MOOREcol.05-31-05 . . . . . .43
Hed

Great Expectations
Need cool heads

By BOB MOORE

Who pays taxes - and who doesn't? And how much do non-payers cost 
taxpayers? And what can you do about "it"? When and how?  Now or never?

The expected purchase of a taxpaying nursing home at 517 Winter Street, in 
the heart of a prime residential neighborhood by a non-payer has outraged 
neighbors. They are armed for a fight and their protest is being echoed 
all over town.

At this moment, it is not known how the purchaser, the South Middlesex 
Opportunity Council [SMOC], will make use of the property. The fear is 
that some sort of Wet Shelter could be moved in.

SMOC has not said. The mere fact that it's still an unconfirmed purchase 
looms in the wake of "another Rockland Avenue" and "the Advocates moving 
into Framingham Centre" is what raises the outcry "Enough!" Those cases 
refer to moves by "non-profits."

The argument is that "Invasion of the Non-Profits" is taking taxpaying
property off the rolls and "ruining Framingham as a place to live."

The catch is that it is the law. Local authorities can not enforce the 
zoning laws when non-profits obtain a property under the anti-snob-zoning 
law. In MetroWest we are not alone. Newton is looking for ways to stem the 
tide at a time when local government is facing ever-rising costs of 
operation.

Another catch. Carrying this argument into ever-finer points may spark a 
fire of no-saying at a time when Framingham government is moving slowly to 
bring order and good relations in town affairs. Like selectmen-manager 
operations.

Some of the argument has dripped into this : That after all, schools, 
churches, state government and even local government do not pay taxes on 
their properties. Hold on. There is just so far you can go in adding up 
figures in that direction.

Some ease could come from SMOC if it were to fess up - a shelter or maybe 
headquarters on Winter Street? But It doesn't say.

Jim Cuddy, executive director of the multi-town operation, paid nearly 
$186,000 a year, is hard to find. Cuddy usually speaks up his sleeve 
rather than face a Q & A in public, on agency's plans. Gradually, we can 
expect that SMOC Planning Director Gerry Desilets [paid nearly $93,000 a 
year] will speak for Cuddy. A well-loved townie, Desilets can bridge the 
gap.

A few specifics from SMOC on its plans would do well right now. But the 
problem right now is not SMOC. At least not primarily.

What is needed is a full explanation of how SMOC, Advocates, etc. operate. 
How it is not necessary for them to come in and negotiate with local 
boards. Selectman Charlie Sisitsky, a veteran of town affairs in 
Framingham and Natick where he is also director of public works, has 
suggested that selectmen invite non-profits and dissatisfied neighbors in 
for a conference.

The Sisitsky Plan has not yet been activated. Such a conference will not 
change the law. It will breed some clear explanations that the public 
sorely needs. And, who knows, that may lead to the board's working on 
legal ways to circumvent the present practice - er, law.

Think of it this way. Just last week Town Manager George King laid out in 
general terms how rising costs of health and pensions can lead to rising 
deficits in the immediate future. this problem extends beyond Framingham 
and Newton. Finding a way to trim costs is something we'll be wrestling 
with from June 7 on.

This is just an immediate bee sting.  The Administration [that's the 
selectmen, town manager and school superintendent] has many problems 
ahead. We're all looking for clear thinking on such matters as traffic, 
housing, Downtown Revitalization and a Master Plan. Great Expectations.

_____________________________________________
You can reach Bob Moore at edmoore4@aol.com or at
1-508-620-1449]

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