Melrose Mayorship: Hint Toward Dolan's Departure Date

MELROSE, MA — Unless he plans on giving a State of the City address as an everyday citizen, Mayor Robert Dolan will still be Mayor Robert Dolan on Jan. 8.

Dolan is scheduled to give the State of the City address during Melrose's Inaugural Exercise Monday, Jan. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall. The Melrose Board of Aldermen and the Melrose School Committee will take their oaths of office for their new term.

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While much attention will be on the new blood coming in, it's the outgoing Dolan's State of the City that will draw the headlines. Dolan last month was voted the new Lynnfield Town Administrator, a position he is expected to step into in February.

While Dolan's office continues to insist no decision has been made on when exactly he will leave office, it appears he plans on sticking around until at least Jan. 8.

That's an important date because it would begin the third year of Dolan's four-year term as mayor. And the beginning of that third year triggers a clause in the City Charter stating that if the mayor departs after that time, the President of the Board of Aldermen assumes mayorship. Departing before Jan. 8 would open it up to a special election.

Mike Zwirko was selected the president of the board in a non-binding caucus, but that was shortly before word got out Dolan would be leaving office. Three others have made their intentions known to run for president of the board since then.

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Photo by Mike Carraggi