ANOTHER PITTSFIELD DEPT. HEAD JUMPS SHIP … OCD SOURCES: ‘DOUG [CLARK] LEFT BECAUSE MAYOR SOLD HIM DOWN THE RIVER
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2015) — Last week, THE PLANET told you the true story behind the departure of Pittsfield Airport manager Mark Germanowski. What a laugh — The only way the “news” department at The Boring Broadsheet knew about this was by reading THE PLANET. Sure enough, The BB then did the “everything’s fine here; you can run along now” version.
As you may know, the city’s Office of Community Development (OCD) director, Doug Clark, is also going, going, gone.
THE PLANET first heard about Clark’s exit last month. Other media gave you the “official” version. THE PLANET talked city hall sources and got the real deal.
ODC Needs ‘Economic Developer,’ Not an Engineer or, Worse, a Politician
First, THE PLANET shares a private e-mail from one of our correspondents about the OCD vacancy. The message reads:
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Now is an excellent time for the City leader to re organize priorities. Having a well paid engineer to be development director and praise himself for a streetscape, parking, a park, a building, a bike trail and etc. is good for a booming city. Unfortunately the leaders have not focused enough on creating that booming community at the same time and fostering the economy to benefit from these costly investments.
So let’s rally and support the City to create a real position and recruit a real economic development specialist to bring JOBs to Pittsfield. There is probably more to this man’s role in the City and why he would leave the private sector in the first place. I also would not be surprised if a future leader had no greater insight and brought back Clark’s predecessor to beautify Silver Lake for picnics.
Wanted: Someone Who Knows About Economic Development
Point well taken. Clark succeeded an inept predecessor more interested in her “legacy” than in community development. An over-matched mayor Dan Bianchi hired Clark, an engineer, to oversee the finishing touches on several “cookie-cutter” projects (Streetscape, The Common, Berkshire Innovation Center, another parking study, et. al.). However, Pittsfield needs an economic developer, not more “economic engines” that end up making money only for The Suits and Special Interests.
Clark babysat these frosting jobs (“Some assembly required”), but he didn’t know how to breath life into a moribund county hub besieged by drugs, poverty, trash, lack of jobs, a failing public school system, swamp politics, poor management, no leadership, and an economy close to receivership.
‘Excellent Department Head’ — Yeah? Well Where’s All the Economic Development
Bianchi, wanting to put a good face on another stowaway leaving the sinking ship, released this cold oatmeal on Clark’s resignation:
Sources say that during budget talks, Clark and city treasurer Sue Carmel got into “a pisser of a fight.” No one would tell THE PLANET the specifics fearing that the mayor “would trace back the info” to OCD sources. Such is the atmosphere of fear and loathing in what passes for city hall “morale.”
“Bottom line is that Carmel tried to cut [Clark’s] balls off,” one source said. “In the budget Sue took money away from Doug, funds that were promised [to OCD]. Doug objected. Let’s put it that way. He then went to the mayor. The mayor backed [Carmel]. Doug resigned. He said he felt the mayor sold him down the river.”
You’re not the first one, Doug boy.
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“By valleys, woods, and spring, / No wonder that you grieve / For all the glorious things / You touch with your wings / And must leave.” — William Cullen Bryant, “The Burial of Love,” (1876).
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
The money given to Mr. Monterosso for being on the job only 3 months was not in the budget. Yet Pittsfield taxpayers paid for it.
The move to 100 North St./sweetheart deal to Bianchi’s friend Scarafoni, was not in the budget. The city council denied Bianchi’s request for it. The Berkshire Eagle said the mayor “found” the money anyway. Your money. That is not the truth.
The truth is Bianchi took that money from somewhere else. From where? Bianchi knows. Carmel knows. You, the taxpayer, the one paying for all this are not permitted to know. That information is on lockdown.
With no money for road repairs, no funds that were promised to ODC…… we sort of see where he took the money from.
Will the city council approve this years budget that now has a line item in it for Scarafoni? Will they strike this line item out? or Will they cower in fear of this mayor and give Scarafoni the money?
Vote for Taylor DiSantis. He is running as an at large candidate for the Pittsfield city council. He is 24 years old and is the United Independent Party political Director. His primary focus would be on job creation. He sounds really smart from the article I read about him on iberkshires. We need this intelligent young man on the council.
I forgot to mention that Taylor DiSantis is also fighting against having the Olympics in Boston as that would hurt this end of the state with the inevitable cost overruns and he says a new Taconic High School will not solve all of the problems of the area because actually creating jobs should be the first priority otherwise where do all of these graduating students go? Out of the city that’s where they will go. He sounds like a breath of fresh air to me.
Dear Planet posters. Please read JIM THERIEN’S the BB city reporters commentary on page 5 titled A FEW POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS ; The first paragraph reads ; the 2015 contest for mayor cant help but be a barn-burner. I think you know what I mean.Should they meet in the general election; Mayor DAN BIANCHI WILL PROBABLY stress his experience at the top and city clerk LINDA TYER WILL STRESS A DIFFERENT , MORE INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP STYLE. There is no mention of my candidacy or ERIC BASSETTE CANDIDACY. I agree the race will be a barn -burner but not because BIANCHI or TYER IS IN THE RACE. We haven’t heard a word from TYER so far in this campaign and of course what we hear from BIANCHI is not worth hearing in the first place.IF the election is between BIANCHI AND TYER ONE BETTER BE PREPARED TO DRINK A LOT OF COFFEE AND BETTER BE PREPARED TO PUT A LOCK ON YOUR POCKET BOOK BECAUSE ONE OR THE OTHER WILL EVENTUALLY GET THEIR HANDS ON YOUR MONEY. I hoped that things would be different and that the Eagle would be fair but I can see what an up hill battle this will be .When the EAGLE didn’t even send a reporter to my press conf. I KNEW THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE AND TRIPPLE MY EFFORTS. I guess one good thing to come of this is that we have identified the EAGLES FAVORITES AND MAYBE THIS ISNT SUCH A B AD THING. WeLL, back to the very mean jungle. SINCERELY AND HOPEING MANY OF YOU OUT THERE ARE WITH ME. CRAIG
Craig, your spelling and grammar have improved – the next step is to stop using CAPS so much. It’s considered shouting. Your posts are getting better, keep up the good work.
I think Dan is writing these now.
Wrong, RAP. I do not and never have written for any local or state campaigns.
lol
My money is on the local paper to FULLY support Miss Tyer. And at some point, they will begin to disparage you. No way they give you an even shake on this…they are, for all intents and purposes, owned by the GOB.
The good news is that many people like myself, knowing the local papers agenda, red line their endorsed candidates and choose amongst the rest.
CRAIG
Excellent points. It is absurd, ignorant, and arrogant that The Boring Broadsheet would not mention you or Bassett. And you’re correct. It is a “very mean jungle” out there. Keep on keeping on!
I have known Taylor DiSantis since his middle school days…he is a smart, honest energetic young man…he comes from a hard working blue collar family…he was raised with the right values…an excellent choice
Good luck to Doug Clark. Connect the dots regarding how an engineer from a very small New York state office, who resides in the New Lebanon, NY area got the Pittsfield city job and thusly commuted from NY.
Remember the Bianchi for mayor signs that were omnipresent at the base of Lebanon mountain in the town of Hancock ? Could Doug Clark have had a political benefactor with the right connections, who owned rental property in Pittsfield and nearby NY and contributed to political campaigns ? Maybe his predecessor can be a qualified Pittsfield resident (sans politics) with management experience in the dreaded private sector who can communicate and relate to private investors while simultaneously leveraging public grants and funding. Nah, not the Pittsfield way.
Meant, successor. Sorry, Mrs. Olson’s coffee hadn’t kicked in.
I cannot criticize Bianchi and Carmel for this one. I am all for cutting these ridiculously high budgets. But the question begs, why was yet another out of state person hired to work here??
Deflator, Thanks I am always open for constructive criticism . I am very new at this as I always had secretaries who made me look good Thank goodness I was always good to them. I miss them and perhaps they will join me when I become Mayor .With DR. WANG speaking mainly Chinese and me mostly English we will need them more than ever, as we did when we were with DR, KROFTA, who incidentally spoke predominately Italian and the Slovic languages. How we ever accomplished what we did is still a mystery to me Thank God engineering and BIOLOGY and CHEMISTRY is the same in all languages. I just received a phone call asking me to be a guest on the DAN VALENTI SHOW this coming Thursday June 4TH . I am looking forward to this, It will be the first time citizens get to see me in a forum where mazzeo isn t banging the gavel trying to prevent me from telling the tax payers what they need to know. It should be a fun show. Please tune in if you can on PCTV Thursday night ch 16 or 18 at 7pm See you all THURSDAY NIGHT. SINCERELY CRAIG
I can confirm the booking. PLANET VALENTI TELEVISION will be broadcast live, Thursday beginning at 7 p.m., on Pittsfield channel 16. Terry Kinnas will be guest host that night. It will be riveting television — two well-informed “talkmeisters” who care a great deal about the city of Pittsfield.
What? Jon Mele wasn’t available ?
TD
There would have been NO CUT in the budget. My sources say the money Carmel and Bianchi wanted to take away from OCD would be going to Carmel and Bianchi “for a pet project.” Don’t know what the project could be, but let’s be clear: NO WAY THEY WERE GOING TO CUT THE OVERALL BUDGET.
Thanks, Dan. If that’s the case then the Mayor has failed yet again. I’ve been trying to think of just one thing he’s done right. Haven’t come up with one.
Perhaps he will be better off with no conflict when these other city projects come aboard. The water plant, the police station, the Berkshire Innovation Center, etc. Remember he’s an engineer.
These positions should not be filled, they cost taxpayers millions. Since the mayor no longer has control of the school budget that position also can be eliminated.
WILSON
There’s a lot in what you say. For example, why do we even need an Office of Community Development with 17 employees? Isn’t “community development” the mayor’s job? Don’t we also have the Berkshire Planning Commission and a host of other “development” offices?
Agree, Dan…..It’s overkill!
Other things that cost taxpayers millions, in todays
bb legal notices the estimate for the phase 4 streetscape
project is 4,100,000.00 of your tax dollars.
Pittsfield’s new Office of Community Development (OCD) director should be a bureaucrat who deals with the aftermath of bankrupt municipalities. After all, Pittsfield politics has high taxes and fees, spending, and debts that total well over $400 million dollars. Pittsfield’s tax base is shrinking. I would have a better chance winning the lottery jackpot than finding a good job in Pittsfield. Those are terrible odds. My bet is on Pittsfield politics declaring bankruptcy!
Growth in Pittsfield:
* Welfare caseloads
* Teen pregnancies
* Poverty
* Joblessness
* Homelessness
* Drug and Alcohol use
* Crime and Violence
* Thousands of people with social problems
* Corrupt Pittsfield politicians
* A third rate rag without a conscience called “The Berkshire Eagle”
* PCBs
* Cancer patients
* Very high taxes, fees, spending, and debts
* A dead downtown most people avoid, especially after hours
* Home foreclosures
* Population loss
* Future bankrupt city government
* Uncontested state government elections (“Smitty” Pignatelli’s 7 terms; Ben Downings 5 terms)
* Poorly performing and overpriced public schools
* Free meals at Pittsfield’s public schools
* A never ending downward spiral
Craig, bring your DD214 to Dan’s show and that will put an end to people who are questioning your service. You expressed, to me, how much it bothers you, so just show them. I look forward to seeing you on Dan’s show.
Off topic – Sorry Dan! I want to say “Thank You” to all of the people who had anything to do with the Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) this past weekend. It was magnificent! I found Cartel Land and Sandalwood riveting.
And bring a copy of Obama’s birth certificate too.
Dead Beats…PEDA Director and the Actress Appointee.
Do either Doug Clark, the DPW assistant, Kate Maguire, or the PEDA head live in Pittsfield?
If Craig gets in as Mayor, it will be a cup in every palm, with straw,and a chicken in every pot.
I’ve never met Craig but based solely on what hes written here on the Planet he has my vote. Look forward to seeing him on Planet show with Mr. Kinnas. Terry was in my opinon the best elected official the city has since Pete Arlos.
If the Planet endorses Craig I will Vote for him! Will Planet T V takes phone calls?