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March 7th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Can comeone explain why we always go after the grunts? Is it because they’re not as wired as their superiors? Is it because they’re more visible “the face of the department”? These witchhunts are penny-wise and pound foolish. If you really want to know where the waste is, ask the employee. I know for a fact that one DPW worker had two scoops of black patch left over from a job. It was either let it harden and throw it out or fill a hole. He filled the hole. Call the frigging FBI. GPS in vehicles? Put them in supervisors vehicles first. Police cars? I’ll tell any cop that I see that it’s OK to sleep in my driveway anytime he wants. The rank and file in the city are in the neighborhoods performing a function. Department heads run around that building shmoozing all day. Yeah, there’s some abuse but there’s abuse in private industry too. Everybody knows that the first hour of the day is coffee-and and the last hour of the day is wind-down. Powers that be go after the worker because he’s an easy target and it’s a lot easier to get rid of a grunt than a godfathered manager.
March 7th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
I think you’re making an awful lot of assumptions about people with no good reason.
Tom Bellgarde and T.J. McCarthy didn’t create the GOB culture. They inherited it, just as much as Bernie did.
I’ll note that you didn’t ask this question about the Director of Inspectional Services when the hanky-panky was discovered there - and you were right then.
March 7th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
“Everybody knows that the first hour of the day is coffee-and and the last hour of the day is wind-down. Powers that be go after the worker because he’s an easy target and it’s a lot easier to get rid of a grunt than a godfathered manager.”
I would have agreed with you in the past on this one but not so much in this economic climate. Most of us are appreciating the fact that we are employed and are doing everything we can to make sure we stay that way. Relatives that work for other local towns tell me they have been warned to keep on their toes and work harder then ever because people are watching them. Maybe the management should have warned their employees that the times they are a changin.
March 7th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
“Tom Bellgarde and T.J. McCarthy didn’t create the GOB culture. They inherited it, just as much as Bernie did.”
Except as I remember, many if not most of the questionable raises that happened during the last months of the Cox administration were right in those departments. I just have to wonder, if we’ve found several instances of people doing what they ought not to be doing with city resources, how many more are there to be found? And this whole post is about not attacking the grunts, like you say, PC, but the probable supervisory issues that cause these things to go on unabated. I suspect that there will be firings, many of them grunts, and probably justifiably so (the bad apples). Just because they may have had tolerant supervisors doesn’t mean they were right to do things they shouldn’t have done. However, why aren’t the upper management taking responsibility for this?
If McCarthy and Bellgarde are so saintly, why the hell hasn’t more been done to change these sorts of problems in the last few years? Riddle me that. Are they department heads, or are they department heads?? Are they competent, or not? If not, I don’t want my tax dollars wasted in paying them.
March 7th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Oh and RE the Director of Inspectional Svs, note he is not still in the position. Nuff said. It doesn’t take actual culpability from these guys to merit letting them go, resign, or firing them. Mere incompetence in not dealing with making their departments more fair, ethical, and efficient uses of taxpayer money is enough.
Remember, the management is not part of the union. Union is for rank and file.
March 7th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
My guess, Lynne is that heads will roll but they’ll be small heads. Nobody holds these connected managers accountable because it’s easier to get the small guy.
March 7th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Easier, yes, but won’t, in my estimation, likely fix the problem. Which appears it could be systemic. The whole point of my post.
March 8th, 2010 at 1:03 am
“Everybody knows that the first hour of the day is coffee-and and the last hour of the day is wind-down.”
Where I work the coffee and bagels used to be free - now they charge for coffee and there are no bagels. And the last hour of the day… it’s now an hour later. And because we’re on salary we just suck it up, no whining.
I don’t have much knowledge about the Lowell DPW, but I must say I was a little disappointed when I sent Mr. Bellgarde an email volunteering to pay for some damaged city property and I never heard back from him. I guess I’m whining now…
March 8th, 2010 at 11:16 am
Lynne
Here we go again !!
You are the angriest person in the world
March 8th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Really outsider? That’s where you’re going with this? Lynne is just being angry? That’s your take-away?
Wow. Just wow.
March 8th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
We all know I used to work for the city- but here goes. It does seem like they always go after the “grunts” and to be perfectly frank there are a couple that need to be gone after. That said- there are also a couple of middle management that need to be looked at as well. And then there is a dapartment head that needs a few lessons in being polite to the public.. For the most part, the laborers and parks people are good hard working people that are under-appreciated and definitely underpaid. And as for that “patch” at the plaza - it didn’t do a lot of good in the parking lot. I was in there last week and it was a huge puddle and I have been told that city actually has the sidewalk right of way for part of that. Maybe this is Bernie’s way of avoiding layoffs in the next budget.
March 8th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
I am still waiting for an answer as to why there was a DPW truck with 2 employees at a store in Pelham on a Friday morning a few weeks back.
March 8th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
went to this article earlier in the day at Sun online..no longer there..where oh where is it?
March 8th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
outsider
Here we go again !!
Your comments are the least helpful in the world
March 8th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
PC: regarding your anecdote of using excess stuff that would go to waste otherwise. Here’s where that is a problem, even with the best of intentions.
I know people who work in school cafeterias. Along with the federal money to order the food for the students, comes with a stipulation that no food be taken home by cafeteria workers. Not even the excess that will be thrown out, not even for sending for a donation anywhere. There is always some excess in ordering and cooking these lunches; the alternative is to possibly run out of food before all students get a chance to eat, and guesstimating quantity can be quite tricky.
However, the people who order and cook the food should not be incentivized to order and cook excess for the purpose of taking food home, hence the ban on doing so. Most workers wouldn’t do this, but some would, and certainly it would be a huge temptation even in the best of intentions, which is a misuse of taxpayer funds. Therefore, the government just outright bans the practice.
The same rule should (and probably does) go for things like filling potholes or using city dump trucks. Sure, that could just be a little excess that would go to waste, or a bit of room at the top of a dump truck on its way to the landfill, but how do we know if it wasn’t deliberate excess because that person happens to know a friend or family member who needs a little pothole filled? Now, most of the workers in the city, I am sure, would not do this, but the temptation is there. And it would be a misuse of taxpayer funds. Not to mention, it is unfair to the “unconnected” who do not get such considerations and WOULD not get them even if they asked, since it’s rather a sleazy practice (especially if made a habit out of).
So should that little lump of tar gone to waste instead of into someone’s private lot? Hell, yes.
March 8th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Good point, Lynne. I think you have me here but…. why isn’t there more street supervision? Did the guy get a wink and a nod to put the patch down? If I were the manager, I’d have the supervisor’s ass on a platter. Maybe there is no street supervision because the managers don’t want to discipline guys. I don’t know what the answer is but you are correct. The fish rots from the neck down, so I hope Lynch goes for the “throat”.
March 8th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
What, PC is conceding a point? Do I win a prize? LOL.
Yeah, this is essentially what I’m going on about…if there is a systemic problem, it takes changing the culture to make it work the way it’s supposed to, and who the hell are these guys who’ve let it go this far? Certainly, the buck ultimately stops at the department heads, or what have they been doing all day for all these years?
March 8th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
found it..http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_14525917?IADID=Search-www.lowellsun.com-www.lowellsun.com but all comments are not available
March 8th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
You know, I just reread my original post, and damned if I can find outsider’s “anger” problem. Actually, I thought it was pretty fair minded considering.
Unless, of course, one is BFFs with people who are GOB types who keep getting caught…
March 9th, 2010 at 8:40 am
Hi Lynne!
Don’t mean to criticize but you had 4 paragraphs and the word GOB was only in 3 of them.
Forgive all the questions on this topic rather than comments, because it sends the message I don’t pretend to know everything, yet am willing to learn
What if, for the sake of argument these allegations and investigations don’t involve “any” wrongdoing by the department heads - McCarthy and Bellegarde? Would it beg the question, what kind of environment is being promoted that creates what appears to be a pattern of mis-placed blame?
If fish rots from the head, you don’t see this as chopping at the tail?
Not sure if you’ve actually had any dealings with them, I can only comment on my official dealings with these guys and report; they could not have been more forthright and interested in keeping Lowell and the CURRENT administration’s image untarnished in these. I did just notice you are on record that it was a mistake to keep them on in the first place. Would a nationwide search been more apt? Let me guess… andy?
I will give you this Lynne; from my 17 years as a city employee, some municipal problems you cite are historically accurate for this city and this response is as well, it’s not culture changing, different or forward thinking.
And it does involve systemic “GOB” (governmental over-reactive blame)… When there’s a problem with a worker, instead of going directly to that person and resolving it with them, they apply a blame blanket solution to everyone. You know it won’t end there… wanna bet in the coming weeks “every” DPW worker will suffer some form ridiculous oversight measure, most don’t even need?
You’ve seen my posts, I am not a crazy union guy but how can we be shocked when some people might think the city is out to nail em? I was thinking it’s a poor way to affect labor change, cause doesn’t asskicking beget asskicking? If the solution includes strictly negative corrective measures, doesn’t this create an atmosphere of poor productively? Unless we’re progressively thinking everyone works SO much harder if their working scared?
I trying to be optimistic, a New Year’s resolution I find I’m having trouble with, if targeting DPW trash pickups is the best we could come up to cope with this devastating economy. I mean, in the big picture, if we’re having trouble paying the mortgage, are we really gonna solve it by swiping sugar packets?
Here’s a comment, cause I do believe it’s true. If the economy is forcing Lowell to do less with more and our best measure of adaptation is to get more out of what’s left over… we are all in freaking trouble.
March 9th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Amen to ALL of that Corey. You are the voice of reason. And thank god you knew that a fish rots from the HEAD down, not the neck as Prince Charming thinks. I’ve yet to see a fish with a neck. And if the fish does rot from the head down that means the top and that means Bernie Lynch. Based on comments here I guess Bernie should be held accountable.
Bernie’s been in charge through the mess with the building department on down the line. That’s not to say these same things didn’t occur during past administrations. I’m sure they did. But the “professional manager” hasn’t put an end to it.
Personally, I think this is just an excuse to get rid of T.J and Tom Bellegarde. The Manager is feeling emboldened now that he has 6 votes in his pocket. Pocket change as I like to call them. It’s too bad because T.J. and Bellegarde both have pride in their City and want what is best for it. Bernie will leave someday but these guys will live here forever. Bernie will never live here and will move on when the right job comes along. Not that I blame him. He’d be crazy not to.
Believe me, I’m not saying picking up someones trash or doing errands is right but it’s doesn’t rise to the level of the fraud perpetuated on the City by Sandy Ames. A suspension without pay seems in order. Some perspective is needed.
March 9th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Lets be clear. We don’t know what was being investigated specifically. What we do know is that, whatever it was, it was enough to prompt looking into by ten Inspector General investigators. I’d highly doubt that Bernie has enough pull with the IG office to make them ‘waste time’ on behalf of a pet personnel project of his own. You want to make it so that Bernie is accountable for personnel?; Then you have to give him the power of personnel. Ostensibly he has this power, but someone forgot to tell the CC that hired him and the last CC.
March 9th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Lynne
Face it you have an axe to grind with McCarthy and Bellegard bc they where or are friends of Cox
I know who McCarthy is and I have seen Bellegard at some local dedications —-
Here is the shocker I think the Manager is doing a pretty good job but he really sucks at some things —- like relationship building (just ask the people in Chelmsford)
How does the IG get here? —- They are invited here by the Manager or Something is dropped on the IG’s Desk — then they are forced to re-act.
Its called dropping a dime !!!
If the Manager is truely a Professional Manager —- Maybe he would call all the troops in and tell them to knock of the sh@t (no press, no nothing — just a manager managing)
He shouldn’t have to do this but it is better than having the city’s reputation getting the crap kicked out of it.
But —- No he will continue to bring in the IG the AG and anyone else to prop himself up — so he looks like he is driving out corruption in a corrupt city. This is where this guy is wrong.
This is Very similar to the Kaz incident (who I voted for) — it was sooooooooo bad we have not heard a thing since he was not elected ?????
This plays so well when trying to bring people into the city.
Try to hold the City Managers feet to the fire when he is wrong.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
I am with Kim on this. The first hour isn’t coffee. It is getting down to work.
Regards — Cliff
March 10th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Oh outsider…you crack me up, and also, give an important insight into the thought process of certain people.
I could care less about McCarthy or Bellegarde personally, except to make sure they are doing their jobs the RIGHT way.
There is no evidence on who “dropped a dime” - could have been an employee with a conscience, a resident, anyone. I’m sure the rumor mill is rife with “who dropped a dime” but the rumor mill is dumb.
Also, I want Lynch to NOT bring in outside investigators when there might be something amiss? I want him to sit on the information??? Or to try to ferret out the truth himself and be accused of personal vendettas by the same GOB who (need I remind you) perpetrated vendettas and so accuses everyone else of the same. Please. If Lynch brought this to the attention of the AG it’s because he wanted an outside investigator.
We were most certainly a corrupt city, look at the history, it’s not just a reputation but a fact, so I should want no more of this rooted out? I shouldn’t be a little worried that McCarthy is still in place, after he and his boss IGNORED audit letters from the DoR back when Cox was still in place? After their totally obfuscated and badly balanced budgets nearly brought us to the same path Lawrence is on right now?
Um, no thanks. I’d rather have outside investigators come in, that way there is no one to say this is some personal thing on the part of the manager or anyone else. If there’s no fire there will be no repercussions. If there was one, the investigators will have an official finding which will give us a nice, official result. T’s crossed and i’s dotted.
You doth protest too much, and boy, does it show.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Lynne,
“If McCarthy and Bellgarde are so saintly, why the hell hasn’t more been done to change these sorts of problems in the last few years?”
Are you kidding? I think there has been an epochal change in this city since the previous administration departed. It was the end of an era that went back a lot longer than that one manager.
March 15th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
joe - I was referring to the idea that it appears some people are espousing that one shouldn’t take a hard look at those two department heads in order to make the right changes in those departments. If there are systemic problems, they either a) encouraged them or at best, b) ignored them.
Lynch I think has been heading in this direction but there have been some changes he couldn’t drastically make (as much as I’m sure he’d have wanted to) because first, you have to have the time to examine the situation and that takes time, and second, the backlash from it would have been worse than he already experienced had he made those changes then. If it is found that those changes need to be made, I hope we make them now that we see what’s really going on.
March 16th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Yawn !!!!
Boy you can’t disagree with opinions can you Lynne?
Just a question —
When do you stop talking about the old GOB’s (Cox Crowd)
Since he has been out of the City for years.
And Start talking about the FOB’S (Friends of Bernie)
Naaaa none of the FOB’s get favorable treatment?
Lawyers/ Bankers / Ambulance Contracts /
Negative gets Negative —
“We were most certainly a corrupt city” —
Your comments are rude,insulting and arrogant to everyone who (new and old alike) tries to bring this City forward on a daily basis.
You ever hear Paul Cohn (Manager of Chelmsford) complain about the budget that he was left with?
Or about the employee issues he was left with?
Do you ever hear or see Mng Cohn or Mng Piendak from Dracut meeting with wanna be selectman before an election? (Bernie did)
Thats Professional ?
Don’t get me wrong (I am repeating myself) I like Mgr Lynch
but he is no Saint. He plays people better than any other I have seen.
One could guess the only reason you don’t wack him around is because he seeks your council (which the former manager I am sure never did) on certain issues and that makes you feel important.
Clean up the City — I am all for it !!
But don’t tear it down while your at it.
Then again as you stated
“Oh outsider…you crack me up”
“You doth protest too much, and boy, does it show”