History of Veterans Park

In his weekly column in The Valley Dispatch, Warren Shaw gives a history lesson on the development of Veterans Park. It's pretty interesting stuff, see it all below:

Some might question the Board of Selectmen holding public hearings concerning lighting of certain areas of Veterans Park, but I'm not one of them.

One of the issues that dominated last year's selectmen's race between Joe Dirocco and Brian Bond was in fact the question of erecting lights at Veterans Park to allow the town's Pop Warner football program to play after dark. Bond questioned if and when any commitments had been made to the surrounding neighbors concerning lights at the park, and went as far as to say that times had changed.

It takes guts to take strong stands on controversial issues, but with so many opinions on the matter, isn't it time the town had a policy that residents can depend on?

There can be no doubt that in the early stages, when selectmen were working to get funding for the park project, many abutting residents made known their concerns about lighting.

Not a big deal, you say?

Keep in mind, this was done before the town had community-preservation funds to work with. This was a time when getting funding for a recreation project was a real battle.

So let's say the board had ignored the neighborhood residents and gone forward to Town Meeting without their support, or maybe with an angry neighborhood in opposition.

If you've been to town meetings over the years, you know how difficult a two-thirds majority is to get, and it isn't much of a leap to assume with opposition from the neighborhood, this project would have failed.

So next time you're at the park taking in a game, using the walking trail or getting cooled off , think about how close we came to not getting it. And we did almost lose it.

After receiving initial Town Meeting approval for the funds, one of the town's political groups got enough signatures to place a Proposition 2 1/2 override question on the ballot.

And as you might expect, the anti- tax-increase vote came out and voted down the override and took the appropriation for the park down with it.

The following year, selectmen went back to Town Meeting and received another appropriation, with little opposition. No neighborhood opposition ever surfaced because residents had been assured that their town government was behind them.

Just a little history of how a hay field became Veterans Park.

And as with everything in history, we should learn from it.

Not going to last

I woke up early today and caught the Dracut segment on "Saturday Morning Live" on WCAP. Warren and Shawn were talking about Dr. Spencer Mullin's communication problem and they both are thinking that this may be it for Mullin. Warren said that the selection of Mullin was rushed because they were in such a rush to get rid of Elaine Espindle. In the process, Warren said, they got an "amateur" in Mullin.

It's too bad because Mullin does seem to have a vision but he has burned every bridge in town.

Louisburg Square too much?

Newly elected Dracut Housing Authority member Ken Cunha feels that the total price tag for Louisburg Square is too much. He tells the Sun today that the town could build a new place for the amount it is paying to purchase and rehab the building:

"I think Dracut needs more senior housing, and I'm going to work to develop more senior housing in town, but I'm not sure 1476 (Mammoth Road) is the answer."

Wall of silence

Shawn's on a role lately with news! Today he picked up on the Lowell Sun piece that confirmed his weekend report that the schools are down an additional $400,000. The piece is pretty boiler plate but Shawn highlights this now very common line: "Superintendent of Schools Spencer Mullin did not return calls for comment."

The Sun, according to the article, had to file a Freedom of Information request just to get some information on the school budget and layoffs! Welcome to Dracut, Bridget. I had to do the same thing when I wanted to get copies of contracts. Dr. Mullin is a horrible communicator and will not respond to anyone, including parents. From what I heard, when I e-mailed him and Business Manager Tom Rose for budget information they didn't reply because "they didn't know who I was." Um, it doesn't matter "who I am", I am a Dracut taxpayer and that should be enough.

Shawn thinks that Mullin will get no support from the public when his contract is up next year. Furthermore, he thinks Mullin may want out too.

Somewhere Elaine Espindle is smiling.

Not so fast...

Shawn is reporting that the state budget that was agreed upon in Conference Committee last week was not final and the school department has to cut an additional $600,000! Shawn said the town can absorb $200,000 of that and the schools need to come up with $400,000 in cuts.

I am thinking the wage freeze to the teachers is sounding much better right about now.

Column on Videogate

The Column today has a rundown of last week's encounter between the Board of Selectmen meeting and DATV's board. There is nothing new for faithful readers of this blog but here is the copy:

IN AN INTENSE and heated discussion, selectmen and Dracut Access Television Board members attempted to clear the air about two incidents.


During a special meeting at the Town Hall lunch room on May 18, selectmen were surprised to see a DATV cameraman show up.

So surprised that DATV board members said Selectmen Chairman George Malliaros slammed the door in the cameraman's face.


During Monday night's selectmen meeting, Malliaros said he did it in a joking manner.

"I just didn't expect a televised public meeting," Malliaros said. "If I was inappropriate, I apologize."

Some selectmen weren't dressed as they would normally be for a regularly scheduled (and televised) meeting, and felt it would have been common courtesy for DATV to tell them they planned on taping the meeting.


"I don't think we have to notify you to dress appropriately for a public meeting -- that's common sense," said DATV board member May Paquette.

DATV board members were also upset about comments made by Selectmen Jim O'Loughlin, who was concerned about DATV being used as a political tool, after a political candidate wanted to pay a cameraman to use DATV equipment to tape a political advocacy show.


"If I insulted anyone, I apologize. If I defamed anyone, I apologize," O'Loughlin said on Monday. "I do not apologize for raising the issue that I had a concern that cable was being used for political issues."

O'Loughlin also questioned how DATV spent their money, after he was told DATV was a "corporation" and he had no right to question it.


DATV board member Mike McNamara said on Monday that O'Loughin's comments attacked the board's reputation.

"The only thing that Mr. O'Loughlin manages to accomplish is to tarnish the reputation and integrity of the entire DATV Board, a board that has given literally hundreds of hours of volunteer service to the community," McNamara said, while reading from a statement.

Louisburg Square purchase

The Sun had an article today on the purchase of Louisburg Square which will be used for elderly housing. The town is purchasing the apartment building for $2.7 million which will come from Community Preservation funds and in turn the Dracut Housing Authority will pay $70,000 a year for 20 years.

The Sun also quotes Selectman Joe DiRicco who said the town is looking at recently repossessed property on Lakeview Ave. and considering turning that into elderly housing.

See the article here.