Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Sarno takes aim at local reps blocking loan legislation

Date: 12/30/2008

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD Standing in front of a display of pink squares of paper symbolizing pink slips or lay-off notices for city employees, Mayor Domenic Sarno fired back at two members of the city's legislative delegation whose amendments might cost the city the ability to reach a new, more favorable payback plan for its $52 million state bailout loan.

The City Council Chamber was filled to standing room only on Dec. 23 with neighborhood leaders, business people, members of organized labor and representatives of non-profit groups who listened to Sarno describe a "perfect storm" that would work against the city's continuing economic recovery.

Without a revised payback schedule, the city will have to find over $10.2 million in 2009 for the FY09 and FY10 loan payments, Sarno explained. That sum taken with the anticipated mid-budget cut expected to be announced in January and a feared decline of five to 10 percent in local aid for FY10 had Sarno predicting the possibility of lay-offs and cutbacks in city services.

Sarno added there is a $26.4 million balloon payment due under the current arrangement in 2012.

State Reps. Angelo Puppolo and Sean Curran wrote House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi on Dec. 12 in support of the governor's legislation and urged DiMasi to take steps to move the bill along before this session of the legislation ends on Jan. 6.

Curran explained to Reminder Publications the process would have to begin all over and might not result in the form of the current legislation.

Sarno was joined at the lectern by a number of community leaders, all of whom urged the passage of the existing bill.

Richard Brown, the head of the AFL-CIO in the Pioneer Valley, said, "We really need to take advantage of this bill and move forward.

State Reps. Ben Swan and Cheryl Coakley-Rivera have filed amendments that have stopped the bill crafted by the office of Gov. Deval Patrick in the legislative process. Swan's amendment would restore the city's towing contract to the Towing Alliance.

Rivera's amendments would eliminate the city's trash fee; extend the term of the Finance Control Board; put in place a referendum to determine the city's desire to lengthen the term of the mayor to four years; put a proposed process to give the mayor a raise on hold; and set up a requirement that all new city employees as well as current employees who are receiving promotions become residents of the city within six months of their appointment.

Swan is currently in Liberia participating in a program described in a press release as "reconnecting to his African roots." Coakley-Rivera did not attend the press event, but had an aide handing out a press release with her position and taking notes on what was said.

In the release sent to the press on Dec. 23, Rivera said, "If the Mayor can find $7.5 million in the Rainy Day Fund overnight, why can't he give an early Christmas present to all the homeowners and businesses in Springfield? The [trash] fee is just unnecessary and costs the City more revenue than it actually generates because of blight, flight and illegal dumping. Plus the Mayor instituted this fee in total disregard of the residents' vote."

Sarno and Coakley-Rivera had headed up the protest movement against the trash fee when the Ryan Administration proposed it. Sarno had successfully made the removal of the fee part of his mayoral campaign against Charles Ryan.

"This isn't the campaign," Sarno said, who still remains committed to eliminating the fee. "Now is not the time to look at the situation," he added. The city receives about $4 million from the fee.

"It's okay to disagree in a respectful manner, but we have to put the city first," he said.

He said that the courts have settled towing contract issue and the contract is not going to be re-instated. Coakley-Rivera's concerns are "red herring issues," he said. He explained the mayor's term and pay have been discussed by the City Council for a number of years.

"These issues have come to light in the last few days, last week," he noted. The governor's bill has been in the Legislature for the last six months.

Sarno said there has been no personal contact between him, Swan and Coakley-Rivera on these issues.