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CHARTER COMMISSION OFF ON A QUIXOTIC ODYSSEY; PAY FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE IS A STUPID NOTION … NATURALLY, THE GOB IS ALL IN FAVOR … BUT THE LITTLE GUY THINKS IT STINKS

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By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, JAN. 15, 2013) — Where did the bad idea surface of paying the Pittsfield School Committee members, also known as the Frozen Chozen,  $8,000 to $10,000 a year, this board that presently serves on a volunteer basis? Who thinks the city’s finances are in such great shape that Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski can afford to blow $60,000 on salaries plus benefits? And how much money will adding seven employees to the city payroll impact future unfunded liabilities, a figure that is already in the hundreds of millions.

As Leonard Pinth Garnell might declare of the proposition: “It really sucks.”

‘Strong Support?” You’ve Got to be Kidding Us, Mr. LaPointe

The notion of paying school board members is one of the cranky ideas being kicked around by the Committee of Busybodies, also known as the Pittsfield Charter Review Commission. Busybody chairman Ed LaPointe told the Pittsfield Gazette “there seems to be strong support for paying school committee members.”

“Strong support for paying school committee members?” What support? From whom? Did you canvass a broad cross-section of the Pittsfield electorate, Edmeister? The answer turns out to be “no.”

So how, then, does the Edmeister know there is “strong support” for paying these stiffs? Because four mayors and nine city councilors agree the school board members should be paid. That’s what he told The Gazette. Asking former mayors and city councilors how they feel about paying school committee members is like asking Jaques Cousteau if he think SCUBA diving is a worthwhile activity.

How interesting that LaPointe didn’t once think of asking how The Little Guy feels about this.

Four mayors and nine city councilors does not a a representative group make, unless, of course, you are trolling to find out which way the GOB wind is blowing. It’s blowing gales now, and unless the ordinary citizens of Pittsfield get riled and get off their butts come election time, they will continue to get hosed.

Let me tell you, Fast Eddie and the rest of the GOB Busybodies, that the Little Guy thinks the idea of paying members of the Pittsfield School committee $8,000 to $10,000 plus benefits stinks. To quote Garnell: “It bites the big one.”

The notion should not be put forward. It’s funny how a worthwhile idea (city manager) gets unanimously dismissed while a stupid idea that will only cost taxpayers finds great favor. It demonstrates how far out of touch these jokers are. The city council, the mayor, the Frozen Chozen, the Committee of Busybodies — they are all hopelessly out of touch with what ordinary citizens want for their city.

If you wish to express your opinions on this to the charter review commission members, here’s the list and the contact information:

Edward J. Lapointe, Chair
39 Wellseley Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
elapointe@pittsfieldch.com

William D. Barry
24 Kittredge Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 442-2639
wbarry@pittsfieldch.com

Dianna M. Ferrero
112 Windsor Avenue
Pittsfield, MA 01201
dferrero@pittsfieldch.com

Michael P. Filpi
1083 Cascade Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 442-1970 ext. 12
mfilpi@pittsfieldch.com

Brad Gordon
101 Doreen Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 446-8647
bgordon@pittsfieldch.com

Arthur Jones
207 Pomeroy Avenue
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 822-9279
ajones@pittsfieldch.com

Victoria Kane
97 Onota Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
vkane@pittsfieldch.com

Peter Marchetti, Vice Chair
29 Courtland Place
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-7320
pmarchetti@pittsfieldch.com

Michael J. McCarthy
16 Meadow Ridge Drive
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-4400
mmccarthy@pittsfieldch.com

David W. Murphy, Jr.
41 LeRoi Drive
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 443-5957
dmurphy@pittsfieldch.com

Deborah Sadowy
33 Plinn Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
dsadowy@pittsfieldch.com

Catherine VanBramer
Committee Clerk
(413) 499-9361
cvanbramer@pittsfieldch.com

 Let them know what you think. We’re sure they will be glad to hear from you (yeah, right).
For your information, the charter review committee is scheduled to meet tonight (Jan. 15), and again on Feb. 5, 19, March 7, 19, April 2, 16, May 7, 21, June 4, 18.
That’s a lot of meetings. Don’t you think we should pay them for their time?

———————————————————————-

BILLY LAYS IT OUT

We were struck by this comment from yesterday’s PLANET. It’s from billy. Here it is:

Did the charter commission do any research when they decided against a city manager? Did they go to nearby Berkshire towns and see how the it worked? I heard no discussion on how they reached that conclusion.The Berkshire Eagle ran a story about the strong mayor form of government; I walked away laughing at that idea.

The mayor has spent his first term in office blaming any problem he has come across on everyone but himself. The true measure of a leader is responsibility and accountability. The strong mayor form of leadership is ridiculous cause it has a “vice mayor” who could be a political hire and may have no education on how to run the city effectively as a city manger would. The newspaper said it would leave the mayor free to get money and create a vision for the city, but the mayor recently stated he is not good at having his hand out asking for money for the city. I applaud him for saying it but only makes the argument for a professional manger all the more relevant.

The city faces a future of tight budgets and an overtaxed, graying population. The mayor has refused to get out of control spending on the school side under control.  Pittsfield has shrunk from sixty thousand in the GE hay day to a little over forty thousand. yet the school dept has not realized that reality and has only grown. The mayor must make tough decisions size the school system to the population so it is effective and sustainable.

We thank billy for that trenchant commentary.

————————————————————————-

THE DREADED WORDS …

“I’m going for my colonoscopy.”

“I’m being evicted from my house.”

“I have bulimia.”

“My mother-in-law is moving in with us.”

“I have to put down my only child.”

“Pittsfield is reviewing its charter.”

——————————————————————————–

HIS NON OBSTANTIBUS

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE

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debbie
debbie
11 years ago

I can solve the problem. Set a date and have all tax payers vote for a new volunteer school committee board and get rid of these system suckers once and for all! As far as Alf spend your time in your office helping your short staff Probation Officer’s. In other words Alf do some work and stop hiding behind closed doors doing.? School Committee work.

debbie
debbie
11 years ago

I can solve the problem. Set a date and have all tax payers vot for a new volunteer school committee board and get rid of the buddy system . Kinnas stays. As far as Alf spend your time in your office helping your short staff Probation Officer’s. In other words Alf do some work and stop hiding behind closed doors doing.? School Committee work.

money mad
money mad
11 years ago

Instead of getting money maybe they ought to pay the city back for all past lawsuit settlements and for those in the pipeline. It would be interesting to know how much money has been paid out in the last five or ten years due to their decisions.

Scott
Scott
11 years ago

I’ll send in a couple HELL NO’s to the lead chairmen and others!

Magic
Magic
Reply to  Scott
11 years ago

So will I

dbdog
dbdog
11 years ago

No one asked me. I think there are enough things out there that I help pay for that don’t work.

Spagirl
Spagirl
11 years ago

No..No..No…..to a CITY MANAGER!!
No..No..No..to paying School Comittee Members!

Blind Justice
Blind Justice
11 years ago

Hi Dan, just wondering?

I feel public servants do not need payment.

Why a vice mayor? Mayor in place is in-competent?

This is the same analogy to a Town Manager.

If the selectpersons cannot do their job, why WASTE $100K????

Mary Jane and Joe want to know?

Gene
Gene
11 years ago

Great piece, DV. The “system suckers” as debbie above put it is a perfect phrase. Dan, will you consider running for mayor?

debbie
debbie
Reply to  Gene
11 years ago

Dan should run. He has my vote. Finally, we would a person in office who is honest and balanced. If not we should consider selling our homes and stop supporting Pittsfield. They cant take your tax money if you don’t live here.

debbie
debbie
Reply to  danvalenti
11 years ago

Yes you will and we as in the “People” will support you. I can’t wait to clean up this town and take it back. 2013 is going to be a great year!…….just ask Alf!…Its called karma and your all done sucking the tax payers dry. Omg having a hard time watching live Pittsfield ETV….Its like watching Robin hood. Alf looks like his pockets are over flowing with our tax money. His cheeks look a little fuller too. I wonder how much time “State time ” minutes Alf used on his day job today for this meeting?

Dave
Dave
11 years ago

The sad (or ironic) part of the push to get pay for the school committee is that it could be that one hot button issue that makes all these meetings by the review committee a total waste of time. I thought the main charge of this committee was to update the charter into 21st century language, maybe make a few changes where necessary. How did it morph into expanding Government with new positions and paying previously unpaid positions.It is actually a good thing though, because the voters will have a say, unlike prior times when new positions were only changes in name and higher salary that was only accountable to the administration. If they insist on pushing the pay for the school committee and it gets defeated, all the other work was for nothing.

Blind Justice
Blind Justice
11 years ago

Hi Dan, just wondering?

I feel public servants do not need payment.

Why a vice mayor? Mayor in place is in-competent?

This is the same analogy to a Town Manager.

If the selectpersons cannot do their job, why WASTE $100K????

Mary Jane and Joe want to know?
Been there done that

Blind Justice
Blind Justice
Reply to  Blind Justice
11 years ago

Got a Clue?

Blind Justice
Blind Justice
11 years ago

Gee Dan,

it looks like NAZI hmarnagning.

Help an American like me?

joetaxpayer
joetaxpayer
11 years ago

Simply, vote NO to grow gov’t..Time to make cuts not add pork. Money is not the deterent, it is the attitude of some of the members thats keep good people from running.

FPR
FPR
11 years ago

Didn’t the former Mayor Ruberto hire a second Mayor from North Adams to ride around with a plow truck a couple of times and point out that two street lights were out on North St.

Did the taxpayers have any say on that? What did it cost $35,000 a year for a couple of years?

So what’s another $60,000 a year to pay the school committee?
All you gotta do is just raise taxes again. You can have Melissa Mazzeo just say “we have to”. “We have no choice” and that makes it all better right?

Scott
Scott
Reply to  FPR
11 years ago

John Barrett (former N. Adams mayor who was elected out after a long enough term to make the most honest man corrupt.) was a “consultant”. At least he was equipped with his own ladle!

Joe Blow
Joe Blow
11 years ago

This state is doomed taxes,fee’s and more taxes. Gov. Patrick a.k.a. Obama Jr. just proposed a huge transportation plan but left out how he is gonna fund it. Here are some of the idea’s being floated….

— Raising the state’s 21 cents per gallon gasoline tax, which has not changed since 1991. To raise $1 billion a year, the tax would have to be raised by 30 cents per gallon to 51 cents per gallon, making it the highest gas tax in the nation.

— Raising the state sales tax. To generate $1 billion for transportation, the rate would have to increase from the current 6.25 percent to 7.7 percent.

– Increasing the income tax. An 8 percent increase in the tax, from the current 5.25 percent to 5.66 percent, would generate $1 billion.

– Imposing an annual 2.4 cents per mile “vehicle miles traveled tax.” This tax would be collected from vehicle owners during the annual safety inspection, or by use of an onboard device that records the miles the vehicle travels in a year.

– Imposing a so-called green fee, based upon a vehicle’s
carbon emissions.

— Regular and frequent increases in public transit fares, tolls and other so-called user fees. For example, MBTA fares and Massachusetts Turnpike tolls would climb 5 percent every two years.

I’m voting with my feet in 2013…ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

FPR
FPR
Reply to  Joe Blow
11 years ago

“- Imposing an annual 2.4 cents per mile “vehicle miles traveled tax.” This tax would be collected from vehicle owners during the annual safety inspection, or by use of an onboard device that records the miles the vehicle travels in a year.”
– Joe Blow

I’ll bet you’ll see a lot of inspection mechanics scratching their heads as why no one’s mileage ever increases year after year.

“I’m voting with my feet in 2013…ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”
– Joe Blow

I made that same decision years ago Joe. It was hard to read the handwriting on the wall.

Joe Blow
Joe Blow
Reply to  FPR
11 years ago

I escaped the area in the early 90’s and returned in 03. I can see the writing clearly now, as states around the country are doing away with income taxes Patrick wants to raise ours.

outfox
outfox
Reply to  Joe Blow
11 years ago

I returned here in the mid-90’s thinking that Pittsfield was just about to get its act together in terms of attracting jobs to replace the jobs lost when GE bailed on us, and in the last few months I have had to admit to myself that this town is done. I love my hometown, but will be moving away as soon as a couple of things in my life are done.We have been a great place to live, and really could be again, but Pittsfield just keeps blowing it! If DV runs, I’ll stick around long enough to cast my vote for him, though.

outfox
outfox
Reply to  Joe Blow
11 years ago

Part of the reason the state needs the money is to pay for the Big Dig. I still don’t know how we here in the Berkshires benefit from that hole in the ground, and I am averse to paying for it? And, too, WHY are we still paying for it as a state, anyway? Wasn’t there a mess of financial finagling for it back in the day?

Scott
Scott
Reply to  Joe Blow
11 years ago

Why not raise the price for the people who use public transportation? I’m all for feeding the poor but they can come up with an extra quarter to ride the bus.

outfox
outfox
Reply to  Scott
11 years ago

Scott, as someone who rides the B bus regularly, we see fare increases pretty frequently, and even though I am low income, it is not just “the poor” using the bus. Especially in the past 6 months, I can tell you that there has been an major increase in ridership, most likely due to the rising cost of gasoline. But I assure you, as those quarters add up, the cost increase that would initially seem negligible, over the course of three months, could be the difference between taking the bus or buying a needed medication, for example. It’s a tough issue, and perhaps the transportation expansion can be paid for by spreading the tax amongst everybody that Gov. Patrick is targeting rather than just one group.

And seriously, can y’all just stop hating on “the poor”? It’s tough enough out here as it is, and most of us would like to be working. Yes there are some jobs, and do you know how many people, qualified or not, are trying for each one listed? It’s crazy.

Wet Blanket
Wet Blanket
11 years ago

‘Public servants do not need payment.’ That should include the Mayor too, right? Dan, does this mean when you run for mayor you will refuse your salary and zero out the line item for this? Maybe I’d vote for you after all!

Wet Blanket
Wet Blanket
Reply to  danvalenti
11 years ago

It’s no gimmick Dan, you either believe true public service should be compensated, or you don’t. If you don’t, then the mayor should also be purely volunteer service. I’m surprised you won’t stand up for your principles and make a commitment to the voters to forego any and all compensation if elected. If you don’t, people should reconsider their absolute faith in you.

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
11 years ago

Gov. Deval Patrick wants to raise state taxes AND cut local aid. What an economic formula!

Rick
Rick
11 years ago

Off Topic
Will the public works employee who stored the flammable decorations next to a heating element that caused the DPW garage fire be promoted?
DPW super moved to tears…………What a bunch of hogwash!
Get ready for your wetland garage Pittsfield taxpayers.

billy
billy
11 years ago

Dan
i respect your views and the forum you provide,but i watched the charter committee tonight in complete disbelief.Pete Marchetti suggested that councilors get no compensation in health benefits or pay. I believe their salary breaks down to about 70 dollars a week ,so we can all see they dont do it for the money.Pete said he wanted to help the city save money .I would love to understand how takeing away a small benefit in a hundred million dollar budget makes any sense what so ever. I was happy to see Judge Lapointe step in and say slow down and think for a minute.These councilors work jobs and spend countless hours doing research on all sorts of city undertakings..They get paid pennies to spend long hours away from their families and give us their talents.I think giving them health insurance as a option is only fair for them giving us time and talent. These people are responsible for a hundred million dollar budget.IT s a huge responsibility and can not be compared to boards or commissions. The mayor makes 84000 as well as other upper department heads in both the city side and school department yet we seek no cost savings there? and they control only a fraction of the money the council or school committee does. I predict that if this ridiculous idea goes forward you will see a exodus of educated passionate talent .leave the council.I would not blame them in the least .The city will not get quality candidates cause any thinking man or women will not work such a time consuming job for no compensation..Pete is a numbers guy but this one does nt add up.

joetaxpayer
joetaxpayer
Reply to  billy
11 years ago

Billy all the politician’s say and do what you are talking about.You know “with the size of are bloated budget this will only be a drop in the bucket” funny thing they us this arguement both ways. I say it is time to start taking drops out of the bucket, they will add up.Health care for councilors should be stopped, that is not just a drop in the bucket.

billy
billy
Reply to  joetaxpayer
11 years ago

Joe
then you start with the biggest drops.What sense does it make in our federal budget to cut mental illness which is minimal,instead of defense? which is ten times the size of all the armies on earth combined? WE cut out the edges of the problem instead of attacking the root of it. We attack the easiest targets cause they are the most visable and in front of us every second tuesday,instead of having a real look in the mirror conversation about our over sized school system and their inability to see that they need to be lean and mean instead of bloated and behind the curve.The Charter school in Adams succeeds cause they listen to the people they serve and adapt.The problem with our problem is we do things ass backwards in this city. The school department gets a great salary along with 17 step increases and 14 weeks off and a pension that gives them 80 percent of their highest 3 years. before they have proven themselves as educators? They have no incentive due to this overly generous setup to push themselves to be better .. If tenure exists then they have no fear of losing these benefits do to not meeting ever more global education challenges. I predict if we dont make hard choices soon in this city to serve our childrens needs instead of our School deptarments wants ..WE will hear “welcome to Walmart ” in many of their futures selling goods from our better educated competitors who made those tough choices.

Scott
Scott
Reply to  billy
11 years ago

No one forced them to run for the positions in the first place.

outfox
outfox
11 years ago

Actually, I will stick around long enough to volunteer for DV’s campaign and vote for him.Then I suppose I’d want to see his changes implemented, so that would keep me around for a while, and as the city becomes re-livable under his guidance, hell, maybe I won’t have to move away after all! Run, DV, run!

billy
billy
11 years ago

no matter how much they love the city.I think that if you dont reward talent with compensation you will end up with the version of the nfl fiasco with the refs. when they brought in the second string.I think we all know how it all turned out

dusty
dusty
Reply to  billy
11 years ago

in the case of the school committee it does not seem that anyone outside of Kinnas is doing any research at all. It makes no sense to pay people who are simply there as pawns to the system. You can tell by the discussion that most of these people have not had an original thought in a long time or if they did they are terrified to express it. The people of Pittsfield are disgusted already with the way things are done and this will push many more to the limit.

Scott
Scott
Reply to  billy
11 years ago

The only thing politics and the NF have in common is they’re all a bunch of greedy b@stards!

Scott
Scott
Reply to  Scott
11 years ago

NFL*

billy
billy
11 years ago

Dan,
because being civic minded does not mean you leave your brains at the door.Nobody goes to work and sacrifices for a employer or a city and does not get compensation.I would love to see you tell me that your writing career and your books should not be compensated ., and your knowledge and the countless hours of blood, sweat and tears you invested in them. The health benefits probably cost 12000 at the most a year and thats a guess. You have seen great moments at those council meetings from well educated people like your self . I dont see any reason not to give them the benefit all other municipal employees get or take it from all of them. which we know will never happen.I see the pool of quality people drying up if this thing gets wings and flies.

billy
billy
Reply to  danvalenti
11 years ago

Dan
they are city employees cause they are duly elected law makers of our city.and intrusted with the vital fiduciary responsibility of of our 100 million dollar budget and how it is dispersed.That is not a job i want to give to some arm chair politician. that thinks this is some weekend civics project. I believe in politics as well as business “garbage in garbage out”.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  billy
11 years ago

I also do not feel school committee people should be paid. Then you at least have a chance of getting people who care more about the children than their own bottom line. And you don’t need a Harvard think tank to run school business. Common sense, which seems sorely lacking on the Pittsfield school committee, will do just fine.

Of course, all the common sense in the world will not help if you are afraid of, or indebted to, the bully running the show..

billy
billy
11 years ago

Dan
what utopia are you living in?… puff puff pass…. why dont the analogies stick ? what is good for the goose is good for the gander…….

outfox
outfox
Reply to  danvalenti
11 years ago

DV, if you can get Todd Rundgren to join our utopia I will vote for you for mayor two or three times at least!