Left In Lowell

BREAKING: Pressure on Cox to Step Down?

19 Responses to “BREAKING: Pressure on Cox to Step Down?”

1. Rich Douglas Says:
   April 7th, 2006 at 4:40 pm

   Is it too early to speculate on which individuals would make a good replacement?

2. K-R-S Says:
   April 7th, 2006 at 4:50 pm

   Rich, Senator Pang. is slated to be his replacement. The SEnator will be stepping down to become the CM and either Golden or Murphy will will run for the Senator’s seat. This will leave one State Rep. seat open.

3. K-R-S Says:
   April 7th, 2006 at 4:52 pm

   ..So much for a nation wide search.

4. Mr Lynne Says:
   April 7th, 2006 at 5:57 pm

   Pardon my ignorance but was there a specific process or set of rules that set Pang up to be “Slated”, or is this just the impression from asking around?

5. No one you know Says:
   April 7th, 2006 at 6:08 pm

   The “process” of electing a CM is “Who can get 5 votes”! That’s how Cox got elected in the
   first place, he waited until some of the more progressive thinkers (IMHO) left the council
   Gendron, Donoghue (Matt) and Richards and worked the old boy network.

   Pany was in the running the last time as I recall but Cox had more chips out there.

   I predict that Broaderick will wait to see where his vote falls on the night that the motion to vacate is brought, if one is brought to decide how he’ll vote. He owes too much to Cox to go against him, unless his vote is among
   the last cast on the night it happens and 5 votes to fire Cox have already been cast.

   I also predict that Pany will be appointed unanimously!

   I suggest taking this opportunity to stir the embers of a charter change question for a
   representative council and a strong mayor.

   Just my .02

6. No one you know Says:
   April 7th, 2006 at 6:14 pm

   Follow up:
   Assuming Pany is the next CM and steps down and the race for his senate seat is between Murphy
   and Golden, does anyone think Golden’s involvement in the Burbeck’s purchase will play a role? I have heard that the Burbeck’s construction may NOT begin this summer! I wonder about the timing of the construction, or delay in construction.

7. waittilnextyr Says:
   April 7th, 2006 at 6:39 pm

   Why would the council turn so quickly on Cox? Although there are clearly some rifts recently, what has surfaced does not rise to the level of termination. That could be bad news for us, as there may be a more significant problem yet to be exposed. Let’s hope we don’t end up paying the piper.

8. K-R-S Says:
   April 7th, 2006 at 8:15 pm

   No One..you are correct Pangy has the votes for appointment. You are right on Broderick..ultimately, the only folks he is
   obligated to are the residents of this city. If you look at the way Broderick has been aligning his votes of late..I’d venture to guess that his vote will fall with the majority. Cox will not remain unemployed for long..you know the $266 Million dollar rehab of UML..I do
   believe that is where his final destination will be. And then Pangy will follow suit when the NanoTech Center is up and running.

9. SD Says:
   April 7th, 2006 at 10:55 pm

   I think rich asked who would make a good replacement, not who would automatically be next in line. Dream a bit. Do you think Pangy is the best choice? If not, who would be the best choice. Is there somebody out there with a mix of professional experience, administration and budget background, a good track record of working with the public, and a knowledge of Lowell that could get them some support in the council? Maybe Pangy is that person, but who else is out there. If each of you could pick a city manager, who would you choose?

10. SD Says:
    April 7th, 2006 at 10:57 pm

    I made the challenge, so I’ll go first: I know the councilors can’t pick themselves as a manger, but I think milinazo would actually make a great manager himself.

11. K-R-S Says:
    April 8th, 2006 at 6:36 am

    My choice would be Matt Coggins.

12. K-R-S Says:
    April 8th, 2006 at 6:37 am

    Pangy is being brought in to minimize backlash on the Council.

13. Anonymous Says:
    April 8th, 2006 at 9:12 pm

    Pany is polular with voters, he has “friends” in the right places and knows Statehouse politics so I predict there will be no other candidate. There my not even be a “nationwide search” which are usually shames anyway..

    It could be Cox’s allies are working to get him a new job. Yep that UML renovation calls out his name. I know personally that when Brian Martin was beginning to get on the “outs” with councilors Armand Mercier was overheard talking with someone and saying something to the effect that we have to find a place for Brian before we fire him! That’s what “players” in this city do, they take care of their own. Martin went to work for Elkin McCallum at Joan Fabrics, then ran Elkin’s hockey team and is now AD of Lowell High School.

14. K-R-S Says:
    April 8th, 2006 at 10:08 pm

    Lynne, Just tried to phone you, you are 100% absolutely right on! Great source!
    Thanks Anon, I had heard this route through a close “acquaintance” of Pangy’s, but the political race that will ensue has been
    in the works for a very long time.
    Does nayone know who is running for State Rep. out of Pawtucketville..I beleiev his name is Matt…the person who told me was not aware of the last name..Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide this info prior to Monday
    (otherwise, I’ll put in a call to the Reg. of Deeds)…

15. Greg Says:
    April 9th, 2006 at 3:10 pm

    Wow - I don’t know if i’m more amused as to the predictions, or the fact that absolutely no one who is making the predictions has any idea if Panagiotakos would even consider going from the Senate to a city manager position. Remember, all, to actually be voted into a position, you sorta have to want it.

16. No one you know Says:
    April 9th, 2006 at 11:41 pm

    Greg- You could be right, however Pany has pledged as a State Senator not to take a salary and to my knowledge he has not. In addition he has to run for office every 2 years. As CM I would venture to say he would have to give up his law practice and would take the CM’s paycheck. That paycheck is (based on Cox) larger than the one he is turning down currently. He would also not have to face voters every two years, he’d only have to keep 5 city councilors happy week to week!
    As I stated earlier Pany was in the running for the CMs job when Cox got it. It’s a pretty good job and ery god wages and then there’s the pension!
    I’d be shocked and I promise never to post again if Pany is offered the job and says no!

17. K-R-S Says:
    April 10th, 2006 at 9:33 am

    In regards to the CM issue, at present..First, the Mayor had verbalized this morning on
    WCAP that he would advocate a “no confidence” vote in the CM. We all have to consider
    that there is alot more going on here than just the Stokloska Issue.
    Issues, the general public is not aware. I can see where the CM may have well been
    within his powers to enter in Settlement Agreements w/out taking it to the Council
    or the bylaws could be construed to this effect.

18. MaryB Says:
    April 10th, 2006 at 10:05 pm

    Am I missing something, but could someone identify a single event occurring since Cox took the corner office that has improved the quality of life in the city of Lowell?
    Everyone talks about Cox’s Boston connections. Well isn’t that the job we elected Nangle, Murphy, Golden, and Panagiotakis to do? Are not they the ones charged with the responsibility for inurning Lowell gets their fair state of state assistance? Didn’t we elect Marty Meehan to do the same on the federal level?
    A city manager should be focused upon the quality of life issues for its residents. Where are the employers within the City? How many people in Lowell have lost their jobs and face losing their homes or are going without? What is there for youth programs? The only time this issue surfaces is in April or March. The City’s Parks and Recreation Dept. have not had a budget for youth services since 2000. We have an 11% high school dropout rate, we have the third highest teen pregnancy rate in the estae, and we have a pervasive gang problem. Take a walk down Merrimack St beginning at Bridge Street and count the vacant buildings. Better yet, count the people. Cox took the buses out. A City Manger should be proficient in diplomacy, accounting, business, computer literate and most of all respectful to his/her superiors. By his own admission, Cox does not possess this skill set. When Taxpayers go to City Hall looking for answers to their questions, they deserve an answer based on who they are and not whom they know. Career politician say that they are weary of bringing up the issue of the $290K mystery payment because it is bad for the city. What they really mean is its bad for their political careers. What about the City tax rate and the foul up in the Assessor’s Office? No one stood up and asked those hard questions and the appointments of everyone in the Assessor’s Office just sailed on through. Just because, as a taxpayer you ask a question you should not the threatened with reprisal or the loss of your job. Cox has not been crucified. How dare people use such an analogy during Lent? Cox is being asked to report on his actions. He keeps saying he wish he knew. Is that an acceptable answer? What about the negotiations with Licholas. He wanted to give him $1.5 million and 90 parking spaces in the new garage and he owes the city at least 3 million in fines and taxes because of his derelict behavior as a property owner and property owner. What about the Soucy business relocation. There was nothing proposed in that transaction that was untoward or not planned over 10 years ago. If the City Manager wanted that project to passed he surely could have swayed his most vigilant supporters, the Merciers and Caulfield to support this motion. At lastly lest we forget, the canal clean-up. Seems it’s a complicated issue in the Cox administration as of late, but a few years ago, Cox was sending his dream team to Las Vegas to ‘inspect’ the fountain at the Bellagio resort to see if we could replicate this engineering marvel right there in Lowell. Okay… so everyone forgot, but I had to end on that humorous note. We deserve competence and an open government. The rumor or vote or whatever it is that is floating around the city these days that Cox is in his final days is like a breath of fresh air. He should land on his feet. Isn’t he a lawyer?

19. K-R-S Says:
    April 12th, 2006 at 8:32 am

    Don’t worry Lynne, we all know who had the “scoop” first, despite what
    other media outlets say! :0)

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