FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 Lynn eld Lynn re ghters settle on contract looks to By Thomas Grillo ghters will receive a retroactive 2 percent asked for, they received a better deal than ITEM STAFF raise for each of scal years 2015 and 2016, the $2.2 million four-year police contract a 2.5 percent hike for 2017, another 2 per- that was settled in August. LYNN — It took nearly ve months of cent for 2018 and on June 30, 2018 they will The 8 percent retroactive police agree- state for arbitration, but city re ghters won a new four-year contract that calls for a 9.5 per- collect another 1 percent. ment provided a 1 percent boost for 2014, a cent raise, sources told The Item. Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy had of- 2 percent increase for 2015, 2016 and 2017 library The $2.5 million deal was settled late fered re ghters 8 percent last year, similar and a 1 percent raise for 2018. Wednesday by the Joint Labor-Management to the police contract that was settled last Kennedy declined to comment. summer. But Lynn Fire ghters Local 739 By Leah Dearborn Committee, a quasi-public agency that ne- “I am still crunching the numbers and re- ITEM STAFF gotiates collective bargaining disputes be- sought a 10 percent increase over the life of viewing the decision,” she said. tween municipalities and public employees. the four-year contract. LYNNFIELD — The Lynn- Under the terms of the agreement, the re- While the re ghters got less than they CONTRACT, A7 eld Public Library Board of Trustees is inching forward in the process of building a new library by applying for a state grant. The application, signed on NEWS FLASH: IT SNOWED. Jan. 26, will now be submit- ted to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commis- sioners and the status of the Region digs grant application will be an- nounced in July of this year, said Library Director Holly in to dig out Mercer in an email. If awarded, the money will By Gayla Cawley cover approximately 40 per- ITEM STAFF cent of eligible project costs. The grant is for partial Parking during Thursday’s ma- funding of a proposed build- jor snowstorm was a headache ing located on the road front- for some Lynn residents. age portion of town-owned David Garcia, 36, parked at Reedy Meadow Golf Course, Connery Elementary School on one-third of a mile from the Wednesday night after the city’s current Summer Street loca- parking ban was announced. He tion. went to take his car out the next Selectman Richard Dalton afternoon to drive to Stop & Shop has previously estimated the in Jamaica Plain, where he works cost of the library will be $10 for U.S. Security Associates, but million to build. Mercer said found that it was blocked in. A last spring she was unsure row of cars had parked in front what the nal cost of the of cars in spaces, seemingly after project will be. drivers were unable to nd any The need for a new library parking in the lot. arose from issues related to Garcia was left confused with insuf cient parking, the lack what he could do to get to work. of a programming or sepa- When he spoke with The Item, rate teen room and an in- he was already supposed to be at adequately sized children’s his job. He said he parked his car room, according to a release in a way that it would be easy to about the grant. get it out, and never had an issue If built, the new with being blocked in a lot during 25,874-square-foot library a snowstorm before. will include additional park- “When they remove the emer- ing, meeting and program gency, everybody has to take the spaces, expanded youth ser- car out,” Garcia said. “If they say vices and additional patron tonight at 9 o’clock, so I’m work- seating. ing at that time. So, maybe they “This has been quite the tow my car.” transitional year at the li- Garcia was one of many resi- brary,” said Mercer during a dents taking advantage of park- budget presentation at the ing in the city’s schoolyards Jan. 9 board of selectmen during the snowstorm. meeting. “We’ve put a lot of The school committee voted last focus on what our goals are month to keep the city’s school and really what it means to parking lots open for emergency be a 21st century library.” snow parking for the remainder Mercer requested an in- of the year. The issue was raised crease in the library program in early January when parking budget to $5,000 for the s- during snow emergencies was cal year to better serve the limited to the city’s middle and 300 patrons on average each high schools. In the past, parking day who use the building. ITEM PHOTO | OWEN O’ROURKE has been allowed at some, but not Residents are invited to all, elementary schools. J.P. Benites cleans the sidewalk at the J.B. Auto Center/Action Auto Sales building at participate in a community SNOW, A7 forum in March on the build- the intersection of Central Avenue, Sutton Street and Liberty Street in Lynn Thursday. ing project, said the release. A master plan survey that polled residents about town-related issues last Kids storm Lynn YMCA month gave some prelim- inary feedback about the new library and other public on their day off from school building projects, although Planning Board Vice Chair Heather Sievers said the re- By Bridget Turcotte sults are still being analyzed. ITEM STAFF A survey overview given by LYNN — While schools Sievers said that people were and businesses were bat- generally in favor of new or tening down the hatches updated town facilities, de- to weather Thursday’s spite less enthusiasm from winter storm, the Lynn senior citizens. YMCA was welcoming “Final results were in the people in to warm up. following order: library, open “We try to never close space, recreation center and b-l-i-z-z-a-r-d the Y so that anybody who senior center expansion, with needs access knows they police and re stations lag- Swampscott's Abramsons will have it,” said Audrey ging,” said the overview about Jimenez, executive direc- the level of positive reactions. underwrite Item spelling bee tor of the Lynn branch of Leah Dearborn can be YMCA of Metro North. reached at ldearborn@item- By Bridget Turcotte Mary “We want to be one of the live.com. ITEM STAFF and Joel places in the city where, if Abramson people need to get in and SWAMPSCOTT — Joel and are corpo- get warm, they can. We Mary Abramson, corporate INSIDE rate spon- would probably let anyone sponsors of the Daily Item’s Re- sors of the in today.” In Opinion gional Spelling Bee, take pride Daily Item's Preschool and the af- Snow days in encouraging literacy. Regional ter-school child care pro- should be “We had never been to a spell- Spelling gram closed at noon. On unplugged. A4 ing bee. After our rst event, we Bee for the a typical day, preschool realized you kind of get hooked,” fourth year runs from 7:30 a.m. to 6 In Sports said Mary. “It’s an amazing in a row. p.m., Monday through ITEM PHOTO | OWEN O’ROURKE Stranahan carries on event — It’s a real family event. Friday and after-school for English following ITEM PHOTO | Rocco Petruzzeli participates in the dance friend's death. B1 ABRAMSONS, A7 OWEN O'ROURKE YMCA, A7 party at the Lynn YMCA on Thursday. OBITUARIES ..............................A2 HOME .......................................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 HIGH 21° VOL. 139, ISSUE 56 POLICE/FIRE .............................A3 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 LOW 13° OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-8 PAGE A8 ONE DOLLAR A2 THE DAILY ITEM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 OBITUARIES John P. Denahy, 72 Joseph A. Weber Jr., 71 Harry A. Torelli, 87 1945-2017 SAUGUS — Mr. John survived by his two Joseph A. Weber Jr. Nahant to Rockland, PEABODY — Harry club and at Honey Patrick Denahy age loving daughters; (Joe), age 71, passed Maine. He eventual- Anthony “Chick” Torel- Dew. 72, died unexpect- Kellie Seniti and her away in his sleep ly followed his good li, age 87, of Peabody, He is survived by edly at his home on husband Joseph of from cancer at Cove’s friends (Sharon and formerly of Lynn, died his children; Bruce Wednesday, Feb. 8. Medford, Maurine Edge in Damariscot- Kevin McDermott) to peacefully with his Torelli of Tennes- He was the beloved Sponagle and her ta, Maine, on Thurs- Maine to live a qui- loving family at his see, Dina Russo of husband of Joan L. husband Robert of day, Feb. 2, 2017. eter life and continue side, on Wednesday Swampscott, Gary (Davis) Denahy with Nottingham, N.H. He He was born in teaching. He taught Feb. 8, 2017, at Sun- Carpenter, Sabrina whom he shared 50 was the cherished Lynn on June 6, 48 years, just two rise at Gardner Park, Carpenter of Salem, years of marriage. grandfather of Ashley 1945, to the late Ei- years shy of his goal Peabody. He was the Lisa Marino of Sa- Born in Lynn and raised in Seniti, Samantha Seniti, Lily leen (Murphy) Weber and Jo- to teach 50 years. husband of the late Theresa lem, and Robin Carpenter of Swampscott, he was the son Sponagle, Leila Sponagle and seph A. Weber Sr.