LYNN— At Monday night’s Lynn Water and Sewer Commission meeting, Councilor Richard Colucci proposed appointing a new chair and vice chair of the commission.
Although a vote was taken in December to reappoint Michael Celona as chairman, a majority vote approved City Councilor Dr. Peter Meaney as the new chairman, with Commissioner Vincent Lozzi Jr. as vice chairman.
The proposal to reconsider the commission’s leadership was not listed on the meeting agenda and came after all the scheduled business on the agenda was completed.
When Celona asked whether there was any new business, Colucci moved for the commission to revisit its prior vote.
“I’d like to rescind the vote taken in December for the chairperson and the vice chairperson,” Colucci said. Commissioner Lozzi immediately seconded the motion.
Colucci continued, “I’d like to appoint Peter Meaney as the chair and Vinnie Lozzi as the vice chair.”
Meaney seconded the subsequent motion. This meeting marked Meaney’s first meeting as a City Councilor.
Celona questioned the move, stating, “I don’t know why we would vote on this when we voted on it last month. What is people’s basis for rescinding?”
“New membership,” Meaney responded, adding that the commission’s new makeup warranted new leadership.
Commissioner Robin Grace was absent from the meeting, and Councilor Coco Alinsung did not participate, having already departed from the commission.
Reflecting on the timing of the December vote, Lozzi said, “It was so close to the new year – Coco was sort of like a lame duck almost – so we thought, ride it over to the New Year.”
Celona acknowledged that Alinsung’s departure had been known at the time of the December vote, but continued to ask what had changed, to which Meaney reiterated, “Well, what has changed is new membership.”
Colucci responded to Celona, saying, “You never ever talked to me or Vinnie about anything you were doing on the committee. So that’s something that would frustrate me.”
The commission ultimately approved the motion by a 3-1 vote, with Meaney, Colucci, and Lozzi voting in favor and a single opposing vote from Celona.
By the close of the meeting, Meaney had been appointed the new chairman of Lynn’s Water and Sewer Commission with Lozzi as the vice chairman.
