LTC needs to have this music playing in the background Tuesday night In Good Times and bad times, I’ll be on your side for every more, That’s what friends are for.

I like and respect City Councilor Rita Mercier. Rita is accessible to everyone and tries to help anyone who ask and has shown time and time again that she is a loyal friend who sticks by you in good times but more importantly in bad times.

Sometimes that great loyalty is also a fault and on this week’s Council Agenda it appears her loyalty to a friend is getting in the way of what is correct and proper.

C. Mercier – Req. City Mgr. ratify the settlement agreement between the City of Lowell, the City Manager and Mr. Walter Bayliss, Jr.

This is just another attempt by Mr. Bayliss to keep a pension the current Retirement Board ruled he was never entitled to according to Mass. Law and the perk of the Health Insurance that goes with it.

First it should be noted that this “settlement” was reached in binding mediation and included a non-disclosure agreement by both parties. However since the supposedly “injured party” has an ego that is larger than Bill Parcell’s waist and a mouth that makes me look like a soft talker, many people were informed by this individual that it (allegedly) included a clause that allowed Mr. Bayliss to continue to collect his pension and health insurance.

My GUESS and mind you it is nothing more than a guess, is that if you read the wording in the agreement, it would somehow reference the fact that this was with the understanding, acknowledgement or stipulation that Mr. Bayliss was a retiree of the City of Lowell in good standing.

Since he is NOT a retiree and was in fact collecting this perk illegally,(according to the present retirement board) then I would venture a guess that the part referring to a pension or insurance would be null and void. You can’t enforce an illegal perk that someone lied to get, especially if the circumstances have greatly changed which in this case his status as a retiree has changed.

Hate to clue Wally world and his friends in but should the Councilor push for a discussion in open session on the council floor, this document could then be considered a public record for all to see and post.

Months after that arrangement was reached the City Retirement Board stripped Mr. Bayliss of both his retirement and health insurance citing the fact that it was granted improperly and he did not meet the State requirements of eligibility and the additional fact that Mr. Bayliss knowingly and willfully signed two documents that contained false statements in order to collect these benefits.

BuybackLetter saying License Commish

Bayliss retirement form claiming years of service

Need I remind anyone that former Somerville Housing Director Mike McLaughlin just lost his pension for in essence doing the exact same thing!!

Wally submitted the paperwork to the city and retirement board, Mickey to HUD and yet Mr. M has had the common sense to see the jig was up and he was exposed for the fraud that he was. He pleaded guilty and besides losing his retirement he is waiting to take his punishment like a man.

Who would have thought that Mike McLaughlin was more of a stand up guy than Mr. Bayliss?

MR. B and his loyal friends are trying to paint a story, Wally , friend to all is such a nice guy even though he knowingly signed these documents, it’s not his fault, he was coached to be a party to fraud and since it was from a City employee who happened to be in charge of the retirement board, Wally wants everyone to know he just went along to get along and shouldn’t be held responsible for taking part in what appears to be fraud and since he is such a nice guy who did many good things, he is somehow entitled to this illegal pension and health insurance because, hey it’s Wally.

I wonder if the City gets tired of this constant demand of time, effort and energy to again determine that this was in fact an illegally given perk, can and will they then go after Mr. Bayliss and get all monies owed for past payments? If not why not?

Loyalty and friendship are great things, however sometimes when you let loyalty and friendship get in the way you open yourself up to criticism and ridicule.

Who asked on the City Council Floor for there to be an investigation into the Water dept. because some people may have taken a few thousand dollars in copper? Resulting in 2 employee’s losing their jobs?

What is the dollar value for health insurance and payments made using that insurance and the cost of the illegal pension (according to the retirement board) to the city? I’m willing to bet it is a lot more than the cost of some copper pipes. These guys apparently don’t have a friend who is willing to stick their neck out and accept being kicked around, if they had maybe they would still be employed.

This is a bad motion designed to re-instate a pension and health care that was according to the current board illegal and wrong so why not wait until Mr. Bayliss follows through on his appeal process rights before entering a motion that transforms the Council floor from a place of policy making to a Kangaroo Court designed to beat up the Administration?

OH It’s an election and Rodney opened the door for it…

GN: The good folks from the Stand Up for Dracut group took the time to respond to my post and address some of the questions I asked.

Hi Gerry,

Thank you for attending the meeting on Monday night. We apologize for not getting back to you sooner, but wanted to take a minute to answer your question about the $1MM difference. The short answer is no, the $1MM difference does not include the $650K technology upgrade that is needed.

Our current technology infrastructure is 17 years old. The schools apparently have the same amount of bandwidth that you have in your home – except that most have Wi-fi in their house – the schools do not! It is so antiquated that our teachers/administrators have to spend a significant amount of time re-doing things because they’ve lost connectivity in the middle of a web-based project (i.e., attendance, progress reports, etc.). Technology is meant to increase productivity, because of the outdated system that we have, it actually decreases productivity because they have to do things 2 or 3 times.

Not to repeat what you’ve already heard, but we feel that it’s important to put this into perspective.

The SC asked for a level-service funded budget which included an increase of $217,313 for:

•School Resource Officer (.5 FTE) * $ 33,205 (.5 paid by the Police Dept.)

•Kindergarten Paraprofessionals (7 FTE) $122,746

•Accounts Payable/Medicaid Secretary** $ 34,855 (Medicaid claims doubled from FY11-FY12)

•Guidance Counselor (.5 FTE at DHS) $ 26,507

For this, they submitted a budget of approx. $1.334MM and the Town offered approx. $400,000

So as you can see, even a level-service funded budget with the slight increase for the well thought out additions listed above was cut. This concerned group of parents has not received any inkling of a long range plan by the Town to restore funding to the schools. The Board of Selectman has ignored this issue & relied on the Town Manager to settle the budget shortfalls.

This lack of foresight and proactive leadership leaves us with no alternative but to ask for an immediate override. Children are passing through our system without the resources they need and we cannot afford to wait until the district is completely decimated, accreditation is at risk, and the Town realizes there is a crisis and acts. At that point, we may be in a hole we cannot climb out of. The bottom line is that we can’t continue to accept less for our schools, our homes and our town!

So, while we respect your concerns about restoring things all in one year, we hope you can understand why we strongly believe that we can’t wait any longer to Stand Up for Dracut!

“A Taste of Chocolate” will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 23, in the parish hall at St. Francis Church, 115 Wheeler Road, to benefit Donna Sullivan and her family, whose medical expenses are mounting from Donna’s breast cancer treatments.

As a nurse at Saints Medical Center for more than 30 years, preschool aide, volunteer in the community, and “second mom” to many, Donna has spent her lifetime helping others. Organizers aim to pay it forward through chocolate.

No tickets will be sold and there will be no admission fee but free will offerings in any amount will be accepted. All proceeds go directly to the Sullivan family’s medical expenses not covered by insurance.

“A Taste of Chocolate” also features a Penny Candy Room for children, raffles and a handmade quilt door prize. For more information on donating to the event or to make a donation to the family fund, email Debbie Hovanasian at debhovan@comcast.net.
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Rita Mercier will be kicking off her re-election with a party this Thursday May 23rd from 6:00 -9:00 pm at the East End Club. Suggested Donations $10.00
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A fundraiser to help Colleen Garry re-establish her law practice. There will be comedy hour with Johnny Joyce Boston’s Best Comedian, music and raffles! Suggested donation is $10 each. Please join in supporting Colleen during this difficult time! Thursday, May 23, 2013 Lenzi’s in Dracut 6:00 – 10:00 pm
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I also heard about a Fundraiser for City Council Candidate Corey Belanger at the Blue Shamrock with suggested donations of $25.00 but don’t know the exact times.

GN: My friend Jack was kind enough to share this message from the Lt. Gov who posted this on his Facebook Page.

Dear Friends,

This post represents both an ending and a beginning.

I wanted to tell you directly about my decision to accept a new opportunity that will allow me to continue striving for the economic and community development ideals I have worked for over the past 15 years in public service. This unique new opportunity, however, means I must end my service as Lieutenant Governor of this great state.

In January, I wrote about the decision I made with my wife not to run for public office in 2014. I said at that time the next chapter of my life needed to be focused primarily on family. My wife Tammy and I are blessed with two active and beautiful daughters, Helen and Kati, who recently turned 8 and 7 years old. We wanted to take advantage of this moment in our lives, since childhood passes quickly, and this is an important time for our family.

When I made that decision, I expected to finish my term as Lieutenant Governor, working closely with Governor Patrick on the priorities we have established to help Massachusetts. Of course, I did begin to think about what the future would bring when my state service was over, however I was not pursuing any employment opportunities. Then, I was approached by the leadership of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce with an intriguing idea.

The chamber’s long-time capable President, Dick Kennedy, is retiring and the executive committee asked if I would be interested in leading the chamber, growing its mission and economic impact. This was not a post I had sought, and at first I dismissed the idea because the timing was too immediate. Then, as I gave the matter more thought and discussed it in depth with Tammy, I became increasingly interested about the unique opportunity it presents.

So much of what we have accomplished across the Commonwealth in the past six-plus years has been through public-private partnerships. I have always said that government can’t, and shouldn’t do it all, but through strategic public investments, directed by enlightened public and private leadership, we can foster the economic growth, job creation and community development that Massachusetts deserves. In my new role as President and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, I will work for these same goals, on the private sector side of the equation.

The city of Worcester is the economic anchor of one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas of the country, not only Massachusetts. With nearly a million residents, 30,000 college students and a diversified economy, the greater Worcester region contributes enormously to the economic and cultural vitality of the Commonwealth and central New England. I look forward to helping the chamber, its membership, and the entire region build a brighter future.

This has been a very difficult, yet empowering decision. You and I have worked together in so many ways that have improved the quality of life in this Commonwealth. It has been an honor to serve as your Lieutenant Governor. At the same time, however, I know that change is the nature of life. And as I imagine how best to keep working on the issues that I am passionate about, while being close to home and more present in the lives of my wife and children, the chamber post is the perfect fit. So I intend to submit my resignation as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, effective at the end of the day on June 2, and will begin my new role as President and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce on June 3.

As I begin to close this chapter in my career, I especially want to thank my staff, past and present, who have worked alongside me to accomplish so many substantive economic policy and development initiatives across Massachusetts. The Bay State is a special place. I have loved learning about its history, its traditions, and meeting so many great people in every corner of this state while working on their behalf.

Most importantly I want to thank Governor Patrick. He has been a friend, mentor and partner. He has led the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through some of its most tumultuous moments in modern times. Whether it was dealing with the Great Recession, the many challenges thrown at us by Mother Nature or most recently the marathon bombing, the people of Massachusetts have a captain who is steady during the storm and is leading state through to better days.

Finally, to all my friends, I will be forever grateful for the support you have shown me over the years. I know that we will stay in touch and find ways to work together on important issues and initiatives for many years to come.

With my best regards,

Tim

Herbert Hoover is credited with saying “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage”..last night we had Rodney Elliot saying “No Chickens in are yards, garage or city”.

The Councilor was a fountain of misinformation pointing out the threat of Salmonella, smell and what will the city do with chicken poop from chickens? Bob Rafferty of Walker Street made a Turkey out of Elliot pointing out that pets such as Turtles and Lizards that are allowed to be kept in Lowell houses run a much higher risk of salmonella, that there is no smell if the coop like a neighbors yard who has dogs is kept clean and that chickens produce much less waste than a dog and there poop is healthy for your lawn.

Councilor “of the masses” Elliot never one to let facts get in the way when playing to a crowd during an election year ignored this information completely and called for the City Council to put an end to the process of considering a farm-animals ordinance. For once the Council didn’t chicken out and ignored him.

Speaking of chickening out, where the heck was Councilor Martin during the debacle surrounding allowing Ma and Pa Kettle to address their beef about a disallowed claim to the Council courtesy of Rodney”I’m one of you” Elliot? Atty. Martin I had hoped would have stepped in and told Councilor “panderer” Elliot that this type of Election Year buffoonery was not proper nor should a case that can still be appealed(Oh sorry Rodney, we won’t take you at your word that they said they will not appeal) be discussed in public. Instead he remained silent and allowed the circus to play out. Where is the leadership qualities that others see in him that I never see? I can’t find it most Tuesday nights.

The rest of the Council is no better with at least 3 saying let’s go into executive session than allowing Councilor ” I’m playing to the public” Elliot to force the issue to let them speak. The Council allowing this joke of a process designed for election year mileage for the Panderer to happen without putting it to a stop to it shows they are more interested in playing politics and not offending his supporters or are more afraid of having his Press Agent write negative things in the Sun. They should all be embarrassed.

EVERY person who argues and loses a traffic or parking ticket they received here in Lowell, Everyone who appeals to the Assessor’s Office and loses and Everyone who puts in any claim to the City and loses or has lost in the past year, PLEASE PLEASE Call Councilor Rodney Elliot his phone number is in the Phone book and ask him to put you on the Council Agenda. He has now set a president and the rest of the City Council by allowing this ludicrousness to happen have opened the door to a new Agenda Item every week and the people of this city need to take advantage of this and call Rodney Elliot 978- You can look it up and get on the agenda.

Even AFTER THE FACTS were presented by the City Solicitor including the information that Mr. and Mrs. Attitude changed their story several times and that no one witnessed the accident and that Councilor Elliot was WRONG when he claimed this event took place during a blizzard did this Pandering for Votes Councilor admit he was wrong or that the City was correct in denying the claim.

This was just a stage to make himself look like the defender of the people over the Administration.

His story of a plow digging up his lawn was funny. I know where he lives and for a plow to have dug up his front lawn it would have had to be done by someone purposely and knowing how many feel about the self proclaimed “Fiscal Watchdog” they like the driver from the video this year, knew exactly what they were doing and who they were doing it to.

Did you catch the Councilor not paying attention last night? He was so busy trying to get to the Sun reporter Lyle Moran, talking with the couple who changed their story that he voted in support of a contract for Unit C. It wasn’t until the next vote that he realized what he did and asked for the change in his previous vote.

The problem with Councilor Elliot is that while he is a great family man, coach and community activist, he is also a guy who has flip-flopped on his fellow councilors and political people and issues depending on the day. He has become a known and willing Sunflower and has made this Administration his whipping post despite the fact that as the self proclaimed Fiscal Watchdog he should be ecstatic with the finances of this City and this Administration but he for some reason holds this Manager responsible for his not becoming Mayor.

His fellow Councilors will NEVER elect him because he pulls stunts like last night during election seasons and campaigns as a Lone Wolf then has tantrums when they don’t support him for Mayor.

Rodney brings up good questions but asked them in such a way that he alienates many including people like me who agree with him and applaud his questions on some issues. His tone is so smarmy and condescending that you just want him to shut up and stop acting like the ass he has become. I think if he quit working so hard to attack and beat up the Manager and the Administration and started behaving in a more professional manner he would actually be a great person to have as Mayor. Sadly he has shown no willingness to do that and if (god forbid) he finishes again in the top 4 we can only expect him to continue to act in this fashion.

When will Lyle or anyone at the SUN on his pal George Anthes on City Life ask Councilor for the people why he voted to NOT Spend Money to fix the major problems at the Schools in the City that our kids go to yet spent so much time dealing with the LHA and their buildings were he has zero impute or responsibility for?? He voted against Capital improvements that will fix bathrooms in the school that are unsanitary and broken and he thinks that is okay for YOUR Kids?

The rumor mill regarding the Lowell Water department continues to sprinkle and leak news and the newest accusation is that Dan Lahiff the Executive Director contacted a company doing business with the city to hire Mr. Whitman who got fired recently from the Water dept.

It turns out that yes, Mr. Whitman does now work for a company that does do business with the city but Mr. Lahiff did NOT ask them to hire Mr. Whitman and that the city can’t interfere with a private employment relationship other than that which pertains to the city and that the city has asked this particular company not to have Mr. Whitman do any of the work that is city related.

I was impressed with the parents and real concerns that they have along with the organization that the Stand Up for Dracut group showed at their meeting Monday evening. I am hopeful that someone from that group or a School Committee member who supports the proposed override will take the time to respond to my questions. I have a 70 year old aunt who lives in Dracut on a fixed income and she like many supports educations working with my late Uncle who was himself an educator and psychologist to put their kids through the Dracut School System and College but wants to ensure that she can still afford to live in the town she loves. Those questions I asked are all legit especially about trying to recover from years of cuts in 1 year.

Tonight Jack Mitchell and I join George Anthes and John McDonough for City Life at Night on 980 WCAP from 7:00 -9:00 pm gives us a call to talk about the Lt. Governor’s resignation,chickens, burned out buildings, upcoming City and Town elections, a new Tech School Superintendents, and what you thought of last night’s Council meeting plus anything else that might come up.

Billerica State Rep Marc Lombardo and City Councilor John Leahy along with hopefully a Dracut School Committee member will be our guest this Saturday Morning on 980 WCAP Saturday Morning Live with Warren Shaw from 6:00 -10:00 am.

There is breaking news that Lt. Governor Tim Murray will be resigning and making that announcement today.

Many have been speculating for months that his close association to former Housing Director Mike McLaughlin has so badly damaged the Lt. Governors aspirations for higher office and any type of future political career that he was left with no choice but to try and line up a job in the private sector which apparently he has done.

McLaughlin was a major fundraiser and supporter of the Lt. Governor and brought about his own fall from the Housing Authority by an ill advised attempted political take-over of the Dracut Housing Authority which saw McLaughlin getting the Lt. Governor to replace the state appointed member with a McLaughlin ally and the attempt to replace the Executive Director who had her own political ties with a much more powerful former State Senator. Clearly we know who won that battle.