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Votes at a glance: Revere council approves appointments, transfers and a slate of motions
Summary
At its July meeting the Revere City Council confirmed two department appointments, approved budget and enterprise fund transfers to close FY2025, approved several petitions and passed motions on worker solidarity, public safety and local projects; several zoning and enforcement items were referred for further review.
The Revere City Council took a range of formal actions at its July meeting, including personnel confirmations, year‑end budget transfers, approvals of infrastructure petitions, and motions requesting executive action on community concerns. Key outcomes are summarized below.
Confirmed appointments - Maria Levita — Confirmed as chief of the Revere Police Department (roll call yes: Argencio, Cogliandro, Giannino, Greeno Sawaya, Haas, Jaramillo, Kelly, McKenna, Novoselski, Zambuto, President Silvestri). See separate article. - Danny Hernandez — Confirmed as director of veteran services (full roll call recorded; appointment confirmed). Hernandez described his military service and work with veterans and asked for council support for the veterans office.
Zoning, public‑works and petitions - National Grid petition (3 True Street): Approved (petition to relocate Pole 556 approximately 10 feet; roll call recorded in favor). The petitioner said the move will remove a pole from a driveway and minimize customer impact. - 529 Broadway LLC (five‑story, mixed‑use proposal): Public hearing opened and matter referred to the zoning committee for further review (residents raised concerns about massing, parking, traffic and sewer capacity). - 114 Shirley Avenue (special permit): The zoning subcommittee voted to grant the special permit as amended; the council subsequently granted the special permit on roll call (conditions from site plan review and zoning subcommittee apply). - Referred to public hearing: zoning amendments for battery energy storage systems (Chief of Planning & Community Development requested a public hearing).
Budget and fiscal transfers (FY2025 year end) - General fund transfers to close FY2025 with no deficits: $1,437,901 approved on roll call to cover deficits and close the books (detailed line items recorded with the CFO). - Water and sewer stabilization transfer: $2,000,000 transfer from the Water & Sewer Stabilization Fund to enterprise accounts approved on roll call to cover a revenue shortfall in the water/sewer enterprise for FY2025. - Additional enterprise and payroll transfers: several smaller transfers were approved to close the fiscal year; free cash and stabilization accounts were used to avoid audit or tax‑rate impacts.
Licenses, enforcement and public‑safety motions - Revocation hearing, Chapter 148 license (65122, Naples Road): Matter discussed; councilors cited apparent noncompliance with special‑permit conditions (fire lanes, locked gates, striping) and voted to table the revocation and request a full inspection and report from building and fire inspectors before further action. - Motions passed: the council authorized or requested executive action on multiple public‑safety and neighborhood issues, including increased enforcement against unregistered dirt bikes and scooters (as amended to include sidewalk enforcement), a request to DCR to require construction workers to park at Wonderland Garage and bus crews to sites, and a request to MassDOT for skip lines at the Thomas Sela Way/Winthrop Avenue intersection on Revere Beach Parkway.
Community, veterans and labor - Veterans: Danny Hernandez’s appointment was confirmed; the council approved installation of a memorial pole honoring WWII veteran Warren Francis Myers with an installation planned for Aug. 10 and asked veteran services to follow an application and vetting process for future memorials. - Labor solidarity: The council approved a letter expressing support for Republic Services workers represented by Teamsters Local 25 and urged Republic Services to return to the bargaining table during an ongoing strike that councilors said is disrupting local trash collection in some communities.
Other motions and referrals - The council asked the mayor to pursue $40,000 in city funding for the Home for Little Wanderers mental‑health contract for FY25–26 programming in local schools. - The council approved a plaque dedication request for the new Alden Mills fire station and a motion congratulating the Revere Youth Baseball U‑10 all‑star team. - Several items were referred to committee for follow‑up, including the rooming‑house enforcement motion (inspectional services to report on identification and enforcement procedures) and a motion to investigate fines for utilities that leave downed wires and boxes in streets or sidewalks.
Why it matters: The votes and referrals address immediate municipal operations — staffing in public safety and veteran services, year‑end fiscal housekeeping, public‑safety enforcement, and neighborhood quality‑of‑life issues. Several items require follow‑up from administrative departments or further committee review.
What’s next: Expect zoning committee review on large development applications, a building/fire inspection report on the Naples Road license matter, follow‑up on FY2025 accounting from the CFO, and administrative responses to council requests on construction parking, utility downed‑wire enforcement and public‑safety operations.
