Caught in another error!
Yes, I made a mistake last week. In the section congratulating Franklin Miguel, I said that his wife’s name is Laura. Her name is really Lourdes but, because she doesn’t belong in the Elections Department as bilingual elections coordinator since she can barely speak English, I keep forgetting her name.
Elections are gearing up
Oh my! April 3 is the magic date. Nominations will open on that date at 8:30 am for a very long period of 16 weeks. There will be the usual suspects and some surprises, as well as some that we hope don’t return.
One of the surprises is that Franklin Miguel is opening an account to run for City Council. That’s hard to understand because that job pays $15,000 a year and he would have to give up his no-show-job with the city. His new duties as director of youth for the PRM at the consulate will require more international travel and probably won’t have too much time to work for the city. Well, that will be the “honorable” thing to do.
Lourdes is among the lucky people married to the Capital Assets Manager earning $95,000 while he also holds a position with the Dominican Republic Consulate in Toronto, Canada getting $4,500 each month (under the table because he is not registered as such in this country.)
Speaking of the Elections Department
We have been paying attention to the voting machines and Lourdes Alvarado’s incompetence and the fact that the Elections Department is understaffed. Then I realized that there are four employees in that office. When Richard Reyes left last year, the city brought back Dan Tavor who had worked there before, was a good employee and had the necessary experience.
Upon calling City Clerk Bill Maloney, he confirmed there are four individuals on staff: Richard Reyes, Dan Tavor, Ruben Perez and Lourdes Alvarado.
Mr. Maloney said, “Operations have improved much since Dan Tavor was brought on board in September and he has assured that the City was able to provide Early Voting and Absentee Voting.”
He is satisfied that things are developing much better because he has people with expertise, knowledge, skill and ability. Let’s hope that Mayor Rivera does the same with the City Clerk’s office that needs five employees to run properly. Lately, residents looking for information or documents have to wait because the two staff is not sufficient. The mayor will be sending his FY20 budget to the city council for approval. In recent years, he has been reducing the City Clerk’s budget every year. Let’s see what will happen now.
The Office of the City Attorney was operating with one lead attorney for more than a year. I remember when City Attorney Raquel Ruano during her confirmation hearing said that she’ll be making technological improvements with funds that are being made available from the Finance Director. That is the key. Without funds, nothing will be improved.
When was this position approved?
On February 15, I wrote the 3rd installment of the Corruption and Traffic of Influence series. That one was about Eileen O’Connor Bernal, Mayor Dan Rivera’s Chief of Staff. She is an licensed attorney but doesn’t carry malpractice insurance because she agreed with the Bar of Overseers not to perform any legal work as long as she works for the city, otherwise, it would be required to have liability insurance.
The community became aware that she was not true to her commitment when Attorney Francisco Paulino issued a video on Facebook attesting to her participation in court representing the mayor in a private matter. I recommend that you read the February 15 edition for more details.
As more information continues to pour in, we found that she commonly provides legal advice to the Licensing Commission as counsel openly drafting and pleading cases.
Also, an attorney working on an ABCC appeal wanted to know why Eileen was signing pleadings as Special Assistant City Attorney. She is representing the City in Court as well using that title. Worst of all, she could very well sabotage Raquel Ruano’s job working from the inside. The City Attorney works for the City Council and for the people of Lawrence. Eileen works for the mayor.
My question is: Is it legal to give her a title for a job that doesn’t exist? Has the City Council an opinion on that?
What’s the sense of churning out ordinances and measures that are not followed? The mayor breaks laws, makes decisions, gives undeserved pay raises, moves people around, gives unearned vacations to his favorite people, etc. and no one calls him on the carpet, complaints or sue him for acting as if this city is his own property and he is the slave handler.
Is any councilor going to bring up Eileen’s new title at the next meeting?
Ooops! Wrong tree
Last week, DPW worker Juan Tejeda went to this home at 113 Sylvester St. and cut down a huge tree. Clearly, it was behind the fence.
Now the homeowner wants the city to pay him $4,000 for the tree.
Mr. Tejeda was suspended for three days.
