There Goes The Neighborhood

AFD North Station this morning (can we send the repair bill to UMass?)

One of the downsides of having AFD North Station almost contiguous with UMass is, well, you are almost contiguous with UMass.

Which has a lot of, you know, students ... Who on occasion --and only a very tiny minority -- drink too damn much and get a tad out of hand.

Like very early this morning (1:45 am) for instance.  A 21-year-old UMass student forced his way into North Station via a window, cutting himself badly enough in the process to require transport to Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

He was belligerent at the station but personnel managed to calm him down.  During the transport, however, he became especially belligerent so that the driver had to pull over and go help the EMT in the back of the ambulance.

Hadley PD arrested him for assault and battery on an emergency medical technician and Amherst PD also hit him with a "summons" arrest for Breaking & Entering in the night time.   

Perhaps Enku Gelaye, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, will have something to say about it as well. 

Inclusionary Zoning Zapped

Amherst Planning Board

After an hour and a half of somewhat contentious discussion, including a failed motion made by the Planning Board to refer the inclusionary zoning/affordable housing article back to them, Article #5, a citizens petition signed by 150 residents failed to garner the required two-thirds vote.

Although it did gain a clear majority 111 yes to 79 no.  The previous motion to refer, which would have only required a majority to pass, failed by a tally vote of 83 yes to 107 no.

Supporters described it as an "interim" measure just to cover the next six months while the Planning Board works feverishly to craft their own long promised inclusionary zoning bylaw. Opponents swore their allegiance to affordable housing but warned about "unintended consequences" whereby developers take a walk and no housing gets built.

 Select Board and Town Manager unanimously endorsed referral back to Planning Board

Article #5 would have had an immediate impact on the proposed One East Pleasant Street mixed-use project in the north end of the downtown. That 84 unit project is still before the Planning Board and they are seeking two Special Permits, one for extra height and the other for increased lot coverage.

Had article #5 passed any Special Permit, even for minor concessions, would trip the affordability clause, requiring them to provide 10 affordable units.

The Town Attorney suggested such a requirement could be considered an eminent domain "taking"  thus exposing the town to liability. Retired attorney and proponent of the measure John Fox told Town Meeting there's "always the risk of a lawsuit."

Amherst Town Meeting, via a dedicated minority, has turned down a bevy of zoning measures over the past ten years out of fear and mistrust over development -- especially if it involves student housing.   Which is why Amherst housing market is so overpriced and exceedingly understocked.

This time the high hurdle for passing a zoning article worked against the anti-development folks.

 Carriage Shops:  Proposed site for One East Pleasant Street project

DUI Dishonor Roll

The rate of drunk driving is highest among 21-25 year olds (23.4%)

You can always tell the rookie DUIs as they tend to take the Breathalyzer test back at the station (the one that is admissible in Court) and then when the results clearly indicate impairment they usually opt for a standard 24D disposition, which is of course only available to first timer's. 

Take Tyler Anderson, age 21, for instance:

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday Mr. Anderson took the standard 24D plea deal and as a result loses his license for 45 days, pays $600 in fines/fees, takes a alcohol driver education program, and will be on probation for a year.

#####

 Kristin Hill, age 21, stands before Judge Payne

Kristin Hill had her case continued until December 1st as she thought a Public Defender would automatically be assigned to her.  Considering she also too took the Breathalyzer (failing miserably) she should probably save herself the private attorney fee and go with the 24D disposition.

Busy weekend for all things alcohol:

   AFD Runs Halloween Weekend by Larry Kelley

Outlier

Once again Amherst proves how out of touch from the mainstream we are, voting over 4-1 in favor of what's her name while the rest of the state went with the white guy.  Or the losing anti-casino vote (Question 3) finding favor in Amherst by almost 2-1

You have to wonder if the local CPA tax increase question (Question 5) had been decided by a statewide vote would the rest of the state have saved us from ourselves?  Of course you also have to wonder what impact the student vote had on that question passing (3624-3154).

You know, the folks who will not buy property here and deal with its burden.

At 80%, Cambridge delivers @marthacoakley's largest margin over @CharlieForGov in Mass., followed closely by Amherst at 78% #magov #mapoli
— Jason Graziadei (@JasonGraziadei) November 5, 2014

As Amherst Goes ...

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Frightening Weekend?

 Massachusetts State PD joined APD over the weekend

A combination of not-overly-great weather and a fleet of Massachusetts State Police troopers combined to keep rowdyism at bay over the Halloween weekend in our little college town.  As usual alcohol was the instigator for the vast majority of public safety responses.

Assistant Town Manager Dave Ziomek did a "ride along" on Halloween night with APD Captain Jen Gunderson and was amazed at the seamless team work on display between not only our understaffed local police and fire departments, but also their interaction with MSP and UMPD.

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday Judge Payne sorted out the Amherst weekend arrests with the usual array of continuations (for more serious DUI offenses) or for Cameron Kingsbury a "Diversion" from criminal to civil where he pays the town noise bylaw fee of $300 (with the $300 "nuisance" ticket dropped), $100 court costs and four months probation.

Cameron Kingsbury, age 22, stands before Judge Payne

 

AFD arriving at Salem Place 12:25 am  for intoxicated underage male

UMPD alcohol enforcement Lincoln Avenue 11:30 PM

MSP alcohol enforcement 12:10 am

MSP alcohol enforcement 12:47 am

South East Street Speedway

Drunk driver into house @ 706 South East Street September 1

706 South East Street today:  "Barricaded in our homes"

One of the obvious problems with South East Street -- a main north/south corridor connection winding scenically through the heartland of Amherst -- is a lack of stop signs.  As in only one.

Yes, you can drive the entire six mile length from College Street to Bay Road pretty much unhindered by town installed signage.  

20 neighbors met Sunday night, appropriately enough at the Munson Memorial Library on the South East Street common, to discuss the safety concerns of the street they call home and come up with a plan to get town officials' attention on this public safety issue so something actually gets done.

 South East Street neighbors, Assistant Town Manager Ziomek (right)

Since the meeting was attended by Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek obviously they have already achieved the first goal but, as usual, the problem is getting something done about it.

Each participant was given dots to prioritize solutions

Suggestions ranged from the common sense -- lower speed limit, install more stop signs, increased police visibility, use of cameras for traffic enforcement -- to the slightly tongue in cheek:  level the steep little hill near Mill Lane which causes dangerous blind spots, or make the scenic street a toll road.

 Problem areas identified by residents of South East Street

South East Street is one of those historic old roads unchanged other than paving since the invention of the automobile.  It's time to come into the 21st century and share the road.  Safely. 

Question 5? Hell NO!

Need I say more?

For my numerous friend outside the little bubble of Amherst don't be confused by this post. You will not see a Question 5 on your state ballot today as this is an "Only in Amherst kind of thing" brought to us by aging full-time activist Vince O'Connor (need I say more).

The amount it will cost taxpayers is "only $72" they say, which is like a Marine drill instructor having you do push ups until you're about to puke and he then puts a gun to your head and demands 72 more.

The money raised by the "surcharge" (since it's voluntary they don't call it a "tax") cannot be spent on the most pressing needs this town currently has: increased staffing in our overworked public safety departments.

In fact, most of it will go towards taking properties off the tax rolls in a town where over half the property already is off the tax rolls. So just say NO.

And while your at it, in the name a fiscal responsibility, vote for Charlie Baker and return Massachusetts to the good old days of sound spending brought to you be a, gasp, Republican.

The Best Laid Plans ...

 Town Gown Steering Committee:  high ranking UMass & town officials, and other stakeholders (although Chancellor Subbaswamy was MIA)

After almost exactly one year from their inaugural meeting (10/30/13) the sprawling 24 member Town Gown Steering Committee tonight heard the "final presentation" from U3 Advisors, their $60,000 consultant charged with honing a vision for joint development of the economic and housing kind.

 Standing room only crowd for the presentation

Essentially what we got was a repackaging of the ill fated Gateway Project, another one-year endeavor that used a $30,000 consultant to put forth a vision of a grand mixed use development with student housing along the North Pleasant Street corridor, using the University's two acre parcel, the former Frat Row.  A project resulting from a public/private partnership that would house students, provided commercial amenities, and pay property taxes.

 

Former Frat Row North Pleasant Street at the "gateway" to UMass

Now called by U3 the "North Pleasant Corridor"

Mass Ave plan uses UMass parking lots and Phillips Street, the slummiest street in Amherst,  for a mixed use development

 

Current map of the North Pleasant Corridor/Gateway area

Study after study and now again this final report have concluded that Amherst does not have enough housing, driving up prices and driving out low and middle income workers. And our demographic is obviously studentcentric, reflected by the fact that Amherst has the lowest median age in the state.

You simply cannot talk about housing without including students, but when you do that -- because of the rancid reputation fostered by an irresponsible few -- neighbors bristle.

That bristle helped to kill the Gateway Project, The Retreat student housing project in North Amherst and they seem overly determined to kill the 1 East Pleasant Street project in the downtown because it dares to embrace student renters.

Simply put the town and University need to come up with a public/private partnership that can build a development to house STUDENTS without being torpedoed by the Pachecho Rule.

Amherst resident Stan Rosenberg, a proud UMass graduate and l-o-n-g-t-i-m-e unabashed cheerleader for our flaghip University, is about to become President of the Mass Senate.

Surely he can steer a bill through the legislature to get not only approval for a public/private partnership, but an equally important component to any deal:  financing. 

No more studies, no more talk.  Just do it.

Halloween Haze (Alcohol That Is)

AFD Engines Fine Arts Center awaiting ambulance to transport ETOH student 1:15 am

One can only wonder how much worse it could have been if Mother Nature had not played the role  first-responders-best-friend by providing rain right about the time parties are getting warmed up. And on Halloween, the parties are ubiquitious as pumpkins on a front porch.

 Hampshire Halloween fireworks 8:00 pm

Hampshire Halloween, the biggest event of the year for Hampshire College, was far less intoxicating than last year when AFD had six transports for ETOH.

This year AFD Chief Nelson required 2 out-of-town ambulances stage on scene, just as they did for the recent Fantazia concert at the Mullins Center.

South Hadley and Easthampton ambulances were easily able to keep up with demand, as only three patrons required transport to Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Medics on the scene also treated and released three more.

UMass, however, staggered to a new record, easily surpassing last year's 9 transports for intoxication. This year there were 13 transports, half again as many!

Interestingly male immaturity, as it often does, predominated: 12 of the 13 transports were (young) men. Another three patients (2 men, 1 woman) were treated and released for too much alcohol.

Fortunately Mother Nature continues to smile on our beleaguered first responders, as tonight promises to be the proverbial "dark and stormy night."

Just two of many ETOH incidents after midnight Halloween

High Cost Of Amherst Education

 Amherst Regional High School

Last Spring with almost no discussion Amherst Town Meeting approved an elementary school budget of $21,490,563 and a Regional School Budget (grades 7-12) of $29,618,478.

Just those two budget items alone swallowed up 52% of total town spending, and are a major contributor to Amherst's crushingly high property tax rates.

The Regional School budget was also approved by Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury, our partner towns in the joint educational enterprise grades 7-12.  Although Amherst makes up 88% of the Region.

The Amherst Pelham Regional School Committee recently heard an enrollment update as of October 1st.  For the Region, 1,472 students.  Now divide that into the total operation budget and it works out to $20,121 average cost per student for this fiscal year FY15 (ends this coming June 30).

State average is around $14,000.  Now multiply that extra $6,000 or so we spend per student times 1,476 students: an additional $8,868,000. 

For the elementary school the figure is either $17,760 cost per student IF you include Kindergarten (1,210 total) or $18,770 per student if you do not (1,145 total).  State average is around $14,000.

And those exceedingly high average costs figures are only going to escalate as our population growth stagnates, and Charter and Vocational schools continue stealing away students at an alarming rate. 

If an ARPS student attends the Chinese Charter School in Hadley that costs the sending district their average cost per student, or $20,121 (once the state officially certifies that 2014 figure); but if a Hadley student comes to ARPS via School Choice, that brings with him/her only $5,000. 

 75 students leaving ARPS, taking with them  $20K in funding per student

Almost 90% of the school budget goes towards payroll.   For most taxpayers the first thing that comes to mind regarding "schools" is "teachers".

Interestingly the average teacher salary at ARPS, according to the state DOE website, is $75,452 -- not much over state average, which Boston Business Journal reports to be around $69,000.

It's even a closer match if you use HR Director Kathy Mazur's average salary figure of $70,557 for the Region.  Although the Region does have a lower student/teacher ratio than state average: 11.7 to 1 vs state average of 13.6 to 1.

So where does all the money go that leads to such a high average cost per student?  Surely not the paraprofessionals, janitors or lunch ladies.

 ARPS 2012 average cost  per student of $18,026 vs state average of $13,636 note higher cost of "administration"

The Amherst Regional Public Schools (1,478 students 7-12) have a bevy of administrators in the $100K club:

Maria Geryk $159,150
Mark Jackson $135,803
Faye Brady $121,147
Marta Guevara $116,821
Mike Morris $115,879
Maria Mendonsa $110,000
Miki Gromacki $106,578
Joanne Smith $106,336
Ron Bohonowicz $104,487
Kathy Mazur $100,767
Michael Malone $100,290


Northampton, with similar student enrollments (1,335 students 7-12), has only two administrators making over $100,000:  Superintendent John Provost and Director of Student Services Laurie Farkas.

Hmm ...

Amherst Public Schools Payroll database

Show Me The $

Carolyn Gardner

Click to enlarge/read

Masslive reports

Don't Mess With The Brook

The Brook (54% owner occupied)

The Brook, originally an apartment complex built in the roaring 1970s called Riverglade Apartments and then converting to condos in the late 1980s, is getting serious about safety.

Last night neighbors, management and Amherst Police officer Dominick Corsetti came together to continue discussing a "neighborhood watch" group.  They first met a month ago and already Trustees have taken suggestions of increased outdoor lighting, uprooting large bushes near individual entryways (where bad guys can hide) and printing up stickers announcing their watchfulness.

Other ideas ranged from having APD use the office they were meeting in as a "substation," where officers can stop in during routine patrols and take a break or do paperwork, to starting a blog so all residents can stay informed about what's happened in the 146 unit complex.

For security reasons the group also discussed having an email list serve or forming a Yahoo user group so only members would have access to sensitive information, such as when someone may be away on vacation or business and wants other members to keep an eye on their home.

With the staffing level of Amherst Police bordering on the dangerously low side, any preventative measures individuals can take themselves for their safety and security is a good thing.

 Current office that could jointly become APD substation

So collectively coming together only makes sense.   The more eyeballs the better.

Columbia/Justice Drive neighborhood across the street has had one for years

Lipstick On A Pig?

One East Pleasant (most recent rendering)

After 30 years of attending countless public meetings, some of them somewhat heated, I can honestly say the Planning Board hearing of 10/22 was the most vitriolic in my long experience.

 10/22 Planning Board hearing crowd, mostly NIMBYs

Although I did miss the "neighborhood meeting" a few years ago concerning the now dead solar farm installation on ye' old landfill.




The letter written by Steve Bloom of Lincoln Avenue was particularly biting.  Interesting that he was not present to read it himself, which may have contributed to the overall nastiness.

That kind of rhetoric would never be allowed on the floor of Amherst Town Meeting (can't question the motives of individuals) so maybe Planning Board Chair David Webber will consider using his gavel when the hearing continues ...

 

David Webber (ctr) PB Chair at 10/22 meeting