Lincoln Fire Chief Gattoni retires after 46 years as Donelan's moves to break mall lease

LINCOLN — July 18, 2011 — Lincoln fire chief retires after 46 years as Donelan's moves to end mall lease. Chief Arthur "Artie" Gattoni formally announced his retirement at Monday's Select Board meeting, with Town Administrator Tim Higgins crediting him with building the regional advanced-EMT service now housed in Lincoln. In the same meeting, Rural Land Foundation Chair Susan Welsh told the board Donelan's has filed a complaint to terminate its lease at Lincoln Mall, even as roof repairs from last winter's collapse remain on schedule for a Labor Day finish. Chair Sarah Mattes called it "devastating" and proposed a small joint group to engage Donelan's. Member Peter Braun, citing 35 years as a lawyer, urged restraint: "Lawsuits can be used for all kinds of things." Higgins also reported Lincoln's 40B inventory at 10.5 percent and a 27 percent, roughly $500,000, drop in state aid over four years.