LYNN — As the New Year approaches, the Lynn City Council spent the final moments of its last meeting of the year saying goodbye to two longtime members, council President Jay Walsh and Vice President Dianna Chakoutis, who both chose not to run for reelection.
Walsh has served on the Council for 10 years, and Chakoutis for 12, making a significant impact on the city’s decisions.
“These jobs are difficult for our families. They’re difficult for people that work here every day. They’re also very rewarding. If you haven’t had the opportunity to sit on a council or a board, it’s a very rewarding feeling,” Walsh said.
He added that they’re very humbled to have the opportunity and the trust of the people of Lynn to serve them.
“I made a lot of friends. We’ve lost some… I think you meet those people along the way. You make some friends, you make some colleagues, (and) you meet the people in the city (and) you get to know your city,” he said.
Walsh noted that it’s even more humbling for his colleagues to have put their trust in him and elected him president, a role he’s served for 4 years.
“It’s a great feeling. It really is to know you’re able to have some change in your city, have some say in some things that are happening in your city. You do that for your family and the people of the city,” he said.
“I just want to say thank you very much to everybody that I’ve worked with over the 12 years,” Chakoutis, who has served under three different members, said.
She continued that things in the city have changed for the better.
“I’m not going anywhere either. I’m staying as the chair of the Council on Aging, so I’ll still be involved with my seniors… I do want to thank everybody over the last 12 years. I really appreciate it. Thank you very much, and we will miss everyone,” she said.
Both Walsh and Chakoutis received standing ovations from their fellow council members.
Coco Alinsug, who will be sworn in as the next president, took to the podium next to say a few words.
“I would like to request Councilor (Fred) Hogan, Councilor (Brian) Field, and Councilor Natasha Megie-Maddrey to come up on stage. You know, these two councilors are president and vice president (and) have served the city with all of their might and heart for more than a decade each, and they deserve a formal goodbye,” Alinsug said.
He then invited Mayor Jared C. Nicholson up to give Walsh and Chakoutis a goodbye speech.
“Councilor Walsh and I have worked very closely together, and I just want to thank
him for the incredible partnership,” Nicholson said. “We’ve gotten a lot done over the last four years, and Councilor Walsh’s leadership is a big reason why. We’ve had what I believe to be a truly productive relationship. Not because we always agree, but because we ultimately have similar values and at the end of the day we’ve always found a way to work together.”
Nicholson noted that he’s spoken to Walsh every day over the past four years, sometimes even multiple times a day.
“I remember the first time he didn’t call me back right away because he was tied up, and I remember only because he mentioned the next day that he felt bad about it. I can probably count on one hand the number of times he didn’t call me back within 20 minutes. He’s just always available,” he said.
Nicholson continued that it’s not just by phone that Walsh is available but that he’s “always willing to engage, roll up his sleeves, be open to new ideas, and just try to make it work.”
Nicholson also spoke about how Chakoutis stepped into her role after the passing of Councilor Buzzy Barton, noting that they were big shoes to fill, but that no one could have done it better than her.
“She brings to City affairs a combination of warm hospitality and keen management skills that only someone who runs a successful restaurant could possess. I know she is someone here colleagues have always been able to go to for honest, trusted advice and counsel,” he said.
He also said that Chakoutis has an “incredible legacy” at the current Senior Center, advocating for and delivering for the city’s seniors.
“What I love most about working with Dianna was her ability to hone in on what’s critical. For most big votes, Councilor Chakoutis would have one or two key questions. He prioritization both amplified her impact and helped us all move forward toward positive change,” he said.
Finally, Nicholson thanked both Walsh and Chakoutis for what they’ve done for their wards, colleagues, him personally, and the entire city. He then gave them both citations from the city.
Hogan then presented both citations from the City Council.
“Thank you for the 12 years and the 12 years of service from the Lynn City Council… Being a new ward councilor seven years ago, looking up to these guys… Learning how to be a ward councilor from two excellent ward councilors was truly an amazing thing. What they taught us, we’re going to teach the new councilors, and we’ve done that every year… I really do appreciate both of you guys,” Hogan said.
State Rep. Sean Reid then came up to thank them for their work.
“Prior to becoming in this role, I know what you both have done for so many people, but being in this role, anytime I go somewhere, they’ll say ‘Go ask Jay. Go ask Dianna,’ so I really appreciate the institutional knowledge that you have. That will be tough to replace,” Reid said.
Field then shared some thoughts on behalf of the council.
“I’ve known Jay and Dianna the longest… Like the mayor said, she (Chakoutis) really stepped up after the passing of Councilor Barton. I’ve always looked at both of them personally as mentors to me when I first got elected,” he said.
Field went on to speak highly of the work the two did for the council and the city.
“So, as we look back at these two leaders, the one word that really comes to mind is character. And if we take anything from the two of them, it’s what they’ve taught us and the character they’ve shown the entire City of Lynn and beyond. We’re better off because they were our leaders over the past number of years, so I thank them for all of that,” he said.
