Benjamin Pare and Kelly Gearan Win Superintendents Award

Posted on March 23, 2010 by billmanzi

Two fine Methuen students, Benjamin Pare and Kelly Gearan, were recognized by Superintendent Jeanne Whitten at our last School Committee meeting for outstanding achievement. Congratulations to Ben and Kelly!

Benjamin Pare

Reason(s) for Recognition: Benjamin Pare is an outstanding member of the Class of 2010 at Methuen High School. Ben ranks first in his class with a 4.493 grade point average. All of his academic courses have been on the Honors level. In addition, Ben will complete seven Advanced Placement courses by the time he graduates in June 2010.

Ben is a recognized school leader. He has served as a class officer for four years and has been selected as a captain of Methuen’s championship Cross Country Team and Track Team. Ben has been an active volunteer and has been recognized for his service by the Methuen/Salem Rotary Club as a Student of the Month. Ben hopes for a career as a physician and intends to be a pre-med major in college.

Kelly Gearan

Reason(s) for Recognition: Kelly Gearan makes the hard look easy. She is like the ice skater on T.V. that makes those most difficult sou-cow jumps and triple toe loops look effortless. But we acknowledge that there is a tremendous amount of hard work that goes on behind the scenes. What is amazing is that Kelly truly enjoys the process! She loves to have fun and this exuberance permeates all she does. At the local Rotary Student of the Month Luncheon last spring students were asked to give a short speech about themselves and their community involvement. When it was Kelly’s turn to address the group, Kelly did so with much poise. She did not read from a prepared script, but talked naturally about herself, and her activities. She conveyed her excitement about her studies, clearing and concisely. She even had the room of adults laughing. Kelly is gifted in many ways. She is a wonderful, young woman who is going to set the world on fire. She is smart, energetic and fun. She is looking forward to her future and is ready to embrace all it challenges and obstacles.

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Health Care Reform Passes

Posted on March 22, 2010 by billmanzi

The House last night passed Health Care Reform, adopting the Senate version, with a “reconciliation” piece ready to be sent to the Senate to make “corrections” in the bill. It was and is a historic achievement, and a testament to the tenacious resolve of the President on this issue. The House vote was 219-212, with the entire Massachusetts delegation except for Rep. Steve Lynch voting for it. The political battles are just beginning. Will Republicans be able to capitalize politically?

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St Patrick's Day Fun

Posted on March 20, 2010 by billmanzi

Thanks to all for a great St Patrick’s day event. Republican Charlie Baker was a good sport, and engaged in the give and take as well as anyone. The High Sheriff of Worcester County and candidate for auditor Guy Glodis was great as well. Thanks to all for making it a great afternoon.

Read the Tribune article here.

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The President on Financial Reform

Posted on March 20, 2010 by billmanzi

The President talks financial reform in this weeks address, calling on the Senate Banking Committee to pass a robust reform bill. President Obama talks about some of the excesses that led us to the brink of disaster, and how reform may help us to avert such disaster in the future. He called out Republicans for their opposition to financial reform, and said that Republicans were using the issue to raise campaign cash. An interesting subject and I believe an issue that could resonate for the President and the Democrats. But it just seems to be getting drowned out by health care.

Read the Washington Post article here.

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State Finds New Red Ink

Posted on March 19, 2010 by billmanzi

Massachusetts yesterday announced a new budget shortfall for this fiscal cycle, with Secretary Gonzalez indicating that the shortfall could be up to $295 million, leading to charges by Charlie Baker of fiscal ineptitude by the Governor. From the Baker campaign:

“This is just another example of Deval Patrick and Tim Cahill’s fundamental incompetence when it comes to the Commonwealth’s budget. In the face of the worst economic times since Governor Dukakis, their failure is intolerable. Our state’s budget should be the top priority for the Governor and the Treasurer yet time and time again unanticipated spending and rising costs catch both of them off guard. Their lack of leadership on the budgetary process is unacceptable and the taxpayers and business owners of Massachusetts deserve better.”
From today’s State House News Service story, “New budget gap seen opening for state, could near $300M”:
“The rising red ink will likely force the state to deploy some array of painful late-year budget cuts, new withdrawals from the already heavily depleted stabilization fund, and tightened spending management in the executive agencies. ‘We’ve gotten information in recent days that suggests we have an additional $195 million to $295 million dollar exposure for this year,’ Gonzalez told the News Service.”

The Governor, through Secretary Gonzalez, fired back:From the Globe:

Gonzalez called Baker’s criticism that the shortfall caught the administration off guard “a complete mischaracterization of what’s going on here.’’

“It’s the exact opposite, in fact,’’ Gonzalez said. “We are actively managing our budget and addressing it promptly.’’

Gonzalez pointed to three major rating agencies, which reaffirmed the state’s healthy bond rating this month.

Moody’s, for example, cited the state’s “effective management during economic downturns, with a willingness and ability to promptly identify and close gaps through use of both new revenues and spending reductions.’’

Cahill got involved, decrying the health care spending he claims is bankrupting the State.

Cahill, who argued earlier this week that the state’s universal health care law is bankrupting Massachusetts, said the latest shortfall “is further evidence that we have a broken and mismanaged health care system in this state.’’ “I warned on Tuesday that health care spending in Massachusetts was blowing a hole in the state budget,’’ Cahill said in a statement. “I’m glad that the governor’s office is finally acknowledging that fact.’’

Cahill’s critics point out that the new Massachusetts health care law consumes only one percent of the State budget, but Mass Health, the program that predates health insurance reform in Massachusetts, consumes $10 billion, according to this Globe story. That is simply not going to be able to be sustained. And that number has left the other budgetary stakeholders fighting amongst themselves for the shrinking balance of the budget not devoted to health care. Another piece of bad news for the Governor.

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Spring Food Drive

Posted on March 18, 2010 by billmanzi

SPRING FOOD DRIVE

City of Methuen
Mayor William M. Manzi, III &
Representative Linda Dean Campbell

to benefit:

THE MERRIMACK VALLEY FOOD BANK, INC.

Mayor Manzi and Representative Campbell have teamed up to fight hunger. They are asking city employees, residents and businesses to make donations of nonperishable items to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. The Food Bank provides food to several local pantries and shelters. Your efforts will help to eliminate hunger in our community so that people are better able to face other daily challenges.

The Drive will run from March 19th to March 26th. Donations of nonperishable food items can be dropped off at the Nevins Memorial Library during regular Library Hours, the Methuen City Hall Lobby, or the Methuen Senior Center Lobby, Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to Noon.

Food Needs & Suggestions: Canned Vegetables (low sodium),
Canned Fruit (in lite syrup or juice), Canned Meat & Fish, Beef Stew/Soups, Peanut Butter, Baby Food/Formula, Mac & Cheese, Rice & Pasta, Spaghetti Sauce, Parmalat Shelf Stable Milk

Play a Role in Fighting Hunger – Your Help is Greatly Needed

Food Bank

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Mayor's St Patrick's Day Luncheon Tomorrow

Posted on March 18, 2010 by billmanzi

The annual St Patrick’s Day luncheon will be held tomorrow, with a cast of thousands scheduled to appear. We will have a visit from the Republican candidate for Governor Charlie Baker, Sheriff Guy Glodis, former Lawrence Mayor Mike Sullivan, Rep. Barbara L’Italien, Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua, and Haverhill Mayor Jim Fiorentini, with emcee Senator Steve Baddour acting as the ringmaster. Naturally John Molori will appear with a song and barbs for everyone.
The event will be at the Claddagh Pub, 399 Canal Street, 2nd Floor, in Lawrence begining at 12:30. Hope to see you there.
I have attached my top ten list from my visit to the Lawrence luncheon last week. Mayor Lantigua is still upset!!!!!

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Charlie Baker's Ten Points

Posted on March 17, 2010 by billmanzi

Charlie Baker has put out a ten part program that picks up some of the low lying fruit that Beacon Hill has left for him, including getting rid of the Evacuation and Bunker Hill holidays. I am not sure which of the ten points could be rebutted with a straight face, but like real pension reform and true municipal health care reform there doesn’t seem to be an “appetite” for such action on Beacon Hill. Good political hit for Baker. The full proposal is below.

1. Eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day Holidays
2. Prohibit Bonuses for Non-performance
3. End Double Dipping
4. End Excessive Vacation Payouts
5. Ban the Hiring of Lobbyists
6. Pacheco Law Reform
7. Transparency and Reform of Quasi-Public Agencies
8. Licensing and Permitting Reform
9. Regulatory Reform
10. Ban Confidentiality Agreements

government_reforms_proposals-3-15-10

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New Coalition Advocates for Authority to Redesign Municipal Health Plans

Posted on March 17, 2010 by billmanzi

Mayors and Local Leaders form the
Save Our Communities Coalition
New Coalition Advocates for Authority to Redesign Municipal Health Plans

More than twenty Massachusetts municipal leaders announced today the formation of a new coalition, Save Our Communities Coalition, which will work to advance healthcare plan design legislation. The group gathered at the invitation of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino last week to discuss how cities and towns can control rising employee health care costs without the authority to modify health plan design, as it stands under the current state law. With growing healthcare costs taking a large percentage of already tight budgets, municipal officials are working together to advocate for a more efficient use of taxpayer money.

“This is an issue that affects every city and town in the state. We can no longer ignore rising health care costs. It will undermine our ability to provide services to the citizens of our communities,” said Coalition co-chair Mayor Scott W. Lang. “We must confront this issue and make difficult decisions to ensure that we have a municipal finance structure that is sustainable not just through one budget cycle, but for the future.”

“I am pleased to join with other municipal leaders to push for health insurance plan parity,” said co-chair and Revere Mayor Thomas Ambrosino. “We all agree that the status-quo isn’t working, and is an unsustainable model of municipal finance which is unfair to our taxpayers. We can also all agree that we must work with the Legislature, the Governor, and every stakeholder to resolve this issue.”

The cost of providing healthcare for municipal employees has more than doubled in the last decade, far outpacing the inflation and growth of any other municipal expenditure, and costs continue to grow at an unsustainable rate. Currently, cities and towns in Massachusetts spend about two billion dollars each year on health insurance, which represents an average of 14% of municipal budgets.

Proposed legislation would remove the statutory requirement that municipal officials must collectively bargain plan design changes, giving municipalities the authority to make updates to co-payments and deductibles and bring down total premium costs. This would lessen the burden of health care costs on city budgets and make funds available for other taxpayer services such as public safety, schools, and community centers.

The Coalition has requested to meet with Governor Patrick, Senate President Murray, and Speaker DeLeo to discuss the proposed legislation. Mayors and municipal leaders across the state have also reached out to state labor groups and continue to meet with local labor unions and municipal workers to discuss the issue.

Founding Members of the Coalition include:

Thomas G. Ambrosino, Co-Chair, Mayor of Revere

Scott W. Lang, Co-Chair, Mayor of New Bedford

Jay Ash, City Manager of Chelsea

Joseph A. Curtatone, Mayor of Somerville

Carlo DeMaria, Jr., Mayor of Everett

Robert J. Dolan, Mayor of Melrose

Kimberley Driscoll, Mayor of Salem

Mark P. Hawke, Mayor of Gardner

Clare Higgins, Mayor of Northampton

Richard C. Howard, Mayor of Malden

Richard Kelliher, Town Administrator of Brookline

Thatcher W. Kezer III, Mayor of Amesbury

Bernard F. Lynch, City Manager of Lowell

Thomas M. Menino, Mayor of Boston

Joshua Ostroff, Natick Board of Selectman

William F. Scanlon, Jr., Mayor of Beverly

Joseph C. Sullivan, Mayor of Braintree

Lisa A. Wong, Mayor of Fitchburg

William M. Manzi III, Mayor of Methuen

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Governor Patrick Unveils His First Ad

Posted on March 16, 2010 by billmanzi

The Governor unveiled an internet ad today, looking to take advantage of a perceived weakness in Charlie Baker, which is the rising cost of health care, especially for small business. I do believe this is going to be an especially rugged campaign, and even in Massachusetts health care will be front and center.

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