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Dracut After Dark
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Bon jour. Dracut After Dark is a moderated forum (a sounding board or bulletin board) which gives people the opportunity to express their views, ideas, questions, or concerns relative to Dracut Massachusetts and its surrounding area -- a local networking watchdog advocate or blog, if you will.

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Dracut After Dark
Subject: Dracut Center property now targeted for affordable senior housing proposal


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 21:37 11/20/09 Fri
(published in, Lowell Sun, 11-20-09)

Affordable-housing plans return in Dracut

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- In the wake of a failed affordable-housing plan for seniors, some town officials are quietly lining up support behind a new proposal.

About a month after the Dracut Housing Authority called off plans to buy the 38 units at 1476 Mammoth Road known as Louisburg Square as affordable housing for seniors, Brian Bond, vice chairman of the Community Preservation Committee, is looking at a proposal to buy 17 acres of farmland on Greenmont Avenue and build 64 one-bedroom homes for seniors.

Bond said he's hoping the project, which could take at least three years to complete, could be brought before Town Meeting in June 2010.

The new proposal is still in its infancy but Ken Cunha, a Housing Authority member, imagines walk-in showers, washers and dryers in the units, environmentally friendly buildings and green space built on farmland at 144 Greenmont Ave. Cunha, Bond and Selectman John Zimini said they began working on the plan several months ago.

Cunha, a fierce opponent of the Louisburg Square project, said he hasn't reached out yet to gain support from his political opponents, Selectmen Joe DiRocco and Robert Cox. Cox and DiRocco had accused Cunha of working to sabotage the Louisburg Square project to exact political revenge and punish their political adversaries.

"I certainly didn't like that project but you know what, it's time to move on from Louisburg Square," said Cunha.

Cunha and those behind the plan sought help and support from other town officials, including Community Preservation Committee member Ken Lania. Lania, a civil engineer, assessed the land to come up with a proposed number of housing units. Phil Thibault, chairman of the Planning Board and an architect, provided floor plans for cottage-style elderly housing.

Bond is confident town leaders and the Housing Authority can work together on a new housing plan for seniors.

"I don't know if it has a better chance (of succeeding than the Louisburg Square project), but it's a chance to add more senior housing," said Bond. "I think the town can work with the Housing Authority. I don't see a problem with that."

John Hassan, chairman of the Community Preservation Committee, cautioned that it's too early to discuss the new proposal publicly. The committee needs to find out how much of the land is wetlands, figure out whether 64 units would fit on the land and appraise the property.

"To get people's hopes up that we're building something only to have it squashed again -- it's just way too early," said Hassan.

Hassan said the CPC looked into preserving the Richardson land as farm space about two years ago. That deal fell apart after the town, the Richardson family and the group that farmed the land couldn't agree on a sale price.

James Richardson, whose family controls the farmland in a trust, said Bond and other officials first approached his family in the early fall. The land is behind the Richardson's Dairy stand at 1480 Bridge St. and Richardson said there are no plans to sell the farm store at the moment.

Bond said the new Greenmont Avenue proposal will hinge on whether the town can obtain state funding.

The state Department of Housing and Community Development would have paid $2.9 million toward renovations for Louisburg Square, but that money isn't transferable to new projects. Housing advocates have told The Sun there is a long waiting list for funding.

Zimini said he wants to work with neighbors near the proposed site and would also need to see a new appraisal.

"It's in a great area. It's on a bus line, so I think it's just a real good place to put in elderly housing," said Zimini.

Bond estimates the Greenmont Avenue plan could cost about $6.3 million with about $3.84 million -- or about $60,000 per unit -- going toward building costs. That would leave about $2.46 million available to buy the land, roadwork, landscaping and build a community center at the site.

Town records show the one-story home owned by James Richardson at 1530 Bridge St. is assessed at $231,200. The 17 acres owned by the Richardson family at 144 Greenmont Ave. are worth $252,000, according to town records. Dracut assessing officials said the farmland was last assessed in February 2003 and a field review was last done in spring 2008.

About 5.5 percent of the town's housing stock is considered affordable. Because that figure is less than 10 percent, developers may be allowed to bypass local zoning laws. Seniors pay reduced rent at Louisburg Square but the state does not count that as affordable housing because those rents are higher than what state considers affordable.

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Subject: Seemingly nepotism hiring for Englesby principal's job sparks school dept. controversy


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 08:26 11/21/09 Sat
(published in, Lowell Sun, 11-21-09)

Dracut principal promotion questioned

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- How did Superintendent W. Spencer Mullin make his decision to hire the new principal for Englesby Intermediate School?

School Committee member Mike McNamara wants to know, after he said complaints surfaced from screening committee members who felt their voices weren't heard.

"People put their time and effort into serving on screening committee and their work should be valued," said McNamara.

McNamara said he heard complaints from Joyce Desjardins, president of the teachers union, that several people on the screening committee felt they weren't being listened to during the hiring process.

Desjardins, one of the seven screening committee members, referred all questions to the School Committee.

"We wish to be recorded as having no comment," said Desjardins, who said she is speaking for the other teachers on the screening committee.

McNamara made a motion for more information on the hiring process at last week's School Committee meeting, and said he's now waiting for School Committee Chairman Matthew Sheehan to set up a subcommittee to investigate.

Mullin appointed seven people to the screening committee, including parents and teachers. Under state law, the superintendent retains sole hiring power for Dracut schools and has the final say over all teachers, principals and staff.

At last week's School Committee meeting, Mullin announced Assistant Principal Jacqueline Perrin would take over at Englesby. Principal Robert Young retired this month.

Perrin's sister is former School Committee member Mary Gail Martin. Mullin said speculation about the connection is unfounded.

"I can assure you she was the most qualified candidate with the best credentials, and if she wasn't the best person for the job, I wouldn't have hired her," said Mullin.

Sheehan said he hadn't heard about any complaints or controversy surrounding Perrin's promotion until McNamara's motion.

"That's the first I had heard about it, and I had talked to people on the screening committee," Sheehan said.

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Subject: Which of these “outstanding” Dracut cops do you think is more handsome & intelligent?


Author:
P.O.W. (Pal of Warren’s)
[Edit]
Date Posted: 14:10 11/11/09 Wed


Kevin Richardson


Chief Kevin Richardson


____________________________________________________________


Chartrand


Deputy Chief David Chartrand


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Subject: A Dracut lady won 500K on a $5. Lottery ticket this past Augest


Author:
Senior
[Edit]
Date Posted: 11:01 10/29/09 Thu
She went to Dracut Pharmacy convience store on the corner of Bridge right in front of Town building Depts.

She thought she had won 500 or 5K. When she asked the owner to check her ticket,he quickly looked at it and said;"no winner! no winner"! Knowing she had won something the ladies male friend yelled at the owner behind the counter! And they both demanded her ticket back!! Than they left the store with her winnibg ticket,went to Lottery sub station in Burlington they were told it was worth 500K !! She signed it and than was told to go to main office.

My concern is what if this lady was alone at the store or she was elderly on any type of medication???? The Massachusetts State Lottery reviewed the stores camera's and gave this Indian store owner a written warning! Thats it??? For attempting grand larceny as a state agents for the lottery this fellow should have been arrested and lost his State permit!!!!!! He owens this business along with his brother,they don't allow outside the family employees to handle and cash/tickets transactions!! When will our State lottery officals over see ALL agents selling lottery tickets. Calif.has a dept.that does nothing but investagate'set up sting operations when they catch a crook they end up in Jail with heavy sentences and heavey fines! Plus lost of Lottery permits for life!!!!!

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Subject: Findings from DHS surveillance camera probe going to committee


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 07:53 09/20/09 Sun
(published in, Lowell Sun, 9-20-09)

Hank Golec

Hank Golec

By Jennifer Myers
jmyers@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- The internal investigation into allegations that Dracut High School Vice Principal Hank Golec tampered with school surveillance equipment and secretly recorded a football practice was concluded on Friday and School Committee members are expected to receive the findings tomorrow, according to committee Chairman Matthew Sheehan.

Sheehan said he has been advised not to comment on the situation.

School Committee member Mike Miles said Superintendent of Schools W. Spencer Mullin met Friday afternoon with School Department attorneys Ed Morris and Kevin Murphy and possibly an attorney representing Golec.

"I have not heard from anybody of authority what the outcome of that meeting was," Miles said.

Last week, a Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association spokesman acknowledged that the organization received an anonymous letter and DVD from someone claiming that Dracut's head football coach, Jeff Moore, was conducting out-of-season practices.

The MIAA spokesman, Paul Wetzel, said the letter and video were forwarded to Dracut High Principal James Generoso. According to sources at the school, the video showed students during weightlifting and conditioning sessions.

Wetzel referred to the MIAA handbook, which states that those activities are permissible as long as they are not sports-specific, are sponsored by the school and open to all students, not just those involved in a particular sport.

Several sources told The Sun that officials believe the letter and DVD were sent to the MIAA by Golec and not by a parent of one of the students.

Golec has spent 34 years working for the Dracut schools as a teacher, varsity baseball coach and administrator.

According to a source, after reviewing the DVD, school officials, including Generoso and Athletic Director Tim Woods, determined that the video was taped on a school-owned camera.

When officials tried to examine the equipment on which the video was believed to have been recorded, the machine was found to be inoperable.

Sheehan called for an investigation into the allegations last week.

Golec did not return a call seeking comment.

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Subject: Middie’s pigskin coach Jeff Moore facing Dereliction of Duty allegations


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 21:25 10/11/09 Sun
(published in, Lowell Sun, The Column, 10-11-09)

Dracut probe puts Lowell cop under gun

A Sun Staff report

THE JOY that the Dracut High School Middies enjoyed last season when the team won the Division 1A Super Bowl has hardly been in the air this year at Beaudry Field.

For instance, the Matt Grimard-less Middies have already racked up multiple losses.

There’s the unresolved flap over Vice Principal Hank Golec and whether he tampered with school surveillance equipment to secretly record what he apparently viewed was an out-of-season football practice conducted by coach Jeff Moore.

Now comes word that Moore, a Lowell police officer, is the subject of an Internal Affairs investigation related to his Dracut job.

Police Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee confirmed last week that Golec notified Lt. Timothy Crowley, the current head of the IA Division, of alleged shenanigans on Moore’s part.

Moore works the overnight shift, either 1-9 a.m., or 12:30-8:30 a.m. It is alleged that Moore was videotaped in Dracut, at the high school, during work hours when he was supposed to be keeping Lowell safe.

“We’re attempting to acquire the evidence,” said Lavallee.

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Replies:
Subject: Board of Seletmen


Author:
Bob
[Edit]
Date Posted: 23:57 10/27/09 Tue
I find it very interesting that the board of selectmen feel it was necessary to step on the toes of another board , the DHA and look into adding elderly housing which is uo to the DHA, not the selectmen.How would the selectmen feel if the DHA found the town a replacement for town hall,land for a new school or reach a deal to sell the old police station . I can hear Jimmy O. howling now demanding heads on platters.I guess its OK for the selectmen to overstep their bounds , but God help anyone who does the same to them.

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Subject: Bond Kicking O'Loughlins butt over on Pee Wee's site


Author:
Watcher
[Edit]
Date Posted: 22:41 11/05/09 Thu
Brian J Bond | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply

Shawn,

My take on Town Meeting was a little different than yours.

I agree Jimmy O’Loughlin came forward speaking to the need, but it was his need to bloviate. In the past the man could sell a rib eye steak to a vegetarian. Today I believe the general populace has had enough of his disrespect, bad behavior and propaganda.

I see last night’s vote as a sign of things to come and other members of the board need to distance themselves from him.

Brian J Bond


jim o'loughlin | Nov 3, 2009 | Reply

Such as when the voters distanced themselves from you?

Brian what you don’t seem to understand is that there are times that you must say what you feel is in the best interest of the community that elected you, even if it may not be the most popular thing to say to a particular group at a particular time. I am afraid that you spend so much time following others that your ability to lead is diminished.

A $2,500 increase in sewer connection fees to new business’ and home owners at a time like this is not a way to attract business, nor does it help to jump-start the building industry, putting to work carpenters, electricians, roofers, etc. Just because your friends supported the article should not make you support it Brian. You should think for yourself. How many trades people are not working? We should be doing all that we can to help to stimulate the economy and that is not done by raising fees and stagnating growth by adding costs.

When are you announcing that you are a candidate for selectman?


Brian J Bond | Nov 5, 2009 | Reply

Jim
Sorry for not responding sooner. As a former business owner I’m sure you understand. I spent last night paying bills and had oodles of paperwork. It never ends.

As I’ve stated in the past. In life you win some and you lose some. My placing 2nd in the past election does not bother me at all. I’ve learned a lot and it will only make me stronger. Those who know me will tell you I am very hard working and relentless in my business ventures and my public service. Right now I’m continuing my efforts on the Planning Board, Community Preservation Committee, seeing the Canney Farm Recreational Project completed and looking to the future projects as a team player for the needs of the community. More on that subject later.
As for your thought process that a $2500 increase in sewer fee will hinder future development I disagree. At the new fee of $7500 to tie in it’s still a great deal compared to the cost to install a septic system. Your basic septic system can cost between $10,000 and $15,000 and depending on soil conditions could cost upwards of $40,000 and $50,000. Your disregard to address and gain an understanding of this article in the weeks before Town Meeting is the starting place of your defeat.

Your last statement you ask when I’m going to announce that I’m a candidate for selectman? Well Jim I’ll let you know right after you announce that you’re a candidate for STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

Brian J Bond

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Subject: Real Estate Transaction of the Rich & Infamous


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 22:11 11/14/09 Sat
Joe DiRocco
Joseph “Narcissus” DiRocco


1440 Mammoth Road: Joseph and Jeanne A. DiRocco to John P. and Cheryl A. Nowak, $250,000

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Subject: Can you recommend a reputable designer/builder?


Author:
Former_local
[Edit]
Date Posted: 09:53 10/30/09 Fri
The wife and I have moved and are considering adding onto the house we bought (in-law, garage, redo). can anyone comment on who they have used in the past with satisfactory results? I need someone to draw up the design/plams as well

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Subject: Chartrand Focus of Inquiry


Author:
Kopy Kitty
[Edit]
Date Posted: 19:00 11/10/09 Tue
Dracut deputy chief focus of inquiry
By Erin Smith, esmith@lowellsun.com
Updated: 11/10/2009 04:55:45 PM EST

DRACUT -- Police Chief Kevin Richardson said Tuesday he has opened a preliminary inquiry into whether the town's off-duty deputy chief had been drinking when he showed up to a 911 call for a man with a shotgun, wound up almost getting shot by his own officers and then tried to cover up his involvement in the late night September incident.

Richardson defended Deputy Chief Dave Chartrand from the police union's allegations against him.

"Deputy Chartrand did everything that I would expect any of my officers to do in that situation while off duty," said Richardson.

Chartrand had been at a street party on B Street Sept. 26 at about 10:15 p.m. when someone told him about a domestic situation nearby, according to Richardson.

Chartrand removed an Ithaca single-barrel 20-gauge shotgun from the home after a trio of bikers allegedly disarmed the angry boyfriend who pulled the weapon on them after they showed up at the house to help his girlfriend move out, according to reports and police witness statements obtained by The Sun.

Chartrand was almost shot by his own officers as he left the house and walked down the street with the shotgun, according to police reports. Gunfire, however, was averted after one lieutenant recognized Chartrand at the last second on the darkened street, according to reports.

One biker reported Chartrand and the two men who were with him -- a sheriff's deputy and an electrician, according to Richardson -- appeared to have been
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drinking when they came to the boyfriend's house, while another biker reported he helped Chartrand get to his feet when he stumbled and lost his footing on the stairs, according to police records.

Jerry Flynn, executive director of the union that represents Dracut police officers, New England Police Benevolent Association, sent Town Manager Dennis Piendak a letter last week, accusing Chartrand of asking his officers to not mention his involvement in the case. Flynn has also called for the Middlesex County District Attorney's office to investigate the matter and for Chartrand to be placed on paid administrative leave when the outcome.

Richardson said he is not allowing Chartrand to speak to the press until he releases the findings of his inquiry next week.

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Subject: Jimmy O publicly takes Brian Flaherty to task over "irresponsible" blog comments


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 09:24 11/07/09 Sat
(The following was a response by Selectman Jim O'Loughlin to Brian Flaherty on his pissant little blog regarding the recent resignation of DATV -- local access cable TV -- executive director Steve Russo. Jimmy O's criticism couldn't have been directed to a nicer guy.)

Mr. Flaherty,

When you state "Perhaps Russo said there was enough politics and wanted out" where do you get this from?

Would it be fair to say that "Perhaps Mr. Flaherty was visited by space aliens and they told him to say that" -- Would both statements be equally irresponsible? Did you speak to Mr. Russo? Perhaps Mr. Russo is recieving a substantial pay increase. Did you check any sources? Me thinks not! Mr Russo himself stated "this opportunity gives me the chance to grow professionally and put my technical knowledge to use."

On another matter I did not request the need for a new board to "oversee DATV", the manager spoke of the need of appointing a cable advisory committee which would act as a liason to DATV as well as be available to meet with representatives of any competing cable company that may be interested in locating in Dracut.

I did ask if there was a member of DATV who was acting as a liason to the board of selectman to give us updates on DATV board meetings, personnel changes, policy changes, etc. I was told there is not.

Blogs can be a great tool when used responsibly.

Thanks,

Jim O'Loughlin

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Subject: Meadow Creek fires general manager in hopes for increased usage & membership


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 08:45 10/27/09 Tue
(published in, Lowell Sun, 10-27-09)

Meadow Creek ousts manager

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- Earlier this month, Meadow Creek Golf Club opened a new clubhouse. That same week, the board that oversees the club voted to oust the general manager.

The move is the latest twist at a public golf course that has gone through many changes since it opened three years ago.

"We're going forward with a different philosophy with club management," said Jeff Brem, general partner and president of the golf course.

Brem said timing of the board's decision to fire Kevin Shepple was a coincidence. Shepple had served as the general manager at the tournament-caliber, 18-hole golf course for the past two years, since Brem and the other new owners took over the course.

Shepple's last day on the job was Friday. He did not immediately return a call for comment.

Board members are hoping the new management company they've hired, Affinity Management, will increase club membership and use of the golf course, according to Brem, who says those figures have largely remained stagnant during the the past two years under Shepple's management.

Brem said Affinity was hired to manage the restaurant and banquet hall at the clubhouse and the golf course. Affinity, which is based in Charlottesville, Va., specializes in membership recruiting, marketing and club operations, according to the company's Web site.

Aaron Crear, who has been a member at the club for the past two years, said he doesn't understand why the board decided to fire Shepple.

"He definitely had the experience and was doing a good job," said Crear.

In a letter sent to club members last week, Brem acknowledged that not everyone would be happy with the decision.

"Some of you have become friends with Kevin, others have had close associations and for you this change will not be welcome. I know that many of you will be concerned and anxious," said Brem in the letter.

The club owners plan to hold meetings for members to explain the change in management this month, according to Brem.

Meadow Creek Golf Club is privately owned with club memberships, but the course and restaurant at the clubhouse are open to any paying member of the public.

Meadow Creek Golf Club, which is surrounded by 178 house lots, opened three years ago. More than 100 lots have been sold, and homes ranging in price from $550,000 to $1.5 million have been built or are under construction. When the golf course opened, an agreement was inked with the town to build a clubhouse on the property within 30 months or relinquish 27 house lots to the town.

The clubhouse, which opened Oct. 15, includes a golf shop, a 72-seat restaurant, and a banquet hall and cocktail reception area that serves more than 200 people. There's also a covered terrace outside with service and seating for 48 people. The 14,000-square-foot structure hosts locker-room space, a members-only lounge and administrative offices in the basement, and cost about $3.3 million to build, according to Brem.

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Subject: Spencer Mullin calls it quits just after 1 year as Dracut's School Superintendent


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 16:05 11/04/09 Wed
(posted on, lowellsun.com , Breaking News, 11-4-09)

Dracut School Supt. Mullin to retire

DRACUT -- Just about one year into his tenure, School Superintendent W. Spencer Mullin notified the School Committee Wednesday he will retire effective March 3 to spend more time with his family.

Last month, Mullin told The Sun that his first year as superintendent was a learning experience, but he feels he met the goals he set for the school system last year, including working to increase test scores, adding an alternative program at the high school for at-risk students and bringing new technology into the classroom. Mullin said he added 55 new computers at the high school and purchased LED projectors and instituted training for teachers to file electronic report cards.

Mullin took over for Elaine Espindle at the end of last summer. Espindle had been on the job for 10 years. She had replaced the iconic Christos Daoulas, who had been at the helm of Dracut's school system for 37 years.

For more on this story read Thursday's Sun or click on http://www.lowellsun.com

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Subject: Will Tim Woods replace Golec as the DHS vice principal?


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 12:32 11/10/09 Tue
(published in, Lowell Sun, 11-10-09)

Charges fly in Dracut

School-board member accused of handpicking Golec replacement

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- School Committee members are accusing one of their own of quietly and illegally handpicking a replacement for embattled Dracut High School Vice Principal Hank Golec, who is facing allegations of breaching the school's security system and misusing surveillance equipment.

Last night, School Committee member Bonnie Elie told The Sun that Golec, who hasn't shown up to his job since mid-September, is retiring in January.

The admission marks the first time school officials revealed Golec's employment plans since The Sun learned in September about an investigation into allegations against Golec.

Golec allegedly used a school-owned surveillance camera to secretly tape DHS football coach Jeff Moore leading a summer weightlifting session, then sent the recording to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, arguing that the session was in violation of MIAA rules. It turned out the session was legal by MIAA standards because the weightlifting session was open to all students, not just the football team.

Elie's fellow committee members accused her of quietly working on a plan to promote the high school's part-time athletic director to a full-time job, while making him an administrator who also serves as a part-time vice principal, filling in for the principal as needed.

Tim Woods, currently a full-time teacher with a community-service class at Dracut High, receives a $9,000 stipend per year to serve as the part-time athletic director, according to Superintendent of Schools W. Spencer Mullin.

Committee member Ron Mercier questioned the wisdom of creating an administrative position at the expense of eliminating a full-time teaching job at the high school during the economic downturn.

When Mercier accused Elie of illegally overstepping her bounds by micromanaging the superintendent, Elie denied specifically calling for Woods to be promoted to the position. The committee is only charged with hiring and firing the superintendent and setting school policy.

"We'll just make sure that there's nothing illegal," said Kevin Murphy, the School Department's lawyer, about Elie's call for talks between Murphy and Mullin to create the new position.

Committee member Michael McNamara blasted Elie for a lack of transparency after he found out she was the only member to receive a memo addressed to the School Committee highlighting talking points about Woods' position to help her pitch the proposal.

"I just perceive that things are happening behind the scenes," McNamara said. "I'm a member of the Dracut School Committee. I don't know why I don't have the memo."

The committee unanimously approved McNamara's motion to take up Elie's proposal for a full-time athletic director during a public meeting, instead of allowing Murphy and Mullin to discuss the plan in private.

Committee member Michael Miles defended Elie, admonishing McNamara and Mercier for being "disrespectful" in questioning Elie's motives and accusing the pair of grandstanding.

Elie argued that the athletic director should be a full-time position because Woods oversees more than 500 sporting events per year.

"Maybe I didn't go about it the exact proper way, and I apologize," she said. "I'm not trying to pull a fast one over on anybody."

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Subject: Teacher move upsets parents


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 07:58 11/03/09 Tue
(published in, Lowell Sun, 11-3-09)

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- Parents of Greenmont Elementary School kindergartners said they worry that school officials are trying to pull a fast one by quietly transferring their kids' teacher to another school in the middle of the year.

Currently, Kelly Lane teaches the half-day kindergarten class at Greenmont in the morning and then travels to Campbell Elementary School to teach the half-day afternoon class there. But school officials want to divide the 27 kids in the half-day class at Campbell and create morning and afternoon kindergarten classes.

Kristina Maraganis said she worries her son, Nicholas, will be negatively affected if he loses Lane as his teacher halfway through the school year. One proposal being floated calls for the School Department to transfer Lane to Campbell to teach both morning and afternoon half-day classes and hire a new part-time kindergarten teacher for the Greenmont morning class.

"It's frustrating. We should have received some sort of notification," Kim Tierney-Honan told the School Committee last night.

Tierney-Honan said she first learned about the proposal when she found a job listing for a part-time kindergarten teacher on the School Department's Web site.

Superintendent of Schools W. Spencer Mullin said he didn't announce the possible change because the plan is contingent on the school funding cuts passed at last night's Town Meeting. Town Meeting voted to slash the school budget by $250,000, but Mullin said despite that cut, he should still be able to hire a part-time kindergarten teacher.

Parents of Greenmont kindergartners said they want Lane to continue teaching their kids.

"We were advocating for her to stay," said Tierney-Honan, shortly after she and other parents showed up at a School Committee meeting. "We're not opposed to the split but just not at our children's expense."

Other parents said it isn't fair that school officials are working to make the half-day kindergarten class size smaller at Campbell, while the half-day kindergarten class at Greenmont still has 25 kids.

School Committee members promised to look into the proposal. The School Committee plans to discuss the matter again Monday at its 7 p.m. meeting.

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Replies:
Subject: Will School Committee replace Mullin with yet another local yokel?


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 13:09 11/10/09 Tue
(published in, Lowell Sun, 11-10-09)

Trouville has eyes for Dracut supt. post

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- Linda Trouville wants to be Dracut's next school superintendent.

The 40-year veteran educator made a play for the head of Dracut schools last night, offering to serve as interim superintendent without a pay raise while School Committee members search for a permanent replacement for Superintendent of Schools W. Spencer Mullin.

"In the interim, we need a person who doesn't have to review the system," said Trouville, coordinator for elementary curriculum and professional development.

Mullin, who signed a three-year contract on July 1, 2008, last week abruptly announced plans to retire March 3 and told The Sun he plans to spend more time with his family and take care of his granddaughter, who is to be born next month.

Trouville told the School Committee she's the best candidate for the interim job because she already understands the culture of Dracut schools and works tirelessly behind the scenes after normal business hours.

At least two School Committee members -- Michael Miles and Ron Mercier -- signaled interest in Trouville's bid, thanking her for her offer and praising her work.

When questioned about her future aspirations, Trouville, 61, told The Sun "it's possible" she may throw her hat into the ring to also be considered for the job of Mullin's permanent replacement.

Trouville said she has served as a School Department administrator since 2000, and previously worked as the principal at Brookside Elementary School, vice principal at Campbell Elementary School and an elementary-school teacher.

Miles floated the idea of hiring an interim superintendent earlier than March 3, and questioned whether it is possible to have Mullin leave his current post in 60 days rather than the 120-day notice required in his contract.

But other committee members predicted it would cost the town more money to have the School Department's lawyer negotiate with Mullin's lawyer to oust him before spring. Mullin told the School Committee he plans to stay until his retirement March 3.

School Committee Chairman Matthew Sheehan was the only other member to vote in favor of Miles' unsuccessful proposal.

Meanwhile, Sheehan told his fellow committee members he is reluctant to spend $2,000 -- the approximate price tag to hire consultants at Massachusetts Association of School Committee or New England School Development Council to help find Mullin's permanent replacement.

School Committee member Michael McNamara urged the committee to use professional guidance to find a long-term superintendent, but Miles said he doesn't want to spend the money on consultants.

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Subject: Bonnie back at it


Author:
I didn't forget
[Edit]
Date Posted: 07:36 11/10/09 Tue
It appears that a Mrs. Bonnie Elie is back to her old ways. Making a motion that was only sent to her to push the current AD Mr. Tim Woods to a full time position and part-time Vice Principle. Didn’t Mrs. Elie sit on the board with Mr. Woods a few years back? Wait a minute; didn’t Mr. Woods also get his current AD job while Mrs. Elie sat on the previous board? I also remember Mr. Woods and Mrs. Elie giving the old superintendent a great deal on her contract.

By the way, what ever happened to the car accident Mr. Woods was involved in? I believe it was at an out of town golf course with a school dept. car?

I wonder if Mrs. Elie has read and signed that recent ethics reform memo

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Subject: Jeeze I'm glad I left for Texas


Author:
Rateye
[Edit]
Date Posted: 18:33 11/07/09 Sat
North Shore-South Shore hasn't changed in years--nasty crooked Boston, the State House politics and if not politics it's organized crime, Tell me are they still finding bodies on the Neponset river bank ? Texas, second biggest state in the union, no state income tax. Massachusets very small state, known to the rest of the country as Taxachusetts. Well I'm not gonna worry about it. I'm loading up my Garand and going to the rifle range tomorrow. Dove season was pretty good, and I'll be getting my concealed carry soon. Castle doctrine in Texas, we don't have to give thieves and rapists an exit before we shoot em here. over 7 bucks a pack for smokes, thank GOD you live near N.H.Well a few more weeks and the Indians will be protesting down in Plymouth again. I can't figure it the Indians have Mohegan Sun in Connecticut but all they get from Massachusetts is the bird at Plymouth?? Go figure. And one last thought, how come all the indians at the casinos in Connecticut are named Vinny and Pauly ???

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Replies:
Subject: Kendall Wallace's SATURDAY CHAT


Author:
Dracut Townie
[Edit]
Date Posted: 09:37 11/07/09 Sat
Kendall says

"While I think our Statehouse delegation got somewhat tarnished in this election, I think veteran political observer and radio host Warren Shaw also got his image bruised in this one. I've always enjoyed talking to Shaw about issues and had great regard for his understanding of suburban issues, a subject on which I am woefully weak. Like most people interested in government and politics, I was a fan of his Saturday morning radio show until his "debate" on the Lowell charter question where my sense was he was extremely unfair to the proponent of the charter proposal when I thought he was moderating between the pro and the anti-side. Then he did an "exclusive" interview with Councilor Kazanjian and kind of brushed off as minor some of the issues being raised and finally his election poll which had Kazanjian topping the ticket in Tuesday's election, creating a great distortion of the real results."

.


Kendall
Welcome to our world. We folks in Dracut have been putting up with Shaw and his Warren Nation for countless years. He currently has control over Dracut and will stop at nothing to keep it. Ever election season he promotes his candidate in little ways week after week and speaks unfavorably about anyone who would challenge them. I glad you have the backbone to print it.

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Replies:
Subject: Need teen/preteen pediatric recommendation


Author:
DS
[Edit]
Date Posted: 13:21 10/13/09 Tue
My family has Blue Cross Blue Shield (of Texas; don't know if that part matters) and I'm fed up with my kids pediatrics office policies. Can any BCBS insurance members with teen and/or preteen kids recommend a good office for me to check out in the Dracut/Lowell area? I need to ditch these clowns.

Thank you

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Replies:
Subject: Lowell pol expresses her thorough disgust with WCAP’s (unbiased???) news coverage


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 09:00 11/07/09 Sat
(Posted on, JackieDoherty.org , 10-26-09. Jackie Doherty is a member of the Lowell School Committee -- operates a popular Internet blog in that city -- and was recently reelected back to that seat earlier this month.)

Equal time? Depends who asks

Not one to shirk media criticism when it’s warranted, I take space here to express my disappointment with WCAP Radio.

Last week was a pretty exciting news week for me. House Bill 481—a bill I helped initiate a year ago—was heard before the Joint Committee on Education on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

When I contacted our two media outlets, The Sun and WCAP, to cover this issue, which currently impacts our school budget by $1.3 million as well as the lives of 23 children forced out of district, I was told by our local radio station that it was too close to the election for me to come on-air. Mind you, this was only days after station co-owner Sam Poulten, a member of the Nashoba Vocational School board familiar with the bill, suggested I contact WCAP to discuss the issue, as well as only days after Councilor Kazanjian went on the Warren Shaw show to discuss his news—regarding a subpoena—for an hour!

Okay, they’re different issues — one is a hearing about changing a law to protect kids and save money while the other is a legal mandate to appear in court and give testimony to determine if any laws were broken. Most would agree, however, that House Bill 481 is as newsworthy as a subpoena, which leads me to conclude that getting on WCAP these days isn’t about equal time or even newsworthiness, but rather, it is about who is asking.

Perhaps I should feel better that when I mentioned the unfair treatment to co-host Teddy Panos, he admitted to having to “tip toe” around the newsy-enough issue regarding time for the councilor. But the fact is, the more I think about it, the more annoyed I am.

By the way, The Sun did cover the issue before and after the hearing. Besides being news with far-reaching impact on costs and kids, House Bill 481 is not done yet; we now need speedy passage, which is where the bulk of my energy will be invested next.

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Subject: Just fell off the turnip truck


Author:
Pa Kettle
[Edit]
Date Posted: 23:29 11/06/09 Fri
Boy, I must have hit my head real hard to believe that Dr. Mullin is quiting a 130k job to babysit.First I am supposed to believe his kid asked him to quit so he and his wife could work.That takes alot of balls on the kids part.I'm sure daycare would cost less than the 130k they are asking him to give up.Why cant the mother stay home while the father works? She can even work nights if they needed the money.He talks about missing out on raising his on kids but isnt he just encouraging it for his own kids? Then we learn that he had started contract negotiations last week.Sorry but I just dont believe it, even if I did just fall off the turnip truck.

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Replies:
Subject: BENEFIT FOR ALEXIS GORMAN


Author:
Anonymous
[Edit]
Date Posted: 08:18 11/03/09 Tue
The Gorman/Lloyd Family will be holding a benefit for Alexi Gorman Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 7pm at the Lowell Elks. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or at Owen & Ollie's Restaurant on Mill St. Thank you to everyone who attended the Bone Marrow Drive. A match has been found for 4 year old Lexi and a Bone Marrow Transplant is scheduled for November 19.

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Replies:
Subject: Despite Cpt. Kangaroo shouting "NO" like an idiot, Louisburg Sq. officially dies @ Town Meeting


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 07:50 11/03/09 Tue
(Published in, Lowell Sun, 11-3-09. Nickname inserted for emphasis.)

Town Meeting OKs sewer fees for new homes

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- Aside from a brief debate over raising sewer rates on new homes, the only allusion to fireworks at Town Meeting came after one voter could be heard muttering that the constant feedback from the town manager's microphone sounded like the Fourth of July.

Town Meeting lasted only about 45 minutes, and many voters had already left their seats and were moving toward the door when they shouted unanimous approval for the final warrant article to add Chuck Drive to the town's street list.

Town Meeting also approved new sewage-hookup fees for any new homes or commercial buildings. The fee increased from $5,000 to $7,500.

Gary Marsella, chairman of the Finance Committee, argued that the increased rates for new construction would protect the rates for the current residents paying sewage costs.

"To not pass it would put them in peril," said Marsella.

Selectmen had voted 4-1 in a recommendation to refer the matter to the Town Meeting in June to give them time to study the issue. Selectman John Zimini was the only selectman who wanted to vote to approve the new sewer rate rules last night.

Selectman James O'Loughlin called Marsella's remarks a "scare tactic" and doubted the town's sewage rates would be affected between now and June. O'Loughlin said he was trying to protect the young people of the town who are trying to buy homes during hard economic times.

The selectmen were ultimately outvoted, and Town Meeting passed the sewer rates for new construction with the most enthusiastic voice vote of the night.

The most contentious article on the Town Meeting agenda -- whether to rescind $2.68 million set aside to pay for the controversial Louisburg Square project -- became moot last month after commissioners at the Housing Authority voted down the effort to buy the apartment complex at 1476 Mammoth Road for affordable housing for seniors.

Barbara Dickinson, who lives at 1476 Mammoth Road and was the only voter to speak on the subject, said she is disappointed that the project had been scrapped.

"I just feel so bad that the seniors are treated this way," said Dickinson to applause.

The motion to rescind the funding passed easily, with a few voters in opposition, including Selectmen Robert "Captain Kangaroo" Cox, a strong proponent of the project, who quickly stood to shout his "No" vote.

Town Meeting also approved money to cover a $315,000 deficit for last winter's snow and ice removal, about $2.4 million in funding for Greater Lowell Technical High School and a $250,000 cut to the School Department's budget.

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Subject: CLASS OF 89 REUNION!!


Author:
BRYON
[Edit]
Date Posted: 12:47 11/02/09 Mon
Attention DHS Class of 1989!!! We need your RSVPs PRONTO!!! If you have not received your invitation please use contact email below.

Dracut High School Class of 1989’s 20th Reunion

Date: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Time: 7:00PM to 12:00AM
Location:
Character’s Bar & Grill
Wyndham Andover/Boston Hotel
129 Old River Road
Andover, MA

Tickets: $48 per person
(Includes: Two drink tickets, appetizers, prizes & entertainment)

Dress Code: Cocktail Attire

A room block is available under the “Dracut High School 20th Reunion”:
http://www.wyndham.com/groupeventsnew/bosam_dracuths/main.wnt


For any questions:
erinnem@hotmail.com
781-799-5613

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Subject: With apathetic Town Meeting turnouts, taxpayers get exactly what they deserve


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 13:36 11/01/09 Sun
(published in, Lowell Sun, 11-2-09)

Every voter counts for Dracut Town Meeting

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- Town Clerk Kathleen Graham is worried not enough voters will show up to tomorrow night's Town Meeting.

Graham said 250 voters must come to the 7:30 p.m. meeting at Dracut High School for there to be a quorum, or enough people to vote on town issues.

The number of voters need for a quorum is only a small population of the town's residents. It's less than 1.5 percent of the roughly 20,000 registered voters in Dracut.

But five years ago, not enough voters showed up to Town Meeting, and Graham said she had to postpone the forum three times for lack of a quorum.

"Every time we have to postpone it, it's like $2,000," said Graham, noting the election workers, janitors and police officers who have to be paid whether or not a quorum is reached.

Dracut typically has two Town Meetings per year. Graham said the June Town Meeting usually attracts more people because residents can vote on the budget and Dracut's finances, while the fall Town Meeting normally deals with bylaw changes and questions on zoning, which dictates the building laws in town.

"Sometimes there's a more controversial article which would bring out a neighborhood or a special interest group," said Graham. "This year, unfortunately, there's nothing controversial."

A question about whether to rescind the $2.68 million set aside to fund the controversial Louisburg Square project had been on the agenda, but the issue became moot a couple weeks ago after commissioners at the Dracut Housing Authority voted down the effort to buy the apartment complex at 1476 Mammoth Road for affordable housing for seniors.

On Monday, Town Meeting will also take up two financial housekeeping matters to approving budget cuts and funding.

Voters are being asked to transfer money to cover a $315,000 deficit for last winter's snow and ice removal, approve about $2.4 million in funding for Greater Lowell Technical High School and approve a cut to the School Department's budget by $250,000.

At June's Town Meeting, Town Manager Dennis Piendak and selectmen called for zero funding to Greater Lowell Technical High School after the regional school submitted a budget calling for an 8 percent increase from the town in educational funding and transportation costs.

Town Treasurer Ann Vandal said Greater Lowell Tech officials have since agreed not to charge the town at all for transportation costs and are now looking for about $2.4 million in funding from Dracut.

Vandal said the cuts at the School Department were expected at June's Town Meeting, but voters put off the question until the fall because town officials weren't sure how the state would cut educational funding at that time.

Graham is hoping enough voters will show up to approve those budget questions at tomorrow's Town Meeting, which is expected to be short.

Said Graham, "It shouldn't take too long. There's only eight articles."

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Subject: Wilmington Housing Authority executive director quits to take "a post in Dracut"


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 08:17 10/27/09 Tue
(Published in, Lowell Sun, 10-27-09. Although it's unclear by the context of this article exactly what "post in Dracut" that Ms. Georgopoulos will be working at -- or if it's even a public-sector position -- it appears that her best job experience thus far was running the Wilmington Housing Authority. It also wouldn't shock me if Mary Karabatsos pulled a Gary McCarthy-like stunt by hiring one of the applicants she beat out for the Dracut Executive Director as her assistant for an annual salary of just a couple thousand dollars less than what Karabatsos is grossing. Stranger things have happened.)

Selectmen, Housing Authority lock horns over board appointment

By Alexandra Mayer-Hohdahl
amayer-hohdahl@lowellsun.com

WILMINGTON -- The Housing Authority and Board of Selectmen found themselves at odds last night as they considered who should temporarily fill a vacant seat on the committee that oversees Wilmington's public-housing stock.

In the end, selectmen emerged victorious because of their superior numbers, appointing Christine Drive resident Stacie Murphy, 36, to the Housing Authority until the next town election.

The authority's three remaining members had backed Deming Way resident Jean Mazzocca, 79, for the position.

The opening came just as the authority prepares to launch a search for a new executive director.

Housing Authority Chairman Robert DiPasquale announced last night that Theresa Georgopoulos is resigning from the organization's helm. She had been promoted to the agency's top post in February 2006, after serving as its secretary.

In 2007, the Dracut resident was one of five finalists for the position of executive director at the Dracut Housing Authority, but was eventually passed over for Mary Karabatsos.

DiPasquale said last night that Georgopoulos will "take a post in Dracut" after leaving Wilmington. It was not immediately clear what that position is.

Her departure comes on the heels of Housing Authority member Matthew Cox's resignation in late September.

Cox cited a "new work schedule and travel requirements" as the basis for his decision. The then-21-year-old had been elected to the board in April 2007 for a five-year term in the seat that used to be held by his grandmother.

In seeking to replace Cox, Murphy said she has the "best interests, ... happiness and welfare" of residents at the Deming Way public-housing complex at heart.

The lifelong Wilmington resident has spent time at the facility as a volunteer at movie nights and other seasonal events that the Wilmington police union holds for Deming Way residents.

"I was very impressed with her zeal, her energy and her very strong commitment to what the board is about," Selectman Michael Champoux noted.

Chairman Michael Newhouse said he was also won over by Murphy "proactively" approaching the board with her candidacy.

But the Housing Authority's remaining members -- DiPasquale, John Goggin and Leona Bombard -- lobbied for Mazzocca, arguing that an actual Deming Way resident would be more beneficial to the board. (Bombard also lives at the public-housing complex.)

"I'm right in the heart of all the problems, joys and everything else we have down there," Mazzocca said. "I'm there 24/7."

"Ms. Murphy does enjoy a very good reputation in the community, but Ms. Mazzocca lives there," DiPasquale added. "As Tip O'Neill once said: 'All politics is local.'"

Although she may not have been successful in her bid last night, Mazzocca was encouraged by members of both boards to pursue the Housing Authority's vacant state-appointed position.

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Replies:
Subject: Jack Baldwin no longer at WCAP?


Author:
Big Jack Baldwin fan
[Edit]
Date Posted: 23:23 10/26/09 Mon
Somebody told me over this past weekend that WCAP fired morning talk show host Jack Baldwin for "personal reasons". If WCAP was the best rated radio station in the Lowell area for the past year or so, why would they want to mess with that successful chemistry of terminating their arguably best morning talk show host in Jack Baldwin?

If this is true, I'll be listening to either WRKO or WEEI during my morning commute from now on because quite honestly I don't believe WCAP will ever replace the journalistic integrity and professionalism of somebody like Mr. Baldwin.

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Replies:
Subject: pumpkin throwers


Author:
driver (pissed)
[Edit]
Date Posted: 22:03 10/31/09 Sat
Thanks losers who threw the pumpkin at my car on Nashua Rd on Halloween night & dented my car at about 9:30pm. Hope your parents read this. And I hope nobody got hurt!!!

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Subject: In the wake of Donna Breton's theft of nearly $13K, new rules sought for PTO funds


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 08:42 10/29/09 Thu
(published in, Lowell Sun, 10-29-09)

Dracut seeks new rules for PTO funds

In wake of embezzlement, schools want tight reins

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- In the wake of a PTO mom's embezzlement of nearly $13,000 from the Parker Avenue School's fundraising coffers, town officials want the volunteer parent organizations to run more like businesses, with an independent accountant double-checking the books.

The School Committee this week released a list of new guidelines for how schools and PTOs should handle money.

Officials recommend that withdrawals, cash collections and any checks cut from PTO accounts require the oversight and signature of at least two members of the executive board.

"It's a good idea for any organization, not just us," said Amy Berger, PTO president at the Greenmont Avenue Elementary School. "Any time you're dealing with schools and fundraising, you have to put safeguards in place to protect the children. Hopefully, some of these guidelines will help keep people accountable."

Purchases should be approved beforehand by the executive board of the PTO or the membership, and PTO treasurers must keep an accurate and up-to-date record of all bank statements, spending records, tax documents and any financial paperwork, according to the School Committee's proposed guidelines.

The guidelines also call for the school principal to receive monthly updated reports with all check and balance documentation, and allow any member of the PTO executive board to request to review the organization's account information at any time.

The new guidelines come in the wake of Donna Breton, the Parker Avenue School PTO treasurer, admitting to sufficient facts to stealing $12,946 from the Parker PTO account.

In a recent hearing in Lowell District Court, Breton, 42, of Dracut, a longtime volunteer at the school, admitted to sufficient facts to a charge of larceny over $250. The case was continued without a finding until Sept. 22, 2011. She would have had until then to repay the $12,946, but court records indicate she has already repaid it in full.

If she has no further brushes with the law, Breton's case will be dismissed at the end of her probation.

Police said Breton, who lives at 55 Harlem St., admitted to converting funds from the Parker Avenue PTO to cash, which she deposited into her personal bank account. She told police she embezzled the fundraising profits to make mortgage and utility payments, and to pay for a new roof on her house.

Deputy Police Chief David Chartrand said the police launched an investigation on March 20 after they were notified of financial discrepancies by members of the PTO. The money had been raised by the organization through fundraising events over the past few years.

The School Committee's proposed guidelines also make recommendations for any funds collected at school, including athletic fees, money collected at school dances and activities and bills students owe for lost books and other materials. In general, school officials recommend receipts for all cash payments, using number-sequence tickets for all ticketed events, and having at least two people sign the form on cash boxes stating the starting balance.

"I don't know how I would feel if I found out I had been deceived or my PTO had been deceived," said Berger, who said she submitted her PTO's current money handling guidelines to school officials this summer.

Breton declined to comment when reached at her home in Dracut last night.

Staff reporter Lisa Redmond contributed to this report.

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Replies:
Subject: Daigle responds to “Douche Bag” Warren Shaw’s recent Dispatch column


Author:
Roger L. Daigle via Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 23:51 10/29/09 Thu
Response to the Pied Piper’s recent Valley Dispatch column:

“Protecting future of our Farms – Preserving agricultural roots”

Knowing full well that our Pied Piper has never been an advocate of fairness, the above headline that he describes, in my opinion, are at the very least, misnomers!!!

Before I proceed with my dissertation I want it understood that I’m not against farmers retaining their land, but I also want it understood that today (and for quite sometime now) they have to be considered “special interests”.

They (the agricultural family) have their lobbyist in D.C., Boston and Dracut (newly formed Agricultural Committee) to protect their interests and to fight for special privileges.

They, the farm owners, a number of years ago, petitioned our legislators and got passed what is now called Massachusetts General Law 61A. This, like most laws, is a very complex law, in that, only a very experienced assessor can deduce its many ramifications.

First, it has to be farm land! Simple, right?? No! It can be farmed for produce, for hay, a tree farm, it can be front land or back land. It can be a dairy farm and, I’m sure, they’ve formed many other categories. Each, however, has its own assessed valuation. For example, a farm that grows produce is assessed in the area of $795 per acre; if it grows hay, it’s in the area of $177 per acre; an apple farm, $760; unproductive land, as low as $29 an acre. To qualify for any category, there must be a minimum of five acres.

Compare any of the above to any individual owning less than five acres being assessed at near $150,000 an acre at Fair Market Value. If your piece of land is less than an acre, say 10,000 square feet, you’re taxed at near $40,000.

Our Pied Piper mentions the Burgess family land (trustee, the last time I checked, was a Ms. Pauline Hand). This family, at last check, owned land on Arlington Street, Methuen Street, and Kelley Road, totaling 142.67 acres. Having lost their barn and where it was considered a dairy farm, their assessed valuation, I’m sure will drop from dairy to hay and even maybe non-productive at which rate their total acreage of 143 will be assessed at almost half the assessed valuation of the guy owning five acres, assessed at the current Fair Market Value.

Now we know that owners of land presently assessed under M.G.L. 61A, if they were to decide to sell their land, have to offer it to the Town, first!! (To my knowledge, this has happened twice in the last 50 years.) Today however, the difficulty arises where the buyer (usually a developer) makes the owner an offer, substantially over the appraisal value, which then, the town can’t buy it due to restrictions of the Community Preservation Act law. Before the CPA law was passed, the town couldn’t afford the price.

In this Town, the owners have circumvented the “first offer” option by getting their money from the State’s APR (Agricultural Preservation Restrictions) fund, with our local Politicians prostituting the original intent of the CPA law by joining the State in paying CPA (our tax $ moneys) funds, totaling thousands of dollars, to owners who continue to OWN their land. All we and the State get for our tax money is the development rights!!???

All those years that the land was under 61A, the owners saved thousands of dollars on their taxes, at the expense of real estate owners and still sell their land for sometimes better than its Fair Market Value. For example, this same family, several years ago, sold another tract of land to a developer, for, as I remember it, $1,250,000. The Town, because of the vagaries of 61A, ended up with $12,000.

Is this what our Pied Piper means when he says “protecting the future of our farms”??? Shouldn’t he say, “Protecting the future of our farmers”!!! I’m, sure he wouldn’t be in favor of something that would be more fair and equitable to those other poor saps who have no lobbyists or representatives protecting their interests.

Lets keep reelecting those who favor over-representing the few at the expense of, we the dummies, who seem to love being taken for a walk off the pier!!! I’m sure he’ll continue to do everything in his power to protect his interests on New Boston Road and Marsh Hill Road (where his knowledge of the system saved him several hundred thousand dollars)

The Town seems to be inundated with citizens (???) who don’t seem to have the capacity to understand the difference between right and wrong, or good and bad!!?? To that coward who posted on “BackTalk” in the Lowell Sun’s 10/22/09 edition, that any elderly housing shouldn’t be built across the street from a playground. Another advocate of 1476 Mammoth Road, I’m sure, who can’t reason for himself/herself and make their own analyses – another puppet.

God bless America (he gave us all a free will, hopefully to do right for all people, not just special interests).

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Subject: Alan k.investagation has expanded to Chelmsford and..


Author:
Elliot
[Edit]
Date Posted: 12:57 10/27/09 Tue
.... surrounding towns. Dracut officials will be "invited to appear before grand jury!!! Same in other towns this cancer of corruption keeps spreading.

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Replies:
Subject: Englesby Early Dismissal this week?


Author:
Dracut Rez
[Edit]
Date Posted: 18:44 10/23/09 Fri
Anyone else bothered by the fact that we were not notified of the early dismissal at Englesby until the day before it happened? First I heard of it was a phone call the night before at around 7pm. I work... I needed to call in sick the next day in order to be here for my child. Note to school committee --- notes home are helpful, try it!

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Replies:
Subject: Daigle responds to three Lussier ass-kissers: Shawn Ashe, Tom Salem, Brian Flaherty


Author:
Roger L. Daigle via Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 14:15 10/28/09 Wed
(The following commentary is in response to postings that were made on both Shawn Ashe’s blog, and Brian Flaherty’s blog regarding a recent Lowell Sun Column entry painting millionaire developer Gerry Lussier as the “bad guy” in the current Louisburg Square controversy. The response to Housing commissioner Tom Salem was regarding his personal quote in another Sun Column item.)

Response to Shawn’s posting of 10/25/09:

I can’t believe your logic!! Are you inferring that if a developer submits a self serving proposal that will not benefit the town and at a cost to taxpayers, he should get a free pass??? That philosophy of ‘go along to get along’ will not fly anymore and those that advocate and support these antics have cost us taxpayers dearly, over the years.

It’s not the developers, per se, but those we elect to represent us who don’t have the guts to do what is right for the people they are elected to represent. You know Shawn, those pols who are in it for what they can get - “I’ve earned it, I deserve it”.

The Kazanjian deal - again I don’t fault the developer, I fault those that sell the aroma rather than the taste. Buying 17 - 16 - 15 and only able to use 6 - 7 acres is not a good deal. I sincerely wonder if these same people would consider this if they had to use their own personal money???

The 94 Corp. - well this is another different aroma. If you’re not willing to consider the history, like so many, you’re doomed to see it repeated. WHO & HOW?? Who, are the players; how, was it conceived and how transparent was the presentation????

You say you find it interesting that the Dracut Housing Authority members inferred that the people do not support senior housing. How you got that I’ll never know!! Who did all the work?? To me it’s not an inference, it’s a fact!! The people will no longer support ‘anything’ they find is subsequently cloaked in secrecy, misinformation and/or the intentional hiding of very pertinent information. They did what was right, not what was easy!!

If this, as you infer, was a ready made, ready to go project, then why, pray tell, did it take two years for those in their infinite wisdom, to bring it up??? Deception does take time!!!

To Housing commissioner Tom Salem: “I don’t really understand what happened here”, sorry Tom but I give you more credit than that!!

To that other blogger - “Great minds think alike” - The first and worst of all frauds is to cheat one’s self!!! You’re a teacher but I wonder if you have the capacity to learn. You can make anything sound good if all you’re interested in is the sound!!! Deception always brings domination!! We, as a people, can only be one of three things, a warrior, a deserter, or a P.O.W.

Do or do not, there is no try (Yoda).

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Subject: Sore losers Cox & DiRocco piss, bitch, & moan over Louisburg Square decision


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 11:04 10/21/09 Wed
(Published in, Lowell Sun, Page 1, 10-21-09. Nicknames inserted for added emphasis.)

Dracut selectmen: Housing denial was political revenge

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- Did the elderly lose out on affordable housing because of political payback?

Selectmen Joe “Narcissus” DiRocco and Robert “Captain Kangaroo” Cox believe Housing Authority officials sabotaged the Louisburg Square project to exact political revenge.

"These guys should be ashamed of themselves," Captain Kangaroo said. "It's political, and it's a real shame because the seniors have been slighted. There are more than 200 seniors on the waiting list" for affordable housing.

DiRocco and Cox helped broker the deal for Dracut to buy 1476 Mammoth Road from Draco Homes for $2.65 million in Community Preservation Fund money and turn the building into affordable housing for the town's elderly.

As part of the deal, the state Department of Housing and Community Development would have footed the bill for $2.9 million in renovations for the 38-unit Louisburg Square complex.

After four years of planning, the Dracut Housing Authority Commission, the agency that would have managed the property, called off those plans in a 3-2 vote Monday night.

The two selectmen said they believe Housing Authority commissioners Ken Cunha and Ken Martin voted against the project to punish their political adversaries.

"Everybody was on board until last May," DiRocco said of the project. "That's when Ken Cunha got elected. Since that time, this thing has been going south."

According to Cox, the bad blood stems from the selectmen's decision not to appoint Martin to the School Committee when a seat became vacant earlier this year. Captain Kangaroo added that he didn't support Cunha when he ran for a seat on the Dracut Housing Authority Commission earlier this year after Cunha lost his bid to win re-election to selectmen, a run that Narcissus said he also didn't throw his political support behind.

Reached yesterday, Cunha refused to comment on the accusations, but Martin called the charges "ludicrous."

"This was not a political decision," said Martin, who is also the executive director of the Methuen and Ayer housing authorities. "I work for the Housing Authority to help people. I have no other motives. I'm protecting the Housing Authority and the taxpayer. It's not a good deal."

Martin said he was in favor of the project until about six months ago, when he found out the Housing Authority would have to renovate the bathrooms and kitchens over time and not all at once. Martin wanted all the apartments fitted with senior-friendly walk-in showers immediately.

But Selectman James “Louisburg Square owner Gerry Lussier just happens to be my landlord” O'Loughlin scoffed at Martin's reasoning.

"We're turning down 38 additional units and $2.9 million from the state because they don't have walk-in showers? I just don't get it," O'Loughlin said. "If that was such a big concern for him, you would think that there would be an ongoing program in Dracut today to convert showers."

The Housing Authority manages more than 200 units in town, and none of those homes has a walk-in shower, according to Mary “Incompetent & Unqualified” Karabatsos, executive director of the Dracut Housing Authority.

Commissioner “Stone Face” Thomas Salem, who supported the Louisburg Square project, said that before Cunha was elected to the Housing Authority Commission last spring, selectmen and commissioners all agreed the plan was a good one. But lately, the proposal to bring elderly affordable housing to 1476 Mammoth Road has created tension among commissioners, Salem said.

"The minute he came on, he was completely negative about it," Stone Face said of Cunha. "When he was elected, he was against it, and he and I have been against each other over this. It was not a thing where there was going to be any loss of money. I just don't get it."

Cunha refused to speak to The Sun about his Louisburg Square vote, referring to his comments during the commission's meeting Monday.

Cunha has said he believes the project is a bad deal and he's unhappy because he thinks the building is worth more than the estimated $3.5 million after the renovations.

Commissioner George “Three Sheets to the Wind” Nangle declined to wade into the political fray.

"I don't want to get in the middle of that," said Nangle, who voted in favor of buying the elderly complex. "I'm just very disappointed in the vote. I hope it wasn't political."

Commissioner Jerry Surprenant also voted against the project Monday night.

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Subject: The Sun now claims that multi-millionaire developer pays most of his property taxes to N.H.


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 14:21 10/25/09 Sun
(Published in, Lowell Sun, The Column, 10-25-09. Contrary to this Sun article, Louisburg Square, according to its 50-year Deed Covenant, is already an affordable housing complex for the elderly till about the year 2040. Too bad the Lowell Sun can’t hire a Reporter capable of getting his/her facts straight.)

There’s been a lot of political mudslinging in the wake of Dracut Housing Authority Commission’s decision to scrap plans for Dracut to buy a building at 1476 Mammoth Road known as Louisburg Square. The now-defunct plan was to turn the 38 unit apartment complex into affordable housing for the elderly.

The Column’s phones have been ringing off the hook from people on both sides of the issue, wanting to drop dimes on their opponents.

The Column looked into one tipster’s complaints that local developer Gerald Lussier, president of Draco Homes that owns 1476 Mammoth Road, doesn’t pay his fair share of property taxes.

Lussier paid $600 in property taxes on his four-bedroom Surrey Lane home during the first quarter of this year. That’s because two-thirds of his home is actually in Pelham N.H., according to Dracut assessors. Lussier paid $3167 to Pelham in property taxes for the first half of 2009, according to Pelham officials.

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Subject: Close political ally of convicted felon Tully says he won’t run for reelection next year


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 14:50 10/25/09 Sun
(Published in, Lowell Sun, The Column, 10-25-09. Nickname inserted for emphasis. Among Tom Salem’s “claims to fame” was serving as a very close political confidant to convicted felon B. Joseph Tully. “Stone Face” Salem was also extremely instrumental on the Dracut Housing Authority as appointing both Tully’s son, Joe Tully Jr., and then subsequently, Mary Karabatsos to the Authority’s Executive Director position. The appointments of both the younger Tully and Ms. Karabatsos swirled with controversy as neither one was hired as being qualified or competent enough to handle that respective position. For what it’s worth, I hope you have yourself a happy 83rd birthday in advance Tommy. I also hope you really enjoy your “Golden Years” (at least what’s left of them) after you leave the Housing Authority in May.)

DRACUT HOUSING Authority commissioner “Stone Face” Thomas Salem said he’s disappointed he wasn’t able to see the affordable-housing project to completion during his final term in office.

“This was my last year anyway, so I’ll be glad to get out.” said “Stone Face” Salem, who turns 83 on Nov 12 and said he is not running for re-election this spring.

“We have some good times and we’ve done some good things, so I don’t really understand what happened here.”

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Subject: Dracut Town Manager and his Dracut TownAttorny are going......


Author:
"lov'me brada Cox
[Edit]
Date Posted: 11:45 10/23/09 Fri
...door to door in Dracut,dressed as "BLOOD SUCKING DRACUT TAX STEALING VAMPIRES!!! The recieved their out fits from Mr.Lussier at Draco Homes on Broadway Rd.in Dracut.

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Subject: Great Message - Thank you from all us Survivors


Author:
Resident
[Edit]
Date Posted: 10:35 10/23/09 Fri
Breast Cancer Awareness to be recognized at football meeting
The Lowell Sun
Updated: 10/23/2009 06:37:14 AM EDT


DRACUT -- Chelmsford and Dracut High football players, coaches, cheerleaders and bands will be recognizing "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" at tonight's Merrimack Valley Conference game between the schools at Dracut High School.

Dracut and Chelmsford football players will be wearing breast cancer ribbon decals on the back of their helmets.

Coaches, cheerleaders and band members will also wear breast cancer ribbons.

In addition, breast cancer bracelets will be available at the main entrance for the general public.

All ribbons and bracelets will be available for a $2 donation.

All receipts for this event will be forwarded to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Fund.

Kickoff time for the game is 7 p.m.

Dracut Pop Warner is also supporting Breast Cancer Awareness as well as the Dracut Food Pantry.

Games are Saturday night and Sunday. Fans are asked to wear pink and bring a canned good.

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Subject: matt grimard's court trial status


Author:
curious
[Edit]
Date Posted: 22:34 10/22/09 Thu
according to the last lowell sun report on this court suit, the trial was supposed to take place or at least begin this past Tuesday. does anybody know what happened? or is it rescheduled again?

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Subject: John Zimini assures everybody he’s NOT running for an elected State seat


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 21:18 10/11/09 Sun
(published in, Lowell Sun, The Column, 10-11-09)

Brian Dennehy

Selectman John Zimini

DRACUT SELECTMAN John Zimini said there is a very good reason he decided to throw a fundraiser even though he is not up for re-election until 2011: It was hosted by Lt. Gov. Tim Murray.

But the two-term selectman said he is not targeting state Sen. Sue Tucker, state Rep. Colleen Garry, or any other higher position for that matter. Garry, in fact, co-sponsored the fete.

“I’m happy being a selectman,” Zimini said, explaining that the fundraiser, held at the ... and attended by about 150 people, was just a matter of timing. “(Murray) and I have become pretty friendly over the years and he asked a while ago if there was anything he could do to repay me for my help in his campaigns. I figured we’d try this and see how it goes.”

Zimini, whose term ends in 2011, said the fundraiser was a risky move. A small turnout would lead to speculation that he is no longer relevant and has no support. In Zimini’s case, the sizable crowd was an encouragement.

“I was very pleased with the outcome,” Zimini said. “It could have easily gone either way. That’s the chance you take.”

It also demonstrates that Zimini has powerful friends in high places.

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Subject: Goodluck


Author:
Parent
[Edit]
Date Posted: 14:48 10/16/09 Fri
Good Luck D & B Teams competing tomorrow. You look great and are working so hard. You will do great!

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Subject: Housing commissioners join FinCom to wash their hands from Louisburg Sq. proposal


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 07:55 10/20/09 Tue
(Published in, Lowell Sun, 10-20-09. Nicknames inserted for emphasis.)

Dracut panel defeats elderly housing plan

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- After four years of planning, the Dracut Housing Authority Commission called off plans to buy an affordable-housing complex for the elderly.

The commission voted 3-2 to kill the plan to purchase the 38-unit complex at 1476 Mammoth Road. The contentious project, known as Louisburg Square, has pitted the Board of Selectmen against the Dracut Housing Authority Commission with some selectmen stopping just short of accusing several commissioners of sabotaging the plan.

"In my opinion, it's a terrible deal," Commissioner Ken Cunha said before voting against the proposal last night.

The town was poised to buy the apartment complex from Draco Homes for $2.65 million in Community Preservation Fund money. Dracut would then have leased the property to the Housing Authority. The state Department of Housing and Community Development would have footed the bill for $2.9 million in renovations as part of the deal.

But Cunha said he wasn't happy with those figures. He argued that the property should be worth more than the estimated $3.5 million after the renovations.

Commission Chairman Ken Martin, who voted against the project out of concern that not all the apartments would be fitted with senior-friendly walk-in showers, said the plan is all Dracut residents have been talking about lately.

"Not one of the those people who approached me said, 'This is a good idea. You should go for it,'" Martin said.

Proponents of the plan -- including commissioners George "Three Sheets to the Wind" Nangle and "Stone Face" Thomas Salem -- argued that Dracut may never get another offer for $2.9 million in state funding for an affordable-housing project again.

They also point out the town hasn't added any new affordable housing for the elderly in more than 20 years and has a long list of seniors waiting for affordable housing.

"My mother died waiting to get on that list," Nangle said.

Cunha brushed off those concerns and said the Housing Authority should go back to the drawing board and build 15 new affordable units for the elderly on a property on Lakeview Avenue instead.

"There is land out there for senior housing," Cunha said.

The town gifted the Dracut Housing Authority with the piece of property just down the street from the site of the future sports park at Canney Farm, and the commission must build affordable housing on the land by 2013 or give the property back to the town, according to Mary "Mary, Mary Quite Contrary" Karabatsos, executive director of the Dracut Housing Authority.

But "Stone Face" Salem said he thinks the town passed up a good deal by shooting down the Louisburg Square project.

"I wish someone could show me a piece of property where we can put in 38 people and the state is going to give us $2.9 million," he said.

Town Meeting is still scheduled to vote on whether to buy the property at 1476 Mammoth Road on Nov. 2. The Housing Authority Commission also voted 3-2 in favor of not signing an agreement with the town to manage the building should Town Meeting vote to buy the property.

"The Dracut Housing Authority is not interested in running this building," Cunha said.

Commissioner Jerry Surprenant also voted against the Louisburg Square project.

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Subject: Warrant set for Fall Town Meeting, DHS Auditorium, 11-2-09, 7:30 p.m.


Author:
Nostradamus
[Edit]
Date Posted: 20:52 10/18/09 Sun
The annual Fall Town Meeting is set for Monday, 11-2-09, in the Dracut High School Auditorium beginning at 7:30 p.m.

There will be eight (8) warrant articles on slate for this event, which is traditionally geared towards non-fiscal type agenda items.

The “Biggie”, of course, will be for the purchase of an existing elderly public housing facility known as, Louisburg Square that’s located at 1476 Mammoth Road, a.k.a. Article 6 on this year's Town Warrant. This property is riddled with numerous code violations (surprise, surprise), along with a 50-year “Deed Covenant”, which was never previously disclosed before by our ever-trustworthy public town officials (gee, I wonder why?).

This “Deed Covenant” is scheduled to expire around the year 2040, and contractually obligates owner and multi-millionaire developer Gerry Lussier to financially maintain Louisburg Square as a government-subsidized elderly housing facility for the entire duration of this stipulation.

Translation: Mr. Lussier wants to sucker the Dracut taxpayers to bail him out from another bad financial investment via the Community Preservation Act -- YET AGAIN (remember the 40 unbuildable acres on Marsh Hill Road that Mr. Lussier owned for 30-plus years, and then sold to the Town for 10 times its assessed value back in '02?)!

To read through the entire verbatim Town Warrant, please click on the following link:

’09 Fall Town Meeting Warrant

Please remember that you must be physically present at the Town Meeting in order to voice your opinions or vote on any of these warrant articles.

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Subject: IT'S ALL OVER NOW -- Walgreens REJECTED by Planning Board


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 07:43 10/15/09 Thu
(published in, Lowell Sun, 10-15-09)

Walgreens shot down in Dracut

Majority of Planning Board says project too big for site

By Ed Burns
Sun Correspondent

DRACUT -- A proposal to bring a Walgreens pharmacy to a busy part of town was shot down last night by the Planning Board in a 3-2 vote.

Board member Brian Bond said the new store would not satisfy any of the requirements for granting the special building permit required by the project.

"Is it in harmony with the intent of the bylaw?" Bond asked. "I don't believe it was ever the intent of the bylaw to put such a large development into such a crowded area."

The proposal called for Walgreens to take five lots to build a store next to Coburn Avenue, near the intersection of Lakeview Avenue and Mammoth Road. The larger area is zoned for commercial use, but the immediate neighbors of the development would all have been residential homes.

Despite the fact that current zoning bylaws could have allowed it, some board members argued that the impact to the neighborhood would be too great.

"The people I consider most are the people who are going to wake up each morning and see it," said board member Robert Donnelly. "I don't like it. I just think it's wrong."

Donnelly added that he thought the store, the lot for which would take up nearly 10 times the square footage of an average lot in that area, was too big and would be open too many hours each day.

Not everyone was against the project. Chairman Phil Thibault and member George Nangle voted in favor.

Thibault said he could see no legitimate reason to deny the special permit under current zoning bylaws. The area is zoned for commercial use, and the town's master plan calls for lots in a commercial area to be one acre or more. That means the residential homes, the lots of which are all under one acre, are the ones not complying with zoning, Thibault said.

"Is a project of this size appropriate to this area? Our zoning bylaw says it is," he said.

In order for the board to grant the special building permit, four of the five members would have had to vote in favor of the project, and not enough shared Thibault's opinion.

Most argued that the project was too big and would draw too much traffic to the area, hurting the surrounding neighborhood.

"It's a huge building that's going to be dropped into a tight neighborhood," Bond said. "The site is unable to provide that level of service."

When Thibault announced that the proposal had been defeated, the crowd of about 40 residents applauded. Most said afterward that the store would have had too great an impact on town streets.

"It's hard to say you're going to stop progress, unless you have a good reason -- and the reason is traffic," one resident said. "It affects the whole neighborhood."

Also voting against was member Philip Greene.

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Subject: New rules: Town/State public volunteers must pass ethics quiz


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 07:28 10/18/09 Sun
(published in, Lowell Sun, 10-18-09)

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

BOSTON -- State officials will soon require teen lifeguards, volunteer basketball coaches and the retirees who volunteer at the local library to take an online test to prove they know state ethics laws.

The regulations, which Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law in July, are meant to remind politicians and other political power brokers that bribery, receiving gifts worth more than $50, nepotism, falsifying pay documents and any misuse of a government position is against the law.

But the state's new ethics laws also will apply to volunteer coaches and teachers aides and "anyone performing services for a city or town," including elected officials, appointed board members, unpaid consultants and volunteers.

Wilmington Selectmen Chairman Michael Newhouse said the new laws' inclusion of volunteers "monumentally absurd" and questioned why state officials are slapping cities and towns with the unfunded mandate. Newhouse estimates that Wilmington uses hundreds of volunteers, who could be dissuaded from donating their time when faced with the new regulations.

"For a guy like me who decides to take an elected position, it's no big deal," Newhouse said. "But how the heck does a lifeguard at Silver Lake need to go through training to guard against influence peddling. If some 16-year-old kid at the Recreation Department is getting paid to referee a game for 8-year-olds, we have to worry about him taking bribes? That's asinine."

The new rules have limits and won't affect parents who volunteer to chaperone school trips or dances, said David Giannotti, public education and communications division chief for the State Ethics Commission.

City and town clerks have until Dec. 28 to give a copy of the state's conflict-of-interest law to all government workers and volunteers, who must sign a written acknowledgment for receiving the information packet, Giannotti said. Anyone who works with local government must also take a 25-question online test on the State Ethics Commission's Web site by April 2.

Sal Lupoli, a volunteer football coach at Chelmsford High School, said ethics training is a good idea, even for volunteers.

"Doctors have to take a Hippocratic Oath. Lawyers work to uphold the bar. I think coaches should understand," said Lupoli. "I think it's a great thing. It's important when you're around children to uphold ethics."

Meanwhile, local officials are balking at the burden of the added paperwork. Cities and towns must keep the certificates for completion of the ethics training for at least six years and in Dracut alone that could mean paperwork for at least 2,000 workers and volunteers, according to Dracut Town Clerk Kathleen Graham, who says the town has run out of file cabinet space.

Said Graham, "It's something that has to be done and I think the clerks understand that, but it adds more work and more paperwork that has to be generated and stored."

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Subject: FinCom chairman urges public vote to determine fate of Louisburg Square proposal


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 07:42 10/05/09 Mon
(published in, Lowell Sun, Letter to the Editor, 10-5-09)

Dracut residents should be given chance to vote on Louisburg Square project

There has been much discussion in the town of Dracut during the past few months on the issue of the Louisburg Square project. Comments made by some elected officials seem to have confused and even belittled the legitimate questions that are being asked.

On Aug. 24, the Finance Committee held a meeting to discuss the recently uncovered information and to ask the questions that should be asked. The committee then met again on Sept. 14, seeking answers to these questions. At that meeting, the committee unanimously voted to sponsor an article at the upcoming Town Meeting to rescind the authorization to fund the Louisburg Square project.

As most know now, this property has a deed restriction. This restriction limits the use of the property for only elderly housing for 50 years. In 2006, when this project was presented to the Finance Committee for approval and to the taxpayers of Dracut at the June Town Meeting, the deed restriction was not discussed or even revealed.

The will of four-fifths of the Board of Selectmen is to have the new appraisal include close to $3 million in improvements to the property. That's right, the project's buyer is paying for the improvements and these improvements will be included in the appraisal to increase the value of the property. In 2006, when this project was presented to the Finance Committee for approval and to the taxpayers of Dracut at the June Town Meeting it was stated that the appraisal was an as-is market-value appraisal.

At the joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Housing Authority and Finance Committee on Sept. 16 it was revealed that in order to pay for the necessary improvements there would be a need for possibly 10 market-rate apartments to be involved. In 2006, when this project was presented to the Finance Committee for approval and to the taxpayers of Dracut at the June Town Meeting it was stated that this project would provide 38 units of low-income housing.

Finally, at the joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Housing Authority and Finance Committee on Sept. 16 it was revealed that if the Housing Authority cannot make their $70,000 annual payments because of a lack of revenue, the town would have to make the payments through either the general fund (which the town manager stated he was against) or through the community preservation account.

In 2006, when this project was presented to the Finance Committee for approval and to the taxpayers of Dracut at the June Town Meeting, it was stated that the town would only be responsible for the one payment to purchase the property and that all other costs would be the responsibility of the Housing Authority.

I believe that this project is a different project than what was presented in 2006. As chairman of the Finance Committee, I believe that the taxpayers of Dracut deserve the right to vote on this project with all the information on the table. This is why I support placing the article at the upcoming Town Meeting to rescind the authorization to fund the Louisburg Square project.

If the voters don't want this project as it is currently formed, they can vote in favor of the article and if they still want this project then they can vote against the article. Either way, this warrant article will give them the opportunity to voice their collective opinion through their vote.

I am not sure how anyone can be against that.

GARY M. MARSELLA
Chairman
Dracut Finance Committee

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Subject: Wrestler, personality Captain Lou Albano dies at 76


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 09:01 10/16/09 Fri
(posted on, CNN.com)

Lou Albano

Captain Lou Albano

(CNN) -- Legendary wrestling figure Captain Lou Albano, perhaps best known for his association with pop singer Cyndi Lauper, died Wednesday, according to World Wrestling Entertainment.

Captain Lou Albano reached a new level of fame in the '80s with his association with Cyndi Lauper.

Albano, 76, was "one of the company's most popular and charismatic legends," the company said in a statement.

The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

"Albano began his storied career with Vincent J. McMahon in the 1960s as one half of 'The Sicilians' tag team with his partner Tony Altimore," the WWE said. "He will be greatly missed by the WWE and his fans."

Albano, who was with the WWE from 1983 to 1996, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996.

He started as a tag team wrestler in the 1950s but became a successful manager of champion wrestlers in the 1970s, according to a biography on the WWE Web site.

Albano was recognizable by his penchant for unbuttoned Hawaiian shirts and a trademark beard, which was usually bound by a rubber band.

His persona earned him the distinction of "one of the most hated men" in wrestling for 15 years, the WWE biography said.

Albano's image evolved in the 1980s, when he teamed with Lauper on several music videos, such as "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," and wrestling appearances.

As his celebrity status grew, Albano landed acting jobs, including a role on several episodes of the "Miami Vice" TV series, the biography said.

Albano became a cartoon in 1989, when he was the voice of Mario "Jumpman" Mario for 17 episodes of "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!" according to the Internet Movie Database.

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Subject: Recent appraisal: Louisburg Square's selling price is $20K less than its actual worth


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 07:20 10/14/09 Wed
(published in Lowell Sun, 10-14-09)

Showing value in Dracut land deal

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- Dracut officials would be buying an affordable-housing complex for the elderly at $20,000 less than the property is actually worth, according to a recently released appraisal for 1476 Mammoth Road.

The contentious project, known as Louisburg Square, has pitted the Board of Selectmen against the Dracut Housing Authority Commission with accusations that some commissioners are trying to halt the sale by arguing the town may not be getting a good deal on the property and fears over costly renovations.

The project calls for the town to purchase the building at 1476 Mammoth Road from Draco Homes for $2.65 million in Community Preservation Fund money and create 38 affordable housing units for the elderly. The property is worth more than the asking price and would fetch $2.67 million on the open market, according to a new appraisal commissioned by the town.

The town has until Dec. 31 to buy the property, according to a deadline on the purchase-and-sale agreement.

"I'm going to give everyone the benefit of the doubt that no one is trying to drag their feet on this and delay it," said Selectman James O'Loughlin at the board's meeting last night.

O'Loughlin called for the new appraisal report to be forwarded to the Housing Authority.

During discussions about the project last month, Selectman John Zimini, the only selectman who has opposed the project, wanted reassurance that the town was getting a good deal for the property.

Selectman Robert Cox said the new appraisal puts those concerns to rest.

"That's some of the best news I've heard in a long time and the seniors should be very happy we've overcome a hurdle," said Cox.

The state Department of Housing and Community Development awarded the town $2.9 million for renovations at 1476 Mammoth Road and the most recent appraisal estimates that the property would be worth $3.5 million after those renovations. According to the terms of the project, the Housing Authority would be responsible to pay the town $70,000 for the property for the next 20 years. Last month, town officials said the $70,000 lease fee is "flexible" and the town would cover the fee if the Housing Authority could not come up with the funds in a particular year.

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  • HUH!!! -- JJ, 20:52 10/15/09 Thu
Subject: Is Matt Sheehan exploiting Mullin’s secretary for his own personal use?


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 21:22 10/11/09 Sun
(published in, Lowell Sun, The Column, 10-11-09)

DRACUT SCHOOL Committee Chairman Matthew Sheehan seems to have his own answering service.

A reporter left a message on Sheehan’s phone last week. Superintendent W. Spencer Mullin’s secretary called the reporter and explained that Sheehan would not be available to return the call.

The same thing happened about five days later. A message was left on Sheehan’s phone, but it was the superintendent’s secretary who called back, this time saying that Sheehan was on vacation and would be unavailable for a week.

Strange? We think so. Mullin’s secretary said Sheehan had asked her to pass the message along. Couldn’t he have done that himself?

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Subject: One way or another, Walgreens fate should be decided tomorrow (Wed.) nite @ 7


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 09:08 10/13/09 Tue
(published in, Lowell Sun, 10-13-09)

Dracut board to talk Walgreens proposal

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- Will they or won't they? Tomorrow night, residents may finally learn whether Walgreens is coming to Dracut.

After five months of public hearings and meetings, the Planning Board is set to discuss the national pharmacy chain's bid to set up a shop at the intersection of Mammoth Road and Lakeview Avenue. The board is not allowing public comment this time, but board members could vote on the proposal.

According to town bylaws, four out of the five Planning Board members would need to approve a special building permit for Walgreens to begin building, town officials said.

The chairman of the Planning Board said he hasn't made up his mind yet on whether to let Walgreens move into Dracut.

"I'm waiting to hear what the other board members have to say before I decide," said Phil Thibault.

Thibault said proponents and protesters have both made compelling arguments about the project.

Walgreens wants to demolish five houses to build a store next to Coburn Avenue. Town bylaws state the land can legally be used for commercial businesses, but area homeowners argue the new store would bring too much traffic through their neighborhood and decrease their quality of life. Representatives at Walgreens have offered to install a traffic light at the intersection and widen the road as concessions to the town and area residents.

Brian Bond, vice chairman of the Planning Board, said up to 100 people -- the majority of them against the project -- have shown up at seven public hearings held about the pharmacy proposal since May.

According to town bylaws Walgreens can legally build a pharmacy under a special permit because the store is larger than 10,000 square feet, said Bond. The Planning Board has to approve the project unless the plan isn't "in harmony" with the neighborhood and intent of the town bylaws, detrimental to the neighborhood, not appropriate for the neighborhood or doesn't comply with all the town's zoning bylaws, which govern what can and cannot be built.

Bond is keeping mum on his thoughts about the Walgreens project, but offered a preview of what Planning Board members could discuss at Wednesday's meeting.

"The area is zoned for business," said Bond. "The question is, is that the right business for that location?"

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. tomorrow at Harmony Hall, 1660 Lakeview Ave.

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Subject: 1st evaluation on Superintendent Mullin: Neatly groomed but sucks at communicating with people


Author:
Duplicate Dawg
[Edit]
Date Posted: 15:48 10/11/09 Sun
(published in, Lowell Sun, 10-11-09)

Spencer Mullin

School Superintendent Spencer Mullin

Dracut superintendent earns mixed first-year grades

By Erin Smith
esmith@lowellsun.com

DRACUT -- Superintendent of Schools W. Spencer Mullin's first report card from the School Committee is a mixed bag, with good marks on understanding of school programs and commitment to students, but lower grades on his communication skills.

Each School Committee member rates the superintendent's performance annually on a scale from 1 to 9 in categories ranging from educational leadership and business and finance to his relationships with the committee and the community. The superintendent's final marks are the averages of the grades given by each committee member.

Only two of the five current committee members were on the board one year ago when Mullin was hired.

While Mullin received a 9 for keeping active membership in professional organizations and being well groomed, he received scores of 4 for keeping the School Committee informed, encouraging open communication between staff, the committee and students, and developing "friendly and cooperative relationships with news media."

School Committee member Ron Mercier said he has heard from some parents who were satisfied that Mullin returned their calls, but other parents have complained about the responsiveness of the superintendent.

"For the most part, I've always been able to reach him. There have been a couple times that I called down and then had to wait a few days for a call back," said Mercier. "But everybody deserves a call back, especially when your job is paid by the taxpayers."

Mercier said he was willing to give the superintendent a little slack because it was tough budget year and Mullin was adapting to his new position.

"Now that a year has passed, there will be no excuses," said Mercier.

In a phone interview, Mullin said his first year as superintendent was a learning experience, but he feels he met the goals he set for the school system last year, including working to increase test scores, adding an alternative program at the high school for at-risk students and bringing new technology into the classroom.

Mullin said he added 55 new computers at the high school and purchased LED projectors and instituted training for teachers to file electronic report cards.

"I'm proud of what we've done and I think we've always made decisions on the side of the student," said Mullin.

Mullin said he focused his attention on running the school district, which sometimes came at the expense of communicating with school officials and parents.

"I think when I look back at the year, it was a year that even a seasoned superintendent would have found challenging," said Mullin, citing swine flu and budgeting issues. "I think sometimes when you're in a crisis, you have to prioritize."

But Mullin also said parents shouldn't be so eager to call him at the first sign of a problem.

"My personal belief is a problem should be settled by the appropriate person at the lowest level," said Mullin. Mullin said teachers and principals should be given the opportunity to solve a parent's concern before the superintendent gets involved.

School Committee member Mike Miles said Mullin's strengths are working with children to increase school performance. He said he was encouraged after Mullin promised the committee he would work on his communication skills.

"He just wasn't communicating. I don't think he was doing it maliciously or purposely. I think he just thought he would get to it when he got to it," said Miles. "I don't know whether that's a good or bad thing. I'm not in his shoes."

School Committee member Mike McNamara said he expects to see some improvement in the superintendent's communication skills in the coming year.

"I think any first-year superintendent is going to have some areas that need improvement," said McNamara. "The first year is always the toughest."

Committee Chairman Matthew Sheehan and member Bonnie Elie could not be reached for comment.

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Subject: Just got an email from Brian Bond


Author:
Townie
[Edit]
Date Posted: 21:36 10/03/09 Sat
Hello Everyone -
I wanted to extend an invitation to all of you to the Canney Farm Ground Breaking Ceremony October 13th at 5:30 PM at Canney Farm.
As you know, this is a great victory for our community. Though this victory didn’t come easy, we persevered and were able to gather enough support to turn the Farm into recreation space. What an accomplishment!!
A quick recap: Our first task was to have Town Meeting voters approve the use of CPC money for recreational use. With that approval the undertaking to developing Canney Farm for recreational purposes had begun. Negotiations began and a concept plan was formed. The project received the support of town boards and was approved at Town Meeting. The project suffered a setback when word came that the Town cannot pay more than the appraised value for the purchase of the land. To meet the requirements of CPC law, we added a second parcel of land and once again we had the support at Town Meeting for the purchase. During committee meetings and at public meetings we advocated for lighting of the fields and walkways. Then once again Town Meeting overwhelmingly supported the funding for the development. To refresh your memory, the new space will include 3 basketball courts, 1 tennis court, 1 baseball field, 1 multi propose field for soccer, football and lacrosse, a great tot lot, a storage / utility building , walking paths and lighting everywhere!!
I would like to thank all of you for fighting the good fight, for all of your hard work and your support throughout the process.
I hope you can join us on October 13th at 5:30 pm at Canney Farm as we begin the next phase of this exiting community investment.

Brian J Bond

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Subject: WALGREENS


Author:
MIKE
[Edit]
Date Posted: 16:47 09/22/09 Tue
CANT WAIT

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Subject: Congratulations & Goodluck


Author:
From a fan of DPW
[Edit]
Date Posted: 12:12 10/06/09 Tue
Congratulations to the A and C Cheer Teams for winning 1st place at the pre-qualifier on Saturday October 3rd!! Great Job!

Good luck to the B & D cheer teams on Saturday the 17th. You girls can do it too!

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