Instead of directing you to the Sun which has many fine stories remembering Sept. 11th or to try to speak on the tragedy that was Sept 11th I instead direct you to richardhowe.com for some touching remembrances. Paul Marions’ entry especially reminds us of the personal loss that many people had with those whose lives were lost on that date.

Paul also reminds us: Today from 1 pm to 4 pm, Jack and Jim Neary and compatriots from the school yard at Sacred Heart will be playing their annual baseball game for the 30th year in a row. This year is special because the Sunday game coincides with the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Today’s game is a benefit for struggling veterans who are assisted by the Senior Corps of Community Teamwork Inc. The living legend Micky Ward is throwing out the first pitch.

Go to Jack’s blog, “Shards,” to see how you can donate by check or credit card. The goal is to raise $5,000, but they are not going to stop there if the contributions keep flowing in. And I’m sure you can show up at Shedd this afternoon with a check made out to Senior Corps at Community Teamwork or a $20 bill for the cause.

Sunday Political Column:

The column starts off mentioning the Lowell police quietly unveiled a portrait of the late Officer Patrick “P.J” Johnson in the lobby of the Police Department, two days before the first anniversary of his death. They note Not a single elected or appointed local official attended and list the many reason why they may not have.

The column also states: It will be interesting to see how the Lowell patrolmen decide to remember the late patrolman Charles Panek. who was also off duty, died the night of July 23 when he jumped from a speeding motor boat into the Merrimack River in Tyngsboro.

GN: I find these items in the Sun in poor taste, especially today Sunday Sept. 11th when we as a country stop to remember all those lives lost 10 years ago. Especially today we remember and we honor the 1st responders, Police, Fire and EMT’s who risked and lost their lives. We Thank those who serve today risking their lives every day they put on a uniform in service to their community.

With regards to Mayor James Milinazzo, I find his comments distasteful as well.He is quoted as saying: said.

“With all due respect to Offi­cer Johnson and his family, what standard do we use to honor our fallen heroes?”

First and foremost Officer PJ Johnson was by all known accounts an exemplary member of the Lowell Police Dept. who served his city and his department to the best of his ability and from speaking with fellow officers was much respected and liked. We honor those who day to day risk their lives on the streets of this city doing a job that many bitch about but one that we need and in times of crises one we look to for support and action in times of danger.

Show me 1 person who has not made a bad choice or decision in our private life and behavior and then you can start to question whether we should acknowledge the contributions of a Lowell Police office who served the public everyday he put on a uniform.

Most of us have shown less than perfect judgement in our life and can say a little prayer that There but for the Grace of God go I.

So unless Jim has been 100% perfect his comments are out of line and show poor judgement.

God Bless and Bravo to Police Supt. Lavallee and all members of the Lowell Police Dept.for honoring this fallen officer in a way they felt appropriate.

In other column notes, The column applauds Supt. Franco for promoting from within and introducing the eight new elementary and middle school principals and pointing out that 7 of 8 are longterm employee’s of the district.

It talks about the combined efforts of the Lowell Plan and the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce to try to block the homeless walk-in center at Saint Anne’s.

The Lowell/Dracut portion ends with the longstanding reminder that you don’t upset Seniors (a big voting block) reminding Dracut Housing Chairman Ken Martin that they don’t forget and many are upset with the decision to replace current Executive Director Mary Karabatsos.

Onto other things…

A couple of Election Parties this week, former Mayor/current Councilor Bill Martin has a 50th Birthday Bash celebration on Thursday Sept. 15th beginning at 5:30 at Longmeadow Country Club. Suggested donations $25.00

Former Mayor/ City Councilor Armand Mercier has a fundraiser on Thursday Sept. 15th 6:00 -9:00 at the LaFayette from 6:00 -9:00 suggested donations of $50.00

I had the pleasure of meeting Arnie Muscovitz at the Sept. 11 service in Lowell last week. Arnie is the founder and leader of the 3rd Annual Day Of remembrance for victims and families on Monday, September 26 · 6:30pm – 8:00pm at City Hall…If you run into Arnie tomorrow wish him a Happy Birthday.

Also saw ex State Rep Susan Rourke at the event along with School Committee Candidate Kristen Ross Sitcawich.

Yesterday ran into Dracut Housing member Ken Cunha at Dracut Old Home day. Ken is one of the nice guys in Dracut and he looks fantastic having lost a bunch or weight and feels great.

Also ran into Brian and Mary Bond, Eileen Kane the former Lowell High teacher and wife of the famous Greater Lowell Tech football coach Joe Kane. Eileen was their working for the Garden Club and the entire Dracut Complex looked great.

The Dracut Housing issue regarding the Executive Director is creating more than the usual tension among the players perceived to be on either side and is close to getting even more nasty and personal in nature. I hope that each side takes a breath and realizes that there are many more important things and bigger issues and stops the nastiness before this gets even uglier. It does NOTHING to serve the citizens of Dracut that both sides claim is their concern and focus.

The next Neighborhood City Council Candidates forum will be held on Wednesday Sept 21st at the Dom Polski
beginning at 6:30 subjects will be Inspectional Services and Civic Improvements. The neighborhood groups are working together on these forums and will have forms to Register anyone that has not registered to vote.

City Council Challenger’s Corey Belanger and John MacDonald will be featured in this week’s City Council Spotlight on this Blog this week. Corey tomorrow and John on Wednesday.

Sunday Notes later… Angela Gitschier was a student at Greater Lowell when I worked there. I knew her then, that was 23+ years ago. Since that time I have dealt with her when getting copies of Birth certificates or my Marriage License. She was helpful, friendly and professional. We are friendly and I respect and like her and her husband a great deal. Longtime hard-working Lowell citizens who are dedicated family oriented people.

I have also spoken to several people who deal with her often in the course of their business (Wedding Planners, Undertakers, etc) along with people who work at city hall. All agree she does a great job, treats the citizens/customer with respect and has gone above the call of duty often ..so excuse my rant but I find the treatment she is receiving at the hands of a majority of the current Lowell City Council Appalling!

They are being Disrespectful and are so concerned with covering their own backside for their lack of oversight that they are allowing the reputation of a long time Loyal Employee to be questioned and tarnished by passing her over and setting up a job description to insure they don’t hire her for the full time job. It sickens me and sends a negative message to every other city employee.

The city of Lowell in the past several years has gotten the reputation that Lowell Residents need not apply and that we don’t promote from within. Councilor Elliot & Descoteaux and others have brought forward motions to try to improve and change that image. We are told by the administration and by this Council that if a Lowell resident is qualified then they should and will get the job.

If that is the case then why is Mayor Milinazzo along with Vice Mayor Broderick and a majority of the council treating a 20+ year employee of the City like excess baggage that they can’t wait to get rid of?

Why are they treating her so disrespectfully that they are practically forcing her to walk away from a job she started working in co-op when she was in High School? Is that what they want? They can’t justify getting rid of her for doing anything wrong except following the direction and policy of her Supervisor and because they were in charge of supervising the Clerk Dept. and didn’t know the policy of the 2nd bag they feel they looked foolish so they are taking it out on a longtime employee? A group of mostly men attacking a women who they think will just walk away.

If I were in her shoes or related to her I’d tell her to get herself down to Boston and get the best equal rights attorney first thing Wednesday Morning. If they insist on treating her like this then they deserve to be made to explain in public their reasoning.

She needs to stop being professional, stop being the dutiful employee,stop being nice and stop putting up with this treatment. Talk about bullying, these councilors are doing that to this women. Forcing her to train her boss and by their actions sully her reputation and trying to make her quit.

See what being a good worker for the city of Lowell will get you. The shaft!

The Asst. city clerk was passed over for the initial role of acting clerk while the investigation was going on. Understandable I guess but the investigation is over and no wrong doing was found by the Lowell Police. I spoke with people familiar to the case, she did nothing wrong which is why she was allowed to keep working and I’m willing to bet training the MAN she reports to.

What they found was an employee with an exemplary attendance record who is only guilty of following the rules of the office set forth by her boss and his boss before that.The Sun makes the 2nd bag of money sound seedy..did anyone check to see that the same policy was in place for many years in the Treasurer’s office? When did that change and has it? Ask the guy who was placed on paid admin leave for grabbing his crotch in front of female workers if the 2nd money bag is still in use. He gets treated better than an honest hardworking female with over 20 years of service to the city. When Mr. Johnson was out before on medical leave she filled in for 90 days and the office was well run.

Why is this motion on the Agenda this week? Why vote to extend a contract instead of letting it expire, Thank the gentleman for his service and let him go back to private practice? The investigation is over We have a competent Asst. let her do the job.

Hopefully Councilors Caulfield, Mercier and Elliot along with Descoteaux and hopefully Murphy or Mendonca will stand up for an honest hardworking longtime city of Lowell Employee.Don’t vote to extend the appointment. Name the Asst. Clerk the Acting Clerk. She’s done it, she knows the job and she has done NOTHING WRONG to s=deserve the disrespect you are showing her.

For that matter WHO put this motion on the Agenda? Why isn’t there a name to it? It ISN”T UN-Finished BUSINESS!

Vote – To extend the contract for the acting clerk for an additional 90 days, or until such time as a successor clerk is appointed.

If they are EXTENDING the contract WHY is this under Unfinished Business?? His appointment was temporary, what is unfinished unless the Mayor and Vice Mayor are setting him up to continue in the role permanently.Why not let her serve as the acting clerk until a new one is appointed?

According to people I have spoken with the “acting” Clerk has had to be trained by the Asst. Clerk. Has she received any compensation for training the guy she has to report to. I’m willing to bet NOT!

Why are you the City Council allowing her reputation to be damaged? If you are embarrassed for NOT knowing how a department functions that you are supposed to oversee that is your shortcoming. You are taking out your poor management supervision against an employee who did and continues to do her job. She can train the new guy but can’t do the job? What sense does that make? Why not appoint her NOW and give her a fair shot at the full-time position?

Instead of being rewarded and thanked for years of service, she has been passed over for the acting job, may be passed over again Tuesday night and may get shafted from qualifying for the permanent position by having a job description written by who the heck knows. Did they ask the person who has done the job for over 20 years anything about it?

Instead of complaining to the Newspaper or WCAP or even talking with an old friend (granted one with a big mouth and a BLOG) she has continued to act like a good and professional employee. She has kept her mouth shut not saying a bad word against any councilor or the “Acting” Clerk who has from what I see has little experience

He has told more than 1 person at City hall he doesn’t understand how the clerks office functions with so few people.

Is that why there is discussions and rumors now sweeping through city hall about moving the Election Department to be included has part of the City Clerks Office? He needs more help so they will give it to him? Does anyone else find this sudden interest in consolidation strange?

If the Clerk is supposed to work for the Council, does anyone but me see a potential conflict with the Council also in charge of the Election dept? Is this being added to match the resumes of a pre-chosen candidate? Why now and why build qualifications into a job description when they do not yet match the job? Just getting the spot ready for the pre-chosen candidate?

The rank and file workers already had a bad taste in their mouth when the Data Analysis was “chosen” to be the Asst. Human Relations Manager to give him a raise over many long time city workers. This episode is only doing more damage.

Is the Council for rewarding current employees or instead are they for letting people create the job description for a person who used to work for them or for a Councilor who may want a particular person for the position? Where is the leadership, the fairness or the committment to City workers that their hard work and dedication will be recognized?

If the Clerk is supposed to work for the Council which councilors were on the committee that wrote the job description? Did a person who works for the Manager write the description? Why is it bent towards a lawyer when over the years none was needed? Why did the Mayor state Mr. Leahy wasn’t interested in the job full-time and was “helping out” and now he’s not only applying, rumors have him has the front-runner before the Job is Posted.

Are we really going to hire him or another Lawyer who was a former city councilor and stand in front of the citizens and say this isn’t a political move? I think its a weak and unfair CYA move designed to tarnish the reputation of a city employee while trying to save their own in an election year.

The way it looks to me is a 20+ year employee is being mistreated, having her reputation and work ethic questioned and cast in a bad light for doing her job and unjustly and unfairly being passed over by City Councilors who claim they want Lowell workers to be dedicated and committed.

You have one who has been that and this is the way YOU the COUNCIL treat her?

They are treating an employee with a great record, who could if she wanted to have hundreds of people writing letters and making statements of support for her, unfairly and unjustly. She has chosen instead to continue to act professionally and do her job in hope that years of honest hard work and faithfulness to the City would be recognized and respected and that she would get the job that she has trained for and be rewarded for many years of long and faithful service.

I want her to stand up to you and your bullying and mistreatment, to come on this Blog, WCAP or the SUN and tell her story. She refuses and while she Thanked me for the call and support she would rather stand on her merits, ethics and reputation than have to fight unfounded and unspoken allegations and whispers or have someone fight the battle for her.

I apologize to her for this Post because I’m sure she is upset and would rather not have me ranting but I’m tired of hearing we care about the City Workers and we are treating a long time loyal employee with such little respect.

No one deserves their reputation to be questioned because of actions taken by this Council trying to cover their own failings. YOU have 3 employees’s (Manager. Clerk, Auditor) and you didn’t know what was going on in one department and you are using a longtime employee has a scapegoat. She is an honest, hard-working loyal employee and doesn’t deserve the treatment she is receiving from this City Council and the Sun.

Where are the City Council Challengers on this issue? Why are they not being vocal and telling this
Council to appoint the Asst. to the acting position and to let the Asst. have a fair shot at the job?

They want to lead and be our voice and have respectful leadership..let them step up now and tell this council they need to treat employee’s with respect.

Why is the Lowell City Council mistreating a 20+ year Employee and what message are they sending to all the other city employees?

It’s a sad example of Disrespectful Leadership!