• PAYRAISE (SORT OF) DECLINED: It’s been over two years since the Worcester City Council voted to approve their controversial pay increase that nearly doubled their salary from $15,750 to $29,000, while providing for automatic small annual increases. That raise was a near-constant issue during the 2007 campaign and ensuing year, but faded away in the latter half of 2008. Quietly before the start of the year, the entire council waived their 2009 pay raise, which would have totaled 1 percent, according to city officials. “It was the right thing to do. How could we do otherwise in this incredibly difficult time?” says Councilor Kate Toomey. “Based on the budget situation … I only thought it made sense as a city councilor,” says Councilor Joff Smith. But not all the councilors are getting the same cut: 8 of the 10 councilors (not counting Mayor Konnie Lukes) are getting the $29,000 voted by the last council in 2006; councilors Mike Germain and Gary Rosen are taking the $15,750 councilors were allocated before that vote took effect.
• BISH SUSPECT MISIDENTIFIED AS RODENT: Rodney Stanger, the newest suspect in the Molly Bish murder, may be the most promising lead in the nearly eight-year-old case since ... well, the last suspect who looked like the widely circulated composite sketch. But Eyewitness News in Connecticut just couldn’t get the very serious story correct, showing a hamster holding a director’s time clapper instead of Stanger live on the air. ”No, that’s not Rodney Stanger,” the anchor quickly covered.
• LOCO NO MORE LOCAL: Locobazooka is dead. Long live Locofest. And forget about it returning to Green Hill Park … or anywhere in Central Massachusetts. The longstanding New England staple, put on by Dan Hartwell has apparently relocated to Florida. Locobazooka’s website — and just about every previously existing page linked to on Google — has been turned over completely to “Locofest 2009,” taking place at Palm Beach International Raceway on March 14. Any mention of New England is scrubbed from the site, though the festival’s MySpace page reads, “The huge Locobazooka Festival that has rocked New England for over 15 years! This year we are bringing Loco Fest South to West Palm Beach, FL.” There is no New England event on the “upcoming shows” list, and no mention of future Worcester shows anywhere. An e-mail to promoters was not returned.
• NATIONALS ARE GONE TOO: That’s not the only festival leaving the area. The Summer Nationals are also considering a change of venue, as they have in the past. According to a statement on the event’s site, “The 2009 New England Summer Nationals will happen rain or shine just as it has for the past 18 years but exactly where still remains a mystery! The are several new possible sites in the works all of which would provide much more parking for both spectators and show cars plus additional security! Providence Rhode Island and one of the Connecticut Casino’s are just a few of the many many possibility’s [sic] that are being considered for the 2009 show!” Event organizer Bob Moscoffian has often talked of moving the Nationals, but this is the most tangible sign to date that Worcester is losing its largest (if not universally beloved) annual event. Maybe it’s time to restart that old “signature event” conversation.
• FEDS TO THE RESCUE: As bad as the state’s fiscal situation is (it’s terrible), there are rays of sunshine. Massachusetts could see $11 billion-$16 billion in economic stimulus and taxpayer relief from the federal government’s stimulus package, a version of which passed the House last week, according to analysts. Of that money, $1.3 billion would help reduce the state’s deficit, while the rest would be divided up between infrastructure projects, tax breaks, and other potential projects including $2 billion for a high-speed rail and increased funds for food stamps. Don’t expect to see much in the way of operating budget gaps being reduced, but hey, high-speed rail would be fun.
• AUDIT CONFUSION: The non-independent insurance audit is in full swing; city employees have all been sent a form to prove eligibility of dependents and spouses. That doesn’t mean there aren’t questions. Some employees and city councilors have questioned if workers are required to file original birth certificates (as seemingly mandated), or if they are allowed to send in copies. While copies are being allowed, Councilor Bill Eddy asked this week that only originals be accepted. If that was the case, city employees of one department would have to go request and receive a document from a different city department to give to ANOTHER city department to prove birth. There’s more confusion: Councilor Kate Toomey questioned why employees who have already verified with Blue Cross that a dependent is in school have to recertify that status. O’Brien’s response? Essentially, he said, that’s the whole point of the audit. Or in his words, “It’s key all information is resubmitted in its totality.” o
