Speakers brief governor on region's needs, applaud his presence

By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer

Published on July 25, 2008

The recent visit by Gov. Deval Patrick and his cabinet secretaries to Amherst gave representatives from cities and towns throughout the Valley an opportunity to present concerns directly to the state's highest ranking elected officials.

For the mayors and other local government officials who spoke at the meeting, regionalizing services, promoting economic development, providing a local options meals tax and making sure the November ballot question seeking to abolish the income tax is defeated were key issues they would like the Patrick administration to address.

A standing-room-only crowd of close to 200 people, ranging from municipal leaders from the Valley to schoolchildren and their parents, gathered at the Bangs Community Center July 17.

"I hope you recognize together we will help you find the answers," Patrick said.

John Musante, assistant town manager and finance director in Amherst, said the town supports Patrick's efforts to regionalize services, such as emergency dispatching, and to build partnerships with surrounding towns and the University of Massachusetts. In fact, Musante noted, Amherst officials have been moving in that direction, pointing to agreements for fire and ambulance service.

While Patrick endorses the concept of cities and towns taking care of their own affairs, they may need to get past the idea that every municipality needs a police chief and fire chief.

"We are going to have to think hard about changing the way things have always been done," Patrick said.

Lt. Gov. Tim Murray noted that California has just four dispatching centers, while Massachusetts has 262.

Amherst, Musante said, is also looking to grow its tax base through potential development of professional research parks and reinvesting in its downtown and village centers.

Musante also appealed for greater flexibility in how towns raise revenues, including through the local options meals tax, which Patrick has supported through his municipal partnership act, but which the Legislature has refused to enact.

"You know you're preaching to the choir, don't you?" Patrick said.

A mayor's view

Like Musante, Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins said the revenue side of municipal budgets can be enhanced through promoting economic development. She suggested that education must be improved for all residents in Hampshire County, observing that it is a county without a community college.

Higgins said she appreciated Patrick's appearance, following his July 13 vetoes of $122.5 million in spending from the $28.2 billion state budget. "I want to thank you for coming only three to four days after your vetoes," Higgins said.

Patrick said that even though tax collections were $1 billion over anticipated revenues, he is worried that the operating budget growth has been through capital gains, rather than expansion of employment.

But Patrick is not panicking. "We are not in crisis," he said. "I want to make that clear."

Leslie Kirwin, secretary of administration and finance, said the governor is fully funding Chapter 70 school aid and has increased PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) payments on state land by $5 million over two years.

"Partnership with cities and town is central to the governor's administration," Kirwin said.

"We are trying to focus where we can on providing additional resources to the communities," Kirwin added.

The ballot question looking to abolish the income tax, was referenced by several speakers.

"We have a ballot question that should scare the living daylights out of every thinking person in the Commonwealth," said Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonnette.

Kirwin agreed that it will be a staggering challenge if passed, noting that the $13 billion the state spends on health care is about the same as what income taxes bring in annually.

Patrick said he understands people don't like to pay taxes, but the trade-off would be less education, public safety and infrastructure. "I don't think that's the Commonwealth we want," Patrick said.

University unions

Prior to the cabinet meeting, representatives from most of the higher education unions at the University of Massachusetts stood outside the Bangs Center holding signs and wearing pins and stickers reading, "No More Pay Cuts." They handed out literature asking Patrick to offer fair contracts. Before Patrick entered the Bangs Center, he briefly met with some of the protesters.

Max Page, president of the faculty/librarian union, said the protesters want contracts with cost-of-living adjustments that reflect reality.

"All of the higher-ed unions have been calling for fair contracts, and some us have been bargaining for eight months," Page said, "There are basic ways we think we should be treated fairly."

Patrick said that through active management, the recently completed fiscal year ended with a modest surplus in the state operating budget. He is asking the Legislature to allow these reserves to be used for collective bargaining.

"I feel good about the initial request of the Legislature for use of that reserve," Patrick said.

Sylvia Snape, a representative of the University Staff Association, said she appreciated the governor being in Amherst.

"I think it's exciting to have the governor come to town and for him to listen to the reality of our situation," Snape said. "We've been hoping he would do the right thing."

Formal introductions of the governor and cabinet were made by state Rep. Ellen Story, D-Amherst.

"This is the first time in my memory the governor and the cabinet have come out to a small town in western Massachusetts," Story said.

Though the public and many officials didn't get an opportunity to ask questions, Patrick stayed for more than half an hour after the session ended to listen to residents.

Bill Elliott of Shutesbury, chairman of the Department of Conservation and Recreation Lake Wyola State Advisory Park Board, used this additional time to speak to Ian Bowles, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, about the need to restore $150,000 to a bond bill for repairs of the Lake Wyola dam.

Elliott said this money, vetoed by Patrick, is vital to the continued existence of the lake and safety of homes in Leverett downstream.

Stephanie O'Keeffe, a member of Amherst's Select Board, said she felt the governor's visit was substantive and that Patrick and his cabinet were paying attention to the issues raised.

Select Board member Anne Awad agreed. "It was a very positive event," Awad said.

Gerry Devine, chairman of Hadley's Board of Selectmen, said after the meeting that he appreciates the commitment from the governor to all 351 towns and cities. "He's asking us what the problems are and he'll go back and take care of them," Devine said.

Musante said the meeting reflects that a real partnership is developing between the municipalities and the Patrick administration. "We are appreciative of his willingness to work with us," Musante said.