Left In Lowell

ConCon update: All four members of our state delegation voted to “study” the Health Care Amendment ballot initiative, effectively killing it.

I’d like to know from all four of them: is there something controversial about putting equal access to health care into our constitution, that it requires careful study?

They also, as David at BMG says, in a “chickenshit move by the legislature“, closed the ConCon before voting on the gay marriage amendment. I guess the legislature decided they shouldn’t have to vote now and be held accountable in November. “Chickenshit” about covers it.

Last night’s regular scheduled City Council meeting featured a couple of motions which dominated the discussions. The meeting did not end until almost 10 p.m.

CC Rodney Elliott had one asking the CM to “address complaints from the Jackson Street residents.

About a dozen “new” Lowellians marched up to the microphone and one after another complained that the free parking space that came with their condo was unceremoniously taken away from them. I found all of them to be articulate and somewhat convincing. I think they overdid regarding the issue of being scared to walk from their cars to their condo building.

The DPD had placed announcements on and around their cars telling them that they have a couple of days to get parking permits at cost of $30/month from the City and then they have to scramble to find a designated parking spot. This is the same DPD that lured these people to Lowell with a successful marketing campaign (Lynne’s favorite), Mills to Martini. (more…)

I received a request from a friend to post a link to a fundraising site for 5-year-old Sophea, a local girl who has been diagnosed with Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, a rare form of MD. She needs to be flown to London for more treatment, and her family needs help with medical costs and refitting their home to help Sophea get around. The Lowell Sun has an article as well.

They’re doing some fundraising around the Lowell Folk Festival, so if you plan on coming up to Lowell for that anyway, chip in. The website is: www.flysophea.org. There’s also a silent auction or else, you can just send money. For more information, contact Paulette at 978-459-7043 or via email: rencar [at] comcast.net (replace the [at] and spaces with @).

Last night the Lowell City Council held two meetings: one to discuss the contract of the in-coming City Manager, Bernie Lynch and the other was the bi-weekly (Summer session) scheduled meeting. (To be posted later).

Well, I guess all those rumors about Executive Session to discuss the contract were just that, rumors. Where do people get their information? The CC should be congratulated for having the whole process of selecting the new CM so open. But that will not satisfy the critics. We know what this is about. It is not about the in-coming CM, it is about the out-going CM.

City Solicitor Christine O’Connor presented the terms of the contract to the Council. Apparently, the final draft was sent to the City Council yesterday. The terms of the contract are pretty much standard. He will receive the same vacation, sick leave, personal time structure as the Department Heads.

The terms of termination are also outlined. For example, if Lynch gets fired without 90 days notice, he gets 4 months severance pay. All that is pretty standard. The Human Resources Department reviewed the terms of accrued sick leave and vacation to make sure it was the same as other Department Heads, and it was.

The only area of confusion was the 10% payment to his personal 401 (K) which will be made in August when he comes on Board. I am not sure how this came about. (more…)