Some meetings require a PUBLIC notice. From the Methuen City Charter; Section 5-2. Action on the Budget. (a) Public Hearing – The City Council shall publish in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the City the general summary of the proposed budget as submitted by the Mayor by a notice stating: (1) the [...]
The following comments were written by a citizen who twice went to the budget hearings to speak. Due to audio problems on his first attempt, he was unable to hear the Chair ask if anyone else wished to speak. The second attempt at expressing himself was rebuffed by the chair who brusquely stated that we [...]
I spoke before the City Council on June 6th. I noted that there were four (4) contracts on the agenda. They were all for chemicals for the Water treatment plant. When I compared the chemical spending of the Enterprise fund for the past 5 years I noted that they are on a line of increasing [...]
I stumbled upon the old Mission statement for our current Solicitor. Got me thinking. Here is the older Mission statement from the Solicitor. Mission Statement The City Solicitor serves the public as a whole by assisting local officials and employees in the lawful performance of their duties for the effective and orderly administration of the [...]
Methuen is looking at a Regional Health District. Discussion will occur, hopefully, at the next City council Meeting. See TR11-30. The text of the Grant and Contract is located on the City Council website. It will be or is already, named Upper Merrimack Valley Health District. It will, initially, include Haverhill, Lawrence and Methuen. Over [...]
I made this suggestion in 2010. Never heard another word. No comment. No feedback. Instead we continue to hold Special meetings every June to get the budget process done. We are fast approaching another Fiscal whirlwind. Anticipation grows for the Special meetings called in June, each year. Already we have seen the Council try to [...]
I did not create this letter. I just stole it and changed the intended audience. This sat in my DRAFTS file for a year. Some of this has happened, but, one should expect a sweeping change to occur and force all the records to be open and transparent. How often do these elected officials tell [...]
I noticed a discussion, which I recreate below, on Mayor Manzi’s Blog. Under the title Methuen Primary Results, scroll down to the comments and read; Tina Conway on September 15, 2010 3:19 am Mayor, do you agree that it’s time for us to look at the money we spend on elections? It just seems like [...]
Little things set a tone. Here is the Mission Statement for the Methuen City council. We should start with what is a mission statement and what should be in such a statement. Here is a quick synopsis; A mission statement is a short written statement for the purpose of a company or organization. Ideally, a mission [...]
I always begin a new legislative session with high hopes that some of the offenses of the previous legislatures will be corrected. I saw the new Council Chair, pass the gavel, as required, to present legislation which he sponsored. This was not a suprise. That came when the Vice-Chair did not take the gavel and failed to [...]