← Appropriations & Oversight Committee · 2021-05-26 · Appropriations and Oversight Budget Hearing
Public Comment
Agenda original PDF
Minutes original PDF
Transcript
▶ 0:01 Jeff McNaught: The recording. Good evening. The time is 6 31 p.m. on May 26, 2021. This is a meeting of the Appropriations Committee. I'm the chair of that committee, Councillor McNaught, and this is one of our budget hearings of the summer, which you'll see every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday for a few more weeks. In lieu of a roll call attendance, joining me this evening are the following voting council members, Vice Chair Eccles, Councilor Tramontozzi, Councilor McMaster, Councilor Migliorelli, Councilor Garipay, Councilor Grigoraitis, Councilor Jamaleddine, Councilor Thomas, and President Sinella. And I just wanted to announce that our fellow Councillor Stewart is at his daughter's orchestra concert tonight and cannot be with us this evening. So, we wish her and them the best and enjoyment at that. But the roll call that I did call or the attendance I called provides notice of quorum for the record. Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12th, 2020 order suspending certain provisions Of the open meeting law, and the governor's much March, 15th, 2020 order, imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in 1 place. This meeting of the appropriations committee will be conducted by a remote participation to the greatest extent possible. We will post an audio or video recording transcript or other comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the city of Merrill's website and on 3. Dot org, we're at the portion of our meeting where folks from the public can speak to any item on our agenda this evening, the public comment section and. Unless there's any objection, I will move by unanimous consent. To open the floor for public comment. Seeing no objection, the floor is open for public comment. Madam clerk. Do we have anyone would like to speak. you're in the audience and you'd like to speak please just raise your digital hand and we'll
▶ 2:28 Speaker 1: bring you in one at a time we have one individual is karen chetty making you up sorry can you hear
▶ 2:43 Speaker 2: us i sure can can you hear me yep right awesome all right well thank you for the opportunity to
▶ 2:47 Manjula Karamcheti: speak you've already received two communications from me today so i i promise to be very brief um for today i just want to fiercely advocate as as much as i can for you to approve the hr department's budget and for the director of hr's request for free cash and as i was thinking about whether i would speak or not um tonight during public comments i got stuck on something and i I really just wanted to share it more than anything. I am just curious how we ended up in a situation where free cash is really the only option for funding for DEI and anti-racist work. It just sort of leaves me wondering, did no city hall employees involved in the development of the city budget put in or advocate for any DEI line item related to programs, initiatives, or professional development? It's actually, to me, an indicator that Melrose has a bigger implicit systemic racist infrastructure if literally no one asked for or advocated for this at the city level. But there is hope, and you are that hope, City Councilor, with your vote for the HR budget and for the request for free cash from the HR Director, you can ensure that DEI and anti-racism work does continue in Melrose. and I really do hope that you vote that way. Thank you very much for your time and just appreciate everything that you do for Melrose.
▶ 4:27 Speaker 2: Thank you, Ms. Carmichaeli.
▶ 4:31 Speaker 2: Madam Clerk, do we have- I don't see any other hands up.
▶ 4:36 Speaker 1: There are none that I see either.
▶ 4:39 Jeff McNaught: At this time, I see no further hands raised in the attendee room. If there's no objection, I will move by unanimous consent to close public comment. Seeing no objection, public comment is now closed. At this time, as we will be speaking to many people outside of this body this evening, I will move by unanimous consent to suspend the rules if there is no objection.