If you haven’t yet had breakfast, State Rep. Kevin Murphy is holding a fundraising breakfast from 9:00 – Noon this morning at Mt. Pleasant Golf Club. Donations are $15.00

Joanne O’Brien had worked for many many years for this City in the election office, for ANYONE in this Administration to ever question her integrity or fairness is outrageous. Then after she quit her part time involvement for no one in this Administration to call her to find out what happened, only highlights the out of touch with individual depts. this Manager is. I grew up with Mrs. O’Brien’s children and there is no better lady around.

Keep Gail Cenick in your prayers also. Gail has also worked for the City in the Election office for a long time and was very involved in the Friends of Lowell High and has had a very tough year. Prayers and best wishes to her and her family.

Rumors are at a fever pitch that a Grand Jury has been convened in regards to the Lowell Water Department and what has been going on there. Maybe this embarrassing situation will be resolved soon.

If you look at the City Council Packet I posted yesterday, you will see that the Manager while supporting the Tech. renovations indicates either a Tax increase of 2.5% for the next few years or a halt to some city capital improvements.

It will be interesting to see if on Monday, Dracut veto’s the Renovations and since it would be a dead issue because of that vote, Lowell could choose to not take any action since it would be a moot point.

I wasn’t at the Council Meeting and only caught a small portion but I did not see ANY of the current 3 Lowell Tech Committee people in attendance nor speaking in favor for it. Were they there? I did see on camera Ray Boutin and Fru Nkimbeng who are both interested in the vacant seat at the tech.

I’d be shocked if after the very public open meeting the Mayor is conducting on Monday night to select the replacement for Mike Lenzi if Retired Air Force Colonel Cliff Krieger isn’t the winner. He has campaigned hard behind the scenes, was actually recruited by a Lowell School committee member and is an outstanding choice who will provide some needed leadership and civility to this board. It’s to bad the Mayor insist on the charade that this is an open process…it’s a done deal!

Even if those in favor of question 3 want to file a complaint against the Mayor and City Council for violating the Open meeting law by the time it is ruled on the election is over. I still say it is another example of the Mayor picking and choosing when he wants to enforce the rules and that isn’t the way Plan E is supposed to work.

Councilor Elliot needs to ask questions but NOT go off on tangents that make him look like a spoiled child who didn’t get his way just as the Mayor needs to treat ALL councilors equal and stop being the Manager’s shield.

Nice to see Councilor Bill Martin taking a stand on something. If he is supposed to be the ‘brightest bulb on the porch” I hope he continues to take a lead and try to end the nonsense by BOTH Councilor Elliot and the Mayor. It is time for him to stand up and show the promise of a leader that others say he is. Watching at home, many nights he seems he would rather be anywhere but there.

Lowell like Waltham and several other cities I asked has no policy regarding the use of social media, blogs, electronic devices etc. but like most cities I contacted, they are working on one. They do have a very thorough policy on computer use. Thanks to the HR dept. for their response.

I asked the City Manager 10 days ago if the city had a copy (if one exist) of the city policy regarding scrap materials or outdated equipment and the procedure to dispose of it but he hasn’t responded. Maybe he has me confused with Lyle moran…LOL

Get out and Vote this Tuesday.