Seems like a small item but it isn’t. Have you ever looked at the City Council web page. Â The first thing you notice is the pictures of the Chair and Vice-Chair. No other Councilor has their picture on the “home” page. You can click on the “links” lower on the page, links to Councilor at […]
I attend the budget meetings each year. This year was no exception. I saw no new Capital improvement plan as required by Section 5-3 Capital Improvement Program of the HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF METHUEN . (Remember the document that actually sets up our government). The old plan, City of Methuen Five Year […]
I’ve noted that the Great Hall of the Searles Building is wired for the television broadcast. There are multiple camera locations (4, I believe). Each table has a microphone and the podium, for public speaking, has a microphone. Watch, before a Council meeting, (you must actually attend a meeting to see this, as it is […]
Here are two terms we will hear a lot about in the very near future. Override and Debt Exclusion. What is the difference? I found a clear answer at this website. I have paraphrased it below. “An Override is a permanent increase in taxes whereas a Debt Exclusion is a temporary increase in taxes. Each requires […]
I was struck this morning by the following Sound-off in the Lawrence Eagle Tribune;Â Police hiring I would like to respond to Mayor Manzi’s article in Sunday’s newspaper. I’m disgusted with his response to the reasons why the officers weren’t hired. I think he’s just scrambling to say anything to cover himself. I hope the […]
There seems to be a lot of discussion about this issue. Let’s clear it up. Read on. Read Massachusetts general Law. Chapter 43B, section 6. Here is a link to the CHAPTER 43B. HOME RULE PROCEDURES. Table of Contents; http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/gl-43b-toc.htm For those who don’t wish to review the Home rule procedures, icluded below is section […]
This should be short and sweet. Grants are a great way to accomplish short term or one-of-a kind applications. The problem has become, government no longer has the luxury of increasing revenue through traditional means, without much public push back. They have turned to grants as a new means of providing services. They tout the […]
I have a question about how the local government spends our money. [Many questions-but I'll only discuss one at a time.] I understand that we, as citizens and voters, elect both a School Committee and a City Council. The City Council is controlled by Charter, code and state law. They have the responsibility to oversee […]
This issue keeps coming up in forums, debates and especially in news reports about the Police and Fire Department Hiring practices. The City of Methuen has adopted a Veteran preference. Looking at the City website there are numerous links that allow one to click through and see the resolution. here is the link from the Home […]
There was a letter to the Editor in yesterdays Eagle Tribune from the business administrator for Methuen Public Schools. he tried to explain the dire straits that the school system is in. The article can be read here: http://www.eagletribune.com/puopinion/local_story_276185613.html The Schools are in a pickle, partly, because we accept so much state aid. It is […]