Minutes
Town Council · from the Town's website · 5 pages · 99 KB
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 28, 2023 MINUTES TOWN COUNCIL PRESIDENT CALLS THE MEETING TO ORDER 7:00 PM 1. ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Honan, Councilor Fucillo, Councilor Munson, Councilor Belcher, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Flockhart, Councilor Aiello, Vice President Ruggiero, President Letterie Absent: Councilor Honan and Councilor Aiello Council President thanks the Town Clerks office for their hard work during the election and congratulates each newly elected candidate present at this meeting John DaRos P6, Suzanne Swope P4….Max Tassinari could not be present 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilor DeMarco 3. MINUTES Motion by Councilor Belcher to approve the Minutes, November 14, 2023 2 nd by Councilor DeMarco Councilor Honan and Councilor Aiello Abstain Motion Passed 4. GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5. PUBLIC HEARING Public Hearing Opened Tax Classification FY24 Discussion Public Hearing Continued Public Hearing Opened Good Energy Presentation by Rafidah Rahman & Patrick Roach-Please see information on Town Website All Citizens that currently do not have a separate Supplier for their Electricity will be notified. Please send any questions directly to the Good Energy Staff or the Town of Winthrop Town Managers Office Public Hearing Closed 6. PUBLIC COMMENT Carol Mietch P1-Has a question about policy of Town Departments posting events on open discussion groups. Would like to be able to help with this and interested in IT Committee. A Town website should be used for town information only. Council President reiterates that the town continues to work on website. Jack Dowd P1- Gave a handout previously in 2017 in reference to the conditions of Ingleside Park…please see copy Reflects Article 97 disposition of land….everyone that is interested in doing something with land available knows that Ingleside Park is a Park-151 Pauline St. 1.19 Acres.-GIS Map is not considered legal Town can sell 1.19 acres that town owns every other part of this land is parkland. He hopes Town Council considers this and that there are rules that must be met prior to changing this parkland. Max Tassinarri stated during his campaign he will be an advocate for Winthrop parks, green spaces, let’s hope he does. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 28, 2023 PAGE 1 Marcy Hamilton P2- She has reached out to the Town Council trying to learn how our government works and how she can help. She does want to help provide openness and communicate better. We want a new fire Station, more diversity… How can we help as community members to help our town? Todd Sacco P2- Discusses the flag policy and is concerned about the issue of raising the Israeli flag. He thought by proclamation of the Town Manager or Town Council flag could be raised? He is concerned why the Israeli flag was on previous agenda and why taken off? Why is a proclamation not being done? The Italian, Pride and Eruzione Flag were all agreed on. As part of this community, the Town Council is ignoring the people. The Town Council said to work with everyone for diversity. His question has not been answered….Jewish and non-Jewish both want to know. This is discrimination and anti-Semitism….he does not know what this motivation is, please Raise Flag or Change Policy. Town Council President states that this subject has not been on the agenda-It has never been on any agenda and there has been 4 proclamations not 3, Juneteenth was one. Karin Chavis P2-Has Town Council already signed a contract with Good Energy. No,We only voted for Good Energy to go forward with information…. Eileen Wickham P6- What is the procedure to have the Israeli Flag raised? Speaking for the Jewish Community of Winthrop Town Council President states that the procedure is that Town Manager or Town Council can put on agenda with a proclamation. Councilor DeMarco declares, he will make a proclamation for the next agenda. Todd Sacco P6- Why are we looking for reasons not to fly this flag? Robert Kaiser P6-Has concerns about the raising of the Israeli Flag. He is a liberal liberation conservative…he was thinking people can want to do things and it can be interpreted in certain ways…. Marcy Hamilton P2-Understands all concerns…she offers information that in Jan. the schools are having an international night….as a community attend this presentation and can see the diversity and start building relationships… Have a Waive the Fee Block parties for all to meet up and build up our neighborhoods….rebuild community 7. CORRESPONDENCE Received a letter from John Domenico about the Ingleside Park Tennis Courts being named after him..He is very grateful and has many fond memories of Ingleside Park Tennis Courts. John Munson received an email on 11-18 and on 11-19 & 11-20 received request of flying Israeli Flag but could not discuss within the email as to avoid a problem with the Open Meeting Law. He knows all TC feel bad about what is happening with Israelite and Palestine. We will try to do our best…. We set a high bar and trying to maintain this…. He just wants to elucidate that a solution is needed to make people secure…. Another person suggested a World Peace Flag 8. COMMITTEE REPORTS None 9. SCHOOL DEPARTMENT REPORT Town Council President reports basic meeting, powder puff shut out over Revere as well as the WHS Thanksgiving game. MCAS strategy plan and streamline approach, presentation from each principal on MCAS results TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 28, 2023 PAGE 2 10. TOWN MANAGER REPORT Met with DCR on Winthrop Greenway Current Union negotiates with WFD Invited and attended at Lynch Park with Gov. Healy and Lt. Gov.Driscoll about coastal zone mgt. State looking for 75 million to help coastal communities ZEN City has AI tech that can help with a survey getting pricing Thanks to DPW and Calla for the projects that have been going on and wrapping up for Winter Town Council President happily reports that the Free Cash Certified at 2.138 Million….a great service to our dept. heads, Town Manager, the Town Council, Finance Commission. All enterprise funds came back in the black. Update on Trash and Recycling… 2021- tonnage went down 11% Recycle gone up 4-5% Cost stayed stable but up 15 % since 2020 Cost of Recycling up 400% $97 ton for trash $99 for Recycle Since the trash subject has been brought to the attention of the town, the town’s usage has lowered. This will continue to be monitored. Councilor DeMarco requests to put temporary lines on road as now it has the unintended effect that people can pass because it is not a double line…We need to review and have these lines corrected… Councilor Munson asks the Town Manager to update on the Middle School RFI 11. COMMISSION OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS- No Meeting 12. OLD BUSINESS Memorials Committee Motion by Councilor DeMarco 2 nd Councilor Belcher Passed 13. NEW BUSINESS Tax Classification FY24-Public Hearing Continued Motion by Councilor Belcher to accept the appointments of Steven Githinji and Aaron Williams to the CDICR 2 nd by Councilor DeMarco Motion Passed Motion by Councilor Belcher to Amend the Town Council Rules for Dec. 19 th meeting and to begin at 6 pm in lieu of 7 pm 2 nd by Councilor DeMarco Motion Passed 14. PUBLIC COMMENT Karin Chavis P2-Thank you for the Christmas Tree in French Sq. and the ahard work by the DPW and also thanks Laurisa for the memory stars… TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 28, 2023 PAGE 3 Carol Meitch- When is deadline for Councilor to put info on Agenda? Answered:-Before 1:00 PM on thurday prior to meeting Teresa O’brien P6- Thanks DPW for taking care of Highlands Park Jack Dowd P2-Requests Town Manager to include that the RFI for Middle School not inlcude parkland He has offered to his jewish friends if they need any help…let him know he is more than willing to help.. Thanks DeMarco for putting on Agendas Todd Sacco-P2-Wants to correct the record that Councilor Munson had plenty of time with the emails he received to put this item on the aganda of raising the Israli Flag 15. PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS- 1-2-24 Swearing In Ceremony 6:00 Town Council Meeting to follow – Venue TBA Board Members Needed for, Board of License, CDICR-Contact Town Clerk’s Office 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- None Councilor Belcher- None Councilor DeMarco- Talk a little about the flag, as he is of Jewish decent He does want to say about people talking about Israel and Palestine war, there are also innocent Palestine’s getting hurt As far as flag policy is there really a flag that does not offend one person? With this Flag policy request who will be offended? This is something that the Town Council will have to take on a case by case basis He will make the proclamation and has been talking about it for weeks Councilor Aiello- None Councilor Flockhart- None Vice President Ruggiero- CASA Fundraiser if you can contribute please do, check their website for fundraisers Wants to Wish his mom a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Councilor Fucillo to adjourn at 8:45 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 NOVEMBER 28, 2023 PAGE 4 TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 14, 2023 PAGE 4