Melrose's New Board Getting Down To Business

MELROSE, MA — Now that all that's taken care of, it's time to get down to business.

The first meeting of the Board of Alderman since Gail Infurna was elected President of the Board - and ipso facto the next mayor - is set for Tuesday, Jan. 16. (The meetings usually take place Monday, but we'll all be busy that day.)

So what's on the agenda? You can see the play-by-play down below, but here are some of the highlights. Before you check them out, click this here button to subscribe for free Melrose news and alerts!

• A resolution honoring outgoing Mayor Robert Dolan for his service to Melrose. You can read Dolan's recent State of the City here.
• Melissa Ripley will be appointed as Assistant City Clerk.
• There will be the renewal and non-renewal of Common Victualler licenses for 2018. This is essentially a license for any business that wants to serve food.
• There will be the renewal of Class II Motor Vehicle licenses for 2018. This is necessary to "buy, sell, exchange or assemble second hand motor vehicles or parts thereof," according to the City.
• Alderman Michael Zwirko is sponsoring orders to amend two Rules of Order for the Board: That "public participation" would be "public comment;" And that the annual act of voting on a President of the Board go straight to a January vote, bypassing a December caucus. Zwirko received the unanimous support of the Board at this December's non-binding caucus to become president before it came out Dolan was in contention for the Lynnfield job, meaning the president would in all likelihood become the mayor. Three other Aldermen then made their intentions known to push for the presidency.

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Photo by Mike Carraggi