EV R R Vol. 29, No. 48 -FREEEVE ETT AADD www.advocatene ne Have a Safe & Happy Thanksgiving! V ATCT riday 617-387-2200 Happy Thanksgiving from the Everett Bank family to yours. WE WISH YOU A SAFE AND JOYFUL HOLIDAY. WE’LL BE CLOSED ON NOVEMBER 26TH, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS ACCESS OUR ONLINE BANKING. 419 BROADWAY, EVERETT MA 02149 Right by you. 61 7-38 7 - 1 1 10 7 7 1 SALEM ST, LYNNFIELD, MA 01940 7 8 1 - 7 7 6 - 4444 WWW.EVERETTBANK .COM Member FDIC Member DIF T he City Council, during its November 23 meeting, voted 7-2 in favor of giving Mayor Carlo DeMaria voting power on the School Committee. Because the change requires an amendment to the City Charter, the matter still needs to be approved by the state legislature. Therefore, President Rosa DiFlorio said DeMaria will continue his virtual Listening Tour with the next session scheduled for December 1 at 6 p.m. Ward 3 Councillor Anthony DiPierro said there is no harm in giving DeMaria a vote on the School Committee. “We’re not handing the School Committee to the mayor,” he said. “We’re giving the mayor one vote.” Despite his previous quarrels with DeMaria, Ward 6 Councillor Michael McLaughlin said the mayor, whomever that may be, deserves a seat on the School Committee. However, Ward 1 Councillor Fred Capone said the question should have been put on the ballot. “We have done a disservice to the voters tonight,” he said. Councillor-at-Large Gerly Adrien also disagreed with the vote. “We’re putting the Carlo DeMaria Mayor priorities of our mayor first,” she said. In addition, the council voted 7-4 to change the city’s election format. However, the ordinance still failed as a two-thirds vote was required. Had it passed, the ordinance would have allowed 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. “I am shocked that this did not pass,” said DiFlorio. As with the prior vote, Capone said a Charter change needs to be decided by the VOTES | SEE PAGE 22 CATE Wednesday, November 25, 2020 Residents thank McKinnons, Kiwanis for Thanksgiving meals Lahcen Mzaouakk requested all vegetables at the Connolly Center last Friday. See page 10 for story and photo highlights. (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) City Council votes 7-2 to put mayor on School Committee By Christopher Roberson
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