Minutes
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER 6:15 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 have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body. Town Council will return to Open Session Motion by Councilor Aiello to enter into Executive Session 2 nd by Councilor DeMarco ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, President Letterie Absent: Vice President Ruggiero Motion by Councilor Belcher to adjourn Executive Session 2 nd by Councilor Fucillo ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, President Letterie Absent : Vice President Ruggiero OPEN SESSION CALLED TO ORDER 7:00 pm PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilor Aiello MINUTES Motion by Councilor DeMarco to Approval of Minutes September 5, 2023, as circulated 2 nd by Councilor Belcher Abstention-Councilor Aiello Passed GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Good Energy Update- Presentation by Allison McNeil & Rafada Ramon of the energy supply that their company offers and the present costs, which is no cost to the Town. Please see copy of presentation on the Town Website. Winthrop 1st Plan Presentation The Town consented that we will open a public review and look forward to hearing back from them. PUBLIC HEARING(S) Public Hearing Opened Town Council vote to transfer $49,000 from the Group Insurance Town line/Special Article line, to pay the replacement of the stairs in the public way connecting Hermon Street and Walden Street TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMER 19, 2023 PAGE 1 Councilor Fucillo, chair of the Finance Committee reports this was voted on with a positive recommendation and an amendment of which there will be a motion in old business. Gayle Negroni P1- She lives next to stairs and has videos of activity. Public urination, drinking…etc.…she does contact police or CASA with these problems and is hoping there is low lighting to help keep this quiet and not be hung on. DPW Director Calla reports lighting will be included but unfortunately there is no ADA access. Councilor Aiello asks the cost of solar lighting. Director Calla reports estimate could be approx... $8,000 for adequate solar fixtures Councilor Aiello also asks the Town Manager about the MBTA to provide bus shelters. Town Manager has not heard back but the MBTA is reviewing. Public Hearing Closed PUBLIC COMMENT Carina Campobasso P 3-Thanks the community for considering Good Energy to help with the electric supply costs. Also, thanks DPW for repairing the sink hole in front of her house Bill Schmidt P5- Discusses the Middle School and would like the Town Council and Town Manager to consider putting a 55+ community condo’s more which would bring in more revenue and more sr. housing John DaRos P6—Thank you to Mothers out front and thanks Thank you for Good Energy plan….good we are joining the other 52 communities….Presentation was excellent… Max Tassinari P1- Discusses the overwhelming amount of news from Suffolk Downs concerts…asking if there is a plan to reach out to Boston and Revere and see what is available for sound in Winthrop… Town Council President reports there are no plan as of yet…we plan to reach out…it took everyone by surprise….it will be looked into Councilor Munson asks if going to initiate communication he would like to create some kind of standards with the music playing. Marci Hamilton P2-Thanks DPW for help on Girdlestone and Pleasant with putting flapper on drains…knows more work needs to be done but appreciates the work the Town does and the time that is put in is very appreciated. A lot of talk about sites and movement and hopes communication between precincts happens… Trunk or Treat at Cummings school is a great thing. She would like to see more community involvement. CORRESPONDENCE Bill Schmidt-Sent Correspondence on the Fire Station and other ideas for the Middle School Site COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance Committee Councilor Fucillo reports on the motions for the Walden St. & Hermon St. Stairway and also on the vote of the Outside Auditors. He reports both were voted with a positive recommendation. Public Health and Safety Councilor Flockhart reports National Grid could not meet due to current storms, however she has spoken with Bob Coulter about proposals and is satisfied with their outcome of no new pole and will make connection to new bldg. on Freemont underground. Infra-red treatment will be installed Committee reviewed and voted with a Positive Recommendation In additional TH provided TM with a TM better pesticide company TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMER 19, 2023 PAGE 2 SCHOOL DEPTARTMENT Town Council President could not make meeting but does report that Interim Assistant Superintendent Lauri Galvin gave a good presentation on the opening of schools and all is working out very good. Town Council President encourage people to reach out to PTO and to attend behind the Gorman Fort Banks School the Trunk or Treat that will be held for the kids. Discussion on Laurie Galvin currently the Interim Assistant Superintendent on becoming permanent TOWN MANAGER REPORT Reports he has been working on the RFI for the Middle School site. Working with Rachel Kelly on the shared street grants. This will be ready for this Oct. 1 and then Oct. 31 DPW Calla will cover for the Town Manager as he is away Thursday to Sunday Councilor Munson asks the Town Manager to review the shared streets Town Manager reports they include sidewalks also looking at demand for solar powers cross walks…working with DPW on this, includes mostly street and sidewalk improvements… Flashing caution signs going up once the DPW receives. Councilor Munson reports on how bad our town needs a new Fire Station. The fact that our firemen are living and working in their current situation is appalling asks the voters to please consider this new station. Town Council President Reports on the FHBC meetings every Monday…attendance is low…but info is getting out... Reports on a comment made by Scott Mahoney Right…that we are so concerned about everything else but we have not heard about the moral obligation we have to our firefighters…the accommodations…standards that we don’t meet. Please go to website to see the deplorable conditions of this building…it’s not the fact it is old…it is the unsafe condition OLD BUSINESS Motion by the Public Safety Committee to approve the petition of National Grid No. #30498022 with the amendment of Infra-Red being used and they will not be adding a new pole. No 2 nd Needed Passed Unanimously Motion by the Finance Committee to vote to award the contract of an Outside Auditor of the accounts of the Town to Powers and Sullivan, LLC, Certified Public Accountants No 2 nd Needed Discussion Councilor Honan requests since using the same auditor year after year there can be complacency and she would like some assurance different auditors are being used. Motion that the Town Council vote to place on the November 7, 2023 Local Election Ballot the following Questions in reference to the Winthrop Charter Amendments offered by the Ordinance Review Committee and approved by the Town Council: Recommendation No. 2: Should the Abandonment language in Section 2-1(d) be changed from missing more than half of the meetings over a one-year period to either: (1) three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings of the full council, or (2) by failing to appear at 50% of the regularly scheduled meetings of the full council over a three-month period? TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMER 19, 2023 PAGE 3 Recommendation No. 5A: Should the Charter be amended to add a provision that will allow for the recall of an elected official through a citizen’s initiative? Recommendation No. 6: Should the Charter be amended to include that, if there is a dispute between this Charter and Council Rules, Charter is binding. Recommendation No. 9: Should the Charter Section 7-8 be amended changing the time for which the Town Council may adopt the budget ‘from a 45-day following the date that the proposed budget was received’ to ‘not less than 15 days prior to the start of the fiscal year.’ ROLL CALL Approve: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, , Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, President Letterie Absent: Vice President Ruggiero Motion Passes Motion: That the Winthrop Town Council directs for the administration of an election on November 7, 2023 language below: Debt Exclusion Ballot Question for Proposed Fire Station Shall the Town of Winthrop be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so- called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to pay the costs of acquiring property and the construction of a new Fire Station Building to be located at 210-224 Winthrop Street, Winthrop, including the payment of costs related to studying, planning and designing the project, demolishing existing buildings, equipping and furnishing the building, making site improvements, and all other costs incidental and related thereto? ROLL CALL Approve: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, , Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, President Letterie Absent: Vice President Ruggiero Motion Passes Motion by the Finance Committee with a positive recommendation that the Town Council vote to transfer $49,000 from the Group Insurance Town line/Special Article line, to pay the replacement of the stairs in the public way connecting Hermon Street and Walden Street No 2 nd Needed Discussion Motion to amend by Councilor Fucillo the main motion to change that the funds will be taken from the capital stabilization in lieu of the group insurance line 2 nd by Councilor Belcher Discussion TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMER 19, 2023 PAGE 4 Motion by Councilor Aiello to amend the funds of the main motion to be increased to $67,000 for the purpose of adding lighting to the project 2 nd by Councilor Belcher ROLL CALL Approve: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, , Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, President Letterie Absent: Vice President Ruggiero Motion Passes Main Motion as amended Motion by the Finance Committee with a positive recommendation that the Town Council vote to transfer $67,000 from the Group Insurance Town line/Special Article line, to pay the replacement of the stairs in the public way connecting Hermon Street and Walden Street No 2 nd Needed Discussion Motion by Councilor DeMarco to amend the amended main motion by Councilor DeMarco to transfer $116,000 from the capital stabilization fund to pay for the replacement of the stairs in the public way connecting Hermon St. and Walden St. as well as the Quincy path, connecting Quincy and Revere St. 2 nd by Councilor Flockhart Discussion Councilor Aiello would prefer that the Town Council consider this when the Capital Plan is allocated in November. ROLL CALL No: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor Flockhart Councilor Aiello, President Letterie Yes: Councilor DeMarco, Absent: Vice President Ruggiero Motion as Amended Does Not Pass Main Motion as amended Motion by the Finance Committee with a positive recommendation that the Town Council vote to transfer $67,000 from the Group Insurance Town line/Special Article line, to pay the replacement of the stairs in the public way connecting Hermon Street and Walden Street along with lighting. No 2 nd Needed ROLL CALL Approve: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, , Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, President Letterie Absent: Vice President Ruggiero Motion Passes 1. NEW BUSINESS RFI (Request for Information) Middle School-Town Council President apologizes that all may not have received the google doc on this information-this RFI will allow businesses to offer information of which then we can submit an RFP Councilor Aiello does like the idea of an RFI in lieu of an RFP as he would like to see ideas but would like to correct for the record the so called Eruzione Plan should be changed to the Citizens Plan, it should be on the website titled that. The past Town Manager had included that the rink and parking lot not be included in any sale of this land and Councilor Aiello does not this is ever a good idea. He was impressed by a variety of interest of the citizens for this location. He never remembers a Sports facility being wanted. He believes no plans in the past have every been accessed for economic pliability so how are we sure which is the best road to go. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMER 19, 2023 PAGE 5 No matter the use, we should have a series of community forum and a debate of what is wanted in this site. We need the history of these sites and need outside counsel to confirm the restrictions on this site, through zoning, or what action might be needed. We should think about the mechanisms that are needed for this particular site. Councilor DeMarco discusses Article 97 disposition of land and Ingleside Park should be park land. He has no intention that would take away park land from Winthrop. Also the Town Council took a vote that the Hockey Rink is off the table. Councilor Aiello states he never stated to take the rink away but work with whomever for a new rink if needed. Councilor Munson applauds the Town Council President of this RFI but he also feels that there should be an openness to other ideas and listen to the citizens what they may want. Flag Proclamation – Italian Heritage Month- Motion by Town Council President as he reads proclamation into the record that from Oct. 2-Oct 13 th , 2023 the Italian Flag will be flown. Amendment by Councilor DeMarco to recognize our Jewish citizens in the month of September Town Council President points out that amendments to a proclamation are not allowed. Councilor Aiello believes Indigenous Peoples day is Oct 9 th and would want to this recognized, but it cannot with this present proclamation. Council President reiterates proclamations cannot be amended but a Councilor can add a proclamation to the next agenda for what they would like to be honored. ROLL CALL Approve: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, , President Letterie No: Councilor Aiello Absent: Vice President Ruggiero Motion Passes Motion by the Town Council President to appoint Brian Perrin to the Board of Assessors Motion Passes PUBLIC COMMENT Bill Schmidt P5 has a question on the cost that the FHBC is spending and asks who pays for this. Asks if we are spending town resources on this project? Town Council President states that this is just information, we are not telling people to vote yes or no, just sending all information. Asks if there will be a summary of the Ballot Questions Yes, there will be. John DaRos P6- Discusses the Fire Station and that they deserve better than they have. The risks they take in general are sad that they also have to risk their health with the current condition of the fire station. About Firefighters needing help with this current station…he received a card from Chief Wiley of increase lists of various cancers doing their jobs now we look at the risk of what they face with firehouse coditions….we need to urge all to consider new fire house… TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMER 19, 2023 PAGE 6 Kurt Millar….EB Newton. considereing kids only bringing in $97,000 now $56,000 there is an upkeep for each tenant… He asks what if we took profit nonprofit and took them out of EB Newton…they would be paying more…when these lease agreements are renewed we should be looking at increase in rents as they do not cover what Sq. footage is…we should be looking at what these businesses would be paying in a different location…clock tower should have been included in these rents as …we need to look at Fair Market Julia Wallace comments about Middle school…and gives a good thank you and make it a priority but does agree with CA…she knows economically the facility is good but there is state wide housing needed… Concerned about a pvt facility leasing this…is this really what the community wants to do? Sends a big message and there public opinion…is needed Lisa Alberghini P6-Thanks CD for thinking stairs on Quincy but understands CA concern Would also like Indigenous people’s day flag to be flown Unsure of RFI and not sure why moving forward…we need a lot more information on this RFI. There are significant enough that this seems premature…this could set up town for litigation if we do this incorrectly….last large RFP done marketing was incorrect…biggest concern is process…the town has done a lot of work for this piece of land and how to use…we have had several plans with a lot of participating…most frustrating part is that these ideas went ignored…many meetings. And shocking that this has been ignored…. PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS- Committee Members Needed-Please contact Town Council Clerk for information 617-846-1852 9-28-23 Recovery Month Remembrance 10-17-23 Town of Winthrop Fall Forum ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Councilor Aiello to adjourn at 8:55 PM 2 nd by Council Vice President 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, Council Clerk TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMER 19, 2023 PAGE 7