Joe McGiverin, after promising to do everything he could to bring the City Council together and further assuring the membership that we should all be sure to work together, regrettably once again took the Council another step backwards by ignoring the seniority and committee exerience of the Council's most senior members. He handed out chairmanships exclusively to his inner circle with the exception of long-time Redevelopment Chairman Councilor Lopez. He otherwise bypassed all of the senior members.
While the chairman positions are mostly honorary and really have no additional power then the other members, they do convey respect. Unfortunately, he has none for many of us because we don't vote the way he likes. The Council never had a litmus test until now on the selection of Chairman. Now we do I am afraid. Not one Councilor who obeyed the will of the 57% of the electorate who opposed the 20 year Aquarion contract was selected as a Chairman. Each of the current Chairman like McGiverin voted in favor of the 139% increase in the sewer rates.
On a personal level, despite my many policy differences with Joe, I voted for him as President as a gesture of unity for the betterment of the Council as a whole. Joe told us he would work hard to be fair and would really try to unite us. He told us things would be better. The mayor has stated that he wants better communication with the members of the Council and wants to work with us over the next 2 years. Yet, Joe has turned his back on all of this good will because he simply cannot get over his petty differences with the senior members of the Board who he cannot control.
In replacing Ray Feyre as Finance Chair, Mr. McGiverin has bypassed the two most senior members of the Committee with over 44 years of exerience to make way for 2 yr member Todd McGee. Unfortunately, this is the way Joe has chosen to thank those of us who gave him a second chance and believed he wanted to unite us. Councilor Whelihan and I are committed to continuing our hard work on the Finance Committee to make sure we have a city government that is accountable and lives on its budget. In light of the current membership, our experience is needed now more than ever.
As your fiscal watchdog, you can continue to count on me for the steady competent leadership you have come to expect that makes sure every dollar of your money is spent wisely. My fidelity to you the voters may have cost me my chairmanship but that is a small price to pay to enjoy the independence and integrity that has been the hallmark of my service on the Council.
Here are the committee assignments:
City Council – Committees 2008 - 2009
Ordinance
Brunelle Pluta Lopez Keane Purington
Finance
McGee Whelihan Jourdain Leahy O'Neil
Public Safety
Devine Tallman O’Neil Purington McGee
Public Service
Leahy Jourdain Welch Lisi Pluta
Redevelopment
Lopez Tallman Welch Lisi Keane
Re-Elect Holyoke's Fiscal Watchdog!
