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Vol. 20, No. 41
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Portal to Hope comedy fundraiser great success
Portal to Hope founder Deb Fallon is shown with volunteers Nita M. and Patti Frati during the anti-domestic violence non-profit’s successful fundraiser on Thursday at Giggles Comedy Club in Saugus. See more photo highlights on page 10. (Advocate photo by Katy Rogers)
he pipelines are old, 168 leaks have been identified and 1,200 workers who know how to maintain and fix the system have been locked out of their jobs over contract disputes, but National Grid insists that that Malden’s natural gas system is sound. “I think you can be assured that Malden is safe,� said Dan Cameron, a National Grid community and customer manager, who met with the City Council this week to answer questions about the city’s natural gas infrastructure. With last month’s natural gas disaster in Merrimack Valley fresh on the minds of many residents, and this week’s natural gas shutdown
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to protect about 300 homes in Woburn in the news, councillors asked Cameron for details about the city’s natural gas service and public safety. Cameron explained that National Grid serve 116 communities throughout the state with 11,000 miles of pipelines. “Overall, the system is very safe, but it’s upwards of 100 years old,� said Cameron. Roughly 29 percent of the entire system is made up of old cast-iron or steel pipes. Cameron wasn’t sure exactly what percent of Malden’s piping system is that old. He said it could be more, or it could be less than 29 percent. National Grid has an ongoing capital improvement plan to replace the aging pipelines, which the company estimates will be completed by 2035. Work toward that goal is currently on hold because of the lockout. Councillors asked about Malden’s old pipes and if Na-
Friday, October 12, 2018
Public Safety Day at Linden Park
Logan and Chris Nelson are shown learning some valuable fire safety tips from Sparky the Dog at Malden’s Public Safety Day, held Sunday, October 7 at Linden Park. See more photo highlights on pages 12 & 13. (Advocate photo by Al Terminiello)
National Grid says Malden’s gas system is safe By Barbara Taormina
617-387-2200
tional Grid has information about their age and location. Cameron said the company did have those records, but they are not public because of Homeland Security regulations. However, that information is available to the city’s Department of Public Works. “We also work with the city to coordinate gas pipe improvements with road work,� he said. Several councillors asked about gas leaks and National Grid’s response to reports from customers about odors of natural gas. Gas leaks are ranked according to the threat they pose to public safety. A Grade 1 leak requires immediate repair. Grade 2 leaks must be repaired within either six months or one year depending on the severity of the problem. Grade 3 leaks, which do not pose a public safety risk, must be moni-
GAS | SEE PAGE 17
City Hall will cost more than expected By Barbara Taormina he design for Malden’s new City Hall includes open spaces with a lot of glass, wood, tile and stonework in a style meant to defy a “dated� appearance 20 years from now. The only problem is that the City of Malden wants to borrow $5 million more to finish the project. At this week’s Finance Committee, Strategic Planner Ron Hogan presented a video of different views of the City Hall design along with a slew of numbers about its cost. Hogan explained that next March the City is expected to close on a 49,717-squarefoot condo that is part of the Jefferson Apartment Group’s huge, multiuse development on Pleasant Street. Hogan explained that it will then be up to the city to turn the “cold, dark shell� of a condo into the building for the community. According to Hogan, the estimated cost of the shell is $9.3 million, which includes $2.5 million in out-of-pocket cash with the remainder made up in tax breaks for the developer. But estimates to complete the construction of the interior are now running at $16.3 million, or $5 million more than the city has available for the project.
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Hogan stressed that the design committee worked to balance form, function and the fact that taxpayers are picking up the tab for the project. “We tried to pick materials that will last for a long period of time while being respectful of the fact that this is taxpayer money,� he said. But the City faced some unexpected budgeting challenges since the project began four years ago. According to Hogan, from 2013 to 2018, the cost of nonresidential construction has increased 4.5 percent annually. And the cost of furniture for a public building seems to have blown through the roof. Hogan’s estimates include $1.49 million for City Hall furniture with an additional $225,000 for furniture contingencies. Budget estimates also include $765,000 for design services, $625,000 for design service contingencies and $648,212 in soft costs. Hogan said that $1.5 million of the new $5 million that the City is now planning to borrow will cover contingencies and might not be needed. Although several members of the Finance Committee questioned the additional spending they also acknowledged that Malden needs
BUDGET | SEE PAGE 4