Mayor Dolan To Lynnfield, But Choice Wasn't Easy

LYNNFIELD, MA — The two finalists for the Lynnfield Town Administrator position shared a first name, but how the Board of Selectmen referred to each explained how difficult their decision was Wednesday night.

By a unanimous 3-0 vote, Melrose Mayor Robert Dolan was named Lynnfield's new Town Administrator, beating out Lynnfield's current Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin. Dolan is expected to start in early February. Until then, Curtin will continue in his role as interim Town Administrator, a position he's held since the departure of James Boudreau last Friday.

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"The Mayor," as he was referenced all night, had a resume packed with accomplishments that arguably would have made him the choice no matter who he opposed. Curtin, or Bob as he was called by his friends on the board, explained, "In one way or another I've been serving the people of Lynnfield since 1985." Despite being Assistant to the Town Administrator since 2009, first under Bill Gustus, then Boudreau, more than 35 years of town experience and friends in every corner of Lynnfield weren't enough against "the Mayor" and his impressive list of accomplishments.

"I think the Mayor has proven in Melrose since 2002 as being a very effective leader, whether for schools, development, or for public safety," said board chairman Chris Barrett. "He's somebody who has managed a very difficult budget the last 16 plus years. It was very impressive he never needed an override. As he mentioned tonight, he's always been on time with his budget. The challenges we have this year in Lynnfield, he's pretty much had every single year as the Mayor of Melrose. I think that's going to bode well for the town of Lynnfield."

The decision to not give the job to Bob Curtin was difficult, and a testament to how strong a candidate Dolan was. Board member Dick Dalton expressed support for Curtin saying, "Bob would be the better candidate," but after Barrett and Phil Crawford supported Dolan, Dalton conceded and made the vote unanimous.

"He was absolutely impressive," said Barrett of Curtin, who resumed his position next to Barrett after the vote. "I'm not surprised since I work with Bob every day and I know the value and the work of Bob Curtin. I was impressed, the screening committee was impressed.

"The Mayor came in with his resume and he also was as impressive as Bob. The thing the Mayor has is a whole lot of experience on his resume. As I mentioned tonight, all the challenges we have next year and in the next couple of years for the town of Lynnfield, the Mayor has met them in Melrose already."

Dolan has been the Melrose Mayor for 16 years. When he started the city was almost in receivership with a single A bond rating. "We were bottomed out," said Dolan, a Melrose High School and Fordham graduate who earned his masters in public finance from Northeastern. Through what he called "desperate measures," he brought Melrose back and he called the city, "one of the great Mass municipal success stories."

Dolan is ready to put that financial experience to work in Lynnfield, saying in response to one question, "I understand tight budgets because I've never not had one." And to the idea of going from being the top dog, to a role supporting the selectmen he said, "I understand this role is different and I accept it, and I embrace it."

After answering the board's questions, Dolan was quick to leave the Al Merritt Center. That left the floor to Curtin.

"Obviously I was disappointed in the board's decision but I am gratified to be considered and I enjoyed the process. I do thank the board, the screening committee, and Bernie Lynch for all they've done and I look forward to continue to work on behalf of the residents of Lynnfield."

After a long, and ultimately disappointing evening, Curtin will be back in Lynnfield Town Hall Thursday morning.

"I'll be there, doing what I do."

Story and photo by Bob Holmes