City Council requests more time to comprehend Sofia Donation Agreement

By Neil Zolot

EVERETT – The City Council tabled their signing of a 14-year Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement with developers Fulcrum Global Investors, now using the name, The Sofia 380 Second Street Limited Liability Company, for a planned 620-unit/21-story mixed-use building on the site of a long unused property that once housed an auto-find company, a Brazilian church and a lift truck service, at their meeting on Monday, June 23. It will be on the agenda at their next meeting, which is over a month away on Monday, August 11.

At issue is the formal approval of a Donation Agreement for financial contributions between The Sofia and the City of Everett and amending of the TIF Agreement to include references to the Donation Agreement, which was approved pending formal approval back on June 9. “What was proved two weeks ago was approved,” Director of Community Planning and Development Matt Lattanzi pointed out. “The TIF is in effect.”

City Council President Stephanie Martins confirmed “that’s what we approved last time.”

“This is not reconsideration,” City Clerk Sergio Cornelio advised. “The TIF is in effect.”

Nevertheless, Councillor-at-Large John Hanlon was not satisfied. “I’d like to see this on paper in front of me, so I understand it,” he said. “I don’t know what’s what and would like to take it home for a week,” even though the members were given the Donation Agreement on June 9.

“This agreement is a mess,” stated a confused Councillor-at-Large Guerline Alcy Jabouin. “We voted on it as a draft and everyone’s confused. We should not vote on anything until it is finalized.”

Adding to the muddle, Councillor-at-Large Michael Marchese added, “This sucks” and emphasized his point using profanity, for which he later apologized.

Discussion was interrupted by audible conversation and heckling from the Marchese fandom, prompting Martins to call on people to maintain decorum or a recess would be called. Ward 3 Councillor Anthony DiPierro suggested that the usual rabble-rousers should be removed from the Council Chambers. He was the only city councillor to vote against delay.

Ward 5 Councillor Robert Van Campen asked members of the audience to allow “a respectful debate.”

Other business

The Council also postponed Van Campen’s proposal to submit the question of whether to build a professional soccer stadium on lower Broadway to the voters in the November election, which was discussed at the April 14 meeting. “My intention is not to defeat or put an end to the idea of a stadium,” he said. ”My intention is to generate greater community involvement. One way to make sure it’s right for the community is to put it to the people as to whether they think it’s right in a nonbinding way.”

Councillor-at-Large Stephanie Smith suggested the delay “so a comprehensive informational packet can be available to voters about what a nonbinding vote means.”

The members also approved a resolution to ask the Inspector General to provide an update on the progress in addressing recommendations in their letter of February 27 and seeking guidance on how to proceed given the requested funding for such continued efforts was denied in the City’s Fiscal 2026 Budget related to allegations the mayor received $180,000 in undue longevity pay and the Council’s efforts to have the money repaid.

The members also approved a request to borrow $2,000,000 for major repairs to the Whittier School HVAC system, which includes installation of new electrical panels, wiring and equipment. These repairs are for essential and time-sensitive repairs to the HVAC system at the Whittier School. Councillor-at-Large Stephanie Smith, who is chair of the Ways & Means subcommittee, through which the request was vetted, said the number is an estimate and could be downgraded.

The members also approved a request to repurpose $845,000 in available unencumbered balances from 10 completed school Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) toward additional critical and time-sensitive school CIPs. It includes $250,000 for window shades, $200,000 for Information Technology infrastructure and $100,000 each for fencing, updated floor plans and repairs to modular units at the Webster School. “They’re trying to get the work done over the summer,” Smith explained.

By a vote of 5-4, however, they voted down a request to appropriate $40,000 from the General Fund Budgetary Fund Balance (Free Cash) to the City Solicitor’s Litigation/Professional Services account, including $20,000 to KP Law. Alcy Jabouin, Marchese, Martins, Ward 2 Councillor Holly Garcia and Ward 6 Councillor Peter Pietrantonio voted no, while Hanlon, Smith, Van Campen and Ward 1 Councillor Wayne Matewsky voted yes. DiPierro was not present for the vote and Councillor-at-Large Katy Rogers was absent for the entire meeting. Alcy Jabouin objected on the grounds information has been withheld from the Council, after which Martins told present City Solicitor Colleen Mejia the members would like to see invoices.

Finally, the members accepted an order seeking acceptance of the Massachusetts General Laws Good Landlord Tax exemption, with Martins saying the specifics need to be worked out.