Officially a captain

The City Council and Fire Department conducted a swearing-in ceremony last week for Richard Carroccino, who was promoted to captain. According to Fire Chief Chuck Fothergill, Carroccino came to the department in 1994 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2005. Carroccino has an associate's degree in fire science and is assigned to the hazardous materials position in the department. He was sworn in at the City Council chambers, in front of his family and fellow firefighters. His ceremony was followed by the swearing-in of four new firefighters.

- Katheleen Conti

SCHOOL SALE OK'D - Mayor Carlo DeMaria has the green light to sell the old Devens School after receiving final approval Monday night from the Common Council. The council earlier this month authorized a request by the mayor to sell the two-story building, but the Board of Aldermen then added some conditions that required the council's approval. The changes require the building be developed as housing for tenants age 55 and over; that the development is limited to 22 units; and the pending sale price of $950,000 - $100,000 more than the appraised value in March 2007 - not be considered for any tax abatement request. Developer Anthony Cassano said earlier this month that his company, Chelsea-based Cassano Development Co., intended to create housing for people age 55 and over at the site. The building has been costing the city about $5,000 a month to maintain, not including the roughly $12,000 a month to heat it during the past winter, the mayor's office said. - Kay Lazar

INSIDE TIPS FOR LANDLORDS - The city's Public Health Department will hold its fifth landlord training program to show property owners how to spot the signs of illegal activity. Training will focus on screening potential tenants and the common signs of illegal drug use. Since the first session was held in June 2006, about 60 landlords managing some 2,500 rental units have taken part in the training, which is funded with a state grant. This upcoming session also will include a discussion of legal issues in the state Housing Court. Judge David Kerman, presiding justice of the Northeast Housing Court, and P.J. McDonough, chief housing specialist at the court, will participate. One-day sessions are scheduled for June 5 and June 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the community room at the Lynn Housing Authority, 10 Church St. To register, call 781-595-0450 or e-mail jmuschetecrs@hotmail.com. - Kathy McCabe

LIFE EXPANDING - Lynnfield Initiatives for Elders (LIFE) recently launched a website, life-inc.us. The nonprofit corporation, created by local residents in 1982, owns and operates two senior housing developments: Center Village, a 60-unit complex at 665 Main St., and Essex Village, a 66-unit complex at 443 Essex St. It also has plans to build a 48-unit senior complex on a 6-acre portion of Sheraton Colonial Golf Course. National Development, the firm planning a village-style development on the course, is donating the land for the senior housing to the town, which will then sell it to LIFE. The new website is intended to provide information about the organization and its mission, as well as updates on available units, and news of interest to residents about its current and future villages. - John Laidler

CHANGE IN PARADE ROUTE - Malden's Memorial Day parade will not end at City Hall as originally planned. The procession, which is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. tomorrow, will now finish back at its starting point at the intersection of Main, Salem, and Ferry streets, according to a recent note sent by Ward 1 Councilor Gary Christenson. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, 36 Crystal St., will hold a reception following the parade. - Erin Ailworth

STAYING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS - More eighth-graders are choosing to move on to Melrose High School rather than private schools, according to new numbers from the district. The percentage of students going to private schools dropped from 26 percent in the 2006-2007 school year to 15 percent in 2007-2008. Melrose High principal Joe Dillon attributed the increase to a concerted effort and increased outreach to parents by administrators. District data also show that, so far, 94 percent of this year's Melrose High seniors have been accepted to colleges and universities, including Harvard, MIT, Pratt Institute, and Johns Hopkins University. - Kay Lazar

FRARY TO LEAD BOARD - The Board of Selectmen elected its officers for the coming year at a meeting earlier this month. Robert "Skip" Frary is the new chairman, succeeding Richard Lombard. Michael Manning is the vice chairman, and Lombard the board's secretary. All three are longtime board members. - David Rattigan

BUDGET HEARINGS - The City Council has scheduled hearing dates to go over the proposed fiscal year 2009 budget. On June 3, from 5 to 6 p.m., the Ways and Means Subcommittee will discuss the portions regarding the mayor's office, city auditor, and finance director. On June 4 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., the subcommittee will review police, fire, public works, and DPW enterprise fund budgets. On June 10 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., they will go over pending litigation with the city solicitor, as well as discuss the budgets for the retirement board and management information systems. The last hearing is scheduled for June 11 from 3:30 to 6 p.m., to discuss the School Department, planning and community development, Board of Assessors, and the Purchasing Department. All hearings will take place at the City Council Chamber in City Hall, 281 Broadway. - Katheleen Conti

GRILL SEEKS LICENSES - The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday will hold a public hearing on the application of Chipotle Mexican Grill to open at 444 Broadway, the former Tweeter electronics store on Route 1 north. The Denver-based chain has applied for both a common victualler's license and an entertainment license. The board meets at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Town Hall. - Kathy McCabe

SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE - The fiscal 2009 school budget approved by the annual Town Meeting last month is the subject of a referendum on Tuesday. In a special election, voters will decide whether the town should appropriate $27,437,670 for the public schools, the amount approved by Town Meeting. Residents opposed to the size of the budget successfully petitioned to have the ballot question placed before voters. Should a majority vote "yes" in the referendum, the Town Meeting vote will be affirmed and the school budget will stand. But if a majority votes "no," and barring further action by a Special Town Meeting, the school budget starting July 1 would be set each month at one-12th the amount of the $25,980,430 fiscal 2008 school budget. Voting hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. - John Laidler

CAN AND BOTTLE DRIVE - The Gorman/Fort Banks School Parent Teacher Organization is urging Memorial Day revelers and everyone else to save their cans and bottles for a townwide drive. The PTO has set a goal to collect 20,000 bottles and cans to raise funds to implement environmental education programs at the school, said Georgeane Coleman, of the Viking Pride Foundation. Students have enjoyed recent activities and curriculum focused on conservation and recycling at the elementary level, such as building robots out of recyclable material, Coleman said. Eligible items include soda and beer cans and bottles as well as large soda bottles. The drive is scheduled for Saturday from 9 a.m. and noon at the school, 101 Kennedy Drive. For more information, contact the PTO at 617-846-5509. - Katheleen Conti

AUDIT REVIEW - The City Council's Finance and Property Committee will meet Tuesday with representatives of Powers and Sullivan of Woburn to review the audit of the city's fiscal 2007 financial statements. Katherine Griffin, the council's budget management analyst, and city finance director John Dunn will be present for the review, to be held at 7:45 p.m. in the council chambers in City Hall.

- John Laidler

TOWN HALL RENOVATION OK'D - Town Meeting members last week narrowly approved a $6.4 million renovation to Town Hall. A two-thirds majority approval of the 116 elected members was required. The article, which received a favorable recommendation from the Finance Committee, passed, 80 to 36. Town Hall, built in 1855, is the town's oldest municipal building. Officials say that windows, clapboard, and the roof need to be replaced. Inside, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning must be upgraded. Voters approved bonding for the engineering, design, and construction on the project, which can't start until the new fiscal year begins July 1.

- Kathy McCabe

BUDGET APPROVED - Voters approved a $23.5 million budget at the annual Town Meeting and authorized spending state funds to prepare designs and costs estimates for a new elementary school behind the Howe-Manning School. In other business, the meeting appropriated funds to purchase five modular units that the town currently has under lease to provide space for the schools. It also authorized spending to acquire new technology for the schools; to renovate Memorial Hall, Old Town Hall, the police station, and the Public Works office and garage; and to secure plans and permits for the construction of athletic fields atop the capped landfill at Emily Maher Recreational Park. - John Laidler

COOKING UP A FESTIVAL - Residents who have enjoyed the sights, sounds, and smells of Peabody's International Festival, or who have a love of cooking ethnic foods, have a chance to contribute to a new book. In honor of the 25th anniversary of the city's popular fall festival this year, the International Festival Committee is putting together a cookbook that also will feature memories of the first 24 years of the festival. The committee is inviting residents to submit recipes along with stories and reflections. Held in Peabody Square each September, the festival is a celebration of the city's ethnic diversity and traditions. To offer a submission for the cookbook, contact Janis Survilas at 978-538-5915 or janis.survilas@peabody.ma.gov, or call the mayor's office at 978-538-5702. The deadline is Friday. - John Laidler

NO DUMPING ZONE - The waters in and around Salem Sound could soon be designated as "no discharge" areas, which would prohibit boats outfitted with toilets from dumping untreated sewage. The federal Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing a state proposal for the designation, which would affect the sound, as well as the waters off Manchester-by-the-Sea, Beverly, Danvers, and Marblehead. The state must show that there are enough pump-out facilities in the area where boats can dispose of sewage. - Erin Ailworth

REBUILDING TOLERANCE - The town is seeking to again become a No Place for Hate Community. The Anti-Defamation League provides the designation to communities that carry out specific steps to promote tolerance. Swampscott had the designation previously, but allowed it to lapse. A new group, the Task Force on Respect for Human Differences, several months ago began working to restore the designation. The effort was spurred by concern over several incidents involving bigotry, including the drawing of a swastika in a Middle School boys' bathroom. The group is holding events to promote tolerance including a "Walk for Respect" June 8. For more information, call 781-592-2576.

- John Laidler