Parking Peccadillos?

Hidden lot behind Town Hall has 18 spaces (2 of them handicapped)

For most of us parking in downtown Amherst is pretty straightforward. You drive around to find the perfect spot closest to a destination and then put money in the machine and hope you timed it correctly to avoid a $10 ticket, which if unpaid quickly escalates many times over in amount due.

Last year Parking Enforcement issued almost 23,000 tickets and the Transportation Fund -- between violations and fines -- benefited by around $400,000.

Some folks of course never have to worry about a parking ticket, and if they use the hidden spot behind Town Hall, probably never worry about finding a prime location to park.   And no, I'm not talking about special state issued Handicapped Permits (which also allows free parking).

The Town Manager's office issues parking permits to some town employees, as well as appointed and elected officials.  They are valid at any of the 538 on-street metered and public lot spaces around town.

Both the 5-member Select Board (the town's Executive branch of government) and the 5-member Jones Library Board of Trustees possess permits, although a Select Board member told me:

We do not use them while simply enjoying downtown:-)  And we have all had plenty of parking tickets -- just in case you wondered --  from the days before we had passes and for when we're currently out and about for non-Select Board work and guess our meter/machine time wrong. 

On Thursday afternoon (4/2) a walk around town center turned up 24 vehicles with the placards displayed on the front dashboard, nine of them in the secret lot behind Town Hall.  And on Good Friday I found 26, with nine once again in the lot behind Town Hall. 

Naturally none of these prized placards are issued to front line police, fire or DPW workers.

There's a movement afoot to build a new parking garage in town center, although the two most recent study/analysis reports -- one in 2008 and the other being released this week -- seem to indicate there is enough parking overall to meet demand, just not at peak periods.

Kind of like a health club that sees the trendy popular aerobic machines overbooked at 5:30 PM but in the early morning or later at night, not so much. Like most things in life, timing is everything.

At the most recent Downtown Parking Forum, Finance Committee Chair Kay Moran pointed out four expensive municipal major building projects are already in the hopper -- new Fire Station and DPW building, expanded renovated Jones Library and Wildwood School -- so any proposed parking structure darn well better be self supporting. 

Another strain on the system is meter feeders who take up prime spots for a full eight hours, or folks like the "top ten" scofflaws who forget to feed the meter and then forgets to pay the fines.  Take #1 for instance, with an astounding $18,330 owed.

 Downtown business owner gets "the boot", pays the $690 in fines within the hour

Yes, you would think a business owner would not park so near his business preferring to leave that prime spot open for, you know, paying customers.  And you would also wonder how the Hell he could rack up $18,330 in parking violations.

Or why the town didn't keep the boot on until those monies (owed from another vehicle) were paid, although I'm told the town had him sign an installment agreement to start making payments.  If not, the Select Board could fail to renew his liquor license.

Although, lately, the Town Manager and Select Board have been a tad fawning with the downtown liquor establishments, probably not wanting to fan the flames of an "anti business" reputation that has been smouldering for over a generation. 

Just one day after the March 23 booting of the pick up truck, he earned two more tickets in the downtown:

The Select Board is also generous with allowing downtown events -- Taste of Amherst, Extravaganja, The Sustainability Festival -- to temporarily take up prime parking spots as a staging area with no charge.

Yet when the Lord Jeff Inn requests meters be set aside for guests of a wedding reception, they pay $5 per meter bagged.

Meters reserved 3/24 Boltwood Ave for Lord Jeff wedding reception @ $5/bag

Since the town will soon be hiring a $70,000 Economic Development Director, perhaps their first order of business should be to address the parking situation in town center.  In as cost effective manner as possible. 

And don't give him/her a free parking pass until they figure it out!

   Parking in Amherst

$40.00 an hour?

 Town Hall SEIU payscale steps 1 thru step 10

Pumpkin Fest Goes PFFT

Keene State Pumpkin Fest riots October, 2014

The world -- or at least regionally -- famous Keene New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival will not live to see its 25th year.  Killed off by the international bad press generated by riots that broke out last year strikingly reminiscent of our own Blarney Blowout.

Although in our case BB was not attached to any particular Town or University sponsored event, as it was simply a juvenile promotion conjured up by downtown bars to stimulate business.  Ending up with a little more stimulation than they wished for.

But if Blarney had been associated with a legitimate event, the tragedy that just occurred in Keene's City Council chambers would be sort of like our Select Board pulling the permit for the Taste of Amherst or -- God forbid --  the celebratory pot festival, Extravaganja. 

According to the only Keene City Councilor (out of 14) who opposed denying the permit:  “We’ll be known as the city of the pumpkin festival riot. Keene State College will be remembered as the college that killed off the Pumpkin Festival.”

Yikes!  Can you imagine if UMass became known as the college that killed off Extravaganja?

Let this be a lesson boys and girls:  the misdeeds of the very few can significantly impact the reputations of the very many.

Hopefully our college aged youth will remember that over next four weekends leading up to graduations.  

I wonder if they will hire Mr. Davis to do a study

A Fitting Investment

UMass undergrad Commencement Ceremony, May 8th

If UMass can spend a little over $300,000 on three "artists" for a free musical concert at the Mullins Center to attract students away from a boorish Blarney Blowout style of celebration, I sure don't have a problem with paying Neil deGrasse Tyson $25,000 (plus expenses) for this year's Commencement speech.

As I've mentioned more than once, last year's Blarney Blowout cost the University and Town more than a million in bad PR.  And had this year's event stumbled down the same sorry path, you could have easily doubled that amount.

College graduation is a once in a lifetime event.  Let's hope Mr. Tyson presents a memorable, out of this world, speech.

Globe story alone is worth a couple bucks

A Bridge Request Too Far

 Mill Street Bridge connects State Street and Summer Street

Last night the Public Works Committee voted unanimously to oppose the citizens petition article brought to upcoming Town Meeting by North Amherst resident Vince O'Connor to partially reopen the Mill Street bridge and allow two-way vehicular traffic via one lane using the center area of the closed bridge.

State inspectors deemed the bridge "dangerous"

In March of 2014 the Public Works Committee had also voted unanimously to support the same option eventually approved by the Amherst Select Board: to renovate the bridge for one lane vehicular traffic (yet to be decided which way) with a side order of bike/pedestrian path.

 Mill Street Bridge has been closed since summer of 2012, but still open to pedestrians and cyclists

That reconstruction project is scheduled to start in the 2017 construction season and will be paid for with state money.

Outer beams rusted and concrete foundation is washing away

Mr. O'Connor admitted the bridge is currently unsafe for two-way traffic and cannot support the weight of Amherst Fire Department emergency vehicle, but he pointed out it's the outermost steel beams on each side that are the problem, so the middle part of the bridge could support one car via one-way traffic.

 Vince O'Connor was unsuccessful with his pitch to the Public Works Committee last night

DPW Chief Guilford Mooring pointed out that you would need to place jersey barriers to keep cars from traveling on the unsafe areas thus taking up even more space making it tight for AFD vehicles or pedestrians and cyclists crossing at the same time with vehicles.

During the meeting Mooring texted Fire Chief Tim Nelson about the bridge who instantly responded, "I wouldn't even think about using it"

Long time Town Meeting member and North Amherst resident Hilda Greenbaum also complained to the Public Works Committee that more traffic is now funnelled through the main North Amherst village center intersection, which is a tad quirky.

Greenbaum threatened PWC Chair Christine Gray-Mullen  with  a lawsuit if she were injured or killed in a car accident in North Amherst center.

 N. Amherst intersection upper center: Montague & Sunderland Road split off

Committee members repeatedly suggested there was "nothing new" in the presentations coming before them now, considering the extensive public hearings they held over one year ago.  When they cut off discussion because of that, O'Connor stormed out of the meeting.

The Public Works Committee then voted unanimously (3-0 with 2 absent*) to strongly oppose the Town Meeting warrant article to reopen the bridge because it was "unsafe, costly to implement and still would not support the weight of an AFD emergency vehicle."

 * The PWC is currently looking for a new member.  With meetings like this, how can you go wrong?

 Bridge provides perfect perch to view Puffer's Pond waterfall

Better Off Dead?

Rout 9 Diner now defunct

The Gazette seems to think the ("self inflicted") death of this diner can serve as a role model for the restaurant trade on how not to do business.  Fair enough I suppose. 

But I still have not heard a single source say the boorish behavior some employees were accused of back in October continued unabated for the last five months up until Monday when the business suddenly closed their doors.  Forever.

 Today's editorial

 Since the "self inflicted" wounds proved fatal, do we declare it a suicide?

So did the Attorney General's office really need to come in guns blazing? 

Especially since their involvement seems to be simply handing off the matter to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.  

Considering the pace MCAD ambles along at most of the "young women" who worked at the establishment and were subject to bad behavior would see a settlement right around the time they are eligible for AARP.

Now, everybody gets nothing.

NIMBYs Cast A Giant Shadow

53 acre Old landfill on Belchertown Road is nothing if not wide open

About the only interesting thing to come out of last night's Amherst Media live coverage of the local election was the interview of the Town Manager, who is not known for his extemporaneous public speaking skills, by former Select Board member Judy Brooks.

Bricks and mortar media reporters who cover the Town Manager should take notes.

When she grilled him about the proposed solar array on ye old landfill the Town Manager, finally, admitted the project is "dead."

Killed of course by nearby neighbors who filed a lawsuit against the town for violating an old provision with the Department of Environmental Protection not to allow anything on the cap of landfill except for passive recreation.

The state legislature, in order to stimulate the sprouting of solar arrays on old landfills, passed legislation to nix such provisions but it came too late for Amherst.

 Solar array on Allard Farms Hadley, just over the Amherst border

The Town Manager explained last night that the solar market had since changed and tax incentives were no longer as advantageous, thus making the multi-million dollar green project unworkable.

This after spending $64,827 for contract negotiations with BlueWave Capital.

Score another one for the NIMBYs -- at the expense of the common good.

Amherst Woods neighbors were a tad too close for comfort

Apathy Wins Big

This homeowner called it

So no BIG surprises in yesterday's annual town election.  No little surprises either.  Turnout was a pathetic at best 7.5%.   Or with only 1,472 voters making the effort -- in an election costing taxpayers around $12,000 -- a little over $8 cost per vote cast.

The town really needs to follow UMass and create a PR Department to better promote the Amherst "brand."  Since we are famous for being so opinionated it is embarrassing to have such a lousy turnout for a local election -- the most fundamental aspect of civic engagement.

But the establishment will be (somewhat) happy with the results.  Phoebe Hazzard survived an election process snafu and ended up the top vote getter, beating out somewhat seasoned candidate Vira Douangmany.

Although two seats were open so both candidates will join the 5 member Amherst School Committee.

The last minute School Committee write in campaign to keep Lawrence O'Brien on the board failed to gain traction.  But first timer Victor Nunez-Ortiz did well for a write in candidate garnering 259 votes.

Election ballots are kind of like web pages: you want them to load quickly with as few clicks as possible to complete whatever task brought you there.  And taking the time to write in the full name of a candidate vs simply filling in a little oval is a lot to ask.

TracyLee Boutilier, the other winner in a somewhat contested Amherst Housing Authority race, like Vira Douangmany, is also somewhat seasoned as she ran for the AHA last year and lost to establishment candidate Peter Jessop.

With the town currently falling all over itself to address the problem of affordable housing the AHA could be instrumental in the upcoming political firefights.

It will also be interesting to see who replaces Paul Bobrowski, a level headed attorney, as Chair of the Amherst Housing Authority since he did not run for reelection.

Also on a second try Doug Slaughter won an uncontested seat on the still all white Select Board, our Executive branch of government.

The Select Board has not had a decent contest since 2007 when current SB member Alisa Brewer humiliated then Chair Anne Awad's husband Robie Hubley and "reversed her steady consolidation of power." 

Town Meeting winners (top 8 per Precinct for 3 year terms):

DUI Dishonor Roll

Every day in America another 28 people die from drunk driving accidents

If driving while texting is six times more dangerous than drunk driving what the heck is texting while driving under the influence of alcohol?

Obviously extremely dangerous, as evidenced by Gabriel Lopollo, age 38, crashing into another vehicle. 

Gabriel Lopolla was arrested early Monday morning and arrigned this morning

Click to enlarge/read

In Eastern Hampshire District Court this morning Lopollo had a plea of innocent entered in his behalf with his case continued until April 27 so he could hire his own attorney.

 Michael Flannery is arraigned on Monday morning before Judge Payne

At least Michael Flannery, age 25, gets bonus points for honesty.  Unlike the usual response of "two beers" Mr. Flannery admitted to the officer he had consumed five.  And his legally admissible in Court breath test confirmed that.

His DUI case was also continued until April 27 so he could hire a private attorney.

He Said, She Said

Andre Chris Edmund stands before Judge John Payne (from the lockup)

When a homeless woman soliciting money in front of CVS in downtown Amherst late Saturday rebuked his inappropriate advances, Andre Edmund, also homeless, allegedly starting yelling "Fuck you!  You're a racist, a fucking racist!"

Police were called to this rather high profile disturbance and Mr. Edmund, age 39, was located on the UM campus and placed under arrest.

 Click to enlarge/read

The Clerk Magistrate set bail at $2,500 so he was transported to the House of Correction to await arraignment and a bail hearing before Judge John Payne in Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday morning.

The Commonwealth requested $1,000 cash bail telling the Judge that Mr. Edmund has a history of drug and alcohol problems, served a year in jail in 2008 for a cocaine conviction and that this charge now before the Court was a "very serious matter which could result in a jail sentence."

The Public Defender told the Judge Mr. Edmund has been clean since 2011 and although currently homeless (he gave Craig's Doors Homeless Shelter as his address) Hwei-Ling Greeney had found him an apartment in Amherst starting April 1st.

He further went on to state confidently that his client, "strenuously denies these charges and looks forward to fighting them in Court."

Judge Payne imposed a $1,000 "personal surety bond", meaning if Mr. Edmund fails to appear back in District Court on May 5th he will be charged that amount and a "failure to appear" arrest warrant will be issued.

And Another One Gone

Hadley Rt 9 Diner now closed

I guess sometimes you have to destroy the village in order to save it ...

Hey UMass!

UMass Amherst:  Massachusetts flagship of higher education

As I pointed out on Friday students enrolled in the Amherst public schools emanating from UMass tax-exempt family housing costs Amherst taxpayers "over $1 million" annually to educate.  

Well now I have a more exact figure for number of students and their cost to the town:  56 students at a cost of $1,267,200.

Click to enlarge/read

Notice too that one student (at a cost of $18,200) does not even attend Amherst Public Schools, but that money still comes out of their budget for Charter reimbursement. 

Safe to assume that facts from this memo will be used by the Finance Committee in their report to Amherst Town Meeting concerning the school budget, so perhaps a long overdue discussion will take place about fair reimbursement from UMass for these serious costs.

The Amherst and Regional School Committees should also take a strong stand, and the Amherst Select Board should direct Town Manager Musante to use these figures to get a (much) better deal out of UMass in the next "Strategic Partnership Agreement" -- already almost three years overdue. 

Ice Ice Baby

Puffer's Pond this snowy morning

In addition to keeping the killer beast fire at bay, at the other end of the spectrum, Amherst Fire Department also deals with another potential killer for us folks living in New England: falling through ice into freezing water.

 AFD has a total of 6 protective suits (which are easy to spot against white background)

Wearing special suits that allow for submersion in freezing water pretty much all day long and using an ice sled with team members holding attached ropes, a three or four person crew can make short work of getting someone safely to shore.

 Captain Sterling (center) wearing one of the older red suits (not to be confused with Star Trek crew member)

This morning's drill was a make up for one scheduled five weeks ago when the ice on Puffer's Pond was too thick to cut through.  Most of Puffer's is still frozen except areas where tributaries come into the pond.

The ice sled, donated by the Amherst Rotary, folds up for easy transport

Firefighter Sarah Roe proudly shows off new turnout gear

Skill training can make a life or death difference. Not only for the victim, but the first responder as well.

High Cost Of Education (In A College Town)

UMass, with 27,569 total students, is Amherst's largest employer

"If in the future the town builds a new elementary school and vacates Mark's Meadow facility, the town Amherst Elementary Schools, ARPS and the University will negotiate a new agreement in which the University may reimburse the Town for a portion of the net cost of educating students living in University tax-exempt housing."

So declared the 2007 "Five Year Strategic Partnership Agreement" signed by Amherst Town Manager Larry Shaffer, UMass Chancellor John Lombardi and School Superintendent Jere Hochman.

That Strategic Agreement expired June 30, 2012 and a new multi-year contract has yet to be inked, even though Town Manager John Musante told the Select Board well over a year ago it was "very, very close."

The UMass campus generates 20% of Amherst Fire Department total call volume.  This year UMass will continue paying the annual $370,000 for AFD  (total budget $4.5 million) via the expired Strategic Agreement and another $80,000 for much needed extra EMS/fire staffing on weekends when school is in session (aka ambulance drunk runs).

By (embarrassing) comparison the University of Vermont with a total of only 12,000 students -- less than half the size of UMass -- paid Burlington, population 42,284,  $1.2 million in impact fees last year.  Or more than twice as much as UMass pays Amherst, population 38,819.

The town has not yet built a new elementary school -- although we're well on our way.   But we did, however, for budgetary reasons (saving $800,000) close Mark's Meadow Elementary School in 2009 and returned it to UMass. Yes, only two years after signing the 5 year Strategic Agreement that specifically talked about negotiating a new agreement should the town "vacate Mark's Meadow."

 It was even noted in the press release spun by the well funded UMass spinmeister PR department.

 Former Mark's Meadow Elementary School now undergoing major renovation

Currently the average cost of education per child in the Amherst Regional Public School District (grades 7-12) is $20,313 per student and for the towns three elementary schools an average of  $18,597.  State per student average is around $14,000.

 Town owned modular classrooms still sit on UMass property behind former Mark's Meadow school

Currently over 50 students attending Amherst public school system call tax-exempt UMass student housing their home ... or, just over $1 million dollars in educational service costs shouldered by Amherst taxpayers.

Let me repeat that:  JUST OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

The upcoming FY16 Regional School budget, just to maintain "level services," required a $1 million cut resulting in the elimination of the equivalent of 16 full-time positions.

Let me repeat that:  A ONE MILLION DOLLAR CUT!

Do the simple but discouraging math: Time for UMass, our "partner," to pay up.

Do it for the kids.  Your kids!

UMass North Village, described as "family housing," is owned by Commonwealth of Massachusetts with an assessed value of $10.7 million. Thus, it would  pay $220,000 in property taxes this year IF privately owned

Boston Mayor plays hardball

Should Everyone Get A Trophy?

Today's Gazette above the fold story (at least they used a question mark)

Well I guess now I know why the Gazette sent a photographer (but not a reporter) to the Amherst Regional School Committee meeting on Tuesday: Today's whiny front page soap opera piece about the supposed poisoned political climate in town.

Had the reporter attended the Regional School Committee meeting readers could have been informed about the one-hour discussion that took place concerning expanded Regionalization -- the most  important educational decision facing the four towns in more than a generation.

All the more important for print coverage since Amherst Media, although contractually obligated to, failed to cover it (too busy covering the town sponsored 3rd annual parking forum I suppose).

And where was the Gazette when former School Committee member Catherine Sanderson was being raked over the coals five years ago for telling it like it is on her blog?

The establishment went so far as to file a letter of complaint with the District Attorney about her outspokenness -- a clear violation of the First Amendment.   Thus sending the unmistakable message that if you question authority, you will be crushed.

Seemingly every year someone dies horribly while hiking in the White Mountains because they choose to set off ill-prepared for the journey.

Amherst politics is not a casual stroll along the bike path, but neither is it an ascent up Mt. Washington.

I would not have it any other way.

Back In The Race Again?

Do supporters really need to bring the card in the polling booth?

UPDATE: 4:55 PM

Lawrence O'Brien says if elected he will not serve.  (See his comment/statement 4:39 PM)

#####

Original Post 11:00 AM

So apparently Lawrence O'Brien changed his mind about changing his mind over the March 31 School Committee election.

 Lawrence O'Brien (right) is current member School Committee

First he was in, having collected the requisite 50 signatures of registered voters, then suddenly within 48 hours of handing in his nomination papers he withdrew within time to have his name NOT appear on the March 31 ballot.

But now he's back in. Joining fellow write-in candidate Victor Nunez-Ortiz and the two old fashioned candidates -- Vira Douangmany and Phoebe Hazzard -- who did things the normal way by collecting 50 signatures prior to the deadline so their names appear on the official ballot.

Well maybe Ms. Hazzard not so much"normal."

Unlike Amherst Housing Authority candidate Emilie Hamilton whose name does appear on the ballot but she has publicly stated she quit because AHA meetings are "too contentious."

Sarah Auerbach was Katherine Appy's campaign manager last year

Geeze, and to think I once considered this election boring. (But I'm still comfortable predicting an awful voter turnout, as in under 10%).