City Council — 2023-05-01

City Council Regular Meeting

This meeting starts at 15:28 in a recording that covers several meetings.

Attendance

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

Agenda

Minutes

CITY OF MELROSE CITY COUNCIL BULLETIN● MAY 1, 2023 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Regular Meeting 7:45 PM 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Christopher Cinella At-Large Present Jack Eccles At-Large Present Mark Garipay Ward 4 Present Maya Jamaleddine At-Large Present Manjula Karamcheti Ward 1 Present Shawn M. MacMaster Ward 5 Present Leila Migliorelli At-Large Present John Obremski Ward 2 Present Robb Stewart Ward 3 Present Ryan Williams Ward 7 Present Jen Grigoraitis Ward 6 Present

APPT-2023-17 Appointment Appointment of James Donohue, 31 Gooch Street, to the Melrose Parks Commission, for a five-year term set to expire on the First Monday of May 2028. Assign to Committee Public Service Committee

APPRO-2023-26 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $481,600 (Four Hundred Eighty One Thousand Six Hundred Dollars) to designated Public Works Account as set forth herein for the City share of the purchase of an Electric Trash Truck and Charging Infrastructure. Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-27 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash, account number 01-324001, in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) to the various accounts in the Workers Compensation budget (#912) as set forth herein, to meet current obligations related to Workers Compensation and for any unexpected Workers Compensation costs that may be incurred through the end of the fiscal year. Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

GRANT-2023-11 Grant City of Melrose Page 1 5/3/2023 1:10 PM Minutes City Council May 1, 2023 Acceptance of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection DERA Electric Solicitation Grant for the Purchase of an Electric Refuse Vehicle and Charging Infrastructure in the amount of $268,084.35 (Two Hundred Sixty Eight Thousand Eighty Four Dollars and Thirty Five Cents). Assign to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

LIC-2023-15 License - Gasoline Storage Gasoline & Storage Post Deadline Renewals 2023 Assigned to commitee Protection and License Committee

LIC-2023-16 License Request for a Special License pursuant to Article II, Section 93-5 of the City of Melrose Code of Ordinances to house four (4) dogs at 206 Beech Avenue, Melrose, MA Assigned to commitee Protection and License Committee

ORDER-2023-91 Property: Easement Requesting the City Council vote to authorize the release of a drainage easement located at 22 Stowecroft Road in Melrose Assigned to Committee Legal & Legislative Committee

REQ-2023-1 Request An Order on the Status of the Replacement of Turf on the Fred Green Field Assign to committee Public Service Committee

APPT-2023-15 Appointment Appointment of Robert Tullis, 8 Thurston Road, to the Historic District Commission (HDC), for a three-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2026. Adopted

APPT-2023-16 Appointment City of Melrose Page 2 5/3/2023 1:10 PM Minutes City Council May 1, 2023 Reappointment of Cathy Gulino, 25 Apple Hill Road, to the Melrose Board of Assessors for a three-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2026 Adopted

APPT-2023-14 Appointment Appointment of Ellen Cobau, 79 Otis Street, to the Melrose Council on Aging for a three-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2026. Adopted

APPRO-2023-19 Appropriation Non-Union salary adjustment for FY23 HRS compensation study Passed

APPRO-2023-20 Appropriation An Appropriation to Melrose Public Schools for the purchase of literacy curriculum. Passed

APPRO-2023-22 Appropriation An Appropriation from Sewer Retained Earnings (account # 6000- 319000) in the amount of $230,000 and from Water Retained Earnings (account # 6100-319000) in the amount of $440,000. These funds will be appropriated to designated Enterprise Accounts as set forth herein. Passed

APPRO-2023-24 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $12, 310 (Twelve Thousand Three Hundred Ten Dollars) for Memorial Hall Boiler Repair Passed

APPRO-2023-23 Appropriation City of Melrose Page 3 5/3/2023 1:10 PM Minutes City Council May 1, 2023 An Appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Dollars) to Public Works Accounts as set forth herein and for Phase II of the Franklin School Window Replacement Project Passed

APPRO-2023-25 Appropriation An Appropriation in the amount of One Hundred Seventy- Thousand, Seven Hundred Fifty-Three dollars ($170,753) from Contract Stabilization (account number 84042-590000) to Police Salary and Wage (account 012111-511000) and Police OT (account 012111-513000). The appropriation requested is to fund Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2023 of the Police Superior Officer Contract. Passed

GRANT-2023-9 Grant Acceptance of two grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council in the amount of $2,500 each Passed

GRANT-2023-10 Grant Acceptance of State Funding for Fire Headquarters Repairs in the Amount of $150,000 (One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars) Passed

LIC-2023-13 License - Second Hand Dealer 2nd Hand Dealer Renewals Commencing May 1, 2023 Placed on File

LIC-2023-11 License - Hackney License Livery Car Service Renewals commencing May 1, 2023 Placed on File

LIC-2023-14 License - Hackney License Hackney Carriage (Taxi) licenses non-renewals Placed on File

LIC-2023-9 License - Gasoline Storage City of Melrose Page 4 5/3/2023 1:10 PM Minutes City Council May 1, 2023 Gasoline and Storage Licenses Renewals 2023 Placed on File

LIC-2023-10 License - Gasoline Storage License: Gasoline and Storage Licenses Not Renewed 2023 Placed on File City of Melrose Page 5 5/3/2023 1:10 PM

Transcript

▶ 15:50 Jen Grigoraitis: Yeah Consular maladene here Council Karim charity here counselor McMaster here councilman legally here Council little brunsky here counselor Stewart here counselor Williams here president Grigoraitis here 11 president 11 present and therefore being a necessary Quorum. We will now proceed will you all please rise in salute the flag? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. At this time, I will motion by unanimous consent to accept without reading the minutes of our March 20th 2023 meeting in our April 18th. 2023 meeting. Is there any objection? Seeing none those minutes are now approved.

▶ 16:47 Jen Grigoraitis: I will now motion by unanimous consent to open the floor for public comment. Is there any objection? Seeing none. We are now open for public comment don't believe we have anyone here in person to join us Madam clerk. Do we have anyone online we have No Pre-K with no in-person or remote participants. I'll now motion by unanimous consent to close public comment. Seeing no objection public comment is now close counselor. Sonella. Yes. I'd like to make a motion at this time to take appointment 2023 - 15 out of order presently in the room with us. Is going to be speeding. Do we have a second second? So we have a motion made by counselor? Sonella seconded by counselor karmchatie to take appointment 2023 -

▶ 17:30 Jen Grigoraitis: 15 out of order as we do have the appointee here to speak to us tonight. Is there any discussion? all in favor Any opposed? Okay, so that order is now before us and while Mr. Tell us if you want to come up to the table good evening. I'll entertain a motion to Yep, you can sit right there, and we just need to suspend our rules so we can hear from you. I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules. So we have a motion to suspend the rules made by counselor Karm chady's seconded by councilor. Cinella any discussion seeing none all in favor. I any opposed so our rules are now suspended. So Mr. Tell us you're welcome to briefly talk to us about your appointment to the historic district commission. Thank you for being here right? Thank you. You're welcome. Thanks for

▶ 18:16 taking me out of order. Yes, so I've been Appointed to the historic district commission. I could not attend that meeting but a week ago we going to half ago whatever it was because I had concert tickets in Boston that had bought over a month prior saw Louis Prima Jr. He was fabulous. So I thank you for the opportunity to sort of table that a little bit so that I could see you tonight. My qualifications are that as far as Melrose goes? I am probably at this point a 35 year 37 year resident. I live at 8 Thurston Road in the Horace Mann school district. Both of my girls went to Horace Mann school and went to the middle school and went to Melrose High School. I've been involved in the past at my church The Highlands

▶ 19:13 Congregational Church and Professionally, I am an architect. I have been in practice professional practice in the Boston area since 1982 prior to that. I attended Harvard Graduate School of Design and prior to that. I attended Colgate University in Upstate, New York where I met my lovely wife who's sitting at home at 8 Thurston Road right now. By professional experience sort of going backwards in time starting with the most recent was I retired in August 31st September 1st of this year. So I now have more time to devote myself to things like this prior to that for 12 years. I was the senior vice president and director of design for General Investments Development Group and prior to that prior to jumping over to the dark side of

▶ 20:16 real estate development. I Was An Architect and vice president at elkus man, Friday Architects for about 14 years Elkins man, Freddie, if you don't know is the largest firm in Boston and I believe in all of New England and a responsible for many many projects throughout the continental United States a couple overseas and a lot in New England in the Boston area. And before that I worked for Fred Carter and Susie Kim on Boylston Street, they are internationally known Architects. One of them was my one of my professors at Harvard and they have done a lot of urban planning work and I got involved in that and prior to that. I had my own firm in partnership with another guy. We had a 25 person firm and I

▶ 21:10 think the last year of operation which was probably 1987 or so. So these numbers don't really make that much difference, but we did like five million dollars worth of business which you know at the time for a small firm was a pretty big deal. So sort of reversing it and going forward at elkas Manfredi Architects. I did a lot of different types of design projects a lot of different use types for the buildings. I did multifamily residential retail retail Interiors of commercial office interiors and a lot of mixed use because of not specializing because of being a generalist that's sort of what got me into mixed use projects because mixed use projects as I'm sure you all know have some of all of

▶ 21:59 those uses in it Office Buildings hotels apartment buildings stores Etc due to my and at that time I did. Probably two projects that you may or may not be aware of they were pretty well known in the industry. The Grove at farmers market in Los Angeles and Americana at Brand in Glendale, California, very very successful projects after that success. I was sort of lured away to to real estate development because my company was had this special Development Group that was formed to make the best use out of property that the firm already owned and controlled in the highest and best use was thought to be mixed use development. So they were looking for somebody with my sort of generalist expertise of those two

▶ 22:53 things aren't you know, Polar Opposites and at GID, I spent 12 years doing projects like waterline Square on the west side of Manhattan. The project called High Street just north of Atlanta a project called Regent Square in Houston, Texas and a number of others. These are all multi-building multi-phase multi-block mixed-use projects that Go over a long period of time and in the capacity particularly with GID. We was my responsibility to search for the right architect higher that architect and then work with those Architects and the engineers structural landscape civil to get those projects going. And in that capacity. I picked up a red pencil and I went through a lot of their drawings and and sort of synthesize everything coming

▶ 23:53 together. I also prepared signage guidelines for all the retail stores within these precincts and the word Precinct is is really probably a good one as it applies to the historic district commission here historic district here in Melrose in that in all those projects. It's the public realm. It's the overall outdoor space the space between the buildings that is as important. If not more important than any one particular building because what we wanted people to do is live there work there stay in hotels there but certainly come from their own home somewhere nearby and You know shop there go there for you know dinner on a Saturday night and come back. So it's all about making that overall realm the public space as successful

▶ 24:46 as it can possibly be and I am actually now working on a book about placemaking which is that that sort of architectural specialty of thinking about life between the buildings and not the design of anyone building itself, and I'm about halfway through the book. And I've lectured extensively on the matter. So between reviewing tenants. Applications for storefront design signage design between working with different Architects and stakeholders with different buildings really trying to make the overall public realm, you know the best that it could be. I think that's what attracted the mayor and others to my to my willingness to serve and so I am willing to serve and I think it would be great. Thank you for that and I will at this time just see

▶ 25:44 Jen Grigoraitis: if there's any questions from the council for Mr. Tullis. See, oh no. I was just gonna say at this time as this appointment comes from the health education and Welfare committee and I am the chair. I would love to make a motion for passage as this came from hgw with the recommendation for passage second. So we have the motion for passage made by counselor. Karmchatie seconded by counselor. Cinella. Is there any discussion Seeing none all in favor any opposed so that passes unanimously welcome to the historic district commission. Thank you for taking the time tonight to share your expertise with us. We really appreciate it. Okay. Thank you, and I look forward to helping the city and in any way that's appropriate. Thank you

▶ 26:31 so much for stepping up. All right, we will return to our regularly scheduled agenda which has us at communications from his honor the mayor and other City officials Madam clerk new business filings by the mayor appointment 2023 - 17 appointment of James Donahue 31 Gooch Street to the Melrose Parks Commission 45-year term set to expire in the first Monday of May 2028. This will go to the public service committee. Appointment 2023-26 and I'm sorry appropriation an appropriation from free cash in the amount of 481,600 to designated Public Works accounts as set forth here in for the city share of the purchase of an electric trash truck and charging infrastructure. This order will go to Appropriations and oversight appropriation 2023-27 inappropriation

▶ 27:18 from free cash account numbers 0 1 3 2 4 0 0 1 in the amount of 100,000 to the various accounts in the workers compensation budget number 912. I set both here in to meet current obligations related to workers compensation and for any unexpected workers compensation costs that may be incurred through the end of the fiscal year. This order will go to the Appropriations and oversight committee Grant 2023 - 11 acceptance of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection electric solicitation grant for the purchase of an electric refuse vehicle and charging infrastructure in the amount of 268,084.35. This will go to Appropriations and oversight. Licensed 2023-15 gasoline and Storage Post deadline renewals 2023. This will go

▶ 28:06 Jen Grigoraitis: to the protections and protection and license. license 2023 - 16 request for a special license pursuant to Article 2 Section 935 of the city of Melrose code of ordinance to house four dogs at 2:06 Beech Avenue Melrose Council carapack for you. No, we're not doing a motion for media consideration. No, we have to know okay, never mind that will go to the protection and license committee. I'll make a motion to. set the public hearing for I believe Monday May 8th at we have to do immediate. Yeah, so while we're while you two are figuring out the logistics we have I believe emotion for immediate consideration for the purposes of setting a public hearing made by counselor garapay. Is there any objection to that?

▶ 28:59 Jen Grigoraitis: Okay, seeing objection that is before us for the purpose of setting a public hearing for May 8th at 7 7 PM second. So we have a motion made by counselor garapay to set the public hearing for May 8th at 7 pm seconded by counselor Eccles. Is there any discussion Seeing none all in favor any opposed. Okay. So that public hearing is set and the remainder of the order will go to protection and license what are 2023-91 requesting the city council vote to authorize the release of a drainage easement located at 22 stonecraft Road in Melrose. This order will go to the legal and legislative committee. Okay filings by The Honorable city council request 2023-1 in order on the status of the replacement of

▶ 29:44 turf on the Fred Green Field. This order will go to the public service committee. Want to unfinished then we move on to unfinished business appointment 2023 - 16 reappointment of Kathy Galino 25 Apple Hill Road to the Melrose Board of Assessors for a three year term set term to expire on the last day of February 2026 counciloridine Madam president. This this other order comes from the finance committee with the recommendation of Passage. And I at this time I would move for passage second. So we have a motion for passage made by counselor jimaldine seconded by counselor Eccles any discussion seeing none all in favor. I any opposed and that is unanimous of that order passes. Appointment 2023 - 14 appointment of Ellen Cobo

▶ 30:34 79 Otis Street to the Melrose Council on Aging for a three-year term set to expire in the last day of February 2026 Council Carm chadie. This appointment comes from the health education and Welfare committee with a recommendation for passage. And at this time I'd like to make a motion to recommend for passage second. So we have a motion for passage made by counselor Carm Shady seconded by counselor. Sonella any discussion Seeing none all in favor any opposed that is unanimous and dances. Appropriation 2023 - 19 non-union salary adjustment for fiscal year 23 HRS compensation study councilorelli Madam president. This comes from Appropriations and oversight committee with a recommendation for passage at this time. I'd like to motion for passage second. So

▶ 31:19 Jen Grigoraitis: we have a motion for passage made by councilorelli seconded by counselor Eccles any discussion seeing none Madam clerk. Can you please call the roll counselor? Sonella? Yes counselor Eccles. Yes counselor garapay. Yes constellation maladene. Yes Council of Karen treaty. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes counsel. The migliarelli. Yes counselor o'brimski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president Grigoraitis. Yes, 11 years 11. Yes, so that passes. Appropriation 2023-20 inappropriation to Melrose Public Schools for the purchase of literacy curriculum cancer, frankly, really sorry Adam president. This comes from Appropriations an oversight committee with a recommendation for passage

▶ 32:01 at this time. I motion for passage. So again, we have emotion for passage made by councilorelli's seconded by counselor. Sonella any discussion Seeing none Madam clerk. Can you please call the roll counselor? Sonella? Yes counselor Eccles. Yes counselor garapay. Yes constellation. Maladene. Yes Council Cameron JD. Yes councilor McMaster. Yes, Consul amigliarelli. Yes counselor. Opbremski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president Grigoraitis. Yes, eleven. Yes, eleven. Yes, so that order passes appropriation 2023-22 an appropriation from sewer retained earnings account number 6000 - 319000 in the amount of 230,000 and from water retained earnings account number six one zero zero Dash 319000 in

▶ 32:48 the amount of 440,000. These funds will be appropriated to designated Enterprise accounts as set forth here in councilman president. This comes from our Appropriations and oversight committee with the recommendation for passage of this time in motion for passage. We have a motion for passage made by counselorelli seconded by counselor Eccles any discussion Madam clerk. Can you please call the roll counselor? Sonella? Yes counselor Eccles. Yes counselor garapay. Yes counselor. Jamaladin. Yes Council of Karen chady. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes counselor at migliarelli. Yes counselor. Obrimski. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president Grigoraitis. Yes 11 News 11. Yes, so that order passes.

▶ 33:31 appropriation 2023-24 and appropriation from free cash in the amount of 12,310 for Memorial Hall boiler repair Councilorelli this comes from Appropriations and oversight committee with a recommendation for passage this time. I motion for passage second. So we have a motion for passage made by counselor. Magliarelli's seconded by counselor. Sonella any discussion Seeing none Madam clerk. Can you please call the roll councilor? Cinella? Yes counselor Eccles. Yes Consular garapay. Yes constellation. Maladene. Yes Council of Karen chady. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Maglearelli. Yes counselor oprahmski. Yes Consular Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president Grigoraitis, right? Yes, eleven. Yes, eleven. Yes, and so that carries.

▶ 34:15 Appropriation 2023-23 an appropriation from free cash in the amount of $300,000 to Public Works accounts as set forth here in and for Phase 2 of the Franklin School window replacement project councilorelli comes from Appropriations and oversight committee with a recommendation for passage at this time my motion for passage second. So we have a motion for passage made by councilorelli seconded by counselor. Sonella any discussion Seeing Nan Madam clerk. Can you please call the roll counselor? Sonella? Yes counselor Eccles. Yes counselor here. Yes. Council is your melodyne. Yes counselor. Karim chitty. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes councilor. Migliarelli. Councilor. Opbremski. Yes counselor Stewart.

▶ 34:57 Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president Grigoraitis. Yes 11. Yes 11. Yes. Appropriation 20 through 23-25 an appropriation the amount of 170,753 from contract stabilization account number 84042-590,000 to Police salary and wage account zero one two, one one dash 511000 and police overtime account zero one two, one one dash 513000. The appropriation requested is to fun fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023 of the police Superior officer contract counselorie and president. This comes to our Appropriations and overstate committee with a recommendation for passage at this time in motion for passage second. So we have a motion for passage made by councilorelli seconded by counselor. Sonella. Is there any discussion

▶ 35:52 Seeing none Madam clerk. Can you please call the roll counselor? Sonella? Yes counselor Eccles. Yes Consular garapay. Yes constellar. Jamaladene. Yes Council of Karen chady. Yes counselor McMaster. Yes counselor. Migliarelli. Yes counselor oprensky. Yes counselor Stewart. Yes counselor Williams. Yes, president Grigoraitis. Yes, eleven. Yes, eleven. Yes. So the motion passes great. Sorry Stephanie Grant 2023-9 acceptance of two grants from the Massachusetts cultural Council in the amount of 2,500 each Riley. This is also Appropriations and oversight with recommendation for passage at this time emotion for passage second. So we have a motion for passage made by councilorelli seconded by counselor. Sonella any discussion

▶ 36:38 Jen Grigoraitis: seeing none all in favor. I any opposed and so that passes Grant 2023-10 acceptance of State funding for fire headquarters repairs in the amount of 150,000 councilorelli one more time. Yes. Appropriations or a site with a recommendation for passage at this time? I'd like to motion for Passage. So we have a motion for passage made by counselor migliarelli seconded by counselor. Sonella any discussion Seeing none all in favor any opposed and so that passes moving on to informational items. We have several licenses before us. Is there a desire to conjoin these? I will make a motion to join licensed 2023 - 13 license 2023 - 11 placements 2023 - 14 license 2023 - 9 license 2023 - second so we have a motion to conjoin licenses 2023

▶ 37:35 - 13-11 - 14-9 and - 10 made by counselor garapay's seconded by counselor McMaster any discussion Seeing none all in favor. Any opposed to those licenses are now conjoined in our before us as one item Madam clerkel. Have you read them aloud license? 2023 - 13 second hand dealer renewals commencing May 1 2023 license 2023 - 11 Livery car service renewals commencing me first 2023 license 2023 - 14 Hackney Carriage taxi licenses non-renewals licensed 2023 - 9 gasoline and storage licenses renewals 2023 and licensed 2023 dash 10 licensed gasoline and storage licenses not renewed 2020 cancer president these licenses come from protection and licensed with the recommendation to place on file that this time. I'll make that motion. So we

▶ 38:33 Jen Grigoraitis: have a motion to place on file made by counselor pay seconded by counselor. Sonella any discussion seeing none all in favor. I any opposed and so those are all placed on file. We do not have any expiries. We do not have any reports from committee. Do we have any reports under rule 53? Seeing none. I just want to take a moment of privilege just to thank clerk foot. We are unexpectedly down a person tonight. There was a lot of work behind the scenes to run a meeting particularly with the tech. And so I just want to say thank you on behalf of the council for stepping up and doing that and at this time I'll entertain a motion to adjourn those two Journey second. So we have a motion to adjourn made by counselor Eccles seconded by counselor Williams all in

▶ 39:14 Jen Grigoraitis: favor any opposed and we are journed.

City Council — 2023-05-01

Attendance

Agenda

Minutes

Transcript

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