LYNN — The Lynn City Council voted Friday evening to approve Michael Donovan’s appointment as Director of Capital Projects following a week of confusion, frustration, and miscommunication over the role and its implications for city staffing.
The council reversed its initial 6–5 rejection of Donovan’s appointment from earlier in the week after Councilor Brian LaPierre introduced a motion for reconsideration. Only Councilors Peter Meaney and Fred Hogan voted against the measure at the special meeting.
“I just want to point out that we’re here on a Friday night for a special meeting, and [Donovan] hasn’t even bothered to grace us with his presence,” said Meaney during the discussion. Council Vice President Dianna Chakoutis responded that Donovan had canceled a previously scheduled vacation in January to oversee an emergency project at Classical High School and that he was currently away on a rescheduled break.
Confusion among councilors centered on Donovan’s dual function as both head of Inspectional Services (ISD) and the city’s newly created Capital Projects Unit. Councilor Nicole McClain said she thought the matter had been resolved when councilors previously voted to approve Brett Bennett Jr. as ISD chief, but learned only later that Donovan had not officially vacated the role.
“We weren’t aware that Mr. Donovan was functioning in both roles,” McClain said. “That would have influenced some of the votes. I hope in the future we’re made aware of all the intricacies that go into these appointments.”
Mayor Jared C. Nicholson said the overlap was intentional to ensure city operations remained uninterrupted. “It was possible for [Donovan] to do both so we didn’t go without an ISD chief,” he explained. “This was always intended as a restructuring — splitting capital oversight out of ISD to better manage large-scale projects.”
Funding for Donovan’s $194,000 salary will come 75% from the city’s education-related budget, which uses Chapter 70 state funds, and 25% from the general city budget. Councilor Natasha Megie-Maddrey questioned whether this structure would affect student support staff, such as social workers.
Nicholson clarified that the Chapter 70 allocation in question does not draw from the school department’s own budget, but rather from city-held funds that support education through infrastructure and services.
Despite the initial divide, Friday’s approval clears the path for Bennett to formally assume the ISD chief role on April 7.
