Daily Hampshire Gazette - Letter to the Editor by Michael Bardsley

Published on GazetteNET (http://www.gazettenet.com)
Mayor has clear role in play in Green Street Cafe survival
By Daily Hampshire Gazette
Created 12/01/2009 - 10:00
To the editor:
The Gazette editorial of Nov. 25 made an argument that would have been compelling in most instances involving local government and conflicts between private entities.
However, one significant fact was overlooked by the Gazette editorial staff. On Aug. 17, 2005, Mayor Higgins and Smith College President Christ signed a legally binding development agreement that addressed several issues regarding the area bordered by Green Street, Belmont Avenue and West Street. Item three of this agreement directly relates to the current situation involving the Green Street Cafe. It reads as follows:
3: Commercial Tenants - The COLLEGE will negotiate payment of relocation or transition assistance, on a case-by-case basis, with commercial tenants in the Area affected by termination or non-renewal of leases. If a commercial tenant requests participation by the CITY in the negotiations, the COLLEGE will include the CITY in the negotiations.
The owners of the Green Street Cafe have asked the city, via a petition as well as the City Council's public comment session, to become involved in its current negotiations with Smith College. The new business item passed at the last council meeting simply asks the mayor and the economic development director to act in the spirit as well as the letter of that legal agreement. The council's action could help the city avoid another costly lawsuit.
The argument that the mayor, "should not be asked to set aside pressing city business and wade into a commercial dispute ..." may be solid reasoning as to why such an agreement should not have been crafted in the first place. However, since the mayor took the initiative to enter into this contract (which was never approved by the City Council) with Smith, the city, I believe, has the responsibility to fulfill its obligations.
Michael Bardsley
At-Large city councilor
Northampton
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