N.A. Council Adopts Veterans' Benefit With Conditions
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| Tropical Gardens was damaged by fire in January. The property was donated to the city. |
The council voted 7-1 on Tuesday to adopt a section of state law providing a benefit boost for disabled city employees who had served in the armed forces — but with the caveat that the North Adams Retirement Board fund the estimated $58,000 cost upfront.
"I see 16 or 18 people being held up by the political process," said City Councilor Richard Alcombright, adding that while he agreed with some of the criticisms of the measure, a majority of towns and cities had adopted the state law and it would be fair to the city's retirees who were veterans.
Mayor John Barrett III vetoed an earlier attempt to adopt a compromise measure because of the city's stressed financial condition.
The mayor didn't threaten a veto this time though he strongly reminded the council that the city had just had to lay off school employees making $8 an hour. "That's what I have to look at."
The vote came after nearly a half hour of debate over the wisdom of adopting the second part of a state law passed in 2005. The City Council had adopted the first part, which added up to $300 a year to the pensions of qualified municipal employees, two years ago but had balked at approving the second part because it covered retroactively those veterans who had retired on disability.
The major sticking point for the councilors was that the Retirement Board had not only not agreed to the funding scheme, it had never even taken up the issue at its meetings.
Two years ago, the chairman of the board had verbally agreed to plan. And that was it.
"It's a no-brainer. Either you have a commitment or you don't," said Councilor Clark Billings, who reiterated that he could not see the connection between service in the military and getting hurt working for the city. "I'm not talking about money, I'm talking about principle."
Barrett said the council had already taken the step to make the benefits for veterans disabled on the job more equitable when it adopted the first section of the law. "When we say the Retirement Board will fund it ... Whose money is that? That money is the city of North Adams and the taxpayers are funding it."
The mayor has had a long-running fight with the local pension board over reducing costs. This budget year, there is a $117,000 increase in pensions, he said. "This is going to be the budgetbuster for cities and towns in Massachusetts unless there is real reform out there."
If the council wanted to spend more on pension benefits, he suggested they contact Rep. Daniel E. Bosley to ask the Legislature to pay for it.
"I think my position hasn't really changed," said the mayor.
Alcombright said his research had found some 87 of 104 municipalities had adopted the first option and 68 of 104 the second. Of those that hadn't, it was because they had no retirees or it had put too much pressure on their budgets.
He said he was willing to support the retroactive measure if the Retirement Board made the payments and the city repaid it over 20 years at no interest. He estimated it would be about $3,000 a year.
"I have no problem supporting it on that aspect, if they want push it over 20 years so the cost to the city would be minimal," said Councilor Ron Boucher.
Society has chosen to reward veterans regardless of whether their service put them in the harm's way or not, said Councilor Lisa Blackmer, but she disagreed with the argument that veterans disabled on the job lost more earnings overall than any other worker would.
"I think it all came about because our governor wanted to run for president and wanted the vote of the veterans and the military people because he had no record in that area," she said,referring to former Gov. Mitt Romney. "Now we as cities and towns have to pay the price."
The council amended the measure to make it dependent on the Retirement Board accepting the upfront cost and allowing the city to pay it pack over 20 years and then adopted it. Councilor Michael Bloom was absent. Councilor Marie Harpin voted against the amendment and the adoption because, she said, the Retirement Board had never committed to any agreement and because it was not a fiscally sound decision.
Eagle Street Property
The council approved the city's acceptance of the former Tropical Gardens building at 17 Eagle St. that was heavily damaged by fire in January.
Owners Eric Rudd and Peter May had hoped to restore the property, which also housed a computer repair shop, but when structural issues made renovation efforts too costly, they decided to donate it to the city.
The mayor said the building would likely be torn down before the end of the year to open up the space as part of the Mohawk Theater project. The building backs onto an alley that runs along the side of the Mohawk.
The demolition and cleanup would be covered through funds for the theater restoration project. The city had tried to obtain the former Amazing Wok building to open up that area some years ago but that building became the home of the Persnickety toy store.
While Barrett said there were no firm plans for the old pet shop property, May hoped that it wouldn't have to wait for the theater to be developed.
"It presents an opportunity to the city to create some open space," he said last week. "I'd love to see some benches and sculpture in there."
Big Trucks
The council also moved to a second reading the authorization for borrowing up to $750,000 for new equipment and vehicles, mostly for the Highway Department.
The mayor said this was a good time to purchase because rates were still low. The borrowing would have no effect on this year's budget but would have an impact in about three year's time.
The city has far fewer workers than it once had, he said. "They do a good job. It's incumbent on us that we provide them with good equipment."
