How many people remember the Dracut Speedway? My dad used to talk about that and in today’s SUN on the front of the Sports section Sam Weisberg has a story remembering the track titled Speedway was a gem – until tragedy struck. Rita Savard has a very good article on the Chelmsford re-call election this Tuesday Aug 2nd The facts vs. friction of Chelmsford recall vote which undoubtfully will have Van Liew and McClure railing against the Sun (FACTS of course don’t matter to these men) and the SUN has full and positive coverage of the LOWELL FOLK FESTIVAL’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY going on this weekend. Pick up, subscribe to the e-edition or home delivery of the regional newspaper that covers Lowell the best.
The SUN!

In the political column…Not much

The lead is about a Union fight between the Chelmsford-based New England Police Benevolent Association and the Quincy­based National Association of Government Employees.

It covers the recent council meeting and the treatment of embattled Sealer of Weights and Measures John Hynes by the Manager and questions if Lynch provided to much information? It also gives us the history of Hynes and his ties to the McMahons and former Manager Cox.

The column mentions that CITY CLERK Richard Johnson has retained Lowell State Rep. / Atty Kevin Murphy to represent him and informs us that former City Manager Joe Tully’s scheduled for Tuesday, has been rescheduled to Aug. 30.

It states that Greater Lowell School Committee challenger Eric Gitschier returned his nomination papers with at least 50 voter signatures last month and reports that Mike Lenzi still hasn’t appeared at City Hall to pull papers.

a few other things…

Try Scola’s Restaurant in Dracut for a really good Lunch buffet Tuesday – Saturday Noon – 2:00 pm. For $9.99 you get various Italian dishes, soup and salad. Also Kimball’s bumper Boats are a blast along with the mini-golf and a day trip to Boston including the Swan Boats and Faneuil Hall. Just be sure to bring cash or check if you take the Train because the desk that sells tickets do NOT accept Debit/Credit cards.

Mike Hayden wants to know if rumors about him running will stop now that Dave Laferriere has pulled papers? Mike has stated numerous times on City Life he would NOT run against an incumbent along with pulling out of the Lowell School Committee Race.

However before I would say he is out of any race this year I’d wait because rumor has it that Dave Laferriere ALSO pulled papers to run (again) for the Lowell City Council. Ig he turns those in and NOT the Tech could Hayden stage a comeback???

I met William Sheehan who pulled papers to run for the Tech.School Committee this morning gathering signatures at the Bridge St. Market Basket. Mr. Sheehan has been employed for over 35 years at the LHA and been involved in various city campaigns, always working for someone else running for office. He felt it was time to be the one running and wants to serve the citizens on the Tech Board. It appears he has a solid history of Lowell, its politics and the Tech.

The following is reprinted from my column in the July Edition of the Valley Patriot.

Since the Lowell based movie The Fighter was so popular I thought it would be fitting to RANK The Council and School Committee incumbents and challengers and has the race unfolds I can change the rankings.

Lowell City Council

The Incumbents:

Rita Mercier – Heavyweight, Undisputed Champ who will reign has long has she wants.

Jim Milinazzo – Heavyweight, Been around the block, knows how to take a punch and stays on his feet.

William F. (Bill) Martin, Jr – Heavyweight, Once and probably future Mayor, a battler

Kevin Broderick – Heavyweight, Survived brutal beating by the Sun and won the last round handily.

Rodney Elliott – Light Heavyweight, Better Days are behind him, lost some punch and was nearly knocked out in the last round.

Franky Descoteaux – Junior/middleweight/super , surprised many with a strong showing and has held her own in her first year.

Patrick Murphy -junior/welterweight, lost his first fight in the Heavyweight division but made a respectable showing dropping down a couple categories. Will he fight again this year?

Joseph Mendonça – junior/lightweight, A battler and tough street fighter but also gentle man with health issue hurting his ability to keep fighting, people are worried about him.

The Challengers

Armand Mercier – Heavyweight lost the last fight due to health but wants one more fight to prove he still has it

Ed Kennedy – Heavyweight, another comeback attempt by an aging fighter who has as many defeats has battles won.

Fred Doyle – Heavyweight, another comeback attempt by a guy who’s been nothing more than a stepping stone for even the most novices of fighters like Ben Opara and Ryan Berard

John Leahy – Cruiserweight, after a long successful career moving up to the heavyweight category. Will be a contender

Marty Lorrey – junior/bantamweight, Long time sparring partner who’s stepping into his first solo fight. Will show he has trained long and hard and is ready.

Paul Belley – junior/welterweight, lost his first fight but has been training since. Battler with a never give up attitude, will fight to the end.

Corey Belanger – junior/welterweight, lost a good first fight in the light heavyweight division and drops down a level hoping he can show he can take a TKO yet win the next fight.

John MacDonald – junior flyweight/flyweight – A newcomer but has a talented, respected training crew along with the REAL Fighter in his corner. Hoping to be the Franky Descoteaux of 2009 but could end up as the 2011 Paul Belley, hard worker who just misses the knock-out punch,

Van Pech, Vesna Nuon, Robert Merrill, Fredrick Wanjiku – straw weight – Unknowns who may be stepping in the rings for the first time. Some may chose not to fight at all.

Lowell School Committee

Incumbents

Connie Martin – Heavyweight, Proven winner, takes many punches but hasn’t been knocked out yet. Will again win the fight

Jackie Doherty – Heavyweight, Veteran fighter who has been there before and can dish it out and take it. Good toe to toe fighter

Dave Conway – Cruiserweight, Two fights to run away wins. Will again be tops and is firmly entrenched.

Jim Leary – Cruiserweight, One his first two fights handily and has battled the Union Pres. and Sun Editor but has shown he can take a punch and give a few back.

Alison Laraba – Junior/lightweight, Like Franky Descoteaux came out of nowhere in 2009 but not nearly has strong or polished. Loner who is waffling on one more fight or early retirement.

Challengers

Kristen Ross Sitcawich – junior/welterweight, Lost a heavyweight fight in 2007 but recovered and has the experience to capture the one uncontested seat. A real gamer

Bob Gignac – Novice – Been training has the head of the young Democrats and knows the basics. May need to take a hit or two before he wins his first fight. Young and positive.

Kim Scott – Novice – Lots of heart and a strong support staff could be a contender and knock off Laraba or if Laraba retires could take the 2nd open seat.

Greater Lowell Technical

Incumbents

Mike Lenzi – Heavyweight, Job is his has long as he wants it. Well known and well liked

Dave LaFerriere – Junior/lightweight, aging fighter who has gotten knocked down but gets right back up. Does he have one more fight left?

Erik Gitschier – Novice – Trained under Fred Bahou and is his protégée. Hard worker who could surprise and defeat a veteran or lose in his first solo bout has his mentor did.

Greater Lowell Technical School Committee Incumbent David C. LaFerriere pulled his papers to run for re-election. William Sheehan from Avon St. in Lowell has also pulled papers to run for the Greater Lowell Technical School Committee. Erik Gitschier has also pulled papers but still no word yet from incumbent Mike Lenzi.

For Lowell School Committee: Dave Conway, Kristin Ross Sitcawich and Kim Scott

I’m on vacation this week and doing day trips with my family so I missed the City Council meeting last night. Did I miss a lively show or is the Sun article blown out of proportion to make the Manager and Councilors who support him look bad?

Here’s what I do know….

According to today’s Sun, apparently along with again raising fees on a number of City Businesses the citizens of the city who watched the meeting got a side-show involving a disgruntled city worker and a pair of councilors who were against the increase but gaveled down by the Mayor. I can’t wait to watch the replay (not up yet) and see it for myself.

First I have to agree with Councilors Elliot and Caulfield in voting NO to raising these fees.

The City keeps saying Economic Development is important and that Lowell is business friendly. It seems to me Lowell is always taxing businesses here in the city. Businesses pay a higher Property Tax, pay for their own garbage pick-up (and now pays for trash pick up if they want a barrel in front of their store to keep OUR neighborhoods clean) and permits and other fees were raised in the past year.

Now in the middle of a he said/the City issue regarding inspections conducted by the sealer of weights and measures the Council tacks on Extra fees for Inspections because we are now paying others to do it and want to bring in more funds. Sorry but there is NO reason to raise fees for these Inspections, especially considering that the city is trying to promote itself has being business friendly and the city didn’t lose has much local aid has first thought.

Shame on Bill Martin for making this statement “These are relatively minor increases for the most part,”

All these “minor” increases the city continues to make adds cost to businesses that are struggling in this economy. I work in a private small business and have seen first hand that these small added fees add up and take a toll on a small company.

The side show appears to be a combination of the Mayor trying to keep the meeting and speakers on point and a couple of people / Councilors feeling that he was trying to ram the approval through.

According to the Sun “Councilors Edward “Bud” Caulfield and Rodney Elliott voted in opposition, but were both gaveled down by Milinazzo while questioning Lynch about the decision to outsource the sealer’s functions after reducing Hynes from a full-time employee to an 8-hour-a-week employee in December.”

“Kenneth Harkins, of Bigelow Street, rose to speak in opposition to the fee hikes and started to say he was against outsourcing when Milinazzo gaveled him down.”

“Milinazzo said after the meeting he believed the councilors, Harkins and Hynes were speaking off topic”

So if you saw the meeting, what did you think? Is the Sun over-playing the angle? Were the speakers off topic or was the Mayor quick with the Gavel? Do you agree that raising the fees is incorrect?

Manager’s Sealer Report

A Couple of items that are of interest on tonight’s council agenda.

The Manager will present a report to the Council on the Sealer (see attached)

Also the City is declaring the Smith-Baker Center has surplus and for sale. At one time this was a beautiful performance center with some great inside architecture. There is a restricted use connected to the RFP that states it needs to again be used for arts and entertainment.

I expect the “Acting” City Clerk Brian Lea­hey to be at his Post during tonight’s meeting.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

In Today’s Sun there is a Letter to the Editor that caught my attention regarding the Library staff, it is worth re-printing in its entirety:

Library staffers need a work adjustment

As someone who has worked library circulation desks for 16 years, I would like to say, regarding the recent descriptions of how Pollard Memorial staff mem­bers have been spending their workdays, that if a worker is writing personal emails and EChat, he cannot possibly be working. Also, if a worker is spending his work hours hacking, he/she cannot possi­bly be working. I assume City Hall pays these workers to work. Hacking, as far as I know, is illegal and should be dealt with accordingly. I won­der how long this staff mem­ber has been hacking and what other government hard­ware has been hacked into.

I would also like to say that a library job is a cus­tomer- service job. Workers are expected to be welcoming, helpful, social. So many times, I see workers doing little or no work, standing around, chat­ting with each other and even conspiring with each other.

What is this place? I dread going to the desk for checkout when certain workers are on duty because I know I will be given a dirty look, treated as if I am invisible, have my card practically thrown back at me. This is not professional library behavior, and some workers clearly are not suited to public service. The city needs to look into hiring peo­ple who care and who value their jobs.

LEO RACICOT Lowell

Rob Mills is an excellent reporter who writes with passion. You can read his stories and know he loves his job. Rob covers the crime beat here in Lowell and his Police Blog tribute to Office Panek is one you can’t miss.

Here’s a brief sample of Rob’s story: I mention this because it really struck me today. That was the one and only time Deputy Ryan has ever called me like that, and I think that speaks volumes.

Charles Panek was pronounced dead last night at 11:41 p.m. He drowned after jumping from a boat for a swim in the Merrimack River in Tyngsboro. Dozens of officers had searched for him since earlier in the day when he failed to surface.

Click ON THIS LINK and read Rob’s touching tribute and offer a prayer for Officer Panek and his family.

Usually I spotlight stories in the Sunday Sun and remind everyone to subscribe or pick up the Local Regional Newspaper that covers Lowell and the surrounding communities. In these dog days of July the paper is quiet and so is the political column (below).

So today I thought I’d ask a question.

Is the Sun Newspaper under the direction of Editor Jim Campanini trying to make the City Manager a Campaign Issue?

If you look at the current state of the City of Lowell regarding taxes, service’s etc. compared to many other cities and towns in the State Lowell under the direction of this city council and city administration Lowell is in good shape.

The Manager under the leadership of the council has the city in solid shape. So there really is NO huge issue for a challenger to rally against. No issue means fewer ads and fewer ads mean less revenue for the Newspaper. Yes there are many challengers but to date the challengers all have realized that there is no major issue and have concentrated their efforts into running the same type of campaign Patrick Murphy did to win. Walking the city neighborhoods, attending neighborhood meetings and events and meeting the citizens over running multiple ads in the Paper.

Most have run ads for their campaign parties and many will run ads has the election gets closer but the dogs summer days of July and AUgust are slow for newspapers (and radio and bloggers) and revenue from political ads is non existing.

The race needs an Issue and at least to me it seems that the current Editor is using the naïvety and inexperience of a 2010 graduate in journalism to present a slanted view of city personal issues to try to create the issue. That being the City Manager can’t control the staff and city personal therefore his management/leadership style ability is in question and so is he.

The Manager can be blamed for some of this, his handling of the Lowell Public Library over the last year is not impressive and doesn’t seem to have been effective. When you have personal issue repeatedly you need to replace people. The whole is the Library a safe place issue should have been dealt with quickly and all library and city employee’s reminded that in this state ALL employee’s have a right to privacy and due process and if it is found you ran to the press or a councilor before following the chain of command warnings and suspensions should be given.

Either the Library Director or the two employee’s who violated the computer usage policy and joke or not threatened a fellow employee should have been dismissed. Instead he has allowed this issue to linger in the press and on the Blogs. But it is NOT large enough to make the Manager the Issue.

The pro-longed Investigation and actions into the Illegal sewer hook-up, the choice to try to allow the sealer of weights and measure to retire instead of suspending the guy who Rosemary Cashman stated was only doing 2 Inspections in 35 hours and the firing of workers at Lowell Regional Water Utility for “stealing Gas’ and now finding the Utility under an Ethics watch for employees possibly using City equipment for personal use are not highlights of the Manager’s tenure this past year. However like any large business with hundreds of employee’s these things happen and should be dealt with quickly and fairly. Again not great things but NOT enough to question the ability of this Manager and disregard the strong fiscal state the city is in.

Yes the Sun has the obligation and right to report these incidents but they can do it with facts and without a negative spin. It has been well noticed by many that solid reporters who report facts like Mike LaFleur and Jenn Meyers either leave the paper or are removed from covering City Hall because they play it straight and don’t slant the coverage. Jenn Myers still breaks news in the city but does it has an objective reporter not as a pit bull for the Editor.

Rodney Elliot has the right to run his political campaign anyway he wants. If he chooses to set himself up has anti-Manager that is his call and he will get elected or lose because of it.

It is NOT the right or duty of the regional newspaper to create an adversarial relationship with the City Manager to try and create an issue. They certainly can write Editorials and Columns to do that. Phelps and Campy can do that anytime they want. A reporter isn’t a columnist and needs to report ALL the facts not just the ones that fit his Editor’s slant on the story.

Is it personal on the Editor’s part or a professional judgement to create an issue and hopefully get candidates to run ads (either in agreement or in support of the Manager)? That is your call.

If I am Mark O’Neil the President/Publisher of the Sun, I am embarrassed by the recent stories and the Manager’s accounts published here.

Is his reporter being directed to withhold information from a story by the Editor of the paper? I am also embarrassed by the reporter’s actions on Facebook (Read Jack’s Post on Left in Lowell). If he allows a person he covers to “friend” him on his Sun Facebook page, then un-friends and removes comments from the same people he covers, where is the objectivity?

Either mandate that you can’t “friend” anyone you cover or mandate that if you allow them to be your Facebook Friend you allow them to make comments and call you out when you don’t live up to your objectiveness.

So you make the call…Is the Sun trying to make the City Manager a campaign issue?

The Political Column…

The column list the number of City Workers suspended, fired or placed on leave in the last few years to lead off the column titled Dismissal list grows longer, weirder

Followed by a mention of the less than harsh reprimands it appears were given to the library aides. Seems Councilor Joe Mendonca agrees with me, he is quoted has saying ” It is a situation that leaves him not knowing what to do, but it has to be addressed somehow or someway,” Mendonca said. “I don’t think it can be solved with the people there. One or the other party would have to leave.

The Sun sort of defends Council Challenger John MacDonald “YOUR FLEDGLING campaign for City Council is just getting off the ground, and who you associate with and your motives for seeking political office are already being questioned by rivals who’ll be lucky to receive 3,000 votes” Funny that last week the SUN appeared to be the ones questioning who he was associated with.

The column takes a shot at Dracut Selectman Jon Zimini who wants CPA to purchase some land in his neighborhood to keep open space and keep out Housing and ball fields yet works at MassHousing, a quasi-public agency and state affordable-housing bank.

It also mentions that former Dracut Selectman O’Loughlin dissolved his election committee on Thursday. Basically saying better late than never. That the President of Saints will probably stay after the acquisition is completed by Steward Health Care.

Few last thoughts…

Kendall Wallace’s column in yesterday’s Sun was a pretty good look at the current state of the upcoming City Election. He broke the Council race into three tiers and listed the 3 current councilors who he thinks may be in the most danger of losing a seat because of so many strong challengers…Joe Mendonca,Patrick Murphy and Rodney Elliott.

I would agree with Mr. Wallace on these three but maybe not for the same reasons.

On Joe Mendonca he says “He deliberates issues well and is seen as a moderate in his support of the manager. Not as strong as some of the others, but not obstructive. He had some health issues and has never been a strong fundraiser to help run a big campaign. I would agree with all of that and add that after running and losing twice he was helped tremendously by the Anti-Kazanjian spirit in the city the last time out. Joe is an exact opposite from outgoing and tremendous personality of Alan K and was helped out by so many negative stories in the Sun involving Alan K.

On Patrick Murphy, Mr. Wallace states ” Murphy broke through as a first-time candidate. He ran a very aggressive campaign without a lot of money and he knows how to use the social network.He filed a lot of motions on issues he campaigned on and emerged as an important vote to Lynch on big issues. Again I would agree but add this was his 2nd race (a losing congressional one) and like Joe Mendonca he doesn’t raise funds and could be overshadowed by the stronger fundraising candidates.

We both agree on Rodney Elliot , Mr. Wallace ” Elliott survived a number of tough elections and has flip-flopped on the manager. He was a key player in making a change in the manager’s office five years ago and has now become the major critic of Lynch. It appears he wants to play the role of former councilor Dick Howe, in being the anti, the challenger, but his inconsistency can cause him to lose on both sides of the political fronts. I would add..I watched Dick Howe, I admired Dick Howe, Rodney Elliot is not now or will ever be Dick Howe

I like the mystery item Mr. Wallace planted in the column regarding the School Committee race and if you can identify the person..drop me a name ” There has been gossip of a possible fourth challenger, a very popular Belvidere woman filing, but that has not yet occurred.”

I always enjoy being on the radio or TV and yesterday being at Veterans Park in Dracut has part of Saturday Morning Live was no exception. The many antique cars were interesting and the work and concern for the beautiful Park by Don Morowski, the organizer of the antique-car show is appreciated by all who use this park.

I also want to mention that I ran into former Dracut Selectman Mike Blatus donating his time at the Park yesterday morning. I usually meet Mr. B along with his son Mike at many of these fundraising endeavors whenever I am in Dracut, some may not like him but I have always been treated respectfully and have found him to be friendly and a great guy to talk Dracut Politics with.

Thanks to the many who have contacted the committee to play or sponsor a hole in the upcoming 1ST ANNUAL SHAWN M. DUMONT GOLF CLASSIC. They still are looking for a few more players or donations so if you could PLEASE Please email Mike/Chris at dumontgolfclassic@comcast.​net, or call Mike at 978-937-0725.

The Golf Classic at Campbell’s Scottish Highlands Golf Course 79 Brady Avenue Salem, NH begins with registration at 8:00 a.m.,followed by a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. The cost to participate in this Classic is $600 per foursome or $150 per player, which includes green fees, cart, steak and chicken dinner, and various refreshments and prizes, including a $5,000 Hole In-One opportunity.