Minutes
Town Council · from the Town's website · 4 pages · 95 KB
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 17, 2023 MINUTES TOWN COUNCIL PRESIDENT CALLS THE MEETING TO ORDER 6:00 1. ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, Vice President Ruggiero, President Letterie 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. Councilor Flockhart 4. MINUTES Motion by Councilor Fucillo to approve the Minutes, Oct.3, 2023 2 nd by Councilor Aiello Councilor Ruggiero Abstain Motion Passed 5. GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Presentation North East Vocational School-Rob O’Dwyer Rob not present but Town Council President did discuss and we will continue on update of project due to the delay and change in original cost. Project will still be on schedule and ready to break ground. School will be ready to open Sept. of 2026. We currently have 62 students enrolled and expect that to increase with new school 6. PUBLIC HEARING 7. PUBLIC COMMENTS None 8. CORRESPONDENCE None 9. COMMITTEE REPORTS Fire House Building Committee Town Council President reports that the last public hearing had a good crowd and Phase II was introduced including the Winthrop Police Station. Please review the Fire House Station Web Site for all up to date information. Citizens have been well informed. Businesses in the Wadsworth Building have been in communication with the Town Manager and process of relocation 10. SCHOOL DEPARTMENT REPORT Town Council President reports last night’s meeting. The major topic was passage of the contract of Assistant Superintendent Laurie Galvin. She is now the official Assistant Superintendent. Enrollment is currently 2932 students, 53 more students than last September. Due to the diligence of the Superintendent and School Committee all students have been approved for Winthrop addresses and those who were not are no longer enrolled. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 17, 2023 PAGE 1 11. TOWN MANAGER REPORT Had meeting with Greenway Extension. Need to review with East Boston, will keep Town Council updated. Attended Chamber of Commerce event this morning at the meat market with Rep. Turco DEP plan has been submitted and prep work can begin. We will continue to work with them until final plan May 2024 Quick reminder, we have Trick or Treat by Chamber 10-31-23 from 4-6 pm and FHBC info will be available. Councilor Belcher asks what DEP is requesting. Town Manager refers to DPW Director that they want more swells and want to make sure plovers taken care of. Our plan has not been touched or reviewed for over 10 years and now is being reviewed. Collins Center is currently reviewing and doing a webinar on the Compensation Survey for employees. Councilor Aiello asks about the Capital Plan update, it will be show at Fall Forum 12. COMMISSION OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS- Town Manager could not attend but there was a good crowd and a good Meet and greet. 13. OLD BUSINESS RFI-Middle School-remain on agenda 14. NEW BUSINESS Citation-Sean Donahue-40 Years Learn to Skate Town Council President presents this citation to Sean Donahue and discusses the Learn to Skate Program and the progress that this program reaches with these children. Our Hockey program, figure skating is outstanding mainly due to this program. Citation’s-Retired Fire Fighters-reads the list of retirees (add list) Town Council appropriates the sum of $980,000 to pay costs of replacing lead water service lines Motion by Councilor Belcher to refer to the Finance Committee 2 nd by Councilor Fucillo Passed Unanimously Town Council November Meeting Dates Motion by Councilor Fucillo to change the meeting dates in November to November 14 th and November 28 th 2 nd by Councilor Belcher No-Councilor Aiello Motion Passes Motion by Councilor Belcher to accept the Motion by the Memorials Committee with a positive recommendation 2 nd by Councilor Fucillo Passed Unanimously Discussion-Scooter Ordinance-Town Council President would like to work with law enforcement officers to work with these scooters as for safety. Councilor Munson does not want an ordinance that would supersede any state law If we do an ordinance, it would be great if we had communication. We have to get the word out. Its unfortunate people are not finding information unless they are looking for it. We need better communication with the community Councilor Honan agrees with Councilor Aiello there are rules on motorized scooters and would like to see this enforced. Creating more ordinances are not necessarily what is needed, enforcement is…make people aware. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 17, 2023 PAGE 2 Town Council President does not to create an ordinance but to bring safety first. Councilor Aiello states 44,000 people were killed in auto accidents across the country, as we see in town; drivers ignore safety features…people think they do not have to follow the rules. We need effective public campaign to make sure All are respectful of the law. Vice President Ruggiero agrees with this discussion. We are seeing different types of transportation. Winthrop is a good town to scooter with. We do need to get ahead. Would like to send to TSAC for review for the community to realize there are laws. Councilor Flockhart asks if flyers could be put out with the tax bills to raise these issues. Vice President Ruggiero feels this council has taken care of safety piece by piece. Is this really the active way to do this. A question for the Town Manager is , is it feasible for a Town Wide Traffic Study and then council could take up everything that is needed in the town. Town Manager can definitely get prices on this, he will review what other towns have done and research this. Chief Delehanty states scooters vs. mopeds are different as well as enforcements. The scooters are dangerous and we have to state where we want them? Street Sidewalks, helmets, but cannot contradict state law. It is worthwhile to review and see what can be put in force. 15. PUBLIC COMMENT 16. Todd Sacco P2-As he has been standing at bridge campaigning…he has seen 0 problems with cars., but 70% of scooters going through stop signs…red lights….and complete ignorance of safety. Councilor Aiello agrees but the state law states bikes belong on streets Scott Mahoney Write P3- Discusses Massport and feels that the town has forgotten about the problems with Massport. The noise abatement program he has been communication with , they have narrowed down to 5 homes in Winthrop and Revere slated for windows noise abatement… 1987-1992 Winthrop had 299 homes… now is 2023 there are only 5 homes that are approved. During 2020 we had 173,000 flights through Logan 2021 225,000 flights 2022 335,000 flights 2023 to Sept. 265,000 Looking at Noise abatement, Massport is only looking at 5 homes…not looking at past homes…they are using the wrong contour, they are using the info from pandemic. Our mitigation agreement does not say we cannot use this money for noise abatement…we cannot engage in litigation with Massport with this money. Any home built from 1998 on , they are disqualified. If any addition’s on home, you are disqualified it is unfair. Other communities have stronger advocates working with Massport. Why are we not benefitting the community….MCAC has a Winthrop representative that serves as a liaison….this is our face with Massport…we need a strong committee member. Winthrop has so many environmental issues that Massport should be a better neighbor. John Morgan P4-Pedestrians have the sidewalk rights…you cannot put bikes on a sidewalk…it is not wide enough…there is much more room on the streets. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 17, 2023 PAGE 3 17. PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS- 10-23-23 thru 10-26-23 Over the Counter EarlyVoting-Town Clerks Office during regular business hours 10-26-23 Last Day to Register to Vote or Amend your Current Voting Status 10-27-23 Trunk or Treat Gorman Foot Banks School 4:30-6:30 PM 10-28-23 Bike Halloween-Ingleside Park 11:00 AM -1:00 PM 10-31-23 Chamber of Commerce Halloween Haunt Winthrop Center 4:00-6:00 PM 11-4-23 Great Pumpkin Drop-Fort Banks School Playground 10:00AM -12:30 PM 11-7-23 Town Election Precincts 1-2-3-5-6 Old Middle School Gym / Precinct 4 Golden Drive Event last week at the Temple Tifereth Israel last Friday. Thanks Councilor Munson for attending 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- Discusses the event at the Temple Tifereth. It was a peace , prayer and mourning These community events make our community what it is Councilor Belcher- None Councilor DeMarco- Absent Councilor Aiello- None Councilor Flockhart- None Vice President Ruggiero-None ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Councilor Fucillo to adjourn at 6:58 PM 2 nd by Council 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, Council Clerk TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 17, 2023 PAGE 4