Page 2 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 14, 2020 City Council puts off vote on housing trust appointments By Barbara Taormina T he City Council postponed a scheduled vote on two appointments to the board of the city’s Aff ordable Housing Trust Fund. The Personnel and Appointments Committee voted last week to recommend that the full council approve Mayor Gary Christenson’s appointments of Brian Slater and Angie Liou to the Housing Trust Fund board. Councillors did, however, have questions about the appointments. Slater lives in Melrose and Liou is a resident of Boston, and according to the city’s municipal code, anyone appointed to a board or commission must be a Malden resident. Exceptions to the residency requirement include those employed before 1999, school teachers, non-clerical employees of the Planning Board, the physician appointed to the Board of Health and people appointed by the mayor and the council “who have been designated to serve by virtue of their employment with the city.” The assistant city solicitor, who was at last week’s personnel committee meeting, said the city’s ordinance on appointments is ambiguous, and suggested committee members move forward with the appointments while the legal department reviews questions and prepares an opinion. “We voted unanimously to approve their appointments, but subsequent questions have come up,” said Personnel Committee Chair Ward 1 Councillor Peg Crowe this week. Crowe asked the council to table their vote on the appointments until more answers are available. Slater and Liou have extensive experience with aff ordable housing. Slater, a vice president of East Boston Savings Bank who had a hand in developing Forestdale Park, serves as the treasurer for Housing Families. Liou is the executive director of the Asian Community Development Corporation, which preserves and develops affordable housing primarily for members of the Greater Boston Asian community, including residents of Malden. Over the past week, a lot of criticism of the appointments of Slater and Liou has been buzzing through the city. Some feel the appointments violate an ordinance that is anything but ambiguous. Others question why the city would appoint nonresidents to oversee a fund that will be partially supported by Malden taxpayers via the city’s Community Preservation fund. An online poll posted on Malden (MA) Politics asked if Malden should allow nonresidents to serve on Malden Boards and Commission. Among those who responded, 112 said no, 21 said it depends and six people said yes. City searches for the deed to Trafton Park By Barbara Taormina A $400,000 state grant for improvements to Trafton Park is on hold while the city searches for proof that the city owns the land. Assistant City Solicitor Ken dine drink gather enjo First Breakaway Appearance! Friday, February 14 at 9 PM WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE Rosetti was at this week’s City Council meeting with an update on the search that has involved the city’s engineer, treasurer and assessor as well as the legal department. Rosetti explained that the state Executive Offi ce of Energy and Enviy Saturday, February 15 at 9 PM Celebrate Valentine's Day with WILDFIRE The Guns & Roses Experience! Dance the Night Away! Friday, February 21 at 9 PM BRANDY Saturday, February 22 at 9 PM ULTIMATE ALDEAN EXPERIENCE ronmental Aff airs (EEA), which awarded the grant to the Malden Redevelopment Authority (MRA), requires the city to provide documentation that Malden has full ownership of the park. Rosetti said he and City Solicitor Kathryn Fallon have been digging through city records that go back to the 1800s in search of the city’s title to Trafton Park. “We have literally gone into the archives at the library to look at old assessment records, old valuation lists, old street lists to the point where our hands are literally caked with the dust and dirt of reviewing these volumes,” Rosetti told councillors. The legal department has also hired a title examiner to research the title at the Registry of Deeds. The examiner is also researching probate fi les to see if claims could be made by owners of abutting parcels. According to Rosetti, Fallon has put together a confi rmatory Friday, February 28 at 9 PM VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE with Danny McCarthy Trio Friday, March 6 at 7 PM RUSSO ON THE ROAD Comedy Show/Dinner/Live Band Featuring Dan Crohn Paul D'Angelo * Joe Espi 221 Newbury Street, Danvers For Tickets call (978) 774-7270 or www.breakawaydanvers.com Leap Year Show! • Family Dentistry • Crowns • Bridges • Veneers/Lumineers • Dental Implants • All on 4 Dental Implants • Emergency Dentist • Kid Friendly Dentist • Root Canals • Dentures • Invisalign Braces • Snap On Smile • Teeth Whitening We are the smile care experts for your entire family Nation's #1 Jason Aldean Tribute Saturday, February 29 at 9 PM BACK TO THE 80'S deed based on existing records. “The fi nal puzzle piece that we need to get our hands on is the title reference signifying the recording that put the land in the city’s hands,” said Rosetti, adding that the ducks are getting in order but there is one piece that’s still outstanding. Councillor-at-Large Stephen Winslow, who along with Ward 6 Councillor David Camell worked with residents to develop the Trafton Park master plan, stressed there is a $400,000 on the line. “If we can’t find the piece of the puzzle, can the city claim the land by adverse possession?” asked Winslow, adding that the city has been using the land as a park for as long as anyone can remember. Adverse possession allows a person or entity that doesn’t have legal title to property to acquire ownership based on continuous use and occupation of the land. Rosetti said there are other options the city could consider, but he warned that they would take time. MRA Community Development Director Alex Pratt has been updating EEA on the city’s title search. Although the state will eventually need certifi cation of ownership, Pratt said it’s possible that the design phase of the park project will be able to move forward if the city has a time frame for whatever resolution on the title that it intends to pursue. The $400,000 grant will cover the design and construction of phase 1 improvements to the park, which include expanding play areas, upgrading the ballfi eld and improving accessibility. “The state has shown a willingness to work with us,” said Pratt, adding that EEA wants to see the project succeed. “They know we own the park, we know we own the park; we’re just trying to fi nd the piece of paper that says what everyone knows,” said Pratt. 505 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 Tel: 617-387-1120 www.gkdental.com In House Dental Plan for $399 (Cleanings, X-Rays, Exams twice a year and 20% OFF Dental work) Schedule your FREE Consultations today
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