| Author |
 Topic  |
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 10:50:44 AM
|
Early on, January and the beginning of February, I was one of the posters that was praising Mayor DeMaria, even though I didn't support him in the election. I really thought the City was going to be okay under Mayor DeMaria’s tenure. Boy, was I wrong.
The area of improvements that I have noticed are, the city is cleaner, the snow plowing improved, and Speaker Keverian is back at City Hall.
Then “Politics” took over.
We’ve had the firing of Walter Rice as the VSO, and as of yet to be replaced.
The firing of the Rec Director, yet to be replaced.
The hiring of Clayton Carlisle as our Budget Director, who was charged with “gross insubordination” in the town where he was Town Manager. Mr. Carlisle was also instrumental in putting in place a 29 year contract with a landfill company, that Southbridge is now stuck with.
The hiring of Jill Berringer as an Assistant City Solicitor. Ms Berringer is from the law firm that is representing William Thibeault in litigation against the City of Everett.
The hiring of the Mayor’s Chief of Staff at a huge salary, which we have been paying for, for quite sometime, and which is only now being justified as appointing this same person as the City Solicitor.
We have an ordinance change for the residency requirement for the City Solicitor put forward by the Mayor. The Mayor then appoints Erin Deveney, his Chief of Staff, as City Solicitor. Ms. Deveney does not live in Everett.
The Mayor states publicly on Chamber Chatter, he does not want to keep our taxes too low. Is he saying our taxes could be lower but he is not willing to do that?
On that same program, the Mayor gives his endorsement to allow William Thibeault to relocate Wood Waste down on the Cities waterfront.
The Mayor speaks to BOA members privately about Alderman’s DiPerri’s budget ordinance, and then the ordinance is voted down. The Mayor never speaks to Alderman DiPerri about his concerns before the BOA meeting.
Just for the record, my opinion is, this was a good ordinance for the City. It had nothing to do with our present Mayor. It was a safeguard that Alderman DiPerri was trying to put in place so that last year’s budget fiasco would never happen again. Now, that the loophole was discovered by the Hanlon Administration, any Administration could potentially use it in the future.
Then we have the issue of the Everett Fire Depatment’s “Reserve List.” There is still much more to come on this one.
I almost forgot, Mr. Brandano and the rotary fiasco, with Mr. Brandano stating he believes that this is political payback for not allowing a campaign sign to be put up on his own personal property.
This has all gone on in less than four months and I am sure I have probably missed some.
These are some of the reason’s I am no longer singing Mayor DeMaria praises. I was really hoping for better.
|
 |
|
|
Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
 Posted - 05/02/2008 : 12:11:04 PM
|
| Massdee, that is nice that you also point out the areas of improvement. Yes, I too think the streets are cleaner but I still have a small problem with that and my questions are not getting answered. Why is GTA still doing the street sweeping and we are paying them 3,000.00 per week plus man hours. I know the cities sweeper is down but lets get it going... It's been down for over a year now and we all know when the street sweeping starts and getting this fixed should have been a priority. As I stated before, I don't mind paying any company for this as long as it's temporary and no one has the answers.Speaker Keverian being back is a good thing too, he is a kind man, but DiMasi influence and citizen outrage played a big role and let us not forget what The Mayor said about this in Novemebr to Kay Lazar so "politics" was being played back then. The one thing that bugs me the most is leaving all the Veterans with out a VSO for so long. Complete disregard.....I have lost all faith in this New Beginning. |
|
|
|
Marie
Senior Member
114 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 12:27:00 PM
|
| I don't understand why all the posters who were so outspoken about Hanlon are so quiet and are giving DeMaria a free pass. The same goes for the Common Council and the Board of Alderman. People are noticing and people are talking about it out on the streets. Also the Common Council and the Board of Alderman don't have the common courtesy of answering constituents emails. |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 1:20:52 PM
|
| I miss reading the input from some of the long time members of this message board. Emile, Court, Citizen, Lynda, Sally and Masterful1, just to name a few. |
|
|
|
Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 1:29:32 PM
|
Marie,
It's all about money. That's why no one is speaking up. Money and the fear of political backlash. I don't know what happened to "giving people their city back" I certainly do not call what happened to Mr. Brandano from a city worker's retaliation.... that does not even live in Everett...... " giving people their city back" No, they do not answer constituents e-mails and the very few that do, have no answers, and you never hear from them again. His treatment to Chuck DiPerri who was trying to put in place a safeguard for the taxpayers was a disgrace. It only showed the true colors of the administration. Yes, people are noticing more and more and the Mayor never spoke to Chuck DiPerri because you cant pull the wool over his eyes and the Mayor knows it. The members he did pull into his web of deceit were naive. I know, I was one of them.
|
Edited by - Tails on 05/02/2008 1:31:25 PM |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 2:13:51 PM
|
| Isn't it odd that our new department heads "don't" live in Everett. Ms. Deveney lives in Taunton, Mr. Carlisle lives in Hudson, Mr. Zaninboni, I am told lives in Revere. I don't know that for sure but I do know Mr. Zaniboni does not live in Everett. I guess we don't have any capable people left in Everett. Good thing the residency ordinance didn't pass for our public safety employees, we would never be able to staff our police and fire departments. |
|
|
|
JoeSister
Member
33 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 3:09:42 PM
|
| Massdee you are streaming a lot of information what is it you are trying to say? |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 3:23:37 PM
|
| I think it's pretty obvious, I'm not satisfied with our city government and am disappointed with Mayor DeMaria. He started out great and then he let the politics take over. My opinion is that he is not doing what is best for the residents of Everett, but he is doing his best for his campaign contributers and supporters. That is something he had said he would not do. This is not a "New Beginning," it has turned in to more of the same. |
|
|
|
Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 3:37:37 PM
|
| Sorry Massdee but not only is it more of the same, this is much more different than anything else we have ever had to deal with. At least Hanlon's fumbles can be corrected. If the new developer gets his way that the Mayor is clearing the way for and making the taxpayers pick up the tab continues, we will be in for new issues, environmentally and health wise. |
|
|
|
Marie
Senior Member
114 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 10:57:20 PM
|
I found this.
MAYOR PLEDGES TRANSPARENCY - Carlo DeMaria, a lifelong resident and former alderman at large, started his first term as the city's mayor with a pledge to put an end to "government by politics." In his inauguration speech Monday night, DeMaria said his agenda will be "clear and transparent," and that city employees will be hired because of their qualifications and not their acquaintances. "Just showing up no longer cuts it," he said. DeMaria said he will conduct a comprehensive review of the city's organizational and operational structure, with an aim to streamline and consolidate to gain efficiencies. He also said he intends to create a "constituent services tracking program," in which requests by residents will be logged and tracked to make sure "each and every service call is addressed appropriately." - Kay Lazar |
|
|
|
tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 11:19:31 PM
|
Marie,
I think that if you go back and look at the posts that were made when Hanlon first took office, I think that you'll find that he was pretty much given a pass as well. Sure, he had his detractors but, overall, he got off pretty easy for a while. Then came the infamous "open meeting law violation" moment and things started to change in a hurry. A lot of us got to see a side of John Hanlon that we never knew about and we realized that his working relationship with the city council was harmed beyond all repair. And things just accelerated downhill from there.
I don't believe that you'll ever see such a singular moment from the DeMaria administration. If any major dissatisfaction with the present administration is to develop, it is more likely to evolve over time and within each individual's own timeframe and set of issues.
Massdee,
I too wish that the long time posters of the board would come back and participate in some of our present discussions, no matter what side of the issues they may support. They are missed.
Tails,
I agree that if the Wood Waste issues are not handled properly, major issues could plague the city for years to come. However, I don't think that it is right to downplay all of the damage wrought by the Hanlon administration. Some of those issues could affect your tax bill for years to come. (Not to mention the pension and infrastructure/capital expenditures issues that will have to be faced in the coming years; those date back even further.) |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2008 : 2:44:27 PM
|
Tetris,
In your opinion, what do you think the proper handling of the Wood Waste issue should be? Or anyone for that mater who has an opinion on this. |
|
|
|
tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2008 : 7:40:41 PM
|
Massdee,
It's a great question that I really wish I knew the answer to. If he is forced to stay where he is, the Boston Street site will never be more than it is now. If he is allowed to move, will we really get anything better even if he initially agrees to it? How many dollars in legal costs are we willing to let the city spend in trying to get him to live up to those agreements?
If he moves, the Boston Street site will only get cleaned up if he can make some money off of it. Maybe it's just me, but if someone is really looking to develop something in that area, there is a 5.6 acre open lot next to the hotel in Chelsea. Even though it has a Chelsea address, the surrounding area is nicer with decent access. The city yards and Boston Street facility have little to no access to the Parkway; there is no way another traffic light should be added down there either. The surrounding streets are in horrible shape and Wood Waste and the city yards are far from the only blighted properties in the area. I just don't get it; then again, I never would have thought that the Gateway Mall property could have been successfully developed; so it goes to show you what I know.
It going to take a smarter person than me to answer the question. Being a pessimist by nature, I just see it as a lose-lose proposition. |
|
|
|
Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2008 : 8:41:53 PM
|
The bottom line is we are in a loose situation regardless of what happens. The only thing I know is the past three administrations would not deal with him and now he’s being jammed down our throats because he was a huge campaign contributor to our current Mayor and the Mayor will do whatever Thibeault wants instead of being open and honest with the people that were responsible for him being voted in office in the first place. The Mayor is overlooking that fact because he is blinded by $$$$ signs in his eyes instead of the health and welfare of people he took an oath to have our best interest at hand and what really ticks me off is Mayor DeMaria (I am sure) knew of these plans well in advance before the election and it was never revealed. That is untruthful and deceitful.
If Thibeault moves to a bigger and better place it’s only more room for disaster. We will be living with offensive odors, polluted runoff, and excessive truck traffic …our health department will be sworn at and the city threatened with lawsuits………oh wait………he’s already done that! It’s going to cost us millions because eventually the state will have to intervene like they did in Newburyport with the rotten egg stench and the hydrogen sulfide gas he is *not* suppose to emit…..but he does. Now April 24th as their settlement nears…..the city and the residents are left in the dark even though it was THEIR TAXPAYERS that has been paying for all this litigation.
Quote:
It's been extremely frustrating for us," said Newburyport Mayor John Moak . ``We haven't had the ability to get anything done on this except to stop them from bringing in any more material. As much as I wanted New Ventures to get this done themselves, we need to get the air quality up to standards."
The call for state help came after preliminary tests results last week showed hydrogen sulfide gas had reached unhealthy levels, according to federal guidelines. So, Moak, state Representative Michael Costello, and state Senator Steven Baddour signed a letter asking the DEP to take over closing and capping the facility.
But the State was rather unresponsive because of the costs of dealing with this:
But comments this week by the DEP and Attorney General Thomas Reilly's office, which filed suit against New Ventures in February, suggest some state reluctance to take over a problem with costly solutions.
``We've been working with the attorney general's office, pressing for additional action, and we hope that New Ventures will be cooperative and take further actions now," DEP spokesman Joe Ferson said. ``We recognize that this has been an ongoing and difficult project for a number of years."
I’m sorry………we CAN NOT count on the state (so what do we do?) even if a new person took over……there may be some chance of having this type of business here but this type of business does not belong in the city! Theaters and Hotels, Office Condos, etc……(that we were promised from the Mayor is the type of business that belongs in the city)
We certainly do not need more truck traffic in that area transporting hazardous material being pumped into the air in the city where we live and our children live. This is not right and I would not wish this upon anyone or any other city or town. The type of business man he is....I say he can move his business to his own back yard.
And if you think it's going to be costly not allowing him to move, just wait down the road this man will put this city into receivership.
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
BOA 2008
