Maldden alld a Vol. 33, No. 2 den -FREEHave a Safe & Happy Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day. AADD Special to the Advocate T he City of Malden will be seeking a new SuperintenCTE CAT AT www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday Malden will be seeking new Superintendent of Schools this year School Committee votes to not renew contract of third-year Supt. Dr. Noriega-Murphy 617-387-2200 By Tara Vocino The 2024 Malden School Committee, which voted on the decision to not renew the contract of Malden Supt. of Schools Dr. Ligia Noriega-Murphy includes – pictured from left to right – Keith Bernard (Ward 7), Elizabeth Hortie (Ward 5), Joseph Gray (Ward 6), Jennifer Spadafora (Ward 3, Vice Chairperson), Mayor Gary Christenson (Chairperson), Sharyn Rose-Zeiberg (Ward 8), Dawn Macklin (Ward 4), Michael Drummey (Ward 1) and Robert McCarthy Jr. (Ward 2). (Courtesy/City of Malden) dent of Schools this year, with details still forthcoming about a timeline and the procedures of a superintendent search. Malden Mayor and School Committee Chairperson Gary ChristenSCHOOLS | SEE PAGE 11 read of Life will soon have everything under one roof in their new three-story building, located at 54 Eastern Ave., allowing for the expansion of their services with approximately 20,000 square feet. They will be moving out of the existing building at 109 Madison St. Taking Bread of Life to this B E Friday, January 12, 2024 Bread of Life expands all under one new roof BOL Volunteer Coordinator Eileen Mullen (at left) and Development Director Patty Kelly are shown at the PostHoliday Party to ring in the New Year for volunteers and staff at Bread of Life on Monday.(Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) next step, fi nancial help came in the form of money from charitable organizations, private donors, families, businesses, trusts and grant money. MassDevelopment issued a $1,660,000 tax-exempt bond. Eastern Bank purchased the bond, which helped Bread of Life achieve a lower cost of capital. BREAD | SEE PAGE 12 Malden City Council appoints Attorney Alicia McNeil as City Solicitor – first person of color to serve as Malden City Solicitor By Mark Rumley, Special Counsel, City of Malden T he Malden City Council did not wait until the fi rst of January to “ring in the new.” At its meeting on December 12, 2023, the Council was unanimous in its decision to appoint Alicia McNeil Malden’s newest City Solicitor. Attorney McNeil is the fi rst person of color to serve as City Solicitor in Malden’s history. Alicia’s ascension to the Solicitor’s position was foretold at the December 20, 2022, meeting of the Malden City Council when it initially appointed John McNaught as City Solicitor following the departure of City Solicitor Kate Fallon to Framingham. On the night of his appointment, John described his assistants, saying that Attorney McNeil has done “an enormousAlicia McNeil Malden City Solicitor ly good job” and would make a “wonderful City Solicitor.” Alicia received her Juris DocMAKING HISTORY: Shown from left to right: City Solicitor Alicia McNeil, Asst. City Solicitor Zaheer Samee, Retired City Solicitor John McNaught and Special Counsel Mark Rumley. tor degree from Suff olk University Law School. Following her admission to the Massachusetts and Federal Bar, she engaged in private practice concentrating on civil and criminal litigation. Attorney McNeil is a member SOLICITOR | SEE PAGE 11
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