N.A. Council Seeks Compromise on Veterans' Benefits
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Mayor John Barrett III told the council two weeks ago that approving some $57,740 for veterans who were disabled while working for the city would result in a veto from his pen.
The councilors plan to introduce two possible options that would reduce that amount but still allow the city to offer those former workers some kind of benefit.
"It just seems to me that we should be able to work something out," said City Councilor Richard Alcombright at a Finance Committee meeting on Monday afternoon. "Maybe the mayor will come up with something, too, and we can have a meeting of the minds."
Contacted Monday, the mayor said he "would wait and see what the council wanted to do" before commenting further.
The Legislature passed an act a few years ago that would allow municipalities to even up a perceived inequity in retirement benefits. It provides veterans injured in a city's or town's employ with the same yearly benefit (not to exceed $300) that retired veterans receive in their pensions; it also had a section for retroactive relief to the time they were disabled.
North Adams adopted the first section of the act in 2006 but hadn't been able to agree on whether to adopt the second part despite lobbying by affected local veterans.
The issue was put on the back burner until Christopher Tremblay reintroduced it as one of his last acts as a city councilor last year. It appeared headed for approval two weeks ago by the council until the mayor threateded to veto the action, saying it was irresponsible to spend $57,000 in retroactive pay when the city was in tight financial circumstances and negotiating with its bargaining units.
The matter was tabled when Councilor Gailanne Cariddi noted that three of the council's members were not present.
Cariddi is offering up one option: a home-rule petition that would set the total retroactive pay at no more than 50 percent of what it would have been last July. An earlier version had set a maximum amount but Cariddi said, "a percentage seems much more fair."
Finance Committee member Councilor Richard Alcombright offered the suggestion that the city could pass a resolution of what would be "most palatable" for all parties and would not require any legislative action. Pushing through a home-rule petition could take up to a year and there was no guarantee it would pass.
Any actions would be dependent on the North Adams Retirement Board's agreement.
Alcombright and Finance Committee Chairman Michael C. Bloom agreed to recommend postponing any action on the state act for one month. Over the nex two weeks, councilors will contact Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, and seek input from the state and local retirement boards and the community.
Attending the finance meeting were Councilors Cariddi, Lisa Blackmer, Marie Harpin and council Chairman Alan Marden; Finance Committee member Councilor Robert R. Moulton Jr. was absent.
"I don't think there's ever been an issue where the council has had so many options," said Cariddi.
Also on Tuesday night's agenda is a public hearing for several blighted properties that the mayor has asked be declared public nuisances.
The buildings are at 80 1/2 Prospect St.; 34 Harrison Ave., owned by Arthur Boucher; 34-40 Arnold St., owned by Franklin Perras; and 223-225 and 229-231 East Main St., owned by Charles "Rusty" Ransford. The Prospect Street house had been owned by the estate of Jessie Vallieres but the city has come into possession of the property after it lingered in Land Court for several years.
Barrett said these five are the first steps in his initiative against substandard housing in the city; more properties will be brought before the council in the coming weeks. The vacant buildings are expected to be razed.
