Appropriations & Oversight Committee — 2022-08-22
Attendance
Christopher Cinella ; Jack Eccles ; Mark Garipay ; Jen Grigoraitis ; Maya Jamaleddine ; Manjula Karamcheti ; Shawn M. MacMaster ; Leila Migliorelli ; John Obremski ; Robb Stewart ; Ryan Williams
Agenda
- Call to Order
- Public Comment
- Orders
- 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.
- 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.
- ORDER-2023-7 : Disposition of personal property belonging to Melrose Public Library
- ORDER-2023-13 : Lead Water Service Planning SRF Loan
- Adjournment
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE APPROPRIATIONS & OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CALENDAR● AUGUST 22, 2022 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Committee Meeting 7:00 PM 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Jen Grigoraitis Chair Present Leila Migliorelli Vice Chair Present Shawn M. MacMaster Absent Jack Eccles Absent Mark Garipay Present Maya Jamaleddine Present Robb Stewart Present Manjula Karamcheti Present John Obremski Absent Ryan Williams Present Christopher Cinella President, ex oficio Present
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. Ought to Pass City Council
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. Ought to Pass City Council
ORDER-2023-7 Property: Disposal of City-Owned Property Disposition of personal property belonging to Melrose Public Library Ought to Pass City Council
ORDER-2023-13 Appropriation Lead Water Service Planning SRF Loan Ought to Pass City Council City of Melrose Page 1 8/25/2022 4:25 PM
Transcript
▶ 0:01 Jen Grigoraitis: Good evening. It is Monday August 22nd. 2022 in the time is 7 PM. This is a meeting of the Appropriations and oversight committee. I am councilor Grigoraitis the chair and joining me tonight our vice chair. Migliarelli and counselors garapay. Gemala Deen Stuart Carm Shady Williams and president sonella ex-officio. This takes the place of an attendance roll call for the record and provides notice of a quorum in accordance with the open meeting law. This meeting is being recorded in broadcast on our local cable access Channel as well as live stream through their website. It will be available for future viewing through the city of Melrose website as well. And at this time I will motion by unanimous consent to open public comment.
▶ 0:45 Jen Grigoraitis: Okay, seeing no objection public comment is now open Mr. Clerk. Do we have anyone in the virtual waiting room? There's no online at this time. Okay, so we have no one online and no one in person. So I will motion by unanimous consent to close public comment. public comment is now closed we have four orders before us tonight in the first is Order 2020 3-8 appointment of Doug De Brielle 39 reading Ave to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for three year term said term to expire on the last day of February 2025 and while our guests are getting seated at the table. I will entertain a motion to suspend the rules make a motion to suspenders second. So we have a motion to suspend the rules made by counselor
▶ 1:31 Paul Brodeur: Stewart seconded by President sonella all in favor. Aye any opposed. The rules are suspended welcome, mayor Broder and Mr. Debriel, which I hope I pronounce correctly. Deep real and I just asked to make sure to bed. Thank you madam, chair Member of the committee. It is good to be back in front of you today. As you know, Melrose has a long and robust history of Respecting human rights including the establishment long ago compared to other cities and towns in the Commonwealth a Human Rights Commission. We regrettably continue to see the need for this commission. And I know several of you have served in the position. We're talking about the evening and I'm a very excited to offer Mr. Diabriel's candidacy. He
▶ 2:24 Paul Brodeur: is a member of the LG gtq Community is a licensed clinical melt the health counselor and an executive coach actually how I met it's the real is actually during my time at the State House when I was working on some legislation related to post traumatic stress, and that is actually how we first met through him appearing at the state house and giving me some clinical information about about that issue and how we can perhaps better deal with both for folks in the military and folks quite. Frankly in civilian life that also face also faced that trauma his education and his training is experience in particular is life experience has provided him with the skills and compassion quite frankly necessary to facilitate difficult discussions and
▶ 3:18 Paul Brodeur: mediate conflicts here within our city. And as you again as you all know one of the original reasons for the formation of the Human Rights Commission was to create that opportunity for dialogue and I am convinced that Mr. Di barelli's. Therapeutic training will be quite from the a unique asset to the commission and I hope you will give favorable consideration to his candidate candidacy and with that I will turn it over to Doug. wow, that was impressive couldn't do without you. Hey, thank you. Yeah, so so I guess just in being here. Thank you for for I don't know making this space for thank you for the invitation. It's a real honor and I think that I'll speak just briefly on why I'm interested
▶ 4:24 in in taking this role on so fairly quick story relatively new to Melrose. I think from 2016 is when we moved here. I'm sorry. Yeah. Yep 2016. So yeah, I mean just yeah, I still feel as relatively new anyways. And my husband and I chose Melrose actually mainly because well, it's a super cute Community just saying but but also because the Melrose Human Rights Commission when we saw the logo and that one Community opened all it really was attractive to us given some of our experiences. just in different places living in the world where same-sest couples are not necessarily, you know welcomed in some cases so it felt welcoming to us and and then we now have a five year old daughter and I think
▶ 5:26 that as we're on the adventure in the Melrose Public School System I was observing in some of the fascinating Facebook chats last year that that I I really Pad Paws and was like there's so much. Conflict going on and and and some of these folks. I know and I'm struck by it and it doesn't have to be this way is really what I was thinking and I reached out to The principal Donna at the ECC the Franklin school and said hey you poor thing you're this is tough. How can I get involved and Joined up with the diversity equity and inclusion effort in in the PTO side of things and began to engage in conversations around. How do we make space? To invite people to learn about what diversity equity and inclusion is really all about and and the example
▶ 6:34 that I really like to use is, you know in our current political climate. How do we make space for those that let's say might be more politically blue households. It makes space for the more politically red households if you will, right because we're in such a polarized climate right now because like to me that's what one Community opened to all really means is how do we have discourse in public discourse that spans our differences in a way that's respectful to one another and it's sort of a passion project of mine and I just have a and a profound curiosity to get to know people and I consider myself a bit of a Labrador like our golden retriever in that sense. And and it's a real I think. In my career in the work that I do working with individuals couples
▶ 7:24 organizations helping them understand different perspectives and points of view it this sort of my natural way of being comes together as a skill set to actually really enjoy conversations across difference getting to know people and learning how to do it and teaching others how to do that. So taking those skills into I think this opportunity when I first learned that there were space on the Human Rights Commission. It was at the recent Pride event. And so it it was something on my radar screen and it sort of come together in a really neat way. So I'm here because I I'm I've carved out the time I'm ready to serve and I'd really like to see how I can help. I think so much of the good work that's already being done in this community.
▶ 8:15 Maya Jamaleddine: To create spaces for those conversations across difference because at the end of the day in our human condition, we are all in many ways more alike. Than we are different and it's I think our struggles and our fears that sometimes pits us against one another. So when we see each other in that light, it's much easier to have compassion empathy towards our fellow neighbors. So that's that's me. Thank you very much for sharing that are there any questions from the council counselor? Jamal Dean? Thank you. I want to thank you for Stephanie and taking this new role of viewers when we met the first time. It was during when you were telling your story. I actually met your husband and your daughter first and what it
▶ 8:58 Ryan Williams: beautiful family you have amazing your story was definitely Very interesting and beautiful like her family. Thank you again, and I hope you find the way to bring everyone together and make make it make this community even more diverse. Thank you. Council Williams Hi. Thank you. So have a basic question. How do you take your Ideas and turn them into action. I know that you haven't you're not having Human Rights Commission yet. So you don't really know but you must have some thoughts and I'm interested to hear what they might be. Yeah, so I think it first it starts with really getting up to speed on what's currently in existence. I I did as much as I could to learn about the Human Rights Commission.
▶ 9:59 So but I think it's always different from the inside in terms of getting history. So what's what's present what ideas are are currently in motion. I think that one example, I might that I have noticed sit in a city-wide effort is the Melrose reads effort where just the initiative to have a book that talks about people's lives the American Ferrera book that from the outside looking in it looked like we had opportunity to I think this is not a criticism but their space there's so many wonderful efforts. I think in the community where people want to make real difference and bring people together and linking those in a Central Way seems like it's a question. I have I'm wondering what's linked what isn't linked and gathering
▶ 10:54 information is a starting place and then from that information. Just being really curious about well, what's possible what do people think and and that really informs what needs to be done? So it's by Deep listening really understanding what people's opinions are where that where the stress points are and when we begin to understand those and understand what are you afraid is going to happen and that's where the goal is when we tap into the concerns people have we really begin to notice where we need to put our efforts and that's I don't know that directly answers your question. It doesn't give a very structural answer but it's the information sort of helps helps to pave the way in terms of what needs to be done.
▶ 11:38 Leila Migliorelli: Thank you. Any other counselors with questions counselor? Magleire Vice Army Leary? Thank you madam chair. Thank you, Mr. Dibrail for being here tonight in your application for the commission. I would just wanted to say it's a noble cause you're trying to undertake to try to pull together all these different groups. It's something that I think those of us who have worked in community organizations around the city various points and currently are struggling with so I really appreciate that. I actually have a quick question for the mayor. Do you have a sense of I know we've seen a lot of appointments for the HRC. We is the commission now fully fully commissioned depends on what you do with this nomination. Yes, if assuming this
▶ 12:22 Jen Grigoraitis: goes through then we would be at a full complement. Okay, that's great. So looking forward to seeing what this whole new commission will will take on and lead in the city. Thank you. Councilor Stewart, I'm sure I'll make a motion recommend people second. We have a motion to recommend made by counselor Stewart seconded by Vice chairmanelli all in favor. I any opposed so that will be recommended to the full Council. Thank you for being here tonight and thank you for volunteering. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Thank you. Next up we have ordered 2023-6 authorization for the procurement officer or their delegate to increase the contract term in all future management agreements for the operation of the Mount Hood
▶ 13:04 Memorial Park and Golf Course from three years to five years. And I know we have superintendent of parks Jim Bell here to speak to this tonight and we're still under suspension of the rules. So go right ahead. I want to thank So I think you all have the letter that I had asked the mayor as you all know Mount hoods. contract In December the park commission is put out to rfps one in April in one in July that we got no respondents to so we went back and got feedback from all the companies that pulled the RFP that were interested that that showed up for the walkthrough and asked them what they thought would make it more appealing. So a couple different things that they brought up. I think one of the major ones was the three-year contract.
▶ 13:49 So right now we have a three-year contract that has two one-year Renewables. In is at the city's Soul discretion to end it after three years. And I think companies who were looking at the contract their thought was it's, you know, there's been a company in there for a long time. They're coming in. There's a lot of Investments. They have to make they have to kind of bring label wages up, you know with all the things going on and it made him a little nervous that three years really wasn't enough time for them to reap any of their investment. So that's what I'm here tonight on behalf of the park commission to see if the we need our approval to do it to increase it from a three year one one contract to a straight five-year contract.
▶ 14:41 Mark Garipay: Thank you, Miss Bell. Are there any questions from the council counselor? Garrett? Yes. Thanks for being Amber. Spell just one quick question for just for the General Public. If this gets approved tonight and approved on the 12th, I'm assuming. What is the process for the bid just for the general public? I've been getting I think we've all gotten some inquiries from from residents on where the process is. When were the bid stop when would it? Yeah, so if so if it's approved tonight. Or we have to wait for another meeting. Okay, so at that meeting on the 12th. we would how would go is it it's a Wednesday put in so use tonight. If it was approved tonight, we would be able to put it in tomorrow. It would come out in the
▶ 15:25 central registry next Wednesday. So at that point we give it four weeks to run so that we can you know. Get up, you know kind of call people and get the interest back in and again that we're putting it back out when it comes back in. It has a process that it has to go through. We take probably about three weeks to go through the proposals. Have them verified by Patrick to make sure that all their background is correct, and then we would be able to award at the end of October. So right now it would be October 26 plus 7 would be November second or third. In the current contract expires December the third first. Thank you. counselor story Thank you madam chair. Thank you, Ms. Bill. You elucidated that there was other aspects
▶ 16:21 of feedback that was limiting our response rate. What else beside the five three to five you? Some of it was and we've made some changes going out for this last one. Some of it was they wanted more clarification in the contract of for example outdoor space. So there is a whole park other than Mount Hood Golf Course, so they wanted to know exactly what their responsibilities were. They thought it was a little vague they wanted They want a little a little more piece of the pie when it comes to the percentage in food and beverage. They want a little more piece of the pie when it came into the split that we have with them. So it's all things like that equipment was another one that we're going back and forth over so
▶ 17:09 it's multiple things but I think the thing that they all kind of said was the the issue that was probably scaring them off the most was not having enough time in the contract to reap the benefits back from their Investments. That we making some sort of accommodations for those other areas as well. Yes we Are thank you as well. Thank you. counselor karmchatie anticipate with this move from three years to five years then you'd actually have more choice and the ability to navigate a contract that is suitable to both parties. I think it's gonna we're hoping you know, if we're hearing what these companies are saying, I think there will be additional additional people who would want to get involved who
▶ 17:58 Jen Grigoraitis: would want to put a proposal so increase competition and then possibly a better contract for the city. Thank you. And yet Council gravity. I was just going to make a motion to recommend six second. We have a motion to recommend made by counselor garapay's seconded by counselor Stewart all in favor any opposed so that will be recommended to the full Council. Thank you for being here tonight. Next we have order 2023-7 disposition of personal property belonging to Melrose Public Library. And I know we have Library director Linda Gardner here tonight to speak with us and we're still under suspension of the rules. So the floor is yours. Good evening. Thank you for having me here tonight. We are as you know, moving into
▶ 18:55 a new temporary space and in that process we are essentially moving out of the house that we haven't moved out of in a hundred years. So there's a fair amount of items that we will not be taking with us. and as I'm sure you could tell by this list ranging pretty widely from old Surplus office supplies to metal lockers to some rugs. So we need to follow the city process for disposition of personal. Personality property. I always hear a little turned around with that personal city property. So that would involve we have made these items available to other departments in the city in case they can be repurposed anywhere and actually quite a few items have have been spoken for about great and then
▶ 20:02 we follow the process of advertising that we'll be having a sale and then although in my head I say yard sale will be within the building. and In that way, we can move forward with properly disposing of any city property. That's no longer being used by US. Any questions from the council counselor Williams? Are you working with any Consultants or services to reduce the amount of material that goes into landfills assuming that some of the stuff just doesn't sell? Yes. We have some electronics that we have dropped off at recycling places the contractors once we To the property over to them as part of our lean process. They are obligated to try and dispose of things in the most effective manner.
▶ 21:03 Maya Jamaleddine: Counselor Jamal Dean. Thank you madam chair and thank you for being with us and thank you for all the great work that you're doing. I know so it's a lot of work and and the word a lot is not enough. So thank you for doing that. Where would be the yard sale? And health so it would be in the library building. Okay, and there are because of a variety of items. We're Gathering most of a smaller items in if you recall the children's room had a meeting room space. So we have a table set up Gathering items there and then those other items that would just be throughout the building. today we're passed. So do you have a specific date when this would be helped? So once this is passed I will then need to advertise in
▶ 22:01 the paper. So depending on the timing if I could get in tomorrow, you know, I would meet that deadline it could be in this week. Otherwise, it would be the following two weeks two weeks two weeks about what yep, so we advertise for a week and advertise for another week. And then I think logistically what will work best because I know some department heads have already come over. But we keep we keep you know, finding things and moving things around. So I'd like to have an opportunity to invite them back. Once all of the items they're going to the baby are out of the building and they have an opportunity to really see that clearly. And then mid September we would have the sale. So a question out of the subject my kids
▶ 22:53 and other kids are asking when would be the major work be done at the library. They want to come and see and I don't have answer for them. so they the baby will be at the BB. We're planning to open on September 13th. Yes, assuming that all yeah goes well, and then the work will begin at at West Emerson, hopefully in October. So I think when the addition comes down that will definitely be something everybody should go by and and see and we are hopeful that in early 2024 construction will be substantially complete. Awesome. Well, thank you again. Cancel garepe. Thank you. Madam. Chair. Thank you, Mrs. Gardenia. Thank you Mia brother. I voted for the library. It took me a while to get there, but I voted
▶ 23:56 Mark Garipay: it and voted for it and I still support it glad but I mean, I'm still I'm concerned. Regarding the potential cost of this project now and and we've seen some emails and everything's going up. A lot has changed over the last last year since we voted in almost a year ago. Inflation raw materials lead times and it's almost fault. It's it's the environment where we're living, right? So It's all out of our control. But what's in our control is is making sure we know not travel too far down the road and not not be able to come back if this this project does come in over the bid it right now. It has not been all to bid. So what I'd like to see is hold off a little bit until after the bids come out in September 14th.
▶ 24:43 Mark Garipay: So we really know what we're looking looking for. I mean, I think none of us would start a construction. project an addition on our own house without actually having the cost of it. We wouldn't move out. And that's kind of what we're doing here. We're moving out. We're moving to Temporary space. And if this if this these bids come in way over what we can actually afford this other projects within they could affect other projects when they're not Community you could we have a CIP with a hundred million dollars. Of other projects, so I'd like to see this just get held into all the bids get opened on September 4th. I'd like to see this get help for three weeks. And then reassess everything at that point. I'm hoping
▶ 25:28 Mark Garipay: that all the bids come in. Where We Are where what we approved but if for some reason they come in 20 25% over. Which you stand to see that you hear grumblings about, you know, potentially The Vocational School coming in way over to and that's another that's another large item that we're going to take on in the budget. We can't bond. So I do have a little little concern in. Putting the card before the before the horse down right now in this project. I'd like to see three more weeks. We'll have the bids we'll know exactly where we are. Right now. We've already moved out and if we get too far down the road, that's somehow we we can't can't afford the extra money and it's not in what Patrick Delarosa said
▶ 26:18 Mark Garipay: for for the debt model then we we're gonna have some tough decisions to make and we have people wanna look at the BB school. That's down the road too. When we have Public Safety. We have a lot of a lot of other items, so At this point I'd like to make a motion to hold this in committee until till after the bids are open September 4th. I'd be happy to respond to that to that because we have a motion. Can we just if there's a set whether or not there's a second to the motion to hold so we have a second. Okay. So there's a motion to hold the disposition of personal property made by counselor garapay seconded by counselor Stewart on discussion Mr. Mayor. So the the scope of this order, I think we have to kind of wrap our hands
▶ 27:02 Paul Brodeur: around. This is really mostly ministerial. I would invite you to look at the list of the things that we're trying to dispose of plastic and stackable middle chairs that are probably 40 or 50 years old. I'm guessing seasonal Decor. That's basically holiday decorations a TV. That's not a flat screen with a stand if you want to stand for a non-flat screen. I've got a dinosaur sitting in my house. It's a beautiful cherry item. I haven't been able to give away for free. Some benches a wooden rack some small area rugs. DVD players anyone's anyone's got any use for one of those that would be terrific. This is really, you know, we're trying to get a couple bucks basically as opposed to just throwing the stuff away
▶ 27:53 Paul Brodeur: it all goes it all certainly goes to the cause this also, you know means leans on some costs meaning We know unless something does go horribly. Awry which could certainly happen with any projects quite frankly. We saw that delay in the in the salt shed and the resulting price increase there. It is the nature of the business that we are in and sometimes the market Burns you and sometimes it doesn't and we certainly hopeful that that the market corrects but these items in this cost is really designed to we have to Contract with movers in order for this process to move forward and stop further delays. We would like to move as little as possible. While we do this and that is really what this process is all
▶ 28:51 Paul Brodeur: about. I don't want to I don't want to Tamp down anyone's enthusiasm for the sale. But this is not a lot of attractive stuff. So we really I would offer I would inquire the whether I'm a little bit off base here, but most of the things that we're getting rid of. You don't really have a use for even if the status quo. Moves forward it will be time to make some investments in things like furniture from this from this Century regardless of how things come out and that's why you know want to be clear procedurally. This is completely in line with your rules and what the ordinances of the city require? And I hope you will move forward on this so we can. Get the ad in the paper and move this stuff out of
▶ 29:48 Maya Jamaleddine: the building. And if I may add just quite simply. There is nothing on this list if this will all gone tomorrow, there's nothing on this list that would prevent us from being able to continue offering our library Services because everything that we actually need we're taking with us. counselor demolidine counselor Stewart and then councilor Karm chadey Thank you madam. Chair. Thank you mayor for that clarification. I'm going to assume the worst case scenario happened, which is not anyone's mistake as counselor garape have mentioned. But it's the market and everyone is struggling with that. However, this is not the time when we can afford to negotiate or debate whether or delay this project. It's
▶ 30:45 Paul Brodeur: the library it's where everyone in the community from age. Less than one. To nineties or above? go to the library and and sit there read visit for so many reasons and I'm Going to be supportive of the project no matter what changes we're gonna face or what challenges we're gonna face. So, thank you again. Counselor Stewart. Thank you manager. This might be for the mayor Mr. Mayor. What's the plan for the money? What when you raise some money, you're going to have the sale. What are you planning to do with the money? Actually, it's addressed in the body of the material that was submitted on August 9th. The money will go into Library renovation account fund number 3390 to be used for the benefit of the building project itself.
▶ 31:47 Robb Stewart: Great again, I want to be clear though. That having been said we're you know again, I'm not an Auctioneer. I'm not an appraiser. If we do a couple Grand we've had a good day. And then also the amount of material that you're talking about because you had mentioned that you're trying to reduce moving costs, which I appreciate. It's a short distance, but doesn't matter right? How much stuff are we talking just to give us a sense? Like is it a truckload? Is it too just roughly I'm not good with square footage again in the in the packet was submitted a list. It is about a precise a list as you can give I wouldn't want to guess a truckload a dumpster full but you know, probably the biggest things I'm seeing here. It's a
▶ 32:44 Robb Stewart: couple gym Walkers. There's some filing cabinets. Some small area rugs a couple rocking chairs. A sofa that's pretty big item. I suppose I wouldn't want to I wouldn't want to have to guess but again the the comprehensive list in the packet, they can give you a decent sense of volume and and you're saying to us that regardless if we do or do not have the sale it does not preclude any of the activities going on in the contractual bidding and negotiation process. All it is is a room full of stuff that we're either going to have cleared out or not cleared out, but it's not it's not going to impact whether we stay leave whatever I just want to continue that I don't want to Take words out of your mouth, but it will not impact in any way
▶ 33:35 Robb Stewart: our ability to deliver. Library services that our patrons of come to expect regardless of you know, the extremely unlikely worst case scenario that we don't go forward with this project due to radical change in market conditions or something like that. We don't need this stuff. Right and I don't think anybody in this Council a chamber wants that so, okay. That's great. Thank you. Madam. Chair Council Carm chadie. and I appreciate counselor garapay's concerns around financing of the library building and bids and those pieces. I have similar concerns only from the knowledge of cost of building Contracting all of those things going up and that is something we need to be mindful of and be thinking about however, I do not see the connection
▶ 34:29 Manjula Karamcheti: at all between that problem and this order this order seems very clearly to be we're getting rid of stuff. We don't need and that doesn't impact the library building project in any way shape or form. So again, I appreciate counselor garapace concern, but I think this order is a completely separate entity from that issue. So, Sometimes you just need to get rid of stuff and it sounds like that's what we need to do and it's not going to impact. Services to the library. Well, it's in the BB or if we have to cancel our project and move back into the library with nothing done. It won't impact that either so So we have a motion to hold before us so all in favor of holding this order. Okay, we have one opposed.
▶ 35:26 Jen Grigoraitis: Okay, so the order fails so this matter is still sorry the motion fails. This matter is still before us is their president sonala motion to recommend second. So we have a motion to recommend made by President Cinella seconded by councilor Williams all in favor. I any opposed. Okay. So that passes with I have to do math how many of us are here seven in favor in one opposed. So thank you for being here with us this evening. Thank you. Thank you last but not least we have order 2023 - 13 lead Water Service planning srf loan and we have city engineer Bonnie Reese here with us tonight. Welcome the floor is yours. Hello. Thank you. It's nice to see you all. I'm here to present this order as you all know.
▶ 36:17 The EPA has a rigorous lead and copper rule which requires all municipalities to identify the locations of lead service connections for water services and to address removal of them. So we in the DPW have been working on doing that identification. The city has about 8,000 water customers. And so we Have it's a large. It's a large lift to look through all the water cards and try to identify where there might be lead services. So we have contracted with Tata and Howard to help us with that and they have provided us with a class estimate to do that which includes going into about 700 homes doing Building Inspections doing in the street inspections on service connections where we're not sure what the material is.
▶ 37:16 And all of this will help us to develop a hopefully comprehensive inventory of where we have lead Services both on the public side and on the private side. and then Moving forward after this project is done. Obviously. We would start looking at putting out a construction project to remove those services. But this request is for the borrowing of 165,000 for the purpose of developing that inventory. It would be through the state revolving fund. Which is currently offering zero percent interest loans and for the purposes of planning for lead service removal. They are offering a hundred percent loan forgiveness. So it's basically a grant. Catherine Armada has looked at everything and in your packets is a letter from her saying that there is
▶ 38:12 Ryan Williams: no impact to the operating budget. And then I also included a memo that had some additional information in it that I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. councilor Williams I want to tell you a story. I promise I'll be short move to Melrose 2016 long before anybody new who I was not that anybody knows who I am. Now before anybody saw my ridiculous face on the website. I went to Public Works and I met the city engineer Elena prokoselles, and I said, I really want to know what kind of water service we have here. And she was like that's a great idea. She went to the filing cabinet pulled it out. And we found the hand-drawn card from like 1905 little cursive notes. And we discovered that there was a lead service line in the house. I
▶ 38:59 Ryan Williams: had two kids. I still have two kids at the time. They were like 10 months old and and two and it was like two days later. We're ridiculous turnaround time. It just luck of the draw. They had people out there tearing it out because it was on public property. It wasn't in the in the private right away, and they took it out and they replaced it and we never once set foot really in a house with lead water in the service line, and I don't think people appreciate when they spend $200,000 over asking to move into Melrose that a lot of our water service is Led because we're an old city, so I can't thank you enough for bringing this forward. I think it's one of the best like public service orders that we could possibly approve.
▶ 39:44 I know it'll be supported. But I just wanted to give an extra heaping of praise and thanks for it because it's like what the government is meant to do for people. So, thank you. Thank you. Yeah, it's it's an initiative that we are feel very strongly about too. Anyone else? I just want to also be mindful that in five minutes. We need to recess to open public comment in. Yeah, I'll make a motion to improve second. So we have a motion to approve made by counselor recommend. Excuse me by counselor Williams seconded by Vice chairmagliarelli. I think this is a roll call vote because it's alone. We'll do a roll call. Why not Mr. Clark, could you call the roll? Vice chairmanelli. Yes. Counselor garpy. Yes counselor. Jamaladin. Yes.
▶ 40:34 Maya Jamaleddine: Counselor Stewart. Yes councilor crime Shady. Yes. Counselor Williams. Yes. President zanella. Yes. And chair goodness. Yes. a yes Yes, that will be recommended to the full Council. Thank you for being here very much. And at that time this time, I will entertain a motion to adjourn motion to admir made by counselor Stewart seconded by Vice chairmanelli all in favor opposed. We are adjourned. Good evening. Today is Monday, August 22nd. 2022 and the time is It's 7:43 pm. This is a meeting of the finance committee. I'm counselor gemaldine the chair and joining me tonight voting members. Vice chair gerepe councilor Migliorelli consulate karamchetti president exficio Christopher Salema non-fouring members