Two Thumbs Up For This Mobile Massachusetts Home Search Application!

My Annual 10 Real Estate Predictions for the New Year

There are a lot of sighs of relief now that 2010 is past, particularly coming from the real estate industry.

But will 2011 be any better?

Having just dusted off my crystal ball, I can now offer my annual 10 predictions for real estate in 2011:

1. Inventories will skyrocket in the spring resulting from sellers who took their homes off the market during the winter hoping to capture buyers in the "spring market" and #2 below.

2. Short sales will increase and foreclosure inventory will continue to rise. The combination with #1 above = huge inventories.

3. Mortgage rates will rise and settle in around 6%+/-.

4. Builders will begin building...slowly, a result of pent up demand for new construction and a loosening of credit by the banks. Many builders have been sitting on land already approved and ready to be built upon.

5. A lot of prospective move-up buyers will continue to stay where they are.

6. The apartment/rental sector will make gains, the result of young Americans seeking escape from family homes in favor of their own living accommodations, but wary of the housing market.

7. There will be no Government Sponsored Entity (GSE) reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. There will be lots of talk and posturing, but no reform.

8. Prices will stabilize on lower end properties and decline less on higher end properties (over $1.5 million).

9. The term "communication" will take on a new meaning among real estate agents as ever advancing technology allows for better dissemination of information, particularly on cell and smartphones. Tech savvy real estate companies and agents will provide free branded real estate applications (apps) to clients and customers that are cross-platform capable. (For example... Text: RELIST to 87778)

10. Jobs will remain the key to recovery. According to the chief economist for the National association of REALTORS, with a gain of 200,000 jobs per month, a full recovery will take 6.3 years; with 300,000 jobs/month: 3.2 years; with 400,000 jobs/month: 1.2 years. And if we can find a way to create 500,000 jobs per month...well, we will have recovered.

There you have it. Not the rosiest picture imaginable, but we all knew that climbing out of a recession would not be easy... or quick.

The good news?

A lot of real estate transactions will take place in 2011, despite the market. Reasonable sellers, savvy buyers, and tech and service-centered real estate agents will win the day.

Best regards,

Jay Burnham, VP
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
North Shore Real Estate, Massachusetts

Follow me on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/jayburnham

Download my free Mobile Real Estate Search App for your phone.

Massachusetts Cities and Towns Need New Deal with Public Employees

Mass. cities need new deal with public employees - The Boston Globe

by Scott Lang

CITY GOVERNMENTS in Massachusetts follow costly, inefficient 20th-century industrial models for compensating their employees. Archaic rules dictate the structure of health insurance, pension plans, and other benefits, and the degree to which these rules diminish our capacity to provide vital services to our citizens may come as a surprise to many of our taxpayers.

The costs to the taxpayers of health insurance and pensions have risen 217 percent over the past decade in New Bedford, and over 200 percent on average across Massachusetts. With limited revenue streams, these rising expenditures represent dollars that cannot be used to put more police officers and firefighters on our streets or to offer our children smaller class sizes by hiring more teachers. Such dollars are instead allocated to pay the rising costs of current employee benefits. Soon, benefit costs will crush local government everywhere.

To prevent that, Massachusetts must examine pensions, benefits, and wages for public employees in a comprehensive way. We must honor the employment covenant that we have made, while designing a new covenant for future employees that will more closely align total employment costs in the public sector with those in the private sector.

After 50 years of gains made through collective bargaining, jobs in municipal government now frequently offer higher wages than comparable jobs in the private sector. This is problematic during a time when all of our citizens face the ravages of this recession. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, when the value of benefit packages is factored in, the total average cost to private-sector employers is $27.49 per hour per employee. In state and local government, the total cost is $39.83 per hour — a 45 percent difference in total cost to our local governments. These are national statistics, but it’s fair to assume the pattern holds true in Massachusetts.

It’s vital that our public labor unions understand that current public employees will only have job security if we can bring government spending in line with revenue; otherwise, as layoffs continue and positions lost through attrition remain unfilled to cut costs, the functions of government will be outsourced to the private sector by necessity. This will further diminish the number of government jobs, as well as our capacity to provide direct services to our residents.

As revenues decline, unions are put in the impossible position of demanding that their contracts and benefits be honored — even if it means laying off significant numbers of their own members to pay for the benefits of other members. Under a new public employment covenant, the unions will once again be able to advocate for all of their membership, rather than be forced to sacrifice union positions in exchange for the status quo.

We can avoid this. The Legislature should create a task force to develop a new public employment covenant for the future. This panel should include members of Governor Patrick’s administration, the House and the Senate, labor, the business community, representatives from municipalities, and citizens’ groups — and should have a broad, frank, transparent discussion about how to develop models of local government that are sustainable in relationship to the revenue that cities and towns can realistically raise. We need to find solutions to contain costs and create designs for appropriate health insurance and pension plans.

These issues are urgent, so this task force should report back to the people by the end of this fiscal year.

We cannot have a strong state unless we have strong municipalities. It is imperative that we find systemic and equitable solutions that will allow our cities to strengthen public safety, revitalize their neighborhoods, and improve their schools.

Scott Lang is the mayor of New Bedford.

Welsh Terrier Rules

Linda and I have two Welsh Terriers...Ozzie and Harriet.  (If you are younger than 39, you probably don't get it.)

If you have ever owned a terrier, you know that it is a special breed and somewhat headstrong.  As a result of our experiences, I offer you the following Welsh Terrier Rules:

1.  The Welsh Terriers are not allowed in the house.

2.  Okay, the Welsh Terriers are allowed in the house, but only in certain rooms.

3.  The Welsh Terriers are allowed in all rooms, but have to stay off the furniture.

4.  The Welsh terriers are only allowed on the old furniture.

5.  Fine, the Welsh Terriers are allowed on all the furniture, but are not allowed to sleep with the humans on the bed.

6.  All right, the Welsh Terriers are allowed on the bed, but only by invitation.

7.  The Welsh Terriers can sleep on the bed whenever they want, but not under the covers.

8.  The Welsh Terriers can sleep under the covers anytime they want.

9.  Humans must ask permission to sleep under the covers with the Welsh Terriers!

10.  In all cases of disput.... the Welsh Terriers rule!


Update 12/23/10: After receiving the comment from Jon Snyder about his Welshie, Fletch, and a certain low growl when being asked to move...New Rule 8A: "Humans must defer to the preferred location of the Welsh Terrier on the bed."

The Best Ever Mobile Real Estate Search App for Massachusetts...and It's Free!

Do you know what the #1 request is from Massachusetts buyers searching for a home?

Unfettered access to complete information about local available properties.

Such information is now widely available from a number of sources including real estate agent and real estate company websites.  That's great if you happen to be in front of a computer screen at home or at your office.  But what if you are out driving around and spot a home you would like to know more about?

You can always call the number on the sign and speak with an agent about the property.  Or if the listing agent utilizes technology, there may be a web address you can visit to get the information.  But of course, that still works best when you have a computer monitor in front of you.

If the listing agent is really good with technology he/she may have a QR code on the For Sale sign or perhaps an Instant Message number and code to text to in order to provide you with the information on your cell or smartphone.  But that only provides information about a single property.  Wouldn't you like to have access to information about ALL available Massachusetts homes in the area?

Clearly the best option would be to have an app that can provide you with mobile access not just to information about ONE home, but about ALL homes available in the Multiple Listing Service Property Information Network (MLSPIN).

Well now there is just such an app, and in a mobile format that is, in my opinion, the best on the market.  It's even better than what I have access to as a member of the Greater Boston and Massachusetts Association of Realtors.

The real estate app I am refering to has been designed to work with iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Palm OS, and feature phones on Verizon Wireless, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile. There is also a mobile web version available, so all carriers, devices and platforms are covered.  The app allows you to search for properties based on your GPS location, address, city or zip code and can search by property type, price, bedrooms, baths and distance from your location.

In a word, it's simply "outstanding".

To download this free, powerful and secure app for your cell or smartphone:

 Text: RELIST to: 87778

Or follow this link online: [click here]

And enjoy!  This app will amaze you.

Powered by Smarter Agent


PS: You may be wondering how I am able to provide this app to you for FREE.  It's simple.  By providing you with this powerful and useful application, at no cost to you, I hope that if you decide to buy or sell sometime in the future, or know someone that is, you will consider contacting me for assistance.  I consider that a "fair trade", but you are under no obligation whatsoever.

Gray Ghost Karma

For most New England fly fishermen, the Gray Ghost fly is one of their favorite and most enduring flies.  The Gray Ghost is a real beauty and the story of its origination bears sharing.

The Gray Ghost was invented by Carrie Gertrude Stevens of Madison, Maine.  She was the wife of Wallace Stevens who was a guide at Upper Dam in Maine.  During the summer months the Stevens lived in a small cabin, called Camp Midway, on the Carry Road at the Upper Dam.  The cabin is still there and a bronze plaque has been placed near it that is inscribed with the story of the Gray Ghost.  The plaque states, in part:

FISHERMEN: PAUSE HERE A MOMENT and pay your respects to Carrie Gertrude Stevens.

Mrs. Stevens was truly a self-taught flytier and the story goes that in July, 1924, Mrs. Stevens took time out from her housework to tie the Gray Ghost.  She made the fly to resemble a smelt.  When Mrs. Stevens went to the Upper Dam pool to test it out, she quickly hooked a 6 pound 13 ounce brook trout, which she promptly placed in a Field & Stream competition and took second prize. After that day, she actively took part in fly tying and made fly fishing history in the Rangeley area of Maine.

Carrie Stevens went on to create dozens of other streamer patterns that are still being used today.  The patterns are admittedly difficult to tie but to those fishermen who still diligently and faithfully produce current renditions and fish them they are the only way to fish streamers.  But of all the patterns Mrs. Stevens created, the Gray Ghost remains the most popular and holds a record for the largest number of strikes ever recorded on a single fly on Lake Mooselookmeguntic: 103.

I hold a personal soft spot in my heart for the Gray Ghost and I would not consider going on any fishing venture without at least two or three, if for no other reason than the karma that they bring.

Fundraising For Fiscal Responsibility

An open letter to the taxpayers of Hamilton and Wenham
from the tax watchdog group Citizens For Fiscal Responsibility,
better known as Enough Is Enough:

Dear Enough Is Enough Supporters,

As we enter our third year as a community organization, EiE is proud to have played a leading role in the following initiatives that we either started or supported:

• We successfully ended a decade-long string of annual Proposition 2 ½ overrides, the cumulative cost of which has exceeded $40 million and has resulted in Hamilton and Wenham’s tax rates being among the highest on the North Shore.

• We began and submitted a Citizen’s Petition that resulted in the approval by the voters of both towns of an amendment to the Regional School District Agreement allowing for an operational audit of the school district. The results are due in January, 2011.


• We were instrumental in developing the Request For Proposal (RFP) for the operational audit.


• We researched and provided the names of the two operational audit firms that were the finalists for selection to perform the audit.


• We exposed the HWRSD maintenance spending inconsistencies.


• We discouraged the School Committee from creating a redundant school maintenance account (called the “Stabilization Fund”).


• We researched, wrote, published and delivered The Hamilton-Wenham Free Press to every household in both towns…2009 & 2010.


• We actively supported the Organic Waste Recycling Program in both towns.


• We debunked the NEASC loss of accreditation tactic that had been used for years to encourage school override requests.


• We supported the initiative to replace the boilers at the Cutler School.


• We offered suggestions and recommendations to the School Committee during union contract negotiations.


• We successfully petitioned the rescheduling of Hamilton Town Meetings from week nights to Saturday mornings…just like Wenham.


• We supported increasing the number of Selectmen in Hamilton from three to five.


• We supported the change to Town Manager form of government in Hamilton.


• We supported Hamilton’s first in the Commonwealth Senior Tax Exemption initiative.


• We recommended that the DPW's in both towns take over all maintenance of HWRSD grounds and buildings.


• WE CONTINUE TO PAY STRICT ATTENTION ON YOUR BEHALF.

But we need your help in continuing our worthy cause.

We are asking you to help us in two ways. First, please send your most generous donation to us at Citizens For Fiscal Responsibility. One hundred percent of your money is used for mailing, printing, marketing and supplies.

The $100 you send now may save you much more than that next year and every year after that. The defeat of the $1.2 million override in 2009 is saving the taxpayers of Hamilton and Wenham $3,400 a day…every day…every year.

If you are unable to donate $100, please consider donating $75, $50, or even $25. We are acutely aware of economic conditions and only ask that you help us according to your means.

Please make checks payable to “Citizens For Fiscal Responsibility”

and mail to: 10 Meyer Lane, Hamilton, MA 01982

Another equally important way you can help out is to recommend others to join EiE and participate in our scheduled membership meetings. We currently have over 400 members, but we can always use another hand. Also, having your email address allows us to provide you with up-to-date information regarding important issues taking place in our two towns.

Thank you for your consideration...

Enough Is Enough / Hamilton and Wenham

Unethical Behavior at Hamilton Town Meeting

The fall Special Town Meeting took place in Hamilton on Saturday, October 30th, at 9:00 am in the auditorium at the Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School. Any concern about a quorum was quickly dispelled and the meeting began right on time with 321 voters (75 make up a quorum) in attendance. This now marks the third Town Meeting that has been held since changing the day and time to Saturday mornings. I seem to recall those opposed to the change claiming that quorums would be problematic, but thus far that has not been the case. Another nice feature is that the meetings have been completed in single sessions, rather than multiple nights as was often the case before.

But I digress.

This town Meeting went along with nary a hitch. Articles were introduced, debated and voted upon. Perhaps the most controversial article was the Estate Overlay District bylaw. This article, introduced by Peter Clark of the Planning Board, brought numerous citizens to the podium to speak for and against the motion. In the end, a vote count requiring a 2/3 majority was necessary and the motion passed 185-79.

Which brings me to the topic of this blog...UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR.

As it turns out, at least one of our residents was so hell-bent on defeating the above motion that she attempted to influence the results by VOTING TWICE. This individual was observed voting against the motion on one side of the auditorium and then ambling over to the other side and attempting to cast her vote against the motion a second time. I do not know if her second attempt was tallied by the vote counters on the other side of the auditorium, but her behavior was reported to a vote counter at the time and then to the Town Manager and two Selectmen after the meeting. The Town Moderator was also apprised.

The woman in question is a long time resident of Hamilton and has even served on at least one town board. She has been known to accuse others openly and publicly of unethical conduct. And yet there she was, displaying her own warped and unethical conduct and commiting what is commonly called "voter fraud".

The morning after Town Meeting I ran into another resident and member of one of our town boards and told this person the story. When asked who the individual was that had commited the "voter fraud" I explained that I would rather not say. To my surprise, she then asked me, "Was it 'Sally Roberts' (not her real name)?" It was! This would seem to suggest that this ethically challenged individual is someone who is thought to be generally dishonest, or that others were already aware of what this person had attempted to do at Town Meeting.

All this begs the question...is there a way to prevent this kind of thing from happening again in the future? Until Saturday's meeting, I would never have imagined that such a thing could take place in our town. We need to see that it never happens again. A simple solution would be to require all voters to remain in their place (no roaming around or leaving the meeting) until all the votes have been tallied. Solving the problem will be the responsibility of the Town Moderator.

As for the woman that displayed such unethical behavior? Well, after she reads this she will have to live with the fact that others either already know who she is or that they may find out on their own. At the very least, that should prevent her from ever doing it again. People will be watching.

Enjoy the short video below...

World Mud Football Championships

You've heard of the Annual World Mud Football Championships, right? The Mud Bowl? In North Conway, NH? For charity? And the Annual Tournament of Mud Parade, right? Where all the competing teams have outrageously funny floats, all designed around the current year's theme?

You don't know what I'm talking about, do you?

Well...let me inform and enlighten you...

It's been called the cleanest sport played in knee deep mud. The tournament features nine teams from throughout New England in three days of two-hand touch mud football fun with all funds benefiting local charities. In the event's 34-year history in North Conway, the Mud Bowl has raised hundreds of thousands for local charities.

Each year's World Mud Bowl celebrates a theme (this year's was “Super Muddy Heroes”) and features spirit award competitions, cheerleading teams, the annual Tournament of Mud Parade on Saturday on North Conway's Main Street, half-time skits, belly dancers, choreographed mud swimming routines, and three days of exciting two-hand touch mud football action.

You have to see it to believe it. And you may be able to just that. This year a film crew from NFL Films was in town catching every angle of the Mud Bowl games and events you could imagine. The footage is expected to air on ESPN, ESPN2 or the NFL channel.

Three Decades of Mud Bowl History:

Legend has it that the Carrabassett Valley Rats started the annual Mud Bowl in Kingfield, Maine, after a few University of Maine fraternity brothers moved there 38 years ago. According to the story, alumni of a fraternity had challenged their college student brothers to a touch football game in a muddy field back on the Orono campus in the early 1970s. When a few of the alumni moved to the ski resort of Sugarloaf/USA in northwestern Maine in 1972, they brought their unusual sport with them. Local Carrabassett Valley residents in need of some fall fun took a liking to the games. But when interest waned a few years later, it was up to newspaper publisher Dale Rolfe to rescue the sport, and that he did by founding a mud football league. That was in 1975.

In 1975, Steve Eastman, a former Carrabassett Valley resident and newspaper editor who had moved to North Conway, was asked to put together a team — something which he did with friend Richard DeAngelis of the old Alpine Funspot of the North Country, located near the base of Cranmore. They christened the team the Mt. Washington Valley Hogs. The Hogs traveled to Kingfield and won that 1975 World Mud Bowl, 6-0, over the Rats, and in keeping with then tradition, got to host Mud Bowl the following year. The event’s longtime sponsor is Amoskeag Beverages, distributors of Lite Beer from Miller. Big surprise there, but the company has helped to make Mud Bowl the success it is today, and their longstanding support cannot be overstated.

Under the rules of mud football back in those days, the winning team got to host the next Mud Bowl in 1976. As a result of the Hog's win, the first Mud Bowl came to North Conway that year as well as the next three years, because the Hogs kept right on winning Mud Bowls. Games were played in a variety of cornfields back then. Things were a lot more low-key then than they are now. Hats were passed around at halftime, for example, to raise money for the Hogs’ official charity, the North Conway Community Center. (The take was a few hundred dollars — a far cry from the $28,000 average that Mud Bowl has annually taken in these past few years). When the Hogs lost a game in overtime played at the base of Mt. Cranmore in 1979 to the upstart New York State Hamslammers, 6-0, that sent the 1980 Mud Bowl to the Hamslammers’ field in Holland Patent, N.Y.

The Hogs and other teams traveled the eight hours from North Conway to the games, with the Hogs bringing home the bacon by winning back the Mud Bowl Cup when they beat the Hamslammers in an exciting battle, 8-7.

With the 1980 Mud Bowl played in upstate New York, Mt. Washington Valley organizers came up with the idea of putting on the 1980 Mud Olympics back in North Conway the week after the Mud Bowl as a way to keep the charitable aspect of mud football going for local charities. It wouldn’t be an official Mud Bowl — but it would be fun!

A big step in the evolution of mud football occurred at those 1980 Mud Olympics when NBC-TV’s “Real People” program covered the event. Suddenly, Mud Bowl was national — even international, when the Associated Press ran a few photos which were carried around the globe. Played at the base of Mt. Cranmore, it was at those Mud Olympics that the Mass Muddas (now Muddas Football Club, the 15-time world champs) made their first appearance in a mud football game in North Conway. They pummeled the Hogs on national television.

Another big step occurred in 1981, when a group of teams formed the National Mud Football Association to further oversee the sport’s growth. Also that year, the Hogs and volunteers teamed up with the North Conway Community Center to transform a former swamp into Hog Coliseum. The facility was so nice, that Mud Bowl officials voted in 1983 to hold all future Mud Bowls in North Conway, regardless of which team won. The first “Tournament of Mud Parade” was also held in 1981, adding more color to the games’ overall entertainment appeal, founded by Steve Eastman to be a takeoff on the Rose Bowl's Tournament of Roses parade.


Teams that have participated over the years include:

• The Nashua Mud Gumbys of Nashua, NH


• The North Shore Mudsharks of Peabody & Lynn, Mass.
  
• The Muddas Football Club of Amherst, NH


• The Mt. Washington Valley Hogs of North Conway, NH


• The Merrimack Mudcats of Franklin, NH


• The Carrabassett Valley Rats of Kingfield, Maine


• The Peabody Predators of Beverly, Mass.
  
• The Cumberland Muckaneers of Cumberland, RI and the newest team...
  
• The North Country Mud Crocs of North Conway, NH

The Annual World Mud Football Championships are always held the first weekend after Labor Day. The period after Labor Day used to be a slow one Mt. Washington Valley in terms of tourism, but no more — Mud Bowl has helped to make the local economy grow while aiding charitable causes, with more than $500,000 raised over the years.

9/11 Victim's Families Speak Out In Support of Park 51 Islamic Cultural Center

There's been a lot of talk lately about the Islamic cultural center and mosque being proposed near Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. Despite the First Amendment right to practice religion, opponents to the development are seeking to prevent that right, claiming that the misleadingly named "Ground Zero Mosque" is insensitive to the victims of 9/11.

Watch the video commentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7xfcaoMFO8

The truth is, many relatives of victims of the 9/11 attacks have expressed support for the project.

Judith Keane, whose husband was killed on 9/11, says "To punish a group of Americans who live in peace for the acts of a few is wrong. The worst atrocities in history found their base in fear of those who were different."

Colleen Kelley, who lost her brother William on 9/11, says, the "irony in the debate over the section of the building that would house a mosque is that one might assume that God (the same God to Jews-Christians-Muslims) would be pleased with any type of effort that involves prayer and service to others."

Orlando Rodriguez and Phyllis Schaefer Rodriguez, whose son died in the attack, say they "support the building of the Islamic community center in lower Manhattan" and "feel that it would honor our son and other victims".

Herb Ouida, whose son Todd died, said: "To say that we're going to condemn a religion and castigate a billion people in the world because they're Muslims, to say that they shouldn't have the ability to pray near the World Trade Center—I don't think that's going to bring people together and cross the divide."

Marvin Bethea, a former EMS worker who was forced to retire in 2004 because of breathing problems caused by working at the 9/11 site, believes racism is a factor in the controversy, He said "even though my life has changed, I don't hate the Muslims. Especially being a black man, I know what it's like to be discriminated against. I've lived with that."

Donna O'Connor, whose pregnant daughter died on 9/11, expressed the opinion that "This building will serve as an emblem for the rest of the world that Americans ... recognize that the evil acts of a few must never damn the innocent."

Even Ted Olson, former Solicitor General in the George W. Bush administration, whose wife, Barbara, died in the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, has said "we don't want to turn an act of hate against us by extremists into an act of intolerance for people of religious faith."

Bruce Wallace, whose nephew died as he rushed in to help the victims, says "the media seems eager to trumpet the feelings of those hurt by the idea of the center. They mostly ignore my feelings and those, like me, who feel the center is an important step for Americans."

Talat Hamdani, whose son was a first responder in the rescue effort and died in 9/11, said "You know, if it’s one faith today, it’s going to be another faith tomorrow. That is scary. And to scapegoat the Muslims for the acts of a foreign terrorist, that is — that is hatred." She added "... if that argument is valid, then, by that token, Timothy McVeigh’s actions also makes all Christians terrorists. So, that is wrong."

Terry Rockefeller, whose sister was killed, said: "this doesn't insult her at all. This celebrates the city she loved living in. It is what makes America what we are."

Sue Rosenblum, of Coral Springs, Florida, whose son Josh was killed in the WTC attacks on 9/11, said in reference to the planned Mosque: "What are we teaching if we say you can't build here? That it's OK to hate? This is a country based on freedom of religion."

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has strongly endorsed the project, said: "To cave to popular sentiment would be to hand a victory to the terrorists. We should not stand for that." Responding to a question about the pain the mosque plan is causing some family members, he said, "I don't see an enormous number of people. I was at a fundraiser ... maybe 50 ... people who had lost [family] members. 100% in that room kept saying, 'please keep it up, keep it up'.... our relatives would have wanted this country, and this city, to follow and actually practice what we preach."

Mark McKinnon, a former advisor to Republican President George W. Bush, criticized opposition to the project: "And here we are, reinforcing al Qaeda's message that we're at war with Muslims."

In response to those who oppose the mosque, on August 30 a Salem News editorial stated:

"This argument implicity accepts the notion that Islam itself - and not extrememists who distort Islam - is at the root of the evil perpetrated on 9/11.The best way to counter the al-Qaida version of Islam is not to move the Islamic center, but to build it as a representation of authentic Islam - and a symbol of the American commitment to full religious freedom and interfaith understanding. Rather than banning mosques - or moving them elsewhere - American communities should be welcoming them as allies in the campaign against extremism."

• View the Keith Olbermann's comments on this issue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7xfcaoMFO8

A Threat To America

I recently wrote two blog posts here ("Truth and Facts...A Challenge for Democracy" and "Patriotism is a Virtue") in which I discussed the viral emails we all regularly receive from those who insist that America is on the brink of destruction, primarily because of our President, who they insist upon calling Barrack Hussein Obama...as if including his middle name proves that he is not an American citizen and that he is secretly a Muslim who is hell-bent on destroying our constitution and the American way of life.

For proof of this, these hate-filled emails offer up all kinds of false and misleading diatribe. The exaggerations, lies and fear-mongering propagated by these messages have necessitated the creation of rumor debunking sites such as SNOPES.com, FACTCHECK.org, TRUTHORFICTION.com and others.

Nine times out of ten, if you take the time to do a little research, you find that the emails are littered with falsehoods and misleading innuendo. Often they will contain one or two facts, surrounded by misinformation and lies. They are nothing more than the clever manipulation of the natural human tendency to trust.

Worst of all...they call upon you to forward the emails to others in an effort to somehow prove the lies are the truth by virtue of how many others receive the emails, believe the falsehoods, and then forward them on to even more unsuspecting readers.

The messages are never meant to inform, only to inflame. They are intentional redirection from reality and progress, to a paranoid delusion and the fomenting of hatred of Americans by Americans.

We see the same thing from many of the TV and online news media outlets - in particular, Fox News.

Consider these tallies from Glenn Beck's show on Fox News since President Obama's inauguration: 202 mentions of Nazis or Nazism, according to transcripts, 147 mentions of Hitler, 193 mentions of fascism or fascist, and another 24 bonus mentions of Joseph Goebbels. Most of these were directed in some form at Obama -- as were the majority of the 802 mentions of socialist or socialism on Beck's nightly report. (Source: Dana Milbank, The Washington Post)

Isn't it ironic...and utterly arrogant...that the crusade to prove Barack Obama a foreign influence is led by an Australian named Murdock and his second largest shareholder Prince Alwaleed bin Talal al-Saud of Saudi Arabia?

I don't know about you, but I have had enough.

The right to freedom of speech is one of our most cherished rights. It is also a double-edged sword: the same right that allows us to criticize our government's policies without fear of reprisal also protects those who endorse and promote racism, anti-semitism, ethnic hatred and other socially divisive positions.

And therein lies a significant threat to democracy, because voters that choose to believe unsubstantiated "facts", false innuendo and speeches and videos taken totally out of context become susceptible to voting based upon ignorance and misinformation, uniquely unenlightened by facts or truth.

Choosing the above path is a real threat to our American way of life, and it's unacceptable to me.

How about you?

Truth & Facts...A Challenge For Democracy

About two months ago I wrote a blog titled "Patriotism Is A Virtue". In it, I refer to what I call "Hate & Fake" emails from extremists with messages that are completely false and often degrading and insulting . You know the ones I mean. Then they ask you to forward the message on to everyone you know.

I ended the blog by saying:

"Patriotism is a virtue that can not exist on a foundation of lies, false innuendo and diatribe."

Now researchers also suggest that such lies, false innuendo and diatribe are a significant threat to democracy.

The Sunday Boston Globe's Idea section ran an article called "How Facts Backfire" by Joe Keohane. According to the article:

"Recently, a few political scientists have begun to discover a human tendency deeply discouraging to anyone with faith in the power of information. It's this: Facts don't necessarily have the power to change our minds. In fact, quite the opposite. In a series of studies in 2005 and 2006, researchers at the University of Michigan found that when misinformed people, particularly political partisans, were exposed to corrected facts in news stories, they often became even more strongly set in their beliefs. Facts, they found, were not curing misinformation. And in the presense of the correct information...instead of changing their minds to reflect the correct information, they can entrench themselves even deeper."

This refusal to accept or admit that you are wrong is the result of Cognitive Dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors... or by justifying or rationalizing them. Dissonance occurs when a person perceives a logical inconsistency in their beliefs, when one idea implies the opposite of another.

The Globe article goes on to say:

"Rather than facts driving beliefs, our beliefs can dictate the facts we choose to accept. They can cause us to twist facts so they better fit with our preconceived notions. Worst of all, they can lead us to uncritically accept bad information just because it reinforces our beliefs. In other words, it's never been easier for people to be wrong, and at the same time feel more certain they are right."

So what the article suggests is that cognitive dissonance might be experienced as guilt, anger, frustration, or even embarrassment and in an effort to avoid those uncomfortble feelings many people will simply choose to ignore the truth and go along happily believing whatever tends to reinforce their beliefs.

And therein lies the threat to democracy, because voters that choose the above path are susceptible to voting based upon ignorance and misinformation, uniquely unenlighted by facts or truth.

That would be a shame.

Draft RFP for the Operational Audit of the School District

UPDATE: 7/16/2010.....

[Click Here]

for the final version of the RFP

* * * * *

Below, please find a copy of the DRAFT Request For Proposal for the Operational Audit of the Hamilton/Wenham Regional School District as of June 22, 2010.

Once you have reviewed it, please consider participating in the "unofficial" poll to the left and weigh in with your views and opinions.

Thank you for your consideration
of this important matter.

* * *

SECTION 1. Introduction and Background

The Towns of Hamilton and Wenham, Massachusetts, acting through their Boards of Selectmen, seek detailed proposals for an Operational Audit of the Hamilton – Wenham Regional School District.

At the Hamilton Annual Town Meeting on May 8, 2010, and the Wenham Annual Town Meeting, May 1, 2010, a citizen’s initiative (Exhibit A) was presented and duly adopted petitioning this effort. Pursuant to an Intermunicipal Agreement with the Town of Wenham, the Town of Hamilton will serve as lead municipality for the project and will coordinate all aspects of the work.

While the Town seeks to encourage competition and evaluate firms on a uniform basis, this solicitation is not governed by Massachusetts General Law. C. 30B. As a result, the Town retains complete discretion as to the manner by which proposals shall be evaluated and services awarded and reserves the right not to make any award underthis process.

The fee for services will be negotiated and shall not exceed a total cost of $90,000.

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District serves the two North Shore Massachusetts Communities of Hamilton and Wenham, located approximately 25 miles north of Boston and having a combined population of approximately 13,000 residents.

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District is an independent legal entity from the towns of Hamilton and Wenham, providing educational services to the two towns’ school age children, comprising approximately 2066 students. The enrollment includes approximately 102 school choice students. The schools include Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School (9-12), Miles River Middle School (6-8), Buker Elementary (K-5), Cutler Elementary (K-5), and Winthrop Elementary (PK-5), and Center School which is the location of the District’s Administrative Offices.

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District has agreed to cooperate with the towns and provide whatever assistance is necessary to the Contractor to complete the operational audit.

Section 2. Scope of Services

The purpose of the operational audit is to review existing policies, procedures, and practices, as well as staffing levels, to determine their adequacy, efficiency, and costeffectiveness as compared against best practices that meet the requirements of both State and Federal mandates for a public education program.

The operational audit shall be performed in the following areas and disciplines within the Hamilton - Wenham Regional School District.

1. Personnel policies and procedures including compensation and benefits.

2. Union contracts negotiations, procedures and management.

3. School District Administration, policies and procedures including professional and clerical staffing.

4. Staffing, educational staffing and other staffing. Includes an evaluation of the number, composition, and performance evaluation process for all staff.

5. Accounting system - policies, practices and procedures including payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable and the overall budget process and associated budget controls.

6. Time keeping policy, procedures, practices and controls.

7. Purchasing policy, procedures, practices and controls.

8. Inventory control procedures and practices including store minimum/maximum items and capital expense items.

9. Curriculum policies, procedures, management and controls Pre. K - 12.

10. SPED (Special Ed.) policies, procedures, management and controls Pre. K - 12.

11. Traffic policies, procedures and management including buses, cars and communications.

12. Cafeteria staffing policies, procedures, management and controls.

13. Building maintenance staffing, policies, procedures and management including Heating, AC, Electrical, Plumbing, routine maintenance, etc.

14. Information Technology (IT) systems, staffing, procedures and controls.

15. Medical / Nurse staffing policies and controls.

16. Athletic Programs - staffing, management, controls and financial reporting.

17. Misc. extracurricular programs non-athletic staffing, management, controls and financial reporting.

18. HWRSD Liaison - State and Towns (includes financial and other)

19. School Committee – Administrative costs, expenses and financial reporting.

Section 3. Minimum Qualifications.

Selection will be made by an Operational Audit Review Committee. The respondent must certify in its cover letter that it meets the following minimum requirements. Failure to include such certification in the cover letter demonstrating that these criteria have been met will result in your proposal being rejected without further consideration.

1. The firm must be well versed in performing similar such audits in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for a minimum of 7 years.

2. The firm must have knowledge of and experience in evaluating educational program requirements.

3. A poor reference may be a basis for a determination that the respondent is not a responsible bidder.

Section 4. Rule for Award

It is the Towns’ intent to award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, but the Towns reserve the right to as set forth in Section 1 to make no award at all or choose a service provider through any other method permitted by law.

Applications will be assessed with regard to the following factors:

1. Relevant experience of proposed and proposed project staff;

2. Staffing plan and methodology;

3. Proposer’s demonstrated ability to complete projects on a timely basis;

4. Clarity and comprehensiveness of proposed plan;

5. If submitted, evaluation of written product.

Hamilton will determine whether to award the contract to a responsive bidder pursuant to this Request for Proposal or to choose a provider through another process at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Hamilton Board of Selectmen after the date on which applications are opened by the Operational Audit Review Committee.

Section 5. Meetings

Attend work and review meetings as necessary with the Hamilton Town Manager and Wenham Town Administrator, the Hamilton Board of Selectmen and the Wenham Board of Selectmen, individually or jointly, and the Operational Audit Review Committee to provide progress updates.

Section 6. Communication

Maintain a high level of communication with the Towns’ representative during the study. Present, in comprehensive format, a minimum of two presentations, to the Boards of Selectmen of Hamilton and Wenham, HWRSD Administration and School Committee, and the general public within 45 days of completion of the operational audit.

Section 7. Final Report

Prepare a final written report documenting both positive and negative findings and observations. In areas where a negative finding or observation is recorded, provide recommended corrective action and estimated cost savings upon implementation of the corrective action.

All work must be completed and the Final Report must be submitted to the Towns’ representative no later than November 1, 2010.

Provide twelve (12) black and white copies of the final report and an electronic copy.

The RFP will be appended to and become part of a Contract for Services. At the time of contract execution, the successful respondent will be required to provide a certificate of professional liability insurance indicating minimum coverage of $1,000,000.

Section 8. Proposal Requirements

1. Please provide the name and location of your firm.

2. Please provide a summary of the ownership and organizational structure of
your firm.

3. Provide a summary of the expertise, capacity and resources of your firm. Identify all of your municipal government/regional school district clients for which you have provided services of similar scope and size to those contemplated by this Request for Proposal. Include a contact name and telephone number for each such client.

4. Provide a business information report or business profile from a credit reporting agency dated no earlier than 60 days prior to the bid submission date.

5. Discuss any potential conflicts of interests the firm or any individual within the firm might have representing the Town of Hamilton and the Town of Wenham.

6. Include the basis by which the fee for services shall be assessed, whether by an hourly rate with an amount not to exceed, a flat fee, or some other fee structure.

7. Include an executed Certificate of Non-Collusion.

8. Applications (two (2) originals and five (5) copies) must be received on or before 2:00 PM, on ___________, July ___, 2010, at which time all applications will be opened and reviewed by the Operational Audit Review Committee.

Responses should be printed double-sided and bound in such a manner that the pages lie and remain flat when opened.

9. Applications must be accompanied by a concise cover letter that is a maximum of two pages in length that describes why the applicant is the best candidate to complete the operational audit in a timely manner.

10. Proposals and questions or clarifications shall be addressed to:

Michael A. Lombardo
Hamilton Town Manager
577 Bay Road, P.O. Box 429
Hamilton, MA 01936

"Unmasking The Anonymous Online Loudmouth"

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how annoying it can be to receive outrageous, ridiculous, and sometimes downright mean and false comments from individuals that hide their identities behind their diatribe by posting as "Anonymous" or using a fake name.

It appears I am not alone in my distaste for these nameless commentors.

The cover story in this week's Boston Globe Magazine, written by Neil Swidey, is about the very same issue. It's titled "Unmasking The Anonymous Online Loudmouth" (I wish I had thought of that) and it reaches just about the same conclusions that I did in my blog titled "Anonymity Cause For Animosity" [Click Here].

I recommend reading Neil's article [Click Here] and seeing why anonymous commentors that write shameless replies have given rise to a new Internet term, or "handle". They are now known as TROLLS...slang for people behind inflammatory posts.

From the article:

"The pros of hostng a robust, free-wheeling conversation
had become outweighed by the cons of all the venon and
nastiness,by people who are allowed to name-call without
any obligation to reveal their own names."

"After years of letting anonymity rule online, many media
heavyweights...have begun to modify their policies. The
goal is to take the playground back from the anonymous
bullies and give greater weight to those willing to offer,
in addition to strong views, their real names."

"...that freedom can be abused and manipulated to spread
lies or mask hidden agendas. With all that in the balance, the
thinking goes, shouldn't we know who's saying these things?"

This blog is dedicated to the troll "REMaven".

A Gentle Reminder...For Hamilton Residents

HAMILTON SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

Monday, June 21st at 7:00 PM at the Winthrop School

Please plan to attend...A quorum is necessary to

approve the single warrant article (30 minutes)

B/T/W...Be sure to read recently elected Selectman Jeff Stinson's new blog:

http://www.openhamilton.org/

Can You "Pass The Buck"?

We've all heard the term. It means blaming someone else rather than accepting responsibility yourself. We see a lot of that kind of activity in politics, especially on the national level.

At least one Hamilton Selectman has shown us that he too knows how to "Pass the Buck".

That's exactly what he did, as reported in a recent article in the Hamilton/Wenham Chronicle, when he stated that:

"the operational audit (of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District) was approved pursuant to a citizens' petition, so the approval of funding should have been part of the citizens' motion but was not".

Excuse me?

The truth is that the citizen petitioners negotiated in good faith with the Selectmen of both Hamilton and Wenham, as well as the Finance and Advisory Committees of both towns, and they were assured at public meetings that the towns were going to step up and and fund the Operational Audit of the HWRSD. That placed the responsibility squarely on the town leadership...not the petitioners. And the Selectman mentioned above knew that, at least two weeks prior to the Annual Town Meeting, and said and did nothing.

The truth is that all that was left for the citizen petitioners was to see to it that the motion for the audit was approved at both the Wenham and Hamilton Town meetings. They did that.

The truth is that the motion passed overwhelmingly in Wenham with the FULL support of the Wenham Board of Selectmen and the Wenham FinCom and the Wenham FinCom addressed the issue of their portion of the funding for the Operational Audit at the Town Meeting and how the appropriation would take place.

The truth is that the IDENTICAL motion was made and overwhelmingly approved by the voters one week later at the Hamilton Annual Town Meeting.

The truth is that there was only ONE Selectman in both towns that consistently opposed the motion for the Operational Audit from day one to the day the voters approved the motion.

Guess who?

And now that same Selectman has the audacity to suggest that it is the petitioners' fault that a Special Town Meeting is necessary in order to appropriate Hamilton's share of the cost of the audit.

That's called "passing the buck".

The petitioners and the voters did their part. Even Town Manager Michael Lombardo has graciously stepped up and accepted responsibility for the unexpected need of a Special Town Meeting. But Michael is not to blame.

Apparently the only elected official not willing to accept responsibility, despite nearly six years as a Selectman and with more than two weeks notice in which to address the appropriation issue, is the sole dissenter from both towns' Boards of Selectmen...the only one who voted against the operational audit.

Hmmmm...imagine that.

Pricing Myths That Slow the Sale of Your Home

Putting your house on the market can be an emotionally exhausting task. You have to confront questions that involve not only big money, but also an intensely personal asset - your home.

Questions like: What's my house really worth? Should I sell on my own to save the agent's commission? How can I be certain I'm getting the right advice about listing, negotiating, and selling smart in today's market?

Along with these tough questions, you come face-to-face with some enduring myths about the homeselling process. They're so widespread that it's wise to know about them in advance. If you make moves based on facts, not myths, you'll fare far better in the selling process.

MYTH: The real estate agent will set the price for my home.

Agents don't set any price. However, they'll suggest a price based on their assessment of not only your home but also the current state of the market. Most agents are careful to suggest a range rather than a dollar amount, and it's then up to you to accept or reject that recommendation. Their recommendation is usually based on a rigorous review of comparables - houses similar to yours that have sold in recent months.

MYTH: I should always list with the agent who recommends

the highest selling price in the Comparable Market Analysis (CMA).

Wrong. The CMA is just one of many factors on which to base a listing decision. The CMAs from several agents competing for your listing will probably all fall within a similar range. But if one agent's CMA is significantly outside that range - especially on the high side - don't make that the key reason for giving that agent your listing. Go with the agent whose total marketing presentation, track record, and rapport with you adds up best.

MYTH: If I sell my house myself, I'll net more money

because I won't be paying the agent's commision.

Many people look at the fee an agent stands to earn on a home sale and wonder whether there's a cheaper way to sell. In some red-hot real estate markets, where buyers are lining up outside your door with offers and competing for your home, it's possible to do just that. But most markets aren't anywhere near red-hot these days. Many are soft, sluggish, and slow (or steady at best) - the very worst climate for solo sellers of For-Sale-By-Owners (FSBOs).

The experience of sellers I've spoken with in the past year around the North Shore confirms the fact that when you go on your own in the current market, you stack the odds against yourself terribly. For starters, your home won't be listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is the number one sales tool for marketing a home. And despite your best desire to avoid having to pay a commision, most buyers who respond to your newspaper ad will discount out the commission you hope to pocket. That is, they'll subtract it from your asking price even before they start to really negotiate with you on your list price. The result is that you will receive far more low-ball offers than if you were working with an agent.

Then there are the sheer practical aspects of selling on your own. Do you have the time or the flexibility to show the home during your regular working hours? That happens to be when many buyers want to visit properties and spend time walking through them with their agent.

Another important flaw in the I-can-save-by-selling-it-myself theory is that although you may think your negotiating abilities will stand you in good stead when you deal one-on-one with potential buyers, the odds are that you're mistaken. Face-to-face negotiating in the kitchen or living room blows up more FSBO sales than almost any other cause. Rather than having a cool, unemotional buffer - that is, an agent - between yourself and the buyer, you're all alone, and the buyer's demands almost inevitably get you steamed up. After all, the buyer's negotiating strategy will always be to knock down your price by pointing out every imperfection, real or otherwise, in your home.

The hard reality is that if you want to get maximum value for your home, it makes little sense to fly solo. That's why a lot of FSBOs come in out of the cold after a few weeks or months and list with a professional.*

*Here's an interesting note: A national survey has shown that sellers that list with a real estate agent realize nearly 3% more for their homes, even after considering the commission.

MYTH: Homes always appreciate.

Spoiled by real estate markets in which values had been going up for years, many homeowners incorrectly assume that their home will appreciate at levels far in excess of other investments. Yet real estate, like every other important segment of our economy, runs in cycles...and I think everyone knows what cycle we are in right now! If you bought a home at the top of the market cycle but sell it at the bottom, you may end up taking a loss. On the other hand, you might have bought at the bottom of the cycle and can now realize a significant gain.

MYTH: There's no need to make sure I'm setting an accurate

and reasonable price for my home because I can always lower it later.

Sure you can. But in the meantime, you've blown your chance of selling it within a reasonable time frame to buyers who would have been interested if your initial price had been realistic.

Pricing too high - leaving too much padding for later negotiating - is the surest technique for leaving your home dead in the water for months or even years. And when you finally correct your asking price to the true market level, you'll probably end up with a lower selling figure than you'd have obtained by having a realistic price from the start.

The truth is: The longer a home remains unsold and on the market, the less the seller will ultimately net.

Anonymity Cause For Animosity

If you are a blogger, you know that readers' comments mean alot. The same holds true for news reporters whose columns and articles appear online and allow for commenting from the public. Often the comments are supportive of the writer's opinion. Sometimes they are not. Often commenters use their own names when signing. Sometimes they do not, choosing instead an alias or simply posting as "anonymous".

All of that is fine and good...until you come across an anonymous commenter who lacks civility, honesty and integrity.

You know the type...the ones who compare you, the blogger, or even other commenters on your blog to Nazis, or terrorists, or the Klu Klux Klan, or the "village idiot". They claim you are ignorant or misguided or stupid or arrogant. They condemn in the most negative and egregious manner with complete disregard for facts or truth. But they never tell us who they are, do they?

This type of commenter is the real village idiot...and more. This kind of person lacks integrity and spews foolish nonsense and personal insults knowing all along that he/she has no accountability because he/she hides behind a protected wall of anonymity and therefore never "owns" what they write. They accept no responsibility for their dishonesty, negativity and inauthenticity.

In my previous blog I discussed the unfortunate amount of "hate and fake" emails that make their way around the Internet. The anonymous commenters whose conscienceless deceit makes its way onto bloggers' comments sections is the same kind of dishonest and ethically challenged individual. They are pathetic and cowardly.

Fortunately for the bloggers, reasonable and rational people recognize the difference between diatribe and substance and are unwilling to accept the former as the latter.

This blog is dedicated to the anonymous commenter "REmavens".

Patriotism Is a Virtue

Greetings...

Is anyone else sick and tired of receiving emails from extremists with messages that are completely false and often degrading and insulting? And then they ask you to forward the message to everyone you know?

Do you want to know who the worst terrorists are in our country?

They are those who spread wild lies and totally false information on the Internet about anyone and anything that opposes their beliefs and false claims of patriotism.

They attempt to spread fear about the leadership of our country by propagating fabrications that have necessitated the creation of rumor debunking sites such as SNOPES.com, FACTCHECK.org, TRUTHORFICTION.com and others.

They have even gone so far as to attempt to cast doubt on the validity of the research done by the above fact-checking sites by making false claims about those sites!

And all in the name of "truth" when what they do is actually all in the name of wild exaggerations, lies and fear-mongering. The conscienceless deceit involved crosses the line of honesty, integrity and ethical standards.

It is terrorism of the worse kind because it spreads lies in the name of patriotism. It's shameful, disgraceful, and anything BUT patriotic. (remember Timothy McVeigh?)

Fortunately, most reasonable people can differentiate between appearance and substance.

Patriotism is a virtue that can not exist on a foundation of lies, false innuendo and diatribe.

Real Estate: A Bumpy Road Ahead?

Imagine if we only had a crystal ball. Our major financial and life decisions would be so simple to make, and there would be no risk and no worries. Unfortunately, we do not have that luxury. Our decisions must be made upon solid data and information.

Over the past year, you may have heard a repeated message; now is a good time to buy. From the data we have, we do in fact know that it is a buyer’s market, and a good one. A wide variety of inventory is available, and interest rates are still low, making this an unprecedented time for buyers to take advantage of the market, and many already have.

In its latest release, the National Association of Realtors® states, "pending home sales rose in February, potentially signaling a second surge of home sales in response to the home buyer tax credit. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in February, rose 8.2 percent" compared to the same time last year.

Unfortunately, there are several factors that could impact the future direction of this market, making the road ahead a bumpy one, and uncertain at the very least.

The tax credit has expired and many industry analysts and economists agree that sales will slowly dwindle into the coming months. To quote an article in the Wall Street Journal, on home sales, curb your enthusiasm, "While there might be strong data in future weeks, industry experts have long said that softness could follow once the incentive - essentially free money - to buy is taken away."

We are also uncertain what the Fed will do to interest rates. Rates have held quite steady, but it is anticipated that the Fed will increase them, and to what extent is uncertain. If the rates do increase, it could impact the type and size of home a buyer could purchase. Buyers could be priced out of the market with an increase of rates by only a few points.

Yet another unknown variable is the amount of shadow inventory that could come onto the market at any given time. Shadow inventory are homes that have undergone foreclosure, but the banks have yet to place on the market. According to an MSN Money article, home seizures by banks set a new record and "prices have stabilized in many areas because banks have kept these properties off the market, adding that banks will likely continue to do so until the economy picks up again."

Of course every local real estate market has slight variables. To determine exactly what has taken place in your market over the past month consult with your local REALTOR.

If you’re seriously looking to purchase a property, now truly is the time to buy. Don’t gamble on the future with so many unknowns up ahead.

And f you didn’t have a chance to take advantage of the Tax Credit, just visit NewEnglandMoves.com. There are many homes participating in the Coldwell Banker Buyer Bonus program offering a credit up to $8,000, or speak directly to me and I will be happy to assist you.

Regards,

Jay Burnham, VP

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

North Shore, Massachusetts

Direct Line: 978.233.2828

Great Party...No Friends!

Imagine you are planning a great party for your closest friends. You want to save money where you can, so instead of paying for printing you buy some generic invitations. Then to save time you write "occupant" on the envelopes and take them to post office to be delivered.

When the big day arrives, you are in for a surprise. Your guests begin arriving but you don't recognize a single one of them. You planned an elegant black-tie affair, but they're all dressed for a back-yard barbecue. Before long, you realize that every one is a stranger, not at all the guests you had planned to spend the evening with.

Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? But when homeowners decide to sell "by owner," they create a scenario just as improbable. The generic sign appears in the front yard as an invitation to complete strangers to knock on the door at all hours for information. Another invitation, an ad, goes into the local newspaper.

The "guests" arrive all right, whenever they feel like it. They are an interesting collection of bargain hunters, investors, and "tire-kickers." Each plans to feast off the homeowner's equity – by making a low offer to purchase the home or, in the case of the tire-kicker, to just enjoy some free hospitality.

When it's time to sell your home, choose an agent who understands the invitation process. "Black-tie" buyers work with agents who can introduce them to homes that are the "talk of the town."

Regards,

Jay Burnham, VP
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Citizens Win Operational Audit of Schools at Town Meeting

The following is the text of the presentation made by Enough Is Enough at the Hamilton Town Meeting on Saturday, May 8th. After minor debate the motion was passed by a margin of more than 5 to 1.

* * *

Presented by Jay Burnham

Thank you Mr. Moderator… and greetings fellow residents of Hamilton. Last week I had the privilege of speaking to this same motion at the Wenham Annual Town Meeting. Because we are a Regional School District, the motion needs to pass in both towns. It passed by an overwhelming majority in Wenham and it had the unanimous support of both the Wenham Board of Selectmen and the Wenham Finance and Advisory Committee. In fact, it was reported in the Salem News the following day:

“Any lingering doubts that a proposal for an operational audit of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional District enjoys broad-based community support were buried under a blizzard of white voter cards at Wenham’s Annual Town Meeting on Saturday afternoon.”

I understand that the Hamilton Board of Selectmen and the Hamilton Finance and Advisory Committee also support this motion and you will hear from them shortly. It should also be noted that all the current candidates for election to the BoS and the School Committee that spoke recently at the League of Women Voters Candidate’s night stated support for this motion as well.

A little more than a year ago Enough Is Enough was sufficiently concerned with the costs associated with our schools that we suggested that an operational, or efficiency audit, of the school district would be advisable. Shortly after that the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) was formed and began investigating school costs. When they reported their findings last June, we discovered that our school operating costs were much higher than comparable school districts. Unfortunately, nothing was ever done about it.

Then in February of this year, Dave Reid and other members of the BRC received new, current and updated information, working directly with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). That updated information showed that our costs were now even HIGHER than they were in last year’s study. It was reported that we spend between $2 to $4 million more a year than comparable or cohort school districts…or nearly $2,000 more per student…without the benefit of a better education as measured by scholastic test scoring.

Once again, nothing was done about it. The School District set about denying the results, defending the spending and delaying a solution. It was clear that something had to be done and the district was not going to be the one to initiate the process.

As a result Enough Is Enough prepared and began circulating a Citizen’s Petition requesting an amendment to the Regional School Agreement calling for an Operational Audit. An amendment of the Regional School Agreement is the ONLY recourse that citizens have when it comes to the school district, which is otherwise autonomous.

The motion before you is different than what was originally proposed. Despite claims of support for an operational audit, the School District placed numerous roadblocks in the path of the Citizens Petition. In an effort to find common ground and compromise, EiE voluntarily modified the original motion as follows:

1. We have removed the obligation of the Superintendent or School Committee to adopt the recommendations of the Operational Audit.


2. We have removed the obligations of the Superintendent or School Committee to present a plan for such adoption.


3. We now only require the Superintendent or School Committee to report to the Selectmen, at an advertised Public Hearing, their response to the recommendations made in the Operational Audit.


4. We have removed, as a result of agreement by the towns to fund the costs and expenses of the audit, the requirement that the School District pay for the Operational Audit.


5. We have added the requirement that the costs and expenses of the Operational audit shall not exceed $90k and that the Towns of Hamilton and Wenham will fund the costs according to the current fiscal year rolling average assessment percentage…which is roughly 1/3 Wenham, 2/3 Hamilton.


6. We removed the requirement that an Operational Audit be conducted every five (5) years.

What we have NOT changed and WILL NOT modify is the SCOPE of the Operational Audit or the MECHANISIM for assuring that the audit is performed.

The mechanism for that assurance is the Regional School District Agreement and the motion before you calls for amending that agreement so as to require the Operational Audit. The Regional Agreement is the CONTRACT between the District and our two communities. Bound only by the terms of that CONTRACT, the District is, as I mentioned before, otherwise autonomous. The School committee has suggested that the article should not be in the Regional Agreement because it is now a one time event and that we therefore somehow risk approval of the amendment by the Commissioner of DESE. We say that if the Commissioner considers denying this amendment, an amendment designed to improve the schools…at no cost to the schools…an amendment supported by the BoS and Finance Committees of both towns, an amendment that resulted from a citizens petition signed by 879 registered voters…and approved (at least so far…in Wenham) by more than 80% of the voters at Town Meeting…well then, ladies and gentlemen, our problems and far worse than we think. We’re willing and insist upon taking that alleged risk.

And lastly, we come to the SCOPE of the audit. The District wants to limit the focus to only a study of Instructional Services and SPED. That would be like asking the voters in this room to approve the Town Budget with only 2 line items presented. To the contrary, what is needed is a full and complete operational audit by an unbiased, professional auditing firm with expertise in exactly this kind of school operational study and review.

I have a copy of a full operational audit report. It is 331 pages in length…It’s a report of a school district with 3900 students, or a little less than twice our size. It is a study and complete review of an entire school system including:

• District Administration


• Financial Management


• Purchasing


• Education Service Delivery Costs


• Special Education


• Human Resources


• Facility Use & Management


• Transportation


• Technology Management


• Nutrition Services

The report is full of commendations, (yes…recognition of what the district is doing well and right) as well as “best practice” recommendations and fiscal recommendations for savings…in the case of that school district, $16 million over 5 years.

Being half the size, just imagine if we could save half that amount. Perhaps we could eliminate some User Fees…or make repairs to this auditorium…or fix up the high school lockers…or maybe all of those things.

The primary goal of the operational audit is to insure that non-instructional functions are running efficiently so that as much of school district funding as possible goes directly to the classroom and to identify savings that can be gained through best practices.

Making a positive difference…making our schools better…lies today with you and your vote.

I urge you to vote YES to the motion before you for an operational audit. We need it, it’s the fiscally responsible thing to do, and it’s the right time to do it.

And in closing, I’d like to offer one other quote from the Salem News, this one by Steve Landwehr the day before Wenham’s supportive Town Meeting vote.

He wrote:

“On its face, it’s a straightforward proposal for an independent examination of the finances and operations of the Hamilton/Wenham Regional School District. What’s at stake, however, is trust.”

You know, there just may be more truth in that statement than any one of us in this room would like to admit.

Let’s begin building trust back up within our community. It can begin if we all agree to a full and complete operational audit that will surely provide the transparency we all desire and deserve.

And along with that transparency… I believe we can find that missing trust.

Please vote YES… and make a positive difference.

Thank you for your consideration.