Pay delay for Lynn Fire Dept.

LYNN – A clerical error in the payroll office at the Fire Department caused the wrong date to appear on firefighter paychecks Thursday but steps have been taken to correct it.The paychecks issued to firefighters and other Fire Department employees were incorrectly dated Jan. 25 instead of Jan. 21. Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy’s office learned of the error Thursday morning and took immediate action to rectify it, according to Claire Cavanagh, the mayor’s chief of staff.Kennedy met with city Treasurer Richard Fortucci and, working in conjunction with Eastern Bank, came up with the following solutions:Eastern Bank arranged for any Fire Department personnel using direct deposit – which accounts for the majority of the employees – to have the funds deposited in their account today, one day later than usual.Kennedy notified International Fire Fighters Association (IAFF) Local 739 that any Fire Department personnel who needed his or her check cashed Thursday could get a replacement check at City Hall immediately.Eastern Bank agreed to cash any Fire Department paper check that was dated Jan. 25.”We appreciate Eastern Bank’s willingness to help us quickly address this situation,” Kennedy said. “Our first priority was to ensure that any member of the Lynn Fire Department who needed to have the funds from his or her paycheck immediately available would be accommodated.”