Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MAy 16, 2025 City Council votes in favor of term limits; approves $82K appropriation for union benefits account By Neil Zolot he idea of instituting term limits for a Mayor, City Councillors and School Committee members was approved 9-2 with Hanlon and Matewsky dissenting. The measure requires the mayor’s signature for it to move on to consideration by the state legislature and Governor. “It could be a while before that happens,” Ward 5 Councillor Robert Van Campen pointed out. The Council approved a limT it of three four-year terms for a mayor and six two-year terms for Councillors and School Committee members. Any time as an appointed or elected interim office holder would not count against the limit. “Term limits sound good, but we have elections,” Matewsky said. “People get rewarded for what they do. If you don’t like what I’m saying, vote against me.” Van Campen feels the matter should be a ballot question because “this is a real structural change. Let voters make the decision.” City Clerk Sergio Cornelio advised that if the mayor doesn’t sign the legislation the latter is dead, except for a public vote. In discussion Council President and Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins said the mayor vetoed a similar proposal some years ago. “I don’t think he’s changed his mind,” she said. “I’d work to put this on the ballot.” By a vote of 8-3, the City Council appropriated $82,000 from Everett resident inducted into political science honor society at Scranton L uca Morelli of Everett was among the University of Scranton students inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the national honor society in political science. Membership is limited to juniors and seniors with a grade point average of at least 3.4 in political science courses, and an overall rank in the top third of the class. The honor society was founded in 1920. Morelli is a senior political science major. The University of Scranton is a Jesuit university located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Everett Supplies Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 66 Years in Business! •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof ng • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! General Fund Budgetary Fund Balance or Free Cash to the Human Resources Local 25 benefits account to cover additional costs related to the three local 25 unions, at their meeting on Monday, May 12. The vote changed the source of the funds from an employee withholding account to the Human Resources Department. “An error was made; expenses were being attributed to withholding,” the mayor’s Chief of Staff, Erin Deveney told the members. “This is to fund the item where it should be properly accounted for, so it’s not treated as a withholding and is an HR line item.” The matter was discussed at the April 28 meeting, but was defeated based on a lack of information. “The reason it wasn’t passed was because we didn’t understand what was happening,” Councillor-at-Large Stephanie Smith said. Despite Deveney’s explanation, Smith was still unsatisfied and voted against the appropriation along with Councillor-at-Large Guerline Alcy Jabouin and Ward 6 Councillor Peter Pietrantonio. Smith asked if duplicate payments were made. “I can’t vote for this because I don’t know,” she said. “We will not be double paying,” Deveney answered. “There won’t be two sources and the withholdings account is not overdrawn.” Nevertheless, she said she would need to verify if a transfer was made between accounts. In discussion, Ward 1 Councillor Wayne Matewsky said the error was not the fault of the union members. “This has to be paid to honor our agreements,” he feels. The Council also passed a resolution calling for the office of the City Auditor to be separated from the Chief Financial Officer, based on a recommendation after an investigation of longevity pay for the mayor by the Inspector General’s Office. Smith and Councillor-at-Large John Hanlon voted against the measure. “I don’t feel there can be any independence because the Auditor will still serve at the discretion of the mayor even if it’s separate,” Smith argued. “I would suggest the Auditor report directly to the City Council.” At the April 28 meeting, the City Clerk said the Auditor is part of the mayor’s administration regardless. A proposal to have the siting of a soccer stadium in the city being a ballot question was tabled. “Some additional work has to be done on this,” Van Campen reported. A request by Pietrantonio for the City of Everett to defer execution of a Community Benefits Agreement for the soccer stadium with The Kraft Group until after the upcoming biennial municipal elections was referred to the Mayor’s Office. A request to the Administration to provide a copy of any proposed host agreements with Jupiter Battery Storage for a facility was postponed due a lack of responsiveness from the Administration. In other business, the Council approved borrowing $200,000 for the police station roof improvement project and accepting $123,413 from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to build a barrier wall to protect homes, critical transportation routes and vital infrastructure to mitigate economy-crippling flood damage and food insecurity in the city and region. An item to borrow $3 million, comprised of $2 million for streets and sidewalks and $1 million for the Complete Streets program, which also covers ramps, crosswalks and bike lanes to facilitate various modes of transportation, was deferred to the Ways and Means Subcommittee pending more information from the Administration as to what areas would be covered. Finally, a resolution passed regulating the demolition of historic buildings was ordained. Spring is Here!
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