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Re: Ask the Mayor!

Never Answered
The administration is scared to death of this site, both now, and in it's prior incarnation. Why else do you think XXXXXX banned access to it, a practice that continues to this day?
Admins can’t help you, bro! Ever heard of Tor? IP addresses for days.

Now, back to my post that was removed by the admins for...uh...speaking the truth?

Laughable that you say the administration is scared of this message board, but you won’t even list their name? Keyboard warrior on an anonymous site and you STILL won’t say the name. This the same vague innuendo always being spread on this board...

Get a different slant.

Yup, I’m back and going no where.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Straight Answer from the Mayor....Doubtful!!
When is the so-called Mayor ever going to give a straight-forward, honest answer to a question? Instead of the usual political avoid-an-answer-that makes-me-look-bad. So, the questions are: when are you going to get rid of Ruth Clay and the DPW chief? Without the usual skirting the issue language.....you have been in politics a long time Mayor, and your evasiveness shows it!!
The problem with thinking you know more than the experts.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Is what?

Re: Ask the Mayor!

When is the so-called Mayor ever going to give a straight-forward, honest answer to a question?

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Shawn
When is the so-called Mayor ever going to give a straight-forward, honest answer to a question?
When is yard waste going to be pick up on a regular schedule.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

https://melroserecycles.wordpress.com/2020/04/10/updates-on-yard-waste-pickup/

Re: Ask the Mayor!

The midweek update by the MA DPH of COVID cases by town/city (Melrose is listed with 206 cases, an increase of > 30% over last week, and ~ a rate of 712 per 100,0000):

https://www.mass.gov/doc/confirmed-covid-19-cases-in-ma-by-citytown-january-1-2020-may-13-2020-0/download

And the MA DPH's daily dashboard - MelWake's COVID census has declined noticeably to 33:

https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-dashboard-may-13-2020/download

Re: Ask the Mayor!

When you’re out socially distanced, wear a mask,And when you get behind the wheel, slow down.Yes that car you drive.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Oh, you mean the CAR I drive. Thank you for clarifying that. I thought you meant the wheel of fortune.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

True partnership is all of us helping each other at this time.It is not easy being home everyday.Many people been followed from the jobs or layoffs. No one wins when you have no jobs are lost. This is about time it something that none of us been through .Yes employment checks don:t cut it.Life changes Go from working everday to no work.Not easy on anybody.Check on your neighbors.Call or text your neighbors.Especially elderly neighbors to make sure they"re doing will. make sure to stay socially connected.Wake around your neighborhood.Develop a support system within your community.Reach out but do it safely.Not easy going what"s next.How do you know if you are doing the right thing?Doing whats right is never easy.Does doing the right thing ever lead to worse overall circumstances than doing ?

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Rolling Shock’ as Job Losses Mount Even With Reopenings

Nearly three million new unemployment claims brought the two-month total to more than 36 million, even with some still frustrated in seeking benefits.

Re: Ask the Mayor!



Gov. Charlie Baker says his administration is intentionally taking a “go-slow” approach to reopening the Massachusetts economy.

Some local lawmakers are still worried he may be going too fast.

In a letter Friday, seven state representatives called on Baker to extend his stay-at-home advisory and order requiring nonessential businesses to close their workplaces until “at least” June 1, citing concerns that the coronavirus outbreak is not adequately contained.

With a total of 83,421 COVID-19 cases and 5,592 reported deaths due to the disease as of Friday afternoon, Massachusetts is one of the hardest-hit states in the country. Baker’s shutdown orders have been in place since March 24.

“While we are cognizant of the hardships people continue to endure, we think it would be premature to allow the Stay-At-Home Advisory to expire on Monday, May 18,” read the letter Friday, led by Rep. Mike Connolly, a Cambridge Democrat.

This morning, I joined with House colleagues to call on @MassGovernor to extend the #StayAtHome advisory and to do more to prioritize the needs of those most impacted by #COVID19. Because of the urgent nature of the situation, we didn't have time to do a broad call for sign-ons. pic.twitter.com/debqzIBBpg

— Mike Connolly (@MikeConnollyMA) May 15, 2020

Baker’s reopening advisory board is expected to release a report on its four-phase approach to gradually relaxing restrictions Monday, which is the same day that the stay-at-home advisory and nonessential business closure order are scheduled to expire. And while the Republican governor announced new mandatory safety standards for businesses earlier this week, it remains unclear what — or when — businesses and activities the report will allow to resume.

In a technical fix, Baker did announce Friday that the business closure order and stay-at-home advisory — which were set to expire at midnight Sunday — will be extended 24 hours, through the end of Monday.

But the governor gave no indication of what his plans were beyond that. During a press conference Friday, he said officials would have “a lot more to say” about the stay-at-home advisory Monday.
Related Links

Health equity coalition asks Charlie Baker to prioritize voices of essential workers in planning state’s reopening
Charlie Baker explains why he isn’t tipping who will be in the first reopening phase in Massachusetts
Gov. Baker announces the 4 phases Mass. will follow to reopen the economy

“That has to be dealt with in the context of the rest of the report,” Baker said.

The letter was co-signed Northampton Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Somerville Rep. Christine Barber, Brockton Rep. Michelle DuBois, Boston Rep. Nika Elugardo, Framingham Rep. Jack Lewis, and Framingham Rep. Maria Robinson — all of whom were part of a group that called on Baker to issue a stay-at-home order in mid-March during the early days of the outbreak. Connolly suggested that they were hardly the only lawmakers who supported the new letter.

“Because of the urgent nature of the situation, we didn’t have time to do a broad call for sign-ons,” he tweeted Friday

While they recognized that Massachusetts has seen positive downward trends when it comes to the rate of positive COVID-19 tests and hospitalizations, the letter echoed some scientists’ fears that relaxing rules too soon could result in a worse, second wave of infections and deaths.

The seven Democrats also noted that the 12 percent, seven-day average of positive COVID-19 tests in Massachusetts remained slightly shy of a the 10-to-1 ratio of negative tests to positive tests that the World Health Organization says is a benchmark for sufficient testing. Federal guidelines say that states should not begin reopening until they have seen a “two-week downward trajectory of documented cases or positives as a percent of total tests,” which Massachusetts appears to have met, despite day-to-day variations in the numbers.

Baker has repeatedly stressed that his administration will “follow the data” before it reopens, with an emphasis on hospitalizations and the percent of positive test as the most meaningful trends to follow. Asked about that on Friday, Baker said that the state has had “very positive tracking.”

“For some of those measures, it’s been for almost a month,” he said.

Still, the governor stressed that Massachusetts is already taking a cautious approach. Other New England states — which have seen fewer COVID-19 cases — have already announced plans to begin easing business restrictions and lifting stay-at-home orders.

“Part of the reason we’ve talked about a phased reopening and go-slow reopening is because we want to be conservative and careful and cautious with respect to the way we do this,” Baker said Friday, adding that the state’s plans to ramp up testing and contact tracing were key parts of the equation.

“We’ve said from the beginning that you need to respect the virus,” he added.

Despite the overall positive trends, Connolly’s letter highlighted the fact that some cities and towns are still struggling with disproportionately high rates of COVID-19.

“The improvements we’ve seen in our state have not been felt in all communities — some of the most vulnerable communities in our state continue to face alarming circumstances that demand more of our attention,” they wrote

The letter added that reopening advisory board “largely consists of corporate executives and CEOs” and lacks representation for frontline workers and lower-income groups that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including people who are homeless, incarcerated, or do not have legal status.

The 17-member board is composed of three public health officials, three municipal officials, and 11 members of the business community, including six CEOs. The advisory group has previously been criticized for its composition, though Baker says it is soliciting input from a wide variety of stakeholders. During the press conference Friday, he said the board had met with between 50 and 70 different groups.

The letter also criticized the current plan, which Baker has refused to preview ahead of the May 18 report, for being “confusing to many of our constituents and businesses” that could result in “poor public health choices.” The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce has also repeatedly called on Baker to provide more details so that businesses can prepare.

The governor has remained unswayed. During a press conference Wednesday, he didn’t want the proverbial “starting gun” to go off ahead of the report Monday.

“I want this to be done in a deliberate way, and you don’t do something in a deliberate way if you start leaking it out and issuing it out before you actually release the report,” he said.

While nearly half of Massachusetts residents have seen their incomes diminished in the wake of the pandemic, more than 85 percent said they support Baker’s decision to extend his business closure order and stay-at-home advisory until May 18, according to a Suffolk University/Boston Globe/WGBH News poll last week. The same decision also attracted a vocal group of protesters outside the State House.

Baker said Friday that he thought the board’s reopening report was “a tremendously well-developed and well-thought out piece of work.”

He also said he expected criticism.

“I absolutely know that people who think we’re going too fast are going to say we’re going too fast and people who think we’re going to slow are going to say we’re going too slow,” he said. “I mean, that’s kind of where we are here, folks — and that’s where we’re going to be for a while.”

Re: Ask the Mayor!

This week's midweek update on a per town/city basis - Melrose is listed with 216 cases (cumulatively counted since March) at a rate per 100K of ~747, an increase of only 10 cases over last week):

https://www.mass.gov/doc/confirmed-covid-19-cases-in-ma-by-citytown-january-1-2020-may-20-2020/download

And MelWake's census has declined from 33 to 21 in the last week, about 40% of its sustained peak during the surge:

https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-dashboard-may-20-2020/download

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Concerned Melrosian
This week\'s midweek update on a per town/city basis - Melrose is listed with 216 cases (cumulatively counted since March) at a rate per 100K of ~747, an increase of only 10 cases over last week):

https://www.mass.gov/doc/confirmed-covid-19-cases-in-ma-by-citytown-january-1-2020-may-20-2020/download

And MelWake\'s census has declined from 33 to 21 in the last week, about 40% of its sustained peak during the surge:

https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-dashboard-may-20-2020/download
Easier to be honest and transparent,you never have to worry about what you said to whom. ... You never have to worry to worry about what you said to Whom . ... You never have to worry about your integrity or reputation. It"s freeing and more comfortable to tell the truth.It"s easier to be honest.

Re: Ask the Mayor!


When you woke up this morning, if you're like me, you thought about your kids right off the bat. Where are they, are they safe, are they feeling loved, and what can I do to help them.
For my kids:
-They're at home.I shower them with love and kisses everyday
But what can I do to help them? As a parent, what can I do to ensure my child's success and safety in Melrose? What do they NEED from me?

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Please don't just be rubbers stampers . On this City Budget for The City Melrose.We are going through the Coronavirus a lot of people are at home not going to work.That is the state of Massachusetts and many other states. Coronavirus affecting all life.May be not you Politicians.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

We are getting together on a zoom meeting to discuss the plan for a second Override this November. The pandemic has created needs for the City that require additional revenue. Respond to this thread with your email and I will get you the invite.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

"Needs", I'm sorry, but that's not even a funny joke!

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Maybe the bigger question is recession going to us city and all us her in melrose and the businesses?

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Grandparents
Maybe the bigger question is recession going to us city and all us her in melrose and the businesses?
None of the administrators have any sense of what they're doing or are supposed to do. They are all first-timers in the jobs. No real experience, no perspective and zero humility.The city Council for the city Melrose all new.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Closed
Grandparents
Maybe the bigger question is recession going to us city and all us her in melrose and the businesses?
None of the administrators have any sense of what they're doing or are supposed to do. They are all first-timers in the jobs. No real experience, no perspective and zero humility.The city Council for the city Melrose all new.
City Council two have been on for some time Shawn and John.They are a lot of first-timers in the jobs. No real experience, at being on the City Council at all.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Zip it, Ted. I hear enough of you at the darn public comment periods. Your shtick is tiresome.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Counselor are you part of the ministration.You"re in for a rude awakening.All this is about understanding what;S GOING ON ...... NO LONGER PARTICIPATING.

Re: It is what it is.

Counselor
Zip it, Ted. I hear enough of you at the darn public comment periods. Your shtick is tiresome.
It is what it is.

Re: Coronavirus Pandemic

It is what it is.
Counselor
Zip it, Ted. I hear enough of you at the darn public comment periods. Your shtick is tiresome.
It is what it is.
To get through the stuck-at-home days of the coronavirus pandemic, Americans have spent significantly more time than usual in front of the TV, gorging on streaming shows, news programs, old sitcoms and video games.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Counselor
Zip it, Ted. I hear enough of you at the darn public comment periods. Your shtick is tiresome.
Nobody:s forcing to read this string.Maybe time for you to go to bed to get a good night sleep.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

MAY 28, 2020.....Long-shuttered stores may unlocking their doors. And manufacturers are starting to hire employees back to the assembly lines. But the economic recovery might not be a quick one, a state fiscal watchdog group warned Thursday.

The hopes for a sharp and immediate rebound from the COVID-19 shutdown in Massachusetts are no longer realistic, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, which is now predicting a long and slow climb that will strain state resources. State revenues may not fully recover until 2025, MTF said.

The impacts of the economic downturn could be mitigated by tapping into the state’s $3.5 billion reserve fund or if Congress sent more relief funding to states like Massachusetts, but even with stimulus the group said past recessions have proven that the state could be in for a multi-year period of austerity.

“To state the implications straightforwardly: the Commonwealth will have limited budgetary flexibility for the next several years as tax revenues slowly rebound, particularly if the demand for safety net services resulting from an ailing economy and an aging population drive up expenditures,” MTF said in the report.

The paper published Thursday was a follow-up to the foundation’s report earlier this month downgrading its revenue estimates for the fiscal year that begins July 1 to reflect an anticipated $6 billion drop in projected tax collections. The foundation’s newly pessimistic outlook on the length of the recovery is based on what it said was the severity of the decline and the widespread and fundamental changes the pandemic has wrought on pillars of the state’s economy, like higher education and tourism.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Melrose Taxpayers
MAY 28, 2020.....Long-shuttered stores may unlocking their doors. And manufacturers are starting to hire employees back to the assembly lines. But the economic recovery might not be a quick one, a state fiscal watchdog group warned Thursday.

The hopes for a sharp and immediate rebound from the COVID-19 shutdown in Massachusetts are no longer realistic, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, which is now predicting a long and slow climb that will strain state resources. State revenues may not fully recover until 2025, MTF said.

The impacts of the economic downturn could be mitigated by tapping into the state’s $3.5 billion reserve fund or if Congress sent more relief funding to states like Massachusetts, but even with stimulus the group said past recessions have proven that the state could be in for a multi-year period of austerity.

“To state the implications straightforwardly: the Commonwealth will have limited budgetary flexibility for the next several years as tax revenues slowly rebound, particularly if the demand for safety net services resulting from an ailing economy and an aging population drive up expenditures,” MTF said in the report.

The paper published Thursday was a follow-up to the foundation’s report earlier this month downgrading its revenue estimates for the fiscal year that begins July 1 to reflect an anticipated $6 billion drop in projected tax collections. The foundation’s newly pessimistic outlook on the length of the recovery is based on what it said was the severity of the decline and the widespread and fundamental changes the pandemic has wrought on pillars of the state’s economy, like higher education and tourism.
Just remember. The best budget is the one you will stick with.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

When is yard waste going to be on a regular schedule.Not pick up today June 3 2020?

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Coming soon phone numbers City Council of Melrose and their name address and the ward that they repressent.This should be a good time to share this information.Because of the city budget Melrose.That way they can answer your questions.That way they are not invisible.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

The recycling and yard waste calendar is no secret. It's up at the city website as it's been for years. Here's the 2020 version:

https://www.cityofmelrose.org/sites/melrosema/files/uploads/melrose_postcard_2020_aw.pdf

So, while April was omitted due to COVID-related problems, there are two weeks of pickup in each of May and June (the first of which is next week, not this week), one in each of July, August and September, and then autumn schedule.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Councilor John Tramontozzi has been asking every department if cuts could be had in their proposed budgets — including the City Council. (Meeting screenshot)

MELROSE, MA — An effort by one City Councilor and backed by another to cut Councilor salaries ahead of fiscal uncertainty didn't muster any more support than that.

Council salaries will remain $5,000 a year. The proposed cut — first at $500 each, then at $687.68 — came from Councilor John Tramontozzi, who has been asking every department head where even the most modest trims can be made during the weeks of FY21 budget deliberations.

"After all, we're all in this together," Tramontozzi told his fellow Councilors while making his case.

Tramontozzi's initial proposal was to cut $7,564.52 from the City Council's salary and wages line in the budget, with $2,064.52 coming from Clerk of Committee Kristen Foote's salary and $5,500 coming from the 11 Councilors — $500 apiece.

Councilor Leila Migliorelli said Foote is a full-time employee of the city, whereas Councilors are not, and they should absorb her cut in any such motion. Tramontozzi agreed and proposed to cut each Councilor's salary by $687.68.

Councilor Robb Stewart pointed out the Councilors' $5,000 salary is already a minimum for them to receive benefits, such as eventual health and retirement. So in addition to the decrease in salary, Tramontozzi's motion would cause the Councilors to forfeit at least some benefit eligibility.

Councilor Jeff McNaught had the most vocal opposition to the proposal, saying the raises in the City Council's department have been low enough. He recommended a raise for Foote.

"We're not obligated to cut what Councilor Tramontozzi is suggesting," McNaught said. "So taking it out of our own salaries is to appease Councilor Tramontozzi, and I say that with all due respect."

Re: Ask the Mayor!



Christoper Cinella
69 Cranmore Lane
(617) 917-4248

Jack Eccles
99 Essex Street, #10
(781) 913-0188

Maya Jamaleddine
10 Melrose Street
(781) 462-1960

Leila Migliorelli
25 Dartmouth Road
(781) 462-1425

Ward Councilor
John N. Tramontozzi
Ward 1
794 Franklin Street
(781) 662-6175

Jeffrey McNaught
Ward 2
94 Clifford Street
(781) 620-0442

Robb Stewart
Ward 3
92 Trenton Street
(781) 521-4913

Mark Garipay
Ward 4
71 Mooreland Road
(781) 665-0988

Shawn MacMaster
Ward 5
35 Brazil Street
(781) 462-1875

Jen Grigoraitis
Ward 6
419 Lebanon Street
(781) 462-1288

Cory Thomas
Ward 7
19 Linwood Avenue
(617) 957-4227

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Ted Kenney


Christoper Cinella
69 Cranmore Lane
(617) 917-4248

Jack Eccles
99 Essex Street, #10
(781) 913-0188

Maya Jamaleddine
10 Melrose Street
(781) 462-1960

Leila Migliorelli
25 Dartmouth Road
(781) 462-1425

Ward Councilor
John N. Tramontozzi
Ward 1
794 Franklin Street
(781) 662-6175

Jeffrey McNaught
Ward 2
94 Clifford Street
(781) 620-0442

Robb Stewart
Ward 3
92 Trenton Street
(781) 521-4913

Mark Garipay
Ward 4
71 Mooreland Road
(781) 665-0988

Shawn MacMaster
Ward 5
35 Brazil Street
(781) 462-1875

Jen Grigoraitis
Ward 6
419 Lebanon Street
(781) 462-1288

Cory Thomas
Ward 7
19 Linwood Avenue
(617) 957-4227
City Council Melrose Massachusetts Phone Numbers And Address That Represent all of us.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Coronavirus Live Updates: With Cases Rising in 21 States, Washington Turns to Other Business

Health experts are worried about a second wave of infections while President Trump and lawmakers are looking the other way. Many developing countries are reopening even as cases rise.

Right Now

The Ford Foundation plans to announce on Thursday that it will borrow $1 billion so that it can sharply increase the amount of money it distributes amid the downturn.

Infections were rising in 21 states on Wednesday, but Washington had other business.
Cases surpass 2 million in the U.S., with new hot spots emerging.
The Federal Reserve says unemployment will remain high as it leaves interest rates near zero.
Lockdowns are ending in many developing countries, even as cases rise.
Fauci says protests could cause an increase in cases.
Faced with huge needs, leading foundations will borrow in order to increase their philanthropy.
‘I’ve never seen it like this’: The pandemic has transformed the experience of riding Boston subway.The MBTA BUS.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

MASSACHUSETTS — The state Department of Public Health updated town-by-town data on the new coronavirus Wednesday.

It was the third week the department included expanded town-by-town testing data, including the total number of persons tested, the testing rate, and the positive test rate in addition to the case and infection rate for each of the state's 351 municipalities. Prior to last week, the department had only released the number of cases and the infection rate.

Related Story: Massachusetts Easing Lockdown Despite High Positive Test Rate

The data, which is updated weekly, includes confirmed coronavirus for all 351 Massachusetts towns and cities, except for communities with populations under 50,000 and fewer than five cases. The department said the stipulation was designed to protect the privacy of patients in those towns and cities.


The statewide infection rate is 1437.65 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents. The map does not include 275 of the state's 100,158 cases because state health officials could not determine which town the patient lived in.

Statewide, there were 267 new confirmed COVID-19 cases reported Wednesday, as well as 46 reported deaths. Since the first reported death on March 20, there have been 7,454 coronavirus-related deaths in Massachusetts.

The state conducted 10,034 tests Wednesday, bringing the total number of completed tests to 668,092. The state also conducted 896 antibody tests, bringing the total to 53,040.

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Fellow Citizens, Ask me any question...we have a lot of time alone so I want to keep the lines of communication open with the People. I know this is a great source of information for many of Melrose, so ask and you shall be answered! - Mayor So what happens if we dont receive all the state.Aid that we thought we going to get.Will that prevent layoffs for the city and the school department.Will we have a lot of layoffs?

Re: Ask the Mayor!

The police department has had zero civil rights violations, the school department has had two I believe that were settled by the city, it actually got so bad at some point that the city hired an attorney that dealt only with school department litigation at probably a $100,000+ salary. Now we are talking about defunding the department with zero civil rights violations after giving the department that actually has civil rights violations a five million dollar over ride package (racist much melrose?) Would you like to explain this Mr. Mayor?

Re: Ask the Mayor!

Layoffs
Fellow Citizens, Ask me any question...we have a lot of time alone so I want to keep the lines of communication open with the People. I know this is a great source of information for many of Melrose, so ask and you shall be answered! - Mayor So what happens if we dont receive all the state.Aid that we thought we going to get.Will that prevent layoffs for the city and the school department.Will we have a lot of layoffs?
We are the sum of experiences that we encounter as we go through life. Day to day struggles and triumphs are experienced by all of the world's creatures. As human beings, when we encounter a challenge, we have freedom to choose how to react. Every decision that we make leads us down a different road. We will never come to exactly the same crossroads. Every decision that we make has significance. COVID-19 cases has not been easy for anyone of us life has changed.How life has changed since coronavirus struck.Life has changed for all.So much has completely changed.

Re: Ask the Mayor!“Perfect storm”

John Tramontozzi.A “Perfect storm” of economic uncertainty threatens the Budget of the City of Melrose.
Recently the Massachusetts Municipal Association announced that “Communities are at the Center of Three Waves:”
1. The murder of George Floyd has catapulted this nation into a defining moment, with sweepings calls to address the systemic racism that persists in our society and economy;
2. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt our daily lives and businesses, and this deadly threat to public health is draining resources, straining families, and reshaping government services and operations;
3. The Massachusetts economy is battered by the Covid-19 emergency, and state and local governments face historically deep fiscal challenges and uncertainty that could last for years.
The citizens of our city have faced tremendous personal and financial burdens. These challenges have been met with a spirit of volunteerism, community investment, and activism. We have reached into our hearts and pockets to support one another. We have more challenges ahead as we address the Health economic security and social well-being of our diverse population of citizens
Many of our neighboring cities and towns have begun to face their budgetary challenges with deep cuts and, in some cases, immediate layoffs of municipal employees. The State is dealing with its own financial difficulties with deficits predicted to be in the area of 6-8 billion dollars, which means a certain drastic drop in reimbursed funds to the cities and towns.
I believe the impact of these uncharted times amid the coronavirus crisis and social adversity and reform are financially uncalculated. Members of the City Council and the Administration carry a responsibility not only to anticipate these financial burdens to our citizens but meet these challenges proactively. The city has, and will, be faced with unprecedented costs for which we cannot rely on State or Federal Government funding to support.
If we continue the current course taken in our deliberations on the FY 2021 budget, of refusing to stay the automatic raises (cost of living increases) we will be coming back to our citizens who are struggling through a pandemic with our hands out, inexplicably having funded an increase in salary for every employee of every department at City Hall. In the past several weeks I have consistently advocated that we must stay these raises, It is a misnomer to refer to this common-sense practice of level city funding at the Fiscal Year 2020 rates (where possible) as “cuts”. I am not proposing “cuts” in non-union employee salaries, I am proposing that there be no FY2021 raises. This is a reasonable, sensible, and fiscally responsible approach as we continue to serve an economically and socially diverse population.
It is our job, though at times uncomfortable, to face the fiscal realities on behalf of all of our citizens, our most vulnerable being the hardest hit in times such as these. I am joined by veteran City Councilor MacMaster in efforts to mitigate the inevitable impact on our citizens and city employees but have yet to gain support from the rest of the City Council,
I would encourage all residents and taxpayers of this City to reach out to the City Council to express your opinions on how we should address the FY2021 Budget.

Re: Ask the Mayor!“Perfect storm”

Ted Kenney
John Tramontozzi.A “Perfect storm” of economic uncertainty threatens the Budget of the City of Melrose.
Recently the Massachusetts Municipal Association announced that “Communities are at the Center of Three Waves:”
1. The murder of George Floyd has catapulted this nation into a defining moment, with sweepings calls to address the systemic racism that persists in our society and economy;
2. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt our daily lives and businesses, and this deadly threat to public health is draining resources, straining families, and reshaping government services and operations;
3. The Massachusetts economy is battered by the Covid-19 emergency, and state and local governments face historically deep fiscal challenges and uncertainty that could last for years.
The citizens of our city have faced tremendous personal and financial burdens. These challenges have been met with a spirit of volunteerism, community investment, and activism. We have reached into our hearts and pockets to support one another. We have more challenges ahead as we address the Health economic security and social well-being of our diverse population of citizens
Many of our neighboring cities and towns have begun to face their budgetary challenges with deep cuts and, in some cases, immediate layoffs of municipal employees. The State is dealing with its own financial difficulties with deficits predicted to be in the area of 6-8 billion dollars, which means a certain drastic drop in reimbursed funds to the cities and towns.
I believe the impact of these uncharted times amid the coronavirus crisis and social adversity and reform are financially uncalculated. Members of the City Council and the Administration carry a responsibility not only to anticipate these financial burdens to our citizens but meet these challenges proactively. The city has, and will, be faced with unprecedented costs for which we cannot rely on State or Federal Government funding to support.
If we continue the current course taken in our deliberations on the FY 2021 budget, of refusing to stay the automatic raises (cost of living increases) we will be coming back to our citizens who are struggling through a pandemic with our hands out, inexplicably having funded an increase in salary for every employee of every department at City Hall. In the past several weeks I have consistently advocated that we must stay these raises, It is a misnomer to refer to this common-sense practice of level city funding at the Fiscal Year 2020 rates (where possible) as “cuts”. I am not proposing “cuts” in non-union employee salaries, I am proposing that there be no FY2021 raises. This is a reasonable, sensible, and fiscally responsible approach as we continue to serve an economically and socially diverse population.
It is our job, though at times uncomfortable, to face the fiscal realities on behalf of all of our citizens, our most vulnerable being the hardest hit in times such as these. I am joined by veteran City Councilor MacMaster in efforts to mitigate the inevitable impact on our citizens and city employees but have yet to gain support from the rest of the City Council,
I would encourage all residents and taxpayers of this City to reach out to the City Council to express your opinions on how we should address the FY2021 Budget.
Christoper Cinella
69 Cranmore Lane
(617) 917-4248

Jack Eccles
99 Essex Street, #10
(781) 913-0188

Maya Jamaleddine
10 Melrose Street
(781) 462-1960

Leila Migliorelli
25 Dartmouth Road
(781) 462-1425

Ward Councilor
John N. Tramontozzi
Ward 1
794 Franklin Street
(781) 662-6175

Jeffrey McNaught
Ward 2
94 Clifford Street
(781) 620-0442

Robb Stewart
Ward 3
92 Trenton Street
(781) 521-4913

Mark Garipay
Ward 4
71 Mooreland Road
(781) 665-0988

Shawn MacMaster
Ward 5
35 Brazil Street
(781) 462-1875

Jen Grigoraitis
Ward 6
419 Lebanon Street
(781) 462-1288

Cory Thomas
Ward 7
19 Linwood Avenue
(617) 957-4227
City Council Melrose Massachusetts Phone Numbers And Address That Represent all of us.Just remember. The best budget is the one you will stick with.

Re: Ask the Mayor!“Perfect storm”

Mom and Dad
Ted Kenney
John Tramontozzi.A “Perfect storm” of economic uncertainty threatens the Budget of the City of Melrose.
Recently the Massachusetts Municipal Association announced that “Communities are at the Center of Three Waves:”
1. The murder of George Floyd has catapulted this nation into a defining moment, with sweepings calls to address the systemic racism that persists in our society and economy;
2. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt our daily lives and businesses, and this deadly threat to public health is draining resources, straining families, and reshaping government services and operations;
3. The Massachusetts economy is battered by the Covid-19 emergency, and state and local governments face historically deep fiscal challenges and uncertainty that could last for years.
The citizens of our city have faced tremendous personal and financial burdens. These challenges have been met with a spirit of volunteerism, community investment, and activism. We have reached into our hearts and pockets to support one another. We have more challenges ahead as we address the Health economic security and social well-being of our diverse population of citizens
Many of our neighboring cities and towns have begun to face their budgetary challenges with deep cuts and, in some cases, immediate layoffs of municipal employees. The State is dealing with its own financial difficulties with deficits predicted to be in the area of 6-8 billion dollars, which means a certain drastic drop in reimbursed funds to the cities and towns.
I believe the impact of these uncharted times amid the coronavirus crisis and social adversity and reform are financially uncalculated. Members of the City Council and the Administration carry a responsibility not only to anticipate these financial burdens to our citizens but meet these challenges proactively. The city has, and will, be faced with unprecedented costs for which we cannot rely on State or Federal Government funding to support.
If we continue the current course taken in our deliberations on the FY 2021 budget, of refusing to stay the automatic raises (cost of living increases) we will be coming back to our citizens who are struggling through a pandemic with our hands out, inexplicably having funded an increase in salary for every employee of every department at City Hall. In the past several weeks I have consistently advocated that we must stay these raises, It is a misnomer to refer to this common-sense practice of level city funding at the Fiscal Year 2020 rates (where possible) as “cuts”. I am not proposing “cuts” in non-union employee salaries, I am proposing that there be no FY2021 raises. This is a reasonable, sensible, and fiscally responsible approach as we continue to serve an economically and socially diverse population.
It is our job, though at times uncomfortable, to face the fiscal realities on behalf of all of our citizens, our most vulnerable being the hardest hit in times such as these. I am joined by veteran City Councilor MacMaster in efforts to mitigate the inevitable impact on our citizens and city employees but have yet to gain support from the rest of the City Council,
I would encourage all residents and taxpayers of this City to reach out to the City Council to express your opinions on how we should address the FY2021 Budget.
Christoper Cinella
69 Cranmore Lane
(617) 917-4248

Jack Eccles
99 Essex Street, #10
(781) 913-0188

Maya Jamaleddine
10 Melrose Street
(781) 462-1960

Leila Migliorelli
25 Dartmouth Road
(781) 462-1425

Ward Councilor
John N. Tramontozzi
Ward 1
794 Franklin Street
(781) 662-6175

Jeffrey McNaught
Ward 2
94 Clifford Street
(781) 620-0442

Robb Stewart
Ward 3
92 Trenton Street
(781) 521-4913

Mark Garipay
Ward 4
71 Mooreland Road
(781) 665-0988

Shawn MacMaster
Ward 5
35 Brazil Street
(781) 462-1875

Jen Grigoraitis
Ward 6
419 Lebanon Street
(781) 462-1288

Cory Thomas
Ward 7
19 Linwood Avenue
(617) 957-4227
City Council Melrose Massachusetts Phone Numbers And Address That Represent all of us.Just remember. The best budget is the one you will stick with.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
Trusted, up-to-date information with AI from Watson.
Middlesex County
As of Mon, Jun 15, 2020, 4:57 PM EDT
Confirmed Cases23,227
+1.8%Since last week
Deaths1,763
+3%Since last week

Re: With Layoffs Mounting, Educators Protest Sweeping Public Education Cuts

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
Mom and Dad
Ted Kenney
John Tramontozzi.A “Perfect storm” of economic uncertainty threatens the Budget of the City of Melrose.
Recently the Massachusetts Municipal Association announced that “Communities are at the Center of Three Waves:”
1. The murder of George Floyd has catapulted this nation into a defining moment, with sweepings calls to address the systemic racism that persists in our society and economy;
2. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt our daily lives and businesses, and this deadly threat to public health is draining resources, straining families, and reshaping government services and operations;
3. The Massachusetts economy is battered by the Covid-19 emergency, and state and local governments face historically deep fiscal challenges and uncertainty that could last for years.
The citizens of our city have faced tremendous personal and financial burdens. These challenges have been met with a spirit of volunteerism, community investment, and activism. We have reached into our hearts and pockets to support one another. We have more challenges ahead as we address the Health economic security and social well-being of our diverse population of citizens
Many of our neighboring cities and towns have begun to face their budgetary challenges with deep cuts and, in some cases, immediate layoffs of municipal employees. The State is dealing with its own financial difficulties with deficits predicted to be in the area of 6-8 billion dollars, which means a certain drastic drop in reimbursed funds to the cities and towns.
I believe the impact of these uncharted times amid the coronavirus crisis and social adversity and reform are financially uncalculated. Members of the City Council and the Administration carry a responsibility not only to anticipate these financial burdens to our citizens but meet these challenges proactively. The city has, and will, be faced with unprecedented costs for which we cannot rely on State or Federal Government funding to support.
If we continue the current course taken in our deliberations on the FY 2021 budget, of refusing to stay the automatic raises (cost of living increases) we will be coming back to our citizens who are struggling through a pandemic with our hands out, inexplicably having funded an increase in salary for every employee of every department at City Hall. In the past several weeks I have consistently advocated that we must stay these raises, It is a misnomer to refer to this common-sense practice of level city funding at the Fiscal Year 2020 rates (where possible) as “cuts”. I am not proposing “cuts” in non-union employee salaries, I am proposing that there be no FY2021 raises. This is a reasonable, sensible, and fiscally responsible approach as we continue to serve an economically and socially diverse population.
It is our job, though at times uncomfortable, to face the fiscal realities on behalf of all of our citizens, our most vulnerable being the hardest hit in times such as these. I am joined by veteran City Councilor MacMaster in efforts to mitigate the inevitable impact on our citizens and city employees but have yet to gain support from the rest of the City Council,
I would encourage all residents and taxpayers of this City to reach out to the City Council to express your opinions on how we should address the FY2021 Budget.
Christoper Cinella
69 Cranmore Lane
(617) 917-4248

Jack Eccles
99 Essex Street, #10
(781) 913-0188

Maya Jamaleddine
10 Melrose Street
(781) 462-1960

Leila Migliorelli
25 Dartmouth Road
(781) 462-1425

Ward Councilor
John N. Tramontozzi
Ward 1
794 Franklin Street
(781) 662-6175

Jeffrey McNaught
Ward 2
94 Clifford Street
(781) 620-0442

Robb Stewart
Ward 3
92 Trenton Street
(781) 521-4913

Mark Garipay
Ward 4
71 Mooreland Road
(781) 665-0988

Shawn MacMaster
Ward 5
35 Brazil Street
(781) 462-1875

Jen Grigoraitis
Ward 6
419 Lebanon Street
(781) 462-1288

Cory Thomas
Ward 7
19 Linwood Avenue
(617) 957-4227
City Council Melrose Massachusetts Phone Numbers And Address That Represent all of us.Just remember. The best budget is the one you will stick with.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
Trusted, up-to-date information with AI from Watson.
Middlesex County
As of Mon, Jun 15, 2020, 4:57 PM EDT
Confirmed Cases23,227
+1.8%Since last week
Deaths1,763
+3%Since last week
BROOKLINE (CBS) – As layoff notices go out across the state, educators rallied to save their jobs with a caravan through the streets of Brookline Monday. The procession, which involved an estimated 500 vehicles, started at Larz Anderson Park and ended at Brookline High — where hundreds protested sweeping education cuts.

“There are some districts that are cutting art, gym, music, technology, computers, library those are some of the most important subjects,” said Sarah Blout Rosenberg, a Cambridge teacher.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) says hundreds of educators, across more than 50 school districts, have been pink slipped – they fear hundreds more are at risk. On Monday alone, educators in Medford, Newton and Norfolk were notified of a reduction in force. Superintendents are blaming the budget cuts on the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis.

Teachers rally to save jobs at Brookline High School (WBZ-TV)

“Cuts at this level are going to be devastating to public education, particularly in communities of color,” said MTA President Merrie Najimy. “We need to balance the budget on the backs of the millionaires and billionaires and not on the backs of the people.”

In Brookline, Graciela Mohamedi is one of 360 educators who were laid off last month. But after public push-back, the district has since re-hired more than 300 school employees. Mohamedi was recalled last week, only to be laid off again. In an email, Brookline school officials told her they made a mistake.

“Our educators and our students are not cogs on a wheel. And we’ve been treated that way for decades. We’re constantly asked to sacrifice for the sake of the kids. Most of us have master’s degrees and have to work two jobs,” Mohamedi said. “It’s impossible to have school exist when so many educators are being laid off. And there is so much work that needs to be done in order to ensure that every child is educated in an equitable way. There wasn’t enough manpower in the schools before COVID hit. Now, we need more teachers, not less.”

In a statement to WBZ-TV, Brookline’s Superintendent said, “I am disappointed that in our rush to rescind the layoff notices as quickly as possible, the school district sent incorrect letters to a small number of staff members on Friday. Working with principals, we quickly identified these errors and notified affected staff on the same day. We have assured these staff that the errors will be cleared up early this week.”

According to the MTA, June 15th is the required deadline for school districts to notify teachers, in their first three years of service, that their contracts will not be renewed. Since the state doesn’t collect this type of data, union leaders will track the numbers. But as layoff deadlines loom for teachers’ aides and other support staff, the full scope of the fallout is still unknown.

Re: With Layoffs Mounting, Educators Protest Sweeping Public Education Cuts

Taxpayers need unobstructed view .“Visual Budget” figures to the actual budgets.

Re: Council Calls On Mayor To Apologize For 'Political Grandstanding'

Visual Budget
Taxpayers need unobstructed view .“Visual Budget” figures to the actual budgets.
Council Calls On Mayor To Apologize For 'Political Grandstanding'
A bitter City Council meeting ended with no vote — and stunning criticism directed the mayor's way — after recording space ran out (again.)
By Mike Carraggi, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Jun 16, 2020 11:51 am ET
|
Updated Jun 16, 2020 2:29 pm ET
At issue Monday night was the mayor's request to shift money earmarked for police to fund implicit bias training.
At issue Monday night was the mayor's request to shift money earmarked for police to fund implicit bias training. (Mike Carraggi/Patch)

MELROSE, MA — Someone had to step in. In the end, it was the "technology gods."

For the second time in a month, the City Council had to pull the plug on a virtual meeting after running out of recording space. Only this time, it appeared to be to the benefit of all involved after fed-up members of the fractured council issued searing rebukes of Mayor Paul Brodeur. They called on him apologize for "political grandstanding," saying it resulted in an unfair situation that has divided the city.

The council never got to vote whether to approve nearly $200,000 in free cash to the police department — an appropriation that includes $26,000 for weapons upgrades that the mayor at the last moment last week requested be redirected to fund citywide implicit bias training.

But the council did appear to put the pressure back on Brodeur to completely reimagine what training might look like and how it could be funded. While it's still not known whether Melrose police will get their new guns or how bias training might be funded, one thing was clear: Many councilors did not appreciate what they perceived as being made the targets of community-wide ire.

At issue was a last-minute request before Thursday's Appropriations Committee meeting asking councilors to redirect the funding. The memo, which was sent around 1 p.m., was not seen by many councilors until some were getting out of work and sitting down for the meeting.

"Sending us information at the 11th hour, sending no information at other times, it's become your signature move with this City Council," Councilor Jeff McNaught told Brodeur, who was not in the meeting.

McNaught wasn't alone in that sentiment. Councilors said they were caught flat-footed heading into Thursday's meeting. What followed that night was an intense discussion that resulted in an 8-3 vote to recommend the police appropriation as is — with the guns and without the training — and a firestorm of criticism that walloped the mostly brand new council.

The councilors were meeting again Monday to decide whether to finalize their vote. But before that could happen, emotions ran high.

Councilor Chris Cinella floated the idea of cutting $250,000 from the city's operating budget — which was also on the agenda — and having the administration use that money for bias training. The motion was eventually withdrawn for a number of reasons, including a lack of clarity on if it was even legal, but the floodgates were opened.

Cinella was among the Councilors who felt Brodeur's $26,000 offering was not a meaningful investment. He was also frustrated at what he said was Brodeur's sudden willingness to fund bias training after Cinella said he was working on it with him early last week, only to be cut out of the conversation. Police Chief Mike Lyle brought bias training up as early as January, and Brodeur showed no interest until right before Thursday's meeting, Cinella said.

Brodeur was accused by councilors of working with a select few and not including the rest of them, leading to Thursday's meeting.

Councilor Leila Migliorelli, one of the three councilors who voted against appropriating the police money last week, shied away from criticizing Brodeur and instead asked why a late memo caused some councilors to say things that some in the community found hurtful, calling the blame game "a little bit ridiculous."

"It seems like the anger and fury that the Councilors are sharing tonight are in regards to the mayor's memo and his quick turnaround," she said, parrying implications that she got cut in on early discussions with the mayor that others weren't privy to. Migliorelli said she was proactive in speaking to the administration about the training and questioned why others may not have been. She said she had the same information Cinella had.

McNaught had among the sharpest criticisms of Brodeur, who several councilors painted as a career politician.

"I think we have all been put in a horrible position by him," the Ward 2 councilor said. He added, "It was a desperate attempt at political gain."

McNaught has made his desire for implicit bias training clear, going as far as suggesting the city dedicate a department to such issues. He said the $26,000 was an "insult."

"The situation we're in right now is your fault," he said.

McNaught called on Brodeur to apologize to the council and the community, and he wasn't alone.

"I think it's time, Mr. Mayor, you owe this city an apology for the way this has turned out," City Councilor Mark Garipay said. He also said the administration's practice of sending late or no information "must stop."

>>>Heated Melrose Conversation Just Getting Started

The Councilors, many of whom were clearly smarting from the community backlash following Thursday's vote, didn't get a chance to vote again on the issue.

Disk space on the virtual recording had run out again, and councilors had to rush to finish a meeting that had veered off track and become an airing of grievances.

"It looks like the technology gods are striking down on us again," McNaught quipped, more than three hours after the evening began.

At least one of the hours was full of impassioned public comment. Many who spoke both supported local police and highlighted the need for training. Several of those who spoke identified themselves as people of color.

Some lamented what they called a "false dichotomy" between choosing police weapons or implicit bias training. While they were accurate — there is nothing keeping the administration from requesting the money from a number of other items — Brodeur acknowledged in his memo it would be "misguided" to fund the gun upgrade given the current national climate.

As one commenter said, once the issue hit the council, it became a choice between the two.

"Let's call this what it is," Jason Chen said. "It's bad timing."

Police had been seeking the money to upgrade from their 14-year-old .40-caliber firearms to what Chief Mike Lyle called more accurate, cost-efficient 9mm guns. The last time the guns were upgraded was to replace 15-year-old firearms.

The administration does not yet have a plan for who would provide the bias training or how much it would cost — something councilors harped on Monday night. Brodeur said the $26,000 could go to the Department of Human Resources, which would find an outside vendor.

Some of the public expressed disappointment at what they said was "inflammatory" language on Thursday from councilors.

"What filled me most with despair was the tone that was set with [Thursday's] meeting," Bonnie Clapp said. Former City Councilor Manisha Bewtra said the language was racially coded, sexist and exclusionary.

Councilor Shawn MacMaster was singled out for how he defended the police in Thursday's discussion. He apologized Monday.

"We are white men in a privileged society," he said. "I regret the impact of [my] words, of how questions were asked and interpreted."

MacMaster said the topic blindsided the council, saying what "we have witnessed over the past few days in this city is a failure of leadership" and accusing Brodeur of purposefully causing division in a political stunt to satisfy part of the community.

Councilor Maya Jamaleddine, who along with Migliorelli and City Council President Jen Grigoraitis, voted against appropriating the free cash Thursday, said the council had failed its residents and used MacMaster's realization that his words may have hurt people of color as an example of why implicit bias training is so important.

"Is this how we listen to them? By buying guns?" Jamaleddine asked. "We do need guns, but we can wait on it. What we need the most right now is to show them we are willing to open the door and listen to them. What we need right now is [to say] we are sorry we didn't hear you all these years because this topic was never opened by any City Councilors before."

Where the council goes from here is unclear. They will meet again to resume the meeting, possibly with the unforeseen benefit of having more communication from Brodeur.

Re: Council Calls On Mayor To Apologize For 'Political Grandstanding'

China’s capital canceled flights and shut schools as a new coronavirus outbreak raised fears of a broader contagion. The city’s experience points to what other countries including the United States face as they reopen their economies.

Re: Council Calls On Mayor To Apologize For 'Political Grandstanding'

What a surprise!!!! I wonder how long it will be before bozo admits it.

Re: City Council denied the mayor's request to reallocate money meant to replace old police firearm

The Melrose police will be getting new firearms despite a late request to reallocate money to fund implicit bias training. (Mike Carraggi/Patch)

MELROSE, MA — The city got its first real taste of what the "defunding the police" conversation might look like on a local level.

A fired-up City Council voted Thursday night to deny Mayor Paul Brodeur's request to reallocate $26,000 earmarked for the replacement of 14-year-old police firearms in favor of funding citywide implicit bias training.

The vote was 8-3 in favor of appropriating $195,714.85 in free cash to the police, which included money for the firearms. Councilors Jen Grigoraitis, Leila Migliorelli and Maya Jamaleddine voted against it.

The money had been included in the appropriation only 10 days prior at the request of Brodeur's office to replace the force's .40-caliber firearms with 9mm firearms.

Police Chief Mike Lyle told the City Council the new firearms are much more accurate and, between cheaper ammunition and fewer repairs, would save money over the long term.

The money would have gone to the Department of Human Resources to contract an outside vendor that would "provide the city with training, policy review or recruitment," according to a memo Brodeur sent earlier in the day to city councilors and obtained by Patch.

In the memo, the mayor cited the death of George Floyd and national conversation of defunding the police — which is largely a movement to reallocate police funds to other services to fundamentally change policing.

"Investing in police firearms right now while the City is in the midst of determining how to respond meaningfully to the ongoing systemic barriers Black people and other people of color face would be misguided," the memo reads. "This is not and must not be interpreted as a criticism of our police officers."

To which Councilor Jeff McNaught asked: "How else should we take it?"

>>>Defunding The Police: What It Might Look Like In MA

Brodeur told Patch after the vote that he saw silver linings in defeat: An important conversation has been started, and he saw an appetite among councilors for a real financial investment in solving the issue.

"I was trying to find an opportunity to address a very serious situation regarding racism and an expressed need by everyone that I heard from in the community that implicit bias training needs to be a priority," Brodeur said. "And that's absolutely correct."

Councilors questioned the timing of the request. Councilor Shawn MacMaster said Floyd had died a week before the funds were initially allocated to the firearm replacement. Thursday's request came 10 days later.

"The mayor's memo that was sent to us today does not adequately explain what changed between June 1 and today," MacMaster said.

Brodeur said the free cash conversation is always evolving, and it was not a straight line from buying the guns to putting the purchase off.

MacMaster, who said he supports implicit bias training, was unhappy with where the money was coming from.

"Does anyone really believe that the administration can't find $26,000 anywhere else within the $950,000 of free cash appropriations before us this evening?" he asked.

Brodeur said the data indicated there is a need for new guns, but not an urgent enough one that it couldn't wait a year. The department's previous firearm upgrade replaced 15-year-old weapons.

"If folks choose to believe that it was aimed at the police — probably by choice of words — they're wrong," Brodeur said.

The mayor stressed it was his decision to push for the reallocation, not the chief's. The administration will now try to find money elsewhere for the training.

"The urgency of getting the ball rolling, of making sure that we have some resources, to put a plan in action, once we are thoughtful about what we really need, what should a program really look like," Brodeur said.

Migliorelli said she regrets not having pushed for allocating the funds when Lyle recently presented the department's budget to the City Council. Such training was listed under future considerations, but recent events having changed things, she said.

Migliorelli noted the City Council doesn't get to decide where the money comes from, but the need for bias training was too great to pass up on what the mayor offered. The will of her constituents, she said, was for the training.

"I've made that perfectly clear that we need a greater investment," Migliorelli said. "This was the proposal that was put in front of me."

Councilor Jamaleddine also said the Council shares "the utmost respect and appreciation for the police department."

Re: City Council denied the mayor's request to reallocate money meant to replace old police firearm

"The mayor cited the death of George Floyd and national conversation of defunding the police — which is largely a movement to reallocate police funds to other services to fundamentally change policing."

What kind of gun was used in the murder of Mr. Floyd? Oh, wait - no gun was used. The posturing and pandering by the Mayor leaves a really sour taste.

Re: Paul Brodeur Mayor of Melrose is at Ell POND

Thx to the residents who let me know that the Ell Pond bridge near the DCR pool needs repairs. Melrose DPW has taped it off and will fix it next week. The nearby turtle seems unconcerned!This is on facebook good photos.

Re:the Brazil Street sewage disaster.

Melrose Tension Has Familiar Stench To It
Notebook: Melrose is dealing with new crises, but one still lingers. Saturday was the year anniversary of the Brazil Street sewage disaster.
By Mike Carraggi, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Jun 21, 2020 11:23 pm ET
|
Updated Jun 22, 2020 12:28 pm ET
Saturday was the one-year anniversary of the Brazil Street sewage disaster.
Saturday was the one-year anniversary of the Brazil Street sewage disaster. (Mike Carraggi/Patch)

MELROSE, MA — It's the weekend. So let's shake the reporter's notebook and see what comes out.

A somber anniversary

Direct criticisms from the City Council to the mayor. Bickering councilors tossing accusations at one another. Irate residents demanding accountability from those they elected.

It's not hard to find some comparisons between the current discussion on re-routing police funding for bias training and the 2019 Brazil Street catastrophe.

Substantively, of course, the two couldn't be more different. But seeing such a bitterly divided City Hall drums up memories from the infamous sewage spew, of which Saturday marked the one-year anniversary.

What began as unimaginable foulness exploding into four homes right off Washington Street turned into a public relations nightmare Melrose was never able to wake from. The city came under a firestorm of criticism for being reactive, having half-measured, tone-deaf responses and poor communication.

Much like now, it was a perfect storm of circumstances and timing. But the friction among and ire toward city officials was in many ways worse.

Public opinion during Brazil Street appeared to be uniformly against the city — unlike the divisiveness of today — and it never got better during the lengthy, messy fallout. Television news cameras and apoplectic residents filled the City Hall on more than one occasion.

Now, most of the discourse is digital and contained within city limits.

Mayor Paul Brodeur, who like other mayoral candidates was critical of the way the previous administration responded to the situation, is contending with a pandemic and national reckoning on race and police brutality. But the impact of last year's crisis still lingers.

Of the four homes affected, only two house the same occupants it did the morning of June 20, 2019, Brazil Street resident and Ward 5 Councilor Shawn MacMaster said when asked by Patch. One of the homes remains empty. A monumental investment in the city's ancient sewage infrastructure is as vital as ever.

The city has moved on to new crises. But there is still some cleaning up to do on Brazil Street.

Mending fences

City Councilors are only a quarter of the way through their terms, but already gaps in communication, misunderstandings and outright disagreements have caused fissures among even those friendly with each other — not to mention between many of themselves and the mayor.

While it has been stunning to see how direct some of the barbs have been, the guess here is cooler heads will eventually prevail and working relationships be mended. Or at least, they better.

Brodeur didn't leave Beacon Hill for one term as mayor, and there's not going to be another nine new councilors after the next election. The legislative and executive branches of the city government have to work together to get things done over the long term.

Brodeur is not going to take things personally. If and when a compromise on this free cash situation is found, both sides will move on to the next thing. That's how this works.

The more lasting impact may be on reputations, which isn't lost on anyone involved. In a relatively small community, being branded anti-cop or racist is especially painful. The binary reaction may be unfair, but it's the world we live in right now.

The sticking point won't be the bias training funding; It'll be the police weapons upgrade. Which side will give in on that? There are still some bridges to cross.

Our prediction is both sides, still smarting over the reaction from a messy showing last week, extend some olive branches before the next Council meeting ends.

What we have here is: A failure to communicate?

A developing criticism toward Brodeur's administration is poor communication.

Brodeur has been far more digitally savvy than his predecessors with frequent Twitter updates, text messages and an almost nightly YouTube update (though don't sleep on Mayor Gail Infurna's popular blog updates!) But there's a difference between communicating your message and engaging in communication.

Patch has heard from a good many people — city officials (including Brodeur's supporters,) business owners, residents — who over the course of months have expressed frustration at the administration's response time, if a response comes at all.

Brodeur campaigned on communication and transparency. In a way, he's delivered. But while the administration is proficient issuing press releases and Facebook announcements, it opens itself to unnecessary criticism by providing last-second, late or no information.

This and that

Related to all the above: It's going to be interesting to see how an effort on getting more information about the city's Emergency Fund plays out. The order is being put forth by Councilors Shawn MacMaster and Jeff McNaught, who offered some of the most biting criticism of the administration last week. Part of the order asks for details on spending for the three months after the coronavirus really took hold on the city. One related story from this week is the city putting in for nearly a half-million dollars in COVID-19 spending reimbursements ... Cripes, can someone start a GoFundMe for a digital recorder for these city meetings? Two times in a month important deliberations were cut short — and yes, it's the right decision, but still a bit silly to consider ... It's still impressive to think the city handed out five masks to every household in Melrose. Health Director Ruth Clay, who took a beating during the aforementioned Brazil Street fiasco, should get credit for being at the forefront of the coronavirus response for Melrose and Wakefield ... It's heartening to finally see progress at the old Coffee, Tea & Me building and the soon-to-be Cafe Nero. But a little farther down the street, the Caruso's situation remains a downright embarrassment for Melrose and everyone involved with that building. The graffiti on it now isn't exactly the local street art many were hoping for ... Sad to see Gabriella's go — they may have sneakily had the best grab-and-go slices in town — but wait until you try Tenóch ... Nom-nom's of the week: The peach cobbler from Buckalew's, graham central station ice cream from Kennedy's, fried clam bellies from Liberty Bell and more muffins from Jitters. (Do we need to mention our daily Dunkin'?) And can we sneak in the maple dijon chicken wrap from Cibo, just over the line in Wakefield?

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