Minutes
Town Council · from the Town's website · 1 page · 36 KB
open the file ↗ · original at the source ↗
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 20, 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 Aiello MINUTES Motion to Approve Minutes, January 16, 2024, as circulated.Motion Passed GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS None PUBLIC HEARING Public Hearing Open Town Council transfer $50,000 from Town Council Reserve for a Storm Water Study Discussion Finance Committee approves with a Positive Recommendation Public Hearing Closed Public Hearing Open Town Council appropriate $33,564.10/Free Cash to the Opioid Settlement Discussion Finance Committee approves with a Positive Recommendation Public Hearing Closed PUBLIC COMMENT Peter Gill P5-Opposes MBTA Zoning 3A and requests Town Council to contact Governors Office to oppose. Karin Chavis P2-Discusses 3A Zoning and discusses the evacuation route for Winthrop. Only 1 brochure available and is very old. This should be reviewed and updated. Last week alone when Revere closed the road we were in a bind. Vasilli Mallios P5-Agrees with points on MBTA Zoning. The letter that was already sent he thinks that Winthrop needs to set a precedent and notify her we Do Not Want to do this. Kurt Millar P2-There are 0 low income housing building included in this MBTA 3A Zoning. This will not help our town. Bill Schmidt P5-Discusses an interesting point in the Globe about community graph. There are developments happaning, housing is needed. Question is what kind of housing. Marci Hamilton P2-Discussing MBTA 3A Zoning and opposes this. Jack Dempsey P3-Agrees with opposition of MBTA Zoning 3A and does not want our town to be bullied by the state. CORRESPONDENCE None Motion by Councilor Demarco to take agenda out of order to discuss the MBTA 3A Zoning Questions 2nd by Vice President Belcher Passed Unanimously TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 20, 2024PAGE 1 Council President thank Planning Director Rachel Kelly for attending meeting. The Town Council has submitted questions and Rachel will review as best she can. (Please see copy of Power Point) Town Council President asks if there is anything that Constitutionally this is wrong on the part of the State? Rachel refers to the in house counsel for this answer. Councilor DaRos asks about if the state goals wants communiteis surrounding Boston to have more units, our current singles housing 36%. Winthrop is all ready well down the path of multi families. Was this considered? Councilor Swope asks what the direction of the state was? Councilor Aiello discusses the grants that we have received. The impact on schools…we need to review this and have out town reviewed for how this will effect us. Councilor DeMarco is interested in what an adjacent small town is? How is Winthrop considered this. Vice President Belcher asks for a number of how much grant money might be lost. Is there a cost anaylysis done ? Will state increase our funds? Councilor Munson asks why we don’t get credit for housing we have already done. When do these new developments count as units? Councilor Tassinari discusses zoning districts and allowing 3 family by right. Does this now comply with 3A? What’s existing does not apply to the new MBTA 3A Zoning. COMMITTEE REPORTS Councilor DaRos reports on meeting and all 3 items were approved with positive recommendation. SCHOOL DEPARTMENT REPORT School is on February Vacation. Have already passed 100 day of school, time is going fast. We will be getting budget reports from each principal. Councilor Swope asks about Zoom returning to the School Committee TOWN MANAGER REPORT Fire Union negotiations going well, progress being made. Good progress on budget., draft version mid March Thanks Jeff Turco for hosting the State House FY25 review Finalizing Capital Plan Looking to set up Capital Assets Group and meetings Reviewing Ambulance Coverage for the town. Kudos to Officer Jaworski for his helping a child with CPR Councilor Munson asks about Woodard & Curran survey. Town Manager reminds all this is just the initial survey for the existing problems. Councilor DeMarco requests Agenda Package to be included in our town calendar for the public to review. Vice President Belcher aks if we can add ideas, thoughts…etc to website. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 20, 2024PAGE 2 Councilor Munson asks about update on Middle School. Is there a master plan being reviewd? Council President update on policy making Committees-See Attached OLD BUSINESS Motion by the Finance Committee with a positive recommendation that the Town Council transfer $50,000 from Town Council Reserve for a Storm Water Study No 2nd Needed ROLL CALL Approve: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor Fucillo Motion Approved Motion by the Finance Committee with a positive recommendation that the Town Council appropriate $33,564.10/Free Cash to the Opioid Settlement Fund No 2nd Needed ROLL CALL Approve: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor Fucillo Motion Approved Motion by the Finance Committee with a positive recommendation that the Town Council appropriate $20,000 from the Handicap Parking Fine Fund to be used for the Benefit Persons with Disability No 2nd Needed ROLL CALL Approve: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor Fucillo Motion Approved NEW BUSINESS Council President refer to the Rules and Ordinace that the Town Council modify Section 10.24.010 of Town Ordinance– Schedule of one-way streets (Somerset) Motion by Vice President Belcher to include in Town Council Procedures to add “Update on Policy Making Committees 2nd by Councilor DeMarco Discussion Councilor Munson requesting that these also be written and include in the minutes Passed Unanimously Motion by Councilor DeMarco to waive Town Council Rules 2 to amend March Town Council Meetings that they will be March 12th and March 19th 2nd by Vice President Belcher Motion Passed Community Preservations Act: Town Manager reviews this and would like a committee to be devloped in reference to this. We can put this question on the ballot in November if committee can present to public and have information prepared. This can be very beneficial to our community. PUBLIC COMMENT Vasilli Mallios P5-Dicusses the grant money used from MBTA and how much our town has received. Marci Hamilton P2-Need to keep out community as we want and opposes MBTA 3A Zoning Jack Dempsey P2-Questions any grants being withheld from our community with the MBTA TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 20, 2024PAGE 3 PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS- Presidential Primary 3-5-25 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 20, 2024PAGE 4