{"utterances":[{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-08-17","video_id":1277,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council August 17th 2026","meeting_id":6011,"start_sec":122.53,"end_sec":155.93,"similarity":0.872,"text":"Thanks, Chief. So, I raised some issues last week about concerns about language in the contract, specifically as it related to immigration issues as well as DE&I issues, and I spoke with and also heard from Shannon Phillips, and that has alleviated any concerns that I had, that they will not be an issue in the contract. They have either been stricken from the contract and/or there is guidance from the AG's office that we can go forward with these contracts. So, I have no further concerns about the language in the contract.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1219080624#t=122s","page_url":"/video/1277"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-08-17","video_id":1277,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council August 17th 2026","meeting_id":6011,"start_sec":220.29,"end_sec":260.54,"similarity":0.84,"text":"Yeah, certainly. Mr. President, there is language. It's Article 63 in the contract. It looks like it's Illinois, applies to Illinois contracts. If you dig into that, it's actually cases that have also applied to Massachusetts and others. So, that strikes all of the immigration-focused language in the contract. So, that takes care of that. In terms of the DE&I, because this is the type of contract that it is, that DE&I language does not apply to this type of contract. And so, I do have an email from Councilor Phillips, which I can share to that extent. Mm. So, even if they wanted to have it apply, it does not apply to this contract.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1219080624#t=220s","page_url":"/video/1277"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-08-17","video_id":1277,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council August 17th 2026","meeting_id":6011,"start_sec":1253.63,"end_sec":1260.51,"similarity":0.737,"text":"Mr. President, this comes from the Legal and Legislative Committee with a recommendation for passage as amended.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1219080624#t=1253s","page_url":"/video/1277"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-08-17","video_id":1277,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council August 17th 2026","meeting_id":6011,"start_sec":1379.89,"end_sec":1382.91,"similarity":0.626,"text":"At this time, I will make","url":"https://vimeo.com/1219080624#t=1379s","page_url":"/video/1277"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-08-17","video_id":1277,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council August 17th 2026","meeting_id":6011,"start_sec":1383.55,"end_sec":1387.92,"similarity":0.615,"text":"a motion to pass the ordinance as amended.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1219080624#t=1383s","page_url":"/video/1277"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":796.45,"end_sec":820.15,"similarity":0.844,"text":"Good evening. The time is 7:10 on Monday, August 10th, 2026. This is a meeting of the Legal and Legislative Committee. I'm Elizabeth Kowal, chair of this committee. This committee, we are joined by voting members Vice Chair Carm Cody, Councilor Jamaleddine, Councilor Van Devin, President Freeman is somewhere, and non-voting members Shen and Park.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=796s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":820.81,"end_sec":834.56,"similarity":0.79,"text":"This constitutes a notice of quorum for the record. In accordance with the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, this meeting is being broadcast and recorded by Melrose Cable Access TV and will be available for viewing in its entirety on MMTV and through the city website link.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=820s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":835.68,"end_sec":842.64,"similarity":0.729,"text":"At this time, I will motion by unanimous consent to approve without reading the minutes from our meeting on March 23rd, 2026.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=835s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":843.33,"end_sec":846.51,"similarity":0.655,"text":"Seeing no objection, those meetings are now approved.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=843s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":847.74,"end_sec":851.95,"similarity":0.703,"text":"I will motion by unanimous consent to open the floor for public comment.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=847s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":852.68,"end_sec":864.77,"similarity":0.737,"text":"Seeing no objections, we are open for public comment. This is the portion of the meeting where the public may speak on any item on tonight's agenda. Comments expressing any viewpoint on other matters are also welcome.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=852s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":865.88,"end_sec":893.53,"similarity":0.797,"text":"Is there anybody here for public comment? Yes. Okay. So just a reminder that the public comment period is an opportunity for the public to share comments. Councilors will not respond. Yes. Okay. You have up to five minutes for comments. And is there a piece of paper up there for- There is, yeah. If you could sign. If you could just state your name for the record, but also if you could just write down your name and address for the record, that would be great. Okay. Thank you.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=865s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":1094.1,"end_sec":1097.55,"similarity":0.758,"text":"So if there's no objections, I'd like to close public comment.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=1094s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":1098.38,"end_sec":1101.45,"similarity":0.675,"text":"Seeing none, we are now closed for public comment.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=1098s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":1102.38,"end_sec":1125.12,"similarity":0.755,"text":"So in front of us is ID number 2026-1530. Amendment Article 2, Section 93 of the Melrose Code of Ordinances to allow for a licensing and inspection process for kennel licensing in Massachusetts. So, the Director of Health and Human Services, Anthony Chu, is here to speak on that.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=1102s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":1842.42,"end_sec":1847.8,"similarity":0.678,"text":"I have a question. Yeah. Is kennel cough dangerous to humans?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=1842s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":1855.3,"end_sec":1875.5,"similarity":0.766,"text":"Distemper is the other one that's dangerous to humans, correct? Correct. Yes. So people can choose by themselves whether or not to give their dogs these shots. There are some that are dangerous to humans. Bordetella is not. It's not. It is restricted to the dog community. That's correct. And so what you're saying is people can also choose to work with or not work with","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=1855s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":1876.14,"end_sec":1908.52,"similarity":0.805,"text":"kennels who either require this or don't. If people are afraid of that, they can choose to not work with a kennel that- That's correct ... doesn't require it. Right. So all that we would be doing is putting, I'm going to use the word burden, on kennels that may not require it and not giving people that choice about whether or not to do business or not do business or vaccinate or not vaccinate their dogs for something that's actually not, really from what I'm understanding, certainly not a threat to humans- ... and a minor, I'm not going to use the word minor, but a smaller threat, a less dangerous threat to dogs.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=1876s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":1944.02,"end_sec":1947.27,"similarity":0.64,"text":"All right. Thank you. Okay. Anybody else on... Councilman.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=1944s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":2013.74,"end_sec":2024.88,"similarity":0.792,"text":"All right. We have a motion to amend on the floor with a second. So with no further discussion, all those in favor to amend? Aye. Aye.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=2013s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":2030.67,"end_sec":2034.44,"similarity":0.745,"text":"We will amend it. It is passed, so we will ask you to amend it and","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=2030s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":2049.18,"end_sec":2061.43,"similarity":0.75,"text":"Okay. Now we are back to the actual ordinance at hand. Yes. Councilor Vanderberg was first in the queue for the overall ordinance.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=2049s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":2375.78,"end_sec":2381.02,"similarity":0.721,"text":"Excuse me. Can I speak? You can't. Public- There's a- Public comment is actually over. But thank you.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=2375s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":2982.36,"end_sec":2986.99,"similarity":0.671,"text":"I don't know, but I like stuff that you... You did a nice job imitating me. Well, you know- We have similar hair. It's good","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=2982s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":2995.01,"end_sec":2999.14,"similarity":0.733,"text":"I don't know what we have to do. Motion by unanimous consent to reopen just-","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=2995s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":3003.76,"end_sec":3007.39,"similarity":0.699,"text":"... we're back. We're back. Any other comments on the ord... President Freeman.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=3003s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":3114.59,"end_sec":3118.84,"similarity":0.688,"text":"Is there a second to that motion to change those two?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=3114s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":3386.36,"end_sec":3393.24,"similarity":0.635,"text":"Hold on one second. Anybody of the voting members of the committee before I call on Councilor Chen?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=3386s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":3404.13,"end_sec":3408.28,"similarity":0.689,"text":"Okay, we have a motion on the floor to amend with a second.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=3404s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":3443.35,"end_sec":3447.42,"similarity":0.699,"text":"Okay. Any other discussion on the ordinance as of itself?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=3443s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":3449.17,"end_sec":3451.8,"similarity":0.634,"text":"All right, seeing none, what is the will of the committee?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=3449s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":3506.89,"end_sec":3509.27,"similarity":0.651,"text":"I will now make a motion to adjourn.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=3506s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":3612.0,"end_sec":3655.58,"similarity":0.857,"text":"Thank you, Chief White. I think, and we were just briefly starting to talk about this, but I did speak about this with the mayor, is one of the concerns that I have about, not what you're asking, I understand what you're asking for, but it does fall under a federal grant. And under the terms of the federal grant, which I read today, it talks about, as we are aware, all of the new sort of onerous ordinances and the regulations that have gone into place, including sanctuary cities, including all sorts of rules and laws around immigration, including not having DEI programs and things like that. So, my concern is certainly not about what you're looking for, but my concern is sort of where this comes in, which is under this federal money,","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=3612s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":3656.63,"end_sec":3660.61,"similarity":0.725,"text":"which has all of these restrictions on it, and could,","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=3656s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":3662.52,"end_sec":3669.79,"similarity":0.808,"text":"if the government so chose, put us in some trouble if they started asking questions about what we wanted to do because we were taking this money.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=3662s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":3670.42,"end_sec":3762.65,"similarity":0.838,"text":"And so, as I was thinking about this tonight, and I certainly am appreciative of, as I said three times now, what you're trying to do, I would like further information from the state about how we should be proceeding with these guidelines now in place. Not to say that you won't get it, not to say that the state won't say, \"Go ahead, do it.\" But I think there have been other instances where we've had this sort of collision between these new guidelines from the federal government and us using federal money, where we have looked for guidance from the AG's office. And I think I would be more comfortable, even though this is a small amount of money, I don't think that that is ultimately what matters. I think that I would be more comfortable getting guidance from the AG's office as to whether or not we should proceed under this grant if we have these concerns, and whether or not we could find the money elsewhere. So that is just not a question for you, and I know that you have experience in DE&I and hiring and all of that, and you do a terrific job. So this is certainly not about you or anything that you're asking of your department. It's just about where this money is coming from creates sort of an umbrella of questions for me. Right. We are a sub-recipient. It does come from the federal government, yes. So there are the guidelines in the contract that, we agree to how we use this money, and how we spend it, we'd have to follow the guidelines as set forth. Right.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=3670s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","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":4061.14,"end_sec":4077.39,"similarity":0.806,"text":"I was just following up on what I said earlier, and I'm going to put forward a motion to hold this for now until we can get further guidance from the AG's office about what the consequences could be of this and what their recommendation is.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1217166818#t=4061s","page_url":"/video/1275"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":1835.05,"end_sec":1861.43,"similarity":0.77,"text":"So you've kind of just touched on what I said, is that once we... I guess, how specific can an RFP be, and how much control do we have over it? Because it seems to me that once we sell this property, we can want it to be X, Y, and Z, and the developer really is the one who's going to then decide what's going to be on this property. So that's sort of my question and maybe I'm wrong, and maybe I'm misunderstanding something. But it seems to me that","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=1835s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":1862.18,"end_sec":1866.56,"similarity":0.666,"text":"it sort of is out of our hands a little bit, unless I'm missing something.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=1862s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":1896.45,"end_sec":1923.44,"similarity":0.797,"text":"Right. So I guess that's my question, Lori, is that are we going to put out an RFP that's that specific? Because I think about, again, one of the things that clearly was important to the community out around Lebanon Street is the trees, right? And that's going to take up a lot of space where more development could go. So I guess my question for you is, do you plan to put out an RFP that takes into account some of the feedback from the city, or are we just looking to maximize our-","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=1896s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":1925.11,"end_sec":1928.98,"similarity":0.734,"text":"... I don't know, the bang for our buck in terms of developers?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=1925s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":3526.24,"end_sec":3566.3,"similarity":0.842,"text":"I do. I have a constituent comment to read. So this is from Eugenia Gibbons. She also sent it via email, but she sent it late, so she wanted me to make sure that it got onto the record. So, good evening, council members. My name is Eugenia Gibbons. I reside at 54 Upham Street. I'm unable to offer these comments in person this evening, but I appreciate the opportunity to submit them in writing and would ask that they be read into the public record. The renewal of the parking lot lease creates an opportunity for the city and the chamber of commerce to explore more sustainable long-term revenue strategies to offset the ongoing costs of maintaining the parking lot at the property owned by the archdiocese, a 53-space lot that continues to require public resources to maintain.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=3526s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":3566.99,"end_sec":3630.86,"similarity":0.832,"text":"Rather than rely on ad hoc or short-term fixes, I encourage the city to put in place a funding mechanism that is both durable and equitable. If not already happening, two options that are perhaps worth serious consideration are, one, establishing a business improvement district, BID, in the surrounding area, which would allow nearby businesses and property owners who benefit most directly from the parking capacity to share in the cost of its upkeep. Two, instituting a registration fee for commercial parking permitting, which would ensure that commercial users of the lot who generate ongoing wear and demand contribute proportionally to its maintenance rather than placing that burden solely on the city's general fund. Either approach or some combination of the two would help move the city away from reactive maintenance spending and towards a model that is financially sustainable over time. I ask the council and Mayor Grigoritis to explore the feasibility of these or other options over the next year, report back to the public in that time, and put forth a proposal before the lease renewal is up again. Thank you for your time and consideration. Eugenia Gibbons.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=3566s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5497.89,"end_sec":5524.22,"similarity":0.847,"text":"I actually wrote down what I wanted to say because I wanted to make sure that I got out what I wanted to get out. I thought hard, actually, about what I wanted to say tonight and how I wanted to say it. As it has for many, this issue consumed a lot of my time this past week, and it didn't need to. There were a lot of conclusions being drawn, and assumptions being made about the no vote and why we took it,","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5497s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5525.29,"end_sec":5526.86,"similarity":0.667,"text":"particularly on social media.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5525s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5527.78,"end_sec":5537.89,"similarity":0.832,"text":"I'm not someone who uses social media in that way, so this is why I'm speaking tonight. And I don't use it for a variety of reasons, some personal and some professional.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5527s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5538.52,"end_sec":5558.55,"similarity":0.831,"text":"But first, I do want to say this, and I mean it sincerely, I want to thank everyone who reached out to me, whether it was by the phone or by email. And to everyone who spoke tonight, your voices are valuable and it really means a lot for people to take their time, and to come and speak to us, and I know it's not easy.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5538s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5560.02,"end_sec":5581.7,"similarity":0.798,"text":"What this came down to for me on my initial vote was, am I being a good caretaker of taxpayer dollars if I am not putting this city in a position to negotiate the best possible deal for the city and for the taxpayer dollars? And that answer for me, in the initial vote and the initial lease, was no, and that's why I voted the way I did.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5560s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5582.38,"end_sec":5595.83,"similarity":0.758,"text":"The one-year deal that was put in front of us was not a fiscally responsible deal for the city. It just wasn't. A one-year deal with a 20% increase was not the best that we could do. And as we've now","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5582s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5596.43,"end_sec":5605.64,"similarity":0.718,"text":"learned, there was in fact a better deal to be had for everyone, but the city needed the leverage to get to that better deal.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5596s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5606.92,"end_sec":5611.85,"similarity":0.722,"text":"As elected officials, we need to be careful with our words and our actions.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5606s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5612.57,"end_sec":5620.13,"similarity":0.667,"text":"We're elected to be analytical, to act with judgment, with diligence, with patience, and strategically.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5612s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5624.54,"end_sec":5629.09,"similarity":0.629,"text":"and it allowed the parties to get together and work out a better deal.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5624s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5630.09,"end_sec":5636.02,"similarity":0.771,"text":"I'm really thrilled to see the new deal that came forward a mere three days after the initial vote,","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5630s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-20","video_id":2,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council July 20th 2026","meeting_id":5999,"start_sec":5636.9,"end_sec":5657.76,"similarity":0.792,"text":"and I'm glad that the city and the church were able to understand that the no vote was in fact that. It was a chance to give them the opportunity to come to a place that benefits everybody, all parties, the city, the church, the local businesses, and the residents. And for that reason, I will be voting yes tonight.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1211551486#t=5636s","page_url":"/video/2"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-09","video_id":3,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight July 9th 2026","meeting_id":5992,"start_sec":298.65,"end_sec":304.57,"similarity":0.685,"text":"Where are we going to be a year from now? What's your sense? Because I feel like this is a little bit of a kick the can down the road,","url":"https://vimeo.com/1208609380#t=298s","page_url":"/video/3"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-09","video_id":3,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight July 9th 2026","meeting_id":5992,"start_sec":427.98,"end_sec":446.33,"similarity":0.787,"text":"I think that's important to know, sort of. Mm-hmm. Obviously not now, but I think going into next year, it's- We'll look into all of that ... going to be important to know- Yeah ... if we're ending this agreement, what they can and cannot do with that property. Mm-hmm. Because that, depending on what it is- Yep ... could increase or decrease our leverage- Yes ... with them. Mm-hmm.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1208609380#t=427s","page_url":"/video/3"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-09","video_id":3,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight July 9th 2026","meeting_id":5992,"start_sec":3390.64,"end_sec":3406.33,"similarity":0.767,"text":"So it's not $7,000, it's $42,000 that we're looking to put forward. So I go back to what Councilor Williams has said, Councilor Chen has said. So, sure, but it's not, it's $42,000. And so one of the things that I'm thinking about is","url":"https://vimeo.com/1208609380#t=3390s","page_url":"/video/3"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-09","video_id":3,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight July 9th 2026","meeting_id":5992,"start_sec":3407.01,"end_sec":3464.69,"similarity":0.785,"text":"that we did get an override this year, and we're putting a lot of money out there, right? But there's still a lot of people who are very concerned about their money, and that was a lot of discussion during free cash about was this money well spent? Was it worth being spent? Just because we have it, do we need to spend it? And so I'm mindful of that, is that it's not $7,000, it is $42,000. And that might not seem like a lot. In a town like Melrose, it is a lot. Think back to the hours and hours and hours and hours and hours of conversations we had about free cash. There were some that were less than this that had more conversation. So I appreciate what everybody is saying, but I just, again, I don't want to get lost in this. It's only seven. It's not only seven. There was a lot of conversation for those of us who ran and for those of us who continue to talk to people about how money is being spent. And just because we have it now does not mean that we","url":"https://vimeo.com/1208609380#t=3407s","page_url":"/video/3"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-09","video_id":3,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight July 9th 2026","meeting_id":5992,"start_sec":3465.47,"end_sec":3505.61,"similarity":0.775,"text":"need to go and spend it unless it is for a very valid reason. And I go back to something else that Councilor Williams said, which is, there was time to talk about this. There has been time to talk about this. And again, this is not on you at all, right? This is how life goes, and I get that. But I also go back to Councilor Williams' point, which is we kick a lot of stuff down the road, and we say we're going to bring people back in to talk. So far, we're bringing back the fire chief, we're bringing back the veterans, which is great, that's our job. But at some point, we have to take a stand on things that aren't right. And I think a lot of us sitting around here know in our gut, this is not right what happened.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1208609380#t=3465s","page_url":"/video/3"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-07-09","video_id":3,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight July 9th 2026","meeting_id":5992,"start_sec":3506.47,"end_sec":3529.53,"similarity":0.789,"text":"So I'm a no on this, if it's not clear. And, again, I take everybody's point, and I understand all of that, but I think there are bigger picture things that we have to look at here, and we do a lot of kicking the can down the road on this council. And I think there are times when we have to stand up and say, \"This isn't right, and how this has gone about is not right.\" And I think this is one of them.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1208609380#t=3506s","page_url":"/video/3"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":2727.98,"end_sec":2734.19,"similarity":0.807,"text":"I wanted to just thank everybody who's come to speak tonight, who's written to us.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=2727s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":2734.79,"end_sec":2762.3,"similarity":0.854,"text":"I have had a lot of conversations over the past week. I was one of the no votes. I believe deeply in what this trust is purporting to do. My concerns revolve around the lack of strategy that has been presented, even though, again, I've tried to get that information, and so my overall concern was not about what this trust is trying to do.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=2734s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":2763.3,"end_sec":2768.2,"similarity":0.74,"text":"I think it is attempting to do things for the right reasons. My concern is that","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=2763s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":2768.99,"end_sec":2775.17,"similarity":0.739,"text":"there's not been a lot of forward progress made or forward progress shown in what they want to do.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=2768s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":2775.93,"end_sec":2795.39,"similarity":0.792,"text":"And I take very seriously my job to look at the finances of the city. I take that as something, again, maybe because I'm newer, that I take really to heart. And I just continue to have concerns about whether or not there is the...","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=2775s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":2796.15,"end_sec":2800.27,"similarity":0.728,"text":"I don't want to use the word dedication because the people are very dedicated to this, but the","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=2796s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-15","video_id":10,"video_title":"Melrose City Council June 15th 2026","meeting_id":5968,"start_sec":2801.17,"end_sec":2809.97,"similarity":0.667,"text":"ability to overcome some obstacles with this group in order to get this trust to do what it really, really needs to do.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1201640850#t=2801s","page_url":"/video/10"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-11","video_id":11,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 11th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5962,"start_sec":1215.09,"end_sec":1236.72,"similarity":0.745,"text":"Thank you. Thanks for meeting with me yesterday. I want to talk a little bit more about your recruiting. I know that we talked a bit about this yesterday, but I'm going to make a big assumption in the line item that says $46,000. It's actually more than that, right? To bring somebody in, it's a huge process, and- It is ... all sorts of equipment. Could you talk a little bit more about how your recruiting efforts, when you bring in somebody, fit into the budget?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1200626911#t=1215s","page_url":"/video/11"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-08","video_id":14,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 8th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5955,"start_sec":3675.01,"end_sec":3724.51,"similarity":0.739,"text":"You may have already answered all of this- Okay. ... in some of your other questions. That's all right. I'll answer it again. Yeah. I noticed when you answered those questions today, you said that we are still 30% below market rate. Yes. And so is there a plan to sort of-- Again, it's hard to do a quick jump, as I saw or I read into your memo with the rehearsals when you did that jump, rehearsal interest fell, right? So I understand that. And again, some of it may be because of the capital improvements that need to be made. I also understand that. But is there sort of a roadmap to continue to increase, or can we continue to increase our fees, and so that we can continue to close the gap in that? Because 30% is still pretty big, and I don't say that in a-- It is, and you know that, right? So is there a plan to hopefully continue to increase rates?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1199609365#t=3675s","page_url":"/video/14"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":4816.34,"end_sec":4904.58,"similarity":0.754,"text":"Thank you, Councilor Finocchiaro. So up next on deck, we have Councilors Cole, Chen, Obremski, and then if nobody else would like to speak for the first time, we will go to Councilor Williams for the second time. So, Councilor Cal. Thank you. So I share a lot of the concerns that have been raised both by Councilor Williams and Councilor Finocchiaro. I'm struggling with this one. I love most of the design. I am very strongly anti-turf for many of the reasons that Councilor Williams mentioned. I also think I equate it to a snow cone. I think having a snow cone in the middle of the city with this beautiful pond that everybody can use for what ultimately is a small group of people on turf is just not okay. So I understand that's not what we're here for tonight, but I share a lot of this concern. I share a lot of the skepticism that-- and I hear you all tonight, and I want so badly to believe you that there is going to be this public forum. And Elena spent a lot of time talking to me about it, and she's been so patient and kind to me about it. But I'm skeptical about it, having lived through some of the other decisions that sort of got rammed through. So I'm skeptical about it. I'm having trouble. I hear you on we've got to do this whole thing because it involves permitting, and I believe you on all of that. But it's really hard for me, and possibly that's part because I'm new to have that leap of faith to turn over this. This is the largest","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=4816s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":4905.21,"end_sec":4917.87,"similarity":0.716,"text":"money in free cash that we're giving out, and I'm struggling with the leap of faith that without a plan in place to follow up, that this money is not just going to disappear into the","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=4905s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":4918.61,"end_sec":4971.74,"similarity":0.78,"text":"atmosphere, that we won't be able to get federal funding, that we won't be able to get more free cash or town money to do this. And so I'm just struggling with that, and I'm listening and I'm hearing, and I am a user of this and the idea of a walking path, the idea of the... I love the bridge, the wetlands. I love all of it. I love it. It'll be such a gem and such a great thing for this town, but I do have these reservations. And so I think what I would-- I guess my ultimate question is aside from two things. One is, I hear you about it starts to cost more if we do it piecemeal in terms of design, and that we may not get some permits. If we don't do X, we don't get a permit for Y. I hear that.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=4918s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":4972.36,"end_sec":5009.59,"similarity":0.755,"text":"But I am also hearing things like the feds like to see shovel-ready projects in order to give out grants. And so, I think there are a couple things that you can, and again, maybe it's not feasible. There does seem to be a way that we could use this money to get some of the designs for the veterans' soul to me is very important to make that ADA compliant, and I think there is federal money for that. I think you said that. I think there is federal money possibly available, for example, the walking path. And so what I'm just trying to rattle around in this brain of mine is, why don't we take that 710 and","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=4972s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":5010.28,"end_sec":5031.93,"similarity":0.698,"text":"earmark it towards things that we know there's a very good chance that we can get federal funding for, and that way we've got a design and we have an end result, as opposed to what we're now saying is these things may kick out six, seven, eight, nine, 10 years, where we could deliver something maybe faster if we did that. So that's one question I have. The second one is,","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=5010s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":5032.71,"end_sec":5041.39,"similarity":0.623,"text":"if we don't get federal funding for this, or let's say it's 12 million and we get six of that, where is the other six going to come from?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=5032s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":5042.74,"end_sec":5048.83,"similarity":0.644,"text":"Anyway, thank you for hearing me out as I sort of try to figure this out in my head.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=5042s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":5298.97,"end_sec":5311.22,"similarity":0.676,"text":"And who will decide, and forgive me if you've said this, there's just been a lot go-- Who will decide what the next phase is? So phase one, I understand, storm work. Got it. Who decides phase two?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=5298s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":10965.94,"end_sec":10990.19,"similarity":0.681,"text":"That's our mission. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Kamireddy. Up next I have Councilor Cal. You mentioned something about a trust can be at certain levels before there could be other funding unlocked from the trust. Does the trust have to be at a certain level of funding before other federal funding can get unlocked? Do we have to reach a certain amount in the trust? I can speak to that.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=10965s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":14113.5,"end_sec":14153.62,"similarity":0.743,"text":"Okay, so we have Councilor Kowal. So, I'm going back to traffic calming. So I love that you're getting to do all this road work, because as we know, as I think we can all attest to, that's what we hear about the most. But traffic calming has been a massive issue, and I think we all hear about it a lot. I know there's a grant out there for, for example, for Wyoming. But $50,000 actually seems low for traffic calming. So I know of two places in Ward 3 off the bat that you're talking about doing traffic. So what does $50,000 cover? So- And then how do we... I just need to understand more because that is probably one of the biggest issues that we all hear about constantly.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=14113s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":14274.26,"end_sec":14287.51,"similarity":0.684,"text":"Okay. And I also saw a post on the Melrose on Facebook about all the street work that you're doing. So I guess my other-- Are you comfortable with $50,000 as enough for what you have on your very extensive list for traffic calming?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=14274s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":16195.35,"end_sec":16201.35,"similarity":0.62,"text":"Just a quick question. Is the 25,000 for the overtime, is that for the compliance?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=16195s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":17860.11,"end_sec":17865.61,"similarity":0.635,"text":"Does the fountain in L Pond also help keep down the vegetation, or is that serving just sort of water flow issues?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=17860s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":20285.36,"end_sec":20330.64,"similarity":0.793,"text":"I think this is a very premature ask for a lot of the things that you actually just talked about. We haven't decided what's going to happen with the police station building. That could become parking. Nevertheless, if the police are going to move out, they take up a fair amount of spaces in that back parking lot. So that's going to free up more parking. So I think among other things, I think this request is actually quite premature because I think there are things that are going to happen in the next year or so that is going to free up more parking naturally downtown because of, again, whatever gets decided at the police station and the police actually moving out of there, and not taking up some of those spaces. So I've got an issue with that. I also, and I may be jumping into your comment-","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=20285s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":20331.33,"end_sec":20366.11,"similarity":0.753,"text":"Go for it ... but I think part of the problem that we're hearing from merchants is that it's not so much a parking issue, it's an enforcement issue. So we have people who have these permits to park overnight, and they're supposed to be out by 8:00, and they're not out by 8:00, but they're not being ticketed either. So again, I think that's not a you issue, and I'm fully aware of that. But I think it's not necessarily that there's not an... I think again, there's a combination of issues here that could be addressed, that could alleviate some of what you're talking about or naturally will alleviate some of what you're talking about. So I think,","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=20331s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":20366.9,"end_sec":20373.97,"similarity":0.671,"text":"and I've got other comments and I will keep, but I think it's a premature ask. We don't have enough data to support this.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=20366s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-04","video_id":15,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight June 4th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5952,"start_sec":21388.55,"end_sec":21436.43,"similarity":0.761,"text":"So I want to thank you for bringing this forward also. I think a lot of us have been either directly or tangentially involved with sort of some of the heartache that's gone around this house- ... and there's been a lot of passion around this, and I'm glad that it's sort of forced this issue to sort of come forward. I think it's important, particularly in a historical town like Melrose. And I think my only question is sort of, I think we should get ahead of some of this stuff instead of-- and again, this one, the timing of it was. So sort of is there a plan? And maybe it's not you, this may be more geared towards the Historical Commission, and I appreciate that. But is there a plan to sort of, again, there's a handful of houses who sort of fall into what we're talking about. Is there a plan to sort of get ahead of it so we don't end up in the situation where there's a lot of hurt feelings-","url":"https://vimeo.com/1198822329#t=21388s","page_url":"/video/15"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-01","video_id":16,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council June 1st 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5945,"start_sec":976.36,"end_sec":995.24,"similarity":0.852,"text":"Hi. Thanks for being here tonight. Yeah. I'm just looking at your memo and reading through your memo and- Yeah ... your FY27 priority, you talk about achieving full compliance with the Mass Department of Revenue's five-year recertification. Are we not in compliance now, or is this looking forward that we have to keep doing things to be in compliance?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1197569438#t=976s","page_url":"/video/16"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-01","video_id":16,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council June 1st 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5945,"start_sec":1058.23,"end_sec":1062.23,"similarity":0.732,"text":"So that was my next question- Yeah ... is what is the liability if we are not in compliance?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1197569438#t=1058s","page_url":"/video/16"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-01","video_id":16,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council June 1st 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5945,"start_sec":4492.5,"end_sec":4547.27,"similarity":0.834,"text":"Hi. This is a lot to take in. We just actually got this today at 4:15. So this is just a lot of information. But one of the questions I have is that I understand that you have one principal now for the high school and the middle school. And I just have concerns that you've planned-- I know of his reputation. I know that everybody says it's working. I hear it. I understand that. I think it's a little bit chancy to plan something around a person as opposed to a process or a procedure. Anything could happen. And of course, we don't wish that at all, but it could. And so I'm just wondering if that is taken into account. It's not in this budget. But is there some sort of contingency somewhere should something happen and we are suddenly out two principals as opposed to one?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1197569438#t=4492s","page_url":"/video/16"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-01","video_id":16,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council June 1st 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5945,"start_sec":4588.98,"end_sec":4596.48,"similarity":0.731,"text":"If he were to leave, would you look to just hire one again, or would you be looking to split it and look for","url":"https://vimeo.com/1197569438#t=4588s","page_url":"/video/16"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-06-01","video_id":16,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight - City Council June 1st 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5945,"start_sec":4609.48,"end_sec":4615.23,"similarity":0.696,"text":"And when you say the stakeholders, I assume that's the teachers. Would that also be the parents?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1197569438#t=4609s","page_url":"/video/16"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-05-21","video_id":17,"video_title":"Boards and Commissions - Appropriations and Oversight May 21 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5937,"start_sec":378.87,"end_sec":390.37,"similarity":0.791,"text":"Hi. Thanks so much for coming before us tonight. And you may have just answered this, but I'm curious. There's a lot of commissions in Melrose, and so what made you particularly interested in this one?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1194581324#t=378s","page_url":"/video/17"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-05-21","video_id":17,"video_title":"Boards and Commissions - Appropriations and Oversight May 21 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5937,"start_sec":1930.68,"end_sec":1940.81,"similarity":0.779,"text":"Thank you, Attorney Phillips. Where is outside counsel fees? They don't look to be in this budget. Where are they generally housed or accounted for?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1194581324#t=1930s","page_url":"/video/17"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-05-21","video_id":17,"video_title":"Boards and Commissions - Appropriations and Oversight May 21 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5937,"start_sec":2728.91,"end_sec":2741.66,"similarity":0.78,"text":"Hi, thanks for joining us tonight. I just have a question about the overtime line. Given that you're open just regular hours, I'm curious as to how and when overtime is incurred.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1194581324#t=2728s","page_url":"/video/17"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-05-18","video_id":19,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight-City Council May 18th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5923,"start_sec":1407.15,"end_sec":1423.21,"similarity":0.784,"text":"Hi. And you said it, and I just could be missing it. I'm looking at the public works. What accounted for the large jump between '25 to '26 and then the decrease? You said something about capital. I just want to make sure I understand. And is there a chance that","url":"https://vimeo.com/1193450381#t=1407s","page_url":"/video/19"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-05-18","video_id":19,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight-City Council May 18th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5923,"start_sec":1424.02,"end_sec":1432.64,"similarity":0.746,"text":"they're going... Again, because it may not seem like a lot, but for $4 million, $5 million could be a lot. So what is accounting for that growth?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1193450381#t=1424s","page_url":"/video/19"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-05-18","video_id":19,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight-City Council May 18th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5923,"start_sec":3640.59,"end_sec":3703.34,"similarity":0.811,"text":"So thank you for being here tonight. My question is about timing, but it's a little bit of a different question about timing. I think one of the things that I'm struggling with, and we get a lot of worthy things in front of us, and this is certainly Top, for one of the top for me. I too, similar to Councilor Chen, am struggling a little bit with the cost of it. And I appreciate everything that you said, and I believe everything that you said, and I believe you will be a good steward for the money. But my issue is more around, I feel like what I'm struggling with a little bit is, I wish this had come to us when you had done the three bids. And so I just want to understand a little bit more of the timing of this and why we don't have the bids yet, and so why you're asking. And I get why you're asking for that amount of money. So I'm just trying to understand a little bit of the timing of this and why it seems, I'm going to use the word rushed, and I don't want you to take that the wrong way. I don't mean that you're doing that at all. But you're asking us to make a decision on a number that we don't really have. Mm-hmm. And as I said, there's a lot of stuff that comes before us that we then have to sort of go back and forth on. So I just want to get a little bit more clarity about that.","url":"https://vimeo.com/1193450381#t=3640s","page_url":"/video/19"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-05-18","video_id":19,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight-City Council May 18th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5923,"start_sec":3742.84,"end_sec":3757.59,"similarity":0.785,"text":"I understand that. I think... May I clarify? I think what I'm asking is, if this started last year, why don't we have... I'm not asking for the numbers, but why don't we have a number yet? Why are we still out- Oh, because the- ... with the procurement?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1193450381#t=3742s","page_url":"/video/19"},{"person":"kowal-elizabeth","date":"2026-05-18","video_id":19,"video_title":"Appropriations and Oversight-City Council May 18th 2026 Budget Hearing","meeting_id":5923,"start_sec":4860.19,"end_sec":4893.19,"similarity":0.771,"text":"Thank you for being here. Pleasure. What you do is so near and dear to my heart, and I am so glad to see you doing all the Memory Cafes. I'll turn it to my mother had dementia, so they were huge for our family. So, thank you. I also have a lot of aging neighbors who are at the Milano Center all the time, and they just rave about it. So, one of the questions I had, you talked about transportation, and this just may be me being new and not knowing how to read the budget, but where is the transportation? I see mileage, but where is transportation accounted for in the budget?","url":"https://vimeo.com/1193450381#t=4860s","page_url":"/video/19"}],"next_cursor":"u|2026-05-18|19|4860.19"}