Your Local News Online in 6 Languages! Subscribe Now! Vol. 32, No.25 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday City Council Ways & Means Review City Budget at Final Meeting Acting Mayor Patrick Keefe, Jr. presents $262,131,833 million budget By Barbara Taormina T he Revere City Council Ways and Means Subcommittee held their fi nal meeting to review acting Mayor Patrick Keefe’s 2024 municipal budget proposal. Like earlier meetings, city department heads gave brief presentations of their individual department’s accomplishments for 2023, their plans and goals for 2024, and any changes in their budgets. City CFO Richard Viscay again called the mostly level-funded department budgets “vanilla,” with no new initiatives or controversies. The $262,131,833 million budget has been presented with a list of highlights that city offi cials say will benefi t the community. Topping that list is the addition of 11 new fi refi ghters, fi ve new police offi cers, the point of Pines Fire station and new equipment for fi rst responders. Budget announcements also tout the new public works facility, new public works management jobs, and plans for sidewalk repairs and street paving. Chief of Health and Human Services Lauren Buck described the work done by the city’s public health department in 2023 which included several covid testing and vaccination programs. Committee members praised the department but questioned the cut of one staff member from the SUDHI (substance use disorder and Homeless Initiatives) offi ce. Buck explained the position was grant funded and the funding did not allow for the type of work the city needs. “We’re trying to be as effi cient and eff ective with funds as possible,” said Buck adding the SUDHI program needs more outreach. Still, Ways and Means Subcommittee Chairman Gerry Visconti suggested there must be more grant money available for this type of work and he and other committee members urged Buck to fi nd it for Revere. Buck also presented the budget for the Elder Aff airs department which launched 12 new programs for seniors this year. Committee members praised Director of Elder Services Deb Peczka and supported the department’s level funded budget. The committee also recognized the work done by the Veterans Services department and Veterans Services Offi cer Marc Silvestri and the department’s support staff . “If you look up the job description of the veterans’ services offi cer, you’ll see our VSO does so much more and he’ll never speak about it,” said Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna. Ways and Means Committee members also praised the Disabilities Commission, the Offi ce of Consumer Aff airs, and the library for various new programs and services provided to residents. BUDGET | SEE Page 2 In celebration of the fi rst offi cial day of summer, Councillor-at-Large and candidate for mayor Dan Rizzo had an ice cream truck fi lled with frozen treats stop by a few locations in the city handing out free ice creams to the seniors and anyone else who wanted a refreshing treat. Shown with Dan is supporters, Vince Giarusso, left, and Peter Martino. Seniors are shown lining up for an ice cream outside the Jack Satter House. The ice cream truck also stopped by Liston Towers, Hyman Towers, and Friendly Gardens where the candidate received a warm welcome. 781-286-8500 Friday, June 23, 2023 RHS Boys Track Stars Finish Fast at Nike Meet Amazing weekend for RHS Track at Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon. Sami El Asri (senior), JV Cunha (junior), Medy Bellemsieh (junior), and Isaiah DeCrosta (sophomore) fi nished second in Sprint Medley Relay and third in the 4 x 400-meter relay. They set a new school record for the SMR (3:37.18) and smashed their existing record in the 4 x 400 (3:27.82), and earned Nike AllAmerican status! (Courtesy RHS AD Frank Shea) Mayoral Candidate Dan Rizzo Offers Refreshing Treats on the Campaign Trail
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