Colonial Settlement

Is this the city directions of the blind leading the blind?

Mayor to host business summit

on 02-18-2009 01:25     By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN PAWTUCKET - In such a troubled economy, it can help to have a meeting of the minds. With the realization that many local businesses have been hit hard by the current recession, Mayor James E. Doyle has scheduled a Business Summit. The Pawtucket Business Summit will take place on Tuesday, March 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Comfort Inn, 2 George St., Pawtucket. Members of the city's business community are invited to attend. The intent of the summit, said Doyle, will be to explore ideas of how best the city can assist its business community and improve service. To that end, representatives from each municipal department will be available to listen to ideas and answer questions. Doyle noted that the worst economic recession in over 80 years, coupled with record high unemployment, and a foreclosure, credit and banking crisis "has devastated everyone." However, he also added, "I have long maintained the success of the city of Pawtucket is directly tied to our many community partners, and our partners in the business community are among our strongest allies." Edward Tetzner, Government Affairs Aide, said the idea of holding a business summit sprang from the neighborhood summits that the mayor has sponsored for many years. These events, which are held annually in a dozen different neighborhoods throughout the city, give residents the chance to ask questions or bring up issues with city officials and department heads. The problems or complaints are documented and then followed up by the mayor's staff. "Those sessions have worked very well. So the mayor thought, with local businesses in such a crunch, that it would be a good idea to set up a business summit in the same format," said Tetzner. He noted that some issues or complaints, particularly those to do with zoning or planning, might involve ordinance changes that would require action by the city council or other legislative body. However, he said, "We'll work as best we can to address their concerns." Tetzner further stated, "We need businesses, both small and large, to thrive in this city. So we want them to look at this summit as a tool. There may be things in place that they can take advantage of that they aren't even aware of," he said. Tetzner said the invitation to the summit went out to organizations such as the Pawtucket Foundation, Pawtucket Rotary Club, Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, the Pawtucket Arts Council and other local business organizations. He wants to emphasize that the summit is open to owners of businesses of all sizes, including art studios or local "mom and pop" operations as well as the larger establishments. "We're not looking at this as a one-shot deal," added Tetzner. "We're hoping that, at least, this can become an annual summit." For more information, call 728-0500, ext. 358.

Now this is really frightening coupled with Mary's comments and the Times article

Pawtucket prepares bankruptcy scenario

09:21 AM EST on Thursday, February 19, 2009

By Michael P. McKinney

Journal Staff Writer

PAWTUCKET -- If the city runs out of money around mid-April -- what Mayor James E. Doyle calls a worst-case scenario -- bankruptcy is conceivable.

The city might then have to impose a supplemental tax increase -- something Doyle and Finance Director Ronald Wunschel said they are loath to do in a city that had the highest percentage increase of Rhode Island mortgage defaults in the fourth quarter of 2008, a Journal analysis shows.

The city is not on the verge of bankruptcy, yet, Wunschel said yesterday, but "I'm afraid of the perfect storm ... everything hitting us at once."

Among the ideas the city is considering to deal with its $10-million projected deficit:

• A five-day furlough that would be carried out over time by having employees leave early on Fridays.
• Seeking a tax-anticipation note, where the city would borrow $3 million to pay bills then pay that back within a 90-day period using tax revenue from the next quarter. The City Council has not supported such a move.
• Outsourcing some services, such as crossing guards.
• Closing City Hall a day or two per week.
• Selling Dennis Lynch Arena, a hockey rink that loses some $300,000 a year. The city has been seeking buyers, Doyle said.

About 40 municipal workers have been laid off this year and additional layoffs have not been ruled out.

Wunschel said he does not know whether federal stimulus money could be used to substantially close some of the School Department's projected $5.2-million deficit.

"I think it's a little bit foggy right now how it's going to be used," he said.

mmckinne@projo.com

Dear Arthur and Mary and friends,

Mayor Doyle may be on the correct idea span with the possible selling of unnecessary city properties.  Some suggestions of properties the Mayor and  City Council could  consider selling in addition to the ice rink:  Payne Park on West Avenue near the Woodlawn Community Center, the John Street playground on Benefit  and John Streets and, Novelty Park off Division Street. Is Morley Field necessary with Veterans Park nearby?  Could the city consider selling  the Park Place School Department building and merge it with City Hall?  

In the ultimate money attempt, why not try to sell McCoy Stadium to a corporation?  

However, in this tight real estate market, one does not predict easily how much money the city could receive for these properties.

Peace,

Jim 

Boy- that would be the wrong direction if any of those properties are sold...Green for now is the mentality to sell off the tobacco settlement $$ and whatever does not move.

Certainly playgrounds and parks are a vestige of a backyard for those who do not have them and a playground for kids to get together and bond is the ideal for neighborhoods. We have ignored putting any resources behind them and thus creating unfriendly places at times.

Look at NYC and Boston that have pushed back the problems and created inviting places for Central Park and the Commons. Perhaps we need to consider some long term leases for business to consider investing for restaurants or something to attract...as a partnership.

Unemployed people might be encouraged to work off some of their taxes to keep parks clean if union rules are modified, but where is the greater good as people are empowered by this and develop some of the pride lost when unemployed. The community too is now bonded by the partnership.

We need green areas also to temper the buildings all around and studies have shown, it gets worse without green....as concrete and steel foster crime and neighborhod and health problems.