taken lightly by authorities, as they tie up valuable resources with more important things to do.

Last January police arrested a Umass student for the idiotic activity, but the fires persist.

Shutesbury Shenanigans

 Shutesbury Town Hall

The reverberations over the contentious Shutesbury Library override issue, recently settled by Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup who upheld the defeat, continued to be felt today...like a seismic aftershock.

Amazingly--with the ink barely dry on a Superior Court decision--the rights of long time residents Richard and Joan Paczkowski were again challenged by disgruntled library supporters Michael DeChiara and Joanne Sunshower.

Library proponents filed suit to have Richard and Joan Paczkowski's "no" votes thrown out.   Judge Rup not only sustained those two votes but she went even further by throwing out two "yes" votes from the grown children of local attorney Michael Pill--making the final vote 522-520.

In her decision Judge Rup wrote: "Like many retired persons, the Paczkowskis maintain two residences and divide their time between the two locations. While they may have focused their lives in Florida for over 20 years, it is reasonable to accept that they have now decided to re-focus their lives on the community where Richard was raised and they began their married life."

DeChiara and Sunshower should be reprimanded for "contempt of court" over their heavy handed tactics to bully and intimidate voters with whom they disagree.

Election Results

Shutesbury Town Meeting Warrant (all articles passed)

Rescue the Rescuers

 Cooley Dickinson Hospital ER

Overwhelming police presence and a rare temporary increase in staffing at AFD managed to keep a lid on the routine end-of-semester party itch combined with sunny spring weather, and a dance concert at the Mullins Center Saturday night of the same genre that the week before produced 24 calls for help with 14 of those requiring ambulance runs to the Cooley Dickinson Hospital for drug or alcohol overdose.

This time the concert produced "only" 14 calls for help with four requiring emergency transport by AFD and one additional alcohol overdose handled by privately contracted Westfield Fire Department ambulance. A good thing since the ER at Cooley Dickinson was busy enough as it was and ten more OD cases could have overwhelmed the system.

Interestingly, with as many as 17 firefighter/EMT professionals on duty Saturday (more than twice the usual), the emergency traffic was such that all the extra help was kept busy. Perhaps why Northampton, our sister city to the west, has roughly that number of firefighter/EMTs assigned all of the time.

Northampton maintains a ration of 2.1 firefighters per 1,000 population vs. Amherst with only 1.1 firefighters per thousand.

On Wednesday night Town Manager John Musante seemed to indicate to Amherst Town Meeting that (after almost ten years) Amherst may increase the current dangerously low minimum AFD staffing level of seven.  About time.

And reducing time--getting to the patient, then getting them to the hospital--is what it's all about .

Guess who's coming to Amherst?

Donna Kelley, Ted Koppel and lots of newspapers

So my wife had the good fortune of sharing an airplane from Washington, DC to Bradley Airport this evening with none other than the iconic dean of mainstream journalism, Ted Koppel.

Mr. Koppel is keynote speaker at UMass Undergraduate Commencement ceremonies on May 11, but he and his wife are vacationing in our neck of the woods for the next week.

My friends at the Springfield Republican snag an exclusive interview

Judge agrees: No it is!

M.N. Spear Library, Shutesbury

After hearing two hours of testimony on Monday, April 23 from both sides of the contentious Shutesbury Library Override debate , Judge Mary-Lou Rup decided in favor of the two challenged no votes but threw out two yes votes thus changing the original January 10 tie vote to 522-520, meaning the $3.5 million renovation Override failure is upheld.

"Friends of the Library" filed suit to have two "No" votes voided, those of Richard and Joan Paczkowski, who winter in Florida but spend nine months annually in Shutesbury in a home they have owned there for thirty five years.

Attorney Alan Seewald represented the NO side, and he argued that if the Paczkowski's votes are ruled out then the judge should also throw out Jessica Buck (wife of Chris Buck, who already had his vote ruled out by the Board of Registrars on January 25 because he signed a legal document in Kentucky a month before the Shutesbury vote giving up his right to vote anywhere else) and attorney Michael Pill's grown children Shoshana Holzberg-Pill  and Jacob Holzberg-Pill who live and reside in New York and California respectively.

The Judge's decision to uphold Richard and Joan Paczkowski's right to vote in their hometown combined with agreeing with Attorney Seewald's argument for nixing the yes votes of Shoshana Holzberg-Pill  and Jacob Holzberg-Pill brings the final vote tally to 522-520.

Judge Rup's Decision

Town Meeting "Shame"

 

Cherry Hill Golf Course:  Whistling in the rain

Last night after more than an hour of discussion Amherst Town Meeting turned down an amendment to add $67,000 to the "Human Services Budget" for non profit agencies performing vital safety net functions for those most in need.  As the 111-67 tally vote was announced, a disgruntled supporter said--loud enough for the Moderator to hear--"Shame!"

Within minutes Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to approve the municipal Cherry Hill Golf Course budget with almost no discussion.  Last year Cherry Hill lost $40,000 and this year (which ends June 30) revenues thus far are down 17% so safe bet they will lose at least that much once again.

And in 2014 they have $135,000 in equipment replacement scheduled, meaning they go back to the good ol' days of annual six-digit losses.  Meanwhile the hungry in Amherst, stay hungry.  "Shame" indeed.

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Posted to the privately owned Town Meeting Listserve:

I feel I have to write this to my fellow Town Meeting Members. I was ashamed by
the way some of my fellow members acted the other night upon the defeat of
adding $66,000 to the budget. The boos and yells of shame is not why I joined
Town Meeting. I believe we need to respect one another opinions and respect
each others as adults. I felt those people yelling what they did was immature
and child-like because they did not get their way. (that is my interpretation) .
Respecting others views is what a democracy is about, by doing what you did is a
way of intimidation. I hope this does not ever happen again.
Thank you for reading and I hope respecting what I wrote
Barry Federman
Precinct 5

House Poet

The Dickinson Homestead's green grounds have transitioned from a Civil War encampment site to a  giant monopoly board with "little white houses" springing up everywhere, bringing three dimensional aliveness to the words of Amherst's most famous resident, The Belle of Amherst, our own beloved reclusive genius, Miss Emily Dickinson.

"Little White Houses" meets "A Poetic Dialogue" in Sweetser Park

The topographical art project--40 little houses with Miss Emily's evocative words stenciled all around--encompasses the entire  museum grounds as well as Sweetser Park, joining a previous art installation, silhouettes of Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost. 

Also included in the sprawling display are a trio of historic neighbors:  The Evergreens, Woman's Club and Hills House, all of which occupy the proposed Local Historic District, a controversial zoning article Amherst Town Meeting will discuss and vote later this month.


The Little White House Project opens Thursday, May 10 and runs through Saturday, June 30. Opening Reception May 12 at the Emily Dickinson Museum. Admission is free.

What you lookin at?

No trip to Vermont is complete without a moose sighting (my 5-year-old wanted to ride him)

Occupy Miss Emily

So in addition to a throng of outsiders who descended on Amherst for the Extravaganja pot festival or UMass Soccerfest on Saturday, a small group of historic Civil War reenactors also set up camp on the Dickinson Homestead east lawn, less than a musket shot from town center.

Had it occurred during her lifetime Miss Emily probably would not have noticed, since her upstairs windows faced south towards Amherst College and west towards downtown.

But she certainly took note of the great fire that devastated "merchants row"--most of the downtown--in the dead of night, July 4, 1879.   Her reclusive room became a front row seat:  "We were waked by the ticking of the bells--the bells tick in Amherst for a fire, to tell the firemen.  I sprang to the window, and each side of the curtain saw that awful sun.  The moon was shining  high at the time and the birds singing like trumpets."

Her ever protective younger sister told her it was only fireworks celebrating the July 4th holiday.   "Vinnie's only the 4th of July I shall always remember.  I think she will tell us so when we die, to keep us from being afraid."

Less than seven years later, set against a rising fog, Miss Emily was called back.  As always, loyal Lavinia was near at hand--perhaps whispering reassuringly that everything would be okay. 

Civil War camp, east lawn Dickinson Homestead

Party Houses of the Weekend

1. 

26 Allen Street, Amherst (Gateway to UMass/Amherst)

So yes, you would have to go some in order to win the ignominious Party House prize over the past weekend when Amherst was about as busy as it could possibly get with many of those folks in a party mood.  Although Extravaganja attracted the usual thousands to town center it was also--as usual--a well behaved event.  Well, except for a numerous tickets handed out for pot consumption.

Our Party House winners, on the other hand, stood out from the crowd precisely because everybody around them was NOT making obnoxiously loud noise very late at night or throwing bottles.  And as a result offenders received $300 noise tickets (as opposed to pot possession tickets that only carry a $100 fine) and were arrested and thrown in jail, as opposed to the pot rally where nobody was arrested.

According to APD logs (2:00 AM early Saturday)

Report of loud party, loud music, and people throwing bottles at the house across the street
Loud voices on porch from gathering of individuals.  No cooperation received from tenants or guests.  Brad Sloan attempted to close door on officer and then refused to leave when asked to do so.  Sloan begins to resist arrest when I attempted to place him under arrest.  

Brad Thomas Sloan, 33 Allston Brighton, MA, age 25  Disorderly conduct, resisting arrest
Lauren C. Mark, 25 Sunset Trail, New Fairfield, CT, age 21, noise violation
Laura Kristin Moynihan, 151 18th St, Lowell, MA, age 20, noise violation

Ownership card for 26 Allen Street

 

50 High Street, Amherst (my immediate neighbor 50 years ago)

 1:30 AM early Sunday morning

Loud party with music and voices upon arrival . Ms Simpson was asked to clear the party and she did not.  She was advised of consequences and still would not clear the party.  She was placed under arrest for noise violation.

Apparently officers gave her three chances to comply and at one point she shut off the music and lights saying to her friends police had "no right to be here and no right to shut down the party."  And when she did turn the lights on after failing to clear the guests, that she described as too drunk to leave, officers noted one of them standing in the window striking a pose with his middle finger prominently up in the air.  

Arrested for noise:
Anna Francis Simpson, 50 High Street, Amherst, age 32

Ownership card for 48/50 High Street

And just so the apartment complexes get almost equal representation, we have Puffton Village. Unit #398  to be exact.  Also very early Sunday morning, or very late depending on your viewpoint.  6:48 AM to be exact.

According to police logs:

A loud stereo was blaring coupled with yelling and laughter.  Guests of the residence were also on the roof rolling full cans of beer down the tin roofs while jumping up and down causing a thumping noise.  The resident was placed under arrest.

Joseph Hebard Barry, 109 Oakton Ave, Boston, MA, age 20 Noise violation

You don't bring me flowers

A swarm of runners heads towards the flowers in Amherst's 2nd annual Daffodil Fun Run

While maybe not quite as large as the throng who attended the Extravaganja pot festival in town center yesterday, it was good to see such a large turnout for a healthier endeavor like the Daffodil Fun Run, a 3.1 mile run/walk past scenic spots in Amherst that attracted over 1,000 participants with all the proceeds going to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, an iconic local social service agency.

An almost equally large swarm of walkers headed up the rear of the pack