Dracut Forum

Tonite’s meeting of the School Committee finalized and signed a contract to bring on Elaine Espindle as Interim Superintendent starting Mar 4th extending through the end of June. The contract allows for a reasonable daily pay scale, with a maximum amount that she can make being about 30,000, and the town not responsible for benefits, time off, or taxes.

There was also a considerable discussion on the transportation deficit in next year’s budget that will require either reducing the bussing by 2 busses or increasing bus fees (or some combination of these).

Dr McNamara made the point that the current deficit for this year has still not been resolved.

Another discussion regarding the Parker Elementary School seemed to settle on keeping the school open for now. Most of this was due to a prediction by Linda Trouville that about 300 new homes were currently planned for construction in the near future… (more investigation is needed here).

I happened to be in the Town Clerk’s office today to witness Mr Taylor sign the register as he took out nomination papers to join the race for the position on the Dracut Housing Authority.

Its starting to look like the DHA race may be the race to watch this year.

There is still no challenger for the school committee, and no strong contenders in the wings that I can see.

On the Board of Selectmen side, it really feels like people are happy with the running of the town. Low taxes, limited spending, low growth… maybe the incumbents are pretty safe. We’ll see if the challengers can create some interest.

Tags: May 2010

“Selectman O’Loughlin has been in that seat for 18 years. He just feels entitled to be there.” – Brian Bond

I guess we won’t be looking for an election based on issues.

Last year we had a pretty ugly race, emphasizing the differences of opinion throughout the town and creating some real personality conflicts that continue to this day. Every meeting of the selectmen now contains at least one use of the gavel to calm the “discussion” down.

Starting your campaign by saying someone else has been there a long time and feels “entitled” to the seat, as Bond did in yesterday’s Lowell Sun article, pushes aside the fact that it was the voters who put the man in that seat… not a machine.

You would think that the Scott Brown campaign would wake people up to focus on the issues of the moderate independent voters. Jobs, reducing regulation and red-tape, supporting businesses and stopping the growth of government at all levels are what’s being called for these days. Nobody wants an election based on petty bickering.

O’Loughlin said he refuses to be “baited into any sophomoric arguments” with his opponents.

Lets hope it stays that way. He has a tendency to slide over the edge sometimes too, but at least he’s taking the high road at this point.

Pete Wilde mentioned at least one good issue (hydrants in East Dracut), but it was a convenience issue responding to a recent fire. A local business man, I hope Wilde will speak more to how the town could support businesses like his and other startups throughout the town.

George Malliaros held the committee together throughout the last year, and that was no small task.

Our town continues to be an example to others in how not to overspend and grow out of control. Its the leadership provided by this board, supporting the manager’s administration that did that.

George had to have the wisdom of Solomon last year to hold back the two sides on the Louisburg project fight. He did that well, and will probably be rewarded for it.

The other races are quiet so far, with Mike Miles and Dr Mike McNamara still unchallenged.

PJ Mercier has announced a run for the housing spot being vacated by Tom Salem. Talk is still out there that Jack Lyons may join that race. Lyons would be a difficult candidate to beat. DJ Deeb’s announced (in another venue) personal support for Mercier is probably not a good thing at this point for PJ, as the voter’s distaste for Deeb could extend to Mercier. It would probably be best to back-burner that connection quickly.

Rumors are out there that he may be considering a run as well. Would not be a bad choice…  will he go for it?

Tags: DHA

According to the Sun, the Community Preservation Committee is still looking into the Richardson property along Bridge St for new elderly affordable housing.

At this point, however, the committee has chosen to stop committing funds for studies and investigations until a price is settled.

The Richardson family knows that the more the CPC puts into the project, the more valuable the land is.

The article also reminds us that there is a long waiting list for state money for these projects (we were at the front of that list last year, but passed on the opportunity probably putting us back to the end of the line).

Tags: CPC

Two days into the period where candidates can take nomination papers, we have a number coming out of the gate early.

For Selectmen, one incumbent so far has pulled the papers: George Mallarios.

Challenging him, (and probably Jim O’Loughlin) is his neighbor, Brian Bond; and local businessman Pete Wilde. Both good challengers.

For School Committee, so far we have Dr Michael McNamara (who announced last week).

Mike Miles has not pulled papers, but has notified me that he is in the race (a fundraiser he had last Friday evening pulled in over 225 people, and so far brought in more than $3600.00). More on that later.

In the Housing Authority race, for Tom Salem’s seat, we have Paul A Mercier Jr who has taken out the nomination papers.

Over at the Dracut Water Supply District, Bob Corey (camera man emeritus) has taken out papers to defend his seat as Commissioner.

Nobody as of yet has taken out papers for the Moderator position or Library Trustee.

Tags: May 2010