Phelan re-elected Lynn council prez

LYNN – City Council President Timothy Phelan held onto his reins over the city’s legislators Tuesday when he was re-elected to the post by a 9-2 vote.Phelan was challenged for the council president’s seat by Councilor-at-large Daniel Cahill.Ward 5 Councilor Brendan Crighton cast Cahill his sole vote of support.Ward 7 Councilor Richard Ford was unanimously re-elected council vice president. Both Phelan and Ford thanked their council colleagues for the vote of confidence.Ford cited a couple of accomplishments to show his fellow councilors that the position of vice president is more than ceremonial.Phelan, currently in his 16th year as a member of the City Council, has served as president since 2006.In other matters:u The council unanimously adopted the much-debated amended ordinance regulating the residency of convicted sex offenders.u Parking Department staffer Robert Stilian was appointed municipal hearings officer. Phelan scheduled a Feb. 1 hearing for Chief Financial Officer Richard Fortucci, who has been suspended with pay by Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy for allegedly failing to fulfill his job responsibilities.u The council voted to table action on whether to demolish the building at 33 Central Square, which has fallen into disrepair.u Ward 6 Councilor Peter Capano received unanimous support for his motion to allow commercial trucks associated with Seacrest Foods International to park at the former Ford School Annex on Bennett Street. According to Capano, the company is set to relocate from Everett to its new headquarters adjacent to the school and will bring 30 jobs to Lynn.The Law Department was asked to draft a license agreement between the city and Seacrest that can be revoked at any time.Lynn