Lynn council accuses Swampscott of not helping to abate flooding

LYNN – Two city councilors came out swinging against Swampscott Tuesday, accusing the town of failing to make needed repairs to the storm drain system near Foster’s Dam and along Eastern Avenue leading to the ocean.Councilors Darren Cyr and William Trahant Jr. said Lynn residents living near the dam have been devastated by recent heavy rainfall and flooding, much of it caused by the lack of proper drainage. The councilors also took aim at the Aggregate rock quarry in Swampscott, blaming some of the conditions on the company’s negligence.Cyr asked that the city’s Law Department send letters to both Swampscott and to Aggregate, highlighting the situation and the need for cooperation.”Swampscott is not maintaining Foster’s Dam,” he said, citing myriad streets impacted by the flooding. “Lots of streets and properties have been damaged. It will be months before these people get their lives back to normal.”The Lynn Water & Sewer Commission wants Swampscott’s help to repair a major drainage culvert in the vicinity as well as the storm drain that runs parallel along Eastern Avenue to the Atlantic Ocean, Cyr said.Previous requests for assistance were met with arrogance from Aggregate and simply ignored by Swampscott, he said.According to Trahant, both he and Cyr helped fill sandbags to keep flood waters from penetrating residential properties during the past week. “Swampscott is aware of the problem but nothing gets done,” he said.Council President Timothy Phelan asked assistant city attorney Richard Vitali if the letters could be followed up with legal action. Although Vitali indicated that was a possibility, Cyr said, “I’m trying to avoid legal action and all that rigmarole. I’m just trying to get something to step up and do the right thing.”Trahant said he would be willing to give Swampscott public works officials a tour of the devastation and show them what needs to be done.