~ Revere City Council Roundup ~

Serino’s Corner

The City Council opened their meeting this week with a moment of silence for Richard Serino, a beloved retired Revere Police motorcycle officer who died as a result of a fire at his home at 661 Washington Ave. They followed that by unanimously supporting a motion from Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro, made on behalf of the entire council, to place a memorial at 661 Washington Ave. and Malden St. in honor of Serino. The corner will now be known as Serino’s Corner.

Former City Councillor Richard Serino thanked the council on behalf of his family. Serino also thanked first responders and members of the community for their messages, phone calls, texts, flowers and all the ways they have reached out to the Serino family.

Bigger isn’t always better

The council held a public hearing on an application for a special permit to raze the existing buildings at 114 Shirley Ave. and develop a five-story building with 78 residential units and two commercial units. A special permit was already granted for a 50-unit building last April. But the original owner sold the project and the property, and the new owner bought an adjacent parcel and now wants a special permit for an expanded development.

Walnut Avenue resident Jan Dumas said she opposes the project because it will block daylight from her home as well as other nearby homes. Dumas also opposes the project because it includes only two affordable units. “This is a neighborhood that the community gets to live in,” she said.

Dumas said there have been no neighborhood meetings and the developer should come and talk with residents and tell them what they’re getting into. Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky said he would organize a community meeting.

The full plan and design for the project will be presented at the council’s zoning subcommittee meeting, where it was referred by the council.

It all adds up

In another example of city officials being careful and conservative when it comes to unexpected expenses with the new high school, the council supported CFO Richard Viscay’s proposal that any inbound income from energy credits and reimbursements as part of the construction of the new school be directed to the Revere High School stabilization fund.

Don’t spend it all in one place

Councillors approved a three percent cost of living adjustment for retirees.

Leave the pyrotechnics to the pros

Councillors supported Ward 1 Councillor Joanne Mckenna’s motion that constituent services make a reverse 911 call to all residents reminding them that fireworks are illegal. McKenna said illegal fireworks pose a risk of fire in the city’s densely packed neighborhoods and the noise is a problem for veterans and residents with pets.

Councillor requests parking permit limits per household

Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya presented a motion that the council ask the traffic commission to craft a regulation limiting the number of parking permits issued to an address to four. The regulation could include an appeals process for households that require more than four permits. The motion was referred to the council’s public safety subcommittee.

Help for Rosetti Street

Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro requested a “Do Not Block Intersection” sign be installed at the intersection of Rosetti Street and Broadway. Cogliandro also asked police to increase enforcement at the intersection.