Watching the Aldermen's Meeting discussing charter changes. Change the name to Board of Fools. And change the city name to City of Fools, also. That will bring the names in line with reality.
Couldn't agree more. They have descended to new lows with their reprehensible mismanagement of this key foundational document, giving the Executive Office even more unchecked power, as the first and most important item of shame resulting from what was clearly a bag job "revision" process. Reading the letters submitted from citizens, it's clear that the BOA knowingly chose this shameful course because they were presented with strong and sensible alternatives that they actively had to veer away from in lieu of this botch job. Anyone who wants to know in the future why any and all processes in Melrose government are so messed up need only delve into this so-called charter review "process" even just a little.
The BOA put Thorp in a key position on the Charter Review committee, with her velcroed sidekick Driscoll appearing to speak last Monday, in even more sickening simpering fashion than is typical, always about shoring up the power and perceived prestige of the school committee and the position of chair, which she and Thorp have bounced back and forth between them for many years. Anyone with half a clue knows that these two have cost the taxpayers literally millions in lawsuits and financial decisions that were anything but sensible, transparent, and in the best interests of students, with two disastrous superintendent hires and a string of equally incompetent business managers and assistant supers, who in turn have hired an entire fleet of the worst principals that Melrose has had the misfortune to experience.
Under MZ, it was guaranteed that none of the necessary progressive changes and critically necessary corrections (starting with removal of mayor from SC) would occur. They obvious spent a great deal of time correcting the embarrassing typos and legal errors that should never have been codified ten years ago but were, thanks to an equally stupid botch job with some of the same cast of incompetent and in-the-bag characters. They made sure to keep the authority of chief financial officer to be in Executive branch instead of correctly moving it to BOA, where it sensibly belongs.
The whole festivities of last Monday's meeting were punctuated by the extraordinary (even for him) rudeness and crude conduct of PM towards a chair of one of their own commissions, who was not given appropriate due respect (she is a person of color--actual and overt Racism is thriving in quaint little Melrose (no matter how many candlelit gazebo kumbaya handholding sessions are held)--and an attorney who has been critical of city officials, particularly the SC, in the past) and a legitimate opening to speak with their customary suspension of rules but instead relegated to a timed appearance in Public Participation at which she was cut off and then not allowed to rebut inaccurate representations of a financial claim made by an angry citizen (one of 2 strident Repubs who railed that night against the proposed logical change to city councillor instead of alderman), as any other city official would have been granted. Even more inexcusable was that none (not one!) of the BOA members rose to defend this commissioner and suspend the rules for comment, and instead allowed Mortimer to continue bullying her and keeping her correction of the record from occurring. Shame shame shame....
Sorry to say it's the taxpayers, residents and parents to allow these actions to revolve around this once lovely city. Other districts would demand some action, like the school committee having guts to fire the superintendent. The housing market is at a stand and many student have been taken out of the MPS. Look at the bus stops for the Charter Schools increasing students. Even St. Mary's enrollment has gone up also.
"Residents" post is priceless. The housing market is at a stand? Really? could have fooled me. Enrollment across the board has gone up at every level and every school option in Melrose...because young families can't move in fast enough. Melrose is doing just fine, and is still a lovely City. However the nice thing is that the complainers will get their wish this November. There will be 3 new school committee members, and a healthy field of Alderman at Large candidates, and some competition in 1 of the wards. Should be an interesting election season.
Looking for more land for my money and the schools came in close to 70.
How is rudeness toward a person of color now necessarily seen as "overt racism"? This is what drives white males (for those "progressives" scoring at home, an identity group no different than blacks, women, or Native Americans) crazy. Not defending rudeness toward anybody, but the leap to "racism" is a long and (getting) tired one.
"Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason." Mark Twain
It is her choice if they will have her. But it may be used against her by others running. Decisions like this sometimes have political consequences.
I was actually referring to the comment from "Disgusted" where she/he said:
"The whole festivities of last Monday's meeting were punctuated by the extraordinary (even for him) rudeness and crude conduct of PM towards a chair of one of their own commissions,
'who was not given appropriate due respect (she is a person of color--actual and overt Racism is thriving in quaint little Melrose (no matter how many candlelit gazebo kumbaya handholding sessions are held"
This leap to the racist card is getting a bit tired.
It is what it is no one cares.
The black workers in Melrose can do no wrong because superintendent has a reputation for not being nice to them.
Liz 857-544-4923 and Christine 781-662-2347
City had to hire so many and put a percentage of residents in Melrose. CT has the most law suits of any superintendent in this city. Now,the SC gives her over 1 and under 5 more years. It is too be a secret.[Shhh]
The cats out of the bag CT, got 3 more years.