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September 24, 2007
City's awaits Lynch's pick for police chief
BERNIE LYNCH, Lowell's city manager, will announce this week
what will be the most significant appointment of his tenure thus far, police
superintendent.
After interviewing several candidates, Lynch will appoint Kenneth Lavallee,
52, who has held the acting superintendent job since Edward Davis became Boston's
police commissioner last Dec. 1.
Lynch isn't commenting, but take it to the bank, he's been impressed with Lavallee's
work ethic, particularly the acting chief's efforts on crime prevention.
Lavallee sent command staff into the neighborhoods regularly to learn what
residents are worried about, and to spot troubling trends. The result is that
this summer was one of the quietest in terms of gang violence.
The acting chief has won accolades from city councilors -- even those who had
been Police Department critics.
Neighborhood activists and department rank-and-file are happy as well.
Lynch and Lavallee also have worked out a three-year contract, with a provision
that Lavallee may return to deputy superintendent should the top job not work
out. The superintendent position no longer has Civil Service protection, but
the deputy position does. Alternately, Lavallee sought a five-year deal without
the fallback clause.
Lynch planned to announce his selection last week, but delayed it due to the
death of firefighter Kelly Page.
THE FIRST campaign event of the 2007 City Council election
has been scheduled.
The Pawtucketville Citizens Council is holding a candidates night at the Wang
School on Monday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m.
THE BATTLE of the senators and the scribes is set. On Saturday
at 3 p.m. at Martin Field in Lowell, Steve Panagiotakos' Senators will take
on Jim Campanini's Sunstars in a charity softball game. The public is invited.
There is no charge, but donations will be accepted. The teams have ponied up
$4,000 to benefit Big Brother/Big Sister of Greater Lowell, Merrimack Valley
Hospice in the name of Paul Sullivan, and the Sun Santa Fund.
The Senators feature an eclectic collection: Lowell's Statehouse delegation,
School Committee and City Council members and candidates. The Sunstars, managed
by Chairman of the Board Kendall Wallace, will feature the anonymous professional
journalists who toil as public watchdogs.
Surveillance cameras are banned from both dugouts.
CASINO OPPONENT Susan Tucker, a state senator who represents
Tewksbury and Dracut, tangled with a panelist during a forum the morning after
Gov. Deval Patrick's announcement to bring casinos to the Bay State.
Tucker, her voice strained with emotion, went on about the dangers of gambling
addiction during the question-and-answer portion. She was not part of the panel.
"This is a product designed to do people harm," Tucker said.
Rev. Richard McGowan, who studies gaming and government at Boston University,
dismissed some of Tucker's numbers as "ridiculous."
"Stop talking," yelled Tucker's aide, Les Bernal, who was sitting
in the audience. He then demanded McGowan provide proof to back up his statements.
McGowan continued to talk, and Bernal interrupted again.
"This from the guy who compared gambling addiction to buying diamonds.
It's absurd," Bernal said, referring to a statement McGowan made earlier
in the discussion.
"WHAT RENAISSANCE?"
That headline in The Boston Sunday Globe two weeks ago was enough to suck the
wind out Lowell officials who have labored to turn around the city's image.
The article suggested that Lowell is no longer a national model for reinventing
old manufacturing cities, because LeLacheur Park and the Tsongas Arena cost
big bucks but didn't deliver.
The principal source was UMass Lowell Professor Robert Forrant, of the department
of Regional Economic and Social Development.
"I don't mind that he said what he said," UMass Lowell Chancellor
Marty Meehan mused this week. "I just wish he had told us he was going
to say it."
The private conversation between the professor and the new chancellor may not
have been as politically correct. (See Forrant's column on Page B1.)
AL PARE, Lowell High's football coach, and Dracut High football
coach Patrick Murphy, have apparently made peace off the field.
Murphy was selected as the first choice for the Lowell job by Headmaster William
Samaras and Athletic Director Brian Martin. But Murphy unexpectedly withdrew,
landing the job on Pare's lap. Speculation then was that Pare supporters, through
anonymous letters and phone calls, scared Murphy off.
Murphy and Pare recently broke bread, and agreed to "move on," according
to a memo from Lowell Superintendent of Schools Karla Brooks Baehr to School
Committee members. Murphy is apparently satisfied that Pare had nothing to do
with the effort. So who was? Dracut cops are mum. The Column has been told by
sources it was a Dracut parent.
THE ANNUAL dinner meeting of the Northern Middlesex Council
of Governments on Wednesday marks the farewell of Robert Flynn, who retires
Nov. 1 after 24 years as executive director. He will be replaced by Beverly
Woods, who has been with NMCOG for 24 years, 19 as assistant executive director.
NMCOG's forte makes some people drowsy: traffic and pedestrian
studies, economic development, growth management. But to its nine member towns
it's important stuff that can affect the quality of life.
The Column wishes Flynn a happy and healthy retirement, and Woods good luck.
Dinner starts at 6 p.m. at Lenzi's in Dracut.
Contributing to The Column this week were City Editor Christopher Scott; City
Hall reporter Michael Lafleur; Statehouse Bureau Chief Hillary Chabot; Statehouse
reporter Matt Murphy; and Lowell School reporter Jennifer Myers.
Posted by Admin at September 24, 2007 11:07 AM
