June 16, 2011 FY2012 Budget is Online Connect-CTY and the Recent Tornados Family Fourth Green Business

Recognition Bike Friendly Community Fresh Food For All Annual Pesticide Treatment Comcast Closing Local Office Friends of the Homeless Recovery Fund Massachusetts Housing Award

Happy Late Spring to All! I wanted to take this opportunity to inform you of some important and/or interesting happenings around the city before the summer vacation season hits.

FY2012 Budget is Online For those of you following the budget process, the City Council is set to take its second reading of my budget proposal tonight. My office has posted the budget online - www.northamptonma.gov/mayor. Also posted there is a supplement we created this year which identifies how well the city is proceeding on its Sustainable Northampton goals. Sustainable Northampton was adopted after a years-long process which included input from hundreds of our neighbors, and we do not intend to let it sit on a shelf. It is a working document, guiding all city departments toward a sustainable future. I hope you will take a few minutes to see all the good work we have done and are planning in the coming year. Connect-CTY and the Recent Tornados We have received some calls and questions about why the city did not activate the Connect CTY phone alert system when the region suffered from a shocking and devastating tornado. As you know, we implemented the reverse call season just this year, and it got very heavy use with a number of snow storms and winter parking bans. It is a fair question as to why we did not use the system to warn of the severe weather and tornado warnings. In retrospect, I believe we probably should have. Throughout the afternoon, I was in contact with the city's Emergency Management Officer, Fire Chief Duggan, who was himself in contact with MEMA (Mass Emergency Management Administration) and watching the radar on NOAA National Weather Service. The Chief was confident that the worst of the storm was headed to our south, and the internet, radio and television stations were replete with tornado and storm warnings. We made the decision not to activate Connect CTY because we did not believe the city to be in immediate danger, local and national media had ample warnings through a variety of media, and we had no information to add to that, and we did not wish to create an unwarranted sense of panic. In hindsight, I believe we should have sent out a phone message alerting residents that there was a tornado warning in effect and to tell folks to listen to the radio and television for updated information. We are still finding our way with this reverse phone alert system. We will occasionally make mistakes, but it remains an important communication tool. I am thankful for the community's patience as we hone our practices.

Family Fourth At the end of this month, a local group of volunteers is making it possible to see fireworks in Northampton again, after a many years' absence. On June 25th, we will be among the first to celebrate Independence Day at Look Park. For more information about this event and how you can help, please visit their website: www.northamptonfamilyfourth.com

Green Business Recognition For those of you who do not watch City Council meetings on television or online, I want to bring to your attention the following businesses who were recognized at the last Council meeting for their green business practices:  Pedal to Properties  Mother Herb Cloth Diaper Service  Smith College  Stop and Shop  Wright Millwork  Environmental Compliance Services It is a great thing to be able to recognize private businesses who are also committed to sustainability in their buildings and practices.

Bike Friendly Community This past April, Northampton was recognized by the League of American Cyclists as a Bike Friendly Community at the Bronze level. This recognizes the city's work and its partnership with community organizations to build, maintain and expand our rail trail network and to make street cycling more safe. Another wonderful recognition for our wonderful community. Rest assured, we will be aiming for Silver next year! Fresh Food For All In Northampton we are blessed by an abundance of Farmers Markets in downtown Northampton and Florence. This year it gives me great pleasure that through grants from the Northampton Health Department, the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday Farmers Markets purchased electronic benefit transaction (EBT) machines which will allow the Markets to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cards formerly known as food stamps. The machines can also accept credit cards allowing for expanded payment options for market customers. All three Farmers Markets will increase the value of SNAP benefits at the markets up to double the value depending on the amount of funds raised, and for as long as funds are available. I'm proud to live in a community that supports local agriculture and which believes that all of our neighbors deserve access to healthy, locally grown food. Annual Pesticide Treatment I received notice from Pan Am Railways that they are preparing to begin their annual 'vegetation management program" - in other words, clearing the property surrounding active rail lines of weeds with the application of pesticide treatments. Work in this region is scheduled to begin in early July and end in early August. They are making available information about the pesticides in use at this website: http://railroadvmpyop.wordpress.com/about. Comcast Closing Local Office By now I hope you have seen in the newspaper that Comcast has notified my office that the Bradford Street Customer Service office in Northampton will close on June 24, 2011. Northampton residents who wish to see a customer service representative in person will be referred to the Amherst Office at 160 Old Farm Road.they are searching for a centralized customer service office for Hampshire County which is

expected to open in the next 12-18 months. Comcast also maintains a 24/7 customer service phone line at 1-800-Comcast (1-800-266-2278). Comcast is seeking a new office because the Bradford St. site is difficult to find tucked behind the Industrial Park and in need of significant renovations. I am continuing to have conversations with Comcast representatives - I would like them to set up a bill payment center in Northampton - but nothing has been determined so far. I will keep you posted if anything should happen this summer. Friends of the Homeless Recovery Fund The Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals is purchasing a house in Northampton to provide supported housing for 6 chronically homeless individuals struggling with substance abuse. This is part of the regional effort to end homelessness which has been part of my administration's work for many years. To support the work of the house once it has opened, the Friends have set up a Recovery Fund. If you would like to help them serve their mission, you may send a donation to the Friends of The Homeless: Recovery Fund at any Florence Savings Bank location. On another housing note, I am thrilled that Soldier On will be planning and developing a supported housing neighborhood for homeless veterans on property at the VA Medical Center. Their first planned housing project, in Pittsfield, opened earlier this year and is a great and successful model. Read more about it here: http://www.wesoldieron.org/index.php/projects/veterans_community_leeds

Massachusetts Housing Award Finally, I have the great honor of accepting an award from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership later this month. This statewide Housing Hero award means a great deal to me. I first came into public service through advocacy for housing. I will be honored to accept this award on behalf of our city and the many city staffers who have dedicated themselves to contributing to ending homelessness and to the scores of volunteers and social service staff in Northampton with the same goals and ideals. We have made strides, though there is much work left to do, but it is appropriate to take a moment to take stock of what we have accomplished together thus far.

Finally, I want to thank a member of my staff, Karen Bellavance-Grace, for all of her wonderful work in my office for the last 11 1/2 years. Karen has taken a job as the Director of Faith Formation for the regional office of the Unitarian-Universalist Association. She has authored these newsletters, coordinated the budget process, created city/school and so much more during her time here. She will be missed. Thank you for taking the time to read this email update. As summer approaches, I urge you to be safe in your outdoor activities and to take the time to enjoy the many incredible summertime opportunities we enjoy here in Northampton. Clare Mayor Clare Higgins