THE MALDEN ADVOCATE – Friday, April 27, 2018

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Vol. 20, No. 17

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Malden YMCA celebrates Healthy Kids Day

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By Barbara Taormina he proposed 2019 budget for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) includes funding for 22 local programs that provide services to low-and-moderate-income residents, but the lion’s share of the money is earmarked for park improvements, road upgrades and loan payments. Malden expects to receive $1.3 million in federal funding this year from the CDBG program. Run by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), CDBG is meant to provide housing, infrastructure improvements and economic opportunities for low-tomoderate-income residents. But HUD also allows communities to spend up to 15 percent of their annual allocations on smaller public service programs that often have a more

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immediate and direct impact on those in need. “We propose funding as many public service programs as possible especially those that pertain to our seniors, youth and housing needs,� wrote Mayor Gary Christenson in a letter to the City Council. “The maximum that we can designate from this budget is $199,000 and we suggest appropriating right to our ceiling,� said Christenson, adding that the focus of the funding would be programs that address homelessness, housing stabilization and the health and well-being of residents. This year’s budget includes $35,000 for Malden Elderly Transportation and $10,000 for a meals program run by Mystic Valley Elder Services. Funding for those programs has remained at that same level for the past three years.

Housing Families’ annual CDBG money will increase by $6,000, and the organization will receive $15,000 for its homeless-prevention program. The Justice Resource Institute was added to Malden’s list of public service programs this year. That organization is in line to receive $15,000 for unaccompanied homeless student services. Also new is Boston Action for Community Development, which will receive $10,000 for homeless-prevention and outreach. The Cambridge-based JustA-Start Corporation will receive $10,000 for its housing stabilization program. Funding for Bread of Life’s evening meal and food pantry program will remain level at $11,250, and the Immigrant

PARK | SEE PAGE 14

Committee recommends adding public comment to City Council meetings

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Friday, April 27, 2018

CDBG budget proposal focuses on parks and pedestrian improvements

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Shown getting their kicks at the Malden YMCA Healthy Kids Day celebration on Saturday, April 21 are members of Y’s Karate Team, Megyn Ta, Diego Lopez, Sofia Lopez, Brenden Xie, Preston Shearer, are shown at the. See more photo highlights from the even on page 13. (Advocate photo by Al Terminiello)

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By Barbara Taormina

proposal to give the public a chance to express their opinions and ideas at City Council meetings is back on the table, and this time around it looks like a go. The Ordinance Committee is unanimously recommending that 30 minutes be reserved for public comment at the start of City Council meetings. Speakers will have up to two minutes each to address items on the agen-

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da for that meeting. There will be no dialog between councillors and anyone who chooses to speak, and comments from the public are expected to be respectful. “Last time, it was a five-tofive vote and I was not there,� said Council President Debbie DeMaria, who first proposed adding public comment to council meetings six months ago. Some councillors opposed the idea, arguing that allowing public comment was more of a town meeting–style approach to city business. Others worried about the loss of valuable meeting time, and some said the members of the public can already speak at meetings if they are sponsored by a member of the council. But DeMaria favored a more open type of public comment segment, much like the School Committee allows at the start of its meetings. “I think it’s very valuable,� she said, adding that neighboring communities, such as Everett, Cambridge, Revere and Medford, all allow public comment at their council meetings.

“I’m generally supportive of this,� said Ordinance Committee Member Stephen Winslow. “It’s good for people to have that opportunity. Last year I saw people come to meetings and feel frustrated because they could not speak about what’s on the agenda.� Councillors plan to ask the city solicitor to review the ordinance change to allow public comment before it heads to the full council for a vote. And there are some limits. Members of the public cannot address issues that the council discusses in closed-door executive sessions, such as contract negotiations, pending lawsuits, and personnel matters. Still, the move to adopt a public comment segment should help foster the city’s growing interest in civic engagement on municipal matters. And it may help councillors better understand the community’s views and concerns. As Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora put it, “If someone wants to speak on something, let them speak – good, bad or indifferent.�

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