The City Council last night voted to accept a $250,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to create a park and a boat ramp at the site of the old Beas’s restaurant. The vote was 6-2, with Councilors Pappalardo and Cronin voting no. This money will allow us to move forward and complete design and then go to bid for construction. Although there has been some dissent on the concept of a boat ramp here this is a unique opportunity to take a gateway to Methuen and beautify it and create some recreational access to the Merrimack River. My appreciation and thanks to Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, who has been a major force in our negotiations with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts over this project, and Senator Steve Baddour. Thanks also to City Councilor Deborah Quinn, who has chaired the group I established to manage this project from the point in time when we received the grant. As we prepare to bid the construction phase I will keep posting information on the progress we are making.
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Bill Manzi.com 
As a resident of the neighborhood, I look forward to seeing this site cleaned up and turned into a nice park. This will be an attractive gateway to the city when completed.
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I sincerely hope that this is a positive move forward for the area. Over the Governor’s objection the legislature authorized this $250,000 pursuant to Chapter 122 of the Acts of 2006 thanks to the persistence of Rep Broadhurst and Sen Badddour.
This was money specifically awarded to Methuen as of June 24, 2006….3 years ago!
According to the language of the legislation, the money is to be used “to ENHANCE the Park land and construct the boat ramp at the land on Rt 110 Methuen known as the Beas site.”
I do not know what has taken 3 years to get the money technically “accepted” by the City Council.
The investment so far in this site is approximately $750,000 and should be a catalyst for further private sector investment in a neighborhood that deserves enhancement.
However, the public safety issue are real.
For Methuen “gateway” all too often means the opportunity for criminal activity as had been the case with the old boat ramp under the 93 bridge. If the people who live in this area control what is developed and how it is managed, this will be a positive move for Methuen.
Now if the Riverside Park can be cleaned up and made safer, and additional land next to it can be purchased, Methuen will be making greater progress and have a real gateway project.
Let’s hope that does not take 3 years!
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Gosh sakes alive Mr. Mayor you put one of the best “spins” on this…er…”story”, you could have added “it’s for the kids”! A “gateway to Methuen”. Nice word, gateway, it’s what gets through that gateway that could present problems. Didn’t the City of Methuen web site have a poll that showed, oh, about 4% favored a boat ramp? I just can’t remember, so help us out here. Any thoughts on naming the boat ramp/park? How about Titanic Park, oops, that sank didn’t it.
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A couple of points on your comments.
1)Once the money was appropriated by the State they had an entirely different view of this project than did local government and residents. It took about one year to negotiate those differences out, and without Rep. Linda Campbell it likely would not have happened. Those negotiations produced an agreement that is unlike any other such agreement in the Commonwealth, with green space being included to balance out some of the concrete requirements for boating.
2)The financial agreement took even longer, as I insisted on a financial program that would protect the City and leave responsibility for cost overruns on the ramp portion of the project with the Commonwealth, hence the $125,000-$125,000 split of financial responsibility (of the $250,000 state grant) between the Commonwealth and the City of Methuen. This split ensures a completed project, with the cost heavy portion being assigned to the State. Once again Linda Campbell was instrumental in getting the State to agree to such terms.
3)Without question there has been prior criminal activity associated with this area. The spectre of such activity, in my opinion, is stronger with that site in the deplorable condition it is in now. We need to be vigilant against such activity, and with new Police Chief Katherine Lavigne on the job we hope to rectify some of the deficiencies that led to the criminal activity of the past you correctly have pointed to.
4)Additional time has been spent on design, which in and of itself is at least 9 months to one year. And as you correctly point out about the neighborhood residents such designs must be vetted through the neighborhood, adding time to the project but for a vital and necessary purpose, giving neighbors real say in the design and construction of this project. I am willing to wait to give neighbors such a say in the process. So the bottom line is that sometimes waiting a little longer to do a project properly is warranted, as is the case here. As far as the acquisition of additional land I recollect you were against the Community Preservation Act, which would have created a stream of money for such acquisitions. Maybe you were right, but certainly you cannot have it both ways. This is a good deal for Methuen, and strong appreciation goes to an outstanding Rep in Linda Dean Campbell.
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Ben,
I do not recall any such poll. The question before us, since we already own the lot, is what we do with it now. The State has offered $250,000, which will both beautify the lot and create recreational access to the river. If there is an alternative to that I am willing to listen, but nobody has made a workable suggestion. We will create something of value, with no local tax dollars, at a site that is frankly in disrepair.
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bob,
why do you hate the mayor and steve baddour so much? and bob why do you post such venom over at the trib blog?
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Because Bob is angry that he cannot become a player. Bob wants to be Mayor, State Rep. State Senator or even a councillor. But, alas alack no one will vote for him. His last attempt to get elected to the City Council was abysamal. I think the final count was 5 for Bob all the rest for somebody else. Poor Bob!
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Mr Mayor,
I respectfully disagree with each of your four(4) point explanation. The grant specifies green(park) of which a boat ramp would be a piece. Spending $750,000 on this site is only a benefit if the rif raf can be kept out and serious boaters,and neighbors control access.
As for the cowards ” is that you bob ” and
“summer” I invite them to drop by the office anytime for a chat. Obviously you know exactly who they are or you would not have let them post in secret!
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL POLICE DEPARTMENT and have had one for many years through a number of Chiefs. Right now in the area from Beas to Riverside park and up Glen Forest a tremendous amount of resources are deployed effectively to shut down the gateway to the highway of drugs. We have federal,state and local law enforcement working on this problem .
I have always believed that where it really counts the Methuen Police Department has always been highly functional!
Only politics has trumped professionalism.
I am sure that if Chief Lavigne and Capt Fram are actually allowed to run the department without politicians or ex-politicians sticking their nose in, the citizens can be assured that their police department is above reproach.
It should not be a discussion about personalities or politics but professional managment of government. If that is the rule it matters not who the Chief of Police is!
And yes ,I do believe that I opposed you and Mayor Pollard on the the Community Preservation Act . I opposed it because it meant yet another TAX!
I believe you preserve open space by such things as two acre zoning which is being proposed for elimination according to the Council meeting minutes.
I am concerned with the idea being presented that folks who have had the guts to enter the arena and seek election become non-persons and degraded if they loose.
The highest office is that of CITIZEN and when a citizen steps forward and engages in public discourse they should be respected, not become victims of the politics of personal destruction.
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Bob,
First off the purchase was made under Mayor Pollard. The amount being spent is $250,000, all of which is state funded. You know that, but continue to use the number that includes the purchase price, which is not relevant to the discussion at hand, which is should the City Council have accepted the $250,000 state grant. If you had bothered to attend any of the many neighborhood meetings held on this project you would understand that our goal is a first rate park that contains recreational access to the Merrimack River. We have taken the neighborhood input, and made design changes BASED ON CITIZEN AND NEIGHBORHOOD FEEDBACK. You imply that we did not do so, and that implication is demonstrably false.
I appreciate the fact that you disagree with my four points, and leave it to the readers of the blog to determine why you disagree, as you offer nothing detailed in response. That lack of detail in response is telling, and really does tell the whole story there.
You accusation that I know the posters you mention or I would not allow them to post is laughable. As a reader of this blog you well realize that I have allowed postings that have been sharply critical of me, some by your putative allies and some even by you. Yet I am supposed to block critical comments about you? I don’t think so.
And as far as the Community Preservation Act goes you only opposed Mayor Pollard and then Councilor Michael Condon, the legislative sponsor of that Act. I opposed the act as I stated at the time because of the lack of a clearly defined plan for utilization of the resources given by the CPA. So once again you misrepresent material facts. And Bob two acre zoning does not preserve open space, and you, in your prior post, did not advocate two acre zoning but rather the outright purchase by the City of additional land. The exact quote from your prior post is
You are calling for the purchase of land with taxpayer money there Bob, and not referring to two acre zoning. And the Master Plan calls for taking a small area of land in the East which has multiple homes all under two acres and changing it to allow those residences to conform with zoning. It is a best practice in zoning, and does not change the two acre zone in the West.
Finally Bob your moving condemnation against people being vilified after losing elections does not seem to apply to those who win elections. You and your cronies seem all to willing to vilify in the most vile terms officeholders, or as you call them, “electeds”. Yet when the fire is returned you cry foul. Well Bob, some folks don’t believe in turning the other cheek.When a citizen steps forward and wins an election they should be respected, and not become victims of the politics of personal destruction.
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Damn, and I thought it was sizzling outside?!!
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Hey Bob I am curious about your interest in this park all of a sudden because, even though you live in the West End, I never once saw you at any of the meetings about the park. If you had you would be apprised that since Kathy Lavigne became acting Chief the police presence is far greater than it ever was before. By the way Great choice for Chief Mr. Mayor. Kathy Lavigne is just the right person to help bring the department together following the tyranical reign of solomon.
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Bill,
I agree that no one in Methuen ought to be subject to the politics of personal destruction. NO ONE my friend.
The reality of life is that no two people are going to agree on every issue all the time. So issues ought to be discussed and decided on the basis of facts and persuasive argument. No one should personaly attack anyone to cut someone down either to win an argument or disuade anyone from engaging in public discourse.
In my time on the Water and Sewer Committee, while there may have been disparaging comments offensive to you voiced by individuals, you know that I was not one of them and that I discouragesd such talk as counterproductive. You listened to the tapes and you know what I say is true.
I am not responsible for the language or action of others.
To make things very clear. I support the acquisition and development of the Bea’s site. I only caution that the essential thing is that design and managment involve the neighbors in the area. You have encouraged that process. Had the meetings been posted on the city website I would have made an effort to attend. Please advise as to future meetings.
I initiated a massive town-wide program of acquisition and development of park land in Methuen as you know and won millions in federal and state aid for that purpose. Of course I advocate for that and for you to suggest otherwise is disingenuous.
You and I have discussed the major problems at Riverside Park. I too hope that your decision to enhance enforcement and make that wonderful spot safe is effective.
I am very proud of the fact that among my major accomplishments included the acquisition of land and funding for the development of Manzi Gardens, Riverside Park and Methuen’s Water Treatment plant. My only regret was that we were not then ,nor for the successor thirty years ,able to acquire the adjacent property. I would be very happy if you were able to accomplish that goal.
I guess you bring up Mike Condon because he is a staunch supporter of Chris DeBella for State Representative. Now that Sen Baddour has made a public statement that he is not supporting Rep Campbell, will the bloom be off the rose?
My memory is that you also supported this new tax. I gather that was conditional as described.
I believe that smart growth is in a use plan which sustains an economically healthy community able to sustain neighborhood life and protect citizens from excessive taxation.
Quality of life is central to that objective and a balanced plan which preserves open space, limits residential growth and provides an opportunity for net income from commercial growth meets that objective. The key word is balance. If the public perception is that zoning changes are determined by who benefits, you run the risk of losing public support.
I support 2 acre zoning! That is very clear for it was under my administration that we actually enacted the town’s first Comprehensive Zoning Plan and ended the control of developers,at least for some period of time. We also back then eliminated the power of the Zoning Board to vote use variances at the insistence of Bill Gallagher. I will now take more interest in the new zoning plan, for the map and language on the website raised questions in my mind about the fate of 2 acre zoning which, as you say, includes my neighborhood in West Methuen.
I think you and I agree that comments on this blog ought to be about issues not personalities. I understand the sting involved and empathize with what you go through each and every day. I lived that and obviously still am subject to abuse from those not intelligent enough to put together a cogent paragraph.
Having been CEO of this community, I want every successor to do well and achieve great things for our community. I wish no less for you, not only because of the position you hold, but because I have known you and your family for 32 years and I appreciate our friendship even when we disagree.
Be well my friend and please attribute to me only those things which I say ,not what others I may or may not know say.
UNITED FOR A BETTER METHUEN!
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