North Adams Transcript from North Adams, Massachusetts • 5

www.Th6Thinscrlpt.com North Adams Transcript GENERAL NEWS Friday, May 28, 2010 Page A5 Selectmen combine budget articles ISulf-woist o3o Efforts to choke leak halted as oil estimates soar BP insisted the top kill was progressing as planned, though the company acknowledged drilling mud was escaping from the broken pipe along with the leaking crude. The fact that we had a bunch of mud going up the riser isn't ideal but it's not necessarily indicative of a problem," said spokesman Tom Mueller. Early Thursday, officials said the process was going well, but later in the day they announced pumping had been suspended 16 hours earlier. The top kill is the latest in a string of attempts to stop the oil that has been spewing since the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon exploded April 20. Eleven workers were killed.

By Greg Bluestein and Ben Nuckols Associated Press ROBERX La. As BP labored for a second day Thursday to choke off the leak at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, dire new government estimates showed the disaster has easily eclipsed the Exxon Valdez as the biggest oil spill in U.S. history. The company announced late in the day that it had suspended shooting heavy drilling mud into the blown-out well 5,000 feet underwater around midnight Wednesday so it could bring in more materials. The procedure known as a top kill was expected to resume Thursday night, but it could be late Friday or the weekend before the company knows if it has cut off the oil that has been flowing for five weeks.

As the world waited, President Barack Obama announced major new restrictions on drilling projects, and tie head of the federal agency that regulates the industry resigned under pressure, becoming the highest-ranking political casualty of the crisis so far. SELECTMEN from Al Selectmen, prior to his and Paula Melville's election to the board, had approved the assessment at the higher level, as had the Finance Committee in a 6-5 decision. He maintained one warrant article with the full funding should be presented at town meeting. Melville said that in the interest of transparency, the minimum assessment and the higher amount should go in two parts on the warrant. "I'm not in favor of the way Adams-Cheshire presents what the assessment is," she said.

"The minimum assessment is what we're required to pay. This is extra, and I have difficulty with that." Nichols pointed out that Adams already ranks 346th out of the 351 communities in the state when it comes to educational funding. He said providing the opportunity to cut more from the schools would not benefit the children of the town. the two buildings and $50,000 for the Glen, Option would scale back the work in the Hoosic flood chutes to a bond of $150,000 and leave the other amounts the same. Town Administrator Jonathan Butler said he favored doing more of the flood-chute cleanup now because bond interest rates are very low right now at 1 percent and because not doing the cleanup soon might hamper work on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail later.

"We're never going to be able to do this cheaper," he told the board. "I know the fiscal climate is not great, but it's not going to get any better next year or the year after, and this problem is going to persist and get worse." Ouellette said he has always been in favor of only doing a single part of the flood-chute cleanup because of the lower cost. He said he believed it would be enough to keep the Army Corps off the town's back for the time being. He added that he wanted to take the Immigration measurcs DK'd Bill aims to block illegal immigrants from accessing many state services "We need to stop attacking the money from free cash rather than schools because tunes are tough," bonding. he said.

"This allows more oppor Hnatonko disagreed, saying that dour, who spoke in favor of the proposal, called it a bipartisan compromise. Critics, including Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, a Boston Democrat, faulted backers for rushing through the measure, which was unveiled Thursday minutes before senators debated and passed it. "Shameful," Chang-Diaz said of the proposal after the vote. In addition to 'restrictions on Medicaid, housing and unemployment benefits, the proposal would prevent the children of illegal immigrants from obtaining the same in-state tuition discount to public colleges and universities as legal Massachusetts residents.

BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday approved a tougher measure designed to clamp down on illegal immigrants' ability to obtain a range of state services from Medicaid to public housing. The 28-10 vote came a day after the Senate passed a narrower proposal targeting illegal immigrants trying to get Medicaid and unemployment benefits. The new measure which is included in a budget bill working its way through the Senate requires companies doing business with the state to verify that their workers are in the country legally and bars them from bidding on public contracts if they're caught employ ing illegal immigrants. It also would subject those found to have used false identification to get a job with a state contractor to a 15-year jail term or $10,000 Illegal immigrants seeking state-funded public housing also would be barred from receiving those benefits ahead of anyone who is in the country legally. Senate Republican leader Richard Tisei of Wakefield, declared it a victory for Republicans, saying it incorporates measures GOP lawmakers have long advocated.

"This sends a very strong message," he said. "You shouldn't be here illegally if you want to access benefits." Supporters of the wide-ranging proposal couldn't say how much the various measures would end up costing taxpayers. Some suggested it would save money, but others conceded that enforcing the new rules would cost the state. Earlier this week, Senate President Therese Murray, a Plymouth Democrat, had dismissed the Republican proposal as "smoke and mirrors." After the vote, Murray said she was bowing to the will of the Senate, even though she didn't agree with everything in the proposal. "There are parts of it that think are unfortunate, but the members wanted it," said Murray, who did not cast a vote.

Democratic Sen! Steve Bad- tunity to deny the school funding after the Selectmen and Finance Committee have already made their recommendation. That's what should go to town meeting." Nichols made a motion to combine both articles but to show the foundation and "over foundation" amounts as separate line items, with the article asking for a vote either for or against a total of $3,925,790. The Selectmen voted 3-2 in favor, with Nichols, Chairman Michael Ouellette and Arthur "Skip" Harrington in the majority and Melville and Jason Hnatonko against. The Selectmen also debated Article 27, concerning the best way to pay for three projects in town the cleanup of the Hoosic River mandated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, design plans for refurbishing the Registry of Deeds building and Adams Free Library and additional engineering work for the Greylock Glen project.

Option A would seek a bond for $565,000 for the cleanup, $250,000 for design and refurbishment of ignoring the problem is what got the town to this point of facing a large expense. He said it would be best to take advantage of the low interest rates now and show the Army Corps the town is serious about dealing with the problem. As the argument reached an impasse, the suggestion was made to put both of the options before the town meeting, but Butler said he thought the board should make a decision. He said the people of Adams elected the board to deal with this kind of decision-making for them. "We have been working on and studying the options on this problem for quite some time and know all the facts," he said.

"You can't summarize it in a paragraph or a quick speech at the town meeting and let the people make the decision for you." The board voted in favor of presenting only Option with Ouellette against and Melville abstaining. To reach Ryan Hutton, efflailrtiuttonthetranscript.com. es reversing? Military gay polici if a soldier is lesbian or gay." or straight. What matters is they get the job done for our country." Rep. Patrick Murphy, a Pennsylvania Democrat who served in the Iraq war and who is the chief sponsor of the amendment, said, "We need to get this done, and we need to get it done now." The Senate panel's vote of approval was sealed when Sen.

Ben Nelson of Nebraska, a conservative Democrat, endorsed it earlier this week. He said then a provision in the bill giving the military the power to decide on the details of implementing the policy was key to his support because it "removes politics from the process" and ensures repeal is "consistent with military readiness and effectiveness." ing similar letters written by the heads of the military services asking Congress to wait. "I also believe that repealing the law before the completion of the review will be seen by the men and women of the Army as a reversal of our commitment to hear their views before moving forward," wrote Gen. George Casey, head of the Army. Congress going first "is the equivalent to turning to our men and women in uniform and their families and saying, 'Your opinion, your view, do not said Rep.

Howard McKeon of California, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. Rep. Jared Polis, an openly gay Democrat from Colorado, said most Americans "recognize that on the battlefield, it doesn't matter A High School College Professional completes a study of the impact on military life and readiness. The measure could face a filibuster when it reaches the Senate floor. "I think it's really going to be very harmful to the morale and effectiveness of our military," said Sen.

John McCain of Arizona. Still, the vote was welcomed by gay rights groups. "This is the beginning of the end of a shameful ban on open service by lesbian and gay troops that has weakened our national security," said Joe Sol-monese, president of Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay rights organization. In the House, debate on "don't ask, don't tell" dominated an all-day session on a bill that approves more than $700 billion for military operations. Democrats stressed that the measure was a compromise under which the repeal would not go into effect until the Pentagon completes its study, expected in December, and until Obama and military leaders certify that it would not adversely affect the military's ability to fight.

Republicans countered by read WASHINGTON (AP) A Senate committee on Thursday took a first step toward ending the policy that allows gays to serve in the military only if they don't disclose their sexual orientation. In a 16-12 vote, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved a provision to repeal the 1993 "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the only Republican to vote for the amendment to a defense spending bill, said it passed after "vigorous and aggressive debate." Sen. Joe Lieberman, who promoted the measure with Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, said: "It's time for this policy to go.

It doesn't reflect America's best values of equal opportunity." Repealing the 1993 law, a priority of gay rigfits groups that President Barack Obama has pledged to pursue, still faces a tough road. The full House is expected to take up the identical amendment late Thursday and opposition is fierce, particularly among Republicans who cited letters from military service chiefs urging Congress to hold off on the legislation until the Pentagon 4L iVorlb Villus (Iraii5rripl www.TheTranscrlpt.com "We may be high maintenance. But this event was highly Informative and entertaining." BFFs from North Adams Berkshire Center for Weight Loss Surgery Improving Health Transforming Life Sign Up for a Free Seminar on Weight Loss Surgery Register at 413-395-7510 Seminars held the first Tuesday of every month at Berkshire Hills Country Club Meet our Surgeons: Andrew B. Lederman, MD, FACS Robert D. Fanelli, MD, FACS Fellowship-trained minimally invasive surgeons Learn about: Excellent outcomes Weight loss surgery options WHEN GYNO GOES PUBLIC A STARRING DR.

ALISON HASTINGS DR. CHARLES O'NEILL DR. SUSAN YATES CAROL BRYAN. CN.AL v. J' wmt MENOPAUSE HYSTERECTOMY CONTRACEPTION OPTIONS TUBE TYING DECREASED SEX DRIVE ABNORMAL BLEEDING NON INVASIVE TREATMENTS Hi Berkshire Medical Center A Pof rner information, yt oriire: EVENT PREMIERE Tuesday june 1.

2010 6:30 p.m. VNA ft HOSIMCl OF NORTHERN BERKSHIRE S3) CURRAN HIGHWAY NORTH ADAMS. MA ENJOY FRCI MOVtl CONCESSIONS IN SURROUND SOUND. RtOISTtft TO WIN PR! I MOVtt TICKETS, BRING TttS CiniS AND THE QUESTIONS, IDLJ n.S,M (413) CG4-532G.