City Council approves ordinance setting rules for naming city properties

Advocate Staff Report

On Monday the Revere City Council approved an ordinance establishing guidelines for naming city-owned buildings and other large properties after people who have made a positive impact on the community. The ordinance applies to properties such as city buildings and parks but does not cover smaller memorials, including benches or rooms within city-owned buildings.

One of the main points of debate was how long the city should wait after a person’s death before naming a property in their honor. The original proposal required a person to have been deceased for at least 10 years before a city-owned property could be named after them. During a subcommittee meeting om Monday, that waiting period was amended to one year. Councillor-at-Large Robert Haas III said waiting too long could mean fewer family members and friends remain in the city to participate in a naming ceremony.

Councillor-at-Large Joanne McKenna later proposed an amendment establishing a three-year waiting period, which the council approved. “I think we need time,” McKenna said. “If a person has done wonderful things for the city, we just need time to see that it stands.”

The ordinance now requires a three-year waiting period following a person’s death before a city-owned property can be named in their honor.