Town attorney says commission’s decision’s OK

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Updated: January 31, 2012 6:33AM

LOWELL — Actions taken in the past year by the politically unbalanced Lowell Metropolitan Police Commission are legal, officials learned Monday.

Town attorney Gregory Sobkowski delivered the news to the town council after reviewing the issue since it was raised Jan. 16 when council members accepted the resignation of Commission President Aron Schuhrke.

“As long as the members were properly appointed, the commission’s actions will not be invalid,” Sobkowski said.

When Schuhrke was appointed to the five-member police commission, which can have no more than three members of one political party, he was a registered Republican. During the Spring 2011 primaries, Schuhrke voted as a Democrat, changing his party affiliation.

That switch in parties changed the make-up of the police commission to four Democrats and one Republican. The disparity was not noticed until recently, and Schuhrke stepped down.

Sobkowski said as long as Schuhrke was the proper political party at the time of his appointment any actions the commission has taken with him since last spring are considered legal.