AMHERST — Whether $139,000 in town funds should be allocated to Amherst Media to pay off its mortgage on a half-acre parcel has become the focus of controversy.
In 2013, Amherst Media bought a 0.55-acre parcel at the corner of Main and Gray streets on which they eventually plan to build a new 4,570- square foot building to house operations and studio space. The Planning Board approved construction last year after site plan review.
The mortgage totaled $221,000, of which $82,000 has been paid down, leaving a $139,000 balance, according to data provided by Amherst Media.
“The amount we requested was $139,000: the current balance from the original $221,000 bank mortgage. We decided that if we paid off the mortgages’ balance, we would apply the land assessment of $350,000 as collateral while seeking our construction loan. By doing so, we would also relieve the burden of more than $14,000 per year we are currently paying towards interest from our very limited annual operating budget,” stated Amherst Media in a recent letter to Town Manager Paul Bockelman and the 13 town councilors.
However, Bockelman said he is concerned that releasing the money for the reasons stated by Amherst Media could violate procurement laws.
The funds from cable TV provider Comcast held by the town are to be used by Amherst Media to purchase equipment, he said.
In a July 15 letter directed to Bockelman, Amherst Media’s Executive Director Jim Lescault said they have been seeking release of the money since December to no avail. Should the town release the requested $139,000 to retire the mortgage, there would still be $365,724 for equipment over the remaining five years of the contract, he said.
“The question must be asked: since the Town Manager is the only signature on the contract between the Town and Amherst Media, who in Town government can Amherst Media ask to intervene and help mediate when there are major issues in conflict?” Lecault wrote.
In addition, a town board, the Community Safety Working Group, also sent Bockelman and the Town Council a letter on the matter this week, saying in part: “By denying Amherst Media the funds necessary to allow them to move, grow, and continue serving Amherst residents; a greater message is being sent to the community, and that is that community transparency and access do not matter.”
In an email to The Republican, Bockelman said that the “concerns we had were (a) how to comply with state procurement laws, since the Town was not a party to the purchase of the land and (b) how to secure the Town’s funds on a piece of land and (c) would Amherst Media be able to continue to meets its mission of providing PEG services to the people of Amherst given the allocation of its capital funds to reducing the bank-held mortgage.”
"pay" - Google News
July 29, 2021 at 11:28PM
https://ift.tt/3iddrMm
Amherst Media, town manager spar over releasing funds to pay off mortgage - MassLive.com
"pay" - Google News
https://ift.tt/301s6zB
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Amherst Media, town manager spar over releasing funds to pay off mortgage - MassLive.com"
Post a Comment