Pittsfield Mayoral Candidates Spar on Finances, Accountability

By Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
01:24AM / Monday, August 31, 2009

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Nicholas J. Caccamo, Patricia 'Pam' Malumphy, Mayor James M. Ruberto, Mark A. Marciano and Rick E. Moon prepare to match wits in the PCTV studio.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A free-flowing forum on Friday with nine of the 10 candidates for mayor focused on finances and government transparency.

Incumbent James M. Ruberto, seeking a fourth term, defended his administration's financial acumen and his ability to shepherd the city through the continuing economic crisis. He cited the success of his tenure for sparking one of the largest mayoral races in some time.

"I think one of the reasons why we are seeing such interest in this mayoral race is because we've shown over the last six years what progressive government does," he said. "It produces results and it allows everyone to feel that the more engaged they can be in the process, the greater their opportunity to serve."

But his challengers said Ruberto's administration has seen property taxes go up and has failed to fully reveal budget details and certain project funding.

Moderated by local commentator Daniel Valenti, whose columns appear in The Pittsfield Gazette and The Berkshire Eagle, the 90-minute session was taped at Pittsfield Community Television. Valenti put the forum together at short notice because only one other forum, sponsored by PCTV, the Gazette and Berkshire Community College, has been scheduled before the Sept. 22 preliminary election.

Seated from left to right at two tables slightly facing each other and according to their position on the ballot, were Nicholas J. Caccamo, Patricia "Pam" Malumphy, Ruberto, Mark A. Marciano, Rick E. Moon, Daniel L. Bianchi, Paul Kwasniowski, Lisa M. Boyd and Jeffrey W. Ferrin. Stephen A. Fillio did not attend.

Valenti asked questions and also allowed responses between candidates. Ruberto, Bianchi (Ward 6 councilor) and Malumphy (a former councilor) dominated much of the conversation.

Malumphy said her work as regional director for the state Office of Business Development gave her insight into the needs of businesses to grow jobs while Bianchi pointed to his past service as the city's financial officer and on the control board that oversaw spending when the city was in financial crisis some years ago. Both called for greater cooperation and collaboration with surrounding communities.

Caccamo, a recent graduate of Champlain College, said the city should look to sustainability and efficiency to save costs. "When we cultivate a 'Buy Berkshires' mindset it'll allow us to take more control over our economic sitution and will allow us to weather national economic trends."

Marciano and Kwasniowski both said the city should look into energy savings, with Kwasniowski also adding that public safety should be the No. 1 priority: "We need to get these gangs out of Pittsfield."

Boyd, an accountant, said better planning and budget analysis could find savings. Several candidates pointed to specific spending items they said should be eliminated or changed to save money, such as outsourcing services, relying on paper mail rather e-mail, and freezing hiring.

Daniel L. Bianchi, Paul Kwasniowski and Lisa M. Boyd wait for a question from Daniel Valenti. (Jeffrey W. Ferrin is also seated at the table.)

Ruberto disagreed with Ferrin's assertion that supplying city workers and police with global positioning systems and cell phones was wasteful spending. "When [police] get on the squawk box, not only do you know they're coming — the druggies know they're coming, too."

The candidates split on whether to impose a 2 percent local rooms tax, which Ruberto supports. "If it passes, we will take those revenues and we will offset ... property taxes," said Ruberto.

Malumphy said she could support at most a 1 percent increase because "it feels like we're taxing our way out of everything." Ferrin agreed, as long as there was accountability. Marciano's, Moon's and Kwasniowski's answers were all no; Caccamo's and Boyd's both yes. "Taxes are going up for everyone, why not for them, too?" said Boyd.

Bianchi said it was an issue for cooperation with other communities, "to make sure the city of Pittsfield isn't disadvantaged."

The talk of taxes lead to issues of government transparency. Ferrin complained that his quest for cell-phone costs for the city resulted in a counter demand for $2,145 to compile the information. "If someone walks into an office and asks for this information, it should be readily available," said Ferrin.

Boyd, too, said her efforts to track down spending items, including the $750,000 of work on Wahconah Park, was stymied. "There's no reason why numbers aren't available two weeks out."

Malumphy said the lack of transparency was one of the "tipping points" that had propelled her candidacy. She had helped Wahconah abutter Jenny Hersch file a petition for details on work there that has gone unanswered two months later. Bianchi, however, targeted the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority for not operating in a transparent manner: "Anything of any substance goes in executive session."

Caccamo, when asked by Valenti, said the city's budget process is "about as open as it gets."

Ruberto said initiatives undertaken during his tenure have been open, starting "with a conversation, they move forward in some cases with public hearings, in some cases with ad hoc committees, in some cases with neighborhood groups."

There's also an effort to ensure full information is available, because "incomplete information will lead to more questions," said Ruberto, adding the Wahconah numbers will be released after all "the expenses are duly reported."

Moon's take was more philosophical: "You don't fight the darkness; you turn on the light and make it go away,"

Marciano launched a spirited attack on Malumphy and Bianchi, questioning what they had done to further openness and claiming Malumphy had ignored the calls of a North Street business. Ruberto jumped to Malumphy's defense, saying it was unfair to use anecdotal evidence against anyone. (Malumphy later provided iBerkshires an e-mail from the business in question, thanking her for speaking with them.)

The candidates also touched lightly on the role of PEDA, public safety and education. The entire, unedited forum is scheduled to be broadcast on PCTV on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 8:30 p.m.; Sept. 2 at 3:30 and 11 a.m., Sept. 5 at 5 p.m. and Sept. 6 at 1 and 10 a.m.

The candidates will next meet in BCC's Boland Theatre on Monday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m.

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