Town Administrator Garvin Received 2% Salary Merit Increase … Then Gave It Back

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Photo: Patrice Garvin

After the Belmont Select Board gave for the second year running an outstanding work performance review to Town Administrator Patrice Garvin, the three member board on Monday, Sept. 15, provided a two percent merit increase to Garvin, totalling $4,681.80.

After hearing the announcement, Garvin quickly gave the amount back to the town.

What?

No, it wasn’t part of an elberate protest on her part or, as one online critic suggested, an attempt by her not to enter a higher tax bracket. In fact, Garvin redirected her increase to help support a town non-union Employee Recognition Program to be run by the town’s Human Resources Department. The funds will awarded to staffers for outstanding work and innvoation that improves the town’s operations.

“That’s incredibly generous, and I think it shows a lot about you as a leader to who watches out for her staff,” said Matt Taylor, Board Chair.

“You have high standards and do a lot with a little. And this is a very generous way to give a bit back to other employees as well. I admire you a lot for this,” said Taylor.

Garvin accepted a $229,500 annual salary in March, 2025 as part of a financial package to counter an opportunity to take over the head administrator post in Danvers.

“I love what I do,” Garvin told the board. “I love working with the board to solve problems that come up. Sometimes it feels like there’s more problems and solutions. We take it day by day, and I hope to just improve the town in small increments every day I come to work. It’s about doing what’s best for the town.”

As for the performance review conducted by Belmont’s HR Director Kelley King who created an executive summary from answers to a questionaire on Garvin’s overall job performance. And just like last year’s review, Garvin knocked it out of the park, earning the top score of five out of five from the board, “reflecting her outstanding leadership, professionalism and dedication,” said Kelley.

“[Garvin] consistently demonstrates integrity, resilience and creativity, effectively managing complex issues while maintaining a positive and collabrative approach with staff, the Select Board and the community,” said King.

The review noted Garvin’s work on maintaining balance budgets while helping to create a revenue-based annual budget process, improved organizational efficiency such as incorporating the Council of Aging into a newly-created Human Services Department, enhancing municipal services during a time of fiscal constrains, while using out-of-the-box approach to provide needed assets, e.g., securing $1 million from in-town non-profits and the town’s electric utility to provide a solar array for the Belmont Sports Complex which will house the town’s skating rink.

“Garvin’s expertise, problem solving skills and commitment to make her an invaluable asset to Belmont and a driving force behind the town’s continued success,” said King.

Board members praised Garvin after the review.

Elizabeth Dionne said most of the “public do not see what she does behind the scenes. They do not appreciate how much work she does.”

“I don’t know if this … officially shows up in the job description but you’re kind of like our problem solver,” said Taylor. “Something comes up and we need someone to ramp up on that quickly and figure it out because there isn’t a playbook for it. You’ve done that multiple times,” Taylor told Garvin.

A Fluke Goal The Difference In Belmont Field Hockey’s Epic Struggle Vs Watertown

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Photo: Action in the Belmont/Watertown game

In an early season contest between two of the top-ten high school field hockey teams in Massachusetts, a fluke goal would prove to be the difference as Belmont (2-1-0) fell to perannual state champion Watertown (3-0-0), 2-1, in most competitive match between the neighbors since the 2011 North 2 Division championship which the Raiders won 2-1. The win extended Watertown’s winning streak to 100 games, the second time Watertown under the four decade helm of Head Coach Elieen Donahue has reached consecutive triple digit victories.

“I think things didn’t always fall the right way for us today, but we didn’t stop playing our game,” said Belmont’s Head Coach Jess Smith, after the game held at Victory Field. “We didn’t stop trying the whole time as we had some outstanding performances on the field. And I thought we had more opportunities than Watertown. We just didn’t make it happen.”

And the margin between the teams was the width of a standard Post-it note. Field hockey is one of quirky sports which limits where a team can score. A ball struck from beyond the Circle – a 16-yard D shaped area in front of the net – is not counted. The best tactic a defending team should do with a long-distance attempt is steer well clear of the ball as it goes out-of-bounds or ends up in the back of the net.

And Belmont coaches shouted to sophomore goalie Zoe Bruce to move away from the ball as the clearing shot by Watertown came from well beyond the scoring circle. But the ball did not go out or in the net; rather, it barely clipped the 2-inch wide left goal post and rebounded onto the field of play where Watertown’s Aisling Brennock ran onto the easiest of easy goals late in the first quarter.

“[Bruce] did everything right. She was not her fault. We all thought it was going out,” said Smith. “I have never seen that in 20 years of coaching.”

Watertown doubled its lead in the second quarter in a more conventional manner off a penalty corner as Kaylee Master snuck the ball just inside the left post. Watertown held the upper hand in the first half as the Raiders held Belmont’s all-time points record holder senior co-captain Mackenzie Clarke – who is Donahue’s neice – in check by dedicating players primarily Taylor Foley to stick close to Belmont’s scoring threat.

But Belmont would flip the script of Watertown’s first half dominace from its own penalty corner. Junior co-captain defender Elsie Lakin-Schultz took a strong pass from senior midfield/inserter Gigi Masterangelo and beat Watertown’s first-year goalie Natalia Keuchikarian by her outstreched right pad.

“I really think it’s the same mindset playing defense and scoring,” said Lakin-Schultz of her first goal of the season. “I feel like a lot of people think scoring is the most important part of the game, but locking down on [an opponant] and stopping them on defense and scoring is the same thing.”

The third quarter saw Belmont withstand an early push from Watertown to take over the game’s momentum as the Raiders hunckered down into a defensive stance with three defenders in front of a sweeper to limit passes and runs at Keuchikarian. Despite dominating the sidelines, Belmont shots were mostly from distance with two attempts by Clarke soared over the net and was knocked by Watertown’s net minder.

Watertown worked hard in the final quarter to bottle Belmont in the center of the pitch while launching long balls forcing Belmont to drive the length of the field. It appeared Belmont had scored in the final four minutes when a ball from outside the scoring circle was tipped into the net by senior Caroline French but the officials didn’t see it that way. As time ran out, Belmont earned a coveted penalty corner, packing the scoring circle with 10 players. But Clarke’s shot when high and the Raiders survived the annual encounter.

While a loss is a loss, Smith admired how her team performed against the best team in Massachusetts.

“We played hard. We were in it the whole time,” said Smith. “And I really felt like it could have gone either way. And it makes me more excited for the next games coming up.”

Belmont High Volleyball Takes Powerhouse Melrose To Five Sets In Season Opener

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Photo: Belmont High’s Kat Hsu (No. 11) and Sadie Boas (No. 8) at the net vs Melrose

For the past decade, Belmont High School Volleyball has been paired in the season opener against perennial Middlesex League powerhouse Melrose. In the early years of this competition, it was a humbling experience for the Marauders as the Red Hawks would walk through the opposition.

But over the past three years, the competition between the teams has become competitive with Belmont falling 3-2 last season, after defeating the Red Hawks, 3-1, in 2023.

The season opener at Belmont’s Wenner Field House on Wednesday, Sept. 3, had all the feel of a changing of the guard in the opening sets as Belmont’s lineup of first time starters out hustled the visitors to take a two set lead (25-20, 25-20). Belmont’s new head coach Raylynn Kauila had the players performing at a tournament level against a talent-laden opponent.

Belmont High’s new head coach Raylynn Kauila

“The players did play very well defensively,” said Kauila, who coached at Springfield Central previously. “They kept that ball up. They kept it in. They were talking and moving really well and were doing really well with our serving too. We didn’t have too many missed serves.”

But Melrose was holding a very big weapon in its arsenal: senior Sabine Wenzel. At 6’6″ and 175 pounds, the Division 1 commit to East Texas A&M, is THE presence on the court both at the net blocking and especially on the attack. “Melrose were so good at finding [Wenzel on the] right, and they adjusted really well later in the match,” said Kauila.

In the third and fourth sets, Wenzel was the Red Hawks offensive stalwart, winning multiple points on set shots with deadly accuracy. While the Marauders kept both sets close, they could not narrow the margin to within a point, dropping Belmont 25-21 and 25-19.

Melrose High Volleyball senior Sabine Wenzel in action vs. Belmont High

The match came down to Melrose’s better finesse and fitness as Belmont’s earlier performance slipped as the match wore on.

“We got tired, and it definitely showed,” said Kauila. “We were not being able to finish and made some hitting errors. Once we got down in that third set, it was really hard to come back.. We closed it just a little bit. But just not get over the hump,” she said as Belmont fell, 15-11, in the deciding set.

[Belmont would take two of the next three matches – defeating Reading and Watertown while losing to Wayland – to end the first week at 2-2.]

But there was a lot to take from the match: a player that impressed Kauila was junior middle blocker LeeLee Kozelian, who was matched up against Wenzel. “It’s very intimidating to play against someone with that big of a height difference. And she surprised me by really committing to playing there and not being scared. She had some good fight in her and it’s important at that position.” Three times in the match, the junior stuffed Wenzel’s attempted spikes to win the point.

Belmont senior Libero Zulal Merdinian

In the back court, senior Libero Zulal Merdinian was ‘talking, reading the game, adjusting to the defense, and just doing a phenomenal job,” said Kauila.

Despite the loss, Kauila did find encouragement for the rest of the season.

“It’s a nice baseline for game one. So I can’t wait to see their growth over the next couple of games,” she said.

Freshman, Senior Leads Belmont Girls Soccer To 2-0 Win In Season Opener

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Photo: Belmont High Girls Soccer senior Danica Zicha (number 10) scored in the season opener vs. Melrose

Belmont High Girls Soccer freshman Mackenzie Tierney has one special thing in common with her teammate, senior Danica Zicha: each scored a goal in their first high school game. The pair of forwards scored with Tierney picking up the assist on Zicha’s goal as the Marauders put in a solid performance against a physical Melrose squad to win 2-0 in the 2025 season opener held at Harris Field.

Couple the victory with an away win on Saturday, Sept. 6 against Westford Academy (the only team to beat the Marauders during last year’s regular season), 2-0, and fourth-year Head Coach Jemmy Cange continues his winning ways coming off last year’s 10-1-7 record.

“This year … we have a lot of new starters,” said Cange after seeing the team graduate double digits of players from last season. “We have a lot of great players here, a lot of great freshmen … and returning players. We should be good this season.

Zicha’s strike came midway in the first half at the end of a classic counter attack. Running strong down the middle of the field, sophomore Catherine Greiner kept possession after a challenge and found Tierney streaking down the right sideline. The first-year passed to Zicha who teed up the ball onto her right foot and directed the ball into the left side of the Melrose net.

The senior’s game-winning strike has been a long-time coming as it came nearly two years after a serious knee injury in Zicha’s sophomore season took her effectively off the pitch for nearly two years.

“It feels great because I’ve been gone for a while,” said Zicha. “[The team] has been working really hard in practice … working on connecting passes and so [scoring again] was great.”

Tierney tallied on the final kick of the game, pouncing on a rebound to secure the victory. While scoring in her Inaugural high school game, the goal was not her first wearing the crimson and white as she scored on a memorable solo breakaway against 13-win Arlington for the high school’s ice hockey team.

Also returning to the team is junior goalie Martha Dimas who suffered her own knee injury in the penultimate game of the season during which she secured 13 clean sheets.

Belmont’s speedy defenders never allowed Melrose the opportunity for a clean shot against Dimas. Junior midfielder Madhavi Ramadas turned in a standout performance with solid defending while connecting with several spot-on passes in transition.

“I’m proud with how everyone played. Danica is back and Martha was solid. Great game,” said Cange.

Belmont High Football Salutes Retiring Police Chief In Season Opener

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Photo: James MacIsaac, Belmont Police Chief and Head Coach of the Belmont Junior Marauders

Belmont High School football will honor retiring Belmont Police Chief James MacIsaac before the Middlesex League season opener on Thursday, according to Belmont High School Athletic Director Adam Pritchard.

While mostly known for this more than quarter century career in public safety, the life-long Belmont resident is instrumental in promoting football by establishing the Belmont Junior Marauders football club, recuiting Belmont Middle School students – both boys and girls – to learn and play games against opponants throughout eastern Massachusetts.

The ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4 at Harris Field. The Belmont High football team will get its season underway at 7 p.m. against Waltham High School.

What’s Open, Close On Labor Day; Trash Pick Up Delayed A Day

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Photo: In 1999, the US Postal Service issued a stamp of Rosie the Riveter, the labor icon (credit: USPS)

With Belmont and regional schools set to open their doors this week, Labor Day, held this year on Monday, Sept. 1, ends the last big getaway weekend of the summer.

Trash and recycling collection is delayed ONE DAY due to the holiday: If your pickup day is Monday, this week it will be collected on Tuesday, etc.

The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being. 

Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day in 1887. During that year, Massachusetts joined four other states passing laws creating a Labor Day holiday. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.

Boston will be holding its first Labor Day Parade in downtown Boston on Monday, Sept. 1 at 9:30 a.m.

Labor Day is one of ten holidays recognized by the federal government, although the feds don’t require employers to pay workers for this holiday. Businesses traditionally provide their employees with a paid holiday as part of a benefits package because most others do the same.

Closed:

Belmont Town offices, Belmont Public Library at both the Beech Street Center and the Benton Library, and Belmont Light are closed.

• US Postal Service offices and regular deliveries.

• Banks; although some branches will be open in some supermarkets.

• MBTA: Operating on a Sunday schedule. See www.mbta.com for details.

What’s Opened:

• Retail stores

• Coffee shops; Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts are open.

• Supermarkets

• Convenience stores and,

• Establishments that sell beer and wine are also allowed to be open.

Belmont Fire Chief DeStefano Earns Merit Bump, Contract Extended To 2028

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Photo: Belmont Fire Chief David DeStefano

The Belmont Select Board approved a two percent merit pay increase to Belmont Fire Chief David DeStefano as part of his annual performance review at its Aug. 25 meeting. The board also extended DeStefano’s contract for an additional year to 2028. DeStefano’s salary as of October 2024 is $168,642.79.

I just like to thank the Select Board for their past support,” said DeStefano. “I look forward to working with [the Select Board] continuing in the future, [with] the town administrator and town staff as well.”

DeStefano began his career in 1989 at the North Providence (R.I.) Fire Department, becoming Belmont’s top firefighter in March 2021.

Before the board’s vote, Belmont Human Resources Director Kelli King discussed the results of DeStefano’s performance review, collated from comments by the Board and Patrice Garvin, the town administrator. In what she called a “little executive summary, the overall assessment is that [DeStefano] provides a steady professional leadership during a period of fiscal constraints and staffing challenges.”

“The theme amongst all of your comments is that the chief is a strong leader. He has great financial discipline, great financial aptitude in working within the constraints of the budget. He’s very active in engaging with the community, and he’s working on deepening the relationships internal to the department, and … being open to constructive feedback and willing to make changes, something that’s hard for a lot of other folks to do,” said King.

“He has strengthened the Fire Department through fiscal discipline, long term planning and active community engagement, while opportunities remain to deepen internal relationships and guide the department through the evolving EMS Focus model, his commitment adaptability and integrity have made him a valuable leader for the department and the town,” read the summary.

DeStefano said while the review relates directly to him, “anything that’s accomplished with the Fire Department is a team effort. I’m fortunate as chief in the town to have the dedicated firefighters that we have working hard, training hard, and putting together all the elements to make fire and life safety services happen in the town of Belmont.”

Jennifer Hewitt, Architect Of Belmont’s Current Budget, Financial Structure, Set To Depart

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Photo: Assistant Town Administrator/Financial Director Jennifer Hewitt

Jennifer Hewitt, who as Belmont’s financial director was a lead architect of modernizing town budget process and who unified the town’s financial framework, announced last week she would be leaving her post as assistant town administrator.

Hewitt next career stop will be as CFO of the Group Insurance Commission (GIC), the Massachusetts-run health insurance agency responsible for delivering coverage to state and local government employees.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to work here,” said Hewitt. “I definitely came wanting to make a difference, and I feel like I have accomplished that.”

“I can’t express what [Hewitt] brought to the town in terms of her abilities, her skills and work ethic. It’s just amazing,” said Town Administrator Patrice Garvin as she announced the news to the Select Board and the public at its Aug. 25 meeting.

With the hiring of Hewitt in 2022 as the town’s financial director – a crucial recommendation by the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston’s review of the town’s financial structure – and chair of the town’s new Financial Management Team, “we finally had a position that was dedicated for [the] purpose [of updating town finances], which we didn’t have before. I think [Hewitt’s hiring] was a game changer to get us on the right track now,” said Garvin.

Despite her short tenure, Hewitt’s legacy will be long lasting in the forming of future town budgets, now based on an agreed-to revenue expenditure forecast that directs the town-wide budget process.

“In her three years, [Hewitt] was able to formulate and coordinate an idea of how the budget should go. She worked with staff and everybody, to bring those ideas along, which in the past, for whatever reason, we couldn’t bring it all together,” said Garvin after the end of the meeting.

“In a lot of ways that may not be obvious for people who don’t follow the budget process, it helps us take a giant step forward in both the following and caliber of the discussions,” said Board Chair Matt Taylor. “There’s been a lot of cleanup and modernizing efficiencies that have been found” through Hewitt’s efforts.

A major accompishment was a significant overhaul of the town’s financial structure, creating with successive select boards and Town Meetings a body that currently works in concert with town budget and fiscal objectives.

“I’m particularly proud of being part of building that team and helping with the transition from elected Treasurer, Collector and the Board of Assessors to the now appointed group. And I think that is will live long and have a positive benefit for Belmont for years,” Hewitt said.

“I wholeheartedly agree that you’re leaving us in a better place than you found us, and that sets up our whole community for better, for looking to the future,” said Board member Elizabeth Dionne.

Garvin said the town will begin a job search for Hewitt’s replacement after the town’s Special Town Meeting in mid-October.

Belmont Fire Department Adds Three ‘Probies’ To Force

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Photo: Belmont’s newly hired firefighters; Daniel Keenan, Ryan O’Neil, and Kyle Forester.

Belmont’s three newest firefighters were ceremonisly pinned with their department badges at the Select Board’s final summer time meeting on Monday, Aug. 25.

Belmont Fire Chief David DeStefano introduced the trio: Kyle Forester, Ryan O’Neil, and Daniel Keenan, before family, friends, residents and fellow firefighters. The three “probies” began working in Belmont’s two fire houses a month ago. The fire department now has 52 members on staff.

“Thank you for having us here tonight to meet our new members and take part in this special event in their careers,” said DeStefano. “Each comes from a variety of backgrounds and experiences that will serve to enhance their ability to protect the lives and property of the people of Belmont.”

The probationary firefighters attended the Massachusetts Fire Academy and completed an in-house training program at the Fire Department.

Forester is a graduate of Burlington High School and a veteran of both the United States Marine Corps and US Army. Forester was pinned by his wife, Tamta.

O’Neal attended the Massachusetts fire academy and completed an in-house training program at the Belmont Fire Department. O’Neal is a graduate of Central Catholic High School and UMass Lowell, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He is finishing his studies to become certified as a paramedic. O’Neal was pinned by Becca Donnelly.

A registered nurse, Keenan attended the Massachusetts fire academy and completed an in-house training program at the Belmont Fire Department. He is a graduate of Hanover High School and Plymouth State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences. Keenan was pinned by his mother, Sandra.

At The End Of A Raucous Meeting, Select Board Names New Rink ‘Belmont Sports Complex’ With A Mention To Skip

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Photo: The Belmont Select Board

At the end of a raucous meeting infused with catcalls and taunts directed at the members of the Belmont Select Board from a bellicose crowd of mostly senior residents, the board voted unanimously to name the new $32 million recreation facility on Concord Avenue the ‘Belmont Sports Complex.’

The name will be placed on a sign outside the structure along the Concord Avenue with the words “Home of the James ‘Skip’ Viglirolo Rink” below. In addition, the board approved two permanent acknowledgments inside the facility honoring Viglirolo.

The inclusion of Viglirolo’s name throughout the structure is a victory for the Viglirolo family who have campaigned for the past two years to have their family member’s name transferred to the new complex.

The former rink was named after Viglirolo, a long-time town employee and youth hockey coach, in 1998 by a vote by the Recreation Commission and the Select Board without public debate or input. The former rink – which was in disrepair for the most part of three decades – was demolished in 2023 to make way for the new rink that town voters approved in a $29.9 million debt exclusion in April 2023.

The naming controversy took over most of the conversation in town this summer beginning when the Select Board approved a Town Naming Policy in July, a few weeks before an unusual mid-summer Town Meeting where a non-binding citizens petition to name the rink after Viglirolo. Members approved the article by a 56-44 percentage margin.

More to come.