NORTH ADAMS - After Councilor Christopher Tremblay introduced a proposal that seeks to provide nearly $75,000 in retroactive pay to the city's retired disabled veterans, the City Council unanimously voted to send the item to the finance subcommittee for consideration.
The item, which would grant between $1,000 and $13,000 to veterans who had been disabled while working for the city, is the second chapter of a resolution that was passed by the council last year that granted an additional $15 a month to the veterans.
In November 2005, the Legislature passed a law that increased the retirement benefit paid to state and municipal employees per year of creditable service in the armed forces and assigned individual municipalities the task of choosing whether or not to implement any changes. No state funds were provided to cities and towns if they elected to provide the service to their veterans.
Asked by a constituent to address veterans' concerns, Tremblay submitted a communication to the council, asking it to revisit the issue that could affect 15 to 20 city residents. During open forum, veteran and former city firefighter Howard D'Amico said veterans deserve to be honored for their patriotism.
"The veteran who has served his country and his community deserves a little common courtesy," said D'Amico, who had unsuccessfully run for City Council earlier this month.
Moving the issue to the finance subcommittee for further research and consideration was approved unanimously with an amendment that further information be provided at a Jan. 22 regular meeting of the council.
"When we did not accept Section 2 last time, we left it open-ended. A review at this time is in order," said Councilor Clark Billings.
Mayor John Barrett III expressed disapproval with the council's decision, citing concerns about where to find the funds for the proposal.
"When you consider it, recommend where you'd like me to take the money from," Barrett said.
Postponing a Public Hearing
A tax classification public hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday night was postponed until the Dec. 11 meeting of the City Council after Barrett addressed the council about potential changes in state legislation.
Currently operating with a 181 percent shift, the burden of paying property taxes falls upon commercial properties. New legislation has required that municipalities reduce that number to 175 percent for the next fiscal year, placing more of the burden on residential properties.
Barrett, who hopes to see different legislation passed within the next two weeks, said he expects to be able to keep the current 181 percent plan, reducing the shift 2 percent each year until it reaches 175 percent in fiscal 2011.
A 175 percent shift would raise property taxes in the city by approximately 35 cents per $1,000 valuation on a residential property.
"It's not all doom and gloom but I'm cognizant of the tough times people are going through in the city," said Barrett.
The mayor also said he was committed to not raising the property taxes but, as city reserves have been depleted, he will need to find ways to increase revenue.
"We better strap in our seat belts because it's going to be a tough couple of years," he said.
With state money failing to come back to the cities and towns, the increasing cost of education and the rising gas and fuel prices, Barrett said he was committed to keeping taxes low for city residents but he called upon the Legislature to find creative ways to funnel funds back to municipalities.
Councilor Richard Alcombright considered "biting the bullet" and adopting an overall 175 percent shift the coming fiscal year but Barrett said "it was not the time" for placing the burden on local taxpayers.
"That just doesn't wash with me," he said.
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SteepleCats Shut Out on Road
iBerkshires.com Sports
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Four Vermont pitchers combined to strike out 11 and allow four hits Tuesday as the Mountaineers beat the North Adams SteepleCats, 11-0, in New England Collegiate Baseball League action.
Evan Meier, Bobby Stang, Tonny Woodie and Chris Diaz each had a hit for the SteepleCats, who used five pitchers in the loss.
North Adams (0-2) comes home Tuesday to host the Mystic Schooners at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Wolfe Field.
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
