Thankful – A few things I’m thankful for;

• My wife, four children and seven grandchildren, who are all doing well and are healthy, and my job working with High School and Middle School students!
• Warren Shaw, who brought me into radio in 2011 and has been a true friend since.
• The politicians who I mention in this column who don’t take it personally and don’t mind me disagreeing with them on many issues. I wish more of them were like Danny Rourke, Erik Gitschier and Rodney Elliott in being able to handle criticism and continue to talk and argue with me! (Rourke and I consistently on Education funding!)
• Ted Panos for encouraging me to take his place weekdays on WCAP, then invited me to be part of InsideLowell to write, podcast and have me fill in for him hosting the Daily Pulse.
• YOU! The people who read this column. When I started in August, we had around 500 views and we’ve grown to just under 1,000 at the end of October, while generating some good discussions.

Nice Thought, but it’s not Likely! On this week’s Council Agenda;

1. Robinson – Req. City Mgr. have the proper department provide a path forward for all elected officials to be compensated.

It’s a good thought (didn’t I mention it last week?) but it is the STATE that would have to change MGL 268A Chapter 20. An Ethics Lawyer pointed this out to me last April when I asked about running for School Committee.

one exemption in § 20 states: “This section shall not prohibit an employee of a municipality with a city or town council form of government from holding the elected office of councilor in such municipality, nor in any way prohibit such an employee from performing the duties of or receiving the compensation provided for such office; provided, however, that no such councilor may vote or act on any matter which is within the purview of the agency by which he is employed or over which he has official responsibility; and provided, further, that no councilor shall be eligible for appointment to such additional position while a member of said council or for six months thereafter.

No such elected councilor shall receive compensation for more than one office or position held in a municipality but shall have the right to choose which compensation he shall receive.” 

It’s been pointed out that in July of 2000, the Lowell City Council voted 8-0 to allow Rithy Ung to receive both his School Department salary and his $12,000 City Council stipend by filing a Home Rule Petition. A Home Rule petition then has to be filed as a bill with the Massachusetts State Legislature, and as you can see by the pictures below, State Reps Golden, Murphy and Nangle, along with Senator Panagiotakos, Filed bill 3979 in the 2001 session.

It did not pass then, and I’m willing to bet it will not pass the state level even if this Council or the next voted to pass a home rule petition (I’m not sure even a Home Rule petition would pass this or the next council).

Both Councilors Gitschier and McDonough knew the law before they chose to run. Just as Eileen Del Rossi knew when she ran for School Committee that she would have to quit her job teaching in Lowell to serve on the School Committee. She won, and left her higher teaching salary to take a lower paying teaching position at a private school.

While Councilor Robinson’s motion is well intended and supportive of his fellow councilors, I could not find any Home Rule petition that allows someone in Massachusetts to be able to do both and collect two salaries. (If you can, please show me and I’ll correct this)

There is a difference between an elected and appointed position collecting two salaries. That is why a Police Officer can collect his salary along with a stipend as a wrestling or football coach, or a City Hall employee may also collect a stipend to teach night school.

“In some instances, you may hold more than one paid appointed position, provided that the jobs are in separate departments (which do not have overlapping responsibilities) and all paid jobs have been publicly advertised. However, your board of selectmen, board of aldermen, town council or city council must vote to exempt you from §20, and there are also other requirements you must meet”.

Miscellaneous Notes: Congratulations to City Councilor-elect Belinda Juran on her reaffirmed victory to represent Belvidere District 3…Congratulations to Greater Lowell Tech coach Dave MacLaughlan, who has been chosen as part of the 2026 Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association’s 2026 Hall of Fame Class. He has won over 500 games during a decorated 42-year coaching career. MacLaughlan has led the Gryphons into the MIAA state tournament more than 30 times, won four tech school championships and captured numerous league titles. On top of that, David is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet!

Thank you to City Councilors Erik Gitschier and Corey Robinson, who have agreed to increase their participate in the upcoming Salvation Army Radiothon on December 6. They are allowing their friends and supporters to vote for them to wear one of my “unique” Christmas Sweatshirts to a City Council meeting if they collect the most donations, or while they direct their supporters to vote for either Warren Shaw’s staff or two members of the Salvation Army Advisory Board to wear them while bell ringing (HI Paul Belley and Lynda Clark!) …Whichever team ‘wins’ by raising the most money will also receive this beautifully framed sweater donated by Donna Murray, who won’t let her husband Jim hang it in the house!