The Sunday Sun political column in the Sun is mostly repeats of the weekly column and a little more about Dave Nangle accompanying Gail Huff (Mrs. Scott Brown) around Lowell and the endorsement Sen. Brown received from City Councilor Rita Mercier.
The City Council Packet this week is 412 pages. Three weeks between meetings leaves a lot of time to get answers and ask questions. Besides the Auditors 92 report on the Parking dept. is a 300 page RFQ the Fire Dept.used to purchase equipment from Pierce Manufacturing.
On this weeks agenda is another RFQ – Vote – Seek proposals for 39 Myrtle St. aka 115 Sixth St (Varnum Elementary School) CTI had an interest the first time and so did the CBA but both wanted to put housing in an area that is congested and has parking issue.
My Mother In-Law who lives next door to the school wonders why the city doesn’t tear down the building and lease the yard to the neighbors for off street parking at $100 a year? Even she who has a 1 car driveway would purchase a spot for guest and her son’s car to be able to park off the street.
Councilor Mercier has a request that is fitting and would salute a longtime Lowell Tennis Legend – C. Mercier – Req. permission to name the (2) tennis courts on the Boylston St. side of Shedd Park in honor of Dennis Krysiak.
Councilor Elliot has a motion on an issue I think hasn’t had much play – C. Elliott – Req. Mgr. provide a report on how many properties with 13 or more units that have purchased East Coast Radio Alarm Boxes since they were mandated and how many held out.
I know of a few upset property and business owners who felt they were forced to buy specific equipment from a particular vendor whose representative used to work for the Lowell Fire Dept. Lowell wasn’t and isn’t the only community that required this but if someone from Springfield hadn’t fought it, many other Lowell businesses would have suffered. Is the city going to offer those who were forced to purchase any rebate?
Mayor Murphy has a few motions on the agenda one inspired by the Olympics and another one that promotes sports and plays to this years National election promoting the First Ladies initiative.
M. Murphy – Req. Mgr. explore potential organization and support of City Olympic Games.
M. Murphy – Req. Mgr. have Law Dept. draft resolution committing city participation in national Let’s Move initiative
He has another motion that due to the long break between meetings may have to be withdrawn.
M.Murphy – Req. Mgr. have Law Dept. draw up proper vote to apply for Bloomberg Mayoral Challenge.
When you go to the site for the challenge there is the following notice: If your city RSVPed by the July 16, 2012 deadline, you should have received the log-in information needed to start your online application. Click here to get started. Remember, applications are due by September 14, 2012! If you haven’t RSVPed, please note that the window is now closed.
I mentioned the Varnum School earlier and the parking situation. I wonder why the Acre Day Care is allowed to park 3 buses on the streets around the School much to the neighbors dismay? City officials should take a ride after 5:00 to Beech and Myrtle Streets and see the buses parked in a congested neighborhood.
The Sun editorial yesterday is correct Gayyean Family deserves answers and the community deserves the same answers. How can you have so many cameras at the school and none focused on the pool? Why wasn’t the security heightened last year after people were arrested for trespassing? Let’s not take 6 or 9 months to get answers and new policies put into place.
Also in this weeks packet is a letter from School Committeeman Bob Gignac to the Mayor and Council that no doubt will get 100% support, here’s a brief summary:
Dear Mayor Murphy and members of the City Council,
This letter’s intent is to formally update you on a project I am working on with Representative Tom Golden, Assistant Superintendent Ann Murphy, Chief Lavallee, and School Committeewoman Kristin Ross-Sitcawich. We are currently working on putting together a series of events to occur in our schools throughout the month of October.
We ask that you officially designate the month of October 2012 as “Opiate Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month.” At this point, we are in the planning stages of putting together the month long series of events.
Congrats to a Lowell Good Guy who is rumored to have purchased the Meadow Creek Golf Course. If said person runs this the way he has run other successful endeavors then this will not only become a great golf course but a successful Dining and Rental Function Hall. Keep me in mind if you need a PR flak…LOL
If Mike Lenzi resigns at this Thursday’s Tech School Committee meeting then a big THANK YOU goes out to Mike for his committment to the kids over the years and for his dedication to a school he worked at and cares about.
Only 2 motions by members on this Months Tech School Committee Agenda:
Motion by Mr. Gitschier to have the Superintendent look into the pros and cons of a three-year contract for all athletic head coaches with a 120 day notice of vacancy.
Motion by Mr. Bahou to contact the Lowell Public School District to inquire about working with them on developing some technical programs.
The Manager’s Roundtable was an interesting 90 minutes and provided the Manager with the chance to showcase his and his administrations accomplishments and he didn’t shy away from my question on “mulligans” and admitted he has made mistakes but staed he chooses to dwell on the successes.
You could almost hear Jim Campanini’s voice when Sun reporter Lyle Moran took credit for the SUN identifying the LHA Issue and causing the Manager and LHA to go through the Inspections and issue’s surrounding permits.
We had some good natured fun on WCAP Saturday Morning Live yesterday over the issue of the City Life crew not being invited to participate. The Manager did say that it wasn’t personal and that he sits with them for 2 hours 4-6 times a year and this was really the first time he sat with the “Citizen Journalist” mixed with the main stream media (SUN and WCAP) and may do so another roundtable in the future so George may get another chance to be included.
Rita really endorsed Brown? Really? Wow. You’d think that Rita, who has a Union survivor benefit; a part time, $50K+/year County job that she got from a Dem. Sheriff; and earns a City check (plus, fringe bennies) wouldn’t be so daring as to vote for the “fiscal hawk” Brown.
Brown is a Union buster who kowtows to Grover Norquist, striving to shrink “big gubmint” to the point that it can be drown in a bath tub. That means less aid to states, which means less local aid. Rita normally doesn’t shy away from raising local taxes. She hand wrings a lot, but she votes for the hikes, nonetheless. This last budget, she followed Kennedy’s and Mendonca’s lead on cutting the fat the CM intentionally left in the budget.
As the wind blows, expect Rita to follow along. You don’t get to be “Prom Queen” by flipping off the cool kids;
PS. Those of you with your mouths hanging open, Rita has been telling people that I “hate” her, so this rant doesn’t change one damn thing. I don’t hate her.That emotion is to powerful to let dwell in my heart for a Councilor. I marvel at how she can finagle this City. It makes me nuts, but she plays “her seniors” like a fiddle. I can’t respect her on many levels, but in terms of flat out politcal survival, by hook or by crook, she is hands down the best.
Jack before you go knocking Rita ok check out who the union at the Middlesex Sheriffs office is backing ok and the international that covers it ok I think you will find it is Scott Brown ok,
Jack is Party blind…if they aint a “D” they aint for me is Jacks motto..unless it is a non-party race like the council or if Joe Mendonca or Cliff ran in Jack’s district.
Joe,
Which Union are you talking about? The NEBPA? Just last week, I heard an anecdote about how, awhile ago, Jerry Fynn questioned President Obama’s birth certificate. Sorry Joe, “birthers”" aren’t credible.
Plus, most of the GOPer coward candidates carve out Union “exemptions” for first responders. It’s no surprise that they all get in bed with each other. Their mantra: “One for me. None for you. Two for me. None for you. Three for me. …”
Yes. Gerry. I trend towards D’s. You know, I would carry Cliff to the Governorship, if I could. But, never could I help him go to DC. He’d get lost in the toxic red tide.
No offense Jack, but first responders is a bit of a wide net. Law enforcement is in general firmly on the GOP side. In our particular set up, the Middlesex Sheriff’s office isn’t really considered a first responder. Not so much the other public safety sectors. Walker’s play in Wisconsin was a notable exception to include firefighters in the divide and conquer plan.
So Jack what your really saying is anyone who does not agree with you is wrong Boy you sure are happy in your own little world aren’t you lol
@Joe Hardly.
@Jay Yes, I took a short cut with “first responders.” Regardless, I have a hard time wrapping my head around how anyone who propspers, based on collective bargaining, could possibly support a Union buster.
On Scott Brown. He has not co-sponsored S. 2173 – National Right-To-Work Act By Sen. DeMInt. But, check out this webpage. It says Brown collects a lot of donations, $355,000 from interest groups that support Demint’s Union busting bill.
Brown works for Wall Street. He screws the working man. Brown is far from being the bipartisan leader he poses as.
I hear you Jack. I have family members that have never eaten a meal paid for with anything other than a union wage, who still vote Republican. That said, conservatives support significant law and order spending, which offsets even collective bargaining for some. Not so with everyone else.
Jerry on the parking ordinance we tried to have on street parking for the residents only. They would have a sticker on their cars .Not a sign on their house. This way you would not have three buses park on a street taking all those spots. This parking ordinance has changed with baby steps. I wished the residents who really needed enforcement, and the parking would have attended some of the meetings. Lowell is the only city or town in the state of Massachusetts, with a law which allows a permanent spot in front of their home. This one spot per dwelling ,if new law is enforced. The residents who live in multi dwellings are going to have a problem. Which resident will have the permit. This law should have been simplified for law enforcement to control. Police driving by could have seen who belongs and who do not. guest would of had passes. bought by residents. I hope things work out for the residents around the old Varum school. Something tells me the income the city will receive with the taxes on housing will out bid a parking lot the city will have to maintain. Those who want a say in the matter should attend the neighborhood group meetings ,next one is Aug 20 @ 6:30 pm Dom Polski