During his tenure on the council he introduced an order to heat all of the city's streets and sidewalks with steam pipes so snow would melt away immediately.
One of Mullen's proposals, which would abolish the city's Board of Public Works, caused so much noise and applause from the audience that the Chairman threatened to clear the hall.
Mayor James Chambers later commented that "Mullen was trying the spend the city's money like a drunken sailor" by proposing several orders that would've increased public expenditure.
Alderman Fred C. Hansen stated that Mullen had "sneaked away like a yellow dog" as part of what The Boston Daily Globe described as "one of the most scathing speeches ever made in the local board by one member to another".
[4] Mullen planned on holding a public meeting in Everett Square on April 15 regarding his suspension, but a Salvation Army band from Malden was playing there and he was unable to speak.
[7] On August 2, while the Board and the Common Council were in a joint executive session, Mullen and Hansen got into a physical altercation.
After his victory was announced, a crowd of supporters went to Mullen's home and convinced him to get in an automobile that they had brought and proceed to City Hall.
[16] During his first months as mayor, Mullen fought a proposed law that would create a primary for municipal elections, which he felt would be an unnecessary expense and aimed at defeating him.
He further accused the Mayor of purchasing supplies at a higher price than ever before and of planning to give away city property while acting in place of some of the officials he removed.
In response to this allegation, Mullen called a public meeting and had every member of the Police Department questioned by City Solicitor John F. Casey.
The hearing resulted in the exoneration of the entire police department and Mullen demanded Hamlin's expulsion.
Mullen demanded that the two police officers present in City Hall arrest Hamlin, but they refused.
Hill refused Mullen's order, as the officers did not witness the assault and therefore did not have grounds to arrest Hamlin.
[22] The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court reinstated Hill on July 25, but on August 3 Mullen again suspended him, this time making himself acting police chief.
[23] On June 9, Mullen fenced off Revere Beach Parkway at the junction of Broadway because the Metropolitan District Commission refused to station an officer there to guard the crossing, which they felt was the City of Everett's job.
[25] In an effort to reach quorums, Mullen ordered members of the automobile police patrol to go to the homes of absent Councilors and Aldermen.
[28] The Boston Daily Globe described the race between Mullen and Weeks as "one of the bitterest campaigns in years" and in his inaugural address, Weeks referred to Mullen as a "caterwauling demagogue" and vowed to overturn many of his acts, including firing of Hill and the closure of the Tuberculous Hospital.
[40][41] The Legislative Committee on Harbors and Public Lands approved the bill, but later requested and was granted leave to withdraw.
[44][45] In February 1931, Mullen had the lights turned off on State Representative C. F. Nelson Pratt while he was speaking during a meeting of the Saugus Democratic Committee.
[47] A charter was granted to the Saugus Racing Association, Inc. by the Secretary of State's Office in January 1935 with Mullen listed as an incorporator.
[48] In 1935, he filed a complaint against the Board of Selectmen with the Massachusetts Attorney General's office for failing to publish a list of townspeople eligible for jury duty.
[59] That October, Mullen was accused by Pratt of coercing Works Progress Administration workers by threatening to have them fired if they did not vote for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and telling them they were expected to attend a Democratic Party Rally at Saugus Town Hall.