The game was rigged.
Kevin Murphy's Coronation, with Dogs & Ponies (Link)
What is maddening, the Lowell City Council will go through an utterly fake City Manager search, complete with dogs and ponies. It will be quite the show. It may even prove out, that Kevin Murphy was the best applicant, after all. Never mind that it has looked like a bag job from Day 1, so no reasonably astute candidates will even bother applying.
27 Chumps (Link)
The presumption that Kevin Murphy WILL be Lowell's next City Manager is so strong and so pervasive, I can't find anyone in the bubble that will risk speaking out at the fakery around the 'process' mayor Elliott is rigging together. The only chance that certain crooked cards will be exposed is, if and when, the Council allows the public to enter the process.
Our Next City Manager & A Level Playing Field (Link)
I've said before, and I'll say it again: In regards to selecting Lowell's next City Manager, at least 5 City Councilors will worry more, if the pick is a friend to THEM. Rather than, a friend to Lowell.
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As for Balunkonis, you can see his resume and cover letter, here (Link).
When his interview comes up, I'll post it in this diary.
On Facebook (Link), I saw this testimony:
Doug Mercurio As the Chairman of the Reading - North Reading Chamber of Commerce, North Reading Government Affairs Committee I have frequently had the occasion to work with Greg. He has been a great asset to the Town through his effective management and has helped build a stronger relationship between the business community and the local government, which benefits both everybody. While we didn't always 'get our way', Greg was always helpful and fair. I have no doubt that Greg will continue building relationships, and strengthen municipal services in an efficient manner wherever he ends up.
I noted the one of the questions touched on school building projects, it did not seem to come out during the interview, but North Reading has undertaken the building of a new high school during Greg's tenure as well.
And, for those inclined to shallow analysis, pointing at Balukonis' lack of big city management; let me point to Kevin Murphy's ZERO municipal management, CEO experience. Does being the Assistant City Solicitor REALLY equate to being the manager? Nope! It's like saying the bat boy can hit Big Papi's home runs.
For those that wish to parrot The Sun's half truths about Balunkonis' poor professional reviews, wait until the interview is posted. And, watch Ed Kennedy & Rita Mercier clear Balukonis on this non-issue.
Lowell would have to be cautious, if it brought Greg Balukonis on as our next City Manager. As we would by anointing Kevin Murphy to the power, he has long coveted. Except, it would be a completely different type of oversight for Balukonis. One that is predicated on optimism.
thanks Jack for following this farce.
ReplyDeleteit’s very disappointing, I was hoping that Martin and Milinazzo or SOMEONE would ask Murphy the obvious question, “what makes you qualified to be a good city manager?”
is being pals with everyone in the city enough? well, we’ll see won’t we.
they all must think that Murphy’s connections on Beacon Hill will get us more money, maybe that’s true, I really don’t know that world.
it looked to me that Greg Balukonis would be the smart choice. you would think that knowing how to do the job would be pretty important here.
good thing Murphy won’t have a contract when it’s time to boot him out. it’s too bad that the city will have to go backwards before we can hire a professional manager again.