Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 3, 2026 ~ Legal Notice ~ NOTICE OF 30-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO ANNUAL ACTION PLAN The Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development (OSPCD), on behalf of the City of Malden, is seeking a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Section 108 Loan in the amount of $1,500,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for improvements at Malden River Works park, 356 Commercial Street, Malden, MA 02148. The OSPCD administers CDBG funds on behalf of the City of Malden. The Section 108 Loan constitutes a Substantial Amendment to the CDBG Annual Action Plan. Pursuant to HUD regulations and the City of Malden’s Citizen Participation Plan, the City and OSPCD will hold a 30-day public comment period on the Substantial Amendment prior to its submission to HUD. The 30-day public comment period begins April 4, 2026 and ends May 3, 2026. A public hearing will be held April 14, 2026 at 6:00 pm, which will include a presentation on the Substantial Amendment and an opportunity for public comment. Residents who require an accommodation in order to ensure access to the public hearing should contact jventrone@ cityofmalden.org at least five business days prior to the meeting. Information regarding the Substantial Amendment, including the proposal and related documentation, will be available online at https://www.cityofmalden.org/873/HUD-Reports-and-Notices. All comments received will be considered and sent to HUD along with the City’s responses. Comments may be emailed to jventrone@cityofmalden.org or sent in writing on or before May 3, 2026 to the OSPCD, 215 Pleasant St., Room 350, Malden, MA 02148, Attn: Jane Ventrone. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY April 03, 2026 LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS CITY OF MALDEN - OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER The City of Malden invites sealed price, and non-priced proposals, in accordance with M.G.L. c.30B, §6, from Vendors for: PERSONAL PROPERTY COLLECTION AND VALUATION SERVICES RFP Proposals will be received by WEDNESDAY APRIL 22, 2026, BY 5:00 PM at the Office of the Controller, 215 Pleasant Street 2nd Floor, Malden MA 02148. Proposals will not be accepted nor may submitted proposals be corrected, modified, or withdrawn after the deadline for proposals. Contract Documents will be available by email request at purchasing@cityofmalden.org after: TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2026, AT 10:00 AM Following the deadline for proposals, all proposals received within the time specified will be reviewed by a Committee, and an award will be made to the most advantageous proposer for services. All proposals are subject to the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 30B §6. All City of Malden proposals are available by request. Addenda’s will be sent to the contact information provided. It is the sole responsibility of the vendor requesting these proposals to ensure they have received any, and all addenda prior to the proposal opening. The City will reject any, and all proposals in accordance with the above referenced General Laws. In addition, the City reserves the right to waive minor informalities in any or all proposals or to reject any or all proposals (in whole or in part) if it be in the public interest to do so. CITY OF MALDEN Office of the Controller April 03, 2026 LEGAL NOTICE VOTERS | FROM PAGE 7 Middlesex Streets. These buildings could have brought hundreds of construction and permanent jobs to Malden Center. They would have generated hundreds of thousands in building permit fees and property taxes. The increased daytime density of employees would have helped generate lunch revenues for our restaurants and meals taxes. Many obstacles were thrown in front of these projects which delayed their timelines and pushed them into the pandemic. Now the projects are no longer viable because no one is building office and lab space in the current real estate market. Solution #2: As someone who has worked in real estate, I can tell you the real estate market is cyclical - it goes up and then it goes down. When the market is up, we should help - HIGH QUALITY - projects get publicly vetted and permitted. This does not mean every project should be greenlighted, but it does mean that streamlining public vetting can help expedite the process of filtering out projects that are not the right fit and can help make high quality projects better and realized. Encouraging new growth also helps raise property tax revenue above and beyond the Prop 2 ½ cap. New jobs and new revenue is a win-win in my book. To ensure Malden does not miss the next real estate upswing, we should prioritize completing a new comprehensive plan (formerly “master plan”), encourage economic development through public art and the creative economy, and reduce permitting barriers to new growth. The Disincentive to Make Hard Decisions Problem #3: It is a privilege to serve the public in an elected, appointed, or other public role. That said, serving in a public capacity is not easy. This is especially true when one tries their best to serve in a principled manner. As I am sure you know, I have taken many hard votes and am not unfamiliar with being on the losing side of a 10-1 vote. What I have observed during my time in office is that there is often a disincentive to make the hard but correct decision. It’s not easy to go against the grain but as many are now learning “dissent is patriotic.” This is especially true when dissent isn’t popular. When I first joined the City Council, Former Ward 6 Councillor Neil Kinnon was the chair of the Finance Committee. It is no secret that Neil and I disagree on virtually all public policy and we have vastly different visions for the future of Malden. That said, I always appreciated Neil’s role in Finance because he truly understood the role. Neil questioned almost everything and it required the Mayor, the administration, and his fellow councillors to be on our toes. The City Council, as the legislative branch, is a check and balance on the Mayor, as the executive branch. VOTERS | SEE PAGE 12 OBITUARY Grover W. Witham With heavy hearts and deep gratitude for the years we were blessed to share with him, we announce the passing of Grover W. Witham, who left this world peacefully on March 26, 2026, at the age of 91. Grover was born in Fairfield, Maine, and spent most of his life in Malden, Massachusetts. Nearly 30 years ago, after retiring, he began spending his winters in Florida, a place he loved. He dedicated almost 40 years of his life to Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, MA. Through every season — in the heat of summer, the crispness of fall, and the stillness of winter — he cared for the grounds with pride, respect, and a deep sense of purpose. Grover was the heart of his family — a steady, loving presence and a man who believed that showing up for the people you love is the greatest legacy you can leave. He was an avid fan of the Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots, cheering them on through every season. His stories, his laughter, and his unwavering love will echo in the lives of all who were fortunate enough to know him. He is survived by his daughter, Joanne Witham of Melrose, and his sons, John Witham of Malden and Derek Witham and his wife Adrina of Malden. He was the proud grandfather of six wonderful grandchildren: Nicole Witham, Trevor Witham, Danielle Witham, Victor Witham, Cameron Witham, and Reece Witham. In lieu of flowers please donate to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Visiting hours were held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. A funeral service was held at the Gately Funeral Home on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Relatives & friends were respectfully invited to attend. Interment followed at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett
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