Sick, Sick, Sick, Sick….

I’m tired of fighting the corruption in this town by myself, and once again I’m going to pack the blog in.

Earlier this week I asked my friend, Dick Andres, to peek in Patsy Grenier’s office window in the School Administration Building tomorrow to see if she was working.

I received reports earlier this week that she had a part time job in the Chatham  School District every Friday, and before I published the story I wanted to get proof.

Last night at the town council hearing Dick accosted school committee chairman, Ralph Cahoon, and asked him point blank,

 “What does Patsy Grenier do in the Chatham School District every Friday?”

Cahoon was agog, but replied,

“She teaches.”

Taxpayers pay her $100 an hour, and moonlights in the evening.

and the school committee knows about it.

Her husband is a principal at D/Y.

The God damn school district is going down the toilet.

You elected these miscreants.

You're getting the government you deserve.

Munafo recommended an override at the council hearing.

Just remember the state hasn't reneged on a penny in state aid.

The upcoming $11 million budget shortfall was manufactured by the town council and John Klimm when they took two-thirds of the town's savings account to pay for a one-year spending spree.

CLICK ON IMAGES THAT PROVE THE BARNSTABLE COUNCIL TOOK $11 MILLION FROM THE $17 MILLION SAVINGS ACCOUNT NINE LAST SPRING, MONTHS BEFORE THE ECONOMY SOURED.

If you really want to know why the schools, and in a few months the municipal budgets, are millions short of level-funding the F/Y 10 budget, I've drawn you a picture.

The first image is the first page of the certified document jointly filed with the Department of Revenue by Finance Director, Mark Milne, and Assessor, Jeff Rudziak.

The F/Y09 tax rate could not be certified until the tax capitulation was mailed to the DOR.

The second image is Page 2 of the tax capitulation and it depicts Barnstable's receipts other than the tax levy which was reported on Page 1.

If you scroll down to IIIc #1, Free Cash, you'll see that the town council authorized $10,890,369 to be withdrawn from the town's savings account to be spent on items listed on Page 4.

The third image is the first page of the Free Cash file from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue file.

It explains what Free Cash is, and how it is amassed.

Please read.

The fourth image is also from the Free Cash fie for F/Y2008 that reports the Free Cash available on July 1, 2007 was $17,341,483.

The fifth image is the same DOR Free Cash file for F/Y2009 that shows the free cash available on July 1, 2008 was $7,932,720.

If you read the definition of Free Cash you know the town must maintain a minimum of 4% of the receipts in the town budget as a reserve for emergencies which will amount to $7 million. (last year's expenses were $166,387,989 X 4% = $6,665,519)

The town council has to retain $7 million for emergencies, so it can only transfer $1 million to supplement the F/Y10 budget leaving it $9 million short of level-funding the budget.

The schools and the town must reduce the F/Y10 budget by $9 million, $5 million of which from the school budget.

Within a week or two Governor Patrick will announce local aid cuts for the remaining six months of F/Y09.

If the cuts total $1 million the council will have to withdraw $1 million from Free Cash because the city cannot operate in a deficit.

Last year Barnstable received $7.5 million in school aid (Chapter 70).

In a week or two Governor Patrick will announce his budget for F/Y10, and should Barnstable's Chapter 70 aid be less than $7.5 million, the school budget shortfall will increase proportionate to the difference.

For example I predict Barnstable's Chapter 70 aid will be $3.5 million which means the school committee will have to cut an additional $4 million from next year's school budget.

 

 

 

Now it's time to pay the piper because within a few months the state will make significant cuts in Barnstable's state aid.

Tomorrow I’ll write my last post on Attorney Gilmore’s explanation of the Kmart Mall lease.

Comments

[Chuck]

Gary,

Calm down I am watching the meeting tonight with a barf bag myself.

Don't let this drive you a way. The cause needs you, John, and Eric.

Just like someone said at the meeting take a deep breath.

[bugsy]

Get over it Gary. We'll get the $60,000 and that will be a start. That lease will pay for one teacher's salary.

Clearly Gilmore doesn't represent the interests of the citizens of Barnstable. He's a paid hack for the airport.

What did you expect from him?

[Gary Lopez]

Read my post tomorrow. I have a good reason to end this.

I do a lot of research and try to write a cogent post making salient points.

I've been working on the Kmart Mall lease for five year.

My letters to the editor in 2004 may have prompted the early extension of the lease.

The corruption in this town is so ingrained, it's metastasized, and not even a dozen oncologists from Dana Farber, Mass. General, and Beth Israel can reverse the terminal prognosis, so why me?

My problem is that I can't do anything half-ass.

I'm a dinosaur. Time to pack it in.

[wise owl hoot hoot]

Munafo never actually recommended and override he mentioned it as a last ditch option.

[Rob Anderson]

Funny thing is Gary, you mention things on your blog and sure enough, they get some answers at the next town council meeting.

The way I see it, you have had more of an effect on the discussions at the meetings that the past or present town council presidents ever had.

Your influence is amazing, and this town would be a worse place without it.

Thanks for all you do, each and every day!

[cog crybabies]

Stop fucking lying!You will stop posting for few days or maybe a week then you will start all of your crazy posts again. See you soon!

[bugsy]

Gary, We got the lease. It's going to the Attorney General and to O'Leary. We;ll even send a copy of Atsalis.

They can get us the $60,000 with a phone call.

Next issue.

[bugsy]

Munafo is an idiot. He doesn't have the balls to speak out for an override.

I think we'll need one.

We can't let them trash HyEast. These business interests are trying to tear the heart and soul out of Hyannis. Before they are finished, they run everyone from Main Street to the Mall out of town.

I've seen it before. They moved the church out to the industrial park. Now, they want to close the school. Soon, there will be no reason for anyone to live there. The rents will go down. The properties will decline in value. And, finally developers will start "assembling" parcels and Klimm will give them the zoning variances they need to build.

All you have to do is watch the boundaries of the GIZ. If you want to make some money, buy up some of those old rentals when they go into foreclosure. You'll get an offer you can't refuse in a couple of years.

[Gary Lopez]

You don't get it.

No crime was committed.

As Bruce Gilmore said, "The language in the lease said the term was for 40 years, and there was an option for another 16 years.

His impression was that unless the lessee was in default, the lease had to be extended.

Other lawyers, including judges may disagree, but Gilmore was adamant.

Is it a crime to make a mistake?

I don't think so.

I'll explain more in my last post tomorrow.

[Gary Lopez]

Quit you bitching 10:18, you won.

The only reason I've come back is because you, and people like youm pissed me off.

I plan to shut off comments tomorrow so I won't have to take your crap.

Radical cheap: $1,000 homes

* Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer

The real estate market is so awful that buyers are now scooping up homes for as little as $1,000.

There are 18 listings in Flint, Mich., for under $3,000, according to Realtor.com.

There are 22 in Indianapolis, 46 in Cleveland and a whopping 709 in Detroit.

All of these communities have been hit hard by foreclosures, and most of these homes are being sold by the lenders that repossessed them.

In Detroit for instance, Century 21 Villa owner Randy Eissa has a three-bedroom, one-bath bungalow of about 1,000 square feet listed at just $500. It's a nice place with lots of light.

In fact, the $500, $1,000 or $3,000 that a buyer forks over often goes straight to the real estate brokers as a commission. And often the lenders have to kick in extra cash to make it worthwhile for a realtor even take the listings.

Cleveland is another city with many incredibly inexpensive homes. On Ardenall Avenue, in East Cleveland, McMullen Realty has a listing for a four-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath house for $1,900.

It features a deep front porch with Doric columns, double dormer windows and a separate garage. It's an excellent opportunity, according to agent Tonya Stoudamire

"East Cleveland has a beautiful housing stock," she said. "These houses just need someone to come in and love them a little."

Another property for sale in Birmingham Ala. is priced at $1,900. The one-bedroom, one bathroom home was built in 1923

Most of these $1,000 homes can be renovated relatively inexpensively, and buyers can actually get government help to finance these repairs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a special loan program for just such purchases.

With people leaving Barnstable in droves (closed five schools in four years; 5th Grade School, Osterville Bay, Cotuit, Marstons Mills, and Hyannis East), and 22,000 single familty homes, it won't be long before banks and mortgage companies start giving homes away in town.

Is $500 affordable? How about $1,000?

Thank you Cape Cod Commission for driving dozens of manufacturers away, and from keeping dozens more from coming here.

Thank you voters for electing half-wits to the school committee, town council, state senate, and state house of representatives.

You've got the government you deserve.

[ho hum]

Gary always screams that he is taking his ball and going home when the game gets nasty, but he always comes back to play.

Go ahead and have your hissy fit, old man.

You'll be back, whether we like it or not.

[truth]

Julius got smoked again. Bruce Gilmore made mince meat out of him. Nothing worse than seeing somone who is so dumb he doesn't know when he is embarrassing himself.

[Early Bird gets the worm]

Wah, wah, wah, Julius is going to the Attorney General again, way, wah, wah.

How many times has he gone to her, and how many times were there any indictments?

Zero.

Chief Sky is Falling Julius, a true fart in the wind.

[What the?]

The director of student services also moonlights as do many others. Grenier said it herself. It's about an attitude. You saw it last night regarding the bus contract. Municipal side has no patience for the bumblings of the school hacks and get no love in return. I say let them stew in their own bile for a while with 4 million more in cuts. The worm has turned. Enjoy their discomfort. I do.

[prissy]

Gary, do you think Gilmore would have been there last night if not for you? As to JJ being made mincemeat...you've got to be kidding! Gilmore sounded like an idiot. "We've got to stick to the lease signed 40 years ago"? A good lawyer would have found a way around that...just ask OJ Simpson!Gary, you keep me sane. If it wasn't for you and your information, I'd go crazy thinking I was the only one in town who thinks their town leaders are either dumb or making a lot of money on the side. I'd love to move...but would lose a fortune on my house so I'll stay around awhile more and I hope you do too. Please, Gary, you have more influence than you realize. You certainly have the respect of a lot more people who have brains. Who cares what those idiots on the council think? Funny thing is, they know you're right, they just can't be big enough to admit it.