The Squeaky Wheel (or broken front axle)

So after the Town Manager told the Select board on May 31’st that the potholes would simply have to wait until July 1 (start of the new fiscal year) because of budget constraints and even after Finance Committee Vice Chair Brian Morton reaffirmed that travesty to Town Meeting last week, suddenly, mysteriously the potholes on Hulst Road—after Taxpayers for Responsible Change Chair Stan Gawle declared it the worst road in Amherst—are filled.

A particularly irate resident of that neglected street called DPW chief Guilford Mooring and suggested the neglect could be political (as in payback for the Override failure). He again heard profuse apologies and was assured that it was not political, and it was strictly one of those routine budget things. A few hours later Mr. Mooring called the resident back and said the potholes would be done on Monday.









UPDATE:

I sent the following message out over the Town Meeting listserve (about 100 subscribers):

So either the DPW found some money in the sofa or little elves came out of the woods one night to make Hulst Road recognizable as a road. About time!

Select Man Kusner responded within minutes:

In a message dated 6/20/07 10:17:35 AM, robkusner@gmail.com writes:

You're welcome....

UPDATE#2 (2:00 pm) Terry Franklin gets funny line of the day award:

“… or little elves came out of the woods”

robkusner@gmail.com writes:
You're welcome....

From: Terry Franklin
Rob, I always did figure you for an elf.

UPDATE #3 (2:15 pm) The Gazette is paying attention:
June 20, 2007
South Amherst potholes filled after numerous complaints from residents
Posted At : 12:50 PM | Posted By : newsroom
Related Categories: Amherst, News
AMHERST - Town officials have responded to complaints voiced in the Gazette last week about potholes in South Amherst.

Public Works crews were on Hulst Road, South East Street and Station Road on Monday and Tuesday filling in the holes in the pavement with asphalt, said Superintendent Guilford Mooring. He said last week there was no money in the budget for the work.

"There was some money left in the capital accounts that we thought was all spent," he said. "It showed up when we were ready to close the books for the (fiscal) year."

He encouraged residents to call 259-3050 to report potholes.

"Hopefully, we'll get all caught up and get back to the routine of doing potholes when they're called in," Mooring said.

--NICK GRABBE

Read more about the pothole situation in Friday's Gazette and on gazettenet.com and amherstbulletin.com.