On Friday, February 3 Mayor Michael McGlynn signed bond agreements for two important school projects.
The $3.3 million school technology bond was officially signed today. The plan includes new computers for teachers and students and a district-wide wireless network. The technology committee and school staff are currently working on securing vendors and making plans to have the new technology in place by the start of the next school year.
Mayor McGlynn signs the school technology bond. Pictured, from left: City Councilor Rick Caraviello, Mayor McGlynn, School Committee member Paulette Van der Kloot, School Committee member Robert E. Skerry, Jr., State Representative Paul Donato, School Superintendent Roy Belson, former School Committee member Sharon Guzik, and School Committee member Erin DiBenedetto.
A bond agreement to create an artificial turf field at Hormel Stadium was also signed. Part of the $860,000 project will be funded by a $500,000 grant from the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs thanks to a program for improving open space and recreational facilities in the state. In addition to the new turf field there will be a new scoreboard and the track will be resurfaced.
Mayor McGlynn, surrounded by MHS students in the high school library, signs the bond for the Hormel Stadium project.
Medford High School Pool
The Medford High School pool will be re-opened in the near future for our swim team, students, and the community. The Council approved a $2.5 million plan on January 31 that includes the expenditure of $450,000 from insurance money and a $1,925,000 loan order to fix the pool.
We have secured a $10,000 grant from the MA Clean Energy Center to explore the possibility of solar thermal energy at the high school, particularly in use with our new pool.
Verizon Agreement
Medford and Verizon signed an agreement today that will give Medford residents more choice. A new agreement will bring Verizon FiOS to its current service area, which covers 71% of Medford. There is a clause in the agreement that will allow for continued negotation to include the remaining 29%.
Mayor McGlynn and Verizon Vice President for the New England region Donna Cupelo sign the agreement.
Clean Energy Grants
In addition to the $10,000 grant to explore the use of solar thermal energy at Medford High School, the city has also received a grant from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to help further our clean energy goals. Medford is one of eight communities to receive this competitive grant due to what we've already accomplished as well as our future vision. The Local Energy Action Program (LEAP) grant will provide up to $15,000 of staff assistance each year for a two year period.
"We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with MAPC to update the City's Climate Action Plan. Medford was the first municipality in the Commonwealth to have a Climate Action Plan and over the past eleven years we've accomplished many of our energy goals. The Local Energy Action Program will enable the city to collect public input and outline future energy goals with the help of the MAPC, Medford's Energy Committee, and the City's Office of Energy and Environment," said Mayor McGlynn.
Sidewalk Improvement Update
A $500,000 bond will make needed improvements to our city's sidewalks. DPW Commissioner Jack Buckley has put together a priority list. The areas are broken down by Ward. Areas that have had the least amount of improvements done in previous years will go first.
