NOW THAT HUGHES IS GONE, CLUB BOARD NEEDS TO COME CLEAN … THE PLANET OUTLINES JUST HOW
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015) — Now that the Board of Directors of the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club took the inevitable step of canning Terry Hughes and his disastrous reign, it needs to do some critical self-examination of its role in leading the organization to the brink, if not of oblivion than of irrelevance.
Based on the observations contained in the volume of comments to this website, community discussions, and especially from the contents of private message THE PLANET has received, it’s clear that the jettisoning of Hughes hasn’t settled the rootless condition of a Club that has lost its way. Rather, in face of the Club’s directionless and nomadic ways, it has further agitated the roiled water.
Reading the Tea Leaves (Decaf, of Course)
THE PLANET has received a lot of information lately, some of it startling if true, and the question now is if the board will finally and accurately read the tea leaves. We will know if it does when the board comes clean with the full story — the who, what, when, where, why, and how — of the recent upheavals. That complete picture may tangentially reach as far back as a generation ago.
One deep concern has been the lack of communication of the board with the community. THE PLANET has been covering the strange doings at the Club since before Peter Bell was mysteriously let go, and we have lost count of the number of times we have asked for official comment from Club administrators, particularly after the hiring of Hughes, and particularly-x-two after that hiring proved to be disastrous for the Club’s and the community’s best interests. Even now, we have had at least four attempts for comment to board president John Donna go unanswered. This confuses us, since when the phone doesn’t ring, we don’t know if it’s Donna or the mayor not getting back to us.
Donna and Hughes tried the brush-off early on, usually ignoring our requests or, if responding (always Donna, and only one time Hughes), saying nothing in as few words as possible. What they don’t realize, and what we hope to impress on the board and interim executive director Chris Jacoby, is that THE PLANET has a good number of sources, some of whom are claiming deep inside knowledge. If we can’t get information the best way — that is honestly, openly, truthfully, and on the record from the board and the executive — we have ways to get it the next-best way, which is going to alternative sources.
We already hold information that, if true, might be the deal breaker to end all deals. Enough said — for now.
Free Advice to Club Board, Jacoby
A word of free advice: The Club will be best served only if the board and Jacoby come clean. One specific way of doing that, and soon, would be to call an open town meeting, to which the press would be invited. A moderator would put questions to Jacoby and Donna, and there would be an opportunity for any member of the public to ask questions. The meeting would take one, two, three hours — or as long as necessary. THE PLANET offers our services, gratis, as host and moderator. All we need is a venue (a public space such as a small theater, or perhaps even the Club itself) and the willingness of the Club administration to participate.
We here and now formally make the offer to Donna and Jacoby. THE PLANET requests to hear back from them on this offer.
That would be the beginning of healing, and make no mistake. The situation requires massive intervention. We well understand that some of the Club issues most likely will have legal implications requiring an embargo, but that being said, those are the precise problems that need the healing qualities of sunlight. Are long-standing reputations on the line? Are certain current players hiding onerous errors? Are there potentially explosive situations pertaining to Club management that, if it comes to light as accurate, would put the board in jeopardy?
‘Civil War,’ if Unchecked, Will Bring Doom
There seems to be no doubt that one of the most serious problems plaguing the Club is the evident “civil war” now raging on the board of directors, the “board within a board” problem THE PLANET mentioned in earlier columns. That problem needs to be exposed in detail, addressed, and solved.
The alternative is to pretend that the firing of Hughes means that we are in the “Pillow Talk” phase of this drama. That’s where The Suits would have you believe Doris Day is the new Exec and Rock Hudson the new board president. The sun is always shining, they’re filming in glorious Technicolor, it’s 72 degrees, and the tunes are upbeat and bouncy. If that’s the case, it will be the board again taking the community for dopes and dummies, believing that Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski do not know it’s actually overcast, raining, 33 degrees, windy, with songs fit for a funeral march.
We would also suggest that our brethren in the mainstream media, particularly The Berkshire Eagle, will not be “one-and-done” on this story and not continue with leaving THE PLANET to do the heavy lifting. We intend to continue to pump iron, but that being said, the job will be done a lot sooner done with help.
Finally, THE PLANET has accepted with grace the credit given to us for our role in spurring a previously intractable board to action. We appreciate the kind words.
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“We’ll go walking out while others shout of war’s disaster. Oh, we won’t give in, let’s stop living in the past.” — Jethro Tull, “Living in the Past,” from the album of the same name, (1970).
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
There has been some chatter about the club board wanting to go in a different direction as to funding, i.e. grants and United Way funds. Hopefully the additional funding would be to benefit the children of the club and not the adminstrative needs.
Just how much money does the club need and spend? Who oversees the books if there are any and are they for official eyes only?
I want to know that too. How is it funded? Who makes what? Are the books in order?
These two replies strongly suggest that John Donna and Chris Jacoby hold a press conference and public meeting. Purpose would be three-fold: (1) Make a comprehensive presentation on the Club finances, (2) Share their plan for moving forward, and (3) Take questions. It would go a long way in clearing the air, which still has many staffers and much of the community choking for a fresh breath.
Dan
That would be great, but what says they (especially Donna) would say anything but the company line he’s been doing all along whether it was defending the dismissal of Bell, the hiring, defending, then firing Hughes and now the appointment of Jacoby. The people who should be asked the questions it sounds like are the Board members themselves. From what’s been insinuated and/or speculated, they know where the bodies lie. Putting Donna up there as their mouthpiece and scapegoat lets them off the hook.
The Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club annually files an IRS Form 990 with supporting financial details that’s reviewable by the public. National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) has these forms dating back to 2002 thru 2013. Here is the URL: http://nccsweb.urban.org/communityplatform/nccs/organization/profile/id/042103925/popup/1 there is enough information at this site to answer most of your financial questions. All 501(c) 3 companies have to file this information no one at the Club is trying to hide any of this from the public. You are free to requests this information from the Club and they are required to provide it to you and charge you a fee for the copies of the documents they provide. FULL TRANSPARENCY STOPS THE SNIPING….
Richard, you are always so right on.
Pittsfield politics is going to raise your taxes and increase spending while its tax base shrinks. Mayor Dan Bianchi is telling you that Pittsfield’s finances are in great shape.
and so if they are in great shape there should be no need to raise taxes….what great news this is. thank you mayor
This is all from yesterday’s WAMC’ news story. I am not making any of this up!
“Mayor Dan Bianchi says the city’s finances are strong and unemployment is dropping.”
“For the city’s fiscal 2016 budget, Mayor Bianchi expects a three percent increase.”
“36 percent of Pittsfield’s municipal revenues comes from state aid. 50 percent comes from property taxes.”
“Mayor Bianchi will use $2 million from free cash to offset tax increases.”
“A new Taconic High School would have an annual cost of $2.4 million to the city. The new vocational school will cost $121 million. The state is expected to reimburse about 65 percent of the school project, meaning the city would pay roughly $42 million. At the projected bond rate, the project would create an estimated annual tax increase of $106 for a $150,000 home.”
Source: “Pittsfield Eyes Innovation Center And New High School”, By Jim Levulis, WAMC Northeast Radio, March 25, 2015.
http://wamc.org/post/mayor-bianchi-sees-financial-strength-pittsfield-eyes-innovation-center-and-new-high-school
what an embarrassing piece. i don’t listen to that station anyways and this is why..glad you shared it jonathan
THE PLANET shall be offering the rebuttal.
“Raising taxes and fees and heavy borrowing can be a real money maker for the city of Pittsfield”
– Mayor Bumstead
Why would they come clean now? They are not going to give answers and if they did, they wouldn’t be the truth. It’s a pity that as an organization, the Club for generations pounded into it’s members that they needed to treat one another and the staff with dignity, respect and some level of decorum is now being led by a Board of Directors that does the complete opposite. Talk about losing your way.
See,we in Great shape, Hooray! Uh oh? Free Cash needs to be replenished, ask the Bond Experts. Tax increases inevitable, so sorry.
Just read the eagle article about the council vote taken to approve the $44 million dollar bond thats going to only cost us poor tax payers $106.00 yearly on top of the usual 4-6% tax increase yearly.
Lucky us!!
Time to get rid of the city council, starting with the ward 3 councilor that doesn’t return e-mails.
It is a done deal, Pittsfield. Your taxes are going up, up, and away!
NEWS ARTICLE:
“Eight councilors confirm ‘yes’ votes for new Taconic High School”
By Jim Therrien, The Berkshire Eagle, March 26, 2015
PITTSFIELD – The proposed $120.8 million new Taconic High School may have enough City Council votes in hand to ensure a $44 million bond to cover the city’s share of the project.
An informal survey by The Eagle this week found eight councilors voicing support for the project and the required bond, which the council will be asked to endorse on April 14. One councilor could not be reached on the issue and two others declared themselves undecided.
The number eight is key in this instance, since a so-called supermajority of the council — at least 8 of 11 — is required to approve bonding. The proposal is to bond the city’s share over 28 years, although exact details of the loan, such as interest rate and number of years, won’t be finalized until later in the planning process.
Pittsfield expects to receive the balance of the funding through the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which could issue final project approvals at its June 3 board meeting. Preparation of construction designs would follow, leading to an anticipated groundbreaking in March 2016.
Councilor at large Barry Clairmont could not be reached for comment. In the past, he voiced support for a less expensive version of the project, estimated at $116 million.
Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Simonelli responded in one word in an email, saying he is “undecided” on the project.
Kevin Morandi, the Ward 2 councilor, also declared himself undecided. “I certainly understand something needs to be done with Taconic High School,” he said. “But an important consideration for a councilor is what can the taxpayer afford.”
The city has many elderly taxpayers, he said, and an apparently growing number of low-income families. “We also have a lot of expenses coming up,” he said, mentioning necessary water and sewer system upgrades and other city schools in need of renovation work.
“These are things we definitely have to wrestle with,” Morandi said.
Eight councilors said they plan to support the new school.
“I am 100 percent in favor of the Taconic project,” said Councilor at large Kathleen Amuso, who also is co-chairwoman of the city School Building Needs Commission, which has unanimously endorsed the project and budget figure. “The [commission] has included teachers, administrators, fire and safety officials, the City Council, the School Committee; we just concluded meeting at six schools with the PTOs of many schools, and many others in this process,” Amuso said.
“As a result of this, we have modified the design to be state of the art and a design that people are very pleased with,” she said.
“I am in favor of the project,” said Ward 5 Councilor Jonathan Lothrop. “The [school] is in very difficult condition. The building condition has been cited as a concern in the last accreditation report, 10 years ago. The technological changes in vocational education from nearly 50 years ago are significant. We need a new school. We need a inter-generational commitment to a future for our children and grandchildren.”
“I favor it,” Council President Melissa Mazzeo said in an email.
Ward 6 Councilor John Krol, who also serves on the 21-member Building Needs Commission, has been a vocal supporter of the project.
“This will be the most important vote by the council in a generation,” Krol said, after school officials gave a final presentation Tuesday of the schematic design for the school and responded to councilor questions.
Councilor at large Churchill Cotton stated, “I am in favor of the Taconic project.”
“The presentations have been very impressive so far,” said Ward 3 Councilor Nicholas Caccamo. “The final product will be an asset to the community for years to come. It’s no secret I’ve been supportive of education and I will continue to support education in all forms.”
Lisa Tully, representing Ward 1, sent out an email to constituents explaining her support for the project.
“There are many reasons why we should have a new high school, but what makes it a difficult decision is the cost to the taxpayers,” Tully said. “If I thought for one minute by voting ‘no’ on the school that it would save the taxpayers money, I would vote it down. Unfortunately, in the next few years Taconic will need a new roof, boiler system, many cosmetic repairs and it needs to be brought up to code for handicapped accessibility. These repairs will cost approximately 36 million dollars. After all the repairs, we will still have an old building.”
Council Vice President Christopher Connell, like Tully, referred to the fact the city would be getting a new school for $44 million, while if it funds repairs on its own it would not receive any state funding and still have a school that opened in 1969.
Connell added that a new Taconic, with modern vocational-technical education facilities, as well as academic classrooms arranged around open, flexible spaces and other features of a new structure is conservatively expected to cut in half the current school choice deficit Pittsfield has because many residents send children to other districts.
The school choice money flowing back into the city could, in effect, pay for the annual cost of the bond, Connell said. “I think it’s doable,” he said.
If the bond is approved, project planners estimate the annual tax increase for residential property owners would be about $106 on a house assessed at $150,000. Morandi has asked that commercial property rate estimates be updated as well for the April 14 meeting.
Contact Jim Therrien at 413-496-6247. jtherrien@ berkshireeagle.com @BE_therrien on Twitter.
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_27793348/eight-councilors-confirm-yes-votes-new-taconic-high
What a fool this mayor is. We’re in great shape. I cant tell how disgusted I am as a longtime taxpayer and voter. I am disgusted with the mayor and the council. Only one thing could change that..if a councilor petitioned for a citizens vote on school project.
why shouldn’t the citizens should vote and in my opinion the kids should have a say. They do have to go there
Oh yeah and I will vote this time for any candidate who can convince me hes going to go in and upset the coin changers tables
The New Taconic School has been thoroughly vetted, discussed at nausium. We get it. The process itself is flawed. Here are a couple of points. Most of the City Council and Representitive Bouvier have or had some ties with the Pittsfield School System, ie voting block. Caccamo for instance was working for the city in a controversial way as a City Councilor and resigned, but Amuso and Cotton were on the School Committee only to become City Councilors and lead the charge for there input on a new School and vote.
The School Committe received compensation also,with these three Councilors joining the Council ranks, great timing.
Councilman Krol is right, the School is falling apart and we all agree something needs to be done. The Citizens have a right, not through City Council with all the political nepotism and chicanery, but the right to Vote on a referendum of this importance yes or no. We have that right.
Representative Bouvier ships her kids to Lenox schools, so why listen to her? I MIGHT, and I repeat MIGHT, respect more of what she says if her family/children were going to the Pittsfield public schools, versus some other comunity. She’s actually part of the finacial problem of this city with her school choicing out of district, and having the city of Pittsfield pay & pickup the tab for that choice.
So don’t listen to anything she has to say, because most what she is saying is common diarrhea, with costipation of the brain.
representative…so sorry Trisha.
Absolutely!! The Taxpayers rights have been silenced. The Pittsfield Government is running this City to a point of no return. There is absolutely no way with increasing expenditures, budgets, etc. and declining enrollment, and a declining tax base that this school and other major expenditures are sustainable. Taxpayers should be entrenched at the Voting booth.
Amanda, agree should have a vote. Also something should be done. Rep. Bouvier should focus her attention on writing legislation getting the reimbursement rate up for renovating, to match new.If not for the kids, then the planet. What a waste of energy not to mention the carbon footprint. Funny thing is for our 120 million, we get a smaller gym and theatre. Also a flat roof and a building that will not be as structural sound as the existing, block, brick and concrete exterior.
Mr. Lothrop says he is undecided? Then I have square ears.
It is weird how he seems to do so much research, and before anyone else, that he is always on the fence. Until it is time to vote and then he votes the way you knew he would vote all along. If we know how he is going to vote you would certainly think he would know.
Many politicians have a secret desire to be actors on a stage with the crowds cheering them on. Lothrop is one of them except that no one believes the role he pretends to play. He will not be getting an Oscar this year.
Dusty. How’s the house hunting?
Krol needs to check out the intersection of Onota and West. WHAT is THAT?
John Donna is a good man. He likely doesn’t read this blog.
An entirely different school option was left out of the process – if Taconic is really in such bad shape close it down and have one high school in PHS.
No matter what, they never talk about closing a school, they must protect there empire. Feed the Pig!
At dusty…great comment on we know, he should know.
Councilors give us a vote on the school. Give us a vote. If not, none of you will get our vote in November.
Councilor Morandi & Simoneli don’t have to worry they can play the game because with or without their vote the school will be build. Councilor Clairmont is the only one not running so he’s the only one that can bring in the petition.
The Board of the Pittsfield Boy’s and Girl’s Club in 2012 said it wanted to establish a development office to raise corporate grants and build its endowment. In 2013 it hired a Director of Development but never fully funded the development office structure so the newly hired Director of Development never established fundraising capabilities…in fact it turned out the Director of Development had no experience raising money. In 2014 a new Director of Development was hired…but again admitted not to have any experience running a Development Office or even writing any grants. The Board of Directors it seems to see development as local ” feel good ” activity that is more for ” friend raising ” rather than ” fund raising “.and therefore overlooks the vast resources that
a professional development office can bring to this local 501 (c) 3.
I have to defend John Donna in all of this controversy about the Boys & Girls Club. He is the most honorable man I’ve ever met and probably cares more about the kids in Berkshire County than anyone else I’ve met. Sure, he has to keep a certain public profile. Sure he walks a line that is so difficult to walk. But, I know the man and he only cares about what’s right for our kids. Give him room. He’ll do what is right.
This is a post I put on another one of the Club blogs…there are so many with so much misinformation that I wanted to put my two cents worth in more than one location. I altered the beginning just slightly to not paint all comments with one brush.
Please stop with the knee jerk reactions, the emotional assumptions, and the awful “so & so was always good to me, therefore they should never be let go…”
None of us knows exactly what happened, why people were let go. There could be a myriad of reasons that you (Joe Public) are not allowed to know, nor is it any of your business – was there misuse of funds? Was there abuse of policy? Someone can seem great to one person, but not be so great (or they didn’t hide their “sins” so well anymore) when it comes to certain rules/laws/policies.
I personally wish Terry Hughes had stayed, he was moving the club forward. Not many people like change, but it is necessary to stay relevant.
Also, I find it amusing that people circle the wagons for some people without knowing all of the facts. I happen to know that not everyone (stating it that way so that it is not known if it is one person or all people) who is/are not at the club anymore could pass a CORI (Criminal Offense Record Inquiry) check to get a job there.
Some traditions should be kept, some are no longer relevant – many people fit this yet we have a hard time letting go of both as a society.
You can’t even acknowledge who you are. How dare you give an opinion without stating who you are. Chicken!!