Council Revisiting Multi-Million Dollar Loan Order

City is seeking $3.2 million to complete numerous projects, has not been discussed since February.

The Medford City Council will once again discuss a loan order from the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) in the amount of $3.2 million that is expected to be used for improvements throughout the city. Mayor Michael McGlynn and Budget Director Stephanie Muccini Burke have been requested to be present at tonight's council committee of the whole meeting at 6 p.m. in room 207 of Medford City Hall. That is to be followed by a regular city council meeting at 7 p.m. in the Howard F. Alden Auditorium. You can see what's on tap for both meetings here. The interest-free loan is available from the MWRA because the city can produce documentation for all water work appropriated from city accounts dating back to 2000, and then apply for …

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Mayor: City Lost Two DPW Trucks in Storm

McGlynn said he knows city "wasn't perfect" dealing with the storm but employees did a "very good job."

Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn said two city Department of Public Works trucks were victims of the major winter storm that blanketed two feet of snow on the city. McGlynn said during a Friday press conference he would request to include two new DPW trucks among the items to be funded by a possible $3.2 million interest-free loan from the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority discussed by the City Council this week. McGlynn said one of the trucks, a smaller plow, actually overheated and "burst into flames" due to the stress from pushing "heavy, wet snow." McGlynn said the truck was "a $50,000 item." The other truck that died during the storm was a sander, which was also valued at $50,000. McGlynn is proposing purchasing two larger trucks …

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City Seeking $3.2M Interest Free Loan For Projects

New Brooks Estate road, school security system cameras, police cruisers among items that could be paid for by an MWRA loan.

The Medford City Council approved a first reading of a paper Tuesday night that could eventually lead in the procurement of $3.2 million in loans from the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA). The MWRA loans are interest-free and can be used for any purpose and not just water improvements, Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn explained to the council during a committee of the whole meeting. Before the end of the year, the MWRA approached McGlynn about their Local Pipeline Assistance program. McGlynn said the city had a balance in its account from zero or low-interest loans approved by the council. Under the program, the city could produce documentation for all water work appropriated from city accounts dating back to 2000 and applied to …

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Blog: MWRA Mayor and Council Should be Fined

Jeanne Martin writes that the mayor and city council should be fined for misappropriating water and sewer enterprise funds.

MWRA to Remove Rocks from Water Tank Site in Late September

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority has removed about 150,000 cubic yards of excavated material out of a total of 190,000 cubic yards at the Spot Pond water tank site this year.

With excavation planned through the end of the year at the Spot Pond water tank site in Stoneham, rock removal is expected to begin in late September, according to a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) spokeswoman. "...We have removed about 150,000 cubic yards of excavated material out of a total of 190,000 cubic yards," said Ria Convery, a spokeswoman for MWRA, adding that the number of trucks at the site varies from zero to 10, with each making three trips. "Rock removal is scheduled to start (at the) end of September and continue in October." The project is expected to require "considerable excavation" for six to eight months during the hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to a MWRA statement. "Once the excavation is complete…

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