Minutes
Town Council · from the Town's website · 6 pages · 61 KB
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 29, 2024 President Letterie calls meeting to order at 6:30 in the Harvey Hearing Room ROLL CALL Present: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Munson, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor DeMarco PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilor Aiello MINUTES Motion by Vice President Belcher to Approve the Approval of Minutes of October 1, 2024 & October 15,2024 as circulated. 2 nd by Councilor DaRos Motion Passed GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Special Town Council Meeting Notification of November 14, 2024 Held at the Sr. Center. Purpose is to vote on the Planning Board Recommendation on MBTA 3A. PUBLIC HEARING(S) Public Hearing Opened 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 Discussion by DPW Director Steve Calla Public Discussion in Favor Carole Meitzch Public Discussion Opposition None Town Council Discussion Close Public Hearing Public Hearing Opened Petition of 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 Discussion The Town Manager explains this petition is to change to Town Ordinances By Laws of which the Planning Board made a recommendation to the Town Council. Town Council President further explains that this would change the zoning ordinance and take away the Town Council right to vote on any subsequent MBTA 3A Discussions regardless. Public Discussion in Favor Steven Anzouni P3 Diane Sands P5 Jack Dowd P2 Carole Meitzch P5 TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 29, 2024 PAGE 1 Public Discussion Opposed Cassie Withouse P3 Marci Hamilton P2 Celeste Robeiro Hewitt P1 Tom Dederian P3 Town Council Discussion Public Hearing Closed PUBLIC COMMENT Diane Sands P5 -comments on the High Powered Attorney the Town had to hire. Town Council President is not aware of any high powered attorney hired Diana Viens P2 -This vote is happening anyway. Everyone knows a High Priced Lawer was hired. She claims Councilor Aiello, Councilor Letterie and Councilor Tassinari should not be voting on any MBTA 3A Marci Hamilton P2 -Thanks for helping to get through the confusion of this vote. Looking forward to the Planning Board recommendation so the town can get back to other important issues. Celeste Ribeiro Hewitt P1 -Specifies what exactly this vote that the Town Council is taking? Should this petition go forward, then a referendum petition will begin. This will not go to the Planning Board, it will come to the Town Council to vote on. Karin Chavis P2-Does not like this vote, the town has every right to vote yes or no on MBTA 3A but not on this petition as it does not have to do with complying with 3A, it is just an ordinance change. Carol Facella P4 -Discusses how much money and time we are spending on this. Jack Dowd P1- Discusses the Climate Commission meeting and that Norm Hyett discussed how much money the town will lose if we do not comply with MBTA 3A. Discusses the Planning Board recommendation. Steven Anzouni P3-D iscusses people have the right to vote on this petition Diana Viens P2- Claims this petition is not a zoning issue as the people do not have the expertise the Planning board does on zoning, this is why this petition is not a zoning order, it is who has the final say. She states this petition vote will not disrupt current order. Once there is a comply on the table, this petition says that decision goes to the people at the ballot as this is the mechanism we have. Carl Rothesberg P3- Requests addresses on election polls CORRESPONDENCE Diane Sands on the costs of the elections in reference to petition Julia Wallerce is not opposed to having a public election on MBTA 3A Compliance Plan but feels this petition is premature to amend our current zoning ordinances. COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance Committee- Councilor DaRos states both motions sent to the Finance Committee were voted with a positive recommendation 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 School will be closed on election day Override Discussion and the consequences if it is not approved. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 29, 2024 PAGE 2 TOWN MANAGER REPORT Meeting with National Grid. Pilot Program with abandoning gas mains and replacing with electricity to work on carbonization. There are a few streets they are reviewing to see if residents are interested. Yirrell Beach, residents had a meeting on the Beach Mgt. Plan and discussed the next steps. Will shortly be signing with the ACO which will allow the town to deal directly with the DEP. More to follow as plan will be presented to the Town Council. Will be having a meeting with residents on Morton and Banks about the sandbags. Interviews were done and made an offer letter to the new Assistant Town Manager Regional Dispatch center with Revere looks forward to adding a 3rd community. This will help with more additional funding. Town Council President states he understands continuing engineering on Tilestone and Girdlestone. Finalizing numbers on Morton St. Engineering. Revere and Crest that has already been paved has a slit in a section. This has been planned and will be corrected. Opens Questions to Town Councilors Councilor Swope requests with information on bids per each walkway pathway in Winthrop to review maintaining these. Would like a meeting with Planning Board, BOA, DPW and discuss the variances that are being allowed. Councilor DaRos discusses applying for state funding and we need to get the Hazardous Plan in force. Councilor Aiello requests info on the National Grid opportunities. Discusses the Climate Commission and heard a perception that the Woods Hole Report that the town should approve the options offered. Town Manager replies these have been reviewed. Vice President Belcher discusses the National Grid pilot, if people were to take part would it coincide with the Good Energy Opt In. Town Manager, states No it would not Discussed updates on Yirrell Beach Plan and the signing of the plan In reference to the Regional Dispatch will the staffing be available for increase. Town Manager replies , yes, all are working hard as this allows much more funding for the community. Councilor Munson discusses the Morton St. Sandbag efforts and make sure advertised for volunteers. Encourages Hazard Mitigation to be reviewed sooner than later. Supports an audit of variances especially for the parking. Format of Town Council Meeting. There is no ability for a Q&A on the public comment. When is the time for the next Charter review to consider a change on this procedure. We need to vote yes on the School Override Councilor Costigan requests the DPW Director to look into a Aqua Dam.com Curious where extra cars will be going in the CBD District. What type of residency are we reviewing? Where will the cars park. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 29, 2024 PAGE 3 Believes this division with the town with MBTA 3A has to stop. He is NO on 3A and does not believe we should allow the state to mandate what funding we may lose. He approves the School Override, we need this desperately. Encourages all to vote Yes. DPW Director discusses the Aqua Dam.com information and could possibly stop overflow but it’s only protecting certain homes. If you don’t do the back flow protection first nothing will really help resolve this flooding. CDICR No Meeting UPDATE POLICY MAKING COMMITTEES No Meeting OLD BUSINESS Motion by the Vice President Belcher that the Town Council vote to transfer $400 from the Town Council Reserve line to the Library Materials Line… 2 nd by Councilor Swope Passed Unanimously Motion by the Finance Committee with a Positive Recommendation 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 No 2 nd Needed Roll Call Vote Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Munson, Councilor Aiello, Councilor Swope, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie Absent: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor DeMarco Motion Passes Motion by the Vice President Belcher to accept the Winthrop Planning Board rejection upon the Petition of the Winthrop Says No to 3A Committee recommend to the Town Council to amend Town of Winthrop Zoning Ordinance Section 17 by adding proposed Section 17.04.060…(See Attached information) 2 nd by Councilor DaRos A No Vote agrees with petition A Yes Vote agrees with the Planning Board recommendation to reject the petition Town Council further discussion on this motion…. Roll Call Vote Yes: Councilor Costigan, Councilor Munson, Councilor Aiello, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie No: Councilor Swope Absent: Councilor Tassinari, Councilor DeMarco Motion Passes with a No Vote, Planning Board Recommendation is upheld by the Town Council NEW BUSINESS Town Council supports Proclamation that October be Domestic Violence Awareness Month..(Please see attached Proclomation) Appointments will be tabled until November 19th. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 29, 2024 PAGE 4 PUBLIC COMMENT Jack Dowd P1- Discusses the Governmental Strategies committee and request a meeting to be scheduled. Discussed the public pathways and giving town property away. Steven Anzouni P3- Discusses variances and how they should be awarded, and a hardship should be shown. Karin Chavis P2- Discusses parking and that it should be provided on your property, permits should not be permitted for people who have parking. PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS • Town Council President thanks all that have helped with the Town Elections • Early Voting at Town Hall-Business Hours 10-19-24 through 10-31-24 • State Election 11-5-24 / Precincts 1-2-3-5-6 Vote at the Old Middle School Gym / Precinct 4 at Golden Dr. 7am-8pm ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Vice President Belcher at 9:00 pm 2 nd by Councilor DaRos 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 OVTOBER 29, 2024 PAGE 5