Have a Safe & Happy Memorial Day Weekend
Vol. 20, No. 21
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Annual Wounded Vets’ Ride runs through Malden
Published Every Friday
Malden Memorial Day activities begin Monday, May 29 at 9 a.m. oin the Malden community as the city remembers and honors the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s freedom at a series of event that will take place on Memorial Day on Monday, May 29th. At 9AM, there will be a dedication of Colonel Joseph R. Cafarella Memorial Square at Judson and Newhall Streets. Joseph R. Cafarella who died last year at age 95 was a World War II Veteran retired from the United States Air Force after 36 years of service. A lifelong Malden resident, Col-
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onel Cafarella came from a distinguished family, many of whom served in the military. For his service in WWII, Colonel Cafarella was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with six Clusters along with many other military awards. Joe’s brother, Private First Class Felix A. Cafarella, U.S. Army died on March 23, 1945 in Germany as a result of wounds received in action a few days earlier. At 10 AM the annual Memorial Day Parade will kick
MEMORIAL DAY | SEE PAGE 7
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Friday, May 26, 2017
Council begins 2018 budget review By Barbara Taormina here were no big surprises or battles brewing behind the $180 million budget proposal that Mayor Gary Christenson sent to the City Council this week. Revenue projections are up, school spending is increased enough to keep programs and services intact, a new parking department has been proposed and the budget earmarks $750,000 to replace lead pipes. “These budgets are never easy and this one is no different,� said Christenson in a letter written to introduce the 2018 budget. “I truly believe we are on the cusp of some great things happening in our city with the initiatives underway. In the meantime, we just have to continue to hang in there and work our way through this.�
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VETS SUPPORTING VETS: Thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from all over New England and beyond came to Boston Harley-Davidson in Revere on Sunday in support of the annual wounded veteran’s charity motorcycle ride which drew over 5,000 riders. Shown in support of the event with BWVR founder Andy Biggs, second from right, are Malden Police Chief Kevin Molis; Ty M. Carter, Medal of Honor recipient from San Antonio, Texas; Biggio, and Dennis Moschella of Saugus, Vietnam veteran and retired US Marshal. See next week’s edition for photo highlights. (Advocate photo by JD Mitchell)
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The city expects to take in $4.1 million more in property taxes next year, an increase Christenson credits mostly to downtown development. State aid and money from local fees and fines are also expected go up. But even with those increases, Malden will still need to pull $6.5 million from the city reserve fund to balance the budget. “As in years past, the challenge remains on our need to utilize reserves to balance the budget but despite our ongoing structural imbalance, this budget, I believe, keeps Malden moving forward,� wrote Christenson. In the short term, Christenson said, this year’s free cash, or budget surplus, is expected to be $5 million and will cover most of the withdrawal from the city’s reserves. As for the remaining $1.4 million
drawdown on the city’s savings, Christenson said he expects revenues and spending to even out by 2020 when the city’s debt payments drop by $2 million and Malden starts collecting $1 million a year in mitigation payments from the Wynn Resorts casino in Everett. As for next year’s spending, the School Department budget is expected to grow by $1.8 million, or 2.7 percent, from $67.3 million this year to $69.2 million next year. Other departments will see small to moderate budget increases that will cover pay raises and other rising costs. The city’s healthcare bill is expected to go up by $2 million, and pension costs will rise by 6 percent from $9.5 million to $10.1 million.
BUDGET | SEE PAGE 13
Big plans for small squares By Barbara Taormina alden has been supporting its residential areas with a plan that highlights the city’s small squares and funds different types of improvements that spruce up these entry points into city neighborhoods. In the past, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money has been used for pedestrian safety improvements at Linden Square, for upgrades to Highland Avenue and for trees, flowers and flags in Faulkner Square at the intersection of Salem and Mt. Vernon Streets. This week, Ward 3 Councillor John Matheson proposed adding Oak Grove and Court House Squares to the list of Malden’s small squares so they
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can also be considered for future projects. “This is simply a message to the Malden Redevelopment Authority that if you are going to do more improvements, let’s not ignore Court House Square or Oak Grove,� he said. Councillors liked the idea so much that they jumped in with more small squares that could be added to the list. Ward 5 Councillor Barbara Murphy asked to officially add Faulkner Square to the small square initiative even though it has already received money for beautification. Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O’Malley pitched adding the retail area of upper Main Street from Clifton to Winter Streets to the small square list. The intersection at Cross, Willow and Bry-
ant Streets was also added to the list by Ward 7 Councillor Neal Anderson, who said that area was once known as Suffolk Square. Malden’s Small Square Initiative was passed by the City Council back in 2008 and is part of the 2010 master plan. The initiative calls for the Malden Redevelopment Authority and the Planning Board to work together to examine zoning regulation and development opportunities in city squares. The plan also calls for the protection and preservation of open space, pedestrian access, historically significant buildings, and view corridors. Judson Square was the first site to undergo a small-square makeover. Improvements included a new traffic island, landscaping, tree-planting, period lighting and traffic safety upgrades. Although small squares have retail areas, developing the city’s neighborhood gateways could potentially bring more shops and small businesses to the city’s neighborhoods. Matheson said both Court House and Oak Grove Squares are in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods and are eligible for CDBG-funded improvements.