Latest news with #Baldino
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Residential retrofitting program turns on high-speed internet for Bay Meadow Apts. in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Luz Ramos, a 29-year resident of the Bay Meadow Apartments affordable housing complex in Springfield, helped Monday to turn on new, high-speed internet capable of delivering up to 1 gigabit-a-second upload and download speeds. 'This is going to open a lot of doors,' Ramos said after a news conference Monday at the complex. She recently received her high school equivalency diploma. And she plans to go on and take college courses. Ramos also describes how her grandchildren, and her neighbors and their children will now be able to do homework, and access information and job opportunities easily without a trip to the library for better internet. 'The doors are open, and I'm going to walk right through them,' she said. The 148-unit Bay Meadow Apartments is the first housing development in Massachusetts to get connected through the Residential Retrofit Program of Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's Massachusetts Broadband Institute. Funded with $82 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, the program already has committed $38.9 million to deliver internet to more than 27,300 housing units across the state, said Michael Baldino, director and general counsel for the institute. In Western Massachusetts alone, the institute has committed $14 million for 8,000 units, Baldino said. The units are in Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, Easthampton, Northampton and Westfield. Housing operators interested in applying to the next round of the retrofit program may submit an expression of interest form by July 31. For more information, applicants should visit The funds must be spent by the end of 2026. The program pays for upgrades to wiring and connectivity infrastructure that in some cases is phone cabling that's 50 years old, Baldino said. Through internet provider Aervivo Inc. and property owner Preservation of Affordable Housing, Bay Meadow Apartment residents get free service of 100 megabits per second. For $19 a month, residents can upgrade to the faster 1 gigabit-a-second service. 'Which is more than enough for any family to do anything they need to do, whether it is doing Teams meetings for work, accessing education, checking with family, accessing government resources. This is state of the art,' said Baldino. Without the upgrades, it's a different story. 'The wiring prevents them from getting high-quality access,' Baldino said. 'The speeds might be lower. It may cut in and out.' The internet has gone from an amenity to a must-have utility, said Preservation of Affordable Housing President and CEO Aaron Gornstein. 'Having high speed internet access is really key to economic opportunity for our residents,' he said. 'It is really crucial for participation in our economy.' At the event, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal called internet access a 'civil right' for the 21st century, given that it's required to do almost any everyday task. It's a right that the Residential Retrofit program will continue to guarantee, despite the political changes since the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill was passed in 2021. He said the money is still secure. 'The American Rescue (Plan's) roots have taken hold for sure. I think there is no threat,' Neal said. Chicopee budget up 6% on personnel, police costs; mayor proposes $3M to defray taxes ICE takes two into custody in Amherst in crackdown on 'sanctuary' communities With cannabis industry struggling, Western Mass. sellers and growers seek relief from high court Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oak Hill hit with lawsuit by former manager over board member's ouster
A former Oak Hill Country Club manager, at the center of the ongoing legal imbroglio, has sued the club, alleging that its board of governors manufactured reasons to oust another board member. Hanna Halpin, the club's former food and beverage manager, alleges in the lawsuit that an interaction she had with Eugene Baldino was greatly exaggerated and misrepresented by club board members as a reason to kick the retired businessman off the board. Halpin, a single mother, had hoped not to be dragged into the legal contretemps, said her Buffalo-based lawyer, Erick Kraemer. "She hoped to stay out of it, keep her reputation in place, and hopefully continue to work in the country club space," Kraemer said. "... This has really taken a toll on her mental health." Included in the lawsuit is a claim that Robert Sansone, the former president of Oak Hill's governing board, gave Halpin a payment after she posted on Facebook that she was looking for a more affordable car. "At the time, Halpin was very grateful but now realizes this payment may have been sent in an attempt to secure her silence," the lawsuit alleges. Sansone is among the board members sued by some Oak Hill members, including Baldino, in a lawsuit filed on October. In February, Sansone secured his own attorney, David Rothenberg, in the litigation. By accounts of some club members, Sansone knew Halpin from the club and was trying to help her in a tough financial time. The payment may also have been a loan but more details are not available in court papers. Rothenberg declined to comment. Halpin's lawsuit comes at a time when settlement negotiations, encouraged by state Supreme Court Justice Daniel Doyle, are continuing, court records show. It's unclear whether those negotiations are making headway. The club's governing body was scheduled to elect its board earlier this year but Doyle placed a stay on the elections because of the litigation. Baldino maintains that he was improperly removed from the Oak Hill board and alleges that he was seeking more fiscal transparency from the club. Internal emails between members ― emails made available to the Democrat and Chronicle ― show that the controversy is driving a wedge in the membership of the respected country club, known both for its hosting of major golf tournaments and its very steep costs to join and remain a member. Some past presidents have come to the defense of the club's continued fight against the Baldino lawsuit, while other members maintain that Baldino's questions about fiscal transparency have merit. Most troublesome for some club members is the fact that the legal costs may not be covered by club insurance because it is an internecine fight and insurers have indicated it is outside the contractual coverage requirements. Already, the lawsuit has costs hundreds of thousands of dollars and, should a trial be required, the costs could well exceed a million dollars. Halpin is a key figure in the litigation. In April 2024, Baldino complained to her about problems with seating a couple for dinner who were members at the Oak Hill. An internal investigation determined that Baldino was verbally abusive and harassing toward Halpin, the second such incident with him and a club employee, court papers say. That led to his removal from the board, despite warnings from one board member that the procedures used to oust him could become the basis of a lawsuit. In her lawsuit, filed April 24, Halpin contends that the internal investigation is rife with inaccuracies and misrepresentations of her statements. While Baldino was angry, he did not harass her nor were his actions or words threatening, the lawsuit states. She became a pawn to kick Baldino off the board, her lawsuit alleges. "There are certain members of the board who sought to use her for their goal to get rid of Gene Baldino," said her attorney, Erick Kraemer. "They created this issue," Kraemer said. "She's an experienced restaurant manager. It's not the first time she has dealt with a customer who is upset. "She left that conversation (with Baldino) thinking it was over and they were good." Oak Hill's attorney, Jerauld Brydges, declined to comment. Court records show that, should one or both lawsuits go to trial, Halpin's claims will be a centerpiece of testimony and club officials are likely to allege that she is now changing her original story. Halpin has also provided a sworn statement to the members suing Oak Hill making many of the same claims now in the lawsuit. She has alleged that other Oak Hill officials created a stressful workplace and that some of the same individuals insistent on ousting Baldino closed their eyes to complaints about the harassment of employees by high-ranking managers. Halpin is suing the club, its governors, Sansone and Chad Ellis, the club's general manager. When first hired, Halpin's lawsuit states, she was told by Ellis and another supervisor that she was within "the circle of trust." She was later criticized for friendly interactions with some Oak Hill staff and long-time food servers who "she was supposed to be managing," the lawsuit states. Says Halpin's lawsuit: "Unfortunately, being in the 'circle of trust' ended up being a poor experience for Halpin." — Gary Craig is a veteran reporter with the Democrat and Chronicle who, despite his lack of fandom for golf, found the recent Masters to be one of the more exciting sporting events of the year to date. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Oak Hill hit with lawsuit by former manager over board member's ouster
Associated Press
18-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
ERIN Appoints John Baldino as Fractional CHRO, Engages Humareso as HR Partner to Support Continued Growth
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ERIN, the leading employee referral platform, today announced the appointment of John Baldino as Fractional Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a strategic partnership with his premier HR consulting firm, Humareso. This move underscores ERIN's commitment to scaling its organization and reinforcing its ability to serve enterprise and Fortune 50 customers with world-class HR strategies and operational excellence. As ERIN continues to experience rapid growth, the company recognizes the need to align internal infrastructure with its expanding client base. With John Baldino's industry expertise, ERIN is charting a course to proactively shape its people strategy to support sustainable growth, optimize talent management, and build a best-in-class employee experience. 'Our platform powers the hiring strategies of some of the largest companies in the world, and we recognize that we must also evolve our organization to meet that scale,' said Mike Stafiej, CEO of ERIN. 'John Baldino and the Humareso team bring the HR leadership and strategic insight that will enable us to expand intelligently, ensuring that ERIN continues to exceed our customers' expectations.' With decades of experience in HR strategy, talent management, and organizational leadership, Baldino has been a key advisor to companies navigating growth, transformation, and workforce optimization. His leadership at Humareso has positioned the firm as a trusted HR partner for businesses seeking to strengthen their people operations. 'ERIN's technology is already changing how organizations approach employee referrals and internal mobility. I'm excited to help ERIN scale its workforce with the same level of innovation and intention that they bring to their customers,' said John Baldino, Fractional CHRO at ERIN. The partnership with Humareso and adding Baldino as a Fractional CHRO reinforce ERIN's long-term commitment to growth, employee experience, and HR innovation. As the company continues to expand, this investment in organizational development will ensure ERIN remains the go-to solution for enterprise businesses looking to redefine talent acquisition and retention.
