Ambrosino: Limiting Overlook spending ‘not a wise policy’

REVERE – Mayor Thomas Ambrosino said limiting spending from a road repair account funded by a major local developer means shelving repairs to Malden Street and Mountain Avenue this year.Ambrosino said both of those major roadwork jobs sought by residents living along the two streets must be cut from the city’s street repair program if he limits spending from the Overlook Ridge Mitigation Fund.City Councilors proposed the limitation as a way to continue ensuring that the fund established by the biggest local private developer benefits residents living near the Overlook Ridge housing complex.They proposed spending money set aside for roadwork by Overlook developer Roseland Properties on repairs north of Linden Square.Ambrosino disagrees.”Given that there is no current pressing infrastructure need in North Revere, I suggest that limiting the use of Overlook Ridge Funds?is not a wise policy,” he wrote in a letter last month to councilors.Grandview Avenue, Breedan’s Lane and Morris and Agatha streets were rebuilt using money set aside by Roseland. Money set aside by the developer also paid for major drainage work on Morris Street.With the first 700 Overlook residences on the site of the former Rowes Quarry completed and hundreds more planned, North Revere has seen an increase in traffic on Salem Street including construction vehicles.Using money provided by the developer, the city is planning repairs on Salem this year as well as View and Brookline streets, Linehurst Road and remaining sections of Grandview in North Revere.In addition to the work on Malden and Mountain, road repair jobs outside North Revere scheduled to be paid for this summer with Overlook money include Dale Street, Haskell Avenue and three other streets.State money will pay for some of these repairs, but all of the work will not be completed, the mayor warned, without spending Overlook money on these West Revere streets.