Minutes
Town Council · from the Town's website · 5 pages · 231 KB
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 27, 2023 President Letterie calls meeting to order at 7:00 PM ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo Councilor Munson (7:15) Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco Councilor Aiello, President Letterie Absent: Vice President Ruggiero, Councilor Flockhart TOWN COUNCIL TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION Pursuant to G.L. c.30A, §21(a) (6)— To consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if the chair declares that an open meeting may h ave a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body. Town Council will return to Open Session Motion by Councilor Belcher to go into Ex. Session 2 nd by Councilor Munson Yes: Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Belcher, Councilor Aiello, President Letterie Absent: Vice President Ruggiero, Councilor Honan, Councilor Munson, Councilor Flockhart Motion Passes Town Council is back in Open Session 7:00 PM PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilor Aiello MINUTES Motion by Councilor Belcher to Approval of Minutes, June 6 and June 13th, 2023 as circulated 2 nd by Councilor Fucillo Passed Unanimously-Councilor DeMarco Abstained GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Berry Dunn Phil Ronan,Veterans Agent PUBLIC COMMENTS Suzanne Swope P4- Can Parks & Rec look into more funding? Karin Chavis P1-Parks & Rec, Sean Driscoll does a wonderful job and he has been working out of a building that has been in need of updating for years. His summer program is $400 and that is $50 a week, that seems a fair amount of money for 8 weeks. He has done a great job, we need a new fire station, police station and Sean needs a new home… Town Council President agrees and he is also reviewing with the Town Manager a new home for Parks & Rec. Bill Schmidt P5-Why did the report put fall and spring together? Town Council President feels it’s because it’s during the school year He is an avid tennis player and pays $10 for a key…maybe a User Fee could be charged to help maintain the courts. Public process, old Middle School, Fire Station….what is public process for their input in these decisions He urges the Town Council to include the public TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 27, 2023 PAGE 1 Town Council President states nothing will be done without public input Jack Dowd P1-Questioned the microphones on WCAT He considers Town Hall politics since 2014 to be in the dark ages… In the CBD 48’ in height….this will be a problem He would like the Town Council to do a better job on the committee minutes…. After the microphones not picking up the comments….could not see people who were talking… SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT Town Council President could not attend, they voted on their budget, it was an informal vote as the School has already voted on but agreed with the Town Council budget vote. TOWN MANAGER REPORT Ferry update: MBTA taking over on July 5 th Revere St. Tips Projects concerns with night work.. this will be the last week and after the holiday will be switching to days. July 5 th to August 31 st will be closed. Blue line is free, Ferry and parking reduced rate. Councilor Aiello thanks the Town Manager for his hard work on the Ferry with the MBTA Lease and taking over. Get the word out and have this used. We are on a trial period for 2 years and we need this to be used. Town Manager working on a M Ticket…allows transfers into Boston Councilor Aiello discusses transportation funding: TSAC recommend to study of intersection Pleasant, Winthrop and Washington-Town Manager states this was identified on our Complete Street Project, we will be requesting funding. Short term solution to the curve at Pleasant St.-DPW has flashing signs for the corner and two blinking signs. Working on quote for guard rail. Paving being offered Mass DOT Next tips project is Pleasant St. to Main St. Councilor DeMarco-Revere St. has lost several parking spaces from 7-5pm Is there a way this can be shortened, can we make 9 -5 pm. Can parking be increased? DPW Calla-This is very difficult , gas main being installed, cabled being installed, curbing, sidewalk and street work going on. If we restrict it will prolong the project. Councilor Belcher-Shirley St. needs attention. Delby Corner to Deer Island has a speed problem. Have the Crest Ave. businesses been informed on parking during Tips Project Town Manager, yes, they have been informed and working to make more accommodating for these businesses. Councilor Munson, thanks the Town Manager for contributing in all the towns activities. As part of the inclusion, he would like the agenda’s of all BOA, Planning Board and Licensing be part of the Town Manager Blog. As far as getting word out on Ferry, is there something we can do as a town? Town Manager states the MBTA is working on this advertising . Question on Public Pathways…what is the responsibility to clean these? DPW is a homeowners shrubs, tree is over a public walkway, they are responsible TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 27, 2023 PAGE 2 CDICR Meeting Town Manager reports on the current town activites…discussion of a couple of school issues. Membership issues and discussing new ones. OLD BUSINESS Winthrop Beach Access- Still awaiting DCR response. We notified them that if not done soon, we will take upon ourselves and build stairs. MBTA-Have signs on Hermon St. directing new routes Public Walkways is still in committee and will be discussed in priorities Middle School still in process….hopefully infoemation by our July 18 th meeting NEW BUSINESS Town Council President refers to the Finance Committee that the Town Council appropriate from the Water Sewer Capital Stabilization Fund the amount of $174,062 Air BnB- Town Manager and Town Counsel drafts several preliminary reports on the Air BnB Ordinances and what the Town Council would like to address. Discussion on concerns, entire house rental, too many vehicles, impacted neighborhood. Ability as of 7-2019 Community an now get another 3% of tax in lieu of hotel tax of 6% Town Counsel, Jim Cipoletta discusses the impact these have on our community. The community impact fee is that the Town Council accepted the state statue of 6% of room tax, but we have no rooms with the Air BnB, we are limited. Parking is an enormous problem, Winthrop is overstressed. This impact fee may help with sidewalks and trees. There is affirmative action to be taken by the Town. Chapter 63 Section 3A must be accepted by the Town Council, which we have not to accept the 3%. Short term rentals should be accepted in our Ordinance, the State Statue includes this. Our Ordinance is drafted as to approve no taxes. Without short term rental, we cannot tax these Air BnB’s. This is preventing us from enforcement. Town Council President states we have about 15 permitted but over 100 in our town. Attorney Cipoletta states that in the statue, these be owner occupied units. This is inconsistent with what Air BnB really should allow. It is suppose to promote tourism, living with a family is not something that interests most. This will be sent to the Rules and Ordinance for review Councilor Aiello-The Town Council must be clear on what they want, public responsibility and safety, we need to be able to track these units being rented. Whatever we do we need to have the resources we can monitor and enforce. Councilor Belcher has question on owner occupied, does this mean the owner must live in the unit Town Counsel, yes if you have a 2 family you cannot rent out the 1 st floor . Councilor Munson, agrees with Councilor Aiello, no point talking about this if safety is an issue. Not just about revenue. Safety is number 1 priority. Need to monitor this and the laws have to be complied with. This will help with Inspectional Services. He does not think that we have to have loyalty to the present Ordinance. We need to improve. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 27, 2023 PAGE 3 PUBLIC COMMENT Bill Schmidt-Comments on Christine Reilly being appointed to the BOH and looks forward to working with her and the EB Newton Tower Ceremony was a very nice dedication. Jack Dowd P1-Discusses the Ferry, many people were opposed to this, he has commented and stated we may need a Ferry one day and this day has come. Maybe looking into a 2 nd Ferry…if MBTA passing out funds, maybe MBTA would utilize this Ferry. A committee should be put together for a new Ferry. PUBLIC RELATIONS Councilor Aiello states that citizens are getting upset with this Trash Ordinance and taking it out on Town Employees, if you have a problem, please contact the Town Council June 29 th Mary Ellen Greenway ride (Please see website) Congratulations to Scott Mahoney Wright, on Pride Ride August 26 th Friends on Winthrop Beach will be showing Miracle on Ice Councilor DeMarco-Soccer night by Harbor City Church…free of charge, food, games, dancing…a lot of fun Discussed raising revenue, fees, …with inflation the way it is, he would like to see people lives easier not harder. Councilor Belcher –Fireworks July 4 th accepting donations… Council Munson-Thankful to be in this town. Great events and our progress in in the right direction. Coucilor Fucillo-Happy safe, 4 th for all. Councilor Honan-Congratulate Phil Ronan, great tribute. Town Council President states that we have allowed citizens to throw more trash out. It is a 5 year contract and for the past 3 we have been more open, it is now time to follow the contract. We are doing the best we can. Winthrop is Special and the 4 th of July and Horribles Parade is one way…Enjoy!! ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Councilor DeMarco to adjourn at 9:10 PM 2 nd by Councilor MFucillo 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 JUNE 27, 2023 PAGE 4