City Council marks Hispanic Heritage Month, honors local leaders

The Waltham City Council on Sept. 22 unanimously approved a resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

The resolution, submitted by Councillors-at-Large Carlos A. Vidal and John McLaughlin, noted that 16% of Waltham residents identify as Hispanic or Latino and that nearly half (47.5%) of students in Waltham Public Schools are Hispanic or Latino.

This marks the ninth year Vidal has sponsored the resolution. 

“Hispanic Americans or Latinos continue to play a vital role in shaping our nation’s proud heritage,” Vidal said. “Our nation’s diversity has always been one of our strongest assets.”

Vidal was also recently nominated by state Rep. John Lawn, D-10th Middlesex, to represent Waltham at the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus’s Latino Excellence on the Hill Celebration held at the Massachusetts State House on Sept. 25.

Local community leaders recognized

The Council also passed two resolutions honoring local residents for their contributions to the community.

Ward 8 Councilor Cathyann Harris reintroduced the Kevin M. Ritcey Award for Outstanding Public Service Resolution, naming longtime Waltham High School teacher Jack Cox as a 2024 co-recipient.

Cox, who taught history at WHS for 48 years, reflected on his career.

“It’s really been my privilege, I’ve taught thousands and thousands of Waltham high school kids,” Cox said.

Harris thanked Cox for his service and commitment to the city.

Another resolution recognized resident Zachary Bourque for founding Operation Hydrate Our Heroes,  which provides cold water and drinks to public works employees, police officers and firefighters across Massachusetts.

Bourque shared that doctors once told his mother he would never be able to reach adult milestones.

“I’m here, I’m 29 years old… I reach those milestones,” he said. “And I try my best to give back to the community.”

Resolutions to be revisited

The Council referred a resolution observing September as Recovery Awareness Month to the Committee of the Whole.

Harris requested that representatives from Greater Waltham Recovery Solutions, and the Police Department present at the committee’s next meeting.  

The Council also referred to the Ordinances and Rules Committee a resolution to grant handicap- accessible elevators and lifts the same zoning exemptions as ramps.

Councilor-at-Large Randall J. LeBlanc said current zoning regulations make it costly – between $5,000 and $7,000 – for residents to install elevators or lifts, and can complicate home resale. 

Public hearings

The Council approved a special permit for the MSPCA-Angell animal shelter at 62 Fourth Ave. to build a kennel.

It also voted to revisit a special permit request from Middlesex Integrative Medicine Inc. to reduce its size of and shorten its hours of operation.

That matter will be revisited at the Council’s Nov. 10 meeting.

In another unanimous vote, the Council referred New England Transit Sales Inc., a used school bus, van and car dealer applying for a Class II Motor Vehicle License to be heard by the License and Franchise Committee at its Oct. 6 meeting.

Additionally the City Council:

• Referred six financial communications from Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy to the Finance Committee and two funding requests from the Community Preservation Commission to the Long Term Debt and Capital Planning Committee.
• Approved committee recommendations, including two transfers to the Waltham Public Library to be made from the Library State Aid account to purchase educational supplies and upgrade the Bookmobile’s lithium ion battery system.
• Outlined early voting to be held at the Rosario Malone Archives and Records Center at 260 Grove St from Oct. 25 through Oct. 28.
• Invited the public to the 13th annual Dancing With the Waltham Stars dress rehearsal on Thursday, Sept. 25.
• Scheduled Waltham Land Trust treasurer Marc Rudnick to discuss bacteria testing at Hardy Pond at the next Public Works and Public Safety Committee meeting.
• Announced the REACH Beyond Domestic Violence Fall Festival 5K being held on Oct. 4, benefitting the Waltham-based nonprofit.
• Concluded by acknowledging the absence of Ward 7 Councilor Paul S. Katz and wishing the community a happy Rosh Hashanah.