City Council - Regular Meeting

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life and I was something so she doesn't get used April 28th, 2026, L City Council meeting come to order. The Lord's Prayer. Dear God, today as this session opens, we pray that your presence will be before us and everyone who serves in the decision-making process of our city. We pray for direction which will lead our city to be strong and unified. May we continue the legacy of our founders. May we be granted this day the wisdom to make decisions which will be for the good of our city. We also pray for your special blessing on all those who are working to transform our city and make it a better place to live and work. Amen. Pledge allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Roll call. Mr. Clerk. Council Mcdana here. Councelor Mercier. Council Noon here. Council Robinson here. Council Ror here. Council Scott here. Council Chow here. Councilor Dakota here. Mayor Gia here. Council Jirean here. Council Leang here. I'm present. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Council Dakota. Moment of silence.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'd like to request a moment of silence in darken chambers for Maryanne Doolof, a resident of L for over 65 years who passed away on Monday, April 21st after 88 years of life on April 16th. She was the beloved wife of the late George Doof Jr. with whom she loved and enjoyed over 34 years of marriage together. Born in Lawrence on April 16, 1938, she was the daughter of the late cherished and treasured Francis Tim Getawitz. I think I said that right. She attended and graduated from North Ando High School in 1955. She then began her lifelong career as a switchboard operator first at New England Telephone and then with Rathon. After a short sbatical to start a family, she began work as the switchboard operator for Joan Fabrics Corporation in L and then Tingsboro for over 25 years. She also spent decades working as a city of Low election official for over three decades. She was a longtime founding member of the Friends of L High School. She also enjoyed watching andor listening to the LOL city council council and LOL school committee meetings. She enjoyed shopping and trips to the casino. She also was the original Drake High chair Nana. Also was an active member of the L firefighters club. She is safied by a daughter Cheryl Haley Bodri and her fiance Keith Rudy of LOL. a daughter Karen Flynn and her husband Tom, a son John Haley and his wife Christine, a son Paul Haley, and his wife Dieter of Hampton, New Hampshire, predesceased by her son-in-law, Emil Bodri, Senior. In her retirement, Nana loved and enjoyed spending time in spoiling every one of her eight grandchildren. Her beloved grandkids included Emld Bodri Jr. and his partner Natasha Haley Flynn and her fianceé Andrew Dearis, Jacob Flynn, Nathaniel and Alexander Haley, Ella Fiona, and Lola Haley. She was a true grandmother to them all. She was very proud of every one of her grandchildren whom attended and or worked in the lower public schools. May she rest in peace.

Thank you, Council Dakota. Any other moment of silences? Seeing none, please dim the lights. two mayor's business 2.1 21 communication remote zoom participation motion to accept and place on file by councelor Chowo seconded by councelor Dakota all in favor signify by saying I any oppose so ordered 2.2 to citation if Arasus would come to the microphone. Is Arasus in here?

He ran away, which I don't blame him. I would have ran away too, Aras. He could have run.

That's why there's no name on here. It's supposed to be a surprise for you. You usually surprise the rest of us, so we want to give you a surprise. We have an official citation be it here known to all that the city of L and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby offers its sincere congratulations to Aras Moangi. The city of L recognized Arasus G. Moangi as a 2026 Boston Marathon runner. Arasus has been a dedicated employee of the city of l for the past six years. He previously held a head clerk's position in the city clerk's office, overseeing daily clerical functions, maintained records, database, and assist residents with request. He currently serves as the assistant to the mayor, contributing to the implementation of the mayor's vision, priorities, and coordinating with various departments. In his role, he holds a valuable position that maintains the daily operations of the mayor's office. Arasus' marathon journey was not easy. Around this time last year, he was preparing for the Boston Marathon where he found lifealtering news that he had a brain tumor. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to cross that finish line. At the 130th Boston Marathon, he had done just that. Through his hard work and resilience, he crossed the finish line in under five hours. His determination, resilience, and positive attitude serve as a powerful testament to how dedicated and hardworking can transform even the most difficult circumstances. Now, therefore, I, Mayor Eric R. Gitcher, on behalf of the entire city council and residents of LOL, hereby extend our appreciation and proudly recognize Aras G. Moangi as the 2026 Boston Marathon runner for his remarkable service, strength, and unwavering commitment. Congratulations [applause]

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[applause] [applause] Arasus, I just want to say you still beat Rook and Golden.

I think they may be still running, [laughter] but if you have anything to say, Aras. Um I wasn't prepared for this but uh thank you everyone and thank you for the support and um I don't know last year time like this actually um I was still recovering from my from my surgery and um I'm very grateful to be here today and uh thank you all for your support. I know it was tough for me and uh all of you stood by me. I know the new city councilors too. You came and supported me as well and I do appreciate that a lot and thank you all. [applause] Aras, you can also thank Julie for her hard work and in helping us get this done. So if you can come forward. All right. Good.

Three. City clerk. 3.1. Minutes of the city council meeting April 21st for acceptance. Motion to accept and place on file by councel Robinson seconded by councel noon. All in favor signify by saying I. Any oppose? So ordered. Four general public hearings. We'll wait till 7:00. Mr. Mayor, Council Robinson, can I please make a motion to take um 6.4 out of order?

Motion by Council Robinson to take 6.4 out of order. Seconded by councelor Rook. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 6.4. Councel Robinson request the city manager have the property department provide a pathway to resurface and remark both courts at McFersonson and Eagle Park as well as trim back any overgrowth interfering with said courts. Seconded by councelor Noon. Councelor Robinson. Thank you Mr. Mayor. I believe we have uh some students that um from the neighborhood that would like to make a presentation on uh this request. So I'd make the motion to suspend the rules to allow those students come forward and uh

motion by council Robinson to suspend the rules to have the students come forward. Seconded by councelor Noon. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. If you guys would like to come up to the mic just state your name and address for the record. Um, my name is John Rodriguez and I live in L 4en Avenue.

My name is Gemini Rivera. I live 36 and a half. My name is Joy Santana. I live in L 71 Varnham Avenue. So, we just waiting for the presentation to start. Huh? You can move it down. Okay, there you go.

Um, have you ever felt like playing basketball at your local court and noticed everything worn down, even like the lines with um and no hoops to shoot in? our neighborhood. We were doing research and seeing that there were neighborhood improvement plans for all those parks and we have a couple courts that were missed and we just wanted to include them in the neighborhood improvement plan. Um, it's Miss Smith Fer Park. As you can see, there's uh, as you can see, there's a lot of grass growing through the cracks. There's not able to dribble the ball through the court, and it be easy for people to hurt their ankle or anything. So, and this is Eagle Park. Um, as you can see, most of the lines are faded away, so you wouldn't really be able to see where the three-point line is and where you'd be able to shoot. And with this picture of the trees, it shows how overgrown the trees are and it could block your shot from the corner and it interferes with the game. And yeah,

we had a couple research questions while doing our project and these were how can we bring attention to the basketball courts that needed rebuilding? How much would it cost to remodel/rebuild and how much percent of the community are willing to use the courts? do this. This our thesis. Um L has invested money in fixing uh b outdoor basketball courts. However, it is unfair to leave out some neighborhood basketball courts. We would like the city to repair more courts with cracked pavement and broken rims and overgrown trees, creating a city where all kids have a safe place to play.

[clears throat] Um, that's our presentation and we don't really have anything else to say. Well, if you guys listen, I'm sure the council has a lot to say for you. So, if you just hang around for a few minutes, um, I believe the city manager and the council will address your questions. Council Robinson,

thank you. Um, first and foremost, thank you guys for coming and advocating. Uh, we don't get to see that often. Uh, I I think we need more of this. To see kids from the neighborhood, not only come in and speak, but put together a a professional presentation like this, it speaks volumes. Um, [snorts] anytime that we we can provide the key word, as they just put, a safe place for kids to play, it's a no-brainer. And I know financially times are tough. But we've been through McFersonson's in particular in the past where we had to have another group come over and work to play. Um, because their home court was was under construction and it was a nightmare. I mean, people could have twisted ankles. There's cracks all over the court. It It is outdated McFersonen Park and and that's clear. Eagle Park surface seems a little better, needs painting, but when we have youth coming to the council chamber and advocating on their own behalf, I think we really need to see what we can do. Is there grants available? Is there whatever funding stream possible that we can reach out to try to get this done? And um it it's pretty clear these young gentlemen here, they want productive opportunity in the neighborhood. And and I think it's long overdue for Sunville. I I I can't even tell you the last time McFersonson or and and and I know we have done St. Louis recently. That was a major overhaul and and it came out amazing. I know that that there's a lot of people that are very happy with that and I thank the administration and my colleagues for working to get St. Louis, but I think this request is different. This request is coming from the kids of the neighborhood and and taking the time

to put that presentation together in a thesis. I really thank them for for their presentation and and I hope that we can figure out a way to do something to accommodate this request. Thank you, Council Robinson. Council Mcdana.

Thank you, uh, Mr. Mayor. And I I do want to start first by I mean thank you three for coming in and that was a very good presentation. I will also say that it it is very difficult to go to that podium the first time and you guys did a really good job. It does get easier believe it or not. It it I don't know why it gets easier but it does. Um question question that I have here is would this not be kind of exactly the kind of project and projects that the community preservation act is for? Um and I know so ARPA money is gone. It's never coming back. We were able to use that for a lot of uh big projects around around the neighborhoods. But but in terms of ongoing maintenance in preserving public space and outdoor recreation opportunities, I know not just the two courts that are mentioned here. I I know that someday soon I'm probably going to break my leg playing tennis at shed. [laughter] It's a matter of time before I go down, I guess. But to me, when I look at the Community Preservation Act and what other communities are able to do with that, I I I would hope that, you know, going forward where we get to use, you know, a decent portion of that fund for outdoor space that we're able to as a city be a I hope we will aggressively pursue some some CPA funds for um court maintenance, court remodels, and preserving even some of these smaller scale community parks because the costs do add up and it does seem that we have a funding mechanism in place potentially. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Mcdana. Council Scott, thank you. I was actually going to say the same thing about the community preservation funds. Are rehabs, re renovations of spaces eligible for for using the funds? They are. Mr. Manager, sorry. Uh thank you very much, Mr. Mayor, through to the council. First of all, gentlemen, thank you very much for taking the time to come here and speak uh as a resident of Senal. I appreciate it very much. And I don't want to talk about my expertise on the basketball court down there at MCS and all those years ago because quite frankly it didn't exist. Good idea. [laughter]

But uh no, it really does take a lot of courage to come up and do that. So uh you should be noticing in the next day or two. I know that um we will be um cutting all the trees back over at McFersonen um as well over you guys call it Eagle Park, I call it the Waterworks Park, but um that should all be getting done. We have our Masons that have been out. They've been dealing with um as council Mcdana had stated over at Shed Park. So, they'll be over there dealing with that. And to answer the questions um from the council, yes, CP CPA funding can be used. Uh we purposely didn't go after it in the past round simply because of what we have going on with the uh programs throughout uh ARPA and also CDBG monies. uh Council Mcdana, we will be utilizing or we can utilize that type of money. So, uh these smaller parks that are out there, we will be paying attention, but I think it's vitally important. I want to say thank you very much for coming down to uh city hall. Uh Mr. um Mashado here will get your emails or whatever the case may be. keep you guys up to date uh because this is important obviously to the council and we want to make sure that myself and uh councelor Robinson are going to take you guys on uh well maybe we'll get I don't know who we're going to get for a third that I let leave it up to you [laughter] but uh yeah Mel Mel's from Cable so maybe we can bring her but uh but I sincerely and honestly thank you for coming down and and bringing this forward but uh Mr. Mashado will be in touch with you guys uh via via email. Thank you, Mr. Manager. Thank you, Council Scott. Council Dakota.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, actually, I was speaking with Mr. Saints here uh this morning and concerning the Bailey School playground, and he had mentioned that Eagle Park probably will be done in the next two to three weeks, the new striping. So, get your basketballs ready. All right. So, you guys will be ready to go. All right. Good. Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Council Dakota. Councelor Cha.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh thank you uh gentlemen for coming to speak on uh the basketball court. Um as the manager mentioned most of us here we grew up playing basketball and we were superstars back in the old days the of uh the days of Larry Bird um Korea Abdul and Magic Johnson. We were superstars back then but we have retired but uh basketball is still a very important part of growing up. is part of everyday uh games and and lives. And I love to hear that you guys going out to play every day instead of being on the the mobile phones and so forth. So uh good job staying active. Um Mr. Manager, I think uh a few of my colleagues sort of mentioned this sort of extended the the idea already. If you could maybe look at all the other basketball courts throughout the city um especially basketball courts that are not connected to a major park. I know we've been focusing on investment in open space, green space in large parks, but they are basketball courts that stand alone and they might have been overlooked. So, if you could look at all the basketball courts um throughout the city that stand alone that have not been uh repaired yet, uh that'd be great. Thank you.

Thank you, councelor Chowo, Councelor Nun.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh thank you guys for coming out, coming down to speak. This is civic engagement is all about. So um I one of the four option to use uh community preservation money uh which is the park and open space uh I was recommended that the uh DPD uh for the next round of funding uh apply uh for all the park all the basketball court McFersonson Eagle and whatever out in whatever the other park in the city that do need improvement that's one of the option that the committee can you know vote on which more likely than not that will support this. So, the next round should apply for it. Thank you.

Thank you, Councelor Noon. Seeing no one else, thank you guys. They say that your generation don't go out of the house and you're sitting here pushing for a basketball court. So, some people must be wrong on that. But thank you guys for reaching out and I'm sure the manager assistant city manager will be in touch with you guys. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Thank you guys. [applause] Thank you. Thank you. [applause] Thank you. If if I could, Council Rook, could we take uh 7.2 out of order, please? Uh Mr. Porter is here.

Motion by Councelor Rook to take 7.2 out of order. Seconded by Councelor Robinson. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 7.2 information report. Town and city festival. Mr. the manager. [snorts]

Good evening everybody. Let me move this up. Uh my name is Chris Porter. I have a home in LOL at 215 Hubby Street and uh few of you see me here this time every year. I'm also the executive producer of the Town in the City Festival. Town in the City Festival is a multi Oh, there's the profit. Okay. Uh the Town in the City Festival is a multi- venue, multifaceted event. Um this is the seventh edition of the festival happening this weekend. Very proud to be uh running it so long. Uh we have over 50 performances at 13 venues throughout downtown l area. Uh as a kickoff show at Taffida the music hall on Thursday with uh prominent Boston band Future Teens. Uh on Friday we will be running seven venues. on Saturday 11 venues including what I'm ex exceptionally excited about is our first time partnership with the city of ll in celebration of course we're celebrating the bsentennial this year so we have a newly dubbed bsentennial stage which will be running uh at various times throughout the year but it's going to kick off at the town in the city festival uh nationally known bands Vundabar and co-pilot are playing a free [snorts] show all ages on uh Palmer Street on Saturday afternoon and uh as I mentioned that's is going be uh kicking off it. We'll have some more news later in the year for some other performances. Uh for anybody who's interested in participating and enjoying it, uh this day pass and individual show tickets can be bought online at our website, the town andthecityfestestival.com. Uh that's where you can also find the whole schedule, Spotify playlist info of all the performers. It's mostly a music festival, but we do have some literary programming and comedy as well. And um I just uh I hope you can all attend and and enjoy and support it. And big thanks to uh city manager Tom Golden and all the city officials who are helping us out and um partnering with us this year. We're really excited about it. And uh not going to Well, it looks like it's the weather's going to be good, too. So, we got that going. So, cheers. Thanks for having me. [applause]

Thank you, Councelor Scott. Well, we're under suspension. Can we take 8.2 out of order? Motion by councelor Scott to take 8.2 out of order. Seconded by councelor Rook. We didn't finish the otherformational report. Are we coming back to that one? Yeah, we have to do that one first. You're right. Thank you. And we'll come back to it. 7.2 information reports. Information report budget listening session update. Mr. Manager, CFO Balder.

Thank you very much. U Mr. Mayor, we just covered some of this this uh the subcommittee meeting immediately preceding the uh the city council meeting. But uh thisformational item was an update to the council to review in part some of the lessons learned, some of the input we've received from the the series of budget listening sessions that we've had leading up to the FY 2027 budget. So we've had four so far at city hall. They were each topical one a general overview. the others. Um, DPW, public safety. Uh, and then we have one more still still planned for DPD. Uh, we've also been out in the neighborhoods. And so just last night, uh, Mr. Ball and I were at the LOL, uh, downtown neighborhood association. We've been at the Highland Neighborhood Association uh, discussing the budget with the residents. We've had a lot of really great input at the neighborhood group meetings. uh wished more people would join us in person at city hall, but we have had uh some input uh via email and and other methods. So, I I will close just by saying that all of these sessions were recorded thanks to LTC for their partnership. Uh they are available online on the LTC YouTube channel. Uh folks, if they want to learn a little bit more about the budget in depth outside of the hearing in preparation for our our budget coming up next month, um please take a look at the the YouTube channel and if there's any questions from the council, I'd be happy to address them. But that is that's anformational report. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you, CFO Baldwin. Motion to accept and place on file by council Mcdana, seconded by Council Yang. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Motion uh motion to suspend the rules uh by councelor Scott, seconded by councelor Ror to take 8.2 out of order. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 8.2 vote authorize the city manager to file special legislation 1190 Pucket Boulevard. Wave full reading and second reading by title. Enact relative a vote an act relative to certain parcels of land in the city of lol. We're going to open Is there someone wishing to speak it? Mr. Manager, we need a motion to let allow the speaker by councelor Rook, seconded by councelor Scott to suspend the rules, allow the speaker to speak.

All in favor, signify by saying I. Anybody opposed? So ordered. Just please state your name and address for the record, please. Mr. Mayor, members of the council, Mr. Manager, Chris Golden. I'm the commander of the VFW Post 662. Uh we've been serving the city of LOL for over a hundred years and we support this special legislation. Uh since CO all of the veterans organizations within the city of LOL have gone under. We're the last active veterans organization within the city and the opportunity address for the record. We would love the opportunity to bid on this property. Mr. Golden, can we just state our address for the record? Your address? Seven Swan Road, Tingsboro. Thank you.

Sorry. We would love the opportunity to bid on this property to build a veterans home for all veterans within the city of lol. All veterans organizations that have gone under since co uh I've been in contact with them personally and they would love a place to meet and uh and or and organize. So, thank you for uh allowing us the opportunity to speak to the council tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Motion to adopt by councelor Non, seconded by councelor Jirean. Roll call, Mr. Clerk. Council Mcdana, yes. Council Mercia, Council Nune, yes. Council Robinson, yes. Council Rock, yes. Council Scott, yes. Council Chow, yes. Council Dotto,

yes. Mayor Gia, yes. Council Jire, yes. Council Leang, yes.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Seeing it's 7 o'clock, we're going to go to the general public hearings 4.1. Ordinance amend fee schedule clerk's office give second reading. Ordinance. An ordinance amending the code of ordinances city of l Massachusetts with respect to chapter 150. Therefore entitled fees by amending certain sections. We're going to open the hearing to the public. Anyone wishing to speak in favor? In favor. In favor. That portion of the hearing is closed. Anybody wishing to speak in opposition? Opposition. Opposition. That portion of the meeting is closed. Motion to adopt by councelor Rook, seconded by councelor Jirean. I am going to s sustain from this one. So, roll call. Mr. Clark. Council. Council Mcdana. Council

Mcdana. Council Mcdana.

Thank you. Sorry. Uh I do have I have one question or I I definitely have more than one question. I'm going to lead with one question. Uh the the only hangup I have around the increase in fees uh specifically is going to pertain to the birth marriage and death certificates with a $5 increase which seems I get it fairly small actually on fir on my first and second time through I also looked at it and went only $5. Um, then I started looking at other communities. Uh, and so I know one of them was, uh, Worcester. Worcester is it's a $14 fee. Mthuan's a $10 fee. Lawrence, it's a $10 fee. Uh, unless I am wrong, which is okay. I' I'd love to be wrong here. Um and so my only my only uh concern I guess is that that particular certificate is one birth birth and marriage certificates are fairly common. So I get that it's a high traffic. It doesn't seem and I don't work in the clerk's office. So if the uh you know if the clerk has any kind of light to shed here, my my concern question is you know do we really want to be the most expensive birth certificate in the in the area I guess or or were we okay at 15?

Mr. Clerk. Uh yeah, thank you council. Thanks for the inquiry. I can only say that well the other biggest cities are we're comparable to them but what the the issue is is those vital records that you mentioned are done on state paper. extremely expensive that you have to get from the state. Last year we fulfilled almost 18,000 requests almost. So that's expensive paper. That's a lot of stuff that we have to throw in envelopes with the online stuff and we have to pay for the stamp. That's the reason we're kind of going up. It's just going to basically cover those costs. The the the state papers is extremely expensive. It's a secure paper so it has to be brought into the city. Um so that's kind of the reason for that increase

and I and thank you for the answer. I think I think that's kind of where my head was at before a few people had reached out with the question and then I started looking and part of me quite honestly I guess Mr. Mayor threw you to the clerk feels like this might be something that we're just the first ones to do it and by the end of budget season for all we know you know four more communities are going to hop in line if this is how costs are going. Uh my other my other question because the the clerk's office is a is a revenue generator. So if anyone happens to have this number kind of off off hand um how how much money is the clerk's office generating through past use fees and then do we have a projection for for where this would be with the new adoption? Mr. Clerk,

I think it's probably going to be basically with everything that we're included and we're just kind of estimating. We we went off um 2025 for 2026. We went off those those numbers and we we ran those numbers that would if we didn't raise the fee. Um if we did raise the fee, it'll probably be another close to 100,000 in in um in increased revenue, maybe a little bit more because the requests are going to go up. That 17,000 that's just the vital records. We've got other stuff going on. So that's we just kind of based it off that because that's the most expensive element in terms of resources at our uh at our office. Thank you. Thank you, Council Mcdana. Council Jan.

Uh thank you very much. I just wanted to say I really appreciated this report because it did break down what the increase was on a per item basis, which was something I was starting to calculate myself until I saw this page existed and showed the new things and also showed that the last update was in 2014. So that this is not something that has been going up every year but really probably is worth uh an increase at this point. So thank you for the report. Thank you councelor Dan. Roll call. Council Mcdana. Yes. Council Mercier. Council N. Yes. Council Robinson. Yes. Council Roar. Yes. Council Scott. Yes. Council Chow. Yes. Council Dakota. Yes. Mayor Gia. Council Jirean. Yes.

Council Leang. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Five utility public hearings 5.1 Boston Gas. Request permission to replace existing cast iron gas man at 24 to 360 Gorm Street. Public hearings are now open. Anybody wishing to speak in favor? Please state your name and address for the record.

Diana Cuddy National Grid 170 Data Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts. I'm here in favor of this petition for the gas man replacement. This is um a project that we've had in our radar. It's one of the ones that we are actually getting reimbursed for from the DPU. I mean, yeah, from the DPU. It's um has a leakaker pipe, has a leak history that meets the qualifications to comply with getting the um the grant from the DPU to replace it.

Thank you. You might want to hang around. There might be some questions from the council after. Anyone else wishing to speak in favor? In favor? in favor. That portion of the hearing is closed. Anyone wishing to speak in opposition?

Good evening. John Jonathan Gman, 83 Varnham Avenue and a volunteer with 350 Mass of Greater Lel, the climate justice group. Couple of meetings ago after this issue was raised, uh, the council passed, this council passed two motions. uh one to request uh representative of National Grid to come and speak to a subcommittee about how decisions are made and the second was requesting information uh for each that upon requesting replacement of a pipe that certain information be provided uh specifically how the decision was made to replace as opposed to repair or um look at non-pipe alternatives. Uh and my question is whether this information has been provided and to save time. Uh there's two requests. I don't want to get up and repeat this unless you want me to. So for there's there's two requests. Um and whether that information has been provided and if so if it could be made public because I didn't see it looking at the agenda. And just as a reminder, replacement is exponentially more expensive than repair. Replacement costs go into the rates. Replacement costs increase the asset value for the company and therefore increase their return on investment. So they have an incentive and that's why this information is important. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak in opposition? In opposition in opposition that portion of hearing is closed. What's the wish of the body? Move.

Move approval by councelor Rook, seconded by councelor Robinson, councelor non. Thank you. So move to refer.

Mr. Gman just mentions that a few meeting ago. Um we file council file two motion. One is to have representative from both either National Grid or Boston Gas to be present when applying for um permit. Uh second was filed by myself uh specifically uh looking for information uh information provided by the company either Boston Gas or National Grid as to how they derive at replace or repair. I don't know much about the condition. I don't know. I don't know. They do have people who do that work from both company. Uh I'm wondering the same thing as Mr. Gman's uh statement that was information provide to this council or to the city. Uh and if not the next step I think is going before the wire inspector. uh those information if not now ought to be provide then uh whether or not this pipe should be replaced or repair because we said it before this going to come down to the rate pay the cost associated with replace as opposed to repair if we do not to need to replace repair will be cheaper to the rate payer that's what I want to see giving everything going you know our tax going to be increased 4.5 4.6% and other things is going to be increased this is another increase it's not fair

thank you council no councel [clears throat] Scott thank you Mr. Mayor, if I could just ask a question on this one. It says 24-360 Gorm Street. Is that just incorrect or is that That's not the actual address for this. 24. It's from 24 to all the way from 24 to 360. Now, will this area be repaved when it's completed? Obviously, we ran into problems the last on Quebec Street. It was left a total disaster that you couldn't even drive down it. It was so bad the part the temporary paving job that was done. Um, yeah, they'll they'll do a temporary paving job and then they'll go back and do a final restoration. And is it the full width of the road or is it a partial restoration, which she's asking you, is it curb to curb?

Typically, not unless the street has recently been paved and it's under paving moratorum. Okay. I would go back to the rateayers. So, we have to go back to the project sponsor to see if they would be interested in in spending the extra money. This particular project is not paid for by the rateayers. It's part of a a pocket of money the DPU has set aside for um getting rid of leak prone pipe. Okay. So, I would just hope that we keep a really close eye, I guess, on the work. Like I said, you could not even drive down Quebec Street with the temporary patching work that was done. Thank you, Council.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just follow up on councelor Scott um common questions regarding the temporary uh paving, right? So, um through you, Mr. Mayor to uh deputy um deputy uh DPD director. Um so if the the temporary patch is not good enough, they still have bond with the the city still have have hold bond on that, right? Can we go after them to have a proper paving, second paving, third paving, whatever how many paving they have to do? Maybe through the mayor, Mr. Manager. To the manager.

Uh thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. through to the council. Uh councelor, so the winter patches, and I'll gladly lean on some some expertise here, but the winter patches, they come in, those are temporary patches, and then they have to come back uh National Grid has to come back in the spring, the spring summer to uh make those temporary patches more permanent. So, if that's the question you're asking, it all depends um on what where the street is in regards to our paving schedule. So, an op paving schedule. Uh, for instance, I'm trying to think of um I'm trying to think of any one of the streets we just redid. The only time we go curb to curb from the city standpoint is to make sure that every all the infrastructure underneath, i.e. national grid, water, etc. are in good order in this manner. uh Gor that section of Gorm Street it would be temporary patched and then we would be looking for two feet I believe on either side um to make sure that that is more permanently completed. Uh sometimes what people are seeing out there is um emergency situations over the winter and those trenches are doing exactly what we anticipate they would do. they would sink in and then it's the responsibility of National Grid and I believe for the for the next five years to quote unquote own that trench to make sure that is in good order. Uh it is also our job from the engineers office upstairs to make sure that that is that is the case that it's properly compacted and then properly dealt with. Um normally, not all the time, but normally when uh the grid or any one of the companies that come in, uh they have a pretty they have a pretty good track record uh in the past four years to ensure that those trenches are uh in good order. Now, that's not to say that there aren't some from previous years that are not, but I think our engineers have done a pretty good uh litmitness test on making sure that that is

happening. If that answers your question, counselor. Thank you. Thank you, Council New Council Duran. Uh, thank you very much. Um, I I guess I'm trying to understand what the next step is with any of these um, uh, Boston gas requests tonight. So, I understand that there will be a motion to refer to the wire inspector for a report and recommendation and then what happens? So, you know, how many bites of the apple do we as a council get to get the information that we have been asking for? I do know it's hard to schedule subcommittee meetings. There's [laughter] not that many days in the week for all that we need, but we really do need this information to make informed decisions about these requests that come at us almost weekly. Manager Golden.

Thank you very much. Uh Mr. Mayor 3 of the council. Uh so council, as we are waiting on a subcommittee meeting with the company, um assistant city manager Mashado has been in touch with the company, our contact on this side, uh to gladly come in and talk about the differences between say cast iron, steel, and plastic. uh and to talk about what uh DPU's um uh charge is if you would going after cast iron and the things that are more likely more leakprone. So that the cast iron pieces here are typically and once again I'll let the representative from National Grid stay state this but typically the C your cast iron pipes are your oldest pipes that are more I don't want to say more likely to to leak but more prone to leaks. So the stuff before us uh tonight I believe both are cast iron and I think the third one is an electric electric uh conduit but um we'll continue to push the company and uh quite frankly right now I don't think that they haven't been it's just scheduling a time to get before the subcommittee to have these further discussions and I'm not so sure

but oh sorry oh no did you hear me [laughter] I was just going to say that I did bring I was virtually uh attending the last meeting and I did bring all the information back so my understanding was it gas and electric. I only handle the gas side. So Curtis Davis, who is a representative that works closely with the city manager, he is going to assemble the group and is happy to come to the subcommittee meeting. So that is already definitely in the works so far. I just didn't have the ability to bring in electric people too.

So that's Thank you. And so um but so the wire uh inspector makes a recommendation like I said, what happens with that recommendation? To whom does that recommendation go? How does this process work? Mr. Manager. Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Through to the council. After the wire inspection, uh the wire inspector looks at this. They review the uh the folder and then they'll bring it back to the council. Thank you, Council Leang.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um and uh thank you uh council Scott also to mention about the uh paving and uh also a special thank to uh Mr. Mashado who uh taught [snorts] me a little bit about the uh I I guess the different between the the national grids paving and also I I didn't know that I didn't know that that's part of the paving also it belong to national grid that's supposed to do the job. So thank you for that. Um I think even though it's a patchwork, it should be a good enough work for um for the you know the commuters. Um if if you seen the Hastings Street, it looked like a surgery gone wrong, you know. So um I I believe that we need to um [clears throat] we need to actually uh be on the ball a little bit just to see uh you know when it's done, how much can we do to make sure it's safe. And uh I I believe that our city has been doing really good job uh you know about uh doing some of the I I guess the paving of the street. But um again I didn't realize uh that National Grid did that and I want to make sure that we inspect the work or at least make sure that it's good enough you know for the the period of time that people be using it. And again I you know I encourage you to take a look at Hastings Street. you can see it from here to there, you know, and uh again uh thank you and I hope we will be uh keep reviewing this to see that it's it's really good. Even though it's a patchwork in between a period of time, it should be good enough and should be should not be putting people in danger when they're driving. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Leang. There's a motion on the floor by Council Rook and seconded by Council Robinson to refer to the Y inspector for report and recommendation. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 5.2 Boston Gas requests permission to replace the existing cast iron gas man at 67 to 94 Kinsman Street. Going to open the hearing. We're going to open the hearing. Those wishing to speak in favor.

I'm speaking in favor of 170 data drive Massachusetts. Um this particular project um the city was doing some sewer work and encroached in our corridor. So we need to move our gas pipe out of the way. Um it's a short main replacement and that is the the reason for for this. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak in favor? In favor. In favor. That portion of hearing is closed. Anyone wishing to speak in opposition.

Hi, I'm Annie Kila from um 6163 Gourman Street. So that's the street um adjacent to Kinsman. Um, we're always in the middle of construction. Like every time there's construction on Kinsman Street or Irving Street, our street gets torn up all the time. But the last, I think was KJAC development. They paved it very nicely. My concern is more so around is it going to be patched up nicely. There's a lot of kids in the neighborhood now, right? They're riding their bikes. I want to make sure that it's safe for them. That's really just like my main concern. Is it going to look the same after you guys tear up the roads? Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak in opposition? Opposition. Opposition. That portion of the hearing is closed. Uh, anybody wishing to speak on this? Council Robinson.

Thank you. um through you to the city manager. If this road is is newly paved, um are we allowing patchwork on a newly paved road still or or is that have to be curb to curb as far as the section that they rip up if it's a newly paved road? Man, thank you very much, Mr. Mayor through to the council. Council, that's correct. If it's if it's within 5 years, it would have to be curb to curb. So, so is this project in in particular that we're talking about uh curb to curb work that's going to be put back there?

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Through the council, uh that would be something we'll have to figure out after Mr. Katy does the review and we'll bring it back to you to find out if it's if it's within the 5 years.

Thank you, Council. So ju just for the record, the city is responsible for inspecting trenches and if they're poorly done, it's the city who's allowing it to be done. So whether the gas company or anyone does that, once they leave, the city is okaying the trenches. So it's the city inspection that doesn't meet whether they're compacting it right or not. So, I just want residents to understand that the company itself will get away with whatever they can, but it's up the city to inspect the trenches before they go. A motion to um refer [snorts] this to the wire inspector for report and recommendation by councelor Dakota, seconded by councelor Chow. All those in favor signified by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 5.3 National Grid requests permission to install underground electric conduit at 50 Draitage Street. We're going to open the hearing. Anyone wishing to speak in favor, please state your name and address for the record, please.

Uh, my name is Alec BSong. The address is 1101 Turnpike Street in North Andover. This project is an upgrade for the St. Joan Dark School and um we are going to be upgrading the service and so we need to install a transformer pad and um a riser from across the street.

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak in favor? In favor. In favor. If you just could leave the area so someone could walk if they have to. Anyone wishing to speak in opposition? Opposition. Opposition. That portion of the meeting is closed. Does anybody have any comments on this project? Motion to refer to the wiring inspector for report and recommendation by councelor Juran. Seconded by councel Yang. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Six. Council city council motions. 6.1. Council Leang request the city manager have the relevant departments assess the feasibility of following measures. One, the installation of flashing crosswalk lights on cross street adjacent to Market Basket directly across from the entrance to North Common parking lot. Two, the implementation of a speed hump. and three, the enhancement of lighting to improve pedestrian safety in the surrounding areas including the park. Second to that motion is councelor Mcdana.

There is uh registered speakers. Mr. Mayor. Yep. Laura Ortiz. If you could please state your name and address for the record. Sure. My name is Laura Ortiz and I live in LOL. My address is PO Box 1. Ma'am, we're asking you for your rec for your address, not where you live, your address. And you also approached me out in the hallway and mentioned the L police and also stated that you were not going to allow me to. No one mentioned the L police. What we said to you was you need to state your name and address with the law office outside.

We will strike we will strike your conversation from the record if you do not provide the information that a part of the council I gave you valid address. If you're not willing to giveitution, if you're not willing to give your address for the record, the council rules clearly state and you were given an order to cease and dis. We're going to give you another we're going to give you another opportunity to do that. We're going to have you removed from the council legal address which is PO Box 103 and this is just if you could if you could back away from the microphone because you're unwilling to give your address for the record. Okay. Well, then you want the taxpayers to have a lot. asking you to back away from wanted me to bring my lawyers and to bring it on.

Thank you for threatening us with your lawyers. Have a great day. Next speaker, Mr. Clerk. Amada Gregory.

Hi, good evening everyone. Uh, my name is Amada Gregory. I live in 246 Marcus Street, apartment 445. I'm here and thank you um Council Lion and Council Robinson um for support us. Uh this is what happened that uh we are very concerned about the park, the field, the baseball field. Um [snorts] this afternoon 5:30 we have a fight with one of the parents uh of our team. [snorts] Uh we called the police and the police said that and they they didn't report it and anything but the police said if we want uh a police present there we need to pay for it. I don't think that would be right. is for safety of the children. Uh, I'm here for the safety of the children. And I here is the safety to have a light around the park, but also the safety to have a police around to when we have um when when we have games and also when we have practice. This this evening um seven five to seven year old was there. parent was very concerned. We were very scared. Uh this is a part this is a field uh that cost uh $1 million and this is a field but that maybe we cannot uh play there because we concerned uh the kids on Saturday um it was another fight when we were there. So

the parents concerned, the coach is concerned uh and Maria Claudio this uh CEO is concerned. Uh I don't know what you can do for us for the safety of the children, for the safety of the community and for the safety of the parents. We are there just to play game. There's a lot of kids there do not belong and they're causing a lot of fight. There's a lot of fight, a lot of gunshot, a lot of things going on there. Uh, yes, we need Thank you, uh, council uh, line. Uh, we need we need, we need a lot of, uh, we need safety. We need a lot of police there, um, to find out what we can do in that area or the acre because it's very, very dangerous. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Is there any other registered speakers? No, that's you, Mr. Council Leang.

Wow. I did not [laughter] note that. Um, well, thank you. Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you to uh the speaker. Um, when I first heard about this was that I understand there's a lot of people who afraid to still can't come out and speak about what their needs around that area. Um so and the last time I understood was that uh a couple of maybe a week when on the day that we uh did that ribbon cutting there was a a fight there as well. I do really want to know uh what this thing about where we need to pay. Uh well we'll we'll see what we can find out on that. Um this motion while it's around safety in the neighborhood, it's um let's start with the crosswalk there. Um we know that on the other side um of market basket uh there is a uh flashing crosswalk there and um so we just wanted to make sure that there's one on the other side as well. Uh there's a lot of uh people actually crossing from that area especially now when we have um daylight and also a really nice uh baseball field and park for people to use more pedestrian foot will be uh coming around that side. So uh I I think it's really fair to have one on that side as well and not just on the other side. Uh, and the speed hump is um another I guess it doesn't cost a lot, but it would save people's life, especially when you have people getting off from Fletcher and speeding up toward Suffuk and Adam Street there. And so that would help if there's a way that uh a a speed home can be produced. And again and lighting was supposed to be

one of those solution that might help with the fight from the other Saturday, but apparently this is daylight. So I'm assuming maybe some additional safety uh can be helpful in in trying to uh maintain the area safety so that we have a really good park and we don't want it to turn into something that's really really bad for the neighborhood. And I I think this a this is a good entry way to to find solution to some of the issues around the park and uh I I really need your help on this one. Thank you.

Thank you, [clears throat] Council Leang, Council Mcdana. Thank you uh Mr. Mayor and I thank Councelor Leang for putting the motion in. I also have gotten a number of uh my microphone is very broken. I've gotten a number of uh calls and emails and concerned people uh about this. Um, I think I agree with Councelor Leang. I think that the the biggest priority here would be the the flashing crosswalk lights. I think there's a there's a whole lot going on that brings people to uh the park to to the new the newly renovated park to you have a swimming pool over at North Common and you've got kids there all summer. Um, they're not always great at crossing the street. I understand that it is on the person who's putting themselves in the street a little bit, but I think anything we can do to help minimize uh that sort of interaction between a pedestrian and car would be really really good. Um, and then on the enhancement of lighting, uh, I think there there's a a number of places uh, around uh, both the acre and downtown and I'm sure elsewhere in the city. Lighting is a phenomenally effective deterrent of uh, the kinds of less ideal loitering in behaviors. Uh, I have the distinct pleasure of having a my window looks right onto Derby Park, which is not in the acre. However, I think as the assistant city manager knows, we have a number of bars that let out around 2:00 in the morning. [snorts] And remarkably, the the big giant light that sits in Derby Park, you would think kind of, oh, okay, you got this many bars, you got a nice big patch of benches, this is going to be a rowdy location, but I can still sleep with my windows open because that light, nobody wants to stand there in a in a search light and do debauchery, you know. So, [snorts] thank you.

Thank you, Council Mcdana. All those in favor Oh, Council Dakota, I'm sorry.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I believe we had probably a year or two ago, we had brought up a situation uh on Fletcher Street where we were looking to do something with the crosswalk with a safety guard. I think it might have been at Viney Street, Council Leang. And then we had the crosswalks there and obviously a safety officer in the morning for the children in the afternoon. I wonder if uh Council Leang would be amendable to having the crosswalk, the flashing crosswalk there and kind of two birds at one stone, I think. But obviously I'll I'll let him decide. But I know we had talked about this uh that the cars coming up the up the street were kind of barreling pretty good and um we you know with all the students getting going to school at 8:30 in the morning getting out at 3:00 that might not be a bad idea. Thank you.

Thank you councelor Dakota. Council Robinson.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um throw you to the manager. That's a state pool, correct? And and housing property that kind of sandwiches this kind of newly renovated area. I mean, could we reach out to to both the housing and the state to see if they'd be willing to help out with lighting, especially in that area? If if if it's the area I'm thinking about, it's that entrance area that would bring you right to the new concession stand/b of our field that we renovated. So, I mean, we maybe it's just a matter of upgrading existing or or or whatever it may be, but I know there is some lighting and it probably is outdated in that area as well as the housing. I mean, if if they could help us out with illuminating this area, too, I think it'd go a long way. Manager Golden.

Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor through to the council. Uh, councelor, I do appreciate the one, two, three because myself and Mr. Mashad are already talking about which ones we're going to assign to whom, but, uh, this is something that we can attack, I I think. And um if uh Mr. Mashado at the at the close of this meeting to council Leang if we could have a discussion as to exactly the lighting just to make sure. I believe councelor Robinson that's what I believe it to be. I want to make sure that that is correct. But also I know that um Miss Alman has also looked at um this area as well. So we will take a peek at that. Uh, and you know the speed humps for some reason I think there were a little bit of an issue there and I don't I don't recall why but the but the lighting as well as the flashing crosswalk something we have been working on and I know we have things coming in. So we may not be able to accomplish all of these but this is something we should be uh moving forward on.

Thank you councel Robinson. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 6.2 2. Council Robinson, Council Yang, request the city manager have the proper department provide a detailed explanation of the process used for city funded projects in art installations. No second needed. Councelor Robinson.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, this came about with again the renovation of the ballpark and and it seems like we have a broken process and and I've know the funding stream has came from multiple places when we start looking at our installations but I mean we're at a location where you know it's it's next to the north common there's a large Hispanic population for one for two it's pretty much Roberto Clemente's field that they have to use because of everything else at other fields that they they used to use and the art installation projections do not line up with the community and and there's no answers behind it. It it's I understand there was a call for art put out and it just did not line up at all with the community. Um Carney, it's Carney failed. There was no reference to the for the family. Um, Roberto Clemente. No reference to Roberto Clemente. I mean, we're looking to put ladybugs and other thing, race cars on the side of of of buildings and concession stands in a community that's proud. They're proud of their athletes. And so, it only makes sense. I understand the funding mechanism is something that we were concerned with, but at the same time, I don't understand how we can't wrap that with with digital imagery that reflects what that community wants. The the community was not even consulted for input on on on this. I don't know where this came up from. And and then in addition, it was kind of short notice. members of Roberto Clemente League found out the day before about this event gathering there and then we're going to take a vote from me non-members of that community that play stickers to pick what their favorite piece was. It did not speak to that community at all and the community was scratching their head.

I was scratching my head in attendance and I think we need to really figure out what is our process. Most communities we would establish what we want to see put the Colorado auto at the core of it and let the artists get creative but at the end of the day we should be guiding and directing what this is going to be the end result again I never want to tie an artist hands let them have at it any rendering or rendition of whatever the heck the city's looking for. But I think this one before it's too late, I hope we don't drop the ball on this because again, we just invested a significant amount of money into this field. We want that community to understand and feel like this is their community. We don't want them to feel like tourists in their backyard. And and when you're putting race cars and and ladybugs as options with deer running in the wild as options next to North Common for for Roberto Clemente League's home field, I think we have major problems. So I hope we can correct this before it's too late. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Robinson. Council Yang.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I'm all about a sustainable process and uh again, this came about what uh Council Robinson was mentioning. Um it was about the wrapping of the Clemente and Connie families. Um for me I think getting the community involved in city- funed project is a wonderful idea. It helped build connection between residents, local nonprofit and community leaders giving everyone a chance to share their thoughts and ideas. When people feel a sense of ownership over the what happened in their neighborhoods, it can inspire them to take care of the park and and and many other assets in in the neighborhood by reaching out to them. Um they can help take care of the environment. And I think the city is actually heading toward that direction with the uh the tool of the budget in in in the neighborhood meeting. So I think by meeting people where they are uh is the best way to get their input and as well as ownership of what's going on in our city and um we need to determine what the current process and find way to include resident community members CBOS's and many other uh stakeholders even you know into the the wrap of the concession stands and it's represent a lot you know especially to the neighborhood and they should have their input in Thank you.

Thank you, Council Leang. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 6.3 Council Robinson request the city manager have the property department provide city council with a report on pros and cons of establishing a chapter 40 Y starter home zoning district as well as any recommendations on possible locations. Seconded by councelor Mcdana. Councel Robinson.

Thank you. Um, this has been in the works on a state level for quite some time. Um, I think it's worth taking a look at. I'm not saying it fits perfect for low, but I think it is a good option to look at because we are heavy on both ends of this. I think I think we're heavy on subsidies in small apartments. We're heavy on market rate unaffordable options. The intent on this coming out of the state is to incentivize a zone in communities where pretty much first-time home buyers in and moderate income households. Um they are incentivizing communities that offer this. Now I know I know l's land poor. I it's not like we have options that we could just point to and say yes this works. But I think it's something to keep in the back of our mind because we're always looking how do we keep people in our city. You you go to university, you land a career, you want to purchase a home in your community and stay in your community. I mean, if the state is looking at programming to incentivize us creating that ability, which is something that's been on all of our radar for quite some time, it's a no-brainer to explore this. Um, now whether or not it works, I don't know. And that's why the motion is requesting the pros and cons and any recommendations. I mean, the way it's rolled out, a 40y includes following core requirements. Starter homes as of right. Permit a minimum density of four units per acre of developable land. Limit homes to 1850 square ft of heated living area. Require at least 50% of homes to contain three or more bedrooms. require income restrictions for larger developments with at least 10% of the units in the development of more than 12 starter homes restricted the households earning

up to 110% AMI in permit startery home permit starter home accessory dwelling units that piece I don't I'm not going to sit here and and push but it is included in this this measure whether or not that does fit in our community is yet to be determined but I think it's well worth exploring. So, thank you. Thank you, Council Robinson. Council Scott.

Oh, sorry. I thought you were going the other way first. Um, thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, this is really interesting. I did some reading on it and what confused me a little bit though, it says that there's a 4unit per acre minimum requirement and per acre is, you know, 43,560 square feet. So, it's about 11,000 per unit. Um our current zoning in our um least restrictive area in Belvadier um is I believe 10,000 square feet per per lot. Um and in my district traditional single family it's 7,000 square foot per lot. Um so we're actually allowing much more by right already, you know, in our zoning than this would actually do. Um, now what what confuses me a little bit is whether or not this becomes more restrictive because you'd have to limit smaller house sizes in sites that we already allow by right development of a you know anything. Um, or whether or not this is an incentive that we're missing out on because we already meet the requirement across the board. Um, so I guess that would be what would be interesting to to hear the response on. Um, and and I look forward to it. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Scott. Council Mcdana.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And and I have also been looking into this and it's it's possible that I am missing it in 40 and I both both of my colleagues that spoke before me, we don't have a whole lot of land. Our zoning code doesn't we don't require a whole lot of land to build really anywhere relative to some of our suburban neighbors. Um, but I was unable to find and so I would ask I guess in in the report I'm assuming from DPD or or whoever the manager sends this off to. Um, is there anything that would prevent us from from using this in denser parts of the city for uh condos, town houses? Um, there didn't seem to be a requirement that it be a single family home. And I I may have missed it must be a single family home. It seems to be that you had to be able to own or occupy it. So, I I'm curious, I guess, if we could if this is a potential avenue to try. I know it's been really hard to get townhouse and condo development, uh, because every everyone wants to build rentals, so if this was a potential avenue to increase ownable stock in our in our denser neighborhood. So, thank you.

Thank you, um, Council Chow.

Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, as Councelor [clears throat] Scott mentioned, uh, this is an interesting motion, and I appreciate my colleague, uh, bringing this up. I did read up on a little bit and um just a couple comments on that. I do have a also a couple questions. I think the uh to council Scott's point when they said um four uh minimum four units per acre, you know, the key word is minimum. So my understanding based on preliminary research, there could be more than four units per acre. So I'm not sure about that. And also I do believe that it has to be a single home family. Um my my question is really you know that the benefits of of this program uh this is not affordable housing it's more like workforce housing it if it works if there's a area for it it really would help the young adults the young professional the teachers the firefighters that could afford this a starter home it's meant to be a starter home it's not meant to be like affordable housing uh the young professionals they make more money than the um AMI that would be qualified for affordable housing So, it would be good if it go forward. Um, my question is about the funding, the benefits that come from the state uh through you, Mr. Mayor, to the manager. Uh, when the state allows for up to $600,000 if if this program were to be adopted in the city, um, up to $600,000 and there could be an additional $3,000 per unit built. Where would that, and you don't have to answer this tonight, I don't want to put you on the spot, but it could be part of the report come back. uh what would the city be using that money for? And the second part is I'm I'm unclear about this when um would there be a designated area like a large area that you have to designate for this 40 wy uh housing and to councelor McDonald's point um you know would this go into an existing

neighborhood was already dense. So, you know, I would imagine this would be have to be a designated area that you could develop 40 Y um housing only. So, that's my only confusion. So, if you have an answers tonight, I would like to hear, but if not, I would love to hear the report for that. He'll get back to you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Council Robinson.

Thank you. Um so the 40 wide districts can be loaded in ex uh can be located in existing residential neighborhoods near town or village centers along corridors or other locally identified areas or in any other location chosen by the community as long as the zoning meets chapter 4 requirements is and is approved by EOHLC. A zoning incentive payment, a one-time payment of 10,000 to 600,000 based on the number of additional as of right units allowed by the new zoning. Density bonus payments 3,000 per new unit when construction begins and any applicable affordability requirements are recorded on homes that were not previously allowed as of right. These incentives can generally be put towards a wide variety of local investments, including support of local planning, infrastructure, and implementation of starter home zoning districts. So, the guidelines and regulations that just got carved out are pretty broad. I mean, and again, it's it's the goal of this zoning is to help cities and towns expand opportunities for smaller single family homes. Set clear, locally crafted, and that's the key here. It allows us to set clear, locally crafted rules that make the permitting process predictable and as of right. It meets local housing needs by allowing modest starter homes including homes affordable to households earning up to 110% of AMI and it supports neighborhood scale development that aligns with local planning. So this is a mechanism they do allow you to look at existing neighborhoods but it retains local control. It retains the ability to look at what fits our community. I I like my colleagueu's comment, councelor Scott, when she brought up, is this something that we might be able to overlay or do that that we're already

doing in a section of the city? I don't know. And I think that's why the exploration is going to be interesting to see what comes back. But any opportunity we have to kind of work with incentivized housing stock programs where where one instead of subsidizing anything like that we're we're creating a pathway towards affordable home ownership with 110% AMI three bedrooms $1850. Those are decent sized. I mean, if we look around our city, we're seeing 700 square foot bed bedrooms go for 23, 24, $2,500 a month in some instances. So, I mean, an 1850 ft home that a firsttime home buyer would be qualified to purchase and the city receives incentives potentially to to create these. I don't see the negatives on it unless there's hidden costs and and hidden things that go along. So, I'm very interested to see what comes back on this. Thank you,

Council Dan.

Uh, thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Um, I haven't dug into this very much, but I think there are a lot of conditions um to, for instance, those financial incentives based on the existing zoning just quickly looking at the statute. So, I think that since DPD is thinking about going through an entire zoning reook, this might be something to consider in that context. But I think to councelor Scott's point, if we already have zoning that in effect allows this unless we go much smaller in size for single family homes, which it does seem that this requires houses that are either they're attached or detached. So single really, you know, some sort of single family homes, not condo buildings. Um, you know, I think this really plays into that entire look and I think the simplification that DPD is trying to do with zoning, which may or may not be something we all love, but is is your goal. I think you can look at it in that this context, but I don't think it's as simple as what the the you know, initial sort of description um states.

Thank you, Council Janine. Councelor Mcdana. Yeah, I I uh I went back. I I do feel sad. Um unfortunately the state in their infinite wisdom and someone's going to shoot me a look here. It's all housing housing housing. But you know we have an option to build pretty dense housing which would be where I live which is a condo building. A lot of people in the city live in condo buildings and town houses. They're ownable. Um, unfortunately, I guess this one, unless the state felt like being nice to us, um, they're not going to count. I would hope maybe though that we find ways, uh, in the spirit of this motion that we find ways to increase the ownable stock in some of these renter renter heavy neighborhoods like my own and and the rest of district 4. So, thank you.

I guess I'm wondering what the size of a starter home is. My home is 1520 square ft. So I I just uh guess I'm in that starter home when it's $1850. That's pretty good. Um motion to accept and place on I mean uh all in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 6.5 Council Robinson request city manager have the traffic engineer examine the feasibility of installing a four-way stop at the intersection of Christian Orsby and Mthuan Street due to high-speed vehicular traffic. Seconded by Councelor N. Councelor Robinson. Thank you. Um I was over in this area recently and and cars were going easily 40 to 60 m an hour in some instances heading outbound into like Drake. I was also informed that um LPD was out there I think yesterday morning and and and there was quite a bit of cars that was stopped and probably you know warned or or I don't know what the outcome was but I think this place warrants a a good look from our transportation engineer. Um I'm being told there was as many as 12 cars pulled over in a short amount of time on that that straight strip going into Drake. So any any assistance greatly appreciated. Thanks. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? Both. So ordered. [clears throat] Seven. Communication from the city manager. 7.1 motion response. Street committee update April 2026. Council of Jirean.

Uh thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Uh for those listening at home, this memo is short, but it outlines the process of the city seeking uh residents to join the committee, outreach to tree related organizations to brainstorm the role of the committee. Um and that the city is starting to draft an ordinance and job descriptions for the committee with the potential if all goes smoothly for the first meeting of the committee that could be as early as June. Um just so that's very helpful. um trying to just understand beyond requesting volunteers which I know uh the city had done. Was there any other broad input from the community about the Oh, there sorry. Thank you, [laughter] man.

Uh thank you very much Mr. Mayor through to the council. Miss Moses, thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Manager. Thank you, counselor. Yes. So, initially when we started this process, we had received a grant from the department of um conservation and recreation and the grant allowed us to do community engagement. We did that last fall. We actually got a lot of interest and that's why I'm so excited to get started on this tree committee because we had over 50 people to give us input about the types of things they wanted to have. They gave us input about places where they think we need more trees and a lot of those places aligned very much with our urban forest master plan. They gave us opinions on how to stay informed about this. And we think because there was so much interest in the tree committee, we really want to structure this well in our ordinance and really allow those that can't necessarily serve on the tree committee to still play a part in helping to grow and revitalize our urban forest. So we got a lot of response in the fall. We went to some community events and we also had focus groups in um October and November of this year that included stakeholders like the l parks and conservation trusts as well as those that are working the greening the gateway city program. And so we think by having this broad kind of information gathering, public input, stakeholder engagement, focus groups, we think that we'll have a good uh ordinance to put forward to hopefully be voted on very soon by this council. And I think that given the enthusiasm in the community, we'll be able to really move forward with some of our strategic goals. I hope that answered your question.

Yeah. No, that's very helpful. Actually the question had come from a resident who actually wasn't aware of some of that community outreach. So I think um it but it does suggest that even if folks are not appointed to the committee having ways for people to give input because people do care about this uh will be important. Um, and related to that is I understand from the uh motion response that there isn't money in the budget right now for an arborist, which I can appreciate given the budget uh status, but um I was curious if it's possible for either there to be um someone in the city who might be an arborist to be on the committee or be an advisor to the committee as a way to help um get that input. um even if you know it isn't done through a formal city position.

I I think that would be a good I think thing to take back. I'm not sure um how many people have a certified arborist credential within the city, but I think that that's something that we can look at and look to, you know, enhance. Uh, and of course the long-term vision would be to have that dedicated arborist on staff, but I think it would take some seed money through grant funding or other kinds of sources to be able to do that. But I can follow up and see if we have those skill sets on the within the city staffing and if this city staffing positions are maintained in FY27 to give that valuable input on the council.

Uh, thank you. Yes, I think actually somebody had mentioned to me that there is a resident who to sort of informally had volunteered their services who might have this uh the right certification. So I will pursue that and if that is correct I can give you some insights there. Thank you Mr. Mayor.

Thank you Vice Mayor Non. So I I don't want anyone to think that this is a financial burden on the city because there is no way that this should be whether you're hiring a tree warden or not. At the end of the day, the tree warden's position should be something that is funded through the fines that are levied against people who are doing wrong to the bylaws of a committee. In most communities, it stands alone. It can be any kind of funding source comes from the fines to pay the tree warden. And if you have a proper one done, um that includes private property also. You would never had the apple orchard if you had the bylaws that are in Lexington Street Committee. It wouldn't happen. And the state overruled because you don't have one in place. And at the same time, when you start looking at this, the 50 volunteers is an amazing number, but that doesn't mean you need them all on the committee. The committee should be something around seven or eight. and the other 42 could absolutely help us with a tree inventory in the city. And that's where we need the help is we need to understand what do we have in the city, where is it, and how do we protect it and make sure that what we're doing is right and not just clearcutting things for zero reason. And if you do, you should be fined. And that's the way tree committees work. If you look at some of the bylaws in some of the communities, like take the town of Lexington for example, their fund probably has over $300,000 in it and they plant trees regularly out of it and it it's self- sustaining. And Mr. Manager, do we do we cut um funding from CDBG to um lower conservation uh trust for tree plantings? Is that cut $30,000? We we did remove the specific line, but we do have the flexibility to reaccommodate it to that.

As long as it's for landscaping and beautifying the city and green spaces, we can reaccommodate it to that.

Well, my hope is we get it back there yesterday because that $30,000 is the only amount that this city invests in those trees and it's through CDBG money and we deleted it from them and they're worried. It should be more about 60 to 70,000 and and it's an issue because when you look we just went to UMass Arbor Day that was all provided from them and there's plenty of trees that we could plant in this city plenty of open space. If you go to Boston I just went there for Greek independence parade and when you go down there the thing that beautifies it is those trees when you walk down along the place you look and it just gives it that nate natural look. you go downtown and you look at some of those islands down there that could absolutely support the trees, it looks barren. It's full of, you know, it doesn't give you, it doesn't sell the look. And I think the trees create a nice shade area. So, when we look at this, we really have to dive in and make sure it's done not only right, but to protect them in the future because none of us are going to be here when they meet maturity. Maybe Mcdana will be because he's 12, but [laughter] other than that, I think the rest of us won't be here. And um Katherine, I thank you for your hard work on this. It's not an easy committee to do, but when you look around, there's plenty of already established tree committees that are easy to follow. If you just follow some of the places, the Arlington, the Lexingtons, conquered in those places, you'll see there's established strong strong tree committees with ordinances that are supported by their local bodies of selectmen. And I think that that's what we need to do. And obviously the community thinks the same way because you have 50 volunteers. We can't get that on any board in this city. So, I think people care here and and I think it's time that we step up in 2026 and get something done that people have been doing for the last 50 years. And when you look, we talk about treat committee USA, we got designated. I don't know how

we did that. Whoever pulled that off, I I am very thankful for you, but you didn't do anything to earn it in the end. We sit here and we cut them down at will like we did up at that apple orchard, which we could have prevented. So, um, thank you again. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, Coslo McDonald,

thank you. Uh, whoa, that was really loud. Thank you. Um, I I just want to say that I I appreciate the progress we're getting or we're making towards the tree committee on I I can appreciate that we're in a tough financial position. Um, though in looking so we we do have an urban an urban forest master plan and we don't have an urban forester. Uh, right. So, or or an arborist or really any anyone who is a tree person. Trees are also incredibly expensive. I I know a comment was made. There was a a it wasn't a ribbon cutting because the park's not open. I did try and go on the slide. I got yelled at um at St. Louis and there were several trees that were planted over at St. Louis Park over the weekend. And going by the diameter on some of those trees, I'm going to wager a guess and say they were probably Yeah. inch and a half. Right. Is that like three $400 tree? It's not a cheap tree. It's not a cheap tree. And so you're doing, you know, 15 of those at however many parks you got a number of street trees. So there's a lot of money getting tied up in just new, never mind the existing trees and new trees. And so I think I'm not saying, you know, throw the budget out the window and get me a a forester, but I am saying I think that to be mindful of how much money we're spending right now addressing, I think, an ongoing resident and a persistent resident concern around trees in the city that they they are expensive to put in and they are actually far less expensive to maintain. A cursory glance looks like an urban forest. There was a posting in Brooklyn for their uh head urban their urban forester and it was you know comes up to about $75,000 uh on the year and so I'm not saying you know just copy their posting but I am saying I think $75,000 but when you look at the the number of trees we're putting in and the cost to replace those trees at some point it probably breaks even. I don't know when that point is but I would I guess recommend taking a look.

So thank you. Thank you Council Mcdana. Council Mcdana there's an energy cost savings when you plant a tree. So that's the buyback into it and I think that we've lost that in the city. When you look at people's electric bills and gas bills and everything, it's because we have no you look at the heat islands, there's your problem. But councelor Scott,

thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just a quick question while we have Miss Moses here. Um I was looking at the Chelmsford tree committee and which thank you for this motion. I think it's an excellent motion, by the way. Um and they talk about how they um work with the tree warden on maintaining and removing trees from streets, parks and other areas. Um so the utilities come through and obviously they do a lot of cutting down of the trees on our main roads. I went back and I looked 10 years ago on Wuben Street, Gorm Street, some of the main roads and the change in the appearance of those roads is just absolutely incredible. You can go on Google Earth and look at it yourself. Um it I think it increases speeding on these roads. I think you know heat islands there's so many things that it does. So my question is are there rules around the utilities having to replace trees or replant trees when they take them down in the name of um you know the lines the power lines overhead do they have to replant?

So that's a good question. I'm not really sure of the answer around that. I know there are replanting guidelines anytime that the city has to take a tree down for health of the tree or for public safety and things like that. So, I would imagine that those same kinds of rules would apply to the utility, but that's something that I'd probably have to follow up on to get you a more definitive answer, and I'd be happy to do that and give an additional updates when the ordinance comes before the city council. Yeah, if you could, like I said, I I did witness them pretty much clearcut trees all the way down the entire length of Wuben and Gorm Street. A few times they've cut a lot of trees down. Um, so if we could just find out what the obligation is for them to replant. Thank you,

Council Scott. When I was in charge of the Lexington highway and equipment and drains, what happened is that they could clear cut around the wires only. They could not cut the tree down. So that's what they would do. They would come in, clear cut around the wires and leave like you'll see them half a tree up and then they would run. But in LOL because you have no tree ordinances, they just clear cut right down to the stump and then leave it. So that's the problem. Anyone else? Council Robinson.

Thank you. Um, I've seen one of our surrounding communities actually due to a car accident, drunk driver decimated a old tree. As a result, they were rewarded enough money to purchase I think it was six to eight obviously a lot smaller caliber, but there I think it's all in the policy. It's all in what you write part of that ordinance and and I mean everything we're discussing it is something that the city can pursue. I mean, even in winter when a contractor is out with a a a piece of heavy equipment removing snow and they damage or destroy one of the trees that's growing along a walkway, they have an insurance binder with the city. And again, you are going to have to repay and replant. It's it's up to you. So, I think the devil's in the details and we have a golden opportunity to carve out exactly what this tree committee is going to govern and what this ordinance looks like. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Robinson. Council McDonald, this is my last comment. I just I went to I I went to trade school. I went to trade school actually for this. There was a time in my life where I probably could have done this. I am not doing it. Um that's exactly what like a lot of a lot of the kids I went to high school with um a lot of my pre uh teachers um the what the urban forester does and I think to the mayor's point on the floor about being able to fund a good portion of the position is it would put somebody on the city's payroll that is qualified and certified to be able to assign a value to those trees so that if there is a drunk driver into a tree or if the utility company does want to come in and cut them down, we're not, you know, in a position where well we can't just spitball a number and say well that's how much the tree would cost to replace because the utility company is going to say well no it's not this is you know Jimmy tree guy from national electric and he says it's cheap. Um and so being able to to have somebody on the city's payroll that is able to look at a large diameter tree and say you know that is a that is a $2,500 tree that is a $3,000 tree. And so if you're going to cut it down because that's what you're saying you have to do, then you we're going to owe us the the $3,000 which would then be able to to pay for for you know smaller trees, the forester, etc. So I think that's just I'm done now. Thank you, Council Mcdana. Motion to accept and place on file by council juran, seconded by council Leang. Motion response B. Tiny Tots. Um it's my motion, Mr. Manager. Thank you. Anybody wishing to speak on it? Council Durant.

Yes. Thank you very much. Um, I just had a question. I think the last paragraph mentioned that after consultation with the finance team regarding funding, the 3 to four year old Tiny Hots program has been restored. So, I was curious where the funding has come from or is coming from. I'm assuming it goes into fiscal year 27. So just trying to understand because you know I know our budgets are tight. Um it' be helpful to get some insights. Thank you Mr. CFO.

So um thank you Mr. Mayor and and just to address your your question counselor because the recreation program spans two fiscal years every year. It starts um you know it starts in the the late spring but runs through the summer into the next year. uh there was enough available uh existing appropriations that we've been able to identify uh within recreation for this year to get them started. And then you know we have although and we spent a lot of time earlier this evening talking about the challenges for next year um due to the priority that was placed on this by the council and in some discussions with uh Mr. Fedicanti and and his team in recreation uh we have programmed the necessary funding into the budget. it was um somewhere in the order of magnitude of 40 or $50,000 uh to keep it sustainable. Um so we've been able to plug the hole. Uh we did have to cut back in other places. Uh you know the budget is not fully baked yet although we are very close. Um and so it it comes as a trade-off for next year. So we we've you know with a number of other cuts we've had to make in the budget. We did preserve the funding here. Although I I think it does bear mentioning something that came up before that in the future we are going to have to reconsider this model and in order to continue the the program itself, we may need to look to uh sort of a fee for service or at least a needs-based fee for service to offer free services for residents who may uh qualify um you know and may need it uh but may need to charge a fee for others. and we're for the next several months and into the next year coming up with ways to determine that, program that, and administer that. So, I I hope that addresses your question, counselor.

Thank you, Council Non. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to echo um Council Direan as well as thanks Peter Faticanti for the report. Um it's good thing that we did restore the program because a lot of parent do need it. I do concur with you uh Mr. CFO that going forward we probably put our head together as to how we continue it but on a basis you know um pay I should use the program so to speak you know maybe for the next year but for this year thank you for doing it. Thank you councelor new councelor Robinson.

Thank you. Um I'm glad to see this was restored. I think uh in a lot of areas we we've just recently gone through and increased our permanent fees for parks and all that stuff. Um we're looking at utilizing concession stands potentially. Um we might be looking at pay to use next in the in the future on this. Do you think it's time we we we start really looking hard at um establishing a fund specifically for a wreck department where it it kind of so thinking through it in Montreal for example they have um an account set up that goes directly to the travel and tourism that that they're responsible for programming like that. And so the more programming they do, the more revenue that they bring in, they get a portion of that under their control. So it's kind of

so it's kind of the incentive for them to do better. Would this be something to look at for our recck department when we're get we're permitting all of this stuff, all these new improvements to the fields, setting up an account specifically that that money goes into to help offset. And I know you've said in the past that it's not going to cover all the hiring portions, but a airmarked account specifically for wreck department or or or parks department, whatever that is, recreational programming, at least we would have an account to to offset the expenditures where the impact to the to the fields, the impact to all these things and maybe pull for some of programming like this to offset that paytoplay. um use a fee. I think there might be time to really at least begin a conversation and see is that something that makes sense and um maybe that that motion will come in the near future for a conversation. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Robinson. Motion to accept and place on file by councelor Mcdana, seconded by Council Leang. 7.1 [clears throat] motion response C rules election subcommittee regarding mayor election. Council Jiren. Uh thank you very much. Uh this is a very detailed memo which gives a lot of history and thought about the steps and issues to be considered um as we collectively seek a path to try to have residents elect the mayor consistent with the non-binding referendum back in 2021 which overwhelmingly um people wanted that. Um there is a suggestion that we should hold a special meeting of the entire city council to have this conversation. But I know also that uh councelor Scott had suggested having meetings with the neighborhood groups. So I think the question is which is the right order to do this. Um you know which will inform the other better. Um and uh I don't know if there is any thoughts on that but um that's one question I think we should figure out logistically. Um, and I think the questions we need to consider as a council, as a community, are, you know, and and many of these are set forth here. Who's eligible to be mayor at large, district, both, or must you run just for mayor, which I think councelor Mcdana had proposed. Um, how do we elect the mayor? What's the process? There was lots of things that were banded about at our subcommittee meeting. Um, should we have term limits for being the mayor? Not for other necessarily for other counselors, but um to avoid the concern uh about Worcester having the same mayor for 12 years. Um, we also discussed whether we should change the title so that it isn't as fraught with a view of what the mayor is compared to what it means under plan form of government. Um, I think ultimately the goal should be to

find a process that's fair to all the voters. Um, and that in a democracy tries to encourage more voters voting rather than trying to um, you know, take the voice away from people who vote consistently. Um, I know frankly Belvadier gets a bad rap for voting, but I think that should be the goal of of everybody in the city. Um, so I would uh certainly look at opportunities to encourage more rather than less voting. Thank you. Thank you, Council Direan. Council Mcdana,

just uh very quickly, I wanted to thank I know um the city solicitor is not here tonight. Um but we have a city solicitor here tonight. Um and so I wanted to thank uh your boss and also your department uh for the report. uh especially I know that in the subcommittee meeting uh I had asked a question around a charter a charter commission and I know that that is a it's not unusual in the commonwealth but it's very unusual in lol. So I did appreciate uh that uh the detail in there on on how that would be done and and I think that is something to continue to discuss going forward. So thank you.

Thank you council Mcdana. Motion to accept and place on file by councelor Dakota seconded by councelor Chow. All in favor signify by saying I. So ordered. 7.1 motion response D. Lol High School forensic audit. Um that was by me also. So thank you for the report, Mr. Manager. Would anybody wish to speak on it? Motion to accept and place on file by councelor Ror. Seconded by councelor Nune. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Potion response E. Net school spending update. Council noon.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to thanks assistant city manager Civo Connor Baldwin for the report. Um I noticed that the report indicated that there was been some work done uh on the old 2011 you know MOA agreement the mainten agreement. Um but that making of effort was not yet or at least from the school part of it. Um the staff from the school business office has not given respond or submit any counter proposal yet. Not even talking about this is going to the school committee for uh review and vote on it. Um uh while this year we used the old formula the old the 2020 2011 is that is that correct agreement. Um I would Mr. Mayor um request that you urge or encourage the school school business office to review it with the superintendent of school to review it and give comment and they are after uh to have uh to put it on the school committee for review and vote on this. That way we have you know not only still using the 2011 but now we use the most revive and update one the full fiveyear uh uh uh process here and that's what I urge that we do that uh I do have question through you Mr. Mayor to the CFO with regard to um a

school resource second page school resources officers. How many school resource resource officer do we have in our low public school and what in what school do we have that resource officers are CFO Baldin? Thank you Mr. Mayor and uh I do have this information although I don't have it at the tip of my tongue. I I think there are four or five. Uh but if you'll hang with me for just a moment I can that that's okay. It's no rush. I can find it later. Yeah. Four. Thank you counselor. He still remember. Yes.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you councelor Dora. Um so um this so what will happen when the school committee review and vote on the revive you know MOA you know mainten you know um do we then kind of like working on trying to update the cost uh the the expenditures as well on that Mr. Manager M CFO

Thank you Mr. Mayor, uh, and thank you for the question, counselor. In the in the report, uh, you know, we've tried to we don't normally provide a year-to-date update. Um, it's a sort of retrospective report, so we report it at the end of the year. So, we we've tried to provide some figures both for the council and I think this would be helpful for the schools to see where we're at on a number of these categories that may be helpful to them um in determining what they may or may not want to uh bring forward as items to negotiate in the agreement. But to your question, uh it would be our intention although it is now very late in the year and so in order to uh you know, DESIE does require us to have an agreement in writing in place. So, it's very unlikely that we'll be able to codify and go through the the process in order for both bodies to to ratify the agreement before June 30th. So, it's it's as you indicated, it's very unlikely we'll have uh we'll we'll be using the old agreement to report FY2026. So, looking forward to FY2027. Um, you know, we have made some concessions to the the school committee on areas that in discussion informal discussions with the business office had been indicated to us were items that they wanted to see changed. Uh, so we've been open to that and and we've made some concessions in a draft document to them. But procedurally once we can come to agreement on a new um sort of standard for calculating all of the expenses under the regulation, we would bring that forward. Both bodies would vote on it and then in the next year we would use that as the guide for reporting the costs. Um, and you know, we're we're just waiting for the school department to tell us either they like the proposal we made or they have changes. Um, we we've conceded on almost everything that they asked us. So, if there are more, bring those forward.

We'll consider them in good faith, but until we have agreement on the terms, uh, we we'll abide by the existing agreement until then. So those change that the school agreed to and the city is also okay with it and that will reflect on the next year u MOA right it would be the year after a vote is taken. So, if if the council and the school committee vote on it before the end of this year, it is still possible that we could use that to report the FY2026 uh expenditures to DESIE. If that if those votes don't happen before June 30th, then FY2027 would be the first year under the new um the new agreement.

Mr. Mayor, what's the chance to get it done before uh June 2026? I I would say not likely. All right. Thank you, Mr. Man. I'm just trying to be honest, counselor. Um, council McDonald.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I I do I have a just a couple of questions in looking through the report and also the the very long uh net school spending document with all that itemized. Um the first question going off councelor noon and I think you know good this is a very good motion response and also it was a great motion so thank you councelor non um my first question uh does go back to the the school resource officer so it I don't remember the exact we said four or six or four

okay and but in looking through the net school spending we also are paying for or the school seems to be paying for the sergeant that supervises those four school resource officers and a police captain who supervises the sergeant supervising the four school resource officers. So, I guess I'm just wondering I I want to make sure that I read this correctly that that that full 100% of the c the police at least especially the police captain salary a full 100% of this captain's salary is being born on on net school spending. CFO Bald.

Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I I was able to call up the the details. So, uh Councelor Dakota was correct in the number. Um the the item on school resource officers was not something that was brought forward. Well, let me say that a little differently. The concern that was brought forward from the the school business office was not necessarily about um the individuals or the way that we calculate the the request that was made was that they um and they wanted some input as to how the offices are assigned. And there are some uh while we're willing to entertain that, there are some collective bargaining agreement um things that we would have to talk to the union about in order to uh to be able to accommodate that request. But it is true, as you stated, that the the supervisor for the school resource officer that um Captain Penrose, his salary is is calculated as part of the agreement. Um, but it it was not brought forward to us as a concern by the the school department, so it hasn't been to date part of the negotiation.

Thank you for that answer. That makes sense. It's unfortunate that I guess they didn't see that. Um, it does it it struck me as odd because just in looking through and this is not a a question for anyone tonight. This is I guess if if the chief ever had an answer, an email would honestly suffice. um my cursory glance, it looks like police captains tend to supervise significantly more um reports than one sergeant and four officers. So I'm just I'm imagining that officer Captain Penrose must have a lot more going on in his day, but I would imagine then that most of that is related to things outside of the school given the four school resource officers. My second question uh is going to be on MIS. Um, so it looks like the school department uh net school spending in 2025 took just under $1.3 million uh of MIS's operating budget, which is say 43.44% which is the written agreement. So if that's what it is, that's what it is because it's a written agreement and I respect that answer. I just want to say the number out loud. Um, I also though my my concern here is I'm also on the disability commission and and something that popped up that really brought me to take a look here was um there's this issue around an $11,000 piece for accessibility on the city's website and a question was asked at a disability commission meeting. So would this also then fix the public schools website, the police department's website, etc. And the answer was no. uh that the city the school department is paying for their own web services out of their monies which confused me because I was trying to wrap my head around so if there's 1 point almost $1.3 million from MIS I would have really hoped that their website was included in that seems like you know if that's not us it's them but somebody here is missing out on some overlap 1.3 million is a lot of money um and my last question has nothing to do with the school it has a lot to do with the schools but not at the net school

spending number um just under a million dollars in parking uh is attributable uh to net school spending and I have been trying uh feverishly to find the payment to the parking enterprise fund of the just under $1 million. I know last year, so 2025 is the year I'm looking at and and so I know that this council was in a in a tough spot where the enterprise fund appeared to be bleeding money and it was about $2 million that that was moved and and I know there was a lot of handing and I understand why. Um but where I I I am really struggling to find this million dollars. It would appear a million dollar deficit is still a deficit, but it's a million dollars less. Um, so was was that money I guess moved into the parking enterprise or is there any payment to uh myself, business owners and other residents like me who pay $100 a month in parking or are we paying effectively the rateayer uh the parking enterprise user effectively paying for the school's parking rather than the city?

Mr. CFO,

thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Um, so these are all very good questions. the there were two that were asked and I I'm I'll focus on the parking but as it relates to MIS it bears noting that the way we calculated is based on the formula for anybody who's interested or or listening we take a percentage of the school appropriate and this is written into the agreement a percentage of the school appropriation as a as a portion of the total amounts to be raised on the tax rate recap whatever that percentage is we apply to a number of overhead departments MIS the treasur's office uh the auditor's office and and that is the the way it's written into the agreement since 2011. One of the things that uh the the school business office had brought forward that we did accommodate in our proposal there is another way to do it entirely and that is by using a formula that desides every year uh as a per pupil uh cost. So, DESIE publishes uh prior to the beginning of each fiscal year a dollar amount for every district in the Commonwealth that it that can be used and you can you sort of have one of two paths. You can either use the per pupil formula or you can use the uh some other method that's mutually agreed by the parties. Um, we have another method that we've used, but we've proposed because we think it's easier and and causes less heartache on on both sides to switch to the DESIE formula that would alleviate any uh concerns about MIS, about the treasur's office, payroll, etc. Um, so that is in our proposal number one. And then number two, on parking, there is no direct cash payment that changes hands between um the schools and the parking enterprise. So, you're correct in your assessment. um that is a paper credit that's charged towards net school spending just under a million dollars. But those individuals um don't make a payment to the the parking enterprise the way that the rest

of our passold pass card holders do. Um I understand that fully and I really appreciate the answer and I appreciate a lot of the clarity that you've given me on this. Uh that comment uh and that line of questioning is is really most intended for my colleagues on the council here. Uh, next time we are looking at a deficit in the parking enterprise, just to kind of remember that the general fund is not paying that million dollars, we get to charge it to net school spending, which does save the city budget money and a cash contribution to schools. And so that when we when the parking enterprise comes with their handout looking for a subsidy, we have at least up to a million dollars of school parking that we're we're all paying for. Thank you. Thank you, Council Mcdana. Council Durant.

Uh, thank you very much. Um when I added up all the numbers on the first couple of pages here, it came out to about $82.4 million. Um and but the spreadsheet that's attached mentions that some of the payments are not counted as net against net school spending. Um [clears throat] so I was a little confused about sort of all of this stuff. So for instance, health services, etc. on page two of the spreadsheet that's attached to the memo uh says you know these um amounts oh sorry that one does count towards sorry it was another page um it was the bottom of page three where it talks about certain expenses don't count sorry against net school spending so I was trying to understand sort of the memo versus the spreadsheet thank you

CFO Baldin

uh thank you again Mr. Mayor, so this is the the agreement lays it out in a certain way and if if you were referencing the document and the packet there is a a you the first item you have to click through the link the attachment it lays out all the one so there are two categories to try to provide some clarity. There are costs that um we report and count towards net school spending and then there are costs that we report and that do not count towards net school spending. we have to report them to the schools because they put it on the schedule 19 and and their endofear reporting to Desi. Um, and there are costs that are incurred by the city that Kessie uh excuse me, Desi cares to know because they use that data for for other purposes. Uh the categories under that second um that second section, the ones that are reported but don't count are things like debt service, uh health services for non-public schools, although there are not. There there was a time that we provided uh public health uh nurses for the private schools. I I don't believe that's the case anymore, but when we did that, we used to report that towards to Desessie. Um, we report things such as uh the MSBA uh receipts that we get for the low high school project for any of the accelerated repair projects. Desi needs to know all that information. They take that in for their reporting. We also report um Carter school tuition and the uh school choice uh sending tuition. Um and so those when we we report them all to the schools, they take that information, they aggregate that with all of their spending on instructional services, on administrative services, etc. of the line item appropriation that the the city council appropriates to them every year in the in the budget and then they add that on to get towards that required net school spending number. So, you

know, in the document, you can sort of parse out which is which depending on which section it falls under, but those are statutory and um provided for in the regulation. And if anybody cared uh to learn more about this, if you go to the Desi has a really good uh website that um spells out all the things that do and do not count um under the school finance section of the Desi website. And so, you could take a look. It has the regulations there. It tells you what counts, uh, what doesn't count, what you have to report. And so, uh, in order to try to make things as easy as possible for the schools for their reporting purposes, we try to match it up with, um, with those categories. I hope that addressed

No, that's helpful. Thank you. I just was I was had been confused. Um, do other and the last question about this is do other cities do this uh, thee kind of approach and I mean, thanks,

CO Balden. Thank you, Mr. mayor. Uh yes, and it is um I while I'm not sure it's a requirement, it I know for a fact that it is a preference of Desi to have a written agreement between the parties uh to sort of divvy up what does and does not count, how you calculate it, etc. Um when I first started this job, um you know, people would tell me the history and there was a time, although I wasn't here for it, that we didn't have an agreement. And so every year, you can imagine in a circumstance like that, um there was a lot of back and forth with the schools about this shouldn't count, this should count, um it doesn't count, you know, an interpretation of the the guidelines, but DESIE does have a number of publications that recommend the communities have a written agreement in place. Uh they don't like it to change every year. That doesn't mean that it can never change, but it is uh it is something that they recommend is in writing between the parties.

Great. Thank you. Thank you, Council Jiren. Motion to accept and place on file by councel Leang, seconded by Councelor Jirean. All those in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Motion response F. Mayor's meeting regional collaboration. Councelor Robinson or Councelor Mcdana. Council Robinson.

Thank you. Um I'm glad to see that that that there is some interest in doing this. I I I think it's um we tried it before through different avenues and and when we did hold the summit, it ended up being as mentioned before seemed like how can LOL do more only. It wasn't a matter of sitting down and figuring out how can we collaborate and and address a lot of these similar challenges. I'm hopeful that uh they're willing to sit and and and start working with us to address some of these and and and I'm glad to see the administration is on board with uh beginning these conversations. So, I'm looking forward to see what comes out of this. So, thank you very much.

Thank you, Council Robinson. Councelor Mcdana. Uh yeah, thank you very much for this uh the quick response and the the getting that letter out there. I'm looking forward to seeing seeing what comes out of it. I think that um to put a little bit of a finer point on it, it is hard when you look at at you know the the way that regional planning is is done that you know LOL is kind of stuck with Westford and Draet and Dunable and Pepper and Tingsboro. I mean we've got I think we we we have a good handful of communities that won't even sign on to MBTA. Um and then you know just just down 110 you've got Mthoon Haveril Lawrence you've got three gateway cities similar position to us similar problems to us and I I think both planning side uh for the city it would be beneficial to be able to look at at what we've done just to reiterate I know the motion and I'm looking forward to the conversation and then the the other piece that could be really beneficial is um just around that municipal advocacy piece I think when when it's lol and mthuan and Lawrence and H you're starting to talk about a a better block of political juice, right? So, hope hopefully we can do this stronger together. So, thank you.

Thank you, Council Mcdana. Manager Golden. Uh, thank you very much, uh, Mr. Mayor, three of the council. Councils, we've had some very positive uh, responses and I hope to have a report back to you in the next two to three weeks. Uh, all the mayors in the area seem to be uh, interested in and we're talking about that. Thank you. We'll probably be hosting like a lunch here, a light lunch or something like that to have these discussions. If you're paying, we're all going. Motion to accept and place on file by councelor Dakota, seconded by councelor Chow. All those in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Motion response G. Nets and backboards at the St. Louis Park. Council Robinson.

Thank you. Um I I know this was addressed pretty much right after I think I filed the motion. Greatly appreciated. We were over there uh last Saturday, I believe, at St. Louis courts and uh they were all perfect working in order and and greatly appreciated. Mr. Mashado is the best. Even if his his his hook shots a little rusty, he's still the best. Thank you. [clears throat]

Thank you, Council Robinson. Motion to accept and place on file by Council Rook, seconded by Councelor Scott. All those in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 88 [clears throat] 8.1 vote accept expend $196,36760 FY26 state aid to public libraries program award wave full reading and second reading by title vote authorizing the city manager on behalf of the city of LOL to accept and expand $196,36760 in grant funds from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commission mission is through the FY26 state aid to public libraries program award. Any comments? Um motion to adopt by councelor Rook, seconded by councel Robinson. Roll call.

Council Mcdana. Yes. Council Mercier. Council N. Yes. Council Robinson. Yes. Council Roy. Yes. Council Scott. Yes. Council Chow. Yes. Council Dotto. Yes. Mayor Gia. Yes. Council Jiren. Yes. Council Leang. Yes. Miss 10.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. 8.3 vote transfer $8,964. Cemetery. Wave full reading in second reading by title. Vote to transfer funds from the cemetery perpetual kia interest fund to the cemetery flowers account to purchase and install plantings at various cemeteries to add curb appeal and prepare for Memorial Day. Motion to adopt by councelor Non, seconded by councel jirean. Roll call. Council Mcdana. Yes. Councelor Mercia. Council New Council Robinson. Yes. Council Rock. Yes. Council Scott. Yes. Council Chow. Yes. Council Dakota. Yes. Mayor Gia.

Yes. Council Jire. Yes. Council Leang. Yes. 10 years. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Nine. Reports from subcommittee 9.1 finance subcommittee April 28, 2026. Do we want to wait, councelor Direan? Uh yes, please.

All right. Thank you. 10 petitions 10.1 claims for property damage. Motion referred to law department for report and recommendation by councel noon seconded by councel Mcdana. All in favor signify by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 11. City Council Executive Session 11.1 to consider and discuss collective bargaining strategies under open meeting law chapter 3A section 21AB23 of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts general laws public discussion of which may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the city. Motion to enter an executive session and journ from the executive session by councelor Scott, seconded by councelor Rook. Roll call, Mr. Clerk.

Councelor Mcdana. Yes. Council Mercer. Council Noon. Yes. Council Robinson. Yes. Councilor Rock. Yes. Council Scott. Yes. Council Chow. Yes. Council Dakota. Yes. Mayor Gia. Yes. Councilor Jirean. Yes. Council Leang. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Any announcements. Council Mcdana.

Thank you. Uh Mr. Mayor, the Renaissance Club is having a book launch launch party on Tuesday, May 5th from 11 to 1 at LA Books at 189 Market Street. Um, so it's come celebrate the 60th anniversary of a local nonprofit supporting those living with mental health disabilities as they release their first book. Um, you learn more at uh renaissanceclub.org, but that is May 5th. It's a Tuesday, 11:01. Thank you, Council Mcdana. Council Lee.

Uh yes, this announcement is on Thursday, April 30th from 9:30 to 11:00. Um there is a um I guess coffee with a cop uh program that will be held at CMA at uh 465 School Street. Uh please come by if you have any information or any message or just to have a cup of coffee. Uh, it's on April 30th, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thank Thank you, Council Leang. Manager Golden. Assistant City Management Shadow.

Um, just an update. There's a water main break at Madono Circle um in a small portion of Broadway Street. Folks over there are without water. It's a 16inch main. It's a goodiz one. Um, the water department's hoping to get the water restored back by midnight tonight. Okay, we're all ready to go to executive session. Thank you. [music]