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Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

I agree wholeheartedly with "involved citizen." Beyond that, there is something pretty amiss with the board of aldermen that such obvious gossip and implicit smear campaign would have been allowed to appear in official meeting documents. There are all kinds of rules and laws (city, state, federal) that prevent this kind of thing. No one would have been allowed to say such things in Public Participation, and they would have been instantaneously shut down by the president (or chair of school committee) once a person's name was mentioned, even beyond the accusation (allegation of a crime). So the question then is what is wrong with both President MZ for allowing this and not taking immediate action to make sure first that it wasn't posted, but now allowing it to stand for all this time? Where is the strong statement of the president, the city solicitor, the board itself against illegally smearing citizens in the public record? That goes for the chair of the CoW also, who owes strong action in this case. Why is JB still listed as a member of the commission? It is not right, and it needs to be addressed. If not, it says that open smears on any citizen, particularly one who is critical, is now allowed in official processes, which should be of concern to all of us.

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

I find it difficult to believe that Gerry uttered a sentence that short.

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

Melrose Mean Girls are the ones that voted to keep CT on for 3 more years. Most of the SC that voted for her has left.

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

This kind of trash has been SOP for these people for years. They felt they needed to marginalize GM, and this is the kind of tactic they resort to. Recall if you will the many false charges filed against parents who complain about the schools, the way CKK was mistreated, and the way Dello Russo mistreated MM. This is right out of the Dolan playbook. We may have gotten rid of him but the cancer he caused is still there, being perpetrated by his ex-minions who remain.

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

Clarence Darrow
This kind of trash has been SOP for these people for years. They felt they needed to marginalize GM, and this is the kind of tactic they resort to. Recall if you will the many false charges filed against parents who complain about the schools, the way CKK was mistreated, and the way Dello Russo mistreated MM. This is right out of the Dolan playbook. We may have gotten rid of him but the cancer he caused is still there, being perpetrated by his ex-minions who remain.
Spot on

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

Let's not forget how JLB was bullied by RD, JMcL and MBMM/GI....... Wonder if JL played along with RD and the "girls" because of how she saw JLB was treated. MBMM and GI didn't support JL's BOA name change. Then JL drools over GI and was named Appropriations Chair in return. Female leaders will not change this country, if they act just like the men and play the political game like men.

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

How was JLB bullied? I must have missed it. Do tell.

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

Curious
How was JLB bullied? I must have missed it. Do tell.
She wasn't. Melrose Messages just loves the word "bully". Check it out, it is EVERYWHERE! This board is full of snowflakes, mostly of the right-wing variety. It's laughable.

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

JLB stood strong but was indeed bullied by RD, first for a 35-minute rant/screaming session where he called to abuse her for questioning his proposed 26% raise, and then in public by him and by his thugs. She revealed the contents of this phone harassment in a BOA meeting where McLaughlin et al. (van Campen and his henchmen cooking up their fake news/false data for the ever-gullible "true Melrosians") had their hoards of RD sycophants lined up to gush about how they "knew him since he was in diapers" and deemed him Saint Doughboy, deserving of at least that 26% raise (the year before his failed override bullying & lying). She also exposed the flagrant hypocrisy of those like the HRC "leadership" (Dolan sycophants like SQG) who similarly employed bullying tactics when promoting their cackling bullying hero, the guy who viciously mocked (mocks) everyone behind their backs and labels many as "haters," his favorite go-to term (frequently employed also by Morty and also the illegit mayor GI). With dignity and composure, JLB took apart RD and SQG. She is anything but a "snowflake." She had more class and integrity than the rest of that chamber combined on that night (filled with the RD circus actors).

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

Memories
JLB stood strong but was indeed bullied by RD, first for a 35-minute rant/screaming session where he called to abuse her for questioning his proposed 26% raise, and then in public by him and by his thugs. She revealed the contents of this phone harassment in a BOA meeting where McLaughlin et al. (van Campen and his henchmen cooking up their fake news/false data for the ever-gullible \\\\\\\"true Melrosians\\\\\\\") had their hoards of RD sycophants lined up to gush about how they \\\\\\\"knew him since he was in diapers\\\\\\\" and deemed him Saint Doughboy, deserving of at least that 26% raise (the year before his failed override bullying & lying). She also exposed the flagrant hypocrisy of those like the HRC \\\\\\\"leadership\\\\\\\" (Dolan sycophants like SQG) who similarly employed bullying tactics when promoting their cackling bullying hero, the guy who viciously mocked (mocks) everyone behind their backs and labels many as \\\\\\\"haters,\\\\\\\" his favorite go-to term (frequently employed also by Morty and also the illegit mayor GI). With dignity and composure, JLB took apart RD and SQG. She is anything but a \\\\\\\"snowflake.\\\\\\\" She had more class and integrity than the rest of that chamber combined on that night (filled with the RD circus actors).
JLB showed guts, class and courage. Let's see if Kate, Manisha and Jen follow her values and conduct OR act like the "go along girls" (GI and MBMM). The illegit place holder, GI puts down women including JLB and MM. She is no role model for any female politician. She has been heard for years bad mouthing other BOA members, too. She may have a current role in the City of Melrose but that doesn't mean she is respected or trusted.

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

JLB became unhinged at the BOA meeting when she realized Dolan was going to get his raise. Once she counted to 8 "yes" votes she fabricated the whole Dolan ranting and raving phone call to try to sink his raise in a last ditch effort. Lavender's are best friends with Bob Snow. Snow was her adviser on how to kill the Mayors pay raise. What else do you need to know? Her mother Jane Lavender voted against everything and anything positive in Melrose. Her daughter simply followed in her footsteps. Only difference was the mother could take the heat in the kitchen and stayed in the position for years. JLB couldn't take the fact that her group of Melrose friends wouldn't go within 50 feet of her after her slanderous attack on Dolan...so she cut bait and quit. No class in lying and no courage in quitting. Nice try though.

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

Great posting JMcL. Viciousness personified!

Political Pressure on JLB

Melrose Free Press. 1/31/13
To the editor:
For some, the highlight of the Appropriations Committee meeting Monday evening must have been the courageous comments by Aldermen Jaclyn Lavender Bird about the process and what went on behind the scenes.
Beginning with the comment that she felt “Like a skunk at a lawn party” for voting against the order. She made these points:
1) Despite all the personal testimony about the mayor, it was not a personal issue but a personnel issue.
2) It is not the job of the Board of Aldermen to give a 25 percent raise to an elected incumbent with more than two years left in his term. It is not the right process.
3) Other ways to address the issue could be small cost-of-living increases over the next two years with a larger increase for the position which would go into effect in January 2016 following the next election.
Then came some disturbing comments about the mayor and John McLaughlin’s behind the scenes pressure. She was told by the mayor on Dec. 14 that he would seek a 26 percent pay increase and replied it was higher than she expected and could not support it as setting a bad precedent.
His response was, “Now that McClaughlin is on this, you won’t have a choice.” On Jan. 11, after many calls from McClaughlin, she told him it was nothing against the mayor, to which McLaughlin said if she did not agree, he would have to get 300 people to the hearing.
She explained that she voted based on what she thinks is right whether that decision is popular or not. Two minutes later the mayor called and she reiterated her position and endured “35 minutes of the mayor screaming".
Arnold Koch

Re: Political Pressure on JLB

Thank you, Truthsayer, for posting the truth and countering the disgusting, hateful lies about JLB by "Real Truth" (not!) and "MM Memes."

There is already plentiful evidence of the lack of courage or integrity of KL-G, JL, MB, who dare to present their rationale for votes to date as if they had actually done due diligence on the issues when it's obvious that they have not, that instead they are promoting the most superficial and in some cases entirely false suppositions. For any of them to have promoted GI, for example, as "highly knowledgeable" about education is ludicrous. GI demonstrates her staggering ignorance of factual information about even the most general education issues any time she opens her mouth. Her educational expertise is on a par with her trumpet playing (about which she also has large pretensions).... JL supposedly is all about women's issues (as in board name change), but she certainly has had no qualms about watching the chronic bullying of her female colleague, MM (who always carries herself with dignity and fights for actual issues) at numerous meetings, or even of demonstrating basic respectful conduct (as in seconding motions even if just for the purposes of discussion, as respectful boards do). KL-G has voted regressively right out of the box, and she demonstrates zero humility besides, always with a patronizing, superior air. Women's issues only matter if they are about appearances and about the fabricated issues of the Melrose fake dems, at least for this bunch. Sadly, the Good Ol' Boy Network in Melrose politics includes most of its women representatives as well, who are anything but progressive in any real way. JLB can feel proud that she stood tall next to that bunch (and by the way, she did serve for years, so trying to impugn her for having not re-upped is just bogus).

Re: Political Pressure on JLB

How can you get copies of the minutes from the Monday night Women's Commission meeting? Wonder if the Commissioner Lawyers even discussed the issues which started this string (JB and her public comments regarding the Ward 5 Vacancy)? The City and Women's Commission may be in violation of the OML by never posting their meeting minutes on the City Website.

Re: Political Pressure on JLB

They don't have to publish the minutes, but they have to have them and provide them when asked. Not every group has to post minutes, but they do need to be available to anyone who requests them.

Re: Political Pressure on JLB

public records/OML
They don\\\'t have to publish the minutes, but they have to have them and provide them when asked. Not every group has to post minutes, but they do need to be available to anyone who requests them.
Women's Commission should come clean. Their latest "meet up" posted on their Facebook page invited attendees to "have a drink or two and then plot and scheme". What is their agenda? What do they do? Who are the Commissioners? The WC needs to release a press release or be interviewed for a local paper article. Better yet, they should post their minutes on line in the spirit of transparency.

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

Meanwhile, a certifiable lunatic serves on the BOA. I guess it's forgiven as just Morty being Morty.

Re: Political Pressure on JLB

Memories
Thank you, Truthsayer, for posting the truth and countering the disgusting, hateful lies about JLB by "Real Truth" (not!) and "MM Memes."

There is already plentiful evidence of the lack of courage or integrity of KL-G, JL, MB, who dare to present their rationale for votes to date as if they had actually done due diligence on the issues when it's obvious that they have not, that instead they are promoting the most superficial and in some cases entirely false suppositions. For any of them to have promoted GI, for example, as "highly knowledgeable" about education is ludicrous. GI demonstrates her staggering ignorance of factual information about even the most general education issues any time she opens her mouth. Her educational expertise is on a par with her trumpet playing (about which she also has large pretensions).... JL supposedly is all about women's issues (as in board name change), but she certainly has had no qualms about watching the chronic bullying of her female colleague, MM (who always carries herself with dignity and fights for actual issues) at numerous meetings, or even of demonstrating basic respectful conduct (as in seconding motions even if just for the purposes of discussion, as respectful boards do). KL-G has voted regressively right out of the box, and she demonstrates zero humility besides, always with a patronizing, superior air. Women's issues only matter if they are about appearances and about the fabricated issues of the Melrose fake dems, at least for this bunch. Sadly, the Good Ol' Boy Network in Melrose politics includes most of its women representatives as well, who are anything but progressive in any real way. JLB can feel proud that she stood tall next to that bunch (and by the way, she did serve for years, so trying to impugn her for having not re-upped is just bogus).
More proof that MM posters are legit snowflake babies.... Monica is "chronically bullied". STFU! It is such a f'ing joke. I don't think she'd even come close to agreeing to that premise herself.

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

Insurance Man
Great posting JMcL. Viciousness personified!
More talk of "viciousness" here. Equals more "bullying" talk to me. Such crybabies!

Yet where are people complaining that a few posts later Morty is called a certifiable lunatic? Crickets!

It's only bullying when it happens to someone you support, MM? Check yourselves!

Re: Ward 5 Vacancy

Real Facts
Meanwhile, a certifiable lunatic serves on the BOA. I guess it's forgiven as just Morty being Morty.
OMG! I am so offended! Such BULLYING against Peter Mortimer! MM is sooo mean! (For clarification... since this board doesn't understand sarcasm often. I do not think this is bullying PM, but it is much more "bullying" than anything ever done to MM by a member of the BoA)

I guess this is just typical MM politics... I should be used to it by now.

Please try and take these posts an an opportunity to reexamine your victim mentality on this board. It is toxic and unhelpful in the scheme of things. Try and be part of the solution not part of the poison chorus that spouts nonsense.

Re: Political Pressure on JLB

No Transparency
public records/OML
They don\\\\\\\'t have to publish the minutes, but they have to have them and provide them when asked. Not every group has to post minutes, but they do need to be available to anyone who requests them.
Women's Commission should come clean. Their latest "meet up" posted on their Facebook page invited attendees to "have a drink or two and then plot and scheme". What is their agenda? What do they do? Who are the Commissioners? The WC needs to release a press release or be interviewed for a local paper article. Better yet, they should post their minutes on line in the spirit of transparency.
Why not request the minutes, then, rather than idly speculating?

You are just imagining a big plotting sessions where they are all out to get you and the other Repugs of Melrose, aren't you?

That's probably much more fun than what actually, much more likely, occurred. They were probably planning future events in town.

"Who are the Commissioners?" "What is their agenda?" - Seriously 10 seconds of googling gave me the answer to both those questions, you paranoid weirdo. Here's their page on the City Website: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/commission-women. Here's the agenda from their Feb meeting: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/commission-women/events/6473 There is even a link there to email them. Maybe try requesting the minutes while you are there.

It looks like only the BoA, SC and Parks Commission post their minutes online. Do you worry about all other commissions "transparency"? Why aren't you so hyped up about the Liquor Licensing Commissions' or Historic District Commissions' minutes?

You are a political hack, and a bad one at that.

This board as always remains a joke.

Re: Need for Transparency

ALL Boards and Commissions should be REQUIRED to post their minutes on line. All city business is funded by taxpayers and should be readily available! Layers of beaurcacy should not be required to access public information. Why should Melrose residents need to request copies of minutes? Where are the minutes stored? The biographies of Commissioners are not up to date on many pages. The MHRC for instance still lists Rabbi Fertig and Shawn MacMaster who finished their terms over two years ago. There are a number of WC vacancies and many Commissioners have left. So who are the Women Commissioners? Agendas are often wrong, too. The February MHRC agenda has the Cemetary Meeting listed instead. Check out other meetings and mistaken agendas are also listed as "school councils". The stupid thing about the WC Facebook notice was the need to have "a drink or two" in order to "plot and scheme". Dumb to promote the need for alcohol in order to plan future events or encourage networking. Their choice to use the words "plotting and scheming" will only contribute to negative and stereotypical views about female leaders and hurt the WC's reputation.

Re: Need for Transparency

Transparency
ALL Boards and Commissions should be REQUIRED to post their minutes on line. All city business is funded by taxpayers and should be readily available! Layers of beaurcacy should not be required to access public information. Why should Melrose residents need to request copies of minutes? Where are the minutes stored? The biographies of Commissioners are not up to date on many pages. The MHRC for instance still lists Rabbi Fertig and Shawn MacMaster who finished their terms over two years ago. There are a number of WC vacancies and many Commissioners have left. So who are the Women Commissioners? Agendas are often wrong, too. The February MHRC agenda has the Cemetary Meeting listed instead. Check out other meetings and mistaken agendas are also listed "school councils". The stupid thing about the WC Facebook notice was the need to have "a drink or two" in order to "plot and scheme". Dumb to promote the need for alcohol in order to plan future events or encourage networking. Their choice to use the words "plotting and scheming" will only contribute to negative and stereotypical views about female leaders and hurt the WC's reputation.
Are you Julie Delillo? This post has her stink all over it.

Re: Need for Transparency

The Melrose Commission on Women's Facebook page today shared a link from the BBC about a female pilot who flew hundreds of missions during WWII. It struck me as inappropriate and insensitive to say that she should be celebrated even "if this one is British".

Re: Need for Transparency

Inappropriate
The Melrose Commission on Women's Facebook page today shared a link from the BBC about a female pilot who flew hundreds of missions during WWII. It struck me as inappropriate and insensitive to say that she should be celebrated even "if this one is British".
THE HORROR!!! How could they?!? What horrible people! Disband the commission!

They are putting on an event tonight about female veterans. They were promoting it on social media by spotlighting American female veterans in history leading up to the event. They noted that one of their posts had a British veteran in a very barely jokey manner.

I'm sure you care so much about these veterans that you are going to the event tonight, right?!? I'm 100 percent positive you aren't.

In summation, the MCW cares about veterans and you look for the SLIGHTEST provocation to get offended. Who's really Melrose's problem?