City Council approves $100K for Webster School roof

  The City Council, during its January 24 meeting, voted unanimously to approve a $100,000 transfer to begin the process of replacing the roof at the Webster School.

  Superintendent of Schools Priya Tahiliani said this was a necessary first step in order for the project to be eligible for partial reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). “In order to get to the next step of this process, we have to demonstrate that we have $100,000 that has been appropriated by the city to do the schematics,” she said, adding that, at 30 years old, the roof is well beyond its useful life.

  According to the MSBA, the Webster School is now 57 years old with the last renovation project being completed in 1990.

  Tahiliani said the total cost of the project is currently estimated at $695,000. Therefore, she said, the district will return to the City Council for the balance of the money. In addition, she said the Webster School also has modular units, however, the MSBA will only provide reimbursement for replacing the roof on the main part of the building.

  The city’s Chief Financial Officer, Eric Demas, said the City Council had previously approved $100,000 for a feasibility study for a new elementary school. However, those plans were withdrawn as a location could not be agreed upon. “Now the city and schools are going in a different direction, potentially looking at building a new high school,” said Demas, adding that the $100,000 from the elementary school project is still available. “It made sense, rather than asking for new bonding authorization, that we just take that prior approved funding and move it over here.”

Special municipal employees

  In other news, there was discussion about designating the City Council’s Legislative Aide Michael Mangan and Veterans Commissioner Jeanne Cristiano as special municipal employees as both individuals now serve on the School Committee.

  Despite his respect for Mangan and Cristiano, Councillor-at-Large Michael Marchese spoke against the proposal. “This stinks – there’s a lot of things that stink up here, but this is a real stinkaroo right here,” he said. “I’m not going to vote for this.”

  Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins said she cosponsored a change to the City Charter to allow City of Everett employees to run for office. “The one limitation was that an employee could not double-dip,” she said. “Any employee who ran for office knew that they were not getting paid.”

  Ward 3 Councillor Anthony DiPierro reminded his colleagues that the City Council does not have the authority to go against the Charter. “A simple vote to approve an Order by this body does not supersede the Charter,” he said.

  The City Council voted unanimously to refer the matter to City Solicitor Colleen Mejia and the State Ethics Commission.