DEALS OF THE $DAY$ PG. 3 FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020 DEALS OF THE Swampscott looks to leave Civil Service Lynn$DAY$ system for the hiring of future chiefs faresPG. 3 By David McLellan An article will appear on the June 22 an- promotion. ITEM STAFF nual Town Meeting warrant asking resi- In Swampscott, which uses Civil Service DEALS dents to petition the state legislature for a for the hiring of police chiefs and re chiefs, SWAMPSCOTT — At the annual Town well special act that would allow it to drop the the system restricts the town to hiring Meeting in 1909, voters chose to adopt the OF THE state’s Civil Service system for the of ces of Civil Service system for its police and re chiefs from within its current police and re $ $ the police chief and re chief. chiefs. Massachusetts Civil Service, admin- ranks, or hire sitting chiefs in other commu- DAY But over the past century, that set of rules istered by the state’s Human Resources Di- nities. Dropping the system could broaden withPG. 3 has restricted the town in its hiring practic- vision, handles testing of job applicants and the town’s applicant pool for the jobs from es, and Town Administrator Sean Fitzger- employees seeking promotion in towns that just a few to 50 to 75 applicants. ald says it is time for a change. Both Police use the system. The Civil Service Commis- “That would help us look at a much more Chief Ron Madigan and Fire Chief Graham sion also handles appeals from employees MBTA Archer are on board. who have been disciplined or bypassed for SWAMPSCOTT, A2 By GaylaDEALS Cawley ITEMOF STAFF THE LYNN — Train rates will be cut again $in DALynn Yon$ July 1. SAUGUS STANDS CommutersPG. will 3 be able to take the train from Lynn to Boston at subway rates through Aug. 31, as Zone 1A IN SOLIDARITY fares will be accepted at the Lynn Commuter Rail Station during thatDEALS time period. The change,OF THE announced by the MassachusettsOF THE Bay Transportation$DA AuthorityY$ on Wednesday, reducesPG. 3 the cost of a one-way ticketPG. 3 to Boston from $7 to $2.40, the same price as a Charlie Card sub- way fare. The temporary rates are an extension of the pilot pro- gram offered for a brief peri- od last month by the MBTA, which aimed to reduce over- crowding on buses during the Blue Line shutdown. The extension, lobbied for by Mayor Thomas M. Mc- Gee and the Lynn legislative delegation, is being offered to provide additional trav- el options for North Shore customers, ease crowding on nearby bus routes, and allow the MBTA to collect ridership data related to the effects of temporary fare changes on relieving crowding. “We’re excited to again of- fer this option to riders trav- Youths lend support to calls for change eling between Lynn Station and downtown Boston for the By Elyse Carmosino extremely important cause to us, (and) I’m From left, Saugus same price as a subway fare,” ITEM STAFF just feeling proud of this turnout. I’m proud resident Leah said MBTA General Manager of the community, particularly all the youth Kennedy and Steve Poftak in a statement. SAUGUS — Despite heavy rains, dozens support that we’ve got out here. I recognize Seven Greer, one “We’re continuing with this of Saugus youths gathered in the town’s a lot of these faces from the high school.” of the organizers, temporary zone change pilot center early Thursday afternoon to show Although advertised on Facebook as stand in the rain for two months starting July their support for the Black Lives Matter “peaceful … (and) unobtrusive,” Thursday’s at Saugus Town 1 with the goal of reducing movement and to demand justice for vic- demonstration has been at the center of Hall on Thursday crowding and promoting so- tims of police brutality. town-wide controversy since Selectman An- afternoon to rally cial distance on buses, and “We agreed that we were going to hold thony Cogliano publicly announced Mon- support for the we encourage our North this thing rain or shine. We weren’t going day that he had withdrawn his involvement Shore riders to consider this Black Lives Matter to be deterred by the weather,” said Seven after “anti-police” statements posted by one commuter rail option.” Greer, one of several students who helped movement. organize the event. “This is ultimately an RALLY, A2 ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO RATES, A3 Former Lynn school ready for wrecking ball By Gayla Cawley Bids for the $3.5 million project are ITEM STAFF due on June 19, according to a legal notice from the city of Lynn. LYNN — A portion of the 97-year- Donovan said the bids are usu- old former Thurgood Marshall Mid- dle School is slated for demolition. ally awarded about a month after The Porter Street school building the deadline, with work following a has been closed since 2015. short time later. He estimated the The former The City of Lynn is soliciting bids job, which has been approved by the Thurgood Marshall for a general contractor for the dem- Massachusetts Department of En- Middle School on olition of the middle school’s 1963 vironmental Protection, would take Porter Street in addition and an abatement contrac- about nine months, with work con- Lynn is set to be tor for asbestos removal in the entire cluding in the wintertime. partially demol- building, according to Michael Don- “We’re going to clean the interior of ished. ovan, chief of the city’s Inspectional Services Department. MARSHALL, A3 ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Saugus superintendent COVID-19 Nahant Democrats Cases continue calls for social justice downward trend. A3 working across state lines Opinion By Elyse Carmosino said about the death of George Jourgensen: A question By Thor Jourgensen from Republican to Democrat ITEM STAFF Floyd at the hands of a Minne- of control. A4 ITEM STAFF in 2020 for U.S. Senate races sota police of cer,” DeRuosi said around the country and the race SAUGUS — In his special re- in a video, which was broadcast Hindsight is 2020 NAHANT — Local Democrats for president. A look back at the last port Monday, Superintendent of on Saugus TV’s Vimeo page. are focused on Florida in a bid to Nahant Democrats adopted Schools Dr. David DeRuosi ad- four years at Lynn eld, help fellow party members en- “I believe there can be no de- Peabody High. A8-B1 Florida as their sister state but dressed recent protests against bate about the killing of George sure the state votes Democrat in there are also SwingLeft activ- police brutality by calling for Floyd. It was wrong, and those Sports the Nov. 3 presidential election. ities focused on states includ- social justice action in Saugus involved need to be held ac- Peabody’s Jordan The Nahant Democratic Town ing Arizona, Maine, Michigan, Public Schools. countable. Anzuoni staying close Committee joined forces with Pennsylvania. “Over the past several weeks, at Salem State. B2 SwingLeft.Org’s North Shore a great deal has already been SAUGUS, A3 chapter to help tip the balance NAHANT, A3 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 SPORTS ................................ B2-3 CLASSIFIED ...............................B6 HIGH 85° VOL. 141, ISSUE 154 OPINION ...................................A4 COMICS ....................................B4 LOOK! .......................................B8 LOW 57° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 PAGE B8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020 Swampscott looks to leave Civil Service OBITUARIES system for the hiring of future chiefs Lorraine F. Redden, 90 SAUGUS — Mrs. Lorraine Mary Redden of Everett; one SWAMPSCOTT pool can expand to include tect against the “patron- Lillo, the town’s HR di- F. (Watson) Redden, age 90, great-grandchild, Jay Linehan From A1 police sergeants and re age” hirings seen in the rector, the change would formerly of Lynn, died at the of New Hampshire; one sister, lieutenants, but the town 19th century. have one drawback — the Blueberry Hill Nursing Center in Joan Warren of Danvers. She inclusive and open process would be unable to con- Madigan and Archer town’s search and can- Beverly on Tuesday, June 9. She was predeceased by her son, for these extremely valu- sider a “lateral transfer” of support the change, and didate-vetting processes was the wife of the late Herbert Mark Redden; sister, Beverly able positions,” Fitzgerald a sitting chief in another both said dropping Civil would necessarily become D. Redden, with whom she had Gallo; and brother, George F. said. community if it chooses Service does not mean in- “far more intensive.” shared 51 years of marriage. Watson. Neither chief has made the internal hiring option. ternal candidates won’t be Fitzgerald said without Born and raised in Lynn, Mrs. In lieu of owers, donations an announcement about The system was created considered. Civil Service, the town Redden was the daughter of in Lorraine’s name may be would be able to dictate its retiring, but, according to in 1884, when the state “It makes sense that the the late George and Maude made to the Disabled Amer- own hiring practices. Also, Select Board Chairman was “at the forefront of the town be able to consider G. (Forsythe) Watson. A resi- ican Veterans at dav.org/do- most cities and towns in Peter Spellios, Madigan battle against patronage candidates from a larger dent of Saugus for 60 years, nate. Massachusetts do not use will reach the state-man- in government hiring,” ac- pool,” Madigan said. “Such Lorraine was a member and Service information: Due the system — 54 re chiefs dated retirement age of 65 cording to Fitzgerald.