Ward 3 hopefuls air override, drugs

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON - Angela Plassmann used the same candidates forum she originally declined to participate in Monday night to separate herself from incumbent Robert C. Reckman on issues including the severity of the city's drug problem and the decision to pass a Proposition 2½ override.

The forum, which drew a crowd of more than 75 residents to the Bridge Street School's cafeteria, was sponsored by the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association and allowed Plassmann and Reckman to touch on a number of issues specific to the city's third ward.

Though both candidates agreed that a drug problem exists in the city, Reckman, 61, of Fruit Street, said he believed local police were doing a commendable job dealing with it using the resources they have available.

"If there were a drug problem, I'd be happy to have the City Council talk about it, but I really don't think there is a substantial drug problem in Northampton," Reckman said.

Plassmann, who mentioned that one of her teenage sons told her he came into contact with drugs in a Northampton High School bathroom, said she thought it was time to confront the issue and stop "sweeping the problem under the rug."

Also up for debate was the city's decision to pass a Proposition 2½ override, a motion that Reckman said he "regrettably supported" because of the city's dire financial situation and wouldn't endorse in the next several years.

"We were faced with such a perfect storm of events, (including) cutbacks in state aid and increases in the city's health care costs that I thought having an override was the responsible thing to do," he said.

Plassmann, 39, of Fair Street, said she disagreed with the override because she felt it treated certain city departments fairly but didn't offer any alternative solution.

"It is frustrating to me that every time there is an override, four departments are held hostage, the DPW, fire, police and teachers," Plassmann said.

"I'm more inclined to be in favor of an override aimed at a specific thing like a school or police station, but generally I am not."

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com