Left In Lowell

I am an avid reader of The Column, the Sun’s static political blog, where political rumors and speculation are mixed in with analysis and news. So, now that the City Manager’s contract has been extended, the rumor mill has moved on to whether he is getting a pay raise or not.

The Column writes, “So look for [City Councilors Kevin] Broderick, Eileen Donoghue and the rest of the lame-duck council majority to try to get Lynch an adjustment any way they can, even if they have to change the ordinance before January 2008.”

Oh, really!

This City Council did not give the CM a pay raise and it will not. They had an opportunity in May/June 2007 when they were reviewing and approving the City Budget for FY 2008. There was no request for a pay raise nor was one given. Check it out; there is no increase in the City Manager’s line item in the FY 2008 Budget; he got paid $145,000 in FY 2007 and he is receiving the same in FY 2008. (Page 54, FY 2008 City of Lowell Budget.)

If I am not mistaken during the 2 hour Personnel Sub-Committee meeting last Monday, the CM was asked about a pay raise in this contract extension and he answered that he was not getting one. And when the original motion was introduced by CC Kevin Broderick, he did clearly state that there was no raise attached to his motion. And this morning on WCAP, the CM reiterated that had not asked for a pay raise for FY 2008 nor was one offered. Yes, FY 2009, when the City finances are better, he will and should receive a pay raise.

But to suggest that before January 2008 this Council majority will be changing the ordinance to give the CM a pay raise for the remainder of the Fiscal Year is simply not true. This baseless speculation just adds to the false rumors about the true intentions of the majority of the City Council.

As for the future (2008-2010) Councils, they will not be able to hide behind the mantra, “I do not believe in contracts” and let him go. Rather they will have to take a stand in support of this City Manager or not. That is what leadership is about.

By the way, when does an office holder become a lame duck? I always thought it was the period between an election and the end of their term; and it only applied to someone who was not reelected or chose not to run. I did not realize that our elected officials were already in their “lame-duck” stage.