Minutes
Town Council · from the Town's website · 5 pages · 39 KB
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 15, 2024 President Letterie calls meeting to order at 6:00 PM in the DeLeo Sr. Center ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor DaRos PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilor DeMarco MOMENT OF SILENCE Robert “Bob” DeFelice-17 years Football Winthrop High School MINUTES Motion by Vice President Belcher to Approve the Approval of Minutes, October 1, 2024, as circulated. 2 nd by Councilor Tassinari Motion Passed GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS PUBLIC HEARING(S) Public Hearing Opened Town Council appropriate $1,100,000 to pay the cost to replace water meters, exercise water valves…. Discussion Finance Committee Voted with a Positive Recommendation Public Hearing Closed Public Hearing Opened Town Council appropriate $980,000 to pay the cost of replacing lead water service line… Discussion Finance Committee Voted with a Positive Recommendation Public Hearing Closed PUBLIC COMMENT Jack Dowd P1 -Requests Councilor Aiello to excuse himself from any MBTA 3A Zoning Discussions John Morgan P4 -Discusses that today is White Cane Day Bill Schmidt P5-Believes that the new Fire Station site should be the basketball courts and comments on what a gentleman, Bob DeFelice was the town should consider a memorial. Barbar Flockhart P4 -Discusses MBTA 3A Zoning. Marci Hamilton P2-Discusses those impacted by the flooding in Winthrop and hopes. CORRESPONDENCE Scott Mahoney Wright-Urges the Town Council to help the citizens get along with this issue. COMMITTEE REPORTS Town Council President instructs each Chair to schedule a meeting as soon as possible.: Finance Committee- Vice President Belcher reports meeting went well and both motions were voted with a Positive Recommendation. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 15, 2024 PAGE 1 Public Works – Councilor Swope reports on the discussion on 76 Summit Ave., Public path walkway release and is continued for further information to be obtained. SCHOOL DEPARTMENT UPDATE Discussion is concentrated with the Override. There will be virtual Town Hall Session on the next 3 Wednesdays in reference to the Override. October 21, 2024, School Committee is having a meeting on the Override A guest speaker, Amelia Spencer, Sr. Class President and Student Council President gave great presentation of the “the happenings” at Winthrop High School. A great representation. Next month will be the Sophomore class. TOWN MANAGER REPORT Update on the Electric Aggregation on town, Good Energy opened bids for a new rate. Direct Energy low bidder and came in 3% less than National Grid for delivery of energy. Residents will have an option to opt in at different rates and plans. Planning Jan. 2025 to begin. Purchase 1 st Electric Vehicle in Winthrop will be used by the Inspectional Services Dept. Interviewing Assistant Town Managers this week Yirrel Beach, have draft plans on website. Waiting to hear from the PSA Hall in reference to a date opened for a meeting. Fire Station Floor-Still waiting for estimate but could move engine to the DPW Building and take weight off the floor. Councilor Tassinari– Requests update on Federal Grants in reference to the flooding on Tileston and Girdlestone. Would like a breakdown on how Federal Grants are actually applied for and where funding goes. Councilor Munson-Requests update on follow up information on gate at Governors Park and were any valves found that were discussed. DPW has located many valves, and the construction company has been instructed to close gate end of day. Requests volunteer event date be noticed to lay sandbags on Morton St. Vice President Belcher would like to get the Yirrel Beach on Zoom or WCAT to make accessible to more people. Councilor DeMarco-Reflects Columbus Day Councilor Swope-Has question on exemption on Superior Court. Why are we not signing off on this. If we could be exempt from 3A why would we not investigate this? Town Manager reflects he is aware of the 40B exemption but we need to be certified and need to have a certification on this to know exactly what our density is to see if we qualify. Councilor Costigan asks if there has been a question of steel beams for the Fire Station Town Manager is still reviewing. Councilor Costigan states his name on the exemption and proud of this and is a definite NO on 3A MBTA Zoning. In regard to a temporary fix in the Morton St area, we should be contacting a company Aqua Dam as we may not have to use sandbags. Town Council President discusses the Early Voting Hours in Town Hall. He also has copy of the ballot for review. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 15, 2024 PAGE 2 Councilor Swope asks why the NE Vocational School has no Winthrop Representative. This is because no one pulled papers. CDICR No Meeting UPDATE POLICY MAKING COMMITTEES No Meeting OLD BUSINESS Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation That the Town appropriates the sum of ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,100,000) (1) to pay costs to replace water meters, exercise water valves and replace water valves as necessary to the Town’s water system, including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto; and (2) to raise this appropriation by authorizing the Treasurer, with the approval of the Town Manager, to issue bonds or serial notes under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, as amended; or (3) to take any other action relative thereto. No 2 nd Needed ROLL CALL VOTE Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor DaRos Motion Passes Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation that the Town appropriates the sum of NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($980,000) to pay costs of replacing lead water service lines, including all costs incidental and related thereto; that to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Town Manager, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to M.G.L. c.44, §8(5), or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor; that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Town Manager, is authorized to borrow all or a portion of such amount from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (the “Authority”) and in connection therewith to enter into a loan agreement and/or financial assistance agreement with the Authority and otherwise to contract with the Authority with respect to such loan and for any grants or aid available for the project or for the financing thereof; that the Town Manager is authorized to accept and expend any grants or aid available for the project or for the financing thereof, provided that the amount of the authorized borrowing for the project shall be reduced by the amount of any such grants or aid received; and that the Town Manager is authorized to take any other action necessary or convenient to carry out this project; No 2 nd Needed ROLL CALL VOTE Yes: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Munson, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor DaRos Motion Passes Air Rights Request , 76 Summit Ave., is continued TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 15, 2024 PAGE 3 NEW BUSINESS Council President refers to the Finance Committee that the Town Council vote to transfer $400 from the Town Council Reserve line to the Library Materials Line… Council President refers to the Finance Committee that the order of the Town Council passed on June 21, 2022 authorizing a borrowing in the amount of $1,633,750 for the PRV station project is hereby amended to increase the authorized borrowing amount for the project to $2,194,250, which amended order shall read as follows in its entirety: ORDERED:That the Town appropriates the sum of TWO MILLION ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($2,194,250) to pay costs of reconstructing and making extraordinary repairs to the Revere Street pressure regulating valve station, including the replacement of equipment at the station and all other costs incidental and related thereto; that to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Town Manager, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to M.G.L. c.44, §8 and/or M.G.L. c.29C, or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor; that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Town Manager, is authorized to borrow all or a portion of such amount from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (the “Trust”) established pursuant to M.G.L. c.29C and in connection therewith the Treasurer is authorized to enter into a loan agreement with the Trust and the Town Manager is authorized to enter into a project regulatory agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection; and that the Town Manager is authorized to take any other action necessary or convenient to carry out this project. PUBLIC COMMENT Marci Hamilton P2-Requests when the Town Council meets with MWRA and Massport on the Town Mitigation reports we include the flooding problems in our town and request help. Jack Dowd P2-Comments on the Climate Commission and requests information. Bill Schmidt P5-Requests the Massport Contract include the air pollution they definitely contribute to the town. PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS • Town Virtual School Meeting – School Website • 10-19-24 Early Voting Begins at Town Hall-Business Hours including Sat. Oct. 19 th and Sat. Oct.26 th • 10-23-24 WPB Public Hearing MBTA 3A Zoning Petition submitted by the Winthrop Says No To 3A Committee seeking to amend the Town of Winthrop Zoning Ordinance, Section 17, by adding proposed Section 17.04.060 • 10-29-24 Town Council Public Hearing MBTA 3A Zoning Petition submitted by the Winthrop Says No To 3A Committee seeking to amend the Town of Winthrop Zoning Ordinance, Section 17, by adding proposed Section 17.04.060 Fall Forum to Follow ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Vice President Belcher at 6:50 pm 2 nd by Councilor DeMarco 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 OCTOBER 15, 2024 PAGE 4