Adjournment

Transcript (~9 min @ 3:25:20)

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

▶ 3:25:16 Manisha Bewtra: you we are reconvening the legal and legislative committee we had recessed before we had to with recessed in order to start the appropriations public hearing I am vice chair of legal and legislative Manisha Bewtra and we left off with comments from colleagues around the chamber next in queue was alderman

▶ 3:25:48 Michael P. Zwirko: Zorco Thank You madam chair so this this order that's before us I I think it may before I comment on the order itself I know that ordinances generally have to start under the rules within legal and legislative I think given the makeup of the committee it might be best served as opposed to holding it in this committee maybe maybe transferring it to appropriations where it could be heard just so other folks would be voting members and they could add their their comments or any amendments so that's just a suggestion since it had its hearing this evening in legal and legislative so this ordinance so I know I know that Arlington did this and I want to say in 2017 and I followed it at the time because I did raise it with the administration at the time about something that should be considered and then in working with them I pulled back because it was it was very onerous at times for the departments to implement and then of course I reached out to the economic development coordinator in Arlington and I spoke with her about this and she was very objective in her analysis about it I I do think that even even herself she had some some concerns about the administration of it the financial hard strip is financial hard strip hardship is very stringent that the 90 days could be extended their longer time frames allow to be more thoughtful about what types of tenants creating a database of artists was was onerous so there were some it was a good conversation that we had at the time and I think that ultimately there was a comment that was made during the public portion about the but the most the Melrose outdoor camera what the acronym yes the open studio store thank you and and you know i really enjoyed that because there was a couple of photos actually from newfoundland which i admired i believe they were hanging outside of jacomo's at the time but i do think that there are ways that we can improve the downtown and in our community without without this specific ordinance and i i do i have to echo the concerns that were raised by the planning director office of community planning about um the caruso's property you know that that one was just i almost feel that this and a lot of what we hear in chatter in in melrose has to do with caruso's because everybody is just so frustrated with that property just languishing especially given its location and the fact that it's it was up until about two months ago that there was even a for lease sign that was placed on it you know i think we do have a very vibrant downtown here and i know back in 2008 2009 2010 downtown melrose looked like you know a lyric from a bruce springsteen song with whitewashed windows and that's not the case here the market that we offer businesses is a vibrant one you know we're a relatively affluent community i was just at the soft opening of the what will soon be the rising eagle and the owner of that restaurant stated that their reason for opening their type of tavern in melrose was because the 30 to 50 year old crowd is very active and very supportive of the restaurant industry and they feel that it's a it's a it's a market that will be very favorable for them and we know that that is to be the case quite frankly a lot of people actually wish we had more restaurants and to an earlier comment about you know too many pizza shops well if you don't want pizza shops don't eat pizza but these businesses are successful you know the reason that they're open is because they're successful so I think we do have a very good market here and and the turnover doesn't really take too long I mean in the slides presented earlier was feng shui and that's about to be open within a matter of weeks there are some businesses that fail and I wonder if it's actually either the quality of the building or the location of the building down in West Wyoming there's been some turnover recently next to cloud nine but across the street there's a building it's a white building it's small with a front glass storefront but it it has been several businesses over the years and nothing has really taken so query whether or not it's the quality of the building as opposed to its location because there has been economic development in that area just not in that building but I do think that like most the the spirit of this order is a good one i am very worried about and we saw this with the snow removal ordinance the issues that came up during that discussion over the imposition on the building inspections department i don't think that this program is tough to administer once it's up and running but i think once it's up and running or getting it up and running is actually quite difficult to do and i will also add that at least in the arlington example that position is run by an economic development coordinator not a senior planner not a planning director it's a specific role that is filled in similar communities by that type of a title and that type of a background so I wanted to provide my comments on this order I I appreciate the art component I I just wonder if it's a if if it's necessary given how much economic activity we have so I'll chairman Rita unless there's something

▶ 3:31:46 Francis X. Wright Jr.: else to be said I was gonna move I will move that we hold this matter in

▶ 3:32:03 Monica C. Medeiros: committee do I hear a second second I did think that I saw present another I'm

▶ 3:32:09 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: sorry wanting to apologize my my comments very very brief part of which we're going to be that I would certainly support holding this in whatever committee you know is appropriate because we did get some information in a very late hour and I just feel like I have some more thinking to do about this wanted to just very quickly say that well I'll save some things but one to perhaps for the maker of the order to ruminate on is I do agree with Alderman Medeiros concern brought up earlier about properties that do not have a publicly visible location and then being subject to a fine when they don't have any option to display art and maybe there could be an amendment to that I

▶ 3:32:48 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: i have further sorry further comments um but i will save them uh if we are to hold this in

▶ 3:32:55 Manisha Bewtra: committee given the late hour apologies any further comments before we can i just um i won't

▶ 3:32:59 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: discuss the substance of this tonight because i and i really appreciate the uh the feedback um i also just wanted to note that we did the board received several letters from constituents and in the past ordinance proposals we have attached those to the record so i would ask that the committee committee member maybe make that motion as well at some point thank you do

▶ 3:33:25 Manisha Bewtra: we need to do something with the previous or uh motion are we can we act on this motion

▶ 3:33:36 Speaker 1: to attach the orders i believe we can attach the orders all right

▶ 3:33:45 Manisha Bewtra: thank you second um any further discussion um so there was a motion on the floor to hold us in committee and i believe we need a second from a voting member second second okay

▶ 3:33:59 Speaker 1: all in favor aye aye we are um a motion to adjourn motion to adjourn we are adjourned have a good

▶ 3:34:09 Speaker 1: night