UNOFFICIAL WORD: TEACHERS, IN WEIGHTED VOTE, WANT OUT OF TAXPAYER-FRIENDLY GIC and IN FOR MORE EXPENSIVE BC/BS … TAXPAYERS WILL BE CRUSHED (THANK YOU, TES) … plus … CAFUA WITHDRAWS DD PLANS FOR FORMER ST. MARY’s
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, SEPT. 30, 2014) — The first time, the mayor’s taxpayer-crushing plan was unanimously rejected. The mayor then rescinded the vote, so he could engineer to outcome he so desperately (and mysteriously) wanted. In the second vote, which came yesterday, the majority still voted “no,” so THE PLANET heard unofficially. However, the move to pull the city out of the state-run GIC insurance pool still passed.
Welcome to democracy, Pittsfield style.
Weighted Vote Allowed Teachers to Overrule the Majority
Late last night, THE PLANET heard that the Pittsfield Employees Commission (PEC) vote “has been in favor of going to Blue Cross/Blue Shield” and pulling out of the GIC, the state-run insurance pool that offers comparable coverage at far less expensive rates.
How odd. When the PEC first voted on this Sept. 2, it unanimously rejected the plan. Instead of respecting the outcome, Bianchi came back with a “sweeter” deal to the unions, sources say, but one that “could prove devastating” to taxpayers.
The intrigue doesn’t end there. In yesterday’s vote, THE PLANET hears that the majority voted to remain in the GIC, but the weighted vote, throwing in the 35%+ of the United Educators of Pittsfield, tilted in favor of BC/BS.
These results are unofficial. There has yet been no official confirmation. We wonder:
* How do retirees feel? They weren’t allowed to vote nor were they informed.
* How does the Pittsfield School Committee feel? They knew nothing about this until they read THE PLANET.
* And what could be going through the minds of our Right Honorable Good Friends on the city council? To the best of THE PLANET’s knowledge, not one of the mebmers knew about Bianchi’s latest “fast one.” Ah, but they’re only the co-governors of the city. Why involve them?
* What of the most bedraggled of the lot. That would be Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski, Pittsfield’s proverbial Little Guys. They provide a whopping 85% of the health insurance coverage for city employees. Now, if the switch to BC/BS holds, the Kapanskis will be on the hook for more money, likely untold millions. The increases in taxes will drive many out of their homes, into destitution, or perilously close.
Thus, The Empty Suit continues his demolition job of Pittsfield, sending the city to a headlong rush to financial insolvency. THE PLANET has said it many times before: This reckless financial policy cannot continue for much longer. The city’s population and tax base is shrinking. The mayor, with the a complicit and compliant council and school committee, continues to send spending skyrocketing. Do the math, as advised said yesterday.
Is the Move Legal? Were Laws Violated? Does Anyone Care?
TES‘ 11th-hour attempt to pull the city out of the state-run GIC and its cost-saving premiums and back into the decidedly more expensive Blue Cross/Blue Shield leaves so many unanswered questions.
* Is the move legal?
* Was due process respected?
* Were any laws, including the state’s Open Meeting Law, violated?
* Why so secret? If the mayor had honest intentions and genuinely believed this was a good direction for the city, why not come out publicly and campaign for it in advance, in July or August, when he or his owners launched the scheme?
* How much money will this cost taxpayers?
* Why the rush?
* Will this latest slap in the face finally arouse the a dormant city council and a brain-dead school committee? Should they not have been informed, from the beginning? Do the respective members intend to roll over and play dead, or are they going to investigate? The council, under the new charter, has investigative powers.
* What’s in it for Bianchi? Why the push? And why do it so secretly? Is he carrying his own water, or is he “following orders?” If so, whose orders?
Winners and Losers in High Stakes Game
Make no mistake about it: Switching insurance coverage has heavy financial implications. Countless millions of dollars will be changing hands. There will be winners and losers. Who are they? Did they lay all their cards on the table? The clue may lie in this fact: Unlike GIC reimbursement rates (to hospitals, doctors, etc.), which are fixed, BC/BS are negotiable. Berkshire Health Systems, for example, would have the power to negotiate a $150 reimbursement for a procedure rather than have to accept the GIC fixed rate of $100. That adds up. Taxpayers, guess who makes up the difference??
In the end, this latest Secret Scheme of Bianchi’s (S.O.B.) was just “Business as Usual” for a useless mayor who got elected by all of 106 votes in 2011 campaigning on (pardon our laughter) “transparency.”
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Cafua Management Withdraws Plans for DD at ex-St. Mary’s
THE PLANET received the following statement from Greg Nolan, chief development office for Cafua Management, the company looking to add a fifth Dunkin Donuts restaurant in Pittsfield.
——– 000 ——–
With four Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in Pittsfield, Cafua Management has been part of the local community for more than a dozen years. We value the opinions and needs of the community, and we are committed to listening to and collaborating with residents and city officials at all times. As such, we will withdraw our current development application for the site of St. Mary The Morning Star Church, and we are preparing a revised plan that maintains the church building. As part of our new proposal, we intend to donate the church to the City of Pittsfield, for use as the City deems appropriate.
This new plan requires support of the Special Permit Granting Authority and residents. Our next step is to meet with the City Planner, present the plan to the public and pursue city approvals. The process will take time, but our aim is to ultimately do right by the community. We look forward to many more years serving the people who live and work in Pittsfield.
——– 000 ——–
THE PLANET applauds Cafua Management for listening to We The People, something that the city’s politicians, led by the mayor, do not do. We have no doubt that Cafua’s astute combination of aggressive, sustained growth and sensitivity to the needs of the local community explains the company’s success as the nation’s leading Dunkin Donuts franchise group. That’s the kind of business the city wants: market driven, not seeking handouts, coming to the table with its own venture capital, and listening to citizens ahead of politicians.
We would advise the mayor, council, and other city functionaries to attend to Cafua’s actions, which leads to an idle thought: Do you think Mark Cafua would have any interest in running for mayor of Pittsfield in 2015?
Can’t you see the slogan?
“Pittsfield Runs on Cafua.”
At every campaign speech and rally, attendees get free DD coffee and donuts. With that, Cafua would win in a nugget slide.
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“On a picnic morning without a warning I looked at you and somehow knew. It must have been moonglow.” — Perry Como, “Moonglow,” (1958).
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
Great Piece Dan just goes to prove – Something Fresh is Always Brewin’ Here ….
Thanks, RK. Frankly, I would rather have DD coffee brewin’ rather than the dank, sour brew the mayor is offering these days.
Very nice of CAFU to donate the church to the city of Pittsfield. For all intents an purposes it now belongs to mayor Bianchi who may turn it into a castle and move himself and family into it. He seems to have enough willing servants to help him reign over the peons he looks down upon.
Or how about the permit offices!
Dan,
Speaking only for myself, I heard about the health insurance switch for the first time over the weekend. I don’t have enough information to know if this is a good or a bad move. I wish I was provided all the information or the Council was given a presentation.
Barry
Barry, Look at the bright side. When you are closer to retirement age and the GE pensioners are gone, and the municipal pensioners have moved to FL, your accounting firm will have no marketing overhead as only those so designated by city hall will be able to afford your services.
Barry, when something is kept hidden and shoved down everyone’s throats at the last minute, you can be 99.9% sure it’s a bad move. Trust your instincts.
Thanks to Cafua for the fine white elephant.
How can you say this is a white elephant? That building is so spacious all permitting depts could be in one building free!!! I say dissolve then rental agreement, I’m sure we are in the grace period and pack up the trucks!! Heck I betcha all of city hall could be arranged to fit then we could sell the moldy building and help the Morningside neighborhood at the same time,yeah!
Good news about St. Mary’s. But let’s be honest….in spite of all the talk of being sensitive to the feelings of the people….the bottom line was they knew they would not get the necessary votes from the City Council for a special drive-thru permit. Already, 3 members voiced their opposition.
Now, with the church saved, they should have no trouble getting that necessary permit.
Putting the disposition of the church aside for a moment, the city council will have to adjudicate the drive-through special permit application on its own merits. If they consider it carefully I think they will find that a drive-through is not a good fit in this location. Tyler Street is a classic mixed-use neighborhood with a wide variety of businesses that have successfully blended with the predominantly residential Morningside neighborhood. A Dunkin Donuts restaurant could be a good fit in Morningside but not as a drive-through. We learned that lesson with the existing Dunkin Donuts on Dalton Ave which is open until 11:00 pm. Residents have complained about not being able to sleep because of the loud Dunkin Donuts intercom speakers (CAN I TAKE YOUR ORDER?) as well as unruly groups of people hanging out in the parking lot. These issues don’t seem to be a problem at the other Dunkin Donut locations in Pittsfield because those restaurants are in commercially developed locations. A drive-through is appropriate on a suburban strip like Dalton Ave near Liquors Inc. or on South Street near the old Dakota restaurant. It is not a good fit for Tyler Street.
actually, the drive through is much safer on the North side of the street than its current location — FACT. this is a good move and the old site can be redeveloped, and traffic safety is improved significantly.
Who said anything about safety? I said a drive-through is not appropriate for a mixed-use neighborhood like Tyler Street. A drive-through IS appropriate for a suburban strip like outer East Street near Teo’s or the two examples I gave above. When I was on the council I heard many complaints about the Dunkin Donuts on Dalton Ave specifically because there are residential properties all around it. Residents complained that they couldn’t sleep thanks to a steady stream of idling cars playing loud music, noisy Dunkin Donuts intercom speakers, and motorcycle “enthusiasts” congregating in the parking lot and showing off their loud pipes.
And fortunately, in America, people still have some rights on how to use their property. Although I’m not sure why Cafua would want to invest in the drug and crime infested morningside/springside neighborhood.
Yeah I’ve been to this rodeo before as well. It was always the most vocal anti-government types who were the first to call me and complain about their neighbor’s dog barking. We only like regulation when it’s someone else being regulated. Face it – when thousands of people live in a relatively small area you need some rules, and zoning is one of them. Our zoning ordinance is far from perfect, and it’s continually being updated as we learn from experience, but it’s necessary because people and businesses alike tend to push the limits of those American rights. If there’s one thing I’m qualified to talk about after three terms on the city council, it’s neighborhood feuds.
Why would Cafua build in Morningside? They know their customer base.
Cafua to donate Church to City ? Seriously folks ? The hook has been set – the group that rallied for “saving the Chuch” now needs to provide a plan for the free Church – and you don’t have years to politicize the issue further. See Plunkett School and the lip service Cafua provided the City until it got what it wanted. In the words of Bugs Bunny, “What a gull-a-Bull”.
Lets see…hmm how bout St. Mary’s condos at Dunkin Donuts..or, St. Angelina’s subs at the morning star church.
Or the General’s Pittsdield fried chicken, featuring a wing and a prayer.
I believe I read that the diocese had received an earlier offer for the church from a contractor to remodel it for transitional housing. But the amount offered was not as high as that from DD.
It seems that money was the selling point and the concerns of the neighborhood and city were secondary.
Priests molesting children has cost the church a lot of money. I’m sure they need it.
No doubt, ED, and it’s a fair point. The settlement amounts must be staggering.
Be wary leaders of Pittsfield –
To The Daily Sun,
Dunkin’ Donuts has failed Laconia. Dunkin’ Donuts is one of the most successful businesses in town, yet they do not keep their promises to the city.
When Cafua Management built the Dunkin’ Donuts next to the historic and architecturally stunning Hathaway House, they agreed to preserve the building. When the project was approved by the city, they assured the Planning Board that the house would be repainted and fitted with a fire alarm and fire suppression system.
Cafua Management and Dunkin’ Donuts are responsible for a landmark building becoming an eyesore. Laconia and Dunkin’ Donuts would be shamefully remiss if this treasure were to fall into further disrepair.
It took some digging to discover just who Cafua is. With more than 180 Dunkin’ Donuts stores spanning seven states, Cafua Management Company is the largest privately owned Dunkin Donuts franchisee in the U.S. Cafua Management has its corporate offices in North Andover, Mass.
I suggest we all buy our coffee and doughnuts at one of the many other coffee shops in Laconia until Dunkin’ Donuts lives up to its promises.
Janet Simmon
Laconia
One more:
To The Daily Sun,
OK, OK, I’ll admit it. I have a mild addiction to Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee (medium, one Splenda and milk, please). I’m pretty sure my habit of swinging in to the Union Avenue drive-through has supported at least replacement windows in the beautiful Hathaway House — first across the street and then next door. I’ve also frequented the Dunkin’ Donuts shops on the South Side of Laconia and the ones dotting the Gilford, Belmont and Alton landscapes. However, because I feared for the Hathaway House, the last few months, I have taken my trip for coffee down the Avenue to #644 and into Aroma Joe’s. I have found their coffee has a fuller, more robust flavor than Dunkin’s (I never thought I would say that)! Yes, unfortunately, my iced habit there is more expensive and Aroma Joe’s does not offer senior discounts, of which I have become a great fan! However, I feel it is important to support those businesses that support Laconia.
The folks who purchased the property for Dunkin’s promised us, the City on the Lakes, that they would preserve and protect one of our gems of treasure here. That promise stated that Cafua Management would preserve the Hathaway House. Cafua’s representative Greg Nolan assured the city that this lovely structure would be preserved, promising that the building would be additionally protected by a fire alarm and a fire suppression system.
Recently, Laconia lost another beautiful structure when Cantin’s Chevrolet dealership decided it needed space for another six cars. Was that really necessary?
It’s time for Laconia to come together and preserve what is left of our structural heritage. Last night, I attended a presentation held at The Belknap Mill featuring New Hampshire’s own Rebecca Rule. I was seated next to a gentleman from the Tilton Veteran’s Home who sat in his wheelchair marveling at the brick and mortar of The Mill. Thanks to a handful of devoted Laconia citizens and business owners, this building was saved from the wrecking ball more than 40 years ago and this year celebrates its 190th birthday. Countless school children have toured the mill, learning of their ancestor’s work history and learning to operate the hosiery machinery as their great, great’s did so many generations ago. Many celebrations, exhibits, and concerts are held at The Belknap Mill throughout the year. I am grateful for those who fought to protect this incredible mill. Back in the 70s our family restored a stagecoach inn originally built in 1785 on Parade Road called The Davenport Tavern (owned at one time by Isaac Currier). It wasn’t easy but knowing that we saved this fine historical building for Laconia is greatly satisfying. We’ve left a little piece of history here that is unique only to Laconia.
So, dear Heritage Committee, yes, I will continue to boycott Dunkin’ Donuts, I’ll sign your petition, I’ll march in protest of this demolition and, although I said I was finished being on boards and committees, sign me up for yours! And to Cafua Management, do the right thing. Honor your word. Thank you.
Catherine M. Tokarz
Laconia
Beware of:
“we intend to donate the church to the City of Pittsfield, for use as the City deems appropriate.”
Because this means the church and the land it’s on will be removed from property taxes. So then Cafua will pay less taxes on whichever property is partitioned off for their DD. If anyone thinks they did this out of the goodness of their hearts they are sadly mistaken. And what on earth will the city do with the church?? Just watch it crumble down over the next few decades?
In regards to the GIC/BCBS fiasco, if the teacher’s union voted for it you can rest assured the taxpayer will get f’d once again.
How about turning the whole church into a Dollar General? It would give a nice religious atmosphere when one spends their EBT card.
Spend their EBT card so the money they earn can go in their veins instead of feeding their children. Thanks taxpayers, the free ride feeding the addiction.
No worries BOC – the trio of Krol, Durwin and Sosa have plan for us taxpayers and churchgoers and coffee drinkers.
Maybe the medical marijuana could be dispensed form a makeshift confessional?
My guess is that a creative and productive use will be found for the church building. My concern is that a DD drive through will screw up the on street parking for the established business on that section of Tyler St.
Dan,
Your comment: “How do retirees feel? They weren’t allowed to vote nor were they informed.”
Is totally off base. The retirees DO indeed have a representative on the PEC it’s former fireman Gerard Miller. Mr. Miller is “appointed” by the state to represent the retirees and they get a 10% weighted vote. Mr. Miller unlike the union presidents is not beholden to contact nor query his fellow retirees and he can vote as he sees fit, whereas union presidents need to vote how their members tell them.
You should get your “facts” straight or confirmed before attempting to sensationalize an issue and rile people up for the mere purpose of riling people up. It’s called responsible journalism and should carry some ethics and standards before being committed to paper or cyber space.
Scott Connors
President IUE-CWA 81256
Pittsfield Emergency Dispatchers Union
SCOTT
Thanks for your comments. You raise an important point. I shall respond tomorrow in THE PLANET’s follow-up to this on-going story.
That’s unheard of. A representative should do just that “represent”. But how does he do that without polling the rest of the retirees as to how they feel.
So his opinion alone counts for the 10%. Only in Mass.
Spider. Gerry Miller has the best interest of the retireies! He has only dedicated over 45 years to the employees of the city. Believe me Gerry has the best interest of the retirees. This change of the health insurance will benifit all the retirees .
That’s the company line, anyway. Thanks, TIM.
Really Tim, won’t benefit me, its going to cost me $807.75 more for the fist 2 years and then who knows. And as to the mitigation money to reimburse me for the difference is the city going to pay the tax on that money as it is taxable income and interest on the money I have to pay up front? That also may go away after 2 years. See there’s another group of retirees that no one mentions and that’s the non-Medicare retirees. Did Gerry have my best interest in mind or even think to reach out to find out? Seems to me since 2008 that’s all he personally wanted was BC/BS, well now that he got it maybe he’ll step down from the board and let some new blood take over that will still reach out to all retirees and find out what the majority of the want, even though it’s not required it’s the right thing to do.
Maybe a fine thank you for the donation would be a change of heart for the drive through permit at Fenn and First.
This is one of the best days of my life knowing that Dan Bianchi chose my health care plan for me. I bet there is only one person happier then me and that would be Dave Phelps.
Can you say ching – ching……
Unbelievable…I literally don’t know what today.This is a new low. I want the council and my councilor to at least call the mayor on this. Seems illegal. Unilateral action without representation. This can’t be legal. Please, someone, help.
We are a small family, husband and wife both working, two kids both in school and to the point where we cannot absorb even another $10 more a month.
Linda if your city councilor’s name is Tully, Morandi, Connell, Simonelli, Amuso, Cotton, or Mazzeo give up now because you will never get any honest or truthful answers from this lot about any of Bianchi’s policies.
I think the Denver Broncos are on channel 18.
Maybe, but THE PLANET will be on Channel 16 Thursday!
Dan, referencing the insurance BCBS helping every one, the retirees have received “a gift” of the spouse being able to get the insurance. HOWEVER, G. Miller can’t be contacted. No phone number and the pension board will not give out his number. There are no address or phone numbers on the city’s board or commission list. Linda Tyer falls right in with TES policy of not including the (voter)tax payer. No surprise there after her nonproductive pay raise. Why, are most of the people who actually vote that stupid?
Mix use neighborhood? heck, G e employed over ten thousand people for many years, traffic was never a problem, ever.
So, Barry didn’t see the information again. you think you’ll ever be able to get the info on time, before the next election?
NEWS ARTICLE:
“Pittsfield switching to Blue Cross/Blue Shield; ‘significant savings’ seen”
By Jim Therrien, Berkshire Eagle Staff, 9/30/2014
PITTSFIELD — The city has decided to switch its employee and retiree health insurance carrier when a three-year contract expires next June.
Mayor Daniel L. Bianchi said Tuesday that the new agreement for Blue Cross/Blue Shield coverage is expected to result in “significant savings” and “equal or better coverage” for those in the plans.
The Pittsfield Employees Commission, which includes representatives from city and school employee unions and retirees, voted Monday in favor of the change from the current Group Insurance Commission coverage.
While some officials praised the new coverage as an improvement expected to save the city and employees money, there was criticism over a lack of transparency leading up to the decision.
School Committee Chairwoman Katherine Yon decried the fact committee members and school officials only learned of the pending agreement recently. “I was quite surprised we were not informed,” she said, adding, “It may be the best plan in the world, but I just don’t understand it; we are hearing about it after the fact.”
Ward 5 Councilor Jonathan Lothrop, who was involved in the process that led to the city joining the GIC system in 2009, said he has concerns about the potential for increases in the third year of the Blue Cross proposal. He added that none of the other councilors he had spoken to knew about the switch before it was imminent.
“That was completely unacceptable; I am not OK with that,” Lothrop said.
“I am not second guessing the decision, but my beef is the council was not consulted.”
Lothrop said he asked the city to consider switching from Blue Cross coverage to join the GIC in 2007, and there were a number of public meetings, some televised, before the proposal went to former Mayor James M. Ruberto for final negotiations with GIC.
The increases in insurance costs to the city over the past six years have been demonstrably lower than they were in prior years, he said, and that helped the city avoid layoffs during the recession. Lothrop said he’s worried that it could take up to two years to switch again if larger cost increases return.
Bianchi said Tuesday he intends to brief the council on the change in carriers, but the decision was an administrative one, not requiring council approval. There will be no request this fiscal year for new funding, he said.
Bianchi said the terms of the contract were worked out through “back and forth” discussions involving the PEC members, who were in contact with their rank and file members to gauge support.
The initial Blue Cross proposal was rejected, he said, but a revised package was accepted and approved by the PEC on Monday, just prior to an Oct. 1 deadline for notifying GIC that its contract would not be renewed after June 30, 2015.
A key change made in the coverage proposal, the mayor said, was establishment of a mitigation fund to reimburse covered employees or retirees if the new coverage results in higher out-of-pocket costs.
According to city Personnel Director John DeAngelo, the mitigation fund will be capped at $250,000 per year. The estimated savings to the city, however, was from $2 million to $2.5 million over three years, he said.
Bianchi said the city currently spends nearly $21 million annually on health insurance.
“I think it’s a win for the city,” said Brendan Sheran, president of the United Educators of Pittsfield and a member of the PEC. “It will save the city money and save us money; it’s a positive thing.”
He also acknowledged “the time frame was not ideal to give people a chance to digest the change.” As a result, a bidding process will be required when the city next seeks proposals from insurance carriers, Sheran said.
A majority of the PEC, which has about 15 representative members, approved the switch to Blue Cross, he said, “It was not an overwhelming majority, but a majority.”
But Sheran said he was convinced of the advantages of making the switch. “I think they are going to offer better benefits for many members and cut costs for 60 to 70 percent of members.”
The health care options in terms of network physicians and hospitals also will be expended under the Blue Cross plans, he said.
The teachers union and the PEC had an independent analysis done of the Blue Cross offer and its cost estimates, which confirmed they were valid, Sheran said.
Nancy Dinofrio, the city’s employee benefits analyst, said Tuesday that GIC normally does not provide a quote for coverage until March of the year in which a contract expires, “and there is no negotiation.” GIC has provided coverage since July 2009.
The Blue Cross plans will be offered to the city through the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association, which also is the city’s liability insurance carrier.
Dinofrio said there are about 1,100 employees enrolled in the city’s insurance plans currently, and about 1,000 retirees or their survivors who receive Medicare supplemental coverage.
The city’s share of the costs will remain at 85 percent, with 15 percent the responsibility of the insured, under the new insurance plans.
Informational sessions are expected to be held to explain the coverage options and details of the plans.
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/ci_26636915/pittsfield-switches-blue-cross-blue-shield-significant-savings
The Boring Broadsheet only learned about this because of THE PLANET’s breaking the story. Sweet irony, once again.