08/23 Just minutes after posting the story on-line about Methuen Police Captain Greg Gallant (story here) winning his Civil Service case against the City of Methuen for wrongful termination, the hate mail started pouring in. People were outraged, they were confused, and they were hostile. How could this be, many asked. How did Gallant get […]
Aug. 4, 2023 [updated] The Massachusetts Civil Service Commission has ruled that fired Methuen police Captain Greg Gallant must be returned to duty and given three years back pay after being illegally fired by Methuen Mayor Neil Perry. FULL RULING HERE Gallant v. Methuen, CS-22-388 Gallant was officially fired on June 9, 2022 after being put […]
State Rep. Estela Reyes 7/23 I want to start off this month by wishing the absolute best to all of the hardworking high school and college graduates in Lawrence and Methuen who received their diplomas this June. I am so inspired when I see the accomplishments of our young people and hear the excitement in […]
Hello Valley Patriot Readers, Our office has been very busy releasing several audit reports before the end of the fiscal year, while also focusing on approximately 64 ongoing audits. Most recently, we released an audit of MassHealth, as part of our ongoing independent statutory oversight of the state’s Medicaid program. I want to highlight this […]
By: Senator Pavel Payano, 7-23 For nearly a century, legacy preferences have played a significant role in American college and university admissions, granting preferential treatment to the children of alumni. These policies were established in the 1920s, coinciding with an influx of Jewish applicants to top schools. However, legacy preferences have been widely criticized as […]
By: State Rep. Ryan Hamilton – 7/23 Massachusetts is the pinnacle of education in the United States (if not the world) … yet, mounting evidence continues to remind us that we still have much work to do when it comes to preparing our students for successful and secure financial futures. The Commonwealth – especially the […]
By: State Rep. Francisco Paulino – 7/23 As your State Representative, my primary aim is to enhance the lives of Massachusetts residents. To that end, our legislative team has been focusing on three key areas: public safety, equity, and the significant issue of student loan debt. Starting with public safety, we’ve made strides to enhance […]
7-23 Randy Carter and Jason Gilbert from Clear Path for Veterans New England (in Devens) held a public meeting at the Methuen VFW last month to announce a $205,000 grant to service veterans in Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill. Clear Path’s announcement came at just the right time with the closing of Veterans Northeast Outreach (VNOC) […]
Solomon allegedly caused changes to CBA that would increase his salary and provided unwarranted benefits to five intermittent police officers, including one who was a City Councilor 7-6-23 The State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division has issued an Order to Show Cause alleging former City of Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon violated the conflict of interest […]
6-23 Over the last four years, Methuen Mayor Neil Perry and the Methuen City Council clutched their pearls and pounded their fists calling the controversial police superior officers’ contract (passed by the previous council) a “criminal contract” that was “bloated” and paid the cops “far too much of the taxpayers money.” They attacked the police […]
WHAT IS YOUR TOWN PAYING CITY EMPLOYEES? According to govsalaries.com this is how much each city listed paid their city employees in 2021 (the most recent numbers available) compared to the national average. Items of note, the average city employee salary in Methuen is the highest in the region at $76,864. This is 64% […]
EXCLUSIVE TO THE VALLEY PATRIOT 6-23 Hello Valley Patriot Readers, Recently, I had the honor of delivering the commencement address to the Class of 2023 at my alma mater, Middlesex Community College. It was a beautiful day celebrating all of the hard work, tireless efforts and sacrifices made by the graduates, their families, and friends. […]
By: State Rep. Estela Reyes 6-26-23 I want the Valley Patriot readers to know this month, that having the opportunity to write this column has been really helpful in serving the taxpayers of Methuen and Lawrence. This column helps me relay important information to the public about what is going on in the state legislature […]
Dear Constituents, As your State Representative, I am privileged to play an active role in our community’s vibrant life. Today, I want to share with you some pivotal moments that have recently underscored our shared commitment to hope, safety, and honor – the graduation ceremonies at Methuen and Lawrence High, the Massachusetts Nurses Association’s protest […]
By: State Senator Pavel Payano – 6/23 On Thursday, May 25th, the Massachusetts Senate approved a comprehensive budget of $55.9 billion for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), signaling the Commonwealth’s commitment to fiscal discipline and the long-term economic well-being of the state. With a focus on equity and opportunity, the Senate’s budget delivers historic levels of […]