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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2008 : 2:50:50 PM
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| You have every right to ask questions about Millie's performance as a member of the city council. You have no right to speculate or ask about how a person spends his money just because he's on the city payroll. Is he doing the job he's paid to do? As taxpayers, that's the only concern we have the right to ask about this person. Being a public employee does not mean you're a public figure. |
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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
 Posted - 05/18/2008 : 9:21:26 PM
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| Okay, I'm not asking how he spends his money. What I want to know is how he earns it. Wait, let me re-phrase that..........is he earning his money or is he feeding at the public trough because his mother is on the common council and finagled a job for him? |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2008 : 9:32:26 PM
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| Just my opinion, but I would be more mad at the Independent for publishing this in the newspapers that gets delivered to every home in Everett....if it's not true of course......We were told on Friday evening nothing has been mentioned to a prospective candidate, the paper came out on Wednesday publishing this. It doesn't make sense. |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2008 : 7:45:53 PM
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I'd like to know how we are getting away with the State Ethics Law on this and what the status is and not to hear from a Mayor........any day now. What a terrible response.
Tomorrow marks two months since this article in the Globe and over four months without a VSO. Doesn’t sound to me as if he is mindful of their needs, it sounds to me like his COS was doing damage control to shut people up and he buy time. The state says you can only have four months to use the “actively seeking” line and I think it’s a disgrace with a city with over 40,000.00 people.
April 6, 2008
EVERETT
HIRING VETERANS OFFICER - The city received a "fairly decent" number of applicants for the position of veterans services commissioner, said Erin Deveney, Mayor Carlo DeMaria's chief of staff. Applicants had until Friday to apply. The position was posted after DeMaria terminated the services of Walter Rice, who had held the position for two years and was appointed by then-mayor John Hanlon. "There have been concerns in the community about the mayor not filling the position promptly, and he is mindful of this need," Deveney said. She also said that DeMaria is hoping to schedule interviews with all applicants this week. - Kay Lazar
April 27, 2008.
VETERANS' AGENT CHOICE NEARS - After weeks of searching for and interviewing 17 applicants, Mayor Carlo DeMaria is expected to announce his choice this week for the city's new veteran services commissioner. The applicants include four women who are veterans, said Erin Deveney, the mayor's chief of staff. Those interviewed included candidates from Billerica, Concord, and Malden. "While they all had different professional backgrounds, the one thing that distinguished all of the candidates is that they all expressed their commitment and desire to serve their fellow veterans. That came up in every interview," Deveney said. - Kay Lazar
Mass. Cities Cited For Ignoring Vet Services Law
Reporting
Joe Shortsleeve
BOSTON (WBZ) ¯ Massachusetts is cracking down on municipal leaders across the state as some communities are not providing legally mandated services for our veterans.
Our soldiers come home heroes but are often forgotten at Town Hall.
Veterans are entitled to certain benefits for housing, education, health care and much more.
These benefits are supposed to be handed out at the local level. In fact, every community is required by law to have a veteran's services officer.
But in this day of tight budgets, many towns are breaking the law and cutting back the position.
State officials are citing Danvers, Fitchburg, Framingham, Gloucester, Melrose and Milton, as well as others communities, with flaunting the law.
All communities are getting a letter signed by the Attorney General. It's a stern reminder that says, all cities and towns with populations over 12,000 must employ a full time veteran services officer
"If municipalities are not stepping up to the plate -- and the good news is most of them are -- but if communities are not, we are seriously going at look at intervening," said Lt. Gov. Tim Murray.
In some towns like Norwood, the veteran's services officer is swamped with work because vets who can't get help in their towns all go to Norwood.
The letter requires town leaders to provide the name of their veteran services officer to the state by March 1.
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arthur
Senior Member
212 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2008 : 8:59:37 PM
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| put a call into the attorney general's office like I did today, I was told she was unaware that everett didn't have a full time veteran officer |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 10:42:00 AM
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Does anyone think it's possible that the Administration has applied to the State Ethics Commission to try to obtain a waiver of the six month waiting period rule? If that type of waiver is granted, the Mayor could then appoint a now sitting member of the Common Council.
Just a thought.......trying to figure out why it is taking so long to appoint Mr Rice's replacement. |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 11:45:14 AM
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You can also contact the Attorney General's office.
Boston
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 727-2200
TTY: (617) 727-4765
100 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 727-2200
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 3:45:55 PM
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The Mayor says..."so I won't be rushed because the veterans are being helped......what about the law???? I think Tim Murray would find this interesting. That is the most absurd response and just more evidence that he just doesn't get it.
After rejecting city's politics, Everett mayor in a tight spot
By Kay Lazar
Globe Staff / June 5, 2008
With six Everett residents - including three city councilors - vying to be the city's next veterans services' commissioner, Mayor Carlo DeMaria said his hiring decision, which was slated to be announced more than a month ago, has been delayed by "extenuating" factors.
more stories like this
DeMaria said he interviewed 17 candidates and decided one from outside the city was the most qualified, but then found that "everyone" he consulted said he should choose an Everett resident.
"So my whole process of trying to stick to my guns and not be political [about hiring] is political," DeMaria said in an interview Tuesday.
The councilors who've applied for the position are: Millie Cardello, Ward 1, and councilors Joseph Hickey and John "Leo" McKinnon, of Ward Four, DeMaria said.
Other local candidates for the job include a man who also is applying for a position on the city's police force and another who recently returned from service in Iraq, the mayor said.
Interest in the position stretched well beyond Everett's borders and included candidates from Billerica, Concord, and Malden.
When DeMaria took office in January, he vowed in his inauguration speech to end "government by politics."
"Gone are the days," he said, "when the city employees are hired because of their acquaintances instead of their qualifications."
As he grapples with the selection, DeMaria said the department's temporary director, Gerri Miranda, is providing great service to the city's veterans.
She is "doing a fabulous job," DeMaria said, "so I won't be rushed because the veterans are being helped."
Left unanswered is a potential conflict-of-interest issue if DeMaria selects one of the councilors.
State ethics law requires that "No councillor shall be eligible for appointment to such additional position while a member of said council or for six months thereafter." |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 5:20:44 PM
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If any one of these councilors are looking for long term, this is not for them. Not to mention the fact it is unethical and will reflect on them. The Mayor needs to do the right thing and stop making excuses to procrastinate. This is about the Veterans not about him.
You must be logged in to see this link.
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 6:00:10 PM
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| Another point is he says everyone he “consults” in says he should hire an Everett resident. Is he not the CEO of Everett? Can’t he make a decision on his own and if anyone should have been an Everett resident it should have been the City Solicitor per ordinance. |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 7:01:25 PM
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Tails,
Thanks for finding this article. I'm not sure how it got missed yesterday.
Mr. Mayor,
Stick to your guns. Hire the person that you find to be the most qualified. If the appointment gets shot down, so be it. Nobody can accuse you of playing politics on this issue then. I know that you didn't consult me, but now it's not "everybody".
"Gone are the days when the city employees are hired because of their acquaintances instead of their qualifications."
You said it, live by it. Just my opinion. |
Edited by - tetris on 06/06/2008 7:08:46 PM |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 7:52:50 PM
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| So, there are obviously qualified candidates other than the three Common Councilors and hiring any of those others wouldn't run into a conflict of interest with the State Board of Ethics. I agree with Tetris, hire the most qualified. |
Edited by - massdee on 06/06/2008 7:53:51 PM |
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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 11:16:18 PM
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| Why is it so important that this position be filled by an Everett resident? He hasn't had a problem filling other positions with non residents. |
Edited by - justme on 06/06/2008 11:17:26 PM |
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kimmy
Member
32 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2008 : 12:18:37 PM
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| I have asked someone about this and this postition does not have to be taken by an Everett resident. |
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Veteran’s Services
