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October 22, 2006
Bernie's First 100 Days
Boy how time goes by quickly. Lowell's new city manager, Bernie Lynch has been on the job for nearly 100 days, and so far he's used the time well. As a so-called "professional" manager, Lynch wasted no time in digging deep into the city budget and has found the process wanting for more accurate projections and numbers. He identified structural flaws in the budget that resulted in a projected $6.3 million deficit for FY '07. The figure has been reduced somewhat by about $1 million, but things still look tight.
Lynch's top achievement so far, however, might be his newcomer's scrutiny of city institutions and business dealings. He's been able to assess things and make some prudent decisions. His decision to end city-paid health care coverage for members of city boards who didn't come close to meeting the threshold as part-time workers saved about $320,000 annually. While some pundits objected to the way Lynch handled the matter - little notice for the insured who had pre-existing conditions - no one culd fault his reasoning for ending the costly perk.
It would be good if Lynch can extend his determination to cut health care costs to union negotiations.
Lynch has also acted decisively to bring in a new Finance Chief. The manager noted a change was in order, leading to the resignation of longtime administrator Jim Kennedy. Thomas Moses, the finance director for the city of Gloucester, has been hired to replace Kennedy.
Also, Lynch received the resignation of Building Commissioner Joe Guthrie, a Cox ally who has long been telling friends he was going to step down but never followed through until this week when a story in The Sun disclosed that Guthrie had been working without state certification. Guthrie has contended he was grandfathered in to do the job, but I was unwilling to fight the state.
Lynch has also made several high-profile board appointments, eliminating several Cox appointees in the process. "The Tsongasites are back," exclaimed one longtime City Hall observer, noting the appointments of several Belvidereans to the boards. It was worthy a chuckle but little more, unless one considers the unpopular removal of Mary Burns from the Planning Board. She was one of the few women to hold a board position, and had done nothing to cause dismay during her one-year tenure. If Lynch's overall staright A report card could be reduced a bit, it would have to be on this one. Obviously, revenge was a factor in Burns' dismissal - revenge not from Lynch but from someone long shut out from city government who now has Lynch's ear on what "good government" is all about. Yeah, give me a break. Good government is a subjective term. What the people want is honest government. But that's a blog entry for another day.
Of course, there are a lot of issues boiling to the surface at City Hall, including Lynch's ability to inspire confidence in workers. In fairness to the manager, he is not out to "get" rank-and-file workers even if recent events have put some people on edge. Everyone should just settle down and do their jobs as best they can. And let the manager do his.
Overall, Lynch has gotten off to a good start. His communication over the budget deficit, where $4 million in reserve funds and a $2 million tax payment from L'Energia, weren't readily disclosed gave an initial impression that things were in "crisis" mode. While the manager never used that term, several councilors embraced it and even gloated over it, sensing that it would be vindication for them getting rid of John Cox. That's Lowell politics, where bad news is always good news to some.
It will be interesting to see how things shake out over several key development projects in the months ahead. The siting of UMass Lowell's nanotechnology center, whether in the downtown Hamilton-Canal District, Lawrence Mills complex, or on the college's campus, will be important to all involved. Even the $100 million judicidial complex, slated for the Davidson Street lot area that was flooded in May, could be on the ropes.
Lynch's interest in the public schools will also be closely watched when budget-setting time rolls along. One thing is for certain, the city manager and the superintendent of schools have to cooperate in financial discussions.
For the first 100 days, Lynch has jumped to the head of the class. He scores high marks in establishing a professional tone and a strong sense of purpose on budgetary issues. He gets along well with the City Council, local politicians, and most organizational leaders, civic and business.
Only time will tell what the next 100 days of Lynch's stewardship bring to Lowell.
Posted by at October 22, 2006 2:41 PM
Comments
And now he will be tested with the appointment of a replacement for Chief Davis. Let's hope he does it in a manner that continues the current philosophy in the police department.
And Moses is about to come to rescue us from the sea of red. The real estate assessments have been updated, and the tax rate will soon follow. Maybe you could have a poll on what that new rate will be. I'm in for $11 per thousand.
Posted by: JP at October 23, 2006 8:31 AM
"Obviously, revenge was a factor in Burns' dismissal - revenge not from Lynch but from someone long shut out from city government who now has Lynch's ear on what "good government" is all about." Do you have evidence of this? Then why are you unwilling to name names? Good journalism avoids anonymous accusations especially ones that sound more like rumors than facts!
Posted by: Paul@01852 at October 23, 2006 4:33 PM
Paul, what was the reason for Burns' dismissal or lack of reappointment? I don't remember any official announcement, nor was one printed. But I do know that certain people were out to get her, from the day she was first appointed. Lynch didn't know Mary Burns from George Burns when he took the job, so how did he know how to rate her peformance. You don't have to be even half-dumb to figure out the rest. By the way, this was first broached in The Sunday Column by another journalist, not me. Rumors? Aren't those the handmaid of human good in Lowell?
Posted by: Jim campanini at October 24, 2006 3:33 PM
Hello Jim,
I know Mary Burns personally, and she is
an outstanding person. I felt bad that she was
outsed from her board position. I think Bernie
Lynch needs to use better human relations skills.
Human Relations is the most important aspect of
our lives.
Posted by: Bill Deignan at October 25, 2006 4:57 PM
