Minutes
Town Council · from the Town's website · 8 pages · 185 KB
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JULY 22, 2025 President Letterie calls the meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the ROLL CALL TOWN COUNCIL Present: Councilor Aiello, Councilor DeMarco, Councilor Costigan, Councilor Tassinari, Councilor Swope, Councilor DaRos, Vice President Belcher, President Letterie PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilor Swope MINUTES Motion by Councilor Swope to Approve the Minutes of July 1, 2025, as circulated. 2 nd by Councilor DaRos Motion Passed PUBLIC HEARING Public Hearing Open Ordinance Review Committee Recommendations on Town Charter The Ordinance Review Committee has presented their recommendations on the Town Charter to the Town Council for review. Councilor Letterie thanks all involved in the procedures and all members of the Ordinance Review Committee. Tonight is just for the Town Charter recommendations, beginning in October the committee will begin their meetings and focus on the Town Ordinance’s of which after several month’s they will present their Ordinance recommendations to the Town Council. Council President discusses the proposed amendments that the Town Council will be reviewing and hopefully voting on at the next Town Council meeting which depends on what is approved will be put on our November 4, 2025 Election Ballot. Please see copy of all recommendations which are attached to these minutes. Karin Chavis, Chair of the ORC is disappointed in information that was not presented prior to tonight’s meeting in reference to the Council Composition. She states the recommendations that were made were done with hours of thought and preparation and reviewed by our Town Counsel. Erin Barcello P5-Commends the ORC for their work. She has attended several meetings and is against changing the composition of the council. She feels there has not been enough research. Tom Derderian P3-Asks if Town Councilors receive queries from their constituents or from certain precinct members? Lee Foley P6-Questions why reduce the Town Council? Mark Sennot P2-Wondering how the proposed changes will affect the election? Mike Kinlin P2-Finds the Ward system interesting. Erin Barcello P5-Feels she can reach out to any Town Councilors and people should be made aware of this. Todd Sacco P2-Having served on the ORC in the past, feels the actual pay for the Town Councilors should be increased. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 22, 2025 PAGE 1 Kurt Millar P2-It is always a big topic of discussion of the composition of the council Understands now, this will not be going to the Ballot but a positive vote from the council on the Town Council Composition would have a Commission of 9 people be put on the ballot to decide if the government would be changing. Also, notes the ORC meets every 5 years. If the voters feel it did not work, they can vote to change it back. Councilor DaRos is open to the ORC but is concerned of the Town Council composition. He feels that resident feel secure in having their Precinct Councilors. If there is a change the town must make sure all residents realize they can reach out to any Councilors. Councilor Swope does answer questions across the board to any constituents. She comments about how many of her P4 constituents never came to her about MBTA 3A. Councilor Tassinari thanks the ORC for their hard work. Feels all information sent for review are all considerable. His only concern is that he want to make sure all residents feel they can reach out to all councilors and if that can be accomplished with 6 Councilors at Large he has no opposition to the change in the Council. Vice President Belcher states none of these suggestions were reached frivolously and is interested in more of a wider audience for review. Councilor Costigan, states his biggest concern is the residents contact to their Precinct Councilor or any councilor. He believes a direct contact is important. Also states if a councilor runs unopposed, they must have been pretty good councilors…feels that the amended Town Council Composition could feel some of the residents may be ignored, or favored? These are his concerns of the precinct not having a certain representative. Councilor DeMarco asks if population is comparable to other towns that have changed their government. Councilor Aiello adopt Councilor Costigan remarks about losing the personal touch with the precinct councilor. Does thank the ORC and would like more discussion on all amendments up for review. He does not feel an increase in pay would help get more candidates…maybe health insurance…shared staff service for the councilors….would like to see more discussion on this subject. Karin Chavis P2-States as far as monetary change…was not looking to make the Councilor rich but it has not been changed since 2006. Unfortunately, a health package would cost close to $20,000 a year and this is something the councilors could not be offered. PUBLC HEARING CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT CORRESPONDENCE Received a letter in reference to keeping the zoom and adding to other venues. COMMITTEE REPORTS Public Health & Safety Councilor Swope reports they had a meeting on the National Grid Project 311166565 work to be done and the committee voted with a positive recommendation. Joint Rules & Ordinance and Finance Vice President Belcher reports about a motion from Councilor Aiello on other areas in town are set up for zoom capabilities. This will stay in committee until further review on costs. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 22, 2025 PAGE 2 FHBC An architect has been chosen for the Fire Station, Kessle and Boos who have been working with the town on this project. This was still sent out to bid and Kessle and Boos presentation was still one of the best proposals and they have been working on this project for several years and are very familiar with it. An RFP for asbestos removal will be going out. It is best to have asbestos removed after the summer. COMMITTEE UPDATES Town Council president reports on updates of committees, please see mins in our town website. SCHOOL COMMITTEE TOWN MANAGER REPORT-See Attached Report Please see copy attached….. RKG will be having a presentation at our 8-12-25 Town Council Meeting. Updates on the Tips Project which is also on our town website. Water rate presentation will be on 8-12-25 but it is a .57 cent increase. Town Council President asks that the Town Manager review with the MBTA on the Point Shirley stops. He thanks the DPW for the crosswalks. The track at Miller Field has some issue that should be reviewed and addressed. The Little League A Field received a grant for $25,000 and Winthrop Foundation is donating funding for future Improvements to be done. Councilor DaRos asks about hiring the architects for the new Fire Station, has questions on how the new building will be powered? When can the public have input on the power that will be done in this new building. Comments on the last meeting with the DCR representatives at our Town Council meeting and feels people still have a lot of questions, especially about the bug infestation on our beach. Unfortunately, Winthrop Beach is limited to clearing due to the EPA. We would like to know what can be cleared by the DCR? This will be reviewed with the Town Managers office. Councilor Swope also comments on the mosquitos at the Soft Ball game. She believes some of the seaweed has gone out to sea. Vice President Belcher reports that the MBTA has reduced the stops at Point Shirley and they will ending service at the Public Landing and our peak hours have been changed. Councilor Swope states there is also no transfer stations, people can wait too long for another bus. Due to the town not having the ridership is the main problem with the MBTA. Massport mentioned that they want to make Logan a “mega” airport and this should be considered in our mitigation. Councilor Costigan mentions the 2025 town wide plan on mosquito spraying? Town Manger states it is not done town wide. Individuals can call for spraying. Asks about the time line of when the lights at Magees Corner will be completed. DPW will get an update. Councilor Aiello asks about the state budget and the supplemental budget allocations have been made, he requests an update on this. In relation to the Army Core of Engineers we have received approval for Fisherman’s Bend. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 22, 2025 PAGE 3 With respect to Logan Airport and how they count environmental damages. They do not count the pollution coming out of the airplanes as controlled by FAA and does not count traffic until it meets their boundaries. Due to this they do not want to invest in our community. No where can you find a comprehensive data of the pollution. This council needs a serious discussion with Massport. Our health is being effected and this is a serious issue. DPW Director gives an update on the hazardous waste drop off…please see town website. Councilor Tassinari makes a statement on his involvement with the vote on MBTA 3A. Since having more information from the Town Councils first vote he wrote a conflict of interest in reference to his voting on our most recent MBTA 3A vote. He comments on our Public Health Dept. and the grants that they receive and will now be ineligible for these grants with not complying with MBTA 3A. He feels that the right thing was to get more involved, gather more information to be involved and voice his opinion on the MBTA 3A issue. He filed an Ethics Disclosure as his employer MassDot is not involved in the MBTA Zoning within the town. Also no evidence that MassDot was involved with any regulations and no enforcement they have on any of these MBTA 3A regulations. No gain, no representation, no conflict. He does regret not notifying the town why this was not a conflict and his Disclosure had been submitted. OLD BUSINESS Motion to approve the National Grid-WR# 31116656-North Sidewalk Main St with a positive recommendation No 2 nd Needed Passed Unanimously Abandonment Motion- Continued for review Fire Hydrant Poles-The Town Manager’s office will be reviewing the hazards of these poles. NEW BUSINESS Ordinance Review Committee Recommendations on Town Charter has been reviewed and will continue at our next Town Council Meeting on 8-12-25. Town Council President requests the Town Councilors to review and send any questions in reference to these amendments. Town Council President asks the Town Council to approve a statement by Councilor Swope All in Favor Councilor Swope discusses the RKG Presentation and would like to know more on Capital Expenses. The Town Manager replies that this is not what we asked RKG to report on. He has asked the Town Council to send all questions and concerns to this report to him and it will be presented at our next meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT Scott Mahoney Wright P3-He is totally against the Recall Petition that is currently being focused on with some petitioners in our town on Councilor Tassinari. Jack Dowd P2-Believes a King Tide will be recent. Asks about the Bowdoin St. tree and update. Would like this to be followed up on. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 22, 2025 PAGE 4 Mike Kinlin P2-He feels that communities exposed to health issues tied to noise pollution and Logan Airport is a real problem to be concerned about. Kim Dimes P2-Clarification on the Wetland Protection Act. DCR will clean with a health emergency. ConCom has been updating with the Coast Sweep and you can sign up on website. Would like what the current testing procedures are with our beaches? Also need more signage. Karin Chavis P2-Asks about our new ambulances service and asks how quickly these can respond. The Town Manager reports we will have 3 apparatuses for our town. Carole Mietzch P1-Point of Clarification about the Massport call. Reports about the 1000 foot slap, this is just for emergency if planes overshoot. There are a lot of concerns with pollution that the Airport is providing to our town. The Town Manager reports on the Army Core of Engineers have permitted the Northeast Mosquito to continue. Cassie Witthause P6-Comments that we are not in compliance with MBTA 3A and will have until Jan before the State begins their lawsuits. We will not be able to apply for certain grants that will truly effect our community, especially in our flooding areas. This is a serious issue for our community. Diana Viens P2-There is a lot more involved in this Recall Petition that people should review. She is very proud of the accomplishments so far. Bill Schmidt P5-AG Office has commented on community compliances. PUBLIC RELATIONS / UPCOMING EVENTS o Nomination Papers for the Local Election 11-4-25 Available Clerks Office o July 26, 2025-Electronic Recycling 9-2pm Fort Banks Elementary o July 26, 2025-Hazardous House Waste Collection-DPW o Farmers Market Every Sunday June through Sept. 9-1pm-Ingleside Park o Next Town Council Meeting is August 12, 2025 ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Vice President Belcher at 8:16 pm 2 nd by Councilor Tassinari 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 JULY 22, 2025 PAGE 5