Amherst News-Times, 2002-12-11

              t ii i 'i ' 1 gambling charges filed against man. page 7 o w x c m i, , -f - comets come up cold pi amherst news-time j u) to rn is cc can only ok budg interim 1) by jason hawk newa-timos reportor an budget will just have do for amherst's expenses going into 2003. after two months of deliberation on proposals from city audi tor diane eswinc, council's fi nance committee voted at its dec. 2 meeting send the floor coun nil' -t, til mu-."umr saint nick and his elves pose oia maoaie ana six-year aiex council reverses decision avoid bay mechanical construction nows-times roportpr barely dodged a bullet that could cost cof fers $750,000 or more. three weeks discussion be tween concerned parties resulted last week in re jection mucn-anticipatcd con tract award, move mayor john higgins said legal action. reviewing written com plaints international brotherhood electrical workers local 129, members ed cbwgcr, david williams, nancy brown, steve p'simcr & electri cal company's joint offer handle hvac work city's long-awaited wastewater treatment plant project during several recent debates oyer project's future, union rep resentative brian baker told ihat mechanical's track record 1? less than dcsireable, claim he backed with pictures cumentation citing er rors four recently completed .jobs firm, .r also further evince jst alleged unre liability currently tied jftigation process not available ;to public, ; cited quality labor safety concerns, but consultant den jus kachmarksy finkbciner, pet als, s trout, firm reviewed jhe bidding process; claimed jhere was no indication danger. " "we see. nothing unusual cern regard safety," wrote earlier this month cil three-month measure proposed higgins, included designation $10.7 million temporary funds. "we've been hit all sides," members. "the expanding, our down." eswinc news-times passage wouldn't significantly affect ez jz seven-year trees, uroizw me weexena, adove.ana ngm, uanny taonos, baker's claims, firm's recommendation remained valid. as immediate conscqiicncc monday night, president resident terry burns took action city, asking law director ken stumphauzer file taxpayer's suit council. ''organized has had. cam paign company because employees refuse join their union," news-times, calling "smear campaign." accused introducing infor mation possible minute order force them negative vote. "wc take vehement exception course action," contraction attorney, gary ebcrt, letter higgins. "under circum stances, we believe it would abuse discretion award contract (mechanical)." ebcrt indicated awarding uuotlwr taxpayers exces sive amount. next lowest acceptable bid for' ab out $432,000 higher. initial meant thai tlte general bo thrown contracts rcbid, setting start date back considerably. according hlg continued 5 operations. "there major cuts services, months, won't any money spend un there another permanent place cover rest 2003 year," she' said. since november, much volved around uncertain nature estimated carryover, which now esti ahuboe 4b9m fcfc '"jjj you. hear reindeer trrcrrpof? trains, treats event hannah kuzak, 10, kyrsten lilly, 6, make some purchases (or family santa's socet shop tho norcteon depot chugga chugga, toot toot! ethan london, mom carol view model trains sot ground interior old post office park avenue part sponsored downtown betterment association centurytel. mated $1,744,240. councilmcinbcrs conti nually questioned why new carryover estimates supplied, ranging low $1 high $1.8 million. "i think they hard time grasping fact these numbers arc don't solid figures until end tlw eswinc. makes own chrlstmas.card uorary. ft', shhhhhh! about accounting being exact science, govern ment edu cated guesses what hap pen. never turns exactly wc predicted, job get close reality without overestimating," she amount each year's determined how spends versus actually allotted, es it's secret saturday. organized womens leaguo, who invited vendors help kids find gifts parents. higher costs await those seek eternal cemetery plots notvs-tlmas reporter people want buried cemeteries, price dying might rise. citizens are advo cating legislation increase fees burials cleveland crown hill cemeteries. point isn't kill ing transactions, jackson street alvin miller, proposal ear lier this' month. winc every transaction changes estimates. "every somebody buys shovel glove, pay payroll, maintenance depart lias buy transformer fire hydrant, little," "it's really needs nrc so fluid. if "we're trying fo prices compliance surround areas," look fee restructuring directly affects livlihood. miller employed memorial studio, 180 st, professional ca pacity, observed problem: nonresidents cemeteries seeking rest. monument indus try, am et quite ten. j. tell you die rates 8 ih