Public Participation

Transcript (~3 min @ 17:30)

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

▶ 17:27 Peter D. Mortimer: Motion to open the floor for public participation, Mr. President. Second.

▶ 17:30 Speaker 1: Alderman Mortimer moves to open the floor for public participation. The motion is seconded by Alderman Boycelle. On the motion, all those in favor? Aye. Anyone opposed? Motion passes. This is the portion of our meeting where anybody who wishes to address any of the items that are on our agenda for this evening can come forward to the table in the center of the room, identify yourself and state your address, and we will listen to whatever you have to say relative to agenda items. Is there anybody who wishes to come forward at this time?

▶ 18:08 Monica C. Medeiros: Thank you. I was wondering if you might explain the public hearings coming up, Mr. President.

▶ 18:13 Speaker 1: Yeah, I can explain them after we conclude public participation. This is the public participation portion of our meeting. We will have public hearings later on. You can speak now or you can speak at the public hearing.

▶ 18:26 Speaker 3: My name is Arnold Koch from Cranmore Lane. I just want to make a quick remark. In 2005, Melrose established a retroactive billing system for water and sewer bills so that beginning the new fiscal year, July 1, the new, usually higher rates could be billed retroactively over the three previous months. In 2008, the Board of Aldermen overturned the practice with billings based on the actual fiscal year. In 2013, at the request of the DPW, the Aldermen reinstituted the back-billing practice. As a dissenting Alderman said, quote, "'It's like buying a gallon of milk, "'drinking it in June, "'and being charged for it in July at a higher price.'" The back billing was reinstated in spite of the fact that in 2008, the Massachusetts Municipal Association published a statement, quote, fees for services can only be used to offset the actual expense incurred by the municipality in delivering the service in that fiscal year. Trash fees, water, and sewer bills fall within this category. I think there's a very fair and equitable system and it should be restored the way it was earlier. Thank you. Thank you, sir

▶ 19:55 Speaker 1: Is there anybody else would like to speak at this time

▶ 20:01 Speaker 1: You could speak at that about that now or you could speak at it about it later on in the evening When we have a public hearing relative to that, whichever you prefer sir, okay

▶ 20:12 Speaker 1: Anybody else who wishes to speak right now? motion to close public participation second alderman inferno moves to close public participation the motion is seconded by alderman mortimer on the motion all those in favor aye anyone opposed uh before we proceed further uh i am compelled to tell you that this meeting is being recorded and will be broadcast on local cable television in accordance with the massachusetts open meeting law we will be having a public hearing on the melrose operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year at eight o'clock and after that we will be having a public hearing relative to water and sewer rates so if anybody wishes to speak on either of those issues at public hearing you're