No residency rule

Public safety officials may continue to live where they wish, for now. The City Council held a subcommittee meeting last Monday to discuss City Councilor Mike MeKonnen Tsegaye's suggestion to create a residency requirement for Police and Fire Department employees. MeKonnen Tsegaye said that by introducing a residency requirement for new public safety hires, the city would have more autonomy and pride. He argued that all but nine department heads live in Chelsea and it would be good for Chelsea civil service dollars to stay in the city. But other councilors, including president Stanley Troisi, argued that such a move would shrink the pool of qualified applicants, and that using internal affairs detectives to check whether employees are living in the city would be a waste of resources. The conference was closed with no action, said Troisi, adding that the matter will likely not come up for discussion at the City Council. MeKonnen Tsegaye said he might bring the issue up again. - Katheleen Conti

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT REJECTED - After several months of debate, a proposed ordinance to require residency for Everett's firefighters and police was defeated. The Board of Aldermen's Committee on Rules and Ordinances had recommended against passage of the measure, and the full board on Monday voted down the proposal, 4 to 3. Voting for the measure were Aldermen Frank Nuzzo Jr., Jason Marcus, and Michael Marchese, who had proposed the ordinance. Supporters argued that the requirement would increase safety in the city because public safety officials would have a vested interest in, and be more familiar with, the neighborhoods they are protecting. Opponents said it would prevent the city from hiring qualified candidates who want to live elsewhere. - Kay Lazar

SCHOOL GARDEN IN WORKS - The Robert L. Ford School may sprout a community garden this summer. The garden would grow local crops, as well as food from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The Ford School, located in the city's Highlands neighborhood, has a diverse student population. Neighborhood volunteers are helping to plan the garden, which would face Rock Street, with help from The Food Project, a nonprofit that also runs a garden at Ingalls Elementary School. The School Committee must approve the garden at Ford School. The plan is due to be presented to the committee in May, said David Gass, a project organizer. - Kathy McCabe

DRESSING UP THE SENIOR CENTER - City officials are looking for local artists interested in showcasing their work in a new senior center in Malden Square. The Washington Street center, a former church, is being renovated into a 17,000-square foot-space to serve an estimated 10,000 seniors and could open later this year, according to a statement from Mayor Richard C. Howard's office. Artists interested in the project are asked to submit a conceptual plan to the mayor's office at 200 Pleasant St. by May 1. Designs should reflect "Malden's rich history and diverse culture," and art may take any form, including photos, sculptures, wall hangings, or banners. The artist selected will receive a $500 award from the city. For information, contact Malden human services director Christine DiPietro at 781-397-7144. - Erin Ailworth

NEW AMBULANCE SERVICE - Mayor Robert Dolan recently awarded a three-year contract to Cataldo Ambulance Service, a Somerville-based company with 10 additional offices north of Boston. Under the new contract, which begins July 1, Cataldo will station two ambulances in Melrose, designate a 2008 model ambulance exclusively to the city, provide training for Fire Department emergency medical workers, and work with the Fire Department to develop an Emergency Medical Services Review Committee, according to the mayor's office. Dolan said because Cataldo provides 911 services to a number of surrounding communities, it will be able to respond quickly to emergencies in Melrose. Cataldo locations include Malden, Stoneham, Everett, and Revere, according to the company's website. Melrose has been using the Wilmington-based Action Ambulance Services for emergency coverage. - Kay Lazar

JOURNEY TO SUCCESS - The Revere Society for Cultural and Historic Preservation is scheduled to kick off its lecture series Thursday at the museum, 108 Beach St., at 7 p.m. The featured speaker will be Barbara Hunt of the one-woman show "Late Night Catechism." Hunt, who attended Immaculate Conception School in Revere and Emerson College, will speak about her journey to success. The society is asking for donations at the show, $3 for members and $5 for nonmembers. There will be a collation and door prize. - Katheleen Conti

PET PROJECT - Doggie day care could be coming to Saugus center. On Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on a request by Center Pet Care and Grooming, 306A Central St., to allow day care and training with its special permit. The business also plans to expand by 1,100 square feet. The hearing will be held as part of the board's regularly scheduled meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Town Hall. - Kathy McCabe

SPRING TREE CLEANUP - The Saugus Tree Committee on Saturday will hold its annual spring cleanup at Saugus Tree Farm, located off Jasper Street in the town center. Volunteers are needed to help. Saugus students who take part could earn credit for community service, which is a graduation requirement. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The rain date is Sunday. For information, call Tim Hawkes at 781-233-6428 or Margery Hunter at 781-233-0349. - Kathy McCabe

TOWN MEETING SAYS NO TO CUTS - The Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee are due to discuss how to eliminate a $2,433,240 deficit in the fiscal 2009 operating budget that was recently approved by the Annual Town Meeting. According to Town Administrator Thomas P. Butler, the budget was $90,000 short at the outset of Town Meeting April 7, but grew to its current size because of spending decisions made at the meeting. One was to approve a School Committee budget request that exceeded - by $2,051,240 - the figure proposed by the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen. Following that action, the meeting restored spending cuts that had been made in other departments, including $90,000 each for the police and fire departments; $25,000 for the library; and $87,000 for the Department of Public Works. Butler said it is not unusual for the budget that emerges from Town Meeting to have a small deficit, "but this amount is unusual." He said all options would be discussed as officials weigh how to erase the shortfall, including budget cuts, a Proposition 2 1/2 override, and some combination of the two. He said any plan will have to be put before a Special Town Meeting. In other actions, Town Meeting approved a $998,520 capital budget, and $1 million to cover the anticipated cost of employee contracts. - John Laidler

SALARY FREEZE PROPOSED - A motion asking Town Manager Richard White to freeze all nonunion employee salaries at 2008 levels was forwarded by the Town Council to the Finance Subcommittee for further discussion. Town Council vice president Phillip Boncore made the request, pointing out that in a three-year period, raises and promotions have ranged from 10 to 35 percent, and "We have to tighten our belt." Council president Thomas Reilly said the request is not practical because nonunion employees can't get a raise without council approval. Councilor Joseph Ferrino Jr. asked that the subcommittee look at the cost savings and feasibility of the request. - Katheleen Conti

LEGISLATORS ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS - State legislators met with numerous homeless and formerly homeless families, as well as several local family and housing organizations, in Malden April 10 to discuss solutions to homelessness in Massachusetts. The groups in attendance included Homes for Families, Housing Families Inc., Medford Family Life Education Center, and Tri-City Community Action Program. Legislators included state Representatives Paul Donato of Medford, Sean Garballey of Arlington, and Stephen Smith of Everett. Mike Smith, legislative director for state Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei of Wakefield, and Lauren Sacco, an aide to state Senator Patricia Jehlen of Somerville, also attended. Homeless and formerly homeless individuals and families were given the opportunity to describe actions they feel need to be taken. "This annual breakfast is a rare opportunity for those experiencing homelessness to meet face to face with their local politicians and share with them their stories," said Judy Perlman, chief executive officer of Malden-based Housing Families Inc. "This breakfast allows our local politicians to see firsthand what needs to be accomplished." - Christine Judge

AROUND THE REGION

PERMITS TO STORE FLAMMABLES LACKING - Seventeen of the 35 businesses in town licensed to store flammable materials do not have a permit from the Fire Department. They include retailers, chemical companies, and others. State law requires that entities storing 10,000 gallons or more of flammable materials have licenses from both the local licensing authority and the Fire Department. The lapse was discovered in March, while Danvers firefighters inspected the 35 license holders as part of a new inspection program put into effect after a Danversport chemical explosion in November 2006. The Fire Department now is working with the businesses to bring them into compliance. - Kathy McCabe

MERRITT ELECTED SELECTMAN - Al Merritt, an Economic Development Advisory Committee member, defeated Finance Committee member David Nelson in the race for an open seat on the Board of Selectmen at the annual town election Monday. Merritt drew 958 votes to 275 for Nelson. Incumbent Darlene Drutman did not run. - John Laidler

DUNKIN' DONUTS PROPOSED - The City Council April 29 will hear a request for a special permit by Manuel Galopim, who wants to open a 24-hour Dunkin' Donuts at 257 Andover St. (Route 114). The council also will discuss a request from Bruce Rollins to amend a special permit to allow changes in a proposed addition to an automobile service station at 73 Lynn St. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. - Steven Rosenberg

OLD MIDDLE SCHOOL COULD BE SOLD - The School Committee voted to declare the former middle school building surplus, clearing the way for the May 5 Annual Town Meeting to consider authorizing the sale of the Greenwood Avenue building. On April 11, the Town Building Study Committee recommended it be sold with certain restrictions on its future use, according to Town Administrator Andrew Maylor. The 88,000-square-foot building has been empty since last fall, when the new high school opened and the middle school relocated to the former high school on Forest Avenue. The building committee's recommendations, including the sale of the former Temple Israel building and the former Phillips Beach fire station and construction of a new police station, will be considered at Town Meeting. - John Laidler