The Melrose Messenger

Keeping Melrosians Informed Since 2024

City Hall



School Committee Dives Deeper into Budget Details for Next Year

mhs

The School Committee examined in more detail this week several aspects of the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), which begins in July.

One of the most surprising cuts to come out of this budget cycle is the elimination of the middle school principal position - a decision that Superintendent Adam Deleidi explained in more detail this week.

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City Council Looks at Road Safety Concerns on Franklin Street and Citywide

This week, the City Council heard from city officials about what the city is doing to address road safety concerns, particularly on Franklin Street. The Franklin Street corridor, from Main Street down into Stoneham, is an area of concern for many residents and has seen multiple crashes in the last few months.

collision

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Mayor Discusses Potential Impact of Federal Funding on Melrose

state house

On Tuesday, Mayor Jen Grigoraitis, along with other mayors and town administrators from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council Metro Mayors Coalition, met at the Massachusetts State House with House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz to discuss how changes to federal funding over the next months and years could impact cities and towns across the state.

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Temporary Library at the Beebe School Closes This Weekend

On Saturday, March 22nd, at 5pm, the temporary library at the Beebe School will close so that library staff can move operations into the newly renovated permanent library on West Emerson Street.

library

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Mayor Aims To “Pull Every Lever” To Lessen Cuts For Schools and City

mayor grigoraitis

In their most recent meetings, the City Council and the School Committee each received updates from Mayor Jen Grigoraitis on the process of setting the city’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), which begins in July.

Last month, it was announced that the City of Melrose and the Melrose Public Schools (MPS) are facing a combined $6.1 million deficit for FY26.

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Swains Pond Ave to Get Sidewalks Through State Grant

Last week, the City Council voted to accept a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets program to construct sidewalks on the stretch of Swains Pond Avenue between Beech Street and Penny Road. The project will provide pedestrian access to the trails at Flagg Acres and make the area more pedestrian- and bike-friendly.

swains pond

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52-Unit Apartment Building To Replace Prestige Car Wash On Tremont Street

182 tremont st

Last week, the Planning Board met to discuss the site plan for a five-story, 52-unit apartment building to be built on the site of the Prestige Car Wash on Tremont Street. The Planning Board will vote on whether to approve the plans at their next meeting on March 24th.

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School Committee Looks At Budget Cuts For Public Schools

On Tuesday evening, the School Committee met to hear from Superintendent Adam Deleidi about proposed budget cuts to balance a $4.2 million budget deficit in the Melrose Public Schools budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which begins in July. The City and Schools are facing a total budget deficit of $6.2 million heading into FY26 due to rising costs in a number of areas, including health insurance, special education, utilities, and transportation.

deleidi and withey

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Beebe Neighbors and City Clash Over Plans for New Police Station

police station plans

Last week, city officials and members of the Public Safety Facilities Advisory Committee met with residents of the Beebe neighborhood to discuss the latest plans for the police station, which is slated to be built on the site of the former Beebe School.

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Zoning Changes to Allow Accessory Dwelling Units Under Discussion By City Council and Planning Board

adu

Last August, Governor Maura Healey signed the Affordable Homes Act, which requires all cities and towns in Massachusetts to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in all areas that are zoned for single-family homes.

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City and Schools Facing Millions in Budget Cuts for Next Year

Last night, the City Council and the School Committee held a joint meeting to hear about the status of the budget for the City of Melrose and Melrose Public Schools (MPS) for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) and what the budget process will look like for FY26, which starts in July.

mayor

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