CLIFF KRIEGER, a member of Lowell’s Licensing Commission, reached out to The Column to note that among its many duties, the board also licenses palm readers, also known as fortune tellers under Massachusetts law.
The commission has the authority to “adopt rules and regulations for licenses and license activity that address matters of local interest in compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth.”
So, if you go and get your palm read in the city of Lowell, the proprietor should have a license displayed on premises. But then, they already knew that, right?
Based on previous reporting about Open Meeting Law complaints filed in Lowell against both the City Council and the School Committee, a reader reached out to let The Sun know that a complaint had been filed with the Attorney General’s Office against the Tyngsboro Housing Authority, alleging that three members colluded to oust longtime Executive Director Melinda Theide from her position.
A quick check of the THA website shows a job positing for Theide’s position and the board voted not to renew her contract at the Jan. 31 meeting. A subsequent meeting was scheduled for Feb. 28, but its agenda is not listed on the THA site, nor is there a recording of that meeting available on the Tyngsboro Media Channel.
The Attorney General website listing of pending OML complaints show the THA complaint as filed with the AG on March 7. There are no other complaints in the system for the town.
In contrast, Lowell has five complaints on file — two against the City Council and three against the School Committee. All of the complaints were filed by Laura Ortiz.
The Sun previously reported on Ortiz’s complaints against the City Council.
In January, Ortiz, who listed a P.O. box as her address, filed her complaints regarding the tabling of Councilor Corey Robinson’s motions by a majority of his colleagues on the Lowell City Council.
According to Ortiz’s lengthy filing, “On or before 11/20/23, Lowell City…