City Council approves $500K DOT grant money for infrastructure improvements

Mayor to present options for old Everett High School use at Monday City Council meeting

By Neil Zolot

EVERETT – The City Council accepted a $500,000 Mass. Department of Transportation grant to reconstruct sidewalks and bus stops and provide other roadway improvements on Broadway between Maple Avenue and Timothy Avenue, at their meeting on Monday, November 25. “The purpose is to achieve greater compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Mayor Carlo DeMaria’s Chief of Staff, Erin Deveney, explained. “It’s important for us to make the sidewalks more accessible.

In discussion in the full City Council and a meeting of the Government Operations, Public Safety and Public Service Subcommittee meeting that preceded it, Ward 4 Councillor Holly Garcia added that the grant will cover the cost of the project and any additional cost will be borne by National Grid.

The sidewalks will not be widened with bump-outs, which also narrow the street. “This is the area I live in and the sidewalks need work,” Garcia said, referring to her home in the designated area. “There are cracks.”

According to Garcia, “Broadway and Ferry Street are a mess. Businesses are losing parking spaces due to equipment storage and Ferry Street sidewalks have been dug up. Some stores have experienced flooding because of it. If we make it difficult for businesses, they won’t want to stay here.”

Deveney confirmed that MBTA bus stops will be relocated in the area in a separate program. “It will be based on ridership data,” Deveney said.

The City Council is considering an item to help businesses by asking the Administration to consider allocating part of the $700,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to create a loss of revenue assistance program to assist local small businesses recovering from COVID and affected by street construction closures. “We offer no help for small businesses,” said Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins. “We’re putting them out of business through street construction. We’re sitting on recovery funds, which will expire.”

Councillor-at-Large Guerline Alcy-Jabouin expressed similar sentiments.

The members accepted a $39,425 Department of Environmental Protection grant to buy an Electric Vehicle Charging station with two ports for the Victoria Street Parking Lot and a $300,000 federal Department of Energy grant to support the Electrify Everett team and its mission of ensuring residents have better access to education on utility support and energy saving resources, a reference to the grant program for small businesses for discounts on upgrades to lighting, refrigeration and weatherization to lower energy consumption and costs.

In Public Comment, resident Stephanie McCollough said she was appearing to ask for the City to do something about littering. McCollough said that she’s picked up trash in Glendale Park herself and contacted the DPW on multiple occasions. She also praised Martins and Rogers for their efforts to ban single serving liquor bottle sales, commonly known as nips, which was discussed at an April public hearing. “It’s shameful to have nips where kids are playing,” she feels.

“We’re working on a public letter, but I don’t expect to see any real action on that until after the new year,” Rogers told The Advocate following the meeting.

During a wide-ranging report to the Council by DPW Director Jerry Navarra, Ward 6 Councillor Peter Pietrantonio asked him to speak with McCollough.

Having returnable bottles and cans helps reduce trash, and the Council approved the renewal of a redemption center license for Le Everett Redemption Center located at 74 Spring St. across from Revere Beach Parkway.

The Council also discussed an item introduced by Councillor-at-Large Stephanie Smith for each annual celebration event the City holds to have its own budget to be provided it to the Council as part of the budget proceedings. “It’s important for us to see what every department spends on events and for people to see how we’re spending money,” she feels. “Each event should be inclusive of all departments.” The matter was referred to the Finance Department.

An item asking the Administration to update the City Council on its ongoing efforts to reclaim the former Everett High School for expanded school purposes, including the relocation of certain other non­educational uses within the facility, and the reuse and redevelopment of the former Pope John property, was tabled yet again. The idea has been kicking around since June when Schools Superintendent William Hart presented the proposal for a $72 million appropriation to relieve overcrowding in neighborhood schools. “I’m hopeful we get information at the next meeting on Monday, December 9 and get this done,” Rogers said. “The schools need space.”

“Mayor DeMaria has reviewed additional work that was done on the feasibility study previously presented to the City Council that would show possible options to expand educational use of the former high school and maintain existing uses of the site in separate, secure spaces,” Deveney told The Advocate. “He will be presenting that information for consideration at the next regular City Council meeting December 9.”