Lynn ’10 $245.5M budget passes

LYNN – Despite individual attempts by two city councilors to make further cuts, the City Council Tuesday approved the fiscal 2010 budget submitted by Mayor Edward Clancy Jr. for $245,540,808.The budget reflects across-the-board reductions for all municipal departments and no layoffs for police or firefighters. Approved by a unanimous 11-0 vote, it goes into effect July 1.During a public hearing that preceded the vote, Councilor-at-large Judith Flanagan-Kennedy introduced a spreadsheet containing what she described as possible budget cuts in several departments. According to Flanagan-Kennedy, many non-salary, non-contractual items that would not impact the level of service in Lynn could be eliminated. The items amounted to $242,262. Flanagan said the money saved could be used to bring laid-off employees back to work, or perhaps “save the public library from the brink of decertification.” She suggested the councilors take a look at overtime in departments other than police, fire and public works.Councilor-at-large Daniel Cahill also attempted to show where additional funds might be saved, but like Flanagan-Kennedy, his efforts were opposed by other councilors insistent that departmental budgets were already cut to the bone.Ward 6 Councilor Peter Capano said further budget trimming would lead to more service reductions, to the point where no workers are available to fill potholes or pick up dead rats. Besides, said Capano, if a department head agrees to a lesser budget amount than the previous year, it could be construed that the funds were not needed when, in fact, it might be a reflection of frugality and efficiency.Ward 3 Councilor Darren Cyr echoed that view, noting he receives calls from constituents at 3 a.m. to tell him a dog has been killed in the road or a tree has fallen.Although the budget has been approved, the Senate has not notified the city what it will receive in local aid dollars. “We’re not out of the woods yet,” said Clancy.