City Council - Regular Meeting

good evening and welcome to the special meeting of the lawrence city council today is wednesday july 15 2025. pursuant to chapter 20 of the act of 2022 this meeting will be hybrid allowing participation both in person in the city council chambers as well as remotely the soon link to this meeting was available to anybody that requested and it was also posted online This meeting has also been transmitted live through the YouTube Lawrence City Council page and shared at the Facebook Lawrence City Council page as well. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Councillor GONZALES is noted as absent. Councillor MIGUEL.

Present.

Councillor MARMAL is noted as absent. Councillor INFANTE. Present. Councillor REYES. Present. Council Del Rosario.

Present.

Council LaPlante.

Present.

Council Vice President Levy. Present. Council President Rodriguez.

Present. Please join me for a moment of silence. Now join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible,

Public participation. Anybody that is requesting to be participating in public participation, you're going to have two and a half minutes to speak. At the two-minute mark, you have an indication that you still have 30 seconds to go. Please refer to this council as a whole. Anybody that would like to speak on public participation?

All right.

Anybody? All right. Public participation is now closed. Public hearing, there is none. Communication from the mayor, city officials, city attorney, there is none. Committee report, budget and finance committee, there is none. Housing committee, there is none. Ordinance committee, there is none. Personal committee, we have item 281.26, appointment Appointment, item 281.26, appointment of William J. Maloney, second assistant city attorney. This item was put together and sent to this council by the city solicitor, Tim Newton. It was discussed at the personal committee a few seconds ago, and I'm going I want to ask for a report on this item. Madam Chair, from the personal committee.

Thank you, Council President. Through you, item 281-26, appointment of William J. Maloney, a second assistant city attorney, was sent up to the full council as a favorable recommendation, and I make that as a formal motion. Second.

Second. There is a motion in front of us by the chair of the committee, Councillor Infante, who was seconded by Councillor Espresso and Infante, by Councillor Espresso and Levy. At this point, councillors, I would like for the city attorney to come in front of us and introduce the candidate and subsequently open the opportunity for the candidate to speak.

Sorry, Tim Hooten, city attorney. I'm just gonna give you a little background on this and et cetera. I'll try not to repeat everything I said at personnel, but I know there's different members. So this is an applicant for the second city attorney. Some people have asked various questions, so I wanna address them right up front. We have had various people who have applied. One of the problems with this position and many positions in the city attorney's office is that the people that apply, obviously they have a license, they've gone to law school, but they're looking for a job now. They're not looking for a job later, they're looking for a job now. And we don't move that fast. And a lot of times these people, by the time they get interviewed, get brought up, they've found other jobs. As I noted in the first, in the personnel committee, one candidate, which I thought was very nice, and I think that one of the councils had seen too, by the time I was able to get back, they had opened a law practice and no longer were interested. That's why when you say had that been I provided everybody with applicants in the past year Mr.. Maloney had applied for the first position We did interviews it became apparent that That it wasn't a good mix at the first position the position is strictly what I'm looking for what I entail was a strictly litigation person and it was a JUST NOT HIS FORTE. BUT THE SECOND WAS MORE OF HIS FORTE. OBVIOUSLY MR. MALONEY WAS FORMER CLERK OF THE CITY. HE ALSO HAD WORKED IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL AS MANY OTHER THINGS. AND THE SECOND ATTORNEY, I'LL ADDRESS THE LABOR PART SECOND, WHAT I NEED AND WHAT I TOLD THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE IS RIGHT NOW IN MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW I HAVE A an attorney, not an attorney, he is a law student, a third year law student who's volunteering for the summer. Having him in my office makes all the difference in the world. He does all the things that I can't get to. If I have to research something, he can research it for an hour while I can spend it on other things. So there is a lot of work that needs to be done in my office that's not glamorous, that's not big, but it's essential to the running of the city. So I believe Mr. Maloney would be very well suited for that. It's drafting of ordinances. It's showing up at court for various things. It could be small claims. It could be gun appeals. It could be receiverships. It could be any number of these things. And that's the thing that takes up a lot of time. As far as the labor, we have labor council right now who would continue to do that while Mr. Maloney would be working on what I would call the smaller labor things, the grievances, the complaints, the investigations. Those are the things that are done by my office that most people don't see. And those are things that can be taught very easily. And as you hang in there, I mean, this job, is a baptism by fire. You learn things as you go along. And so I think that with his background, he could learn and eventually take over the job of labor council, maybe do the contracts that we need. But that is very specialized. Could I find someone to do that job out there not for the money we're paying? If you are a labor lawyer, you're working for a big firm making big money. Or you're working for a union. You're working for the police union. You're working for something like that. We have to self-teach our people and teach what we have to go on. But as, again, trying not to repeat, I've had this job. When I first was appointed temporarily, I did a year and a half without any help. I THEN DID A YEAR WITH HELP, WHICH WAS GREAT. WE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH. AT THAT POINT, THE VICE PRESIDENT SAID TO ME BEFORE THAT YEAR, I WANT TO SEE YOU BRING DOWN THE AMOUNT OF CASES THAT ARE REFERRED TO OUTSIDE COUNCIL. AFTER THAT YEAR, I WAS ABLE TO COME BACK TO HER AND SAY THAT I REFERRED NO CASES, ZERO CASES TO OUTSIDE COUNCIL BECAUSE I HAD TWO VERY GOOD LAWYERS IN MY OFFICE. I'M LOOKING TO DO THAT AGAIN. I'M LOOKING TO BRING DOWN THE COST OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE FOR COUNCIL. CERTAIN THINGS THAT WON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. IT TAKES TIME. IT TAKES TIME TO TEACH PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S THE JOB OF THIS ATTORNEY. SO I THINK THAT THE SECOND CITY ATTORNEY, ALTHOUGH NOT GLAMOROUS, IS SO IMPORTANT, VITAL TO THE RUNNING OF THE CITY AND RUNNING OF MY OFFICE, AND I THINK WITH MR. MELONI'S BACKGROUND, I BELIEVE THAT HE WOULD BE A VERY CAPABLE CANDIDATE, AND I ASK YOU TO ENTERTAIN THAT POSSIBILITY.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'RE RECOMMENDING THE CANDIDATE?

I AM RECOMMENDING THE CANDIDATE, YES.

Councilors, if there is any questions, I will entertain it to the City of Cheney. We entertain it now. If it's not, and then we open up questioning for the candidate. Councillor Rosari.

Councillor Rosari. Thank you, Trio. Attorney, as I'm happy seeing that you brought somebody in, to me, the process of hiring somebody, I mean, I might not be aware, you might be in communicating maybe with the city council president or somebody else, but it's disappointing to me that I have to ask questions, or how is that going, and I still don't have answers. I requested some documentation of how many people have applied, why we haven't hired anybody. That might be classified information, but I should have got a little note back.

I provided that, I believe you all have it.

When we received it, because I haven't received it.

Councilors, you all got an email, it was actually from Carol Garcia, and it had all the first.

When was that dated, because I haven't received it, and that's why I'm saying it.

Before the 10th.

Okay, so I do apologize if I do have it, I probably missed it, but again, I don't know who you guys are reporting to and the process when it comes to the hiring, but us going and ask questions because we sit down, can I, because we sit down. No, no, I fully understand. I sit down, have a dinner, and I overheard a conversation, and I asked this attorney that I have no idea, and he said, well, I've been waiting for a year. And I feel that I've been, the city is kicking me away from it. I'm like, okay, so I decided to send an email. So it will be, this body for the past two years that I've been here, it been using the word transparency. But we use transparency to me when it's convenient. But transparency also have to come from you to us. I mean, I'm happy you get an assistant. I know you need the help. But it's also throughout the process, somehow we need to get information. Because people ask us questions and we have no answers.

Sure.

You know, throughout this, you see how you explain it's difficult, people won't do this job for this money, this and that. That's sometimes... at least me, I don't know if you, again, if you communicated, because some communication goes somewhere else, and sometimes I don't get it. But we need to have that communication ongoing. That way, when we face anybody out there, we have an answer for it. Right now, out there saying that you hiring Maloney, because Maloney, it's because the mayor recommended, and he's not suitable. But I believe, after reading his resume and what you're saying, he's very capable to do the job. It's not... But those are the things that come to our city, that people are seeing, listening, and because we don't have an answer, they believe there is not transparency in the process. So all I ask is, next time that we get a little information, even if, again, if it's classified, you can now provide and say, well, councilors, 10 people apply, we're working with two, we denied eight. And I can go out there and defend yourself when people are facing me and say, listen, what's going on in the world? They interviewed 10 people. They have two. Eight of them did not go through. So that's all I'm asking for.

And I agree with you completely. I'm not going to argue with one bit. One of the things I will say is that... How do I explain it? It is almost, I don't want to use the word, intimate arrangement that I have in my office. I need somebody that works well with me. Have there been people that have applied and have interviewed and they're wondering what happened? I didn't think they were a good fit. It doesn't go to the mayor. It doesn't go beyond that. If I don't think they're going to work in my office for whatever reason, I just don't put them forward because

No, no.

I know, but I'm just saying there's some people out there that could say, geez, I never got a call back. I don't want to hurt their feelings and call them up and say, hey, listen, I didn't really like you. Sometimes I just let it.

No, and I thank you for that. All I'm asking is a little info. Counselors, this is taking me long. Again, I interviewed 10 people. I believe eight of them are not suitable for this position, and that's how I feel. Two of them, I'm continuing to work, and I'll give you an update later on. Those two followed the wagon. Listen, those sons did not fit the position, and this is where I'm going. I'm going to, I mean, have new applications. That's all I'm asking.

You've fed me perfectly for something that doesn't involve Ms. Maloney. I have a candidate for the first position with some special skills and some special needs. I intend on speaking to the city council just to explain to them what I'm thinking of in that and see if that's something they would consider. So I'm right on track with you. I do agree completely that you should be in from the process and that's what's going to happen. Thank you.

That's a good approach. I believe also like, you know, at the end of the day, it's a matter of just providing the information.

Exactly.

I understand perfectly. Thank you. No problem. Counselors, any other questions for the CDHN?

I disagree with the statement of of not informing a candidate if they didn't. That's the next level I think we should have either standard generic maybe if you don't want to call the maybe an email that can be signed to that way if another council bumps into a candidate they're not saying oh I'm way I've been waiting for X.

Yeah, I understand, but sometimes it's three candidates, and they might be the best. I'm just waiting, so I don't make a decision at that point. I understand that. But if I decide that someone's not getting it, you're right.

That won't be a cultural fit within the office, and you know for sure, and I think this should be a practice across the board. We should be sending out a communication.

Thank you. No problem. And something that I have noticed on both of the comments of the councillors and what you just said is that Hiding is a priority for this department.

Yes.

Something that this council might be able to compromise when it comes to the hiring is potentially have, if it's something that is to hire an attorney, we can hold a special meeting like we are doing today. We are saving right now three weeks' worth of time that these candidates might be able to come in and work. I do appreciate that. So the council might be able to compromise on that because we need to also have something on our end to be able to help out.

I appreciate that, Council President. Thank you.

Councillors, any other questions to see the journey? Councillor Blunt.

THANK YOU. I THINK I'LL JUST GO THROUGH YOU, MR. HOOTON, RATHER THAN TO THE APPLICANT, BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S THE SPONSOR OF IT, AND MAYBE HE WILL HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON THE QUESTIONS IF HE COMES TO SPEAK. SO FIRST OF ALL, I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT THE NOMINEE, SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.

YOU ALWAYS SAY THAT BEFORE YOU ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, BUT GO

I just have a couple of comments and a question. So the first one is, and I think you've partially addressed it, but in this particular case, the applicant has not had any direct legal experience since 2004 according to the resume. And I just wanted you to kind of go through that and look for it again. He had looked like he had a private practice from 92 to 2004. And that's the last time it appears that he has practiced law according to the resume. So just make me feel better that that's a good thing, but it's not necessary, we don't need like.

So for this position, considering the fact of what it pays, everybody that applies is a brand new lawyer. So nobody has experience. Nobody has experience in what I'm looking for. So it is a teaching position. I have to teach each and every candidate that's applying for that position what they're going to do. So Mr. Maloney is no different than any other candidate, except for the fact that he had practiced prior before. He does have a back history of it. These people don't have back history. Some of these people are out of law school for six months, a year, whatever. But What most people will never get, unless you're in municipal law, and most people aren't in municipal law, and they would not apply for an entry-level position if they were in municipal law, is the whole system, how the city is run. The ordinances, the charter, things like that. People don't know that that are on the outside world. That is something, as a city clerk, that he would have intimate knowledge of. that he would know how things get passed, how the city council works, how ordinances are like laws. People outside of the city don't understand that at all. Understand what the fines are, how we collect them, why we go to housing court, all the little things that happen in there. That's the basic education that I don't have to give to Mr. Maloney because obviously he lived it, he knows it. So that's the uptick that he brings as opposed to those candidates is that his municipal experience, even though it was a while ago, it's still experience. It's better than the people that have no experience.

Thank you. My next point is... the applicant has a tremendous experience municipal experience having worked in the clerk's office having been very involved in elections which is of course part of the clerk's office um i mean he's been he was there i mean the resume doesn't clearly state how many years that i could see but i know that it's many years uh that he was in that position I guess my concern may be too strong a word, but maybe it's an observational concern, which is we have a clerk that does the clerk's job. And I want the city attorney to do a city attorney's job. And there needs to be a separation, even though I know that the applicant has tremendous experience in a previous job. I know that. I've worked with the individual. I know that. But I just think that we need to make sure that separation exists.

I am not hiring an assistant city clerk. I don't need an assistant city clerk. I am very happy with the city clerk we have. And I have so much work that does not involve the city clerk that Mr. Maloney will be busy every minute of every day. That's not going to be a problem.

All right, super. And I think my last point or question, when the applicant left and retired and the resume says in 2020, November of 30th of 2020. I don't know how important this is, and maybe you can say it's not important, but since you're the sponsor, I just need to get from your perspective how important or not important it is. There was, I believe, some sort of grievance filed against the city at that time. I don't know what happened to it. I don't know if that's been settled. I don't know if that's an impact at all for this position. Are you aware of that, and is it a factor?

There's nothing ongoing with Mr. Maloney and the city. Anything that was resolved before has been resolved. There is not ongoing. There is no deal, backroom deal. There's no nothing. Anything that happened before, he is being hired as a city attorney. Obviously, if he had a lawsuit against the city, I would not recommend him. There is no lawsuit against the city. There is no, none of that. So, yeah, he comes in clean, and that's the way I take him.

Thank you very much, Council President.

Uh...Councillors, any questions to the City Solicitor?

There is no questions.

So now, let's allow the candidates to introduce themselves and then talk to us.

Thank you, Council President. First of all, thank you, Councillors, for having a special meeting. I feel special. I do. Thank you very much. I've worked with many.

Name my address for the record.

We know you, but don't forget about that. I'll start. William J. Maloney, Esquire, 17 Cutler Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Thank you. Tell us more about the process and yourself.

Well, as I can attest certainly to Attorney Houghton's comment on the process, the process is long, it's arduous. I've been at this about a year, year and a half, and happily so, because I'm from Lawrence, I grew up here. uh i know lawrence intimately and i know a lot of you from working as city clerk i don't intend to act as a city clerk and in fact a lot of the city clerk what the city clerk does is get direction from the state in terms of legal issues Think it's a bonus a plus to be an attorney as city clerk because it constantly bombarded with interpreting or understanding statutes that the state is not only creating but also has on the books and Reinterprets and sends a different way and how they're understanding a lot of times even as city clerk I'd run to the city attorney's office and Yeah, look, see what the state is doing? This is what they're telling us. Is this what it is? And a lot of times that advice is very, very valuable. Working for the city attorney's office, I've done that before as an assistant city attorney from 1998 to 2004 prior to being land use planner. I was in land use planners position for about six months when the city clerk's position opened up through happenstance. And that was in 2004. And I applied. And in fact, the interview process was very different at that time. Three or four candidates applied and happened to be selected with one negative vote from one counselor. WON'T SAY WHICH COUNCILOR IT WAS, BUT THEN I RECONSIDERED IT AND IT BECAME UNANIMOUS. AND AGAIN, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE IN A SENSE THAT I'LL BE ACTING IN A VERY DIFFERENT POSITION. TO QUELL YOUR CONCERNS, THERE WILL BE ENOUGH TO DO. AND I'M SURE THERE WILL BE ENOUGH TO DO IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAPTLY NOTED, THERE IS There is a lot of work to be done that is not being done because the city attorney is pretty much by himself. We've seen this before. I've seen it before when I was a clerk. You've seen it before as counselors in various positions. That's what happens in a lot of the positions throughout the city. Staffing gets reduced for whatever reason, and again, not citing any reasons, I can remember city clerk's office and the election division and the height of a state election, one employee in the election division won for nine months. And the results aren't pretty, they really aren't. But in any event, if you have any questions about any specific items, I'd be glad to answer them.

Mayor Redekopan, Cancelers, now that we have a candidate, he was just interviewed by the personal committee. Do you have any questions to the candidates at this point? Councillor LaPlante.

Thank you. Not really a question, because I've already asked the questions that I had. And the sponsor, I'm going to call Mr. Hooten, your sponsor, this evening. But your sponsor, I think, aptly and appropriately answered the questions that I had, so my questions are answered. But what I want to do, if you are successful here this evening, and if I was a betting man, if I was at Foxwoods right now, I'd probably put it all on yes. AT THIS POINT. BUT IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL THIS EVENING, I KNOW THAT YOU AND I HAVE SERVED TOGETHER HERE IN THIS BODY FOR SOME TIME, SO WE DO HAVE A RECORD AND HISTORY, AND IT'S A GOOD HISTORY, AND IT'S A GOOD RECORD, AND WE DO HAVE A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP. SO I KNOW FROM I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYBODY ELSE BUT FOR ME, FROM WHERE I SIT, I KNOW THAT I CAN WORK WITH YOU, AND I CAN WORK WITH THE OFFICE THAT'S LED BY ATTORNEY HOOTON. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR TAKING THE POSITION. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORKING. ESPECIALLY THE IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE AND THE KNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE OF THIS CHAMBER I THINK IS GOING TO BE VIABLE. I THINK MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL ARE GOING TO FIND THE VALUE THAT YOU BRING TO IT BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND THE ORDINANCES. YOU UNDERSTAND THE BEAT OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE, YOU KNOW, You know, sometimes we're asking for stuff, and sometimes we really need it, and sometimes we don't really need it as quickly as we say that we need it. And you kind of, you get a good feel for that. And then I just think you've got good, decent communication skills. I know that you've always had it with me, that we're able to talk if something comes up. So I look forward to seeing you in this position. I wish you all the success, because if you're successful, we're all successful. So I wish you the most success possible. So thank you, Council President.

IF I MAY COMMENT BRIEFLY. I SHARE THAT WITH YOU COUNCIL WE'VE HAD ROBUST DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ORDINANCES, APPLICABILITY OF THE COUNCIL RULES AS THEY APPLY TO ORDINANCES AND COUNCIL MEETINGS AND FOR THE SAKE OF THIS MEETING I SAY YOU ARE ALWAYS RIGHT.

That's not what he said to me last week.

I don't remember that.

You've been smart today. Thank you.

I unfortunately am now changing my vote to a no. And the reason why is I just received an email to my city email right now at 7.56 p.m. from an individual who applied to the first assistant city attorney's position. It's a very detailed, on the experience that this individual went through. And it has nothing to do with Mr. Maloney, but it's about the process, and I'm not going to support such process that we are engaging in in this city. I'm going to read two paragraphs from this email that struck out to me the most. On January 15th, this is like the fifth or sixth paragraph within the email. On January 15th, 2026, I appeared at City Hall on time. The mayor, William Castro, saw me waiting in the hallway and did not know I was coming that day. No one could help me and had me stand in the hallway while they tried to figure out the mayor's schedule. So this was a pre-scheduled interview that he was asked to come in for. No one could help me and had me stand in the hallway while they tried to figure out the mayor's schedule. Finally, half an hour late, I was allowed into the mayor's office along with William Castro, Kara Garcia, and Francesca. No one had a copy of my resume. No one had a copy of my application. No one was prepared for the interview or had questions. Attorney Juan was not present. The last paragraph, There is also a one point of, he made a point that, because they're also watching, watched the personnel meeting and are currently watching this meeting, and stated that the statement of not having qualified candidates is untrue, and then gave me all of his qualifications, which are very impressive, by the way. The last paragraph in this email says, when attorney Huynh tells you he cannot get any applicants because the process is slow, that is false. I was told by every single person not to apply to the city attorney position. And sadly, this administration proved them right and then ended with to feel free to contact them. That does not mean, we're talking about transparency, right? That does not show me that this was a transparent, process, this shows me that there was already a preselected individual. And if this individual, if what this individual just wrote to me is true, and again, very extensive, very impressive background, this was always preplanned, and I don't follow Mr. Maloney for that. because Mr. Maloney is a candidate and is doing what he is being told as any other candidate or applicant should. But that to me does not sound like a fair process.

I'd be happy to speak to you afterwards, but I just want to get something first. This person who I do not know of applied for the first position? Okay, Ms. Maloney is the second position, so.

Right, but either way.

Okay, I just wanted to get that correct, because I'm happy to talk to you, and I'm dying to hear who the person is.

Right, but the reason why I'm still bringing this up is that originally, and then eventually it was changed, right? I don't know how long ago, but originally Mr. Maloney was going to be presented as the first assistant attorney. So regardless, whether now it is changed to second assistant attorney, regardless, he was still the first pick

Mr. Maloney was interviewed with three people for the first position. He was not going to be picked as the first assistant. I'm totally befuddled, and if it's the person, I think I would love to talk to you offline, but I think there's another story, but I have no idea, because obviously, even as you say, I wasn't in that interview, so I don't know who the person is.

No, and just to clarify something, that it was part of your statement that you say that Maloney was not part of what you're looking for for the first year journey. Correct. Because you need something else.

I need extensive litigation experience. I need someone to throw in there to take those cases, much like the same as when I had Kevin Foley. He had extensive litigation background. He stepped in the first day, took over the cases, and that's what I'm looking for.

which this applicant that shows that. Either way, regardless, there is still situations on how applications are being handled, how the interview process are being handled, the unprofessionalism that we're showing from the City of Lawrence side. Because if that did not happen, I don't think this applicant would have felt strongly enough to send me such a detailed email regarding his background and his experience with the City of Lawrence. Thank you, Council President.

No problem.

If I may comment just briefly.

It's not referring to you.

No, no, no. Make that clear. As for my application.

The only application I made was on my own volition. That's all I wanted to let the council know. I was not directed to make an application. And my application was in general for an assistant city attorney position, not knowing which one was available. And when the first assistant position came available, I was not declined, but I wasn't selected. I'll put it that way. When this position was still available, then I asked to be considered. I'll just leave it at that. I'm not.

Thank you. Thank you. I know it's not so it's not you. Thank you.

Cancelers, any other questions for the candidate? I have a question, so I'm going to pass it over to the vice president. Mr. Maloney, we have about six years working together here before you retire. Yeah. About, no, five years. We have great relationship when it comes to the city council stuff. And there was some, some, concerns that I have when you apply for the position due to the fact that it was brought up to the council discussion. Due to the fact that it has such an amount of experience and the last thing we would like is some interference from the city attorney to a point that is not looking for a good resolution to bring the city forward because it could be a situation that due to the fact that it has so much experience ON ELECTIONS, PERHAPS THEY CAN USE YOU AS THEY WERE TRYING TO BRING YOU UP LAST ELECTION AS A CONSULTANT. SO THAT WAS PART OF MY CONCERN ORIGINALLY. AND TO A POINT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I CONSIDER WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING MY VOTE OF CONFIDENCE TO YOU TO COME BACK TO THE CITY OF LAWRENCE TO WORK. I have a discussion with the city attorney. He told me that under his direction that's not going to be allowed. And I assume that you understand that even though you're going to come as a second city attorney, you're going to be working for the city solicitor currently and only under him.

Absolutely, and that has, I mean, I can tell you that certainly my knowledge of elections and experience with elections is extensive. And that's not a bad thing to have on the side of the city, which has been missing for many, many years through the city attorney's office. We, in fact, if you recall, we'd have to hire outside counsel, the best being Bill McDermott, who was just the best top five lawyers, probably the top five lawyers in the country regarding election law, and we had him as our consultant. I can tell you, and I hope that the city clerk would agree, that the clerk's office takes its direction mostly from the state as to any direction that any election takes or in any issue of controversy. The only thing that they stay away from pretty much are issues that are local issues. And those issues are decided by the legislative body and ultimately through a hearing of some sort. And that's presented primarily, again, through the city clerk's office. As the city attorney said in the end of the meeting, there'll be a ton of work that I won't have enough time to try to run two offices. I'm not looking to do that. I'd be crazy to do that.

So the city attorney's office has been one of the offices that has been in many controversial situations. Not because they want to, it's because We have different set of opinions on time and they that office need to make a determination whether we're right or wrong. Under the direction of that one city attorney. We need to recognize that. He's going to be in charge of the office and I have and I have that question and that statement too. to make sure that the candidates that come in front of us know that that's the way it goes.

No question, I can tell you certainly as having sat on the dais with most of you here, the way the chart is set up, it's set up for adversarial proceedings mostly as you're experiencing and most of the season councils will tell you that between the legislative and the executive branch primarily. The draw between the city attorney and those two branches is harrowing, it really is. because you're asked to make an opinion for the council and probably asked for the same opinion through the executive branch. I'm not the one to make that decision. You're not gonna be paying me enough. I'll be leaving early. There's your man.

Okay. No, no problem. I just want to make sure. Yes, sir. It's important to bring it up. Another thing that I'm going to bring up, this position, the second city of China, is very tricky when it comes to that separation of power. And I kind of like, you know, we have at least during my time, Here we have at least three second attorneys that I have vote on. And you know, I made sure that they understand that even though there is some confusion in between who that second position or second city attorney report to, I just wanna make sure like we here with this discussion is straight and direct that you report to the city attorney.

Policy does not come from the second city attorney as the policy does not come from your clerk. The council sets the policy for the council, the executive branch sets the policy for the executive branch. They don't bleed through each other and should not. This is my boss.

All right, no problem. What make you come back?

I miss you guys. I forgot what it was like. No, I can give you the altruistic statements and certainly they all do apply. I grew up here, I live here. Having something to do is important too. Earning a paycheck is important to me as well, always has been all my life. I'm a worker, just like you.

Okay. So you're going to have different set of benefits than what you have before. Is that something that you're planning on bringing back, your old benefits from the city?

Actually, how the benefits kind of work, and I checked that with the retirement and the city side, they're similar. They're exactly the same. And they spring from the same... which is the city, the retirement board says I can retain the benefits to the retirement board, primarily health and dental, and that's usually it. Medicare insurance is the medical part of it that continues, regardless of either. I'll still be required to pay into the retirement system at a greater rate, and the retirement doesn't count toward any increase in retirement benefit. So it's really the same. The only thing I had asked during the contract is that if the retirement board, for some reason, doesn't provide dental and health insurance, that the city side provide the same thing that they provide.

I'm going to leave it up to that. I will support your appointment as a second city chair. Thank you, Council President.

Any more questions or comments?

Yes. Since I was present on the previous committee personnel, you addressed all my concerns and we all know you. I haven't worked with you directly as a counselor.

Right.

But we all know that your work capacity and your integrity of, you know, doing your work. So I'm intent to support you.

Thank you, counselor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So this is a one-year contract?

It's a one-year contract. So we get to look at each other after a year and decide if it worked.

I see plenty in the neighborhood.

Neighbors.

Your vacation sick time, is that usually in here or is that just...

It's in there, I think it's two weeks after 30 or 60 days. I'm on probation for the first six weeks or something like that. Four months, oh God. I'll survive.

Under seven benefits.

Thank you, yep, see it. 15 days absence, illness, okay. I guess I'll let it go there. I've got some comments regarding my colleague from District E. I'm just going to let that go and see where this goes at this point. I'm not going to comment on that. Yeah, we'll leave it there. Thank you.

Councilor, any other comments or any other questions? If no, can I hear a motion? Council Laplanche?

Yes.

Council Del Rosario?

Yes.

Councilor Reyes? Yes. Thank you, Council. Council Infante? Present. Council Mamo is noted as absent. Council Miguel?

Yes.

Council Gonzalez is noted as absent. Council President?

Yes.

Council Vice President. Yes. Thank you, Councilors.

It's good to meet you on a day off.

Councilors, at this point, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved.

Motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn. Properly second. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilor Gonzalez is noted as absent. Councilor Mayonk? Yes. Councilor Marmo is noted as absent. Councilor Infante? Yes. Councilor Reyes? Yes. Councilor Del Rosario? Yes. Councilor LaPlante? Yes. Councilor Vice President? Yes. Councilor President?

Yes.

Motion carries. Thank you.

Thank you.

Congratulations.