City Council — 2025-03-06
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
- Reading of the Minutes
- Public Comment
- Communications from Her Honor, The Mayor And Other City Officials
- New Business
- Appointment of John Orlandella, 72 Hawes Avenue, to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term set to expire last day of March, 2028.
- Appointment of Peter T. Bowman, 24 Arlington Road, to the Cable Television Commission
- Appointment of Jackie Hoover, 80 Sheffield Road, to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term set to expire last day of March, 2028.
- Appointment of Daniel R. Kowalczyk, 51 1st Street, Apt 4, to the Cable Television Commission
- Loan Order – LWSAP CY2025 Water Main Improvements
- Order: Amend Section 48-6 Regular Meetings to change the full council meeting dates in February and April to the first and fourth Monday of each month.
- Request to suspend Rule 62 and hold the next Legal and Legislative Subcommittee Meeting fully remote.
- Unfinished Business
- Appointment of Edward J. O'Connell, 20 Cleveland Street, to the Melrose Education Fund Committee for a three year term, said term to expire the last day of February, 2028.
- Appointment of Kate Hartke, 52 Mooreland Road, Melrose to the Melrose Education Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of February 2028.
- Appointment of Brian Kochanowski, 780 Main Street, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a three year term, said term set to expire last day of February, 2028.
- Appointment of Daniel Muller, 66 Sargent Street, Melrose, to the Melrose Education Fund Committee, for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of February 2028.
- Appointment of Tracey Cruickshank, 22 Martin Street, Melrose to the Melrose Education Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of February 2028
- Appointment of Maria Grigoriadis, 112 Upham Street, to the Commission on Women
- Appointment of Greg Pagnini, 79 Burrell Street, to the Board of Registrar of Voters.
- Reappointment of Francisco Brincheiro, MD, 14 Geneva Road, Melrose MA to the Board of Health for a three year term, said term to expire the last day of February 2028.
- Reappointment of Emily Anderson, 106 East Foster Street, to the City of Melrose Conservation Commission for a three-year term, said term to expire the last day of February 2028.
- Reappointment of Margaret Ivins, 177 Ashland Street, to the Melrose Council on Aging (COA) for a 2-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2027.
- Reappointment of Mark S. Robinson, 116 Country Club Road, to the Library Board of Trustees
- Reappointment of Jason Webb of 92 Morgan Street to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building Trustees
- Reappointment of Christopher Bernard of 71 Cranmore Lane to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building Trustees
- Reappointment of Mary Sexton to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building Trustees
- APPRO-2025-4 : An Appropriation from Capital Stabilization in the amount of $52,000 to DPW Facilities to upgrade switchgear components at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School for the purposes of safety and code compliance
- GRANT-2025-10 : Requesting Grant Acceptance of a Complete Streets Grant from MassDOT in the amount of $450,803.50 for the construction of sidewalks on Swains Pond Avenue.
- Expiries
- Rule 36 Reports
- Adjournment
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE CITY COUNCIL BULLETIN● MARCH 6, 2025 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Special Meeting 7:35 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 Remote Manjula Karamcheti Ward 1 Absent John Obremski Ward 2 Absent Devin Romanul Ward 7 Present Robb Stewart Ward 3 Late 7:45 PM Kimberly Vandiver Ward 5 Present Ryan Williams At-Large Absent Leila Migliorelli At-Large Present
(ID # 12472) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of John Orlandella, 72 Hawes Avenue, to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term set to expire last day of March, 2028. Assign to Committee Boards & Commission
(ID # 12473) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Peter T. Bowman, 24 Arlington Road, to the Cable Television Commission Assign to Committee Boards & Commission
(ID # 12480) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Jackie Hoover, 80 Sheffield Road, to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term set to expire last day of March, 2028. Assign to Committee Boards & Commission
(ID # 12481) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Daniel R. Kowalczyk, 51 1st Street, Apt 4, to the Cable Television Commission Assign to Committee Boards & Commission
(ID # 12478) Bond City of Melrose Page 1 3/26/2025 12:17 PM Minutes City Council March 6, 2025 Loan Order – LWSAP CY2025 Water Main Improvements Assigned to Committee City Council
(ID # 12479) Amending Rules of Order of the City Council Order: Amend Section 48-6 Regular Meetings to change the full council meeting dates in February and April to the first and fourth Monday of each month. Assigned to Committee Legal & Legislative Committee
(ID # 12508) Rules of Order of the City Request to suspend Rule 62 and hold the next Legal and Legislative Subcommittee Meeting fully remote. Recommend as Voted
(ID # 12422) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Edward J. O'Connell, 20 Cleveland Street, to the Melrose Education Fund Committee for a three year term, said term to expire the last day of February, 2028. Passed City Council
(ID # 12427) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Kate Hartke, 52 Mooreland Road, Melrose to the Melrose Education Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of February 2028. Passed City Council
(ID # 12430) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Brian Kochanowski, 780 Main Street, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a three year term, said term set to expire last day of February, 2028. Passed
(ID # 12445) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Daniel Muller, 66 Sargent Street, Melrose, to the Melrose Education Fund Committee, for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of February 2028. Passed City Council
(ID # 12446) Appointment/Reappointment City of Melrose Page 2 3/26/2025 12:17 PM Minutes City Council March 6, 2025 Appointment of Tracey Cruickshank, 22 Martin Street, Melrose to the Melrose Education Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of February 2028 Passed City Council
(ID # 12454) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Maria Grigoriadis, 112 Upham Street, to the Commission on Women Passed City Council
(ID # 12455) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Greg Pagnini, 79 Burrell Street, to the Board of Registrar of Voters. Passed City Council
(ID # 12356) Appointment/Reappointment Reappointment of Francisco Brincheiro, MD, 14 Geneva Road, Melrose MA to the Board of Health for a three year term, said term to expire the last day of February 2028. Passed City Council
(ID # 12412) Appointment/Reappointment Reappointment of Emily Anderson, 106 East Foster Street, to the City of Melrose Conservation Commission for a three-year term, said term to expire the last day of February 2028. Passed City Council
(ID # 12418) Appointment/Reappointment Reappointment of Margaret Ivins, 177 Ashland Street, to the Melrose Council on Aging (COA) for a 2-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2027. Assign to Committee Boards & Commission
(ID # 12448) Appointment/Reappointment Reappointment of Mark S. Robinson, 116 Country Club Road, to the Library Board of Trustees Passed City Council
(ID # 12449) Appointment/Reappointment City of Melrose Page 3 3/26/2025 12:17 PM Minutes City Council March 6, 2025 Reappointment of Jason Webb of 92 Morgan Street to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building Trustees Passed City Council
(ID # 12450) Appointment/Reappointment Reappointment of Christopher Bernard of 71 Cranmore Lane to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building Trustees Passed City Council
(ID # 12452) Appointment/Reappointment Reappointment of Mary Sexton to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building Trustees Passed City Council
APPRO-2025-4 Appropriation An Appropriation from Capital Stabilization in the amount of $52,000 to DPW Facilities to upgrade switchgear components at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School for the purposes of safety and code compliance Passed City Council
GRANT-2025-10 Acceptance of general law; decision; fund Requesting Grant Acceptance of a Complete Streets Grant from MassDOT in the amount of $450,803.50 for the construction of sidewalks on Swains Pond Avenue. Passed City Council City of Melrose Page 4 3/26/2025 12:17 PM
Transcript
▶ 0:01 Leila Migliorelli: Good evening. The time is 7:35 PM Today is Thursday, March 6th, 2025. Um, this meeting of Melrose City Council's call to order. I am President Melissa, um, proceeding over the meeting tonight 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. Pursuant to current allowances, under open meeting law enacted under chapter two of the Acts of 2023, signed into law by Governor Heal Healy on March 29th, 2023. City Counselor, um, Maya Jammal is participating in this meeting tonight via remote participation on the city's Zoom platform. Because of Councilor Jammal, Dean's remote participation,
▶ 0:52 all votes are taken by roll call. Please remember to speak clearly into the microphone so she's able to hear. Madame Clerk, will you please call the role? Yes. Cun. I'm so sorry. Councilor Ro. Here. Counselor Repe. Here. Counselor Hamilton. Here. Counselor Jamal. Sure. Councilor Karen Chetty. Councillor Osky. Councilor Romanul. Here. Councillor Stewart. Councilor Vandiver. Here. Councillor Williams. President Elli. Here. Okay. So we have a 1, 2, 3, 4. We have six, correct? Six. Seven. Seven. Seven. Sorry. Seven. Oh yeah. 'cause we have one remote. Yep. Seven. Seven Present. So this serves as a quorum for the record at this time, please rise if you're able to join in the Pledge of Allegiance.
▶ 1:53 Leila Migliorelli: Pledge Allegiance to the flag, the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Um, We have no meeting, uh, meeting minutes to approve. So I will move on to public comment. At this time, I will entertain a motion, um, to open the floor for public comment. So, Move. I need a second. Second. Sorry. Oh, it's okay. A motion to open, um, the floor for public comment made by Councillor Remodel. Seconded by Councilor Firo. Madam Clerk, can you please call the role? Yes. Councillor Guiro? Yes. Councillor Gar. Yes. Councilor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Jamine. Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes. President Melli? Yes.
▶ 3:09 Leila Migliorelli: Alright. The floor is now open for public comment per Rule 33 A of the Melrose City Council Rules. This is a portion of the meeting where the public may speak on any item on tonight's agenda. Comments expressing any viewpoint on other matters are also welcome. Just a reminder that this public comment period is an opportunity for the public to share comments. Counselors will not respond public. Has up to five minutes for comments. Is there anyone in public tonight wishing to speak in public comments? Is there anyone online? There's not. Okay. I will now entertain a motion to close the floor for public comment. So, move second. Uh, Councillor Hamilton. Motions to close public comment. Seconded by Councillor Repe.
▶ 3:50 Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Yes. Councillor Ro? Yes. Councilor Carpe? Yes. Councilor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Jamine. Yes. Councilor Ram? Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes. President Mickley? Yes. Motion passes Right. Public comment is now closed. Moving on to communications from her honor. The mayor, mayor, um, has submitted a memo that is in our packet online, the agenda, and printed out for us to read along. Welcome. Good evening, Madam President Councilor. Thank you for having me. Um, I just wanted to come before you to provide an update, uh, that you received via email yesterday as we begin the budget process. And I, I wanna highlight, begin because I know, as you are all familiar, your formal role in
▶ 4:42 Jen Grigoraitis: that process won't begin until sometime in mid mid-May. When for the charter, I put a budget before you inclusive of the school department in all other city departments. As I believe you are all aware, the schools have begun their discussion of the budget and we're in what I think was a predicted but incredibly challenging budget cycle due to the failure of last June's override. I know we're hearing from a lot of members of the school community with concerns about the cuts that are being proposed. And I wanted to make sure I'm proactively letting you all and about know about the process on the city side. And I'm also gonna be doing the same for the school committee. 'cause I really do think that
▶ 5:15 Jen Grigoraitis: with collaborative coordinated communication, we can be a stronger, um, elected body moving forward. So the first thing I'm requesting of you all is, um, to provide me with some feedback and input we will be making at a minimum $1.9 million worth of cuts to the city budget. Those are the non-school supporting lines. Um, and while it is my sole responsibility, um, to put down a balanced budget, and I take that very seriously, I feel like having the thoughts from all of you about where you think we can best sustain those cuts would be incredibly helpful to me in my decision making. So to that end, I will have staff from my office reach out to you so that I can meet with each of you along with CFO Carrie Golden, so that we can answer questions
▶ 5:58 Jen Grigoraitis: and hear your thoughts. Um, obviously I know you're well aware that municipal finance is a bit more complicated than revenue in and money out. We have collective bargaining obligations, legal obligations, compliance requirements, um, things that we must have by law regardless of how much they cost and many, many expenses that we are obligated to meet that we have no control over. So I wanna make sure that we're able to provide you with information to help inform your feedback, um, prior to receiving it. So we'll try to get those scheduled between now and April 1st. And as always, we welcome any opportunity to, um, connect with you all. You can always reach out to myself or Lauren, um, or Carrie as well.
▶ 6:36 Jen Grigoraitis: I also wanted to let you know that yesterday I submitted a memo to all of our, um, boards and commissions that set fees. We have several across the city, including the park commission, um, Memorial Hall Board of trustees, the BB Estate and the Liquor Commission that set various fees for services. I have asked all of those bodies to provide me by mid-April so that they have a full month given their own meeting schedule with their current list of fees, the last time that fees were assessed or raised, and then what their plan would be for moving forward in FY 26 to increase fees to generate, um, additional revenue. None of these steps are gonna substantially, um, close the current $6.1 million budget gap,
▶ 7:17 Jen Grigoraitis: but I do think we need to be pulling every lever that we can. So I have asked that of them. I've also asked the same of all City Department heads who oversee fees. Um, I do know for those of you who've been on the council for a couple years, we fairly recently did some fee, um, review and updates for the building department, the city clerk's office. But I've asked all those departments to review again, just to make sure that we are as current as can be and as, um, competitive with our peer communities on those fees. We are also trying to think very creatively about how we can continue to shrink the deficit on the city side. So I do wanna, um, commend our HR audit and legal departments for developing an opt-out incentive
▶ 7:55 Jen Grigoraitis: for our retirees. As you know, we carry all health insurance benefits, um, for city employees, um, as well as our retirees. That's our largest line after the schools. And we currently have about 70 retirees who are under the age of 65, so not yet eligible for Medicare. Um, and they carry insurance plans as retirees. And 35 of those carry family plans. Those plans come with a significant cost to the city. So, like we have done many years ago for city employees, we're gonna offer a small financial incentive to see if any of those retirees would opt out of our benefits. Um, and then hop hopefully that would reduce some of the burden on our benefit line. So we're, we've just let folks know about the program.
▶ 8:35 Jen Grigoraitis: It will be some time until we're able to identify what, if any savings we have. I will also caveat that we continue to wait for the group insurance commission to provide us with the insurance increases for next year. They are also a public body. They go through their own public process. Um, but again, that is our largest line item at 16 million. So we are anticipating fairly significant increases and that will greatly impact all parts of the budget, including what potential savings we may see from an opt-out program. So I just wanted to let you know of those items. Um, I'll be sharing that with the school committee as well, and we are always available to answer questions as we move forward through this. Thank you. Thank
▶ 9:12 Ward Hamilton: You Madam Mayor. Um, do any counselors have any comments, questions, um, pertinent to this memo, councilor Hamilton. Thank you madam President and thank you to the mayor for being here this evening. And, uh, I'll keep my remarks brief. I thank you for your leadership since, uh, taking the mantle and running with it in this city that has significant financial challenges. And in the last, uh, year plus that you've been in your leadership role, I've been impressed and proud to serve on this council, um, with you at the helm because you, you recognize the imp importance, the, uh, where we are financially. And so, uh, I look forward to continuing to support you in that role. And thank you for your leadership.
▶ 10:11 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Just wanna state for the record, Councillor Stewart has joined us this evening. Thank you. Um, Councillor Jamal, I see your hand raised. Thank you. Thank you Madam Mayor, for being with us, uh, tonight and for providing such a important and, um, unfortunate, um, you know, information about the city budget. Um, just a point of clarification with all those tests and all those, uh, uh, you know, shifts that you're trying to make, uh, across all departments. Um, how if, if we were able to move with all these, uh, shifts that you are just, uh, sharing with us, um, where it would, uh, lead our city in terms of the budget, how much, how are we still short or are we still in deficit uh,
▶ 11:05 Jen Grigoraitis: after all these cuts? Um, it's, I would say we're probably in deficit still, 1.5 million. Again, these are all just gonna trim things around the edges. We obviously want to try things that don't impact, you know, that are not involuntary personnel departures. Um, but I, I think we will be getting to that point and I've had that conversation with department heads so that they're starting to prepare for that as we begin to move through budgets. Yeah. Thank you. Um, my other question is, I know that, um, you know, like now we do feel those, uh, cuts and schools because our students and our, uh, children are suffering and are reporting to us whenever, you know, there's a short up staff, short up, uh,
▶ 11:51 Maya Jamaleddine: teachers, we see that and we feel it, so we get more frustrated, um, as we move forward with those cuts across all departments. Um, all populations in Merose are going to feel those cuts and to feel, um, those short of resources in our city. Um, and, and the reason why I'm saying this is to just emphasize of the importance of, uh, having an override that can actually, um, um, offset that deficit and be able to lead us to a somehow I, I wouldn't, uh, be that optimistic somehow, um, um, floating in terms of the budget and in terms of getting the minimum resources for all the residents and not only, uh, the school, um, departments, but across all departments in the city. Thank you. Councillor Aldine, Councillor Firo.
▶ 12:57 Cal Finocchiaro: Um, thank you madam. Um, president. Thank you Madam Mayor. Um, I sort of say that, um, I appreciate this because I feel like we are getting pulled in early and sort of able to give feedback and last year we were involved, but I feel like this is even like more in depth and I, I appreciate that because, and I, I appreciate all the options you're giving here. You're really delving in and looking where you can cut in the city. You know, like the, the, the fee the having the departments come back with, you know, the fees, um, where we can increase the fees and, um, I don't know. I just, I really appreciate this and, um, look forward to seeing what we do with the budget. Thank you. Councillor Mano.
▶ 13:44 Devin Romanul: Um, thank you Madam Mayor. I really appreciate this and, and look forward to meeting with you and, uh, your staff to, uh, give some input from, uh, from the community. But I, I wanted to ask on the 1.9 figure, is that, is that a hard number or do you feel like there's still an opportunity for, uh, that to be on a sliding scale depending upon what the school department, um, works out? Like? I'm curious to see where, uh, where those conversations are going. I think, as we've said back since February 5th when we all had the joint meeting, things are going to shift around the margins. Um, you know, for example, we just learned, I think maybe right after the February 5th meeting that our assessment
▶ 14:20 Jen Grigoraitis: for the VOC building has actually increased by 25,000 more than we had been initially told. So it's a, it's a constant involving number crunch. I'm not gonna say that things are set in stone. There is not going to be, I know there are people in this community who want to see a fully funded school budget with $6.1 million worth of cuts on the city side. We cannot sustain city operations at that level of cuts. I I do wanna remind folks that there are $20 million worth of school, um, costs, many of which are required to meet our net school spending, including all of the salaries for our school nurses, all of our DPW um, custodial staff, our student resource officers. And then all of the benefits
▶ 14:58 Mark Garipay: for all school employees are housed in the city budget. So when we talk about where we can cut, it's actually a fairly restrictive amount. And again, our, our two largest lines in the city budget, our pension obligations, and health insurance, and neither of those can be cut and neither of those are set by us in terms of what the costs are. Thank you very much. You're welcome Councilor. Everyone else I might as well. Um, thank you for this, uh, memo and, you know, been, been here a couple times, um, going through the process. We are kind of at the beginning of this process and the city, the city side, um, it's always gone to schools because ultimately the school rolls up to our total budget.
▶ 15:40 Mark Garipay: So I know we hear a lot of feedback from, from residents, um, you know, what are we, what's, what are we doing on the city side? And it's, and it's an evolving process, right? I appreciate, um, everything you're doing. I just, one other thing when we talk about 1.5, 1.9 that the, and I could be wrong, but the community also needs to realize is we take unemployment mm-hmm. On the city side, so it's really not 1.5, we are gonna be cutting probably more money because we're gonna have to increase our unemployment. Mm-hmm. So there's not a lot of wiggle room. We know over the years, Melrose has always had a tight budget and over the years they've, it's done a, took care of a lot of the low hanging fruit.
▶ 16:26 Mark Garipay: There's not much left here. Um, so I just just wanna say that because I don't think the 1.5, it's, it's gonna be more, there could be more than 1.5 because of the unemployment. And I think that's a, a big point that as much as I've, I have a child in the schools too, and it's very tough. It's gonna be tough decisions for all of us. Uh, and they're not easy. So, um, I just wanted to say that. And then just one quick thing. I think I know the answer on the benefits. Um, is this just an annual thing? Like can someone opt in and next year if they Correct, they would have during open enrollment, they, like we have for current city employees, they would have the ability to, um, opt in. But we were actually surprised at the number of, you know,
▶ 17:07 Robb Stewart: for re retirees, relatively young folks that are, are taking full retiree benefits. Right. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Councilor Stewart. Thank you Madam President. Mad president. Where are we on the agenda? My apologies because I Sure. We are on updates from her honor or the mayor. Okay, great. Alright, so we are there. Thank you. Met a mayor. Welcome. Uh, thanks for being here. Um, so I got a flat earlier today and I was supposed to read this. I didn't get a chance to read it, so, uh, my apologies, Ken. Um, are we gonna get a spreadsheet of, uh, last year budget, uh, this year? Where we are? What, what, what are we gonna have to work with For The, in terms of you say, uh, I'm requesting input from the counselor
▶ 17:57 Jen Grigoraitis: regarding the individual suggestions and recommendations for cuts, um, to the operating budget. So I would need to work with numbers. Mm-hmm. Um, will you be able to provide a, a spreadsheet for us to be able to work from? We will, the current, the FY 25 budget, which I think should be your baseline, is currently online, as you know, it's online. And then what, um, Carrie and I would like to do is be able to answer questions. So, you know, for example, I gave, um, I mentioned that if we eliminated the Melrose Public Library, it never opened its doors next year, that that would save us $1 million in staff cuts. And I think actually some people in the community have said that's a great idea, um, which I don't personally agree
▶ 18:35 Jen Grigoraitis: with, but the, it's, it's more complicated than that. If we did not open the library next year, the state would come to us and say, that's really disappointing. Please pay back the grant that we gave you to do your library renovation, which would actually put us even deeper in the hole. So just recognizing that while there are numbers on a page and there are a lot of those available, the, um, the information behind those numbers and where the flexibility lies and the consequences of trying to eliminate some of those numbers, um, is what we wanna help provide you the context with. 'cause I recognize just looking at a page, you know, I think you can go through and say, oh, cut that, cut that, cut that.
▶ 19:08 Robb Stewart: But we have, you know, contractual obligations, minimum manning. Um, certainly we have 10 positions in the city by law that we're required to have. So just to be able to provide that context to help you all think through it. Well, I, I think you know me well enough by now that I'm gonna want to get into the numbers a little bit. And, uh, what would be, uh, what would be helpful is if, um, the console, at least me, uh, could get an Excel spreadsheet as opposed to having to look at it online. Because if I'm gonna, if I'm gonna make an informed recommendation to you, I'm gonna want to get in the numbers and play with it and, and do some analysis on my own. Uh, so if that's something, uh, that could be
▶ 19:47 Jen Grigoraitis: provided, that would be extremely helpful. So we, that doesn't exist at this point in time. So right now we're getting department head budgets. They've been asked to submit for level services, and then I'll go through and make my cuts. So I was hoping to have you all inform my cuts. I think creating a draft budget is something I'm a little hesitant to do because that becomes something that I think lives in the public without any permanency. And we would certainly, before any document was made, public wanna make sure that the people that are gonna be directly impacted by those cuts are aware of it. I'm talking about the 25 Oh Yeah, the 25. Yeah, we can get you that. Yeah, it's online. Yeah, Yeah. In Excel.
▶ 20:24 Kimberly Vandiver: I don't know if it's in Excel, but we can try that. Yes. Can you get, can you give me a version Excel? That'd be great. Thank you. Thank you. Madam P? Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Uh, uh, thank you Madam President. Thank you Madam Mayor for your updates, uh, through the chair. If, um, if it would be helpful to other counselors, I did put last year's PDF into a spreadsheet and I would be happy to share that, um, with anyone if that format is easier for people. Um, my my other comment, I mean, I think, I think, uh, to echo everybody, you do an amazing job always. And, and this is very clear and and helpful to us. Um, my comment on it would be that, you know, so much of this has been part of the conversation for us for
▶ 21:06 Kimberly Vandiver: multiple years and, and for the school committee and, and seems very expected and obvious in a lot of ways, but much of our community still is unaware. And I know that there's a lot of communication that you do in print through email on the city website and, and, you know, at these meetings. Um, but I would just urge you to get, continue to get creative about how to make people aware that this is coming. How to make people aware that these decisions are being made. Um, you know, public forums, posters in stores, the Chamber of commerce, you know how, however else, I mean, I know you're on MMTV, but just really thinking about every possible avenue to, to make people aware that these, these things are being considered
▶ 21:48 Leila Migliorelli: and why this question is, is being asked. Mm-hmm. Thank you. Yeah. Councillor Garbe. I'm all set. All set. Okay. Sorry. Um, thank you. Um, I, I just wanted to say, uh, thank you for all this work. This is incredibly helpful and I know responsive to a lot of our questions and community questions. Um, just wanted to add that, you know, this is my sixth budget process and, um, after having heard throughout the years, um, a lot of concerns about the schools and cuts on city side, and I will admit that, you know, starting as a parent, I wondered too, wow, can we, can't we cut more on the city side and why? And, um, I, I understand why it's hard for some people to look and, and see that, well, there looks like there's
▶ 22:32 Leila Migliorelli: so much money here to cut, but when you really dig in deep, there isn't as much because of all the obligations. Um, so I look forward going through this, look forward to going through this process. Um, providing this type of information is helpful and I think as counselors we can do our best to help communicate to our constituents about these budget issues. In terms of communications, I know the mayor has several outlets for communications that, um, her and her staff have been using. Um, and I think by us talking to people and communicating, um, you know, in whatever channels we choose to, I think, um, that's something we should do. So thank you very much. Thank you all. Thank you. Um, we appear to be having some issues
▶ 23:14 Leila Migliorelli: with our Zoom platform right now. Yeah. I don't know what happened. It just literally just completely that completely disconnected. Um, And I keep trying to get back in and it's saying it's having a problem, so, Okay. I dunno what's going on. Alright, um, Let's Move through our agenda. Um, we are fine to kind of move through everything. Um, I'll, I can read out loud the orders. Um, I can do it Madam Clerk, if you're trying to do that. I can do that for, Well, it's just trying to Load back in. I don't know what's happening. I apologize. I don't know. It just went off. All right. Alright, let's go then. Um, new business filings by the honorable mayor appointments. Actually I can do this anyways. Madam
▶ 24:04 Leila Migliorelli: Clerk, your voice is gonna go. It would be nice. Alright, I can't really Talk. We're gonna do it a little bit different and we're not violating any rules in doing it. So here we go. First one is ID 1 12 4 7 2. Appointment of John Orland, 72 Hawes Avenue to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years. Said term to set to expire the last day of March, 2028. This will be going to Boards and Commissions committee. Next is id, 1, 2, 4, 7, 3. Appointment of Peter T. Bowman, 24 Arlington Road to the Cable Television Commission. This will also go to boards and commissions. After that, we've got ID 1, 2, 4, 8, 0 appointment of Jackie Hoover, 80 Sheffield Road to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee
▶ 24:48 Leila Migliorelli: for a term of three years. Said terms set to expire last day of March, 2028. This will go to boards and commissions id. 1 12 4 8, 1. Appointment of Daniel R I'm going to butcher this last name. Cole 51 First Street at apartment four. Recording in progress To the Cable Television Commission. Um, this will go to boards and commissions. We are now rejoined by Councillor Aldine, um, onto orders ID 1 2 4 78 loan order, L-W-S-A-P calendar year 2025 Water Mean Improvements. This will go to appropriations and oversight. Next up are filings by the members of the Honorable City Council id 1 24 79. Order to amend section 48 dash six. Regular meetings to change the full council meeting dates in February
▶ 25:41 Leila Migliorelli: and April to the first and fourth MON Monday of each month. This is sponsored by me, uh, president Elli. This will go to legal and legislative. Next step is ID 1 25 0 8. Request to suspend Rule 62 and hold the next legal and legislative subcommittee meeting fully remote Councilor Aldine. Oh no. Councilor Aldine, can you hear us? Counselor Aldine, Can you hear us? Can you hear us Okay? Yes, I can. Thanks. Oh, you're muted. Okay. Um, so the ID 1, 2, 5, 0 8 request to suspend Rule 62. So I'm turning it over to you, Madam. Thank you. Um, Madam President, I would like to, um, um, request a immediate, uh, consideration for this order. Um, so I would be able to hold the next legal and legislation committee, um, uh, fully remote for next,
▶ 26:45 Leila Migliorelli: uh, for the next time scheduled. Okay. So if, if there's anyone wishes not to go, allow for media consideration for this order to appear before us seeing no objections. This order is now in front of us. Councillor. Jamal, do you have anything to add to, um, your request? Um, no, it's just, thank you so much for everyone for, um, taking this into consideration. I would like, uh, uh, to suspend this rule so I would be able to hold, uh, the next, uh, uh, meeting for the committee, uh, fully remote. Um, and that's it. Okay. Thank you Councilor Jamal, we have some questions. Councillor Ro? Uh, No question. Actually, we're just gonna make a mo motion To recommend. Okay. Second. Motion to recommend made by Councilor Ros, seconded
▶ 27:36 by Councillor Vandiver on discussion. Councillor Stewart, A mad president. Um, is it appropriate for me to vote present since I'm not on the, the committee or, I Mean, doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. I mean, how vote how you want to vote. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Yeah, you don't have to vote present if you're not on the committee. I'll put it that way. Okay. Thank you. Yes, thank you. Um, anyone else? Um, Councillor Repe Is, do we have a date for this next meeting? Is it, it's not, not, Uh, Councillor, Jamal Dean? It's, um, Pally will be scheduled for the 20th. Um, I am still working on scheduling that, um, but we are hoping to schedule it on the 20th. Okay. March 20th. And Just, I'm not great with the, the remote stuff.
▶ 28:26 Can, can I still be in the chamber or do I have to be, we won't be having anyone in the chamber fully remotes. We're doing, we gonna do it from our house. Right. Um, Yeah. Right. I'm, I just want clarification. I'm not, I'm not saying I'm opposed to it. I just wanna make sure I answer. Yeah, You would do it from your house. I mean, I suppose you could sit here and appear like that on the camera, so, But, but our clerk will be remote too, Unless you want me to be No, that's alright. I'll be here with you if You, I'm sorry. I don't, I don't mean, I don't mean to make it confusing. I just wanna make sure I understand. No, No, it's actually a good question. It's a good question. And also for our newer, uh, newest,
▶ 29:03 Maya Jamaleddine: uh, members, uh, during Covid, we did have some members who chose to, um, still be in the chamber and, uh, participate from the Chamber, uh, while we were all remote. So it's really by choice. If you would like to come to the Chamber and, um, uh, you know, participate and join the meeting from the Chamber, that's totally fine. I do think that during that time, uh, the rest of the members, uh, uh, joined remotely. Uh, in addition to the, I would just say that for ease, if you're, I don't know that this format could accommodate for a whole remote meeting. So if like one person was in here, I believe at the time when we had a person in City, in City Hall Chamber, um, was in that room and they were on their own laptop, that's an option too.
▶ 29:53 Leila Migliorelli: But you would have to be on your own laptop. So, motions on the table. Um, any other questions on discussion? All right. Um, Adam Clerk, will you call the role please? Councilor Occhio? Yes. Councilor gpe? Yes. Councilor Hamilton? Yes. Council Councilor Aldine? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Van Deve? Yes. Van De. Sorry. President Midgley Rally? Yes. Motion passes. I'm, I'm here too. Oh, I'm sorry. That's all. I only have seven there. I'm sorry. And for the record, I owed Yes. Motion passes. I will not be denied. Um, that motion passes. And just a reminder, as of right now, remote participation allowance expires on March 31st of this year unless the governor chooses to renew it. So, um, our ability to have remote people
▶ 30:50 Kimberly Vandiver: have hybrid meetings or fully remote meetings will, will end unless state government takes action otherwise. All right. Moving on. Unfinished business appointments. And Reappointments. Madam Clerk, I'm gonna read this for, for you, and you can stick with the roll call since we've a few of them unless, um, yes. Uh, Councillor Vandiver, Uh, Madam President, uh, can I make a motion to, um, conjoin multiple of these, uh, appointments and reappointments second. Uh, so I would like to, uh, conjoin ID number one. Um, Wait a second. Do we have to take a roll call on the vote to No, you're gonna', gonna the, To the ones I want join. Do it. Go ahead. Yep. And a point of clarification, can I can conjoin multiple types appointments
▶ 31:38 Kimberly Vandiver: and reappointments into a single vote? Yes. Yes. Okay. So, um, I'd like to conjoin ID number 1, 2 4. Two two. The appointment of Edward. Do, do I need to read the entire or just the Id? Just the ID number. ID number 1, 2 4. Two two. ID number one. 2 4, 2 7. ID number 1, 2, 4, 3, 0. ID number 1, 2, 4, 4, 5. ID number 1, 2, 4, 4, 6. ID number 1, 2, 4, 5, 4. ID number 1, 2, 4. Five. Five. ID number 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. ID number 1, 2, 4. One, two. Uh, ID number one. 2, 4, 4, 8. ID number one. 2, 4, 4, 9. Id, 1, 2, 4, 5, 0, id. 1, 2, 4. Five, two. Um, conjoin that set of orders for, for consideration. Second. Motion conjoin orders, um, as listed, made by Councillor Vandiver, seconded by Councillor Firo on discussion.
▶ 32:36 Kimberly Vandiver: Councillor Stewart? Uh, yes. Madam present. Madam present through the chair. I believe you omitted. Uh, ID number 1, 2, 4, 1 8. I just want to clarify if that is included or not. Yes, I, uh, through the chair. I admitted that one because I believe it was last, um, discussed. I'm not sure why we didn't actually hear it this, this past Monday when we had a meeting, but I think it was last discussed, um, in mid-February. And at that time was held due to a missing piece of documentation. Um, unless I'm, unless I I'm forgetting that it, that it went through since then, but that's what recorded here is held, so, Okay. So it's gonna be up. Okay. Um, councilor? Yeah, I, I was checking him off too, and I could be wrong.
▶ 33:20 Leila Migliorelli: 1, 2, 4, 4 9. Did you mention that one? Yes. I didn't Meant to include that. Sorry. Um, Madam Clerk, um, or Yes, no computer in front of is, um, 1, 2, 4, 1 8 that held in committee. Um, 1, 2, 4, 8, 1. Is there any notes or, I didn't apologize. I don't have my computer in front of me, so I'm not sure if anyone else can look up when you clicked onto the link. You can see the back and forth. We appoint. I think she, we have all of her stuff. She was late giving it to us. Yeah, I believe, I believe we did. Think we voted on it. Um, I'll look at, um, here. I think we, as of mid-February didn't have it. And then at this Monday's meeting, I don't think she was back on the agenda. Well, she wouldn't have been able to.
▶ 34:06 Leila Migliorelli: When we can, we can vote on this and then come back to it at the end. Yeah, this Is true. Let's vote on the, um, combine and we can always just take the vote as is. Um, okay. Motion to conjoin made. Seconded. Now we have to take a roll call. Vote on the conjoin. Councilor fro. Yes. Councilor Garipay. Yes. Councilor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Jamine. Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councillor Vandiver. Yes. Vander. Sorry. President Melli. Yes. Ocean Passes. Is it Councillor Romanul? Were you? I Said Okay. I said him. I didn't forget him. Time. Um, motion passes. All right, so those are now conjoined Madam, uh, chairwoman, Uh, Madam President. These, this set of, um, appointments
▶ 34:58 and Reappointments comes from the Boards and Commissions Committee, um, all with recommendations, um, to recommend. Uh, and so at this time, I make that motion. Second Motion to recommend the conjoined orders made by Councillor Vandiver, seconded by Councillor Firo. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Mm-hmm. Councillor Guiro? Yes. Councillor Repay. Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Jamine? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Vander Here? Yes. President Melli? Yes. Ocean passes. Alright, Now back to, So 1, 2, 4, 1, 8. Yes. Do you mind if I like look up? Yeah, I, I would have to get Council Stewart. Yes. Thank you Madam President.
▶ 35:50 Leila Migliorelli: I'm looking at it right now. And, uh, it, the, the last result in February 10th is that it was held in committee, um, voted to be a held in committee in the boards and commissions. And that probably, sorry for public. Thank you. Is that the note? The meeting minutes are probably not in from Monday night's meeting, so it might not show up there. And for the public, our IQM two database that all of this is stored in is quite finicky. So we are doing our best as we get through this. I, I, yes. If I, if I may, I did look at the Monday, look back to the Monday, um, agenda. Yes. And I don't see it on there and I, I see there are 13 and I remember there were 13, so I don't think it, I don't, I don't think it
▶ 36:32 Leila Migliorelli: Leave it back, back to the agenda held committee, so we should leave it back in committee. I don't remember the name. Thank you. Moving on to appropriations, appropriation ID number 1, 2, 4, 5, 3, and appropriation from capital stabilization in the amount of 52,000 to DPW facilities to upgrade switchgear components at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School for the purposes of safety and code compliance. Madam President, this comes from appropriation in oversight committee with a recommendation for passage. At this time, I'll make a motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councilor Repe, seconded by Councilor Stewart. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor fro? Yes. Councilor Repe. Yes.
▶ 37:23 Leila Migliorelli: Councilor Hamilton. Yes. Councilor Jamine. Yes. Councilor Ram. Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes. Is it Lyre? Yes. Motion passes. Okay. Next up are grants ID number 1 2 4 2 9. Requesting grant acceptance of a Complete Streets grant from mass DOT in the amount of $450,000. $450,803 and 50 cents for the construction of sidewalks on Swains Pond Avenue. Councillor Repe, Uh, Madam President. This comes from appropriation and oversight with a recommendation for passage. At this time, I make a motion for passage. Second, motion For passage made by Councillor Repe, seconded by Councillor Stewart On discussion Councillor remodel. Just want to express my gratitude to the administration
▶ 38:15 Devin Romanul: for wrangling this particular grant. And, uh, had a chance to talk to the DPW during, uh, director during the hearing. And, uh, really excited about the rollout over the next couple of fiscal years. And look forward to working with Councilor Fero at, um, figuring out where, where this is, uh, gonna go and, um, doing the community engagement legwork as well. So Thank you very much. Go Ward six. Great. Um, I was on discussion, so seeing no one else on discussion. Madame Clerk Councilor for Norms? Yes. Councilor Repe. Yes. Councilor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Aldine. Yeah. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councillor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes. President Elli. Yes. Ocean Passes. Right. Nothing under expires.
▶ 39:06 Ward Hamilton: Anything under Rule 36, Councillor Hamilton. Thank You. Uh, tomorrow the Public Safety Facilities Advisory Committee will meet. And at our next meeting, I'll have a report today, the Water and Sewer Committee met. And while that committee did not want me to, um, commit to any specific statement this evening, I will tell you that things are looking very good. And so we're gonna have some very good positive, um, news to share in the coming, coming weeks. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Hamilton. Seeing no other comments, I will entertain a motion to adjourn. Madam President. I'll make a motion to adjourn. Second. Motion To adjourn, made by Councillor Stewart. Seconded by Councilor Romanul. On discussion.
▶ 39:53 Seeing none, Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll for the final time? Yes. Eight 15 Councilor Ro? Yes. Councilor Repe? Yes. Councilor Hamilton? Yes. Councillor Moine? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Council Stewart? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. President Melli? Yes. Motion passes. All right. We are now adjourned. All.