Minutes
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 7, 2021 President Letterie calls meeting to order at 7:00 PM ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, Vice President Ruggiero, President Letterie PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Ella DeMarco MOMENT OF SILENCE Pat Magee MINUTES Motion by Councilor DeMarco to accept the Minutes of February 21, 2023 as circulated 2 nd by Councilor Flockhart Passed Unanimously GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS None PUBLIC HEARING(S) Open Public Hearing Continued- Town Council vote to approve to amend the Code of Ordinance (1.12.30 / 12.40.130 / 12.40.150) - Wetlands-Continued Continue Public Hearing Open Public Hearing Continued- Solid Waste Ordinance Discussion Public Hearing Closed PUBLIC COMMENT Peter Gill P5-Comments on Town Hall Department co-operation within the town and he is very appreciative. Winthrop Housing is through the State but we work together . Most recently with the TIPS property and the Housing was in error listed as Town not State and they were not aware of information. But together it worked out well and all worked with Peg Lyons. Worked together with Trash Ordinance. Winthrop is so unique that Team efforts with department work well. Karin Chavis P2-Discusses the $15,000 for the Pest Control. This is an ongoing issue and every year is not enough money is company being proactive or just bating. Is trash/garbage being properly disposed of. Do we need a new Pest Control company? We need to solve this problem. More education? Town Council President more than an unfunded item then an extra cost. We have allotted in this yr. budget. CORRESPONDENCE : None TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 7, 2023 PAGE 1 COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance Committee –Councilor Fucillo reports : Town Council vote to authorize $12,719.80 for Unpaid Bills of a Prior Year –Voted with Positive Recommendation Town Council vote to authorize $15,000 for ISD Pest Control-Finance Committee sends to Town Council with no recommendation Town Council vote to review current Winthrop Fire Dept. Fees – Voted with Positive Recommendation Economic Development / Capital Assets Councilor Munson reports that the first official 5 yr. Cap assets plan reviewed. Some adjustment made to explain more and be more transparent. Discussed sources of funds, green communities, how much we can use. Typically $250,000 annual or onetime $500,000, will continue discussion Appointments, Commission & Committees Committee Handbook will have motion at next meeting Council Evaluations per the Charter annual reviews of Town Council Employees SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT School Committee- major FY24 budget…they are looking at a new format and will discuss over next couple meeting. Getting projections in from each school. TOWN MANAGER REPORT Town Manager reports on Cap Plan Draft. Review for what is wanted and what can actually be budgeted. More information at the Spring Forum. Had two good meetings with Peg Lyons of the Housing Authority and Joyce Treoci, Suffolk Community on the towns trash and their involvement, there will be more to follow. Continued progress on Comcast Contract Met with the School Committee reviewed base budget doc. GIC will go up 5.7 on average. Tufts and Harvard merging….check costs… Working with Police Unions Received quotes about $8,500 for 3 flag poles at E B. Newton-still finalizing (30’ / 25’ / 25’) Attended Sumner Tunnel…extending closing July & August, weekend closures in fall, specific dates on their website…will open for the major holidays. Have working groups and asked if the Fire Chief could be on the Public Safety Group and the Town Manager for transit and the upcoming Ferry Season Comcast Contract generates questions around town and appreciate them but would always like service to be better. Town Manager has asked Comcast to attend a Town Council Meeting and discuss. Town Council President is interested in Comcast having an office in Winthrop again as it was part of the contract. Councilor Aiello thinks it would be helpful to talk Capital Plan out at Spring Forum to discuss the Capital Plan. He attended the BOA meeting at the request of his constituents and is amazed of the Air BnB applications . He is worried about how easy this is to convert, how do we monitor, many illegal air bnb…not sure if fee structure is sufficient, look into the fee structure to help pay the financial needs this town needs. People talking about licensing issues but some issues should be heard from some other than just the BOA…look for best practices from other communities. Town Council President states it has come out of the ORC. He and the Town Manager have discussed about the potential revenue and we are currently having our in town counsel review. Discussions will continue. Councilor Aiello-Change of use ordinance…Town Council President states we have discussed and one of the things is how do you get around 2-3 family and we getting one or two a month….Town Council does not have the power to grant these. Two of the biggest issues that came out of the ORC, change of use and air bnb. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 7, 2023 PAGE 2 Councilor Flockhart-Asks if any progress on temp signs on CBD? DPW Calla-all signs that have a pole has been assigned….and the rest of poles will be installed and all signs should be erected by the end of the month. Vice President Ruggiero-Pest Control and Solid Waste..some what related …strategy on how funding being used. Definitely need more education on this issue. Preventing the presence of rodents could go a long way. Maybe ISD & Solid Waste Dept. put out a Guide Card on how to control the pest population. The town needs to point out to people where some of their problems are coming from with rodents. Councilor Munson-Asks to reiterate the flag poles costs. Asks about fundraising. Town Manager states other citizens have offered to fundraise and this would go into the expense. He can spread this word. Councilor Honan-Pest control, she agrees with Vice President Ruggiero, more preventative measures are needed. With Spring approaching we need more compost, more planting, people outside disposing of trash. There is more prevention that can teach the municipal staff and residents. Next generation the raptor and bird populations. We have to look out for Deer Island and Belle Isle and the raptor population. Councilor Munson-Any benefit to send out flyers on the Center Business District signage and what is happening. notify the abutters of new enforcements that will be happening. Councilor Aiello-Asks, total amount flag poles Town Manager $8500 installed. Town Manager will check on where you can donate for these flag poles. Councilor Honan-Paul Lucerto is also concerned on parking signs in CBD. COMMISSION OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS Next Meeting Scheduled for March, 8, 2023 OLD BUSINESS Motion by the Finance Committee with a positive recommendation that the Town Council vote to authorize $12,719.80 for Unpaid Bills of a Prior Year – No 2 nd Needed Discussion Councilor Flockhart-How did we have higher snow removal bills? TCP this is for the FY22 year. Every salting event can cost close to $15,000 and we have had many Passed Unanimously Motion by the Finance Committee with No Recommendation that the Town Council vote to authorize $15,000 for ISD Pest Control Discussion: Ass. CFO….Robert Powers. This is a line item that has traditionally been unfunded. It going to come out to the $40,000 as it has for the last several years….it is definitely a discussion that should be done with ISD as for where, how….etc…it is in line with last year….It use to be a special article and now it is with ISD to become in their budget Town Council President asks about “extraordinary pest control”…Ass. CFO feels that this is better answered by the ISD…he feels extraordinary due to not being funded. Town Council President looking at this it is a contractual service and should be easier to budget. Where there are so many projects going on in town, are part of these projects paying for the pest control? DPW Calla states this money should not be spent on any projects in town that could cause pest problems. Town Council President would like a breakdown of projects contracts that include this. Councilor Aiello to Ass. CFO-Do we have the last 4-5 years as what the finals were that were spent. What is trend line Did they actually only request $25 or $40 Ass. CFO-they requested $15,000, but Finance Commission increased to $25,000 TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 7, 2023 PAGE 3 Vice President Ruggiero asks another point…do we have a contract with the Pest Control or is it ad hoc? Town Manager has talked to ISD to put out to bid and maybe cost savings. Rodent bating situation handled through project but town sponsored construction is our responsibility, Vice President Ruggiero is concerned with construction happening in his precinct . Councilor Flockhart-Can we request Environmentally Friendly Pest Control Councilor Aiello-Pest control…does the monitoring fall to ISD or DPW.. DPW Calla- it is up to the Contract Assistant CFO Powers states it would be best Motion by Councilor Aiello to pay in full but with an amendment that the contractor and ISD come into the Town Council after Spring Forum discuss contractual obligation 2 nd Fucillo ROLL CALL Approve: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, Vice President Ruggiero, President Letterie Councilor Honan would like to see up to date reports from vendor with ISD and what they have done Town Council President will refer to the Public Safety Committee for review. Main Motion as amended ROLL CALL Approve: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, Vice President Ruggiero, President Letterie Motion by the Finance Committee with appositive recommendation that the Town Council vote to review current Winthrop Fire Dept. Fees No Second Needed Discussion Councilor Honan…no change in 30 years is crazy….it has to be brought up to date Roll Call-Approve ROLL CALL Approve: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, Vice President Ruggiero, President Letterie Flag Policy-Continued until 3-21-23 Councilor Aiello asked about the Wakefield policy….and asks it to be sent to Town Council Solid Waste Ordinance-Rules and Ordinance-Continued 3-21-26 Committee Handbook-Will circulate to TC and vote on 3-21-23 Winthrop Beach Access Points MBTA Review NEW BUSINESS Motion by Councilor Belcher to suspend the council rules (Rule 8, section F) in order to change the date of the annual review and evaluation of council employees from March 15th to May 16th. 2 nd By Councilor DeMarco Passed Unanimously TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 7, 2023 PAGE 4 PUBLIC COMMENT Karin Chavis-Hopeful that Comcast does have a office in Winthrop Wendy Millar Page-Congratulate WHS Drama Society PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS- March 21, 2023 7:00 PM Spring Forum –DeLeo Sr. Center April 29, 2023 10am to 12pm Annual Rabies Clinic-Old Middle School Auditorium 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- Blood Drive Councilor Belcher- None Councilor DeMarco- None Councilor Aiello- None Councilor Flockhart- None Vice President Ruggiero- None ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Councilor Munson to adjourn at 8:15 PM 2 nd by Councilor Belcher 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 MARCH 7, 2023 PAGE 5