North Shore Living

THINKING OF SELLING YOUR HOME? Learn about the BEST Internet Marketing Strategy available!

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 12:54:00 +0000

Marketing your home and exposing it to the world is one of the most important things a Realtor does to get your home sold for the highest dollar value and in the shortest amount of time possible.

Every year the National association of Realtors surveys buyers and sellers asking key questions about buying and selling. And each year the Internet plays a bigger and bigger role in buying and selling homes. In 2012, 90% of buyers used the Internet as a source of information in their home search process. That is why it is essential to work with a company that understands and implements a comprehensive INTERNET MARKETING STRATEGY.

Wouldn't you agree that having an Internet strategy that brings buyers to your Realtor's website to find your home is extremely important?

Most real estate companies have a website, but none I know of offer a comprehensive Internet Marketing Strategy...except Coldwell Banker.

If you are thinking of selling your home, call me. I will be pleased to explain how our integrated Internet Marketing Strategy is simply the best way to sell your home... for the most money, in the least amount of time Hands down.

Best regards,

Jay Burnham, VP
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Massachusetts North Shore
978.233.2828

My Annual 10 Predictions For The Real Estate Market

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:28:00 +0000

Last year, I began this annual article by saying that “A simple answer to any questions about the real estate market in 2012 is: If you want to know what the housing market will be like next year, ask the government.”

As I sit down to write and offer my predictions for 2013, the part about “ask the government” seems even more succinct because today is New Year’s Eve and the “fiscal cliff” negotiations remain at an impasse.

Nonetheless, I offer the following 10 predictions for the real estate market in 2013:

1. Home prices will rise, but moderately. We have already seen rising prices in many market areas, but I expect the rises to be slight, in the 2% - 4% range.

2. Builder confidence will move upward. Signs of a rebound are appearing locally and nationally and new home building permits are on the rise.

3. Demand will rise, resulting in higher home prices (See #1). We are already experiencing a shortage of inventory on the North Shore, resulting in slightly higher prices. And as prices rise, so will the demand as buyers fear missed opportunity.

4. Low interest rates will remain in effect, with moderate increases foreseeable, possibly inching up to around 4%.

5. Lending will remain tight. The “defensive” posturing by the banks will remain in effect.

6. The “shadow inventory” (foreclosures and short sales) will shrink…cautiously. The housing market is still fragile and the banks and the government will continue to responsibly address the issue.

7. More first time buyers will enter the market. With the rental market remaining constant, many first time buyers, tired of waiting for the chance to own, will finally jump into the market and take advantage of low interest rates and the belief that home prices have nowhere to go but up.

8. The 2^nd home market will re-emerge in 2013. Investors and vacation homebuyers, slightly behind the primary home market, will follow the trend.

9. This may be the year of modification of the home interest deduction. There was talk of it in 2012 and anything seems possible as the government looks for ways to balance the budget. Perhaps a cap on the amount allowed will be considered.

10. The real estate industry will see a rise in the number of agents returning to the business. Agents who dropped out during tough times will begin filtering back in as they perceive a better market. Perhaps now would be a good time to raise the bar for qualifying to obtain a real estate license.

(10-A... Just a note about how one aspect of real estate has changed in the past 10 years:

The days of the sales agent as depicted in Glengarry Glenn Ross have passed. Long gone are the days of the seller knowing far more about a property than the buyer, which prompted the advice “caveat emptor”… buyer beware.

Today buyers often know as much, or in some cases even more than the seller, due to the enormous and comprehensive amount of information available online, at the buyer’s fingertips.

Equally good advice today, therefore, may be “caveat venditor”… seller beware.)

I wish you all a great new year and hope you will remember this...2013 may be the BEST year ever to buy a home, with incredibly low interest rates and property prices just beginning to rise. Don't be one of those that in 2014 or 2015 say: "I remember when I could have bought that home for $X" or "I missed the opportunity of a lifetime in 2013."

Best regards,

Jay

Jay Burnham, VP
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

North Shore, Massachusetts

Value Range Marketing For Home Sales

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:59:00 +0000

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage has recently embraced a concept known as Value Range Marketing.

What is Value Range Marketing?

It is an alternative way of marketing a property in this challenging real estate market.

Here's how it works:

The seller decides upon a range in which he/she would consider an offer. In doing so, they are inviting any interested buyer(s) to make them an offer and they will in turn either accept it or respond to it (counter).

It sets up parameters for negotiation.

The theory around this strategy is that no one knows for certain what a true price for a home is until the buyer and the seller agree. If the seller gives a range, it allows an interested buyer to know from the beginning the parameters of the seller's expectation of value.

Value Range Marketing, therefore, has the potential to attract a wider pool of buyers and invites more offers than a "fixed price". It also has the potential to significantly reduce the number of Days on the Market (DOM).

Some real estate agents do not yet comprehend the concept or are unwilling to embrace change. Their misunderstanding may be compounded by the fact that the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) only allows a single price posting, not a range as we are discussing here. For that reason, any property listed using Value Range Marketing will have the following disclosure prominently posted in the first line of REMARKS:

"Sellers are willing to entertain offers between $________ and $________."

...and the price posted in the MLS will be the first amount, or the lower dollar figure.

EXAMPLE: Recently a home was listed in my area using Value Range Marketing ($325,000 - $375,000) and an agent submitted an offer at the lower dollar amount, claiming the offer was "full price". But since the pricing was a range, any offer less than $375,000 could not be considered "full price".

The agent went on to say, "My buyers felt that, regardless of the system you are using, that the property was listed at $325,000."

That broker simply does not understand the Value Range Marketing... or she had failed to read, or chosen to ignore, the first line in the remarks section of the listing data.

Unfortunately for that agent's buyers, they were not properly informed/educated and they ended up losing the home to another buyer whose broker understood the concept and its value for her clients. The second buyers negotiated within the range posted in the listing data and came to a quick and fair agreement with the sellers. Win-Win.

Oh yes...and the Days on Market?... 6.

Value Range Marketing works.

Hamilton Deserves Better

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:48:00 +0000

The following STATEMENT was delivered and read at the

Hamilton Board of Selectman's meeting on July 2, 2012:

Trust, Respect and Confidence of a community are essential elements a town employee or school administrator must possess.

You will recall that the Hamilton-Wenham School Committee announced last year that the employment of School Superintendent Dr. Raleigh Buchanan was being terminated...less than one year into a three-year contract.

The principal reason?...Loss of Confidence.

LOSS OF CONFIDENCE is a term often used as grounds for termination of an employee. Loss of confidence arising from fraud or willful breach of trust by an employee is generally seen as a just cause for termination.

Ordinary breach should not suffice. It should be willful and without justifiable excuse and should be supported by substantial evidence, not merely by the whims or caprice of the employer.

Which brings us to the position of Hamilton Town Counsel, currently held by Attorney Donna Brewer. Ms. Brewer was so involved with the Hamilton Police Department conflict and resulting Marchand lawsuit as to be deemed one of the central figures in that controversy.

As a result, two independent investigatory reports were commissioned by the town: the Hayes Report and the Pomeroy Report. Both reports clearly indicated Ms. Brewer's central role in the Police Department affair.

A third report, the Urbelis Report, was commissioned to review the two previous reports and to specifically evaluate Ms. Brewer's actions. Thomas Urbelis is a respected Boston attorney who serves as Town Counsel for Andover and North Andover. The Urbelis investigation uncovered such wrongful acts that the report was held secret, as attorney-client privilege, for three years until AFTER the Marchand case was settled.

Upon its release to the public, the Urbelis Report was posted on The Hamilton-Wenham Patch and residents weighed in with spirited commenting on the contents of the report and Ms. Brewer's actions.

Why? Because the Urbelis Report, in support of both the Hayes and Pomeroy reports, determined that Ms. Brewer did in fact willfully and without justifiable excuse act in an inappropriate and culpable manner. Citizens are understandably outraged.

As a result of her actions, Attorney Brewer has forfeited the trust, respect and confidence of the community and appropriately, she should be terminated as Town Counsel.

Many concerned citizens have already contacted the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager, but so far no progress has been made regarding Ms. Brewer's replacement. Town Manager Michael Lombardo has chosen to support Ms. Brewer's continued employment and has suggested that her "reasonable" fees and "pro bono" work are a chief consideration for keeping her on payroll. He has, it seems, chosen to ignore her poor and questionable performance prior to his becoming Town Manager and how much that performance has actually cost Hamilton and the taxpayers…in lost and settled court cases (culminating in the Marchand lawsuit settlement of $1,285,000.00), poor or improper legal advice, loss of income now that we no longer have a town-owned ambulance service, and of course, loss of community reputation for our town.

Ms. Brewer's actions merit condemnation and dismissal, not support and employment.

We respectfully insist that this issue be formally reviewed and reconsidered and that the position of Town Counsel be put out to bid for a new attorney to represent our town.

Hamilton deserves better.

Thank you.

Submitted by the following Hamilton residents, and supported by considerably more...

Jay Burnham

Bob Gray

Shirley Gray

Leon Purington

Bruce Wadleigh

Dale Wadleigh

Leigh Keyser

Betty Dunbar

Margo Killoram

David Southwick

Bea Britton

Jim Kent

Julianna Kallas

Ed Howard

Laura Howard

George LaMontagne

Linda Morey

Dan Ellison
Robert Sica

To read The Hamilton-Wenham Patch's article published the following day after this statement was delivered: [Click Here]

July 8th Update: To read another blogger's opinion (The Informed Hamilton Blog) regarding this same issue: [Click Here]

Look For the 2012 Hamilton-Wenham Free Press

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The 2012 Hamilton-Wenham Free Press will be delivered shortly to all residences in both towns. The Free Press is a complimentary newspaper provided by Citizens For Fiscal Responsibility, aka Enough Is Enough. The paper includes timely information regarding upcoming issues for the Annual Town Meetings, political commentary, local community projects, property tax charts and data for the North Shore and more. There's even a tasty chili recipe!

This year the paper has expanded from eight pages to twelve as more and more citizens have written articles of interest about the goings on and important issues in our towns.

Contributors this year include:

Terrill Jennings, Julianna Kallas, William Dery, Edwin Howard, Jack Lawrence, Kerry Mackin, Bruce Wadleigh, Robert Sica, Leigh Keyser, James Kent, Betty Gray, Lee Fremont, David Thompson, Joseph Palermino, Bob Gray, Rick Mitchell, Jay Burnham and Ron Powell.

Be sure to look for this year's Free Press in your mailbox and read what your friends and neighbors and thoughtful citizens have to say about the two great towns we are so very fortunate to live in.

Enjoy!

School Audits Demand Immediate Attention & Action

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:43:00 +0000

This week, the Boston Globe ran an article in the NORTH section about how $1.6 million in the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District (HWRSD) financial accounts was "found" by a newly hired financial accounting firm.

The findings came as little or no surprise to many town officials, taxpayers, parents and especially to Enough Is Enough (EiE), the fiscal watchdog group that was formed three years ago in Hamilton and Wenham to stave off the school district's process of "budgeting by overrides" which resulted in burdening residents of Hamilton and Wenham with two of the highest property tax rates on the North Shore.

According to the article this was the third time in the past year that the HWRSD was found to have significantly more money that had been indicated.

One of the other two cases involved funding that the HWRSD allegedly needed in order to pay for a new boiler for the Cutler School. Faced with the urgency and need as expressed by the School Committee (SC) that no funds were available, voters, along with support from EiE, overwhelming approved bonding at both Town Meetings to help pay for the project. Now we are told that the funding was unnecessary and that the district paid $794,000 for the heating system out of existing funds. The question now is whether the SC will continue to seek the bond approved by the voters FOR THE BOILER and attempt to divert those funds to other projects…such as work on the High School auditorium…a project that was previously rejected by the voters.

According to the Globe article, SC chairman Alexa McGloughan praised the work of the new financial accounting firm, stating "I think we have finally cracked the code on how to demystify school accounting" and that she felt that new accounting practices would lead to better efficiency.

Enough Is Enough has responded by saying it wishes that Ms. McGloughan felt the same way about the thorough and lengthy (400 pages) and complete OPERATIONAL AUDIT REPORT that was completed last year after having been overwhelmingly approved by voters in both towns. That report clearly supported a previous report (The Blue Ribbon Report) that found that the HWRSD costs nearly $2 million more per year than comparable school districts.

The difference with the OPERATIONAL AUDIT is that it clearly paved the way for correction of the school cost discrepancies with specific recommendations. Unfortunately, the SC and district have failed to implement the audit's numerous COST-SAVING recommendations and initiatives, choosing instead to implement the few COST ENHANCING initiatives from the report.

This failure to improve the efficiency of our school district, after being handed a $90k Operational Audit roadmap, is unacceptable. Combine that unwillingness to act on the Operational Audit with the recent financial audit which uncovered $1.6 million, and according to EiE, "that suggests better efficiency is not, as suggested within the article, a primary concern of the School Committee".

"You're going to create a better budget going forward if you know where you're coming from," McGloughan stated.

I believe that should be a naturally true statement and hope that the SC will not continue to ignore the cost reducing recommendations of the Operational Audit when preparing their budget. It's been more than a year since the Operational Audit was unveiled. It's time to implement many of the recommendations that until now have been ignored... ignored similarly to the financial accounting that recently uncovered the $1.6 million.

QUESTION: Does anyone else wonder much we paid to have the new accounting firm straighten out the books and in so doing find the $1.6 million? Talk around town is that the firm spent more than 200 hours on the project.

What the Internet Can and Cannot Do

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:58:00 +0000

It is often said that “the only thing new in the world is the history that you don't know". This saying kept going through my brain when a home valuation web site named Zillow was launched to a lot of buzz a couple of years ago. The press, as usual, carted out the same tired (and wrong) prediction that it has made for fifteen years: that home valuation sites like these will put Realtors® out of business or at least greatly reduce our fees.

Actually, over the last fifteen years, the opposite has transpired: it doesn’t matter whether you are talking about law, medicine, accounting, mortgage or real estate; the more that the public uses the Internet to gather information, the more they turn to professionals before they make major decisions. That’s because there is a huge difference between gathering information and interpreting it.

Over ten years ago, a friend of mine penned a Real Estate Internet Warning that seems even more relevant today than it did then:

REAL ESTATE INTERNET WARNING©

“Despite advertising claims to the contrary, the Internet is NOT an experienced Real Estate Professional. It cannot consult, counsel, advise, have knowledge of local laws and market conditions, make judgments, "own" the result, or most importantly, understand your individual goals and needs and care about you as a Client. Furthermore, while the Internet can provide information, it cannot interpret it.”
. . .Mollie Wasserman

The reason that the press keeps getting it wrong is that they do not make the distinction between information and knowledge. As John Tucillo states in his book The Eight New Rules of Real Estate, “Information is a collection of facts or observations about reality. Knowledge is actionable”. In today’s information age, consumers can increasingly get all the information that they want or need, but it’s useless unless someone with expertise in the field can provide the knowledge to allow them to correctly act upon it. Information, without the context of a pro who can share the day-to-day knowledge of the industry, is just data. If a consumer were to act on it without context, they could very well reach incorrect conclusions and achieve undesirable results.

As my colleague (and fellow CyberStar™) Margaret Rome so eloquently stated on her blog regarding Zillow: “This site depends on public records for its data. But public records will not show factors, like recent additions and improvements or the condition of the interior, that affect price. Public records can also be wrong; a friend of mine checked her house and said she wants that fireplace she’s supposed to have, but will not give up the second bathroom they didn’t count. If the information about a house is wrong, how valid is the price estimate? Besides, price is only one factor in buying or selling your home, and getting to the settlement table means avoiding traps and overcoming obstacles.”

A top agent will be experienced at:

negotiating the terms of your contract,
making sure only qualified buyers troop through your home,
meeting and dealing with appraisers, and
working with home inspectors and lenders to be sure you are protected from start to finish.

In other words, technology is a fabulous way to gather data and can do functionary tasks better, faster, and cheaper than any human being ever could. But the danger does not lie in understanding that technology. The danger is that by itself, the Internet can never provide the fiduciary counsel required in areas such as medicine, mortgage lending, law, and real estate.

Please remember that while the Internet can provide information, it can never interpret it. And here's the straight scoop: A Realtor's® true value is not in helping you find a home, or getting you numbers regarding comparable sales, though we certainly have the tools to do so. Our TRUE value is in using our experience and expertise to get you the best value once you find your home or the most money in your pocket when it comes time to sell.

To obtain an accurate assessment of any data you're receiving online, please contact me direct at: (978) 233-2828.

Thank You!

My Annual 10 Real Estate Predictions for the Upcoming Year

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:24:00 +0000

A simple answer to any questions about the real estate market in 2012 is: If you want to know what the housing market will be like next year, ask the government. At this point, low mortgage interest rates only exist thanks to its efforts and job recovery is essential to real estate recovery.

But if you were to ask me, I predict:

1. Foreclosures and short sales will play a key role in U.S. housing. The U.S real estate market is poised to be hit by another surge of bank repossessions.

2. Buyer confidence levels will remain low due to election-year mud-slinging.

3. Expect a fight over the home mortgage interest deduction.

4. Rates will remain low through the year.

5. Builders will begin building…slowly and cautiously…and their primary pool of buyers will be those that have sat on the sidelines and now believe that if we are not at the bottom, we are close enough to make a move without significant negative consequence…especially considering today's prices for new construction.

6. Many lower end move-up buyers will remain cautious, wary of further market reductions and/or fear of job loss. Consumer confidence will be tied to unemployment numbers.

7. We will see a rise in home sales in terms of units sold. The baby boomers began turning 65 in 2011, which will cause a rising number of retirement-driven listings.

8. There will be little or no appreciation in home values.

9. Homebuyer's real estate tools will become even more mobile… everything from smart phones, iPads, netbooks, portable scanners, e-signatures and more.

10. On the commercial front... retail, office and industrial vacancies will decline as more tenants seek, and receive, landlord concessions.

All in all, I predict a slow and steady recovery in real estate for 2012. Consumer confidence is the key to a turnaround in the market. The government has to stimulate the jobs recovery and when it does, the real estate market will follow.

Have a great year and remember this...2012 may be the BEST year ever to buy a home, with incredibly low interest rates and property prices. Don't be one of those that in 2013 or 2014 says: "I remember when I could have bought that home for $X" or "I missed the opportunity of a lifetime in 2012."

Best regards,

Jay

School Committee Relents...Agrees to Return $500k to the Taxpayers

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:29:00 +0000

HALLELUJAH!

I frankly do not know what else to say.

Somebody lend me a defibrillator.

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District School Committee tonight (June 23rd) astonishingly RE-VOTED and re-certified the fiscal 2012 budget to include the so-called $500k "give back" to the towns for last year's over-funded school budget (approximately $1 million).

There is no further need to discuss the controversy, anger and angst that has now been extinguished by this momentous decision. All that is left is to offer kudos and congratulations to the School Committee for having stepped up at the last minute to end the issue in a right, fair and just manner and also to those community leaders and citizens that helped play a major role in this positive outcome. You know who you are.

This also means that Hamilton will not need to hold the Special Town Meeting that had been scheduled for next Monday, which is likewise a good thing for our community.

THANK YOU again, School Committee, for doing the right thing. I would agree with Hamilton Selectman Jeff Hubbard who said:

"I think this is a night where we can turn the page."

Now...

...about of those fiscal recommendations from the Operational Audit?

(Hey... you didn't think we'd let you off the hook that easily did you?)

This Is the Truth...These Are The Facts.

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:43:00 +0000

To borrow a quote from my friend Barbara Anderson...

"There are two kinds of people, from various perspectives, reading this column: 1. People who want to know the truth; and 2. People who would rather not know until it's too late."

This week's blog article explores the belief that the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School Committee is a liability to our towns, our residents AND our schools. Their budgeting ineptitude, autonomy and arrogance for at least the last 10 years has resulted in a property tax rate that is one of the highest on the North Shore and a school district reputation that is in steep decline.

Follow along for a minute to see how the School Committee's many poor decisions have resulted in the unfortunate position we now find ourselves in. Here are the facts:

School override after school override (aka: "overandoverrides"). Since 2001 the school district has demanded nine Proposition 2.5 overrides. Eight have been granted. The cumulative cost to the taxpayers for those eight overrides = $43,970,000. "Budgeting by Override" never was a sound accounting process and was most certainly unsustainable.

Loss of property values. The overrides have resulted in Hamilton and Wenham having two of the highest property tax rates on the North Shore. This means that many home buyers are circumventing Hamilton and Wenham in favor or surrounding communities, many with equally good schools. The end result is a significant loss of value in your home and your equity.

Highest per pupil cost. Two independent reports have concluded that residents in Hamilton and Wenham pay about $2,000 more per pupil in our school district than in peer school districts.

Blue Ribbon Report on school district costs. The Blue Ribbon report, and a subsequent update to the report, indicated that our school district costs residents $2 - $4 million more per year than comparable school districts in Massachusetts.

School Superintendent departure. In a move some have called "fleeing from a sinking ship", former School Superintendent Marinel McGrath resigned and took a position in Andover, MA. Her assistant superintendent and business manager, Paul Sysmanski, also departed... moving first to Billerica and then over to Andover to join with McGrath again.

New School Superintendent. In a rush to replace McGrath, despite calls to slow down and seek an interim superintendent, the School Committee unanimously approved the hiring of Dr. Raleigh Buchanan and granted him a three-year contract at a significantly higher salary than that of his previous position as Superintendent in Haverhill. Residents were told that we needed to offer a high salary in order to attract the best candidates.

School Operational Audit. Hamilton and Wenham voters overwhelmingly supported funding an Operational Audit of the School District to determine what was wrong and where efficiencies could be found. The audit report suggests that savings of up to $15 million over 5 years are possible and offers 125 financial recommendations. The School Committee has all but ignored the cost-saving recommendations and has focused solely on implementing the cost-enhancing recommendations. The School Committee has resolutely claimed the audit is "flawed"...EXCEPT when it supports their agenda of additional spending.

2012 School Budget Season. The School committee's WORKING FINANCE GROUP, after determination that the 2011 district budget was OVER-FUNDED by more than $1 million, recommended a so-called "give back" to the towns of $350k.

The School Committee refusal. The School Committee ignored their own WORKING FINANCE COMMITTEE'S recommendation and voted to give nothing back to the towns... Nothing. Zip. How's that for "compromise"?

The School Committee violates the Open Meeting Law. The School Committee was forced to admit they violated the State's Open Meeting Law on numerous occasions during the budget season, despite, as their attorney stated, all members having been trained in procedures and processes of the law.

Towns boards seek return of unspent funds. Town officials (ALL members of both Boards of Selectmen and Finance and Advisory Committees of BOTH towns) requested the School District return $500k in unspent taxpayer funds (half). They cited additional approved state funding of $120k and a Latin teacher salary ($77k) with no Latin teacher. Recognizing that the district was OVER-FUNDED by more than $1 million in 2011, the Selectmen and FinCom members felt that requesting only the return of $500k represented an extremely fair compromise proposal.

The School Committee's refuses. Again...No willingness whatsoever to compromise.

School budget rejected by voters. Voters at the Hamilton Annual Town Meeting approved the motion to give back $500k to the taxpayers and rejected the School Committee's budget, requiring the School Committee to certify a new budget and resubmit it for consideration.

School Superintendent reviews delayed. For various reasons, the yearly reviews of the Superintendent of Schools were delayed repeatedly until AFTER both Town Meetings were over. Once they were released, it became abundantly clear that the School Committee had been on a collision course with Dr. Buchanan.

Another School Superintendent departs. Less than one year into his three year contract Dr. Buchanan abruptly resigned claiming "irreconcilable differences" with the School Committee, the result of scathing reviews by most members of that committee...the same committee that unanimously and emotionally approved his hiring one year ago. (Cost to the district to buy out his contract: $115,000.00)

Middle/High School Principal moves on. Matt Fox accepts a job as Middle School Principal in Marblehead.

Another School Principal looks to move on. Winthrop School principal Carrie Vaich sought a new position and was named a finalist in Newburyport and at the Rollinsford Grade School in NH. After Newburyport chose the other candidate, she chose to remain in Hamilton.

School Committee incumbents are voted out of office. All three open positions on the School Committee are won by new candidates...sending a clear message, one would think.

A School District in trouble. We now have no Middle School principal, no High School principal and no full time Superintendent (Peter Gray, thankfully, is serving as acting superintendent...for the time being.)

School Budget "re-certification". As a result of the Hamilton Town Meeting vote, the School Committee certified a new budget, this time with only a $300k "give back" instead of the $500k approved by the voters and recommended by town officials. The SC has referred to this amount as a "compromise proposal"...suggesting that the STARTING POINT was $500k, instead of $1 million, which is the ACTUAL OVER-FUNDED AMOUNT. This means Hamilton will have to hold a Special Town Meeting later this month and incur the additional COSTS, INCONVENIENCE and ANGER of the residents.

This last decision was perhaps the most unfortunate and misguided act yet by the HWRSD School Committee. A significant opportunity was lost by the blindness of all but two committee members (newly elected members, I would point out). Had they not been so blind, they surely would have understood that most of the divisiveness, the mistrust, and the angst of the residents of Hamilton and Wenham could have been eliminated had they simply agreed to what the majority of COMBINED VOTERS OF BOTH TOWNS expressed at the two May Town Meetings: Give us back just HALF of our unspent tax funds. Half...that's all we're asking for.

The truth... there it is. The facts...there they are.

As Barbara's quote at the beginning of this article stated, it may be too late for those of you who do not want to know the truth.

But I sincerely hope it's not.

Please plan to attend the Special Town Meeting on June 27th at the Winthrop School at 7:00 PM and let your voices, and your votes, be heard again.

Vote NO to the proposed school budget at the Special Town Meeting.

Thank you.

4 Reasons Why The School Committee's "Compromise Solution" is NOT

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:42:00 +0000

I thought about titling this blog: "Hello?...Wake Up!" I may still. Or perhaps I'll just insert the wake up notices wherever I feel they are appropriate.

But I digress...the main issue of this blog concerns the results of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School Committee's (SC) meeting of June 9. It was at that meeting that the SC voted to "re-certify" the school district budget as a result of voter opposition to their original budget at the Hamilton Annual Town Meeting in May.

You may recall that the 2011 school district budget was OVER-FUNDED by more than $1 million and as a result, by unanimous consent of both Hamilton and Wenham's Boards of Selectmen and Finance Committees, the 2012 school budget approved at the Hamilton Town Meeting required a "give back" (or reduction from the towns) of $500k from the district, or just half of the unspent funds. Sounds like a fair and reasonable compromise, right?

Unfortunately, the School Committee has now (once again) chosen to defy our town officials and the taxpayers by choosing to certify a new budget with only a $300k give back.

They are calling it a "compromise solution". Here are just 4 things to consider regarding the SC's so-called "compromise solution":

1. This spring, the SC's Working Finance Group voted to give back $350k to the taxpayers for OVER-FUNDING the 2011 school budget. The lone dissenting vote on that committee came from SC member Richard Boroff who was subsequently trounced at the polls in a re-election bid. (Hello?...Wake up!) The Finance Working Group's recommendation was ignored by the full School Committee who chose instead to keep the $350k...without any kind of compromise.

2. Both Hamilton and Wenham's Boards of Selectmen and Finance Committees originally voted to accept the $350k figure recommended by the Finance Working Group until it was discovered that the state would be providing an additional $120,000 in funding AND it was discovered that the 2012 school budget included, among other things, a salary for a non-existent Latin teacher (approximately $77,000). At that point, all the same town officials then voted to increase the amount of the give back to $500k, again unanimously. (Hello?...Wake Up!)

3. The School Committee had the opportunity to end this entire issue had they agreed to give back half of the taxpayers' unspent funds. If they had agreed to the $500k, we would be done. It would be over. No more Special Town Meetings. No more arguments and fighting over what rightfully BELONGS to the taxpayers. But instead, the SC has once again arrogantly chosen to go to battle and burden the residents of our towns with more expense, inconvenience and angst. (Hello?...Wake Up!)

4. Lastly, $300k is simply NOT a "compromise solution". The SC may like the sound of that, but it's a misnomer. You see, when it was shown that the school district had been OVER-FUNDED by $1 million in fiscal year 2011 and the Towns asked for just half of that amount to be returned...THAT was a compromise solution.

The $300k figure agreed to by the SC this week "compromises" the actual compromise solution, which is simply to give back half of what was overcharged to the taxpayers. (Hello?...Wake Up!)

$500k is the compromise solution. Even a third grade math student could figure that one out.

******************

UPDATE: 6/14/11: The following is an excerpt from a white paper provided by the Hamilton Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee days before Hamilton's Annual Town Meeting in May. It seems appropriate to revisit the statement as we head into another Town Meeting, faced with the same issue:

"At the risk of oversimplifying, the entire question of which approach to support could be boiled down to one question: do voters/taxpayers want to put money into the District's E&D fund for either potential problems in FY12 or for expenses in FY13, or do voters/taxpayers want to keep the money in their own pockets and fund the District as needed based on the merits of those needs as they arise? The FinComs and BoS of both towns believe that voters/taxpayers would prefer the latter."

*******************

I want to personally offer thanks and kudos to SC vice-chairman Roger Kubel and new SC member Bill Dery for eloquently expressing what I have attempted to communicate above and for trying to make the other members of the SC understand what the real, and fair, compromise solution is. It appears however that the remaining incumbent members learned little from the Hamilton Town Meeting's voter's wishes regarding the original budget OR the election results on their own board. (Hello?...Wake Up!)

Loss of Confidence is Claim for School Superintendent Dismissal in Hamilton/Wenham

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Mon, 23 May 2011 21:12:00 +0000

Heads were spinning and reality seemed off balance this past week in Hamilton and Wenham when the School Committee abruptly announced that the employment of School Superintendent Dr. Raleigh Buchanan was being terminated...less than one year into a three-year contract.

The principal reason?...Loss of Confidence.

LOSS OF CONFIDENCE is a term often used as grounds for termination of an employee. Loss of confidence arising from fraud or willful breach of trust by an employee is generally seen as a just cause for termination.

Ordinary breach should not suffice. It should be willful and without justifiable excuse and should be supported by substantial evidence, not merely by the whims or caprice of the employer.

For her part, School Committee member Dacia Rubel took great pains to justify her long and disparaging performance review of Dr. Buchanan. Her review was 10 times longer than any other board member's review of the Superintendent. As someone with a law degree (not currently practicing), Ms. Rubel surely knew the term "loss of confidence" and how to use it in order to justify her desire to see Dr. Buchanan removed from his position as School Superintendent.

I counted the term "loss of confidence" no less than eleven times in her evaluation survey. Considering her harsh analysis of Dr. Buchanan's performance, once would have sufficed.

But wait. There are other legal terms that may bear consideration in this instance, such as:

"Wrongful Termination" or "Wrongful Discharge" and most notably "Constructive Dismissal".

Definition: CONSTRUCTIVE DISMISSAL: forcing of resignation of employee: action taken by an employer intended to make continuing in a job intolerable for an unwanted employee, thus forcing the employee to resign.

All we heard after the Executive Session last Thursday night right was a statement issued by the School Committee's attorney, Naomi Stonberg:

"Parties have had a frank conversation about the employment relationship between the Hamilton/Wenham Regional School District and Superintendent Raleigh Buchanan. They have agreed that their mutual interests will be best served by bringing the relationship to a conclusion. There will be no further comments until a final agreement has been reached."

Despite stating "there will be no further comments...", the School Committee issued a statement on Monday ostensibly to clarify the reasoning for that Executive Session meeting. They claimed that it was Dr. Buchanan who requested the meeting and that his performance reviews were not discussed. Surely they would not have us believe that the reviews had nothing to do with Dr. Buchanan's asking to meet in Executive Session. It would be naive to suggest such a thing.

Obviously the meeting was called by Dr. Buchanan as a direct result of the negative performance reviews of most of the School Committee members, in particular Ms. Rubel's - she is clearly the leading spokesperson - and I would suggest that Dr. Buchanan may have felt no choice but to "resign" for reasons imposed by the School Committee.

And that sounds a lot like "Constructive Dismissal".

We'll know more soon, but in the interim there are lots of comments on The Patch and an editorial in the Salem News [click here] for you to review.

When Is An Override NOT An Override?

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Mon, 16 May 2011 01:19:00 +0000

Several readers of this blog have asked me to print the statement which I had the honor to deliver on behalf of Enough Is Enough at the Hamilton Town Meeting, in support of an amendment to the School Committee's proposed budget. Here it is:

**********************

Good Morning fellow residents…I come before you today to speak on behalf of Enough Is Enough.

We support the proposed amendment before you.

QUESTION:...When is an override NOT an override? We suggest it’s when a budget includes funds that are not needed. This year the School committee is demanding $500k MORE than our Finance Committee and our Board of Selectmen and our Town Manager unanimously agree the school’s need.

If you think about it, bloating the school budget by $½ million is quite clever. You see, the last time the School Committee asked for an override, it was denied by the voters. And despite claims to the contrary, the sky did not fall in. That last attempt at an unneeded override was for $1.2 million. I say “unneeded” because the schools got along just fine without it. In fact… even without that $1.2 million, services remained in place, teachers were not laid off…AND this past year the district ended up with a SURPLUS of over $1 million. A SURPLUS!

Today, rather than risk being denied another override by already overburdened taxpayers, the School Committee has simply added unneeded funding into their budget. Don’t be fooled by this ploy. It’s tantamount to an override… but disguised as a budget. At least a real override is for a specific purpose. This unneeded $500k is for things that “may” or “could” or “might” happen…....possibly.

All we have heard over the past few weeks from the School Committee and their budget supporters has been non-specific rhetoric, such as:

QUOTE: “We can’t rule out POSSIBLE service cuts and teacher cuts.”

QUOTE: “It’s POSSIBLE that the E&D account may not be large enough to cover UNEXPECTED expenses.”

(B/T/W…one veteran member of the SC has stated that the E & D balance would be one of the highest amounts he has seen in 19 years on the committee.)

QUOTE: “Anytime you take money away you put things AT RISK.”

QUOTE: “We COULD be faced with revenue shortfalls”

QUOTE: And this is my personal favorite: “It’s difficult to IMAGINE what services might be cut.” YES, it is. It surely is.

That’s a whole lot of innuendo… a lot of “could’s” and “might’s” and “maybe’s” and “possibly’s”. On the other hand, here are some FACTS we would like you to consider:

FACT: The Blue Ribbon Committee (remember them?) came to the conclusion that our school district outspends comparable school districts by between $2 and $4 million a year. As did the Department of Education.

FACT: An expert and detailed independent Operational Audit came to the same conclusion in a four hundred page report.

FACT: The district administration’s original budget, supported by a majority of the members of the School Committee's Working Finance Sub-Committee, was for $350,000 LESS than what the School Committee is demanding from you today.

FACT: Since that time we now know that an additional $120,000 in state funds will be available to the schools.

FACT: The School Committee’s budget ALSO includes salary compensation ($77,000) for a Latin teacher…but there is NO Latin teacher.

I could go on, but in the interest of time and in conclusion, we ask you to consider the following 3 things as you prepare to vote on this important issue:

1. Since 2001, our towns have funded 8 school overrides that have cost the taxpayers $43,947,000 over that 10 year period.

2. With over $1 million in EXCESS funding left over from LAST year, it is fair and appropriate to ask the school district to return a portion of those unspent funds to the taxpayers. This year the Town of Hamilton mistakenly over-charged the taxpayers $275,000. The Selectmen, with the support of the Fincom, did the right thing and immediately voted to return it to you, not keep it in a reserve fund as the schools are demanding. The school district owes you the same courtesy and respect your Selectmen provided you when they “gave back” your money. And although the chairman of the School Committee has publicly referred to the $500,000 as (quote) “our money”, it is NOT their money…it’s yours.

If UNEXPECTED costs are incurred, we suggest the district use the other $500,000 in unspent fiscal year 2011 funds… and if need be, include the $77,000 salary of the non-existent LATIN TEACHER.

3. Lastly, it’s no secret that Hamilton’s property tax rate is one of the highest in Massachusetts, the direct result of unchecked and spiraling school spending. As a Realtor, I can assure you that such a high property tax rate diminishes your home’s market value and your equity…as well as your ability to sell should you need to. If you want to reverse this trend, you need to vote to approve the amendment before you.

Please join me and EiE’s members and supporters… along with ALL the Selectmen and Finance Committee members and our Town Manager… and cast your vote to APPROVE this amendment.

It is right… and it is fair… and it DOES NOT and WILL not result in diminished educational services for our children.

Don’t approve another unnecessary override… cleverly hidden inside the School Committee’s proposed budget.

Please vote YES... in favor of this amendment.

Thank you.

*******************************

The motion passed 181 to 128. Congratulations to those who supported the Town budget, as amended.

UPDATE: Posted 5/22/2011: By now you have likely heard that the School Committee has abruptly TERMINATED the employment of Superintendent Dr. Raleigh Buchanan. It makes you wonder about the "unexpected" expenses they touted at Town Meetings earlier this month in support of keeping the over-funded $500k of unspent taxpayer's money. Also, does anyone else sense that they deliberately waited until AFTER Town Meetings were over to announce their reveiw of Dr. Buchanan...which in turn led to this unfortunate event?

Update: Things You Need To Know About The School Committee

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Thu, 05 May 2011 10:33:00 +0000

Recently I posted an article on this blog titled: THERE'S A NEW GROUP IN HAMILTON & WENHAM (Enough Is NEVER Enough)

At the end of that posting, I added:

Question: If 8 out of 9 School Committee members were present at this meeting, shouldn't it have been posted as something other that a Finance Working Group meeting? Smells a little like a violation of the Open Meeting Laws. Anyone care to comment?

Fortunately, at least one resident did care and he looked into the issue and properly filed a complaint. The attorney for the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School Committee researched the claim and had this to say:

"The School District recognizes that it violated the Open Meeting Law because a quorum of the full School Committee attended and deliberated at the Finance Working Group subcommittee meetings and a meeting of the School Committee was not posted in accordance with M.G.L Chapter 30A, Section 20."

As it turns out, the School Committee received training on the Open Meeting Law in July, 2010. Their willingness to simply ignore the law and hold unposted School Committee meetings in which the new (contested) budget was discussed and deliberated and straw votes were taken is unexcusable as well as unlawful and shows that the lack of transparency within the School Committee is alive and well. If not for this single citizen's complaint, the unlawful behavior would surely have continued. If you wondered why the recent SC meeting, in which the new school budget was voted, appeared so well rehearsed and pre-determined... well, now you know. The vote was rehearsed and pre-determined...unlawfully!

Read more about School Committee issues at The Hamilton-Wenham Patch.
Read more about School Committee issues at The Boston Globe, North Section.
Read more about the School Committee issues at The Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle.

Most of you will recall that the topic of TRUST was mentioned by several speakers at last year's Town Meetings in Hamilton and Wenham and it was reported in the Salem News by the late Steve Landwehr. We were assured by the School Committee that trust would be restored and transparency created.

Obviously, that is simply not the case. The only way to begin to break the arrogant behavior of this committee and restore trust is to vote out all incumbents running for re-election to the School Committee. That will be a good start. A beginning.

Here are a few other things to consider before you cast your vote:

$300,000 was "found" in the HWRSD kindergarten account.
$70,000 was "found" in the school choice account.
$121,000 was "found" in the Medicaid account.
$110,000 was "given back" to the teachers after they had agreed to one day without pay as part of their salary negotiations.
$350,000 budgeted for unemployment was never needed or used.
An extra $120,000 is available through Chapter 70 that was not included in the new school budget.
There is a salary for a Latin teacher included in the new budget...but there is NO Latin teacher.

The Selectmen and Fincoms of both Hamilton and Wenham have voted to approve the School budget LESS $500,000. Even with that, the new budget is $1 million MORE than what was spent last year. That's not what I call "level funded", as the SC claims.

TRUST is earned... not demanded. Vote wisely.

Update 5/6/2011: At this week's scheduled public meeting, the Chairman of the School Committee read a letter written by their attorney admitting that they had violated the Open Meeting Law on numerous occasions. Shamefully, NO APOLOGY was proferred. The chairman stated that "in the context of the new Open Meeting Law" what they did was a violation. Actually, in the context of the old Open Meeting Law what they did was a violation as well, so let's not blame it on changes to the Open Meeting Law.

My view: Vote NO INCUMBENTS for Hamilton Board of Selectmen and School Committee

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Both the Hamilton Board of Selectmen (BoS) and the Hamilton-Wenham School Committee (SC) have positions that are opening up...one on the Board of Selectmen and three on the School Committee.

For Hamilton Selectman, the position currently held by Bill Bowler is up and he is running for re-election. His opponent is Jeff Hubbard.

On the School Committee, the positions currently held by Richard Boroff, Tess Leary and Lauren Prior, are being by challenged by Roger Kuebel, Bill Dery and Sean Condon.

All four of these positions are extremely important for the future of our town and schools. All four of the incumbents have held their current positions long enough. It is well past time for all four to step aside and let new candidates step forward to correct the many mistakes made by those currently in office.

Here are a few of the reasons why I feel this way...

On the School Committee, the members now seeking re-election have burdened the taxpayers of Hamilton and Wenham beyond the tipping point. Since 2001 (the last 10 years), the cost of overrides imposed by the school district have totaled nearly $44 million. Yes...that's MILLION, and that's just the cumulative override costs. It does NOT include the Cutler Boiler project or the additional 2.5% added to the tax levy each year. Those same overrides now cost the taxpayers of our two towns nearly $7 million a year...every single year...forever.

So how do you feel about re-electing the very people that proposed, supported and defended the costs that have resulted in nearly the highest property tax rate on the North Shore? These are the people that made it critically necessary to conduct a complete and thorough operational audit of the school district because of their inability to provide an education for our children at a reasonable and sustainable cost.

They are also the same people that voted against the audit from inception to citzen petition to approval and they are now doing little or nothing to implement cost saving recommendations from the audit report. On the contrary, they are seeking to implement changes that will serve to INCREASE costs, not REDUCE them.

Example: You have undoubtedly heard about the Latin teacher salary that is included in the new school budget....despite there being NO Latin teacher. Or how about the unused $300k found this year in a kindergarten account? Or the fact that this year's school budget is expected to be underspent by about $1 million? Or that $350,000 in expenses were included in this year’s budget to cover unemployment costs for layoffs... but NO layoffs occurred.

Despite all of that, the SC wants an additional $350,000 to put into their reserve E and D account. Thankfully, both Wenham and Hamilton"s Finance Committees and Boards of Selectmen have all said "NO" and have voted to to fund the school budget with a $500,000 decrease. Bravo. [Read the full story here in The Patch]

One member who is running for re-election, Richard Boroff, had this to say when asked by the Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle "What experience would you bring to the School Committee?"

ANSWER: "Three years ago I was chair of the School Committee and led the committee to success in getting passed the largest override we had ever had." That statement alone should convince you to vote for ANY candidate other than Richard Boroff.

(Note: The override was for $1.8 million and at the end of the school year there was more than $800,000 left over...which the district naturally kept and now taxpayers continue to pay that unneeded $1.8 million every year.)

It's time for a big change on the School Committee...a clean sweep. Please vote for Roger Kuebel, Bill Dery and Sean Condon for School Committee. That's a good start in the right direction.

Let's move on to the Board of Selectman...

As I previously mentioned, Bill Bowler is seeking re-election. Bill's been around town a long time and has served Hamilton well on several different boards. But it's now time for him to step aside. It's difficult to understand why he is running again considering all the controversy surrounding Hamilton since he began serving as Selectman. Perhaps the medical insurance benefits he, and he alone among all the Selectmen, receives from our town has something to do with wanting to hold on to an elected postion. Not a single (non-employee) elected Hamilton official takes advantage of this insurance perk. Only Bill...compliments of the already over-burdened Hamilton taxpayer. At the League of Women Voters Candidates Night held on April 27th, in his closing statement, Bill said: "I hope to be re-elected, but if I'm not I'll probably put my hat in the ring for Zoning Board again or something like that."

It's unnecessary to go into detail about Bill's record of obstructionism (he has referred to it himself) or the legal problems he has caused and burdened our town with. You need only recall that it was REQUIRED, by the Essex County District Attorney's office, that a member of the BoS read out loud and for the record at last year's Annual Town Meeting a portion of the DA's letter to the town regarding multiple violations of the Open Meeting laws. Bill read the text as required, but without contrition, and certainly without enthusiasm, and he offered no apology to the residents of Hamilton for his part in the unlawful activities. He is one of only two remaining members of the BoS that were involved with the offenses described in the letter. It's time he was replaced by someone without "skeletons" in his closet...someone not known by so many as "Grumpy".

Please support and vote for Jeff Hubbard for Selectman.

My view: Vote NO INCUMBENTS for the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee in Hamilton and let's start heading in the right direction rather than continuing down the wrong path, led by the wrong people.

UPDATE: 5/27/11: Hamilton voters overwhelming supported the notion of "No Incumbents" and elected all new members to the three positions on the School Committee and the single position on the Board of Selectman yesterday. Thank you!

There's A New Group In Hamilton & Wenham

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:28:00 +0000

You've all heard of the citizen taxpayer watchdog group known as Enough Is Enough (EiE) right?

They're the ones that successfully ended the previous addiction to school overrides in Hamilton and Wenham and also drew overwhelming support from voters in both towns for an Operational Audit of the school district that is still being debated and considered by the School Committee (SC) and the towns.

Well, it appears there is a new group in town, known as Enough Is NEVER Enough (EiNE).

Who are these people? You know them as the Hamilton-Wenham School Committee and their actions this past week and at last night's school budget vote is nothing less than appalling.

To his credit, school committee member Don Gallant, one of the three members on the Finance Working Group, had this to say at the opening of the discussion on whether or not to vote for a level funded school budget, less $350,000:

Gallant: "The Finance Working Group had another meeting on Monday...this past Monday night...in which 8 of the 9 school committee members were there. (*See note below) By a 2 to 1 vote...Ann (Minois) and myself in favor, and Richard (Boroff) not in favor...we passed this budget as our recommended budget to the full school committee. This budget includes the (so-called) $350,000 give back to the towns. For a variety of reasons we did tax too much for this current year."

He went on to say: "In my 19 years (on the SC) this is one of the highest amounts of money left in the Excess & Deficiency account."

The lone NO vote on the the Finance Working Group, Richard Boroff, had this to say:

Boroff: "I don't see any reason to give it back. If it's a give back, it would be a give back for a political reason only and it does not make sound educational sense to me. I've been around long enough to see the district get screwed when it tried to help out the towns do something and I'm not willing to put that foot forward."

How about putting that same foot in your mouth, Mr. Boroff? Can you believe this guy? He must be vying to serve as president of the new Enough Is NEVER Enough group. But wait, there's more:

Boroff: "In all those 8 years (that I have been on the SC), the school district has taken a hit. Every single one, except for one year. On the other hand, the towns have funded or increased their funding and refused funding to us at times. And one time it was a minuscule override...it was about $250k or $260k override which failed on the first go round, and we refused to accept that and went for the same thing. It was an insult. A very big insult."

A very big insult? Really? Then consider this...

It's insulting to suggest that any override is "minuscule". In the case of the override Mr. Boroff refers to, the year was 2006 and the amount was $203,000...that year. In 2007 it was another $203,000. And again in 2008, 2009, 2010... and again this year...and again without end, because overrides are added to the tax levy and go on FOREVER. So that's $1,218,000 since the override was approved in 2006. I don't think anyone but Mr. Boroff would call that a "minuscule" amount.

Now let's go back to the first Boroff quote above where he says, ever so politely:

Boroff: "I've been around long enough to see the district get screwed..."

Is that what you call eight Proposition 2.5 overrides for the district since 2001? Overrides whose cumulative total, over the past 10 years, adds up to $43,947,000.00. Overrides that cost the taxpayers nearly $7 million every year going forward? And that's NOT including the 2.5% tacked on each year to that amount by the towns. I think it's the taxpayers that got, in Mr. Boroff's words...."screwed".

But I digress. Let's get back to the Enough Is NEVER Enough group.

At one point in the meeting John McWane, chairman of the Hamilton Finance Committee, got up and asked a few enlightening questions:

McWane: "It is my understanding that initially you had proposed a Latin teacher. Is that still in the budget?"

Alexa McCloughan (SC chairman): "The funding for the Latin teacher is still in the budget. It is doubtful that we will have Latin."

McWane: "So you don't have the teacher in, but you do have the money?"

Alexa: "Correct. We have the money in."

McWane: "Which is a little odd to me. It seems to me that if you take something out of the budget...if you take a position out..."

Alexa (interrupting): "It's in our instructional line."

McWane: "Right. I'm just saying that typically when you take a position out, you also take the money out. But I guess that's not your practice."

Alexa (nodding): "That's not the case."

And finally...perhaps the most obvious exchange of the night indicating the birth of Enough is NEVER Enough:

McWane: "We should be clear that your budget, in terms of what you spend for the schools would not change under either scenario (with or without the give back). Is that correct?"

Alexa: "Correct."

McWane: "And it's up a million dollars over last year...over the current year"

Alexa: "Uh huh."

WcWane: "Okay. So what we're really discussing is the $350k and the question is: Should it go to your E&D...or should it go to the taxpayers' pockets. Is that correct?"

Alexa: "Yes."

WcWane: "Okay. I just want to make that clear."

So there you have it folks. Please join me in welcoming the new group: Enough Is NEVER Enough.

...but remind them at Town Meeting and the polls that in Hamilton and Wenham, Enough IS Enough.

******************
*Question: If 8 out of 9 school committee members were present at this meeting, shouldn't it have been posted as something other that a Finance Working Group meeting? Smells a little like a violation of the Open Meeting Laws. Anyone care to comment?

Update 5/6/2011: click here to read what happened.

WARNING: Do Not View This Week's Hamilton Selectman's Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:49:00 +0000

If you were not in attendance at the March 21st meeting of the Hamilton Board of Selectmen and you did not watch it on TV or view it online...here's a word of advice: DON'T WATCH IT!

Not since Selectman Bill Bowler was required to get up at Town Meeting last year and apologize to Hamilton residents for violating (numerous times) the Open Meeting laws have I witnessed a more embarrassing moment than the one that came at the end of Monday night's BoS meeting. Chairman Scuteri chose that time to publicly condemn Selectman Jeff Stinson for answering a question posed to him by a member of the media. His statement to the reporter was essentially the same as the statements he made in open session at the previous Selectman meeting. But the chairman made it clear that she wanted all correspondence with the media to run through her...so she can filter it.

QUOTES:

Stinson: "It sends a bad message to the public to say that you are filtering what you're telling the public on certain items."

Scuteri: "We are absolutely not filtering...it's because I think it (your statement) needed to be filtered...because we took a vote."

What? Point of Information: NO VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE ISSUE. (The issue, by the way, was whether or not $275,000 of mistakenly collected taxes should be returned to the taxpayers. Selectmen Stinson stated he thought it should be returned, as did most others... including the Chairman of the Finance Committee.)

Scuteri: "It sounded like you were standing up for the people and the rest of us weren't."

That's not how I interpreted what Selectman Stinson said. To me it sounded like a reiteration of what he said publicly at the BoS meeting where the issue was discussed.

Scuteri: "It's also important for the right person to be getting the credit."

Is that what this is all about? Who gets the CREDIT?

Well, if it is, then I can tell you who deserves all the credit for stirring up controversy and embarrassment for the BoS...and it's not Selectmen Stinson. As of this writing, an article in the Hamilton-Wenham Patch, Selectmen Spar About Comment To The Press, has generated twelve replies, all in favor of Selectman Stinson's position and opposed to Chairman Scuteri's position.

In support of her condemnation of Stinson, Chairman Scuteri said, "We need to know when we leave here (that) no one is going to be disparaged for possibly taking a position that is controversial."

Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened when she brought up this unnecessary and embarrassing discussion in a public forum. And you know what is particularly interesting? It's not Selectman Stinson that is being disparaged as a result.

3/25 Update: Link to Salem News Editorial: http://tinyurl.com/6y5beov

5 Reasons Why Experts Say Now Is The Time To Buy Real Estate

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:31:00 +0000

I am frequently asked "Is it a good time to buy a new home?" I can frankly say that I have never, in 30 years of selling homes, seen a better time than RIGHT NOW. Here a are five reasons why (compliments of the Downey Patriot):

*****

After the Great Depression of the 1930s, the real estate market looked like a 98-pound weakling after going 12 rounds with Mike Tyson in his prime.

However, those market conditions sparked a post-Depression boom that sustained 65 straight years of appreciation in real estate. And according to one expert, it’s about to happen again.

"This is an unprecedented economic crisis, but it is spawning an unprecedented opportunity," said Greg Rand, a 20-year real estate veteran and author of Crash-Boom (www.crashboom.com) from Career Press. "Real estate prices are at their lowest ebb in years, but anyone with a sense of history in the real estate market knows that those prices will rise as the economy improves and the people who got burned in the mortgage crisis are ready to try their hands at home ownership again. You can’t suppress the American Dream, but you can profit from it if you can have the strength and confidence to act."

Rand’s argument is that recessions and depressions aren’t just about economics. There are other forces at play, too.

"There is a real and powerful psychological component married to a down economy," he added. "When bulls turn into bears, they create a chilling effect that makes even Joe Six-Pack afraid of the economy. Wall Street loves to track ‘consumer confidence’ statistics, and the market always fluctuates based on fear. When there’s an uprising in the Middle East, gas prices go up to $4 per gallon on the irrational fear that any new regime will say, ‘You know, we don’t really want all that money from those Americans for this gunk we pull out of the ground.’ The prices always stabilize. The real estate market is no different. People act and react out of fear. Only the smart ones see through that haze to understand the historic reality that the prices always come back up."

Rand cites five reasons why now is the best time to put your investment dollars into real estate:

1) No Meltdown - There is no housing meltdown. There was a media and Wall Street meltdown. Housing will save us in the long haul.

2) It’s Not About The Real Estate - The product at issue is not real estate. It’s America. You can own a piece of it, and as far as its long-term value goes, it’s better than Apple stock.

3) Flipping Houses is a Myth -The "buy and flip" model is a sucker’s bet. It’s about building real, generational wealth.

4) Condo = College Fund - Have a kid, buy a condo. If you invest the right way, you can build an investment that is comparable to any of the riskier alternatives investors lose their money on every day.

5) Don’t Zoom In, Zoom Out - To understand the stock market you must zoom all the way in and see the pulse of the market, and that changes hourly. To understand real estate, all you have to do is zoom all the way out. If you stand too close you miss the trends, and the trends don’t change with the wind. They stay for the long term.

"It comes down to the idea that no matter how the markets change, no matter which way the winds shift, people will always need a place to live," Rand added. "That’s been true of America since the first log cabin. If you plug into that concept, and leave fear in a box on the shelf, you can be ahead of the curve and ride the wave of the trends that matter."

Reprinted from the Downey Patriot

New Policy Regarding Comments Section of SalemNews.com

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:10:00 +0000

Want to comment on stories and articles at salemnews.com?

Beginning Feb. 25, commenters will be required to use their real names when posting on salemnews.com.

In this blog post I will address the reasoning and some of the benefits behind this new policy.

As many of you know, when you write a letter-to-the-editor of most newspapers, you are required to include your name, address and contact information. I have found that most of the newspapers will then call to verify that you are the author of the letter.

This is a good policy.

Why?...Because to it establishes a level of responsibility and accountability. Anonymity, on the other hand, allows blowhard commenters to hide behind their pseudonyms and spew all kinds of nasty, angry, and senseless rhetoric...with no accountability for hatespeech.

They are known on blog sites as "trolls".

Allow me to share just a few quotes from an anonymous commenter who has used several pseudonyms to hide his identity. Most of his comments were directed at me personally or against Enough Is Enough (EiE), a fiscal watchdog group I belong to that spearheaded the popular operational audit of the Hamilton/Wenham Regional School District and successfully ended a decade of Proposition 2.5 overrides in Hamilton and Wenham.

QUOTE:

"You are the only one on this (comment/message) board that is using you own name. That speaks volumes to your stupidity."
"I knew that as soon as I mentioned the village idiot, you would respond."
"I think that the School Committee and the citizens of Hamilton don't trust you and your group of fools."
"Most people are sensible enough to not form one of these foolish groups. But, then there are the exceptional groups like EIE who continue to act as fools."
"When a vigilante group like this forms, they usually don't last for long. Maybe they should go back to harrassing the children from Gordon Conwell."
"The village idiots are at it again."
"I love when people with no clue and a bad cause come together with collective ignorance."
"If you wore the Jester's hat when speaking for EIE it would be easier for me to understand."
"I have always thought of you as a dim wit but I didn't think that you were this stupid."

How's that for "constructive" commenting? Would this person spew such nonesense if he were made to provide his real name? Maybe...maybe not. But if he did, at least he would be held accountable for what he says. He would have to take responsibility for his words. Having seen this individual change pseudonyms in the past, I doubt that he will be willing to stand behind his diatribe if he has to tell the world who he is. To do so would be an embarrassment to him and he prefers to try to embarrass others, not realizing his words have an opposite effect.

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

So I say "BRAVO" to the decision makers at the Salem News and their new policy. As one reader stated in the comment section of the article announcing the Salem News policy decision:

"THANK YOU Salem News for taking a step sorely needed a LONG time ago. Resident trolls will hate it, as will those with axes to grind but don't seem to have the guts to be upfront about who they actually are. No progress can be ever made amongst hardliners and haters. Looking forward to seeing the effect of honesty."

By the way...he used his real name.

Want to read more? . . .
Online Blogging or Online Flogging?: http://tinyurl.com/4fpgrmn
Using Real Names Can Elevate The Discussion: http://tinyurl.com/4hyo8rj

4 Reasons Home Prices Are Likely To Keep Falling

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:04:00 +0000

It's been almost five years since the housing bubble peaked, and the bust isn't over yet.

Home prices around the country fell 4 percent last year. They're now down about 31 percent from their peak, according to today's Case-Shiller numbers (see graph).

Last year's declines were widespread: Prices fell in 18 of 20 major metropolitan areas last year. (The two exceptions were San Diego and Washington, D.C.)

More declines are likely to come. Here are four reasons why.

1. There's still a glut of houses on the market.

At the current pace, it would take about seven months to sell all of the newly built houses on the market, and eight months to sell all of the existing homes on the market. In an ordinary market, it would take about six months to sell all of the homes on the market. This excess supply tends to push prices down.

2. Distressed sales account for a huge chunk of all home sales.

Distressed sales include foreclosures and short sales, where the owner sells for less than he owes on the mortgage. According to one measure, distressed sales accounted for nearly half of all home sales in January. These homes typically sell at a discount.

That in turn tends to bring down the prices of other homes, even those that aren't distressed sales. This problem is likely to persist: Nearly 5 percent of all mortgages are in foreclosure, which matches the all-time high. (For more on distressed sales, listen to our interview with Mark Zandi.)

3. Interest rates are rising.

The rate on the average, 30-year mortgage hit 5 percent this month, up from a low of 4.17 percent last fall. Higher interest rates make it more expensive to buy houses. As this morning's WSJ points out, that pushes some would-be buyers to keep renting, which in turn reduces the demand for homes.

4. The government will continue to wind down some of the extraordinary measures it took to support the housing market.

More than 90 percent of new mortgages are guaranteed by taxpayers. This props up home prices by making it easier for people buy houses. This is exceptionally high by historic standards, and will decline over time.

The Obama administration has already recommended lowering the cap on the size of mortgages that are guaranteed by taxpayers through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The cap was raised to as much as $729,750 during the crisis, and is scheduled to fall to $625,500 later this year.

The latest downward leg in home prices started after the end of the another government program — first-time home-buyer tax credit, where the government paid people thousands of dollars to buy houses.

It will probably be a long time before prices get back to the heights of the bubble. A study last year looked at more than a dozen financial crises from the past century, and found that home prices tend to remain below their bubbly peaks during the entire decade after each crisis.

by Jacob Goldstein

NPR - Planet Money

"We don't know where the money is."

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:36:00 +0000

So stated Hamilton Selectman Jennifer Scuteri during a meeting of the HWRSD Operational Audit Committee on February 9th. Her answer was in response to a question posed by resident George LaMontagne about a section of the audit report that said that only about $200,000 out of yearly budget of approximately $600,000 for maintenance was actually spent on maintenance...for years. Mr. LaMontagne simply wanted to know what happened to the remaining $400,000 per year.

This does not seem to be an unreasonable request considering that over a period of years we are talking about more than $1 million.

Here are some other comments from that meeting regarding the question of the unaccountable funds from the maintenance budget:

Molly Martins (Wenham Selectman): "It may be that the information does not exist in a format that's discernible."

Jennifer Scuteri: "I think everybody is just acknowledging that at best we know that $200k was spent. Um, there's no good record keeping. We don't know where the rest of the money went. And going forward, I think there's going to be more transparency."

Roger Kuebel (Wenham Finance Committee, to Mr. LaMontagne): "Are you concerned that there was fraud?"

George LaMontagne: "I can't answer that Roger. We don't know."

Molly Martins: "The coulda, shoulda, would haves...and we know they weren't doing it well. That became evident. I think most people knew it, and it became documented in the report. That confirmed what many people believed."

Jennifer Scuteri: "I feel a little bit like it's just an acknowledgment that there was bad accounting and we don't know where the money is...There's no way she (we) can track it...it's not by school. It's not by what was done."

Does anyone else other than George LaMontagne want to know what happened to that missing (yearly) $300k to $400k?

While the new school administration has thus far proven to be open, caring, transparent and competent, it would appear the question of the missing funds is something the audit committee would rather forget about and trust that it will not happen again. After all, they imply, what good will it do to know where the money went? We need to move forward, they suggest, and not dwell on the past.

To that, I say "BULL PUCKY".

Over the past 13 years, because of ten Proposition 2.5 overrides for the schools, the taxpayers in Hamilton and Wenham have cumulatively paid more than $40 million (in override costs only) to the HWRSD. As most of you know, the overrides became part of the tax levy so taxpayers are burdened with those costs again and again, each and every year. And now certain officials are hoping you will simply forget about a measly $1+ million or so and "look forward, not back."

You know, as in...

SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG

The taxpayers of Hamilton and Wenham deserve more. They authorized $90,000 for the operational audit. They deserve an answer to Mr. LaMontagne's question. Only then can Roger Kuebel's question be answered. Only then can they be assured that it will not happen again. Only then will those responsible for what appears to have been excessive and abusive spending, and deviations from accepted practices, be held accountable. That's what the taxpayers expect and deserve.

Perhaps James Thurber said it best:

"Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness."

You Know You're From Massachusetts if...(101 Clues)

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:44:00 +0000

1. The Red Sox World Series win was, and will always be, one of the greatest moments in your life.

2. The guy driving in front of you is going 70 mph and you're swearing at him for going too slow.

3. When ordering a tonic, you mean a Coke.

4. You went to Canobie Lake Park or Whalom Park as a kid.

5. You actually enjoy driving around rotaries.

6. You do not recognize the letter 'R' as a part of the English language.

7. Your social security number starts with a zero.

8. You can actually find your way around the streets of Boston .

9. You know what a 'regular' coffee is.

10. You keep an ice scraper in your car year-round.

11. You can tell the difference between a Revere accent and a Dorchester accent.

12. Springfield is located 'way out west'.

13. You almost feel disappointed if someone doesn't flip you the bird when you cut them off or steal their parking space.

14. You know how to pronounce the names of towns like Billerica , Gloucester , Haverhill , Leominster , Peabody and Worcester .

15. Anyone you don't know is a potential idiot until proven otherwise.

16. Paranoia sets in if you can't see a Dunkin Donuts or CVS Pharmacy within eyeshot at all times.

17. You have driven to New Hampshire on a Sunday just to buy alcohol.

18. You know how to pronounce Yastrzemski.

19. You know there's a trophy at the end of the Bean Pot.

20. You order iced coffee in January.

21. You know that the MBTA Purple Line will take you anywhere.

22. You love scorpion bowls.

23. You know what they sell at a Packie.

24. Sorry Manny, but number 24 means DEWEY EVANS.

25. You know what First Night is.

26. You know at least one guy named Sean, Pat, Whitey, Red, Bud or Seamus. Bonus: You know how to pronounce Seamus.

27. McLobster=McCrap

28. You know at least 2 cops in your town because they were your high school drinking buddies.

29. You know there are 6 New England states, but that Connecticut really doesn't count.

30. You give incomprehensible directions to tourists, feel bad when they drive off, but then say to yourself, 'Ah, screw them.'

31. You know at least one bar where you can get something to drink after last call.

32. You hate the Kennedys, but you vote for them anyway.

33. You know holding onto the railing when riding the Green Line is not optional.

34. The numbers '78 and '86 make you cringe.

35. You've been to Good Time Charlie's.

36. You think the rest of the country owes you for Thanksgiving and Independence Day.. (... and they DO).

37. You have never actually been to 'Cheers.'

38. The words ' WICKED' and 'GOOD' go together.

39. You've been to Fenway Park .

40. You've gone to at least one party at U MASS.

41. You own a 'Yankees Suck' shirt or hat.

42. You know what a Frappe is.

43. You've been to Hempfest.

44. You know who Frank Averuch is.

45. ADVANCED: You know Frank Averuch was once Bozo the Clown

46. You can complete the following: 'Lynn, Lynn ......'

47. You get pissed off when a restaurant serves clam chowder, and it turns out to be Snows.

48. You actually know how to merge from six lanes of traffic down to one.

49. The TV weatherman is damn good if he's right 25% of the time.

50. You never go to Cape Cod,' you go 'down the Cape '.

51. You think that Roger Clemens and Johnny Damon are more evil than Whitey Bulger.

52. You know who Whitey Bulger is.

53. You went to the Swan Boats, House of Seven Gables, or Plimouth Plantation on a field trip in elementary school.

54. Bobby Orr is loved as much as Larry Bird, Tom Brady, and Ted Williams.

55. You remember Major Mudd.

56. You know what candlepin bowling is.

57. You can drive from the mountains to the ocean all in one day.

58. You know Scollay Square once stood where The Government Center is.

59. When you were a kid, Rex Trailer was the coolest guy around. Speaking of which.... Can you still hum the song from the end of Boom Town ?

61. Calling Carrabba's an 'Italian' restaurant is sacrilege.

62. You still have your old Flexible Flyer somewhere in your attic.

63. You know that the Mass Pike is some sort of strange weather dividing line.

64. The only time you've been on the Freedom Trail is when relatives are in town.

65. The Big Dig tunnel disaster wasn't a surprise.

66. You call guys you've just met 'Chief' or 'Boss.'

67. 4:15pm and pitch black out means only 3 more shopping days until Christmas.

68. You know more than one person with the last name Murphy.

69. You refer to Savin Hill as 'Stab 'n Kill.'

70. You've never eaten at Durgin Park , but recommend it to tourists.

71. You can't look at the zip code 02134 without singing it.

72. You voted for a Republican Mormon as Governor just to screw with the rest of the country.

73. 11 pm? Drunk? It means one thing: Kowloons!

74. 2 am? Drunk? It means one thing: Kelly's Roast Beef! The one on Revere Beach not the one on Route 1.

75. 5 am? Drunk? It means one thing: You wish you had a blanket in your back seat.

76. You know that P-Town isn't the name of a new rap group.

77. People you don't like are all 'Bastids.'

78. You took off school or work for the Patriots first Super Bowl Win Parade.

79. You've called something 'wicked pissa.'

80. You'll always get razzed for Dukakis.

81. Saturday afternoons meant Creature Double Feature with Dale Dorman.

82. Sunday mornings meant the Three Stooges on Channel 38.

83. You've slammed on your brakes to deter a tailgater.

84. No, you don't trust the Gorton's Fisherman.

85. You know that Papa Gino's usually has a jukebox.

86. You think Aerosmith is the greatest rock band of all time.

87. Your town has at least 6 pizza and roast beef shops.

88. You know at least three Tony's, one Vinnie and a Frankie.

89. 20 degrees is downright balmy as long as there's no wind... then it gets wicked cold.

90. You were very sad when saying goodbye to the Boston Garden .

91. Thanksgiving means family, turkey, High School football, and the long version of Alice 's Restaurant.

92. You know the guy who founded the Boston Pops was named Athah Feedlah.

93. You know what the Combat Zone is.

94. You actually drive 45 minutes to New Hampshire to save $5 in sales tax.

95. You've pulled out of a side street and used your car to block oncoming traffic so you can make a left turn.

96. You've bragged about the money you've saved at The Christmas Tree Shop.

97. You've been to Hampton Beach on a Saturday night.

98. Playing street hockey was a daily after school ritual.

99. Hearing an old lady shout 'Numbah 96 for Sioux City' means it's time for steak.

100. You remember Jordan Marsh, Filene's, Grants, Bradlees, Caldor, Zayres, and Ann & Hope.

101. You actually understand all of the above and will pass it on to other friends from Massachusetts .

Countertop Materials that Can Transform Your Living Space

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:15:00 +0000

Great countertops can really set off a kitchen or bathroom and transform them into rooms you will want to show off. If your countertops are starting to look dated, check out these high-end countertop materials that will be sure to grab some attention:

Stainless Steel

Pros: Stainless steel countertops are easy to clean and are durable. They provide a sleek look as well as a cool surface. No stains, oil, or odors will be absorbed with stainless steel.

Cons: Although the material is durable, it can be scratch easily and the scratches are not repairable. A brushed finish can be use to lessen the appearance of wear and tear. Stainless steel may need frequency wipe-downs with a cloth to not show fingerprints.

Marble

Pros: Gives a cool surface for handling things like dough, provides a classic look.

Cons: Material is easily scratched and can only be repaired by professionals. Some oils and odors can be absorbed.

Granite

Pros: Granite is a very stylish choice that comes in a wide range of colors and styles.

Cons: Granite will need to be resealed each year and can only be repaired by professionals. Some oils and stains can be absorbed into material. Granite will require frequent wipe-downs if it is a dark surface.

Glass

Pros: Surface is easy to clean and is very durable. Glass is available in a wide variety of colors and can be molded to fit whatever needs.

Cons: Glass can be scratched.

Originally posted by lwilkins at Coldwell Banker Previews International - New England

QUESTION: What has 399 pages and...

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 23:32:00 +0000

124 recommendations?

ANSWER: The Operational Audit Report on the Hamilton/Wenham Regional School District (HWRSD).

You can read the entire report online at: http://www.hamiltonma.gov/Pages/finalreport.pdf

Additionally, there will be a joint meeting of the two towns on January 27th at the Bessie Buker Elementary School in Wenham in the Multi-Purpose Room at 7:00 PM for a presentation by Linda Recio, president of Evergreen Solutions, the firm that performed the operational audit.

Please take some time off from shovelling snow and review this report and come to the meeting with any questions you may have.

And come early...I expect attendance will be high.

Best regards,

Jay

Segway Milestones

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Burnham) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:37:00 +0000

Most of you know that I have a "List With Jay For a Free Segway" program available to qualified sellers that list their homes For Sale with me. But have you ever wondered how the Segway got its beginning? Or where it's headed?

For those of you that want to know more about this most amazing lean, green, eco-friendly machine, here's the history (thus far):

July 27, 1999

Renowned inventor Dean Kamen founded a new company with the vision to develop highly-efficient, zero-emission transportation solutions using “dynamic stabilization” technology. The Company’s research and development was focused on creating devices that took up a minimal amount of space, were extremely maneuverable and could operate on pedestrian sidewalks and pathways.

February 2001

The Company broke ground for its manufacturing plant in Bedford, New Hampshire. Construction was completed in November 2001.

December 1, 2001

The Company adopted the name Segway from the word segue, which means to "to transition smoothly from one state to another".

December 3, 2001

Segway unveiled the Segway® Personal Transporter (PT), the first self-balancing transportation device, to the public for the first time.

February 15, 2002

The first state bill allowing Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices (EPAMDs) to operate on sidewalks is signed into law in the Company’s home state of New Hampshire. Within the year, a total of 31 states passed laws allowing the Segway PT to operate on sidewalks.

March 29, 2002

Segway auctioned three limited edition Segway PTs on Amazon.com to benefit FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a non-profit organization founded by Dean Kamen. The auction generated a combined total of $364,800.00 for FIRST and drew more than 500 bids from across the country. Segway PT #1 sold for $160,100, Segway #2 for $104,100, and Segway #3 for $100,600.

November 8, 2002

Popular Science Magazine awarded the Segway PT with a 2002 Best of What's New Award in the general technology category. Popular Science reviews thousands of new products and innovations each year to honor the world's most outstanding breakthroughs. The Segway PT was among only 100 winners.

November 18, 2002

Segway Personal Transporters went on sale to the public for the first time on Amazon.com. The Company hosted an Early Delivery Essay Contest and 30 lucky winners received their Segway PTs before the holiday gift-giving season, a tour of Segway headquarters and dinner with Dean Kamen.

August 29, 2003

Two hundred Segway PT owners and enthusiasts gathered in Chicago, Ill. for the first SegwayFest, an event created, organized and implemented by Segway PT owners to celebrate the Segway PT ownership experience.

March 22, 2004

The Company announced its 2004 U.S. dealer expansion program to recruit qualified dealers to distribute, market and sell the company’s line of Segway PTs, accessories and associated services.

October 2004

The U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration released a study entitled “Characteristics of Emerging Road Users & Their Safety”. It was undertaken to clarify the operational characteristics of both motorized and non-motorized transportation users. The Segway PT was found to have the second shortest braking distance, highest eye heights, one of the smallest footprints, and quickest perception-reaction time. The Segway PT met or exceeded all recommendations made by the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide to the Development of Bicycle Facilities.

November 29, 2004

TIME Magazine features Segway's four-wheeled prototype which can operate either statically balanced or balanced on its rear wheels as one of the “Best Inventions of 2004” in its Nov. 29th issue.

March 1, 2005

Segway announced the Segway Cross-Terrain Transporter (XT) and Segway Golf Transporter (GT), as well as a refresh of the flagship i Series model. Each new product is equipped with extended-range Saphion® Lithium-ion batteries.

December 12, 2005

In a ceremony held at Epcot® at Walt Disney World® Resort, the ten thousandth participant in the “Around the World at Epcot” tour was honored with a Segway PT from Segway Inc. “Around the World at Epcot” is a two-hour guided tour that allows guests to operate a Segway PT throughout World Showcase before the area opens for other park guests.

August 14, 2006

Segway takes self-balancing technology to the next level with the introduction of the second generation Segway PT. The new Segway product line includes the versatile Segway i2 and a cross-terrain model called the Segway x2, as well as six product packages tailored to specific commercial, police and consumer market segments and riding environments. All the products feature breakthrough LeanSteer™ technology and a wireless InfoKey™ controller that enhance the Segway experience by making the ride even more intuitive and adding new and useful functions.

August 14, 2006

Segway launches a new marketing campaign today to introduce the second generation Segway PT. The company’s new tagline, “Simply Moving”, and supporting communications focus on Segway’s innovative technology and the many practical ways consumers and commercial customers are incorporating Segway PTs into their everyday routines.

May, 2007

Growing global interest spurs Segway’s worldwide distribution presence to more than 250 retail points in 60 countries.

September 10, 2007

On the eve of the International Motor Show (IAA), Segway Inc. and General Motors Europe (GME) announce a design collaboration resulting in a comprehensive solution for eco-friendly mobility – the Opel Flextreme concept car with integrated Segway PTs.

April 15, 2008

Segway launches Segway Social, an online social networking site for Segway PT owners and enthusiasts. Owners can connect with others nearby, map glides and tag places, and upload photos of their experiences, celebrating the Segway lifestyle.
May 1, 2008

Segway introduces a new Segway PT i2 model color! We call it Metallic Sage, a unique stylish finish with dynamic appeal that grabs the changing light as you move. The new color complements the existing anodized black and gloss white color options.

September 20, 2008

Segway sponsors Bicycle For A Day, at the South Street Seaport in NYC. The first-of-its-kind alternative transportation event, where people are encouraged to leave their gas-powered motor vehicles at home and use alternate forms of transportation on that day, including biking, walking, skating and electric personal transportation.

October, 2008

Over 1,000 police and security agencies are using Segway PTs in their patrolling operations.

March, 2009

Segway Social users log more than 1 million miles on their Segway PTs.

April 7, 2009

Segway announces the Project P.U.M.A. prototype as part of an ongoing collaboration with General Motors (GM). The prototype leverages existing dynamic stabilization technology and electric propulsion to address growing urban congestion and pollution issues.

March 24, 2010

Segway introduces the EN-V Project at Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. In collaboration with General Motors/SAIC, the concept sets a vision for transportation in 2030. A fully-functional two-person vehicle with advanced dynamics, connectivity, and sensory capabilities, it combats urban congestion while being environmentally-friendly and fun.

There you have it...the history of the SEGWAY. Maybe I'll be giving away PUMAs in future years! Stay tuned.