{"utterances":[{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":0.83,"end_sec":74.81,"similarity":0.831,"text":"Good evening, everyone. It's Monday, August 10th at 6:50 PM. This is the meeting of the Finance Committee. I'm Councilor Karem Chahine, the chair. Joining us tonight are Councilor Park, who is our vice chair, Councilor Chen, Councilor Jamaleddine, Councilor Obremski, and President Freeman, ex officio. And also joining us-- Nope, she's gone. Councilor Kowal was here, but she's excused herself for a moment. This also provides notice of the quorum for the record. In accordance with open meeting law, this meeting is being recorded and broadcast on our local cable access channel, MMTV, as well as livestreamed through mmtv.org. This meeting will be available for future viewing through the City of Melrose website and meeting portal as well. We're going to start by approving the minutes of our February 2nd, 2026 meeting. This was the last time the Finance Committee actually met, was February 2nd. So I'll motion by unanimous consent to approve the minutes.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=0s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":75.57,"end_sec":78.22,"similarity":0.667,"text":"Seeing no objections, the minutes are approved.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=75s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":79.37,"end_sec":102.51,"similarity":0.823,"text":"So now we are moving on to the public comment portion of the meeting. This is a time where any member of the public may speak to any items on our agenda. The committee does not engage in back-and-forth dialogue, but will listen to what each individual has to say. I'll motion by unanimous consent to open public comment. Seeing no objections, public comment is now open.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=79s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":113.07,"end_sec":116.6,"similarity":0.605,"text":"And if you could just please state your name and your address for the record.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=113s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":126.07,"end_sec":127.94,"similarity":0.636,"text":"Feel free to make your comments.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=126s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":130.69,"end_sec":142.83,"similarity":0.763,"text":"Okay, so that, I think you can speak to it now if you'd like, but that actually will be coming later- Fair ... in our legal and legislative meeting. I will wait later then. Okay, no problem. It's great to see you, Chris. Thank you for being here.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=130s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":146.57,"end_sec":149.24,"similarity":0.629,"text":"Do we have anyone else here to speak? Do we have anyone online?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=146s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":152.53,"end_sec":217.57,"similarity":0.834,"text":"Okay, so I will motion by unanimous consent to close public comment. Seeing no objections, public comment is now closed. We have two orders tonight, both of which are informational orders. The first is ID number 2026-1520, informational order warrant for the 2026 state primary to be held at the Melrose Middle School gymnasium on Tuesday, September 1st, 2026 from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM for Ward 1, Precinct 1 and 2, Ward 2, Precinct 1 and 2, Ward 3, Precinct 1 and 2, Ward 4, Precinct 1 and 2, Ward 5, Precinct 1 and 2, Ward 6, Precinct 1 and 2, and Ward 7, Precinct 1 and 2. And this is also to notify the inhabitants of the City of Melrose that can cast a vote in the state primaries. I do have an email from our city clerk, which just says, \"Good","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=152s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":218.21,"end_sec":243.44,"similarity":0.826,"text":"morning. These two items are from me, but I cannot be present. They are strictly to be placed on file. These are just two items that need to go through the routine process of being acknowledged by the board and by the council.\" So with that, what is the will of committee for order number 2026-1520?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=218s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":248.53,"end_sec":251.53,"similarity":0.644,"text":"It would be a motion to place on file.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=248s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":254.78,"end_sec":266.8,"similarity":0.735,"text":"Do I have a second? Second. Excellent. We have a motion to place on file by Councilor Jamaleddine, and the motion was seconded by Councilor Park. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=254s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":287.87,"end_sec":333.96,"similarity":0.824,"text":"And then our second information order is ID number 2026-1521, an informational order. The Board of Registrars has agreed to the following dates, times, and locations for the state primary in-person early voting, Saturday, August 22nd, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday, August 24th, through Thursday, August 27th, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and Friday, August 28th, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the City Council Chamber located on the first floor of Melrose City Hall, 562 Main Street, Melrose, Mass. Again, this is an information order that our city clerk has asked us to place on","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=287s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":335.56,"end_sec":338.94,"similarity":0.706,"text":"file. So, what is the will of the committee? Councilor Jamaleddine?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=335s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":367.15,"end_sec":372.15,"similarity":0.699,"text":"We have a motion to place on file by Councilor Jamaleddine. Do I have a second?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=367s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":372.9,"end_sec":382.66,"similarity":0.743,"text":"We have a second from President Freeman. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=372s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":383.85,"end_sec":402.35,"similarity":0.81,"text":"All right. We will place this motion on file, and I know just to say to the public that the city does a great job of putting this information on the website and communicating it around the city, and look forward to everybody voting in our September election.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=383s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":405.23,"end_sec":413.92,"similarity":0.742,"text":"Thank you very much. That is what we have on our agenda for today, so I will motion by unanimous consent to adjourn this meeting.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=405s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":414.67,"end_sec":417.5,"similarity":0.695,"text":"Seeing no objections, our meeting is adjourned.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=414s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":727.14,"end_sec":744.39,"similarity":0.821,"text":"I just wanted to make a comment that I am really excited to see you here, and I'm not a voting member, but absolutely support your candidacy. And I'm excited that we have another active Ward 1 resident getting involved and leading in our community.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=727s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":1601.51,"end_sec":1630.78,"similarity":0.84,"text":"I guess sort of along those lines of questioning, even though I made the second. What I think I'm curious about, maybe this is in line with what Councilor Demaldien is asking. Is there any risk to dogs of getting the vaccine, and is that why people wouldn't do it? Or would people not do it because there's a financial impact, and that's why people choose not to get the kennel cough? I'm just trying to get a better understanding of","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=1601s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":1682.72,"end_sec":1719.97,"similarity":0.76,"text":"Do you have any sense of, and it's totally okay if you don't, the percentage of dog owners whose dogs get the kennel cough vaccine? Because I guess for our companies, for the businesses who have kennels, they would have to turn away dogs who didn't have the kennel cough vaccine, and that would directly impact their businesses as well as families whose dogs then couldn't be cared for. So- Totally ... I guess that's just I'm curious if you have a sense of this. Is there any data around that?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=1682s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":2511.12,"end_sec":2592.62,"similarity":0.848,"text":"Oh, beautiful. Well, first I want to say thank you because we had a long conversation when this first came across my desk. So really appreciated the time you gave me there. I think something that you'd mentioned in our phone conversation is that Ollie's Law actually doesn't come with a lot of specific recommendations from MDAR. And I think the one I would love for you to speak to a little bit is around the numbers that the bigger boarding kennels can have. Sure. And why I would love you to speak about it a little and what your approach will be is, Ward 1, where I am, actually has one of these boarding kennels, and it has a wonderful reputation. And has a certain amount of dogs that are taken in to be a profitable business, and the changing of those numbers can actually really impact businesses. And so I'm just wondering what your approach will be now in terms of those kennels, but also, how will you work with kennels in the future if MDAR does come out with specific numbers that kennels are allowed to have per square footage?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=2511s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":2663.12,"end_sec":2713.62,"similarity":0.82,"text":"Thank you. I really appreciate that- Absolutely ... in terms of your philosophy and stance on how to move forward. I have one other question that's a little weird- That's okay ... so forgive me. But the ordinance really is around kennels. But often in Melrose and other places, I'm a big hiker, so- Yes ... depending on where we're going, there's also dog walkers who have a lot of dogs that are- ... personal, private businesses. I'm just curious if this expands at all into that arena, or would that be just a completely separate thing? Yeah. Because sometimes you wonder how safe it is for one person to be walking 10 to 12 dogs- Absolutely. Yeah ... around other people and that kind of thing. So I'm just curious about that.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=2663s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":3263.66,"end_sec":3298.91,"similarity":0.799,"text":"I think what just, I guess, makes me nervous, for lack of a better word, is by saying they're not included, are we saying no one could ever open one in terms of that? And I don't know that we would want to forbid a veterinary clinic from having boarding. I'm thinking about the Melrose vet, if they decided that that is something that they wanted to expand or provide. So I would be hesitant to say it's not allowed in this document without more conversation.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=3263s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":4620.66,"end_sec":4643.66,"similarity":0.754,"text":"Thank you. Thank you for being here. Yeah, so I guess that is sort of an extension of my question, not knowing really anything about easements and drainage, so I will just put that out there. But just curious about the changes, like what the impact might be in any way, shape, or form to the rest of the neighborhood and/or the street. Just sort of curious if you could speak to that.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=4620s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-08-10","video_id":1275,"video_title":"Finance - Legal and Legislative - Boards and Comm. - Appropriations and Oversight August 10th 2026","meeting_id":6007,"start_sec":4669.41,"end_sec":4683.32,"similarity":0.763,"text":"Okay. Yeah. Just because I've seen in other places where drainage has gotten changed, then all of a sudden, you have water flowing on the street, and then it freezes and... But we're not- Absolutely ... expecting any of those kinds of impacts. No, not at all. Okay. Thank you.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=4669s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":2016.39,"end_sec":2042.98,"similarity":0.826,"text":"Thank you so much. I thank you so much for being here. I really appreciated the presentation. I just have a clarifying question. More so if I'm asked questions, I'm able to respond to them. I'm excited that the top workshop choices were around housing in a majority. It surprises me a little bit, but I'm excited. But I just- ... guess I'm wondering, was housing a","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=2016s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":2044.41,"end_sec":2052.59,"similarity":0.668,"text":"mandatory component of community engagement and/or these proposals?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=2044s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":2077.74,"end_sec":2090.74,"similarity":0.788,"text":"Okay. And then, so the one, two, and three, and four, and five- Mm-hmm ... are the responses of in addition to housing, we would like these things as a part of.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=2077s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":2141.37,"end_sec":2146.24,"similarity":0.678,"text":"Okay. So the workshops are separate from- Survey","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=2141s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":2146.74,"end_sec":2159.74,"similarity":0.787,"text":"... the survey, of which the survey identified the number one interest for West Foster was restaurant cafe- Correct ... then community use, then plaza and park, and then small retail, and then housing.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=2146s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":2190.59,"end_sec":2212.34,"similarity":0.831,"text":"Absolutely. Mm-hmm. I'm just, again, trying to understand that. Yeah. Okay. So the workshops were information presentations. Correct. But the voting, so to speak, for what the priorities were for each parcel from the community were what are in the big, pretty numbers.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=2190s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":2216.34,"end_sec":2222.09,"similarity":0.722,"text":"... just again, want to make sure I'm understanding- Yeah ... the process because we will be asked, and I want to be able to explain it.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=2216s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":2269.79,"end_sec":2277.41,"similarity":0.752,"text":"Okay. The responses just match more what I would've thought the community would've- Mm-hmm ... and not... Okay. And so I guess-","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=2269s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":2282.16,"end_sec":2293.41,"similarity":0.753,"text":"Yeah. Okay. And then I guess the other question, I was just curious if there were other scenarios presented, and these are the two you picked, or the city picked, or... Just curious about that.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=2282s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":3255.76,"end_sec":3308.76,"similarity":0.852,"text":"Thank you so much. My comment is very quick. I think it's a through-the-chair situation. I'm not totally sure. Councilor Williams sort of said this, and I think I just actually want to double-click on it in some way, shape, or form. It seems like Both of these properties, in some way, shape, or form, are an opportunity for us to think about the conversations we've had with our affordable housing commission, and thinking about how might we partner with an organization to increase our affordable housing and take us past Safe Harbor. And so, I think we would be remiss to not think strategically about that as a part of this opportunity that we have in front of us, and how these concepts could be implemented in a way that gets us closer to what we're really trying to do, which is keep Melrose affordable.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=3255s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5661.78,"end_sec":5676.24,"similarity":0.865,"text":"Thank you so much. My comment will be brief. As I wasn't at the meeting in Appropriations where the conversation and everything took place.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5661s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5677.4,"end_sec":5697.84,"similarity":0.837,"text":"And a lot has transpired since I watched the video, like many others, on MMTV. I think the only thing on my mind, this is a better deal on the table to us now, and things needed to happen in the way that they did to get here, and I'm definitely appreciating that.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5677s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5698.54,"end_sec":5705.12,"similarity":0.697,"text":"It's something that one of our public comment folks shared about the","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5698s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5705.95,"end_sec":5737.0,"similarity":0.864,"text":"condition of the lot that we're leasing, and that it is full of potholes, and that it is not in good condition. And so I was looking through the lease, and I know from the conversation last week that Melrose, the City of Melrose, is responsible for the plowing, is responsible for all of the different upkeep. And I guess I'm just wanting to name that","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5705s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5737.9,"end_sec":5772.23,"similarity":0.827,"text":"the owners of this property should be taking care of it. I don't feel like it's the City of Melrose's responsibility to put more money into not only leasing, but also taking care of it. And is it then up to the City of Melrose to replace those potholes? And so I just want to name it as something that I'm wondering about as we think about deals and being stewards of our city's finances and resources. I'm just curious about that piece, so I just wanted to name it here.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5737s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-29","video_id":6,"video_title":"Protection and License - Appropriations and Oversight - City Council June 29th 2026","meeting_id":5979,"start_sec":555.62,"end_sec":558.12,"similarity":0.67,"text":"Just a thank you for everything you do to provide","url":"https://vimeo.com/1205631431#t=555s","page_url":"/video/6"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-29","video_id":6,"video_title":"Protection and License - Appropriations and Oversight - City Council June 29th 2026","meeting_id":5979,"start_sec":560.38,"end_sec":561.88,"similarity":0.688,"text":"information, resources, and connection to the community.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1205631431#t=560s","page_url":"/video/6"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-29","video_id":6,"video_title":"Protection and License - Appropriations and Oversight - City Council June 29th 2026","meeting_id":5979,"start_sec":564.62,"end_sec":571.62,"similarity":0.612,"text":"Both entities are very enjoyable and helpful to our citizens. We actually have three stations that we run out of 360 Main Street.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1205631431#t=564s","page_url":"/video/6"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":2048.32,"end_sec":2094.32,"similarity":0.886,"text":"Hi, everyone. I hope you're having a good evening. I just wanted to jump in real quickly. One, to say thank you to Councilor Finocchiaro for putting forth this resolution. I too am in support of this resolution. As someone who just believes in transparency and representing our constituents, this is what folks voted for. And while I understand that there is a lot of nuance and complexities and laws around this issue, at the end of the day, I think voters were looking to have a direct line into how money is being spent,","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=2048s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":2095.44,"end_sec":2144.34,"similarity":0.946,"text":"where it's going, and why. And I think that is something that we should all support. It is something we all need to abide by as elected officials. And so, just in the name of that and what voters wanted to see happen, I'm in support of this resolution as well. And I think there are a lot of things that have happened since the original resolution that was filed that I have a lot of questions and concerns about, and that I hope we can continue to have conversations about that as well. So, I agree that this is a nonpartisan issue, and I think voters deserve to have information and to have it be accessible and available to them. So, that's all. Thank you.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=2095s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":3456.84,"end_sec":3622.29,"similarity":0.954,"text":"Thank you, everyone, for all your comments. I want to say that I appreciate the thoughtfulness that everyone has exemplified from our previous meeting to our full city council meeting. I was in support of it in appropriations. I continue to be in support of the Affordable Housing Trust. I see this as a very important tool in a variety of tools to improve our housing situation in Melrose. Housing is one of the best tools to accumulate wealth in our society. It always has been, it continues to be, and I appreciate the conversation around thinking about who has access and who does not, and I believe this Affordable Housing Trust offers that opportunity. And our investment in it is really important to current Melrosians and future Melrosians. And I also recognize that in terms of our stewardship of the budget and the finances that we have available, it's important to think about the strategic plan for the Affordable Housing Trust, and to be thinking about how we might move forward in that, and backward design what it is that we want the Affordable Housing Trust to be able to do. And so I would be interested in bringing back the Affordable Housing Trust board to share with us in the future, what are the plans? What is the strategy? How is this investment being used? How is it being positioned to signal to nonprofit housing agencies that we are a community that is serious about building a variety of housing? And I think I will just say there have been recent sales of property in which I believe the Affordable Housing Trust could have helped us proactively be more in control of what was developed and who it served. So I look to the Affordable Housing Trust to be able to do that for us in the future, and I think the investment now, and a continued investment long term, will position us to be proactive in terms of making sure that Melrose continues to be diverse and accessible for a variety of people and a variety of families. So I continue to be in support. Thank you.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=3456s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":3968.66,"end_sec":3989.34,"similarity":0.877,"text":"I voted in support of the L Pond project, and I continue to be in support, but I did want to, for the record, read a letter that I sent to the mayor's office and DPW, because I think it's important, and I'm just gonna read it directly.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=3968s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":3990.39,"end_sec":4353.69,"similarity":0.9,"text":"And I will try to be fast. Since our committee discussion, I have spent considerable time re-reviewing the feasibility study materials, reflecting on the issues raised during deliberations, and speaking with constituents and community members about their hopes and concerns for the project. Those conversations have reinforced my belief that while there is broad support for improving recreational infrastructure and moving this project forward, there remain important questions about the planning process, public engagement, transparency, and equitable access that deserve further discussion. I want to begin by acknowledging that Melrose faces legitimate challenges related to recreational space, field availability, and aging infrastructure. I also recognize that significant time and effort have already been invested in the L Pond Park feasibility study, and that many stakeholders are eager to see progress. I share the desire to move forward with this project. For that reason, I supported advancing the funding request through our appropriations committee. However, I believe it is important to distinguish between supporting the continuation of the planning and design process and concluding that every question surrounding the underlying feasibility study has been fully resolved. In my view, the design phase should be an opportunity to further evaluate assumptions, engage stakeholders, and ensure that the final project reflects the needs of the entire community. It should not be viewed as closing the door on questions about process, representation, or alternative approaches. One of my primary concerns is the extent to which the public engagement process adequately captured the voices of the broader community. The principal public engagement session occurred in November 2020 during one of the most disruptive periods in recent history. While approximately 500 residents participated in the survey, that represents a relatively small percentage of the city of roughly 30,000 residents. Many families were navigating extraordinary challenges at the time, and participation barriers were likely highest for those most affected by the pandemic. As a result, I believe it is reasonable to ask whether the feedback collected during that period remains representative of current community priorities, and whether all affected user groups had meaningful opportunities to participate. I am also concerned by reports that alternative concepts, including a potential track component, were evaluated during the planning process but were never publicly presented for discussion. Whether or not a track is ultimately determined to be feasible or desirable is not the central issue. The concern is that residents were seemingly not given the opportunity to review and comment on the full range of alternatives under consideration. Transparency matters. If certain concepts were evaluated and rejected, the community should understand what those concepts were, why they were dismissed, and what trade-offs informed those decisions. That information is particularly important now as elected officials are being asked to authorize substantial public investment in the next phase of the project. More broadly, I believe the conversation about recreational equity and access should be expanded. Much of the discussion surrounding L Pond was focused on rectangular field sports and the need for additional field capacity. Those needs are real and deserve attention. However, if we are evaluating community recreation needs through an equity lens, a real equity lens, we must also consider sports and activities that may not have the same organizational resources or historical representation in the planning process. Track and field is one example. It is among the largest scholastic sports in both the winter and spring sessions, and remains one of the most accessible and diverse athletic opportunities available to young people. It is a no-cut sport that welcomes broad participation from students of varying backgrounds and ability levels. Yet many Melrose students must find a way to Pine Banks on the Melrose/Malden line to access facilities that support their participation. Families often rely on public transportation, carpools, and significant logistical coordination to access opportunities that are not available at the L Pond facility. These barriers can disproportionately affect students and families with fewer resources. If our goal is truly equitable access to recreation, then we should ensure that these perspectives are represented alongside those of more established field-based organizations. I would also encourage us to examine whether the challenges identified in the feasibility study are exclusively infrastructure related. Before assuming that increased field capacity is the sole solution, we should also evaluate how scheduling practices, field allocation policies, and prioritization decisions impact current utilization. Understanding the root causes of demand may reveal opportunities to improve access that extend beyond capital investment alone, and I encourage you to look at women's softball data as some of that that might inform us. To be clear, I'm not advocating that we halt progress on the project or return to square one. I support moving forward. However, moving forward should not require us to ignore legitimate questions about a planning process that began years ago under extraordinary circumstances. Rather, I believe the design phase presents an opportunity to strengthen the project through additional transparency, broader stakeholder engagement, and a more comprehensive examination of community recreational needs. Addressing these issues now will help ensure that the final plans enjoys greater public confidence and better serves Melrose residents for decades to come. I do appreciate the work that has gone into this, and I will be supporting it. I just hope that the concerns that have been brought up by all city council members and all community members are considered as we move forward. And I thank you for your time. I know that took a lot. But I thought it was important to have it on the record.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=3990s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":4696.46,"end_sec":4715.09,"similarity":0.771,"text":"I was just going to say through the chair that I didn't think that Councilor Chen made a motion. And so in terms of discussion, any discussion would still be related to the motion on the floor. So people could be able to say what they wanted to say.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=4696s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-11","video_id":11,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 11th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5962,"start_sec":1615.8,"end_sec":1697.3,"similarity":0.891,"text":"Oh, thank you so much. Thank you both so much for being here. First I wanted to start with a thank you. I've had a few reasons that I've had to reach out to the police department. One recently was a safety situation in Ward 1, where some violent threats were made. But it was also a mental health issue, and I just sincerely appreciated, one, being able to contact the office directly, having a conversation with you, and a detective was sent out. There were conversations, and there was some really careful, caring, I think, movement forward in terms of how to deal with that situation. So I just appreciate it. It was very meaningful to the residents who were very stressed and very concerned. So the promptness, and the way that it was handled was really wonderful. Thank you. I have a couple questions. I know we've talked before, I think, in this room during budget season about concerns with staffing, and I know one of the concerns in terms of what was taking up a lot of officer time was heading over to Melrose Wakefield Hospital. So my first question is, has that resolved itself or is that still a necessity of the department in terms of going and responding there?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1200626911#t=1615s","page_url":"/video/11"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-11","video_id":11,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 11th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5962,"start_sec":1785.76,"end_sec":1811.13,"similarity":0.808,"text":"Yeah. If I recall correctly, there were a lot of calls in the past. Do you feel like the calls that you're going to are the right and appropriate calls for the police to respond to? Because I think there was some question about the security at the hospital- Yeah ... in the past, and what they were willing to do, what they didn't feel like they were able to, and maybe there was a mismatch. Has that like-","url":"https://vimeo.com/1200626911#t=1785s","page_url":"/video/11"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-11","video_id":11,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 11th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5962,"start_sec":1841.35,"end_sec":1892.58,"similarity":0.883,"text":"I'm sure that's a part of your leadership as well as your team. So appreciate that. Just to kind of want to come back to enforcement a little bit. You and I have had a lot of conversations about Franklin Street. And I think between the amount of development happening and enforcement of parking and regulations as well as speeding, do you feel like that's the biggest issue in terms of responding is staffing again, in terms of being able to respond to those kinds of things to be present? Because Franklin Street continues to be really dangerous. Speeding continues to happen. It will take a multifaceted approach, I think, to actually calm that street. But I would like to hear from your perspective, the limitations that the police department has.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1200626911#t=1841s","page_url":"/video/11"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-11","video_id":11,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 11th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5962,"start_sec":2141.91,"end_sec":2160.16,"similarity":0.828,"text":"Yeah, I appreciate that, and I look forward to supporting that in the future as the Ward 1 area, Franklin Street continues to get more dense with more development. I think we're going to need more help and support and more visibility just to make sure that our pedestrians, that our families, that our residents are safe. So-","url":"https://vimeo.com/1200626911#t=2141s","page_url":"/video/11"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-11","video_id":11,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 11th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5962,"start_sec":2175.91,"end_sec":2225.16,"similarity":0.844,"text":"Yeah, absolutely. And then I have one final question, and we had a conversation about parking in Melrose at another meeting, and I get tickets all the time, so I don't know why people aren't getting tickets. Saturday morning in front of Starbucks, I always get a ticket. But just- I know, overshare, sorry. But in terms ofParking and ticketing. It did come up that perhaps we're under-ticketing. Again, not my experience, but we're perhaps under-ticketing, and I guess I wonder again, is that a staffing issue or is that a prioritization issue? Just curious if you could enlighten us on that.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1200626911#t=2175s","page_url":"/video/11"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-11","video_id":11,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 11th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5962,"start_sec":2274.81,"end_sec":2278.43,"similarity":0.736,"text":"Yeah. Okay. Thank you so much. I appreciate you taking the time to answer- ... all these questions.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1200626911#t=2274s","page_url":"/video/11"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-11","video_id":11,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 11th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5962,"start_sec":5019.31,"end_sec":5058.18,"similarity":0.861,"text":"Thank you so much. Chief, thank you so much for being here. I was reading your memo, and it said that the override prevented a reduction in staff, which obviously I'm glad to hear. But you've also been talking about minimum staffing and it being a driver of overtime, and I know you've answered a lot of questions about overtime already. It's certainly a hot topic of the night. But could you just speak a little more? You said that building the bench is one of the best strategies for reducing overtime. Could you just speak to, is there a plan for that?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1200626911#t=5019s","page_url":"/video/11"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-11","video_id":11,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 11th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5962,"start_sec":5058.82,"end_sec":5089.25,"similarity":0.824,"text":"And if so, can you just tell us a little bit of what that would look like and what you would need from city council to move that forward? Because it seems like building that bench is a really important strategy, so I'd love to hear more about what that would look like, what the plan is for that, and then how we might support it, given obviously fire safety and having a fully functioning fire station- Sure ... with enough employees is really important. So.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1200626911#t=5058s","page_url":"/video/11"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-08","video_id":14,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 8th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5955,"start_sec":3798.59,"end_sec":3949.32,"similarity":0.887,"text":"Thank you so much. Thank you both for being here. Really appreciate it. I wanted to start by just saying, I also, like President Freeman, really see Memorial Hall as a service to our community. And I just wanted to take the opportunity to say how grateful I am to you and your team. I was part of the group that put on the Rocks and Ribbons event for Zachariah and his family, and being able to work with your team in such a delicate, sensitive, and hard situation was really meaningful. So just wanted to say how much I appreciated that. I went to the Pleumeneia Choral Society event on Saturday night. And I think when I go to Memorial Hall, I just think about how wonderful it is. I don't notice as many of the things as my colleagues, and I believe in an investment in it as well. So just wanted to say that I am supportive of that. I think the question that I had, in looking at your budget, I don't see, unless I'm missing it, any budget for marketing. And- I have $800. Okay. So the market sup is $800 for marketing. And I, one, so appreciate that when there are lighter interest, you and Mr. Oliveri came together and came up with this wonderful idea for robotics. But I worry that it's all on you to figure out how to make sure Memorial Hall is full. So I'm just wondering how we might more robustly market Memorial Hall, especially given it is a service, but I also think it is a space that has so much potential. I think I'm really excited to see the MAPC study so we can leverage the service, and a space like that just really, I think, has a lot of potential. And one of those pieces in terms of line item is, I don't necessarily think an $800 marketing budget is sufficient. We are not in a role to be able to add, but just in thinking strategically about Memorial Hall, I would love to see some more resources dedicated to that in the future. So I just wanted to take the opportunity to say that here, because it is- I agree ... such an amazing place- I agree ... with so much potential.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1199609365#t=3798s","page_url":"/video/14"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-08","video_id":14,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 8th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5955,"start_sec":5712.36,"end_sec":5718.52,"similarity":0.759,"text":"Thank you so much for being here. Really appreciate your time. I have one question.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1199609365#t=5712s","page_url":"/video/14"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-08","video_id":14,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 8th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5955,"start_sec":5719.72,"end_sec":5731.6,"similarity":0.728,"text":"How does the Adopt a Site work? I know we've been actually going back and forth about it- Yeah ... and I'm still confused. So if it's okay, if you could just explain it, I would really appreciate it.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1199609365#t=5719s","page_url":"/video/14"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-08","video_id":14,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 8th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5955,"start_sec":5804.1,"end_sec":5820.35,"similarity":0.836,"text":"So to clarify, we're revamping the system. It's not completed yet. In the meantime, if we've identified two organizations interested in adopting a site, what is their best course of action?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1199609365#t=5804s","page_url":"/video/14"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-08","video_id":14,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 8th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5955,"start_sec":5852.85,"end_sec":5875.1,"similarity":0.829,"text":"yeah. And thank you for your efforts in updating it and bringing it live and into the present. Really appreciate that. My other question, super excited about some of the appropriations to work on playgrounds and parks. Just do you have a sense, or what is the best way to find out the timeline of when things are starting and when they'll be completed?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1199609365#t=5852s","page_url":"/video/14"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":2809.91,"end_sec":2815.66,"similarity":0.837,"text":"the time, energy, and efforts that have gone into this for so long.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=2809s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":2815.91,"end_sec":2843.23,"similarity":0.855,"text":"So I am generally in support of saying yes to the funding of going into the design phase, but I think this is a situation for me where it's a yes, and I do have a ton of concerns. One of the things that if we're really going to talk about equity and access, I think we really need to talk about it and","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=2815s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":2843.88,"end_sec":2882.76,"similarity":0.839,"text":"what that means in terms of a process for design and whose voices are heard, whose voices have been ignored in the past. And I say that related to, again, what sports have access. We have an entire track program, which are some of the most diverse students in our district, who have to figure out ways to get to Pine Banks. So, if we're really talking about equity and access, I want to talk about it in terms of who's prioritized and who gets to use the fields. And regarding whose voices are heard, a small example is we have","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=2843s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":2883.26,"end_sec":2909.51,"similarity":0.815,"text":"a playground in Ward 1 that's being put in, and folks were asked sort of what design they likedIt was general consensus across the board. There was one design that everybody wanted, and the rec department chose another design. And so, just in terms of if we're saying we're going to have a design process and voices are going to be heard, and people are going to be involved, I feel like I want some assurances that that's going to be the","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=2883s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":2910.26,"end_sec":2920.01,"similarity":0.781,"text":"case. I think there are voices in our community that are often heard, and a lot of voices that aren't. So I guess I would love to hear a little more about what folks are thinking about in terms of an","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=2910s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":2920.51,"end_sec":2928.76,"similarity":0.75,"text":"accessible and inclusive process. Because it does seem like the design that","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=2920s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":2930.76,"end_sec":2942.26,"similarity":0.727,"text":"specific, and it's pretty detailed. So, what are really the opportunities for change and for people to say what they want?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=2930s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":3179.9,"end_sec":3187.78,"similarity":0.854,"text":"Just a couple other comments/questions. I feel like I would be remiss if I didn't-- So, it","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=3179s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":3191.53,"end_sec":3197.4,"similarity":0.665,"text":"more choices about the design. Correct. Just to be very clear about that.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=3191s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":3198.14,"end_sec":3211.26,"similarity":0.751,"text":"What is in the feasibility study is the outline of the plan. Yes. And then there will be decisions made regarding what's in the plan, but","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=3198s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":3213.07,"end_sec":3224.95,"similarity":0.725,"text":"for instance, pickleball's a big thing in our community. I know there's been a petition for pickleball in some of the tennis courts in that area, but there's also been petitions against pickleball in that area.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=3213s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":3225.2,"end_sec":3230.45,"similarity":0.731,"text":"But I didn't see pickleball in the plan, so that's not an option.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=3225s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":3242.7,"end_sec":3251.7,"similarity":0.772,"text":"Got it. Okay, that's super helpful. But again, just to name more for transparencyThe thing is designed,","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=3242s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":3398.45,"end_sec":3404.95,"similarity":0.698,"text":"turf on Fred Green. So I have strong opinions, and I know a lot of people do- ... on both sides, but I just","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=3398s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":3405.95,"end_sec":3410.7,"similarity":0.748,"text":"really hope that we spend a lot of time and energy and are really thoughtful about what we choose.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=3405s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":3599.28,"end_sec":3604.35,"similarity":0.729,"text":"Great. Well, like I said, I am in support, and I have a lot of concerns.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=3599s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":9224.34,"end_sec":9247.26,"similarity":0.815,"text":"what I was reflecting on before, I think similar to Councilor Finocchiaro, sorry, is what is our role as city councilors, and what opportunities do we have after this vote if it goes through to continue to advocate, to question. And so","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=9224s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":9248.29,"end_sec":9259.6,"similarity":0.805,"text":"again, as was already said, we have the opportunity as the city council when any other pieces come before us to say no, and say","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=9248s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":9260.22,"end_sec":9270.28,"similarity":0.815,"text":"if a plan comes back with turf fields to be funded, we have the opportunity to say no. So we do have some checks and balances along the way if we say yes","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=9260s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":9270.89,"end_sec":9285.15,"similarity":0.805,"text":"without completely stopping and not doing this thing that 90% of we all think is fantastic. And so that is resonating with me. And we also do have the opportunity to mobilize","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=9270s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":9286.03,"end_sec":9320.54,"similarity":0.833,"text":"our constituents and connect them to how to have their voices heard. It's hard work. It takes a lot of time, but we have that available to us as well. And we also, as city councilors, can continue to reach out to boards and commissions, to reach out to the mayor's office to press our opinions and what we feel are our responsibilities. So I'll just say that because we are a newer body working together, so I'm kind of processing and saying that those are other ways that we have to influence without","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=9286s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":9321.18,"end_sec":9332.55,"similarity":0.768,"text":"saying no. And I'm super interested in this amendment. It's also new to me too. I'm curious. I think what I don't understand, and this I guess is a question to all of you, how would that impact","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=9321s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":9334.04,"end_sec":9339.04,"similarity":0.645,"text":"to get to the next phase? I just don't know. I'm not an expert. So","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=9334s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":10860.88,"end_sec":10896.22,"similarity":0.879,"text":"I see this as such an important opportunity for us to invest in our housing production plan, our overall strategic plan. And for many reasons, but being the Ward 1 city councilor since I started, I think six years ago, housing is probably the thing I spend a majority of my time on. And what I believe this trust can do is help us proactively","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=10860s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":10897.06,"end_sec":10901.54,"similarity":0.725,"text":"move forward on projects that help us make","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=10897s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":10902.6,"end_sec":10907.04,"similarity":0.77,"text":"Melrose more affordable. And also not beingI","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=10902s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":10909.92,"end_sec":10922.62,"similarity":0.834,"text":"don't know how to say this the right way, so I'm not going to say it. But it gives us the opportunity to be proactive and to be thoughtful, and design projects in a way that we feel like,","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=10909s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":10923.32,"end_sec":10963.94,"similarity":0.841,"text":"like I said, make our city affordable. Which every day it seems like it's getting less and less affordable. I know that being a public educator, I wouldn't be living in this town now if I was trying to get in. And I think the gentleman who spoke from the housing authority emphasized that the trust is a workforce opportunity. And I think that's really important because we want the people that serve our community to be able to live in it, and I really think this trust can help make that happen long term, but we need to invest in it now. So I didn't ask you any questions, I just talked. But am I correct in saying that, I guess is my question?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=10923s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":14405.01,"end_sec":14466.88,"similarity":0.861,"text":"Thank you. Great to see you. Thank you for being here and for being here so late. When traffic calming comes up, I get anxious, and I get a case of the agita, I think because I've been as a city councilor for, what, six years now, and I haven't seen an impact in terms of traffic calming on Franklin Street. We continue to have accidents. We continue to get complaints about how unsafe it is to cross. I've been begging for a blinking light on Warren Street to cross Franklin for years, and it hasn't happened. So I guess my question is how do we access these resources? You're saying there's enough funding, and we're excited about it, and yet I haven't seen the impact of that. I know there are more streets than Franklin. I understand that. I respect that. But I...","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=14405s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":14477.38,"end_sec":14479.13,"similarity":0.601,"text":"And I haven't seen any changes since then.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=14477s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":14588.04,"end_sec":14641.93,"similarity":0.852,"text":"I appreciate that. I'm sure I sound difficult, but I think what we've done hasn't had a lot of impact because of the route from Stoneham into Melrose, from Melrose up to Stoneham, that it's a throughway between Stoneham and Saugus. And so, I so appreciate the investment and the work, I really do, but if there's not an impact, and a biker got hit like three weeks ago, it continues to be dangerous. So if something continues to be dangerous, I don't think you stop working on it. I agree. And so, it's a yes and again for me. And we have kids who are still trying to cross the street to get to the Roosevelt. We have families who are trying to get to the Warren Street Park. We're developing more housing in that area. It's getting more dense. And so,","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=14588s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":14644.04,"end_sec":14657.66,"similarity":0.828,"text":"I just want to say publicly that we need to continue to be paying attention to it, and speed humps and those kinds of things, I think matter. And yeah. So anyway, I'll stop, but-","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=14644s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":14665.16,"end_sec":14676.53,"similarity":0.802,"text":"Yeah ... uh, west of Greenwood We've definitely been pushing for developers to do stuff because- Yeah ... we're trying to access whatever opportunities we might have to put more traffic calming there, so.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=14665s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":18803.87,"end_sec":18823.4,"similarity":0.878,"text":"So I have a question about the intersection between the housing production plan and what is in the housing production plan, and the decisions that are made at the planning board and the zoning board level. Because","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=18803s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":18824.92,"end_sec":18832.02,"similarity":0.818,"text":"I've been to a lot of those meetings in the past five years, and what is in the housing production plan","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=18824s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":18832.67,"end_sec":18916.52,"similarity":0.866,"text":"isn't... And maybe similar to your point, Councilor Chen. Oh, sorry. Oh. Councilor Park. I'm tired. And my Tylenol is kicking in perhaps. That they sometimes just seem in conflict with each other and, or I don't always understand the decisions that are being made. I think sort of the most recent one for me is Summit Avenue. It was approved with conditions, and it's further out from the zoning for being on the MBTA station. And so I support the housing production plan. I think it is an important tool in our toolbox. I think the Affordable Housing Trust is another important measure in our toolbox in terms of proactive development. But I continue to feel, and I will say feel, not fact. I continue to feel that we continue to be at the mercy of unfriendly development. And so I think I'm just trying to understand the intersection of how it all plays out. I absolutely want to support the housing production plan and improving it, but I don't always find that it helps on the ground.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=18832s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"karamcheti-manjula","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":19359.6,"end_sec":19366.7,"similarity":0.804,"text":"I just have one more question. In terms of certifying the plan in April,","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=19359s","page_url":"/video/15"}],"next_cursor":"u|2026-06-04|15|19359.6"}