Malden council refers dispute over Mystic Valley use of Trafton Park to public-properties committee

The Malden City Council on Monday voted to send a proposal about Mystic Valley Regional Charter School’s use of Trafton Park to the council’s public-properties committee and asked the city solicitor’s office to stand ready to enforce park rules while a multi-year permit is negotiated. The motion, moved by Councilor Winslow and seconded by Councilor Spadafore, carries after extended public comment and several councilors raised concerns about neighborhood access, maintenance and parity in fees.

The decision follows more than an hour of public comment from parents, neighbors and school staff who described conflicting accounts of how the park is used. Neil Kinnan, business manager for Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, told the council, "Mystic Valley contends the law is clear," and argued the school was being singled out under recently updated park rules; Rick Bayou, assistant superintendent for finance and operations at Mystic Valley, said the school was "seeking to be treated fair and consistent within the existing city." Councilor Winslow, who sponsored the paper, said the goal is clarity and balance: "We need it defined, and it needs to be under a permit."

Why it matters: Trafton Park is a…