Kennedy appoints Caron as temporary Lynn CFO

LYNN – A day after city councilors rejected Assessor Peter Caron as Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy?s choice for chief financial officer, Kennedy appointed Caron temporarily to the job and said she is open to the idea of ultimately doing away with the CFO post.?I designate Peter Caron to perform the duties of Chief Financial Officer on a temporary basis until such time as a permanent appointment may be made?” she wrote in her appointment letter.Kennedy said she suggested eliminating the CFO in 2011 and said the 1985 state legislation creating the position and aimed at remedying financial problems facing the city in the 1980s can be “phased out.”Following Tuesday?s 8-3 vote against Kennedy?s nomination of Caron for the CFO post, Councilor at Large Daniel Cahill asked city lawyers to draft a “home rule petition” allowing the Legislature to do away with the CFO job and strike it from the City Charter.Home rule petitions require council and mayoral approval, and Kennedy said she is open to discussing abolition.?We will take it slowly and deliberately,” she said.Kennedy on Tuesday chided councilors who voted against Caron, a 15-year city employee, for election year political maneuvering in rejecting her choice for CFO. She acknowledged Wednesday that she was unaware prior to the council vote that Caron does not have a college degree. Caron said he completed three years of college before terminating his studies. His resume outlines a 31-year assessing career.?The man has more experience and knowledge than many people I know with an advanced degree,” Kennedy said.She said home rule petitions take nearly a year to win local and legislative passage, adding her decision Wednesday to appoint Caron temporary CFO assures the job is filled and someone is doing it until it can be abolished – assuming an abolition plan moves forward.Although he voted against Caron Tuesday, Council President Timothy Phelan acknowledged Kennedy?s authority to name the assessor temporarily as chief financial officer. He said he “plans to work with Peter for the best interests of the city of Lynn” and said he is open to the CFO elimination idea.?It?s worthy of discussion if it can improve the city. It?s when there is no discussion – that is when problems exist,” he said.Thor Jourgensen can be reached at [email protected].