Published January 24, 2020

CITY COUNCIL NOTEBOOK

MELROSE — The city’s  Commission on Disability is getting closer to realty.

The City Council approved its creation a while ago, and now the Melrose Commission on Disability must be added to the city’s Administrative Code. That request was moved to the council’s Appropriations Committee at a meeting Tuesday and a public hearing will be held soon.

According to a memo from City Solicitor Robert Van Campen to Mayor Paul Brodeur, state law was referenced as he put together the new advisory body’s responsibilities.

The Melrose Commission on Disability will consist of seven members, all of whom must be Melrose residents. A majority of the commission, Van Campen continues, must “consist of people with disabilities, one member of the Commission shall be a member of the immediate family of a person with a disability and one member of the Commission shall be either an elected or appointed official of that city or town.”

The commission’s responsibilities will include:

• Research local problems of people with disabilities;

• Advise and assist municipal officials and employees in ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and regulations that affect people with disabilities;

• Coordinate or carry out programs designed to meet the problems of people with disabilities in coordination with programs of the Mass. Office on Disability;

• Review and make recommendations about policies, procedures, services, activities and facilities of departments, boards and agencies of the City of Melrose as they affect people with disabilities;

• Provide information, referrals, guidance and technical assistance to individuals, public agencies, businesses and organizations in all matters pertaining to disability;

• And assist and coordinate activities of other local groups organized for similar purposes.

The Melrose Commission on Disability will meet at least 10 times a year.

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The City Council gave Mayor Paul Brodeur and others permission to spend $70,313 in state funds to help alleviate flooding and standing water issues in the parking lot behind City Hall.

The City Council was asked Tuesday night to accept and spend the grant money, which is coming from the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) through its Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program. The council was also asked to allow Brodeur to enter into a contract with the EEA to design a “green infrastructure solution” for the City Hall parking lot to alleviate flooding and to provide water quality improvements to downstream resource areas.

Work is expected to be done this year.

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The City Council made it official and called a February 4 Special Primary Election for the 32nd Middlesex seat in the state House of Representatives left vacant when Paul Brodeur resigned to focus all his energy on the job of Melrose mayor.

The candidates are Democrats Kate Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose, Ann McGonigle Santos of Wakefield and Mathew Helman of Malden.

Melrose’s Brandon Reid, a Republican, is running a write-in campaign

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The council also called a Presidential Primary Election for March 3. At that election, voters will choose presidential candidate, state committee members, city committee members and will fill the vacant 32nd Middlesex state representative position.

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In a related matter, Elections Administrator Joanne Perperian is looking for some help at the various polling locations.

Openings for wardens, clerks and checkers are available. For a full day of work (6:30 a.m. to about 8:30 p.m.) wardens and clerks make $180, with checkers making $150. There are half day shifts available too.

All interested should call Joanne at 781-979-4125.