Minutes
Town Council · from the Town's website · 6 pages · 763 KB
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 31, 2023 President Letterie calls meeting to order at 6:09 PM ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Honan, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, Vice President Ruggiero, President Letterie Councilor Fucillo-Zoom Attendance PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council President Letterie MOMENT OF SILENCE JAN FLAHERTY ROBBLEE Finance Administrator Winthrop Public Library 2003-2014 TOWN COUNCIL TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION Pursuant to G.L. ¢.30A, §21(a)(6)— To consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if the chair declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental! effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares; Motion by Councilor DeMarco to enter into Executive Session 2" by Councilor Belcher ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Honan, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, Vice President Ruggiero, President Letterie Councilor Fucillo-Zoom Attendance Motion by Councilor DeMarco to adjourn from Executive Session at 6:50 PM 2" by Councilor Belcher ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Honan, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, Vice President Ruggiero, President Letterie Councilor Fucillo-Zoom Attendance Return to Open Session: 7:05 PM MINUTES Motion by Councilor Belcher to accept the Minutes of January 17, 2023 as circulated 2™ by Councilor Belcher Passed Unanimously Town Council President Letterie reads his State of the Town Address (Please see Town Council website) GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS None TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 31, 2023 PAGE 1 PUBLIC HEARING(S) None PUBLIC COMMENT Letter from Bill Schmidt and his comments on the ORC Recommendations CORRESPONDENCE: E-mail from constituents on striping on parking spaces that need to be reviewed. They were reviewed in the CBD and issues were taken into effect and will be sent to Rules & Ordinance for review to be addressed. Councilor DeMarco received correspondence about cross walk on Revere St that will be painted but constituents are concerned on why it cannot be painted now. COMMITTEE REPORTS Intergovernmental Strategy Councilor Aiello reports on meeting. Discussion on Mission Statement for Committee, the importance of collaborating with the Town Council President and Town Manager and number of interests committee will have and prioritize them. Next meeting Feb. 28, 2023 (All Standing Committee Meeting Minutes can be reviewed on the Town Council Website) SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT Council President reports on School Department meeting and it was discussed was school population, good in some, concerning in some. Population is now 1963 / GFT 498- ATC 435 -WMS 423- WHS 597 School doing great job. Councilor Flockhart surprised there were 60 new language learning joining our population, this is quite a large percentage of our students. Council President reports the students in the younger classes are higher and it is a challenge. TOWN MANAGER REPORT Discusses the MMA and the attendance of himself and the Town Council. It was definitely a success. Looking at increases in State Aid for Schools, Housing and our Streets. Had meeting with WCAT and Counsel with our Comcast Contract. Finalized the Labor Council for In House. Attorney Jim Cipoletta will be the Towns in house counsel. A lot of different legal business that needs to be addressed Second Special Council will be staying on Meade and Talerman. Looking forward to working with in house Counsel. Filed with the Department of Community Housing and they have approved our action plan. We have switched our in house IT of Thrive to Balsam Technology, which does the entire town now. Have a S&P Rating for the town later in February. Councilor Aiello thanks the Town Manager for the municipal lot behind Kids Only and it looks like it is in full compliance. The two policies that are critical to be reviewed are the Air BnB Policy and the Flag Policy. Based upon his latest survey of what is available for daily rentals is not comparable with what is actually permitted. This is a safety concern for the town. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 31, 2023, PAGE 2 Vice President Ruggiero commented to hear from other communities that Winthrop just doesn’t have unique issues to deal with was refreshing. K&P will be on bard until the end of the month to. D’Ambrosia & Brown will be doing tax title. Councilor Flockhart enjoyed the Electricity input at the MMA Councilor Munson realized how well known and informative Town Manager Marino is at the MMA and very happy he is here with us in Winthrop as our Town Manager. Councilor Munson also concerned with the Air BnB issues in our town. Town Manager Marino introduces Dylan Cook, the Towns New CFO CDICR REPORT No Meeting Council President returns to Public Comment: Karin Chavis P2-Asked if the Intergovernmental Strategy already has a mission statement and please post on website. Hopes the Town Council will consider the ORC Recommendations and put them forward. Bill Schmidt P5-Thinks I importance for the Town Council to do their due diligence on the ORC Recommendation and he believes in the Town Council to make final decision. Todd Sacco P2-Does agree with Karin’s sentiment on the ORC and discusses the hours that the ORC put in for these recommendations. He understands all concerns but disagrees with approach. Town Council will get a chance to vote on final product but how do any of the Town Council know what the people want. He feels the Town Council should allow the people to vote. What’s the point of having an ORC Committee if the Town Council just votes against it. OLD BUSINESS co Trash Ordinance-Town Manager will have numbers and more info at next meeting and there will be a Public Hearing on this. o Committee Handbook-Councilor Belcher reports this is still under review. o Ordinance Review Committee Recommendations- Council President reports the Town Council has had multiple discussions, a great amount of input from Council and Citizens. The Plan is to now have the Town Council vote on recommendations, Some concern the Charter, some concern the Ordinance. Feels the Ordinances will be referred to the Rules & Ordinances, He would like to review the Charter and take a roll call vote on each. Each vote will need a vote of 6. These will then be sent to the State for approval and then put on a ballot. Any Charter Recommendation can be amended and new ones could be reviewed for discussion also. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 31, 2023 PAGE 3 Please see the ORC Recommendations on the Town Website for full explanation of each recommendation made to the Town Council charter_review.final_recommendation.te_.2022.pdf (winthrop.ma.us) Town Council has an in depth discussion on each ORC Recommendations as they will be voting on these recommendations: Discussion and votes begin: Please see Excel Sheet Council President asks for a break on the ORC Recommendations to discuss new business as people have been waiting patiently and will continue directly back to the ORC Recommendation Voting Motion by Council DeMarco to suspend Town Council Rules and proceed into New Business 2™ by Councilor Flockhart Passed Unanimously NEW BUSINESS Town Council vote to appropriate $143,900 Water Retained Earnings to pay for Revere St. PRV Project-Council President will refer to the Finance Committee and advertise for a Public Hearing Town Council vote to appropriate $69,989.04 Monitoring & Compliance Module (Gas Fob) Council President will refer to the Finance Committee and advertise for a Public Hearing Town Council vote to transfer $6,000 from Finance Dept./ $4,800 Conservation Salary Line for BOA Salary Line Council President will refer to the Finance Committee Town Council vote to approve to amend the Code of Ordinance (1.12.30 / 12.40.130 / 12.40.150) Wetlands Council President will refer to the Finance Committee and Rules & Ordinance Town Council review MBTA Winthrop Bus Routes Changes & Improvements Requests Councilor Aiello to set up an appointment with a Representation from the MBTA to discuss our bus routes Complete Street Policy Committee Council President has two appointments to this committee and will ask to appoint one this evening Motion by Council President to appoint Julia Wallerce 2™' by Councilor Belcher Passed Unanimously Town Council votes on the Water Bonds Loan Amendment of Original Vote June 21, 2022 to increase original from $2,912,000 to $4,890,101 Council President will refer this to the Finance Committee and advertise for a Public Hearing Discussion: DPW Director discusses that reason for this increase. This number is the low bid with a 10% contingency and police detail reason for increase. Town Council returns to the ORC Recommendations ****PLEASE SEE ATTACHED SHEET FOR FINAL VOTING FROM TOWN COUNCIL**** TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 31, 2023 PAGE 4 PUBLIC COMMENT Bill Schmidt P5-Commends Town Council for their effort on the ORC Recommendations Karin Chavis P2-Disappointed with the Town Council votes on the ORC Recommendations and should have been brought to the voters not just the Town Council PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS Before asking for motion to adjourn, Council President Letterie asks each Town Councilor if they have anything further to discuss Councilor Honan- None Councilor Fucillo — None Councilor Munson- Two Upcoming Blood Drives at the Odd Fellow Lodge Councilor Belcher- Thanks the Library for the Author Night of the Great Molasses Flood Councilor DeMarco- Thanks Town Council for hard work Councilor Aiello- None Councilor Flockhart- None Vice President Ruggiero- None ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Councilor Flockhart to adjourn at 9:35 PM 2"4 by Councilor Munson Passed Unanimously 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 Motion Respectfully submitted Denise Quist Town Clerk Council Clerk TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 31, 2023 PAGE 5 QUESTIONS #1A -AS AMENDED Motion to amend by Council President Letterie to keep the ORC Recommendatino but to change from 9-7 but woud say 6 Precinct Councilors and 1 Council President TOWN COUNCIL VOTES ON CHARTER REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ORDINACE REVIEW COMMITTEE 2nd by Councilor Belcher Discussion Councilor Honan states this is still taking away 2 councilors and this still lessons the representation Councilor Beicher feels this is a good compromise but does it really help with uncontested seats? Councifor Aiello believes the current deisgn of the Town Council fulfills and this amendment does not help with any problems Councilor Flockhart agrees this amendment does not help with concerns Councilor Aiello moves the amendment to a Roll Call Vote 2nd by Councilor DeMarco #1A-MAIN NO AMENDMENT #1B-MAIN #1C-MAIN #2-MAIN #3-AMENDMENT Motion by Vice President Ruggerio to include after Chair, a comma to include Vice Chair 2nd by Councilor Aiello #3-MAIN AS AMENDED #4-CONTINUED #5-MAIN #6-MAIN #7-MAIN #8-CONTINUED #9-MAIN #10-MAIN #11-CONTINUED #12-CONTINUED #13-AMENDMENT N N Y Y Y < y Councilor Munson Y y <2 Yy MOTION BY VICE PRESIDENT RUGGIERO TO AMEND RECOMMENDATION #13 NO TO INCLUDE 2ND BY COUNCILOR DEMARCO #13 AS AMENDED Y Councilor DeMarco §—- Councilor Flockhart y ARTICLE 2 SECTION 21D ON PAGE 24 VOTE OUTCOME AMENDMENT DID NOT PASS MAIN MOTION DID NOT PASS. DID NOT PASS DID NOT PASS PASSED AMENDEMENT PASSED MAIN MOTION WITH AMENDED PASSED. PASSED PASSED DID NOT PASS PASSED DID NOT PASS AMENDMENT PASSED: MAIN MOTION WITH AMENDMENT PASSED