I’ve heard all kinds of things about the interview process that’s going on for Newburyport’s Planning Director and none of it’s good.

To quote an unnamed source, “The Mayor wants a Planning Director who’s a dope that he can manipulate.” Harsh words from my unnamed source, however, reading between the lines in today’s Newburyport Current, July 21, 2006, it seems that that particular sentiment might in fact be true.

Ulrika Gerth is not only a first rate editor of the Newburyport Current, but she is also a first rate reporter. I was hoping against hope that Ms. Gerth would have a story on the search for Newburyport’s new Planning Director, and she didn’t disappoint.

Doug Locy the chair of the Newburyport Planning Board and James Shanley a Newburyport City Councilor on the council’s Planning and Development Committee both decided not to participate any further in the interview process.

What I have heard is that some of the candidates are so under-qualified that they would have to be trained by the existing personnel in the Planning Office. Ouch.

To quote from today’s article in the Newburyport Current:

“It’s the mayor’s appointment so he was kind enough to offer us the opportunity to participate. That’s nice,” Locy said, “but I felt like I was being used.”

Having been on a mayor’s committee and having resigned myself, I know exactly what it feels like to be used for political purposes. I didn’t exactly think it was enjoyable at all. So I’m very sympathetic to what Doug Locy has to say.

And a further quote from Ms. Gerth’s article.

“I was asked to be brought on to add what I think is false legitimacy to the process,” Shanley said. “The panel made it look open, but in reality it’s not. If the new planning director turns out to be a bummer (the mayor) can say that ’you participated,’ so that’s why I walked.”

Good for James Shanley. Everything I’ve heard so far would indicate that yes indeed, what Mr. Shanley has to say is “on the money.”

So, I hope the Newburyport City Council is up to the task of turning down mayoral appointments for Planning Director until we as a City get someone who is worthy of the task, if that is what is required.

At the very least we as a City would require a qualified candidate not a “bummer” or a “dope” and not one that would actually need to be trained for the job.

I want to be so wrong. I want Mayor John Moak to come up with a winner, someone we can all work with and be proud of. However, if Mayor Moak does not, I for one am counting on the Newburyport City Council to be courageous, repeatedly if necessary, and do the right thing.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport