City Council - Regular Meeting

There you go. Start right here. birthday. Chief, how's it going?

That's good. Let's go I don't know what they have. They come by. Mark.

Heat.

Thank you. Good evening and welcome to the uh regular meeting for the L city council. Today is Tuesday, April 17, 2026 pursuant to chapter 20 of the act of 2022. This meeting uh will be hybrid allowing participation both in person in the city council chambers as well as remotely. The Zoom link for this meeting uh has been provided to anybody that requests it. Uh this meeting is also been transmitted live through the Lawrence City Council uh Facebook page as well as the L city council YouTube page. Uh I'm going encourage you to u if you're on the Zoom link on the Zoom meeting to identify yourself with our uh people in the background so we can let you in due to the techni technical issues that we have faced. Um, Madame Clary Roco.

Councelor Gonzalez, present. Councelor Miguel, present. Councelor Marmal, present. Council Infante, present. Councelor Reyes, present. Council Del Rosario, present. Council Lant, present. Council Levy, present. Council President Rodriguez, present. Uh please join me for a moment of silence.

Now join me for the pledge of allegiance. Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands. One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I need I need those items. Oh, okay. Is this yours? Yeah. Yes. Sorry. Um, councilors, can I get a counselors, can I get a motion to approve minutes from u

so moved April 3rd and April 17th March March sorry March 3rd and March 17. Second being u motion on the table properly second recording in progress. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any. The eyes have it. I

So now we are going with public particip. Now we are going with public participation. Uh the rules for public participation are as follows. You're going to have two two and a half minute to speak. At the two minute mark, you're going to hear a sound or a beep or an indication that you still have 30 seconds. Please refer to this council as a hall. The first name that we have is H Mali. Name and address for the record, please. Mali, 53 Chester Street. Good evening, honorable members. We the citizen are proud and grateful to support Lawrence Police Officers Union. Lawrence police, one of the best police department in the nation with the impeccable leadership by honorable chief Morris Agler doing excellent job to protect our citizens. Thank you for making Lawrence a safe city. Lawrence is a beautiful city because of our hardworking DPW workers and leadership. Thank you for making Lawrence a beautiful city. Lead the citizen support our inspection department and their union. Thank you for excellent job. Lawrence public school with the impeccable leadership by honorable superintendent Ralph Guerrero doing excellent job. Million thanks to honorable director Wu Reed and Lawrence Yen. Support Lawrence teachers and their union. Because of you, Lawrence will rise again. Lawrence always strong. Lawrence always unite. We are proud to support our veterans. Thank you for your bravery. Thank you for your service. We must hire two empty position for the veterans department. Create the best commission for elders in this important meeting and we at the citizen honor the best police officers in our city. Our fire department with the impeccable

leadership by honorable chief Delaney, one of the best fire department in the nation. Lawrence police officers, thank you for excellent service. We are united to support Lawrence Police Officers Union. Thank you for excellent job. The next person, the next person that we have is Rich Russell. Councelor Russell. Name and address for the record, please.

Uh, good evening, councilors. Rich Russell, 34 Cross Street. Welcome to Lawrence Gate 2026. Will the real Rosemary Woods please stand up? After reading an article in today's uh online edition of the Eagle Tribune that mentioned several investigatory firms, I would suggest a firm that has never been involved with any investigations in the city or had any business dealings with anyone in the political hierarchy of the Lawrence City government. If any investigation is done, we are pretty certain the taxpayers will be footing the bill. So my comments about the investigators should not be ignored. You, the council, should be the ones in choosing the investigator. I'm still waiting on several public record requests, most notably uh one involving the snow emergency parking tickets from the in the time frame from February 22nd to March 8th of this year. That public record request was uh filed almost a month ago. I did get a partial response to a request about snow fighting equipment that the city hired. The response included the number of various pieces of equipment, but not the actual cost. Now that the snow season is hopefully over, maybe the city will consider the installation of more blue lights. Not all of the residents have the luxury of having multi-car driveways. There are many that are at the mercy of the even parking rules. In closing, please don't get snowed under with a blizzard of excuses from the powers that be regarding the audio videotaping that goes onto this building. As always, I thank you for the time. And the next person that we have is Juani Gonzalez. Name and address for the record, please.

Good evening, Council President Rodriguez, Vice President Levy, Counselors Juan Manny Gonzalez, Colonial Heights, Colonial Drive. I am here tonight to express my concerns about what took place in the hallway outside the near or near the mayor's office. I am sure that there are many other residents, taxpayers, visitors that have similar questions that deserve answers. I am respectfully asking you to do everything within your power to order request a thorough investigation to try to find answers to some of these questions that I have that we have. Anything less than an thorough independent investigation will be a disservice a total disservice to our city as a whole. So, some of the questions that we have are this. Who paid for the cameras in question? Who ordered the installation without any signage? Who installed them? How long have they been in operation and recording? Who is the keeper of records? What have they done with the recordings? Do they still exist or did they get deleted? These two questions uh could be flip-flopped. What was the intention behind this act? Who released the video and to how many people? So honestly, when you asked the last one, who released the video and to how many people, it should follow by what was the intention behind this act. So, I respectfully ask you, we do not want an in an investigation like the last one that was conducted against the same individual that just resigned. We remember how much we paid to Maverick to

conduct that investigation. We paid almost $50,000 and accomplished nothing. So, I appreciate your time and have a good night. Thank you. The next person is uh Jackie Mamo. Uh yes, taking the time. Thank you. Name my address for the record, please.

Good evening, honorable members of the city councilors Jackie Marmal to Museum Square. Today I want to take a moment to speak about Mayor Brian A. and more importantly about the qualities that define our community. Resilience, hard work, and diversity. Mayor Dea is someone who has deep roots in this community. He has lived here, raised his family here, and dedicated many years to serving the people of Lawrence. His leadership has consistently reflected a strong connection to the community with a focus on being present, listening, and working alongside residents and address and real needs. Throughout throughout his time in public service, he has supported families, straightened neighborhoods, and worked to expand opportunities for both residents and local businesses. His approach has always been grounded in accessibility, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to moving our city forward. At this moment, it is important that in any situation, we allow progress to take place and avoid rushing to conclusions. As a community, we must remain fair, patient, and responsible in how we respond, ensuring that respect and understanding guide our actions. More than anything, this is a time for new, a time for unity, a time to come

together, not to divide ourselves, but to continue building a stronger, more connected Lawrence. We share the same goal, a city that grows, thrived, and support every family that calls it home. Let us move forward with respect, with patience, and with a shared commitment to working together for the future of our city of Florence. Thank you very much for your time. The next person is uh Mark Llan. Councelor Lelan.

Thank you, Council President, members of the council. Um, as I typically do on these evenings, I remind folks of the LSP, the Lawrence Square project, and our next one, and our next one will be this Thursday, April the 9th at 400 PM. And we are rededicating uh Lewis Feema Square, and his square is at the intersection of Union and Haveril Street. Um, Mr. Feema died in World War II. Uh, he died um probably near he died in actually in Germany in a hospital there, so he's near the war's end. Um and he was an anti-aircraft anti- aircraft guy um and was caught in the war. And um at times like this as we go through this process you can't help but when you watch the news are thinking we are at the doorstep again potentially with more Laurentians potentially being at the tip of the spear. And as we go through this project and we remember back 80 years or so ago when someone from our city left to fight in the war and we're remembering them today. I'm sure your thoughts as well as mine go to those individuals because we know there are people from Lawrence who may be going into harm's way very soon. We know that. And so we we our hearts and minds go out to them. But we can't forget those who did things like Lewis and others back when they had their chance back in this particular time back in World War II. So I invite you all to show up and to be there. Very short 20 minutes. Uh and then we un unveil the new the new sign. Thank you.

The next person that we have is Carmen Carmen Garcia. Name and address for the record, please.

Carmen Garcia King, 433 Washington Street. Uh good evening, council president, council vice president, and members of the city council. I speak today about a special recognition that is on your agenda for remarkable members of our community, Dalia Diaz and Alberto Surice, founders of Roombo. Next month uh marks the 30th anniversary of Roombo, a bilingual newspaper founded in Lawrence that has served the Marramck Valley and our Lawrence community for three decades. 30 years of dedication to community journalism is a rare achievement. Recognizing Dalia Diaz and Alberto Surice in a way for the city is a way for the city to acknowledge their contributions and preserve their legacy for future generations. Members of the council for 30 years, Dalia Diaz and Alberto Surice has helped create something truly special through Rumble, a newspaper that informs, connects, and gives voice to many of our community to this day. Their work has helped ensure that the stories, achievements, and concerns of Lawrence residents are seen and heard. It would be a great um it would be great if the city designated the intersection of Mount Vernon and McCarthy Street in recognition of their 30 year of leadership and service through Rumble. I respectfully ask the council to support this recognition during the ag uh the agenda um so that their contributions to the city of Lawrence will always be remembered as part of our community's history and spirit. I will also say it in Spanish if I have time.

Alberto and Lawrence Mary Valley. Thank you. Thank you.

All right. Um if it's not objection, counselors, uh we go straight to um there is no public hearing on the agenda. Uh we go straight to ordinance committee. Madame chair for the ordinance committee in terms of these three items. Uh 95 26 96 26 97 26 and 98 26 Madam Chair will be the table 90 98 98 Okay.

So 95 96 and 97 madam chair from the ordinance committee Item 9526 is a resolution honorary 2025 firefighter of the year Patrio. Uh that was submitted by Stefan Infante and I make a formal motion. There's a motion on the table to accept this uh resolution. Properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor please say I.

I. The eyes have it. Before we go, uh, yeah, let's do let's do the three together, okay? And then you go and present both the three of them. Uh, madame chair from the ordinance committee, um, item 9626. Item 9626 is a resolution. is a resolution honoring 2025 police officer of the year Janelli Bonet that was submitted by Stephanie in by councelor Stephanie Infante was sended with we favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion

second there's a motion on the table properly second discussion I hear none all those in favor please say I nays the eyes have item 9720 26 item 9726 is a resolution Honoring 2025 police officer Odigia Aris Ka Saw submitted by council was sended to the full to the full council with favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion

second is a motion on the table properly second discussion I hear none all those in favor please say I any names the eyes have it now councelor Stephan Fante proceed to present those resolutions The resolution uh that is uh presented at this moment is an official opinion of the city of Lawrence and through the city uh city council Stephanie Fante those going to be presented this point I would like to call fire chief Delaney to the podium to be here with me. The first resolution council. First, I want to say thank you um to all my colleagues for always supporting these resolutions. I know we all enjoy them. It's it's a positive um moment and the very complex work that we do as counselors every day. The first resolution we have is for 2025 fighter fighter of the year um named through the exchange club Patro Pat Patrick Driscoll. Whereas firefighter Patrick Driscoll has served 37 years of exemplary s service to the city of Lawrence, a tenture defined by profound integrity, professional excellence, and a deepseated commitment to the safety of our residents. And whereas throughout nearly four decades of service, fighter fighter Driscoll has consistently prioritized the needs of the community and his fellow fighter fighters above his own, serving as a pillar of strength on the fire ground within the firehouse and also as a former union president. And whereas Patrick Driscoll has demonstrated exceptional leadership rooted in character rather than rank. And I want to repeat that leadership

rooted in character rather than rank. Providing a calm presence and sound judgment that has earned him the enduring respect of his peers, supervisors, and the public. And whereas as a dedicated advocate for the well-being of of his colleagues, fighter fighter Driscoll has been a leading voice for the firefighter health and safety, championing awareness and prevention regarding the long-term occupational risk inherit from the fire service. And whereas his career embodies the highest ideals of the Lawrence Fire Department, reminding us that public safety is a calling that requires not only physical courage, but also humility, compassion, and a resolute sense of responsibility towards others. Now therefore be it resolved that the Lawrence City Council on behalf of the residents of the city of Lawrence hereby extends his highest commendation to fighter fighter Patrick Driscoll on the occasion of his nomination as the exchange club firefighter of the year honoring a lifetime of dist distinguished service and his lasting impact on the strength and unity of the Lawrence fire department. respectfully submitted, approved, and signed by all nine city councilors and attested by our city clerk, Eileen Bernau. Here we have our chief firefighter chief Delaney to accept this resolution on behalf of fighter fighter Driscoll. on on behalf of firefighter Patrick Driscoll and his family, it is my honor to accept this award tonight. Um he he's not able to be with us here today. I spoke to him yesterday and he wanted to

extend his thankful to thankfulness to the council. Uh Pat Driscoll has done a lot for the Lawrence Fire Department in the past 37 years. He's a lifelong resident of our city. He's a past union membership uh me um union president and he's he's done a lot for this community and I can't think of anybody more deserving than Patrick Driscoll. On behalf of the Lawrence Fire Department, I would like to say thank you to Council Lefonte and the rest of the council. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, for this next resolution, I'm going to invite Police Chief Maurice Aguilar to join me at the podium. I'm also going to invite um the Bonet family to join me at the podium as well. You could give it to a counselor for photos if you Oh, we have

Actually, I'm going to have the family on this side, the chief on this side, and I'm going to invite officer Bonet to join us in the at the podium as well. And actually, one more person. Sorry, guys. I'm going to invite councelor de Rosario. Although officer Bonet lives outside of the district, but her family lives in your district. So, I'm going to invite you as well. Now, so Officer Janelli Bonet entered the service of the city of Lawrence as a civilian in the crime analysis union unit before transitioning to the ranks of police officer in 2020. A career path defined by a rigorous work ethic and profound dedication to the public interest. And whereas on October 21st, 2025, officer Bernet Bonet was dispatched to an urgent medical call where she encountered a woman in the advanced stages of labor on a city sidewalk. And whereas officer Bonet demonstrated exceptional fortitude and technical readiness immediately rendering aid in managing an imminent delivery under highly unconventional and distressing circumstances. And whereas during the course of the delivery, officer Bonet ex exhibited remarkable focus and skill while assessing while assisting in the successful resolution of a life-threatening complication involving the newborn infant. And whereas Officer Bonet's conduct exemplifies the highest ideals of the Lawrence Police

Department, combining rapid emergency response with the empathy and respect essential to community oriented policing. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Lawrence City Council, acting on behalf of the residents of the city of Lawrence, does hereby formally recognize and honor Officer Janelli Bonet for her conspicuous bravery and professional excellence and her commitment to the protection of life within our community. Respectfully submitted and improved by all nine city councilors and attested by our city clerk, Eileen Bernell. Congratulations and thank you.

Thank you all so much. I really appreciate the recognition. That's it. Look over there.

You want to say on behalf of your officer?

What Janelli meant to say was No, just kidding. Uh we we are very proud uh of of officer Bonet. Uh she has demonstrated nothing but exemplary service um while she has been with us. She is truly uh a source of pride for us. We have many many excellent officers and I'm glad to count her as among them. Uh this was a typical delivery by the way. Um this was on the side of a road. Um there were many people and they went out of their way to really maintain the dignity of of of the poor woman. and uh while uh handling the baby who had who was born with the umbilical cord around the neck. So, it wasn't one of the u you know an easy one. So, they did a great job and we're very happy for them. Yeah. Thank you.

Please don't leave yet. Please don't leave. We got to take a Oh, you want to Let's do the third. The third one. Please don't leave. All right. And yes, actually stand right there because these two ladies worked together. The next person I would like for us to be joined by is Sergeant Arisca Southworth. Whereas Sergeant Arisa Southworth has now served 24 years as a distinguished

as a distinguished service of distinguished service within the Lawrence Police Department, demonstrating an exemplary command of municipal law enforcement and earning the high esteem of her colleagues and the public alike. And whereas Sergeant Southworth rece a achieved a historic milestone for the city of Lawrence as the first female supervisor of Dominican descent, a testament to her pioneering leadership and her devotion to the community she serves. And whereas on October 21st, 2025, Sergeant Southworth responded to an an You guys okay? Okay.

All right. Sergeant Southworth responded to an eminent medical crisis involving a a citizen inactive labor on a city sidewalk, maintaining the poise and decisive action action um characteristics of a veteran officer. And whereas upon her arrival, Sergeant Southworth collaborated with her fellow officer, Officer Bonet, to perform a critical life sa saving intervention involving a constricted umbilical cord, successfully ensuring the health and viability of both mother and child. And whereas Sergeant Southward's action on that day were a profound reflection of her professional expertise and her innate compassion providing dignity and and security to a resident during a moment of extreme v vulnerability. Now therefore be it resolved that the Lawrence City Council acted on behalf of the residents of the city of Lawrence does hereby extend its formal accommodation and deepest gratitude to Sergeant Ariskeela Southworth for her for her heroic conduct, her historic contributions to the to the department and her enduring commitment to the safety of our city. respectfully submitted and approved by the nine alarm city councilors and attested by our city clerk Eileen Bernell. CONGRATULATIONS.

WELL, all I can say is thank you and it's a call I'll never forget. It was definitely quite an experience. So, thank you so much council. Can I get a motion five minute resource? Motion for five minute. There a motion for five minute res properly second. Discussion. All those in favor, please say I. I.

Recess. There's a motion to comm recess properly second. Discussion there is none. All those in favor, please say I. I. The eyes have it. Madame chair from the from the ordinance committee. Item 8726. Uh, a resolution honoring uh Joan Ortiz. Item 8726.

Item 8726 is a resolution honoring Joani Ortiz Lauren high school scholarship winner and acceptance acceptance to center college in Danville Kentucky submitted by council president Joanni Rog. It was sended to the full council with favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion. Second. There's a motion on the table properly. Second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any nay. The eyes have it. Motion to table item 8726. Second. So moved. There's a motion on the sale. Please second discussion. I hear no discussion on the table matter. All those in favor, please say I. I.

I. Have it. Item 8826. Item 8826 is a resolution honoring J de los Santos Lauren high school quest bridge national scholar and acceptance to tough university submitted by council president Yavanni Rodriguez was sended with favor recommendation and I do as a formal motion there's a motion on the table properly second discussion um there is none all those in f please say I I the eyes have it motion to table 8826 moved Second. There's a motion to table properly second. All those in f please say I. I. The eyes have it.

Resolution 9126 is a resolution honoring the C World War II service member from Lawrence with final resting place in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial. Uh, Carr, Amoroso, Mario Bardini, Oscar Foucher, Frank Grill, Harry Ro, Leonard Roki, and Thomas Ryan. Submitted by council president was sended with favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion. Second. There's a motion on the table properly. Second. Discussion. Discussion. Council La.

I was kind of hoping we could do it as a block because I wanted to make one general comment. Um if that's if that's permissible, council president. All right. I can wait to speak at the end. Either way, we either or works. I mean at the end you can do start at the end. Okay. Yep. Okay. Item 98. Uh wait we we need a vote. U item 9126. There's a motion on the table. Properly second. Discussion. I hear none. All those in favor please say I. I. The eyes have it. I make a motion to take item 9226 and 93 26 as a block. There is a motion to take this as a block. Properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor please say I.

I. The eyes have it. Item 9226 and 9326. Madam chair from the ordinance committee.

Item 9226 is a resolution honoring the C World War II service member from Lawrence. We find a rest of place in Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial. Maurice Demer, Norman Drawings, Michael Bringus, Ernest Levy, Paul Lusk, James O'Neal Jr., Salvator Ploski, and Robert Simos. Submitted by Council Marlang. It was sended as a to the council with favor recommendation and I'm doing as a formal motion.

There's a motion on the table properly second discussion. All those in favor please say I. The eyes have it. Item 9326. Iron 9326 is a resolution honoring the sea world war II service member from Lawrence with final resting place in Ardenics American cemeter Edward Dumont Jose Harrian George Corey and Leopardo Tortoa submitted by councelor Mara Plang it was sended to the full council with favor recommendation and I make it as a formal motion. Second.

There's a motion on the table properly. Second, council plan.

Discussion. Thank you. And thank you for the accommodation. I appreciate that. Council uh for the past I don't know several weeks, months now. I've been coming up before this podium right here at public participation letting you know about individuals who have received some sort of recognition from us. When I say from us, I mean not necessarily the people who are sitting here today, but our predecessors who decided that some individuals were worthy of some sort of recognition, whether in this particular case a square. There are many, many, many more men and women from our city that served our city in the time of crisis. And not all of them lived and not all of them came back home to be buried back home. In fact, many have been buried overseas. And if you weren't able to find them because they're missing in action, they were presumed killed in action or KIA. And their names are on the walls of the missing of the cemeteries closest to where they were missing. councilors, not only this council, but several councils now going back to 2018 when I first started this. I have now gone to um nine cemeteries around the the world mostly in Europe where we've been able to go ahead and through the position given the authority from you counselor and my colleagues both president in the past have been able to recognize these individuals. Some of these individuals have been forgotten over time, but there's no squares. There's no buildings. There's no anything else benches named after these individuals. And the chair of the

ordinance committee just read their names. And so when and I when I first became a city council, this was never something that I designed to do. I never thought I was going to be doing this. But tonight and over time, I've somehow gotten into this place where I'm going to hit every individual from our city who has died overseas and has never returned home. I will get that done by next year. So far, like I said, we've done I we've been to the grave sites of 80 80 individuals through nine cemeteries. And one of the things that that I do and my family's usually with me is that we'll take a city of Lawrence flag and we'll plant that flag at the location at the grave site or next to we don't bury it of course but the flag is at the wall of the missing where we take back down. And um I want to this year I have a we I slash we have a partner and I I want to thank the veteran services director director Ortega for providing for me as I go overseas these Lawrence flags that I'm going to be planting um at the grave sites of those uh who did not return from our city. Um when I am done this we will have completed 99 grave sites and walls of the missing or names of the missing and 12 various cemeteries as the chair mentioned Cambridge England Ardans and the Netherlands American cemetery. So there's three and uh it's it's one of the things that gives me great um satisfaction, great pride and and I know this sounds trit and quaint but I'm lucky to be in this position. I fought hard to be in the all of us have fought hard to be in the position that

we're in. I am fortunate to be in the position where I can go and represent our city and do this and recognize the people who are the custodians of the folks that we have buried, the cemetery directors at these three different cemeteries and they're absolutely beautiful, beautiful landmarks. And I recommend my colleagues if you do go overseas, talk to me if you do have a chance. It is it's a very touching, very noble, very um simplistic even and is an honor in that to go into our cemeteries of those who have have died from around our country and to and just to spend a moment there and to meet the cemetery directors and do that. So I will be bringing with me, thanks to you all of you for the vote this evening these three resolutions. I will hand those three resolutions to the cemeteries directors. We will plant the flags. We will take I will put we will each put our say a few words very few because only going to the family it's just going to be us there my family our hands over our heart have a moment of silence and move on to the next one and that's as powerful I'm not a veteran I I've never been a my family's I've become a family of veterans I've never served and I don't want people to ever think that I have served I've never served in the military I tried I didn't get quite as far as I wanted to get and that's a different story for a different day but I've never served and I have a tremendous amount of respect for those who have put on our nation's uniform and have been when called have have gone to service and it gives me great pride and I want to thank you all for voting yes on these resolutions because now I can take this with me when I go to Europe next month. Thank you.

Thank you councel plant. Anyone else? At this time I call the role. Madame clerk please call the role on this resolution. Council Lant, yes. Council Del Rosario, yes. Council Reyes, yes. Council Infonte, yes. Council Mamo, yes. Council Miguel, yes. Council Gonzalez, yes. Council Vice President Levy, yes. Council President Rodriguez, but yes. Now we have one more resolution for uh approved tonight. Two more for nine. Oh, two more. Item 6626, Madame Chair, from the ordinance committee.

Okay. Thank you. Um item 6626 is a resolution honoring Lauren High School senior Danielle Rodriguez on his among food scholarship to J University submitted by councelor president I'm sorry by by counselor Stephanie Infante was sended to the food council with favor recommendation and as a formal motion there's a motion on the table properly second discussion I already did that one no we're missing them item all those in favor Please say I I the eyes have it. Uh one more councelor. Yes. Uh vice versy.

Um iron 9426 is that resolution honoring Roombo newspaper on the 30 year of publication that was submitted by council president Analevi and councelor Stephanie Fante was sended with favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion. Second. Oh, there's a motion on the table. Rob properly second. Discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I. Yeah. And Madame Clair, please call the roll. Which one's this one? Um, item 9426. The resolution honoring room. Council Gonzalez.

No. Councel Miguel. No. Council Marmal. Yes. Council Fonte. Yes. Council Reyes. Yes. Council Del Rosario. Yes. Council Lant. Yes. Council Vice President Levy. Yes. Council President Rodriguez. Yes. Motion carries. All right. Item is another resolution.

All right. Uh we are going straight to uh new business if Okay. Um, for the people who are here for the resolution, we're going to say are we going to bring the resolution uh at the festival at the at the party. Okay. It's going to be on May 15. Thank you.

All right. Uh, we're going straight to new business. If council, I have no objection to item 40 14626. request an investigation into the use of audio recording and possible wire topping. Uh law violation within the city hall. Uh city council uh present Rodriguez. Uh council vice president Levy, councelor Lefante, councelor Marmo. Uh with these councilors, I need a few vote. Madame clerk, can you do you mind going over the u uh procedures? So the to deal with this item this evening, you would require three votes. The first is to um declare the item an emergency um to deal with it this evening. If you choose to declare it an emergency, then the second vote would be to suspend rule 12A, which is the rule that no matter can be adopted on the data is introduced. And then if you want to um take any kind of vote on the item, then we make your motion and approve that. So to deal with this short-term just to declare it an emergency so we can talk about it. Um we want to make a motion tonight for some final resolution that be 12A um so that we can take a vote on the NATO that was introduced and then if you choose to approve something a motion this evening there'll be a third vote for a motion to approve but at this time I think you're looking for a an emergency for

an emergency convenience of the public or um that's on the chat. Yes. So, councilors, can I get a motion to uh declare this item item 14626 uh to declare an emergency for the benefit of the community? So, second, there is a motion on the table properly. Second, discussion. Discussion. Council L.

This is an important matter. I'm not denying that, but I'm not suggesting that this is an emergency that needs to take place this evening, especially in light of the fact that the what we have before us this evening does not even comport with our rules. I've got a one sheet piece of paper. Does anybody have any more than one sheet piece of paper that has what's what this is about? Is there a resolution? If there is, I don't see it in our packet. And uh it's let me look you up. That's not in the packets. No, I I have something I can hand out.

All right. In the meantime, um any other questions? So, while we're handing that out, thank you. I'm actually impressed that we actually did this. This is one of the first times that I can recall that we actually have something in a written format. So, actually that's um that that's very good. So, that that's a good thing. The second thing is the reason why I don't think it should be an emergency despite this or at least dealt with as an emergency. I still think we need to deal with it. I'm not saying we sleep it under the rug and we don't deal with it. I think we do. I think it needs to be sent before a committee. I would recommend that this be sent to the committee on the whole where all of us can have a chance to have an opportunity to discuss it. So I don't think it's an emergency to deal with it here tonight, this evening, but I do think it goes in there. The third and last of the reasons why I think this is not an emergency is that we have already within our ordinances, and I'm not sure who knows this, we have ordinances that deal with this. You pull it up. Give me a second. If you look this up, that's not it. Hold on. Um,

while you're looking for that right here, do you have it right there? It's doc. It's one is number 9.25. 25. If you look up ordinance number 925, is this in our is this in this thing as well in adoption of the order? It is not.

It is not. If you look up document 9 9.25 in our ordinances in 2018, I wasn't the only one here in 2018. In 2018, this body through and we had a very long and protracted discussion about putting cameras in our city. And then I remember very distinctly the debates that we had and how challenging it was because we understood in 2018 this council understood that when you put cameras up that is a responsibility because now you are putting cameras in this the privacy concerns were the utmost. So we safeguarded that

by this council and the mayor at the time who signed it as an ordinance. We safeguarded ourselves to make sure that we had systems in place so that we know and if you look at I don't have 9.25 real quick but I can get it in a second. Give me one second. Council President, I do appreciate your patience. It is in our jurisdiction counselors under 9.25 which is why I think it should be going to a committee and not dealt with tonight as an emergency. In the very first part of this it says this. The purpose of this chapter is to provide and promote transparency and uphold the civil rights and civil liberties of Lawrence residents while using surveillance technologies. This chapter requires that any legally enforcable safeguards, including robust transparency, oversight, and accountability measures must be in place to protect civil rights and civil liberties before any surveillance technology is deployed. It requires data reporting measures that must be adopted that empower, this is the key phrase, counselors, that empower the Lawrence City Council and public to verify mandated civil rights and civil liberty safeguards have been strictly adhered to. And then it goes forward to saying under 9.25030, 255030 city council approval mandatory for surveillance technology funding acquisition or use. A municipality must obtain approval from the city council subsequent to a mandatory properly noticed pertinent public hearing at which the public is afforded a fair and adequate opportunity to provide testimony prior to engaging in any of the following and one of them is putting of cameras as well as funding for it. And the final point, if you I'm not going to read everything because it's

several pages long, but if you go into the final point, it talks about an annual surveillance report and then remedies um that take place when someone is found to be in violation of it. It is in our ordinances. So, while this may be news to all of us here this evening, those of us who were here back in 2018, remember this debate, remember this discussion. And this is the reason why we have the template here. We have it. We need to send this to the committee so we can do our job as is required by our ordinances. Let's follow our ordinance. So for that reason, I am not declaring this an emergency. I'm going to be asking be voting no on this. I'm going to be asking that the that the president send this to the committee of the whole so we all have a copy of this and then we can all be singing off the same hbook and understand what we need to get. That is my recommendation and that's why I'm voting no on this motion. Thank you.

Right there. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor La Plant. U out of that discussion um and out of that um I have something about the ordinance.

Yep. Out of that uh that what councelor Blant has just stayed. That's why we are declaring this as an emergency because it's a matter that um as that uh city cler will read, it's a matter that requires a a special attention by um potentially the state. Madame Clair, do you mind reading the the adoption of the order? Um the document is entitled adoption of order and it reads we the members of the city council of Lawrence, Massachusetts buy in and through this order hereby state and issue the following directive. Whereas a video recording taken inside city hall contained an audio aspect that to the best of our knowledge and belief is not consistent with other authorized city hall cameras. And whereas the Lawrence City Council believes that the cameras or series of cameras inside city hall that have this audio capability were installed sometime in 2023 and have been in use since that time. And whereas the city council has grave concerns that the use of these cameras with their audio capabilities over the extended period of time may constitute a violation of the law including but not limited to mass general law chapter 272 section 99 which is the interception of wire and oral communications as well as federal wiretapping laws. Now therefore, the city council hereby orders the Lawrence City Attorney to be in immediate and direct contact with the Lawrence Police Department, the Essex County District Attorney's Office, the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Inspector General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and request that these offices, to the extent that this concern falls within their respective jurisdictions, begin a complete and thorough investigation into this situation. And then if if it's adopted, it will be approved by the city council. Um,

all right. Uh, thank you, Madame Clair, for reading uh this this um this uh order. At this time, if there is no other questions, I will entertain. Um, councelor councel. Yes. Through you, sir. Uh, council president. Uh can we have since we have the city attorney here, can you provide more context on on on on this order and how uh should we proceed on this? Uh I know that have you reviewed this? I just I've seen this adoption earlier on. Yes, I have seen.

Okay. Yes, councelor Miguel. Uh before we entertain the actual order, we we need to decide whether or not we're going to deal with it at this level. So this this vote is just to declare this item as an emergency and then sub to sequentially uh we can entertain the discussion uh into the potential order. Um so at this time if there's no discussion around vote number one I'll call the question. All those in favor please say I. I. Any nays? No. Madame cler please call the role. Council plant. No. Councel Gonzalez. Council Del Rosario. Yes.

Thank you. Um, Council Reyes, no. Council Infonte, yes. Council Gonzalez, no. Council Miguel, yes. Council Marl, yes. Council Vice President Levy, yes. Council President Rodriguez. I vote on the affirmative. What's the count? I have three nos and six yeses.

Motion carries. So, uh, now board number two is, uh, to suspend rule 12A. Uh, no matter can be adopted at the date of the introduct. So, at this time, I'll u entertain a motion to suspend rule uh 12A. So moved. There's a motion to suspend 12 A of the council. Properly second. Discussion. discussion council

for many of the same reasons why I voted or didn't support I'm not going to go through them all again many of the same reasons I'll be voting no on this one as well not because it's not important not because we don't have a role to play and not because the parties are either innocent or guilty has nothing to do with that it's by proper process I'll be voting no on this as well thank you right uh there is any other uh questions

councelor thank you um through you council president I just want to I've I hear what my colleague uh councelor Llan is stating one thing I failed to hear and perhaps when we if if this passes the the city attorney can clarify my understanding of that or ordinance is standard city surveillance it has I did not hear any specific um regulations pertaining to audio specifically throughout the surveillance of the city so and that is why I believe we should handle this matter at this um at this level tonight. All right. Any other questions? And when it comes to suspend the rule number 12 A, I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any nays?

No. The uh Madame Clair, please call the RO. Um, just trying to remember which side I sat on last time I sat with you. So, thank you. Council Council Gonzalez. No. Council Miguel, yes. Council Marmal, yes. Councelor Infante, yes. Council Reyes, no. Council Del Rosario, yes. Council Lant, no. Council Vice President, yes. Council President Rodriguez,

uh, yes. Now we can um discuss this item at this level. Uh the adaptation of the order has been read by the city clerk and um uh and at this time I will entertain a motion uh for the purpose of discussion and we can uh make a determination. Um can I motion to there is a motion to approve properly second discussion. So councelor Miguel you asked the questions as of uh any intakes uh related to the order. Yes, if you can respond what I uh just asked previously.

So um what I'm about to tell you may or may not um obiscate the need for or eliminate the need for this um order. Um the city has been served with a search warrant. Um the recording device that is the nature of this has been seized by law enforcement. There is a law enforcement agency whose name I cannot give you um that is investigating it currently. It is not the Lawrence Police Department and I may know more tomorrow, but that's what I'm liberty to tell you right now. So, uh, if I understand correctly, there is an institution, uh, a police for a law enforcement institution that is investigating this matter

and is in possession or there is or there is an private investigator. Nope. No, it is it is Can you clarify on that? He can't. I can't. No, I mean either or is it investigator or is a law enforcement agency. It's a law enforcement agency, okay, has taken control of the recording device uh pursuant to a search warrant. It has been given. It has been turned over. Uh the name of that agency I am not at liberty to tell frankly because they have not told me. Um but it it's complex in that way. But I No problem. I mean, in the meantime, the order the request to have a outside agency, law enforcement agency, um, take a look at this, I think is self-fulfilled.

Uh, I agree with you. If we have all the information, this is the first time that that we hear about it. I think that as a council, if we have an order in front of us, it is within the rule number 13 of the council that we can order uh, and send that over. So it will it will be potentially a a double dipping. Yes. But it's it's better to be safe than sorry. I I'm just providing you with the information. I do. No, no problem. I we definitely appreciate it. And this is the right time to provide that information. Uh councel Miguel, you have the floor. Um I don't know. No more questions. Any other questions? Council President. Councel Fonte.

Thank you. Um given the new information, thank you um attorney Hen for that information. But I did prepare a statement that I would like to read into the record if I may. Assuming that I at the time when I wrote this, I did not know what you just what you just stated. So it's it maybe it's a little outdated now, but

um okay. And I wrote this because I didn't want to forget anything. So I apologize that I'm reading this. up. So, the recent discovery of audio recording in the third floor hallway near the mayor's office should concern our entire community. While city hall is a public building and video surveillance is expected for safety, recording audio without consent is not permitted under Massachusetts law. Secret recordings, even involving public officials, may constitute a felony under Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 272, Section 99. The only exception to this law, involves police officers, which allows the audio recording of police officers performing their duties in public, which is a minor change that occurred through a federal court decision in 2020. The administration has stated that four additional cameras will were installed in 2023 for security for security and this was directly stated to me and while three reportedly did not record audio one did which they are saying is an oversight. I want to be clear about something. I do agree with the mayor regarding the need for more security in this building. In today's political environment, protecting our employees and elected officials is important, but security must always be implemented legally and transparently. Also, the timeline of this matters. Before 2025, the hallway was that area of the hallway was regularly used by employees, residents, attorneys, and

elected officials, just to name a few groups of of people. They used that area to wait and hold conversations until it was their turn to meet with the mayor. We were told that audio was never used, yet the leak, visual, and audio recording suggests otherwise. Once recordings are distributed publicly, this moves beyond oversight and into a potential legal situation. At this point, the central issue is not speculation, and we need answers. We do not yet know how these recording recordings were used, if at all, or whether laws were violated. What we do know is that the public deserves a clear, unbiased, and transparent answers. For that reason, any investigation into this matter must be conducted independently, which we just received an update about. I also believe it would not be appropriate for such investigation to be directed by individuals or offices that may themselves be involved. Instead, it is the responsibility of our state authorities to determine whether this law was violated or not. It is my sincere hope that this situation ultimately results in no findings of wrongdoing because at the end of the day, I want to remind everyone we are one municipal government and situations like this affect public trust in all of us. Restoring that trust, however, requires transparency and accountability. An independent investigation is not about assigning blame. It is about establishing the truth. Our community deserves nothing less and restoring

public trust depends on it. Thank you, Council President. Anyone else that would like to speak on this matter? Council President. Councelor Rosario.

Thank you to you, Attorney. Did you just find out? Because it it seems quite disturbing that we go through all this and just you let us know like right now. So that means you just find out. We didn't get a note because you know that's item wasn't the agenda. As soon as you find out that it was investigation, should it be a communication through us? Hey dear counselors, I know you're going to go through this item but just let me let you know that this is going on right now even though I cannot give you information. council, I received this at 4:30 this afternoon. I was not involved in the drafting of it. I had no knowledge of it. I was not scheduled to appear here tonight. As a matter of fact, I when I called my wife at 5:00, I told her I'd be home after 7. So, it's a surprise to me as I didn't know I was going to be called here. So, when I received this, I told the clerk I'd be happy as any time that the city council asked me to appear to appear. Um, I am under an order to not divulge certain information. So, I did not come to the council to give them that information because I cannot violate that. I'm not putting the city in jeopardy because of that. The police chief can verify everything that I'm saying here today. So, I have I've come here, this was the time and the place to tell you.

Thank you. Is that order was given by the warrant or that order was given by the mayor? By the um the agency by the agency. Uh anyone else counselors? Anyone else? Councelor Llan.

So, thank you. So, so the news is that this orders are now taken care of. So, really there's no need for us to be voting on this because the end what this wanted to get done has been accomplished. So, that's step number one. What hasn't been accomplished is our job. our job that's inside the ordinance. We need to send this to a committee and we need to do our job data collection. Number three, I'm going to read so that there's no so open and transparent what the ordinance is, not what Mark Lant is saying, what the ordinance is. Number one, what types of surveillance data will be deliberately or intentionally collected, captured, recorded, intercepted, or retained by the surveillance technology? Number two, what surveillance data may be inadvertently or unintentionally collected during the authorized uses of the surveillance technology and what measures will be taken to minimize the inadvertent or unintended collection of data? Number three, what steps shall be taken to separate deliberately and unintentionally collected data from inadvertently and unintentionally collected data? Number four, how and when or what frequency will inadvertently or unintentionally collected surveillance data be expeditually identified and permanently deleted? Number five, what steps will be taken to limit the description, the distribution, the publication or dissemination of any inadvertently or unintentionally collected data? And this is all under the presumption that we have already received something from whatever the government agency is that wants to put cameras up to surveil the public, including us. We're part of the public. So, we have a list and it goes on. I'm not going to read everything here this evening. It's part of the ordinance, but I want to give a flavor

of where we should be going with this. There are things that are audio that are aren't I'm going to point in this direction that are under the jurisdiction of federal and state agencies which apparently there is something going on. So, that apparently has been taken care of. But what's not been taken care of is our ordinance and has it been violated? And then what are we doing to cure it? What are we requiring steps to be taken? It's in here. It says what needs to be done. We don't need to recreate the wheel. When this body of which there's a couple of us who were here at that time a pass and adopted this, we were very precise. And I want to give flowers for flowers is are due. And the flowers on this goes to Senator Pavll Pano who was a member of this city council when this came up. I support him 100%. He pushed hard to make sure that the protections that are inside this ordinance were in there and they are.

Let me let me ask you a quick question. Sure. This is to approve a set of cameras. You will need to read the ordinance council. No, no, no, no. But that that's my questions to you. Is this for this is for the approval of the set of cameras? New set of cameras. So,

right. My understanding for the ordinance is this is this is for the approval. We have and I as I said on my statement an unauthorized set of cameras on city hall and due to the fact that we have an authorized and the mayor in the other size says that he authorized it and then through this order we are asking the state to step in and investigate. That's what we doing. If we vote yes on the order, the council have on sec on on on rule 13 the power of doing exactly what we're doing. We are not doing anything illegal as you want to make a scenes.

That's it. You want to make a scenes that we haven't do our job or within our rules.

This is what we doing. This is not exempt just because we have an ordinance. The state law trump our ordinances and if it is a violation of the state law that's what we looking for to approve. It's nothing new. The state law is there and if there is a violation of it, the state will determine it whether or not we have broke that law and any type of decision after that they will take it from there. The order is established and is for the adoption and is for a vote. We are not discussing the ordinance that is already been violated. We are discussing the order as per section uh rule 13 of the our our rules city council rules. So this is not the debate on the ordinance. Councelor Levy have talked to me about the ordinance. I have told her I have when I talked to her I told her this is not the discussion of the ordinance. We're not modifying the ordinance. If we want to go with the with the revision of the ordinance and see if it is a a violation of the ordinance and then we can have that on the agenda as a new item. The intent of this as councelor Infante, councelor Marmmo, councelor uh and and me and and the other counselors that were part of it is to order and to have this adoption of an order to further investigate if we need to by the state agencies. This is not

this is not a revision of the ordinance. We are talking about two different things. I respect what you said when it comes to the ordinance and I fairly disagree on this discussion. We're talking about two different things that both of them can be accomplished. One doesn't trump the other one.

Council President, two things. Number one, number one, again, I believe some of that was your opinion where you said this is where it trumps, etc. Number two, to answer your specific question, 9.25 25 talks about remedies and penalties. So when this ordinance is violated, it talks about what can be done. So to answer your question is what happens when it when something goes a foul as it appears as it has happened here. We have it in our ordinances. This is this provides for us the tools. We were very comprehensive, council president, and I think you probably voted in favor of it. I I think it was unanimous. So, we were you you voted in favor of it and you were right in voting in favor of it. I agree with you 100%. And it had remedies and penalties associated. So, I would recommend I would recommend again if we're going to and I I'm going to say this and I hope that no one's offended, but this is part of our job. We maybe not the people sitting here tonight, but we as a council voted for this understanding that there may be violations. And when those violations take place, as it appears to be taking place today, we have what we know we can do to bring whoever it is that's violating it to comport weather ordinances. What's happening elsewhere is on its own track. It's going to do its own thing. Whether it's audio, whatever it is, we're not stopping that. We're not getting in the way of that. That's going to do what it has to do. But we have our tools. And I suggest to this council that we do what we're supposed to do if we find that we know that we believe that no one has sent down that information regarding the cameras being elsewhere in this building. I know I didn't vote for it. I know it didn't come before me. So now we got to take the next step. And what's that next step? What are we going to do to make sure that the perpetrators comport to our ordinance? That's what I'm saying. Council President.

Thank you. No problem. Councel plant if there is any any other uh any other questions in regard to this. Uh, councelor Rees

uh I want to make a echo uh what my consular la plan mentioned because uh you put the item in the agenda but you don't give you the opportunity to compel our ordinance in place and also review the document because you put the item now it's new it's not sending through the committee you don't give you to the opportunity to view and also share with our new counelor to understand what is the difference in one ordinance and what is the orient. All right. May as per agree what is the main

as per both number one and number two we declare this as an emergency which is also part of our orders part of our rules and both three we suspend the rules and on on board number three we are adopting or voting against this order. Yes. M. So, the process No, let me let me let me No, no, no, no, no. Let me let me finish. I'm not finished. No, no, no. Uh, let let me clarify what you just said.

The reason why we didn't send it to committee is because we declared this as an emergency. This is part of the process. This is part of our rules. The reason why we suspend rule 12A is because we discussing this at this point. And the reason why because all the discussion is around why not send it to committee. We already took to vote on it. Let's not confuse the situation. We have an order in front of us and this is the order to investigate this issue. I guess the people don't want to investigate it. I guess I don't know. But in the meantime, the council, nine of us have the prerogative to take a vote. We're not going back. I'm not sending this to a committee. If the if the council decide not to vote in favor of it, it's up to the council. If the council decide to vote in favor of this order as per rule 13 and then we have the prere of doing it.

We already took you to eliminate my boys because I had the floor and you don't let me this talking if you're talking out of order I cannot allow it. We already have two vote on this. So you're talking about the the adoption of the order by all means. Very respectful. It's not it's not it's not the way because you got the floor. You need to wait. And if it is out of order, you can't. I'm sorry. I'm I'm not voting. I'm not supporting because you put in the agenda. You don't give us the opportunity to review the document. By all means, you have the right to do that. You have the right to do that as a counselor. Mr. President, any other questions? Emergency. Councelor um Gonzalez,

thank you. Um I just have one question because I don't have the full insight of what happened. This is also the first time I I see this or have any information. Um, I agree with what councelor Leant said and I might I also want to know if the city lawyer said that there's an investigation on course already, why is it that we are asking for another investigation? I just uh we are not asking for a secondary investigation. Okay, by all means. If an agency that we have no information whatsoever already took over this investigation, we happy.

Okay. what we doing is the job that the council is supposed to do. And if the council approved this is is not going to interfere with the investigation that is already in place. But let's say perhaps that tomorrow we wake up and said, "Oh, the council failed to order this investigation. That's why we're not doing it." And then this is not happening because we either say yes to the order or not to the order. But it could be a double dipping. Guess what? It's better to be safe than sorry. We're not interfering with the investigation. We're just doing what the council prerogatives are as per rule 13. And if the rule 13s allow us to do that, why not? If the vote is no, we respect that. That's the priority of the council. Majority majority vote that prevails. But if the council decide not that yes and then we are going to order the city attorney to be the primary contact as per state on that order on a specific to a specific department to investigate this matter. If the investigator is at the state level or the federal level, we don't know that's going to that's not going to our order is not going to interfere with what's already in place at all. We we are taking a secondary step that is going to ensure that the council have done the due diligence that we're supposed to do as of the violation of our ordinance as well as the a potential violation of an estate law. We're not interfering with what what is already in place.

Thank you, Council President. No problem. Councelor Marmo

through you, council president. Um, like I tend to do as counselor, I like to listen to my colleagues um and then speak. Um, I sometimes get confused and I try to be consistent as much as possible when I am making decisions. Um, declaring items as an emergency is not new given the three years that I've been serving. We've done that several times. Um, with the exception of counselor Lel Plan, uh, you've given your reason and I understand why. Um, but I must say that the gravity of this situation, this is not a minor offense and it's not an offense that should be taken very lightly. Um, I pondered as to what are the results that uh would would yield from this uh item being sent to the committee. And based on the results, at what capacity do we have to impose penalties? Is it on the same level um as this being sent to be investigated by an independent um agency? Are we are we are we comparing what the committee's capacity of uh imposing fines and and and I'm not sure and penalties that you mentioned would it be at the same capacity as the the the results that we would yield from having this being investigated by an agency? That's a question.

Would you like me to answer? Go ahead. Sure. Your mic is open. What I've spoken to you about is a criminal investigation. What you would be what you would be requesting is a civil investigation. So you answered my question. Not this, but if you if you were seeking to see if it was a violation of an ordinance and there would be penalties, those would be monetary penalties to certain people or whatever. What I have told you is happening right now is a criminal investigation which could result in jail for people. So, could both things happen at the same time? While a criminal investigation, could this be sent to committee to uh investigate on the civil side of things?

I I don't know who you would be having civily investigate. I I think I would want to find out what's happening first. I'd like to give you more information once I'm giving it to what what's happening with the criminal investigation. Okay. Um

yes. uh to just to the intent of this just to give you a quick um quick a little bit of information as of the order. The the intent of the order is to be investigated that as a result of the investigation if the state decide to investigate. Uh a criminal criminal investigation might be right after that if they find out that it was a uh a a law violation, state law violation. We already have that. We don't know the intent of it, but we need to make sure like we at least do whatever we need to do. Uh which not going to interfere with any other investigation that is already in place.

So, exactly my point, council president, sending this to committee would not address the criminal offense, you know, the potential criminal offense to this to the to these actions. I may have a reply for you, counselor, if I may. Council vice council president

um as I a city attorney. You once stated to me during during a meeting that I should be an attorney because I like to dig in and get information and and also cross reference my information. So, I did exactly that, Council Marl. Um, and as you heard, one thing that I learned was was about the minor the minor change that happened to this to this law. But what I also learned upon um I made calls to state agencies to make sure that I was understanding the situation correctly. And one thing that I did receive as a feedback I was asked did the did the city council order anything? Did they vote on anything? So I'm actually seeing this perhaps maybe perhaps the language may need to be changed at this point because now there is an investigation. Um, but it was asked whether or not there was a proper vote or a proper request by the city council to me and my through my investigation as as a counselor. Um, so I don't know if that helps or not.

Is this considered a request though? This adop saying yes to this adoption would be considered I would say either either a request or to re to emphasize that we are in favor of some type of investigation. We just learned like this is a criminal offense. if if anything is found and I want to make sure that this council realizes that this is serious. Um so that I I hope I answered or um gave you right. No problem. Counselors, any other questions? We're moving on on the item. Council President Levy, do you know how long it's going to take it this investigation to we can get a report?

I have no idea. I'm I'm supposed to be contacted tomorrow. I should have more information tomorrow, but I also thought I'd be contacted today and I was not.

So, Council President, do you think that we should tailor this item pending the investigation, the resort on the investigation and to continue whatever is, you know, according to the resort of the investigation, we can reopen and and continue talking about this Um, as far as uh as as I understand, one thing doesn't doesn't stop the other. So, one thing have nothing to do with the other one. This is an order that potentially can lead to a an investigation. If an investigation is in place, the investigation will continue. One one uh one thing doesn't have to do with the other one. Instead, what this does is potentially uh not allowing other a state agency potentially to get involved into it. Uh we are as a city of Lance we ordering we auditing a a potential investigation.

So I think that it will help instead of u uh putting it down. Okay. Through you again. So still so we have the investigation right now. So we don't know. So why we going to you don't know? We have no information. That is what the city is telling is but we don't know. I think until we get that information we don't know. Point of clarification. Sure.

Um through you council president. Council Vice President, as I just um stated to council Marmal, I I believe now now with the new information that we've received, the language should be changed a little bit, but as I as I mentioned earlier, as I was doing my own research in per to prepare for this meeting, um I was asked whether or not the council voted on something to continue it. So, I don't I believe it won't hurt to to have something in writing that we're in favor or that we're asking for answers. Perhaps now with the new information, we have to look at the language to change it. But I do believe that um a vote on something at least acknowledging that investigation is needed and that we want unbiased clear answers or or a resolution to this uh may be beneficial. That's is what I cons you. That's is what I say. We can table we can wait for the result of the investigation and make it make it the the changes of the language that you are asking for at this moment just to go directly with whatever that we are looking uh right now. So see we have an investigation like it you say we don't know but the city attorney already say that is investigation you know uh at this point we should tell you and just continue we going to continue depending on whatever resolution or whatever the the term or the uh investigation if we feel like this is not accomp what we looking for we going to continue we can we can keep talking and we can get the iron out of the table and continue doing if I may. Um, so so I I hear what you're

saying, but again, when I made my phone calls, there was a pause and a halt because there was no action from the city council as a whole. we are doing to you.

But um what I'm trying to get at is if it comes back that another agency is is necessary for the investigation or the results come inconclusive and we need to take action then um we need to go through this process again. So this what this will do is state we want investigation, we want answers, and we we want it to continue. Um whereas if we don't take any action, they're going to come to us and be like, well, the city council had an opportunity, you know, to to make a decision and you guys didn't. And I heard that I I won't disclose the office, but I heard that very loud and clear when I was doing my my research. And for that I do believe some action is needed by the council tonight.

Uh councelor councel infant the words that they going to be using is the council the city council failed to act. council Rosario to I mean something it's it's going according to the city attorney and he also stated if you guys forgot he said that chief of police can can also second on what he's saying that it's another inst institution or agency going through that thinking over it as much as I support this sending it to committee as a whole we can schedule a meeting for a few days and a new item as a new item is not holding it table it will be holding it but we can move it. It's a community as a whole and meeting can be scheduled as soon as the city attorney can have the information and be able to provide publicly and then we'll move from there. And that's not it's not we're not taking action. We will be taking an action by moving as a community as a whole and waiting whatever city attorney is going to get to us hopefully as soon as possible. We can schedule a meeting as a whole as soon as we get that information. And with those paper in hands and the name of the institution that is taking the doing the investigation and we can action from there. I mean as much as I support this but I I believe this would be the correct way to go now that we have this information because coming into this we didn't have that information.

Any other counselors? Council president Rosario. All right. No problem. At this time at this time Madame Clair please call the role. I've got a question. Council Madame Clair please call the role. Councelor Infante, councelor from district E regarding her question regarding an emergency. Cla, please call the role. Council Gonzalez, no. Council Miguel, yes. Council Marmal, yes. Council Infante, yes. Council Reyes, no. Council Del Rosario, no. Council Lanch, no. Council Vice President Levy. Council President Rodriguez.

Vote. Yes. What's the count? Count is four five. The motion fails.

Motion fails. Uh let's move on to the next item. Um let's go back to the top of the agenda. Communications from the uh from mayor, city officials, city of Chenny. There is none. Committee report the budget and finance committee. Mad madame chair from the budget and finance committee. Council fant you council president. Item 7-26, approval of tax increment financing, better known as the tiff, agreement between RG LLC and the city of Lawrence for property located at 470 Broadway.

You know what? Let's uh m uh I'm taking item that the city employees that are here first. Oh, okay. 8026. Which one is it? 80 and 26. And then we have 78, 79, and 80. What am I looking at? Uh 78, 79, 80, and 81, and 82, and 83 as well. 76.

Okay. Um, item 80-26, authorization to expend $70,000 in grant funds from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts federal funds and infrastructure office, a municipal and tribal municipal and tribal technical assistance grant was sent up as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. There is a motion on the table properly second. Discussion. Discussion. Item 8026. Hello. Thank you for having Oh, hello.

Good evening, counselors. Thank you for having me. Elis Reyes, 360 Marmac, director of project management and development. uh just provide us some insight about the uh the um the authorization to spend this this grant.

Yes. So this is a grant through federal funds and infrastructure office. It's a state agency that is providing $70,000 to the office of planning and development under planning for to comp to complement the safe streets and roads for all grant that we received in the city to create a comprehensive safety plan. And so these funds will help with getting a consultant to help execute the grant.

Consultant to execute the grant. And the grant is about the grant that this I could see that how confusing that is. I'll clarify. So the grant that we currently have is a safe streets and roads for all. That's to create a citywide comprehensive safety plan. Got it. All right, council. Any questions? Through you. The other grant that that we received for 70,000 is to get a consultant to help with the safe streets grant. Gotcha. So, it's a it's a grant. Yes. To complement another complement the other grant which you going to help you to get uh consultants in place. Yes. Any questions, counselors? I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I.

Any ns? The eyes have it. Item 8126. Item 81-26, acceptance of device under the Massachusetts Broad Institute MBI connected and online program was sent to the full council as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal. There's a motion on the table properly second discussion. I hear none. Uh this is the computer then right? Yep. You guys inaugurated before we actually approved the grant. Uh can you repeat that council? We you guys actually uh inaugurated inaugurated and and talk about the grant before we actually approved it.

Let me be clear that day I was off but they they kind of everything was mixed in in and together. So there was a $100,000 grant that MBI also gave the city of Lawrence but the connected online that that's a total uh separate grant president.

Thank you through you. I I remember receiving that email at 10:00 in the morning the same day inviting us to that and I I can't speak for my colleagues. I'm going to speak for myself. I felt disrespected even though everything was together. The city did take photos with those laptops that we have yet to approved here. I was this close today to voting no because of that. We need to follow our procedures. It is not okay to celebrate something when we don't have the end result. As you guys have been witnessed here, as you guys have seen, anything can happen in the city council chamber. You think you're coming in to an approval, you're leaving with with a denial. You think you're coming in with a denial, you you leave with an approval. Anything can happen. Pre-ceelebration of anything, I think, is a disrespect to the city council, and we need to adhere to the rules and and procedures of of the council. Thank you.

My apologies, but I will relay that message to the people that were involved in inviting through you. Uh, first we want to say that the 300 laptops and devices that were provided to the library were actually considered a donation. And because we want to respect the council, we actually put it on the agenda to inform you guys of this donation. And so donations also need to be approved. Wait. Let me clarify on that. Donations be approved.

Yes. Like we uh receive a grant authorization is the same process with any donations. Not it is not a codic. If you receive or the office receive a donation that is above $50, $50 and then that need to be approved by the council. It's not a courtesy. And point of clarification, Council President, if I may, being the budget and finance chair for the last four years, we've had on on the on the on the agenda donations that the fire department received that needed approval by the city council. So, it looks like perhaps the office did not know. Now, you know, donations do need to be approved.

Stand corrected. Thank you. Thank you. No problem. Counselors, any questions in regard to this uh to this uh item? I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I I any ns the eyes have it mad chair item 82-26 resition of bond authorizations nine bonds that that totals bear with me 9 million821,827.98 and it was brought up to the full council as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion.

Second. There's a motion on the table properly second discussion. I hear no discussions. Uh Mr. Mr. Ortiz, do you mind uh going over this as of why we're doing this?

Of course. Good evening, councilors. Um Pearliz city treasure collector 200 Common Street. So I come before you um here today to resend these um items. Um it's nine different projects totaling 9,821,827.98. Um so these are totals that consist of unissued portions amounts authorized to be borrowed under the loan orders of the city council adopted on the dates authorizing issuance of bonds and the amount and purpose listed before you. They're no longer needed for the projects for which we are just authorizing to resend them.

All right. Any questions in regard to this matter? Discussion. Council Lablan.

I just want to make one very quick statement. I um been around probably longer than anybody else around this chamber and this is the first time that I can recall that we've ever have not spent all the money on on a bond authorization. And there's many reasons we discussed during the committee. I'm not going to go through the wall now, but I think it's refreshing and I think it's great and I think it's fantastic that that that there is monies that are not being spent that are you're returning and that we have to say yes to that. Yes, we'll take the money back or the authorization back for for us to spend. I think that's fantastic. So, kudos to you uh and all the parts of the element that that made this happen. You you weren't eating this alone. working with the department heads of course to to to strategize with the funding, but be able to not spend all up to the cap on on those and say yes to the taxpayers. We're not going to spend all this money and we're going to bring it less. That's a good thing. So, thank you for doing that and I'm I'm really pleased to to vote on this tonight.

Thank you. All right. U any any other questions? I have none. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any nays? The eyes have it. Thank you. Have a good evening. Thank you. Item um item 83 uh26.

Item 83-26, authorization to transfer 97,552 from free cash to account um 01510-5380 in the amount of 15,000. Oh, already. Wait, hold on. Sorry, guys. In the amount of 15,552 and also to the account uh 015120-5770 in the amount of 80 82,000 was sent up to the full council as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. Second. There's a motion on the table properly. Second discussion. I hear none. All those in f please say I.

Any names? The eyes have it. Thank you. Good night. Uh going back to top of the agenda uh on budget and finance committee item 0 uh 726. Mr. Melanch, items 7-26, approval of tax increment financing, known as the TIFF agreement between RG LLC and the city of Lawrence for property located at 470 Broadway was sent up with a favorable recommendation pending legal advice and um language changed uh to the document to the to the

uh counselors. There is a motion on the table properly second u discussion. Mr. McCarthy if you have any questions it's online um here with us. Can you hear us Mr. McCarthy? Can you check with John to see if to make sure he has the audio? Give us one second.

All right. In the meantime, we have uh the the um the Argyri LLC here with us present. Uh if you got if you if the council have any questions to argue in the meantime while Mr. McCarthy is uh getting his audio effects three question. Mr. Guzman, can you walk us through to your project and what is intent to Sure. Sure. But before I do, uh I don't know the process, but I like what you said. Let's follow the process. Okay. The Tiff name and address for the record first.

My name is Raphael Guzman. I live at 38 Vonsfield Street in Lawrence, Mass. I've lived here since 1981. I'm currently uh a developer in the city and uh we're developing the old Molden Mills Alton uh in the Alton district. Uh we've been at it since 2012 and we're here to show you why we're asking for the tiff. Okay. But before we do, we want to go back to the last meeting and what interact what happened here. Okay. Look, I think you all know me here. We want the best for this city. I've been working in this city forever, okay? I didn't I wasn't born here, but I grew up here. My children, one, two, were born and raised here. They own the company. They're the future. My wife has been doing workforce development in this city since 96. You do the math. Jesse has been an estimator here in this building forever. This building show to the mic. Mr. uh

this is before and after Joanni council president before and after an iconic an iconic building right in downtown Lawrence on Broadway. It wasn't there in 2012. It wasn't here last year. is right here with our own money. We have yet to receive a tiff. I started developing buildings in Lawrence in 1994 and using the tiff because this property there's a CMR that protects this property by right. This is a smart out lake district. You go figure that out. Patrick Deval passed a law 21 cities in the state of which this site is one of them. We took it. We had developed it with our own money and we have requested Tiff under the William uh Lantua administration under the Dan Rivera administration and under this administration when it started we asked for the tiff and here we are four years later. Okay. He was reelected and nobody followed the process here. We have followed the process and what we're here to ask from you is the follow what we approved what has been done in the past.

Let's get me just let's let's clarify no let's clarify something because I feel like you are referring directly to instead of referring to the hall. So refer to the hall and that way we can have a refer to the whole refer to the council. I talking to the council talking to all of you. Yes. Do not play politics with Lawrence. Okay. We develop this city and give me in the north what you get in the south is what I'm asking. Yanni. Let me show you what what you get in the south.

Let's have let's have a cordial conversation prof at the professional level just like we have in the past with no intents of disrespect. I feel like your tone is being very aggressive. Thank you. So I I am being very aggressive. Yes, I feel I feel I have a right to be aggressive. No, you because you you disrespect my team last time you asked, "Have you guys done good?" Look at your video. We You think you were asking for anything? We're not asking you for anything. We can we can stay the whole night like that. Doesn't matter. No problem. It doesn't matter to me. And at the end of the day, you asking for this council. Yes. to approve a TIF which is a incentive of taxes

correct to this body and we are willing to have this conversation. Thank you. Just like we have it in the past with your son and with the owner of the company. We have no problem no problem whatsoever. We have no problem whatsoever about having this conversation. No, let me finish. Yeah, finish. If listen all we're asking is can we can we get into the questions I I think I think this is can we all we are asking all we are asking

all we are asking is for set the same consideration that other properties in the city were giving in the past in 2008 the city council of the city of Lawrence under the directorship of quadrroni was the president council at the time I believe gave a tip to a site

blanchet site blanchet there you Okay. To Sali where the first three years, it's right here. It's written down. And yet here we are like we're begging for something. Are you kidding me? City Council President. So please consider the fact that the Alington neighborhood is in the federal registry of historic sites of the United States of America. When we picked it up in 2012, it was like this with broken windows. This is what you have today. As far as employment generation, we have generated, you look, you go to the parking lot, we have over 400 people working at 530 Broadway. This building will house the first television, public television worldwide from Lawrence, Mass. This building besides 30 families will have state-of-the-art brand new apartments unlike anything you've ever seen before. the site the master plan the city had it since 2012. Have you reviewed it? No. Okay. It includes a parking garage of 500 cars. So we can pick up all the cars from through 28. And as far as residential, Mr. Mark LaRant.

Yes. Refer to refer to the council at home. Mr. Councel, sorry. Uh council president, I know every one of you personally. You what? And I I know every one of you personally and I do the do out of respect when I mention your name. I don't mean I say just to go to the conversation because in that way we have a more significant conversation we are we can go straight to the question.

So the question was why Mr. Council President do we have to be here begging for something that is used to develop the city? You tell me what is wrong with what we try to do. Why are we here begging? Why do you ask my wife? You guys have done well enough. Look at the last video, please. Okay,

let me let me let me let me let me let me clarify something because we cannot play the blaming game. when she was here, she was a representation of the company and she represent the company very professional and she asked those questions and we respond to her and we ask questions and she respond to us. Where is your question? No, we haven't get to that point. We listening to you.

We went the same consideration that the city gave the south to be given in the north of Lawrence. in the poorest neighborhood maybe of New England, the Allen neighborhood. One site that is a opportunity zone, federal registers and opportunity zone and recognized by Patrick Deval's administration as a site that needs development and here we are. So we ask you please give us the same consideration that was given to the Salup poly site because this site will change this city forever.

Counselors any questions? Council President Council Infante.

Thank you. Um I first want to say such a small world. Your son and I went to Greater Lawrence Tech together and we graduated and hung out together and and all of that. So nice to see you. It's been a long time. Um, but uh, Mr. Guzman, I I do have some questions for you down to the business, now down to the agreement, and I hope you understand that as a counselor, I'm doing my due diligence. Um, I did note, so I I reviewed the updated agreement, and when we discussed it at the budget and finance committee, the the total construction improvement cost that we had in front of us was about 4.5 million. The upgrade the updated agreement now indicates that the construction and improvement cost is now 8.2 million. Can you please walk us through why we were given one number originally and now at this level we're giving an increasement of that number?

I couldn't tell you because I don't know but I will tell you exactly how much it cost. Okay. 530 brother was renov was bought in 2012 1221 2012 we spent $5 million to renovate that building 470 brother come from scratch we spent 8.2 million to build it. It's not completed yet but it will be completed next month. The corner brother tires we bought that building for I believe 1 million. Okay that building is going to be demolished. There going to be a parking lot there to try to pick up some of the cars that we have inside our facility because right now there's no parking. The school system came in took took rice out of it and put the adult lending program and now we have all these adults first shift second shift is full of cars. Okay. The next phase is to turn down Broadway tires. Build a parking garage 600 cars. then build a building similar to the one we're building right there. 516 Broadway on the back will be the most expensive housing development in Lawrence.

Thank you. Um, Council President, I would like to ask Director McCarthy

from the city standpoint, why is there a significant change, almost a 50% change from what was presented to the budget and finance committee to what we're seeing today? So when I when I reviewed the uh when I reviewed the agreement uh back in my office, I noted that there was one number uh listed under the declarations and there was one number um that was different in the um in the body of what the um uh applicant was promising to provide as part of their obligations. Uh so I contacted um um so I contacted Mr. um Guzman and asked him which was the correct number and he told me that the 8 the 8.2 million was the correct number.

Can you repeat the last part? So I so I contacted Mr. Guzman. I said of those two numbers which one was correct? He said the 8.2 million was the correct number. Okay. The actual amount borrowed from the bank, uh, Council Stephanie, is $6.3 million, a construction loan to build this building. I'm sorry. 6.2 million. 6.3 million is what the bank gave us to construct that building. The other money came from our pocket. Okay. Thank you. So, just to the total investment in the site, it's going to be 45 45 million of which we have spent a good chunk of change.

So, let me clarify from something. So, uh, the building permit that we have in the city of Lance is worth $4.5 million. You're saying that the total construction cost is 6.2. It's going to be around 8.2. So, and I guess that amendment need to happen on the on the construction permit at some point. We could do that. Yeah. Yeah. Because I mean uh when once on the on the property card it's actually list that uh the permit number and on that permit number is there isn't a landlord in this city that has paid more taxes than I have. I have yet to receive anything. No because you think we we lie Mr. Mr. Mr. Guzman remember Mr. Mr. Guzman we cannot have a productive conversation that way.

But but you as you're raising questions okay and I need to answer those questions. Okay. Let me ask to the Let me ask only was $3 yesterday and today six. Let me ask let me ask that questions to the owners of the company. I am the owner of the company. No, you just introduce them as the owner of the company. No, there because in that way we can have a good conversation. I think that with your son here it will help more. No, Joanni, it will help more to talk to me. Trust me, I own the company, my friend. I own the building. Point point of clarification. Wow. Point of order. Point of order. Point of order. Councelor Infantry.

Thank you. Um I I want to say Mr. Guzman, we had we had the other Mr. Guzman in front of us and he did an excellent job and I will continue to do it. I have done an excellent job in this city over the years. Listen to me. Hold on. Hold on. Order. Hold on. Hold on. Order. I'm I'm just saying if Order Council F, you have the floor. Thank you. I'm I'm just saying that If your son, the other Mr. Guzman does come to the podium, him and your wife did an excellent job advocating for the for the business and to make sure I'm trying to compliment you. I know I'm trying to compliment. We don't need compliment. We need results.

We need you to tell me if we're going to do this or not. We can walk away. We have a right. We are We are applying because we care about the city. All right. We could use the money so we can continue developing this site. You don't want to give it to us, okay? We sue the city. It's as simple as that. You don't want to give it to us, we won't take it. All right. Let's take Let's take a vote on the on the item. Please do. I still have Let's take a vote on the item. I still have the floor. Council President,

no, no, no. If we we're going to continue with the disrespect on this body. I won't tolerate it. I'm going to call for for a vote and the item is over. the council make a determination whether or not we want to approve this item or we want to continue with the disrespect disrespect uh conversation that u Mr. U Guzman have against the council of course we want and somebody else to take the mic I think I think the community um deserves just introduce yourself please Javier 16 terrace I think the community deserves for this to be a in like in-depth started conversation um despite any past tones or aggressions that may have been pursued.

We we are willing to do that. I think for sure a passionate project out of love and uh growth for this community. Um that's all I have to say on the piece. Thank you. Thank you. The floor uh councelor Infante, I need to pass

the mic to other counselors that still haven't speak. um through you, council president. I'm I'm honestly and truly disappointed right now with this meeting. Uh I was part of the budget and finance. Um and I believe I was one of the counselors that try to find a happy medium in order for this item not to be completely um denied. I understand that he's the owner of the company, but this is not the way to advocate for a tiff. Um, I understand how deeply rooted you guys are with the community. I'm well aware of the work you guys have accomplished and how much you guys have contributed to the city, but at the end of the day, you guys are coming before us to request something and this that is not the way to request something. Um, I know that there's personal relationships in the past that he may have or you guys may have with some of us, but I know personally with me, I don't I don't know you guys on a one-on-one level. I don't know Mr. Guzman on a personal level. And I'm pretty sure that, you know, he doesn't have a contentious relationship with each one of us here. So it just comes across the whatever personal issues that he has with some counselors. It is o it's literally taking over this meeting and it's honestly making you guys look so bad and it's making me say no to something that I was already uh ready to move forward. I'm I was ready to move forward. Uh I believe council president um not completely denying it was in favor of making the amendment to the tiff and moving forward with that as well. And honestly this conversation is taking a left turn to the point where it's just leaving a sour note as to the behavior

of someone who's the face of this company. And I know you guys are not begging, but at the end of the day, this is a process and having to come before us. We have every right to ask questions. You know, just as much as you guys care about the community because we could see it through the projects that you guys are accomplishing. You know, we care about it as well. And that's the reason why we're asking these questions. I wasn't part of the council in the past. So, I don't know if these are similar conversations that that took place with Salopoli or with any other developer that uh did get approved for these tiffs, but please give other counselors that weren't part of that in the past an opportunity to have this healthy dialogue and to ask questions because it is our job and I think it is important to ask these questions because at the end of the day, the constituents that call us to ask about, you know, the parking challenges, which granted, I know you guys ment mentioned that it is part of your design plan, but we're the ones that get all the the calls and the concerns. So, unfortunately, that's why we need to be hard on everyone that comes before us requesting approval on any development um that we have we would have to either agree or or deny, you know? So, I I just wish it it wasn't it seems like it's going personal and I'm just I I'm at a loss for words to be honest. I feel like this is the first time me being counselor that I'm seeing a conversation go way left. Uh, okay. Council president,

excuse me. No, let's let's allow him to to say something.

I'm sorry. Um, Mariel Cana 3. I'm sorry and apologize for what happened, but um it happened last time when we are here and it happened early today when uh President Giovanni Rodriguez talking. He don't allow nobody else. So he ask question and then if he don't like the answer he cut whoever is talking. So I know that everybody here deserve respect but saw whoever stand here this cannot ask question and then don't give the time to talk or to respond. And I'm really sorry and this is not what we are used to and it seems to be begging because like maybe other people they don't they don't show up here as the owner. They send someone or they send a letter and maybe they get what they want without being standing here. What happened last time you were here and it was a little bit uh overwhelming the way that Mr. President Gavanni was talking to us. I just want to clarify that and I'm really sorry for what just happened. Now

I want to take a a point of personal privilege at this point.

Uh and I going to clarify a few things um under this point of personal privilege. I was not I was not sharing the meeting last week. I was talking through the chair of the committee just like at that point I was part of that committee. Today as as the council president people as per the global rules of order this is how we conduct the meeting. We don't talk to the podium. The council doesn't speak to the podium. The council speak through the city council present and then that message is relied into the people that are standing on the podium to avoid confrontation. And this is what the robot rules of order establish. Last week when I uh debate this item, I expressed my concerns about the item just like I have today. What we discussed last week was not even close to what we have today at all. And we we asked for a simple question or the council asked through the council president a simple question and that was not answered as of why it went up from $4.2 million $4.5 million as established on the tiff last week to $8.2 million and the answer was not given from any of the two parties. I have the answer as to why it went up. But still neither one the applicant or

the city is providing the proper information to this council. Is that a lie? No, that's not a lie. This is just lack of the proper concept to express or the proper word. what you guys include was not part of it last week. Is that does is that something that should be included? That's subject to debate and a good faith once the information is provided. And yes, last week as a member of the budget and finance committee as I was able to discuss and speak if I interrupt somebody could be for multiple reason as unallowed by law. If the item is out of order, I need to call it out of order as I have this today. It's not like I'm interrupting is is uh sometime we're talking about multiple things and it take a huge level of understanding to be able to get from point A to point B without getting a little bit of confused about what we will discuss today. This is the first time I speak about this item and I'm doing it on the a point of personal privilege due to the fact that I just received an accusation of me doing something that is not within my jurisdiction and that's why I'm taking this point of personal privilege.

So um we are here with the intent of and the item in front of us is for TEF a tax incentive going to this specific company RLC that is located in 570 of uh on the 500 block 450 block to uh 550 block of Broadway That's what we're here for. And we are with intents of discussing the matter of the subject. If we keep on going around, that's not going to help what we doing here today.

No, just she's she's willing. She she wanted to to talk to you. Okay. Do you want her to just respond or take the floor? Okay. Give me one minute. Let me allow the other counselor to uh entertain the question.

Thank you. And through you uh council president, I'm going to start by saying that me working with this with them for the past two and a half years and Marty can witness that to me is frustrating being here at this position where I feel that they had this this location had been put on aside to entertain all the places and I and I'll explain. McCarthy can witness that the first time four years ago when I was elected we tried to get a tiff. Marti picked up all the paperworks and they say it was okay and two years after the fact he said that we need to reszone that area. Two years without telling us what we needed to do while he was entertaining all the places to get theft. That's okay. Four years into the fact we're still here dealing with this. So, we need to resone the the place. So, we we resone it to to try to get and be and and they be in compliance or be in willing to available to to apply for the tiff. In the meantime, they put money on their own pocket to keep moving their projects. They didn't wait for the city while all the companies, all the buildings, all the locations were coming in front of us getting tiff and all that stuff. Okay. So I contact McCarthy one more time three or four years after the fact. Can you give me an update? Oh, that's moving through. That's that's going through the pipeline. We came over again and it was another issue which McCarthy did not did not tell us there was an issue. So we needed to redo it again and they needed to do the whole paperwork, everything coming back and restart all over the place. In the meantime, they continue to construct the the construction was continued on going. Something that I was disappointed on this part, not to not to hear last meeting was that on the bottom of that, Mr. Guzman says there was going to be a a TV channel, but also you said you was disappointed because it was a school. It

is a school going up and said, "No, you said that." Well, I I was reading that school was coming or some type of education program was coming underneath. But I say I was disappointed.

Yeah, but you said I I feel it. And then she uh Miss Guzman did told you that she wasn't sure or she could not guarantee it. But according to that conversation that I had with Mr. Guzman a few months ago which I walked the building is a broadcast some type of TV show and also broadcast education that's going to bring the youth in there. They are up to the podcast and all that stuff going on. And I was disappointed not to hear that and said this type of school is coming into this building on the bottom. And that maybe twisted the whole conversation into changing this the tiff into something else. But what is more disappointing for me is that being in this situation and it's all Mac's fault and I and I'm going to say it because Macalta did not provide the information that we needed. Marti did not provide the paperwork they needed and we pushed it and pushed it and pushed it while they were approving all the sites all the places all the all the grounds without being built already got a we've been waiting for almost six years for this right now that we here I mean they frustrated I'm frustrated but I'm not going to take it on on none of us right I would take it to myself that we cannot even said you know what yes Marta screw it up let's let's let's do something else and Let's try to do this the right way. And I hope that McCarthy one day comes in and said, "Look at I I screwed up." But he never said it. And I don't I don't I mean it's not that I don't like McCarthy and he knows it. I said it in his face. I don't like the way he operate. We sent certain kind of people. Certain kind of people cuz I see some other locations coming in after us and in a few months already in front of us asking for it and getting it. And this this this location has been waiting for over four years for it. So I believe that this area needs to be developed. If we need to provide the help, we need to do it. We need to help them out. There was a flaws on the on the on the on the amount. Yeah, it needs to be clarified and I agree. But deny it

I mean deny it, changing it, stopping it, I mean it it's it's it's already done. I mean it's we already granted so many so much cash to to areas that don't even need it and believe me. and they will come back. Those same people that we provide them, they getting ready. They getting the paperwork ready to come back to us while this location is waiting for it and it's almost done. This location might not need it. They need the help and we need to provide the help. I think we need to provide the help. But those locations that we already gave them, they getting paperwork ready to come back to us. Come back to us. And like they said, they command on their own. Those location that have money, they send an entourage. They got their words written down what we want to hear the way that we want to hear but they command themselves to present their own their own company their own project and because they don't have the entourage with everything reading this is what the city council needs to hear go at it we right here arguing and they frustrated I mean it's out of order but I mean I it's frustration I'm frustrated myself and we I've been dealing with this on a personal level for four years maybe longer than that we know moving through the pipeline while all the projects and all the land and all the st was moving like nothing happening but again Salapolei never came in front of this microphone he sent and and I'm sorry that I mentioned a name he never committed to the to that to the podium he sent his sourage he sends his developers he sends his people he sends his lawyers to talk to us about what they were proposing and what we did we gave it to them without without even asking so many questions like we've been asking these people so I think it's time that we We put some effort into that area that needs help from us and let that area develop and maybe the city can even out but all the tiff every tiff if you look at it is only went to one side and one side only and right now we sending a message to the futaria that lady that been building her business by herself that she's

thinking and coming in front of us to get help do she think she's going to be she's going to come and she spend millions of dollars to level that street making that parking lot without asking the city for a single penny cuz she said I don't want to I don't want to be putting in that in that podium asking for the city help. I'm going to kill my kids working in myself to get this level what I wanted to be. Eventually I'll sell and go out of the city and that's after you put all your work people being afraid to come on this side for ask for help or for ask for something that we have give all the people because that's what it is. If we haven't given to anybody and this is the first time people come and ask you you should have all this question why we would give you this why we would give you that but it's something that we've been given for years but we only given it to one side one side only read all those that we that we got we got the reports ask how many have been given in the Allington neighborhood so it's time that we reconsider it and maybe yeah Mr. the Guzman can come in and apologize. I know he's frustrated. We all frustrated for it, but it's time that we as a council reconsidered. I mean, this is what's coming and they not asking for anything different of anybody else that we already provide that help. So, it's time that we reconsider and also believe in them and gave the help that they need. Thank you.

Uh uh some point of information about what councelor that Rosario just established. We uh as a council have bought it since I've been in the council on three ties on three tiff multiple ties. Uh the ties are for housing the t are for economic development. Three of them uh was given since 2015. One of them was for a uh tuition free um woman's uh lady schools which is Espenance Academy which was the most recent one. Uh the previous to the previous two was specifically for economic development. One of them on Marmax Street which is they've been there for 75 years. They expand uh that was about four years ago, 5 years ago potentially. And the other one was at um and also at that um in South Lawrence which was a a a job producer of about 300 jobs on our com on um

Hul Brothers. U yes on a um u industrial laundry in South Lawrence. So those three in the last 12 years that I'm being here and I understand and I and I and I was through the whole meeting last time but also while we were we were trying to approve the Hilton brothers they they messed up on the numbers how many jobs they were going to create. Right. I don't know if you guys remember. I do remember. And then and they they messed up on how many jobs they were going to create. Correct.

I asked Marty also how many of those that we've been given. We've been back and made sure that they have created what they promised us. No answers. He said, "No, how many Tiff or those have been taken back?" No answer. How many of them I violated the whatever once we give it, we don't go back and check if they did it. And McCarthy was there and I said, "Well, I'll check with you, counselor. Let me check." But I believe we never go back. We never taken away. Are they all in compliance? No. They come here and tell us what we want to hear. But do we go back and tell them to give us a report? Do we go back and see if they did it, did what they supposed to do, what the entourage came in with all the paperwork and told us that we're going to do what we wanted to hear. I think this may be a potential an opportunity for us to develop a a checklist of checking on those.

Yeah, we can we can do all that and I agree, council president, but not by denying or changing things that they really need. Now, we're going to make an example of them and then we're going to start doing the right thing. That's not

so we should and then we should we should been there's all kinds of things that we should we have done and I made that conversation clear that day I said and I asked McCarthy right there said do we go back how many of those have violated the terms and condition that they told us that they were going to do nobody had clue nobody went back nobody go back has the Hilders brother 300 300 300 400 jobs we don't know maybe more they probably have done more but do we know how we went back after we gave them that we have a report not just them anybody that We give them they brought out a promise but again again again they they send the entourage they see in this videos they getting prepared with the paperwork those are the question they're asking but this people they came in let's move

on this last thing this people came in people from Lawrence try to develop Lawrence asking for something that everybody else has asked in the past and we've given and we're giving them hassle thank you council council mar uh no not Yeah. No, but without giving you the opportunity to speak, we won't take a vote. Um can you you were you were the one asking first? Okay. Councelor Infante. Thank you. I I No, no, we going to we're going to get to that point.

I first want to say um I was noting the frustration. So, when I was trying to compliment Mr. Benny Guzman, it was for him to take over the mic because I do have actual questions pertaining to the business of this. Um, and seeing a almost 50% jump, I do want to, you know, an answer to that. And I can also say as a counselor, I'm one of the counselors, no matter who's in front of me, my colleagues can say I'm asking 10,000 questions. And a lot of people don't like that. They they think I'm a difficult counselor sometimes, but I come prepared to the meetings with my questions and my concerns. Um, an example that council de Rosario mentioned regarding the Hellidge brothers which is in my district. I blocked that at first from moving forward because they weren't prepared because they didn't have answers to our questions. And I'm the district counselor and I tabled it until they came prepared with the questions that the committee was asking. So I'm I am what you see. I am like this across the board. Um, and I just wish that, you know, it I it was to me it was it's it was disappointing to hear we don't need the compliment because I was trying to move it positively in a better direction because we do have business to handle and is the agreement at uh uh at hand. I I've spoken to the district counselor where this project is going to be. I've I've heard his plea. I've I've heard his his concerns about the lack of development in his district and how that's going to benefit. And we talked about the space, you know, park. We talked about all of that. So, but again, there's there's some there's some diff there's some different information here that I hope to get to the bulk of.

What's the question? So the question so I received I mean I I still my still concern was this is this almost 50% jump where this came from specifically. I got a really long answer from from your father and I'm honestly not satisfied with the answer that Mr. McCarthy gave me. I'm what I'm hearing is it could it could have been an oversight. I don't know. But how was this oversight actually you know actually how did this come about? And the way that I was reading the numbers essentially with this almost 50% jump, you're going back to the original agreement that we agreed to modify to a happy medium. Um, and I could be wrong, but that's why I wanted to have the discussion to see if if there is information that there's a motion to pass then properly second discussion. There is no

see if there's any Oh, sorry. No. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any nays? No. Madame Clair, please call the role. Council Council Lith, Council Del Rosario, yes. Council Reyes, yes. Councelor Infante, yes. Council Marlo, yes. Councelor Miguel is noted as absent. Councelor Gonzalez, yes. Council Vice President Levy, yes. Council President, yes. Motion carries. Yep. Okay. Uh, council, you have the floor.

Thank you. So, that's one. And two, I just want clarification on the units as well. So, originally, um, it was proposed 24 units. I'm now seeing two numbers within the new agreement. I see the 24, but I also see 30 units. So, I'm unclear on which one. 30 total. It's 30 total. So, the new So, okay. So, first question is the units. The units. So, that's 30. So, was it So, now my question was it always 30 units? Was it an oversight? So there's some just clarification that I'm looking for. Yeah, just speak to the mic please. Disparity between the amount of units as well as to the amount of cost to build. I would say that clerical error, right? Which it could be corrected.

The units is a clerical error. Yeah, the plans actually have 30 units on it. And then on the agreement we discussed it was 24. You see the difference? That's why we kind of like you know. Thank you for that clarification. Okay. Go ahead.

Uh in terms of the budget, I don't work with the budget but I know that at the beginning we start thinking that the cost will might be close to 4 million. Then in my last meeting here I say uh that we got a loan for six uh 6,200 and because of the increase of with the new administration most of the uh material increased by 30 or 40%. So that is adding to what we thought the cost at the beginning and let's be honest the construction has taken a while so we can all see that obviously the you know cost of construction has gone up

and you know that doesn't include the lease fit out that's just raw put the building occupy occupancy permit so these numbers that you guys are receiving I mean there is that's there is an answer it's all right let me just on top of uh cost of material Yeah, let me let me just clarify one thing to the point um councelor uh president that's that's that attitude that we're kind of receiving to everyone's point. We don't get to finish our question but we have to hear you and I mean at one point you hit the gavvel for like 20 seconds. We don't have a gavvel here. You see what I'm saying? Mhm.

Yeah. With everyone else in the council it's a lot of respect. It feels like we're welcome here from you. It's we don't get that same energy. we don't get that attitude. Okay. So, that might be a lot of the disconnect that you might be seeing. So, to your I mean um um I don't know why and I'm not I'm not going to I'm not going to I'm not expecting to have an answer. No, appreciate the answer. U when you took a 30 second, you know, privilege or 30 minute privilege. We got it.

Yeah, that's the that's the way it is. Unfortunately, that's the that's the type of government we have. Uh that's the type of government we have uh which is basically a a uh a council that follow the robos of order. I don't know why uh you guys uh you don't have that sense of me but I need to maintain the order on the rune.

Understood. Uh and unfortunately I can't this is the only thing I have to be able to maintain the order as you know and everybody here notice it and everybody in the public also notice it that um um Mr. Guzman was uh very direct and sometime disrespectful to the council and that's fine. He's expressing his frustration. At the end of the day, what we want is to go into the discussion. And when I ask eventually for a point of personal privilege, let me tell you something. I think this is the second time I got a point of personal privilege on my life in the council about 11 years. And this is the first time I feel direct attack on me. And out of that out of that

is this another personal privilege I need to you see that's the problem out of that that's why I took a point of personal privilege if that take 30 minutes you guys win don't do that

that's what it takes and at the end of the day I guess that many of us here doesn't have the information as to what we need you are glo Let's see. I still don't have the information as to why it went up. The reason why it went up and I want to clarify to my colleagues here from 4.5 to 8.2 is because on the previous discussion we only include the personal property. On this agreement, we have the the uh property tax plus the personal property tax. Out of that, we got $2.5 million worth of equipments that were not discussed. And this is the answer we're looking for here, but not out of me because I cannot bring this up. It is out of the discussion. Out of a whole discussion

that were not part of the discussion. If that's wrong, not necessarily that could be included as part of the agreement, but that was not part of the discussion. And some of that $4.5 million going all the way to $8.5 million was because like I said on the two agreement the lack of that information was not part of it. Only the personal property only the property taxes were included and that was around the $4.5 million. Now, the personal property, which is the section of the job creation, was $2.5 million worth of equipment that you guys going to add on the first floor. I'm not saying that to hurt the agreement. I know how we're going to vote for it. I'm not influencing the council as of voting yes or no. I'm allowing this discussion the discussion to go through. Instead, what the company have have done and keep on pushing on is on the me having the goble, me having the a point of personal privilege instead of focusing on the agreement.

We're not I'm not I'm not I'm not willing to screwed up your your agreement with the city. No, I'm one council. I'm one board.

No, I know how to vote. I know how I going how I going to vote for it. And guess what? My board have a significant change and impact on the discussion we have today. Not previously, not today at 4 or 5 or 6:30 or 7. It was after the podium was taken and and trust me, we want this discussion to happen here at this level. And that's why we're trying to get answers of questions that we have. Counselors any questions through you uh councelor president councelor rees

uh we already complete the question to to the company. Uh we are asking the counselors if they have any other questions.

I want to give you a comment. I know the frustration uh from Mr. Guzman because he spend uh a lot of effort to development this beautiful project. Uh at the same time uh I understood my colleagues they don't feel comfortable for this tough conversation but we need to recognize uh the dedication and love from Mr. Goodman from from our community. But at the same time, we can waiting for councel infant to double check if she have more question and you can responding to moving forward because we have the motion on the floor or not yet.

Once we finish up with the discussion and then I call the questions. Okay. We have the the motion on the floor. So uh do you have any questions for the company? No. Yes. I give you a comment. Okay. But I continue. Counselors. Any other questions? I want to make a comment. Councelor Mama,

my comment is um although I agree the the frustrations I I sympathize, but I feel like the majority of the frustrations, it like we're the target of the frustrations, but in fact, it's due to the four years of the challenges and the mistakes from some other process. And again, you know, you have every right to feel and be frustrated, but I feel like the majority of the frustration is coming down to what's happening now because of the request. Um, I don't feel like this item was has been intentionally held back. It hasn't like there hasn't been any intention from from as far as I'm concerned to hold back in in moving this forward whether it's in a positive or in a negative um uh decision. Um I I believe it was tabled once and it was because I personally did not have the the documents at hand to even properly discuss it. But we've been having the the proper discussions. there hasn't been any um type of um intention on the on the on the council's end to purposely withhold or table, you know, there's times where you could table this item to ask for more documents and more and then you could tell when it's kind of like when it's purposely being done to to make sure that it's taking forever for you guys to get something approved. Um I know when we were having these discussions in budget there was um and this is we're trying to move the discussion forward for the love of God. Um in budget there was the discussion of the difference between TAI and TIFF and the reasoning behind why there was some hesitation with some counselors regarding the TIF uh approving for the TIF it was because of the economic development component. When I had asked

regarding the the commercial properties, I was overjoyed to hear the fact that there was going to be some sort of training facility. I think that's amazing. I think that is exactly what the city needs, which is why I did not want to see this item completely fall apart. Um, but I think it was important to ask the questions regarding what is the criteria in approving TIFF agreements. Um, so I feel like right now that seems to be I don't know if to say if that's the issue at hand um or what's holding you guys back is the criterias for approving a tiff and if you guys have uh the s adequate amount of uh what's required for this development to be considered an economic development um factor to it in terms of the hiring of of of employees. Correct me if I'm wrong. If I'm saying something that, you know, if there was a misunderstanding or if I'm you know, if I misspoke, by all means, I I want to hear my colleagues correct me. But that seems to be the the the problem here, the issue. Correct. Yes. No.

Do you have Do you want to That's a question for them.

Yeah. Go ahead. Okay. So, I understand um your question. Um when I came uh like a week or two ago, I didn't mention about the TV channel because I didn't know that it was already outside. It was something that internally we were working on it. I didn't mention about the training. Yes, now that I know that everybody knows the good news. Yes, it will be the procast. it will be the um training and in terms of the budget like I mentioned before every uh material cost is increased between 25 30 or 40% from the time that we start up to now and when Mr. Rafael Guzman mentioned about that at the end the whole project will be close to 8 million. It is with personal property where it will include all the equipment that it needed for the TV uh channel. So we are not trying to hire any number. It just that every day it might be changing.

Okay. Given the change cuz that is this is new information to me with the TV. You said podcast. Yes. Is it media media? Okay. So that wasn't ever discussed in the last two meetings. He just mentioned it. No, no, no. I'm saying but in the previous meeting. So those does those number change in terms of the employees that would be considered um as hired based on the numbers that we have here. We we might have more but the minimum we want to say 15. It might increase but we don't want to say something and then it comes for a review and say that we didn't comply. That's why we put 15. But I mentioned last week on the new agreement is 25.

I'm sorry. On the new agreement is 25. Okay. My apology. No, that's fine. The person that brought that they they never send it to me. But anyway, um if if it's 25, we will make sure that we have 25. I got it. Once we get it, we will not lose it. Okay. I was just wondering if it increased from the original number that came before us given the new information with the media outlet. I didn't know if that affected the those numbers. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Can I tell you some numbers? We currently have Mr. Mr. Guzman, we can have the mic.

We currently have over 30 people in Boston, over 20 people in Memphis in that property, over 40 people working from all from Lawrence. Every one of here, he was born in Lawrence. I came here, I never left Lawrence. I went to college, he came back. We want the best for Lawrence. We want you to give us incentive that you give in the south. If you cannot do it, it's okay. But you have to tell us why because you work for us. We don't work for you, Mr.

We elected you to do economic development. We are doing that in this city. We've been doing it since 1994. Look at our record, Vivian. Excuse me. No, I'm sorry. What did he say? B.

So, one thing I don't I I'm going to be honest with you. I don't really appreciate I I'm here trying to advocate as as hard as I can right now. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm really like I'm you. You're getting me out of my character. I never talk like this to anybody and it's really taking a lot for me to hold my composure right now. I've never been talked to like that and I don't understand why me. I am trying to advocate for you guys for us to understand what you guys are trying to do and try to see how we can move this forward. And I'm not really understanding the animosity and

I you get more bunnies more more bees with honey because honestly this is not the way to talk to us. I just don't understand how you think it's okay.

I can't say it's okay. Um counselor, sorry. I think uh despite the misguided uh aggression um or any perceived um disrespect, what we're proposing here is is ultimately good for the community. Um despite any tone or um miscommunication, the goal ultimately is to develop an underdeveloped part of our city. Um which will ultimately not only benefit us or here people here, but the youth of young adults pursuing uh further education. It will add more homes to our community. Parking, which we all know if if you operate in this city is an issue. Um, so despite any uh tone, which I apologize for, you know, my father's a very passionate guy. Um,

what we're trying to do here is is for the greater good of this community, much which will benefit the community after we're long gone. Um, so that's that's wrap up on that. I don't know if you have any other questions. Uh, thank you for the clarification. Counselors, any other questions? Council President, give me one minute. Let me ask the other counselors to see if they have any questions. Council, there's any other questions? All right, we go to the second or third forefront. So, councel,

thank you. It's just a a comment. I'm hearing a lot south, north, Lei, etc. Um, we've had heated discussions pertaining to the the developer that that was mentioned um that has projects in South and I can say what my colleague that's advocating for your for your project in his district has been one of the biggest advocates against what the city has done prior or the favoritism that we've seen prior and they have stood in front of us and even during those heated discussions never ever acted what we're seeing tonight. I understand that during the budget and finance meeting we had some difficulties and I as the chair had to navigate through that but this is another level and I one thing I I I I'm going to use the word hate. One thing I hate as an elected official is being threatened. We understand that we do work for you guys. We understand who elects us. And I'm one that says this is not my chair. And anyone who who wants to run against me or or whatever has the right to do so. And when my time is done as a counselor, it's done cuz it's not my seat. It's the people's seat. But we've we've had many developers and this is the first time that I'm seeing this tonight. And that is not okay.

All right, council. Let's put the personal thing on the side and let's vote on the project and what they requested. Please don't prolong this conversation. Council president, it's already a motion on the table. While we prolong thing gets worse. Let's get ready to vote if that's okay. If that's an order.

Yeah. Uh this is uh this is the intent. If counselors have questions and counselor Mammo just finish up her question, first line of questioning, she have the right to express herself just like uh any others that have done so. Um any other questions at this time, Madame Clerk, I would like to um clarify the motion and the agreement that we have in front of us to take a vote. Council, you have a council, you have a TIFF agreement in front of you. Looks like this. It's got the number 7-26 handwritten up in the corner. That's the most recent version of the TIFF that was issued after the budget and finance meeting. Um, it has the five years in it. It's got 25 jobs. I just want to make sure everyone knows you're voting on the same document or

and the 8.2 million. Everyone's the terms are consistent that no one's saying next week, oh, it said 4.5 million. This is the 8.2 million 5-year TIFF, 25 jobs. This is that's what's in this document. Point of parliamentary inquiry. So, the committee pushed forward its proposed recommendation. It was amended at the committee and this is the amended version that the committee approved. That's correct. Thank you. Regardless of what's in the packet, this is what we're voting on. The only difference between the what we had before is that they include the uh personal property taxes and there's still 30 units in this one. Uh it's 30 units on that.

30 units. Yep. Uh the job increase uh to 25. All right. Any other questions? All right. I guess that we clear on the motion. The motion is motion to approve uh with the condition that was presented to the council. Uh all those in favor, please say I. I Madame Clair, please call the role. Councelor Gonzalez, yes. Council Miguel, yes. Council Marmal, no. Council Infante, can you come back to me? No. Um, that's the order.

Um, I feel I don't feel ready. I feel like I'm going to vote by emotion and that's not fair. If you are not ready to vote, you can vote present or abstain. Yes or no. Those are your choices. You know what? You're voting for my colleague. I'm going to say you vote. Council infant. Okay. We get a yes on there. Council Reyes. Yes. Council del Rosario. Yes. Council Lant. No. Council Vice President Levy. Yes. Council President Rodriguez, I vote no. What's the count? Um, three no six positive carries. Motion carries. Congratulations. Thank you.

Appreciate your time. All right. No problem. We're moving on to the agenda. Um. Oh, yeah. Of course. I mean, come on. Oh, but I thought that was you. You was Oh, shaking was hands. But I thought No, no, my shake hands. I thought you were shaking. Yes, it's okay. All right, we continue with the meeting. Uh there was a little of a little bit of confusion on here. So, top of the agenda, uh there is um madame chair from the budget and finance committee. Did we finish with that? Um yeah. No, we have that um with all the items from Bon Finance.

No. All right, we have two more item 78 and 79. Item 78- 78-26 yeartoday budget review police department was sent up at to withdraw from the agenda and I make that as a formal motion. There's a motion to withdraw properly second discussion there is none. All those in favor please say I. Any ns? The eyes have it. Item 7926. Item 79-26 year-to- date budget review fire department was send up as a withdrawal and I make that as a formal motion. Second there's a motion on the table properly second. Yes. All those in favor please say I

I have uh let's go top of the agenda the housing committee. There is no report ordinance committee. Uh madame chair from the ordinance committee. Um I don't 1825 is a handicap parking of 140 Jackson Street uh requested by Martin A. Taivera and was send to order a public hearing and make as a formal motion. There's a motion to order a public hearing on item 1825 properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor please say I.

The eyes have it. Item uh 45 A25 request to resone parcel of rear property uh 128 parking street M 101 parcel 101 155 from the R2 to B1 uh by attorney Dana was sended to the forecast to order a public hearing I make as a formal motion. There's a motion to order a public hearing. Properly second discussion.

Item 122, a handicap parking 69 Bigalow Street by Margarita Rosa was sended to the forecast to order a public hearing and I making as a as a formal motion. There's a motion to order a public hearing properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I. Have it. Madam chair from the ordinance committee, do you mind taking item item 11326? Uh we have a few people here that are present. Give me one minute. Do you have any objection? Um no. All right. Uh before we go to that councel,

I believe that we jump item 45825. We didn't vote on it. No, this is the order public hearing. We haven't vote on that. We already read it, but we didn't vote on it. We jump into the handicap parking of 69 Bigalow without taking a vote on fourth 5825. We did we did uh did we call the roll call on that? You said all in favor all those in favor please say I and then nobody was we haven't done yet. We have it on record. Okay. We have we haven't done that. The last one was the We appreciate it. Councelor Rosario. Let's go to 11326. Item 12026 is the L M

11326. Oh, the 113. I'm sorry. It 11326 is the preach of the war of the uh var location on Saturday uh by Abner Merclesia Christo Rio de Auabiva that was sended to the full council with favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion. There's a motion on the table. Can I hear a second? Second. Properly second discussion. Um any any questions? All those in favor, please say I. I. Any names? The eyes have it. Can you just specify the locations as of where you're going to be?

Yeah, the locations. Uh good night uh councils, president, vice president, and all of you. Um we have different locations. There there has been two that um were uh private right that the uh Log Street and Oxoice Street. We need to ask to the people in um the other ones are Campo Square here in Lawrence uh Plains Park. We have one day in July 18 here at the uh the compact common park, one in uh Revivando Park in uh 85 Newberry Street and again in placement park that's in White Street and Chestn Street.

No problem. Those are um for couple couple months till till the end of April till September two Saturdays. All right. They're going to they're going to be in different locations throughout the city. One of those uh week one of those locations going to be at the campon on July 8th. All right. Thank you so much. 18 July 18th. July 18. Yes. Yeah. That's only uh one day. It's going to be from um from 2 to 5. All right. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Thank you. Have a good night, guys. God bless you. Good night. Going back to the top of the agenda. Uh madame chair from the ordinance committee.

So item 1326 is a handicap parking on 25 24 UT street by Iris Aido was sendered to the full council to order a public hearing and I make as a formal motion. Second 126 126 Okay. Uh there is a motion on the table properly second discussion. All those in favor please say I. The eyes have it. Item 12626. Madam chair. Do you mind taking that one out? Oh yes. This is the last on the last item.

Yes. Hold on one second. Item 12626 is the day of clamor 202 at the campon camp common bursting estate area on August 29, 2026 at 12 from 12:00 p.m. to 700 p.m. by Maronado Casa de Camino de Santida was sended to the full council with favor recommendation and I make as a formal order there's a uh as a formal motion there's a motion on the table properly second discussion I hear none all those in favor please say I I n the eyes have it

uh going on top of the agenda thank you so much that be all okay byebye good night item 1326 manager item 1326 is a handicap parking 24 Utah Street by Iris Aidor I was sended to the full council to order a public hearing as a make motion there's a motion on the table uh can I hear a second properly second discussion I hear none all those in favor please say I I the eyes have item 14 uh 26 and 5826 madam chair do you mind They can take as a block. Yes.

Okay. Item 1426 is a handicap parking 94 m street by Rosa Cruz was sended to the full council to order a public hearing and I make it as a if you're taking it as a block, please take it as a block together with the 5826. uh 5826 say 18 M Street uh to order a public hearing. There is any objection?

Yes. The item 5826 is a handicap parking on 18 M Street by Gladi B. Mateo de Marisan was sended to the full council to order a public hearing and make as a formal motion. There's a motion to order a public hearing on item 1426 and 5826 to take it as a block and to order a public hearing. Can I hear a second? Second. Properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I.

Any names? The eyes have it. Items 71 and 7226. Item 71 and 26 and 7226 has been taken as a block and the item 7126 is remove handicap parking on 87 Ray Rose Street by councelor Gregor de Rosario and Miriam Santiago was sended to the full council and the other one just read the address for the other one as well.

The read the address for uh the other ones 203 West Street. 7226 remove handicap parking on 203 West Street by Diamond Bura was sended to the full council to order a public hearing. There is an there is a motion to order a public hearing on both of those items 7126 and 7226. Um can hear a second properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor please say I.

I have it. Item 9026. Item 9026 is a proposed modification to ordinance 2.02.04.081 by council estan infante was sended to the full council to order a public hearing and I make as a formal motion. There's a motion on the table. Second properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor please say I. The any all those in favor please say I. I. The eyes have it. Item 9826. It 9926 is a Saiwire. Did you Did we borrow on 98?

Yeah, we already did 98. Okay, we bought on 98. Okay. 9926. Item 9926 is a sidewire produce display on 187 Loren Street submitted by councelor Serena Re and Cesco and passed with favor the recommendation to the full council and I make as a formal motion. There is a motion to approve properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor please say I. I.

The eyes have it. Item 10526. Item 10526, remove handicap parking 201 West Street by councelor Gregor Rosario was as to order a public hearing. I make as a formal motion. There's a motion to order a public hearing. Properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I. The eyes have it. Item 1106. Item 106.

106. Sorry. Item 10626 is to remove handicap parking 200 to 2022 SJ3 by Raphael Paola was sended to the full council to order a public hearing and I make as a formal motion. There is a motion to order a public uh to our public hearing. Can I hear a second? Second. Properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor please say I. I.

The eyes have it. Item 1106. Iron 11026 in star one J4 on Mcfalling Coral WS3 port uh the port is one 1105-50 between pors 1105 and 11:06 by David Johnson national agree was sended to the full council to order a public hearing and I make as a formal motion there's A motion on the table properly second. Second. Uh discussion I hear none. All those in f please say I. I.

The eyes have it. Item 11126. Iron 11126 in star one J4 on Maple Street near Cor Street and relocated Paul 3460 by Dave Johnson National Gree was sended to the full council to order a public hearing and I make as a formal motion second um there's a motion on the table properly second discussion I hear none All those in favor, please say I. The eyes have it.

Item 1126, relocate one J4 on Maple Street near Shore Street and relocate port 345 by David Johnson National. I was sended to the four council to order a public hearing and I make as a formal motion. Second. There's a motion on the table. Please second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I.

The eyes have it. Uh madame madame uh counselors, before we continue, do you we have a few people online uh for different items perhaps one item. This is item 5626. Do you mind taking uh this item uh out of order? This is on the old business. We just need to change the date as of uh when this event is going to happen. It's a citywide cleanup uh on April 25th. So any job? Okay, no problem.

All right. Uh we are taking out of the old business with we're taking item 5426 which which is the companion common earth date a citywide cleanup. Um it was proposed to be um April 25th. Uh from 7 uh from 7:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. we have Leslie Leslie Melendez. We need a motion. Good evening, counselors. Uh, thank you. Uh, we are have changed the date for our annual cleanup um to May the 2nd um in consideration of the school vacation week that ends on the 24th of May so that we can have uh more students from the city of Lawrence and the school department uh participate. So, we are just requesting a change of date at this point from the 25th from the original permit date of the 25th to May 20 to May 2nd.

All right. Thank you. Um, uh, Lesie, um, we we need to do a few things before we actually take the final vote. And I need to entertain it on a specific vote to reconsider. Uh, can I get a motion uh to reconsider on uh, anybody on the prevailing side? I believe everybody is. Can I get a motion to reconsider? Motion to reconsider item 54. Uh, there is a motion to reconsider. Can I get a second properly second discussion? I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any nays? The eyes have it. Now, can I get a motion to approve the change of the date from April 25 to uh May 2nd?

There is a motion to approve the change on the date. Properly second by councelor uh vice president Levy. Discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I. I. The eyes have it. Thank you, Leslie. Thank you. All right. See you. See you on the second. Yes, sir. All right. Uh, going back top of the agenda, item 11426.

It 11426 is the American Tassi, the renewal of TAS uh, livery license by officer Ivansoto uh, Lawrence Police Department was sended with favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion. There is a motion to approve um item 11426 properly second discussion is the police department here discussion councelor Rosario

thank you to you it's it's very disappointed telling the taxi cab driver and the company and also the cops to be here because they went through us at the ordinance committee but sometimes all the counelors have questions that we may didn't ask and it's very disappointing not seen them there not seeing them here and I believe that we should table all of them and have them come back. Thank you. Um Alise, a representative from the police department always here. When we approve these items, this is not the case today. Uh uh we can entertain a motion. What's the item? 114 26 115 26 116 26

We haven't We can do it on the following one, but let's continue with this one. All right. Uh can we get a motion for item? We have a motion for item 11426. There is another motion or we entertain this motion to table. There is a motion to table for item 11426. Second. Properly second. All those in favor please say I. Any names? The eyes have it. Uh madame chair can you please take item 115 116 118 119 120 121 122 and 123 and 124. No 123. all the all of uh 26 as a block. Yes. So

1526 is a libertas in renewal of the tas license by officer Ivan Sto Lawrence police department was sent. Yes. Say to the number councel Laura because we taking it as a

11626 is the popular taxi company LRC renewer of TAS delivery license 11826 is the Matasi is that the renewer of Tasa liy license 11926 Rioondo transport LLC renewal of livery license 1226 LM transportation LRC renewer of TA delivery license 12126 NYC United Express and renewal of taxis li 1226 BP loy transportation LC renewer of TAS li 12326 loose line transportation LC renewal of the TI deliver a license and that's

all right. Uh can we get a motion to take it as a block into table? Motion to take it as a block into table and also to send communication to the police department and to be to have the police department be here and the taxi cab drivers company be here too. Second. There's a motion on the table properly second discussion. Oh um there's no discussion on the table matters. All those in favor please say I.

The eyes have it. We have three motion on that. I mean three different petitions block table and also central respondence item 12426 item 12426 universal lotus event 2026 it's going to be here at the campano Saturday on August 8th 2026 from 10 a.m. to 400 p.m. by Corey Christie univers chair. You don't have to mention the the sponsors. Okay. It was sended to the full council with favor recommendation and I make a formal motion. Second.

There's a motion on the table properly second. Discussion. There's no discussion. All those in favor please say I. I. The eyes have it. Um item 12526. Iron 12526 ICM Christo Vienna Lawrence 2026 May 16 uh the William Kennedy Park is going to be June 13 Royel Park uh July 11 Campon Park Common Park August 29 William Kennedy Park from 12 to Four.

All right. And there is that how that was sent was sended to the full car. So we favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion. Second. There is a motion on the table. Probably second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor please say I. I.

The eyes have it. Uh personal committee there is no reports. Public safety committee there is no report. Economic development committee there is no report. Community of uh committee of the hall there is no report. All business. Uh we have uh two items on our business. Item 108 26 which is uh per rule 25 the proposed change of rule six to modify the housing committee uh to be housing and economic development. Uh counselors uh the memo has been provided and uh for that uh the rule to be changed a board need to be uh taken by the council with information in advance to the proper change to that uh rules and uh meeting be prior to uh the proposed vote. Any questions on the proposal? All right. Can I get a motion to make uh as per rule 15 to make the uh changes on rule six?

So move second. There is a motion uh to modify rule six and and as specified on that on the memo provided. Any questions discussion? Uh councel plan. You may be surprised to hear this council president. I think this is a brilliant move on your part. You want to you want me to repeat that again? No, no, no. I'm surprised. That's I know you want me to say but but don't feel so confident about the next one. But on this one, I'm good

on this one. No, I I think this is I think that you saw a challenge with this with the economic development and then you saw that what we had and you were able I never thought this thing through, but you saw that we were able to maybe align something so that it fit into a different committee and the housing committee without changing the structure. I thought that was brilliant. I'll be supporting it tonight. Appreciate it. Um um it it happened to be that that was not my idea. Well, take credit.

I won't take I won't take I won't take the credit. I going to uh refer back to that uh council maro which see challenges on things that nobody sees and also advice on things that potentially other sees as an issue. she took that opportunity advise uh the council president and proposed these potential changes and I appreciate that. Thank you. So at this time if it is not other uh questions I'll entertain um the motion. ML clair please call the role. Do we need six? Um council Gonzalez

yes. Council Miguel yes. Council Marmal, yes. Council Infante, yes. Council Reyes, yes. Council Del Rosario, yes. Council Lant, yes. Council Vice President Levy, yes. Council President Rodriguez, I affirmative. Motion carries. Item 10926 as per rule 25 proposed change for rule six and the creation of that uh public safety and emergency management um committee to become an standing committee. Um any questions?

There is no questions. Madame Clair, please call the role. There's no motion. Motion to approve. There's a motion to approve. Thank you for the clarification. Properly second. Discussion. Motion to create. Discussion. Councelor Lan.

Thank you. However, on this one, um I I just don't understand how both the public safety and the emergency management committee are there's two reasons why I'm going to I'm questioning it in likelihood of opposing it. The public safety emergency management committee, we already have within our current structure. If it's a anything that that that impacts according to our rules and our charter, anything that deals with the government infrastructure, which public safety usually is, it goes to the ordinance committee. So, anything that would deal with that would have to go to the ordinance committee if we're looking for that because that's what our rules and the ordinance says. The second thing is anything that deals with money, any budget. So, if there's a budget matter that deals with public safety or emergency management, you've got to still send it to another committee. So no matter no matter you're not cutting you're not we're not eliminating a step we're adding another committee meanwhile their other two committees have jurisdiction. So that's my first concern. It's not solving a potential problem. It's essentially we if there's a public safety issue we can deal with it and if there is an economic emergency management committee we can deal with it during our current structure. That's number one. Number two, if we have another standing committee, we and not that change is a bad thing. Change can be good. As we just saw in the previous rule, we changed it and that was a good change, right? There are good changes and not so good changes. This is when we're adding another standing committee, which we can do according to our rules. the way that has worked out now and as when I was council president back in the day many years ago we had four standing committees we still do and it was

perfect. We would have each city councelor would have the ability to serve on two committees not this council president has followed what some other council president have done. So this is nothing new on the current occupant of that seat where the council president would put themselves in committees. I'm going to tell you I don't agree with that. I think that the council president has plenty of opportunities to have authority and influence in a setting. It is there. I've seen it. I understand it. I know it to to add more committees then requires a council president to then have to serve on these other committees when it's unnecessary. I do not think that having a public safety standing committee and an emergency management standing committee is necessary. If we have members who who have a passion on those, I would recommend that we continue doing what we have now, which is have ad hoc committees that deal with the nuance special issues and go through it. So I don't see what this brings to the table. I don't as especially as it relates to the current committee assignments and then I just think as a point of having been one of the council presidents in here ever I just as a matter of principle I I think that we should allow our membership have more opportunities and take the council president out of those committees. I that's how I believe it and the and that the other eight members do the work on the committees that so I'll be voting no on this. You may or may just disagree with me and that's fine. I'm voting no.

Uh there is something important to uh to recognize here is that the public safety committee has been there for the longest. Um it had been there as as part of that uh city council for over at least 11 years that I've been here. And what we're doing here is just normalizing as previous president have trying to um during my time as a president I have tried as well and this this public safety committee will be a public safety and emergency management not two committees individually they're going to serve as one uh public safety and economic development because uh we uh many reasons uh councelor planes as a why not. I can uh I can attest that uh we when we run our campaign, we run our campaign based on uh getting solutions for public safety uh and economic development. And that's why having an standing committee that we're going to have to have a uh it we're going to have these these committees as part of uh part of a normal standing committee as per rule six that will define and clarify everything that we do here and not necessarily uh have those those loopholes and this we basically covering loopholes uh uh here with this item. Um, any other questions, counselors? At this time, I'll call the questions. Madame Clair, please call the role for item 109.

Um, Council Lant, no. Council Del Rosario, no. Council Reyes, yes. Council Infante, yes. Council Mamo, yes. Council Miguel, yes. Council Gonzalez, yes. Council Vice President here. Council President, I vote on the affirmative. What's the count? Is that a 72? 72. Motion carries. Um, let's go on top of the agenda. Table matters. Uh, any table matters that we want to discuss tonight? I do. Um, council president.

Oh my goodness. Yes. It's just item item 7-26 is also which was a tiff agreement that we just settled is also under table matters. So I would like to a typo. It came from economic development. You had spoke the document. Yeah, I got it. So the motion to withdraw. Uh motion I make a motion to unt withdraw items. Motion to untable and withdraw. Properly. Can I hear a second? Properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I.

Any nays? The eyes have it. Um all right. Uh new business go on top of the agenda. Okay. U item 12826 uh payment of prior year invoice for $60,000 with the vendor of uh box safety. That's going to the budget and finance committee. Item 129 2926 authorization transfer fund of for the amount of 175,000 front account uh 012 110 5110 polit administration 2 account 11211 5856 uh computer and software that's going to the bal finance committee item 1326 payment of prior year invoice 343 343,192 85 for transportation vendor uh Jason Cabera CFO um that's going to the Bay Finance Committee. It is important to recognize that the school department was here present uh in relationship to this item but we advise them that this item was going to go straight to uh the committee which is the B finance committee. They're going to be here next week. Item 13126, authorization to spend 300,000 earmarks provide by representative frame rank for supplement cost associated with the city bridge project. Uh that's going to the budget and finance committee. Item 13226 review and approval of annual uh application of uh to hop for community development block grant CDGS estimated amount uh 1,638 uh 713,000 and home grant uh and the estimate amount for of 835,894.17 that's going to the budget and finance committee. Item 13326 uh yeartoate

budget review specification um inspection or service department that's going to the ordinance committee. Item 13426 water rate adjustment proposal. Uh all of the council have re received the package. Please review it. This is going to be going to the b and finance committee. Item 13526 authorization to spend 28,000 uh mass D uh s uh sustainable materials and recovery program grant that's going to the ordinance to the van finance committee. Item 126 uh 13626 surplus decoration for real estate uh parcel of land on summer street no address map lot 108 107 uh lot lat 48 uh that's going to the banana finance committee uh sorry housing committee housing and economic development committee item 137 uh 26 uh reappoint of Joseph Uton to the greatest

quarter room

quarter room to the greatest L sanitation district commission that's going to the personnel committee item 13826 15 minutes parking um Ansbury Street um exit street intersection uh that's going to that u ordinance committee item 13926 Hendica parking at uh 12 land 12 land dumps court that's going to the ordinance Orinance committee. Item 14026, Hendica parking at 297 uh Law Street. That's going to ordinance committee. Item 14126 remove Hendica parking of 18 Ultra Street. Ordinance committee 14226 proposed uh ordinance proposed ordinance for financial office ordinance uh number 0272 070. That's going to the ordinance committee. Item 14326, request for council to adopt resolution in support of the Massachusetts audit of the state legislation for question one on November 5th. And that's going to the ordinance ordinance committee. Item 14426 resolution opposing the state mandate implementation of um u accessory dwelling units ADUs uh within the city of Lawrence limit. That's going to the ordinance committee. Item 14526. Um Yamada common June 6, 2026 and November 19, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Uh that's going to the ordinance committee. Item 14726 date of Bible uh celebration of March company September 26 2026 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. That's going to the ordinance committee item 14826 33 basketball scholarship

tournament fundraising at Escalito Park June 6, 2026 from 7:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. that's going to their um but ordinance committee item 14926 Fiesta Delvario and Newberry Street Espray Park June 6, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. That's going to their um ordinance committee item 150 uh 26 Bamia Sunset event 2026 uh their Waterhouse Park uh Thursdays from June 18 to uh September 10. That's going to the um ordinance committee. Item 15 15126 um GLFHC uh community health fair at the com uh the company on common May 29 May 29, 2026 from uh 12:00 p.m. to uh 4:30 p.m. That's going to that ordinance committee. Item 15226 uh risking spirit for crest laasa 2026 companion ku May 30 2026 from 400 p.m. to 7 p.m. that's going to ordinance committee

motion to pass 11. There's a motion to pass 11 properly second discussion that is none. All those in fail please say I. I the eyes have it. Item 15326, authorization to spend, uh $35,000 fiscal year 2026, uh fire, fire safety equipment grant from the executive office of public safety and security that's going to the budget and finance committee. This last one emergency,

um they came down from the mayor's office as one PDF and it said, "Please add this file to the agenda." And Joe who I was expecting was on top and his went for seven pages. They did not realize pages eight and nine were from Mr. Maldonado. So they have um they have informed me probably like two weeks ago or maybe longer that they were going to send this item. We need to declare this is an emergency counselor to be added to the agenda only for the purpose of be added to the new to be added to the agenda due to the fact that it was it didn't um comply with the 48 rule, right?

Yes. for that um opened law requirements. So, councilors, can I get a motion to declare item 15426, the appointment of Modesto Maldonado to the greatest law sanitary district commission? So, uh there is a for the purpose of the convenience of the community. Um can I hear a second? Uh any discussion? I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I. I. The eyes have it. Now this item uh we can add this. Do we need a motion to add to the agenda?

Now this item has been added to the agenda and will be directed to the personal to the personal committee uh counselors. Now let's go with the committee uh committee dates uh ordinance. Some of you guys are going to be gone next week. So just Wednesday and Thursday, right? Yeah. Okay. So, Monday, so we really really really really we only have one day which is Tuesday. No, we have Monday. Monday or Tuesday? Yes. So, personnel is going to be at 600 p.m. on Monday. Wait a minute. I haven't asked him yet. I want to ordinance. Well, we're the ones with the conflict on on on Wednesday.

We take Monday. Yeah. Okay. So, personnel Monday at 6 p.m. And then we do have a long agenda for budget and finance. So, um 6:30 Monday at 6:30 for budget and finance. I am aware that one of the two items for personnel will be tabled because the individual is not available for that meeting. So it would be personnel is going to be a very short meeting. One one item, right? One item. Yep. All right. Well, we have two but one is going to be table. So you got the date for both of the meeting. Monday the 13th for both of those meetings when it's 6:00 personnel 6:30 Monday time. All right. Uh, ordinance.

Well, what I can see, we has a ordinary on Thursday. No, Tuesday. Tuesday is fine. Um, everybody's going to be on Tuesday. Everybody's going to be Yeah, we Okay, so Tuesday at 7. Any other um we have housing? Uh, the problem. Okay. I'm sorry. Uh, council president Ryu. Uh the problem we having in the meeting at 7 is because uh the people who are helping on as a secretary are not available on Okay. Uh 7:00 when uh this is the time that they finish the labor. Okay. And what time you proposing it? At 7. So 7. So we have we have housing that we can accommodate housing before.

It's only one night item. So you want the Tuesday at 6 6:30. 6:30. 6:30. Yeah. won't do this housing as housing. I'm going to make the 6 because I don't I don't want to start here on time and I don't want to start at 8:00. It's only one item and it's just to declare a surplus. The only the only thing that we need to send an email 6:30. Um the only thing that we need to clarify is whether or not this is a uh this is under the traditional process. You know how it is sometimes you think because if it is the traditional process is just one vote to declare surplus and that's it. Mhm. Um

are we good with it with it? Yeah. Just that you're all aware on Tuesday city hall is open till 7 which is great because people like to come in later in the day but the staff is on the clock until 7. So if the secretaries want to cover uh um clerks want to cover to be a secretary recording secretary for this meeting, they have to take an hour of personal time. So they're using up all their personal time to cover meetings. And granted, they're getting paid to cover the meeting. Just it's it's causing a conflict. So that's why they're asking on Tuesdays if you start your meetings at No, no. But I going to I think 6:30 would be okay because But you try to work on that.

I going to I going to work. Or let's as a matter of fact let we have two uh secretaries that both work in the same office both work in the same office. Maybe on Tuesday when they have both meetings they can we can arrange something with that uh port with their human resource department to see if they can start have half an hour early on the deck. Yeah. You know what I mean? So I'm going to take minutes for 6:30 p.m. Yeah. So they need to just take personal time. They're going to use their personal time to do it. That's what I said. They just don't want to on Tuesday.

Yeah, but we can we can arrange something within this week to see if it to see if we if it work. uh personal department they can come. All right. Uh councelor motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn. There's a motion to adjourn. Probably second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor please say I. I. I have it. Yeah. Do you want me to re