LYNN—Focus remained on mayoral power as the charter review committee discussed its initial thoughts at its second meeting Wednesday.
The committee, chaired by former mayor Thomas McGee, began deliberation on the first four articles of the charter to make the document more accessible and understandable to Lynn citizens as well as more conducive to the circumstances of the 21st century.
“I think we can create a document that reflects and clearly identifies what the responsibilities of council are, what the mayor’s responsibilities are and how people in city government can be appointed,” McGee said.
He said what the committee is aiming to do is take the committee’s concerns and “reflect it in the document in a way that the public understands, that the people that are running for office understand, in a way that we as a community understand it.”
The charter the city is currently operating under was approved by citizens in 1978.
The committee is receiving consultation from UMass Boston’s Edwards J. Collins, Jr.
Center for Public Management. The meeting discussion was guided by Stephen McGoldrick.
Members of the committee include Joe Scanlon, Nicole McClain, Magnolia Contreras, CJ Mihos, Danya Smith, Jim Lamanna, Pam Edwards, and Nielsen Fresco.
Councilor-at-Large McClain noted Article 2, the executive branch did not address the transfer of office from a sitting mayor to mayor-elect.
She said although it is not true for all elections, some mayors may come into office having lacked a mentor throughout their campaign.
She emphasized the frequent turnover of staff in city hall, acknowledging that if a chief financial officer were to leave around the same time as the mayor, then that mayor’s successor may be left with little guidance.
Contreras, Lynn resident and vice-president of community health at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, said it is not uncommon within the private sector for directors and leaders to leave a state of the organization document, and it is something worth exploring as the committee continues to review the charter.
McGee said it may be difficult to “mandate,” that a mayor when exiting office, provide all the information necessary for their successor to succeed.
He said all of the information is publicly available so it can just be a matter of learning the “nuts and bolts” of the job and becoming familiar with the position.
McClain also noted there was no residency requirement for someone to campaign for mayor according to article 2, section 1. The committee agreed that this language should be added to the future charter proposal.
During the meeting the committee also addressed limiting the number of years in which a city council member, after leaving office, can be hired to work for the city government from two years to one, and transferring appointment power from the city council to the mayor for all other positions other than city clerk and assistant city clerk.
The council is scheduled to meet again on August 22 to deliberate on the rest of the charter and the goal is to complete a proposal by the end of the year.
