Melrose Select Board Orders Nuisance Abatement at Five Properties

MELROSE — July 21, 2022 — Melrose Select Board orders nuisance abatement at five properties and tables arts welcome-sign decision to August. The board approved abatement orders at 32, 48, and 101 Rose Park Southwest, 204 Second Street Southwest, and 519 First Street Southeast after more than 90 percent of the 77 properties flagged this spring came into compliance voluntarily. Property owners have 30 days to comply before the city pursues court-authorized cleanup at their expense. The board also tabled a Melrose Arts Council request for city ownership of a roughly $60,000 donated community welcome sign — featuring the city's "strong, diverse and connected" motto and work by six local artists — pending staff review of setbacks and the August budget cycle. Superintendent Randy Winter presented the $29.94 million school bond referendum on the August 9 ballot, and a council member identified as Tony raised unresolved questions about whether $350,000 in LCCMR state grant funds, originally applied for river channel realignment, can legally be redirected to campground development at Sauk River Park.