Public Comment

Transcript (~7 min @ 1:01)

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

▶ 0:50 Jeff McNaught: Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12th, 2020 order suspending certain provisions of the open meeting law and the governor's March 15th 2020 order imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in one 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 Moro's website and on MMTV3.org. For the folks

▶ 1:28 Jeff McNaught: at home we are now going to vote to open our public comment period. This is the portion of the meeting where any member of the public can comment on anything related to the agenda this evening. At this time I'll entertain a motion

▶ 1:52 Jeff McNaught: to open public comment public comment by vice chair Eccles seconded by councillor Grigoraitis madam clerk we please call the roll chair McNaught yes

▶ 2:01 Speaker 1: vice chair Eccles yes that's what Raymond Josie yes councillor McMaster yes councillor Garipay yes Councilor Grigoraitis? Yes. Councilor Migliorelli? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Thomas? Yes. President Cinella?

▶ 2:26 Jeff McNaught: Yes. Ten yes. Motion passes and I'm looking in the attendee room I don't see any virtual hands but Oh, actually I do. We have Mr. Finn McSweeney. I will unmute him now.

▶ 2:42 Speaker 2: Hi, everybody. Finn McSweeney, 160 West Wyoming. I'm calling tonight just to speak briefly on the proposed property tax exemption plan for seniors who have lived here for a long time. As someone who, it's my understanding that this will basically raise my taxes, like, $30 a year, right? To help keep seniors who have been in Melrose a long time In their homes, and I think that's awesome. I've spoken to a number of you about how I really would like my taxes raised. To help promote preservation of the community and just to give a little context on this. I've talked to a number of you about need to actually raise revenue. I think that Melrose should look to raise revenue, not only to help seniors stay in their homes, but also to build new senior housing, build new affordable housing. And during the mayoral campaign, then Rep Broder said that he didn't think that in the short term raising revenues for community preservation was the right move, But that he did think the city should look into senior property tax exemptions. I think this is him, you know, making good on that idea. But my perspective on it is that if I'm being asked to pay $30 a year more to do some portion of a program for promoting affordable housing, Why not just ask me to pay 50 a year more, and then we can really not only raise the same amount of money as this exemption would raise, but we'd be able to raise more to actually start to put money into the affordable housing trust. You know, when we bought our house in Melrose in 2019, we bought our house from a family who had been here for like, 35 years. They were older, they were retired, they were ready to downsize. They really desperately wanted to stay in Melrose, but they couldn't find a downsize option. So they ended up leaving and moving to Linfield and this Approach while great for a number of seniors who want to stay in their homes. Doesn't constitute a whole program. And I think that I'd really like to understand, I guess, from the administration, if there is. More of a plan in the short term to actually raise revenue. And then, if not, you know, I'd really encourage. The council to consider options, like community preservation, because for folks who are being asked to pay 30 dollars a year more in property taxes. Now, it's a real short road to just paying. 20 dollars a year more and then we're actually raising revenue to fund the creation of new affordable housing. And the only reason I raise it in that context is just because during the campaign, that's kind of how it was raised is that. The mayor didn't really think we should raise revenue, but that he did want to do this. And my perspective is that we should go further. So, again, I'm happy to see action on helping promote affordable housing. I just think let's not do a halfway measure until we're sure, or let's make sure that we have a short-term approach to just raise a little bit more and then actually start producing Affordable housing more affordable housing in the city. I don't think we need to wait for the housing production plan. I think we know that we can do this, or we can know that we can ask the voters to do it. So, thank you everybody. I appreciate it. Bye. Thank you. Mr. McSweeney.

▶ 6:53 Jeff McNaught: Adam clerk, I don't see anyone else with their hand raised.

▶ 7:00 Speaker 3: Correct motion to close public comment.

▶ 7:04 Jeff McNaught: Motion to close public comment made by Councilor Thomas, seconded by President Sinella. Adam Clark, will you please call the roll?

▶ 7:11 Speaker 1: Chair McNaught? Yes. Vice Chair Eccles? Yes. Councilor Tramontozzi? Yes. Councilor McMaster? Yes. Councilor Garipay? Yes. Councilor Grigoraitis? Yes. Councilor Migliorelli? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Consort Thomas. Yes.

▶ 7:39 Jeff McNaught: President, yes, I guess. I mean, excuse me. 1110. Yes. 10. Yes. The motion passes and at this point, before we get to our business, I know that we have some folks from the administration with us this evening. So, at this time, I'll entertain a motion to suspend the rules.

▶ 7:59 Jeff McNaught: Motion to suspend the rules? Second. Motion to suspend the rules by Councillor Garipay, seconded by President Cinella. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?