Hush Money

Amherst Regional High School

The recent settlement with Carolyn Gardner that school officials refuse to release any details about is only the most recent example of tax money paid out to, presumably, right a wrong or make an individual whole again so they can get on with their life.

Somewhere other than the Amherst Regional Public Schools.

Over the past four years the Public Schools have paid their attorney Giny Tate $562,066, or an average of $140,516 per year for legal services.  And "Legal Settlements" cost the taxpayers $821,668 over that same time period or an average of $205,417 per year.

Thus legal activity taken as a whole cost taxpayers an average of $345,933 per year for the past four years.

   Amherst Public Schools Legal Costs by Larry Kelley

The report to the Regional School Committee is dated March 31 so FY15 was three quarters completed (ends June 30), thus the Carolyn Gardner settlement is not included.

 Chart composed by HR Director Kathy Mazur

A few years ago I requested all the (former) employees who were paid a settlement greater than $5,000 and was given a chart showing 13 individuals (between 2006 and 2013) paid a total of $367,427.

The Schools refused to release the names of the individuals or any further details even though the Secretary of State's Public Records Division clearly told them to do so. 

Back then I had figures but no names, today we have a name (Carolyn Gardner) but no figure.

Go figure.

Show Me The $

Regional School Committee mid-May

Has the Phoebe Prince tragedy really been so long ago that bureaucrats have already forgotten?  God I hope not.

One lesson learned that from the sad affair is that money paid out as a "settlement" by a PUBLIC School is PUBLIC MONEY and therefor subject to PUBLIC disclosure law.

Even if an insurance company should cover it, that only means rates go up next year.  Therefore still a cost to taxpayers.  Or if the former employee is offered a full year's salary as a going away bonus.

The general public has a right to know the exact amount of the settlement (notice the Schools actually use that word) paid to Carolyn Gardner to settle her lawsuit.

And I find it stunning that the Regional School Committee, who prepares and passes the Regional budget, was not informed PRIOR to the settlement.

Click to enlarge/read

Email to Regional School Committee on Tuesday announcing settlement

Select Board litigation update 3/2/15

No Laughing Matter

Highest elected officials in town are paid $300 annually

Saying that when she mentions their annual $300 stipend most people laugh, Select Board member Connie Kruger told the Finance Committee this morning the Select Board compensation issue, although awkward for her to talk about because of obvious self-interest, boils down to "respect of the office."

Select Board members are reimbursed for some out-of-pocket expenses, but the issue really is their time. Lots of it.  This past Fiscal Year they met 33 times, with each meeting lasting around three hours.   Not to mention all the prep time preparing for each meeting. 

And the simply fact that their stipend (and that of the Moderator) has not increased since the mid-1970s, so inflation alone calls for quadrupling the current amount.

 Finance Committee this morning.  Chair Kay Moran 2nd from right

Most Finance Committee members were sympathetic to the issue with member Bernie Kubiak agreeing strongly:  "It should be increased considering the importance and amount of time ... I think $300 is a joke”

But newly reelected Chair Kay Moran thought it was a "policy issue" that should first be fleshed out with an exact amount by either the Select Board or a committee they appoint, and then come back to the Finance Committee like any financial article.

Member Steve Braun had to leave early before a vote was taken but told the committee on his way out, "I'm in favor of raising it."

Vice Chair Marylou Theilman made a motion to "Refer the question of compensation/stipend back to the Select Board as a policy issue."  That motion passed unanimously 6-0.

Connie Kruger said she was happy with that, as the Select Board may now feel more comfortable discussing the issue.

In other financial matters the Finance Committee voted unanimously to transfer $251,176 from their "Reserve Fund" to last year's DPW budget to cover cost overruns on "snow and ice removal."

The original $280,000 DPW budget was overrun by almost twice the amount, coming in at $531,000.

Area compensations.  Described as "all over the map."

All Or Nothing

The Lord Jeffery Inn

I actually kind of dislike all those listicals you can't avoid on the Internet these days.  WAY too many of them, almost all with the same pitch designed to get you to click:  "You won't believe #4," or maybe it was #7.

But certainly one of the more reputable entities out there is USA Today, still one of the top circulating print newspapers in the nation.  So their "Top Ten" actually means something.

And hey, who wants to be only #3?  So let's vote up to #1 the Lord Jeffery Inn, both an anchor and an icon for our downtown.

Sunderland Fire

AFD Chief Nelson (white shirt) on scene with Sunderland FD at Cliffside Apartments, Sunderland

A half dozen area Fire Departments responded to the call (around 6:45 PM) for mutual aid by Sunderland Fire Department after they were first on the scene of a stove fire at the Cliffside Apartments that extended into the entire kitchen.

The smokey fire was quickly put down -- "A great stop" said AFD Chief Nelson -- with no injuries to any residents or first responders.

FD on scene:  Sunderland, Amherst, Hadley, Greenfield, South Deerfield, Whately, Montague Center.

 Firefighters ventilating the apartment

AFD Engine 4 (functioning as Engine 2)  on scene

Montague Center FD on scene

Fortunately the South County EMS ambulance was not needed 

South Deerfield ladder truck

Select Board Mini Meeting

Amherst Select Board (4 out of 5) and acting Town Manager Dave Ziomek

The Amherst Select Board met in public session this afternoon in the Town  Manager's office in Town Hall mainly to approve committee appointments, as the new fiscal year started July 1st.

And in the brief 24 minute meeting the Board voted unanimously to approve 16 appointments of which six were confirming the Town Manager appointees.

 All were approved unanimously

But they did hear some good breaking news from Finance Director Sandy Pooler concerning the state budget, which is expected to be finalized by the legislature later today, mainly related to our schools.

Chapter 70 aid, Charter reimbursements, Circuit Breaker Special Education money and Transportation reimbursements are all up slightly, as was Unrestricted Local Aid for the town side of the budget.

Payment In Lieu Of Taxes for that behemoth we host, UMass, is unfortunately level funded.  And the Community Preservation Act reimbursement will be only 18%, so for every dollar Amherst homeowners paid in, the state will match 18 cents.

The acting Town Manager report from Dave Ziomek, filling in for John Musante who is attending a professional development program over the next three weeks, was short and concise:  "Things are going extremely well."

Under calender preview the board confirmed they will next meet in regular session July 27th, then three meetings in August all involving the Town Manager evaluation.  August 18th and the 19th (if needed) and then August 24 where they will meet briefly in open session and then go into Executive Session to hammer out a new contract for Mr. Musante.

The Town Manger currently makes $150,000 annually but is not the top paid municipal employee.  School Superintendent Maria Geryk holds that distinction with a cool $158,000 salary.

New up to date picture of Select Board was recently installed in Town Hall courtesy of an anonymous donor

Build It! Just Not Anywhere Near Me

UMass Southwest = 5,5000 beds.  Originally a 6th tower was planned, but never built

Couldn't agree more with Fearing Street resident John Fox's column in today's Gazette:  Indeed UMass could do more with housing students within their confines even though they are already top three in the nation for sheltering students on campus (around 60%).

 Click to enlarge/read

I just find it interesting he highlights two private town center projects he vehemently opposed -- Kendrick Place and One East Pleasant Street -- declaring them not nearly big enough to satisfy demand and then points out Public Private Partnerships constructing housing on public (UMass) land is the best way to go.

Kendrick Place, with104 beds, opening next month

Ironically, when the Amherst Redevelopment Authority partnered with UMass to develop the former Frat Row into a glorious Gateway Project that would have provided ample student housing and commercial space in a tax-paying mixed-use project, Mr. Fox lead the charge to successfully scuttle it.

John Fox (rt) on the attack at ARA meeting December, 2010

But at least he will now support circumventing the Pacheco Law to allow a Public Private Partnership to build a substantial project somewhere on campus.

Of course should they choose the best location, the shovel-ready former Frat Row, he will once again fire up his war machine. 

Gateway Area.  Fearing & Phillips Streets on left with former Frat Row on right.  
Maybe it's time to build that 6th Southwest Tower?

DUI Dishonor Roll

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

When it comes to drunk drivers Amherst was no more dangerous over the holiday weekend than usual.  Of course the bad news is "usual" means APD took two potential killers off the road: Sage Grasso-Monroe (age 19) and Josh McDuffe (age 22).

The scary news is how many did they not catch?

Both had a plea of innocent entered in their behalf by Judge Shea and their cases continued for pre-trial until next month as they were going to hire their own private attorney.

Joshua McDuffe stands before Judge Shea

Click to enlarge/read

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Sage Grasso-Monroe stands before Judge Shea 

   Dangerous driver

Attention To Detail

Big Y flag today

The flags originally came down to half staff for a damn good reason, honoring Marine Captain Richard W. Vincent on the day he was buried in his home city of Westfield after laying hidden where he fell on the island of Tarawa over 70 years ago.

 Post Office on University Drive (next door to Big Y) today

So I feel a little guilty pointing this out, but the Governor's half staff order was only supposed to be from "sunrise to sunset Thursday, July 2."

Post Office town center today

Having the flags down at half staff on July 4th (which of course all of these were) kind of sends the wrong message.  Like flying the flag upside down.

And the longer you fly them at that somber position of mourning, the more average people will start to tune out the real meaning.  That too is sad.

 UMass Amherst, the flagship of higher education

Update:  One of my more sagacious readers pointed out the flags are down for State Senator Thomas Kennedy, ordered so back on June 29 by the Governor  "until interment," which apparently is tomorrow.    

Of course now I wonder how the Governor ordered the flags down to half-staff on July 2 for Captain Vincent when they were in fact already down for State Senator Kennedy. 

Happy BDay America!

Amherst Town Center 7:15 AM

South Amherst Town Common 9:45 AM

 And they're off!  For a few leisurely laps around the common:

Entering the 1st turn

Abe Lincoln (and his dog) came a calling

The rains stopped just minutes before the 5:00 PM start time of Leisure Services and Supplemental Education July 4th extravaganza at UMass McGuirk Stadium. 

McGuirk Stadium 6:00 PM

McGuirk Stadium 7:30 PM 

And of course FIREWORKS!

Umass McGuirk Stadium 9:30 PM

Smokey haze envelopes McGuirk Stadium 10:10 PM

Post event traffic was a nightmare:

South Amherst Office Park Expansion

Amherst Office Park (looking from the east).  New building on right

The Amherst Office Park, a sedate mix of government, business, and some residential space had been expanding with a new building about every five years after their initial founding almost 40 years ago.

 Click to enlarge/read

Except for the recent past when they hit a dry spell, as the last building went up overlooking the Hickory Ridge Golf Course back in 1998.

 Building will have solar panels top roof center section

That will all change come September as a new 30,000 square foot three story, energy efficient building comes on line. 

As with most mixed-use buildings the first floor is commercial and the upper two residential, providing 16 apartments, 14 of them one-bedroom and only two 2-bedroom.

The basement also received approval for one additional one-bedroom apartment unit.

 All but 2 of the 16 units have balconies

Each apartment has one full-bathroom and one half-bathroom.  The two 2 bedroom apartments have two full-bathrooms and one half-bathroom.   Rents range from $1,000 per month for a smaller one bedroom, $1,450 for a larger one bedroom and $1,650 for the largest two bedroom units.

Thanks to the Amherst "Stretch Code", which added about 30% to the cost of construction, all the units are super energy efficient with extra insulated walls and windows.  And yes there's even a fitness room. 

  High efficiency water heaters

Mitsubishi heating/cooling units

Building has six garages for rent although there's plenty of free parking on site

You can tell the complex is family-owned as the buildings don't look nearly their age and the new building gets fine detail attention even in the stairwell.

While I was being given a tour this fine Friday morning (second generation) owner/developer Ron LaVerdiere was lugging 45 pound bags to their destination.

 Wood enclosed window in the stairwell.  (Building does have an elevator)

The Amherst Master Plan recommends increasing density in the Village Centers. This new mixed-use building is the best of both worlds -- adding badly needed residential units along with low-impact commercial office space.

South Amherst will be all the better because of it.  

 Amherst Office Park from the south.  Note new solar panels.  New building top center

Final Stretch

Kendrick Place nearing completion

Maybe we should take up a betting pool to see which new building opens for business first -- Atkins North, Kendrick Place or Amherst Office Park new addition.

 Atkins North almost ready for an influx of cars

With Amherst often being criticized as having a "7 month economy" due to our reliance on higher education it's a well known fact that September 1st is go time.

 Amherst Office Park new 30,000 square foot building hoping for September occupancy

And most businesses like to have a soft opening a couple weeks early before the deluge begins, just to work out the kinks.   So I would not be surprised if the winner opens by mid-August.