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Malden City Council approves pay ordinance for members, rejects park sale and backs electric SCADA replacement
Summary
The Malden City Council on July 6 approved Ordinance No. 3312 providing compensation for council members, rejected a $100 offer for Cotton Bowl Park, authorized donation of a surplus animal-control van to a local nonprofit and approved replacing the electric SCADA system; several appointments and personnel changes were also confirmed.
The Malden City Council on July 6 approved a measure to provide compensation for its members and acted on a slate of administrative and infrastructure items.
Ordinance No. 3312, described as a measure "to provide for compensation to members of the Malden City Council," passed both its first and second readings on recorded poll votes. The council recorded a 7–0 vote in favor; the minutes list Council Members Jenkins, Cooper, Grant, Santie, Dierks, White and Beckett as voting YES. The ordinance repeals conflicting provisions and establishes an effective date not specified in the minutes.
Council also considered a $100 offer from John Welch to purchase Cotton Bowl Park (with some structures excluded) as a potential site for multi-family development. After extended discussion about downtown character, prior rezoning, maintenance and community sentiment, the council voted unanimously to reject the bid.
The council approved multiple personnel and appointment items. Fire Chief John Johnson was appointed to the Housing Authority Board (motion by Jenkins, second Santie; vote 7–0), and Randy Sims was appointed to the Parks Board (motion by Jenkins, second Beckett; vote 7–0). The council approved an updated Bookkeeper job title and description—consolidating accounts payable/receivable, treasury functions and a transition of HR duties—on a unanimous vote.
On infrastructure, the Board of Public Works recommended replacing the aging electric Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system used for utility monitoring. The council approved the recommendation, to be funded by BPW resources, noting prior service-call errors and the system’s critical role in monitoring electrical infrastructure.
The council authorized donation of a surplus Animal Control van to Headed Home in the Heartland, a confirmed 501(c)(3); staff will coordinate transfer after representatives were unable to attend the meeting due to illness. That motion passed unanimously.
The meeting closed with a routine series of council reports—members raised concerns about neighborhood maintenance, speeding on local streets and occupancy limits at the community center—and with the mayor noting upcoming meetings and a nearby sewer-district public hearing.
The council adjourned at 7:22 p.m.
