Sunday Notes Jan. 29th 2011

The front page of the Sun has more on embattled former Chelsea Housing Authority Director Mike McLaughlin and his connections to many Dracut politicians and political figures titled The McLaughlin Group.

It shows pretty clearly and reasonably what appears to be McLaughlin’s involvement in the Dracut Housing Authority attempted ouster of Executive Director Mary Karabatsos.

Let’s face it, Brian Bond can blame Warren Shaw all he wants but by looking at the history of phone calls Mike McLaughlins fingerprints are all over this situation.

Brian, John Zimini, Ken Martin and others need to lay the blame where it belongs, on the arrogance of Mike McLaughlin who let his ego and mouth override common sense (remember his Joe Montanna reference?) and smart politics. It ruined his life and potentially the professional / political careers of the above and Lt. Gov. Tim Murray.

Mary Karabatsos got her job through politics, almost lost it through politics and ultimately kept it through politics.

The difference is her ‘sponsors” know enough to do things quietly and behind the scenes. They know how to do so and not to draw negative attention or to much attention to the task.

Had the DHA Board used the Bond appointment as a way to delay responding to Karabatsos request for a new contract, and NOT had him vote to NOT renew or offer her a new contract in his first meeting, this whole episode may never had exploded into the political mess that it is.

Instead McLaughlin had so much resentment against those individuals who had gotten involved in the last DHA debacle that saw Karabatsos get hired in the first place, that he wanted swift action to show that he was now the power broker.

He apparently thought that because one of her “sponsors” had left office they didn’t have the clout and connections he had and that he would get his political revenge and show them up.

The result of this arrogance not only cots him a heavy price, it has cost his children, his friends and his political connections (such as Brian Bond) their futures in government.

McLaughlin’s arrogance and his feeling of superiority because of his relationship with the Lt. Governor and his wanting political revenge for Karabatsos initial hire got in the way of smart political play.

For years Mike McLaughlin has been proud of the fact he NEVER has been convicted of anything. That may soon change for him but for today he has to live with the fact that he has not only ruined his career but the political and professional careers of people like John Zimini and Ken Martin who have been his friends for many years.

Rumors are circulating Martin is close to “retiring” from both Housing jobs, Bond may be asked nicely by the Governor’s office to resign and John Zimini will be forever linked to his disgraced friend because of this incident and McLaughlin’s arrogance.

Councilor Rodney Elliot’s political advisors and friends need to sit him down and get him on a new tract that does NOT include the LHA.

I get the fact and to a point even agree with the Councilor that this entire situation has been handled poorly by the former Inspectional Service Dept. and the City Manager.

I do believe the Manager should have informed the Council sooner of the situation and think that the issue should have been brought to court, had the cease and desist order enforced and got this entire situation under control while keeping the Council informed. Heck, he could have waived fees based on the 1938 agreement and past practices and this would not even be an issue.

Hindsight is 20/20 and none of that happened. To date the City Manager has not come forward and admitted to the Council that in reviewing all things associated with the LHA renovations that he takes responsibility for not clearly defining the situation with the former Building Commissioner. Also admitting that again in hindsight he was wrong not to inform the council on the extent of the issues surrounding the LHA renovations.

However parading different items in and out of the Council meeting on a weekly basis is NOT the proper way to resolve this. Trying to make things look even worse is not helping the situation or people living there. I’m not sure there is a “proper” way to resolve it. One thing that should be stopped is unnecessary motions based on misinformation from disgruntled employees.

16. C. Elliott – Req. City Mgr. have Department of Environmental Protection report on handling of asbestos during LHA renovations.

17. C. Elliott – Req. City Mgr. have the proper state or federal agency report on handing of lead paint during LHA renovations.

This week LHA Director Gary Wallace answered questions about Lead Paint and Asbestos “ The LHA had all led abated by a professional licensed company as per a contract in the years between 1990-1992 and received a certificate of Full Compliance. Also, there was an extensive asbestos abatement project performed at NCV in the late 1980′s, again, in full compliance. You may remember that these asbestos rumors were swirling around the permit process issue during the recent council campaign. As verification I requested a vacant gutted rehab unit be tested for asbestos and the result was negative.”

So why bother wasting the time of the City Council and City Manager’s office by filing wasteful motions that have already been answered?

Not sad that D.A.D folded to a legal challenge and deleted their BLOG. This guy used the death of a child once to attack my family name and was the lowest form of a blogger. He hid his identity and never even when he emailed admitted at least to me who he was. I’m getting pretty close myself to either requiring full real names or not allowing comments, if I’m willing to put my name out there, why should I post comments that include personal attacks by gutless cowards hiding their identity?

The new television studio at the School Administration Building is almost complete. The School Committee sub-committee meetings can be held there and televised. Maybe they can have a contest to see who they will dedicate the studio in honor of? The Doherty Studio? The Leahy Studio? Maybe the Bahr/Scott studio? Any suggestions?