Devin Romanul, Melrose City Councilor

05/20/2026

Monday’s Melrose City Council meeting focused heavily on DPW infrastructure, snow response, and long-term equipment replacement needs.

We reviewed requests for:
• A new sidewalk plow
• Replacement of aging DPW trucks and equipment
• Snow & ice budget transfers after a severe winter
• Additional bike racks throughout the city
• School funding transfers tied to Medicaid reimbursements

One major takeaway: several critical DPW vehicles are decades old and repeatedly failing during major storm events, creating real operational challenges during snow emergencies.

Here’s a quick recap from Monday night’s meeting.

05/08/2026

Like so many in our community, my family and I are heartbroken by the loss of Zakaria Bel Qaid. Our Winthrop School community, and our city as a whole, is grieving. In lieu of flowers, the Bel Qaid family has requested donations to the Green Mountain Academy in Zakaria’s memory. Please consider supporting, and continue to keep Zakaria’s family, classmates, teachers, and loved ones in your hearts:

By Green Mountain Academy Inc

05/01/2026

This week Melrose City Council:

✅ Accepted a firefighter safety equipment grant

✅ Declared May as ALS Awareness Month

✅ Secured funding for solar + energy upgrades

✅ Discussed affordable housing goals

✅ Advanced a regional animal control officer proposal (up for a vote next week)

As always, let me know your thoughts or questions.

04/26/2026

Another fantastic Melrose Arts Festival in the books! Grateful to the artists, organizers, and volunteers who bring so much creativity and energy to our community.

04/17/2026

Thrilled to participate in this year‘s Melrose Community Reading Day. Special thanks to The Bridge for another great year!

04/10/2026

Quick recap from Monday’s (exceptionally busy) City Council meeting:

✅ Election equipment upgrades ahead of the 2026 elections
✅ $50,000 in funding for arts and cultural programs in Melrose
✅ Support for community events like Summer Stroll and Victorian Fair
✅ Acceptance of a $500,000 donation for the Melrose Public Library renovation
✅ Expansion of the Veterans Tax Work-Off Program
✅ Tightening our city's dog leash laws
✅ Myriad appointments to city boards and commissions

04/08/2026

Spent the day at the State House with the ALS Association advocating for policies that protect families and expand access to care, an issue that’s deeply personal to me.

Proud to support this work!

www.als.org

03/24/2026

Help our community determine the future of these two city owned sites. Join one of the in person sessions, fill out a survey, or feel free to contact me directly.

City officials are developing options for the next use of two municipal properties: the current Melrose Police Station on West Foster Street and the former Ripley School on Lebanon Street. We want to hear your thoughts on new possibilities for these properties and feasible scenarios for their potential reuse. Join us TOMORROW or WEDNESDAY for one of two community workshops (in person tomorrow evening or online Wednesday afternoon). Meeting information is available at cityofmelrose.org in the Calendar section.

Can’t make it to either workshop? You can let us know your thoughts through a short survey, available at cityofmelrose.org/MelroseSurplus26 or the QR link in this post. Your participation will help prioritize community input and provide a foundation for the future of these properties.

03/12/2026

Last few City Council meetings have been busy, so here’s a quick update on a few decisions that directly impact Melrose residents.

Over the past several meetings we have:

• Approved funding to replace a 21-year-old yard waste truck used by our Department of Public Works. The current truck has significant structural and hydraulic issues, and replacing it will help ensure yard waste collection remains reliable.

• Accepted $55,000 in outside grant funding to support tree planting in hot areas of the city and youth substance use prevention programs.

• Appointed and reappointed several residents to volunteer boards and commissions including the Commission on Disability, Human Rights Commission, Commission on Women, Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and Board of Health. These volunteers play an important role advising the city and helping shape policy.

• Authorized participation in an MWRA infrastructure financing program that helps the city invest in water system improvements.

I’ll continue sharing updates like this so residents can better understand what’s happening at City Hall and how decisions affect day-to-day services.

01/29/2026