POLL: What Should Be Melrose's Priority in 2012?
Take our quick poll, and then see what your neighbors have to say.
The New Year traditionally allows us the chance to make personal resolutions, mostly concerning positive attributes—weight loss, saving money, correcting personality flaws—all towards becoming a better person.
It is also an opportunity for people to express where they would like to see their communities—neighborhoods, religious congregations, work places—head in the coming year.
Of course, Melrose must first find and hire a new school superintendent to lead the district, but after that, what should be the city's main priority this coming year?
Michelle Carson
10:22 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
MHS renovation for sure, but also continuing to improve educationally, as well.
Nicole Morse
10:26 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Fixing the sidewalks! For a walkable commuter town, the sidewalk conditions are shameful!
Daniel DeMaina
10:51 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Nicole, do you have a specific area where the sidewalks are a mess? Or is it overall?
Katherine kennedy
2:59 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Support Public Safety efforts to combat the serious drug/heroin problem in Melrose. Police Headquarters is in DEPLORABLE condition! Schools and athletic fields have had their turn. When will the needs of the fire stations and police department be met?
Daniel DeMaina
3:47 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Excellent points regarding the drug problems in Melrose and the police headquarters, Katherine. It was a little over four years ago that Dolan had cited a new police station as a priority: http://www.wickedlocal.com/melrose/news/x1663148965#axzz1j4Sx9hML ... after the fiscal crisis hit and other options (such as a possible move to the Armory) didn't pan out, I'm guessing we might hear more about that this year.
Nicholas
9:19 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
Far and away, education should continue to be Melrose's highest priority. It's an investment that lifts all boats in the long term, and will ultimately provide the city with a revenue base that will allow it to invest in all the other high priority projects. But the investment in education needs to come first.
How does it provide that revenue base? It's simple. A stronger public education system will make this city into an even more desirable place to live and thereby raise property values throughout. That will, in turn, provide the city with the economic means to invest more heavily in public safety, fire, infrastructure, etc.
Melrose has long been a family-oriented city with a strong focus on the needs of the families raised here--past, present and future. But what is the absolute highest priority for most families with children when selecting a community in which to live? What is the first thing families ask about when considering living in a particular town? Without fail, it's "How's the school system?"
No doubt, Mayor Dolan has made education a priority and has placed it on the right track. But there is still a long way to go and a significant amount of investment yet to be made in order for Melrose to fulfill its potential. Not to downplay the other public needs of this city. They are real and they are still a priority. However, investment in education isn't merely an end. It has the unique advantage of also being a means to other ends.
Daniel DeMaina
12:07 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
Thanks very much for the thoughtful argument, Nicholas.
arnold koch
9:41 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
Is anyone paying any attention to the debt obligations Melrose has and will
assume for future projects ? It is the taxpayer who will eventually foot most the bills
Daniel DeMaina
9:49 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
Good point, Mr. Koch. Dolan said regarding renovations to Melrose High School, for example, "We must do it without a debt exclusion, we will do it within our debt limit." (From Monday night's inaugural ceremonies: http://patch.com/A-qb7v)
The city's self-imposed debt limit is keeping municipal debt at 5 percent or lower of the total city budget each year. In this year's budget, municipal debt totals $3.25 million, plus another $1.88 in debt interest. When the city pursues new borrowing, my first question to city auditor Patrick Dello Russo is how the additional borrowing will affect the city's debt level now and in the future (which also affects the city's bond rating and the type of interest rates it receives).
Now, Dolan said that the recent reorganization of the DPW would create enough future savings to tackle renovations at Melrose High School (http://patch.com/A-m1sT), but we'll have to see what kind of numbers Dolan and his team present to the aldermen when they make the request for funding those renovations.