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April 4, 2008
Geoff Hall will leave some big shoes to fill
THE ANNOUNCEMENT by state Rep. Geoffrey Hall, D-Westford, that he'll be stepping down has triggered a lot of chatter about what could be a blockbuster tri-town election in November.
Hall was first elected 18 years ago in a largely conservative and Republican-leaning district, comprising Littleton and Westford and three Chelmsford precincts.
"I've had a lot of Republicans come up to me and say, 'You're the only Democrat I've ever voted for' and I truly am proud of that," Hall told The Sun yesterday. "I guess you can say I owe a lot of my success to Republicans who are willing to consider what I've tried to do for the district."
Hall, of course, is a special rep and person, and Democrats can be proud of his legacy on and off Beacon Hill. For 36 years, he's been a public school teacher and a solid role model for district youngsters. He's also hanging up his school books in the fall. "I've enjoyed my life in the public sector, helping people, and now I want to enjoy my private life with my family," he said.
Doctors recently gave Hall a clean bill of health after his bout with cancer a year ago.
"That was a scare and I felt while I've got my health, I want to enjoy it. I've truly had a great run as a legislator and teacher and I feel it's time to do something different."
Hall said he's hoping to convince his wife, Pam, to take a nice, long, relaxing trip throughout New England in the fall. "That's what I want to do,
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see the Mystic River area in Connecticut, Newport, R.I., spend some time in New Hampshire and Vermont. I love New England and now I want to really discover it."
HALL CAME up in politics the old way. He served on the Westford Housing Authority for several years and later was elected a selectman in 1983. He served six years and then made the leap to the House of Representatives in 1990-91.
A 1966 Westford Academy graduate, Hall has never forgotten his roots and is dedicated to quietly getting things done on Beacon Hill for his constituents. "He's a great legislator to work with. He knows the issues and is always helpful," said Lowell Rep. Dave Nangle. "I know the Lowell delegation is going to miss him for his friendship and partnership on regional issues."
WHILE WESTFORD voters would certainly like to hold onto the seat, Chelmsford politicos are angling to win back clout that was lost in the 2001 redistricting that forced out longtime Rep. Carol Cleven.
Chelmsford was carved into four districts, with Hall representing precincts 3, 5, and 7. The precincts total 7,272 registered voters. Though outgunned by Westford (14,570 voters), Chelmsford's strategy could be to unify behind one strong local candidate. It would be even better if more than one Westford candidate emerges in a Democratic primary.
So far, Jim Arciero of Westford is the lone announced Democrat in the race. One name mentioned in Chelmsford is former selectman Mike McCall. Another is present Selectman Phillip Eliopoulos, who's been quite vocal in saying he wants to lead a charge to regain a Chelmsford seat.
Interestingly, two Republican candidates have emerged. William Bunker, 25, of Westford has taken out nomination papers, as has Paul Avella, a Littleton School Committee member. (Littleton has 5,775 registered voters in the 2nd Middlesex House district.)
It's very rare to have an open legislative seat in Massachusetts, so this race should be hotly contested, especially because Republicans could play a prominent role in the outcome. Whatever happens, the new state rep will be replacing a highly respected legislator.
THE LOWELL School Committee made history Thursday night, when members unanimously agreed on a contract for new Superintendent of Schools Chris Augusta Scott that will make her one of the top-paid school administrators in the region.
It's not quite set in stone, but it's looking like Scott will earn a base salary of about $170,000. In her current job as superintendent in Norfolk, Scott's base salary is $134,000.
Current Lowell Superintendent Karla Brooks Baehr earns $154,715.
Scott's three-year contract includes a $300 monthly travel allowance, $1,200 annual health-insurance benefit, 15 sick days, three personal days, and five weeks vacation. She will not receive an annuity, a benefit many other superintendents receive. (Dracut superintendent Elaine Espindle had an annuity, but incoming Superintendent Spencer Mullin will not.)
Scott, 42, came to the negotiating session in the Mayor's Reception Room without an attorney. By several accounts, she didn't need one. Scott reportedly negotiated for an "industry average" salary, citing what other urban superintendents earn. Evidently, she made a persuasive argument, telling board members she plans to move to Lowell from Cambridge and be a "24/7" superintendent.
So how does Scott's salary compare to others? Billerica Superintendent Anthony Serio is earning a base salary of $156,000; Donald Yeoman of Chelmsford, $165,000; Maureen Marshall of North Middlesex Regional, $163,800; Christine McGrath in Tewksbury, $165,800. Lawrence Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy earns a base pay of $189,000.
Scott's contract was discussed in executive session. It should be voted on in public early this week.
BAD BLOOD continues among members of the Lowell School Committee.
Committee member Dave Conway organized a meet-and-greet at Lowell High School on Friday with Scott and sent out e-mails to other members of the committee that morning.
After touring Lowell High, Conway led Scott to the school's restaurant. Committee members John Leahy and Jim Leary were there having lunch with Paul Georges, president of the United Teachers of Lowell, when Conway's small entourage entered the room. Leahy and Leary were obviously not pleased by the last-minute notice.
When the vote was taken last Monday night, Leary voted for Scott on the first ballot. Conway and committee member Regina Faticanti were behind Lowell High School Curriculum Director Wendy Jack. Leahy wanted to start the entire process over and voted "present."
Faticanti showed up for lunch. Running interference for Conway, and probably for herself, Faticanti said the invitation to lunch was just an effort on Conway's part to extend an olive branch to Scott and let her know that she had his full support.
"I really don't think it was anything more than that," said Faticanti, who invited the new superintendent to breakfast at some future date at The Owl Diner on Appleton Street.
"I'd like that a lot. I love diners," Scott replied, with her ever-present smile.
Just better make sure everyone is invited.
LOWELL CITY Councilor Alan Kazanjian describes his often stern questioning of Manager Bernie Lynch as his attempt to hold city government accountable -- not a contradiction of his campaign pledge to work with Lynch.
"I'm there to ask questions for the people," he said. "I told them when I was running that I'm not going to rubber stamp anything, and I'm going to continue asking questions, whether Bernie Lynch is there or someone else."
Since joining the body in January, Kazanjian has spared Lynch no quarter on many issues, everything from the manager's proposal to create a new city Division of Cultural Affairs & Special Events to flood-control efforts on Beaver Brook.
Kazanjian began Tuesday's meeting by criticizing Lynch's hiring of Arlington resident David McGurl, the town treasurer in Winchester, to be the Mill City's next treasurer.
Kazanjian would have preferred Lynch to hire Lowell resident John Linnehan, the city Board of Parks chairman and a certified public accountant. Linnehan has no municipal finance experience.
He accused Lynch of "reaching out for another out-of-town individual instead of a local resident for this position," adding that McGurl (who he never mentioned by name) "to me wasn't as talented as this Lowell resident."
Asked about this later, Kazanjian said he is simply continuing to beat the drum on his proposed residency requirement for new employees. He said it would not be fair to characterize him as Lynch's biggest critic.
"The manager's trying, there's no question about it, but I'm still going to ask the questions," he said. "I don't think I'm being a critic, and I've got nothing against Bernie Lynch."
CITY MANAGERS past and present were intrigued with the official arrival in Lowell of Xenith LLC, which is developing a new type of helmet that aims to better prevent serious head injuries resulting from collisions on the football field -- and potentially other places.
The company, founded by former Harvard University quarterback Vin Ferrara, is setting up a testing center at the Wannalancit Mill.
After being invited to speak at Monday's ribbon cutting, Lynch took a long look at a display of the new football helmets and quipped, "I might be able to use one of these on Tuesday nights at City Council meetings."
Moments later, one of Lynch's predecessors, Brian Martin, gently reminded the manager of what he should have seen coming.
"When you're interviewed to be city manager, one of the questions they ask is whether you ever played football without a helmet," Martin said.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES aren't the only ones who can profit from a little crying. Tewksbury's Community Preservation Committee Chairwoman Nancy Reed proved last week that local officials can be swayed by tears, too.
Reed appeared before selectmen on Tuesday to lobby for the 1.5 percent Community Preservation Act surcharge that is currently added to Tewksbury tax bills to fund preservation projects.
The town's Financial Plan Task Force recommended that the surcharge be lowered to 1 percent, as Tewksbury prepares for the prospect of a Proposition 2 1/2 override. Selectmen recently voted for the suggestion to be brought before Town Meeting.
A visibly upset Reed appealed to the board to reconsider their vote.
"To use a $12 to $15 savings (on the CPA) as an enticement to vote for an override is misleading and, with all due respect, insulting to the residents of the town," Reed said, with a breaking voice and trembling lower lip.
"It took us two years to educate the public. It's a disservice to the citizens of this town to let it be discussed on the Town Meeting floor," she went on. "I beg you to reconsider this and please set your decision aside until all the information comes out."
The board voted 3-2 to reconsider and 4-1 to table the matter, despite clear speeches against the matter just moments earlier.
THE DAY his proposal to bring legalized gambling to the Bay State was rejected by the Legislature, Gov. Deval Patrick jetted off on another gamble of sorts: a book deal.
The deal Patrick struck will reportedly earn him $1.35 million, with a portion going to A Better Chance, the charity that allowed Patrick to go to a private school, Milton Academy, when he was younger.
Closing the book deal was apparently so important that Patrick ducked out of state before his biggest administrative initiative could be voted down in the House, leaving many wondering why he didn't symbolically stick with his plan to legalize casinos to the bitter end.
But could the autobiography be yet another signal the self-professed "impatient man" is angling for the White House?
Barack Obama wrote the book The Audacity of Hope. Hillary Clinton had Living History. Perhaps Patrick will title his book Profiles in Impatience. Or how about Together, I Can't.
THEY SERVED together as Dracut police officers. Now they are running against each other for public office.
Dracut Housing Commissioner Gerard Surprenant is facing a challenge from his former partner, Russ Taylor Jr., in the May 5 election.
Observers say it all points back to the hiring of Executive Director Mary Karabatsos back in September.
Surprenant and Chairman Kenneth Martin were not among the three commissioners who were pushing hard to bring her on.
Commissioners who voted for Karabatsos include Tom Salem, Robert Audet and James Gookin. Gookin, a former Lowell cop, stepped down shortly after Karabatsos was hired. Gov. Deval Patrick replaced Gookin with George Nangle, who works on and off at O'Hara's Pub in Dracut, which is owned by Gookin.
Taylor was also a Lowell cop who worked closely with Karabatsos when she was employed at the Lowell Housing Authority.
Surprenant has said that even though Karabatsos was not his first choice, he has nothing but praise for the job she is doing.
CHELMSFORD WAS honored last week with an open-government award by Common Cause Massachusetts.
Unfortunately, the actions taken by Ambulance Study Committee Chairman John Thibault seem to counter that honor. The committee was appointed by selectmen and as such must comply with the public-records law.
While Thibault's board reserves the right under state law to hold meeting minutes for up to 10 days, it's not only unacceptable but unlawful that Thibault refused to tell a Sun reporter how the committee voted in a public meeting.
Thibault also decided to withhold approved meeting minutes that were typed and ready to go.
At Monday's selectmen's meeting, Thibault joked that the committee wears its "thumbs down" with pride, referring to a Sun editorial that jeered the committee for not telling the public how they voted.
This week's Column was written by Sun Editor Jim Campanini, City Editor Christopher Scott, Lowell City Hall reporter Michael Lafleur, Statehouse Bureau Chief Hillary Chabot, Business Editor Dan O'Brien, Dracut reporter Dennis Shaughnessey, Chelmsford reporter Rita Savard and Tewksbury reporter Alexandra Mayer-Hohdahl.
Posted by Admin at April 4, 2008 9:51 AM
