Lynn council OKs $4M bond hearing

LYNN – After more than 30 minutes of intense and at times fiery debate, City Councilors voted 9-2 to hold a public hearing Dec. 18 on a proposed $4 million infrastructure wish list.”Third time’s a charm,” said Ward 5 Councilor Brendan Crighton. “I’ve asked publicly for the hearing three times.”The council has been split over support for the bond order that includes repairs and upgrades for over a dozen of the city’s parks, a new flag pole, steps and a fiber optic server for City Hall, air conditioning for Veterans Memorial Auditorium and a wave attenuator for the harbor as well as $50,000 for miscellaneous school repairs.Ward 3 Councilor Darren Cyr sought to amend the request for a public hearing on the proposed bond order by adding $2.2 million in spending for repairs to Classical High School, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute and Breed Middle School. The move could have forced the issue to the ballot box because, according to the City Charter, any bond request that exceeds $4 million must go before the voters.”We’ve gone over and over this and I still feel the same way that you are not ready to bring this to the council for a discussion,” Cyr said during Tuesday’s council meeting. “There are too many issues.”Cyr said his major concern is that if council approves the bond order voters will reject an additional bond request to build a new Marshall Middle School, a plan that has been in the works for well over a year.A tax increase on residents is another of Cyr’s concerns though Crighton said it is unfounded, that such a small bond will not result in a tax hike. Crighton also argued that he was only requesting a public hearing on the bond order and any amendments could be made at that time.”This was not properly vetted,” said Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi. “I know the argument. Let it go to a public hearing to be vetted but I think more could have been done.”Lozzi said he had no problem with approving the amendment and letting the voters decide the issue.Ward 6 Councilor Peter Capano said to send the issue straight to the voters would deny Crighton the right to defend the proposal he and Councilor at large Daniel Cahill put together. The issue has been put off twice with a promise to set down a hearing, Capano noted.”I think today is the day,” he said. “We can’t keep talking about it like it is a public hearing because it’s not. So let’s just vote to set down a public hearing.”Ward 2 Councilor William Trahant said it would be foolish to put forth the bond request knowing that an estimated $30 million request will be put before voters in the spring in order to fund a new middle school.Only after Council President Timothy Phelan asked Cyr to reconsider his amendment with the promise that it would be added to the public hearing agenda did Cyr relent.”If I do this it will be the first time anyone has compromised on this whole thing,” Cyr said. “I will do this but I guarantee you I will make the motion again ? for the sake of ending the madness tonight I will go along with this (request).”The public hearing will be held Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers.Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].