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everett
George Keverian isn't walking away from his lifelong love of politics just yet.
The former House speaker, who was abruptly dismissed from his post as Everett's chief assessor on Nov. 14, then was denied six days later his request for an administrative hearing on the issue, has hired an attorney.
"We can proceed judicially or talk to the city; that's up to the advice the lawyer gives," Keverian said. "The fact that the mayor says no to a hearing - that's why I get a lawyer."
Keverian, 76, was fired by Mayor John Hanlon, ordered in a letter to immediately clean out the office he held for 12 years and turn in his keys to City Hall.
The timing of the termination, coupled with Keverian's considerable status - a City Hall meeting room and an Everett elementary school bear his name - has ignited political tensions in a city known for tough politics.
The city's Board of Aldermen has requested that Hanlon explain his reasons for the firing at the board's regular meeting tomorrow night.
"Why did he do it now?" asked Ward 2 Alderman Jason Marcus, who formally requested Hanlon's appearance before the board. "It doesn't make sense to me. [Hanlon] is leaving in January."
Hanlon lost his bid for reelection in September, the first time in recent memory that an incumbent Everett mayor did not survive the preliminary election.
Keverian said he believes he was fired because he supported a candidate not backed by Hanlon in November's general election.
Keverian publicly supported the mayoral campaign of Board of Alderman president Joseph McGonagle, while Hanlon openly backed McGonagle's rival, At Large Alderman Carlo DeMaria.
DeMaria won.
Hanlon, who leaves office in January, said it was job performance, not politics, that prompted him to ax Keverian, a Beacon Hill power broker for more than two decades before taking the assessors' job in his hometown of Everett.
Hanlon said he intends to attend tomorrow night's aldermen meeting but doesn't plan on saying much.
"It's none of their business," Hanlon said. "This is an administrative procedure, not a legislative procedure, and one doesn't mix with another."
Hanlon said his administration did grant a hearing last year after firing procurement chief John Garron.
"It wound up in court," Hanlon added. "I don't want to open the city to that kind of thing again."
The city's insurance company ended up settling with Garron, Hanlon said, rather than slogging through a trial. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
The mayor's Nov. 20 letter to Keverian states, in part, "Since you serve at the pleasure of the mayor, and since the position has been eliminated, it has been determined that you are not entitled to a hearing."
DeMaria said he is backing Hanlon's decision to fire Keverian, saying it is the mayor's discretion. He also said that his transition team will study whether Keverian's position as head of the department of assessors is still needed, and if so, he will post the job.
Keverian is not sure of his next step.
"I have in the past taught college students in evening extension courses, when I was first retired, and I enjoyed it," he said.
"I honestly don't know the possibilities for someone like me. I am not looking for the money."
Keverian, a lifelong bachelor, owns a four-family home with three tenants.
He has a state pension of $54,138.84 per year, according to the state treasurer's office. That takes into account his 11 years on Everett's Common Council and his 24 years on Beacon Hill, including six as House speaker.
State law allows a retired public employee to work again in the public sector but limits annual hours to no more than 960 - about 19.5 hours a week - and the salary to no more than the difference between the employee's pension and what the former position currently pays.
In Keverian's case, that would be $39, 098.31, which is the difference between the amount of his current pension, $54,138.84, and the current salary of the House speaker, which is $93,237.15, according to the House clerk's office.
Everett's personnel director, Jim Henderson, said Keverian's salary was approximately $39,000 but he declined to state his precise salary, citing an employee's privacy rights.
Kay Lazar can be reached at klazar@globe.com
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
