The Executive Director of our own Dracut Housing Authority, Mary K, is a finalist for the position in Medford.

It was only a couple years ago that what was believed to be an attempt to remove her from her current position led to the current situation of former Chelsea Housing Director Michael McLaughlin’s federal investigation (it was generally believed he orchestrated the attempt), and then ultimately Tim Murray’s exit from the Governor’s race.

Mary here, is looking to attain a position based on her own skills and experience. We wish her well whether she remains or moves on.

Update: A later report tells us that she will be staying here in Dracut for now.

The fallout of the McLaughlin scandal continues.

We hear from the Boston Globe that Gov Deval Patrick is proposing six regional housing agencies to replace the 240 separate public housing authorities across the state.

Managers and maintenance workers would remain in each of the communities, but the local boards of commissioners would be eliminated. Decisions and responsibilities would move up to the regional agencies. The residents would see little change.

The agencies would be led by 9 member boards who are appointed by the governor some of which are recommended by the local communities in the region.

Some work needs to be done to clean this up.. as it looks like we would be growing the government by 6 agencies, as well as one central one to oversee them all.  These could quickly grow to another large group of employees (manager, purchasers, accountants, auditors, etc).

Growing government is the last thing I want, but history has proven to us that the housing boards of commissioners have proven to be incapable of managing their employees and unaccountable to the taxpayers.

Perhaps some sort of compromise could be made, with an elimination of the boards and yet oversight of the authorities by one agency at the state level (maybe with a regional office in the western part of the state).

This is not the old days of pony express. Communications, money transfers and information management is all instant and easily distributed.

Options exist. I don’t see the need for a new large growing burocracy, but I also agree that what we have doesn’t work to protect the taxpayer.

Announced at Methuen Housing Authority meeting, Ken Martin said that he will not be running in Dracut, and will focus his efforts in Methuen and Ayer. Reported in the Eagle Tribune.

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I took the opportunity this week to ask Deb Dewitt Ahern a few questions so that the voters can get a chance to meet her.

Ahern was one of the first to announce her candidacy in this year’s election, choosing to run for Commissioner at the Housing Authority, and at the time assumed she would be running against an incumbent, Ken Martin. As of this time, Martin has chosen not to enter the race.

Deb Dewitt Ahern

First off, what do you do for a living?

I am a local attorney and member of the Greater Lowell Bar Association, where I also serve as Treasurer. As a member of the Greater Lowell Bar Association, I also help to organize the Annual Law Day Program , through which local students join with area lawyers to exhibit their knowledge and passion about the law.

As an attorney, I am an advocate for those in need. Every day I work with  and for my clients to ensure that their needs are met and their best interests are protected. I look forward to utilizing these skills to work with and for the residents of the Dracut Housing Authority.

Why did you decide to run for Housing Authority Commissioner?

I decided to run for the Dracut Housing Authority after reading and hearing about the events that occurred this fall surrounding the authority.

I believe that the residents of the Dracut Housing Authority and Dracut residents deserve to be represented by someone who is interested in working for them and their best interest, alone.

I will dedicate all of my energy and efforts to ensuring that the voices of the residents of the Dracut Housing Authority are heard and that the residents are provided with the best and most up to date facilities and care available.

Do you have any relatives in public housing (do you have any conflict)?

At the present time, I do not have any relatives in public housing.

However, I have relatives that have lived in public housing. And, like many of us I have elderly relatives that may ultimately move into public housing.

In speaking with my relatives, I have learned a great deal about what people expect from public housing, as well as what improvements need to be made.

What do you think of the housing authority as it is, and what needs do you see it has?.. how can it improve?

I think that the Dracut Housing Authority faces many obstacles, especially given its need for renovations and new facilities.

The Dracut Housing Authority is in need of someone to dedicate their time and efforts to working in its favor to explore and obtain new funding opportunities.

Also, there needs to be someone on the Dracut Housing Authority that is willing to dedicate the time and energy to listening to the concerns of the residents and work with the Dracut Housing Authority and the residents to determine if and how the concerns can be addressed in a timely and economic manner.

The Dracut Housing Authority is serving its residents and it can improve by continuing to provide its resident with safe, affordable housing.

Any Final Words?

Those who need our support the most are often those whose voices are heard the least.

Every day I help the voices of people of all ages and economic groups be heard. As a Commissioner on the Dracut Housing Authority I will help the voices of the residents of Dracut and, especially, the residents of the Dracut Housing Authority, be heard.

I believe that each resident should be allowed to speak freely, voice concerns and satisfactions, and ask for what is rightfully theirs, while knowing that they are not just being heard, but they are being listened to.

“A vote for Debbie DeWitt Ahern on May 7, 2012 is a vote for Respect, Integrity, and Dignity”

Mike Gagliardi, Business Manager for the laborer’s union that operates in a number of communities, including Methuen, joined us on 980 WCAP Saturday morning to discuss Ken Martin’s contract and “managerial style.”

Gagliardi challenges Martin to join him for a public debate, be it in person or called in, as Gagliardi will join us again next Saturday morning to continue the discussion.

In the past week, Gagliardi had writte a letter (PDF) to Martin offering free labor to the housing authority to get additional safety tasks completed in response to Martin’s donation of a part of his salary.

Also within the discussion, we are shown that the Governor has made a number of new proposals for housing authorities (capping pay, pension, etc), and Gagliardi states outright that those board members who are appointed by the Governor should obviously be supporting the governor’s proposals, and if they don’t should be removed by the governor.

Rep Linda Dean Campbell, we are told by a few newspapers, has proposed new legislation to limit housing director’s work opportunities within the housing community.

Campbell was also offered an opportunity to appear on the show, but declined to participate at that time.

Mike Gagliardi discusses Ken Martin on WCAP [ 16:40 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Brian Messenger of the Eagle Tribune has another article regarding Methuen Housing Director/Ayer Housing Director/Dracut Housing Commissioner Ken Martin.

Here, we are told that a union business manager, Michael Gagliardi of the Laborers International Local 175 wrote a letter to Martin asking him to donate 1/5 of his pay back to the Housing Authority to help fund maintenance.

Claiming that unfunded maintenance projects are creating safety issues for elderly residents, he says:

“These tenants, in our opinion, should be able to share the same quality of life that you and your family do,” wrote Gagliardi. “If you are willing to donate 20 percent of your salary toward the necessary repairs we will provide all the labor, tools and equipment to perform some of the maintenance that you have been unable to fund.”

The article goes on to say that the Methuen Mayor, Stephen Zanni is concerned whether Martin is putting in enough time in Methuen.

UPDATE: Mike Gagliardi will join us on 980 WCAP Saturday morning at 8:00, and challenges Ken Martin to join him to debate his Contract and Management Style..

This morning’s Lowell Sun gives us another Chris Camire story on the continuing saga of Mike McLaughlin and the Dracut Housing fiasco.

Some people in town are just not too happy with all that has occurred, and believe that maybe there should be some people held accountable.

Russ Taylor, Commissioner on the Dracut Housing Authority, is most vocal in calling for the resignation of Governor appointed Commissioner Brian Bond, and Housing Chair Ken Martin for their participation in the votes involved in the events surrounding the hiring of the Executive Director last fall.

Martin is claiming this is all “political vengeance.”

Is there anyone else looking at that quote with a little bit of wonderment?

Its widely perceived that the attempt to remove the director was exactly that, with the addition of a job opening that could be used for political conniving at the same time.

Selectman Bob Cox puts much of the blame on Lt Governor Tim Murray, and calls for him to fix the situation:

“If Tim Murray in fact was misled and was misinformed, if he didn’t know what was going on, then why did he allow Brian Bond to stay on the board after the fact?” Cox said. “If he had removed him, then it would lend credibility to the fact that he claims he was misled. Then people would say maybe he was really misled. I’m shocked that he hasn’t yet.”

Selectman George Malliaros directs attention to the phone calls between McLaughlin and Selectman John Zimini, referring to insider Democrat party caucus happenings he seems to indicate are taking a higher precedence than the allegiance to the town and its local delegation.

Last week, I heard people talking about writing letters to Governor Patrick as well. In this case, I’m not sure whether people should write the Governor, Lt Gov Tim Murray, or the State Representative or Senator to file a grievance.

From the taxpayer and citizen’s point of view, its all just a big embarrassment that needs to be cleaned up.

Martin Highest Paid Director in State

City Council asks for Help from Governor Patrick

The Eagle Tribune has a headline article once again about Dracut Housing Commissioner, Methuen Housing Director and Ayer Housing Director Ken Martin.

First, because of this article I made my first online edition purchase of the Lowell Sun.  I have hesitated over the years to do so, because I hate the idea of anyone putting me into a subscription that “auto renews” so you get to the point where you’re trapped in a bank, or don’t know when the next withdrawal is coming from your bank. The Sun allows you to purchase a number of months at a fixed price, without auto renew. This is my test, and so far it looks pretty good.  I encourage everyone to check this out.

Lowell Sun Front Page

This morning’s Lowell Sun has a headline article pointing out the interlinked network of Dracut politicos all communicating with Mike McLaughlin across last year, and especially during the period of the key events surrounding the attempt to remove the then (and now) director of the Dracut Housing Authority.

To start the ball rolling, there was a need to get another member on the Housing Board who would vote with them. Whether a player, or just being used, the phone call records that the Sun reviewed indicate that the selection of Bond was under way months earlier. Back on April 6th, John Zimini first called Mike McLaughlin, who later called Brian Bond.

“On April 6, Bond changed his party affiliation to Democrat, paving the way for his appointment to the Housing Authority seat,” we are told by reporter Chris Camire.

Coincidence? Don’t miss out on the point that McLaughlin talked with Lt Gov Tim Murray the day before this happened as well.

Then again, on the day before the Governor made the appointment of Bond, calls from McLaughlin to Murray. Then on the day of the appointment, McLaughlin calls Chairman of the Dracut Housing Board Ken Martin four times.  (note: this is a state phone, not a private one, supposed to be used for business).

“On the leadup to the vote,” the Sun tells us, to not renew the director’s contract, “McLaughlin was in contact with [Ken] Martin, Zimini and Bond.”

The story goes on to highlight McLaughlin’s calls to and from Martin and Zimini on Oct 30th, the day the Globe first reported McLaughlin’s concealing of his exorbitant salary. Martin called him that morning at 7:41 a.m.. Wonder if there was some concern regarding fallout at that point.

The bar graph of numbers of calls made to and from McLaughlin show huge spikes in communication at the time of the initial vote to remove the director, then at the time of the senior residents protests  at the selection of a screening committee (where the seniors were protesting the selection of Maureen Wilke .. another on the phone list.. to that committee), again at the seniors protest on Mammoth Road later that month, and then around the time of the rehiring of Karabatsos to the the position.

Of course, then the calls started up again once the fallout began as the Globe articles started to unfold.

Read the story, draw the lines.

All in all, 394 calls to Dracut Housing Authority Chair Ken Martin, 217 to Dracut Selectman John Zimini, and 121 to Lt Gov Tim Murray.  Various other calls to key people during key incidents. But of course, we’re not supposed to believe any of those calls are related to the events in question. (I’m sure they’re just about finding a good fishin’ spot.)

Atty to the School Committee Kevin Murphy received a number of calls himself, where he tells us that McLaughlin was trying to save a job in the schools held by his son Mike McLaughlin Jr (who former Superintendent Spencer Mullen had tried to endow with “professional status” at one time to help protect the job). The contract for the position held by McLaughlin’s son ran out on June 30th.

Murphy tells us that he told McLaughlin that he couldn’t help him, but the guy was relentless. “He wouldn’t give up,” Murphy says.

School Committee member Ron Mercier says calls he received from McLaughlin at the time of the end of this contract only were about McLaughlin asking after his family. Its convenient that he only called at that point.

Michael Goldman, the syndicated “writer for hire” as we have come to know him because of this incident, was called 19 times during these periods.. and then a very nice McLaughlin Puff Piece appeared in the Globe which nobody put any credit to.

Once again, if you’re from Dracut this is a day to go buy the Sun. Read it, and make your own opinions.

The Eagle Tribune this morning has a headline story by Brian Messenger about the state “zeroing in” on Ken Martin because of his salaray and dual housing authority contracts.

Martin is the only Housing Authority director that holds a full time and part time contract in two separate housing authorities.

New guidelines have been written capping salaries for housing directors, but the law does not apply to Martin’s situation because of the dual role, so the state housing authorities (lol) are working towards cleaning up that loophole for the future.

DHCD officials Lizbeth Heyer and Deborah Goddard said Martin’s dual director role is an abuse of state housing subsidies and the public employee pension system.

“We want to prevent the Ken Martin situation from happening again,” said Goddard.

Goddard is general counsel for DHCD and Heyer the associate director for public housing and rental assistance. They also questioned how Martin is able to meet his contractual requirements for work hours in both communities. Ayer is a small town located 30 miles southwest of Methuen.

“It raises concerns,” Heyer said.

Martin is the Chairman of the Dracut Housing Authority, holding a position up for the spring election this year, being challenged by local attorney Deb DeWitt.