Public Comment

Transcript (~4 min @ 24:00)

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

▶ 23:59 Leila Migliorelli: for the record i'm also we're also joined tonight by non-voting members counselors eccles mcmaster um and williams um now i'd like to motion by unanimous consent to open the floor for public comment seeing no objection we are now open for public comments this is a portion of the meeting

▶ 24:27 Speaker 6: where anyone can speak on any item on our agenda tonight good evening thank you for having me i'm jim keene i live over on woodcrest drive some background i am my veteran i'm with the melrose veterans advisory board i've been for a number of years i am a military veteran from the navy

▶ 24:48 Speaker 6: and I'm a Vietnam veteran and I'm gonna contrast something for you and that is the difference between 9-11 what happened before 9-11 and what happened after 9-11 reserves before 9-11 and the National Guard is not the reserves in the National Guard we see today at that time when I was in the reserves before 9-11 it was a one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer which was

▶ 25:16 Speaker 6: largely devoted to playing golf after 9-11 the picture of these for the National Guard and the reserves changed enormously they have become frontline troops in the defense of this nation and they're being deployed all over the the world in some very very bad neighborhoods so what I'm asking for this support of this ordinance is to give these men and women financial relief. For the most part, they're young and they're young families. And I think the financial burden can be raised from them a bit by doing this ordinance. But understand something very, very carefully. They are on the front lines now. This is not me playing golf for two weeks in the summer. So with that, I thank you and urge you to pass this ordinance. Thank you.

▶ 26:11 Speaker 7: Thank you very much.

▶ 26:14 Speaker 7: Is there anyone online wishing to speak?

▶ 26:19 Leila Migliorelli: There's no one online, thank you. If there's an objection, I'd like to close public comment.

▶ 26:23 Shawn M. MacMaster: Yeah, Madam Chair, we do have correspondence from Colonel Driscoll, with your permission, if the clerk of committees could read that into the record.

▶ 26:36 Speaker 6: Yes. From Robert Driscoll, Melrose Veterans Advisory Board. The subject is an order relative property tax relief for active duty members of national guard due to previously planned out out of state vacation i'm unable before this to appear before the city council tonight to express my endorsement of this order the order is a strong message of support for our uniformed citizens and demonstrates to them the city of melrose supports their service to our country a deployment is a difficult time for a military member and their family left behind the strain on relationships finances and mental health can be overwhelming it requires the backing of relatives neighbors schools and communities to keep the family and household intact melrose has consistently led the commonwealth in supporting and honoring our citizen soldiers and veterans this is apparent with our dedicated monuments and buildings across the city soldiers and sailors memorial hall and the melrose veterans memorial middle school Our multiple veteran organizations, two VFWs, the American Legion, Veterans Advisory Board, Friday Veterans Club, Mount Rose Memory Project, et cetera, as well as the various activities and ceremonies conducted throughout the year. This order before you tonight is another brick in the wall in support of deploying military citizens. I thank Councillor McMaster and Councillor Karim Shady for bringing this order forward. I ask the Council give this order the utmost support. Respectfully, Robert Driscoll, Chair, Melrose Veterans Advisory Board.

▶ 28:17 Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

▶ 28:19 Leila Migliorelli: And so now, if there's no objection, I'd like to close public comment. Seeing none, we're now closed for public comment. Since we have members of the administration here tonight to speak before us, I would entertain a motion or no, actually, I'd like to motion by unanimous consent to suspend the rules before we proceed seeing no objection the rules are now suspended we have three items on our agenda tonight the first being order 2022-66 an order relative to property tax relief for active duty members of the National Guard this is sponsored by councillors McMaster and Karim Chedi would one of