The Everett City Council approved four nominations to the newly created Everett Redevelopment Authority (ERA) on Monday night, giving shape to the board that will oversee development efforts in the Lower Broadway Zoning District over the next several years.
The new ERA Board of Directors is not complete, as the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) must nominate a board member who will be appointed by Governor Deval Patrick. However, the four members who have been appointed can begin meeting beginning March 1, 2014.
The four members of the inaugural ERA board, announced and sworn in on Monday night include Daniel Napolitano, Vincent Ragucci, Alfred Lattanzi and David Ragucci. The Council also voted on staggered terms of office for each man, with Vincent Ragucci appointed to a one-year term, Napolitano appointed to a two-year term, Lattanzi appointed to a four-year term and David Ragucci appointed to a five-year term.
The fifth member of the board, when appointed will be given a three-year term.
According to Assistant City Solicitor David Rodrigues, the Authority’s first organizational meeting has not yet been scheduled, but will likely be scheduled for Thursday, March 6 at City Hall.
All meetings of the ERA Board of Directors will be compliant with the Massachusetts Open Meeting laws, with meeting agendas posted a minimum of 48 hours in advance and all posted meetings held in a handicapped accessible public meeting space.
The new board of directors will be charged with overseeing development of the Lower Broadway Zoning District in accordance with the city’s Urban Renewal Plan and in concert with the Citizen’s Advisory Committee that has been established in Lower Broadway for residents and businesses.
According to Rodrigues the Citizen’s Advisory Committee, including some 20 Lower Broadway residents, was scheduled to have its first meeting on the Urban Renewal Plan yesterday (Tuesday, February 25) at 8 a.m. at City Hall.