← Legal & Legislative Committee · 2026-03-23 · Legal & Legislative Committee
That the Melrose City Council vote to dissolve the Melrose Redevelopment Authority
Agenda original PDF
Minutes original PDF
C. (ID # 2026-475): That the Melrose City Council vote to dissolve the Melrose Redevelopment Authority Motion to Recommend made by Councilor Vandiver Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and motion passed RESULTS: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: City Council AYES: Maya Jamaleddine, Bradley Freeman, Elizabeth Kowal, Kim Vandiver NAYS: None ABSENT: Manjula Karamcheti, Cal Finocchiaro Comments on discussion: -Councilor Vandiver stated that I appreciate you bringing this before us to close things out cleanly, and to do that final act of beautifying Milano Park at the corner of Main Street and Grove Street. I think that's a great use of those funds. -Chair Jamaleddine asked how much money is left in the account and there is currently $45,000 which will be put toward the Milano Park final project. Administrative code specifies how the money can be used and there is also grant money for this specific project.
Transcript
▶ 14:50 Maya Jamaleddine: Um, next we have ID number twenty twenty-six dash four seventy-five, that the Melrose City Council vote to dissolve the Melrose, Redevelopment Authority. And we have, Director Massa.
▶ 15:14 Speaker 4: good. Hello, I'm Lori Massa. I'm the director of the Office of Planning and Community Development, and I'm with Phil Cocora, who is the chair of the Melrose Redevelopment Authority. So we're here tonight to request, a vote to dissolve the Melrose Redevelopment Authority. Uh, the current members are Phil, Joan Cassidy, and Jim Oosterman, and they have, taken that vote to, put this before the council. Uh, the Office of Planning and Community Development has initiated this housekeeping item, as we use the remaining funds in the Melrose Redevelopment Authority's, purview. So we're gonna be using these, funds to beautify and renovate Milano Park, which is at the corner of Main Street and Grove Street. And this is the exact block that the Melrose Redevelopment Authority was focusing in on using, federal funds, to improve over the years. So the Redevelopment Authority was first established in 1959, through the Federal Urban Renewal Program. And then in 1978, the group, created a, an urban renewal plan for this Friends Block, after there was a large fire. And the most visible outcome of their efforts was, the renovation of the Prince Building, which currently houses the, Eastern Bank. So with the, the final use of these funds, we'd like to have the city council vote, and then we would submit that to the state, secretary for certification and, the kind of closing the, the books on, on having the Redevelopment Authority, in Melrose. And this is pretty typical. Um, a lot of the Redevelopment Author- Authorities didn't continue to have funding, after the federal and state money, dried up in the, the seventies. And so we are just taking this, final step to officially dissolve.
▶ 17:16 Maya Jamaleddine: Perfect. Thank you. And, would you like to say, to add anything on Director Massa's comment? Well, I,
▶ 17:26 Speaker 3: I'm here really just answer any questions that you might have, or, follow up on any of the previous discussion. But, as has been already stated, we saw our role at this point to be ready to close down and to say good night, and, wish anybody who's moving on with something related to this to keep on with it. There is some discussion underway now to reestablish the, historic society, in Melrose. Uh, the Historic District Commission is continuing to operate, and these are two things that I've been very much involved in for many years. Yeah. Uh, and, so if there are any questions, I'd be happy to-
▶ 18:14 Maya Jamaleddine: Yeah. Um, thank you so much for your service and everything that you did for Melrose and, our community. We appreciate everything you did. Um, I'll open it for my colleagues if they have any
▶ 18:27 Speaker 1: question.Councillor Vandiver.
▶ 18:29 Kimberly Vandiver: Thank you. I, I don't have any questions. I, I think that it... I appreciate you bringing this before us to, close things out cleanly and, and to do that final act of beautifying that, corner. I think that's, a, a great use of those funds, and I vote to, recommend... make a motion to recommend. Well, we-
▶ 18:49 Maya Jamaleddine: Second. We have a motion to recommend made by Councillor Vand- Vandiver, seconded by Councillor Kowal. Um, discussion. I don't know if yeah, I m- I have a question. I don't know if I missed how much is the f- current fund right now? How much is left?
▶ 19:04 Speaker 4: So $45,000. $45,000. And the, administrative code specifies how the funds can just... They go into the planning, department, funds and to use that money. So we have, also grant money for this specific project. So with those two, amounts combined, we're able to, to move forward with the, the, Milano Park project.
▶ 19:30 Maya Jamaleddine: Awesome. Um, and, any other, comments on discussion? Okay, all in favor? Aye. Any oppose? Okay, this motion passes. Thank you again for everything you did for our community, and good luck on your next chapter.
▶ 19:48 Speaker 3: Thank you.
▶ 19:53 Speaker 1: Okay.
▶ 19:55 Maya Jamaleddine: Next, we have ID number 2026-447, amending Melrose Revised Ordinance 93-6, leashing requirements to provide exceptions for K9 dogs and service animals. Uh, President, Freeman.