Thanks!

South Pleasant Street overlook

If you had to travel anywhere this morning give thanks to Amherst Police, Fire, Dispatch and DPW highway and tree crews as they joined forces to deal with the aftermath of our first major storm of the season.

 Amherst town center 7:05 AM

And for many of them, it was an "all nighter" of above and beyond the call of  duty grunt work

Main Street looking east 7:10 AM

The heavy snow brought down trees and large limbs all over town, in many cases taking utility lines with them, although the power outages never came to close to the total devastation of the Halloween 2011 Snowmageddon storm.

 Tree limb into house Farview Way, North Amherst

Tree limb Snell Street took out streetlight

A downed tree on Potwine Lane knocked out power to less than 200 homes in South Amherst and a huge limb crashed into a house on Farview Way, but did not cause any injuries or serious structural damage.

#Amherst town offices to close at noon because of the storm (will anyone notice?).  Does not include APD, AFD, or DPW of course.
— Larry Kelley (@amherstac) November 26, 2014

 

PVTA bus caused traffic tie up at The Notch yesterday during the storm

 

DPW clearing Town center during height of the storm

The Tide Is Turning

No single issue has dominated the public discussion in our little college town over the past too many years like the problem of unruly off campus student behavior.

Yes, let me quickly interject that it's only a small minority that indulge in downright dangerous antics, tie up emergency services for preventable alcohol related calls and disturb the tranquility of neighborhoods all over town.

But when the majority of your population consists of "college aged youth,"  that small percentage adds up to significant number -- especially problematic considering our woefully understaffed Public Safety Departments.



Plus they all seem to want to get out of control around the same time:  Thursday night through early Sunday morning.

In response to problems emanating from student rentals the town, 40 years after it was first proposed, enacted a Rental Registration and Permit Bylaw.  As of today 100% of the rental property in town is registered and have a permit that can be revoked.

Neighbors now have easy access to contact information for those adults who are owners/managers of Party Houses and a simple mechanism to file complaints with the town should they not get satisfaction from them.

UMass, the Goliath that provides the vast majority of housing consumers, has also started taking things seriously after student bad behavior started receiving the continuous attention it deserved (kind of like the bad behavior of Bill Cosby should have been exposed many, many years ago).

For over four years now I have focused attention on the weekend circus with my "Party House of the Weekend" reports, naming names of both the arrested perpetrators of the mayhem and the landlords who own the property.

These days I get requests almost weekly to take down a post because a Google search brings it up and prospective employers are probably not overly impressed (although we all were young once I suppose).

March 8, 2014

The Blarney Blowout was also a major turning point as my spotlight on rowdy student behavior was amplified a thousand times over by national and international media coverage.

In spite of the $160,000 Davis Report suggesting overwhelmed police overreacted, the average citizen -- both taxpayers and students -- knows full well the alcohol fueled mayhem was a significant black mark for the University and its student body.

 But you can still buy UMass branded shot glasses at the Textbook Annex

And it has served as an unmistakable wake up call,  or some would argue an attention getting slap in the face.

So why do I, a grumpy old get-off-my-lawn cynic, think things are improving?

Last year between August 15 and November 15 Amherst police responded to 322 noise complaints, while issuing 91 Noise Violations and 33 Nuisance House violations.

This year between August 15 and November 15 Amherst police responded to 214 noise complaints, while issuing only 17 Noise Violations and 25 Nuisance House violations.

In other words total number of $300 tickets levied have dropped from 124 to 42 in just one year.  A stunningly significant decrease. 

Now that's worth partying over!

ARPS: The Drama Continues

Props from a recent Shakespeare play adorn the front lawn at ARHS

Perhaps someday the Amherst Regional Public Schools can can synthesize the past year long racial "event" -- for lack of a better term -- into a teachable moment school play.  Or better yet, a Hollywood movie.

Maybe we can get Meryl Streep to play Superintendent Maria Geryk and Oprah Winfrey as math teacher Carolyn Gardner.

Clearly we are in a full blown Us vs Them situation divided along racial lines.  And now we can throw Ferguson into the volatile mix.  

The Amherst-Pelham Education Association and heavyweight Massachusetts Teachers Association just issued a statement supporting Carolyn Gardner while trumpeting their "commitment to confronting racism."

But do we really have any proof that these unsettling acts perpetrated against Ms. Gardner were genuinely racist, as opposed to kids being kids, or an adult trying to stir up racial turmoil?

Or what on the all powerful Internet is simply known as a Troll. 

Either way, the case is now before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, who will spend the next 18 months deciding if indeed there is merit to the charge.

Until then candle light vigils, long winded comments at public meetings (with a side order of hissing) and press releases designed to win the hearts and minds of citizens are a waste of time and energy.  

Not to mention a monumental distraction to the sacred mission of educating all our children.

 Jean Sherlock reads NAACP letter of complaint to Regional School Committee

The NAACP issued a press release, err, I mean statement at the tense Regional School Committee meeting last week charging the schools with "illegal application of disciplinary measures" against the non-white student population.

Maybe they have not been paying attention but last year Maria Geryk presented to the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee statistics from the 2011-2012 school year showing 65% of the out-of-school suspensions were given to non-white students at the high school (who make up 35% of the student body) and in 2012-2013, 58%.

Back in July the Schools announced major changes to address these racial disparities, replacing two secondary school deans with "climate control coordinators".  Geryk also told the RSC last December that the plan was to pretty much eliminate suspensions as a form of discipline altogether (except in extreme cases of assault or weapons possession).  

So why now after the schools have been addressing this racial disparity for the past year is the NAACP suddenly bringing it up?  And where were they for the previous 20 years or so, if indeed the Schools have been out of compliance since 1993?

Mini Hobart Hoedown

Matthew Langford stands before Judge O'Grady

Hobart Lane is kind of like Phillips Street in that it will probably never live down its (well deserved) party reputation, even though there has not been a "Hobart Hoedown" in many years.

For you nubies the Hoedown preceded the Blarney Blowout, but of the same basic idea:  day drinking until you get completely out of control, and when police arrive throw dangerous objects at them.

Amherst police encountered two rowdy party goers very early Sunday morning trying to force their way into #29 Hobart Lane.  When they refused to comply with instructions to leave -- and physically resisted police -- officers had no choice but to arrest Kyle Bisceglia and Matthew Langford, both age 20. 

 Click to enlarge/read

Matthew Langford (6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds) was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest and Assault and Battery on a police officer.

 Kyle Bisceglia arraigned before Judge O'Grady

Kyle Bisceglia was charged with Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct.

Both are hiring their own attorney and they will return to Eastern Hampshire District Court in mid-December.

Party House Of The Weekend

297 West Street, directly across from Crocker Farm Elementary School

These party house problems are getting fewer and farther between -- which is of course a good thing. 

Alexander Elkins stands before Judge O'Grady

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday Connor Bertram, 19, and Alexander Elkins, 20, both took the typical plea deal offered by the Commonwealth:  Criminal charges are "converted" to civil with one of the two $300 tickets thrown out plus four months probation. 

Conor Bertram standing before Judge O'Grady

Restorative Justice

Kyle Kielbasa and Attorny Kokonowski stand before Judge William O'Grady this morning

Kyle Kielbasa, 28, came to terms with the Commonwealth this morning in Eastern Hampshire District Court for two separate arrests made by Amherst Police. The first on the day of the infamous Blarney Blowout, where Mr. Kielbasa was waiving a handgun around near Rafter's and The Hanger Pub & Grill while under the influence of alcohol.  A l-o-t of alcohol!

And the equally serious incident seven months later, a roll over drunk driving accident on Bay Road that took out a utility pole and closed the busy road for the night. 

His lawyer told Judge O'Grady that he was prepared to vigorously fight the first charge and had already prepared a "motion to suppress" evidence: the gun and extra ammo clips recovered in the car on March 8th.  But Mr. Kielbasa told him "No, I need help" (with alcohol problem).

Assistant District Attorney Bob Opsitnik recommended the "Restorative Justice Program" and two years probation with a requirement for continuing with therapy for the gun charge; and a standard 24D disposition, with $600 in fines, loss of license for 45 days, one-year probation ($65/month cost) and alcohol screenings plus two weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for the Driving Under the Influence charge.

The Judge agreed.  

Kyle Kielbasa's right to carry a weapon was also revoked after the first incident.

Going, Going ...

DPW gingerly lifts Amherst Chamber Welcome building 

The iconic, so-ugly-it's-cute building that has squatted on the town common for as long as anybody can remember was quickly and efficiently moved this afternoon by the DPW to a location on Sunset Avenue.  

 ?

The rumor that Walter Jones sneaked it onto a concrete pad poured overnight can be somewhat disproved as there was not a concrete pad under the building.

 Note dirt floor

Pot Priority

 Residents waiting for all clear from AFD to return to their apartments

Box alarm Ann Whalen Apartments #amherst town center.  AFD & APD on scene. pic.twitter.com/Bk7avQgy9F
— Larry Kelley (@amherstac) November 23, 2014

So a fire in one of Amherst's tallest building not on the UMass campus, with a higher than average ratio of elderly and disabled residents, gets zero response from my Twitter friends, but then three hours later a throw away tweet about a 65-year-old woman in North Amherst needing an ambulance due to pot consumption lights up the Twittersphere (or at least my tiny portion of it).

AFD responding to North Amherst for 65 year old woman having bad reaction to marijuana.
— Larry Kelley (@amherstac) November 23, 2014

Go figure.  (But I still love you Twitter).

Is 24 Too Many?

222-224 Belchertown Road

The Zoning Board of Appeals decided last month that up to 9 individuals living in a single family home (normally restricted to no more than four) was not too many, as long as building and safety codes are strictly enforced.  Fair enough.

Since Many Hands Farm Cooperative were all farm workers -- a much respected/protected group in Amherst -- and they are a  501 (c) (3) non-profit organization using the property for an "education use," they were exempt from local zoning ordinances like the one restricting no more than four unrelated tenants per single family unit.

So it will be interesting to see what the Planning Board decides with the two family house at 222-224 Belchertown Road (which should have no more than 8 unrelated tenants).

Hwei-Ling Greeney, founder of Amherst Community Connections, a 5-year-old safety net organization that shelters the homeless, is requesting permission to run a charitable living facility for up to 24 unrelated individuals.

 Jerry Gates and Hwei-Ling Greeney appear before Amherst Planning Board

Major long-time developer Jerry Gates, who is also President of the Board of Directors overseeing  Craig's Doors homeless shelter at the First Baptist Church, is also heavily involved.

At the November 19 Public Hearing, which has now been continued to January 7, neighbors unanimously spoke against the project citing safety concerns -- both for their property and the safety of the large number of tenants who will occupy the house located on a very busy street (Rt 9).

Back side of the building

The original 10/29 hearing had to be postponed because the legal ad mistakenly said the operation would house 12 residents, which even then neighbors thought too many.  But the planning department had misunderstood Ms. Greeney, as she meant 12 per unit or 24 total, so it had to be readvertised.

 Neighbor John Kinchla

The neighbors found that far too many.

Senior Planner Christine Brestrup told the board that town staff is also concerned about the high number of residents proposed to live there, with their particular concerned being overall management.

She suggested the petitioners come back to the Planning Board next time (January 7) with examples of other similar programs in the area, and Amherst Police Chief Scott Livingstone will also be asked to weigh in.

Come Together, Right Now

Select Boards, Finance Committees, School Committees of all 4 towns in the Region

Over 40 local officials from four towns -- all but one of them white -- came together this morning to discuss the upcoming budget for the Regional School District, a community they collectively share, although Amherst makes up the major portion -- 88% by population.

 Maria Geryk, Mike Morris, Sean Mangano craft a Regional Budget for 4 town approval

School Superintend for the Region (Amherst, Leverett, Pelham and Shutesbury) Maria Geryk started off the meeting saying they were, "Very much at the beginning of the process, but it's important for you to share with us."

If this were a political rally -- which in a sense it is -- this would probably be considered a straw vote.

Three of the four towns have to approve the Regional School Budget, and then the 4th town is legally bound by the Regional Agreement to accept that status quo.

And for all of the towns the combined Regional assessment (grades 7-12) and their Elementary School budget make up the lion's share of total town spending.

 List of most recent cuts by Governor Patrick

School Finance Director Sean Mangano started off the meeting with the bad news:  Outgoing Governor Patrick's recent budget cuts (mainly impacting ARPS transportation fund by $200,000) means that a starting deficit for the upcoming year expands from a projected $760,000 to an uncomfortable $990,000.  

The Region has been using a different method of funding called Regional Agreement Method which takes into consideration a 5 year rolling average.  Thus for a few years it works to a town's slight advantage and then for a few years not quite so much.  But it all works out in the end.

Since this is a non standard way of doing business, by state law it must be approved by all four towns.  Shutesbury is currently the town coming out a "loser" in the deal as the FY16 budget will be a 5.5% increase vs a 9.4% decrease if the Region suddenly switched to the "Statutory Method".  Or a cost per pupil (139 students) of $11,921 under current system vs $10,240 under Statutory Method.

But many in the room described the current Regional Agreement Method of financing as "predictable, understandable, explainable, fair and equitable."  And for hard pressed taxpayers complaining about the more expensive years, you can always tell them "relief is coming."

At one point a Leverett representative said this year is going to be a "particularly tough year" for the town because a large tax abatement case with a major landowner will tie up money that must be placed in escrow.

He wondered if the group would consider a 2.5% cut in the overall Regional Budget?  School officials quickly noted that would be $1 million and simply not possible.  Especially since they are now facing a budget already requiring $1 million in cuts.

 Amherst Town Manager Musante suggested a tweak be found to help Leverett so the overall process is not derailed

The large assembly heard an 8 minute report from Regional Agreement Working Group Chair (also an Amherst Select Board member) Andy Steinberg on the current status of the expansion of the Region from grades 7-12 all the way down to include pre-kindergarten thru 6th grade. 

After 3 years of RAWG meetings the final report is hoped to be delivered to the Regional School Committee by year's end.  The RSC can then opt to change the Regional Agreement by a two-thirds affirmative vote thus sending the proposal to all four towns for Town Meeting approvals.

This too would require the unanimous approval of all four towns to amend the more than 50 year old Regional Agreement.  A town could, however, then vote "no" to joining the newly expanded Region and continue to utilize only the 7-12 grades.

But only the three smaller hilltowns will have that option.  Because Amherst is crucial to the operation due to sheer size it is assumed that a yes vote to form the Region is also a yes vote to join it (since it could not get off the ground without Amherst).

Interestingly if one or two of the hilltowns votes not to join (but supports its creation) they would still have elected members on the new Regional School Committee that oversees the K-12 entity.  A form of "representation without taxation."

But with all the turmoil and drama currently happening in the Regional School District, it's hard to imagine all four towns agreeing to expand the system. 

Colorful #Amherst Theater

 UMass Grad Student Matthew Cunningham gleefully pointing out make up of crowd

The divide in the room last night was stark.  In the back: folks of color, many of them standing, with a smattering of young hipsters who epitomize the social justice movement; and in the front: well dressed, mostly white, middle aged parents who came out to support the schools.

Carol Sharick to Principal Jackson:  "You have my heart."

School Committee members got a taste (and smell) of what the meeting would be like as about 50 demonstrators greeted them outside the entrance to the High School holding candles as the smell of incense filled the cold air.

 About as many showed up for candle light vigil prior to meeting  as on Tuesday night

 Trevor Baptiste welcomes the largest crowd in memory to a RSC meeting

Rookie Chair Trevor Baptiste welcomed the crowd and said he would allow 30 minutes for public comment, twice the time allotted on the agenda but the Committee would not respond to anything concerning Carolyn Gardner.  A sign up sheet was passed around and about a dozen-and-a-half speakers indicated their interest in addressing the Committee.

 Mark Jackson whispers to Maria Geryk

Supporters talked about the positive influence school officials have had on their children, protesters talked about how unfairly Carolyn Gardner was treated -- not just by an unknown (?) troll but also by school officials who did not acquiesce to her demand for a $500,000 settlement.

Demonstrators read Internet petition of support signed by over 400 individuals

After 8 speakers had their say including a group reading, Mr. Baptiste, who previously championed a l-o-n-g-e-r public comment period when then Chair Lawrence O'Brien tried to restrict it to only 15 minutes, said he would hear only 3 more speakers.

 Lawrence O'Brien (probably happy not to be Chair) Trevor Baptiste, Chair

A committee member quickly pointed out that it should be a committee decision, not just his.  Katherine Appy said it was an important issue and all should be heard.  The committee quickly agreed.

The theater continued.

 Vira Douangmany Cage without a spear, just "community"

Main organizer of the Justice For Carolyn movement Vira Douangmany Cage once again played the "gag order" card.  Although she did not seem to direct that at Chair Trevor Baptiste who had earlier told the crowd the School  Committee simply would not respond to anything concerning the MCAD complaint filed by Carolyn Gardner due to lawyers orders -- both School District attorney Gini Tate and the insurance company attorney.

 Brother Muhammad cites "slashed tire" incident that never happened

Sonji Johnson-Anderson was one of the last to speak but certainly not the least as she went twice as long as the allotted three minutes, and only in the last few seconds did Mr. Baptiste attempt to bring her to a close.

She read statement after statement of support and sympathy for Carolyn Gardner that School Committee members or school administrators had shown her prior to the MCAD complaint being filed.

 Sonji Johnson-Anderson reading back quotes to the School Committee

Of course that could also be used someday in the school's defense to demonstrate how much attention and concern everyone showered on Ms. Gardner throughout the sad affair.

Carol Ross: "That's who I'm fighting for:  our kids"

By 7:15 all the speakers had their say and Mr. Baptiste brought Public Comment to a close.  Well over half the room started to undulate and Baptiste implored them to stay and see the work this Committee does for the children of the Region.  All to no avail.

 Crowded room 6:05 PM (at peak about 120 people in the audience)

Majority of crowd leaving 7:17 PM

By 8:30 PM only 17 remained

The meeting continued well after the scheduled 8:00 PM finish time posted on the agenda and nerves seemed a tad frayed towards the end. Some minor bickering broke out between Superintendent Maria Geryk and Trevor Baptiste and Amilcar Shabazz over timelines for budget items and the evaluation of the Superintendent.

 Finance Director Sean Mangano bearing bad news

Brought on, no doubt, by both the late hour and the bad news presented earlier by rookie Finance Director Sean Mangano that the Governor's most recent budget cuts now put the Region in an even deeper hole, increasing cuts required from $700,000 to an even $1 million.

At the conclusion of the meeting, as the clock struck 10:00 PM, member Rick Hood stated for the record that the Committee had, essentially, done good.

They had come together as one big family, under trying circumstances (some would even argue, embattled) to do the demanding work for their #1 constituents, the children.

Kind of like that redneck (if I dare use such a racial stereotype) brotherhood statement, "Only I can beat on my little brother."

Even MassLive came to cover it!

"Ask Not ... "

 Vince O'Connor firing shots at 1 East Pleasant Street mixed use development

As the 51st anniversary of that exceedingly sad day in American history fast approaches I can't help but be reminded of his two indelible quotes our Planning Board should forever adopt as their motto:  "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

In the spirit of amending a zoning article on the floor of Amherst Town Meeting I would strike out the country and insert in its place in bold italic the word, town. 

And the other one, President Kennedy borrowed from a New England Chamber of Commerce:  "A rising tide lifts all boats."

In Amherst, like a lot of college towns, we have a housing shortage.  Across the entire spectrum of the housing market, we simply need more:  affordable housing (low income), handicapped housing, middle-income family housing, student housing, and yes, even high-end rich people housing.

So when a development comes along, like 1 East Pleasant Street, that plans to add 84 vitally needed units targeting one or two of those demographics (student housing and/or high end expensive housing), then that rising tide helps every facet of the market by soaking up a chunk of the demand.

 1 East Pleasant Street

And as supply catches up with demand, prices could start to come down.

Last night's Planning Board Site Plan Approval hearing for 1 East Pleasant Street -- the 4th session of its kind -- still did not end in a decision.  The Historical Commission meets tonight with a discussion about the historic mural that will be repainted by the original artist on the new building.

 West Cemetery Mural will be repainted on new building by David Fichter

But that is not expected to be a deal killer as Archipelego Investments is wise enough to know what matters in Amherst.  That's the kind of responsiveness these two developers have brought to this proposal, and I'm sure will continue to bring to this endeavor even after it opens for business two years from now.

 Kyle Wilson (standing), Dave Williams (seated)

NIMBYs in the audience had dwindled by more than half since the 1st hearing (10/1), but still took pot shots at the project.  Even forever activist Vince O'Connor sounded half hearted with his request for the Planning Board to deny the "unrealistic proposal" because of a lack of parking.

The Planning Board continued the public hearing to December 3rd, for a 5th and final meeting.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

Amherst Pelham Regional School Committee

So to NO great surprise tonight's rescheduled Regional School Committee meeting promises to be a barn burner.

Let's hope that's in a metaphoric rather than literal sense as Amherst police, thankfully, will NOT be on scene for the meeting unless a need arises of course.

 I think everybody (including my Anons) needs to take a deep breath and relax.

(Where's that medicinal pot when you need it?)

Disharmony much?