Maldden alld a Vol. 29, No. 19 den AADD -FREEHave a Safe & Happy Memorial Day Weekend! CTE CAT AT www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday Bread of Life steps up 617-387-2200 By Barbara Taormina M ayor Gary Christenson released his $184.3 million budget proposal for 2021, an increase of $4.7 million over this year’s budget. In a letter to the City Council, Father Steve and parishioners from Incarnation of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Melrose drop off a truckload of supplies collected during a food drive for Bread of Life. See page 11 for story and photo highlights. City Council approves funding to design a Devir Park makeover By Barbara Taormina R esidents praised Devir Park as a great natural asset and a vital community hub during the public comment segment of this week’s City Council meeting. Councillors agreed and voted to approve the Community Preservation Committee’s recommendation to spend $50,000 of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding to begin planning and designing a major capital improvement project for the Park. “Devir Park is Malden’s largest park at 8.2 acres,” wrote Jenelle DeVits in comments submitted to the council. “It’s a tremendous natural grass and green space with tremendous old shade trees and a long history of providing many of Malden’s children with recreational and youth sports activities.” DeVits spearheaded the Devir Park Revitalization Project with the help of city councillors and the support of city department heads. In addition to the CPA funding, Ward 2 Councillor Paul Condon will contribute $10,000 of his ward’s development mitigation money to the project. “Devir Park is twice as large as any park in the city, and it’s been a long time since it was revitalized,” said Condon, who thanked DeVits, Bob McCarthy and the neighbors who turned out for last summer’s community meeting to share ideas about improving the park. The CPA funds will pay for the creation of a base plan and design from aerial photos and fi eld surveys. That work will be used to develop a master capital and design plan that will include drawings for possible reconfi guration of parts of the park as well as construction costs and estimates. The CPA money will also cover the costs of a design consultant to help develop alternative ideas for the park and for a community meeting to gather feedback on proposed imDEVIR PARK | SEE PAGE 4 * Mulching * Spring Clean-ups * Trimming & Maintenance NOW BOOKING NEW CUSTOMERS! Call 781-321-2074 A photo from May 2019 shows acres of underutilized open green space at Devir Park. Christenson said a city budget drafted back in February was targeted towards covering all expenses with revenues without dipping into city reserves, a goal that has eluded the city for years. “But then the health care crisis known as COVID-19 hit and it has been all downhill ever since. Meals, excise, and parking revenue are all down and some by double digits. We are anticipating a 15-20 percent reduction in local aid from the state who is dealing with the loss of an estimated $5-6 billion dollars in revenue,” wrote Christenson. Christenson and his budget team, which includes Special Assistant to the Mayor Maria Luise, Controller Chuck Ranaghan, Human Resources Director Anthony Chiccuarelli and Parking Department Director Ron Hogan, have charE Friday, May 22, 2020 City faces budget challenges for 2021 Mayor Gary Christenson acterized the budget proposal as “a solid starting point to deal with the pain that is coming.” The budget proposal includes $180.1 million in spending and $4.1 million set aside to cover an anticipated 15 percent cut in general local aid and a $2.1 decrease in Chapter 70 state funding for public schools. Also built into the proposal is a wage freeze for City Hall staff , public works employees, library staff , crossing guards and parking enforcement offi cers. According to an overview prepared by the city, BUDGET | SEE PAGE 6
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