THE MALDEN ADVOCATE – Friday, June 21, 2019 Page 7 ~ OP-ED ~ THE BUCK STOPS WITH THE MAYOR By John Matheson M y opponent makes this race easier when he points the finger, as he did in a recent Malden Advocate op ed. When water/sewer rates were raised an extra $9 Million this term, he conveniently blamed the public works commission, and me: “Matheson skipped every one of those meetings” and is “misleading voters.” Well, I checked the records. Apparently, everybody “skipped” the meeting. Although technically a public hearing, no residents attended, and no councilors attended. It was simply the three people appointed by the mayor, meeting at the mayor’s office. I now leave it to you to decide who is being misleading, but consider this: The 2019 meeting was held this week, only this time it was held in the public auditorium at the Senior Center, and for the first time in 8 years, water/sewer rates did not go up. Not only am I not being deceptive, my campaign has already achieved tangible results. I focus on issues that matter to Malden residents, such as over-development. Recently, I attended Malden’s first-ever demolition delay hearing, meant to protect historic buildings. Two buildings are threatened by a dense development in the center of Malden Square that will replace the round façade building at 1 Salem Street (Teen Center) and 15 Ferry Street (Fallon Office/Converse Building). Because this new development will permanently remake our city center, I was there to bring attention to it, and support our residents. I also care about financial mismanagement. A mayor is our full-time manager of operations and spending; he proposes how the money is spent, and signs the contracts. The same year our mayor was elected, the Dept. of Revenue told Malden to hire a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to prevent theft and waste. Our mayor soon created and funded many new positions, including a photographer, but not a CFO. Eight years later, there have been three more thefts, yet there have been no convictions related to these thefts, including one caught in the act. In 2019, Inspector General wrapped-up Award-Winning Landscaping Servicing the North Shore for over 38 Years its investigation and concluded [drum roll please] …that Malden needs a CFO. According to a recent audit of Malden’s public finances, “inEminating from The Clubhouse in Chelsea... A Tradition Continues Rte. 1 Grill House and Boswell Entertainment Present Angelena Hightower and The Unit performing at 8:00 p.m. with music by D.J. Laurie 817 Broadway (Route 1 South), Saugus (781) 558-2271 terest earned on bank deposits have not kept pace with inflation” earning “far less than 1%.” As a result, “The City generated about $150,000 in interest income during fiscal year 2018; this could easily be increased to over $500,000.” This loss is signifBUCK STOPS | SEE PAGE 16 Restaurant Hours Monday – Wednesday 11:00 A.M. – 9:30 P.M. Thursday – Saturday 11:00 A.M. – 10:30 P.M. Sunday 12:00 P.M. – 9:30 P.M. Lounge open until 1 a.m. Start the Weekend off Right with Night Friday, June 21st 8:00 p m. Come out and Enjoy a great evening of Appetizers, Drinks and Live Music! NOW BOOKING NEW CUSTOMERS! DON’T WAIT! Call 781-321-2074 Pavers * Walkways * Patios * Driveways * Pool Decks Planting * Perennials * Shrubs * Trees New Lawns * Sod * Hydroseed Flowers/Annuals/Mums * Conventional Seeding * Synthetic Complete Maintenance * Cleanups (Spring & Fall) * Lawn Cutting, Edging & Weeding * Lawn Fertilizer Programs * Trim & Prune Shrubs * Mulching, Thatching Interlock Block * Fire Pits * Sitting Walls * Pillers Landscape Lighting * Design * Install * Repair * Night Illumination
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