Remarks by Jeovanny A. Rodriguez
291 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 8 of 12
“And what time they end? 6.30. 6.30? So, okay, 6.30 we can begin. Okay. Public safety could be done at 6.30 or 7.00 on Wednesday. Oh, so 6.30 is fine. 6.30, public safety. If there is any change, just communicate with Teresa and the clerk, and we go from there. Yep, councilors. Motion to withdraw. No, no, no, not yet. Councilors. Motion to withdraw. Councilors, next meeting, next meeting which is scheduled to be, excuse me one second, on the 4th, scheduled to be on the 3rd, So we're going to have it on the 4th due to the fact that we're going to have elections on that day. So the next meeting…”
“Okay. Councillors, I'll entertain a motion.”
“Please. Vice President Levy, I will follow your lead.”
“All right. If there is anything else, Madam Chair, if there is anything else that we need to take care of? No? Okay. I entertain a motion to adjourn.”
“So, can I hear a second? Second. Properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Thank you, councillors.”
“Second on the motion for discussion, yes.”
“So Madam Clerk, just to clarify, the motion is to go into the second section and it was open for discussion. So my question is, is it in order for us to discuss the item while we still have the the the floor to go into a second section because this is not a motion to uh discuss it's is the motion to go into a second section and if we have another motion that allow the discussion with the cuff and then that that will be a relief in order but i mean right now the motion is to go into a second section”
“It will be in order to have a motion to discussion? For discussion?”
“So the motion was not to go into executive session.”
“So what I'm saying is, Madam Vice President, by us allowing the clerk to go into the discussion, the council is not discussing whether or not we're going into a separate section. We're discussing the item. And I have no issue discussing the item as far as we have the proper motion, which is basically to discuss the item in public. That's not a problem. So entertaining the council, While we are discussing to go into a separate section, that's kind of like, you know, we're discussing the item perhaps.”
“Madam Vice President Infante. Madam Clerk, can you read the item that we are trying to go into service session for?”
“Yes. The discussion, through you, Madam Vice President, the discussion in public or in inter-secretary session, to me is the same. I have no problem staying in public discussing this matter. At the end of the day, there was a motion to go into a secret session, it was second. I think it will be appropriate to... go for a roll and then make sure that we have that on record that if that if the council wants uh decide vote in favor or against that they have we have that and then we can move on with the discussion that doesn't mean that the item is going to die as soon as we vote in favor or…”
“Madam Vice President Infante. I'm sorry, Madam Vice President Levy.”
“The reason why, through you, Madam Vice President, first of all, I would like to apologize to everybody that is on the chambers because I wasn't able to attend. And the reason why I have this item on the agenda is because I think it is important as part of the local government for us to entertain a discussion regarding to what happened in the city of Lawrence. There is many factors that we should be potentially talking about discussing in public or perhaps as needed, potentially into executive session if it is needed. But the reason why is because we have to have this discussion at some point…”
“Wait, no, before we table, let's keep the discussion open, please.”
“Yes, I mean, I understand there is legal implication either or. What are the legal implications? We're not at a first grade level here. Well, let's talk about it in public so people know. What are the legal implications?”
“So, through you, Madam Vice President Levy.”
“So, we receive information of the mayor advisor. that we're gonna have legal implications on either or. So just looking at the finance, city finance, and what we're doing here, we're doing an amendment to the fiscal year 2027 budget. And this is on relationship to this specific position. If the council decide to approve the transfer, what we are doing, we're transferring the funds from the DPW back to the mayor's office, because there is potential situations with the unions. If we approve the transfer from the DPW to the union, to the mayor's office, what happened thereafter is that it's…”
“Okay, so through you Madam Chair, Madam Vice President Levy. So now it's not about legal implication, it is a legal advice. The concept have changed because we're not talking about legal implications. This could be because of, due to the fact that the budget and finance committee discussed this item and it was clear in public that the budget and finance denied the petition that we potentially have legal implication. Now it's not legal implications all of a sudden. We need a legal advice. It is completely different than legal implications. because the legal advice could be, yes, you can do…”
“I appreciate all of you for your time. So at this time, I'm gonna be leaving the meeting. Thank you so much.”
“Can I get a motion to get out of recess? Motion. Second. Is there a motion to get out of recess? Properly second. Discussion? That is none. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. This is the special meeting and continuation of the Monday night meeting. which started the discussion of the fiscal year, of the budget fiscal year 2027. Just to be, if anybody, it will be repetitive, but I mean, I think in case anybody... ANYBODY AT HOME IS LISTENING, WE'RE JUST GOING TO READ THE DISCLAIMER. PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 20 OF THE ACT OF 2022, THIS MEETING WILL BE HYBRID, ALLOWING…”
“All right, this meeting, since this is a continuation, please, I know it is not required, but please join me for a moment of silence. It's always needed. Now join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.”
“Councilors, can I get a motion to allow public participation?”
“There's a motion to allow public participation. Properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. No. We have one person on the list. No. Morocco, please.”
“Okay, motion carries. We have one person on the list for public participation. The rules for public participation are as follows. You're going to have two and a half minutes to speak. At the two-minute mark, you're going to hear a beep indicating that you still have 30 seconds. Please refer to this council as a whole. The first person that we have and the only person that we have is H. Malik. Name and address for the record, please. Thank you.”