MassachusettsH 4149194th General Court (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act relative to the charter in the city of Lynn

Sponsored By: Daniel Cahill (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Municipalities and Regional GovernmentHouse Steering, Policy and SchedulingBills in the Third Reading

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

21 provisions identified: 11 benefits, 3 costs, 7 mixed.

Personal liability for overspending city funds

City officials who knowingly and intentionally spend more than what is appropriated are personally liable to repay the city for the excess, to the extent the city does not recover the funds.

Charter rollout and deadlines for orders

The charter is fully effective in January 2026. Until required orders are issued, current offices and departments keep working. Within 180 days of enactment, the mayor must issue an administrative code, a language access plan, and a progressive disciplinary policy. Some department heads in office on or before January 1, 2025 who served a full term and succeed themselves serve for an indefinite term, subject to just‑cause removal. Section 1 of this act takes effect upon passage.

City elections calendar and nonpartisan ballots

Regular city elections happen in November of odd‑numbered years, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday. A preliminary election is held on the fourth Tuesday before the regular election. Ballots for city offices do not show party labels.

Council leaders, staff, and oversight powers

Each January, the council elects a president and a vice‑president by majority of the full council. A councilor cannot hold a paid appointive city job during the term and for one year after, unless waived by a two‑thirds council vote; employees on leave may return to their old job. The council can require city officers and employees (not school staff) to appear with seven days’ notice and written questions, and can require the mayor to give information or appear. The council appoints a city clerk for a five‑year term to keep full and accurate records, and biennially elects a clerk of committees for two years. The council may hire staff, subject to appropriation, including one attorney on the city solicitor’s staff.

Keep wards fair; fill council seats

The city has seven wards with populations kept as equal as possible. The council reviews ward lines to keep them compact, contiguous, and fair. If a council seat opens, the council fills it with the losing candidate who got the most votes and at least 20% for that seat. If no one meets 20%, after 14 days’ public notice, the council may choose any eligible voter. The council does not fill a seat if a regular election is within 90 days.

More open boards and public rules

Appointed boards must elect officers, meet regularly, keep agendas and minutes, and hold public meetings except as allowed by law. Certified records go to the city clerk. All city rules must be filed with the clerk and take effect five days after filing. The city updates and republishes its ordinances every five years, with annual supplements in between, and may charge only up to reproduction cost. A seven‑member committee reviews the charter every year ending in “4” and reports to the council.

More open council meetings and records

Special meetings can be called by the mayor, council president, or three members, with email notice at least 48 hours ahead listing the topics. Council and committee sessions are open to the public, and roll‑call votes and records are open for inspection. A majority of the full council is needed to pass most actions. New ordinances take effect in 30 days unless stated otherwise; emergency measures need a two‑thirds vote, must state the emergency, and cannot grant or renew franchises or special privileges.

New city council makeup and terms

Lynn’s city council has 11 members: 4 elected citywide and 7 elected by ward. Councilors serve two-year terms that start on the first business day in January after the election. Any registered voter can serve as a councilor. A ward councilor who moves to another ward during a term may finish that term.

Prior special acts stay in force

The law keeps chapter 53 of 1998 and chapter 69 of 2014 (illegal dumping) in effect for the city.

Limits on mayor and council pay

The council sets pay for the mayor and for councilors by ordinance. Any pay increase must be passed in the first 18 months of the council’s term. It only takes effect at the start of the next term (next mayoral or council term). This blocks mid-term raises from taking immediate effect.

School committee makeup and terms

The school committee includes the mayor as chair and six members elected at large. Members serve two‑year terms that start on the first business day in January after the election. Members serve until their successors are qualified.

School leadership, budget, and voting rules

The school committee elects a superintendent to run the school system. It may create assistant or associate superintendent roles when the superintendent recommends them. The committee sets management rules and adopts the annual school budget, which the city council must appropriate. A quorum is four members, and four yes votes are needed to pass actions.

Limits on paid jobs for school members

Except for the mayor, a school committee member cannot hold a paid city or school job during their term. The ban also lasts one year after the term ends. A two‑thirds vote of the full committee can grant a waiver. A city worker on official leave may return to their job.

Signature rules to get on ballot

To get on the preliminary ballot: mayor candidates need 500 signatures, with no more than 150 from any ward. Councillor‑at‑large and school committee candidates need 350 signatures, with no more than 100 from any ward. Ward councillor candidates need 100 signatures from their ward.

City hiring: merit, one job, residency

City hiring and promotions must be based on merit, proven by exams, past performance, or other clear proof of skill. The city prefers applicants who lived in Lynn for 12 straight months when they are as qualified as non‑residents, unless state law or a union contract says otherwise. No one may hold more than one full‑time city job, and part‑time hours cannot conflict with full‑time hours.

Mayor powers and appointment checks

The mayor holds all executive power and must enforce city laws. The mayor has 10 days to sign or veto council measures; the council can override with a two‑thirds vote, and silence means approval. The mayor can reorganize city agencies, but a plan takes effect only after 60 days unless the council votes to block it. The mayor’s department head and board appointees go to the council for a 7–21 day review; if the council does nothing, they take effect after 30 days. Public hearings and notices are required for reorganization reviews.

Mayor serves full-time, four years

Any registered voter can be mayor. The mayor must work full time, cannot hold another elective office, and cannot actively work another job or business. The term is four years, starting the first business day in January after the election. The mayor stays in office until a successor is qualified.

Older Lynn special acts repealed

The law repeals three prior special acts: one on dual office holding (1988), one on the city clerk (1997), and a 2022 act on residency preference. These older local rules no longer apply.

Rules for acting and vacant mayor

If the mayor cannot serve, the council may name an acting mayor by a four‑fifths vote. The acting mayor handles urgent matters only and cannot make permanent hires or removals unless the absence is over 60 days. A temporary designee may perform the mayor’s duties for up to 120 days, with one 30‑day extension by council vote. If the office is vacant in the first 36 months, the council calls a special election within 90 days, or may align it with the next regular election if the clerk decides. The council president serves as acting mayor until the vacancy is filled.

Stronger budget, capital plan, and audits

The city’s fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30. The mayor submits the operating budget at least 45 days before the fiscal year; the school budget is due to the mayor 30 days before that. The council has 45 days to adopt it and may cut items, but cannot raise any item or the total without the mayor’s recommendation or specific state law. The mayor also submits a 5‑year capital plan 120 days before the fiscal year; the council must hold a hearing with 14 days’ notice and adopt it before the last month starts. An outside audit is hired by September 15 each year, and the final audit report is due by March 1.

Your rights to petition and recall

A petition with 150 voter signatures gets a public hearing and a final decision within three months. To start an initiative, file 300 origin signatures with at least 25 per ward and a 10‑person affidavit; return a full petition with 10% of registered voters within 60 days. The council or school committee has 30 days to act; a supplemental 5% can force a special election. A referendum needs 15% of registered voters within 21 days of a measure’s final approval. Some measures, like budgets, emergencies, personnel cases, debt payments, and collective bargaining funding, are excluded. Any initiative, referendum, or recall counts only if turnout is at least 20% of voters as of the most recent municipal election. A recall starts with 25 voters filing an affidavit and needs 15% of voters (citywide or ward); the election is 64–90 days after certification, and the officer cannot run to succeed themself.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Daniel Cahill
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 11 • No: 0

committee vote • 7/2/2025

Committee Favorable: Ought to Pass