Melrose Council Search

City Council — 2026-06-15

City Council Meeting 6/15/26

Attendance

Jason Chen present · At-Large; Cal Finocchiaro present · Ward 6; Maya Jamaleddine present · At-Large; Manjula Karamcheti present · Ward 1

Agenda

  1. CALL TO ORDER (0:00)
  2. Attendees (0:44)
  3. MINUTES APPROVAL (1:35)
  4. City Council Regular Meeting June 1, 2026 7:45 PM (1:58)
  5. PUBLIC COMMENT (2:13)
  6. EXECUTIVE SESSION (20:16)
  7. To consider the continued lease of 53 parking spaces near St. Mary’s Church located at 41 Myrtle Street in Melrose, from the Archdiocese of Boston, and to discuss ongoing negotiations and proposals for a successor lease, with the current lease set to expire June 30, 2026, as an open discussion may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the City. (20:40)
  8. RETURN FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION (22:28)
  9. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE HONORABLE MAYOR & OTHER CITY OFFICIALS (22:50)
  10. NEW BUSINESS (23:00)
  11. Filings by the Honorable Mayor (23:06)
  12. Appropriations (23:10)
  13. Appropriation from Peg Access Fund #2922 in the amount of $167,277.80 to MMTV and $55,759.27 to Melrose Public Schools (#1803). (23:16)
  14. Orders (23:28)
  15. Report on results of the Municipal Surplus Buildings Study for the Police Station and Ripley School Sites (23:32)
  16. Authorization to Amend Solid Waste Facility Operating Agreement by and between the City of Melrose and Waste Management of Massachusetts. (23:38)
  17. Filings by members of the Honorable City Council (23:48)
  18. Resolutions (23:55)
  19. Resolution Affirming Accountability, Transparency and Respect for the Will of the Voters Sponsored by Cal Finocchiaro (24:00)
  20. Licenses (40:04)
  21. New Common Victualler License for Shawbak Lebanese Eatery and Bakery (40:15)
  22. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (40:26)
  23. Appropriations for FY26 (40:30)
  24. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the Assessing Department (#141) in the amount of $9,000 to cover the cost of mailing tax impact notices to all taxpayers in Melrose. (40:34)
  25. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the Planning Department (#175) in the amount of $75,000 to hire a consultant for technical assistance to update the City’s Housing Production Plan (HPP). (41:32)
  26. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the Planning Department (#175) in the amount of $70,000 to hire a consultant for technical assistance to update the Downtown Parking Study. (42:20)
  27. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $150,000 to the Affordable Housing Trust (#8270). (43:57)
  28. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to Memorial Building (#693) in the amount of $50,000 for boiler replacement and HVAC controls. (1:01:00)
  29. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the School Department (#300) in the amount of $12,193.20 to purchase vape detectors for MVMMS. (1:02:00)
  30. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the School Department (#300) in the amount of $72,180 to purchase MHS Band uniforms. (1:02:45)
  31. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the School Department (#300) in the amount of $44,296.32 for the purchase of athletic equipment. (1:03:32)
  32. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to DPW-Admin/Engineering Department (#401) in the amount of $710,000 for design and permitting of Ell Pond Park. (1:04:17)
  33. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to DPW-Highway Department (#422) in the amount of $400,000 for Lebanon Street TIP project design. (1:21:00)
  34. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to DPW - School Facilities Department (#402) in the amount of $20,000 to update school signage. (1:21:48)
  35. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $37,000 to the Planning Department (#175) for treating the Towners, Swains, and Ell Ponds. (1:22:38)
  36. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $17,000 to the Parks Department for the Purchase of AEDs for playing fields. (1:23:20)
  37. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $400,000 to the Fire Department (#221) for projected overtime costs through the end of the Fiscal Year. (1:24:12)
  38. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $30,000 to the Fire Department(#221) for projected motor vehicle repair through the end of the Fiscal Year. (1:25:04)
  39. An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $560,000 to the City Stabilization fund (#8401). (1:25:50)
  40. An Appropriation from Mt. Hood Retained Earnings (account 620000-319000) in the amount of $200,000 to Mt. Hood Reserve Fund (8417-490000). (1:26:35)
  41. An Appropriation from Mt. Hood Retained Earnings (account 620000-319000) in the amount of $150,000 to Mt. Hood Professional Services (account 620000-529000) to fulfill contract obligations. (1:27:30)
  42. An Appropriation from Sewer Retained Earnings (account 6000-319000) to Sewer Equipment (account 604413-551002) for the down payment on a Vactor Truck. (1:28:20)
  43. Appropriations for FY27 (1:29:12)
  44. ​An ​Appropriation in the amount of $2,236,997 to fund the Fiscal Year 2027 Mt. Hood Enterprise Fund budget. (1:29:18)
  45. An Appropriation in the amount of $8,461,623 to fund the Fiscal 2027 Sewer Enterprise Fund budget. (1:30:06)
  46. An Appropriation in the amount of $6,702,788 to fund the Fiscal Year 2027 Water Enterprise fund budget. (1:30:55)
  47. An Appropriation in the amount of $3,639,322 to fund the Fiscal Year 2027 Solid Waste Enterprise fund budget. (1:31:38)
  48. ​Fiscal Year 2027 Water ​Rates (1:32:22)
  49. Fiscal Year 2027 Sewer Rates. (1:33:05)
  50. An Appropriation in the amount of $348,948.80 for Other Funding Sources (OFS) for Fiscal Year 2027. (1:33:48)
  51. Reauthorization of the revolving fund table for Fiscal Year 2027. (1:34:32)
  52. An Appropriation in the amount of $126,652,797 to fund the Fiscal Year 2027 General Fund Operating Budget. (1:35:15)
  53. Orders (1:37:12)
  54. An order to increase the Recreation Revolving Fund (#2652) spending limit for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026 from $500,000 to $575,000. (1:37:16)
  55. Acceptance of a donation to the Parks Department for the purchase and maintenance of AED units at parks throughout the City. (1:38:01)
  56. Vote to establish the Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District (1:38:48)
  57. Transfers (1:46:10)
  58. A transfer in the amount of $69,000 from Health Insurance (#914) to Workers Compensation (#912) to fund estimated costs through the end of the fiscal year. (1:46:15)
  59. Requesting a transfer of $7,000 from the Memorial Building Salaries account 016931-511000 to the Memorial Building Professional Services account 016932-529000 to cover the FY26 HVAC repairs. (1:46:52)
  60. Transfer to DPW-Facilities (#402) in the amount of $130,000 from various DPW accounts for June utilities. (1:47:42)
  61. Requesting an interdepartmental transfer of funds from the Elections Salaries PT Line item (011621-512000) in the amount of $24,437 to the Printing line item 011622-521000. (1:48:23)
  62. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES (1:49:15)
  63. EXPIRIES (1:49:22)
  64. RULE 36 REPORTS (1:49:26)
  65. ADJOURNMENT (1:50:00)

Minutes

City Council Regular Meeting Monday, June 15, 2026, 7:45 PM City Council Chamber, 1st Floor 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER Jason Chen Cal Finocchiaro Maya Jamaleddine Manjula Karamcheti Elizabeth Kowal John Obremski Christopher Park Devin Romanul Kimberly Vandiver Ryan Williams Brad Freeman, President Pledge of Allegiance Meeting was called to order by President Freeman at 7:45 PM Councilor Karamcheti was in remote attendance after the Executive Session, joining at 8:47 PM Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Jason Chen At-Large Present Cal Finocchiaro Ward 6 Present Maya Jamaleddine At-Large Present Manjula Karamcheti Ward 1 Present-Remote Arrived at 8:47 attendance PM Elizabeth Kowal At-Large Present John Obremski Ward 2 Present Christopher Park Ward 3 Present Devin Romanul Ward 7 Present Kimberly Vandiver Ward 5 Present Arrived at 7:47 PM Ryan Williams At-Large Present William Bradley Feeman President Present 1 II. MINUTES APPROVAL A. City Council Regular Meeting June 1, 2026 7:45 PM Motion to Approve the minutes made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and minutes were approved Councilors Karamcheti and Vandiver were not present for this vote RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Ryan Williams III. PUBLIC COMMENT When: Jun 15, 2026 07:45 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: City Council Meeting Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android: https://cityofmelrose- org.zoom.us/j/96637769858?pwd=FD52kMo0YWapZHPaVjgbpDEeRk6P36.1 Passcode:426077 Webinar ID: 966 3776 9858 Motion to Open public comment made by Councilor Romanul at 7:47 PM Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed Comments on the floor: Cory Allen of 179 E Foster Street from Fighting for Black Lives advocated for supporting a $150,000 appropriation for the Affordable Housing Trust, citing racial disparities in home loan denial rates. Gail Infurna of 12 Mount Vernon Street and a former mayor and member of the Affordable Housing Corporation, spoke in support of the free cash transfer to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, emphasizing its importance for accessing state and federal housing funds. Janine Venuti of Altamont Avenue spoke in favor of a resolution supporting a state audit of the legislature, citing the 67% Melrose voter approval and need for transparency. Camarie Clark of 64 Bellevue Avenue spoke in favor of a resolution supporting a state audit of the legislature, stating that former MA speakers of the house have been convicted of fraud and the state leadership is going against the will of the people by not allowing the audit. Ron Tauro of 159 Derby Road spoke in support of the Benjamin Lynde House Historic District since it is one of the few remaining historic structures with a story that should be preserved and told. 2 Jim O'Loughlin of 39 Lincoln Street asked councilors to support the state audit resolution and audit proclamation. Eric Wildman of 105 Laurel Street spoke in favor of the $150,000 for the Affordable Housing Trust and its potential to unlock state and federal money and urged council to approve it. There were no comments via Zoom Motion to Close public comment made by Councilor Finocchiaro at 8:05 PM Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and public comment was closed IV. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion to Enter into Executive Session made by Councilor Vandiver at 8:05 PM Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro Motion passed 9-1 Councilor Chen asked to postpone Executive Session until the end of the meeting and the request was denied by President Freeman. Councilor Karamcheti was not present for this vote. RESULT: ACCEPTED AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: Jason Chen ABSENT: Manjula Karamcheti A. To consider the continued lease of 53 parking spaces near St. Mary’s Church located at 41 Myrtle Street in Melrose, from the Archdiocese of Boston, and to discuss ongoing negotiations and proposals for a successor lease, with the current lease set to expire June 30, 2026, as an open discussion may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the City. Motion to Place on File made by Councilor Williams Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Manjula Karamcheti V. RETURN FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion to End Executive Session made by Councilor Williams at 8:43 PM Seconded by Councilor Vandiver 3 All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Manjula Karamcheti Regular Council meeting was resumed VI. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE HONORABLE MAYOR & OTHER CITY OFFICIALS VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Filings by the Honorable Mayor i. Appropriations

1. (ID # 2026-1334): Appropriation from Peg Access Fund #2922 in the amount of $167,277.80 to MMTV and $55,759.27 to Melrose Public Schools (#1803). Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee made by President Freeman All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Appropriations & Oversight ii. Orders

1. (ID # 2026-1376): Report on results of the Municipal Surplus Buildings Study for the Police Station and Ripley School Sites Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee made by President Freeman All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Appropriations & Oversight

2. (ID # 2026-1382): Authorization to Amend Solid Waste Facility Operating Agreement by and between the City of Melrose and Waste Management of Massachusetts. Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee made by President Freeman All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Appropriations & Oversight 4 B. Filings by members of the Honorable City Council i. Resolutions

1. (ID # 2026-1381): Resolution Affirming Accountability, Transparency and Respect for the Will of the Voters Sponsored by Cal Finocchiaro Motion for Immediate Consideration made by Councilor Finocchiaro Seconded by Councilor Chen All were in favor and motion passed Councilor Karamcheti joined the meeting via remote attendance at 8:47 PM The council discussed a resolution regarding the voter mandated state legislative audit, with Councilor Finocchiaro introducing the motion and several members speaking in support of increased transparency in state government. Councilor Finocchiaro read the document and supporting letter, which is attached to these minutes, and Councilor Romanul shared comments at the beginning also. Councilor Jamaleddine is in support of the audit but expressed concerns about the auditor's capacity to conduct comprehensive audits of everyone in a fair manner, and not to have the auditor pick and choose who is audited to her specific agenda. She is concerned about the auditor's ability to audit all legislators equally, suggesting a potential for bias. Councilor Chen highlighted specific transparency issues with the legislature's current audit process, and commented that the current formula of pay for legislators is set by leadership, is unclear, and could lead to corruption. Councilor Karamcheti expressed support for the resolution, stating that it's a non-partisan issue and emphasized the need for accessible information to constituents. Councilor Finocchiaro clarified that the resolution aims to support voter demands for transparency. Motion to Place on File made by Councilor Williams Seconded by Councilor Romanul Motion passed 10-1 RESULTS: ACCEPTED AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: Maya Jamaleddine C. Licenses

i. (ID # 2026-1336): New Common Victualler License for Shawbak Lebanese Eatery and Bakery Motion to Refer to Protection & License Committee made by President Freeman All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Protection & License 5 VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Appropriations for FY26

i. (ID # 2026-1145): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the Assessing Department (#141) in the amount of $9,000 to cover the cost of mailing tax impact notices to all taxpayers in Melrose. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

ii. (ID # 2026-1164): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the Planning Department (#175) in the amount of $75,000 to hire a consultant for technical assistance to update the City’s Housing Production Plan (HPP). Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

iii. (ID # 2026-1165): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the Planning Department (#175) in the amount of $70,000 to hire a consultant for technical assistance to update the Downtown Parking Study. Motion to Reject made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro Motion passed 9-2, Appropriation not approved RESULT: APPROPRIATION REJECTED/NOT APPROVED AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: Bradley Freeman, John Obremski 6

iv. (ID # 2026-1170): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $150,000 to the Affordable Housing Trust (#8270). Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Williams Motion passed 10-1 RESULT: ACCEPTED AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: Jason Chen Some councilors expressed concerns about the lack of a detailed strategy, clear outcomes, the ability to overcome obstacles, and questioned if this is the best use of free cash funds. The majority supported the funding, citing the need for affordable housing in Melrose and the Trust's previous success in preserving three affordable rental units.

v. (ID # 2026-1171): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to Memorial Building (#693) in the amount of $50,000 for boiler replacement and HVAC controls. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed Councilor Obremski had stepped out of the room during this vote RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: John Obremski

vi. (ID # 2026-1172): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the School Department (#300) in the amount of $12,193.20 to purchase vape detectors for MVMMS. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Jamaleddine All were in favor and motion passed Councilor Obremski had stepped out of the room during this vote RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: John Obremski 7

vii. (ID # 2026-1173): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the School Department (#300) in the amount of $72,180 to purchase MHS Band uniforms. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Jamaleddine All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

viii. (ID # 2026-1174): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to the School Department (#300) in the amount of $44,296.32 for the purchase of athletic equipment. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

ix. (ID # 2026-1175): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to DPW- Admin/Engineering Department (#401) in the amount of $710,000 for design and permitting of Ell Pond Park. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro Motion passed 9-2 RESULT: ACCEPTED AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul NAYS: Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams Councilor Vandiver and Councilor Williams expressed concerns about the planning process and public engagement, choosing not to support the project at this time. Councilor Karamcheti shared her support for the project while emphasizing the importance of addressing public engagement and transparency concerns in the design phase. 8

x. (ID # 2026-1176): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to DPW- Highway Department (#422) in the amount of $400,000 for Lebanon Street TIP project design. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

xi. (ID # 2026-1177): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) to DPW - School Facilities Department (#402) in the amount of $20,000 to update school signage. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Williams All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

xii. (ID # 2026-1202): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $37,000 to the Planning Department (#175) for treating the Towners, Swains, and Ell Ponds. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Williams All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

xiii. (ID # 2026-1237): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $17,000 to the Parks Department for the Purchase of AEDs for playing fields. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro 9 All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

xiv. (ID # 2026-1238): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $400,000 to the Fire Department (#221) for projected overtime costs through the end of the Fiscal Year. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Williams All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

xv. (ID # 2026-1239): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $30,000 to the Fire Department(#221) for projected motor vehicle repair through the end of the Fiscal Year. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Williams All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

xvi. (ID # 2026-1242): An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $560,000 to the City Stabilization fund (#8401). Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None 10

xvii. (ID # 2026-1249): An Appropriation from Mt. Hood Retained Earnings (account 620000- 319000) in the amount of $200,000 to Mt. Hood Reserve Fund (8417- 490000). Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Williams All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

xviii. (ID # 2026-1250): An Appropriation from Mt. Hood Retained Earnings (account 620000- 319000) in the amount of $150,000 to Mt. Hood Professional Services (account 620000-529000) to fulfill contract obligations. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

xix. (ID # 2026-1251): An Appropriation from Sewer Retained Earnings (account 6000- 319000) to Sewer Equipment (account 604413-551002) for the down payment on a Vactor Truck. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None B. Appropriations for FY27

i. (ID # 2026-1204): An Appropriation in the amount of $2,236,997 to fund the Fiscal Year 2027 Mt. Hood Enterprise Fund budget. 11 Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

ii. (ID # 2026-1205): An Appropriation in the amount of $8,461,623 to fund the Fiscal 2027 Sewer Enterprise Fund budget. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

iii. (ID # 2026-1206): An Appropriation in the amount of $6,702,788 to fund the Fiscal Year 2027 Water Enterprise fund budget. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

iv. (ID # 2026-1207): An Appropriation in the amount of $3,639,322 to fund the Fiscal Year 2027 Solid Waste Enterprise fund budget. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None 12

v. (ID # 2026-1213): Fiscal Year 2027 Water Rates Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

vi. (ID # 2026-1214): Fiscal Year 2027 Sewer Rates. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

vii. (ID # 2026-1215): An Appropriation in the amount of $348,948.80 for Other Funding Sources (OFS) for Fiscal Year 2027. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

viii. (ID # 2026-1212): Reauthorization of the revolving fund table for Fiscal Year 2027. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Park All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None 13

ix. (ID # 2026-1208): An Appropriation in the amount of $126,652,797 to fund the Fiscal Year 2027 General Fund Operating Budget. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Vandiver All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None Councilor Chen suggested the need to bring in department heads or the CFO to understand final items after contract negotiations are completed and their impact on the approved line items in the operating budget. C. Orders

i. (ID # 2026-1240): An order to increase the Recreation Revolving Fund (#2652) spending limit for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026 from $500,000 to $575,000. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

ii. (ID # 2026-1241): Acceptance of a donation to the Parks Department for the purchase and maintenance of AED units at parks throughout the City. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Vandiver All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

iii. (ID # 2026-1291): Vote to establish the Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Vandiver 14 All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None Councilor Park initially expressed concerns about restrictions on affordable housing development but ultimately supported the motion after learning that multifamily housing could still be built if it complies with historic district guidelines. Councilor Chen expressed concern that the Historic District could have too much power to prevent new housing, but supported the order. Councilor Finocchiaro stated that this house is different and special with its family history in Melrose, and she trusts the Planning Board and Historic District to stay in check. And overall, she supports more housing in Melrose. D. Transfers

i. (ID # 2026-1290): A transfer in the amount of $69,000 from Health Insurance (#914) to Workers Compensation (#912) to fund estimated costs through the end of the fiscal year. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

ii. (ID # 2026-1293): Requesting a transfer of $7,000 from the Memorial Building Salaries account 016931-511000 to the Memorial Building Professional Services account 016932-529000 to cover the FY26 HVAC repairs. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

iii. (ID # 2026-1294): Transfer to DPW-Facilities (#402) in the amount of $130,000 from various DPW accounts for June utilities. 15 Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None

iv. (ID # 2026-1298): Requesting an interdepartmental transfer of funds from the Elections Salaries PT Line item (011621-512000) in the amount of $24,437 to the Printing line item 011622-521000. Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Williams All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None IX. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES X. EXPIRIES XI. RULE 36 REPORTS XII. ADJOURNMENT Motion to Adjourn made by Councilor Romanul at 10:12 PM Seconded by Councilor Vandiver All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None Councilor Finocchiaro thanked Chair Romanul for all of his work through the A&O season, and thanked Vice Chair Vandiver for her assistance in running the remote A&O meeting. 16 CITY OF MELROSE Auditor’s Office City Hall, 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 To: Melrose City Council From: Kerriann Golden, CFO/City Auditor Date: June 9, 2026 Re: Appropriation 2026-1334 The requested appropriation is requested semi-annually to distribute fees collected from Comcast and Verizon. The grant agreement executed 6/24/25 distributes 75% of the cable revenues to MMTV and 25% to Melrose Public Schools. Date Received Company Total Payment 75% MMTV 25% Melrose Public Schools 2/12/2026 Comcast 60,542.17 45,406.63 15,135.54 3/3/2026 Verizon 50,835.74 38,126.81 12,708.94 5/13/2026 Comcast 63,565.88 47,674.41 15,891.47 5/15/2026 Verizon 48,093.28 36,069.96 12,023.32 Total to be appropriated 167,277.80 55,759.27 FIRST AMENDMENT TO SOLID WASTE FACILITY OPERATING AGREEMENT This first amendment (“Amendment”) is made and entered into as of May ___, 2026 by and between the City of Melrose (the “City”) and Waste Management of Massachusetts, Inc. (“Contractor”). WHEREAS, City and Contractor have entered into an agreement titled Solid Waste Facility Operating Agreement, dated September 6, 2019 (the “Agreement”); WHEREAS, City and Contractor desire to modify certain terms of the Agreement through this Amendment to reflect a longer term commitment to allow for Contractor to construct and operate a new SWF at a new location on the Premises (“New SWF”); WHEREAS, Contractor intends to begin the process necessary to construct a New SWF at a new location on the Premises as contemplated in Section 3 of the Agreement, to modify the existing site plan for the New SWF to allow for a more efficient use, expansion (permitted SWF tonnage limits and hours of operation) and operation of the New SWF while maximizing the City’s use of the property surrounding the New SWF to allow for alternative uses. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein, the parties agree as follows: 1. Section 2.1. Conveyance of SWF. Section 2.1 is amended by adding new paragraph 2.1(a) as follows: 1. If Contractor completes construction of the New SWF on the Premises, Contractor shall convey title in the New SWF to the City upon Contractor’s receipt of the Authorization to Operate as issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. 2. All other terms and provisions in Section 2 of the Agreement shall apply to the New SWF. 2. Section 3. Cooperation Between Contractor and City. Section 3 is amended by adding a new paragraph as follows: 1. Contractor and the City agree that Contractor shall seek required permits, licenses and necessary government approvals to advance the construction of a New SWF at a new location on the Premises for the acceptance, processing, loading and outbound transfer of solid waste in accordance with said permits and governmental approvals. In connection with the construction of the New SWF, Contractor intends to demolish and remove the former SWF and return the area of property for the City’s use. Given the uncertainties of the permitting and governmental approvals process, the Parties’ obligations under 2. The City may terminate this Agreement and Amendment for cause pursuant to the conditions and process outlined in Section 10. 5. Section 5.2. Host Fees. City and Contractor agree to continue Host Fee increases of 3.5% annually throughout the Term of the Agreement through September 5, 2049, effective July 1 of each year, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. Upon receipt of the “Authorization to Operate” the New transfer station, in the event Contractor’s Additional Payments set forth in Section 5.4 exceeds $75,000 in a fiscal year, adjusted annually by 3.3%, the amount of such excess above $75,000 shall be applied as a credit against, and shall reduce dollar-for-dollar, the Host Fee payments otherwise payable by Contractor to the City during that same fiscal year. In no event shall any credit be taken against the Host Fee payments when the year-over-year increase in payments as set for in the Agreement fall below 3.3%. 6. All other terms and provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall apply to the operation of the New SWF. 7. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, and each counterpart shall be deemed an original, and all counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument. 8. This Amendment constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings, whether oral or written. This Amendment may not be amended or modified except in writing signed by both parties. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written. CITY: CONTRACTOR: CITY OF MELROSE WASTE MANAGEMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS, INC. By: ________________________________ By: ________________________________ Name: Name: Title: Title: City of Melrose 2026 Resolution Affirming Accountability, Transparency and Respect for the Will of the Voters Sponsored by Councilor Finocchiaro WHEREAS, public confidence in government depends upon accountability, integrity, transparency and the responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources; and WHEREAS, elected officials derive their authority from the people and therefore have a responsibility to conduct public business in a manner worthy of the public's trust and confidence; and WHEREAS, taxpayers have a right to expect that public funds and governmental operations are conducted in an open and accountable manner; and WHEREAS, public trust is strengthened when government actions, expenditures and operations are subject to appropriate review and transparency; and WHEREAS, members of the Melrose City Council conduct public business in accordance with the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, public ethics laws, financial disclosure requirements, and other accountability measures designed to maintain public trust and confidence in government; and WHEREAS, independent audits are a widely recognized tool for identifying inefficiencies, strengthening public confidence, and ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds; and WHEREAS, on November 5, 2024, the voters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts approved Question 1 by a substantial statewide margin, authorizing the State Auditor to conduct audits of the Massachusetts Legislature; and WHEREAS, approximately sixty-seven percent (67%) of voters in the City of Melrose supported the ballot initiative, demonstrating strong local support for greater accountability in state government; and WHEREAS, through their approval of the ballot initiative, the voters of Massachusetts and the City of Melrose expressed a clear expectation that public institutions and elected officials entrusted with taxpayer resources should be answerable to the public they serve; and WHEREAS, respect for the will of the voters is a fundamental principle of representative government, and any effort to limit, redefine, or delay the implementation of a voter-approved law warrants careful public scrutiny; and WHEREAS, preserving public confidence in government requires that voter-approved laws be implemented in a manner consistent with the intent expressed by the electorate; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Melrose City Council affirms its support for accountability, public trust, and the principle that all elected officials and public institutions entrusted with taxpayer resources should be answerable to the public they serve; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Melrose City Council recognizes and supports the expressed will of Massachusetts voters as reflected in the passage of Question 1; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Melrose City Council encourages state leaders and public officials to work in good faith to ensure that accountability, openness, and public trust remain central to the operation of state government; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the State Auditor, the members of the Massachusetts General Court, and the City's state legislative delegation. Adopted by the Melrose City Council on this 15th day of June 2026. Attest: Members of the City Council From: Ward Hamilton <wardhamiltonforcitycouncil@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2026 10:44 AM To: City Council <CityCouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject:

(ID # 2026-1381): Resolution Affirming Accountability, Transparency and Respect for the Will of the Voters Good morning, President Freeman and members of the City Council. On November 5, 2024, almost twelve thousand Melrose voters (11,656 or 67.31% of votes cast) called for the State Legislature to submit to oversight by the State Auditor. The issue of auditing the Massachusetts Legislature has overwhelming bipartisan support among the public and outside watchdog groups, and I urge you to vote to affirm the resolution. Massachusetts has historically been the only state where the legislature, the judiciary, and the governor's office are simultaneously exempt from state public records laws. While eight other states exempt their legislatures in some capacity, our sweeping multi-branch exemption is unique. Also, Massachusetts ranks last among the 49 states that require Statements of Financial Interests in terms of making that information easily accessible to the public. It's difficult to believe that a state as progressive and advanced as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts would be so backwards when it comes to matters of government transparency, especially when one considers all of the other metrics in which we rank so high. It's time to stop the "spin," end the charade, and clean the proverbial house. Thank you for your continued service to and leadership in our community. Ward A. Hamilton 87 E. Emerson St. From: James O'Loughlin <jamesoloughlin007@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2026 5:01 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Audit Proclamation Councilors, I ask that you support the audit proclamation on Monday night. While I acknowledge that some tweaking may be required to the original ballot initiative to address separation of powers issues, the general intent of the ballot initiative was loud and clear. 72% of voters across the state and 67% of voters in Melrose wanted an independent set of eyes on the legislature. And that loud and clear message has now been ignored, if not obstructed, for a year and a half. I found it particularly concerning that the recent transparency bill from the House attempts to write the courts out of any dispute between the legislature and the auditor. If we look at Washington, how many times over the past year and a half have groups gone to the courts for relief or mitigation of excesses of power? It is incredibly ironic and unfortunate that some in Massachusetts would attempt to write the courts out of this process. Because state and municipal governments are so intertwined in Massachusetts, and because an overwhelming majority of your constituents voted in favor of the ballot initiative, I believe it is appropriate that you act on the proclamation. I ask that you please give voice to the 67% of your constituents who voted for the ballot initiative, and support the proclamation. Regards, Jim OLoughlin 39 Lincoln St From: Dillan Patel <dillanpatel01@outlook.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 9:23 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Resolution Affirming Accountability, Transparency and Respect for the Will of the Voters I understand that the Melrose City Council debated a resolution to affirm the and voice support for the audit of the Massachusetts Legislature that was approved by a large majority of voters last November including two thirds of Melrose voters. Several people spoke in favor of the resolution and audit during public comment. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend to make a public comment. I would like to voice my support for the Melrose City Council's resolution proposed by Councilor Finocchiaro. The Malden City Council and Reading Select Board have recently voted to support the will of people and by having more towns and cities stand up for the Massachusetts voters send a clear message to the legislature that they are not beyond accountability. It is disappointing that a former City Council member, now state representative has voted affirmatively on a half-measure that does not achieve anywhere near what the votes or the State Auditor asked for. Thank you for passing 8 to 1 the resolution. Thank you, Dillan Patel, 232 Tremont Street, Melrose. From: Alicia Koerber <akoerber33@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 6:30 AM To: Chen, Jason <jchen@cityofmelrose.org> Cc: City Council <CityCouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Re: I support the Resolution Affirming Accountability, Transparency, & Respect for the Will of Voters That’s such great news Jason! Thanks for the response. Sent from my iPhone On Jun 16, 2026, at 6:12 AM, Chen, Jason <jchen@cityofmelrose.org> wrote: Thanks for writing, Alicia. I agree and support the audit. The resolution passed last night 10-1. Take care, Jason Sent from my iPhone On Jun 15, 2026, at 5:26 PM, Alicia Koerber <akoerber33@gmail.com> wrote: Good afternoon, I’m writing to support “the Resolution Affirming Accountability, Transparency & Respect for the Will of the Voters”. I believe that accountability and transparency in government is essential. I also support the efforts of the State Auditor and the states overwhelming support of the ballot question from November 2024. Please consider voting yes on this resolution tonight. Warmly, Alicia Koerber 109 Highview Ave Good evening President Freeman and fellow Councilors. I am in support of this resolution because I believe accountability should not depend on what office someone holds or how much power they possess. In November 2024, the people of Massachusetts spoke clearly. By an overwhelming margin, they voted to authorize the State Auditor to audit the Legislature. The voters of Melrose joined that majority. Yet earlier this month, the Legislature passed a bill that will significantly limit or prevent the audit voters approved. Our own State Representative voted in favor of that legislation. Reasonable people can disagree about the legal arguments surrounding this issue. What is harder to dispute is the message it sends when government appears to resist the oversight that voters overwhelmingly endorsed. Independent audits are not punishment—they are a standard tool used throughout government, as we do here in Melrose, to promote transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I will also note that when I introduced an earlier version of this resolution, I was encouraged to withdraw it because of concerns that speaking out on this issue could jeopardize state funding for our community. Whether those concerns were well-founded or not, I found it troubling that a discussion about accountability could be accompanied by fears of political consequences. At its core, this resolution is about a simple principle: government derives its authority from the people, and when voters speak so clearly, their decision deserves respect. I respectfully ask for your support. Thank you. Cal Finocchiaro From: Ted Hunt <thedrainsurgeon2156@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2026 6:09 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Audit To the Honorable city council. Please support the state auditor to access and audit the audit supported by 70 percent of the voters. It's in the cities best interest because all politics start at the local level and it's very disappointing for the State to be shortchanging the cities and towns, to cause the past and future overrides, putting citizens against citizens. The state doesn't have a funding issue but a spending issue, for me I think the state has too much control over local issues and I don't understand why the elected officials don't push back. As someone who is retired and is on a fixed income and finding it harder each year to keep up with the tax issues. Please don't force me out of a city my family loves since 1983 and leaves me with a choice of paying increasing taxes or not paint my house. Thank you for putting the issue before you. Ted Hunt 241 Tremont St, Melrose, MA 02176 From: Ellen <yaya2470@yahoo.com> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2026 5:10 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: I’m writing to support the “ Resolution Affirming Accountability, Transparency and Respect for the Will of the Voters”. I believe that accountability and transparency in government is essential and I support the efforts of the State Auditor and the states overwhelming support of the ballot question from November 2024. Please consider voting yes on this resolution tonight. Thanks for your consideration. Ellen Steward 325 Swains Pond Avenue Melrose, MA 02176 From: kristen cook <kecc18@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2026 6:03 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Supporting the resolution to support the majority vote on Question 1 2024 To the members of our city council, Good Afternoon. I am writing in support of the resolution of the vote/will of the people of Melrose and Massachusetts on ballot Question 1 of the November 2024 election. The results of this vote were evident. The people spoke! With 67% of Melrose in favor and 71% of Mass voters in favor, thereby granting the office of the state auditor the explicit authority to audit the state legislature. We voted for and deserve accountability and transparency in government! Our legislature should not be allowed to self audit. Allowing our state legislature to audit its own financials and happenings is not only a severe conflict of interest, but also, violates the fundamental audit principals of independence and objectivity. The state auditor should be the sole auditor of our legislature as this will prevent conflicts of interest, preserve independence, and ensure unbiased assessments. I support the efforts of the state auditor and the states overwhelming support of the ballot question from November of 2024. Please consider voting yes on this resolution tonight. Thank you for all you do for our city and state and thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Kind Regards, Kristen Cook CITY OF MELROSE BOARD OF ASSESSORS City Hall, 562 Main Street Sarah MacLellan Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Chief Assessor Telephone - (781) 979-4104 smaclellan@cityofmelrose.org To: The Honorable City Council From: Sarah MacLellan Date: April 15, 2026 Subject: Free Cash Appropriation for Mailing of Impact Notices during 5-year Revaluation Year The Assessing Department is requesting a $9,000 Free Cash appropriation to cover the cost of mailing tax impact notices to all taxpayers in Melrose. Article III, Section 15-10 of the City of Melrose Code of ordinances requires that: “For those fiscal years wherein the tax list is comprised of new state-mandated evaluations, the Assessors shall cause an impact notice to be sent to each individual taxpayer. Such notices shall be sent prior to the delivery of the tax list by the Assessors to the City Collector.”1 In Massachusetts, all real and personal property is assessed at full and fair cash value as of January 1st each year. This means that assessors are required annually to review and analyze market conditions and property data to ensure that assessed values reflect the market values for the assessment period. In addition to these annual assessments (interim valuation years), all Massachusetts municipalities are required by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) to complete a comprehensive revaluation every five years. This process is referred to as the “certification” or the “revaluation year”. During the revaluation year, which will be Fiscal Year 2027 for Melrose, the Assessing Department undertakes a detailed systematic review of all property assessments within the city. The process includes data collection and verification, in-depth market analysis, valuation modeling, and state certification. Final certification from the DOR confirms that property assessments in Melrose meet the state’s required standards of accuracy and fairness. As part of the Massachusetts DOR’s regular Revaluation process, there is a required public disclosure period during which the assessors must notify taxpayers of proposed property tax 1 City of Melrose Code, Part 1 Administrative Legislation, Chapter 15, Article III Board of Assessors §15-10 Impact notices. https://ecode360.com/15358118 assessments prior to the issuance of tax bills. Under state guidelines, this requirement is satisfied by posting notice on the city’s website or in a newspaper of general circulation, for a minimum of five days. However, the city’s ordinance imposes a more stringent requirement, mandating that the Assesssors’ Office mail a written notice of proposed assessments to each taxpayer. The requested $9,000 appropriation will be used exclusively to cover printing, materials and postage costs associated with mailing these required notices to all taxpayers. This ensures compliance with the ordinance while also supporting the Assessing Department’s objective of providing clear communication with residents regarding property valuation. Thank you for your consideration of this request. I am available to provide additional information or answer questions as needed. City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer Approved Fund - 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 2543 Melrose Cultural Council Approved Chamber and City Event 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Support Approved 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O Fund - 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing Submitted 3,284,486.00 2026-1164 $75,000.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan Submitted 3,209,486.00 2026-1165 $70,000.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study Submitted 3,139,486.00 2026-1169 $30,000.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign Submitted 3,109,486.00 Fund – 2026-1170 $150,000.00 Affordable Housing Trust Submitted 2,959,486.00 8270 Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 Dept – 693 Submitted 2,909,486.00 controls 2026-1172 $12,193.20 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS Submitted 2,897,292.80 2026-1173 $72,180.00 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms Submitted 2,825,112.80 Basketball & Lacrosse 2026-1174 $44,296.32 Dept-300 Submitted 2,780,816.48 Uniforms, Scorer table 2026-1175 $710,000.00 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design Submitted 2,070,816.48 2026-1176 $400,000.00 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project Submitted 1,670,816.48 2026-1177 $20,000.00 Dept - 401 School Signage Submitted 1,650,816.48 2026-1178 $3,000.00 Dept - 162 Census Mailer Submitted 1,647,816.48 *The first three appropriation requests listed were approved at the 4/6/26 City Council meeting. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. OFFICE OF PLANNING AND CITY OF MELROSE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT City Hall, 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 LORI MASSA, AICP Telephone - (781) 979-4190 Director & City Planner M E M O R A N D U M TO: Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis Melrose City Council FROM: Lori Massa, Director & City Planner CC: Kerriann Golden, CFO/Auditor Lauren Grymek, Chief of Staff DATE: April 17, 2026 RE: Housing Production Plan Update – Free Cash Request The Office of Planning and Community Development respectfully requests that the City Council approve an appropriation of free cash in the amount of $75,000 to hire a consultant for technical assistance to update the City’s Housing Production Plan (HPP), which will expire in April 2027. Revisiting the City’s housing needs and goals will not only help the City plan for future development, but having a current, state approved, HPP is also required to apply for temporary safe harbor if the City still does not have 10% of the total year-round housing units on our Subsidized Housing Inventory. To meet the requirements of a state approved plan, an HPP must contain the following elements: • Housing needs and demand assessment • Housing goals for the next five years • Analysis of factors affecting development • A development framework and identification of opportunity sites • Numeric production targets • Recommendations for the city to achieve its housing goals and an actionable implementation plan Ensuring that the updated HPP includes the information above will require careful research and data collection, and opportunities for public engagement. With the help of a consultant, the resultant document will be a robust and useful planning document that will help guide the City’s housing and development policies and goals for the next 5 years. City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer Approved Fund - 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 2543 Melrose Cultural Council Approved Chamber and City Event 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Support Approved 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O Fund - 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing Submitted 3,284,486.00 2026-1164 $75,000.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan Submitted 3,209,486.00 2026-1165 $70,000.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study Submitted 3,139,486.00 2026-1169 $30,000.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign Submitted 3,109,486.00 Fund – 2026-1170 $150,000.00 Affordable Housing Trust Submitted 2,959,486.00 8270 Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 Dept – 693 Submitted 2,909,486.00 controls 2026-1172 $12,193.20 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS Submitted 2,897,292.80 2026-1173 $72,180.00 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms Submitted 2,825,112.80 Basketball & Lacrosse 2026-1174 $44,296.32 Dept-300 Submitted 2,780,816.48 Uniforms, Scorer table 2026-1175 $710,000.00 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design Submitted 2,070,816.48 2026-1176 $400,000.00 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project Submitted 1,670,816.48 2026-1177 $20,000.00 Dept - 401 School Signage Submitted 1,650,816.48 2026-1178 $3,000.00 Dept - 162 Census Mailer Submitted 1,647,816.48 *The first three appropriation requests listed were approved at the 4/6/26 City Council meeting. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. From: Massa, Lori To: Chen, Jason Cc: Grymek, Lauren Subject: Re: Housing production plan funding Date: Friday, May 8, 2026 1:02:49 PM Attachments: Outlook-preview.pn.png Hi Jason, Thanks for your efforts to find ways to save money and your confidence in the planning staff. We are a small but mighty group. With the number of projects on our plates hiring consultants to help with some initiatives is needed. We have regulatory requirements related to our case work and response to permits, and therefore we do not have the ability to control how much time we can devote to other projects...and we'd like to continue to do other projects. Increasing staff to do the work is a more expensive option. Housing Production Plan: Wakefield and Andover did their HPP update with consultants: Wakefield used JM Goldson LLC - funded by a grant Andover used MVPC - their regional planning agency - funded through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) Community Planning Grant, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) Planning Assistance Grant, and through District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) funds We have applied for and received several grants for planning. The timing for a grant for the HPP didn't work out. We are very close but still not there for 'permanent' safe harbor so a current and State compliance HPP is needed to be able to be eligible for temporary safe harbor. We have used the current HPP twice to gain temporary safe harbor. Previous parking study: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/DocumentCenter/View/133/Downtown- Parking-Study-PDF?bidId= Parking is always a hot button topic. Having the study done professionally will legitimize the results. Working with staff, residents, boards/commission are important but having an outside/unbiased view is beneficial, especially for this topic. Constructing parking is expensive and can have negative consequences for walkability/vibrancy and traffic. Understanding if/where there are issues and if we can manage parking more efficiently is the best first step. Please let me know if you would like to discuss. Thanks, Lori From: Chen, Jason <jchen@cityofmelrose.org> Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2026 8:23 AM To: Massa, Lori <lmassa@CityofMelrose.org>Cc: Grymek, Lauren <lgrymek@CityofMelrose.org> Subject: Housing production plan funding Hi Lori, Thanks for submitting the HPP and parking study free cash requests. I read through the housing production plan again this week and I appreciate the requirement to update it every 5 yrs for safe harbor status. A number of communities including Wakefield and Andover have updated it without consultants by using the expertise of volunteers and staff within the community. Wakefield’s 2026 report is similar in scope and depth to ours. preview.png Housing-Production-Plan-FY- 2026-2030-PDF PDF Document · 13.9 MB I think it would be a great opportunity for community volunteerism and engagement. To your credit, the current housing production plan (2022) is thorough and looks like an excellent foundation to update and edit. Perhaps we can use similar demographic data and economic trends from by referencing nearby towns like Winchester and Wakefield with recently updated plans. I am trying to find ways for us to save money while maintaining high standards and meeting requirements. I have high confidence in you and our staff and community to resourcefully and collaboratively update this plan and expect it will be well received by the community. The parking study is another line item which I question. I’d rather spend $70k building more parking, than funding a study that says we need more or less parking. Would you please send examples of previous parking studies for Melrose, and what we learned from them? Do we have traffic / urban planners in the community that can volunteer to review previous studies, check if assumptions are still valid, and make a recommendation? Thanks for taking my feedback, and happy to chat anytime. Jason Sent from my iPhone ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.**** ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.****From: Massa, Lori To: Chen, Jason Cc: Grymek, Lauren; Romanul, Devin; Vandiver, Kimberly Subject: Re: Questions for tomorrow Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 2:27:18 PM Hi Councilor Chen, To give you some context on creating housing, from a colleague in Cambridge and a recent Boston Globe article, developing housing in Boston and Cambridge costs between $600,000 to $1 million per unit. We spent $140,000 for the Melrose Affordable Housing Corporation to get $300,000 of Federal HOME funds to be able to purchase and renovate 3 units to create permanently affordable units. This is a huge win for Melrose. Affordable housing takes planning, any type of support, and a long-term approach because it is not quick or easy to create. There is no way to say if I put this much money in, this is how many units I will get. We are relaying on others to request the money to build housing and if we don't have any, we won't get requests or affordable units outside of those required by zoning. I’m hoping that we can figure out a way to update the housing production plan for less than $75,000. 80% of that document looks like routine verbiage that does not appear to require deep domain knowledge. Would you please suggest other ways to accomplish the goal? The updated Housing Production Plan should not be a routine verbiage of information. We want to be using updated, innovative data to come up with new goals, policies and actions including preferred development sites. We received a $100,250 grant to implement some of the remaining actions in the current plan. With the number of projects on our plates hiring consultants to help with some initiatives is needed. We have regulatory requirements related to our case work and response to permits, and therefore we do not have the ability to control how much time we can devote to other projects...and we'd like to continue to do other projects. Increasing staff to do the work is a more expensive option. Community engagement and education is an important part of planning and stripping this out of a plan's scope to reduce the price is possible but I wouldn't recommend it. When do you expect us to reach 10% and will our current plan still be up-to-date when that happens? Do we lose safe Harbor after our housing production plan is five years old from the date it was published? There are 2 different state "approvals" of HPPs. One is the approval after it is created. The other is certification of the plan if you would like to claim temporary safe harbor because an unwanted 40B project is going to be proposed and the ZBA has approved the required number of units in that calendar year. If we don't have an approved HPP, we can't ask the state to certify it for temporary safe harbor if the ZBA has approved the required number of units in the calendar year. Info on our website that may be helpful: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/173/Comprehensive-Permit- Information--40B We would need about 50 units to get to 10% but this number is always changing. Find more here: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/DocumentCenter/View/1865/Subsidized-Housing-Inventory-Update-8152025 I’m not convinced that we should spend $70,000 on the parking study. Can you please help me understand what the key questions we want the consultant to answer? What is the current parking utilization at different points of the week? What worked or did not work from the last plan from 2012? What are the current best practices and recommendations to best manage parking? To answer a question from your other email: Sources of funding for the trust: There have been 8 projects that have had to contribute to the Affordable Housing Trust since 2007; there was a small payment for administrative costs that we received for managing the sale of an affordable unit that we could put into the trust; free cash from 2021; and interest at a variable rate. The affordable housing requirements went into effect in 2004 and we amended them in 2019. The zoning ordinance requires that project that have 8 or more residential units provide 15% as affordable. If the fraction is less than 0.5 there is a payment required. If the fraction is 0.5 or higher, it rounds up to a unit. For project with 5, 6, or 7 units have the option of providing 1 affordable unit or making a contribution to the Trust Fund. It is better to have affordable units built as part of the project; however, small projects are hard to pencil out and therefore a payout is an option. It is unusual for municipalities to require any contribution to affordable housing for smaller projects as we do. The City demands a lot of development to satisfy various goals and if we press too much, we are not going to get development. I have no way of estimating how many projects will require payment into the trust and how many projects will be needing trust funds to happen. Melrose is fortunate to have recent projects proposed, approved, and construction is happening - other municipalities are seeing a big slowdown. Development cycles and market conditions greatly impact future growth. The Housing Production Plan helps to frame where we would like to see development next. Most of the sites identified in the current plan are permitted or developed. Here are webpages that will hopefully have some additional helpful information: Information on the MBTA Communities Law, which includes a development list from the fall of 2025: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/783/MBTA-Communities-LawInformation on affordable units in Melrose: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/370/Affordable-Housing Thanks, Lori From: Chen, Jason <jchen@cityofmelrose.org> Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 9:22 AM To: Massa, Lori <lmassa@CityofMelrose.org> Cc: Grymek, Lauren <lgrymek@CityofMelrose.org>; Romanul, Devin <dromanul@cityofmelrose.org>; Vandiver, Kimberly <kvandiver@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Questions for tomorrow Hello Lori, I hope you are wellI hope you are well. I wanted to send ahead a few questions I had prior to tomorrow’s meeting. Regarding the affordable housing trust free cash request, I’m still not convinced that this is a cost- effective way to add affordable housing units in Melrose. The $150,000 we spent to have three deeded affordable units does not move the needle in my view. I’m willing to be convinced if there’s other more cost-effective mechanisms. I’m hoping that we can figure out a way to update the housing production plan for less than $75,000. 80% of that document looks like routine verbiage that does not appear to require deep domain knowledge. Would you please suggest other ways to accomplish the goal? I understand we need an up-to-date housing production plan to reach safe Harbor. When do you expect us to reach 10% and will our current plan? Still be up-to-date when that happens? Do we lose safe Harbor after our housing production plan is five years old from the date it was published? I certainly understand the importance of reaching safe Harbor given the risks that summit Avenue presents. I’m not convinced that we should spend $70,000 on the parking study. Can you please help me understand what the key questions we want the consultant to answer? I will look more closely at your departmental budget today and send ahead any questions that I have. Please let me know if it’s easier to speak by phone. Thank you for your leadership and organization. JasonSent from my iPhone ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.**** ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.**** OFFICE OF PLANNING AND CITY OF MELROSE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT City Hall, 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 LORI MASSA, AICP Telephone - (781) 979-4190 Director & City Planner M E M O R A N D U M TO: Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis Melrose City Council FROM: Lori Massa, Director & City Planner CC: Kerriann Golden, CFO/Auditor Lauren Grymek, Chief of Staff DATE: April 17, 2026 RE: Downtown Parking Study – Free Cash Request The Office of Planning and Community Development respectfully requests that the City Council approve an appropriation of free cash in the amount of $70,000 to hire a consultant for technical assistance to update the Downtown Parking Study that was created in 2012. The original report helped provide a framework for managing downtown parking and offered a series of recommendations to best ensure that the parking needs of residents and visitors are met. Many of the recommendations were implemented such as the creation of the Merchant Parking Program. However, because it has been over 14 years since downtown parking was completed, it is time to reevaluate parking utilization and best practices for management. The need to balance the supply and availability of parking spaces for business patrons and employees while maintaining a walkable and pedestrian-friendly environment is critical. We recommend dedicating funding to hiring a consultant to review current parking regulations and analyze parking utilization during the week and on the weekends to determine whether the existing parking supply is managed appropriately and whether the regulations and/or the location of parking should be adjusted. Based on the findings, the consultant will provide recommendations for improving the parking supply and availability. The goal of the updated parking study is to continue to provide an environment downtown that supports mobility, adaptability, and economic development. City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer Approved Fund - 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 2543 Melrose Cultural Council Approved Chamber and City Event 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Support Approved 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O Fund - 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing Submitted 3,284,486.00 2026-1164 $75,000.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan Submitted 3,209,486.00 2026-1165 $70,000.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study Submitted 3,139,486.00 2026-1169 $30,000.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign Submitted 3,109,486.00 Fund – 2026-1170 $150,000.00 Affordable Housing Trust Submitted 2,959,486.00 8270 Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 Dept – 693 Submitted 2,909,486.00 controls 2026-1172 $12,193.20 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS Submitted 2,897,292.80 2026-1173 $72,180.00 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms Submitted 2,825,112.80 Basketball & Lacrosse 2026-1174 $44,296.32 Dept-300 Submitted 2,780,816.48 Uniforms, Scorer table 2026-1175 $710,000.00 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design Submitted 2,070,816.48 2026-1176 $400,000.00 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project Submitted 1,670,816.48 2026-1177 $20,000.00 Dept - 401 School Signage Submitted 1,650,816.48 2026-1178 $3,000.00 Dept - 162 Census Mailer Submitted 1,647,816.48 *The first three appropriation requests listed were approved at the 4/6/26 City Council meeting. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. From: Massa, Lori To: Chen, Jason Cc: Grymek, Lauren; Romanul, Devin; Vandiver, Kimberly Subject: Re: Questions for tomorrow Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 2:27:18 PM Hi Councilor Chen, To give you some context on creating housing, from a colleague in Cambridge and a recent Boston Globe article, developing housing in Boston and Cambridge costs between $600,000 to $1 million per unit. We spent $140,000 for the Melrose Affordable Housing Corporation to get $300,000 of Federal HOME funds to be able to purchase and renovate 3 units to create permanently affordable units. This is a huge win for Melrose. Affordable housing takes planning, any type of support, and a long-term approach because it is not quick or easy to create. There is no way to say if I put this much money in, this is how many units I will get. We are relaying on others to request the money to build housing and if we don't have any, we won't get requests or affordable units outside of those required by zoning. I’m hoping that we can figure out a way to update the housing production plan for less than $75,000. 80% of that document looks like routine verbiage that does not appear to require deep domain knowledge. Would you please suggest other ways to accomplish the goal? The updated Housing Production Plan should not be a routine verbiage of information. We want to be using updated, innovative data to come up with new goals, policies and actions including preferred development sites. We received a $100,250 grant to implement some of the remaining actions in the current plan. With the number of projects on our plates hiring consultants to help with some initiatives is needed. We have regulatory requirements related to our case work and response to permits, and therefore we do not have the ability to control how much time we can devote to other projects...and we'd like to continue to do other projects. Increasing staff to do the work is a more expensive option. Community engagement and education is an important part of planning and stripping this out of a plan's scope to reduce the price is possible but I wouldn't recommend it. When do you expect us to reach 10% and will our current plan still be up-to-date when that happens? Do we lose safe Harbor after our housing production plan is five years old from the date it was published? There are 2 different state "approvals" of HPPs. One is the approval after it is created. The other is certification of the plan if you would like to claim temporary safe harbor because an unwanted 40B project is going to be proposed and the ZBA has approved the required number of units in that calendar year. If we don't have an approved HPP, we can't ask the state to certify it for temporary safe harbor if the ZBA has approved the required number of units in the calendar year. Info on our website that may be helpful: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/173/Comprehensive-Permit- Information--40B We would need about 50 units to get to 10% but this number is always changing. Find more here: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/DocumentCenter/View/1865/Subsidized-Housing-Inventory-Update-8152025 I’m not convinced that we should spend $70,000 on the parking study. Can you please help me understand what the key questions we want the consultant to answer? What is the current parking utilization at different points of the week? What worked or did not work from the last plan from 2012? What are the current best practices and recommendations to best manage parking? To answer a question from your other email: Sources of funding for the trust: There have been 8 projects that have had to contribute to the Affordable Housing Trust since 2007; there was a small payment for administrative costs that we received for managing the sale of an affordable unit that we could put into the trust; free cash from 2021; and interest at a variable rate. The affordable housing requirements went into effect in 2004 and we amended them in 2019. The zoning ordinance requires that project that have 8 or more residential units provide 15% as affordable. If the fraction is less than 0.5 there is a payment required. If the fraction is 0.5 or higher, it rounds up to a unit. For project with 5, 6, or 7 units have the option of providing 1 affordable unit or making a contribution to the Trust Fund. It is better to have affordable units built as part of the project; however, small projects are hard to pencil out and therefore a payout is an option. It is unusual for municipalities to require any contribution to affordable housing for smaller projects as we do. The City demands a lot of development to satisfy various goals and if we press too much, we are not going to get development. I have no way of estimating how many projects will require payment into the trust and how many projects will be needing trust funds to happen. Melrose is fortunate to have recent projects proposed, approved, and construction is happening - other municipalities are seeing a big slowdown. Development cycles and market conditions greatly impact future growth. The Housing Production Plan helps to frame where we would like to see development next. Most of the sites identified in the current plan are permitted or developed. Here are webpages that will hopefully have some additional helpful information: Information on the MBTA Communities Law, which includes a development list from the fall of 2025: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/783/MBTA-Communities-LawInformation on affordable units in Melrose: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/370/Affordable-Housing Thanks, Lori From: Chen, Jason <jchen@cityofmelrose.org> Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 9:22 AM To: Massa, Lori <lmassa@CityofMelrose.org> Cc: Grymek, Lauren <lgrymek@CityofMelrose.org>; Romanul, Devin <dromanul@cityofmelrose.org>; Vandiver, Kimberly <kvandiver@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Questions for tomorrow Hello Lori, I hope you are wellI hope you are well. I wanted to send ahead a few questions I had prior to tomorrow’s meeting. Regarding the affordable housing trust free cash request, I’m still not convinced that this is a cost- effective way to add affordable housing units in Melrose. The $150,000 we spent to have three deeded affordable units does not move the needle in my view. I’m willing to be convinced if there’s other more cost-effective mechanisms. I’m hoping that we can figure out a way to update the housing production plan for less than $75,000. 80% of that document looks like routine verbiage that does not appear to require deep domain knowledge. Would you please suggest other ways to accomplish the goal? I understand we need an up-to-date housing production plan to reach safe Harbor. When do you expect us to reach 10% and will our current plan? Still be up-to-date when that happens? Do we lose safe Harbor after our housing production plan is five years old from the date it was published? I certainly understand the importance of reaching safe Harbor given the risks that summit Avenue presents. I’m not convinced that we should spend $70,000 on the parking study. Can you please help me understand what the key questions we want the consultant to answer? I will look more closely at your departmental budget today and send ahead any questions that I have. Please let me know if it’s easier to speak by phone. Thank you for your leadership and organization. JasonSent from my iPhone ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.**** ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.**** City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer Approved Fund - 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 2543 Melrose Cultural Council Approved Chamber and City Event 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Support Approved 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O Fund - 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing Submitted 3,284,486.00 2026-1164 $75,000.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan Submitted 3,209,486.00 2026-1165 $70,000.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study Submitted 3,139,486.00 2026-1169 $30,000.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign Submitted 3,109,486.00 Fund – 2026-1170 $150,000.00 Affordable Housing Trust Submitted 2,959,486.00 8270 Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 Dept – 693 Submitted 2,909,486.00 controls 2026-1172 $12,193.20 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS Submitted 2,897,292.80 2026-1173 $72,180.00 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms Submitted 2,825,112.80 Basketball & Lacrosse 2026-1174 $44,296.32 Dept-300 Submitted 2,780,816.48 Uniforms, Scorer table 2026-1175 $710,000.00 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design Submitted 2,070,816.48 2026-1176 $400,000.00 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project Submitted 1,670,816.48 2026-1177 $20,000.00 Dept - 401 School Signage Submitted 1,650,816.48 2026-1178 $3,000.00 Dept - 162 Census Mailer Submitted 1,647,816.48 *The first three appropriation requests listed were approved at the 4/6/26 City Council meeting. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. OFFICE OF PLANNING AND CITY OF MELROSE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT City Hall, 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 LORI MASSA, AICP Telephone - (781) 979-4190 Director & City Planner M E M O R A N D U M TO: Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis Melrose City Council FROM: Lori Massa, Director & City Planner CC: Kerriann Golden, CFO/Auditor Lauren Grymek, Chief of Staff DATE: April 29, 2026 RE: Affordable Housing Trust Fund – Free Cash Request The Office of Planning and Community Development respectfully requests that the City Council approve an appropriation of free cash in the amount of $150,000 to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF). The AHTF, which was established by the City Council in 2020, has a mission of creating, preserving, and supporting diverse affordable housing to meet the needs of low- and moderate-income households in Melrose over their lifespan, in collaboration with municipal and community partners. As outlined in the Board of Trustees’ five year action plan, the AHTF has three goals: securing sustainable and diverse funding sources, supporting the creation of more affordable homes, and educating the community about local housing needs to build support for more affordable housing. Since the beginning of 2026, the Trustees have engaged with stakeholders, conducted public outreach, and approved a funding request from the Melrose Affordable Housing Corporation (MAHC) to assist with the purchasing of three units that will be deed restricted, affordable units in perpetuity. However, because the Trust’s primary source of revenue is from housing developments required to pay into the Trust, which is sporadic and unpredictable, the Trust does not have a stable source of income. Therefore, with the support of this free cash, the Board can continue to work towards meeting the goals of the AHTF while supporting community partners and accomplishing the City’s housing targets. From: Jen McAndrew <mccarthy.mcandrew@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2026 7:40 AM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Cc: Massa, Lori <lmassa@cityofmelrose.org>; Grymek, Lauren <lgrymek@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Appropriation to Affordable Housing Trust CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the city's domain. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. If you believe that this message is spam, please use the "Report Spam" button in Outlook to report it. Dear City Council Members, I hope you and your families are doing well. I know it's a very busy time for the Council, and particularly tonight with several meetings on your docket. Thank you for all your work on behalf of Melrose. This year, I am part Warning: Unusual sender <mccarthy.mcandrew@gmail.com> You don't usually receive emails from this address. Make sure you trust this sender before taking any actions. Dear City Council Members, I hope you and your families are doing well. I know it's a very busy time for the Council, and particularly tonight with several meetings on your docket. Thank you for all your work on behalf of Melrose. This year, I am particularly encouraged, given the will of the voters and the passage of the override, that Melrose is in the fortunate position of having some resources to allocate to important priorities and much-needed investments. While there are many high-priority investments for consideration on your agenda, I am reaching out in strong support of one in particular: the appropriation from free cash of $150,000 to the Affordable Housing Trust (Item ID # 2026- 1170). The establishment of the Affordable Housing Trust was an important step forward for a community like Melrose. Now you have the opportunity to take another step by adding funds to the Trust to support its mission. I think this does a few things. First, it is a signal of the City's values. This is not just theoretical. It shows the Commonwealth, at a time where there is (rightly, in my mind) pressure on municipalities to address the state's housing crisis, that Melrose is serious about affordable housing. Secondly, it establishes the precedent with the community, and with others considering Melrose as their home, that making these investments--perhaps annually, when resources allow--is something that the Mayor and, if you approve it, the Council are willing to do. There may be some who likely wish the amount was even higher, and I understand that. But to me this is an important step. A few of you have probably heard me say that my life's motto is "progress is being made, more work remains." (It certainly applies to being the parent of teens, as many of you can attest!) It's also true of our civic life together. Voting for this appropriation is a step for progress, even if more work remains. My best to you all and my gratitude for your service, Jen McAndrew 12 Sears Avenue From: ERIC WILDMAN <ewildman@comcast.net> Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2026 11:16 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Affordable Housing Trust, ID # 2026-1170 Good evening, I want to share my strong support for the appropriation from free cash of $150,000 to the Affordable Housing Trust, ID # 2026-1170. The establishment of the Affordable Housing Trust was a key step in addressing affordability in the City Melrose. The use of these funds to potentially leverage federal and state resources represents an incredible opportunity for our community. I understand that some might think this appropriation is too small in relation to the scale of the affordability crisis in metro-Boston, I tend to agree. However, using the relative scale of this appropriation as a reason to oppose this order would be unfortunate. Rather, I’d prefer this Council take an all of the above approach to addressing this issue and, by this vote, make it known that the City of Melrose is willing to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to addressing affordability in our community. While the focus of this message is the Affordable Housing Trust, I would be remiss if I did not note my support for the following orders: ID # 2026-1164, ID # 2026-1175 and ID # 2026-1241. Regards, Eric Wildman 105 Laurel Street, Melrose From: Kelly Thome <kthome@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2026 8:36 AM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Affordable Housing Trust vote Members of my City Council, I am asking you to please vote yes on tonight's Affordable Housing Trust vote. This is important for our city and a direct representation of what I believe our city holds as values. Thank you, Kelly Thome 1056 Main St Ward 1-2 From: Paul Brodeur <pb2010@verizon.net> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2026 4:22 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Support for Order 2026-1170 - Affordable Housing Trust Fund Dear Honorable Members Attached for your consideration is a letter in support of the above-referenced order. I am also providing the link to the study referenced in the letter. https://bostonchamber.com/supercharging-housing-production/ Good luck tonight as you make many important decisions in finalizing the operating budget and numerous free cash appropriations. Sincerely, Paul Paul Brodeur 125 Trenton Street Melrose, MA 02176 June 15, 2026 Melrose City Council Melrose City Hall 562 Main Street Melrose, MA 02176 RE: Melrose Affordable Housing Trust Fund Dear President Freeman and Members of the Melrose City Council, I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed deposit of $150,000 from the City’s free cash into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This strategic investment will help address the urgent need for housing in our community and across the Commonwealth. Importantly, it also demonstrates our city’s commitment to ensuring all residents have access to safe, stable, and affordable homes. The need for increased housing resources is more critical than ever, as highlighted in the recent Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce report entitled Supercharging Housing Production. The report underscores the pressing shortage of all forms of housing across Greater Boston, including Melrose, and calls for bold action by local governments to expand housing opportunities. While I do not endorse all the solutions in the report, it does correctly identify a significant gap between the current pace of housing development and the growing demand, especially for moderate- and lower-income families. Without proactive measures, many residents will continue to face challenges securing adequate housing, which in turn impacts the broader economic vitality and livability of our city and our region. A million-dollar home is no longer an unusual thing in the Melrose real estate market. Assuming a prospective buyer can put down 20%, the buyer will need to borrow $800,000. Assuming the buyer can get an interest rate of 6% (slightly below the current market). That will generate a monthly payment of $4,796 for thirty years, exclusive of property taxes, insurance, utilities, and other fees. While not every home in Melrose is going to sell for $1,000,000, it’s an important example of the current market. That is the market our municipal employees and our adult kids are facing. By allocating $150,000 to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Melrose will be taking a concrete step toward helping address the affordability crisis. This deposit can leverage available grant funding to maximize our impact by helping local non-profits buyaffordable units. It can be used for homeowner downpayment assistance or to help a renter with a security deposit. Importantly, it also signals to state agencies, developers, and community partners that Melrose is serious about meeting the housing needs of its residents. The Trust Fund serves as a crucial vehicle for supporting local projects, preserving existing affordable units, and attracting additional resources for future initiatives. As mayor, I was proud to sign into law the ordinance creating the Trust and to submit the first free cash funding order for the Trust. I urge the City Council to build on that foundation by approving this deposit and continue leading the way in addressing our city’s housing challenges. Making this relatively small deposit into the Trust Fund is an investment in the future of Melrose—one that will strengthen our community, support economic growth, and ensure that Melrose remains a welcoming home for all. Thank you for your consideration and your ongoing commitment to the well-being of Melrose residents. Sincerely, Paul Brodeur From: janis mamayek <yekmama@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2026 6:11 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Affordable Housing Trust, ID # 2026-1170 Good Evening Members of hte Council As an architect who has dedicated more than three decades to Affordable housing across the Commonwealth, and as a resident of Melrose, I am writing to express my strong support for the appropriation of $150,000 from free cash to the Affordable Housing Trust

(ID # 2026-1170). This action will empower the AHT to act on its mission, communicate local support in potential larger deals leveraging state and federal resources and possibly jump start smaller scaled projects. The need for Affordable [capital A] is great; the City can do great things with a properly funded trust. INspire good, Janis Mamayek 30 Trento St City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer Approved Fund - 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 2543 Melrose Cultural Council Approved Chamber and City Event 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Support Approved 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O Fund - 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing Submitted 3,284,486.00 2026-1164 $75,000.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan Submitted 3,209,486.00 2026-1165 $70,000.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study Submitted 3,139,486.00 2026-1169 $30,000.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign Submitted 3,109,486.00 Fund – 2026-1170 $150,000.00 Affordable Housing Trust Submitted 2,959,486.00 8270 Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 Dept – 693 Submitted 2,909,486.00 controls 2026-1172 $12,193.20 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS Submitted 2,897,292.80 2026-1173 $72,180.00 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms Submitted 2,825,112.80 Basketball & Lacrosse 2026-1174 $44,296.32 Dept-300 Submitted 2,780,816.48 Uniforms, Scorer table 2026-1175 $710,000.00 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design Submitted 2,070,816.48 2026-1176 $400,000.00 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project Submitted 1,670,816.48 2026-1177 $20,000.00 Dept - 401 School Signage Submitted 1,650,816.48 2026-1178 $3,000.00 Dept - 162 Census Mailer Submitted 1,647,816.48 *The first three appropriation requests listed were approved at the 4/6/26 City Council meeting. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. SOLDIERS & SAILORS CITY OF MELROSE MEMORIAL BUILDING 590 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 KATHY PIGOTT-BRODEUR Executive Director/Operations Manger Telephone (781) 979-4185 Kpigottbrodeur@cityofmelrose.org www.melrosememorialhall.com MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis Melrose City Council CC: Lauren Grymek Kerri Golden, CFO From: Kathy Pigott-Brodeur, Executive Director/Operations Manager, Memorial Hall DATE: April 28, 2026 RE: FY26 Memorial Hall Free Cash Request I respectfully request an appropriation of $50,000 from FY26 Free Cash to cover the cost of the following repairs at Memorial Hall. Repair #1: Upgrading the existing controls software for the HVAC system. This software has not been updated since 2013 and it can no longer be serviced remotely and temperature settings fluctuate. Upgrading the software will allow for remote service, reduce the need for on-site technicians visits and associated costs. Additionally, the upgrade will provide improved control of the heating and cooling system, ensuring temperatures can be accurately maintained to meet event requirements.. o Free Cash request: Total needed for Repair #1, (Building Repair line item 016932 527700) = $10,440 Repair #2: : defective boiler replacement The current boiler model is no longer available for purchase, and replacement parts can no longer be obtained. As a result, the boiler must be replaced.. o Free Cash request: Total needed for Emergency Repair #2, (Professional Service line item 016932 529000) = $39,560 Please let me know if you require any additional information to process this request. Thank you for your time and assistance. City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer Approved Fund - 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 2543 Melrose Cultural Council Approved Chamber and City Event 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Support Approved 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O Fund - 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing Submitted 3,284,486.00 2026-1164 $75,000.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan Submitted 3,209,486.00 2026-1165 $70,000.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study Submitted 3,139,486.00 2026-1169 $30,000.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign Submitted 3,109,486.00 Fund – 2026-1170 $150,000.00 Affordable Housing Trust Submitted 2,959,486.00 8270 Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 Dept – 693 Submitted 2,909,486.00 controls 2026-1172 $12,193.20 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS Submitted 2,897,292.80 2026-1173 $72,180.00 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms Submitted 2,825,112.80 Basketball & Lacrosse 2026-1174 $44,296.32 Dept-300 Submitted 2,780,816.48 Uniforms, Scorer table 2026-1175 $710,000.00 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design Submitted 2,070,816.48 2026-1176 $400,000.00 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project Submitted 1,670,816.48 2026-1177 $20,000.00 Dept - 401 School Signage Submitted 1,650,816.48 2026-1178 $3,000.00 Dept - 162 Census Mailer Submitted 1,647,816.48 *The first three appropriation requests listed were approved at the 4/6/26 City Council meeting. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. Memorandum To: Mr. Ken Kelley From: Mr. Jason Merrill Melrose High School Principal Date: 4/2826 Re: Vape Detectors - MVMMS Greetings, I would like to express the importance of purchasing vape detectors for MVMMS. They have proven to be an effective tool for MHS. Vaping is a national epidemic negatively affecting all students at the middle and high school levels. I am requesting to purchase vape detectors for all student bathrooms. This is a high need resource for student safety and success. Please let me know if you have any questions, Jason Merrill City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer Approved Fund - 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 2543 Melrose Cultural Council Approved Chamber and City Event 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Support Approved 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O Fund - 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing Submitted 3,284,486.00 2026-1164 $75,000.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan Submitted 3,209,486.00 2026-1165 $70,000.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study Submitted 3,139,486.00 2026-1169 $30,000.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign Submitted 3,109,486.00 Fund – 2026-1170 $150,000.00 Affordable Housing Trust Submitted 2,959,486.00 8270 Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 Dept – 693 Submitted 2,909,486.00 controls 2026-1172 $12,193.20 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS Submitted 2,897,292.80 2026-1173 $72,180.00 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms Submitted 2,825,112.80 Basketball & Lacrosse 2026-1174 $44,296.32 Dept-300 Submitted 2,780,816.48 Uniforms, Scorer table 2026-1175 $710,000.00 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design Submitted 2,070,816.48 2026-1176 $400,000.00 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project Submitted 1,670,816.48 2026-1177 $20,000.00 Dept - 401 School Signage Submitted 1,650,816.48 2026-1178 $3,000.00 Dept - 162 Census Mailer Submitted 1,647,816.48 *The first three appropriation requests listed were approved at the 4/6/26 City Council meeting. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. To: Kenneth Kelley, Deputy Superintendent of Schools From: Steve Black, MVMMS Assistant Principal, Ben Vermilyea, Band Director/Teacher Date: April 28, 2026 Re: Marching Band Uniforms Please accept this memo to support the purchasing of new Marching Band uniforms. The MHS Marching Band consists of approximately 65 students who compete in the New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) and perform at community events. The program is currently on a growth trajectory, recently winning first place in NESBA Division IV in 2024 and earning awards for Best Visual Performance and Best Color Guard this past year. Current Uniform Condition Our current uniforms have no official purchase record. While boosters estimated them to be 15 to 20 years old, a representative from Stanbury Uniforms determined they pre-date 2001, as they lack the manufacturing dates standard for the last 25 years. Although the Bandaiders booster group has worked diligently to clean and maintain them, the equipment no longer matches the caliber of our students' performances. Student Benefit New uniforms will directly benefit the student experience in the following ways: ● Performance Quality: Every student will have a properly fitting uniform, allowing them to move comfortably and perform at their highest physical level. ● Student Confidence: High-quality attire provides students with the confidence they deserve when performing before large audiences at venues like Fenway Park and Fred Green Field. ● Pride and Representation: New uniforms reflect the hard work of the students and the pride the Melrose community has for its band program. Long-Term Investment While this is a significant cost, high-quality uniforms are a long-term investment. With current enrollment trends rising, we’ve reached to several professionals who have helped us estimate the number of uniforms needed to ensure current and projected needs, ensuring a sustained investment. Our booster group is committed to the professional storage and maintenance required to ensure this new equipment lasts for decades to come. Thank you for your consideration and please feel free to reach out to us with any questions. City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer Approved Fund - 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 2543 Melrose Cultural Council Approved Chamber and City Event 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Support Approved 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O Fund - 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing Submitted 3,284,486.00 2026-1164 $75,000.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan Submitted 3,209,486.00 2026-1165 $70,000.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study Submitted 3,139,486.00 2026-1169 $30,000.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign Submitted 3,109,486.00 Fund – 2026-1170 $150,000.00 Affordable Housing Trust Submitted 2,959,486.00 8270 Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 Dept – 693 Submitted 2,909,486.00 controls 2026-1172 $12,193.20 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS Submitted 2,897,292.80 2026-1173 $72,180.00 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms Submitted 2,825,112.80 Basketball & Lacrosse 2026-1174 $44,296.32 Dept-300 Submitted 2,780,816.48 Uniforms, Scorer table 2026-1175 $710,000.00 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design Submitted 2,070,816.48 2026-1176 $400,000.00 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project Submitted 1,670,816.48 2026-1177 $20,000.00 Dept - 401 School Signage Submitted 1,650,816.48 2026-1178 $3,000.00 Dept - 162 Census Mailer Submitted 1,647,816.48 *The first three appropriation requests listed were approved at the 4/6/26 City Council meeting. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. Athletics Stephen J. Fogarty, AD MEMO To: Mr. Ken Kelley From: Stephen J. Fogarty, Director of Athletics RE: Student Uniforms and Score Table requests Date: 4/28/26 Dear Mr. Kelley, Melrose High School lacrosse and basketball team uniforms are in need of replacement. These two sports, specifically girls and boys lacrosse, and boys basketball, are the highest priority replacement needed at this time. Our students deserve to wear newer, more modern uniforms made of better and least restrictive fabrics. Our current score table is approximately 25 years old and too small to accommodate all of the game officials needed to host a home high school game. A newer and larger table would support competitive events for multiple high school sports. Best, Stephen J. Fogarty Mr. Stephen J. Fogarty Director of Athletics (781)462-3223 sfogarty@melroseschools.com Melrose Public Schools, 360 Lynn Fells Parkway, Melrose, MA. 02176 City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer Approved Fund - 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 2543 Melrose Cultural Council Approved Chamber and City Event 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Support Approved 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O Fund - 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing Submitted 3,284,486.00 2026-1164 $75,000.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan Submitted 3,209,486.00 2026-1165 $70,000.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study Submitted 3,139,486.00 2026-1169 $30,000.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign Submitted 3,109,486.00 Fund – 2026-1170 $150,000.00 Affordable Housing Trust Submitted 2,959,486.00 8270 Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 Dept – 693 Submitted 2,909,486.00 controls 2026-1172 $12,193.20 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS Submitted 2,897,292.80 2026-1173 $72,180.00 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms Submitted 2,825,112.80 Basketball & Lacrosse 2026-1174 $44,296.32 Dept-300 Submitted 2,780,816.48 Uniforms, Scorer table 2026-1175 $710,000.00 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design Submitted 2,070,816.48 2026-1176 $400,000.00 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project Submitted 1,670,816.48 2026-1177 $20,000.00 Dept - 401 School Signage Submitted 1,650,816.48 2026-1178 $3,000.00 Dept - 162 Census Mailer Submitted 1,647,816.48 *The first three appropriation requests listed were approved at the 4/6/26 City Council meeting. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Administration–Engineering–Water–Sewer–Facilities Parks–Forestry–Highway–Sanitation–Cemetery–Fleet CITY OF MELROSE City Yard, 72 Tremont Street Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., BCEE Director of Public Works Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone – (781) 665-0142 E-mail: eproakis@cityofmelrose.org MEMORANDUM To: Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis Melrose City Council From: Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., Director of Public Works cc: Kerriann Golden, CFO/Auditor Lauren Grymek, Chief of Staff James Troup, Deputy DPW Director – Administration & Finance Jay Coy, Acting City Engineer Date: April 28, 2026 Re: Ell Pond Park Improvements Project Design – Free Cash Request The Department of Public Works requests $710,000 to advance the design of the Ell Pond Park Improvements Project. The complete project has currently been brought to 25% design as part of a federal earmark focused on stormwater improvements (Phase 1). This funding request for $710,000 will bring the entire park design to near-completion (approximately 90%) and will bring the next phase of improvements to bid-ready documents. A phasing plan will be developed during the design phase. The proposed funding also covers permitting for the entire park project. Elements of the Ell Pond Park Improvements Project are as follows: • Improvements to the East Knoll, West Knoll, and Cabbage Patch fields to improve playing surfaces and increase uptime • Addition of a multi-use path around the perimeter of the park (approximately 0.75 mile loop), along with better interior path connections and connections to new fitness areas • Off-road pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure parallel to Lynn Fells Parkway, since on-road options are limited in this vicinity for safety reasons • Restoration of wetlands and improvements to water quality and habitat at the inlet to Ell Pond from the Parkway near Melrose Street. • A pedestrian bridge over the wetlands providing an in-park connection to the Crystal Street tennis courts and adjacent park area with added aesthetic benefits • Complete rehabilitation of the Crystal Street tennis courts and improvements to the Lyons tennis courts as needed • Addition of an accessible path to the top of the knoll, providing access to the knoll memorials to visitors of all abilities • An outdoor classroom area that can be used by students of the middle and high school complex as well as other user groups Ell Pond Park Design – Free Cash Request April 28, 2026 Page 2 • Improvements to the boat launch into Ell Pond, providing better access to active recreation • Repaving and restriping of the knoll parking lot • Maintenance of the existing dog park • Improved access to view and sit near Ell Pond The conceptual design for the park improvements was developed based on significant public input during the Ell Pond Feasibility Study project phase. Beginning in 2020, the Ell Pond Park Working Group, consisting of representatives from the City’s Parks, DPW, Conservation, and Planning Departments, as well as the Melrose Park and Conservation Commissions, has guided the conceptual design development. This group continues to oversee the design process and will lead the public outreach activities for this next phase of design, along with our consultants from Weston and Sampson. The Ell Pond Park Improvements Project was identified as the top ranked project in the City’s recent Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Initiating the final design is the next phase in the implementation of this project. Ell Pond Park is a valuable amenity for the City, and the proposed project will help it reach its full potential, offering amenities for a wide variety of park users for years to come. The Department of Public Works hereby requests $710,000 of free cash to advance the design of the Ell Pond Park Improvements Project. The funds will be deposited into a dedicated account set up by the Auditor’s Office and will be managed by the Department of Public Works, in conjunction with the Parks Department. Thank you for your consideration of this important community project. ELL POND PARK CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 2026 CITY OF MELROSEAGENDA 1 Project History Project Schedule and 2 Project Goals 3 25% Design Plan 4 Stormwater Management Opinion of Probable 5 Construction Cost Estimate 6 Question and Discussion 1 PROJECT HISTORY INCEPTION PHASE 1 PROJECT WHAT’S NEXT?

2020-2022 FEBRUARY 2025 NOVEMBER 2025 TODAY Ell Pond Feasibility Study and Ell Pond Park was Ell Pond Park Stormwater Ell Pond Park 25% Design Complete Preferred Master Plan awarded $1M EPA/ Management Project Kick-Off for City Funding Application Federal Earmark grant for stormwater improvement. Preferred Master Plan (2021) City Working Group and Weston & Sampson Team at A Site Current 25% Parks Design Illustrative Plan Assessment and Evaluation Meeting in December, 20252022 FEASIBILITY STUDY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Public Engagement Takeaways Why are people coming to Ell Pond Park? Courts: Field use and walking. Average condition, accessibility, and satisfaction. Fields: What is desired? Average condition, accessibility, and satisfaction. Better drainage of fields. Poor drainage. More seating. Improved walking paths and trails. Improvements to pond and waterfront. CONCEPT ALTERNATIVE 1 CONCEPT ALTERNATIVE 2 CONCEPT ALTERNATIVE 3 2022 FEASIBILITY STUDY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SURVEY STATISTICS Key Concerns and Challenges Current usage of the park Q2: Are existing sports and recreation facilities at Ell Pond Park (fields and/or courts) Q3: Check any site features and/or facilities that you or your family use sufficiently meeting the needs of your organization or program in terms of (Check all that apply). Refer to the site map above. availability and performance? Top usage: most are coming for fields or walking If NO, why? A total of 487 people participated in 49% 19% the survey. 14% Poor 9% 5% 5% Lighting Needs Field Drainage Better Problems Courts Non-sports Need Turf Fields Restrooms Programming Repair Wanted Wanted 2022 FEASIBILITY STUDY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SURVEY STATISTICS Most Desired Improvements Q12: In relation to this master planning effort, please identity other facility or site improvements that would help to meet the needs of you, your family and/or site improvements that would help to meet the needs of you, your family and/or other Melrose residents. 23% 19% Improved Clean pond/ path/trails waterfront improvements2022 FEASIBILITY STUDY PREFERRED CONCEPT CABBAGE PATCH SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD (315’ x 150’) EAST KNOLL NATURAL TURF FIELD (1: U11-U12 SOCCER, 225’ x 165’ OR 2: U9-U10 SOCCER, 165’ x 105’) WETLAND REHABILITATION CRYSTAL STREET INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL & TENNIS COURTS STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS TERRACED LYONS TENNIS WORKOUT POD BLEACHER PARKING LOT (3 TOTAL) BLEACHER SEATING COURTS SEATING ENTRANCE SEATING PAVILION & SEATING LYNN FELLS PARKWAY WWI MEMORIAL CRYSTAL STREET WWII MEMORIAL FLAG MEMORIAL KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL TREMONT STREET OVERLOOK DECK/OUTDOOR CLASSROOM W/ TERRACED WALL SEATING WEST KNOLL WEST KNOLL NATURAL TURF FIELD ATHLETIC TURF FIELD DOG PARK WETLAND BRIDGE (U9-U10 SOCCER, 150’ x 120’) (1: U13-U19/HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER, W/ DOUBLE FENCE CROSSING 330’ x 210’ OR 2: U11-U12 SOCCER, ENTRANCE 210’ x 150’) ONE-WAY POND ACCESS DECK OVERLOOK/ PARKING LOT LEWIS MONK LITTLE ELL POND TRAIL & FISHING ACCESS (128 SPACES INCLUDING LEAGUE FIELD BIKE PATH W/ EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE 5 HC SPACES) (200’ FOUL LINES, BOAT 200’ CENTER OUTFIELD) LAUNCH DEPRESSED LAWN AREA MEMORIAL BENCH EXISTING RAIN FOR STORMWATER RETENTION (3 TOTAL) OVERLOOK RAIN GARDEN ELL POND GARDENS PARK SEATING & LOOP PATH W/ BOARDWALK CROSSING & EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE 0’ 60’ 120’ 240’ 2 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT SCHEDULE AND GOALS 2025 2026 2027 NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR Project Kick-off Record Documents Review, Survey and Site Analysis 25% Design Plans RDA, Subsurface Investigation WE ARE HERE City Stakeholders Meetings 50% Design Plans NEPA, NOI Permitting The project schedule is catered towards the EPA grant funding deadline. The design team is to design the entire park to 25% and then continue the phase 1 stormwater 100% Design Plans improvement design and engineering through permitting and construction. The City plans to bid for construction Bidding services in February 2027 and commence the Phase 1 work in April 2027. Construction Starts3 25% DESIGN PLAN Lyons Tennis Melrose Veteran’s Memorial Melrose High Crystal and Pickleball Middle School School Street Tennis Court Court (2026 Improvement) West Knoll Wetland Multi-Use Cabbage Patch East Knoll Field Restoration Path Field Fields (1: U13-U19/High School (1: U11-U12 Soccer, 225’ x (315’ x 150’) Soccer, 330’ x 210’ or 2: 165’ or 2: U9-U10 Soccer, U11-U12 Soccer, 210’ x 150’) 165’ x 105’) LYNN FELLS PKWY West Knoll Field (U9-U10 Soccer, 150’ x 120’) Memorial Knoll Lewis Monk Field Lighting Installation Dog Outdoor Wetland (2026 Improvement) CRYSTAL ST. TREMONT ST. Park Classroom Bridge Fitness Fitness Multi-Use Overlook Terrace Terrace Path Deck ADA Paths Fitness ELL POND Boat Ramp Boardwalk Terrace 0’ 60’ 120’ 240’BIRDSEYE PERSPECTIVE - FULL BUILDOUT Lyons Tennis and Pickleball Fred Green Melrose Veteran’s Memorial Melrose High Court Memorial Middle School School (2026 Improvement) Field Cabbage Patch Morelli Field Field (315’ x 150’) Wetland Crystal West Knoll Multi-Use West Knoll Restoration Street Tennis Field Path Field East Knoll Court Fields CRYSTAL ST. LYNN FELLS PKWY TREMONT ST. Fitness Terrace Outdoor Wetland Lewis Monk Fitness Overlook ADA Paths Dog Classroom Bridge Field Terrace Deck Park Lighting Memorial Boat Installation Knoll Ramp Boardwalk (2026 Improvement) Fitness Terrace ELL PONDENVISION AN INCLUSIVE PARK WITH DIVERSE PROGRAM P.E. Biking Class Birding Tennis Hiking Tennis Field Football Water P.E. Hockey Access Picnic Jogging Class Pickleball Soccer Soccer Parking Fishing Soccer (136 spaces) Fitness CRYSTAL ST. LYNN FELLS PKWY East Knoll West Knoll Fields Baseball Field Dog Park Fitness TREMONT ST. Outdoor Biking Fitness Classroom Water Scenic Hiking Water Water Biking Water Access Vistas Access Access Access LEGEND Jogging Picnic Canoe/ Hiking Fishing Fishing Fishing Passive Program Kayak Scenic Memorial Jogging Active Recreation Vistas Fishing Birding Water Recreation ELL POND Infrastructure Scenic VistasCIRCULATION DIAGRAM LEGEND Park Entrance Existing Gravel Path Primary Circulation (Multi-Use Path) Multi-Use Boardwalk Secondary Circulation Vehicular Circulation ELL POND Tertiary Circulation Parking & Emergency Vehicle AccessTOP OF MEMORIAL KNOLLMULTI - USE PATH4 STORMWATER AND DRAINAGE DIAGRAM - PHASE 1 Cabbage Patch Field LYNN FELLS PKWY West Knoll East Knoll Fields Fields Memorial Knoll Dog Park CRYSTAL ST. TREMONT ST. Bit Alt 1 LEGEND D Manhole Perforated Pipe 100’ Buffer Zone Beehive Grate Bioretention Area 15’ No Disturb Zone ELL POND 12” HDPE Drainage Pipe FEMA Flood Zone EL 49.9 NAVD88 0’ 60’ 120’ 240’STORMWATER AND DRAINAGE DIAGRAM - FULL BUILD OUT Cabbage Patch Field LYNN FELLS PKWY Wetland Restoration West Knoll East Knoll Fields Fields Memorial Knoll Dog Wetland Park Bridge CRYSTAL ST. TREMONT ST. LEGEND Perforated Pipe Wetland Restoration Area D Manhole Field Under Drain 100’ Buffer Zone Beehive Grate Field Collector Pipe 15’ No Disturb Zone ELL POND 12” HDPE Drainage Pipe Bioretention Area FEMA Flood Zone EL 49.9 NAVD88 0’ 60’ 120’ 240’5 25% DESIGN PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATE • PHASE 1 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS Total Design and Construction Cost: $1,175,000 • 90% DESIGN FOR FULL BUILD OUT AND BID READY DOCUMENTS FOR PHASE 2* Total Design Cost: $710,000 • PHASE 2* THROUGH COMPLETION ESTIMATED AT $12.5 MILLION (excluding inflation and environmental remediation cost if applicable) * The specific components of Phase 2 and future phases will be determined during the design phase. 25% DESIGN PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATE PHASE 2 THROUGH COMPLETION ESTIMATED AT $12.5 MILLION LYNN FELLS PKWY TRAIL CABBAGE PATCH $1.6M FIELD $1.5M LYNN FELLS PKWY PARKING LOT WETLAND CRYSTAL $1.1M REHAB ST. WEST KNOLL EAST KNOLL $596K TENNIS $2.9M $1.9M COURT MEMORIAL $676K KNOLL $461K POND EDGE TRAIL DOG PARK $1.5M $136K WETLAND BRIDGE CRYSTAL ST. TREMONT ST. $589K OUTDOOR CRYSTAL ST CLASSROOM PASSIVE $146K RECREATION ELL POND AREA $270K (excluding inflation and environmental remediation cost if applicable) 0’ 60’ 120’ 240’25% DESIGN PLAN Lyons Tennis Melrose Veteran’s Memorial Melrose High Crystal and Pickleball Middle School School Street Tennis Court Court (2026 Improvement) West Knoll Wetland Multi-Use Cabbage Patch East Knoll Field Restoration Path Field Fields (1: U13-U19/High School (1: U11-U12 Soccer, 225’ x (315’ x 150’) Soccer, 330’ x 210’ or 2: 165’ or 2: U9-U10 Soccer, U11-U12 Soccer, 210’ x 150’) 165’ x 105’) LYNN FELLS PKWY West Knoll Field (U9-U10 Soccer, 150’ x 120’) Memorial Knoll Lewis Monk Field Lighting Installation Dog Outdoor Wetland (2026 Improvement) CRYSTAL ST. TREMONT ST. Park Classroom Bridge Fitness Fitness Multi-Use Overlook Terrace Terrace Path Deck ADA Paths Fitness ELL POND Boat Ramp Boardwalk Terrace 0’ 60’ 120’ 240’ QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION THANK YOU! CITY OF MELROSEDear Members of the City Council, I am writing in my role as Chair of the Melrose Park Commission in support of the request to appropriate $710,000 in free cash to advance the design of the Ell Pond Park Improvements Project. Over the past several years, the city, through a collaborative process involving DPW, the Parks Department, the Park Commission, the Conservation Commission, and members of the public, has developed a thoughtful and comprehensive vision for Ell Pond Park. The proposed funding represents an important next step in moving that vision from concept toward implementation. From the perspective of the Park Commission, one of the most important aspects of this project is the planned improvement of the East and West Knoll fields and the Cabbage Patch field. These fields are heavily utilized by Melrose residents through high school athletics, youth sports organizations, and recreational programming. Soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, football, and other youth sports programs collectively serve a large and growing number of children and families throughout our community. At present, the condition of the East and West Knoll fields has deteriorated significantly. Drainage issues and the overall condition of the playing surfaces frequently render the fields unusable following rain events and have made it increasingly difficult to sustain healthy grass growth. The current state of the fields also limits the city’s ability to safely and reliably accommodate the growing demand for athletic field time. This is not simply a recreational issue. Access to youth and school sports provides meaningful physical, mental, and social benefits for participants across a wide range of ages. As participation in youth athletics continues to grow, it is important that the city maintain and improve the public facilities that make those opportunities possible. Failing to invest in these fields risks limiting access for current and future participants and places increasing strain on the rest of the city’s athletic field inventory. Importantly, the Ell Pond Park Improvements Project is broader than athletic field improvements alone. The project also includes enhancements that will benefit the community more generally, including completion of the walking path around Ell Pond, improved accessibility throughout the park, improvements associated with the veterans memorial area between the knoll fields, environmental and stormwater improvements, and additional opportunities for passive recreation for residents of all ages. The proposed appropriation is for completion of the formal design and permitting work necessary to position the city to pursue future funding opportunities and advance the project in phases over time. While this funding does not itself construct the improvements, it is a critical and necessary step toward implementation. Ell Pond Park is one of the city’s most visible and heavily used public recreational spaces. Advancing this project represents an investment not only in fields and infrastructure, but in the health, accessibility, and quality of life of the Melrose community for years to come. Thank you for your consideration and continued support of our public parks and recreational facilities. Sincerely, Jim Donohue Chair Melrose Park Commission From: Gretchen Kruger <president@melroseyouthsoccer.org> Sent: Monday, May 25, 2026 12:29 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Letter of Support from MYS-Ell Pond Park Design Subject: Letter of Support – Ell Pond Park Improvements Project Dear Members of the City Council, I am writing on behalf of Melrose Youth Soccer to express our strong support for the proposed funding to advance the design of the Ell Pond Park Improvements Project. Access to safe, reliable, and high-quality playing fields is one of the most pressing challenges facing youth sports in our community today. The current conditions at the West Knoll, in particular, significantly limit its usability. Poor field conditions frequently render the space unplayable, especially during and after periods of rain. As a result, games and practices for hundreds of players each season are routinely displaced and funneled onto an already overburdened set of fields across the city. This strain has real consequences. We simply do not have enough playable field space to support the number of children who want to participate in soccer and other sports. Field availability constraints force difficult scheduling compromises, reduce practice time, and limit the overall quality of the experience for our players. This past spring underscored the severity of the issue. Due to limited field capacity, we were unable to host high school–aged teams within our local programming. That is a significant loss—not only for player development, but for maintaining engagement and community connection among older athletes who still want to play. The proposed improvements to the East Knoll, West Knoll, and Cabbage Patch fields would directly address these challenges by increasing field durability, improving drainage, and extending usable playing time throughout the season. These upgrades are critical to ensuring that our fields can support consistent, safe play for all users. At its core, this project is about inclusion. Every child who wants to play should have the opportunity to do so. Right now, field limitations are one of the primary barriers preventing that goal. Investing in Ell Pond Park is an investment in access, equity, and the health and well-being of our community’s youth. We strongly support the Department of Public Works’ request for funding to advance this project and respectfully urge its approval. Thank you for your consideration and for your continued support of Melrose’s youth. Sincerely, Melrose Youth Soccer Melrose Public Schools Administrative Offices 360 Lynn Fells Parkway, Melrose, MA 02176 Phone: 781-662-2000 V/TTY FAX: 781-979-2112 CARI BERMAN KEN KELLEY Superintendent Deputy Superintendent cberman@melroseschools.com kkelley@melroseschools.com May 21, 2026 Dear Members of the Melrose City Council, We are writing in our respective roles as the Superintendent of Melrose Public Schools, the Principal of Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School and Melrose High School, and the Athletic Director for Melrose High School, in support of the free cash appropriation request of $710,000 to advance the design of the Ell Pond Park Improvements Project. We appreciate the collaborative process the city has led over the last several years – with the Department of Public Works, the Parks Department, the Park Commission, the Conservation Commission, and members of the public – to develop a comprehensive vision for Ell Pond Park. Advancing the project design with this appropriation builds on the work and planning completed to date and is critical to realizing these improvements. A redesigned Ell Pond Park has great potential for the Middle School and High School to expand education beyond the walls of the buildings: an outdoor classroom component would provide opportunities for hands-on instruction and learning; and the potential for a boat launch would support extracurricular activities and clubs (fishing, recreation activities, etc.) by allowing students to fully take advantage of water access. MVMMS Wellness Classes recently started a fishing unit on the shores of Ell Pond. The Wellness Classes could expand their outdoor programs on the weather proof fields. The project would also provide opportunities for student-athletes, adding much needed space and scheduling capacity for practices, scrimmages and games. This past school year we had over 1,200 students register for an athletic team. As youth and school-based sports continue to expand in our community, growing demands for usable field spaces often come into conflict with seasonal weather limitations that often close the West and East Knoll fields. The project, when completed, would make our fields more reliable and weather-durable, and also improve the overall offerings of Melrose’s athletic facilities to be more in line with surrounding towns. Families and community members could enjoy the active and passive recreation activity opportunities while practices and games are being played. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, Jason Merrill Stephen Fogarty Cari Berman Cari Berman, Superintendent Jason Merrill, Principal Stephen Fogarty, Athletic Director Melrose Public Schools Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle Melrose High School School and Melrose High School From: Ryan Sullivan <rpsully.rs@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 2:56 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Letter of Support from Melrose Youth Lacrosse re: Ell Pond Park Design Dear Members of the Melrose City Council, We write to you today on behalf of Melrose Youth Lacrosse to express our support for the proposed funding to advance the design of the Ell Pond Park Improvements Plan. We believe this investment represents a meaningful and lasting commitment to the health, safety, and athletic development of our youth and the wider Melrose community and we respectfully urge the Council to move forward with this important initiative. Improved Playing Surfaces and Safety for Our Youth Players The safety and well-being of the Melrose community of athletes and their ability to compete in both recreational and competitive athletic environments should be one of our highest priorities. Natural grass fields, while traditional, are highly susceptible to uneven wear, bare patches, and muddy conditions that significantly increase the risk of injury. Artificial turf provides a consistent, well-cushioned, and level playing surface that reduces the likelihood of trips, falls, and impact-related injuries. Modern turf systems are engineered with advanced infill materials designed to absorb impact and support healthy play. Our children deserve to compete and practice on surfaces that give them every advantage — and every protection. Longer Seasons and Availability During Inclement Weather One of the most significant limitations of natural grass fields is their vulnerability to weather conditions. Rain, snow, and freezing temperatures can render grass fields unplayable for days or even weeks at a time, disrupting practice schedules, postponing games, and shortening entire seasons. Artificial turf drains efficiently and withstands a wide range of weather conditions, allowing our youth athletes to continue training and competing with minimal interruption. Extended playing seasons mean more time on the field, more skill development, and more opportunities for our youth players to benefit from organized athletics. Additional Surfaces for All Youth Sports Organizations The demand for quality athletic field space in Melrose continues to grow. Our city is home to a vibrant and diverse collection of youth sports organizations — from soccer and lacrosse to football and field hockey — all of which are competing for limited field availability. Artificial turf fields can sustain far heavier use than natural grass without deteriorating, effectively increasing the total usable field capacity across our community. This means more scheduling flexibility, less conflict between organizations, and greater access to quality playing surfaces for every child in Melrose, regardless of the sport they love. Additionally, these surfaces can be marked with a host of dimensions spanning a wide range of sport requirements, granting our community more versatility in how and where to schedule games, practices and other community events. We see these benefits first hand with the use of Fred Green and Pine Banks facilities and how they support multiple athletic and recreational events. Offering additional facilities to a wider range of athletic teams and recreational uses will only improve the programming Melrose can offer our residents. We recognize that this investment requires thoughtful planning and fiscal consideration. However, when weighed against the long-term benefits — reduced maintenance costs, durability, expanded usage, and the safety and enrichment of our children and community — the conversion of East Knoll, West Knoll and Cabbage Patch to artificial turf represents a wise and forward-thinking use of city resources. Communities across the region have made this transition and have seen the positive impact it delivers year after year. We thank the City Council for your continued dedication to making Melrose a wonderful place to raise a family and grow as a community. We respectfully ask for your support in moving this proposal forward and look forward to seeing our youth sports programs thrive on improved athletic facilities. Respectfully, _______________________________ Melrose Youth Lacrosse League Ryan Sullivan Melrose Youth Lacrosse Board Member & Coach Rpsully.rs@gmail.com From: J Schulz <jacobaschulz@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2026 5:46 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Side Walk Plow and Ell Pond Hello all, I think the city needs a new sidewalk plow and to use them more often in the winter. Myrtle Street has many elderly and young parents with strollers that use the sidewalks all year long, and the sidewalk plows rarely come down the street. If they do, they only do one side. The corner of Vine and Myrtle was four feet high this past winter forcing people into the street. I also fully support spending the money on the Ell Pond plan so that we are ready to apply for grant money. Ell Pond could be the heart of the city, and is currently a mess. A plan would be the first step towards galvanizing the city toward the glory that could be. Thank you, Jacob Schulz 158 Myrtle. May 5, 2026 Dear Members of the Melrose City Council: On behalf of the Veterans Advisory Board, we respectfully submit this letter in strong support of the administration’s request for a free cash appropriation in the amount of $710,000 for the design and permitting of Ell Pond Park. Ell Pond Park serves not only as one of Melrose’s most treasured public spaces, but also as a sacred place of remembrance dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans and Gold Star families. The Memorial Knoll, centrally located within the park, stands as a lasting tribute to generations of Melrose residents who answered the call to serve our country. The memorials located throughout the park reflect the courage, sacrifice, and patriotism of those who served in defense of our freedoms, including: - The World War I Memorial honoring the 32 Melrose residents who gave their lives during that conflict. - The World War II Memorial featuring symbolic elements inspired by the national memorial in Washington, D.C., including the Atlantic and Pacific wreaths, water feature, and the historic “Kilroy Was Here” engraving. - The Korean War Memorial commemorating the six Melrose residents who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Korean conflict. - The Vietnam Reflection Area, providing a peaceful and respectful setting for remembrance and reflection. - The Student Respect Garden, designed to inspire future generations through messages of honor, service, respect, and civic responsibility. - The Gold Star Families Memorial, dedicated to the families who endured the immeasurable loss of a loved one in military service to our nation. Additionally, the memorial trees planted throughout the knoll stand as living tributes to Melrose residents lost in war, ensuring their legacy continues for generations to come. The Veterans Advisory Board strongly supports the proposed design and permitting process, particularly the effort to improve and maintain safe and equitable access throughout all areas of the park. Of special importance is the inclusion of ADA-compliant access to the Memorial Knoll and Gold Star Families Memorial so that veterans, seniors, individuals with disabilities, families, students, and all members of the public may continue to visit, reflect, and participate in commemorative events without limitation. Preserving and improving access to these memorial spaces is essential not only for today’s residents, but for future generations who will look to Ell Pond Park as a place to learn about sacrifice, service, patriotism, and community remembrance. The Veterans Advisory Board respectfully urges the City Council to support this appropriation request and thanks the Council for its continued commitment to preserving these important memorials and public spaces. Sincerely, Melrose Veterans Advisory Board City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer Approved Fund - 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 2543 Melrose Cultural Council Approved Chamber and City Event 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Support Approved 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O Fund - 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing Submitted 3,284,486.00 2026-1164 $75,000.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan Submitted 3,209,486.00 2026-1165 $70,000.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study Submitted 3,139,486.00 2026-1169 $30,000.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign Submitted 3,109,486.00 Fund – 2026-1170 $150,000.00 Affordable Housing Trust Submitted 2,959,486.00 8270 Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 Dept – 693 Submitted 2,909,486.00 controls 2026-1172 $12,193.20 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS Submitted 2,897,292.80 2026-1173 $72,180.00 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms Submitted 2,825,112.80 Basketball & Lacrosse 2026-1174 $44,296.32 Dept-300 Submitted 2,780,816.48 Uniforms, Scorer table 2026-1175 $710,000.00 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design Submitted 2,070,816.48 2026-1176 $400,000.00 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project Submitted 1,670,816.48 2026-1177 $20,000.00 Dept - 401 School Signage Submitted 1,650,816.48 2026-1178 $3,000.00 Dept - 162 Census Mailer Submitted 1,647,816.48 *The first three appropriation requests listed were approved at the 4/6/26 City Council meeting. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Administration–Engineering–Water–Sewer–Facilities Parks–Forestry–Highway–Sanitation–Cemetery–Fleet CITY OF MELROSE City Yard, 72 Tremont Street Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., BCEE Director of Public Works Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone – (781) 665-0142 MEMORANDUM E-mail: eproakis@cityofmelrose.org To: Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis Melrose City Council From: Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., Director of Public Works cc: Kerriann Golden, CFO/Auditor Lauren Grymek, Chief of Staff James Troup, Deputy DPW Director – Administration & Finance Jay Coy, Acting City Engineer Date: April 28, 2026 Re: Lebanon Street Transportation Improvement Project Design – Free Cash Request The Department of Public Works requests $400,000 toward the further advancement of the design of the Lebanon Street Transportation Improvement Project (TIP). This project involves the reconstruction of Lebanon Street from Grove Street to the Malden City limit, extending the prior TIP project on Lebanon Street, which covered the corridor from approximately Main Street to Grove Street. The TIP program is federally funded and funnels to municipalities in eastern Massachusetts through the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), in coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The final construction project, slated to begin in FY29, is estimated to cost over $10M and will be funded by the federal TIP program. The DPW has been working on the planning and design of this project with consultants from Stantec since 2022. Since that time, we have expended approximately $540,000 to complete preliminary planning, conduct meetings with MassDOT to ensure the project meets their eligibility criteria, perform survey, and complete design up through the 25% design stage. The remainder of design and construction services which the City is required to fund will cost approximately $1.07M, of which $200,000 has already been allocated through a past road bond. At this time, we propose to fund an additional $400,000 using available free cash, to bring the project through the 75% design stage. The remainder of funds will be derived from a combination of future Chapter 90 allocations from the state and future road bonds, to bring the project to bid-ready design, permitting, and construction administration. Ultimately, with this investment, the City will take advantage of over $10M in construction funds provided by the federal government. The Department of Public Works hereby requests $400,000 of free cash to further advance the design of the Lebanon Street TIP project. The funds will be deposited into a dedicated account set up by the Auditor’s Office and managed by the DPW. Thank you for your consideration of this important project. City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer Approved Fund - 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 2543 Melrose Cultural Council Approved Chamber and City Event 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Support Approved 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O Fund - 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing Submitted 3,284,486.00 2026-1164 $75,000.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan Submitted 3,209,486.00 2026-1165 $70,000.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study Submitted 3,139,486.00 2026-1169 $30,000.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign Submitted 3,109,486.00 Fund – 2026-1170 $150,000.00 Affordable Housing Trust Submitted 2,959,486.00 8270 Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 Dept – 693 Submitted 2,909,486.00 controls 2026-1172 $12,193.20 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS Submitted 2,897,292.80 2026-1173 $72,180.00 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms Submitted 2,825,112.80 Basketball & Lacrosse 2026-1174 $44,296.32 Dept-300 Submitted 2,780,816.48 Uniforms, Scorer table 2026-1175 $710,000.00 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design Submitted 2,070,816.48 2026-1176 $400,000.00 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project Submitted 1,670,816.48 2026-1177 $20,000.00 Dept - 401 School Signage Submitted 1,650,816.48 2026-1178 $3,000.00 Dept - 162 Census Mailer Submitted 1,647,816.48 *The first three appropriation requests listed were approved at the 4/6/26 City Council meeting. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Administration–Engineering–Water–Sewer–Facilities Parks–Forestry–Highway–Sanitation–Cemetery–Fleet CITY OF MELROSE City Yard, 72 Tremont Street Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., BCEE Director of Public Works Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone – (781) 665-0142 E-mail: eproakis@cityofmelrose.org MEMORANDUM To: Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis Melrose City Council From: Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., Director of Public Works cc: Kerriann Golden, CFO/Auditor Lauren Grymek, Chief of Staff James Troup, Deputy DPW Director – Administration & Finance Scott Enos, Facilities Manager Date: April 28, 2026 Re: School Signage – Free Cash Request The Department of Public Works requests $20,000 to purchase and install signage at the Melrose Public School buildings. Several years ago, the DPW Facilities Division conducted a survey of prinicipals to identify signage needs on their campuses. A handful of items were addressed at that time where a funding source was available, but the majority of signage improvements were unable to be implemented due to budgetary constraints. The DPW plans to initiate an updated survey of principals and will visit each school site to confirm current needs. The proposed budget will fund the highest priority needs at each school. The Department of Public Works hereby requests $20,000 of free cash for school signage. The funds will be deposited into a dedicated account set up by the Auditor’s Office, and spending will be managed by the DPW. Thank you for your consideration of this project. OFFICE OF PLANNING AND CITY OF MELROSE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT City Hall, 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 LORI MASSA, AICP Telephone - (781) 979-4190 Director & City Planner M E M O R A N D U M TO: Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis Melrose City Council FROM: Lori Massa, Director OPCD Ingrid Winkler, Conservation Agent CC: Kerriann Golden, CFO/Auditor Lauren Grymek, Chief of Staff DATE: May 1, 2026 RE: Treating the Towners, Swains, and Ell Ponds – Free Cash Request The Office of Planning and Community Development respectfully requests that the City Council approve an appropriation of free cash in the amount of $37,000 for the Conservation Commission to undergo a project at Towners Pond, which will set it on an effective maintenance plan and also address area residents’ complaints related to the condition of the pond. The Conservation Commission is responsible for the maintenance of Towners, Swains, and Ell Ponds. Towners Pond has a nuisance-level growth of water lilies that is impacting its overall pond health. The proposed treatment plan includes the application of a systemic herbicide (Sonar) to control the nuisance vegetation, followed by the subsequent removal of vegetative material through hydro-raking. The quoted cost for the hydro-raking is $2,700 per day and we expect that it will take 5 to 10 days total over 2 to 3 years depending on how much material is removed to complete the work. DPW would handle the removal and disposal of the plant material. We have recently learned that there are new environmental permitting requirements for hydro- raking, which will add extensive costs. The costs are for coordination, filing fees, and sampling. The estimated permitting costs based on phone conversations with consultants is $10,000. Therefore, we are requesting $37,000 above our annual budget to cover the costs related to regulatory permitting, compliance, and the work of hydro-raking. There is a $14,000 budgeted line-item for Conservation Maintenance. The amount had been $9,925 per year until FY24 when it was increased to $14,000. Even with the budget line item in the past the Conservation Commission has requested free cash historically for larger pond maintenance projects. Available records, while not complete, indicate that the City previously invested at a significantly higher level in pond management. For example, the pond management budget exceeded $37,000 in 1998, not including an additional estimated $23,000 allocated for Swains Pond management. Hydro raking of Towners Pond may have been completed in 1998 (postponed from previous year due to low water conditions) at a cost of approximately $22,000, and again in 2009 and 2010. Sonar treatments were also routinely applied to Swains and Towners Ponds through approximately 2015 but have not been utilized in recent years, until this year. Over the past decade, pond management efforts have been limited compared to historical practices, with the exception of the 3-year water chestnut harvesting effort in Ell Pond. At present, Towners Pond is showing the most signs of neglect and requires immediate and more intensive treatment. The budgeted amount covers routine maintenance and those dollars will be more effectively spent after the hydro-raking occurs. With the support of this free cash, the Conservation Commission can effectively maintain Towners and the other ponds within their jurisdiction. Without additional intervention, conditions are likely to worsen. City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 Approved 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer 4/6/26 Approved 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 Fund - 2543 Melrose Cultural Council 4/6/26 Approved 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Chamber and City Event Support 4/6/26 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 Fund - 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 3,284,486.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing A&O 2026-1164 $75,000.00 3,209,486.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan A&O 2026-1165 $70,000.00 3,139,486.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study A&O 2026-1169 $30,000.00 3,109,486.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign A&O 2026-1170 $150,000.00 2,959,486.00 Fund – 8270 Affordable Housing Trust A&O Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 2,909,486.00 Dept – 693 controls A&O 2026-1172 $12,193.20 2,897,292.80 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS A&O 2026-1173 $72,180.00 2,825,112.80 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms A&O Basketball & Lacrosse Uniforms, 2026-1174 $44,296.32 2,780,816.48 Dept-300 Scorer table A&O 2026-1175 $710,000.00 2,070,816.48 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design A&O 2026-1176 $400,000.00 1,670,816.48 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project A&O 2026-1177 $20,000.00 1,650,816.48 Dept - 401 School Signage A&O 2026-1178 $3,000.00 1,647,816.48 Dept - 162 Census Mailer A&O 2026-1202 $37,000.00 1,610,816.48 Dept - 175 Treatment of ponds Submitted 2026-1237 $17,000.00 1,593,816.48 Dept – 651 AED Units for Parks Submitted Projected overtime through year 2026-1238 $400,000.00 1,193,816.48 Dept – 221 end Submitted 2026-1239 $30,000.00 1,163,816.48 Dept – 221 Motor vehicle repair Submitted 2026-1242 $560,000.00 603,816.48 Fund - 8401 City Stabilization fund Submitted *Approved appropriation requests are noted with the date of the City Council meeting in which a final vote occurred. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 Approved 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer 4/6/26 Approved 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 Fund - 2543 Melrose Cultural Council 4/6/26 Approved 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Chamber and City Event Support 4/6/26 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 Fund - 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 3,284,486.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing A&O 2026-1164 $75,000.00 3,209,486.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan A&O 2026-1165 $70,000.00 3,139,486.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study A&O 2026-1169 $30,000.00 3,109,486.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign A&O 2026-1170 $150,000.00 2,959,486.00 Fund – 8270 Affordable Housing Trust A&O Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 2,909,486.00 Dept – 693 controls A&O 2026-1172 $12,193.20 2,897,292.80 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS A&O 2026-1173 $72,180.00 2,825,112.80 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms A&O Basketball & Lacrosse Uniforms, 2026-1174 $44,296.32 2,780,816.48 Dept-300 Scorer table A&O 2026-1175 $710,000.00 2,070,816.48 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design A&O 2026-1176 $400,000.00 1,670,816.48 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project A&O 2026-1177 $20,000.00 1,650,816.48 Dept - 401 School Signage A&O 2026-1178 $3,000.00 1,647,816.48 Dept - 162 Census Mailer A&O 2026-1202 $37,000.00 1,610,816.48 Dept - 175 Treatment of ponds Submitted 2026-1237 $17,000.00 1,593,816.48 Dept – 651 AED Units for Parks Submitted Projected overtime through year 2026-1238 $400,000.00 1,193,816.48 Dept – 221 end Submitted 2026-1239 $30,000.00 1,163,816.48 Dept – 221 Motor vehicle repair Submitted 2026-1242 $560,000.00 603,816.48 Fund - 8401 City Stabilization fund Submitted *Approved appropriation requests are noted with the date of the City Council meeting in which a final vote occurred. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 Approved 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer 4/6/26 Approved 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 Fund - 2543 Melrose Cultural Council 4/6/26 Approved 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Chamber and City Event Support 4/6/26 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 Fund - 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 3,284,486.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing A&O 2026-1164 $75,000.00 3,209,486.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan A&O 2026-1165 $70,000.00 3,139,486.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study A&O 2026-1169 $30,000.00 3,109,486.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign A&O 2026-1170 $150,000.00 2,959,486.00 Fund – 8270 Affordable Housing Trust A&O Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 2,909,486.00 Dept – 693 controls A&O 2026-1172 $12,193.20 2,897,292.80 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS A&O 2026-1173 $72,180.00 2,825,112.80 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms A&O Basketball & Lacrosse Uniforms, 2026-1174 $44,296.32 2,780,816.48 Dept-300 Scorer table A&O 2026-1175 $710,000.00 2,070,816.48 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design A&O 2026-1176 $400,000.00 1,670,816.48 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project A&O 2026-1177 $20,000.00 1,650,816.48 Dept - 401 School Signage A&O 2026-1178 $3,000.00 1,647,816.48 Dept - 162 Census Mailer A&O 2026-1202 $37,000.00 1,610,816.48 Dept - 175 Treatment of ponds Submitted 2026-1237 $17,000.00 1,593,816.48 Dept – 651 AED Units for Parks Submitted Projected overtime through year 2026-1238 $400,000.00 1,193,816.48 Dept – 221 end Submitted 2026-1239 $30,000.00 1,163,816.48 Dept – 221 Motor vehicle repair Submitted 2026-1242 $560,000.00 603,816.48 Fund - 8401 City Stabilization fund Submitted *Approved appropriation requests are noted with the date of the City Council meeting in which a final vote occurred. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 Approved 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer 4/6/26 Approved 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 Fund - 2543 Melrose Cultural Council 4/6/26 Approved 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Chamber and City Event Support 4/6/26 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 Fund - 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 3,284,486.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing A&O 2026-1164 $75,000.00 3,209,486.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan A&O 2026-1165 $70,000.00 3,139,486.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study A&O 2026-1169 $30,000.00 3,109,486.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign A&O 2026-1170 $150,000.00 2,959,486.00 Fund – 8270 Affordable Housing Trust A&O Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 2,909,486.00 Dept – 693 controls A&O 2026-1172 $12,193.20 2,897,292.80 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS A&O 2026-1173 $72,180.00 2,825,112.80 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms A&O Basketball & Lacrosse Uniforms, 2026-1174 $44,296.32 2,780,816.48 Dept-300 Scorer table A&O 2026-1175 $710,000.00 2,070,816.48 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design A&O 2026-1176 $400,000.00 1,670,816.48 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project A&O 2026-1177 $20,000.00 1,650,816.48 Dept - 401 School Signage A&O 2026-1178 $3,000.00 1,647,816.48 Dept - 162 Census Mailer A&O 2026-1202 $37,000.00 1,610,816.48 Dept - 175 Treatment of ponds Submitted 2026-1237 $17,000.00 1,593,816.48 Dept – 651 AED Units for Parks Submitted Projected overtime through year 2026-1238 $400,000.00 1,193,816.48 Dept – 221 end Submitted 2026-1239 $30,000.00 1,163,816.48 Dept – 221 Motor vehicle repair Submitted 2026-1242 $560,000.00 603,816.48 Fund - 8401 City Stabilization fund Submitted *Approved appropriation requests are noted with the date of the City Council meeting in which a final vote occurred. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. City Auditor CITY OF MELROSE AUDITOR’SCity Hall, OFFICE 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 Fax - (781) 662-2182 Free Cash Orders for Fiscal Year 2026 “Free cash” is a term used to describe any remaining, unrestricted funds from the previous fiscal years. After it is “certified” by the state, free cash use requires a recommendation from the Mayor and an appropriation from the City Council. More information on free cash is available on the state’s website (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-cash). Council Order Item APPRO Balance of Free ID Amount Cash Dep/Fund Description Status Certified $5,558,450.00 Approved 2026-612 $20,020.00 5,538,430.00 Dept - 162 Poll Pads and a label Printer 4/6/26 Approved 2026-614 $50,000.00 5,488,430.00 Fund - 2543 Melrose Cultural Council 4/6/26 Approved 2026-615 $25,000.00 5,463,430.00 Dept - 121 Chamber and City Event Support 4/6/26 2026-1147 $170,000.00 5,293,430.00 Dept - 423 Sidewalk Plow A&O 2026-1148 $880,000.00 4,413,430.00 Dept- 931 DPW Vehicles A&O 2026-1149 $865,000.00 3,548,430.00 Dept-931 DPW Snow and Ice Deficit A&O 2026-1150 $244,944.00 3,303,486.00 Fund - 1620 School Department A&O 2026-1151 $10,000.00 3,293,486.00 Dept- 422 Bike Racks A&O 2026-1145 $9,000.00 3,284,486.00 Dept - 141 Tax Impact Notices Mailing A&O 2026-1164 $75,000.00 3,209,486.00 Dept - 175 Housing Production Plan A&O 2026-1165 $70,000.00 3,139,486.00 Dept - 175 Downtown Parking Study A&O 2026-1169 $30,000.00 3,109,486.00 Dept - 543 Welcome Home Veterans Sign A&O 2026-1170 $150,000.00 2,959,486.00 Fund – 8270 Affordable Housing Trust A&O Boiler replacement and HVAC 2026-1171 $50,000.00 2,909,486.00 Dept – 693 controls A&O 2026-1172 $12,193.20 2,897,292.80 Dept- 300 Vape Detectors MVMMS A&O 2026-1173 $72,180.00 2,825,112.80 Dept - 300 MHS Band Uniforms A&O Basketball & Lacrosse Uniforms, 2026-1174 $44,296.32 2,780,816.48 Dept-300 Scorer table A&O 2026-1175 $710,000.00 2,070,816.48 Dept- 401 Ell Pond Park Design A&O 2026-1176 $400,000.00 1,670,816.48 Dept - 422 Lebanon TIP Project A&O 2026-1177 $20,000.00 1,650,816.48 Dept - 401 School Signage A&O 2026-1178 $3,000.00 1,647,816.48 Dept - 162 Census Mailer A&O 2026-1202 $37,000.00 1,610,816.48 Dept - 175 Treatment of ponds Submitted 2026-1237 $17,000.00 1,593,816.48 Dept – 651 AED Units for Parks Submitted Projected overtime through year 2026-1238 $400,000.00 1,193,816.48 Dept – 221 end Submitted 2026-1239 $30,000.00 1,163,816.48 Dept – 221 Motor vehicle repair Submitted 2026-1242 $560,000.00 603,816.48 Fund - 8401 City Stabilization fund Submitted *Approved appropriation requests are noted with the date of the City Council meeting in which a final vote occurred. As requests are submitted by the administration and approved by the City Council, the table above will be updated accordingly and shared with subsequent orders. WATER AND SEWER RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY OF MELROSE Ken Truesdale, Resident Representative, Chair Melrose City Yard, 72 Tremont Street Kathryn Armata, Treasurer/Collector Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Kerri Golden, CFO/Auditor Elizabeth Kowal, City Council Representative Telephone - (781) 665-0142 Jim O’Loughlin, Resident Representative Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., Director of Public Works Jay Coy, Acting City Engineer MEMORANDUM To: Melrose City Council From: Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee cc. Mayor Jen Grigoraitis James Troup, DPW Lisa Patterson, DPW Jennifer Rosa, DPW, Water and Sewer Committee Clerk Date: April 8, 2026 Re: Summary of FY27 Water and Sewer Rate Orders The Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee, consisting of the members listed above, respectfully submits the following water and sewer rate recommendations for FY27. They are recommended by unanimous vote of the committee. The FY27 revenue requirements for the water and sewer enterprise funds can be met using the FY26 water and sewer rates, with no increases to either volumetric rates or base fees. The FY27 rates benefit from modest increases in the MWRA water and sewer assessments and lower debt repayment obligations in FY27 in the sewer fund compared to FY26. The sewer assessment has only increased moderately due to continued reductions in sewer flows resulting from the City’s ongoing efforts to remove extraneous flows (groundwater infiltration and rainwater inflow) from the sanitary sewer system. As you may recall from prior years, we target reserve fund balances of 10% of annual operating expenses for each fund. Based on the budgeted revenue requirements for FY27, the reserve funds are presently at just over 10% of each fund’s operating budget, thus no transfers are recommended into the water and sewer reserve funds for FY27. Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee Recommendations Page 2 April 8, 2026 Thus far in FY26, water use has met or exceeded our projections in last year’s rate model. As a result, the water and sewer enterprise funds are projected to have sufficient revenue to cover expenses as we come to the close of FY26. Therefore, we are not recommending any retained earnings be used this year to cover revenue shortfalls. With no proposed changes to the water and sewer rates for FY27, the recommended rates are shown below, matching FY25 and FY26 rates. Proposed FY27 Water and Sewer Rates Proposed FY26 Volumetric Rates Water (per 100 cf) Sewer (per 100 cf) Tier 1 $8.32 $12.25 Tier 2 $11.15 $15.43 Proposed FY26 Base Fees (meter size) Water (per meter) Sewer (per meter) 5/8” $20.33 $26.38 3/4” $20.33 $26.38 1” $20.33 $26.38 1.5” $79.53 $103.58 2” $123.93 $161.48 3” $227.53 $296.58 4” $375.53 $489.58 6” $745.53 $972.08 $20.33 2nd Meter Fee -- ($50.00 if not upgraded) In addition to these rates, the Committee respectfully recommends the following: 1. No transfers to reserves from either water or sewer free cash for FY27, as noted above. 2. A free cash allocation from the Sewer Enterprise Fund in the amount of $150,000 for a downpayment on the replacement of the City’s Vactor truck. No free cash is requested from the Water Enterprise Fund at this time. 3. No recommended changes to ordinance language in Section 228, Water, Sewer, and Drains pertaining to rates. The Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee submitted a memo in April 2025 related to water and sewer discount programs. Our committee is continuing our work evaluating options for the future of these programs. Although we are not making any recommendations at this time regarding acting on the items covered in the memo, it is attached hereto, for the information of the City Council, especially for the benefit of new members of the Council. We appreciate your consideration of these items and are happy to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to continuing the important work of our committee in FY27 to provide fiscally responsible and sustainable water and sewer rates for the Melrose community. CITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 20272 FY2027 ENTERPRISE FUNDS FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT MT HOOD ENTERPRISE FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 51 SALARIES 620000 511000 S & W 112,811.00 114,600.00 114,600.00 98,800.28 114,600.00 118,087.00 3.0% TOTAL SALARIES 112,811.00 114,600.00 114,600.00 98,800.28 114,600.00 118,087.00 3.0% 52 CONTRACTUAL 620000 522000 TELEPHONE .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 620000 523300 CONTRACTOR 29,929.56 20,000.00 20,000.00 6,434.99 20,215.32 20,000.00 .0% 620000 527309 SECURITY 492.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 492.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 .0% 620000 528600 AUDIT SERV 6,360.00 6,360.00 6,360.00 .00 6,360.00 6,360.00 .0% 620000 528800 PLOWING 6,445.00 6,000.00 6,000.00 12,847.50 6,000.00 6,000.00 .0% 620000 528900 LEGAL COUN .00 15,000.00 15,000.00 .00 15,000.00 15,000.00 .0% 620000 529000 PROF SERV 1,690,985.61 1,578,000.00 1,578,000.00 1,377,832.26 1,578,000.00 1,578,000.00 .0% 620000 529001 MT HD IMPR .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 620000 529006 MH CAP IMP 186,497.62 50,000.00 50,000.00 48,463.68 64,713.68 50,000.00 .0% 620000 529017 PROF CONS .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 1,920,709.79 1,680,360.00 1,680,360.00 1,446,070.43 1,695,289.00 1,680,360.00 .0% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 620000 530500 OFFICE SUP 65.02 4,000.00 4,000.00 .00 4,000.00 4,000.00 .0% 620000 530501 MISC SUP 9,148.90 12,000.00 12,000.00 9,911.32 12,500.00 12,000.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 9,213.92 16,000.00 16,000.00 9,911.32 16,500.00 16,000.00 .0% 54 OTHER CHARGES 620000 548960 MT HD COMM 3,616.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 1,702.36 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% 627512 549102 MUNI INT .00 164,893.00 164,893.00 24,332.50 164,893.00 152,550.00 -7.5% 627522 549100 PROJ DEBT 32,989.81 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 36,605.81 174,893.00 174,893.00 26,034.86 174,893.00 162,550.00 -7.1% 56 MISCELLANEOUS 620000 590002 MTHD PILOT .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 627112 565000 MUNI DEBT .00 233,706.00 233,706.00 43,300.00 233,706.00 260,000.00 11.3% TOTAL MISCELLANEOUS .00 233,706.00 233,706.00 43,300.00 233,706.00 260,000.00 11.3% TOTAL MT HOOD ENTERPRISE FUN 2,079,340.52 2,219,559.00 2,219,559.00 1,624,116.89 2,234,988.00 2,236,997.00 .8% GRAND TOTAL 2,079,340.52 2,219,559.00 2,219,559.00 1,624,116.89 2,234,988.00 2,236,997.00 .8% ** END OF REPORT - Generated by Kerriann Golden ** Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:36 Page 1 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 20272 FY2027 ENTERPRISE FUNDS FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT SEWER ENTERPRISE FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 51 SALARIES 604411 511000 S & W 565,649.70 600,052.00 600,052.00 430,482.19 600,052.00 666,070.00 11.0% 604411 512000 PT S&W 21,357.50 15,900.00 15,900.00 4,440.00 15,900.00 15,900.00 .0% 604411 513000 OVERTIME 12,760.63 26,433.00 26,433.00 20,133.48 26,433.00 26,433.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 599,767.83 642,385.00 642,385.00 455,055.67 642,385.00 708,403.00 10.3% 52 CONTRACTUAL 604412 521500 POSTAGE 17,732.12 18,000.00 18,000.00 15,000.00 18,424.36 18,000.00 .0% 604412 522000 TELEPHONE .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 604412 522500 ELECTRIC 33,805.70 24,000.00 24,000.00 26,636.93 25,194.76 35,000.00 45.8% 604412 524002 CONSTRUCT 157,385.28 45,000.00 45,000.00 156,097.31 201,447.31 45,000.00 .0% 604412 525204 CONSULT 2,599.99 5,000.00 5,000.00 3,775.68 5,000.00 5,000.00 .0% 604412 525307 CODE RED .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 604412 525406 DEA 210.00 2,500.00 2,500.00 630.00 2,500.00 2,500.00 .0% 604412 527302 REPAIRS 54,104.89 45,000.00 45,000.00 44,575.00 90,497.00 45,000.00 .0% 604412 527331 BRAZILST .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 604412 527701 PUMP STA 30,283.19 45,000.00 45,000.00 53,668.46 58,461.75 45,000.00 .0% 604412 528600 AUDIT SERV 10,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% 604412 529000 PROF SERV 5,534.29 25,000.00 25,000.00 213,402.95 231,403.37 25,000.00 .0% 604412 529200 MWRA ASSES 6,926,272.00 6,860,838.00 6,860,838.00 6,145,229.70 6,860,838.00 6,930,395.00 1.0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 7,237,927.46 7,080,338.00 7,080,338.00 6,669,016.03 7,503,766.55 7,160,895.00 1.1% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 604412 530500 OFFICE SUP 355.98 1,000.00 1,000.00 944.50 1,630.23 1,000.00 .0% 604412 531000 GAS & OIL 32,901.19 15,000.00 15,000.00 8,106.67 15,000.00 15,000.00 .0% 604412 532000 CLEAN&DISF 2,150.32 6,695.00 6,695.00 .00 6,695.00 6,695.00 .0% 604412 533500 TOOLS 6,330.75 9,500.00 9,500.00 9,946.76 11,300.74 9,500.00 .0% 604412 535000 SAND&GRAVE .00 4,500.00 4,500.00 .00 4,500.00 4,500.00 .0% 604412 535501 CLOTHING 3,475.02 3,800.00 3,800.00 3,537.14 3,800.00 3,800.00 .0% 604412 535504 GLOVES 750.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 .0% 604412 535509 SAFE EQUIP .00 2,000.00 2,000.00 800.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 .0% 604412 535800 PATCHING 2,923.81 8,750.00 8,750.00 240.70 9,790.92 8,750.00 .0% 604412 536000 CEM&CONCR 3,394.28 7,500.00 7,500.00 .00 8,850.72 7,500.00 .0% 604412 536100 PIPES&FITT 2,845.04 13,621.00 13,621.00 5,000.00 20,775.96 13,621.00 .0% 604412 536310 WAT METERS .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 25,000.00 .0% 604412 536320 EQUIP PTS 22,624.85 20,125.00 20,125.00 9,495.41 21,182.90 20,125.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 77,751.24 93,491.00 93,491.00 39,071.18 106,526.47 118,491.00 26.7% 54 OTHER CHARGES 604412 540700 SEMINARS .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:34 Page 1 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 20272 FY2027 ENTERPRISE FUNDS FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT SEWER ENTERPRISE FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 604412 540704 PROF DEVEL 1,125.73 4,000.00 4,000.00 2,813.54 4,431.00 4,000.00 .0% 607512 549102 MUNI INT 16,607.08 10,329.00 10,329.00 10,329.78 10,329.00 5,351.00 -48.2% 607522 549100 PROJ DEBT .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 17,732.81 14,329.00 14,329.00 13,143.32 14,760.00 9,351.00 -34.7% 55 CAPITAL OUTLAY 604412 551073 CONSTRUCT 105,455.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 604413 551002 PW VEH&EQU 35,960.13 80,000.00 80,000.00 18,089.87 83,180.35 90,000.00 12.5% 609313 551054 SEWER TRK .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 141,415.13 80,000.00 80,000.00 18,089.87 83,180.35 90,000.00 12.5% 56 MISCELLANEOUS 607112 565000 MUNI DEBT 445,752.00 369,578.00 369,578.00 369,578.00 369,578.00 374,483.00 1.3% 607112 565002 DEBT CITY .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL MISCELLANEOUS 445,752.00 369,578.00 369,578.00 369,578.00 369,578.00 374,483.00 1.3% TOTAL SEWER ENTERPRISE FUND 8,520,346.47 8,280,121.00 8,280,121.00 7,563,954.07 8,720,196.37 8,461,623.00 2.2% GRAND TOTAL 8,520,346.47 8,280,121.00 8,280,121.00 7,563,954.07 8,720,196.37 8,461,623.00 2.2% ** END OF REPORT - Generated by Kerriann Golden ** Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:34 Page 2 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 20272 FY2027 ENTERPRISE FUNDS FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT WATER ENTERPRISE FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 51 SALARIES 614511 511000 S & W 983,826.74 999,530.00 999,530.00 831,348.52 999,530.00 1,066,629.00 6.7% 614511 511099 PY SALARY .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 614511 512000 PT S&W 16,797.50 15,900.00 15,900.00 3,840.00 15,900.00 15,900.00 .0% 614511 513000 OVERTIME 55,670.56 64,838.00 64,838.00 55,560.40 64,838.00 64,838.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 1,056,294.80 1,080,268.00 1,080,268.00 890,748.92 1,080,268.00 1,147,367.00 6.2% 52 CONTRACTUAL 614512 521500 POSTAGE 17,732.08 18,000.00 18,000.00 15,377.00 18,424.39 18,000.00 .0% 614512 522000 TELEPHONE .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 614512 522302 WAT STUDY .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 614512 522310 WTR IMPROV .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 614512 522401 HYDRANT .00 32,500.00 32,500.00 30,000.00 62,500.00 32,500.00 .0% 614512 522500 ELECTRIC 26,826.62 17,713.00 17,713.00 14,026.11 17,713.00 20,500.00 15.7% 614512 522600 GAS HEAT 3,073.45 5,110.00 5,110.00 3,544.55 5,110.00 5,110.00 .0% 614512 524002 CONSTRUCT 14,536.75 54,000.00 54,000.00 41,850.35 80,023.25 54,000.00 .0% 614512 524005 SLAYTON RD .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 614512 525204 CONSULT 6,054.88 18,500.00 18,500.00 11,698.71 18,500.00 18,500.00 .0% 614512 525307 CODE RED .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 614512 525350 DR/BC SVC .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 614512 525406 DEA 210.00 2,500.00 2,500.00 630.00 2,500.00 2,500.00 .0% 614512 527104 LEAK DET 12,200.00 17,500.00 17,500.00 13,000.00 17,800.00 17,500.00 .0% 614512 527202 WAT REPLAC 2,890.00 50,000.00 50,000.00 81,400.00 96,110.00 50,000.00 .0% 614512 527203 RESIDENT2N .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 614512 527204 METER UPGR .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 614512 527302 REPAIRS .00 46,500.00 46,500.00 46,500.00 46,500.00 46,500.00 .0% 614512 527400 BACKFLOW 15,878.00 17,500.00 17,500.00 5,005.00 17,500.00 17,500.00 .0% 614512 527701 PUMP STA 16,908.70 25,000.00 25,000.00 29,227.18 34,498.30 25,000.00 .0% 614512 527900 METERLEASE .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 614512 528600 AUDIT SERV 11,491.98 10,000.00 10,000.00 .00 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% 614512 529000 PROF SERV 36,133.49 40,000.00 40,000.00 73,621.98 50,625.73 40,000.00 .0% 614512 529200 MWRA ASSES 3,865,069.00 3,762,588.00 3,762,588.00 3,386,329.20 3,762,588.00 3,895,071.00 3.5% 614512 529205 MALDEN99 7,119.98 25,000.00 25,000.00 6,500.00 26,823.38 25,000.00 .0% 614512 529210 SAFE DRINK 7,373.50 10,000.00 10,000.00 .00 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 4,043,498.43 4,152,411.00 4,152,411.00 3,758,710.08 4,277,216.05 4,287,681.00 3.3% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 614512 530500 OFFICE SUP 387.23 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,860.62 1,630.23 1,000.00 .0% 614512 531000 GAS & OIL 32,911.18 22,750.00 22,750.00 8,106.67 22,750.00 22,750.00 .0% 614512 533500 TOOLS 8,905.86 12,500.00 12,500.00 14,100.01 14,323.70 12,500.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:35 Page 1 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 20272 FY2027 ENTERPRISE FUNDS FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT WATER ENTERPRISE FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 614512 535000 SAND&GRAVE .00 3,605.00 3,605.00 .00 3,605.00 3,605.00 .0% 614512 535501 CLOTHING 7,232.02 9,150.00 9,150.00 5,085.49 9,150.00 9,150.00 .0% 614512 535509 SAFE EQUIP 136.99 2,000.00 2,000.00 .00 2,000.00 2,000.00 .0% 614512 535800 PATCHING 8,639.77 25,235.00 25,235.00 10,000.00 31,344.60 25,235.00 .0% 614512 536100 PIPES&FITT 36,151.93 62,000.00 62,000.00 32,381.28 63,613.48 62,000.00 .0% 614512 536300 HYDRANTS 25,000.00 40,800.00 40,800.00 34,306.77 40,800.00 40,800.00 .0% 614512 536310 WAT METERS 18,440.28 5,000.00 5,000.00 6,053.52 5,000.00 25,000.00 400.0% 614512 536320 EQUIP PTS 28,748.51 27,250.00 27,250.00 21,081.73 29,137.07 27,250.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 166,553.77 211,290.00 211,290.00 132,976.09 223,354.08 231,290.00 9.5% 54 OTHER CHARGES 614512 540700 SEMINARS .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 614512 540704 PROF DEVEL 2,745.74 6,000.00 6,000.00 4,125.10 6,431.00 6,000.00 .0% 617512 549102 MUNI INT 16,045.00 10,710.00 10,710.00 10,710.00 10,710.00 8,960.00 -16.3% 617522 549100 PROJ DEBT .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 18,790.74 16,710.00 16,710.00 14,835.10 17,141.00 14,960.00 -10.5% 55 CAPITAL OUTLAY 614512 551073 CONSTRUCT 18,255.43 .00 .00 76,789.51 76,789.51 .00 .0% 614513 551002 PW VEH&EQU .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 614513 551082 RELOCATION .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 18,255.43 .00 .00 76,789.51 76,789.51 .00 .0% 56 MISCELLANEOUS 617112 565000 MUNI DEBT 1,128,850.00 980,890.00 980,890.00 980,890.00 980,890.00 1,021,490.00 4.1% TOTAL MISCELLANEOUS 1,128,850.00 980,890.00 980,890.00 980,890.00 980,890.00 1,021,490.00 4.1% TOTAL WATER ENTERPRISE FUND 6,432,243.17 6,441,569.00 6,441,569.00 5,854,949.70 6,655,658.64 6,702,788.00 4.1% GRAND TOTAL 6,432,243.17 6,441,569.00 6,441,569.00 5,854,949.70 6,655,658.64 6,702,788.00 4.1% ** END OF REPORT - Generated by Kerriann Golden ** Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:35 Page 2 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 20272 FY2027 ENTERPRISE FUNDS FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT SOLID WASTE ENTEPRISE FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 52 CONTRACTUAL 634332 522700 TRASH DISP 776,767.77 850,000.00 850,000.00 696,571.99 876,571.99 867,000.00 2.0% 634332 522710 TRASH/RECY 2,132,964.17 2,233,920.00 2,233,920.00 1,678,304.68 2,300,955.83 2,323,277.00 4.0% 634332 522712 REC CONTA 137,405.12 261,170.00 261,170.00 284,218.48 374,889.88 261,170.00 .0% 634332 522713 REC EVENTS 84,521.20 65,000.00 65,000.00 64,991.09 69,315.12 65,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 3,131,658.26 3,410,090.00 3,410,090.00 2,724,086.24 3,621,732.82 3,516,447.00 3.1% 54 OTHER CHARGES 637512 549102 MUNI INT .00 41,928.00 41,928.00 .00 41,928.00 37,875.00 -9.7% 637522 549100 PROJ DEBT 34,195.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 34,195.80 41,928.00 41,928.00 .00 41,928.00 37,875.00 -9.7% 56 MISCELLANEOUS 637112 565000 MUNI DEBT .00 77,100.00 77,100.00 .00 77,100.00 85,000.00 10.2% TOTAL MISCELLANEOUS .00 77,100.00 77,100.00 .00 77,100.00 85,000.00 10.2% TOTAL SOLID WASTE ENTEPRISE 3,165,854.06 3,529,118.00 3,529,118.00 2,724,086.24 3,740,760.82 3,639,322.00 3.1% GRAND TOTAL 3,165,854.06 3,529,118.00 3,529,118.00 2,724,086.24 3,740,760.82 3,639,322.00 3.1% ** END OF REPORT - Generated by Kerriann Golden ** Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:36 Page 1 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrpts WATER AND SEWER RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY OF MELROSE Ken Truesdale, Resident Representative, Chair Melrose City Yard, 72 Tremont Street Kathryn Armata, Treasurer/Collector Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Kerri Golden, CFO/Auditor Elizabeth Kowal, City Council Representative Telephone - (781) 665-0142 Jim O’Loughlin, Resident Representative Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., Director of Public Works Jay Coy, Acting City Engineer MEMORANDUM To: Melrose City Council From: Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee cc. Mayor Jen Grigoraitis James Troup, DPW Lisa Patterson, DPW Jennifer Rosa, DPW, Water and Sewer Committee Clerk Date: April 8, 2026 Re: Summary of FY27 Water and Sewer Rate Orders The Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee, consisting of the members listed above, respectfully submits the following water and sewer rate recommendations for FY27. They are recommended by unanimous vote of the committee. The FY27 revenue requirements for the water and sewer enterprise funds can be met using the FY26 water and sewer rates, with no increases to either volumetric rates or base fees. The FY27 rates benefit from modest increases in the MWRA water and sewer assessments and lower debt repayment obligations in FY27 in the sewer fund compared to FY26. The sewer assessment has only increased moderately due to continued reductions in sewer flows resulting from the City’s ongoing efforts to remove extraneous flows (groundwater infiltration and rainwater inflow) from the sanitary sewer system. As you may recall from prior years, we target reserve fund balances of 10% of annual operating expenses for each fund. Based on the budgeted revenue requirements for FY27, the reserve funds are presently at just over 10% of each fund’s operating budget, thus no transfers are recommended into the water and sewer reserve funds for FY27. Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee Recommendations Page 2 April 8, 2026 Thus far in FY26, water use has met or exceeded our projections in last year’s rate model. As a result, the water and sewer enterprise funds are projected to have sufficient revenue to cover expenses as we come to the close of FY26. Therefore, we are not recommending any retained earnings be used this year to cover revenue shortfalls. With no proposed changes to the water and sewer rates for FY27, the recommended rates are shown below, matching FY25 and FY26 rates. Proposed FY27 Water and Sewer Rates Proposed FY26 Volumetric Rates Water (per 100 cf) Sewer (per 100 cf) Tier 1 $8.32 $12.25 Tier 2 $11.15 $15.43 Proposed FY26 Base Fees (meter size) Water (per meter) Sewer (per meter) 5/8” $20.33 $26.38 3/4” $20.33 $26.38 1” $20.33 $26.38 1.5” $79.53 $103.58 2” $123.93 $161.48 3” $227.53 $296.58 4” $375.53 $489.58 6” $745.53 $972.08 $20.33 2nd Meter Fee -- ($50.00 if not upgraded) In addition to these rates, the Committee respectfully recommends the following: 1. No transfers to reserves from either water or sewer free cash for FY27, as noted above. 2. A free cash allocation from the Sewer Enterprise Fund in the amount of $150,000 for a downpayment on the replacement of the City’s Vactor truck. No free cash is requested from the Water Enterprise Fund at this time. 3. No recommended changes to ordinance language in Section 228, Water, Sewer, and Drains pertaining to rates. The Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee submitted a memo in April 2025 related to water and sewer discount programs. Our committee is continuing our work evaluating options for the future of these programs. Although we are not making any recommendations at this time regarding acting on the items covered in the memo, it is attached hereto, for the information of the City Council, especially for the benefit of new members of the Council. We appreciate your consideration of these items and are happy to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to continuing the important work of our committee in FY27 to provide fiscally responsible and sustainable water and sewer rates for the Melrose community. WATER AND SEWER RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY OF MELROSE Ken Truesdale, Resident Representative, Chair Melrose City Yard, 72 Tremont Street Kathryn Armata, Treasurer/Collector Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Kerri Golden, CFO/Auditor Ward Hamilton, City Council Representative Telephone - (781) 665-0142 Jim O’Loughlin, Resident Representative Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., Director of Public Works Vacant, City Engineer MEMORANDUM To: Melrose City Council From: Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee cc. Mayor Jen Grigoraitis James Troup, DPW Donna Cardillo, DPW Lisa Patterson, DPW Date: April 17, 2025 Re: FY26 Water and Sewer Discount Program Recommendations During the FY25 rate setting process, the Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee initiated discussions about the City’s present discount programs for both low income residents and for senior citizens. As a result of this discussion, recommendations were made last year to enact the following changes: • Changing the low-income water and sewer discount thresholds from $15,000 and $23,000 (single and married gross income) to $35,000 and $40,000, respectively, with annual water consumption not to exceed 6,250 cubic feet. There were previously no households that qualified for the low-income water and sewer discount. • Allowing the existing condo discount to be extended to owner-occupied two-family properties owned by senior citizens, matching the dollar value of the condo discount (currently $146/year), provided that the same water usage thresholds used for the condo discount are met. While many other changes to the water and sewer discount programs were discussed, the committee unanimously agreed that further study was prudent before additional recommendations were made. The Committee agreed to evaluate options further during FY25. Update on Discount Programs Page 2 April 17, 2025 Based on last year’s updates, our current discount programs are as follows: Current Water and Sewer Discounts We presently have a 20% water and sewer bill discount that applies to owner-occupied, single or two-family properties, using under 6,250 cubic feet of water per year, with working, upgraded water meters. This discount applies to: • All qualifying property owners over the age of 65, and • Qualifying property owners of any age earning less than $35,000 gross income (for those filing taxes as “single”) or $40,000 gross income (for those filing taxes as “married” filing jointly) This means that the current water and sewer discounts for seniors are not tied to income level. We have 667 households presently receiving the senior citizen water and sewer discounts. We also have another 85 senior households who receive this discount who live in condos. Based on last year’s updates, we continue to have no non-senior households receiving the low-income discount. Current Solid Waste and Recycling Fee (“Trash Fee”) Discounts All of our trash fee discount programs are income-based. There are currently two ways to qualify for the trash fee discounts: • All residents, regardless of age, with a gross income of $65,870 or less (single) or $75,280 or less (married) are eligible for a 50% discount on the trash fee. • All residents, regardless of age, with a gross income of $55,000 or less (single) or $65,000 or less (married) are eligible for a 100% discount on the trash fee. These numbers were increased last year based on a City Council order to more closely match HUD income levels for “very low” income. We presently have 99 senior households who receive the 100% trash fee discount, four non-senior households who receive the 100% discount, and 103 senior households who receive the 50% discount, with no non-senior households. Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds Note that the Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds function independently from the City’s general fund. Rates are set each year to ensure that the enterprise funds are each self-sufficient. Any discounts that are given for water usage are deducted from the modeled revenue in the water fund, and similarly any discounts on sewer usage are deducted from the sewer fund. (The Solid Waste and Recycling Enterprise Fund similarly acts independently, and any discounts from the trash fee are absorbed within that fund.) Thus, these discounts are factored into the rates set for each utility and are subsidized by all users of the utility for which the discount was given. Update on Discount Programs Page 3 April 17, 2025 Discount Program Subcommittee Following last year’s discussion, the Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee established a subgroup of members and advisory staff to develop recommendations for the discount programs moving forward. Central to the subcommittee’s discussion was a desire to direct the City’s discount programs toward the people who need them most. For the low-income discount, the subcommittee acknowledged a need to raise the income thresholds to levels that allow for more low-income residents to participate, in place of levels that were so low that nobody qualified. For the senior discount, there was a robust discussion about whether all seniors should be eligible to receive the discounts, or just those in financial need. In order to fully evaluate these questions and develop recommendations, the subcommittee reviewed discount programs in other MWRA communities. Focusing on the 14 fully-served (water and sewer) MWRA communities with the highest combined rates: • Four have no senior discount program. • Seven have senior discount programs that are based on income thresholds. • Three (including Melrose) have senior discount programs with no income thresholds. In looking at the entire MWRA service area: • 48% of communities have no discount programs, • 28% have only senior discounts, • 12% have both senior and low-income discounts, and • 12% have only low-income discounts. The subcommittee agreed that it would be ideal to have income thresholds that are tied to a regional metric that increases with inflation, so that we do not have to reevaluate our thresholds from year to year. The subcommittee also agreed that the ease of implementation for City staff is a critical consideration, and ideally income thresholds would be either consistent with those established for the trash program to streamline the billing process by avoiding the use of multiple income thresholds, or, as appropriate, tied to existing senior tax break programs, to eliminate the task of separately evaluating income levels. Presently all senior discount holders are only required to show proof of their age for the water and sewer discount, while all applicants are required to prove income levels for the trash discounts. The subcommittee presented its findings to the Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee over the last several months, and the Committee developed the following recommendations. Update on Discount Programs Page 4 April 17, 2025 Recommendations The Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee recommends the following modifications to the existing water and sewer discount programs to the City Council for consideration: • Adjust the low-income water and sewer discount income thresholds to match those approved by the City Council last year for the 100% trash discount. Specifically, the low-income discount thresholds would be $55,000 (single) and $65,000 (married). These numbers were selected by the City Council for the 100% trash discount as they are close to the HUD “very low income” values. • While the Committee would ideally prefer thresholds that change annually along with regional metrics, the HUD values have seen some significant increases in recent years (some years around 10%). Given the need to keep the discount programs small enough that there are not unwanted impacts to other ratepayers, we recommend continuing to monitor the HUD numbers, to determine if it’s appropriate to switch to their use in FY27, after one more year of monitoring. This year of monitoring will also allow us to better ascertain the number of new participants and assess the overall cost of the discounts. • Move toward a needs-based senior discount program for the following reasons: o A needs-based approach is consistent with most MWRA communities that have a discount program. o If the City did not have discount programs, and we were to start one today, we would be unlikely to apply it to residents who do not have a financial need. o We have concerns about the long-term costs of the program. These costs are paid by other property owners who subsidize the cost of the discounts through higher rates. • The revised discount program is recommended to apply to seniors who qualify for the 41A, 41C, or Circuit Breaker real estate tax assistance programs. The discount could be automatically applied to all seniors who meet the income thresholds for these programs, provided that they also meet the City’s 6,250 cf/year water usage thresholds. Note that the income thresholds for several of these programs, in particular the Senior Circuit Breaker, are somewhat higher than the HUD very low-income values; thus the program would remain advantageous for more senior citizen households than if the City had solely the low-income program. The inclusion of the Senior Circuit Breaker as an income threshold would make Melrose’s senior discount program more generous than all of the other senior income thresholds surveyed. • In order to move toward these need-based thresholds for senior citizens, we recommend that, at some point, new applicants to the senior discount program should be required to meet the above-listed thresholds. This could be implemented starting in FY27 or later, to provide time for education and adjustment. Update on Discount Programs Page 5 April 17, 2025 • Existing senior citizens receiving the senior discount could remain “grandfathered” into the program, either permanently or for a specified time period. Factors to consider include giving existing participants time to adjust while at the same time being fair to those seniors newly turning 65 who would no longer be eligible to participate as a result of the changes to the program. The Committee suggests five years may be a good middle ground for phasing out those who do not have a financial need using either the low-income criteria or the state’s real estate tax assistance criteria. Implementation of these recommendations would result in the following actions: • The low-income thresholds would be increased to $65,000 (married) and $55,000 (single), starting on October 1, 2025. • Starting on October 1, 2026, all senior applicants to the discount programs would have to demonstrate financial need through existing tax assistance programs. • Starting on October 1, 2031, seniors who cannot demonstrate financial need would no longer be included in the water and sewer discount program. In summary, these proposed revisions: • Provide rate-payer funded discounts to those with demonstrated need, consistent with the majority of communities surveyed, • Increase need-based thresholds over current levels, • Streamline the approval and administration of the water and sewer discount program by aligning eligibility thresholds with those of other City-administered programs, and • Better align discount eligibility with need-based thresholds that adjust for inflation in accordance with programs established by third parties (i.e., Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR)). The Committee welcomes feedback from the City Council on these recommendations and looks forward to answering any questions at the Water and Sewer Rate hearings during the FY26 budget hearings. Thank you for your consideration of these important matters. WATER AND SEWER RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY OF MELROSE Ken Truesdale, Resident Representative, Chair Melrose City Yard, 72 Tremont Street Kathryn Armata, Treasurer/Collector Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Kerri Golden, CFO/Auditor Elizabeth Kowal, City Council Representative Telephone - (781) 665-0142 Jim O’Loughlin, Resident Representative Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., Director of Public Works Jay Coy, Acting City Engineer MEMORANDUM To: Melrose City Council From: Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee cc. Mayor Jen Grigoraitis James Troup, DPW Lisa Patterson, DPW Jennifer Rosa, DPW, Water and Sewer Committee Clerk Date: April 8, 2026 Re: Summary of FY27 Water and Sewer Rate Orders The Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee, consisting of the members listed above, respectfully submits the following water and sewer rate recommendations for FY27. They are recommended by unanimous vote of the committee. The FY27 revenue requirements for the water and sewer enterprise funds can be met using the FY26 water and sewer rates, with no increases to either volumetric rates or base fees. The FY27 rates benefit from modest increases in the MWRA water and sewer assessments and lower debt repayment obligations in FY27 in the sewer fund compared to FY26. The sewer assessment has only increased moderately due to continued reductions in sewer flows resulting from the City’s ongoing efforts to remove extraneous flows (groundwater infiltration and rainwater inflow) from the sanitary sewer system. As you may recall from prior years, we target reserve fund balances of 10% of annual operating expenses for each fund. Based on the budgeted revenue requirements for FY27, the reserve funds are presently at just over 10% of each fund’s operating budget, thus no transfers are recommended into the water and sewer reserve funds for FY27. Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee Recommendations Page 2 April 8, 2026 Thus far in FY26, water use has met or exceeded our projections in last year’s rate model. As a result, the water and sewer enterprise funds are projected to have sufficient revenue to cover expenses as we come to the close of FY26. Therefore, we are not recommending any retained earnings be used this year to cover revenue shortfalls. With no proposed changes to the water and sewer rates for FY27, the recommended rates are shown below, matching FY25 and FY26 rates. Proposed FY27 Water and Sewer Rates Proposed FY26 Volumetric Rates Water (per 100 cf) Sewer (per 100 cf) Tier 1 $8.32 $12.25 Tier 2 $11.15 $15.43 Proposed FY26 Base Fees (meter size) Water (per meter) Sewer (per meter) 5/8” $20.33 $26.38 3/4” $20.33 $26.38 1” $20.33 $26.38 1.5” $79.53 $103.58 2” $123.93 $161.48 3” $227.53 $296.58 4” $375.53 $489.58 6” $745.53 $972.08 $20.33 2nd Meter Fee -- ($50.00 if not upgraded) In addition to these rates, the Committee respectfully recommends the following: 1. No transfers to reserves from either water or sewer free cash for FY27, as noted above. 2. A free cash allocation from the Sewer Enterprise Fund in the amount of $150,000 for a downpayment on the replacement of the City’s Vactor truck. No free cash is requested from the Water Enterprise Fund at this time. 3. No recommended changes to ordinance language in Section 228, Water, Sewer, and Drains pertaining to rates. The Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee submitted a memo in April 2025 related to water and sewer discount programs. Our committee is continuing our work evaluating options for the future of these programs. Although we are not making any recommendations at this time regarding acting on the items covered in the memo, it is attached hereto, for the information of the City Council, especially for the benefit of new members of the Council. We appreciate your consideration of these items and are happy to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to continuing the important work of our committee in FY27 to provide fiscally responsible and sustainable water and sewer rates for the Melrose community. WATER AND SEWER RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY OF MELROSE Ken Truesdale, Resident Representative, Chair Melrose City Yard, 72 Tremont Street Kathryn Armata, Treasurer/Collector Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Kerri Golden, CFO/Auditor Ward Hamilton, City Council Representative Telephone - (781) 665-0142 Jim O’Loughlin, Resident Representative Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., Director of Public Works Vacant, City Engineer MEMORANDUM To: Melrose City Council From: Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee cc. Mayor Jen Grigoraitis James Troup, DPW Donna Cardillo, DPW Lisa Patterson, DPW Date: April 17, 2025 Re: FY26 Water and Sewer Discount Program Recommendations During the FY25 rate setting process, the Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee initiated discussions about the City’s present discount programs for both low income residents and for senior citizens. As a result of this discussion, recommendations were made last year to enact the following changes: • Changing the low-income water and sewer discount thresholds from $15,000 and $23,000 (single and married gross income) to $35,000 and $40,000, respectively, with annual water consumption not to exceed 6,250 cubic feet. There were previously no households that qualified for the low-income water and sewer discount. • Allowing the existing condo discount to be extended to owner-occupied two-family properties owned by senior citizens, matching the dollar value of the condo discount (currently $146/year), provided that the same water usage thresholds used for the condo discount are met. While many other changes to the water and sewer discount programs were discussed, the committee unanimously agreed that further study was prudent before additional recommendations were made. The Committee agreed to evaluate options further during FY25. Update on Discount Programs Page 2 April 17, 2025 Based on last year’s updates, our current discount programs are as follows: Current Water and Sewer Discounts We presently have a 20% water and sewer bill discount that applies to owner-occupied, single or two-family properties, using under 6,250 cubic feet of water per year, with working, upgraded water meters. This discount applies to: • All qualifying property owners over the age of 65, and • Qualifying property owners of any age earning less than $35,000 gross income (for those filing taxes as “single”) or $40,000 gross income (for those filing taxes as “married” filing jointly) This means that the current water and sewer discounts for seniors are not tied to income level. We have 667 households presently receiving the senior citizen water and sewer discounts. We also have another 85 senior households who receive this discount who live in condos. Based on last year’s updates, we continue to have no non-senior households receiving the low-income discount. Current Solid Waste and Recycling Fee (“Trash Fee”) Discounts All of our trash fee discount programs are income-based. There are currently two ways to qualify for the trash fee discounts: • All residents, regardless of age, with a gross income of $65,870 or less (single) or $75,280 or less (married) are eligible for a 50% discount on the trash fee. • All residents, regardless of age, with a gross income of $55,000 or less (single) or $65,000 or less (married) are eligible for a 100% discount on the trash fee. These numbers were increased last year based on a City Council order to more closely match HUD income levels for “very low” income. We presently have 99 senior households who receive the 100% trash fee discount, four non-senior households who receive the 100% discount, and 103 senior households who receive the 50% discount, with no non-senior households. Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds Note that the Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds function independently from the City’s general fund. Rates are set each year to ensure that the enterprise funds are each self-sufficient. Any discounts that are given for water usage are deducted from the modeled revenue in the water fund, and similarly any discounts on sewer usage are deducted from the sewer fund. (The Solid Waste and Recycling Enterprise Fund similarly acts independently, and any discounts from the trash fee are absorbed within that fund.) Thus, these discounts are factored into the rates set for each utility and are subsidized by all users of the utility for which the discount was given. Update on Discount Programs Page 3 April 17, 2025 Discount Program Subcommittee Following last year’s discussion, the Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee established a subgroup of members and advisory staff to develop recommendations for the discount programs moving forward. Central to the subcommittee’s discussion was a desire to direct the City’s discount programs toward the people who need them most. For the low-income discount, the subcommittee acknowledged a need to raise the income thresholds to levels that allow for more low-income residents to participate, in place of levels that were so low that nobody qualified. For the senior discount, there was a robust discussion about whether all seniors should be eligible to receive the discounts, or just those in financial need. In order to fully evaluate these questions and develop recommendations, the subcommittee reviewed discount programs in other MWRA communities. Focusing on the 14 fully-served (water and sewer) MWRA communities with the highest combined rates: • Four have no senior discount program. • Seven have senior discount programs that are based on income thresholds. • Three (including Melrose) have senior discount programs with no income thresholds. In looking at the entire MWRA service area: • 48% of communities have no discount programs, • 28% have only senior discounts, • 12% have both senior and low-income discounts, and • 12% have only low-income discounts. The subcommittee agreed that it would be ideal to have income thresholds that are tied to a regional metric that increases with inflation, so that we do not have to reevaluate our thresholds from year to year. The subcommittee also agreed that the ease of implementation for City staff is a critical consideration, and ideally income thresholds would be either consistent with those established for the trash program to streamline the billing process by avoiding the use of multiple income thresholds, or, as appropriate, tied to existing senior tax break programs, to eliminate the task of separately evaluating income levels. Presently all senior discount holders are only required to show proof of their age for the water and sewer discount, while all applicants are required to prove income levels for the trash discounts. The subcommittee presented its findings to the Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee over the last several months, and the Committee developed the following recommendations. Update on Discount Programs Page 4 April 17, 2025 Recommendations The Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee recommends the following modifications to the existing water and sewer discount programs to the City Council for consideration: • Adjust the low-income water and sewer discount income thresholds to match those approved by the City Council last year for the 100% trash discount. Specifically, the low-income discount thresholds would be $55,000 (single) and $65,000 (married). These numbers were selected by the City Council for the 100% trash discount as they are close to the HUD “very low income” values. • While the Committee would ideally prefer thresholds that change annually along with regional metrics, the HUD values have seen some significant increases in recent years (some years around 10%). Given the need to keep the discount programs small enough that there are not unwanted impacts to other ratepayers, we recommend continuing to monitor the HUD numbers, to determine if it’s appropriate to switch to their use in FY27, after one more year of monitoring. This year of monitoring will also allow us to better ascertain the number of new participants and assess the overall cost of the discounts. • Move toward a needs-based senior discount program for the following reasons: o A needs-based approach is consistent with most MWRA communities that have a discount program. o If the City did not have discount programs, and we were to start one today, we would be unlikely to apply it to residents who do not have a financial need. o We have concerns about the long-term costs of the program. These costs are paid by other property owners who subsidize the cost of the discounts through higher rates. • The revised discount program is recommended to apply to seniors who qualify for the 41A, 41C, or Circuit Breaker real estate tax assistance programs. The discount could be automatically applied to all seniors who meet the income thresholds for these programs, provided that they also meet the City’s 6,250 cf/year water usage thresholds. Note that the income thresholds for several of these programs, in particular the Senior Circuit Breaker, are somewhat higher than the HUD very low-income values; thus the program would remain advantageous for more senior citizen households than if the City had solely the low-income program. The inclusion of the Senior Circuit Breaker as an income threshold would make Melrose’s senior discount program more generous than all of the other senior income thresholds surveyed. • In order to move toward these need-based thresholds for senior citizens, we recommend that, at some point, new applicants to the senior discount program should be required to meet the above-listed thresholds. This could be implemented starting in FY27 or later, to provide time for education and adjustment. Update on Discount Programs Page 5 April 17, 2025 • Existing senior citizens receiving the senior discount could remain “grandfathered” into the program, either permanently or for a specified time period. Factors to consider include giving existing participants time to adjust while at the same time being fair to those seniors newly turning 65 who would no longer be eligible to participate as a result of the changes to the program. The Committee suggests five years may be a good middle ground for phasing out those who do not have a financial need using either the low-income criteria or the state’s real estate tax assistance criteria. Implementation of these recommendations would result in the following actions: • The low-income thresholds would be increased to $65,000 (married) and $55,000 (single), starting on October 1, 2025. • Starting on October 1, 2026, all senior applicants to the discount programs would have to demonstrate financial need through existing tax assistance programs. • Starting on October 1, 2031, seniors who cannot demonstrate financial need would no longer be included in the water and sewer discount program. In summary, these proposed revisions: • Provide rate-payer funded discounts to those with demonstrated need, consistent with the majority of communities surveyed, • Increase need-based thresholds over current levels, • Streamline the approval and administration of the water and sewer discount program by aligning eligibility thresholds with those of other City-administered programs, and • Better align discount eligibility with need-based thresholds that adjust for inflation in accordance with programs established by third parties (i.e., Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR)). The Committee welcomes feedback from the City Council on these recommendations and looks forward to answering any questions at the Water and Sewer Rate hearings during the FY26 budget hearings. Thank you for your consideration of these important matters. A B C D E F G Department, Board, Committee, Agency or Fees, Charges or Other Restrictions or Conditions Officer Authorized to Receipts Credited to Program of Activity Expenses Payable from on Expenses Payable from Other Requirements/ Fund # Revolving Fund Spend from the Fund Fund Fund Fund Reports Fiscal years Supplies, administrative fees and permits for Veterans Service Officer any programs related to Veteran Services and Fiscal Year 2027 and 2607 Veterans and Board Donations Melrose Community events. $2,000 Annual Cap subsequent years Costs associated with the various programs sponsored by the Recreation Department Registration and User including the Director and Assistant Director's fees collected for salary, program coordinator salaries as well as Recreation Department supplies and equipment needed to run the Fiscal Year 2027 and 2652 Recreation Park Commission sponsored programs program. $500,000 Annual Cap subsequent years $15,000 Annual Cap. State-Mandated certificates of inspections, Salaries related to Director of Inspectional Fees from inspections of multifamily inspections, equipment, contracted contracted inspectors are Fiscal Year 2027 and 2658 Inspectional Services Services multifamily homes inspectors, education and printing. only paid from this fund. subsequent years Director of Health Fees associated with Costs associated with flu clinics, sale of bike Fiscal Year 2027 and 2659 Health Department public health programs helmets, salaries and CPR classes $60,000 Annual Cap subsequent years Fees associated with excessive false alarm responses from private $10,000 Annual Cap. No homes and businesses salaries are paid from this Fiscal Year 2027 and 2665 Police False Alarm Chief of Police throughout the City Maintenance of Police Department Fleet fund subsequent years Rental Fees and Custodial charges received from activities hosted by user groups and organizations that Supplies and maintenance costs associated do not reside within the with parks, fields and playgrounds where Fiscal Year 2027 and 2669 Park Permits Park Commission City. permits are issued. $40,000 Annual Cap subsequent years Fees associated with the $30,000 Annual Cap. No rental of this building Fees related to maintaining the Beebe Estate in salaries are paid from this Fiscal Year 2027 and 2750 Beebe Estate Beebe Estate Trustees and donations a safe and sanitary manner. fund subsequent years Council on Aging and Milano Center Programs and services, minibus related expenses and costs associated with maintaining the Milano Center in a safe and sanitary manner, Salary for Fiscal Year 2027 and 2811 Council on Aging Council on Aging Director Donations Social Service Coordinator $65,000 Annual Cap subsequent yearsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 112 CITY COUNCIL 51 SALARIES 011121 511000 S & W 62,887.48 72,595.00 72,595.00 57,287.90 72,595.00 73,746.00 1.6% TOTAL SALARIES 62,887.48 72,595.00 72,595.00 57,287.90 72,595.00 73,746.00 1.6% 52 CONTRACTUAL 011122 520500 ADVERTIS 2,302.00 300.00 300.00 1,910.00 300.00 3,000.00 900.0% 011122 521000 PRINTING 206.00 700.00 700.00 790.00 700.00 700.00 .0% 011122 523100 EXPENSES 11,000.00 11,000.00 11,000.00 9,737.46 11,000.00 12,000.00 9.1% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 13,508.00 12,000.00 12,000.00 12,437.46 12,000.00 15,700.00 30.8% TOTAL CITY COUNCIL 76,395.48 84,595.00 84,595.00 69,725.36 84,595.00 89,446.00 5.7% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 1 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 121 MAYOR 51 SALARIES 011211 511000 S & W 335,222.26 345,726.00 345,726.00 296,506.71 345,726.00 377,019.00 9.1% TOTAL SALARIES 335,222.26 345,726.00 345,726.00 296,506.71 345,726.00 377,019.00 9.1% 52 CONTRACTUAL 011212 521000 PRINTING 456.76 750.00 750.00 584.64 998.00 750.00 .0% 011212 523100 EXP ACCT 7,026.69 7,000.00 7,000.00 6,063.19 7,000.00 7,000.00 .0% 011212 525401 WEBSITE .00 9,000.00 9,000.00 9,000.00 9,000.00 12,000.00 33.3% 011212 529000 PROF SERV 486.90 4,000.00 4,000.00 9,029.05 9,500.00 6,000.00 50.0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 7,970.35 20,750.00 20,750.00 24,676.88 26,498.00 25,750.00 24.1% 54 OTHER CHARGES 011212 540500 DUES/MEMB 22,828.00 24,500.00 24,500.00 23,780.00 24,500.00 24,500.00 .0% 011212 540600 EDUC/SEMIN 3,540.00 2,250.00 2,250.00 763.16 2,250.00 2,250.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 26,368.00 26,750.00 26,750.00 24,543.16 26,750.00 26,750.00 .0% TOTAL MAYOR 369,560.61 393,226.00 393,226.00 345,726.75 398,974.00 429,519.00 9.2% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 2 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 135 AUDITOR 51 SALARIES 011351 511000 S & W 386,437.15 407,422.00 407,422.00 347,802.58 407,422.00 343,703.00 -15.6% TOTAL SALARIES 386,437.15 407,422.00 407,422.00 347,802.58 407,422.00 343,703.00 -15.6% 52 CONTRACTUAL 011352 528600 AUDIT SERV 69,170.00 80,165.00 80,165.00 79,337.50 80,165.00 84,000.00 4.8% 011352 529000 PROF SERV 11,800.00 11,800.00 11,800.00 10,777.55 11,800.00 42,702.00 261.9% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 80,970.00 91,965.00 91,965.00 90,115.05 91,965.00 126,702.00 37.8% 54 OTHER CHARGES 011352 540500 DUES/MEMB 225.00 600.00 600.00 500.00 600.00 1,000.00 66.7% 011352 540600 EDUC/SEMIN 2,527.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 150.00 1,000.00 2,000.00 100.0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 2,752.00 1,600.00 1,600.00 650.00 1,600.00 3,000.00 87.5% TOTAL AUDITOR 470,159.15 500,987.00 500,987.00 438,567.63 500,987.00 473,405.00 -5.5% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 3 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 141 ASSESSORS 51 SALARIES 011411 511000 S & W 244,040.09 256,712.00 256,712.00 220,689.14 256,712.00 272,319.00 6.1% TOTAL SALARIES 244,040.09 256,712.00 256,712.00 220,689.14 256,712.00 272,319.00 6.1% 52 CONTRACTUAL 011412 521000 PRINTING 250.00 250.00 250.00 250.00 250.00 250.00 .0% 011412 523000 MILEAGE 1,029.04 1,000.00 1,000.00 35.14 1,000.00 1,000.00 .0% 011412 528000 FEES 298.05 300.00 300.00 300.00 300.00 300.00 .0% 011412 529000 PROF SERV 3,327.75 15,900.00 15,900.00 30,793.16 31,507.99 15,900.00 .0% 011412 529300 REVAL 103,082.75 103,500.00 103,500.00 138,353.75 138,559.01 108,675.00 5.0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 107,987.59 120,950.00 120,950.00 169,732.05 171,617.00 126,125.00 4.3% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 011412 530200 COPY SUP 181.70 200.00 200.00 192.02 200.00 200.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 181.70 200.00 200.00 192.02 200.00 200.00 .0% 54 OTHER CHARGES 011412 540500 DUES/MEMB 695.00 700.00 700.00 694.00 700.00 700.00 .0% 011412 540600 EDUC/SEMIN 6,339.01 3,000.00 3,000.00 1,795.00 3,000.00 6,000.00 100.0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 7,034.01 3,700.00 3,700.00 2,489.00 3,700.00 6,700.00 81.1% TOTAL ASSESSORS 359,243.39 381,562.00 381,562.00 393,102.21 432,229.00 405,344.00 6.2% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 4 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 145 TREASURER/COLLECTOR 51 SALARIES 011451 511000 S & W 419,478.42 441,481.00 441,481.00 381,753.01 441,481.00 532,737.00 20.7% TOTAL SALARIES 419,478.42 441,481.00 441,481.00 381,753.01 441,481.00 532,737.00 20.7% 52 CONTRACTUAL 011452 521000 PRINTING 9,720.05 20,000.00 20,000.00 4,713.77 20,000.00 16,250.00 -18.8% 011452 521500 POSTAGE 69,472.33 60,000.00 60,000.00 55,082.77 60,000.00 55,000.00 -8.3% 011452 521801 FOLD MAINT 1,470.00 1,400.00 1,400.00 1,544.00 1,400.00 1,400.00 .0% 011452 527600 OFFICE EQU 1,210.94 1,215.00 1,215.00 300.00 1,215.00 2,000.00 64.6% 011452 528002 TITLE FEES 880.39 1,260.00 1,260.00 1,105.00 1,639.61 3,500.00 177.8% 011452 529000 PROF SERV 17,788.31 14,848.00 14,848.00 3,937.59 15,961.75 15,000.00 1.0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 100,542.02 98,723.00 98,723.00 66,683.13 100,216.36 93,150.00 -5.6% 54 OTHER CHARGES 011452 540500 DUES/MEMB 265.00 165.00 165.00 485.00 165.00 475.00 187.9% 011452 540600 EDUC/SEMIN 1,073.13 1,500.00 1,500.00 845.09 1,500.00 2,000.00 33.3% 011452 544100 SURETY 2,000.00 2,075.00 2,075.00 2,000.00 2,075.00 2,000.00 -3.6% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 3,338.13 3,740.00 3,740.00 3,330.09 3,740.00 4,475.00 19.7% TOTAL TREASURER/COLLECTOR 523,358.57 543,944.00 543,944.00 451,766.23 545,437.36 630,362.00 15.9% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 5 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 151 CITY SOLICITOR 51 SALARIES 011511 511000 S & W 165,764.98 148,603.00 148,603.00 128,598.75 148,603.00 171,959.00 15.7% 01151771 511000 S & W 114,306.22 119,475.00 119,475.00 103,496.50 119,475.00 123,061.00 3.0% TOTAL SALARIES 280,071.20 268,078.00 268,078.00 232,095.25 268,078.00 295,020.00 10.1% 52 CONTRACTUAL 011512 523100 EXPENSES 451.14 1,200.00 1,200.00 205.00 3,410.00 1,200.00 .0% 011512 529000 PROF SERV 33,104.27 30,000.00 30,000.00 10,332.90 31,790.00 30,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 33,555.41 31,200.00 31,200.00 10,537.90 35,200.00 31,200.00 .0% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 011512 534200 BOOKS 357.00 500.00 500.00 407.00 500.00 500.00 .0% 011512 534250 ELECT MASS 3,322.00 3,850.00 3,850.00 3,816.00 4,454.00 4,152.00 7.8% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 3,679.00 4,350.00 4,350.00 4,223.00 4,954.00 4,652.00 6.9% 54 OTHER CHARGES 011512 540500 DUES/MEMB 1,300.00 2,730.00 2,730.00 1,270.00 2,730.00 2,500.00 -8.4% 011512 540600 EDUC/SEMIN 1,932.09 3,000.00 3,000.00 1,680.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 .0% 011512 544310 PROP INS 807,504.40 884,112.00 884,112.00 891,383.40 889,764.00 968,715.00 9.6% 011512 544500 CLAIMSDED 12,013.07 10,000.00 10,000.00 2,054.97 10,000.00 60,000.00 500.0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 822,749.56 899,842.00 899,842.00 896,388.37 905,494.00 1,034,215.00 14.9% TOTAL CITY SOLICITOR 1,140,055.17 1,203,470.00 1,203,470.00 1,143,244.52 1,213,726.00 1,365,087.00 13.4% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 6 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 152 HUMAN RESOURCES 51 SALARIES 011521 511000 S & W 156,945.53 164,061.00 164,061.00 145,536.92 164,061.00 200,629.00 22.3% TOTAL SALARIES 156,945.53 164,061.00 164,061.00 145,536.92 164,061.00 200,629.00 22.3% 52 CONTRACTUAL 011522 520500 ADVERTISE 5,999.67 .00 8,000.00 12,653.84 10,357.75 8,000.00 .0% 011522 521000 PRINTING 96.96 100.00 100.00 91.00 100.00 100.00 .0% 011522 529600 ADA .00 .00 .00 10,000.00 .00 10,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 6,096.63 100.00 8,100.00 22,744.84 10,457.75 18,100.00 123.5% 54 OTHER CHARGES 011522 540500 DUES/MEMB 539.00 519.00 519.00 574.00 519.00 519.00 .0% 011522 540600 EDUC/SEMIN 242.99 500.00 500.00 90.00 500.00 500.00 .0% 011522 543000 PHYSICAL 15,129.00 .00 12,000.00 10,790.00 10,253.00 12,000.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 15,910.99 1,019.00 13,019.00 11,454.00 11,272.00 13,019.00 .0% TOTAL HUMAN RESOURCES 178,953.15 165,180.00 185,180.00 179,735.76 185,790.75 231,748.00 25.1% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 7 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 155 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 51 SALARIES 011551 511000 S & W 390,639.04 410,358.00 410,358.00 337,308.93 410,358.00 425,211.00 3.6% TOTAL SALARIES 390,639.04 410,358.00 410,358.00 337,308.93 410,358.00 425,211.00 3.6% 52 CONTRACTUAL 011552 522000 TELEPHONE 156,475.53 100,000.00 100,000.00 80,749.54 128,788.95 100,000.00 .0% 011552 522004 WAN COMMUN 13,877.41 12,000.00 12,000.00 4,199.59 16,199.59 12,000.00 .0% 011552 525105 COMP MAINT 34,999.29 29,280.00 29,280.00 32,920.10 33,919.58 29,280.00 .0% 011552 525203 NET SERVIC 2,900.00 .00 .00 .00 2,100.00 .00 .0% 011552 525301 MUNIS SUPP 123,833.50 130,343.00 130,343.00 131,241.67 132,343.00 136,860.00 5.0% 011552 525303 LICENSES 245,353.97 265,491.00 265,491.00 289,562.90 300,377.14 288,766.00 8.8% 011552 525305 IT COM NOT 6,867.13 7,417.00 7,417.00 7,317.11 7,417.00 7,417.00 .0% 011552 525309 OSDBA 3,362.80 10,000.00 10,000.00 .00 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% 011552 525402 INTERNET 16,067.51 9,180.00 9,180.00 5,789.80 9,180.00 9,180.00 .0% 011552 529000 PROF SERV 106,251.87 105,000.00 105,000.00 120,139.76 123,882.32 105,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 709,989.01 668,711.00 668,711.00 671,920.47 764,207.58 698,503.00 4.5% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 011552 530120 COMP MISC 3,482.09 2,000.00 2,000.00 1,983.18 2,000.00 .00 -100.0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 3,482.09 2,000.00 2,000.00 1,983.18 2,000.00 .00 -100.0% 54 OTHER CHARGES 011552 540700 SEMINARS 800.00 2,500.00 2,500.00 1,565.00 3,900.00 2,500.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 800.00 2,500.00 2,500.00 1,565.00 3,900.00 2,500.00 .0% 55 CAPITAL OUTLAY 01155772 551097 SCHOOL IT 555,609.39 .00 525,000.00 614,969.95 226,600.61 525,000.00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 555,609.39 .00 525,000.00 614,969.95 226,600.61 525,000.00 .0% TOTAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 1,660,519.53 1,083,569.00 1,608,569.00 1,627,747.53 1,407,066.19 1,651,214.00 2.7% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 8 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 161 CITY CLERK 51 SALARIES 011611 511000 S & W 253,637.53 293,212.00 293,212.00 261,316.59 293,212.00 301,754.00 2.9% 011611 513000 OVERTIME 8,791.07 11,400.00 11,400.00 1,944.26 11,400.00 11,400.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 262,428.60 304,612.00 304,612.00 263,260.85 304,612.00 313,154.00 2.8% 52 CONTRACTUAL 011612 520500 ADVERTISE -26.07 1,500.00 1,500.00 1,144.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 .0% 011612 521000 PRINTING 3,377.03 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,313.44 3,000.00 3,000.00 .0% 011612 525109 DOG MAINT 1,523.45 1,700.00 1,700.00 1,000.00 1,700.00 1,700.00 .0% 011612 525308 AGENDASOFT .00 10,000.00 10,000.00 .00 10,000.00 17,915.00 79.2% 011612 529301 RECODE 7,912.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 8,156.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 12,786.41 26,200.00 26,200.00 12,613.44 26,200.00 34,115.00 30.2% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 011612 530501 VITALSUPPL 2,716.51 5,000.00 5,000.00 1,767.05 5,000.00 5,000.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 2,716.51 5,000.00 5,000.00 1,767.05 5,000.00 5,000.00 .0% 54 OTHER CHARGES 011612 540500 DUES/MEMB 615.00 700.00 700.00 455.00 700.00 700.00 .0% 011612 540600 EDUC/SEMIN 885.60 4,000.00 4,000.00 620.00 4,000.00 4,000.00 .0% 011612 544100 SURETY 20.00 75.00 75.00 .00 75.00 75.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 1,520.60 4,775.00 4,775.00 1,075.00 4,775.00 4,775.00 .0% TOTAL CITY CLERK 279,452.12 340,587.00 340,587.00 278,716.34 340,587.00 357,044.00 4.8% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 9 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 162 ELECTION/REGISTRAR 51 SALARIES 011621 511000 S & W 3,805.10 4,569.00 4,569.00 2,953.40 4,569.00 4,569.00 .0% 011621 512000 PT S&W 80,587.83 55,000.00 55,000.00 30,562.40 55,000.00 55,000.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 84,392.93 59,569.00 59,569.00 33,515.80 59,569.00 59,569.00 .0% 52 CONTRACTUAL 011622 521000 PRINTING 16,966.64 13,000.00 13,000.00 27,951.88 13,000.00 13,000.00 .0% 011622 521500 POSTAGE 8,101.83 11,000.00 11,000.00 8,623.77 11,000.00 11,000.00 .0% 011622 525102 EQUIPMAINT 15,864.50 16,000.00 16,000.00 14,642.06 20,000.00 16,000.00 .0% 011622 529000 PROF SERV 8,089.46 10,000.00 10,000.00 2,173.65 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 49,022.43 50,000.00 50,000.00 53,391.36 54,000.00 50,000.00 .0% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 011622 530506 ELEC SUPP 1,377.55 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,795.41 3,000.00 3,000.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 1,377.55 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,795.41 3,000.00 3,000.00 .0% 54 OTHER CHARGES 011622 540500 DUES/MEMB 25.00 200.00 200.00 .00 200.00 200.00 .0% 011622 540600 EDUC/SEMIN .00 1,000.00 1,000.00 .00 1,000.00 1,000.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 25.00 1,200.00 1,200.00 .00 1,200.00 1,200.00 .0% TOTAL ELECTION/REGISTRAR 134,817.91 113,769.00 113,769.00 89,702.57 117,769.00 113,769.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 10 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 165 LIQUOR COMMISSION 52 CONTRACTUAL 011652 529000 PROF SERV 387.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 .00 1,000.00 1,000.00 .0% 011652 529027 COMPLIANCE .00 1,000.00 1,000.00 .00 1,000.00 1,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 387.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 .00 2,000.00 2,000.00 .0% TOTAL LIQUOR COMMISSION 387.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 .00 2,000.00 2,000.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 11 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 175 PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOP 51 SALARIES 011751 511000 S & W 375,298.16 374,802.00 374,802.00 324,105.56 374,802.00 385,654.00 2.9% TOTAL SALARIES 375,298.16 374,802.00 374,802.00 324,105.56 374,802.00 385,654.00 2.9% 52 CONTRACTUAL 011752 520500 ADVERTISE 880.00 880.00 880.00 399.00 880.00 880.00 .0% 011752 521000 PRINTING 1,280.00 1,280.00 1,280.00 555.34 1,280.00 1,280.00 .0% 011752 528810 CONSERV 9,053.42 14,000.00 14,000.00 4,946.58 18,946.58 14,000.00 .0% 011752 529000 PROF SERV 471.78 .00 .00 .00 .00 2,500.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 11,685.20 16,160.00 16,160.00 5,900.92 21,106.58 18,660.00 15.5% 54 OTHER CHARGES 011752 540000 ENERGY 3,000.00 2,500.00 2,500.00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 011752 540500 DUES/MEMB 1,654.40 1,925.00 1,925.00 1,719.80 1,925.00 1,925.00 .0% 011752 540600 EDUC/SEMIN 2,400.67 2,455.00 2,455.00 1,275.28 2,455.00 2,455.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 7,055.07 6,880.00 6,880.00 2,995.08 4,380.00 4,380.00 -36.3% 55 CAPITAL OUTLAY 011752 551080 CONSULT .00 .00 .00 60,000.00 .00 .00 .0% 01175772 551072 CONTR SVCS 25,000.00 .00 .00 100,000.00 100,000.00 .00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 25,000.00 .00 .00 160,000.00 100,000.00 .00 .0% TOTAL PLANNING & COMMUNITY D 419,038.43 397,842.00 397,842.00 493,001.56 500,288.58 408,694.00 2.7% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 12 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 211 POLICE 51 SALARIES 012111 511000 S & W 5,101,716.77 5,182,115.00 5,336,191.00 4,402,182.37 5,182,115.00 5,670,660.00 6.3% 012111 513000 OVERTIME 623,440.40 457,900.00 457,900.00 361,766.42 457,900.00 457,900.00 .0% 012111 513010 OT TRAININ 164,869.56 125,000.00 125,000.00 188,677.64 125,000.00 150,000.00 20.0% 012111 514000 COURT TIME 17,503.10 26,000.00 26,000.00 15,109.48 26,000.00 26,000.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 5,907,529.83 5,791,015.00 5,945,091.00 4,967,735.91 5,791,015.00 6,304,560.00 6.0% 52 CONTRACTUAL 012112 521000 PRINTING 1,942.12 2,540.00 2,540.00 1,099.75 2,560.00 2,540.00 .0% 012112 521500 POSTAGE 814.60 3,750.00 3,750.00 3,397.33 3,750.00 3,750.00 .0% 012112 523500 LAUNDRY 802.50 800.00 800.00 653.40 925.00 800.00 .0% 012112 525103 LEAPS 839.50 1,240.00 1,240.00 839.50 1,240.00 1,240.00 .0% 012112 525108 GENERATOR .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 012112 525202 COMP SUPP 48,145.30 60,000.00 60,000.00 47,515.72 60,000.00 67,785.00 13.0% 012112 527305 RADIO SYS 22,555.74 20,000.00 20,000.00 18,080.03 20,000.00 20,000.00 .0% 012112 529000 PROF SERV 10,540.16 10,000.00 10,000.00 9,040.65 10,025.00 10,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 85,639.92 98,330.00 98,330.00 80,626.38 98,500.00 106,115.00 7.9% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 012112 530120 COMP MISC 281.20 2,500.00 2,500.00 344.87 2,500.00 2,500.00 .0% 012112 530202 FILM SUP 617.98 590.00 590.00 547.11 590.00 590.00 .0% 012112 530501 MISC SUP 3,406.25 2,969.00 2,969.00 848.33 3,033.46 6,000.00 102.1% 012112 530505 RADAR 1,316.40 5,000.00 5,000.00 .00 5,000.00 5,000.00 .0% 012112 533400 ACCREDIT 3,220.00 3,900.00 3,900.00 .00 3,900.00 .00 -100.0% 012112 534200 BOOKS 493.44 800.00 800.00 356.00 800.00 800.00 .0% 012112 535400 FOOD 233.39 500.00 500.00 201.37 500.00 500.00 .0% 012112 535500 UNIFORMS 97,581.11 73,000.00 73,000.00 60,738.36 73,400.00 73,000.00 .0% 012112 535600 NARCAN 2,023.12 2,500.00 2,500.00 794.46 2,500.00 2,500.00 .0% 012112 535700 AMMUNITION 15,150.58 12,500.00 12,500.00 2,141.14 12,500.00 12,500.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 124,323.47 104,259.00 104,259.00 65,971.64 104,723.46 103,390.00 -.8% 54 OTHER CHARGES 012112 540000 COM ENGAGE 9,699.77 10,000.00 10,000.00 8,302.15 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% 012112 540007 RECRUIT .00 .00 46,134.00 46,134.00 .00 46,134.00 .0% 012112 540500 DUES/MEMB 12,820.08 13,500.00 13,500.00 12,365.00 13,500.00 14,000.00 3.7% 012112 540702 TRAINING 24,511.80 20,000.00 20,000.00 15,124.24 20,794.00 20,000.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 47,031.65 43,500.00 89,634.00 81,925.39 44,294.00 90,134.00 .6% 55 CAPITAL OUTLAY 012113 551049 POL VEHICL .00 .00 .00 90,000.00 .00 .00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 13 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 012113 551100 POL EVIDEN .00 .00 .00 16,000.00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY .00 .00 .00 106,000.00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL POLICE 6,164,524.87 6,037,104.00 6,237,314.00 5,302,259.32 6,038,532.46 6,604,199.00 5.9% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 14 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 221 FIRE 51 SALARIES 012211 511000 S & W 4,877,556.39 5,201,301.00 5,201,301.00 4,501,854.16 5,201,301.00 5,328,184.00 2.4% 012211 513000 OVERTIME 1,635,358.72 489,300.00 489,300.00 719,982.70 489,300.00 513,500.00 4.9% 012211 513010 OT TRAININ 12,012.88 11,500.00 11,500.00 12,253.40 11,500.00 11,500.00 .0% 012211 515000 MUTUAL AID .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 6,524,927.99 5,702,101.00 5,702,101.00 5,234,090.26 5,702,101.00 5,853,184.00 2.6% 52 CONTRACTUAL 012212 521000 PRINTING 173.10 250.00 250.00 45.50 250.00 250.00 .0% 012212 527311 LIFE/SAFET 14,210.75 10,900.00 10,900.00 6,546.18 11,946.00 15,000.00 37.6% 012212 527500 VEHICLEREP 128,317.88 80,000.00 80,000.00 65,446.51 80,000.00 100,000.00 25.0% 012212 527605 FIRE CONTR 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 .0% 012212 527606 RADIO CONT 9,279.25 10,000.00 10,000.00 1,014.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% 012212 529000 PROF SERV 39,328.14 50,000.00 50,000.00 43,360.12 55,000.00 40,000.00 -20.0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 196,309.12 156,150.00 156,150.00 121,412.31 162,196.00 170,250.00 9.0% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 012212 530100 COMP PURCH 1,070.73 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 012212 530503 PREVENTSUP 3,651.75 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,380.20 3,000.00 4,000.00 33.3% 012212 530514 EMS SPLY .00 25,000.00 25,000.00 7,840.45 25,000.00 10,000.00 -60.0% 012212 531000 GAS & OIL .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 012212 531200 TIRES 766.73 4,500.00 4,500.00 4,500.00 4,500.00 4,500.00 .0% 012212 531500 BATTERIES 670.06 750.00 750.00 469.73 750.00 2,000.00 166.7% 012212 532000 CLEAN SUP 8,469.80 7,000.00 7,000.00 7,234.95 7,000.00 7,500.00 7.1% 012212 533200 ELECTR SUP 2,199.26 1,000.00 1,000.00 242.81 1,000.00 1,000.00 .0% 012212 533300 ALARM SYS 1,804.35 4,000.00 4,000.00 964.18 4,000.00 4,000.00 .0% 012212 533500 TOOLS 2,792.91 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,316.22 3,000.00 3,000.00 .0% 012212 534200 BOOKS 549.21 2,000.00 2,000.00 157.25 2,000.00 2,000.00 .0% 012212 535500 UNIFORMS 50,883.00 52,100.00 52,100.00 49,423.00 52,100.00 52,100.00 .0% 012212 535501 CLOTHING .00 500.00 500.00 .00 500.00 500.00 .0% 012212 535502 PROTECT CL 2,252.00 2,400.00 2,400.00 2,743.00 2,400.00 2,400.00 .0% 012212 535505 TURNOUT 52,034.48 .00 .00 75,000.00 75,000.00 .00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 127,144.28 105,250.00 105,250.00 153,271.79 180,250.00 93,000.00 -11.6% 54 OTHER CHARGES 012212 540500 DUES/MEMB 1,100.00 1,100.00 1,100.00 1,100.00 1,100.00 1,100.00 .0% 012212 540600 EDUC/SEMIN 911.21 1,500.00 1,500.00 1,106.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 15 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 2,011.21 2,600.00 2,600.00 2,206.00 2,600.00 2,600.00 .0% 56 MISCELLANEOUS 012212 560200 ED REIMB 24,972.83 20,000.00 20,000.00 9,009.78 20,000.00 20,000.00 .0% 012212 568000 FIRE HOSE 2,923.99 3,700.00 3,700.00 2,798.61 3,700.00 3,700.00 .0% TOTAL MISCELLANEOUS 27,896.82 23,700.00 23,700.00 11,808.39 23,700.00 23,700.00 .0% TOTAL FIRE 6,878,289.42 5,989,801.00 5,989,801.00 5,522,788.75 6,070,847.00 6,142,734.00 2.6% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 16 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 241 INSPECTION SERVICES 51 SALARIES 012411 511000 S & W 384,056.48 406,890.00 406,890.00 341,880.37 406,890.00 416,970.00 2.5% 012411 513000 OVERTIME 783.52 1,900.00 1,900.00 638.56 1,900.00 1,900.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 384,840.00 408,790.00 408,790.00 342,518.93 408,790.00 418,870.00 2.5% 52 CONTRACTUAL 012412 521000 PRINTING 43.10 325.00 325.00 250.00 325.00 400.00 23.1% 012412 529000 PROF SERV 10,356.90 10,000.00 10,000.00 4,903.20 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 10,400.00 10,325.00 10,325.00 5,153.20 10,325.00 10,400.00 .7% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 012412 530502 W & M SUP .00 1,000.00 1,000.00 780.00 1,000.00 1,500.00 50.0% 012412 534200 BOOKS 396.00 750.00 750.00 .00 750.00 1,000.00 33.3% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 396.00 1,750.00 1,750.00 780.00 1,750.00 2,500.00 42.9% 54 OTHER CHARGES 012412 540500 DUES/MEMB 790.00 500.00 500.00 1,488.00 500.00 500.00 .0% 012412 540600 EDUC/SEMIN 904.00 1,300.00 1,300.00 280.00 1,300.00 2,600.00 100.0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 1,694.00 1,800.00 1,800.00 1,768.00 1,800.00 3,100.00 72.2% TOTAL INSPECTION SERVICES 397,330.00 422,665.00 422,665.00 350,220.13 422,665.00 434,870.00 2.9% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 17 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 291 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 51 SALARIES 012911 511000 S & W 28,080.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 8,653.95 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 28,080.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 8,653.95 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 012912 530703 RADIO 391.28 .00 .00 970.00 970.00 .00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 391.28 .00 .00 970.00 970.00 .00 .0% 54 OTHER CHARGES 012912 540000 OTH CHGEXP 810.83 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 810.83 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 29,282.11 10,000.00 10,000.00 9,623.95 10,970.00 10,000.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 18 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 296 PARKING 51 SALARIES 012961 511000 S & W 15,483.00 15,931.00 15,931.00 13,668.04 15,931.00 16,333.00 2.5% TOTAL SALARIES 15,483.00 15,931.00 15,931.00 13,668.04 15,931.00 16,333.00 2.5% 52 CONTRACTUAL 012962 521000 PRINTING 5,031.50 6,750.00 6,750.00 1,009.50 6,750.00 6,750.00 .0% 012962 527950 GROV/MYRTL 34,999.92 35,000.00 35,000.00 35,000.00 35,000.00 35,000.00 .0% 012962 529000 PROF SERV 12,809.89 12,000.00 12,000.00 9,947.05 12,040.65 14,000.00 16.7% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 52,841.31 53,750.00 53,750.00 45,956.55 53,790.65 55,750.00 3.7% TOTAL PARKING 68,324.31 69,681.00 69,681.00 59,624.59 69,721.65 72,083.00 3.4% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 19 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 300 SCHOOL 51 SALARIES 013001 511000 S & W .00 42,523,875.00 46,342,675.00 .00 42,523,875.00 49,332,180.00 6.5% TOTAL SALARIES .00 42,523,875.00 46,342,675.00 .00 42,523,875.00 49,332,180.00 6.5% TOTAL SCHOOL .00 42,523,875.00 46,342,675.00 .00 42,523,875.00 49,332,180.00 6.5% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 20 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 399 REGIONAL SCHOOL ASSESSMENT 54 OTHER CHARGES 013012 547100 REGION SCH 1,619,030.00 1,951,636.00 1,951,636.00 1,951,636.00 1,951,636.00 2,066,354.00 5.9% 013012 547200 MINUTEMAN 27,426.18 28,201.00 28,201.00 28,200.18 28,201.00 29,231.00 3.7% 013012 547300 ESSEX AGRI 184,459.00 191,310.00 191,310.00 141,961.00 191,310.00 193,731.00 1.3% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 1,830,915.18 2,171,147.00 2,171,147.00 2,121,797.18 2,171,147.00 2,289,316.00 5.4% TOTAL REGIONAL SCHOOL ASSESS 1,830,915.18 2,171,147.00 2,171,147.00 2,121,797.18 2,171,147.00 2,289,316.00 5.4% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 21 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 401 PW ADMINISTRATION/ ENGINEERING 51 SALARIES 014011 511000 S & W 776,408.34 694,535.00 806,239.00 608,324.48 694,535.00 831,489.00 3.1% 014011 512000 PT S&W 20,361.50 .00 21,000.00 6,330.00 .00 21,000.00 .0% 014011 513000 OVERTIME 1,178.00 4,000.00 7,905.00 12,070.40 4,000.00 7,905.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 797,947.84 698,535.00 835,144.00 626,724.88 698,535.00 860,394.00 3.0% 52 CONTRACTUAL 014012 520500 ADVERTIS 4,881.00 4,000.00 4,000.00 11,075.60 4,000.00 4,000.00 .0% 014012 521000 PRINTING 82.02 4,500.00 4,500.00 .00 4,500.00 4,500.00 .0% 014012 521500 POSTAGE 694.01 4,250.00 4,250.00 1,371.40 4,250.00 4,250.00 .0% 014012 529000 PROF SERV 38,133.81 45,000.00 45,000.00 120,186.83 136,731.76 45,000.00 .0% 014012 529304 WELLNESS 210.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 2,192.50 1,500.00 1,500.00 .0% 014012 529500 GIS SERVIC 4,590.00 6,000.00 6,000.00 .00 10,000.00 6,000.00 .0% 01401772 529025 SCH OUTRCH .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 3,500.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 48,590.84 65,250.00 65,250.00 134,826.33 160,981.76 68,750.00 5.4% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 014012 533502 PROF TOOLS 4,720.61 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,672.45 5,000.00 5,000.00 .0% 014012 533503 OPER TOOLS 1,464.09 6,000.00 6,000.00 4,562.60 6,000.00 6,000.00 .0% 014012 535501 CLOTHING 25,993.26 28,000.00 28,000.00 30,739.74 28,000.00 39,015.00 39.3% 014012 535509 SAFE EQUIP 548.49 8,000.00 8,000.00 .00 8,000.00 8,000.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 32,726.45 47,000.00 47,000.00 40,974.79 47,000.00 58,015.00 23.4% 54 OTHER CHARGES 014012 540704 PROF DEVEL 8,595.89 12,000.00 12,000.00 3,888.75 12,000.00 15,000.00 25.0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 8,595.89 12,000.00 12,000.00 3,888.75 12,000.00 15,000.00 25.0% 55 CAPITAL OUTLAY 014012 551046 SOFT LIC 17,526.36 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 014012 551072 STWRSTUDY .00 .00 .00 25,000.00 .00 .00 .0% 014012 551073 ELLPOND .00 .00 .00 80,000.00 .00 .00 .0% 014012 551184 ACCESS 3,871.00 .00 .00 71,129.00 71,129.00 .00 .0% 014012 551194 SUMMER .00 .00 .00 205,147.50 .00 .00 .0% 014012 551195 LEB&SYLVAN .00 .00 .00 175,000.00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 21,397.36 .00 .00 556,276.50 71,129.00 .00 .0% TOTAL PW ADMINISTRATION/ ENG 909,258.38 822,785.00 959,394.00 1,362,691.25 989,645.76 1,002,159.00 4.5% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 22 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 402 PW FACILITY MAINTENANCE 51 SALARIES 014021 511000 S & W 135,792.56 128,870.00 128,870.00 120,685.86 128,870.00 208,254.00 61.6% 014021 512004 INTERNS 66,682.50 .00 69,120.00 3,495.00 .00 69,120.00 .0% 014021 513000 OVERTIME 15,143.08 15,461.00 15,461.00 13,751.65 15,461.00 15,461.00 .0% 01402531 512002 LIBR PART 15,012.00 25,000.00 25,000.00 14,556.00 25,000.00 25,000.00 .0% 01402771 511041 SAL CUSTOD 844,902.46 877,783.00 877,783.00 709,894.43 877,783.00 823,767.00 -6.2% 01402771 511042 SAL MAINT 364,951.37 382,744.00 437,093.00 320,856.94 382,744.00 443,980.00 1.6% 01402771 512003 SCH PART 24,580.91 25,000.00 25,000.00 22,065.00 25,000.00 25,000.00 .0% 01402771 513000 OT SCH BLD 91,842.27 60,000.00 78,329.00 56,439.13 60,000.00 78,329.00 .0% 01402771 513008 OT F GREEN 45,929.85 7,960.00 7,960.00 31,212.40 7,960.00 30,000.00 276.9% TOTAL SALARIES 1,604,837.00 1,522,818.00 1,664,616.00 1,292,956.41 1,522,818.00 1,718,911.00 3.3% 52 CONTRACTUAL 014022 522525 ESCO PROJ 230,456.94 237,941.00 237,941.00 237,940.64 237,941.00 245,649.00 3.2% 014022 522526 ESCO QC 8,117.22 16,621.00 16,621.00 11,882.78 28,503.78 16,621.00 .0% 014022 527700 MUNBLD REP 74,642.58 120,000.00 120,000.00 139,692.49 120,000.00 620,000.00 416.7% 014022 527759 MUN MAJ CL 6,907.73 30,000.00 30,000.00 7,500.00 30,092.27 30,000.00 .0% 014022 529000 PROF SERV 20,000.00 20,000.00 20,000.00 500.00 20,000.00 20,000.00 .0% 01402502 522506 CH ELECTR 42,999.30 55,620.00 55,620.00 33,950.13 55,620.00 55,620.00 .0% 01402502 522611 CH HEAT 17,166.53 18,700.00 18,700.00 16,855.16 18,700.00 18,700.00 .0% 01402512 522507 STR LIGHTS 125,403.26 168,000.00 168,000.00 128,424.51 168,000.00 168,000.00 .0% 01402522 522509 COA ELECT 8,416.10 6,800.00 6,800.00 11,670.75 6,800.00 6,800.00 .0% 01402522 522613 COA HEAT 2,326.90 4,910.00 4,910.00 2,525.24 4,910.00 4,910.00 .0% 01402532 522510 LIBRARY EL 20,041.96 60,000.00 60,000.00 82,150.61 60,000.00 110,000.00 83.3% 01402532 522614 LIBR HEAT 6,388.30 .00 .00 904.17 .00 .00 .0% 01402542 522511 POLICE ELE 20,736.58 22,200.00 22,200.00 6,900.28 22,200.00 22,200.00 .0% 01402542 522615 POL HEAT 9,669.53 7,500.00 7,500.00 10,542.47 7,500.00 7,500.00 .0% 01402552 522512 FIRE ELEC 34,494.67 33,300.00 33,300.00 36,057.45 33,300.00 33,300.00 .0% 01402552 522616 FIRE HEAT 19,362.11 20,000.00 20,000.00 23,043.44 23,013.89 20,000.00 .0% 01402582 522515 PARK ELECT 31,940.47 31,800.00 31,800.00 25,642.61 31,800.00 31,800.00 .0% 01402592 522516 CEM ELECT 3,928.34 6,900.00 6,900.00 3,029.99 6,900.00 6,900.00 .0% 01402592 522619 CEM HEAT 4,393.59 4,250.00 4,250.00 4,497.98 4,250.00 4,250.00 .0% 01402602 522508 OPER ELECT 18,184.95 49,440.00 49,440.00 23,647.96 49,440.00 49,440.00 .0% 01402602 522612 OPER HEAT 34,707.26 39,000.00 39,000.00 54,932.72 39,000.00 39,000.00 .0% 01402772 522524 SCH ELECT 959,078.87 840,000.00 840,000.00 877,387.81 840,000.00 860,000.00 2.4% 01402772 522627 SCH HEAT 312,470.71 267,800.00 267,800.00 490,474.18 267,929.44 300,000.00 12.0% 01402772 527550 SCH CLEAN 152,839.39 236,900.00 236,900.00 29,958.81 237,224.09 236,900.00 .0% 01402772 527551 SCH GROUND .00 25,000.00 25,000.00 .00 25,000.00 25,000.00 .0% 01402772 527552 SCH EQUIP 149,535.44 77,250.00 77,250.00 79,029.03 98,702.46 77,250.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 23 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 01402772 527553 SCH SYSTEM 9,608.50 21,800.00 21,800.00 14,640.14 28,946.77 21,800.00 .0% 01402772 527554 SCH DOOR 12,885.64 5,000.00 5,000.00 276.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 .0% 01402772 527555 SCHOOL SEC 7,601.58 10,000.00 10,000.00 6,105.88 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 2,344,304.45 2,436,732.00 2,436,732.00 2,360,163.23 2,480,773.70 3,046,640.00 25.0% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 014022 533100 CLEAN SUP 8,815.14 20,000.00 20,000.00 24,097.47 23,975.50 20,000.00 .0% 014022 533107 CLEAN EQUI 13,412.99 13,750.00 13,750.00 3,915.00 13,750.00 13,750.00 .0% 01402772 531825 SCH CONTR 470,010.74 437,750.00 437,750.00 347,432.11 464,006.00 437,750.00 .0% 01402772 533115 SC CUSTOD 78,790.50 146,000.00 146,000.00 136,769.04 146,000.00 146,000.00 .0% 01402772 533116 SCH MAINT 113,373.28 98,000.00 98,000.00 104,129.93 98,000.00 98,000.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 684,402.65 715,500.00 715,500.00 616,343.55 745,731.50 715,500.00 .0% 55 CAPITAL OUTLAY 014023 551094 REPAIR .00 .00 40,000.00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 01402772 551191 ASBESTOS 75,000.00 .00 .00 100,000.00 .00 100,000.00 .0% 01402773 551172 SCHOOL REP 3,711.25 .00 4,345,052.00 3,847,983.53 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 78,711.25 .00 4,385,052.00 3,947,983.53 .00 100,000.00 -97.7% TOTAL PW FACILITY MAINTENANC 4,712,255.35 4,675,050.00 9,201,900.00 8,217,446.72 4,749,323.20 5,581,051.00 -39.3% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 24 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 422 PUBLIC WORKS HIGHWAY 51 SALARIES 014221 511000 S & W 277,736.26 297,292.00 297,292.00 252,037.18 297,292.00 393,738.00 32.4% 014221 512004 INTERNS 4,000.00 .00 4,800.00 .00 .00 4,800.00 .0% 014221 513000 OVERTIME 26,544.21 27,973.00 33,737.00 16,519.78 27,973.00 33,737.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 308,280.47 325,265.00 335,829.00 268,556.96 325,265.00 432,275.00 28.7% 52 CONTRACTUAL 014222 520200 TRAF SIG 12,568.86 17,000.00 17,000.00 10,000.00 21,000.00 17,000.00 .0% 014222 520450 LIGHT MAIN 20,273.91 15,000.00 15,000.00 20,000.00 15,000.00 21,400.00 42.7% 014222 524000 HIRE EQUIP 27,104.46 27,500.00 27,500.00 22,849.53 29,470.00 27,500.00 .0% 014222 526900 TRAF MRKNG 58,073.29 50,000.00 60,000.00 30,000.00 50,000.00 60,000.00 .0% 014222 527100 CATCH BSN 30,000.00 30,000.00 30,000.00 30,000.00 30,000.00 30,000.00 .0% 014222 527101 NPDES DRAI 39,130.37 62,000.00 62,000.00 68,895.00 127,386.50 62,000.00 .0% 014222 527102 DRAINMAINT 560.00 20,000.00 20,000.00 49,115.00 68,415.00 20,000.00 .0% 014222 527105 MS4 27,543.84 44,725.00 44,725.00 27,787.84 58,077.84 44,725.00 .0% 014222 527307 SIDEWK REP 27,587.03 20,100.00 20,100.00 38,149.00 55,210.00 20,100.00 .0% 014222 529012 ST SWEEP 52,208.85 55,000.00 55,000.00 52,000.00 55,000.00 96,000.00 74.5% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 295,050.61 341,325.00 351,325.00 348,796.37 509,559.34 398,725.00 13.5% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 014222 533000 PAINTS 6,604.45 8,266.00 8,266.00 5,461.00 8,266.00 8,266.00 .0% 014222 533504 BARRICADE 379.61 .00 .00 .00 1,720.39 2,100.00 .0% 014222 535800 BUT PATCH 35,319.30 40,000.00 40,000.00 40,000.00 40,000.00 44,000.00 10.0% 014222 536000 CEM&CONCR 1,500.00 2,500.00 2,500.00 81.89 2,500.00 2,500.00 .0% 014222 536210 ROAD STRUC 4,255.99 7,560.00 7,560.00 3,760.00 7,560.00 7,560.00 .0% 014222 537200 LUMBER 1,000.00 2,400.00 2,400.00 800.00 2,800.00 2,400.00 .0% 014222 538000 SIGN MAT 15,260.47 10,000.00 10,000.00 9,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 64,319.82 70,726.00 70,726.00 59,102.89 72,846.39 76,826.00 8.6% 55 CAPITAL OUTLAY 014222 551183 TRAFCALM 14,679.75 .00 50,000.00 124,115.85 110,320.25 50,000.00 .0% 014223 551101 ROADS .00 .00 600,000.00 180,000.00 .00 600,000.00 .0% 014223 551165 DRAIN 40,914.67 .00 330,000.00 39,085.34 39,085.34 330,000.00 .0% 014223 551190 SIDEWALK 23,436.20 .00 250,000.00 66,563.80 66,563.80 250,000.00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 79,030.62 .00 1,230,000.00 409,764.99 215,969.39 1,230,000.00 .0% TOTAL PUBLIC WORKS HIGHWAY 746,681.52 737,316.00 1,987,880.00 1,086,221.21 1,123,640.12 2,137,826.00 7.5% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 25 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 423 PUBLIC WORKS SNOW REMOVAL 51 SALARIES 014231 513000 OVERTIME 217,462.29 144,125.00 144,125.00 347,787.75 144,125.00 200,000.00 38.8% TOTAL SALARIES 217,462.29 144,125.00 144,125.00 347,787.75 144,125.00 200,000.00 38.8% 52 CONTRACTUAL 014232 524000 HIRE EQUIP 195,196.46 273,700.00 273,700.00 544,915.83 273,700.00 274,700.00 .4% 014232 529015 YOUTH SNOW .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 014232 529220 WEATHER 2,794.40 2,300.00 2,300.00 2,954.38 2,300.00 2,300.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 197,990.86 276,000.00 276,000.00 547,870.21 276,000.00 277,000.00 .4% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 014232 531000 GAS&OIL 55,020.41 15,000.00 15,000.00 60,318.15 15,000.00 15,000.00 .0% 014232 531201 TIRE CHAIN 7,165.05 2,000.00 2,000.00 5,524.44 2,000.00 2,000.00 .0% 014232 531203 PLOW PARTS 42,773.09 30,000.00 30,000.00 104,338.92 30,000.00 30,000.00 .0% 014232 531800 PARTS&REP 71,949.16 35,000.00 35,000.00 94,801.58 35,000.00 35,000.00 .0% 014232 533500 TOOLS 12,114.18 2,000.00 2,000.00 16,718.70 2,000.00 2,000.00 .0% 014232 534900 SALT 370,524.54 237,000.00 237,000.00 428,751.15 237,000.00 237,000.00 .0% 014232 535000 SAND&GRAVE .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 014232 535401 SNOW MEALS .00 2,000.00 2,000.00 1,945.37 2,000.00 2,000.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 559,546.43 323,000.00 323,000.00 712,398.31 323,000.00 323,000.00 .0% TOTAL PUBLIC WORKS SNOW REMO 974,999.58 743,125.00 743,125.00 1,608,056.27 743,125.00 800,000.00 7.7% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 26 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 433 PUBLIC WORKS SOLID WASTE/SANI 51 SALARIES 014331 511000 S & W 126,651.12 138,355.00 138,355.00 110,630.25 138,355.00 130,981.00 -5.3% 014331 512000 PT S&W 6,225.00 5,000.00 7,500.00 .00 5,000.00 7,500.00 .0% 014331 513000 OVERTIME 60,804.92 38,300.00 58,000.00 37,217.99 38,300.00 58,000.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 193,681.04 181,655.00 203,855.00 147,848.24 181,655.00 196,481.00 -3.6% 52 CONTRACTUAL 014332 524000 HIRE EQUIP 45,583.47 40,000.00 40,000.00 39,451.40 40,000.00 50,000.00 25.0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 45,583.47 40,000.00 40,000.00 39,451.40 40,000.00 50,000.00 25.0% TOTAL PUBLIC WORKS SOLID WAS 239,264.51 221,655.00 243,855.00 187,299.64 221,655.00 246,481.00 1.1% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 27 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 475 PW PARK & FORESTRY 51 SALARIES 014751 511000 S & W 579,655.22 641,092.00 607,911.00 467,618.95 607,911.00 581,699.00 -4.3% 014751 512000 PT S&W 16,120.00 .00 24,000.00 .00 .00 24,000.00 .0% 014751 513000 OVERTIME 56,894.27 40,375.00 55,900.00 38,433.06 40,375.00 55,900.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 652,669.49 681,467.00 687,811.00 506,052.01 648,286.00 661,599.00 -3.8% 52 CONTRACTUAL 014752 524006 FRST HIRED 20,960.00 21,500.00 154,681.00 69,278.20 54,681.00 100,000.00 -35.4% 014752 524007 PARK HIRED 27,230.20 30,000.00 30,000.00 17,270.39 31,230.20 30,000.00 .0% 014752 527400 IRRIG REP 12,000.00 12,000.00 12,000.00 8,000.00 12,000.00 12,000.00 .0% 014752 527806 PLYGRND RE 1,474.44 6,500.00 26,500.00 13,679.52 11,239.08 26,500.00 .0% 014752 528805 MOW&MAINT 51,260.00 50,000.00 50,000.00 57,421.00 70,690.00 68,000.00 36.0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 112,924.64 120,000.00 273,181.00 165,649.11 179,840.28 236,500.00 -13.4% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 014752 531826 EQUIP PART 7,459.00 6,500.00 6,500.00 3,000.00 6,500.00 6,500.00 .0% 014752 533050 FLD MRKNG 6,638.82 7,500.00 7,500.00 6,763.15 7,500.00 7,500.00 .0% 014752 533505 LAND EQUIP 5,224.93 6,500.00 6,500.00 3,062.50 8,269.80 6,500.00 .0% 014752 535200 LANDSC SUP 43,438.62 50,000.00 55,000.00 32,188.82 50,000.00 55,000.00 .0% 014752 537300 FENCE MAT 420.35 4,200.00 4,200.00 1,500.00 5,279.65 4,200.00 .0% 014752 537610 BEN&BARR .00 4,200.00 4,200.00 5,183.12 8,187.73 4,200.00 .0% 014752 537640 ADOPTASITE 5,000.00 .00 5,000.00 .00 .00 5,000.00 .0% 014752 537641 FLOWERVET .00 .00 .00 8,000.00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 68,181.72 78,900.00 88,900.00 59,697.59 85,737.18 88,900.00 .0% 55 CAPITAL OUTLAY 014752 551182 TREES 34,859.00 .00 100,000.00 141,363.15 41,363.15 100,000.00 .0% 014753 551168 PARKS 75,776.45 .00 536,000.00 283,791.55 283,791.55 .00 .0% 014753 551169 COURTUPGRA 7,694.15 .00 125,000.00 13,537.75 437.75 .00 .0% 014753 551177 FIELD .00 .00 352,300.00 33,000.00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 118,329.60 .00 1,113,300.00 471,692.45 325,592.45 100,000.00 -91.0% TOTAL PW PARK & FORESTRY 952,105.45 880,367.00 2,163,192.00 1,203,091.16 1,239,455.91 1,086,999.00 -49.8% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 28 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 485 PW AUTOMOTIVE 51 SALARIES 014851 511000 S & W 167,223.01 155,827.00 212,951.00 125,826.73 155,827.00 150,368.00 -29.4% 014851 513000 OVERTIME 11,414.77 6,160.00 6,160.00 5,918.35 6,160.00 6,160.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 178,637.78 161,987.00 219,111.00 131,745.08 161,987.00 156,528.00 -28.6% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 014852 531000 GAS & OIL 30,589.49 120,000.00 120,000.00 97,677.29 120,000.00 140,000.00 16.7% 014852 531200 TIRES 2,304.18 15,000.00 15,000.00 10,000.00 15,000.00 21,775.00 45.2% 014852 531204 POL TIRES 3,000.00 3,308.00 3,308.00 2,500.00 3,308.00 3,308.00 .0% 014852 531205 WELD SUPP 1,639.05 2,040.00 2,040.00 1,500.00 2,040.00 2,040.00 .0% 014852 531500 BATTERIES 1,500.00 4,245.00 4,245.00 .00 4,245.00 4,245.00 .0% 014852 531800 PARTS&REP 93,282.06 98,313.00 98,313.00 122,363.76 102,609.26 98,313.00 .0% 014852 531824 EVCHARGIN .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 15,000.00 .0% 014852 532000 CLEAN&DISF 2,413.00 3,360.00 3,360.00 3,020.00 3,360.00 3,360.00 .0% 014852 533500 TOOLS 2,961.82 4,500.00 4,500.00 2,047.64 4,500.00 4,500.00 .0% 01485542 531804 POL MV RP 13,077.91 20,000.00 20,000.00 30,678.94 27,660.96 25,650.00 28.3% 01485772 531814 ALL SCH MV 4,517.38 8,400.00 8,400.00 1,200.00 8,400.00 8,400.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 155,284.89 279,166.00 279,166.00 270,987.63 291,123.22 326,591.00 17.0% TOTAL PW AUTOMOTIVE 333,922.67 441,153.00 498,277.00 402,732.71 453,110.22 483,119.00 -3.0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 29 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 491 CEMETERY 51 SALARIES 014911 511000 S & W 166,192.07 146,694.00 208,038.00 141,307.65 146,694.00 294,494.00 41.6% 014911 512000 PT S&W 21,096.54 15,000.00 24,580.00 4,266.86 15,000.00 24,650.00 .3% 014911 513000 OVERTIME 16,654.08 15,400.00 15,400.00 22,616.47 15,400.00 15,400.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES 203,942.69 177,094.00 248,018.00 168,190.98 177,094.00 334,544.00 34.9% 52 CONTRACTUAL 014912 524000 HIRE EQUIP 5,593.10 3,000.00 3,000.00 .00 3,000.00 4,800.00 60.0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 5,593.10 3,000.00 3,000.00 .00 3,000.00 4,800.00 60.0% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 014912 530704 CEM MARK .00 2,500.00 2,500.00 .00 2,500.00 2,500.00 .0% 014912 531205 WELD SUPP 201.55 850.00 850.00 500.00 850.00 850.00 .0% 014912 532000 CLEAN&DISF .00 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 900.00 80.0% 014912 535200 LANDSC SUP 12,397.95 12,000.00 12,000.00 8,327.31 12,869.00 16,700.00 39.2% 014912 536000 CEM&CONCR .00 1,000.00 1,000.00 .00 1,000.00 4,500.00 350.0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 12,599.50 16,850.00 16,850.00 9,327.31 17,719.00 25,450.00 51.0% TOTAL CEMETERY 222,135.29 196,944.00 267,868.00 177,518.29 197,813.00 364,794.00 36.2% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 30 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 511 HEALTH 51 SALARIES 015111 511000 S & W 539,988.88 539,369.00 539,369.00 468,470.96 539,369.00 634,428.00 17.6% 015111 513000 OVERTIME .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 25,000.00 .0% 01511771 511000 S&W SCHOOL 712,986.88 747,047.00 747,047.00 545,224.37 747,047.00 842,326.00 12.8% TOTAL SALARIES 1,252,975.76 1,286,416.00 1,286,416.00 1,013,695.33 1,286,416.00 1,501,754.00 16.7% 52 CONTRACTUAL 015112 520500 ADVERTISE .00 250.00 250.00 .00 250.00 250.00 .0% 015112 521000 PRINTING 282.37 250.00 250.00 67.42 250.00 250.00 .0% 015112 522711 SHARPS 1,750.00 1,800.00 1,800.00 1,610.00 1,940.00 1,800.00 .0% 015112 523000 MILEAGE 490.43 1,000.00 1,000.00 192.38 1,000.00 1,000.00 .0% 015112 524500 PEST CONTR 24,893.97 21,500.00 21,500.00 19,853.06 21,500.00 21,500.00 .0% 015112 529000 PROF SERV 380.64 8,000.00 8,000.00 502.00 8,000.00 8,000.00 .0% 015112 529031 ANIM SHELT 3,282.74 4,000.00 4,000.00 200.00 4,000.00 9,000.00 125.0% 01511772 529000 PROF SERV 5,528.69 9,000.00 9,000.00 7,135.50 9,000.00 9,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 36,608.84 45,800.00 45,800.00 29,560.36 45,940.00 50,800.00 10.9% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 015112 530501 MISC SUP 726.23 600.00 600.00 262.44 600.00 600.00 .0% 015112 533500 TOOLS 410.84 600.00 600.00 98.07 600.00 600.00 .0% 01511772 532100 MEDICALSUP 8,667.69 8,900.00 8,900.00 3,732.50 8,900.00 8,900.00 .0% 01511772 535501 CLOTHING 4,000.00 4,400.00 4,400.00 4,000.00 4,400.00 4,800.00 9.1% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 13,804.76 14,500.00 14,500.00 8,093.01 14,500.00 14,900.00 2.8% 54 OTHER CHARGES 015112 540500 DUES/MEMB 905.64 800.00 800.00 1,045.38 800.00 800.00 .0% 015112 540700 SEMINARS 2,520.37 2,500.00 2,500.00 606.16 2,500.00 2,500.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 3,426.01 3,300.00 3,300.00 1,651.54 3,300.00 3,300.00 .0% TOTAL HEALTH 1,306,815.37 1,350,016.00 1,350,016.00 1,053,000.24 1,350,156.00 1,570,754.00 16.4% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 31 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 540 BEEBE ESTATE 52 CONTRACTUAL 015402 522505 BEEBE ELEC 2,544.70 1,800.00 1,800.00 2,012.16 1,800.00 1,800.00 .0% 015402 522605 BEEBE GAS 3,369.32 3,900.00 3,900.00 3,998.75 3,900.00 3,900.00 .0% 015402 527700 BLDGREPAIR 749.82 2,000.00 2,000.00 1,044.15 2,000.00 2,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 6,663.84 7,700.00 7,700.00 7,055.06 7,700.00 7,700.00 .0% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 015402 530501 MISC SUP .00 200.00 200.00 .00 200.00 200.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL .00 200.00 200.00 .00 200.00 200.00 .0% TOTAL BEEBE ESTATE 6,663.84 7,900.00 7,900.00 7,055.06 7,900.00 7,900.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 32 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 541 COUNCIL ON AGING 51 SALARIES 015411 511000 S & W 285,779.30 260,084.00 260,084.00 223,647.76 260,084.00 294,946.00 13.4% TOTAL SALARIES 285,779.30 260,084.00 260,084.00 223,647.76 260,084.00 294,946.00 13.4% 52 CONTRACTUAL 015412 521000 PRINTING .00 400.00 400.00 400.00 400.00 400.00 .0% 015412 523000 MILEAGE 130.25 50.00 50.00 .00 50.00 100.00 100.0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 130.25 450.00 450.00 400.00 450.00 500.00 11.1% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 015412 530501 MISC SUP 1,084.92 1,095.00 1,095.00 1,095.00 1,095.00 2,500.00 128.3% 015412 535500 UNIFORMS 400.00 400.00 400.00 42.00 400.00 500.00 25.0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 1,484.92 1,495.00 1,495.00 1,137.00 1,495.00 3,000.00 100.7% 54 OTHER CHARGES 015412 540500 DUES/MEMB 3,332.00 3,332.00 3,332.00 2,626.56 3,332.00 4,415.00 32.5% 015412 543800 PROGRAM SU .00 .00 40,000.00 11,213.88 .00 2,500.00 -93.8% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 3,332.00 3,332.00 43,332.00 13,840.44 3,332.00 6,915.00 -84.0% TOTAL COUNCIL ON AGING 290,726.47 265,361.00 305,361.00 239,025.20 265,361.00 305,361.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 33 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 542 WOMEN'S COMMISSION 54 OTHER CHARGES 015422 540000 OTH CHGEXP 1,025.52 .00 .00 117.50 117.50 2,500.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 1,025.52 .00 .00 117.50 117.50 2,500.00 .0% TOTAL WOMEN'S COMMISSION 1,025.52 .00 .00 117.50 117.50 2,500.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 34 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 543 VETERANS 51 SALARIES 015431 511000 S & W 179,987.48 74,256.00 74,256.00 63,272.40 74,256.00 76,513.00 3.0% TOTAL SALARIES 179,987.48 74,256.00 74,256.00 63,272.40 74,256.00 76,513.00 3.0% 52 CONTRACTUAL 015432 523000 MILEAGE 246.50 100.00 100.00 492.08 100.00 1,000.00 900.0% 015432 525303 LICENSES 973.04 1,000.00 1,000.00 .00 1,000.00 500.00 -50.0% 015432 527803 WAR MEM 1,947.58 5,000.00 5,000.00 2,594.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 100.0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 3,167.12 6,100.00 6,100.00 3,086.08 6,100.00 11,500.00 88.5% 54 OTHER CHARGES 015432 540500 DUES 185.91 250.00 250.00 600.94 250.00 200.00 -20.0% 015432 540600 EDUC/SEMIN 1,721.22 1,000.00 1,000.00 513.28 1,000.00 3,000.00 200.0% 015432 543800 PROGRAM SU .00 .00 30,000.00 5,835.26 .00 .00 .0% 015432 544000 VET BENE 157,806.81 175,000.00 175,000.00 152,151.17 175,000.00 192,650.00 10.1% 015432 544020 EVENTS .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 5,000.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 159,713.94 176,250.00 206,250.00 159,100.65 176,250.00 200,850.00 -2.6% TOTAL VETERANS 342,868.54 256,606.00 286,606.00 225,459.13 256,606.00 288,863.00 .8% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 35 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 544 HUMAN RIGHTS 54 OTHER CHARGES 015442 540000 OTH CHGEXP .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 2,500.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 2,500.00 .0% TOTAL HUMAN RIGHTS .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 2,500.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 36 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 545 DISABILITY COMMISSION 54 OTHER CHARGES 015452 540000 OTH CHGEXP 1,461.45 .00 .00 605.44 605.44 2,500.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 1,461.45 .00 .00 605.44 605.44 2,500.00 .0% TOTAL DISABILITY COMMISSION 1,461.45 .00 .00 605.44 605.44 2,500.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 37 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 611 LIBRARY 51 SALARIES 016111 511000 S & W 1,064,612.52 1,052,032.00 1,077,347.00 912,321.30 1,052,032.00 1,170,932.00 8.7% 016111 513000 OVERTIME 12,770.02 12,881.00 12,881.00 8,082.98 12,881.00 14,901.00 15.7% TOTAL SALARIES 1,077,382.54 1,064,913.00 1,090,228.00 920,404.28 1,064,913.00 1,185,833.00 8.8% 52 CONTRACTUAL 016112 521000 PRINTING 461.72 1,000.00 1,000.00 593.29 1,000.00 1,000.00 .0% 016112 521500 POSTAGE 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,740.19 1,000.00 1,000.00 .0% 016112 523000 MILEAGE 85.93 250.00 250.00 .00 250.00 250.00 .0% 016112 525104 NOBLE 52,780.02 54,372.00 54,372.00 54,372.00 54,372.00 55,869.00 2.8% 016112 527702 CONTRACT 15,937.33 15,235.00 15,235.00 14,515.52 15,235.00 15,235.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 70,265.00 71,857.00 71,857.00 71,221.00 71,857.00 73,354.00 2.1% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 016112 530100 COMP PURCH 1,484.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 492.99 1,500.00 1,500.00 .0% 016112 530500 OFFICE SUP 7,894.07 8,000.00 8,000.00 8,889.63 8,000.00 8,000.00 .0% 016112 534100 AUDIO MAT 1,232.48 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,332.79 3,000.00 3,000.00 .0% 016112 534150 VIDEO FORM 2,141.78 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,012.86 3,000.00 3,000.00 .0% 016112 534200 BOOKS 46,810.92 35,000.00 51,550.00 51,550.00 35,000.00 53,000.00 2.8% 016112 534210 ELECTRONIC 1,792.75 2,330.00 2,330.00 2,192.35 2,330.00 2,330.00 .0% 016112 534220 NETWRK ECO 27,225.00 27,225.00 27,225.00 27,225.00 27,225.00 30,155.00 10.8% 016112 534230 DOWNLOAD 22,660.97 20,000.00 20,000.00 19,247.43 20,000.00 20,000.00 .0% 016112 534240 ELECTR DAT 16,581.74 17,800.00 17,800.00 12,370.29 17,800.00 15,000.00 -15.7% 016112 534300 LIB PASSES 2,375.00 2,375.00 2,375.00 2,375.00 2,375.00 2,375.00 .0% 016112 534800 RECRE SUP 1,031.29 1,000.00 1,000.00 944.53 1,000.00 .00 -100.0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 131,230.00 121,230.00 137,780.00 129,632.87 121,230.00 138,360.00 .4% 54 OTHER CHARGES 016112 540500 DUES/MEMB 814.00 300.00 300.00 425.00 300.00 300.00 .0% 016112 540600 EDUC/SEMIN 500.00 500.00 500.00 .00 500.00 500.00 .0% 016112 542700 RECPROGRAM 2,086.00 2,600.00 2,600.00 2,455.00 2,600.00 2,600.00 .0% 016112 543800 PROGRAM SU .00 .00 10,000.00 9,311.05 .00 10,000.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 3,400.00 3,400.00 13,400.00 12,191.05 3,400.00 13,400.00 .0% TOTAL LIBRARY 1,282,277.54 1,261,400.00 1,313,265.00 1,133,449.20 1,261,400.00 1,410,947.00 7.4% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 38 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 631 RECREATION 51 SALARIES 016311 511000 S & W .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 83,070.00 .0% TOTAL SALARIES .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 83,070.00 .0% TOTAL RECREATION .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 83,070.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 39 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 652 PINE BANKS 51 SALARIES 016521 511000 S & W 229,941.66 266,928.00 266,928.00 214,743.02 266,928.00 271,681.00 1.8% 016521 513000 OVERTIME 3,665.15 5,770.00 5,770.00 4,634.61 5,770.00 6,531.00 13.2% TOTAL SALARIES 233,606.81 272,698.00 272,698.00 219,377.63 272,698.00 278,212.00 2.0% 52 CONTRACTUAL 016522 522000 TELEPHONE 5,500.00 5,500.00 5,500.00 5,500.00 5,500.00 3,840.00 -30.2% 016522 522500 ELECTRIC 21,050.00 21,050.00 21,050.00 21,050.00 21,050.00 9,500.00 -54.9% 016522 527500 MV REPAIRS 3,000.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 .0% 016522 527700 BLDGREPAIR 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 .0% 016522 528600 AUDIT SERV 13,000.00 13,000.00 13,000.00 13,000.00 13,000.00 16,425.00 26.3% 016522 528804 ATH FIELD 3,300.00 3,300.00 3,300.00 3,300.00 3,300.00 3,500.00 6.1% 016522 529000 PROF SERV 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 55,850.00 55,850.00 55,850.00 55,850.00 55,850.00 46,265.00 -17.2% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 016522 530500 OFFICE SUP 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 525.00 5.0% 016522 530800 HEAT FUEL 4,000.00 4,000.00 4,000.00 4,450.00 4,450.00 4,500.00 12.5% 016522 531000 GAS & OIL 3,500.00 3,500.00 3,500.00 3,500.00 3,500.00 3,500.00 .0% 016522 532000 CLEAN SUP 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 525.00 5.0% 016522 533000 PAINTS 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 525.00 5.0% 016522 533500 TOOLS 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 525.00 5.0% 016522 535100 PARK SUP 55,000.00 55,000.00 55,000.00 55,000.00 55,000.00 55,000.00 .0% 016522 537200 LUMBER 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 525.00 5.0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 65,000.00 65,000.00 65,000.00 65,450.00 65,450.00 65,625.00 1.0% 54 OTHER CHARGES 016522 543201 WCINS PINE 4,750.00 4,750.00 4,750.00 5,250.00 4,750.00 5,250.00 10.5% 016522 544320 FIRE INS 7,000.00 7,000.00 7,000.00 7,500.00 7,500.00 7,500.00 7.1% 016522 544325 PB LIAB IN 1,250.00 1,250.00 1,250.00 1,250.00 1,750.00 1,250.00 .0% 016522 544330 AUTO INS 2,550.00 2,550.00 2,550.00 2,875.00 2,875.00 2,875.00 12.7% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 15,550.00 15,550.00 15,550.00 16,875.00 16,875.00 16,875.00 8.5% 55 CAPITAL OUTLAY 016522 551053 PB VEH&EQU .00 .00 .00 15,520.50 .00 28,130.00 .0% 016523 551099 PB PROJECT 101,294.18 101,295.00 101,295.00 101,294.18 101,295.00 75,971.00 -25.0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 40 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 016523 551102 PF SHED 48,597.67 48,598.00 48,598.00 48,597.67 48,598.00 48,598.00 .0% 016523 551189 TURF/PLAYG 76,828.15 76,829.00 76,829.00 76,828.15 76,829.00 76,829.00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 226,720.00 226,722.00 226,722.00 242,240.50 226,722.00 229,528.00 1.2% TOTAL PINE BANKS 596,726.81 635,820.00 635,820.00 599,793.13 637,595.00 636,505.00 .1% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 41 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 693 MEMORIAL BUILDING 51 SALARIES 016931 511000 S & W 158,106.32 148,886.00 148,886.00 118,443.62 148,886.00 153,361.00 3.0% TOTAL SALARIES 158,106.32 148,886.00 148,886.00 118,443.62 148,886.00 153,361.00 3.0% 52 CONTRACTUAL 016932 522500 ELECTRIC 16,850.60 20,700.00 20,700.00 9,074.98 25,959.88 20,700.00 .0% 016932 522600 GAS HEAT 16,368.93 12,295.00 12,295.00 17,313.78 12,295.00 12,295.00 .0% 016932 527303 ELEVATOR 5,535.92 5,813.00 5,813.00 5,768.72 5,813.00 6,011.00 3.4% 016932 527700 BLDGREPAIR 8,645.29 6,273.00 6,273.00 1,861.12 6,273.00 6,273.00 .0% 016932 529000 PROF SERV 14,614.19 16,000.00 16,000.00 15,891.19 16,000.00 22,240.00 39.0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 62,014.93 61,081.00 61,081.00 49,909.79 66,340.88 67,519.00 10.5% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 016932 530501 MISC SUP 5,200.74 5,170.00 5,170.00 3,769.59 5,170.00 5,170.00 .0% 016932 530508 MARKET SUP 393.00 800.00 800.00 26.98 800.00 800.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 5,593.74 5,970.00 5,970.00 3,796.57 5,970.00 5,970.00 .0% TOTAL MEMORIAL BUILDING 225,714.99 215,937.00 215,937.00 172,149.98 221,196.88 226,850.00 5.1% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 42 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 711 MUNICIPAL DEBT 56 MISCELLANEOUS 017112 565000 MUNI DEBT 2,259,500.00 2,333,100.00 2,333,100.00 2,410,200.00 2,333,100.00 2,179,000.00 -6.6% 017112 565010 EX PRINC 1,733,909.35 1,809,910.00 1,809,910.00 1,809,909.35 1,809,910.00 1,934,410.00 6.9% TOTAL MISCELLANEOUS 3,993,409.35 4,143,010.00 4,143,010.00 4,220,109.35 4,143,010.00 4,113,410.00 -.7% TOTAL MUNICIPAL DEBT 3,993,409.35 4,143,010.00 4,143,010.00 4,220,109.35 4,143,010.00 4,113,410.00 -.7% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 43 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 751 MUNICIPAL DEBT INTEREST 54 OTHER CHARGES 017512 549102 MUNI INT 1,127,840.76 1,472,667.00 1,472,667.00 1,514,593.77 1,472,667.00 1,396,459.00 -5.2% 017512 549103 EXEMPT INT 227,255.94 159,778.00 159,778.00 159,777.75 159,778.00 2,042,017.00 1178.0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 1,355,096.70 1,632,445.00 1,632,445.00 1,674,371.52 1,632,445.00 3,438,476.00 110.6% TOTAL MUNICIPAL DEBT INTERES 1,355,096.70 1,632,445.00 1,632,445.00 1,674,371.52 1,632,445.00 3,438,476.00 110.6% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 44 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 752 PROJECTED DEBT & TEMP INTEREST 54 OTHER CHARGES 017522 549100 PROJ DEBT 311,275.56 380,300.00 380,300.00 312,968.75 380,300.00 897,362.00 136.0% 017522 549103 EXEMPT INT .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 311,275.56 380,300.00 380,300.00 312,968.75 380,300.00 897,362.00 136.0% TOTAL PROJECTED DEBT & TEMP 311,275.56 380,300.00 380,300.00 312,968.75 380,300.00 897,362.00 136.0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 45 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 911 PENSION 51 SALARIES 019111 511010 CONTRIB 7,366,574.00 7,620,971.00 8,120,971.00 8,120,971.00 7,620,971.00 8,272,164.00 1.9% TOTAL SALARIES 7,366,574.00 7,620,971.00 8,120,971.00 8,120,971.00 7,620,971.00 8,272,164.00 1.9% TOTAL PENSION 7,366,574.00 7,620,971.00 8,120,971.00 8,120,971.00 7,620,971.00 8,272,164.00 1.9% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 46 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 912 WORKER'S COMPENSATION 54 OTHER CHARGES 019122 543100 W C MED 147,408.67 100,000.00 100,000.00 129,433.54 100,000.00 150,000.00 50.0% 019122 543101 W C EXP 35,166.32 50,000.00 50,000.00 36,309.03 50,000.00 50,000.00 .0% 019122 543102 W C BENE 241,935.54 234,000.00 234,000.00 212,089.44 234,000.00 234,000.00 .0% 019122 543200 INDEMN 80,331.61 70,000.00 70,000.00 55,961.52 70,000.00 70,000.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 504,842.14 454,000.00 454,000.00 433,793.53 454,000.00 504,000.00 11.0% TOTAL WORKER'S COMPENSATION 504,842.14 454,000.00 454,000.00 433,793.53 454,000.00 504,000.00 11.0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 47 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 913 UNEMPLOYMENT 54 OTHER CHARGES 019132 544400 UNEMP EXP 79,969.86 411,000.00 411,000.00 155,168.59 418,440.00 100,000.00 -75.7% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 79,969.86 411,000.00 411,000.00 155,168.59 418,440.00 100,000.00 -75.7% TOTAL UNEMPLOYMENT 79,969.86 411,000.00 411,000.00 155,168.59 418,440.00 100,000.00 -75.7% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 48 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 914 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 51 SALARIES 019141 511000 S & W 96,816.15 101,220.00 101,220.00 90,294.49 101,220.00 115,107.00 13.7% TOTAL SALARIES 96,816.15 101,220.00 101,220.00 90,294.49 101,220.00 115,107.00 13.7% 54 OTHER CHARGES 019142 549201 GROUP HEAL 13,139,054.91 14,500,000.00 14,942,455.00 11,914,426.63 14,500,000.00 16,426,989.00 9.9% 019142 549214 LIFE INS P 79,832.37 90,000.00 90,000.00 71,866.17 90,000.00 90,000.00 .0% 019142 549215 SENTINEL F 13,822.60 16,000.00 16,000.00 12,743.80 16,000.00 16,000.00 .0% 019142 549217 PART B 70% 928,880.95 985,000.00 985,000.00 953,755.00 985,000.00 1,056,720.00 7.3% 019142 549218 PART B PEN 21,673.90 22,000.00 22,000.00 15,694.00 22,000.00 22,000.00 .0% 019142 549223 HIATUS .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .0% 019142 549224 OPT OUT 784,050.34 816,800.00 816,800.00 618,430.14 816,800.00 816,800.00 .0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 14,967,315.07 16,429,800.00 16,872,255.00 13,586,915.74 16,429,800.00 18,428,509.00 9.2% TOTAL EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 15,064,131.22 16,531,020.00 16,973,475.00 13,677,210.23 16,531,020.00 18,543,616.00 9.3% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 49 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 916 MEDICARE TAX CITY PORTION 54 OTHER CHARGES 019162 548000 MED TX CTY 983,942.45 1,005,581.00 1,046,705.00 848,010.22 1,005,581.00 1,099,040.00 5.0% TOTAL OTHER CHARGES 983,942.45 1,005,581.00 1,046,705.00 848,010.22 1,005,581.00 1,099,040.00 5.0% TOTAL MEDICARE TAX CITY PORT 983,942.45 1,005,581.00 1,046,705.00 848,010.22 1,005,581.00 1,099,040.00 5.0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 50 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 930 DEPARTMENTAL EQUIPMENT 52 CONTRACTUAL 019302 527602 IT COPY LE 47,006.97 27,707.00 27,707.00 21,125.30 31,023.21 27,707.00 .0% TOTAL CONTRACTUAL 47,006.97 27,707.00 27,707.00 21,125.30 31,023.21 27,707.00 .0% 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 019302 530100 IT COMP PU 66,308.12 28,000.00 28,000.00 28,000.00 28,000.00 28,000.00 .0% 019302 530103 IT PRINTER 3,541.10 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,173.10 2,371.26 2,000.00 .0% 019302 530500 OFFICE SUP 21,108.52 33,329.00 33,329.00 35,392.86 38,076.07 33,329.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 90,957.74 63,329.00 63,329.00 65,565.96 68,447.33 63,329.00 .0% 55 CAPITAL OUTLAY 019303 551059 PERMIT SFT 50,688.27 60,000.00 60,000.00 54,939.08 79,072.21 60,000.00 .0% 019303 551165 DRAIN 2,564.15 .00 .00 76,055.73 76,055.73 .00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 53,252.42 60,000.00 60,000.00 130,994.81 155,127.94 60,000.00 .0% TOTAL DEPARTMENTAL EQUIPMENT 191,217.13 151,036.00 151,036.00 217,686.07 254,598.48 151,036.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 51 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 931 CAPITAL OUTLAY 53 SUPPLIES & MATERIAL 019313 530706 FIRE EQUIP .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 109,000.00 .0% 019313 535505 BUNKER GEA .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 58,500.00 .0% 019313 537500 FURN&FIX .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 100,000.00 .0% 01931773 537500 FURN&TECH .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 100,000.00 .0% TOTAL SUPPLIES & MATERIAL .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 367,500.00 .0% 55 CAPITAL OUTLAY 019313 551032 PUMP .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 50,000.00 .0% 019313 551049 POL VEHICL .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 83,000.00 .0% 019313 551072 MASONRY .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 250,000.00 .0% 019313 551185 ARC ELECT .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 225,000.00 .0% 019313 551186 MILANO .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 75,000.00 .0% 01931773 551097 SCHOOL IT 114,868.29 .00 .00 .00 8,953.47 325,000.00 .0% 01931773 551168 PARKS .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 200,000.00 .0% 01931773 551193 MVMMS .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 100,000.00 .0% 01931773 551196 HOOV APR .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 75,000.00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 114,868.29 .00 .00 .00 8,953.47 1,383,000.00 .0% TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 114,868.29 .00 .00 .00 8,953.47 1,750,500.00 .0% Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 52 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrptsCITY OF MELROSE v2024.7 LIVE NEXT YEAR / CURRENT YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS PROJECTION: 2027 FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR PERIOD 99 ACCOUNTS FOR: 2025 2026 2026 2026 2026 2027 PCT GENERAL FUND ACTUAL ORIG BUD REVISED BUD ACTUAL PROJECTION MAYOR CHANGE 942 STABILIZATION FUNDS 56 MISCELLANEOUS 019422 561300 STABIL TRT 50,000.00 50,000.00 50,000.00 .00 50,000.00 50,000.00 .0% 019422 561350 CONTRACT .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 400,000.00 .0% 019422 561400 OPEB TRUST 50,000.00 50,000.00 550,000.00 .00 50,000.00 50,000.00 -90.9% TOTAL MISCELLANEOUS 100,000.00 100,000.00 600,000.00 .00 100,000.00 500,000.00 -16.7% TOTAL STABILIZATION FUNDS 100,000.00 100,000.00 600,000.00 .00 100,000.00 500,000.00 -16.7% TOTAL GENERAL FUND 64,190,836.38 107,575,802.00 121,092,352.00 66,213,351.77 109,305,232.97 126,652,797.00 4.6% GRAND TOTAL 64,190,836.38 107,575,802.00 121,092,352.00 66,213,351.77 109,305,232.97 126,652,797.00 4.6% ** END OF REPORT - Generated by Kerriann Golden ** Report generated: 05/07/2026 14:29 Page 53 User: kgolden Program ID: bgnyrpts Fiscal Year 2027 Board/Commission Memo to City Council Board/Commission: Beebe Estate Name of Chair: Bill Butler 1. Board/Commission Overview: Trustees appointed to steward the Beebe Estate 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: Accomplishments: New master lock and key system, exterior painting, holiday decor, appointed new member and Building Manager, John Tozza, extra shrub pruning, new website done in partnership with the Creative Alliance, hosted second year of Bier Garden events. Challenges: gutter inspection - looking to replace gutter in phases this and next FY. 3. FY 27 Priorities: Generate more awareness of the estate for private rental use via online marketing campaign and special events. Complete gutter renovation. Complete wifi installation for the use of renters. 4. What, if anything, has changed for your Board/Commission Budget for FY 27? Nothing. Fiscal Year 2027 Board/Commission Memo to City Council Board/Commission: Commission on Disability Name of Chair: Gary Hale 1. Board/Commission Overview: The purpose of the Commission on Disability is to provide advocacy, education and information toward the goal of assuring that Melrose is fully inclusive of all people with disabilities. The Commission is comprised of seven members, four of whom are individuals with disabilities, one a parent of a young adult with a disability, one member with years of experience in the field of disability, and a City liaison. Several of our members have many years of experience working with people with disabilities in various ways and toward unique goals. The predominance of a perspective on disability as it exists on our Commission makes us an informed and insightful group that effectively advocates for Melrose residents with disabilities and that provides an expert resource to the City in its shared commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: A. The Commission worked with City personnel to obtain a $171,000 grant from the Massachusetts Office on Disability to address some accessibility needs in three elementary schools. The work was underway during the April school vacation. B. The Commission completed and is distributing a “Guide for Community Organizations” that addresses ways in which people with disabilities can be welcomed and included in organizational activities, considerations for ensuring accessibility in meeting spaces and when conducting events, and ways to address reasonable accommodation requests. C. Last July, the Commission organized some activities to acknowledge disability pride month and to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Activities included a panel discussion, a book reading about disability for children and a mural was painted on the side of the YMCA. D. The Commission initiated and effort to connect students with disabilities at the high school with work experience opportunities at Melrose businesses. This has been a partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and the High School Special Ed Department. E. The Commission provided a resource to work with the City toward website accessibility. City the size of Melrose are expected by the State to have addressed this satisfactorily by April, 2027. F. We have taken on some advocacy issues, particularly when it tends to effect the disability community at large. An example of this are the ‘no parking’ signs along Lebanon Street across from the softball field. 3. FY 27 Priorities: A. The Commission will be available to provide education and resources pertaining to the Guide for Community Organizations. B. We intend to continue and expand our initiative to increase the participation of community businesses in providing work exposure and experience for students with disabilities at the High School C. We will, again, arrange activities for Disability Pride Month, July. D. We will continue to develop our partnerships with city departments to bring important advocacy issues to their attention and to provide our resources and expertise when requested. E. We will continue to seek ways to reach out to and connect with the disability community in Melrose. 4. What, if anything, has changed for your Board/Commission Budget for FY 27? In FY’26, the Commission on Disability had no budget although the City was very supportive in finding funds to cover our few expenses. As the Commission on Disability, we are able to access the Handicapped Parking Violation fund by requesting these funds through the City. In FY’27, we anticipate a budget of $2,500 which we will prudently utilize to support our priority activities. Fiscal Year 2027 Board/Commission Memo to City Council Board/Commission: Human Rights Commission Name of Chair: Josh Shortlidge 1. Board/Commission Overview: a. The Melrose Human Rights Commission (MHRC) works closely with City of Melrose leadership and partners to address issues of human and civil rights, reinforces a positive atmosphere in the community, and amplifies and promotes organizations and people working to make Melrose one community, open to all. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: a. Distributed “Know Your Rights” (KYR) Red Cards in seventeen languages at Melrose City Hall, the Melrose Farmers Market, and other high-need locations i. KYR Red Cards are small, business-card-sized tools that help individuals assert their constitutional rights during encounters with immigration or law enforcement b. Published three resource guides to connect vulnerable community members with available services: i. Legal and Civil Rights Resource Guide (PDF) ii. LGBTQ+ Resource Guide (PDF) iii. Immigrant and Refugee Legal Resource Guide (PDF) c. Created an intake process to review claims of discrimination based on protected class and provide referrals to appropriate agencies and resources d. Increased community engagement through social media outreach e. Provided supplies and support for community events, including MLK Day of Service and the Roosevelt School World Culture Fair f. Challenge: The absence of an administrative budget limited the scale, consistency, and reach of these efforts 3. FY 27 Priorities: a. Visibility: Strengthen MHRC’s role as a trusted public resource i. Publish human and civil rights explainer pieces in local media ii. Participate in community events to share MHRC materials and KYR information b. Education: Expand KYR and documentation training i. Host KYR trainings, including at least one in a high-need location ii. Partner with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office for trainings (KYR, active bystander) iii. Continue distribution of KYR cards and resource materials iv. Develop educational materials explaining judicial vs. administrative warrants c. Community Coordination: Strengthen local alignment i. Clarify and publish ICE-related policies in coordination with Melrose Police ii. Confirm and document policies for Melrose Public Schools and Melrose Wakefield Hospital d. Community Engagement: Deepen participation and support i. Facilitate community forums to explain policies and answer questions ii. Ensure legal training resources are accessible to residents iii. Host or co-host active/aware bystander trainings with community partners e. Foundations: Build internal capacity i. Provide training for commissioners on human and civil rights fundamentals 4. What, if anything, has changed for your Board/Commission Budget for FY 27? a. The need for resources, trainings, and community engagement has increased. MHRC has established a strong foundation for outreach aligned with the City's commitment to protecting residents' rights. With funding, the Commission can expand multilingual materials, replenish KYR cards, and host public forums, trainings, and interpretation services. b. Without a restored budget, MHRC's ability to provide consistent programming, respond to community needs, and proactively address discrimination and misinformation will remain limited. c. Request: Restoration of an annual operating budget of $2,500 to support: i. Printing and translation of materials ii. Community events and trainings iii. Outreach supplies and tools iv. Administrative support Fiscal Year 2027 Board/Commission Memo to City Council Board/Commission: Commission on Women Name of Chair: Karen Blackburn & Alli Goldberg 1. Board/Commission Overview: The Melrose Commission on Women (“MCW”) works to investigate, understand, educate, and promote constructive action in areas of interest and concern to all women and girls, including trans women and girls, in our community. As a central voice in the community, MCW promotes opportunities, fosters equity and belonging, and provides the community with a vehicle for information, advocacy and action on issues affecting all women. Understanding that our community is open to all, we advocate and support diversity across all aspects of our lives - gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, culture, age, abilities, and socio-economic background. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: Despite not having a budget due to the fiscal realities of the city, the MCW had a productive year. Building on the success of our financial literacy event to close out the previous fiscal year, we once again focused on bring women together to engage with and learn from one another. We hosted two book club events centered on women’s brain health—understanding some of the factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s in women and the role nutrition plays. Both events were held at The Residence at Melrose Station and close to 50 people attended. We are currently planning a June event focused on the role fitness plays in preventing Alzheimer’s and leading a healthy life. We welcomed three new commissioners, who each bring a variety of expertise and passion to this work. The most significant challenge has been finding creative ways to introduce more of the community to our work and events. We’ve been unable to utilize our Facebook account for several years but have finally developed a workaround that should make raising awareness of our events and engagement opportunities much easier. 3. FY 27 Priorities: With our commissioners having incredible full lives outside of this work, we aim to keep our programming focused and simple. In FY27 we plan to revisit our interview series with MMTV, EmpowerHER, where we interviewed leaders in our community on issues of importance to women. We’ll continue with our thematic book events and will explore other programming ideas depending on issues and opportunities facing our primary constituents. 4. What, if anything, has changed for your Board/Commission Budget for FY 27? Having a budget for FY27 will be a huge help in ensuring our programming is not solely reliant on donated time and items. Fiscal Year 2027 Board/Commission Memo to City Council Board/Commission: Liquor License Commission Name of Chair: Joseph P. Nevin, Jr. 1. Board/Commission Overview: FY 2026 was a solid year. Melrose currently has 21 liquor licenses issued – 12 Restaurants (3 wine & malt beverages and 9 full alcohol), 3 Retail full alcohol licenses, 1 Farmer/Brewer license and 5 Private Clubs. The Liquor License Commission met on a monthly basis. All licenses were renewed in December 2025. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: a. New Licenses – Three new establishments opened • Restaurant Full Alcohol – Bangkok Thai • Restaurant Wine & Malt Beverages – Table 4 & Big Fin Poke • Retail Full Alcohol – Franklin Market b. Farmers market multiple one day permits/multiple vendors – summer & winter c. One day permits – We issue approximately 25 – 40 one day permits annually. d. We had one Commissioner depart the Commission (Kevin Cronin) and added a new Commissioner (Diane Casey). We thank and greatly appreciate Commissioner Cronin’s time, dedication and service to the commission and welcome Commissioner Casey. 3. FY 27 Priorities: a. Review current Melrose Liquor Licensing Commission General Rules and Regulations for Licensing of Alcoholic Beverage Sales in the City of Melrose, last amended March 30, 2015. b. Review current license fees and those of surrounding communities. c. License Renewals. d. Website update. 4. What, if anything, has changed for your Board/Commission Budget for FY 27? No change. Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Clerk’s/Elections Name of Department Head: Tanji Cifuni 1. Department Overview and Mission: The City Clerk is the official keeper of the history and records of Melrose. Our mission remains dedicated to maintaining and protecting historical records as safely as possible while also servicing the public by providing information in an efficient and timely manner. At the literal and figurative main entrance to City Hall, the Clerk’s office is a busy, vibrant gateway municipal services. Often the first point of contact with the public is to respond to questions and concerns that arise with our residents. The 4-person department consists of a City Clerk, an Assistant City Clerk, an Elections Administrator and a Senior Clerk. City Clerk Tanji Cifuni Asst. City Clerk Linda Reed Election Clerk James Harris Senior Clerk Kathy Maihack Records kept by the office include: • Vitals Statistics: Births, Deaths, Marriages, Affidavits & Correction of Vitals • Election and Census records • Business Certificate Filings and Dissolution • Original filings of Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning, Site Plan and Slope Protection Decisions (29 cases) • All notifications of meetings of municipal governmental bodies (253 meetings) • Common Victualler Licenses, Second Hand Dealers Licenses, Class I & II Motor Vehicle Licenses, Gasoline Storage Certificates, Food Truck and Hackney license • Dog Licenses • Insurance Claim filings • Raffle permits • Conflict of Interest completion records • Oaths of Office and Committee • All City Council documents: Orders, ordinances, resolutions and motions minutes, agenda for all meetings, Council related Mayoral communications and all City of Melrose Board and Commission appointments (25 council meetings) 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 • Conducted a successful local election in November with 11,227 voters turning out which is 51% of the total registered voters ( Early Voters 4857 and Election Day 6370) • Distribution of annual online Conflict of Interest training information to all City employees including public safety and public school personnel. • Rolled out a new software platform for city and school agenda and minutes across the city. This was a large undertaking and the roll out of the program was successful. • Annual training of election workers with almost 100 percent attendance • Continued organization, inspection and preservation of municipal records • Electronic distribution of monthly Campaign Finance newsletter • Refresh and update to departmental webpages • Updated our licensing and permit fees for the department • Created and or edited our annual license applications • Coordinated a SAFE audit with the State ( Paid for by the State ) on our election procedures on a daily basis as well as Election Day • Revamped the nomination packages for the local election • Mailed out over 16,000 census first week in January and to date have received and processed a little over 10,000 over the last few months. We will be mailing out a REMINDER confirmation card to all registered voters that have not mailed in their census in the next week. • Send updated Registered Dog Licenses to BOH the first day of the Month to post on website • Send the State Representative the list of all newly registered voters on the first day of each month 3. FY 27 Priorities: Updating the 28 Election Poll pads for the Primary and November State Elections Running a smooth State Primary and November election Increasing the voter turnout for State elections 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? At this time, we did not run against any negative financial constraints because we plan accordingly. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? Election Office If a School Committee member runs for office then we manage the election process and make sure that the candidate files their campaign finance reports in a timely manner. City Clerks office • Perform the oaths for the School Committee members • We also make sure that all school staff members complete the annual conflict of interest training FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 • Post Agendas and minutes for all School Subcommittee meetings 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? The City Council, Clerks Office and Elections office was not negatively or positively affected by the result of the override election at this time. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 Total number of transactions Total Sterilized dogs @$23 each 1597 $36,728 Intact dogs @$25 each 131 $3,275 Late Fee @ $18 each 150 $4,178 Replacement Tag @ $5 each - Total 2 = $10.00 2 $10 Marriage Certificates @ $20 each - Over the counter 75 $1,500 Birth Certificates -@ $20 each - Over the counter 642 $12,840 Death Certificates -@ $20 each - Over the counter 474 $9,480 Marriage Certificates - @ $22 each- Online 72 $1,584 Birth Certificates - @ $22 each - Online 419 $9,218 Death Certificates - @22 each - Online 288 $6,336 Marriage Intentions -@75 each 28 $2,100 Mail-In Vital Requests -@ $22 each 40 $880 Gas and Storage -Different amounts per location 29 $3,137 Fees -@ $50 each 15 $750 Amendments - @ $75 each 10 $750 Planning Board -Different amounts per job 2 $2,165 Board of Appeals Commerical - @ $500 each 1 $500 Board of Appeals Residential @ $350 each 10 $3,500 Business Certificates - @ $75 each 35 $2,625 Change of Business - @ $15 each 2 $30 Common Victualler - @ $175 each 40 $7,000 Class II Motor - @ $150 each 5 $750 Second Hand Dealer - @ $150 each 3 $450 Livery -$175 each 1 $175 Raffles - @ $50 for new $10 for renewal 2 $60 Copies - @ 1.00 each 9 $9.00 Total $110,030 FY 27 Budget Memo page. 4 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Council on Aging Name of Department Head: Erica Drummond 1. Department Overview and Mission: The Melrose Council on Aging (COA) aims to connect older adults with programs, resources, and services in our community to generate a positive impact on daily living. The COA serves older adults aged 60+. Members of the Milano Center have the opportunity to participate in fitness programs, social engagement activities, and educational presentations. Members can also take advantage of resources like the COA’s social services team and transportation program. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: a. Marked progress on strategic planning goals that were created from the 2022 Needs Assessment including creation of resources for housing options, an ADU information session, assisting members with MBTA discount passes, a digital literacy program on rideshare apps, a YMCA information session, Senior Strolls with the Friends of the Middlesex Fells, the continuation of our weekly walking club, resource creation for food insecurity, a monthly men’s breakfast to increase male membership, distribution of a resource guide and accessible walking maps, hosting our annual Open House and Resource Fair, increasing fitness class offerings, and creating participant led programming like armchair travel. b. Progress towards an Age-Friendly/Dementia-Friendly city designation with plans to officially apply by the end of the fiscal year c. As of 4/24/2026, the Milano Center has served 1,199 individuals who have recorded 14,104 check ins. d. As of 4/24/2026, the Council on Aging transportation program has provided 2,034 rides to Melrose residents, with 524 of those going to medical destinations. e. Challenges included an update to our weekly schedule to maximize parking efficiency, increased costs of goods and services, and special limitations within the Milano Center building. 3. FY 27 Priorities: a. Updates to the Council on Aging city webpage to include tax relief resources, support groups, durable medical equipment, Memory Café, and all program offerings b. “Milano on the Move” programming to work more collaboratively with local resources, businesses, and city departments c. Memory Café – continuing this monthly resource for caregivers and their loved ones d. “Aging in Place” panel e. “Enriching Retirement” programming f. Member-led programming FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? Changes to the department’s budget include several line item increases to create level funding from FY25, increases to salaries and wages to keep positions competitive, and increases to the “Dues & Memberships” line item to reflect the higher costs of services. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? N/A 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? The Proposition 2 ½ Override has ensured that the Council on Aging’s Milano Center can continue to operate at levels residents have come to expect. This includes the transportation program, social services, fitness offerings, social engagement activities, and educational opportunities. Specifically, the Milano Center will reduce fitness class fees from $5 per class to $2 per class in order to maximize participation in these vital programs. Without the Proposition 2 ½ Override, this price reduction would not be possible. In addition to level funding from FY25, the Council on Aging is also benefiting from $40,000 in capital funding from the override to install lighting along the driveway. Upon completion, this project will provide safe access to participants who walk to evening events, as well as increasing the overall security of the property. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Veterans’ Services Name of Department Head: Tammy Shovelton 1. Department Overview and Mission: Melrose Veterans’ Services administers all aspects of Massachusetts Chapter 115—including emergency funds for urgent needs—helps veterans and families understand and file for federal, state, and local benefits, liaises on VA claims and appeals, hosts benefits-review meetings to explain changes, coordinates Veterans Day and Memorial Day commemorations, cares for and preserves Melrose’s veterans monuments, and operates a monthly food mart where veterans and family members select the groceries they need. These efforts cut red tape, improve food security, protect historic memorials, and reduce hardship while honoring the service of our veteran community. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: In FY26, Melrose Veterans’ Services relocated its office from the Milano Center to City Hall to improve access and coordination; restored the Otis W. Bishop Memorial Plaque; conducted several outreach events; actively supported 77 veterans on VA claims; ensured 16 veterans or dependents received Chapter 115 assistance; and launched Monthly Veteran Socials to strengthen community connection. We also formally codified and publicly published the Veterans Property Tax Work-Off Program 3. FY 27 Priorities: Sustain and expand outreach through monthly socials, neighborhood pop-up benefits clinics, and quarterly workshops; provide comprehensive care and preservation of all veterans memorials citywide with a documented inspection/maintenance schedule; and host Thanksgiving and Christmas community dinners for Melrose veterans and families with on-site benefits navigation, and follow-up case management—strengthening access to benefits, food security, and community connection. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? In FY27, the Veterans’ Services Department will implement a 3% salary increase, increase mileage funding to support home visits and event logistics, expand war memorial maintenance, strengthen outreach programming, and increase the veteran’s benefits line. We are also raising the allocation FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 for employee professional development to ensure staff can meet evolving state and federal standards in benefits administration, claims processing, compliance. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? NA 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? Thanks to the override, the Veterans’ Services Department has restored outreach funding and raised targeted spending levels where needs are most acute—professional development (required training), mileage for home visits and outreach, war memorial maintenance, veterans’ benefits assistance, and employee education/seminars—while decreasing software and licensing costs through consolidation and efficiencies. These adjustments sustain service quality, expand access to benefits, and ensure we can meet growing demand and deliver timely support to Melrose veterans and their families. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Mayor (121) Name of Department Head: Mayor Jen Grigoraitis 1. Department Overview and Mission: The mayor is the chief executive officer of the City of Melrose, elected by the voters at large every four years. The mayor oversees all City operations and is responsible for appointing department heads, city officers, and the members of multi-member bodies (Boards & Commissions). Jen Grigoraitis is the 24th Mayor of Melrose, the first woman elected mayor, and assumed office on January 8, 2024. The mayor has oversight over all City departments, with all department heads with the exception of the superintendent of schools, reporting to the mayor. Per city charter, the mayor serves as an ex officio member of the Melrose School Committee, which hires and supervises the superintendent. The mayor’s office engages with a variety of stakeholders, including residents; federal, state, and local elected officials; members of City boards and commissions; and local media Staff also regularly provide information and resources to residents via email, phone and in-person visits. The Mayor’s Department is currently staffed by the following employees: • Mayor Jen Grigoraitis • Chief of Staff, Lauren Grymek • Communications & Events Manager, Thomas Dalton • Part-Time Executive Assistant to the Mayor and Constituent Services Representative, Diane MacDonald The Mayor’s Department continues to utilize and manage Property Tax Work Off Participants who provide front desk coverage to answer and transfer phone calls within City Hall, greet and assist walk- ins, and assist with administrative tasks in the absence of a full-time Executive Assistant. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: Constituent Services and Events: Throughout FY 26, Mayor Grigoraitis and her staff met with hundreds of residents in a variety of settings and forums including: in-person Mayor’s Office Hours; coffee hours at senior and public housing facilities (the Steele House, the Cefalo Complex, the Cochrane House, the McCarthy House, the Fuller and Gould Houses, and the Residence at Melrose Station); and new events such as Slice of the City neighborhood pizza socials and a New Resident Open House at City Hall. The mayor also conducted in-person office hours with residents throughout the year. These events provided an opportunity for residents to speak directly with the mayor about their concerns, priorities, and hopes for the community. At the five Slice of the City events held over the summer and fall, residents joined the mayor and city councilors for informal gatherings at parks and green spaces in their wards of the city while enjoying pizza from a neighborhood restaurant. FY 27 Budget Memo page 1 The mayor’s office works closely with departments who regularly provide social services support and outreach, including the Council on Aging and the Veterans’ Services Department. These departments oversee City resources including the Melrose Emergency Fund, the monthly Veterans Food Mart and the Veterans Relief Fund, and assist with SNAP benefits and applications, emergency funding and housing resources. Through this social services team, the mayor’s office led the city’s response to the temporary termination of SNAP benefits to approximately 50 Melrose residents in early 2026. Thanks to the generosity of so many Melrosians who sustainably donate to the Melrose Emergency Fund, the city was able to provide grocery store gift cards to residents in need over eight weeks, as well as share resources on non-profit supports available for the impacted Melrosians. The Mayor’s Office is the primary respondent to calls and emails from residents looking for information and resources. On a typical weekday the Mayor’s office receives an average of 15 calls and dozens of emails and website contact forms plus walk-in visits from residents looking for general City information and assistance, ideas and requests of the Mayor, and help and resources. One of the office’s Property Tax Work Off participants has extensive public sector case management experience and we have created a case coordinator role filled by this individual so that they can assists with calls regarding housing and food insecurity. Most of the calls regarding housing come from residents residing at the Melrose Housing Authority and the Mayor’s office can easily resolve and assist these residents thanks to the collaborative working relationship with the Housing Authority’s Executive Director. Our PTWO case coordinator is tracking calls for social services support to help us best assess future options. Communications: The Mayor’s Office serves as the primary communications hub for residents and stakeholders. The Office provides: a weekly email newsletter to approximately 2,800 individual subscribers; weekly City Hall submissions and press releases to the Melrose Weekly News and Melrose Messenger; a monthly email newsletter of activities and events run by local non-profits; frequent social media updates to over 2,200 followers on both Facebook and Instagram ; and episodes of the Melrose Minute podcast via MMTV. The Mayor’s Office also serves as the primary communications department for all City Departments, responding to media inquiries and interviews, assisting with writing of press releases and social media posts, advising on web content and helping to promote and publicize city programs and events. The Mayor’s Office continued to support and promote an incredible number of community events, including the following during FY 26: 1. Summer Stroll 2. Victorian Fair 3. Home for the Holidays 4. Sustainability Day 5. DPW Day (May) - expanded to serve the entire community this year 6. Third Annual 8th Grade Civics Day (June) 7. Melrose High Grad Night (June) 8. Pride flag raising at City Hall (June) 9. Juneteenth flag raising at City Hall (June) FY 27 Budget Memo page 2 10. Disability Pride City Initiatives & Special Projects: The Mayor’s Office continues to oversee and liaise with the City’s boards and commissions; to date the mayor has submitted 67 new mayoral appointments and reappointments throughout Fiscal Year 26 to resolve backlogs of empty seats and lapsed terms reaching back years. Staff regularly meets with chairs to strategize and plan for community programs, services and initiatives. Through the Chief of Staff and CFO, the Mayor’s office oversaw and coordinated the City’s FY 2027- 2031 Capital Improvement Program including the (CIP) Final Report. Since 1995, the CIP Committee has reviewed and recommended funding for capital projects on an annual basis. Capital projects are major, non-recurring expenditures that typically cost $25,000 or more and have a useful life of five or more years. For this iteration of the CIP, the committee reviewed over 100 project requests submitted by six departments. Creating a CIP is both a requirement of the city charter and a DLS recommended best practice for municipalities. The CIP is NOT a funding source; it is instead a guiding document on how the City should consider and prioritize planned capital investments as funding sources become available. Additionally, the Mayor’s office applied for and was awarded a Technical Assistance Planning Grant from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to conduct a strategic planning process for Memorial Hall and how we best utilize that building. The Chief of Staff has been the lead representative on the City side for this project, which has included a community survey, meetings with MAPC and various stakeholders and a community forum, to inform a strategic plan for how best to utilize Memorial Hall for the future. 3. FY 27 Priorities: Building Capacity in Sustainability and Youth Services: The Mayor’s Office will be asking the City Council to formally codify a Sustainability Commission to guide the administration’s work on energy savings and climate stewardship; and to bring back a Birth to Five advisory group to unify and enhance our local programs and opportunities for Melrose’s youngest residents. In addition, plans are underway to host the Slice of the City and New Resident Open House events again. In FY 27, the Mayor’s office will continue to pursue Vision Zero priorities, and we are currently waiting for the grant funding to be finalized. Communicating About the Override: After Melrose voters entrusted the city with additional revenue in the November 2025 override referendum, the Mayor’s Office and City Hall have undertaken unprecedented levels of public engagement and information-sharing to accurately and comprehensively demonstrate the impact of the override. The city website features several detailed lists and descriptions of override-funded services and projects, and communications spanning from press submissions to email newsletter to physical signage and flyers have clearly acknowledged the impact of the override on the viability and delivery of improved or sustained city services. Budget Transparency with ClearGov: Since Mayor Grigoraitis took office, City Hall has prioritized providing the most transparency into the city budget of any administration to date. The administration has regularly provided the City Council with updates as we move through several fiscal years and have regularly added documentation on the FY 27 Budget Memo page 3 City website. The administration continues to work towards even more access: this month, the City’s visual budget will be available on the city website, thanks to our use of ARPA funds to support the adoption of ClearGov, a platform which will enable us to share the budget with the public in a more comprehensive and digestible manner Public Safety Facilities Advisory Committee: The Public Safety Facilities Advisory Committee is appointed by the Mayor and staffed by the Public Safety Buildings Project Manager, who reports directly to the Mayor. The PSFAC was formed in 2024 to advise the mayor’s administration on the Public Safety Facilities renovation and replacement projects approved by Melrose voters in a November 2023 debt exclusion vote. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? There are three line items within Department 121 which are changing for FY 27: (011211-511000) S&W: The Salary & Wages line item is increasing 9.1% to reflect the salary schedule set forth for salary of the Mayor according to Melrose Revised Ordinances, Chapter 48-1. Mayor. Part A, Salary and cost of living adjustments and any anticipated step-ups for three staff members in the department. On February 5, 2024, the City Council voted to increase the annual salary of the Mayor’s position from $125,000, which had been in effect since January 1, 2014, as follows: $137,500 - Effective January 1, 2026; and $150,000 - Effective January 1, 2027. Mayor Grigoraitis declined the increase for FY 26 due to the budget challenges facing the City at that time. (011212 – 525401) Website: The Website line item is increasing 33.3%. Oversight and maintenance of the City Website was previously in the City Council (112) Department under Website (011122 – 525401) and in FY 26 the work and annual costs were moved into the Mayor’s Department under a new line item. The increase in annual costs represents the full annual amount to host and maintain the City’s website. In FY 26 some of the costs were covered by remaining APRA funds which are no longer available. (011212 – 529000) Prof Serv: The Professional Services line item is increasing 50% to account for opportunities to support community outreach that would include things such as additional mailers and posters to communicate information to residents; hiring interpreters for events; and adding one- time community meetings and events as needed. It will also allow the Mayor’s Office to provide support for City-administered and managed community events including photography, marketing and publicity. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? There are no direct costs housed in Department 121 which support the Melrose Public Schools. However, the Communications Manager works on school-related communications, press releases and other public-facing information as requested by the mayor and the superintendent of schools. 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? FY 27 Budget Memo page 4 The Professional Services line item is increasing 50% to account for opportunities to support community outreach that would include things such as additional mailers and posters to communicate information to residents; hiring interpreters for events; and adding one-time community meetings and events as needed. It will also allow the Mayor’s Office to provide support of City- administered and managed community events including photography, marketing and publicity. FY 27 Budget Memo page 5 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Legal Department 151 Name of Department Head: Shannon Phillips, City Solicitor 1. Department Overview and Mission: The Legal Department functions as a full-time law office for the City of Melrose providing legal services to the Mayor, City Council, School Committee, Department Heads, Boards and Commissions and other municipal officials. We regularly advise and represent the City in areas such as zoning, employment, labor law, Title IX issues, civil service, procurement, permitting and licensing, education law, ethics, code enforcement, public records, and open meeting law. We prepare and review public contracts, leases, deeds, easement documentation and other legal documents, assist in drafting ordinances and policy, and represent the City and schools in a variety of courts and administrative agencies. This office also manages, coordinates and responds to public records requests received by the City of Melrose, as well as processes and manages all insurance and claims for the City. Aside from these duties, this office oversees and regularly advises on labor relations and is responsible for negotiating with twelve different collective bargaining units between the City and Schools. The mission of this Department is to provide sound and effective legal advice and representation to the City on a daily basis- Mayor, City Council, School Committee, Boards, Commissions and public officials- to allow for informed decisions to be made that help navigate potential risks and ensure legal compliance with state and federal laws. In doing so, we protect the City’s interests by helping to avoid costly litigation, maintain the public’s trust in local government, and ensure municipal policies and actions are legally defensible. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: • Developed an orientation and training for newly elected officials on legal responsibilities as municipal officials; • Managed and responded to an increased volume of public records in a timely and effective manner; • Managed Insurance and claims processes for the City; • Assisted the School Committee in process and negotiations related to the hiring of a new Superintendent; • Assisted with legal issues related to the Prop 2 ½ override question and its passage by voters. 3. FY 27 Priorities: • Assist in the implementation and creation of a more streamlined contract/ procurement process for the City; • Settle any pending Collective Bargaining Agreements; and • Stay current on changes in legislation, litigation, municipal practice, to proactively prevent issues and concerns in the City and Schools. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? • The filling of a position (split between HR and Legal) which will take some of the administrative burden for certain tasks- claims processing and management, public records management and responses, processing payroll and invoices- off of current staff and assist the Department in being able to more efficiently focus on providing legal guidance proactively on areas of legal concern. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? • Educator’s Professional Liability Insurance, Property Insurance, some legal expenses 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? During the FY26 budget cycle, the role of Executive Assistant – a position that has existed for more than 20 years- was eliminated from this Department given financial constraints. With the Prop 2 ½ override approved last November, a new position is being proposed to be shared between Human Resources and Legal, given HR’s expansion to administer school- related leaves and benefits. Half of the salary and benefits for this position will be funded out of this Department’s Budget for FY27. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Library - 611 Name of Department Head: Linda C.W. Gardener 1. Department Overview and Mission: The Melrose Public Library provides public library services to the Melrose community. The library provides access to information through physical books, both in print and on CD; downloadable ebooks and e- audiobooks; magazines and newspapers, online databases and more. We provide access to the internet and computers, book groups and other programming for all ages and spaces to work, study or relax. Our mission is to provide a portal for all to explore, imagine and engage. The library is where literacy, local history and community connect! 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: FY2026 began 2.5 months after the Public Library re-opened in its renovated/reconstructed space. The year has been full of both accomplishments and challenges. We began the year with the loss of one of our 13 full time positions due to the early separation incentive. This, combined with being unable to add anticipated staff for the larger, active new building, has proven to be very challenging. Staff worked hard to acclimate both themselves and the public to the new environment and received both positive and constructive feedback, which we continue to build upon. Work on the building continued after we opened, with punch list items and necessary changes. Despite the challenges, we were excited to register over 2,000 library cards in the first year open. After the successful Override vote, we were able to be open on Sundays once again, which was very well received. We have been consistently in the top 3 NOBLE libraries for items circulated. We were also able to bring in more outside programs, including children’s events that had between 100 – 200 attendees. The Local History Room is now available for in-person visits by appointment, and we continue to work on digitizing the collection to make it more accessible. Our library e-newsletter is published monthly which includes a “Did you know” section to help make residents aware of new services available at the library. The April issue let everyone know that we now have a variety of activities that kids can use in the Children’s Room, including board games, card games and coloring kits. We are happy to be able to offer patrons needing internet access a choice between our traditional public computers and a laptop that can be checked out for in-house use. This allows patrons who do not own a laptop to have the same flexibility as patrons who do when deciding where in the building to do their work. We collaborated with the Melrose Residence to have a group of their residents come and get a chance to look around the library and get library cards, and several staff participated in the Bridge’s Community Read day. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 3. FY 27 Priorities: We are looking forward to continuing to improve our offerings in FY27 through the following priorities: Comprehensive collections – We will have a focus on improving our Young Adult nonfiction collections to better meet middle and high school interests and needs. We will also work on strengthening areas of the collection throughout the building with more authors with diverse voices. Diverse services - We will continue to utilize the results of the FY26 Children’s Room survey to inform the direction of both active and passive programming, making adjustments as possible with staffing and budget. We will digitize additional specific portions of the Local History collection, including photographs capturing local history. User-Centric Facilities - We will explore opportunities to increase library access for senior members of the community who may have difficulty coming to the library. Purpose-designed rooms in the library will be used to offer educational craft programs for all ages. Superb staffing – Staffing is a priority both in ensuring that staffing levels are adequate to meet our goals and the community’s needs and that staff have the opportunity to benefit from staff trainings and professional development, both of which will enhance our ability to provide excellent services to the community. Staffing is the foundation upon which all other priorities can be built. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? Line 534800 (Recreational Supplies) has been eliminated, due to the increase in line 543800 (Program Supplies), which performs the same purpose. We will have funding to be open on Sundays for the full school year in FY27, which was cut in the original FY26 budget. The Program Supplies line is a significant increase from prior years, and will allow us to continue the enhanced program offerings initiated this year to better meet community desire. Salary & Wages has been increased (not including restoration of the full time position), allowing for additional part time staff which will enable us to meet more of our priorities and better respond to patrons’ needs. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? The library does not house any direct costs related to the Melrose Public Schools, although our collections are regularly used by Melrose students for school projects as well as personal interest. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? The library has regained funding for the Sunday hours which were lost prior to the Override vote. Our programming budget has been increased, which will allow us to continue providing a diverse array of programs for patrons of all ages. We will be able to hire some additional part time staff, which will enable us to better serve the community’s needs. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Human Resources Name of Department Head: Polina Latta 1. Department Overview and Mission: The Human Resources Department is committed to promoting fair and consistent employment practices across the City of Melrose. It supports employees and retirees by administering health and wellness benefits, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, and upholding the terms of collective bargaining agreements. The department also serves as the employer for the City and a key resource for effectively communicating employment-related matters to all City staff. Through high-quality service and by fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace, Human Resources aims to create an environment where employees from all backgrounds can succeed and thrive, ultimately helping to deliver outstanding services to the diverse community we serve. To accomplish these responsibilities, the department is staffed with: Polina Latta, Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations Diane Barrett, Benefits Coordinator for City and School Matt Travers, HR Systems & Operations Specialist 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: School HR Support • Assisted with the recruitment and hiring, and onboarded, trained and supported a new School HR Coordinator, ensuring continuity of service and operational stability during transition. • Led development of the Melrose Public Schools HR Portal in partnership with School Administration and City IT, creating a centralized platform that improves employee access to HR, benefits, policies, training and support information. • Following the School HR vacancy, transitioned key school HR functions to the City HR Department to maintain continuity, strengthen compliance, improve consistency of practice, and enhance operational efficiency and employee experience across City and School operations. Contract Negotiations • Four Union contracts expire at the end of FY 26. The City is on schedule begin health insurance negotiations with the PEC for a successor health insurance agreement, which expired June 30, 2027. The HR Director serves as a member of the City’s collective bargaining team, alongside the City Solicitor and CFO. The team is currently engaged in active contract negotiations with four unions including: Library, Clerical, Laborers, and Fire, and will begin PEC negotiations related to health insurance. These negotiations focus on maintaining fiscal responsibility while supporting competitive, sustainable, and fair employee compensation and benefits structures. Workforce Restoration FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 The second half of the year was a busy period for recruiting and promotions. The department supported the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of 12 benefited new employees (3 were managers/department heads), processed over 40 non-benefited (part-time/seasonal) hires, and facilitated nearly 10 promotions as positions opened and qualified internal candidates advanced. ADA Support • Secured CART and interpreter services for high school graduation, significantly improving accessibility for students, families, and attendees. • Assisted with obtaining ADA grant funding in collaboration with DPW and the Commission on Disabilities to advance priority projects aligned with the 2022 ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, including accessibility improvements at Hoover, Horace Mann, and Winthrop schools. • Advanced citywide ADA compliance and accessibility by expanding closed-captioning requirements for virtual meetings, collaborating with City Clerk and Chief of staff to expand closed-captioning guidance, and updating municipal and school ADA resource pages, and strengthening coordination between Commission on Disabilities and City departments. 3. FY 27 Priorities • Collaborate with IT and Auditor’s office to streamline and automate HR processes to improve workflow efficiency between Departments, leveraging existing technology tools and the MUNIS HR module. • In collaboration with IT, Mayor’s office, and other departments, prepare for and support compliance with Digital Accessibility requirements under the ADA, through proactive planning and implementation. • Continue supporting the school through the implementation of standardized HR processes to strengthen compliance, enhance internal controls, and establish a unified HR framework across City and School operations. • Modernize the performance evaluation system to make it more relevant and align it with performance management and payroll practices. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? The HR Salary budget has increased, to support the School HR alignment. To successfully integrate the School HR function within the City’s Human Resources Department and distribute responsibilities among existing HR staff without the need to hire additional professional personnel, it was proposed that certain routine and clerical duties were reassigned to a new Administrative Assistant role to be shared with the Legal Department. This adjustment allows professional HR staff to focus on higher-level and more complex responsibilities, improves operational efficiency, reduces costs by eliminating the need for higher-cost professional staff to perform administrative tasks and improves employee experience across City and School operations, which helps with staff retention. The Health Contractual budget has increased due a number of factors, including broader economic conditions and the evolving healthcare landscape. This budget is inherently dynamic and difficult to fully control. At any given time, it reflects a snapshot of current membership enrollment, which is shaped by employee life events as well as broader socioeconomic trends. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 In addition to economic pressures, the budget is influenced by annual Open Enrollment changes, Opt-Out participation, Medicare premium adjustments, and individual employee status changes throughout the year. For FY27, the rate increases for non-Medicare plans range from 4.1% to 13.6%, while Medicare plans premiums have increased between 4.0% and 7.5%. The Workers’ Compensation medical budget was increased to $30,000. Approximately 60% of the current budget is attributed to prescription costs for a long-term recipient. This expenditure reflects a contractual obligation and does not impact service delivery, and is a more accurate representation of the actual cost, which helps avoid year budget shortfalls. The Unemployment budget has been decreased to $100,000, which is more fiscally appropriate, in the absence of layoffs. Employee Benefits, Worker’s Compensation and Unemployment are budgets that are contractual and legally mandated budget obligations for the City of Melrose. They don’t directly impact service delivery. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? The HR Department is responsible for managing the Employee Benefits, Workers’ Compensation, and Unemployment budgets, which support both City and School employees and retirees. 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of the approval of Proposition 2½, the City secured funding to restore 17 school positions, 5 DPW positions and 2 Police officer positions that had previously remained unfilled. The HR Department plays a key role in the full recruitment and hiring lifecycle for City employees, as well as enrollment benefits for all City and School positions. As a result, additional funding was reinstated to the City’s Health Contractual budget, Advertising and Pre-employment exams budgets. Timely filling of vacancies with qualified candidates directly supports service delivery across City departments. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Department of Public Works Name of Department Head: Elena Proakis Ellis, Director 1. Department Overview and Mission: The Melrose Department of Public Works provides quality services to the community in the areas of drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, recycling, parks, forestry, fleet, highway, cemetery, facilities, engineering, and administration, while promoting health, safety, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility through the teamwork and commitment of an honest and dependable workforce. The DPW’s budget is a combination of several components. The general fund operating budget is broken down into budgets for: 1) Administration and Engineering 2) Facilities Maintenance 3) Highway 4) Snow Removal 5) Sanitation 6) Parks and Forestry 7) Automotive 8) Wyoming Cemetery In addition, the DPW manages three enterprise funds with independent budgets: Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste/Recycling. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: Since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2026, these are some of the items DPW has completed: • Potholes filled: 189 locations • Storms responded to: 42 inches of snow (not including salting operations, plowable storms only) • Vehicles in fleet maintained: 144 pc. of equipment • Tonnage of trash/recycling: o 4,633.70 tons of trash o 1,648.67 tons of recycling • Parks/fields/open spaces maintained: 82 locations • Total work orders resolved: 3,496 (908 facilities and 2,588 operations) • Invoices processed: 1,235 purchase orders • Recycled 230 mattresses as part of the mattress recycling drop-off program The Department of Public Works also played a critical role in several large projects/events such as: • Capital projects including paving, water main replacement, sewer main improvements, and drainage improvements FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 • Support of City events including school sports, elections, memorials, Earth Week, Victorian Fair, and private facility rentals • Applied for and received multiple grants for infrastructure and environmental initiatives, including acceptance in to the Massachusetts State Building Association’s Accelerated Repair Program for the Melrose High School Learning Commons Roof and roofing and other building improvements at the Franklin School. 3. FY 27 Priorities: The DPW’s priorities for FY27 include getting back up to full staffing levels by filling critical vacancies with quality staff, implementing important infrastructure and facilities projects that have been funded by grants and by the FY26 supplemental budget, and keeping up on essential services provided daily by the department. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? The DPW’s FY27 budget is largely unchanged from the FY26 supplemental budget, with a return to full staffing and level-funding of many of our contractual and materials/supplies line items, except where contract pricing showed significant increases in competitively bid on-call contracts. Salary line items show step increases but do not yet reflect the outcome of ongoing contract negotiations with both our laborers and clerical unions. Several staff members have been shifted between DPW Divisions to more accurately reflect the workload of the department and routine assignments of those roles. These moves resulted in no net change in our total number of employees funded through the general fund and through each of our enterprise funds. Rising energy costs are reflected in our facilities budget and continue to be outside of the City’s control. We continue to implement energy efficiency projects and look for savings wherever feasible, such as through demand management programs. Finally, some of the capital line items (paving, sidewalks, facilities) from the FY26 supplemental budget have been maintained into FY27, allowing the department to continue implementing critical infrastructure repairs and replacements as needs arise and to plan for small projects in the coming year. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? Many line items within DPW’s Facilities budget are directly related to school spending. These include items such as: • Custodial and maintenance staff • Contracted work such as cleaning and inspections within school buildings • Maintenance and repairs of school facilities • Capital repairs and upgrades of school buildings • A portion of administrative staff time and resources to oversee all of the above FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? The successful override has allowed DPW to fully fund our prior staffing levels, critical to providing essential services to the City, and has grown our ability to respond to capital needs. The DPW (including Engineering, Operations, and Facilities) submitted nearly 100 projects to the capital improvement plan program. These are necessary upgrades and repairs all over Melrose that require attention, such as paving, roof replacements, Melrose High School bathrooms, drainage improvements, etc. The DPW is better able to plan for and address these needs with adequate funding, allowing us to be more proactive and less reactive. Furthermore, the availability of free cash is allowing the DPW to get back into a cycle of vehicle replacements that is sorely needed, especially during winter operations when failing equipment can result in immediate safety hazards. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Auditor - 135 Name of Department Head: Kerriann Golden CFO/City Auditor 1. Department Overview and Mission: The mission of the Auditor’s Office is to provide accurate, timely, and comprehensive financial information to support long-term fiscal planning and informed decision-making for the benefit of the community. At the core of this mission is the Office’s responsibility to safeguard the city’s financial assets while upholding the highest standards of accountability, transparency, and stewardship. The Auditor’s office is responsible for the following: -General ledger management and oversight of all finance functions -Financial reporting to Department of Local Services and Federal Government -Processing of weekly payroll and maintenance of weekly employee pay and benefits. -Process Accounts Payable and 1099 reporting -Compliance with Municipal, State and Federal Finance regulations. -Training employees on Munis software for payroll, accounts payable and reporting -Providing information and participating in Collective Bargaining Negotiations for the 6 City Unions. -Internal Controls There are 3 positions in the department- - CFO/City Auditor - Assistant City Auditor - Accounts Payable Clerk - Payroll Manager will be transferred to the Treasurer’s Office for FY27 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: -Affirmed the City’s bond rating (AA+ Stable outlook) -For the 2nd consecutive year, received Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting on the FY24 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). -Certified Free Cash of $5,558,450 -Developed draft Financial Policies with the Treasurer/Collector and Assistant Auditor. -Financial Process audit by DLS -Piloted ACH payments to our chapter 115 benefit recipients FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 -Completed the Capital Improvement Plan -1099 reporting to the IRS -Met all Federal and State reporting requirements 3. FY 27 Priorities: -Finalize Financial Policies -Assist in hiring a Payroll Manager and transition role to the Treasurer’s Office -Implement Phase 2 of ACH vendors -Update documentation and review all internal controls -Training of all Finance Staff (Tyler PACE) to find efficiencies 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? The payroll position is being transferred from the Auditor’s Office to the Treasurer’s Office. This will allow the auditing department to shift our focus to enhancing reporting and conducting more internal audits of processes. Overall, I think this transition will result in more efficiencies with payroll reporting The contractual category is increasing by $34,737. The requested increase is our budget reporting module as well as investment in Tyler PACE (Munis). PACE stands for Planned Adoption, Consulting and Education. Tyler PACE will do a optimization test of our accounting software (Munis) to ensure we are using it most efficiently, provide consultation and training on how to set up and use modules. The goal of this program is to ensure the system operates most efficiently and that everyone is properly trained. If more processes can be automated, it will allow for better turnaround time and efficiency. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? Annual Audit – The annual audit is paid through the Auditor’s budget. The audit covers all funds on the city general ledger including the school department. OPEB Reporting – The annual valuation is paid for out of the Auditor’s budget. This valuation covers all employees and retirees of the City and School. Tyler Pace – Tyler Pace will allow for training of all administrative staff on modules within Munis. The cost for this for all departments (HR, IT, Treasury, School, Assessing and Auditing) will be in the Auditing budget. Staff time - The auditor’s office processes account for payable warrants and 1099 reporting, processes payroll, enters new hires on the weekly payroll. We provide support on Munis, the accounting software. As part of the School End of Year Report and reported on Schedule 1 and 19 is the Per Pupil Administrative cost average. Section 10.04 of the Massachusetts Department of Secondary Education (DESE) Regulations for School Finance, and Section IV of DESE's Guidelines for Student and Financial Reporting provide the option of charging and reporting municipal administrative costs based on the statewide average cost per student of these services. For FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 FY2026, the rate set by DESE is $152.77 * enrollment of 3,985 for FY26 – The total administrative cost average per pupil is $608,788.50. 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? The override will allow us to restore education money and attend training in our professional association. It will also allow us to invest in Tyler Pace and our employees to identify efficiencies in our software and provide comprehensive training and support. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Assessors Name of Department Head: Sarah MacLellan 1. Department Overview and Mission: The mission of the Melrose Assessing Department is to provide fiscal stability by promptly, fairly, and equitably determining the valuation of all real and personal property located in the city for the purpose of taxation. In addition, the department administers motor vehicle excise taxes, real, personal, and motor vehicle excise tax abatements, and all property tax exemptions as allowed by law. The Department serves property owners, residents, local and other municipal officials, real estate professionals, and state government. The core impacts of the Department’s functions are as follows: • Establish the tax base that funds local services – the tax levy in Melrose represents approximately 72% of the city’s total revenue. • By maintaining an accurate and updated records database, ensure all property assessments are fair and equitable, and that each property owner pays their appropriate share of the levy. • Provide transparency and accountability in how property values and are determined. • Administer property tax exemptions for specific groups including veterans, older adults, blind individuals, surviving spouses, and others. • Offer processes for taxpayers to review, question and appeal their property assessment if they believe their property is incorrectly valued. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: Accomplishments: • Successfully managed a significant increase in taxpayer inquiries and in-person visits related to the override, providing clear guidance and timely responses to residents • Certified and incorporated over $780,000 in new growth into the tax base • Implemented newly adopted local-option veterans’ exemption increases efficiently and accurately • Maintained compliance with all Massachusetts Department of Revenue reporting and certification requirements Challenges: • For FY 2026, the Assessing Department’s Training and Education budget was reduced by 50%, limiting the department’s ability to keep staff current with evolving assessment practices, changes in state laws and guidance from the Mass. Dept. of Revenue, and preparation for cases before the Appellate Tax Board, while requiring only prioritization of limited essential training for the year FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 • Reduced funding also limited cross-training and professional development for the clerk and assistant assessor roles, making it more difficult to build depth across roles and continue improving service to the public 3. FY 27 Priorities: For FY 2027, the department’s main priority is to achieve full compliance with the Mass. Dept. of Revenue’s 5-year Recertification with Melrose, ensuring accurate, equitable valuations and timely reporting. The department also plans to reinvest in staff training and professional development, while also building capacity with cross-training. The department will continue to provide responsive and transparent service to residents and taxpayers and focus on capturing new growth. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? The proposed budget for Assessors includes a reinstatement of the training and education line item. This will allow the department to resume the required coursework to maintain assessor certification, while also supporting ongoing professional development to stay current with evolving assessing methodologies, emerging technology, and Dept. of Revenue standards. This re-investment ensures continued certification compliance and equitable property assessments, and improves the department’s ability to provide reliable service to the public. The revaluation budget line was increased 5% to keep pace with rising annual recurring vendor contract costs. This will allow the department to complete assessments and achieve certification on schedule and keep property data updated to ensure fair and equitable assessments. The proposed budget replaces the prior mileage reimbursement model with a mileage stipend for the Chief Assessor. This streamlines administrative processes by eliminating the need for mileage submissions and aligns the department’s practice with comparable communities, allowing for more efficient use of staff time. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? No direct costs 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? The override had a direct positive impact on the Assessors Department by restoring and stabilizing its operating budget. It allows the department to reinstate professional development funding, address rising contractual costs and implement more efficient administrative practices. As a result, the department will be well-positioned to maintain certification requirements, ensure accurate and equitable property assessments and provide efficient and reliable service to the public. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Treasurer Collector 145- Treasurer/Collector 711 – Municipal Debt 296 – Parking 751 – Municipal Interest 916 – Medicare City Portion 752 – Projected Debt and Temporary Interest Name of Department Head: Kathryn Armata 1. Department Overview and Mission: The mission of the Treasurer Collector’s office is to ensure timely collection of revenues, invest and disburse funds appropriately, and maintain fiscal responsibility while supporting the City’s operational and borrowing needs. The Treasurer Collector department has six positions; three Collections Clerks, a Treasury/Parking Clerk, an Assistant Treasurer and the Treasurer Collector. The Collectors are the outward facing team. They interact with clients, law firms, and processing companies. They are responsible for providing professional and courteous responses to inquiries, the processing of real estate, personal property and motor vehicle excise tax, and water/sewer/trash payments. They also issue Municipal Lien Certificates. The team members each specialize in a specific type of billing but are crossed-trained across all collections to ensure ongoing operations when short staffed. The Assistant Treasurer is responsible for cash management duties, and her client base is the City departments. The Assistant Treasurer books all cash receipts of the City, funds all vendor and payroll warrants, and processes the payroll warrants of the City and Schools. She also manages the annual tailings process (uncashed checks). The Treasury side of the operation includes the Treasury/Parking Clerk who is responsible for managing the collection and dispute of parking tickets and processing deduction changes in the payroll system. The Treasury/Parking Clerk also serves as back up to the Assistant Treasurer for payroll processing and provides backup at the Collections window when there is a staffing shortage. The department will be adding the position of Payroll Manager, which currently sits in the City Auditor’s department, to the team in the near future. The transition is being made due to a recommendation included in the Department of Labor Services (DLS) review of financial operations conducted near the beginning of the Mayor’s term. In addition, the department is responsible for issuing and managing City debt, investment of City funds, managing relationships with banking and investment partners and our debt advisor and bond counsel, reconciliation of all bank and investment accounts, quarterly government filings, the liening of outstanding water bills to real estate bills, issuing W2’s, and continuously working to enhance processes and procedures. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 Prior to the issuance of the Q3/Q4 actual billing our reports showed a significantly higher than usual receivables level on the Water/Sewer accounts. The Water/Sewer Clerk proactively reached out to every outstanding client via phone to remind them of the overdue amount and respond to any questions about payment plan options and the liening process. Overall, the calls were appreciated and approximately $300,000 was collected prior to going to lien. The effort was positive to the City from a collections viewpoint and to the clients who avoided additional fees, interest and possible escrow adjustments. During the fiscal year, the Collections team added an on-line request portal to the options available on cityhallsystems.com. For a $2 fee, the portal allows clients to order tax payment information, bill copies and other requested research (forms are also available at the Collections window). Over the last several months, a committee of the CFO/City Auditor, Assistant Auditor, City Solicitor and Treasurer Collector has been working to convert the City’s Financial Policies to DLS suggested format. The process should be completed and the policies sent to the Mayor for approval around fiscal year end. We transitioned the Veterans’ monthly payments from physical checks to electronic payments and upgraded the card swipe at the Collectors window that is more user friendly to chip cards. Currently, we are collaborating with the Audit team to transition certain vendor payments to electronic form via a third- party provider. The project, which will be rolled out in phases, will enable us to meet the increasing vendor demand for electronic payment in a secure manner. In December 2025, the City issued $30.655 million of 25 year General Obligation Bonds (GOs) and a $26 million Bond Anticipation note (BAN) to fund the first construction phase of the Public Safety Building project. The lead up to the offering required collaboration among many departments to complete the offering document and prepare for the review meeting with Standard & Poor’s. The City was able to maintain its rating of AA+ and we were pleased with the market participation and results of the auction. 3. FY 27 Priorities: The use of a third-party accounts payable partner will be a staged rollout to minimize the impact on day- to-day operations. The Treasury team is committed to supporting the Audit team in this effort. There will be a large focus on hiring and training the new Payroll Manager over the next several months. The position is now vacant and duties being managed by the Assistant Auditor. We are meeting with her regularly to set up a smooth transition with a good starting knowledge base. If it doesn’t occur by year end, we will bid out the Deputy Collector duties as well as collections processor relationship. Although we are satisfied with our current business partner, it is good to review the relationship periodically to ensure we are getting the best service for a competitive price. There are a limited number of providers in this area of municipal services. Preparing and executing on a successful second round of long-term financing for the Public Safety Building project will take place in the fall of 2026. The goal is to maintain or improve the City’s rating of AA+ and obtain competitive market pricing. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? There are no significant changes to the Treasurer Collector (145) budget. The largest increase is in the Salary line of based on anticipated step-ups, the addition of the Payroll Manager, and an estimate for contractual changes. The Treasurer Collector budget consists primarily of payroll expenses and FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 equipment maintenance and processing costs. The postage line item takes into account the number of elections to be held in the fiscal year and other large volume mailings (such as excise tax bills). The driver for the $5,000 reduction in budget is the fact that there will only be two state elections in FY27. Printing costs will be lower due to a change in the Tax Title process that shifts some advertising costs to constable delivery fees in the Title Fees line. The Parking budget (296) is budgeted to increase 3.4% primarily due to a salary step up and $2,000 increase in the professional services line item. The debt budget (711) is slightly lower because payments on matured non-exempt bonds (that rolled off the schedule) were higher than the new issue exempt principal obligation being added to the payment schedule. Interest (751) is $1.816 million higher than FY26 due to the addition of the $1.9 million exempt interest related to the FY26 debt issuance offset by interest on matured bonds that rolled off the schedule. Projected Debt and Temporary Interest (752) is higher due to the maturing $26 million BAN being much larger the previous year’s BAN maturity. Medicare (916) – Medicare expense is calculated on total wages less FSA contributions, dental, health and life insurance premiums, and opt-outs of the City health plan. Currently, the City is negotiating multiple union contracts. We are conservatively budgeting a 5% increase to include estimated contract increases and the rehiring of certain roles made available by the Override. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? There are no direct costs of the Schools in the Treasurer Collector or Parking department budgets. In FY27, the principal payments on School related debt will be $2,978,909.35 and interest costs will be $621,420.84. A significant amount of the payments (principal $1,888,909.35 and interest $89,199.56) is associated with the two exempt bonds for the Middle School that will be fully paid in FY29. The balance is spread over multiple projects undertaken over the years. 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approve on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? Treasurer Collector -145 - The majority of the costs of the Department are for payroll, processing, and equipment maintenance. The Override did not impact the budget. Parking - 296 – The Override had no impact on the budget. Debt – 711,751,752 - The Override had no impact on the budget. Medicare 916 – Increased payroll expenses associated with hires allowed by the Override will increase budgeted Medicare costs. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 NORTHEAST METROPOLITAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL FY 2027 BUDGET Presented to the School Committee April 9, 2026NEMT Executive Summary Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School FY27 Budget 0 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School FY27 Budget Summary-Highlights FY27 Budget The FY27 budget proposal includes the following highlights and assumptions: Based on our Chapter 70 formula calculation, Northeast Metro Tech is projected to receive $16,719,585 in aid for FY27. This amount is $526,008 higher than our budgeted aid in FY26. We anticipate FY27 transportation revenue of $1,600,000 , which is $200,000 more than the revenue we received in FY26. FY25 FY26 Budget Budget FY27 Appropriation Change % Change Chapter 70 Aid $ 14,072,974 $ 16,193,577 $ 16,719,585 $ 526,008 3.25% Transportation Aid (Reimbursement Fund) $ 1,200,000 $ 1,400,000 $ 1,600,000 $ 200,000 14.29% Total State Revenue $ 15,272,974 $ 17,593,577 $ 18,319,585 $ 726,008 4.13% Expenses Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School's total operating expense before debt service for FY27 is projected to be $39,439,737 ; 6.98% or $2,574,954 over the FY26 total operating budget of $36,864,783 . FY25 FY26 Budget Budget FY27 Request Change % Change Northeast Metro Tech $ 31,650,800 $ 36,864,783 $ 39,439,737 $ 2,574,954 6.98% with debt service $ 33,513,000 $ 43,361,038 $ 48,516,400 $ 5,155,361 11.89% This total request can be attributed to increases in Salary, Contracted Services, Supplies, and Equipment over the FY26 budget amount. Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School's salary request for FY27 is $23,456,828 ; $1,439,543 or 6.54% over the FY26 budget of $22,017,285 . The increase in the salary request can be attributed to the following conditions: FY25 FY26 Actual Budget FY27 Request Change % Change Total Salary $ 19,922,061 $ 22,017,285 $ 23,456,828 $ 1,439,543 6.54% Highlighted Salary Expenses Notes FTE Change Steps and Lanes/Salary Increases $ 946,577 New Biotech Teacher $ 117,198 New CCL Teacher $ 104,603 New Marketing Teacher $ 92,016 New Medical Assisting Teacher $ 104,603 New Custodian $ 73,915 New Security $ 52,626 New Special Ed Teacher $ 112,403 New Reading Teacher $ 110,602 Salary Savings $ (275,000) 1 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School FY27 Budget Summary-Highlights FY27 Budget Total Increase of Highlighted Expenses $ 1,439,543 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School's FY27 Contractual Services budget is $14,015,242 ; 7.30% or $953,293 more than the FY26 budget of $13,061,949 . The increase in the contracted services request can be mainly attributed to the following expenses and conditions: FY25 FY26 Actual Budget FY27 Request Change % Change Total Contracted Services $ 12,046,225 $ 13,061,949 $ 14,015,242 $ 953,293 7.30% Highlighted Contracted Service Expenses Notes Increase in Funding Contractual Increase to Transportation, Added 24th bus $ 350,350 Increases in Health Insurance Cost $ 636,495 Increase In Building Insurance Coverage $ 250,563 New Copier Lease $ 60,000 Increase in Special Events Line $ 25,000 Increase in Game Officials Due to Sports Success $ 14,000 Increase in Graduation Expenses $ 13,000 Reduction to Compensated Absence Fund $ (275,000) Increase In FICA Split Funding $ 50,000 Increase In Retirement Contribution $ 43,611 Removal of Modular Lease $ (150,000) Reduction in Building Service Contracts/Repairs Covered By Warranty $ (64,725) Total Increase of Highlighted Expenses $ 953,293 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School's Supplies and Materials budget for FY27 is $1,890,644 ;22.90% or $352,268 more than the FY26 amount of $1,538,376 . The increase in supplies is due to the consumable supplies budget requested by department heads during the budget process. FY25 FY26 Actual Budget FY27 Request Change % Change Total Supplies $ 1,639,113 $ 1,538,376 $ 1,890,644 $ 352,268 22.90% Highlighted Supply Expenses Notes Increase in Funding Increase In Cosumable Supply Raw Materials-Stock for New Building $ 352,268 Total Increase of Highlighted Expenses $ 352,268 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School's FY27 equipment/technology budget is $77,023 ; - 68.84% or $(170,150) less than the FY26 budget amount. The increase in equipment is attributed to: FY25 FY26 Actual Budget FY27 Request Change % Change 2 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School FY27 Budget Summary-Highlights FY27 Budget Total Equipment $ 145,763 $ 247,173 $ 77,023 $ (170,150) -68.84% Highlighted Equipment Expenses Increase in Funding Reduction In Equipment Request Due to Project $ (170,150) Total Increase of Highlighted Expenses $ (170,150) Regionalization exists as a measure to offer services at a reduced cost to its member districts. Knowing the financial constraints faced by each member City and Town, Northeast aims to limit the annual operating assessment increase. We are able to attain that goal by using $800,000 from our other funding sources to offset total expenditures, therefore reducing the assessment. FY25 FY26 Funding Summary Actual Budget FY27 Request Change % Change Northeast Metro Tech Total Operating Expense $ 32,185,546 $ 36,864,783 $ 39,439,737 $ 2,574,954 6.98% Total Chapter 70 Revenue Applied to Budget $ 14,072,974 $ 16,193,577 $ 16,719,585 $ 526,008 3.25% Total Transportation Applied $ 1,600,000 $ 1,400,000 $ 1,600,000 $ 200,000 14.29% Total Other Funds (E&D) $ 300,000 $ 900,000 $ 800,000 $ (100,000) -11.11% Total Assessment Requested Before Debt Service $ 16,212,572 $ 18,371,206 $ 20,320,152 $ 1,948,946 10.61% Total Debt Service $ 1,737,600 $ 6,496,255 $ 9,076,663 $ 2,580,408 39.72% $ 29,396,815 $ 4,529,354 cross check Northeast Metro Tech Requested Assessment $ 22,390,182 $ 24,867,461 $ 29,396,815 $ 4,529,354 18.21% DeficitBefore the capital assessment, the total assessment#REF! increase#REF! results in an increase#REF! of 10.61% #REF! . After application of the debt service payment, the total assessment increase to the member communities is 18.21% . FY25 FY26 District Actual Budget FY27 Request Enrollment Change $ Change % Change Chelsea $ 2,039,983 $ 2,273,334 $ 2,685,454 -11 $ 412,120 18.1% Malden $ 2,778,419 $ 3,251,977 $ 4,211,460 22 $ 959,483 29.5% Melrose $ 1,619,030 $ 1,951,636 $ 2,066,354 -4 $ 114,718 5.9% North Reading $ 939,751 $ 1,042,462 $ 978,721 -7 $ (63,740) -6.1% Reading $ 858,300 $ 1,295,702 $ 1,292,317 -4 $ (3,384) -0.3% Revere $ 3,285,660 $ 3,616,676 $ 4,479,006 10 $ 862,330 23.8% Saugus $ 2,621,975 $ 2,557,570 $ 3,075,825 4 $ 518,255 20.3% Stoneham $ 1,650,461 $ 1,653,036 $ 1,940,084 4 $ 287,048 17.4% Wakefield $ 2,370,610 $ 2,445,557 $ 2,834,622 5 $ 389,065 15.9% Winchester $ 143,050 $ 275,451 $ 415,254 4 $ 139,802 50.8% Winthrop $ 1,245,687 $ 1,255,602 $ 1,491,810 3 $ 236,208 18.8% Woburn $ 2,837,256 $ 3,248,457 $ 3,925,906 9 $ 677,449 20.9% Funding from Cities/Towns $ 22,390,182 $ 24,867,461 $ 29,396,815 35 $ 4,529,354 18.21% 3 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School FY27 District Assessment FY27 Budget Total Operating District Minimum Transp. Budget Adjustment Assessment Capital/Debt Total Students Enrollment Contribution Assessment Before Capital Assessment Assessment w Percentage Chelsea $ 1,062,641 $ 14,356 $ 57,219 $ 1,134,216 $ 1,551,238 $ 2,685,454 242 17.1% Malden $ 2,742,882 $ 12,992 $ 51,781 $ 2,807,655 $ 1,403,806 $ 4,211,460 219 15.5% Melrose $ 1,563,416 $ 4,449 $ 17,733 $ 1,585,598 $ 480,755 $ 2,066,354 75 5.3% N. Reading $ 744,017 $ 2,076 $ 8,275 $ 754,369 $ 224,353 $ 978,721 35 2.5% Reading $ 977,143 $ 2,788 $ 11,113 $ 991,044 $ 301,273 $ 1,292,317 47 3.3% Revere $ 2,561,137 $ 16,966 $ 67,623 $ 2,645,726 $ 1,833,281 $ 4,479,006 286 20.2% Saugus $ 2,264,419 $ 7,178 $ 28,610 $ 2,300,207 $ 775,619 $ 3,075,825 121 8.5% Stoneham $ 1,457,264 $ 4,271 $ 17,024 $ 1,478,559 $ 461,525 $ 1,940,084 72 5.1% Wakefield $ 2,143,921 $ 6,110 $ 24,354 $ 2,174,385 $ 660,237 $ 2,834,622 103 7.3% Winchester $ 314,666 $ 890 $ 3,547 $ 319,102 $ 96,151 $ 415,254 15 1.1% Winthrop $ 1,082,754 $ 3,619 $ 14,423 $ 1,100,796 $ 391,014 $ 1,491,810 61 4.3% Woburn $ 2,987,089 $ 8,305 $ 33,102 $ 3,028,496 $ 897,410 $ 3,925,906 140 9.9% Total $ 19,901,349 $ 84,000 $ 334,803 $ 20,320,152 $ 9,076,663 $ 29,396,815 1416 100% cross check $ 9,076,663 Total FY27 Operating Budget Request $ 39,439,737 Expenditures Net school Spending $ 36,620,934 Transportation $ 2,484,000 Capital Projects Fund $ - E&D $ - Supplementary Requests $ 334,803 Bond Anticipitory $ 9,076,663 $ 9,076,663 Total FY27 Request $ 48,516,400 $ 48,516,400 Available Revenues Chapter 70 Funds $ 16,719,585 Transportation Fund $ 1,600,000 1.6 mil from transportation E&D Transp $ 800,000 E&D to offset transportation increase E&D Operating $ - Total Revenues $ 19,119,585 Total Assessment $ 29,396,815 cross check $ 29,396,815 4 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School FY27 Comparison of Assessments FY27 Budget Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School Comparison of Assessments Operating Operating Variance Total Budget Total Budget Budget Budget Variance $ Variance % FY 2026 FY2027 Operating w Capital FY2026 w Capital FY2027 Gross Budget $ 34,144,463 $ 39,439,737 $ 5,295,274 $ 43,361,038 $ 48,516,400 $ 5,155,362 11.89% Less Revenues Chapter 70 Aid $ 16,193,577 $ 16,719,585 $ 526,008 $ 16,193,577 $ 16,719,585 $ 526,008 3.25% Transportation $ 1,400,000 $ 1,600,000 $ 200,000 $ 1,400,000 $ 1,600,000 $ 200,000 14.29% Other Sources $ 900,000 $ 800,000 $ (100,000) $ 900,000 $ 800,000 (E&D + Capital) $ (100,000) -11.11% Total Revenues $ 18,493,577 $ 19,119,585 $ 626,008 $ 18,493,577 $ 19,119,585 $ 626,008 3.39% Net Assessments $ 17,178,832 $20,320,152 $ 3,141,320 $ 24,867,461 $ 29,396,815 $ 4,529,354 18.21% Chelsea $ 1,083,216 $ 1,134,216 $ 51,000 $ 2,273,334 $ 2,685,454 $ 412,120 $ 1,551,238 Malden $ 2,325,285 $ 2,807,655 $ 482,370 $ 3,251,977 $ 4,211,460 $ 959,483 $ 1,403,806 Melrose $ 1,580,018 $ 1,585,598 $ 5,580 $ 1,951,636 $ 2,066,354 $ 114,718 $ 480,755 North Reading $ 844,893 $ 754,369 $ (90,524) $ 1,042,462 $ 978,721 $ (63,740) $ 224,353 Reading $ 1,055,796 $ 991,044 $ (64,752) $ 1,295,702 $ 1,292,317 $ (3,384) $ 301,273 Revere $ 2,318,366 $ 2,645,726 $ 327,360 $ 3,616,676 $ 4,479,006 $ 862,330 $ 1,833,281 Saugus $ 2,007,200 $ 2,300,207 $ 293,007 $ 2,557,570 $ 3,075,825 $ 518,255 $ 775,619 Stoneham $ 1,333,163 $ 1,478,559 $ 145,397 $ 1,653,036 $ 1,940,084 $ 287,048 $ 461,525 Wakefield $ 1,984,563 $ 2,174,385 $ 189,822 $ 2,445,557 $ 2,834,622 $ 389,065 $ 660,237 Winchester $ 223,707 $ 319,102 $ 95,396 $ 275,451 $ 415,254 $ 139,802 $ 96,151 Winthrop $ 982,769 $ 1,100,796 $ 118,027 $ 1,255,602 $ 1,491,810 $ 236,208 $ 391,014 Woburn $ 2,632,230 $ 3,028,496 $ 396,266 $ 3,248,457 $ 3,925,906 $ 677,449 $ 897,410 Total $ 18,371,206 $ 20,320,152 $ 1,948,946 $ 24,867,461 $ 29,396,815 $ 4,529,354 $ 9,076,663 total debt asmt Enrollment Students Students Variance Contribution % Per Pupil Cost Oct 1, 2024 Oct 1, 2025 (FY26) (FY27) of Assessment Chelsea 253 242 -11 17.09% $ 11,097 Malden 197 219 22 15.47% $ 19,230 Melrose 79 75 -4 5.30% $ 27,551 North Reading 42 35 -7 2.47% $ 27,963 Reading 51 47 -4 3.32% $ 27,496 Revere 276 286 10 20.20% $ 15,661 Saugus 117 121 4 8.55% $ 25,420 Stoneham 68 72 4 5.08% $ 26,946 Wakefield 98 103 5 7.27% $ 27,521 Winchester 11 15 4 1.06% $ 27,684 Winthrop 58 61 3 4.31% $ 24,456 Woburn 131 140 9 9.89% $ 28,042 Total Enrollment 1381 1416 35 100.00% 5 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School FY27 Minimum Contribution FY27 Budget FY26 Minimum FY27 Minimum Change % increase % of Total Chelsea $ 1,006,421 $ 1,062,641 $ 56,220.00 5.6% 5.34% Malden $ 2,265,488 $ 2,742,882 $ 477,394.00 21.1% 13.78% Melrose $ 1,556,039 $ 1,563,416 $ 7,377.00 0.5% 7.86% North Reading $ 832,144 $ 744,017 $ (88,127.00) -10.6% 3.74% Reading $ 1,040,316 $ 977,143 $ (63,173.00) -6.1% 4.91% Revere $ 2,234,590 $ 2,561,137 $ 326,547.00 14.6% 12.87% Saugus $ 1,971,686 $ 2,264,419 $ 292,733.00 14.8% 11.38% Stoneham $ 1,312,522 $ 1,457,264 $ 144,742.00 11.0% 7.32% Wakefield $ 1,954,816 $ 2,143,921 $ 189,105.00 9.7% 10.77% Winchester $ 220,368 $ 314,666 $ 94,298.00 42.8% 1.58% Winthrop $ 965,164 $ 1,082,754 $ 117,590.00 12.2% 5.44% Woburn $ 2,592,467 $ 2,987,089 $ 394,622.00 15.2% 15.01% Total $ 17,952,021 $ 19,901,349 $ 1,949,328 10.86% 100.00% Total Combined Minimum Cont Debt Service Total Assessment Minimum + Debt Difference Increase Increase Increase Increase Chelsea $ 56,220 $ 361,119.84 $ 417,340 $ 412,120.06 $ (5,219.78) Malden $ 477,394 $ 477,113.43 $ 954,507 $ 959,483.14 $ 4,975.70 Melrose $ 7,377 $ 109,137.66 $ 116,515 $ 114,717.59 $ (1,797.06) North Reading $ (88,127) $ 26,783.59 $ (61,343) $ (63,740.20) $ (2,396.79) Reading $ (63,173) $ 61,368.26 $ (1,805) $ (3,384.18) $ (1,579.44) Revere $ 326,547 $ 534,970.51 $ 861,518 $ 862,330.03 $ 812.52 Saugus $ 292,733 $ 225,248.13 $ 517,981 $ 518,254.84 $ 273.71 Stoneham $ 144,742 $ 141,651.69 $ 286,394 $ 287,048.24 $ 654.55 Wakefield $ 189,105 $ 199,243.26 $ 388,348 $ 389,065.41 $ 717.15 Winchester $ 94,298 $ 44,406.84 $ 138,705 $ 139,802.40 $ 1,097.57 Winthrop $ 117,590 $ 118,181.11 $ 235,771 $ 236,207.62 $ 436.51 Woburn $ 394,622 $ 281,183.19 $ 675,805 $ 677,448.92 $ 1,643.73 $ 1,949,328 $ 2,580,408 $ 4,529,736 $ 4,529,354 $ (381.63) FY26 Debt FY27 Debt Service Service Change Chelsea $ 1,190,118 $ 1,551,238 $ 361,120 Malden $ 926,692 $ 1,403,806 $ 477,113 Melrose $ 371,618 $ 480,755 $ 109,138 North Reading $ 197,569 $ 224,353 $ 26,784 Reading $ 239,905 $ 301,273 $ 61,368 Revere $ 1,298,310 $ 1,833,281 $ 534,971 Saugus $ 550,371 $ 775,619 $ 225,248 Stoneham $ 319,874 $ 461,525 $ 141,652 Wakefield $ 460,994 $ 660,237 $ 199,243 Winchester $ 51,744 $ 96,151 $ 44,407 Winthrop $ 272,833 $ 391,014 $ 118,181 Woburn $ 616,227 $ 897,410 $ 281,183 Total $ 6,496,255 $ 9,076,663 $ 2,580,408 6 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School Total Budget Graph FY26 Budget FY17 School Committee Superintendents Office Guidance Office FY16Total BudgetBudgeted FY17 FY18 Staff FY18 $226,635 $1,246,758 $1,281,732 Debt Service Description Expended Staff Budget Request Request Change $9,076,663 Principals Office Library Media Business Office School Committee $ 184,447 2.0 $ $2,602,592 216,090 2.0 $ 226,635$101,405$ 10,545 $626,155 Superintendents Office $ 1,482,029 3.0 $ 1,333,817 3.0 $ 1,246,758Nurses $Office (87,059) Principals Office $ 2,029,231 17.0 $ 2,622,644 18.0 $ 2,602,592$217,619$ (20,052) Business Office $ 529,770 6.0 $ 603,508 6.0 $ 626,155 $ 22,647 Guidance Office $ 1,159,034 12.0 $ 1,185,160 12.0 $NE 1,281,732Athletics $ 96,572 Library Media $ 87,173 3.0 $ 190,695 1.0 $ $742,978 101,405 $ (89,290) Nurses Office $ 124,728 2.0 $ 210,703 2.0 $ 217,619 $ 6,916 NE Athletics $ 666,919 $ 707,994 $ 742,978Student$ Body 34,985 Student Body Capital Projects $ 193,820 $ 194,620 $ 212,067$212,067$ 17,447 Fixed Charges $- $ 7,299,123 $ 8,216,538 $ 8,922,113 $ 705,576 Maintenance $ 2,492,715 12.0 $ 2,554,189 13.0 $ 2,628,447 $ 74,257 Chapter 74 VocationalSTEM Programs $ 7,458,129 67.5 $ 8,033,983 69.5 $ 8,807,191 $ 773,207 Transportation TechnologyCVTE$251,943 $ 894,797 5.0 $ 955,256 5.0 $ 979,713 $ 24,457 $2,694,000 Academic$87,096 $ 4,401,110 44.5 $ 4,696,654 Fixed 43.5Charges $ 4,805,300 $ 108,646 Safety Program $ 23,660 $ 21,148 $ 21,148 $ - Foreign Language ELL $8,922,113 Special Ed $ 1,560,211 16.0 $ 1,688,381 20.0 $ 2,094,661 $ 406,280 $890,184 Foreign Language ELL $ 627,967 7.0 $ 749,824 8.0 $ 890,184 $ 140,360 CVTE Special Ed $ 74,549 $ 84,689 $ 87,096 $ 2,407 STEM $2,094,661 $ 243,718 2.0 $ 255,239 2.0 $ 251,943 $ (3,296) Transportation $ 2,220,033 $ 2,343,650 $ 2,694,000 $ 350,350 OPEB Safety Program $ 100,000 $ - $ - $ - Academic Capital Projects $21,148 $ 500,000 $ - $ - $ - $4,805,300 Total Budget $ 34,353,162 199.0 $ 36,864,783 205.0Maintenance$ 39,439,737 $ 2,574,954 Chapter 74 Vocational $2,628,447 Programs $8,807,191 Technology $979,713 7 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School Total Budget FY27 Budget FY26 FY25 Budgeted FY26 FY27 Staff FY27 Description Expended Staff Budget Request Request Change % Change School Committee $ 184,447 2.0 $ 216,090 2.0 $ 226,635 $ 10,545 4.88% Superintendents Office $ 1,482,029 3.0 $ 1,333,817 3.0 $ 1,246,758 $ (87,059) -6.53% Principals Office $ 2,029,231 17.0 $ 2,622,644 18.0 $ 2,602,592 $ (20,052) -0.76% Business Office $ 529,770 6.0 $ 603,508 6.0 $ 626,155 $ 22,647 3.75% Guidance Office $ 1,159,034 12.0 $ 1,185,160 12.0 $ 1,281,732 $ 96,572 8.15% Library Media $ 87,173 3.0 $ 190,695 1.0 $ 101,405 $ (89,290) -46.82% Nurses Office $ 124,728 2.0 $ 210,703 2.0 $ 217,619 $ 6,916 3.28% NE Athletics $ 666,919 $ 707,994 $ 742,978 $ 34,985 4.94% Student Body $ 193,820 $ 194,620 $ 212,067 $ 17,447 8.96% Fixed Charges $ 7,299,123 $ 8,216,538 $ 8,922,113 $ 705,576 8.59% Maintenance $ 2,492,715 12.0 $ 2,554,189 13.0 $ 2,628,447 $ 74,257 2.91% Chapter 74 Vocational Programs $ 7,458,129 67.5 $ 8,033,983 69.5 $ 8,807,191 $ 773,207 9.62% Technology $ 894,797 5.0 $ 955,256 5.0 $ 979,713 $ 24,457 2.56% Academic $ 4,401,110 44.5 $ 4,696,654 43.5 $ 4,805,300 $ 108,646 2.31% Safety Program $ 23,660 $ 21,148 $ 21,148 $ - Special Ed $ 1,560,211 16.0 $ 1,688,381 20.0 $ 2,094,661 $ 406,280 24.06% Foreign Language ELL $ 627,967 7.0 $ 749,824 8.0 $ 890,184 $ 140,360 18.72% CVTE $ 74,549 $ 84,689 $ 87,096 $ 2,407 2.84% STEM $ 243,718 2.0 $ 255,239 2.0 $ 251,943 $ (3,296) -1.29% Transportation $ 2,220,033 $ 2,343,650 $ 2,694,000 $ 350,350 14.95% Capital Projects $ - $ - $ - Debt Service $ 5,211,350 $ 6,496,255 $ 9,076,663 $ 2,580,408 39.72% Total Budget $ 38,964,512 199.0 $ 43,361,038 205.0 $ 48,516,400 $ 5,155,361 11.89% 8 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School Total Expense Summary FY27 Budget FY26 FY27 FY25 Budgeted FY26 Staff FY27 Description Expended Staff Budget Request Request Change % Change Total Professional Salary $ 16,423,882 157.0 $ 18,152,282 161.0 $ 19,291,745 $ 1,139,463 6.28% Total Support Salary $ 919,011 13.0 $ 1,026,921 13.0 $ 1,035,287 $ 8,366 0.81% Total Other Salary $ 2,579,168 29.0 $ 2,838,082 31.0 $ 3,129,796 $ 291,714 10.28% Total Contracted Services $ 12,046,225 $ 13,061,949 $ 14,015,242 $ 953,293 7.30% Total Supplies and Materials $ 1,639,113 $ 1,538,376 $ 1,890,644 $ 352,268 22.90% Total Equipment $ 145,763 $ 247,173 $ 77,023 $ (170,150) -68.84% Total Debt Service $ 5,211,350 $ 6,496,255 $ 9,076,663 $ 2,580,408 39.72% Total Budget $ 38,964,512 199.0 $ 43,361,038 205.0 $ 48,516,400 $ 5,155,361 11.89% $77,023 $9,076,663 0.16% 18.71% $1,890,644 $19,291,745 3.90% 39.76% Total Professional Salary Total Support Salary Total Other Salary $14,015,242 Total Contracted Services 28.89% Total Supplies and Materials $3,129,796 6.45% Total Equipment Total Debt Service $1,035,287 2.13% 9 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School Total Summary FY27 Budget FY26 FY27 FY25 Budgeted FY26 Staff FY27 Description Expended Staff Budget Request Request Change % Change Total Salary $ 19,922,061 199.0 $ 22,017,285 205.0 $ 23,456,828 $ 1,439,543 6.54% Total Non Salary $ 19,042,451 $ 21,343,753 $ 25,059,571 $ 3,715,818 17.41% Total Budget $ 38,964,512 199.0 $ 43,361,038 205.0 $ 48,516,400 $ 5,155,361 11.89% $23,456,828 $25,059,571 48.35% 51.65% Total Salary Total Non Salary 10 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School FY27 Budget Presentation to FinCom May 26, 2026 GOAL OF THE FY27 BUDGET • The FY27 budget is designed to minimize the financial impact on our member communities while addressing the challenges created by limited increases in state funding and rising Net School Spending requirements. • At the same time, the budget seeks to ensure sufficient funding to support student learning, maintain high educational standards, and continue providing a high-quality vocational and academic experience for all students. MINIMIZING FINANCIAL IMPACT • Regionalization allows the District to provide high-quality educational services at a lower overall cost to our member communities, while ensuring equitable access to programs and opportunities for all students. • While the target of 3% has been discussed in past budgets, due to the decrease in the chapter 70 allocation and net school spending requirements, we have had to adjust that target, as 3% is no longer feasible. Our new goal is to restrict assessment increases to the minimum allowable contribution by mandate and the debt service. • In FY27 we were able to achieve that goal, and the District has taken multiple steps to reduce the financial burden on member communities wherever possible.CHALLENGING FISCAL ENVIRONMENT • FY27 presents another challenging fiscal environment for the District. The budget is affected by lower-than-anticipated Chapter 70 state aid and a significant increase in the required Net School Spending threshold. • Under the DESE Net School Spending formula, which determines the minimum amount a district must spend on educational programs and services, Northeast Metro Tech is required to spend $2,475,336 more than in FY26 to meet the mandated threshold. • Typically, increases in Net School Spending are largely offset by Chapter 70 state funding, allowing the District to limit additional financial contributions from member communities. • However, in FY27 the Chapter 70 increase totaled $526,008, leaving a remaining funding gap of $1,949,328 that must be supported through increased contributions from the member municipalities.Chapter 70 Trend-Heading in The Wrong Direction Chapter 70 Increase Required District Contribution Increase Student ChangeDEBT SERVICE PAYMENT NORMALIZATION • We were able to reduce the debt service payment in FY26 to $6,496,255 as we utilized a one time payment of $2.7 million dollars from our Excess and Deficiency funds to reduce that burden to our members in anticipation for a difficult fiscal year. • In FY27, the payment returns to its normal level. ANALYZING FINANCIAL IMPACT-DEBT SERVICE Debt ServiceANALYZING FINANCIAL IMPACT-DEBT SERVICE AND REQUIRED MINIMUM CONTRIBUTION INCREASE Debt Service and Minimum Total FY26 Assessment Increase Contribution Increase $ 6,000,000 $ 6,000,000 Total, $ $ 5,000,000 $ 5,000,000 4,529,736 $ 4,529,354 Minimum $ 4,000,000 Contribution $ 4,000,000 Increase, $ 1,949,328 $ 3,000,000 $ 3,000,000 $ 2,000,000 $ 2,000,000 Debt Service $ 1,000,000 Increase, $ $ 1,000,000 2,580,408 $ - $ - FY27 Debt Service Increase Minimum Contribution Increase Total Assessment MINIMIZING FINANCIAL IMPACT: HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT ANALYSIS Assessment Increase MINIMIZING FINANCIAL IMPACT: HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT ANALYSIS Year Previous Current Assessment Assessment % Change Assessment Increase FY18 $13,858,182 $14,115,769 $257,587 1.86% FY19 $14,115,769 $14,451,886 $336,117 2.38% FY20 $14,451,886 $14,727,254 $275,368 1.91% FY21 $14,727,254 $15,015,717 $288,463 1.96% FY22 $15,015,717 $15,465,903 $450,186 3.00% FY23 $15,465,903 $17,464,552 $1,998,648 12.92%* FY24 $17,464,552 $17,950,172 $485,620 2.78% FY25 $17,950,172 $22,390,182 $4,440,010 24.74%* FY26 $22,390,182 $24,867,461 $2,477,279 11.06% FY27 $24,867,461 $29,396,815 $4,529,354 18.21%MINIMIZING FINANCIAL IMPACT: STATE FUNDING Chapter 70 Aid Transportation AidMINIMIZING FINANCIAL IMPACT: REVENUE Ø Based on our Chapter 70 formula calculation, Northeast Metro Tech is projected to receive $16,719,585 in aid for FY27. This amount is $526,008 higher than our aid in FY26. Ø The District also anticipates receiving $1,600,000 in transportation reimbursement, representing an increase of $200,000 over FY26. We will receive those funds in this fiscal year that will be used to offset the FY27 budget. Ø Additionally we intend to use $800,000 from our Excess and Deficiency funds (E&D), which will be used to directly reduce assessment costs, mainly reducing the transportation cost assessed to our members due to the increase of busses required to transport our students to the new facility. ØIn total, we plan to use $2,400,000 of other funds to reduce the member assessment. PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF FUNDING FY27 presents the following fiscal challenges: Meeting contractual salary obligations, including step and lane increases required under collective bargaining agreements • Supporting new instructional staff needed to accommodate enrollment growth and expanded  programming, including new teachers in Biotechnology, Construction Craft Laborer, Marketing, Medical Assisting, Reading, and Special Education • Funding additional custodial and security staff necessary to operate and maintain the new school  facility • Addressing increased transportation costs, including the addition of a 24th bus to support growing  student enrollment • Funding rising health insurance and operational costs associated with maintaining the new  building • Providing adequate supplies and materials to support expanded vocational programs and the new  facility These investments ensure that Northeast Metro Tech can continue to provide high-quality vocational and academic programming while supporting the needs of a growing student population. PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF FUNDING FY27 TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET REQUEST FY25 FY26 FY27 FY26/FY27 Expense Budget Budget Request Change % Change $23,456,82 Total Salary $20,551,718 $22,017,285 8 $1,439,543 6.54% $14,015,84 Total Contracted Services $12,061,541 $13,062,549 2 $ 953,293 7.30% Total Supplies $1,393,072 $1,538,376 $1,890,644 $ 352,268 22.90% Total Equipment $138,132 $246,573 $76,423 $ -170,150 69.01% Total Debt Service $5,211,350 $6,496,255 $9,076,663 $ 2,580,408 39.72%  $48,516,40 NortheastTotal Metropolitan Budget Regional $39,355,813 Vocational $43,361,038 School's total operating0 $expense 5,155,361 with debt service11.89% for FY27 is projected to be $48,516,400; 11.89% or $5,155,361 over FY26 total operating budget of $43,361,038. FY27 BUDGET OFFSET SUMMARY FY25 FY26 Budget FY26 Budget Funding Summary Change Budget Final Request Final Request       Northeast Metro Tech Total Operating Expense $34,144,463 $36,864,783 $39,439,737 $2,574,954 Total Debt Service $5,211,350 $6,496,255 $9,076,663 $2,580,408 Total Revenue Applied to $ 16,965,631 $18,493,577 $19,119,585 $626,008 Budget Northeast Metro Tech $22,390,182 $24,867,461 $29,396,815 Requested Assessment $4,529,354 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School's total assessment for FY27 is projected to be $29,396,815; 18.21% or $4,529,354 over FY26 total operating assessment of $24,867,461. This increase is mainly attributed to the increase in debt service payment of $2,580,408, and the increase of minimum required contribution. TOTAL FY27 ASSESSMENT SUMMARY (INCLUDES DEBT SERVICE) FY25 FY26 FY27 Total Student FY26 to FY27 District Assessment Assessment Assessment Increase Increase % Change $ Chelsea $ 2,039,983 2,273,334 $ 2,685,454 -11 $ 412,120 18.1% $ Malden $ 2,778,419 3,251,977 $ 4,211,460 22 $ 959,483 29.5% $ Melrose $ 1,619,030 1,951,636 $ 2,066,354 -4 $ 114,718 5.9% $ North Reading $ 939,751 1,042,462 $ 978,721 -7 $ (63,740) -6.1% $ Reading $ 858,300 1,295,702 $ 1,292,317 -4 $ (3,384) -0.3% $ Revere $ 3,285,660 3,616,676 $ 4,479,006 10 $ 862,330 23.8% $ Saugus $ 2,621,975 2,557,570 $ 3,075,825 4 $ 518,255 20.3% $ Stoneham $ 1,650,461 1,653,036 $ 1,940,084 4 $ 287,048 17.4% $ Wakefield $ 2,370,610 2,445,557 $ 2,834,622 5 $ 389,065 15.9% $ Winchester $ 143,050 275,451 $ 415,254 4 $ 139,802 50.8% $ Winthrop $ 1,245,687 1,255,602 $ 1,491,810 3 $ 236,208 18.8% $ Woburn $ 2,837,256 3,248,457 $ 3,925,906 9 $ 677,449 20.9% Funding from $ Cities/Towns $ 22,390,182 24,867,461 $ 29,396,815 35 $ 4,529,354 18.21% FY27 OPERATIONAL/DEBT SERVICE BREAKOUT City/Town Total FY27 Total FY27 Total FY27 Final Operating Assessment Debt Service Assessment Chelsea $ 1,134,216 $ 1,551,238 $ 2,685,454 Malden $ 2,807,655 $ 1,403,806 $ 4,211,460 Melrose $ 1,585,598 $ 480,755 $ 2,066,354 N. Reading $ 754,369 $ 224,353 $ 978,721 Reading $ 991,044 $ 301,273 $ 1,292,317 Revere $ 2,645,726 $ 1,833,281 $ 4,479,006 Saugus $ 2,300,207 $ 775,619 $ 3,075,825 Stoneham $ 1,478,559 $ 461,525 $ 1,940,084 Wakefield $ 2,174,385 $ 660,237 $ 2,834,622 Winchester $ 319,102 $ 96,151 $ 415,254 Winthrop $ 1,100,796 $ 391,014 $ 1,491,810 Woburn $ 3,028,496 $ 897,410 $ 3,925,906 Total $ 20,320,152 $ 9,076,663 $ 29,396,815 CITY OF MELROSE Auditor’s Office City Hall, 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 To: Melrose City Council From: Kerriann Golden, CFO/City Auditor Date: May 28, 2026 Re: Fiscal Year 2027 School Appropriation Please be advised that the number presented in the Fiscal Year 2027 Operating budget of $49,332,180 encompasses the anticipated increase in Chapter 70 of $332,180. On April 14th, 2026, The Melrose School Committee voted a Fiscal Year 2027 School budget based on a City Appropriation of $49,000,000. On April 16th, 2026, the Massachusetts House of Representatives Ways & Means Committee recommended an increase in Chapter 70 of $332,180 for Melrose. The increase in Chapter 70 was included in the Fiscal 2027 appropriation to Melrose Public Schools and will be available to the school once both the City and State’s budget is approved. 4/14/26 School Committee Appropriation 49,000,000.00 4/16/26 Chapter 70 increase recommendation 332,180.00 Total Fiscal 2027 School Appropriation 49,332,180.00 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Department of Public Works Name of Department Head: Elena Proakis Ellis, Director 1. Department Overview and Mission: The Melrose Department of Public Works provides quality services to the community in the areas of drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, recycling, parks, forestry, fleet, highway, cemetery, facilities, engineering, and administration, while promoting health, safety, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility through the teamwork and commitment of an honest and dependable workforce. The DPW’s budget is a combination of several components. The general fund operating budget is broken down into budgets for: 1) Administration and Engineering 2) Facilities Maintenance 3) Highway 4) Snow Removal 5) Sanitation 6) Parks and Forestry 7) Automotive 8) Wyoming Cemetery In addition, the DPW manages three enterprise funds with independent budgets: Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste/Recycling. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: Since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2026, these are some of the items DPW has completed: • Potholes filled: 189 locations • Storms responded to: 42 inches of snow (not including salting operations, plowable storms only) • Vehicles in fleet maintained: 144 pc. of equipment • Tonnage of trash/recycling: o 4,633.70 tons of trash o 1,648.67 tons of recycling • Parks/fields/open spaces maintained: 82 locations • Total work orders resolved: 3,496 (908 facilities and 2,588 operations) • Invoices processed: 1,235 purchase orders • Recycled 230 mattresses as part of the mattress recycling drop-off program The Department of Public Works also played a critical role in several large projects/events such as: • Capital projects including paving, water main replacement, sewer main improvements, and drainage improvements FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 • Support of City events including school sports, elections, memorials, Earth Week, Victorian Fair, and private facility rentals • Applied for and received multiple grants for infrastructure and environmental initiatives, including acceptance in to the Massachusetts State Building Association’s Accelerated Repair Program for the Melrose High School Learning Commons Roof and roofing and other building improvements at the Franklin School. 3. FY 27 Priorities: The DPW’s priorities for FY27 include getting back up to full staffing levels by filling critical vacancies with quality staff, implementing important infrastructure and facilities projects that have been funded by grants and by the FY26 supplemental budget, and keeping up on essential services provided daily by the department. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? The DPW’s FY27 budget is largely unchanged from the FY26 supplemental budget, with a return to full staffing and level-funding of many of our contractual and materials/supplies line items, except where contract pricing showed significant increases in competitively bid on-call contracts. Salary line items show step increases but do not yet reflect the outcome of ongoing contract negotiations with both our laborers and clerical unions. Several staff members have been shifted between DPW Divisions to more accurately reflect the workload of the department and routine assignments of those roles. These moves resulted in no net change in our total number of employees funded through the general fund and through each of our enterprise funds. Rising energy costs are reflected in our facilities budget and continue to be outside of the City’s control. We continue to implement energy efficiency projects and look for savings wherever feasible, such as through demand management programs. Finally, some of the capital line items (paving, sidewalks, facilities) from the FY26 supplemental budget have been maintained into FY27, allowing the department to continue implementing critical infrastructure repairs and replacements as needs arise and to plan for small projects in the coming year. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? Many line items within DPW’s Facilities budget are directly related to school spending. These include items such as: • Custodial and maintenance staff • Contracted work such as cleaning and inspections within school buildings • Maintenance and repairs of school facilities • Capital repairs and upgrades of school buildings • A portion of administrative staff time and resources to oversee all of the above FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? The successful override has allowed DPW to fully fund our prior staffing levels, critical to providing essential services to the City, and has grown our ability to respond to capital needs. The DPW (including Engineering, Operations, and Facilities) submitted nearly 100 projects to the capital improvement plan program. These are necessary upgrades and repairs all over Melrose that require attention, such as paving, roof replacements, Melrose High School bathrooms, drainage improvements, etc. The DPW is better able to plan for and address these needs with adequate funding, allowing us to be more proactive and less reactive. Furthermore, the availability of free cash is allowing the DPW to get back into a cycle of vehicle replacements that is sorely needed, especially during winter operations when failing equipment can result in immediate safety hazards. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: IT Department Name of Department Head: Tom Smulligan 1. Department Overview and Mission: The IT Department plays a critical role in ensuring the continuity of day-to-day city and school operations by maintaining the health and reliability of our network and server infrastructure. This includes keeping all network equipment properly configured and operational, ensuring servers remain online and secure, and maintaining robust backup and disaster recovery systems across both municipal and school environments. In addition to supporting ongoing operations, the department partners with city and school leadership to plan, design, and implement new technology systems. This includes providing guidance on new construction and renovation projects to ensure buildings are equipped to meet modern technological and connectivity needs. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: In Fiscal Year 2026, the IT Department made strong progress in improving technology, security, and instructional support across both the City and School District. We upgraded public address systems at the High School and Roosevelt School, supported MCAS testing with updated Chromebooks and carts, and enhanced learning environments through High School Art and CAD lab upgrades, new projectors at MVMMS, and a district-wide staff Chromebook rollout. We also completed student Chromebook refreshes at Lincoln Elementary and High School. From a security and infrastructure standpoint, we improved camera systems across multiple schools and upgraded door access controls at City Hall to strengthen building security and management. At the same time, we faced several challenges. The retirement of our primary Munis operator required a transition of critical system knowledge. We also experienced ongoing school technology staffing shortages and implemented necessary network security and topology changes in our production environment. Despite these challenges, the department continued to deliver key improvements that support education, operations, and public safety. 3. FY 27 Priorities: For Fiscal Year 2027, the IT Department will focus on strengthening instructional technology, expanding security systems, and improving resiliency across municipal operations. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 At the High School, we plan to upgrade interactive classroom displays to support modern teaching and collaboration. We will also continue phased Chromebook upgrades at the elementary level to ensure students have reliable, up-to-date devices. From a facilities and safety perspective, we will expand door access control systems across additional buildings and continue upgrading school public address systems to enhance communication and emergency response. To better serve our community, we will implement language line services across all city departments, improving accessibility for non-English-speaking residents. On the infrastructure side, we will prioritize municipal phone system resiliency upgrades to ensure continuity of operations, along with firewall modernization and high availability enhancements to strengthen network reliability. Finally, we will continue to advance our cybersecurity posture, including expanded adoption of FIDO2 authentication, to better protect city and school systems from evolving threats. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? For Fiscal Year 2027, the IT Department’s budget reflects targeted investments in both capital improvements and physical security, with $525,000 allocated for capital projects and $325,000 dedicated to security enhancements. These investments support continued modernization of critical infrastructure, including classroom technology, network systems, and communication platforms. The security funding allows us to expand physical protections such as door access control systems and camera coverage across city and school buildings, strengthening our ability to monitor, secure, and manage facilities effectively. As a result, service delivery will benefit from improved system reliability, enhanced building security, and a more consistent technology environment across departments. These upgrades also help us to better support staff and students while reducing operational risk and improving response capabilities. Overall, the FY27 budget enables the department to maintain current service levels while making strategic investments in infrastructure and physical security that support long-term operational stability and safety. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? The IT Department budget includes several costs that directly support the Melrose Public Schools and help ensure reliable day-to-day operations across the district. These costs include firewall protections, phone systems, student Chromebooks, teacher and staff devices, network infrastructure, projectors and interactive displays, PA systems, door control systems and maintenance, and broader security-related improvements. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 These investments support both instructional technology and the underlying infrastructure needed to keep schools connected, secure, and operational. They also help ensure that staff and students have the tools and systems necessary to support teaching, learning, communication, and building safety. 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? The Proposition 2 1/2 override approved by Melrose voters in November has had a positive impact on the IT Department’s FY27 budget by restoring and increasing our capital improvement funds. This additional funding allows the department to continue addressing deferred technology needs and move forward with planned upgrades to infrastructure, instructional technology, and security systems. As a result, we are better positioned to maintain reliable service, improve system stability, and support both city and school operations more effectively throughout the year. Overall, the override provides meaningful flexibility to invest in long-term technology needs that directly support operational continuity and modernization. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Office of Planning and Community Development Name of Department Head: Lori Massa 1. Department Overview and Mission: It is the mission of the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) to protect and enhance the quality of life in Melrose. To accomplish this mission OPCD provides long range planning, manages select capital improvement projects, recommends and implements zoning amendments, creates GIS maps and spatial analysis, applies for and administers grants and community development programs and implements special projects. Additionally, OPCD supports the administrative and technical work of several Boards and Commissions in the City and reviews all major land use proposals, including subdivision plans and conservation regulations. Details are in the accomplishment section below. Long range plans that the Departments creates and implements: • Melrose Forward Community and Master Plan 2017-2027 • Housing Production Plan 2022-April 13, 2027 • Open Space & Recreation Plan 2023-2033 • Wayfinding & Creative Placemaking Plan • Net Zero Action Plan 2022-2027 Staff: • Lori Massa, AICP, Planning Director • Jane Pitts, Account Manager & GIS Analyst (shared with DPW & Assessing) • Maya Noviski, Senior Planner • Adam Forrester, Assistant Planner • Ingrid Winkler, Conservation Agent • James Horne, Energy Advocate – grant funded position • Denise Gaffey, Project Manager for the Public Safety Building Construction Projects Staff are members of committees: • North Suburban Consortium (NSC) for HOME fund disbursement with 8 neighboring communities • Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) • MAPC Inner Core Committee • MAPC Metro Mayors Coalition Housing Taskforce • Local School Health and Safety Committee • Affordable Housing Trust Fund • Capital Improvement Program 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: Boards and Commissions So far this fiscal year managed: FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 • Planning Board: o Handled 4 applications for approval including 62 residential units (9 affordable), commercial space and an Accessory Dwelling Unit that required Site Plan Approval; o Design Review Subcommittee review of signage, and follow-up of exterior material and conditions of approval for 6 other cases o Managing follow-up on conditions of approval for 9 previously approved projects under development including assisting with upcoming lotteries for affordable housing units. o These projects will increase our tax base, revitalize underutilized and vacant buildings, and help fill the local demand for more housing. • Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA): o 32 new cases including two 40B Comprehensive Permits o Managing follow-up on conditions of approval for three 40B Comprehensive Permits • Conservation Commission handled cases for permitting, wetlands regulation enforcement, compliance and other activities including: o Working with the Police Department and DPW to reduce incidents of illegal dumping in certain areas where such dumping frequently occurs o Implementing a new technique for water quality treatment at Ell Pond with filters at inlets o Participated in community events including the Victorian Fair, educating those in the community on the important values of wetlands and Conservation land o Drafted a new policy regarding encroachments onto Conservation land o Reviewing and addressing encroachments by property owners onto adjacent Conservation land to ensure these areas remain protected • Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board o Created and accepted Mission and Guidelines o Processed and accepted first grant application o Held a meeting with housing groups to discuss the Board’s newly created guidelines • Historic District Commission o 4 cases to review and make determinations on exterior changes within the Local Historic District – currently downtown from Emerson Street to Foster Street o Wrote the Preliminary Study Report and undergoing process to designate 244 Main Street as the Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District • Historical Commission o Staffing the HC for cases that fall under the newly approved demolition review ordinance o Developing criteria for determinations and the application form • Redevelopment Authority o Expended the remaining funds and taking steps to officially dissolve the board Housing and Permitting • Applied for and received designation for Melrose to be a Housing Choice Community • Wrote Demolition Review Ordinance • Requested and received Temporary Safe Harbor Status under the 40B law and updated the State’s Subsidized Housing Inventory • Put forth adoption and implementation of the ‘Mullin Rule’ for the City’s land use boards/commissions • Increased application fees for OPCD staffed Boards/Commissions and updated the City Codes, Rules and Regulations, and application forms • Implemented and maintaining the City’s Vacant Storefront Program • Housing monitoring and data submission FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 o Submitted housing data to MAPC to meet regional goals o Submitted housing data to the Census o Monitor inclusionary affordable units for continued compliance and rent request approvals o Managed the restrictions of a re-sale of an affordable condominium that was transferred from the NSC to the City as required by the agreements Graphic Information Systems (GIS) • Cemetery project advancement which includes substantial data cleaning and digitization into a database that links to a map that will be available online. • Continue to maintain the City’s GIS data and online map, which provides residents and staff spatial data, and connections with the building permit software, assessors’ records and maps, and aerial images of the City. • Submission of the annual report of parcel data to MassGIS, including updates to N911 address additions and changes. • Maintained and updated the City’s infrastructure layers, including water, sewer, stormwater, conservation areas, and FEMA-related data. • Created maps for special projects such as the demolition review ordinance analysis, affordable unit locations for the Affordable Housing Trust and utilities and operations (snow and trash route) map updates. Energy and Sustainability • The Energy Advocate has held outreach events and individual coaching to homeowners, renters/landlords, and income-eligible residents to help them navigate and take advantage of Mass Save incentives for insulation, air sealing, weatherization, heat pump hot water heaters, and heating system upgrades. • Help with the administration of the Melrose Community Power program to protect residents from astronomical increases in energy costs. • Submitted the Green Communities Annual Report to continue this designation. • Applied for grants related to energy efficiency and renewal energy projects as noted below. Long Range Planning • Continuing to advance the School Facilities Master Plan • Surplus Municipal Land Study (Ripley School and Police Station) – in progress • Working with the Engineering Department on updates to the Ell Pond stormwater management project, Mystic River Watershed Resilient Facilities Project (MVP) with Housing Authority, & Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Planning 2.0 project • Working with the Mayor’s Office and MAPC on the Memorial Hall operations plan Grants and Project Management • Completion of the majority of the MassWorks grant management for the reconstruction of the culvert by Ell Pond, which has been installed. Our request to extend the deadline to use the remaining funds of the grant was approved by the State so that the site restoration can be done once the private development is farther along. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 • Design and construction management of the Milano Park Project with Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund Earmark and the Redevelopment Authority Funds • Housing Production Plan Implementation Zoning Work with a Community Planning One Stop Grant – hiring consultant and work will start soon. • Applied for and received the Climate Leader Community TA Grant for designing the MVMMS and MHS heat pumps in auditorium/admin & solar on the DPW salt shed • Applied for a Green Communities Grant for Phase 2 of the MVMMS BMS Control & Energy Advocacy Outreach Efforts • Melrose’s Community Development Revolving Programs – awarding applicants signage grants 3. FY 27 Priorities: • Housing Production Plan Implementation Zoning Work • Housing Production Plan Update – if funding awarded • Downtown Parking Study – if funding awarded • Towners Pond hydro-raking – if funding awarded • Implementing the recommendations of the study for the Riley School and Police Station Sites • Finalizing the School Facilities Master Plan • Continuing the review and follow-up of the applications to the Boards & Commissions • Cemetery Digitization Project Completion • Grant reporting and collaboration with DPW on the awarded grants for green infrastructure projects 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? The changes in OPCD’s budget for FY27 are the expected salary increases and the movement of the energy initiative line item into professional services to better reflect the current use of the money now that the grant for the Energy Advocate and related outreach is in place. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? The administration of the School Facilities Master Plan, grants for green capital projects for school buildings, and participation on the School Health and Safety Committee are current activities that support the Melrose Public Schools which occupy a portion of the staff time in the Office of Planning and Community Development. 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? The Override has allowed us to include visioning sessions with school staff for the School Facilities Master Plan, which will greatly enhance the quality of the recommendations of the study having this input on programing space deficiencies, the quality of the existing spaces, and learner/developmental impacts of space. We are being fiscally conservative by not filling the role of the Sustainability Manager position, which has been vacant since 2023. We are trying to keep up with the related grant opportunities that allow for the FY 27 Budget Memo page. 4 replacement of failing building systems with energy efficient systems that also have the financial benefits of utility cost reductions. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 5 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Health and Human Services Name of Department Head: Anthony Chui 1. Department Overview and Mission: The Melrose Health and Human Services (HHS) Department operates through a regional agreement with the Towns of Wakefield and Stoneham, sharing staff positions and coordinating joint programming. The Melrose Board of Health, made up of three members, meets monthly and as needed to set policy, adopt regulations, and enforce local and state public health laws. In FY26, the department continued to strengthen its core public health responsibilities while expanding efforts to support social services and community well-being. Staff conducted restaurant inspections, issued permits, oversaw public and semi-public pools, and monitored farmers markets and temporary events. The department also managed environmental health functions that included dumpster compliance, nuisance complaints, rodent investigations, and closures of massage and bodywork establishments when required. HHS addressed a wide range of housing and human services concerns, including routine housing inspections, hoarding situations, elder neglect or abuse referrals, and cases involving housing instability, such as residents navigating Section 8 and other voucher programs. These efforts were closely connected to ongoing case management and support services provided by the department’s Human Services team. Animal Control services were also part of this work, responding to domestic animal concerns, investigating neglect or abuse-related complaints, and supporting community safety. School nursing services are also part of the HHS Department and played a key role in supporting student health throughout the year. School nurses provided daily medical care, managed chronic conditions, responded to emergencies, and collaborated with families, school staff, and community partners to keep students healthy and ready to learn. Mental health, behavioral health, and access to social services remained top priorities across all areas of work. To address these needs, the HHS Department worked in partnership with other city departments, community organizations, and dedicated volunteers to strengthen supports and improve the overall health of Melrose residents. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: The department made significant progress across public health, school health, and community services. Public Health Nurses convened a regional training for summer camp leadership to review Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations and enforcement requirements. They continued to offer regular blood pressure clinics and supported workforce development by serving as preceptors for nursing students. As fiscal agent for the Public Health Excellence grant serving six communities, the department sustained professional development and continuing education for health inspection staff. School Nurses remained a vital resource for students, families, and school staff, providing daily support across physical health, mental health, behavioral health, and chronic disease management. The department also conducted extensive research and analysis on kratom, supporting the Board of Health in its decision to prohibit local sales based on safety concerns and staff recommendations. Food safety work remained strong, with all required inspections completed and several new establishments opening during FY26. The department also faced several challenges throughout the year. School Nurse shortages created periods when some schools were under-covered, requiring frequent coordination and flexibility to maintain essential services. Staff continued to manage rising service demands, including more complex environmental, housing, and human services cases. 3. FY 27 Priorities: The department’s priorities for FY27 focus on strengthening core public health services and expanding community outreach. A key goal is to increase opportunities for animal control and animal health education through the new regional Animal Control partnership, including more proactive enforcement and potential community events. The department will continue to maintain strong inspection and school nursing programs to ensure safety, compliance, and consistent support for students and families. Additional priorities include expanding the reach of the Youth Action Team to engage more young people in prevention and wellness initiatives and completing a comprehensive review and revision of all existing Board of Health regulations to ensure they remain current, effective, and aligned with community needs. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? The FY27 budget includes several important changes that strengthen the department’s ability to meet growing community needs. Funding from the Proposition 2½ Override supports the addition of a floating School Nurse, which provides essential coverage across all school buildings. This improves service delivery by ensuring a nurse is always available on site to manage urgent medical needs, respond to multiple incidents at once, and maintain safe nurse‑to‑student ratios, especially in larger schools. The budget also expands the department’s capacity to address domestic animal issues through the addition of a Regional Animal Control Officer shared with Wakefield and Stoneham while still being cost- effective. This enhancement improves enforcement of existing regulations such as the leash law, strengthens follow‑up on animal bite reports, and supports investigations of potential neglect or abuse. It also allows the department to take a more proactive role in community education and to explore new public outreach activities, including the possibility of hosting rabies clinics. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? The Health and Human Services budget includes several key costs that directly support the Melrose Public Schools. All School Nurse positions are funded through the Health Department, ensuring that each school has the medical support needed to keep students safe and able to learn. In addition to clinical care, School Nurses manage chronic conditions, respond to emergencies, support mental and behavioral health needs, and collaborate with families and staff. The department also provides indirect support to the school community through substance use prevention and mental health initiatives. This includes analysis of Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, programming such as Screenagers, alcohol awareness campaigns, gambling‑prevention materials, and other health education efforts that strengthen student well‑being and complement the work of the schools. 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? The Proposition 2½ Override will help strengthen the Health and Human Services budget for FY27 and allowed the department to address two significant operational needs. First, the budget supports the addition of a full-time floating School Nurse to ensure consistent coverage across all school buildings. Due to the nature of student medical needs, the City is required to have a nurse on site to maintain safety. When a nurse is out, the nurse‑to‑student ratio increases sharply, especially in larger schools such as the middle and high school. The additional floating nurse will help maintain safe staffing levels, reduce the strain caused by unexpected absences, and ensure timely response when multiple medical incidents occur simultaneously. The override also enhances the department’s ability to respond to domestic animal issues through the addition of a Regional Animal Control Officer shared with Wakefield and Stoneham. This increased capacity strengthens enforcement of existing regulations such as the leash law, supports timely follow‑up on animal bite reports, and allows for investigations related to possible neglect or abuse. With this added staff support, the department can also take a more proactive role in community education and explore opportunities for public‑facing initiatives such as rabies clinics. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Inspectional Services Name of Department Head: Albert Talarico 1. Department Overview and Mission: The Inspectional Services Department consists of the Director, one Administrative Assistant, and three part-time inspectors (Building, Electrical, and Gas/Plumbing). The Department’s mission is to ensure public safety and protect the quality of life in Melrose through the enforcement of life safety codes, consumer protection laws, health regulations, and land use laws. We are committed to communicating clearly, educating the public, and providing professional, responsive service. We strive to uphold these standards with integrity while serving a diverse community. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: Over the past year, we made significant improvements to our permitting system, Simplicity. We worked closely with the software provider to expand access and allow other departments to review and approve building permit applications. We successfully integrated the Treasurer’s Office, Office of Planning and Community Development, Fire Department, and Engineering Department into the permitting workflow at no additional cost. This enhancement improves the collection of outstanding taxes, reduces interdepartmental miscommunication, and ensures more thorough permit review prior to approval. Overall, these changes have increased accountability, streamlined operations, and improved customer service. 3. FY 27 Priorities: Continue to educate the public on the Department’s role through improvements to the City website, while maintaining a high level of customer service. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? Due to prior budget constraints, several line items were reduced. We are requesting that these items be restored to their original levels. • Printing Services (reduced by 18.8%) Reduced from $400 to $325 annually. Impact is minimal if limited to one year. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 • Books and Subscriptions (reduced by 30.6%) Reduced from $1,000 to $750 annually. This is manageable unless new state code updates require the purchase of additional materials. • Weights & Measures Supplies (reduced by 33.3%) Reduced from $1,500 to $1,000 annually. Minimal impact if limited to one year. • Education and Seminars (reduced by 50%) Reduced from $2,600 to $1,300 annually. This reduction presents challenges, as inspectors are required to complete continuing education and maintain certifications. While manageable for one year, this is not sustainable long-term. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? None. 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? The override has allowed us to maintain current staffing levels, which supports workload management, emergency response, customer service, and staff retention. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: 931 Capital Outlay Name of Department Head: Kerriann Golden Included in the operating budget is funding for projects/equipment that were identified as needs as part of the Capital Planning process and other one-time needs. Fire EMS Equipment $109,000.00 Fire Department Priority Group A This project requests funding to replace aging and end-of-life EMS equipment essential for resuscitation and life-saving operations. The request includes Lucas 3.1 CPR devices (Stryker) – one for each frontline apparatus. These devices provide automated, consistent chest compressions during cardiac arrest events, improving patient outcomes and reducing firefighter fatigue and injury risk.; AED-Pro units (Zoll) – assigned to Car 1, Car 2, S1, K1, Ladder 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, and one for each fire station (3), replacing all current AEDs which have reached end-of-life and are no longer supported.; Exterior AED mounting cabinets – weatherproof, alarmed cases to mount AEDs on the outside of each fire station, providing 24/7 public access to early defibrillation in cardiac emergencies. This project updates department equipment to modern standards, improves interoperability with EMS provider Armstrong Ambulance, and expands community access to life-saving cardiac tools. Fire Turnout Replacement Gear $58,500 Fire Department Priority Group A This project seeks multi-year funding to replace firefighter turnout gear (coat and pant ensembles) that will reach end-of-life over the next four fiscal years. Turnout gear is a primary safety barrier protecting firefighters from flames, heat exposure, carcinogens, and environmental hazards. The current department gear is worn and stored across all three fire stations and deployed on every emergency response call. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards limit turnout gear to a 10-year life cycle, making replacement mandatory once gear exceeds that age. replacement mandatory once gear exceeds that age. City Yard Gas Pump replacement - $50,000 Priority Group B Infrastructure needs to be updated at the City Yard. The gas pump is used by both city and school vehicles for refueling. Police Vehicles - $83,000 – 1 Cruiser - Priority Group A Updating of 1 line cruiser. The goal for this line item is to work towards maintaining a budget for a set replacement cycle. The cruiser being replaced is a 2019 Ford Interceptor. Masonry Work - $250,000 – Priority Group A -Various masonry projects around the city, including City Hall and Winthrop School Masonry projects identified on the CIP, inclusive of retaining walls and stairs. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 ARC electrical Study for City and School Buildings - $225,000 – Priority Group B Comprehensive engineering analysis of all facilities electrical power system. Milano Improvements - $75,000 - Group B Repairs to the Milano center exterior. The other portion of this project will be funded through an earmark. MVMMS Control Upgrade Phase 2: $100,000 -Group B National Grid has identified the MVMMS HVAC system controls as a critical energy efficiency project. The first phase has already been funded with FY26 supplemental funds, and this would be funding of phase 2. Hoover All Purpose Room (APR) - $75,000 – Group B The project will consist of asbestos abatement as well as installation of new flooring, replacement or cleaning of window treatments and repainting of the walls. The other portion will be funded through an earmark. The following items were not identified in the CIP, however have been identified as needs once the CIP was complete. Furniture and Fixtures - $100,000 City Departments This funding would provide funding to replace broken furniture in some of our public meeting spaces (City Council Chamber, Cassidy Conference room) as well as update furniture needs within departments. Furniture and Fixtures - $100,000 School Department This funding would allow for broken furniture to be updated in school buildings as well as add smaller items throughout schools (bulletin boards, library carts). School IT - $325,000 School Department Identified upgrades district wide to building security including Fob accessed doors and cameras. Projector upgrades at the high school. Parks - $200,000 School Playground (School/Parks Department) Replace the playground at Winthrop School. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: 942 Stabilization Funds Name of Department Head: Kerriann Golden Department #942 Stabilization Funds Contract Stabilization - $400,000 – The request for this appropriation is for supplemental funding for contractual obligations that were not settled at the time the budget was set as well as contractual obligations that may arise during the Fiscal Year. Annual appropriation to fund City Stabilization Fund in the amount of $50,000. Currently, the cash balance of this fund is $4,696,211.87. The goal for this fund is to have a target balance of 5% of the operating budget. Annual appropriation to fund OPEB (Other Post Employee Benefits) trust in the amount of $50,000. Currently, the cash balance of this fund is $2,252,452. The net OPEB liability in FY2025 was $155,000,036 A special act was passed in 2005 that entitles retirees to an 85% contribution on health insurance premiums. Also, under our current PEC (Public Employee Committee) agreement, the city contributes 70% of the monthly cost of Medicare Part B premiums for retirees. This agreement is set to expire 6/30/27 and will be renegotiated. All benefits offered to employees and retirees are factored into the OPEB liability. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE HEALTH INSURANCE OF ACTIVE AND RETIRED EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF MELROSE. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: SECTION 1. Notwithstanding section 19 of chapter 32B of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, an employee who has retired or will retire from the service of the city of Melrose after the effective date of this act and is enrolled in an HMO type health plan offered by the city, the employee's spouse and dependents shall be entitled to an 85 per cent contribution from the city for the insurance premiums for as long as the retiree remains continuously enrolled in the plan notwithstanding any change in the health plan premiums paid by the city for active employees. SECTION 2. If the commonwealth mandates an increase in the minimum percentage contribution that active employees shall pay toward their health insurance, the increase shall be paid by active employees, and the percentage paid by retirees shall not be affected. SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage. Approved June 30, 2005. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: 399 Essex Agricultural and Lexington Minuteman Name of Department Head: n/a Essex Tech and Lexington Minutemen Technical The Chapter 74 Nonresident Student Tuition Program provides students the opportunity to attend a school outside their district of residence to study a state-approved vocational technical education program that is not offered by their district of residence. Such programs are approved pursuant to M.G.L. c. 74 and 603 CMR 4.00 and are known as Chapter 74-approved programs. Tuition for students who attend a school outside their resident district under this program is paid by the city or town of residence at a rate established by the DESE. Transportation for students who attend a school outside their resident district under this program is provided by the city or town of residence. Students who seek admission to a school outside their district of residence must follow the admission process of the school to which they seek admission, including using the school-provided application for admission. School Preference While students may apply to any school which accepts applications from non-resident students, a district may, through its school committee, adopt a policy designating specific vocational schools as “preferred” vocational schools for purposes of the Chapter 74 Non-resident Student Tuition Program. This means that the district may direct students to apply to the preferred school(s) before applying to any other vocational school. If a student does not apply to a “preferred” vocational school, the superintendent may disapprove the application for nonresident tuition. Enrollment/Acceptance Essex Technical had a total of 6 new applicants — 3 were accepted and 2 were wait listed. There are 4 returning students for next year. Due to the timing of acceptances, the budget is based on an estimate of 8 students with transportation. Minutemen Technical had no new applicants. There is one returning student for next year. Please see the tuition rates below as set by DESE. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 City Council Meeting June 1st, 2026 Cari Berman, Superintendent & Ken Kelley, Deputy Superintendent 1 FY26 TO FY27 RESTORE MPS OPERATING BUDGET - SC CATEGORIES FY26 FY26 FY27 STAFF ORIGINAL SUPPLEMENTAL PROPOSED POST OVERRIDE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS ALLOCATION Franklin/ECC $2,122,157 $2,219,157 $2,322,846 1.0 FTE Teacher 1.0 1.0 FTE Teacher at Hoover 1.0 FTE Teacher at Roosevelt 1.0 FTE Teacher at Winthrop $16,030,819 $16,686,819 $17,230,011 1.0 FTE School Counselor at Lincoln 6.0 1.0 FTE Teacher (potential special ed./interv.) 0.5 FT Administrator (AP) at Lincoln Elementary 0.5 FT Administrator (AP) at Roosevelt MVMMS $7,774,386 $8,307,386 8.0 FTE Secondary Teachers $18,036,829 9.0 MHS $8,554,988 $8,917,988 1.0 FTE Administrator (STEM Director) Athletics/EC $1,009,766 $1,009,766 $1,029,961 Teaching and Learning $728,761 $2,198,261 $1,087,842 High Quality Instructional Mat. Special Education $9,052,012 $9,052,012 $9,715,118 Administration/DW $2,674,986 $3,375,286 $4,514,393 1.0 FTE Teacher (potential special educator) 1.0 Total $47,947,875 $51,766,675 $53,937,000 17.0 Increase FY26 to FY27 $3,818,800 $5,989,125 3 Addressing Key Priorities Class Size ● Add a 1.0 FTE Teacher to the Franklin Elementary School ● Restore 3.0 FTE Teachers at the Elementary Schools ● Restore 8.0 FTE Teachers at the Secondary Level Team Model at MVMMS ● Provide three teams to 6th grade students with the above mentioned staff ● Provide two teams to 7th grade students with the above mentioned staff Purchase and Implementation of High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) ● Secondary STEM Director, 6-12 ● Assistant Principals at Lincoln and Roosevelt ● Provision of classroom materials, diagnostic tools, and professional development for educators Providing Intervention ● 1.0 FTE Elementary School Counselor (based at Lincoln and supporting elementary schools, as needed) ● 2.0 FTE Held for positions of interventionists and/or special education ● Recent hiring of 2 Reading Specialists from the additional funding for FY26 4FY26 TO FY27 Class size projections (April 2026) PROJECTED MPS 26-27 ELEMENTARY ENROLLMENT GRADE K 1 2 3 4 5 PROJ. CLASSROOMS 13 12 13 14 13 13 ENROLLMENT 239 254 262 307 270 297 AVE. CLASS SIZE 18.4 21.2 20.2 21.9 20.8 22.8 PROJECTED MPS 26-27 SECONDARY ENROLLMENT GRADE 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ENROLLMENT 298 267 263 300 262 251 252 NESDEC January 2026 5 FY26 TO FY27 DESE SERIES DESE SERIES CATEGORY SUMMARY VARIANCE FY26 FY26 SUPP FY27 FY26-FY27 % INC/DEC 1000 SERIES: ADMINISTRATION ADMIN $1,112,038 $1,149,653 $1,170,576 $58,538 5% TEACHING AND 2000 SERIES: INSTRUCTION LEARNING $37,904,271 $41,670,436 $43,214,833 $5,310,562 14% 3000 SERIES: OTHER STUDENT SVCS HEALTH $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $0 0% TRANSPORTATION $2,340,936 $2,344,913 $2,414,667 $73,732 3% ATHLETICS $1,009,766 $1,009,766 $1,029,961 $20,195 2% 4000 SERIES: OPERATIONS/MAINT. UTILITIES/TECH $261,181 $272,224 $340,650 $79,469 30% 5000 SERIES: CROSSING/INSUR. INSURANCE $207,200 $207,200 $220,650 $13,450 6% 9000 SERIES: PROG. WITH OTHER SCHOOLS TUITIONS $5,105,483 $5,105,483 $5,538,662 $433,179 8% TOTAL $47,947,875 $51,766,675 $53,937,000 $5,989,125 12% $3,818,800 $2,170,325 6 FY27 - RECENT LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS CITY LOCAL CONTRIBUTION This is the most recent 4 FYs showing the City's appropriation to the schools YEAR APPROPRIATION % % FY24-27 FY24 $38,511,659 FY25 $41,000,000 6.5% FY26 ORIG $42,523,875 3.7% FY26 SUPP $46,342,675 9.0% FY27 $49,000,000 5.4% 27.2% 7 FY27 MPS TEACHING AND LEARNING FY27 BUDGET Non Salary Total Salaries Expenses Total Budget Hoover $ 2,807,792.43 $ 17,340.00 $ 2,825,132.43 Horace Mann $ 2,510,256.74 $ 16,320.00 $ 2,526,576.74 RECOMMENDED MPS FY27 SC Categories Lincoln $ 4,433,235.73 $ 33,354.00 $ 4,466,589.73 Franklin/ECC $ 2,322,846.05 Roosevelt $ 4,251,578.71 $ 19,380.00 $ 4,270,958.71 Elementary $ 17,230,010.59 Winthrop $ 3,118,312.99 $ 22,440.00 $ 3,140,752.99 Secondary $ 18,036,829.17 Franklin Budget $ 2,306,781.05 $ 16,065.00 $ 2,322,846.05 Athletics/EC $ 1,029,961.35 Franklin non-budget $ 1,456,784.38 $ 6,200.00 $ 1,462,984.38 Teaching and Learning $ 1,087,842.36 Middle School $ 8,733,045.85 $ 59,160.00 $ 8,792,205.85 Special Education $ 9,715,117.60 High School $ 9,063,960.52 $ 180,662.80 $ 9,244,623.32 Administration/DW $ 4,514,392.88 Special Education $ 1,060,601.42 $ 8,654,516.18 $ 9,715,117.60 Total $ 53,937,000.00 Teaching and Learning $ 372,052.36 $ 715,790.00 $ 1,087,842.36 Administration $ 1,227,448.51 $ 51,210.00 $ 1,278,658.51 Systemwide $ 2,504,866.62 $ 730,867.75 $ 3,235,734.37 Athletics $ 1,029,961.35 $ 1,029,961.35 TOTAL $ 42,389,932.93 $ 11,547,067.07 $ 53,937,000.006 8 FY27 MPS: THE PATH FORWARD Transparency Items in Motion ● Budget listening sessions last winter ● Current negotiations with 3 CBAs ● FY27 line item budget shared in March ● MA State legislature deliberating FY27 between HWM and SWM ● MPS School Committee approved April 14, 2026 on schedule ● CH70 $13,578,856 + City and State projecting increase in CH70 funding of ● Referred to City Council for consideration $332,180, increasing total School as part of overall City FY27 budget appropriation consideration to $49,332,180 9 City of Melrose DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS FY27 BUDGET Who is DPW? Melrose DPW Mission Statement: The Melrose Department of Public Works provides quality services to the community in the areas of drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, recycling, parks, forestry, fleet, highway, cemetery, facilities, engineering, and administration, while promoting health, safety, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility through the teamwork and commitment of an honest and dependable workforce. Who is DPW?  Four Main Divisions:  Administration  Engineering/Water & Sewer Billing  Facilities  Operations DPW Administration & Finance  Public Relations  Accounts Payable/Receivable  Payroll  Environmental/Outreach Coordinator  Rentals CoordinatorDPW Engineering & Water/Sewer Billing  Capital Projects – Planning, Design, and Construction  Permits and Inspections  Development Reviews  Records and Plans/GIS  Water and Sewer Billing DPW Facilities Division  Custodial Services – Schools and Municipal Buildings  Building Maintenance and Repairs  Building Capital Projects DPW Operations Division  Highway  Parks and Forestry  Fleet  Cemetery  Sanitation (Partially Enterprise Funded)  Water and Sewer (Enterprise Funded)  Snow and Ice DPW Staffing  70 full-time employees  1 part-time employee  4 partially funded by DPW in other departments  2 PM custodians funded from Education Stations budget  Positions eliminated in FY26 have been restored  FY27 employee count matches FY25 budget Staff in DPW Operating Budgets Division # of Full Time Employees Administration/Engineering 3 fully funded (1 PT); 14 partially funded Facilities 16 custodians, 5 tradespeople Highway 5 employees (+1 in FY27) Snow Removal 0 employees (all overtime) Sanitation 2 employees Parks & Forestry 8 employees (-1 in FY27) Fleet 2 employees (-1 in FY27) Cemetery 4 employees (+1 in FY27) Water 9 fully funded; 14 partially funded Sewer 3 fully funded; 14 partially funded 57 fully funded in one DPW division TOTAL 14 spread between DPW divisions 4 shared with other departments DPW Organization Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., DPW Director James Troup, Matt Spinale, Jay Coy, Acting Scott Enos, Asst. Director Operations Manager City Engineer Facilities Manager Admin & Finance On the Move…  New Employees Hired:  Operations Manager, Matt Spinale  Parks Equipment Operator, Jade Butler  Junior Project Engineer, Fagan Doyle  Promotions:  Facilities Manager, Scott Enos  Forestry Working Foreman, Shaun Foss  Parks Working Foreman, Marcos Echevarria Retirements and Vacancies  Retirement (upcoming):  Resident Project Representative, Lynda Garron  Municipal Custodian, Dan Guevin  Vacancies with no offers pending:  City Engineer (posted since override)  Mechanic/Welder (posted since override)  Parks Heavy Equipment Operator  Four other vacancies have pending offersSome Operational Accomplishments in FY26 Through early-May:  3,496 work orders resolved  908 Facilities  2,588 Operations  525 potholes filled  Handled 42” of snow  1,235 purchase ordersSome Operational Accomplishments in FY26  Collected 4,634 tons of trash (Casella)  Collected 1,649 tons of recycling (Casella)  Collected yard waste curbside (City forces)  Recycled 230 mattresses  Began distribution of new stickers for use of the City Yard  Began curbside composting preferred vendor program with Garbage to Garden Some Capital Accomplishments in FY26  Completed construction of Franklin Roof E, MHS Skylights, MVMMS & Lincoln Heat Pump Chillers  Renovated Franklin School All Purpose Room (asbestos removal, floors, ceiling, lighting, paint)  MVMMS and MHS LED lighting upgrade projects  Added handicap pushbutton door openers at Hoover, Horace Mann, and Winthrop Schools Some Capital Accomplishments in FY26  Paved Sewall Woods Road, Maple Road, Melrose Street (LFP to Main), Porter Street (Rowe to Harding)  Added sidewalks on Swains Pond Avenue  Replaced water mains on Crystal Street, Hurd Street, and Circuit Street  Oversaw replacement of Ell Pond Drain beneath property at 687-691 Main Street FY27 DPW Budget Requests  Total General Fund DPW Budget: $11,702,429  Water Enterprise Budget: $6,702,788 (Increase of 4.1% from FY26)  Sewer Enterprise Budget: $8,461,623 (Increase of 1.2% from FY26)  Solid Waste Enterprise Budget: $3,639,322 (Increase of 3.1% from FY25) Grand Total All DPW FY27 Budgets: $30,506,162 Tonight’s DPW Council Agenda Items Order ID # Description Value

2026-1208 FY27 General Fund DPW Budget $11,702,429

2026-1206 FY27 Water Enterprise Operating Budget $6,702,788

2026-1205 FY27 Sewer Enterprise Operating Budget $8,461,623

2026-1207 FY27 Solid Waste Enterprise Operating Budget $3,639,322

2026-1175 Free Cash – Ell Pond Park Design & Permitting $710,000 2026=1176 Free Cash – Lebanon Street TIP 75% Design $400,000

2026-1177 Free Cash – School Signage $20,000

2026-1251 Sewer Retained Earnings Vactor Downpayment $150,000

2026-1213 Proposed FY27 Water Rates N/A

2026-1214 Proposed FY27 Sewer Rates N/ADPW General Fund Budget Breakdown Code DPW Division FY27 Budget 401 Admin. and Engineering $1,002,159 402 Facilities $5,581,051 422 Highway $2,137,826 423 Snow and Ice $800,000 433 Sanitation (non-enterprise) $246,481 475 Parks and Forestry $1,086,999 485 Automotive-Fleet $483,119 491 Wyoming Cemetery $364,794 TOTAL $11,702,429DPW Items Restored in FY26 Supplemental Budget  All DPW positions funded in FY25  Summer help program  Saturday weekly overtime at the City Yard  Overtime for flower watering and parklets  Roadway line painting  Sidewalk repairs  Seasonal Sunday municipal trash barrel pickup  Adopt-a-Site program support FY27 Budget Highlights  Across all DPW Divisions  Union salaries include step increases but no COLAs (laborers and clerical negotiations wrapping up)  Most remaining items not restored in supplemental budget have been restored for FY27. For example, clothing and professional development lines in Admin/Engineering budget  Budgets reflect rising energy and fuel costs  No net change in total positions in general fund and W/S FY27 Budget Highlights  Facilities  Positions restored  OT increased to more closely align with actual needs  Library electricity reflects all electric building  $500,000 recurring capital added to building repairs line  $100,000 capital outlay for annual asbestos removal in schools FY27 Budget Highlights  Highway  Moved one position into Highway to perform more sidewalk work  Increased street light maintenance to match needs  Large contractual increase to street sweeping based on new bids  Snow and Ice  Increasing annually to approach actual costs  Sanitation  Updates to match actual needs and rising costs FY27 Budget Highlights  Parks and Forestry  Moved one employee out of P&F  Removed last year’s supplemental contractual labor for tree trims  Maintained $100,000 for new tree planting  Automotive  Moving one employee out of Fleet budget (maintains position)  Restoration of budgets and increasing fuel costs  Cemetery  Moving one employee to Cemetery to match existing staffing  Restoration of supplies to match needs FY27 Budget Highlights  Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds  MWRA Assessment Increases  Rising electrical costs  Increase of water meter lines to $25K in each fund to replace as needed  Increase of Vactor payments from $80K to $90K for new truck ($610,000 vehicle cost plus financing – Sewer Only)  Solid Waste and Recycling Enterprise Fund  Contractual increases to curbside collection and disposal  Debt repayments for trash and recycling carts Capital Items in FY27 Budget  In DPW Budget:  $100,000 asbestos removal in schools  $1,230,000 in Highway: roads ($600K), sidewalks ($250K), drainage ($330K), traffic calming ($50K)  $100,000 tree planting Capital Items in FY27 Budget  Capital Outlay presented previously by Finance:  DPW gas pump repairs - $50,000  Masonry stair and wall projects - $250,000  Electrical/ArcFlash study for buildings - $225,000  Milano Center additional exterior improvements - $75,000  MVMMS Phase 2 Building Management System (BMS) upgrades- $100,000 to combine with Green Communities and National Grid incentive funding  Hoover All Purpose Room - $75,000 to supplement state earmark Water and Sewer Rates  No water and sewer rate increases proposed for FY27 for both volumetric rates and base fees  No transfers to reserves – already at 10% goal  Rates projected to meet all revenue obligations with no transfers from retained earningsQuestions City of Melrose DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS FY27 BUDGET Who is DPW? Melrose DPW Mission Statement: The Melrose Department of Public Works provides quality services to the community in the areas of drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, recycling, parks, forestry, fleet, highway, cemetery, facilities, engineering, and administration, while promoting health, safety, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility through the teamwork and commitment of an honest and dependable workforce. Who is DPW? ￿ Four Main Divisions:  Administration  Engineering/Water & Sewer Billing  Facilities  Operations DPW Administration & Finance  Public Relations  Accounts Payable/Receivable  Payroll  Environmental/Outreach Coordinator  Rentals CoordinatorDPW Engineering & Water/Sewer Billing  Capital Projects – Planning, Design, and Construction  Permits and Inspections  Development Reviews  Records and Plans/GIS  Water and Sewer Billing DPW Facilities Division  Custodial Services – Schools and Municipal Buildings  Building Maintenance and Repairs  Building Capital Projects DPW Operations Division  Highway  Parks and Forestry  Fleet  Cemetery  Sanitation (Partially Enterprise Funded)  Water and Sewer (Enterprise Funded)  Snow and Ice DPW Staffing  70 full-time employees  1 part-time employee  4 partially funded by DPW in other departments  2 PM custodians funded from Education Stations budget  Positions eliminated in FY26 have been restored  FY27 employee count matches FY25 budget Staff in DPW Operating Budgets Division # of Full Time Employees Administration/Engineering 3 fully funded (1 PT); 14 partially funded Facilities 16 custodians, 5 tradespeople Highway 5 employees (+1 in FY27) Snow Removal 0 employees (all overtime) Sanitation 2 employees Parks & Forestry 8 employees (-1 in FY27) Fleet 2 employees (-1 in FY27) Cemetery 4 employees (+1 in FY27) Water 9 fully funded; 14 partially funded Sewer 3 fully funded; 14 partially funded 57 fully funded in one DPW division TOTAL 14 spread between DPW divisions 4 shared with other departments DPW Organization Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., DPW Director James Troup, Matt Spinale, Jay Coy, Acting Scott Enos, Asst. Director Operations Manager City Engineer Facilities Manager Admin & Finance On the Move… ￿ New Employees Hired:  Operations Manager, Matt Spinale  Parks Equipment Operator, Jade Butler  Junior Project Engineer, Fagan Doyle ￿ Promotions:  Facilities Manager, Scott Enos  Forestry Working Foreman, Shaun Foss  Parks Working Foreman, Marcos Echevarria Retirements and Vacancies ￿ Retirement (upcoming):  Resident Project Representative, Lynda Garron  Municipal Custodian, Dan Guevin ￿ Vacancies with no offers pending:  City Engineer (posted since override)  Mechanic/Welder (posted since override)  Parks Heavy Equipment Operator  Four other vacancies have pending offersSome Operational Accomplishments in FY26 Through early-May: ￿ 3,496 work orders resolved  908 Facilities  2,588 Operations ￿ 525 potholes filled ￿ Handled 42” of snow ￿ 1,235 purchase ordersSome Operational Accomplishments in FY26 ￿ Collected 4,634 tons of trash (Casella) ￿ Collected 1,649 tons of recycling (Casella) ￿ Collected yard waste curbside (City forces) ￿ Recycled 230 mattresses ￿ Began distribution of new stickers for use of the City Yard ￿ Began curbside composting preferred vendor program with Garbage to Garden Some Capital Accomplishments in FY26 ￿ Completed construction of Franklin Roof E, MHS Skylights, MVMMS & Lincoln Heat Pump Chillers ￿ Renovated Franklin School All Purpose Room (asbestos removal, floors, ceiling, lighting, paint) ￿ MVMMS and MHS LED lighting upgrade projects ￿ Added handicap pushbutton door openers at Hoover, Horace Mann, and Winthrop Schools Some Capital Accomplishments in FY26 ￿ Paved Sewall Woods Road, Maple Road, Melrose Street (LFP to Main), Porter Street (Rowe to Harding) ￿ Added sidewalks on Swains Pond Avenue ￿ Replaced water mains on Crystal Street, Hurd Street, and Circuit Street ￿ Oversaw replacement of Ell Pond Drain beneath property at 687-691 Main Street FY27 DPW Budget Requests ￿ Total General Fund DPW Budget: $11,702,429 ￿ Water Enterprise Budget: $6,702,788 (Increase of 4.1% from FY26) ￿ Sewer Enterprise Budget: $8,461,623 (Increase of 1.2% from FY26) ￿ Solid Waste Enterprise Budget: $3,639,322 (Increase of 3.1% from FY25) Grand Total All DPW FY27 Budgets: $30,506,162 Tonight’s DPW Council Agenda Items Order ID # Description Value

2026-1208 FY27 General Fund DPW Budget $11,702,429

2026-1206 FY27 Water Enterprise Operating Budget $6,702,788

2026-1205 FY27 Sewer Enterprise Operating Budget $8,461,623

2026-1207 FY27 Solid Waste Enterprise Operating Budget $3,639,322

2026-1175 Free Cash – Ell Pond Park Design & Permitting $710,000 2026=1176 Free Cash – Lebanon Street TIP 75% Design $400,000

2026-1177 Free Cash – School Signage $20,000

2026-1251 Sewer Retained Earnings Vactor Downpayment $150,000

2026-1213 Proposed FY27 Water Rates N/A

2026-1214 Proposed FY27 Sewer Rates N/ADPW General Fund Budget Breakdown Code DPW Division FY27 Budget 401 Admin. and Engineering $1,002,159 402 Facilities $5,581,051 422 Highway $2,137,826 423 Snow and Ice $800,000 433 Sanitation (non-enterprise) $246,481 475 Parks and Forestry $1,086,999 485 Automotive-Fleet $483,119 491 Wyoming Cemetery $364,794 TOTAL $11,702,429DPW Items Restored in FY26 Supplemental Budget ￿ All DPW positions funded in FY25 ￿ Summer help program ￿ Saturday weekly overtime at the City Yard ￿ Overtime for flower watering and parklets ￿ Roadway line painting ￿ Sidewalk repairs ￿ Seasonal Sunday municipal trash barrel pickup ￿ Adopt-a-Site program support FY27 Budget Highlights ￿ Across all DPW Divisions  Union salaries include step increases but no COLAs (laborers and clerical negotiations wrapping up)  Most remaining items not restored in supplemental budget have been restored for FY27. For example, clothing and professional development lines in Admin/Engineering budget  Budgets reflect rising energy and fuel costs  No net change in total positions in general fund and W/S FY27 Budget Highlights ￿ Facilities  Positions restored  OT increased to more closely align with actual needs  Library electricity reflects all electric building  $500,000 recurring capital added to building repairs line  $100,000 capital outlay for annual asbestos removal in schools FY27 Budget Highlights ￿ Highway  Moved one position into Highway to perform more sidewalk work  Increased street light maintenance to match needs  Large contractual increase to street sweeping based on new bids ￿ Snow and Ice  Increasing annually to approach actual costs ￿ Sanitation  Updates to match actual needs and rising costs FY27 Budget Highlights ￿ Parks and Forestry  Moved one employee out of P&F  Removed last year’s supplemental contractual labor for tree trims  Maintained $100,000 for new tree planting ￿ Automotive  Moving one employee out of Fleet budget (maintains position)  Restoration of budgets and increasing fuel costs ￿ Cemetery  Moving one employee to Cemetery to match existing staffing  Restoration of supplies to match needs FY27 Budget Highlights ￿ Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds  MWRA Assessment Increases  Rising electrical costs  Increase of water meter lines to $25K in each fund to replace as needed  Increase of Vactor payments from $80K to $90K for new truck ($610,000 vehicle cost plus financing – Sewer Only) ￿ Solid Waste and Recycling Enterprise Fund  Contractual increases to curbside collection and disposal  Debt repayments for trash and recycling carts Capital Items in FY27 Budget ￿ In DPW Budget:  $100,000 asbestos removal in schools  $1,230,000 in Highway: roads ($600K), sidewalks ($250K), drainage ($330K), traffic calming ($50K)  $100,000 tree planting Capital Items in FY27 Budget ￿ Capital Outlay presented previously by Finance:  DPW gas pump repairs - $50,000  Masonry stair and wall projects - $250,000  Electrical/ArcFlash study for buildings - $225,000  Milano Center additional exterior improvements - $75,000  MVMMS Phase 2 Building Management System (BMS) upgrades- $100,000 to combine with Green Communities and National Grid incentive funding  Hoover All Purpose Room - $75,000 to supplement state earmark Water and Sewer Rates ￿ No water and sewer rate increases proposed for FY27 for both volumetric rates and base fees ￿ No transfers to reserves – already at 10% goal ￿ Rates projected to meet all revenue obligations with no transfers from retained earningsQuestions PINE BANKS PARK Resurfaced Track &Baseball Field ADA Upgrades to Dog Park Summary 2026 Report of the Trustees Clerk's Certificate Pine Banks Park A meeting of the Board of Trustees of Pine Banks Park was held at 3:30 P.M. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, due notice of which was given to all members in advance thereof, at 350 Main Street, Malden, Massachusetts. Present at the meeting were the following members: C. Henry Kezer, of Melrose, Presiding, Hon Gary Christenson, Mayor of Malden, Hon Jennifer (Jen) Grigoraitis, Mayor of Melrose, Dana F. Brown, of Malden, Peter M. Carroll, of Malden, John W. Lynch, of Melrose and Richard C. Rudolph, at large. A quorum was declared present and voting. Section 6. of St. 1905, Chap. 393 states: The board shall annually in the month of January make a full report to the cities of Malden and Melrose of its receipts and expenditures, with its estimate of the amount required for maintenance for the ensuing year. Section 7. of St. 1905, Chap. 393 states: The Cities of Malden and Melrose shall in their annual appropriation bills each appropriate and place at the disposal of said board one half of the amount determined by said board to be necessary for the maintenance of said property for that year, and set forth in its annual report as provided in section six. Wherefore, the Annual Report of Pine Banks Park for January 2026, containing the Budget for the fiscal year 2027, and the report of the Superintendent of operations for Calendar 2025 was presented for the consideration of the board. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously: VOTED: To adopt the report and budget, and submit the same to the Cities of Malden and Melrose for the purposes set forth in St. 1905, Chap. 393. A true copy May 19, 2026 C. Henry Kezer C. Henry Kezer, Clerk 1MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE Malden DIVISION OF LOCAL SERVICES CITY BUREAU OF ACCOUNTS TAX RATE RECAPITULATION Fiscal Year 2026 I. TAX RATE SUMMARY Ia. Total amount to be raised (from page 2, IIe) $ 275,064,812.92 Ib. Total estimated receipts and other revenue sources (from page 2, IIIe) 157,765,842.07 Ic. Tax Levy (Ia minus Ib) $ 117,298,970.85 Id. Distribution of Tax Rates and levies CLASS (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Levy percentage Ic above times Valuation by class Tax Rates Levy by class (from LA5) each percent in col (b) (from LA-5) (c) / (d) x 1000 (d) x (e) / 1000 Residential 80.395151 94,302,684.94 10,668,664,663.00 Net of Exempt 8,272,369,916.00 11.40 94,305,017.04 Open Space 0.000000 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Commercial 10.629284 12,468,040.61 729,904,930.00 17.08 12,466,776.20 Net of Exempt Industrial 4.472844 5,246,599.63 307,146,813.00 17.08 5,246,067.57 SUBTOTAL 95.497279 11,705,716,406.00 112,017,860.81 Personal 4.502721 5,281,645.66 309,198,480.00 17.08 5,281,110.04 TOTAL 100.000000 12,014,914,886.00 117,298,970.85 MUST EQUAL 1C Signatures Assessors Nathaniel Cramer, Assessor , Malden , ncramer@cityofmalden.org 781-397-7100 | 11/5/2025 10:59 AM Comment: Robert Donnelly, Assessor , Malden , bdonnelly@cityofmalden.org 781-397-7100 | 11/5/2025 11:03 AM Comment: Documents No documents have been uploaded. Do Not Write Below This Line --- For Department of Revenue Use Only Reviewed By: Susan Whouley Date: 11/26/2025 Approved: Thomas Guilfoyle Director of Accounts: Deborah A. Wagner Printed on: 11/26/2025 10:30:31 AM Page 1 of 7 2MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE Melrose DIVISION OF LOCAL SERVICES CITY BUREAU OF ACCOUNTS TAX RATE RECAPITULATION Fiscal Year 2026 I. TAX RATE SUMMARY Ia. Total amount to be raised (from page 2, IIe) $ 153,156,526.11 Ib. Total estimated receipts and other revenue sources (from page 2, IIIe) 57,379,485.00 Ic. Tax Levy (Ia minus Ib) $ 95,777,041.11 Id. Distribution of Tax Rates and levies CLASS (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Levy percentage Ic above times Valuation by class Tax Rates Levy by class (from LA5) each percent in col (b) (from LA-5) (c) / (d) x 1000 (d) x (e) / 1000 Residential 91.381093 87,522,106.61 7,643,650,879.00 Net of Exempt 7,630,448,612.00 11.47 87,521,245.58 Open Space 0.000000 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Commercial 4.398646 4,212,892.98 204,431,461.00 20.61 4,213,332.41 Net of Exempt Industrial 0.650430 622,962.96 30,229,400.00 20.61 623,027.93 SUBTOTAL 96.430169 7,878,311,740.00 92,357,605.92 Personal 3.569831 3,419,078.56 165,911,460.00 20.61 3,419,435.19 TOTAL 100.000000 8,044,223,200.00 95,777,041.11 MUST EQUAL 1C Signatures Assessors Sarah MacLellan, Assessor , Melrose , smaclellan@cityofmelrose.org 781-979-4103 | 12/3/2025 11:36 AM Comment: Lee A Phalen, Assessor , Melrose , smaclellan@cityofmelrose.org 781-979-4103 | 12/3/2025 12:42 PM Comment: Cathy A Gulino, Assessor , Melrose , smaclellan@cityofmelrose.org 781-979-4103 | 12/3/2025 12:19 PM Comment: Documents No documents have been uploaded. Do Not Write Below This Line --- For Department of Revenue Use Only Reviewed By: Susan Whouley Date: 12/09/2025 Approved: Anthony Rassias Director of Accounts: Deborah A. Wagner Printed on: 12/9/2025 11:34:01 AM Page 1 of 7 3Municipal Funding Formula Fiscal 2027 Pine Banks Park Chapter 393 of 1905; as Amended by Chapter 162 of 1906 Total Assessed Valuation - All Classes Smaller Assessed Value Real Property Excluding Municipal and City of Melrose $ 7,878,311,740.00 Tax Exempt Property "1 Percent" $ 78,783,117.40 Prior Fiscal Year 2026 "1/150th Part" of 1% $ 525,220.78 City Total Assessed Value Maximum Budget Requisition City of Malden $ 11,705,716,406 City of Melrose - 50% $ 525,220.78 City of Melrose $ 7,878,311,740 City of Malden - 50% $ 525,220.78 Total $ 1,050,441.57 Statutory Excerpt: St. 1905 Chapter 393; amended by St. 1906 Chapter 162 Section 6. Said Board of trustees shall have the absolute control and management of the property, and shall have power to make rules and regulations regarding its use and management, in such manner as it shall deem best. The board shall annually in the month of January make a full report to the cities of Malden and Melrose of its receipts and expenditures, with its estimate of the amount required for maintenance for the ensuing year. Its expenditures in any year shall not exceed the sum of the appropriations for that year and the income at the disposal of said trustees by reason of any gifts received under the authority of section two of this act. Section 7. The cities of Malden and Melrose shall in their annual appropriation bills each appropriate and place at the disposal of said board one half of the amount determined by said board to be necessary for the maintenance of said property for that year, and set forth in its annual report as provided in section six. If either of said cities shall in any year fail to make such appropriation, the said board shall upon the written request of said donors or their heirs or devisees who may then hold their estate, reconvey said property to said heirs or devisees free from all trusts; but the amount required of each city by said board to work a forfeiture shall not in any year exceed one one hundred and fiftieth part of one per cent of the assessed valuation for the preceding year of the city having the smaller assessed valuation. Said cities may, if in their judgment the proper maintenance or improvement of said property shall require it, appropriate in equal amounts and place at the disposal of said board sums in excess of the amount which said board is hereby authorized to require of said cities. 4 Pine Banks Park - Budget Summary - Fiscal Year 2027 4:08 PM 27-Apr-26 Budg Code 1 Compensation & Benefits Summary Prior FY Budget $ increase % increase /City Increase/City Mald Melr 2 Salaries & Wages $ 270,106.89 $ 278,210.10 $8,103.20 3.00% $139,105.05 $4,051.60 3 Pensions, Benefits & Insurance $ 195,730.11 $ 200,121.25 $4,276.40 2.18% $100,060.63 $2,138.20 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 Total from Compensation Schedule $ 465,837.00 $ 478,331.35 $12,494.34 2.68% $239,165.67 $6,189.80 6 Utilities Budget Budget $ increase % increase /City Increase/City 7 Telephone $ 11,000.00 $ 7,680.00 ($3,320.00) -30.18% $3,840.00 ($1,660.00) 52217 522000 1 8 Electric $ 40,000.00 $ 19,000.00 ($21,000.00) -52.50% $9,500.00 ($10,500.00) 52218 522500 9 Fuel/Heating Oil $ 11,000.00 $ 9,000.00 ($2,000.00) -18.18% $4,500.00 ($1,000.00) 54311 530800 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11 Total $ 62,000.00 $ 35,680.00 ($26,320.00) -42.45% $17,840.00 ($13,160.00) 12 Insurance Budget Budget $ increase % increase /City Increase/City 13 Liability $ 10,500.00 $ 10,500.00 $0.00 0.00% $5,250.00 $0.00 52418 543201 14 Auto Ins $ 5,750.00 $ 5,750.00 $0.00 0.00% $2,875.00 $0.00 52417 544330 15 D & O Liab. $ 2,500.00 $ 2,500.00 $0.00 0.00% $1,250.00 $0.00 3 16 Fire Ins $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 $0.00 0.00% $7,500.00 $0.00 52415 544320 17 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 18 Total $ 33,750.00 $ 33,750.00 $0.00 0.00% $16,875.00 $0.00 19 Vehicles Budget Budget $ increase % increase /City Increase/City 20 Gasoline/Grease $ 7,000.00 $ 7,000.00 $0.00 0.00% $3,500.00 $0.00 54312 531000 21 Repair & Maint MVE $ 6,000.00 $ 6,000.00 $0.00 0.00% $3,000.00 $0.00 52250 527500 22 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 23 Total $ 13,000.00 $ 13,000.00 $0.00 0.00% $6,500.00 $0.00 24 Maintenance Budget Budget $ increase % increase /City Increase/City 25 Repair & Maint Bldng $ 10,000.00 $ 10,000.00 $0.00 0.00% $5,000.00 $0.00 52252 527700 26 Field/Park Maint. $ 110,000.00 $ 110,000.00 $0.00 0.00% $55,000.00 $0.00 54319 535100 27 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 28 Total $ 120,000.00 $ 120,000.00 $0.00 0.00% $60,000.00 $0.00 29 Supplies & Materials Budget Budget $ increase % increase /City Increase/City 30 Office Supplies $ 1,000.00 $ 1,050.00 $50.00 5.00% $525.00 $25.00 54310 530500 31 Clean/Disinfect $ 1,000.00 $ 1,050.00 $50.00 5.00% $525.00 $25.00 54325 532000 32 Paint $ 1,000.00 $ 1,050.00 $50.00 5.00% $525.00 $25.00 54332 533000 33 Hardware $ 1,000.00 $ 1,050.00 $50.00 5.00% $525.00 $25.00 54330 533500 34 Lumber $ 1,000.00 $ 1,050.00 $50.00 5.00% $525.00 $25.00 54334 537200 35 Misce Expenses $ 6,600.00 $ 7,000.00 $400.00 6.06% $3,500.00 $200.00 57247 528804 36 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 37 Total $ 11,600.00 $ 12,250.00 $650.00 5.60% $6,125.00 $325.00 38 Professional Services Budget Budget $ increase % increase /City Increase/City 39 Audit & Accounting $ 26,000.00 $ 32,850.00 $6,850.00 26.35% $16,425.00 $3,425.00 5300 528600 40 Web Site/Scheduling Admin $ 10,000.00 $ 10,000.00 $0.00 0.00% $5,000.00 $0.00 529000 41 - - - - - - - - - - - - 42 Total $ 36,000.00 $ 42,850.00 $6,850.00 19.03% $21,425.00 $3,425.00 43 Eqpmt/Captl Purch Budget Budget $ increase % increase /City Increase/City 44 Last Year & Continuing 2 45 Ballfield Project Amortization $ 202,588.36 $ 151,941.27 ($50,647.09) -25.00% $75,970.64 ($25,323.55) 58539 551044 46 Supplemental Facility Shed $ 97,195.33 $ 97,195.33 $0.00 0.00% $48,597.67 $0.00 47 Resurfc Ballfld & Playgrnd Loan $1.25 MM $ 153,656.30 $ 153,656.30 $0.00 0.00% $76,828.15 $0.00 48 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 49 Total Last & Continuing $ 453,439.99 $ 402,792.90 ($50,647.09) -11.17% $201,396.45 ($25,323.55) 50 51 New Initiatives 52 Ventrac 2120M Sidewalk Snow Removal $ 31,041.00 $0.00 ($31,041.00) -100.00% $0.00 ($15,520.50) 53 Toro Groundsmaster® 3500-D Mower $ 0.00 $45,815.00 $45,815.00 100.00% $22,907.50 $22,907.50 54 Buffalo Cyclone Mega 3 Debris Blower $ 0.00 $10,443.35 $10,443.35 100.00% $5,221.68 $5,221.68 55 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 56 Total New Initiatives $ 31,041.00 $ 56,258.35 $25,217.35 81.24% $28,129.18 $12,608.68 551020 57 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 58 Total $ 484,480.99 $ 459,051.25 ($25,429.74) -5.25% $229,525.63 ($12,714.87) 59 Summary Budget Budget $ increase % increase /City Increase/City 60 Compensation and Benefits line 5 $465,837.00 $478,331.35 $12,494.34 2.68% $239,165.67 $6,189.80 61 62 Operating Expenses 63 Utilities line 11 $62,000.00 $35,680.00 ($26,320.00) -42.45% $17,840.00 ($13,160.00) 64 Insurance line 18 $33,750.00 $33,750.00 $0.00 0.00% $16,875.00 $0.00 65 Vehicles line 23 $13,000.00 $13,000.00 $0.00 0.00% $6,500.00 $0.00 66 Maintenance line 28 $120,000.00 $120,000.00 $0.00 0.00% $60,000.00 $0.00 67 Supplies & Materials line 37 $11,600.00 $12,250.00 $650.00 5.60% $6,125.00 $325.00 68 Professional Services line 42 $36,000.00 $42,850.00 $6,850.00 19.03% $21,425.00 $3,425.00 69 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 70 Operating Expenses lines 60 - 67 $276,350.00 $257,530.00 ($18,820.00) -6.81% $128,765.00 ($9,410.00) 71 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 72 Eqpmt/Captl Purch line 56 $484,480.99 $459,051.25 ($25,429.74) -5.25% $229,525.63 ($12,714.87) 73 Total $1,226,667.99 $1,194,912.60 ($31,755.40) -2.59% $597,456.30 ($15,935.07) 74 Statutory Mandate Amount $ 1,009,446.33 $ 1,050,441.57 $40,995.23 4.06% $525,220.78 $20,497.62 75 Total Budget Amount $ 1,226,667.99 $ 1,194,912.60 ($31,755.40) -2.59% $597,456.30 ($15,877.70) 74 Amount Over/(Under) Mandate $ 217,221.66 $ 144,471.03 ($72,750.63) -33.49% $72,235.52 ($36,375.31) 1 Heat Fieldhouse - new building 2 Full Amortization Feb 2027 5 Pine Banks Park - - - Fiscal Year 2027 4:08 PM 27-Apr-26 Compensation & Benefits Summary Prior FY Budget $ increase % increase /City Increase/City 1 Salaries & Wages J 2 Superintendent $ 92,700.00 $ 95,481.00 $2,781.00 3.00% $47,740.50 $1,390.50 3 Skilled Laborer $ 53,500.59 $ 55,105.61 $1,605.02 3.00% $27,552.80 $802.51 4 Skilled Laborer $ 51,438.42 $ 52,981.57 $1,543.15 3.00% $26,490.78 $771.58 5 Skilled Laborer (mechanic) $ 50,677.35 $ 52,197.67 $1,520.32 3.00% $26,098.83 $760.16 6 Skilled Laborer (part time) $ 15,450.00 $ 15,913.50 $463.50 3.00% $7,956.75 $231.75 7 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 Total $ 263,766.36 $ 271,679.35 $7,912.99 3.00% $135,839.67 $3,956.50 9 10 Reserve for Overtime $ 6,340.54 $ 6,530.75 $190.21 3.00% $3,265.38 $95.11 11 12 Total Current Compensation $ 270,106.89 $ 278,210.10 $8,103.20 3.00% $139,105.05 $4,051.60 13 Pensions, Benefits & Insurance 14 Pension Benefits J 15 Pensions Benefits Active Staff $ 71,637.00 $ 71,637.00 $0.00 0.00% $35,818.50 $0.00 16 Pension Benefits to Retirees $ 55,043.28 $ 55,043.28 $0.00 0.00% $27,521.64 $0.00 17 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 18 Total Pension Benefits $ 126,680.28 $ 126,680.28 $0.00 0.00% $63,340.14 $0.00 19 20 Health Insurance 21 Health Insurance Active Staff $ 49,799.94 $ 52,411.34 $2,611.40 5.24% $26,205.67 $1,305.70 22 Health Insurance Retirees $ 14,520.48 $ 16,185.48 $1,665.00 11.47% $8,092.74 $832.50 23 - - - - - - 24 Total Health Insurance $ 64,320.42 $ 68,596.82 $4,276.40 6.65% $34,298.41 $2,138.20 25 26 Misce 27 Employers % Life Insurance $ 904.80 $ 904.80 $0.00 0.00% $452.40 $0.00 28 Employers % Medicare Tax $ 3,939.35 $ 3,939.35 $0.00 0.00% $1,969.68 $0.00 29 Unemployment Insurance H $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $0.00 0.00% $0.00 $0.00 30 Workingman's CompI $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $0.00 0.00% $0.00 $0.00 31 Sick Leave Buyback $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $0.00 0.00% $0.00 $0.00 32 - - - - - - 33 Total Miscellaneous $ 4,844.15 $ 4,844.15 $0.00 0.00% $2,422.08 $0.00 34 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - J 35 Total Pensions & Insurance $ 195,844.85 $ 200,121.25 $4,276.40 2.18% $100,060.63 $2,138.20 36 Total Current Compensation $ 270,106.89 $ 278,210.10 $8,103.20 3.00% $139,105.05 $4,051.60 37 Total Pensions & Insurance J $ 195,844.85 $ 200,121.25 $4,276.40 2.18% $100,060.63 $2,138.20 38 Total Compensation $ 465,951.74 $ 478,331.35 $12,379.60 2.66% $239,165.67 $6,189.80 39 40 Reserve for Overtime Reconciliation. 41 Year Round Budgeted Amount $ 271,679.35 42 Per week (52) $ 5,224.60 43 Reserve - 1.25 x One Week $ 6,530.75 44 45 Notes: 46 Administered through and with current payments made through the City of Melrose HR Department. 47 Reimbursements from the City of Malden - estimated quarterly --> $ 59,791.42 48 Annualized Increase o/ prior yr --> 2.66% 49 Active employee pension cost based on per capita cost over all Melrose Employees. 50 H Unemployment Insurance funded semi-annually and if a PB employee is laid off Malden will contribute 1/2 actual cost. 51 I Melrose self insures Workingman's Compensation and Malden will pay 1/2 of claims as they actually occur. 52 Cost might change if employees or retirees change their benefits during Open Enrollment with effective date of change July 1. 53 J Prior year costs adjusted due to Superintendent hired mid year at higher compensation. 6 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Memorial Building 693 Name of Department Head: Kathy Pigott-Brodeur 1. Department Overview and Mission: The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building , (Memorial Hall) mission “is to provide the city with a commemorative monument to the patriotism of service men and women from Melrose who died for their country”. It is also a cultural center for the community. The building is used on a monthly basis for Veterans meetings, programs and ceremonies, as well as inaugural ceremonies for the city of Melrose. Memorial Hall is a true community asset that, across multiple administrations, has been intentionally maintained as a facility for the community. Today Memorial Hall continues to serve local organizations and residents hosting a wide range of events including fundraisers, sports banquets, concerts, dance rehearsals, performances, and community celebrations. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: • Execution of 224 events (as of May 1, 2026) with an estimated attendance of 45,500 guests. • 146 dates on hold for FY27 • FY 26 rental fees collected YTD as of May 1, 2026 is $147,260.10 with an additional $12,000 anticipated. • Rental rates were updated to bring them closer to present day market rates of similar facilities resulting in higher revenue. o The Trustees voted to increase the FY27 rates as of July 1, 2026. • Metropolitan Planning Council Association Technical Assistance Grant o MAPC is finalizing the plan which included a survey, workshops and general research of surrounding venues to help shape the future of Memorial Hall. • Four part-time non-benefit eligible Memorial Hall Operation Assistants positions filled. o FY26 budget included a reduction of 15 total weekly hours for the custodial staff decreasing the combined allocation for the four positions from 57.5 per week to 42.5 hours per week. 3. FY 27 Priorities: • Execution of a minimum of 224 events, programs and meetings • Establish a plan and timeline for the GAR Room renovation project • Upgrade of Stage Lighting System: The Mayor Requested an earmark in the Massachusetts State Budget, if approved, will allow the Stage lights to be upgraded. The lighting system has not been upgraded since at least 2008. The upgrade will allow us to host to professional music organizations and shows. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 • Stage curtains replacement • HVAC upgrades 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? Professional services is increasing to account for necessary HVAC work. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? NONE; However Memorial Hall is rented throughout the year for Melrose Public Schools events such as Brawl in the Hall, talent shows, 8th Grade Civics Day and more. 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? Not applicable FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Parks Name of Department Head: Rob Carrillo 1. Department Overview and Mission: Park Department Mission: The Melrose Parks Department is responsible for the management of the City’s public outdoor spaces and recreational assets. With a staff of two, the department oversees an extensive network of facilities, including playgrounds, athletic fields, courts, a dog park, a community garden, a skate park, and numerous open spaces. The department also coordinates funding through its revolving permit fund and shared budget items. The department serves a diverse range of community members, including residents, youth and adult recreation programs, public schools, high school and collegiate athletics, and external organizations. Through its permitting system, it supports both informal recreational use and organized activities, managing thousands of facility reservations annually. Its core function is to ensure that Melrose residents have safe, accessible, and well-coordinated outdoor spaces for recreation, sports, and community engagement. By maintaining these assets, facilitating equitable access, and supporting partnerships through permits and programs such as Adopt-A-Site, the department enhances quality of life, promotes active lifestyles, and strengthens community connections. Department Overview • Staffing: 2 employees — Superintendent and Executive Secretary to the Park Commission Budget Oversight: o Management of Revolving Permit Fund and Parks Donation Fund o Oversight of two shared line items with DPW (Playground Equipment and Adopt-A-Sites) Facilities Managed: o Mt. Hood Clubhouse o 16 Playgrounds o 31 Fields o 8 Tennis Courts o 11 Outdoor Basketball Courts o 1 Dog Park o 1 Community Garden o 1 Skate Park o 66 Adopt-A-Sites FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 o 45 Flag Sites o Additional open spaces throughout Melrose Permit Management: o Oversaw 3,200+ facility use permits in FY26 across 175+ group rentals, including: • Melrose High School • Melrose Recreation Department • Melrose Public Schools • Local user groups • College athletics programs • External organizations • Other Responsibilities: o Management of 66 Adopt-A-Sites o Oversight of the Mt. Hood Golf Course management contract 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: Accomplishments: • Lincoln School playground replacement • Hoover School playground replacement • Bench and memorial replacements throughout the city • Adopt-A-Site sign replacements • Installation of a new memorial sign at Mary Livermore Park in coordination with the Historical Commission (Vocational School) • Welcomed new Park Commissioner Rob Kirsh • Recognized outgoing Commissioner Bradley Freeman for his service • Irrigation replacement at Knoll Fields funded by a DCR grant • Challenges: • Weather-related impacts • Grass growth and irrigation issues at fields • Infield grading challenges • Seasonal workforce fluctuations within the Green Team during peak periods • Limited dedicated labor resources within the Parks Department • Preparing fields for the spring season within the constraints of New England weather and available staffing 3. FY 27 Priorities: Identify and implement efficient collaboration strategies with the Department of Public Works (DPW) to support the maintenance of a large portfolio of outdoor facilities relative to available FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 staffing resources. This includes strengthening coordination through regular meetings, clear communication, work order processes, and service requests, while operating with limited personnel capacity within the Green Team and no staff directly assigned und er Parks Management. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? • Playground Equipment line increased to $20,000 annually • Adopt-A-Site line item reinstated 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? • Fred Green Field turf maintenance (shared 50/50 between Parks and DPW) • Playground repairs (Playground Equipment line) 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2½ Override approved by Melrose voters in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? • Playground Equipment line increased to $20,000 annually Secured funding through the Override Supplemental Budget for: o Common Playground renovation o Dunton Park renovation o Lighting installation at Lewis Monk Field o Infield repairs at Morelli Field o Infield repairs at Conant Park o Crystal Street tennis court resurfacing o Pickleball line overlay at Tremont Street Lyons Tennis Courts o Basketball court surfacing and hoop installation at Foss Park • Adopt-A-Site line item reinstated • $536,000 allocated for playground improvements (FY26 CIP) • $125,000 allocated for court improvements (FY26 CIP) • $352,300 allocated for baseball/softball improvements (FY26 CIP) FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Recreation Name of Department Head: Frank Olivieri 1. Department Overview and Mission: The Melrose Recreation Department provides a diverse range of programs and events for individuals of all ages and abilities within the community. Through these offerings, the department delivers valuable resources and opportunities that strengthen community connections while promoting social, cultural, and physical well-being. Each year, the department serves more than 4,000 registered participants and welcomes an additional 2,000 attendees to its free community events, reflecting its commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and community engagement. 2. FY26 Accomplishments/Challenges: Key accomplishments include: Extensive Programs: • Offered more than 200 programs and events serving a wide range of ages, interests, and ability levels. High Participation in Athletic Programs: • Melrose Youth Basketball (600+ participants) • Melrose Flag Football (250+ participants) • Melrose Youth Field Hockey (100+ participants) • Middle School Afterschool Athletics & Clubs (400+ participants) o Activities included tackle football, field hockey, volleyball, cross country, track and field, wrestling, and hiking • Adult Athletics (300+ participants) Enrichment Programming: • Provided a variety of non-athletic programs, including filmmaking, LEGO robotics, babysitting training, mindfulness, financial literacy, vacation break camps, and many more. Community Events: • Hosted popular events such as the Fourth of July Celebration, Fishing Derby, and Melrose Tennis Open, contributing to strong community engagement. Volunteer and Staffing Support: FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 • Programs and events were supported by more than 200 community volunteers and over 50 seasonal/part-time staff. Financial Assistance: • Awarded over 50 scholarships to families experiencing financial hardship, helping ensure equitable access to programs and services. Challenges: • Rising Operational Costs: Increases in benefits, materials, and supplies resulted in more than a $50,000 rise in expenses compared to the previous fiscal year. • Reliance on Revolving Fund: For the second consecutive fiscal year, the Recreation Department operated entirely on the recreation revolving fund, receiving no support from the general fund. This was made possible through financial reserves generated from program revenue and conservative fiscal management over the past 20 years. 3. FY27 Priorities: • Restore General Fund Support: Reestablishing general fund support for the Recreation Department is a key priority for FY27. Returning funding to near previous levels will enhance the department’s ability to deliver high- quality programs and services while stabilizing the recreation revolving fund. This support will also help offset rising operational costs, including increases in employee benefits, program equipment, and supplies, ensuring long-term financial sustainability. • Expand and Enhance Program Offerings: The department will continue to develop new and diverse programming while maintaining its most successful offerings. Through the release of four seasonal brochures each year, the Recreation Department aims to provide engaging, in-demand opportunities that reflect the evolving interests of the community. Expanding program variety will further strengthen community connections and support the health, wellness, and social engagement of Melrose residents. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? In FY27, the Recreation Department’s budget reflects the restoration of general fund support after two years of operating solely on the revolving fund. This change improves financial stability and reduces reliance on reserves while helping to offset rising costs such as benefits, equipment, and supplies. Service Delivery Impacts: • Maintains and enhances program quality without significant fee increases • Supports the addition of new and diverse program offerings • Sustains scholarship opportunities and program accessibility • Strengthens long-term financial sustainability and planning FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? The Recreation Department supports the Melrose Public Schools (MPS) budget through the payment of indoor facility and gym rental fees. The department is charged the Melrose-based non-profit rate, consistent with other community user groups. Annually, gym rental expenses average approximately $20,000, with an additional $13,000 allocated for custodial costs, totaling roughly $33,000 per year. These expenses are invoiced through DPW and subsequently reimbursed to MPS. 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? At this time, the Proposition 2½ Override has not yet had a direct impact on the Recreation Department’s FY27 budget. However, the department is hopeful that the increased funding capacity will support the restoration of general fund funding, which would improve financial stability and enhance program and service delivery. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: Treasurer Collector 145- Treasurer/Collector 711 – Municipal Debt 296 – Parking 751 – Municipal Interest 916 – Medicare City Portion 752 – Projected Debt and Temporary Interest Name of Department Head: Kathryn Armata 1. Department Overview and Mission: The mission of the Treasurer Collector’s office is to ensure timely collection of revenues, invest and disburse funds appropriately, and maintain fiscal responsibility while supporting the City’s operational and borrowing needs. The Treasurer Collector department has six positions; three Collections Clerks, a Treasury/Parking Clerk, an Assistant Treasurer and the Treasurer Collector. The Collectors are the outward facing team. They interact with clients, law firms, and processing companies. They are responsible for providing professional and courteous responses to inquiries, the processing of real estate, personal property and motor vehicle excise tax, and water/sewer/trash payments. They also issue Municipal Lien Certificates. The team members each specialize in a specific type of billing but are crossed-trained across all collections to ensure ongoing operations when short staffed. The Assistant Treasurer is responsible for cash management duties, and her client base is the City departments. The Assistant Treasurer books all cash receipts of the City, funds all vendor and payroll warrants, and processes the payroll warrants of the City and Schools. She also manages the annual tailings process (uncashed checks). The Treasury side of the operation includes the Treasury/Parking Clerk who is responsible for managing the collection and dispute of parking tickets and processing deduction changes in the payroll system. The Treasury/Parking Clerk also serves as back up to the Assistant Treasurer for payroll processing and provides backup at the Collections window when there is a staffing shortage. The department will be adding the position of Payroll Manager, which currently sits in the City Auditor’s department, to the team in the near future. The transition is being made due to a recommendation included in the Department of Labor Services (DLS) review of financial operations conducted near the beginning of the Mayor’s term. In addition, the department is responsible for issuing and managing City debt, investment of City funds, managing relationships with banking and investment partners and our debt advisor and bond counsel, reconciliation of all bank and investment accounts, quarterly government filings, the liening of outstanding water bills to real estate bills, issuing W2’s, and continuously working to enhance processes and procedures. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 Prior to the issuance of the Q3/Q4 actual billing our reports showed a significantly higher than usual receivables level on the Water/Sewer accounts. The Water/Sewer Clerk proactively reached out to every outstanding client via phone to remind them of the overdue amount and respond to any questions about payment plan options and the liening process. Overall, the calls were appreciated and approximately $300,000 was collected prior to going to lien. The effort was positive to the City from a collections viewpoint and to the clients who avoided additional fees, interest and possible escrow adjustments. During the fiscal year, the Collections team added an on-line request portal to the options available on cityhallsystems.com. For a $2 fee, the portal allows clients to order tax payment information, bill copies and other requested research (forms are also available at the Collections window). Over the last several months, a committee of the CFO/City Auditor, Assistant Auditor, City Solicitor and Treasurer Collector has been working to convert the City’s Financial Policies to DLS suggested format. The process should be completed and the policies sent to the Mayor for approval around fiscal year end. We transitioned the Veterans’ monthly payments from physical checks to electronic payments and upgraded the card swipe at the Collectors window that is more user friendly to chip cards. Currently, we are collaborating with the Audit team to transition certain vendor payments to electronic form via a third- party provider. The project, which will be rolled out in phases, will enable us to meet the increasing vendor demand for electronic payment in a secure manner. In December 2025, the City issued $30.655 million of 25 year General Obligation Bonds (GOs) and a $26 million Bond Anticipation note (BAN) to fund the first construction phase of the Public Safety Building project. The lead up to the offering required collaboration among many departments to complete the offering document and prepare for the review meeting with Standard & Poor’s. The City was able to maintain its rating of AA+ and we were pleased with the market participation and results of the auction. 3. FY 27 Priorities: The use of a third-party accounts payable partner will be a staged rollout to minimize the impact on day- to-day operations. The Treasury team is committed to supporting the Audit team in this effort. There will be a large focus on hiring and training the new Payroll Manager over the next several months. The position is now vacant and duties being managed by the Assistant Auditor. We are meeting with her regularly to set up a smooth transition with a good starting knowledge base. If it doesn’t occur by year end, we will bid out the Deputy Collector duties as well as collections processor relationship. Although we are satisfied with our current business partner, it is good to review the relationship periodically to ensure we are getting the best service for a competitive price. There are a limited number of providers in this area of municipal services. Preparing and executing on a successful second round of long-term financing for the Public Safety Building project will take place in the fall of 2026. The goal is to maintain or improve the City’s rating of AA+ and obtain competitive market pricing. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? There are no significant changes to the Treasurer Collector (145) budget. The largest increase is in the Salary line of based on anticipated step-ups, the addition of the Payroll Manager, and an estimate for contractual changes. The Treasurer Collector budget consists primarily of payroll expenses and FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 equipment maintenance and processing costs. The postage line item takes into account the number of elections to be held in the fiscal year and other large volume mailings (such as excise tax bills). The driver for the $5,000 reduction in budget is the fact that there will only be two state elections in FY27. Printing costs will be lower due to a change in the Tax Title process that shifts some advertising costs to constable delivery fees in the Title Fees line. The Parking budget (296) is budgeted to increase 3.4% primarily due to a salary step up and $2,000 increase in the professional services line item. The debt budget (711) is slightly lower because payments on matured non-exempt bonds (that rolled off the schedule) were higher than the new issue exempt principal obligation being added to the payment schedule. Interest (751) is $1.816 million higher than FY26 due to the addition of the $1.9 million exempt interest related to the FY26 debt issuance offset by interest on matured bonds that rolled off the schedule. Projected Debt and Temporary Interest (752) is higher due to the maturing $26 million BAN being much larger the previous year’s BAN maturity. Medicare (916) – Medicare expense is calculated on total wages less FSA contributions, dental, health and life insurance premiums, and opt-outs of the City health plan. Currently, the City is negotiating multiple union contracts. We are conservatively budgeting a 5% increase to include estimated contract increases and the rehiring of certain roles made available by the Override. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? There are no direct costs of the Schools in the Treasurer Collector or Parking department budgets. In FY27, the principal payments on School related debt will be $2,978,909.35 and interest costs will be $621,420.84. A significant amount of the payments (principal $1,888,909.35 and interest $89,199.56) is associated with the two exempt bonds for the Middle School that will be fully paid in FY29. The balance is spread over multiple projects undertaken over the years. 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approve on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? Treasurer Collector -145 - The majority of the costs of the Department are for payroll, processing, and equipment maintenance. The Override did not impact the budget. Parking - 296 – The Override had no impact on the budget. Debt – 711,751,752 - The Override had no impact on the budget. Medicare 916 – Increased payroll expenses associated with hires allowed by the Override will increase budgeted Medicare costs. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 CITY OF MELROSE Auditor’s Office City Hall, 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4110 To: Melrose City Council From: Kerriann Golden, CFO/City Auditor Date: June 5, 2026 Re: #652 Pine Banks Budget Please see additional information regarding budget #652 Pine Banks. This is a statutory obligation for both the cities of Melrose and Malden. Please see the language below: As far as support to Melrose Public Schools, Pine Banks is the home field for many of Melrose High School's athletic teams at the varsity and junior varsity levels including, soccer, baseball, cross-country, track, field hockey and softball. Both staff and maintenance costs of this facility are housed in the Pine Banks budget. I wanted to provide some clarity on the reconciliation of the budget report provided by the Pine Banks Foundation (page 5) to Munis. Pine Banks Budget Line Amount Line 75 Total City Column Pine Banks Report 597,456.30 Line 2 50% Staffing Cost (Malden's share is included) 139,105.00 Line 3 Less Pensions Benefits & Insurance (In budgets where costs reside) (100,060.63) Total Pine Banks Budget 636,500.67 Line 2 – The full cost of employees are in Pine Banks budget #652. Line 3 – All Benefit costs for employees are in the respective department (#911, #914 & #916) The City of Malden is invoiced quarterly for the employee salary and benefit costs and these reimbursements are deposited in the general fund as a local receipt. Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council Department: FIRE – C221 Name of Department Head: JOHN J. WHITE 1. Department Overview and Mission: The Melrose Fire Department (MFD) is a multi-disciplinary public safety agency dedicated to safeguarding the lives, property, and economic soul of our community. Established in the late 19th century, we have evolved from a traditional firefighting force into a modern, all-hazards response team. We serve every resident, business owner, and visitor within our city limits through a proactive model of “Total Life Safety”. Our impact is defined by three primary pillars: • Rapid Life-Saving Intervention: By maintaining a 24/7/365 presence across strategically located fire stations, we ensure that every neighborhood has access to advanced life support and fire suppression within minutes. • Community Risk Reduction: Through the work of our Fire Prevention Division, we don’t just respond to emergencies – we prevent them. By enforcing rigorous safety codes, we lower the city’s overall risk profile, protecting property values and ensuring a safer environment for our schools and local businesses. • Resilience and Readiness: Whether facing a structure fire, a hazardous materials incident, or a complex rescue operation, our department provides the specialized technical expertise required to stabilize crises and return the community to normalcy as quickly as possible. The fire department operates with a culture of courage and compassion. Our mission is to provide a sense of security to every resident, ensuring that when our neighbors are at their most vulnerable, they are met with the highest standard of professional excellence. 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: Fiscal Year 2026 Key Accomplishments Our Service Demand: Sustained Operational Pressure The Melrose Fire Department continues to experience a high baseline of emergency incidents, reflecting the growing needs of our community. While FY25 saw an unprecedented, record-breaking spike FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 in calls, current data shows that the department has reached a “new normal” of service demand that consistently exceeds historical averages. Fiscal Year Total Emergency Incidents Operational Status FY22 (Actual) 4,480 High Volume Baseline FY23 (Actual) 4,582 +2.2% Increase FY24 (Actual) 4,342 Consistent Demand FY25 (Actual) 4,750 Record Peak (+9.4%) FY26 (Projected) 4,410* Sustained High Demand *Projected based on 3,493 incidents recorded through April 16, 2026. This sustained volume means that our primary response apparatuses are being deployed at a higher frequency than they were originally engineered for. This increased “run-time” directly contributes to the mechanical fatigues and rising maintenance costs detailed in our “Challenges” section. Despite this pressure, our crews continue to maintain rapid response times and provide high-quality clinical and fire- suppression outcomes for the residents of Melrose. Modernizing City Infrastructure: The Tremont Street Station In March 2026, we reached a historic milestone with the official start of construction on the new Tremont Street fire station. This project is more than a building; it is a critical modernization of our public safety infrastructure. During the early phases, the department successfully implemented a complex apparatus and staffing continuity plan, striving to maintain seamless and reliable response times to the West side. Fiscal Stewardship & Grant Acquisition In FY26, the department aggressively pursued and secured FY26 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant funding (pending approval from the City Council). These funds will be used to acquire state-of-the-art Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) bottles and multi-gas meters. By leveraging state grants for this essential life-safety equipment, we were able to modernize our toolkit while offsetting costs that would have otherwise required City budget funding. Strategic Training & Resourcefulness We transformed local challenges into opportunities by utilizing the former Beebe School building for high-intensity, hands-on training. This allowed our members, along with mutual aid departments, to practice search-and-rescue and fire suppression in a realistic environment. Our continued partnership with the Moon Island (Boston Fire) training facility and mutual aid drills ensures that Melrose firefighters are prepared for the increasingly complex nature of 21st-Century emergencies. Strengthening Community Resilience The department remains a visible and trusted presence in Melrose. Through our involvement in the Victorian Fair, National Night Out, and Junior Police Academy, we reached thousands of residents with FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 life-saving fire prevention education. These engagements are a core part of our mission, as a “fire-safe” community begins with an informed and engaged public. Fiscal Year 2026 Operational Challenges Critical Fleet Vulnerability & Maintenance Deficits The most pressing threat to our operational reliability remains the accelerating degradation of our aging apparatus. With several primary response vehicles operating well beyond their engineered service life, we have seen a direct correlation between vehicle age and emergency downtime. This challenge was significantly compounded by a $20,000 reduction in the Motor Vehicle Repair budget line this fiscal year. This funding gap is projected to create a “maintenance deficit”, where emergency repairs are now consuming budgeted funds at a much faster rate. As a result, we face an increased risk of mechanical failure during high-intensity emergency responses. Sustained support for the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is not merely a request for equipment; it is a vital necessity to ensure that when a resident calls 911, the responding apparatus is reliable and ready to perform. Modernizing Workforce Readiness for 21st-Century Hazards The role of a Melrose Firefighter has expanded in complexity, requiring mastery of evolving threats such as Lithium-Ion battery fires and complex technical rescues. Current funding levels for training are struggling to keep pace with these expanding federal and state mandates. To maintain our status as a premier emergency response agency, we require additional resources to move beyond “minimum compliance” and into “specialized excellence”. Investing in advanced certifications and professional development is a direct investment in member safety and community survival. Without this support, the gap between traditional firefighting tactics and the demands of modern, complex incidents will continue to widen. 3. FY 27 Priorities: To fulfill our mission, the Melrose Fire Department has identified the following strategic initiatives for Fiscal Year 2027. These objectives are designed to stabilize our infrastructure, enhance responder safety, and ensure fiscal accountability. High-Yield Fleet Recapitalization: We will focus on the phased procurement of next-generation apparatus through the City’s CIP. • Focus: By replacing units that have exceeded their 15-year frontline service life, we aim to reduce emergency maintenance expenditures and eliminate the risk of “out-of-service” gaps during peak call volume periods. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 Operational Continuity & Station Transition: As construction on the Tremont Street station reaches its mid-point, the department will prioritize the seamless management of our temporary operational footprint. • Focus: We will conduct ongoing response reviews to ensure that our relocated assets are meeting target arrival times. Our priority is maintaining 100% service reliability for the West Side and surrounding neighborhoods throughout the build process. Sustained Professional Development & Regulatory Readiness: The department will continue to prioritize the rigorous training and certification programs necessary to meet expanding state and federal mandates and address the increasing complexity of modern incidents. • Focus: Rather than static training, we are committed to the continuous evolution of our skills. In FY27, this includes advancing the mastery of specialized hazards such as Lithium-Ion battery fires and technical rescue. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? -Strategic Reductions & Efficiencies • Change: The FY27 budget includes a reduction in two lines – Professional Services and EMS Supplies – totaling $25,000. • Impact: These decreases reflect a successful effort to align line-item funding with actual historical utilization. Because these reductions target underutilized funds, there is no projected negative impact on the department’s ability to provide emergency services or maintain professional contracts in FY27. -Shift in Operational Training and Interagency Readiness • Change: The Overtime Training account remains level-funded at $11,500 for FY27. This account was first established in FY24 and has allowed the department to begin building a more sustainable and consistent approach to training participation and certification maintenance. As of May 2nd, approximately $21,000 has already been incurred between the Overtime Training account and the regular Overtime account to support required training activities. • Impact: Additional funding was requested to better align the account with actual operational training costs and to help prevent recurring overtime deficits tied to mandatory training requirements. Many fire service certifications, interagency drills, and specialized training opportunities require overtime staffing in order to maintain minimum on-duty coverage. Continued investment in training remains important to maintaining firefighter readiness, regional coordination capabilities, and compliance with evolving fire service standards. Without additional funding, the department will need to more closely prioritize training participation and limit expanded professional development opportunities beyond required baseline training activities. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 4 -Evolution of Fleet Risk • Change: The department’s operational posture has shifted due to the continued aging of frontline and reserve apparatus (2007 and 2010 Seagrave Engines). While these remain part of a pending Capital Improvement Program request, the “change” for FY27 is the transition of these vehicles into a high-failure stage of their lifecycle. • Impact: The service delivery impact is an increase in fleet volatility. With a combined $148,000 already spent on recent repairs, these engines are spending more time “out-of-service”. As maintenance needs continue to increase, frontline downtime places greater operational reliance on aged-out reserve apparatus. This creates additional pressure on fleet readiness, maintenance scheduling, and long-term service reliability. -Summary of Impacts While the department has successfully realized efficiencies in administrative and supply lines, the FY27 budget environment necessitates a shift in how we managed unfunded operational liabilities. The widening gap between budgeted training funds and certification costs, combined with the escalating maintenance needs of the fleet, represents a change in the department’s overall risk profile. Addressing these gaps remains essential to sustaining the safety and readiness the community expects. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? N/A 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? The proposition 2 ½ override approved in November served as a vital stabilization measure for the Fire Department’s FY27 budget. While these funds did not facilitate the expansion of services, they were instrumental in averting significant structural deficits that would have otherwise necessitated deep service reductions. Specific Impact: Prevention of Operational Degradation Absent the override, the department would have been forced to implement a “reduction-based” budget. The impact of the override is best understood through the risks it successfully mitigated: • Staffing & Response Integrity: The override prevented a reduction in personnel that would have compromised our ability to meet minimum safe staffing levels. Maintaining current staffing ensures that response times for fire suppression and emergency medical services remain within acceptable safety margins for the City of Melrose. • Apparatus Fleet Reliability: A reduced budget would have deferred critical preventative maintenance and delayed the replacement cycle for frontline apparatus. The override ensures FY 27 Budget Memo page. 5 that our fleet remains mechanically sound, reducing the risk of equipment failure during emergency scenes. • Safety & Compliance: By stabilizing the budget, the department can continue to adhere to essential NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) safety standards and training requirements, protecting both our first responders and the community at large. In summary, the override provided the fiscal floor necessary to sustain the department’s core mission. It allowed for the preservation of essential services and the continued upkeep of the city’s life- safety infrastructure, ensuring that emergency response capabilities remain consistent and reliable throughout FY27. /s/ John J. White Chief of Department FY 27 Budget Memo page. 6 Fiscal Year 2027 Department Memo to City Council April 30, 2026 Department: Police Name of Department Head: Chief Kevin M. Faller 1. Department Overview and Mission: MISSION: The mission of the Melrose Police Department is to provide quality policing through collaboration and mutual trust with the citizens of our community. We will do so with honor and integrity. We value the rights of all citizens, and we will enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in a fair, impartial, and procedurally just manner. VISION: The Melrose Police Department will be a model agency prepared to meet future challenges by being a progressive and innovative police department. We will enhance the quality of life for all citizens by creating a partnership of trust and transparency with our community to promote positive change. VALUES: The Melrose Police Department strives to establish our credibility and legitimacy through the embodiment of our core values: Honor, Integrity, Courage, and Accountability (HICA): • Honor: Our promise to always do what is right. We hold our profession and the citizens we serve in the highest respect. • Integrity: We are committed to honesty and ethical behavior in all our actions. • Courage: We have a selfless devotion to our duty, and we will stand for justice in the face of danger. • Accountability: We accept responsibility for our actions and understand the expectations of the community we serve. DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION: • Chief of Police • Executive Office Manager • Administrative Assistant (part time) • 4 Lieutenants • 10 Sergeants • 35 Patrol Officers • 2 civilian Parking Wardens (part time) FY 27 Budget Memo page. 1 2. FY 26 Accomplishments/Challenges: Accomplishments: • On pace for 16,000 calls for service, 3,300 calls received via 911 emergency line, 2,300 reports filed, 2,000 MV citations issued, 4,000 parking tickets issued (excess of $100K in fines), 400 MV crash reports filed, 2,000 medical aid responses, and 400 criminal summons’ and/or arrests. • In FY26, MPD officers conducted some specialized training, to include: o Department wide in-service Training focused on law & procedure updates, domestic violence, officer wellness, critical incident & crime scene training, firearms qualification, and CPR/TAC Med/First Aid Training. o Department wide 911 training focused on crisis intervention, cultural diversity and mental health areas. o Department wide Active Shooter Training: October 2025 Beebe School. o Detective Bureau: Mass State Police Partnership Initiative spending a week with State Police Detectives responsible for homicide/suspicious death investigations, Background Investigation training for recruit applicants, interrogation/investigation & forensic training. o Traffic: 80-hour Crash Investigation course, additional training in Speed Measurement/LIDAR, SFTS, School Bus Enforcement. o Implementation and training of new evidence software for the department which improved the tracking and oversight of evidence. o School Resource Officers: Youth Crisis Intervention training, along with specialized juvenile law training. o MAWLE (MA Women in Law Enforcement) Conferences, Foundation Leadership for promotion eligible officers, REID Technique & Interview & Interrogation classes. • Numerous letters and emails of appreciation from residents commending the work of our officers. • Boston Bruins B Fit Challenge – raised over 13k for charity to support fallen First Responders at the TD Garden in Boston, Ma. • Numerous community engagement events such as the Junior Police Academy, the “Bike Bus” for elementary schools, reading to students at various schools, MPD Podcast “Behind The Badge” on MMTV, a “mock crash” impaired driving investigation/demonstration to high school students, and various other events to engage the community as partners and enhance recruitment efforts. • Construction of the new Police Station commenced in April 2026. Challenges: • Staffing: o 2 positions originally were removed from the FY26 budget ▪ Both positions were restored into the budget after a successful override ballot in November 2025; however, it is not an immediate fix. ▪ One recruit started in a Police Academy on 04/20/26 and the second recruit is scheduled to start in July 2026. It is a lengthy process that takes over 12 months for an officer to assume full time police roles and fill an FY 27 Budget Memo page. 2 open spot. It is not as simple as restoring a position and expecting a replacement officer to start immediately. It is 3 plus months of the application process, background investigation, medical/psych evaluations, and successful passing of mandatory physical fitness tests required by the Commonwealth. After that, finding an open slot in a 6- month Academy is a challenge. After graduating a 6-month academy, 2-3 months of on-the-job field training under the mentorship of a veteran Field Training Officer is required before that officer fills an open spot to impact staffing and overtime. ▪ Each fiscal year we lose several officers, some of which are unexpected. Although we are budgeted for 50 sworn officers (all ranks including Chief), we have never had 50 working full time at any point since I became Chief in 2022. We are constantly trying to fill “open positions” due to retirements or transfers which limits what we can do as an organization, it impacts overtime costs and can be detrimental to morale and wellness. ▪ Budgeting for more personnel (example: 54) would mitigate the effects of consistently having “open positions” that take 12+ months to fill. Instead of perpetually having 3-4 open positions to reach “full staffing” of 50 during any fiscal year, by adding 3-4 more positions we would still have a few “open positions” each year, but at the same time we would likely have at least 50 working in an assignment at any given time. This would create a “fully staffed” department to allow for more officers on Patrol, decreased overtime costs, increased visibility and enforcement, and allow for more opportunities for our front-line patrol officers. ▪ In Massachusetts, towns with 50,000 residents or less, police department budgets typically account for roughly 10% to 20% of the total operating budget, often falling around 13-15% for smaller jurisdictions, according to national and regional data. Personnel costs, including salaries and benefits, usually represent approximately 90% of these police department budgets. Historically in Melrose, the overall police operating budget has accounted for roughly 6% of the overall city budget, which is well below average. FY27 appears to be projected at approximately only 5% of the overall city budget. Adding 3-4 more sworn full-time positions to the police operating budget would result in the current requested police budget accounting for roughly 5.2% of the city’s overall budget, still well below national and local average. This small increase would have a positive impact on services we can provide and help with the retention of our officers. The city is growing and developing at a fast pace and calls for service will increase significantly over the next few years. ▪ Minimum staffing on the street is currently 3 Patrol Officers covering the entire city on any shift. Staffing is a challenge and will continue to be a challenge with the number of positions currently budgeted for. FY 27 Budget Memo page. 3 3. FY 27 Priorities: • Maintain staffing and successfully integrate 4 new officers who are currently in training or soon to be in training. • Retention of Officers has been an increasing challenge across the Commonwealth. It is vital to maintain a positive culture within the department, create opportunities to grow, and compensate our personnel fairly within the marketplace to retain officers who have had increasing job opportunities available to them due to changes in the Civil service hiring process. • New Police Station construction project: Ensure that it is done correctly, within the scope and budget, and meets the community and neighborhood residents’ expectations. • Explore a Deputy Chief position that is currently in the Superior Officers’ contract which will allow for succession planning, professional growth, and improved services internally and externally through a re-alignment and examination of job descriptions and supervisory responsibilities. • Enhance recruitment efforts and strategic planning to reduce the time needed to fill anticipated and unexpected vacancies. • Continuing to work on the progress of 2 Capital Improvement Plan requests: o Purchase of tasers and training of all sworn personnel. o Cruiser fleet replacement and maintenance plan. • Prepare to work collaboratively with both police unions in preparation for contract negotiations. Both police union contracts expire in June of 2027. • Training and adhering to best practices in policies as we work towards accreditation. • Continue to expand community engagement events. 4. What has changed in the Department’s Budget for FY 27? As a result of these changes, what are the corresponding service delivery impacts? • Re-insertion of 2 Patrol Officer salaried positions that were originally cut from the FY26 budget. • “SALARIES” group line item (51) accounts for 95.5% of the overall FY27 police budget. Due to contractual pay raise obligations across 2 unions as well as the re-insertion of 2 police officer positions, this group line item (51) has increased 6.0% from FY26 to FY27. This is the main reason why the overall operating budget has shown an increase of 5.9% as well. Of note, both police unions took less contractual pay raises in the first 2 years of their contract (FY 25 and FY26) due to the fiscal situation at the time. • Licensing for new Evidence Software purchased in FY26 from free cash resulted in an increase of $7,785 (computer support line item). The result is better accounting practices and oversight of evidence management which is of critical importance. • Majority of other line items have been level funded from FY26 (some of which were reduced from FY25 to FY26). FY 27 Budget Memo page. 4 • Several contractual vendor and membership dues have increased, thus causing a slight increase in those line items. 5. What costs, if any, are housed in your department’s budget to support the Melrose Public Schools? • 2 Full time School Resource Officer salaried positions. 6. What impacts, if any, has the Proposition 2 ½ Override Melrose voters approved in November had on your Department’s Budget for FY 27? • 2 Patrol Officer positions were cut in FY26. They have since been restored and fully funded in FY27. Respectfully Submitted, __________________________ Chief Kevin M. Faller FY 27 Budget Memo page. 5 FISCAL YEAR 2026 FREE CASH REQUEST MELROSE FIRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTED BY: CHIEF JOHN J. WHITE THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCOUNT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN FUNDED AT $100,000 ANNUALLY; HOWEVER, THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR MAINTAINING FLEET APPROPRIATION WAS REDUCED TO $80,000 AS PART OF PRIOR CITY- WIDE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS, WHICH HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE READINESS CURRENT PROJECTED SHORTFALL. ASIDE FROM THAT, VEHICLE REQUEST: +$30,000 MAINTENANCE COSTS HAVE REMAINED HIGH DUE TO ONGOING REPAIR LINE: MV REPAIRS & MAINT. 012212-527500 NEEDS OF AGED-OUT TRUCKS AND THE NECESSITY OF KEEPING FRONTLINE APPARATUS IN SAFE AND RELIABLE CONDITION. THIS REQUEST IS INTENDED TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS THE $30,000 FUNDING REQUEST IS BASED ON REPAIR AND WITHOUT DISRUPTION TO CRITICAL SERVICES. MAINTENANCE COST ESTIMATES DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENTS FLEET MANAGER, LIEUTENANT MIKE BELL. THESE ESTIMATES ARE INTENDED TO ADDRESS FY26 MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR NEEDS MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR COSTS ACROSS THE MELROSE FIRE DEPARTMENT FLEET. ENGINE 3 $13,500 MISC. $11,500 ENGINE 2 $10,500 LADDER 2 $9,500 LADDER 1 $5,000 ENGINE 4 $3,000 $0 $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 $12,000 $14,000 $16,000 DRIVEN BY SAFETY LONG-TERM APPARATUS REPLACEMENT REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION. REQUEST THROUGH THE CITY’S CIP FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT’S 2007 (19 YEARS) AND 2010 (16 YEARS) SEAGRAVE ENGINES WERE NOT FUNDED IN FY27. WHILE ANNUAL REPAIR COSTS FLUCTUATE, BOTH APPARATUS CONTINUE TO REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL MAINTENANCE INVESTMENTS DUE TO THEIR AGE AND CONTINUED FRONT- LINE AND RESERVE SERVICE DEMANDS. $25,000.00 $23,168.07 $22,454.35 $20,715.76 $20,000.00 $16,448.06$15,996.32 $15,000.00 $12,585.01 $13,251.59 $11,685.24 $10,000.00 $7,251.46 $5,494.05 $5,000.00 $0.00 FY 22 FY 23 FY 24 FY 25 FY 26 IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, ENGINE 3 AND ENGINE 4 HAVE E3 - 2010 E4 - 2007 INCURRED THE CITY $150,000+. SPECIFIC SAFETY FEATURES OFTEN MISSING ON OLDER APPARATUS: NFPA STANDARD - IMPROVED OCCUPANT - IMPROVED WARNING AND THE STANDARDS FOR IN-SERVICE, AGED-OUT PROTECTION SYSTEMS VISIBILITY SYSTEMS APPARATUS ARE OUTLINED IN NFPA 1910 AND THE ANNEX - ENHANCED SEAT BELT DESIGNS - BETTER SCENE LIGHTING - AIR BAG SYSTEMS - MODERN BRAKING AND OF NFPA 1900. THE STANDARDS RECOMMEND THE - VEHICLE STABILITY AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL FOLLOWING LIFE-CYCLE AND RETIREMENT GUIDELINES: ROLLOVER PROTECTION SYSTEMS THE “15/25 RULE” • 15 YEARS: RECOMMENDS THAT APPARATUS BE REMOVED FROM FRONTLINE SERVICE AND RELEGATED TO RESERVE STATUS. • 25 YEARS: RECOMMENDS COMPLETELY REMOVING THE APPARATUS FROM EMERGENCY SERVICE. ENGINE 3 – 16 YRS OLD ENGINE 4 – 19 YRS OLD ENGINE 3 YEAR: 2010 AGE: 16ENGINE 4 YEAR: 2007 AGE: 19STAFFING DEMANDS & OVERTIME FUNDING REQUEST: +$400,000 LINE: OVERTIME 012211-513000 WHY OVERTIME FUNDING IS NECESSARY FIRE APPARATUS ARE STAFFED BASED ON OPERATIONAL & SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. WHEN A FIREFIGHTER IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S OVERTIME COSTS ARE DRIVEN PRIMARILY UNAVAILABLE, THAT POSITION MUST BE FILLED TO MAINTAIN BY THE NEED TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM STAFFING AND OPERATIONAL MINIMUM STAFFING LEVELS. READINESS, NOT DISCRETIONARY SPENDING. THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO ABSORB THE IMPACTS OF EMPLOYEE ABSENCES, VACANCIES, TRAINING, AND OTHER WITHOUT ADEQUATE OVERTIME FUNDING AUTHORIZED LEAVE THAT ARE INHERENT TO A 24-HOUR - ENGINE COMPANIES MAY OPERATE BELOW STAFFING STANDARDS - APPARATUS MAY BE PLACED OUT OF SERVICE EMERGENCY SERVICE ORGANIZATION. AS A RESULT, OVERTIME - FEWER FIREFIGHTERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EMERGENCY INCIDENTS FUNDING IS ROUTINELY EXHUASTED, REQUIRING ADDITIONAL - MUTUAL AID RELIANCE INCREASES APPROPRIATIONS TO MAINTAIN STAFFING AND EMERGENCY - RESPONSE CAPABILITIES ARE REDUCED RESPONSE CAPABILITIES.MELROSE FIRE LINE RESPONSESUPPORTING SAFE STAFFING TOP 3 LEAVE REASONS: VACATION, SICK, & INJURY LEVELS FY24 FY25 FY26 TOTAL BUDGET SPENT: $5,239,298.79 TOTAL BUDGET SPENT: $6,878,289.42 TOTAL BUDGET SPENT: $6,051,379.55 OVERTIME SPENT: $1,154,817.39 SPENT: $1,635,358.72 SPENT: $804,989.96 PCT USED: 22% PCT USED: 23% PCT USED: 13% HOURS PER LEAVE HOURS PER LEAVE HOURS PER LEAVE 30 48 89 159 264 6 118 222 258 39 48 91 134 256 469 1,569 2,723 5,218 7,676 8,629 8,500 5,874 5,854 6,911 TRAINING MILITARY UNION TRAINING FUNERAL UNION TRAINING FUNERAL UNION ADMIN FUNERAL INJURY MILITARY ADMIN INJURY MILITARY ADMIN INJURY SICK VACATION SICK VACATION SICK VACATION WHEN FRONTLINE UNITS ARE UNAVAILABLE DUE TO STAFFING GAPS, ADEQUATE STAFFING & RESPONSE RELIABILITY IS REDUCED AND REMAINING CREWS ARE BACKFILL COVERAGE STRETCHED ACROSS INCREASED CALL VOLUME. 4000 3740 30,000 25,025 25,000 22,129 IF STAFFING FALLS BELOW 3000 20,000 REQUIRED LEVELS, RESPONSE 1762 2000 15,000 11,198 EFFECTIVENESS AND 10,000 FIREFIGHTER SAFETY CAN BE 1000 229 5,000 COMPROMISED. ADEQUATE 0 0 STAFFING IS CRITICAL FOR: HOLDOVERS OT/CALLBACKS - IMPROVING FIREFIGHTER FY24 FY25 FY26 FY24 FY25 FY26 SAFETY - EFFECTIVE PROPERTY WHILE OVERTIME AND HOLDOVER HOURS HAVE PROTECTION - SEARCH & RESCUE DECREASED COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS, THE OPERATIONS PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS FUNDING REQUEST IS NOT COST - REDUCING FIREFIGHTER TRENDS, BUT OPERATIONAL SAFETY AND STAFFING BURNOUT, FATIGUE, & INJURIES - PATIENT CARE STABILITY. - FASTER RESPONSE TIMES - EFFICIENT VICTIM RESCUE MAINTAINING ADEQUATE BACKFILL COVERAGE IS - BETTER COMMUNITY ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THAT OPEN POSITIONS, VACANCIES, OUTCOMES AND UNPLANNED ABSENCES DO NOT RESULT IN APPARATUS BEING PLACED OUT OF SERVICE. KEY POINTS: EVERY DAY, MELROSE RESIDENTS DEPEND ON A FULLY - OVERTIME FUNDING ENSURES ALL FRONTLINE STAFFED FIRE DEPARTMENT TO RESPOND WHEN APPARATUS REMAIN STAFFED AND AVAILABLE. EMERGENCIES OCCUR. - REDUCES THE RISK OF COMPANIES BEING PLACED OUT FUNDING THIS REQUEST ENSURES THAT CRITICAL OF SERVICE DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES. RESOURCES REMAIN AVAILABLE, RESPONSE CAPABILITIES ARE PRESERVED, AND PUBLIC SAFETY REMAINS OUR - MAINTAINS SAFE STAFFING LEVELS FOR EMERGENCY HIGHEST PRIORITY. INCIDENTS. - PROTECTS RESPONSE TIMES AND SERVICE DELIVERY TO MAINTAINING EMERGENCY RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND SCHOOLS. - SUPPORTS OPERATIONAL CONTINUITY WHILE RESPONSE READINESS VACANCIES ARE FILLED.FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET PRESENTATION MELROSE FIRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTED BY: CHIEF JOHN J. WHITE FY26 PRESENTED CONTINUED FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT REQUIRED THE DEPARTMENT TO REMAIN DISCIPLINED AND STRATEGIC IN MANAGING OPERATIONAL NEEDS WHILE MAINTAINING UNINTERRUPTED EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH CAREFUL BUDGETING, PRIORITIZATION OF RESOURCES, AND THE DEDICATION OF DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL, THE DEPARTMENT SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATED THESE CONSTRAINTS WHILE CONTINUING TO MEET THE CITY’S PUBLIC SAFETY EXPECTATIONS. AS THE DEPARTMENT ENTERS FY27, WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE CITY’S SUPPORT AND THE FUNDING PROVIDED TO MAINTAIN CORE OPERATIONS AND ADDRESS SEVERAL IMPORTANT PRIORITIES. PLANNED FY27 INVESTMENTS INCLUDE EXPANDED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, CRITICAL LIFE SAFETY FY26 – FY27 EQUIPMENT, AND CONTINUED EFFORTS TO SUPPORT FIREFIGHTER READINESS AND OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW EFFECTIVENESS. KEY INCREASES INCLUDE FUNDING FOR INVESTMENTS IN SALARY/WAGES, AND OVERTIME ACCOUNTS TO SUPPORT STAFFING REQUIREMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT’S PUBLIC SAFETY 49 EMPLOYEES. THE FY27 BUDGET REFLECTS TARGETED INVESTMENTS FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING OPERATIONAL READINESS, INCREASED FUNDING WITHIN MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIRS/ SUPPORTING PERSONNEL, AND SUSTAINING FRONTLINE MAINTENANCE AND BATTERY ACCOUNTS WAS EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES. THE DEPARTMENT’S NECESSARY TO ADDRESS RISING MAINTENANCE OVERALL BUDGET INCREASED BY 2.6%, WITH 7 OF 26 DEMANDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEPARTMENT’S BUDGET LINES REFLECTING INCREASES TIED TO CRITICAL AGING APPARATUS FLEET. THESE INVESTMENTS HELP OPERATIONAL NEEDS. ENSURE THE CONTINUED RELIABILITY AND OPERATIONAL READINESS OF FRONTLINE EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES. OTHER INCREASES ARE BASED ON REGULAR ACCOUNTS: FY26 BUDGET FY27 REQUEST: FY27 PROPOSED: PCT CHANGE: ANNUAL COST INCREASES, SERVICE FEE ADJUSTMENTS, [51] SALARIES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SALARY & WAGES $5,201,301.00 $5,477,685.91 $5,328,184.00 2.4% OVERTIME $489,300.00 $1,518,599.16 $513,500.00 4.9% [52] CONTRACTUAL LIFE/SAFETY EQUIPMENT $5,996.18 $15,000.00 $15,000.00 37.6% THIS FUNDING SUPPORTS THE DEPARTMENT’S ABILITY MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR & MAINT $65,446.51 $100,000.00 $100,000.00 25.0% TO RESPOND TO APPROXIMATELY 4,700 EMERGENCY [53] SUPPLIES & MATERIAL CALLS ANNUALLY WHILE MAINTAINING UNINTERRUPTED FIRE PREVENTION SUPPLIES $2,380.20 $4,000.00 $4,000.00 33.3% EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES, FIREFIGHTER SAFETY, BATTERIES $469.73 $2,000.00 $2,000.00 166.7% AND CONTINUED SERVICE DELIVERY TO THE CLEANING & DISINFECTANT SUP $7,234.95 $7,500.00 $7,500.00 7.1% COMMUNITY.THE FY27 BUDGET INCLUDES DECREASES IN 2 OF 26 BUDGET LINES, TOTALING APPROXIMATELY $25,000 IN REDUCTIONS. WHILE THE APPROVED BUDGET SUPPORTS THE DEPARTMENT’S CONTINUING CORE OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS, SEVERAL IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL NEEDS REMAIN AREAS FOR FUTURE OPERATIONAL NEEDS CONSIDERATION. ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUESTED FOR THE OVERTIME TRAINING ACCOUNT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FY27 BUDGET. FUNDING WAS REQUESTED TO SUPPORT MANDATORY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AND EXPANDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AS TRAINING DEMANDS WITHIN THE FIRE SERVICE CONTINUE TO INCREASE. THE DEPARTMENT WAS BUDGETED $11,500 WITHIN THE TRAINING ACCOUNT FOR FY26 AND BETWEEN THE OVERTIME AND TRAINING LINES, THEY HAVE INCURRED APPROXIMATELY $21,000 AS OF MAY 2026. THIS DEMONSTRATES THE CONTINUED OPERATIONAL DEMANDS FOR TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION ACTIVITIES. FY26ACCOMPLISHMENTS FY26 MELROSE FIRE DEPARTMENT CALL TYPES ODOR OF SMOKE - INSIDE 12 BUILDING/HOUSE FIRE 13 ALARM SOUNDING -… 13 BRUSH FIRE 17 WATER LEAK/PROBLEM 22 GAS ODOR - OUTSIDE 24 GAS ODOR - INSIDE 37 LOCK OUT / LOCK IN 40 MUTUAL AID 49 ELEVATOR RESCUE 45 WIRES DOWN 69 CENTRAL STATION ALARM 59 CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM 88 WELL-BEING CHECK 101 OTHER 121 MVA 130 BOX ALARM 148 INVESTIGATION 173 LIFT ASSIST 191 ALARM SOUNDING - NO… 337 MEDICAL AID 2459 0 1000 2000 3000FORECASTING FOR THE FUTURE THE MELROSE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO DELIVERING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE INVESTMENTS OUTLINED IN THIS BUDGET – IN OUR PERSONNEL, APPARATUS, & INFRASTRUCTURE – ARE NOT DISCRETIONARY. THEY ARE THE FOUNDATION OF A SAFE, RESPONSIVE, AND SUSTAINABLE DEPARTMENT.FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET PRESENTATION MELROSE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT PRESENTED BY: CHIEF JOHN J. WHITEEMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: IMPACT BEYOND THE BUDGET THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE CITY’S PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, RECOVERY, AND MITIGATION EFFORTS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER EMERGENCIES. PRIOR TO THE START OF FY26, OVERSIGHT OF THIS FUNCTION WAS ASSUMED BY THE MELROSE FIRE CHIEF, ENSURING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES REMAIN CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS AND COMMUNITY NEEDS. THE DEPARTMENT’S FY27 BUDGET OF $10,000 SUPPORTS ADMINISTRATIVE STIPENDS ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGING THIS CRITICAL FUNCTION. DESPITE ITS MODEST BUDGET, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT VALUE THROUGH PLANNING, TRAINING, INTERAGENCY COORDINATION, GRANT MANAGEMENT, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. MANY REQUIREMENTS REMAIN UNCERTAIN AND BUDGET REQUESTS HAVE BEEN INTENTIONALLY LIMITED AS WE ASSESS PRIORITIES FOR FY27 AND BEYOND. A STRATEGIC OVERVIEW OF THE ANNUAL PLANNING, TRAINING, AND COORDINATION, BY THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, REQUIRED TO KEEP OUR PREPARING FOR WHAT COMMUNITY RESILIENT AND RESPONSE-READY: COMES NEXT - PARTICIPATE IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING AND TABLETOP EXERCISES - PURSUE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CAPABILITIES - RECENT EMPG (EMERG. MGT. PERFORMANCE GRANT) SUBMITTAL FOR $5,358.18 - OVERSEE DISASTER RESPONSE, RECOVERY, AND MITIGATION ACTIVITIES - MANAGE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AND SITUATIONAL AWARENESS DURING SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENTS & EMERGENCIES - MAINTAIN & UPDATE THE CITY’S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN - SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY PLANNING FOR MAJOR EVENTS, INCIDENTS, OR SPECIAL OPERATIONS - ATTENDING REGIONAL & STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MEETINGS THE STRONGEST EMERGENCY RESPONSE BEGINS LONG - MYSTIC REPC (MYSTIC REGIONAL EMERGENCY BEFORE AN INCIDENT OCCURS. CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN PLANNING COMMITTEE) PLANNING, TRAINING, AND COORDINATION HELPS PROTECT - MEMA (MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND CRITICAL MANAGEMENT AGENCY) INFRASTRUCTURE. Final Study Report May 22, 2026 Proposed Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District Melrose Historic District Commission & Melrose Historical Commission Prepared for the City of Melrose Massachusetts Office Planning and Community Development TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary Sheet ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 4 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 14 District Boundary ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 15 Property Index………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….17 Lynde Family Geneology and Houses ………………………………………………………………………………………. 17 Architectural Description and Assessment ……………………………………………………………………………… 22 Significance .................................................................................................................................. 29 Ordinance ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 30 Public Comments …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 30 Appendix A- Sources and Bibliography ......................................................................................... 31 Appendix B- Preliminary Drawings ............................................................................................... 33 Appendix C- Massachusetts Historic Commission Form B …………….......................................7 pages Appendix D- Massachusetts Historical CommissionAdvisory Letter………………….………………..1 page Appendix E- Melrose Planning Board Recommendation Letter……………………………………………1 page Appendix F- City of Melrose, Historic Districts Ordinance................................................... 3 pages 2 SUMMARY SHEET Contact Information Lori Massa, AICP Director, Office of Planning & Community Development City of Melrose, 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 781-979-4193 lmassa@CityofMelrose.org Study Committee Members – Existing Melrose Historic District Commission Members of the Melrose Historic District Commission: • Michael Coleman, Chair • Richard Curl • Kevin Erb • Ryan Murphy • Lindsay Toghill • Robert Tullis Historical Commission Members of the Melrose Historical Commission: • Shane Egan, Chair • Joseph Hunt, Vice Chair • Rebecca Blumenthal, Secretary • Darren Brown, Treasurer • George Bibilos • Cathy Giliberto • Gentry Andrews Date of Public Hearing & City Council Vote • A public hearing was be held no sooner than 60 days following submission of the Preliminary Study Report to the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the Melrose Planning Board. The date of the public hearing with the Melrose Historic District Committee as the Study Committee was May 12, 2026. • The Melrose Historic District Commission voted to forward the Final version of the report to the Melrose City Council. • The City Council will consider the matter on June 1, 2026. Total Number of Properties Affected by the Proposed Local Historic District The proposed Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District will affect: • 1 property address, 244 Main Street Melrose MA • 1 parcel, approximately 18,516 square feet or 0.425 acres of land • 1 property owner • 1 historic building, greater than 100 years old • 1 detached outbuilding, 50 years or older Conclusion of the Study Report The building is worthy of preservation and designation as a single-parcel Local Historic District. 3 INTRODUCTION In Massachusetts since 1955 and in Melrose since 1982, Local Historic Districts (LHDs) have been used to protect valued historic resources. As noted in Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Chapter 40 C, LHDs have three major purposes: • to preserve and protect the distinctive characteristics of buildings and places significant in the Commonwealth and its cities and towns; • to maintain and improve the settings of those buildings and places; • and to encourage new designs compatible with existing buildings in the district. MGL Chapter 40C is the framework under which cities and towns establish districts within their communities, outlining the process for identifying districts and gaining approval for their designation. Over Massachusetts 120 cities and towns have embraced this planning tool, thereby protecting thousands of the Commonwealth’s most valued properties. In Melrose, the northern section of downtown along Main Street (from West Emerson Street to just south of East Foster Street) has been designated an LHD. This Melrose Town Center Historic District includes Melrose City Hall, the adjacent Main Fire Station, Memorial Hall, the Coolidge School, the Baptist Church & Methodist Church, and several downtown commercial buildings. This area and the buildings within it were also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The National Register is the federal government’s official list of U.S. areas deemed to be worthy of preservation. The Register, and criteria for adding locations, was established following the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. In addition to Melrose’s LHD, our city also contains five other National Register properties and shares two more with adjacent communities. Those National Register properties are: • The Beebe Estate- the historic West Foster Street house, built in 1828, listed on the NRHP in 1981. • Larrabee’s Brick Block- the commercial and residential building at 500-504 Main Street, a relatively unaltered 19th century structure in the Town Center Historic District. It was built in 1880 by John Larrabee, and listed on the NRHP in 1984. • Melrose Public Library- located at 69 West Emerson Street, an Andrew Carnegie library. It was built in 1904 with subsequent additions made, and listed on the NHRP in 1988. • The Phineas Upham House- located at 255 Upham Street, a traditional Colonial Period Saltbox house. The Upham House was built in 1703 and listed on the NRHP in 1990. • The Trinity Episcopal Church- located at 131 West Emerson St. The main church building was constructed in 1886, and listed on the NHRP in 1995. • The Middlesex Fells Reservation Parkways- the series of roadways within and bordering on the Middlesex Fells Reservation. Shared with Malden, Medford, Stoneham and Winchester, it was listed on the NHRP in 2003. • The Lynn Fells Parkway- part of the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston, it runs from Stoneham in the west to Saugus in the east. It was listed on the NHRP in 2003. Historic District Commissions oversee the Local Historic Districts. Their chief concerns are to avoid demolition of significant buildings and to review proposed publicly visible changes to those buildings and landscapes. LHDs do not halt change or development, but instead they 4 allow for a process of public review and thoughtful consideration of proposed changes, making certain that the changes are in keeping with the history and integrity of properties within the district. Just as important, Local Historic Districts benefit the whole city by preserving the city’s architectural integrity and unique cultural heritage, and therefore foster community pride. This Study Report presents a rationale for establishing a single-parcel local historic district at 244 Main Street, the Benjamin Lynde House, originally built by Capt. John Lynde in 1693 and rebuilt by Benjamin after a fire in 1819. The house is one of four (or possibly six) surviving structures of a larger number of early homes built by the Lynde family, one of the most significant early Melrose families who were settlers and farmers in what was then known as North Malden. (The family name is pronounced with a ‘long I’ as in “The students LINED up single file in the schoolyard.”) The other three surviving houses verified to be Lynde houses are: • The 1702 Joseph Lynde house, a largely intact First Period colonial, also still stands at 409 Lebanon Street (corner of Grove Street), where it faces and terminates the eastern end of Lynde Street as that street winds its way in a lazy S curve from its start at Main Street just north of Wyoming Avenue. This is MEL.50 in the MACRIS inventory. • The 1829 Alvin Lynde house survives on the east side of Main Street across and uphill from the Benjamin Lynde House. This small house, known as “Little Mount Vernon” for its white porch and once-commanding view over Main Street (early 1930s houses were built in between its porch and Main Street), is undoubtably the inspiration for the road names of Mt. Vernon Avenue and Potomac Street. The rear of the house faces the corner of these two roads and it has a 106 Mt. Vernon address. This is MEL.74 in the MACRIS inventory. • The c.1700 Jabez Lynde / Grundy House survives at 407 Washington Street, where it was built by Capt. John Lynde for his son Thomas at the same time and about 1,650 feet (100 rods) west of Capt. John’s own house (see below). Originally this was a First Period style house. It has been remodeled and now appears to be a simplified early Victorian Vernacular farmhouse. According to Goss, History of Melrose, 1902, pp 75-76: “Originally it had a very large chimney and fireplace, wide front door through which huge fire logs were taken, and 3x4 diamond-paned windows, the glass secured by lead instead of putty.” It is MEL.205 in the MACRIS inventory. Two houses that are likely to be surviving Lynde family houses are: • The house at 531 Lebanon Street, a five-bay center-entry “colonial” built in 1834. It has the same wide front door opening as the Jabez Lynde house once had. This is MEL. 236 in the MACRIS inventory. The name G. Lynde is assigned to a house in this location on the 1852 F.G. Sidney Melrose map. On the 1856 unattributed map, the G. Lynde house is shown and Lebanon Street is labeled Lynde. On the 1875 Beers Melrose Center map the house is labeled George Lynde, and he is shown owning all Lebanon Street frontage from Upham Street to East Emerson Street. A house belonging to A.P Lynde (A.W. Lynde on an 1889 map) appears on the northwest corner of Lebanon and East Emerson, with its barn on the northeast corner (now the hospital parking lot), but it seems they were demolished. • An 1824 house at 350 Washington Street is possibly another 8th or 9th generation Lynde family house. It is labeled Estate of Aaron Lynde on an 1899 George H. Walker map, and it commands the south end of Lynde Avenue. This is MEL.248 in the MACRIS inventory. 5 6 7 8 9 10 Other Lynde family homes were unfortunately destroyed long ago, including two notable structures: • The c.1700 house of Capt. John Lynde once stood near Washington Street on the west side of the railroad tracks close to what is now the Saugus town line (George Washington is said to have tied his horse to an elm tree in its front yard). This is the house built at the same time as the Jabez Lynde / Grundy house, 100 rods west and adjacent to the Saugus town line. • The 1670 house of Ensign Thomas Lynde, the first English settler in Melrose, once stood at the corner of Main Street and Banks Place (once Goodyear Avenue) on what is now the parking lot of Hunt Photo. This house was documented in the 1933 Historic American Building Survey (H.A.B.S. number MASS-464). Our subject, the house at 244 Main Street, was the home of Benjamin Lynde, born October 2, 1758, who as a 16-year old Minuteman mustered with other North Malden farmers at what is now Gooch Park to join up with Captain Benjamin Blaney’s company on April 19th, 1775 to head to Lexington, where the shot heard 'round the world would ring out to signal the start of the American Revolution. Fortunately, Benjamin Lynde survived the war to return home and thrive. Later in life, he and his family lived through a fire in 1819 and the rebuilding of his home in 1820; that is the structure that is the subject of this study. Ultimately, he would live to the age of 70, passing away in 1829. The house stayed in the Lynde family throughout the 19th Century, long after Benjamin passed. Warren Lynde, born 1799, farmed the land until his death at the age of 89 in 1888, when it was taken over by Warren’s son Henry Lynde. It would be a shame to see this proud, historic home, a symbol of Melrose’s history and participation in the American Revolution, potentially destroyed or altered. Establishing this single property as a Local Historic District recognizes and preserves it as a treasured asset. 11 12 13 METHODOLOGY On November 18, 2025 the Melrose Historic District Commission (MHDC) unanimously voted to consider designating the property at 244 Main Street as a single parcel historic district and serve as the study committee. On December 1, 2025 the MHDC voted unanimously to support the creation of this single parcel historic district. The MHDC had conducted the initial research on the property in collaboration with the Historic District Commission in the preparation of a study report. This LHD would be referred to as the Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District. This property contains the two-story Lynde house and a one-story freestanding garage structure. The study committee then engaged in historical research on the Lynde family, architectural research on the structures and the land, and documentation of the existing conditions. Sources appear in the bibliography of this report. A 90% draft of the Preliminary Report was presented back to the MHDC on January 13, 2026 and they voted unanimously to finish the Preliminary Report and forward it on to the Melrose Planning Board and the Massachusetts Historic Commission for their comments, which are due to the MHDC within 60 days. Research and community outreach continued during this time. Single parcel LHDs are not uncommon in Massachusetts. According to the Massachusetts Historical Commission, “The city of Somerville has over 200 single building local historic districts. Other single building local historic districts have been established in Brookline, Huntington, Sharon, Somerville, Springfield, West Springfield and Wellesley.” (Massachusetts Historical Commission, Revised 2021, Establishing Local Historic Districts, 5. Boston, MA.) Often, the creation of a single parcel LHD is prompted when the sale of a building that is important to the historic and cultural fabric of a community is anticipated. This is the case for the subject property. It is up for sale along with the abutting property. The properties are marketed as a redevelopment site. Many community members were alarmed by the real possibility of the demolition of the 244 Main Street house with it being marketed in this way and contacted their city councilors. The Melrose City Council approved a demolition review ordinance on December 1, 2025 that applies to structures built on or before the year 1899 and structures that are on or subject to the pending application for listing on the National Register. The review period is not to exceed twelve months from the Historical Commission’s vote determining that a building is preferably preserved. The Council approved an amendment to the Administrative Code of the City of Melrose to expand the authority of the Historical Commission to include regulatory authority as is necessary for the demolition review ordinance to be enforced. 14 DISTRICT BOUNDARY The proposed district boundary is comprised of the current lot lines of the land parcel at 244 Main Street. Study included a review of aerial photography, Melrose Public GIS Maps Online (mapsonline.net), and historic maps. Although the colonial-era Lynde farm included substantial land area on the east side of Main Street and the west side of the MBTA railroad tracks (once the Boston and Maine RR) and stretched southward from #262 Main Street all the way to Banks Place (once Goodyear Avenue), this farmland has been developed over time (some by the Lynde family itself) to include whole neighborhoods of houses, the Wyoming Cemetery, and some of Pine Banks Park. Farmyard buildings that were once immediately adjacent to the south and southwest of the Benjamin Lynde house, as shown in 1889 and 1899 George Walker Maps, no longer exist. Therefore, limiting the proposed LHD to a single parcel is considered sufficient to protect the Benjamin Lynde House and the important public view of it from Main Street without affecting the rights or options available to immediate abutters. That means only the current owners of the parcel and the included structures on that property will be affected by restrictions that will be in place when the district is approved. Joseph M. Kevane and Maureen Cremin are the current owners, as shown by massgis.maps.arcgis.com. 15 Proposed District 16 Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District Proposed Boundary PROPERTY INDEX Address Parcel ID Inventory Date of Historic Architectural No Construction Name Style 1. 244 Main Street C5 0 24 Mel.33 169 & 1819 Lynde, Federal Benjamin House LYNDE FAMILY GENEOLOGY AND HOUSES Note: The information below is taken from various sources, including the “Early Settlers” section of Ancient Melrose and Some, Information about its Old Homesteads, Families & Furnishings, a pamphlet published by The Melrose Historical Society, 1915. This pamphlet was compiled by Levi S. Gould and Franklin P. Shumway, with excerpts ad libitum from E. H. Goss, Esq’s History of Melrose. Information is also taken from Goss’ History of Melrose itself, from Melrose newspapers, and from various genealogical and obituary sources. The information is presented more chronologically than in these sources’ more narrative organization. The history of the Lynde family in Melrose is integral to the history of the city of Melrose. The Benjamin Lynde house at 244 Main Street lies at the heart of this history. It (or its immediate predecessor) is the oldest remaining Lynde home in Melrose, and the story of the generations who lived there is defined by service to the nation. The home lies witness to the changing landscape that surrounds it: agrarian life yielding to industrialization and urbanization. GEN 1- Deacon Thomas Lynde, born in England 11 January 1593, became a freeman in 1634. He and his family arrived in Boston by 1634 as part of the Great Puritan Migration. He died 30 December 1691. He was among the early settlers in Charlestown. He bought a tract of then- waterfront land which was known through the time of the Revolution as Lynde's Point. Subsequently it was the site of the State Prison and is now Bunker Hill Community College. He was one of the Deputies to the General Court for several years, serving first in 1636. His brother was Simeon Lynde of Louisburg Square, Boston As part of the ‘great allotment,’ the Lynde family received 13 parcels of land north of Charlestown “above the pondes.” Part of this was 80 acres of land lying in Rockefeilde.” Concerning this tract is a 1638 record in the Charlestown Archives stating “Inasmuch as it apprs yt [that] the Land in the great Lotts yt was laid out to Thomas Line [Lynde] & Richd Sprague prooves altogethr unusefull being nothing but Rockes wch was wholly besides or [our] intent, & only through oversight of the Surveyors wee Judge it to bee Just & equall yt they have allowance elswhere to theire satisfaction they leaveing the afforesd Rocks to lye Common." So by 1639 Deacon Thomas Lynde was granted better farm and hay field land by “Mount Prospect”, on the north side of Waite’s Mount on what was then known as the “Mystic Side” of Charlestown. This area stretching to the border of Reading (including present day Wakefield) was incorporated as Malden in 1649. This Lynde land grant would come to define much of the southern part of the town of Melrose, which was incorporated 1850. Deacon Thomas’ house was built near today’s entrance of the Forest Dale Cemetery on Forest Street on the Malden side of today’s Malden-Melrose town line. 17 GEN 2- Ensign Thomas Lynde, eldest son of Deacon Thomas Lynde, born in England 7 Feb. 1615, died 15 Oct. 1693, aged 77 years, was the first settler of Melrose and the progenitor of the Lynde family in North Malden, later Melrose. Ensign Thomas Lynde was a prominent figure in his community. His fellow militiamen honored him with the title of Ensign. Ensign Thomas Lynde may have lived for a while in the ‘Forest Dale Cemetery’ house built by his father, but soon after, about 1645, he built his homestead just south of Boston Rock (then known as Lynde’s Hill) on the south side of the present Sylvan Street, near what is now the north-western entrance to Wyoming Cemetery. This was the first house built on Melrose territory. The home stood for over 200 years but only a cellar hole and well remained by 1900 (visible until the cemetery wall was built). A story was told among the Lynde descendants about this house. During a very severe winter in those early times, a long-continued snow storm completely buried the house from sight; relatives and neighbors went to the house on snowshoes and could only communicate with the snow-trapped family from the top of the chimney, through which they lowered provisions to avoid starvation. The Lyndes were instrumental in the original 1653 routing of the ‘Reading Road’ through north Malden, passing by this home and to the east of Boston Rock. In 1670 Ensign Thomas Lynde built a new home, assumed to be for his son Deacon Joseph Lynde, on the corner of Main Street and what is now known as Banks Place, earlier known as Goodyear Avenue. This house’s address was 86 Main Street. Soon after, Ensign Thomas left his old home under Boston Rock and went to live with Joseph, where Thomas remained until his death in 1693. Also upon the completing the 86 Main Street house, Ensign Thomas petitioned the town in 1671 to move the 1653 Reading Road from running to the east of Boston Rock to instead run to its west past this new home and the more northern stretches of the Lynde land holdings towards Reading. Over the next generation of home building the Lynde family would define the landscape of southern Melrose along the route as it proceeded north along today’s Main Street towards Wyoming Avenue before turning northeast up Lynde Avenue to join Lebanon Street north towards Wakefield. Ensign Thomas’ farm embraced a region as follows: Beginning at the southwestern corner and extending northerly along the line of Washington Street to near Wyoming Avenue; then easterly along the line of Wyoming Avenue to (or nearly to) Lebanon Street, then southerly, embracing the territory of Boston Rock, Wyoming Cemetery, Pine Banks Park, and Forest Dale Cemetery, to Forest Street in Malden; then westerly to Washington Street, embracing "Island Hill," between Main Street and the later 1845 Boston and Maine Railroad, which in early days was surrounded by the meadows of Three Mile Brook. (By Ensign Thomas’ will, dated Oct. 3, 1693, on file in the Probate Court at East Cambridge, he divided his farm between his sons Deacon Joseph and Capt. John; giving Joseph the southern portion and the house at 86 Main Street, and giving John the northern portion.) Deacon Joseph Lynde’s son, Colonel Joseph Lynde enlarged and modernized the home in the mid-1700s and imported many fixtures from England during his renovation. In 1915 the still- 18 standing farm was described as “beautifully situated in the valley between ranges of hills, its spacious mansions, shaded by tall ancestral elms, its well-tilled acres, large and commodious barns well-filled with the products of their farm, flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, all indicated one of the good old-fashioned New England homesteads.” In 1881 this Lynde farm, along with 175 acres, was sold to Elijah Converse of Malden. The Boston Rubber Company was subsequently built just south of this home, and to its east over 100 acres now form the Pine Banks Park. The 86 Main Street Ensign Thomas Lynde House was the oldest home in Melrose until its destruction in 1956. As the Melrose Free Press noted, this demolition to make way for a supermarket parking lot (now the parking lot for Hunt Photo) destroyed a historic landmark that was built 100 years before the Revolution and had housed seven generations of the Lyndes. GEN 3- Thomas Lynde, first son of Ensign Thomas, born 25 March 1647, died c. 1681. He does not figure into our story of Melrose houses. GEN 3- Capt. John Lynde, second son of Ensign Thomas, b. 25 October 25 1648, d. 17 Sept 1723. Capt. John then occupied the original house at the foot of Boston Rock near the entrance to the Wyoming Cemetery. In 1693 Capt. John Lynde left the Boston Rock homestead and built a new house at what is now 244 Main Street on his inherited northern farm land. (This 1693 house burned extensively in 1819, see Benjamin Lynde below.) The old Boston Rock homestead, first built by Ensign Thomas Lynde, was abandoned. By the time of the Revolution, Lynde descendants had resided in this home for 80 years. GEN 3- Deacon Joseph Lynde, third son of Ensign Thomas, born 13 Dec. 1652, died 2 January 1735. He served as a Selectman for 15 years and as a Legislator for several years in the decades preceding the Revolution. He is the person who enlarged and modernized the 86 Main Street home in the mid-1700s. It is Deacon Joseph’s genealogical line leads to Benjamin. GEN 4- Ensign Joseph Lynde, first son of Deacon Joseph, b. 2 Sept 1690, d. 16 March 1763. He lived in the house at 244 Main Street. GEN 5- Joseph Lynde III, first son of Ensign Joseph, b. 4 July 1716, d. 4 July 1798. He both was born and died on the Fourth of July. When he was born, the date meant nothing to colonists. When he died, it was the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. GEN 6- Lieut. Benjamin Lynde, second son of Joseph Lynde III, born Oct. 2, 1758, died Sept 26, 1829 (Joseph III’s first son, Joseph IV, was b. 10 February 1746, d. 20 January 1805.) It is from the 1693 home at 244 Main Street that Benjamin Lynde, at age 16 years / 6 months, answered the call to take up arms in the early hours of April 19, 1775, marching with his militia against British forces retreating from Lexington and Concord. Lieutenant Benjamin Lynde inherited the home at 244 Main Street from his father Joseph III in 1798 with 60 acres of land encompassing much of the ‘hill pasture’ of Boston Rock as well as 15 acres called “Island Hill”, a rise of ground surrounded by reedy marsh on the Melrose-Malden line since leveled by industry and development. (Although now level ground, this hillock is still marked by the bend in an otherwise straight stretch of Main Street near the Melrose-Malden line and by the name of an avenue stretching through the apartment complex at Oak Grove.) 19 The 244 Main Street house of Joseph Lynde III, with its contents, burned on the night of April 10, 1819, the family barely escaping with their lives. It is thought that the northwest 50 percent of the house burned and that the foundation, some of the frame, and the front two rooms were incorporated into the present Federal Style “capacious mansion,” built the following year (1820) by Benjamin Lynde, now age 62. This is the house that is the subject of our proposed single- parcel Local Historic District. GEN 7- Warren Lynde, born May 15, 1799, died in 1888 at the age of 89 years. Son of Benjamin. Warren inherited this home from his father in 1829 and his tenure farming this property stretched nearly throughout the entire 19th century until his passing in 1888. It appears on 1900s maps as Warren’s residence. When he inherited the Benjamin Lynde house, there were barely 35 homes in the area then known as North Malden. Within 20 years the railway would cut across ancestral Lynde lands. Melrose incorporated as a town in 1850 and during Warren’s final decade the population of Melrose nearly doubled to 8500. He passed the home and farm to his son Henry Lynde who continued to operate a thriving truck farm business until he sold it to a Dr. Murphy in 1921. The Lyndes of 244 Main St. had a long-history of service to the nation. Captain John Lynde who built the 1693 home served as Selectmen in Malden for many years and fought with Major Willard in the 1676 King Philip’s War and was Captain of the Malden military company around 1700. Seventy-five years later young Benjamin Lynde marched with Captain Blaney’s company in defense of Concord and Lexington on April 19, 1775. Benjamin Lynde’s grandson, also named Benjamin enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 at the age of 30 and died one year later in Baton Rouge, Louisiana of battlefield disease following the brutal Siege of Port Hudson that secured Union control of the Mississippi River. The long tradition of military service embodied in the Lynde family continued in one of the final generations of Lyndes to call 244 Main Street home. Frank Warren Lynde was born at the Benjamin Lynde house in 1876 and managed the Lynde family farm in his youth with his father Henry. His son Dick was an airplane instructor who was killed in Pensacola while training for service in Europe in WWII.) Lynde homes built subsequent to the Benjamin Lynde House at 244 Main Street: The expanding Lynde family continued to build homes across North Malden. In 1700 Captain John Lynde also built another First Period home for his son, also named John, b. 19 November 1680, d. before 16 September 1750, on the west side of what would become the Boston and Maine (now MBTA) train tracks that cut through Melrose in 1845. This house burned in the early 1900s. At the same time he built a house for his son Thomas at what is now 407 Washington Street. It was the last house before reaching the Stoneham line on the rough cart path between this home and 86 Main Street that would become Washington Street and a main road to Stoneham. It passed to Jabez Lynde, born January 10, 1744; then to Jonathan Lynde, born January 15, 1785, died 1869, and then to his grandson Franklin G. Lynde. It is labeled S. Lynde on an 1852 map. Another Lynde homestead was built in 1702 along the Reading Road. This Joseph Lynde House at 409 Lebanon St. was named after Benjamin Lynde’s brother who lived there until his death in 1798. Here lived Lynde descendants for more than 250 years. It stands at the end of Lynde St. 20 by a small park once known as Louisburg Square in honor of ancestor Simeon Lynde. In 1856 the 30 acres of farmland associated with this house, situated between Grove and Upham Street and east of Lebanon Street, were bought, surveyed and developed as house lots and The Common park, forming much of today’s East Side neighborhood. In 1829, just across the street from the Benjamin Lynde house, Benjamin’s son Daniel Lynde, b. 27 April 1795, d. 19 September 1857, built a charming Greek Revival home that still looks across its hill towards 244 Main St. Known as “little Mt. Vernon” (106 Mt. Vernon Avenue) this home lent its name to the neighborhood that grew up around it in the late 19th and 20th centuries. This home is known as the Alvin Lynde house for Daniel’s son Alvin, b. 4 November 1833, d. 23 February 1899, who lived there for 65 years until his death. Alvin Lynde was one of the best- known residents of Melrose in his lifetime, having served as station agent for the Boston and Maine railroad at Wyoming Station for 38 years. An effort to more clearly organize this information about early Lynde generations and their houses is diagrammed below. 21 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT The Benjamin Lynde House as it stands today at 244 Main Street, Melrose (December 2025) is a center-entry, five-bay, wood framed & sheathed building that, due to its construction date of 1820 and its visible characteristics, falls squarely into the Federal Style of American domestic architecture. Dates for the time period encompassing Federal architecture are typically given as 1780 – 1840, and it is referred to as a refined American neoclassical style, an evolution from the Colonial and Georgian, referencing Roman and Adamesque design in Europe, and inspired by America’s hard-won independence from England and its new-found political culture as a constitutional federal republic. Federal style buildings often have massing of simple cubic forms (with additions of secondary cubic forms), bi-laterally symmetrical facades that feature classical details like columns pilasters, swags and urns, entrances with fanlights, and larger windows (than in colonial buildings) to increase daylight in the interior rooms. They often have elegant and light interiors, sometimes with oval/circular rooms and fine moldings. This committee has not visited the interiors of the Benjamin Lynde house, so we cannot describe them. It is rumored that the front two rooms may be 1693 survivors of the fire. Before describing the house’s exterior architectural characteristics, we should make clear that the committee has not had the opportunity to measure the building; all dimensions and geometry noted below is approximated from photographs. The committee hopes to be able to measure the building and visit the interiors in the future to facilitate more accurate documentation. The exterior of the Benjamin Lynde house conforms to typical Federal style characteristics. The massing of the primary component of the house (assumed to be the oldest part) is a rectangle approximately 41 feet across (E-W) by 24 feet deep (N-S) in plan. It is two stories tall with a shallow hip roof having an approximate pitch of 5 on 12 (5” rise in every 12” run). The building sits on a foundation wall of local stone (probably granite) capped by wood water table trim approximately 8” tall. Its top horizontal trim (like an architrave) is approximately 6” tall and consists of a flat component capped by a profiled bed molding directly under the projecting square-edged eave. The height of the walls from bottom of water table to underside of eave is approximately 18 feet to 19 feet tall. The front facade is sheathed with wood clapboards with approximately 3” exposed to the weather. This tight-spacing of the clapboards contributes significantly to the “old” appearance of the house. The sides and rear of the house have more widely spaced clapboards, approximately 4” exposed to weather on many walls. The main facade has cornerboards of approximately 9” width. About 2 feet below the bottom of the eave, the two front cornerboards have a double line of horizontal, square-edged 3/4” x 2” applied trim that wrap the corners onto the sides. It is not entirely clear what these double- trim elements are, but they appear in some old photos of the house. In any event, they impart to the cornerboards the appearance of pilasters, as if they could be the abacus/echinus and astragal of a simplified classical order’s capital. Perhaps they are strapping that once supported a more accurate and elaborated capital. Such elaborated capitals seem to be shown in a c. 1900 photo, although the details are fuzzy. The clapboards are painted a moss-green, although the paint has faded and peeled and is in somewhat poor condition. All other trim (cornerboards, window casings, eaves, etc.) are painted a slightly lighter shade of the same moss green. Old photographs of the house seem to show that it was once painted white. 22 c.1900 Photo- from “History of Melrose” by Eldrige H. Goss 1947 Photo- The Melrose Camera Club, photo at Melrose Public Library 2025 Photo- Melrose Historical Commission 23 The main facade has a bi-laterally symmetrical arrangement of five windows side-to-side, one window in the center flanked by a pair of more closely-set windows to each side. On the first floor, the location of the central window is occupied by the front door. The windows are double-hung, six-over-six, with exterior jamb and head casings of approximately 4 ½” width consisting of a flat component framed by a profiled bed molding. The sills are approximately 2½” to 3” thick and have a square-edged profile. The windows, from inside face of casings and sill, measure approximately 2’-7” wide x 4’-10” tall. The glass within the sash muntins shows no evidence of waviness or hand blown circular patterns that would indicate that any glass pieces are particularly old. Modern screen panels have been added in front of the lower sash such that the sash can be raised in good weather without allowing flies to come inside. These screen panels appear not to be mechanically fixed in place. Old photos show shutters on the windows; no shutters exist today. The front door in the center of the ground level of the main facade is reached by walking northward along a sloping walkway with two steps, mounting a granite stepping stone, and then a single step up to a wood entry porch. This entry porch is covered with a small hip roof whose square-edged eave and simple architrave are supported by two square free-standing columns, one at each outside corner of the porch and roof. The column faces are approximately 8” wide on each side. The columns have simple moldings that form Doric or Tuscan style bases and capitals. These columns have the same or similar profiles as those supporting the east side porch. The roofed entry porch appears to have been added to the house more recently; a 1947 photo shows the house without an entry porch. The columns supporting the east side porch also appear to have been modified, old photos show round lathe-turned porch columns. Perhaps the front entry porch was added and the east side porch columns were revised at the same time. Without the entry porch, the front doorway seems to have had a classical entry hood, supported on two brackets or triglyphs, which surmounted a half-ellipse fanlight above the door. The current entry porch roof replaced or hides the door hood (it may still be extant behind the roof). The elliptical fanlight is still visible. The main facade faces almost directly due south, at an approximate 98 degree angle to Main Street. This slight angle deviation from the 90 degree perpendicular imparts a “presence” to the primary view of the house from Main Street. The angled view corridor from Main Street to the main/front/south facade of the house is important to its contextual appearance. This view corridor, and the open space in front of and to the S.S.E. of the house that makes it possible, should be protected. As should the direct views of the side/east of the house from Main Street and the open space to the east that makes such “drive-by” views possible. 24 Secondary components of the Benjamin Lynde house’s massing appear to be additions to the 41 foot x 24 foot primary ‘main house’ component. The most prominent of these are a two-bay, single-story covered porch on the east side of the main house, and a two-bay wing or ell on the northeast side of the primary house. As just noted, the porch’s three east-side free-standing columns appear to have been modified along with the entry porch, as they match the entry porch’s columns almost exactly. They are slightly wider/fatter, and they may therefore contain the older round/lathe-turned posts hidden within their current square column profile. The balusters of the handrail around the porch are round and lathe-turned, and appear similar to those shown in old photos. The porch has an almost-flat roof, while old photos show it to have a sloped roof with a hip-return at its south end. South /Front Facade- 2025 photo by Rob Tullis, Melrose Hist. Dist. Comm. East Facades facing Main Street- 2025 photo by Rob Tullis, Melrose Hist. Dist. Comm. 25 Adjacent to the porch and extending northward from it along Main Street is an ell that currently has two window bays on its first and second floors. Old photos show this “east ell” as five window bays long. The eave of the east ell’s roof is lower than that of the main house, as are its windows. It appears therefore that the east ell has lower floor levels than those in the main house. Old photos also show the porch structure, with lathe-turned posts, extending northward in front of the east wall of the ell all the way to its north end. None of this extended porch exists today. In c.1925 the northernmost three bays were detached from the ell, moved two house lots north to 256 Main Street, and re-fashioned into a separate house. At that time the posts that support the covered entry porch at the 256 Main Street house were either salvaged from the long porch on the east side of the Benjamin Lynde House, or those posts were duplicated. A photo from the 1992 MACRIS MEL.440 inventory form shows these lathe-turned posts in place. They were replaced by square-boxed posts in 2002, when the owner of the house, while turning into her driveway in her SUV was hit from behind by a truck traveling south on Main Street and driven forcefully into the front entry posts, fracturing them (the owner and her infant in the SUV were not injured). This northernmost three bay structure was apparently the kitchen of Warren Lynde, who inherited the Benjamin Lynde house in 1829 and lived there until his death in 1888. Perhaps, wary of the fire that burned the original 1693 house (and likely started in its kitchen), Warren located his kitchen as far north from the core of the house as he could; a literal instance of being “once burned and twice shy.” To the north of the remaining two-bay portion of the ell stands a smaller one-story addition whose east-facing facade is set back from the ell by about 10 feet and contains a door centered between two single windows. While it may never have been used as a shed, for identification purposes we will call it the “north shed.” Both the east ell and this north shed have clapboards with approximately 4” exposed to the weather. 26 To the west of the main house component is a flat-roofed, one-story “sun room” addition. This addition is not evident in the c. 1900 photo but is shown in the 1947 photo. It is symmetrically opposite (around the center of the south/main facade) the east porch, and it may have once been its equivalent that eventually got “closed in” with multiple windows, or it may have been built with those windows. Its south-facing wall has three side-by-side-by-side windows (shaded with a metal awning) and its west-facing wall has two pairs of three side-by-side-by-side windows set a bit apart where a central structural post would be. Because the land topography drops off to the southwest of the front facade and rises to the north of the house, and the sun room’s floor appears to be level with that of the main house, the sun room sits up above the surrounding grade with a taller amount of stone foundation wall showing. Access is made from the driveway (to the west of the sunroom) through a full-height door in the west foundation wall, presumed to be into a basement beneath the sun room (and likely the entire main house). North of the main house component is another addition. This “north addition” may consist of more than one generation of building. It sits hard against what was likely the north/rear of the main house and is concealed from the Main Street view by the east ell. This north addition essentially nestles into the inside corner formed by the main house and east ell. It extends westward approximately 5 feet past the west wall of the main house. Wrapping around the northwest corner of this addition is an open deck. This addition, also sheathed in clapboards and featuring double-hung, six-over-six windows, is assumed to have been built later than the east ell. To the west of the house is a freestanding, one-story, hip-roofed garage, approximately 21 feet wide E-W by 25 feet deep N-S, with two side-by-side garage doors across its south facade and two windows on its east facade. Judging by its “drop” or “dutch lap” siding and its side-hinged garage doors, this structure probably dates from the 1920s or 1930s, not long after it became common to keep personal automobiles at one’s own home. (Early 20th century community garage buildings were built along Tremont Street and elsewhere in Melrose at the time when cars were not kept at home.) Views of the southwest corner of the main house showing sun room and garage Photos by Rob Tullis Melrose, Hist. Dist. Comm. 27 Farmyard buildings that were once immediately adjacent to the south and southwest of the Benjamin Lynde house, as shown in 1889 and 1899 George Walker maps, no longer exist. One of these two buildings, the one closest to Main Street, is labeled Henry Lynde on the 1889 map. It appears to have been located on what is now the vacant 236 Main Street lot and does not appear on the 1899 map. A barn appears on both maps and appears to have been located west of the current house at 238 Main Street, in what is now the backyard of the house at 163 Derby Street. Should any demolition or excavation be done in the vicinity of these two former farm buildings, it should be sensitive to possible archeological evidence that may be uncovered. To review, the nicknames used here to describe the components of the existing Benjamin Lynde House and its additions are shown in this diagrammed aerial photo. 28 SIGNIFICANCE The Benjamin Lynde House at 244 Main Street Melrose is significant for a number of reasons: • It is one of only a few remaining homesteads of the Lynde Family, the first English settlers of what is now Melrose, and whose family legacy is closely tied to the history of the town and the land. • It is one of the few remaining farm houses whose relationship to the land define and remind us of the agricultural history of this part of Massachusetts, and its evolution from agrarian to industrial to urban and suburban uses. • Its construction and situation influenced the network of colonial roadways that linked Charlestown northward to Malden, Melrose, Wakefield, and Reading and thus influenced and directed that evolution. Main Street might not be where it is today if not for this house and the Benjamin Lynde farm. • Its 1693 version was the house from which 16 year old Benjamin Lynde left on April 19th 1775 to muster with other North Malden farmers to march to Lexington and Concord and pursue the British army on its retreat to Boston. • It contains the remnants of the earlier 1693 First Period Colonial home that burned in 1819. It remains to be seen how much of the foundation and two front rooms survive from 1693. • It is a well-preserved and authentic 1820 Federal Style house, built by Benjamin Lynde, and exhibits many hallmarks of that style and time period. The Melrose Historic District Commission and the Melrose Historical Commission therefore feel that it is worthy of preservation and of designation as a single-parcel Local Historic District. While these Commissions hope to gain access to the interior of the house in the near future and make forensic observations as to the age and originality of the various components of the house, we predict that, should complete preservation not be possible and certain components be deemed less worthy of protection than others, the following is a ranking of the house components from most significant to least significant: 1. Main House Block, approximately 41 x 24 feet, 2 stories Most Significant 2. East Porch, approximately 19 x 12 feet, one story Very Significant 3. East Ell, approximately 18 x 14 feet, 2 stories Very Significant 4. North ‘Shed,’ approximately 15 x 11 feet, 1 story Somewhat Significant 5. West ‘Sunroom,’ approximately 19 x 12 feet Somewhat Significant 6. North Additions (probably more than one) 17 x 35 feet Low Significance 7. North and Northwest Deck Not Significant 8. Freestanding Garage Not Significant 29 ORDINANCE Melrose’s existing historic district ordinance would apply to this proposed local historic district, which is attached as Appendix F. Section131 -4.1 would be added to include the Benjamin Lynde House Historic District in the Ordinance. §131-4.1 Benjamin Lynde House Historic District A. There is hereby established, under the provisions of MGL c. 40C, a historic district to be known as the "Benjamin Lynde House Historic District," shown on a plan titled "Proposed Benjamin Lynde House Historic District" dated ______, showing in a boundary around the property at 244 Main Street, parcel ID C5 0 24, said plan having been approved and signed by the City Engineer, placed on file at the offices of the City Clerk and the Director of Inspectional Services, recorded in South Middlesex District Registry of Deeds and included herewith as part of this chapter. PUBLIC COMMENTS On May 12, 2026, the Historic District Commission held a public hearing on the creation of a single-building Local Historic District for the Benjamin Lynde House at 244 Main Street, and public comments were heard. Approximately a half-dozen Melrose residents spoke, all in favor of creation of the District. The comments noted the importance of the Lynde family and this house in Melrose’s history, the good exterior condition of the current 1820 house and its level of authenticity as a representative of Federal Style architecture, Benjamin Lynde’s role in the American Revolutionary war, and even the international importance of “the shot heard ‘round the world.” That it was, in fact, heard round the world, and that American independence and the sacrifice made for it in 1775 still have significance not only to Americans but to those in other countries today. One comment, submitted in writing, noted that it is important to recognize that members of the Lynde family held slaves and to recognize the role of enslaved people in the history of colonial settling of America and early Melrose. At least four members of the Lynde family held slaves (as per Elbridge Goss). Deacon Thomas Lynde, his son Deacon Joseph, his son Ensign Joseph, and Jabez Lynde each had one to three slaves. Slaves were also held by some of the other Melrose settler families, the Vintons, Spragues, Greens, and Barretts (that we know of). Slavery was abolished in Massachusetts through two court cases (Brom & Bett vs. John Ashley in 1781 and the Quock Walker case in 1783) following principles outlined in the Commonwealth’s Constitution of 1780 which stated “all men are born free and equal.” While slavery was not formally declared illegal in America until ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, by 1790 Massachusetts was the only state with zero slaves recorded in the federal census (Wikipedia). It appears that no slaves were held by Benjamin Lynde, nor was slavery associated with the construction of the 1820 house. 30 APPENDIX A- SOURCES & BIBLIOGRAPHY This Final Study Report was principally authored and compiled by Robert Tullis, Melrose Historic District Commission. Assistance with identifying resources was provided by Shane Egan, Melrose Historical Commission. Assistance with genealogical research was provided by Rebecca Blumenthal, Melrose Historical Commission. Compilation of Form B was provided by Ward Hamilton, MSc Historic Preservation. Please note, the City of Melrose’s Office of Planning and Community Development submitted a letter regarding the considerations for recommendation for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. MAPS- 1795 Plan of Malden, surveyed by Peter Tufts Jr, as published by Melrose Historical Society, 1915. 1852 Excerpt from Map of the City and Vicinity of Boston Massachusetts, F.G. Sidney, Rumsey Collection. https://shop.old-maps.com/massachusetts/towns/boston-ma-vicinity-1852- town/melrose-massachusetts-1852-old-town-map-custom-print-boston-vicinity/ 1856 Melrose Map, unattributed, Old Maps collection. https://shop.old-maps.com/massachusetts/towns/middlesex-co-ma-1856-town/melrose- melrose-massachusetts-1856-old-town-map-custom-print-middlesex-co/ 1875 Melrose Map, from County Atlas of Middlesex Massachusetts, J.B. Beers, Ward Maps LLC. https://wardmaps.com/products/melrose-massachusetts-1875 1875 Melrose Center, County Atlas of Middlesex Massachusetts, J.B. Beers, Ward Maps LLC. https://wardmaps.com/products/melrose-massachusetts-1876 1889 [South] Part of Melrose Map, George H. Walker Map, Ward Maps LLC. https://wardmaps.com/products/melrose-massachusetts-1889#:~:text=Publisher:%20Geo. 1899 1909 Melrose Map, Walker Lith. & Pub. Co., Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center. https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:x059c926k 2025 Melrose GIS Map https://www.mapsonline.net/peopleforms/mo4/index.php?site_id=1794 Sanborn Maps https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn- maps/?searchType=advanced?CITY=Melrose&stateID=23 BUILDING INFORMATION AND INVENTORIES- MACRIS (Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System) database and inventory forms https://maps.mhc-macris.net/ 31 HISTORY BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS- Goss, Elbridge Henry (1902), The History of Melrose, County of Middlesex, Massachusetts, Published by the City of Melrose MA, A.W. Dunton & Co. printers. Library of Congress Internet: https://archive.org/details/historyofmelrose02goss/page/n5/mode/2up Gould, Levi S. and Shumway, Franklin P., Ancient Melrose and Some, Information about its Old Homesteads, Families & Furnishings, The Melrose Historical Society, 1915. NEWSPAPERS- Melrose newspaper archives online (primarily used for tracking down obituaries) including the: • Melrose Reporter, • Melrose Journal, and • Melrose Free Press INTERNET- Geneology websites (used for, birth and death dates, family tree information): • Family Search.org, https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/ • WikiTree.com, https://wikitree.com • Geni.com, https://www.geni.com/people/ • Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/ 32 APPENDIX B- PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS These drawings shown here were prepared by Robert Tullis using AutoCAD LT software. They were drawn from photographic information, cross-referenced with a Google Earth satellite view and with the Melrose GIS map for overall lot size and house footprint size. However, these drawings do NOT benefit from any on-site measurements and therefore their dimensional accuracy is approximate only. See following two pages for larger images. 33 34 35 APPENDIX C- MASSACHUSETTS HISTORIC COMMISSION FORM B 36 FORM B − BUILDING Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number C5 0 24 Boston MEL 33 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION North MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD Town/City: Melrose BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Place: (neighborhood or village): Wyoming Photograph Address: 244 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Historic Name: Bejamin Lynde House Uses: Present: Residential Original: Residential Date of Construction: 1820 Source: See Bibliography Style/Form: Adamesque Federal Style Architect/Builder: Unknown Exterior Material: Foundation: Stone Wall/Trim: Wood Locus Map Roof: Asphalt Outbuildings/Secondary Structures: See enclosed Architectural Description Major Alterations (with dates): See enclosed Architectural Description Condition: Good Moved: no yes Date: N/A Acreage: 0.4256 Setting: Residential Recorded by: Rob Tullis and Ward Hamilton Organization: Melrose Historic District Commission Date (month / year): 01/2026 INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET MELROSE 244 Main Street MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 MEL 33 Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: The Benjamin Lynde House is a center-entry, five-bay, wood framed and sheathed building that, due to its construction date of 1820 and its visible characteristics, falls squarely into the Adamesque Federal Style of American domestic architecture. Dates for the time period encompassing Federal architecture are typically given as 1780 – 1840, and it is referred to as a refined American neoclassical style, an evolution from the Colonial and Georgian, referencing Roman and Adamesque design in Europe, and inspired by America’s hard-won independence from England and its new-found political culture as a constitutional federal republic. Federal style buildings often have massing of simple cubic forms (with additions of secondary cubic forms), bi- laterally symmetrical facades that feature classical details like columns pilasters, swags and urns, entrances with fanlights, and larger windows (than in colonial buildings) to increase daylight in the interior rooms. They often have elegant and light interiors, sometimes with oval/circular rooms and fine moldings. The exterior of the Benjamin Lynde house conforms to typical Federal style characteristics. The massing of the primary component of the house (assumed to be the oldest part) is a rectangle approximately 41 feet across (E-W) by 24 feet deep (N-S) in plan. It is two stories tall with a shallow hip roof having an approximate pitch of 5 on 12 (5” rise in every 12” run). The building sits on a foundation wall of local stone (probably granite) capped by wood water table trim approximately 8” tall. Its top horizontal trim (like an architrave) is approximately 6” tall and consists of a flat component capped by a profiled bed molding directly under the projecting square-edged eaves. The height of the walls from bottom of water table to underside of eave is approximately 18 feet to 19 feet tall. The front facade is sheathed with wood clapboards with approximately 3” exposed to the weather. This tight spacing of the clapboards contributes significantly to the “old” appearance of the house. The sides and rear of the house have more widely spaced clapboards, approximately 4” exposed to weather on many walls. The main facade has cornerboards of approximately 9” width. About 2 feet below the bottom of the eave, the two front cornerboards have a double line of horizontal, square-edged 3/4” x 2” applied trim that wrap the corners onto the sides. It is not entirely clear what these double trim elements are, but they appear in some old photos of the house. In any event, they impart to the cornerboards the appearance of pilasters, as if they could be the abacus/echinus and astragal of a simplified classical order’s capital. Perhaps they are strapping that once supported a more accurate and elaborated capital. Such elaborated capitals seem to be shown in a circa 1900 photo, although the details are fuzzy. The clapboards are painted moss-green, although the paint has faded and peeled and is in somewhat poor condition. All other trim (cornerboards, window casings, eaves, etc.) are painted a slightly lighter shade of the same moss green. Old photographs of the house seem to show that it was once painted white. The main facade has a bi-laterally symmetrical arrangement of five windows side-to-side, one window in the center flanked by a pair of more closely-set windows to each side. On the first floor, the location of the central window is occupied by the front door. The windows are double-hung, six-over-six, with exterior jamb and head casings of approximately 4 ½” width consisting of a flat component framed by a profiled bed molding. The sills are approximately 2½” to 3” thick and have a square-edged profile. The windows, from inside face of casings and sill, measure approximately 2’-7” wide x 4’-10” tall. The glass within the sash muntin bars shows no evidence of waviness or hand-blown circular patterns that would indicate that any glass pieces are particularly old. Modern screen panels have been added in front of the lower sash such that the sash can be raised in good weather without allowing flies to come inside. These screen panels appear not to be mechanically fixed in place. Old photos show shutters on the windows; no shutters exist today. The front door in the center of the ground level of the main facade is reached by walking northward along a sloping walkway with two steps, mounting a granite steppingstone, and then a single step up to a wood entry porch. This entry porch is covered with a small hip roof whose square-edged eaves and simple architrave are supported by two square free-standing columns, one at each outside corner of the porch and roof. The column faces are approximately 8” wide on each side. The columns have simple moldings that form Doric or Tuscan style bases and capitals. These columns have the same or similar profiles as those supporting the east side porch. The roofed entry porch appears to have been added to the house more recently; a 1947 photo shows the house without an entry porch. The columns supporting the east side porch also appear to have been modified, old photos show round lathe-turned porch columns. Perhaps the front entry porch was added and the east side porch columns were Continuation sheet 1 INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET MELROSE 244 Main Street MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 MEL 33 revised at the same time. Without the entry porch, the front doorway seems to have had a classical entry hood, supported on two brackets or triglyphs, which surmounted a half-ellipse fanlight above the door. The current entry porch roof replaced or hides the door hood (it may still be extant behind the roof). The elliptical fanlight is still visible. The main facade faces almost directly due south, at an approximate 98 degree angle to Main Street. This slight angle deviation from the 90 degree perpendicular imparts a “presence” to the primary view of the house from Main Street. The angled view corridor from Main Street to the main/front/south facade of the house is important to its contextual appearance. This view corridor, and the open space in front of and to the S.S.E. of the house that makes it possible, should be protected. As should the direct views of the side/east of the house from Main Street and the open space to the east that makes such “drive-by” views possible. Secondary components of the Benjamin Lynde House’s massing appear to be additions to the 41 foot x 24 foot primary ‘main house’ component. The most prominent of these are a two-bay, single-story covered porch on the east side of the main house, and a two-bay wing or ell on the northeast side of the primary house. As just noted, the porch’s three east-side free-standing columns appear to have been modified along with the entry porch, as they match the entry porch’s columns almost exactly. They are slightly wider and they may therefore contain the older round/lathe-turned posts hidden within their current square column profile. The balusters of the handrail around the porch are round and lathe-turned, similar to those shown in old photos. The porch has an almost-flat roof, while old photos show it to have a sloped roof with a hip-return at its south end. Adjacent to the porch and extending northward from it along Main Street is an ell that currently has two-window bays on its first and second floors. Old photos show this “east ell” as five window bays long; we are assuming that the final/northernmost three window bays of this ell were demolished. The eave of the east ell’s roof is lower than that of the main house, as are its windows. It appears therefore that the east ell has lower floor levels than those in the main house. Old photos also show the porch structure extending northward in front of the east wall of the ell all the way to its north end. None of this extended porch exists today. To the north of the remaining two-bay portion of the ell stands a smaller one-story addition whose east-facing facade is set back from the ell by about 10 feet and contains a door centered between two single windows. While it may never have been used as a shed, for identification purposes we will call it the “north shed.” Both the east ell and this north shed have clapboards with approximately 4” exposed to the weather. To the west of the main house component is a flat-roofed, one-story “sunroom” addition. This addition is not evident in the circa 1900 photo but is shown in the 1947 photo. It is symmetrically opposite (around the center of the south/main facade) the east porch, and it may have once been its equivalent that eventually got “closed in” with multiple windows, or it may have been built with those windows. Its south-facing wall has three side-by-side-by-side windows (shaded with a metal awning) and its west- facing wall has two pairs of three side-by-side-by-side windows set a bit apart where a central structural post would be. Because the land topography drops off to the southwest of the front facade and rises to the north of the house, and the sunroom’s floor appears to be level with that of the main house, the sunroom sits up above the surrounding grade with a taller amount of stone foundation wall showing. Access is made from the driveway (to the west of the sunroom) through a full-height door in the west foundation wall, presumed to be into a basement beneath the sunroom (and likely the entire main house). North of the main house component is another addition. This “north addition” may consist of more than one generation of building construction. It sits hard against what was likely the north/rear of the main house and is concealed from the Main Street view by the east ell. This north addition essentially nestles into the inside corner formed by the main house and east ell. It extends westward approximately 5 feet past the west wall of the main house. Wrapping around the northwest corner of this addition is an open deck. This addition, also sheathed in clapboards and featuring double-hung, six-over-six windows, is assumed to have been built later than the east ell. To the west of the house is a freestanding, one-story, hip-roofed garage, approximately 21 feet wide E-W by 25 feet deep N-S, with two side-by-side garage doors across its south facade and two windows on its east facade. Judging by its “drop” or “dutch lap” siding and its side-hinged garage doors, this structure probably dates from the 1920s or 1930s, not long after it became common to keep personal automobiles at one’s own home. Continuation sheet 2 INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET MELROSE 244 Main Street MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 MEL 33 HISTORICAL NARRATIVE: The Benjamin Lynde House was originally built by Capt. John Lynde in 1693 and rebuilt by Benjamin after a fire in 1819. The house is one of three surviving structures of a group of colonial homes built by the Lynde family, one of the most significant early Melrose families who were settlers and farmers in what was then known as North Malden. The 1702 Joseph Lynde house also still stands at 409 Lebanon Street (corner of Grove Street), where it faces and terminates the eastern end of Lynde Street as that street winds its way in a lazy S curve from its start at Main Street just north of Wyoming Avenue. The 1829 Alvin Lynde house survives on the east side of Main Street across and uphill from the Benjamin Lynde House. This small house, known as “Little Mount Vernon” for its white porch and once commanding view over Main Street (early twentieth century houses were built in between its porch and Main Street), is undoubtably the inspiration for the road names of Mt. Vernon Avenue and Potomac Street. The rear of the Alvin Lynde House faces the corner of these two roads. Other Lynde family homes were unfortunately destroyed long ago, including two notable structures. The circa 1700 house of Capt. John Lynde once stood near Washington Street on the west side of the railroad tracks adjacent to what is now the Saugus town line (George Washington is said to have tied his horse to an elm tree in its front yard). Also, the 1670 house of Ensign Thomas Lynde, the first English settler in Melrose, once stood at the corner of Main Street and Banks Place (once Goodyear Avenue) on what is now the parking lot of Hunt Photo. This house was documented in the 1933 Historic American Building Survey (H.A.B.S. number MASS-464). The house at 244 Main Street was the home of Benjamin Lynde who, as a 16-year old Minuteman mustered with other North Malden farmers at what is now Gooch Park to join up with Captain Benjamin Blaney’s company on April 19th, 1775, to head to Lexington, where the shot heard 'round the world would ring out to signal the start of the American Revolution. Fortunately, Benjamin Lynde survived the war to return home and thrive. Later in life, he and his family lived through a fire and rebuilding of his home in 1819. Ultimately, he would live to the age of 70, passing away in 1829. The house stayed in the Lynde family throughout the nineteenth century, long after Benjamin passed. The history of the Lynde family in Melrose is integral to the history of the city of Melrose and the Benjamin Lynde house at 244 Main Street lies at the heart of this history. It (or its immediate predecessor) is the oldest remaining Lynde home in Melrose, and the story of the generations who lived there is defined by service to the nation. The home has born witness to the changing landscape that surrounds it: agrarian life yielding to industrialization and urbanization. Thomas Lynde was born in England on January 11, 1593, and became a freeman in 1634. He and his family arrived in Boston by 1634 as part of the Great Puritan Migration. He died on December 30, 1691. He was among the early settlers in Charlestown. He bought a tract of then waterfront land which was known through the time of the Revolution as Lynde's Point, subsequently the site of the State Prison and now Bunker Hill Community College. He was one of the Deputies to the General Court for several years, serving first in 1636. His brother was Simeon Lynde of Louisburg Square in Boston. As part of the ‘great allotment,’ the Lynde family received 13 parcels of land north of Charlestown “above the pondes.” Part of this was 80 acres of land lying in Rockefeilde.” Concerning this tract is a 1638 record in the Charlestown Archives stating “Inasmuch as it apprs yt [that] the Land in the great Lots yt was laid out to Thomas Line [Lynde] & Richd Sprague prooves altogethr unusefull being nothing but Rockes wch was wholly besides or [our] intent, & only through oversight of the Surveyors wee Judge it to bee Just & equall yt they have allowance elswhere to theire satisfaction they leaveing the afforesd Rocks to lye Common." By 1639, Thomas Lynde was granted better farm and hay field land by “Mount Prospect”, on the north side of Waite’s Mount on what was then known as the “Mystic Side” of Charlestown. This area, stretching to the border of Reading (including present day Wakefield), was incorporated as Malden in 1649. This Lynde land grant would come to define much of the southern part of the town of Melrose, which was incorporated in 1850. Thomas Lynde’s house was built near the current entrance to the Forest Dale Cemetery on Forest Street on the Malden side of the Malden-Melrose line. John Lynde (25 Oct 1648 – 17 Sep 1723) was the second son of Thomas and occupied the original house at the foot of Boston Rock near the entrance to the Wyoming Cemetery. In 1693, John Lynde left the Boston Rock homestead and built a new house at what is now 244 Main Street on his inherited northern farm land. This 1693 house burned extensively in 1819. The old Boston Rock homestead, first built by Thomas Lynde, was abandoned. By the time of the Revolution, Lynde descendants had resided in Continuation sheet 3 INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET MELROSE 244 Main Street MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 MEL 33 this home for 80 years. Joseph Lynde (2 Sep 1690 - 16 Mar 1763) also lived in the house at 244 Main Street. His son, Joseph Lynde III (4 Jul 1716 - 4 Jul 1798) was both born and died on the Fourth of July. When he was born, the date meant nothing to colonists; when he died, it was the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Lynde, second son of Joseph Lynde III (02 Oct 1758 - 26 Sep 1829) was born in North Malden and it was from the 1693 home at 244 Main Street that he, at age 16 years / 6 months, answered the call to take up arms in the early hours of April 19, 1775, marching with his militia against British forces retreating from Lexington and Concord. Benjamin Lynde inherited the home at 244 Main Street from his father Joseph III in 1798 with 60 acres of land encompassing much of the ‘hill pasture’ of Boston Rock as well as 15 acres called “Island Hill,” a rise of ground surrounded by reedy marsh on the Melrose-Malden line since leveled by industry and development. Although now level ground, this hillock is still marked by the bend in an otherwise straight stretch of Main Street near the Melrose-Malden line and by the name of an avenue stretching through the apartment complex at Oak Grove. The 244 Main Street house of Joseph Lynde III, with its contents, burned on the night of April 10, 1819, the family barely escaping with their lives. It is thought that the northwest 50 percent of the house burned and that the foundation, some of the frame, and the front two rooms were incorporated into the present Adamesque Federal Style “capacious mansion,” built the following year by Benjamin Lynde, then aged 62 years. This is the house that is the subject of the building inventory form. Warren Lynde, born May 15, 1799, died in 1888 at the age of 89 years. Son of Benjamin, Warren inherited this home from his father in 1829 and his tenure farming this property stretched nearly throughout the entire nineteenth century until his passing in 1888. The building appears on 1900s maps as Warren’s residence. When he inherited the Benjamin Lynde house, there were barely 35 homes in the area then known as North Malden. Within 20 years the railway would cut across the ancestral Lynde lands. Melrose was incorporated as a town in 1850 and during Warren’s final decade the population of Melrose nearly doubled to 8500. He passed the home and farm to his son, Henry Lynde, who operated a thriving truck farm business until he sold it to a Dr. Murphy in 1921. The Lyndes of 244 Main St. had a long history of service to the nation. Captain John Lynde, who built the 1693 home, served as Selectmen in Malden for many years and fought with Major Willard in the 1676 King Philip’s War. He was captain of the Malden military company around 1700. Seventy-five years later, young Benjamin Lynde marched with Captain Blaney’s company in defense of Concord and Lexington on April 19, 1775. Benjamin Lynde’s grandson, also named Benjamin, enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 and, at the age of 30, died one year later in Baton Rouge of battlefield disease following the brutal Siege of Port Hudson. The long tradition of military service embodied in the Lynde family continued with one of the final generations of Lyndes to call 244 Main Street home. Frank Warren Lynde was born at the Benjamin Lynde house in 1876 and managed the Lynde family farm in his youth with his father, Henry. His son, Dick, was an airplane instructor who was killed in Pensacola while training for service in Europe during WWII. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Corey, Deloraine Pendre. The History of Malden, Massachusetts, 1633-1785. University Press: John Wilson and Son, Cambridge, 1898. Goss, Elbridge Henry. History of Melrose, County of Middlesex, Massachusetts. The City of Melrose, 1902. Hurd, David Hamilton. History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume 3. J.W. Lewis & Co.: Philadelphia, 1890. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War. Wright & Potter Printing Co.: Boston, 1903. Continuation sheet 4 INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET MELROSE 244 Main Street MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 MEL 33 National Register of Historic Places Criteria Statement Form Check all that apply: Individually eligible Eligible only in a historic district Contributing to a potential historic district Potential historic district Criteria: A B C D Criteria Considerations: A B C D E F G Statement of Significance by Ward Hamilton, MSc Historic Preservation The property is individually eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places due to its direct association with Benjamin Lynde, a veteran of the American Revolution, and its high level of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The Lynde family was among the first settlers of Melrose (formerly North Malden), having first built a house on this location in 1693 and thence engaging in agriculture there. Benjamin Lynde (1758-1829) was born on the site and, on April 19, 1775, marched with the Malden Militia to Concord and Lexington. He went on to serve further in the American Revolution. After the war, he married and raised his family there. After a fire devastated the homestead in 1819, he then built the existing building the following year. Benjamin Lynde lived in this home until his death in 1829. The property contributes to a potential single-building historic district representing the historic development of Melrose during the period of significance from approximately 1693-1829. The resource retains integrity of location, design, materials, and association consistent with the district’s historic character. The property is significant under Criterion A for its association with events and broad patterns of history, specifically the American Revolution and early agriculture, which played a significant role in the development of Melrose (formerly North Malden), Massachusetts. The property is significant under Criterion B for its association with Benjamin Lynde, a person significant in the history of Melrose (formerly North Malden), Massachusetts, whose contributions to the American Revolution and early agriculture are directly linked to the property during its period of significance. The property is significant under Criterion C as an example of Adamesque Federal-style architecture, retaining distinctive characteristics of its type, period, and method of construction. The property is significant under Criterion D because it has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important to the understanding of historic activities related to settlement in the area, given its proximity to the Wyoming Quarry archeological resource area. Further, as this specific site has been continuously inhabited since at least 1693, there is a high degree of likelihood that home burials occurred there during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Alterations to the building, while extensive, do not detract from the character-defining features that date to the circa 1820 period of significance. The property retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association sufficiently enough to convey its historical significance according to the following criteria: Continuation sheet 5 INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET MELROSE 244 Main Street MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 MEL 33 Setting – the character of the location and how the Benjamin Lynde House is situated in relationship to other features, such as the ca. 1820 streetscape and neighboring buildings of significance, is reflected in its setting. Materials – the Benjamin Lynde House still retains most elements that were originally combined to construct the building, including much of the historic building fabric. Design – the Benjamin Lynde House reflects the massing and character-defining features of the historic Adamesque Federal building style. Location – the Benjamin Lynde House is located in the same location where the building was originally constructed in 1820 and has never been moved or relocated from another site. Workmanship – evidence of the builder’s craft skills and technology is immediately apparent in the character-defining features of the systems of the building envelope. Feeling – the Benjamin Lynde House conveys an expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of the early nineteenth century time period when the building was constructed. Association – a direct link between exists Benjamin Lynde, who built the house in 1820, and who was also a veteran of the American Revolution. The Benjamin Lynde House is individually eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places due to its direct association with American Revolution veteran Benjamin Lynde, who constructed the building in 1820, and its high level of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. Ward Hamilton, the author of this NRHP Criteria Statement Form, meets or exceeds the Secretary of the Interior's professional standards (36 CFR part 61) as an architectural historian qualified to perform identification, evaluation, registration, and treatment activities. Continuation sheet 6 APPENDIX D- MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION ADVISORY LETTER 37 APPENDIX E- MELROSE PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION LETTER 38 CITY OF MELROSE PLANNING BOARD City Hall, 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 GREGORY SAMPSON Telephone - (781) 979-4190 Chair March 12, 2026 The Melrose Historic District Commission of the City of Melrose, Massachusetts RE: Proposed Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District To the Commissioners of the Melrose Historic District Commission: At its meeting on March 9, 2026, the Planning Board reviewed and discussed the Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District Preliminary Study Report. Board Members agreed that the report was helpful in explaining the history of the house and property, and its significance to Melrose. Based on the information outlined in the report, the Board recommended that the property is designated as a Local Historic District. Respectfully yours, Gregory Sampson Planning Board Chair Attachment: Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District Preliminary Study Report dated February 12, 202 cc: Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis Lori Massa, OPCD Director & City Planner Members of the Planning Board Members of the Historic District Commission APPENDIX F- CITY OF MELROSE, HISTORIC DISTRICTS ORDINANCE 39 City of Melrose, MA May 22, 2026 Proposed for inclusion of the Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District Chapter 131 HISTORIC DISTRICTS § 131-1. Short title; authority. § 131-4.1 Downtown Melrose Historic District. § 131-2. Purpose. 131-4.2 Benjamin Lynde House Historic § 131-3. Historic District Commission. District. § 131-5. Jurisdiction of Commission. [HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Melrose 7-16-1979 by Ord. No. 19504B (Rev. Ords. 1989, §§ 2-331 to 2-337). Amendments noted where applicable.] § 131-1. Short title; authority. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Historic Districts Ordinance" under authority of MGL c. 40C. § 131-2. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to promote the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public through the preservation and protection of the distinctive characteristics or architecture of buildings and places significant in the history of the commonwealth and the City and through the maintenance and improvement of settings for such buildings and places and the encouragement of designs compatible therewith. § 131-3. Historic District Commission. A. In accordance with the Historic Districts Act, MGL c. 40C, there is hereby established the Melrose Historic District Commission, which shall have all the powers and duties of a historic district commission under the General Laws. The position of Board member on the Historic District Commission shall be designated as a "Special Municipal Employee" as that term is defined in MGL Chapter 268A. [Amended 3-7-2016 by Order No. 2016-103] B. All members and alternate members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the City Council. The Commission shall consist of seven members, including one member, where possible, from two nominees submitted by the local historical societies; one member, where possible, from two nominees submitted by the Massachusetts chapter of the American Institute of Architects; one member, where possible, from two nominees submitted by the Boston Society of Landscape Architects; and one member, where possible, from two nominees submitted by the Eastern Middlesex Board of Realtors. The Commission shall also include a lawyer and one or more residents or owners or renters of property in the historic district to be administered by the Commission. C. When the Commission is first established, two members shall be appointed for a term of one year, two shall be appointed for a term of two years and three shall be appointed for a term of three years, and their successors shall be appointed in a like manner for terms of three years. When the Commission is first established, one alternate member shall be appointed in like manner for a term of one year, one alternate member for a term of two years and one alternate member for a term of three years, and their successors shall be appointed in like manner for terms of three years. All vacancies shall be filled in like manner for the unexpired term.City of Melrose, MA § 131-3 MELROSE CODE § 131-4 D. All members of the Commission shall serve without compensation. E. The Commission shall elect annually a Chair and Vice Chair from its own number and a Secretary from within or without its own number. F. The Historic District Commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its business not inconsistent with the provision of the Historic Districts Act. The Commission may, subject to appropriation, employ clerical and technical assistants or consultants and incur other expenses appropriate to the carrying on of its work and may accept money gifts and expend the same for such purposes. G. Meetings of the Historic District Commission shall be held at the call of the Chair and shall be called at the request of two members of the Commission and in such other manner as the Commission shall determine in its rules. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. When taking action under the provisions of the fourth paragraph of Section 11 of the Historic Districts Act1 the Commission shall make its determination within 45 days after the filing of the application for a certificate of appropriateness or such further time as the applicant may, in writing, allow. § 131-4.1 Downtown Melrose Historic District. A. There is hereby established, under the provisions of MGL c. 40C, a historic district to be known as the "Downtown Melrose Historic District," shown on a plan titled "Proposed Downtown Melrose Historic District" dated July 16, 1979, showing in general a boundary following rear property lines of properties bordering Main Street from the intersection of West and East Foster Streets to the south side of West and East Emerson Streets, said plan having been approved and signed by the City Engineer, placed on file at the offices of the City Clerk and the Director of Inspectional Services, recorded in South Middlesex District Registry of Deeds and included herewith as part of this chapter.2 [Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2018-4] The District is included, as was originally approved, on the plan titled "Melrose Local Historic Districts" dated June 1, 2026. B. The establishment of the historic district under this section shall take effect when all the Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. § 131-4.2 Benjamin Lynde House Historic District. A. There is hereby established, under the provisions of MGL c. 40C, a historic district to be known as the "Benjamin Lynde House Historic District," shown on a plan titled "Melrose Local Historic Districts" dated June 1, 2026, showing in a boundary around the property at 244 Main Street, parcel ID C5 0 24, said plan having been placed on file at the offices of Planning, City Clerk and Inspectional Services, recorded in South Middlesex District Registry of Deeds and included herewith as part of this chapter. B. The establishment of the historic district under this section shall take effect when the map showing the boundaries of the district is filed with the City Clerk and recorded in the Registry of Deeds. 1. Editor's Note: See MGL c. 40C, § 11. 2. Editor's Note: Said plan is included as an attachment to this chapter.City of Melrose, MA § 131-5 HISTORIC DISTRICTS § 131-5 § 131-5. Jurisdiction of Commission. A. The following categories of buildings or structures or exterior architectural features may be constructed or altered within a historic district without review by the Historic District Commission: (1) Temporary structures or signs, subject, however, to such conditions as to duration of use, location, removal and similar matters as the Commission may reasonably specify. (2) Terraces, walks, driveways, sidewalks and similar structures, or any one or more of them, provided that any such structure is substantially at grade level. This is not to be construed as to include parking lots. (3) Storm doors and windows, screens, window air conditioners, antennas and similar appurtenances. (4) Paint colors, except for paint proposed for masonry or any materials now not painted. (5) Signs of not more than one square foot in area in connection with use of a residence for a customary home occupation or for professional purposes, provided that only one such sign is displayed in connection with each residence and if illuminated is illuminated only indirectly. (6) The reconstruction, substantially similar in exterior design, of a building, structure or exterior architectural feature damaged or destroyed by fire, storm or other disaster, provided that such reconstruction is begun within one year thereafter and carried forward with due diligence. B. The authority of the Commission shall be limited to exterior architectural features within the designated district which are subject to view from a public way. T S 21 R 1 22 S 23-25 18 15 T 20 20 14 9 662 590 1 12-16 562 576 10-12 516 530 496-498 638 660 500-504 630 6 478 484-490 506 532-546 608-612 616 MAIN STREET 667-669 675 543-547 663-665 475-4781 527-535 653-655 503-509 U 647 511-521

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Melrose Downtown Historic District Order No. 19504-B ³ Approved 7/16/1979 1 inch = 125 feetFORM B − BUILDING Assessor’s Number USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number C5 0 24 Boston MEL 33 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION North MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD Town/City: Melrose BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 Place: (neighborhood or village): Wyoming Photograph Address: 244 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Historic Name: Bejamin Lynde House Uses: Present: Residential Original: Residential Date of Construction: 1820 Source: See Bibliography Style/Form: Adamesque Federal Style Architect/Builder: Unknown Exterior Material: Foundation: Stone Wall/Trim: Wood Locus Map Roof: Asphalt Outbuildings/Secondary Structures: See enclosed Architectural Description Major Alterations (with dates): See enclosed Architectural Description Condition: Good Moved: no yes Date: N/A Acreage: 0.4256 Setting: Residential Recorded by: Rob Tullis and Ward Hamilton Organization: Melrose Historic District Commission Date (month / year): 01/2026 INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET MELROSE 244 Main Street MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 MEL 33 Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: The Benjamin Lynde House is a center-entry, five-bay, wood framed and sheathed building that, due to its construction date of 1820 and its visible characteristics, falls squarely into the Adamesque Federal Style of American domestic architecture. Dates for the time period encompassing Federal architecture are typically given as 1780 – 1840, and it is referred to as a refined American neoclassical style, an evolution from the Colonial and Georgian, referencing Roman and Adamesque design in Europe, and inspired by America’s hard-won independence from England and its new-found political culture as a constitutional federal republic. Federal style buildings often have massing of simple cubic forms (with additions of secondary cubic forms), bi- laterally symmetrical facades that feature classical details like columns pilasters, swags and urns, entrances with fanlights, and larger windows (than in colonial buildings) to increase daylight in the interior rooms. They often have elegant and light interiors, sometimes with oval/circular rooms and fine moldings. The exterior of the Benjamin Lynde house conforms to typical Federal style characteristics. The massing of the primary component of the house (assumed to be the oldest part) is a rectangle approximately 41 feet across (E-W) by 24 feet deep (N-S) in plan. It is two stories tall with a shallow hip roof having an approximate pitch of 5 on 12 (5” rise in every 12” run). The building sits on a foundation wall of local stone (probably granite) capped by wood water table trim approximately 8” tall. Its top horizontal trim (like an architrave) is approximately 6” tall and consists of a flat component capped by a profiled bed molding directly under the projecting square-edged eaves. The height of the walls from bottom of water table to underside of eave is approximately 18 feet to 19 feet tall. The front facade is sheathed with wood clapboards with approximately 3” exposed to the weather. This tight spacing of the clapboards contributes significantly to the “old” appearance of the house. The sides and rear of the house have more widely spaced clapboards, approximately 4” exposed to weather on many walls. The main facade has cornerboards of approximately 9” width. About 2 feet below the bottom of the eave, the two front cornerboards have a double line of horizontal, square-edged 3/4” x 2” applied trim that wrap the corners onto the sides. It is not entirely clear what these double trim elements are, but they appear in some old photos of the house. In any event, they impart to the cornerboards the appearance of pilasters, as if they could be the abacus/echinus and astragal of a simplified classical order’s capital. Perhaps they are strapping that once supported a more accurate and elaborated capital. Such elaborated capitals seem to be shown in a circa 1900 photo, although the details are fuzzy. The clapboards are painted moss-green, although the paint has faded and peeled and is in somewhat poor condition. All other trim (cornerboards, window casings, eaves, etc.) are painted a slightly lighter shade of the same moss green. Old photographs of the house seem to show that it was once painted white. The main facade has a bi-laterally symmetrical arrangement of five windows side-to-side, one window in the center flanked by a pair of more closely-set windows to each side. On the first floor, the location of the central window is occupied by the front door. The windows are double-hung, six-over-six, with exterior jamb and head casings of approximately 4 ½” width consisting of a flat component framed by a profiled bed molding. The sills are approximately 2½” to 3” thick and have a square-edged profile. The windows, from inside face of casings and sill, measure approximately 2’-7” wide x 4’-10” tall. The glass within the sash muntin bars shows no evidence of waviness or hand-blown circular patterns that would indicate that any glass pieces are particularly old. Modern screen panels have been added in front of the lower sash such that the sash can be raised in good weather without allowing flies to come inside. These screen panels appear not to be mechanically fixed in place. Old photos show shutters on the windows; no shutters exist today. The front door in the center of the ground level of the main facade is reached by walking northward along a sloping walkway with two steps, mounting a granite steppingstone, and then a single step up to a wood entry porch. This entry porch is covered with a small hip roof whose square-edged eaves and simple architrave are supported by two square free-standing columns, one at each outside corner of the porch and roof. The column faces are approximately 8” wide on each side. The columns have simple moldings that form Doric or Tuscan style bases and capitals. These columns have the same or similar profiles as those supporting the east side porch. The roofed entry porch appears to have been added to the house more recently; a 1947 photo shows the house without an entry porch. The columns supporting the east side porch also appear to have been modified, old photos show round lathe-turned porch columns. Perhaps the front entry porch was added and the east side porch columns were Continuation sheet 1 INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET MELROSE 244 Main Street MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 MEL 33 revised at the same time. Without the entry porch, the front doorway seems to have had a classical entry hood, supported on two brackets or triglyphs, which surmounted a half-ellipse fanlight above the door. The current entry porch roof replaced or hides the door hood (it may still be extant behind the roof). The elliptical fanlight is still visible. The main facade faces almost directly due south, at an approximate 98 degree angle to Main Street. This slight angle deviation from the 90 degree perpendicular imparts a “presence” to the primary view of the house from Main Street. The angled view corridor from Main Street to the main/front/south facade of the house is important to its contextual appearance. This view corridor, and the open space in front of and to the S.S.E. of the house that makes it possible, should be protected. As should the direct views of the side/east of the house from Main Street and the open space to the east that makes such “drive-by” views possible. Secondary components of the Benjamin Lynde House’s massing appear to be additions to the 41 foot x 24 foot primary ‘main house’ component. The most prominent of these are a two-bay, single-story covered porch on the east side of the main house, and a two-bay wing or ell on the northeast side of the primary house. As just noted, the porch’s three east-side free-standing columns appear to have been modified along with the entry porch, as they match the entry porch’s columns almost exactly. They are slightly wider and they may therefore contain the older round/lathe-turned posts hidden within their current square column profile. The balusters of the handrail around the porch are round and lathe-turned, similar to those shown in old photos. The porch has an almost-flat roof, while old photos show it to have a sloped roof with a hip-return at its south end. Adjacent to the porch and extending northward from it along Main Street is an ell that currently has two-window bays on its first and second floors. Old photos show this “east ell” as five window bays long; we are assuming that the final/northernmost three window bays of this ell were demolished. The eave of the east ell’s roof is lower than that of the main house, as are its windows. It appears therefore that the east ell has lower floor levels than those in the main house. Old photos also show the porch structure extending northward in front of the east wall of the ell all the way to its north end. None of this extended porch exists today. To the north of the remaining two-bay portion of the ell stands a smaller one-story addition whose east-facing facade is set back from the ell by about 10 feet and contains a door centered between two single windows. While it may never have been used as a shed, for identification purposes we will call it the “north shed.” Both the east ell and this north shed have clapboards with approximately 4” exposed to the weather. To the west of the main house component is a flat-roofed, one-story “sunroom” addition. This addition is not evident in the circa 1900 photo but is shown in the 1947 photo. It is symmetrically opposite (around the center of the south/main facade) the east porch, and it may have once been its equivalent that eventually got “closed in” with multiple windows, or it may have been built with those windows. Its south-facing wall has three side-by-side-by-side windows (shaded with a metal awning) and its west- facing wall has two pairs of three side-by-side-by-side windows set a bit apart where a central structural post would be. Because the land topography drops off to the southwest of the front facade and rises to the north of the house, and the sunroom’s floor appears to be level with that of the main house, the sunroom sits up above the surrounding grade with a taller amount of stone foundation wall showing. Access is made from the driveway (to the west of the sunroom) through a full-height door in the west foundation wall, presumed to be into a basement beneath the sunroom (and likely the entire main house). North of the main house component is another addition. This “north addition” may consist of more than one generation of building construction. It sits hard against what was likely the north/rear of the main house and is concealed from the Main Street view by the east ell. This north addition essentially nestles into the inside corner formed by the main house and east ell. It extends westward approximately 5 feet past the west wall of the main house. Wrapping around the northwest corner of this addition is an open deck. This addition, also sheathed in clapboards and featuring double-hung, six-over-six windows, is assumed to have been built later than the east ell. To the west of the house is a freestanding, one-story, hip-roofed garage, approximately 21 feet wide E-W by 25 feet deep N-S, with two side-by-side garage doors across its south facade and two windows on its east facade. Judging by its “drop” or “dutch lap” siding and its side-hinged garage doors, this structure probably dates from the 1920s or 1930s, not long after it became common to keep personal automobiles at one’s own home. Continuation sheet 2 INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET MELROSE 244 Main Street MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 MEL 33 HISTORICAL NARRATIVE: The Benjamin Lynde House was originally built by Capt. John Lynde in 1693 and rebuilt by Benjamin after a fire in 1819. The house is one of three surviving structures of a group of colonial homes built by the Lynde family, one of the most significant early Melrose families who were settlers and farmers in what was then known as North Malden. The 1702 Joseph Lynde house also still stands at 409 Lebanon Street (corner of Grove Street), where it faces and terminates the eastern end of Lynde Street as that street winds its way in a lazy S curve from its start at Main Street just north of Wyoming Avenue. The 1829 Alvin Lynde house survives on the east side of Main Street across and uphill from the Benjamin Lynde House. This small house, known as “Little Mount Vernon” for its white porch and once commanding view over Main Street (early twentieth century houses were built in between its porch and Main Street), is undoubtably the inspiration for the road names of Mt. Vernon Avenue and Potomac Street. The rear of the Alvin Lynde House faces the corner of these two roads. Other Lynde family homes were unfortunately destroyed long ago, including two notable structures. The circa 1700 house of Capt. John Lynde once stood near Washington Street on the west side of the railroad tracks adjacent to what is now the Saugus town line (George Washington is said to have tied his horse to an elm tree in its front yard). Also, the 1670 house of Ensign Thomas Lynde, the first English settler in Melrose, once stood at the corner of Main Street and Banks Place (once Goodyear Avenue) on what is now the parking lot of Hunt Photo. This house was documented in the 1933 Historic American Building Survey (H.A.B.S. number MASS-464). The house at 244 Main Street was the home of Benjamin Lynde who, as a 16-year old Minuteman mustered with other North Malden farmers at what is now Gooch Park to join up with Captain Benjamin Blaney’s company on April 19th, 1775, to head to Lexington, where the shot heard 'round the world would ring out to signal the start of the American Revolution. Fortunately, Benjamin Lynde survived the war to return home and thrive. Later in life, he and his family lived through a fire and rebuilding of his home in 1819. Ultimately, he would live to the age of 70, passing away in 1829. The house stayed in the Lynde family throughout the nineteenth century, long after Benjamin passed. The history of the Lynde family in Melrose is integral to the history of the city of Melrose and the Benjamin Lynde house at 244 Main Street lies at the heart of this history. It (or its immediate predecessor) is the oldest remaining Lynde home in Melrose, and the story of the generations who lived there is defined by service to the nation. The home has born witness to the changing landscape that surrounds it: agrarian life yielding to industrialization and urbanization. Thomas Lynde was born in England on January 11, 1593, and became a freeman in 1634. He and his family arrived in Boston by 1634 as part of the Great Puritan Migration. He died on December 30, 1691. He was among the early settlers in Charlestown. He bought a tract of then waterfront land which was known through the time of the Revolution as Lynde's Point, subsequently the site of the State Prison and now Bunker Hill Community College. He was one of the Deputies to the General Court for several years, serving first in 1636. His brother was Simeon Lynde of Louisburg Square in Boston. As part of the ‘great allotment,’ the Lynde family received 13 parcels of land north of Charlestown “above the pondes.” Part of this was 80 acres of land lying in Rockefeilde.” Concerning this tract is a 1638 record in the Charlestown Archives stating “Inasmuch as it apprs yt [that] the Land in the great Lots yt was laid out to Thomas Line [Lynde] & Richd Sprague prooves altogethr unusefull being nothing but Rockes wch was wholly besides or [our] intent, & only through oversight of the Surveyors wee Judge it to bee Just & equall yt they have allowance elswhere to theire satisfaction they leaveing the afforesd Rocks to lye Common." By 1639, Thomas Lynde was granted better farm and hay field land by “Mount Prospect”, on the north side of Waite’s Mount on what was then known as the “Mystic Side” of Charlestown. This area, stretching to the border of Reading (including present day Wakefield), was incorporated as Malden in 1649. This Lynde land grant would come to define much of the southern part of the town of Melrose, which was incorporated in 1850. Thomas Lynde’s house was built near the current entrance to the Forest Dale Cemetery on Forest Street on the Malden side of the Malden-Melrose line. John Lynde (25 Oct 1648 – 17 Sep 1723) was the second son of Thomas and occupied the original house at the foot of Boston Rock near the entrance to the Wyoming Cemetery. In 1693, John Lynde left the Boston Rock homestead and built a new house at what is now 244 Main Street on his inherited northern farm land. This 1693 house burned extensively in 1819. The old Boston Rock homestead, first built by Thomas Lynde, was abandoned. By the time of the Revolution, Lynde descendants had resided in Continuation sheet 3 INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET MELROSE 244 Main Street MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 MEL 33 this home for 80 years. Joseph Lynde (2 Sep 1690 - 16 Mar 1763) also lived in the house at 244 Main Street. His son, Joseph Lynde III (4 Jul 1716 - 4 Jul 1798) was both born and died on the Fourth of July. When he was born, the date meant nothing to colonists; when he died, it was the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Lynde, second son of Joseph Lynde III (02 Oct 1758 - 26 Sep 1829) was born in North Malden and it was from the 1693 home at 244 Main Street that he, at age 16 years / 6 months, answered the call to take up arms in the early hours of April 19, 1775, marching with his militia against British forces retreating from Lexington and Concord. Benjamin Lynde inherited the home at 244 Main Street from his father Joseph III in 1798 with 60 acres of land encompassing much of the ‘hill pasture’ of Boston Rock as well as 15 acres called “Island Hill,” a rise of ground surrounded by reedy marsh on the Melrose-Malden line since leveled by industry and development. Although now level ground, this hillock is still marked by the bend in an otherwise straight stretch of Main Street near the Melrose-Malden line and by the name of an avenue stretching through the apartment complex at Oak Grove. The 244 Main Street house of Joseph Lynde III, with its contents, burned on the night of April 10, 1819, the family barely escaping with their lives. It is thought that the northwest 50 percent of the house burned and that the foundation, some of the frame, and the front two rooms were incorporated into the present Adamesque Federal Style “capacious mansion,” built the following year by Benjamin Lynde, then aged 62 years. This is the house that is the subject of the building inventory form. Warren Lynde, born May 15, 1799, died in 1888 at the age of 89 years. Son of Benjamin, Warren inherited this home from his father in 1829 and his tenure farming this property stretched nearly throughout the entire nineteenth century until his passing in 1888. The building appears on 1900s maps as Warren’s residence. When he inherited the Benjamin Lynde house, there were barely 35 homes in the area then known as North Malden. Within 20 years the railway would cut across the ancestral Lynde lands. Melrose was incorporated as a town in 1850 and during Warren’s final decade the population of Melrose nearly doubled to 8500. He passed the home and farm to his son, Henry Lynde, who operated a thriving truck farm business until he sold it to a Dr. Murphy in 1921. The Lyndes of 244 Main St. had a long history of service to the nation. Captain John Lynde, who built the 1693 home, served as Selectmen in Malden for many years and fought with Major Willard in the 1676 King Philip’s War. He was captain of the Malden military company around 1700. Seventy-five years later, young Benjamin Lynde marched with Captain Blaney’s company in defense of Concord and Lexington on April 19, 1775. Benjamin Lynde’s grandson, also named Benjamin, enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 and, at the age of 30, died one year later in Baton Rouge of battlefield disease following the brutal Siege of Port Hudson. The long tradition of military service embodied in the Lynde family continued with one of the final generations of Lyndes to call 244 Main Street home. Frank Warren Lynde was born at the Benjamin Lynde house in 1876 and managed the Lynde family farm in his youth with his father, Henry. His son, Dick, was an airplane instructor who was killed in Pensacola while training for service in Europe during WWII. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Corey, Deloraine Pendre. The History of Malden, Massachusetts, 1633-1785. University Press: John Wilson and Son, Cambridge, 1898. Goss, Elbridge Henry. History of Melrose, County of Middlesex, Massachusetts. The City of Melrose, 1902. Hurd, David Hamilton. History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume 3. J.W. Lewis & Co.: Philadelphia, 1890. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War. Wright & Potter Printing Co.: Boston, 1903. Continuation sheet 4 INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET MELROSE 244 Main Street MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 MEL 33 National Register of Historic Places Criteria Statement Form Check all that apply: Individually eligible Eligible only in a historic district Contributing to a potential historic district Potential historic district Criteria: A B C D Criteria Considerations: A B C D E F G Statement of Significance by Ward Hamilton, MSc Historic Preservation The property is individually eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places due to its direct association with Benjamin Lynde, a veteran of the American Revolution, and its high level of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The Lynde family was among the first settlers of Melrose (formerly North Malden), having first built a house on this location in 1693 and thence engaging in agriculture there. Benjamin Lynde (1758-1829) was born on the site and, on April 19, 1775, marched with the Malden Militia to Concord and Lexington. He went on to serve further in the American Revolution. After the war, he married and raised his family there. After a fire devastated the homestead in 1819, he then built the existing building the following year. Benjamin Lynde lived in this home until his death in 1829. The property contributes to a potential single-building historic district representing the historic development of Melrose during the period of significance from approximately 1693-1829. The resource retains integrity of location, design, materials, and association consistent with the district’s historic character. The property is significant under Criterion A for its association with events and broad patterns of history, specifically the American Revolution and early agriculture, which played a significant role in the development of Melrose (formerly North Malden), Massachusetts. The property is significant under Criterion B for its association with Benjamin Lynde, a person significant in the history of Melrose (formerly North Malden), Massachusetts, whose contributions to the American Revolution and early agriculture are directly linked to the property during its period of significance. The property is significant under Criterion C as an example of Adamesque Federal-style architecture, retaining distinctive characteristics of its type, period, and method of construction. The property is significant under Criterion D because it has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important to the understanding of historic activities related to settlement in the area, given its proximity to the Wyoming Quarry archeological resource area. Further, as this specific site has been continuously inhabited since at least 1693, there is a high degree of likelihood that home burials occurred there during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Alterations to the building, while extensive, do not detract from the character-defining features that date to the circa 1820 period of significance. The property retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association sufficiently enough to convey its historical significance according to the following criteria: Continuation sheet 5 INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET MELROSE 244 Main Street MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125 MEL 33 Setting – the character of the location and how the Benjamin Lynde House is situated in relationship to other features, such as the ca. 1820 streetscape and neighboring buildings of significance, is reflected in its setting. Materials – the Benjamin Lynde House still retains most elements that were originally combined to construct the building, including much of the historic building fabric. Design – the Benjamin Lynde House reflects the massing and character-defining features of the historic Adamesque Federal building style. Location – the Benjamin Lynde House is located in the same location where the building was originally constructed in 1820 and has never been moved or relocated from another site. Workmanship – evidence of the builder’s craft skills and technology is immediately apparent in the character-defining features of the systems of the building envelope. Feeling – the Benjamin Lynde House conveys an expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of the early nineteenth century time period when the building was constructed. Association – a direct link between exists Benjamin Lynde, who built the house in 1820, and who was also a veteran of the American Revolution. The Benjamin Lynde House is individually eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places due to its direct association with American Revolution veteran Benjamin Lynde, who constructed the building in 1820, and its high level of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. Ward Hamilton, the author of this NRHP Criteria Statement Form, meets or exceeds the Secretary of the Interior's professional standards (36 CFR part 61) as an architectural historian qualified to perform identification, evaluation, registration, and treatment activities. Continuation sheet 6 .From: Ward Hamilton <oldemohawkinc@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2026 12:46 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Cc: Massa, Lori <lmassa@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: ID # 2026-1291: Vote to establish the Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the city's domain. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. If you believe that this message is spam, please use the "Report Spam" button in Outlook to report it. Good afternoon, President Freeman and members of the Melrose City Council. The purpose of this communication is to urge you to vote in favor of establishing the Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District in Melrose. Local Historic Districts (LHDs) p Warning: Unusual sender <oldemohawkinc@gmail.com> You don't usually receive emails from this address. Make sure you trust this sender before taking any actions. Good afternoon, President Freeman and members of the Melrose City Council. The purpose of this communication is to urge you to vote in favor of establishing the Benjamin Lynde House Local Historic District in Melrose. Local Historic Districts (LHDs) protect buildings by regulating visible exterior alterations, preventing unnecessary demolitions, and requiring architectural compatibility for new construction. Established under the Commonwealth's Historic Districts Act, G.L. c. 40C, LHDs act as local zoning overlays governed by an appointed Local Historic District Commission. As you know, the Melrose Historic District Commission conducted a study to determine the feasibility of creating a single building LHD for the Benjamin Lynde House. This study was reviewed by the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the Melrose Planning Board, and the plan to create the LHD was endorsed by each. It was my honor to assist Melrose HDC commissioner Rob Tullis in drafting an updated building inventory form (MHC Form B attached). As part of that process, I drafted and submitted a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) Criteria Statement Form in an effort to have the Benjamin Lynde House listed on the NRHP. The building is eligible for inclusion due to its direct association with Benjamin Lynde, a veteran of the American Revolution, and because of its high level of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The Lynde family was among the first settlers of Melrose, having built a house on the location in 1693 and thereafter engaging in agriculture here. Benjamin Lynde was born on the site in 1758 and, on April 19, 1775, marched with the Malden Militia to Concord and Lexington. He went on to serve further in the American Revolution and, after the war, married and raised his family there. After a fire devastated the homestead in 1819, Benjamin Lynde then built the existing house the following year where he lived until his death in 1829. This property is a critical historical resource and represents the early development of Melrose during the period of significance from approximately 1693-1829. Further, the Benjamin Lynde House retains integrity of location, design, materials, and association. The attached document provides additional detail. Thank you, in advance, for your consideration - especially as this comes before you during your busiest time of the year. I appreciate fully all that you do for the City of Melrose. Ward Hamilton ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.**** From: JOANNE EUSTACE <sjpmj@aol.com> Sent: Monday, June 1, 2026 12:47 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Benjamin Lynde House Good morning Just another email from a concerned Melrose resident stating I am NOT in favor of the 60 unit apartment going up where the beautiful historic Lynde house stands Melrose has enough apartments being built at the present time and as I understand has reached its 40B requirement Please consider keeping Melrose beautiful Joanne Eustace Sent from my iPhone ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.**** ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.**** From: Diana Cafarella <dianaeq@aol.com> Sent: Monday, June 1, 2026 5:47 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: New business CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the city's domain. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. If you believe that this message is spam, please use the "Report Spam" button in Outlook to report it. Dear City Council, My name is Diana Cafarella of 18 Bellevue Ave. I’m writing to the City Council as I have been following the developments regarding the Benjamin Lynde House at 244 Main St. I am a strong supporter of historic pre Warning: Unusual sender <dianaeq@aol.com> You don't usually receive emails from this address. Make sure you trust this sender before taking any actions. Dear City Council, My name is Diana Cafarella of 18 Bellevue Ave. I’m writing to the City Council as I have been following the developments regarding the Benjamin Lynde House at 244 Main St. I am a strong supporter of historic preservation in Melrose and see the value in expanding the historic district(s) here. Fifty percent of our city, maybe more, was built before 1900. That isn’t our burden. That is our blessing that makes our city unique from surrounding towns. Do you want to see where we have been? You can take a look for yourself. We, and generations before us, have successfully preserved our city with only minimal safeguards in place. It’s miraculous actually. However, we are now at a precarious point in time in which major development is threatening our city. Boston is expanding outwards. People want to share in our city, and that is wonderful. But, a candid dialogue is needed about the parts of our city that are important to us. And, it’s more than just that downtown strip of Main Street that is currently “the historic district.” There are landmarks, neighborhoods, places that we can’t live without that make up the chapters of our history. 244 Main St is a perfect example of that, and it’s worthy of its own historic district. I urge you to please give careful consideration to what more can be done proactively toward better historic preservation here in Melrose. I think we can all agree that’s part of our reason for loving our city. Respectfully, Diana Cafarella Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.**** ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.**** From: Ron Tauro <rontauro@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2026 6:58 PM To: City Council <citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org> Subject: Please Vote to Designate Benjamin Lynde House a Historic Commission Hello. My name is Ronald Tauro. I've lived in Melrose since 2009 and moved to Derby Road in 2023. At the time my family moved, we thought we chose lifetime home with great neighbors, easy transportation access, and an open field behind our house which is perfect for our solar panel efficiency, growing a healthy lawn and decent privacy. Since we heard news of the planned development for 236-244 main street, I am worried about the negatives impacts to my family's property and surrounding area. First off. I want to acknowledge that with the rich historical history of Lynde House, it would be a shame to turn the building sideways and build around it. Additionally, I am quite concerned of the impact of the planned development being so big and right up to my family's property line. Below are some of my concerns. 1. Loss of solar panel benefit. Such a big structure will cause significant shadows and decrease the hours of sun my panels can generate. 2. Loss of lawn and garden growing conditions. With lack of sun and excessive shade, I will lose control of how I can keep up my property. 3. Noise. I have a 9 year old child. With a 4 story building abutting my back year. My kid likely exposed to foul language of people talking on balconies and music played. A building of that size will also reflect train noise. 4. Smell. With four stories and balconies abutting my property, I am very concerned about my family frequently getting exposed to the smell of marijuana. 5. Fire safety. With such a tall building planned, I fear a fire would spread rapidly to abutting yards. For these reasons, I respectfully request that the Lynde House is designated as a historic commission. It is one of the fes historical structures in melrose with so much history. I love melrose and hope to live the rest of my life here. Hopefully the city's history and character does not get lost in the process of development and can grow and flourish without pushing people out. Ronald Tauro 159 Derby Road Melrose, M617-504-8505 CITY OF MELROSE Human Resources Department City Hall, 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Polina Latta Director (P) 781-979-4146 (F) 781-979-4246 Platta@cityofmelrose.org To: President Brad Freeman Melrose City Council From: Polina Latta, HR Director Re: Transfer of funds to various accounts Date: May 21, 2026 The Human Resources Department is requesting a transfer of funds from the Group Health budget, account number 019142-549201, in the amount of Sixty-Nine Thousand Dollars ($69,000) to the various accounts as set forth herein: Workers Compensation Budget (#912) • 019122-543100: $59,000 WC Medicals • 019122-543102: $10,000 WC Benefits The $10,000 WC Benefits are required to meet the City’s obligation to continue to pay indemnity benefits to current recipients of WC benefits through the end of the fiscal year. The City of Melrose currently has three long term and four short term recipients of benefits. If I can answer any additional questions about this order, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your consideration. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Administration–Engineering–Water–Sewer–Facilities Parks–Forestry–Highway–Sanitation–Cemetery–Fleet CITY OF MELROSE James Troup City Yard, 72 Tremont Street Assistant Director – Administration & Finance Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone – (781) 665-0142 E-mail: jtroup@cityofmelrose.org MEMORANDUM To: Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis Melrose City Council From: James Troup, DPW Deputy Director – Administration and Finance cc: Kerriann Golden, CFO/Auditor Lauren Grymek, Chief of Staff Elena Proakis Ellis, DPW Director Date: May 22, 2026 Re: FY26 Budget Transfer Request Please accept the following request to transfer monies within the Department of Public Works Operating Budget to properly capture projected utility costs that exceed originally appropriated monies. We request this transfer as a matter of end-of-year housekeeping and to ensure that the group of Operating Budget accounts that include utilities does not end FY26 in deficit. As part of the FY26 Budget process, we conservatively estimated utility increases due to rising delivery costs. These fixed costs were negotiated in our contract with Power Options. We also projected rising supply costs due increased demand at Schools and the fully electric Library. Using historical data available to us and as advised by our partners at Power Options, we submitted our request for this year’s Operating Budget. FY26 costs will exceed our estimates. There are three key factors that have brought us to this situation. First, the actual supply cost increased to $1.75/kwH over last year (13% actual increase vs 4% projected increase.) Second, the Northeast suffered through an extended cold stretch between December and February which increased the demand for all City properties. Usage at all buildings was up, specifically at City Schools and at the City Library, which transitioned to fully electric for heat and power. We have monitored utility spending over the course of FY26 and have adjusted spending to stay within original appropriations. The Operating Budget line items that will be subject to this internal transfer are shown below. Of note, most of the transfer only affects the Facilities Budget, which houses utility accounts. No other City Department will have their budgets affected by this request and we foresee no effect on regular services delivered by the Department of Public Works. Org Object Description Transfer Out 014012 529000 Administration/Engineering Professional Services 10,000.00 014012 535509 Administration/Engineering Safety Equipment 5,000.00 01402772 531825 Facilities School Contractual 75,000.00 014222 520200 Highway Traffic Signal Maintenance 7,500.00 014222 524000 Highway Hired Equipment 5,000.00 014222 527102 Highway Drain Maintenance 15,000.00 014222 529012 Highway Street Sweeping 2,500.00 014222 536210 Highway Road Structures 3,000.00 014222 537200 Highway Lumber 1,000.00 014752 535200 Parks and Forestry Supplies 6,000.00 Total 130,000.00 Org Object Description Transfer In 01402532 522510 LIBRARY ELECTRICITY 30,000.00 01402772 522524 ALL SCHOOL ELECTRICITY 75,000.00 01402772 522627 SCHOOL GAS & OIL HEAT 25,000.00 Total 130,000.00 The Department of Public Works has worked with the CFO in identifying the above strategy and requests your approval to transfer $130,000 from various Operating Budget Accounts to Facilities Division Utility Accounts. Thank you for your consideration and continued support. CITY OF MELROSE City Clerk’s Department Tanji Cifuni City Hall, 562 Main Street City Clerk Melrose, MA 02176 tcifuni@cityofmelrose.org Telephone: 781-979-4113 June 9, 2026 RE: Order #2026-1298 for a transfer request – Requesting an interdepartmental transfer of funds from the Elections Salaries PT line item (011621-512000) in the amount of $24,437 to the Printing Line item 011622-521000 At this time, the Print line item is in the red due to the cost of printing for two different ballots for the Local election last year. I was not aware when I submitted the budget for FY26, that I would need to increase the line item for printing significantly to cover the Early Voting Ballot image casting and print as well as the Election Day image casting and print. Below is a snapshot of what was submitted in FY24, FY25 and FY26. FY26 FY25 FY24 Orig Budget $ 13,000 9,200 30,000 Transfers In $ .00 .00 6,728 Rev Budget $ 13,000 9,200 36,728 Actual $ 27,706.89 16,966.64 37,425.89 Available $ (14,706.89) (7766.64) (697.89) Percent Used 213.13 184.42 101.90 To date we have spent funds on the following of the elections printing line item: Census Print $5783.60 Election imaging and Printing $21,776.57 Toner for Election office $244.99 Edwards Printing (voters right tri fold) $39.22 Edwards Printing (poster for City Hall Marquis for early voting) $107.50 In addition, we need to pay for the printing of confirmation cards that are mailed out to residents who did not turn in their census (mandatory mailing by law and must be mailed out by first week in June) I am requesting $10,000 to print and mail out the confirmation cards. I would like to note that we are in compliance, and the mailing has gone out to all residents that have not responded to the census. Sincerely, Tanji Cifuni

Transcript

▶ 0:02 Bradley Freeman: Good evening. Good evening. The time is 7:45 PM on Monday, June 15th, 2026. I'm Council President Freeman. Recording in progress. This meeting of the Melrose City Council is called to order. In accordance with the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, this meeting is being broadcast and recorded by Melrose Cable Access TV, and will be available for viewing in its entirety on MMTV and through the city website link. Pursuant to current allowances under the Open Meeting Law enacted under Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025, signed into law by Governor Healey on March 28th, 2025, City Councilor Karamcheti is participating in this meeting tonight remotely via the city's Zoom platform. As such, all votes tonight will be taken by roll call.

▶ 0:44 Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Yes. Councilor Chen? Here. Councilor Finocchiaro? Here. Councilor Jamaleddine? Here. Councilor Karamcheti? Councilor Kowal? Here. Councilor Obremski? Here. Councilor Park? Here. Councilor Romanul? Here. Councilor Vandiver? Councilor Williams? Here. President Freeman? Here. That makes for a quorum. Thank you very much. At this time, if you're able, please rise to join in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And before we begin tonight, I just want to give folks in the audience a

▶ 1:35 Bradley Freeman: little sense of how this will work tonight. We're going to approve our minutes, open public comment, which is an opportunity for anyone in the public to speak on any item they want. At the conclusion of public comment, the council's going to go into executive session, which means we will need to clear the chamber for about 30 minutes, and then we'll resume the rest of the agenda following that. So, I appreciate your patience. At this time, I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes from the June 1st, 2026 meeting. So moved. Second. Councilor Romanul with motions to approve, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes.

▶ 2:09 Jamaldine? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. Motion passes. Those minutes are now approved. Now, I will entertain a motion to open the floor for public comment. So moved. Second. Motion to open the floor for public comment made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes.

▶ 2:51 Thank you. The floor is now open for public comment. Per Rule 33-A of the Melrose City Council rules, this is the portion of the meeting where the public may speak on any item on tonight's agenda. Comments expressing any viewpoint on any other matter are also welcome. Just a reminder, this public comment period is an opportunity for the public to share comments. Councilors will not respond. The public has up to five minutes for comments. I will notify you when you have about 30 seconds left, just so you can begin wrapping up. Given the large number of people here tonight, we are going to be very strict with the five-minute time. At this point, sir, if you'd like to begin by stating your name and your address,

▶ 3:25 please. My name is Corey Adlin. I live on East Foster Street, and I am co-leader of Fighting for Black Lives in our neighborhood, Melrose. We have co-sponsored racial justice forums for elections for mayor, school committee, and city council. I thank those of you who participated in the forums. The Affordable Housing Trust was mentioned by several candidates in these forums as an important solution to help address the racial disparities in homeownership in Melrose. As such, I ask you to support the $150,000 appropriation for the Affordable Housing Trust. At the last council meeting, the chair of the Affordable Housing Trust noted that the funding honors the goals of the housing production plan.

▶ 4:07 I agree, and would specifically add that a goal of the housing production plan was to create down payment assistant fund for low and moderate income households looking to purchase a home in Melrose, and target low homeownership rates among marginalized communities. Our group has shared information about the racial disparity in homeownership rates in public presentations, and in information we provided to candidates in advance of the racial justice forums. Based on the seven most recent years of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, Black homebuyers in Melrose were 134% more likely to be denied a home purchase loan than White applicants. We have since investigated the reasons why these applications were

▶ 4:54 denied. There are two especially relevant racial disparities in reasons for denial. One, debt to income ratio. This was cited as a reason for denial for 67% of the Black applications, compared to 42% of the White applications. Two, insufficient cash. This was cited as a reason in 33% of the Black applications, compared to only 4% of the White applications. This demonstrates the need for down payment assistance for marginalized communities, and the need to approve the $150,000. A few months ago, through our group's work with the Mystic Valley Area branch of the NAACP, I was invited to present this type of analysis to the Medford Affordable Housing Trust. The racial disparities in home loan data that I presented for

▶ 5:46 Medford were very similar to the stats I just shared for Melrose. Racial differences in denial for debt to income ratio and insufficient cash. Furthermore, the money the Medford Affordable Housing Trust had just received was similar to the amount being considered for Melrose today I was inspired by the thoughtfulness of the members of the Medford Trust in discussing how their money could be used to remedy the racial disparities, and how it could be further optimized to address multiple challenges in affordable housing. I want the same opportunity for Melrose. Please vote yes to approve the $150,000 appropriation for the Affordable Housing Trust. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Good evening. Always fun to be back on this side of the

▶ 6:38 Gail Infurna: horseshoe. My name is Galen Fern, of 12 Mount Vernon Street, Melrose. First of all, thank you for your service and for your work you are putting into this budget. You are all doing a good job asking questions. I am here tonight to talk about the free cash transfer to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. As a member of the previous Affordable Housing Task Force back in 1999, and now a longtime member of the Affordable Housing Corporation, with a hiatus of two years when I served as mayor, I ask that you support this transfer of free cash. As I watched the meeting last week, yes, I stayed up for the whole six and a half hour marathon, I heard a robust discussion on this issue. A few points to think about.

▶ 7:23 Gail Infurna: If you listen to the news and housing experts, as well as talk to our community members, there are housing needs around the state, and yes, even right here in Melrose. People are paying too much of their income for rents, and buying homes for first-time buyers is getting even more difficult. Melrose has made great strides with housing, but there is more that can be done. We developed a smart growth overlay back when no one even knew what that was all about. We have inclusionary zoning, a master plan that addresses the housing need, as well as housing production plan funding, that just last week you recommended that to the full board, and is later on the agenda this evening. There is state and federal funding available that many

▶ 8:09 Gail Infurna: communities who face the same issues we do are applying for. While there is no guarantee as to which communities receive these funds, the state and federal government want to see that a community is investing into affordable housing, and will give preference to those communities. Putting money into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund is exactly what the state and federal government will look at when awarding these funds to a community. By not putting money into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, you are essentially leaving money on the table. That's state and federal money on the table. As I listened last week to your discussion on this item, I heard it said that $150,000 will not move the needle that

▶ 8:56 Gail Infurna: much. While I don't like referring to the cliché, you have to start somewhere, the phrase does say it all. We do have to start somewhere. And because of the community's vote in supporting the override, we now have this opportunity to start somewhere. As you know, I sat around this horseshoe for 20 years making these decisions weekly. Some were easy and others were more difficult. But in the end, despite the fact that some issues may not have been everything that I agreed with or wanted, I would ask myself, "What is best for the greater good of the community?" In my two years serving as mayor, I understand and I know how important free cash can be. Once again, because of the recent override passage and the hard work of Mayor Gregoritis,

▶ 9:44 Gail Infurna: her team, and this council, the city did not have to use any free cash to balance the budget. Therefore, we have this opportunity to invest in issues that are important to us, to our community, and to all of you as you hear these affordability issues so often from your constituents. Again, I respectfully urge you to support the transfer of $150,000 from free cash to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for all the reasons I have stated above. While I appreciate the fiscal responsibility that you have all taken very seriously, I believe that putting money into the trust at this time is the right thing to do. We do not know when we will have this opportunity again. Remember, while you may not agree 100% of

▶ 10:37 this issue, please think about what is best for the greater good of the community. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. And if you can just remember to state your name and address and sign the sheet in there, just so we have it for the record. It's always helpful. I already did. Thank you. My name is Jeanne Venuti, Altamont Ave, Melrose, Mass. Dear Melrose City Councilors, I'm here to ask that you represent the clear will of Melrose residents regarding the recent ballot question on the state audit. Across Massachusetts, approximately 72% of voters said yes to an audit of the state legislature. In November 2024, voters enacted a ballot law explicitly authorizing the state auditor to audit the accounts, programs, activities,

▶ 11:33 and the functions of the legislature. This was not advisory. It was lawfully enacted through the constitutional authority of the people. By approving this measure, the voters themselves clarified and established the auditor's authority. That action removes any legitimate question about constitutionality. The people of Massachusetts exercise their highest and legitimate questions about constitution-- Oh, sorry. Their highest authority to decline, define how their government is held accountable The people's authority is above all other authorities, and when they enact legal constitutional change, it should be enacted. At this point, the issue is no longer whether such an audit is constitutional. The voters have already settled that

▶ 12:23 question. The issue is whether elected officials will honor and implement the law the people have put in place. Here in Melrose, 67% of residents supported this measure. This was not a partisan outcome. It reflects agreement among Democrats, Republicans, and unenrolled voters alike that transparency and accountability matter. Despite this overwhelming mandate, Beacon Hill has declined to fully implement the scope of what voters approved. Two weeks ago, our state representative, Kate Ripper Gabardini, voted to override the will of the voters. This is shameful disregard for the very people she was elected to represent. At the local level, municipalities and businesses are regularly audited to ensure accountability.

▶ 13:21 The same expectations should apply to state government. When such a strong majority of voters speak clearly, it is essential that their voices are respected. Other communities have already taken action. City councils in Reading and Malden have passed resolutions unanimously directing the state to honor the voters' decision and move forward with a full legislative audit. I respectfully ask the Melrose city councilors to do the same. As our elected representatives, you have the opportunity and responsibility to advocate on behalf of your constituents. Passing a resolution in support of a state audit would send a clear message. Melrose stands for transparency, accountability, and respect for the will of the people.

▶ 14:18 Now we ask our city councilors, does it matter to you? Does the voice of the people matter to you? Will you represent the Melrose voters who approved the constitutional change to audit the state? That's all. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, my name is Kamari Clark, and I live at 64 Bellevue Ave. I'm here to support Janine in her efforts of asking you to vote on the resolution. Not going to go into all of the specific details, but give you some general thoughts that I have regarding this topic. I'm here tonight really to hear the thoughts and opinions of our elected officials regarding this proposal. We live in a country that is consistently stating that our democracy is at risk, that we are on the

▶ 15:16 precipice of losing everything we have fought for over the last 250 years. In many of our recent campaigns, candidates are constantly saying that we need more transparency. And let us not forget, we live in a state where multiple former speakers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives have been convicted of federal crimes, one who was convicted of conspiracy, extortion, and honest services fraud. The ballot measure regarding the audit was put forth to the citizens of Massachusetts, and we overwhelmingly voted for it, not by a simple majority. 72% of citizens want this to happen. What our state leadership has done since this passed has been to put up barrier after barrier to ultimately stop it.

▶ 16:06 The auditor is fighting an uphill battle. She is trying to do what the citizens have asked, but our state leadership has decided this isn't something they want to do. This is not how our process was designed to work. This is not transparency. This is not honest. I applaud Councilor Finocchiaro for bringing forth this agenda item and helping to bring this conversation forward. This is the leadership I want. Thank you. Thank you. Hello, my name is Ronald Toro. I live on 159 Derby Road in Melrose. I am here to support the motion to designate the lined house as a historic commission. I've lived in Melrose since 2009. I've lived in Derby Road since 2023. I love the city. I think it's a wonderful place. I hope to spend the rest of my life here,

▶ 17:17 and I think that this is a great opportunity to really preserve one of the few remaining structures with such a deep history behind it. I think it's just really good to tell the story of a place as the structure as it stands. I know there are potential plans for development, but I think something like this, I don't think a property like this should be moved like a piece of "Tetris." I think it should stand as it is so people can see it for what it is, what it was, and understand how we evolved as a city and what the history is behind it. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Jim O'Loughlin, 39 Lincoln Street. In the interest of time, I won't repeat the email that I sent out Sunday night on the audit proclamation, but that's why I'm here.

▶ 18:27 I would ask that you support the audit proclamation and give voice to the 67% of Melrose citizens who voted for the ballot initiative. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to offer public comment? I find it wise to follow Mr. O'Goffin's lead, so I will not read my letter either. It was sent late last night. Very briefly, I just want-- I'm sorry. Eric Wildman, 105 Laurel Street. I should know better. The Affordable Housing Trust, $150,000 to unlock potential federal and state money. It is a small part, but the size of it should not be a reason not to do it. Affordable housing, affordability crisis in Metro Boston, it's an all the above approach. So I strongly encourage that this order passes tonight.

▶ 19:30 I have a lot of feelings on a lot of things that happened in that six-hour meeting, but you guys have four items on the agenda. So, the Affordable Housing Trust, I hope that that is adopted this evening. Thank you very much. Thank you. Anyone else in the audience who would like to offer public comment? Seeing none. Madam Clerk, is there anyone online? There's no one online. Okay, at this time, I'll entertain a motion to close the floor for public comment. Motion to close public comment. Second. Motion to close the floor made by Councilor Finocchiaro, seconded by Councilor Romanul. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Kowal?

▶ 20:14 Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vanderberg? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. Thank you. We are now closed for public comment. Madam Clerk, will you please read the executive order? To consider the continued lease of 53 parking spaces near St. Mary's Church, located at 41 Myrtle Street in Melrose, from the Archdiocese of Boston, and to discuss ongoing negotiations and proposals for a successor lease with the current lease set to expire June 30th, 2026, as an open discussion may have a detrimental effect on the negotiation position of the city. Thank you. Given the ongoing negotiations over successor lease with the

▶ 21:01 Bradley Freeman: archdiocese, a discussion in open session would have a detrimental effect on the city's negotiating position related to the lease of the property. Is there a motion to enter into executive session for these purposes? So moved. Second. Motion made by Councilor Vanderberg, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion. Councilor Chen? Could we do this towards the end, so we have a lot of people waiting from the public? We cannot. We've done public comment. We are now moving on to this stage of the agenda to do executive session. But even though people are here probably to watch some of the other proceedings- Yes ... on other issues? Yes. Any further discussion? Just for clarification, for anyone watching, so the executive session would mean

▶ 21:41 that the public would have to leave while we have this discussion, and then come back into the room. Mm-hmm. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Councilor Chen? No. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vanderberg? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. Okay, that motion passes. So that motion pass carries with a nine to one vote. The public portion of this meeting is now paused, and the room will be cleared of all non-essential personnel. We will now move into executive session. Council will reconvene in open session following the executive session. I agree with you.

▶ 22:31 Thanks. All right, everyone. Thank you very much for your patience. We are back in order with the regular city council meeting. At this time, we're moving on to our agenda to, there are no communications from the honorable mayor. Moving on to new business and filings by the honorable mayor. Appropriations. Okay. New business. Okay, Appropriations ID number 2026-1334. Appropriation from Peg Access Fund 2922 in the amount of $167,277.80 to MMTV and $55,759.27 to Melrose Public Schools. This will go to Appropriations and Oversight. Moving on to orders ID number 2026-1376, report on results of the Municipal Surplus Building Study for the police station and Ripley school sites. So go to Appropriations Oversight.

▶ 23:34 ID number 2026-1382, authorization to amend solid waste facility operating agreement by and between the City of Melrose and Waste Management of Massachusetts. This will go to Appropriations and Oversight. Moving on to filings by the honorable members of the Honorable City Council. Resolutions. ID number 2026-1381, resolution affirming accountability, transparency, and respect for the will of the voters, sponsored by Cal Finocchiaro. Thank you. I would like to make a motion for immediate consideration. Second. There's a motion for immediate consideration made by Councilor Finocchiaro, seconded by Councilor Chen. On discussion? Seeing none. Madam Clerk? Councilor Chen? Point of order. Are we voting for the resolution right now?

▶ 24:21 Cal Finocchiaro: No. No. Oh, we're voting for the motion to consider tonight. Yes. Yes. Okay. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Maladin? Yes. Is Councilor Carm Shady on? She is joining momentarily. She's on, yeah. Okay. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Bremsky? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. Okay, the motion passes. The motion passes. That resolution is now up for consideration. Thank you. Just want to say a statement before I read. I apologize, my voice is not working well tonight, so I'll try to do my best. Good evening, President Freeman, fellow councilors, and members in the chamber. I'm in support of this resolution because I believe accountability should not

▶ 25:04 Cal Finocchiaro: depend on what office someone holds or how much power they possess. In November 2024, the people of Massachusetts spoke clearly. By an overwhelming margin, they voted to authorize a state auditor to audit the legislature. The voters of Melrose joined that majority. Yet earlier this month, the legislature passed a bill that will significantly limit or prevent the audit voters approved. Our own state representative voted in favor of that legislation. Reasonable people can disagree about the legal arguments surrounding the issue. What is harder to dispute is the message it sends when government appears to resist the oversight that voters overwhelmingly endorsed. Independent audits are not punishment.

▶ 25:43 Cal Finocchiaro: They are a standard tool used throughout government, as we do here in Melrose, to promote transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I will also note that when I introduced an earlier version of this resolution, I was encouraged to withdraw it because of concerns that speaking out on this issue could jeopardize state funding for our community. Whether those concerns were well-founded or not, I found it troubling that a discussion about accountability could be accompanied by fears of political consequences. At its core, this resolution is about a simple principle. Government derives its authority from the people, and when voters speak so clearly, the decision deserves respect. So I respectfully ask for your support

▶ 26:22 Devin Romanul: tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Finocchiaro. I'd like to note for the record that Councilor Carm Shady has joined virtually. All right, next up, Councilor Romanul. Good evening. I want to thank my colleague for filing this order. Anyone, any member of the public who comes to our budget hearings or watches them online or follows us on social media, sees the painstaking detail that we go through to form our municipal budgets, the painstaking detail that manifests itself in the spreadsheets. Everything is out before everybody, for better or for worse, and we hear about it from everybody, and we're just asking other forms of government to follow that same level of transparency. And, yeah, I stand in support of this order and appreciate my colleagues filing.

▶ 27:04 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. Councilor Gelormini? Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Finocchiaro, for filing the resolution. I wanted to be clear that I am fully in support of auditing. But as we had this conversation, speaking with the auditor herself, I was told that she doesn't even have the capacity to audit everyone. And, I found it a little bit misleading, the question on the ballot, knowing that, for the record, I did vote in support for this, and then after found out that she won't be actually able to audit everyone across the board. So it would really depend on her own agenda and on her own list to pick and choose who to audit. So if we want to know if every single person is following the right guidelines and there is

▶ 28:11 Maya Jamaleddine: nothing that they needed to be audited, I don't think her office currently have the ability and the capacity to do so. So if I find out that she does have this capacity and she has been funded to add more to her staff and be able to audit everyone across the board, I would 100% be in support of this. But until now, I don't know who is she going to audit, and if those people that are being audited is due to any conflict between politicians, we all know. So, we are really in a bad situation and a bad decision where we don't know. We definitely are all for transparency, but also I don't want to use that term just to gain and to be able to have everything on our agenda. So I hope that the auditor's office will

▶ 29:29 Ryan Williams: be able to provide those answers to us after we supported her question to be able to promise that she will be able to audit everyone across the board and not picking and choosing based on who she sees that they should be audited and have a closed eye on the other people. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Gelormini. And Councilor Williams. Thank you. Well, I agree that there are some peculiarities with the greater story of the auditor. I think that the resolution that Councilor Finocchiaro has put forward is broad in its approach. I appreciate the courage it takes to wade into this issue. I also voted for the audit. I also recognized at the time that the audit question was a little vague, but I voted for it for the same reason that I'm going to support

▶ 30:26 Ryan Williams: this resolution tonight because it's a statement about the importance of transparency in state government. We have one of the less transparent state governments in America. One stat that stuck in my head after all these years was that we were the last state legislature to reopen in America after COVID closed down public meeting spaces. And I would like to see more transparency generally in the legislature, and I don't think that we're going to get there by ignoring the issue. So, I think as a resolution, fine and good, and I'm proud to support it. If we were voting on actually auditing tonight, I would have a lot more questions and a lot more scrutiny on the issue. But as just a statement of free speech, I think transparency is

▶ 31:13 Jason Chen: fantastic, and I'm glad to support it. Seeing no further discussion, what's... Oh, sorry, Councilor Chen. I support this audit. I voted for the ballot resolution. And there's a few things. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I did try to find as many objective sources and look at the documents. So, I looked at the state legislature's clerk's office and tried to read the audit. The most recent one that was completed was fiscal year 2024. No, it's 2023. 2024 is not done yet. There are four numbers in the 2024 audit for a legislature that controls about 60 to 70 million and makes decisions on about $65 billion of funding. And those four line item, the four line items are starting balance, funds received, funds dispersed, and ending balance, which

▶ 32:05 Jason Chen: they say that they audit themselves, and they're transparent about it, but they don't post it on time, and that's just not what I expect for a state audit. There's a few other concerning things that I found. They're not transparent about what the legislature spends money on, what vendors, who the legislature is paying, on what date, and how much, and for what. So, there's some spend information there, but not what you would find in our systems, and you can't even FOIA that stuff if you tried. The third issue is that the pay for legislators, there is a formula, but it is highly set by the leadership it seems. It's not very clear on how a legislator gets paid based on what positions they have, and that sets up

▶ 32:51 Jason Chen: a kind of a power dynamic that you can't challenge or represent your district equally without feeling like you might be punished by it. And I don't think that, over a long time, leads to open and transparent government. And quite honestly, it tends to lead to corruption. And the fourth thing is there are some rumors and some examples of harassment cases being settled by the legislature. And I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I would like to know how much, over what time, by who. We don't need to know the victims, but how it was paid out. And if that's not transparent, and I get that all organizations have legal fees, but if that's not transparent, that could lead to just some encouraging bad behavior as well. So, for these, I support the resolution.

▶ 33:41 Manjula Karamcheti: And I don't see this as a partisan issue. I don't want us to get dragged into a political food fight, and I hope I'm not on whatever Fox News tomorrow. But I'm just a simple person who, when I see these things, it doesn't sit right with me. Jimmy, can we... Thank you, Councilor Chen. Seeing no further discussion, what's the will of the council? Excuse me. A point of order. Councilor Karamcheti has her- Oh ... has her hand up. I'm sorry. Councilor Karamcheti. Hi, everyone. I hope you're having a good evening. I just wanted to jump in real quickly. One, to say thank you to Councilor Finocchiaro for putting forth this resolution. I too am in support of this resolution. As someone who just believes in transparency and representing our

▶ 34:31 Manjula Karamcheti: constituents, this is what folks voted for. And while I understand that there is a lot of nuance and complexities and laws around this issue, at the end of the day, I think voters were looking to have a direct line into how money is being spent, where it's going, and why. And I think that is something that we should all support. It is something we all need to abide by as elected officials. And so, just in the name of that and what voters wanted to see happen, I'm in support of this resolution as well. And I think there are a lot of things that have happened since the original resolution that was filed that I have a lot of questions and concerns about, and that I hope we can continue to have conversations about that as well.

▶ 35:30 Maya Jamaleddine: So, I agree that this is a nonpartisan issue, and I think voters deserve to have information and to have it be accessible and available to them. So, that's all. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Karamcheti. Councilor Jamaleddine. I'm sorry. It's just because it seems to me that I want to make sure that people are understanding our vote is not going to provide... Or if the auditor was able to audit, and she got the power, okay, to be able to audit, my question is, is she going to be able to audit every single person? Or the voters voted for her to decide who she should pick to vote and who she can close eyes on and not audit them. So, that's my only concern Do our legislatures need to be, should be audited? Absolutely, 100%.

▶ 36:42 Maya Jamaleddine: I am 100% for them to be audited, but across the board. But my concern is, are we giving a power for someone to pick and choose who to audit and probably due to retaliation or due to political agenda or whatever it is, just for them to support them and to help them, go through their political agenda? Or is it truly for transparency and to do what our voters requested for? So, again, I am 100% in support for more transparency and 100% in support of the resolution if the auditor will promise that she will be able to audit every single person across the board, every single legislature. But if she cannot, we're technically under her own mercy, under her own agenda, under her own decision to decide who she wants to audit and who's not.

▶ 37:53 Cal Finocchiaro: That's it. Thank you. Councilor Finocchiaro. Thank you. Through the chair, I appreciate everybody's comments on this. It's a hot topic to bring into council, so I appreciate you all speaking on it, and I appreciate your remarks. I know you've had conversations. I actually had conversations with the auditor as well, and I can't speak to that direct conversation that you had with her, but I'm under the impression from the conversation I had with her that she would be able to audit everyone. But that's something that we could maybe get clarified. Maybe we could have her join us here or something like that. But to that argument, in the same respect, our legislature just voted on a bill to completely almost

▶ 38:39 Cal Finocchiaro: restrict the ability to audit at all. So who's better? If we're saying that the auditor's not voting, I mean, cherry-picking who she's going to audit, but now our state legislature had just passed a bill essentially doing the same thing and controlling. So, I'm not looking to kind of get in between that. My resolution is about supporting the electorate, supporting our voice. 72% of Massachusetts, 67% of Melrose residents supported an audit. And that's really essentially... But again, I appreciate the conversation around these tables. Council Williams. Motion to recommend. Second. Point of order is a motion to recommend. Motion to place on file. File. Second. Yes. Motion to place on file made by Councilor Williams, seconded by Councilor Romanul.

▶ 39:35 On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen. Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro. Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine. No. Councilor Karamcheti. Yes. Councilor Kowal. Yes. Councilor Obremski. Yes. Councilor Park. Yes. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes. Councilor Williams. Yes. President Freeman. Yes. That motion passes. Thank you. Moving on to licenses. So point of order, do I read the resolution or is that just part of the on the record? You could have read it before. You're all going to sign it at the end. Perfect. Yeah. All right. Thank you. ID number 2026-1336, new common victualer license for Shaw Bank Lebanese Eatery and Bakery. Woo. This will go to protection and license. Moving on to unfinished business and appropriations for

▶ 40:31 FY26. ID number 2026-1145, an appropriation from free cash account 01-324001 to the assessing department number 141 in the amount of $9,000 to cover the cost of mailing tax impact notices to all taxpayers in Melrose. Was it something I said? Absolutely. Mr. President, this appropriation comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen. Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro. Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine. Yes. Councilor Karamcheti. Yes. Councilor Kowal. Yes. Councilor Obremski.

▶ 41:26 Yes. Councilor Park. Yes. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes. Councilor Williams. Yes. President Freeman. Yes. That motion passes. An ID number 2026-1164, an appropriation from free cash account 01-324001 to the planning department, number 175, in the amount of $75,000 to hire a consultant for technical assistance to update the city's housing production plan, HPP. Mr. President, this motion also comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen.

▶ 42:08 Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro. Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine. Yes. Councilor Karamcheti. Yes. Councilor Kowal. Yes. Councilor Obremski. Yes. Councilor Park. Yes. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes. Councilor Williams. Yes. President Freeman. Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1165, an appropriation from free cash account 01-324001 to the planning department, number 175, in the amount of $70,000 to hire a consultant for technical assistance to update the downtown parking study. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation of ought not to pass, and at this time I'll make a motion to reject this appropriation. Second. Motion to reject this appropriation is made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by

▶ 42:55 Bradley Freeman: Councilor Finocchiaro. Just for clarification for the members, in this case, a yes vote would be to vote down the order, a yes vote would be to continue to support the order. Yeah. A no vote. No, a no vote. I'm sorry. A yes vote would be to vote down the order. Nice try. A no vote would be offering support for the order. Thank you. It's still early. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Council Chen? Yes. Council Finocchiaro? Yes. Council Jamaluddin? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Brembsky? No. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? No. That motion passes. That motion passes, and that item is not approved.

▶ 44:00 Ryan Williams: Sorry, ID number 2026-1170, an appropriation from free cash, account 01-324001, in the amount of 150,000 to the Affordable Housing Trust number 8270. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I will make a motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Williams. On discussion, I have Councilor Williams. Thank you, President Freeman. This was an order that had a ton of great discussion, a lot of differing viewpoints, and we heard a lot of public comment on it. It's sort of unusual in the experience that we've had as councilors. In particular, I wanted to offer up to the newer folks in the room

▶ 44:49 Ryan Williams: that sometimes on these orders, as you go through the weeks between the meetings, you can have a change of heart. I've done it before, and sometimes people love me for it and sometimes people hate me for it. Mm-hmm. But in this order in particular, the story that stuck with me the most was the story of the school teacher who was looking for assistance. I think there's so few things that we do in this body that can directly help people in a meaningful way, and I hope that we can get this to pass tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Next I have Councilor Kowal, then followed by Councilor Chen. I wanted to just thank everybody who's come to speak tonight, who's written to us. I have had a lot of conversations over the past week.

▶ 45:38 Elizabeth Kowal: I was one of the no votes. I believe deeply in what this trust is purporting to do. My concerns revolve around the lack of strategy that has been presented, even though, again, I've tried to get that information, and so my overall concern was not about what this trust is trying to do. I think it is attempting to do things for the right reasons. My concern is that there's not been a lot of forward progress made or forward progress shown in what they want to do. And I take very seriously my job to look at the finances of the city. I take that as something, again, maybe because I'm newer, that I take really to heart. And I just continue to have concerns about whether or not there is the... I don't want to use the word dedication because the people are very dedicated to

▶ 46:39 Jason Chen: this, but the ability to overcome some obstacles with this group in order to get this trust to do what it really, really needs to do. Thank you, Councilor Kowal. Next I have Councilor Chen, followed by Councilor Park. We need more affordable housing, and I fully support what the trust is, and I'm glad that it's funded. I'm glad that it has $513,000, and also a continuing mechanism to keep it funded through inclusionary zoning. And yes, if we gave it $150,000 or $1.5 million, definitely good would come from it. We have so many other funding priorities and free cash requests in the coming years, which are going to get squeezed because we have less free cash, that don't have these mechanisms and don't have funding in place.

▶ 47:27 Jason Chen: I would really like to say yes to all the requests that have come up. I've said no to a bunch of things or tried to cut them back because I'm concerned that until we see the numbers of how our recent negotiations play out, and we saw what happened with fire overtime, we're going to be squeezed next year, and the things that don't have funding, we need to save our free cash for that. The things that there already are mechanisms for, let them do the good that they can. The things that I want to see us do for more housing, to lower or to arrest the rate of just housing price increase everywhere, is to build more housing, change zoning to include more multifamily units. Some cities like Salem have rental caps on if you build an accessory dwelling unit.

▶ 48:15 Jason Chen: We could actually build hundreds, if not 700, 800, maybe 1,000 units in the next few years. I know it's not a popular position, but that would really help affordability for all Melrose people. A lot of demographics that are struggling with this. So I really want to say yes to this, but because there's already a mechanism and it's already funded, I'm going to vote no for this. Next I have Councilor Park, followed by Councilor Finocchiaro and Romano. Thank you, Mr. Chair. First, I want to make abundantly clear that I strongly support affordable housing. Melrose needs more homes that working families, seniors, people with disabilities, and residents on fixed incomes can actually afford. The city's own documents

▶ 49:04 make that need clear. Second, I want to acknowledge and respect the work of the Affordable Housing Trust. The trust has adopted goals and a five-year plan, and as was mentioned, it has already supported a project that helped preserve three affordable rental units in Melrose. This is real progress, and it matters. At the same time, supporting affordable housing as a principle does not mean we can or should support every proposed funding transfer without due diligence or without asking questions such as, "How did we arrive at 150,000? How will this money be used? Will this have a meaningful impact six months from now? A year from now? Is this the best use of 150,000 from free cash?" During my time canvassing for the override, or shall

▶ 50:01 I say overrides, one of the most common concerns I heard from residents was that the city needs to be more accountable about where money is going and the impact it will have. Tangible impact. While I do not think that critique applies exactly in this case, I think it is fair to say we cannot clearly articulate what meaningful advancement this additional 150,000 will produce for affordable housing in Melrose. Right now, this feels like a leap of good faith and good-hearted intentions from some wonderful people than a strategic investment with defined goals, expected outcomes, and a clear explanation of how that money will be used. That said, I am going to support this funding because I believe affordable housing

▶ 50:51 is a serious and growing need in Melrose and across Massachusetts. Not funding the Affordable Housing Trust for consecutive years is not the best interest, in my opinion, for our city, and I do not want my concerns about the current process of funding to prevent resources from reaching current or future residents who may need them. However, my support should not be viewed as a carte blanche. Melrose voters approved a 13.5 million override in November after extensive public engagement and the mayor's budget message repeatedly emphasizing careful stewardship, planning, and spending on clearly identified needs. I remain concerned that we have not been given a clear enough roadmap for how this additional money will be used, what outcomes it is intended to achieve,

▶ 51:44 Cal Finocchiaro: or how we intend to reach our five-year goal. But I do have faith in the trust to develop a more detailed plan, clear priorities, and regular reporting so we can ensure these funds are being spent wisely and making the most meaningful impact for Melrose. Thank you. Thank you. I have Councilor Pinchiaro, followed by Councilors Romano, Vandiver, and Carm Shady. Thank you. I don't have a statement prepared, but I just wanted to say I was a no- ... at our last meeting, and I've given it some thought. I've met with people that work on the trust and in the planning department in Melrose, and I was a no on this last year, appropriation. I mean, it was a different time fiscally. And I do agree with a lot of the comments that have been made tonight, and

▶ 52:33 Cal Finocchiaro: those are sort of the things that I was struggling with when I was making my decision. But ultimately, I know the trust is new, and that's what I'm kind of coming back to, and I want to give them a chance. So, sort of bolstering their account and seeing what they can do in the coming year and maybe coming back to revisit if there is another free cash request. I'm interested in seeing what they're able to do with this money in the coming year and give them an opportunity because we haven't given that to them in the past. So, I will be supporting this this evening. Councilor Romanul. Thank you, Mr. President. Appreciate all the comments of my colleagues, truly. And for our colleagues who are-- I stand in support of this

▶ 53:18 Devin Romanul: appropriation. For those who don't support it, I absolutely hear where you're coming from, and I really respect the budgetary stewarding that you have front of mind. And you're 100% right that especially when we have spent so many fiscal years hacking away at our city government, cutting huge percentages of our civic workforce, it can be hard to look elsewhere. And that's one of the reasons that I'm supporting this, is that we do have some flexibility in this moment to do it. But I really genuinely appreciate you keeping that front of mind because that is one of the most important things that we do here around this horseshoe. I also want to note that the federal government is neck deep in negotiating federal legislation to

▶ 54:05 Devin Romanul: increase housing supply across the United States. And so the rules of the game, if the House and the Senate can come together on a version, are about to change in some really meaningful ways in terms of how our communities interact with CDBG funding in particular, creating incentives and in some cases disincentives for development in communities, every single community in our country. So that's something that we are going to need to keep an eye on because of the rules of the game if, again, that's a big if, if the House and Senate can see eye to eye, but I think they're pretty close. From my vantage point, the rules are about to change. So we should bear that in mind as we proceed. I'll say that Additional units help for sure in terms of creating

▶ 54:47 Devin Romanul: supply. A quarter million or so short we're across our commonwealth. But access to capital to build wealth in our society is pretty limited to a couple of mechanisms, and homeownership is one of them. And if we can, just through the chair to Councilor Williams' point, make an impact on a few people, I think that's really special. I think that when I campaigned across this city, I found so many people concerned mostly about the override, about affordability, about being able to stay in their home, about being able to afford to live here. And this is a tool that we have in our arsenal that I'm excited to expand. And I think that the nascence of the trust's work should be an opportunity and not necessarily seen as a

▶ 55:34 Kimberly Vandiver: fear. But really excited to dig on this with you all and excited to support this. So thank you all for the thoughtful conversation. Councilor Van De Berg? Thank you. I really appreciate the consideration of my fellow councilors and all the discussion that we had in the previous meeting as well as in the time since then. We've talked this up and down, left and right, all of the points, and I'm not going to repeat five hours of conversation. But I think one thing that stood out to me in thinking about this issue is that we spend money in our budget all the time to make the community better in different ways. Like for example, we spend money on the parks department and the recreation department, and we do that because we think it's valuable to be able to

▶ 56:19 Kimberly Vandiver: have those programs out there and have them be affordably within reach of children and adults, and to get that type of experience that makes our community better. And I think providing any additional amount of affordable housing really makes our community better. It allows people, it allows teachers, it allows the people who work in the businesses in Melrose to all potentially live here or live here more affordably. And I think to other people's points, we need a lot more housing. We can't solve all that with this appropriation, but that's going to take a long time, and we should work on all fronts towards that. But that's going to take a long time to bring the cost of housing down and to make it affordable to certain groups.

▶ 57:03 Kimberly Vandiver: And I think when we can do things like the trust has done with the one funding that they've done so far with the three units that are deeded affordable, I think if we can do that again or if we can find another strategy and we can keep building on it, seek additional funding, that makes a difference to a few families right now, and that makes our community better to support them and have a more socioeconomically diverse community here. So I thank everyone for their consideration and support. Councilor Karamcheti? Thank you, everyone, for all your comments. I want to say that I appreciate the thoughtfulness that everyone has exemplified from our previous meeting to our full city council meeting.

▶ 57:50 Manjula Karamcheti: I was in support of it in appropriations. I continue to be in support of the Affordable Housing Trust. I see this as a very important tool in a variety of tools to improve our housing situation in Melrose. Housing is one of the best tools to accumulate wealth in our society. It always has been, it continues to be, and I appreciate the conversation around thinking about who has access and who does not, and I believe this Affordable Housing Trust offers that opportunity. And our investment in it is really important to current Melrosians and future Melrosians. And I also recognize that in terms of our stewardship of the budget and the finances that we have available, it's important to think about the strategic plan

▶ 58:49 Manjula Karamcheti: for the Affordable Housing Trust, and to be thinking about how we might move forward in that, and backward design what it is that we want the Affordable Housing Trust to be able to do. And so I would be interested in bringing back the Affordable Housing Trust board to share with us in the future, what are the plans? What is the strategy? How is this investment being used? How is it being positioned to signal to nonprofit housing agencies that we are a community that is serious about building a variety of housing? And I think I will just say there have been recent sales of property in which I believe the Affordable Housing Trust could have helped us proactively be more in control of what was developed and who

▶ 59:53 Manjula Karamcheti: it served. So I look to the Affordable Housing Trust to be able to do that for us in the future, and I think the investment now, and a continued investment long term, will position us to be proactive in terms of making sure that Melrose continues to be diverse and accessible for a variety of people and a variety of families. So I continue to be in support. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor. Is there any further discussion on this matter? Seeing none, Madam Clerk? Councilor Chen? No. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Bremsky? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams?

▶ 1:00:55 Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. Okay, ID number 2026-1171, an appropriation from free cash account 01-324001 to memorial building. Number 693 in the amount of 50,000 for boiler replacement and HVAC controls. Mr. President, this motion comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee and with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Council Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Bremsky? Oh, Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul?

▶ 1:01:54 Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. An appropriation from free cash, account 01-324001 to the school department, number 300 in the amount of $12,193.20 to purchase vape detectors for MVMS. Mr. President, this appropriation comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Jamaleddine. On discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Council Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes.

▶ 1:02:41 Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1173, an appropriation from free cash, account 01-324001 to the school department, number 300 in the amount of $72,180 to purchase Melrose High School band uniforms. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Jamaleddine. On discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Council Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal?

▶ 1:03:26 Yes. Councilor Bremsky? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. An appropriation from free cash account 01-324001 to the school department in the amount of $44,296.32 for the purchase of athletic equipment. Mr. President, this appropriation comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion? Seeing none. Council Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes.

▶ 1:04:11 Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Bremsky? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1175, an appropriation from free cash, account 01-324001 to DPW admin/engineering department, number 401 in the amount of 710,000 for design and permitting of L Pond Park. Mr. President, this appropriation comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion, Councilor Vandiver. Thank you. When this was discussed, I was chairing, and so I wasn't participating as

▶ 1:05:00 Ryan Williams: thoroughly in the discussion. So I just wanted to comment that I appreciated a lot of the points and concerns that people spoke about. And for those reasons, I'd really like to see those things reflected before I vote to support this project. So I won't be supporting it today. Thank you. Anyone else on discussion? Councilor Williams? I'll just throw out there that I'm in the same boat as Councilor Vandiver. I don't vote on promises, I vote on orders, and the order had elements to it that I think that should have been more carefully considered before we decided to put them into the 25% design. So I'll also not support this, and I hope that the mayor's office and the administration and the parks department...

▶ 1:05:42 Manjula Karamcheti: I'm sorry, the Parks Commission, makes good on their promises to do a really thorough public process and explore all possible options for the playing fields. Thank you. Councilor Karamcheti? You're muted maybe. Yeah. She's like two screens. Sorry. A lot going on over here. I apologize. I voted in support of the L Pond project, and I continue to be in support, but I did want to, for the record, read a letter that I sent to the mayor's office and DPW, because I think it's important, and I'm just gonna read it directly. And I will try to be fast. Since our committee discussion, I have spent considerable time re-reviewing the feasibility study materials, reflecting on the issues raised during deliberations, and speaking with constituents

▶ 1:06:43 Manjula Karamcheti: and community members about their hopes and concerns for the project. Those conversations have reinforced my belief that while there is broad support for improving recreational infrastructure and moving this project forward, there remain important questions about the planning process, public engagement, transparency, and equitable access that deserve further discussion. I want to begin by acknowledging that Melrose faces legitimate challenges related to recreational space, field availability, and aging infrastructure. I also recognize that significant time and effort have already been invested in the L Pond Park feasibility study, and that many stakeholders are eager to see progress. I share the desire to move forward with this project.

▶ 1:07:27 Manjula Karamcheti: For that reason, I supported advancing the funding request through our appropriations committee. However, I believe it is important to distinguish between supporting the continuation of the planning and design process and concluding that every question surrounding the underlying feasibility study has been fully resolved. In my view, the design phase should be an opportunity to further evaluate assumptions, engage stakeholders, and ensure that the final project reflects the needs of the entire community. It should not be viewed as closing the door on questions about process, representation, or alternative approaches. One of my primary concerns is the extent to which the public engagement process adequately captured the voices of the broader

▶ 1:08:14 Manjula Karamcheti: community. The principal public engagement session occurred in November 2020 during one of the most disruptive periods in recent history. While approximately 500 residents participated in the survey, that represents a relatively small percentage of the city of roughly 30,000 residents. Many families were navigating extraordinary challenges at the time, and participation barriers were likely highest for those most affected by the pandemic. As a result, I believe it is reasonable to ask whether the feedback collected during that period remains representative of current community priorities, and whether all affected user groups had meaningful opportunities to participate. I am also concerned by reports that

▶ 1:08:55 Manjula Karamcheti: alternative concepts, including a potential track component, were evaluated during the planning process but were never publicly presented for discussion. Whether or not a track is ultimately determined to be feasible or desirable is not the central issue. The concern is that residents were seemingly not given the opportunity to review and comment on the full range of alternatives under consideration. Transparency matters. If certain concepts were evaluated and rejected, the community should understand what those concepts were, why they were dismissed, and what trade-offs informed those decisions. That information is particularly important now as elected officials are being asked to authorize substantial public investment in the next phase of the

▶ 1:09:39 Manjula Karamcheti: project. More broadly, I believe the conversation about recreational equity and access should be expanded. Much of the discussion surrounding L Pond was focused on rectangular field sports and the need for additional field capacity. Those needs are real and deserve attention. However, if we are evaluating community recreation needs through an equity lens, a real equity lens, we must also consider sports and activities that may not have the same organizational resources or historical representation in the planning process. Track and field is one example. It is among the largest scholastic sports in both the winter and spring sessions, and remains one of the most accessible and diverse athletic opportunities available to young people.

▶ 1:10:22 Manjula Karamcheti: It is a no-cut sport that welcomes broad participation from students of varying backgrounds and ability levels. Yet many Melrose students must find a way to Pine Banks on the Melrose/Malden line to access facilities that support their participation. Families often rely on public transportation, carpools, and significant logistical coordination to access opportunities that are not available at the L Pond facility. These barriers can disproportionately affect students and families with fewer resources. If our goal is truly equitable access to recreation, then we should ensure that these perspectives are represented alongside those of more established field-based organizations. I would also encourage us to examine whether the

▶ 1:11:05 Manjula Karamcheti: challenges identified in the feasibility study are exclusively infrastructure related. Before assuming that increased field capacity is the sole solution, we should also evaluate how scheduling practices, field allocation policies, and prioritization decisions impact current utilization. Understanding the root causes of demand may reveal opportunities to improve access that extend beyond capital investment alone, and I encourage you to look at women's softball data as some of that that might inform us. To be clear, I'm not advocating that we halt progress on the project or return to square one. I support moving forward. However, moving forward should not require us to ignore legitimate questions about

▶ 1:11:46 Manjula Karamcheti: a planning process that began years ago under extraordinary circumstances. Rather, I believe the design phase presents an opportunity to strengthen the project through additional transparency, broader stakeholder engagement, and a more comprehensive examination of community recreational needs. Addressing these issues now will help ensure that the final plans enjoys greater public confidence and better serves Melrose residents for decades to come. I do appreciate the work that has gone into this, and I will be supporting it. I just hope that the concerns that have been brought up by all city council members and all community members are considered as we move forward. And I thank you for your time. I know that took a lot.

▶ 1:12:31 Jason Chen: But I thought it was important to have it on the record. Thank you, Councilor. Any other councilors on discussion? Council Chen When we discussed this, I initially had some sticker shock about $710,000, but then I got there because it seemed like there were economies of scale benefits, and it was easier to permit the whole thing. I'm wondering if my colleagues who are concerned about process and outcome of the design would be willing to fund something lower, say about $400,000. And that signals that the council isn't fully in support of this, but wants to make sure that this process goes fairly, gets us what we think the public wants, and I think it also increases the chance that something will get funded and designed,

▶ 1:13:23 Jason Chen: and maybe we could start with the parts of the design that are the least controversial but do add benefit to a lot of people, such as a walking path and maybe one of the fields. And I know that fields are controversial, but I wonder if that would be a way to incrementally do this rather than spend a large amount of money. I'm not going to put a motion forward, but I'm interested in what my colleagues have to say, because I don't want to see this completely go away, because I think there has been some good momentum here. Thank you, Councilor Chen. I just want to remind folks there is a motion on the floor. We are discussing the motion, not other proposals at this time. Councilor Finocchiaro.

▶ 1:13:55 Maya Jamaleddine: Okay, just a point of order. So I can't discuss what Councilor Chen just discussed or no? Given the motion on the order, the discussion is on the motion to approve- Okay ... the item. Great, thank you. Councilor Jemali and Councilor Vandiver. Thank you. This is not to discuss Councilor Chen suggestion. However, I just want to remind all of us that because it's a free cash, we are only allowed to approve or reject. We cannot change, increase, or decrease the amount of money that was in the order. I believe we are allowed to reduce the amount as well. We can approve, reject, or reduce. We can reduce? Okay. So I'm mistaken then. Thank you. Councilor Vandiver and Councilor Williams. I'm not sure what the

▶ 1:14:55 Ryan Williams: motion would be that would allow me to discuss Councilor Chen suggestion- ... so I don't have anything else to say. Thank you. Councilor Williams. We are in a little bit of a procedural pickle because- ... we have a motion on the floor. We can only entertain one motion at a time. And the final vote of the city council is the final disposition per our rules in the charter. So, I've talked to the city attorney about the fact that we need to rethink some of these rules and when it comes to the charter. But as it stands, once a motion is made, which it is often made very quickly in the council meeting to approve or reject, that motion is essentially the last question that we're going to answer about the

▶ 1:15:39 order. So, as much as I would like to continue debating this- Point of order. The person who made the motion could withdraw it if they would like to do that. That would be the only way to discuss something else, right? That's true. If you close the initial motion, then there could be a second, a new motion made. But we have a motion and a second. Any other further discussion on the motion on the floor? Councilor Rovski. I would say I'm in favor of the motion as it is, and I did get some feedback as well revolving around a street hockey rink being included in the project. So there are a lot of opinions on the matter of what to do with that area. But I would say I am prepared to vote in favor

▶ 1:16:23 Devin Romanul: of the motion that is on the floor. Councilor Romanul. Thank you, Mr. President. I would have to look at our rules, but I think that ideally our comments are germane to the motion on the floor, but I think we can kind of say our piece and speak in some hypotheticals. But I'm in support of the project. Obviously I, through the chair with some of my colleagues, vociferously opposed some of the more artificial services in hopes of decreasing runoff and decreasing injury and all that. In my perfect world, that's what I would like, but I still approve this even without that. But I think that there's still design opportunities for us to have input through the chair. I agree with Councilor Williams, I would love to have

▶ 1:17:19 Cal Finocchiaro: more input of this, and I great trust that it'll be done the way that I would like it to be done, but that's just my personal opinion. So, anyway, I want to stand by my motion to approve. Thank you. I now accept Councilor Finocchiaro, and then Councilor Karamcheti. Thank you. I'm also going to be supporting this this evening, but I do share a lot of similar concerns that many of the councilors have discussed. And my only concern about potentially reducing is that we wouldn't be able to actually move forward, and we would be relying on free cash, possibly this time next year to move forward. So, that is a concern of mine, and I don't know logistically the answers to reducing. So without talking about it too much,

▶ 1:18:08 Kimberly Vandiver: I'm going to just say I support it as is right now, and I'm putting faith into the process. Councilor Karamcheti. I was just going to say through the chair that I didn't think that Councilor Chen made a motion. And so in terms of discussion, any discussion would still be related to the motion on the floor. So people could be able to say what they wanted to say. I believe the discussion is on the question of passage at this time. Seeing Councilor Vandiver Well, I think I can frame this in a way that it's about the correct topic, but- I think it was presented as a package. There are some pieces that all go together to a certain extent, and one piece of it affects another piece of it. So, I think it makes sense that if it's going to pass, that I

▶ 1:19:03 Kimberly Vandiver: would want it to pass as a whole, or I would want to know for sure from the people who presented that they could do a smaller version or a partial version. We have, in the past, done things like cut the amount of money we were spending on tree planting, but you can just plant half as many trees. That's a little more straightforward. And, yeah. I am also supportive of developing this park, and I am hopeful that if this project moves forward, as it seems that it will, that we'll get something great out of it. And I think what would make me feel comfortable voting for the future stages of this appropriation would be real consideration for the very specific concerns that were raised by people in public comment and at the council,

▶ 1:19:50 and as well as the info sessions that were discussed. So, I hope that happens, and I look forward to supporting round two and round three, hopefully, but not round one. Thank you, Council Vandiver. Any further discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen. Present. Councilor Finocchiaro. Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine. Yes. Councilor Karamcheti. Yes. Councilor Kowal. Yes. Councilor Obremski. Yes. Councilor Park. Yes. Councilor Vandiver. No. Oh, sorry. I apologize. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councilor Vandiver. No. Councilor Williams. No. President Freeman. Yes. So that's one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. That passes. That's eight yeses. Motion passes. Yes. ID number 2026-1176, an appropriation for free

▶ 1:21:04 cash, account 01-324001 to DPW Highway Department 422 in the amount of 400,000 for Lebanon Street TIP project design. Ms. President, this appropriation comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time, I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Okay. Councilor Chen. Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro. Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine. Yes. Councilor Karamcheti. Yes. Councilor Kowal. Yes. Councilor Obremski. Yes. Councilor Park. Yes. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes. Councilor Williams. Yes. President Freeman. Yes.

▶ 1:21:50 That motion passes. ID number 2026-1177, an appropriation from free cash, account 01-324001 to DPW School Facilities Department, number 402, in the amount of $20,000 to update school signage. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time, I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Williams. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen. Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro. Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine. Yes. Councilor Karamcheti. Yes. Councilor Kowal. Yes. Councilor Obremski. Yes. Councilor Park. Yes. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes.

▶ 1:22:36 Councilor Williams. Yes. President Freeman. Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1202, an appropriation from free cash, account 01-324001 in the amount of 37,000 to the Planning Department, number 175, for treating the towners, swains, and alpons. Ms. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time, I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Williams. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen. Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro. Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine. Yes. Councilor Karamcheti. Yes. Councilor Kowal. Yes. Councilor Obremski. Yes. Councilor Park.

▶ 1:23:17 Yes. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes. Councilor Williams. Yes. President Freeman. Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1237, an appropriation from free cash, account 01-324001 in the amount of 17,000 to the Parks Department for the purchase of AEDs for playing fields. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time, I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen. Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro. Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine. Yes. Councilor Karamcheti. Yes. Councilor Kowal.

▶ 1:23:58 Yes. Councilor Obremski. Yes. Councilor Park. Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes. I'm sorry. I apologize. Vandiver. I'm sorry. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councilor Williams. Yes. President Freeman. Yes. That motion passes. She's used to saying that. I'm getting tired. Halfway there. Okay. ID number 2026-1238, an appropriation from free cash, account 01-324001 in the amount of 400,000 to the Fire Department, number 221, for projected overtime costs through the end of the fiscal year. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time, I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Williams.

▶ 1:24:44 On discussion Seeing none. Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1239, an appropriation from free cash account 01-324001 in the amount of 30,000 to the fire department, number 221, for projected motor vehicle repair through the end of the fiscal year. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second.

▶ 1:25:29 Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Williams. On discussion? Seeing none. Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. Motion passes. ID number 2026-1242, an appropriation from free cash account 01-324001 in the amount of 560,000 to the city stabilization fund number 8401. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage.

▶ 1:26:15 Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion? Seeing none. Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1249, an appropriation from Mount Hood retained earnings account 620000-319000 in the amount of 200,000 to Mount Hood Reserve Fund 8417-490000. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage.

▶ 1:27:03 Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Williams. On discussion? Seeing none. Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Romano? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1250, an appropriation from Mount Hood retained earnings account 620000-319000 in the amount of $150,000 to Mount Hood Professional Services, account 620000-529000, to fulfill contract obligations. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage.

▶ 1:27:58 Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion? Seeing none. Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1251, an appropriation from sewer retained earnings account 60000-319000 to sewer equipment account 604413-551002 for the down payment on a vector truck. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and as I believe, a swan song to FY26,

▶ 1:28:51 I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion? Seeing none. Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. Oh, wow. Thank you very much. Moving on to appropriations for FY27. ID number 2026-1204, an appropriation in the amount of $2,236,997 to fund the fiscal year 2027 Mount Hood Enterprise Fund budget. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee

▶ 1:29:43 with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion? Seeing none. Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. Council, uh, President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1205, an appropriation in the amount of $8,461,623 to fund the fiscal 2027 Sewer Enterprise Fund budget. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee

▶ 1:30:32 with a motion for passage and a, uh, recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Kowal. Oh, sorry. On discussion? Seeing none. Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1206, an appropriation in the amount of $6,702,788 to fund the fiscal year 2027 Water Enterprise Fund budget. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee

▶ 1:31:17 with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Kowal. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1207, an appropriation in the amount of 3,639,322 to fund the fiscal year 2027 Solid Waste Enterprise Fund budget. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee

▶ 1:32:02 with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Kowal. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1213, fiscal year 2027 water rates. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage.

▶ 1:32:45 Second. Second. Motion for passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Kowal. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1214, fiscal year 2027 sewer rates. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Kowal.

▶ 1:33:28 On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1215, an appropriation in the amount of $348,948.80 for other funding sources for fiscal year 2027. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Kowal.

▶ 1:34:12 On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1212, reauthorization of the revolving fund table for fiscal year 2027. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Park. Yeah. On discussion. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

▶ 1:34:56 Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1208, an appropriation in the amount of 126,652,797 to fund the fiscal year 2027 general fund operating budget. Mr. President, our budget comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Vandiver. On discussion, Councilor Chen.

▶ 1:35:40 Jason Chen: A question to my colleagues. There are a number of large items, like fire salary negotiations or the school budget, that may be different from what was in the original submitted line items. I suggest we bring in those department heads or the CFO at some point soon to understand what those final items are, where they landed compared to our budget, and then how all the other line items that we ostensibly approved in our budget hearings change based on those. And I've put a request into our CFO and the schools, to Ken Kelly, asking him what are the actual total salary increases for the next three years that were negotiated, because it's hard to figure out just based on reading the social media posts and reading the contract itself, because so much

▶ 1:36:28 Jason Chen: depends on lanes and steps and how many people are in them. But plugging those into a model will show us how we're doing in terms of inflation gap between revenue and spend. I think those are key things that we owe the public as we pass a budget and follow on with our oversight responsibilities. Any other councilors on discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Bremsky? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. Congratulations. Moving on to orders. ID number 2026-1240, an

▶ 1:37:17 order to increase the recreation revolving fund, number 2652, spending limit for the remainder of fiscal year 2026 from 500,000 to 575,000. Ms. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Bremsky? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes.

▶ 1:38:01 That motion passes. Okay, ID number 2026-1241, acceptance of a donation to the Parks Department for the purchase and maintenance of AED units at parks throughout the city. Ms. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Vandiver. On discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Bremsky? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams?

▶ 1:38:48 Devin Romanul: Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1291, vote to establish the Benjamin Lynn House local historic district. This came out of ANO? Yes. It did come out of ANO. Okay. All right. My apologies. Sometimes they come from elsewhere. I think it was the night that you were in. Right. All right. Memory getting the better of me. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councilor Romanul, seconded by Councilor Vandiver. On discussion, I have Councilor Park. Yes. Thank you. When this initially came up, my concern, for the record,

▶ 1:39:30 I did not approve of this simply because I saw this parcel of land as, ironically enough, as something that would be very beneficial to multi-family housing, specifically affordable housing. And at the same token, while we're trying to build up and support affordable housing, I wanted to make sure that this opportunity was available for any sort of lots that could potentially support this sort of endeavor. The answer wasn't clear to me at that point, whether this could in fact be supported if we deeded this as a local historic district. But in fact, you can build multi-family housing, including affordable housing, provided that the project complies with the zoning laws, and now the strict compliance guidelines

▶ 1:40:24 Jason Chen: set by the Historic District Commission. So, whether a developer chooses that path will be up to them. I will fully support that. But as a result, I am going to approve this. That's all. Councilor Chen? Thank you. I came in supporting this, but am now concerned that the historic district will have too much power and be too restrictive and use that as a NIMBY argument to prevent housing from coming in, and I'm wondering what power the council has to stop that. I liked the design, for example, that had a new building with a number of units and then moved the Benjamin Lynn House to the corner and incorporated new and old, and I'm just not sure if the historic district would allow something like that, and they would use a number of historic

▶ 1:41:14 Ryan Williams: preservation arguments to prevent it, and I'm wondering how we would stop that. I guess I don't want the historic district to get too powerful in the cases of adding real housing, even if it is zoned for multi-family. I'm not comfortable with the limits of this. Councilor Williams, followed by Councilor Vandiver. Thank you. I would put as exhibit A through the chair, the building across the street from us, which is under Historic District Commission, or was under Historic District Commission jurisdiction, and went through a very lengthy discussion process and wound up being razed and having a multi-family building put up in its place. So the Historic District Commission is the beginning of a conversation with property owners and developers about the

▶ 1:41:59 Ryan Williams: historic significance and importance of their parcel, and it's like the demo delay ordinance, a tool in the toolbox. It just sort of indicates that we think that that house has a special historic significance. It does not prevent a developer from building something on the site if they abide by all the rules and wait out the timelines, as we saw across the street with us. So, I don't think that we need to worry too much about the Historic District Commission's power. And also, we as a council vote for the Historic District Commission members when they come before us, and so we can ask them clearly for their opinions on this matter, and if we don't like the answers that they give, we can vote no on them.

▶ 1:42:46 Kimberly Vandiver: Councilor Vandiver? Yeah. I appreciate those comments, through the chair. It's Main Street, it's close to downtown, and we have a housing crisis, so I I appreciate those comments, and that in a way that is respectful of the neighborhood and the local context, I would love to see housing there. At some point during this past process, I know Rob Tellis from the Historic District Commission put forward a plan for 13 units on the three properties that would've been in a historical vein. It would kind of keep the Benjamin Lynde House at the center and put some sort of outlying properties in the way that multiple farm-related dwellings or outbuildings might have been. But that would actually be housing, and it would hide

▶ 1:43:39 Kimberly Vandiver: the parking behind, and he had some creative ideas about that. So, I think I would love to see something where everybody is coming to the table, including the Historic District Commission, and saying, "What do we need and what do we not need?" But there's a real tension there. We have downtown, we have the Historic District Commission, puts real restrictions on businesses on what they can do for signage and how they can operate. But it also makes downtown have a quaint feel. So, I don't know. I don't have an answer to those tensions. But I know there's also a lot of support in the neighborhood, it isn't in my district, for this specific house and property and its history. So, I'm going to give that group of the Historic Commission

▶ 1:44:25 Cal Finocchiaro: the benefit of the doubt that they will proceed in good faith and towards preserving the house and not solely towards preventing change. Councillor Finocchiaro. Thank you. Again, I appreciate the conversation we're having around the table. I too obviously support more housing in the community. I think, like I've said this before, I think we're doing a good job in Melrose of putting up a lot of housing around. I just think that this house is very different than even potentially the building that went up across City Hall. Is, for our purposes in Melrose, a historical figure. And I think that it's also a beautiful house. And we're not looking to make every single old home a historic district. I think this one is just special. So, we're not looking

▶ 1:45:19 Cal Finocchiaro: to thwart housing from happening, but I think it's gotten this far. This house, obviously the people, like someone like Lori Massa, who's in the Planning Department, supports this, and I know she's very supportive of housing, so I don't think someone like that would do anything to prevent that from happening. So anyways, obviously you know I support this. I just gave my two cents. Thank you. Any further discussion on the motion on the floor? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Okay. Councillor Chen? Yes. Councillor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councillor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councillor Karamcheti? Yes. Councillor Kowal? Yes. Councillor Bremsky? Yes. Councillor Park? Yes. Councillor Romanul? Yes. Councillor Vandiver?

▶ 1:46:06 Devin Romanul: Yes. Councillor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. Thank you. Moving on to transfers. ID number 2026-1290, a transfer in the amount of 69,000 from health insurance number 914 to workers' comp number 912 to fund estimated costs through the end of the fiscal year. My apologies, I prematurely said goodbye to FY26. We got a couple of house- ... keeping things here. All right. So sorry for the mistake. Mr. President, this also comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion of passage made by Councillor Romanul, seconded by Councillor Finocchiaro. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk.

▶ 1:46:47 Councillor Chen? Yes. Councillor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councillor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councillor Karamcheti? Yes. Councillor Kowal? Yes. Councillor Bremsky? Yes. Councillor Park? Yes. Councillor Romanul? Yes. Councillor Vandiver? Yes. Councillor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1293, requesting a transfer of $7,000 from the Memorial Building salaries account 016931-511000 to the Memorial Building professional services account 016932-529000 to cover fiscal year '26 HVAC repairs. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councillor Romanul, seconded by Councillor Finocchiaro.

▶ 1:47:37 On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councillor Chen? Yes. Councillor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councillor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councillor Karamcheti? Yes. Councillor Kowal? Yes. Councillor Bremsky? Yes. Councillor Park? Yes. Councillor Romanul? Yes. Councillor Vandiver? Yes. Councillor Williams? Yes. President Freeman. Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1294, transfer to DPW facilities number 402 in the amount of 130,000 from various DPW accounts for June utilities. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councillor Romanul, seconded by Councillor Finocchiaro.

▶ 1:48:20 On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councillor Chen? Yes. Councillor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councillor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councillor Karamcheti? Yes. Councillor Kowal? Yes. Councillor Bremsky? Yes. Councillor Park? Yes. Councillor Romanul? Yes. Councillor Vandiver? Yes. Councillor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. ID number 2026-1298, request an interdepartmental transfer of funds from the election salaries part-time line item 011621-51200 in the amount of 24,437 to the printing line item 011622-521000. Mr. President, this comes to us from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage, and at this time I will make a motion for passage. Second.

▶ 1:49:05 Bradley Freeman: Motion for passage made by Councillor Romanul, seconded by Councillor Williams. On discussion Seeing none, Madam Clerk? Councillor Chen? Yes. Councillor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councillor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councillor Karamcheti? Yes. Councillor Kowal? Yes. Councillor Bremsky? Yes. Councillor Park? Yes. Councillor Romanul? Yes. Councillor Vandiver? Yes. Councillor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes. Thank you. As we wrap up, any reports from committees tonight? Seeing none. There are no expiries. Are there any Rule 36 reports? Councillor Finocchiaro. I forget what Rule 36 reports are, because we don't have them that often. It's just- Point of order, a Rule 36 report is a report from a member of the council who serves on as a liaison-

▶ 1:49:50 Cal Finocchiaro: Hmm ... to a certain number of committees, including the Water Committee- Okay ... uh, Traffic Commission- Okay ... and the Public Safety- Okay ... Building Commission. I thought that was reports from committees, so Thank you for asking. With that, I will entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. Second. Motion to adjourn made- Motion ... by Councillor Romanul, seconded by Councillor Vandiver. On discussion, Councillor Finocchiaro? Yes. Actually, I would like to make a ... Um, I thought I could've done this at Rule 36, but clearly I forgot what that was. I just wanna take a moment to thank Councillor Romanul for a wonderful, um- ... appropriation season. Woo-woo. Councillor Vandiver? We didn't make it, and I was... I was getting there.

▶ 1:50:30 Cal Finocchiaro: Well, talk, talk. We didn't make it easy with people not being available on certain days, and we had to kinda condense meetings. Um, but you did a great job, so I wanna, uh, thank you for that. And Councillor Vandiver, who stepped in and did the six-and-a-half hour meeting while Councillor, uh, Romano was remote. Um, so anyways, I just wanted to say thank you, so... Is there any other discussion of the motion on the floor to adjourn? No. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councillor Chen? Yes. Councillor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councillor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councillor Karamcheti? Yes. Councillor Kowal? Yes. Councillor Bremsky? Yes. Councillor Park? Yes. Councillor Romanul? Yes. Councillor Vandiver? Yes. Councillor Williams?

▶ 1:51:10 Yes. President Freeman? Yes. The motion passes. We are adjourned.

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