I am happy to be able to announce that I have reached a tentative accord with Methuen’s Patrolman’s Union that will avert the twenty layoffs that had been scheduled to occur with the adoption of the FY2010 Municipal budget. I would like to thank Union President Larry May for his willingness to keep talking about solutions even as we disagreed publicly. The Union has scheduled a ratification vote for this afternoon.
I can announce that the Firefighters Union has ratified the tentative agreement that we had reached, and our budget recommendations to City Council will now reflect that agreement, allowing us to restore the fifteen Firefighters that were scheduled to be laid off July 1. My thanks to Union President Tim Sheehy, who has worked day and night with me over the past month to hammer out an agreement. I will have more after adoption of the municipal budget.
Bill Manzi.com 
Your Honor,
I appreciate your tenacity in standing up to the police union. They must know they have no superior job rights over the the citizens they protect.
The folks in the dreaded private sector are vulnerable when it comes to their jobs, why shouldn’t public employees?
Jules
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Mayor,
Congratulations on a job well done! Now let’s see how the council votes tommorrow. I hope they appreciate the fact that our Chief Executive Officer has been able to garner this kind of cooperation from our town unions for the greater good of all. Furthermore Methuen is undoubtedly in a better place financially than our neighboring cities Lowell or Haverhill due specifically to the management skills of our Mayor.
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Your Honor,
What happened with the teachers? I thought you and that that young lady were going to handle the teachers.
Jules
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Jules,
The teachers union negotiation is handled by the Superintendent of Schools. The Teachers Union and I agreed on a health care deal, which they were a part of with all other city unions. But on the wage front I only negotiate with the nine city side unions.
Bill
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I would like to thank all of the unions for coming together for the good of the city.It was a big hit for all city employees but ultimately we will begin to build for the greater goal,a safe and sustainable, high functioning city of Methuen your efforts do not go unnoticed,Great job to the city Council for a passionate and more importantly unified budget . Methuen City Council President Deborah Quinn
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