Revere City Council Roundup

By The Advocate

Register to rent

The City Council supported a verbal motion from Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio to ask the mayor to create a working group to establish an ordinance for a registry of all rental properties in the city.

A registry would generate a comprehensive list of all rental properties in the city and allow for an inspection schedule.

Argenzio said property owners would pay a registration fee, around $40 or $50, and a re-registration fee in subsequent years, approximately $15.

“This would be a substantial revenue stream,” he said.

According to Argenzio, Lynn and Boston have registries that work on a five-year cycle with 20 percent of rental units being inspected each year. Failure to register would be considered a violation.

“That would give the city some teeth and require everyone to register,” said Argenzio adding the registry would help the inspectional services department and ensure all rental units are inspected.

“It gives the city some responsibility to make sure everyone in Revere has safe living conditions,” said Argenzio. “A lot of cities do this, and it’s proven to be useful.”

Several councillors raised concerns that fees generated by the ordinance would be passed on to tenants, but Argenzio said the fees were minimal.

The council also unanimously approved a motion recommended favorably by the Legislative Affairs Subcommittee for a home rule petition allowing the city to set penalties and liens for violations of the rooming house & certificate of fitness ordinance.

Sign of the times

The council accepted the favorable recommendation of the Legislative Affairs Subcommittee and voted to repeal the ordinance dictating when and how political signs may be posted on private property. The Supreme Court has ruled political signs are protected under the First Amendment and the guaranteed right to free speech. However, because of an objection by Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky, who feels the ordinance has kept Revere clean during the fall, the motion was tabled.

Protection against Wage Theft

The council unanimously approved an ordinance from Councillor-at-Large Juan Pablo Jaramillo and favorably recommended by the Legislative Affairs Subcommittee amending wage theft policies in Revere. The ordinance creates protections for workers who are not paid according to wage and hour laws. According to Jaramillo, low-wage workers and workers in dangerous jobs are most vulnerable to wage theft. Common types of wage theft include unpaid overtime, failure to pay for all hours worked including training and meal breaks, Illegal deductions from paychecks and withhold final paychecks after termination or resignation.

Welcome aboard

The following appointments from Mayor Patrick Keefe were referred to the council’s Appointments Subcommittee. The reappointment of Ellie Vargas to the Disability Commission and the appointments of David Leary, Nicholas Gauvin, Jacklyn Damiano, Wilson Correa, Natalia Ardagna and John Shannon Bianchi to the Parks and Recreation Commission.

AI arrives in Revere

The council agreed to a motion from Councillor-at-Large Michelle Kelley to invite Mr. Vamshi Paili to present his AI-powered public data accessibility platform designed specifically for Revere. Kelley said the platform is packed with useful information for residents and councillors.

Ban on Crypto ATMs

Councillors supported a motion presented by Council President Silvestri to request the City’s Policy Writer & Analyst to draft an ordinance banning cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks from being operated in the City of Revere. Silvestri also proposed that the City Council send a letter to the Joint Committee on Financial Services in favor of H.1247, An Act Relative to Preventing Fraud and Establishing Regulations on Certain Virtual Currencies. Silvestri said the motion is not against cryptocurrency, but rather the ATMs which have been known to target seniors with get-rich-quick schemes only to steal their life savings.

Chris Chavarria Playground

Councillors unanimously supported a motion presented by Councillor Anthony Cogliandro, Councillor Robert Haas, and Council President Silvestri that the Early Childhood Playground at the Lincoln School be dedicated in memory of Chris Chavarria. Cogliandro read an email from someone who wanted to remain anonymous that explained the reasons for the dedication.

“I believe the new early childhood playground at the Lincoln School should be dedicated to Chris Chavarria because his life and spirit represent the best of our community,” read the email. “Chris was a bright, kind, and joyful spirit who once walked the halls of the Lincoln School as a fifth grader. Even while facing rare and aggressive leukemia, he showed remarkable courage, positivity, and love for others.”

Traffic signal fixed

Ward 5 Councillor Guarino-Sawaya filed a motion to request MassDOT to resynchronize the traffic signalization at the intersection of Revere Street and North Shore in the interest of public safety. Guarino-Sawaya told fellow councillors that the traffic signal had been adjusted, and the motion was placed on file.

Turn up the lights

The council approved a motion from Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya that the City Engineer and/or the Department of Public Works, work in coordination with National Grid, to evaluate the street lighting conditions along Breed Street near St. Anthony of Padua Church, specifically in the area west of the chapel toward the rear parking lot, to determine if additional or upgraded lighting is needed to improve nighttime visibility and public safety.

Go Revere Bocce

Motion presented by Councillor Robert Haas and Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya that the City Council award Certificates of Commendation to the Revere Bocce Team in honor of their victory over their ‘friendly’ rivals in the Revere vs. Chelsea Bocce Tournament this past September.