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There has been a lot of news in the Union Leader lately about the settlement reached by the Manchester School District with my sister, Dr. Grace Sullivan, the founder of, and the soon to be former director of, MCTV, the Manchester government and education access cable station. I was not going to write here about it, as it involves a family member, but since the NHGOP decided to issue a press release about it, it seems more than cricket to write about what I learned from city documents I received in a right to know request about the efforts of Frank Guinta and Ted Gatsas to force out a hardworking school district employee without due process. Unfortunately, Frank Guinta's computer was scrubbed when he left office (sound famiiar?), but there was enough to paint a pathetic picture.
It is a very long and complicated story, but the short version is, in one of his final acts as mayor, Frank Guinta ordered an audit of the expenditures by the Manchester School District to make tenant improvements for the new MCTV studio. Through his assistant, Sean Thomas, the mayor provided incomplete and mistaken information to the auditor, who was ordered to complete the audit in a rushed manner so that it would be done before Guinta left office. The mayor wanted the auditor to see if the process for funding the improvements violated a contract between the city and the school district. He ordered this even though a legal review of the process by the district's attorney had found there were no violations.
It would give you a headache if I tried to list all the erroneous information given by Thomas to the auditor, or the information that was not given, but it is clear that Guinta wanted the auditor to find that Dr. Sullivan had done something wrong. Although he spoke in detail with Thomas, the auditor never spoke with Dr. Sullivan before writing his report.
Another department in Manchester is scheduled for elimination, with little public notice or input, and with little or no opportunity for the employees who may lose their jobs to protest to the responsible policy board. This time it is the school district's Information Technology department. Ted Gatsas has decided that the city should take over these functions. Will the school committee, having made Manchester's students safe from backless sandals, allow it to happen?
I have heard from three teachers today who are flummoxed, flabbergasted and aflutter over this latest Gatsas plan. They are worried about having to wait in line with all the other city departments for tech services, especially with the difficulties the district is having with a new computer program. Not to mention the elimination of jobs when the unemployment rate is still high. The rumor is that if this plan is adopted, the workers can apply for jobs with the city, but at lower pay and perahps without jobs for everyone.
This comes on the heels of the school committee's decision to eliminate MCTV, the government and education access stations, from the school district, and turn the equipment over to the city. Now, when that vote was taken, the school committee said there would be no layoffs. Well, below the jump I will tell you what that means.
(Imagine. Heels and toes at the same time! What is the world coming to. - promoted by Mike Hoefer)
The Manchester School Board held a special meeting on Saturday, and Mayor Ted Gatsas had another tantrum. But that wasn't the big news; we expect the mayor to explode. The big news is that Manchester's children will be safe from teachers wearing backless sandals.
The School Board did not post notice of the special meetings on the city of Manchester web site. It is a nifty way of preventing the public from knowing about meetings. As a result, not a lot of people had the opportunity to watch the meeting on MCTV and see Gatsas get angry when he thought members of the board were questioning him on some issues, including backless sandals.
In addition to the failure to post notice on the city calendar, the mayor's penchant for secrecy was reflected on the meeting agenda. The agenda listed two items of business: "Discussion of The Code of Conduct Handbook and All Other Pertinent Discussion Related to the District" and "City IT Presentation".
You would never know from reading that agenda that the topics actually on for discussion at the meeting were a dress code for teachers, and the adoption of a policy to permit the superintendent to suspend employees without pay (even against the advice of the district's lawyer, and without any prior approval by the school board). If anyone in Manchester had any interest in either topic, they would not have known that those topics were up for discussion, let alone decisions, and would not have known there was any meeting if they relied on the city's internet calendar. It was another case of Ted Gatsas's secret government in action.
For three months, business in Manchester has been conducted with little or no notice to Manchester's residents, and with only a few aldermen willing to disagree or even debate the mayor's positions on a regular basis.
However, last night the aldermen chose to stand with a non-profit group called the New Hampshire Gold Star Mothers Memorial Association, which obtained approval two years ago from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to place a statue honoring Gold Star mothers in Stanton Plaza in downtown Manchester. The organization, a volunteer group, is raising the funds for the statue, and has been working toward a September 2010 dedication. But then Ted Gatsas and board chairman Mike Lopez decided the statue should be put someplace else, despite the fact that money has been raised and all the designs done for a statue in Stanton Plaza. This is pretty 11th hour; there was a groundbreaking ceremony recently, and the dedication has been scheduled for September.
The reason: Gatsas and Lopez want to turn Stanton Plaza, a public park, into a development. However, a possible development of this space was discussed before the vote two years ago, and the BMA still approved the location. But Gatsas and Lopez decided to push through a last moment vote breaking the city's word to the people who have been working on this project for two years.
I recently filed a right to know request with the City of Manchester on four specific matters that had been pending before the city. Mayor Gatsas was displeased with my request, calling it "insane"; interesting that exercising my right to review public documents is deemed insane by the mayor, rather an exercise of my constitutional rights.
I'm still plowing through, but one item that was near the top of the pile in the mayor's files involved Blue Hampshire, so I thought I would share it. Back in March, kbartek posted a diary here about the school committee and the board of aldermen not keeping MCTV, the local education and government stations, under the auspices of the school district. I posted a comment.
Will Infantine, a Republican state rep, chairman of the board of MCAM, the public access station, and who was until recently chairman of the Manchester Republican committee, e mailed the whole posting to the mayor's assistant; in his e mail, he said, "This person has a history of writing things about MCAM and MCTV. We think they actually work for MCTV but cannot trace it back. This will let you know what they are thinking."
The meetings of Manchester's Board of Mayor and Aldermen continue to be riveting. Last night, the board voted to privatize a city operation, without any notice to the public, with no prior mention on a published agenda, with the required city ordinance changes not made available to the public for comment, and only given to the aldermen at the meeting last night. On top of that, the board voted to award yet another no bid contract to replace the office. All to carry out one of the privatization initiatives promoted by a Ted Gatsas task force.
The operation being privatized is the city's Employment Assistance Program. The two people who work in the department are going to retire at the end of June, and basically the city voted to give them a contract to do the same work they are doing now - but part time and on contract, while they also collect their city pensions. According to the alderman who made the motion, the individuals do a good job and this will save the city some money. Maybe it is a good deal for the city. But once again, the city has made a decision that was never discussed in public until the meeting at which the aldermen voted to pass it. If it was a good idea, why not put it on an agenda, give the public the opportunity to comment, and also give the public the opportunity to look at the ordinance revisions? And why not put it out to bid? Why the rush?
I have been riveted lately by Manchester government. In the past, I tried to stay out of Manchester issues as much as possible, but actions by Ted Gatsas have me paying much closer attention than ever before.
Last night, I was stunned to see the aldermen pass a department consolidation proposed by Gatsas, even though (a) no notice had been given to the public that this matter might be discussed at the meeting, let alone voted on (b) the public therefore had no opportunity to weigh in, and (c) the proposal included ordinance revisions that no only were not available to the public, but which had been passed out to the aldermen at the meeting. In other words, they voted to pass ordinance revisions that they did not thoroughly review. Although the public never had a chance to comment, however, it was clear that the mayor had been weighing in with the aldermen, as there were several references to private meetings held in the mayor's office with individual aldermen to lobby them for their votes. The people who are going to be laid off as a result of the vote never had that chance.
Well, it seems that Ted Gatsas has found the root of all of Manchester's woes. Is it corruption, incompetence, parochialism, or a toxic political culture?
Nope.
It's the International Institute of New Hampshire. This is an organization that assists recent arrivals with housing, employment, and other basic services as they make the transition to becoming Americans.
http://www.unionleader.com/art...
Gatsas says that he is upset that the Institute places immigrants in "substandard housing".
I don't recall Gatsas ever showing any concern over housing code enforcement in the past. Betsi DeVries has done some good work on this front, but Ted never made a peep.
Could it be that the real problem is that the Institute isn't sending their rental dollars to property owners who contributed heavily to the Gatsas campaign? Is it beyond the pale to wonder whether the two big development companies that each gave Gatsas over $10,000 might be whispering sweet nothings to the folks in the corner office at city hall?
I know it seems to be fashionable for some Manchester Democrats to shower Gatsas with praise, but I'm not playing that game. I'll just say...
This week, Mayor Ted Gatsas brought a proposal before the aldermen to extend the management contract at the Verizon Center for another 20 years. This is a major contract for one of the city's major facilities. The current contract does not expire for another six years, so there was no hurry to extend it, but Gatsas sold it by saying it was a better deal than we have now. Maybe it is - but could we have gotten a better deal?
We'll never know, because the contract was not put out for bid. One of the largest contracts the city has, and it was not put out for bid. And the aldermen passed this unanimously. Where is the oversight?
So, I woke up this morning in the need for a good laugh after the events in Massachusetts yesterday, and luckily, on page B1 of the Union Leader, there was a story by Scott Brooks (it does not seem to be on line, so I don't have a link):
Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas is suggesting that all kindergarten students in the city be put into one school building. Now, given that he has said he is a proponent of neighborhood schools, one might wonder how putting all five year olds in the city, from the southern most area in Goffs Falls, to the northwestern neighborhoods of Hackett Hill, contributes to neighborhood schools. But the really entertaining part is the reason Gatsas gave for congregating the city's five year olds into one large building: kindergartners do not receive busing. In other words, since the kids don't take buses, let's make it as inconvenient as possible for the littlest of our school children to attend school.
I haven't seen a takedown this clear-cut, data-driven, and devastating in a long time. Kathy Sullivan on Mayor-Elect Gatsas' plan to move 9th grade down to the middle school in Manchester schools:
The Gatsas plan is based on the faulty premise that Manchester's high schools have too many students. As Memorial High School Principal Arthur Adamakos points out, each of the three high schools is designed to hold 2,500 students. Currently, none is at capacity.
There is a significant overcrowding problem in the classrooms, however, because of a lack of teachers. This problem is the result of the budget Ted Gatsas wrote with Alderman Mike Lopez. That budget's flawed math resulted in teacher layoffs, which in turn caused too many students in classes. It is a little unsettling that an incumbent alderman who is about to become the city's mayor is confusing building capacity with classroom capacity.
According to school board member Arthur Beaudry, the one group of Manchester schools that does have capacity issues is the elementary schools. They cannot absorb the city's sixth-graders. The Gatsas plan would solve the nonexisting capacity problem in the high schools by exacerbating the very real capacity problem in the elementary schools.
State Senate District 16, comprising "Bow, Candia, Dunbarton, Hooksett and Wards 1, 2 and 12 in the city of Manchester" is now up for grabs:
Manchester Mayor elect Ted Gatsas has resigned his State Senate seat, which will set up a special election to replace him this winter.
...It now most likely that a primary will occur in January and a general election in Feburary.
We now have a chance to fill this seat with someone who will not sponsor bills like this:
I. No abortion shall be performed upon an unemancipated minor or upon a female for whom a guardian or conservator has been appointed pursuant to RSA 464-A because of a finding of incompetency, until at least 48 hours after written notice of the pending abortion has been delivered in the manner specified in paragraphs II and III.
II. The written notice shall be addressed to the parent at the usual place of abode of the parent and delivered personally to the parent by the physician or an agent.
III. In lieu of the delivery required by paragraph II, notice shall be made by certified mail addressed to the parent at the usual place of abode of the parent with return receipt requested and with restricted delivery to the addressee, which means the postal employee shall only deliver the mail to the authorized addressee. Time of delivery shall be deemed to occur at 12 o'clock noon on the next day on which regular mail delivery takes place, subsequent to mailing.
Why did the Manchester City Democratic Party give awards to Mike Lopez & Bob Backus when both have worked against keeping MCTV open?
MCTV is going to close in January.
The Republican Party will control Public, Education and Government television (3 channels) in Manchester just in time for another election. Mike Lopez, Ted Gatsas and Frank Guinta are to blame. It is disgusting that Bob Backus can't stop himself from going on MCAM with JKL.
The Manchester School Committee voted to accept a proposal from MCTV to take a 15% reduction in the MCTV budget for FY2010. This proposal was suppose to be voted on by the Aldermen during the Tuesday night meeting. It was never brought up and no decision was made yet again.
The only reason I can keep track of what has been going on in this City is because of MCTV.
So I ask the question again, maybe it needs to be directed to Ray Buckley? What will happen when Education and Government television in Manchester is controled by the Republican Party?
Maybe you're wondering why so many first-time candidates like myself are emphasizing that there has never been a more important time to bring change to Manchester's City Hall ... well, here's Exhibit A:
Alderman Ted Gatsas, a leading proponent for residency requirements, suggested the board could ask a judge to say whether the proposal is constitutional. When (City Solicitor) Clark told him the board does not have the authority to make such a request, Gatsas replied, "Then let's wait 'til somebody sues us."
James Pindell has a press release up from the Ted Gatsas campaign, announcing the Gatsas 12 Ward Tour of Manchester.
LOL! Mark Roy announced his Safer, Stronger, Smarter 12 ward tour of Manchester a week ago, after Gatsas refused to debate in each of Manchester's 12 wards.
Is Ted so afraid of Mark Roy's grassroots campaign across Manchester that he is reduced to copying Mark's strategy? Have the criticisms across Manchester that Gatsas is too busy raising money from his outside special interest friends hitting to meet with the people of Manchester starting to hit home?
With all that money Gatsas is raising, you think he would be able to hire some consultants capable of original thought.
You can tell a lot about a candidate by the money he or she raises. Take a look at some of the corporate donors that have helped ted Gatsas out and explain to me how he will put the interests of the average Mancunian first.
Well, it looks like Mark Roy is ready, willing and able to stand up to Ted Gatsas and his outside, big money special interest buddies! This release is posted over at James Pindell's site:
Manchester--Manchester mayoral candidate Mark Roy today issued a debate challenge to his general election opponent, Senator Ted Gatsas. In a letter, Roy invited Senator Gatsas to join in a series of 12 debates, one in each of the city's wards, before the November election.
"This race should be open and accessible to all of Manchester's voters, not just the wealthy out of town contributors who are writing $5,000 and $10,000 checks to Senator Gatsas," said Roy.
"Each of our wards has distinct needs and issues, whether it is traffic on Gold Street or increased class sizes, drugs in our neighborhoods, insuring rapid fire protection in northwest Manchester or providing adequate parking for downtown businesses. Senator Gatsas may want to focus on big money supporters from Merrimack and Nashua, but I am going to spend the next seven weeks talking to the people of Manchester. Hopefully, he will take time out from collecting those out of town, special interest checks long enough to join me."
According to a Sept. 8, 2009 Union Leader article, many of Gatsas' biggest contributors do not live in Manchester, such as Fred Tausch, a Merrimack investor who has given $10,000, and Brian Moses of Nashua, who is responsible for another $20,000.
By conservative estimates, Ted Gatsas spent over $45 per vote in yesterday's primary election, while Mark Roy only spent about $12/vote. After gandering at the finance reports in 9 days, we'll know the full extent, but we clearly can see that GATSAS BLOATED CAMPAIGN SPENDING IS OUTRAGEOUS!
Mark Roy was smart with his primary campaign money. He earned his victory with shoe leather and good ideas.
Ted Gatsas ran a bloated campaign with money from donations over four times the limit of what a Presidential candidate can raise from an individual, and almost half of his campaign money came from Nashua!?!?! Ted Gatsas's bloated campaign spending and, per former Mayor Baines and others have suggested, paid for it through illegal donations. These are just some of the characteristics that Manchester voters will find distasteful about Ted Gatsas, as they learn the truth.
We need to send a strong message that Manchester's city hall is not for sale!
(That this is on the front page is not an endorsement - just a recognition that I'm eager to learn more about all the Dems running in this race. - promoted by Dean Barker)
Here's an update about Bobby Stephen's campaign for Mayor of Manchester, as this Tuesday, September 15th is the Primary Election. Putting this up front: I'm the Campaign Manager for Bobby Stephen for Mayor. It's an open non-partisan primary, and the top two vote-getters go into the General Election in November.
There are many reasons that Bobby Stephen is the strongest candidate to challenge Ted Gatsas.
Bobby Stephen has great name recognition with voters in Manchester. He's done so much in Manchester - not just from his politics, but also as a former sports star, popular restaurant owner, and as an econ development leader helping hundreds of laid-off workers get a fresh start at a new career.
Manchester voters over 40 years old especially know him well. He served in the State Senate for 5 terms, covering most of what is currently Sen. Betsi Devries district. He first became well-known in Manchester when he was a boxing champ back in the 60's, when he competed for trials the same time (though different weight class) as then Cassius Clay - now Muhammad Ali. (He still keeps in touch with Ali and his trainer!) He then owned popular restaurants from the 60's through the 90's, which were the political haunts of the day. He's been NH's Boxing and Wrestling Commissioner since the early 70's. He is also largely responsible for starting the program benefiting recently laid-off workers through a one-stop-shop, and helped many workers in Manchester over the years, such as the former JAC PAC workers.
