Council Approves $125,000 for Garfield Elevator Study
Revere's City Council reversed an earlier rejection to fund a study of elevator repairs at Garfield Elementary School.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in City Hall
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The Revere City Council approved $125,000 to fund a study for new elevators at Garfield Elementary School, reversing an earlier rejection this fall. Council President Anthony Zambuto cast the lone no vote, and Ward 1 Councillor James Mercurio voted present.
Why it matters
Of the school's three elevators, one is not working and another is unreliable, leaving accessibility at the Revere school in question. The earlier dispute centered on whether the study should be paid for from school district reserves or city stabilization funds.
The council approved $125,000 for the study at its late October 2026 meeting after rejecting the same appropriation earlier in the fall. The vote was not unanimous: Zambuto cast the only no vote and Mercurio voted present.
The players
Anthony Zambuto
Anthony Zambuto is the President of the Revere City Council and was the sole councilor to vote against the elevator study funding.
Patrick Keefe
Patrick Keefe is the Mayor of Revere, Massachusetts, who explained that city funds typically cover capital improvements for both city and school buildings.
The details
Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya read a letter of support from school committee member Aisha Milbury-Ellis before the vote. Councilors who had rejected the request earlier said they did not oppose the study itself, only the funding source, and Mayor Patrick Keefe noted that city funds are typically used for capital projects across city and school buildings.
Timeline
Fall 2026: Council initially rejected the elevator study appropriation.
Late October 2026: Council approved the $125,000 for the study.
End of calendar year 2026: ESSER funds must be encumbered.
Political Context
The funding fight is tied to the end-of-2026 deadline for ESSER pandemic relief funds, which must be encumbered by the close of the calendar year. Opponents of using city stabilization money argued the school district should cover the study from its own reserves instead.
Students and staff at Garfield Elementary currently have limited elevator access, with one of three elevators out of service and another unreliable. The study's outcome will determine whether and when those accessibility problems are repaired.
The takeaway
Funding disputes over school infrastructure often come down to which pot of money is used, not whether the work is needed. Residents tracking these decisions can follow council votes to see which budget ultimately absorbs the cost.
Further reading
For more on local government decisions like this one, see City Hall coverage in Revere.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Reverejournal.
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