Council allows retired officer to perform police details while retaining a city part‑time parking job

The Lynn City Council approved a disclosure March 25 to allow retired Lynn Police officer Russell Gokas, who currently holds a part‑time position in the Parking Department, to accept police roadside detail assignments. The arrangement follows a change in police department practice permitting qualified retired officers to work details to fill unstaffed shifts.

Why it matters: when a person would receive two separate payments from the city, council approval is required to avoid conflicts and to ensure compliance with pay and pension rules. Council approval allows the Lynn Police Department to obtain more reliable staffing for roadside details that often accompany construction and utility work.

Staff explanation and conditions Attorney James LaManna explained that Lynn permits a retired officer to work details but that any city employee receiving two separate city payments must file a disclosure and be approved by the council. Council members said the change was intended to reduce unfilled detail requests and to let retired officers provide a city service rather than work for outside companies.

Vote and next steps The council approved the disclosure and authorization by roll call. Members asked human resources and the law department to confirm statutory pension‑and‑pay limits and to provide a process for subsequent similar disclosures should other retirees request the same arrangement.

Ending Councilors said they supported using qualified retired officers to help meet detail needs but asked staff to produce a consistent administrative process for approvals and reporting.