LAWRENCE — About to inherit a multimillion-dollar deficit, Mayor-elect William Lantigua is taking aim at the city's finances and asking for a meeting with key department heads, starting with Mark Andrews, budget and finance director.
"Willy is very, very concerned about the city's finances," said Lenny Degnan, a Lantigua supporter who is now organizing a transitional meeting with outgoing Mayor Michael Sullivan and various department heads.
A top priority is a closer look at an estimated $9.5 million deficit in the city's $80.1 million fiscal 2010 budget. The state Department of Revenue has twice rapped the city for deficit issues since city councilors approved the budget on June 30.
Andrews has said he can reduce the deficit to $1.5 million by using surplus school building funds, adopting an electronic bill payment system, and collecting $900,000 in federal stimulus money.
He also recently proposed charging the School Department for crossing guards, police officers posted at the schools, and building maintenance to recoup an additional $1 million.
Degnan said he is arranging the meeting with Sullivan, who, months ago, organized a task force to help his successor transition into his new job at City Hall.
Sullivan had previously put together a daylong retreat for today. But Lantigua, a state representative, has a conflict with his Statehouse session, Degnan said.
Instead, Sullivan asked Degnan to put together an agenda of information the Lantigua team wants. Degnan, a city insurance agent and North Andover resident, is among a pool of eight to 10 people Lantigua said he's considering for a chief of staff position.
"We'll put together a presentation based on what they want. ... Whatever they need," Sullivan said. "I want this to work for Willy's team."
Sullivan also has offered to set up an office for the mayor-elect in City Hall. It was unclear yesterday if Lantigua plans to take him up on that offer.
Lantigua has said he will not officially announce who the handpicked members of his administration will be until he's sworn in on Jan. 4.
However, while Degnan is handling transition issues, another Lantigua supporter, Melix Bonilla, a Lawrence police sergeant, has been making inquiries at City Hall about the inauguration.
Months ago, Sullivan organized a transition team committee to make the changing of the guard at City Hall as smooth as possible.
In November 2001, when Sullivan was elected to his first term, he didn't have a couple of months to prepare before the January 2002 inauguration.
He started almost immediately because former Mayor Patricia Dowling was appointed a judge and left office early.
So, just days after claiming victory, Sullivan, a former city councilor, grabbed a gavel and chaired a School Committee meeting. He admits he had little experience with Robert's Rules of Order, the guidelines used to run the School Committee meetings.
Sullivan has said he wanted his successor to have some lead time to prepare before taking office.
"So, right now the ball's back in their court. It's the right thing to do and I certainly want to help," Sullivan said.
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