An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $25,000 to the Mayor's Office (#121) to support Chamber and City events.

Transcript (~5 min @ 1:23:20)

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▶ 1:23:17 Speaker 1: Thank you for having me with you again.

▶ 1:23:22 Speaker 1: So again, this appropriation, there's a memo attached to the order, comes to you. This was something that was on the operating budget for a long time. To Councilor Williams' sort of point about transparency, the cost to support chamber events were housed in overtime line items, so we didn't see the exact cost. And then during the unfortunate budget cycle, which Mayor Gregoritis and many of you had to go through last fiscal year, we used a remaining ARPA allocation to be able to fund those awesome events. And in full disclosure, I was in the role that Stephanie Nelson was in before I came to the city, if that's of importance to anybody. So I also know how important these events are to the community. And so as we work to get some of these things back on budget and to have it in a transparent way that shows a line item for community events so that you all can see how much these cost, and in knowing that the chamber starts their year July 1 with this stroll in July, we were coming to you with this request, which we think is rather timely to keep those events going.

▶ 1:24:30 Devin Romanul: All right. Up first I have Councilor Forno-Iarro. Thank you.

▶ 1:24:33 Cal Finocchiaro: Thank you again. I see you again. So again, we have the appropriation. This seems like it's more level funded, similar to what we, I think we appropriated $30,000 for ARPA funds last year. I did some research. It seemed like it's been around that number, 28-ish, over the years, indirectly, like you said, through the DPW, fire, and police. So I have an easier time really fully supporting this. Obviously, the chamber, much like the Cultural Council, does amazing stuff for the city. And I would also like to see, and I know this can't happen now, but going forward, potentially moving this into ... a budget line item, as it sort of indirectly was for years. Kind of making more sense of it and putting it in as a line item. That's just something I think should happen as well. So,

▶ 1:25:30 Cal Finocchiaro: that's it. I would make a motion, but I don't know if other people would. I would make a motion to recommend. Second.

▶ 1:25:36 Devin Romanul: All right. Motion to recommend by Councilor Finocchiaro, seconded by Councilor Williams. On discussion, I have Councilor Williams first.

▶ 1:25:41 Ryan Williams: Just me. I would ask that you put more money into this in the future. And the reason being that we have $25,000 for, is it three? Is it Home for the Holidays, Summer Stroll, and Victorian Fair, right? The events are very popular, right? And one of the things that I've talked about a lot is that we should do more Summer Strolls, and we should do more street closure events, more pedestrianization events, because they're super popular, and people love them, and I wish that there were more of them, particularly in the summer months when we can all walk around outside without freezing our butts off. Mm-hmm.

▶ 1:26:18 Speaker 5: All right. I'm next. I have President Freeman.

▶ 1:26:22 Bradley Freeman: Thank you very much. And Councilor Williams just stole most of my remarks right there, because I too am fully supportive of this. I had a chance to meet with Ms. Nelson a few weeks ago and shared with her that as someone who moved to Melrose about 15 years ago now, I found the events, particularly the Victorian Fair, to be incredibly welcoming and a great way to learn more about the community. And I too share the desire to have more Summer Strolls. I think it's a great way to bring more people into Melrose to support our restaurants and businesses on Main Street, and would love to see us move to once a month in the summer. So again, thank you very much for bringing this before us, and I fully support it.

▶ 1:26:55 Speaker 5: Terrific. Councilor Karamcheti.

▶ 1:26:57 Manjula Karamcheti: I will be brief and just say, I do believe that the events that the chamber puts on are just critical to Melrose as a community. When I moved here, what, like 15 years ago? They were big, but now they're huge, and I feel like everybody in the community really comes out for them, and that's a pretty special thing. I want to encourage my colleagues to consider being a trolley conductor.

▶ 1:27:28 Speaker 6: Councilor Finocchiaro and I did it in the winter, and

▶ 1:27:31 Speaker 1: we were pretty spectacular.

▶ 1:27:33 Manjula Karamcheti: I was out of town. And I know all of you can be, too. I met so many constituents being on that trolley. It was pretty amazing. And so again, it's another opportunity for connection, and I think connection really matters right now, so

▶ 1:27:50 Speaker 6: I'm very supportive, clearly.

▶ 1:27:52 Devin Romanul: Any other colleagues on discussion? I'll just briefly share my deep appreciation for the event, for the organization, and I've lost my children many times at your events, so- ... for that reason, I'm for continuing them. In case my wife is watching, that's a joke. Anna Clark, could you please call the roll?

▶ 1:28:09 Speaker 3: I do not actually recall that.

▶ 1:28:10 Speaker 6: You can ask them.

▶ 1:28:11 Speaker 2: Councilor Vandiver. Yes. Councilor Chen. Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro. Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine. Yes. Councilor Karamcheti. Yes. Councilor Kowal. Yes. Councilor Park. Yes. Councilor Williams. Yes. President Freeman. Yes. Chair Romanul. Yes.

▶ 1:28:28 Devin Romanul: Motion passes. Ah, the ayes have it, and that will move on to the next city council meeting. Last but not least, we have today, uno sumi. That is the penultimate order. My apologies. 2026-616, an order to define the Veteran Volunteer Tax Work Off Program. Joining us this evening- Hello ... Ms. Tammy Shevelson, our veteran services director. Thank you so much for joining us.