City Council addresses street closures, launches support for police ‘Care Wagon’

By Anthony Boyd

The Revere City Council moved toward requiring better advance notice of street closures during its Aug. 24 meeting, with councillors supporting a proposal aimed at giving city officials and residents more time to prepare for traffic disruptions. The council also unanimously approved a new Revere Police Department gift account to support a community outreach vehicle known as the “Care Wagon,” and councillors considered several development, zoning and construction-related proposals.

One of the evening’s major discussions centered on a proposed ordinance that would amend the city’s street-closure notification requirements and add the Police Department and City Council to the agencies notified when streets are closed. Councillors Anthony Cogliandro and Joanne McKenna introduced the measure, saying the current process does not provide councillors or residents with enough timely information about road disruptions. Cogliandro said the existing ordinance primarily requires street closures to be reported to the Fire Department, leaving other city officials without adequate notice.

“We’ve had quite a few road closures this year that we have not known about,” Cogliandro said, adding that the additional notification could be as simple as an email.

McKenna pointed to a recent closure on Crescent Avenue as an example of the problems that can arise when residents and officials are not informed in advance. Traffic was diverted toward an area near Beachmont School, where drivers encountered a traffic signal that remained red while they waited to turn toward Boston.

Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya, who said she had previously proposed a similar notification requirement, supported a 24-hour-advance-notice standard. She said residents should not have to discover a closure only when leaving for work or returning home. “Construction and utility work is necessary. I understand that,” Guarino-Sawaya said. “When the work is planned, communication should be part of that planning.”

Guarino-Sawaya also emphasized the impact on seniors and residents with disabilities who rely on home health care, deliveries and other services. Knowing about a closure ahead of time, she said, would give residents more opportunity to make alternate arrangements.

Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio offered some of the strongest criticism of the current situation, saying he had not seen so many street closures during his 30 years in the city. “You’re going down Broadway and then Broadway stops,” Argenzio said. “You’re going down River Street and Revere Street stops. … It’s out of control.”

“I think this is one of the best motions I’ve seen. I’m a thousand percent in favor of this thing,” Argenzio added, calling for better coordination and criticizing last-minute detour signs.

The proposed ordinance was sent to a public hearing scheduled for Sept. 28.

The council also unanimously approved the creation of a Revere Police Department gift account to support a new community service vehicle being developed by the department. Captain Malone told councillors that the department recently purchased an electric Chevy BrightDrop that will serve as a year-round community outreach vehicle. “We’re kind of calling it an ice cream truck on steroids,” Malone said, explaining that unlike older community-service vehicles used primarily for ice cream events, Revere’s vehicle is being designed for year-round use.

The vehicle, dubbed the “Care Wagon,” is intended to bring officers into neighborhoods for activities including ice cream events, Coffee with a Cop, clothing and toy drives, homeless outreach and behavioral health initiatives. Malone said the vehicle will also be used at community events throughout the city, creating more opportunities for officers to interact with residents outside of traditional police calls. The department hopes to place a QR code on the vehicle so residents and businesses can make donations, with the money going back toward the vehicle and the community services it provides.

Councillors expressed strong support for the initiative. Councillor-at-Large Marc Silvestri said he had seen firsthand how an ice cream truck in Chelsea helped police officers build relationships with neighborhood children.

The council also considered several development and zoning matters. Martin Carbo sought a special permit to add two residential floors containing four units above an existing commercial building at 191 River St. The proposal drew concerns from abutter Lewis Mario, who raised questions about an existing clay sewer line, drainage, trash storage and trees along the property. Councillors said those concerns could be addressed during subcommittee and site plan review. They also discussed documenting the condition of the sewer line before and after construction to help protect both the property owner and abutters.

Dominic Lasala appeared before the council seeking permission to add a 20-by-30-foot second floor to his home at 269 River St. Lasala said he has lived in Revere his entire life and wants additional space to make the home more comfortable and accommodate his grandchildren. The proposal received support from councillors, and no opposition was voiced during the hearing.

Councillors also advanced an ordinance concerning body art establishments to a Sept. 28 public hearing after removing a provision that would have prohibited such establishments within 500 feet of schools, playgrounds, parks, conservation areas, houses of worship and residences.

Another proposal would require qualifying construction and demolition projects to display clearly visible signs containing information, such as the permit number, property address, contractor or developer, permitted construction hours and contact information. The measure was brought forward after a resident raised concerns that existing construction signage does not always provide neighbors with enough information about projects taking place in their community.

The council also approved a $127,253.15 appropriation from the cable access receipt reserve fund to pay RevereTV’s quarterly invoice.