By: Gerry Nutter – May, 2011 On April 26th for the 2nd time since February the Lowell City Council received a “White Paper” dealing with suggestions of how the Council should spend taxpayer dollars from a Political Action Committee based here in Lowell named Move Lowell Forward. In the 2009 election this “non-partisan citizens […]
Lowell Regional Water Utility Executive Director Improperly used Utility generators and employees for personal purposes April, 2012 The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which Lowell Regional Water Utility (“LRWU”) Executive Director Daniel Lahiff admitted to violating MG.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by using an LRWU generator in his home, by soliciting […]
April, 2012 The Merrimack Valley Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, (POMC) invites you to the 4th Annual Candlelight Vigil on April 23, 2012, in recognition of National Crime Victim’s Rights Week. This year’s theme, Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim” and the theme colors are blue and black. The event opens at the Lowell […]
By: Gerry Nutter – October, 2011 The City of Lowell operates under the Plan E form of Government. That forms calls for the City Council to be the presiding body, hire a City Manager to run the day to day activity and have an Auditor and the City Clerk as the only other two […]
By: Gerry Nutter – June, 2011 Election Season has begun here in Lowell. This year in the City Council Race we have one open seat with the retirement of longtime Councilor Edward “Bud” Caulfield who was truly ‘The People’s Representative” and was the epitome of the neighborhood councilor. It leaves 8 strong Incumbents running including […]
By: Gerry Nutter, April – 2011 “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few (or the one).” Mr. Spock I have used that phrase before but it comes to my mind every year around budget time for the Lowell Public Schools. The week after this paper hits the newsstands Lowell will […]
By: Gerry Nutter – January, 2011 Last February now former State Sen. Steve Panagiotakos proclaimed “The Private Can’t afford the Public Sector anymore.” As we begin 2011 those words need to be kept in mind as area school committees’ negotiate new contracts with teachers and administrators. Nowhere is this more relevant than The Greater […]
By: Gerry Nutter – December, 2010 Since we are in the Holiday season, I thought I’d save time and hand out my Christmas presents to the area politicians a little early so they don’t forget I got them something. Some you may get and others only a few may get but it’s done in […]
By: Paula Porten Valley Patriot president and founder Tom Duggan announced last week on his Facebook page that the Paying Attention! Radio Program, has been picked up by WHAV radio in Haverhill and now airs on Wednesday nights from 6-9PM. WHAV broadcasts on 1640AM radio as well as live internet streaming on WHAV.net. WHAV.TV, Cable […]
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX Reduce the Sales Tax to 3% — Vote YES on Question 3 By: Dr. Charles Ormsby – September, 2010 Why does unemployment in Massachusetts average 16% higher than unemployment in New Hampshire? Why have so many large retail stores fled the Merrimack Valley just to be resurrected in Salem, Plaistow […]
By: Joe Mendonca – February, 2010 The City Manager has begun to reorganize city government. The first change was to replace the Building Commissioner as the beginning of restoring integrity to the City’s Inspectional Services. The Manager appointed Rosemary Cashman (former Tyngsboro Town Administrator) as Interim Building Commissioner while a search is conducted for […]
How Some of Your Money is Being Spent “Since Recovery Act dollars began to be released in March, the Fifth District has received more than $350 million, helping to create or save 1,600 jobs. This includes construction projects with Lowell Public Housing, Community Health Center expansions in Lawrence and Lowell, and double tracking along the […]
Elected officials sending secret messages to each other during public meetings may be illegal Tom Duggan – July, 2008 Last week, Lowell City Councilor and former Lowell Mayor Rita Mercier filed a motion requesting that the council ban the use of cell phones and other electronic devices during council meetings. The motion was filed, Mercier […]