YOUR LOCAL NEWS & SPORTS ONLINE. SCAN HERE! Vol. 35, No.5 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday 781-286-8500 Friday, January 31, 2025 City Council rejects mayor’s proposal to change police chief hiring process By Th e Advocate M ayor Patrick Keefe was at the City Council meeting this week with a request to change the process of appointing the city’s police chief. Keefe was looking to eliminate the requirement that candidates for the top job in the department must come from the ranks by repealing Section 3 of Chapter 102 of the Acts of 2001 in its entirety; the section requires the city to hire a police chief from within the department, and that the candidate be a captain or a lieutenant with at least fi ve years in that position. Keefe added that there would continue to be a vigorous internal search process but it would be expanded to external candidates. “I have the utmost respect Mayor Patrick Keefe is shown addressing the City Council about proposing a change in the city’s hiring practice of police chief at Monday’s meeting. The mayor requested that Section 3 of Chapter 102 of the Acts of 2001, which restricts outside applicants for the police chief position, be repealed in its entirety. (Advocate photo) for our offi cers and I’m assurCOUNCIL | SEE Page 16 City Council approves Park and Fly garage proposal off Charger St. Special permit for Furlong Drive contractor’s yard scrutinized By Th e Advocate T wo new projects were introduced to the City Council this week during brief public hearings. The City Council heard a request for a special permit from Stephen and Ralph Caruso, of R&S Realty Trust, to reconstruct nonconforming structures at Squire Rear Road in order to build a new fi ve-story Park and Fly parking structure that would hold 583 cars. Project Attorney Gerry D’Ambrosio presented the plan to the council and said it would be a state-of-the-art parking garage that would generate $400,000 in tax revenue and licensing fees each year. D’Ambrosio stated that two existing buildings on the 2.6-acre property housing an automotive business and a contractor’s yard would be torn down. “The proposed use is a modern, state-of-the-art garage that will be utilized as a Park and Fly.” Charger Street resident Christine Robinson said she is concerned about traffi c, noise and fl ooding should the project move forward. “How much more can this neighborhood take?” asked Robinson. But councillors seemed supportive. “I think it’s a great project in the TED district,” said Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya. “This compliments the character of the neighborhood; it’s the perfect thing to build in that area.” Councillor-at-Large Juan Pablo Jaramillo was interested in how the top fl oor of the facility could be used to accommodate renewable energy sources. Ward 6 Councillor Chris Giannino suggested the facility would reduce truck traffi c on Charger Road. D’Ambrosio said a traffi c study is in the works and will be ready to present to the council’s Feb. 3rd Zoning Subcommittee meeting. D’Ambrosio said the project will also be going before the Conservation Commission. In other business, Joshua Recycling requested a special permit for a contractor’s storage yard within the TED district at 12 Furlong Dr. However, Nicholas Rudolph, chair of the Conservation Commission, opposed the special permit due to outstanding enforcement issues. According to Rudolph, there are piles of hazardous materials on the site, overflowing dumpsters and illegal fi ll, issues that need to be resolved. PARK AND FLY | SEE Page 7
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