City Council — 2022-08-15

Attendance

Christopher Cinella present · President; Jack Eccles present · At-Large; Mark Garipay present · Ward 4; Jen Grigoraitis present · Ward 6; Maya Jamaleddine remote · At-Large; Manjula Karamcheti present · Ward 1; Shawn M. MacMaster present · Ward 5; Leila Migliorelli present · At-Large; John Obremski present · Ward 2; Robb Stewart present · Ward 3; Ryan Williams remote · Ward 7

Agenda

1. Call to Order (0:00)
2. Pledge of Allegiance (0:50)
3. Reading of the Minutes (2:02)
4. Public Comment (2:16)
5. Communications from His Honor, The Mayor And Other City Officials (16:40)
6. New Business (16:48)
7. ORDER-2023-6 : Authorization for the Procurement Officer or his/ her delegate to increase the contract term on all future Management Agreements for the Operation of the Mt. Hood Memorial Park & Golf Course from 3 years to 5 years. (16:54)
8. ORDER-2023-7 : Disposition of personal property belonging to Melrose Public Library (17:20)
9. ORDER-2023-8 : Appointment of Doug DiBrielle, 39 Reading Ave, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission, for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2025. (18:02)
10. ORDER-2023-9 : Appointment of Craig Molway, 58 Gross Ave, to the Melrose Conservation Commission, for a two-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2024. (18:12)
11. ORDER-2023-10 : Appointment of Shane Egan, 21 Boston Rock Ave, to the Melrose Historical Commission, for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2025. (18:22)
12. ORDER-2023-11 : Appointment of Kate Roberts, 25 Rockland St, to the Melrose Historical Commission, for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2025. (18:32)
13. ORDER-2023-13 : Lead Water Service Planning SRF Loan (18:45)
14. RES-2023-2 : Request for State Action to Mitigate Impacts From MBTA Orange Line Public Transit Shut Down Serving the City of Melrose (18:56)
15. Licenses
16. LIC-2023-1 : Gasoline & Storage License Post Deadline Renewal 2022 (1:17:30)
17. Information Items (1:17:46)
18. INFO-2023-4 : Calling A State Election - Tuesday, the Eighth Day of November, 2022 (1:17:50)
19. INFO-2023-5 : 2022 State Election - November 8, 2022 - Early in-person voting schedule (1:18:00)
20. Reports from Committees (1:18:08)
21. INFO-2023-1 : Net Zero Action Plan Presentation (1:18:12)
22. ORDER-2022-153 : Appointment of Randall Carter, 50 Mystic Ave, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2025. (1:19:00)
23. ORDER-2022-154 : Appointment of Tesfay Aradom, 126 Green Street, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2025. (1:20:05)
24. ORDER-2022-151 : Appointment of Forrest Tiedeman, 50 Orris Street, to the Melrose Conservation Commission, for a one-year term. (1:20:55)
25. INFO-2023-2 : 2022 State Primary - September 6, 2022 - Early in-person voting schedule (1:21:52)
26. INFO-2023-3 : Calling A State Primary - Tuesday, the Sixth Day of September, 2022 (1:22:40)
27. ORDER-2023-5 : Polling location officer detail pursuant to Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2022 also known as the VOTES Act (1:23:30)
28. ORDER-2022-152 : Appointment of Julie Delillo, 13 Circuit Street, to the Board of Registrars of Voters for a three-year term; said term to expire on the last day of February 2025 (1:24:18)
29. ORDER-2022-150 : Appointment of Roseann Trionfi-Mazzuchelli as Veterans Services District Director effective July 5, 2022 (1:39:20)
30. ORDER-2023-1 : Appointment of Benjamin Rosenberg, 76 Ardsmoor Road, as a Regular Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to fill the unexpired term of David Roache, whose term shall expire on the last day of February 2023. (1:40:22)
31. ORDER-2023-2 : Appointment of Michael Aveni, 16 Hillside Ave, to the Planning Board to fill the term of Robert Mercado which expired in February 2022. Mr. Aveni’s term shall expire on the last day of February 2027. (1:51:42)
32. ORDER-2023-3 : Re-appointment of Bryan Thorp, 77 Wentworth Road, to a five-year term as a Regular Member on the Zoning Board of Appeals; said term to expire the last day of February 2026. (1:52:35)
33. ORDER-2023-4 : Re-appointment of Megan Carriere, 36 Larrabee Street, to a two-year term as an Associate Member on the Zoning Board of Appeals ; said term to expire on the last day of February 2024. (1:53:25)
34. Adjournment (1:54:10)

Minutes

CITY OF MELROSE CITY COUNCIL BULLETIN● AUGUST 15, 2022 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Regular Meeting 7:45 PM 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Jack Eccles At-Large Present Mark Garipay Ward 4 Present Jen Grigoraitis Ward 6 Present Maya Jamaleddine At-Large Remote Manjula Karamcheti Ward 1 Present Shawn M. MacMaster Ward 5 Present Leila Migliorelli At-Large Present John Obremski Ward 2 Present Robb Stewart Ward 3 Present Ryan Williams Ward 7 Remote Christopher Cinella President Present President Cinella remarks on remote participation of two council members and that all votes taken will be via roll call.

ORDER-2023-6 Contract Authorization for the Procurement Officer or his/ her delegate to increase the contract term on all future Management Agreements for the Operation of the Mt. Hood Memorial Park & Golf Course from 3 years to 5 years. Assigned to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

ORDER-2023-7 Property: Disposal of City-Owned Property Disposition of personal property belonging to Melrose Public Library Assigned to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

ORDER-2023-8 Appointment Appointment of Doug DiBrielle, 39 Reading Ave, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission, for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2025. Assigned to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

ORDER-2023-9 Appointment City of Melrose Page 1 8/17/2022 4:33 PM Minutes City Council August 15, 2022 Appointment of Craig Molway, 58 Gross Ave, to the Melrose Conservation Commission, for a two-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2024. Assigned to Committee Public Service Committee

ORDER-2023-10 Appointment Appointment of Shane Egan, 21 Boston Rock Ave, to the Melrose Historical Commission, for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2025. Assigned to Committee Health, Education & Welfare Committee

ORDER-2023-11 Appointment Appointment of Kate Roberts, 25 Rockland St, to the Melrose Historical Commission, for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2025. Assigned to Committee Health, Education & Welfare Committee

ORDER-2023-13 Appropriation Lead Water Service Planning SRF Loan Assigned to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

RES-2023-2 Resolution Request for State Action to Mitigate Impacts From MBTA Orange Line Public Transit Shut Down Serving the City of Melrose Place on File

LIC-2023-1 License - Gasoline Storage Gasoline & Storage License Post Deadline Renewal 2022 Assigned to commitee Protection and License Committee

INFO-2023-4 Calling Election Calling A State Election - Tuesday, the Eighth Day of November, 2022 Assign to Committee Finance Committee

INFO-2023-5 Election City of Melrose Page 2 8/17/2022 4:33 PM Minutes City Council August 15, 2022 2022 State Election - November 8, 2022 - Early in-person voting schedule Assign to Committee Finance Committee

INFO-2023-1 Informational Net Zero Action Plan Presentation Hold City Council

ORDER-2022-153 Appointment Appointment of Randall Carter, 50 Mystic Ave, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2025. Adopted

ORDER-2022-154 Appointment Appointment of Tesfay Aradom, 126 Green Street, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2025. Adopted

ORDER-2022-151 Appointment Appointment of Forrest Tiedeman, 50 Orris Street, to the Melrose Conservation Commission, as an Associate Member, for a one-year term. Adopted

INFO-2023-2 Election 2022 State Primary - September 6, 2022 - Early in-person voting schedule Filed

INFO-2023-3 Calling Election Calling A State Primary - Tuesday, the Sixth Day of September, 2022 Filed

ORDER-2023-5 Election City of Melrose Page 3 8/17/2022 4:33 PM Minutes City Council August 15, 2022 Polling location officer detail pursuant to Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2022 also known as the VOTES Act Passed

ORDER-2022-152 Appointment Appointment of Julie Delillo, 13 Circuit Street, to the Board of Registrars of Voters for a three-year term; said term to expire on the last day of February 2025 Defeated

ORDER-2022-150 Appointment Appointment of Roseann Trionfi-Mazzuchelli as Veterans Services District Director effective July 5, 2022 Adopted

ORDER-2023-1 Appointment Appointment of Benjamin Rosenberg, 76 Ardsmoor Road, as a Regular Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to fill the unexpired term of David Roache, whose term shall expire on the last day of February 2023. Adopted

ORDER-2023-2 Appointment Appointment of Michael Aveni, 16 Hillside Ave, to the Planning Board to fill the term of Robert Mercado which expired in February 2022. Mr. Aveni’s term shall expire on the last day of February 2027. Adopted

ORDER-2023-3 Appointment Re-appointment of Bryan Thorp, 77 Wentworth Road, to a five-year term as a Regular Member on the Zoning Board of Appeals; said term to expire the last day of February 2026. Adopted

ORDER-2023-4 Appointment City of Melrose Page 4 8/17/2022 4:33 PM Minutes City Council August 15, 2022 Re-appointment of Megan Carriere, 36 Larrabee Street, to a two- year term as an Associate Member on the Zoning Board of Appeals ; said term to expire on the last day of February 2024. Adopted City of Melrose Page 5 8/17/2022 4:33 PM

Transcript

▶ 0:01 Christopher Cinella: Good evening, everyone and welcome to the August 15th. Melrose city council meeting time is now 7:45 and I am counselor. Cinella the president of the council Madam clerk. Could you please call the roll counselor Eccles your Council of garapay here Council of gregoritis here councilman. Here Council camchetti here councilor McMaster here counselor. Migliarelli here counselor o'briensky here counselor Stewart here counselor Williams. Here president sonella. Yeah 11 present, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, and we have our first. Remote participation this evening and as a result pursuant to an act relative. to extending a certain state of emergency accommodation signed into law by Governor Baker on July 16th 2022

▶ 1:15 Christopher Cinella: Given public bodies the ability to authorize the members to participate in meetings remotely counselor Williams and counselor gemaladin will be participating participating in our meeting tonight by remote means all other council members are present in person tonight at City Hall for this public meeting and given the remote participation of our counselors tonight. All votes will be taking using the roll call method. So we want to just make sure everyone speaks clearly so that it's Audible and should we run into any technical difficulties, which would be very rare for our remote capabilities. We will just pause to try to get those issues underway, but if they do persist we'll move on. so that's the statement.

▶ 2:03 Christopher Cinella: If there's no objection, I would like to approve our console meeting minutes from July 18th without reading. Okay, and those minutes are now approved seeing no objection and if there is no objection I would now like to open up the floor for a public comment. We are now open for public comment if you could please. Come forward state your name and address and we'll rotate. I don't know if we have anybody on remote. I don't know what that these at this time this time. Okay. I am Jim Bennett 45 Wentworth Road. Good evening city council last month. I came before the finance committee to ask you to raise certain questions about the candidacy of Julie Delilah for the board of registrars of Voters.

▶ 2:46 I thank those counselors who took my request seriously and asked for those questions I come before you tonight not to ask any further questions, but to request that you vote. No on Ms. Delilah's appointment to the board. I have two reasons for this request first at the last meeting. I asserted that this appointment does not have to go to a member of the Republican Party under State Statute following that meeting the mayor's office made a formal inquiry on this subject with the Secretary of State's office and the answer was returned at the end of last week. I found out on Saturday the ruling a republican does not have to be nominated for this office. It can go to a Democrat instead since there is already a

▶ 3:25 Republican and a Democrat serving on the board and Democrats out number Republicans by a factor of 421 in Melrose. It is only fair that a second seat be seated to a Democrat. Should you vote down Ms. Delilah tonight? I can assure you as chair of the democratic party in Melrose that we will have the names of three candidates for this office on mayor broder's desk by. the end of this month Now I know some of you may be thinking. Yes, it could be a Democrat. But why should we have a Democrat when we have a republican before us who is nearly at the end of the confirmation process that brings us to my second objection to miss Delilah's confirmation, which was the manner in which she answered the questions that would put to her at the last meeting.

▶ 4:07 Prior to that meeting I was skeptical of Ms. Delilah, but I was ready for her to convince me of her commitment to the Democratic process yet. She convinced me of nothing because rather than answer your straightforward questions, she spent 45 minutes to assembling when she was asked. Do you support your party's lawsuit to end male and voting she responded twice by saying I support the right of individuals to sue the Commonwealth. When she was asked whether she believed that the results of the 2020 presidential election were legitimate. She responded look President Biden is President Biden. I let Ms. Delilah know those questions several days in advance of her appearance before you she had a lot of time to think through her responses and rather

▶ 4:50 than give you honest answers. She decided to Stonewall you this is important because the board of registrars is not like most other City boards and commissions. It is not a once a month two-hour meeting that takes place over zoom on Election Day board members work 16 or 17 hours that day. They are the final Arbiters of every possible problem that may come up on that long day. They are personally present to supervise early voting hours. They process mail in ballots. They hire supervise and discipline poll workers. This is an important job, which requires someone who will relate honestly and openly with their colleagues subordinates and the public and that fortunately is not the Persona that Ms. Delilah chose to display

▶ 5:38 Monica C. Medeiros: last month. We can do better in this appointment process the voters of Melrose deserve better from this appointment process. The Secretary of State's office has shown us the road forward to a better solution for everyone it merely remains for this Council to vote no tonight and lead us down that path. Anybody online? There are no attendees online at this time anybody else wishing to speak? Good evening counselor. Evening. Thanks. My name is Monica. Medeiro Solano. I live at three Bay State Road, and I am here to speak tonight on order 2022-152 in support of the appointment of Julie delillo to the board of registrar voters. Personally and I can tell you as I think she expressed here. She is an upstanding citizen

▶ 6:40 Monica C. Medeiros: in the city of Melrose. She is an attorney. She's a pool worker and she has come to you. Following the due process of how we appoint this position. I also Wanted to express. not really sure how to put it but I really I am also a former city councilor here for 12 years on this board and I have not seen a in a pointy come forward and receive so much hostility as Ms. Delilah in all that time and I feel this is really an unequal hostile treatment just a few months beforehand Ms. Bridgette Alverson came before this board a Democrat for the very same position. And her meeting at the finance committee. Consisted of about 10 minutes of discussion in which and she was approved that same night in which she was asked

▶ 7:47 Monica C. Medeiros: one question. And received a multitude of thanks for coming forward and for having served as a pool worker just as missed a little as but in contrast Mr. Lilo came here and faced about 45 minutes. One very quick. Thank you and a multitude of questions that really go beyond the scope of what? Should be asked in a job interview. She was asked things about her political. you know delved into her political donations into her opinions on politics her her opinions on other candidates Actions and other Republican party members, I mean in no way shape or form have we seen any other appointee asked to answer for the actions of other political party members? And yes, this is a party position. This is this is not a

▶ 8:52 Monica C. Medeiros: nonpartisan position. It is something where you know, it's we need to elect and make sure that there are equal representation between the two leading parties and I know that's going to come up today based on what I'm hearing. I haven't seen the ruling myself from the Secretary of State's office. Let me tell you like this is all the more reason why I would say you should go forward with Miss Delilah and why we need And probably should have another Republican. Yes. We are very low in party registration numbers. The Democrats are still not the majority. However do outnumber us and and I'm a republican too and full disclosure and member of the Republican City committee and You know, you can just see that our elected officials.

▶ 9:43 Monica C. Medeiros: Are 90% plus Democrats? And you know, I'm maybe because I'm a somewhat prominent Republican in town people come to me from this city and from elsewhere, but it's particular from the city and I can't tell you how often and they've told me that they've changed their party registration from Republican to unenrolled and it's not because they've had you know, real deep seated changes to their core political internal belief system is because they're afraid of Retribution over their party affiliation. They're afraid of it at work. They're afraid of losing relationships with their neighbors and worst of all, they're worried about retribution for their children in our schools and they're innocent children

▶ 10:31 Monica C. Medeiros: in our schools. I mean, we've so many things to be proud of in Melrose, but this is this is not one of and you know, you ask like, how can we be that? This city I asked myself. I'm like, how can this be in this city that I grew up in went to the public schools learned about the Constitution learned about, you know, our Bill of Rights and freedom of speech and freedom of Association and all those freedoms that we are. Granted As Americans and yet I have so many people who come to me and feel afraid to speak up. and you know, I look here and you guys are the leaders here you guys set the tone and the example and with the difference and how Miss Albertson was treated and how Ms. Delilah was treated, you know, a message was sent here

▶ 11:21 Monica C. Medeiros: that if you are a Republican and you come here for a job, which it is for the board of registry voters. Then you're gonna get your your political donation and support history dug into and I mean, it could be Julie or it could be another person. You're gonna find something that you don't like and you're gonna Grill them and many times that felt more like a Washington DC Congressional hearing than it did like a meeting of the the finance committee of the city council here in Melrose. And if you're a Democrat, you're gonna come here and you're gonna get thanked for stepping up. profusely right for stepping up for being a public servant and You know, the message is sort of need lot need not apply or guess what don't register as

▶ 12:09 Monica C. Medeiros: Republican. Don't speak up. I mean, we heard Julie herself say that she feels uncomfortable to speak up for fear of having problems at work. You know, this is this is the group that gets to set the example and you know, I'm gonna give everybody a benefit of the doubt and I know not everybody treated her that way and say maybe you didn't realize how far those actions go and what tone that that sets and the message that it sends just I would ask you to consider that and and vote for her today and you know we have a primary election coming up in number of weeks early voting is starting, you know before we know it and it's not the time to have a vacancy and Julie is is more than qualified. And you know for those of you who I know

▶ 13:01 Monica C. Medeiros: didn't. Didn't treat her in this way. If you saw something that you know, you made you feel uncomfortable. I encourage you to speak up about it because again, you guys set the example and you set the tone and I you know, I appreciate that. And again, there's many things to be proud of and the city and I know this is really hard to do all of these remote meetings and And to do your job, so I appreciate it. And I thank you. Anybody remotely at this time not online anyone else wishing to speak this evening if you want to come forward. Hi, Julie. Delullo 13 Circuit Street. I do feel like I have to come up here to defend who I am as a person. Who I am in this city. I don't know Jim Bennett at all.

▶ 14:00 I don't know him. He doesn't know me. He doesn't know who I am. The people that wrote Into You don't know who I am. You are condemning me because of one person outside of my control who filed a lawsuit outside of my control. My belief that anybody has the right to do that is my belief. But it has nothing to do with me who I am. My values how I operate. Who I am as a worker. I've worked the polls. I hope people saw that when I was doing it, it was fair. I think I told you somebody came up to me with a license right in his hand and I said we don't have to take that. It's not required. And that's how I would act on the board. the laws of the laws Melrose isn't setting the laws the state sets them.

▶ 14:55 And I've told you I told you three four five times and that meeting. That I uphold the law. And I will uphold the law. But you're not looking me. I barely know most of you on this Council. I barely know you. You asked me about a lawsuit. You asked me who's won the election? You didn't ask me about who I am. Right, you didn't ask me those types of questions and I do feel I have to defend myself I have. I love this city. I've been here 12 years. There have been times. I've been at odds with lots of people right whether it's the override whatever it is. but this is the first time where I've really felt like I have a counsel. That's representing not representing me. That's how I feel. Right. I'm being judged by someone else's

▶ 15:54 actions. I'm being judged because I have an R next to my name. Not for who I am. Because none of you asked who I you didn't ask the right questions and to Monica's Point job interview. Never be asked any of those questions on a job interview. So I just I wanted to be able to speak before you get to your vote. So, thank you. Thank you. Anybody else wishing to speak in public comment? Anyone else? I'm like, okay at this time without objection. We will now close public comment for this evening. You do not have any Communications from his honor them there new business filings, please order 2020 22 fashion order 2023 - 6 authorization for the procurement officer or his her delegate to increase the contract term on all future management agreements for

▶ 16:50 Jen Grigoraitis: the operation of the Mount Hood Memorial Park and Golf Course from three years to five years. That'll go to Appropriations and oversight. order 20 23-7 disposition of personal property belongs to the Melrose Public Library Councilor Grigoraitis, thank you president snella at this time. I would like to make a motion for immediate consideration on this order pursuant to our rule 34. I'm making this request. This order is regarding the process to dispose of property from the Melrose Public Library for those in government. This is a really common process. You can't just throw things away that have been paid for with taxpayer dollars and my understanding is that because of our meeting schedule which

▶ 17:30 is impacted by the primary election on the sixth. We actually have a three year three week Gap in our meeting schedule. So I'm hoping we can talk about this this evening. Any objection to Media consideration object objection, so that will go to Appropriations and oversight. order 2023-8 Appointment of Thug he barely 39 writing Ave to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for three year term set term for expire on the last day of February 2025. I'm Appropriations and oversight. order 2023-9 appointment of Craig Mall Way 58 gross Ave to the Melrose Conservation Commission for our two year term set term to expire on the last day of February 2024. That'll go to public service. order 2023-10 appointment machine Eagan 21 Boston Rock

▶ 18:25 Ave to the Melrose historical commission for three-year term set time to expire in the last day for every 2025 now health education and Welfare. order 2023 - 11 appointment of Kate Roberts 25 Rockland Street to the Melrose historical commission for three year terms expire in the last day of February 2025 that'll go to health education and Welfare. Order 2023-13 lead Water Service planning srf alone. That will go to the Appropriations and oversight committee. and filings by The Honorable City Council res 2023-2 request for State action to mitigate impacts from MBT Orange Line public transit shut down servicing the city of Melrose. How's the greatest? Thank you president snella I would all show

▶ 19:19 Christopher Cinella: move for immediate consideration of this resolution as I believe everyone is aware. The MBTA has announced an unprecedented month-long shutdown of the orange line, which is set to take effect in four days. So we have asked our fellow elected to come before us to provide an update specific to Melrose and how this will impact our community. Okay? Is there any objection to Media consideration seeing none? This matter is now before the council and I want to if there's no objection to spend our rules so that we can. Hear from our state delegation. So we are now under rule suspension. I'd like to welcome our State Rep lippagaribians Senator Lewis Air Broder welcome. Welcome back to some. Constantly did you have?

▶ 20:21 Leila Migliorelli: Mr. President, did you want to say good? Yeah. I just wanted to as a co-filer of this registration. Oh means. Yeah. Thank you to our invited guest tonight and thank you for your ongoing advocacy and face of this unprecedented shut down of the orange line for the next month counselor Gregory, right? It's my file this resolution to urge for State action to better mitigate against impacts of this closure on residents of Melrose people commute into Melrose students who will you know, commute into Melrose and while the situation continues to evolve I think we can agree that the state has come up with inadequate plan and is vastly underestimating the real impacts that this will have on the economy environment

▶ 21:06 Leila Migliorelli: and the lives of Working Families in and around this area. So given the rapid timeline for implementation. We want to give the opportunity to each of you to talk about what you've been Working on I know that you've been partnering with some of the other surrounding communities just to talk about that. We'll have time for questions. And then also I think you know residents are wondering what they can do if there's any opportunities for residents to speak out. How would you direct those kind of questions so For me. Thank you. Also, thank you Mr. President. Thank you counselors for allowing us on short notice the opportunity to address you all I suspect you will all have questions because we I think I'll speak for

▶ 21:49 Paul Brodeur: the group on this far. We all still have great deal of questions and concern well try to build in a little history. I want to State the obvious about the closure it would have been much better to do this with much more time to prepare. It would have been better to do this when ridership was way down during the pandemic. It would have been better. If we had a long-term capital plan years or maybe decades ago to avoid many of the problems that were reading about only some of which will be dealt with with the with the proposed fixed. None of that happened and we need to get those answers as a state government as a city government. And we will pursue that but here is where we are. We have a broken system a dysfunctional system that

▶ 22:39 Paul Brodeur: we need to get back into service. We all know the public transportation here in Melrose and throughout the region as part of our master plan. It's built into what we are trying to do is built into our Net Zero plan and more and we know that safe reliable efficient affordable public transportation is not an extra is a necessity for the folks in this community in the surrounding area. At the councilor want to thank you for recognizing the work we've been able to do with mail-longo Kern of Medford and may a Christianson in our letter to them. When was on August 4th seems like it was a long time ago. We asked for a couple things we asked for additional frequency of commuter rail trips on the existing system. I

▶ 23:27 Paul Brodeur: do believe that there are certainly logistical problems with that given the nature of the system that it might be easier said than done. We also ask for Express shuttle service from at a minimum Oak Grove and Mountain station and Wellington directly into Boston, which we know the tea has done that before regrettably the answer so far on that is no that in that comes to you from a meeting. I was able to participate in at 5:30 this evening with General man. Here and some other staff from the MBTA and Mass DOT along with folks from Malden in Medford. The reason that they gave essentially is that there aren't enough buses to do that efficiently and that they really would prefer folks. They feel the best way for the

▶ 24:24 Paul Brodeur: system to work is for folks to push into the commuter rail as much as possible. I don't want to speak for my colleagues here. We continue to believe both Malden Medford and Melrose in the local level that that express bus service is critical we have also asked this is along with mayor Valentine of Summerville the current plan as I understand it. They seems to be a little bit of more than one story about how this is working, but At the midpoint of the Orange Line roughly for the stations will not be in service. And the tea is asking folks to either work around to other lines or walk or ride the silver line as possible Alternatives that you all recall that the Civil the silver line is essentially a bus

▶ 25:21 Paul Brodeur: that replaced the orange line when the orange line was reinvented many years ago on that in the orange line service was diverted into the into the Back Bay. We did not unfortunately get any kind of a commitment on that either. I suppose the good news is the GM has agreed to regular meetings with the kind of North of Boston municipalities to coordinate Communications and necessary adjustments to Service as things involve on the ground. I think it's important for you all to know that the most police Sergeant gawk and chief Lyle have been involved in some of the logistical and Public Safety meetings that have that have gone. We have certainly going to be monitoring both the volume in nature of the parking at our Commuter Rail

▶ 26:11 Paul Brodeur: stations, which we expect potentially to increase greatly and will be keeping an eye out for folks bluntly. There are parking illegally on streets in and around the system to make sure that that is not happening to the best of our ability. Regrettably, the tea has asked one of their asks has been for assistance in terms of Municipal Police details in order to facilitate some of the traffic diversions and other ideas that are happening. The system-wide but they have not for the example that is most relevant to us again committed to express bus service which would need something facilitation to get efficiently to. To Route 93 details as you might imagine are not something that can be turned off and on

▶ 27:03 Paul Brodeur: in the space of 24 hours and we have not been given enough logistical information to understand how aware those resources particularly involved in Medford where the challenges are great are great are quite frankly and importantly the the tea and Mass DOT have not made a commitment to fund any of that activity. So we would be very hard-pressed considering the the volume of the recommended details, which are essentially 16 hours of details in particular locations that as you all know is a huge lift particularly in the beginning of the fiscal year that he has been Suggesting the kind of the best way to go but this from the commuter perspective and it is accurate, but it's also a little bit. Tone deaf quite frankly because they have suggested your best

▶ 28:03 Paul Brodeur: alternative. It's not going to Boston at all. And for those of you who are able that is terrific advice and I would urge you. To heat it because we honestly don't know in many respects what's going to happen? There's been a lot of modeling done when modeling meets the real world. You know, it's pretty unclear. What's going to happen? so I appreciate that the need and the Desiring the ability to communicate it has to get better but it is going to leave a lot of people either Folks at have to be to work have to get to school either in Boston PD or a charter school or some of the parochial schools in Boston or the many higher ed. Campuses that rely on the tea a great deal and folks quite frankly folks with medical appointments that

▶ 29:03 Paul Brodeur: rely on the World cast class care that's in and around Boston that are going to experience a lot of difficulty. Not that that wasn't difficult before we know that he was not a perfect system but these two challenges are unique and unprecedented and while I am pleased that the tea is has raised up some some service for folks that are concerned about Mobility impairments or other impediments to using the system the way it is now constructed there will be some alternative transportation for them. There are still details to determine that I would say look there is no way. To make this good news or to sugarcoat it even if we came up with or the tea and massdot come up with the perfect plan. There are still going to be tremendous obstacles

▶ 29:57 Paul Brodeur: facing commuters. Whether you do a car bus bike walk whatever the case may be it is going to be hard and it's going to be hard for the next month. I average the T to explain in much more detail as I know my colleagues have why 30 days because folks have reacted with skepticism about whether or not 30 days is a legitimate number. They have a mega work plan that I've seen a little bit of I bluntly don't understand it cannot evaluate it but I do think it would give folks a little bit more confidence in the tea. they understood the work plan and finally in I don't know if this is the most important thing but I do think it's really important is To the Riders to our commuters you are reasonably and justifiably frustrated exhausted

▶ 30:50 Paul Brodeur: and most commonly, I think resigned to dysfunctional tea. I totally get that and I know my colleagues do as well because we have lived it ourselves us and our families have ridden the system. I've learned to rely on it not So Much Anymore with my current commute. but I would ask this if everyone who's watching the folks, who are you going to who you are going to encounter over the next 30 days be it your fellow commuters or the folks that are the front line workers, you know, the bus drivers the Conductors on the commuter rail the ambassadors that are going to be stationed at the station just to try to tell you how it works. They didn't build this they didn't break it. And they deserve really our empathy and

▶ 31:43 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: our respect because it is going to be a hard job. People are very reasonably keyed up and we need to make sure that you know, we at least treat each other in those employees as well as we can during these during these circumstances and with that over long. Statement I will turn it over to replicar obedient. Thank you mayor Broder and thank you City councilors president self are having us here tonight to counselors gregoritis and makeliarelli for filing your resolution in my relatively short time as a state representative. It's been my pleasure to partner with you all and residents here in Melrose on a number of MBTA issues that we've had whether that was the proposal to close Cedar Park Commuter Rail station, which we

▶ 32:30 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: successfully thwarted to shut down an entire bus line, which we had reduced service, but at least it still is running things going on in Wakefield. Similarly. It's really a testament to a good State local partnership that we can have these conversations and think creatively and with real sense of urgency about ways in which we can try to improve a process but it is you can't understand how devastating this is going to be for our region over the next 30 days. So as the mayor indicated this complete Shut down of the Orange Line begins at 9 pm this Friday evening service is anticipated to resume the morning of September 19th. It's that's a Monday and we as legislators have been sort of caught off guard

▶ 33:17 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: just like everyone else about the imminence of this closure and have been working as quickly as we can with our offices to push back on, you know, the MBTA to understand better. It's lack of communication and notice on this the timing of it and how it is planning to really mitigate the disastrous impact. This is going to have on so many residents and families. Senator Lewis and I are offices joined the MBTA last week to really better assess out the plan for this closure and the MBT has committed just as it has apparently with the local Mayors to weekly meetings with the legislators. I'm certainly committed to pushing out all the information I get. Dates in terms of service shifts enhanced service, which hopefully could come on board through social

▶ 34:08 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: media on my email newsletters, you know just as the Mayors it sounds like work together to request more Innovative thinking I similarly when the news broke spoke with the MBTA Deputy Chief of Staff about a need for express service on buses down to Boston. We've heard that that has been declined at this time. Also suggesting ways in which to make commuter rail service more enhanced it is the case that the commuter rail will continue to stop at all three locations here in Melrose. It will also stop at Oak Grove and at Malden Center in some ways. That means that our little portion of the orange line is going to be better service in some of our neighbors to the South so you will still be able to go to those stations rather

▶ 34:59 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: than jumping on the more frequent orange you will Have access to the commuter rail, the commuter rail will not you will not pay a commuter rail price. So it all stops in Melrose as well as up in Wakefield and even into Redding you will need to just show your Charlie card or your Charlie ticket that will cover the cost of your ride into into Boston. So the mean while as the mayor suggested, there will be shuttle buses running at every Orange Line stop into Boston into Haymarket in Government Center the goal for the MBTA is to use these 90 days to accelerate significant safety issues that were highlighted most recently in the federal non-compliance findings the situation when the orange line catching on fire over

▶ 35:44 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: the Mystic River and people jumping into the river underscores how dire the situation really is and the degree to which it's just not safe to keep the rails open right now, which is why we're why the mutate is indicating that it needs to close for this month, so they are Anticipating addressing many of the safety findings of the federal government. You may recall that there have been a plan to shut down service at Oak Grove or the the tea service in Oak Grove and Malden Center and Wellington, I believe and have shuttle buses running and if my memory serves from July 29th to August 28th, because they were going to be doing significant work at the Wellington Station. So, you know, they're going to be able to do that

▶ 36:29 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: was a schedule closure. They're going to be working on the Wellington Station during this month as well and they're indicating that by closing down the line for this full month. They'll be able to essentially take on the work that would otherwise take five years to complete over weekends and off hours. But you know as the mayor said you can't underscore or minimize how disruptive this will be to individuals who absolutely rely on the orange line to to meet their basic daily needs so I know that you know my other These in the state house and I will be pressing the MBTA to provide ongoing proactive information to individuals about how best to navigate this. The tea already has put out a writer's

▶ 37:14 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: guide to planning ahead. It's a tool that you can look at it provides information about the different stops along the orange line and what type of access will be available during the next month. There is a helpful grid that shows you the hours and time of the various Commuter Rail trains that will be running. They're also indicating that they'll update the if I recall it something like the fine My Ride app. I used to use it myself when I was commuting daily on the orange line. So presumably you can put in where you're starting and where you're going and it will provide you with some options, you know for how you can reach your destination and the time that you need it to be there. So those are things that we can continue to press on

▶ 37:56 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: to make sure those are working. Well, we need better signage up at the stations and multiple languages to let people know. That this is happening and where they can go to get information and I would say to counselor migliarelli's question earlier in terms of what people can do. I think reaching out to our offices to any of us would be appropriate. We'd be happy to hear from you and elevate your impressions your experiences and your concerns and get back to you with more information. And I you know, I'm here to support our our constituents and to work with all of you to think about ways to press the MBTA to continue to do better. So I'll turn it over now to Senator Lewis. Good evening, everyone. I'm state. Senator. Jason Lewis. It's a

▶ 38:39 privilege to be with you tonight and to be alongside my colleague representative Olympic arabidian and mayor Brodeur. Thank you for the invitation and thank you very much for your advocacy on behalf of Melrose residents. I have had the privilege of serving in the state legislature versus a state representative and now as a state senator for about 12 years. And never in the entire time. I have served have I ever been as frustrated as upset and as angry at incompetence in our government in this case our state government as I've ever been as I am now with the situation we find ourselves in with the MBTA and this absolutely unprecedented in Massachusetts and nationally shut down of the second busiest subway

▶ 39:30 line in our system where which carries more than a hundred thousand writers a day and it's still only at about 50% of its pre-pandemic capacity, but it's been increasing but even so it's a hundred thousand people a day. These are people who absolutely depend on the orange line, of course to get to work after Labor Day to get to school we have several colleges on this line to get to medical appointments. I I had a nurse reach out to me. Lives in Malden who has to get to her job to shifts at different hours of the day a Tufts Medical Center. Think about the impact on our Healthcare System and on patients who need, you know, life-saving critical care this Has impacts on people's lives and on our employers.

▶ 40:24 Our colleges and of course the entire grade of Boston region. I mean this is this is a major major crisis for this region. Certainly for the 30 days and we're just all praying that it's not going to be more than 30 days. But even beyond that just how this undermines confidence in certainly the institution of the MBTA and I'll probably transit system but undermines confidence, you know in our government institutions and our ability to deliver Public Services. safely reliably it's not that much to ask for. You know, it is true that the MBTA is the oldest public transit system in the nation. So there is a lot of old infrastructure and I think there's plenty of blame to go around and prior to to the the winter of 2015,

▶ 41:20 which I'm sure we all recall when this system completely crashed you could certainly lay the blame at previous Democratic administrations and Republican administrations and and previous legislatures as well for not adequately funding the system and overseeing the system and doing making the kinds of changes that were needed. since to 2015 however A lot was changed the governor was given significant power a new governance structure was put in place the management and control board significant additional funding was also provided and when the legislature, you know asked the administration on multiple many occasions since then, you know, what else do you need? We were told that they were doing you know,

▶ 42:07 they had were spending amounts of money that they had never spent before that were far in Access of what they had ever done. And in fact, they didn't have the capability to spend more money just because of the, you know number of project managers and other resources that you need to just put that money to work. So I think maybe I was naive and I'm not going to speak for others. But at least I thought that we were actually making real progress in improving the MBTA. I knew it was a long-term Endeavor, but certainly that we were making safety a priority that we were looking to you know, improve reliability in the system, you know, and yes, I would be great if we could also start actually improving

▶ 42:48 the system things like the green line extension, but never did I expect and I think many others as well quote off guard that we would have the Federal Transit Administration the FTA swooping in and again, I think it's only the second time they've ever had to do this. To come in to do an audit of this system and because of the multiple safety violations and an issues that had occurred, you know over the last year or two. Then they released their preliminary findings. And the MBTA, you know at least initially responds by because they don't have enough staff in their operations center. And they and there's no way they shouldn't have known that this was going to be a safety concern. They respond by cutting service dramatically. So

▶ 43:37 now we were looking at writers are looking at Major safety concerns and you know lack of reliable service and then on top of that All of a sudden out of the blue with really no advanced warning certainly to legislators to Mayors to again to Major Employers in the region and obviously not to write as himself. They announced with two weeks notice, maybe two and a half weeks notice this unprecedented, you know month-long shutdown of the orange line. Three that they do this and the governor just said this morning that this was they're not doing this because the FDA told him to do it they new about all of these safety issues. They knew what that the Deferred maintenance in the backlog they needed to get to and they decided they were now going to do it, you

▶ 44:24 know in 30 days. If that was that was the case. This should have been planned for months. They should have been working on this for months because they should have been collaborating with. a city officials throughout the Greater Boston region with advocacy groups with groups that represent writers. And and with the Region's large Employers in colleges and others to work out every possible way to mitigate the impact of this to the greatest extent possible. They of course did not do that. So they are scrambling even today with less than a week to go to figure out exactly, you know, how this is all going to work exactly where the shuttle buses are going to run. We're there going to be dedicated

▶ 45:11 lanes and other changes made to enable the buses to run more efficiently still working out, you know, there are other aspects of the plan we Municipal officials legislators. We send a letter from all the legislators in this region to General Manager POF Tech last week as well along with in as the mayor's did have made it very clear that there's some simple things that they could do. Certainly among those the things we've been talking about increase the frequency of commuter rail service the commuter rail in no way is up to the challenge of moving this many people. And by the way, the commuter rail only runs to North Station. How does that get somebody to Chinatown? How does that get somebody to Tops Medical Center or onward? You

▶ 45:57 know, the MBT I think wants people to maybe get out there walk half a mile maybe get on the green line, you know, then switch to the silver line and arrive at work three hours later. I mean, this is just crazy. This is not going to work Express buses are certainly another important part of the solution and they should be expressed buses running certainly from Oak Grove and Malden Center as well to provide another way for people who you know obviously don't need to get off it Community College or somewhere else along the way to get into Boston and we need a better solution for folks, you know, okay, if you're going to be getting off at North Station or government center, you know, maybe one of these Alternatives is

▶ 46:38 okay, and you can make it work, but if you have to go on further into downtown Boston including Tufts Medical Center I'm very concerned that this that this is not going to work. I do think the tea should also be strongly considering whether they completely wave fairs or at least reduce them during this this month-long period at least give people a break and and if they do do that, I think it probably is incumbent on this on the legislature to step up and provide the money to backfill. You know, what the tea would be would be forgoing and I would certainly be willing to to support that. So I guess in some. I think in the near term, I would Echo everything that my colleagues have said and I think we're all speaking with the same voice. Also. I'm in

▶ 47:24 terms of our colleagues from Malden and Medford and Somerville Cambridge other communities North of Boston. I do think the tea is hearing us. I do think all the way from the governor to General manage a poftech and other Administration Transportation officials are hearing this feedback from us and obviously from writers as well who are you know, again deeply concerned and I I think that is having an impact in getting the tea to be more responsive to try to do more to mitigate the disruption and also to improve their Communications which are never good under the best of circumstances that is another area. They absolutely need to step up the frequency the clarity and also in multiple languages as well

▶ 48:07 at all this the accuracy indeed at all the stations on the trains. There's a lot more will continue to push them on there to make sure at least everybody knows what is happening and you know, What their alternatives are so that will continue to be our Focus? Absolutely for the next 30 days. But what I would what I will say in closing is that it's not going to end there. We we need we're going to need some major overhaul at the MBTA and I for one I'm looking forward to working with our next governor. When she takes office to make it an top priority to restructure and overhaul the MBTA. I'm not a transportation expert and I don't claim to know all the workings of the MBTA. But clearly we know what's what the structure we've had in the leadership we've had

▶ 48:55 in the governance. We've had has failed us. And so we are going to need to figure out what that new structure needs to look like. Whether we need to potentially fold the MBTA into massdot or whether a federal receivership is the right answer for some period of time or whether we just need to put in place at different governance structure and different leadership and make other chain other policy changes at the MBTA as well because this is not acceptable. We have to have a public transit system for the Greater Boston region that matches the world-class City and region that we are and that we aspire to be. And that's not what we have today. And so I I absolutely committed to doing everything I can in the near term

▶ 49:45 and in the mid to longer term working with my colleagues in both state government and municipal government and all of you. And our next Governor as I said to do whatever we need to do including restructuring policy changes funding. By the way, the recent infrastructure Bond bill that the legislature passed Governor Baker signed has many million multiple hundreds of millions of dollars for the MBTA on top of what they've already received. So they they have that they will have that money and they have Federal money as well a lot of federal money. So that is that's certainly my commitment to all of you and to the residents of Melrose. Thank you. Thank you, Senator a little bit up a questions. I have counseling gregoritis

▶ 50:30 Jen Grigoraitis: and Q but I want to just check with a remote participants. If you want to just raise your hand if you have a question at this time, if you don't will Circle back but counselor Williams or geometry and you want to raise your hand if you have a question, thank you counselor grigoritis. Thank you president thank you for all three of you for being here tonight and offering up this information just a couple questions as we think about how this impacts Melrose. I know mayor broader. You mentioned the parking enforcement in the three lots that are associated with the commuter rail our managed by the city of Melrose. I feel like it kind of cuts both ways. Obviously we want to manage. We don't want people parking there who shouldn't be but I also am anticipating there

▶ 51:08 Paul Brodeur: is going to be significantly more demand for The Limited number of spots. We have as people come from farther north. Is that something we should be preparing residents for we putting additional enforcement out there. I guess kind of what is that look like in practice? It relies certain respects on kind of the facts on the ground because it is a little bit unpredictable. We're certainly not looking to Squeeze people or you know over enforce we really just and again this is already in the plans of Sergeant cock. You know, who does is our traffic enforcement leader about really paying attention and the normal enforcement plus additional patrols paying attention to you know, what's going on out in the street not to over enforce

▶ 52:01 Paul Brodeur: but to make sure our residents can get to and from where they want to go and in places where particular West Wyoming or Wyoming station and the highlands particularly for folks who aren't familiar with those areas the commutera a lot but other parking and we don't want the residents of the steelhouse that count on their parking to get overwhelmed by commuters in the same thing with some of the the apartment buildings at Wyoming station where that is private dedicated parking and we Want folks to you know, our residents to lose the opportunity to use the spaces that are theirs. So I knew I'm sure many people saw that the I'm gonna bungle the title, but I believe it's the director of the highway division,

▶ 52:51 Jen Grigoraitis: which is a state entity. Said today people shouldn't drive encouraging people to shift their hours so that if they do have to go into the city, they're commuting off our and then released a map that just has a giant Red Cloud of awfulness over our entire metro area. So that's all great when you tell people to shift their hours and maybe some folks will be able to do that. But are the getting people from Oak Grove back into Melrose. We primarily rely on two buses the 131 and the 137 and right now both of those buses drop down to maybe one every 45 minutes after traditional commuting hours. So do you know if there's been any discussion about adding more bus service so that after people have spent however long

▶ 53:35 Jen Grigoraitis: they spend getting to Oak Grove that last mile is in Waiting, you know for that bus that may becomes every 45 minutes, especially if people are starting to work later than typical. regrettably you guys might have a little bit of a different perspective, but answers about anything that is not directly. touching the orange line is kind of oh we'll see we'll take that back that certainly something that we will consider going forward so that I guess my next question is also the Sumner terminal is currently closed every weekend which just continues to put a Stranglehold on Getting North of Boston, but I'm assuming also the tea is not they're not going to plan to delay that work so that we can have access to the Sumner Tunnel while

▶ 54:24 Paul Brodeur: the ones. I suspect that is correct. And my only other question is just well thinking about our small business community and I'm assuming many of they rely on both customers who come in on the train but also workers and has there been any Outreach to them or anything that they've shared that would be helpful that is obviously within the realm of our control which is not that much no, and I said the community the business Community the realtor community. the chamber were terrific when we Face the threat of the loss of certain of our Commuter Rail stations, and we have always Good, you know before me well after me, I think folks understand again. We used to be What's called the streetcar suburb we have to have

▶ 55:13 Paul Brodeur: Good reliable safe affordable Transportation the business Community knows that as well as well as anyone else that they have. you know a fundamental interest and economic interest local and as Senator Lewis said that's true of all of all of greater Boston the next pick your business, you know the next Amazon the next incubator when they decide where they're going to locate we have a lot of high costs, but the one thing that sets us apart is our intellectual Capital, but that is also mobile and if we continue to have places where you can't afford to buy a house and you can't afford or count on A public transportation system. We are going to have some significant fundamental problems with our whole economy.

▶ 56:12 Thank you. The only thing thank you counselor. The only thing I would add is these are a great points as we as you yourself hear about very specific issues like, you know, for example, whether the bus service, you know would be extended hours or extending frequency because people might be working different hours or you know, whatever those issues are or are you here them from residents of Melrose of course or businesses let you know definitely send those to us because representative Olympic Arabian and I along with all these are maintaining a list of these issues and concerns that are arising like for example, another one that came up was, you know would shuttle buses stop on the Malden or the Melrose side

▶ 56:54 of the of Oak Grove station, you know, or will people be able to have access to get across, you know, it's some issues there lots of things like that that are very much like getting more into you know into the into the weeds but about our important and we're gonna be continuing to discuss with the MBTA probably on a daily Basis and we'll have these weekly meetings with senior Folks at the MBTA. So we will constantly be pushing them on, you know, as these issues come up and you know what? Honestly we probably won't be able to get the answer we want on on many of these but you know, certainly if we don't Ask and and push for it. We certainly won't won't get it. So please do pass along to us, you know as much as in real

▶ 57:40 Paul Brodeur: time, you know, all of these particular very specific issues and suggestions that come up but to your point is something I probably should have mentioned before the most absolutely most of our commute. our Miller's commuters are into Boston for Greater Boston for work come home, but there are definitely businesses in Melrose particular the hospitals some of our skilled nursing facilities that rely on it's like a reverse commute or what we don't think of as a commute where we don't always think about those things when when we plan those things are critically important, but both to the both to the residents that they serve and to those folks as employees that is certainly something we need to keep keep in mind as we move forward

▶ 58:29 Maya Jamaleddine: through this better. Someday, hopefully we will. councilor Jamaleddine Do you hand up? Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to join our constituents today and our elected officials and the frustration and disappointment with the current Mbps situation. I want to call it crisis. As a tough employee, I am thankful that my employer continue to provide any support possible to us. However, the challenges that we are facing due to them because tuition on huge and I can only imagine that amount of struggle that would leave on minorities and people with disabilities. Not to mention the consequences of the situation on the workforce how many this how many of us decided to quit or apply for Loa? Due to the situation every organization or company

▶ 59:30 Paul Brodeur: are suffering from short of Staff. This will double down on this issue due to this issue. So I wanted to ask our elected official if they if there is any other solution or if we can raise our voices. Higher and double down on our the pressure that we can put on the MBTA to you know to find a better solution for our constituents. Thank you. I guess I would say in brief. This will be what it will be but it is not there's still a lot of fundamental problems with. the MBTA the advocacy going forward has to be persistent inconsistent or will be back here when the red line shuts down for for the same reasons and all right. Maybe it won't be us. It will still touch members of our community that need to get

▶ 1:00:35 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: where they get to go throughout gate Greater Boston potentially to Cambridge whatever the case may be so that that can recognizing the value of public transportation to the region and continuing to push for support of it. It has to be part of our part of our messaging. Well into the future. And I would just add her underscore. Something that I think has been said about the importance of ongoing analysis as this is happening where I'm going to be along with all my colleagues. I'm sure pressing the MBTA to be rigorous and collecting both anecdotal and quantitative data about what is happening and press them to be dynamic throughout these 30 days to the degree that we can deploy additional services to a

▶ 1:01:26 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: bus line or continue to press for you know, more dedicated bus lane service. I think it's really important not to suggest that we can't continue to improve even Within These 30 days and look for those opportunities driven by data and experience because it's really important. You know, I it's such the case that often decisions happen because of the immediacy of a need. So in this case, I keep thinking about that orange line and the fire and I think it's honestly remarkable that No one got injured at that moment in time. And so I can see people in this the center office saying it but there but for the grace of God someone could have died and we we can't guarantee that that might not happen again next week. And so we have it's

▶ 1:02:14 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: an imperative that we shut it down at the same time. As you know, the example that the senator provided or that counselor jamaladian is referencing with her own profession. There are people who are going to have their own health at risk because of the this shutdown. So it's critical that we not only you know, sort of put out information as we're getting it from the MBT. But really, press the agency to be as rigorous as possible and reacting to data as it receives it and and being dynamic in shifting resources deploying things differently saying that nothing is said in stone and that we can continue to look for improvements throughout these 30 days. I've just done add that some I do appreciate that Mass DOT

▶ 1:03:02 has stepped up, you know, and they are working hard on alternative options, you know dedicated bus lanes things of that nature and I really appreciate the way I'm Municipal officials have stepped up, you know our Mayors like mayor Broder mayor Christian in Malden mayor Wu, of course in Boston and they are making, you know, very, you know fast and and tough decisions about different intersections and roadways again to help speed the service so that you know preach is appreciated. But I think we also need to call on the governor, you know to to deploy other assets within state government wherever they may be and whichever parts of state government, you know to again do everything imaginable to help us

▶ 1:03:45 Manjula Karamcheti: get through this next 30 days with You know at least bad possible. He's bad outcomes possible. Cancer come cheating. I'm first of all, thank you all for being and giving us the information and updates that you have. They're very appreciated and from the information you've shared and your sentiments about it. I can see that you all greatly understand that the impact that this is going to have on a variety of populations within the state and within Mount Rose Malden and some of our other communities in the name of thinking about the users and those who have kind of already reached out. I just wanted to share some of the ideas that melroseans have offered in terms of ways to support this month

▶ 1:04:39 Manjula Karamcheti: and how challenging it will be. So I will share them. I am not a transportation expert but the users who ride every day who have to get to work you have to get to school. These are their ideas. So dedicated bus lanes for free shuttle buses Express buses gift certificates for Is in taxis free and more frequent commuter rail subsidies for caregivers able and willing to bring multiple kids to school in a carpool pilot and experiment on workable public transport Solutions and make them permanent with arpa money bike lanes and free blue black bikes for people so they can get a spot instead of waiting for the bus because again, I think you've already highlighted. What the MBTA does have right now will impact

▶ 1:05:30 Manjula Karamcheti: getting to work getting home from work Child Care doctor's appointments and everybody can't be late to everything the world doesn't work that way. So what are the Alternatives while the MBTA is figuring itself out because as you highlighted it has to be shut down like we have to fix it. But then how do we mitigate the impact that people will experience over? The four weeks or longer and just in terms of you know, my background is like Crisis Intervention in schools and coalitions. I guess I would ask locally what resources do we have to mitigate the impact on kids college students Child Care those with doctor's appointments or medical professionals and Families. How can we mobilize activities Community? We know

▶ 1:06:17 Manjula Karamcheti: our residents are going to be impacted. Are there carpools what Melrose kind Melrose volunteers the disabilities commission ped bike? How do we work together to identify who in our community is going to be most impacted and make sure that there are resources available and supports available finances. We can make accessible through free cash. There are probably things we can do at a local level to support our residents. So I encourage us to think about how we do that. So I guess I didn't really have a question. but counselor Stewart Thank you, Mr. President. Representative Mr. Mayor Senator Lewis. Thanks for being here tonight. My main concern is parking in my ward if we're gonna have a whole bunch of people coming into town

▶ 1:07:14 Robb Stewart: and take the free commuter rail. They're gonna go to see the park or Wyoming station which are both in ward 3 and People are going to park on the streets circuit Street heard Street Cottage Trenton Florence and all the intersecting streets. Therein. These are very narrow streets. These are not conducive. And there are no parking restrictions to park for the entire day. And I think it's going to cause potential issues in getting around our neighborhoods. So my question to you and this probably most probably for you Mr. Mayor is can we have some temporary science put up to limit the time that people can park throughout the day? four hours, for example, so that way somebody was standing of the

▶ 1:08:08 Paul Brodeur: our parking is that it defaults to? three hours We can certainly try to publicize that in some way. My guess is that what we'll have to do is look for. Kind of hot spots, see how it develops a little bit because I don't think we can. Put them everywhere just like squeeze in a balloon, right? It's telling people that they kind of go over here. So we will triage it as best we can to a certain degree. It's a little bit. Unpredictable and we are on the lookout for it. And certainly as Senator Lewis said if you're aware of a problem spot try to make sure it's your not your neighbor who's kind of abusing the privilege every day. But if they're you know, if you see unusual activity that reasonably

▶ 1:09:00 Robb Stewart: relates back to this we want to deal with it for sure. I'm just so it's never enforced. You know, we've for most people have left their cars on the streets throughout the day it my the reason why I bring it up is if we have signs to Temporary signs that went up for the month that just suggested for people that are not from within the town because I That I think that would be a little bit more of an impediment for people to find other ways to get to those train stations. And that's it's a it's not 100. We can't differentiate between with that we can't say. It's okay for locals to do it. It's not okay for not locals to do it. that having been said You know had the opportunity to discuss this with Sergeant cock and the chief and we'll

▶ 1:10:03 Ryan Williams: do whatever it takes that probably won't be our opening. Our opening Gambit if you will, but we are prepared to do to react to whatever the situation develops. Okay, good. Thank you. Thank you Mr. President counselor Williams. Hi, thanks very much to the state delegation for coming down to talk to us and to counselors for Gratis and miegler rally for bringing this resolution forward. It's great to have a conversation about this with the community at large and it's great to hear everybody's resolve and the strong words that have been spoken about what we need to do next in order to put the tea back on a track for being what it should be which is a world-class transportation system. This is I just will reflect not a new

▶ 1:10:53 Ryan Williams: problem. We've had endless issues with the team. We've lost a tremendous amount of bus service and board settings specifically with the entire bus lines being cut now and in the future. We've had huge fights over painting streets with the tea and I just want to I want to ask the members of the of the delegation to keep this in their thoughts as they go forward that after this 30-day shutdown is over the tea will very likely still be an organization in crisis. It will still be a bureaucratic Department that fails to meet it's basic obligations for people and we need radical and bold action and we need it now and we need it tomorrow and we need it in 30 days and 60 days and we need it in 90 days.

▶ 1:11:43 Ryan Williams: And I'm heartened to hear the strong words and the sentiments from Senator Lewis and mayor Broder and from leopard gear obedient because I believe that they will stick to those commitments and that we will continue to work with the new governor when she is elected to see those commitments made through. I want to I want to turn for just a moment to the local impacts because This is not something that's just going to affect people who take the tea to work adding this level of buses diversions. I sit on a working group for vulnerable Road users and they're discussing the scale of the changes being made to local streets throughout the Commonwealth throughout the Metro Boston area, especially where we are.

▶ 1:12:33 Ryan Williams: They're talking about closing off access closing off turning Lanes taking out whole Lanes of travel. And I think that it's an understatement that there's going to be a cataclysm of traffic that's going to come out as a result of this. It's going to be extremely dangerous for people who try to walk in bike anywhere along the Route. The delays are going to be substantial and it makes me think back to Melrose. It makes me think about the students who we have arriving by bus or by public transit at the beginning of the school year and maybe we will luck out and maybe these kids won't get caught in the thick of it because it'll wrap up a little early, but maybe it'll go on for another two or three or four months and

▶ 1:13:13 Paul Brodeur: I'm wondering what we can do to support the metco students who rely some on public transit and many who rely on on road buses during this time to make sure that they're not being put through You know a tremendous inconvenience having to to add lots of time to their already long commute. I can speak to that briefly. So one of the first calls I made when at least the rumor of this got got underway. What's the Amy Jackson who was our local metco direct to ask her about eight mostly to communicate with those families to make sure they understand the impacts and they're going to be able to go the good news. to a certain degree as she indicated that not too many of our Mecca students rely on the tea in part because we have

▶ 1:14:10 Paul Brodeur: a fairly robust set of buses late buses so that there's not not that many kids default to the tea particularly to to return home. that having been said there's still the the obvious question for anyone is relying on. any kind of motor transportation and that is it's all well and good, but you Know you get on the metco bus. I don't know if kids quite frankly have the of the ability to walk to that or if it's more door-to-door service, but You get on a 93? Potentially sell the Boston. I don't know exactly what the roots are. Maybe you come through surface roads into Boston. Huge X Factor. And again, I think I said it before you can model this to death until you roll the bus and see what happens in you know, there's a

▶ 1:15:07 Paul Brodeur: breakdown there is some kind of unpredictable but predictable circumstance that happens hard to know what location but we know someone's gonna break down right? We know that someone is gonna miss navigate whatever the new system is and that's gonna create things that That we need to deal with particularly with with with those folks and happily not a lot of in terms of Melrose employees either on the city side or on the school district side. We've done a little bit of soft Outreach on that to see what folks rely on not surprisingly not a ton but we're well aware that we need to keep an eye on that as well and Miss Jackson has promised to keep me in the loop and you know put us in touch with any families that have particular concerns.

▶ 1:16:03 Paul Brodeur: That goes inside the city and outside the city we have kids that come from outside of Melrose. They don't come from Boston. So they don't let go kids and we'll we'll be in touch as best. We can with all them. Yeah, just to make sure just to make sure that there are no Challenges that they face that we can actually help. I didn't see any other hands go up for questions and thank you representative Liberty and Senator Lewis and mayor Broder. Um counselor craigitis second motion to place on file made by Council grigoritis seconded by councilor Migliorelli and discussion. Seeing none Madam clerk. Please. Call the roll Consular Eckles. Yes Council of garapay. Yes consulate recreitis. Yeah councilor maladene.

▶ 1:16:59 Yes. Council camchetti yes counselor McMaster. Yes, councilmanelli. Yes counselor oprensky. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes president sonella. Yes 11. Yes. Clark license 2023-1 gasoline and storage license posted line renewal 2022. I'm going to protection and license. information items info 2023-4 Calling a state election Tuesday the 8th of November 2022. Gotta go to finance. Info 2023-5 2022 state election, November 8th 2022 early in-person voting schedule that I go to finance committee. And reports from committee. info 2023-1 NetZero action plan presentation Cancer Stewart. Yes, this comes from the public service committee. with a no action, and I'd like to make a motion to move it to

▶ 1:18:22 the September 19th meeting I believe it is the full council meeting. Yes. So we're just going to table that. Okay? So motion made by counselor Stewart seconded by counselor Ackles a discussion. Seeing none Madam clerk Consular Eccles. Yes counselor garapay. Yes counselor gregoritis. Yes Council of Germany. Yeah Council Karim Shady. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes Council amigliarelli. Yes. Counselor old bremski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president sonala. Yes 11. Yes. to Clark order 2022-153 appointment of Randall Carter 50 Mystic Ave to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a three-year term set term to expire in the last day of February 2025. Another Uranus Mr. President. This order comes from the Appropriations and

▶ 1:19:21 oversight committee which with a recommendation for passage and at this time all motion for Passage. motion for passage made by counciloritis seconded by second How's the current Shady? any discussion Seeing none. Battle Park councilor Eccles. Yes Consular garapay. Yes consulate gregoritis. Yes counselor. Jamaladin. Yes Council camshady. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes Council amigliarelli. Yes councilor bremski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes Consular Williams. Yes, president sonala. Yes 11. Yes. order 2022 - 154 appointment of tesfaye Eridan 126 Green Street to the motors Human Rights Commission for three year term set to expire in the last day of February 2025 counciloritis Mr. President. This order comes

▶ 1:20:17 from the Appropriations and oversight committee with the recommendation for passage and motion made by Council gregoritis secondary counselor migliarelli any discussion seeing none Madam clerk counselor Eccles. Yes counselor garapay. Yes consulate gregoritis. Yes counselor or jamaladin. Yes Council of Karen chady. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes. Councilman. Migliarelli. Yes counselor of remski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president vanilla. Yes 11. Yes. order 2022-151 appointment of forest Tiedeman 50 Orr Street to the Melrose Conservation Commission as an associate member for a one-year term. Mr. President, this comes from the public service committee with the recommendation for passage. And

▶ 1:21:10 at this point I like the most emotion for passion passage. Thank you motion for passage made by counselor Stewart seconded by counselor Eccles any discussion seeing none Adam Clark, please call the roll Council or Eckles. Yes counselor garapay. Yes counselor gregoritis. Yes consolation. Yes Consular of karamchatie. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes councilor. Migliarelli. Yes counselor. Obrimski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president sonala. Yes 11. Yes. info 2023-2 2022 State primary September 6 2022 early in person voting schedule Mr. President, this order comes from the finance committee with a recommendation to place on file. And I at this moment I would like to meet motion

▶ 1:22:12 to place Sunfire motion to play some file made by counselor. Jamala Dean seconded by Council gregoritis. Any discussion seeing none Adam Clark counselor Eccles. Yes counselor. Garapay. Yes Council mcgregoritis. Yes constellation. Yes, that's okay. I'm Katie. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes Council amigliarelli. Yes counselor. Opbremski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes president sonella. Yes 11. Yes. Info 2023-3 calling his teeth primary Tuesday of six days September 2022. Council is your mailing. Mr. President, this order comes from the finance committee with them recommendation to place on file and at this time I would make motion to place on file. Motion to play some file made by Council jamala Deen

▶ 1:23:05 seconded by second constantly our pay I discussion. Seeing none Madam clerk Consular Eccles. Yes counselor garapay. Yes counselor gregoritis. Yes councilor melodyne. Yes, that's okay. I'm treaty. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes Council amigliarelli. Yes counselor bremski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes president. Sonella. Yes, eleven. Yes. Order 2023-5 pulling location officer detail pursue with the chapter 92 of the act of 2022 also known as the votes Act. Council jamaladin president this order comes from the finance committee with the recommendation to for passage and at this time I would move for Passage. motion of a passage made by counselor gemology in seconded by second Council garapay any discussion seeing none

▶ 1:24:06 and Clark counselor Eccles. Yes counselor. Gary pay. Yes Council gregoritis. Yes constellation maladene. Yes console. Camera JD. Yes. Counselor McMaster. Yes. Counsela. Migliarelli. Yes counselor. Opbremski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams Yes president sonella. Yes 11. Yes. order 2022-152 Appointment of Julie delilo 13th circuit Street to the board of registrars of Voters for a three year term. Said term to expire in the last day of February 2025. Council is your Melody. Mr. President disorder comes from the finance committee with that recommendation of Passage and at this time I move for Passage. Motion for passage made by Council jamalogy and seconded by constantly garapay any discussion Mr. President.

▶ 1:25:00 Leila Migliorelli: I'd like to take opportunity to I don't I didn't see this in iqm too. But motion to add correspondence from the mayor and the Secretary of State to the order the email dated August. 12 second Well, we have a motion on the floor. So if we I could okay do that suppose of that then motion to put that on. Attached to the order. Okay, then I do have comments about this. So I just wanted to comment on my vote at the finance committee. As I said during then that meeting in July. We typically do not wait into partisan Waters in the chamber and certainly not when deliberating the candidaciva resident to a border commission position, but however, this appointment is in fact a political partisan appointment.

▶ 1:25:46 Leila Migliorelli: Based on the information that the mayor received from the secret Secretary of State's office. Although he believed that he had to appoint a republican to fill the vacancy left by another Republican on this Committee. Just last week in this email that I've been a subsequently asked to be attached the order the Secretary of State's office confirmed that we do not need to fill that vacancy with a member of the same party. Therefore. I just can't in good conscious support a republican nominee to this position as a composition of the board would then not accurately reflect the composition of the electric it electorate two Republicans one Democrat and one unenrolled hardly seems like an accurate representation of our City's

▶ 1:26:25 Leila Migliorelli: electric, which is 8% Republican 33% Democrat in 59% independent. Secondarily. Well, I know that the candidate Express that she would not let her own political values influence her decisions. I respect that you can't leave your personal political beliefs at the door. When you're in charge of running a political process. This is an appointment to the planning board or the Liquor Commission elections are inherently political. Just because someone has a d or an R. After their name doesn't mean that they espouse all of the beliefs of their political party. However, one should feel comfortable and confident to State what they do and do not personally support and one of those things is a safety of our elections.

▶ 1:27:07 Leila Migliorelli: Which are under attack today across the country. Safe and fair elections at the Cornerstone of a functioning democracy and we need people the people who are in charge of certifying our electoral results to believe in the Integrity of our elections last month in the nominee indicated. She would support the law. But in the event the Judgment calls need to be made it's unclear where she would stand. As we all know the law is not black and white and is open to interpretation. We need to know what the guiding principles of an appointee would be when they're called upon to interpret the law or when election results may be called into question. I also want to address the remarks made in public comment regarding this

▶ 1:27:48 Leila Migliorelli: being unpresented unprecedented partisan questioning process. When I was appointed to the Human Rights Commission back in early 2018 councilor. Medeiros asked some of the appointees to clarify their personal beliefs and lack of support for president Temp that questioning went on for for a little bit of time and caught all of the appointees by surprise because as we were preparing for that committee line of questioning we were told that this is just be sort of, you know, a quick question of Our intention to serve on that committee and not a grilling of our political stance. So this is in fact not the first time this has happened in this chamber. So given the recent information from the secretary state's office

▶ 1:28:27 Jack Eccles: and my further reflection the nominees comments in the last meeting. I will no longer be supporting the mayor's recommendation for the appointment. Thank you, Mr. President. Anyone else under discussion? counselor Eccles yep, you know back and forth on this a little bit and I don't want to talk too long because it's getting late, but I don't particularly object to a new Republican serving or two or one or any mix but I think that you know, the relevant questions to be asked during for a nominee of this position is about voting rights and situational questions about how you approach certain scenarios. For partisan appointment to a board of register our voters questions are intentionally different than

▶ 1:29:12 Jack Eccles: a typical job interview in their value-based questions are just about enfranchisement and voting personally. I don't think this is like past nominations. I also agree with anyone's right? To file suit, but at this time the state Republican party is suing to stop mail and voting and it is very important to me that anyone on the board of registraris does not support that and I did not hear an answer to that question or questions of the like so I'll be voting now this evening as well. Anyone else on a discussion? How's Grandma Jenny? First I just wanted to say Mr. Little thank you for coming back. I think it was incredibly brave for you to do. So and I apologize if you felt treated unfairly. I was a no vote. I continue to

▶ 1:30:04 Manjula Karamcheti: be a no vote, but truthfully it isn't because you were a republican. It isn't about political party for me. I just wanted an honest answer and I wanted to believe that you care deeply about making sure that voter rights were respected and I just didn't get that answer from you. I know you would follow the law. I know that. You know, you shared your professional background, but I just I didn't hear what I needed to hear to be confident in my vote and it didn't have anything to do with your political party. It just had to do with like fit for for the board, but I do appreciate you coming before us and being interested. Counselors your Melody, do you have a question? or comment Thank you, Mr. President. I wanted to

▶ 1:30:56 Maya Jamaleddine: Echo my colleagues and their comments but most importantly I would like to share my concern about comments made tonight during public comments. I'm traveling to hear the Republicans are trying to change their affiliation on papers due to the pressure and fear. They are facing. as a person who has judged on their appearance on or on their identity. I know exactly how that feels and I wanted to encourage anyone who feels that pressure to to come to any of us and I'm sure me and my colleague will be At the first advocate for them we would not want anyone to change their values or their beliefs because of pressure or fear. Our questions did not come were not questioned would not ask because of the affiliation as

▶ 1:31:58 Maya Jamaleddine: much as because of the importance of the position that misses the little will be holding. I also wanted to add a previous accentines were asked questions. I was if the record is, you know, the public record is there and we can go back and I did ask about consolidation and and other questions to Mrs. the budget Everson so please don't take this personal as much as have open mind and know that our questions are coming as the responsibility that we are holding and because of the importance of this position and appointment that we are voting on. Thank you. counselor McMaster Thank you, Mr. President. While some of Mr. Lilo's answers may have given me pause when she appeared before us on the last occasion. She

▶ 1:33:13 Shawn M. MacMaster: does remain before us tonight as mayor broders nominee for this position after having been recommended favorably by the finance committee. She was vetted by the committee that is vested with that responsibility. Now between the last meeting and tonight the mayor could have withdrawn the lilo's nomination if he was concerned about her performance before the finance committee. He could have also withdrawn her name after Secretary of State's office issued. Its ruling if he wanted to go in another Direction. He could have even encouraged Mr. Lilo to withdraw her own name if he sensed that she was not going to be approved tonight rather than have her nomination failed before the full Council which by the way would be

▶ 1:34:01 Shawn M. MacMaster: the first time in my five years on the council that that has happened. None of that though happened. So that tells me that mayor that Mr. Lilo retains the full support and confidence of Mayor Broder and also tells me that he has no qualms the Democrat and having two Republicans on the board of registers and perhaps like formal council Maderos indicated the mayor may very likely see some benefit in having two Republicans on the board. My own preference for this position would be an unenrolled voter that would be that would bring true balance and parity to the board of registers and I say that as a registered Democrat myself. But it's the function of the executive branch. To nominate candidates to boards and commissions

▶ 1:34:50 Shawn M. MacMaster: and multiple member bodies. In barring something in a person's background or performance before this body. That would be completely disqualifying. I approached these appointments with a high degree of deference to the executive branch and it's for those reasons that I plan to support. The mayor's nominee tonight and Mr. Lilo, I'd like to thank you for remaining interested in this position. Thank you, Mr. President. Anybody else cancel Stewart? Thank you, Mr. President. I'm one of the few consoles that actually know as Mr. Little she's in my ward. She's a constituent of mine. We've communicate a few times over the years when I was running for this office. She spent 45 minutes grilling me over an ice

▶ 1:35:39 Robb Stewart: cream and you know, we had some of the same views some of the differing views, but what impressed me was the Integrity of her questions. And the conviction that she wanted to make sure that I was a good candidate. and the other times that she's approached me has been about Ward issues one was the the continued embarrassment of the the tea where the train was the bells would be running late at night for a month just to warn people for no reason and the other one was a stop sign. There was no political Influence There Is No Agenda. There is nothing that I could see that would. Try to influence me based on her political affiliation. And based on what she said based on her background based on her family based on the interactions. I

▶ 1:36:40 Jen Grigoraitis: see no reason why she would commit any form of fraud sedition. Concern about the voter. I think she would uphold the law as it is written. And for that reason. I'll be supporting musalu. Thank you, Mr. President. Anybody else under discussion? Council here, I just thank you Mr. President. I'll just join in since my colleagues are also speaking. I came to the finance. Committee meeting which I'm not a member of fully expecting to support Ms. Delilah because based on what I do know about her that she's politically engaged. I know she's been involved in several campaigns that she's a lawyer that she holds High positions in HR that she was going to speak very compellingly to her dedication to supporting.

▶ 1:37:25 Jen Grigoraitis: Fair and impartial elections to expanded voting to all of the things that I really see as core to sitting on the board of registrars. I did not walk away from that meeting feeling like those questions had been sufficiently answered. It actually flipped me from being in support to not being in support. I agree with councilor McMaster that these are the Mayors appointments to make and it is our job to say yes or no. I remained unsure after the email we received from mayor Broder about the with information from the Secretary of State if that meant that he continued to support Ms. Delilah with this information that he had the ability to consider other candidates or not. That was my own confusion. I fail to reach out to the mayor for his

▶ 1:38:05 Jen Grigoraitis: clarification, but I felt like we just received an email with updated information from the Secretary of State's office and nothing else. So I feel like at this time. This is not the right appointment. I am not Opposed to other Republicans. I hope the Republican City committee puts other nominees down as is their right under the state law, but I really feel like needing to understand people's commitment to protecting the Integrity of voting and expanding access to that is core to this position. Thank you. Anybody else? Adam Clark, please call the roll counselor Eccles. No counselor garapay. Yes Council gregoritis. No councilor maladene. Council caramshady no counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Migliarelli. No consulate

▶ 1:38:53 o'brimski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams No president. Sonella. Yes. Six, no. The order does not pass. okay, and to counselor, maybe they're allies. Motion I believe under our rules everything gets attached. To the record under our revised rules. order 2022-150 appointment of Roseanne Tree on fee has a jelly as veteran services District director effective, July 5th 2022 counselor Eccles Mr. President, this comes from the health education welfare Community with a motion for passage and at this time I move for passage motion for passage made by counselor articles seconded by second Now, let's do it any discussion. Seeing none Madam clerk. Please. Call the roll Consular Eccles. Yes

▶ 1:39:57 counselor garapay. Yes consulate gregoritis. Yes councilor melodyne. Yes Council Karim Katie. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes Council amigliarelli. Yes counselor. Opbremski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president sonala. Yes 11. Yes. Doing that you sleep tonight. order 2023-1 appointment of Benjamin Rosenberg 76 ardsmore Road as a regular member of the zoning board of appeals to filled unexpired term of David Rocher. Whose terms shall expire in the last day of February 2023. counselor karapay this the main you can make the motion. I'm sorry. I thought you were gonna do it. Sorry Mr. President this This motion came from Committee just recommended to the council and the mayor is he had introduced a candidate. Okay, so we

▶ 1:41:03 Paul Brodeur: have a motion to the rules. recommend the passage and did we get a second on that second second by counselor Stewart and we are under suspension still so Matt Broda if you'd like to thank you president and members of the council again. I appreciate. You all taking the action that you did to move this fold without recommendation because of the candidates lack of availability though. It is very important. Obviously the other chance to vet Mr. Rosenberg. If you had an opportunity over the somewhat extended period of time to check out his resume, you'll see someone with an exceptional amount of experience in project management and development work and I would be remiss if I didn't point out the very

▶ 1:41:55 Paul Brodeur: nature of that work. It's everything from small projects to large building developments. He's done some historic restoration. At the shaw Memorial that I hope you'll talk about because that is a very interesting and cool thing though. I'm not necessarily directly Germain to the work of the zba. He also as experience in professional capacity as a teacher at risdee as soon as the Rhode Island School design, which might not think is necessarily that important, but I believe that an important part of Any Board of commission membership a particular the zba where you're dealing with? Sometimes complex legal issues or regulatory interpretation and Different levels of sophistication to the applicants coming before

▶ 1:42:48 the board to having that that knowledge base but also that ability to communicate I think will serve both the zba and our city. Well our offers recommendation without reservation. Do you have anything you'd like to add or? I apologize for not being here last time it was a simple mix up on on my part. Um, I am a practicing structural engineer. I've worked for 17 years 16 years at my current firm eight of those in the city are in Boston and my family and I moved to Melrose last July. So just over a year ago and amongst the other Roots. We're putting down in the community. I see this as an opportunity to give back and join local government and Start what I hope is a long residency for our family here. My wife is actually a

▶ 1:43:46 senior construction manager for a developer in town and we both saw the ad in the Melrose weekly newspaper, which we get and we had a number of days of discussion over who would actually apply and which made sense because we were both interested in it. We have a spot. Yeah, and if only are two kids have child care. Yeah, and ultimately she had she was looking for other opportunities, but I'm really excited to serve and thank you. Right, so we have a motion on the floor anything on a discussion. possibly Thank you for being here tonight Mr. Rosenberg. I'm just curious in your experience. Have you have you had any local government experience working on some of the projects you have worked on and you

▶ 1:44:32 know, how would you see that kind of experience relating to your role in this on the zba? Yes, so we are structural engineer. We are usually consultants for The Architects. We have a lot of experience working with government entities and the federal state and city levels and even projects that aren't specifically government projects. We tend to appear a lot for zoning boards Landmark committees historic preservation committees and other similar entities mostly to describe the structural impacts of our projects and to answer questions. They may have regarding say the structural capacity for buildings on to go development or restoration. So I would say that's primarily my focus within the governmental

▶ 1:45:17 Shawn M. MacMaster: structure besides the project we actually work on Thank you. Council McMaster, thank you, Mr. President and good evening. Thank you for being here. Thank you for your interest in the position. I just want question for you. How would you balance the oftentimes competing interests between developers and neighborhoods when you know approaching a matter before? my we take very seriously at our firm our role as Trying to find solutions to the problems which involved a lot of different stakeholders. So we're usually clients for The Architects, but we know there are owners there are contractors. There are stakeholders and users and neighbors and it's almost a daily practice in the projects that I work on to be able to come to the table and we always

▶ 1:46:04 say we don't want to come into the room get our assignment and golf in the corner. We want to be at the table so that we can be a voice to try to find the solution when I was speaking with the mayor about Eventually joining, you know, when he was first interviewing me. I he asked what the biggest issues facing the town were and in my year here, it's clear as it is in a lot of greater Boston that the speed and pace and size of development is critically important as a teacher I listen and then I try to balance objectivity and subjectivity because it's not one of the other it has to be both and I hope that I lend my view on from the structure and then from understanding the code and things that are related to it. There's

▶ 1:46:52 Manjula Karamcheti: not one answer pro-oriented development. It's what is the best outcome in each individual case? And I think my background is suited to be able to understand the facts and be able to bring my expertise to that if that answered your question. Very good. Thank you, sir. How's the conversation? Counselor McMaster kind of asked my question, but he asked if better I think that I would have but I'm the city councilor for Ward one where actually a lot of proposals are either in the process or we will be coming down the pipeline and the residents are extremely concerned about a variety of things one including blasting and the the structural Integrity of their homes that are unledges. So How do you go about like investigating and

▶ 1:47:46 Manjula Karamcheti: exploring potential issues and mitigating conversations between developers and residents? in your practice, but also As you potentially are on the zoning board. How would you approach those kinds of things and how would you recommend other City entities and City councilors approach that as well? Yes, I can speak about my practice first. We do a lot of single-family residential work which involves one house undergoing some construction and neighboring house is not and having to deal with it and we do it in areas where there is good soil and poor soil and and ledge or ledge on part of the site or not on part of the site and we've also worked for the people into going construction and the neighbors who

▶ 1:48:33 have to deal with it, you know different cases not at once obviously. So what we always recommend is number one if you're a neighbor that your house if you're Neighbors having construction done. You need to get an exterior interior photographic survey of your house done before any work begins and send it to the person whose house is being worked on that is your record of if you need to make a claim if your plaster starts cracking if something goes wrong here is your proof. So whenever we work with clients, we always say that is your number one defense and you have to do this Society. We live in we also work very closely with the Geo technical Engineers who we mandate have to be on all of our projects. It's not us.

▶ 1:49:20 We don't do that work to discuss what the options are for geo Tech work. So is it blasting is it drilling are there and this is usually not set by us. But we always raise it is good Engineers. Are there time limits are there noise issues are there vibration issues? Do we have to put in place that vibration monitoring scheme where we set a threshold at which an electronic alert goes out. So we see it and say what happens stop or let's understand. there's a lot that we take very seriously about that because we do it a lot and we know our owners and the neighboring owners. They things can get combative and you have to lay the groundwork for that. I think on the zba. Reviewing as much as I understand reviewing the

▶ 1:50:05 cases and being able to ask my questions to flesh out. What potential issues there are in construction so that the parties can understand what they may want to do is really important and I don't know but I'm curious if and how the city might move towards thinking through things that they can guidelines are one that they can put out to people so that they can at least have every courses in that area. Not as part of the ZB. I don't know how that exactly fits but Thank you very much. Very appreciated. Okay, I don't have any other hands that I saw Madam clerk if dope Council together. Oh this time I was gonna make a motion for a passage on the yard and done. You have the maker and the second. Call the roll, please Consular Eckles. Yes. Counselor.

▶ 1:50:56 Gary pay yes counselor. Gregoritis. Yes counselor. Jamaladene. Yes Council caramshady. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes Council amigliarelli. Yes councilor obremski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president sonala. Yes, Levin. Yes. All right. Thank you, Mr. Rosenberg, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. For not asking how he's going to get to work in Boston Okay order 2023-2 appointment of Michael Avi 16 Hillside Ave. Complaining board to fill the term of Robert Mercado, which expired in February 2022, Mr. Ervini's term shall expire on the last day of February 2027. Cancel the repair order 2023-2 comes from protection and Licensing. With the recommendation for passage at this time. I make a motion for passage second motion of

▶ 1:51:56 a passenger by constant garapay seconded by counselor Stewart. any discussion Seeing none Madam clerk. Please. Call the roll counselor Eccles. Yes. Counselor garapay. Yes counselor gregoritis. Yes Consular maladene. Yes counselor Cameron Shady. Yes councilor McMaster. Yes counsel. The migliarelli. Yes counselor o'briensky. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes president sonella. Yes 11. Yes. Ordered 20 22 - 2023-3 appointment of Brian Thorpe 77 went with road to a five-year term as a regular member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Said term to expire the last day of February 2026. Counts together. Okay, what a 2023-3 comes from protection and Licensing of the recommendation capacity at

▶ 1:52:47 this time. I make a motion for passage second motion for passage made by Council guy pay second about Consular Stewart on discussion seeing none Madam cleric. Please call the roll counselor Eccles. Yes Council of garape. Yes counselor gregoritis. Yes counselor maladene. Yes Council camshady. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes counsel and migliarelli. Yes Council o'brimski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president vanilla. Yes 11. Yes. Order 2023-4 reappointment of Meghan Carey 36 larpee Street to two year term as associate member on the zoning board of appeals that term to expire in the last day of February 2024. Castlegarapay well, the 2023-4 comes from protection and license with the recommendation for passage

▶ 1:53:40 Christopher Cinella: at this time. I make a motion for passage second motion for passage made by Council guy pay seconded by Consular Stewart Adam Clark there any discussion seeing none Adam Clark. Please call the roll counselor Eccles. Yes counselor garapay Council gregoritis. Yes councilor maladene. Yes Council cam tradie. Yes councilor McMaster. Yes Council amigliarelli. Yes consulate o'briensky. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president sonella. Yes 11. Yes, and we do not have any unfinished business no expires. Nothing to report into rule 53. Nothing of the detain a motion to a journey motion to return second most major and made by a counselor Stewart seconded by counselor. Migliarelli Madam clerk. Please call the roll

▶ 1:54:29 Consular Eckles. Yes Consular garapay. Yes councilor Grigoraitis. councilor maladene Yeah Council Cameron tradie. Yes. Counselor McMaster. Yes counselor at migliarelli. Yes counselor. Obrimski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes. Counselor I'm sorry president sonella. Yes 11. Yes. Okay. We are adjourned.

Original documents

• Minutes (CivicClerk PDF)
• Agenda (IQM2 PDF)
• Bulletin (IQM2 PDF)
• Minutes packet (IQM2 PDF)
• Agenda packet (CivicClerk PDF)
• Agenda packet (IQM2 PDF)
• Other (CivicClerk PDF)
• This meeting on the city portal