PUBLIC COMMENT
Agenda original PDF
Minutes original PDF
Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Maya Jamaleddine (arrived late) III. PUBLIC COMMENT When: May 14, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: Appropriations & Oversight Committee Meeting Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android: https://cityofmelrose- org.zoom.us/j/93370046088?pwd=k7U4duAhOPQTNrssZW6Gego5yel3aK.1 Passcode:724263 Webinar ID: 933 7004 6088 Motion to Open public comment made by Chair Romanul at 7:01 PM There were no comments on the floor or via Zoom Motion to Close public comment made by Chair Romanul at 7:01 PM IV. DEPARTMENT BUDGET PRESENTATIONS A. Department Presenter 165 Liquor Commission 540 Beebe Estate 2750 Beebe Estate Revolving Account 542 Commission on Women 544 Human Rights Commission 545 Commission on Disability Chair Romanul stated that tonight is the first he
Transcript
▶ 0:38 Devin Romanul: 4th. Seeing no objection, those minutes are now approved. I'll also motion by unanimous consent to open the floor for public comment. Seeing no objections, we are now open for public comment. This is the portion of the meeting where members of the public may speak on any item on our agenda. Comments expressing other viewpoints on other matters are also welcome. Do we have anyone here who would like to participate in public comment?
▶ 1:00 Speaker 1: Do we have anybody online?
▶ 1:02 Speaker 2: Nobody online.
▶ 1:03 Devin Romanul: All right. If there are no objection, I'll motion by unanimous consent to close public comment. Seeing none, we are now closed for public comment. All right. Before we get into our first item, I just wanted to state for the general public and those in attendance, tonight is the first hearing for the fiscal year 2027 budget, spanning from July 1st of this year to June 30th of 2027. Just as a very quick one-minute background, the mayor has assembled and submitted a budget for the city council's consideration in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Melrose. That budget has been referred to this committee, the Committee of the Whole of the Appropriations and Oversight Committee, for consideration over the course of nine hearings over the next two months. In terms of process, what you can expect, just for the general public's edification, is that we have the power as a city council to either affirm each individual department's budget, reduce that number, or zero out that number. Those are the only choices that we as a body have. In terms of hearing structures, you'll see each individual department. Generally, the department head or sometimes a representative of a board or commission will come before us, give a brief opening statement. They have submitted policy memos to us for our consideration, and we have an opportunity to have a question and answer period before you all. Ultimately, I want to note that our schedule is online. It looks like this, if you happen to be watching on television or if you're here in the audience. And our next meeting on Monday, a few days from now, the mayor and the CFO will be joining us and giving an overview of the fiscal environment and the overall budget. So, that should be fantastic television. All right. Thank you so much for allowing me that preamble. Unless we have any other further questions or comments, Councilor Williams.