Revere City Council Round-Up

By Barbara Taormina

Local Heroes

The City Council presented Certificates of Merit to Sergeant Sean Matthews, Sergeant Keith Lessner and Officer Orion Kong of the Revere Police Department for their actions on August 19 when they ran into a burning building prior to the arrival of the Revere Fire Department to ensure that all occupants were safely evacuated. City Council President Marc Silvestri did the honors and briefly described how Kong, Lessner and Matthews responded without hesitation, despite dangerous conditions, and managed to evacuate everyone prior to the arrival of the fire department.

“These officers displayed the highest standards of public service,” said Silvestri. “They saved lives with their selfless service and courageous actions.”

Congratulations to all

The City Council approved the appointments of Peggy Pratt to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Kourou Pich to the Human Rights Commission and the reappointment of Anayo Osueke to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board. Councillors also approved the reappointments of Viviana Catano to the Board of Health, the reappointment of Lauren D’Avella as a Constable and the appointment of Brittney D’Avella as a Constable for the City of Revere.

McMackin Field on the rise

The City Council unanimously approved a $4.2 million loan order to finish the renovation of McMackin Field. Councillors tabled this vote at their last meeting so they could see a full presentation of the work being done at McMackin. DPW Superintendent Chris Ciamella presented renderings of the field and detailed explanations of what the city can expect when the field reopens late next summer.

The drainage problem that closed the field has been remedied with a drainage system in the center of the park that was designed to hold up against a 100-year storm. The city is still working on drainage issues with the condo complex at the back of the field, but Ciaramella said the issue would be resolved.

There will be three artificial turf fields for U-10 soccer, a regulation baseball field for the high school and college teams and a Little League field. The soccer field is expected to be open to older players during the week and in the evenings for practice.

There will be a 7-foot retaining wall along Winthrop Avenue that will reach 1 1/2 feet above a new sidewalk with decorative lights and trees. Bleachers that will seat 144 people will be installed on both sides of the field. An 8-foot fence will surround McMackin with 30 feet of netting on the Winthrop Avenue and Victoria Street sides. There will also be 20 feet of netting against the condo complex.

Councillors praised the plans and called the renovated field an asset for Revere. Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto proposed commissioning a model of the city’s “Little Fenway” to be displayed at McMackin. “This is Revere History,” said Zambuto, adding that McMackin has played an important part in the lives of many residents.

Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio asked if McMackin would be locked or open to the public. Parks and Recreation Director Michael Hinojosa said that hasn’t been decided yet. However, Hinojosa said there have been problems with dirt bikes and vandalism at the stadium.

Argenzio said locking public parks has always been a pet peeve. “Residents have paid for it. You can’t lock the public out of a public park.”

Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky proposed security cameras. Ciaramella said there will be cameras installed.

Adding color to Shirley Avenue

Councillors approved a $9,700 appropriation from the Community Improvement Trust for a mural on Shirley Avenue. Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky said the mural will be the finishing touch at the neighborhood’s new pocket park. Seven artists stepped up to create the mural, and two were chosen as finalists. Novoselsky expects the mural to be completed by November.

Slow down on Winthrop Parkway

The City Council supported Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna, who is calling on State Police to conduct traffic enforcement on Winthrop Parkway, especially from Beachmont to Winthrop, in the interest of public safety. According to McKenna, speeding vehicles have taken out six streetlight poles at this location.

Leave space for voters

Councillors unanimously voted to support a motion from Councillors Anthony Cogliandro and Michelle Kelley that the Mayor direct School Superintendent Dianne Kelly to ensure that all teachers park as far away as possible from the Revere High School Field House polling location on Election Day. Parking congestion at a polling location can hinder voter turnout, and reserving closer spaces for voters will help maintain accessibility and participation.

“I personally know of a dozen Ward 3 residents who couldn’t find parking at the high school, so they just kept going,” said Cogliandro. “If we don’t have parking, people won’t stop to vote.”

Kelley agreed and said, “We want to make voting as easy and accessible as possible, particularly for the upcoming election when turnout is expected to be low.”

Memorial Bench honoring Richard Santosuosso

Councillors Robert Haas and Anthony Cogliandro filed a motion to install a memorial bench at the Lincoln School to honor the memory of Richard Santosuosso, aa lifelong resident and volunteer who was a staple at the Lincoln School for many years. Santosuosso developed incredibly strong relationships with students, families, educators and school employees, and the bench would be a way for the Lincoln School community to remember Mr. Bacon as he was known. Fellow councillors supported the motion and asked to add their names to it.

Cogliandro said there has been some pushback from the School Committee about the proposal and he added if the issue was funding, he would file a request for the city to fund the memorial bench. Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna sweetened the deal even more by offering an iron bench she has in storage for the project.