I put the blame for the complete disarray of Newburyport’s Planning Office squarely on the shoulders of Mayor John Moak.

Mr. Moak campaigned as a manager (which I thought he would well be capable of), and in my opinion the current state of disorder belies the campaign promise.

Not to have a Planning Director for 3 months (Mr. Moak’s idea) is an invitation to disaster. And frankly I cannot blame Julie LaBranche, Newburyport’s City Planner for resigning.

To have a Planning Office so understaffed would invite chaos and burnout.

And what a waste of talent to have highly trained individuals spend their time answering the phone (out of necessity because there is no one else to do it), instead of attending to the myriad of very complicated issues that are before the City of Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Tom Ryan, the editor of the Undertoad, hints darkly on his blog that Newburyport’s Building Inspector, Gary Calderwood (reportedly, Mayor John Moak’s good friend from the Mayor’s 11 years as Newburyport’s City Clerk) had a great deal to do with Ms. LaBranche’s departure.

I have no idea what the story is with Mr. Calderwood, but I will say, coincidentally?? that I did receive a number of emails yesterday with various complaints about our building inspector. I know little about Mr. Calderwood and could not possibly verify any of the information that I received. But it does appear that city politics are at their “glorious” best in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

I do know as a woman working in various civic endeavors in our seaport city, that I am often treated with lack of respect and various people over the years have done their best to try to intimidate me. (Luckily I was born and raised in New York City where intimidation is often viewed as a contact sport—good training for my involvement in Newburyport politics.) One can only imagine, if as a citizen I have been treated this way, what Ms. LaBranche may have experienced over these last 3 months.

And no matter how good Christopher Ryan may be, if he is appointed, he will enter a Planning Office in crisis. I can’t imagine that is what he had in mind when he applied for the job.

And yes, I’ve now read the article in the Newburyport Current on Christopher Ryan. And despite Ulrika Gerth’s “right on” questions, I know almost nothing about where Mr. Ryan stands on pertinent issues. The answers seemed to me to me masterful side-steps.

One always wants to hope for the best. But I finished the article feeling extremely gloomy.

Mayor John Moak is our “leader.” And to have the Planning Office and by ripple affect the various boards and commissions it helps, in turmoil, is a woeful example of managerial style.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport