By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, OCT. 28, 2014) — In breaking news, THE PLANET reports that Ward 5 city councilor Jonathan Lothrop has filed an Open Meeting Law complaint with the office of City Clerk Linda Tyer. Lothrop filed the action Friday in connection with the action by the Pittsfield Employment Commission‘s reversal of an earlier vote in approving a switch from the GIC, the state’s insurance pool, to the private and more expensive Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The complaint targets the chair and vice-chair of the Pittsfield Public Employee Committee (PEC), Brendan Sheran and Gerald Miller, respectively.

THE PLANET presents you this exclusive look at the documents:

OML Complaint – PEC

It Ain’t Heavy, Father; It’s the Way ‘Democracy’ Works in Pittsfield 

The PEC consists of one member from each of the city’s 15 municipal unions. In executive matters, PEC members cast weighted votes. The weights are accorded in this way:

* United Educators of Pittsfield, 35.23% of PEC votes.

* Local 1315, paraprofessionals, 13.84%

* Local 1315, secretaries/clerks, 3.14%

* Local 1315, cafeteria, 4.15%

* Local 1315, bus drivers, 3.44%

* Local 1315, custodians, 3.26%

*Pittsfield Educators Administrators Association, 2.73%

* Local 2647, fire fighters, 5.33%

* Local 447, police, 5.15%

* Local 4475, superior officers, .96%

* Local 861, AFSCME, 4.97%

* Pittsfield supervisors and professional employees, 4.21%

* Emergency telecommunications dispatchers, .72%

* Pittsfield municipal engineers associations, .01%

* Pittsfield traffic supervisors association, .03%

* Athenaeum employees, 2.68%

* Retirees, 10.15%

Representative Process Corrupted by Weighed Vote, Secret Promises

This tilted apportionment set the stage for a corruption of the democratic process, opening the way for the mayor to press with odd diligence this switch. Dan Bianchi‘s fervor in pushing this move begs the questions: For whom did he carry the water? and What’s in it for him?

You will recall that sometime in late summer, the mayor secretly contacted the PEC regarding the switch. On Sept. 2, the PEC met an in a unanimous 15-0 vote, rejecting the proposal and delivering a slap in the face to the mayor’s end-around on the cost-saving GIC arrangement. With several years in the books, the data shows that the GIC has saved taxpayers a considerable amount of money on the 85-15 health insurance split.

A little more than a week later, the PEC reported back to the membership notifying it of its decision (Sept. 11). Union members thought that was the end of the matter. How wrong they were. More clandestine talks followed, these between the mayor and Sheran, head of the United Educators of Pittsfield (UEP) — who alone controlled 35.23% of the PEC votes. Were those talks documented? Were minutes kept? Was specifically was discussed?

Actually, sources tell THE PLANET Sheran also had the 10.15% of the retirees’ share in PEC. Retiree rep Miller’s wife had recently died. Miller, according to sources, “gave” his vote to Sheran, giving him nearly 46% of the vote. It should be noted that none of the retirees, many on fixed incomes, were apprised of what was going on.

According to sources, promises were exchanged, the nature of which have not been revealed.  One of the “sweeteners” apparently was the “mitigation fund” the mayor set up, effectively promising that taxpayers, not city employees, would pay for any hike in premiums that resulted from the move. That’s a sure sign that the mayor and others expect the switch to cost prohibitively more.

Again, one has to ask: What’s in it for the mayor? THE PLANET shall keep open that aspect of the investigation. Keep in mind that this website — not The Berkshire Eagle, not iBerkshires, not any other newspaper, TV, or radio station — broke this story, which, like so many others, the mayor wanted to keep quiet.

Where else Can a 26-4 Vote ‘Against’ Count as a Win ‘For’?

Back to the timeline. A second, hasty union vote was arranged, with barely legal notice — if that. On Sept. 25, union reps voted 11-4 to reject the move. However, because Sheran controlled 45.38%, he only needed the support of one or two other members. At it turned out, he received two votes and their percentages put them over the 51% they needed. In the two votes, the tally by the union representatives was 26 against the move, 4 in favor. This being Pittsfield, the move passed.

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With Move Comes Loss of Millions in Insurance Savings

THE PLANET applauds councilor Lothrop’s action. The secrecy and haste of the two union votes begged for an investigation to see if the law was followed. Lothrop has more than a casual interest in the matter, since he helped mightily to engineer the switch to the GIC during the Ruberto Administration. The move saved taxpayers a lot of money. You can kiss all that goodbye.

THE PLANET has requested comment from Lothrop and the mayor’s office.

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RSVP Position Advertised, but It Leaves Out the Most Important Requirement

THE PLANET has lost count of the number of people who have either complained publicly or filed charges against the mayor for threatening, discriminatory, harassment, and/or bullying behavior. The long list includes Rosanne Frieri, Craig Gaetani, Deborah Sadowy, Doreen Wade, Barry Clairmont, Rosaura Romano, Jonathan Lothrop, and Mary McGinness. How many lawsuits and actions will result? How much money in damages will this cost taxpayers?

Sadowy was set-up to fail only a few months after taking over the helm of Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). The dismissal had the mayor’s greasy fingerprints all over it. The latest we heard was that Sadowy was consulting with her attorney. She did not leave the city’s employ with a $150,000 severance package, which happened with Bianchi buddy William Monterosso after alleged scandal drove him from the directorship of Berkshire Works.

FYI, here is the city’s posting for the position:

RSVP Director

The application doesn’t mention the most important required: a strong stomach to swallow all the political guff and a weak backbone to yield before the dictates of board director Carolyn Valli, who takes her orders directly from the corner office.

THE PLANET advises anyone interested in applying for this position: Don’t — unless you enjoy being disrespected and abused.

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Morandi Wants Council to Have a Say

Finally, THE PLANET passes along this message from Ward 2 city councilor Kevin Morandi in connection with yesterday’s column on council reaction to the mayoral meltdown testified to by councilors Barry Clairmont and Jonathan Lothrop.

Since I have already responded to you with my comments reguarding your questions about the phone conversation between Councilor Clairmont and the Mayor, I don’t have anything further to add on that subject. However, to the questions about our role as a “co-governor” with the issues of 100gate and the health insurance switch, I feel we need to be involved as a council whether council approval is needed or not. Communication is key when serving as an elected official. We need to be informed about decisions made, so that we can pass this information on to our constituents when their inquiring about an issue that needs addressing. Thank You.  —   Councilor Morandi

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“Clink, clink, another drink. Plenty in the cellar when it’s gone. Drink, drink, the glasses clink making tinkly music till dawn is breaking.” — Spike Jones, “Clink, Clink Another Drink,” (1942).

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.