Public Comment

Transcript (~5 min @ 1:18)

Speakers identified by voice; unnamed voices are numbered within this recording. Auto-caption text — verify against the video.

▶ 0:55 Jeff McNaught: This provides notice of the quorum for the record, and in accordance with the open meeting law, this meeting is being recorded and broadcast on our local cable access channel, MMTV, as well as being live streamed through MMTV3.org. The recording will be available for future viewing through the City of Murrow's website and on MMTV3.org. For the folks at home, this is the portion of our meeting where any member of the public may come forward, now physically, to speak to any item on our agenda. This is the public comment period. So at this time, if there's no objection, I'm sorry, Mr. President?

▶ 1:39 Speaker 1: There's also remote access.

▶ 1:41 Jeff McNaught: And there is also remote access via WebEx. if you go to the city's website you can get directions in participate remotely which is a great segue into why we're here this evening if there is no objection I will move by unanimous consent to open the floor for a public comment and seeing no objection we're now open for public comment do we have any members of the public here to speak to the Appropriations Committee agenda

▶ 2:16 Jeff McNaught: this evening being joined by Mayor Broder for public comment we also have

▶ 2:21 Paul Brodeur: Council Tramontozzi Tramontozzi no no I was waiting for me to have a seat good

▶ 2:24 John N. Tramontozzi: evening I was waiting for you our arrival before I sat down much appreciated all sorts of

▶ 2:29 Paul Brodeur: cameos this evening I want to I really just want to take a moment to thank the councillors and the whole council for the intention behind this I think it is a great idea and it is to build on some of the unfortunate but successful experiments we had with our technology and while i'm not authorized by the school committee to speak on behalf of the body tonight i do want folks to know we're thinking about this that the school committee like the city council is in fact going forward with the with the combination of kind of traditional meeting with the ability for remote participation starting at our last full meeting last month so thank you for doing this thank you mr mayor can we just get your

▶ 3:17 Speaker 2: address for the record 562 main street thank you did you verify that do we have anyone else uh

▶ 3:23 Jeff McNaught: present who would like to speak to the appropriations agenda

▶ 3:28 Speaker 3: do we have anyone on webex who would like to speak to the appropriations so if anyone there's one person as an attendee if you could just raise your digital hand i

▶ 3:42 Speaker 3: I can unmute you there was nobody in Webex however we do have a couple of letters that need to be read to the record okay and can we read those in now

▶ 3:55 Speaker 4: yes mr. Clark dear counselors Grigoraitis and Migorelli as chair of the Melrose Commission on disability I want to express my strong support for the resolution for the expansion on a permanent basis of remote participation during meetings of the City Council school committee other appointed boards and commissions and similar bodies the opportunity to publicly participate in meet in meetings remotely allows for greater and more diverse public participation and stronger government transparency and accountability remote participation provides both convenience but also allows for participation by many individuals who for a variety of reasons cannot otherwise participate including some individuals with disabilities as efforts to allow remote participation move forward it is important that such efforts are fully inclusive and maximize accessibility for those with disabilities the Commission on disability welcomes opportunity to work with the city to ensure that is the case thank you for the opportunity to support this resolution chair Hoff

▶ 4:55 Speaker 4: Commission on disability thank you to make concern my name is Rilda

▶ 5:06 Speaker 4: Kiesel and I'm the chair of the Melrose Commission on women I'm writing in support of councillor Jen rigoritis and councillor Lila McGirelli's resolution to promote remote access for all boards, commissions and committees.

▶ 5:24 Speaker 4: As the chair of the Women's Commission, I am keenly aware that women often bear responsibility for child care in the home and how this may affect one's ability to engage in civic meetings. Beyond child care, there are many other factors that may prevent someone from attending an in-person meeting. Throughout the pandemic, the Melrose Commission on Women has noted that our meetings and our events were more accessible and better attended due to the remote availability I fully support the resolution to continue to have this access for those unable to attend city meetings in person thank you

▶ 6:02 Speaker 3: Rilda Kissel do we have anyone else in queue if there is no objection I will

▶ 6:07 Jeff McNaught: move by unanimous consent to close public comment public comment is now