From the Boston Herald: Massachusetts State Sen. Kenneth J. Donnelly (D-Arlington) this week held up a bill that would give Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua the ability to skirt state civil service requirements and appoint a fire chief.

“When it comes to public safety we want to make sure whoever is making that appointment is checking for the proper qualifications,” said Donnelly, a former firefighter. “Looking at some of the allegations (against Lantigua) I think we have to question if we can have confidence that that will happen.”

The Lawrence City Council voted in January to let Lantigua — who is embroiled in a state and federal corruption investigation, according to sources — appoint the fire chief instead of awarding the job to the candidate who has the highest civil service exam score.

Lawmakers had to approve the move because it allows the mayor to skirt state law. Read the entire article here.