Minutes
Town Council · from the Town's website · 6 pages · 1.3 MB
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 7, 2020 Under the Rules and Procedures of the Winthrop Town Council, Council President Boncore called the Town Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM in the Harvey Hearing Room PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilor DeMarco leads the Pledge of Allegiance MOMENT OF SILENCE -Marjorie Hill-Devine-Winthrop Public Library Director 1990-2003 -Daniel Mullane- Served as the Chair of the Winthrop Personnel Board -Peter Felt- Our own Santa who volunteered his time to brighten up the day, all around good guy ROLL CALL Councilor Ferrino Present Councilor LoConte Absent Councilor Flockhart Present Councilor DeMarco Present Councilor Ruggiero Present Councilor Honan Present Councilor Christopher Present Council Vice President Letterie- Absent Council President Boncore Present ELECTION Town Council Vice President Motion by Councilor Christopher to nominate Councilor Letterie for Vice President of the Winthrop Town Council 2" by Councilor Ferrino Discussion Councilor Letterie sent letter accepting nomination, if he is nominated Council President reads letter into record Council President requests any further nominations, there are none Motion is Unanimously approved that Councilor Letterie is Vice President of the Town Council 2020 STANDING COMMITTEES Council President Boncore appoints the Town Council Standing Committees-Please see attached list MINUTES Approve Minutes of December 17, 2019, as Circulated MINUTES Motion by Councilor Ferrino to accept the minutes of December 17, 2019 24 by Councilor DeMarco Passed Unanimously PUBLIC HEARING National Grid Pole Attachment Relocation-Main St. Keenan Brinn is in attendance as an Extenet associate and requests Public Hearing to be continued until the Jan. 21, 2020 Town Council Meeting Motion by Councilor Christopher to continue this Public Hearing 2"4 by Councilor Flockhart Passed Unanimously GENERAL INFORMATION & RECOMMENDATIONS Council Christopher as Chair of Rules & Ordinance discusses the Rules & Procedures of the Town Council Information has been issued to each councilor for review TOWN COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 7, 2020 PAGE 1 PUBLIC COMMENT Michael Bacon (P5)-Asks councilors to do appropriate research for all issues for all the citizens of Winthrop to count on them. Nan House (P3)-Congratulates Town Council Karin Chavis (P2)-Issues the same, Ferry being her main issue, budget, is Quincy continuing. Requesting a copy of Ferry Budget. Wants information on Public Safety Building. Also, the $1.5 Million funded to the town, where has this been funded to? Nick Bracy (P1)-Wants to make aware of school system and discusses how it can be better than it is right now, work needs to be done to improve our school system. Councilor DeMarco also shares these concerns. Julia Wallerce (P2)-Congratulates Town Council discusses the New Winthrop and what to look forward to, empty buildings, sewer, airport pollution and noise, sewer and drains. Requests Town Council to lead us to constant improvements. Bob Carroll (P6)-Encourages Town Council to share their goals, quality of life, move forward, bus signs, fixing playgrounds, establishing a dog park, creating bus lanes. Hope momentum can be built. Edward Snow-Bike rider and remarks the side roads are not bike friendly and needs work. Council President reflects that any citizen can use SeeClixFix and notify the DPW immediately. John Eade (P1)-Discusses Winthrop is a great town to live in....but there are a lot of improvements that need to be done. Controversy has been a town issue. Lisa Alberghini (P4)-Echos much of what has been said....all realize what a special town Winthrop is and moving forward hope this brings more opportunity and responsibilities, encourages positive action, respect work that has been done by previous groups, ie: Master Plan, a lot of hard work has been done to help move Winthrop forward. Take issues on the emply buildings, lets talk about future. Public Comment Closed COMMITTEE REPORT(S) None TOWN MANAGER REPORT Town Management Risk Management Task Force (See Attached) this complies of what Town Insurer is requiring. Letter from Mass Dot, additional amount of funding Chapter 90 of $27,732.00, very helpful. Out of State Monday Jan 13" & Jan. 14", CFO Anna Freedman will address most issues in the Town Manager Office Reflects the Public Comments, reviewing bike markings, will have information on Ferry and $1.5 Working on Bus stop signs, dog park.... Shares frustration with road conditions, working to only improve. Echo comments reflecting back on work that groups and citizens have done for our community and encourages all to look at work that has been done. The Master Plan has a lot of reflecting on the Middle School site, very informative. Climate change is one of his top priority and very concerned at how vulnerable Winthrop is. SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT Continuing negotiations with teachers Dinner Theater beginning Budget Prep beginning OLD BUSINESS Middle School Zoning Council President reflects that his building needs to be zoned as soon as possible, he will send this issue to a Joint Committee of the Rules & Ordinance and Economic Committee and have information at our next meeting on the zoning issued. NEW BUSINESS National Grid-Pole Attachment Relocation Main St.-Continued Motion by Councilor Ferrino that the Town Council refer to the Finance Committee and advertise for a public hearing that the Town Council Appropriate $1,265,000 /Portion Final Judgement: Racow vs. Town of Winthrop...(See Attached Motion) 2™ by Councilor Christopher Passed Unanimously Motion by Councilor Ferrino that the Town Council refer to the Finance Committee and advertise for a public hearing that the Town Council appropriate $325,000.00 from the FB Reserved Overlay Surplus account /General Fund.. (See Attached Motion) 2"! by Councilor Christopher Passed Unanimously TOWN COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 7, 2020 PAGE2 Motion by Councilor Flockhart to refer to the Rules & Ordinance that the Town Council designates the Town Hall as Early Voting Site Feb.24" -28", 2020...(See Attached Motion) 24 by Councilor Christopher Passed Unanimously Motion by Council President Boncore to appoint Ron Vecchia as Chair of the Board of License of the Town of Winthrop 2" by Councilor DeMarco Passed Unanimously Motion by President Boncore to appoint Councilor Ruggiero on the Town Managers Task Force Committee 2"4 by Councilor DeMarco Passed Unanimously PUBLIC COMMENT Julia Wallerce (P2)-Questions where funds coming from for lawsuits and what is town doing to prevent this kind of behavior. Councilor Boncore reiterates that this is why the Town Manager has a Risk Management Task Force Committee for this reason Lisa Alberghini (P4)-Questions on budget settlement costs. PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS Christmas Tree Pick Up on Regular Trash Day week of Jan.6" & 13", 2020 Chamber of Commerce-New Officer Installation on Jan. 15, 2020 7:30 AM ADJOURNMENT Motion to Adjourn by Councilor Ferrino 2" By Councilor DeMarco Passed Unanimously Meeting Adjourned 7:48M A DVD of this meeting is available from WCAT / www.youtube.com Public Documents used in the meeting are available at Town Managers Office. Documents Used in this Meeting: Handwritten Notes / Committee Openings Documents Roll Call Log Written Motions / Verbal Motions Respectfully submitted, Town Council Clerk Denise Quist TOWN COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 7, 2020 PAGE3 TOWN OF WINTHROP OFFICE OF THE TOWN MANAGER Town Hall, 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop, MA 02152 Telephone: 617-846-1077 Fax: 617-846-5458 Austin Faison Town Manager _Town Council Motion January 7, 2020 Fiscal Year 2020 Motion Summary Mo Title: Judgment Bonds Motion ID: TCM20-023 Amount: $1,265,000 Funding Source: General Obligation Bond tion Details Motion Type: Borrowing Authorization Submitted by: Austin Faison, Town Manager Date Submitted: 12/30/2019 Text of Motion MOTION: I move that the Winthrop Town Council adopt the following order: ORDERED: That the Town appropriates the sum of ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,265,000) to pay a portion of the final judgment against the Town by the Superior Court in the matter of Racow v. Town of Winthrop, Civil Action No. 1484-cv-03200; that to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Town Manager, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to M.G.L. c.44, §7(3), or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor; that any premium received upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this order, less any such premium applied to the payment of the costs of issuance of such bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of costs approved by this order in accordance with M.G.L. c.44, §20, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount; and that the Treasurer is authorized to seek the approval of the Municipal Finance Oversight Board to issue the bonds or notes authorized by this order for a period of time not to exceed 10 years pursuant to M.G.L. ¢.44, §7(3). 1-7-20 Motion by Councilor Ferrino that the Town Council refer to the Finance Committee and advertise for a public hearing...(See Attached Motion) 2™ by Councilor Christopher Passed Unanimously TOWN OF WINTHROP OFFICE OF THE TOWN MANAGER Town Hall, 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop, MA 02152 Telephone: 617-846-1077 Fax: 617- 846-5458 Austin Faison Town Manager Ps elnioe Town Council Motion Be 9 2 January 7, 2020 Fiscal Year 2020 Motion Summary Title: Overlay Surplus Appropriation for FY20 Legal Judgment/Settlement Motion ID: TCM20-023 Amount: $325,000 Funding Source: Overlay Surplus — FB Reserved Of Overlay Surplus Motion Details Motion Type: Appropriation Submitted by: Austin Faison, Town Manager Date Submitted: January 2, 2020 Text of Motion MOTION: I move that the Town Council appropriate $325,000.00 from the FB Reserved Of Overlay Surplus account to fund a General Fund Special Article #0916058-5881XX FY20 Legal Judgment/Settlement; or take any other action thereto. Funding Details Funding Source Account Description Amount (01-322000 FB Reserved Of $325,000 (Overlay Surplus 1-7-20 Motion by Councilor Ferrino that the Town Council refer to the Finance Committee and advertise for a public hearing.. (See Attached Motion) 2™ by Councilor Christopher Passed Unanimously TOWN of WINTHROP MOTION Submitted By: Carla Vitale Date: __ January 7, 2020 Article Number: Subject: Designation of Early Voting Location TEXT OF MOTION The Winthrop Town Council in accordance with 950 CMR 47.04 and 950 CMR 51.00 designates the Winthrop Town Hall, as the Early Voting Site for the Town of Winthrop for the time period that runs from February 24, 2019 to February 28, 2019. Signature of Petitioner: Received by: Time: The location will be the Second Floor Rotunda of town hall, this site was chosen after discussion with the Assistant Town Manager. 1-7-20 Motion by Councilor Flockhart to refer to the Rules & Ordinance ... (See Attached Motion) 2"? by Councilor Christopher Passed Unanimously