Girard at Large has obtained a copy of the audit report done on the Manchester Economic Development Office. The twenty seven page document came about after the last of two remaining staff members left the city’s employ in November two thousand twelve. Mayor Ted Gatsas pushed for the internal audit to evaluate the department’s operation and determine it effectiveness. The audit has turned up a mixed bag of results. Kevin Buckley, the city’s internal auditor noted that chronic under staffing due to budget cuts and personnel turnover hampered the department’s ability properly and effectively administer its programs and caused quote serious control environment issues, including the failure to deposit over sixty four thousand dollars in checks and cash for almost two months to a failure to maintain minutes of Revolving Loan Fund Board meetings, among others. Buckley wrote that the lack of verifiable performance records made it impossible to evaluate the effectiveness of the department’s programs. However, he also wrote that despite the administrative shortcomings, the department had done quote a very good job of ensuring the city has met a majority of the goals and objectives noted in the last Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The document is available with this news cast at Girard at Large dot com.
Nearly eighty Pinardville residents signed a petition that was presented to the ad hoc committee overseeing the Plan Pinardville effort. The petition signed by dozens said the signors were against mixed use zoning and the use of overlay districts. The petition opposes the building of apartment complexes and government affiliated housing. Signatories demanded to be notified via public signs and email of meetings concerning public projects and building and zoning issues in Goffstown and stated they all had a right to know what was going on, not just those who abutted proposed projects. The petition noted they were probably too late to stop the building of an apartment complex referred to as Moose Club but stated their desire to stop similar big complexes as such will create hardship to their town. The ad hoc committee took testimony from residents on Tuesday night. Not one of the fifteen residents that spoke supported the effort which opponents say will radically alter the character and demographics of the neighborhood.
News from our own backyard continues right after this.
Londonderry has a new Town Manager and his name is Kevin Smith. You might remember Smith as a G O P candidate for governor in the two thousand twelve election. He challenged eventual nominee Ovide Lamontagne who defeated the underdog Smith handily. Smith is the former Executive Director of Cornerstone Policy Research and is credited for transforming the organization into a formidable political force on the state’s political stage. The job is a bit of a homecoming for Smith, who was graduated from Londonderry High in the mid nineties. Smith has a year to move from his Litchfield home to Londonderry as the town requires residency for its manager. He’ll earn North of one hundred twenty thousand dollars to do the job.
The Greater Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the scheduling of The Technology Expo a first-of-its-kind event for this area. The event will provide consumers, business owners and the general public with an opportunity to learn about emerging technologies and applications, understand how these products can help automate their businesses and begin to develop plans for integrating new technologies into their business or homes to stay current and relevant in their marketplace. The keynote speaker for the event will Kurt Fennel of Google. The Technology Expo will be held from 1 to 7 on the afternoon of September 26th at Brookstone Event Center on Route 1 11 in Derry. Registrations forms are available with this newscast or online at G D L Chamber dot org.
That’s news from our own backyard, Girard at Large hour ___ is straight ahead!
