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Councilors Unhappy With Union Pay Raise
Tammy Daniels
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City Council President Ronald Boucher left the dias to question the mayor on the DPW contract. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mayor Richard Alcombright took flack on Tuesday night for giving the Department of Public Works union a 1 percent raise while preparing for a Proposition 2 1/2 override.
Alcombright said the DPW was one of several of the city's seven public unions that had reached agreements on three-year contracts; negotiations were halted on the rest.
The City Council was asked to approve a compensation schedule retroactive to the beginning of fiscal 2011 to reflect the agreement. The cost, said the mayor, was around $9,000 this fiscal year, from reserve, and had been built into next year's budget.
Councilor Marie Harpin objected to the raises, which will be 1 percent next year and 2 percent the year after.
I'm very concerned about this mayor," said Harpin. "We're in a very financial bind in the city."
The mayor said settling the contracts now will ensure the city knows how much it will spend on wages over the next two years and allow it to budget accordingly.
"I think we've come to a fair settlement and a fair arrangement," said the mayor. "We don't want to be where we were last year settling two years of contracts ... I've had a year and half of surprises and I'm done with surprises."
He said the teachers had also agreed to a contract, which would be explained by the superintendent at the school budget review. The money would come this year and next from federal stimulus funds designated for job retention.
"The political argument is don't give anybody a raise," said the mayor, but he continued that the practical side is that wages are now fixed costs and the city avoids a possible lengthy and expensive arbitration that might have cost it the same or more in wages in the end.
"We really negotiated hard and well with these unions and I think we're in a good place."
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Mayor Richard Alcombright explained his reasoning on union contracts. |
Councilor Lisa Blackmer said she knew that city employees worked hard but state workers had had wages frozen and been forced to take furloughs.
"I have a hard time voting for this when I have to I [and] think we would have a much easier time selling an override if we didn't give a raise," she said, worrying the raise would "set a precedent."
Councilor Michael Bloom thought it a good precedent. "It sends a positive message to unions that we will settle ... at this point to have one union behind us is the right thing to do."
Council President Ronald Boucher switched places with Blackmer, the council's vice president, to address the mayor from the floor. He asked if the compensation plan could be delayed until after the override vote in June to have more information.
Alcombright said the override wouldn't affect the fiscal 2011 compensation plan — the money was already in there and the contract "signed, sealed and delivered."
He chided the council and audience for focusing on $9,000 when he'd saved tens of thousands over the past year, including $80,000 in taking over the water treatment plant, and cut the budget more than $235,000.
"I have 10 years worth of increases ... typically from 1 1/2 to 2 3/4 [percent] range" negotiated by the past administration on union contracts, he said, including during the recession under former Gov. Mitt Romney. Alcombright said the city had started at zero but, based on advice from labor attorney Fred Dupere, came to the 1 percent agreement.
The city has been struggling to cover a $1.2 million deficit for the coming year. Over the past four years, it's seen more than $3 million in local aid cuts and run through its reserve to balance budgets.
On Friday, the mayor will ask the council to approve a ballot question for a Proposition 2 1/2 override. He said he would be prepared prior to the vote to explain the consequences of $1.2 million in cuts — Plan B.
The council passed the compensation plan to a second reading and publication with Harpin voting the sole naye.
Blackmer predicted it would cause difficulty with the upcoming override vote.
"It's just that the economy is so hard," she said. "What I've heard is, 'well if you're giving raises I'm not voting for it' ... I'm just telling you what I'm hearing on the street."
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| Tags: budget, unions, contracts |
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| 59 Comments | Add Comment |
If a no vote goes down and it will then the mayor can still raise taxes up to the 2 1/2 limit and cut to the bone as has been done in the private sector. Why are we not doing everything possible to cut costs? To overlook a cut because it is "small" is to say a leak in a ship is small so who cares? Small leaks add up to a sinking ship any way you want to look at it. | |
| from: Taxpayer | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (30) - I Disagree (5) | |
Editor: No, he cannot. I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0) | |
Does anyone on the council understand labor law, unions, and the huge expense of arbitration? The Mayor is not standing there saying he agrees with the unions, in fact--he negotiated down from huge requests. His hands are literally tied, because, not negotiating, would leave the city with a huge question mark and enormous legal fees. How quickly we forget that is why we are in this mess. I love soap boxes--Blackmer, Boucher--say so quickly how they support city workers, and then don't vote for their increase. That is politics at it's worst--or, they are just stupid. Not that either position is wrong, necessarily--but, they take two positions to attempt to placate all sides. Can't happen with politics. The real problem is that this Mayor actually knows how to balance a budget, and he is willing to make unpopular decisions for the future of the City. That's right--the future. People who complain and vote down the 2.5 override, will be the first to complain that their house burned to the ground and a fireman didn't appear. Or, that they can't get a book at the library, because it is shut down. People like Blackmer and Boucher--who, truly, just don't get it. Thank you to Boland, Bloom, and Bond--for having some ounce of common sense. | |
| from: The Council | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (31) - I Disagree (32) | |
Typical give the union raises while the private sector goes with out. You won't have my vote for prop 2 1/2 or for you mayor. Why don't you already have plan B give the people some time to weigh there choices. | |
| from: JJM | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (36) - I Disagree (18) | |
Stupid is the word in N.A. John, we need you back, Please come back in November | |
| from: Taxpayer Going Broke | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (42) - I Disagree (30) | |
Council. The money saved by voting it down will can be used to buy books. If someone house burns down then they rebuild with the insurance money. The truth is that we will still have a fire department the streets will still get plowed the sky will not fall. Scare tactics I am sure will be part of plan B ?? If the mayor ever comes up with a plan. Isn\'t it strange the mayor has a long range plan for the city but as of yesterday he had no idea of what he will do if the override does not in a few weeks . Perhaps he can not handle the job . Enen some on the city council are starting to see how out of touch with reallity. How about using the same scare tacties he tried with the school. If we do not pass the project right away we will lose funding ?? Well I guess that wasn\'t the case. | |
| from: Wayne | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (25) - I Disagree (18) | |
The discussion kind of reminds me about the vote to audit the medical insurance trust fund, in 2009. Councilor Blackmer voted against the audit, thinking she was voting to move the medical insurance to GIC. Much the same, Blackmer and Boucher, are arguing over a potential overide for NEXT FISCAL YEAR, while the raise that was put on the table last night was for the current fiscal year. Soapboxes are great, until you tip them over. | |
| from: Jason | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (24) - I Disagree (8) | |
The Mayor's arguments about arbitration may be true on the surface, but other communities in this state, and the state itself, have successfully worked with unions to get to no pay raise scenarios in recent years. It may sound unpleasant, but when a union is presented with an either/or option, which would be either you get no raise and you keep your jobs or you get a small raise and I am forced to cut several of your union members' jobs, they generally cave. Airline pilots union, auto workers union, both knew they had to make serious concessions to save jobs, and did. Time for the North Adams municipal unions to read the tea leaves and see that this override is going nowhere and they need to make concessions or see large employment cuts. | |
| from: JustVoteNo | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (29) - I Disagree (7) | |
I have no problem what so ever providing City employees a pay increase. However, to provide a raise, AND raise my taxes, absolutely NOT!! Because of this, I will do everything in my power to get people to the polls to vote �NO� on this override. Although I don�t think it will take a lot, every taxpayer I have spoken to have already made their mind up which is to vote �no.� It�s long overdue the City begins to look at tough issues such as the Fire Department. I am certainly not against a full-time department; however, it needs to be completely re-structured. With the latest census figures released, there is no huge population discrepancies between North Adams, Adams and Williamstown. Furthermore, infrastructure between the three communities is similar. However, Adams very safely operates with a 100% volunteer fire department while Williamstown employees 1 full-time member (the Chief) and has a call department. In North Adams, we have a 100% full-time department that responds to fender bender accidents in parking lots simply to justify calls. North Adams should begin to 1. Explore certifying the full-time fireman as Emergency Medical Technicians (such as Pittsfield FD) and 2. Examining the possibility of operating a City ambulance service (run by the F.D.) where huge payments are made from insurance companies. Id rather see a fire truck and fireman at the scene of a justified medical emergency actually providing a service versus standing on the side of the road staring at a car with some paint scrapped off it! I wish I-Berkshires or some other local media organization would actually do investigative reporting on this subject and present the facts. I am positive the results would be shocking (and all for the good of the City) | |
| from: Vote NO On Override | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (27) - I Disagree (7) | |
Editor: The city already has a nonprofit ambulance service. Wouldn't training firefighters duplicate existing services? I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0) | |
This just goes to show that the city's unions are selfish. They are constantly looking for more, more, more money. Not once have they said they would forfeit something for the greater good of the city. Instead, all of us in the private sector are asked to make sacrifices while they get raises. In June, vote NO and see what happens when the unions lose a lot of their jobs. My bet is they scramble back to the table to make concessions. The Mayor claims he has no other options but to agree to these raises - well, I have no other option but to stop the tax increase gravy train he's conducting. I voted for this man and he has been a huge disappointment. All he's done for a year and a half is pick my pocket. | |
| from: Typical | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (31) - I Disagree (13) | |
Ok so council passed the compensation plan to a second reading and publication only M. Harpin voting naye. Why if some members think the 2.5 override will not be vote for if the raises did they vote to give them to the union. I wish the council had a little more backbone. They question a lot of items but when it comes time to vote 99% of the time they vote for whatever the major has requested. You can question the major but I do see any idea coming from the council to cut the budget. | |
| from: JC | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (26) - I Disagree (1) | |
Isn't the problem the $800,000 insurance settlement that can be laid right at the feet of John Barrett? | |
| from: What | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (27) - I Disagree (21) | |
North Adams doesn't need a Proposition 2 and 1/2 override. It needs leadership. It needs a mayor who isn't afraid to step on some toes. It took a year and a half, but North Adams is finally seeing the real difference between Alcombright and Barrett. Barrett was always willing to take the heat in order to protect the residential tax payer. | |
| from: baloney | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (37) - I Disagree (18) | |
There comes a time in every politician's career where they turn a corner and their negatives start to outweigh their positives. It took nearly three decades for that to happen with Barrett (and I was not a big fan of the man). It's taken only one term for it to happen with Dick Alcombright. I was a big supporter of Dick's and I really thought it was high time Barrett went packing. I had heard all of the Barrett people tell me over and over that Dick would raise taxes and keep going back to the taxpayer well over and over, particularly for the unions. And now I see it's all true. I didn't want to believe it, and he said during the campaign he wouldn't do it. In fact, he once said raising taxes to the roof would be a bad move. And yet he's done it, and now he wants to do it again. Sadly, I can no longer back the Mayor, and I'm hoping someone gets him to see the light and understand he is supposed to represent all of us, and not just those whose checks he signs. | |
| from: TurningPoint | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (35) - I Disagree (14) | |
jb 'took' the heat by: 1. not balancing the budget through taxes, and using reserves to make up the difference. 2. never properly funding the medical insurance trust, which led to an $800,000.00 settlement, which was a bargain, considering the city was 'on the hook' for at least six years of the underfunding. | |
| from: jimmy | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (22) - I Disagree (21) | |
It's the same 10 people posting stuff and agreeing/disagreeing here and pretending they are other people. Quit pretending you are all Solomon and offer something different. Councilors can whine all they want, but the negotiations were last year. The councilors all knew this then and are only grandstanding now because of this fall's election. Debate and discussion is healthy, but this is just politics. (especially Blackmer whining because her husband's 6 figure state paycheck didn't increase much.) Barrett would have settled for the same or higher, but he would have called each councilor into his office and threatened their pet projects if they disagreed with him. That's not leadership. One thing John Barrett did know how to do is waste the city's money on lawyers and arbitration. He almost always lost and cost the city tens of thousands of dollars. Again, that's not leadership. | |
| from: Ugh | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (26) - I Disagree (26) | |
I love how when someone is being hammered by a majority opinion they resort to the "you're all just the same person writing over and over" argument. First of all, since you can only Agree or Disagree once, that says your statement is wrong. Take a look at the numbers - those in agreement with a NO on the override far outnumber those who disagree. This Mayor doesn't know when to stop taxing and spending. When he loses the override vote in June, people like you will then try and tell us the sky is falling and the city will collapse - and it won't. But for the first time in a year and a half, we'll have a Mayor who tells the unions they lose - but this Mayor will be forced to do that rather than seeing it's what the taxpayers wanted all along. | |
| from: Ughly | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (16) - I Disagree (13) | |
I think it was wise to settle with the unions. I do not think it is going to make a difference on the prop 2.5 vote; it is not going to pass. People just cannot pay more. | |
| from: Not Happening | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (12) - I Disagree (5) | |
Editor: No it is not duplicating service. North Adams Ambulance is a private service not supported by the tax base, therefore, none of the monies received for emergency calls or the very high paying lucrative non-emergency transports are received by the City. Also, being private, the taxpayer has no say with regards to budget or operation. This reason this doesn�t seem odd to people because its been the practice in place for decades. However, would it seem odd if the Police suddenly went private? How would we feel if we had no say over our police or fireman? So why is it normal that we have no say over this emergency service. Nonetheless, it�s not duplicating services, it�s called the City starts its own ambulance service and begins to make a profit from the money taken in while easily justyfyin a full-time department. Simply look at North Adams Ambulance; they seem to being doing quite well with their 4 ambulances, SUV, special trailer, the many full-time employees and the spacious quarters they call home. This will also more than justify a full-time fire department versus the fluff runs they handle now. Instead of responding to MCLA because a drunk kid pulled a box alarm (Editor, you should research how many communities in the Commonwealth still use this outdated technology. Call the Williamstown FD, they removed theirs in the 1980�s because they were deemed useless and irrelevant! And that was way before cell phones) or handling incredibly minor accidents where they show up, turn around and go home. Many accidents that are reported as so minor, they don�t even bother sending an ambulance. Finally, I again will state my support for NAFD, just not in its present state. Anyone disagrees, refuses to investigate or talk about this simply must believe that two fire engines at a car accident where they are not needed makes more sense than a EMT trained firefighter at a stroke or heart attack call! (I guess Pittsfield FD must be wrong by responding to medical calls. Even though the city doesn�t have an ambulance, atleast they provide a service.???) | |
| from: Vote NO On Override | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (10) - I Disagree (3) | |
Editor: But it is duplicating services. You're assuming the city can support two ambulance services, one long-established nonprofit and one for-profit(the city's) that would require hundreds of thousands in startup costs. It's certainly possible to do but I don't see the savings, certainly not any immediate ones. Plus, both large neighboring communities also run nonprofit services. So that would be four ambulance services competing for about the same population as Pittsfield, which had only ONE ambulance service for two years. Oh, also, the city would have limited control over a volunteer fire service depending how it was structured. Usually officers and members are elected by the company; in some cases, the municipality appoints the chief to maintain some control. i.e., the Adams Selectmen don't tell the Alerts how to run their station. I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0) | |
How will you vote? NA residence only please. AGREE if you will vote yes for the 2.5 override. DISAGREE if you will vote no. | |
| from: A survey? | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (48) - I Disagree (48) | |
@ Ughly - Every time you come back to the page you can click on agree/disagree. And yes, it is the same bunch of characters on every similar thread. 10 people whining is not getting 'hammered.' The override may or may not pass, but the city will deal with that reality when it happens. When people get laid off and services get cut, many who voted against the override will whine about that, too. "OMG! John Barrett would have found a way to keep their jobs!!!" etc... Pardon my bluntness, but all the bluster on these topics is pure B.S.. Are people struggling financially. Yes, but then again there are always people struggling. The big lie that certain Tea Party types like to tell is that they are paying more in taxes than ever. That is simply not true overall, unless you are not working at all, which means that you aren't getting the temporary payroll tax reduction holiday for this year. We've had a good deal for year's as we sucked off of the state's teets, but that has gone dry. It's time to take care of your own. Some of you seem incapable of taking care of yourselves, let alone your community. | |
| from: Ugh | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (14) - I Disagree (11) | |
DPW should go out and party with their 14 cent hourly raise. I don't want to hear the line "they should be happy they got a job". They work their butts off for less pay then anywhere else in the county. Councilor Harpin should be ashamed of herself. She would brag about being the advocate for the poor and collect food for those not willing to work. The weekly raise DPW got won't buy 2 lbs of hamburger. Maybe Harpin can get them food stamps the tax payers pay for too. | |
| from: ishipsea case | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (25) - I Disagree (4) | |
Seriously? JB3 is the reason we are in this mess. If he had raised taxes every year we would have all paid our fair share all along and wouldn't be scraping the bottom of the barrell right now. I love the ignorant people who are quick to point fingers at Alcombright - he is only trying to clean up the mess he was left. | |
| from: Are | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (22) - I Disagree (14) | |
I knew it was only a matter of time before ugh pulled the "you're a tea party backer if you don't want to support an override," or the other famous "we have lived off of state money for too long." Number 1, not a tea partier, not even a Republican. Number two, where exactly do you think the state gets its money from? Does it come out of a magic well somewhere in Boston? No. Maybe you didn't know this, but YOU and I pay our taxes to the state and that money is ours. I never looked at state aid as a handout, and neither should anyone else. We all pay into the state treasury, and rightly a good share of that should come back to cities and towns. The state now has less coming in because of the economy, and they have cut back - no raises for state workers, who had to make concessions. Now it's time for the city to do the same. You clearly seem to be a city worker. Hope you enjoy your raise and your guaranteed pension. We in the dreaded private sector are done paying for you. | |
| from: Ughly | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (17) - I Disagree (9) | |
The Editor is right on the ambulance issue. First of all, I sincerely doubt the city can run a for-profit ambulance service. It would need to be non-profit to be operated by the city. Secondly, if that happened, say goodbye to North Adams Ambulance Service and all of its employees, because there isn't enough business to pay for two services. County Ambulance in Pittsfield is struggling because the Mayor there brought in a service from Boston "to compete," and all that did was hurt a local company and local jobs. | |
| from: EditorRight | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (9) - I Disagree (5) | |
Ishipea - I wonder how some of the folks complaining would feel if the Social Security Administration took away their annual cost of living adjustment or froze their medicare. (Well, the medicare part is exactly what the GOP House voted to do last month, and is now pretending they did not vote on the Ryan Budget, but....) The facts is that "fixed incomes" actually grow with inflation. It's only those who are working who are expected to beg for every penny. Ugh - Nice Rant! I've noticed that you can click on like multiple times. It was the Barrett Berkshire Jobs comments that were getting up into the 100+ likes and dislikes very quickly. I totally agree that North Adams needs to get its own affairs in order so that the state cannot cripple us with their own budget. A stronger tax base is critical to this city moving forward. We need more homeowners and businesses that are stable and able to pull their own weight. It will take years to do, but slashing city services and kicking education in the teeth is exactly the wrong thing to do to attract the people and businesses we need. | |
| from: Just me | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (16) - I Disagree (5) | |
i told the people of north adams , not to drink the green kool-aid... | |
| from: local | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (10) - I Disagree (10) | |
Editor: As a full-time public safety professional, I can ensure you "Vote NO On Override" is 100% on the mark with his/her commentary. First, it's not duplicating services. Its providing a more efficient tax payer controlled ambulance. There's no doubt the start up costs would be high, but ultimately, it would be a profit making service for the city and once (and soon) when that goal is met, the better system is in place (New York City FD took over EMS, boosting their calls for service to over 1 million a year (source, Firehouse Magazine Annual Run Stats). It works in the Big Apple, I'm sure it will work here) Presently, there's a real possibility someone in North Adams could suffer a heart attack and wait for an ambulance from Williamstown or Adams (the whole time this is happening, both the North Adams Police & Fire Departments do not respond to medical calls) because North Adams Ambulance is out of service due to a non-emergency transfer (no fault of their own, thats where the money is) With a City run ambulance supported by the tax payer, the first and only priority will be 911 emergency calls, thus providing a better service to the residents. If the city was to create its own ambulance service, the form of government would not change. When you talk about Williamstown and Adams, you are referring to the Williamstown Fire District and the Adams Fire & Water District. Yes, you're right, the Adams (or Williamstown Selectman) have no control what so ever over these fire districts, however, what your failing to realize is, the same people voting for Williamstown and Adams Selectman have the same voting privileges for who they elect to the Prudential Committees (the governing body of each fire district.) Presently, the entire boundaries of Williamstown fall under the district where Adams' does not. It's astonishing Editor that you don't realize the disservice that full-time N.A. fireman (and police in N.A.) actually provide by not handling these calls. In Williamstown and Adams, the full-time police officers respond to medical calls as first responders. Both Adams and Wmst. PD's have been recognized for saving lives with AED's prior to the arrival of the "private non-profit" ambulances. How can anyone support this unsafe system in N.A.????????? (and the fire boxes, really, what a joke. The red Gamewell fireboxes that decorate N.A. utility poles was a great way of contacting the fire department................in 1930) | |
| from: Change The System | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (9) - I Disagree (5) | |
Editor: I'm not saying police and fire shouldn't respond to medical emergencies. I'm questioning whether the city would make any kind of profit competing with three other ambulance companies in a small geographic area. NAAS has three ambulances. Here's a story about Melrose getting an ambulance as a source of revenue. It looks like they had operated one in the past and got federal money to restart it. I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0) | |
Ugly, Nord Adams has been living off the taxes of people in Boston and the 'burbs. If we only got what we paid in returned to us, we'd have no schools, dirt roads, no courts, maybe one police car and a fire engine from 1950. To suggest that we even come close to paying in what we get back is just plain wrong. As others have written, we need our own reliable tax base so that the state's budget woes do not affect us so dramatically. | |
| from: Taxes 101 | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (12) - I Disagree (5) | |
If the DPW think thay are underpaid then please find another job please. If you do find one that with better pay and health insurance at little or no cost please let the 10 percent of people without a job know. Most people in the private sector haven\'t had even a 1 percent raise and had to pay a lot more for insurance for years. So stop crying . Councilor Harpin was doing what she was elected to do. So if you think you are working to hard and underpaid , quit and see just how good you have it . | |
| from: Wayne | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (20) - I Disagree (13) | |
Wayne - Once again you demonstrate that you don't have the facts at your command - Private sector wages grew at 1.8% in 2010 and are forecast to rise around 2% in 2011. http://www.bna.com/press/2011/specialreports/wtiapr11.htm 1% growth is below inflation and below average. Nice try though. DPW can quit his job to earn more when you move to Hancock pay less. | |
| from: Just me | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (8) - I Disagree (13) | |
Editor: Thank you for your response and thank you so much for posting the story from Melrose. Although there may have been a "back & forth" you researched this topic and provided a very informative article. This should prove to everyone the reporting on i-Berkshires is very fair. One thing I disagree with you however is we (North Adams) are not competing against Village Ambulance or Adams Ambulance Service. This is only about providing a service for North Adams. N.A.A.S. does not fight off V.A.S. or A.A.S. for calls in the city. I also support a full-time FD in North Adams, but I believe change is necessary to meet the realities of 2011. I believe the NAFD can provide a better service to the residents of North Adams. If they still want to respond to silly fender benders that result in a few scratches to a cars paint, well fine. However, when someone is truly in need of help due to a medical emergency, lets first send firefighters in a first responder role then second, let's look at other communities and begin the conversation at taking over E.M.S. in North Adams. Thank you again for your informative article! | |
| from: Change The System | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (4) - I Disagree (2) | |
Editor: You're welcome. There was another one on Dunkirk, N.Y., that I can no longer find. Perhaps you can. I do think some solid research would have to be done to determine if it's worthwhile. I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0) | |
Has anyone mentioned the word- Furlough. Just a thought , we could save quite a bit of money. | |
| from: good behavior | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (11) - I Disagree (5) | |
for those watching the council meeting last night did anyone else think dicky looked a little shell shocked and absolutely lost for answers to rather simple questions? | |
| from: observation | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (19) - I Disagree (9) | |
You obviously have no sense of business economics 101. If the City were to start a paid ambulance service they would need to hire more firefighters and also have them trained as EMTS. North Adams Ambulance is a param=edic level service and I believe 90% plus of their transferes are paramedic level. That is considerable education and training not to mention equiopment on the tab of the City if th=is were to occur. So even if the City were to start a basic level service North Adams Ambulance would do the transport and collect the transport fee. More firefighters = more money for City. In this City you can not justify a City run ambulance service it makes no business sense. However that being said and what i see going on in this City it may just happen - let us keepi spending and raising the taxes so a few can benefit. | |
| from: Facts | on: 05-11-2011 |
| I Agree (8) - I Disagree (3) | |
The city will not fill any gap in budget by going with a city based system. Plus, the city would have to start out at basic level not Paramedic (read the laws!). NAAS would then still respond with the FD and then have to CHARGE the city for a Paramedic assist. Thats makes sense! As of right now the city pays nothing for the excellent EMS care they get. The money is no longer in non-emergency transfers or 911 calls. The EMS industry has suffered extreme deep cuts by Medicare and private insurances over the years. The reason NAAS is able to do what they do is grant money, lots of it. Read up on some of the money they have recieved for the projects; 160,000 for new cardiac monitors to benefit the city and other communities they serve, 10,000 for car seat trailer and car seats for the community, 75,000 for training local EMTs and materials, uniforms, etc. etc. Just read some of iBerkshires stories. Before people start this arguement they should get their facts straight. I do however support the full-time FD and the concept of them operating like Pittsfield, I'm sure the staff at NAAS would like the help, more help the better! | |
| from: Local EMT | on: 05-12-2011 |
| I Agree (8) - I Disagree (2) | |
Just me... Apples... meet Oranges... your figures are national figures for growth of income, not local. I think if you did some homework you would find job growth and income growth in the Berkshires is pretty much stagnant for the past three years, and our unemployment rate is higher than the rest of the state. As you say, nice try though. | |
| from: ApplesOranges | on: 05-12-2011 |
| I Agree (8) - I Disagree (3) | |
No 2.5 override, No New School, just live the way the rest of us have to broke all the time. | |
| from: Me Too: | on: 05-12-2011 |
| I Agree (12) - I Disagree (4) | |
So, Taxes 101, if we're "living off of the taxes of those in the burbs of Boston," what are they living off of? Your statement has no basis in fact whatsoever. While it's certain that the state doesn't take every dollar of income tax, sales tax, etc. paid by each city and town and designate that same money back to the city or town, it's also certain that we pay at the same state tax rates as any other community. If you really think "we" don't pay enough state taxes to provide what "our" cities and towns get back in aid, then how does the state provide aid for all cities and towns. Do the Boston burbs get subsidized by Boston, and if so, who subsidizes Boston? In reality - take state auto insurance - it's OUR inflated rate that subsidizes lower than justified rates in Boston. If Boston drivers paid what they actually "owed" in auto insurance, they wouldn't be able to afford it. You should take the advanced Taxes class. | |
| from: Taxes102 | on: 05-12-2011 |
| I Agree (2) - I Disagree (7) | |
We do need a full time Fire Department. The volunteer service in communities mentioned simply do not have the same city-scape we do. I've lived in old houses in N.A. where you could reach out the window and touch the exterior wall of the neighboring building. I've hear this town described as "little San Francisco". There is a physical reality that must be considered beyond political notions. | |
| from: me | on: 05-12-2011 |
| I Agree (6) - I Disagree (6) | |
plan and simple dick is lost | |
| from: local man | on: 05-12-2011 |
| I Agree (15) - I Disagree (11) | |
Dear ishipsea, you may scoff at the fact that the taxpayers of this city are footing the bill for your 14-cent an hour raise, as you put it, but let's be real. It's 14-cents an hour more than a lot of people have seen in three years in the private sector. And if you do the math, it's another $300 a year in your pocket, without OT, and we all know DPW makes a lot of OT in the winter. That $300 pays your share of the override, doesn't it? My employer, which had to make cuts during the recession - twice - can't afford to even give me that, but you expect me to pay for your raise and the $600 or more you'll get in next year's budget, when you get a 2% raise. The average income in North Adams, according to state data, is around $36,000 a year, and with OT I bet that's what a lot of DPW people make, if not more. I know it's not a fortune, but it's the job that DPW employees chose and it pays their bills. And they get a fully guaranteed pension at retirement, which the vast majority of private sector workers haven't had for decades. | |
| from: CryingRiver | on: 05-12-2011 |
| I Agree (6) - I Disagree (7) | |
"Local EMT" read the Melrose article, Melrose is eyeing ALS in 2014. NA will start at the basic level, then move to ALS. You're worried about your job with your propaganda laced response and its obvious. But not to worry, maybe after passing the civil service exam, you will be one of the new hires. Change is coming! | |
| from: Vote NO On Override | on: 05-12-2011 |
| I Agree (4) - I Disagree (4) | |
Taxes102 - 101 is correct and you are very wrong. The fact that you even ask "what are they living off of?" tells me that you are today's winner of the "Really Bad at Math" award and have a truly poor grasp of large numbers, statistics and state/local budgets/revenue mechanisms. Start here just to see how much money from Beacon Hill we depend upon and then compare it to the rest of the state's budget: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=dorsubtopic&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Local+Officials&L2=Municipal+Data+and+Financial+Management&L3=Cherry+Sheets&L4=FY2011+Cherry+Sheets&sid=Ador We have 0.2% of the state's population, but receive 0.3% of the budget. To put it simply, that gives a rough estimate, IF everything was equal through the state, of paying $.66 for every $1.00 in state income tax we get back. HOWEVER, THINGS ARE NOT EQUAL. If you consider that North Adams' per capita income is approximately 2/3rds of the state's, you can reduce that $.66 to $.44. (And the less you make the less you pay because of personal exemptions, so the number goes even lower.) You mention sales taxes and restaurant taxes - Because we have lower incomes, it is very easy to conclude that our taxable purchases are lower than the state average, too. In other words, roughly, we pay less than half the taxes that are spent in our city. Look up the data yourself. Apples - I am not the one confusing things. If you choose to look at it your way, our wage data is tiny a SLICE of the larger apple. NOT an orange. To make your point even less meaningful, Massachusetts jobs and wage data is far better than the national average. I will grant you that Berkshire County and North Adams in particular is lower than almost the entire rest of the state, but we DO have good job growth over the past year and and the unemployment rate has dropped considerably and is trending lower. You can start looking up the date here, if you care to educate yourself: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=elwdagencylanding&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=EOLWD+Data+and+Statistics&L3=Labor+Market+Information&sid=Elwd It amazes me that people have no grasp of these things. The fact is that North Adams is to Massachusetts as Mississippi is the USA. Personally, I'd like to change that, but some of you seem determined to make it worse. | |
| from: Just me | on: 05-12-2011 |
| I Agree (7) - I Disagree (3) | |
better go back and get the real story.dpw has gone with out raises,while others havent!!! they also took time off without pay but no one knows this. talk to the 17 people that know maybe people would learn more, | |
| from: john | on: 05-13-2011 |
| I Agree (2) - I Disagree (3) | |
"I've had a year and half of surprises and I'm done with surprises." This qoute refers to the City's fiscal quagmire and is from a 36 year member of the banking community, a ten year member of the city council and a long time member of the City's finance committee. Drum roll please! It's first term mayor, Richard Alcombright! One has to wonder how much attention banker, councilor and finance member Alcombright was paying to the numbers to have such surprises at this stage of the game! | |
| from: Gee, I'm Surprised | on: 05-13-2011 |
| I Agree (8) - I Disagree (4) | |
Barrett left the city in good financial shape. Just go look at the audit Alcombright had done and see for yourself (right on iberkshires). Remember all the talk on how Barrett cooked the books. The really funny part is that guess who his Tresurer was, none other then Mr Mayors top financial leader, Nancy Ziter! I for one am glad that he held the the line on taxes and held the line on raises. Unfortunately Alcombright promised them the store to the unions so he could become Mayor. The so called insurance fiasco that Alcombright and the unions fabricated is a joke. Again look at the final city audit and it will show a much different picture then what Mr. Alcombright is claiming. The audit is very good reading. Remember also Barrett was there for 25 years and you don't last that long unless the books are balanced. | |
| from: facts | on: 05-13-2011 |
| I Agree (9) - I Disagree (6) | |
Facts - you are completely wrong. The audit did not show that city was in good shape. It just said that no money was missing and found the several accounts that money got shifted between to cover the gaps in the budgets. John played a shell game for his last two budgets, rather than start the hard work of restructuring the budget and revenue. Much of this mess would have been avoided if small increases had started 3 years ago, but instead we robbed peter to pay paul.. As for the insurance issue, that was very real and had the unions gone to court, the city would have been on the hook for almost double what was settled. Your name should be "misinformed opinions." | |
| from: Just me | on: 05-14-2011 |
| I Agree (6) - I Disagree (5) | |
Editor: The audit is available here. I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0) | |
Editor. You are wrong on this one. The mayor can increase taxes any time he wishes and only needs an override vote if the tax increase exceeds 2 1/2. | |
| from: taxpayer | on: 05-15-2011 |
| I Agree (4) - I Disagree (0) | |
If the editor wants to comment you should at least get the facts correct. The Mayor CAN raise taxes up to the 2 1/2 limit. The problem he has it is not enough to cover his pay raise inflated budget. Just the facts people, just the facts. | |
| from: facts | on: 05-15-2011 |
| I Agree (2) - I Disagree (0) | |
Editor: I read the first comment as able to raise above 2 1/2 if the override went down. That was incorrect. I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0) | |
to mr. john(dpw) in what years did you not get pay raises? Now that you got pay raise can you take the xmas decorations down on the polls on Ashland and Holden Sts | |
| from: really | on: 05-16-2011 |
| I Agree (5) - I Disagree (0) | |
I think we can do without a fulltime fire department and a call volunteer fire department will work. 95% of the fire department budget is salaries and have you looked at the condition of the trucks they are running because there is no money for replacing them? Look at all the other Communities around us such as Adams �volunteer�, Williamstown �call department�, and Bennington �volunteer�. All these communities have schools, nursing homes and in Williamstown a college with Bennington having two colleges with the population a little higher than North Adams. North Adams can no longer support a fulltime fire department and it is time to look at a call volunteer department. This should have actually happened many years ago. Everyone can talk about taking over the North Adams Service but it does not cost the city residents a dime unless they choose to subscribe annually. All the money they make goes back into the building and their equipment and it shows. I did support the Mayor and I don�t think anyone including JB would not look good under the current circumstances with the lack of state funds. The think the city council was wrong in passing the vote for the override at this point. The Mayor and the City Council need to give the residents more options showing real case seniors of what will be cut. Give us other options such as an override of $250,000 what will be loss for the remainder $950,000 or an override of $500,000 showing what we may lose for the other $700,000 and so on. In its current form with no real concrete information I will not support the override. | |
| from: It is time | on: 05-16-2011 |
| I Agree (3) - I Disagree (2) | |
Editor: The mayor is planning six public sessions, including the May 24 City Council to explain his reasoning and the cuts. Your question on why not offer different override amounts is a good one. I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0) | |
I want to just bring to the attention of all these residents of North Adams just how hard the DPW employees work and ask yourself are you willing to do the job these men and woman are asked to perform day in and day out sometimes 4 days straight in a row with no break. I was walking on church street when the odor coming from a hole these men were working on was so overwhelming I wanted to vomit. These men were at a sewer break in the middle of church street. They were in this hole working dilegently making repairs to this broken pipe with traffic coming in both directions. Tell me which one of you,who begrudges them a mere 1% raise, would get into that hole and perform that same job. These workers are the lowest paid DPW workers in the state. Which one of you would get into a hole on the coldest day of the year to repair a cracked watermain. Most people would shutter to leave their warm comfortable homes. The DPW workers are working throughout the night repairing the cracked watermain with frozen fingers and wet clothes and frozen wet feet working hard to restore peoples water. Tell me will you jump in and give them a hand or furlough them? I am so disgusted when I hear about the private sector not getting raises when this is so untrue. I have talked to my friends and some have received some type of raise or benefit increase. Now let's talk about how we as a city could have had a substancial reserve account including $800,000.00 if the last administration had not committed insurance fraud and misappropriated funds that we will never be told of. Now where were those counselors when this was taking place where were their voices?????? | |
| from: Totally disgusted | on: 05-16-2011 |
| I Agree (6) - I Disagree (8) | |
Totally disgusted. No one has said that the dpw does not work hard sometimes. But should they get a raise in a bad economy, NO. Also I assume that when they took the job they were told that overtime would be required. As far as someone getting into a cold wet hole in the middle of the night , please call me I would like to help and I am sure that outhers would do the same. By the way I would do it for free. | |
| from: Wayne | on: 05-17-2011 |
| I Agree (0) - I Disagree (1) | |
So Wayne that's a fine offer. Would that affect your disability or your welfare check? So where are you when they are out there are you offering them your services and a hot cup of coffee or your out of touch opinions. | |
| from: tax payer | on: 05-17-2011 |
| I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0) | |
Nothing will change unless and until the public union/Democrat money machine is smashed. If you're against the smashing of that unholy alliance then you are in favor of never-ending tax increases and further deterioration of your town, city, state and country. It's that simple. | |
| from: Bemused | on: 05-17-2011 |
| I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0) | |
The NA union that represents me isn't selfish at all. We are part way through our current contract and expect it to be honored through its expiration date. When it's expired and up for re-negotiation I'll be glad to discuss concessions. And unless any of you have actually looked at any city contract and compared them to contracts from previous years you have no business commenting on whether or not we've made concessions. In the meantime let the city honor what they've sighned. Every year our health insurance goes up eating up more that whatever we've received as a raise - which is 1%. In fact my take home pay is less this year that it was two years ago. The last thing I'd like to add is this. Are some of these councillors the same ones who voted themselves a 100% pay raise a few years ago? In fact, one of them is, I believe, on city health insurance although he isn't employed by the city. Let's close those foolish loopholes before we start taking away from city employees who actually deserve their measly 1% increase. | |
| from: cityworker | on: 05-17-2011 |
| I Agree (3) - I Disagree (0) | |
There is alot of focus on the current issues and present and past administrations. The truth be told whomever sits in the mayors chair will need to make dramatic changes whether the cause is lack of jobs or a slow start to the new creative economy we have invested our time and effort into does not change the fact that our city goverment is deep in overhead. Pop. Adams 9000+, North Adams 13000+, Williamstown 8200+ Pittsfield 40000+. We have shrunk and become a small town. Trim the boards convert to a town manager and 3-5 selectman to run the town. How many school buildings do we really need?? Sell the Windsor Mill. Privatize Heritage Park( we are giving free rent to businesses) thats a crazy profit model. Trim all the excess and our taxes will be fine. | |
| from: refresh memory | on: 05-17-2011 |
| I Agree (1) - I Disagree (3) | |
tax payer Someone offers you help and you try to insult and slander and then ask for free coffee?? You are SAD. | |
| from: Wayne | on: 05-17-2011 |
| I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0) | |
How can you say that when he has already increased taxes with no override? He did and he can do it again. | |
| from: Taxpayer | on: 05-18-2011 |
| I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0) | |
