Public Comment

Transcript (~4 min @ 1:00)

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▶ 1:03 Speaker 1: Thank you everyone.

▶ 1:07 Leila Migliorelli: Now I will motion by unanimous consent to open the floor for public comment. Seeing no objection, we are now open for public comment. This is the portion of the meeting where anyone can speak on any item on our agenda tonight. Is there anyone here in the public wishing to speak?

▶ 1:31 Speaker 2: Good evening, Jamal Locklin, 39 Lincoln Street. I appreciate the opportunity to speak briefly about order 2024 dash four zoning for brewery use. I don't object to the concept of locally brewing and selling beer for onsite consumption. I agree that it could bring some new vibrancy to Melrose, but I do think that the food requirements and other appropriate regulations need to be an important part of framing that. And to be clear by food requirements, I mean the current regulation for restaurants that requires food to be ordered prior to the second drink. The food requirements is important for two reasons. Physically, food slows the absorption of alcohol, but more importantly, the food requirement sends a message and reinforces a behavior at the point of onsite consumption that drinking alcohol as part of something else is more acceptable and less potentially harmful than drinking alcohol as an activity unto itself. And let's set aside the glamorization that comes with alcohol promotion. Without appropriate framing, including the food requirements, a brewery can be no different than a tavern. We have a city government that takes great pride in supporting organizations that combat domestic violence. At a high level, I've seen statistics that alcohol isn't a factor in one half to two thirds of all domestic violence incidents. While we may discuss the precision of the statistics, I would hope that we could agree on the accuracy of the general conclusion and be aware of the devastating impact beyond domestic violence. We know that there are many other issues associated with alcohol abuse. It's a little ironic that tonight I saw signs on the city hall lawn promoting National Recovery month, which addresses both drug and alcohol addiction. Many people handle alcohol responsibly, but we need to remember that at many others struggle. It is important that brewery use be framed appropriately During the first appropriations meeting on this subject. And then at the August 14th public hearing, several of you discussed or acknowledged social consequences associated with alcohol abuse. I appreciate that. During the public hearing, one of our city councils asked if the food requirement would apply. The August 28th letter from the planning board addresses several questions from the city council, but not that question. At this point, I do not think brewery use has been sufficiently defined for the city council, the elected body to approve it. We're not talking about a technical detail like the alcohol content of beer. We're talking about community values in fostering socially responsible behavior. This is a matter for the city council, the elected body. I ask that you hold this in council until the Liquor Commission has drafted regulations that more specifically define the use prior to your making a decision regarding the appropriateness of zoning for the use. And thank you for your time.

▶ 4:55 Speaker 1: Thank you. Anyone else here wishing to speak? Is there anyone online?

▶ 5:00 Speaker 3: Uh, there are no attendees online at this time.

▶ 5:02 Leila Migliorelli: Okay. Um, I just wanna note for the record that we've also received, the counsel has received around 20 emails or so for order 2024 dash four. Um, just wanna acknowledge that, that those are in the record in I QM two. If there's no objection, I'd like to close public comment. Seeing none, we are now closed for public comments. Since we have members of the administration here tonight to speak on the items before us, I'd like to motion by unanimous consent to suspend rule 37 B before we proceed. Seeing no objection, the rule Rule 37 B is now suspended. First on our agenda tonight is appropriation 2024 dash one and appropriation from the contract stabilization fund 8 4 0 4 to library budget 6 1 1 to fund year one of the recently executed C B A in the amount of $44,410. Tonight we have Paulina Lata, director of HR here with us to speak on this order. Welcome.