There are a lot of questions still hanging around, who knows if and when we will ever get an answer….

Who asked Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone to investigate the City Building Dept and former city councilor Alan Kazanjian ?

What’s the status of the investigation by the FBI concerning the Assessors Office and Registry move and the people named? When will they be cleared and will Leone or the FBI announce that also?

Does the Sun owe former city councilor Alan Kazanjian an apology on the front page after the beating they gave him?

Will the City Manager start the process to unhook the building that Kazanjian owned and will it open up new wounds?

Will Dave “just helping out an old lady” St. Hilaire lose the property he “bought” from Erica Magill ?

Will any Councilor bring in a motion that ask the Manager who Who asked Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone to investigate the City Building Dept ?

Will the Lowell School Committee Re-Sign Supt. Scott or will she inform the committee this month that she is moving on?

What is the status of the various teachers contracts/ Lowell and Greater Lowell Tech teachers are both
without contracts?

Why doe the Lowell School committee allow Paul Georges to work full time as a Union President? He has done little to support their efforts and does his service time with the Union count toward his school teaching retirement?

Will the Lowell Delegation be able to deliver without state senator Steve Panagiotakos ?

What will Steve Panagiotakos do after January 1st, 2011?

Will Marty Meehan stay at ULowell or move to be the President of the UMass system or Suffolk University?

Will the Dracut Town Manager retire in the next year, two years?

Will the “hearings” on the Dracut Police Drug Investigation be resolved before the Dracut manager retires?

How ugly will the Selectman’s race get in Dracut next year?

Will the hiring of former Sun reporter Dennis Shaughnessy be an issue in the school committee race?

Is Matt Sheehan running for re-election to the school committee?

Will the Atty General and Ethics commission do the humane and compassionate thing and drop any investigation into former Sheriff DiPaola and let his family try to cope with his death in private? I hope so

According to today’s edition of the Beacon Hill Roll Call (found in today’s Sun) they highlight the area delegation that supports the Speaker most and who supports him the least.

The list of top 10 Democrats representatives who voted the lowest percentage of times with DeLeo include Reps. Steven D’Amico, D-Seekonk, 47.9 percent; Thomas Stanley, D-Waltham, 48.3 percent; James Miceli, D-Wilmington, 53.2 percent; Denis Guyer, D-Dalton, 53.9 percent; Colleen Garry D-Dracut, 56.8 percent; Denise Provost D-Somerville, 59.6 percent; Matthew Patrick, D-Falmouth, 60.1 percent; William Brownsberger, D-Belmont and Geraldine Creedon, D-Brockton, both 67.4 percent; and William Greene, D-Billerica, 64.5 percent

PERCENTAGE OF TIMES LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES VOTED WITH SPEAKER DELEO The percentage next to the representative’s name represents the percentage of times the representative supported DeLeo.

The number in parentheses represents the number of times the representative supported DeLeo.

Rep. Cory Atkins, 83 percent (103 out of 124); Rep. Barry Finegold, 92.7 percent (115 out of 124); Rep. Colleen Garry, 56.8 percent (66 out of 116); Rep. Thomas Golden, 89.3 percent (109 out of 122); Rep. William Greene, 64.5 percent (80 out of 124); Rep. James Miceli, 53.2 percent (66 out of 124); Rep. Charles Murphy, 98.2 percent (113 out of 115); Rep. Kevin Murphy, 90 percent (109 out of 121); and Rep. David Nangle, 87.8 percent (108 out of 123)

The Sun, Globe and Herald all have stories about Sheriff Jim DiPaola and his sudden and tragic death. His family, friends and supporters are in shock and deeply saddened.

The small Political Column in the Sun this week recaps the Health Insurance issue and how it has hurt both the City Manager and Councilor Rita Mercier who was slapped down by her fellow councilors and how she was upset by that especially with Bud Caulfield who she felt should have backed her.

It has been a tough week for the Councilor who was shocked and saddened by the death of the Sheriff yesterday. I may not always agree with Councilor Mercier or her stances but again I say you will never find councilors who respond better to constituents than Rita and Bud do.

It also mentions the passionate speech by School Committee member Jim Leary. It speculates that Leary may be positioning himself for a council run but I believe he was speaking as a concerned school committee member who will run again for the same position.

Is the health insurance issue and the fact the city council voted to support the Manager and Home Rule Petition diverse enough to make it a hot button City Council Issue? The column suggest it might be. I don’t think any resident can criticize the present council for trying to find a way to save $3-$5 million dollars and giving the Manager some kind of tool at the bargaining table. You can be sure Paul Georges and the Teachers Union will try to make it an issue.

The shorter than normal column also highlights that the Convention and Visitors bureau will be selling tickets to the premier of “THE Fighter” to be held here in Lowell. Tickets are $75 and proceeds will go toward the Mickey Ward Charities and the CVB. Call the CVB for tickets after 10 am tomorrow 978-459-6150.

If you get shut out, Saturday Morning Live will be auctioning off tickets next Saturday. John Decouteaux from Mickey Ward Charities was on the station yesterday and announced the donation to help the Salvation Army Radiothon

With news that the Globe Santa is shutting out the Lowell Area, the Salvation Army will need your help more than ever to help local families in need. Please make a kettle donation and turn into the Salvation Army Radiothon on WCAP to bid on items or just make a donation.

Two personal items: 1 – Congratulations to my brother Fred sports producer at Ch 7 in Boston, who is flying out to LA courtesy of Paramount Pictures to the LA Premier of the movie on Wednesday and will be interviewing stars Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale the next day. (hopefully he will share some of that interview here next week)

2) On City Life Friday I did declare that I am running for a seat on the Greater Lowell Technical School Committee in 2011. I will wait until early spring before I get into to many specific issues but two that I strongly disagree with is the need for a public relations person at close to $60,000 a year or the need to pay a Supt. for 1 school more than the Tyngsboro or Dracut Supt. make and only $400 less than the Lowell Supt.

Dracut residents can tune into City Life the next few weeks on Dracut Cable (check local listing) and hear Dracut Selectman John Zimini and Cathy Richardson discuss the Allard Grove Issue, Sesame St issue and the attempted quorum change for the November Town meeting. In addition Selectman Zimini answers my questions about last years selectman’s race and his own upcoming re-election race.

Speaking of Allard Grove, it will be interesting to see if developer Coravos files a 40B plan with the state to try to push through some type of development at that location.

According to the Boston Herald, Boston Globe and the Lowell Suns Breaking news section

” Wells police say that a Massachusetts sheriff who was facing an investigation over improper use of campaign funds has died of an apparent suicide.

The 57-year-old DiPaola recently announced his was retiring and was able to take advantage of state pension law that allows retirees to run for paid elective office without losing pensions. But he said he would not accept both after The Boston Globe probed him.

It is a very sad ending for a man who gave so much of his life to public service and according to many did a great job as Sheriff. To be so distraught at the end and to leave his family this way is a sad and tragic ending no matter what you thought of the man.

LOWELL CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2010 TIME 6:30 PM

CITY CLERK
1. Minutes of November 23rd for acceptance.

CITY MANAGER
2. Communication-From City Manager, responses to Council Motions/Requests.
3. Order-60 Day Trial, Traffic Regulations, Brattle St.

REPORTS (Sub/Committee, if any)

PETITIONS
4. Claims-1 claim property damage

MOTIONS

5. C. Martin-Req. Mgr. have proper State Agency remove debris along Rt. 110.

6. C. Caulfield-Req. Mgr. report on monies expended for repairs/renovations from $700,000 Bond for LeLacheur Park.