Everybody into the Pool

 Mill River Pool in North Amherst opened today, ahead of schedule

Apparently town officials were embarrassed the War Memorial Pool would not open as scheduled, now hopefully set for June 30, so perhaps they lit a fire under Leisure Services to get the Mill River Pool open early, just in time for the hottest days of the year, thus far.

Last night the Leisure Services and Supplemental Education Commission "site visit" to the War Memorial Pool construction site was cancelled because of "extreme heat".  Perfect metaphor for why the pool project is behind schedule.

Since the town wading pools are not open, I took the kids to the always reliable Hampshire Athletic Club.

Shutesbury Library Drama Continues

Shutesbury Community Church managed major renovations with private fundraising

Andy Warhol once said "Everyone would be world famous for 15 minutes," and lawyers in the contentious Shutesbury Library $1.4 million override election had their 15 minutes before a trio of judges at the Boston Court of Appeals on Tuesday morning trying to convince the justices that Hampshire Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup was either as wise as King Solomon or wrong as a stopped clock.

Boston attorney William McDermott, representing two of the original 10 class action Yes voters, squandered precious time trying to get the justices to allow into evidence interrogatories that Judge Rup had not allowed on a technicality (they were unsigned). The justices pointed out to Attorney McDermott that if the Paczkowskis voter status is upheld the Pills (yes) votes would be moot.

Attorney Alan Seewald, hired by 3rd party "intervenors" from the No side, shared 15 minutes before the justices with Shutesbury town attorney Donna McNicol who argued the Board of Registrars correctly allowed the yes votes of Shoshana Holzberg-Pill and her brother Jacob Holzberg-Pill as well as the No votes of Richard and Joan Paczkowski, long-time residents who winter in Florida (bringing the vote to a 522-522 tie).

Oddly, Attorney MacNicol as part of her defense of the Pills also defended the behavior of Christopher Buck the only vote thrown out by the Board of Registrars and barely mentioned in the original case brought before Judge Rup.

Alan Seewald, the Pro from Dover, defended Judge Rup's decision but was questioned sharply by justices about "disenfranchising" Shoshana Holzberg-Pill and her brother, who attended the hearing, Jacob Holzberg-Pill.  But Attorney Seewald had never requested Judge Rup simply throw out the Pills yes votes only that, "If your honor were to disenfranchise the Paczkowskis, you must do the same with the Holzberg-Pills."

Shutesbury Town Administrator Becky Torres, a new-library supporter, also attended the appeals hearing.

The Appeals Court is expected to rule before June 30 thus giving the town time to tap into the $2.1 million state grant dangling in the wind since the heated political theater began.  If the court upholds Judge Rup's decision the vote ends up 522-520 in favor of NO.  If the court reinstates the Pills votes but fails to overturn the Board of Registrars decision on the Paczkowskis, the vote will be 522-522 tie, ballot question fails.

In order for the election outcome to change the appeals court has to allow the Pills votes and disallow the Paczkowskis, a seismic overrule of Judge Rup and about as likely to happen as a snowstorm blanketing the area later today.

Look for a safe, tidy compromise:  the justices will reinstate the Pills votes, but keep in the Paczkowskis thus bringing the tally, once and for all, to a 522-522 tie, the $1.4 million override fails.

Quaint Shutesbury M.N. Spear Memorial Library

Dog Days Indeed

Original Railroad bridge (now a bike path) about to be replaced but with no increase in width and negligible increase in height

So in addition to the major traffic snafu at Atkins Corner redirecting traffic from RT116 in South Amherst, now at the other end, near town center, the closing of Snell Street--a major shortcut between busy RT116 to even busier RT9--is gearing up to increase frustration levels.

The state rented a construction trailer now parked near the bridge 

A public hearing on the $315,000 project is scheduled next week at Town Hall (6:30 PM June 26 in the Town Room), so at least we can complain about not widening or increasing appreciably the clearance of the current structure that routinely scalps trucks. But the plans are already set, so it's unlikely for anything to change.

 Woodside Avenue bridge:  The bridge to nowhere

The state told the contractor the road cannot be closed until the new bridge is on site, ready for placement, so estimates for the road closing are in the range of only a week...perhaps two.  But then the War Memorial Pool was supposed to open this Saturday and we know that' s not going to happen.

And let's hope, unlike the new bridge installed 12 years ago over the bike path 100 yards away, that this one is actually used for its intended purpose.

The Cost of Social Justice

Buses wait for their precious cargo at Crocker Farm School

Amherst Regional Public Schools teach social justice; in fact, some would argue our schools preach social justice.  But when it comes time to actually walk the walk and put money where your mouth is, school leadership acts like a Robber-Baron Scrooge squeezing pennies out of those who can least afford it.

Yes, the highest paid administrator in the most expensive public school in the entire region forced the lowest paid employees in the system--bus drivers and custodians-- to sign a legal gag order to receive $18,840 in total wages they were legally owed after the business office miscalculated annual days worked over the years.

But why such heavy handed secrecy?  Perhaps because other low paid full time staff--secretarial and clerical employees, audio-visual technicians, and media aides--are currently unaware they too were unfairly shortchanged over the years and could also demand equal compensation. 

Astonishing.

The sad back-story told in emails

AFSCME Gag Order Amherst Schools

Summer Fun Delayed

War Memorial Pool Monday morning 9:30 AM

5:20 PM Breaking News:  Opening Delayed by one week (Shocked, shocked I say!)

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So the likelihood of the Town Manager announcing tonight that the "grand reopening celebration" of the long closed War Memorial Pool optimistically set by Leisure Services and Supplemental Education for June 23rd is still a "go" is about as likely as Amherst supporting Scott Brown in the upcoming Senatorial election.

While all my otherwise reliable sources refuse to comment today, the photo from this morning speaks for itself (and counts for at least 1,000 words).

In an effort to save money the town had the DPW do major site work rather than contracting it out to the private sector, such as Taylor Davis Landscaping--who specializes in meeting deadlines. 

Friday June 15th: All DPW hands on deck

 And of course to adhere to that penny wise philosophy, the DPW did not work on the project over the weekend as that would have added the high cost of paying overtime to workers (not to mention having dads work on Fathers Day).

Just say No

Hess Express South Amherst
 

UPDATE 2:30 PM The hearing tonight is off and has been postponed until July 16

The Amherst Select Board acting as Liquor Commissioners should deny the permit request of Hess Express for take out beer and wine sales at their exceedingly busy convenience store in the heart of the tiny commercial village center in South Amherst.

And for the same reasons they denied the request of Cumberland Farms a couple months back. Amherst does not need more convenient access to alcohol. R&P Liquors, a Pop and Son, has been a responsible provider of all things alcohol in that area since 1968; and the Select Board not too long ago gave Atkins Country Market, only a mile down the road, one of these permits.

 R&P Liquors South Amherst

The Hess Station already has self serve gas, lottery, a Subway and Dunkin' Donuts franchise so their clerks are busy enough as it is at most hours of the day. Allowing cold beer and wine to go out the door with milk, bread and a newspaper sends a troubling message.

As former APD chief Charlie Scherpa said about the Cumberland Farms application two months ago, "It will just increase the problem we already have with the distribution of alcohol."
 

 Stores within busy stores: Hess already has Dunkin' Donuts and Subway so they don't need alcohol to survive

Sweet & Sour

Taste of Amherst Day 2 

 Fearless Jada flying 

Just when you safely thought Amherst town center could not get any more inviting--the aroma of food from a plethora of providers, a live band rocking the crowd, weather more gorgeous than the day before, all topped off by a BIG beautiful American flag flapping high over the proceedings--you come upon THIS:

 Parking Ticket (bad) Taste of Amherst

A friendly reminder of the town's anti-business demeanor.

 Large signs distributed throughout parking lot in front of Town Hall

Why is it the town allows free parking around Christmas to attract visitors to the downtown but not for the biggest event of the year--The Taste of Amherst?

 If you really squint you can see the 8AM to 8PM on paystation behind Town Hall, but no other signage

Boxers figured out a long time ago that the closing round of a fight is the one that makes a lasting impression on the judges.  Topping off a fun family night with a parking ticket leaves behind a very bad taste--one that makes consumers think twice about patronizing the downtown.