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!!THIS JUST IN — BOYS CLUB BOARD MTG. TOMORROW AT 3:30 p.m. PUBLIC NEEDS TO SHOW UP AND DEMAND ANSWERS TO STRANGE DOING THERE!! … COST OF BUILDING NEW SCHOOL JUMPS MILLIONS OVERNIGHT, AND OTHER HORRORS … plus … CLUB CANS 33-YR. EMPLOYEE CHRIS KEEGAN

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By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

ED. NOTE: THE PLANET today has been in communication with several sources who know some of what’s going on at the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club. These sources responded to our invitation for information of the strange doings on Melville Street. Below, we have the news that Club executive director Terry Hughes unceremoniously dumped long-time program director Chris Keegan, a beloved staffer who was in many ways the face of the Club in the community. Tomorrow, THE PLANET shall have more of this shocking story. For now, the important thing to note is an emergency meeting of the Board of Directors set for tomorrow (March 19) at 3:30 p.m. at the Club’s Lighthouse room. The public needs to be let in on what’s going on at the beloved but troubled facility. THE PLANET urges anyone with an interest in getting off of the road to ruination show up there tomorrow at 3:30 and demand that the board open it up. The Boys and Girls Club is too important a community institution for citizens to stand by idly and watch is slowly die. It is too important to allow to fail.

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(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2015) — The Done Deal for building the new Taconic High School just got “done-er” as the School Building Needs Commission (SBNC) voted unanimously to approved the plan, sending it to its unceremonious rubber stamping at the Pittsfield City Council.

Unanimously.

There are 22 members. There were 23, but one resigned. He was Ozias “Chuck” Vincelette, a.k.a., The Man from Mensa. Chuck had been a member from the start, but well into the deal, he saw what he was involved in a rigged game. The Man had too much integrity. He resigned.

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Allow THE PLANET to makes several points:

* Have you noticed how the “official” amount has now risen to more than $120 million? That’s a $5 million increase in the last week. Ah, but what’s a mere $5 mill to The Suits? They’ll simply squeeze that much out of the taxpayers, most of whom do not have kids in the public schools.

* And have you seen how the state’s “expected” contribution for reimbursement has dropped from the first quoted 80% to the new number (just over 60%)? That reimbursement rate is by no means guaranteed. In case you don’t know it, the $750 million state debt uncovered by The Baker Administration has doubled to $1.5 billion. While you’re thanking Deval, wish him well on his new gig promoting the Olympic Games for Boston. For that, he gets $7,500 a day plus expenses. The $1.5B debt may further reduce or eliminate altogether the state’s reimbursement for a school Pittsfield does not need. Don’t expect anyone on the commission or any of the mainstream media to tell you that. Their job is to keep you  knocked up and in the kitchen.

* THE PLANET has more than once laid out the steps needed to force a people’s vote on this project, including a citizen’s initiative petition. There was some big talk about organizing such an effort, but it proved to be nothing more than that. Folks were appealing to us to spearhead the effort. Ain’t gonna happen. Despite cliched rumors about THE PLANET meddling behind the scenes of city government, we adopt a plan similar to that which binds the crew of the Starship Enterprise, whose prime directive is not to meddle with other life forms. We are not nor do we wish to be “king makers,” a ridiculous claim that every now and then gets thrown our way.

* The Suits have counted on We The People‘s apathy all along to advance this nefarious building project, in which a small number of key suppliers and Insiders shall make a bundle — and they were correct. The Little Guy has been licked. Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski have been beaten down too much to mount a formal campaign against this iniquitous spending. Pittsfield still owes $23 million in debt from the last round of school renovation. The new building shall add 28 years and anywhere between $120 and $200 million to citizens’ indebtedness.

* Do you think there will be bribes and kickbacks to certain officials for ram-rodding this down the public’s throat? THE PLANET does not answer this question in the negative or the affirmative. We simply ask, knowing the weakness of human nature from its experience through history when power intersects with large sums of money and where there is little to no accountability.

* Was Woolthworth‘s a 5-and-10? Did the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl? Is the Pope named Francis? Does a triangle have three sides? Did Trade Smith and Mark Smith invent the cough drop? Are there potholes in Pittsfield? Does Lady McBeth nag her sorry husband? Is Groucho one of the Marx Brothers? Does John DeAngelo live in Sheffield?

Think on these things.

Outside of a miraculous, last-second interception at the goal line by Malcolm Butler, the best hope of stopping this project lies in contacting your city councilors. They will need at least 8 out of 11 votes to pass it. If four councilors show a conscience and a backbone by doing the right thing by The People, victory is possible.

Is that worth the price of one phone call or e-mail?

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Club Cans Chris Keegan

On The Weekend Edition of Sept 19-21, 2014 (available online in THE PLANET “Archives”), THE PLANET  led an investigative piece on the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club this way:

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What in the name of Fred Fahey and Jim Mooney is going on at the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club?

THE PLANET‘s spies, including several sources closely involved at the old brick building on Melville Street  and “a heartbeat removed” you might say, have been reporting unrest at the top and concern percolating from the bottom over the reign of “new” executive director Terence Hughes.

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That prompted a lot of questions, but it apparently brought no end to the turmoil that’s gripping the once-proud Club.

THE PLANET heard from two sources that Chris Keegan has been dismissed after 33 years of service to the Club. He is the latest casualty in a civil war involving long-time staff, director Hughes, and a caught-in-the-headlights Board of Directors. It is a tragic tale, one that indirectly led to the death of former director Peter Bell.

We also received this note from “A Concerned Parent” —

Yesterday [March 16] Chris Keegan’s job was eliminated from the Boys and Girls Club of Pittsfield. Mr Keegan has been with the club for 33 years and is just the latest in a string of incredible people let go in the last year and a half. He had the respect of the kids, staff, and parents alike and was well liked by everyone. I know you have expressed concern for the direction the club is heading in the past so I wanted to pass this information along to you. I’m encouraging everyone to write to the club’s board of directors in hopes or reversing this horrible decision (of course their contact information is not posted).

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We thank Concerned Parent for the note, and we will encourage anyone with information about the inside dirty dealings at the Club to contact THE PLANET. Confidentiality is assured. Don’t expect The Boring Broadsheet to look into this, because the paper has been told to “lay off, if you know what’s good for you.”

It’s soooooo Pittsfield.

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“Westerners are mean and tough. Got to get a gun and practice. Got to get yourself so tough, you can eat a bowl of cactus.”Frankie Laine, “City Boy,” from the album Hell Bent for Leather, (1962).

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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dusty
dusty
9 years ago

How much money does the executive director of the boys club get paid? Are their other well paid positions at the club?

How much money is in the boys club budget? Who is in charge of keeping track of it? How much of their expense sheet is public information?

Most of the funny stuff that happens in Pittsfield is related to who winds up with public money. Is that the case here as well?

anom
anom
Reply to  dusty
9 years ago

The Executive Director is the only “well paid” position in the building.

Tyler
Tyler
Reply to  danvalenti
9 years ago

Somewhere in the $105k – 110k range give or take a few thousand

Tyler
Tyler
Reply to  Tyler
9 years ago

Plus use of the directors cottage at Camp which the Club allowed him to gut and basically dismantle at the Club’s expense.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Tyler
9 years ago

Really? More than the mayor of the city? And just what does he do for this grand sum because every dime he takes out of the budget is money not spent on the kids.

anom
anom
Reply to  Tyler
9 years ago

Safe to say no other employee makes more than 40k.

Club observer
Club observer
Reply to  danvalenti
9 years ago

Tina Wixsom has been given Dave Harte’s job so she’ll be making more money as second in command at Club Terry. Shannon McMahon has been named Program Director. Geez! Wasn’t that job just eliminated on Monday? Does anyone know why she isn’t the swim coach at St Joe anymore?

Club alum
Club alum
Reply to  Club observer
9 years ago

On Shannon …st. Joe is closing.. more students and teachers have left that school in the past year than have enrolled. no need for a swim coach when there’s only two kids on the swim team…unfortunately that’s another institution that has seen its last breath. the new principal has ruined the school. the kids that did go there couldn’t get out of there fast enough.I think they hired gelinas to mothball the place…many good memories from there.I guess it’ll make great subsidized housing or perfect for another “Wellness Center” because all we have are drug addicts walking around downtown

Donna
Donna
Reply to  Club observer
9 years ago

From what I saw on my last visit to the club this past fall, there is no organization as far as staffing, this wonderful space labeled “the lighthouse” is completely understaffed, underutilized. There does not seem to be anyone in charge, I wonder if any of these positions recently eliminated were ones that were responsible for this area. How are our children going to benefit from an organization that has no staff to spend time with them, or oversee what is going on in all areas of such a large building? From what I hear Mr. Hughes does not spend much time at the club, his home is in Ct, not in the community he supposedly serves.

poorboy
poorboy
9 years ago

The costs of this new sweetheart Taconic done deal are already escalating and this without even being formally approved yet. Its all smoke and mirrors. When its all said and done, the sticker shock will be off the charts.

Off course the BB will run a sanitized fluffernutter article, saying how the original costs were projected and not actual costs. Its because of this or that bla blah bla that the original estimates were not acurate blah buh blah…..

The Planet has been saying this right from the start. Of course nobody will held accountable and the increase costs will be tacked onto everyone’s tax bills. They may even say something like “everyone wanted a new high school and now its time to pay for it”. Twisting the fact that there was no vote.

When they stack the deck with all the nodding yes men, deny the people a vote, slowly escalate the costs and a few key suits rake it in, the people have truly lost.

Apathy yes. It is truly in your best interest to leave Pittsfield. Move onto greener pastures and don’t look back. Let Pittsfield die, choking in its own vomit.

Horace Man
Horace Man
Reply to  poorboy
9 years ago

Insider Report ……. $218 million is being bantered about in the smoke filled back rooms.

joetaxpayer
joetaxpayer
9 years ago

Really think they should reconsider spending 2 million dollars on air conditioning. That number is actually much greater, with added electrical and maintainance costs.

B
B
Reply to  joetaxpayer
9 years ago

We did not have air-conditioning when I was a kid in Pittsfield, I think that future generations can all go without.

Bill Sturgeon
Bill Sturgeon
9 years ago

The new high school will have to have air conditioning because of the onset of the “Global Warming” threat.

Jethro Bodine
Jethro Bodine
Reply to  Bill Sturgeon
9 years ago

For hundres of years going back to Pitts founding in 1761kids have somehow endured the school year without AC. How did we all do it? We didn’t know it but we were abused children. Add at least $3.5 million for AC. Shameful reckless spending.

Jethro Bodine
Jethro Bodine
Reply to  Jethro Bodine
9 years ago

Oh yeah and maybe I should add school year runs from Sept to June Let’s see, Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan/ Feb. March April May are the heart of the school year. Yes. Definitely need AC.

Ed Check
Ed Check
Reply to  Jethro Bodine
9 years ago

They better change window design to ones that open.

Silence Dogood
Silence Dogood
Reply to  Bill Sturgeon
9 years ago

Man made Global Warming is a hoax

Tyler
Tyler
9 years ago

Aren’t most of the high level members of the Club’s board also either current or former board members of the CYC? If so, doesn’t that alarm anyone? The CYC board allowed their building and organization to deteriorate right infront of their eyes and it appears they are now allowing the same thing to happen to the Boys & Girls Club. It’s sad that the reputation of the Club has becoome so tarnished under the leadership of this board of directors and their new executive director, who has yet to have a nice word said about him throughout the city. What a shame!

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
9 years ago

Maybe Jack Welch will pay for Pittsfield’s new Taconic High School as his gift to Pittsfield taxpayers after he wrecked Pittsfield’s local economy. I heard Jack Welch is going to purchase beachfront property on Silver Lake where he will build a summer cottage and take morning swims. Then, old Jack will have his lunch at Teo’s hot dogs.

Ed Check
Ed Check
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
9 years ago

Jonathan,

You are a bit off on CEO Jack Welch being at fault. Years ago, I was a manager at a GE division, I had heard he just got tired of all the wildcat walkouts when workers wanted time off. You could not run ANY business that way. He also made it known he wanted GE out of the defense business and all the government control of profitability. His tough business approach revitalized a company dying a slow death. Many of it’s managers had no clue that the patient was even dying. So it is not Jack Welch who is to blame or owes Pittsfield a new school, blame the workers who killed the proverbial golden goose. As an old proverb says, we harvest what we plant. Now that GE is gone, who are we going to blame?

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
Reply to  Ed Check
9 years ago

Jack Welch was a brilliant businessman of his day. He brought financial profits and economic growth to GE. After the 2 recessions of the last decade (2001 – 2010), GE almost lost its shirt after Jack Welch retired. GE has been an under-performing corporation under GE CEO Jeff Immelt.
Jack Welch terminated the employment of over 100,000 GE employees during his 2 decade tenure as GE’s CEO. Jack Welch was hostile to the working class.

joetaxpayer
joetaxpayer
9 years ago

Can’t blame Jack, GE was leaving no matter what.

Still wondering
Still wondering
9 years ago

Ed Check is correct. Jack hated the unions. People conveniently forget how radicalized the local unions were back in the day. It was a circus especially at transformer.

PopKornSutton
PopKornSutton
9 years ago

Ed who the hell do you think made G E?

CG
CG
Reply to  PopKornSutton
9 years ago

I know right. Generous Electric pays no taxes. All the jobs have been outsourced to China and other places. The consent degree allowed them to walk away with pennies on the dollar leaving Pittsfield residents to die of cancer.

Oh but its all the union’s fault right?

Hey maybe someone could run for city coucil promising to reopen the consent decree? Then after they get elected, forget all about it. Thats coucil president material.

After all you don’t have to do what you promise in your campaign. You only need to use it to get elected. Once you’re in the club, you can do as you damn well please. Except in an election year, then you just could on voter apathy and a low voter turn out.

Once you make it president, you decide how long someone can speak at open mic, depending on if you like the person or not. You decide that the people should not have a vote on spending $200 million dollars of their money. They elected you but you are chief cook and bottle washer. You can shut people out and reasonably expect to be reelected.

Concerned Parent
Concerned Parent
9 years ago

A family member just called the club and was told by the board president that this is a closed meeting. I guess no one wants to face the consequences of their actions!

amandaWell
amandaWell
9 years ago

LOw said on Consider It’ that he’s been getting e mails asking what is this? Meaning the committee on replacing the high school. Who is asking these questions…bullshit LOw, do you think people are that naive? We want a vote on this? Work on that! This show is one big bullshit session.

Jimmy Gee
Jimmy Gee
Reply to  amandaWell
9 years ago

Really classy Amanda!

amandaWell
amandaWell
9 years ago

No Problem G…The City Council will be the final arbiter on whether or not to fund the new school, taking away the taxpayer and the right to vote on this issue, as they know better. Question, where were these know it all stewards when the school was falling apart. I rest my case.

Discreet Cat
Discreet Cat
9 years ago

There is no such thing as class, in this city.

dusty
dusty
9 years ago

the Eagle article mentioned social media discussion of the Boys Club….what other social media than this place do they speak of?

anom
anom
Reply to  dusty
9 years ago

Chris’s daughter’s Facebook status. It had about 150 “likes”, 50 “shares”, and plenty of disapproving comments.

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
9 years ago

Recent municipal bankruptcies:
* San Bernardino, Californa
* Stockton, California
* Detroit, Michigan
Future municipal bankruptcy:
* Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Wall Street’s
* $3.6 trillion U.S. municipal bond market
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102514993