THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 2, 2020 Page 3 City Council prepared to vote on changes to election landscape By Christopher Roberson C ouncillor-at-Large Wayne Matewsky has continued his push for a change to the City Charter that would permit ward candidates to run for office in their own wards rather than citywide. Therefore, residents in a particular ward would only vote for the candidates running to represent that ward. “We’re trying to correct something that’s wrong. I really believe that a ward councilman should be elected within the ward,” Matewsky said during the September 28 City Council meeting. “We are going to get sued if we don’t do the right thing.” In 2017, a fair voting group brought a lawsuit against the City of Lowell, which ultimately forced that community to change its electoral system. Ward 3 Councillor Anthony DiPierro reminded his colleagues that this conversation has been ongoing since last September. “We should be ready to take action; we’ve been talking about this for a year,” he said. How ev er, Council - lor-at-Large Peter Napolitano said a decision of this magnitude should be up to the voters. “For us to make a direct change without their input – I’m not comfortable with that,” he said. If approved, this would be the first Charter change in nearly 20 years and would apply to both the City Council and the School Committee. Diversity Resolution In other news, CouncilBread of Life receives $8K grant to bolster Everett backpack program By Christopher Roberson M alden-based Bread of Life recently received a grant for $8,060 to improve the Everett Backpack Nutrition Project for the city’s low-income student population. Bread of Life Executive Director Gabriella Snyder Stelmack said the grant – funded by the Foundation Trust – will pay for 2,000 backpacks that will be distributed throughout the school year. “This is the first and only grant that we’ve gotten for the project,” she said, adding that the Bread of Life has withstood the trials and tribulations of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Many programs shut down during COVID – the Bread of Life expanded.” The backpack project was launched in November 2019 by Terry O’Brien of the Bread of Life and her colleague Brandon King. The project began at Everett High School and quickly expanded to the other schools in the district. “They all know about the backpack program; we try to put at least three meals in there,” said O’Brien. However, the need to provide food to low-income students was exacerbated with the onset of COVID-19. The backpacks are currently distributed through the district’s Lunch-to-Go service. Foundation Trust Manager Lauren Liecau said it is imperative to keep the backpack project moving forward. “These kids already have so much to contend with,” she said. “We are thrilled to be able to support this wonderful program that will help address food insecurity amongst Everett’s high need students. Bread of Life is making such a difference in the community and we applaud the work they have undertaken to adapt and grow the Everett Backpack Program in light of this year’s significant challenges.” www.eight10barandgrille.com We Have Reopened for Dine-In and Outside Seating every day beginning at 4 PM lor-at-Large Gerly Adrien, during the September 14 meeting, made a motion to send her Resolution regarding employee diversity to the Human Resources Department. Adrien said she had spoken with Bishop Robert Brown, chairman of the new Diversity, Equity and Equal Employment Commission, who, she said, agreed that the Resolution should be sent directly to Human Resources. PREPARED TO VOTE | SEE PAGE 6 WE'RE OPEN! 8 Norwood Street, Everett (617) 387-9810 STAY SAFE!
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