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Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

City had to hire so many and put a percentage of residents in Melrose. CT has the most law suits of any superintendent in this city. Now,the SC gives her over 1 and under 5 more years. It is too be a secret.The cats out of the bag CT, got 3 more years.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Liz 857-544-4923 and Christine 781-662-2347 let them know how Cindy is doing.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Hey, I assumed this is Melrose Messages not a English test. You are correct the residents with no children have no clue. And it is not a secret how many years more super has received from the SC and Mayor.[Thumbsdown]

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

They went through great lengths to sneak this one by the Melrose residents. Unfortunately, stupid executive decisions like this have political consequences.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

There is an end to this road we're on if nothing changes.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

The problems in Melrose begin and end with the principals and teaching staff.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

When you cheat it's you who gets cheated.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

You are only cheating yourself. Melrose teacher's clearly know they need improvement[Warning] Then again you only get what you pay for.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Patricia M. (Shea) Wright
9/23/2017

Patricia M. (Shea) Wright, age 54, of Melrose, formerly of Brighton passed away at home on Saturday, September 23, 2017.

Born in Verdun, France on October 26, 1962, she was a loving daughter of Paul V. and Anne Marie (Guillemin) Shea of Plymouth.

Patty grew up in Brighton and was a 1980 graduate of Mount St Joseph Academy in Brighton. She furthered her studies, graduating from the University of Massachusetts in Boston and the Massachusetts School of Law.

Patty was a practicing lawyer with the law firm of Korde & Associates, PC in Lowell. She also worked for the firm when it operated under the name of Middlesex Title Company.

A resident of Melrose for over twenty years, Patty was an active member of the community and an advocate for children’s education. She especially loved spending time with her family, and also enjoyed arts and crafts, reading, gardening, and will be always be remembered for her amazing cooking skills

In addition to her parents, she was the devoted mother of Rebecca H. Wright of Melrose and the late Edward O. Wright. She was the dear sister of Edward M. Shea and his wife Lisa of Mansfield, and Genevieve M. Shultz and her husband Jordan of Yardley, PA. She was the loving niece of Solange Klein of France, and is also survived by many nieces and nephews including Erin Shea, Hunter Shea and Arielle Shultz.

Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend a service in celebration of her life on Saturday, September 30th at 5:00 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main St., Mansfield.

Visitation will be held prior to the services beginning at 3:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Burial will be private.

To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Please don't post anything improper as her family might see it.

Patty was a good person who fought for the rights of children in our district pro bono. A strong advocate for anyone in need. An intellectual, attorney, friend, mother, sister, daughter. A person unafraid to speak out against those who placed themselves above the needs of our children.
Rest in peace Patty. You will be missed.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Attorney Wright fought hard for real justice in Melrose. Her courage and intelligence were complemented by her huge, loving heart. She was tough in her tenacity and ferocity, but her heart was always in the right place. Her passing is an enormous loss for our community. Rest in peace, Patricia. Sending deepest condolences to her family and friends.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

The community continues to get soaked by an extortionist city government. via water/sewer and tax schemes, They are smart enough to see that some of these administrators are not too swift, but they buy into the jargon and don't look too closely. Most have never bothered to investigate beyond what they hear from their neighbors or friends at yoga.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Grateful Mom
Attorney Wright fought hard for real justice in Melrose. Her courage and intelligence were complemented by her huge, loving heart. She was tough in her tenacity and ferocity, but her heart was always in the right place. Her passing is an enormous loss for our community. Rest in peace, Patricia. Sending deepest condolences to her family and friends.
Mother and daughter relationships are complex because the daughter looks to her mother as a role model of what a woman is. As she grows up and sees other women who live their lives differently, she chooses between imitating her mother or other significant influences in her life. As an adolescent she may come to look down on her mother and think that other woman are much better. Of course she is not a fully grown woman so she does not understand the challenges and choices that her mother faces. It is only when she herself becomes a woman that she can fully appreciate her mother.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Take this into consideration. The bullies are the rich kids that kick out the poor ones in a group. Mostly girls are the bullies in the high school and in life.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Say good bye to Melrose Messages.[o:)]

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Good Bye MM
Say good bye to Melrose Messages.[o:)]
NO WE WILL NOT SAY GOOD BYE TO MELROSE MESSAGES WILL LIVE ON JUST KEEP LOOKING.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Quote: Friend
Attorney Wright fought hard for real justice in Melrose. Her courage and intelligence were complemented by her huge, loving heart. She was tough in her tenacity and ferocity, but her heart was always in the right place. Her passing is an enormous loss for our community. Rest in peace, Patricia. Sending deepest condolences to her family and friends.
Since the loss of you
I've learned to live for each day
And take it as a blessing
Knowing it may not always be this way.

Since the loss of you
I've learned that when everything goes wrong
To never give up on what is right
Because it can only make you strong.

Since the loss of you
I've learned that even when you're in a lot of pain
You've got to hold yourself together
So you won't feel like you're going insane.

Since the loss of you
I've learned how to hold the tears when I want to cry
Because all I have is memories
And just want to ask God why.

But mostly, since the loss of you
I've learned a life can be taken in the blink of an eye
And only Heaven really knows when
That person will have to say "Goodbye."

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

You're a very special person.
I'm glad that you're my friend,
For when I need a little advice,
You always have some to lend.

You help me when I am troubled,
Feeling down and out-
I never have to say what's wrong.
You seem to know what I'm all about.

I can always tell you my feelings
Without having you put me down.
You're the person I can turn to
When no one else is around.

I can cry on your shoulder
When things are going wrong.
You give me a smile
And help me to be strong.

You seem to understand me.
After all that we've gone through,
I only have one thing to say...
Thanks for being YOU!

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Being friends is about sharing our lives with others. There are some aspects of our lives that require that we spend a lot of time together or a lot of writing to help convey our feelings. Other times sharing only a few words are more than adequate. It is not always the long conversation that conveys the deepest feelings. Sometimes, longer modes of expression may seem redundant and lacking in profundity.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

No police at MHS this week! The officer that got hurt is that officer Applegate? Who should of made sure a police officer were on duty this week? Should it have been the school or police department?

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

No Police at MHS
No police at MHS this week! The officer that got hurt is that officer Applegate? Who should of made sure a police officer were on duty this week? Should it have been the school or police department?
IT IS WHAT IT IS.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Not in the best interest for the students and staff at MHS.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

This is what happens when the public sits silent.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

The poster above is correct.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Melrose Resident
This is what happens when the public sits silent.
Ouch!! Just saw the Melrose MCAS results. It's bad for all the children not learning in school.

After so many years of Melrose school 'improvement,' today's students are doing worse than any were before. They gave the teachers millions more dollars a year. The superintendent gives herself and her pet admins three million dollars a year. It's all been nothing but a show and a waste of taxpayer money. All the money spent on modular classrooms and learning commons and science labs and three new schools and Horace Mann renovations was all just expensive lipstick on the proverbial pig.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

How nice the SC that voted to keep Taymore 3 more years are leaving and not running for office. Thanks a lot you fools.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

I voted for her Liz D. and thought she was going to speak out and did nothing. She will be remembered as a coward and voted CT to stay 3 more years.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

What world do you live in? Millions more for teachers? HAHAHAHAHA. All the students who are not learning because they cannot pass a test? You clearly know zero about education, learning, or economics. It is almost like you have not been in a classroom in 50 years or have any desire to learn about the purpose of modern education. Science labs will help your students function in a society that is slowly realizing a fake being in the sky does not control the environment, facts, or anything really. Keep complaining about updating schools. Lets see how much you learn when the ceilings leak, no ventilation in rooms, or no access to educational resources.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

HAHAHAHA
What world do you live in? Millions more for teachers? HAHAHAHAHA. All the students who are not learning because they cannot pass a test? You clearly know zero about education, learning, or economics. It is almost like you have not been in a classroom in 50 years or have any desire to learn about the purpose of modern education. Science labs will help your students function in a society that is slowly realizing a fake being in the sky does not control the environment, facts, or anything really. Keep complaining about updating schools. Lets see how much you learn when the ceilings leak, no ventilation in rooms, or no access to educational resources.
Melrose MCAS results. It's bad for all the children not learning in school.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

You have every right to be concerned.What's going on in Melrose.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

So fake, the only thing Melrose has is downtown.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

The Melrose Weekly would not run the following as an oped or letter -- or even as a PAID political ad. Very troubling to have such denial of access to the public. I ask all readers herein to consider the following for November 7. And refer such to family and friends. Thanks.

To Melrose taxpayers and voters…

The November 7 local election is another opportunity for the silent majority of Melrose taxpayers to speak their minds about the unfair financial burdens put on their shoulders by a majority of long-standing elected officials.

On November 7, two good votes from the silent majority -- and well beyond – are, first, Nancy Lewis in the Ward 6 alderman race. Second, any combination up to four choices, while omitting Kate Lipper-Garabedian in the alderman-at-large race.

Testament to those choices and that silent majority being heard loud and clear are the past two override votes resoundingly defeated by a wide 2-1 margin, while an overwhelming majority of the aldermen and Mayor Dolan stood in unified support. All the while, we now have over 1,335 former and current city and school employees with full-time health insurance at over $18,000.00 in direct taxpayer cost of over 11 million dollars; some recipients are former and current aldermen. Not to mention all city-side employees are now eligible for a life pension after just 10 years service, thanks to an April 2, 2012, aldermanic vote put forth by Dolan. Many receive part-time wages for full-time benefits.

All while more non-related wages and benefits are quietly put in the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund by Dolan, now over 14 million dollars, resulting in taxpayer water bills 50 percent higher than the state average. Yes, taxpayers are paying for wages and benefits unrelated to water and sewer use.

No coincidence after that 2012 vote for life pensions, there was an internal review committee established for Dolan’s $99,896.00 salary. On February 4, 2013, the aldermen increased it by 25 percent to $125,000.00, beginning January 1, 2014.

That likely spurred another outcry by that silent majority when the unopposed Dolan received some 5,000 blank votes in the last local election two years ago.

Also no coincidence is the fact that Alderman Mortimer from Ward 6, figured out how to “retire” as an alderman in order to begin collecting his life pension for two meetings a month. Then he got himself reappointed by the Board of Aldermen as Ward 6 alderman, then ran twice for reelection unopposed. Mortimer gets the aldermanic salary and expense account and full-time health benefits as well as the life pension for an annual income of some $25,000.00. Last count, the consummate double-dipping Mortimer has been in office over 25 years and taken well over a half million taxpayer dollars for his two meetings a month.

On November 7, only three ward alderman races have opposition. The most important is Ward 6 where newcomer Nancy Lewis is running against Mortimer.

Throughout all these costly shenanigans, only Aldermen-at-Large Monica Medeiros and Donald Conn have attempted to stem the red-ink tide that is overwhelming the city budget. Neither takes the health benefit. And, yes, that silent majority has consistently put them first and second in recent elections.

On the November 7 ballot, there is another newcomer – well not exactly -- to city politics in Lipper-Garabedian. There are six candidates for four seats in this race, including Medeiros and Conn. Lipper-Garabedian, with behind-the-scenes support, was immediately appointed by Dolan to various city and school “leadership” positions after moving to Melrose less than two years ago. Lipper-Garabedian has a well-oiled and organized election committee. According to online and required election oversight agencies, Lipper-Garabedian’s local committee has directly contributed to high-profile state political-action committees. Why? And where does that money come from?

Lipper-Garabedian’s connections to Dolan and state political committees give her biased access to Melrose election data for social media manipulation as well as subtle control over any information she sends to the uninformed or worse, misinformed voter. Not to mention becoming another rubber stamp on the Board of Alderman while collecting full-time benefits and a future life pension after 10 years for two meetings a month -- while climbing the political ladder.

On November 7, all three incumbents are stepping down from their school committee seats, meaning half the school committee will be new faces. What does that say about our school system’s management and the committee’s lack of contribution to our kids, parents and taxpayers --with Dolan a sitting member?

Dolan is not up for reelection, given the city charter change to a four-year mayoral term.

Something and some things have to change in Melrose.

Bob Snow is Co-host of MMTV’s Matters of Interest.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Should get interesting.On November 7, only three ward alderman races have opposition. The most important is Ward 6 where newcomer Nancy Lewis is running against Mortimer.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

The charter must be changed if Melrose citizens hope to recapture whatever is left of a democratically managed city, which it most certainly is not currently. There are no existing checks and balances.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

There are no existing checks and balances for are school;s.Just look at the things that should not have came to light

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Lesson to be learned: Change the school superintendent . short of this nothing changes. May be the charge is the Mayor?Every year the superintendent says schools are doing wonderful things. When poor results become obvious, she says it's all under control, or she needs more money. Measures like AP scores, SAT scores and MCAS scores regularly tell a different story. Money won't make the schools better with the same smug attitude from the one in charge.Then Gerry Mroz will demonstrate, as he does each year, why their data is flawed!

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

A small but significant example of the contemptuous conduct of the local Dems, especially when it comes to state and federal laws:

"Melrosee Dems Rack Up Campaign Finance Violations"
Letters from the Office of Campaign Finance reveal illegal fundraising of Melrose Democratic City Committee on eve of local election.
By Alice Shattuck (Patch Poster) - Updated Nov 6, 2017 12:20 pm ET

The following information was provided to both of the local Melrose newspapers in time for the election-related deadline for the weekly paper two weeks ago. Both papers chose not to print or further report on this information before the local election on November 7th.

(Melrose) – The Melrose Democrats have been keeping busy under their new leadership team, made up of Samantha Hammar, Manisha Gadia Bewtra, Peter Navarra and Peter Mortimer. Unfortunately, in addition to ordinary local activism, they have also been busy racking up campaign finance law violations. Letters from the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance addressed to Treasurer Peter Mortimer over the last 12 months reveal at least three infractions, one of which was serious enough to incur a $300 penalty for illegal fundraising activity.

This troubling pattern of disregard for legal campaign finance requirements raises serious questions about the officers of the committee, three of whom are running for local office in the November 7th municipal election. Treasurer Mortimer is running for re-election to the Ward 6 seat on the Melrose Board of Aldermen, where he serves as Chairman of the city's Appropriations Committee. Co-Vice Chairmen Manisha Gadia Bewtra and Peter Navarra are running for Alderman-at-Large and School Committee respectively.

"The fact that these infractions are occurring so frequently is definitely a concern," stated Alice Shattuck, Vice Chairman of the Melrose Republican City Committee. "These laws are written to ensure transparency and fairness in our elections process, and for a group that is so active in local politics to be repeatedly violating them shows a lack of respect for the public trust."

The first letter, dated December 8, 2016, states that Mortimer failed to file an accurate 2015 year-end report for the committee, reporting over $1,500 in reimbursements directly to members of the committee without disclosing the purpose for the political spending. In addition, the letter states, Mortimer omitted an in-kind donation to the committee from his reporting. Further review indicates this was a donation made by Congresswoman Katherine Clark that remained unknown to the public until the OCPF required Mortimer to re-file a corrected report last year.

The second letter, dated June 21, 2017, details how the Melrose Democratic City Committee posted fundraising solicitations for their political activities inside of Melrose public buildings, a violation of Massachusetts law, which prohibits public resources from being used in political fundraising. This activity, which the letter states "clearly did not comply with the campaign finance law," resulted in the committee paying a penalty of $300 to the Commonwealth.

With the Committee currently using their funds to plaster the city with fliers for their chosen candidates in the local election tomorrow, voters deserve to know the fundraising habits of the Democratic City Committee. The candidates aided by these activities include those mentioned above as well as Kate Lipper-Garabedian, Michael Zwirko, Frank Wright, Robert Boisselle, Jennifer McAndrew, John Obremski and Jennifer Razi-Thomas."

https://patch.com/massachusetts/melrose/melrose-dems-rack-campaign-finance-violations

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

The City of Melrose has a long way to go with all the legal fees first. The SC is more to blame than the superintendent. Our School Committee is Cyndi's boss and has the power to let her go at anytime.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Remembering
The City of Melrose has a long way to go with all the legal fees first. The SC is more to blame than the superintendent. Our School Committee is Cyndi's boss and has the power to let her go at anytime.
All Spin and Lies

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Sad State of Affairs
Remembering
The City of Melrose has a long way to go with all the legal fees first. The SC is more to blame than the superintendent. Our School Committee is Cyndi\\\'s boss and has the power to let her go at anytime.
All Spin and Lies
More are leaving the district again.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

From Wicked local:
Mayor Rob Dolan has been named a finalist for the position of Lynnfield Town Administrator.

Dolan was announced as one of two finalists for the Lynnfield position at the town’s Dec. 11 Board of Selectmen meeting.

A screening committee set up to review applicants reported nearly 40 candidates came forward for the position. Of those, a consultant recommended nine candidates, which the committee narrowed down to four.

Dolan and current Lynnfield Assistant to the Administration Robert Curtin are the two finalists that remain in the running for the job.

The following is a statement by Dolan regarding being named a finalist for the position:

“Due to the recently announced departure of the Lynnfield Town Administrator, an unanticipated and unique opportunity arose for me and my family. I chose to explore the position due to the professional opportunity it presents, and I am honored to have been named a finalist for the position of Lynnfield Town Administrator. After much reflection, I have decided to continue on with the process. I have had the privilege of serving the citizens of Melrose for 24 years as an elected official and 16 as mayor. As the selection process continues to unfold, I will keep the citizens of Melrose up to date every step of the way.”

The current Lynnfield Town Administrator, James M. Boudreau, has held the position since 2014, having previously held the same position in Norwell.

Dolan has been Mayor of Melrose since 2002. He graduated from Melrose High School in 1989 and was a member of the Melrose School Committee from 1994 to 1998. From 1998 to 2002 he served on the Board of Aldermen as Alderman-At-Large, and was President of the Board in 2001.

Further updates to this story will be reported when they become available.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

From the Boston Globe 3 hours ago: "Should Dolan vacate his seat to take the Lynnfield job prior to the start of the third year of his four-year term on Jan. 8, the Melrose charter provides that a special election would have to be called within 90 days to fill the seat. If the seat became vacant on Jan. 8 or after, it would be filled by the president of the Board of Aldermen, according to city solicitor Robert Van Campen."

Simply put, if Dolan is selected for the job and wants to keep the current President of the Board of Alderman and local Republican Don Conn from finishing out his term, he simply needs to vacate his seat before January 8th. That would force a special election which would probably result in a Democrat being elected.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

The SC that voted to keep Taymore guess what, they are leaving and that includes the mayor. Thanks for your assistance in leaving the most costly superintendent in Melrose. She has been here five years what has she done? We as a family are worried that Dolan has done more damage and wants out before the residents know what is going on.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Re: Mayor leaving for Lynnfield?

A faceoff in Lynnfield
DEC 20. 2017

inShare

Faceoff is one of those words tailor-made to stir up excitement, and the faceoff between two candidates for the Lynnfield Town Administrator job tonight deserves to draw an audience when the Board of Selectmen begins interviewing the contenders at 6 p.m. in MarketStreet’s Al Merritt meeting room.

Board Chairman Christopher Barrett and his fellow selectmen have an interesting decision to make. One of the contenders for outgoing Administrator James Boudreau’s job is Robert Dolan, the mayor of Melrose who was first elected in 2002. The other finalist is Robert Curtin, a well-known name around town and assistant to the town administrator for the past eight years.

The contenders’ contrasting backgrounds and experience puts the selectmen at a crossroads when it comes to deciding the direction the town should go and who is best suited as administrator to take it in that direction.

Curtin knows Lynnfield inside and out as a town official and local newspaper editor (Lynnfield Weekly News). He knows the selectmen, the priorities they have set and, most important, he knows what Lynnfield people think about and how they feel about the town.

Mayors don’t often seek out town government jobs but Dolan has managed to survive a screening committee and hiring consultant review to be a finalist for the administrator job.

His long tenure in office speaks to his popularity in Melrose and his understanding of municipal affairs. Being mayor of even a small city involves gaining a working knowledge of state and federal government and making connections with legislators, even members of Congress.

It also means grasping an understanding of budget crafting, state and federal laws that translate into expensive local mandates and gaining experience with labor unions and liability laws. All that experience doesn’t mean Dolan can jump from a mayorship to the administrator’s job with seamless ease.

Curtin, on the other hand, is the candidate who can simply walk a few feet from his Town Hall desk to the one now used by Boudreau. He is also, in many respects, the person best positioned to know the pressing matters now occupying Boudreau’s inbox and Curtin knows the concerns, including finances, sure to be priorities in 2018 for the Board of Selectmen and the new administrator.

Town government is inclined more often than not to subscribe to the time-honored “if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it” school of thought. With Boudreau headed to presumably greener pastures on the South Shore, Curtin is certainly equipped to keep Lynnfield on a steady course. Then again, with plans for a new library underway and a public safety building on the horizon, maybe a candidate with city government skills is a better fit for the administrator job.

The selectmen will have plenty of questions to ask Curtin and Dolan but the most important questions will be the ones they ask each other. They were elected to serve on the board with a mandate from town voters. Now they must ask themselves and their fellow board members how they should carry out that mandate when it comes to hiring a new administrator.Dolan and Curtin. Wednesday Dec 20 2017; Beginningy at 6 P.M .At the Al Merritt Center and Cultural Center'600 Market ST Lynnfield mass.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Mayor Dolan comes out let us know if he got the job.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

By Matthew Reid
mreid@wickedlocal.com
Posted Dec 21, 2017 at 8:15 AM Updated Dec 21, 2017 at 8:18 AM

By a unanimous 3-0 vote, the Lynnfield Board of Selectmen named Melrose Mayor Rob Dolan as the town’s new Town Administrator at their meeting Wednesday, Dec. 20.

Dolan was one of two finalists for the position, along with current Lynnfield Assistant to the Administration Robert Curtin, who had been the interim Town Administrator since the departure of James M. Boudreau earlier this month.

A screening committee set up to review applicants reported nearly 40 candidates came forward for the position. Of those, a consultant recommended nine candidates, which the committee narrowed down to four.

In the end, it was Dolan’s experience running the city of Melrose, including his work overseeing the city’s budget, that made him the chosen candidate.

″[Seeking the Lynnfield Town Administrator job] was not a decision I made lightly, but from a professional standpoint it was one I felt was best for me and my family,” Dolan told the Free Press leading up to the meeting Wednesday. In a statement to the people of Melrose, he added, “I have had the privilege of serving the citizens of Melrose for 24 years as an elected official and 16 as mayor.”

He referred to the Lynnfield job as an “unanticipated and unique opportunity.”

Dolan has been Mayor of Melrose since 2002. He graduated from Melrose High School in 1989 and was a member of the Melrose School Committee from 1994 to 1998. From 1998 to 2002 he served on the Board of Aldermen as Alderman-At-Large, and was President of the Board in 2001.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

MELORSE, MA — There are Melrosians driving cars today that have never known life without Mayor Robert Dolan in charge. Now, after Dolan was unanimously approved as Lynnfield Town Administrator in a Wednesday night meeting, all eyes are on who will be next.

Dolan's 16-year-run indisputably transformed Melrose. While there is much to reflect on and celebrate, many are now asking who will take his place.

Much hinges on just when Dolan vacates the Mayor's office.

Melrose is going through some major changes! Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free for more local news and real-time alerts.

The City Charter states that if a vacancy occurs within the first two years of a term, then a special election will be held within 90 days of the vacancy. The winner of that election would hold the office until the initial term of the original mayor was set to expire.

If the office becomes vacant after the beginning of the mayor's third year, the president of the Board of Aldermen would assume the role of mayor. You can read the Section 3-10 of the City Charter below.

The third year of Dolan's four-year term would begin Jan. 8. The Mayor's office told Patch the date Dolan would vacate office is still undetermined.

Dolan is expected to start in Lynnfield in early February.

President Donald Conn Jr. lost his reelection bid in November and will leave office Jan. 8. The incoming board chose Mike Zwirko to succeed Conn on Dec. 4, but that was in a nonbonding caucus. A formal vote will take place on Jan. 8, and it's now looking like a more competitive race.

The Melrose Free Press reports Aldermen John Tramontozzi, Gail Infurna, and Monica Medeiros will be vying for the presidency now that it could essentially be a vote for mayor.

While some residents may be surprised to hear a person who was never on the mayoral ballot may be running the city, the City Charter makes the process clear. The charter was recently reviewed, and Patch was told the provision regarding a mayoral vacancy was not brought up for consideration.

Subscribe to Melrose Patch for more free local news and real-time alerts

SECTION 3-10: VACANCY IN OFFICE OF MAYOR

(a) Special Election - If a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs during the first 2 years of the term for which the mayor is elected, whether by reason of death, resignation, removal from office, incapacity, or otherwise, the board of aldermen shall immediately, in the manner provided in section 7-1, order a special election to be held within 90 days following the date the vacancy is created, to fill the vacancy for the balance of the then unexpired term. If a regular city election is to be held within 120 days following the date the vacancy is created a special election need not be held and the position shall be filled by vote at such regular election.

(b) President of Aldermen To Serve As Mayor - If a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs in the third or fourth year of the term for which the mayor is elected, whether by reason of death, resignation, removal from office, or otherwise, the president of the board of aldermen shall become the mayor. Upon the qualification of the president of the board of aldermen as the mayor, under this section, a vacancy shall exist in that seat on the board of aldermen which shall be filled in the manner provided in section 2-11. A president serving as mayor under this subsection shall not be subject to the restrictions contained in the third sentence of section 3-1(a), nor shall that person be entitled to have the words "candidate for re-election" printed against their name on the election ballot.

(c) Powers, Term of Office - The mayor elected under Section 3-10(a) or (b) shall have all the powers of the mayor. A person elected under subsection (a), shall serve for the balance of the term unexpired at the time of election to the office. A person chosen under subsection (b), shall serve until the time of the next regular election at which time the person elected to fill the office for the ensuing term of office shall serve, in addition, for the balance of the then unexpired term.:

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

Ms. Taymore should be leaving.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

What an embarrassment and liability this administration is!

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

These people have no shame! How can Taymore and Driscoll look people in the eyes and say that they are for educational excellence when they lack a basic understanding of transparency and honesty towards the residents of Melrose.

Re: More Staff Leaving the High School?????

This 21 page string created and maintained by the lunatics of Melrose needs to die a quick and painless death. Transparency is the most overused word in government.

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