The One Melrose has booked the Knights of Columbus on election night for a result gathering
Will they have a grief counselor on hand in case it doesn’t pass.
Melrose patch posted an article showing the nine alderman standing in support. Some of whom took a bribe of health insurance from Dolan for his raise and we are supposed to respect their opinion. We are supposed to believe they know what’s best for the city and it’s residents. The same people who praise, love and defend Melrose daily are of course praising the group. Some of them have egos that need stoking, some of them need people to like them, some are making a statement, and some are just loving life so much and have it all figured out that they think they want to help everyone acheive the same level of happiness. Well everyone is different. Everyone’s family dynamics and financial needs are different. Vote what is best for your family. Don’t let anyone tell you you can afford $50 extra dollars a month. Because the next year it will be $50 more and so on and so on. Melrose will survive without an override. Melrose home values are a combination of location and and charm. If override doesn’t pass home prices are not going to plummet your homes worth nor will we ever be on par with Lexington, Concord and Wellesley. Never were never will be.
Throwing more money at the likes of Taymore, Dello Russo, Van Kampen and aldermen and SC members who've demonstrated a consistent profile of rubber-stamping grabs for more ratepayer money without serious questioning is throwing good money after bad.
1. Fire/retire the above and those who would ape them.
2. Reform the city charter to revert to 2 yr term for mayor, to remove mayor from SC, to remove the prohibition against mayor having other work (so long as subject to limitations due to conflicts of interest), and require that votes on overrides and debt exclusions be held on general election days.
3. Retire the middle school bond.
4. Prepare separate debt exclusion proposals for separate capital construction projects - every tub on its own bottom.
Absolutely love the idea of a 2 year Mayor again. You want to keep voters engaged, then give them something to vote for other than school committee members every two years. It will also keep someone like Dolan from becomeing sompowerful that he changed the charter, and put himself on the school committee.
And I forgot: term limits, for mayor, BOA and SC.
Is it true that GI is going to pull in a pension for her 1.5 years work, especially after not even being elected?
I believe her pension will be paid based on her highest salary with the city. This is obviously the mayor's salary. She's doing alright for herself. Unelected, one issue and a pension for life.
No. She already receives a small pension for her years on the B of A. She had already retired when she became Mayor, but she did try to amend her pension to include her salary for being Mayor for 2 years. Pensions are calculated on the average of your highest three years of salary. The percentage is based on years of service and age at the time of retirement. Needless to say that would have upped the amount of her pension by many many thousands of dollars per year - from approx $2000 now to approx $55000. She was unceremoniously told she could not do that, but she did try. Pretty sleazy. Actually, her pension should have been suspended during her tenure as Mayor, because it far exceeds the allowable amount of earnings. I don't know if it was or not. There is one exception to that earnings limit restriction - if after retiring you attain elective office, there is no restriction. Gee what a surprise - the deck stacked again in favor of politicians. And we're supposed to trust anything she says or does after that? I don't think so.
No trust - are you listening, Come On, Man?
Thank you for explaining what happened @Seriously? I am glad she didn't get it and I'm glad that you have the facts.
Imagine getting a lifetime annual award of $55k/year for a ceremonial job you did for 2 years? Public service. The 2K BOA pension is fine with me.
No, asshat. I'm a member of the retirement system and I learned it from the horse's mouth, so to speak. It's not some kind of secret. She was totally upfront about trying to do it. What's wrong with you?
Just as any family needs to live within its budget so does the city and schools of Melrose, vote no.
stop this waste until they present a plan that address all the issues.
Illegitimate Gail will tank the Override because of her track record and reputation.
The override will only properly fail if everyone gets to the polls and VOTES NO. Don't take it for granted . VOTE NO.
Unbelievable. No, I'm not a Retirement Board member, but even if I were, it would be irrelevant. Retirement Board documents are public record. The fact that I am a retiree gives me a vested interested. That's my money, and I have a right to question when someone tries to grab it if not illegally, then gratuitously.
The "free paper" didn't simply cover the option, because there was and is no option. The only reason they covered it in the first place was because she inquired about it, which she was upfront about. You probably ought to limit your comments to things you actually know something about.
So when you cite your special knowledge as a “member of the retirement system”, you mean you are a random person who happens to be retired? Got it.
It's not special knowledge, it's public record, available to anyone who cares to obtain it. That includes you. But as a retiree, I have a vested interest in knowing when someone tries to get a benefit they aren't entitled to from my pension system. Exactly what part of that do you not understand?
“No, asshat. I'm a member of the retirement system and I learned it from the horse's mouth.”
But please, go on.
Hilarious is so accustomed to secrets being kept regarding personal enrichment via city finances that he or she has trouble accepting that the mayor's pension grab was public. I understand that the siphoning of city funds is usually done behind closed doors but this one was public. No need to pretend it didn't happen. Save that for your more hidden financial city secrets.