City Council — 2023-06-05

City Council Regular Meeting

This meeting starts at 54:37 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 absent · 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 late, 8:03 PM · Ward 7

Agenda

Minutes

CITY OF MELROSE CITY COUNCIL BULLETIN● JUNE 5, 2023 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Regular Meeting 8:02 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 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 Late 8:03 PM Jen Grigoraitis Ward 6 Present Manjula Karamcheti Ward 1 Absent

APPT-2023-18 Appointment Appointment of Kelsey Lima, 53 Pearl Street, Apt. 3, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission, for a three-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2026. Assign to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPT-2023-19 Appointment Appointment of Andrea Dorian Rose, 51 Albion St, Apt. 9, to the Melrose Conservation Commission as an Associate Member for a two-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2025. Assign to Committee

APPT-2023-20 Appointment Reappointment of William Gardiner, 45 Boardman Ave., to the Melrose Parks Commission, for a one-year term set to expire on the First Monday of May 2024. Assign to Committee

APPRO-2023-34 Appropriation City of Melrose Page 1 6/13/2023 2:06 PM Minutes City Council June 5, 2023 An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $66,309.58 to Fire Department-Overtime (012211- 513000). Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-35 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $75,000 to Public Works - Administrative Budget (#401) for accessibility projects. Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-36 Appropriation An Appropriation from free cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $614,500 to various stabilization funds as set forth herein. Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-37 Appropriation An Appropriation of Free Cash (account number 01-324001)in the amount of $500,000 to the School Department, other funding sources (account number 19054-490000) Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-38 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of 32,764.60 to Inspection Services Department (#241) for a scanning project. Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-39 Appropriation An Appropriation from Ambulance Retained Earnings (account 6500-319000) in the amount of $16,300 to Ambulance Professional Services (account 650052-529000). Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-40 Appropriation City of Melrose Page 2 6/13/2023 2:06 PM Minutes City Council June 5, 2023 An Appropriation from free cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $67,650 to Public Works, Parks and Forestry Department (#475) for tree plantings. Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-41 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash (account number 01-324001) in the amount of $86,135.35 to Pine Banks Department (#652) for Capital items. Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-42 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash(account number 01-324001) in the amount of $90,959.26 to Public Works Snow Department (#423) for the Fiscal Year 2023 Snow and Ice Deficit. Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-43 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $50,000 to Public Works Highway Department (#422). Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-44 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash(account 01-324001) in the amount of $66,500 to Public Works Cemetery Department (#491). Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-45 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $200,000 to IT Department (#155) for capital projects for City and School. Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-46 Appropriation City of Melrose Page 3 6/13/2023 2:06 PM Minutes City Council June 5, 2023 An Appropriation From Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $224,998.80 to the Police Department for overtime costs and a Case Cracker system. Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-47 Appropriation An Appropriation in the amount of $10,179 from Water Retained Earnings (6000-319000) to Water Reserve for Retained Earnings (8416-49000). Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-48 Appropriation An Appropriation in the amount of $7,835 from Sewer Retained Earnings (account 6000-31900) to Sewer Reserve for Retained Earnings (8415-490000). Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

GRANT-2023-13 Grant Acceptance of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Municipal Assistance Coordinator Host Grant Assign to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

LIC-2023-18 License - Gasoline Storage Gasoline and Storage Licenses post deadline Renewal 2023 Assigned to commitee Protection and License Committee

ORDNC-2023-2 Amending Revised Ordinances Amending Revised Ordinances Article II Chapter 152, section 12, fee for common victualler Assign to Committee

ORDNC-2023-3 Amending Revised Ordinances Amending Revised Ordinances of Melrose, Chapter 152, Article II Specific Licenses and Permits, by adding section 25 Fortune Teller License as authorized by MGL Chapter 140 Section 185 I. Assign to Committee

ORDNC-2023-4 Amending Revised Ordinances City of Melrose Page 4 6/13/2023 2:06 PM Minutes City Council June 5, 2023 Amending Revised City Ordinance Chapter 24 Departments Article III Inspectional Services Department § 24-34 Fee Schedules and Chapter 56 Officers and Employees Article VI Sealer of Weights and Measures § 56-37 Collection and disposition of fees Assign to Committee

ORDER-2023-93 Election Requesting City Council approval of the Board of Registrars of Voters Recommendation relative to In-person Early Voting for the September 19, 2023 mayoral preliminary and November 7, 2023 municipal election Assigned to Committee

ORDER-2023-94 Accepting Act of Legislature/Local Option Personal Property Minimum Value Requesting both the Acceptance of M.G.L. c. 59 § 5, cl. 54 for the purpose of allowing Melrose to establish a minimum value of personal property subject to taxation, and that City Council set this minimum value to $3,000. Assigned to Committee Legal & Legislative Committee

ORDER-2023-95 Lease Request that the City Council Approve the Written Determination that the Lease Transaction of the St. Mary’s Parish Parking Lot is a Unique Acquisition of Property pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30B. Assigned to Committee Legal & Legislative Committee

ORDER-2023-96 Lease Approval of Lease Agreement with the Archdiocese of Boston For the Lease of The Parking Lot Near St. Mary’s Church at 46 Myrtle Street, Melrose MA Assigned to Committee Legal & Legislative Committee

ORDER-2023-97 Enterprise Fund Proposed FY24 Sewer Rates Assigned to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

ORDER-2023-98 Enterprise Fund City of Melrose Page 5 6/13/2023 2:06 PM Minutes City Council June 5, 2023 Proposed FY24 Water Rates Assigned to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

TRNSF-2023-1 Transfer Requesting authorization to transfer funds in the amount of $3,618 from city clerk 011611-511000 to 011622-525102 to purchase election equipment and to transfer funds from city clerk 011611-511000 to 011622-530506 for community election engagement tools Assign to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

TRNSF-2023-2 Transfer A transfer in the amount of $10,000 from City Clerk, salary and wages (account 011611-511000) to the Planning Department (011752-529026) for additional Messina Grant Funding. Assign to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

TRNSF-2023-3 Transfer A transfer in the amount of $15,000 from City Clerk, salary and wages (account 011611-511000) to Fire Department (012211- 513000). Assign to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

TRNSF-2023-4 Transfer A transfer in the amount of $4,225 from Pine Banks Salary and Wages (016521-511000) to various Pine Banks Expense Accounts as set forth herein. Appropriations & Oversight Committee

TRNSF-2023-5 Transfer A Transfer in the amount of $11,857.37 to the Human Resources (#152) and Employee Benefits Departments (#914) from the Health Insurance Contractual line item. Assign to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

TRNSF-2023-6 Transfer City of Melrose Page 6 6/13/2023 2:06 PM Minutes City Council June 5, 2023 A transfer in the amount of $48,000 to the Medicare Budget (019162-548000) from temporary debt (017522-549100) and Veterans Benefits (015432-544000). Assign to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

TRNSF-2023-7 Transfer A transfer in the amount of $39,502.20 to the Legal Department (#151) from Veterans Benefits (account 015432-544000). Assign to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2023-33 Appropriation An Appropriation from Mt. Hood Retained Earnings, account 620000-319000, in the amount of $250,000 (Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars) to Mt. Hood Professional Services, account 620000-529000 to fulfill contract obligations. Passed

APPRO-2023-29 Operating Budgets (City, School, Regional School) Fiscal 2024 Ambulance Enterprise Operating Budget Passed

GRANT-2023-12 Grant Acceptance of a State Economic Development Earmark Grant in the Amount of $100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Dollars) for Repairs and Improvements to Memorial Hall Passed

LIC-2023-17 License - Hackney License Hackney Carriage (Taxi) licenses renewal for licensing period: May 1, 2023 - April 30, 2024 Placed on File

ORDER-2023-92 Accepting Act of Legislature/Local Option Requesting Approval to Increase the Melrose Retirement System’s Cost of Living Adjustment (“COLA”) for Fiscal Year 2023 from 3% to 5% as Allowed For By Chapter 269 of the Acts of 2022 Passed

ORDER-2023-82 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances City of Melrose Page 7 6/13/2023 2:06 PM Minutes City Council June 5, 2023 Previously under Order 2023-59 until a vote by Council divided order into eleven different orders reflecting each Zoning Amendment: Amending Melrose Revised Zoning Ordinance - General Code Amendment, Vegetation Height for Corner Lots & in Yards along Streets Placed on File City of Melrose Page 8 6/13/2023 2:06 PM

Transcript

▶ 54:42 available for viewing in its entirety on MTV and through the city website Link. Will the clerk please call the roll Counselor Ella? Yeah. Counselor Eckles. Here. Counselor Gareg. Here. Counselor Jamal Laine. Here. Counselor Karen Che. Counselor McMaster. Here. Councilor Elli. Here. Counselor Omsk. He Counselor Stewart. Here. Counselor Williams. President Greg Reis Here. Nine Present. Nine Present. So that is notice of a quorum for the record. So we will proceed at this time. Please rise if you are able to salute the flag. I, I Pledge. 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.

▶ 55:33 Jen Grigoraitis: At this time, I will motion by unanimous consent to accept without reading the following meeting minutes. The City Council School Committee joint meeting from May 10th, 2023. The City Council's special meeting on May 10th, 2023. And the City council regular meeting on May 5th, 2023. Okay. Seeing no objection, those minutes are now accepted. I will also motion by unanimous consent to open public comment. Seeing no objection, public comment is now open. Don't believe we have anyone joining us in person tonight. Do we have anyone online? Uh, there is a person online. If I could just, yep. Mm-hmm. Uh, if you're here for public comment, I think we do have a public commenter. Okay. Um, Ms. Small, can you hear us?

▶ 56:30 Hello? Can you hear Me? Yes, we can. Hello. I'm a, um, a, um, resident of Melrose and a taxpayer. You can proceed. This is public comment where you can speak to any item on our agenda. Yeah, I just wanna ask about the new, uh, MetroTech vocational school and the budget. Um, I know that right now there, um, clans are over budget from the original, uh, plan and I was wondering how Melrose is keeping, um, track of all the budget changes and how Melrose is staying involved. Because I've been going to the school committee meetings for the Vogue and I haven't seen, um, people from Melrose there other than Ward Hamilton And I have concerns about the, um, costs of the school. They continue to go up.

▶ 57:27 Jen Grigoraitis: So I was wondering if Melrose has a plan in place, um, to monitor those changes and what controls they'll be putting in place as the school continues to move forward with their design. Thank you for your comments. Just so you know, um, public comment is the ability for the public to speak, but it, the council does not respond to those questions. So your, your comments will be noted for the record. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Do we have anyone else? Uh, not at this time. Okay. Seeing there's no one else I'll motion by unanimous consent to close public comment. Okay. Public comment is now closed and then I will now we have our operating budget hearing scheduled for 8:00 PM So I will now motion by unanimous consent to open

▶ 59:01 Appointment 2023 dash 19 Appointment of Andrea Dorian Rose, uh, 51 Albion Street, apartment nine to the Melrose Conservation Commission as an associate member for a two year term set to expire on the last date of February, 2025. This order will go to the Public Service Committee Appointment. 2023 dash 20 reappointment of William Gardner 45 Boardman Ave to the Melrose Park Commission for a one year term set to expire on the first Monday of May, 2024. This appointment will go to the Public Service Committee Appropriation 2023 dash 34. An appropriation from free cash account number zero one dash 32 401. The amount of 66,000 309 50 and 58 cents to the fire department overtime. Account number 0 1 2 2 1 1 dash

▶ 59:55 5 1 3 0 0 0. This will go to Appropriations and oversight Appropriation 2023 dash 35 an appropriation from Free Cash account number zero one dash 3 2 401 in the amount of $75,000 to Public Works administrative budget number 4 0 1 for accessibility projects. This Will go to Appropriations and oversight Appropriation 2023 dash 36 an appropriation from free Cash account number 0 1 3 0 1 dash 3 2 4 0 0 1 and the amount is $614,500 to various stabilization funds as set forth here in This Will go to Appropriations and Oversight Appropriation of free cash account number zero one dash 3 2 4 0 1 in the amount of $500,000 to the school department. Other funding sources, account number 954 dash 49 And this is appropriation 2023 dash 37 And it will go to the Appropriations and

▶ 1:01:00 Oversight Committee, Appropriation 2023 dash 38 an appropriation from Free Cash account number zero one dash 32 401 in the amount of 32,764 and 60 cents to Inspection Inspection Services Department, uh, number 2 41 for a scanning project. This will go to Appropriations and Oversight Appropriation 2023 dash 39 an appropriation from ambulance retained earnings. Account number 6,500 dash 3 1 9 and the amount is 16,300. Ambulance Professional Services account number 6505 2 5 29 0 0. This Will go to Appropriations and Oversight Appropriation 2023 dash 40 appropriation from free Cash account zero one dash 3 2 401 in the amount of $67,650 to Public Works, parks and Forest Street. Apartment number of 4 75 for tree plantings. This

▶ 1:02:07 Will go to Appropriations and Oversight Appropriation 2023 dash 41. An appropriation from Free Cash. Account number 0 1 3 2 4 0 0 1 in the amount of 86,135 and 35 cents to Pine Bank Department. Number 65 2 for capital items. This will go to Appropriations and Oversight Appropriation 2023 dash 42 and appropriation from Free Cash account number zero one dash 32 401 and the amount of $90,000 959 and 26 cents to public work Snow Department number 4 23 for fiscal year 2023, snow and Ice deficit. This will go to Appropriations and Oversight Appropriation 20 23 43 Appropriation from Free Cash. Account number zero one dash 32 4 1 in the amount of $50,000. The Public Works Highway Department number 4 22.

▶ 1:03:09 This Will go to Appropriations and Oversight Appropriation 20 23 44. An appropriation from Free Cash account number zero one dash 3 24 0 0 1 in the amount of $66,500 to Public Works Cemetery Department number, this number, Number, I'm sorry. Number 4 91 Appropriations and oversight Appropriation 2023 dash 45 appropriation from Free Cash account number 0 1 3 2 401 in the amount of $200,000 to it. Department number 1 55 for capital projects and for city. For city and School. This will go to appropriations and oversight Appropriation 2023 dash 46 appropriation from Free Cash account number zero one dash 3 2 401 in the amount of $224,998 and 80 cents to the police department for overtime costs and Case Cracker System.

▶ 1:04:04 This will go to appropriations and oversight Appropriation 2023 dash 47 appropriation in the amount, $10,179 from water retained earnings. Uh, 60 zero dash 300 1900 to Water Reserve for retained earnings, 8416 4 900. This will go to appropriations and oversight Appropriation 2023 dash 48 appropriation in the amount of $7,835 from sewer Retained earnings account 63 9000 to Sewer Reserve for attained earnings 84 15 4 9 0 Appropriations and Oversight Grant 20 23 13 Acceptance of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, municipal Assistance Coordinator, host grant Appropriations and oversight License 2023 dash 18 Gasoline and Storage licenses Post Deadline Renewal 2023. This order will go to protection and license.

▶ 1:05:21 Ordinance 2023 dash two amending revised ordinances. Article two chapter 152 Section 12, fee for Common Viler. This will go to Legal and Legislative Ordinance. 2023 dash three amending revised ordinances of Melrose Chapter 152. Article two specific licenses and permits by adding Section 2 25 Ex adding Section 25. Fortune Teller license is authorized by Massachusetts Journal Laws Chapter one 40, section 185 I. This will go to the Legal and Legislative Committee. Ordinance 2023 dash four amending Revised City Ordinance Chapter 24 department's Article three in Inspectional Services Department 24 dash 34 fee schedules and Chapter 56 Officers and employees. Article uh, four, uh, article six, sealer of Weights and measures. Uh,

▶ 1:06:19 56 to 37 Collection and disposition of fees. This will go to the Legal and Legislative Committee Order. 2023 dash 93 Requesting City Council approval of the Board of Registrars of Voters recommendation to an in-person early voting for September 19th, 2023, mayoral preliminary, and November 7th, 2023 municipal election. This will go to the finance committee Order. 2023 dash 94 Personal Property Minimum value requesting both acceptance of Mass General Laws Chapter 59, section five, clause 54 for the purpose of allowing Melrose to establish a minimum value of personal property subject to the taxation that City Council set this minimum value to $3,000. This order will go to the Legal and Legislative Committee

▶ 1:07:14 Order. 2023 dash 95. Request that the city Council approved the written determination that the lease transaction of the St. Mary's Parish parking lot is a unique acquisition of property pursuant to Mass General Laws. Chapter 30 B. This will go to the Legal and Legislative Committee Order. 2023 dash 96 Approval of lease agreement with Arch Archdiocese of Boston for a lease of the parking lot near St. Mary's Church at 46 Myrtle Street, Melrose Ma Legal and Legislative Committee Order 2023 dash 97 Proposed fiscal year 2024 Sewer rates Appropriations and oversight Order 2023 dash 98. Proposed fiscal year 2024. Water rates, Appropriations and oversight Transfer 2023 dash one requesting authorization to transfer funds in the amount

▶ 1:08:06 of $3,618 from City Clerk 0 1 1 6 11 dash 5 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 6 2 2 dash 5 2500 hundred two to purchase election equipment and transfer uh, funds from City Clerk 0 1 1 6 1 11 dash 5 11 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 6 2 2 5 3 0 5 0 6 for Community Election Engagement Tools. This will go to Appropriations and Oversight Transfer 2023 dash two a transfer in the amount of $10,000 from City, city Clerk. Salary and wages. Account number 0 1 1 6 1 11 5 1 1 0 0 0 to the planning department. Account number 0 1 1 7 5 2 dash 5 29 0 26. For additional Messina grant funding, Appropriations and oversight Transfer 2023 dash three a transfer in the amount of $15,000 from City Clerk salary and wages. Account number 0 1 1 6 1 1 dash

▶ 1:09:24 5 1 1 0 0 0 to Fire Department account number 0 1 2 2 1 1 dash 5 1 3 0 0 Appropriations and oversight Transfer 2023 dash four a transfer in the amount of $4,225 from Pine Bank salary and wages. Account number 0 1 6 5 21 5 100 to various Pine Bank expense accounts as set forth here in Appropriations and oversight Transfer 2023 dash five a transfer in the amount of $11,857 and 37 cents to Human Resources number 1 52 and employee Benefits Department number 914 from the health insurance contractual line item Appropriations and oversight Transfer 2023 dash six. Transfer in the amount of $48,000 to the Medicare budget. Count number 0 1 9 1 62 dash 5 4 80 From temporary Debt account number 0 1 7 5 22

▶ 1:10:36 dash 5 49 100 and Veterans Benefits account number 0 1 5 4 32 dash 5 4 4 0 0 Appropriations and oversight Transfer 2023 dash seven a transfer in the amount of $39,502 and 20 cents to the legal Department, number 1 51 and from Veterans, from Veteran Service from Veteran Benefits account number 0 1 5 4 32 5 4 4 0. This will also go to Appropriations and Oversight. Moving on, I don't believe we have any filings by the Honorable City Council in Unfinished business. We have some appropriations Appropriation. 2023 dash 33 appropriation for Mount Hood retained earnings account number 6203 90 in the amount of $250,000 to Mount Hood Professional Services. Account number 62 52 9 to fulfill contract obligations.

▶ 1:11:49 Counselor Elli Madam President, this comes from Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage and at this time a motion for passage. Second. So we have a motion for passage made by Councilor Elli, seconded by Counselor Eckles. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Madame Clerk, can you please call the roll Councilor? Yes. Apples Yes. Council? Yes. Council Jermaine? Yes. Councilor McMaster? Yes. Council Elli? Yes. Councilor O Brisky. Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. Councilor President Greg Reyes. Yes. 10 Yes. 10 Yes. So that motion carries Appropriation 2023 dash 29 fiscal 2024 Ambulance Enterprise Operating budget, Councilor Maguire Madam President.

▶ 1:12:33 This comes from our appropriations and oversight with a recommendation for passage. And at this time I a motion for passage. Second. So we have a motion for passage made by Councilor Elli. Seconded by Counselor Son. On discussion, seeing none, Madame Clerk, can you Please call the role counselor Son? Yes. Counselor Eckles. Yes. Counselor Gue? Yes. Councilor Jermaine. Yes. Counselor McMaster? Yes. Counselor Maguire. Yes. Counselor O Briski. Yes. Counselor Stewart? Yes. Counselor Williams? Yes. President Greg? Yes. 10 Yes. 10 Yes. So that motion carries uh, moving on to Grants Grant. 2023 dash 12 ACC Acceptance of a State Economic Development earmark grant in the amount of $100,000 for repairs and improvements in Memorial Hall.

▶ 1:13:20 Jen Grigoraitis: Council Maguire. This comes from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage. And at this time I motion for passage. Say again? So we have a motion for passage made by Counselor Elli, seconded by Counselor. Son, any discussion? See none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That motion carries. I don't believe we have any information items. So we'll move on to licenses License 2023 dash 17 Hackney Carriage Taxi licenses, renewal for licensing period May 1st, 2023. Uh, 2023 through April 30th, 2024. Councilor Gar Madam Present, this comes from Protection license with a recommendation to place on file at this, uh, time. I'll make that motion to place on file. Second.

▶ 1:14:05 Jen Grigoraitis: So we have a motion to place on file made by Counselor Gue seconded by Counselor Stewart on discussion. Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That motion carries orders Order 2023 dash 92 Requesting approval to increase the Melrose's Retirement System Cost of Living adjustment for fiscal year 2023 from 3% to 5% as allowed for by Chapter 2 69 of the Acts of 2022. Madam President, this order comes from the Legal and Legislative Committee with a recommendation for passage. And at this time I will motion for passage. Second. So we have a motion for passage made by Councilor Williams, seconded by Councilor Sin on discussion. Councilor Stewart. Thank you. Mad president. Uh, I was not at the legal and legislative committee meeting and in looking at

▶ 1:14:59 Robb Stewart: this, my concern about this, uh, order is that it's retroactive back to last July one and back Last July one interest rate was at 2%. So I'm, I'm fully supportive of, uh, an order that would look at COLA going forward, but a retroactive order in, um, a period when the interest rate and the, the rate of inflation is based on that was much lower than what that cola was. So at this point, I'm not comfortable supporting this order. Thank you. And present. Thank You. Anyone else on discussion through The chair? Um, we talked to the Mr. Stravinsky at the retirement board about this and our understanding is that the specific law, which is chapter 2 69 of the acts of 2022, allows the cost of living adjustment to be applied to fiscal year 2023 only.

▶ 1:16:01 Jen Grigoraitis: Thank you. Anyone else on discussion? Okay. Seeing none, Madame Clerk, can you please call the role? Oh, councilor Stewart. Sorry, Madam present point of clarification. I didn't catch all of what he said. I didn't in my years, but I believe it was that we have confirmation from the retirement board that this, um, act of the legislature will only allows the cola to be applied to fiscal year 2023. Fiscal 23. And it won't go back to July 1st, 2022. That's the first year of fiscal 2023. The first, sorry. The first day of fiscal year. Fiscal 20. So it would go back to July 1st, 2022. Correct. Which is the start of fiscal 2023. Okay. Thank you. Anyone else on discussion? We're feeling good? We're ready. Clerk, can you please call the roll

▶ 1:16:43 Counselor Son? Yes. Counselor Eckles? Yes. Councilor Gue? Yes. Councilor Jamine? Yes. Councilor McMaster? Yes. Council Oguire? Yes. Councilor O Briski? Yes. Councilor Stewart? No. Counselor Williams? Yes. President Grigoraitis? Yes. Nine. Yes. Nine. Yes. So that motion carries. And then last is a report from committee, which I believe is an expiry. Yes. Order 2023 dash 82. Previously under order 2023 dash 59 Until a vote by council divided order into 11 different orders reflecting each zoning. Amendment amending Melrose Revised zoning ordinance, general code amendment, vegetation height for corner lots and in yards along streets. Councilor McMaster. Thank you. Uh, Madame President, if you recall from when the, um,

▶ 1:17:33 Shawn M. MacMaster: the Director of planning and Development was before us, um, with some members of the um, zoning board of appeals, um, we have determined, uh, or they, they agreed, um, with the idea that this would need to be a standalone order filed by either, uh, a member of the city council, uh, or the, uh, or the mayor. Um, since that time I have worked with the city solicitor to, uh, draft, uh, language based on what was being recommended by the, um, the Director of Planning and Community Development and the zoning Board of Appeals. Um, I have not filed that language yet, but because the order wasn't filed really properly, uh, and because the language is um, different than what was uh, recommended, I don't think there's any filing jeopardy attached if I make a motion to, um,

▶ 1:18:21 Jen Grigoraitis: to file this order. Um, so I would make a motion at this time to file order 2023 dash 82. So we have a motion to place on file for 2023 dash 82, made by Counselor McMaster. Second with a second by Counselor Eckles. Any discussion? Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? And so that motion carries in that order will be placed on file. Thank you, counselor McMaster. Any reports under Rule 53? Okay. Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn. Second. So we have a motion to adjourn made by Counselor Sin. Seconded by Counselor Maguire. All in favor? Any opposed? And we are adjourned.

City Council — 2023-06-05

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