War Over Methuen School Budget Continues as Superintendent Threatens to Cut School Police Officers, 54 Teachers if Budget Demands Not Met

War Over Methuen School Budget Continues as Superintendent Threatens to Cut School Police Officers, 54 Teachers if Budget Demands Not Met

MAYOR SAYS VOWS HE WILL NOT SUPPORT A PROP. 2 1/2 OVERRIDE June 15, 2016 – With Methuen Mayor Zanni proposing a 1% increase in the school budget, Superintendent of Schools Judy Scannell is threatening to make staffing cuts saying the increase is not enough. Superintendent Scannell says the 1% increase will result in eliminating four police […]

War Brewing Over Methuen Schools, Nick DiZoglio: Mayor Zanni’s Budget “Disgraceful”

War Brewing Over Methuen Schools, Nick DiZoglio: Mayor Zanni’s Budget “Disgraceful”

By: Tom Duggan – 6-12-16 There is a war brewing in Methuen over Mayor Zanni’s proposed city budget, which School Committeeman Nick DiZoglio says “shortchanges our students” and “is a disgrace in a community like Methuen.”  While Mayor Zanni proposes an increase in the school budget, not a decrease, DiZoglio called the budget measure a “cut” for the […]

Methuen Energy Program Will Save Ratepayers $900K in Electricity Costs

Methuen Energy Program Will Save Ratepayers $900K in Electricity Costs

Methuen residents and business owners will save more than $900,000 annually thanks to the newly created Methuen Community Choice Power Supply program. The City of Methuen and Colonial Power Group, Inc. announced that they have entered into a two-year agreement to bring significant energy cost-savings to the city’s residents and small businesses through this initiative. […]

Tom Duggan’s December Notebook ~ HEROES & BOZOS of 2014!

Tom Duggan’s December Notebook ~ HEROES & BOZOS of 2014!

      BOZO OF THE YEAR – LENNY DEGNAN – It takes a lot to get bozo of the year but Lenny Degnan, (former Chief of Staff for Lawrence Mayor Willie Lantigua) has managed to do just that. Degnan was convicted of fraud and corruption earlier this year as the result of his role […]

Methuen Mayor Steve Zanni Responds to Methuen’s Credit Downgrade

Methuen Mayor Steve Zanni Responds to Methuen’s Credit Downgrade

Manzi: It was Zanni’s Call to Spend Reserves But Prior Council was Calling the Shots OTHER METHUEN STORIES In an Exclusive interview with the Valley Patriot, Methuen Mayor Steve Zanni discussed the downgrade of Methuen’s bond rating by Moody’s Investment Services. The report cited specifically: “The downgrade to A2 reflects the city’s negative financial position which […]

Moody’s Downgrades City of Methuen’s Bond Rating to A2

Councilor Kannan Says Methuen Needs Mayor who will Stabilize Methuen’s Finances (OTHER METHUEN STORIES) Moody’s Investors Services, one of the nation’s top bond-rating agencies, has downgraded Methuen’s bond rating, citing the city’s dependence on state aid, a lack of new revenues, and having too little cash in its reserves. The report cited specifically “The downgrade to A2 reflects the […]

On Taking the High Road: Mayoral Candidates’ Families in Spotlight

  By: Diana Fay DiZoglio – November, 2011 At polling locations across the Commonwealth this past Tuesday, families of candidates came face to face with their challenger’s family. Many were forced to hold signs alongside their challenger’s kin for hours at the polls. As anyone who has ever volunteered in a campaign can attest, come […]

Firefighters Oppose DiNuccio Over Stand on Ambulance Privatization

Firefighters Oppose  DiNuccio Over Stand on Ambulance Privatization

  By: Tom Duggan – October, 2011 Methuen Firefighters Union President Tim Sheehy publicly called for all firefighters who live in the City of Methuen to oppose the candidacy of mayoral candidate Al DiNuccio during a meeting of the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts. The meeting was held at the Lawrence Firefighter’s Relief Inn in Lawrence […]

Why I Endorse Al Dinuccio

Why I Endorse Al Dinuccio

By: Kenneth Willette – October, 2012  Starting this endorsement article, I would be remiss by not taking this opportunity to personally thank the hundreds of voters who expressed confidence in my candidacy for Mayor of Methuen. While we ultimately will not advance to the final round, we achieved a strong third place finish, promoted a […]

“New” Faces in Methuen

November, 2005 The running joke before last week’s election was: “who is going to LOSE by a wider margin, Marcos Devers in Lawrence or Ellen Bahan in Methuen?”  Well, Ellen won that one, but not much else. She lost the mayoral race to Bill Manzi by a margin of 28% to 68%, a resounding victory […]