12 May, 2024
6 mins read

City Hall Watch: Deferring Municipal Debt Payment Means Cash Now, Higher Interest Next Year

By John McNamara The Stewart administration is shifting $6 million from a scheduled payment on the city’s rising municipal debt— creating an election year windfall to avert yet another tax increase. The Common Council approved what representatives of William Blair & Company, the city’s bond counsel, called a “re-structuring” of a $28 million bond at […]

3 mins read

Stewart-Proposed High-Level Bureaucrat and Department Head Residency Requirement At Issue

Republican Mayor Erin Stewart will ask the Republican-dominated City Council to approve her choice to lead the “Human Resources Department”. The new high-level bureaucratic position was created when the Council approved Stewart’s proposal to increase the number of city departments to fifteen, including the creation of the Human Resources Department. Who her choice is for the position […]

1 min read

City Purchasing Nearly $500,000 of New Vehicles

Press Pool Story The Republican-dominated City Council is considering a proposal from the administration of Mayor Erin Stewart to purchase $495,078.84 for various motor vehicles. Under proposal, the city would purchase $461,578.84 of vehicles from Crowley Ford, LLC of Plainville: Also, the proposal calls for the purchase of $33,500.00 for one vehicle from Crowley Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge of […]

1 min read

City Bureaucracy Under Stewart to Grow Again While Concerns Rise Over Weakening of Human Rights and Opportunities

Press Pool Story The Republican-dominated City Council approved a city reorganization plan proposed by Mayor Erin Stewart (R) that, once again, increases the number of city departments, while placing the city’s Human Rights and Opportunities Officer and Commission under the newly-created “Human Resources Department”. The City’s Human Rights and Opportunities Officer and Commission have historically provided oversight […]