Page 12 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022 City Council approves capital project plan, water & sewer rate structure By Adam Swift T he City Council approved the city’s proposed Fiscal Year capital budget at its meeting on Thursday, June 16 prior to taking up the FY23 operating budget. The council approved transfers of just under $1 million to pay for the capital items proposed by Mayor Brian Arrigo. “This was unanimously approved in subcommittee under our Capital Improvement Plan,” said Councillor-at-Large Dan Rizzo, the chair of the council’s Ways and Means Subcommittee. “This makes investments in our police, fire, and capital works equipment. I believe KITCHEN CABINETS To Look Like New 508-840-0501 FURNITURE STRIP & FINISH it is needed, and it also provides $100,000 toward a library bookmobile, which I believe will be a great benefi t for the residents of the community.” The full list of vehicles and equipment included under the FY23 capital plan includes $55,000 for a new vehicle for the mayor, $100,000 for a new police patrol vehicle and administrative vehicle, $175,000 for the replacement of outdated equipment and new cameras for the Police Department, $175,000 for the replacement of equipment and radios for the Fire Department, $25,000 for the maintenance of fi re alarms, $25,000 for the repair and replacement of play ground equipment, $35,000 for a new parking control vehicle, $25,000 for the maintenance and removal of trees citywide, $75,000 for a new DPW vehicle with a plow, $40,000 for a paving roller truck and $50,000 for a sidewalk snowplow. There is also $90,000 included in the capital plan for the design of drainage improvements at Point of Pines and Liberty Avenue. In addition, the council also approved a plan Thursday night that will stabilize the increase in water and sewer rates over the next three years using nearly $5 million in federal ARPA funds, water and sewer stabilization funds, and water and sewer retained earnings. Rizzo said the funding would limit the increase in rates to no more than 4.25 percent in any year over the next three years. “That does not mean it will go up 4.25 percent; it just limits the amount it can go up,” said Rizzo. City Finance Director Richard Viscay said the city will be looking at long-range plans to help stabilize the rates beyond the three-year term of the current plan. License Commission approves several restaurant requests By Adam Swift I t was a tasty meeting for the License Commission last week, as it approved transfers or licenses for several new restaurants in the city. The commission approved a common victualler's license transfer for Que Arepa to operate a Colombian and South American restaurant at 163 Squire Rd., the former home of Kabob Hut. The restaurant will have seating for 30 and be open from 10 a.m. to midnight on Mondays through Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The commission also approved a restaurant license transfer at 750 Washington Ave., where new owners will take over the former China Garden restaurant and open it as China Crystal. The restaurant will be open pending a fi - nal inspection by the Health Department and then the fi nal closing of the sale, according to Russell Chin, the attorney for the new owners. “They are proposing to take over the former China Garden restaurant at the same location,” said Chin. “They will be revising the menu a little bit and reopening for Asian food dining in and takeout.” The restaurant seats 12, and will be open every day except for Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The commission also approved a license for F & J Juice Bar and Café at 76 Shirley Ave. That business will be open Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with 13 seats inside and fi ve seats outside. “I’m very excited to have this type of business in the area; it’s a very good addition,” said commission member Daniel Occena. In other business, the License Commission approved six oneday malt and wine licenses for a beer & wine garden for a series of Sunday night concerts at Veterans Memorial Park (formerly the American Legion Lawn) in July and August. “I’ve been to the concerts,” said commission member Linda Guinasso. “It’s a wonderful thing for the city on Sunday nights and gives people a place to go and sit outside.”
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