Advocate News Online: www.advocatenews.net Vol. 32, No.2 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday Council names Keefe, President; McKenna, Vice-President for 2023 By Barbara Taormina T he City Council’s fi rst order of business Monday night was the election of Councillor Patrick Keefe as Council President and Councillor Joanne McKenna as Vice President for 2023. Both Keefe, who represents Ward 4, and McKenna, who represents Ward 1, were chosen quickly and unanimously by fellow councillors. One of Keefe fi rst offi cial tasks was to present outgoing Council President Gerry Visconti with a plaque commemorating his year leading the council. Visconti had thanks all around. He thanked fellow councillors, residents for their support and encouragement, his family, and he had an especially warm thank you for City Clerk Ashley Melnick. “Without you, this council does not operate,” said Visconti who thanked Melnick for all her help during the past year. 781-286-8500 Friday, January 13, 2023 Seniors concerned over senior center warming center use; councillors suggest finding alternative site By Barbara Taormina A small crowd of angry seniors turned out for this week’s City Council meeting to hear a presentation on the city’s plan to open an emergency warming center on the second fl oor of the Rosetti-Cowan Senior Center. Seniors came with questions and concerns about health and safety, which Mayor Brian Arrigo and Chief of Health and Human Services Lauren Buck tried to answer. Arrigo explained that the seREADY TO LEAD: Newly-elected City Council President Patrick Keefe and Vice-President Joanne McKenna are shown with the gavel following their election to lead the city council in 2023 on Monday night at City Hall. (Advocate photo) Keefe thanked fellow councillors for having the confi dence in him to lead the council for 2023. He also stressed the need Mayor updates Council on new RHS Building Costs to work together cooperatively and civilly. ELECTION | SEE Page 12 nior center was selected as a site for the warming center because it has been established as the city’s offi cial emergency center. It has been operating as an emergency center open during storms and freezing cold spells. Arrigo said the plan is to make the warming center service professional and consistent. MARC SILVESTRI Councillor-at-Large “We’re looking to provide a service that we’ve always provided in that space, but to do it more professionally,” said Arrigo. WARMING | SEE Page 16 Councillor seeks to regulate potential Amazon drone traffic over city By Barbara Taormina W hile many elected offi cials are looking at roadways to fi gure out the best type of reto look into an ordinance for Revere regulating the use of drones in the city. Serino explained that a resident had given him some information about drones in Texas and California and Amazon drone deliveries. Although drone fl ights are regulated by the state and federally by the Federal Aviation Administration, Serino wanted to investigate whether there was something the city could do through zoning to regulate drone use. “I want to get ahead of this,” said Serino. “I just want to ask the city solicitor what we can and can’t do.” Serino stressed that he is M ayor Brian Arrigo updated the City Council on the cost to build a new Revere High School, which, according to the mayor, could go as high as $500 million, which doesn’t include help from the Mass. School Building Assoc. (MSBA) contribution of $174 million, leaving the taxpayer burden potentially $324 million. The mayor said that the cost may be lower than expected depending on the footing of the Wonderland site. RICHARD SERINO Ward 6 Councillor pairs and improvements for residents, Ward 6 Councillor Richard Serino is looking at the skies. Serino filed a motion this week to ask the city solicitor not pro or anti drone – he just wants to be ready should problems arise. Councillor-at-Large Dan Rizzo agreed and said it is a good idea to get ahead of a potential problem. “We have two enormous Amazon distribution facilities. Do you know how many packages are delivered in Revere? We’re going to look like Ukraine when these drones start fl ying around,” said Rizzo. “I think we need to be proactive rather than reactive.” Ward 4 Councillor/City Council President Patrick Keefe said Revere already has some tight regulations for drones because the city is in the flight path. There are parts of the city where photographers can’t use drones because of those regulations. $3.75 GALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602
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