Kennedy, Phelan take debate on air

LYNN – Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy and her challenger, City Council President Timothy Phelan, had some heated exchanges Wednesday night in their second head-to-head debate.The candidates fielded questions for two hours at the Lynn Cam community access television studio, posed by two moderators, a live audience and callers to the live cablecast debate.”I thank you both for disagreeing without becoming disagreeable,” said former Mayor Albert DiVirgilio, one of the moderators.Kennedy dropped a challenge on Phelan regarding salaries for city councilors.She said she believes a literal interpretation of city ordinance puts the mayor’s salary at $82,000. Another ordinance, Kennedy said, establishes salaries for councilors at 15 percent of the mayor’s salary, but Phelan’s salary is 18.5 percent of her salary.”I would like to know how Councilor Phelan and the City Council calculate their salaries,” she added. “I challenge Councilor Phelan right now to go back and cut council salaries to 15 percent of $82,500 until such time that the court rules.” Phelan deftly deflected the challenge, pointing out the council salaries are approved by city’s Chief Financial Officer, the Law Department and her via the budget that she presents to the council each year.Phelan also defended the Homeowners Bill of Rights, which he called a no-cost-to-the-city way of helping residents stay in their homes. Kennedy said she vetoed it for fear of litigation.”And my prediction came true,” she said pulling out a letter.Kennedy said she received a letter from the Boston law firm, Goodwin Proctor, which represents the Massachusetts Bankers Association, asking her to put a hold on enforcing the ordinance because among other things it is fundamentally unconstitutional.”With all due respect that’s not a lawsuit it’s a letter from one of the largest law firms on the East Coast,” said Phelan.He argued that a similar ordinance already past muster in Springfield and chided her saying, “You don’t not do something for fear of failure.”Kennedy however said Springfield has also suspended enforcement on its ordinance as well.The pair also squabbled over who should be credited with bringing Market Basket into the city.Phelan said he sat in property owner Charlie Patsios’ kitchen and listened as Patsios told him he’d been working on trying to bring Market Basket to the Federal Street site for five years.”I refuse not to have credit given to me,” Kennedy shot back. “If Charlie Patsios was working on this for five years why did GE put out a brochure marketing the property?”Kennedy insisted she brought General Electric — the originally owner of the Factory of the Future site — to the table and got the wheels moving so Patsios could purchase the property.The pair also squared off on what Phelan called a lack of consistent leadership in the Department of Public Works and purchasing specialized snow removal equipment versus renting, regulating medical marijuana dispensaries, whether downtown needs a parking garage, taxes and their personal leadership styles.Kennedy touted herself as “driven,” one who is not afraid to do things differently and said she is confident she can do the job because she already has.”I didn’t have a mentor when I came into City Hall,” she said. “I had to forge my own path.”Phelan mentioned no less than four times that he is the one to “think outside the box” and “push the envelope,” and that he has the passion and is not afraid to make decisions.Both claimed they would work hard in the job, staying late and doing what needs to be done.”We need to stop talking and start sweating ? to lead this city back to greatness,” Phelan said.”I would not dispute that Tim will be a good mayor – someday,” Kennedy said. “But for the last four years I’ve been a good mayor ? and I want to continue to be your leader.”