Public Participation

Transcript (~3 min @ 1:06:22)

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

▶ 1:06:21 Speaker 3: So moved.

▶ 1:06:22 Speaker 8: Second. Public participation.

▶ 1:06:24 John N. Tramontozzi: We have a motion for open the floor for public participation by Alderman Mortimer, seconded by Alderman McAteer-Margolis. On the motion, all in favor? Aye. Aye. The opposed, seeing none. We are open for public participation. If anybody in the audience wishes to come forward to talk about any matter on the agenda, you're welcome to come forward. We have a few orders on the agenda this evening.

▶ 1:06:55 Speaker 6: Good evening. Good evening. My name is Harold Hawks, Melrose Street, Melrose Towers. I was before the Board of Aldermen on June 1, Alderman meeting, Monica Majerus, Alderman at Lodge, introduced order 215193, I believe, which addresses the unfair water and sewer rates which have been levied by the city on the condominiums and

▶ 1:07:24 Speaker 2: large apartment complexes within the city.

▶ 1:07:27 Speaker 6: I spoke at the June 1 meeting about how unfair that was because I live at Melrose Towers. we have 54 units in one building on one meter and we automatically get moved to the higher rate so individually each unit owner is paying the highest rate even though individually we use at the lowest rate and Monica Medeiros is order addresses that issue where there would be I'm not quite sure how it's worded but it would average what individual units would be and would reduce our raised to the lower rate. My condo fees in Merrill's Towers went up 8% last year, primarily due to the increased water and sewer

▶ 1:08:12 Speaker 6: rates. And I just want to speak in favor of the Order 193 that addresses this inequity. I just want to add one more thing. I got a call from the Merrill's Weekly News today that my letter to the editor will be published in Friday's newspaper where I talk about this issue and i in the issue in the letter to the editor i recommend that all people that live in condominiums in the city and large complexes vote against the override initiative until the water and sewer issue is fixed because if we have a override which increases our real estate tax in addition to the higher water rates it's really unfair to us living in condominiums so

▶ 1:08:55 Speaker 2: thank you for your attention thank you sir you have to sign this piece of paper by the way yes Yes, please. Thank you.

▶ 1:09:01 John N. Tramontozzi: Thank you. Any other members of the public who wish to come forward to speak on any matters on our agenda this evening?

▶ 1:09:07 Peter D. Mortimer: Motion to close public participation, Mr. Chairman.

▶ 1:09:09 John N. Tramontozzi: Seeing no other members of the public wishing to come forward, we have a motion to close public participation by Alderman Mortimer, seconded by Alderman Forbes. On that motion, all in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Seeing none, public participation is closed. We have a motion for a recess.