Snowstorm Silver Lining

 Snowplow Amherst Town Center 2/9/13

Although it took the federal government less than a week to declare Boston a disaster area after the terrorist bombing, the epic snowstorm that caused the entire state to "shelter in place" took over two months for Massachusetts to garner that designation, bringing aid in the form of federal dollars.

Same day declarations by President Obama (who did quite well in Mass back in November)

Guilford Mooring Amherst DPW Chief

Amherst DPW Director Guilford Mooring submitted a request to MEMA for $100,000 that includes vehicles, material and 72 hours of work for storm clean up.  The amount was only an "estimate" so the actual grant could be more (or less).

The money will go to cover deficit spending in the "snow and ice removal" budget and the surplus will go back into the General Fund.

Although it would be nice to set some aside for union raises for DPW employees, firefighters, police officers, police supervisors and service employees whose contracts all expire July 1st.

Fireground: College Street Command

195 College Street, Amherst "single family" home

By the time an Amherst police patrol confirmed "smoke coming from the building" Amherst Fire Department had already committed three engines dispatched in a hurry to 195 College Street after the "box alarm" first sounded around 10:10 PM last night.

Yes, another basement fire. And like the Hobart Lane basement fire last September this one also narrowly missed becoming a tragedy. Especially since the building inspector discovered far more bedrooms than allowed by law.

While it was only a dryer fire, I'm told the machine and all the clothes inside were incinerated with thick smoke filling the entire structure.  Like my six year old daughter, fire loves to climb.

So if it starts at the lowest point possible in a wood frame structure, it's ravenous appetite is all the better served.

Fortunately AFD stopped it in a hurry.  But when the building inspector arrived, as is standard procedure with any structure fire, he found inadequate smoke alarm system and more than twice as many bedrooms as shown on the official town property card (seven vs three).

Kind of makes you wonder why anyone would need seven bedrooms in a single family unit only zoned for four unrelated housemates? 

The house is owned by195 Amherst LLC not to be confused with 197 Amherst LLC or 162 Amherst LLC all three "sold" for $1 each by Sandra Weisman of Brooklyn, NY.  In addition Ms Weisman also sold for $1 162 South East Street with all these transactions dated December 24, 2112. 

Merry Christmas.

Note name of owner

   195 College Street Amherst Fire

Something Doesn't Add Up

When I made the identical Public Documents request of the town and UMass exactly 10 days ago for their written exchanges since the 1st of January, I was kind of thinking the equation was fairly simple:  UMass Bigwig A writes to town official Bigwig B, who then responds:  that equals one response (C) captured by my request.

So A + B should  = C, or B + A should = the same C.

Of course the reason for the redundancy is to keep people honest.  If each party knows I'm double checking by making the identical request of both parties then they will be careful in giving me all the documents. 

Kind of like cops putting two suspects in separate rooms for an interrogation.  In journalism it's called "verification".

So I'm trying to figure out why UMass (A) is charging 12 times the amount the town (B) is charging to fulfill the identical request (C)?  Anyone?

   UMass response to Public Documents Request

#####

From: Roussel, Debra
To: Larry Kelley
Cc: Ziomek, David ; Selectboard ; Brian Riley ; Musante, John
Sent: Thu, Apr 18, 2013 6:22 pm
Subject: RE: Public Documents Request

Good afternoon Mr. Kelley,

Thus far we have confirmed a minimum of eight hours of staff time to review, pdf and redact as necessary the documents you have requested.   The lowest paid individual able to produce the documents is paid approximately $32 an hour.  Therefore, if you decide to move forward with the request, you will need to submit a check in the amount of $256.00.  This estimate does not include the cost of paper copies, as it was unclear as to the number of copies that were involved. 

Regards,

Debra A. Roussel

Assistant to the Town Manager

Good Fence = Good Neighbors

45 Phillips Street now fenced in

So I could not help but notice a spiffy new fence enclosing the postage stamp front yard at 45 Phillips Street, one of the more decadent houses on a street that wears decadence like a charm, and a regular stopping place for Amherst Police Department.

 

45 Phillips Street 3/29/13 (note cars on front "lawn" )

I asked Building Commissioner Rob Morra under Public Documents Law for the letter/threat he sent to owner Stephan Gharabegian that resulted in a pang of remorse for bad housekeeping, but was told the exchange took place over the phone.

"I made a call to Mr.Gharabegian a couple weeks ago to explain that improvements were necessary to address the parking issues at 45 Phillips Street.  The following Monday this fence along with a couple of plantings were installed.  At this point, I am satisfied with his response and will monitor the property to determine if the improvements are effective."

The good news represented by this new fence is that if the most notorious landlord in Amherst can respond to a little official coaxing there's solid hope for the new Residential Rental Property Bylaw that will pass Town Meeting next month.

After all, the vast majority of landlords in Amherst are conscientious law abiding citizens who care about the quality of life in our little college town. 

We hope.

Circle The Wagons

Neighbors of proposed development already seeing red

Landmark Properties received an all too typical "welcome to Amherst" last night at their informational meeting in the Jones Library to discuss with neighbors their proposed Amherst Retreat Student Housing Project, a 170 unit development off Henry Street currently owned by W.D. Cowls, Inc, the largest private landowner in the state.

One of the neighbors who received an invite to the informational session forwarded a rallying dispatch to organized opposition -- including many in surrounding towns -- erroneously stating the developers "had a terrible reputation in terms of follow through and upkeep."

Of course the other facts this spinmeister got wrong was the assertion that the "salamander crossing will be destroyed" and that "This development is only step one of a long range plan by Cinda >Jones (i.e. Cowls and DH Jones combined) for more development on Cowls property."

Wrong. Cinda Jones is not connected to the real estate agency owned by children of D. H. Jones.

But not letting the facts get in the way of a good narrative is certainly an effective way to mobilize the troops. Over 50 protesters were waiting in front of the Jones Library a few minutes before the meeting start time.

But not everyone who showed up was a disciple of the Church of Obstruction, and some helpful discussion did take place.  Landmark has addressed a major concern by adapting their original plan to reroute traffic from the narrow streets in the heart of Cushman by locating the main entry to the development on Market Hill Road by the town's Water Treatment Plant (A).

 The salamanders will still be able to cross the road

Landmark does not require an exceedingly hard to attain two-thirds vote of Town Meeting for a zoning change in order to do this project.  So it IS going to happen.  This informational session demonstrates Landmark's commitment to being a good neighbor.

Too bad neighbors did not reciprocate.

Cinda Jones speaks

No Words

 

Amherst Town Center

UMass 

Amherst College

Big Y

Mighty Oak Survives (For Now)

 Oak Tree lined Kellogg Avenue

After an a hour of discussion and a unanimous "advisory" vote (1 abstention) of the Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee to deny the Unitarian Universalist Society Church petition to remove the 36" wide majestic pin oak on Kellogg Avenue, Tree Warden Alan Snow agreed the healthy towering tree should not come down.  Yet.

 

All American Tree Warden Alan Snow

In a compromise hatched at the meeting the church has agreed to undertake extra construction techniques -- that Snow estimates costs only around $2,000 -- to protect the roots of the tree that are on church property.

Over 40 citizens show up for the Public Hearing, the most ever according to Tree Warden Snow

The cost to the Church in the form of a "fine" by the Tree Warden for removing a healthy tree (had he given them permission) in the town way is $3,200 in replacement costs, so in the long run this could prove to be a more cost effective solution.

Plus, avoiding that other considerable cost in bad press should the tree suddenly become firewood.

Church Attorney Alan Seewald played the "liability" threat card, but in a nice way

One speaker for the Church did acknowledge Public Relations nosedived leading up to this meeting.

Although the $100,000 the Church is requesting from Amherst Town Meeting next month in grant funding to rehab a Tiffany stained glass window never came up, it's safe to assume it was on people's minds.

 Carol Cave, President Church Board of Trustees, addressses the Tree Warden

Spending a few thousand dollars now in a "good faith" effort to save the tree, will most certainly buy them votes on the floor of Amherst Town Meeting.