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TRADES WELCOME! $14,500 781-321-8841 1236 Eastern Ave • Malden EddiesAutotech.com We Pay Cash For Your Vehicle! dine drink gather TONIGHT Friday, January 3 at 9 PM FREDDIE G enjo y Saturday, January 4 at 7 PM DOS MELONS THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – Friday, January 3, 2020 TIME FLIES | FROM PAGE 3 Before the vote was taken, Assistant Superintendent of Business Affairs Charles Obremski said $4.5 million was earmarked for special education transportation. He also said the opening of the Devens School kept more special education students in the district, thus saving $200,000 in transportation costs. In addition, Obremski said the School Department expected to pay $25.4 million in City Hall chargebacks. Some of the larger amounts include $9.1 million for health insurance for current employees, $9.1 million for charter school tuition before reimbursement, $1.9 million for health insurance for retired teachers and $1.5 million to the city’s retirement account. The district has also budgeted $3 million for administrators’ salaries and $39.4 million for teachers’ salaries. According to budget documents, teachers’ salaries increased by $3.2 million over the prior fiscal year. Compensation for substitute teachers also climbed from $620,000 to $1.3 million. The City Council ultimately approved the school budget and voted 7-2 to pass Everett’s fiscal year 2020 budget of $208,025,565. Despite a total reduction of $20,200, Capone believed the budget was still too high and therefore could not support passing it. “I made a number of cuts; some of them passed, but most of them did not,” he said during the City Council’s June 10 meeting. DiFlorio said this year’s budget reflects the city’s needs. “There wasn’t much to cut,” she said. Closure of Pope John XXIII High School Also during the spring, it was announced that Pope John XXIII High School had encountered a major financial barrier. Head of School Carl DiMaiti said International Residence Management (IRM), the funding arm for the school’s 43 international students, “failed to meet the obligations of its agreement.” DiMaiti said that IRM had ceased operations after declaring bankruptcy in October 2018. By doing so, the company burdened Pope John with a deficit of more than $1 million. Despite a valiant fundraising effort through its #NotDeadYet Donor Challenge, Pope John was forced to close its doors after five decades. “This is a sad day for all of us and it is not the announcement we hoped to make,” said DiMaiti. “This is a challenge we are simply unable to achieve, we have simply run out of time and resources.” Encore Boston Harbor However, the sadness of a closing was soon replaced with the elation of an opening. After nearly a decade of challenges, toil and uncertainty, the state’s third casino, the $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor, finally opened its doors to the world. “We will no longer be the back door to the city of Boston,” said DeMaria during the grand opening on June 23. “You’ll no longer smell gas, sulfur and oils. You’ll smell flowers and trees.” Becoming emotional at times, DeMaria thanked his wife, Stacy, his father-in-law and three children for staying by his side even during the most difficult times. He also expressed his gratitude for a myriad of individuals who played major roles in bringing the casino to fruition. They included Stephen Tocco, chairman and chief executive officer of ML Strategies, former Governor William Weld, the late State Representative Robert Havern and Attorney Mark Robinson of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. “We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for all of you guys,” said DeMaria. Looking back on the project, DeMaria said the Encore property was marked for redevelopment in 2007, which was followed by a series of public hearings that lasted for 18 months. Eighty-six percent of the city’s residents voted in favor of building a casino in Everett. From there, DeMaria said, it took 7,400 workers from Suffolk Construction three years to erect the casino and 27-story hotel. Regarding employment, he said Encore ultimately hired 5,000 employees from a pool of 135,000 applicants. “It’s a new day for the city of BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Saturday, January 11 at 9 PM LEAVING EDEN Friday, January 17 at 9 PM BLACKED OUT with GUNS OF BRIGHTON Saturday, January 18 at 9PM New England's #1 Party Band... WILDFIRE BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Saturday, January 25 at 9 PM FOREIGNERS JOURNEY Tribute to The Scorpions RADIO ROULETTE Friday, January 24 at 9 PM We Now Offer For Your Eating Pleasure “UBER EATS” Convenient Delivery Service Bianchi’s Pizza and Renzo’s Full Menu To Go ~ Renzo’s Entertainment Schedule ~ * Thursday: Smokin Joe * Friday: Joey Canzano Saturday: Tommy Bahama * Sunday, 3 p.m. : DJ George Entertainment Wed. Thru Sat. 7:30 p.m. 381 Revere Beach Blvd., Revere 221 Newbury Street, Danvers For Tickets call (978) 774-7270 or www.breakawaydanvers.com 781-284-5600 Everett,” said DeMaria. “People will talk about us forever.” Cathy Judd-Stein, chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, said the state has some of the “most stringent” gaming regulations in the country. Yet, Encore always rose to the occasion. “Encore Boston Harbor has met those requirements,” she said. Judd-Stein also called attention to the $70 million that Encore’s owner, Wynn Resorts, invested to revitalize the Mystic River waterfront for the first time in 100 years. Matthew Maddox, Wynn’s chief executive officer, said he remembered how desolate the site was when he and DeMaria toured the property in 2012. “Seven years ago, I was standing on this site with the mayor, just us two, and there wasn’t a blade of grass,” said Maddox. He said that at that time residents as well as state and city officials had set goals for urban renewal, economic development and “the finest integrated resort in the world.” “Encore Boston Harbor has achieved TIME FLIES | SEE PAGE 5
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