City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening, good evening, and welcome to the regular meeting of the Lawren City Council. Today, Tuesday, February 17, 2026. is about 7:10 p.m. person to the chat of 20 of the ads 2022. This meeting will be hybrid allowing participation both in person in the city chamber and remotely. Uh also uh this is uh live through the zoom link that many people already receive it. Uh also you can see the meeting through Facebook and YouTube. Roll call, please.

Senator Gonzalez, present. Present. Present. Present. Present.

Am I? Yes. Councelor Leant present. Um councelor vice president present and councelor president Javani not as absent. So let's for a moment of silence please. So let's do the pledge for alliance.

I pledge the flag for the United States of America and to the republic stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Hi counselor, there is no uh menu to approve today. So I got the list for the public participation. The first one is uh Mr. Mallet 53. Good evening honorable members. We the citizen are proud to support Lance Police Officers Union. police this union of pride and honor with the impeccable leadership by honorable chief Agalar doing excellent job Lawrence police thank you for protecting our citizen thank you for doing the best job in the days of the crisis police one of the best police department in the nation we are proud of you in the worst blizzard of the 2026 million thanks to our DPW working tirelessly. DPW workers and the leadership. Thank you for keeping Lawrence a beautiful city. Lawrence inspection department employees. Thank you for excellent job. We must hire more inspector. Lawrence public school with the impeccable leadership by honorable superintendent Ralph Guerrero. Moving forward, we the citizen are grateful to honorable director Wu for helping our public school. Lawrence teachers, thank you for excellent job. We support your union. Lawrence teachers, because of you, Lawrence, we rise again. Lawrence always strong. Lawrence always unite. We

the citizen are proud to support our veterans. Thank you for excellent job. Thank you for your sacrifices. We must f find two new position in a veterans department. We must create the best commission for elders. Lawrence one city under goal. We pray for the safety of all police officers and the first responder. We are proud of our firefighters. Lawrence fire department with the impeccable leadership by honorable chief Delaney doing the best job the best fire department in the nation. Lawrence police department, a shining superstar in the sky of Lawrence. Thank you.

Thank you. So, just a little remember that uh you has to say your name and address for the record. You have two and a half minutes and that you will hear the bell at the one minute. And please do not address any individual counselor. Address the vice president or the council as a whole. My name is Jeff. So the next person is Mr. Jeffrey Petrillo.

My name is Jeffrey Petrillo. I live at 341D South Broadway. As of the present, there's a lot called lot number 18 that's between ourselves and&m auto body shop at 341 South Broadway. For 78 years, it was a non-buildable lot. Former counselors Cuaderoni, Fched, Abdul all know it wasn't a buildable lot and so doesn't the current clerk Eileen Bernal knows that it wasn't a buildable lot. Sometime around April of 2018, the title rules, the title 12 rules were not followed to change it without notifying us uh anybody as to the major butters who would be affected. Measures have already been put in place for decades to protect our distance of privacy that we have between our home and&m auto body at 341 South Broadway. The body shop was built in 1937 to 1939, meaning it's not coded as explosion proof. Under state fire and safety laws, the minimum distance that they can operate as a body shop goes from the zoning uh law of 29-2320 uh paragraph number two from 100 ft to 200 ft as told to us by fire chief Delaney. The lot that is currently under agreement is this vacant middle lot known as lot number 18. It's only 50 ft wide. It is and has been a non-buildable office 78 years when somebody changed it illegally in April of 2018 without following Title 12 procedures. They just did it without notifying us and without a zoning board meeting. This is illegal and against numerous city and state zoning laws, particularly 29-11 and 29-23 paragraph number two, which

states, "No garage can operate within 100 ft of a residential zone lot on the same block because the auto body shop does not qualify for this. It makes 29-23 paragraph number two to 200 ft minimum space to the nearest residential lot. This lot has been a trouble lot for over 30 years. It's if the owner of the lot number 18 gets a special variance permit, which by the way, no special variance permit is eligible for this lot. We intend on going to the state. And this message goes to the mayor and everybody else. Thank you.

Thank you. The next person for the public hearing is Jamlet Diaz. Good evening, counselors. I'm Jamilelet, owner of Best Price Towing, located at 27 Winter Street. I'd like to address some statements to ensure the public record is accurate. It was stated here two weeks ago that at one point last year, there were five towing companies handling snow removal. In 2025, there were only three. Sheen, Cody's, and Best Price Towing. Accuracy matters, especially when discussing public contracts. It was also said that the administration attempted to bring back said companies, but many no longer do snow removal. I want the record to reflect clearly best price towing was never contacted by the Lawrence Police Department for the supertorm. We were ready, willing, and capable, but we were never called. During last year's public safety meeting regarding snow removal and public private trespass towing, it was confirmed by Lawrence Police Department that our company followed every ordinance and exceeded expectations. Despite that confirmation, our snow removal contract was still canled. However, I have not forgotten that what we've proven. The first year, we were given just five streets and expected to only tow 25 vehicles. We impounded 77 in one night, shocking those who mocked us. Every vehicle was accounted for, undamaged, and released on time. But this is bigger than snow removal. I reviewed 471 bids in the city's online system, which could only date back to 2018. None for the police contract. So, I asked our grandfather towing companies. This contract hasn't been up for bid for public since 1998. while neighboring cities hold public bids every two or five years. Nearly three decades and only two companies hold the contract when in the early 90s the city was smaller and there were seven companies in rotation. Today with

a larger population and greater demand, there are only two. And I ask myself, what's the holdup? The mayor smiles, showing pride when he says he supports small Hispanic-owned businesses. I'm the only female Hispanicowned towing business in Lawrence. I follow the law and surpass the standards, and I have proven that in this chamber. Yet, the doors to this city's contracts remain closed for people like me. All I'm asking tonight is simple, transparency, equal opportunity, and public bidding for the police contract that has been unavailable to the public since 98. Thank you.

Thank you. The next person for is uh Richard Roso. Good evening, councilors. Rich Russell, 34 Cross Street. I don't know whose idea it was to hire a woman last week and put her in charge of snow removal. I will say this, she did a better job of snow removal from the streets of Lawrence and all of those little landscaped snowized snow plows that the city hired. The woman's name, Mother Nature. And while I'm on a snow removal rant, will somebody please tell the mayor that the residents really don't care to see videos about snow removal on Essex Street. The residents would rather see uh actual snow removal from the streets of the residential areas of North and South Lawrence. I for one don't give a damn if Essex Street is plowed back to the curb. How does that benefit those that are relegated to parking on the streets at night? It doesn't. Uh, regarding agenda item 5526, I would suggest informing the LPD about the city of Lawrence's code of ordinances, title 10, chapter 10.36.010 and chapter 10.36220 for various parking restrictions in place on Cross Street between Broad and Manchester Street. I realize that the uh LPD is underst staffed and is at time busy making wellness checks on various individuals critical of our political hierarchy. Last week, I filed a public record request requiring the amount of money the city will make from the snow emergency violation parking tickets and how that money will be spent. In what areas was the ticketing most aggressive? Well, I received that public record request in the email before I left to come down

here tonight, and I haven't had a chance to act actually go through it. I wish that the city would budget money for snow removal in a more proactive manner than its normal reactive manner. Finally, I find it a disgrace as a lifelong New Englander that individuals that know nothing about New England snowstorms are making crucial decisions about snow removal. I conclude by saying I will go home and in my spare time I will write a song dedicated to Lawrence and their snow problem. The title is going to be I got the blue light blues. Is that a catchy title? Thank you as always for allowing me to plow you under with these various snow issues.

Thank you. Uh we had somebody online but uh he haven't answered. It is coming for the public hearing. So I had no more people for public hearing. Public hearing is closed now. So let's continue with the agenda. There is no public hearing. Uh so there are some matters pending for public hearing that nothing that we have to do at this moment. Uh we don't have a communication from mayor or any city official or the city attorney. No. Okay. So committee report. So budget and finance committee we have item 626 that is from the S EIU the local tree clerical union collective bargaining agreement CBA is a transfer for 8354 from the general fund and enterprise funds account to bario salary fund Maria the other budgeting finance.

Thank you to you um council vice president. Item 6-26 SEIU local 3 clerical union collective of bargaining better known as CBA transfer an amount of 83,54 from general funds to a general fund and enterprise fund accounts to various salary funds to fund the CBA was sent up as a committee report and I make that as a formal motion. Second motion is already made and already second. Any comments from the council or from anyone's from the public? Is there a second? Yes, it's already discussion.

Okay. Discussion.

U council vice president. So during the the budget and finance committee, there was some debate um between traffic control and the jurisdiction of traffic control employees whether it falls under DPW or the police. Uh there seems to be some back and forth. Uh we did ask the the capful to give us to provide information further information on what the what I guess what the what the result is. Um I believe we asked for the directors to be here as well and I don't see them here but um through you vice president if we may hear from the from the capo. Good evening, councilors. Ramona Sabalos Capo. Um I did send the council a report that I was able to review with the director of um the parking the department head and um it explained what the differences in terms of operations and administration for the um um that department and how it can be it can be un uh misunderstood as to where they report and so forth. I I just want to make sure you did receive my email. Check. So, it was sent like maybe two weeks ago. I'd be happy to answer any questions. I would like uh if I could vice vice

president I would like to read the explanation so that we all understand and the public understands uh where we stand with traffic control if I may. You have. Okay.

So, we have uh the email from our CAFO that was sent Thursday, January 29th at 2:37 p.m. And um it it says the following. Hi, David. Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me this morning to talk about traffic control operation. Please see below and let me know if this is a good summary or if I need to change anything, which I'm which you sent it to us. You forwarded to us. Right. So I forwarded to you his u agreement. He says awesome job exactly is what I said and if they need any more information please feel

uh free to reach out. So that was me sending it to him before I sent it to the council and he agreed that that's what we had discussed.

Okay. So this is what it says. Um this is the the the um overview. I met with the parking director, David Rodriguez, regarding the questions raised at last night's budget and finance committee meeting, and I'm writing to provide clarification on the role, structure, and oversight of the traffic control officers. Traffic control officers are budgeted under the Lawrence parking division and consists of six officers assigned across three shifts with two officers per shift. The shift runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p p.m. 5 and 5:00 p.m. to 1 1:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. These schedules intentionally mirror the Lawrence Police Department shift to ensure operational alignment and coordination. At the start of each shift, traffic control officers report to police department roll call to receive assignments, share information, and align expectations for the shift, including alerts related to stolen vehicles and or ongoing in incidents. The primary responsibility of traffic control officers is parking and traffic enforcement with ticketing limited in certain downtown areas where PCI is responsible. Police officers retain the authority to issue citations and tickets with traffic control officers are limited to to issuing parking tickets only. Traffic control officers operate under the dual reporting structure. Operationally, they report to the Lawrence Police Department for shift coordination and enforcement related activities. They may assist at accidents, fires, tree service calls, and and other enforcement situations such as abandoned or double parked vehicles. Police officers can also notify traffic control officers of active incidents requiring support. Administration administratively and for personnel matters. Traffic control officers report to the parking director,

David Rodriguez. The parking director reviews and approves time off requests, oversees and verifies time sheets for accuracy, ensures ticketing equipment is functional and up to date, and serves as the primary point of contact for staffing and personnel concerns. DPW/parking provides uh supervisionary oversight to ensure officers are ticketing and documenting properly and that the expectation of both the police department and the parking division are being met. Thank you. Very welcome.

Uh I believe I'm going to if I may, vice president, I'm going to look at my com my colleagues on the on the budget and finance. Um from what I remember from the discussion, this was the concern that we have. Does that satisfy the the budget's cons uh budget committee's concern at this time? Um, so yes, I I was aware of the email. I did read it and I and it answered the questions. I'm not sure, you know, that was the whole purpose of submitting it as a committee report. Um, so just would like to see due to the fact that it's open for discussion for other counselors who are not part of the budget and finance committee or any other members from the budget and finance committee who have any other concerns despite receiving this information. Um, this is the opportunity for us to discuss it. comments.

I ask that you move the question. This is a committee report. Correct. Yes. I ask that you move the question. I ask that you move the question. I ask as you take a vote. I ask that you take a vote on the question. You say take a vote on the question. I am asking for a vote on the question. Motion to approve. I We have a motion on the floor. I'm asking for there's a motion already. Yes. To submit it as a committee report. Could we Yes. I'm asking for a vote. Let's take a vote. Okay. So, a motion to approve. I has to go through a vote as a committee report. Motion to to approve the the motion properly seconded. Yes. All those in favor? In favor? I I

I make a motion that we approve the uh document. discussion. So, councel,

thank you. Thank you, U council vice president. I um since the discussions pertaining union contracts and also we have the non-union the cola in front of us as well. Since that meeting Monday night, I've been um been I've been pulled aside various times by union employees stating that the treatment is completely different from their point of view. um they reiterated what I said from their point of view, but I'm saying what I said because I also see it um how when we're doing contract negotiations for union employees is always this the sentiment of or the feedback or the statement that we don't have money. But when it comes to non-UN employees is a whole different story. Uh, I I just want to put that out there because I know we have the cola coming up, but um that proves to me that I'm not the only one seeing this or feeling this. I'm not going to say seeing it cuz I'm not there, but I'm not the only one that has that same impression. And I just want to make that put that buzz in your ear. Um, and we can have further discussions afterwards.

Absolutely. Thank you. Um, do I have the floor? I'm so sorry. Okay. Um, if memory serves me right, because it's so many contracts, this is where it's uh administrators and non-administrators are part of the same are in the same chart. That's the code. So, this is not the item. Okay. This is the just for the clerical union. Mhm.

Any other comments? I Okay, I ask that you move the question, Madam Chair. Okay, go ahead. I am asking for a vote. I'm asking that you move the question. Everyone in favor. All in favor? All right. So I just waited to find out. So nobody have any more question in here. Okay. So all those in favor say I. I. I. Any. So the bowl uh is already passing. Thank you. Council vice president.

Okay. If I may I do agree with you. I I did notice both times you were asking if there were any further questions before moving the question along. Just want to make sure that my colleagues just uh consider that. But if you see also that no one has questions, let's move the question along my colleagues point.

All right. So the next item on the agenda is item 2726. Um Maranchia from the budget. The next item, item 27-26, authorization to expend $13,900 uh for the SFY 2026 Commonwealth Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative with the Massachusetts State Police was sent up as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. Second. So motion is already second. All those in favor say I. I say I have it. So the next item any num we have disc discussion

any discussion all right next item is item 36 38-26 S se SEIU local 3 library union collective bargaining agreement was sent up as a committee report and I make that as a formal motion. Second all in favor discussion so discussion

uh through you vice council vice president I'm going to look at my colleagues here I don't 100% remember as to why we sent this as a committee report as you know we had an emergency today so my my my brain is a little fogged oh now I understand yes there's no need for a vote yes uh This was put on on the on the the agenda as an informative um item, but Kafo, if I if I may, through you, council vice president, can you just explain to the public as to why there's no vote required for this?

Yes. Um again, this is the um union uh library union collective bargaining agreement local 888. An additional appropriation is not required as the negotiated incremental costs and collective bargaining contract oversight will be funded through the current budget and existing vacancies within the library. So whatever amount of money we it's needed to fund the contract um it's available within the library budget. So that's why we don't need an additional appropriation. Okay. Discussion. Discussion.

And just one more point, Madam Chair. Just the um as a reminder, we do not vote on the contracts. We don't I mean often times we'll dig into the contracts. We'll find questions regarding it, but as a body, our jurisdiction is not is not ratifying the contract. That is between the bargaining agreement between the the union and the administration. And that's where that is. what we do as a legislative body. We when there's money required to fill the the money to to pay for the contract, that's we come in. In this particular case,

that money's already it's selfunded. They already have money in their budget. We we don't need to go ahead. So, as we go through all of these union proposals, two of them two of them have a requirement for us to give money. This one doesn't. Thank you, Madam Chair. So any comments from the council or like to make a motion I like to make a motion to withdraw this document since it doesn't require any of the council for second. All those in favor

I so I have any thank you. So the next item uh we're going to go to housing committee. So, Marcha from the housing committee, please read through you, madame vice uh vice president. Uh the housing committee met uh on item 48325, the surplus declaration uh 4,97 square foot parcel of land at rear of 47 Hamlet Street. Um this was uh it decided to submit as a committee report to the full council and I submit that to you as a form of a motion.

Second. So discussion motion is already second. Um all those in favor discussion

discussion discussion. Um just to add a little context in regards to this item at the subcommittee meeting um slightly contentious in regards to what the criterias are um in regards to the yard sale policies. Um, one of the discussions that was brought up by the council president uh in retrospect of what the policies are in place for for yard sale uh was if they're able to build ADU units. Um, so if we could have the city attorney, if we could have I believe director McCarthy, I'm not

Yeah, he's sure if he's here today as well. He's online. Oh, he's online. Okay. So, um if if they if they're able to come uh before us to provide a little bit of more details and context in regards to what was uh some of the um reservations that some of the counselors had at that meeting and that way we could potentially have some sort of outcome for tonight.

Okay. Tim Hooton, city attorney. Um just so you're you're aware, at the time that we uh developed the yard sale provision, there was no such thing as an ADU. So if if you want a correct answer, um what did we envision? We didn't never even heard of them. So we would not have put it in. So um the odds provides that if you have an abiding property, you're allowed to buy that property if it's of a certain size, non-buildable size. Um and unfortunately, people got caught up on the word structures. Um what you cannot build is a house on there. What you can build are structures. You can build a pool house. You can build a pool. You can build a tennis court if properly zoned. You can build a shed. You can build a garage. You can build anything you want on it. Uh what it says is though you can't use it as a as a house. Now, if that land adds to your land and allows you enough room that you by right can build a house, you can build a house. But the property itself, one of the conditions is that that's not the buildable unit. You you can't build on that. So, uh, so everybody was there was a lot of back and forth because people kept saying the word structure and people consumed houses. Uh, and it it wasn't referring to that. As far as ADUs, that's a state law. That's that has completely different that has nothing to do with yard sales. Anybody with any piece of property, if you qualify, you can put your ADU in it. This does not allow nor restrict it. It it it's just not part of it. It's just that's based on your land. So these people with garages, basements, attics, room in the past, if they fall under the ADU, that that's that's a separate law. Has nothing to do with the odds,

council vice president. Yes.

Okay. Thank you. Um, thank you through you. And now you just confus. I I follow. I understand what you're saying. Let me let me start off with that. I understand what you're saying, but now I'm a bit confused. This isn't my district. So obviously we have an a au being built on Mount Vernon Street that was not following prop proper protocol and I actually contacted the building commissioner to you know let's let's figure this out because it needs to be we need to follow the AUD rules. Um so I want to make sure that rules are being followed but I'm confused. So I want to know from the housing committee what was discussed? Is there a purpose as to I know the homeowner is here and I know her very well. Um she keeps me on my toes as her city counselor, so I appreciate that and I and I know how she is when it comes to rules and regulations. Um but was it discussed as to what she's looking to do? I know whether the chair or maybe the homeowner can can answer this. Just give a little bit more context so I can know at least for this my own vote can have a better idea.

Sure. Um, please say your name and address. Oh, sorry. Kelly Stanzooki, 47 Hamlet Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts. Thank you.

Good evening, council. So, I'm not quite sure what I wanted to do. I do either want to do an addition or a garage. And I do have the land to do it in the garage, but I don't want to go to an architect and say, "Do this just in case he needed a foot or two feet or something." You know what I mean? Best position it to look nice for the neighborhood. I'm sure sometimes you drive by and you'll be like, "How did that house happen?" or "How did this happen?" So, I wanted to kind of fit in with the neighborhood. I was trying to do this before Mount Auburn. um you know, you guys pass that. And I was always told, wait till Mount Auburn goes through. And I'm like, I'm a different person, a different property. Why do I have to wait? Mount Auburn went through in November of 2024. Um, I went back and I did watch the housing committee in September and then I also watched the um, the full city council meeting for that Mount Auburn property which is kind of the same as mine. Um, on that this came out, you know, from the mayor in October and it was mentioned in those meetings. So, you guys were aware of the ADU when it went to full counsel. There was nine yeses, which when I was listening to the vote, I was very surprised because I know somebody, you know, but it was all nine approved that Mount Auburn house. And getting to Mount Auburn, there's road access to it. This is actually behind my house. So, I feel like if anything, mine's kind of landlocked. The Mount Auburn, somebody could drive right there to the home, you know, and I might not even use the property for any building. we might just add on to our house. I I don't know because I want to tell them like, hey, I need a bathroom. I need, you know what I mean? So, I don't know what I'm doing. And I did want to come to you before I

paid money out of my pocket, but I was told I can't just come in front of you guys and say, "Hey, this is what I'm looking to do." I needed to present something. So, I had to pay somebody money in order to do that. And all through the city, I do see things going up. like you said, I'm in that area. I try to keep an eye out and through the whole city.

Um, and I see things happening all the time and I feel like I've been waiting for 2 years to do it legally and right, you know, so it concerns me. Even Nine Beacon, they have a house. They had a garage with people living in the garage and then there's a small settle. They just built a brand new house. There's already no parking there. So, we have the area for parking and that's what I'm looking to do. I don't know, but I wanted the land. Thank you. Does that answer your questions or somewhat? Thank you. I appreciate it. Um, so council,

I think that's I I'm just trying to get a better understanding of of the of the discussion. I unfortunately did not I should have watched it. I did not watch the housing committee meeting to prep prepare for this. Um but I heard from the city attorney. I believe that was the main was that the only main concern chair it it could vice president.

It was but considering that um the property owner as as she's mentioned um she's unsure and she would like to hire like an architect to like give her some sort of like overview. um of potential ideas as to what would work. I'm wondering through the city attorney and uh director McCarthy if this passes what mechanisms does the city have in place to ensure that you know whatever future plans um that the property owner has through the sale uh through the city sale of this land that uh rules are being followed or that whatever it's being built. it is according to the the yard sale that we have in place.

Well, the yard sale conditions are contained in the deed. So, there are certain conditions. Some of them require um you to do uh landscaping. Some of them require you to do a um uh let me see, I have them right here. Okay. Uh the property you purchased through yard sale may be used for parking, green space or accessory use the primary residence. Construction of any kind except for those allowed for accessory use is prohibited. Um they have to merge the properties together. They have to do a deed within 30 days so that it becomes one lot. It doesn't become two separate lots. Uh they must clean and landscape the property within 60 days. uh they're going to have provide a landscape plan and they must submit if appropriate a storm water management. So this really wouldn't apply to the storm water management because as she has stated this is in the rear of her property and it goes to uh I wouldn't say granite but like a granite wall. So there's it's not flowing onto the city. It wouldn't flow onto any it would go back that way. So I don't believe that they would require that. that that that puts that on there and it makes sure that she you know she she has to record the deed merging the property within certain amount of time. Uh we look on it as far as buildings now that's the building inspector that's has nothing to do with the yard sale property whatever it's much the same as tomorrow if she wanted to build a garage she has to follow the rules that are in the building code and everything like that. Um you know just because people do things in Lawrence doesn't mean that we let them do it. Uh, a lot of people build out garages that are illegal. You know, a lot of people build apartments that are illegal. A lot of people put things. Um, it's the job of the inspectional services and the building department to find those and in and necessarily tell people to take them down.

So, there is no mechanism that we have in place. It's a matter of us having to reach out to ISD. No, but I'm saying, okay, so a year from now, she decides to want to build. Correct. Whatever the build is. I don't know. It could be a pool garage as you mentioned right a year later she makes the decision to plan this out. Um it is beholden to us to reach out to ISD.

No it's beholden to her before she before she can build a pool before she can build a shed. She has to submit plans and it has to have the proper setbacks. It has to be the proper height. It has to be a lot like you know you could just I always like making crazy things. She couldn't build a 200 foot tall high garage. You know, it just it would have to be there would have to be plans. It have there's height limits, there's width limits, there's you know, those are contained in our building codes. So, in order for her to get a permit, she would have to apply for that. Point of clarification if if I may, council vice president. Okay. I think so. Oh, sorry. Go ahead.

Thank you, council vice president. I think this might help a little bit to your long story short, yes. Um, I don't believe there is a process in place to find violations. I can give you an example again because it's happening right now. The Mount Vernon Street situation. Um, it was I live on that street. I see it every day. Something there was something I'm like this this seems a little funny. I couldn't pinpoint what it was. A constituent called me, made a concern about it, and then pinpointed what I was missing. So when I uh called the um the ICD dire or reached out to the ICD director and then him and the building commissioner went to the scene uh not to the scene but but to the residents to check it out. Uh the building commissioner came back to me and mentioned, "Well, C um counselor, this plan was submitted with just one parking garage, but when you pass by that construction, there are three massive like commercialsiz park uh garage openings that were not approved. So now they're trying to figure that out. Um you know, obviously a violation was was set and all of that, but we don't know if they're going to follow the rules. And sometimes it does take for us or constituents or whatever to make it known for us to make it known to ISD. I don't know if they're pl if they're working on on something, but also even if they did have a system in place, that still doesn't guarantee that the resident um the homeowner or the construction or whoever it is that that's, you know, that's that's doing the that's building these constructions or or whatever. uh it doesn't guarantee that they're going to follow what the city tells them or or or what our rules say. So I I know it doesn't answer your question, but that is a a real life.

It answers it. So there is but there isn't mechanisms is pretty much the gist of what I'm what I'm being told. Um if somebody follows the rules there is something but if people choose not to follow the rules then which is why it's beholden on us to then you know for

noatter no matter what you do there are people that are not going to follow the rules. No matter what you approve what you put in there I could I could you know tell people to do something and the next day they do the exact opposite. It's enforcement at that point. You make them tear it down. You make them tear it up. You make them remove it. I mean, my lasting remarks is I I I respect every counselor, especially a district counselor, if they have any um opinions uh regarding an item that's uh within their district. Um I I haven't heard anything um to which would make me not approve this. So, um I I'll respect the district counselor's opinion um and decision on how to move with this item. So any other comments or any other question?

If I may, I'll just motion one comment. Motion to approve. Oh, we no we we accepted the committee. Yeah, we accepted as a committee. So motion to approve. Motion. Motion is approved. Already second or in favor? Discussion. Discussion. This is this is a motion to approve the committee report, right? Uh, we already approved the committee report. We've already approved the committee report. Yes. No, I don't think we have. No. No. No. We haven't made the motion to accept the committee report and then it was discussion. Okay. Yeah. Okay.

We have to accept the committee. So motion to the committee report. Okay. So all those in favor now I any none? No. So the motion. Okay. So now the motion is to approve. Councelorium. Um I mean the motion councelor Ry is seconded and yes discussion.

Thank you uh council vice president. My last comment pertaining to this item is and thank you council marmmo for your comments. Um, I as I mentioned, I have worked with Kelly a lot and she is one of the first people to point out when there may be something wrong or when when there may be some contradiction within our laws or anything like that. So, I am confident that her and her family will follow city law and ordinances and zoning, which is why I have no problem voting in favor of of this item. Council,

thank you. Um, this is one of the first times that I can recall that we're actually dealing with a property that has a ADU compact. I realized there was some discussion by the petitioner this evening that says there was something else going on last year or two years ago. I don't recall the details behind that, but just the point that that that folks can take a look and say you've already voted in favor of stuff like that has an impact. Not only does it have an impact in a certain district, it has an impact citywide because once we start saying, "Yeah, it's okay for us to do something, others are going to say, well, if they can do it there, I want to do it here." And so, this is the first time that I can recall that we're having as much of a debate or a discussion as it relates to AedU, specifically as it relates to an ADU, as it with with respect to the yard sale program. I've got concerns. I've said my concerns to the housing committee and my concerns and it's it's one of the most I'm I'm trying to find the right verb here. Um one of one of the laws most recent laws that have really strongly negatively impacted our city is the accessory dwelling unit law. It is what that is what has happened with that law is we have care well care at one point we carefully designed zoning laws throughout the city but over the course of time those have been watered down a little bit but we want to have a single family R1's we want to have R2s with two families R3s and there was a time where that was what we had throughout the city and we wanted to make sure that we wanted to have a different feel for different neighborhoods with the ADU law for those of us who represent single family areas this is is going is causing havoc because you're essentially stripping away what was formerly an R1 and making something an R2. So when you move into a neighborhood and

say I just want to live in in a place where there's single families, that's where I want. That's what I want to live in. And now the state through through its through throughout the entire Commonwealth has decided that they're going to allow communities not allow allow individuals in the community to go ahead and make what would essentially be an R1 into an R2. And there's very little very little if anything that we can do at this point because it's a state law that allows us to go forward. So now what does all this mean on this little yard sale property where the petitioner has already said I'm not sure if it was I I think she said it before the housing committee my desire and she changed it a little bit tonight I think she wasn't sure what she wants to do but the but there is a but but she I we know that she wants to build an ADU if not on this property on her own private property she currently owns and the concern that I have is I what I don't want to do is I don't want to I respect our city. I don't want to see us go down this road. Every time we start chipping a little bit at it, just chipping a little bit more. Before you know, we're going to have the issues that we have throughout the city, whether it be parking issues, whether it be apartment issues, no matter what we are, we just chip a little bit and the integrity of what we have is diminished. So, in a normal circumstances where we don't have unlawful apartments throughout the city, where we're managing our growth, maybe ADUs would work and they would work well. And maybe in the scenario that's painted before us about this property owner potentially in in an RO1, maybe it would work. But not in our city in 2026, it will not work. So, I'm in a very difficult position on my vote this evening because if I vote yes in favor of this, I'm kind of saying, yeah, I know it's an is it's a it's it's a

yard sale and they and they can put a garage there or swimming pool, whatever, but they're not committed to doing that. The petitioner at any point, any petitioner can say, "I changed my mind. I'm going to be putting I want to put something for a family member or whatever. I want to sell it or whatever it is. I want to do something with a housing unit. So, that's the concern that I'm facing at this point. So, as it's a tough vote because the vote that we take tonight will will cascade into further votes down the road. And so, I'm probably not going to be supporting that this evening for for for those reasons. Not because I don't want to see the petitioner do well or have a quality of life. We all want to see that. And private property rights are paramount in our country. I get all that. But we also have the we also have to consider the impacts of growth in our city and that's what this vote to me is about.

Council vice president through you. Okay.

Thank you. I want to I agree with you uh my colleague from district F counselor Llant. I believe you and I I've mentioned this before. You and I especially you um has have been vocal about the domino effect of housing and and and parking and and all of that. um when it comes and I I'm going to add on to your to your comment, but when it comes to housing situations, yes, it affects the the entire city of Lawrence. Um I also believe though in addition to that, the city of Lawrence, every part of the city of Lawrence is different. Like there there may be a proposal to put housing where near where where the bridge was, where the fire was. Um, and we saw just how horrible traffic was with just that one delay or that one situation. Imagine putting 200 units or whatever. So, I also believe it depends on the area of the city of Lawrence. Um, what I'm hearing from the petitioner from Kelly, it sounds like she may be interested in in extending her house or putting a garage, but to your point, yes, uh, the the person has a liberty of changing that. at this point I'm not feeling that. Um I also there is the space there in that in that area which makes me a little bit more comfortable. Um but I do think when it pertains to housing and what we allow as a city, every area of the city is different. There's different traffic patterns, there's different amounts of people. Um and that's that's really that that should be the center of the decision- making when we're thinking about development or ADUs or etc. uh when it comes to the growth of the city. But yes, regardless of of how we handle it overall, eventually it does impact the city um as a whole and I I agree with you with that counselor.

Madam vice president, if I may, I don't want I don't want to clog this area. This is ADUs is completely separate from what's before you, but the senior advisor would like to talk to you about the ADUs for a second if you wish to. Yes, we have Mr. Mari over here, please. I'm talking about senior advisor. Oh, the senior advisor because I have Mr. Mario waiting on online too. You can let Okay. No,

I'll give the the opportunity to Mr. McCarti, but I just wanted to uh take just one brief moment uh to c uh to let the caution to caution the city council. Uh, sorry, Octavian Spanner, senior advisor to the mayor because this is not only to the applicant, but it's also our responsibility as city staff in um in making sure that when we have an applicant coming or is bidding that we don't send out mixed messages. The law is the law. State law is state law. where it's going to be seen as a sabotage. Uh to my understanding tonight, the applicant came and the applicant is not sure what they're going to do. So, uh to speculate what an individual is going to do and to prevent them the right, I think that is a fine line. It's a very, you know, it's ve it's a very dangerous president for someone to uh for for for you to make a decision based on on speculation. The other part is that if we have staff members dealing with the public, we need to make sure that we don't misinform an applicant based on your decision tonight. that we need to make sure that when we give an advice to the to our re recommendation if someone wants to apply for let's say a property similar to this that we give them the right information. So based on your vote tonight, then we need to know legally how is it that we are going to approach? Are we going to tell an applicant in the future don't apply because they're not the the chances are that they are not going to be approved or is it uh is their right based on state law if they apply for a property then tomorrow they want to have

an ADU. So I just want to caution that. And also if if your decision goes into negative, we need to know as staff members exactly what we going to tell other people, other applicants. Thank you. Thank you. I also have a another comment. Yes.

Well, I had one other thing to say only because of the Mount Auburn. Um the Mount Auburn was the same situation about a year ago and Frank Serillo was up here. Um and he said it was going to be a direct disposition to allow the Abata to expand and it said eventually on that section he was going to see if other neighbors wanted the land and to purchase it. So he's saying that to you guys there. Um, and they also said that they wanted a house for the mother, like a separate house. So, I did rewatch the meeting. On the November 7th meeting, councelor of the plan mentioned the ADU because that was already in the works for January 1st. So, that was already coming to you guys and all nine of you approved. And I'm not saying I'm going to be living in my house for the rest of my life, you know, and I'm not moving. I want it to be a nice area, too. I think I have enough land as it is now. And it would just be better if I needed a foot, two foot, or something different. And I don't even know if that's what I want after this. I said, I don't even know how I feel about it. Maybe I just want to put an ingground pool in or something. I honestly don't know. I need to find out costs and what I want to do, but a house is small right now, you know, for the amount of people and also the Frost School. I love the Frost. I love the kids, but my street is completely blocked at in the afternoon. I can't even get to my house. They try to work well, but I I have been in front of you guys many of times. So, I would like a garage in the back because I would like to get the cars off the street and get them back, you know, get them behind my house,

but nothing nothing's definite now. You know what I mean? So, I I just wanted to let you know my house is no different than your yes vote. You know what I mean? On Mount Auburn. And I did go back and watch, you know, so Um, I have uh Daniel McCarti in here, so I don't just Okay, Mr. Marti.

Mr. McCarti. Good evening. Good evening.

Yeah. raised my hand earlier. um thinking that um to make one comment on this um the this whole discussion about the ADU aspect of this I know is a different element but when Kelly approached our department looking to see if she could acquire the land we have weren't even talking about the ADU that came up um like she said in the last couple years but she approached us before uh this all happened to seek this um with interest in this property through the yard sale process. And I I had this discussion at the committee with um council president uh Giovani about what the the conditions were. And the conditions are that the property um that she'll acquire this property, it'll become part of her yard, part of her pro her primary residence, and it will remain so. and and she'll have all the rights that anybody else has um on on utilizing utilizing their yard. And that was always with the conditions that you could put a shed in or you could put a tennis court in, you could put a pool in, you could put a garage in, you could put any kind of building that we call accessory. I think the only the only conditions that changed in the last two years is the states now made a new um adaption to that uh idea about what accessory buildings are. And now they've added this accessory dwelling unit which is not a separate house that could be sold or a new property but it's a it's a it's a part of the primary residence and it's another apartment. Um, I don't

totally agree with the state law, but it is what what the law of the land. It's the law of the state and it is in effect. And again, Kelly approached us about acquiring this extra land behind her house, which has no other use to anybody else except for Kelly. And I and in my department, the school department, um, none of us saw any um any problem with this. Um, and we and I think she should have all the rights that any other property owner in the city would have in utilizing the yard. So that's uh those are my those are my comments. Thank you, Mr. Mate.

So, council member,

I'll be brief. Um, I just want to state for the record that none of us counselors were making assumptions or speculations regarding um the line of questioning that we were asking. We're going off of how the property owner um answer the question when asked what were her plans. There were moments where it she sounds undecided and there were moments where she would mention potential like ideas and based off based on how she answered, you know, the ADU did come into question uh because she did, you know, and correct me if I'm wrong, if I'm misspeaking, you you did mention potentially you moving, you know, you mentioned probably the kids living at the current uh property and then whatever the build is. um you know that's where you would potentially reside. So that opened up the questions that you know it's leading to to the discussions that we're having. So by all means we're not making any speculations and we're trying to make decisions that is going to cause a domino effect on other potential uh properties that may come before us regarding the yard sale uh policies. I have a question because to councelor Lelant's point, you know, I I also agree with his concerns. We all share the same concerns and the major difference, you know, I'm a big fan of ADUs. Um I think ADUs um alleviates the challenges that not only this city, it's like it's it's its initial uh statewide um with with the housing crisis that we're having and with the influx of of people coming into the city. Um, so I'm a big fan of ADUs, but I think where this issue, and I don't want to call it an issue, but why we're continuously talking about this item is because it's city-owned

property, what you're trying to buy. So, could Mr. McCarthy please remind us for the record as to how much the square footage would the property owner be purchasing this lot for? Mr. McCarti. Mr. Mari, are you there? Yeah, they asking you a question. Say that again. Mr. Madi, are you still there? It's a dollar a square foot. Yeah. Yes. Can you hear me?

It's already been answered, Mr. McCarti. Okay.

Thank you. And being that it's a dollar square foot is why we are debating this because again it is opening up a potential can of worms when um when we have uh future applicants um that are uh buying a a portion of city-owned property. Um could you answer the current policies that we have in place? Does it have any exclusions? because if it doesn't then I feel like until we don't you know that that's probably a a potential future discussion if we feel that we need to add exclusions. Um you know we're here debating. Um but I'm saying this should be like a potential further discussion at a later point in time. Um, if there is no exclusions to to to the conversation that we're having right now, then it's hard to say, you know, it's hard to to say no to something when we don't have something in place where it's saying that they are not allowed to do X, Y, and Z. I don't know if that makes any sense.

Okay, let me just explain and I'm going to do it in kind of base terms. Um, yard sale what it is is these are junk properties. These are properties that nobody wants. They're properties that are landlocked. There are properties that are abandoned. There are properties that can't be built on. And they just happen to be next to a neighbor who says, "Geez, I would like a rose garden. I I could use that property. I could park two cars on that property." If the property is of a certain size that the city is it's now buildable. We're not yard selling it. We're we would request we put it out for bid. Uh see, and get the most money. That's the object is is to make these non-t taxpaying properties. Meaning that this if the city owns it, we don't get taxes on it to try to get some tax benefit. At the same time, benefit some of the neighbors who just might like more land because land is tight here. So that that's the restriction is at some point if the land is nice enough, it's not yard sale. it it becomes and and as you see this one this one is you have all a street you have all houses then you have this strip running behind everybody and there's no access to the this it's too small for the city to use it's too small and it's the topography is I and again I'm not an expert but I believe it's all granite and rock in there so so that's that's the restrict it's more the restriction on once you get to a certain size and once you get to a certain value it's no longer yacht council vice president.

Okay, council.

Thank you. Um, since Mount Auburn keeps getting mentioned, I just want to provide some clarification because that's also in my district. When Mount Aruburn came before uh the city council and it was going through the housing committee, that item was tabled for a while and it was primarily because of me asking all these the same type of questions we're asking tonight. Um was what I was asking back then and ultimately we ended up getting the answers and ultimately it passed. Um I do want to emphasize though uh especially to senior advisor uh Spanner. Well, first I I want to I I want to ask you, do you remember when you were looking for commu community members to serve for the community committee for the LRA that I said to you, I'm sending you someone from district E that's you know she's tough. She she's going to ask the questions and she that that is that is Kelly. That was Kelly. Uh so like I mentioned, I know she follows the rules. However, there is and I agree there is a worry how we as a city ensure that whatever ADU plans or whatever the case may be is presented to the city is approved that homeowners or or property owners are following those rules because again we're seeing it happen right now with the with the construction on Mount Vernon Street. I think that's something to take back to the mayor and to the directors. I don't know if they already periodically check out projects in in construction to ensure people are following what what was approved. Um, and if they're if they're not doing that already, we should do that. And uh hopefully we can get some type of process in place to just ensure that people are following what what they should be following.

Yeah. Sorry through you uh vice chair.

Thank you. the there was a a period in which the city all cities um and I think maybe fortunate in some communities are unfortunate uh like the city of Lawrence even though we have do have the need because we're we we differ in an opinion but we didn't have a chance to discuss all these challenges that we're going to have because of the state law and I think uh uh Mr. McCarthy uh said it well. Now we are confused. Um now based on the questions that you have, how are we going to deal with it? This was not a debate. This was not going to go back and forth. Remember how I started? I caution the city council because we deal with the public. They come before you, but we cannot send mixed messages. What we can do maybe when this these ADUs uh when we going to re-evaluate ADUs in in the se several uh communities we can say well to the state these are the situations that we have encountered parking we have some other communities doesn't have issues with parking uh and it's going to continue to be a problem in in Lawrence until we come up with with sound solutions and part of it is also situation like these We didn't predict that we were going to have situations uh a situation like this, but it is and and once again it was not to admonish or criticize the city council. I'm cautioned that what we are going to tell what Dan McCarti is going to say as from a planning director when someone would like to apply or what is the message that we're going to give. That's all.

Right. But uh Advisor SP my my comment is to go back to the administration and if we don't have a process to make sure that the plans that individuals are presenting to the city of what the construction is that we come up with something that we are somewhat to an extent monitoring to making sure that all right they are building what what it was that they presented to the city because to your point it's a state law. It's a state law. You have that right. Right. But are they doing what they presented to us as well?

And you have cases that came before not long ago uh within less than two years in which uh you have people that have received land and they came before you for the use for one use and they changed it.

And we observing that as well. So what's good for the goose is good for the gander. So we we cannot as staff members as from the executive branch have employees misguide or give the wrong information because otherwise we're going to open a can of warm and we have to check all the decision that has been previously made while having the ad ADU law passed. So that's my concern on behalf of the administration. Thank you. So, council plan, thank you.

Yeah, there is a motion uh to approve and already second. So, council plan.

Thanks. So, well, thank you, Madam Chair. So, this conversation's requiring me to re-evaluate the yard sale program. And so as we're as we're and I realize what's before us right here is a small parcel and a small part of the city dealing with one individual, but as you as we as we I think we all know it's more than just that. Yes, the vote tonight is on one thing, but the vote tonight also goes beyond that. So I need to reevaluate and as I'm thinking about this more deeply, I'm think and I I'm thinking about what the special adviser said, uh Mr. Spanner said, and I think he's he's he's he's right. Uh we need to figure out what we're doing on here. And um it's it's it's a hard place. So where where I'm leaning today, what's today's date? February 17th, 2026. Where I'm leaning today is this. I'm leaning today that if I get a yard sale in an R1 because that's where the ADUs are predominant, that's going to be for me a place where I'm saying I don't I'm leaning against it. I'm going to be strong leaning against it. If it's a yard sale in a two or three or two or three area where the where the ADUs are not cannot be there then I'm probably more amendable to saying okay yeah and two two or three you're not going to be building another structure because what my concern is and and thank you um my my colleague in from South Lawrence is is I do have a concern with the number of cars how difficult was it to get here tonight for example how difficult has it been during the snow emergencies that we've been facing ing how difficult how many schools have we had to build and and they're telling us that's not enough space for our students today how many more how many more and when I say chipping away ones and twos ones and twos and the LRA has got lots of things on the docket that they want to get

through a very ambitious agenda and they're looking to create a lot of housing and I think tonight we might be doing doing more housing tonight potentially so I think that's where I'm leaning on this and I realize it's a state law and we can't do anything to change the state I may be putting a resolution before this council to send something into our legislature saying what the impact is to our city and asking them as a legislature to revisit this issues in cities like Lawrence. We cannot be dealt with in Lawrence like they can do in in Northampton or somewhere in Newton or Andover at the Lowels, the Lawrenes, the Holios, we're different. Wait a second. You're standing up. Did I say something wrong? Yes. I just want to correct you on one thing. ADUs go everywhere.

Yes. Oh, wait a second. If it's a two or a three, an ADU is not going there. If it's two and a three, the garage is being an ADU. The attic is being an ADU. The seller is being ADU. So, when a two and a three comes behind you, don't say, "I'm not doing a yard sale because they can't do an ADU. They can do an ADU." Well, let's the name of the accessory dwelling unit, not a car parking unit. It's a dwelling unit. And so when they when they say dwelling unit, it needs to h it needs to be habitable. You need to have a structure where somebody can live. So if you're just building a garage for a car for a car and you you make it habitable, you can make it an ADU.

If but but when you do make it habitable, that's where I believe the change is when the legislature and the governor sign this into law. Again, my only point was two two and three poor families can have ADU. So when you said two and three come before me, they they can't get an ADU. they can get.

I think through all due respect, attorney, I think that that's arguable because when the law was first originally written, it was directed toward toward R1's. I think the law, if you look at the language of the law, I think that's where it was. I think there are some, and I'm not saying they're wrong, I think there are some that are extrapolating going beyond that to R2s and R3s. But anyway, the long and the short of it is I can tell you right now, R1's for sure. What you're telling me right now is I keep the door open for R2s and R3s. I think that's what I'm hearing. So anyway, long and the short of it. And finally, Madam Chair, in the ordinance committee now, currently, there is an item before the ordinance committee that I put on there a couple years ago dealing with the ADUs wanting to bring the ISD director back to let us know how many applications, how many permits. I would invite the ordinance committee to take advantage of that document within the committee and find out what the update is on how many more units have been have been what where is the growth and we'll see if it's an R2s and R3s as opposed to just R1's. We'll see how that how that's playing out. Thank you.

Thank you. Councelor Councel Pr did you remember the number of that uh item? Really smart. Not that okay thank you. So, but I'm going to I'm going to look it for for that item. Thank you so much. Um, so right now we have a motion to approve and already second. All those in favor? I I I any Okay. Roll call, please.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Counselor Rosario as absent. Counselor Selena. Yes. No. Okay.

Oh, so sorry. So, I'm missing one. Oh, n Sorry. Vice President. Yes. So two motion carry. So most carry. Thank you so much. All right. So council, let's continue with the housing committee. So we have item 2826. So,

item 2826, declaration of surplus property 15A Boston Street, map 73, lot 2-1 under the home equity protection act. This was discussed in the housing committee meeting and um was submitted to the full council. Give me one second. 28 26 with the favorable recommendation. I submit that to you in the form of a motion. So um it's already second um discussion

discussion um let me see there were items obviously uh given the discussion that we had um at the housing meeting uh there were certain uh pieces of information that the committee had requested um to which I believe was received today. Um, correct for both for both. Obviously, we're not there because we split the items in uh in half. Um, I received I received that email today. I want to make sure that all the members uh all the members received that email. Um but um I just wanted to state for the record given the fact that I received uh these items today I I have a preference of when receiving information to at least minimum 24 hours in order for me to review those documents before making decisions

submitted to I already submitted as a form of a motion your formal motion. So all those in favor motion to our I would like to make a motion to table. Councelor Infante, may I make a request? I am here for the limited purpose of informing you what notice we gave the homeowners. If I could possibly put that on the record right now, I wouldn't have to come back. Okay. Discussion. So, but before Sorry. Well, that was omitted as a formal motion. Okay. So, But I also would like to let me withdraw that motion.

Okay. So motion is already withdraw. No, my motion is okay. So we I withdraw the motion to table so that we can go into discussion for discussion city attorney. The underlying motion was to approve the under and I had requested to pass and I requested to withdraw my motion. Okay. So now we need a motion. Motion to discuss. I have to make a a motion to approve the document and that to be able there will be a table later but I have a motion to discuss motion to discuss this document. Motion to approve.

Okay. So already second. So now discussion. Second.

Um table. When we were at the committee meeting, and rightly so, one of the concerns of the committee is, and again, I hate to insert my opinion, but the ridiculousness of the fact that this house is worth $240,000 and we're going to be taking it for about $10,000. Um, but if somebody ignores paying their taxes, they ignore paying the taxes. So, the committee said, "Well, what notice have you given them? We really want to provide what notice you're giving." So, I'm going to go into it. Um, in 2020, we called her at her at her um and emailed her and requested a payoff. She returned to us and said she would pay it. In March of 2020, we emailed her with a breakdown. In September 2020, we emailed her again. She now wanted a different payoff. In 2020, we emailed her back. In 2024, she called back again. So, there was a period of four years. She never contacted us saying she's much in a better place. Can we give her another payoff? We gave her a payoff. Um, in that's true for all parties. At the same time, she hasn't paid the taxes since 2020. Every year, she gets four tax bills directed to her. All of which say you are in tax deficit. Please contact us to pay your bill. Not only does she not pay the current tax bill, she doesn't pay the rear rear tax bill. She has 35 days from the due date. We inform her of the the due date. We inform her of the fact that there is um uh interest being added. Once we filed this, she was served by the court with a citation in 2024, 25 u February of 25, May of 25, September of 25, October of 25, October of 25, and March of 26. In addition, my office has sent directly at least three letters informing her because again, we don't want to take the

property. We want her to pay her taxes of her to pay it. She has ignored all those qu all those notices. So, far from not being a notice, I would say there's almost 40 notices that has been sent to the homeowner just telling her, "Please pay your taxes. Please contact us, make arrangement to pay your taxes or do something." All of which we've seen there today have no response. And in addition, it was also published in the paper. So I I just want to get that off. That's as far as I go. You can t as far as tableabling. Let me just say one more thing. We are already out of compliance on this property. Uh this property was judgment was declared in October. It's a new procedure as you are understand. Um, we are, the city council is supposed to make a recommendation within 30 days of whether to keep the property or sell the property. Um, you can do the simple map. October, we're well over that period. So, you're tableabling it. Normally, if we were close, I would tell you please don't table because you're you're in violation of the statute, but we're in violation of the statute anyways.

Thank you, council vice president. Um, I would like council B. I'm sorry through you. Um, I appreciate you going through the details. However, there were several things that were requested and my biggest frustration and honestly is a pet peeve of mine um is to receive information the same day that we're having a meeting. And despite the importance, like I get certain items are super important. There's deadlines, but you're nobody's going to put pressure on me to make a decision to approve anything because I'm not suggesting.

No, no, no. I know. I'm just I'm speaking out loud. I'm speaking out loud and I'm not trying to imply that, but and which is why I'm saying I understand there's going to be certain items where we we're going to have to have some discretion and we'll have to make decisions on the spot. But you know there were certain things that were requested and then based on the information that you provide it may lead to other questions. So like because of that it's like I don't I don't feel comfortable or sometimes I feel like this pressure of having to make decisions um in a favorable recommendation that I am not comfortable. You know what I mean? Like there and I just wanted to state you know and again thank you Charlottette for all your hard work. I I understand it's not easy. Um, as counselors, we're, you know, every counselor has their needs and there's we all have different perspectives on how we see certain items. So, I may request one thing and then another counselor is asking you something completely different and it's going to require different things to satisfy uh the line of questions. Um, but just for the record, you know, these were the housing committee uh requests of information. It was RFPs of all the um it was uh which is it's attached to the email and it is attached to this memo um of all the RFPs that were submitted uh for this property for this item and the next item because obviously it's divided in two uh all the methods of contact which is not attached like I know you said it was over 40 but uh

and I'm happy again with this the method with you know so like the dates whether it was via letter whether it was a phone call I understand so again I'm not seeing how those methods of contact before we're making a decision that as this as a city were taking over I I understand so I'm not seeing the methods of contact uh right I'm not seeing that and then the real estate task force process of recommendation so excluding that but you know this is information again that as I'm receiving uh it may lead to other questions and I and that I'm being robbed of an opportunity of asking those questions once I approve it.

Okay? And I'm more than happy since this matter is being tabled of putting everything in writing that I just said to you today. Unfortunately for me, the I am not the attorney that does the taxings nor has information and that that was provided to me this afternoon at 3:00. So you're getting as fresh as I'm getting those dates. So and again that was the only task that was assigned to me. I understand that you have many more things that you don't feel you've gotten. I was just trying to have more just give you my perspective. If if you say, Tim, I want you to come back uh next meeting even though you submit this, I'm happy to do with the council.

Okay. So, practically you got the information at the same time that we already have it. So, and we are requesting at least 48 hour just to get the information that we ask at the labor. I agree with you of the committee. We don't work here. She council Monte has burned that into my head many times. Thank you. Motion to to table item 28-26. Second. So motion to table already second. No discussion on motion to table. All same. Okay. All those in favor?

I I anyone say I have it. So items uh 2926 declaration of the surplus of 15B Boston Street. So practically the second part of the Mr. President I make a motion to table item 29-26 as well as second. It's the same thing. So already okay motion to table item 2926. No discussion on motion to table. So all those in favor I know they I have it. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Seleni. So, uh, ordinance committee, we have, uh, item 18525 council, uh, through your council, vice president. Uh, we did, uh, have, uh, two items for from the ordinance committee. We have items 185-25 handicap parking 136 on 136 Davis Street and it was send up uh as a to withdraw and I make this as a formal motion

second. So motion to withdraw iron 1852 a park on 136 DBS3 by uh councelor vice president um and Rodriguez or in favor I I so the um any I have item 34 26 yes item uh 3426 uh to remove handicap parking signage at 3 Cor Street. Uh it was sent up to order a public hearing and I make this a formal motion. Second

any so item 3426 uh remove a handicap parking that is the signage the handicap parking that is going to be removed. No yes the signage. Yes. Okay. So already second. All those in favor? I discussion. Any discussion?

So any I have it. Thank you. Council. So the next uh personnel committee item 4026 council thank you um personnel committee we have one item item 40-26 the confirmation to appoint Adonis Rodriguez Ramirez to the Lawrence Redevelopment Authority and we sent it up with a as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. Wait, was it a committee? Let me just double check this. That was a committee report. I'm sorry.

I believe it was it was a committee report. Hold on just one second. I'm trying to find the document. But I don't see it here. It's a favor. It's a It's a committee report.

Sorry, my apologies. because I withdraw my favorable recommendation motion and I will like to fix it and say uh we sent it up as a committee report and I make that as a formal motion. So the the item it was made as a committee report and uh and the motion by council infant already second by council rees council reyes discussion discussion discussion

yes through you council vice president the committee wanted to hear from Thank you. The committee wanted to hear uh well, first we had questions uh regarding membership in the LRA right now. What's going on with the LRA? Um pretty sure this is a two-year uh membership for each boards, but we just wanted that confirmation. And secondly, we just didn't have any representation from the mayor's office or the L in support of his nomination. Uh through you, Vice President.

Yeah. Uh vice president. um uh Levy um through you um you're in the personnel committee I think it's uh councelor in the chair

have requested I saw it v via video I was I was present uh but I was not um online to do that I called the uh HR director to inform her uh once again I apologize for that but you folks know here that That's not uh my habit unless uh there's a pressing issue or uh there's a personal issue that I need to attend. Uh but based on your request uh uh committee chair infante counselor um you requested also the chair to be here.

Um I can uh briefly state that the uh mayor submitted the name of um Mr. Adonis um uh Ramirez uh to be uh nominated tonight. Um it went through the committee and uh concerning the status of different board members, we were waiting uh because there was an election season. It didn't make any sense at that time and we made the recommendation to the the mayor uh not to appoint any additional person until the results of the election. now that he's been rehired and I think that's the best way to proceed um to have um you know new uh new board members or in this case we have one vacancy and also the remaining members that also need to be confirmed but we will discuss that during our uh L meeting board meeting tomorrow but

that was I'm sorry to interrupt you so that was one of the questions how many vacancies there's one currently that if he is confirmed will He he'll be um resuming. Yes, that's correct.

Correct. So, I would um uh just as a brief introduction uh to the uh whole body um Mr. Donis Ramirez is uh well known in the community. Um he's been uh very active u in recent years. I could say during the four years in the beginning we didn't know each other or basically we haven't worked but um Mr. Ramirez has been very uh an advocate for uh the difference establishments uh within the downtown area in terms of policing uh public safety related issues and also how we can uh revitalize our downtown. Uh in fact recently as he uh informed the the committee he has purchased another u uh business within the downtown area and during the course of the in in recent years two or three years we have been um discussing based on his particular interest what changes we can you know uh see within uh not only the business district but within the boundaries.

What do you mean by his particular interest? because we're talking about a qua a quanzi governmental board. It's not about one individual interest. It's about what's better for the overall city. No, that's correct. That's what I meant. And sorry for misunderstanding, but let's make it clear. We're talking about the redevelopment authority, right? And the urban renewal plan that has been approved since 2016, right? But again, it's it's for the benefit that plan was approved and that committee was developed for the benefit of the overall community. So, I just want to make sure that that community, the city of Lawrence as a whole is the is a primary focus, not individuals or not particular individual groups. We're doing this work for the betterment of the city of Lawrence.

I think you misunderstood what I said and I'm going to Madam Chair, let me clarify. Any individual within the community has the right to express their vision for the community. We are not going to curtail at least from uh the mayor's office or the executive branch. We're not going to do that. If someone comes in as a volunteer or wants to work within the community, it's obvious that they're going to express and that's not what I intended uh to convey tonight that that's his that was his his interest to advocate for because he's a business person

and obviously the boundaries of the um the urban renewal plan covers most of the the downtown area,

right? Uh either ways um I think he's a very outstanding uh community member and also as a uh as a business person. He participated also actively in the recent um uh C. Lawrence festival uh collaborating with the downtown association and uh the mayor felt that and felt comfortable in making nominating him uh for the uh to be presented before you. And I would like to you know leave the chair as well if you have any questions um to the council further question including himself

if I may. uh vice president. I think the the overall census for the personnel committee was usually we have the chair of the boards in support um or not they still show up uh they give their point of view they give us a a slight update of what the board is we know what the L is doing but you know how how the vacancy affects positively or negatively you know things like that as you know um so that was the missing component uh but to advisor Spanner's point many of us do know uh Mr. Ramirez. So I felt like there wasn't a need to hold this when we could um fill in the blanks at the full council.

We would be excited to have him join us and continue the work that we've been doing. There is a vacancy. Uh he is a great candidate, a terrific candidate to fill that vacancy at this time. Okay. What makes him a terrific candidate and you're as a chair? Well, he's invested in the city. he's made, you know, this is this is where he makes his money. This is where he lives. This is where he will continue to contribute. So, that's very important moving forward. Um, as we all do on the L. Thank you. Thank you, madame vice president. Any other question from the council? Um, council. Okay.

Thank you. So I'm not sure who to ask. Uh I I've heard that there is uh that he's he is filling in a seat. Someone has left. Who is who has left the to create the vacancy?

Sarah Perez resigned. So he will if if if uh if appointed and and confirmed by the council, he will complete the rest of Miss Perez's term. Yes. When does the term expire? I believe it's another year, but I can confirm that.

Yeah, that's important because what I've seen in the council over my years here is that there's been overlap of things and then there's confusion. Uh people are saying that's not my term, I have this term, and all of a sudden you've got this real challenge about whose term is who's filling out. And it's it's really important that when we get these, Mr. Spanner and uh they come down to us that we have the the term and and the um and who they're replacing so that there's no confusion as to who's being. Yes, I do believe that we do. We've have requested that information um before the election which we have a list that we can share with you.

Um but uh to come here and you know misinform I don't want to do that. Uh I believe it's a year that it's um it's vacant. I mean it's it's the term the end of the term. Okay. That he be filling that he will be filling. Yes. Sure. And just as we all know um when the term expires an individual can serve until an appointment is done. So even though the term will expire a year from now if if confirmed this evening Mr. Ramirez that proper Mr. Ramirez will continue on until until some either he gets reconfirmed or or he leaves or whatever. So he can continue on for some time.

Yes. But uh through you uh madame vice chair the what we're trying to do is do it correctly. So when a term expires uh we'll come before you whether to reconfirm or if there's a new applicant or if there's a resignation. Sure. But we didn't want to, as I said before, we didn't want to make any decisions or present any candidates before you uh because it it would been you know taken away uh any vision or plan in the event there was a new mayor. So the best uh option was to to wait. We didn't want to have the same experience that we encounter uh previously.

And I and I respect that and I appreciate that. That's that is good government. So thank good kudos to to your approach of that on that issue. Uh my question is to Mr. Ramirez specifically. Yes.

So Mr. Ramirez, so the L I'm not sure how much of the L you've been following uh since you've been active in the city. Uh but but there's when I think of the L today, I think of two things. Um actually three things, but two things that are pertinent here. Uh, one is the tremendous amount of work that the L has put together to try to build and try to do to reestablish a um um many of the empty parcels and parking lots and underutilized spaces uh in the city. Uh that's one thing that I think of. And the second thing that I think of is the lawsuit uh that's before the city based on the city uh on the disagreement between uh the LRA and the city council with respect to a vote that was taken I think in 2016. Thank you. Regarding that. So there is actually we are in a very potentially latigious place where there's a disagreement on the council's authority as it relates to the L and the administration's authority. And so I just wanted to get your sense um on on that on that issue.

We asked a similar question during Yes. I was here last Tuesday and I heard about that and I replied to them that I think everything in life is sometimes is like that we got to get into a conversations and take the best solution for the city. When I I thought when Mr. Tavian was talking about me he was kind of presenting me but uh we had a conversation of what I want uh for this city because I've been in the city for 10 years now and I definitely want the best for for for for the development of the Lawrence.

All right. I'm not really sure I anyway I didn't get a direct answer on that and I can appreciate that if I may a point of clarificate just if I may sorry thank you sorry uh councelor the plante sorry I just want to um let you know for the uh personnel committee the question that we asked was how would Mr. Ramirez handle political pressure coming from the administration and the the city the city council be due to this to the uncertainty of this of the current situation until a decision is made and um he answer I think if you remember it was the same that you asked

you could you could answer that you were appointing that's where you're getting tensioning between the city councils and the

I I I well my thought was a little different to be honest with you my thought was not necessarily although I respect the the questioning from the personnel committee. I wasn't I'm not asked the point of my question wasn't whether or not there'd be undue influence on you. Uh that that wasn't the question. My question is we there's what is your position as it stands right now with a with the body that you want to be a part of that's got a lawsuit against the city including this body. You now want to be a part of that. Now my question to you is now that you if you want to be a part of that, what what are your feelings about that? Do you think that the L I mean, do you think that the city council made the right decision and that our decision matters back in 2016? Do you have any thoughts on that? Uh, just a second.

So, so there's a lot of things he's not privy to because he's not on L yet. So, I think that the potential for him to get up to speed if confirmed by you is there, but there's, you know, he would just be having opinion based on not necessarily having the facts at this time. But he could have us have an opinion. Well, he certainly the the document is a public document. Um, yeah, I got to dig into the document. I got to uh learn everything that has happened and then

uh I think I can uh put something into it like I can help to find uh the the right decision that we have to make and the solution the in between the the party involved like the the one that sue us the city I mean the everything is the I see I see life like that. We have situations and we got to find out the way to get through it. Yeah. And I'm asking you a tough question and I and I realize it because you know the the the appointing authority is here and I understand the the relationship and so I but these are the tough questions and we had a very tough question ADU before that wasn't that wasn't easy. So we're constantly facing tough questions and I want to see if you're able to rise to that level to be able to take the independent stand. You can agree you can disagree whatever it is as long as it's has the amount of thought given into it. I know the chair I want to welcome the chair to our to our council. Um um I know that you know that you don't you're not privy to all the details u but oftentimes as the you know as my colleague from district mentions you know you can have an opinion on that. Let me ask you a different question but related. Uh there is a propensity there is a desire through the L today to really look at and and the documents are there to show that they're looking to create literally thousands of units through multiple properties. I think the number is 13 1300.

And so it's a big spike, right? And so when you're on the L, you're going to have the the option and the authority to look at proposals and say, "Yes, I want I think that's a great idea. I want to see more housing. I want to see more mixed development. I want to see more business. I want to see more commercial." Um, you live in our city now. You've lived in our city now, you said, for 10 years. Yeah. So you lived here for 10 years. you have a pretty good flavor about what we're facing. What are your thoughts about having more housing in our city? I have two two business here in Lawrence and I maybe I'm I'm like think I'm maybe I'm thinking a little bit forward. Uh I think you're talking about parking spot that we have some issues with.

Well, I I mean all those things are ancillary to answer your question. I want to know you're going down the right path. I mean when you have housing, you have parking. If you have housing, you need schools. If you have housing, you need snowplow and trash pickup and kids to go to school. When you have housing, you've got lots of needs. So, my question to you is when you're thinking of housing, is that something that you're looking at and trying to further when you're on the L? Any thoughts on that?

Uh, maybe I can ask answer the way that I uh I'm I'm not I'm going to talk a little bit about me. I'm an industrial engineer. What you need to do as an industrial engineer is like find the the the right solution for the process. You got to evaluate everything because uh maybe there's they can be like a big investor that want to put a lot of money in Lawrence but maybe that investment can damage the society the people that lives in different houses. We gota we gota we gotta we gotta study the the the projects if it's and if that project is good for the city and we gota make everybody understand that is the right decision to take then I think we're going to have to move forward with any decision that can do well for the city.

Well listen you should be a city councelor because you didn't answer my question. and you do a very good job of

very good. Another question, I didn't get much information, but it was very good. Whatever is best for the city is what I'm going to be voting for. But that's what we were all doing. That's what we all do. We all vote for what's best for the city, but what I think is best for the city. My colleague earlier this evening made a mention. She said to my colleague from District D, who I love and respect, says, "I love ADUs, right?" And she explained why. And I'm thinking to myself, "I hate ADUs." But she loves him because she loves the city. I hate them because I love the city. You know what I'm saying? So we can both come from a different place because you have your point and I heard

you have your phone and you were you were explaining your point and they were explaining their the their position. That's the way life is. It's not like it's not like that I want to do something and that needs to be done. I think I think that like that uh and plus in the in the society you got to take the decision that that is better for the society not just for one person. And that's how I see the things. Okay. I think I'm I'm I'm thankful.

This is just a committee report. Wait till we start dealing with whether or not we should approve you. That's going to be a whole different discussion. But um I guess my my Did you ask to be a part of that? I mean I I think I heard this. Did you did you look at all the different things? This is where I want to go. This is I want to be on this. Or were you approaching say you said I think this is a good spark. Have you thought about doing which what was the approach on

for like 50 years ago cuz uh like I told you uh all of you I've been part of the of Lawrence. I definitely want to be part of uh the decision maker of of the city cuz I want to live here for uh forever and I want my business to succeed and I want I want the other businesses to succeed because I want the city to succeed. And then I think that uh um thanks God uh I'm not looking for like uh personal profit or nothing like that cuz uh uh I think I have done so well and then I'm trying to to be part of the decision like I say cuz I think that I can uh I'm going to I'm going to put my points uh definitely leading to the what I think is going to be the best uh the best way to do it, the best way for the for the whole community. That's how I think.

Last question. Thank you. Last question is this. And this is a harder question if you can believe that. Um you're the owner of of ADICA. That's what I think it says on your and on andu now. Um I need to ask this question. uh before the licensing board, has you have has you or your organization come up for any kind of disciplinary actions before the licensing board? Yeah, I've been to the uh in front of the board. Yes. Have has has there been a negative determination um about your business?

Uh once Yes. Uh yes, we can say yes. One of them. Yeah. Can I don't want to go into the nuts and just generally what was it? Was it overcrowding? Was it over serving? Was it a fire issue? What what just generally what it was? It's another thing that's why I want to be part of the uh

decision maker because I my understanding is something that is not that clear. Sometimes when you have the the the type of business that I have, there's some issues that can happen outside the the the premises after you end up your your hours of operation. And sometimes it's not that clear uh what are what are the actions that needs to be taken to the to a business when something happens uh in the street after you close and after everybody's outside. Thank you madam chair. Thank you Mr. Rirus. Thank you. Thank you.

Okay. Um I have a question for you. So I know that you want to be you are a businessman that you had a couple of restaurant that you wanted to be a decision maker in the city part of the decision maker. Well part of the decision maker. Okay. So but who are you? Can you tell us a little bit about you?

Well uh I'm a human being that that wants the best for not just for me but for everybody. That's how I see myself. uh I don't look myself as I'm happy if the other one is doing bad and I'm doing well and that's why I want to be part of the of the of the board. Uh well I can add I'm an I don't know if that that is something that uh is uh worth it to say but I'm an industrial engineer. Uh I've been doing what kind of engineer you are? Industrial engineer.

Oh industrial engineer. Okay. I study I think in the toughest university of Dominican Republic. Uh what else I can say? Uh for how long are you in the city of Lawrence? For how long I've been here? More than 10 years in September. It's going to be 10 years. So did you came directly from Dominican Republic? Yeah, I came directly. Yeah. Okay. I came because of a an opportunity to buy the the the business. Uh I I didn't come here like for no other reason than to invest if I can say that. If I can add a question, what you will doing at the Dominican Republic?

Uh I have businesses over there. Yes. Uh few few businesses. Uh mainly uh the gambling business. I have a lot of branches over there. From where? From where? Oh, it was all around the the country. Many many branches. Many like 237. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I think um nobody else has questions. I actually just thought of a question if I may. Uh council vice president. Okay. I want to make sure any other colleagues that have not spoken.

Okay. at the end. Okay. No more question. No more discussion. Yeah. Yes. But I just want to I don't want to go before. Okay. That's important. Okay. I just um can you refresh our memory? Um Chair Walker, how many members do we currently have on the L? Uh currently we have four. This will make the fifth. This will make the fifth. Okay. And um what are their professional backgrounds? Uh I'm an educator. Educator. Um

our sec our treasurer is also an education. Um and then the other two they're they're businessmen in the city. Okay. Thank you. I just um obviously with with development Yeah. Um, we heard it earlier how our schools, like we just built two brand new schools and before before they were even done, they were already at capacity. And I just want to make sure that the L board is diverse that we are hearing different voices, not just the business owners, but you know, all of these factors should be taken. I think we're mirroring the same the same impetus.

It is it's not good to have the same type of person, and we're definitely very diverse. And this would also add to the diversity and another voice because having five people, you have to have five people that agree on these things. Um, and I think adding the other another person would be good at this point. So, thank you. I have a question for you. Don't go away. Okay. So, do you have a more vacancy at the at the L? No. So we're we're a five person board club. Five person. It's a five person board. Just only the five person. So exactly.

All right. Okay. Thank you. So we had a motion to accept as a committee report. That was already second. Okay. But I want to say thank you uh thank you Mr. Romero for decide to Rodriguez. Rodriguez. I have both. I apologize for that. He got both. He got both. Uh last Rodriguez. Rodriguez. First one. Yeah.

First one is Rodriguez. uh you know thank you for your interesting to to serve it through through this kind of committee because I think it's really important to have a strong uh decision when we talking about uh what is the project to to moving forward to development of our city we need to thinking in consideration what my colleague mentioned about you know uh I I'm very passionate to to be uh more developing affordable housing But my college is not supporting on that too much. But I I I think it's really important to uh to create a great uh component because when we develop a new affordable housing or new commercial uh commercial spot, we need to take in consideration too. We need more uh parking lot. We need more school around because we need to take in what is the big project coming up. Uh at the same time what we need as a community as you get uh I want to say thank you for your interesting to serving through this committee.

Thanks to you say now my present now can I say all right so motion to approve. Wait wait wait. Just it's already okay. So we already uh have it as a committee report. It's already also accept the committee report. So okay motion to accept the committee report. All in favor? I. So uh anyone so there is a motion now to approve the confirmation for the appointment of Adoni Rodriguez. Motion. No one has made the motion yet. Okay. Motion to approve.

Second. All in favor? Discussion. Discussion. No discussion right here. Just real quick. I took a lot of my time. I just want to know your approach after you get into the It looks like you'll be confirmed this evening. As when you get into the L, what's your approach with the city council? I mean, there's a lot of crosspollinization between things that the L wants and the things that the city council may have a policy decision on. What's your I what's your approach on that as far as communication back and forth whether with the chair or with yourself? Do you have any preferences? Are you open to that? Oh, I'm a little bit confused confused with the question, but uh

Oh, sure. How I'm how I'm going to approach how Let me repeat and I'm sorry. My my question is this is that there may be times that I might have a question or maybe one of my colleagues may have a question or want to talk to you about an issue that you're currently dealing with at the OA. Are you open for that kind of conversation with whether I can only speak for myself with me and perhaps others uh to have a conversation about something that's that's before before the board. Are you open to having that kind of conversation? I

I ask you because uh it kind of the same answer for me. uh the the same answer that I'm going to tell you and you were like a little bit confused with my with my answer definitely because uh we need to talk about decisions that that are going to be made in the cities. I see the city as a as a as a group of people a society that lives in here and I cannot come here. I cannot get mad if you have a different point. If I if I think that something needs to be done, I got to I got to tell you the what I have in my mind, what I have what I have researched and why I think that's the that's the proper thing to do. You got to tell me what you have in your mind and then we're going to have to have a conversation. And if it's not some if it's if it's something that is not good for the city, definitely I won't I won't feel bad bad. I won't be mad. No. Yeah. So, I'm willing to have conversation who with all of you. I see you.

Any other questions? Councelor or any other discussion? So, the motion is already approved already. Second. All those in favor? I know. Motion already approved. Thank you so much to all of you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, chair, council. Oh, we have I'm sorry. Oh, so the next Okay, we don't have any more old business.

Okay, can you hold on one second? Hold on one second. So, there is no public safety report. There is no economy development report. There is no committing of the whole report. So all business. So item 47925 is the appropriation of funds of 1 million for the Eskeamari design phase. I request a motion to reaffirm the item 47925 with a specific language that requested by the estate council infante. Thank you. Um, as a vice chair mentioned, uh, we've received communication from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, uh, requesting that we reaffirm, um, or revote on this item in three parts. And they provided specific language that we must read into, um, into the the record, uh, when we take this vote. So, that's what we'll be doing. Um right now uh as vice vice president mentioned she's looking for a vote um to reaffirm

our our our vote. So I'm making that I'm making that as as a formal motion of to the council. Second. So all those in favor discussion no no no there's there's like I'm sorry I'm sorry discussion is going to be discussion there are we there are steps and we I'm going to get into that y first we have to open it up for me to continue with what I have here um so are you already making the motion

no I made the motion counselor Second. Yes. I ask for any discussion. Okay. So, councelor Infante, could you proceed? All those in favor? All those in favor? All those in favor? I I

uh counselors now I am looking to for um I am going to make a motion. Sorry. I'm going to make a motion to split document 47925 into three parts. Um, specifically these three parts as are as followed. Number one is document number 479A25 which is for the appropriation of $400,000 from free cash for the purpose of paying visibility study and schematic design cost related to a potential accelerated repair project involving the Arlington school window project which is approximately 800 windows at um 150 Arlington Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Okay. So just remember that this is for reaff.

So this is this is to split to split it into three. The second doc the second document is document $479-25. And this pertains to the op the appropriation of $300,000 from free cash for the purpose of paying physibility study and schematic design cost related to the potential ailerated repair project involving the frost school roof replacement at 100 at 133 Hammond Street, Lawrence Mass, which is approximately four million four million. And then the third part is would would be document 479C-25 and that pertains to the appropriation of $300,000 from free cash for the purpose of paying physibility study and schematic design cost related to the potential accelerated repair project involving the South Lawrence East roof replacement located at 135 Crawford Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts. And that is the formal language. Uh this is to split the item into three parts.

Second. There's a second. It's a it's already second. Okay. So we have Okay. Discussion. Discussion.

Good council. Uh Jason Cabera, chief financial officer for Lawrence Public Schools. Uh we were here on January 20th and the vote was voted on on on the positive for the allocation of uh originally it was $2 million. We came back to $1 million uh from free cash. Uh the vote was taken. It was certified by by the city clerk. It was sent over to uh to the MSBA. Um their attorneys uh sent back the language that you see in front of I'm I'm hoping that you have it, but if you don't, I got some caucus.

But the votes that are here in three parts, my understanding uh council is that uh the language the whole language needs to be read into the record. Uh you went up to the what it cost um just for the sake of satisfying that. But I don't I don't know if if in the vote is going to have the whole vote language, the whole uh yes, you know, from beginning to end have to read all of it. If we can read that into the record so that uh we can meet the requirements by the MSBA and and their legal team. Yes. Uh it's going to be readed one by one. Yes,

I do. Okay, answering front. I'm sorry. Um, we have to go back before we uh through you, Vice President, uh to make a motion to suspend rule 11. Um part of rule 11, I need uh to make a motion. I make a motion to suspend rule 20 uh that specifically allows us to to to make to take this vote into um dividing this item into three parts. So there is a motion to suspend rule 11 and make a motion to suspend 20. We need six votes for this.

We have it. No, councelor Marmo is not here. One, two, three, four, five, six. Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. I Yeah, we have we had it. Sorry. So, all those in favor? I I discussion. So the I have it. Thank you. And now we need to call call the motion to split. So now and call the vote.

So the motion is to reaffirm again. uh item to reaffirm again item 479 and to be splitting in three part according to the language that is being requested by the SA which you just stated. So we we council vice president I just made a motion to to allow the council to split it into three. We now need to make call the vote allowing that and then uh we need to go into the separate motions for each for each um item. Okay. So there is a motion now is to allow to exple the item in three part and to be readed. So we have motion 47925.

Council vice president the motion is already made. We we need to take the vote now to allow it so then I can proceed with the individual motions. So motion to approve. I Yep. Call the vote please. All those in favor? All those in favor? I. They have it. Discussion. No. Madam chair, I would recommend that we ask for discussion before taking the final vote going forward. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. So any discussion?

No, there is no discussion at this moment. So councelor Infante. No, just call the call the vote. Call the vote. The vote. How many? 479. No, we we need to we need to finish the voting in order in order to to divide it into three. Um we need to finish the vote. Madam vice president, please call call the vote. All those in favor? I. So uh any discussion on this item? All those in favor? I

Okay. So what is the what is the the everybody. Okay.

Thank you. Madam Vice President, I would like to make a motion to approve um document number 479A-25 with a specific language brought to us by the Massachusetts School Building Authority that states a motion to approve that the Lawrence that the city of Lawrence, Mass hereby appropriates the amount of $400,000 for the purpose of paying visibility study and schemat schematic design costs related to a potential accilerated repair project involving the Arlington school window project which is approximately 800 windows at 150 Arlington Street in Mass in Lawrence, Mass. including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto. The project which proposed repair project will materially expand the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program and for which the city of Lawrence Mass has has applied for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority known as the MSBA. said amount to be expanded under the direction of Lawrence public schools receiver. To meet this appropriation, the city of Lawrence's chief administrative and finance finance officer with the approval of the city of the city the city of Lawrence city council is authorized to appropriate from the city of Lawrence free cash amount set amount under the Massachusetts general law chapter 44 or any other enabling authority. The city of Lawrence acknowledges that the MSBA's grant program is a non-entitlement discretionary program based on need as determined by the MSBA. And if the MSBA's board of directors votes to invite the city of Lawrence to collaborate with the MSBA on this proposed repair project, any projects

cost any project cost the the city of Lawrence Mass incurs in access of any grant that may be approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Lawrence of the city of Lawrence Mass. That is the motion. All those in favor? Discussion. No discussion. So, all those in favor? I. So, uh any none? They I have it.

Madame Vice President, I would like to make a motion to approve item 479B-25 with the following specific language from the um MSBA. The city the city of Lawrence, Mass hereby appropriates the amount of $300,000 from the purpose of paying physibility study and schemat schematic design costs related to the potential accilerated repair project involving the Frost School roof replacement located at 133 Hamlet Street, Lawrence, Mass, including the payment of all cost in incidental or related there to the project which proposed repair project would material clearly extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program and for which the city of Lawrence has applied for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority known as the MSBA said amount to be expended under the direction of the of the of the Lawrence public schools receiver. To meet this appropriation, the city of Lawrence's chief administrative and finance officer with the approval of the city of Lawrence city council is authorized to appropriate from the city of Lawrence's free cash account set amount under Massachusetts general law chapter 44 or any other enabling authority. The city of Lawrence acknowledges that the MSBA's grant program is a non-entitlement discretionary program based on need as determined by the MSBA. And if the MSBA's board of directors votes to invite the city of Lawrence to collaborate with the MSBA on this proposed repair project, any project costs the city of Lawrence incurs in act in excess of any grant that may be approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts.

So there is a motion to approve document 479P 25. All those in favor discussion. Is there discussion? Yes, we can ask for discussion. I want to hear if my colleagues had anything they had to say on this document and before we actually have a vote on it. Thank you. I guess not. Any discussion? There is no do you have any comment or discussion? No, madam chair. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. So no comment, no discussion. All those in favor? So they have it. Any know?

Um council vice president have one last motion to make and that is to approve item 479 C-25 with the specific language um as follows. So

that the that the city of Lawrence, Mass hereby appropriates the amount of 3,000 30 thou 300,000 sorry 3,000 imagine $300,000 for the purpose of paying physibility study and schematic design cost related to the potential accelerated project involving the South Lawrence East roof replacement at 135 Crawford Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts, including the payment of all cost incidential or related to there the project which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program and for which the city of Lawrence Mass has applied for a grant from the Massachusetts school building authority known as the MSBA set amount to be expended under the discretion of Lawrence public schools receiver to meet this appropriation ation. The city of Lawrence's chief administrative and finance officer with the approval of the city the city of Lawrence's city council is authorized to appropriate from the city of Lawrence's free cash amount set amount under Massachusetts general law chapter 44 or any or any other enabling authority. The city of Lawrence, Mass acknowledges that the MSBA's grant program is non- ent is a non-entitlement discretionary program based on need as determined by the MSBA. And if the MSBA's board of directors votes to invite the city of Lawrence to collaborate with the MSBA on this proposed repair project, any project cost the city of Lawrence, Mass incurs in access of any grant that may be approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Second.

So there is item 479 C25 already second for council reg. So uh discussion discussion. Okay councelor quick question. I know we have um LPS's um CFO we have the superintendent. We have a representative from DESIE. Before we make the final vote, I after this this we comply with what the MSBA is looking for.

That is correct. We we're on on target on time to submit the paperwork that needs to be submitted. We need a certified vote by March 3rd. So um this is part of that um which we had done you know prior but this is uh the the official um one that is going to go to them and and this should be it for us to start the the schematics and and getting that uh going. Thank you. I just wanted to make sure that we're not missing anything and that we are we're right on track. Thank you council vice president. Okay. Thank you. So it's already approved. Thank you. You know any other discussion questions? Okay.

Any other discussion council? Any other discussion? All those in favor? I I So they have it. Thank you. Thank you so much. Good evening. Good evening. So councelor any item from the table m that you would like to take it out? There is no any we have another item. We're waiting for old business. Okay. 48125 and 2426 from what I was told.

Okay. So from the old business there we have four item 40 48125 is the authorization to spend

we have to we have to untirming 4125 and 2426 I'm sorry so we has to take a item for from the old business 48125 is the uh authorization to expend 48,474. This is the mass dot grant uh by Danny McCarti, planning director. Hi, good evening again.

Madam Chair, may I ask what the underlying motion is? The motion is to approve We approve item 48125. That's what's before us right now. There was already a motion to approve before us right now. Yes. Okay. Thank you, Mr. McCarthy.

Uh good evening everybody. Dian McCarthy here. I'm uh again I'm homesick. Um we were asked um I came before the budget and finance committee several weeks ago uh a couple months ago to present the um the document. We had a second grant that was also approved that was directly rated related to the freight rail that serves the city's industrial park. Um this is part of a six-year project that the city's been working on. Um we've been putting together um funding for this and uh we were asked to uh prepare a uh a PowerPoint presentation to show the uh council um the um how we've um the work we've completed and the work that's proposed and the reason why we're asking for these funds to be authorized. The other document um is also on the agenda is old business is document 02426 which is um authorization to expend 1.649 million. I think we can address the first one right now. I I know um Lily Reyes is there I in person I think to um present the PowerPoint presentation. Lily.

Hi. Good evening, counselors. How are you? Ilialis Reyes 360 Marramac Street. Yes, I'm here. Dan, hi. Hi. Okay, I'm going to try my best to speed through this because um you know, it's pretty e pretty late in the evening. So,

I need President I I speeding through is is nice. This is a major project and it's in my district. So, I want to make sure that the council gets we have two new members and one um it's kind of new still not as new but some other counselors understand or not have been involved in this in the past and I just want to make sure that the council understands the importance of approving this. Thank you.

Very fair council councelor Infante. Thank you. So the first grant that we received, IRA, IRA stands for industrial rail access program. This grant was awarded back in 2021 and it was specifically to fix um where you see the the blue line and the red and the south Broadway increase the freight rail or upgrade the freight rail line in that section. The total cost at the time was $500,000 and the city's match was $19,000. Uh we were very lucky because we received the donations. Um a lot of the materials were donated by MBTA and so that that was supplemented or added as the cost of the match. So I'm not sure if you guys remember the work being done at the time.

So we were grateful for that. So that shows uh the the circle. Where do we point? Let's see. Over here. Let's see. Oh, it doesn't let me. Does it let me? Okay. It's pretty slow. Maybe the batteries. But where the circles are, that's where um the original project was done and now the goal is to do work down by Glenn and Beacon Street. The pointer is not really working. So, But it doesn't

it doesn't stay. Yeah. So I think I could just go to the next one. So this is what it looked like uh this is part of the corridor. What it looked like before uh we got the grant funding and what it looks like after. So this is u visual evidence of the project back in 2021 when we were awarded and the project was completed. I believe it was July 2023 around there. Sure.

Absolutely. The picture supposed to be the the after. Yes. Yes. Why do they keep I'm not sure. Presentation. Oh, there we go. Back again. But if I if I may, if you could go back to the If I may, council vice president. Um I know you don't really see the different uh it doesn't look much as as as the bottom you can see here. Um the logs have been replacing. Oh, sorry.

They're wireless now. I forgot. But here the before. You can see uh the wooden panels here. They were they were deteriorating. Um, it doesn't look like much, but also in order for the the the freight to be functional, it doesn't require as much. Uh, it may not look as much, but you see the panels here are now looking like how they're supposed to, and they can get through safe safer in that section of the of of the area. Think is that helpful? Thank you, council. You can see on the first one. Yeah. And then the first one, you can see that. Yeah. question, but yeah, I could not tell the difference between the bottom ones.

So maybe you can see a little bit here. Um to the left or to the right you see more of the grow more the groves and to the left you can't see it.

And so this is another visible difference in the upgrade of the freight rail line. So this is the project. Um this is a separate project. Um as uh Mr. McCarthy mentioned this project uh section 130. We we refer to it as chapter 130 or section 130 is interchangeable. This funding comes specifically from uh federal highway uh administration and it is the funding is funneled through Mass DOT and then Mass DOT provides the funding to us and that's the amount we're here asking to expend today for 1,649,561. This funding goes specifically to remove the freight rail lines you see there. the the pointer is not working. Uh but I know uh councelor uh Infante has been at this site. We have Oliver here uh from DBW who has been at this site and uh I don't want to make assumptions but may maybe um counselor Lelant uh is familiar with this location as well. And so the plan is to move or to narrow the street and move the tracks from the middle of the street so that it's safer for vehicles and pedestrians and for the actual freight rail itself. So that's the the plan for construction in this site uh over at Glenn and Beacon Street. So right now to my understanding it's it's going to narrow from 38 feet to 24 feet and we will show you the plans now. So we are the city's working with engineers and these are the plans for that particular intersection. On the left on

the bottom that's where Glenn and Beacon is. That's where the freight line is right now. And to the right you will see what it will look like after. If you have any questions on that, I will try my best to answer or Dan or we have an engineer here as well.

Um had an additional comment to your presentation if I may council vice president. Um can we go back to the photo please? Can we go back to the photo please? Thank you. So here um colleagues as you uh as Lily mentioned this intersection down here of Glenn Street with Beacon Street um as you know what back in 2022 we we had a meeting with the with the business owners there uh council the plan the counselor at larges uh our congressional our our congresswoman's office and our state delegation that area currently is it's dangerous there's no markings for pedest pedestrians. Um, accidents happen all the time. Not only is this project going to move the freight line to a safer position, by the way, I believe we are the only city left in the country that still hasn't a middle freight uh in street uh middle street freight. But they're also going to add the markings um and they're going to fix that sidewalk intersection as well for for the pedest um pedestrians. I also want to add that there has been minor repairs to this um this fright, but it was it was paid for by one of the businesses within the um the industrial park. And that that was a cost to the business that was 50 $50,000 plus. Um and they did that in good faith obviously because one it affects their business and two

I just remember um it it's it's it's hazardous. Um at the time they were the primary business that was uh benefiting from this but now as we've been discussing over the f last 5 years or more as councelor the plant knows because he's been part of this longer than I have um now after construction if approved after construction's fully fully completed this is actually going to open the doors for other businesses within the industrial park to take advantage of this service and hopefully um better streamline their services for their customers as well, not just this one particular uh business in that in that area. Thank you.

If I can add to that, councelor Infante, we So that one company is not the only company benefiting from freight rail. We also have Muffin Town who benefits from freight rail. Even though they're not located specifically in the industrial park, they do benefit and are um have been able to increase their business and and increase the economic development of our city because of freight rail. And there are other locations and businesses in the city that want to expand on freight rail. And I believe we have that uh in the presentation as well. I'm sorry. I assume that was the end of it.

No, sorry. We have a couple more slides taking off the presentation.

So that's basically what I just mentioned. Now the 1.65 is for uh section 130. That's what covers uh funding from federal highway and then the IRA, the industrial rail access program grant is covered through mass DOT. So, we did receive uh that's the item that I believe uh you counselors unt what I'm not I'm trying to 481. 481. So, maybe there's just a 408. No, it's 48 408.

Okay. And so, uh, we we we're the goal is to use funding for for the IRA close to the Widow, uh, to Whitmore Company. And we do have, um, someone from Whitmore Company. And like Councelor Infante said, they have in good faith taken money from their own pocket to fix the freight rail line to help with their, you know, the the movement and shipment of their business. The goal now is to create a a runaround in this section so so that there's more safety involved when they receive their shipments because currently right now the freight rails are being backed into the street and into their business. And so to avoid that, the engineers have been working together to develop this plan to create a runaround so that the the train doesn't back into the business. And uh this is where I was mentioning earlier there are u potential future projects. So we have uh the Lawrence Municipal Airport. There are some uh businesses in the airport that are looking to expand rail. We have Muffin Town that is ex an existing uh freight rail user. We have HR brothers who have um for several years expressed interest in in expanding or using freight rail. And so, uh, this is something that is very important for our city considering that, um, I think that's the last p. Okay. But I'll just give a quick fun fact that, um, in in 2022, it would have taken 755,000 trucks to move what freight rail moved in Massachusetts. So, just keep that in

mind when thinking about freight rail. Any questions counselors?

So are you done with the presentation? Pardon? Are you done with the presentation? Yes, counselor. Counselor, there is any question any discussion on on this item? I have one comment. So comments,

thank you. I I said this prior um during the budget and I think it was the budget and finance committee or perhaps it was the full council I don't remember but thank you to director McCarthy uh for your work and team for the work in this um but I really also want to say thank you to Whitmore company for holding it down as much as they can throughout these years. I think um there was an assumption at least I know I definitely had it when I first became a counselor that that trail is that freight trail is publicly owned. It is not. It is privately owned and it's been through two different um owners ownership. So that also prolonged trying to get everybody on at the table and and getting everyone to agree on things that that prolonged the process a little bit. But now we are here and and thank you to everyone, especially the counselors before um that worked on this before I became a counselor uh to get this moving. It's it's been a long journey and we're finally here and I'm happy to see it.

Counselor, so there is a motion to approve this title. Motion to approve item 481-25. Second. So item is already approved already second. Uh discussion all those in favor I so the I have it. Thank you. Thank you and thank you councelor and have a good day. Thank you.

Thank you. So we have item on the or business 726 is the approval of the tax in Yes. But so item 726 in is the approval of the taxing in increment. So the last one. Okay. Item item 2426 is the authorization to expend 1,649,561 is from chart 130F HWA that also is for the real way highway crossing ground from Mazdas by Danny McCarti. Hi. So, so this is the second part to the um presentation that you just saw. The chapter 130 section was that part of the um of the rail the rail line that goes through Glen Street and Beacon Street. And because it's a it's

Madam Chair, may I interrupt this conversation? I believe this needs to be discharged out of committee as I'm reading the notes. It's an old business and says bring up the full council for discussion and voting. had no quorum on the night that it was done cuz a couple of the council were had to leave. So I I believe need to make a motion to discharge to take it out of committee and bring it before us. Okay. So the item 2426 correct just to bring out of the committee and we have to suspend rule.

Mhm. So what do we need? Motion to suspend the rules. You don't need to suspend. You can just make a motion to discharge out of committee. Okay. So motion to suspend item 2426 out of the committee. It's already second by council marmmore. All those in favor. Who made the motion? Council La Plan. Council La Plan. I did. Okay. You said motion to to Yeah, you're saying motion to suspend the vote. I was just suggesting what needed to be done. But okay, that's fine. I'll make the motion. No, you can withdraw your motion. That's fine. I'm I'm okay. Let's I just want to get home tonight, so I'll make the motion. Here we go. Yeah.

Same. It's already second. Discussion. Mr. McCarthy. Uh take a take a vote. Yeah. Take take the vote. All those in favor say I. I. Any num. So now now you go. Discussion. Yeah, Mr. Maki, I Isn't it a motion? Um, yes. So, I'll I'll continue on. So, I think we need to make a motion right now to either adopt or approve or some sort of a motion at this point. Motion to approve. Second. So, motion already for approve already. Second or discussion. Discussion. Now he goes

and let's um Mr. McCarti, please continue me. Um I I I have nothing further to add. I think you saw the importance of it. I think you saw the conditions of the existing rail, the danger of the community and how this project is going to uh bring a lot of safety to this neighborhood and a lot of um economic vitality to this industrial park. So that's my request is that uh this u matter be approved. We are authorized to expend these funds.

Thank you. Any question or discussion on this item? So I don't hear any anything. So there is a motion to approve already. Second all those in favor I. So any no I have it. Thank you very much. Okay. Thank you, Mr. McCarti. Good night everybody.

Good night. Uh we have Thank you, Mr. McCarthy. Okay. Any table items that you would like to get um out of that uh for discussion? There is none. So, new business. So we have item 4626 authorization to spend $1,300,000 for mass war in infrastruure grants from the secretary office of economy development by Mr. D Marti uh ben and finance 4726 authorization to expend 100 $110,000 municipal vulnerability preparedness program MVP ground from the executive office of the energy and environmental affair by Demi McCarti uh to budget and finance um item 4826 creation of billing analyst position water department by car Garcia, personal director um to ordinance and personal creation of the second assistant uh police department also to ordering and personal Um item 5026 O'Neal Park Eastern Egg Hunt April 4,

2026 by Jose Davila uh Institural de Puerto Rico uh to ordinance campano item 5126 the campon seana festival July 31st 2026 or 1 and 2 um 2026 uh uh from 12:00 p.m. to 11 p.m. uh by Hermin Lopez Sana Espana to ordinance Campanong um item 5226 campon common sana Espana July 30 uh to in July 31 2026 August 1st August 2nd 2026 from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fiesta Cho uh by Helmini Lopez Savannah Espana Ordinance Committee uh Campanon Park Savana Espana um I'm sorry item 5326 campon Savannah Espana fundraising June 18 and June 19 5:00 p.m. to 11 p.m. June 20 and June 21 from 100 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fiesta show and helm deopana ordinance committee item 5426 company common earth day citywide cleanup April 25 202 from 7 a.m. to 300 p.m. by Issa Gron ground warren all the committee

item 5526 one way cross street from Manchester street to Broadway council Gregor de Rosario and Pablo Peralta ordinance committee item uh 5626 child care parking a hanglo street counselor Serena and Öza Gusman. Ordinance Committee. Item 572C. Remove handicap parking at 4850 Joniper Juniper Street. Council Gregory de Rosario and Ayanara Ernnande Gusman. Ordinance Committee. Uh item 582C. Handicap parking 18 Street, Gladi V. Mateo de Marisan. Ordinance committee uh item 5926 handicap parking 186 Balding Street. Councelor Serena Re and councelor Stephanine Par ordinance committee. So they for the different committees counselor ordinance committee

motion pass 10 even though I don't know it's a motion we're still in the meeting it's a motion to pass then second fo yeah you have it first ordinance Huh? Tuesday. You have to say you have to say

Tuesday. So, budget and finance. Budget and finance. Hold on a second. I know we usually do it Wednesdays, but just give me one second. Actually, yeah. Uh Wednesday at 7. So Wednesday at 7. That's is for ordinary finance personal Wednesday at 6. So public safety

we don't have any new items but there are items on the agenda that we were waiting for updates. So, I would like to schedule a meeting just to see if there are any updates. If not, we could always reschedu. Um, sorry, I have to like jot down budget. So, budget is Wednesday and so is personnel. I'm going to do Thursday. Does 6:00 work for the other counselors? Thursday at 6. Thursday at 6. It's not working for me on Thursday because I have a class on Thursday. What about Tuesday before ordinance?

You have um Tuesday before. Okay. I just sometimes, you know, I have to be rushing. What time is ordinance? At 7. At 7. I mean, I'll I'll do Tuesday at 6 then. Um Tuesday at 600. Housing meeting. Housing. Um I don't I don't believe we have anything in house. No, there is nothing for housing right now. Say that again.

We do. Okay. Leave that one by itself. Thursday at 6 cuz that's always uh Did I miss it any committee economy development? There is no item for that. Are we done with all of the committee? Yeah. Motion to adjourn. All those in favor. Okay. Thank you everyone.