Pietrantonio is the mayor’s choice for city service post

At one of last week’s budget conferences, Mayor Carlo DeMaria publicly disclosed that he’s appointing Peter Pietrantonio as the permanent new city services director. Pietrantonio has been serving as “acting” director for the past several months. The mayor said he’ll be submitting the paperwork for the formal, official appointment to the city council shortly.

Mayor urged to cut back on towing for street sweeping

Ald. Robert Van Campen has called upon the mayor to suspend the street sweeping tow program on Everett’s secondary streets “because the people of the city need a reprieve”. The Ward Five alderman said compliance with the sweeping program “is pretty good, so there’s not much of a need for towing in the residen-tial neighborhoods”. Van Campen said he has no problem with continuing the towing of violators on the main thoroughfares.

Proposals strive to make local government more “transparent”

Look for the city’s “accounts payables” and the city payroll to end up on Everett’s website in the near future as a result of a resolution co-sponsored by Councillors Daniel Napolitano and David Rodrigues. It’s part of a move to make the local city government more transparent. Also a possibility is a proposal offered jointly by Ald. Millie Cardello and Councillors Catherine Hicks and Rosemary Miller that seeks to have ECTV broadcast all board of appeals and planning board meetings.

Aldermen seek reduction in water meter reading fee

Some members of the board of aldermen think it’s out-of-line for the city to hit local residents, who are selling their home, with a $100 fee for a final water meter reading so they can pass papers. Ald. Sal Sachetta says it’s outrageous” and Ald. Robert Van Campen said “one hundred dollars does seem to be excessive”. On a voice vote, the board earlier this week passed a motion calling upon the city services commission, which established the $100 fee, to reduce the fee.

Is a consultant needed for office space “consolidation” plan?

A battle may be brewing over the administration’s inclusion of $100,000 in the capital improvement budget for a “study” by consultants to come up with a plan to consolidate offices at city hall in order to free up space that, in turn, can be rented out. Ald. Chuck DiPerri earlier this week voiced his opposition to the hiring of a high-priced consultant for the project, especially during these difficult economic times. The showdown on the issue will come in the near future when the mayor formally asks the city council to actually fund the project.

City’s “free cash” dwindling

During Tuesday night’s board of aldermen meeting, mayoral chief of staff Melissa Murphy disclosed that with the completion of the usual “end-of-year” financial transactions, the city’s “free cash” account – which until recently had been up to $3.5-million – will be reduced to just under $1.4-million. But in the fall, it’s expected that a new infusion of “free cash” for the city will be certified by the state.

More memorial square dedications on the horizon

Two new memorial squares have been authorized by the city council and approved by the veterans’ services director. “Anthony Rocco Square” will be established at the intersection of Lewis and Second Street, while “Dominic Nicolo Square” will be at the corner of Birch and Clarence Street. In addition, the alder-men this week, at the urging of Ald. Pres. Joe McGonagle and Councillor Catherine Hicks, asked that a square be dedicated in honor of George Pearson in the vicinity of Main Street and Baldwin Avenue. This request was referred to veterans’ ser-vices director Joe Hickey for his required review and recommendation.

Possibility of summer lunches in the parks for seniors being explored

The city council’s committee on public service will soon be conferring with local human services director Carolyn Lightburn about the “viability” of possibly providing seniors with lunches in the local parks during the summer months. Ald. Millie Cardello said the city used to do this years ago, and she – along with Councillors Catherine Hicks and Rosemary Miller – want to get it going again. Cardello   has asked that a representative of the Mystic Valley Elder Services agency attend this conference when it is held in the near future.