Appropriations & Oversight Committee — 2022-10-17

Appropriations and Oversight Committee Meeting

This meeting starts at 0:01 in a recording that covers several meetings.

Attendance

Christopher Cinella present · President, ex oficio; Jack Eccles absent; Mark Garipay present; Jen Grigoraitis present · Chair; Maya Jamaleddine present; Manjula Karamcheti present; Shawn M. MacMaster absent; Leila Migliorelli present · Vice Chair; John Obremski absent; Robb Stewart present; Ryan Williams absent

Agenda

Minutes

CITY OF MELROSE APPROPRIATIONS & OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CALENDAR● OCTOBER 17, 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 Absent Christopher Cinella President, ex oficio Present

ORDER-2023-17 Appointment Appointment of Michael Barry, 910 Main St., to the Melrose Housing Authority, for a one-year term, said term to expire on the first Monday of March 2023. Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-20 Grant Acceptance of Federal Title III B FY23 Grant Through Mystic Valley Elder Services in the Amount of $10,000 Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-21 Grant Acceptance of Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in the Amount of $75,000 For Enhancements to Recreational Developments and Parks Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-22 Grant City of Melrose Page 1 10/26/2022 11:09 AM Minutes Appropriations & Oversight Committee October 17, 2022 Authorization to Accept a MassWorks Infrastructure Grant in the amount of $615,000 from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) through the Community One Stop for Growth Program and Authorize the Mayor to Execute a Contract with EOHED; funds to be deposited into Fund 4519 Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-23 Grant Authorization to Accept a Grant in the amount of $500,000.00 from the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) through the Green Communities Division and Authorize the Mayor to Execute a Contract with DOER; funds to be deposited into Fund 4520 Ought to Pass City Council

ORDER-2023-24 Appropriation Funding Authorization in the amount of Sixty Eight Thousand Five Hundred ($68,500) Dollars for Design Services for Public Safety Facilities Ought to Pass City Council

INFO-2023-6 Informational Status of the Melrose Public Library Construction Recommend Place on File City Council City of Melrose Page 2 10/26/2022 11:09 AM

Transcript

▶ 0:01 Jen Grigoraitis: Great. Good evening. Today is Monday October 17th. 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 are Vice chair amigurelli and counselors garapay. Jamala, Deen Stuart Carm chady and president sonella ex-officio this serves as notice of a quorum for the record. In accordance with the open meeting law this meeting is being recorded and broadcast on our local cable access Channel mmtv, as well as live streamed through mmtv3.org. It will be available for future viewing through the city of melrose's website meeting portal as well. And at this time I will motion by unanimous consent to open public comment.

▶ 0:44 Jen Grigoraitis: Okay, seeing no objection public comment is now open. This is the portion of our meeting where any member of the public can come before us on any item on our agenda. Is there anyone wishing to speak here in this room on public comment? Hey seeing no one. Is there anyone online Mr. Cliff? There are no attendees online at this time. Okay, I will now motion by unanimous consent to close public comment. Seeing no objection public comment is now closed. We have six items on our agenda tonight and just for some housekeeping purposes. We will have to gavel out of this meeting by 8:05 PM so that we can open other meetings scheduled for tonight to maintain compliance with the open meeting loss. So given that and given the fact that we

▶ 1:27 Jen Grigoraitis: have several guests attending including one remotely. I would entertain a motion to take an item out of order. I'm sure. I'd like to make a motion to take info 2023-6 out of order. Second so we have a motion to take info 2023-6 status of the Melrose Public Library construction out of order made by counselor Stewart seconded by councilor Garipay all in favor. Aye any opposed. Okay, so that item is now before us and I know we have several guests in attendance tonight. So while they're getting seated up at the podium, I'll entertain a motion to suspend the rules motion is to spend the rules. So we have a motion to suspend the rules made by Vice Chair Migliorelli seconded by President sonella all in favor, I and

▶ 2:12 Denise Gaffey: so the rules are now suspended. Thank you for being here tonight. And I believe we have someone joining remotely. Yes, we do. We have the architect Jennifer Littlefield. I don't see her online at this time. Oh. No, there's no money. Daddy, right? She might be trying to get in. I'll keep an eye. Thank you very much. Well, we can we can proceed. Yes. And if you can just State your names for our robust viewing audience at home. Of course, my name is Denise Gaffey. I'm the director of planning and Community Development and I'm joined here with Linda Garner who you know as a library director and also Patrick sayada, who is with Municipal Building Consultants. He is the owners project manager for this project and hopefully we'll

▶ 3:01 Denise Gaffey: have the architect dialing in and her name she works with tapi Architects. She works with Charlie. Hey who I know many of you are familiar with and she's working very closely on this project. Her name is Jen litterfield Littlefield. So hopefully she can she can chime in. So we are we are very pleased to be here tonight. And thank you for the opportunity. I think I was looking in my records and it was just about a year ago that we were we were here to get the financing for this project. So a lot has happened in the past year. We've we've had many many meetings with the design team and with the Linda's Library staff and the building committee and other stakeholders, so it's been an extremely busy year.

▶ 3:57 Denise Gaffey: Many of you as many of you aware over the past several months Linda in her team emptied out the building and moved into the BB school. And so she's now settled in there and has been settled in there since early September and that's going really really well. So so far so good. We've also spent many months over this past year working on refining the documents to put this project out to bid and we had a pre-qualification process back in early June where we prequalified contractors, which is a requirement for a project of this of this scope. So we were really pleased we actually had a lot of interest at that time. We heard from 11 contractors who we prequalified 11 General Contractors and probably a hundred subcontractors in the

▶ 4:49 Denise Gaffey: different trades that we have on this project. So really great really great interest in the project fast forward several months. Put this project out to bid and we and we open biz for the project. We we did not end up getting very many bids on the project we had and I think I'll refer you to a memo that you received from the mayor from mayor Broder on Friday where he provided a bit of a summary on where we're at with construction bids. we did receive bids from two general contractors, which is you know, not very many and the one of the low bid that we received from from the general contractor was about one point almost 1.8 million dollars over estimate so that you know is Was obviously disappointing to us, but it wasn't extremely

▶ 5:44 Denise Gaffey: surprising. I think many of you are aware of the challenges in the construction marketplace right now you're hearing about it. It's in the media and you see it with other projects. So we we weren't terribly surprised but given the Confluence of all these conditions from supply chain issues and materials costs and a really tight labor market our bids did end up coming in high. So we got as I said we are from two bitters. We are low bid was about 1.8 million dollars over our estimate and the second low bid was another two million dollars over that so that was a pretty extreme difference in terms of the bids and as we Laid out in our in the memo despite this challenge, obviously. This is more than we were estimating. We we think

▶ 6:41 Denise Gaffey: we have an opportunity to we're excited actually to have an opportunity to award the contract because we can still fund the this the the difference in the cost through some grants that we got awarded one of which we're going to talk about later tonight. It's on your agenda the 500,000 Green community decarbonization Grant and also the some arpa funding that was allocated towards this project several months ago related to the HVAC and sustainability measures on the in the in the project so The the difference between that amount of additional funding and the amount of funding that we need to fill the Gap we can we can essentially borrow from the line item in Furniture fixtures and technology, which we don't have

▶ 7:34 Denise Gaffey: to bid until next year. So that is funding that we conservatively carry in the budget so that we you know, don't we we have it in place, but we can we're proposing to use that funding now and then we have a series of Strategies to raise the funding to to meet that Gap when we do go in bid the furniture fixtures and Technology next year. So that's kind of I will say we are we're pleased to be able to award this contract to a reputable firm castania construction who is a firm that I know Pat has worked with in his many years of experience in this field taipe is also worked with this is a project that they're very committed to and very eager to to take on and we're happy to be able to to launch

▶ 8:31 Denise Gaffey: the project now without any further delay. So despite the cost challenges and which you know again are kind of consistent with what we're seeing in the market I think. We feel like our best the best opportunity to his award is to award it now instead of trying to bid it again and potentially having costs come in even higher, you know, we did go through a series of exercises throughout the design process to order in order to cut whatever we could from the project. The project itself has always been a very streamlined project. There's not a lot of you know, a lot of excess in it that said we did take out a couple of items and bid those as bid alternates so that we could try to preserve the opportunity to award the project in

▶ 9:28 Denise Gaffey: the event the project did come in high and of course that is what happened the bid alternates. I think if you take them all together, they're another about half a million dollars and those are extras and not Essentials. They're nice things. That would be it would nice things to have in the project, but they're not essential to the project. So we're not proposing. Boarding any of those at this time, but those are some of the steps that we took during the design process and during the bidding process in order to try to make sure that we could ultimately have a project that we could that we could award. so Let's see. Do you want to add either you want to add any comments to that unless you have some questions.

▶ 10:09 I mean, it's a very turbulent time in the marketplace. So I would only speculate that if we had three or four of a bids, they would be probably positioned between a little bit that we have in the higher big. I don't see a number coming in below that and again, like I said, it's a turbulent time and whenever there's a turbulent time the numbers and the number of bidders go down. It's similar to the the middle school project that we did here that was a period of time. That was very turbulent. The legislation had just changed. Contractors are very confused. They were two bids on the on the middle school project in the same situation. So I would say that the number we have in front of us is as good as we're going to get in the current market that

▶ 10:49 Mark Garipay: exists that the turbulence that's ongoing and we have a decent contractor and I think we're ready to move forward. Thank you. Are there questions from either of the makers of the order? counselor Garrett Thank you all for being here. I think we all fully understand that. Where we are with the cost is Project is no one's fault. It's well, we're all living in today's world. But I do have a number of questions is Mr. Della Russo going to be here tonight because some of them are Exactly. Sure. I thought he might be here but no, okay. I'm afraid not. Hopefully we can get some answers on those. Miscaffing on on your August 15th memo that you had sent to council Stuart and I you had mention that the scope in the

▶ 11:46 Mark Garipay: value of the engineered project. We removed some items materials for less costly products or products that were widely available. What was changed to remove from the project that was presented back a year ago for those type of materials. I mean we have different type of grades. Did we go from like grade A to a grade C or I want to think of any other I mean there was the the slight rule for me. There was yeah, there was originally some talk about using the slate roof attended it being a couple of about 250,000 on top. So that was adjusted down to shingles. It looks similar to sleep, but they're not asleep. They're they're 30 years shingle. But again, like I said, it eliminated a substantial cost to the

▶ 12:35 project there were several things like that other things in the in some of the very systems. But again, like I said, I don't have a list with me but there are a number of items that the architect they considered and they were some adjustments made. with any of these adjustments will it increase? The future cost of Maintenance to the to the to the building when it's completed is the life of the material less than if we went with that different different quality actually every every efforts been made to make sure that the the maintenance and the Energy Efficiency. I mean, this is all done under sustainability categories It's All Leads It's All Leads approved this Netgear Net Zero. National Grid items built

▶ 13:24 Mark Garipay: into it and from the standpoint of Maintenance and ease of operations, all of those things are still intact in a state of the app. Okay. What's the timeline for this project? If the contractor the 60 contracts 16 months from the time from the time we signed the contract? Okay, so we're still on the two year almost the two year. We're still anticipating about March of 2024. The mayor mentioned in his letter. He's reserving more APA money for a potential cost overruns of the library. Do we know what dollar amount has been set aside of our money for this? Well, I I don't want to totally speak for him. But I know that we we are already starting to identify other some other funding opportunities. So

▶ 14:21 Paul Brodeur: I we're hopeful that that amount will be probably no more than two to three hundred thousand dollars. So we have right as we stand now, we are just reserving placeholder. I think he's being I think he's being conservative to yes. the somewhat short answer is we've been very conservative with our money the worst case scenario. for this contract barring the totally unforeseen is exposure of 800,000. We certainly don't hope to use even close to that face mostly on the strategies miscape is already outlined, but we would Reserve that to make sure that if anything. Any one of these things? Does not work we would stop that cushion, so we would not have to come back to Council of the tax base for additional resources.

▶ 15:26 Paul Brodeur: So how much well while you hear Mr. May how much money have we set aside of Opera money for the library in the schools? It looks like now it's 500,000. It's going to be about roughly 1.3 for the library and the schools another one one point five dependent. It gets a little bit confusing because we are doing some arpa Investments that will appear as DPW Investments, but are actually Investments in physical infrastructure in the schools and that those that's just kind of the pastor that money goes through DPW so as an example the elevator project at the high school. will show up as a as a DPW Opera request, but the benefit will be to the to the high school. Okay, but I yeah, I think with the schools we gave

▶ 16:22 Mark Garipay: 800, And fy22 and then the 775 to balance the FYI 22 budget. So we're about 1.5 just in Lost Revenue number one through another one three for the library and then we have all the other other Capital Improvement projects, okay. What? Concerns me a little bit. Is the construction contingency when we looked at the budget that was? that was given to us back in July and well actually October 4th of 21 who was based on a cost estimate of Back in July 21st to 21 was an eight percent contingency of one one point two four million dollars. And now we have a contingency that was presented to us of 800,000. Why is the the project went up? Why the contingency go down? Well, we love trying to understand that I know well, we would

▶ 17:21 Denise Gaffey: love to carry a higher contingency. We are just trying to be I guess careful and not not hold too much funding back. So, you know, we have we can move forward with this project. I mean, I you know, we're trying to be mindful of the overall budget. It is something we are going to have to obviously be very be very careful about I mean 5% contingency is a decent contingency. It's 800 I think set at 850,000. so I think we feel pretty confident, you know, obviously we'd love to have more the the 5% contingency in this project is should be ampled for the contingency. Mspa on school projects. If you're doing a renovation job, they'll reimburse you up to 2% on our renovation job and one percent for a new job. They think

▶ 18:11 Denise Gaffey: that's adequate we don't think that's adequate but I think in this case here around 5% should be fine. That's okay. I think they just to clarify on that. I think we also expect. Most of the issues that we would spend our contingency with on would come up earlier early in the project, especially with a renovation where there will be some unforeseen conditions behind walls or below ground that we couldn't anticipate. What concerns me here and I there's a lot of unknowns. I understand and I mean, I appreciate it all the work that everyone's done to try to. We got a large round Pig. We're trying to squeeze into a small round hole with this budget and we're concerns me is we're really moving money around.

▶ 18:59 Denise Gaffey: like the furniture Is there will this project be coming back in front of the council for more funding do you think down? That's right. Yeah, so I think we're trying to assure you that that would that we're not going to do that. I mean it is true to where the contract we're using the money that's been budgeted right? There's been 21 million dollars authorized for the project that line item for furniture fixtures and technology is money that we've just put over here but it's still part of the same budget. We haven't spent it and we haven't procurity yet. We don't have to procure furniture and Technology until much closer to opening the building. That's very typical so we know I mean we're very very transparent about

▶ 19:44 Paul Brodeur: this. We are borrowing against those items and then our fundraising in you know other plan is to is to plant that back-fill that money again, when we when you know, when we get closer to procuring those items, I guess we'll take it. I think it's important to keep in mind. that not going forward with the project which isn't going to happen. But you know, the Delta isn't this or zero because of the nature and the age of the building. Unless we don't want to have a Prelude to what is coming up next quite frankly around the public safety buildings. There is a significant amount of money that needs to go into the libraries the kind of the financial point. I think the fundamental Financial question is obviously we need good management

▶ 20:36 Paul Brodeur: and we need to hit our targets but it's that without doing what we're describing the state contribution goes to zero. And the you know, if if we aren't here talking about a 20 million dollar over on we would obviously having a very different conversation, but this plan is designed to to manage and mitigate the risk as much as possible. and As a financial stewards of of the city money. I think it's plan our staff to pass these questions. Oh, yeah. We have a lot of a lot of projects coming down the road. I think the Capital One Steward of the city believe it capital Improvement plan with over 100 million worth of projects and I want to make sure that we're doing everything possible that down the road. We're not going to come with another, you

▶ 21:27 know million and a half two million, which could be used. Especially in light of everything. We just experienced in the last two weeks. So At this moment they have no more questions, though. That's counselor counselor Stewart, and then I have Vice chairmanly Riley and counselor Karm chadian Q. Thank you. Thank you all for being here tonight. I appreciate it. A lot of questions that I had have been somewhat answered. But I may want to dive into just a little bit just To start with are we currently undercut we executed the contractor. Are we negotiating that? where we have attract in front of the city's Lister just for fun. So it's in legal review. Okay, we've gotten all the documents from the contractor that you typically wait to

▶ 22:18 Paul Brodeur: get like the bonds and insurance and that kind of stuff. So to clarify this interesting point that I've learned on on another project. The way public bidding law works. You essentially can't negotiate you put out your bid, you know private summer. It's and then you pick from amongst. Those choices so we we are not in a position with any significant. Capital RFP we all right this came this this You know who can do better or what if you shave off a little bit here, that's kind of our job on the front end is to say what we want to buy and then it's on them. to meet those requirements we can't really in this there's some downside to that right you would love to be able to say All right. Well, what if you

▶ 23:15 Robb Stewart: you know, you absorbed all the energy costs not relevant to the to this but there's a little bit less control than being able to negotiate once the bids are in. Well, there are times. I wish it work like that in my industry. What kind of contract is it is a cost plus six phase a straightfix cost. It's a lump sum. So that's the other beauty of this of this contract quite frankly is There, you know, this is the price that they Bid And there's no they can't come back and ask for more money. It is like a fixed fee for the duration of the contract. It's good news. And just just so I have the numbers straight I went through so we bonded 10.8 million. We got 8.2 from the grant. We got 500,000 from the decarbonization these generals

▶ 24:09 Robb Stewart: two million from the trust fund. Potentially another $200,000 from the trust fund that's up in the air and 500,000 from arpa though. I think that's everything right because that comes out to 22.2. Or 22 depending on the additional library and so it's either 650 or 850. So those um, I'm on with those numbers that makes sense and and you're looking to Again, pull from the Furnishings finishes and equipment. Oh that 1.28 million. So you'll draw from that. So you'll still have a 500,000. budget if you will for that area, but then you have 16 to 20 months to go and find the extra 850,000 now you you talked about fundraising but there are other funding opportunities. Can you speak a little bit about what your ideas

▶ 25:08 Denise Gaffey: are? Or is it I know there's you mentioned grants. Yeah, I mean this was mentioned I think in the memo that there's a donor has offered $100,000 to to the fundraising committee if they can match that so they're about to launch a campaign to do that. I think they're going to be successful. And so that was the that's 200,000 dollars. You alluded to the the trustees and they are meeting on Wednesday night offer and to contribute another 200,000. But I know from Linda has talked to all of them and they're in full support of that. So we anticipate that funding also coming to fruition. So that's about half of the shortfall right there. Um, obviously we're you know, the mayor's holding on to arpa funds and you know,

▶ 25:53 Paul Brodeur: we are also working with National Grid we expect to get some incentive funding back above and beyond the green community's Grant. So we you know, we anticipate that coming in. So we feel like we have a pretty good plan. It's something that's letting me it was in the memo but is absolutely a less secure. opportunity but myself and members of the other 12 the other 11 communities talk communities not exactly in the same. Places us because a little bit further along in the process have spoken to House and Senate majority majority leadership about because the economic development bill is still out there and because the state starts to do a essentially a year-end close the books budget that there are

▶ 26:44 Paul Brodeur: a couple of legislative opportunities what some folks refer to as a pothole account which would be a limited bucket of money to help those 12 communities. Going to get get to the Finish Line because a lot of them without that without that support with the Fairly dramatic change in Market circumstances. Could be viewed as a discreet month and a fair thing to do particularly because of the the nature of the timeline of the development of these projects. Y'all know this started 2016-2017 in a radically different Marketplace and the school building assistant, excuse me that analogies right the mass, Florida Library commissioners. Can't give us or anyone more money. It's kind of set in stone. It's a capital Bond piece.

▶ 27:37 Paul Brodeur: So that revenue is set the legislature can essentially do whatever they want. It's gonna be a lot of competing interest for that money. So I wouldn't want to say we're going to get it not by any stretch, but there is a constellation of people there that seem like they are interested in making something happen along this lines. I would treat that really as found money in terms of our in terms of our planning but I don't think it is Pie in the Sky to expect something might happen Okay helpful the one source of funny that he did not hear and I just want to confirm is we're not planning on any additional bonding. Is that the true statement? Okay, great. And let's see. Oh the So the Alternatives that were pulled Mr. Patrick,

▶ 28:34 Robb Stewart: and I'm sorry, I didn't catch your last name. They were actually three items of significance in there right? There is the asphalt there's the generator and the lightning protection. question on the generator was that really is that something that's kind of in this I think more from his Gardener. Is that really important? Is there anything that you absolutely need electricity for preservation documents for something, you know air? Or whatever. Is that something that is of concern. The generator was designed. The idea was it would not have been a whole building. It would have been the community meeting room space the elevator and the bathrooms. So the idea was that if there was a power outage and members of the community needed to come

▶ 29:23 Robb Stewart: in and just be in that space that that would be A nice thing to have but it was not particularly Library service Centric. Any safety risks? I'm sorry. Any safety risks that we should be concerned? Without the generator like also an elevator is out or anything. You saw the life safety. No, he's not. Okay. and on the lightning protection, you can see why you can maybe take a pass on it you have is that gonna impact any insurance or anything? I don't think it was. Well, I think there's any Impact Insurance. Yeah, okay. All right. Well, I'm I'm good. I'm sure thank you very much. I appreciate your your patience. Vice chairman Migliorelli and chair which is telling that there are several of us who have the same questions and concerns I think.

▶ 30:29 Leila Migliorelli: I'm of the mind that obviously we know there's an eight million dollar Grant. This project is going to move forward needs to move forward. But I do share concerns about the fact that the city is now running with like it appears like a narrower margin of available funding as we go on so looking at the art, but we had received it was last week list of all Opera committed funds. There's not that much wiggle room in terms of things. We're going to go over so I just wanted to point that out and then perhaps there needs to be a second. Look at the council does not approve our best spending but with FY 24 and 25 budgets or projections for how our prayers being used. You may need to I would suggest we look at whether certain

▶ 31:18 Leila Migliorelli: things can happen. That's not so much for this project for the city's finances overall. I think similarly with you know, free cash being mindful of that. You I think this project is an important one. It may mean that other things can't happen. And I think we should maybe be prepared for that. I share concerns that the contingency is too low. It's you know, 4.8% I think it would feel more comfortable to have six or seven. I know that that's the money that you have, but I I don't see how Given this environment that we're gonna need all if not a little bit more for the project. So given that that's going to impact other things on the artballist on the free cash list and I think we just need to be mindful of that as we get other requests

▶ 32:06 Leila Migliorelli: for funding since bonding is not part of this just one quick little minor question on the Library Grant or fundraising effort you said that they're willing the is that the library trustees it's willing to match under thousand or no. There's a private donor who is putting forward the hundred thousand and the friends of the Melrose Public Library are raising those matching funds. Okay, and do you have A sense from them about whether they have the resources or prospects in place to match with that 100,000. Is there do they feel really good about getting to that 100,000 they feel optimistically get there? Yeah. Okay. I know in the working in fundraising myself that this you know, this economic environment impacts

▶ 32:58 Manjula Karamcheti: that as well too and then 100,000 is a ambitious goal. So it's nice having that match on the table. I think that yeah, right exactly 100% that that's helpful. That's it for my questions right now. Thank you. Thank you counselor. Karmjady. Well, I also had a lot of the same questions but my city councilor colleagues have done a beautiful job on asking them. So I want to go in a different direction for a minute. I wanted to say congratulations on getting two bids. I think what we have learned from other projects in the city that at this in this volatile Market. It's actually very difficult to get bids. So I think that must be also a reflection on the work that you did to put put the bids together. So appreciate

▶ 33:47 Manjula Karamcheti: that and I also appreciate what you shared in terms of figuring out how to keep the class of this renovation as close to the budget even with you know, the times that we're in right now and I know that a lot of projects have gone millions and millions of dollars over budget in terms of what was it originally anticipated. So it seems like you've done a lot of work to figure that out. And I appreciate your your attention to that. One of the things that I heard you say was we got a decent contractor and I was wondering I think that was said over there. And so I guess I was interested in what other projects I'm not sure. I'm pronouncing it right because Stanga castania kastanga has completed so that we might know what

▶ 34:41 Manjula Karamcheti: a finished product might look like. I'd be interested just if you have that information and if you don't have it now, that's fine. But a follow-up would be great sure. We need to know other projects. Because the thought bubble in my head was sort of quality verse quantity. So we want to stay within the budget. Of course, I a hundred percent believe that as a steward of the city's money, but I also we want to Quality building that stands the test of time. We were already putting so much money into this project. So I was curious about you said that we are keeping the needs but getting rid of a lot of the nice to have so I'm just curious again for examples of what is no longer a part of the library renovation.

▶ 35:31 Denise Gaffey: So I just want to to your first point. Oh just want to clarify that, you know, we did pre-qualify this contractor. We went through a very rigorous pre-qualification process. Their qualifications are solid. They're they're good. They're good contractor, you know these this these are public bid projects, so You know, they they they're this is the world that they live in we're very comfortable, you know, they're comfortable working with public projects and we have good experience and really great team that has a lot of experience working with with contractors in this realm. So we're very comfortable and very confident with them and they're as I said at the very beginning, I mean, they're really excited about this project. They're

▶ 36:15 Denise Gaffey: very committed to it. They've sent us they're assurances. We've seen the resume of the Personnel that they're putting on this project. These are really solid solid contractors. So I want you I just want to assure you of that. Thank you. I appreciate that. Okay, and then in terms of I think you were asking about things again about the nice cities or I mean, we we again we haven't taken much out of this project there was not a lot to take out of the project, you know, we did pull out those items. We've already talked about a couple of times now the alternates like the Slate which would have been a really nice thing to do. Probably one of the bigger ones. Yeah, it would it would have been nice upgrade. We don't have slate

▶ 36:56 Denise Gaffey: right now. So we're not actually downgrading from that but we've been a lovely thing to have but not essential the original building when it was built. But as the you know, the historic building we're talking about the historic building right now the original piece of the building that but that would have had a you know, an authentic sleep roof on it. So that would have been a nice amenity. It doesn't detract from anything that goes on inside the Library anything that anyone is going to experience. All right, and then I mean it's already been mentioned, but just the creek being creative and resilient about funding sources outside of the city, which I know you will be. So just want to encourage that as well.

▶ 37:40 Mark Garipay: That's it. Thank you any other counselors for the first time. Councilor just just a couple more questions. Just to continue and I'm going back to the contingency because it's really bothering me the small amount. In the contract as to contingency specifically state for unforeseen reasons, or does it also allow for the the contract at a come back if raw materials increase no, or is it just no. No, they don't acted they own everything in the specifications. They own the project. They own everything they've bid on so the contingency is truly there for things that are that are unforeseen structural whatever conditions right? And I should know this based on last week's how much how much Opera money do we have? Not not

▶ 38:33 Paul Brodeur: allocated right now Mr. Mayor. Do you know? No, that's okay. There's several answers to that which sounds horrible but there's money we've already spent it's kind of three buckets money. We've already spent like the school the school school operating there are things that we Plan to spend it on but the money is still. Sitting there still a little a little bit of flexibility there. And then there is the completely uncommitted piece. We can update on that with some with a great deal specific. I think we're doing that. Related this week that don't open that will be pushing that out. Who will manage this project for the city will be your office from the Staffing? So yes, I'm working closely with Linda obviously. But yeah, we're managing

▶ 39:24 Denise Gaffey: the you know, all the contractual arrangements and the financing and things of that nature. Obviously Pat is our owners project manager. So he works for the city on behalf of this project. He will also have a we will have a clerk of the works who's there every day during construction actually starting. I think this week Saturday so soon he will be he will have a trailer on the site and he will be the cities eyes and ears. Every day, he will be interacting with the neighbors when they have concerns or you know issues that might come up so we have we have a good team in place. And then going back to the trustees. They've been very generous with the two million and the in the 200,000. Hopefully this week

▶ 40:11 will the do you think if we run into a situation they may be any appetite to go back to them for more if this tends to go over I guess. I can't speak for them. But I think they are very very committed to this project. They have as you know, they have funds that are expendable and funds that are not Expendable. So I certain point it becomes. How much are we talking and what is their capacity, but I know that they are very committed to seeing this project to fruition. Thank you. What is the will of this committee? Ventura to make a motion to places on fire Second, so we have a motion to place on file made by counselor Stewart seconded by councilor Garipay all in favor. Hi any opposed so that's placed on file? Thank

▶ 41:05 Jen Grigoraitis: you all for being here with us this evening. We appreciate your time. Thank you. We will move right along in our agenda back to the top order 2023 - 17 appointment of Michael Berry 910 Main Street to the Melrose Housing Authority for a one-year term said term to expire on the first Monday of March of 2023, and I know Mr. Berries here tonight. Thank you for your patience if you want to join Mr. Mayor Broder at the podium. Yep. Thank you madam, chair Member of the committee for those who don't know the Knowles Housing Authority is an essentially an independent entity within government so they do not work for the city. They're completely independent entity. It's almost kind of like a almost like a quasi nonprofit

▶ 42:04 Paul Brodeur: or quasi governmental entity. So where the city comes in is the city has the opportunity to nominate or named four of the five members of the Housing Authority Board of Trustees. The governor names the names the other one. I can't imagine how the governor's office wrangles 400 or over 300 housing authorities and figure out who would be great for any particular piece. But one of those one of those slots there are certain set aside. One of those thoughts is set aside for a tenant and Mr. Excuse me, I get trouble with my glasses here at the wrong stuff. So Mr. Barry Step forward to offer his offer his service. He is a resident of the McCarthy house for those of you who might not at home. Probably don't

▶ 43:07 Paul Brodeur: know what that is. That is the the big building in Ward 2 near the ECC of the Franklin School is either our biggest or second biggest property that in the steelhouse being by far our most prominent properties and you'd see from Mr. Barry's qualifications. He's very familiar with with municipal government has worked in municipal government in various roles in the private sector for many many years and the Housing Authority essentially did the job of publicizing the openings. And Mr. Barry was one of the folks' step forward very committed to his duties and looking forward to your hopefully to your confirmation of his role. Despair if you want to add anything. No, you covered it pretty well, sir. All right, there it is.

▶ 44:02 Manjula Karamcheti: Thank you. Are there any questions from the council councilor? Karmchatie, Mr. Berry first. I just wanted to say thank you for stepping up. For the position on the Housing Authority. I'm just curious. Well one, I think it's so important for residents voice to be represented. So so appreciate you taking it on is there are there any items or issues that you would like to bring to the Housing Authority in this role? Not yet? Okay. Alright. Well great. Thank you. President sonala. I would just make a motion at this time to recommend Mr. Barry to the full Council. Second, so we have a motion to recommend for passage made by presidents and Alice seconded by councilor. Karmchatie all in favor. Aye any opposed so

▶ 44:51 Jen Grigoraitis: that will be recommended to the full Council for passage. Thank you for being here tonight. Thank you. moving along order 2023-20 acceptance of federal title 3 Be fy23 Grant through Mystic Valley Elder services and the amount of $10,000. And I know we have Stacey mincello here. From the Council on Aging to speak good evening. Good evening. this is our it's a competitive Grant through the older Americans act 1965. distributed competitively through Mystic Valley Elder services And the good news is Melrose was awarded. I think this is our third year. Last year I asked for Less because the center was closed this year. I asked for more. And we got it. So there's three points for it. It's to serve.

▶ 45:42 Leila Migliorelli: the underserved population of older adults LGBT Elders into combat social isolation Thank you. Here are there any questions from the council? Vice chairmengliarelli this one quick question. Thank you madam chair. Thank you Ms. Angela for being here. This is an exciting opportunity. Especially, you know sort of post covid and the socialized isolation going on. Just a quick thing. I noticed in the Gran it says that the Melrose Council aging will serve 216 unduplicated individuals with this $10,000 Grant or is that just generally how much you serve over 216 is a forecasted Target number. Okay, just for the events for the folks that show up at this grant last year. The number was low and we hit 350. Wow. Okay, so it's sort

▶ 46:32 Maya Jamaleddine: of a balanced act but I numbers right now we've got about 4,000 in our database. There wasn't a pack in space to be had today. With all the events going on and the events like lunch was six people today was 24. So the numbers are really jumping up. Great, that's such a fantastic resource that you get you're all providing and you never say we're not busy. Yeah, that's it. I'm sure. Councilor maladene, thank you. Thank you for being with us tonight. I know the work that you do is amazing. I was saying thank you and your team myself. I've been referring many of our constituents to your social worker and your whole department. So thank you for being so responsive as always. What exactly how exactly your plan

▶ 47:28 to spend it? Is it on events is that it's mostly events. It can be educational workshops. We've tried to Target diversity Equity inclusion. I'll give you a quick example because Mystic Valley one of the board of directors asked and what what are you doing for diversity and you know with this amount of money, you can't afford a consultant for you know an educational Workshop. So we decided that we would do food. So we did a cooking demo on Three items it was the Italian ravioli the Polish, pierogi in the Asian potsticker. We ran out of seats. We had enough food and the City of Newton called and said Hoosier Catera, but minimally We believe that if you provide food they come and it sparked conversation about traditions and

▶ 48:16 Maya Jamaleddine: a little more deeper into acceptance. awesome any I know now more population are you know your Outreach is actually helping to serve all marrows and more people are getting to know about your service. How are you doing any more Outreach to? We do have some Outreach plans. The social work is going to go out because we're heading into the holidays for the Melrose emergency fund her case load even right now for for being part-time is 22 folks. So that's pretty that's pretty high on our end. But as far as Outreach, we have once a week someone from the center leaves and goes somewhere like last week. I spoke at the church right down the street from us on West Foster. I'm heading over to Trinity next week

▶ 49:09 and then we switch out so Do we have to do Outreach. It's always good to do Outreach, but we don't have to do Outreach. We're really we have a ongoing log of who contacts us for speakers. And do you follow up after they contact you? I know I send someone last week. Yes. Do you follow up on their you know after you direct them to certain? Direction or we try because we started actually I have an I have a social worker intern from Salem State one of her projects was evaluating outcomes. And if we were to do a referral or advocacy or some financial assistance of the Mel's emergency fund sometimes we don't know what the final outcome is. Yeah, because we've done our job which is to get them to where they

▶ 49:56 need to be but we're really working on the interns position to do the Callback and ask we've had people that have really applied that have applied for pretty desperate. Situations and then not turn in the paperwork. Yeah, so we do we don't just close the case out. We really do the follow-up, but we're really working on a more solid evaluation of the measurable outcome. Well, I appreciate everything you do. Thank you so much. Thank you. Any other questions from the council? What is the will of the committee? motion to recommend Second, so we have emotion to recommend made by counselor gemaldine seconded by President sonella all in favor. Aye any opposed so that will be recommended to the full Council for passage.

▶ 50:42 Thank you. Thank you very much. Cello Moving right along we are at order 2023-21 acceptance of Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation DCR in the amount of 75,000 for enhancements to recreational developments and parks and I believe we have superintendent Parks dumbbell here. Good evening. Hey, don't worry. So this is a state earmark for 75,000. It comes perfect timing because we've had in the last couple of years a lot of interest from our skateboard community. That is that that has been looking for some upgrades. We did the skateboard back in 2014. It's almost 20 years old it could it could use some 10-11 Kia they're looking for a couple different pieces something a little bit more challenging. We have

▶ 51:39 a lot of young kids at skate in there. But we also have an adult crowd that comes in and skates. And we also have families that skate together. So each group has been in touch with us and has kind of given us a little bit of input. I've also gotten some input from a little little scada that came through the man's office that met me down at the park and was willing to put the money where his mouth was and go own and sit the agreement that I made with him was that you know, it would be nice. If you could if you could go down there and talk to the people who come in here and have a conversation. I know what you want being, you know, 12 or 13 year old skater, but you know with we have a lot of different age groups

▶ 52:22 in here and to get something that kind of fits. Everybody would be nice. So if you can spend some time down here. Meet with the groups and come back and tell me you know, what people are looking for which he did he gave me some some proposals that are in American ramp as the the company that we use previously. So they're they're giving us some pricing finding out what can actually fit what can't fit the equipment itself. It needs a special kind of paint the older pieces. It's a two pot Epoxy paint. That's kind of expensive. I think the last time we did it was a thousand dollars for four gallons of it. So the old pieces need to be repainted with like to get a couple new pieces and then some of the equipment because of

▶ 53:08 the area that it's in has kind of gone below great a little bit. So we have some lips that's kind of dangerous when you come off the board, so we'd like to get that work done as well. Once we find out, you know what that that price tag is we would also like to go back. We evaluate a couple of the basketball courts around the city that have cracks that could use some ten to Loving Care and repaint. So we have two that I think depending upon what kind of money we have left over. We're going to try to look at Gooch Park the common You know, I looked at like Lincoln School. It's the basketball court itself isn't so bad, but it's not painted like the lines of faded. So just those type of things.

▶ 53:55 Paul Brodeur: So we're just kind of we want to take care of the skateboarders for us. They've been waiting a long time to get some pieces and then we're going to see what's left over and do some upgrades on the basketball courts around the city. Oh Mary Livermore Park. I'm sorry was the best Bowl just see the little sense of How good the student was these in the middle school now and I was there a little bit I was there last week to judge a debate a student versus teacher debate. This kid was climbing up on stage and said On the skateboard guy again. I think I got it. I got it that there's a meeting coming up and we've also had a contact from a from a high school student and they don't the to the both of their credits. They don't just ask they said this is this

▶ 54:42 Paul Brodeur: is like the way of the land this is the way this stuff works quite frankly. I want to speak for Joan, but they know a heck of a lot more about it than I do a school them for sure. And you know that student advocacy piece was just very very impressive. It's definitely it's definitely a need it is a place that is that it's very well used and there will be there will be you know, as Joan described there's money to do some other things as well. And I do want to thank if it hasn't been said yet Senator Lewis and replica for their efforts as an earmark that came through the FY 22 operating Budget might be 23, but it was piece of the operating budget. So it is a to the extent you concerns. It is no match

▶ 55:36 Robb Stewart: required kind of no strings attached. Grant Any questions or counselors? counselor Stewart Thank you madam chair. Thank you, Mr. Miriam Isbell for this good news. As representative ward 3 were excited to hear about both Gucci and and the Lincoln School both could really use it. The one question I would have is Mr. Right May appreciate this as well is is there signs that could be put up to remind the residents that a certain time that you shouldn't be dribbling the basketball for example, after nine o'clock at night as someone who's been asked to leave the Park good probably because he called so there's certainly always opportunity. We don't want to over sign but it's really Jones Village. I think

▶ 56:32 that all our Parks if they don't have signs in them. The majority of them do so if they don't then we got to get back to putting them up because passive Parks Parks, they don't have lights neighborhood parks open from sun up to sundown so they shouldn't be in there. Right? Right. Just last night. I walked in the dog by in eight o'clock at night and a couple guys are out there drilling the ball. So and I don't think there's a sign. Yeah, we can check that. Okay, great. Thank you. Thank you madam. Chair Council girlfriend. Yeah. Thank you for being here. Just one quick question regarding the skateboard park with the investment that's going to be in there recently over the summer over the summer. We've had

▶ 57:08 Mark Garipay: some vandalism the image down between Lewis monkey and a skateboard park. Is there any way to include some sort of security cameras in here in this part of the project for for that so we can try to eliminate some of the vandalism some of the breaking break-ins with the marvelous Little League. Yeah into the their Trail like a broken into we can look into I think a smile or idea would Be to get some cameras that we can move around to different packs like not just to having it one park because it kind of flies up at different times you have different. So, I think that's an investment worth looking at. Okay. Thank you. councilor Carm JD more of a comment than a question, but I just wanted to note for the for the park submission my

▶ 57:59 Manjula Karamcheti: appreciation of investing in the spaces and places for youth to go outside of the traditional structure like opportunities that are available youth are always asking for and looking for places to be that are safe that they can pursue their interests outside of school and organized like sports. So just want to appreciate that the Parks Commission decided to spend the money in this way and listening to to the voice of kids who were looking for improvements. I think that's really important. So we'll just want to say, thank you. What is the will of this committee motion to recommend for passage? So we have a motion to recommend for passage made by counselor? Karmchatie seconded by Vice chair Migliorelli all in favor. Aye any opposed

▶ 58:55 that will be recommended at the full Council. Thank you very much for being here tonight Ms. Bow. And it is 7:59. So I'm gonna ask for a motion to recess so that we can gavel into finance and Trail make a motion to recess. Second so we have a motion to recess made by counselor Stewart seconded by Vice chairman Migliorelli all in favor any opposed? Okay, so we are in recess. Thank you. here Good evening. Today is Monday, October 17 2022 and the time is 8 pm. This is a meeting of the finance committee. I am Consular Jamal Dean the chair and joining me tonight voting members. Vice chair gerepe counselor mcgrelli counselor camsheri and president sanela non-voting members our counselors Stewart and Consular gregoritis.

▶ 1:22:58 Paul Brodeur: in favor. Hi any opposed? Okay, so that matter is now before us. By way of by way of reflection. That's kind of a two-part presentation here tonight the the important party. the important business of Council tonight is the request for funding to essentially round out or bring up to current date some of the analysis that was done during the original public safety building committee work, which believe me when I tell you a substantial it is to the to the tune of two binders full of information of information. It was expensive and important work as we've heard from our other discussions tonight. There are impacts that were going to hear about today both in terms of Building materials but really what we're talking about is the

▶ 1:24:02 Paul Brodeur: various possibilities of plans the public safety building committee led by excuse me, the co-chairs has really done amazing work and this isn't to a certain degree kind of a coming-out party. Will you will see how much work has actually gone on and the kinds of things that they have been. considering and that need That need public input and need further discussion in the community. But in order to have that sophisticated discussion, we are going to need the additional resources that are the that are the basis of this order in order to move this project forward with that. I will turn it over to the leadership to give a more detailed explanation of the work. They've been doing and very much want to thank as you can see it is

▶ 1:24:57 Paul Brodeur: a very strong and very committed group because they're all here tonight on a Monday night at in addition to all the other things they do with their day jobs and the work that they do on behalf of the city in this committee. So without further ado, Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Good evening, everybody. I want to thank you on behalf of our committee for taking us out of order. I am Eugenie Gibbons as was noted. I Collide the public safety advisory committee public safety building advisory committee with Jeff mcnaught. I'm joined at the table this evening by Andrew by Emmanuel Andrade. Has been very involved with our proposal development subcommittee, and then we're joined by nearly our

▶ 1:25:39 entire committee including representatives from police and fire. So we're in really great company. Our goal is a committee is ultimately to make a recommendation to the city and this body for how best to proceed with necessary investments in public safety facilities in Melrose. We as a committee seek to ensure that our final recommendations are grounded in well vetted information and Analysis and toward that end. We have been meeting very regularly since January to gather information about the needs for public safety building upgrades and to develop several scenarios for how to prudently but adequately meet those needs. A manual will present an overview of the scenarios that we've arrived at and he can field questions that you all

▶ 1:26:25 may have. But the next step is the mayor noted in this information gathering process is to procure Design Services from architectural firm, Doran Whittier. To complete pre-design for proposed upgrades for the city's fire and police facilities these services that we need include developing a conceptual design plans schedules and updated cost estimates. I know that the last set of information that we've been working with is at this point. Six years old almost six years old almost. Yeah, so very outdated consistent with what we've already heard tonight very frequently about the current market and some of the challenges that exist out there in terms of Contracting and construction time is of the essence.

▶ 1:27:19 And we really need to be able to procure these services in order to make an informed decision about how best to proceed going forward and also to begin to engage the public in this process. And in this discussion. I know that if we are able to issue a contract by the end of October we can expect to have updated information by Q2 of 23. So in the spring and it is really essential that we have that sooner rather than later so we can continue moving forward and without further Ado I turn it to Emmanuel. Good evening, Madam chair Member of the community. My name is Emmanuel Andrade. I'm a resident of the Wyoming neighborhood and with my colleagues here in the comedy. I've been assisting this committee since January.

▶ 1:28:07 Very pleased to say that in the last eight nine months. We've done a lot of work and but as a committee charged with making a recommendation to the mayor we've gone as far as we come possibly could right now moving forward. We need assistance of a design firm. That specializes in public safety buildings to assist us. with refining the work that we accomplished so far and and developing realistic cost estimates and project schedules So with that today, we I want to present before I talk about the proposal that we received by The Architects. I just want to give you a sense of the conceptual options that are committee has developed. There are a few subcommittees within the committee and my focus in this

▶ 1:28:57 community has been in the subcommitted responsible for the proposal development proposal development is by the way, I forgot to mention that I am an architect. This is my day job as an architect. What I'm doing here in this community as a volunteer is exactly what I do during my day job. I work. I'm an architect for the state government doing feasibility studies for state government buildings courthouses State hospitals Correctional Facilities, you know over 10 million dollar projects. So my focus in this committee has been assisting with the conceptual options. So before us today, we have a few conceptual options that I would like to share with you. We started by reviewing the 2007 2017 visibility

▶ 1:29:45 study. There was a lot of good information there, especially existing conditions information. In we incorporated the good aspects of good study. But we also pushed further on other aspects. And we we have I'm just going to say a few of the options for for example for starting with the fire stations Engine 2, which is at this intersection of Tremont Street and Melrose Street. There are two options one option is to completely demolish the station and build a brand new true story station. A second option would be to renovate the existing station and add a two-story addition directly adjacent to the building. For engine 3, which is on East Foster Street directly across from the commons. There are three options demolish the

▶ 1:30:40 station and build a brand new station. Renovate the station and add a second floor to that one story plus basement building. and A last complex complex option which is just renovate the building as is and not add any Square. No new area. moving on to the central fire on Main Street We only have one option which is to renovate the building to bring it to. Replace the roof make, you know much needed masonry repairs replace the historic sensitive windows and that alarm will be a big chunk of the budget for that station. But I also have to we have to do some complex and very expensive site improvements for a building that is over a hundred years old. But in in all the options that we have, the only

▶ 1:31:37 option we have for that facility is to renovate the building and know addition to that building. Should that historic building? Last but not least the police station unlike the previous effort. We don't believe that the police station should remain can remain in the same location. with the square with the extremely small lot that it houses the station. So we have two options one option is for an empty site identified not by the committee, but by the city somewhere in Melrose where centrally located to build a new three-story fire station on an empty site. the second option to find a new site in perhaps a new site with an existing building and perhaps we can renovate that building and convert that

▶ 1:32:29 existing building on a new site should become the new police station for Melrose. So those are the conceptual options. Our committee worked in the last nine months and moving forward. Do we need an architect? We need a design firm with specializing in this type of work in our region in the state to help us moving moving forward. So we Reached out your door and Whittier on architectural firm for new Newburyport. They are the authors of the previous visibility study. And we asked them were engaged with them to since they have A lot of knowledge of existing conditions of costs. They know our buildings to come back and provide a quote to provide the following services. First they're going to take our conceptual options

▶ 1:33:21 in consideration, right? We're not asking them to come up with other options. We're asking them to refine the options that we work so hard. They're going to meet with the police and fire departments to refine what we call space needs and Analysis. Our conceptual options are just location-wise options there. We're talking about the building shell. But space needs analysis would be to understand what happens inside the station. And we need an architecture help us with that. Second they're going to provide a high level project schedule. We want to understand what our options are for how long construction will be. Luckily, we have three fire stations, perhaps one of the fire stations can be renovated while Personnel from that far

▶ 1:34:05 space station is relocated to other true fire stations. We didn't architecture help us really figure out the logical sequence of construction and finally but most importantly a high level cost estimate to help us understand how much this effort would be and because our committee has laid out. Conceptual options, they're very incomplexity and most likely varying costs will have a good cost range. But again, we need an architect to help us with that. So the request today is for the funds to fund this Initiative 60,500 for pre-designed services, right? We're not in design yet. We're in pre-design and we thought this would be a good investment for an effort. They could take quad cost the city tens of millions of dollars.

▶ 1:35:02 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you both for that presentation. Are there questions from the council from the committee? Excuse me? councilor demaldine So I just a quick question, you mentioned that in terms of the police station. It would be either finding a new empty lot and and building a new one. or fixing that existing one and build on it in case we went to with plan A. Do we know? With that plan be including demolishing or what is it that's going to happen with the existing building. So you got you got option a correct, but option let me rephrase. Repeat optionally option b is still building a new. Three-story police station on an on a site somewhere in the city that already has a building. Okay, so it's not at that site. Yeah, okay,

▶ 1:36:03 Maya Jamaleddine: and how about that existing building right now? What is it? That's what's gonna happen. What's the plan? So the plan would be to for the police department you continue operations in that facility until the new building or renovated building is can be occupied at that time. The police State Police Department would vacate that building and what happens to that building is a city matter. I We don't have any recommendation this point. And my question was just to clarify if in case the decision was to demolish it because it's not anymore. You know be able to be used with that demolishing be inclusive or anything of that matter. I I no, no the proposal The Proposal that we're asking The Architects to

▶ 1:36:54 Maya Jamaleddine: assist us with does not include any demolition of any existing of that building. Okay, and in the current building of the police station, what is the if you can just list some of the concerns that we have? I know you mentioned that it's very small what other concerns do we have? So to start the building is a more than a third of the space of a police station of the Personnel size that Melrose Fire Department police department has so we would be looking for a new building that is at least 20,000 square feet where they have three three seven thousand square feet and we have members of the police department who can help me explain the conditions that they have and that building but as you can imagine he's a building that

▶ 1:37:45 was Converted from being a telephone company into a police station in around 4959. 51 can no longer house modern Services of a police station the cells are not ADA compliance. So the building the building's not able to build itself. Yeah, so it's both you know. An issue. Yeah, it's wholly inadequate for what is needed and I would welcome some of our colleagues from the police department to speak to some of the specifics but as Emanuel is noting just in terms of size. It's problematic. There are you know codes and standards that need to be complied with there is you know, I think it's important to note that both police and fire provide a number of different services to the community especially police and the

▶ 1:38:42 police department does a good job of working with what it has to try to meet and provide those services, but it is definitely not capable of doing so adequately I'm thinking of you know, there's Whether it's a Services related to support for domestic violence, whether it is social work Services, if it's you know, drug-related Services just there a variety of things that just can't they're happening but they can't happen to the level that I know that our police would like to be able to provide. Yes. I myself have toured the chief file in fact us to tour and I can tell it's that it's a lot of problems in it. I would invite any member of the police if they would like to explain more to the public

▶ 1:39:42 I know that. the planning on offering Wars to folks they get the exact nature and extent of the deficiencies all buildings much like we do with the library. Thank you. Thank you both for willing to speak Lieutenant Norton. I'm officer Dale Parsons. Thank you for having us here. As it was highlighted. Our our building is incredibly deficient for many different reasons. We have a rodent problem. We have code problems. Our cells are not up to date. like my colleague said the building itself is not ADA Compliant. We've had multiple issues people with physical disabilities who have trouble gaining or can't get into the building. So we we cannot stay at that building as a police department going forward. There are

▶ 1:40:41 many things that we want to do speak on behalf of my union. We want to do more community outreach programs and we can't host those in the building that we're in right now. Yeah. So the building itself was was built in 1900. So it you know, it's very old building prisoners. When we bring prisoners in they we have to walk them down a set of stairs into the booking room. The booking room is probably I don't know 10 feet by 12 feet tops. It's had. said many Renovations over the years but none of them were of professional standard type of renovation in that booking area, so it's kind of a disaster. The facilities the ventilation in the facility in the in the Cell Block area. When when a prisoner and whether it's female or

▶ 1:41:50 whether it's it's a male we have four cells for male one one for female but the ventilation system events into the building. So when you hit the lights and put the fan on. All the air that's in the Cell Block. It's dispersed throughout the building. That's just one major problem. the front stairs Again, not not compliant. The lobby is is very small. We don't have an area for training. our property in room a property room and evidence room is probably about a third of the size that it should be. We have no area to store larger properties right now. They're put into the garage, but the garage isn't set up to. With a locked facility to put property. The back of the building the facade is is to the back corner of the facade is breaking

▶ 1:42:58 off the building. the roof leaks in the hallway main hallway leaks down and then over through the offices. So, you know, the tiles get stained no sense and replacing them because the roof still leaks so that that's still there. Recently. We had I would say about 12 years ago we redid the dispatch because the dispatch Wall fell in so they had to redo the dispatch area. The building is failing. It's it's age, you know, it's breaking down. if I could just to speak to his point of the building following down just last week. We had a wall mounted desk in the main lobby of the front lobby and elderly woman was using to write on it and that fell off the wall and she ended up having to go to the hospital.

▶ 1:43:55 So the building the physical building is falling in on us. Yeah, and we need the city support to yeah new building and to speak to the renovations. So John Norton brought up. We've had female officers since sometime in the 80s and we are now just having our guard room retrofitted. To accommodate a female and male locker rooms separate locker rooms. the The Mickey Mouse Renovations that's gone on that building have reached. a Tipping Point and It is. Yeah, it's not like we saw it's not enough room to actually put a lock around and have a guard room our guard room. Where we do roll call if you see a traditional police show on TV the the sergeant gets up in front and he tells everyone what their assignments are. Well, that's what we do

▶ 1:44:51 we do that but now that room because we've done the renovations to accommodate for lockers and not that room is now probably a 10 foot by 10 foot area where we give our own. That is definitely going to be displayed when we do tours. Feel free to come down. I'll take you on a tour anytime. But in the meantime, we're gonna do we're gonna do some filming. And we're gonna kind of want people through because not everyone's gonna be able to come down to the station and partake in seeing what it's about. facility wise office wise Superior offices the person in charge of the building at any given shift like tonight's probably a little lieutenant and there's a street Sergeant but that office that they they command out of his shared

▶ 1:45:43 Maya Jamaleddine: by eight eight Superior officers not all at one time, but You know when shifts would get relieved you have eight different people that are sharing the same desk in the same office. So each person gets a drop. To put their property and you know, so it's just inadequate at this point. Yeah, I agree with you. I mean we all know but I wanted for the sake of the public so they would understand exactly how dire is the need of you know, renovating or changing the whole say I definitely agree with you you guys have stretched to the maximum the usage of this building. I appreciate all the effort and you know continuous effort to make sure and to ensure that you're providing the great service to the public. So thank

▶ 1:46:34 Manjula Karamcheti: you so much for your patience. Thank you. Like I said come down. I'll give you a tour any time any well, too. Council carm-chady when I became an elected, I was given a tour by Chief Lyle and I have to say I was shocked and sad about the conditions of the police station and as someone who has a vision for just what you described community outreach community policing supporting citizens to feel welcome and safe at the police station. It definitely did not have that Vibe and appreciate everything you've done to try to make that happen, but definitely see the need for a new building with new resources and whatnot for the benefit of the public just in terms of the pre Design Services. Could you just give an overview of sort of what that entails what

▶ 1:47:33 we could expect from pre-designed Services as the outcome of what we've been to help us move forward. Correct? Yes pretty design service means we are at a conceptual stage at this point. So I referred many times as we have conceptional conceptual options and the architect will in a period of four months meet with us meet with each department and develop. high level project estimates cost estimates we're talking about they're going to give us a rough order of magnitude of saying you know, this is a Let's say 50 million dollar project or a 65 million dollar project. You know I'm saying those numbers are completely hypothetical numbers. They're going to give us a rough order of magnitude. There are

▶ 1:48:25 Manjula Karamcheti: also going to help us with the project schedule in those four months and really help us understand which options should happen first. What a priorities are which stations should go first and logical sequence. They're not providing renderings of what a police station will look like they're not going to be involved in public meetings. These are really three. Very focused exercises of program space. Schedule and costs serving our committee. and the three options are potentials that were presented in our packets. It's very clear sort of what needs to happen with the police station, but there are those three different options for the fire stations renovation. I think Engine 2 and 3 are potentially demolition or renovation

▶ 1:49:18 with an addition or I can't remember what the third one was of the don't but how will pre-design well as part of that helping advising us on which one. The pre-designed process is helping to advise the committee on what to hone in on for our recommendations to the city for how to proceed and so the proposal development is one as Emmanuel noted. One of the working groups are subcommittees that we have organized as a committee. There's also one focus on excuse me, my Can't remember the time I have on the funding plan. So to doing some initial groundwork to figure out kind of like how to make this possible. There is another working group on public engagement and we're starting to get in this discussion starting to get into some of

▶ 1:50:15 the things that we hope to engage the public on not only what is the need or why are we here but also getting input and feedback from the public and then we'll have working group within our committee that will think about decision execution and how we arrive at our final recommendation. But as I said, this is very much part of a thorough data Gathering process and information gathering process so that we can be sure that our recommendations are sound are grounded in well vetted data and information and that, you know, you've heard some of the needs just from police the list for fire goes on and on as well and we're not trying to build Cadillac see like the Cadillac version we're being prudent in our decision.

▶ 1:51:00 Manjula Karamcheti: because we don't we have no other choice. The clock is kind of run out on what these existing facilities can do and it's not a question of if we do something as a city. It's a question of when and quite frankly. We don't have that much time to be thinking about it or to be, you know, entertaining lots of options. So we are trying to get to a point where we can present really sound really well grounded recommendations for how to move forward in a meaningful amount of time. okay, so just to clarify the pre-designed services will be a report of some kind given to your committee and that information will be used as like foundational data for all of the Committees in terms of figuring out recommendations for

▶ 1:51:48 Robb Stewart: city council and mayor. Yeah. Okay. Great. Thank you. Counselor Stewart, thank you. Madam. Chair, he's given Mr. 100. Thank you for being here tonight. I appreciate it and say from the outset that I think this is great. I want to for Ride Along when I was. campaign a couple years ago, and I got a tour of the Police station also on the fire station and understand the difficulties on both sides. And to me this has always been something that's been top of mind that needs to be addressed. So I'm glad that you're bringing this forward. My first question is about timeline Beyond this recommendation. So, you know you Q2 rolls around you get the recommendation. What's what's the timeline that you've worked with the administration in terms

▶ 1:52:39 Robb Stewart: of when they want to accomplish this because that there's considerations when you come to this body in terms of how it's going to be Finance where that money is going to come from And what the timing of that is, so to the end unfortunately Mr. Mayor stepped out, but he may have some input into that as well. Um Actually with an updated timeline, we initially thought that we would be able to move this particular request forward about six weeks ago. And so that actually it doesn't seem like a lot of time but it does matter ultimately you know this. this is gonna have to come before the public and so our charge as a committee is to complete those recommendations by next summer right once we have our

▶ 1:53:29 Robb Stewart: Within a meaningful amount of time within about a quarter of when we receive that final report from Dora and Whittier. but I would defer to the mayor on how he sees this sort of moving forward in terms of making a decision and ultimately taking it to the public. We can certainly give you our updated timeline. Once we have a better sense of the sequencing and the timing that we might be looking at sure sure, and I'm sure you would appreciate the one small cause for concern that. Someone that would vote on this is we granted this money and then you do the study and then you sit on it again, right? And that's that's something I don't think we want to see I don't think anybody wants to see but that requires

▶ 1:54:16 Robb Stewart: I think the commitment from the administration that yes, it's going to move forward definitively and what that looks like in terms of how they're gonna get the money how they're gonna get the public Buy in all of that at all kind of comes together. So That's why I'm asking that question. And I think that that needs to be a continuing dialogue both with this console as well as with the public so that way we're well informed on what that schedule looks like. Oh, we certainly share that that sentiment and are not looking to kick this down the road any longer and so welcome the collaboration with the city council and with others and really making sure that we're all being held accountable to see the

▶ 1:54:58 Leila Migliorelli: project through to completion from recommendation to actual buildings that are functional and operational in a reasonable amount of time. So we welcome that collaboration good and what's the public as well? Sorry. I'm excited to see the start to move forward. Thank you. Vice chairmagliarelli, thank you madam chair and some of my questions are just asked by counselor Stewart. I guess I'm wondering a little bit more about the process if you are you get this information and In terms of this report sitting on a shelf, I guess that also depends on the committee that you have. Do you feel confident in this committee and that you'll have consensus achieve consensus? You know, I mean, you've been working together for whatever 10

▶ 1:55:43 months and just want to make sure that That you know that you feel like you're you're set you're set to go. Yes, I mean, I I'm looking at my fellow committee members. And yes, when we began meeting we did so with the understanding that this was a time. you know time it was we had a Time specific like specific amount of time that we were trying to work within to come up with the recommendation because we do not want you know our information that we gather to become outdated. We do not want to be having this conversation again, six years from now like we just don't have these guys don't have the ability to do their jobs. Well enough if we're going to continue to punt. So yes, I'm confident that we

▶ 1:56:29 Leila Migliorelli: are working well together to try to build consensus and to reach consensus over our final recommendations and this particular piece of information is going to go a long way and helping us get there. and so if you get this report in you know, if we you know appropriate this money for this purpose four months is what it looked like the consultant would take to pull this together. Are you envisioning that the public engagement piece will start happening after that or alongside that I just curious because I think this is you can all imagine was going to take a great deal of work with the public. Yeah. um that I Don't want to speak for the entire public engagement committee. But I do think that some portion some of

▶ 1:57:17 that work will be happening alongside the development of this report. So it was mentioned that we're working with mmtv to develop a series of videos to be able to post so we can get that information out there. We're working to make public all of our initial materialism and everything that's already been posted is public. So some of those early pieces of public engagement are going to be happening alongside the development of the report we will work as a working group to figure out sort of the sequencing and the timing for full on engagement and you know how to pull folks in and when before we make a recommendation, but it is certainly Our intention to make sure that the recommendation is a reflection of the what

▶ 1:58:02 we have already done for the last nine months what information we're going to gather from door and Whittier and what we hear when we do start to talk to the public. Thank you. As everyone said I took tours back in 2019 too. And I took my whole family on the couple of the fire station tours is Chief cleaner might remember and so now when we drive around to other communities, my kids will point out. Wow, look at that fire station. Look at that police say they noticed these things. So thank you very much. I think it's it's really important and and well overdue so I'm hoping you'll get some good information on this and we can move forward. And I just want to make one other comment in regards to what you just said constrlay is

▶ 1:58:45 this is a common need in all of our surrounding communities and in communities throughout the Commonwealth. So that is another reason why time is of the essence because everyone's finding themselves in the same situation where there's going to be a need to invest significantly in these buildings and in these projects and you heard from the conversation around the library, you know, it's There are other market dynamics that are going to come into play. There's the availability of Labor and of contractors who are qualified to do this. So we benefit immensely from having an established relationship already with during Whittier, who knows our buildings and who knows what are need is they've been really receptive and receiving

▶ 1:59:28 Paul Brodeur: feedback and they're ready to move forward to help us better understand what exactly it is that we're going to be asking for because we are not alone in terms of cities or towns that are facing this Can I add to that a little bit because I have a little bit of information that I just said with you guys. Late this afternoon. So you probably haven't seen it yet because at a recent mayor's meeting the mayor of Pittsfield was talking about similar problem. Their police facility is a converted building from the 30s looks a lot like from the pictures. I've seen a lot like what we're facing here. And so they started to do some along with the Birch and delegations and walk around trying to create essentially the

▶ 2:00:13 Paul Brodeur: equivalent of a school building assistance program for other municipal buildings. I would not suggest that that is happening tomorrow by any stretch the imagination but part of that information and justification for that effort came from a report that the auditor did the state auditor did around the state of Municipal infrastructure and in particular municipal buildings in western Mass. Now the some of the conditions up in western, Mass. Are you need to Western? But a lot of it is not and so to kind of drive home the point and happy to share this report with you all fairly new and from I want to say October of 22 and much of what it said about western Mass is true to Commonwealth as a whole. So to the

▶ 2:01:08 Paul Brodeur: chairs point, this is not at all a unique situation and it doesn't really requires emergency across the Commonwealth and we're going to worry about ourselves, but I am going to be working with the some of the other Mayors particularly Gateway cities Mayors to see what kind of you know reliable repeatable supportable funding source, there is because you know that why are our schools in better shape than our other Public Safety buildings Because they're there's a resource that's been established to assist in doing that. Why are libraries to a certain degree on the radar because there's an identified funding source that we can count on when we make these plants regrettably. There's Virtually nothing along with some maybe Boutique

▶ 2:01:59 Paul Brodeur: grants around energy or whatever the case may be that our Public Safety related that communities just can't get their hands around particularly when you're reflect on what a modern facility actually needs in terms of community space in terms of you know, victim services and things like that. So it's going to be this is not something that again that that is unique to Melrose but is something that we absolutely have to address counselor Stewart Thank you madam. Chair Mr. May you. Ran out right when I was going to ask a question. So yeah, please don't anyways, the question I had asked the committee was regarding timeline and commitment from the administration that this will indeed happen. In the foreseeable future as opposed to in the

▶ 2:03:00 Paul Brodeur: one. Thing that I've heard a little bit anecdotally is that we may need to rely on the middle school funding to end for this to pick up. I don't know if that's If that's the case or not, if you could speak a little bit about what the timing is and how this is going to impact drawings. Well, let's work for you cram these guys up. It's quite frankly. It's part of the it's part of the conversation. I think we all understand explicitly that going to be a very very large price tag. It's not something that no literally no matter what else we do cannot be fit into our Existing tax base. So, you know, it will be a debt exclusion kind of the nature of that will depend on on the plans. Certainly. I wouldn't want to hang a timeline

▶ 2:03:58 Paul Brodeur: on it that we can't execute on we would obviously want to do it. I think ideally not as a special election as a one-off we want to do it in conjunction with another with another election, which puts me in mind of 2024. I don't think we'll be ready. This year because it's not just setting the date. It's then. Making the pitch because even after you know, it's a two-part piece. We want public input about what they're thinking of in terms of their idea their Vision about what these Public Safety facilities should look like, but then we're going to settle on something and then kind of a campaign begins a new with this is why we feel this plan. Meets those needs and have that you know that second part of the public discussion the

▶ 2:04:49 Paul Brodeur: the fact of the middle school going off. Of our debt service is is an important part of I think what people are going to think about in terms of you know for the individual Homer. What can I actually afford but that will not control when this goes to the valuable certainly be part of the conversation around the affordability of it because early on in this process of some of the voters do approve it. The fact that matters that debt will come off. The tax rolls and it is not, you know, unlike two and a half it goes away. So then we would have to make a new ask but we would be certainly when we describe the financial impact of what it's likely a 20 or 30 year. No that that other debt is going to

▶ 2:05:43 Paul Brodeur: fall off. so there will be a reduction in in your property tax bill, but I don't want to create any illusion that there's going to be a wonderful one trade-off. The middle school debt is roughly a two hundred dollar per home. Impact this is going to be substantially more than that. Okay fair enough. All right. Thank you. Thank you counselor garapay. I was gonna make a motion to recommend second. So we have a motion to recommend made by counselor garapay seconded by President sonella on discussion. I had a few questions. Sorry. That's okay. I'm just follow picking up on mayor broder's comments about the cost. I just obviously I know that committee is not responsible for coming up with that. But Mr. Andrade

▶ 2:06:31 Jen Grigoraitis: you had mentioned Newburyport and I just looked up that they're doing one building that 6,800 square feet for 5.9 million dollars and we're talking it looks like approximately about 10 times that total square footage across all of the buildings if I'm reading the slides correctly. Is that a fair? Statement. Can you repeat the question about square foot you're looking at about 60,000 square feet total? That's about right can give you the exact amount. so the Newberry Port building 5,000 Total sixty eight hundred square feet right and they said it's gonna be 5.9 million for that just went out to they just approved that in August of this year. I'm not fully aware of that project. Oh that you mentioned Newburyport is one of the projects that the Architects had

▶ 2:07:17 worked out. The architect is from Newburgh Airport from new airport. Got it. I thought you said they had worked on the Newburyport project go to deal sounds like it. So okay. I just was trying to be able to kind of scale up what we're talking about. I can tell that we as a community we are kind of cataloging all the newer or police stations in fire stations within our area. We're focusing on the I-95 belt. So we didn't look in Uber report, but we can add that to our research. We looked at Burlington Woburn Wakefield. Even Lawrence because Lawrence just got a new police station around the groundbreaking ceremony was less this Tuesday. So we can look at Newport. I need another it wasn't I don't have a particular

▶ 2:07:58 passion for Newburyport. I just thought that was what you had said and that it was a recent caught that that just as a cost estimate that that's 6,800 square feet. We're talking about 67,000 in one of the proposals for the sum total of our project. yes, okay, and Yes, they can't hear if you're not going to make. Accreditation assessment I was probably about six years ago. They had a they had a renovation just prior to us doing that accreditation assessment. So they're they're buildings whatever they're doing. Whatever that project is. It's it's a renovation as opposed to a complete rebuild so that might be why you're seeing that The car yeah cost difference. We feel the similar situation where they have yeah somewhat new combined, but

▶ 2:09:00 they are doing a reinvestment into that so they had an old part of their building and they had a new part of their building. So they're probably renovating that older part now so they didn't do different but I I think to get to your question we'll have a better sense of rough estimates. Once we have the pre-design work to give you a ballpark of what the actual cost is that Melrose might be looking at for any of the scenarios that we outlined. and then and I and I was gonna say I welcome the opportunity and I know our committee welcomes the opportunity to touch base with this body along the way, you know, if they're updates that you want to hear from any of the other working groups that we have who would be better positioned to answer some

▶ 2:09:42 Jen Grigoraitis: of these more detailed questions about cost or about public engagement plans but to get to what I think you are getting at was we don't know the number right now, but we will get to it when we have this report excellent and then Related to the proposal and maybe this I know this is mentioned in here, but there's discussion of moving the police station to city land that has not been identified. We're a community of 4.7 square miles. I guess when in the process is that land going to be identified and are we because that feels kind of critically important to moving forward. The excellent question Mr. Mayor, would you like to answer? it all goes into the mix because there are there, you know, technically anything the city owns is

▶ 2:10:30 Paul Brodeur: a possibility that will very much have to be part of the public discussion and the Delta between land acquisition and not having land acquisition will obviously favorably impact price, but we don't have any centrally located land that isn't already built upon that anyone's going to go. quickly and easily Oh sure. Take that take that parcel. It's all good. So it's going to be that is one of the harder parts of what we're going to be talking about because there is a there's obviously a neighborhood impact and a price impact and they're both very real we're gonna have to try to figure out that sweet spot. Thank you, and I just wanted to say to all of you. It's clear how much you value and trust each other

▶ 2:11:20 Jen Grigoraitis: and I think that is a huge win for this community and this project. So thank you for the work that you put in to getting to that point. I know that this is sort of the elephant in the room in this community is trying to figure out a solution to this. So I'm really excited that we have such a strong Foundation as we move forward and what I know will be a challenging process at times. So thank you for that. And with that I will summarize that we had a motion to recommend made by counselor garapay seconded by counselor Stewart if there's any other discussion Okay, seeing none all in favor. I any opposed so that will be recommended to the next council at which we have eight counselors. Thank you so much. Thank you.

▶ 2:12:02 Jen Grigoraitis: Okay, so we are. at number four order 2023-22 authorization to accept a massworks infrastructure Grant in the amount of 615,000 from the executive office of Housing and economic development eohed. Through the community one stop for growth program and authorize the mayor to execute a contract with eohed funds to be deposited into fund number four. Five one nine. Denise is that you come on up. We're still under suspension of the rules. Denise kaffee director planning Community Development, and I'm joined by Vonnie Reese who is the city engineer and Vani the engineering Division and the planning office collaborated on a grant. Through the One-Stop program and for Mass Works infrastructure funding. We requested funding

▶ 2:13:02 Denise Gaffey: in order to relocate the Culvert an old drainage pipe very old drainage pipe that currently lies underneath it comes out of L Pond and it crosses underneath Main Street and under the building at the corner of Maine and Emerson. It's where six 81 697 Main Street is located and also referred to often as the Carousel Building which has been vacant for about 10 years now, so it is a key development site for the city and this is a major impediment to Redevelopment of the site. So we thought this was a really great opportunity for a grant because it is such a key location. It fits many of the Commonwealth's goals around smart growth and housing production and Transit oriented development and There was great Economic Development opportunities here

▶ 2:13:58 Denise Gaffey: as well being right on the Gateway of our downtown. So we thought the application was very compelling and we did get an award. So we're we're here tonight ask for your support for this grant award in the amount of 615,000. There is no City Financial match required for this grant. The city is contributing quite a considerable amount of in-kind services from the planning office and from the engineering division, but the developer is paying for the sort of the design piece of the work and Small portion of this project was not fully funded by the grant which was deliberate on the grant funding agencies part. They like to have the the teams contribute some some amount of either funding or any kind services. So in

▶ 2:14:55 Denise Gaffey: this case, the additional design piece is going to be funded by the developer. This is being done in conjunction with a permitting process as I'm sure all of you know, we have a fairly new property owner there and they have proposed to redevelop the site for a new mixed-use building. It is currently in front of the planning board for permitting. And the current plan is to maintain mixed use or commercial use on the ground level and then housing on the upper stories 18 housing use in units all together. So that is kind of working its way through the permitting process and we think the timeline should align pretty well with this program. We have a an outside date of I think the end of fiscal year.

▶ 2:15:44 Denise Gaffey: Well, it's June of 2024 before this project needs to be I mean it needs to be completed where we're hoping. Obviously, we'll be Expediting this work around the permitting and then also weather conditions, but I think right now the hope is that it would be done in the spring of 2023. Just that in timing wise we're hoping to have the bid documents ready by this winter. So January February timeframe to put them out. Hopefully that will get us some better pricing. Generally. That's that's the best time of year to put out a spring or summer project while the contractors are looking for what they're going to be doing in the coming year. So that's what we have in mind. We probably may not start in the spring just because

▶ 2:16:39 there will be groundwater issues obviously so close to El Pond, but that you know, that's to be decided at this point. When when the when we have a Contractor on board, you know, obviously they'll make those decisions about when they start Questions Council gerepe. Yes. Thank you. Just a couple questions. You said 2024 was when we just when yeah, it's it's a two year Grant essentially. That's so we would be spending the grand funding by the end of by that time frame by June of 2024 construction was stuck before that. We hope well before that we hope construction will start next year and they move the Culvert without you know, without the other project starting can they I mean because you just kind of tying in right tying in the old system.

▶ 2:17:31 And we move in the Culver right the plan the plan is to do the Culvert first. Yes. Yeah and what the probably do is put the majority of the new pipe in the ground and then tie it in at either end at the end so that they minimize the disruption of and the need to bypass and all of that but we yeah, we won't be we hope to be in and out before they really start their work on the site so that we're not tripping over each other. And this was just storm water. It's not sore or anything that right. Yeah, just stormwater. And looking at the diagram of the angle now that it's going it's like a 45 degree angle, isn't it? Is that for the capacity that's coming down. flowing into L Pond well that get backed up at all. No, that

▶ 2:18:27 Mark Garipay: shouldn't that shouldn't be impacted. We're putting in a 60 inch pipe. So it's got a lot of volume. What's there now? I believe it's the same. I think it's a 60 inch but it's the old Culvert that goes through town is not like a pipe pipe. It's more of like a box culvert. Type structure. So this will be hydraulically more efficient as well. And who will be monitoring that work within the city the engineering department? one other question would be rodent mitigation So we have a covet there as you start as we start doing the construction. I've had conversations with with Denise regarding this project and no one to call that that's there once we start. Upsetting the Earth. There's a lot of neighbors doctors offices there the hospital

▶ 2:19:26 Mark Garipay: we can write that into the construction documents. We can make that a requirement. Yeah, I'd like to see. someone identified within the community within City Hall who's actually going to manage that process to not just not just written into the construction documents, but reports back to the city of what the inspections are whether it's weekly bi-weekly monthly just so we know what's what's going on because I think we're going to have a lot of I think it's going to disturb a lot down that area the town with all that construction. So I would request as the counselor for that Ward that that gets buttoned up. Okay on the construction documents. Thank you. for any other counselors with questions

▶ 2:20:13 Jen Grigoraitis: I'm going to jump in with a couple the first is just a timing question the award letter from secretary. Kennely's dated June 28th and indicates that the contract needed to be executed by September 30th, which is a little bit past today. So is that are do we have an issue with the fact that this is before us we don't there. Well, they're aware of this time frame and then just going back to the or common about the planning board and that, you know, obviously there's a bunch of different city boards and commissions that are involved. I just for my own Clarity. This is going to move forward regardless of what does or doesn't happen with any individual development project. Currently our plan because we because we

▶ 2:20:59 Jen Grigoraitis: don't have to have that development project occur. I mean that said, I think we're we're optimistic that the project is going to go forward. Thank you. any other questions Like a motion to recommend second, so we have a motion to recommend made by counselor garapay seconded by counselor Stewart all in favor any opposed. Okay that will be recommended to the full Council for passage. Thank you. Okay, last but certainly not least. Order 2023-23 authorization to accept a grant in the amount of $500,000 from the Department of energy resources doer through the green community's division in authorize the mayor to execute a contract with doer to be positive into Fun number four five two zero. Don't all jump at once who wants.

▶ 2:22:00 Jen Grigoraitis: Yes, this is before us. You're so tired of me. I'm just gonna let Martha run this run the show here Martha Grover sustainability manager for city of Melrose. This is a request for the city council to accept the grant for 500,000. This is our seventh Green community Grant. and it's Earmarked for the decarbonization aspects of the library project. I'm happy to answer any questions. questions from the council President Snow I'm not but I would motion to recommend the full board. That's it. So we have a motion to recommend made by President sinela seconded by counselor gemaldine all in favor any opposed and that will be recommended to the full counseling. Thank you. Thank you make a motion to adjourn. Excellent. We have a motion to adjourn made

Appropriations & Oversight Committee — 2022-10-17

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