PAYING ATTENTION!
by Tom Duggan

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Dowling Seeks Revenge Over Essem Controversy

Mayor Dowling tried to replace Planning Board Member Les Bernal this week by trying to nominate two others to the board without even letting him know his job was on the chopping block. Bernal angered the mayor recently when he exposed inappropriate behavior by Economic Development Director Bill Luster over the housing development on Beacon Street where "Essem Hot Dogs" was once located.

A legal decision by the board was sent to lawyers for the developer of the Essem site, who in turn, made changes to the plans before the decision was filed with the city. Bernal exposed the cozy relationship between the Community Development Department and the contractors drawing criticism from Luster and Mayor Dowling.

Members of the Lawrence City Council refused to allow Dowling to replace Bernal on the Planning board by denying her two recommendations to the board. Dowling’s two recommendations were city worker Michael Kennedy and Abdo Baroud.

City Councilor Marcos Devers called the move by Dowling a "political persecution" saying that Les Bernal was doing a great job and he was not willing to be a part of his removal. "Let’s not play games here," Devers said over the objections of Dowing’s ally Council President Frank Kivell. Kivell also tried to stop Councilor Marc LaPlante from criticizing Mayor Dowling, cutting him off and violating the council rules by giving his opinion without assing the gavel and removing himself as chair of the meeting.

LaPlante continued over Kivell’s objections questioning why the mayor was moving so quickly to fill these vacancies while she has refused to fill the vacancies of other city positions. Dowling has said she thinks it is unfair to fill the vacancies of Deputy Chief and DPW director while she is a lame duck.

The City Council voted against removal of Bernal by a vote of 6-3. Not surprisingly, the three councilors who supported the mayor’s actions to remove Bernal from the board were Frank Kivell, Marilda Gosselin, and Gil Frechette. Bernal will continue as the Planning Board Chairman until he is either replaced by a majority of the council or he leaves on his own. According to Councilor Julio Silverio Bernal’s position on the planning board was not posted and he was not given the opportunity to reapply for his job.