Minutes

Town Council · from the Town's website · 9 pages · 2.6 MB
open the file ↗ · original at the source ↗

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 5, 2021

ROLL CALL

Present: Councilor Stephen Ruggiero, Councilor Barbara Flockhart, Councilor Rob Demarco, Councilor
Peter Christopher, Councilor Tracey Honan, Councilor Nick LoConte, Councilor Rich Ferrino, Council
Vice President James Letterie, President Philip Boncore

CALL TO ORDER

Council President calls meeting to order at 7:00 pm and includes all zoom information for the
public.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilor DeMarco

MINUTES

4.a Approval of December 15, 2020 Minutes, as circulated
Motion by Council Vice President James Letterie to Approve.
2" by Councilor Rich Ferrino.

Voting For: Councilor Stephen Ruggiero, Councilor Barbara Flockhart, Councilor Rob
Demarco, Councilor Peter Christopher, Councilor Tracey Honan, Councilor Nick LoConte,
Councilor Rich Ferrino, Council Vice President James Letterie, President Philip Boncore
Voting Against: None

GENERAL INFORMATION & RECOMMENDATIONS
Council President reflects on the last year in his State of the Town Address...
Please see attached Information on Council Presidents Address to the Town

5.b Citation-Speaker DeLeo
Council President Reads a Citation to Speaker DeLeo from the Town of Winthrop and Town
Council and thanks the Speaker for all he has done for our town and our citizens

PUBLIC HEARING

PUBLIC COMMENT

Wendy Millar Page-Comments on public meetings that even once pandemic over find a way to
keep on zoom as it brings more people in and more knowledge on what is happening in town.

CORRESPONDENCE
Donna Reilly shared a letter sent to Governor Baker in reference to the climate control and thanks

all for helping with households being entitled to work for those who had some since 1993.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Finance Committee-Met 12-20-20 VP Letterie reports on this meeting and discussed the
agenda and the budget, MMA , planner, HR...

Motion discussed was for the $20,000 Pest Control, there was a discussion basically focused on

that an environment needs to be started that invoices are acknowledged before services

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 5, 2021

10.

Citizens Advisory of Finance AF-Met tonight 1-5-21, welcomed new members, Shanno Poulos and
Joe Hanlon and elected Karin Chavis as Chair

Chavis...discussed that this committee will work well together ....

Miller Field Committee & Tennis Courts... VP Letterie thanks Dave Girard for putting

together a brief summary of what is currently happening with the Tennis Courts... (Please
see attached)

Public Safety and Cap. Assets Joint Meeting

Councilor Flockhart reports that committees meant jointly to evaluate two sites for a Public Safety.

Building....it has been narrowed down to 2 sites,.Little League A Field or the 7th Hole of the Golf
Course, question on why the Middle School has not been involved in a decision of location,

there are still questions pending that will need to be answered before any final decisions are made.
Councilor LoConte asked this be tabled until further exploration of another site and full
consideration of the financial cost for any site decide upon. (See Attached Mins)

Discussion in person meetings... the discussion based around the children returning to school of
which most think was a necessity for the children as research was showing detriment to the children
not being in school and that the Town Council seems to be handling the Zoom meetings fine.
There are safety rules of no more than 4 in the Harvey Room. Council LoConte moved original
motion be amended prior to returning to the Town Council, this will be presented in Old Business.

Councilor Letterie has update on the Miller Field Committee & SBAC Joint Meting...VP
Letterie thanks Dave Girard for putting together a brief summary of what is currently
happening with the Tennis Courts... (Please see attached)

TOWN MANAGER REPORT

Thanks Town Council President for Town Address and thanks all his staff for their hard work.
His main focus on Covid...please wear masks... socially distance...please think that even if using
your own pods, it looks like a variance that is very aggressive, it is going to be a hard time, people
have lives but we need to make sure we are cognate of the rules.

Governor has ruled some things back depending on where numbers go we will see what phase
we will fall into.

Open to Public Health Director Meredith Hurley....Please see attached updated information will also
be available on web)

Moving indoors... final info will be made available end of this week....

Vaccinations plan has been made available...

Vice President Letterie asks on Real Estate Tax Bills and some bills have been a little out of skew
and not sure when the public can talk to tax dept. on their bills. What are hours that people can call
tax dept.

Town Manager -Responds they can call Town Hall anytime during business hours...

Senior Abatements--anyone who has filed in the past will be receiving an abatement application
from the Assessor’s Office.

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 5, 2021

11.

12.

Can we send a blast out to citizens on resident sticker program that Police will be ticketing?
Chief Delehanty reports no request from parking clerk to suspend sticker program...did hear that
stickers are going out slow and maybe give a grace period for enforcement.

Vice President can we ask for a grace period until stickers out.

Councilor Ruggiero....asks where location on inside testing might be.
Town Manager answers Both are to be determined...

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT UPDATE
Council President reports on School Department and meeting of Jan. 4, 2021

Information was school opened....no problems with first day of hybrid... very exciting.....children
are

understanding the covid safety issues.

Still looking for crossing guards, custodian, esp workers...

accepting applications...

School Committee voted 4-3 to have an in-person meeting, if possible, on their first meeting in Feb.
Town Manager has been asked to review locations and work together with School Committee and
Town Council as to where you might meet safely.

OLD BUSINESS

Town Council direct the Town Manager on a solution for In Person Meetings

Coming out of committee with an Original Motion with Committee Amendment to read as follows:
That the Town Council direct the Town Manager to create solution to allow the town to safely
return to meetings in person since children are returning to school or take any other action thereto
when the science dictates that the risk benefit balance is appropriate for the Town Council to return
to in person meetings.

Public Safety

no 2nd.

Discussion

DeMarco believes makes sense to work in tandem with School, if possible, with in person meetings.
Motion by Councilor DeMarco to amend amendment to original motion to match and mirror the
School Committee motion for target date to be the first week in Feb. 2021 if possible (2-2-21)

2nd by VP Letterie for discussion

Councilor DeMarco makes clear this is a target date and not all have to attend ....

Councilor Flockhart reiterates that children need to get back to school because they are being hurt

not being in school, but the Town Council are handling Zoom fine and an additional risk should not
be taken

Councilor Christopher agrees with Councilor F lockhart and it contradictory with giving an opening
date of in person meetings, yet also saying when safe. You are either going to allow the Town
Manager to make the determination or not. The amendment would eliminate what was done in
committee. He did vote for it in committee and feels amendment would change his vote.

Councilor Ferrino agrees he would not go with amendment.
Vice President Letterie agrees because we asked kids to go back to school along with staff and

Support personnel to return. Encourage still have call ins, councilors that still want to be remote,
residents... etc...

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 5, 2021

Vice President feels perfectly safe and Town Manager has done admirable job with keeping town
safe...understand the kids psychological need to get back to school. None of these decisions are
easy but it is time to get back to meetings.

Councilor Ruggiero asks what is benefit to public within person meetings... what benefit would this
be?

He would look to in the Town Manager recommendation prior to Town Council as he still has
questions of what look, and feel would be going back to in person meetings and does not agree with
putting a date on amendment.

Town Manager requests to the group that wants to meet in person, do they want all Town
Council members to meet or just a space for portion of Council that wants to meet in person?
Right now, Harvey Room can accommodate (4) and work with WCAT,

Ifall (9) along with himself and council clerk, maybe the Senior Center would have to be
considered.

We would still be remotely on zoom and probably public participation will still be on zoom...
He will work with whatever direction is wanted.

Councilor Christopher....wants to know if motion will be strike "when Town Manager deems to be
safe"and put in place of 2-2-21.,

This is not a good idea. You cannot compare to schools. Data shows students were not receiving the
same level of education. He cannot think of anything that has hindered his participation in Zoom
Meetings.

If we could get public to participate in person, would change his decision but now the state has not
deemed to be safe.

Council President....the Town Council can decide itself when and where it is going to meet, and he
can call for a certain place and time for a meeting.

But if going to meet in person, even partially, we must look like we are not in conflict with who

is in zoom and who is in person.

We must work out a plan to be safe for all. Either an auditorum or gymnasium...he is

concerned about the ability for the public to attend our meetings. He requested the School

Committee wait for the Town Manager and the Superintendent meet to discuss and give a
recommendation.

Town Manager there are state level capacity limits on codes of who we can have allowed into
meeting. there is a set upper limit of how many people can congregate in one place.
Again, Town Manager asks about goal, with public or not?

Vice President Letterie wants a space where we can all meet in person...ideally it would be
something that we could do though it sounds like some do not want to.

Auditorium would be a good place...Middle Hight School with big screen citizens

could ask questions through zoom participation...we could continue this even when

back to normal meetings. Does not feel Zoom allows a free flow of discussion...

Town Manager 10 person for indoor gatherings...this is the order needed to be worked with
until Jan. 10, 2021 unless extended.

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 5, 2021

Councilor DeMarco withdraws amendment on amendment for the date of 2-2-21.
Vice President Letterie withdraws amendment...

Main Motion by the Public Safety Committee that the Town Council direct the Town Manager to
create solution to allow the town to safely return to meetings in person since children are returning
to school or take any other action thereto when the science dictates that the risk benefit balance is
appropriate for the Town Council to return to in person meetings.

No 2"4 is needed.

12.a Motion by the Finance Committee to replenish Pest Control Funding $20,000... (See Attached
Motion)

No 2™ Needed.
Voting For: Councilor Stephen Ruggiero, Councilor Barbara Flockhart, Councilor Rob
Demarco, Councilor Peter Christopher, Councilor Tracey Honan, Councilor Nick LoConte,
Councilor Rich Ferrino, Council Vice President James Letterie, President Philip Boncore
Voting Against: None

12.b Town Council authorize the Town Manager sign the North Suffolk Resilience &
Sustainability Agreement that will include Winthrop, Chelsea, and Revere
Town Manager Faison discusses Dispatch Regional Office that was discussed since last years.
Budget, it involves climate and sustainability focusing on the wetland’s protection act, future
energy, and things like that for the town of Winthrop. Since he has been in Winthrop he has
worked on regional initiatives and has brought this City Manager of Revere and Mayor of
Chelsea a couple of years ago and has been working with them and MAPC on applying to a
Barr Foundation Grant with Chelsea as the host community. $600,000 is a very good amount
of money to get a regional office started. They are going to tailor efforts to each community.
Winthrop especially needs conservation help and wetland protection along with support with
our new Planning Dept. and resiliency and this will be incorporated to the building permits as
well. Even longer term our investment will be lower that our previous conservation and
planning dept. This is a very low risk investment for our town.

Council President believes this is a good grant and Town Council should consider this motion.

Motion by Councilor Honan to accept this motion.
2" by Councilor Rich Ferrino
Discussion

Vice President Letterie’s understanding was that there was going to be a joint committee
meeting on this and because there was not, therefore it was not discussed in the Finance
Committee meeting. He thinks it has a lot of merits, but it always cost money to save money
and we are not able to spend any money even over the next couple of years and we do not
know what the real financial impacts are of this he will be voting No and would move
question.

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 5, 2021

Council President has reviewed the contract and believes it is very in depth, informative and
signed by Tom Ambrosino and Ryan Arrigo and it gives us something we do not have now
and something we need right away which is a conservation agent as our conservation

committee needs this as help is needed with approving projects with the help of a conservation
agent and this is going to help with this.

All in Favor of authorizing the Town Manager to sign the North Suffolk Resilience &
Sustainability Agreement

Voting Against: Vice President Letterie

13. NEW BUSINESS

13.a Town Council Vote for Council Vice President Motion by Councilor Stephen Ruggiero to
nominate Councilor Christopher as Town Council Vice President
2" by Councilor Tracey Honan.
Council President asks if there are any other nominees.

Hearing None...One vote be cast for Councilor Christopher and he is nominated as Council
Vice President.

13.b Motion that the Town Council appropriate $272,250 for Costs of Emergency Repair of
collapsed sewer main/Revere St. (Please see copy of entire motion)
Council President Boncore refers this motion to the Finance Committee for their recommendation.

13.c Council President refers the following motions to Rules & Ordinance for their
recommendation.

¢ Town Council accept the recommendation of TSAC on Terrace Ave/Park Ave &
Cottage Ave

Town Council accept the recommendation of TSAC 4 way stop sign Grover/Highland.

Town Council accept the recommendation of TSAC allow parking on portion of Beach
Rd.

13.d Discussion of Planner

Town Manager discusses that an offer has gone out to a Planner to begin starting week of Jan. 18!"
pending the paperwork to. Main goal is begin working in conjunction with our Legal advice and
the Planning Board for a recommendation the zoning of the Middle School recommendation to be
brought to the Council and get project out to bid.

13.e Discussion of FY22 Budget

Town Manager states process has started working with dept. heads with their budget
submissions and a capital plan...

Anna Freedman discusses that meetings with all dept. heads are beginning, she is
putting memo together...feels dept. heads requests will be more than town can afford.

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 5, 2021

14,

IS;

16.

Late Jan beginning Feb... she will have revenue numbers.
they have deteriorated further and keeping close eye on this, this will affect each department.

Vice President Letterie requests to post Finance Commission meeting Jan 14th 6:00

And ask Town Manager to attend and still looking for info on trash contract and number of
households....

Looking to look forward to positivity on this year...

PUBLIC COMMENT

Collen Murphy...thanks all for what they do...going forward, she has never been involved in

more meetings since the zoom....

Main reason she is commenting is that she questions the towns development and knows we

need to develop, but there needs to be more transparency with Board of Appeals, Bldg. Insp.,

and Planning Board.

Please come by Tileston and see what was allowed in this town.... this is wrong.... we must look at
size of what can be built... would like the size of developments to be reviewed.

Jenn Jones (p6) making a mistake going back in person and not doing zoom....it does not matter
whether we sit in person or not, more people have been very involved with zoom and works for
most.

Received Real Estate Tax bill...there was a lien for $4 on my bill and it is disgraceful...

Town Manager will call Treasurer dept....he will investigate ....

Heather Graziani-moved to Winthrop 2 yrs.ago and loves it...believes that zoom should continue....

What does recommendation of TSAC& R&O mean to the Town Council and public?
Council President explains the recommendation process.

Councilor Ruggiero feel free to send him email to chat offline with any questions on Precinct 6.

PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS

Immediate opening for Airport Hazards Committee

Committee for Diversity, Inclusion and Community

Relations Planning Board, Citizens Advisory of Finance

Please people, we need the town citizens to get involved...join a committee, get involved....

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Vice President Letterie to adjourn at 8:53 pm

2! by Councilor DeMarco

Voting For: Councilor Stephen Ruggiero, Councilor Barbara Flockhart, Councilor Rob Demarco,
Councilor Peter Christopher, Councilor Tracey Honan, Councilor Nick LoConte, Councilor Rich
Ferrino, Council Vice President James Letterie, President Philip Boncore Voting Against: None

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 OF JANUARY 5, 2021

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

7 ___ Town Council Motion _ -
December 10, 2020 Fiscal Year 2021

Motion Summary
Title: ISD Purchased Services Replenishment
Motion ID: TCM21-007
Amount: $20,000.00
Funding Source: Town Council Reserve
Moton Details
Motion Type: Budgetary Transfer
Submitted by: Austin Faison Town Manager
Date Submitted: 12/10/2020
Text of Motion
MOTION: I move that the Town Council vote to transfer $20,000 from the Town
Council Reserve to replenish the Inspectional Services Purchased Services account due to

extraordinary pest control expenses as estimated for the remainder of Fiscal Year 202 1?
or take any other action thereto,

Funding Details
Funding Source Funding Destination
Account Description Amount Account Description Amount
(0111057-578100 [Town Council Reserve $20,000 _(0124152-520000 [Purchased Services _ [$20,000

TC Reserve Balance: $75,000

Amount Requested:_ $20,000
TC Reserve after motion approval: $55,000

12-15-20
Motion by Councilor Ferrino to refer to the Finance Committee
2"4 by Vice President Letterie
Approve: Councilor Stephen Ruggiero, Councilor Barbara Flockhart, Councilor Rob Demarco, Councilor Peter
Christopher, Councilor Tracey Honan, Councilor LoConte, Councilor Ferrino,

Council Vice President Jim Letterie, President Philip Boncore
Motion Passes 9-0

1-5-21
a Motion by the Finance Committee

No 24 Needed.

Voting For: Councilor Stephen Ruggiero, Councilor Barbara Flockhart, Councilor Rob Demarco,
Councilor Peter Christopher, Councilor Tracey Honan, Councilor Nick LoConte, Councilor Rich
Ferrino, Council Vice President James Letterie, President Philip Boncore Voting Against: None

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 a
December 30, 2020 Fiscal Year 2021
Motion Summary
Title: Revere Street Sewer Repair Project
Motion ID: TCM21-008
Amount: $375,000 (total project cost)
$272,250 (total amount requested for this borrowing authorization)
Funding Source: MWRA Inflow/Infiltration Loan Program (75% grant / 25% loan) for the $272,250 authorization (a separate

motion will be filed for the remaining amount to transfer from Water/Sewer Retained Earnings)
Motion Details

Motion Type: Borrowing Authorization
Submitted by: Austin Faison, Town Manager
Date Submitted: 12/30/2020

Text of Motion
MOTION: I move that the Winthrop Town Council adopt the following order:
ORDERED: That the Town appropriates the sum of TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO THOUSAND TWO
HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($272,250) to pay costs of emergency repair of a collapsed section of 8-inch VC
sewer main on Revere Street and installation of a CIPP structural liner to prevent further collapse of the 8-inch VC
sewer main on Revere Street found to be structurally degrading, including all costs incidental and related thereto;
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, §8(14), or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds
or notes of the Town therefor; that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Town Manager, is authorized to borrow
all or a portion of such amount from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (the “Authority”) and in
connection therewith to enter into a loan agreement and/or financial assistance agreement with the Authority and
otherwise to contract with the Authority with respect to such loan and for any grants or aid available for the project
or for the financing thereof; that the Town Manager is authorized to accept and expend any grants or aid available
for the project or for the financing thereof, provided that the amount of the authorized borrowing for the project
shall be reduced by the amount of any such grants or aid received; that the Town Manager is authorized to take any
other action necessary to carry out this project; and 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.
Funding Details

Funding Source Funding Destination
Account Description Amount Account Description Amount
IMWRA BORROWING _ [$272,250 New- lRevere Street $272,250
Water/Sewer [Sewer Repair
Project

1-5-21- Council President refers this motion to the Finance Committee for Recommendation