City Council — 2024-10-21
Attendance
Cal Finocchiaro ; Mark Garipay ; Ward Hamilton ; Maya Jamaleddine ; Manjula Karamcheti ; Leila Migliorelli ; John Obremski ; Devin Romanul ; Robb Stewart ; Kimberly Vandiver ; Ryan Williams
Agenda
- Call to Order
- Public Comment
- Communications from her Honor, The Mayor and Other City Officials
- New Business
- Appointment of Kaitlyn Calhoun, 585 Main Street, Apt. 212, Melrose, to the Melrose Conservation Commission.
- A Resolution In Recognition of Timothy Morris's Two Hundredth Win as the Head Coach of the Melrose High School Football Program
- Unfinished Business
- New Common Victualler Application Planted Organic Cafe
- ORDNC-2025-1 : Amending Melrose Zoning Ordinance Chapter 235, Articles I-XVI to recodify, or restructure and clarify, the contents of the Melrose Zoning Ordinance.
- Expiries
- Adjournment
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE CITY COUNCIL BULLETIN● OCTOBER 21, 2024 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Regular Meeting 7:45 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 Present Manjula Karamcheti Ward 1 Absent John Obremski Ward 2 Present Devin Romanul Ward 7 Present Robb Stewart Ward 3 Absent Kimberly Vandiver Ward 5 Absent Ryan Williams At-Large Present Leila Migliorelli At-Large Present
(ID # 12111) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Kaitlyn Calhoun, 585 Main Street, Apt. 212, Melrose, to the Melrose Conservation Commission. Assign to Committee City Council
(ID # 12151) Resolution A Resolution In Recognition of Timothy Morris's Two Hundredth Win as the Head Coach of the Melrose High School Football Program Place on File
(ID # 12154) License - Common Victualler New Common Victualler Application Planted Organic Cafe Hold City Council
ORDNC-2025-1 Amending Revised Zoning Ordinances Amending Melrose Zoning Ordinance Chapter 235, Articles I-XVI to recodify, or restructure and clarify, the contents of the Melrose Zoning Ordinance. Passed City of Melrose Page 1 12/6/2024 10:44 AM
Transcript
▶ 21:33 Leila Migliorelli: Um, absent any other items on our agenda, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion To adjourn. All right. Second. Motion. Second. All in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Alright, the ayes have it. We are adjourned. Thank you. Good evening. The time is 7 45. Today is Monday, October 21st, and this is a meeting of the Melrose City Council. I am President Elli in accordance 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 MMTV and through the city website Link. Madam Clerk, will you please call the role? Yes. Counselor Jamine. Here. Counselor Williams? Here. Counselor Hamilton. Here.
▶ 22:24 Counselor Car Carti Carti. Counselor Osky. Here. Counselor Stewart. Counselor Garey. Here. Counselor Van Dever. Counselor Ro. Here. Counselor Romano. Here. President Niley Here. Eight present. Eight present. And That, uh, serves as a quorum. For the record at this time, please rise if you are able to join in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands for One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Um, next up is public comments. I will motion by unanimous consent to open the floor for public comment. Seeing no objections, we are now open for public comment. This is the portion of the meeting
▶ 23:38 Leila Migliorelli: where anyone can speak on any item on our agenda tonight. Just a reminder, the public comment period is an opportunity for the public to share comments. Counselors will not respond. If there's anyone here willing to make a comment, you can approach the microphone. If not, is there anyone online? Megan, I don't know if she wants to speak. Ask her to if you can, ask her to like raise her hand. Yeah. Nope. Okay. All right. Seeing no objections, I will motion by Nana's consent to close public comment. Public comment is now closed since we have a very full house tonight, I am gonna entertain a motion to move, um, order 2025 dash four, the resolution out of order. So Moved. So Second. Um, motion to move order.
▶ 24:35 Leila Migliorelli: 2025 dash four made by Councillor Romanul, seconded by Councillor Firo on discussion. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Uh, any injections? No. Okay. Um, we will now take order 2025 dash four in this, um, resolution, recognition of Timothy Morris's 200th win as head coach of the Mallor High School football program was sponsored by, uh, counselor at large Hamilton Ward. Six, counselor Ro and Ward four Counselor Repe. Counselor Hamilton, I'll turn it to you. Thank you Madam President. I would request immediate consideration. Thank You. Yes. Seeing no objections. Floor is yours. Thank you. A resolution and recognition of Timothy Morris's 200th win As the head coach of the Mars High School Football Program,
▶ 25:31 Ward Hamilton: this resolution is offered by myself, council Ward Hamilton at large, counselor Mark Repe, ward four, and Counselor Karo Ward six. Whereas the Melrose City Council recognizes that participation in athletics and the public schools promotes the development of student athletes by instilling the qualities of good character, discipline, integrity, and teamwork. And whereas Timothy Morris has taught and coached thousands of Melrose Public School students in football, wrestling, and track since 1983, becoming head coach of the Melrose High School football program in 1994. And whereas Timothy Morris has been recognized with many prestigious honors and awards over the years, including the Boston Globe Coach
▶ 26:26 Ward Hamilton: of the Year in 1998, Middlesex League Coach of the Year in 19 98, 19 99, 2004, and 2007, named Patriots Coach of the Week in 1999, 2004, 2007 in 2017, named Coach of the Shriners All Star Classic four times. And in 2019 was inducted into the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and or the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association named Timothy Morris, the coach of the year in 2017, an award that recognizes and honors teacher coaches who have had an impact on the lives of student athletes by encouraging them to succeed and by helping them develop self-confidence, ambition, a sound work ethic, and other skills and values necessary for success in their later lives.
▶ 27:30 Ward Hamilton: As well as a record of encouraging student athletes to be well-rounded by displaying excellence in the areas of scholarship and citizenship, and a reputation among their peers in the broader athletic community for fair play, good sportsmanship, and the development of these attributes and their student athletes. And whereas on September 27th, 2024, Timothy Morris achieved his 200th win as the head coach of the Mar High School football program with a 34 to 27 victory over swamp Scott High School. And now therefore be it resolved that we, the Merose City Council congratulate Timothy Morris on the occasion of his 200th win as the head coach of the Morris High School football program, making him the only coach
▶ 28:18 Ward Hamilton: to mark such an achievement in the program's esteemed 142 year history and be it further resolved that we, the Melrose City Council, recognize and commend Timothy Morris for his lifetime of service to the youth of the city of Melrose as a teacher coach who has had a positive impact on the lives of student, thousands of student athletes on this 21st day of October, 2024, attest members of the Melrose City Council. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Hamilton. Um, Councillor Hamilton, do you have anything else before we, uh, motion to recess? The, I just wanted to take Thank you, Madam President. I just wanted to thank you and, uh, the council for indulging us in, uh, this moment to recognize, um, a very important person in our community.
▶ 29:08 Ward Hamilton: And I also wanted to recognize three men who are here tonight, who are Melrose's residents, um, who were there at the first win 30 years ago, which came down to the wire in a, in a win against Malden. And we have, uh, David Blanchard, who was a long time teacher and coach. Jason Merrill, long time teacher, coach, and principal of Morris High School. Adam Federico, longtime teacher, coach, principal in Danvers, and now assistant superintendent in the Linfield Public Schools. Mr. Blanchard snapped the ball to Mr. Merrill who held it, and Mr. Federico kicked it through the uprights for the win. And I think these, and these three men, to me, they epitomize the, the type of, um, it epitomizes the influence
▶ 29:55 that Coach Morris has had over so many of us in the years. It, uh, that he's, he's been involved in ours. So thank you very much and thank you all for coming tonight. Okay. Um, I'll enter, obtain a motion to recess. So moved. Second Motion recess made by Councillor Williams, um, seconded by Councillor Repe. And we are, uh, going to take a photo. Take a moment to take a photo, so please join here. Come up here. Yeah. One more. Okay. One more silly. One, one more. Mark. Come on. I just wanna, excuse me. I just want to thank everyone for this and the, and the councilors, um, Cal and, and GPA and wood, um, you know, this, this is as much a community recognition as anything. All those wins were, you know, hardworking boys from Melrose
▶ 31:45 and a lot of dedicated coaches, uh, that, that got those wins. And, uh, you know, I'm, I'm just, you know, proud to be here and proud to be, uh, have my career in Melrose. Uh, you know how like, when, when people say to one another, like, uh, how's it going? And somebody says, oh, I'm living the dream. And they kind of say it sarcastically. Well, I am living the dream and this has been my dream and I'm still living it. So thank you. Yeah. What we wanna say? No. All right. Back to the agenda. We are now at communications from her honor, the mayor. And, um, before we hear from the mayor, I'll motion by unanimous consent to suspend rule 37 B. Seeing no objection, rule 37 B is now suspended. Um, welcome Madam Mayor.
▶ 33:10 Jen Grigoraitis: Thank you Madam President. Good evening everyone. Um, I provided you all with a hard copy of a memo from Carrie Golden, our CFO City auditor, which is a fiscal update on the first quarter of FY 2025 for your perusal. Um, as I think you're all probably aware, we spend much of the fiscal quarter, first quarter, um, straddling three fiscal years closing out FY 24 being in FY 25 and beginning to prepare for FY 26. So this has an update on revenues, um, as well as where we are in all of our current budget categories and some updates on our various enterprise funds. Um, uh, carrie's obviously happy to answer questions that anyone may have. I think the kind of takeaways are that we are, you know, largely okay moving through this current fiscal year.
▶ 33:58 Jen Grigoraitis: We are watching, um, the overtime budget for fire because we are seeing, still seeing significant costs there due to some absences and still looking to fill some vacancies. And are revenues are also largely okay, but somewhat down from, um, where we had projected them to be. And as you all may recall, when we, um, balanced the budget for this for FY 25, we did that using a larger portion of local receipts. So it's really important that those numbers come in as anticipated. Um, the other thing that's I don't believe in here, but I just wanted to mention to you all is that we are looking at the very preliminary estimates for FY 26 of the model. And right now our estimate, and it is an estimate, is that to raise all costs
▶ 34:40 Jen Grigoraitis: by two point a half percent across all city and school cost centers would leave us about $1.9 million short of where we're currently projecting to be. So obviously a lot of moving pieces still we'll need, you know, it'll be some months before we understand state aid, before we know what mandatory health insurance and pension obligation costs will be. But some of those numbers are already starting to come in. I believe one item in here that Ms. Golden included is that our, um, obligation for the new Vogue School last year it was around 250,000. And for FY 25 it's estimated to be about 500,000. So that's obviously an increase that we'll need to go into our bottom line. So this is really just informational
▶ 35:20 Jen Grigoraitis: to give you all a snapshot of where we are and Carrie will continue to provide these. Um, and then the other two quick updates I wanted to share is that, um, we are still waiting for the division of local services to start our comprehensive review. They've had some delays on their end and right now that is estimated to initially kick off in mid-November. And then I know I had talked with you all on when we were talking about the skylights, about the fact that we are down to police cruisers, which was an unanticipated loss due to some accidents. Um, we are planning to replace one cruiser between, um, the money that we're gonna get from insurance and then some allocated, but Unended ARPA funds, we're looking at an additional cost
▶ 36:02 Jen Grigoraitis: of only $7,000, which we'll be able to meet with ARPA funds. So that will be a standard cruiser given the current backlog in the EV market. And there's actually currently a statewide exemption for police cruisers, um, to be ev vehicles through 2026. So we're hoping to have that online as soon as possible. So those are my updates. Thank you Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councilor Gepe, Can, I'm sorry, can I No, you can. I, I appreciate this. I do have some questions, but I'll go through it and we'll, we'll, I'll send an email, but one, one quick item on here on the, I know they have oversight for it. We do approve their bottom line, but is there any way in the next three months that we could just get, see
▶ 36:46 Mark Garipay: how the schools are doing financially, if maybe you could just mention it to the chair of the school committee or just a summary of how, how they're doing. So we are kept in tune. Um, so we don't run into any situations like we have in the, in the past. Sure. Absolutely. I mean, they also, in the school committee meetings, there's actually, um, a budget. They do even more frequent budget updates than we do. But I can also ask for something a little more comprehensive from the school, um, finance manager. Great. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. I was just gonna say thank you. You're welcome for putting this together because it's a nice little snapshot. All right. Um, moving on to new business
▶ 37:30 filings by the Honorable Mayor Mad Clerk. Yep. Appointment 2025 dash 12 appointment of Kaitlyn Calhoun, 5 85 Main Street, apartment two 12 Melrose to the Melrose Conservation Commission. This Will go to the Committee on Public Service Appointment 2025 dash 13 reappointment of Craig Mo Moway, 58 Goss Avenue to the Melrose Conservation Commission. This will go to the Committee on Public Service, um, filings by members of the Honorable Council. I know we took this out of order, but we forgot to take a vote to place it on file. Um, so Yes, I'll go around. Okay. Thank you. Counselor. Um, Jamal. Jamal Dine? Yes. Hol Dean. Councilor Williams? Yes. Councilor Hamilton? Yes. Counselor Karen Chatty. Here.
▶ 38:30 Leila Migliorelli: Councilor Reky? Yes. Councilor Stewart. Counselor Garey? Yes. Counselor Vander. Counselor Pinocchio? Yes. Counselor Romano. Yes. President Ley Bradley? Yes. That order. Okay. So eight. I also think we forgot to entertain a motion. Did we entertain a motion to place on file? And someone seconded that? Did I just Yes. No, I'll make a motion to place that on file. Oh, then we just did that in the inverse. I'm sorry, but just to be It's A good catch. Yeah. Okay. So Councillor Garipay made the motion to place on file seconded by Councilor Firo. We took the vote. All in favor? We release it on file. Yep. Um, thank you. All right. Next up, um, unfinished business licenses. Licenses license 2 0 2 5 dash one
▶ 39:37 Mark Garipay: gasoline and storage licenses Post deadline renewal 2024. Councilor Kpe Matter President, this comes from Protection and License Committee with the recommendation to place on file at this moment. I will make that, uh, motion. Second. Motion in place On file made by Councillor Garbe, seconded by Councillor Firo. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That order passes Licensed 2025 dash two New Common Ular application for Alfredo's Italian Kitchen. Madam President, this, um, this license comes from protection license with the recommendation for passage. At this time, I'll make that motion. Second. Motion for passage made by Councillor Repe, seconded by Councillor Jamal Ledine On discussion. Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed?
▶ 40:27 That order passes. Next up, um, we're onto ordinances. Ordinance 2025 dash one amending Melrose Zoning Ordinance chapter 2 35, articles, articles I 16. Is that 16? 16? Yep. Yep. To read, to re codify or restructure and clarify the contents of the Melrose Zoning ordinance. Uh, councilor Jamal. Madame President. This order comes from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with the recommendation for passage. And at this time, I would like to make a motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councillor Jamal. Second by Councillor Williams. Madam Clerk, will you please call the role I will. Counselor Jeff Aldine? Yes. Counselor Williams? Yes. Counselor Hamilton? Yes. Council. Karen Chatty.
▶ 41:20 Counselor Reky. Yes. Counselor Stewart. Counselor Garey? Yes. Counselor Van Dever. Counselor Guiro? Yes. Counselor Romano? Yes. President Mimley? Yes. Eight. Eight. Yes. That passes. Eight passes. Next up are Grants. Grants Grant, 2025 dash four. Acceptance of a grant in the amount of $14,662 to support the Municipal Road Safety Program. Madam President, this order comes from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage. And at this time I would like to make a motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councilor Aldine, seconded by Councilor Williams. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That? Grant passes. Next up. Appointments and Reappointments Madam Clerk
▶ 42:25 Appointment 2025 dash 10 Appointment of Laurie Maa, 1 45 Bellevue Avenue, Melrose, mass as Director of Planning and Community Development. Madam President. This order comes from the Appropriations and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage. And at this time I would like to make motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councillor Jammal, seconded by Councillor Williams. Um, on discussion, seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed That order passes. Appointment 2025 dash 11. Appointment of Robert Carrillo, 28 Baxter Street, Melrose, mass as Superintendent of Parks and Open Spaces. Madam President. This order, uh, comes from the App Appropriations and Oversight Committee
▶ 43:12 Leila Migliorelli: with the recommendation for passage. And at this time, I would like to make a motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councillor Aldine, seconded by Councillor Williams on discussion. Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That passes. Um, next up under orders We have order 2025 dash three, calling a state election on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024. Councilor Ramono, This motion comes from the Finance Committee, uh, with recommendation for passage and I'd like to motion for it to pass second Motion for passage made by Councillor Romanul, seconded by Councillor Jamine on discussion. Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That passes. We have nothing under expires.
▶ 43:59 Leila Migliorelli: Anyone have anything to, uh, Councillor Williams? Any Motion to add this to the record? It's not in the, it's not in the agenda right now. Yes. Yep, that's it. Second Motion to add the attachment from the mayor to, um, the record made by Councillor Williams, seconded by Counselor Gpe. On discussion. Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? That memo will be added to the record. Thank you. Thank you. Um, anyone have anything to report under Rule 53? Nope. Okay. I will. Motion by unanimous consent to adjourn. Seeing no objection, we are now adjourned.