LYNN – Mayor-elect Jared Nicholson has been doing a lot of preparing before he takes the corner office in January, and one initiative has been multiple weeks of one-on-one strategizing with city councilors.
In these meetings, he and the councilors discussed schools, infrastructure funding and communication strategies for 2022.
Nicholson said that these meetings gave him an opportunity to talk about the priorities of each councilor and the people they represent. In recent weeks, he met with 10 out of 11 councilors, with the last meeting scheduled for this week.
“My overall impression was that people are really excited about the future,” Nicholson said. “I think we have a tremendous opportunity to move the city forward.”
Nicholson said that new schools, upgraded parks, a new senior center, litter cleanup and snow preparedness were among the most mentioned topics at these meetings. It was also important to talk about ward issues, he said, because similar issues can play out in distinct ways in different neighborhoods.
“The overall goal is keeping us on the same page and keeping the lines of communication open,” said Nicholson.
Another common theme of the discussions was American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and where it should be applied. The city is working on setting up processes for productive community input in specific categories in which the city ARPA funds can be spent according to the legislation, Nicholson said.
“We want to have community input as we make those decisions,” he added.
ARPA funding is distributed through different streams, including state, city and county levels. The funds need to be allocated and spent by the end of December 2024.
“We want to be mindful of that as well,” said Nicholson.
He pointed out that the councilors have expressed shared interest in working together to make the most out of this opportunity. There is also a sense of optimism for private-development potential, Nicholson said.
Councilor-at-large Buzzy Barton said that his meeting with Nicholson went really well.
“He is young and energetic and I like that,” said Barton.
Promotion of diversity both in city hiring and in the private sector, giving all the residents a fair chance, was Barton’s priority that he discussed with Nicholson, Barton said.
Ward 2 Councilor Richard Starbard said that school and classroom overcrowding is the most pressing issue in his view. He said that, among other things, his meeting with Nicholson was about getting the new Pickering Middle School done and moving quickly on other schools as well.
Dianna M. Chakoutis, Ward 5 councilor, made the new senior center the priority for her meeting with Nicholson.
“I am very passionate about my seniors. They need a place to socialize, to get out,” said Chakoutis, who is the chair of the Council on Aging, which is responsible for all senior activities in the city.
This week, the Council on Aging will be discussing the bids that came in for the new senior center location. State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) and the state delegation have been able to secure $1.2 million for the senior center to assist the city with the cost. That is why it is important to keep things moving, said Chakoutis.
“We need to get the seniors together, to get them whatever services they need,” she said.
Chakoutis also stressed the importance of continued communication with the City Council.
“We need to communicate together as a whole, and I think he will do this with us,” said Chakoutis.
Improving communication between the City Council and the mayor’s office was the focus of the discussion between Nicholson and Jay Walsh, Ward 7 councilor, who is slated to become the new City Council president in January.
“There’s been a disconnect for no one’s fault in particular,” said Walsh.
He talked with the Mayor-elect about how the City Council and Nicholson could try to have one unified voice going forward, which would let everybody see that they are working together.
“We don’t have to always agree on everything, that’s okay,” Walsh said. “That would put us in a better spot as a city.”
Walsh was pleased that Nicholson decided to have these one-on-one meetings with the councilors because he would like the City Council and the mayor to be upfront with each other about everything that is going on and work through any disagreements.
“We want this trust factor and I think he wants that, too,” said Walsh.
In terms of ARPA funds, Walsh would like to improve the city’s parks and invest into outdoor recreation spaces for people to use as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. He would also like to explore an idea of bringing a boutique-style hotel with a facility for functions to the Lynnway.
“I am a Lynner and at least in my time, I want to feel like we have made some effective change in the city for the better,” said Walsh.
Nicholson is planning to meet with the City Council president and vice president at least once a month and more if needed, Walsh said, to discuss citizens’ concerns, plans and to incubate ideas.
In return, Nicholson said that he sees excitement among other councilors about Walsh’s leadership.
“I think we are going to work really well together,” Nicolson said.
Alena Kuzub can be reached at [email protected].
