Baker called the bill "fiscally irresponsible."

BOSTON -- Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday vetoed a bill that aims to raise the pay of legislative leaders and other elected officials, calling it "fiscally irresponsible." But legislators in favor of the measure appear to have enough votes to override him.

"Given the commonwealth's fiscal outlook as we continue to right-size our budget, close the structural deficit and reduce the reliance on one-time revenues without raising taxes, we felt it was important to veto this fiscally irresponsible legislation," Baker told reporters at a press conference in his Statehouse office, with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito standing next to him.

The bill, which the House and Senate passed this week, would raise the stipends paid to anyone with a leadership position or committee chairmanship in the House and Senate, and would raise expense payments for all members. It would significantly boost the pay of the governor and all the constitutional officers, such as the attorney general and treasurer. It would also raise the salaries of judges and judicial staff.

Baker said the fact that the pay raises for lawmakers would take effect immediately would place "unplanned burdens" on the state's financial situation, months after he made midyear budget cuts to keep the budget in balance. It would also raise the state's pension obligations to these officials over time, since pensions are based on salaries.

The bill also sets up a method for updating the stipends every two years in a way that correlates with overall wages in Massachusetts. Baker said that would ensure that lawmakers' salaries grow at rates that "exceeded any reasonable expectations for revenue growth."

The bill would raise the stipend for the House speaker and Senate president to $80,000, rather than $35,000. The chairmen of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee would get an extra $65,000 annually instead of the $25,000 they get today. The majority and minority leaders would get an extra $60,000 rather than $22,500. The salaries of the constitutional officers would become $165,000 or $175,000, up from between $122,000 and $135,000 today.

In his veto message Baker wrote that the bill "is fiscally irresponsible, would eliminate voter-approved term limits for constitutional officers, and was enacted after limited debate and without a reasonable opportunity for public comment."

Baker was referring to a little-noticed provision of the bill that he says would repeal language in the Massachusetts General Laws establishing two-term limits for constitutional officers, which were approved by voters on the ballot in 1994.

The Republican/MassLive.com is seeking clarification from legal experts about the status of that law, since although the language appears in state law, the Supreme Judicial Court appears to have struck down the term limits in 1997. Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin has been in office since 1995 and is receiving pay.

Baker's veto may have little practical effect, since legislators currently have veto-proof majorities in favor of the pay raises in both houses. The House passed the bill 115-44, with nine Democrats and all 35 Republicans voting against it. The Senate passed it 31-9, with three Democrats and all six Republicans voting against it. It takes a two-thirds vote to override a veto.

Baker said he hopes that, by vetoing the bill, he will give the public more time to weigh in with their legislators.

"Last week, hundreds of constituents shared concerns with our office, and I encouraged them to share those concerns with their own senators and representatives," Baker said.

He added, "For most folks in Massachusetts, the timing on this is just inappropriate and the scale and size of the adjustment is, too."

Baker would not commit to trying to flip enough votes to sustain his veto. He said only that his first step would be to talk to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who also oppose the pay raises.

There are legal questions related to whether or not parts of the salary adjustment could be put on the ballot for an attempted repeal in 2018. By law, anything dealing with judges or courts cannot be voted on, but it is an open question whether the parts of the law dealing only with elected officials can be.

Lawmakers who support the pay raises argue that lawmakers' salaries need to be sufficient to attract talented individuals and let them support their families. The stipends paid to legislative leaders have been unchanged for decades, although legislators' base salary is adjusted every two years according to a formula.

Everyone on Beacon Hill today knew the salary when they ran for the job, and many of them have second jobs, such as working as lawyers, Baker said. He and Polito have said they will not accept their pay raises.

Setti Warren, a likely Democratic candidate for governor in 2018, urged Beacon Hill Democrats to flip their votes to sustain Baker's veto.

"In principle I agree that legislators and other elected officials should be paid a reasonable wage, but the process of rushing this legislation through has been unseemly," Warren said. "If you think you deserve a raise, make the case to the people you represent, and then solicit their feedback."

The raises are based on a report issued by a bipartisan commission in 2014. Lawmakers held a public hearing on the report before releasing the bill, but did not have a hearing on the actual bill.

The Belchertown town administrator is "in disbelief" over the new contract, and will consult with selectmen about the possibility of asking residents to vote to withdraw from the council.

NORTHAMPTON - Following a public evaluation Thursday of Hampshire Council of Governments Executive Director Todd Ford, the agency's governing board proceeded to meet behind closed doors before emerging to approve unanimously a new contract that pays him $123,625 per year.

That represents a 7.5 percent raise from Ford's current salary of $115,000. His contract, which was due to expire at month's end, was extended to June 30, 2018.

Some members of the 17-person supervisory committee, officially known as the Board of Hampshire Councilors, did not speak during the actual evaluation of Ford and did not communicate how they had evaluated him.

Todd Ford as he was departing the Jan. 26, 2017 meeting, following his contract renewalJim Russell photo 

When the process concluded, the board provided no written material showing how the executive director had just been graded, nor was there verbal consensus expressed on how they had scaled Ford's performance over the past year.

Some of those who spoke praised the director. One questioned why a system of metrics was not in place to guide the evaluation, and another said that problem would be addressed.

Council Chairman William Barnett, of Belchertown, began the evaluation listing what he said were Ford's "strengths" and alluded to "challenges" he faces.

"His leadership, his understanding of" the HCOG mission "and the needs of the COG" and Ford's commitment to the old courthouse's restoration were among strengths cited by Barnett. The HCOG headquarters is at 99 Main St. in Northampton at the historic former court building.

The lack of a "diversified revenue stream" is a challenge, the chairman said, adding, "There has been a lot of problems with staffing."

"I think Todd is doing an excellent job," Councilor Diane Bushee of Goshen said.

She stated that staffing problems were not the result of Ford's action, instead blaming them on a "very disrespectful" councilor whom she said made comments about Ford during a "contentious meeting." Bushee did not name the councilor she referred to, nor say when that meeting occurred.

Councilor James Drawe, of Cummington, said, "We put a lot of pressure on Todd this year ... in my mind, Todd has met that goal oustandingly."

Drawe referred to budget data that he said shows the HCOG had an operating deficit of $356,000 in fiscal 2015, but that in fiscal 2016 there was a surplus of $277,000. He said Ford should be lauded for that financial turnaround. He said the data had not been scrutinized by an independent auditor 

Pelham Councilor John Trickey said the evaluation instrument's lack of metrics was problematic. The board's moderator, Councilor Joseph Kearns, of Middlefield, said that deficiency would be corrected for future evaluations.

Council Vice Chairwoman Eileen Stewart, of Williamsburg, praised Ford, saying, "I feel like we've turned a corner in some ways."

The executive director was present at the evaluation, but Ford did not speak during that portion of the meeting. He declined to comment to the press when the session ended.

Last fall, Ford was harshly criticized in a letter authorized by Belchertown selectmen and signed by the board's chairman, George "Archie" Archible, and forwarded to the HCOG. Barnett, who also serves as a Belchertown selectman, did not attend the Oct. 11 meeting at which his colleagues authorized the letter.

The Belchertown Selectmen letter of Oct. 20 letter alleged "greater than 100 percent employee turnover" under Ford's tenure. It requested accountability for what the selectmen estimated at $1 million what the HCOG spent pursuing a failed municipal electricity purchasing plan.

Contacted on Friday, Belchertown Town Administrator Gary Brougham, who had requested selectmen to write the letter, was asked about Ford's new contract.

"There is a history of failure under this organization's director," Brougham said. "I am in disbelief. How does one in such a position not be held accountable?" he said. "It is an embarrassment to be associated with the organization."

Brougham said he plans to consult with the selectmen to gauge support on whether to place an article on the Belchertown Town Meeting warrant that would ask residents to formally withdraw from the HCOG.

Musgrave said he basically has thrown out the talks he was planning to give and instead is devising "lectures on the fly" in response to the first week of the new administration.

AMHERST -- University of Massachusetts political scientist Paul Musgrave said he basically has thrown out the talks he was planning to give and instead is devising "lectures on the fly" in response to the first week of the Donald J. Trump administration.

The new president made waves this week pledging to overturn the North American Free Trade Agreement, feuding with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, threatening higher tariffs on that country's exports to fund construction of a border wall. "It has been an incredible pace of turmoil," Musgrave said. Or, as some members of the new administration would say, change.

Any of those developments could have been the week's top story, but in Musgrave's opinion something else takes the cake.

The real story, he said, is the souring of relations with China. "The greatest geopolitical risk is possible" if divisions grown between the world's two largest economies, he said, with even the possibility of a war.  

As The Guardian reported, "Since his election, Trump and his team have repeatedly discombobulated the Chinese government with a series of interventions on sensitive issues such as the South China Sea, U.S. relations with Taiwan and China's alleged manipulation of its currency, the yuan."

It's unclear why Trump seems to be "more cooperative with Russia (when it has) so little offer the U.S.," Musgrave said. "It doesn't make sense under the normal way of seeing the world."

Musgrave, an assistant political science professor in the Commonwealth Honors College, offered his take on other of the week's highlights.

Trump's pledge to put "America first," he said, won't make the U.S. richer, more powerful or safer. That, he said, is accomplished "by a cooperative arrangement with the rest of the world."

"Trump is determined to put everyone else in the worst possible position," Musgrave said. He said Trump is picking fights with other countries.

He said American has been cooperating with the world at large since World War II, but it's not altruistic. In every case, he said, the U.S. has something to gain.

"Everyone has to live in the world," he said.

On stopping illegal immigration and preventing cross-border crime, Musgrave said, "Building a wall is not going to do it." He said drug smugglers use tunnels, so the wall won't help. And he said there are hundreds of miles of desert that limit access. A wall looks impressive, he said, but that's all.

"Alternative facts" -- a term coined this week by Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway -- are dangerous and lead to an alternate reality, Musgrave said.

"You can't have an alternative reality." He thinks that reality will be checked by other countries when the U.S. faces a crisis. For example, Musgrave said, George W. Bush when he was elected didn't know he'd be invading Iraq in two years.

He said Trump's fixation on the size of the crowd at his inauguration and insisting that voter fraud cost him the popular vote feeds his base, and his audience will agree with him, which sustains his view of the world.

Musgrave said only Congress can stop some of Trump's actions. "The marches and calling Congress are important," he said. But he said people "need to be realistic about it. There are limits." The only way Trump can be checked is by a handful of Republicans opposing him.

He said that the president is insecure and inspiring insecurity by talking about bans on Muslims or building a border wall. But he said that it is a "common myth." Those measures "make America much less secure."

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, said Friday she will vote against President Donald Trump's pick of Betsy DeVos for Department of Education secretary, arguing that "it is hard to imagine a less qualified or more dangerous person" for the position.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, said Friday she will vote against President Donald Trump's pick of Betsy DeVos for Department of Education secretary, arguing that "it is hard to imagine a less qualified or more dangerous person" for the position.

Warren, who grilled DeVos during a recent Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions confirmation hearing, attributed her opposition to continued concerns about the businesswoman's experience and record.

"I will vote against Betsy DeVos' nomination to serve as secretary of Education because her nomination is not in the best interests of the young people of America," she said in a statement. "She has repeatedly demonstrated her contempt for public education, she plans to maintain financial ties that could create conflicts of interest, and she is unwilling to commit to be a cop on the beat with for-profit colleges that break the law and cheat students."

The Massachusetts Democrat, who has not been shy in voicing concerns about DeVos, added that although she gave the education secretary nominee the opportunity to prove her commitment to supporting students, she failed to do so.

Warren further contended that "DeVos' record on K-12 education has been focused on using her vast fortune to push her own ideology on hardworking families."

Pointing to teachers, parents and education leaders across Massachusetts who have raised concerns about DeVos heading the Department of Education, the senator stressed that they are not alone.

"It is hard to imagine a less qualified or more dangerous person to be entrusted both with our country's education policy and with a trillion-dollar student loan program," she said. "Congress should reject Mrs. DeVos's nomination."

Warren's announcement came just days after the senator defended her decision to support retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson leading the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -- a move which drew pushback from some.

Elizabeth Warren defends support for Ben Carson's HUD secretary confirmation

The senator attributed her vote in favor of Carson's nomination, in part, to her intention to focus on opposing a number of Trump cabinet picks, including DeVos.

Trump, upon announcing his choice to lead the Education Department, argued that DeVos, the chairwoman of privately held investment and management firm the Windquest Group, would help overhaul the agency to improve how education is delivered to America's children.

President-elect Donald Trump to nominate Betsy DeVos Department of Education secretary

The Senate panel is scheduled to vote on DeVos' nomination on Tuesday, Jan. 31. 

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minnesota, told MSNBC Thursday that no Democrat will vote to confirm her to Trump's cabinet.

On Thursday, Springfield narcotics detectives were investigating heroin distribution on Chestnut Street when they observed an alleged open air drug deal.

On Jan. 9, Hector Alecea was released from state prison after serving 15 years for heroin trafficking.

Less than three weeks later, he is back in custody, arrested during a Springfield police heroin bust.

On Thursday, Springfield narcotics detectives were investigating heroin distribution on Chestnut Street when they observed an alleged open air drug deal.

Officers arrested the customer at the scene and followed the dealer, identified as Alecea, to the corner of Bridge and Chestnut Streets. They arrested him and allegedly found 141 bags of heroin labeled "Louis Vuitton" during a search of his possessions.

And when detectives obtained a search warrant for Alecea's apartment at 70 Chestnut Street, police allegedly found another 1,300 bags of heroin.

Police discovered that Alecea had been released on Jan 9 after serving all 15 years of a sentence of heroin trafficking.

He was scheduled for arraignment Friday in Springfield DIstrict Court on charges of heroin trafficking, distribution and possession with intent to distribute, as well as violation of a drug free school zone.

The report argues that these costs have produced unintended consequences, particularly for poor people and people of color.

CAMBRIDGE -- A national report from Harvard University joins a growing body of literature criticizing the way criminal justice fees and fines are implemented. The report arrives as Massachusetts lawmakers prepare to consider criminal justice reform.

The report was released by the Harvard Kennedy School's Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management, along with other research institutes. It argues that fines and fees "can, if left unchecked, have long-term effects that significantly harm the efforts of formerly incarcerated people to rehabilitate and reintegrate."

Study author Karin Martin, a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said in an interview that the fees "thwart justice and are very costly to individuals and the rest of society."

Massachusetts legislators this session plan to consider a major criminal justice reform bill, although the bill has not yet been filed and there has been significant controversy over what will be included.

The nonprofit Council of State Governments Justice Center is making recommendations about programming and post-release supervision. But black and Latino activists have urged more of a focus on sentencing reform.

State Sen. Michael Barrett, D-Lexington, chairman of the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee, has said he hopes lawmakers will reconsider the imposition of certain fines and fees. His committee issued a report criticizing the practice of jailing people who cannot afford to pay their fees.

The new Harvard study take a national look at fees, fines and restitution. The study notes that there has been a proliferation in these costs in various states. Since 2010, 48 states have increased criminal justice costs. Nationwide, it found 10 million people owe more than $50 million due to contact with the criminal justice system, although only a fraction of this is ever collected.

The report argues that these costs have produced unintended consequences, particular for poor people and people of color. The report points to examples around the country to argue that governments have an incentive to do things like write more tickets solely to raise revenue. Probation and parole officers are incentivized to take time away from public safety missions, like supervising offenders and finding treatment for them, in order to become debt collectors.

Often, those people who come in contact with the criminal justice system are poor and the least able to afford to pay -- leading to an cycle of debt and an inability to meet other needs. Some, although not all, states offer community service or waivers to indigent offenders. The report argues that debt can trigger other consequences that make it harder for someone to re-enter society, like difficulty getting a driver's license or obtaining credit, or even re-incarceration.

The study puts restitution in a different category, because it is meant to help victims. But it finds problems with how restitution is implemented. For example, in states where offenders pay into a general restitution fund, rather than to the victim, restitution fees are often levied in crimes that have no victims. Some states keep a significant portion of the fees.

Overall, the report argues that the system of fees and fines, as currently implemented, "can be punitive and insufficiently parsimonious."

Among the report's recommendations: Consider a defendant's ability to pay when imposing fines; avoid penalizing people for poverty by adding fees for payment plans or incarcerating someone for debt; consider alternatives to monetary sanctions like community service; consider amnesty for those already in debt; use fees that are collected for prisoner rehabilitation programs; and reduce fees for those who pay for their own education or vocational training. The report also suggests separating law enforcement officers from debt collection duties.

Martin suggested that as Massachusetts considers criminal justice reform, state officials should look at the cost of the current system, not only the revenue it brings in. For example, incarcerating a person for nonpayment of fines costs more than giving up on the fines. "The math doesn't work out," Martin said.

She said state policymakers should also look at the impact of criminal justice debt on keeping offenders from reintegrating into society and potentially forcing them to find sources of illicit income in order to pay their debt and other bills.

"Massachusetts should be looking at the cost of both sides -- what are you getting from the current system and what are you spending to enforce the current system?" Martin said.

Since the election, immigrants have been anxious about their future U.S.

AMHERST -- Since the election, immigrants have been anxious about their future in the U.S. That is not abating now as President Donald Trump is talking about an executive order that would ban immigrants from a number of countries, many of which are predominantly Muslim.

Laurie Millman, marketing and development coordinator for the Center for New Americans, said it's unclear how this will play out legally, but immigrants are anxious and apprehensive.

The Associated Press reports Trump plans to suspend issuing visas for people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen for at least 30 days, according to a draft executive order.

Millman said the Center for New Americans is advising clients not to spend money applying for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status because Trump has said he will rescind the program. DACA, instituted in 2012 by former President Barack Obama, allows people brought into the country illegally as children to stay and work or pursue an education.

And she said the center is advising immigrants to be careful about who they consult and only contact licensed organizations.

"We're trying to be as proactive as we can," she said.

On the positive side, she praised the area community for its support. "Everyone is keeping an eye in their neighbors," she said.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst has a large international population. Spokesman Edward F. Blaguszewski said, "We are trying to assess the potential impacts of the president's executive orders as they come out in rapid fashion this week."

Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, meanwhile, sent out a statement Friday afternoon that read, in part, "I want to make it clear that at the flagship campus we remain committed to the welfare and success of all members of our community, whether they be student, faculty or staff, and pledge to do everything within our legal and moral authority to protect them, no matter their national origin, race, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual identity or immigration status."

"They all have the same rights to pursue their educational and professional goals in a supportive environment that is based on mutual respect and is free of fear, intimidation or violence," Subbaswamy wrote.

Spokesman John Courtmanche in an email said Hampshire College has about 70 international students and that it complies with the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.

He said students have asked questions about the potential presidential order, but "we are in a wait-and-see position. We can't really plan proactive steps if we don't know what legal changes will be implemented. We monitor changes in laws and we'll continue to comply with federal and state laws."

Hampshire President Jonathan Lash issued a statement following the election of Trump that read, in part, "We all benefit tremendously from being an international community of students, faculty, staff, and alums. ... Ensuring equal access to education is among Hampshire's deepest commitments. We are unwavering in our efforts to recruit and sustain a diverse student body, including international and undocumented students."

Meanwhile, Amherst Regional School District interim Superintendent Michael Morris sent a letter to parents stating, "Since yesterday, a number of questions, inquiries, and concerns have come to me on the topic of the education of undocumented students in our district. Consistent with our past practice, our core beliefs, and established law, we will continue to enroll and serve every child living in our district who chooses to attend our schools, without regard to their immigration status."

Meanwhile, a rally is scheduled today at 5 p.m. at Springfield City Hall sponsored by more than a dozen area groups supporting immigrants.

Police opened fire on Mark, Marauszwski when he drove his car at an officer. He was hit once.

PITTSFIELD - A 56-year-old Pittsfield man who was shot by police Wednesday as he drove his car directly at an officer on a playground at Springdale Avenue is being held on $25,000 bail until he can be arraigned sometime next week, according to reports.

The Berkshire Eagle is reporting bail was set for Mark A. Marauszwski Thursday afternoon at Berkshire Medical Center, where he is being treated for a gunshot injury to the shoulder.

He is scheduled to face formal arraignment in Berkshire District Court on Thursday.

According to the office of Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless, Marauszwski is facing several charges as a result of a police pursuit in the moments before he was shot by Pittsfield police officer Martin Streit.

The charges include two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, an automobile, and single counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, failure to stop for a police officer and driving a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

According to the DA, Marauszwski was stopped by police on Bartlett Avenue at 9 a.m. Wednesday for a traffic violation. When officer David Hallas approached his car, Marauszwski hit him with the car door and then drove off.

Hallas began pursuing him and radioed for help. The pursuit continued into the parking lot and playground of Springside Park, and Marauszwski attempted to leave the park through the Springside Avenue exit.

As he attempted to leave, he pointed his car directly at officer Streit who had gotten out of his patrol car. Streit fired three shots at the car in an attempt to stop it. The car was struck twice and Marauszski was hit once.

Police provided first aid at the scene before he was taken by ambulance to Berkshire Medical Center.

State police detectives assigned to Capeless' office and members of the State Police Ballistics and Crime Scene Services Unit are investigating the shooting, according to the DA. The Pittsfield police is cooperating and providing assistance with the investigation.

The shortfall will exist even if property taxes are increased by 2.5 percent, the maximum permitted under state law.

BELCHERTOWN -- Revenue projections for the coming fiscal year are nearly $1 million less than needed if the town's wishes to maintain current service levels, selectmen said at Monday's meeting.

According to data compiled by the town's Revenue Committee and presented by Selctman Nicholas O'Connor, the shortfall will exist even if property taxes are increased by 2.5 percent.

"At the allowable maximum increase of 2.5 percent, there is an estimated gap between revenue and level service of $979,293," he said.

Belchertown Revenue Committee data(Jim Russell photo) 

The 2.5 percent hike would result in an average tax bill increase of $148 based on property worth $260,000, the selectman said.

O'Connor said the data also shows that, were the town to rely on property taxes to close the gap via a tax increase requiring a proposition 2½ override, the average bill to homeowners would increase by $327.

O'Connor said he is not endorsing a tax hike.

Town Administrator Gary Brougham said unfunded state and federal government mandates make it difficult for communities to pay their bills. Referring to the budget overview for the next fiscal year, the administrator said: "The conversation we had tonight has perpetuated for 30 years."

The board said they will continue discussion on the budget problem, acknowledging that at this point they do not have a solution. Voters will deliberate on the fiscal 2018 operating budget during the annual Town Meeting in May.

In addition to his selectman duties, O'Connor serves on the 10-person Belchertown Revenue Committee. Brougham also is a member of the BRC.

The abuse prevention order against Steven Vigneault was filed a day after his lawsuit against the city and several police officials.

SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield police officer has obtained an emergency restraining order against a former narcotics detective amid a tangled civil lawsuit pending against the city and the police department.

K-9 Officer Gail Gethins sought an emergency abuse prevention order against former detective Steven Vigneault on Jan. 25, one day after she was identified as a witness in a whistleblower lawsuit Vigneault filed in Hampden Superior Court, according to documents reviewed by The Republican.

While the newspaper does not typically reveal by name applicants for restraining orders, the parties were previously identified in other court documents. Gethins argues in her application that Vigneault began stalking her after he was released from a veterans hospital in December. Vigneault, a combat veteran, was being treated there for PTSD, he told The Republican in an interview in October.

Vigneault is suing the city, Police Commissioner John R. Barbieri, Officer Gregg Bigda, the police union and its president. He argues he was duped into resigning after a confrontation at Gethins' home last year when Bigda -- who had once dated Gethins -- discovered Vigneault was in a relationship with her. 

Vigneault's resignation was also tied to the now-notorious arrest of four juveniles in Palmer who allegedly stole his undercover car from outside a city pizza shop in February 2016. That incident triggered multiple internal and criminal investigations. Vigneault was accused of kicking one juvenile suspect who was handcuffed and on the ground, though he denies this.

Bigda, meanwhile, landed in hot water over police surveillance video that showed him threatening two of the boys.

Bigda, whom the lawsuit portrays as a favorite of Barbieri, was suspended for 60 days over the Palmer incident but kept his job -- even though he was charged criminally for allegedly breaking into Gethins' home and drunkenly threatening her and Vigneault. That incident resulted in a separate suspension for Bigda, and Gethins obtained a restraining order against him.

The order and the charges against Bigda were later dropped when Gethins declined to pursue them.

Vigneault argues in his lawsuit that he was pressured into resigning by Barbieri and police union president Joseph Gentile.

Regarding the restraining order against Vigneault, attorney Shawn Allyn -- who filed the suit against police officials on Vigneault's behalf -- argues Gethins only sought the order to help the police department.

"Complainant brought this the day after a civil action was filed against the Springfield Police Department. This complainant is a witness and upon information and belief, this action was filed for improper purposes to aid the Springfield Police Department," Allyn wrote in a motion to schedule an accelerated hearing on the order.

That hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30 in Palmer District Court, court records show.

Gethins, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, said she and Vigneault broke up in October and he began following her when he was released from the veterans hospital in early December, according to her application.

"We broke up and he has not left me alone since," she wrote. "He got out of the program the first week of December, showed up at my house, was asked to leave and refused to. Sat in my driveway and continued to bang at my door."

"Excessive text messaging" followed and she blocked his number. Then, Vigneault began showing up at Gethins' gym, she wrote. On one occasion, he approached her at the gym and then followed her to her car.

"Banging on my window. Stood in front of the vehicle. Followed me home. Stood on porch refusing to leave. I picked up the phone to call 911 (and) he left," the application reads.

The same day, the records state, Vigneault followed her to a gas station and she drove to the East Longmeadow Police Department to make a report. Police there told Vigneault to stay away from Gethins and served him with a no-trespass order, she said.

He continued to contact her friends, she added.

"Since he is blocked he is continues to have other people contact me about his love for me ... He texted yesterday (Jan. 24) 'My life is spiraling out of control,'" the application reads.

"On Friday, Jan. 20 he sent me flowers and a long note. I felt fear for my safety," Gethins concludes.

On Vigneault's behalf, Allyn said Gethins should fear the police department, not his client.

"We empathize with Officer Gethins ... She is truly a victim of abuse but by the Springfield Police Department and Officer Bigda, not my client," Allyn said in response for a request for comment.

During previous interviews and in his lawsuit, Vigneault argues he was transferred out of the narcotics unit when police officials were apprised of the house-break and confrontation, while Bigda was allowed to remain in a desk job in the unit. Police have also said Gethins was treated poorly by higher-ups and shunned by many of her fellow officers following the incident.

Vigneault's civil action also alleged Bigda routinely drank on the job before drug raids. When previously questioned by The Republican about those allegations, Barbieri ordered an internal investigation that is ongoing.

A hearing related to Vigneault's civil action is scheduled for Feb. 3 in Hampden Superior Court. Allyn is seeking Vigneault's immediate reinstatement to the police force while the complaint is pending.

Bigda was been reassigned to the Records Division when he returned from his 60-day suspension.

Massachusetts lawmakers who voted to hike their own pay are now caught between Gov. Charlie Baker, who vetoed the measure on Friday, Newton Mayor Setti Warren, who's calling on them to not override the veto, and the state's Republican Party, which on Friday launched a digital ad campaign centered on their votes.

BOSTON - Massachusetts lawmakers who voted to hike their own pay are now caught between Gov. Charlie Baker, who vetoed the measure on Friday, Newton Mayor Setti Warren, who's calling on them to not override the veto, and the state's Republican Party, which on Friday launched a digital ad campaign centered on their votes.

Republican lawmakers all voted against the pay package.

The proposal would increase the compensation of top legislators, government officials and judges. The Republican legislators were joined by a dozen Democrats, but still fell short of being able to sustain a veto from the governor. The cost is pegged at a potential annualized $18 million.

Supporters point to two independent commissions in 2008 and 2014 that called the current pay levels inadequate and out-of-date, unchanged for more than 30 years. But opponents note lawmakers quickly jammed the proposal through the House and Senate, and Baker in his veto message called it "fiscally irresponsible."

The Massachusetts Republican Party said Friday they're taking aim at the freshmen Democratic lawmakers, dinging them for signing off on a pay raise weeks into their tenure on Beacon Hill and seeking to put pressure on them to walk away from overriding the governor.

"These freshman Democrat legislators may be pleased enough with their performance in the past few weeks to merit a raise, but their employers - the taxpayers - might disagree," Mass. GOP spokesman Terry MacCormack said in a statement.

Did your state senator vote to raise pay for top Mass. lawmakers? Here's the roll call

Did your state rep vote to raise top Mass. lawmakers' pay? Here's the roll call

"By voting to give themselves a taxpayer-funded raise before they have accomplished much of anything, these freshmen have shown they're wasting no time adjusting to the Beacon Hill insider culture," MacCormack added.

The release from the GOP highlighting the digital ad campaign featured Natalie Higgins, D-Leominster. The text of the ad said her first vote was a "Pay Rai$e For Her$elf."

Higgins did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

On Friday morning, Mayor Warren, a potential candidate for governor in 2018, put out a statement saying lawmakers should flip and stop an override vote.

"I urge my fellow Democrats on Beacon Hill to put a pause on their push for a pay raise so that we can get down to the business of transparently and honestly putting together the state budget," he said. "If only five Democratic Senators or 10 Democratic Representatives change their vote, this badly-handled legislation will be stopped for now."

Here's what the pay raise proposal does

Gov. Charlie Baker vetoes legislative pay raises

Although President Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress have pledged to repeal the Affordable Care Act, eight in 10 Americans said they support keeping in place all or at least part of the controversial health care law, known as Obamacare, a new poll as found.

Although President Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress have pledged to repeal the Affordable Care Act, eight in 10 Americans said they support keeping in place all or at least part of the controversial health care law, known as Obamacare, a new poll as found.

According to a Quinnipiac University national survey released Friday, just 16 percent of respondents support completely dismantling of the ACA, compared to half, or 51 percent, who said they believe just parts of the law should be repealed.

Thirty percent of those polled said they oppose undoing any portion of Obamacare.

If Congress and the new president do decide to move ahead with repealing the health care law, however, 84 percent of respondents -- including more than two-thirds of Republicans surveyed -- said they believe lawmakers should wait until they have a plan to replace it.

Tim Malloy, the Quinnipiac University Poll assistant director, said the findings suggest that the ACA "is not a 'disaster'" like some of the law's critics may suggest.

"Yes there are concerns over cost of coverage and major, unexpected illnesses, but selective changes to the current program is far more palatable to Americans than the wholesale dismantling of Obamacare," he said in a statement.

Nearly six in 10 American voters, or 59 percent, surveyed said they are "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" that their health insurance would not cover a large, unexpected medical expense, the poll found.

Such concerns were largely unchanged by the ACA, according to 64 percent of respondents.

The poll, which surveyed nearly 1,200 voters nationwide from Jan. 20 to 25 via telephone, has a margin of error of plus of minus 2.8 percentage points.

Its findings came just days after the Trump administration began taking steps toward dismantling the health care law.

The new president kicked off his work in the Oval Office by signing an executive order that signaled his plans to "seek the prompt repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."

Trump also reportedly halted HealthCare.gov advertising, which aimed to encourage signups in ACA health plans during the final days of open enrollment.

U.S. House and Senate lawmakers, meanwhile, have approved a budget resolution that instructs committees to begin work to repeal major portions of the health care law.

U.S. House passes resolution laying groundwork for Obamacare repeal

Friends of Mater Dolorosa on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 urged the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts to block a bid to demolish the church at Lyman and Maple streets and dismissed as "fake news" an engineer's report that urged emergency demolition of the closed, 116-year-old church.

HOLYOKE -- The leader of a group that fought to save Mater Dolorosa Church by staging a year-long occupation and appealing to the Vatican on Friday dismissed as "false/fake news" an engineer's report that called for emergency demolition of the closed, 116-year-old church.

"We will not allow this senseless, selfish authoritarian attempt to level our church and heritage. As a result, the first step toward justice is imposition of the Holyoke demolition delay ordinance," said Victor N. Anop, a lawyer from Chicopee and chairman of Friends of Mater Dolorosa.

"You will be hearing more from us. The description of the church's condition is 'false/fake' news," he said.

The Republican obtained a copy of the Jan. 24 report from Barry Engineers and Constructors Inc. of Pittsfield that said pieces of the steeple of the church at Lyman and Maple streets have dislodged and tumbled to the ground.

Emergency demolition of Mater Dolorosa Church in Holyoke recommended: engineer

The report included photographs showing separation of bricks, rotted wood and gaps in roof flashing allowing in water that could lead to rapid deterioration, the report said.

"Our findings are defined by the current building code to be dangerous conditions in that elements could collapse or become dislodged under normal service loads such as gravity, wind and earthquake," the report from Barry Engineers and Constructors said.

"Based on our past structural investigations of the Mater Dolorosa Church and rectory and based on the recent event of steeple pieces falling to the public way below, it is our professional opinion that the building structure represents multiple dangerous conditions, as defined by the building code, and immediate action needs to be taken to secure and make safe the public way below and to begin the immediate demolition of the entire church and rectory building structures," the report said.

Diocese spokesman Mark E. Dupont said, in responding to Anop's remarks: "As for the attorney's disputing the condition of the steeple I think the facts and findings of the Barry Engineers and Constructors report speak loud and clear for themselves."

Anop has asked Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse to support his bid to urge that the city's Historical Commission issue a demolition delay order to block the take-down of the church and allow for a due process public hearing (see below).

Historical Commission Chairwoman Olivia Mausel said she needed more information before she could comment. Morse couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

The Diocese has contacted the city building commissioner for permission to begin the demolition of the church. But Building Commissioner Damian J. Cote said taking down the church wasn't necessarily inevitable.

"The final determination of the structure being unsafe comes from our office. They may be required to repair any and all areas of concern," Cote said.

The Diocese closed Mater Dolorosa Church in June 2011 because parishioner numbers had declined and out of concerns about the structure's steeple. But while an engineer for the Diocese said the steeple was unsound, an engineer for Friends of Mater Dolorosa said the steeple would last for a long time.

The Diocese combined Mater Dolorosa with the former Holy Cross Church to form Our Lady of the Cross at 23 Sycamore St.

A bid to save Mater Dolorosa Church in a proposal to establish a Polish Heritage Historic District on Lyman Street failed in April 2015. The City Council rejected the plan by a vote of 8-7.

In typically colorful language, Anop criticized Diocese officials and especially Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski in vowing to deflect the wrecking ball.

"Bishop Rozanski, the bishop of Springfield, is attempting to begin the process of destroying the Mater Dolorosa Church and its 'historically significant' Polish Heritage," Anop said.

"The financially foolish Bishop of Springfield (one man corporation) has abatement cases against the city at that Mass. Appellate Tax Board claiming the church is still 'used for religious purposes.' Destroying the church is one way to reduce its property taxes dramatically instead of simply re-instituting prayer services for free," he said.

Diocese officials have said demolition of the church wasn't the plan, until the Jan. 24 engineer's report. But Anop and supporters never believed them, saying they believed the Diocese's plan all along has been to eliminate the church that Polish immigrants built and paid for in 1901.

In a ruling released May 4, 2015, based on an appeal from Anop's group, the highest court of the Vatican in Rome, the Apostolic Signatory, ruled Mater Dolorosa Church can officially be closed. The ruling permitted the Diocese to deconsecrate and reuse, sell or even tear down Mater Dolorosa Church.

Dupont said he was researching Anop's remarks about abatement cases.

The Diocese has tried to market Mater Dolorosa Church to secure a sale and get the property saved but for another use, without success, he said.

"In the end, sadly, the parish simply doesn't have the financial resources to undertake extensive repairs on a building for which it has no future use and that they would be unlikely to gain through any future sale," Dupont said.

'Sad turn of events' as Mater Dolorosa Church in Holyoke seems headed for demolition, marketing attempted: Diocese spokesman

Dupont said it was important to note that the parish here continues to support and maintain Mater Dolorosa School, "which continues its rich academic legacy while being an active and vibrant part of Our Lady of the Cross parish."

Here is the statement from Victor N. Anop, chairman of the Friends of Mater Dolorosa:

Bishop Rozanski, the Bishop of Springfield is attempting to begin the process of destroying the Mater Dolorosa Church and its "historically significant" Polish Heritage.

The Diocese has been paying taxes on the property for some three (3) years (about $70,000) a year when, if the church had been opened to parishioners, the Polish Americans would have been pleased to continue praying at the church of their ancestors. The financially foolish Bishop of Springfield (one man corporation) has abatement cases against the city at that Mass. Appellate Tax Board claiming the church is still "used for religious purposes". Destroying the church is one way to reduce its property taxes dramatically instead of simply reinstituting prayer services for free!

Instead, the Diocese and its heirarchy has waged a six (6) year campaign against an icon of Polish Heritage in Western Mass. -- the Mater Dolorosa Church and its dedicated Parishioners.

We will not allow this senseless, selfish authoritarian attempt to level our church and heritage. As a result, the first step toward justice is imposition of the Holyoke demolition delay ordinance. You will be hearing more from us. The description of the church's condition is false/fake news.

Friends of Mater Dolorosa: by Mike Plaisance on Scribd

Mater Dolorosa Structural Report Jan. 24, 2017: by Mike Plaisance on Scribd

Mater Dolorosa Report Photos Jan_24_2017 by Mike Plaisance on Scribd

President Donald Trump reportedly took executive action Friday to impose "extreme vetting" of immigrants from certain countries -- fulfilling a controversial campaign promise to crack down on terrorism.

President Donald Trump reportedly took executive action Friday to impose "extreme vetting" of immigrants from certain countries -- fulfilling a controversial campaign promise to crack down on terrorism.

The executive order, which Trump signed along with another expanding the nation's military, came just days after the new president took action to begin construction on a wall along the country's southern border with Mexico, NBC News reported.

Donald Trump orders construction of US-Mexico border wall

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, blasted Trump's Friday action, contending that it's "more about extreme xenophobia than extreme vetting." 

"Turning away immigrants based on their nationality and religion is un-American and in direct opposition to everything for which our Founding Fathers fought," he said in a statement. "President Trump may not call it a Muslim ban, but it is, and runs afoul of our morals and values."

Trump told ABC's David Muir Wednesday that he does not intend to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., but rather protect against "countries that have tremendous terror."

"It's countries that people are going to come in and cause us tremendous problems," he said in the interview. "Our country has enough problems without allowing people to come in who, in many cases or in some cases, are looking to do tremendous destruction ... You're looking at people that come in, in many cases, in some cases with evil intentions. I don't want that. They're ISIS. They're coming under false pretense. I don't want that."

The president added that immigrants will be subjected to "extreme vetting."

"We're not letting people in if we think there's even a little chance of some problem," he said.

Trump announced a proposal to temporarily halt immigration of Muslims into the United States in December 2015 -- a plan which sparked immediate and harsh criticism from other presidential candidates, political leaders and civil rights activists.

Donald Trump's proposal to halt Muslim immigration unprecedented, but rooted in history

Despite the pushback, the Republican continued to call for a temporary ban throughout his White House run, contending that such a move would keep the country safe from terror attacks like those seen in Europe.

Trump further doubled down on his plan to halting immigration from certain countries following a December 2016 truck attack on Berlin's Christmas market, for which the so-called Islamic State took credit.

"You know my plans," he told reporters outside his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Trump doubles down on call for Muslim ban, registry: 'You know my plans'

The project would boost natural gas supplies in New England and the Maritimes.

Federal pipeline regulators this week approved the construction of Atlantic Bridge, a $450 million project designed to expand the transport of natural gas from the Marcellus shale basin into New England and the Canadian Maritimes.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Jan. 25 issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity to Spectra Energy for a set of proposed upgrades and new construction spanning four states. 

Plans includes 6.3 miles of 42-inch pipeline in New York and Connecticut, new and expanded compressors -- including a major facility in Weymouth -- and various meter station upgrades, including one in Westbrook, Maine. 

The Atlantic Bridge would beef up the Algonquin Gas Transmission and Maritimes & Northeast systems to boost capacity by around 133 million cubic feet per day. The Maritimes pipeline, which now pushes gas southward from Canada to Massachusetts, would be reversed to head north.

The Weymouth compressor station has face stiff opposition. Mayor Robert Hedlund last summer rejected a $47 million siting deal from Spectra. In December he filed a lawsuit challenging the underlying real estate transaction for the 7,700-horsepower project. Hedlund said Wednesday that Weymouth will appeal the FERC decision. 

The Atlantic Bridge has also faced criticism from U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, who recently queried FERC about a possible conflict of interest in the permitting process. FERC commissioners have denied any conflict and defended their use of contractor NRG to conduct environmental review. 

Others have charged that the project is designed to boost liquefied natural gas exports from Canada at the expense of Massachusetts residents.

While the Maritimes pipeline system reaches shipping ports in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the new Atlantic Bridge capacity has been fully subscribed by local gas distributors, manufacturers, and a municipal utility, according to FERC. 

"We note that while there are currently several proposals to export liquefied natural gas from the United States and Canada to overseas countries, there is no evidence that the Applicants are constructing the Atlantic Bridge Project for this purpose," the FERC order states.  

Project supporters include the Laborers International Union of North America, which represents construction workers. LIUNA on Wednesday called the Atlantic Bridge approval "great news for New England" saying it would create jobs. 

Dan Dolan, spokesman for the New England Power Generators Association, said New England is now seeing an increase in natural gas capacity for the first time in years. Around half the region's electricity is generated by natural gas plants.

"Even before this new capacity comes online, New England's competitive power generators helped make 2016 the lowest wholesale electricity price year in the regional market's history," Dolan said. 

Spectra placed its Algonquin Incremental Market project into service in November, adding 342,000 dekatherms to the New England market. It also completed a lateral spur expected to serve a new, 674-megawatt natural gas power plant at Salem Harbor. 

The news comes as another Spectra pipeline project, Access Northeast, encounters problems and delays. That project, designed to serve the electricity sector, was derailed in 2016 after a Massachusetts judge ruled that electric companies may not enter into pipeline contracts on behalf of power generators. Now Spectra says it will market the pipeline to local gas distributors, and is looking at a 2019 in-service date. 

The Houston-based Spectra hopes to have Atlantic Bridge completed by late 2017. The project still needs various permits, and cannot move forward without a final "authorization to proceed" from FERC.

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com

An immigrant rights "emergency rally" in Springfield on Friday night saw hundreds of people coming out to express solidarity with refugees and immigrants.

SPRINGFIELD -- Following on the heels of the Trump White House's recent legislation targeting immigrants and refugees, a number of Western Massachusetts's most progressive activist groups held an "emergency rally" for immigrant rights in Springfield on Friday night.

Dubbed "Sanctuary in the Streets," the event--which drew hundreds of people--was held on the steps of City Hall on Court Street, and was deeply critical of the Trump White House's recent legislation targeting refugees and illegal immigrants.

Over the past week, Trump has advanced a number of controversial policies, including plans to construct a large border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and the creation of new border detention centers to incarcerate illegals. He has also threatened to cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities across the country, and has advocated for the expansion of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.). 

The new president's spat of executive orders has left the progressive community scrambling to protect the populations most vulnerable to Trump's agenda. In Springfield, residents and activists sympathetic to the plight of immigrants and refugees came out in droves to protest his policies. 

Despite temperatures in the low thirties, hundreds of people turned out to Friday's vigil--many waving signs that said things like "Sanctuary Now," "No Cooperation with I.C.E.," or even "America Is Better Than This."

The primary organizer behind the event was the Pioneer Valley Workers Center--a non-profit based in Northampton that focuses on labor rights as well as other progressive causes. Representatives from numerous co-sponsors of the event were also present, including groups like Springfield's Arise for Social Justice, Western Mass Jobs with Justice, and a local chapter of Black Lives Matter.

The event featured a slew of speakers and performers, all of which urged solidarity with refugees and immigrants--encouraging engaged citizen activism as a means of standing up to the Trump administration. 

One man was injured when the car he was driving went out of control and struck a utility pole. The Honda mini-van rolled over after striking the pole, trapping the driver inside.

SPRINGFIELD— One man was transported to the Baystate Medical Center after the car he was driving went out of control and struck a utility pole at the intersection of Redland Street and Page Boulevard just after 11:00 p.m. Friday.

After striking the utility pole, the Honda minivan rolled over trapping the driver inside.

Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, said the Fire Department's Heavy Rescue unit had to extricate the driver from the vehicle due to the extensive damage. The driver was alone in the vehicle at the time of the crash, he told firefighters.

The accident remains under investigation.

The work is part of the $183.3 million reconstruction of Interstate 91 and its 2-mile viaduct through downtown Springfield. Built in the 1960s, the highway is a major north-south artery through western New England.

SPRINGFIELD -- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced Friday a new set of overnight closures the week of Jan. 30 to Feb. 3 in and around the ongoing Interstate 91 rehabilitation project.

The work is part of the $183.3 million reconstruction of I-91 and its 2-mile viaduct through downtown Springfield. Built in the 1960s, the highway is a major north-south artery through western New England.

The state expects the highway reconstruction project to reach "full beneficial use" in May 2018. Full beneficial use is a highway term of art meaning work is effectively done, although punch list items will remain.

MassDOT will implement the following overnight closures during the week of Jan. 30 so crews can demolish the old roadway:

• I-91 South lanes: I-91 South lanes will be closed in the work zone and traffic will be detoured onto the ramp for Temporary Exit 7-6 from 10 p.m.  Monday, Jan. 30, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Jan.  31.

• Exit 1A from I-291 West (to I-91 South): Exit 1A from I-291 West will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. from  Tuesday, Jan. 31, and Wednesday, Feb 1.
• West Columbus Avenue: West Columbus Avenue  will be closed from I-291 to Gridiron Street (near Temporary Exit 7-6)  from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from  Tuesday, Jan. 31, through Friday, Feb. 3.
• East Columbus Avenue: East Columbus Avenue  will be closed north of Liberty Street from 8:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. from  Tuesday, Jan. 31, through Friday, Feb. 3.

Detours:

• While I-91 South lanes are closed:To continue to I-91 South: Take Temporary Exit 7-6 and merge onto West Columbus Avenue. Continue south onto East Columbus Avenue through the rail underpass. Bear right onto West Columbus Avenue behind the I-91 North Garage. Continue onto Hall of Fame Avenue. After passing Union Street, use the left lane to merge onto the on-ramp to I-91 South. To reach downtown destinations from I-91 South: Take Temporary Exit 7-6 and merge onto West Columbus Avenue. Turn left onto Boland Way.

• While Exit 1A from I-291 West is closed: Take Exit 2B on I-291 West and follow signs for Dwight Street. Turn left on Dwight Street, then turn right on State Street. Turn left on West Columbus Avenue/Hall of Fame Avenue, and bear left after crossing Union Street, to merge onto I-91 South.
• While West Columbus Avenue is closed: Traffic on Temporary Exit 7-6 from I-91 South, or from Route 20 West/Birnie Avenue, should take the on-ramp to I-291 East and take Exit 2 for Chestnut Street. Turn right on Chestnut Street, turn right on Liberty Street, then turn left on Dwight Street. Turn right on State Street and continue onto West Columbus Avenue.
• While East Columbus Avenue is closed: To continue north on East Columbus Avenue, turn right onto Liberty Street and turn left onto Main Street. To access I-91 North, turn left onto Plainfield Street and take the ramp on the right for I-91 North.

Mary MacInnes has spent 10 years with the agency.

SPRINGFIELD -- Mary L. MacInnes, the Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority administrator who led the bus service out from the shadow of a corruption probe, is retiring in April after 10 years.

MacInnes gave the PVTA board her notice this week. She plans to move back to Boston and take up a role with the MBTA, where she worked previously.

She'll leave the same month that the PVTA plans to break ground on a new $55.7 million maintenance and storage facility on at 665 Cottage St. in Springfield.

Also in April, the PVTA is expected to move into its new $6 million Westfield Transit Pavilion at Elm and Arnold streets and into the refurbished Springfield Union Station. Union Station will be the center of the PVTA's hub-and-spoke bus system and the location for its ticketing counters and waiting rooms.

"So it is going to be a busy month, MacInnes said. "That is one of the reasons I waited until the end of April."

The agency is looking for a replacement. MacInnes, who earns $137,000 a year,  said she hopes to have someone in place before she leaves to aid in the transition.

It likely will be a more orderly transition than the one she faced when she took over at PVTA fresh from stints at transit agencies in Worcester, Philadelphia and Boston.

Former PVTA chief Gary Shepard was fired in 2006 during a federal investigation into bid rigging. The FBI raided the authority's headquarters the previous year.

The federal government froze the Union Station project after an audit found $5 million in questionable expenses. The freeze delayed work on the station.

Shepard was never charged with criminal wrongdoing.

"That's what greeted me when I arrived," MacInnes said. She was hired in September 2006.

The PVTA eventually agreed to give up $940,000 in federal funding to settle the $5 million discrepancy.

MacInnes said she and her staff were able to comb through invoices related to Union Station and help restart that project, which is now nearing completion under the leadership of the Springfield Redevelopment Authority.

And she had to hire new staffers to do it, many PVTA employees having left during the investigation.

"I basically had to do a top-to-bottom reorganization. What's more, the phone was rigging off the hook because there had been a change in the paratransit service -- the vans that help transport the elderly and those with handicaps -- and no one here knew how to run that service," she said. "I am proud to say that we now have a very strong, dedicated staff here at PVTA."

In recent years, the PVTA has grown its ridership steadily to more than 12 million riders a year. The agency has reviewed and restructured routes across its Hampden and Hampshire county service territory. It's added three electric buses to its fleet and has plans for more.

"One of the things I'm proudest of is that PVTA has been a leader in adding these new technologies," she said.

The PVTA is installing automatic announcement signs at major bus stops and automatic announcements on the buses themselves. Its website has a trip planner that tells users not just which bus to take to get to their destination, but also where their bus is in real time and how long it will take to arrive.

And none of these advancements was easy, she said. Just shifting the system's hub from the Peter Pan bus terminal on Main Street a block away to Union Station requires a 10-page action plan covering everything from route times to the signs on the front of the bus that tell you where it's going.

"Drivers have to be trained, routes have to be adjusted," she said. "We didn't have any destination cards that read 'Union Station'; we had to get them."

The watershed council will plant trees, take down dams, remove invasives, monitor bacteria, create campsites for paddlers, and participate in federal hydro relicensing talks.

GREENFIELD -- The region's leading river advocates said while the future of federal environmental priorities remains unclear, they'll keep a sharp eye on changes at the national level while continuing their planned work in four New England states.

"Every year our goal is to make real, on-the-ground improvements throughout the watershed," said Connecticut River Watershed Council Andrew Fisk. "Our job is to find environmental problems and help solve them."

Fisk said the council has many projects lined up in 2017 along the Connecticut River and its many tributaries.

Plans include removing four "deadbeat dams" in Vermont and New Hampshire, planting trees along stream banks to prevent erosion and enhance habitat, and creating new campsites for paddlers along the main stem Connecticut River.

Working with volunteers, the group plans to remove invasive water chestnut plants, restore populations of endangered mussels, and increase bacteria monitoring at sites in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Fisk said the council will stay involved in the federal relicensing of nine hydroelectric facilities, and participate in discussions about water planning and legislation in Connecticut.

The non-profit's signature event -- the annual "Source to Sea Cleanup" -- is set for Sept. 22 and 23. During the cleanup, hundreds of volunteers pull tons of trash from the river and its tributaries. 

The watershed council, formed in 1952, works to "collaborate, educate, organize, restore and intervene" to preserve the river's health within its 11,000 square-mile watershed.

Regardless of any federal policy changes, the council promised to bring "money, expertise, and commitment to the table" to inform its "vision of ecological and economic abundance," and to keep speaking up for the river system.

Those interested volunteering, contributing, or learning more are invited to visit the council's website or call (413) 772-2020 ext. 202.