City Council — 2019-09-09
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
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE BOARD OF ALDERMEN BULLETIN● SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 Aldermanic Chamber, Melrose City Hall Special 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 Absent 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-2020-24 Calling Election Calling a Preliminary Mayoral Election -- Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 Passed
ORDER-2020-25 Calling Election Calling a Municipal Election; November 5, 2019 Passed City of Melrose Page 1 9/25/2019 9:12 AM
Transcript
▶ 7:54 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: on september 17th and november 5th 2019. this meeting is being recorded and broadcast live on mmtv can also be accessed on mmtv's website and the city of melrose website Madam Clerk, if you could call the roll, please. Alderman Bewtra. Here. Alderman Boisselle. Here. Alderman Forbes. Alderman Lipper-Garabedian. Here. Alderman McMaster. Here. Alderman Medeiros. Here. Alderman Mortimer. Here. Alderman Tramontozzi. Here. Alderman Wright. Here. Alderman Zwirko. Here. President Lemmerman. Here. 10 present. 10 present. Please rise and join me in saluting the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag, and to the nation, the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
▶ 8:53 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: Is there a motion to open the floor for public comment? So moved, Madam Vice President. We have a motion to open the floor for public comment made by Alderman Mortimer, seconded by Alderman Boisselle. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? We are now in the portion of our meeting where any member of the public may come forward to speak on any item on our agenda. Seeing none. Motion to close public comment, Madam President. We have a motion to close public comment made by Alderman Mortimer, seconded by Alderman Boisselle. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Public comment is now closed. We have two items under new business. Order 2020-24, calling a preliminary mayoral election Tuesday, September 17th, 2019.
▶ 9:31 Manisha Bewtra: Alderman Bewtra. Thank you. Motion to suspend the rules. We have a motion to suspend the rules made by Alderman Bewtra. Point of order. I think we need a request for immediate consideration first. I'm sorry I think that's true I'd like to make a motion to request immediate consideration the motion for immediate consideration on order 2020-24 made by Alderman Bewtra is there an objection the orders before you um I'd like to request immediate I'm sorry make a motion for to suspend the rules motion to suspend the rules made by Alderman Bewtra second by Alderman Mortimer all in favor aye opposed we are now under suspension of rules the order remains before you um i'd like to make a motion to join orders 2020-2024 and 2020-25 we is that we have a media consideration
▶ 10:31 Monica C. Medeiros: on 2020-24 so we'll consider that one first please all right um like immediate consideration on order 2020-24 calling a preliminary mayoral election um motion for passage motion for passage on order 2020-24 calling a preliminary mayoral election on tuesday 17th second the motion for passage matter president 2019 made by alderman butchers seconded by alderman mortimer on discussion alderman medeiros thank you um seeing as we have the city clerk here with us tonight I know I've had a lot of questions from the public. This is the first preliminary election the city will actually ever have. So I was hoping perhaps the city clerk could just explain for the public the format of the ballot, and a lot of questions about whether it's a partisan election,
▶ 11:23 or how does that work, and how many people you vote for. We're already under suspension of rules, so I'll invite Ms. Mosa to the table. Sure. Thank you. Alderman Medeiros is correct. This is the first preliminary election for mayor that the city has held when the charter was changed in 2005. This was when this protocol was put in place, and this is the first time we've had multiple candidates for mayor. So the way their charter reads, if you have more than two candidates for mayor, you need to have a preliminary election. But as all municipal elections in Melrose are, it's nonpartisan. So there will be one ballot with all candidates listed. And everyone who comes to vote should vote for one candidate only.
▶ 12:17 But the top two vote getters will move on to the November election. So there's a lot of places for confusion there. So when you go to the ballot in September, vote for your one choice. But the top two vote getters will go to the ballot in November. Is there any other questions? Thank you. That helped very much. OK. Thank you, Alderman Medeiros. Are there any other questions or comments from members of the committee? Alderman Lipper-Garabedian. And can you just confirm, will it all be the same polling locations that generally exist, for example, in November? And when will the polls be open? Correct. It'll be your same polling locations as always. Polls open at 7, close at 8, as always. So you can call the Elections Office here in City Hall if you have questions about where you vote, but you can also find it on our website.
▶ 13:09 There's a link to the state where it says, where do I vote, essentially, and you can search by your name and also check that you're registered. Thank you. Thank you. Any further questions or comments? Alderman Tramontozzi. Yes, thank you. Maybe you can also explain how the order in which a name appears on the ballot will be accomplished so yes, so The way that happens it's already been established. It's a drawing by lot So we take actually the elections administrator Joanne preparing and put everyone every candidates name in a bowl and I drew them and we basically the first name drawn is the top of the ballot and it goes down from there thank you thank you very much we have a motion made and seconded for passage of the order any further discussion on the
▶ 14:09 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: order generally. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? That order passes. Order 2020-25 calling a municipal election November 5th, 2019. Alderman Bewtra. Motion for immediate consideration. Alderman Bewtra makes a motion for immediate consideration. Is there an objection? The order is before you. Motion to suspend the rules. Second the motion to suspend the rules. we were already under suspension we don't need that I think this is not a general suspension of the rules as we usually have but this is under rule 31 or rule 34 but in this case it's rule 31 we have a motion to suspend the rules made by Alderman Butcher second by Alderman Mortimer all in favor any opposed we are under suspension of rules and the order is before you motion for
▶ 15:02 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: passage you have a motion for passage of order 2020-25 second second made by alderman beatrice seconded by alderman mortimer any discussion on this order being none all in favor aye aye any opposed order passes open to adjourn second motion to adjourn made by alderman boyce seconded by alderman mortimer all in favor aye any opposed we are now adjourned thank you everyone