No More Fancy Chocolates

Too bad. Expensive, but clearly different and tasty.

The blog address at the bottom is adventures@ballotinchocolates.blogspot.com

Newburyport Posts Presents....

A dramatic and fictional depiction of the cell phone interruption that might have convinced the City Council to take a hard stance on electronic communication devices, with Hugh Jackman as Councilor-at-large Tom Jones and Daniel Craig as Ward 2 Councilor Greg Earls (only because he sits next to Jones in the chamber.)



For those who haven't read about or watched the scene, Jackman and Craig plead with a cell phone owner to pick up their phone when the device keeps ringing during their performance of "A Steady Rain." I picked it up off TMZ.com.

Great response by the two actors.

BTW, it should be noted that the scene was recorded by someone who most likely held another cell phone. See, these things aren't disruptive at all if their ringers are off.

A bit of a correction here. I rewatched the city council meeting during which they discussed the lap top ban. It appears to me that the council did intend to exempt the media from the restriction, as the Daily News editorial suggested, suggesting the writing of news article is part of council business.

I still don't see how that exemption is fair given that any citizen or public official could be working on council business by taking notes on council debates and votes. On top of that, reporters are just folks like you and me. They hold no offical standing or privileges in the eyes of the law.

Anyway, enjoy.

Today's Soccer Fundraiser is cancelled

Thank You Daily News

Glad someone is on my side.

I didn't really expect many to rally around my opposition to the City Council's recent decision to limit the use use of laptops in the council chambers, but I'm happy to have the editorial page of the Daily News on my side.

There's a reason for defenders of the First Amendment to be concerned about this. Laptops are often used by bloggers, who instantly upload their opinions on council matters to their blogs. By putting a ban in place, the council has effectively squashed a forum that some use to express their viewpoints.

The editorial corrects a mistake I made in an earlier post. Councillors aren't the only ones permitted to use laptops. Audience members also can, but only to review electronic documents related to council business. This adds a whole new level of silly to the rule, making it largely unenforceable unless councillors want to walk the pews to ensure the constituents aren't using a down period to check out their Facebook page.

What the new rule 22 really constitutes is a ban on typing/notetaking on laptops. Again, I'm not sure why this activity needs to be singled out. The council could easily just ask people to be considerate about their overall noise instead of creating a rule open to legal challenge.

BTW, Ari Herzog, councillor-at-large candidate, raises an interesting point about whether or not the council's ban on "electronic communication devices" violates the state's open meeting law if they're used as recording devices. It's definitely worth a read.

Some Soccer Notes

Just got back from coaching The Boy in soccer, which means I spent 45 minutes giving high fives to four-year-olds. It's great fun and a great program. Last week's opening session was a particular success thanks to the NHS soccer players who gave clinics. I also was impressed that the high school coach sent out an email to the league inviting kids to watch the NHS team play. Great idea.

Anyway, this seems like a nice opening for two Soccer notes.

* There will be a meeting on Thursday where people can view preliminary plans for Cherry Hill Park. I hope Mary Harbaugh can write a short item on the overall proposal but she informesme that there's a copy at the library reference desk. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m at the Storey Ave fire station.

*Speaking again of Newburyport High Soccer

---

NHS BOYS SOCCER Fund-Raiser!

At Amesbury Sport Park:

Have Fun while supporting your high school team.

Play Soccer, Ride the OGO, Summer tubing, Pizza and a drink.

All for $20!

When: Sunday 9/27   5pm-closing

5pm-6pm-  Youth soccer clinic, put on by the boys high school team. The

kids will be separated into appropriate age groups.

There will also be a penalty shot contest and a crossbar contest!

Cost: $20 will get you, The hour soccer clinic, 1 OGO ride( which usually

cost $15 alone) 2 hours of tubing, a slice of pizza and a drink. *What a

Deal!

$15 if you take the OGO ride out!

$10 For the soccer clinic, slice of pizza and a drink!

Call Coach Shawn Bleau with any questions (978) 764-3719

So there you go.

So crazy it just might work

A few weeks back, I'd heard that a write-in movement was afoot. [Note: we bloggers need to open up with comments like these so we can demonstrate just how plugged in we really are. Insecurity is an awful thing.]

Anyway, someone asked if I'd heard about a write-in campaign and I immediately assumed this was an effort brought on by the same folks who sponsored the loony theory that James Shanley and Donna Holaday both announced their runs for may to clear the field of opponents for one or the other.

But then I ran into Jim Stiles at the Farmer's Market on Sunday. [Note; We bloggers like to show how we support local efforts by name dropping.] Jim told me about a letter he'd submitted to the Daily News proposing an unconventional write in campaign. It was published this morning.

Jim says he hasn't decide who will get his support for mayor yet, but he offers this interesting notion:

However, I do plan to write in the names of James Shanley and Donna Holaday — the two mayoral candidates — for positions as at-large city councilors. I am very pleased that these two excellent people are running for mayor and expect to be pleased regardless of who wins that race. However, I find the thought of losing either of them from city government an unpleasant one. They are both first-rate city councilors.

Fortunately, my research (with a great deal of help from others) makes it clear that I can vote for anyone I want to for any position I choose, including voting for one person for more than one position. Presumably either Donna or James will garner the votes necessary, and regardless of what happens with write-in votes, will become mayor. However, if we are very fortunate, the candidate who loses that race will get enough votes to win an at-large City Council seat.

In short, Jim is suggesting that folks write-in the names of Shanley, Holaday or both as City Councilors-at-large. So the one who isn't elected mayor still gets a council seat.

I'm not sure how the mayoral candidates feel. As Jim noted, they really can't talk about it since you can only campaign for one office at a time. I"m not sure they'd be too happy with the whole idea as it introduces yet another variable into an unpredictible process. No doubt, they just want to keep their eyes on the prize.

But as a voter I really can't see a downside to this. I do like both candidates. I'm voting for Shanley as mayor (a point I'll expand on in a future post.) But I see no harm in writing in Holaday or Shanley as councilor-at-large as well.

The only potentially aggrieved parties I see in this scenario are the good folks who are busting their humps to run for councilor-at-large. They did put their names out there, and I'm sure they don't want more competition than they already have. Losing out to a write-in candidate has got to roast your potatoes after you've spent time and money on a campaign.

This feels like cheating in a way. But Stiles is quick to point out there's nothing illegal or unethical about this, and he's right. The city would be stronger with Holaday and Shanley in the game rather than having one on the sidelines.

I think I love this idea.

Following "Following Atticus"

Tom Ryan has kindly allowed me to share this wonderful bit of news.



The William Morrow Company, an imprint of HarperCollins, has won a bidding ward for the rights to publish "Following Atticus." Tom asked that the final figure not be published but he was wise to turn down three earlier offers with the highest being $200,000.



I learned a great deal about the publishing world through Tom's frequent emails. He provided blow-by-blow accounts on the writing, editing and finally selling of the ultimate buddy story. I now know what pre-empts are (those were the three earlier offers I mentioned.) Publishing houses offer them upfront to pre-empt a bidding war. Tom rolled the dice again and won.



At the end, four publishing houses fought over the proposal, which had been on the market for less than a week.



The book should be out in about 18 months.



I still have no idea what "an imprint of HarperCollins" means, but I get the significance of the signing. William Morrow handled the publishing of Marley & Me. No doubt, some movie talk will follow. And long ago I predicted some Oprah time. I'm sure that's coming.



I appreciate Tom letting me spread the news. I've known him for more than a decade although we never spent much time together in the city. I only covered City Hall for six or so months while he was writing The Undertoad. Then I left for nine years. When I finally returned to Newburyport he packed up, sold the magazine and moved to the mountains. Yet he's been a friend to the blog and to me since my return.



So let's take a moment to congratulate Tom and Atticus and to salute the pursuit and achievement of a dream.

Candidates Night (Note the venue change)

While I'm in the business of lifting text from other blogs, let me pull this of Larry Giunta's Newburyport's Voice regarding tomorrow night's candidate's night.

Tuesday September 22nd

At the Elks Hall 25 Low Street, Newburyport

*7:oopm-9:30pm

This is a non-partisan event for the public to meet the candidates and hear their visions for the city's future.

Each candidate will be allowed five minutes to address the crowd on any local subject.

*The Event will be videoed. The Candidates' speeches will be aired on the local Access Channels.

All local municipal candidates are invited to speak.

All area residents are welcome.

For more information please contact Larry Giunta

@ 978-265-0597 or newburyportrepublican@gmail.com z

Charter Review Commission candidates won't have time to speak, which is understandable. Twenty people at three minutes a pop is an an evening all its own. But you'll hear from Mayoral and City Council candidates. (And I'm sure more than a few charter candidates will be in the room.)

The Greater Newburyport Republican Committee is hosting the event, which doubles as a fund-raiser for disabled veterans. So this is a great opportunity to get informed and give back.

More for Larry's blog:

*A donation drive for disabled veterans will be conducted at the event. All gifts will be donated to an organization called Vetts for Vets http://www.vettestovets.org/
List of donation items needed• Full sized afghans• Wheelchair bags• Board Games• Chess/Checker sets/Cribbage Boards• Men's clothing: New sweatpants, new sweatshirts,white socks, underware, sweaters, washable slippers,sneakers with velcro laces, hats, gloves, jackets, scarves• Women's clothing: knee socks, washable slippers,sweaters, jogging or warm up suits, colored t-shirts,walking shorts, hats, gloves, scarves, belts, jackets
• Overnight bags/suitcases (No hotel sizes on the items below please).• Deodorant• Shampoo• Toothpaste/Toothbrushes• Denture cleaner• Poligrip• Body wash liquid soap• Baby shampoo• Disposable razors• Electric razors (rechargeable, new only)• Electric pre-shave lotion (alcohol free)• Aftershave lotion• Cosmetics• Hand and Body lotion• Hair dryers• Hair brushes/combs• Electronics - TV's, stereos, Walkman radios (always great)
Check donations accepted as well. Please make checks payable to Vettes to Vets and note 'GPF 9001' in the memo section of the check.

Alls Well

Like Gillian Swart, I received a copy of this letter from the School Department on Friday. I couldn't pull it off the PDF so I'm copying and pasting from Gillian's Post. I'm assuming she wouldn't mind.

Clearly, I'm happy the school committee and department resolved this issue. In the end, they did what's right by the student and the city, and Triton deserves a great deal of credit for being so amenable throughout.

Despite my earlier criticism about the School Committee's handling of the situation, these folks have my full support. They've got the toughest jobs in town.

---

To the citizens of Newburyport,

The Newburyport School Committee is pleased to have successfully concluded negotiations with the Triton School District, and welcomes Michael Cuneo back to Newburyport High School to complete his final year. This has been an exacting, difficult and emotional process that not only impacts Michael in the short term, but also provides guidance to the community should a family face a similar matter in the future.

The Committee struggled, in part, because the law that allows a School Committee to waive residency requirements for a student was a little-known rarely invoked single statute in the voluminous Massachusetts General Laws; our research did not yield any instances where a school system had used this statute. Nonetheless, with this situation behind us, the Committee has an opportunity to clarify some of the confusion and misinformation that generated the

concern of the community.

First and foremost, Superintendent Deirdre Farrell bore the brunt of criticism during this process. This criticism was unfair, unwarranted and often lacking in civility. The School Committee ardently supports all of Ms. Farrell’s actions over this matter; she upheld a decision made by her predecessor regarding the Cuneos that was consistent with the district’s existing policy on compliance with residency statutes in the Massachusetts General Laws.

Superintendent Farrell has a responsibility to ensure that the best possible education be delivered to the residents of this city, and to deliver those services equitably, with minimal risk of lawsuit or fines. The Cuneo’s situation is one of many compelling circumstances the district faces each year. The School Committee takes each individual situation seriously, yet with no legal basis for resolution, our actions sometimes seem to lack compassion or even common sense.

We regret that Superintendent Farrell unfairly bore the brunt of criticisms regarding a decision

made in accordance with existing policy.

MGL Chapter 76, Section 12 stipulates the only circumstance outside of Choice permitting a School Committee to waiver residency requirements. The Committee regrets not having a legal opinion that revealed this statute sooner.

Please consider the following:

• After extensive research, we found that this statute is rarely used. In fact, after contacting over 45 school systems, only one recognized that the statute with a policy to implement it. Even that one policy was critically flawed and would not have passed legal muster.

• The delay in obtaining the legal opinion was, in part, our reliance on reviewing decisions made by other school systems, each time our lawyers responding the same—the decision was not made in accordance with existing residency statutes. Further, our attorneys noted that in each case no statute was cited to support the residency waiver decision as implemented. Our community should be thankful that our school administration had the persistence and sound judgment not to place our city in legal jeopardy by simply following the steps taken by other districts, despite their seeming success at bypassing the law.

• It was not until after our motion to reopen Choice as a means of resolving this situation that other districts expressed concern that our decision could disrupt their effort to retain and schedule students, and potentially generate costs beyond those budgeted for the year.

Our community and schools will see tremendous challenges in the coming months. We are facing the worst budget year of the last six, while we are trying to rebuild a school system decimated by budget cuts. There are no current prospects for additional revenue from the city and state.

Changes to the make-up of our district leadership – we are looking for a new Superintendent due to Dr. Lyons’ departure, and the retirement of three of the seven members of the current school committee – will test us, but we look forward to being invigorated by new ideas.

We are ready to face these challenges. Now, more than ever, we appreciate the participation, input and support of the Newburyport community.

Sincerely,

The Newburyport School Committee

And I love dogs

My fellow Charter Review Commission candidates and I have been asked to write up a 50-word bio to run on the cable channel. The challenge? Cramming the relevant information into a small, attractive package. I think I'm going with this.

Tom Salemi is a husband, father, and avid follower of municipal government. A writer, Tom worked at the Daily News and several other community papers, covering both city and town governments. He still writes a blog on Newburyport issues. Before moving to Newburyport, Tom served on the Sutton Planning Board, including one year as chairman.

Fifty six words. Enough to make a decision on? I certainly hope not. That's why I'm going to hold an assault rifle in my campaign shot. That should project the sense of strength I'm seeking.

Just a joke.

Keep an eye out for candidates nights and other meet and greats. I'll post details here.

Pry it from my dead, cold hands

Are you kidding me?

I read this in Gillian's Blog, and I had to see it myself to believe it. The City Council at Monday's meeting actually took the brave, bold step of prohibiting the use of laptop computers in their hallowed chambers during their meetings.

Why? I'm still not sure. The council did place a ban on electronic communication devices--cellphones, PDAs, etc--and that will be as enforceable as getting Massachusetts residents to pay sales taxes on their NH purchases.

But I understand why. The ringing, the pinging, the ring tones. They can be disruptive, but they can also be muted if people are reminded to do so prior to meetings.

But laptops? What is this about? Apparently, city council meetings are attracting a nasty element--people using their laptops. Oh heavens, not that. Not an informed public capable of listening and typing at the same time. How will democracy survive?

Apparently, the council didn't want to take the pains to differentiate between PDAs, cell phones, lap tops and any future devices so they banned them all, whether they presented a problem or not.

Councillor Tom Jones suggested the ban was necessary so people can't twitter (or I think tweet) during council meeting. Honestly, who cares if people tweet, twit or twiddle their thumbs during a council meeting. At least they're attending, but apparently it's not enough to attend the meeting. Everyone must pay close attention to every golden word coming out of the mouths of our councilors or risk missing the oratorical fireworks?

Oh, and the best part? The Councilors themselves would be allowed to use their laptops.

Yeah, this annoys me because I'm a blogger and I use my laptop to keep notes. I type quietly and I'm respectful of others. But apparently Newburyport City Councillors can't concentrate and deliberate with the raging cacophony of tiny plastic keystrokes.

But I'm also tired of pointless regulations. Laptops are not a menace worth banning. In fact, PDAs, cell phones and other devices also have their places. Just advise people they can't make noise. If they do, they'll be asked to step out of the chambers. Simple rule. Simple result.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go purchase a notebook with extra crinkly paper for the next council meeting.

Reason Number 128 Why I love Newburyport

On the way back from a wake in Revere, we hit the new Sonic hamburger stand in Saugus on Route 1. What a nightmare. If Hell were to franchise, Sonic would be it.

The food was mediocre, pure and simple. But the layout out the place was confounding. You actually have to use difference entrances for eat-in and drive thrus, and the entrance to the former is on a street that run parallel to Route 1.

Anyway, it made us pine for Haley's, our one-of-a-kind hamburger/ice cream joint. No formulaic menus and cookie cutter decor hammered out by some Madison Avenue geek with a cheese gun for me, thanks. Give me the real deal.

Incidentally

Did you know that the Andaman Thai Restaurant at the Tannery does in fact offer seating at the top of its building? I haven't had the chance to enjoy it yet, but the view must be spectacular.

Unfortunately, alcohol can't be served up there. I have no idea why, but I'm sure it's hurting business.

Good to Go

I dropped off the nomination papers this morning, making me an o-fficial candidate. I feel so Jimmy Stewarty.

Anyway, here the list of candidates for YOUR Charter Review Commission. These are folks who have turned in papers and still intend to run. (One candidate apparently pulled out after returning papers.)

Olga S. MacFarlane, 6 Clipper Way
Cynthia S. Muir, 10 Hancock St.
Alexander Z. Warren, 8 Maple St.
David R. Clarridge, 15R Bromfield St., #2
Paul M. Bevilacqua, 126 Merrimac St., Unit 3
Thomas Tolman Lyons, 8 Oak St.
Douglas A. Locy, 17 Alberta Ave
Shelia A. Mullins, 7 Parsons St.
James A. Stiles, 28 Strong St.
Bruce L. Vogel, 28 Myrtle Ave.
Kenneth A. Woods, 18 Temple St.
Steven P. Cole, 8 Hallissey Drive
Kathleen E. Bailey, 109 WinterWater St.
Bruce M. Menin, 83 Lime St.

So we've got two sitting school committee members (Menin and Cole,) a former City Councilor (Vogel); former planning board chairman (Locy) and mayoral candidate (Stiles.) I still think a former mayor would have been a nice touch, but ah well.

Eight others have pulled out papers but haven't return them yet, or at least haven't done so with enough signatures to qualify. I know Hugh Kelleher, 8 Summit Place, one of the early advocates for Charter Review, is collecting signatures and intends to run.

So we're looking at at least 15 candidates, a good sign. Could be close to 20 if we get the majority of the eight outstanding.

And 60...

Okay, I've got all the signatures I need to get on the ballot for Charter Review Committee. Thanks to all the friends, neighbors and strangers who signed my nomination papers. I'll drop them off the City Clerk's office in the AM, a full day before the cut off date. Glad I didn't procrastinate.

Incidentally, if you missed the Thursday night session on the Charter Review check out Port Media's recording of the meeting below. This should give you a nice primer on the process and some context from Winthrop's successful charter review. (That town made a HUGE change going from Town Meeting to Town Council.)

I was excited to see and meet some of the dozen-plus candidates who are running for Charter Review. You'll see some familiar faces but also some newcomers like myself (and a late comer as well as you'll see me saunter in at 7:06.) I was encouraged to see such a broad sample interested volunteers.

We're supposed to turn in biographies and head shots to run on the cable channel. Also, Hugh Kelleher--who is running for one of the seats--is hoping to arrange a candidates night so we can introduce ourselves. There might also be some information on the Charter Review Blog. (See Right.)

I'll make myself known here, of course.

Hello My Name Is

I now have 37 of the necessary 50+ signatures to get my name on the November ballot as a candidate for Charter Review Committee, so things are looking good.

I must say. I first saw this as a bit of a chore, but the gathering of signatures has been really gratifying. It's allowed me to connect to friends, but more importantly it's allowed me to introduce some people to the Charter Review question.

With the summer unofficially behind us and the campaigns gearing up, I hope we can get the word out on the Charter Review. I'll do my best here and invite all candidates for the post to introduce themselves here.

But it starts tonight at City Hall at 7 p.m. I hope to see you there.

9/11

What a tragic coincidence that the services for Sgt. Jordan Shay start on Sept. 11, eight years to the day our world changed.

The Daily News says it will post details on the route his funeral procession will follow on Saturday morning.

I'm sorry for the family's terrible loss. In addition to his being a hero and patriot, Shay was a gifted storyteller. The News ran an excerpt from his blog last week.

If anyone knows of other local service men or women with blogs I'd happily post them on the blog roll.

Schools Should Admit, Correct Mistakes

One of my surest measures of an business, organization or even a person for that matter is how willing they are to admit to and then to correct a mistake.

That's why this whole debate over where Michael Cuneo finishes his senior year is so troubling to me.

By my reading, the boy's father did the right thing. He called the school department before moving his family and asked the right question: Can my son, who has spent 11 years in Newburyport's public schools, finish his school career in Newburyport if we're forced to move out of town.

He says he was told yes, a response that no one has disputed as far as I can tell.

However, the answer was incorrect. Or at least fells far short of the truth.

This was mistake number one.

Upon meeting with the school committee, the Cuneos learned that their son couldn't finish without becoming a choice student. And, according to the administration, that process opened the schools up to risks they weren't willing to shoulder. So they turned the Cuneos away, even though the school department helped create this mess with incorrect information. Garry Cuneo says the family wouldn't have moved out of the city had they known Michael couldn't finish up his senior year at NHS.

Then, this week, just prior to the start of school, the committee members learned they could in fact allow the student to stay without playing the choice card. They evidently didn't know they had this power earlier in the summer when it could have been most helpful

This was mistake number two.

From my perspective the Cuneos did only one thing wrong: they trusted the response they were given from the school department. To me that seems like a far less egregious error than the two committed by the school department. In fact, it's not even fair to call it an error.

In my eyes, the mess falls entirely at the feet of the school department and committee. I know the committee is charged with representing the entire school system, not just one child. But the system failed here--not once, but twice--and the school committee needs to acknowledge the errors and to correct them.
--
Daily News article here.

I wonder

Why on earth is there a Newburyport Avenue in Altamonte Springs, Fla.? See here. That just seems so random.

Charter Review Meeting on Sept. 10

PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

Charter Review ballot initiative

On Thursday, September 10 at 7:00PM there will be a meeting in the City Hall Council Chambers to shed further light on the City Charter ballot question. Over 2200 citizens of Newburyport have signed petitions calling for a review of the city charter. The question will appear on the ballot in November. If the question is approved by the voters, a 9-member commission will also be elected.

Attending the September 10 meeting will be Steve McGoldrick of the UMass Collins Center for Public Management. McGoldrick is an expert on options for structuring forms of city governance. The president of the Winthrop City Council, Tom Reilly, will also be attendance. Winthrop is a community that has recently gone through the charter review process.

The meeting will be purely informational, and will be covered by local news outlets, including Port Media cable TV.

The public will be invited to ask questions regarding the Ballot Question, the Charter Commission or the review process.

Looking forward to seeing you on September 10, 7-9 PM in City Hall.

The Committee to promote City Charter Review

Ed Cameron
Judith Grohe
Hugh Kelleher
Bonnie Sontag
Chip Wyser

Also, Gillian Swart was nice enough to post an update on the candidates running for the committe. Eleven, so far, which is great news. Here's hoping those other slackers (hello self) get their signatures.

Amen

Attaboy Ralph Ayers.