Gannon, DPW spending dominates Ward 1 debate

LYNN – Ward 1 City Councilor Wayne Lozzi and challenger Debra Plunkett differed Monday night over city public works spending in their Knights of Columbus faceoff prior to the mayoral candidates debate.Interest in the Ward 1 race is running high with 2,652 out of 9,194 ward voters turning out for the preliminary election compared to roughly one of out five voters in other wards going to the polls on Sept. 17.Lozzi said his 10 years as Ward 1 councilor saw him work with state legislators to pass an anti-dumping law and secure state money for Wyoma Square traffic renovations.?My home rule petition provides for fines so we can deter dumpers,” he said.He said Lynnfield Street “remains a safety issue” for ward residents and said inconvenience related to improvements” outweighs any inconvenience associated with road improvements.?I?m running for reelection because we must not lose momentum,” Lozzi said.Lozzi said he opposes the largely Peabody-based Boulderwood subdivision off Sunset Drive and said he has received “hundreds of complaints” about blasting damage to Ward 1 homes and heavy truck traffic.He drew sharp distinctions with Plunkett on Boulderwood and said a blasting contractor involved in Boulderwood contributed to Plunkett?s campaign. Plunkett said she will “be standing with the neighbors” if city officials receive Boulderwood complaints.She said the contractor?s donation is just one of a number she has received and said Boulderwood developer David Solimine Jr. contributed to Lozzi?s campaign, noting contributions in 2004 and 2005.Plunkett called constituent services “the biggest difference” dividing her views from Lozzi?s.?People have been on waiting lists for basic city services for over a year,” she said.She said Lozzi voted for a city spending plan this year that does not sufficiently fund the city Public Works Department. Lozzi said DPW service response to residents must improve but said city workers “do a great job” addressing work requests from residents. That answer did not satisfy Plunkett.?I would not have approved that budget,” she said.Lozzi pointed out that councilors, under the City Charter, cannot add money to the city budget – only cut it.Plunkett is a first-time candidate who works as an anti-bullying instructor for Camp Fire Boys and Girls. Her involvement in local organizations includes Friends of Lynn Woods, Flax and Sluice Pond Associations.Lozzi insisted he “is accessible” and said constituents can reach him by telephone to address city service concerns. He said $5.5 million in state money slated to be spent on Wyoma Square is part of his effort to improve the “gateway to Lynn.”Lozzi ran for and won the Ward 1 seat in 2003. He is also the Water and Sewer Commission?s chairman. He said his commission tenure has been marked by efforts to bring an electricity-generating wind turbine to the city?s waterfront.Organized by Jack Suslak and moderated by Item Editorial Page Editor Sean Leonard, the hour-long Ward 1 debate also focused on Gannon Municipal Golf Course. The city is poised to seek proposals for running the course and Plunkett said she is confident the course will continue to be maintained well even if the current operator, the Gannon Building Association, is not involved.?I am crossing my fingers that they will submit a proposal,” she said.Lozzi said his efforts to reduce the local geese population has helped save Gannon?s fairways and greens, and suggested $200,000 a year from Gannon?s operation should be set aside to cover the course?s long-term improvement needs.Lozzi said he has taken a proactive role in meeting with Union Hospital executives to voice concerns about Union continuing to provide a wide range of medical services to Lynn residents. Plunkett said she will also be an advocate for the hospital?s local presence if she is elected councilor.Unwanted animals is also a ward problem, Plunkett said, noting she spotted a coyote on her front lawn the other day. She questioned Lozzi?s campaign t