3 Terms as an Easthampton Selectman 25 Years of successful private business experience 13 Years as the Mayor of Easthampton 13 Years of service as an active member of the Easthampton School Committee
The Truth about Aquifer Protection in Easthampton and why we need Mayor Mike to continue to protect it:
The
wells providing Easthampton with a clean and abundant water supply have
been an important issue to the community since the first test well was
driven into a field off of Hendrick Street in 1905.
This underground drinking water source eventually replaced supplies
pumped from the Manhan River and Bassett Brook. Easthampton's
groundwater supply has been expanded over the years to include the
Nonotuck Park, Pines and Brook Street wells at the South end of the
city, and the Maloney Swamp well (near the Manhan River at the end of
Pleasant Street) in the northern part of the city. In all but the
latter location, a pure and uncontaminated water supply was produced.
In
the mid 1970's Mayor Mike became a member of the Conservation
Commission and a Town Meeting member. At the time there was no specific
scientific data identifying the source of our water or the bounds of
the Barnes Aquifer. Mike contacted the University of Massachusetts and
eventually spoke with Professor Ward Motts, who had written extensively
about the geology of the region. This contact led the mayor to initiate
a long process to identify the bounds of the aquifer. He worked with
many others to facilitate protection of our primary drinking water
supply and is widely known to be the most knowledgeable person on the subject
to ever serve in local government. His accomplishments are well
documented and his passion for the wise stewardship of this
irreplaceable resource remains strong and unwavering. Mayor Mike is a
true champion for our drinking water and would not put it at risk for
any reason!
In
1993 and 1994 then-Selectman Mike was probably the city's strongest
advocate to build a water treatment plant to remove the TCE
contamination that had entered our aquifer in the 1940's and 50's from
the Holyoke area. If Mike hadn't been so persuasive about the need for
this facility there's no telling what kind of treatment plant would've been
built. He was able to convince the citizens of Easthampton to vote in
favor of it and the TCE is no longer in our drinking water.
Here are the facts of the matter:
Mayor
Mike does not support the proposed landfill expansion in Northampton
and encourages our neighbors to fully explore all of the options
available for the disposal of solid waste. He has met with scientists,
engineers, regulators and ordinary citizens to discuss their ideas, to
hear their concerns, to understand their research and to review their
findings. He believes the water quality issue needs to be better
understood, that existing pollution makes the affected aquifer
undesirable for drinking water purposes and that dangerous contaminants already
in the potentially impacted well should not be introduced into our
water supply.
If
the current landfill was to expand it would take place in an area that
already has several existing landfills, long ago built with no barriers
or other environmental protections. The groundwater that could be
remotely affected by the possibility of pollution from a new lined and
monitored landfill is already in more danger from the existing
landfills than it would be from the proposed expansion. If
the new landfill were to be built it will be double lined and will have
an active pollution collection system. The probability of any sort of
release to the groundwater would be extremely low.
A computer based Contaminant Transport Model, which was mandated by
DEP, found that if a catastrophic release did occur at the landfill, any
pollutants which might reach the little used Maloney Swamp well would
be of such a low concentration that it would be below the acceptable
limits for safe drinking water.
There is no
possibility that the drinking water at the Hendrick Street, Nonotuck
Park, Pines or Brook Street wells can be impacted by the proposal.
These are the wells from which we get our drinking water and they are
upstream and a great distance away. It is highly unlikely that any new
landfill in the proposed location (assuming one were to be approved)
would increase the risk of groundwater contamination. The only public
well remotely connected to the Northampton expansion proposal is
already polluted with arsenic and high levels of manganese, and is used
only in an emergency to provide water pressure in case of a major fire
in the old mills along Pleasant Street. The last time this well was
pumped into the water supply was in 1995 & 1996, when the Hendrick
Street water treatment plant was being constructed.
As
a matter of fact, a real estate agent
wanted to buy prime water supply land for a development which could
have put all of our southern water supply wells in jeopardy (Daily
Hampshire Gazette 1/18/2000). Fortunately for all of us, Mayor Mike and
many other concerned citizens were there to stop him. Today that 70
acres of land on the slopes of Mount Tom is permanently protected from
the threat of any real estate developer. Thanks to the insight and
passion of Mayor Mike, that land is now owned by the city and protected
from any future development.
With over 33 years of continuous local government experience, an extensive knowledge of our city, a fluid knowledge of municipal law, a keen understanding of public financial operations, exceptional computer software skills, MCPPO certification, and a unique understanding of government at all levels, Michael Tautznik is, without a doubt, the most experienced candidate running for Mayor.
He has a proven record of success in the job and has helped to change the destiny of Easthampton. He empowers the imagination and creativity of our city and works tirelessly for the good of the people he serves.
Mayor Mike’s extensive experience and proven skills mean he has been:
- Successfully managing a $35 million municipal corporation, in both good and difficult economic times.
- Cooperatively promoting economic development cultural arts and neighborhood preservation into the fabric of our community.
- Diligently working for all of the city's best interests in directing a government that seeks to find effective solutions while preserving opportunities for active participation from its citizens.
- Actively conserving our most important natural, cultural, municipal and historic resources for future generations to enjoy.
- Effectively implementing the vision of our community in cooperation with the many diverse men and women who serve as employees, elected officials and volunteer board members.
Mike has worked diligently to bring Easthampton into the 21st century with pride and success. We need his continued qualities, capabilities and professionalism to keep Easthampton moving forward, especially in these trying times.
Vote for Mayor Michael Tautznik and Continue the Renaissance in Easthampton !
Mayor Mike's Awards and Accomplishments and some things that have improved in Easthampton since his Leadership:
(MT=Mike Tautznik)
1994 While Selectman and working full time, MT is awarded Human Spirit Distinguished Service Award from Reynolds & Reynolds for his volunteerism to his community. 1996 Out of seven candidates, MT is voted in as the first mayor of Easthampton (The city charter, written by the city charter committee, does not allow for preliminary elections). 1997 Bond rating of city established as better than it was prior to MT's leadership (and has remained stable ever since). 1997 Led by MT and Stuart Beckley, Indonesian government officials spend the day in the city to learn about how city government works successfully. 1997 $400K grant comes in for Old Town Hall restoration. 1997 For first time (and as a cost-saving and effective measure) Civilian Dispatchers are hired for the Police and Fire Depts. 1998 (Long before 9/11 and Katrina) MT opts to involve city in nationwide Civil Defense Response Exercise, the only community in Hampshire County to do so. 1998 As a result, MT awarded Certificate of Achievement from the Emergency Management Institute.
1998 MT is actively involved in city's spring series Visioning Process as a citizen along with many other citizens. Within a few years MT has led the city in carrying out a large number of the Visioning Process goals. 1998 Executive Office of Environmental Affairs gives the city an A rating for its high recycled materials amount. 1998 WMECO agrees to award the city $15K for its plans to install energy-efficient lighting in the new Public Safety Complex (PSC). 1998 MT awarded Centennial Recognition Award from Dept. of Environmental Management for his efforts on behalf of MA State Forest and Parks, including the Mt. Tom Reservation. 1998 $72K grant to aid parents eligible to receive family day-care subsidies. 1998 MT initiates review of city by Bank of Boston that results in a $100K savings to the city in interest payments for the construction loan on the Public Safety Complex. 1998
MT asked the Park and Recreation Dept. to consider a playground for the
corner of Strong and Plain Streets--land that the city bought
tentatively for a Fire Dept. substation that ended up not being needed;
MT secured the funding for this playground, involved interested
citizens and helped build it. 1999 City Stabilization fund increased from $53K at inception of new government to $1.1 million with MT's financial skills.
1999 Springfield Papers officially endorse MT for re-election due to his having "stabilized the city's finances and boosted the city's reserve funds." 1999 Thanks to MT's perseverance in convincing other city officials of the need for it, obtaining the necessary funds to build it as an acting as the building's building manager during construction, the Fire and Police Departments are housed in the newly built Public Safety Complex. 1999 City wins $889K grant for structural repairs to the Town Lodging House (the last remaining one in the country--this space was eventually taken over by South Middlesex Opportunity Council for the same purposes and is running successfully, no longer needing the city to finance its operation; MT made sure the residence was always taken care of by the city before he brokered this arrangement). 1998
MT asked the Park and Recreation Dept. to consider a playground for the
corner of Strong and Plain Streets--land that the city bought
tentatively for a Fire Dept. substation that ended up not being needed;
MT secured the funding for this playground, involved interested
citizens and helped build it. 2000 City gets its first bus to service city residents, workers and visitors (including Seniors, youth and businesses) due to a partnership between the city and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority: The Nashawannuck Express. Mike established this service for the city.
2000 Successful and much-needed revamping of the intersection at Main and Union Streets is carried out, including better lights , better traffic flow and clearer crosswalks. 2000 Beginning of plans for a Manhan River Fish Dam starts with MT's initiating the Army Corps of Engineers' involvement to study this. 2000 MT given Award of Gratitude from the United Veterans of America for his "confidence, support and assistance" to Veterans. 2000 City obtains 130K grant to expand Flex Van service into more areas of the city and provide to and from service to Northampton. 2001 City Departments make much-needed move from Old Town Hall to 50 Payson Avenue, to accommodate additional staffing , space and services needed for citizens. 2002 City is 1 in 17 tapped by the state to receive $13K grant to update its GIS technology. 2003 Dreamworks films part of its movie In Dreams (starring Annette Bening and Aidan Quinn, produced by John Boorman) in Easthampton, including in Old Town Hall. 2003 Saving the city $20K a year, MT coordinates sharing a Veterans' Agent with 2 other communities--Veterans and other citizens find this to be an extremely successful action.
2004 MT reorganizes the City Assessor's office successfully. 2004 City gets $600K grant for housing assistance. 2004 The Lighting Research Center/WMECO/U S Environmental Protection Agency accepts MT's request for the city to be in a field study for the efficiency of florescent lighting in rural communities. Up to this point, this is the first such study ever carried out anywhere. 2005 MT joins the group Mayors For Peace, which is pressing for the abolition of nuclear weapons by 2020. 2005 In a move to eventually save the city $30-35K/year in street-lighting costs MT initiates the city purchasing some of the lights. 2007 Easthampton (via MT) is the only community out of all that the Daily Hampshire Gazette requested the Public's Access to Information that actually provided it to the paper. 2007 Easthampton has one of the lowest tax rates in the region (on the other side of this, MT is at the same time is able to keep city services at good levels with very, very minimal lay-offs even through the terrible economic times of 2008 and 2009 when this list is being typed--many other communities are having to make much deeper cuts to personnel and services) 2007 Thanks to MT's desire to see that Old Town Hall function as an Art space and to carefully work to make the improvements needed, CityArts is currently operating in the black. 2008 For the 6th year in a row, the city will receive a monetary bonus from the MA Interlocal Insurance Assoc. for MT's involvement in implementing loss prevention measures and other management policies aimed at reducing accidents and injuries. 2008 Due to MT's certification as a Procurement Officer (and the only working for the city) he is able to save the city money on the new school building project as he can act as its Purchasing Agent. 2009 MT was instrumental in gettig the city to purchase through CPA an Adams Street house to be renovated and used for affordable housing.
2009 The City receives a Bronze Rating for being a community leading the way in MA's biotechnology industry,by the MA Biotechnology Council.
EVERY YEAR SINCE TAKING OFFICE MT HAS INITIATED, AND WON OVERWHELMING APPROVAL OF, EVERY BUDGET AND FINANCE MEASURE PLACED BEFORE CITY COUNCIL. NO COUNCILOR COULD FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE INITIATIVES AND PRIORITIES PUT FORWARD BY THE MAYOR THAT COULD STAND FOR A NO VOTE!
Vote for Mayor Michael Tautznik and Continue the Renaissance in Easthampton !
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