By John Collins and Robert Mills, Sun Staff
DRACUT — The stipend-stopper was stymied.
Selectman John Zimini’s motions to get the five-member board to stop accepting its yearly $2,000 stipends and $934 gas allowances failed at Tuesday night’s meeting for lack of a second.
The other four selectmen labeled Zimini’s action a transparent [...]

Could there be anthing to Dracut Selectmen Chairman George Malliaros’ contention that fellow Selectman John Zimini has an ulterior motive for wanting to do away with yearly stipends and controversial gas allowances?
Consider that Zimini is a strong supporter of Brian Bond, who is challenging Malliaros and Selectman James O’Loughlin in the May election.
Zimini and Bond, [...]

I had to put up this clip of two of our Selectmen, Jim O’Loughlin and George Malliaros, as they discuss going to the last couple Dracut High School Basketball games in support of our kids (O’Loughlin may have been the jinx, though).
I just found the tangent discussion during the Board of Selectmen meeting to be [...]

 

 Selectmen O'Loughlin and Malliaros on DHS Basketball: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

 

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

From the Column:
DRACUT”S TOWN election in May is shaping up to be an interesting race with at least one challenger decisively throwing his hat into the ring with the selectmen incumbents. Pete Wilde, owner of Jewelry Gone Wilde, said he “definitely” plans to run for Board of Selectmen, while Brian Bond said he is leaning [...]

I was reminded by Brian about a prediction by Jim O’Loughlin last year:
James O’Loughlin, Dracut selectman: “I’m not saying who or for what reason, but somebody from Dracut will receive national recognition.” He also predicts also that the Lowell political community will be “reeling by an unexpected resignation.”
I’m not sure if he meant it as [...]

Sorry Jimmy, but I’m gonna comment. If I get anything wrong, feel free to respond. Its my sandbox. Brian has his, and the flake in Nashua has his.
And  sorry, but when you say “Journalistic Integrity,” I think I can point out a few examples of the local papers slipping on that point.
“So much for being [...]