I have no problem with Lynch getting hired. However the whole thing has been a mess. First the names are leaked by Elliot, breaking state law. (however that never was addressed)
Second, the "national" search really meant Eastern Mass, as many quality candidates from out of the area were rejected right away.
Bernie gets a nice raise and we are paying the top price offered 145k.

Does this mean Diane Prideux-Brune replaces Bill Buckner as the biggest choker in local history?

Oh well, she can always write a book titled "How to blow a sure thing in 5 seconds". Perhaps revenue from the book will help her "dire" finances.

I can't afford to live in the city I want to be manager of? That has to be the single stupidest thing a person has ever uttered!

R.I.P. Diane. Long live Bernie!

Good luck to the employees of Lowell, The Chelmsford Employees are estatic he is gone.

To Happy He's Gone,

I think the residents of Chelmsford have had a good 17-year-run with Bernie Lynch at the helm. The town remains one of the best places to live and work in the Merrimack Valley. It's school system, despite infrastructure problems, has a first-rate faculty and produces well-educated students. As for public safety, there's never been a serious problem that hasn't been nipped in the bud. The government process is open at all levels. Taxes are certainly higher than when Bernie began his tenure, but home values have also skyrocketed, giving property owners a decent return on their investment. Has Bernie made enemies? I'm sure he has. Any person who has worked as a town manager ruffles feathers. Overall, though, he's done right by Chelmsford and Chelmsford has done right by him. He deserves a shot at the Big Dog - Lowell.

Great choice. Finaly Lowell will have a real professional in charge

I think this is an excellent choice . Mr. Lynch is a proven town manager. He also will require less time to get familar with the in and outs of what is involed with being Lowell's city manager. The right person for the right time. The council must give early support to him to confirm that a change is coming and supported. Since we are all effected by what happens I hope that the obvious tension in the council will subside . The goal now is to move forward for the greater good. Lowell has always pulled together . People who truely want what's best for the city should pull together. As was said at the signing at the Declaration of Independence "We must stand together or suerly we will hang seperately."

The council made the correct choice by far Bernie Lynch was the most qualified of ALL the finalists.One of the biggest jokes of the selection of the finalists is Ed Kennedy being considered,and another Joke of the process is Diana Prudeau Brune being considered,she has shown at the University of how she can BUNGLE important projects.Thank God she won't be bringing that EXPERTISE to the city

OK, IrishBill, you have made it clear how you feel about the process. I, too, believe it was flawed in that only five candidates - and not necessarily the best - were interviewed. But the council ended up doing the right thing and hiring the most qualified candidate of the bunch. Diana Prideaux-Brune IS a pretty good planner from what people at UMass Lowell say. If she has bungled any jobs at UMass Lowell, I haven't heard of it. She did bungle her interview at City Hall, however. Big time!

Lou, you make a good point. It is time to give Bernie Lynch a chance. He'll have enough challenges to deal with and doesn't need to be compared with John Cox. That's not fair. Of course, some people will do that and criticize every move Lynch makes. Bernie has to be his own manager, and the council has to rely on his skills and trust his judgment. Lowell needs to heal the wounds of the past few months and get on with a new era and a new way of thinking. The next election is when voters should state their case.

Chelmsford's loss is Lowell's gain. But, considering the ridiculously nasty political climate in Lowell, he'll probably only last the usual 4-5 years.