City Council — 2024-05-20

City Council Regular Meeting

This meeting starts at 31:13 in a recording that covers several meetings.

Attendance

Cal Finocchiaro present · Ward 6; Mark Garipay present · Ward 4; Ward Hamilton present · At-Large; Maya Jamaleddine absent · At-Large; Manjula Karamcheti absent · Ward 1; Leila Migliorelli present · At-Large; John Obremski absent · Ward 2; Devin Romanul present · Ward 7; Robb Stewart present · Ward 3; Kimberly Vandiver present · Ward 5; Ryan Williams present · At-Large

Agenda

Minutes

CITY OF MELROSE CITY COUNCIL BULLETIN● MAY 20, 2024 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Regular Meeting 8:03 PM 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Cal Finocchiaro Ward 6 Present Mark Garipay Ward 4 Present Ward Hamilton At-Large Present Maya Jamaleddine At-Large Absent Manjula Karamcheti Ward 1 Absent John Obremski Ward 2 Absent Devin Romanul Ward 7 Present Robb Stewart Ward 3 Present Kimberly Vandiver Ward 5 Present Ryan Williams At-Large Present Leila Migliorelli At-Large Present

APPT-2024-30 Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Kerriann Golden to the position of CFO / City Auditor Assign to Committee Finance Committee

APPT-2024-31 Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Thomas Smulligan as IT Director Assign to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPT-2024-32 Appointment/Reappointment Reappointment of Anne DeSouza-Ward, 69 Florence Street, to the Planning Board for a five-year term; said term to expire on the last day of February 2029. Assign to Committee

APPT-2024-33 Appointment/Reappointment Reappointment of Paul Moore, 35 Laurel Street, to the Conservation Commission for a three year term; said term to expire the last day of February 2027. Assign to Committee Public Service Committee

APPT-2024-34 Appointment/Reappointment City of Melrose Page 1 5/29/2024 2:46 PM Minutes City Council May 20, 2024 Reappointment of Forrest Tiedeman, 50 Orris Street, to the Conservation Commission Assign to Committee Public Service Committee

APPT-2024-35 Appointment/Reappointment Reappointment of Nancy Kukura, 79 Mt. Vernon Street, to the Library Board of Trustees for a three year term; said term to expire on the last day of February 2027 Assign to Committee

APPT-2024-36 Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Lizzy Barr, 126 Sylvan Street, to the Human Rights Commission Assign to Committee

APPT-2024-37 Appointment/Reappointment Reappointment of Mark J. Snider as a Constable in the City of Melrose Assign to Committee Protection and License Committee

APPRO-2024-31 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $10,000, to the Human Resources Department, for ADA Needs Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2024-32 Appropriation Requesting an appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $80,000 (Eighty Thousand Dollars) to Public Works Accounts (#422) as set forth herein and for the Laurel/Burnett FEMA Project City Match Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

APPRO-2024-33 Appropriation City of Melrose Page 2 5/29/2024 2:46 PM Minutes City Council May 20, 2024 An Appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $20,000 to the Planning Department (011752-529026) for FY 25 Messina Grant Funding. Assigned to committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

GRANT-2024-16 Grant Requesting acceptance of a Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) to fund the City of Melrose Burnett and Laurel Streets Stormwater Management Project in the Amount of Two Hundred Fifty One Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty Five Dollars ($251,685) Assign to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

GRANT-2024-17 Grant Acceptance of a Grant in the amount of $100,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development for Milano Park Improvements Assign to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

LIC-2024-19 License - Gasoline Storage Gasoline and Storage Licenses post deadline Renewal 2024 Assigned to commitee Protection and License Committee

ORDNC-2024-4 Amending Revised Ordinances Amending Melrose Revised Ordinances Chapter 198: Section 198-2 Dumping, obstructing sidewalks; placement of refuse containers, and Section 198-3 Ashes and rubbish; yard waste; metal goods, collection fees as set forth herein. Assign to Committee Legal & Legislative Committee

ORDER-2024-35 Enterprise Fund Proposed FY25 Sewer Rates Assigned to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

ORDER-2024-36 Enterprise Fund City of Melrose Page 3 5/29/2024 2:46 PM Minutes City Council May 20, 2024 Proposed FY25 Water Rates Assigned to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

TRNSF-2024-5 Transfer Requesting the transfer of funds in the Library Department Budget in the amount of $20,000 from Salary and Wages to Books and Periodicals Assign to committee Finance Committee

TRNSF-2024-6 Transfer Requesting Transfer of Funds from Department of Public Works' Various Snow and Ice Accounts (#423) and Sanitation Account (#433) to Various Facilities Accounts(#402) For Payment of FY24 Utility Bills Assign to committee Finance Committee

APPT-2024-27 Appointment/Reappointment Reappointment of City Clerk for a three-year term commencing May 1, 2024. Appointed

APPRO-2024-30 Operating Budgets (City, School, Regional School) Fiscal 2025 Mt. Hood Enterprise Operating Budget $2,013,279 (Two Million, Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred Seventy-Nine). Passed City Council

LIC-2024-18 License - Common Victualler New Common Victualler Application - Big Fin Poke Granted City Council

ORDER-2024-30 Acceptance of general law; decision; fund Acceptance of the provisions of Chapter 44, § 53F½ of the Massachusetts General Laws to establish a separate account classified as an “Enterprise Fund” for the deposit of fee revenue generated related to solid waste and recycling collection and disposal costs, effective the start of Fiscal Year 25, on July 1, 2024. Adopted City Council

ORDER-2024-31 Ordinance City of Melrose Page 4 5/29/2024 2:46 PM Minutes City Council May 20, 2024 Requesting the recission of the Recycling Revolving Fund (Fund No. 2657), a fund currently authorized to operate pursuant to §4- 14 (E) of the City of Melrose Code of Ordinances, effective FY25. Passed City Council

ORDNC-2024-3 Ordinance Amending Chapter 6 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Melrose, Senior Citizen Property Tax Work-Off Abatement Program Passed as Amended City Council City of Melrose Page 5 5/29/2024 2:46 PM

Transcript

▶ 31:28 Leila Migliorelli: with Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. This meeting is being broadcast and recorded by Melrose Cable Access tv and will be available for viewing in its entirety on a on MMTV and through the city website link. Madam Clerk, will you please call the Role Council Ro Here. Councilor Garipay. Here. Council Hamilton. Here. Council ine Councilor Karen Chitty. Councilor Reky. Council Romano. Here. Councilor Stewart? Here. Councilor Vandiver? Here. Councilor Williams. Here. President Elli. Here. 5 6 7 8 All date. That's a quorum. For the record at this time, please rise if you're able to join in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge all Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands,

▶ 32:20 Leila Migliorelli: one nation under God, Indivisible With Liberty. Liberty and Justice for all. At this time I will motion to approve without reading by unanimous consent. The meetings from the meeting minutes from May 6th, uh, the joint meeting with the school committee, the regular city council meeting on May 6th. And then also the special meeting on May 13th. Seeing no objection, these minutes are now approved And I will now motion by unanimous consent to open the floor for public comment. Seeing no objections, we are now open for public comment. This is a portion of the meeting where anyone can speak on any item on our agenda tonight. Seeing no one in public comments presence, is there anyone online? I have no attendings online at this time. All right.

▶ 33:06 Leila Migliorelli: I will motion by Nina's consent to close public comments. Seeing no objections. We are now closed for public comment. Um, next step is communications from her Honor, the mayor and other city officials. Before we hear from the mayor, I will motion by unanimous consent to suspend rule 37 B. Seeing no objection, rule 37 B is now suspended. Welcome Madam Mayor. Good evening everyone. How are you? Um, thank you. I just wanted to provide a few quick updates in response to some questions that I know have been coming up during your budget process. Um, the first is I just wanted to make you all aware that you received a memo via email this afternoon from City Solicitor Phillips regarding the process

▶ 33:48 Jen Grigoraitis: for a supplemental budget appropriation should the override pass on June 18th. So, um, that is based on research with the division of local services, consultation with our charter, your rules, um, and making sure that, um, we're in compliance with all of that. So you have the member before you but in some, um, to be in compliance with the city charter, the council will need to vote on a budget, um, by June 20th 'cause that's 45 days from when I presented you with a budget to consider. Um, and then should the override be successful, I would present you all with a supplemental budget appropriation that would list by department where we would be seeking to put additional funds. And then the process for approving

▶ 34:30 Jen Grigoraitis: that would obviously be up to this body depending on how, you know, if you wanted to bring back department heads for hearings. Um, but you would approve the addition of all those funds and would need to do that prior to us setting the tax rate, which is typically this body typically takes that up in November. So you would have between late June and November to go through that process. So please contact, um, the solicitor with questions. We just wanted to make sure you had that information. And then we are also working on a master memo for you all that will outline should um, the override be successful, where in departments that you've been seeing cuts, you would be seeing requests to replenish funds.

▶ 35:08 Jen Grigoraitis: So it would be almost every city department because we would be looking to replace the Colas that were not put in the budget this year. But then obviously certain other department budgets who were cut for you know, service delivery would see additional additions, additional additions. Um, so we'll have that for you at your June 3rd memo, but I just wanted you to know that, you know, we hear the questions and are working to get them answered. And then the last item that I just wanted to flag for you all is that we did receive notice this week, um, from a nonprofit that administers a water bill assistance program for income qualified individuals that they are gonna be able to provide assistance, um, a $165 relief on bills for 94

▶ 35:50 Jen Grigoraitis: qualifying residences in Melrose. It was based on applications that have been filed in previous years and some additional state funding became available. So we do have 94 households that will be seeing some, um, immediate relief on those bills. So I thought that was good news and hopefully the program will continue. So that's all I had. Thank you. That is good news. Alright, moving on to new business Appointment 2024 dash 30 appointment of Carrie Ann Golden to the position of Chief Financial Officer, city auditor. This will go to the Committee on Finance Appointment 2024 dash 31 Appointment of Thomas s Mulligan as IT director. This will go to appropriations and oversight Appointment 2024 dash 32 Reappointment of Ann

▶ 36:40 Dusa, ward 69 Florence Street to the Planning Board for a five year term. Said term to expire on the last day of February, 2029. This will go to Appropriations and oversight Appointment. 2024 dash 33 reappointment of Paul Moore, 35 Laurel Street to the Conservation Commission for a three year term set. Term to expire the last day of February, 2027. This will go to Public Service Appointment 2024 dash 34 reappointment of Forest Heman 50 Orris Street to the Conservation Commission. This will also go to Public Service Appointment 2024 dash 35 reappointment of Nancy Kora 79 Mount Vernon Street to the Library Board of Trustees for a three year term. This said term to expire in the last day of February, 2027.

▶ 37:26 This will go to Health Education Welfare Appointment 2024 dash 36, appointment of Lizzie Barr, 1 26 Sylvan Street to the Human Rights Commission. This will go to Health Education Welfare Appointment 2024 dash 37 reappointment of Mark J. Snyder as Constable in the City of Melrose. This will go to protection and license Appropriation 2024 dash 31 appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $10,000 to the Human Resources Department for aid Americans with Disability Act needs. This will go to Appropriation Oversight Appropriation 2024 dash 32 requesting an appropriation from free Cash in the amount of $80,000 to Public Works account number 4 2 2 as set forth herein and for the Laurel Burnett FEMA Project City Matching.

▶ 38:20 This will go to appropriation Oversight Appropriation 2024 dash 33, an appropriation from free cash in the amount of 20,000 to the planning department. Number 0 0 1 1 7 5 2 5 2 9 for fiscal year 25 Messina grant funding. This will go to Appropriation Oversight Grant 2024 dash 16 requesting acceptance of a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, uh, building resilient infrastructure and communities to fund the city of Melrose Burnett and Laurel Street Storm Water Management Project in the amount of $251,685. This will go to Appropriation Oversight Grant. 2024 dash 17 acceptance of a grant in the amount of $100,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Executive Office of Housing

▶ 39:14 and Economic Development for Milano Park improvements. This will go to Appropriation Oversight License 2024 dash 19 Gasoline and Storage licenses Post Deadline Renewal 2024. This will go to protection and license Ordinance 2024 dash four amending Melrose Revised ordinances Chapter 198, section 1 98 dash two. Uh, dumping obstructing sidewalks, placement of refuse containers and section 1 98 dash three Ashes and rubbish yard Waste Metal Goods collection fees as set forth herein. This will go to Legal and legislative Order. 2024 dash 35 purpo. Proposed fiscal year 2025 sewer rates. This will go to Appropriation Oversight Order. 2024 dash 36, proposed fiscal year 2025 water rates. This will also go to Appropriation Oversight

▶ 40:04 Transfer 2024 dash five requesting the transfer of funds in the library department budget in the amount of $20,000 from salary and wages to books and periodicals. This will go to finance Transfer of 2024 dash six. Requesting transfer of funds from the Department of Public Works is various Snow and ice accounts. Number 4, 2 3 and sanitation accounts number 4, 3 3 to various facilities, accounts number 4 0 2 for payment of fiscal year 2024 utility bills. This will go to finance now onto filings by members of the Honorable City Council. There are none. So now next is unfinished business appointments and Reappointments Appointment 2024 dash 27 Reappointment of City Clerk for a three year term commencing May 1st, 2024.

▶ 40:52 Leila Migliorelli: Um, oh, uh, yes. Thank you. Council gpe. Um, Madam President, this comes from appropriation and oversight with the recommendation for passage at this time. I'll make that motion. Second. Okay. Motion made by Councillor Repe, um, for passage seconded by Councillor Firo. Uh, on discussion, seeing none. Um, all in favor a aye aye. Any opposed? That passes. Next in appropriations Appropriation 2024 dash 30 fiscal 2025 Mount Hood Enterprise Operating Budget, 2,013,000 290 79. I will do it. Um, Madam President, this comes from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage. And at this time I motion for passage. Second, Motion for passage made by Councilor Williams, seconded by Councilor Al.

▶ 41:46 Um, on discussion case, seeing none, um, Madam Clerk Ro. Yes. Councilor Repe. Yes. Councilor Hamilton. Yes. Council Armo. Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Council Vandiver. Yes. Councilor Williams. Yes. President Melissa. Yes. That is eight Right. That passes Licenses license. 2024 dash 18 New Common Ular license Application, big Fin Poke. Make a recommendation for passage. Uh, Madam President, this comes from, uh, the protection and licensing with the recommendation for passage. At this time I make a motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councillor Repe, seconded by Councillor Firo. On discussion. Seeing none. Um, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That passes now to orders Order 2024 dash 30 acceptance of the provisions

▶ 42:43 of Chapter 44, section 53 and a half, F 53 f and a half of the Massachusetts General Laws to establish, to establish a separate account classified as an enterprise fund for the deposit of fee revenue generated related to solid waste and recycling collection and disposal costs. Effective the start of fiscal year 25 on July 1st, 2024 And President. This comes from the Legal and Legislative Committee with a recommendation for passage. And at this time I motion for passage. Second, motion for passage made by Councilor Williams, seconded by Councillor Firo. On discussion, seeing none, Madam Clerk Councilor Firo? Yes. Councilor? Yes. Councilor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes.

▶ 43:28 Council Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Elli? Yes. That's eight That passes Order. 2024 dash 31 Requesting the rescission of the recycling revolving fund Fund number 2 6 5 7. A fund currently authorized to operate pursuant to section four dash 14 E of the City. City of Melrose. Code of ordinances effective FY 2025. Madam President, this comes from the Legal and Legislative Committee with, uh, recommendation for passage. And at this time I motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Counselor Williams. Seconded by Counselor. Counselor Romano. Um, on discussion, see none, Madam Clerk Councilor Ro? Yes. Councilor Garipay. Yes. Councilor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes.

▶ 44:22 Council Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Elli? Yes. That's eight. Okay. That passes. Next up, ordinances. Ordinance 2024 dash three, amending chapter six of the revised ordinances of the City of Melrose, senior Citizen Property Tax Work of Abatement program. Madam President. This also comes from the Legal and Legislative Committee with a recommendation for passage and all. Motion for passage. Second. Motion For passage made by Councillor Williams. Seconded by Councilor Firo. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Firo? Yes. Councilor Garipay. Yes. Council Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councillor Stewart? Yes. Council Vanderberg? Yes. Council Williams? Yes. President Elli? Yes. That's

▶ 45:05 Mark Garipay: Eight that passes. There's nothing under expires. Anyone have anything to report under Rule 53? Councillor Gepe? Yes. Um, Madam President, I just want to, um, reiterate what the uh, veterans Group had, uh, given us, um, last week. The schedule for this weekend, um, May 25th at 9:00 AM will be the decoration of the Graves at Wyoming Cemetery. Um, at 11 o'clock they'll have the flag retirement ceremony at Wyoming Cemetery. And on the 26th at 10:00 AM they'll um, they'll have a service at the, uh, Vietnam Veterans Reflection Area in the back of the Knoll. At 10 45, they'll move to the Gold Star Family Memorial dedication, which is new, and it'll be on the top of the knoll. And then at, uh, after,

▶ 45:54 Mark Garipay: after that ceremony, um, they're invited to the, um, um, coalition of the Veterans at the VFW Post on Main Street. So I just wanted to reiterate that. Um, I'll actually add to that. We also have the, um, theor, uh, the middle schools hosting a Memorial Day event at eight 15. They're asking us on Friday morning if anybody can make it to. Great. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Alright. That's it. I will Motion by Ns. Consent to adjourn. Seeing no objection, we are now adjourned.

City Council — 2024-05-20

Attendance

Agenda

Minutes

Transcript

Original documents