During the Board of Selectmen’s meeting this evening, Selectman John Zimini made two proposals. One was to eliminate the annual gasoline reimbursement, and a second was to eliminate all pay to elected officials.

Although there was discussion on the first article, each article died for lack of a “second” to the motion.

Zimini’s reasoning was that because the town had asked all the unions to pass up their annual pay raises last year, it would be appropriate for the town leaders to do something similar. “We should take leadership on this,” he said.

(more…)

I’ll list out a few items, and then write up the key ones individually later.

• There was a proposal by Steve Coravos (partnered with Campbell Real Estate) to do a 40B LIP development at the site of the old Ronnie’s Steak House. This development would be a “friendly 40b,” and Coravos repeatedly made the point that it would never be proposed as a typical “hostile” 40b project. The project would be two 30 unit rental units, that would allow only residents of age 62 and older. 52 of the units would be two-bedroom, the other 8 would be one bedroom. The board voted unanimously to support the project. More details to follow.
• The Lowell Sun was not correct in reporting the town officials were in support of using CPA money to “buy down” the selling prices of affordable housing that is for sale in town… as recommended by the state. The affordable housing partnership and the CPC both have reservations regarding this proposal by the state. A subcommittee, I believe of the CPC, is putting together an article for town meeting regarding this.
• Federal Census forms are on their way next week. Why we had to get a letter this week to tell us that we will be getting a letter next week was of some interest. This Federal Census is in addition to the town one and it is important that residents fill it out and return it.
• Joe DiRocco asked that Police Chief Richardson return at the next meeting to report on the ongoing Drug Investigation. (It should be past the “three to four week” timeframe by then)
• A good discussion was had by Selectmen O’Loughlin and Malliaros regarding the success of the high school basketball team.
• Selectman John Zimini proposed elimination of the gas reimbursement, and then of the stipends for all elected officials. There was no support for his motion.
• other small items as well that I’ll bring out during the week.

Nice article this morning on the 40b situation in Dracut.

More people need to get educated on this issue so that we can work together to either get the Legislature to fix it.. or join the effort to repeal it completely.

We’ve been focusing on this issue for years on 980 WCAP’s Saturday Morning Live.  (Just two weeks ago we tried to have a guest in to discuss the 40b issue in Chelmsford.. instead the discussion led eventually to the resolution of a dispute between the “small growth initiative” people and many leaders in Chelmsford.)

Originally meant to be an “anti snob” law, it has instead morphed into a pro-developer mandate that forces towns to be punished in perpetuity because we have no way of meeting the required minimum numbers of “affordable” housing. “Affordable” in this situation has a legal meaning, where the state has control over aspects of the property.

Today we find that homes built under this system are now more expensive than regular houses in the market.. so they don’t sell. Why would someone buy a house with the state having fingers in future selling price or who you can sell to, when you can just buy a house on the open market that is cheaper and without the Beacon Hill nanny state controls.

By Erin Smith, Lowell Sun
DRACUT — Selectmen receive a total of $4,700 annually to buy gas — the largest fuel-reimbursement budget for any town department using private cars for government business.

The five selectmen, who share the money evenly, don’t have to document how they spend the gas money — unlike town employees who must turn in mileage reports for gas reimbursements at 50 cents per mile, according to Town Manager Dennis Piendak.

The Town Clerk’s Office receives $100 annually to reimburse employees for car-mileage expenses, while the Tax Collector’s Office receives $200 per year, according to recently released budget numbers for fiscal 2011.

Next year’s preliminary budget also calls for the Building Department to receive a $3,000 car allowance — the second-highest gas reimbursement for a town department where workers use their personal cars.

Building Inspector Dan McLaughlin said the gas reimbursement is barely enough for inspectors, who drive to various buildings throughout the year to make sure structures meet safety standards and health codes.

Selectmen divide their car allowance equally for an annual payment of $940 per selectman. That means each selectman would have had to drive 1,880 miles on town business in one year under the current town gas-reimbursement rate. The gas-reimbursement money is in addition to the $2,000 stipend each selectman receives annually for serving on the elected board.

The five selectmen can use their gas allowance to drive wherever they deem necessary and can spend the reimbursement for “whatever they want to use it for,” according to Piendak, citing the line item has been on the budget books for at least 20 years.

“It’s always been there. It’s something that predates me,” Piendak said about the selectmen’s car allowance.

Selectman Joe DiRocco said he uses the gas money to drive to see cell-tower sites and auto-body shops, among other town locations, and to look into residents’ complaints.

“Anything that the selectmen would have to vote on for special permits, we would go to,” said DiRocco. “I think the intent was when someone calls, we go and investigate.”

Selectman John Zimini said the gas reimbursement is useful for his elected duties. Still, he said, he’s contemplating proposing that the board eliminate its gas reimbursements, annual stipend and selectmen’s eligibility to receive town-paid health-insurance benefits.

“My feeling is, we have to take a leadership position before we ask anyone to make any more cuts,” said Zimini, referencing state leaders’ predictions that Dracut could see a 3 percent cut in local aid next year.

“We’re serving in a bad time,” Zimini said. “In a good time I would say raise it, but in a bad time we have to bite the bullet and take a leadership position.”

Selectman James O’Loughlin said the gas money and stipend work out to a little over $56 per week per selectman.

“That’s my big score from the town of Dracut,” said O’Loughlin, chuckling.

O’Loughlin said he uses the gas money to drive to meetings, events and check on construction at the golf course and other projects in town.

“You do a lot of driving on town business if you’re doing your job properly,” said O’Loughlin.

During his previous term, O’Loughlin said the board opted not to take the gas reimbursement for several years, but he couldn’t remember the reason why it was declined.

When asked why selectmen don’t have to document their mileage as do other town employees, O’Loughlin said, “Quite honestly, I’ve never thought about it. I’ve never been asked.”

He added: “It was there before I became a selectman. It’s been there for over 18 years and it’s been voted on every year at Town Meeting.”

Many other town departments are allotted only a small fraction for gas reimbursement when using personal vehicles.

Town assessors, who must drive to view demolition projects, properties and new construction, have a $200 budget each year for gas reimbursements, according to preliminary budget numbers for next year.

“It’s fine for this office,” said Chief Assessor Kathleen Roark, citing that her staff usually drives together in her personal car to property sites.

The School Committee doesn’t budget gas reimbursement. However, money is set aside annually for professional development and has been used in the past to reimburse School Committee members when they drive to education conferences, according to School Business Administrator Tom Rose. He said the School Department has budgeted $50,000 for professional development next year, but that money is used by all school employees — not just School Committee members.

Efforts to reach Selectmen Robert Cox and George Malliaros for comment were unsuccessful.

Maybe its just the old New Englander in me, but I think that when you ask the taxpayer to reimburse you for something, you should justify it. Maybe thats just me.

I don’t care if “thats’s the way we’ve always done it.” I don’t care that nobody asked before.

The Sun has an article on the front page today that explains a line item in the town budget for next year that allocates $4700 for gasoline reimbursement for the town Selectmen.

Thats more than any other department, for what are considered part-time employees.

Now, if they believe this amount is valid, I’m OK with that. But prove it. The article points out that no documentation of the use is required.

The purpose of the stipend, we’ve been told, was to cover expsenses accrued while performing their duties as Selectmen. Now, we find they’re getting gas too?

Zimini’s saying that he’s contemplating “proposing that the board eliminate its gas reimbursement, annual stipend, and selectmen’s eligibility to receive town-paid health insurance benefits” sounds interesting as well — but a little extreme.

I would agree with eliminating elected officials getting the health coverage (Chelmsford has done this already), keeping the stipend, but requiring the gas reimbursement to have a written log. We all have to do it when we file taxes, and all the other employees have to do so. Its only right.

Update: Lowell Sun Article

I’ve got a few clips here for those who have trouble getting up in the morning. I understand that many may have been out attending the funeral of Mr Garry as well.

So, for your entertainment..

We have the host, Warren Shaw, discussing the sudden departure of Spencer Mullin from his position as Superintendent.

Next, we called School Committee Chair Matt Sheehan and he agreed to come down and discuss the issue.

And to get to our originally planned topic, we have Selectman Jim O’Loughlin who came in to discuss the discussion of the need for a policy regarding off duty policemen and alcohol. The discussion also covers wasted spending regarding the Louisburg Square project.

 

 Warren Shaw discusses Mullin early departure [3:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Matt Sheehan discusses unfortunate departure [10:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Jim O'Loughlin talks off duty alchohol policy and Louisburg [17:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tuesday evening, we heard during the Board of Selectmen’s meeting that Dave Chartrand had hired a lawyer to send a letter to the board protesting their discussion of the September incident where he responded to a situation while off duty.

The issue that the Board was actually trying to focus on was whether the town had an appropriate policy for off duty employees who are called in to work after having been partaking in the use of alcohol while on their own time.Tuesday evening, we heard during the Board of Selectmen’s meeting that Dave Chartrand had hired a lawyer to send a letter to the board protesting their discussion of the September incident where he responded to a situation while off duty.

The issue that the Board was actually trying to focus on was whether the town had an appropriate policy for off duty employees who are called in to work after having been partaking in the use of alcohol while on their own time.

The letter that Selectman O’Loughlin read part of at the meeting sure sounded threatening and intimidating to the town, and I understand the Selectman’s position completely. The town needs a policy on this issue.

Today’s paper, however, gives us an article that quotes Chartrand’s lawyer as saying that the letter was meant to deescalate the issue. Instead it did the opposite.

From Chartrand and his lawyer in the Sun:

“We just don’t want reputations being thrown around, that’s all. We aren’t interested in a lawsuit. We aren’t out to make trouble for the town. We want them to be careful in the future. That’s all.”

That is not what was implied in the letter. If so, what did it mean by “further action?”

If someone wanted the issue to die down, getting a lawyer to do the opposite sure does sound too swift.

Join us Saturday morning on 980 WCAP at 7:00 a.m. as we will have Selectman Jim O’Loughlin in to discuss this topic.

 

 Jim O'Loughlin discusses Letter from Chartrand's Lawyer: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Erin Smith, Lowell Sun

DRACUT — Although its been nearly seven years, the thieves who stole $80,000 worth of marijuana from a locked police-evidence storage trailer in April 2003 aren’t necessarily off the hook for the crime and could still face charges in court.

The statute of limitations to prosecute anyone in the case through the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office expired last year, but the rules are different for federal court, according to Alfred Donovan, Tewksbury’s recently retired police chief.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has four to five more months to bring charges against any suspects related to the case, according to Donovan, who has been conducting an internal investigation into the drug evidence theft for Dracut Police Chief Kevin

Retired Tewksbury Police Chief Al Donovan, left, speaks to the Dracut Board of Selectmen about the ongoing marijuana-theft investigation last night as Dracut Police Chief Kevin Richardson listens. SUN / JULIA MALAKIE

Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our MyCapture site. Richardson since 2008.
But it’s unclear whether anyone will actually be prosecuted for the drug theft or whether Donovan will name any suspects when he releases his findings in the coming weeks.

Donovan told selectmen last night that he recently shared his evidence with a federal agency, which is conducting a separate, related investigation into the matter. Donovan has refused to name the agency or say what the investigation involves, saying he doesn’t want to compromise the case or hundreds of investigative hours.

The federal agents are reportedly poised to decide within the next few weeks whether to launch a full-scale investigation into some aspect of the case, according to Donovan. That’s when Donovan will release his findings in the internal investigation — whether or not the agency decides to investigate, he said.

The Middlesex DA had previously presented evidence in the case to a grand jury, but criminal charges were never brought against anyone for the drug theft, according to Donovan.

“I believe at some point there was enough evidence to charge someone,” said Donovan.

Donovan said the district attorney’s office may have been reluctant to prosecute the case at the time because of

Dracut selectmen, from left rear, Robert Cox, James O’Loughlin, George Malliaros and Joseph DiRocco Jr., listen as Dracut Police Chief Kevin Richardson, left foreground, and retired Tewksbury Police Chief Al Donovan speak about the ongoing marijuana-theft investigation last night. SUN / JULIA MALAKIE

Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our MyCapture site. credibility problems with witnesses who were either drug addicts or involved with drug activity.
Selectmen Chairman George Malliaros said he thought the district attorney may have also been reluctant to prosecute police officers with the crime.

But Donovan has hinted that police personnel, as well as people involved in drug activity, could be involved in the case, but has refused to be more specific ahead of the report’s release.

Donovan had originally been scheduled to release his findings in the internal investigation prior to his Dec. 19 retirement as Tewksbury’s police chief and control chief for the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, but blamed the delay on the federal investigation.

In 2008, after years of dead-end investigations at the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Richardson launched an internal probe and enlisted the help of NEMLEC, which conducted lie-detector tests and interviews with suspected drug dealers.

Although he is retired, Donovan is expected to finish the Dracut investigation.