Phelan fined $250

LYNN – One month after he lost his bid for mayor, former City Council President Timothy Phelan’s campaign committee was hit with a $250 fine from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.According to the state, a complaint was filed claiming that Phelan’s wife served as his committee’s treasurer at the same time she was employed by the city.”It was an oversight,” said Phelan. “We became aware of it and we switched it from my wife to my brother and I’ll leave it at that.”Phelan was first elected to the School Committee in 1992 and served two terms before making the jump to council, where he served for 18 years. He swapped his bid for council at large for a run at mayor but lost last November to incumbent Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy.Campaign finance law prohibits public employees from serving as committee treasurers. The state determined that Phelan’s wife became his treasurer in 1990 and a public employee in 2001.”When you were notified by OCPF that your committee could not have a public employee serve as treasurer Ms. Phelan resigned and you immediately appointed a new treasurer,” reads the letter sent by OCPF Director Michael Sullivan to Phelan in December.While Phelan downplayed his wife’s role, calling her responsibilities minimal, Sullivan noted that she did attend committee fundraising events. Based on that information, the state ordered Phelan’s Campaign Committee to pay $250 “to resolve this matter.””This office has determined that further action is not required and considers the matter closed,” wrote Sullivan. “We anticipate that the guidance provided as the result of this review will assist in ensuring future compliance with the campaign finance law.”