~ City Council Roundup ~

By Barbara Taormina

Better Late Than…Late

  The City Council had the chance to voice their displeasure with National Grid and the company’s failure to tend to double utility poles and low hanging wires. Keith Amelin, representing National Grid at this week’s council meeting, offered his explanation that the utility company frequently offers – it’s someone else’s fault. Amerlin said poles identified for removal are being held up because they hold traffic and street signs, signals, street lights and equipment from cable company providers. Amerlin said there is a need for better communication with the Public Works Department, which would be responsible for transferring any city signs. Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya was doubtful and suggested that there must be a way to make other companies remove signs and equipment faster so poles can be removed. Amerlin said National Grid is in the process of hiring a manager to oversee pole placement and to develop a system to remove extra poles.

New Pump Station Loan

  The City Council approved a $3 million loan order for the construction of a pump station and drainage improvements. CFO Richard Viscay said the new construction is part of the city’s continued efforts to stay current with Revere’s consent decree by the Dept. of Justice. Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya said she is in support of the loan, adding that pump stations are essential in managing floods and sewerage and they work to protect Revere homeowners. Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna agreed but added that the city needs to open flood gates and work pump stations. McKenna said that many times during storms equipment is not activated. She suggested more manpower is needed to protect property.

The Cost of Composting

  Councillor-at-Large Juan Pablo Jaramillo and Guarino-Sawaya touted their joint motion for a pilot composting program in Revere. Councillors spoke about the reduction in waste going to landfills and incinerators and the subsequent reduction in water and air pollution. Composting would reduce the city’s solid waste stream by 30 percent. According to Guarino-Sawaya, composting is part of an overall waste management plan that will help the city reach sustainability goals and save millions and millions of dollars in the process. Not all councilors agreed. Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto said he wants to know what the costs of the program will be. Jaramillo called for $25,000 in mitigation money and from the general fund to pay for a curbside collection of leaves, food scraps and other organic materials. Zambuto said he would support the pilot program but added, “I want numbers and to see the facts and figures.” Councillor-at-Large Michelle Kelley agreed and proposed sending the composting motion to the council’s Ways and Means subcommittee to give councillors a clearer idea on the costs and savings of the composting program. The council voted to send the motion to the Ways and Means Subcommittee over Jaramillo’s objection.

Final Budget Vote

  City CFO Richard Viscay asked the council for approval of the FY2025 City Budget submitted by Mayor Patrick Keefe. City Council President Anthony Cogliandro was ready to go through the budget department by department to allow councillors the opportunity to call for cuts or changes. But the councillors declined, saying they had been through enough department presentations and numbers. They agreed to vote once on the entire budget, which they approved

“This is a responsible budget,” said Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto. “There are no reasons for cuts. My fear is the next budget and the budget after that.”

Council Appointments

  The council approved Mayor Patrick Keefe’s appointment of Danielle Nordenberg to the Public Arts Commission. Nordenberg attended the council meeting and shared highlights from her extensive resume of work in the arts. The council also confirmed the appointment of Diana Ayala to the Library Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the subcommittee. The council also approved a residency waiver for Anthony Gulizia to serve as assistant superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department.

Liquor Licenses for Suffolk Downs

  The staff from the Planning and Development office asked the council for their support in petitioning the state legislature to allow Revere to surpass the quota on licenses for all-alcohol beverages not to be consumed on premises. The request was for the council to show their good faith intent and support for the economic development of Suffolk Downs. The change is aimed at allowing businesses, such as Trader Joe’s, which carries wine, to lease space at Suffolk Downs.

“I don’t have a problem with this,” said Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna. “I want to see Suffolk Downs flourish and this is one of the best ways to do it,” she said.

According to Planning Department staff, the council voting their approval to send the request to the state legislature, which will not be in session, will turn letters of intent into leases. Councillor-at-Large Marc Silvestri wanted to ensure that the newly licensed businesses would not threaten existing package store businesses in the area. Mayor Patrick Keefe said that wasn’t the intent and that the city is making sure that HYM is fulfilling the commitment to bring national, high-end brands to the area without excluding local businesses.

No Fireworks in Revere

The City Council supported Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna’s motion that Constituent Services issue a reverse 911 call to all residents reminding them that fireworks are illegal in Mass., and that fireworks are a fire hazard due to the close proximity of homes in the city. McKenna said the motion originated with former City Councillor Richard Serino after Fourth of July revelers left a mess of used fireworks in the St. Mary’s parking lot. In addition to being a fire hazard, McKenna said, fireworks pose a problem for veterans suffering with PTSD.

Request for Slash Pad

  Councillors praised a motion from Councillor-at-Large Robert Haas calling on the Planning and Development Department to assess the proper location for the installation of a splash pad and to investigate grant opportunities to pay for it. Haas said it would provide an opportunity for physical activity for residents and help build community.

City Council Portraits

  The City Council approved a motion from Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto that criteria be established for the installation of City Councillor portraits in the City Council Chambers. Zambuto proposed that portraits must be of City Councillors who have passed away, and that the individual must have made notable contributions to the city or represents a significant milestone in the history of the City Council. In addition, the Council shall designate a sub-committee to review nominations based on the contributions or milestone. Nominations for portrait display shall be submitted by City Councillors only, and once a nomination is approved, a high-quality portrait will be selected from existing digital photographs. Portraits will be displayed in designated space in the City Council Chambers approved by the selection committee.

Councillors agreed with the criteria presented in the motion. Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya nominated the late Councillor-at-Large George Rotondo’s portrait for installation.

Police Log or not to Police Log

  Not long ago, community newspapers typically carried a weekly police blotter or police log that listed arrests, incidents and emergency situations in which law enforcement was involved. Gradually, newspapers began cutting the weekly police blotter and with good reason. An arrest is just that, an arrest. Everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law. Weekly police blotters didn’t always make that distinction. The information in police blotters is drawn from police reports that may contain mistakes and inaccuracies. And newspaper editors spent a lot of time dealing with complaints and requests to correct police blotters from those whose names appeared in print. Thanks to Google searches, many claimed lost employment and educational opportunities because of their names appearing in police logs published in newspapers which can go back decades.

Still, others felt, and still feel, that providing the public with information about crime is a public safety matter. And taxpayers who fund the police department have a right to know how resources are being used.

Councillor-at-Large Michelle Kelley proposed an ordinance requiring the publication of certain police department records. The blotter should be available weekly, on the city’s official website. Kelley said she spoke with many residents who were concerned there was no way to access information about neighborhood crime.

Councillors voiced support for the ordinance but added that blotters or police logs cannot contain names or personal information, only statistical data. Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna said she favors the ordinance since the only way residents can share information now is through social media. Also, Councillor-at-Large Marc Silvestri asked that the blotter be published on the police department’s media page rather than the city website. A link to the log is proposed for Revere.org.

Councillor-at-Large Juan Pablo Jaramillo objected to moving the proposal forward to a public hearing without first gaining the opinions of mental health professionals about whether publicized police records would be harmful to marginalized groups with substance use disorders and mental health issues. He asked for input from North Suffolk Mental Health before moving forward.

Councillors were confident that enough protections were built into the ordinance.

Let’s Go, Celtics!

  Councillors supported Councillor-at-Large Juan Pablo Jaramillo’s motion for a resolution congratulating the Boston Celtics on their 18^th NBA championship. In his resolution, Jaramillo said, “The Celts are representative of the grit, hard work and determination of the people of Revere, Boston, and the entire state.” Jaramillo also requested the city clerk to inform the team about the resolution and to invite the world champions to visit the Beach City with their championship trophy to give residents a chance to appreciate the achievement and to take photos.