Minutes
Town Council · from the Town's website · 6 pages · 41 KB
open the file ↗ · original at the source ↗
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 16, 2024 President Letterie calls meeting to order at 7:00PM ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor Fucillo PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilor DeMrco MOMENT OF SILENCE Albert Marley-Winthrop Firefighter MINUTES Motion by Councilor DeMarco to Approval of Minutes, January 2, 2024, as circulated. 2 nd by Vice President Belcher Motion Passed GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS President Letterie reports International Night-Thursday Night 1-18-24 at Middle School Gym Informational Presentation MBTA Rezoning - Winthrop Planner Rachel Kelly and Zoe Mueller- Utile Arch. & Planning This is an informational presentationonly. Please see complete Power Point Presentation on Town Website. There will be future information on this zoning This presentation is preliminary information Motion by Vice President Belcher 2 nd Councilor DeMarco Take TM report out of order Passed Unanimously TOWN MANAGER REPORT MMA coming up this weekend-Great Event Requests that the Town Council plan to set up Community Preservations Act Committee in the very near future Update on flooding: Before the Storm and during the storm he was in town with Director Calla and the Fire Chief and utilized high water vehicle to review flooding in town. We have been granted a MVP grants to do living levies in the Morton St. and Pico area, survey work. Coincidentally, Congresswomen Clark office called his office and discussed that there is Fed Grant Money to put forward for design funding of $675,000 which we have submitted and it will include Tileston, Girdlestone and Pico areas of town. Due to the flooding on Girdlestone and Tirlestone, he along with Director Calla are reviewing putting a temporary pump on Girdlestone and Tilestone. The main problem is the low lying water. Right now ground saturated and along with an 11-15 ft. tide, the water has been bad and we realize it and working to get the funding for this. We are looking at other ways to help with this water problem. DPW Call reports that capacity is the main problem. We have old pipes and during these storms not only rain water creating problems, the tides don ’ t help. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 16, 2024 PAGE 1 Councilor Aiello thanks all for their hard work. It is also important to news on this grant as soon as possible and work on the pumps. Communication is important. He is concerned with a couple other areas that are being inandated from the Ocean, is there any future work for these problem area. We have to work on a Master Plan for all the areas in town. Councilor DeMarco would like work to be done instead of waiting for grant money. Use eny emergency funds we have an have grant money reimburse. Town Manager reports there is funding out there in the state and we are working to get these funds sooner than later Councilor Munson seems that action is needed immediately … . Town Manager and Director Calla explain it is not as easy as most think. We have to work with design and survey funding. There is a lot of work this town needs. It ’ s not as easy and paying and just have grant pay you back. Councilor DaRos asks the Town Manager requests how we are prepared for these emergencies. Town Manager reports we got the high water vehicle from a grant and it has been very helpful. The fire department will come and help pump out. Councilor Aiello-In terms of a Master Plan we have plans looking at ocean flooding, we have pumps and pursing engineerting, Councilor DeMarco asksing do we have to wait? He asks why we can ’ t take this in steps and pay for the beginning steps and wait for grant for others to kick in. Councilor Swope asks if all equipment that we need includinged in grant Town Manager reports no, this is just design … Director Calla reports pumps are great, but you cannot pump the ocean. There are so many other concerns to gather to alleviate this problem, it is not just pumping. The town has 46 miles of pipe, replaced about 10 miles … 70% of infrastructure is 100 yrs. Old … . $60-70 Million to fix completely … .but our immediate issue is Tilestone and Girdlestone. Town Council will return with answers to questions and work on this problem. PUBLIC HEARING None PUBLIC COMMENT Colleen Murphy-Thanks all for help She discusses a report she gave in 2017. She appreciates the money issue but we asks for funding for new fields, taxes etc. Why aren ’ t we asking for this now. Mark Sennott -We need to address this now, our homes are getting destroyed. 59 Pleasant St.-Complains about the flooding and his home is getting destroyed, the value is decreasing and it can be causing health safety risks. Paul Claus- Asks if this problem could be considered a health risk problem and get grant funding ? Kathleen Capuccio P2-She remembers the flooding down the point and in hearing people talk, believes there must be confusion about how the finances works in this town. Requests a legal opinion on MBTA Zoning 3A, would like to know the actual consequences are if voted against. Believes this zoning law is outrageous per her discussion with Senator Edwards. We need outside opinions and public involvment. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 16, 2024 PAGE 2 Vasilli Malios P5- Very concerned about this MBTA 3A Zoning. This will bring extra people in our town along with cars. We cannot afford this in our town. Parking is tight as is, schools are at their capacities. This will be a problem to our community. Requests Town Council to fully review. Steve Machinski P5- Concerned with this MBTA 3A Zoning. Believes this will not be good for our community. Brendan Conney P5-Understands the flooding concerns with Girdlestone and Tilestone but he lives on Pico Beach and has been withstanding flooding for years. Please include Pico in any fund granting. Marci Hamilton P2-Discusses the 2017 survey that has been done and submitted. She has lost so much of her yard due to these floodings. Jack Dowd-P3- Hands out inforfmation. There is a problem at French Sq. with the dogs urinating on the lawns. Is if possible a fence could be constructed? Todd Sacco P5-Believes Town Manager Marino is doing a great job. He requests that at the last Town Council Meeting when the Town Manager was disrespected, he should be apologized too. As for MBTA Zoning 3A , it doesn ’ t make sense. If you zone with no requirements necesssary, people will build. As for the flooding issue, he remarks that Jeff Turco had battled through getting an emergency access road through Governors Park. This may help address the problem on Morton St. He requests that the Town Council file for an extension on this 3A zoning and work on the communities major problems. Elisa Gamble P4-Planning Board Member-She is very encouraged about the involvmenet of the citizens Encourages all to educate themselves and this should be a learning tool for our community. Julia Wallerce P2-Believes this MBTA Zoning 3A is an opportunity for our community and gives us the oppourtunity to build and have the tools to do it correctly. Motion by Vice President Belcher to suspend rules to allow a non citizen to speak 2 nd by Councilor DeMarco Passed Unanimously Rachel-Asks the Town Council to reach out the the Boston City Council. There is money to give. Bill Schmidt P5- Comments on MBTA Presentation. Questions on Main and Winthrop St. Looks like decisions were already made. The Council should have been involved prior to these districts being already determined. Patty Felt P4-Concern about MBTA Zoning and the areas that have been determined. There are safety issues with these areas. Paul Caruccio P4-Concerend with zoning and our children. Are we prepared for more children, cars, people? Our homeowners will have to pay this price. Kathy Russo-Comments on the flooding on Girdlestone. It is not just flooding during storms. This water keeps us prisoners in our homes, we cannot get out. Serna Rose P3-Uanable to attend meeting, chats on zoom. She is very concerned with this flooding issue ’ s. Safety issues, rodents, ponding water, mold … .we need help TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 16, 2024 PAGE 3 CORRESPONDENCE Several emails about the Town Council respecing eachother and the Town Manager Several emails for the Town Council to vote No on the MBTA Zoning Several emails on the flooding concerns Several emails on continuing Zoom COMMITTEE REPORTS None SCHOOL DEPARTMENT REPORT Frist meeting of the year. New Members and reelcted Jen Powell as Chair of the School Committee. OLD BUSINESS Town Council approve Good Energy Town Aggragation Plan Motion by Vice President Belcher that the Town accept this plan … . 2 nd by Councilor DaRos Passed Unanimously NEW BUSINESS Appoint Town Council Sub Committees-Town Council President has chosen subcommittees-List will be on website Motion by the Town Council President that the Town Council accept his appointment of Scott Mahoney Wright to the CDICR Committee 2 nd by Vice President Belcher Passed Unanimously PUBLIC COMMENT Mark Sennott-Reflects that the flood victims are looking for the Towns help. Town Council President states that they have our commitment that we will be working on this. Mark states he like the areas spokesman and would like to keep up with the happenings and let everyone know what is currently being done. Councilor Munson agrees to be liason between him and the Town Council Director Calla comments on purchasing pumps for close to $50,000 and before we do this , we need to investigate how these pumps can be used with permits and use. There really is no short term bandaid, he will look into getting a special permit for these pumps. Julia Wallerce happy to hear about the Community Preservation Act ’ s Committee Shannon Poulos states that the school enrollment figfures are incorrect and we should discuss these figures with the School Dept. She encourages all to attend the School Committee meetings and Finance Committee Meetings to keep up to date with Town ’ s financial ’ s. PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS- Board Members Needed -Contact Town Clerk ’ s Office January 18, 2024 Old Middle School Gym-International Night TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 16, 2024 PAGE 4 ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Vice President Belcher to adjourn at 9:24PM 2 nd by Councilor 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 Town Clerk Council Clerk TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 16, 2024 PAGE 5