With four of its 11 members absent, the Chelsea City Council on Monday backed the striking Encore Boston Harbor workers, heard the city manager propose a $50,000 home repair fund for seniors, sent a $3.2 million land purchase to committee and created a new economic development post. Three spending orders were postponed because there were not enough councillors present to pass them. Vice President Norieliz DeJesus chaired. The solar votes are in our separate story.
Encore strikers
Two Encore workers spoke before the vote. Ruth Santos, a Chelsea resident who works at the casino as a cook, said she and many co-workers live in Chelsea. “One job should be enough for Chelsea families,” she said. James Atkins, the lead gardener and a Teamsters Local 25 chief steward, said all 1,300 workers covered by Local 25 and Unite Here Local 26 have been on strike for about a month. He asked councillors to go “beyond just a resolution” and call Wynn Resorts executives to get them back to the table.
The resolution, introduced by Council President Roberto Jimenez-Rivera, who was absent, passed by unanimous consent. It supports the strikers and directs the city manager to send a copy to Encore’s general manager. Another councillor said he had stopped by the picket line. “I’m surprised on this 33rd day that they haven’t brought you back to the table,” he said. Our most recent strike coverage is here.
Home repair money for seniors
City Manager Fidel Maltez proposed a senior home repair pilot modeled on Revere’s, and said he would ask the council for $50,000 from free cash to start it. It would pay for grab bars, ramps, stair lifts, bathroom upgrades, roof, heating, plumbing and electrical repairs. Applicants must be at least 60, own and live in their Chelsea home year-round, and earn under $96,000 for one person, $109,700 for two, $123,400 for three or $137,100 for four. Maltez said grants top out at $5,000 and go first come, first served until the money runs out. The program would run through the director of constituent services with the Senior Center.
Recupero, who asked for the program, said $50,000 “is really not a lot of money” and might help “one or two, maybe three seniors in a year.” Brown said the council has to look at what it would cost if 100 seniors applied, and whether the income limits are fair. Councillor Lisa Santagate asked that snow removal and storm cleanup be considered for seniors as the program takes shape.
Separately, Recupero filed an order asking for an update on the city’s existing home repair program for homeowners earning under about $100,000, which he said has had 7 to 14 people waiting and has paid out to only two.
One lottery for affordable units
The city plans to have the Chelsea Housing Authority run a single citywide lottery and waiting list for the affordable units that developers must set aside under inclusionary zoning, instead of each developer running its own. Maltez said developers told the city a lottery can cost a small project almost $30,000. The city would front an estimated $46,222 to set it up, then have developers pay into a revolving fund. The Housing Authority would also certify the units and handle appeals. Maltez said it does not affect the Housing Authority’s own state-listed public housing. Asked what the Housing Authority gets out of it, he said it took “about four meetings” to convince Executive Director Paul Nowicki, and that it is doing it “to be a good partner.” A separate order from Councillor Kelly Garcia asks for a 70 percent local preference for Chelsea residents in the new lottery; it goes to a second reading. A councillor asked whether it could be 100 percent; Maltez said he would look into it.
$3.2 million for 260 Marginal Street
Maltez asked the council to buy 260 Marginal Street from the property owner, named in his letter as Hines, for $3.2 million from the overlay reserve fund. The Board of Assessors approved the transfer in September. The lot is next to city-owned 324 Marginal Street, and both are leased to Enterprise Rent-A-Car, whose lease with the city runs to 2045. Both orders went to Ways and Means.
Other votes
- Chief economic development officer, 7-0. The post is not in this year’s budget; any money for it this year must come back to the council once free cash is certified, and the administration is to find offsetting cuts starting in fiscal 2028. Teshe asked that the person’s plans be shared before they start. “It’s not just about money, it’s about the city’s identity,” he said. Taylor said “rougher times” are ahead for the city’s finances.
- Temple Emmanuel, 7-0. The council authorized a historic preservation restriction on the temple at 60 Clark Avenue, whose chapel dates to about 1859 and main sanctuary to 1872. The restriction protects the exterior; the temple keeps ownership and upkeep, and the city takes on no cost.
- Election warrant for the November 3 state election, 7-0.
- Postponed: three Ways and Means spending orders, 26F39, 26F40 and 26F41, which need eight votes. They move to October 19.
Downtown Broadway land takings
The city asked the council to take easements by eminent domain for the downtown Broadway rebuild between William Street and City Hall Avenue. Maltez’s letter puts the cost of the easements at $250,000, already budgeted, and says they unlock more than $13 million in federal money. On Taylor’s motion the order was split: the takings go to a public hearing, and the street changes on Broadway, Bellingham, Marlborough, Sixth, Washington and Chestnut go to the Traffic and Parking Commission first.
From the city manager
- Market Basket: a meeting is scheduled between the city and Market Basket’s chief executive about the company’s plans for its property.
- Train horns: the city expects the MBTA to approve revised plans for the commuter rail quiet zone no later than November, after the MBTA asked last year for a second review.
- Fire chief: Fire Chief John Quatieri’s contract was renewed for three more years. It had run to June 30, 2027.
- Tax rates: Maltez asked for a conference meeting on fiscal 2027 tax rates on November 2 and a public hearing.
- Appointments sent to a second reading: Gabriela Rodriguez to the Women’s Commission, a new member of the Board of Registrars of Voters, and two Historical Commission reappointments, including Matt Frank.
New orders
- DeJesus asked for a conference meeting with the superintendent and School Committee on next year’s school budget, ahead of cuts tied to falling enrollment.
- DeJesus also asked Traffic and Parking to look at pedestrian safety at Eastern Avenue and Carroll Street. She said that within a day of her raising it, public works had repainted the crosswalks there, and that a traffic mirror had been put up.
Scooters and St. Luke’s
Santagate reported on the recent Public Safety subcommittee meeting with the police chief (our report). She said an enforcement push would likely come in the spring. Taylor said it will not happen until after a public education campaign in the schools and for parents.
Santagate also described the Faith and Blue service at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, where an electrical fire started during the new priest’s first service after Father Edgar’s retirement. The congregation moved worship to the lawn and police moved the luncheon to the parking lot. “Baptism by fire, literally,” she said.
Councillors closed by urging residents to register to vote by Saturday, October 24.
A full automatic transcript of the meeting is posted separately.