Mayor Clare Higgins sent this email update to the public today.
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MAYOR’S EMAIL UPDATE 9/16/08
In this email:
Ballot Question #1 Rally
Group Insurance Commission (GIC)
Northampton Education Consortium (James House Re-Use)
Telephone System Update
Design Northampton Update
Welcome, Xanthi Scrimgeour
Clean Energy Choice Funds – Northampton is #1 again!
Election Day
Dear Neighbor,
Ballot Question #1
By now, I hope most of you have heard about Ballot Question #1, on which you will be asked to vote this November. The question proposes to eliminate the income tax in Massachusetts. The result would be a devastating 40% cut in state revenue, and there would be a devastating effect on our city budget, which relies on state aid for a significant portion of our city and school funding. The Vote No On Question One committee puts it well: “The income tax question on the ballot this fall is a reckless proposal that will have severe and immediate consequences for all of us. This binding referendum will take $12.7 billion-nearly 40 percent-out of the state budget, driving up local property taxes and leading to drastic cuts in services. Our communities will suffer sweeping education cuts, steep reductions in public safety personnel and further deterioration of roads and bridges. Times are hard enough. Let’s not make them worse.” This is a very serious issue; I cannot overstate the impact our community would feel if this question passes and our resources plummet. My staff are working on a list of city positions and services that are mandated by state and local law, those services and positions we will have to provide regardless of how much state aid we receive. I am not hopeful that there would be much left over for the other services we rely on in Northampton. The local No on One organizing team is planning a rally on Wednesday September 17th on the City Hall steps at 5:30 p.m. Please come to this event! Come to learn about the question. Come to show your support. Come to get involved. Come with a neighbor. I hope to see you there.
Group Insurance Commission (GIC)
Last week, the City Council voted to give me the authority to begin conversations with our city and school labor unions about the possibility of joining the GIC, or Group Insurance Commission. This is a statewide insurance pool that we are investigating as a possible way of saving on employee and retiree health insurance. We are still running the numbers and will research all of our options to decide what is in the best interests of our employees and retirees and also the most fiscally responsible plan for our city. I am grateful to the leadership of all of the labor unions for their willingness to join in this conversation and explore all of our options fully.
Northampton Education Consortium (James House Re-Use)
You may have seen a newspaper article recently about the Northampton Education Consortium. I think this is a terrific re-use of the James House. In case you have not read about it, the Gothic Street property will become home to a variety of agencies that serve adult literacy and job training programs, such as the Literacy Project and the Center for New Americans and the Department of Transitional Assistance. We will also have GED classes held there, and Greenfield Community College and Holyoke Community College will hold college transition classes on site. I am very grateful to our Economic Development Coordinator, Teri Anderson, for her diligence in helping pull this project together. We were also very fortunate to receive $100,000 over 3 years from the Executive office of Labor and Workforce Development to get this adult education and literacy center up and running. This will be a great resource for Northampton and I know it will help many individuals and families take the next step toward achieving their American Dream.
Telephone System Update
I also wanted to share a little information about the plans to upgrade the telephone system in the City, Schools and Library. We are unable to make repairs to the telephones currently in use, as these models are no longer manufactured. It is not uncommon for calls to be lost; some of our phones don’t even have the ability to transfer to other lines; it impacts our ability to conduct business professionally. The funding for the project will come from an agreement with Comcast, and through the subsequent savings we will realize with the system’s improvements. Should you have any additional questions about the project or the funding, please let my office know and I will be happy to share the financial information that Finance Director Chris Pile presented to City Council.
Design Northampton Update
As I prepare this email, the Design Northampton Week is drawing to a close. I wanted to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the Notre Dame professor and students and to the Design Northampton organizing team, and to all of the scores of residents who have participated in one or more sessions over the course of the week. Like you, I am eager to see the proposals the students will introduce in coming weeks.
Welcome, Xanthi Scrimgeour
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Xanthi Scrimgeour, our new Director of Health. Xanthi served previously as a volunteer member of the Board of Health and she has made an excellent transition to her administrative duties.
Clean Energy Choice Funds – Northampton is #1 again!
Clean and Green in Northampton
I am very proud to note that Northampton has surpassed 6% of households and businesses enrolled in a clean energy option like New England GreenStart (sm). Because of this status, the city earned a Massachusetts Clean Energy Choice matching grant of $12,400 for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, which brings the total earned by the City so far to $198,555 – more than any other municipality in the Commonwealth! Moreover, Northampton has the greatest number of residents participating in Green Energy Choice programs of any municipality in the Commonwealth including Boston, Cambridge or Worcester! We have 732 qualified participants in Northampton. The community with the second greatest number of participants is Medford, with 327! Bravo, Northampton! If you want to learn how you can become number 733 and keep us well ahead of the pack (and in line for more Clean Energy Funds for more clean energy projects), please contact the good folks at CET, the Center for Ecological Technology at 586-7350, or online at www.cetonline.org.
Election Day
Finally, a note to remember Northampton will have a State primary election next Tuesday September 16th. Please remember to cast your vote! If you should know somebody who is not yet registered to vote, the last day to register to vote before the General Election in November will be October 15th. The City Clerk’s office will remain open late on that date for your convenience.
Thank you all, and as always, feel free to contact my office with any questions or concerns.
Clare
Mayor Clare Higgins
See also:
Video and Slides: Final Presentation of Design Northampton Week