THE EVERETT ADVOCATE–Friday, November 1, 2019 Page 11 City Council still leery about small cell antennas By Christopher Roberson T he City Council has continued to exercise caution as to whether or not Extenet, LLC will be permitted to install a series of small cell antennas on telephone poles throughout the city. The request was initially presented to the council during the September 23 meeting before being referred to the Committee of the Whole. During its October 28 meeting, the council voted to postpone the matter for two more weeks as City Solicitor Colleen Mejia needed additional time to review Extenet’s proposal. Prior to voting, Councillor-at-Large Wayne Matewsky expressed concerns about antennas being added to the existing equipment. “We have to be mindful that you can only put so much on a pole,” he said. “There’s things the size of small refrigerators on these poles.” However, Rosanna Ferrante, representing Extenet, said the company would need approval from National Grid before the antennas could be installed. Student Opportunity Act In other news, State Senator Sal DiDomenico was pleased to report that the $1.5 billion Student Opportunity Act was passed by the House of Representatives following approval PATHWAYS | FROM PAGE 10 schools in Massachusetts that have Innovation Pathways. “Innovation Pathways are designed to engage students who are trying to discover what the next steps in their future careers are and help them succeed through college-level courses and internships,” said Governor Charlie Baker in a written statement. “We are proud to continue investing in these important programs and appreciate American Student Assistance’s support with this generous award, and are pleased that high schools across the Commonwealth will be able to give students better insight into the choices available to them.” Since its launch nearly three years ago, Innovation Pathways has provided students with “experience in a specific high-demand industry through coursework and internships at local employers.” In addition to IT and business and finance, the program also specializes in teachfrom the Senate last month. “We’re all in agreement, we’re all in alignment,” he said, adding that Everett is expected to receive at least $19 million, which will be doled out incrementally over the next seven fiscal years. “The $19 million figure is very conservative.” DiDomenico is also confident that the funding will remain intact throughout the coming years. “Even if the economy shifts a little bit and enrollment shifts a little bit, these numbers will remain very strong for Everett.” The bill is now before Governor Charlie Baker. Although the bill received overwhelming support in the Legislature, DiDomenico said Baker has been reluctant about signing it into law. “He is a fiscally conservative governor, he has reservations about how it’s going to be funded,” said DiDomenico. In the event that Baker vetoes the bill, DiDomenico said the Legislature is prepared to override the governor’s veto. Therefore, he said he expects the Student Opportunity Act to be signed into law by Thanksgiving. Ward 1 Councillor Fred Capone praised DiDomenico for his persistence in getting the bill passed. “You have worked very hard from the very beginning and pushed it all the way through,” he said. ing students about environmental and life sciences, and manufacturing as well as health care and social assistance. “When students have a sense of purpose, they become more interested and engaged in their studies, able to easily see how it all fits into their future,” said Secretary of Education James Peyser. “As more students gain skills and knowledge in different fields of study, they will have a better sense of what courses to pursue in college or additional career training, increasing the likelihood of their success.” Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Michael Kennealy also expressed support for Innovation Pathways. “Massachusetts is home to one of the world’s leading innovation economies, and programs like Innovation Pathways make that critical connection between employers and promising talent, setting the stage for rewarding careers that help propel our economy and Commonwealth forward,” he said.
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