Public Participation

Transcript (~6 min @ 12:20)

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

▶ 12:13 John N. Tramontozzi: Good evening, this is the Legal and Legislative Committee meeting of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Moros. I am Chairman Alderman Tramontozzi with us this evening, our Vice Chairman Francis Wright. Also, voting members Alderman Mortimer, Forbes, Zwirko, President Kahn, non-voting members Alderman Boisselle, Inferno, Lummerman, McIntyre, Migolas, and Medeiros. Do I have a motion to open the floor for public comment? So moved, Mr. Chairman. Very good. We do have a motion by Alderman Mortimer, seconded by Alderman Forbes. On the motion, all in favor? Aye. Any opposed, seeing none. This is the opportunity for any member of the public that wish to come forward. We see somebody coming forward. Wonderful. Could you just, this is an opportunity for any member of the public who wishes to come forward to speak on any matter on our agenda. And just for the record too, I want to note that this meeting, as well as all of our meetings, are duly recorded for later viewing in pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. So good evening, if you could just introduce yourself and just put your name. Put this forward as a second. That's fine.

▶ 13:22 Speaker 3: I'm Katie Kennedy I live at 103 Mount Vernon Avenue Ward 5 precinct 2 and I came actually last week not understanding that during your full or real Alderman meetings really isn't discussion so I'm back here tonight to publicly participate and I come here in support of all them and Jennifer Lemmerman and her initiative to start a Melrose Commission for women last week when I came I brought my sister with me and she recently moved from 25 years in Orange County California and it was cold so that just proves how much we're behind all the middle Emmerman and this this initiative Melrose has a really interesting history of creative people starting projects that then become institutionalized like things that we legal women voters have done that resulted in Melrose Alliance against violence the Melrose Human Rights Commission is a formal part of the city which again started with creative people trying to problem-solve and react to some incidents that happened at the time we have the birth to five movement that's you know very recent and then one of the things that I respect so much in the last few years is history teacher Lisa Lord and her veterans projects with schools and so now it's time as they said Melrose has really interesting creative people and I count Alderman Lemon and trying to start this Women's Commission and there are very few municipalities in the state of Massachusetts that actually have formal commissions there are a few regional ones Melrose is not covered and it's when I read about it the article and talked to Jennifer about it it's very interesting to see that you know there's some real gaps and interest to advocate on behalf of women and for for women's needs and in particular my personal interest is in health care advocacy and financial literacy I mean we look at Millennials young people who graduate from college both male and female who come back to live at home because they can't afford apartments or a mortgage they need financial literacy people who are going to be retiring I just I'm dealing we know being 60 financial letter financial literacy so there's all kind I mean the the possibilities are endless but the Melrose Commission on women could do skill building things we could have mini conferences you know to teach women how to invest how to communicate how to handle conflicts advocacy how do we come in front of a whether it's our local political bodies or state legislatures and federal governments we really need to help teach women in particular how to have their voices heard and their needs met and as they said advocacy skill building I think is something that we could do with the Commission on women and just I'll end by saying that I've had a little bit of experience in some of my overseas work in Northern Islands women coalition and it evolved into when I was first there it evolved into working with the Good Friday Agreement the State Department of the United States the Northern Island Assembly training political women from every part of the community very divided political perspectives so there's so many things that you know small little initiatives could do that we could really help help Melrose and that there are really vital voices and needs that we have to tap so So I would just urge you to please pass Alderman Lemmerman resolution and change your charter. Thank you.

▶ 17:38 Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you.

▶ 17:41 Speaker 1: Motion to close public participation?

▶ 17:43 John N. Tramontozzi: Second. Seeing no additional members of the public who wish to come forward at this time, there is a motion to close public participation by Alderman Forbes, seconded by Alderman Mortimer. On the motion, all in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Seeing none, public participation is now closed. i think i failed to read the order didn't i maybe i'd better read it well um well actually no then we are beginning to right read the orders uh and i will read the order now order two zero one six dash seven seven is amending the revised administrative code in accordance with section five dash one of the marrow city charter to establish a commission on woman in the city