Old Town House Renovations Approved

A project aimed at making the Old Town House universally accessible was approved at Town Meeting.

A project aimed at making Marblehead's Old Town House universally accessible, which was defeated in last year's Special Town Election, was overwhelmingly supported by local residents at Town Meeting Tuesday night. The $675,000 project, which calls for the installation of a three-story elevator and two handicapped bathrooms, was unanimously endorsed by the town's Board of Selectmen and passed by a margin of 456 to 30. Among those endorsing the project Tuesday night was selectman Judie Jacobi, who said it was a shame that the Old Town House couldn't be used for local meetings, debates and gatherings. "We could hold political debates in the same room where Elbridge Gerry and Gen. John Glover debated independence and where events were held …

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Marblehead Fire Department

$1.2M Quint Ladder Truck Approved

Local voters unanimously supported the purchase of a new $1.2 million quint ladder truck at Town Meeting Monday night.

The Marblehead Fire Department's request for a new $1.2 million quint ladder truck was unanimously approved by the some 600 local residents at Town Meeting Monday night. Before those gathered within the Performing Arts Center at Marblehead Veterans Middle School put it to a vote, Fire Chief Jason Gilliland took to the podium in an effort to explain how a state-of-the-art ladder truck would help local firefighters better-serve town residents. "This purchase is costly, but in my professional opinion as your fire chief, it is necessary," Gilliland said. "The department's apparatus committee and I have worked for a year researching a draft of the specifications to ensure that taxpayer money will be spent on a quality piece of fire apparatus …

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