~ Revere City Council Round-Up ~

Councillor proposes winter sidewalk clean-up program

With the recent dustings of snow, New England was reminded of what winter looked like in the past. It also put winter on the minds of several city councillors.

Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky proposed that the mayor be requested to launch a program to remove snow and sand and salt sidewalks adjacent to city-owned property, such as parks and playgrounds. The city’s snow removal ordinance includes graduated fines that start at $25 for residents who fail to shovel and salt their sidewalks 24 hours after the snow stops falling. Novoselsky said it was only fair that the city clear walkways since residents are required to shovel.

“We all have to do our part,” said Novoselsky. “Let’s just work together.”

City Council President Anthony Cogliandro proposed using the robocall system to remind residents that they must shovel sidewalks or face a city fine. Novoselsky proposed sending out notices about the snow removal ordinance with fall tax bills to remind residents of the rules.

Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya proposed changing the Snow Angels program, which was started 11 years ago by former Mayor Dan Rizzo to shovel out the homes of elderly and disabled residents with the volunteer help of RHS ROTC members. Guarino-Sawaya proposed creating an annual application and lottery process to determine which households will receive help from the Snow Angels. She said there is a long waiting list to receive the help, and an annual application and lottery will make the program more equitable.

Street paving

  Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio proposed funding be earmarked to repave Oxford, Howard, McCleary and Rand Streets, which are in rough shape due to recent water and gas main replacements.

Scooter Rules & Regs

  Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio proposed that a member of the Revere Police Traffic Division meet with the council to discuss regulations for scooters and motorized bikes. Councillors agreed that regulations involving scooters and bikes need to be clearer, and several councillors said they heard complaints about the bikes from residents while they were campaigning.

Slowing down Crescent Street

  Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna requested that a “stop sign ahead” sign be painted in the street before the stop sign on Crescent Street. “We’re trying to get speed tables but why not add to that,” said McKenna, who added that cars are not slowing down or stopping at the corner where kids wait for a school bus. “It’s a public safety hazard,” said McKenna.

Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio – former Superintendent of the Public Works Department – said the city’s crosswalk painting crew could easily paint the street sign and the cost would be insignificant.

Where’s the dispensary?

  Back in 2015, the city granted a license to Matt Philbin to open and operate a cannabis dispensary in Revere, but so far there’s been no sign or word about any progress with the business. Councillor-At-Large Marc Silvestri would like Philbin to appear before the council and explain the overdue opening. “If done right cannabis can be a very profitable business,” said Silvestri, adding that it’s not reasonable for Philbin to hold and lock up Revere’s only cannabis license.

As for those who object to the idea of a local dispensary, Silvestri had a question. “Who are we to turn down $1 million in revenue, when we’re building a school for $500,000 million?”

Appointments

  Mayor Patrick Keefe sent the following appointments to the City Council, which referred them to the Appointments & Personnel Administration Subcommittee for review:

Derek Martinez to the Public Art Commission

Kathryn Schulte-Grahame to the Library Board of Trustees

Lori Manzo to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees

Lilian Monroy to the License Commission

Kathy Savage to the Board of Health

Fr. Wellington to the Human Rights Commission

Annemarie Fiore to the Commission on Disabilities

Richard Viscay, City Auditor/budget director

Interpretation Services

  Councillor-At-Large Juan Pablo Jaramillo requested that the council hold a public hearing on providing interpretation services for public meetings and public documents. Councillors were quick to support Jaramillo’s proposal and suggested that sign language interpreters be included.

Wonderland Parking

  The council voted to request Mayor Patrick Keefe meet with them to discuss the parking leases at Wonderland, the revenue the city is earning and how the money is being spent.