Maldden alld a Vol. 32, No. 41 den AADD -FREECraig Spadafora Councillor-at-Large By Steve Freker N early every Malden City Councillor has made the same point. The city’s tax base is too lopsided with the vast majority of the city’s tax revenue generated from residential taxpayers as opposed to commercial and industrial taxpayers. According to Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora, eventually it will be time to “Pay the Piper” with higher property tax rates for the residential taxpayers under the Proposition 2 1/2 provisions with no relief in sight, as the city’s fi nancial obligations grow. That is why it is time for the city to work on and develop a new master plan for development, something that has not been undertaken since 2010. “It is time; our residential tax base is 89% of our property tax revenue, with the rest commercial/industrial,” Spadafora said at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. “We have to do everything in our power to keep the commercial/industrial we have and, hopefully, increase it.” “If we don’t keep our commercial base, we will drive up residential [rates],” he added. “We have to grow our industrial and commercial base now.” Your Local News Online. Scan Here! CTE OCAT AT www.advocatenews.net CITY COUNCIL: It is critical Malden must develop master plan for future development Council votes to develop comprehensive, continuous series of discussions with city offi cials on city’s future Pictured holding the ribbon, from left to right: Pam Shadley, Shadley Associates; DPW Director Bob Knox; Ward 8 Councillor Jadeane Sica; Jenelle DeVits, Co-Leader of Devir Park Master Plan Process; John Devir (6th generation of Park’s namesake); Mayor Gary Christenson; Ward 2 Councillor Paul Condon; State Representatives Steve Ultrino and Kate Lipper-Garabedian; State Senator Jason Lewis; Councillors-at-Large Carey McDonald and Craig Spadafora; and J.P. Shadley of Shadley Associates. Mayor Christenson, Carey McDonald Councillor-at-Large “We need a master plan and invite any city offi cial who can contribute to such a plan to collaborate with us,” Spadafora said. “This has to be a main priority of this Council, the next City Council and the one after that. This is something we will have to deal with for some time.” Spadafora and Councillor-at-Large Carey McDonald have continually emphasized the issue of the residential versus commercial/industrial tax base throughout the year, most notably when a series of McDonald-authored resolutions regarding present and future fi nancial issues were passed in September. An order off ered by Spadafora and cosponsors – Councillors Peg Crowe (Ward 1), Carey McDonald (at large) and Jadeane Sica (Ward 8) stated: “That the Rules and Ordinance Committee work with the Mayor’s Offi ce, City Planner Michelle Romero, and the Offi ce of Strategic Planning and Community Development to develop and publish a Request for Proposals to engage an outside consultant to assist with modernizing our zoning to better accomplish the City’s goals of smart growth and deCITY COUNCIL | SEE PAGE 7 Councillor Condon Celebrate Devir Park Project Completion Special to the Advocate M ayor Gary Christenson and Ward 2 Councillor Paul Condon celebrated the completion of construction at Devir Park on Thursday. The construction project included Phase I of the Devir Park Master Plan, which was developed in 2020. PROJECT | SEE PAGE 4 Mayplewood Fest 2023 a Great Success ayor Gary Christenson and Malden Business Development Director Kevin Duff y joined the members of the Future of Maplewood Square Committee and the Ward 6 Association who helped put together the Mayplewood Fest event this past weekend. M Published Every Friday 617-387-2200 E Friday, October 13, 2023 MAYPLEWOOD FUN: Shown from left to right: Ward 6 Councillor Stephen Winslow, City of Malden Deputy Director for Business and Economic Development Kevin Duff y, Helen Weitz, Ward 6 School Committee Member Joseph Gray, Barbara Chiuve, Mayor Gary Christenson, Bonita McAllister, Kay Allen, Lori Ardai, Rachana Gray and Naomi Kahn. See page 13 for photo highlights.
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