In earlier posts on the search for Newburyport’s Planning Director, there was a certain note of hope in this blogger’s blogging, a sense that someone competent would be a relief.

The tone of this blogger has changed since the early news hit that Mayor John Moak had found a possible appointee.

Now why would that be?

Three things (which have nothing to do with the appointee at all.)

One is the resignation of Julie LaBranche. Ms LaBranche has been described as “intelligent, knowledgeable, generous, professional, hardworking, talented” to just downright “great.” Certainly I have found her to be extremely bright, conscientious, personable and she appears to me to go out of her way to be accommodating.

One would think that those at City Hall would be proud to have a person such as Julie LaBranche in Newburyport’s Planning Office.

The word on the street, however, is that Ms LaBranche has been treated badly, with disrespect, intimidation and ire. The sources are so various and consistent that one cannot help but think they are most probably true.

I can actually see where people might have had a personality clash with Nick Cracknell, strong personality that he is. But Julie LaBranche? This baffles me. How one could treat Ms LaBranche with anything but courtesy is beyond this blogger’s understanding.

It almost feels as if there were people that went out of their way to make Ms LaBranche’s life so unpleasant that she would leave her job as City Planner. I am not pleased.

This also leaves a Planning Office in complete disarray. Not even superman could bring this mess up to speed in any kind of timely fashion.

The second is the confirmation that yes, John Moak’s philosophy appears to be that development, good, bad or indifferent, is so important to the tax base and the overall economy, that things like historic preservation, smart growth, community preservation, open space seem to be only vaguely on the radar, if in fact they are on the radar at all.

All of this coincides with the emergence of yet another developer, Mr. Minot Frye from Wenham, MA, who apparently intends to demolish the federalist house at 11-13 Ship Street and put up two condominiums. This is a developer from out of town, with apparently deep pockets, and deep connections, who has his sights on Newburyport, Massachusetts and does not have the City’s best interest at heart in anyway shape or form. Apparently this gentleman has the attitude of “I own it, and I’ll do anything with it that I please.” This does not work for me.

Blogging gloom is so unfortunate. And this blogger is trying to figure out what in the world she will do.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport