Council votes to lower income earning requirement for affordable housing applicants

Animal testing voted down in second reading, ending possible Life Science money

By Neil Zolot

The City Council approved the first reading of a recommendation from the City’s Planning Board to amend the Zoning Ordinance to lower the threshold of earnings for the Area Median Income (AMI) from 80% to 60% for eligibility for Affordable Housing, at their meeting on Monday, January 27. The change will allow some developments to have 15% of units at 80% AMI earnings, but also allow 10% of the units be available for 60% AMI earners. “Affordable Housing is not affordable,” Councillor-at-Large Stephanie Smith said. “By bringing it down, it will be more affordable. It is a significant difference.”

“For a working-class person, it’s much less burdensome,” City Planning Director Matt Lattanzi told The Advocate. “It’s not perfect but it’s better than what we have. It’s moving in the right direction.”

How units are priced will depend on a number of variables, including potential renters’ income and developer costs.

Everett is in an AMI cohort that includes similar communities like Malden and Medford, but also dissimilar ones like Lexington, Newton, North Reading and Winchester, which skews the AMI higher. Due to the affluent communities in the AMI cohort, it doesn’t reflect earnings in Everett, so “affordable” rents are based on incomes higher than those in the city.

The vote was close, 6-5. Smith, City Council President Stephanie Martins (Ward 2), Councillor-at-Large John Hanlon and Ward Councillors Wayne Matewsky (1), Holly Garcia (4) and Robert Van Campen (5) voted yes; and Councillors-at-Large Guerline Alcy Jabouin, Michael Marchese and Katy Rogers along with Ward Councillors Anthony DiPierro (3) and Peter Pietrantonio (6) voting against. The six votes were enough to pass the first reading, but final approval in a second reading will require a two-thirds majority of eight of the entire Council, as required of zoning ordinances.

Animal testing remains prohibited in Everett following a City Council second reading vote to reverse a first reading vote permitting limited testing. The proposal to limit animal testing to small animals like mice and gerbils and prohibit testing on cats, dogs, horses and other domesticated animals, passed by a 6-4 vote on January 13. On January 27, however, a unanimous voice vote on the second reading referred it back to its sponsor, Councillor Smith, effectively killing the idea.

She asked that it be sent back to the Subcommittee on Legislative Affairs and Elections for further study after her initial motion for approval was not seconded by any other councillor. After further consideration whether to vote the measure up or down, the councillors settled on referring it back to Smith.

In the two weeks between the meetings, many Councillors heard negative comments about the proposal from constituents. “When I took this job, I promised I would do what people want and they don’t want this,” Pietrantonio said.

“I’ve voted yes before, but I’ve educated myself on this issue,” Van Campen added. “Science today is making animal testing less effective through modern methods,” a reference to life science companies using computer models and other technology to test the effectiveness of medications, a point also made by Rogers.

“There isn’t a significant demand for animal testing,” she said. “There is a movement away from it.”

“I support the movement away from animal testing, but Everett is losing out on revenue other cities are getting,” Smith reacted. “A huge priority should be bringing new companies to push the tax burden onto large companies and away from smaller businesses.”

Smith has been dogged by allegations she is working on behalf of The Davis Companies, which wants to open up a biotech lab and was heckled by members of the public during her remarks. As she has before, she reiterated she doesn’t work for or represent any company, while admitting she has in the past. “I represent the taxpayers and small businesses being overwhelmed because we have no tax base,” she said.

She also said she and other city councillors “know what we can and can’t vote for based on our jobs.”

Van Campen thinks the matter should have come up as part of a broader discussion about development in the proposed area, the Docklands Development District, part of 100 acres of land in between Lower Broadway, Revere Beach Parkway and the Mystic River and its Island End tributary. It is one of three districts in the area along with Lower Broadway Economic Development District and the Commercial Triangle Economic Development District, “so we could have had more public input.”

Matewsky, in whose district these areas are in, reported, “The Davis Companies has not reached out to me.” Other city councillors were hoping to reach a discussion with the company but await any communication from The Davis Companies.

Another item referred back to its sponsor was Rogers’ proposal to use sustainable organic grass instead of artificial turf on playing fields or use sustainable artificial turf if it becomes available. While most of the councillors have supported her idea in votes last year, it was vetoed by Mayor Carlo DeMaria. She plans to reintroduce an altered version of the proposal in the future, which would include her idea for an Adopt-A-Tree program.

Smith’s resolution for the Administration to take action to improve the Senior Meals Program was also referred back to her, but she is satisfied that discussions on January 13 alerted the Administration and Procurement Officer Allison Jenkins as to the problem of quality. She is also encouraging people to inform councillors of poor-quality meals. “Without documentation there could be a potential lawsuit if we don’t go with the lowest bidder,” she said, alluding to January 13 comments by City Clerk Sergio Cornelio that language allows the city to accept bids from “the lowest responsible bidder.”

In another matter, Van Campen offered a resolution for the City Council and the Administration to convene a task force to address food insecurity in the city and find safe and efficient ways to distribute food. He hopes food distribution centers can be spread out in the city to lessen the burden of traffic in congested areas.