Archive for the ‘City Council’ Category

Know the rules… (2011-7-2)

Listening to the radio (WCCM) recently. A sitting Councilor, who is running for re-election, was asked about a Committee that she claims to be the Chair of. I have asked for proof that the Committee was formed. Curtly, was told to speak with the Solicitor. I have searched for proof. None found. The Councilor has […]

The Change Management Supermodel (2011-6-30)

I must be clear. This was not my post. The original can be found here. NOOP.NL Designers will find that most organizations can be considerably improved just within the context of the bounded design. This is because the barriers to change are usually in the decision-makers’ own minds and in the organization itself. – Michael […]

FOI (2011-6-30)

FOI stands for Freedom of Information. There are Federal and State statutes that cover this. At the Municipal level we tend to use the State code. I have a standard form that I created and use repeatedly. I thought it might be instructive to track a request through the process. So, here goes. Yesterday I […]

Budget Conundrum (2011-6-26)

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 […]

Unheard Budget Comment (2011-6-24)

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 […]

On the Rise! (2011-6-13)

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 […]

Solicitor–Mission Statement (2011-5-14)

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 […]

Regional Health District (2011-5-12)

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 […]

June Council Change (2011-4-26)

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 […]

Transparency- Just a catch phrase? (2011-4-8)

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 […]