Public Comment

Transcript (~10 min @ 1:20:35)

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

▶ 1:20:35 Speaker 11: McMaster yes, not. Yes, yes, Stuart. Yes, Thomas. Yes. Yes, yes.

▶ 1:20:56 Speaker 11: Yes, yes. Okay. I'm sorry. I didn't hear anything. Okay.

▶ 1:21:01 Jen Grigoraitis: 11 yes so public comment is open just for those of us those that are watching i know we had folks who were with us in the appropriations meeting under the state open meeting law we needed to begin the public comment portion of the city council meeting so that is the public comment period that's now opened which is to speak to any item on the agenda for the full council and if you wish to speak you can raise your digital hand and we can pull you forward is there anyone wishing to

▶ 1:21:36 Speaker 11: speak madam president the um the challenge i'm having is i think there's some people who are left over from the appropriations committee who still have their hand raised okay yeah i see what

▶ 1:21:48 Jen Grigoraitis: you're talking about um i believe uh mr mcsweeney did not speak in public comment prior nor did miss karen ketty i believe it's only those two okay so i will start with mr mcsweeney he's the

▶ 1:21:58 Speaker 11: the first one I've seen, so I'm unmuting you now, Mr. McSweeney, I think. Oh, actually, you know what, Ms. Foote, I think you're still the host.

▶ 1:22:15 Speaker 11: Ms. Foote will unmute you now, Mr. McSweeney.

▶ 1:22:18 Speaker 2: Thank you. Appreciate it. Hi, Finn McSweeney, 160 West Wyoming Avenue. I just wanted to really briefly speak on 20-21-39, which was the resolution requesting state action on the service cuts. I just wanted to 1st, express my appreciation to the council for so directly stating what public transportation means to Melrose as everyone observed this message really came through loud and clear in the master plan. And so it is fundamental to the identity of the city that we have a strong network of public transportation. Melrose wouldn't exist as a distinct municipality from Malden and Stoneham. were it not for the train stations so i think it's great when we speak forcefully um i also want to remind the council that these cuts whether they happen or not are likely to happen um really quickly you know what while you all are sitting in the seats you're sitting in and should one or all of them come to pass um i would recommend that our morning period be really short and that the council instead would turn around and start to pressure the mayor and the city on what we can do to improve rates of walking and biking to the remaining transit that we do have. You know, under all circumstances, right, we're going to retain two commuter rail stops we're gonna retain the 132 bus at least and we're gonna retain our proximity to Oak Grove station this is two by two two mile by two mile city and we're gonna remain an accessible community I heard from one resident who right now takes the 131 bus to Oak Grove saying oh geez I guess now I have to drive to Wellington and I think that we really as a community need to set some type of measurable goal where we say we're gonna get people who are accustomed to the 131 who are accustomed to the 136 safely to our remaining transportation options the city this year received shared streets and spaces grant there is another funding round going on right now and I would really love to see the council agitate with the city towards uh figuring out what we can do to really quickly promote walking really quickly promote cycling to the remaining transit stations especially to oak grove the city is planning on repaving main street next year we need to get people on bikes onto main street and we need to let them do it safely if that means eliminating parking street parking along the route guess what it's in the master plan that transportation is important to us so let's let's make sure that we're we're using our streets and our sidewalks to fulfill that vision we have um for ourselves as a city and again i i would really love to see you all making those efforts and and and doing that um activism with the city because it's going It's going to happen really, really quickly, and you'll be in position to try to push the city's hand to make sure we set goals and achieve them for maintaining transit access for the community. So, thanks, everybody. Appreciate it.

▶ 1:26:02 Jen Grigoraitis: Thank you, Mr. McSweeney.

▶ 1:26:08 Speaker 11: Next, Ms. Karamkheti, I'll unmute you.

▶ 1:26:16 Speaker 11: There you go.

▶ 1:26:24 Speaker 4: The floor is yours.

▶ 1:26:41 Speaker 11: Ms. Karamkheti?

▶ 1:26:57 Speaker 4: No.

▶ 1:27:00 Speaker 11: I'll move on. I think that's the only other person we had.

▶ 1:27:19 Speaker 4: Yes, I believe so.

▶ 1:27:21 Speaker 7: Okay.

▶ 1:27:23 Speaker 1: Okay. One quick second. I believe Mr. Luke is raising his hand again.

▶ 1:27:28 Speaker 11: Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, I thought.

▶ 1:27:31 Speaker 1: We'll just check.

▶ 1:27:32 Speaker 2: Yeah.

▶ 1:27:34 Christopher Cinella: President, I believe Mrs. Karamachetti does want to speak.

▶ 1:27:39 Jen Grigoraitis: Okay, and she's having technical difficulty.

▶ 1:27:42 Speaker 11: Let me unmute you again, hold on. Let's see, I've unmuted you again.

▶ 1:28:02 Jen Grigoraitis: That's kind of petty. Do we want to go to Mr. and we can keep trying to work on this county? Sure.

▶ 1:28:14 Speaker 11: Uh, Mr, you are unmuted.

▶ 1:28:17 Speaker 2: Hi, can you hear me? Yes. Yes. Okay. Well, uh, and I are here as a team, um. Representing the Melrose racial justice coalition. Um, so I can read that. The statement that she was going to read in, um. It's in relation to, um, in relation to hiring. Practices, which is on the agenda for tonight as well. Correct?

▶ 1:28:51 Speaker 2: Okay, I'll just read in. My name is Alistair Mook. I'm at 63 Noel Road, and I'm here representing the Melrose Racial Justice Community Coalition and our group steering committee. We're commenting as a group in regards to Order 2021-37. Our coalition has determined that one of our major goals is to focus on the representation of people of color at the city, school, and community levels. This includes but is not limited to representation in personnel, programs, and policies. Our coalition was disappointed in the recruitment of applicants, the hiring process, and the lack of transparency around the recent opening of the Director of Human Resources position. This was a critical opportunity to consider two weeks to change and to look at our city's practices around job postings and outreach in regards to diversity, equity, and inclusion work. To be clear, our concerns are not with the hiring of Ms. Lotta herself, but with the process by which the City recruits candidates for new positions. In light of our concerns, and given the fact that this issue has already more or less been settled, there are two questions we would like to leave the Council with and the City with. What is the plan for diversity, equity, and inclusion work in regards to recruitment, retention and ultimately representation and human resources in the other city departments going forward and how will diversity equity inclusion principles and practices be embedded into all future hiring moving forward in a way that insurance ensures openness transparency and opportunity thank you very much thank you do we have anyone else thank you motion

▶ 1:30:50 Jen Grigoraitis: We have a motion to close public comment made by Councilor Sinella, seconded by Councilor Garipay. Madam Clerk, can you please call the roll?