Melrose Select Board Tables Fire Escrow Plan, Moves to Replace City Attorney

MELROSE — June 18, 2025 — Melrose Select Board tables fire insurance escrow program and authorizes a new city attorney contract negotiation. The board voted unanimously at its June 18 meeting to direct City Administrator Sheila and outgoing City Attorney Scott Demick to negotiate a final contract with the firm Quinn Leveen and Hughes, whose draft rate sheet lists shareholders at $275 per hour and associates at $200 per hour; Demick retires at the end of June. A proposed resolution opting the city into a state fire escrow program — which would allow the city to require up to 25 percent of insurance proceeds to be held after a structure fire — was tabled after council members raised concerns about impacts on homeowners seeking to refinance and rebuild. The board also approved Resolution 2025-28 ordering abatement of an inoperable vehicle at 32 Rose Park Southwest, the sole remaining case from a spring enforcement effort that began with 60 notices and 13 administrative citations carrying $750 fines. The final tax increment financing note for the GCRE LLC 73-unit apartment development at 1250 Railroad Avenue Northwest, which received its certificate of occupancy December 5, 2024, was also approved.