City Council — 2019-06-03
Attendance
Manisha Bewtra ; Robert A. Boisselle ; Scott M. Forbes ; Jennifer L. Lemmerman ; Kate Lipper-Garabedian ; Shawn M. MacMaster ; Monica C. Medeiros ; Peter D. Mortimer ; John N. Tramontozzi ; Francis X. Wright Jr. ; Michael P. Zwirko
Agenda
- Call to Order
- Minutes Approval
- Public Comment
- Communications from Her Honor, The Mayor And Other City Officials
- ORDER-2019-109 : Acceptance of MGL Chapter 44 Section 53 F 3/4, establishment of a PEG Access and Cable Related Special Fund #2922.
- ORDER-2019-110 : A transfer in the amount of $16,000 from Automotive, Salary & Wages (014851-511000) and Parks and Forestry, Salary & Wages (014751-511000) to Municipal Building Repair (014022-527700).
- ORDER-2019-111 : A transfer in the amount $25,000 from account 013012-547300 Essex Agricultural Regional School to 014752-537300 Fence Materials.
- New Business
- ORDER-2019-107 : A Resolution in Recognition of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Students for their hard work and efforts as members of Operation Resilient Club.
- ORDER-2019-112 : Amend Melrose Revised Ordinances by adding Article VI, Section 198-12: Reduction in Single Use Plastic Beverage Straws and Beverage Stirrers in Business Establishments
- Orders Out of Order
- Orders from Committee
- REPORTS - RULE 53
- Calendar
- Adjournment
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE BOARD OF ALDERMEN BULLETIN● JUNE 3, 2019 Aldermanic Chamber, Melrose City Hall Regular Meeting 7:45 PM 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Manisha Bewtra Alderman at Large Present Robert A. Boisselle Ward 4 Alderman Present Scott M. Forbes Ward 7 Alderman Present Jennifer L. Lemmerman Ward 2 Alderman Present Kate Lipper-Garabedian Alderman at Large Present Shawn M. MacMaster Ward 5 Alderman Present Monica C. Medeiros Alderman at Large Present Peter D. Mortimer Ward 6 Alderman Present John N. Tramontozzi Ward 1 Alderman Present Francis X. Wright Jr. Ward 3 Alderman Present Michael P. Zwirko Alderman at Large Present
ORDER-2019-109 Acceptance Acceptance of MGL Chapter 44 Section 53 F 3/4, establishment of a PEG Access and Cable Related Special Fund #2922. Assigned to Committee Appropriations Committee
ORDER-2019-110 Transfer A transfer in the amount of $16,000 from Automotive, Salary & Wages (014851-511000) and Parks and Forestry, Salary & Wages (014751- 511000) to Municipal Building Repair (014022-527700). Assigned to Committee Appropriations Committee
ORDER-2019-111 Transfer A transfer in the amount $25,000 from account 013012-547300 Essex Agricultural Regional School to 014752-537300 Fence Materials. Assigned to Committee Appropriations Committee
ORDER-2019-107 Resolution A Resolution in Recognition of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Students for their hard work and efforts as members of Operation Resilient Club. Placed on File
ORDER-2019-112 Amending Revised Ordinances City of Melrose Page 1 6/11/2019 3:36 PM Minutes Board of Aldermen June 3, 2019 Amend Melrose Revised Ordinances by adding Article VI, Section 198-12: Reduction in Single Use Plastic Beverage Straws and Beverage Stirrers in Business Establishments Assigned to Committee Legal & Legislative Committee City of Melrose Page 2 6/11/2019 3:36 PM
Transcript
▶ 18:00 Alderman Tramontozzi. Here. Alderman Wright. Here. Alderman Zwirko. Here. President Lemmerman. Here. Eleven present. Thank you. Please rise and join me in pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Alderman Lipper-Garabedian. Yes, thank you, Madam President. I have the minutes for the Board of Aldermen meetings held on May 6th and May 20th before me. I would move that we enter them into the record without reading. Second. We have a motion made by Alderman Lipper-Garabedian to accept the minutes from the May 6th and May 20th meetings of the Board of Aldermen without reading. It's been
▶ 18:49 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: seconded by Alderman Mortimer on discussion. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? The minutes are accepted. Motion to open the floor for public comment, Madam President. We have a motion to open the floor for public comment made by Alderman Mortimer. Second. Seconded by Alderman Forbes. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? This is the portion of our meeting where any member of the public may come forward to speak on any item on our agenda. Is there anyone wishing to speak this evening? Motion to close public comment. Second. Seeing none, Alderman Mortimer moves to close public comment. Seconded by Alderman Boisselle. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Public comment is now closed alderman mcmaster madam president i would move to take order number 2019-107
▶ 19:35 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: out of order second alderman mcmaster makes a motion to take order 2019-107 a resolution in recognition of the melrose veterans memorial middle school students for their hard work and efforts as Member of operation resilient club seeing that we have many Member in the chamber this evening the order or the motion is seconded by um alderman mortimer all in favor any opposed the orders before you madam president like to make immediate consideration on this order alderman forbes is requesting immediate consideration of the order second this is actually uh just if anyone objects is there any objection to immediate consideration seeing none it is now we will now take up that order motion to spend the rules who may approach the podium we
▶ 20:22 Scott M. Forbes: We have a motion by Alderman Forbes, seconded by Alderman Mortimer. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? We are now under suspension of rules. I invite the sponsors to come forward. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. Just a few words from me, and then I'm going to hand this off to my colleague, Alderman McMaster. As a veteran from the city of Melrose, I'm truly grateful to be affiliated with such an outstanding group of servicemen and servicewomen. And we are all very proud to be represented by such an outstanding group of middle school students that are here with us this evening. These operation trips are special because they allow us to tell the stories of our local heroes who aren't with us anymore.
▶ 21:07 Scott M. Forbes: To have the capacity to recognize their service both to our country and our community is something that we can all be proud of. These experiences bridge younger generations of students with older generations of veterans, while keeping our veteran population both connected and engaged, not only with each other, but to the community that they call home. I always like to say that history is local, and what we do at a local level truly matters, and these trips are a collaborative effort by our Veterans Service Office, Office, our Veterans Advisory Board, and of course the young men and women that are here with us this evening. This is also one of the times where I know that I'm truly proud to be standing before everybody here in this chamber as a
▶ 21:54 Shawn M. MacMaster: Melrose veteran myself. I'll now hand this off to my good friend and colleague Alderman Shawn McMaster, who was fortunate to go on this trip and experience these things for himself as well. Thank you Alderman Forbes. Before I read the resolution and call the students up, just a few remarks. I'd I'd like to first acknowledge and thank three individuals without whom this event would not be possible. The first is Colonel Robert Driscoll, who unfortunately is unable to join us this evening. He is away with a military obligation, so he sends his regrets. Also like to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Karen Burke, who is our veteran services officer in Melrose, miss lisa lord who many of you know especially our school representatives is one of our
▶ 22:46 Shawn M. MacMaster: history teachers here in melrose they did a tremendous job planning organizing and dealing with all of the various logistics that made this trip possible i'd also like to thank the parents many of whom chaperoned the trip and some are here with us this evening but most importantly i'd really like to acknowledge and thank the students who participated as the students know this was more than a field trip this was a meaningful and life-changing experience that they in large part made possible because of their contributions and their contributions were made in two ways the first is by virtue of all of their hard work and the efforts that they put into preparing for the trip what the students did was not just go on the trip
▶ 23:37 Shawn M. MacMaster: they actually spent months preparing for it and they shared what they learned on their way down to Washington DC with one another with the parents and with the veterans on the trip they also shared what they learned and some of their work while they were down in Washington DC at the National Air Force Memorial and on their way back they also participated in an interactive learning experience as well as participated in various ways to make the Memorial Day assembly which really commenced what we know in Melrose to be a robust Memorial Day weekend possible through their through their work I think it's important to really emphasize the second contribution and that is the support that the students
▶ 24:34 Shawn M. MacMaster: provided to the veterans on the trip in particular one veteran who is a veteran of the Vietnam War and this particular veteran traveled to Washington DC for first time in 50 years and he visited the Vietnam War Memorial and he with the help of the students located the name of three of his comrades and friends one of whom was his best friend from childhood Michael Gazzetti from Cambridge who at age 19 was killed in action after having only been in Vietnam for two weeks and it was really the support of the students who literally stood by this veteran's side that made this experience i think particularly impactful for for everybody on it but very memorable and important to the veteran himself who said to me that because of this
▶ 25:34 Shawn M. MacMaster: experience he is now in a position for the first time after 50 years to help other veterans and he said that he's in that possession position because of the help that the students provided to him he described that as revitalizing his spirit so for me what was so impactful about this experience was really the bonds that were established by everyone on the trip but especially between the students and the veterans when i was about the same age as them i had an opportunity to travel to washington dc as well as part of a trip but to this day that trip remains a distant memory It was a trip where we visited memorials and landmarks, but we did so without any context, without any personal perspective to demonstrate the gravity of war, the sanctity of human
▶ 26:26 Shawn M. MacMaster: life and the lasting impact of war on the lives of those who lived through it, on their family Member and on the family Member of those who never returned home. So the experience from which these students benefited is a unique one that I know they will carry with them forever an experience that we should be proud of as a city and that i know that they're very proud to be part of so at this point if we could call the students up to stand with us as i read the uh the resolution and miss lord and lieutenant colonel burke if you'd like to come up as well i will now read the resolution city of melrose and board of aldermen a resolution and recognition of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School students for
▶ 27:32 Shawn M. MacMaster: their hard work and efforts as Member of the Operation Resilient Club offered by Alderman Shawn M. McMaster and Alderman Scott M. Forbes. Whereas the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School 2019 Operation Resilient Club is the eighth installment of what has become an overwhelming success story in the community and whereas in prior years Operation Resolve, Thank You, Gettysburg, respect remember and recognition sent our local Melrose veterans on historical missions to Washington DC the Liberty Bell the battlefield of Gettysburg in the United States Military Academy at West Point and whereas last year operation United provided local Afghanistan veterans the opportunity to travel to Washington DC to visit historical sites which included the
▶ 28:20 Shawn M. MacMaster: American veterans disabled for life memorial in the National Guard Memorial Museum, and whereas this year, the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School 2019 Operation Resilient Club's mission was to raise local awareness and the funding necessary to send our local Melrose veterans from all generations on a historical mission of their own to Washington DC to visit historical sites, which included the United States Marine Corps Iwo Jima Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, the National 9-11 Pentagon Memorial, the United States Air Force Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery, where students paid their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the gravesite of General
▶ 29:07 Shawn M. MacMaster: John Rogers Galvin, a four-star general in the United States Army who was born in Melrose, Massachusetts 90 years ago this year. Whereas Member of the Operation Resilient Club spent a considerable amount of time preparing for the operation conducted independent research leading up to the operation presented what they learned to Melrose veterans as part of the operation debriefed and reflected on their experience when they returned home and participated in a school assembly for their peers in the Melrose community to commence the city's Memorial Day weekend activities and whereas this year's mission was yet another overwhelming success and whereas the Melrose veterans Memorial Middle School 2019 Operation Resilient Club has successfully
▶ 29:51 Shawn M. MacMaster: completed its mission by raising community awareness through the recognition of our local veterans community and should be recognized for their outstanding work and dedication and be it resolved we the Member of the Board of Aldermen do hereby express our sincere appreciation to the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School students for their hard work and efforts as as Member of the Operation Resilient Club on behalf of the city of Melrose and in recognition hereof. Be it further resolved that on this third day of June in the year 2019, a copy of this resolution be spread upon the records of the Board of Aldermen, duly attested by the Member of the Board of Aldermen. Thank you all. We also have with us our State Representative Paul Broder,
▶ 30:50 Paul Brodeur: who I believe wants to come forward give a presentation to the students so I'll be brief because this is an outstanding and comprehensive resolution I just want folks to know that this is probably my I don't know umpteenth time being able to be here and do this for the students of today operation resilient and I like to come because you should understand both faculty and staff and students that this is something that that is very unique within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and maybe the country as a whole. A lot of kids, particularly in eighth grade, go on trips either to New York City or to our nation's capital to learn about history, to see the living monuments, to see what made the country what it is today and the greatness that you can almost feel in Washington.
▶ 31:55 Paul Brodeur: But nobody that I'm aware of brings along their veterans. And that is something that did start some years ago, and it is a credit to really the community and the administration that we have been able to sustain that and keep it coming. And so to the students, I do have resolutions for you here in recognition of your service to veterans and your service in Operation Resilient. I will distribute them to you down there because I know these folks have more work to do. But thank you very much for letting me address you today, and thank you guys again for what you've done for our veterans. madam president I make a motion for a recess please we have a motion made by alderman Mortimer for a brief recess to bring the students up for photos second
▶ 32:44 by Alderman Boisselle all in favor aye opposed we are recessed for a few minutes thank you thank you do we have a motion on that order motion to place the remainder of the order on file the motion to place the order on file second Alderman Mortimer second by Alderman Lipper Garipay Beattie and all in favor that motion will be placed on file we could have communications from her honor the mayor and other city officials order 2 0 1 9-1 0 9 acceptance of MGL chapter 44 section 53 F 3 quarters establishment of a peg access and cable related special fund number 9 2 9 2 2 that order will go to appropriations 2 0 one nine one one zero a transfer in the amount of sixteen thousand from automotive salary and wages zero one four eight five one dash five one one zero
▶ 33:48 zero zero and parks and forestry salary and wages zero one four seven five one dash five one one zero zero zero to municipal building repair zero one four zero two two dash five two seven seven zero zero we'll go to the committee and appropriations order two zero one nine dash one one one a transfer in the amount of twenty five thousand dollars from account zero one three zero one two dash five four seven three zero zero Essex Agricultural Regional School two zero one four seven five two dash five three seven three zero zero fence materials we'll go to the committee on appropriations we can move to new business number two order two zero one nine dash one one two amend Melrose revised ordinances by adding article 6 section 9 1 9 8-12 reduction in single
▶ 34:41 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: use plastic beverage straws and beverage stirrers and business establishments so to the committee on legal and legislative matters there are no orders out of order no orders from committee are there any reports under rule 53 Alderman the pre-caribbean I just have a very quick update for the good of the order with respect to the school building committee I did reach out to city officials just to check in given the override passing and the fact that we're going to be able to reclaim the BB to see if they're going to be reconvening the school building committee and they I think they were going to start a discussion related to that and include it and then create a timeline that will include a convening of that committee so I haven't heard yet
▶ 35:23 Monica C. Medeiros: when that will be but I will keep everyone informed thank you Alderman Medeiros thank you I just have a update in the school committee which is going to be here with us tonight momentarily but for the public the last meeting they had the school spotlight on the ECC the early childhood center at the Franklin school which is coming up on ten years in September and kind of near and dear to my heart because I voted for that as a school committee member to create the ECC miss Rosso was there and she has a presentation that which she presented looking back at the earliest year that she could find data for which was 2011 comparatively to the present 2019 and to look at many of the changes including the increases in enrollment for example in 2011 there
▶ 36:10 Monica C. Medeiros: were a hundred and fifty six students which then went on from the ECC to the Melrose public schools and in 2019 174 students are expected to go on among the changes this year was the inclusion of kindergarten at the early childhood Center and they discuss the this is providing more challenges but it's also so exciting to see the kids actually learn how to read and how exciting that is the whole presentation is available on the city of Melrose public schools website under the Franklin school section there's a number of people who came forward in public comment in to express their disappointment over the loss of ecamp and some concern over the request that the parents purchase Chromebooks I'm sure we'll hear more about that in the coming months they did
▶ 37:03 Monica C. Medeiros: approve the elementary school code of conduct and also a pilot program of a bring your own device for Chromebooks superintendent a more reported that there are many district needs for bonding in for technology and especially if we were to or we are to reach the goal of having one device per student and also for instance that they are in need of new smart boards at every school which she expects would cost nine hundred and ten thousand dollars and would be something that we would require some bonding down the load so they also voted on the final line-by-line budget document which we will see tonight momentarily and some of this of course is still dependent on contract negotiations thank you very much further reports seeing that there are
▶ 37:58 items on our calendar seeing seeing that there were no items on the calendar this evening madam president I would make a motion to adjourn the regular full board meeting at this time but I would draw the motion for a second I see alderman Wright has a point of personal privilege I know we're moving on to appropriations but I just wanted to ask that we take one moment to recognize and have a moment of silence for the city employees City Hall employees in Virginia Beach who lost their lives last week absolutely thank you Alderman Wright if you would please stand serve a moment of silence thank you as our business is concluded I will renew my motion to adjourn the regular board meeting that we may oh I'll yield again I see another point of personal privilege
▶ 39:33 Scott M. Forbes: Forbes thank you before we get back to appropriations I just want to state that Melrose high school seniors Paige Trezullo and Adam okay he will selected this year as a 2019 bill Forbes scholarship recipients each one of them will be receiving a check for $5,000 to the school that they will be going to in the fall there are many you in this room that support the scholarship fund so on behalf of the Forbes family and our friends over at the sable limbless veterans organization I just want to say thank you for allowing us to continue the work that my dad was so passionate about in the last three years we've been able to hand out $30,000 to Melrose graduating seniors and we hope this will be an annual thing not just this year but for years and years to come and for
▶ 40:13 that I am deeply grateful and I thank you thank you congratulations to them seeing no other alderman not having a point of personal privilege and we need to continue now with the public hearing in the Appropriations Committee under Alderman Lippa Garabedi and I will make a motion to adjourn the regular full board meeting all right we're back live at the Appropriations Committee and I think we were hearing from our friends from the tech school if you'd like to come back and join us thank you for your patience and I know that you've gotten through your slide deck but I didn't know if there was a little bit more you wanted to share or if either your colleagues were also interested in any introductory remarks you're ready to go to yes please before we begin please my