With the recent Council Candidate Forum and all the talk about Inspectional Services, the radio stories by Mr. Doyle regarding the LHA and Inspectional Services and the rumored upcoming Sun story about the LHA and Inspectional Services a response to a motion about Inspectional Services is in this weeks council packet.

In the City Council Packet this week was a response to a motion by City Councilor Patrick Murphy

MOTION OF 9/27111 BY COUNCILOR MURPHY REQUEST MANAGER PROVIDE ONE-YEAR REPORT ON REORGANIZATION OF
INSPECTIONAL SERVICES INTO THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT

The Manager’s response is we will have it for you next week and we want to do a full presentation at the Council meeting: Here is the written response from Asst. Manager Adam Baacke

In June 20 10, the Lowell City Council unanimously approved a reorganization of various departments, which resulted in the creation of the Division of Development Services in the Department of Planning and
Development (DPD). Development Services brought together the project review, permitting, and code
enforcement functions of the City into a single operation that could better serve its customers and the public.

The Division ‘s actual formation was completed in October 2010.

The reorganization was pursued to ensure that City government is accessible, responsive, and accountable. The reorganization was designed to encompass quality of services, long-term planning and integration of functions. The report which recommended the reorganization identified six core reasons for the changes.

• Inspectional Service s
• Public Health and Safety
• Customer Service
• Planning and Expedited Permitting
• Economic Development
• Budget Impact

Over the past year, Development Services has made significant progress in addressing all of these and looks forward to the opportunity to continue to improve these areas over the coming years. The report also outlined a list of specific recommendations, many of which have been successfully implemented, completely or in part . In a few cases, alternate e approaches have proven more viable than the specific recommendation.

The challenges that the reorganization was intended to address are substantial and difficult and opportunities for continued improvement remain. However , in a short year ‘s time, Development Services has achieved substantial and significant successes across the board and anticipates continued progress.

As the Lowell City Council wisely anticipated , neighborhoods, businesses, contractors, and citizens alike have benefitted from this reorganization as a result of the City ‘s permitting and code enforcement function s becoming more efficient, effective, coordinated, consistent, customer friendly, proactive, and accountable.

DPD is currently working on a report of progress detailing the first year of the implementation of the
reorganization. A written report will be provided to the Council on Friday, October 7th. DPD would like to also request the opportunity to present a summary of its contents to the Council at the October 11th meeting.

Doyle Fiance Report

City Council candidate Fred Doyle accuses the Manager of hiding information from the City Council and accused City Councilor Mercier of violating the plan E charter in his radio address but it appears that he himself is hiding information.

As I do periodically I check the OCF Website for candidate filings to see who has the money and was surprised to see that in a filing dated September 20th Mr. Doyle shows over $1,600 in receipts but fails to itemize and list his contributors.

He shows a payment on Sept. 15th to WCAP for $700.00 for his Saturday Morning air time but doesn’t show when his campaign which at last filing was at $11.09 picked up the $1,600.00.

It was announced at the first candidate forum on Sept. 8th that Mr. Doyle was not present because he had a fundraiser scheduled. If that is where he picked up the $1,600 then why isn’t all the information filled out on his filing dated Sept. 20th?

The question is who is bankrolling Mr. Doyle’s attack on the City Manager? and why are they ashamed, scared or trying hard to hide their identities and why is Mr. Doyle filing an incomplete report?

Now to be fair Mr. Doyle isn’t the only candidate to file an incomplete report.

Challenger Vesna Nuon shows $5,400.00 in receipts in a report filed 8/22 but doesn’t list a breakdown and his report on 9/1 shows an additional $2,350.00 and again no breakdown of where the money came from and his latest report from 10/3 shows another $800 with no mention of where the money came from. He does have an impressive total of $$8,563.52 in his campaign account.

Mayor Jim Milinazzo received over $7,300 dollars according to his filing on Oct 3rd. I know he held a fundraiser on Sept. 22nd but this report doesn’t show the breakdown of donations/contributions. Councilor Kevin Broderick shows he has $5,870.62 on hand with over $1,000 in receipts with no breakdown.

Marty Lorrey and Armand Mercier both show a breakdown and both have over $6,000 in their campaign accounts almost double that of John MacDonald $3,657.00 and John Leahy $3,884.75 and almost triple that of Paul Belley at a little over $2,400. Ed Kennedy shows a balance of $4,038.12 with receipts of $1,750.00 unaccounted for as of 10/3 while Corey Belanger shows 0 in his account.

Incumbent Councilor Bill Martin has an impressive $11,659.49 in his war chest according to his latest filing. Rita Mercier has $7,019.14, Rodney Elliot has $6,463.37, Joe Mendonca $780.25 while Patrick Murphy shows only $428.00.

You can look up all candidates reports here at the OCF Website.

1) After already serving a number of years, why run again this year for Lowell City Council?

Because I still get excited about it. After 16 years I still enjoy helping people and trying to make Lowell a better place.

2) Fred Doyle has attacked you on a couple of items. One, he said he wrote your speeches and Two, he claims you violated Sect 107 of the Plan E form of Gov’t by telling the Manager to pull the appointment of David Hall to the License Board or you would “she would embarrass Hall and his family on the council floor a fact the Sun claimed you admitted. How do you respond to that.

A) Fred Doyle would give me information on a lot of different things when I first got elected, Sometimes I’d ask him to write a note so I wouldn’t forget something but he never ever wrote any speeches. My late husband didn’t like the guy and told me I should distance myself and since I did he has been upset and attacking.

B) I have nothing but respect for Atty. Jim Hall, his lovely wife and family. I don’t even know David Hall. However at the time the Manager was going to suggest David Hall, I did tell him that I would not go along with that appointment.

At that time Atty.Ray Weicker was on the Board and he worked in the Hall Law Office. I did not think it was appropriate to have two individuals connected to one Law office on the same board. I simply told him that I didn’t want to embarrass the Hall family but would have to vote against the appointment and say why if it was brought to the Council floor.It is not up to me or any councilor to tell the Manager what to do. It was his choice to appoint someone else and withdraw David Hall. I did not violate Sect. 107

Since Mr. Doyle works or worked for Jim Hall maybe that is why he is attacking me.

3) What do you see has the 3 biggest issues facing the City of Lowell and how will you be addressing them?

1) Constituent Service – There are many people in this city who need help or direction to get that help and I love doing that. Whether its directing them to the correct dept. or putting a motion on the council floor it is about working for the citizens and that is what I love about being a councilor.

2) Public Safety – We are getting a grant to add some officers and Supt. Lavalle is fantastic about getting grants and whatever else he can to get police officers on the street. If we don’t have a safe Lowell people won’t come her to visit, move here for their kids to go to school or stay here when they retire. We can’t drop the staffing any lower than we have now.

3) Economic Development – People need jobs, I know that. As a councilor we can’t create jobs or get jobs for people but we need to attract businesses and get jobs here in Lowell for the citizens of Lowell.

4) Do you support the Manager?

Yes, I may not always agree with him but I think he has done a wonderful job in these economic times. I evaluate him and do it weekly. I’m not there to bash him or be a rubber stamp for him but I know he has the best interest of this city at heart.

5) Any upcoming events or contact information you would like to list for people interested in your campaign?

I have a Facebook Page and I am having a Fundraiser at the VFW on Plain St. on October 13th from 6:00 -9:00 the cost is $10 or whatever you can donate. If you can’t donate come anyway, you being there to support me is a donation of your time and I appreciate it.

Please consider me for one of your 9 votes.