City Council - Regular Meeting

All council members to the chamber. I will ask the clerk to call a roll call vote, please. Oh, hold on. I'm sorry. Wait a minute. Hold on. which one of the you okay Murray Nicole Nelson Denise Taylor Moy George Cruz Dasha Spell

Rolanda Smith Ake Boy Janette Heron Loretta Dubac here. Michelle Lions, Mary McBryley, Richard Ortiz,

Alfredo Castello, Fderick Hodes, Id Neves, Maria Valley, Kayla Medina, Maria Pereira, Anita Martinez, Ernie Newton. We have a quorum. All right. Our first just go through some housekeeping things. It's three minutes. A speaker. We have a timekeeper. We ask you to keep your comments to whatever it is you're going to talk about. Do not make it personal against anybody, any council member or I will have to close you down. Our first speaker is Don Marshall Lee. I'm going to ask the deputy majority leader, Mr. Ortiz, to do the clock for me, please, so that we know what three minutes is and then we can take on from there. Okay, thank you. Are you ready? Okay. John Marshall Lee, 30 Beacon Street, Bridgeport. Um neighbors, greetings. Uh with council responsibility for oversight, you can see what authentic winter weather does cause in neighborhoods as you visit different city districts. Heavy snow is cleared from streets, sidewalks, creating trouble for city plows to do a

thorough cleaning and for public safety access. But the sun will likely continue to shine and warmth will melt, disco discolored snow, and possibly we'll see spring early or late depending on the call of a woodchuck. That's the way we live. Now, housing is an important story in the city. It's not seasonal. It depends on finding information about the present state of land development. Where are the current housing, economic development, and land use plans made by employees of the city open to civ citizen inquiries? What's the status of city governance, especially with respect to boards and commission membership, regular discussion and interaction to asssure the city is moving forward in a responsible direction relative to each one of those areas? How many heads rest here a night? And I've left you I've provided to each uh council member a chart and it's made up and and the the uh it allocates 150,000 human beings more or less who identify as render, owner or other in the three categories I submit to you visually tonight. How do you attend to affordable housing when the state makes your inquiries? We start with the humans in the middle of the picture in the four circles. The human beings. How where do thousands of rental recipients of the housing authority locations reach out when dire situations arise? Where is a functioning fair housing commission for residents after disappearing for 20 years? What is a path to becoming an owner, creating family wealth? How do we share the outcomes of smart moves for energy

sustainability and decisions today when we build schools or other buildings maintained by taxes? If brownfields are our problem today because old rules ignored the legacy we inherit, do we form a local energy board or resuscitate one that was made by ordinance in 2011 and then neglected? That I found this weekend. Uh support real education to the public on such issues. Get more folks at the table performing public service. Is it time to upset the status quo? Time will tell. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Lee. Our next speaker will be uh Mr. Clyde Nicholson.

Good evening everybody. Um Clyde Nicholson, 396 Madison Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Last time I was here, I spoke about getting some information on what we should do if ICE and when ICE come upon us. And Madame President is not here tonight. So I guess I have to hold off on that information to find out from her directly did she do uh anything about the request. But pushing on and moving on, I think I am asking the city council tonight for a request to have a town meeting, town hall meeting, and invite these individuals, city uh Bridgeport Chief of Police, state police representative, um a state of Connecticut attorney general, Jim Hines and also Blumenthal. I think that what we need to do is to have some rules and regulations about what we should do and it should be written down so we'll know without guessing what we should do. user. This policeman would stop you and say license and registration. Now, if he run the plate, he knows already that this is a registered vehicle and whom it registered to. But ICE is coming out with gun blazing. So, I don't know why we in the state of Connecticut is not taking them serious. And I'm here tonight to wonder I've been wondering about it. If our President Donald Trump went overseas and went to another country and got a wife, did he go to

Russia and bring back ICE, a group of foreigners that's coming in here and tearing this country completely up? And there's no way that I can sit here and say that, oh, they come in and say, you're not a citizen or you're a citizen. Everybody in this country was from somewhere. Everybody. It was just not something but the American Indians and us as black folks uh African-Americans was forced into slavery kidnapped and bought here. But everybody else was from somewhere else. And like I said, if they from somewhere else, how can they turn around there and tell folks that's trying to get into this country, everybody's illegal? We need to know something. and um Councilman Newton, again, I'm asking for a city town.

Okay. Yeah. And see if you can please put that together. And we need to do that real quick. And because there's folks out here asking me what should they do and I don't know. I have no idea where you they stop you, you play dead or jump out the car and try to run. I don't know. I get shot anyway. All right. Thank you for your testimonies. Uh, our last speaker is Mr. Stevenson.

Happy Black History Month. Um, shout out to like Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X. Um, I'm going to straight jump for the police accountability bill in the state of Connecticut. If you have federal agents in the state jurisdiction, they should follow state law. So according to the police accountability bill uh the identification and police badges not mask where you cannot identify who is a federal agent in a state jurisdiction uh but you do need to identify yourself as a federal agent or a police officer in a state jurisdiction like the state of Connecticut regardless of accountability. Again, I'm going to jump straight to the Connecticut General Statutes uh 54-142G, which is a nonconviction information means criminal history record information that has been erased p uh according to section 52-142A. Information relating to the person's granted youthful offender status. A non-conviction information does not mean conviction information or current offender information. According to can Connecticut General Statutes 53A-15 uh 15 states entrapment is a any prosecution for any offense. It shall be a defense in the state of Connecticut that the defendant engaged in the prescribed entrapment uh because he was induced by a police officer or public servant in the state of Connecticut. Entrament is illegal. It is uh unconstitutional and it violates your fourth amendment as well as due process. So, we do want to go ahead and jump to Connecticut General Statutes 54-142A,

which means any person who shall have been subjected of a such eraser shall be deemed never to be arrested within the state of Connecticut according to Connecticut Connecticut General Statutes 54-142A. With respect to Connecticut law, again, uh the Connecticut general statutes uh states that uh the Connecticut Supreme Court found that a defendant requires sufficient evidence that state the mind that uh that a public servant induced him to commit a crime, criminal offense, or criminal activity. So, if a police officer entraps you, he is in violation of Connecticut General Statutes uh 53A-15 under the entrapment law in the state of Connecticut. I just want to identify the police accountability bill. When you have federal agents in a state jurisdiction, they do need to identify themselves as police officers, which is in violation of the Connecticut Police Accountability Bill, which after uh BJ Brown again, we we do want to remember BJ Brown.

Ela, just wrap it up for me, please. Okay. Thank you, sir. All right. Um this ends the public speaking session and we'll start the council meeting at 7 o'clock.

And with that, I've been instructed to use the technology that we have available. Speaking of technology before you start the prayer, um just to remind everyone that not only do we have people in attendance here, but we have uh TV uh coverage. I don't know exactly how it works. never really watched the other side of it, but we invite the public to tune in, whether in person or watch, and watch us do what we like to refer to in most um uh appropriate ways as the people's business here in the city of Bridgeport. Uh Bishop, would you please lead us in prayer as we as we stand and bow our heads?

Most gracious Father, we thank you for allowing us to be here today. Now God, we ask in the name of Jesus that you bless now every city council leadership in this room. Bless now our honorable mayor, Joseph P. Ganon. Bless the city lawyers and all those in their respected places. Now God, as we go forth in the meeting, we ask that you be in complete control and allow everything to go forth with decency and in order as they govern this great city of Bridgeport in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. And um as is the uh president said, we usually rely on Councilman Newton to lead us in the pledge as you s of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands indivisibley and justice for all. I don't think there's any uh points of personal privilege at this point. Is there standing or sitting? Councilman, do you want to stand sitting? Is that okay?

Okay. If anybody else has a point of personal privilege, I'll recognize Councilwoman Denise Taylor Moy in one minute. Okay. Right after Councilman Newton. Just give me one minute. Okay. Councilman Newton, you have uh the floor on a point of personal privilege. Uh Council President Janette is um away on family business and so I just wanted to make that part of the record. Thank you. Thank you. Councilwoman Denise Taylor Moy has has uh has the floor. If I can find her microphone. Councilwoman, you have the floor. Councilwoman Denise.

And good evening everyone. I just want to have a moment of silence for Von Sims. Um he worked in parks and recreation for many years. He was a good man. He was a great friend to many children, many youths in this city. And I also just wanted us to put out our condolences and everything to the Sims family and also his wife did work for the city of Bridgeport as well.

Thank you. Let's let's let's honor the request uh with our best intentions for a moment of silence as was expressed by Councilwoman. If you could bear with me, please. And let's have a moment of silence. Thank you. Is there any uh other council member that needs to be recognized on an informal point of privilege at this point before we start the formal agenda? Councilwoman, did you need me? Councilwoman Dash. Okay. Anyone else? I'm sorry. So, Mary, you ready to go? Before you do, uh I know you're going to um take the floor and we're going to make uh we're going to move ahead with um a couple of matters that are certainly appropriate, but I was asked by if I could do my own point of personal privilege for the benefit of the council and for the benefit of uh the residents. Um it was pointed out to me that um I should should and we'll announce it publicly if it hasn't been already that our city uh because of the hard work u of many department heads um in participation with the youth programs through afterchool program and the senior centers and the council for their constant support of those and other important endeavors. I've been awarded nationally um a uh winner, second place winner of a grant for $75,000 uh for a program that we're implementing here in the city of Bridgeport to support Bridgeport youth at two of our schools where they'll work in partnership with seniors from our senior centers on community gardens. This was recognized in a competition nationwide for large cities from across the country and it was an honor for me to stand there as as our mayor and to accept it on behalf of the people of the city of Bridgeport. Uh we've gotten a number of awards over the years nationally and sometimes we don't get to, you know, certainly if something goes the wrong way, it gets a lot of attention, but when we get recognized and able to get funds like this brought back in and then to apply them, I think it's worth noting. So, so thank you for your moment on that. Um I think Councilwoman Lee

would like the floor now. And if there's no objection, Councilwoman, you have the floor. I would like to ask prayer for my nephew that passed away and uh those that know the worth of prayer, would you please pray for his family, is my niece's husband. And uh the funeral will be here on Saturday at my church, El Shadi Church of God in Christ uh at 11 12:00 500 Plat Street. Yeah, I want the

Thank you. Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, I am going to another um direction. I would like to thank our Bridgeport Police Department, Captain Gillerin, and and the staff for a job well done with our snow, um the the towing detail, the ticketing, the moving of cars. I would like to thank our fire department, AMR, most importantly, public facilities around the clock, the work that they did along with um David Reyes who was very instrumental in um EOC. I had the opportunity to sit with them along with Anthony and I have to tell you it's a lot of work. It's a lot of work. So, um, our police department did a hell of a job. When I say a hell of a job, they gave individuals an opportunity to move their vehicles. They they played the sirens like they were teaching a music class. And um before they told the vehicles, they did their due diligence, which um I have to applaud them for the level of respect that they gave the the um vehicle owners the opportunity to move their cars. So although we have a little complaints here and there, for the most part, they did a great great job here in the city of Bridgeport with the snowstorm we have. So I would like to uh thank each and every one of them. Um personally in my district, they did a great job. Um so thank you mayor special meeting we had all the organizations homeless Thank you for that.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Many of you all remember the Reverend Michael Cummings one of the good gospel singers and very strong advocate in our city who passed away a while a you know a while ago he lost his only son and Michael Cummings I guess is the second passed away and I want to keep them in prayer but I also want to ask you all for prayer too because I lost about 11 loved ones between the end of last month and early this And um so I I I just want ask you all for prayer. These were first cousins, aunts, and it's been a very tough year um on my family and um I do believe that prayer does change things. And so I need you all to pray for the Newton family because we stand at a crossroad right now of losing so many loved ones in a short period of time. So thank you

councilman. Thank you for sharing that and and uh if we could include that your thought in our thoughts and moments of silence that Councilwoman Mary Lee has asked for. Let's give a moment of silence and and then we'll move on with the more formal portions of the agenda. Thank you for your indulgence for a moment. Thank you. All right. So, unless I see something else that needs my attention, I'm going to go on the agenda as I understand it. And there's two items that are going to be on the top of the agenda. Um, and they deal both with um Roll call

with roll call which is always at the top of the agenda. Exactly what I was talking about. Madame clerk, you have the floor. Nicole Nelson.

You're on, aren't you? There you go. Denise Taylor Moy George Cruz. Dasha spell. Hakee boy. Janette Heron, Loretta Dubac, Michelle Lions, Mary Mcbrryley, Mitches here, Alfredo Castillo, Fred Hajes, Id Neves, Maria Valley, Kayla Medina, Maria Pereira, Anita Martinez, Ernest Newton. We have a quorum.

We have a quorum. I'm also told that we may be honored tonight by uh the singing of the national anthem. Is that true, Councilwoman Lee? Is that going to happen at this time? Well, if there's no objection, then we're going to stand for that. Stand up. And is it Mr. Dorsy? Are you going to lead us? We really appreciate and honored to have you here, especially to uh gracious with the national anthem. We don't usually have that as part of our meetings, but we appreciate having it with you tonight. Is that microphone?

Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring. Ring with the harmonies of liberty. Let our rejoiceing rise high as the listening skies. Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us facing the rising sun of our new day began. Let us march on till victory is one. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far on the way. Thou who has by thy might led us into the light keep us forever in the path who we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places our

God where we met thee. Bless our hearts drunk with the wine of the world. We forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand. May we forever stand true to our God. true to our native land. Thank you, Mr. Dory.

Thank you, Councilman. As as you as we acknowledge Black History Month,

are you good? Is everything everything good, Mary? We're good. Thank you. I know Councilwoman Marie Vay would like the floor at this time for a matter that would welcome all the members of the council. Is that right, Councilwoman? We have a citation, right? You have one, too. So, let's give her a microphone and then all the members of the council would like to join our council woman. I was trying to read it. My eyes will probably get me there when I come down. So, we'll see. But I know that I'd like the council to be aware that this is honoring and and recognizing and I'll let Councilwoman with no objection, Councilwoman Marie Valet have the floor with her microphone at this time, joined by all the members of the council that would like to join. Please make your way to uh to the front of the uh what do you call this? Dasis.

Again, um it is an honor. It is a pleasure to be here at this um event tonight, especially tonight. Um, I want to thank Reverend Lee because she was very instrumental making sure that our right our area is decorated and again it is so um over to me overwhelming because again what a day to begin the uh Black History Month. This young man here is um is an honor. I know this young man's name is Tim Grai, right? And um we are here today to um again to thank you for your 17 years of dedicated service to the Bridgeport public schools and our community events. Your exemplary commitment has not gone unnoticed. that thank you for going beyond the call of duty and and that um Reverend Lee, if you would read this, I would like for you to read this citation for Tim Grass grass.

Yes. Bridgeport City Council official citation. Be it hereby known to all that the city council recognize a shining example of dedication and kindness going above and beyond in everything he does to lead and make a difference. Timothy Grai, Bridgeport Board of Education. We offer our deep appreciation and utmost gratitude for his unwavering commitment to community, his genuine care and compassion for other inspire everyone fortunate enough to know or work with him. Amen. Whether through a thoughtful word or willingness to lead a heaven hand, his remarkable professionalism has made a lasting impact on countless people live given this second day of February, 2026 at city hall, Richport, Connecticut by Janette Heron, the city council president and the entire city council. I'll say amen to that. Yes.

me. Don't move. I'll send I'll send it to you. Yes. Thank you. acknowledge although everyone knows he's here our superintendent

Rich before you adjourn the meeting we're going to have to agend

although we know he's here both uh the superintendent member of the board of education we appreciate your leadership and your support here and what you're doing with the with our with our our school district as well. Okay, if I can have the council's attention. Let's go to the printed portion of the agenda after the roll call which we've completed and we did the citations and now there's uh the minutes for approval. That is the minutes of the December 15, 2025. It's moved. Is there a second? All in favor indicate by saying I.

Okay. So, we move the minutes. Now, if you'll look at the uh the agenda, it says a public hearings to be ordered. So, the next item, which is 27, if my eyes serve me 2027 20 27-25, uh request for finance to order a public hearing for February 17, 2026. Does somebody want to move? Have you read that item and you want to move it? It's the ordering of a public hearing. All in favor indicate by saying I. Okay. So, if you looked at the balance of the items up to the consent calendar, it would seem appropriate if there's no objection to refer them. Consolidated and referred to the appropriate committees. Madame clerk, are you with me?

Okay. All in favor indicate by saying I. Any opposed? You got a first and a second on that, right? You got a second on that. Ernie, did you second that? Yeah. Good. Okay. I'm going to draw your attention to the consent calendar and sometime your light is uh you're being acknowledged. Council, I would like to remove item 25-25. Um it's a resolution that was presented by our council president. Our council president is out of the state on an emergency family matter. Um this resolution uh desires additional discussion. Um and I would like to remove it. And so removed, you don't even need a re but I'm glad you stated it. Yeah. Absolutely. It's removed.

Oh, wait a minute. Hold on. That's on the referrals. Oh, on the referrals or on the consent. I have my light on. That's why I want to remove. My apologies. Okay. So, so you made the motion on the referrals. Let's Let's just clarify your motion. Your motion was consolidate, but not to include that item. Correct. Is that correct? So, we'll revote again just so there's clarity. Ernie, do you want to second that motion? Referrals of all the items except what is it? 20. What's the number? Say it again louder. 25. 2525. Does everybody understand what we're doing? Referring all the items except 2025. And then what do you And then we'll do something separate with that if you want to. Question. All right. Let's make a second first then I'll get the question. Second. I'll second it.

Okay. Council council president motion. Let me just made second and council Newton has the floor for discussion. Councilman Newton, you have the floor. Your mic's on. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The council president asked that this go back to committee. Okay. So, let's let's move the balance of the items, then we'll do a motion to refer back to committee of that item. Is that what you want to do? Yes. Because um bear with me. We'll get there in two motions. There's a motion made and seconded to refer the balance of the items to the appropriate committees except 2020 25 except 2525.

Is there And there's a maiden second. You you keep those in place. You good with that, Ernie? As long as it goes back to committee. All in favor by saying I. Any opposed? Okay. You want to um Councilman Newton, you want to be heard on 2025? Motion to refer back to committee. Yes. I'm stuttering. I'm sorry. Because this was a council president's wishes that it goes back to committee. I'm going to move that we send it back to committee because she's out of town. She can't speak for herself and I think that it's only fair that we respect the council president, send it back and then when she gets back in town they can deal with what they

Thank you. Is there a second on that motion refer back? Hold on. Hold on. First of all, this hasn't gone to committee just yet. It is a new resolution that has been drafted. There's a a a issue with a ton of conflict issues with the resolution. We would like the council president to have the opportunity to discuss this resolution with other council members before we submit it to the ordinance committee and then we can refer it once again. She is out of the state and out of respect to her we would like her to have the opportunity to meet with these other council members

on the record. So noted I'm just trying to think the procedural mechanism the best way to get it there. My sense would be move everything else, leave it on the agenda unless someone has a better idea procedurally. You have two options. Our clerk is here. Address it there. Or two, leave it on the table here. Just leave it here and you have to pick it up at the next meeting. I'll I'll entertain any motion. If you want to think about it, we can sit on it until the before the meeting's over. I just need to we need to do something with it. We We can ask our clerk. She can better educate us than trying to figure out what we're going to do here. Leave it on the agenda where Hold on. Councilwoman's asked for uh the clerk. Madam clerk, do you have an idea? Uh I would suggest send it to committee. Yeah.

Battle it out in committee. They can always either table it and um that way you guys can have discussion prior to the item going to committee with the council president. All right. Okay. No problem. So to clear the the procedure, where are we at on motions and seconds? I make a motion that we refer it to a committee and then they can have the discussion on it. If they want to kill it, whatever they want to do on the committee is be left up to them. But in fairness to the president of the council, we should send it back to

Thank you. So motion made to refer this matter as well after discussion and advice from the city clerk. Is there a second? Motion's made in second. Does anybody want to comment further? I look to my left. Mayor, I would like to remove my name as a co-sponsor on 2525. It'll be referred and if there's no objection with the councilwoman's note that she would like her name removed as a co-sponsor. If there's no objection, the record will so reflect and uh if the clerk is with me, it'll reflect there's been a motion made and seconded after information and referred to committee for reasons stated. I've asked for comment. There's been no further discussion. I'm going to vote. All in favor indicate by saying I. I.

Anyone anybody? Okay. So, that's referred. We are now, unless somebody wants to correct me if I'm wrong, on the consent calendar. Is that correct, Madam Clerk?

Okay. We are now on the consent calendar. It needs not being stated to uh many of the members of the council, but maybe for newer members. It's it's it's useful information and for the public. The consent calendar was was created matters that came out of committee unanimously. However, uh it does not deny any council member from taking an item off of the consent calendar at the meeting at this time without having to state a reason. After a m matter is taken off, it would be acted on separately. The remainder of the items will be read into the record as they're listed on the agenda by the clerk and then they will be voted on without discussion or argument or debate. So, with that, I see councilwoman would like to be acknowledged. I'm going to Councilwoman Nina Martinez, you have the floor on the mo on the on the consent calendar.

I would like to remove item number 18-25. 1825 is is removed. Does any other council member or do you have any other matters you'd like to remove? Councilwoman, that's it. Anyone else want any other item removed from the consent calendar before we move forward on it? Hearing none, we are at the consent calendar. 20 I'm sorry, 1825 is off the consent calendar. And I'm going to ask the clerk if she'll indulge us with the procedural requirement of reading the remaining matters on the consent calendar into the record and they will be voted on collectively without comment or debate. Madam clerk, you have the floor and you have your microphone.

Item number 0-25, economic and community development and environment committee report grant submission environmental task force ETF skateboard park 26404. Item number 03-25, economic and community development and environment committee report grant submission United States conference of mayors dollar-wise innovation grant 26320 and that item will be withdrawn. Item number 04-25 economic and community development and environment committee report grant submission United States Conference of Mayors 2026 healthy and sustainable community grant awards. The greenhouse impact 26505 item number 05-25 economic and community development and environment committee report grant submission United States of Conference of Mayors 2026 healthy and sustainable community grant awards pathways to parks 2650 item number 09-25 economic and community development and environment committee report grant submission ABT global FY23 USD do driving community South Award 26907 and those are the items on the consent calendar.

You've heard the clerk read into the record the items of the consent calendar as they're listed on the agenda with the exclusion of the one that was removed 1825. At this time I'll entertain a motion and a second to approve. Is there a motion? So move second. Motion is made and seconded to approve the consent calendar. All in favor indicate by saying I. Any opposed? Please be acknowledged with their hand or a light. Okay, it's unanimous. I'm going to go back to the item that was removed. It's an ordinance committee matter. It is 18-25. There's a report. Would someone like to be heard on this?

Yes, mayor. The reason I asked for the item to be removed was because we requested that the item be referred as a joint committee item to both ordinance and public safety. um for the reasons being it is an ordinance and it also pertains to the issue relates to public safety. So we need it to go to both committees not just ordinance. So the pleasure of the council is to refer it. Madame clerk you have the floor. For clarification purposes the report has to come out of ordinance committee and that's what it came out of and if you see the note is now being referred as a joint item. Okay. But a report has to come out of the ordinance committee for approval. Okay. To the full council. All right. Okay. No problem. Thank you.

So, Councilwoman, is there What would you like to do? You want to move it? Yeah. Move it. Okay. So, there's a motion to approve this matter after comment and discussion and and uh I guess advice from the city clerk. Is there a second? Someone like to second this motion. Does anybody want to second it? Second. Seconded by Councilman Newton. Does anybody want to be heard on it? It's off the consent calendar. You can be heard on it. I see a light on. Councilwoman Lions, you have the floor.

Yes. So, what's the because I didn't get a call in reference to this here. So, what what are how are we going to work this out now? We're it's going to go to ordinance. Correct. And then from ordinance, it comes back and we're going to have a meeting on this because I knew nothing about this. Just just to say madam madam clerk would like to clarify. So, let me just clarification for myself and my co my co-chair. Yeah, the clerk is going to clarify. Madam Clair,

the item was voted on the ordinance committee. So, a report has to come out of the ordinance committee to the full council to refer it to the joint committee. That's what you guys are doing tonight. You guys are referring it to the joint committee of public safety and ordinance. That's fine. Okay. Thank you. I appreciate that. At least clarification. You still have the floor. Councilman, are you good? Yep. Anyone else? Councilwoman Nita Martinez, are you good? Yes. Thank you. I'm going shut the mic off and unless there's further comments been a motion's made and seconded. There's been discussion. I've asked for further discussion. Uh there's been none that needs to be entertained. At this point, we're going to vote on this matter. With that being said, all in favor indicate by saying I.

Anybody want to say no. Okay. Passes unanimously. Now, we've concluded. Don't leave yet though. We've concluded the printed part of the agenda, which normally would mean we're ready for a motion to adjurnn, but it's my understanding that it's my understanding there's a matter that needs to be addressed tonight and that some a council person wants to move it and there's a variety of reasons why it should be acted on by the council tonight. At least that's what I've been uh led to believe. And with that, I am going to ask uh councilwoman, if I can find you, Dasha Spell, you have the floor as chair of the committee, please proceed.

Hi I'd like to make a motion to add an item to the agenda. Item number 11-25 which was approved last Wednesday by the contract committee. So there's a motion made and it's my understanding city clerk has this and she's aware of it which makes it very helpful. Is there a second? Second. So motion's made, second, and this is for the purposes, let me get this right, of adding to the suspending the rules to add to the agenda for the purposes acting on it tonight. So technically a motion for meeting consideration. However, council members should know if you're not on the committee, it already went through committee.

I don't know. But either way, it needs how many votes? Yeah. So it's a suspend the rules. Suspend the rules. consideration. No, not a meeting. All right. Terminology. Okay. Madam, is it all right if we frame your motion as a motion to suspend the rules in order to add this to the agenda? Correct. All right. Is there a second? And there's a second. Anyone want to be heard on suspending the rules? To add it to the agenda? All in favor by saying I. I.

Any opposed? Okay. It passed unanimously. Madam uh madam councilwoman, madam chair, I'm not sure the best way to you have the floor. Do you want to move the matter? I would like to make a motion to amend by suspension with the document which was distributed tonight. The only change is that the total amount of the coverage is going from 8,500 to 12,000 for the service line program.

All right, I'm going to take that as a motion. I know council Newton wants a second it and and I think maybe clarify for members of the council some some of the things and if you're in disagreement, you'll have the microphone again. But with that, if there's no objection, Councilman Newton, you have the floor. And Councilman Martinez, do you have your microphone on for reasons you want it? Okay. I have your blue ready to speak.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The committee met on this and we voted it out. And what happened was if you go to I think everybody has a copy of this here contract. You should have a copy. Turn to the last page. That's what we're going to talk about real briefly. Um when when when the individuals came, what this contract does is our constituents complain when the pipes that go to your house to the street and then you call WPCA and they say, "No, you're responsible for that." Well, this company here has come up with a a great concept for for our residents. And the the on the last page, if you turn to it, the water service line plan is only 5.99. Um, and we approved it. They were only going to do 8,500, but they raised it to 12,000. That if you buy into the service,

a resident has $12,000 that no matter what happens, as long as they pay their premium of 5.99 or whatever it might be, they're entitled to doing that. And I I can tell you my son had this issue and he paid a lot of money to have to dig up into his property to realign the line that goes to the streets for your sewer or for for you know your backups and your toilet. So, all we're doing is raising from 8,500, which we should have amended it in in contracts,

to 12,000 that a resident has on the books to utilize it. And the good thing about it, if a if a landlord uses the whole 12,000, it renies up as long as you pay your bill for another 12,000. So I would ask my committee to support it, the council to support it because there are a lot of people that could take advantage of this program that live in our city. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, M. Councilman. Um gosh, do you have anything you want to add? Do you have anything anything further further councilwoman to add to what Councilman Newton said? No,

you're good. Okay. So, the motion's been made. The motion's been seconded. There's discussion. Councilwoman Lee and I see a couple other blue. So, let's see if they uh if uh Councilwoman Yeah,

Mary Lee, you have the floor. uh just just for me myself and I I I I would like to know more because you know I would like to see what this is worth cuz I don't I'm I I don't want to support something that I'm I don't I'm not clear about. So I want to ask question and I want to read and reread to see will it get me someplace that I don't want to be. Okay. That that's that's it. Okay. Um, Councilman, you have the floor.

Yeah. Yeah, man. I'm I'm also this company here. Where's this company from? Because right now, don't we have a a guac water that does the same thing that you can buy the service line from your house for extra? We already have that in our city. So, I don't know. We're talking about getting another company because they cover up to like about $12,000 or $15,000 already. So, and bringing another company and I'm kind of like curious about this and like to little more information about this before I jump in on this. Yeah, the councilman has a question. Councilman Newton, I see you volunteering to respond. If there's no objection, I'm going to give Councilman Newton microphone to respond. What's that?

Competition. you should have more than one person that you could look at to say, "Look at is this a better plan than the plan I got." So that's all this was was to open it up. Okay. Free market that you get to pick whoever you want to pick based on what you can receive. Now, if you look at if you look at it on the last page, I just got it just now. Yeah. Well, we just It's because um you got to be on contracts. You got to come to those meetings. Hold on, hold on, hold on. Let me just do this because I know there's some microphones. I will recognize you, Councilwoman Lever. Let me council Newton, are you done? Yeah, let me finish. Okay, please.

So, if you look at it, the extension on it, you can you can shop around. So if the plan that we already got, if this is a better plan, then you got opportunity to go with a better plan because I believe no one person has cam blanch. So So my question is what what does this what does this cost of this city? I'm going to give the I'm going to give councilwoman the microphone

to respond. Okay. So, I can respond to both of your questions in regards to one, this company is actually out of Philadelphia, so they're hop jump skipping away from us, as well as what it's giving the city is $30,000. and money that we can put towards if we need to repair if a resident ran out of their 1200 and we want to add to it. I mean 12,000. Thank you. So, those were the plus that came out of our conversation last week when we were um in our meeting and she did her presentation is that one, we get $30,000 as an incentive and two, they're right close to us so that if we have any concerns or any issues, they're right there. In addition, any of the actual workers, so your plumbers or whoever comes out to do the maintenance work is actually local. So they do hire local people that's from the community as well.

And and as we go further, I I've just been advised and it may be worth a moment if Councilman Newton and and and Tom Godette had something to add to clarify. Ernie, do you have it? Everyone, I don't know if you all have a copy, but if you turn to exhibit A, that the city stands to make $30,000. The first I think it's three years. The first year is 10,000, the second year is 10,000 and the third year is$10,000

for for what they will give the city um with these plans. And so the committee felt that competition's good and people should have more than one horse to ride on if they want to choose what which one they want to use. So it's not a it's not a downside

because number one, you don't have to purchase it. That's your choice. Just like the company that you mentioned, people have a choice. You want you want to pay for it, that's up to you. And that's what's happening here. But what we didn't do, it was 8,500. They upped that $8,500 to 12,000. That if I buy into this plan,

I have $12,000 should something happen to any pipes in my house or if I need to get a plumber to come out or if I need certain things done, I have that money. Can I just answer that real quick for him on the fees because it's really cheap.

Okay. If you if you turn on it, it tells you right here for any work that's done exterior water service line plan is 599. um exterior sewers on the outside, you know, like when your pipes only go to the sewer out go to the thing. It is I just saw it. 5.99 $10.99 and exterior plumbing draining plan is $15.99 a month should you buy in. But remember, you got a $12,000 policy. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Okay. To my colleagues, understand this. This is a free service to the city. City is not paying anything to it. Period. These are the homeowners, including myself, who pay a quite a bit more money than this to get my line covered from my house to the street. This is exactly what we were trying to do is get something where a lower cost. We got something at very lower cost. I don't understand what the push back or people don't understand. Something you buy into. You buy it from Aquarium or you buy it from WPCA is the same thing just at a different rate. That's all it really is. The city is going to benefit at 10,000 per year.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Uh um uh I I would like to ask uh Miss Councilwoman Spell, did you uh research this? Did you and I'm acting for a reason, you know, because see talking is cheap. Mhm. And uh and I I was listening at what you said

and I got more out of what you said that was said because see I can do scan reading pretty good but uh you know you you don't handle so much because some of us have property and some of us have all this stuff. So when we vote on something, you know, it's going to affect people that have something and it certainly going to affect me cuz I have a home and this might happen to me. But I I think it's no more than fair and anybody that think different is all fair for you to know for us to know what we voting on. And don't tell me that I should have been at the meeting because if you were going to talk about my house and my car and my few pennies I have in the bank, make no mistake about it, I would show up. Any question is a good question if you ask me. So I don't think nobody should be looking at somebody like they don't have good sense because you asked a question. You you you you when you when you

Well, no, you don't. But mayor, you know, see the thing about it is see, we make decision in this c on this council that going to affect our lives and it don't affect mine, it going to affect my grandchildren and my son. So, you know, this is really nothing to be, you know, I'm I'm finished. If you tell me that you researched it, I'm going to call you tomorrow because I believe what you say. So actually um this particular presenter was in DC last year and she sat down and had a conversation with all of us about the product as well as the company and what they could do for us. And when it comes to the actual footwork of the research, it was more of like asking her different questions and gaining information from her in that sense. So, for example, when it comes to the actual type of house that this would fit, it's a single family, it's a double family, but they don't do condos just because, um, condos have associations, um, you know, the fees that goes with that. Um, so those are the only kind of restrictions. But the reason why I personally said yes is that one, if my pipe breaks, I'm paying $15 a month, whereas I would probably be paying like $200 for one time and that's all I had to pull out my pocket. And right now with the way the economy is, the way things are going, especially because right now we've been hit with two big sto snows storms, we don't know what our pipes are going to look like. And now also with the taxes going up on property, this is affordable for people, especially because you're just ranging

from the price from $4, not even $20. You're paying $16 the most a month. Thank you, ma'am. You're welcome. I'll call you tomorrow anyway.

I got you. Um, it's Councilwoman Baj. I I do want to say that in the explanation of this sewer from the house to the to the street. I do want to say that there is a gentleman in your district that needs help right now regarding this what we're talking about. The other thing I do want to say is even though I don't have a hat on right now, but my hats off to you. Kudos to you because we have been criticized that we go to Washington or wherever and we do not bring back what is discussed or that we feel that our residents or constituents could be uh it could be helpful to them and you have done just that. regardless of how I vote, yes or no, depending on the cost or whatever. But again, I want to thank you for bringing this up.

Thank you, U mayor. I I would like to say two things. One is we are put on committees as co-chairs to run meetings. I don't understand why the co-chairs are not allowed to answer the questions that are being asked. I don't see why I'm on contracts. I'm not answering the questions. But what I will say is give respect to the co-chairs and let them hand the questions that are being asked. Secondly, the administration is here. If there's any questions, anybody's confused, it went through the administration. It came from NLC. It's something good. It's optional to homeowners. Whoever wants to purchase it, it's like a life insurance policy. It's a premium. You purchase it, you pay into it monthly. It's not anything that's costing the city anything. It is optional. It is for homeowners that cannot afford to pay a busted sewer line that's going to cost them 10,000 12,000 onetime lumpsum. You can purchase into this product and pay it. It's It's not a big deal. It doesn't cost the city anything. Um, and Dasha, good job in answering the questions, but I just wanted to say give the opportunity to the co-chairs that run the committees to answer the questions because nobody knows more than the next person on this council. Thank you. Yeah, I just want to say I don't know too much about this issue, but looking just quickly online research, typically Homeserve offers 7 to $10,000 in coverage. So, I commend you all for renegotiating this, getting us to that $12,000.

Thank you.

Yes. Um, two things. Um to piggyback off what Councilwoman Dasha was saying, um while we were in the meeting, they did say besides the one and two family homes that they would adjust and create a special package for us because they're up to four households. Um so if let's say for example, I'm going to use Success because I live there. We have more than four households. They would talk to us and work on a package especially for homeowners that have more than four units. Um so that's one thing. And then the other thing um was that they were going to work on besides the $1,200 that they were offering people like again this is optional. You don't have to you don't have to do it. It's not something that's mandatory. But something that they did say was that if somebody had a busted pipe or something and they could not afford it right then and there, they would still work with you even if you didn't pay everything in and in one lump sum

over here. Um, one other thing that I want to mention is that the presenter when she was speaking to us, what she informed us is is that every resident would get a letter telling them about the program, but not only telling them about the program, but identifying the actual council members in that district so that you're able to not only know this company, but if you don't know your council person, you will after they're done with you and if I'm not mistaken also that we would be able to have like a meeting a town hall meeting with them to discuss any questions that residents may have as well. So once again this is a company that came to us. It's not costing us anything. It's something that is optional and it's up to homeowners in the community whether they want it or not. It's just an option, but at least we're giving them an option at the table.

Um, C. Okay. Thank you. Uh, Councilwoman uh Spell, is there any way to renegotiate? Is it too late to renegotiate for um uh co-op and condominium owners?

So, from what she told us is that they would actually meet with the co-ops and see what they could do. Because you got to remember is that with a co-op, it's a joint kind of function where you have multiple people involved and what they would have to do is look at one what's available and the option and also that co-op usually already has a service connected with it. So it's more of like they can have a conversation to see if it's workable. How about condominiums? She said the same for themselves. for condominiums as well. Okay, thank you. Welcome.

If there's no other objections, I'm going to pass because I don't want to say the wrong thing to the wrong folk. So, I'm going to move the question so that we can vote. Mr. there on the amendment. Second,

we just got to make sure we're doing it right. Mayor, state it clearly so everybody know what they're voting on. This is the amendment from 8500 to 12,000. So, she's moving it as amended. She's making a motion to amend first. That being said,

we're not finished yet. That's what I heard. Councilman Nuke, you have the floor. Go ahead. Make a motion to approve the item as amended. Ah, perfect. So move. Motion to approve as amended. Has been made and seconded, Madam Clerk. Yes. All right. All in favor indicate by saying I. Any opposed? What was that, madam? I didn't hear you. All in second. All in favor by saying I. Thank you so much for your indulgence tonight.