New England Public Radio

Storm Clean Up Varies Among Western Massachusetts Communities

As western Massachusetts continues digging out from the historic weekend storm that dumped as much as two feet in the area, clean-up efforts in some communities appear to have fared better than others. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse says all the streets in his city have been plowed at this point. He says local DPW crews and private contractors have worked around the clock since the storm began to clear streets, enough so that trash pick-up would continue as usual.
“And we also started snow pick up, removing snow from traffic intersections, from the side streets, to make sure that school buses, emergency vehicles can actually pass through all the streets and roads in the city of Holyoke.”
The situation in Springfield, however, was not as positive according to Mayor Domenic Sarno. He says that while a tour around the city found some main thoroughfares and secondary streets had been cleared very well.
“Others were not; some not even punched out or touched.”
And Sarno says on many of the unplowed side streets residents have been trying to clear the roads themselves. Sarno says he’s had to deal with several complaints about the less than adequate responses of both city field inspectors and some private subcontractors who he claims didn’t finish the job of clearing the streets.
“The cross communication, I believe, was not done here in certain instances. You could go by a group of streets, ten or twelve of them, being done. And then you have a street completely not even touched.”
Sarno says he’s directed the head of the City DPW to review the agreements with the subcontractors and issue possible consequences, though he declined to be specific on what those consequences might be. Meanwhile, no word yet on whether Springfield schools will be open Tuesday. Holyoke’s Mayor Morse says he expects schools in his city will be open, though he still has to confirm that with the school superintendent.

 

Springfield Officials Postpone Announcement On Casino Host Agreement

Springfield Massachusetts officials have postponed making a decision about which of two casino resort proposals the city will enter into an agreement with.  The announcement was initially scheduled for this past Friday. The decision by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno as to who will get to sign a host community agreement to develop a casino resort in the city will now come in February. City officials say the move follows a decision to extend the deadline for casino developers to submit their proposals to the city from December 14th to January 3rd.  Kevin Kennedy, Springfield’s Chief Economic Development Officer, says it made sense to change the date about announcing whether MGM Resorts or Penn National Gaming or both would be able to negotiate a host agreement with the city as required by the state’s new gambling law.  He says moving the date three weeks ahead gives the two committees composed of City department heads and citizens enough time to thoroughly review both developers’ proposals, as well as the casino consultant’s report on traffic mitigation, urban planning and other issues, before making a recommendation to Mayor Sarno.
“After the Mayor makes his decision on February 11th, we would expect that we’ll enter into host community negotiations with one or two of the operators. it will probably be a six to eight week process. We then need to go the City Council, and it will be up to the City Council to accept our recommendation. And at that point and time, we will be waiting for the Mass Gaming Commission to make their decision on financial suitability of the operators. And once we know that, we’ll be able to set an election date.”
Kennedy says a best case scenario would have the referendum before Springfield voters in late June.

 

Sarno Assures Springfield Schools Are Safe In Light Of Connecticut Shooting

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno says the city is confident but continues to review safety procedures to ensure that schools remain safe. Sarno met with a team of school, public safety and health officials today (Monday) to discuss safety procedures in light of last week’s school shooting in Connecticut. Sarno says the procedures are not a knee-jerk response to the events in Newtown, but part of an on-going, pro-active approach to keep students and teachers safe.
“So we wanted to send a message, God forbid this was to happen any other place or any other time, of reassurance. What we do day in day out… preventative. And what we would if God forbid if something occurs at this point in time.”
Sarno was joined by School Superintendent Daniel Warwick who says a team of more than 20 police officers work daily inside the city’s high schools, as well as middle and alternatives schools. He says following the Newtown incident, police patrols will also monitor elementary schools. And Warwick says more than a million dollars has been invested in recent years for security upgrades at all school buildings.
“There’s a locking system, a buzz in system at every school. Cameras set inside and outside. So there’s a lot of security steps that have been taken to make our kids as safe as possible.”
Warwick says trained clinical counselors are also available in each school to deal with any issues facing students. But officials are also asking parents to be on the look out for changes in their children’s behavior, such as difficulty concentrating or sleeping, or sleeping too much, the loss of energy or appetite or over-eating. They say those can be signs that children are having trouble coping and should be reported to the school department for assistance.

 

Sarno Announces Process For Selecting Casino In Springfield

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno has unveiled his plan for screening and selecting a potential resort casino for the city. The State Gaming Commission has allocated one license for such a facility in western Massachusetts. Sarno announced the process during a press conference today (Monday) prior to meetings with the City Council and neighborhood and civic associations. He says a competitive two-phase selection process will help determine what he says could be the largest development project in Springfield’s history.
“It means thousands of good paying jobs for residents, significant opportunities for our business community, and sustainable economic benefits for our great city.”
The first phase will begin September 5th, asking prospective developers for their experience, background and financial suitability.  Cid Froelich, the City’s casino consultant, says a second 2-month long phase, beginning in early October, will require more detailed responses from developers.
“What are you going to build? where are you going to build it? How much money are you going to put up? What are the mitigating impact fees that you’re going to pay? What’s in it for the city? And as part of that process there will be a negotiation with the developers to determine how much they’re going to provide the city, both in terms of direct economic payments and what’s referred to as ripple effects…what else are they’re going to do to help revitalize out city?”
Earlier Monday Sarno held private meetings with four prospective casino developers. Those meetings are not going over well with some City councilors who say they should have been invited to sit in. Council President James Ferrera says such closed door meetings could undermine public confidence in the selection process.
“Politics does not belong in this process. It needs to be a transparent process, one with integrity and one where the process can’t be questioned.”
Sarno says the private meetings with casino developers were no different from others he’s had with other local businesses and that his administration will update the council at least once a month on the casino selection process. Sarno says he’s hoping to bring at least one proposal before city voters on a ballot question sometime next spring.

 

 

Springfield Teens Face Arson And Other Charges Over Rash Of Fires In City Neighborhood

Eight Springfield teenagers were arraigned this afternoon [Wednesday] on arson and other charges in connection with a series of recent fires in a city neighborhood. Springfield Police say the teens, ranging in age from 15 to 17, were arrested early Wednesday after responding to reports of a group of 8 to 10 males breaking into cars in the city’s Forest Park neighborhood late Tuesday. Police then noticed a fire on the second floor of a vacant home. Authorities say another fire was set outside the Springfield Elks Lodge. Police say they were able to get descriptions from witnesses before the suspects fled. Police said one of the teens was found shortly afterwards, appearing abnormally dirty, sweating profusely and smelling strongly of smoke. Five other males were picked up by police in neighboring Longmeadow after they were seen running across a golf course bordering the two communities. Two other suspects were later apprehended by state and local police. Authorities are investigating whether the suspects were involved in eight other fires set in the same area over the last week. Officials say there were no injuries and little damage thanks to quick response from firefighters. But Mayor Domenic Sarno, who was at the arraignment with the Fire and Police Commissioners, says, given the recent arson fires in Springfield and Northampton — that claimed lives — the suspects, despite their ages, should be punished to fullest extent of the law.
“God forbid somebody…was injured, somebody was killed. That’s where my feelings are. And they terrorized Springfield neighborhoods and that’s not something that I’m going to tolerate, nor Springfield police department nor the fire department. You have to be responsible for your actions, I don’t care how old you are period.”
The suspects, who have pled not guilty, are being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Monday.

Springfield Signals Opposition To Proposed PVTA Fare Hikes

The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority’s Advisory Board is scheduled to meet tomorrow (Wednesday) to vote on, among other items, proposed fare increases on bus routes and van service.  The board is made up of representatives of the 24 communities the PVTA serves. But at least one major player is signaling that it will be voting against any fare hike.
The proposal to increase the transit authority’s fares was prompted by initial projections from PVTA officials that the Authority was facing a $1.8 million budget shortfall. But according to a recent analysis from Administrator Mary McInnes, recent funding from Beacon Hill has made it possible to balance the PVTA’s budget. And now the Authority has revised downward its proposed fare increases. Transfer fees, for example, would increase to $.50 instead of $1.00. And proposed increases would be delayed until July 2013, contingent on what the Authority is calling a long range, statewide transportation funding plan.
But Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno says he’s not inclined to support any fare hike at all. He says he’s concerned about the impact the fare increases would have on many city residents, for whom the PVTA is their sole means of transportation. The Authority’s Mary McInnes declined to respond to Sarno’s statements, saying it would be inappropriate to comment before the Advisory board meets and votes on the proposed increases.
The PVTA’s Advisory Board meets Wednesday at noon at the Springfield offices of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. A public comment period will precede the board vote.