Lowell wasn’t the only City Council with a surprising vote.

Boston’s Council, which selects a Council President, not a mayor, not only had a surprise selection for Council President, but days after the vote a fellow Councilor claimed the election violated Massachusetts’s Open Meeting Law.

According to allegations in a resolution filed by Councilor Ed Flynn seeking the Attorney General’s guidance on the issue; https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/01/12/flynn-files-resolution-on-legal-violations-during-city-council-president-election-seeking-ags-guidance/

If you Google “Can members of a MA City Council talk on the phone separately even if it reaches a quorum without having a formal meeting,” you get this answer:

“Members of a Massachusetts City Council cannot communicate on the phone separately and still reach a quorum without having a formal meeting. The Open Meeting Law prohibits deliberation outside of a posted meeting, which means that communication among a quorum on a matter within the public body’s jurisdiction must occur during a noticed meeting. Therefore, any communication that reaches a quorum of the council must be done during a meeting, and any discussion outside of a meeting is not allowed.”

The real issue is, can that be proven?

Councilors can call one another, but who can prove what was talked about? Why is anyone even discussing filing a complaint? Is anyone?

I get Dan Rourke did a great job as Mayor and is well liked by many, but I don’t recall Vesna Nuon or his supporters accusing Dan or his fellow supportive councilors of violating the open meeting law in 2023 when InsideLowell ran a story on November 9^th showing he had enough votes to become Mayor.

I get Mayor Erik Gitschier isn’t everyone’s choice. He can come across as a know it all and someone who is negative to the city employees. But, like Dan, Vesna, Rita Mercier and all of the other Councilors, he has his supporters. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and see how he performs. He’s already created a Frontrunner City ad-hoc subcommittee with Councilor Rourke as Chair, for those people who wanted continuity for that program.

At the very least, I think he’ll represent the city better than “Mayor Patrick Murphy” did!!!!

Does it Really Matter?? This week, I saw a Facebook post that insinuated that Representative Vanna Howard’s chances of winning the Senate Race are over because she signed on as a co-sponsor to Senator Cynthia Stone Creem’s Transportation Bill S.2246 to align the commonwealth’s transportation plans with its mandates and goals for reducing emissions and vehicle miles traveled.

Does it really matter whether she signed on as a sponsor? Do you realize how many bills are filed each session and how many our Senators and Representatives sign onto? Why would this bill, which at this point doesn’t specify what if any penalties drivers would suffer or has even received a full hearing, kill her election chances?

I’m not a fan of the bill, having driven 300 miles a week roundtrip for 18+ years, but I doubt this will totally derail her campaign.  If people in Pepperell, like my son who doesn’t like the bill or the fact Senator Jamie Eldridge is also a cosigner, then that will hurt her. But the progressives who support Eldridge and others will continue to support her.

What I do hope is either Ted Panos or Jim Shainker, when they host their debates this week, ask both candidates if they support the bill. And when she says yes and why, they follow up with this question:

“If you are so concerned about reducing emissions, how often do you take the train from Lowell to Boston when you need to be at the State House? How many of your staff members take the train or other public transportation? How often have you taken the LRTA to campaign in Dracut or Tyngsboro for this Senate seat?

My guess is that neither will be willing to ask (call it Nutter’s question so she doesn’t get mad at you), but if it is asked, the answer will be little to none, that she needs the flexibility to get back to her district to be at a particular event, and that the LRTA bus schedule isn’t conducive to her campaigning availability.

A Great Choice and opportunity for a good person! A midday Friday press release announced that “The Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce (GLCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Linsey Former as Interim President & CEO, effective mid-February. Former has served as the Chamber’s Member Engagement Coordinator since June 2023, where she has been instrumental in strengthening relationships with members, supporting business growth, and helping the Chamber flourish as a trusted connector within the Greater Lowell business community.”

Congratulations to Linsey, who I believe will be a solid, creative leader. She had the chance to learn from the best!

Incompass announced on LinkedIn that Danielle McFadden, the outgoing Chamber President, was officially joining them soon.

I love my job! Not writing this column or doing the radio, which I enjoy, but my full-time job that allows me to work with students from the Greater Lowell area and get into great buildings like Tewksbury High and the new portions of Lowell High.

This week I had the opportunity, along with a co-worker, to spend two days at UMass Lowell and serve as a judge for the DECA 5th Regional Competitions with students from Chelmsford, Dracut, Tewksbury, Westford Academy, Collegiate Charter School of Lowell and others.

I was so impressed with these students who on Tuesday had a half hour to review a scenario and then, in teams, had to present solutions to the proposed problem. Then on Wednesday, mostly Freshman had ten minutes to review a financial scenario, then explain to me why security and safety mattered.

Trust me when I say, the future is in good hands based on what these young people showed.

Thursday, after meeting with students one on one at LHS, I had the opportunity to tour the newly opened section of LHS. Fifty classrooms, the beautiful and impressive ROTC space, Dance Studio, Band and Chorale Arts rooms.

The Auditorium isn’t finished yet, but is expected to open in April. The audience chairs, lighting and painting is complete and the place, once the stage is completed, will be a great place to watch shows.

The Media/TV studio is huge, with rooms for editing. Once the equipment comes in, the Creegan TV Studio will be a first-class space for the new Radio/TV pathway program.