Remarks by Andrew J. Raposo
75 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 3
“Yeah, so related but unrelated. So we're talking about the nuisance ordinance, and I think as the Chairman of Ordinance, I have to ask this question. My personal opinion is that the nuisance ordinance is too weak as far as, you know, I think you mentioned, what did you say? It was loosely enforced? Is that the wording?”
“Yeah, because I think when I look at what the definition of a nuisance ordinance, what a nuisance property is and the ordinances, It is, I think, very vague in the sense of what can fall under that classification. So I think it needs to actually be strengthened, and I think to the Chief's point, not necessarily in the sense, the fines, I guess when you hit the pocket in this sense, there's going to be situations where clearly it's classified as a nuisance situation, and there needs to be a fine attached to it to get it remedied. Because if not, if there's no penalty to the crime or the…”
“Thank you, Mr. Chair. To the fire chief, I want to make a comment and then a question. So you had sent to me that video that was produced actually right outside here of the training, you know, the Gabriel House post-training and the effect on fire. So I want to first say it was excellent. It was very eye-opening to actually see, you know, as a person who didn't experience it, how quick A suppression system can take it out. And what happens when a suppression system doesn't exist? So I appreciate you sending that. And I think, you know, unfortunately in tragedy, there's always things we learn…”
“Yeah, and it's great. It's credit to your agency and credit to your people, so kudos to all of you. The last question I have, and we've been talking about it, where do we stand on the replacement of the PFAS-free equipment? Any new updates since we've last spoken?”
“Nothing else? Go ahead, counsel. Just two quick questions to Chief Fonts. When you mentioned the three ambulances that were hit, I'm assuming those were non-fault on our ends?”
“Okay, so I'm assuming at some point, if they're totaled or not, there's going to be some sort of reimbursement through insurance to cover those?”
“Okay. Scout's getting antsy. That's actually all I have, so I yield. Thank you.”
“No, no, I don't. Not right now, I don't. Okay. Motion to table. Yeah, motion to table has been made. Seconded. All those in favor?”
“If everybody in the city council hearing room could please rise for a moment of silent prayer. I apologize.”
“Yeah, just one follow-up question. So after 10-1, and once the DESE report is submitted, if you have students who enroll after 10-1 and they need busing, how does that operate?”
“OK. And I caught a bit of the school committee. They were discussing the rolling over of the SIS. Has that happened yet? It has not happened yet. So you don't have an exact number of how many students you have at this moment?”
“Do you know your enrollment was at that time, last year, at that moment?”
“Motion to pass with second reading and enrollment as amended.”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“So the question I still am asking, I can't get an answer for, how do we get these numbers? From where?”
“Councillor Camara, can we, can we speak without interrupting?”
“Thank you, Mr. President. So explain to me, how did these numbers get justified?”
“So what I wanna know particularly, when you look at the McKinney-Vento fund, and the expended of FY22, 23, 24, 25. How did those numbers end up flat? How did we get a million exactly? 500 exactly.”
“Okay. So why did it take an email to the city administrator to finally get an answer? And then this document that I got on, was it the 23rd, is the same document that's been shared now once, and I have it twice here again, still with no answer to what it is.”
“So, Mr. Mayor, and this has nothing to do with the other people at this table. This is a question to you. How does this happen? The school department, right, and the city, working on the same page, right, how do we not get an answer to what is a very simple question? And you're the chief executive here, and you and I have had this conversation. I'm just trying to understand when we're at this moment to get this answer, and are we just not answering email? What's the problem here?”
“And that's fine, but is there no one else in the school department that can answer to these numbers?”
“And again, you've already said to me that you are, and I don't want to misquote you, but you don't agree with this number, correct?”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“My question is based on what because in prior years with 8% 1% 11% 15% where we get 5. We're waiting for a response this this is my problem I agree this is the frustration that I have and it's not like I didn't attempt to try to get an answer, days and days ahead of time. And it's just, we don't have it. And that's the frustrating part for this. Because again, this is on the city side. This is the part we have to argue. And I will say that transportation needs to be checked. Because it's growing and growing and growing. And listen, the educator in this room right here agrees that we need to…”
“The City Council Committee on Ordinances and Legislation will be called to order. It is 5.01 on June 23rd. Clerk, call the roll, please.”