Friends of Malden Rr

Dear Malden Councillors and residents,

  Concerned residents and the Friends of the NEMT Forest shared a presentation about the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Technical School (NEMT) building site at the Friends of the Malden River meeting in December of 2022. Informed residents are interested in understanding the NEMT Building Committee’s choice of the most expensive and least favorable building site as reviewed and rejected in pre-feasibility reports. The media and many residents, including municipal leaders, have been misinformed about the chosen building site. In February of 2021 – Massachusetts School Building Authority posted that the new VOKE would be constructed on existing developed land.

  11 out of the 12 member (of NEMT district) communities voted in favor of a much needed new facility. The Friends of the NEMT Forest understand the need to improve and expand the outdated facility. A new VOKE will be an asset to all of our region.

  Many people are unaware of the potential impacts that this hilltop building site entails. The NEMT Forest advocates endorse the need for a new VOKE but disagree with this choice of building sites with minimal public outreach and input. The third choice of building site (forested hilltop C) raises the costs about $40 million in greater site work, raises concerns about accessibility for all students, especially those with disabilities, and destroys 13 acres of forest that harbors wetlands and vernal pools.

  The City of Malden is in the midst of creating a Climate Action Plan, participating in Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Programs, investing in stormwater management plans, and working on other much needed actions to protect and improve our existing green and blue space. We cannot look away from this vital thirteen-acre forest while other options exist. I thank you in advance for joining one of these Zoom informational meetings.

  Friends of the Malden River

Informational Zoom meetings are on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Wednesdays

Topic: Wednesday NEMT Forest + Build the Voke

Time: Jan 4, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81993529978?pwd=cGVxcTdSU3ozSnV5UDBickxnQW9TUT09

Meeting ID: 819 9352 9978

Passcode: 973736

Sundays

Topic: NEMT Forest + Build the Voke Sundays

Time: Jan 8, 2023 06:00 PM Eastern Time

  Every week on Sun, until Feb 19, 2023, 7 occurrence(s)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85478671726?pwd=YlFQR1MzT3RTYVRZUExCMGhzd2thdz09

Meeting ID: 854 7867 1726

Passcode: 564985