Minutes
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 6, 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 Tassinari MINUTES Motion by Vice President Belcher to Approval of Minutes, January 16, 2024, as circulated. 2nd by Councilor Swope Motion Passed GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS None PUBLIC HEARING None PUBLIC COMMENT Brian Perrin P3-Comments on Zoning 3A…under chapter 40B; One size does not fit all….local zoning is in place of protecting our zoning rights as it is now. Compelling this law to be challenged…compares Rockport….challenging the constitutinality of 3A….he thinks it’s very important to oppose this law. Town is surrending your rights to the state of mass. If we allow this to happen this takes our destiny away…what power as a governing body is this taking away… This should be opposed and asked for an extension… By not opposing you are advocating your roles as elected officials. Steve Machkinski P5-Upset about the fact that we have current zoning laws…we are a very dense town. This will effect our Police and Fire Dept. Requests Town Council to oppose Mark Sennot-P2 -He thought a vote would be tonight from the Town Council, he is asking this happens Kurt Millar P2-He’s been revewing this zoning and is concerned about the evacutation of our town. If a Deer Island Chemcial Truck spilt, we have no plan especially if add this new zoning. Carol Meich P1-Echo’s Kurt…found more and more people are living in units to afford them. This has a safety issue Jack Dempsey Request Town Council to oppose Susan Griffiths-We are on a bus line, vehicles will not be given up….too many people in our community, requests Town Councilto oppose Paul Carruccio-He opposes as well as the Winthop Republicn committee opposes and he asks the Town Council to oppose. This will end up with a safety and crime problem. Town must take responsibiity of educating additional children..how many people is this? The state should not be dictating to us…we have our own zoning laws…Requests Town Council to vote tonight TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 6, 2024PAGE 1 Tom Derderian-Winthrop should declare a no fly zone….wouldn’t this be nice if we could do this? As MBTA trying to get us to add a new zoning…mabye we could review 3A more…we are a peninsula, the water is rising…we need the help of the state? We are not in the posistion to nullify the State. Steve Machinski P5-We have a right to stand up for our town. Familiar with grants, we should be very careful that just because we oppose something we should be able to also look into further funding. Brian Perrin-Just because state says,it doesn’t make it right…we must fight Jim Gallagher P4- Oppose this 3A…. CORRESPONDENCE Several residents oppose MBTA zoing 3A There is a positive reaction to MBTA 3A from a resident Concerns of Zoom participation Massport Mitigation COMMITTEE REPORTS Vice President Belcher discusses the meeting of the Air BnB and is continueing this meeting to review further Councilor DeMarco Precinct Meeting. Thanks all for coming….discussion on 3A zoning and most were against…touched on flood issues as well as the Middle School site…took all under advisement SCHOOL DEPARTMENT REPORT Council President reports that the John & Abigail Adams issued and honored 8-10 children with these scholarships… FY25 Budget…process is undersway…couple of months before presenting their budget to Council Each school building will be supplying there budget Councilor Swope asks if School Committee will be goihng back on zoom? Council President will ask TOWN MANAGER REPORT Town Manager reporst that he and DPW Calla have been working on flooding on Girdlestone and Tilesone…there will be pumps avaialable…we did get engineering funding approved for engineering work on these areas. Follow up with Woods Hole Group. He discussed levies to protect the marsh and . Homes will have to cooperate with these levie. There will be more innformation to follow, public meetings espeically included in neighborhoods After enginering discuss construction costs can be reviewed. The grant WRDA Grant for $675,000, is in process and in committee. Stresses, once design work done and know cost..can review further. It is not as easy as just taking funds now out of town line. It could effect our bond rating but working as quickly as can for funding. The Town lost the appeal hearing on the Tree at 190 Somerset. State committee said they would not accept our decision….he’d like another variance for the crosswalks…will remain reviewing this issue. Police Chief Terry Delehanty is retiring in July…very sad news…he will be missed….in the interim we do have succession planning. Town Manager will be interviewing. Community Preservation Act Committee-The Town Manager would like this to be discussed at a Town Council meeing. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 6, 2024PAGE 2 Green Community Grant…we put application for heat pump WPD, DPW and electric vehicle….192,000 and received. Comments on North East Voke that state funding was received, thanks to the hard work of Rep. Turco. Winthrop’s payment will go down about $60,000 savings. Councilor Aiello-We must get the attention of the City of Boston before Belle Isle Marsh becomes a Bay Vice President Belcher-Follow up on Charter Changes? Town Manager reports that theya have been sent to AG office and waiting Councilor Munson….happy about Green Community, and other grants….How will pump process work? Town Manager-we are aware when flooding is happening and can be monitored and it will be an “on call” basis…. Coleen Costa ask if she needed a pump on Morton St., can she call for one. Yes, she can How do residents stay in formed of the living levie information? Town Manager reports It will be part of the Town Manager Blog, social media, newspaper…WCAT. Please update on Middle School… Town Manager reports that all Town Councilors received the info on the returned RFI Councilor Tassinari Wants to make sure just the pumps aren’t going to resolve this flooding issue. As a Town Council we should be ready to initialize funding while waiting for grant…keep focused on the long term solution Town Manager agrees, that is our goal Councilor Swope…water main break up highlands …our pipes are old and continue destruction…. Councilor DaRos….thanks all and everyone expressing their experience with flooding has stuck with him and the immediate action taken is very appreciated… Once pumps in place, Calla had concern of where water will go? Calla-Reviewed Quinn water act and he feels secure with pumping Feb. 21st 6:00 another Precinct meeting 3&6 have concerns with 3A zoning… OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Motion by Council President to refer to the Finance Committee and advertise for a public hearing the Town Council transfer $50,000 from Town Council Reserve for a Storm Water Engineering for Phase I for Tilestone Rd, Girdlestone Rd and Pico Ave Areas 2nd by Vice President Belcher Discussion Passed Unanimously Motion by Council President to refer to the Finance Committee and advertise for a public hearing that the Town Council appropriate $33,564.10 from Free Cash to the Opoid Settlement Fund (619) 2nd by Vice President Belcher Passed Unanimously TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 6, 2024PAGE 3 Motion by Council President to refer to the Finance Committee that the Town Council appropriate $20,000 from the Handicap Parking Fine Fund to be used for the Benefit Person’s with Disability 2nd by Vice President Belcher Passed Unanimously Motion by Councilor DeMarco that the Town Council vote to accept an $1,100 Donation into the Fire Donation Fund given by Louise Corkhum for the purpose of Fire Equipment 2nd by Councilor Munson Passed Unanimously Councilor DaRos disucsses his proclomation and how other communites have thrived… Motion by Councilor DaRos for the Town Council to adopt this proclomation (See Attached) 2nd by Councilor Tassinari ROLL CALL Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor Fucillo Town Council will begin with updates on Committee reports during the month as to keep residents up to date with our boards agendas. 3A Special Consideration for the Town of Winthrop The State wrote back that community could be fined or no elegible for grants…but nothing definitve yet. All info we have , Town Council President reports he is also against this 3A Zoning…he does not think this is best for Winthrop. He thought good idea to write a letter to the Governor…. Vice President Belcher this letter brings up what Winthrop needs….Winthrop is unique to this 3A zoning…everything in this letter is real and we need the Govenror to understand… Councilor DeMarco-A lot of the meeting he had dealt with this and from the State and MBTA it makes sense but he represents Winthrop and will oppose as there is no positive for Winthrop Thisletter is the first step Councilor Swope…we had other information that we did not put in, we have ammunition…not sure if new housing…or existing zoning changes….one of the things not put in is tht only 36% of housing is single family…not a firm NO now….but needs to negotiate and give it our best shot…. Councilor Munson…applauds effort but most important thing is this is a compromise…he believes a delay is needed…he thinks from 882 to 441 is still a lot Would ask more for delay….more than less…delay is the most important part…. Town Council President would like all to sign… Councilor Aiello agrees it is clear on delay…he thinks way letter is crafted it is putting us on the high ground…we will be receiving more information, supportive of this Councilor Tassinari-since we do not know all, this letter is a great way to begin..he thinks we should expand our audience with this letter…. Councilor DaRos…extremely well written…agrees with Max….we will not just sit idly…we have Representatives….. He is glad we taking this approach. It can say they will not approve certain grants but state does also not want Winthrop Flooding. Our MVP grant should not be effected. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 6, 2024PAGE 4 PUBLIC COMMENT Brian Perrin…thanks for brining up letter to other people…it should also include school sizes… Big push of letter should be to evaluate not negotiate….we need to reach out to other communities and look for a coalation to go to the State House and have our Reps represent US…. We have invested in our community…it is not fair of the state to jeopardize our investments….we should not compromise before our fight….have our town counsel reach out to other counsel This was written with nothing of affordable housing….. Paul Caruccio agrees with Brian Perrin 100%....Winthrop get’s nothing from this…. Kathleen Capuccio P2-Thanks TCP for intrducing the idea that was brought up at DeMarco meeting of having our policy board update at the TC meeting…. We will have the petition ready if the Town Council in favor of 3A, they have 21 days to get a verified peitition, we shouldn’t have to go this route… Sen Edwards who reps Winthrop is one of the biggest proponents of this bill. She has reached out several times and no response….a letter should be addressed to Edwards and Turco…we have rep at state level that wants to over ride the TC…this senator represents the Winthrop residents…let’s think about this… This is the state trying to come in and tell winthrop what to do…this is about MBTA…money, developers, and campaign donations…thanks DeMarco for having first discussion…. She requests to see the old Middle School site on agenda …..meeting updates…. Bill Schmidt…P5-Chair of Health…policy update…he will come any time to liason his meeting…he discusses the history of 3A…a poorly crafted bill…does not take size of community into effect…. Carol Meich…thank you for letter….crafted well Colleen Murphy Thanks TM and DPW for all work done on flooding areas 35 Pico ave….thanks DPW and TM for their hard work on the flooding… Kurt Millar all policy making boards should be included in zoom….cannot always count on the mins Diana Veins…..will attach from zoom Brian Veins….will attach from zoom Coleen Murphy…how to determine population…. Before asking for motion to adjourn, Council President Letterie asks each Town Councilor if they have anything further to discuss Councilor Tassinari---add reps to letter for the MBTA Councilor Munson…thank you for the town residents for being so reliabilty active when needed Vice President Belcher-Capic free invited tax prep 100 everett ave unit 14 chelsea Councilor DeMarco shouts out to international night….Superintendent Howard, Anita Prebble great job TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 6, 2024PAGE 5 Respect to Chief Wiley for his having to handle the distressed call of a child Councilor Aiello-2nd on Chief Wiley….example of all town emplyees…. Councilor Swope-Reports she went to see Finding Nemo….if every a chance go to plays.. Councilor DaRos-3A reminder meeting Feb. 21 at 6 PM…. Happy Black History Month PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS- Board Members Needed -Contact Town Clerk’s Office ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Vice President Belcher to adjourn at 9:10PM 2nd by Councilor Swope 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 FEBRUARY 6, 2024PAGE 6