Mayor, Councillor in verbal flare-up
Things got a bit testy Monday night at city hall as Councillor Rosemary Miller criticized Mayor Carlo DeMaria’s proposal to establish a linkage fee in Everett. Miller said she opposes the new fee because it’s just another tax and the business community is over-burdened enough with a high tax rate. The Councillor then went a bit too far when she implied that the mayor doesn’t understand the financial pressure that struggling local businesses are under. She snidely quipped: “You have four businesses and a salary”. That flip remark appeared to get under Mayor DeMaria’s skin. He quickly retorted: “I am a businessman … I have worked very hard to have four businesses”, adding that he’s been working since he was a youth and he does understand – first hand – the concerns and pressures of small business people. When Miller tried to verbally intrude as the mayor was speaking, Council President D.J. Napolitano intervened, urging Miller and DeMaria “to not make it personal”. The mayor replied directly to Miller: “You made it personal”.
City to consider possible “ethanol train” fee
Councillor Wayne Matewsky, who has been in the lead on the “ethanol train” issue, this week called for the administration’s assistance in drafting legislation to impose some kind of “dangerous material fee” – if legally possible – on Global Oil Company for running its fuel-filled trains through the city. At Monday night’s council session, Matewsky asked Mayor Carlo DeMaria for his help, and the chief executive said he would have his staff look into the feasibility of the “fee” idea.
School finance panel nears reality
Without any discussion or debate, the common council Monday night voted unanimously in favor of creating a “School Finance Review Commission”. Since the aldermen previously had okayed the ordinance proposal, it becomes law with the expected signature of the mayor.
Councillors propose two new memorial squares
The common council this week called for the dedication of two more memorial squares in the city to honor the military service of a pair of localites. Councillor Sergio Cornelio wants the corner of Mansfield Street and Argyle Street to be named after John Doherty, a U.S. Army veteran, and Councillors Joe King and Jason Marcus want World War II and Korean War veteran James Brickley to be honored in a similar fashion at a site to be selected by veterans’ services director Joe Hickey. Both proposals have been funneled to Hickey for his required review and recommendation.
Marcus pushes for special needs work program
Councillor Jason Marcus has asked the mayor to create a work program for young adults with special needs. At this week’s common council meeting, Mayor Carlo DeMaria told the Ward Two councilman that he believes the proposal has merit. “It’s something we should do,” said the mayor, who added that for years athletic director and football coach John DiBiaso has informally done some great things with special needs kids, though those under his tutelage have not received any pay. The mayor told Marcus that he’s willing to seriously consider his proposal because he thinks he can find the money for it within the city budget.
Hicks calls for local vocational training option
Councillor Catherine Tomassi Hicks this week said the city of Everett should be looking to reinstate some kind of vocational training program for local youths who are not college material and need a skill. Many years ago, Everett had its own trade school, and Hicks said she believes that such specialized training in the trades is an important option that the city should be offering nowadays. Mayor Carlo DeMaria, at Monday night’s council session, said it’s his opinion that “there is support in the city for that concept”.