YH- The Race

Man, I do enjoy the 5K race, as a spectator not a participant. It's definitely a Top Five day in the Port.

We're fortunate to have the noble 5Kers run right by our house at what must be the toughest part of the course. And watching the mix of determination, sweat and humor is a great sight to see.

Way to go, folks.

p.s. I do think YH should institute a separate category for strollers.

Yankee Homecoming

This will likely lead to a suspension of my Man Card, but I have to say the Crafts Show is pretty damn good this year.

Andaman Rooftop Dining (But No Drinking)

First, I was happy to see the City Council revisited its decision to deny Oregano's the ability to serve liquor at its outside tables.

Councilors approved Oregano's after owner Claude Elias filed a new plan that accommodated the need to allow 8 feet of usable space with 12 feet of pedestrian clearance.

Each restaurant owner seeking to serve alcohol outdoors must meet specific regulations. The restaurant must put up barriers to enclose the area from the public way, and the manager or restaurant personnel must also have a clear view of the alcohol service.

The barricades and the outdoor furniture cannot extend beyond the 8 feet that is required.

At-large Councilor Kathleen O'Connor Ives, a vocal opponent of the Oregano's initial application, voted to support the new design Monday.

"A couple of my concerns were addressed," she said, including allowing space for pedestrian clearance and the tables not "jutting out onto Inn Street."

I'm glad the concerns were addressed. I'm just still not clear on why they weren't addressed prior to the council's prior vote when they denied Oregano's request but approved two others. Either the councilors didn't make their concerns known during the committee meeting held separately from the council meeting or they did raise the point only to have it ignored by the restaurant's owner.

But anyway....

Last week I learned that the Andaman's Thai Restaurant is serving food on the roof top seating on the Water Street Tannery building. They can't, however, serve alcohol. I'm guessing the worry is that restaurant staff can't guard against under-aged diners from sneaking a drink because they won't be watching every second of the meal.

I'm not sure if this is a state or city requirement, but it seems like a serious bit of overreach to me. How many times have you tried to hail a server with no success? It's unrealistic to think that waiters, waitresses and manages can watch every second at every table.

Ah well, no matter. I look forward to dining at what must be one of the best seats in the city.

Just a suggestion

You know what Olde Fashioned Sunday needs? I can sum it up in two words...

Monster Trucks

Or something else perhaps. I'm just spitballing here.

Happy Yankee Homecoming Everyone.

Ah, that's a bummer

I know this sort of thing can happen anywhere, but we were a bit surprised and disappointed when we realized that someone had rifled through the glove compartment in our car on Saturday afternoon.

It would have happened sometime between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., with our car parked right in front of our house and us inside.

Just emptied the glove compartment and central storage unit and dumped everything on the front passenger seat. Fortunately, we don't own any electronics. They left the change and -- thank goodness -- our collection of Chuck E. Cheese tickets.

Stay alert citizens.

From the Charter

A commenter directed me to the city charter's reference to pay raises. The question: Can the raise kick in immediately?

Sec. 17A.  Salaries of mayor, city manager and council.

The mayor or city manager and the members of the city council shall receive for their services such salary as the city council shall by ordinance determine, and they shall receive no other compensation from the city, except that a member of a town council in a municipality with a town council form of government may receive a salary for serving as a municipal employee of said municipality in lieu of receiving compensation for serving as a member of said council. No increase or reduction in the salaries of mayor or city councillors shall take effect during the year in which such increase or reduction is voted, and no change in such salaries shall be made between the election of a new council and the qualification of the new council. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable in a city under Plan F.

(Acts of 1985, c. 252, § 2)

In my reading this suggests fiscal year, not calendar year. But I can't be sure. Thoughts?

Brown Square

I admire the new Brown Square, a nice piece of restoration. But I have to ask, did we not have the money to bury some sprinklers? Seems like a lot of work to tote hoses and sprinklers out there whenever watering necessary. (Also, should we really be watering our parks at 3 pm on a hot, sunny summer afternoon?)

By the way

If Inn Street is such a vital public way, shouldn't a crosswalk be in place to protect the throngs crossing Pleasant Street?

The Politics of the Pay Raise

A big question circling the council's decision to raise the mayor's salary is: Why now? Some commenters on the Daily News site suggested Moak deserved a raise, and it's possible he would have run for another term if one was in the offing.


Here's one possible answer: The Charter Review.


Before I continue, let me state emphatically that I'm not a reporter. I don't call councilors to get their private thinking on matters. I may swap the occasional email with a few from time-to-time but haven't done so on this topic. So this is pure speculation and conjecture on my part.


That said, here goes.


It was clear to me back in Jan. that Mayor Holaday's administration (or James Shanley's if he had won) would have a huge influence on the success or failure of whatever proposal the Charter Review Commission comes up with next year.


The commission's recommendation will go before voters in Nov. (on the same ballot as the next mayoral contest.) It's too early to say what that recommendation would look like, but it could call for the creation of a city manager's position to run the city's day-to-day business.


And it's not difficult to see how public opinion of the mayor at the time - Holaday in this case - would impact the vote.  A poor performance by her opens up the door to a vote on changing to a City Manager form of Government; a good job will lead many to conclude that such a move isn't necessary as able managers can be found in an elected official.


Now, the new salary offers another factor for voters to consider. If a city manager position is included in the new change, opponents to the measure can tell voters, "Well, we raised the salary. That should attract a better class of candidate in the future, we don't need a manager. Let's give the new salary a chance to work."


Meanwhile, supporters of the city manager position can use the new salary to blunt criticism that the city can't afford to higher a city manager, who likely would draw twice the current $60,000 salary. City manager boosters can make the argument that for a slightly bigger boost in pay we can get a qualified and trained executive to run the town rather than a city clerk, educator or small business owner.


Seems to me both camps had an interest in seeing the salary go up in 2011 rather than wait until 2012, when the next mayoral term would begin.

Pay Raise Wrong

Onto other council news, while I didn't agree with her stance on Oregano's pursuit of an outdoor liquor license, I completely agree with Councillor-at-Large O'Connor Ives' position on the granting of a mayoral pay raise. It shouldn't have happened, not yet anyway.

In case you missed it in the Daily News:

The City Council agreed last night in a 9-0 vote to approve a salary boost for Holaday, beginning in fiscal year 2011. Councilor Brian Derrivan was absent, and at-large Councilor Kathleen O'Connor Ives voted present.

The mayor's pay will increase to $75,000 for fiscal year 2011, along with a $3,000 annual expense allowance. Starting in fiscal year 2012, the mayor's salary would be $85,000 with a $3,000 annual expense allowance.

Currently, the mayor's salary is $60,000 with two stipends for expenses and travel, which total $5,000. It is the lowest among all mayors in the Merrimack Valley and North Shore.

Like everyone else, I don't dispute the mayor is underpaid. And I'd support any increase to the salary for the person who wins the office in Nov. 2011. However, Mayor Holaday ran for THIS office with THIS salary. I don't feel any responsibility to give her a pay raise based upon five months of work.

Ives, an at-large councilor, said she understands the need to raise the mayor's salary and the compensation is too low.

"I don't question that in the least," she said.

However, she added, she is concerned about the timing of the raise, which takes effect when a mayor is already in office. Ives argued the raise should go into effect at the start of a new term.

"It shouldn't be about any specific mayor," Ives said, adding that she believes Holaday is doing a good job. "I want it to be about the compensation, that's it. Right now, there's a specific mayor."

I also fear what message this sends to unions and citizens. Mayor Holaday correctly voted against giving teachers raises back in Jan., saying we didn't have the money. In parking garage discussions, she's stated the city is broke and can't afford to contribute any sizable sum to its construction, another point with which I agree.

Now this. I know, the increase is merely a drop of water in the city's budget bucket. But it's a symbol, and leaders count on symbols and images to lead. Mayor Holaday just lost a big one.

Add: Councillor-At-Large Ari Herzog briefly addressed this and the Oregano's matter in his blog today. I hope our other blogging councilors will follow suit.