REVERE
Immaculate Conception Parish’s Family Festival photo highlights – See page 15
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NECCO property rezoning approved by City Council By The Advocate
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Senior outside back James Kioussis leads the RHS Patriots onto the field in style for their season opener against Gloucester at Della Russo Stadium Friday, September 8. The Pats played hard, but ultimately fell 28-8. They square off next against Marblehead in a nonconference away game tonight at 7 p.m. See story and photo highlights inside on pages 12 & 13. (Advocate photo by Al Terminiello)
Friday, September 15, 2017
n Monday night, the Revere City Council unanimously voted in favor of the final approval necessary to rezone the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO) property to allow for advanced manufacturing, robotics and life sciences. The zoning amendment had already gone through a public hearing and a committee process. The zoning amendment impacts the Industrial Park District, which currently only applies to the NECCO property. The text of the amendment can be viewed on the city website. The zoning amendment keeps the property as fully commercial. Atlantic Management, the owners of the property, plan to pursue tenants in the advanced manufacturing, robotics and life sciences field. NECCO continues to operate on-site. Ward 5 Councillor John Powers said, “This is one of, if not the greatest … zoning change to
come before the city in years.” Powers pointed out that no condos or residential development were involved, and he cited the transportation needs for a commuter rail stop. Currently, the connection to the MBTA Blue Line Wonderland stop and parking garage will be advantageous to potential developers at the NECCO site. “We have three hotels in the pipeline and now this,” said Powers. “We’re finally moving in the right direction.” Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto mirrored Powers’s comments, saying the potential for the site is “unbelievable,” and he applauded the first-rate ownership group VMD Companies of North Andover and Atlantic Management of Framingham, “Who have done great things across the state.” “This is exciting news for Revere’s 21st century economy,” said Mayor Brian Arrigo. “Thank you to the City Council for their support. We look forward to this site becoming a jobs hub for Revere.”
Police chief search policy change sent to subcommittee By James Mitchell
M
ayor Brian Arrigo faced questioning from Councillor-at-Large George Rotondo on
for a Contact usation No Oblig
Monday evening following the mayor’s update on his amendment to change a city ordinance to hire a police chief from outside the city. Arrigo is request-
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ing the chief’s hiring to be exempt from Mass. General Laws covering Civil Service. Knowing the issue would be going to the Public Safety Subcommittee, the mayor stated he didn’t expect a vote right away. A r r i g o a d d re s s e d t h e 90-pound gorilla in the room, the 2015 Police Department review sanctioned by former Mayor Dan Rizzo and former Police Chief Joseph Cafarelli. The review, conducted by UMass/Boston’s Collins Center, criticized the Revere Police Department on many levels and in the end, suggested hiring a new police chief
from outside the city. But Rotondo and Rizzo have questioned the timing of the report’s release by Arrigo, who has been conducting his own assessment of the police department, which has faced constant criticism by Rotondo and Rizzo, along with Arrigo’s decision to not renew Cafarelli’s contract. Arrigo offered emails to the council showing that Rizzo and his administrative staff had communicated with Kym Craven of the Collins Center, who worked on the 2015 report, setting off a round of questioning by Rotondo.
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Rizzo has denied ever seeing the results of the report from the Collins Center despite repeated requests. He also stated he was unaware if the former police chief had received the results. “The facts around the 2015 report are well documented,” said the mayor.“All I can do is present the facts and that’s exactly what we have done.” Arrigo stated that he wants to “turn the page” and move forward with finding the best leadership for the police department. Ward 6 Councillor Charlie Patch asked the mayor if he has addressed the issue of hiring from outside the city with the police unions, including the Superior Officers union. Arrigo said the union reps have offered some good ideas on selecting a chief. “We want their feedback,” he said. Patch said that if the unions didn’t agree with the mayor, he hoped the mayor would work toward another solution. Rotondo asked Arrigo about
POLICY | SEE PAGE 21