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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
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n/a
deleted
136 Posts |
 Posted - 08/05/2008 : 1:27:48 PM
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| Nice article on the sidewalks and when did another relative of Jason Marcus get hired by the city? I wondered why his tune had changed recently. |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2008 : 4:07:34 PM
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The announcement about Matt Laidlaw was made in the Boston Globe on July 13th.
NEW COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR - Mayor Carlo DeMaria recently appointed Matt Laidlaw to fill the newly created position of communications director. A lifelong Everett resident, Laidlaw formerly served as director of Everett Community TV from 1999 to 2002. Following that stint, until he started his new job last Monday, Laidlaw worked for Rule Broadcast Systems of Watertown, primarily as an account manager, and did television production work for companies and nonprofits. According to Erin Deveney, DeMaria's chief of staff, the mayor brought Laidlaw back to city government to strengthen internal communications among city employees and elected officials and to help the city do a better job communicating about what is going on in Everett. He will also oversee production at ECTV, whose budget is funding the position. "I live in the city and I want to see the city grow and prosper," said Laidlaw, 35. "So I'm very happy to be back." - John Laidler |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2008 : 5:50:51 PM
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| This was first rumored, in some fashion, back in March over on the Mirror when it was still active. After the budget has been debated and is in place, this magically happens within a flat ECTV budget. How does that work? Jump how high Mr. Mayor? |
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Fedup
Member
86 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2008 : 7:25:56 PM
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| In addition to repairing streets and sidewalks, perhaps the City can address the condition of the Library stairs. They are a lawsuit waiting to happen. |
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Cam
Member
82 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2008 : 8:22:28 PM
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| Hallowed Dreams.....are you saying Matt Laidlaw is related to Jason Marcus? |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2008 : 8:25:01 PM
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Matt is the son of Claire Laidlaw, Jason's long-time girlfriend.
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Cam
Member
82 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2008 : 8:56:46 PM
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| Thanks.......that answers a few questions I have had lately. It was obvious that Jason Marcus has had a change of heart where the mayor was concerned. I guess we all now know why. Looks like another vote for Wood Waste. |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2008 : 9:20:04 PM
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| It amazing how the pieces start to fall into place when you know just a little more than what's general knowledge. |
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Gadzooks
Member
16 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2008 : 9:31:36 PM
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| It still has to get past the common council, doesn't it? |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2008 : 9:37:17 PM
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Does anyone know what Mr Laidlaw is making for a salary? I don't understand consolidating positions to save money and then creating new positions.
From what I have been told by an Alderman, Wood Waste might not have to go before the city council at all. It could be all up to the Zoning Board. The Zoning Board is appointed by the Mayor. |
Edited by - massdee on 08/05/2008 9:42:41 PM |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2008 : 9:49:59 PM
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| I spoke with an elected official who is concerned about Wood Waste and very concerned about these consolidations (and the people in these consolidated positions) but, alluded to the fact that while Matt Laidlaw walks right in to a created position at 76,000.00 don't forget, department head's raises were frozen on July 1. One day into the FY/09 budget. They also said by next year, he will probably make more than the mayor. |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2008 : 10:59:09 PM
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| I try not to deal in rumors very often but, in this case, rumor has it that Marcus has been pushing for this since back in the Hanlon administration. Again, I'll stress that this is a rumor, even though the source of it was someone who might be in a pretty good position to know for sure. |
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Gadzooks
Member
16 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2008 : 10:19:34 AM
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| If this passes with the blessing of the mayor and aldermen, then every single one who voted for it should be challenged. Anybody know where Wayne is on this issue? Or will he duck this one for the sake of his state rep race? He was against Woodwaste for many years and can't change now. |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2008 : 12:29:48 PM
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Gadzooks,
I'm a little confused. Are talking about Matt Laidlaw or Wood Waste?
If we are talking about Matt Laidlaw, the city council will not have a vote on it. According to the Globe article, he is being paid out of the ECTV budget. The ECTV budget is funded by payments received from Comcast. If you are a Comcast subscriber, you are paying at least a portion of that payment directly; that would be the franchise fee that appears on your bill every month. Payments received from Comcast are deposited in a revolving fund for ECTV. That revolving fund is then used to pay ECTV's bills, including the department's share of the city payroll.
Any monies not spent from ECTV's budget annually remain in that revolving fund. The use of a revolving fund only allows the monies in it to be used for that specific purpose. A quick analysis of the department's budget data in the FY 2009 proposed budget document makes it appear as if there could have been a good chunk of money left over in FY 2008. It's possible that may have been the case in prior years as well.
Since the ECTV's budget does not come out of the general fund, the budget vote did not really have an effect on ECTV. The only real vote that had an effect on ECTV was the annual vote that authorizes the use of all of the city's revolving funds. As a part of that vote, a limit is set on each one of the refunds as to how much money can be held in any of these funds at any point in time. These limits weren't made public, nor were the balances in these funds. So, it's hard to know how much money maybe floating around. And when there's money floating around....
So, now that you have all the background, the short version of the story is this. The mayor has decided to pay Matt Laidlaw from the ECTV money and has provided some justification for that. As long as ECTV does not spend more money than is available in its revolving fund, the city council has nothing to vote on. They can certainly try to make an issue out of it but I'm not sure what that accomplishes in the short term other than bringing it to the attention of the public. As Mayor Hanlon pointed out last year, the city charter specifically prohibits the council from getting involved in employment issues. However, for the future, the council may wish to take a closer look at the limits set for revolving funds and what, if anything, can be done when revolving accounts are carrying excess funds. |
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just wondering
Senior Member
387 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2008 : 1:27:47 PM
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| I think this sidewalk program will be great for the city. Costs are lowered by keeping this work in house. In addition, the time between reporting a problem and problem resolution is drastically reduced. Looks like another step in the right direction for the city and the services they provide to its residents. Good Job Mr Mayor. |
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Sidewalks
