Lt. Gov. Polito Agrees to Community Compact with Melrose

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito has signed Community Compact agreements with officials from Melrose. She also signed agreements with officials from Stoneham, North Reading, and Wakefield.

“The Commonwealth is excited to announce our new partnerships between the Commonwealth and these municipalities,” Polito said in a statement. “We look forward to working with dedicated local leaders to implement their chosen best practices.”

Community Compacts are one tool Governor Charlie Baker’s administration is utilizing to strengthen the partnership between cities and towns and the Commonwealth. By entering a Community Compact, a community agrees to implement self-selected best practices. As part of this partnership, the Commonwealth agrees to fulfill a set of commitments and works to provide assistance for a community based on their chosen best practice.

Below is a list of areas that Melrose has agreed to pursue improvement in based on their Compact:

• Energy/Environment: The city will pursue energy efficiency improvements and renewable thermal heating and cooling upgrades to the Department of Public Works building and Melrose High School parking lot.

• Technology: The city will provide a documented cyber-security strategy, including industry standard policies, procedures and controls, to manage a regional IT model for Melrose, Essex, and Saugus.

• Transportation: The city of Melrose will pursue certification under the Commonwealth’s Complete Streets program in an effort to get more residents walking and biking throughout the community.