Tuesday’s council meeting began with Mayor Sokhary Chau presenting a commendation to Christine McCall, the head of the Department of Planning and Development and an assistant city manager. McCall is leaving city employment for the private sector where she will work as a project manager for
One would imagine that Manager Holden has taken advantage of all the leeway given to new hires by privately asking Council members to help his organization by NOT filing motions unless the issue goes unaddressed for a certain period of time (assuming it is not critical in nature). Recognizing that internal protocols may require a response by the relevant agency, maybe a simple “check the box” in a pre-existing form would be sufficient? In private industry, I certainly do not write reports once a task is completed (certainly not the changing of lightbulbs!), I just tell interested parties that the task is “done”, and folks accept it and move on. There must be an acceptable simpler way… and addressing this time-sink does warrant a motion!
I suspect that the main issue here is lack of trust in the management organization at the City of Lowell. If true, then building organizational credibility should be one of Mr. Holder’s top medium term goals.
As someone who has read “Sustainable Lowell 2025” a few times, I agree with your commentary on the need to refresh it. Even if the document is not often referenced in the council, I can attest from experience in creating similar documents that the effort of “going through the process” of developing the report is often of tremendous value itself. People meet, ideas flourish, energy is created and the benefits multiply, even if seemingly randomized. Another mid-term goal which I’m sure is part of Mr. Holden’s growing list.
And by the way, thank you Richard for these write-ups, they are unfailingly informative and easy to read for such a potentially “dry” subject matter. You do great work.
Thank you for the informative update.
One would imagine that Manager Holden has taken advantage of all the leeway given to new hires by privately asking Council members to help his organization by NOT filing motions unless the issue goes unaddressed for a certain period of time (assuming it is not critical in nature). Recognizing that internal protocols may require a response by the relevant agency, maybe a simple “check the box” in a pre-existing form would be sufficient? In private industry, I certainly do not write reports once a task is completed (certainly not the changing of lightbulbs!), I just tell interested parties that the task is “done”, and folks accept it and move on. There must be an acceptable simpler way… and addressing this time-sink does warrant a motion!
I suspect that the main issue here is lack of trust in the management organization at the City of Lowell. If true, then building organizational credibility should be one of Mr. Holder’s top medium term goals.
As someone who has read “Sustainable Lowell 2025” a few times, I agree with your commentary on the need to refresh it. Even if the document is not often referenced in the council, I can attest from experience in creating similar documents that the effort of “going through the process” of developing the report is often of tremendous value itself. People meet, ideas flourish, energy is created and the benefits multiply, even if seemingly randomized. Another mid-term goal which I’m sure is part of Mr. Holden’s growing list.
And by the way, thank you Richard for these write-ups, they are unfailingly informative and easy to read for such a potentially “dry” subject matter. You do great work.