The City Council voted by a 7-3 Monday night to advance an ordinance that would allow the construction of data centers with restrictions in the Everett Docklands Innovation District (EDID).

The vote was for “enrollment” not “ordainment,” meaning there could be changes to the final legislation before it is officially approved.

The ordinance to allow what are considered small data centers (20,000 square feet or less with up to 5 MW capacity) was considered a compromise measure – as opposed to a full ban on data centers in the EDID.

Councilors Michele Capone, Stephanie Martins, Anthony DiPierro, Peter Pietrantonio, Holly Garcia, Katy Rogers, and John Hanlon voted in favor of the ordinance. Council President Stephanie Smith and Councilors Guerline Alcy Jabouin and Michael Marchese voted against the measure.

Councilors Rogers, Martins, and Vivian Nguyen co-sponsored the ordinance. Community leader Stephanie McColaugh, who is also a member of the Planning Board, was instrumental in the creation of the ordinance.  (See McColaugh’s statement below).

Chief Development Officer Monica Laboy and City Solicitor Jaclyn Munson spoke about the technical aspects for the proposal and answered questions from councilors. Director of Planning and Community Matt Lattanzi later lent his expertise to the topic.

Statement from Councilor-at-Large Katy Rogers

“With the data center boom accelerating across the nation, we have learned about the real-word consequences these facilities can create: contaminated drinking water, skyrocketing electric bills, and ominous warehouses looming over neighborhoods. We refuse to let that happen here in Everett, which is why it was necessary to establish strict rules and regulations now to ensure we protect our future.”

Statement from Everett resident Stephanie McColaugh

“I’m pleased that the data center restrictions ordinance is moving to the next steps (enrolled, not yet ordained). The gears of democracy are turning. 

 It was interesting to hear certain councilors argue for more restrictions, which I’m generally supportive of as well. I’m simply surprised given to my knowledge there has not been much engagement or feedback offered to date outside of the co-sponsors. 

I am grateful to the community for rallying together to protect Everett, and prioritizing protecting our utility rates, public health, and natural resource availability. I’m especially grateful to Councilors Rogers for her proactivity in drafting this ordinance, and Martins and Nguyen for their support as well. Matt Latanzi has also been incredibly helpful. I hope the council is able to work together to come to a resolution that protects residents of Everett while allowing for economic growth. 

Progress is slow, but this is a brave new world and I’m relieved that the topic is being treated with the gravity it deserves.”

Everett kicked off Pride Month this week with back-to-back celebrations — a flag raising at City Hall and the Fifth Annual Pride Day at Everett High School — bringing together elected officials, students, families, and neighbors to honor the LGBTQIA+ community and the values of dignity and belonging that define the city.

On June 1, Mayor Robert J. Van Campen joined residents, City staff, and community members outside City Hall to raise the Pride flag and read a proclamation officially recognizing June as Pride Month in Everett. The ceremony served as a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ residents, families, businesses, and community members who shape the city’s character every day.

“Pride Month is a celebration of the progress made by generations of people who fought to be heard and treated equally,” said Mayor Van Campen. “As we raise this flag, let it serve as a symbol of respect, belonging, and our commitment to ensuring that everyone feels welcome in Everett.”

The celebrations continued later in the day at Everett High School, where Everett Public Schools hosted its Fifth Annual Pride Day celebration. Students, families, teachers, and elected officials gathered for an afternoon of performances, speakers, and a Pride flag raising of their own.

“This annual event brings together students, families, faculty, elected officials, and guests,” said Superintendent William D. Hart. “My thanks to organizers Sean Salazar, Mark Lent, and Mary Puleo, and to Mayor Van Campen and Everett’s elected officials who joined us at Everett High School.”

Mayor Van Campen addressed the crowd at Everett High School, speaking about the importance of building communities where people feel accepted, supported, and free to be themselves, and recognizing the students, educators, and organizers who make that possible year after year.

From City Hall to Everett High School, this week’s celebrations reflect a community that shows up for its neighbors. The City proudly stands with its LGBTQIA+ residents not just in June, but every day.

Senator Sal N. DiDomenico spoke at 50th anniversary celebration of IDEA — the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act — hosted by the Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. For half a century, the Early Intervention (EI) program has ensured that eligible infants, toddlers, and their families get the critical services they need at the most important stage of development. DiDomenico has secured millions of dollars for early intervention services each year and has been the Senate champion for the EI workforce and the families they serve. 

“Massachusetts is a leader in this work, and I am committed to ensuring that it continues for all our kids who need it,” said DiDomenico. “I have championed this program in the State House throughout my career, and I will continue to advocate for its critical funding as long as I am in office.”

Closed Thursday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth

Parlin Adult and Teens

World Cup Watch Parties Parlin YA Room. Watch the World Cup at the library! The Parlin Memorial Library is excited to host watch parties for select World Cup games, so bring your team spirit and love of fútbol to the stacks! Next week’s schedule: 

Monday, June 15th at 6pm – Saudi Arabia v. Uruguay

Wednesday, June 17th at 1pm – Portugal v. DR Congo

Yarn Club Parlin Fireplace Room. Tuesdays at 7pm. Come chit chat and stitch! Bring your crocheting, knitting, or any other yarn craft and sit and socialize with other members of the crafting community. Recommended for ages 14-109!

Book Bedazzling Parlin Meeting Room. Thursday, June 18th at 6:30pm. Make your favorite book into a bedazzled masterpiece! BYO Book or use one of our discarded (but still beautiful!) library books to make your own sparkling creation! Bedazzling materials will be supplied by the library. Recommended for ages 14+. Registration is required; sign up online, in person, or call 617-394-2300.

Parlin Childrens

Lego Club. Parlin Children’s Room. Mondays from 3-5pm. Come to the Children’s Room on Mondays for some free-building lego fun. Open to all ages. Children under 6 years old must be accompanied by an adult. No registration required.

Storytime and Singalong with Karen, Parlin Children’s Room. Wednesdays at 11am. Join us for a fun-filled morning of singing and storytelling with Karen! Suggested ages 0-6. 

Creative Drama Class. Parlin Children’s Room. Wednesdays at 3pm. Do you have a drama queen or king at home? Explore, create and get dramatic with this fun interpretive program for kids ages 6-14. 

Story Time Adventures with Mrs. McAuliffe Parlin Craft Room. Fridays at 11am. Join Mrs. McAuliffe for our enchanting Story Time! You will be whisked away on magical adventures through the pages of your favorite books. Bring a friend or make a new one in our circle of friends.

Shute Adult and Teens

Ready Player One Games, Shute Meeting Room, Wednesdays at 2:30 PM. Level up your Wednesdays with our ultimate gaming hangout! Grab your friends and dive into fun Nintendo Switch and PlayStation games. Recommended for ages 11 and up. 

Shute Children’s

Miss Val’s Storytime Pals Shute Children’s Room. Mondays at 10 AM and Tuesdays at 12 PM. What’s better than a good story? Sharing it with friends! Join Miss Val at the Shute Library for Fairytale Fun!

Peter Jackson’s “Magic To Go” -Tuesday, June 16th at 3 PM. Shute Memorial Library – Meeting Room Come one, come all! Enjoy a magical afternoon with Peter Jackson and his magic bunny! This show is sure to be enjoyed by children and adults of all ages. Peter Jackson has been performing fun-tastical feats for over 30 years. You are sure to have a great time with this interactive magic show – you may even get a meet-and-greet with his fantastically furry magical rabbit! *registration is not required for this event. **First come: First admitted – while there is space available. You won’t want to miss it!

Master Builders: Lego Free-play: Shute Children’s Room. Thursdays from 3-5PM. Free-play session with Legos and other building blocks. Bring a buddy, or make a new one, as you explore your imagination brick by brick! We provide the space and the materials to let your vision take shape. What will you create? 

The recent decision by those in charge at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow for the sale of fruit-flavored vapes in the United States represents a huge step backwards after a longstanding ban of these fruit-flavored, nicotine-based products because of their appeal to children.

Nicotine is highly addictive and affects the developing adolescent brain in ways that rival other hard drugs. The still-developing human brain is susceptible to substances (including alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and drugs of all kinds) that alter  brain chemistry that can lead to a lifetime of addiction.

For example, children who start drinking alcohol at the age of 15 are five times more likely to become alcoholics than those who do not start to drink until they are in their 20s.

As for cigarettes, a study in England found that the most-common link among heroin addicts was that they began smoking as teenagers.

The FDA’s recent decision reverses a former policy that had banned fruit-flavored e-cigarettes (such as JUULS)  because of their appeal to children. Given that about 90 percent of the 1.5 million American teenagers from middle school through high school who use e-cigarettes (which typically are disposable imports that are not covered by the ban on JUULS) choose flavored products, the American Academy of Pediatrics and many public health advocates have criticized the FDA’s abrupt change in policy.

We should point out that thankfully, the FDA’s new policy will not overrule our state law here in Massachusetts, which has banned the sale of fruit-flavored e-cigs since 2019.

In addition, Glas Inc., the Los Angeles-based company that manufactures the e-cigarettes that received FDA approval, asserts that its technology will preclude young people from being able to use their products. Their authorized devices are designed to pair with smartphones via Bluetooth, so they will not work if separated from the phone of the verified adult owner.

Technology is a great thing, and we certainly hope that the tech being embedded in these new e-cigs will prevent them from being accessible to young people. 

However, e-cigarettes have been shown to cause long-term damage to the lungs of users at any age. In our view, whatever benefit there may be to allowing these fruit-flavored vapes to come on the market (in theory, to wean smokers away from cigarettes) is far outweighed by the great harm that can result from a lifetime of addiction to nicotine if begun at an early age.

Senator Sal DiDomenico and his colleagues unanimously passed legislation to allow longtime public school teachers the opportunity to buy into an enhanced savings program if they missed out when the program was first launched a quarter century ago. DiDomenico was lead cosponsor of this legislation and had been working tirelessly to push this critical measure forward for years alongside countless teachers across his district.

An estimated 6,500 to 8,500 current teachers in Massachusetts have been unable to participate in the RetirementPlus pension program because they missed the window to opt into the plan in 2001. 

“I was proud to be lead cosponsor of this legislation and I am thrilled to see us get one step closer to fixing this issue for thousands of teachers in my district and across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Sal DiDomenico. “Due to administrative confusion when the RetirementPlus program launched, many teachers lost out on their opportunity to join this essential program. Thanks to this legislative fix we passed through the Senate, up to 8,500 eligible teachers will have a one-time window until June 30, 2027, to buy into the program and secure the enhanced retirement benefits they deserve and should have received decades ago.”

The bill—S.3109, An Act relative to benefits for teachers—would provide another one-time opportunity to that group of longtime educators and give them until mid-2027 to choose whether they would like to join RetirementPlus. 

Teachers who join RetirementPlus through this new opportunity would pay into the program as if they had joined at the outset, which would include interest payments, to ensure both fiscal stability and fairness for teachers and retirees who have been participating throughout the past 25 years.  

“With today’s vote, the Senate is reaffirming its support for some of our state’s most dedicated teachers and the schools and communities they serve. This bill provides teachers who have been working in our schools for decades the chance to enroll in a retirement system many of them were unfairly shut out of 25 years ago, the same system new teachers are automatically enrolled in. These are teachers who were dropped from the system when they changed districts, teachers who were told they were enrolled only to find out years later that was not the case, and teachers who were not provided the necessary resources to enroll in the first place, including ASL interpreters to explain the new system and the enrollment process for deaf and hard of hearing teachers in the Boston Public Schools. We are grateful to the Senate President for her leadership and the Senate’s commitment to ensuring our public educators receive the dignified and secure retirement they’ve earned.” – AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang 

The Senate passed the bill on a 39-0 roll call vote and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review. 

By Cary Shuman

In a stunning moment at the end of the May 26 City Council meeting, Councilor-at-Large Wayne Matewsky announced his retirement from the Council after 40 years in city government.

Matewsky, who turned 68 last Thursday, cited “recent health concerns” for his decision. Matewsky noted in his brief remarks that he suffered “a very serious health scare four years ago.”

“This is a point of personal privilege,” said Matewsky two hours and 20 minutes into the meeting. “I’ve enjoyed serving over 40 years on the City Council, and I’m retiring as of this evening. I wish everybody the best of luck. I wish the mayor [Robert Van Campen] the best of luck. It’s been a long run. I got elected at [age] 20. I enjoyed serving with so many nice people. I really appreciate the support I’ve received in this community for so many years. This is just a personal decision.”

Former councilor John Hanlon, who finished sixth in the councilor-at-large race last November, and will succeed Matewsky in the position.

“I wish him [Hanlon] the best of luck, and I wish the new mayor of Everett the best of luck. Thank you all very much,” concluded Matewsky.

With that dramatic farewell on live cable television, Matewsky then made it official, handing his resignation letter to City Clerk Sergio Cornelio.

Council President Stephanie Smith summed up the sentiment in the Chambers and across the city, stating, “That was definitely a surprise. So, thank you Mr. Matewsky.”

Ward 6 Councilor Peter Pietrantonio immediately paid tribute to Matewsky’s four decades of service to the City of Everett.

“I just want to thank Mr. Matewsky for his service to this city,” said Pietrantonio. “He was dedicated. He gave every ounce of his bone and his blood to this city. I was very proud to serve with you for these last two years, and I hate to see you go.”

 Special to the Independent

Worcester State University and the Everett Public Schools (EPS) have partnered to expand access to higher education and simplify the college admissions process for Everett High School students in good academic standing.

Worcester State will offer direct admission into its undergraduate day programs to Everett High School seniors with a weighted cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. To remain eligible, Everett seniors must also complete all necessary coursework at the college preparatory level or higher by the time they graduate.

EPS Superintendent William D. Hart and Worcester State President Barry Maloney made the announcement during a formal ceremony at Everett High School (EHS) on Thursday, May 28, 2026. School Committee Chairperson Samantha Hurley, EHS Principal Dr. John Braga, Student Ambassadors, guidance staff, district administrators, and faculty were on hand for the announcement of EHS’s first-of-its-kind Direct Admission partnership.

In addition to broadening access, the partnership streamlines the admissions process by waiving application fees, SAT or ACT scores, and requirements for letters of recommendation and college essays for qualifying students.

The partnership is the first of its kind for Worcester State. University President Barry Maloney said the goal is to make admissions easy for students who have already proven they can do the work.

“Partnerships like these are vital because they send a clear message to young people in our community: your hard work has earned you a place here and we are invested in your success,” he said.

Added Superintendent Hart: “Most crucially, this makes a college education more accessible to a greater percentage of our students. I thank President Maloney and Worcester State leadership for joining the EPS in its efforts to expand opportunities for our graduating seniors — in this case, at a university known for its MajorPlus academic framework, which gives students the opportunity to graduate with two majors or a major and minor within four years.”

Worcester State Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. Ryan Forsythe further noted the agreement reflects the university’s commitment to making higher education as accessible as possible for students not only in central Massachusetts, but across the entire Commonwealth.

“Our goal has always been to remove barriers to higher education,” he said. “This partnership serves to clear a path to college for Everett high school students, and at the same time brings added transparency and newfound simplicity to the admissions process.”

The EPS-Worcester State partnership will remain in effect indefinitely. Qualifying students are expected to receive their direct admission offers by November of each academic year.