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Single-family home sales up in last year, recovery seen by Realtors

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There were 3,868 homes sold in 2011 and 4,551 sold in 2012.

SPRINGFIELD – Sales of single-family homes across the region rose 17.7 percent in 2012, according to figures released Tuesday by the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley.

There were 3,868 homes sold in 2011 and 4,551 sold in 2012. The median price of those homes fell 0.8 percent from $180,000 in 2011 to $178,500 in 2012, according to the Realtor Association.

“I see that people want to buy houses again,” said Linda S. Rotti, sales manager at Jones Group Realtors in Amherst. “You can only pent up demand for so long.”

Brian P. Sears, a partner at Sears Real Estate in Springfield and president of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley, said 2012 was the year the local real estate market turned a corner into recovery.

“The sales numbers picked up. That’s going to be the first sign of a recovery in the market,” Sears said. “That was done in a presidential year with elections and all the talk of the fiscal cliff.”

HomeSale0116.jpg  

He predicted that prices will start to increase soon, especially if the supply of homes for sale doesn't keep up with demand as Realtors get busier in the spring and summer months.

Inventory dropped 10.9 percent from 2,407 single family homes on the market at the end of December 2011 to 2,144 on the market as of the end of last month. At the current rate of sale, that works out to 6.1 months of supply, according to the Realtor Association.

“Homeowners have to understand that homes are selling. If they do want to move, talk to your local Realtor, “ Sears said. “It is not uncommon for homes today to go under contract in under 30 days or even have a couple of offers.”

Rotti said the key for homeowners looking to sell is to price their homes to match the market.

“Generally a buyer is willing to pay, on average, 96 percent of the list price if it is listed properly,” she said.

Home buyers are also looking for homes in prime condition, she said. Fixer-uppers are not selling well.

Sears said low interest rates get people out there looking. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.35 percent last week, according to mortgage-x.com. That is compared with 3.95 percent a year ago.

In Hampden County, sales rose 19.4 percent, from 2,541 in 2011 to 3,034 in 2012. The median price fell 3 percent from $165,000 to $160,000.

In Hampshire County, sales rose 13.5 percent, from 909 in 2011 to 1,032 in 2012. The median sales price fell 2 percent from $245,000 in 2011 to $239,900 in 2012.

In Franklin County, sales rose 16 percent, from 418 in 2011 to 485. The median price rose from $170,950 to $170,000.

Condominium sales rose 5.8 percent across the Pioneer Valley, from 591 sold in 2011 to 625 sold in 2012. The median price of a condominium rose 0.3 percent from $147,000 to $147,500.

Corinne Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Real Estate in Greenfield said the condo market is the last to recover. When single family homes sell cheaply, people buy them instead of condos.


Convicted killer Frankie Roche due to be sentenced in Springfield for slaying of Adolfo 'Big Al' Bruno

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Roche is the anomaly among eight co-defendants, in that his case remained in federal court in Springfield as he pleaded guilty here in 2008.

SPRINGFIELD - Frankie A. Roche, the shooter in the 2003 murder of former Mafia boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno, is scheduled to be sentenced Friday morning in U.S. District Court.

Roche, 39, will be the second mob turncoat to be sentenced in the long-running case, which bounced from state court to federal court in Massachusetts before being transferred to federal court in Manhattan in 2010. Roche is the anomaly among eight co-defendants, in that his case remained in federal court in Springfield as he pleaded guilty here in 2008. The rest have been or will be sentenced in federal court in New York City.

Frankie Roche horiz mug 2007.jpg Frankie A. Roche  

Roche was charged alone in Hampden Superior Court in 2005, emerging as a fringe player in local crime circles until he met mob enforcer Fotios "Freddy" Geas in state prison. The two became inseparable when they were released back to Western Massachusetts. Witnesses in two mob trials testified that Geas began referring to Roche as his "crash dummy," a moniker Roche earned through a violent and uninhibited style - even among criminals.

Roche turned government witness on the eve of his trial on state murder charges in 2008. He was later among three key government witnesses in two trials in New York City in 2011 and 2012.

Four, including his former close friends Fotios and his brother Ty Geas; of West Springfield; onetime acting Genovese crime boss Arthur "Artie" Nigro, of Bronx, NY; and made man Emilio Fusco, of Longmeadow, were convicted. The Geases and Nigro are serving life sentences in connection with the Bruno murder and other crimes. Fusco was sentenced to 25 years for racketeering conspiracy and extortion.

Roche maintained a steady, 1,000-yard stare on the witness stand, outlining how onetime mob up-and-comer Anthony J. Arilotta and the Geases recruited him to kill Bruno, who proved to be an evasive target once he fell out of favor with the Genovese family.

Roche told jurors that he waited outside Our Lady of the Mount Carmel Society social club on Nov. 23, 2003, and called out to Bruno once he left his regular Sunday night card game.

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By coincidence, the two were embroiled in a feud over a local bar Roche wrecked in a brawl in early November of that year. Though the men had never met, they had traded barbs through mutual friends and an FBI informant recorded a conversation the day before the shooting during which a friend of Bruno warned Bruno that Roche would likely shoot him.

Bruno sloughed it off, according to an account of the conversation.

"They've got guns? We've got guns, too," Bruno scoffed.

But, Roche had a fully loaded .45 caliber gun outside the social club and emptied it into Bruno during an ambush in the parking lot.

"I said, 'Hey Al!' He said, 'What's up, buddy?' I said, 'I heard you were looking for me,'" Roche recounted to jurors in the 2011 trial, referring to the beef over the bar brawl. "Then I shot him once in the chest. Then as he was falling against the car, I shot him three or four more times. Then I stood over him and shot him once more."

Roche went on the run after the shooting. He was arrested in Florida in early 2005. FBI agents accidentally shot him in the back during the arrest and Roche later collected a $150,000 civil settlement from the government.

Though Roche was the first to turn government witness, several followed in his footsteps. They included local Genovese "made men," Arillotta and Felix Tranghese.

Arillotta has yet to be sentenced but Tranghese, another co-conspirator in the Bruno murder, in December was sentenced to four years in prison by a New York Judge.

Roche is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor.

Springfield firefighters battle fire in abandoned Locust Street apartment complex

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A fire official said it is not clear how the fire started.

afire1.jpg Fire fighters on aerial platforms douse a building at 258-266 Locust St. Tuesday afternoon. The building has been vacant for more than two years after it was condemned.  

This is an update of a story first posted at 5:13 p.m.


SPRINGFIELD – A fire of unknown origin on Tuesday afternoon swept through the upper floors of a condemned four-story apartment building at 258-266 Locust Street, the latest chapter a problem lower Forest Park property that the city has been seeking to demolish for more than two years.

The fire was reported shortly after 4:30 p.m. as neighbors spotted flames in the upper floors. Before long, a heavy smoke was pouring out the windows on the third and fourth floors of the large, 4-story, U-shaped complex.

There were no known injuries. The building had been boarded up since it was condemned in August 2010, and Fire Department spokesman Dennis Leger said there was supposed to be no one inside.

The outside of the building was marked with white signs with a red slash, which indicates the building is condemned and firefighters should enter with extreme caution.

Leger said the initial response was to attack it from the outside, rather than sending firefighters inside, because the risk was too great.

firefighter water spray A Springfield firefighter directs a water cannon into a fourth-floor window at Tuesday's fire at 258-266 Locust St.  

Aerial platforms were used to rain water onto the roof and through the upper windows. Once the smoke cleared and firefighters could see inside, teams of firefighters were sent in to look for any remaining flames, Leger said.

Leger said it is unclear how the fire started. Members of the city Arson and Bomb Squad would have to wait until the firefighting ceased and the building stabilized before they could go inside, he said.

The building was supposed to be empty, but there were signs that renovation work was going on inside. The fire could have been started accidentally by a worker, or it could have been started by someone not authorized to be inside.

“The neighbors have been saying there are people going in and out of there all the time,” he said.

The building at 258-266 Locust and the adjacent building at 244-252 Locust were each condemned by the city in 2010. An inspection found numerous code violations, fire hazards and all-around squalor. The remaining tenants, 26 families, were relocated, and each building boarded up.

Before the city took action to close it, the 258-266 Locust St. had been the source of numerous criminal activity over the years.

A year after it was condemned, the city went to Springfield Housing Court in August 2011, seeking to have the two buildings torn down, citing increasing problems with squatters, drug use and crime. The courts ruled the city could have both properties razed, and attach a lien on each property.

Since then, the city has been working with the owners, City National Bank, based in California and listed as the mortgagee in possession of the properties, about reimbursement for demolition costs, which are expected to be around $200,000 per building.

A neighbor who said she lives a few doors down the street said the building continues to be a problem even though it is boarded up. Drug dealers and users go in and out on daily basis at all hours. “People go in there all the time, as you can tell,” she said.

Since the city announced condemned it two years ago, she has been waiting for it to be demolished.


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“Ask the mayor when they’re going to tear it down,” she said.

Crossroads Massachusetts submits bid for casino resort in Milford off I-495

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The gaming commission might also need to consider if a casino in Milford would be too close to a proposed Mohegan Sun casino in Palmer off Exit 8 of the Massachusetts Turnpike.

A developer of a proposed casino resort in central Massachusetts said he is prepared to compete for a casino license reserved for the eastern part of Massachusetts.

David H. Nunes, developer of the proposed resort casino off Interstate 495 near the Massachusetts Turnpike, is teaming up with Warner Gaming of Las Vegas for a proposed casino on 177 acres.

Nunes and Warner submitted $400,000 nonrefundable fee and application as Crossroads Massachusetts, LLC to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission by a 5 p.m. deadline Tuesday.

"I've been told by five different gaming companies that it is hands-down, bar none, the best site in the state," Nunes said in a phone interview on Tuesday night.

The proposed casino in Milford would compete with at least Suffolk Downs and Wynn Resorts of Las Vegas for the commercial casino license for the eastern part of Massachusetts. Wynn is proposing a casino in Everett near Boston.

The gaming commission might also need to consider if a casino in Milford would be too close to a proposed Mohegan Sun casino in Palmer off the Turnpike.

Nunes has said his group spent more than two years researching the best location for a casino in the state. The Turnpike/495 junction near the site generates 177,000 motor vehicle trips a day, the second highest in the state, he has said.

The Milford site is best situated to capture gambling dollars from people who currently travel from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and the Boston area to place bets at casinos in Connecticut or Rhode Island, Nunes said.

"I like our chances," said Nunes , a former project manager for the Wampanoag Tribe of Martha's Vineyard in its bid to establish a casino. "The location would repatriate the most dollars headed to Connecticut and Rhode Island."

Nunes also suggested that a lawsuit could be filed against a proposed casino by Suffolk Downs and Caesars Entertainment Corp. in Boston if Suffolk receives only a ward vote. A provision in the state's gaming law says that only a ward vote is required for a casino in Boston, Springfield and Worcester unless the governing body of a city chooses to put the question to all voters.

Nunes referred to a 2011 memo from Secretary of State William F. Galvin that the provision might face a court challenge on the grounds that it would violate the constitutional principle of one person, one vote.

In a Sept. 20, 2011 memo to Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Galvin said an entire city would be affected by establishment of a casino. Galvin said he would "respectfully request" that the Senate allow all voters in a potential host municipality to vote on a casino ballot question, but the Senate ultimately rejected the plea by Galvin.

Nunes also said that Wynn Resorts might experience problems in cleaning up hazardous waste at its site in Everett.

Stephen A. Wynn, the CEO of Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts, is eyeing a possible casino at an old industrial site in Everett.

House approves $50.7 billion in Superstorm Sandy aid, 241-180

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The House approved $50.7 billion in emergency relief for the victims Tuesday night as Republican leaders struggled to close out an episode that exposed painful party divisions inside Congress and out.

storm.jpg A home that was severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy is demolished in the Staten Island borough of New York, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. Several Staten Island homes damaged beyond repair by Superstorm Sandy are being demolished. The first city-facilitated demolitions started Monday.  


DAVID ESPO

WASHINGTON — More than 10 weeks after Superstorm Sandy brutalized parts of the heavily populated Northeast, the House approved $50.7 billion in emergency relief for the victims Tuesday night as Republican leaders struggled to close out an episode that exposed painful party divisions inside Congress and out.

The vote was 241-180, and officials said the Senate was likely to accept the measure early next week and send it to President Barack Obama for his signature. Democrats supported the aid in large numbers, while majority Republicans opposed it by a lopsided margin.

"We are not crying wolf here," said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., one of a group of Northeastern lawmakers from both parties who sought House passage of legislation roughly in line with what the Obama administration and governors of the affected states have sought.

Democrats were more politically pointed as they brushed back Southern conservatives who sought either to reduce the measure or offset part of its cost through spending cuts elsewhere in the budget.

"I just plead with my colleagues not to have a double standard," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York. "Not to vote tornado relief to Alabama, to Louisiana, to Mississippi, Missouri, to — with Ike, Gustav, Katrina, Rita — but when it comes to the Northeast, with the second worst storm in the history of our country, to delay, delay, delay."

One key vote came on an attempt by Rep. Rodney Freylinghuysen to add $33.7 billion to an original allotment of $17 billion in aid. That roll call was 228-192 and Democrats broke 190-2 in favor, while Republicans opposed it overwhelmingly, 190-38.

Similarly, on final passage, 192 Democrats joined 49 Republicans in support. Opposed were 179 Republicans and one Democrat.

Earlier, conservatives failed in an attempt to offset a part of the bill's cost with across-the-board federal budget cuts. The vote was 258-162.

Rep. Mark Mulvaney, R-S.C., arguing for the reduction, said he wasn't trying to torpedo the aid package, only to pay for it. "Are there no savings, are there no reductions we can put in place this year so these folks can get their money?" he asked plaintively.

Critics said the proposed cuts would crimp Pentagon spending as well as domestic accounts and said the aid should be approved without reductions elsewhere. "There are times when a disaster simply goes beyond our ability to budget. Hurricane Sandy is one of those times," said Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Sandy roared through several states in late October and has been blamed for 140 deaths and billions of dollars in residential and business property damage, much of it in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. It led to power outages and interruptions to public transportation that made life miserable for millions, and the clamor for federal relief began almost immediately.

The emerging House measure includes about $16 billion to repair transit systems in New York and New Jersey and a similar amount for housing and other needs in the affected area. An additional $5.4 billion would go to the Federal Emergency and Management Agency for disaster relief, and $2 billion is ticketed for restoration of highways damaged or destroyed in the storm.

The governors of the three states most directly affected praised the congressional action.

"We are grateful to those members of Congress who today pulled together in a unified, bipartisan coalition to assist millions of their fellow Americans in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut at their greatest time of need," said a joint statement issued by New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy. "The tradition of Congress being there and providing support for Americans during times of crisis, no matter where they live across this great country, lives on in today's vote in the House of Representatives."

The governors said they "anticipate smooth passage when this package moves back to the Senate for final approval and for this long-awaited relief to finally make its way to our residents."

The Senate approved a $60 billion measure in the final days of the Congress that expired on Jan. 3, and a House vote had been expected quickly.

It is highly unusual for a majority party to bring legislation to a vote that its own rank-and-file opposes, but in this case, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and the leadership had little or no choice.

Boehner unexpectedly postponed the vote in the final hours of the expiring Congress as he struggled to calm conservatives unhappy that the House had just approved a separate measure raising tax rates on the wealthy.

The delay drew a torrent of criticism, much of it from other Republicans.

"There's only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims, the House majority and their speaker, John Boehner," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said on the day after the delay was announced. Rep. Pete King of New York added that campaign donors in the Northeast who give to Republicans "should have their head examined."

Less than two weeks later, the leadership brought legislation to the floor under ground rules designed to satisfy as many Republicans as possible while retaining support from Democrats eager to approve as much in disaster aid as possible.

Across the capitol, majority Democrats indicated they would probably not seek changes.

"While the House bill is not quite as good as the Senate bill, it is certainly close enough," Sen. Charles Schumer of New York said. "We will be urging the Senate to speedily pass the House bill and send it to the president's desk."

Congress has already approved a $9.7 billion increase in a fund to pay federal flood insurance claims, much of it expected to benefit victims of Sandy.

The political veered into the personal at times during hours of debate.

In remarks on the House floor, Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., said one South Carolina lawmaker who has criticized the measure "personally took a small business" disaster loan in the past. While he didn't mention any names, South Carolina Rep. Mulvaney has said he received such a loan.

Mulvaney later told reporters the comparison was a poor one. He said that unlike funds in the Sandy legislation, the loan he received was approved within the budget, and not as an add-on that increased the deficit.

In the weeks since the storm hit, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has spent about $3.1 billion for construction of shelters, restoration of power and other immediate needs after the late-October storm pounded the Atlantic Coast with hurricane-force winds and coastal flooding.

Officials say Sandy is the most costly natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm damaged or destroyed 305,000 housing units in New York, and more than 265,000 businesses were disrupted there, officials have said. In New Jersey, more than 346,000 households were destroyed or damaged, and more than 40,000 families remain living out of their homes, according to officials.


Palmer officials optimistic after Mohegan Sun ponies up $400,000 fee to stay in Western Massachusetts casino race

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Now that the Connecticut-based casino company has paid the nonrefundable fee, Palmer casino supporters are looking forward to learning more about the proposal. "We eagerly await the details," said Jennifer Baruffaldi, spokeswoman for Citizens for Jobs & Growth in Palmer.

2012 updated mohegan sun palmer drawing.JPG The latest rendering of the proposed Mohegan Sun Palmer resort casino, which would rise on 152 acres bordering Route 32 near Exit 8 of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Palmer.  

PALMER — Officials here say they are encouraged and relieved that Mohegan Sun ponied up a $400,000 state application fee that enables the company to stay in the Western Massachusetts casino race.

"I think this is really great news for Palmer," said Paul E. Burns, a member of the Town Council.

"I was a little disappointed that it took so long; however, it's done," Burns said Tuesday, the last day prospective casino operators could ante up the nonrefundable fee to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

The deadline for gaming companies to submit preliminary applications in the state's two-phase process was 5 p.m. Tuesday. More detailed plans will be filed, deliberated and voted on in the coming months. Only one of the state's three coveted casino licenses has been reserved for Western Massachusetts, which has attracted several internationally known gaming interests – including nearly billion-dollar proposals from two companies competing for a foothold in downtown Springfield.

2009 paul burns mug small.jpg Paul Burns  

But Palmer officials say the fact that the proposed casino site in their town – 152 acres bordering Route 32 near the entrance to the Massachusetts Turnpike – is not an "urban setting" is a selling point that could attract new business and growth to the area, making a casino in Palmer a true resort destination.

"We have significant room to roam and significant room to add ancillary development that supports a casino and supports the community," Burns said.

Jennifer Baruffaldi, spokeswoman for the pro-casino Citizens for Jobs & Growth in Palmer, said the town is ripe for development, and a casino could spark development throughout the region. "We are the most undeveloped exit off the turnpike," she said, adding that she is optimistic the Palmer proposal will appeal to Gaming Commission officials.

"I do know – from the information I've gathered and from what the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has indicated – that they do support projects that encompass other things ... and more than just a box on the hill," she said.

jennifer baruffaldi.JPG Jennifer Baruffaldi  

"Mohegan Sun had promised us, and our town, that they intend to be the first resort casino in the state, and this (paying the $400,00 fee) is the next crucial step, so we're delighted," Baruffaldi said.

She and many other Palmer casino supporters are still waiting for hard numbers from Mohegan Sun. The Connecticut-based company has already spent about $15 million on the Palmer plan but has yet to release specific details about the roughly $600 million project, including the overall proposed square-footage of the facility and other project components.

However, making the application deadline is proof that the gaming company is committed to a good fight, according to Baruffaldi. "They are really in this – in it to win it," she said Tuesday. "We eagerly await the details."

Mohegan Sun, which opened a storefront office in downtown Palmer in spring 2009, has been in the Western Massachusetts casino game longer than any of its rivals – a point the company should exploit in its battle for a casino license in this region, according to Burns.

"As the competition moves forward, I urge them to return to their initial frontrunner status by quickly unveiling the best, most comprehensive development proposal of the ... (competing) Western Mass. proposals," Burns said. "I urge Mohegan to return to their original billion-dollar proposal to ensure that the Palmer proposal truly is the biggest, and the best, in Western Mass."

020912 charles blanchard mug.JPG Charles Blanchard  

Anthony C. Dimitropolis, vice-chairman of the Palmer Citizen Casino Impact Study Committee, said the region needs a boost, especially Palmer and other struggling communities in eastern Hampden and western Worcester counties. "It would be a shot in the arm for the whole area – Ware, Palmer, Monson, Warren and Brimfield," he said. "We need job growth ... and a casino would bring growth to the whole area."

Palmer Town Manager Charles Blanchard said the Gaming Commission expects to complete Phase I review of all casino proposals by about June. After that, potential host communities, including Palmer, will be finalizing their host community agreements and signing agreements with surrounding communities, he said.

Public hearings must be held on the proposals before a casino plan is presented to voters for approval, according to Blanchard. The referendum, which entails a simple up-or-down vote, will not likely happen "until early fall," he said. Once plans are approved by voters, the state Gaming Commission will review them and grant up to three licenses, including the one for Western Massachusetts.

"We have been working on the host community agreement for several months already," Blanchard said.

Mitchell Etess 5311.jpg Mitchell Etess  

Not everyone in eastern Hampden County is tickled with the notion of a casino coming to Palmer. Members of Quaboag Valley Against Casinos say a casino could bring more traffic, divert business from local shops, and lure residents to gamble away their rent and grocery money, among other things. "I don't believe there's as much support as Paul Burns says there is," said Emy Shepherd, of Monson.

Mohegan Sun has struck a partnership with New York investment group Brigade Capital Management to bankroll the development. "We believe this partnership gives us the most solid financial footing of all the parties in competition," said Mitchell G. Etess, chief executive officer of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. "You can put this on top of all the other advantages our proposal has."

Meanwhile, Etess is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting Wednesday at the Lord Jeffery Inn, 30 Boltwood Ave., Amherst. The Mohegan Sun CEO is expected to address the chamber at noon. Admission is $25 for chamber members and $30 for nonmembers.

View The Massachusetts Casino Landscape in a larger map


Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Amherst fiscal 2014 municipal budget up 3 percent

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The fiscal 2014 Amherst budget does not include cuts and provides level services.

AMHERST — Town officials Wednesday unveiled a $20.1 million, 2014 municipal budget, up 3 percent from the $19.5 million fiscal 2013 budget.

The budget essentially provides level services, Town Manager John P. Musante said at informational meeting Tuesday.

“It meets the guidelines (of the Finance Committee) and is responsive to the Select Board budget guidelines,” he said. “Fiscal sustainability continues to be the primary budget goal,” according to the Select Board guideline memo.

The Town Government Act requires that the manager present a budget by Jan. 16.
The municipal budget includes police and fire, public works, community services, conservation and development; schools and the library budget are not included.

The budget is based on taxing to the full levy limit of 2.5 percent allowed by Proposition 2 ½ and is assuming less than a 1 percent hike in state aid, Musante said. That amounts to about a $50,000 increase to the current $13.1 million in local aid, said Finance Director Sandy Pooler.

Musante said they will know more about state aid after Gov. Deval L. Patrick presents his budget Jan. 23.

There are no layoffs in the Amherst budget. All town contracts expire June 30, so the budgets include what will provide “fair and equitable (negotiations) with the bargaining units,” Musante said.

He said that health insurance rates will remain the same, which helps the budget, and the town is level-funding its utility budget, helped by energy saving improvements.

He said that the town has saved $40,000 in the street lighting account and expects that more will be saved over the year. The town received a $302,000 Green Communities Act Grant last year that will allow the town to put in LED streetlights.

The town could be losing half of its Community Development Block Grant mini-entitlement grant money, which would translate into a $90,000 loss in the social services component, he said. That loss is not factored into the budget, but Musante said he has a contingency plan in place if that money is lost.

The town was notified last year that it did not qualify for the $900,000 grant but could apply for the funding through a competitive block grant program. At the least, the town was expecting to receive $450,000. If the town receives just half, Musante said he will propose that Town Meeting consider a separate article this spring to augment the spending by $90,000 to meet social service needs.

There is money to hire an electrical inspector instead of paying for each inspection. The change will cost about $4,000 to $5,000 more, Pooler said. Musante said it will be more efficient to have an inspector on staff.

If there is additional revenue, Musante would like to hire another police officer, an additional building inspector and add an economic development position, something he has wanted to do for years.

Holyoke City Council votes to put nonbinding casino gambling referendum before voters

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Mayor Alex Morse said he would veto a move to place a nonbinding casino question before voters.

Updated at 10:41 p.m. to include councilors' comments from debate about scheduling a nonbinding casino vote, how Paper City Development and Charles Petitti have sought extensions from the Gaming Commission and Eric Suher not filing a casino application.

HOLYOKE — The City Council on Tuesday voted to put a nonbinding question on the Nov. 5 election ballot: "Should the city of Holyoke have a resort style gaming casino, yes or no."

"It's a good opportunity for the citizens of Holyoke to have their voices be heard," said Ward 2 Councilor Anthony Soto, lead sponsor of the order.

"We're allowing people to have their voices heard," said Ward 6 Councilor Todd A. McGee, co-sponsor of the order. "That's what this is about."

But Mayor Alex B. Morse, who opposes a casino here, said he will veto such a move.

Councilors said they believe they would have the authority in such a case to try to vote to override the veto. An override would require a two-thirds majority, or 10 votes, of the 15-member council.

"I'll work to sustain the veto," Morse said.

The council vote at City Hall capped a busy day in terms of gaming as developers filed a $400,000 fee to the state Gaming Commission to become eligible to build a casino in Massachusetts.

A November 2011 law permits three casino resorts in the state, including one in Western Massachusetts.

The gaming law requires that a developer reach a host-city agreement with a mayor or other community leader in order for such a project to proceed.

Holyoke remained involved in the gaming issue Tuesday even though Morse has said he will refuse to consider casino projects.

The council approved the order for the nonbinding casino question by voice vote, so it was difficult to gauge the measure's support among the 12 councilors present. Three councilors were absent.

But an indication of the backing to put forward such a nonbinding question came right before that vote. In a roll-call vote, the council opted 7-5 against a bid to refer the order to committee for more discussion.

Councilors who voted against the committee referral, and thus in favor of deciding the measure on the spot, were councilors Kevin A. Jourdain, Brenna M. McGee, Daniel B. Bresnahan, Joseph M. McGiverin, Linda L. Vacon, Todd McGee and Soto.

Voting in favor of the committee referral were councilors Jason P. Ferreira, Peter R. Tallman, Aaron M. Vega, Gordon P. Alexander and David K. Bartley.

Councilors Rebecca Lisi, James M. Leahy and Gladys Lebron-Martinez were absent.

Councilors had hoped to put the nonbinding casino question on the same ballot in the spring in which voters will consider a special election to fill the seat that U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., will be vacating. Kerry is President Obama's nominee to be secretary of state.

But the city is prohibited from putting such questions on such a ballot, council President Jourdain said.

Voters approved nonbinding casino questions here in 2002 and 1995.

The key issue with a casino resort and letting voters have a say is the millions of dollars in revenue and hundreds of jobs it would provide, Bresnahan said.

"I think that discussion should take place because we do need some help," Bresnahan said.

Others said a committee discussion would have benefited the nonbinding casino question.

Ferreira said the casino issue is beyond the city at this point, leaving the City Council to more pressing matters.

"I think we're out in right field here instead of fielding a grounder hit right at us," Ferreira said.

He later said that wouldn't oppose putting a nonbinding casino question to voters.

"I don't have a problem with having a referendum to gauge where the public is," said Alexander, but he said it would be helpful to define "resort style casino."

After McGee had said it hardly seemed fair for a mayor to have such power as to deny a community a chance for such a vote, Vega said that's the state gaming law.

Also, Vega said, what if voters approve the nonbinding casino question, Morse is still mayor and such a project cannot proceed?

"It just feels like a slap in the face. We're going to create this tension ..." Vega said.

Eleven companies submitted the fee and paperwork to be eligible to compete for gaming licenses in Massachusetts by Tuesday's deadline.

Among those that failed to file applications were Paper City Development, a limited liability company, and Eric Suher, of Holyoke, who owns local entertainment venue. Paper City and Suher had proposed separate casino resorts for the Mount Tom Range.

Paper City, in a joint filing with Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonnette, requested an extension from the Gaming Commission to file an application and the $400,000 non-refundable fee to be considered for a casino license.

Paper City in seeking the extra time cited the hardship of Morse having changed his mind on the casino issue.

Morse ran for mayor on an anti-casino platform. But on Nov. 26, he announced that he had changed his mind and that it made sense to consider casino projects here given the reality that such a big project would be coming to Western Massachusetts and inevitably would affect Holyoke.

But Morse re-embraced his anti-gaming stance on Dec. 13. He announced that constituents' anger at the prospect of a casino coming here helped persuade him pursuit of redevelopment should come without waiting for a gambling resort.

Suher had hoped to build a gaming resort on the Mountain Park seasonal concert site he owns. Suher declined to comment Tuesday.

Newton resident Charles J. Petitti also requested an extension from the Gaming Commission. He has said he wants to put a nonprofit casino on a property he has an option to buy at 195 Appleton St.


West Springfield Mayor Gregory Neffinger organizing panel to advise him on casino planned Eastern States Exposition

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The mayor expects a casino complex could generate as much as $15 million a year in property taxes for the city.

neffinger hard rock speaking.JPG West Springfield Mayor Gregory C. Neffinger speaks during the press conference Friday during which it was announced the Eastern States Exposition is working with Hard Rock International to develop a casino resort project on exposition fairgrounds in West Side.  

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Now that it’s official that Hard Rock International wants to partner with the Eastern States Exposition to create a $700 million to $800 million casino resort complex here, Mayor Gregory C. Neffinger is moving forward quickly to appoint a committee to advise him on it.

Neffinger said Monday he is in the process of making appointments to what will be his Entertainment and Casino Ad Hoc Advisory Board. He plans to chair the board, which will have eight other members.

The mayor said he is still working to finalize exactly who will be on the panel, although he expects to appoint two members of the Town Council, as well as residents and business owners. They will work with city department heads and consultants to identify and address issues as they arise.

“There are many things to consider and people to contact. I want to explore all avenues to be sure that this would be the right fit for the residents of West Springfield,” he said.

The board will look at such issues as traffic, taxes, business development, public safety, infrastructure and tourism, according to him.

Neffinger Cohen casino 11113.jpg West Springfield Mayor Gregory Neffinger, left, and Agawam Mayor Richard Cohen chat during Friday's announcement that the Eastern States Exposition would partner with Hard Rock International to build a casino in West Springfield.  

Hard Rock International and the exposition announced Friday that they want to develop a casino on 38 acres abutting gate 9 at the fairgrounds off Memorial Avenue. It had been reported earlier that Hard Rock International was working on the project, but it was not until Friday that it and the exposition made it officially public during a glitzy press event and luncheon that featured performances by music legend Bret Michaels.

The mayor said he has been in contact with John Ziemba, ombudsman for the state Gaming Commission, and he will consult with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to talk about the impact a casino in West Side would have on the region.

“Everyone’s opinion is important to me,” Neffinger. “Once we examine and digest all the collected material, we will explore the pros and cons so that residents of West Springfield will have the information they need to make the final decision.”

One of the board’s first orders of business will be to seek money from the state and Hard Rock International to hire a consultant with experience in casinos to advise it and provide information to city department heads.

Neffinger said he is hopeful the city can hammer out a host city agreement with the casino over the next three to four months so the issue of whether the community should host a casino can be put before the voters in a special election, probably in June. He leans toward a special referendum with just a casino question, so that it will not become mixed with political issues as it would if a referendum were held in November.

A host city agreement would deal with such issues as host community fees and impacts on areas such as health and fire and police services.

“The voters want to see a significant benefit from this,” Neffinger said.

All new buildings constructed for the casino complex would be subject to city property taxes, with the possibility of them generating as much as $15 million a year based on a total assessment in the $500 million range, according to the mayor. The Eastern States Exposition pays about $500,000 in real estate taxes on the parts of its 175-acre campus used for for-profit enterprises, such as putting on trade shows.

The mayor anticipates the board may have as many as two to three meetings a week.

James J. Shea Jr., former Milton Bradley chief, dies at 87

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Shea junior joined Milton Bradley in 1949 after flying 43 missions as a gunner on a B-24 bomber in the Pacific during World War II.

011413-james-shea-obit.jpeg James Shea  

SPRINGFIELD — James J. Shea Jr., the former chairman, president and CEO of Milton Bradley before the company was sold to Hasbro in 1984, died Jan. 12 in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was 87.

» James J. Shea obituary.

“I had a great regard for him. He was certainly a tremendous man for Springfield,” said former Springfield Mayor Charles V. Ryan.

Ryan was a lifelong friend who met Shea when they both went to Holy Name Elementary School in the 1930s. Ryan went on to serve as lawyer and board member at Milton Bradley during Shea’s time as CEO.

“He was a very strong personality and loved the city and loved everything about it,” Ryan said. “He took a great leadership role in the city.”

Shea was active in projects relating to the Catholic Diocese of Springfield and what is now Mercy Medical Center.

“We were saddened to hear of Jim’s passing. He was a good friend to Mercy Medical Center, Brightside for Families and Children and the Sisters of Providence. He served on the board at Mercy and he was very helpful when Mercy Hospital was being built in 1974. He was particularly fond of Brightside and he was very generous to the children of Brightside,” Sister Mary Caritas, vice president of the Sisters of Providence congregation and a former president of Mercy, said in a written statement.

Shea was also a supporter of American International College which awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1981, according to college spokesman Craig Greenberg. The Shea family donated money which built the library named in honor of Shea’s father, James J. Shea Sr.

The elder Shea saved Milton Bradley from bankruptcy in 1941, Ryan said.

Shea junior joined Milton Bradley in 1949 after flying 43 missions as a gunner on a B-24 bomber in the Pacific during World War II and after studying at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance.

Once at Milton Bradley, the younger Shea learned nearly every job in the company, Ryan said.

“He used to work in the manufacturing end, in the marketing. He knew every piece of a complicated picture with a company that has to make something out of raw material and sell it in a national marketplace,” Ryan said.

Shea junior succeeded his father as head of the company in 1967.

Shea retired to California after Milton Bradley sold out to Hasbro for $360 million in May 1984.

Shea’s wife, Marisa, died in 2006. His son, James J. Shea, III predeceased him as well. He leaves four children: Thomas of Bangkok, Thailand; Carol Argosy and her husband Steven of Vero Beach, Fla.; Barbara Hatten of Charleston, S.C.; Christine Pelissier of Old Lyme, Conn., and a stepson, Robert Wealleans of San Juan Capistrano, Calif. He is also survived by a sister, Nancy O’Donnell of Naples, Fla.; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert, Calif. on Thursday, followed by interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Cathedral City, Calif. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Galilee Center, P.O. Box 297, Thermal, CA 92274. Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries.

Ludlow should hire its own consultant to negotiate mitigating costs from neighboring casino, Selectman Aaron Saunders says

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Selectman Carmina Fernandes said she would like to hear more about the PVPC's proposal.

LUDLOW - Selectman Aaron Saunders Tuesday urged his fellow board members to tell the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission the town is not interested in having the PVPC negotiate for mitigating costs if a casino is sited in a contiguous community such as Springfield or Palmer.

Saunders said that according to legislation which provides for a gambling casino to be sited in Western Massachusetts, each contiguous community has the right to negotiate its own mitigation costs with the license holder.

Aaron Saunders horiz mug 2012.jpg Aaron L. Saunders  

“If the PVPC ends up negotiating mitigating costs for the other cities and towns close to Springfield, as an example, how large can our voice be?” Saunders asked.

“I think we should tell the PVPC we’re not interested,” Saunders said.

Saunders said he believes that if a casino is located in Springfield or Palmer, there will be added costs to Ludlow in the areas of public safety, transportation and housing, among other areas.

Selectman William Rooney said the town has received a letter from the PVPC offering to negotiate so the town’s mitigating expenses from a neighboring casino will be covered.

“Even if a casino is located in West Springfield, I think we would still be considered a surrounding community because we share a highway system,” Saunders said.

Selectman Carmina Fernandes said she would like to meet with the PVPC to hear how they would negotiate for mitigating costs for Ludlow.

“I would like to hear what the PVPC offers before closing the door,” Fernandes said.

She added, “I would like the townspeople to be able to hear the pros and cons of having the PVPC negotiate our mitigating costs.”

Selectmen said the town has time to hire a consultant to negotiate mitigating costs since the state is more than a year a way from awarding a casino license for Western Massachusetts.

If the town hires its own consultant it would more than likely be reimbursed for costs later, Saunders said.

Saunders said he would support considering the PVPC among other consultants to negotiate for Ludlow.

“We should hire whoever will negotiate the best possible mitigation agreement for us,” Saunders said.

Saunders said casinos have already been sited in other states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Maryland.

The town can research what mitigation agreements were reached in those states between surrounding communities and the license holder, Saunders said.

Chicopee, state police investigate armed robbery of Subway on Center Street

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The clerk reported being robbed by a man with a large club.

A&E subway chicopee Chicopee and state police outside the Subway restaurant on Center Street in Chicopee on Tuesday evening.  
CHICOPEE - Chicopee police and troopers with the Masschusetts State Police are searching for a suspect involved in a 9 p.m. robbery Tuesday at the Subway restaurant at 105 Center St., police said.

Chicopee police requested the state police dispatch a K-9 unit to assist with the search around the restaurant location, police said.

A limited description was available on the suspect. He was described as wearing a gray hoodie and had his face concealed by a black scarf and sunglasses, according to police.

Shortly after 9 p.m., the clerk called police to report being robbed by a man armed with some type of large club.

The robber fled the location with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Earlier in the evening, a man claiming to have a gun robbed a Subway in downtown Springfield at about 5:30 p.m. Springfield police police are still searching for that suspect.



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Jeb Daly of Huntington, charged with murder of Jessica Dana, ordered to submit DNA sample

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Dana's body was discovered in Huntington wrapped in linen and camouflage and placed inside a cardboard box.

NORTHAMPTON - A judge agreed Tuesday to a request by the Northwestern District Attorney's office that Jeb S. Daly provide a DNA sample to be used in investigating the murder case against him.

121112 court jeb daly.jpg Jeb Daly  

Daly, 36, is accused of killing Jessica Dana, 30, at the Huntington home they shared with their three children on June 22.

Dana's body was discovered on the property wrapped in linen and camouflage and placed inside a cardboard box.

Over the objection of defense lawyer Alan Rubin, Hampshire District Court Judge Mary Lou Rup granted a motion by prosecutor Jeremy Bucci for the DNA sample.

Bail raised for Daniel Lozada, former teacher at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School, accused of sending nude photo to student

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He was arraigned on the count in Northampton District Court in November.

Daniel Lozada 2012.jpg Daniel Lozada  

NORTHAMPTON - A Hampshire Superior Court judge Monday raised the bail on Daniel Lozada after the former teacher at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School in South Hadley pleaded innocent to disseminating obscene material to a minor and two counts of disseminated marijuana to minors.

Lozada, 33, of Easthampton, texted a nude photo of himself to a student at the school, according to prosecutors. He was arraigned on the count in Northampton District Court in November.

The marijuana charges were added by a grand jury. Bail had been set at $250 in district court, but Judge Mary Lou Rup approved a prosecution request to increase the amount to $10,000 cash.

11 groups to compete for casino licenses in Massachusetts

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Two potential casino developers filed applications but did not list a site or say whether they would seek a casino or a slots-only license.


BOSTON - Applications for casinos in Springfield, West Springfield and Palmer were filed by Tuesday’s deadline, joining seven other applicants in the sweepstakes for a casino or slots license in Massachusetts, including one slated for Western Massachusetts.

Four big players in the casino industry - MGM Resorts, Penn National Gaming, Hard Rock International and the Mohegan Sun - will compete for a lone resort casino license in Western Massachusetts. MGM and Penn National are proposing casinos in Springfield, while the Mohegan Sun is seeking a casino in Palmer and Hard Rock is proposing a resort for the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield.

However, Paper City Development, which is considering casino sites in Holyoke and Chicopee, has appealed to the state for an extension of the filing deadline. In addition, a Newton resident interested in putting a casino in downtown Holyoke has asked for an extension.

One casino proponent who didn’t file the fee or a request for an extension is Eric Suher, who owns entertainment venues in the region. He had proposed a casino on the Mount Tom range in Holyoke. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse has taken a stand against allowing a casino in the city.

A developer of a proposed resort in Milford beat Tuesday's deadline in the nick of time with an application for a casino license in the eastern part of the state, joining 10 other applicants in the sweepstakes for a casino or slots license in Massachusetts.

David H. Nunes , developer of the proposed resort casino near the intersection of Interstate 495 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, is teaming up with Warner Gaming of Las Vegas for a proposed casino on 177 acres near the intersection of Interstate 495 and the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Stephen Crosby mug 2011.jpg Stephen Crosby  

"I've been told by five different gaming companies that it is hands-down, bar none, the best site in the state," Nunes said in a telephone interview.

The five members of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission held a press conference on Tuesday night in Boston to reveal the 11 applicants for either a casino license or a license for a slots facility.

"We have been working very, very hard," said Stephen P. Crosby, the chairman of the commission. "This is what we have been doing for the last nine months -- trying to get a really competitive environment where we will have robust competition for every license."

Nunes and partner Warner Gaming of Las Vegas would compete for a Greater Boston casino with at least two rivals. A team of Suffolk Downs and Caesars Entertainment Corp. is proposing a casino at the East Boston horse track and Las-Vegas based Wynn Resorts is proposing a casino for an old industrial site in Everett.

There are also two other applicants – Rush Street Gaming of Chicago and The Cordish Co. of Baltimore, which through its affiliate Power Plant Entertainment, LLC, has built two Hard Rock-themed hotels and casinos in Hollywood and Tampa, both in Florida.

Rush Street Gaming and The Cordish Co. have each filed an application and a fee but neither have listed a site or stated whether they would seek a casino or a slots-only license.

Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville and the owners of the old Raynham dog track have each applied for the slot parlor license, which would allow 1,250 slot machines.

The Mashpee Wampanoag and Gov. Deval L. Patrick are continuing negotiations to receive federal approval for a tribal casino proposed for Taunton.

The $400,000 will pay for the commission's background checks on the ethics and finances of each company. Also, at least $50,000 of the $400,000 is set aside to help host and surrounding communities pay for negotiating agreements with casino companies.

The commission plans to award the license for the slots facility by the end of this year. The commission is aiming to award the first resort casino license by February of 2014.

Companies that survive background checks would then need to submit development proposals for specific sites, probably some time in the late summer or early fall.

Companies would also need approval of voters in the community in which they want to build.

Nunes has said his group spent more than two years researching the best location for a casino in the state. The intersection generates 177,000 motor vehicles a day, the second highest in the state, he has said.

The Milford site is best situated to capture gambling dollars from people who currently travel from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and the Boston area to place bets at casinos in Connecticut or Rhode Island, Nunes said.

"I like our chances," said Nunes , a former project manager for the Wampanoag Tribe of Martha's Vineyard in its bid to establish a casino."The location would repatriate the most dollars headed to Connecticut and Rhode Island.''


Springfield police investigate robbery at downtown Subway

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The robbery occurred at about 5:30 p.m. at the Subway around the corner from City Hall.

SPRINGFIELD - A man claiming to have a gun made off with an undisclosed sum from the register after threatening to shoot the clerk behind the counter at the Subway restaurant, 1400 Main St., in downtown Springfield, police said.

The robbery was reported at about 5:30 p.m., said Capt. Cheryl C. Clapprood. The restaurant is located around the corner from City Hall.

The clerk never saw a gun because the robber never took his hand out of his pocket but she complied with his demands, Clapprood said. The clerk was not injured.

The suspect grabbed some cash and ran out the door. He was last seen heading south on Main Street, she said.

The robber was described as a black man, approximately 38 years old, and about 5 feet, 9 inches tall. He was wearing a dark windbreaker jacket.

The robbery was one of two involving a Subway restaurant within the span of a few hours Tuesday.

The restaurant location at 105 Center St. in Chicopee was robbed at about 9 p.m. Chicopee and state police were searching the area late Tuesday.

In that robbery, the description of the suspect was limited.

The suspect was described only as wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and concealed his face with a scarf and sunglasses.

The robber threatened the clerk with a large club.


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Easthampton City Council rejects law that would have changed how municipal employees' health care negotiated

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The vote was 6 to 2 against the law with one member absent.

EASTHAMPTON — Before a crowd of of nearly 100 current and former employees, the City Council in 6 to 2 vote rejected a state law that would have given the city the authority to make changes in previously negotiated health care if it would save the city money.

The unions and the Insurance Advisory Committee opposed it and many employees spoke against it Wednesday night during about 90 minutes of discussion.

“Adopting the new legislation is a very bad move on the part of the city,” said James Dunham, a retired fire captain. He said changing it would leave both employees and retirees vulnerable to huge deductibles and copays.

The law allows municipalities to join the state Group Insurance Commission or make changes to existing plans that save communities money.

The law allows municipalities and collective bargaining units 30 days to negotiate a new health insurance benefit plan for employees. If the municipalities and unions fail to reach agreement within 30 days, the case is submitted to a three-person review panel, with one member appointed by unions, one by the municipality and one selected by the Secretary of Administration and Finance.

Mayor Michael A. Tautznik attended Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s State of the State address in Boston on Wednesday night but sent a letter reiterating his support for adopting the law enacted in 2011 because he said it will save the city money and could prevent layoffs.

The City Council’s rules committee voted 2-1 against adoption.

Daniel Rist, a member of the committee who supported the change, said there are few places that the city can bring in money. He favored adopting the proposal because it could save the city money and prevent layoffs.

Councilor Daniel Hagan, who opposed the law, said it was set up to prevent abuse in the communities that were abusing it. But he said employees “have been responsible to the city.” They agreed to pay 5 percent more of the health care costs when asked.

Councilor Salem Derby, who also opposed it, said he didn’t “want to be part of the equation of taking away worker’s rights.”

In Northampton, where health care costs have risen by $4 million over 10 years, councilors adopted the plan last year.

In July, the governor’s office, in a press release on the one-year anniversary of the law’s enactment, reported that more than 127 communities and school districts collectively saved an estimated $175 million in health insurance premiums by adopting the law.

But in Easthampton premiums have not gone up in three years. The city currently participates in a health trust with the Hampshire Council of Governments.

Arctic air will deliver a one-two punch

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Lows reach for the single numbers Friday morning

Gallery preview
A cold front will push through Thursday afternoon. This will return colder, drier air Thursday night through Saturday morning as arctic air makes a brief appearance.

It's a one-two blast from the North Pole as a second, more prolonged installment of arctic air moves in Sunday night behind another stronger cold front. This will bring us what is likely to be the coldest stretch of weather this winter.

Next week, lows will range from the single numbers and teens with highs generally in the 20s all week. Wind chills run near zero as we head back to work on Monday and we'll be tracking a high snow storm potential too.

Although it will remain mostly dry, the jet stream pattern will favor coastal storm development. So, the potential is high for something to develop next week. The question remains whether it then tracks close enough to bring us more snow. We'll keep you posted.

Tonight: Partial clearing late. Icy pavement. Low 25.

Thursday: Pleasant with sunshine. High 36.

Thursday Night: Mainly clear and breezy. Low near 12.

Friday:Sunny and breezy. Wind chill near 15. High 28.

Saturday: Mainly sunny. Low near 10, High near 36.

Radar | 5 Day Forecast

CBS 3 Video: Springfield police investigate murder of Jimmie Acevedo

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Acevedo was found lying on the ground near the street in front of 64 Monmouth St. and had been shot multiple times.

Springfield tax delinquents owe combined total of more than $1 million, according to newest list published by city

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The taxes owed ranged from approximately $30,000 to a low of less than $100.

SPRINGFIELD – The city on Thursday advertised a list of 684 tax delinquent properties from fiscal year 2012 totaling more than $1 million in owed taxes and facing liens if not paid by Jan. 31.

The list, published in The Republican Thursday, includes taxes owed by property owners ranging from approximately $30,000 to less than $100, with the lower amounts often reflecting just an oversight or underpayment or unpaid trash fees, Treasurer-Collector Stephen J. Lonergan said.

The total amount owed, $1,024,227, does not include the interest and penalties.

“We perform the tax taking on an annual basis in order to protect the city’s interest,” Lonergan said. "Obviously, we would prefer that the taxpayers visit the collector’s office, pay their bills in full before Jan.31, and avoid the lien.”

The advertisement states that the treasurer-collector’s office intends to take the properties for nonpayment of taxes if the taxes are not paid by 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 31.

L & L Food Service Inc. is listed among the top delinquents, owing $29,484 for property at 1780 Boston Road, formerly a KFC Restaurant; and Holman Realty LLC is listed as owing $25,491 for property at 555 Cottage St.

The listed property owners and managers could not be reached immediately for comment.

L & L Food Service lists Jesse M. Lanier as president and treasurer, and Barbara M. Lanier as registered agent, both listing a Springfield address, according to state corporate records.

Holman Realty lists George W. Holman as manager and owner, listing him under the Cottage Street address.

Lonergan said he is pleased that the number of properties listed as tax delinquent and the total amount of taxes owed is less than the prior year.

In January 2012, the city advertised a list of 735 tax delinquent properties with a total of approximately $1.2 million owed.

“Part of it is the economy starting to turn around,” Lonergan said of the reduced numbers this year.

In addition, he believes that people might be paying closer attention to their tax payments with the knowledge of the annual advertisement, adding that his office staff has been diligent in collections.

Furthermore, the License Commission’s continuing practice of withholding licenses as permitted by state law, has assisted with improved collections, Lonergan said.

Multiple notices are sent to alert people of the unpaid taxes, Lonergan said. Many may still forget to pay the taxes on time and advertisement often prods many to come in and pay, he said.

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