COUNCIL FAILS AGAIN TO FOLLOW ITS OWN RULES; THIS TIME IT MIGHT HAVE A COST … MAZZEO, CONNELL NAMED IN COMPLAINT FILED BY KINNAS WITH STATE AG
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015) — On Tuesday night, our Right Honorable Good Friends (RHGFs) on the city council conducted their annual Follies Fatale talent show, informally known as a departmental budget review.
This exercise sees the automatic approval of budgets submitted by the mayor. When the lights come on and the microphones get hot, a few councilors make a fuss over $10,000 for this and $20,000 for that. When the charade passes, your municipal budget, Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski, goes up by millions, the tax rate reflecting the assault.
THE PLANET isn’t telling you nothing you don’t already know. We’ve been predicting it for months: an increasingly irrelevant mayor handing over his $$$$$ requests, and our RHGFs getting out out the rubber stamp.
The Secret Squadron Comes Through Once Again
THE PLANET did not attend the budget review, but our spies from the Secret Squadron were there, including our Z Agents. We got word of “some action” going on prior to the meeting, something to do with “the Open Meeting Law.” We checked it out.
The protagonist of our piece is Supercitizen Terry Kinnas. He is to honest government what Listerine is to mouth bacteria. Kinnas had been out of town on business when the city posted its notice for the budget review on its website. The meeting advertised a meeting of the council’s “Committee of the Whole.” Kinnas looked, but he found no agenda. There was none posted. The Commonwealth’s Open Meeting Law requires that public meetings be posted with an agenda.
‘Not Speaking? Oh yes I am’
THE PLANET contacted Kinnas. Here’s his story:
Having gotten back in town not long before, Kinnas saw the meeting posted. Supercitizen that he is, he attended, curious about the purpose of the gathering. He arrived in council chambers before the meeting began, announcing his intention to speak. City treasurer and part-time foot model Sue Carmel told Kinnas he couldn’t speak. This was a budget review, she said, and there was no open microphone for the public. Arrogance, thy name is Karmal.
“Oh yes I am speaking,” Kinnas answered. Of course, Carmel had no business pronouncing one way of the other. She was there to make her budget presentation, that annual bucket challenge orchestrated with the mayor after they’ve filled the container with the effluence of dysentery. Soon after, council president Melissa Mazzeo joined the discussion. She, too, told Kinnas he wouldn’t be speaking.
Kinnas, who knows the Open Meeting Law the way you know the words to “She Loves You,” asked why the council wasn’t following its own rulebook. He then produced a copy of the first page of Council Rules and Orders (Amended May 12, 2015). Gotcha!
An aside: The recent nature of the amendment came as the result of the persistence of another Supercitizen, mayoral candidate Craig Gaetani. The G-Man noted that the old rules stated that speakers who wish to gab at the council’s open mic session were to sign up prior to “7:30 p.m.”
You may recall that the Gang of 11 That Deal Straight changed the meeting time from 7:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Great. Good. Wonderful — except for a minor problem. They never changed the sign up time to refelct the half-hour difference. Half-hour, half-assed — same difference. Mazzeo, Jazzeo, baby, Jazzeo! Gaetani, to his credit, purposefully exploited the faulty rules, finally embarrassing Jazzeo into making the needed change.
Shoving Their Own Rules Down Their Throats
Back to Kinnas. Okay, he had been told twice — Carmel and Mazzeo — that he would not be speaking. Kinnas cooly reached into his pocket and produced page 1 of the council’s own rules. Rule 1C reads in part:
——– 000 ——–
For a period of fifteen minutes at the beginning of each regular or special meeting of the Council, or the City Council meeting as the Committee of the Whole, individual members of the public shall be permitted to address the Council. At a regular meeting, individuals shall be allowed to speak on any subject. At a special meeting, including the Committee of the Whole, individuals shall be allowed to speak on any subject listed on the agenda for the special or Committee of the Whole meeting.
——– 000 ——–
Mazzeo had no choice but to back down. Kinnas spoke. The next day, Wednesday morning, he filed an official complaint with the state attorney general’s office. Look at the rules again: “individual members of the public shall be permitted to address the Council” … and “At a special meeting, including the Committee of the Whole, individuals shall be allowed to speak on any subject listed on the agenda …”
That’s the point. There WAS no agenda.
“Dum-de-dum-dum.”
How much more do you need, folks, to vote every incumbent out of office?
Will Candidates Have to Explain Law Breaking?
THE PLANET will not presume to predict how the AG will rule, though it’s hard to see how Mazzeo and Chris Connell get off scott free. Mazzeo and council vice president Connell did not follow council rules.
What effect if any will it have on the election will have if the AG finds the council president and vice president three broke the law?
Our advice to the two is “Any publicity is good publicity.”
THE PLANET thanks Supercitizens Kinnas and Gaetani, who shall be on PLANET VALENTI TELEVISION tomorrow night. Kinnas is subbing for yours truly, and Gaetani will be his guest. It should prove a most interesting hour beginning at 7 p.m., live, channel 16, Pittefield Community Television.
[ED. NOTE: In our initial reporting, THE PLANET said city clerk Linda Tyer was part of Kinnas’ complaint. That was incorrect. We apologize for the honest mistake. As you can see, we have corrected it. As city clerk, Tyer did her job and did it properly in this case. She took the notice of the pubic meeting from the council leadership and posted it. It was NOT her job nor is it her responsibility to ensure that the contents of the posting were legal or not. That is the job of council leadership.]
—————————————————————————————————-
“It’s high carillon / From the popcorn bells! / Pigeons by the million — / And Spring in Prince Street / Where green figs gleam / By oyster shells.” — Hart Crane, from the “Virginia” section of The Bridge, (1930).
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
DV thanks once again for being the ONLY media outlet maintream or otherwise to bring us orindary folks whats REALLY goin on!
And thank God we have the like ot Terry Kinnas and you to keep it remotely honest.
So very true. Don’t expect to read this in the Berkshire Eagle. Thankyou, Dan Valenti. The arrogance and flippant from the Mayor, on down needs to be dealt with in the Voting Booth. Not one should be saved.
Thanks, GENE.
I think high govt officials in Pittsfield know that Boston has their back. They ain’t gonna sweat this. Or anything else.
But I am happy to see that Terry is still watching over us. He is a special kind of guy.
Wow! Riveting stuff Dan! I can sleep good tonight knowing Mr Kinnas took care of such a important issue!
Jimmy, why exactly do you bother to read this stuff? It seems to upset you so. The stress may not be good for your heart. Just say no and don’t read it.
JIMMY
WIth all due respect, the law is there for a purpose. The Open Meeting Law, especially, is meant to act as a citizen’s safeguard against secrecy in government. Any violation of the OML is an “important issue” — a vitally important one at that.
Who do we vote for as mayor in the next election? The choices are so bad. This next mayor will be in there for four years with a nice salary. We had better make sure its somebody who can do the job since we will be stuck with him/her for that long. Imagine being stuck with Bianchi for 4 more years? The other choices aren’t that great either. I wish we had more candidates to choose from. Why doesn’t Dan V. run?
I know one thing… Bianchi has to go. Mazzeo too, as all others. School Committee, City Council.
Indeed, who died and left Sue Carmel chief cook and bottle washer? From where does she get authority over private citizens as to who will speak at illegal council meetings?
What gives Mazzeo authority to violate her own rules? The fact that there was no agenda …. should that not make the entire illegal meeting null and void?
Why did only one man out of the entire city of Pittsfield care enough to find out about this meeting, show up and exercise his right to speak? Indeed, why did people not turn out in droves (myself included) to oppose this record breaking bloated budget?
I know I can sleep better knowing that Terry reported this illegal meeting to the proper authorities. If people do nothing to stop the corruption in Pittsfield then nothing will be done about it.
Terry should offer a course on reporting ethics violations. If people knew how to do it, perhaps more would become active.
Hey Dan…you know I’m a stickler for this sort of thing, but you have a metaphor problem with your Listerine reference, to wit:
“He is to honest government what Listerine is to mouth bacteria.”
I presume you meant dishonest government. Then the comparison works. I’m here for ya big fella!
Thanks, MRG. I thought about that one. I guess it could go both ways. For the analogy to work for me, there must be concomitance. If goverment (bad) is mouth bacteria (bad), both must be bad — in the same way that Listerine and Terry are analogously good.
This is just another episode of the countless mis-steps made by Pittsfield City Council President Melissa Mazzeo. It use to be funny to watch her struggle to get thru a meeting; But now after 2 years it really shows how the poor woman is so far over her head. It is really sad to see how incapable and unqualified she is to do the job.
I have to disagree with Kinnas when he finds fault in his complaint with Connell & Tyler because It is the soul and final responsibility of the Council President for all the matters related to meetings of the City Council.
Melissa being the President of the Council is an example of what is wrong with Pittsfield politics. She is a person who knows how to run a campaign and get elected, but once she takes office has no clue how to perform her duties. Sad…
I did put the Council President and/or Council Vice President down as the positions responsible for the agenda. Ms. Tyer was not mentioned in the complaint. The Council Vice President could do the agenda.
Thanks for the clarification.
TERRY
Thanks. In my noted, I had that Tyer was mentioned. I shall make the correction at once.
Dan — you still have Tyer in the “headline”. It only seems fair to remove her name in light of Terry’s clarification here.
In today’s Eagle Bianchi is quoted as saying he “thinks” the community is behind the new school. If he really thought that he would not have stonewalled a citizen vote on the matter.
Does he really think we are all stupid or does he just not even care? I don’t think he cares one iota.
They also had mention of the approval of the new school on the radio and I was shocked to hear them list one of the major reasons why so many people are against a brand new school which is the fact that the school population is rapidly declining. Personally I think a new school is really being build because Pittsfield public school personnel know they won’t be able to continue demanding big taxpayer money if the school population continues to decline. The new school is their attempt to keep themselves relevant and not for the school kids as they would have you believe. They hope the new school will stop the loss of kids to other school districts.
It’s all about keeping a tight control over all of the money they want. The kids have not been suffering in the present Taconic High School. Some of the kids even said so themselves on several local radio talk shows I listen to, but they were quickly stopped by the adults and the subject was changed. One girl even said that the condition of the school wasn’t a factor in whether she was learning at the school.
Taconic needed a new roof and some cosmetic changes. It didn’t need total replacement. Oh they have convinced many gullible parents that a new school is needed. I actually heard Tricia Farley Bouvier on the radio today saying “I want this new school for the future of my grandchildren”. She practically yelled it out. She is just so gullible as are others to believe that a new Taconic is going to save the city, but I believe the GOB’s kept drilling this into people and they fell for it.
I wonder if the kids that were trotted out realize that if they stay in Pittsfield and can find a job, that they are going to be paying for that school for a while.
I still don’t understand the logic in building a new school over renovating. All I keep hearing the politicians saying is if it was renovated the city will not be reimbursed anything from the State and the cost would be 28 million to the taxpayers and owe the state nothing.. But if it is built new it would cost at least 127 million, in which roughly 75 million would be reimbursed. So 50 million + any over runs is the taxpayers debt. You can be sure the state will get something for that 75 million. Like maybe more affordable housing projects or more methadone clinics. Good luck good citizens of Pittsfield!
Another gutless viewpoint by Tes and others. Until proven, how can you say the vote would have been approved. Another shit shine comment.
Amen!!!
Dear pv posters,THE PUBLIC BID LAWS ARE AS CLEAR AS A CLOUDLESS DAY. When you see that they aren’t followed by Collingwood what more do you need to know about him? I have stated before ,my first official act as mayor will be to relieve him off his position I am trying to convince my colleague Dr. LAWRENCE K WANG to take the position. Dr. Wang and I will be able to cover the water plants and the sewage treatment plants saving the city million s and millions of dollars as we did when we built the two water plants. Needless to say we will improve the city streets next winter as we know how to look forward and anticipate problems before they become real problems that could cost our citizens their lives. Noticed today in the bb that rep Bovier wants to throw confetti to celebrate the funding of the new THS. I hope voters remember her actions in lobbying for the new school as she knew that the taxpayers of this city were against it by a 4-1 margin but she voted for it anyway. IF we don’t change city and state govt, completely in the upcoming elections we better start preparing our suitcases I must t WIN THE COMING ELECTION AS THERE IS NO ONE IN sight WHO EVEN REMOTELY HAS A CLUE AS TO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO SAVE OUR BELO VED CITY.See you tonight on PLANET VALENTI 7PM CH 16 SINCERELY CRAIG
Using all capital letters in electronic communication is like shouting at someone in person. It is a common technique used by HUSTLERS to get attention.
It does not matter what form of internet communication you are using, shouting is not acceptable. There are caveats and exceptions. Subject lines, headings, and advertisements are often in all capital letters for readability reasons.
No one likes to be yelled at, but every once in a while you have to shout at someone to get their attention. Therefore, using all caps is bad netiquette because it’s shouting, but is acceptable for certain reasons.
It is acceptable for website heading to be in all caps, but not personal messages. All Caps is popular on classified advertising and auction websites because it is a good way to make your ad stand out. I do not recommend responding to ads with all caps.
In reality, shouting at someone is done to get their attention through intimidation. Shouting breaks the standard level of volume and tone, a voice should carry, to force someone into doing something. This is not socially acceptable in a civilized society because it is a use of force not reason.
Shouting at people is unreasonable in most cases. It raises the case that standard text should carry. It is not acceptable in a civilized cybersphere. Therefore, it is bad netiquette to use all caps because it is unacceptable to yell at people in a civilized society or cybersphere. Do not digitally disrespect others by using all caps.
http://netiquette.wikia.com/wiki/Rule_number_2_-_Do_not_use_all_caps
Oh my god! Protect me from the caps. Forget about the cancers and the ISIS folk we got CAPS to worry about. OMG
I worry about ISIS and the direction Obama has taken this once great country. I’m not the one running for mayor either, that would be the “wizzmaster”. I don’t think he comes off well here or at the city council meetings. I’ll most likely vote none of the above again this year.
The blog police have spoken
The biggest one budget item in the History of the City has been approved. It’s all downhill Tax Increases… from here.
Pittsfield politics loves, I mean LOVES, to raise taxes, fees, spending, and debts. Each and every year, Pittsfield politics produces huge municipal budgets that soak the local taxpayers. And for what? Thousands of people have fled Pittsfield. Thousands of jobs have been lost. And once jobs are lost, they ain’t comin’ back, Jack (Welch). Pittsfield’s public school system is among the worst in the state and nation. Over 600 children choice out every year. Downtown Pittsfield is a place most people avoid, especially after hours, because of crime, violence, drugs, and gangs. Pittsfield also has the fraudulent Consent Decree signed by Gerry Doyle and Jack Welch that leaves the area polluted with toxic waste cancer causing chemicals called PCBs. Pittsfield politics is totally corrupt. It is ran by the Good Old Boy network that serves the vested interests and the suits.
Jonathan,
I live and work downtown. I walk the streets at all hours of the day and NIGHT. Downtown is safe, in my opinion.
When was the last time you walked downtown? In fact, a better question is, when were you last in Pittsfield? You don’t live here.
So please stop the fear mongering.
If anyone doesn’t believe me about downtown being safe, I’d be happy to walk you around, day or night. Show me what scares you.
Barry
Let’s take a walk around the meth clinic and see how safe it is. Better yet lets go across the street to the garage and make a deal.
You buying?
At this point Pittsfield has the third-best nightlife in Western Mass., after Northampton and Amherst. There’s endless free parking at night. We have very little violent crime and no murders. You can go out to dinner, a show (movie, theater performance, even the occasional rock concert), and out for a nightcap within a block of your car. The historic character of the city has been preserved.
Yes there is a methadone clinic… looks bad… has tons of security and no crime.
Barry — good god we are going to miss you on the City Council. (I am not being sarcastic, so obviously my name does not start with B and rhyme with Cranky.)
It is true that I haven’t visited my native hometown of Pittsfield in nearly a decade. I followed Pittsfield politics via the Internet – The Berkshire Eagle online & Dan Valenti’s blog. Per downtown Pittsfield, Jimmy Ruberto spent tens of millions of public, taxpayer dollars on downtown revitalization. Mayor Dan Bianchi wants to spend millions more on North Street. I have read about murders, shootings, crime, violence, poverty, drugs, and even gangs in downtown Pittsfield. I read that during the daytime, downtown Pittsfield isn’t so bad and that social people spend time there. But at night, there is a whole different clientele that frequents downtown Pittsfield. But, what do I know?
Jonathan,
With all due respect, North Street is no less safe than any other street in the city at night. In fact, it may be safer, it’s well lit.
Barry
that’s not saying much, “another one.” outside of northhemp and amherst what else have ya got? you and mr clairmont obviously don’t get around much especially in the areas just off downtown (lincoln street, first street and sidestrees, linden and robbins, orchard an so on). “the third best nite life in western mass” …seriously???
No murders in Pittsfield? What fantasy land are you living in? And don’t worry about Barry leaving the council, he’ll approve Bianchi’s budget and stick it to us taxpayers once again before he leaves.
North St. is as safe as any other street at night? I am still laughing at that one! Funny, but there have not been any shootings, or brawls breaking out from Third Thursday, drug dealers hanging out, or businesses being broken into on my street.
I feel like anyone who fears North Street is a weak sad person. Maybe they spend all of there life behind doors and have never left Pittsfield.
In todays Eagle, a William D. Barry writes about how a state run airport would be better for Pittsfield.
“It would be in the best interest of the city to have the airport run by the state from a fiscal and management prospective.”
Brilliant observation.
Could be this is the solution for the City of Pittsfield, although it may not be too far off.
Barry’s on Bianchi’s reelection committee. Don’t put much stock into what he says.
Henry,
That is the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time. Thanks for the chuckle.
I hope you were being sarcastic.
Barry.
Oh, you meant William Barry. Sorry.
Ya the ex ward 1 city councilor….hey we going over the meth clinic today to have a nice safe lunch. Maybe exchange some things over the garage with the fellows…
Jonathan..if you have a beef with city politics, politicans here or anything else Pittsfield related, I suggest you take it up with the relevant entities. Your posts are getting old as you keep posting the same stuff. If you can add something new to the forum, please do so. You seem to be stuck in a time warp and still hurting from when you did live here.
If you really are hell bent on posting news about Pittsfield and its problems, I suggest you move back here and get some current information under your belt. If all you post is the stuff in the Eagle, it cannot be trusted to be accurate..
My family moved to southern NH over one decade ago. I am not moving back to Pittsfield. I have a right to Free Speech and to comment about Pittsfield politics.
Yes but its all the same stuff day after day. We know, we live here.
And again, nobody is disputing your right. Just take the conversation forward. The worst thing in journalism is stagnation, and you are.
AT Barry, maybe downtown but the city asawhole is a nightly harbinger and day for thugs.
Barry says it is well lit…and it is. Lit up with flashing blue lights.
https://www.raidsonline.com/
Try that link type in 01201, select all the types of crime you wish to see displayed. Select the date range you wish say a month and all the issues will be displayed. No need to take Barry’s word or Jonathans. Make up your own mind as to what you think is a safe or crime free area.
DRIP
Dont Return Incumabant Politicians
I’d still like to know why Merrill Road continues to not be painted…. anyone have an answer. Speedway with no lane lines.
Ask Lisa Tully you need her number in Florida
Merrill rd is a state highway therefore the state is responsible for painting the lines
Thankyou.
So why can’t Tully call the state.. and request….Yon use to.. as a matter of fact I asked Yon to get the side walks cleaned in the winter on Cheshire road and she had the state guys doing it….
Henry – your hatred for Tully seems excessive. click below, download the ward map and tell us which part of Merrill Road is in ward 1. http://cityofpittsfield.org/city_hall/registrar_of_voters_and_elections/index.php
@spagirl: I told you that a while back and I didn’t get a thank you.
They also had mention of the approval of the new school on the radio and I was shocked to hear them list one of the major reasons why so many people are against a brand new school which is the fact that the school population is rapidly declining. Personally I think a new school is really being build because Pittsfield public school personnel know they won’t be able to continue demanding big taxpayer money if the school population continues to decline. The new school is their attempt to keep themselves relevant and not for the school kids as they would have you believe. They hope the new school will stop the loss of kids to other school districts.
It’s all about keeping a tight control over all of the money they want. The kids have not been suffering in the present Taconic High School. Some of the kids even said so themselves on several local radio talk shows I listen to, but they were quickly stopped by the adults and the subject was changed. One girl even said that the condition of the school wasn’t a factor in whether she was learning at the school.
Taconic needed a new roof and some cosmetic changes. It didn’t need total replacement. Oh they have convinced many gullible parents that a new school is needed. I actually heard Tricia Farley Bouvier on the radio today saying “I want this new school for the future of my grandchildren”. She practically yelled it out. She is just so gullible as are others to believe that a new Taconic is going to save the city, but I believe the GOB’s kept drilling this into people and they fell for it.
Two years ago Holyoke opened their new school. The selling points were similar to Pittsfield’s. Holyoke’s leaders also said it would bring jobs and industry back to Holyoke. They said “build it and they will come”. They said the new school would be the catalyst. So new school is built. One problem they didn’t address was they still had the same teachers and same students. It looks as if the new school didn’t do anything for the students. The Holyoke schools are now under performing and under state control.
One question I have is will Pittsfield High still be open? If yes, then who picks the students for the new school? I would think if I am paying for a new state of the art school, I want my kid going to it.
I agree. Learning is not about a brand new shiny school. No more learning will take place in a newer school than in an older school. This is for the adults, not the kids. Berkshire Eagle didn’t even run one story on what happened in Holyoke because their story is much too similar to what is happening here with high hopes for a new school to jump start a poor economy.
Might have been an opportunity to expand vocational programs, but that didn’t seem to be on the agenda. Huge expenditure for a “21st century” school, and it will still be 3rd rate, so the kids will go to McCann
Just heard Bianchi say the DPW is doing just fine without the Commisioner and the 50 grand plus salary the council is looking to cut. BUUUT the search is still on for a Commissioner?
That must mean there has been no more selling in the city garage
This is 50 grand their looking to cut from a four million dollar Budget. Nice!
Collingwood was trying to keep the $50K in both line items. He got caught but no councilor stated it clearly. Also heard the mayor state things are running fine now, right after Collingwood whined about his inability to handle the “workload”. His snarky attitude at council meetings also needs to stop. If it is too much trouble for him to explain his own department and its business, he should look for another job!
Anyone running in Ward 1 should play a tape of this budget hearing. I have never enjoyed watching Barry speak. The sideshow next to him was hilarious!
Speak as much as I did tonight was my intended comment
Yeah, what the hell was that?
Terry Kinnas did a fine job hosting for Dan Valenti on his show last night and Gaetani came across as a man of the people. I hope he gets plenty more air time and exposure and if he does he will generate quite a following.
Look for the other candidates to try to keep him and his ideas in the dark. They fear this man and the votes he will take from them. And they should.
Former Police Chief Buffis should have had hundreds of people coming to his defense. He ran the toy fund for 30 years. A cop in Lee for 35. This is a pretty sad case. Another top official ….entitled and corrupt… until he got caught.
Please take Tyer’s name off headline since Kinnas said she is not involved.
FRITZI
It is done. Thanks