2026-09-22 - City Council

00:02Sep September 22nd, 2026, LOL City

00:06Council meeting come to order. City

00:09prayer. Dear God, today as this session

00:11opens, we pray that your presence will

00:14be before us and everyone who serves in

00:15the decision-making process of our city.

00:18We pray for direction which will lead

00:20our city to be strong and unified. May

00:23we continue the legacy of our founders.

00:25May we be granted this day the wisdom to

00:27make decisions which will be for the

00:29good of our city. We also pray for your

00:32special blessing on all those who are

00:34working to transform our city and make

00:36it a better place to live and work.

00:38Amen.

00:40>> Pledge allegiance. I pledge allegiance

00:42to the flag of the United States of

00:45America and to the republic for which it

00:47stands, one nation under God,

00:49indivisible, with liberty and justice

00:51for all.

00:58Roll call. Mr. Clerk.

01:01>> Council Mercia

01:02>> here.

01:03>> Council Noon

01:04>> here.

01:05>> Council Robinson

01:06>> here.

01:06>> Council Ror here.

01:07>> Council Scott

01:08>> here.

01:09>> Council Chow

01:11>> here.

01:11>> Council Dotto

01:12>> here.

01:13>> Mayor Gia

01:14>> here.

01:14>> Council Guran

01:15>> here.

01:16>> Council Leang

01:17>> here.

01:18>> Councelor Mcdana

01:19>> here.

01:19>> So 11 present.

01:21>> Thank you Mr. Clerk. Any moment of

01:23silences? Councelor Mercier.

01:26>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

01:29I'd like to offer a moment of silence

01:31and docking chamber for Steven A.

01:34Kandrotus

01:36of Lel, who was born in Lel. Steve

01:39enlisted in the United States Air Force

01:42on April 28th, 1966

01:45and served until his honorable discharge

01:49on January 22nd, 1970, attending

01:54attaining the rank of staff sergeant. a

01:57disabled Vietnam veteran, he carried the

01:59lessons of those years with him for the

02:02rest of his life and remained proud of

02:05his service and devoted to his fellow

02:08veterans.

02:10Returning home, he answered a second

02:12call to service and gave the town of

02:15Tukbury 45 years of his life in law

02:19enforcement. He joined the Tuksbury

02:21Police Department as a police officer in

02:24July of 1978,

02:26was promoted to police sergeant in June

02:29of 1993,

02:31and served in that rank until his

02:33retirement in August of 2003.

02:36retirement did little to slow him down,

02:40and he continued to serve the community

02:42he loved as a reserve police officer for

02:45another 20 years from 2003

02:49until 2023.

02:52He earned his master's degree in

02:54criminal justice from Anamaria College

02:57and also held his contractor's license,

03:00a reflection of a man who was never

03:02content to stop learning or to leave a

03:06skill unmastered.

03:09He is survived by his beloved wife of

03:12nearly 50 years, Mary Peachy Wayne

03:15Kandrodus of Lel. The the couple was

03:19just weeks away from celebrating their

03:21golden anniversary. He has also survived

03:24by his two sons, Michael Kandrodus, who

03:28also is a police officer but for the

03:30city of Lel and his wife Amanda of Lel

03:35and Jeffrey Kandrodis of Lel, his two

03:38cherished grandchildren, Judge and

03:40Vivian Candrodis. His brother Robert W.

03:44Kandrodus of Salem, New Hampshire. his

03:47brothers and sisters-in-law John Mcdana

03:50and his wife Dr. Ellen T. Mcdana of Lel,

03:53Judith Wayne of Lel and Dr. Kevin Wayne

03:57and his wife Leanne Gillis of Lel as

04:00well as many nieces, nephews, cousins,

04:02and lifelong friends. He was the

04:06brother-in-law of the late Gerald Wayne

04:08and David Wayne. The Kandrodis House was

04:11a very lucky house because they lived

04:14with the smartest men in the world. He

04:17will be deeply missed. I'd also like to

04:19offer a moment of silence and dock in

04:22chamber to all those who passed away

04:24since our last city council meeting. May

04:27they all rest in peace. Amen. Thank you.

04:31>> Any other moment of silences? Seeing

04:33none, if we could please dock in the

04:35chamber. [laughter]

05:00two. Mayor's business 2.1 communication

05:03remote zoom participation motion to

05:05accept and place on file by councelor

05:07Scott seconded by councelor noon all in

05:09favor signify by saying I any opposed so

05:12ordered

05:152.2 to recognition. Sergeant Major Dors

05:18Gan Musgra.

05:21Tonight we have the LH High ROC

05:25going to do the colors. If they would

05:28stop,

05:32present the colors.

05:34[snorts]

05:39Ready?

05:51Hey,

05:58arms.

06:33to the flag United States of America and

06:36to the republic for which it stands one

06:39nation under God, indivisible, with

06:42liberty and justice for all.

07:15Sergeant Major, if you would come to the

07:17podium, please. If you would come to the

07:19podium.

07:27Tonight we offer you the key to the city

07:29of LOL.

07:31Official citation be it here known to

07:33all that the city of lol in the

07:35commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby

07:37offers a sincere congratulations to

07:40Sergeant Major Dors Gan Musgra. The city

07:44of LOL is honored to recognize retired

07:47US Army Sergeant Major Dors G. Jean

07:50Musgra for his distinguished military

07:53service, dedication to public service,

07:56and lasting commitment to veterans,

07:58families in the L community.

08:02Sergeant Major Musgra's life of service

08:05began when he entered the United States

08:07Army in 1961.

08:10During the Vietnam War, he served with

08:13eight company, third battalion, 60th

08:17Infantry Regiment, 9inth Infantry

08:20Division in the McGong

08:24Delta. His courage, his courageous

08:27service in combat earned him two silver

08:29stars and two Purple Hearts. Recognizing

08:33his extraordinary gallery in the wounds

08:36he sustained in service to our nation,

08:39he continued his army career following

08:41Vietnam,

08:43ultimately attaining the rank of

08:44sergeant major, where he dedicated

08:47himself to leading, training, and

08:50mentoring generations of soldiers and

08:52future military leaders. Following his

08:55retirement from the army, Sergeant Major

08:58Musg Gray continued his commitment to

09:01serve others. Sergeant Major Musgra has

09:04exemplified a lifetime of courage,

09:08leadership, compassion, and service. His

09:11journey from decorated Vietnam veteran

09:14and senior army leader to public

09:16servant, mentor, veterans advocate

09:19reflects an unwavering commitment to his

09:22country and to the people he has served.

09:25Now therefore, I, Mayor Eric R. chair on

09:29behalf of the entire lol city council in

09:32the residents of lol do hereby extend

09:35our sincere gratitude and appreciation

09:38to sergeant major doors G Jean Musgra

09:42for his extraordinary military service

09:45his distinguished career in public

09:47service and his enduring dedication to

09:49our veterans and community given this

09:52the 22nd day of September 2026

09:57Heat. [applause]

10:03[applause]

10:11Heat. [applause]

10:17[applause]

10:29Sergeant Major Masque, would you like to

10:32say a few words?

10:33>> First, I would like to thank the the

10:35city on low council mayor Dan, can you

10:39hear me now?

10:40>> Okay. I don't have my hearing aid then,

10:42so I'm kind of struggling. However,

10:46thank you. is way and beyond the call of

10:49duty which you have done for me. I

10:52appreciate it.

10:59[applause]

11:07I found in my older years

11:12[sighs and gasps]

11:17I I get more emotion [snorts]

11:31and but

11:33I'll get through it. Um [clears throat]

11:36again, thank you and thank Council Ror

11:41and work with uh for putting things

11:44together as always. And I always I have

11:47to thank George Gaffne. He has been like

11:50he's a little boy too. So, and and uh

11:54he's really really been a good person

11:59period and uh proud to be a friend of

12:03his and the city of L.

12:06I don't want to take much of your time,

12:08but I would like to thank you. It is

12:11really

12:13good things that you guys doing. And

12:16don't forget, go buy market basket

12:20and look at my sign.

12:24[applause]

12:29[applause]

12:32Council

12:33[applause]

12:46Robinson.

12:48>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I'd like to

12:51make a motion to suspend the rules and

12:53take uh a motion out of order, please,

12:56while Mr. Musgrave is here.

12:58>> Second. Okay. Motion by councel

13:01Robinson, seconded by councel Rook to

13:03take something.

13:04>> It would be motion 6.19 619

13:08out of order.

13:10>> Sergeant Master Musgra,

13:13[snorts]

13:15>> almost done.

13:15>> All in favor signify by saying I. Any

13:17opposed? So ordered. Council Rook.

13:21>> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um

13:23yeah, I just want to thank my uh council

13:25colleagues. Um you know, I've been

13:27paying attention to city politics for

13:29probably, you know, almost three decades

13:31now, probably a smidge longer. This is

13:33the first time I remember every single

13:35counselor signing off on a motion um

13:38beforehand. Um, you know, each counselor

13:40was reached out to individually um and

13:43within 15 minutes um eagerly uh jumped

13:48on board um to uh to recognize uh the

13:51sergeant major um for his uh

13:54accomplishments, for his service um but

13:57also to to write a wrong. Um as a mayor

14:01stated before, he's highly decorated. Uh

14:04but the one thing that is missing that

14:06uh should be uh given is the United

14:09States Congressional Medal of Honor. And

14:12um there's a documentary uh about the

14:14Sergeant Major that's available now um

14:18that I hope everybody gets a chance to

14:19to to view and to look at um a just to

14:23respect the dedication and the service

14:25of uh of Gan uh but also to to realize

14:29um what should have been and uh what

14:31should be in the very near future. Uh I

14:33want to thank um the manager's office

14:35and especially the mayor's office uh for

14:37their quick and diligent work in this

14:39matter. Uh I have no doubt in the very

14:42near future uh we're back here again,

14:44Mr. Mayor. Uh only this time u to uh

14:47congratulate and recognize uh the city

14:49of LOL's first recipient of the

14:51Congressional Medal of Honor. Thank you.

14:54[applause]

14:59[applause]

15:02Mo motion 6.19 l city council all

15:06members are included in this through

15:08both the mayor's office in the city

15:10manager's office make a request to our

15:12federal delegation to award Sergeant

15:14Major Dors Jean Mus Gray the United

15:16States Congressional Medal of Honor so

15:19there is no second needed um does anyone

15:22else council Robinson

15:24>> thank you Mr. Mayor um thank you Mr.

15:27much great for your service.

15:30I think throughout the earlier reception

15:33and something my colleague just touched

15:35on and thank you councelor Rock for

15:37bringing this to everyone's attention.

15:40The key with this piece here is we have

15:42a golden opportunity to write a wrong.

15:46This is something that was earned and I

15:49think it's not going to be just the

15:51council. It's not just going to be the

15:53state delegation. It's not just going to

15:55be the federal delegation. We need every

15:58resident here. We need all the members

16:00of the public also to help us build a

16:04support campaign to try to correct this

16:06injustice that was done many years ago.

16:09And and so if you can pick up the phone,

16:12watch the documentary, and reach out to

16:14anyone you can, whether it's petitions,

16:17anything we can do to try to bring this

16:19home because this is something that was

16:21earned. It is welld deserved. Thank you.

16:24Thank you, Council Robinson. Councelor

16:26Dakota.

16:26>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I know I speak for

16:29all my colleagues when I say this is a

16:30matter of urgency. Um there was an

16:33injustice done quite a few years ago and

16:36this needs to be done now. And I think

16:38the first step is obviously

16:39Congresswoman Tran and move this as

16:42quickly as possible. You know, I've

16:44heard some rumors that could take a

16:45year, two years, three years. It can't

16:47take that long. This is something that's

16:50through the document that I that I saw.

16:52this can be done and be done swiftly. So

16:55I like Council Robinson just said, let's

16:58use every resource that we have to make

17:00this happen as soon as possible. Thank

17:03you very much.

17:05>> Thank you, Council Dakota. I just want

17:07to say thank you to Congresswoman

17:09Trhan's office for coming tonight and

17:11giving Gan a citation. Also, uh, Senator

17:14Mary's office for sending a citation and

17:17also Senator Howard who came here

17:19tonight. If Jean, if you could come in

17:21and take a picture with us, honor us

17:23with a picture, we would really enjoy

17:25that.

18:08>> [applause]

18:11>> Congratulations.

18:54Mr. Mayor,

18:55>> roll call. Mr. Clerk.

18:56>> Oh, sorry.

19:02[clears throat]

19:07>> Also Mercuria.

19:08>> Yes. Council Nune,

19:11>> yes.

19:11>> Council Robinson,

19:12>> yes.

19:13>> Council Rock,

19:14>> yes.

19:14>> Councelor Scott,

19:15>> yes.

19:16>> Council Chow,

19:17>> yes.

19:18>> Council Dakota,

19:18>> yes.

19:19>> Mayor Gia,

19:20>> yes.

19:20>> Council Durant,

19:21>> yes.

19:21>> Council Leang,

19:22>> yes.

19:23>> Council Mcdana,

19:24>> yes.

19:24>> That's 11 years.

19:26[applause]

19:33>> 2.2 motion to accept and place on file

19:36by councilor, seconded by councelor

19:37Robinson. All in favor signify by saying

19:39I. Any opposed? So ordered. 2.3

19:42presentation.

19:43>> Mr. Mayor, my apologies. Could we have

19:45suspension of rules under positions

19:4711.2? The gentleman is here to speak.

19:49I'd rather not have him here all night.

19:51>> Can we finish the presentations first?

19:54>> Absolutely. My apologies.

19:56>> Thank you.

19:57>> 2.3 presentation Latin X center in LOL.

20:02We have an official citation.

20:05>> I have a registered speaker if you want

20:06to go.

20:07>> Go ahead, Mr.

20:10Uh, Diego Leonado.

20:21Good evening, mayor, members of the city

20:24council, city manager, and fellow lower

20:27residents. My name is Diego Linardo and

20:30I have the honor of serving as the

20:32executive director of the LNET Community

20:34Center for Empowerment LCC here in

20:37Lowel.

20:39Thank you for the opportunity to be with

20:40you tonight.

20:42I'm here to invite every single one of

20:45you and every family in this city to our

20:48fifth anniversary Hispanic and Latinx

20:51festival happening this Saturday,

20:53September 26th at SAS Pavilion from 12

20:56to 7:00 p.m. Let me start with the

20:59forecast. Yes, there is a chance of rain

21:03this weekend, but I want to be very

21:06clear with this council. There is a 100%

21:09chance of fun. Rain or shine, this

21:13festival is happening and we are ready.

21:17For those who don't know us yet, LCC was

21:20founded to reduce barriers for

21:22immigrants and lowincome families across

21:24the greater low through education,

21:26workforce development, civic engagement,

21:29and the arts. We believe culture is not

21:32just something we celebrate once a year.

21:35It's something that builds bridges,

21:38creates opportunity, and strengthens the

21:40whole city, not just one community

21:42within it. September is Hispanic

21:45Heritage Month, and a time when our

21:48country pauses to recognize the

21:49contributions, resilience, and history

21:52of Latino communities from Mexico to

21:54Argentina, from the Caribbean to Central

21:57America. And this Saturday, we're

22:00bringing the entire month to life in one

22:02single afternoon right here in Lobo.

22:05Here's what I mean. At this festival, in

22:08just few hours, your family can taste

22:12Puerto Rico, one side of the side park,

22:15hear live music from Colombia and the

22:18Dominican Republic on one main stage,

22:21watch fault dance from El Salvador, and

22:24browse handmade crafts from a dozen

22:27different countries, all without a

22:29passport, without a plane ticket, and

22:33without leaving the city of L. We are

22:36talking about 15,000 plus people

22:38expected this year. Over 25 vendors,

22:41food trucks, artisans, live

22:43performances, kids zone, and community

22:46partners from the Red Cross to Rockland

22:49Trust and our local elections department

22:52all in one place. So, may I ask tonight

22:55a simple question? Bring your families,

22:58bring your neighbors, tell your staff,

23:00your constituents,

23:02your church groups, your community

23:04organizations. This isn't a Latino event

23:06that happens to be in Lowel. This is a

23:09Lowel event that happens to be Latino.

23:12So, it belongs to everyone in this room

23:14and everyone in this city. We are proud

23:17to call Lowel home and we're proud to

23:19share this celebration with all of you

23:21this Saturday, September 26, Sest

23:23Pavilion 12 to7. Come hungry, come

23:26curious, and come ready to dance. Thank

23:29you, and we hope to see you there.

23:31[applause]

23:34>> [cheering]

23:37[applause]

23:38>> Thank you. We have an official citation.

23:40Be it here known to all that it the l

23:43the city of LOL in the Commonwealth of

23:44Massachusetts hereby offers a sincere

23:47congratulations to Landex Center of

23:49Community Empowerment. The city of L

23:52congratulates Latin X center for

23:54community empowerment on its fifth

23:56anniversary and to honor its outstanding

23:58contributions to our community. LCCE's

24:02commitment to equality, equity,

24:04inclusion, and empowerment has made a

24:07lasting impact on the residents it

24:09serves by fostering a culture of

24:11opportunity, collaboration, and

24:13community engagement. Now, therefore, I,

24:16Mayor Eric Arggeter, on behalf of the

24:18entire city council and the residents of

24:20L do hereby congratulate Latinx Center

24:23of Community Empowerment on its fifth

24:25anniversary. We extend our sincere

24:28appreciation for your dedication,

24:31leadership, and continued service to our

24:32community. And we wish LCCE many more

24:35years of success given this 22nd day of

24:39September 2026.

24:41>> Thank you.

24:43[applause]

25:27>> [applause]

25:44>> Mo motion to accept and place on file by

25:47councelor Chowo. Seconded by councelor

25:49Jirean. All in favor signify by saying

25:51I. Any oppose? So ordered. Motion to

25:54suspend the rules by councelor Dakota

25:56seconded by councelor Mercia to take

25:5911.2

26:00out of order. All in favor signify by

26:03saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 11.2.

26:07Miscellaneous. Edward Bud Caulfield

26:09request mission to address the city

26:11council regarding motorized scooters and

26:13bicycles.

26:15Motion to refer us to the law department

26:17city manager for report and

26:19recommendation by council mercy a

26:20seconded by councel no Mr. Cfield

26:25>> yeah

26:28go ahead

26:31name and address for the record

26:35Edward Cfield 589 Princeton Boulevard

26:38low mass

26:40Mr. Mayor members of the low city

26:43council Mr. manager.

26:46Uh, thank you for giving me this

26:48opportunity to, I think, speak on a

26:51serious issue. [clears throat] But I

26:55would like to thank Eric Geter from the

26:57city clerk's office for really going

27:00through all the archives to come up with

27:02this ordinance.

27:05The law department and Mr. Manager, I

27:07want to thank you as well for answering

27:10the phone for me on that Saturday

27:11morning. So,

27:14every counselor has a copy of this

27:16ordinance.

27:18It was adop adopted in 2004.

27:23I'm going to read you

27:26B.

27:28A motorized scooter shall not be

27:30operated in the city of lol on any

27:33street, way, sidewalk, public property,

27:38including schools, playgrounds, and

27:40parks, or in any place to which the

27:43public has a right of access, or any

27:46place to which members of the public

27:49have access as invitees, as licenses

27:55by motorized scooters shall not be

27:56operated on any own any way by any

27:59person not possessing

28:02not possessing a valid driver's license.

28:06Every person operating a motorized

28:09scooter shall have the right to use all

28:11public ways in the city except limited

28:14access or express state highways where

28:17signs specifically prohibiting bicycles

28:20have been posted and shall be subject to

28:22the traffic laws and regulations of the

28:25Commonwealth and other traffic

28:27ordinances of the city ex etc. Council

28:31Rita Mercier voted for this ordinance in

28:342004

28:35and so did I.

28:38And why am I here tonight speaking on

28:41motorized scooters?

28:44I'm 88 years old. I take care of my wife

28:48247.

28:51On Friday night, September 11th,

28:55we're going to go out to dine.

28:58I got my wife into the car in the

29:00driveway

29:02and something a flash. When I say a

29:06flash, it was unbelievable.

29:09This man on a sitdown scooter.

29:14And this scooter was the Cadillac of all

29:17scooters.

29:19He went by my house

29:23unbelievably fast. And I counted the

29:26amount of time it took him to get to the

29:30Wood Street intersection.

29:3211 seconds.

29:35That is a tenth of a mile. And why do I

29:38know that's a tenth of a mile? Because I

29:41was an avid runner in my younger days. I

29:44know exactly what a tenth of a mile is.

29:46A half a mile. A mile. So that meant

29:51if he did a a tenth of a mile and 11

29:53seconds, do the math. He was doing 30

29:57miles an hour on a sidewalk.

30:01I'm here not for myself but all

30:04pedestrians

30:06who utilize sidewalks

30:09in the city of law.

30:12If that man, it was an adult as also, he

30:14was a man, 150 pounds.

30:18If that man hit me or anyone else, Low

30:22General Hospital ICU,

30:25there is an ordinance in the city of Low

30:28that says you can't do it. You have to

30:30be 16 and 12 years of age and have a

30:34valid driver's license to operate one of

30:37these motorized scooters.

30:40Mr. Solicitor, does this ordinance also

30:42cover motorized ebikes?

30:49>> Solicitor Williams.

30:50>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

30:51>> Oh, to the mayor. I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor.

30:54>> Normally, we don't have people ask

30:55questions from the mic, Mr. Cfield, but

30:58>> uh yes. So, if you were to go into the

31:00first paragraph of the ordinance, it

31:02describes anything that this would apply

31:05to. And you know, like any two- wheeled

31:07device, handlebars, it's powered by

31:10electric, gasoline, alcohol fueled, and

31:12that [clears throat] can propel itself

31:13without human propulsion, uh, would

31:16qualify. This would apply to

31:19>> Thank you. I just want to stress

31:22the ordinance states 15 miles an hour.

31:26Before I leave this podium, I have two

31:29incidents I want to bring out.

31:32If everyone has been on the walk bridge

31:34at 2:30 in the afternoon, you know it's

31:37nothing but a traffic jam. I was on that

31:40bridge one day at 2:30 in the afternoon.

31:45A teenager on a motorized ebike

31:51had a passenger in front of him who was

31:54probably eight years old

31:56and another passenger behind him. So

31:59that means there were three people on

32:01this motorized ebike. And what did he

32:04do? He went straight up the Rock Bridge

32:06right in the middle of the traffic. And

32:09once he got over the Rock Bridge,

32:12whether he left went left or right, he

32:15was on a state highway.

32:18There was another time I was traveling

32:20on Princeton Boulevard outbound. Made a

32:24right turn on Pine Street and it's a

32:26curve. If anyone lives in the Highlands

32:27knows what I'm talking about. There was

32:29a curve

32:31and I mounted the that curve

32:35and a young kid about 9 years old on a

32:39mini mini motorized bike went shooting

32:43across Pine Street. It was a miracle

32:47he was not killed.

32:50What I want to stress, Mr. mayor

32:54is his ways and means of addressing

32:56this.

32:58The low son could do their civic duty by

33:00printing this ordinance.

33:03The registry of motor vehicles must get

33:05involved.

33:07The low police have ambassadors that can

33:09go into the middle schools and talk to

33:12the kids and let them know that this is

33:14illegal. The parents have to get this

33:16message because what's happening is they

33:19they talk to parents and buy me one of

33:21those bikes. You can buy them at

33:22Targets, Walmarts, whatever.

33:25And they're illegal.

33:27Illegal. Thank you for your time and

33:30your consideration. And I hope, Mr.

33:32Manager, we address this ordinance. It's

33:35law. Thank you very much.

33:37>> Thank you, Mr. Cfield.

33:41[applause]

33:45Council Mcdana.

33:46>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I was just

33:48going to ask and I excuse

33:49[clears throat] me, I can do it as a a

33:50motion for the next meeting or I'm just

33:52going to ask it now. Um, is there any

33:54way we can get a just a report on the

33:59enforcement of this ordinance uh 26615

34:02and or 110-1 maybe over the last sixish,

34:07six months, I think, small time frame.

34:09Just see what we're currently doing.

34:12Start there.

34:13>> It shouldn't be a problem. Manager will

34:15get back to you. Thank you.

34:16>> All in favor signify by saying I. Any

34:18oppose? So order. Seeing at 7:00 we'll

34:21go into the hearings for general public

34:23hearing 4.1 ordinance amending zoning

34:26curb cuts. Give second reading. An

34:29ordinance amending code of city of l

34:32Massachusetts with respect to chapter

34:34290. Therefore entitled zoning by

34:36amending section 6.1.10 10 to expand the

34:41maximum allowed curb cut for traditional

34:43single families, traditional two

34:45families, and urban single family zones

34:48from 15 ft to 20 ft. We need a motion to

34:51suspend the rules to take 7.4 with it.

34:54Council Robinson seconded by councelor

34:56Scott. All in favor signified by saying

34:59I. 7.4 4 communication planning board

35:03decision regarding proposed zoning code

35:06amendment for extending minimum curb

35:08cuts in zoning districts. Motion to

35:11accept and place on file by councelor

35:13noon seconded by councelor Mercier. All

35:16in favor signify by saying I. Any

35:18opposed? So ordered. We're going to open

35:21the hearing up to all those in favor.

35:25In favor

35:27in favor. That part of the hearing is

35:30now closed. Anyone wishing to speak in

35:32opposition? Opposition.

35:34Opposition. That portion of the hearing

35:37is closed. [snorts] Motion to adopt by

35:40councel Scott. Seconded by councelor

35:42Rook. Roll call. Mr. Clerk.

35:45>> Oh, I'm sorry. Council Dian, I didn't

35:47see you.

35:47>> Yep. Sorry. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um uh

35:50the DPD staff noted that wider curb cuts

35:54reduce green space and also impact or

35:57reduce pedestrian safety. Um the other

36:01memos, the planning board memo, I

36:03watched the planning board meeting. Um

36:05the engineers department also indicated

36:07as well as DPD

36:10that extending curb cuts would reduce on

36:12street parking. So I'm trying to

36:15understand

36:16um sort of the the value of reducing on

36:21street parking. Um the difference is

36:24that on street parking is available to

36:26anyone in the neighborhood where once we

36:29extend the curb cuts and increase the

36:32size of driveways that will take away

36:36more on street parking. So the people

36:38who live in the houses where they have

36:40wider driveways will be able to park in

36:42their own driveway, they can also park

36:44on the street. But other people who, you

36:47know, used to be able to park on the

36:48street now have less street to park on.

36:50So I'm trying to understand, especially

36:52because DPD was against extending the

36:55cur the curb cuts from 15 to 20 ft in

36:58these districts. Um what we're trying to

37:02achieve by

37:05uh enacting this ordinance. Thank you.

37:08And I don't think it's a question for

37:09DPD because I think they're opposed to

37:11the extension. So, it's really a

37:13question for others um who are promoting

37:16this.

37:20>> Mr. Manager.

37:23>> Uh thank you very much, Mr. Mayor

37:24through the council. Uh council, there

37:25was a we brought it forth by a vote of

37:28the council to make this decision. Um so

37:30really, you're right. DPD was against

37:33us, I think, in the original housing

37:34piece, but we've had issues um

37:37throughout the city where people can't

37:39use the land that they have for their

37:41off- streetet parking. So, yes, we are

37:43giving up some on street parking um to

37:47increase parking off street. So, you are

37:49correct on that, but this was brought

37:51forth by the council as a as a vote for

37:53us to bring it for a vote for this

37:55ordinance change.

37:59>> Council Scott.

38:00>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I'm actually

38:01the one that brought it forward, so I I

38:03spoke on it at that time before we voted

38:05on it. Um, in some districts, regardless

38:08of the frontage that you have in front

38:10of your home, like Belvadier, you're

38:12allowed to have a 20 foot wide driveway.

38:14Um, in other districts like South LOL,

38:16Back Central, you know, uh, many other

38:18districts, Sunville, you're not allowed

38:20to have that. Um, so what it leads to is

38:22that you can only have a onecar wide

38:24opening. Um, so you can fan out right

38:26away to two cars wide, but you have one.

38:28So, everybody parks on the street

38:30because they can't park at the end of

38:32the driveway. So, that was the reasoning

38:34for it. Um, people approached me, they

38:36said it wasn't equitable, that it was

38:37allowed in certain districts and not in

38:39other districts. So, I brought it

38:40forward and and I'd asked for people to

38:42support it. I I believe most residents

38:44that live in these districts do support

38:46having being able to have a two-car wide

38:48driveway. And I did ask at the time if

38:50we wanted to base it on frontage, that

38:52was fine as well. You know, if you have

38:54enough space, then you should, you know,

38:55be able to park like that. So, thank

38:57you.

38:58Thank you, Councelor Scott. Councelor

39:00Robinson,

39:00>> thank you. Um,

39:04equity aside, if if we're looking at

39:07potentially allowing property owners,

39:10landlords, whoever to be able to fit

39:12another row of cars in their own land,

39:15it's going to help us with winter

39:17operations as we've been talking because

39:19now some of those cars that are from

39:22that address are going to be on their

39:24own private property. It'll help us in

39:26the spring and the fall as well when we

39:28have to do street sweeping. Um, so any

39:30opportunity we have to allow our

39:32residents put their vehicles on their

39:34property. Again, we do have to sacrifice

39:37potentially some green space and maybe

39:39that's something we need to look towards

39:41in the very near future to say, you

39:44know, if you're removing more than X

39:46amount, then we need to do something

39:48different with this. But I do support

39:50the ability and keeping it equitable

39:52from district to district. Thank you.

39:56>> Thank you, Council Robinson.

39:58See no other questions. Roll call. Oh,

40:00wait a minute. Council Mcdana.

40:02>> Sorry. Thank you, Mr. May. I just wanted

40:03to double check before I put my hand up.

40:05Um ju continuing off what my colleagues

40:09uh have said, the the other piece to

40:11point out is that in some districts like

40:14in Back Central, uh not only do we

40:17currently only have a 15t maximum curb

40:20cut for the driveway, the off- streetet

40:23parking near your dwelling unit is also

40:25restricted because Back Central is

40:27exempt. residents in back central are

40:29left off of the we don't they don't have

40:31the ability to buy a reserved dwelling

40:34unit parking placard and put it in front

40:36of their house. So in some neighborhoods

40:38you can have a 20ft curb cut for your

40:40driveway and put a placard in front of

40:42your house for one reserved street spot

40:43and then in back central you have a 15t

40:46driveway and you're you can't you can't

40:50even pay the city to put a a spot in

40:52front. So that that's that's all I have.

40:55>> Thank you. Council Mcdana. Seeing no

40:58other roll call, Mr. Clerk.

41:02>> Council Mercier.

41:04>> Yes.

41:04>> Council Noon.

41:05>> Yes.

41:06>> Council Robinson.

41:07>> Yes.

41:07>> Council Ror.

41:09>> Yes.

41:09>> Council Scott.

41:10>> Yes.

41:11>> Council Chow.

41:12>> Yes.

41:12>> Councilor Dakota.

41:13>> Yes.

41:14>> Mayor Gia.

41:15>> Yes.

41:16>> Council Dire.

41:17>> Yes.

41:18>> Council Leang.

41:19>> Yes.

41:20>> Councilor Mcdana.

41:21>> Yes.

41:21>> Leven.

41:22>> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Five utility

41:24public hearings. 5.1 National Grid

41:26request installation of two 4-in

41:28conduits on South Highland Street near

41:30Gorm Street. Give second me open up the

41:34Anyone here wishing to speak in favor?

41:37Um yes. Um I'm Alec Bzong. I'm here to

41:40represent National Grid in this matter.

41:41My address is 1101 Turnpike Street in

41:43North Andover. Um this work will allow

41:47us to provide service to 463 Gorm

41:50Street. So that's why we need it.

41:52>> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak

41:54in favor? In favor. In favor. That

41:58portion of the hearing is closed. Anyone

42:00wishing to speak in opposition?

42:02Opposition. Opposition. That

42:07portion of the meeting is closed. Motion

42:10refer to wire inspector for report and

42:12recommendation by council Leang,

42:14seconded by councelor Dakota. Roll call.

42:17>> No roll call, Mr.

42:18>> All in favor signify by saying I. Any

42:20oppose? So ordered. 5.2. 22 Boston Gas

42:23replace existing mains on Aken Street in

42:27A Dalton Street in court. Exit street

42:30due to CSO sewer work. Give second

42:32reading. Open the public hearing. Anyone

42:34wishing to speak in favor?

42:37>> Uh Robert Colitson representing National

42:38Grid Gas 775 Dutton Street. Uh these are

42:42as you said in conjunction with the

42:44sewer separation based on the city's

42:46work.

42:46>> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak

42:48in favor? In favor. In favor that

42:53portion of the hearing is closed. Anyone

42:55wishing to speak in opposition.

42:57Opposition.

42:58Opposition. That portion of the hearing

43:00is closed. Motion to refer to the wiring

43:04inspector report and recommendation by

43:06councel Robinson, seconded by councelor

43:08Mercier. Council Robinson. I just would

43:11like to say thank you because uh again

43:13when we started the cso project, one of

43:16the big unknowns with this was the

43:19timeliness of being able to get the

43:21utility companies to come out and work

43:22with us to move what they needed to move

43:24as we progressed and and we're greatly

43:27appreciative that uh they're working

43:29with us side by side and and we're

43:31trying to get this project done and

43:33thank you to all the residents that are

43:35inconvenienced daily as a result of

43:38this. But I mean, we're getting there.

43:40It's plugging away slowly but surely.

43:42And I think you have a good team

43:43assigned to this. So, thank you all.

43:46>> Thank you, Council Robinson. All in

43:48favor signify by saying I. Any opposed?

43:50So ordered. 5.3 Boston Gas Replace

43:53replacement of existing 55 ft of gas man

43:56with new gas man at 47 Fulton Street.

44:00We're going to open the public hearing.

44:01Anyone wishing to speak in favor?

44:03>> Again, Robert Colton representing

44:04National Grid Gas. replacing a small

44:06section of existing cast iron that was

44:08encroached undermined by a sewer repair

44:10in that section of street.

44:12>> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak

44:13in favor? In favor. In favor. That

44:17portion of the hearing is closed. Anyone

44:19wishing to speak in opposition?

44:21Opposition. Opposition. That portion of

44:24the hearing is closed. Motion referred

44:26to wire inspector report and

44:28recommendation by councelor Mcdana.

44:30Seconded by councel Leang. All in favor

44:32signify by saying I. Any opposed? So

44:35ordered

44:37three city clerk 3.1 minutes of the city

44:40council regular meeting September 8th

44:42neighborhood subcommittee September 15th

44:44for acceptance motion to accept and

44:46place on file by councelor Dakota

44:48seconded by councelor Direan all in

44:50favor signify by saying I any opposed so

44:54ordered

44:56six city council motion 6.1 city council

45:00of mercia request city manager find ways

45:02and means to purchase and place outdoor

45:04Exercise equipment strategically placed

45:07out along walking path at Father

45:09Magguiire's park. Seconded by councelor

45:11Rook. Council Marcia.

45:13>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Sometimes the best

45:16motions don't come from this council.

45:19They come from our constituents, such as

45:21the case of this motion here. This is a

45:25motion that was given to me by a

45:26constituent when I attended the ribbon

45:29cutting at Father Maguire Park. She

45:32loved the new playground equipment and

45:34was very grateful. What she thought

45:37could be added was similar to what they

45:40have on Pucket Street at Chihi Park, and

45:43that is exercise equipment not being

45:46grouped in one central gym cluster, but

45:50across the entire park footprint. It

45:54would be exercise station spread out at

45:57regular intervals along the park. a

46:00balance beam, a chin bar lift, pull-up

46:03bars, stretching posts, etc. The Macan

46:07School children came AC come across the

46:11street and they use Father Maguire Park

46:13regularly during the school year and I

46:16bet they would love this opportunity to

46:18get that exercise equipment in

46:21strategically placed along the path. The

46:24goal is to have fitness equipment

46:27dispersed throughout Father Maguire Park

46:30to encourage active walking. This would

46:34be a plus not just for the neighbors but

46:36for the school children as well. I I

46:39thought see sometimes we see the best

46:42ideas in other places and would like to

46:45have them in our own backyard and where

46:47the school is right across the street.

46:49They'd be so happy because exercise is

46:53still having fun and they won't even

46:55realize it, but that's good. Thank you.

46:59>> Thank you, Council Mia. All in favor

47:02signify by saying I. Any opposed? So

47:04ordered.

47:05>> Mr. Mayor, sorry. Uh motion to suspend

47:08the rules and take 9.1 out of order.

47:13>> Motion by council McDunnana to take 9.1

47:15out of order. Seconded by council Leang.

47:18All in favor signify by saying I. Any

47:21opposed? So ordered. 9.1 Ordinance amend

47:26chapter 176 tenants rights and housing

47:29stability notification.

47:31>> There are registered speakers. Mr. Mayor

47:35Lea Lande.

47:46Good evening, si Mr. City Manager, Mr.

47:50Mayor, L City Council members, and

47:52fellow L residents. My name is Lina

47:54Lundy. I want to start by thanking you

47:57all tonight for the opportunity to speak

47:59and thank you for your attention to this

48:00important proposed ordinance. I have

48:03lived in LOL for 25 years and have two

48:06decades of experience providing housing

48:08stability services through a variety of

48:10local organizations here in the Marramac

48:13Valley.

48:14Tonight, I'm here in support of our

48:16community partner, Marramac Valley

48:18Project, and we'll talk about why this

48:20ordinance is important.

48:22This ordinance will ensure our residents

48:24have ready access to important

48:26information about their tenants and fair

48:28housing rights. Lack of information and

48:31awareness has been one of the biggest

48:33barriers to enforcing tenants and civil

48:35rights in housing.

48:38This ordinance does not impose new

48:39substantive requirements on housing

48:41providers. This awareness just simply

48:44requires housing providers to pro to

48:46provide tenant rights information at the

48:48beginning and at the end of tenencies.

48:51It does not impose a cost on housing

48:53providers and provides minimal

48:55administrative costs on the city. The

48:58tenants right ordinance covers fair

49:00housing rights established in our

49:01state's anti-discrimination laws.

49:04How to address and seek assistance with

49:07housing code problems.

49:09information about illegal application

49:11fees, lease terms, and security deposit

49:13protections, as well as important

49:15procedural and substantive rights and

49:17tenency terminations in evictions.

49:20Ready access to this information is

49:22critically important because lack of

49:24information is the biggest barrier in

49:27rights enforcement.

49:28>> He's not retired.

49:29>> We see little residents every day leave

49:31their home and start sleeping in their

49:32cars when they receive a notice to quit

49:34because they are afraid to even stay one

49:36more day because they don't know their

49:37rights. Where's that?

49:39>> We have residents letting us know that

49:41they were unaware that they could even

49:42ask for pest control.

49:44>> They thought that living with

49:45cockroaches was actually normal to have

49:47in an apartment. We have residents who

49:50pay so many illegal application fees

49:53that housing search itself becomes a

49:54cost burden. Whether it's a a series of

49:57small fees or a couple substantial fees,

50:00the cost is real. Unaware these fees are

50:04illegal, they are unable to fight them

50:06or request a refund.

50:08We have residents that are turned away

50:10from rentals because they are pregnant

50:12or have young kids, carry an ethnic last

50:15name for just because they have housing

50:18subsidy.

50:19This information ordinance reaches more

50:21than just tenants. It reaches an

50:23informed housing providers.

50:26A housing provider that must provide

50:28their tenants information that covers

50:31illegal application fees will be less

50:33likely to charge them. A housing

50:35provider that must provide information

50:37on the eviction process will be more

50:39likely to follow it as well as a housing

50:42provider that must provide information

50:45on housing court enforcements will be

50:47more likely to maintain compliance.

50:50This tenant rights ordinance will

50:51provide critical information throughout

50:53the renter and housing provider

50:55community in l and will improve housing

50:57stability and establish housing

50:59standards. Once again, I want to thank

51:01you all again for the opportunity to

51:02speak tonight and I appreciate your time

51:04and attention to this matter. Thank you,

51:09[cheering]

51:14>> Mary Azalt. [applause]

51:20Mary common Azalt.

51:34Maybe.

51:36>> Okay.

51:46project.

52:00Good evening. My name is Marie Carman. I

52:02am Colombian and I'm part of the

52:04Marramac Valley Project. I have also

52:07lived in Lowel for many years. I'm here

52:10to express my support for the tenant

52:12protection ordinance.

52:32For me, this proposal is very important

52:35because it ensures that people know

52:37their rights and know where to seek help

52:41when they face housing problem.

52:46much.

53:13Many tenants do not know what

53:15protections they have against

53:16discrimination, what to do when facing

53:19unsafe housing conditions, what their

53:22rights are regarding lease and security

53:24deposits, and what options they have

53:27when facing eviction.

53:45This is why it's so important that every

53:47tenant receives clear information about

53:50their rights and knows that they can

53:52access legal representation.

54:11As a local resident, I want a city where

54:14tenants can seek help without fear and

54:17where our families have tools they need

54:20to protect their homes. Protecting

54:22tenants means protecting our community.

54:41much. Gracias

54:46[applause]

54:54street.

55:00>> That is why I support this ordinance and

55:03I ask the lower city council to support

55:06this decision. Thank you very much.

55:09[applause]

55:15Tim Tim Collins.

55:24[snorts]

55:30[clears throat]

55:31Good evening, everybody. Uh, good

55:33evening, Mr. City Manager, Mr. Mayor,

55:36uh, ladies and gentlemen of the city

55:38council. My name is Timothy Collins, a

55:40resident of Enell Street in the

55:42Centerville neighborhood and as many of

55:44you know, a proud member of Iron Workers

55:45Local 7.

55:48I come before you this evening in

55:49support of the Marramac Valley Projects

55:51initiative to require all landlords in

55:53the city of Lowel to provide all tenants

55:55with a copy of the mass tenant rights

55:57and everything contained therein upon

55:59signing any lease or rental agreement in

56:01the city of Lel.

56:03I've come before the council on a few

56:05occasions, mostly concerning the issues

56:07and concerns of the labor movement in

56:09this city.

56:10I also feel that unfortunately many of

56:13my brothers and sisters in labor have

56:15forgotten that we have always stood on

56:17the front lines when it comes to the

56:18topic of rights.

56:26whether they be workers rights, civil

56:27rights, gender rights, or immigration

56:30rights.

56:31Let these words be a reminder to them.

56:35About 13 years ago, I was sworn in as a

56:37member

56:39of the International Association of

56:41Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and

56:43Reinforcing Iron Workers.

56:46My favorite line in the oath that I took

56:48is [clears throat]

56:50and that would and that I will at all

56:52times be considerate of widows,

56:54widowers, orphans, and the weak and

56:56defenseless.

56:58Because it was at that very moment that

57:00I knew I was part of something great.

57:02You see, I realized that it wasn't just

57:04about me. And for the first time in a

57:07long time, I had the opportunity to do

57:09what was right.

57:12Members of the city council, Mr. Mayor,

57:14Mr. the city manager, you also have the

57:17opportunity to do what is right.

57:20These laws and ordinances, they already

57:22exist. This measure is essentially

57:25lowhanging fruit. They say knowledge is

57:28power and in my opinion, it is your

57:30sworn duty to act in the best interest

57:31of your constituency and to help keep

57:34them knowledgeable and informed of their

57:35rights as taxpaying residents of this

57:38city.

57:39You know, thinking back a number of

57:41years ago,

57:42I remember having a conversation with a

57:44with a member of the L Police

57:46Department.

57:48And if I if I remember correctly, it

57:50kind of went like this. Timothy Collins.

57:52Yes. Come here. You have the right to

57:55remain silent, right? Anything you say

57:57can and it will be used against you in a

57:59court of law.

58:01Right? Those are our memorandum rights.

58:04The point being here, I was advised of

58:06my rights.

58:08tenants in this city should be advised

58:09of theirs and they deserve at least

58:11that.

58:13You know, I find it fitting that we sit

58:14here tonight also in support of also

58:17supporting Sergeant Major Don J.

58:19Musgrave who risk life and limb in a

58:21foreign land so that we may continue to

58:23enjoy these rights. Let us honor him in

58:27the fight for the recognition he

58:28deserves while at the same time fighting

58:31for what's right for each other. Thank

58:33you for your time and consideration.

58:36[cheering]

58:39>> [applause]

58:46>> M Mr. Collins

58:49Mr. Collins, could you come back up and

58:50just give us your address? You gave us

58:52an L Street. We just need the address.

58:55>> 103 and L Street, apartment 1.

58:58>> Thank you.

58:58>> Swing by anytime.

59:01>> I'll see you after this for dinner.

59:05And don't give me the pizza that was in

59:06there.

59:08>> Is there any other registered speakers,

59:09Mr. Cler?

59:10>> There are not.

59:11>> There are not. Did you register to

59:13speak?

59:17>> I'll make a motion to suspend the rules,

59:19Mr. Mayor.

59:20>> Motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Mayor

59:22and allow the

59:23>> Sorry. Um, today I want to ask

59:26permission.

59:27>> If you give me one second, you have to

59:28give me one minute.

59:30>> Motion to suspend the rules and allow

59:31the speaker.

59:31>> Council Robinson, seconded by Council

59:33Non. All in favor signify by saying I.

59:35Any oppose? So order. Please state your

59:36name and address for the record.

59:39>> Okay. My name is Sagario Guerrero. I

59:41living in 74 Grand Street, Loel,

59:44Massachusetts, city code 01 51. Today I

59:49want to ask to the U members hear my

59:53size the the real history as a mom as

59:58advocate for my family and as resident

1:00:02of the LL Massachusetts

1:00:05city for me is like I love it so much

1:00:09for different reasons. Today I want to

1:00:12talk uh fair housing for everybody. Try

1:00:16to be better this city of Lobo. I have

1:00:20long year with so many issues in my

1:00:24housing like external externally

1:00:28cool without um heater system

1:00:32retaliation for my landlord because I

1:00:35reported so many issues and then after

1:00:39that I don't receive the real

1:00:41appropriately uh management in the

1:00:45housing. I want to say in Spanish like I

1:00:49can't breathe.

1:01:13Salute.

1:01:17Black

1:01:25l the lack the maintenance.

1:01:30report.

1:02:06Thank you. [applause]

1:02:12[applause]

1:02:17Assistant city manager Mashado will be

1:02:18over to see you in one minute. Um,

1:02:21[cough] with that, we don't have any

1:02:22other speakers. Council McDonald.

1:02:24>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. [clears throat]

1:02:26Um, I I want to start uh

1:02:30by first uh by thanking I want to thank

1:02:33the city solicitor and the the city

1:02:34manager team for for working with me on

1:02:38this. Um I didn't actually do that much.

1:02:41I just wanted to thank you for helping

1:02:42get it across the finish line and

1:02:44getting it in front of the council

1:02:45tonight. More importantly than that, um

1:02:47I want to thank the Marramac Valley

1:02:50project and more importantly than that I

1:02:52want to thank the something like 500 l

1:02:55residents uh was was the last estimate I

1:02:57got. It was it was around 500 l

1:02:59residents uh that have participated uh

1:03:02throughout the organizing process here

1:03:04and the the showing up to listening

1:03:06sessions. Um,

1:03:08this is something uh this this ordinance

1:03:12is something um that truly did come uh

1:03:17from the bottom up. Uh I was at an

1:03:19earlier meeting and this is not in any

1:03:20of the notes that anybody wrote for me

1:03:22so don't throw anything at me. Um I was

1:03:24at an earlier meeting with this group

1:03:26and I think Mr. mayor. I saw you later

1:03:28that night and I was very frustrated

1:03:29because I felt like things were coming

1:03:31uh top down and it and that is not this

1:03:35um that this comes after that. This came

1:03:37from from months of listening and

1:03:39careful organizing

1:03:41um hearing real problems like the

1:03:43problem we just heard tonight. um and

1:03:46trying to figure out what what is a step

1:03:48in the right direction and how do we

1:03:49begin to

1:03:52make sure that everyone in this city has

1:03:54a right to fair housing, clean housing

1:03:58and and knows what those rights that

1:04:00they are entitled to are. Um I just want

1:04:03to reiterate uh for my colleagues that

1:04:06this ordinance, this proposed ordinance

1:04:08does not put a significant strain on the

1:04:12city. There's there's not actually a

1:04:14huge lift here. This is largely um you

1:04:17know once we craft what the rights are.

1:04:20It it's largely about

1:04:22ensuring that landlords uh housing

1:04:25providers are furnishing their tenants

1:04:28with these rights that we're not

1:04:30creating any new rights. The rights

1:04:31already exist. Um we're just making sure

1:04:33that uh people are informed of that. And

1:04:36this is something uh Mr. mayor. Uh this

1:04:38is something that this council uh has

1:04:40talked about many times uh since I've

1:04:42since I've been on uh since before I've

1:04:45been on. Um I think this is an attempt

1:04:47to make sure that all tenants in the

1:04:49city regardless of whether they're

1:04:50renting uh whether they're tenants of

1:04:52the LHA or a major developer or or a mom

1:04:56and pop landlord is that everybody is on

1:04:58the same page. Everybody's knows what

1:04:59what rights they have and they know what

1:05:01resources are available to them when

1:05:03they have problems like mold or

1:05:05cockroaches or a full trash room or

1:05:08trash all over the street or any number

1:05:10of things that can happen. So, thank

1:05:12you.

1:05:13>> Thank you, Council Mcdana. Council

1:05:15Duran.

1:05:16>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just had a

1:05:17couple of questions. Um there's a

1:05:19reference in the ordinance to short-term

1:05:21rental accommodations which are

1:05:23excluded, but um I was wondering if we

1:05:26have any in part this is really trying

1:05:29to understand where we stand with the

1:05:31motion response from June 16th where I

1:05:34was asking about short-term rentals in

1:05:37the city.

1:05:39>> Manager Golden.

1:05:41>> Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor to the

1:05:42council. Uh no, we do not let me

1:05:44rephrase this. we should not have

1:05:47short-term rentals in the city.

1:05:48>> Okay, great. I would love to still see

1:05:50that motion response. Um, my other

1:05:53question was really about the process

1:05:55here. So, I appreciate councelor

1:05:57Mcdana's taking the lead here, but I

1:06:00don't really understand how a request by

1:06:02a single counselor that didn't go

1:06:04through the motion process and doesn't

1:06:06have a public hearing associated with it

1:06:08leads us to an ordinance today when we

1:06:11just had a public hearing on a different

1:06:13ordinance. So, I'm trying to understand

1:06:16where we are procedurally.

1:06:18>> This is the first reading.

1:06:19>> It is okay.

1:06:22But I'm also not sure how it came about.

1:06:25I mean, if any of us can just go to the

1:06:27city manager and get things done, I'm

1:06:29not sure what we're doing here on

1:06:31Tuesday nights.

1:06:33>> Thank you,

1:06:33>> Mcdana.

1:06:34>> If Yeah. Um, actually, I was confused on

1:06:36how to do this. Uh, that this was why

1:06:38part of why I was thanking the city

1:06:40solicitor here in reading the council

1:06:42rules. Um there were kind of it was kind

1:06:44of open. Um because a as the legislative

1:06:48arm of the city. Um I believe according

1:06:52to our rules I I I believe I would have

1:06:54been well within any of us would be

1:06:56within our our right to send the whole

1:06:59ordinance package to the clerk. I don't

1:07:01actually know what the process would be.

1:07:03I've seen other cities in Massachusetts

1:07:04do this where instead of it said where

1:07:06instead of ordinance from the city

1:07:07manager, it would say ordinance from the

1:07:08city council and then it would and there

1:07:10would be the attachment. But that's just

1:07:11not ever how it's worked in LOL. And so

1:07:14when I spoke with when I brought this

1:07:16because according to council rules, the

1:07:18law department would have needed to

1:07:19review the text of the ordinance and

1:07:21ensure that it conformed with the law

1:07:23before we could take it for a vote. So I

1:07:25went to sit with the solicitor a week

1:07:27before the meeting, which is what the

1:07:28rules say. Um, and it was the solicitor

1:07:30who said, "Well, this is fairly

1:07:34I mean basically you said this is this

1:07:36is not a heavy lift. I think the

1:07:37administration would be happy to just

1:07:39put this on and say like we can put it

1:07:41on. I said okay. [snorts]

1:07:43>> Solicitor Williams.

1:07:47>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yeah. So, in um

1:07:50you know, speaking with councelor

1:07:51Mcdana, you know, we discussed the

1:07:54different ways that things find their

1:07:56way onto the agenda. Sometime oftent

1:07:58times it's through motion. Um oftent

1:08:01times it could be through um you know,

1:08:02an information from the city manager.

1:08:05While um it's certainly uncommon uh if

1:08:09it like happened in this situation, if a

1:08:11counselor uh presents a potential

1:08:13ordinance uh ordinance to me, puts it uh

1:08:16in front of me, gives it to my

1:08:17department to review and I go through it

1:08:19and if the counselor wishes for it to be

1:08:22put onto the agenda for consideration of

1:08:24the full body, there's nothing that um

1:08:27prevents that. And I I explained to

1:08:30Council Mcdana, it's certainly not

1:08:31common, but there's nothing that um

1:08:34prevents it. So, um yeah,

1:08:39>> thank you, Council Marcia.

1:08:43>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I was just

1:08:45thinking out loud to myself when

1:08:48Timothy, the uh iron worker, spoke and

1:08:51he said he was stopped and the police

1:08:53said, "You have the right to remain

1:08:56silent. Anything you say can and will be

1:08:58used against you in a court of law. That

1:09:01happened to me. And when he the officer

1:09:03said, "And could you give me your name

1:09:05and address for the record?" I said,

1:09:07"Yes, officer. Thank you. Belinda

1:09:10Gerand." So, but [laughter]

1:09:14no, I'm just kidding. But anyway, I do I

1:09:18don't want to make light of it, but this

1:09:20is a very very important uh ordinance

1:09:24and I support it 100%. Thank you.

1:09:28>> A data center is doing that to me every

1:09:30day.

1:09:31>> Council Robinson,

1:09:34>> thank you. Um,

1:09:36with this ordinance, I think it's a

1:09:37great thing. I think it's it's a lot of

1:09:39this makes complete sense. I have a

1:09:42couple questions about for one,

1:09:44penalties, violations, uh, through you

1:09:47to the solicitor. are the recommended

1:09:50penalties here um the max that we're

1:09:53allowed to do?

1:09:56>> Cicer Williams.

1:09:58>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, yeah, 300 is

1:10:00the maximum uh under the state stand

1:10:044021D.

1:10:06Um so 300 is the max. This is uh

1:10:09staggered from a written warning up to

1:10:10300.

1:10:11>> Uh yeah, I noticed there's a

1:10:13>> Cambridge for instance that's in here.

1:10:14Theirs goes right to 300. Um, but this

1:10:17is it came to me in this form and I and

1:10:20again we've sort of done it both ways

1:10:22here in the city. Sometimes we do sort

1:10:24of start out smaller and then work up to

1:10:26a bigger one and then other times we

1:10:28will just go right to the maximum. Um,

1:10:30it sort of just depends on the on the

1:10:33will of the body.

1:10:34>> So So that's one. Uh, for two, I think

1:10:39something like this, if if we're going

1:10:41to memorialize this, I think we need to

1:10:43bring in like Marramac Valley Housing

1:10:45Partnership and different organizations

1:10:47that are training and getting landlords

1:10:49up to speed on on any of these kind of

1:10:51changes so they can hand these out in

1:10:53the classroom. So, so potential

1:10:56landlords are are aware as well of this

1:10:59is going to be required from this point

1:11:01forward. Um,

1:11:04another part that I have a question on

1:11:06is section 176-16

1:11:08where that spells out B5. Um,

1:11:15it talks about who would be exempt from

1:11:18this.

1:11:19I have one question about that. B5, they

1:11:22list any other housing accommodations

1:11:24that the city's prohibited by federal or

1:11:26state law from regulating under this

1:11:28ordinance. is low housing or any of

1:11:31those would they fall under that B5

1:11:35section 176-16 B5

1:11:40would this would this apply to because

1:11:43when we get into the to the providing

1:11:45information on who to contact about

1:11:48uncleanly situations and and pretty much

1:11:51health stuff I think it's relevant but

1:11:54does that fall under this section

1:11:58>> Williams thank you Mr. there. That is

1:12:00one of those sort of boilerplate

1:12:02statements that go into these sections

1:12:04oftent times. And anything that doesn't

1:12:06that isn't clearly stated in the ones

1:12:08above it, it would fall into there. I

1:12:09don't know off the top of my head. Um

1:12:11and I don't know if anyone um else I'm

1:12:14not sure if if Jobani or anyone else

1:12:16knows, but I certainly don't know if it

1:12:18would fall under that section.

1:12:20>> Manager Golden.

1:12:22>> Uh thank you very much. Uh Mr. May

1:12:24through the council. Um that would fall

1:12:26under Mass Sanitary Code. talking to the

1:12:28assistant city manager on this. Um, but

1:12:31we also need to try to bring in to the

1:12:33table, you know, CTI, low housing

1:12:35authority and other agencies that the

1:12:38city may not

1:12:40>> have have direct control over at all

1:12:42times. Thank you.

1:12:44>> So, I like where you're going with this.

1:12:45This is something we could

1:12:47>> possibly do. I just think we need to

1:12:48think this

1:12:49>> and and so I think I think I'm fully

1:12:52supportive of this document that's

1:12:53presented in the draft form.

1:12:55>> But I do think we have some

1:12:58gaps that need to be filled if we are

1:13:00going to commit to a tenants rights

1:13:03requirement to landlords. I I I think we

1:13:06need to look legally from the city's

1:13:08perspective and require it from low

1:13:11housing, CTI, CBA, anybody that's going

1:13:14to be a landlord in the city that we

1:13:16have an ability to enforce this on so

1:13:19that way we have consistency. I do also

1:13:21like the fact how the solicitor brought

1:13:23up, I mean, if we're talking about bad

1:13:27landlords, why are we walking them

1:13:29through almost four violations before we

1:13:32hit with the $300 penalty? I think I

1:13:35think it should go from a warning to

1:13:37something that that is tangible because

1:13:40if not, they're just going to continue

1:13:42continue and then it's a slap on the

1:13:43wrist with $300. So, I I I hope the

1:13:47maker of the motion would be open to

1:13:49putting this into a housing subcommittee

1:13:51to try to work through and and fill some

1:13:53of these gaps that I think are missing

1:13:54in this document. But I I fully support

1:13:56what is presented here in the in the

1:13:58draft form.

1:14:01>> Thank you, Council Robinson. Council

1:14:03Chow.

1:14:04>> Mr. Mayor, I I mean, I'm asking if if

1:14:06the maker would be okay with that to to

1:14:09[snorts] put this into a housing

1:14:10subcommittee to fill those gaps.

1:14:13>> I I'll put that in the form of a motion

1:14:14if that's okay with the maker there.

1:14:16>> Council McDonald,

1:14:22I think I'm supposed to say yes, but I

1:14:24part of me really wants to have this

1:14:26public hearing. um on on I I do I I

1:14:30think um

1:14:31if if the housing subcommittee this is a

1:14:34awful way for me to put this if the

1:14:36housing subcommittee wants to meet

1:14:37sometime soon and review this I I think

1:14:39that's if we could do this quickly

1:14:42sometimes things go to subcommittee and

1:14:44it takes 90 days you know

1:14:48but if if this wants to go to a

1:14:49subcommittee we have a quick meeting

1:14:51while we're still on the summer schedule

1:14:52we have a quick meeting and then we get

1:14:53we get it back I I don't have a problem

1:14:55with that uh I I'd be all game to to

1:14:58expedite this if process if possible,

1:15:00but I think we have an opportunity here

1:15:02to bake in some of these gaps instead of

1:15:04passing something and then trying to dig

1:15:07out after the fact.

1:15:09>> Manager Golden.

1:15:11>> Uh thank you very much, Mr. Mayor

1:15:12through to the council. Council, I share

1:15:14your concerns as well. Um at times it

1:15:16does happen, but um I think this is

1:15:18something which if it's the will of the

1:15:20body, we could move in this direction.

1:15:22Uh, one of my concerns having been in

1:15:24the business years ago is that um, you

1:15:27have good landlords that do the right

1:15:29thing. You have bad landlords, but we

1:15:30have to tell all of the landlords that

1:15:33this is what the will of the council is.

1:15:36And trying to get a hold of all of the

1:15:37landlords in a quick manner isn't

1:15:40exactly as easy as people would think it

1:15:42is. But um if it's the will of the body

1:15:45um to move this forward into the housing

1:15:48subcommittee to handle some of the uh

1:15:51concerns that council Robinson had.

1:15:53Couple of concerns that I had was I'm

1:15:55not saying CTI is a concern. Not saying

1:15:57little housing authority is a concern,

1:15:58but I'd like to bring them to the table

1:16:00to see if we can actually indeed get

1:16:02this completed um soon. And I say sooner

1:16:06rather than later. I I I hear you. So,

1:16:08uh, that's just a suggestion from

1:16:10[snorts] me to and, uh, to the council

1:16:13and whatever the council's wishes are,

1:16:15uh, but we will expedite it on our end

1:16:16to make sure that this happens to, to

1:16:18the meet with the appropriate folks.

1:16:20This is a great job done by the

1:16:22solicitor, great job copying it. It's

1:16:24just the implementation. I don't want to

1:16:25just say we did it and then have people

1:16:29say they don't know about it because

1:16:30that will happen.

1:16:32>> Council Mcdana,

1:16:33>> thank you. Yeah. No, I I I really don't

1:16:35have a problem. um that would be fine

1:16:37going to the housing subcommittee. I um

1:16:40I was hesitant at first simply because

1:16:42of the sheer volume of um signature

1:16:46cards and people who have organized

1:16:48behind this and I I I know that um

1:16:50everyone who has done this work who

1:16:52lives here I mean the people who spoke

1:16:55tonight, the people who didn't speak

1:16:56tonight, but there's a whole lot of you

1:16:58um want to see this get across the

1:17:00finish line. But I I Mr. Mayor I share

1:17:02the manager's uh sentiment. I share uh

1:17:05my colleague sentiment. I I think um I

1:17:08want to make sure what we do pass is the

1:17:10is the best possible version of this. So

1:17:12it makes complete sense to me. So thank

1:17:14you.

1:17:14>> Motion by councel Robinson to send this

1:17:16to the housing subcommittee seconded by

1:17:19councelor Mcdana. All in favor signify

1:17:22by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered.

1:17:25Council child you still wish to speak on

1:17:27it.

1:17:27>> Um thank you mayor. Um I look forward to

1:17:29the housing subcommittee as well. Uh

1:17:31maybe just a quick question right now.

1:17:33Um first I want to thank everybody for

1:17:35uh coming to speak and my colleague for

1:17:36bringing this up. Um it it's a good

1:17:38start um through you Mr. Mayor to the

1:17:40city solicitor. Uh when it comes to uh

1:17:44tenant rights and um councelor Robert

1:17:47the brother brought up earlier about

1:17:48violations and penalties um ultimately

1:17:50going to reach um going to lead to some

1:17:52kind of a dispute between tenants and

1:17:54landlords. How would the role of the

1:17:57city be involved in legal dispute? Um

1:18:00whether go to the outside of court or in

1:18:03court.

1:18:04>> Do you think we should give them time to

1:18:07put this together so when we get to a

1:18:08subcommittee they can answer these

1:18:09questions?

1:18:10>> Sure. Sure. That that that'd be fine if

1:18:11that's more comfortable.

1:18:13>> Does anyone else wish to speak on this

1:18:15because it's going to go to a

1:18:16subcommittee?

1:18:17>> Council non.

1:18:19>> Thank you Mr. Mayor. So

1:18:24I want to thanks councelor McDonald for

1:18:28um you know initiate this and the

1:18:30willingness from the city

1:18:31administrations to draft this ordinance

1:18:34and this ordinance and mayor Cambridge

1:18:36ordinant right the right of tenant is

1:18:39there it's a matter of put it out there

1:18:42as a city we should have this ordinance

1:18:44right as a city you know every resident

1:18:48who was happen to be tenant

1:18:50need to know their right and the

1:18:51landlord too need to hand this right to

1:18:54the people that they before anything

1:18:58before the tenency of you know uh of

1:19:02tenant right before they start living

1:19:04day one did you understand that

1:19:07so these people here really the MMAC

1:19:10housing project and all the speakers

1:19:12they do care about this they live in our

1:19:14city

1:19:16uh I was hoping that you or we uh go

1:19:19into public hearing on October 6th and

1:19:23let the throw but then again waiting a

1:19:26few months that's fine but I urge

1:19:29everyone here everyone at home who care

1:19:31about tenants rights come every meeting

1:19:35the housing subcommittee meeting show up

1:19:38and the next time you show up you need

1:19:40to feel up there and down here and when

1:19:44you have a public hearing for this

1:19:46council when it's come back for a public

1:19:48hearing You need to show up. If you do

1:19:50not show up,

1:19:52that's all your fault.

1:19:55Show up. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1:19:59[applause]

1:20:03>> Maybe they should hold it on a Saturday.

1:20:07[clears throat]

1:20:07>> Council Yang.

1:20:09>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um

1:20:12I I do really uh support uh you know

1:20:15this motion and also um I want to thank

1:20:19the speakers who actually uh brave

1:20:23enough to come and speak. Um while they

1:20:26were speaking uh I remember the thing

1:20:29that happened to me. I think it was

1:20:31either uh 1989 or 1990s when we have uh

1:20:36Loon off uh Rock and Branch uh uh

1:20:40Fletcher Street. It was a long time ago.

1:20:43Uh I was living in Rock Street and um

1:20:46one one afternoon while I was sleeping

1:20:49the door was open and uh I was shocked

1:20:52to see my landlord was standing there,

1:20:55you know, with uh the new renters.

1:20:58actually he was showing uh my apartment

1:21:01on Rock Street to the you know the the

1:21:03the new potential renter and I was

1:21:05shocked and I still remember to this

1:21:07day. So you know basically I want uh you

1:21:10know to also echo um you know councelor

1:21:12noun there's a lot of stuff that's

1:21:14happening in the city that uh you know

1:21:17the you know the the administration and

1:21:19the other people don't know about and uh

1:21:21some right might be violated and so

1:21:24therefore come out and speak and come

1:21:25out and attend the public hearing

1:21:27because I didn't know this that the

1:21:29landlord could actually open your door

1:21:31and you know show your apartment to

1:21:33somebody else while you're still living

1:21:35there. This is 1989 and you know 1990 so

1:21:38I I was probably around 17 or 18 years

1:21:41old and I didn't know you know a lot of

1:21:43stuff is happening but yeah that was

1:21:46happening to me and it was living rock

1:21:47street. So um so basically do come out

1:21:51and you know and I'll definitely you

1:21:53know support uh this ordinate. Thank

1:21:55you.

1:21:56>> Thank you councelor Leang. Councel

1:21:57Durant.

1:21:58>> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um, just on the

1:22:00point made earlier about perhaps having

1:22:03a harsher penalty, I'd be very cautious

1:22:06about that. First, the penalty is

1:22:08tiered, but it says that each day that a

1:22:11violation continues after written

1:22:13notice, which is the first tier, may

1:22:16constitute a separate violation. So, the

1:22:18it can quickly move up the tier. It's

1:22:21not like there's a real opportunity for

1:22:24um people to, you know, not be fined

1:22:26quickly. And I would also be cautious

1:22:28because you know I think land we're

1:22:32painting all landlords with the same

1:22:34brush but they are not all the you know

1:22:37[laughter] big and bad. They are people

1:22:39often who um don't you know for whom

1:22:42English is not their first language for

1:22:45whom making the you know this known to

1:22:47them is going to be as important as it

1:22:50is to tell the tenants about their

1:22:52rights. So the communication process is

1:22:55key and I think we just have to balance

1:22:58the need and the right need for tenants

1:23:00to understand their rights with the need

1:23:02for landlords to understand what we are

1:23:04now obligating them to. Thank you.

1:23:07>> Thank you Council Jurian and Council

1:23:08Robinson.

1:23:09>> Thank you very much. Um,

1:23:11real quick, cuz I know this is going

1:23:13subcommittee, but if you look at

1:23:14penalties between Cambridge and and what

1:23:16we have drafted here, our language says

1:23:19that may,

1:23:22which is which is a huge gray area. I I

1:23:24don't know legally, but people should be

1:23:26aware of this, may constitute a $300

1:23:29fine per day that the violation may. If

1:23:33you read Cambridge's version of it, it

1:23:35clearly states that any person who

1:23:38violates this provision of this chapter

1:23:40may be subject to a fine not exceeding

1:23:42$300. And each day's violation shall

1:23:45constitute a separate offense. And those

1:23:47are the kind of nuances I'm talking

1:23:49about in this draft that we really need

1:23:51to key in on because if not, what

1:23:53happens is we pass a subpar version of

1:23:57what we're trying to accomplish here.

1:23:58And when people are back in here saying,

1:24:01"Hey, well, under the tenants rights, it

1:24:04may give them a $300 fine per day

1:24:07additional, whereas Cambridge does." So,

1:24:09so again, these are fine details that I

1:24:12think we all have a golden opportunity

1:24:14to work together to ensure that is in

1:24:16the final document. And and as we've

1:24:18heard from the administration, we do

1:24:20need to fasttrack this and get this

1:24:22done. So, thank you.

1:24:24>> Thank you, Council Robinson. All in

1:24:25favor of sending it to the housing

1:24:27subcommittee signified by saying I. Any

1:24:29opposed? So ordered. Thank you.

1:24:34Motion to suspend the rules by councelor

1:24:36Dakota, seconded by councelor Chow to

1:24:39take 8.5 out of order. All in favor

1:24:43signify by saying I. Any opposed? So

1:24:45ordered.

1:24:478.5 vote authorize the city manager

1:24:50execute an 8-year contract with the LOL

1:24:53Management Group, Inc.

1:24:59Vote authorizing the city manager enter

1:25:01into an agreement with the Low

1:25:03Management Group, Inc. for a period of

1:25:05up to eight years relative to requests

1:25:07for proposals regarding management of

1:25:09the Low Memorial Auditorium.

1:25:14Motion to adopt by councel Noon,

1:25:16seconded by Councelor Mercier. Any

1:25:19comments, concerns? Roll call.

1:25:25Council Mercier.

1:25:26>> Yes.

1:25:27>> Councilor Nune,

1:25:28>> yes.

1:25:28>> Council Robinson,

1:25:29>> yes.

1:25:30>> Council Rock,

1:25:30>> yes.

1:25:31>> Council Scott,

1:25:32>> yes. Uh,

1:25:33>> Council Chow,

1:25:34>> yes.

1:25:34>> Councilor Dakota,

1:25:35>> yes.

1:25:35>> Mayor Gia,

1:25:36>> yes.

1:25:37>> Council Durant,

1:25:38>> yes.

1:25:38>> Council Leang,

1:25:39>> yes.

1:25:40>> Councilor Mcdana,

1:25:41>> yes.

1:25:41>> 11 years.

1:25:42>> 11 years. Well, we're under suspension

1:25:44of rules. Council Ror seconded by

1:25:47Councelor Robinson to take 8.7 out of

1:25:51order. All in favor signify by saying I.

1:25:53Any opposed? 8.7 vote authorizing city

1:25:56manager to file special special

1:25:58legislation Vincent Fernandez.

1:26:03Vote enact relative to retirement of

1:26:06police sergeant Vincent Fernandez.

1:26:09>> There are registered speakers. Mr.

1:26:11Mayor.

1:26:12>> Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

1:26:16>> Vincent Fernandez.

1:26:28Good evening.

1:26:30Good evening. Uh I once again um want to

1:26:33thank everybody here um for allowing me

1:26:36to speak before the board and I want to

1:26:37thank everybody for their efforts um

1:26:40with this motion um and in trying to

1:26:43understand the

1:26:44>> what it is we have asked.

1:26:45>> Can you just please state your name and

1:26:47address for the record? I am sorry.

1:26:49>> Thank you.

1:26:50>> Vincent Fernandez, uh, 121 L Road. Uh,

1:26:53and I apologize, Mr. Mayor.

1:26:56>> I

1:26:58stood before the board, I'm sorry, the

1:27:01council two weeks ago and to tell you um

1:27:06about what I have gone through since the

1:27:08moment I was nearly killed uh in

1:27:10downtown l uh 10 years ago. I stood up

1:27:15here in an honest depiction of

1:27:17everything that I have gone through,

1:27:19everything I have endured, and

1:27:20everything that my family has endured as

1:27:23well.

1:27:25And it is unfortunate at this time that

1:27:27I have to waste your time up here

1:27:29defending myself

1:27:31from false and misleading statements

1:27:33made by Mr. D. Rosha on behalf of the

1:27:36retirement board

1:27:39on the 98 council meeting. I'm sorry.

1:27:43False misleading statements that Mr. D

1:27:44Roshi made at the 98 council meetings

1:27:46and during the 728 council meeting that

1:27:49prompted the rescending of your previous

1:27:51714 vote.

1:27:54Two weeks ago, Mr. D. Rosha stated as

1:27:56fact to this council

1:27:59that I committed an earnings violation

1:28:01on a mass general law, chapter 32,

1:28:04section 91A, and owed roughly $6,000 as

1:28:08a result.

1:28:10This statement is completely false.

1:28:14After that meeting, I contacted the

1:28:17executive director of PARK. And for

1:28:19those who don't know, Perk is the

1:28:21governing agency for the retirement

1:28:22system, Director William O'Keefe.

1:28:28I spoke to him via email and he looked

1:28:31at my file and easily confirmed that I

1:28:34in fact did not violate the earnings law

1:28:37and in fact I have never earn violated

1:28:40the earnings law since my retirement.

1:28:44[snorts]

1:28:45Director O'Keefe was also able to

1:28:46correct another false and misleading

1:28:48statement that Mr. D. Rosha made during

1:28:49this meeting. Mr. D. Ferocious stated

1:28:52that Parak would deny my motion

1:28:55for the violently injured police officer

1:28:57retirement if I submitted it to them.

1:29:03This is completely misleading.

1:29:06[snorts] This would be because it is

1:29:08outside of the scope of their authority

1:29:10and not because I am not eligible for

1:29:12special legislation version of this

1:29:14retirement.

1:29:16If you refer to the actual email that my

1:29:19wife has sent to the city council, you

1:29:21will see his explanation of this.

1:29:26I also want to correct a misleading

1:29:28statement that Mr. Droia made during

1:29:29that 728 meeting which resulted in the

1:29:32original vote being rescended.

1:29:34Mr. D. Rosha stated that I petitioned

1:29:37the retirement board and that they had

1:29:39denied this petition for this

1:29:41retirement.

1:29:42This is also false.

1:29:44I did not present this to the board and

1:29:47in fact at the behest of a state

1:29:49legislature.

1:29:51He suggested that I contact the

1:29:54retirement office and inquire

1:29:58about my eligibility under the new law,

1:30:01not the special legisl special

1:30:03legislation law. [snorts]

1:30:07The retirement office referred my

1:30:08questioning to their attorney. In a very

1:30:11thorough email, he explained the new

1:30:14law's lack of retroactive status.

1:30:17And this is the reason why the new law

1:30:19does not apply to me because I have

1:30:22retired outside of that date.

1:30:25The board in fact did not reject my

1:30:28request because it was never presented

1:30:30to the board.

1:30:32He had misled you in thinking that the

1:30:35board rejected my request. It was simply

1:30:37a question presented

1:30:39to the retirement office.

1:30:44So, let me be clear.

1:30:47This is not about the new violently

1:30:49injured police officers law,

1:30:51which is something we also provided you

1:30:53because I think that you should all

1:30:55understand what this law entails.

1:30:58There's a lot being said about, you

1:31:01know, a cascading effect or or opening

1:31:03the door for all these people to be um

1:31:07to have their retirements reconsidered.

1:31:10The law that we sent to you

1:31:12has opened that door.

1:31:15Any officer who was injured in the

1:31:16manner of which I was injured

1:31:19and forced to retire will automatically

1:31:21be eligible for this retirement.

1:31:24Again,

1:31:26I am not asking to fit into a law that

1:31:29is not that does not have a retroactive

1:31:31status.

1:31:34This [snorts] law

1:31:36was first enacted in 1948, special

1:31:39legislation for violently injured police

1:31:40officers, and it still applies today.

1:31:4473

1:31:46catastrophically

1:31:48injured police officers and firefighters

1:31:52have been retired under the special

1:31:55legislation law. Currently, there are

1:31:57four

1:31:59that are in the legislative process

1:32:00right now at Beacon Hill.

1:32:06My wife and I applied to the city of L

1:32:09eight years ago

1:32:11to file a special legislation.

1:32:14My request sat dormant until this past

1:32:16July,

1:32:17even though my wife and I followed up

1:32:19dozens of times and reppresented the

1:32:22city with this request with the help of

1:32:25the police chief's office on three

1:32:27separate occasions.

1:32:29We have [snorts] done nothing wrong

1:32:31other than apply for a benefit that I am

1:32:34legally eligible to apply for.

1:32:38In June, I first spoke to Parak Director

1:32:41O'Keeffe regarding my retirement.

1:32:44This was facilitated by the governor's

1:32:47office whom I had contacted about this

1:32:50very issue of my retirement.

1:32:53Mr. [snorts] O'Keefe graciously reviewed

1:32:55the findings of my ADR file, which

1:32:58included all relevant facts pertaining

1:33:00to my retirement, including medical

1:33:02records and police records.

1:33:07Mr. O'Keefe reviewed these findings and

1:33:09stated this, and I will quote him via

1:33:11the email. Our records indicate that you

1:33:15retired on accidental disability in May

1:33:18of 2017

1:33:20and you are still being treated for a

1:33:22number of medical issues. [snorts] You

1:33:25suffered catastrophic injuries as a

1:33:28result of a criminal and violent act.

1:33:32The individual who tried to kill me was

1:33:34indicted by a grand jury and charged by

1:33:37the Commonwealth with assault with

1:33:39attempt to murder. He was sentenced to

1:33:4110 years in jail for that crime.

1:33:47This statement is important because it

1:33:48is the exact

1:33:52definition

1:33:53and requirement needed to be eligible

1:33:57for the special legislation retirement.

1:34:03Mr. O'Keefe further stated, and I will

1:34:07quote him again, "At the time of the new

1:34:10Violent Act, disability pension for

1:34:12police officers and other first

1:34:13responders who are catastrophically

1:34:15injured,"

1:34:17I'm sorry, let me rephrase that. He

1:34:20stated, "At that time, the new violent

1:34:23act, disability pension for police

1:34:24officers and other first responders who

1:34:27are catastrophically injured by a

1:34:28violent attack was not in place. It is

1:34:31not retroactive."

1:34:33However,

1:34:35he stated that nothing back then, nor

1:34:38nothing now

1:34:41would prevent me from pursuing special

1:34:43legislation that would provide me I'm

1:34:46sorry, that would provide you with such

1:34:48benefits.

1:34:50>> Mr. Fernandez, are we close? We get

1:34:53three minutes. You

1:34:54>> give me 30 seconds and you can have that

1:34:57great pizza.

1:34:59>> [snorts]

1:35:03>> He further went down the line in the ef

1:35:05in the effort to get through this and

1:35:08explain to me the steps necessary to

1:35:10file special legislation. Meaning in a

1:35:14combination I would need to contact the

1:35:15l city government l state reps l

1:35:18senators and the governor's office and I

1:35:19would need the support of this council.

1:35:22[snorts] That is what we have done. We

1:35:25have done all that in the past eight

1:35:26years.

1:35:28It is not our fault this request sits in

1:35:30retroactive status. We have done

1:35:32everything that we can to move this

1:35:34request along in a timely manner. At the

1:35:36time of my retirement, we were made

1:35:39aware of the special legislation.

1:35:41I'm sorry. At the time of my retirement,

1:35:44we were never made aware of the special

1:35:45legislation retirement and we were only

1:35:48offered an accidental disability

1:35:51retirement. It is these two facts that

1:35:55have led us to a retroactive status

1:35:57application of the violently injured

1:35:59police officers legislative retirement.

1:36:02I was given an accidental disability and

1:36:05there is nothing accidental about my

1:36:06injuries or the incident that caused

1:36:08them. There was a deliberate attempt on

1:36:11my life that has left me

1:36:12catastrophically injured and permanently

1:36:14disabled.

1:36:17[snorts] And that leads me to this.

1:36:20I feel that based on everything that has

1:36:22been said over the past couple of months

1:36:25that the only thing that I have actually

1:36:27done wrong was survive the violent

1:36:30attempt on my life.

1:36:33My wife are a my wife and I are asking

1:36:36for your support from this council to

1:36:39vote in favor of this motion. I

1:36:41apologize for going over and thank you

1:36:43for your time.

1:36:45>> Amy Fernandez

1:36:53Hi, good evening. Introduce myself, Amy

1:36:55Fernandez, 121 Low Road, Prol. Good

1:36:58evening, mayor. Thank you guys for

1:37:00having me, council. So I hand I'm I'm

1:37:03here tonight standing before you as a

1:37:05wife, the caregiver and primary advocate

1:37:08for Vincent Fernandez, but most

1:37:10importantly here as a mother speaking

1:37:13for our children whose lives were

1:37:15completely reshaped the day their father

1:37:17was permanently disabled in uniform.

1:37:20Before I dive into the heavy details, I

1:37:22just want to say I was born, raised here

1:37:26in low and between balancing my career,

1:37:28volunteering, raising my two kids and by

1:37:32the grace of God, I was given the

1:37:33strength to keep this all together.

1:37:36Though having the little tough skin

1:37:38might help a little bit.

1:37:40Tonight, I stand here to talk about what

1:37:43happens after the shift

1:37:45and what survival actually looks like

1:37:47inside a first responders's home.

1:37:51When a police officer is

1:37:52catastrophically injured, the t the

1:37:54trauma doesn't stop with the officer. It

1:37:56ripples through the entire family. Our

1:37:59children have grown up watching their

1:38:01dad endure seven spinal surgeries,

1:38:04navigate a traumatic brain injury, and

1:38:07fight profound physical pain every day.

1:38:11As Vincent's caregiver, my role has been

1:38:14247. For the last 10 years, my life has

1:38:17been consumed of medical schedules,

1:38:19cognitive care, and survival.

1:38:24That is 10 years of lost time as a mom.

1:38:2810 years when my energy had to be split

1:38:30between my career, nurturing my

1:38:32children,

1:38:34serving in our community, and keeping my

1:38:36husband alive.

1:38:38Our kids don't just lose the version of

1:38:40their father they knew. They had to

1:38:42witness the true crushing cost of public

1:38:45service.

1:38:46On the top that immense emotional toll,

1:38:49we have been forced to fight a second

1:38:52exhausting financial battle.

1:38:56Because Vincent's injuries fall outside

1:38:58the time frame of the state's 2024

1:39:00violent crimes pension law, he's trapped

1:39:02in a loophole, capped at a partial

1:39:04pension. A partial pension does not

1:39:07cover a lifetime of medical bills,

1:39:09specialized care, or the total loss of a

1:39:12career. Let me be entirely clear, any

1:39:16financial payout on our lives will never

1:39:20be enough to make up from what has been

1:39:22taken from us. But 100% pension ensures

1:39:26that our family doesn't have to suffer

1:39:27financially on top of the physical and

1:39:29emotional price we pay every single day.

1:39:33This isn't just about Vincent. LOL

1:39:35should want to be known for protecting

1:39:37those that serve and the families who

1:39:39hold the line at home. Every man and

1:39:42woman who puts on a uniform needs to

1:39:44know that if the worst is to happen, the

1:39:46community would be here to protect their

1:39:48spouses and their family.

1:39:51The legislation allows a path to fix

1:39:53this loophole, but it requires your

1:39:55leadership first. We are asking this

1:39:57council to approve and file the home

1:39:59special legislation on behalf of Vincent

1:40:01Fernandez to adjust his retirement

1:40:03benefits to 100%.

1:40:06Caregiving is a beautiful act, but it's

1:40:09also deeply, deeply exhausting. By

1:40:12filing this legislation, you have the

1:40:13power to lift this financial worry off

1:40:15our shoulders, correct a glaring

1:40:18injustice, and finally give this family

1:40:20some peace.

1:40:22Please do not let this get lost in

1:40:24administration delays. Your vote is the

1:40:26first mandatory step to the correct this

1:40:28injustice. When our officers give us

1:40:31100% of their safety to protect our

1:40:33families, we owe it to their children

1:40:35and their families to give them 100% of

1:40:38support in return. I thank you for your

1:40:41time.

1:40:45>> Mario Oliviera,

1:40:52>> I'm sorry.

1:40:54>> William D. Rosas.

1:41:00>> Good evening. Good evening, Mr. Mayor,

1:41:02members of the city council, Mr.

1:41:04Manager. My name is William D. Roger. I

1:41:06live at 28 Clement Road in Draket, but I

1:41:09am here tonight as the chairman of the

1:41:12Lower Retirement Board. And I came

1:41:14tonight to speak in opposition of the

1:41:16petition that comes before you. Uh,

1:41:21very quickly, I know Mr. Fernandez kind

1:41:23of made some statements about me giving

1:41:25false information.

1:41:27Uh, one statement he said was that they

1:41:30hadn't submitted he hadn't request the

1:41:31lower retirement board to approve his

1:41:34violent act injury disability. Uh, that

1:41:38that's wrong. He's did it by an email to

1:41:39us to the retirement board. We reviewed

1:41:41it and we replied to him that we could

1:41:45not approve that and Perak would not

1:41:47approve it because the law was very

1:41:49clear that the violent act injury

1:41:51disability as of 2024

1:41:54was prospective only for injuries that

1:41:57occurred after that date after the law

1:41:59was enacted.

1:42:02The second thing that Mr. Mr. Fernandez

1:42:04uh stated was and I and he's correct in

1:42:08this is that I stated that Mr. Fernandez

1:42:11had earned in 2024

1:42:14had overearned under section 91A.

1:42:18The reason I said that and after I heard

1:42:20Mr. Fernandez object to it, we had to

1:42:23investigate further. The fact of that is

1:42:26is that in 2024,

1:42:29Mr. Fernandez had earned had earned

1:42:32income of $49,513.

1:42:37>> We thought,

1:42:39>> can can we can we please can we please

1:42:43keep order? He was quiet when you spoke.

1:42:45Let him finish speaking.

1:42:48>> If we can't keep order, we're going to

1:42:49have to have you removed from the

1:42:50chambers.

1:42:52>> If we can't keep order, we're going to

1:42:54have to have you removed from the

1:42:55chambers.

1:42:58Please finish.

1:43:00>> So Mr. Mr. Fernandez had earned income

1:43:03in 2024.

1:43:05It was reported to us also and combined

1:43:07with that was that he had had a civil

1:43:10lawsuit of an amount I won't specify

1:43:13that added together put him over the

1:43:16amount that he was allowed to earn under

1:43:1891A. That was the information that we

1:43:20were given and that's why we thought he

1:43:22had overearned after Mr. Fernandez had

1:43:25voiced that that was incorrect that he

1:43:27hadn't paid it. We had to do further

1:43:30research and found out that he was

1:43:31right. Perak informed us that a civil

1:43:34lawsuit is not part of earned income. So

1:43:37he had not had to to push uh to

1:43:40reimburse the low retirement board.

1:43:45If successful this petition uh Mr. Yeah.

1:43:49If successful with the petition, Mr.

1:43:51Fernandez retirement benefits would

1:43:53initially increase by approximately

1:43:55$18,000 a year

1:43:58retroactive to the initial date of

1:44:00retirement

1:44:02and going forward until he reaches the

1:44:04age of 65 years old. This would

1:44:07immediately cost the low retirement

1:44:08board approximately $180,000.

1:44:13In addition to that, we would have to uh

1:44:16refund all his contributions

1:44:19which could add up to a significant

1:44:20amount and the total amount would

1:44:22approximately we would have to

1:44:24immediately write Mr. Fernandez the low

1:44:27retirement board would have to

1:44:29immediately write Mr. Fernandez a check

1:44:31for pro over $250,000

1:44:34taxfree.

1:44:36That's not that wouldn't be arbitrary.

1:44:38If this passed and went to the state

1:44:40legislators, we would have to write this

1:44:43check.

1:44:48Mr. Fernandez is entitled to work and

1:44:50earn money as all accidental disability

1:44:54retirees are,

1:44:56but there's a limit to it. And the limit

1:44:59the the computation is the difference

1:45:02between the pension that he's currently

1:45:03receiving and the position that he

1:45:06retired from. that difference plus

1:45:08$15,000.

1:45:10That $15,000 was increased this year to

1:45:13$20,000.

1:45:15>> Point of order. Mr. [clears throat]

1:45:17Mayor,

1:45:18it's been 4 minutes and 10 seconds. I

1:45:21hit pause during that.

1:45:22>> You gave every speaker We gave the past

1:45:23speaker 11 minutes. He's at four.

1:45:26>> So, if we're going to

1:45:27>> You gave the past speaker three and a

1:45:29half. I I was in here for that. I went

1:45:30to I waited in the hallway. I'm sorry.

1:45:32Nobody else did it.

1:45:33>> I take your under advisement. Please

1:45:35continue. Mr. Ro,

1:45:37>> I'll wrap it up very quickly. There are

1:45:3971 uh 77 disabled police officers uh

1:45:42police officer receiving an accidental

1:45:44disability. 41 firefighters in the city

1:45:47receiving an accidental disability.

1:45:50If this is the trend that continues, you

1:45:53this hopefully the city council will see

1:45:55the significant financial impact that

1:45:58would occur from this. Many of them

1:46:00could do it. I appreciate your comments

1:46:02uh your your give me the option to

1:46:05speak. Thank you very much. I'll be here

1:46:06if you have any questions. Thank you.

1:46:10>> Thank you. Any council's wish to speak?

1:46:13>> Move to approve.

1:46:15>> Move for approval.

1:46:17>> Councelor Rook, seconded by Council

1:46:21Noon. Roll call.

1:46:23>> Oh, council.

1:46:25>> Yeah, thank you. Um I I do have uh one

1:46:29question and then a comment. There was a

1:46:31reference um by Mr. Fernandez to special

1:46:34legislation retirement. Is that a term

1:46:37of art or is that just what we're

1:46:39talking about uh you know the um motion

1:46:42whatever ordinance whatever it is that

1:46:45was put solic

1:46:49>> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Yeah that is just

1:46:50this legislation itself. Um it's not a a

1:46:54broader uh you know category of

1:46:56retirement or if that's what you're

1:46:58alluding to. This is just individual

1:47:00special legislation for an individual.

1:47:03>> Okay. Thank you. Um and

1:47:06>> yeah, uh I'll I'll turn it over. I may

1:47:09have another question.

1:47:10>> Thank you, councel. Thank you, Mr.

1:47:12Mayor.

1:47:12>> Dakota.

1:47:13>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh question to the

1:47:15city solicitor. I guess I'm looking for

1:47:18a happy median here. Is there any way

1:47:20that they

1:47:23such as Mr. fin would go to that special

1:47:25legislation but without retro.

1:47:30>> Solic Williams.

1:47:32>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Well, that that

1:47:34would be the will of the body. So, um

1:47:37the legislation that's before you um is

1:47:40crafted after previous legislation um

1:47:42you know with the act that was passed in

1:47:442024. Um it takes the elements of that

1:47:48and that is what's in this legislation.

1:47:50Uh again, because it is this body that

1:47:51approves it. Um it would be up to the

1:47:56body or the council if um changes were

1:47:59desired.

1:48:04>> I I guess I would put that forth for a

1:48:06motion that we put this through but

1:48:09without the retro. Um

1:48:13>> I think if I'm trying to be reasonable

1:48:15here. I think if we send this to the

1:48:16state house it's going to sit there for

1:48:17a couple of years and then it's

1:48:19everybody's going to forget about it.

1:48:21Um, I understand Mr. Fernandez's plight.

1:48:24Um, and he has good good argument and so

1:48:27does Mr. D Roas through the retirement

1:48:29boys. I kind of see both their

1:48:31arguments, but I'm I'm I guess I'm

1:48:33looking for a happy median in there.

1:48:34Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1:48:36>> Thank you, Council Dakota. Councelor

1:48:37Duran.

1:48:39>> Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I

1:48:41appreciate Councelor Dakota's u

1:48:43potential motion. I'm not quite sure

1:48:45where it stands. [laughter] Um, and um,

1:48:49but I think this is a challenging

1:48:51situation. I mean, I sympathize with Mr.

1:48:54Fernandez and his family. I mean, their

1:48:56story two weeks ago and then again

1:48:58tonight is heart-wrenching and we um,

1:49:02you know, our police officers do put

1:49:04their lives on the line every day and I

1:49:07thank them for being willing to do that

1:49:08as their, you know, for their life's

1:49:11work. And if addressing Mr. Fernandez's

1:49:15need was independent of everything else.

1:49:17That would be easy to agree, but the

1:49:21impact on the city if we pursue this is

1:49:24significant. Uh we are talking about a

1:49:26quarter of a million dollars if this

1:49:28were to go through the legislature. Um

1:49:31and given the you know how large our

1:49:34retirement liability is and how much we

1:49:36need to work to fully fund it over the

1:49:39next 10 years, adding additional

1:49:41liability is concerning. Um, we also

1:49:44learned at the last meeting and then

1:49:45again tonight that there are uh 77

1:49:48police officers and 41 firefighters who

1:49:51are retired and who like Mr. Fernandez

1:49:54are receiving an accidental disability

1:49:57pension. Uh, if we support this request,

1:50:00I think we're likely encouraging at

1:50:02least a few of those other disabled

1:50:05employees to seek similar recourse with

1:50:07potential additional costs to the um,

1:50:10city's retirement fund. Um, and you

1:50:15know, I've heard arguments and even just

1:50:17now that this request for special

1:50:19legislation sort of merely punts the

1:50:22issue to the legislature, you know,

1:50:24which may or may not approve it. But I

1:50:27think our responsibility as a city

1:50:29council is to make the hard judgments um

1:50:34and do our fiduciary duty to protect our

1:50:37city's finances for everybody's benefit.

1:50:40Um, so I I I find this request really

1:50:45hard to move forward with even though it

1:50:48is emotionally appealing. Thank you.

1:50:52>> Thank you, Council Dian. Council Mcdana.

1:50:54>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I I I think this

1:50:56this is I think the third third time

1:50:59that this has come in front of the

1:51:00council if I'm counting correctly. Um, I

1:51:03will like to I would like to just state

1:51:04for the record had I been in the room, I

1:51:06would have point of ordered that first

1:51:07speaker on 11 minutes, too. I'm not It's

1:51:09okay. your meeting. I just want to know.

1:51:11>> You didn't point a vote to any of the

1:51:12speakers that spoke on your motions that

1:51:14were up there for 8 minutes. So

1:51:15>> that you could have. I didn't start the

1:51:17timer. That's also the first time versus

1:51:19the third time in front of the body. Um

1:51:21so I I guess what I'm what I'm looking

1:51:23for is uh this one issue. This is the

1:51:26third time and we still don't seem um as

1:51:29to what we'd like to do. I I think this

1:51:31is why we have subcommittees. Um I I

1:51:35would like to make a motion to refer

1:51:36this to a joint uh finance and public

1:51:38safety subcommittee. I think that would

1:51:40allow um the council and the city

1:51:43administration to to to work through all

1:51:45of the implications that we keep trying

1:51:47to piece together based off three to

1:51:50four public comments. Um but but in

1:51:52order to get all of the information and

1:51:55then provide a report to the council on

1:51:57a final recommendation of of those two

1:51:58subcommittees, hopefully we can kind of

1:52:01move forward and put this to bed at that

1:52:03point. But this clearly needs more

1:52:05discussion than we can have um or that

1:52:08we have had at a at a general meeting.

1:52:11>> Is there a second to council Mcdana's

1:52:13motion to send it to a joint

1:52:15subcommittee?

1:52:18>> Seeing none, motion fails. Councelor

1:52:20Rook.

1:52:20>> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. What's the same

1:52:23responsibility to Mr. Fernandez? Officer

1:52:24Fernandez.

1:52:25>> I'm sorry.

1:52:26>> What's it say responsibility to officer

1:52:27Fernandez? He didn't do as cutting the

1:52:29grass. He didn't do his brushing his

1:52:31teeth. He did it serving the city,

1:52:34protecting people. And we're going to

1:52:35sit here and argue with $200,000.

1:52:38Officer Fett has put this through eight

1:52:40years ago, well before this law was in

1:52:42place. So, we're going to sit here and

1:52:44screw him tonight,

1:52:46pass it along, send it to the state,

1:52:49give them a chance to review it and look

1:52:50at it. It's their ultimate decision. And

1:52:53if we have to pay 200 grand for a guy

1:52:55who can't work anymore, that has his

1:52:58wife taking care of him every single

1:52:59day, that has kids have gone through

1:53:01this, 200 grand is getting off cheap.

1:53:05Do the right thing. Thank you, Mr.

1:53:07Mayor.

1:53:08>> Council Scott.

1:53:09>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I I would echo

1:53:11councilor's sentiments. Um I mean,

1:53:13sometimes you just have to do what's

1:53:14right and and what's right is to support

1:53:17this officer that, you know, seriously

1:53:19injured in the line of duty. um he you

1:53:22know under the current rules he would be

1:53:24eligible um we have the opportunity to

1:53:26make this right and like I said

1:53:27sometimes you just have to make do the

1:53:29right thing thank you

1:53:31>> thank you councel Scott councel noon

1:53:34>> thank you Mr. May

1:53:39look, you have record before you at

1:53:41least some

1:53:44that

1:53:4710 years ago, June 4th, 2016,

1:53:52a violent act was committed on that

1:53:55officer s Sergeant

1:53:58Vincent Fernandez.

1:54:01That violent acts cause him

1:54:05violent injury. Those impact not just on

1:54:09him

1:54:11on his family.

1:54:14And now we debating about you know how

1:54:17much going to cost us.

1:54:19Look how many police officer we have,

1:54:21how many firefighter we have that serve

1:54:24our city

1:54:26every day put their life on the line. we

1:54:30tell them doesn't matter.

1:54:34I agree with councelor Ro and I agree

1:54:38with most of my colleague to authorize

1:54:42the city manager to file that special

1:54:45legislation on this particular case.

1:54:49>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1:54:52>> Councelor Dakota, did you have a motion?

1:54:54>> Mr. Mayor, there's a motion on the floor

1:54:55already that was already seconded to

1:54:57pass it to to vote. I'm sorry. You're

1:55:00right. Council Robinson,

1:55:03>> through you, Mr. Mayor, to the

1:55:04solicitor. Um, if we vote to do this,

1:55:06it's nonpresident, Senator, correct?

1:55:09This is just a case- specific situation.

1:55:14>> Solicitor Williams.

1:55:14>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, yes, that that

1:55:17is correct. This legislation is um

1:55:20specific to an individual. Um and if

1:55:24ever something like this were to happen

1:55:26again theoretically or if this were to

1:55:28come before the council um each

1:55:30situation would be looked at I don't

1:55:33want to say differently but you'd

1:55:34consider the different no situation is

1:55:36going to be the same.

1:55:37>> So each each situation's independent

1:55:39because of whatever the circumstances.

1:55:41Okay. Thank you [snorts]

1:55:44>> council.

1:55:46>> Thank you Mr. Mayor. I think um this

1:55:49case need to be settled either way. I

1:55:51mean, I I just don't feel like it's

1:55:55right to to keep prolonging this. I

1:55:58mean, he's here. He's um, you know,

1:56:01recovered and he's gone through a lot.

1:56:04And I feel like uh during the time he

1:56:07put his life on the line was for the

1:56:09protection of the city and the people

1:56:11and the residents and he didn't even

1:56:13think how he was going to end up

1:56:16surviving struggling with his family,

1:56:18his kids and you know I I don't have to

1:56:20mention all this and that but um

1:56:23can we just do this? And it just um I

1:56:28don't know. I I just don't like the

1:56:30comparison between the struggling that

1:56:32he went through and

1:56:35balancing with the money uh you know uh

1:56:38against his life or against what he's

1:56:41trying to do which is to serve and

1:56:43protect the residents of the the city

1:56:45and you know just

1:56:48you know from a bad guy. So basically I

1:56:50I I don't know what else to say but just

1:56:52you know let's just get through this.

1:56:55>> Thank you. Roll call.

1:56:57>> Council Mercia.

1:56:59>> Yes.

1:56:59>> Council Non.

1:57:00>> Yes.

1:57:01>> Council Robinson.

1:57:02>> Yes.

1:57:03>> Council Rock.

1:57:04>> Yes.

1:57:04>> Council Scott.

1:57:05>> Yes.

1:57:06>> Council Chow.

1:57:07>> Yes.

1:57:08>> Councilor Dakota.

1:57:10>> Yes.

1:57:11>> Mayor Gia.

1:57:12>> Yes.

1:57:13>> Councilor Jirean.

1:57:14>> No.

1:57:15>> Council Leang.

1:57:16>> Yes.

1:57:17>> Council Mcdana. Yes.

1:57:19>> 10 years.

1:57:21[clears throat]

1:57:22>> Well, we're under suspension of rules.

1:57:24Um, councelor Dakota would like to take

1:57:276.11

1:57:29out of order. Seconded by councelor

1:57:31Jirean.

1:57:33All in favor signify by saying I. Any

1:57:35opposed? So ordered. 6.11. Council

1:57:38Dakota requests the city manage have the

1:57:40election director provide a report

1:57:41regarding DOJ's presence in activities

1:57:44in LOL during the recent elections on

1:57:47912026.

1:57:50Council Dakota.

1:57:51>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Appreciate you

1:57:52taking out of order. I saw Mr.

1:57:54Rosenberry in the corner. If you don't

1:57:55mind Mr. Rosenberry coming to the

1:57:56lectern, please.

1:57:59>> I'm trying to save you from writing the

1:58:01report. How's that?

1:58:02>> Oh, thank you.

1:58:03>> All right. Um, I did receive a couple

1:58:05calls from constituents. Uh, and just

1:58:09wondering what the DOJ representatives

1:58:12were that were present on September 1st.

1:58:14Um, how many were there? Uh, what

1:58:16schools did they go to? Um,

1:58:20what were they doing and were they

1:58:22cooperative with the uh officials?

1:58:25>> Sure. Uh, thank you. Uh, yes. Uh, thank

1:58:28you for saving me the time of maybe

1:58:30writing this report. Um so the uh

1:58:32Department of Justice uh notified me

1:58:34just the Wednesday before the election

1:58:36that they would be coming or the primary

1:58:37that they'll be coming into uh monitor

1:58:40do do their routine monitoring of the

1:58:42election. Uh here in LOL we are subject

1:58:44to section 203 of the voting rights act.

1:58:46We are required to have language uh

1:58:48ballots in various languages Spanish and

1:58:50kami as well as English. So um we have

1:58:53been subject to this uh observation in

1:58:55the past or monitoring in the past. Um,

1:58:59so they were looking for language access

1:59:00issues. Uh, also they did tell us they

1:59:03would be perhaps looking at ADA

1:59:05compliance or and also the uh making

1:59:08sure we're following the procedures with

1:59:09the issuance of provisional ballots. I

1:59:12don't know exactly how many teams there

1:59:14were. Uh, I I I believe that there was

1:59:16only one team that I'm aware of. Uh,

1:59:19they don't tell you exactly uh when

1:59:22they're coming or or where they're going

1:59:24to be. Uh I couldn't tell you with any

1:59:27degree of certainty as to exactly which

1:59:28polling places they they went to. Um but

1:59:30I you know anecdotally uh I I did uh I

1:59:34do know that they were at the collegiate

1:59:36uh the my senior center. I encountered

1:59:39them in my uh personally at the Butler.

1:59:42Um

1:59:42>> do they make theelves known to local?

1:59:45>> Yes they do make themselves known. Um

1:59:47they uh and I did have the opportunity

1:59:49to meet with them in advance of this uh

1:59:52along with uh our law department here as

1:59:54well as the secretary of state's uh

1:59:57director of elections and first deputy

1:59:59uh and the communities in Medford and

2:00:01Boston who are also subject to this

2:00:02monitoring.

2:00:04Uh they do identify themselves to our

2:00:07election workers and our election

2:00:08workers were aware that they were

2:00:10coming. Um the good news is is that uh

2:00:13we basically passed a monitoring with

2:00:15flying colors. They said we did an

2:00:16excellent job with our language access.

2:00:19They had actually no issues here in the

2:00:21city of lol uh on any front and they

2:00:24held us up as a model for those other

2:00:26communities. So um you know again

2:00:29routine monitoring to which we have been

2:00:30subject before. Uh they did let us know

2:00:32a little closer to the primary date than

2:00:34they have in the past. But

2:00:36>> should we expect them in November? Um so

2:00:38we did have a debrief with them and uh

2:00:41they have not stated with they have not

2:00:43decided or have not been told as to

2:00:45where they would be going. Uh it is

2:00:48likely that they will be here again in

2:00:50November. Hopefully they will uh notify

2:00:53me and we'll have an opportunity to get

2:00:54the word out to to the uh pole workers

2:00:56to be prepared for them again. So

2:00:58>> I appreciate your answers. Thank you.

2:00:59>> No problem counselor.

2:01:00>> Thank you Mr. Thank you. Any other

2:01:03questions? All in favor of the motion

2:01:05signify by saying I. Any opposed? So

2:01:07ordered. 6.2. Council Scott request city

2:01:11manager contact the state executive

2:01:13office of health and human services and

2:01:15LOL state delegation to advocate for

2:01:1824-hour shelter services as a condition

2:01:20of state funding and for access to use

2:01:23state hospitals and properties for

2:01:25shelter programming and expedite these

2:01:27efforts to support LOL's winter protocol

2:01:30program this year. Seconded by councelor

2:01:33Cow. Councelor Scott.

2:01:35>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I know that's

2:01:37pretty long and wordy uh motion, but um

2:01:40any of us that have been downtown, we

2:01:42understand the dire situation that's

2:01:43happening. Uh it's happening for the

2:01:45homeless residents there. It's happening

2:01:46for the businesses there. Um and I just

2:01:49feel like, you know, we we've brought

2:01:50things to the to the council floor many

2:01:53times to have this discussion. So, I'm

2:01:55kind of looking at what can change um

2:01:57what can we do differently, I guess. And

2:01:58I know the manager has been working

2:02:00really hard researching different

2:02:02options around this. Um, one of them

2:02:04that he brought to my attention that,

2:02:05you know, a model that he had admired, I

2:02:08guess, would be around Father Bills in

2:02:10Quinsey. Um, I took some time

2:02:12researching them. Um, in addition to

2:02:14Father Bills, they now have the Smith

2:02:16House in Brockton, and now they're

2:02:18building another um, shelter in Plymouth

2:02:20with an 11,

2:02:22no, 11.7 million grant from the state.

2:02:25So I guess my question at this point in

2:02:27time is we have been um taking the

2:02:29weight you know as a regional shelter

2:02:32here in the city and it's really time

2:02:33for us to to lean back on the state and

2:02:36ask for you know how we can bring these

2:02:38type of funds to the city of Lel. Um all

2:02:41three of these centers have wraparound

2:02:42services. They're open during the day.

2:02:45You know I feel like that funding when

2:02:47they give the funding they shouldn't be

2:02:48able to close from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00

2:02:50p.m. Um these three centers have a

2:02:52healthc care center. They serve food at

2:02:54them. They have outdoor space, drug

2:02:56counseling. I mean, all the wraparound

2:02:58services in one location. Uh, this is

2:03:00what we need. We can't just open the

2:03:02doors and expect business to thrive and

2:03:04the people to thrive. They're not

2:03:05getting the services that they need.

2:03:06They're randomly scrambling looking all

2:03:08over the place for it. So, that's my

2:03:10motion. The second part of it is really

2:03:12around the ICC and the winter protocol

2:03:14and what's going to happen right now,

2:03:15whether or not we're going to have space

2:03:17to use um if the state's going to help

2:03:19us in any way around that. So, I'd

2:03:21appreciate your support. Thank you.

2:03:23>> Thank you, Council Scott. Council Rook.

2:03:25>> Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yeah, there's

2:03:26a place about 5 milesi up the road that

2:03:28has all those things already in place.

2:03:30Um, so hopefully, you know, maybe we

2:03:32reach out to our uh state senator um and

2:03:35newly elected um state representative

2:03:38that represents the uh the Tukbury area

2:03:40and uh get something done there. Thank

2:03:41you, Mr. Mayor.

2:03:42>> Thank you, Council Rook. All in favor of

2:03:45the motion signified by saying I. Any

2:03:46opposed? So ordered. 6.3 [clears throat]

2:03:49Council Scott. Council Mcdana requests

2:03:51the city manager explore ways to

2:03:53permanently commemorate in back central

2:03:56neighborhood the contributions of LOL's

2:03:58Portuguese community who help build and

2:04:00grow the area. No second needed council

2:04:03Mcdana

2:04:06Council Scott.

2:04:07>> Thank you. I'll I'll go first on it. Um

2:04:09so this motion actually came to me from

2:04:11um a leader of the Back Central

2:04:13Neighborhood Group and the St. Anony's

2:04:15Church. Um he he brought up a an idea I

2:04:19guess really to celebrate the history of

2:04:21Back Central and the Portuguese people

2:04:22that really helped build you know the

2:04:24area. Um yeah I'm assistant city manager

2:04:27Mashado was 100% in support of this.

2:04:29>> Best motion ever.

2:04:30>> Yeah. Best motion. Thank you. Thank you.

2:04:33Um yeah. So he brought up the idea they

2:04:35they did a procession that went from um

2:04:37St. Anony's and they walked up to uh the

2:04:40blue I'm sorry the Red's Club. Sorry

2:04:42about that. Um, and he brought the idea

2:04:44of kind of making a triangle from St.

2:04:45Anony's to each of the clubs to the

2:04:47blues and the red, forming a triangle

2:04:49and really trying to incorporate uh

2:04:51banners and signs and and um landmark,

2:04:55you know, anything that can commemorate

2:04:57the the culture and the history. And he

2:04:59has the idea to incorporate um I guess

2:05:01I'd try to send this to a neighborhood

2:05:03subcommittee right away. um he'd like to

2:05:05incorporate a group of people to be

2:05:07involved in it. Business owners, um

2:05:09members of the Portuguese clubs, uh the

2:05:12UMass Lowel Center for Portuguese

2:05:14Studies, uh MAPS, he has a whole list of

2:05:16people that he'd like to invite to be

2:05:18part of the discussion on what what we

2:05:19can do to really make this happen and

2:05:21celebrate the culture. Thank you.

2:05:24>> Thank you, Councelor Scott. Council

2:05:25Mcdana.

2:05:26>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um this is this is

2:05:29something that um the the back central

2:05:31neighborhood is still is is has been for

2:05:34quite some time a very vibrant

2:05:35Portuguese uh community. Um there are a

2:05:38number of processions as councelor Scott

2:05:40said from St. Anony's church to the two

2:05:42social clubs and in kind of throughout

2:05:44that triangle. Um when councelor Scott

2:05:47and I first talked about this I I

2:05:49immediately thought of uh common common

2:05:51street and Lawrence. So I I grew up in

2:05:53Methuan from a don't you know despite

2:05:56the last name from a big Italian family.

2:05:58Um it's true and they have a feast every

2:06:03August they they have a feast for the

2:06:04three saints and the that whole parade

2:06:07route is commemor is uh is striped with

2:06:10an Italian flag on the street. I'm not

2:06:11saying this is exactly what we do but

2:06:12right but they they have the parade

2:06:14route striped with an Italian flag on

2:06:15the street. They have a number of um

2:06:18banners and other kind of overhanging

2:06:20decorations that are in place year

2:06:22round. They have a couple kind of

2:06:24interpretive pieces of material for if

2:06:26you're there and there's no fees cuz

2:06:28it's only two days. Um and in Back

2:06:32Central, this is not a one-time this

2:06:34isn't even a once a year activity in

2:06:36Back Central. This is this is a I don't

2:06:38actually know if I could tell you how

2:06:39many times we have a there's there's a

2:06:41procession from St. Anony's to one of

2:06:43the social clubs. Um, and so I I think

2:06:46working with the neighborhood and in

2:06:47trying to call attention to that year

2:06:50round, make people stop and think, why?

2:06:53I wonder why it looks this way. I should

2:06:54look up the festival. Now it draws a

2:06:56little bit of tourism in addition to

2:06:57commemorating the the work of of that

2:07:00immigrant community. So thank you.

2:07:03>> Thank you, Council Mcdana. Councelor

2:07:04Mercier.

2:07:05>> Thank you, Mr. Samir. I think I can go

2:07:08back further than most people in this

2:07:10room, but I can remember when the back

2:07:13central neighborhood area was decrepit,

2:07:17falling apart, windows were boarded up,

2:07:21houses were empty. It was a disgrace.

2:07:25And then along came these people called

2:07:29Portuguese Americans. and they came to

2:07:33the back central neighborhood and they

2:07:36transformed

2:07:37their area

2:07:39like they had a piece of heaven. And

2:07:42what they did was cuz I know many of

2:07:45them, they lived in the basement and

2:07:48started fixing the first floor. Then

2:07:52when they got that finished, they moved

2:07:54to that first floor and started on the

2:07:56second floor.

2:07:58It was just a transformation that did

2:08:01your heart so good because you seen

2:08:04these hardworking people come to a

2:08:07section of the city and transformed it

2:08:10into a place of beauty. And after they

2:08:13was done, they took a bathtub and they

2:08:17buried it in the ground and put the

2:08:19blessed mother inside

2:08:22to add the frosting to the cake. I mean,

2:08:25I'm so very, very proud of the

2:08:28Portuguese people and what they stand

2:08:31for. Hard work. They took an area of the

2:08:34city that no one would want to live in

2:08:37and transformed it into beauty. So, if

2:08:40there's a way that we can commemorate

2:08:44anything that they're looking to do, I

2:08:46would be in total favor of that. They

2:08:49are a credit to the city, the Portuguese

2:08:52people. Hardworking, very religious, and

2:08:55I've marched in many of those

2:08:57processions. They love God and I love

2:09:01them. So, they do a tremendous job. So,

2:09:04thank you very much.

2:09:06>> Thank you, Council Mercy. All in favor

2:09:08signify by saying I. Any oppose? So

2:09:10ordered. 6.4. Council SCAR Council Noon

2:09:13request the city manager suspend the use

2:09:16of the flock safety system while the

2:09:18city completes a thorough policy review

2:09:21of its usage, the company's use of data

2:09:25and the audit process of the data. No

2:09:27second needed. C. We have registered

2:09:29speakers.

2:09:30>> There are Mr. Mayor. Ron Pe.

2:09:36>> Hello, my name is Ron Pri. I live at 240

2:09:38Beacon Street up on Christian Hill.

2:09:40Before I go through with my personal

2:09:42stuff, there was a point of order there

2:09:44or law or something that should have

2:09:46been made earlier today. Someone made

2:09:47the statement that a landlord could walk

2:09:50into your apartment without notice to

2:09:52show the show your place. That is simply

2:09:55not true and I was surprised that nobody

2:09:57corrected it. So, I'm going to make a

2:09:59note of that and move on to my stuff. So

2:10:02in any room where somebody is uh talking

2:10:05about tech stuff, I've spent 40 years

2:10:07working on distributed networking,

2:10:09distributed security, high-speed

2:10:11computer systems, basically every piece

2:10:13of technology that is part of these

2:10:15advanced ALPR distributed systems. In

2:10:17any room, I would be considered a

2:10:19subject matter expert. Under oath, I

2:10:21would be considered uh expert witness.

2:10:25Um I'm not the only one. Uh, the town of

2:10:29Tukesberry has someone who does even

2:10:31more security work than I do on their

2:10:33select board. His name is James Mackey.

2:10:35He wrote an entire report which I'd like

2:10:38to give to um the solicitor general and

2:10:42another one that was also written by

2:10:44another expert.

2:10:46I'm in favor of this technology.

2:10:49However, at the moment, it is not

2:10:52operating underneath the ro roll roles.

2:10:56Right now, as I speak, there are not

2:10:58tens, there are not hundreds, there are

2:11:00not thousands, there are tens of

2:11:01thousands of legal cases and security

2:11:04violations regarding this technology

2:11:07across the country. It's operating

2:11:09without checks and balances, without

2:11:12oversight. And as long as that's

2:11:15happening, it's more of a problem than

2:11:17it is a solution. I want this technology

2:11:20adopted, but it has to be put under the

2:11:22same legal framework that we put wire

2:11:24taps that we put all police other

2:11:27evidence work. They want to sell the

2:11:29data. They want to be able to share the

2:11:31data indiscriminately. They don't want

2:11:32the municipalities to own the data

2:11:34themselves. They want the companies to

2:11:35own the data. All of that's in direct

2:11:37violation to all sorts of legal stuff

2:11:40and normal procedure. We need to stop

2:11:43this. Tell them we need requirements put

2:11:45in place. We need independent oversight

2:11:47because no one can self-please when the

2:11:50stakes are this high and they want to

2:11:51self police. They're trying to sell us

2:11:53on that idea. Anyway, this is two of

2:11:55about a dozen reports by experts in the

2:11:57field. I give them to Mr. Solister to be

2:11:59shared with the rest of the city

2:12:01council. [laughter]

2:12:03Um,

2:12:08>> and if anyone has any questions, I'd be

2:12:10happy to answer them. But that's

2:12:11basically my I'm absolutely in favor of

2:12:13us stopping this and doing a very very

2:12:15thorough investigation of it.

2:12:18>> Um

2:12:18>> Tina Tina degree.

2:12:25>> No.

2:12:32>> Yes. My name is Tina Degree. I live at

2:12:34305 Nezim Street, Lel Massachusetts. and

2:12:38um with this flock camera, which there's

2:12:40already three in the city that I know

2:12:41of. Um and like he said, they're not

2:12:44operating appropriately and they're

2:12:46violating people's rights. They're

2:12:48violating people's rights to privacy.

2:12:50The stuff that's being done with the

2:12:52flock camera all throughout the states,

2:12:54not just in Massachusetts, other states,

2:12:56there's 1.6 six million cases right now

2:12:59for illegal searches because what it

2:13:02does is allow for people to um it allows

2:13:06for the police to facial recognition,

2:13:08see if you still if your driver's

2:13:10license is suspended, see if your car is

2:13:12registered, to see I mean that again is

2:13:15a violation to people's right privacy.

2:13:17If a cop pulls you over, yes, that's

2:13:19different. But to use a camera to look

2:13:21in people's vehicle and to say that, oh,

2:13:24you're running the cell phone. I know

2:13:26because it happened to someone that I

2:13:27know very closely right here in the city

2:13:30a few months ago and they tried to say

2:13:32it was a cop that seen him from a

2:13:34distance. It wasn't a cop. It was a

2:13:35camera. It's right outside the justice

2:13:37center here in lower. So again, if cops

2:13:41don't want to do their jobs, then I mean

2:13:43that's another story in itself. But this

2:13:45city talks about transparency. Let's be

2:13:48transparent with the residents here.

2:13:50Let's talk about what these cameras do.

2:13:53the flock camera. Then there's another

2:13:55camera that's coming up. But like I

2:13:57said, there's enough states that have

2:14:00lawsuits against them because people

2:14:02take these cameras and they violate

2:14:05people's rights and illegal searches

2:14:07have happened because of it. So no, this

2:14:09city doesn't want that, especially in

2:14:11the marginal communities, the black and

2:14:13brown communities. It's enough with

2:14:15violating people's rights. It's enough

2:14:16with the invasion of privacy.

2:14:20That's all.

2:14:22Thank you. [applause]

2:14:29Council Mercer would like to suspend the

2:14:31rules to allow a speaker seconded by

2:14:33Council Noon. All in favor signify by

2:14:35saying I. Any oppose? So ordered. Please

2:14:37state your name and address for the

2:14:39record.

2:14:40>> Uh thank you very much. My name is Ken

2:14:41Seagull. I'm from 73 South Wilder Street

2:14:44in L. Thank you, mayor, and and thank

2:14:47you councel and all the executives here.

2:14:51Uh just to give you a little uh I'm in

2:14:54favor of using the flock cameras and I

2:14:56know this gentleman came up. He's an

2:14:58expert. Well, I guess I'll say it's like

2:15:00playing poker, you know. I'll trump him.

2:15:02I I developed a lot of the protocols

2:15:04that are used in the internet. I have

2:15:06seven patents on it, an engineer, and

2:15:08I'm an IT director also. So, I have a

2:15:11lot of familiarity with what can and

2:15:13can't be done with these cameras. I will

2:15:16say that the statement that there are

2:15:19tens of thousands of issues uh

2:15:22nationwide in fact that is a blatantly

2:15:25false statement which I did research

2:15:27there are exactly in Massachusetts

2:15:30because that's where we are there are

2:15:32five total incidents five they're in New

2:15:36Bedford in River

2:15:39in and Linn and Stow and uh one other

2:15:44city. So, I appreciate that uh gentleman

2:15:49said that, but that is false.

2:15:53Unfortunately, uh Brainree was the other

2:15:56one. Okay. And by the way, not every one

2:15:59of these was a stalking incident. I

2:16:02looked for every single incident that

2:16:05involved flack flock cameras that was

2:16:07somehow improper. Five in the state. So

2:16:10I would suggest that we weigh that

2:16:12against the benefits that we have in

2:16:15combating crime especially in law. So

2:16:18that's very important. Um this also goes

2:16:22to I guess there's another resolution

2:16:24614. So I just want to briefly touch on

2:16:26that. There's a a motion that we should

2:16:29look into systems that don't use a

2:16:31database for example. Um that's actually

2:16:34technically impossible. So, I apologize

2:16:36mayor for I don't mean to call you out

2:16:38on that, but literally you cannot have

2:16:41any system whatsoever that has no

2:16:44database that in fact is gathering

2:16:45information. A database is a storage

2:16:49medium for acquired information. Okay?

2:16:53Be it RAM, VRAM,

2:16:56hard disk storage or cloud storage. So,

2:16:59that doesn't exist. So, you don't even

2:17:00have to bother studying it. It literally

2:17:03doesn't technically exist. Um, for those

2:17:06that are worried about privacy, I will

2:17:08urge you to consider that there is no

2:17:10guarantee of privacy in public spaces.

2:17:12Flock cameras are always in public

2:17:15spaces and that stuff is a bunch of

2:17:17nonsense. I would also uh point out you

2:17:21all have TVs, those smart TVs.

2:17:25Every uh every 500 milliseconds that

2:17:28smart TV is snapping a picture of what

2:17:30you're watching and it's sending it on

2:17:32the cloud. And so everybody knows and in

2:17:35fact the speakers in the TVs or the

2:17:37microphones used to do voice commands

2:17:40are actually monitoring and sending

2:17:42information back to LG, Samsung,

2:17:45Walmart. Um, and I don't mean to be

2:17:47dystopian about this. That's just a fact

2:17:49of what they do. You can feel bad about

2:17:52it or good about it, but the idea that

2:17:54there's a privacy issue with flock

2:17:56cameras, which people complain about on

2:17:58the social media that monitors

2:18:00everything, is a little ridiculous. This

2:18:03thing knows more about me and you than

2:18:06any device that could ever be put in the

2:18:08city. Okay. So, I would urge that the

2:18:12city weigh the absolute benefit of crime

2:18:15control against the absolutely ludicrous

2:18:19idea that somehow our privacy is

2:18:22magically in being invaded by this

2:18:24sliver of cameras that are out there

2:18:28that actually collect almost nothing

2:18:30compared to what we do. Uh I appreciate

2:18:33your time and uh assume these comments

2:18:36also apply to uh legislation 6.14.

2:18:40Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

2:18:44>> Rules.

2:18:45>> We're under suspension of the rules. We

2:18:46have another person who would like to

2:18:48speak. If it's the wish of the body, we

2:18:50allow the speaker to speak.

2:18:54>> I I'm getting it.

2:18:56>> If you could come up and please state

2:18:57your name.

2:18:59>> Thank you. Thank you. Please state your

2:19:01name and address for the record.

2:19:03>> Of course. Thank you all. My name is

2:19:04Emily Girtinbach. I live at 124 Park

2:19:06Avenue East here in Lel. Um, so I'm glad

2:19:10we're having this conversation tonight

2:19:12and I had a few points that I wanted to

2:19:14bring up as well. So my fellow

2:19:17constituent earlier mentioned that she

2:19:18knew of at least three current maps that

2:19:21are designed to log the position of ALPR

2:19:25cameras. You can find one at dlock.org

2:19:27or that currently shows far more than

2:19:29three within the bounds of Lowel City.

2:19:31Um they are not 100% flock brand. They

2:19:35are I would say about 95% flock brand.

2:19:38There are a few that were not labeled as

2:19:39a flock. They may be Motorola. They may

2:19:41be Axion. I'm not sure in terms of the

2:19:44database comment brought up by my other

2:19:46fellow constituent. Now I do not have

2:19:49internet patents but I do research this

2:19:51a lot. And I will say that he's not

2:19:54wrong that almost all computer systems

2:19:57have a database when they are gathering

2:19:59and collecting information. However, if

2:20:01we look very specifically at at the

2:20:06further mention that he talked about

2:20:086.16 requires city manager to have the

2:20:11proper department provide a list of

2:20:13suitable alternatives to flock that

2:20:14don't share information to any kind of

2:20:18database. Now, we can get into semantics

2:20:20there, but a key component of the Flock

2:20:22system in particular is that it's

2:20:24sharing or it has the ability to share

2:20:27information with other police

2:20:29departments. And if you go to Flock's

2:20:31own website where they have a case study

2:20:32page featuring the Lowel Police

2:20:34Department, it does list publicly on

2:20:36Flock's website all of the other police

2:20:39departments, most in Massachusetts, not

2:20:41all, that the Low PD is currently

2:20:43sharing or has shared part of our Flock

2:20:46database with. So, if we pursue another

2:20:49ALPR solution, which I'm personally not

2:20:52a fan of ALPRs, but setting that aside,

2:20:54if we pursue another ALPR solution,

2:20:57there are some such as those made by

2:20:58Axion, some of the Motorola options

2:21:00where the data is stored, yes, in

2:21:02technically a database, but locally

2:21:04within the PD, and it does not feed into

2:21:07a nationwide network. At this time,

2:21:09police departments have the option, as

2:21:11ours has done, to share their data with

2:21:13other PDs, and the flock company itself

2:21:16can actually pull up various police

2:21:18department feeds in the course of

2:21:21training and, you know, showing the

2:21:24product to other police departments. So,

2:21:27I personally am not a fan of it. And I

2:21:30think that the use of to go off of what

2:21:32my fellow constituents said, you know,

2:21:33it's one thing when a police officer

2:21:35pulls you over and you have to give your

2:21:36name and registration. It's another when

2:21:39a camera is monitoring you. Um, in terms

2:21:41of the television argument, I have the

2:21:43option to not have a smart TV in my

2:21:46home. I have the option not to carry a

2:21:48smartphone, although I do. I don't have

2:21:50the option to not be tracked by flaw

2:21:52cameras. I would have to not leave my

2:21:54house and that's not sustainable. Um,

2:21:58and you know, there is a community

2:21:59aspect to policing, one could say. Um,

2:22:02that is completely lost when it is done

2:22:03strictly through a remote camera feed.

2:22:05Thank you.

2:22:07>> [applause]

2:22:09>> Thank you,

2:22:11Council Scott.

2:22:16Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, where to start

2:22:20with this, I guess, but I guess I'd

2:22:22start off first by saying that I am not

2:22:23opposed to the ALPR cameras. Um, in

2:22:27general, I've supported them in the

2:22:28past. I've talked about us adding more

2:22:30cameras around illegal dumping. Um I

2:22:32applaud um some of the crimes that

2:22:34they've been able to to stop across the

2:22:36city. They've helped with hit and runs,

2:22:38robberies, other issues like that. Um

2:22:41what alarmed me was the B what happened

2:22:43in Boston um that they were sharing data

2:22:45flock the company itself was sharing

2:22:47data with outside law enforcements

2:22:49against the wishes of Boston. Um that

2:22:52that's very scary. it's, you know, we

2:22:54have civilian privacy rights and we have

2:22:57a very vulnerable population in the city

2:22:59that that really, you know, worries me.

2:23:02Um, so that that was where I came from

2:23:04with this motion. I feel like it's time

2:23:06right now for us to suspend the use of

2:23:08them. Um, to look at the audit process,

2:23:10what mechanisms we have in place to to

2:23:12do the audits, who's the dedicated staff

2:23:15that signs off on it. Um, have they all

2:23:17signed policies acknowledging, you know,

2:23:20what happens if it's abused? Um, so I

2:23:22think there's a lot of things that we

2:23:23could talk about. Um, Greg, um, Chief

2:23:26Hudon when he came before us, he said

2:23:28that, um, he was working on updating the

2:23:30policy. I feel like we should not be

2:23:33using them in the meantime until that

2:23:35happens and there are the safeguards in

2:23:36place. Thank you,

2:23:38>> Council Non.

2:23:39>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. When councelor

2:23:42Scott and I was talking about, we both

2:23:47agreed that

2:23:49um these two

2:23:53when it used right

2:23:57there's a benefit to it to fight and

2:24:01solve crime for the police department to

2:24:04do that. We talking about legal

2:24:07dumpling.

2:24:09We're talking about many other cases not

2:24:11only fighting crime and solve it but

2:24:14also savers taxpayer from you know

2:24:17having the officer to go and testify in

2:24:20court at time case can resolve in lure

2:24:24of trial because evident because of this

2:24:27tool.

2:24:30However

2:24:32there has been misuse and abuse of these

2:24:35tool.

2:24:37The question that face every city and

2:24:40town, not just in Massachusetts,

2:24:44throughout the nation,

2:24:46is how do we balance public safety

2:24:50with community expectation for privacy

2:24:54and accountability.

2:24:56So now it's time to suspend it and let's

2:24:59review it so that we do it right.

2:25:03Thank you.

2:25:04>> Thank you, Council Noon. Councelor

2:25:06Duran.

2:25:07>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I just wanted

2:25:09to understand what um the makers of the

2:25:12motion or maybe the city administration

2:25:15um think of when we think of suspending

2:25:18the use. What actions will be taken to

2:25:21do that? Uh I know in some communities

2:25:25people have taken it upon themselves to

2:25:27wrap the cameras in plastic to avoid

2:25:30use. I mean as soon as the cameras exist

2:25:34the data is there and we have heard

2:25:35stories where flock itself has

2:25:38reactivated cameras when a town has said

2:25:41to not use them. So trying to understand

2:25:44how we will be sure that the use really

2:25:48is suspended while we take this uh do

2:25:51this do the necessary analysis.

2:25:54>> Manager Golden.

2:25:55>> Uh thank you very much uh Mr. Mayor

2:25:57through to the council. council. It's um

2:25:59obviously the will of the council is to

2:26:01if this were to move forward, but um I

2:26:04believe that I've been talking to

2:26:05Superintendent Hudon about this and some

2:26:07of the questions that people have raised

2:26:09in regards to sharing etc. and what has

2:26:13been happening, Flock is reacting to

2:26:15some of this and as far as doing audits,

2:26:18etc. So, um, once again, if the council

2:26:22decides to put a pause on this, uh, we

2:26:25have a number of questions already that

2:26:26have been been brought forward, we could

2:26:28do that. Uh, get the appropriate

2:26:30answers, maybe go to, um, subcommittee

2:26:33of public safety or bring it back here

2:26:34to the floor, whichever the wish of the

2:26:36body is. But, um, I would feel confident

2:26:39that if the whatever the body would like

2:26:41to do, pause or not pause, uh, we would

2:26:44be able to get that accomplished working

2:26:46with, uh, the company at this time. if

2:26:48that answers your question that you're

2:26:49looking for.

2:26:50>> Yes, I I think it'll come down to a

2:26:52question of trust if you're working with

2:26:54the company to do it. But I I appreciate

2:26:56that. Um I do also want to understand

2:26:59because at the August 25th meeting, I

2:27:01thought we were going to go into

2:27:02executive session tonight to talk about

2:27:05the flock the police department's use of

2:27:08flock cameras and yet that's not on our

2:27:10agenda. So I don't know where we are. I

2:27:13think we had purposely skipped the one

2:27:15meeting in order to do it tonight. That

2:27:18was Yep.

2:27:19>> Manager Golden.

2:27:19>> Uh thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Three

2:27:21to the council. Uh we would be doing

2:27:23that in two weeks from tonight because

2:27:25we're going to miss next Tuesday and

2:27:27then the Tuesday following. I believe it

2:27:29will be set for that. Uh we were

2:27:31actually thinking about bringing in uh

2:27:33people from Flock, but that wouldn't

2:27:35happen on under executive session. So

2:27:39once again the option is whatever the

2:27:41council would like to do obviously we

2:27:43will u move forward on that particular

2:27:45matter but um I do know that

2:27:47superintendent hero has been working on

2:27:49some of the questions that have already

2:27:50been raised has been working with uh the

2:27:53representatives from flock to find out

2:27:55things that have been happening you know

2:27:57one for instance and I don't want to

2:27:58dive down this because this is something

2:28:00that the before the council but one of

2:28:02them was uh who you know who we are

2:28:05sharing it with Um, yes, you can share

2:28:08it uh c throughout the country, but the

2:28:12l police department has chosen to share

2:28:14it with New England states and the city

2:28:16of New York. Now, that does not mean

2:28:18somebody from California cannot call and

2:28:21say, "We would like to um find out if if

2:28:25there was a hit on this particular um on

2:28:27this particular vehicle." they would

2:28:29then do the research themselves uh here

2:28:32in the city of LOL on behalf of u a non

2:28:36neighboring um town. So once again, LOL

2:28:39is utilizing New England and New York

2:28:42only. Everyone else is going to have to

2:28:44ask for permission at that at at this

2:28:45time.

2:28:47>> Thank you. Um I I mean I don't think

2:28:49this is an eitheror situation. I think

2:28:51as the motion suggests the suspension of

2:28:54the use of the system is while we do

2:28:57undertake all of this other analysis and

2:29:00and you know understanding. So I think

2:29:02you know we should be doing both. Thank

2:29:05you.

2:29:06>> Thank you councel Duran. Councel

2:29:08Robinson.

2:29:09>> Thank you. Um

2:29:11I've been hearing the concerns about the

2:29:13flood cameras.

2:29:16I don't I'm not supportive. It seems to

2:29:19me like it's a brand flock. It it it's a

2:29:23specific brand of monitoring, but I've

2:29:28also heard from the chief in law

2:29:30enforcement. It's [clears throat] a

2:29:31valuable tool. I myself have filed

2:29:34motions with colleagues on adding camera

2:29:38systems to stop signs on school buses.

2:29:40So, when people run the lights, it would

2:29:42track your plate. You'd get a warning or

2:29:44or a fine in the mail. Um, I've worked

2:29:48with other colleagues and filed motions

2:29:50for cameras located at illegal dumping

2:29:52spots throughout the city because we've

2:29:54been combating that for the past at

2:29:56least 5 years since I've been here.

2:30:00I hear some of the concerns about

2:30:02misuse,

2:30:03five or so statewide. I don't know those

2:30:06numbers exactly what's happened in mass,

2:30:09but I also look at that as any

2:30:13technology there's human error. it it's

2:30:16it's impossible to avoid. Whether it's a

2:30:18GPS in a vehicle and you catch an

2:30:21employee in New Hampshire, whether it's

2:30:24a a dispatcher that has access to sieges

2:30:27that

2:30:29accesses that information unjustly.

2:30:33I mean,

2:30:35you're only as good as your internal

2:30:38discipline policy for that department

2:30:40and how your department heads and the

2:30:42administration respond to those kind of

2:30:45infractions. And I think it's it's

2:30:46pretty clear-cut. If you violate that

2:30:49trust or policy of the public, you

2:30:52should be gone in my opinion. And and

2:30:54I'm a lifelong union advocate, but I

2:30:57think that rises to the level that's

2:30:59egregious enough that you should be

2:31:01terminated. the there's no first step,

2:31:04second step. I I believe every

2:31:06municipality has that right to kind of

2:31:11weigh is this egregious enough to to

2:31:14warrant termination. That's procedural

2:31:16stuff that happens on a daily basis with

2:31:18the administration.

2:31:21Five incidents, one person says, another

2:31:23person saying we have the skies fallen.

2:31:27crime rates. We see small communities

2:31:30that have already shut down Fluff.

2:31:33My question would be, do they have the

2:31:35same crime rates LOL does? I I think

2:31:38with a bunch of different joint efforts,

2:31:41whether it's increased neighborhood

2:31:43policing, whether it's rolling out more

2:31:46programming where we have uh school

2:31:49resource officers, we have offices

2:31:52appearing at every kind of community-

2:31:54based event and building those

2:31:56relationships over time.

2:31:58Our crime rates have have decreased

2:32:00somewhat in the past five, six years.

2:32:04I just don't think though I agree it it

2:32:08shouldn't be either or but I don't think

2:32:11until we can get information in place

2:32:16we freeze this because

2:32:19God forbid something happens and we need

2:32:22to access something that we just froze.

2:32:24You saw it in Cambridge with their shot

2:32:26spotter system. They had shot spotter.

2:32:29They had incidences that occurred once

2:32:30the shot spotter was shut down. What did

2:32:32they have to do? They came back and

2:32:34reenacted it. I think we need to look at

2:32:38informed decision-m here a as a

2:32:42legislative board, policym board. And so

2:32:46within our first step be let's find out

2:32:48what do we have for suitable

2:32:50alternatives to provide that tool in the

2:32:52toolbox for law enforcement that might

2:32:55not share to a national database or has

2:32:57already better guard rails if that's the

2:32:59concern. because I I continuously hear

2:33:01the concern is the data and information

2:33:03sharing. We don't even know what the

2:33:05alternatives would be. So, as of right

2:33:07now, it's how do we get flock not to do

2:33:11what we don't want them to do? But we

2:33:13don't and if they they don't opt to do

2:33:16that,

2:33:18what's the next step? I think we need to

2:33:21figure out where can we go instead of

2:33:23flock and have this conversation. uh

2:33:26executive session is scheduled to come

2:33:27up. So, I can't support suspending the

2:33:30use immediately until there's more

2:33:32information provided. And that's why I

2:33:34think we filed that motion as well.

2:33:37Thank you.

2:33:38>> Thank you, Council Robinson. Councelor

2:33:39Rook.

2:33:40>> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yeah, you know,

2:33:43love with uh Council Robinson um stated,

2:33:46you know, I do agree with I think when

2:33:47you have, you know, our number one uh

2:33:50law enforcement professional uh come

2:33:52before the council um and tell us um you

2:33:56know, how valuable it is and how useful

2:33:58it is uh and police work for violent

2:34:00crimes um you know, for solving cases.

2:34:04Um in this instance, I think the

2:34:06positives vastly outweigh uh the

2:34:08negatives. Um, you know, and and we

2:34:11could talk all day long about, you know,

2:34:12smartphones and smart TVs and iPads and

2:34:14all that stuff as far as what, you know,

2:34:17um, data is out there and what's

2:34:19available to be taken and used. You

2:34:21know, I could talk to, you know, the

2:34:22mayor about, you know, the best

2:34:24cheeseburger joints in the state and on

2:34:25your phone's going to have 15 places in

2:34:27a row where to grab a sandwich. So, I

2:34:30mean, you know, but in this situation,

2:34:33um,

2:34:34you know, we have our police

2:34:35superintendent up there stating, um, the

2:34:38value of it to his department, uh, cases

2:34:41being solved, um, them allowing to do

2:34:44their job, uh, in in a better, uh, way.

2:34:47You know, I have a hard time taking that

2:34:49tool away uh, from our police

2:34:50department. Thank you.

2:34:53>> Thank you, Council. Councelor Chow.

2:34:56>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I don't know

2:34:59councelor Dakota want to go first.

2:35:00>> No.

2:35:01>> Thank you counselor. Um I appreciate uh

2:35:03the speakers who came to speak tonight.

2:35:05Um learn a lot of information. Uh some

2:35:08are very very uh useful. A couple of

2:35:09them were disturbing. Um I I brought I

2:35:13want to thank my colleague who bring

2:35:14this up. Um we all have concerns about

2:35:16public safety and personal privacy and I

2:35:20appreciate um uh this being discussed

2:35:22tonight. I agree with councelor

2:35:25Robinson. council work. Um I don't think

2:35:28we we have enough information to make a

2:35:31decision on this motion. I feel like

2:35:32we're putting the court be before the

2:35:34horse. Um one concern that I have with

2:35:37is um

2:35:40what kind of effects it have on some of

2:35:42the current pending investigation cases

2:35:45right now if we're going to uh pause

2:35:47this uh floor camera. And the uh second

2:35:51thing is is I was looking forward to the

2:35:52exec session. Um so that way we can make

2:35:56uh better and more informed information

2:35:57about what to do, what our next steps

2:35:59would be. So um the motion as it is, I

2:36:03cannot support it until uh we have more

2:36:05information and I hope to have this

2:36:07exact session um the following meeting.

2:36:10Thank you.

2:36:13>> Thank [clears throat] you. Council child

2:36:14council,

2:36:17>> do you want to come up?

2:36:21>> [laughter]

2:36:35>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Go ahead, Mr.

2:36:37Mayor.

2:36:38>> It's nice to be able to sit down. Um,

2:36:41[clears throat]

2:36:42>> you can do it here, too, you know.

2:36:44>> Thank you, Vice Mayor. Um, I share the

2:36:47same concerns as councelor Jirean about

2:36:49the executive session piece. Um, I was

2:36:51under the impression it was going to be

2:36:52this week also and I share a lot of

2:36:56concerns with just shutting something

2:36:58down without having any alternative or

2:37:00anything. Um, I don't know the answer

2:37:03and and believe me, I am not a fan of

2:37:06people sharing people's data just to

2:37:08share people's data. I think if there's

2:37:10reason to it and you're sharing it back

2:37:12and forth, that's one thing, but I'm not

2:37:14comfortable with people being able to

2:37:16look at people's data. Um, as Council

2:37:19Rook has alluded to in the past, that

2:37:221989 iRock Z's should be driven more

2:37:24because they don't follow everything you

2:37:27have. Your car today is GM, all of them

2:37:30are sharing your data with everybody,

2:37:32your driving habits. They're sharing a

2:37:34lot of conversations that are in your

2:37:36vehicles.

2:37:37I don't agree with it. It's here. Um,

2:37:40how do we go about slowing down that

2:37:43process? The chief stood up here and

2:37:46said that, you know, he was willing to

2:37:47come in. We were willing to bring people

2:37:49in

2:37:50through you, Mr. Vice Mayor, to um the

2:37:53manager. Are you comfortable with

2:37:55shutting it down? Just cold turkey

2:37:58shutting all the cameras down,

2:38:00>> Mr. Manager.

2:38:01>> Uh, once again, thank you, Mr. Vice

2:38:03Mayor. Three to the council. Uh,

2:38:04council, is this is your decision? Um, I

2:38:07can give you my opinion. I have talked

2:38:09to the chief uh numerous times and I

2:38:12think that we could actually show the

2:38:14number of um uh issues that have been

2:38:17solved. So

2:38:19maybe give me a couple more weeks here

2:38:21uh to try to put this put this together.

2:38:24I think that a number of the questions

2:38:26that are being brought forth are

2:38:28something that I've spoken to the

2:38:29superintendent myself. Uh but in my

2:38:32personal opinion, no, I wouldn't be

2:38:34comfortable. I think he would interfere

2:38:35with uh some of the fine work our

2:38:37detectives do.

2:38:39>> Chief operating engine the other chief

2:38:41operating official

2:38:45decision, but if you're asking my

2:38:46opinion, I would be uncomfortable at

2:38:48this time moving forward with freezing

2:38:50it until we get all the the answers the

2:38:52questions that the the counselors have.

2:38:55And I' I'd feel free to take any and all

2:38:57questions and make sure that they're

2:38:58answered prior to our uh executive

2:39:01session.

2:39:02>> I'm worried about both sides of this

2:39:03issue. I'm I'm agree with the political

2:39:06answer to everything here. But

2:39:07>> it's a very sensitive safety at the same

2:39:09time as

2:39:10>> here we are in a place where safety is

2:39:13being compromised by sharing people's

2:39:15information also. And and it's been

2:39:17documented that this company gives you a

2:39:20low ball price so that they can share

2:39:22your information. I don't know if I can

2:39:24even say that in public, but I just did.

2:39:27And that's what other communities are

2:39:30having problem with. you lowball down

2:39:32and you shear out the information so you

2:39:34can make the back money to pay for

2:39:35everything. And

2:39:38to me, that's why that other motion was

2:39:40put in by council Robinson and I is to

2:39:42look at it. Okay, we collect our data

2:39:44and if we want to share it out without

2:39:46having someone have remote access into

2:39:48all of our databases and send it out. We

2:39:50would never do this if this was our MIS

2:39:52department. We would never allow some

2:39:54outside company to come in and just grab

2:39:56our database and shear it whatever way

2:39:58they want at any time they want and then

2:40:01say, "Oh, we didn't do it." But that's

2:40:03my concern with the whole thing. I just

2:40:05don't know if we just shut off the

2:40:06faucet immediately without having the

2:40:08experts here and saying, "Here we are. I

2:40:10don't need the flock company here

2:40:12because they're going to obviously lobby

2:40:13for their product and their service."

2:40:16But that's why the question comes in.

2:40:18Are there alternatives to this that

2:40:19would keep the database to ourselves?

2:40:22And that's my concern. Thank you,

2:40:24>> Council Scott.

2:40:26>> Thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor. Um, just a

2:40:29quick question through you to the

2:40:30manager. You had mentioned uh Flock

2:40:32doing auditing. I guess if you could

2:40:35explain that a little bit because you

2:40:36know that that is concerning to me I

2:40:38guess because you know they're a massive

2:40:41billiond dollar corporation that's

2:40:43overseeing our data and I'm not sure

2:40:44they're the ones that should be auditing

2:40:47the the data if you could explain that.

2:40:50>> Thank you Mr. Mayor three to the

2:40:52council. U the flock audit is something

2:40:54that is for the u the individual

2:40:58department to audit what who is doing

2:41:01what. So it's it's for the individual

2:41:03department being the LOL police

2:41:04department that has flock and they can

2:41:06go in there and have the opportunity to

2:41:08say uh for instance um officer Golden

2:41:11pulled over 100 vehicles or what is

2:41:14officer Golden doing right or wrong. I

2:41:17do think it's valuable to have the

2:41:19superintendent here to talk about this

2:41:20stuff but this is how I understand it.

2:41:22It'll give an opportunity that if

2:41:24officer Golden for instance

2:41:27uh decided to pull uh somebody's

2:41:29registration multiple times, it's going

2:41:32to show the problem. Now, if I was a

2:41:34detective

2:41:36and we were uh under uh an operation

2:41:42trying to find this particular person,

2:41:44then that would be a legal means to do

2:41:47that. However, there are other instances

2:41:49where it wouldn't be. So that's where

2:41:51the audit is coming into. It's it's it

2:41:54allows and this is what Flock has

2:41:55responded to I think in the past eight

2:41:57months to a year that they would help uh

2:42:01departments do an audit on their system

2:42:04to make sure that it is being used

2:42:05appropriately and if used

2:42:07inappropriately as council Robin

2:42:09Robinson had stated earlier if we found

2:42:11an instance that it was being used

2:42:13inappropriately there would be uh

2:42:16there'd be action that would be taken

2:42:17from from the chief's uh from the

2:42:19superintendent standpoint to the

2:42:20administration

2:42:21>> and are the searches right now like

2:42:22always associated with a case like

2:42:24that's like an official case that

2:42:26they're working on or is it

2:42:28>> possib I'm just making an example if a

2:42:30detective happened to be

2:42:33following somebody for a reason then

2:42:35that's that there's a reason behind that

2:42:37uh that would be the case that I I'm

2:42:39giving but I I would be more comfortable

2:42:41with the superintendent um explaining it

2:42:43because he has explained it to me what

2:42:44has been going on they've been working

2:42:46on policy since the last time we've had

2:42:48discussions about this this is uh this

2:42:51is an evolving piece that I think a lot

2:42:54of the questions that the council has

2:42:55could be answered um quite frankly they

2:42:58could be answered right here in public

2:42:59or they could be answered in the

2:43:00executive session. My original intent

2:43:02was to possibly, but I do agree with the

2:43:04mayor, what he had just stated, if we do

2:43:06bring the company here, they're just

2:43:07going to try to sell us it, you know,

2:43:09but I but I would I would think that if

2:43:11it's not executive session next week at

2:43:13in two weeks from now, it could be the

2:43:15superintendent answering these questions

2:43:17in a in a quite frankly a more direct

2:43:19way about what is being um how it is

2:43:23used as a tool and it is used as a tool.

2:43:25If it is used inappropriately, what

2:43:28would particularly happen? And I do know

2:43:30that uh once again in talking to the

2:43:32superintendent today that um it's the

2:43:36New England states that have access. Uh

2:43:39and remember it's a digital footprint

2:43:41every time somebody comes into this and

2:43:43the city of New York, excuse me, the

2:43:45state of New York has um access. We

2:43:48could shut all of that off, I suppose,

2:43:50but crime tends to go over borders

2:43:53rather quickly. So that'd be something

2:43:54we could have a discussion on as to who

2:43:56we want have to have access. But I

2:43:59specifically had asked the

2:44:00superintendent today. So somebody from

2:44:02California is they would not have access

2:44:04to that. They would have to call the

2:44:06city of LOL, ask for access, ask for

2:44:09that we are looking for Tom Golden or

2:44:11whomever driving this vehicle. Could you

2:44:13help us? And at that point in time, um

2:44:16the uh the department does not give

2:44:18credentials to uh the state of

2:44:20California. They would just do the

2:44:22actual research for them. And

2:44:23>> I believe if if you don't mind, one more

2:44:25question. the it listed on the shared

2:44:27list. I believe it said USPS too like

2:44:29the United States Postal Service. So

2:44:31does it share with federal agencies as

2:44:32well or

2:44:34>> that's Mr. Mayor through you,

2:44:36>> Mr. Mayor.

2:44:36>> It was on the list.

2:44:37>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. That's something

2:44:38I' check with the superintendent on as

2:44:41to how that is. My understanding is it

2:44:43is the New England states in in city and

2:44:46New York.

2:44:46>> That is my understanding at this point.

2:44:48I wouldn't say anything else. I would I

2:44:50would have to ask him.

2:44:52>> Okay. Thank you.

2:44:53>> Thank you, Councelor Scott. Council

2:44:54node.

2:44:55>> Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor.

2:44:59So,

2:45:00I'm not against flock camera.

2:45:04I just want a balance of it, right? So,

2:45:07we all agree there's a good, there's a

2:45:09bad uh we want a balance. uh if my

2:45:13colleague I mean want to hold off on

2:45:17this

2:45:19and hear from the chief or the

2:45:22superintendent of police at the

2:45:24executive session or in the executive

2:45:27session

2:45:28and then if councelor Scott would agree

2:45:31I would hold off on this and put it up

2:45:35after the executive session if there's a

2:45:37need be

2:45:39I mean it's up to council Scott

2:45:42Council Scott.

2:45:44>> Well, apparently that would be fine

2:45:45because I don't think it has the

2:45:47support, but

2:45:49um yeah, I mean I'm still concerned,

2:45:51like I said, as a legislative body that

2:45:53as was mentioned that we don't have

2:45:54policies in place that really protect

2:45:56people's rights.

2:45:57>> Um so,

2:46:00>> no, I mean, I would ask for it to go to

2:46:02a vote. I mean, and then it's it's going

2:46:04to come back anyways to the to the full

2:46:06body for executive session. So, I would

2:46:08ask that we we keep the vote. Thank you.

2:46:10If that's the case, I follow Council

2:46:11Scott on this.

2:46:13>> Thank you,

2:46:13>> Council Mcdana.

2:46:15>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I am probably

2:46:18the only one on the council that feels

2:46:20this way, and that's okay, but I'm going

2:46:21to say it. I don't like these things. I

2:46:23I truly I don't like them. Um, I I I

2:46:26don't like them for for a lot of the

2:46:27reasons that people spoke tonight

2:46:29expressed. Um, I do understand that um

2:46:34[snorts] they are a tool. They are a

2:46:35valuable tool. There there are a lot of

2:46:37tools. Um, it doesn't always mean that

2:46:40we should use them. I'm not going to

2:46:42argue for the outright ban. Uh, I'm not

2:46:44cuz I would be me by myself and I I can

2:46:47read a room. Um,

2:46:50I do think that this is a sensible

2:46:51motion. I think listening to my

2:46:53colleagues tonight on on both sides of

2:46:56this motion, um it does seem like we do

2:47:00all agree that we don't fully understand

2:47:02what the use policy is, that we

2:47:05acknowledge that there are some risks. I

2:47:08I think where those risks are seem to

2:47:10start getting a little wishy-washy, but

2:47:12but everybody so far has acknowledged

2:47:15that there's a risk around data sharing,

2:47:16that there's a risk around um potential

2:47:18harms depending on where that data is

2:47:20shared. Um, some have expressed that

2:47:25this particular company does seem to be

2:47:27doing exactly, Mr. Mayor, what you

2:47:28stated, which is they are the cheapest

2:47:30game in town. And in there was a speaker

2:47:33tonight who wants to talk about, you

2:47:35know, we were talking about smart TVs

2:47:36and social media, all of which is a

2:47:38personal choice. But often times, uh,

2:47:40when we're talking about tech, if it's

2:47:43free or cheap, there's a reason. It's

2:47:46because the thing that you're using

2:47:47isn't the product. Your data is the

2:47:49product.

2:47:50Um,

2:47:52and I I don't I don't think that anybody

2:47:56on this council uh and this is not a

2:47:58knock. I looked I went back and I looked

2:48:00and I tried to figure out when was this

2:48:02implemented. What was the discussion?

2:48:03What did it look like? Nobody knew what

2:48:05these things were. It actually it wasn't

2:48:08as far unless I missed a meeting

2:48:09somewhere. There was no major

2:48:12discussion. It was uh license plate

2:48:14readers fairly common placing tool.

2:48:17Here's a new bid. It's a great tool. and

2:48:19here they go. And now we're seeing that

2:48:20there's a number of problems with them.

2:48:23Um, we're seeing that we don't know

2:48:25where the data is going. I and and my

2:48:27colleagues have have put the motion in

2:48:30front of us. It does it use the word

2:48:32suspend? Yes. Um, it does say it it it's

2:48:36it's not time bound. I I would be if the

2:48:39makers of the motion wanted to time time

2:48:42bound this thing and say a 90-day

2:48:43suspension, but I I think what it does

2:48:45is it says if this is such a valuable

2:48:46tool to the police department, we have

2:48:48another meeting in 2 weeks. This is a

2:48:50conversation that has been ongoing

2:48:51actually for a number of months and we

2:48:54haven't gotten there. So I I actually I

2:48:57think we owe it to the residents of the

2:48:58city who have expressed a concern here.

2:49:00We have been engaged in this

2:49:02conversation for a number of months. We

2:49:04hit the pause button and we say come

2:49:05back in two if this is if this is that

2:49:07valuable. You come back in two weeks and

2:49:09we tell us what the policy is because we

2:49:11don't have answers. We seem to have

2:49:12gotten here by accident. It's not a

2:49:14forever ban. It's it's just a pause. So

2:49:17I would support this tonight. Thank you,

2:49:19>> Council Rock.

2:49:20>> Uh thank you. I think you know the only

2:49:22thing that we can agree on as a council

2:49:24is that suspending flock hurts the

2:49:27police department's uh detective work

2:49:29and solving cases. Thank you.

2:49:35Roll call, Mr. Clerk.

2:49:44>> Council Mercier.

2:49:46>> So, what's the question here?

2:49:49>> Yes. Yes.

2:49:49>> Cuz I'm

2:49:50>> a yes vote will suspend flock. A no vote

2:49:53will not.

2:49:54>> To suspend flock

2:49:56>> flock camera usage.

2:49:59There is no time defined.

2:50:01>> Mr. May you want to read the motion

2:50:02again?

2:50:03>> Yeah, I can read it again. It says,

2:50:05"Councelor Scott, counsel requests the

2:50:07city manager suspend the use of the

2:50:09flock safety system while the city

2:50:12completes a thorough policy review of

2:50:15its usage, the company usage of data in

2:50:19the audit process of the data.

2:50:23>> So you want us to vote on something that

2:50:26the chief

2:50:42asking for goals I know seems a bit odd.

2:50:45I I have talked about this with Neil

2:50:47Osborne to figure out the process. Um, I

2:50:51think this is a way to be proactive to

2:50:53ask them to look ahead about what to

2:50:56consider for 2027 and their responses

2:51:00can help us think about their roles and

2:51:02opportunities because I know many of us

2:51:03are still trying to figure out how to do

2:51:06the evaluations. Um, and uh we can work

2:51:10together so that we can achieve a goal

2:51:12of getting evaluations done this year.

2:51:14So that's why I'm say asking for an end

2:51:17of October time frame to be reasonable

2:51:19but also to move this forward. Thank

2:51:22you.

2:51:22>> Thank you councelor Duran. All in favor

2:51:24of the motion signify by saying I. Any

2:51:26oppose? So ordered. 6.10. Council Dan

2:51:29request the city manager have the proper

2:51:31department clarify for residents and

2:51:33employees prior to each election that

2:51:36the regulations of canvasing and

2:51:38solicitors apply only to the people

2:51:41selling goods or services and not the

2:51:44political canvasing seconded by council

2:51:46Mcdana. Council Durant,

2:51:48>> thank you very much. Um, back on July

2:51:5014th, we approved an ordinance to

2:51:52require canvasers and solicitors to get

2:51:55a license from the city and comply with

2:51:57things like no solicitation signs on

2:52:00property among other things. And the

2:52:02violators can be subject or violations

2:52:05can be subject to enforcement up to and

2:52:07including arrest potentially. So, the

2:52:10ordinance has real teeth in it. Um, I

2:52:13think the ordinance has created a bit of

2:52:15confusion. The statute expressly states

2:52:18it applies to individuals who are

2:52:19selling goods or services. And we had a

2:52:22discussion during that July 14th meeting

2:52:24that made it clear that um it does not

2:52:27apply to political canvasing. But if

2:52:30only one only looks at the July 14th

2:52:33amendment, unless you sort of dig into

2:52:35the underlying um statute that it

2:52:39amends, you wouldn't realize that it

2:52:42doesn't apply to political canvasers. So

2:52:44I think it's important and it makes

2:52:46sense before each election that we make

2:52:49residents aware and also police officers

2:52:51who are responsible for enforcing the

2:52:53ordinance that it doesn't apply to

2:52:56political canvasing and really just to

2:52:58have something that canvasers can point

2:53:02to uh whether it's candidates themselves

2:53:05or others that makes it clear that they

2:53:07are not subject to um you know the

2:53:10licensing obligations. Thank you.

2:53:15All in favor signify by saying I. Any

2:53:18oppose? So ordered. 6.13 council

2:53:20Robinson request the city manager to

2:53:22have the proper department explore a

2:53:24means to install a bench at the

2:53:26reservoir on the shady area. What's m

2:53:35>> I'm sorry. 6.12. Councelor Dakota

2:53:38request the city manager have the law

2:53:40department draft amend amendment to the

2:53:42city ordinance to increase setback

2:53:44requirements for rules in light of ADU

2:53:48law by C.

2:53:49>> I'll go quickly mayor. [laughter]

2:53:51>> That's all right.

2:53:51>> No problem. Um we all understand that

2:53:54ADUs are allowed as a matter of right u

2:53:56in the state. They are however subject

2:53:58to local zoning rules and regulations.

2:54:01It is my understanding that since the

2:54:02law has been enacted, a total of 59 ADUs

2:54:05have been built in the city of LOL. I

2:54:08would like to show a picture, as you can

2:54:10see on the monitor there, um, of an ADU

2:54:13that was built on Silver Street in my

2:54:14district. I have no issues with the

2:54:17actual structure. It is aesthetically

2:54:19pleasing. The issue I have is that it's

2:54:22right on top of a neighbor's house. The

2:54:24result is the area looks congested and

2:54:26is my opinion that is adversely affects

2:54:28the character of the neighborhood.

2:54:30Um, I think what I want to do is I was

2:54:32going to ask the city solicitor, but I

2:54:34think I'm going to go through uh

2:54:35assistant city manager Gavanni Rose. Uh,

2:54:38probably now that you're doing the

2:54:39zoning codes and maybe that might be the

2:54:41right avenue to go. Very good. Okay.

2:54:44Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

2:54:46>> Thank you. Any other discussion? All in

2:54:49favor signify by saying I. Any opposed?

2:54:50So ordered.

2:54:51>> Opposed.

2:54:55>> Okay.

2:54:57Council Mcdana is opposed. Second

2:55:00>> 10 to one

2:55:046.13 council Roberts request city man to

2:55:06have the proper department explore a

2:55:08means to install a bench at the

2:55:10reservoir on the shady area of the

2:55:12walking path on reservoir street side

2:55:15seconded by councelor councel Robinson

2:55:18>> motion speaks for itself

2:55:19>> all in favor signify by saying I any

2:55:21oppose so ordered 6.14

2:55:25council Roberts request city may have

2:55:26the proper department provide an update

2:55:29Updated fire hydrant operational

2:55:31inventory report to the council.

2:55:33Seconded by councel new councel

2:55:34Robinson.

2:55:35>> Motion speaks for itself.

2:55:37>> Thank you. 6.15 council rounds request

2:55:39city manager have the property

2:55:40department examine and provide a

2:55:43corrective action plan for the walkway

2:55:45in front of 715 Lake View A to an L

2:55:49street. Seconded by councelor Scott.

2:55:51Councelor Robinson.

2:55:52>> Motion speaks for itself.

2:55:55>> Councelor Robinson 6.1. All in favor

2:55:58signify by saying I. Any opposed? So

2:56:00awarded 6.16. Council Robinson, mayor

2:56:03get your request city manager have the

2:56:05proper department provide a list of

2:56:07suitable alternatives to flock cameras

2:56:10that do don't share information to any

2:56:13kind of database. No second needed.

2:56:15Councel Robinson.

2:56:17>> I think it's pretty self-explanatory. um

2:56:20if we can get a have them look into

2:56:22suitable alternatives um that don't

2:56:26share to a national database or

2:56:29an external database I should say. I'm

2:56:32sorry. Great point. Thank you.

2:56:35Any other comments?

2:56:38All in favor signify by saying I. Any

2:56:40opposed? So ordered. 6.17. May I get

2:56:43your request the city manager provide

2:56:44the city council with a list of all

2:56:46expired board members? Seconded by

2:56:49councelor Noon. Motion speaks for

2:56:51itself.

2:56:53Any comments? All in favor signify by

2:56:56saying I. Any oppose? So ordered. 6.18.

2:56:59May I get your request the city manager

2:57:00have the city engineer provide the city

2:57:02council with an updated accident

2:57:04reporting since the new signals were

2:57:07installed on Western Street at Steman

2:57:08Street. Seconded by council Dakota.

2:57:11Motion speaks for itself.

2:57:14Any questions, concerns? All in favor

2:57:16signify by saying I. Any opposed? So

2:57:18ordered seven communications from the

2:57:20city manager 7.1 motion response. Motion

2:57:24response a letter to MBTA additional

2:57:26safety measures. Council Robinson.

2:57:29>> Thank you. Um I just like to thank the

2:57:30administration. Excellent letter and uh

2:57:33it's exactly what I was hoping we could

2:57:35draft up and send off. Thank you.

2:57:38>> Thank you, Council Robinson. Council

2:57:39Durant.

2:57:40>> Just one point. I think the person

2:57:42actually died. Is that not the case?

2:57:44mentioned that they were injured, but I

2:57:46think it's helpful to actually mention

2:57:48that it resulted in them dying. Thank

2:57:51you.

2:57:53>> Thank you. Motion to accept and place on

2:57:55file by councelor Robinson, seconded by

2:57:58councelor Dakota [snorts]

2:58:027.1. Motion response B O'Donald in

2:58:06Olivea Park. Uh, Council Scott,

2:58:10>> just thank you for the response and I

2:58:11look forward to seeing the request for

2:58:13the CPA funds. Thank you.

2:58:15>> Motion to accept and place on file by

2:58:16councelor Rook, seconded by councelor

2:58:19Nune. All in favor signify by saying I.

2:58:21Any oppose? So ordered. 7.1 motion

2:58:24response C. Lire department overtime

2:58:27update. Councelor Mercia.

2:58:31>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, that's a very

2:58:34good report. I'm very pleased. Uh, I

2:58:37don't think we're going over the budget

2:58:39as compared to last year,

2:58:42but but I'd like to see it a little more

2:58:46simplified. Last year at this time, the

2:58:50we went over this much or we spent this

2:58:54much right now at this year at same

2:58:59month we're spending more or less. Very

2:59:03simple. Can we do that? Thank you. who

2:59:06did. [snorts]

2:59:07>> Thank you, Council Mercier, Council

2:59:09Dire.

2:59:09>> Uh, thank you very much, Mr. Mayor, and

2:59:11I thank Councelor Mercier for asking for

2:59:13this report. I I think the numbers are

2:59:16alarming. I mean, the trend in August

2:59:18was alarming, but really the trend for

2:59:20all of fiscal year 27 so far is clear.

2:59:24You know, there was an initial reduction

2:59:26in um in overtime compared to last year.

2:59:31Uh perhaps that was due to the

2:59:33heightened awareness of the issue around

2:59:34budget time. I I don't know what the

2:59:36reason was, but since then the

2:59:38reductions have gotten smaller, and in

2:59:40fact, there are now increases on a

2:59:43bi-weekly basis.

2:59:44>> Um, and I'm particularly concerned with

2:59:47the increases in September because those

2:59:50are large and, you know, children are

2:59:53back in school, so I'm at least

2:59:54presuming that um there are fewer folks

2:59:58out on vacation. Um and the numbers if

3:00:02we look at just on a per uh daily basis

3:00:05for the 77 days shown for you know this

3:00:08fiscal year through September 21st so

3:00:11far compared to um you know on a daily

3:00:14basis all of last year. If you look at

3:00:16the averages we the numbers are up in

3:00:19various categories on sickly vacation

3:00:22time vacation weeks personal days. Um

3:00:26the overtime budget looks like it's been

3:00:28a problem for years, having doubled

3:00:30between uh fiscal year 21 to 22. And um

3:00:36you know the we've almost tripled the

3:00:39overtime hours on a daily basis since um

3:00:43fiscal year 21. So when I look at the

3:00:46scenarios, I think scenarios A and B are

3:00:49optimistic because the trend is just,

3:00:53you know, continuing upward. I don't

3:00:55think that this is necessarily

3:00:57indicative or the 4.5% whatever it was

3:01:01is necessarily 4.3% is indicative

3:01:04necessarily of how this trend is going

3:01:06to continue. Um I think we need to think

3:01:10about other scenarios where those trends

3:01:13keep it keep going up and you know

3:01:16understanding that um it seems like so

3:01:20we need I think forecasting that takes

3:01:22that into account so we can either be

3:01:25realistic and I'd rather be you know

3:01:27pessimistic at this point than um

3:01:31hopeful without any data to support it.

3:01:34I do think we need to look at both

3:01:35policies and people. I mean, if the

3:01:38policy of, you know, closing, not

3:01:42closing companies causes this increase

3:01:44in overtime, I think we have to think

3:01:47about where which, you know, where

3:01:50whether we have the fire um station

3:01:53staffed properly in the right locations.

3:01:56Um, and clearly, you know, bringing more

3:02:00firefighters on board is the right

3:02:02approach. And I think that is that's

3:02:04clearly the plan here. You know, when we

3:02:07talk about a, you know, um an overtime

3:02:10budget of, you know, 2 to3 million at a

3:02:14salary on average of $100,000 per

3:02:17firefighter, which is in our budget this

3:02:19year, that could support 26 or so

3:02:22additional firefighters. So, you know, I

3:02:25think there are a number of ways. I know

3:02:27none of them are easy. I know the

3:02:29training takes a long time, but I I

3:02:32think we have to, you know, I I think

3:02:35there's a lot here that gives me very

3:02:38big pause and concern for our financial

3:02:42future. Thank you.

3:02:43>> Thank you, Council Durant, Council Non.

3:02:46>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

3:02:48I thank you for the report and I also

3:02:52echo councelor Durant to thank Councelor

3:02:55Mercier for this request.

3:02:58I share councelor Cheran concern. If you

3:03:02look at second page the first week of

3:03:07September,

3:03:09second week of September,

3:03:13first week of September is 33 30.6%

3:03:18increase.

3:03:21Second week of September,

3:03:2663.2% [snorts]

3:03:272% increase.

3:03:30That's alarming.

3:03:33Very concerning. This is something that

3:03:36not sustainable. I agree. We have to

3:03:40look at way to resolve this issue.

3:03:43And I will lean to the manager and his

3:03:47team to come up with a plan here because

3:03:52increase of million of dollar and

3:03:54overtime each year

3:03:58put so much burden

3:04:01on taxpayer property tax increase. It's

3:04:04going to happen again next year if you

3:04:06keep this pace.

3:04:08So Mr. managers, please, you know, give

3:04:12us your plan to and of course by working

3:04:16with

3:04:18our fire union to see what can we do to

3:04:23making sure that you know we have an

3:04:26overtime

3:04:28cost, but one that is sustainable.

3:04:32I know that [snorts] the contract is

3:04:33coming up what is in June 2027 and

3:04:38usually

3:04:39uh like say beginning of the year you

3:04:41would have the contract start contract

3:04:44negotiations and stuff that probably one

3:04:46way to look at it in term of whether or

3:04:49not we need more staffing whether or not

3:04:51we're looking at you know uh firehouse

3:04:55you know loca I mean how we put some of

3:04:57the firehouse at some of those

3:05:01you know idea You need to, you know, you

3:05:04need to have that discussion with the

3:05:05fire uh department, the union on that,

3:05:08Mr. Manager, because the rate we going

3:05:11right now, especially September, if you

3:05:13keep it up, we're in trouble.

3:05:17>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

3:05:18>> Thank you, Councelor Non. Councelor

3:05:19Dakota.

3:05:20>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh I like my rest

3:05:24of my colleagues, to me, this is quite

3:05:25alarming.

3:05:27I was actually quite optimistic a few

3:05:29months ago when I saw the union

3:05:31president and the city manager shake

3:05:32hands right here in this council and I

3:05:34thought the union president would hold

3:05:36some clout but obviously he did not. We

3:05:38are going the wrong direction very

3:05:40quickly. I know the chief is here. I'd

3:05:42like him to come to the lect. I'd like

3:05:43to ask him a few questions.

3:05:48How you doing chief?

3:05:50I'm looking at a fire FY overtime

3:05:53allotment and on the bottom of that page

3:05:54is disciplinary action excessive sick

3:05:58leaf use 19 members

3:06:00failure to provide notes two members and

3:06:03sick leave abuse five members.

3:06:05Could you educate this council on what

3:06:09the disciplinary process is and

3:06:12what happens after you write up somebody

3:06:15one, two, three times? I mean what what

3:06:16is the process? because obviously

3:06:19excessive time 19 members are abusing

3:06:22the system. So what what is the plan

3:06:25here? So uh we approach it at three

3:06:29different levels and those are the three

3:06:30categories that you're seeing down over

3:06:31there. First it's excessive sick leave

3:06:34use that is greater than 9 days use

3:06:37during the course of the year without uh

3:06:39any doctor's notes. Secondly we address

3:06:42the notes as they are required to be

3:06:45provided by the office. So these

3:06:46individuals

3:06:48who have excessive sick leave use are

3:06:49issued a written warning and then they

3:06:51are required depending on how many days

3:06:53they have to provide the office with a

3:06:56doctor's note suitable doctor's note um

3:06:59before and on their next duty day after

3:07:01a sick leave from that particular point.

3:07:03So it can be the 6 months or if it's

3:07:05even greater excess it can be um up to a

3:07:08full year.

3:07:11We've also had members who have not

3:07:13provided notes as required and they have

3:07:15been disciplined with written warnings

3:07:16accordingly.

3:07:18>> Not to interrupt you, not to interrupt

3:07:19you, chief, but you've already said

3:07:21warnings like three times. So, how many

3:07:23written warnings are given to a

3:07:25firefighter before I I would think

3:07:29termination?

3:07:30>> Uh, usually three.

3:07:31>> Usually three.

3:07:32>> And then you get into suspension, which

3:07:34in which case we usually work with

3:07:36directly with law. So, it's three, then

3:07:39suspension, then termination,

3:07:40>> then termination.

3:07:42>> Okay. Are we at a point where a couple

3:07:43of these are we're getting close to that

3:07:45because obviously these are the people

3:07:47that are abusing the system.

3:07:50>> We are close with a few people. Yes.

3:07:52>> Okay. Thank you. Um, could you I'm not

3:07:54sure if I saw it on there, but how many

3:07:56firefighters called in on July 5th?

3:08:01>> I would have to reach that research

3:08:02that, counselor,

3:08:04>> I'm going to tell you. I think it's 10.

3:08:07And how many can you tell me the day

3:08:08after Labor Day?

3:08:11>> I can't tell you. I'd have

3:08:12>> quite a few as well. Um, and these are

3:08:15I'll guarantee you those 19 members.

3:08:17I'll guarantee you half of those are

3:08:18those days.

3:08:20We have to buckle down here, city

3:08:22manager, because I I'm I'm not sure if

3:08:24this one day three off is working. I I

3:08:28really don't. I think we're going in the

3:08:30wrong direction. Do we go back to five

3:08:32days?

3:08:33Let's Let's face it. is one day and

3:08:35three three off working.

3:08:37Are we going to stay at $4 million of

3:08:39overtime every year? It's unsustainable.

3:08:42We can't do this. And I think a message

3:08:45has to be sent to the union.

3:08:48Shape up.

3:08:50Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

3:08:51>> Thank you, Council Dakota. Council Ruck.

3:08:53>> Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. You know,

3:08:56[clears throat] I think the most comical

3:08:58line stated during the budget season,

3:09:00you know, was by the union president

3:09:01when he stood up there and said, "I'm

3:09:03taking a leap of faith in the city

3:09:05manager."

3:09:07So, let's take a look. March

3:09:11131 sick leave. April 127, April 26. May

3:09:17188, June 199, July 2011,

3:09:24August 214.

3:09:27So unless there's a summer flu that goes

3:09:29through just the lower fire department,

3:09:32the sick time is being used as t as paid

3:09:34time off and that's you just can't have

3:09:37it. I mean, we're looking at it here and

3:09:40it's abuse of time and staffing is the

3:09:44excuse that's made. So, how come in in

3:09:47April, in March 127, 131,

3:09:51>> [snorts]

3:09:51>> uh, November 139, uh, December,

3:09:55September 129, but then a couple months

3:09:58later, you're [snorts] you're averaging

3:09:59over 200 for the month.

3:10:03You know,

3:10:06there can't be a give and take here.

3:10:08because

3:10:10they're going to be back here asking for

3:10:12more money if you want to keep fireous

3:10:14open, but the abuse is still rampant and

3:10:18happening on a daily basis.

3:10:21You know, Mr. B is was custom code

3:10:23correct with the July 5th sick outs.

3:10:29Thank you, Mr. Mayor. uh through you to

3:10:30the council. So on July 5th

3:10:34um during the day there were nine people

3:10:38that took a sick day and during the

3:10:40night shift there were six on on July

3:10:425th.

3:10:43>> So chief during the 24h hour how many is

3:10:46it 33 for for a total 24-hour?

3:10:50>> Uh 39 uh plus the two deputies. So 41 is

3:10:53what mans minimally mans the shift. And

3:10:56so there were 15 sick calls total on

3:10:59that day.

3:11:00>> That is correct.

3:11:03>> 26.

3:11:04>> So we talking

3:11:07right 40% Mr. Mayor took the day off or

3:11:10bent and sick. Imagine 40% of the police

3:11:13department begged and sick.

3:11:15>> If 40% of the city council wasn't here

3:11:18or 40% of of General Hospital, their

3:11:21staff, nurses, doctors begged in sick.

3:11:24I [clears throat] mean, we respect our

3:11:27public servants, but this is blatant

3:11:29abuse that needs to be dealt with. Thank

3:11:31you.

3:11:33>> Thank you, Council Ro. Council Mcdana.

3:11:35>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, first, just on

3:11:37the July 5th, I wasn't going to say

3:11:38anything, but on the July 5th and the

3:11:40Labor Day thing, it was a very good

3:11:41question. And, um, one thing that I've

3:11:44had never every contract, so every

3:11:46teaching contract that I've ever had,

3:11:48I'm not trying to handhold, but I have

3:11:49to deal with it in all my contracts. So,

3:11:52is um I I've never been able to you

3:11:55can't be sick. You're not allowed You

3:11:58are not allowed to be sick without a

3:11:59doctor's note. Um the day after a

3:12:02holiday or regularly scheduled school

3:12:04vacation, can't put in a for personal

3:12:06day. Can't be sick without a doctor's

3:12:07note. Can't can't Yeah, sorry. You got

3:12:10to go to work. You had a holiday. You

3:12:11don't get an extra day. Um do people

3:12:13find a way around it? Yeah, but you at

3:12:16least you skip you skip the warnings and

3:12:18you doctor and that's it's a contract

3:12:20year. I'm not you know you can't you

3:12:23can't fix what's in there right now, but

3:12:25we can going forward. Um what I would

3:12:27like to see because I I do share

3:12:30[clears throat]

3:12:30some of the pessimism here is I I don't

3:12:33want to see any fire stations close. I

3:12:34we can all I [snorts] just started with

3:12:36it. We can complain about how many you

3:12:38know whether there's abuse or not abuse

3:12:40or whatever. Um I think that's one

3:12:41conversation. And the other conversation

3:12:43is we just don't have any money to pay

3:12:45for this. Um I would like I don't want

3:12:49us to get to a point where we are having

3:12:52a more serious conversation about

3:12:54potentially closing stations. I don't

3:12:55want to close any stations. I want the

3:12:57structural problem to be fixed. But you

3:12:59know I want a lot of things. Um I I also

3:13:01want to be prepared if if we don't fix

3:13:03that. So, so one thing I would hope to

3:13:05see or I would like to see would be um

3:13:07maybe we've talked about this in the

3:13:09past, but like a a heat map of where

3:13:12calls are going in the city, what's what

3:13:13firehouses are seeing the most activity,

3:13:17and then um if the manager could work

3:13:19with the fire department, leadership of

3:13:21the fire department or or whoever else I

3:13:23guess would be appropriate here to try

3:13:25and

3:13:28I guess put a threat level on some of

3:13:29these neighborhoods because what what I

3:13:31what I really don't want to see is

3:13:34what I think has happened in the past in

3:13:35the city of LOL, which is our our

3:13:37poorer, our less welloff and our denser

3:13:40neighborhoods are the ones that wind up

3:13:42seeing a station close and and you can

3:13:44shake your neighbor's hand through a you

3:13:47reach across the no setbacks counselor

3:13:50Dakota and you can give a high five to

3:13:52your neighbor and the fire spreads and

3:13:53and I don't I don't I want to make sure

3:13:54that I don't want to close any fire

3:13:56station or any company. Sorry, I don't

3:13:58want to be closing any company because

3:13:59of staffing levels, but if we hit that

3:14:02point, I want to make sure that we're

3:14:03making informed decisions and that and

3:14:05that residents that it's a transparent

3:14:07process and that residents understand

3:14:08how those decisions are arrived uh by

3:14:11the administration. So, thank you.

3:14:13>> Thank you, Council Mcdana. Chief,

3:14:15[clears throat] I want to thank you for

3:14:1729 wonderful years of service. I know

3:14:20that Friday is your last day uh in

3:14:23retirement. Um it's an honor to have you

3:14:26here tonight. It's an honor to have you

3:14:28within in our departments for 29 years.

3:14:31And on behalf of the city council, we

3:14:34thank you for your service to this city.

3:14:36[applause]

3:14:45[applause]

3:14:50>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you to

3:14:52the council and to the city manager.

3:14:57Motion will accept and place on file by

3:14:59councelor Robinson, seconded by

3:15:01councelor Mercier. All in favor signify

3:15:04by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered.

3:15:07Thank you again, Chief.

3:15:097.2formational reports.

3:15:12Informationational report citywide

3:15:13request activity year to date. Mr.

3:15:16Manager.

3:15:20Uh thank you very much, Mr. Mayor, and

3:15:21through you to the council. I first

3:15:23really want to thank um Edith Rodriguez

3:15:25and and Charlene Nate uh Nagby who

3:15:29should obviously be here. It's a little

3:15:31bit late for them, but this is a report

3:15:32that they've really been working

3:15:34towards. Uh the completion rate of

3:15:36what's been happening in 311. Um and I

3:15:39know time is of the essence. Uh everyone

3:15:40has had it to take a look at this, but

3:15:43from January 1st through September 16th,

3:15:45the city's recorded 6100

3:15:48requests, which I think is uh it's it's

3:15:50pretty good. this the 311 piece that

3:15:53this council has pushed for. Uh and

3:15:55really we're really um getting under the

3:15:58hood with this to to figure out

3:16:00everything that this can do from

3:16:02reported data. Um it's having you know

3:16:06stronger department uh u followup and I

3:16:10say stronger because uh last year we're

3:16:12at 43% but with with the with the Oh,

3:16:17here they are now actually. Um, so

3:16:19[laughter]

3:16:20Edith and Charlene have been doing an

3:16:22absolutely fabulous job. I know all of

3:16:24the councilors know them. We're going to

3:16:25start a tour in October um of this year

3:16:29to make sure that uh all the different

3:16:32um city um neighborhood meets,

3:16:34neighborhood groups know exactly what's

3:16:36going on. And I just can't say enough

3:16:38about where they've taken our system. As

3:16:41I was saying earlier, we did get a Tyler

3:16:42Exinsley award, but taking it from 43%

3:16:46last year uh to 71% this year is really

3:16:49a testament to the to the two ladies

3:16:51that are here that work directly in my

3:16:53office and uh they they're doing a

3:16:54fabulous job at uh coaching up all of

3:16:58our staff. So, I just wanted to take the

3:17:00opportunity to say thank you very much

3:17:01uh ladies for being here and thank you

3:17:03for the great report. There are there is

3:17:05definitely counselors I want you to if

3:17:08you could uh go through this take a look

3:17:10at it see how we can make it better see

3:17:12how the the information is sometimes

3:17:14does not come across the way we want it

3:17:16to but to make it better for everyone

3:17:18here in the city of lol but thank you uh

3:17:20ladies very much

3:17:22>> thank you manager golden councel

3:17:24Robinson

3:17:25>> thank you um thank you for this report I

3:17:27noticed district 2's generated the

3:17:31highest amount 997 for submissions

3:17:35um through you, Mr. Mayor, to the city

3:17:37manager, are you bringing this data into

3:17:39your say or or your department that's

3:17:41bringing this into your staffing

3:17:42meetings and and kind of looking at

3:17:46response times and and trying to key in

3:17:49and improve on where we were and and do

3:17:52you have a benchmark set for where you'd

3:17:54like to be as far as these response

3:17:56times? Um I another piece here does jump

3:18:00out

3:18:02solid waste and recycling miss trash

3:18:05pickup 97 service requests which is

3:18:08significant and and that's not really a

3:18:11city function and so are we still

3:18:14staying on top of our vendors and and

3:18:17ensuring that you know because it does

3:18:20reflect on us and and we are processing

3:18:23those requests through this system that

3:18:25we staff but ultimely imately it is the

3:18:28vendor that's responsible for the mist

3:18:30trash. So what are we doing to kind of

3:18:33address that as well?

3:18:34>> Manager Golden.

3:18:35>> Uh thank you very much. Uh yes councel

3:18:37to all of that. U the vendor it's

3:18:39themselves when it comes into 311 it

3:18:41goes directly to the vendor to make

3:18:43sure. Now sometimes I've I've been a

3:18:46part of it. Sometimes people forget to

3:18:48put their stuff out. They're a little

3:18:49bit late etc. So there's a lot going on

3:18:52uh there. We've had we've found absolute

3:18:54problems. I think it was councelor

3:18:56Dakota had an issue over in his neck of

3:18:58the woods uh with um a car that you know

3:19:02they couldn't get down they couldn't

3:19:03back down it so uh there are some issues

3:19:06but I I think u you mentioned

3:19:08benchmarking and we're getting there we

3:19:11are getting to the benchmarks uh setting

3:19:14the new standards as to what uh 2027

3:19:17will bring. I think that once again

3:19:19looking at this you know some of the top

3:19:21departments of street solid waste

3:19:23recycling they are the highest share of

3:19:25the requested activity they they

3:19:27represent about 78% of our activity uh

3:19:29and then other issues including potholes

3:19:32are things um that are are most

3:19:36most reported if you would so um that's

3:19:39why this report is pro we could probably

3:19:42spend a whole hour on this um just going

3:19:44back and forth but I encourage the

3:19:46counselors at any point in time to come

3:19:48to come in to see um uh both Charlene

3:19:52and Edith and um kind of give you give

3:19:54your feeling because this is really a

3:19:55council initiative that we're we're

3:19:58getting there council. We're almost

3:19:59there on a on where I'll feel

3:20:01comfortable I think in the beginning of

3:20:032027.

3:20:05greatly appreciate it and I hope on uh

3:20:08you know when when we go through the

3:20:09evaluations or whatever for next year

3:20:12you you provide the council with some of

3:20:14those this is the benchmarks we're at

3:20:15and we look to bring it to this layer um

3:20:19by whatever month that is you think the

3:20:21team can ramp up to. Thank you.

3:20:24>> Thank you councel Robinson.

3:20:27See no other discussion. Motion to

3:20:29accept the place on file by councelor

3:20:32Rock, seconded by councelor Dakota. All

3:20:35in favor signified by saying I. Any

3:20:37opposed? So ordered. 7.2

3:20:40reports information report data center.

3:20:43Mr. Manager,

3:20:47assistant city manager Yvani Bayz.

3:20:49>> Yeah. So I think this was really just a

3:20:52a couple things that I'd like to flag

3:20:54for the council. One is uh we are having

3:20:57a data center public meeting. Uh it is

3:21:00going to be on October 7th from 6:30 to

3:21:038 at the Lel senior center. Um we wanted

3:21:06a big space. We wanted a place where we

3:21:08could have a forum that allowed for

3:21:11table discussions as opposed to just

3:21:13[snorts] sort of people sitting in

3:21:14chairs kind of staring at staff. Um so

3:21:17that's really important. Two, I want to

3:21:19make sure people are very clear that

3:21:20there's draft language that's available

3:21:22online on the city's website right now

3:21:25uh related to both of the options for

3:21:27data centers that are sort of being

3:21:29tossed around right now. Um and we are

3:21:32actively and encouraging people to uh

3:21:35send com questions and comments um to us

3:21:38right now and and know that not

3:21:39everybody's got time to attend a public

3:21:41meeting, but that doesn't mean you can't

3:21:42have your voices heard. So, we welcome

3:21:45um people to to send comments and

3:21:47questions uh to the staff. Um and and

3:21:50all of this information can be found um

3:21:52on the city's website. Um and then the

3:21:54other thing that I I think is important

3:21:56to flag is that yes, we are doing a a

3:21:58larger zoning um process that includes

3:22:03much more than just data centers. But I

3:22:05think it's been very clear to DPD um

3:22:08that this data center conversation is

3:22:10one that people are really focused on.

3:22:12And so instead of sort of um keeping

3:22:15these conversations combined into a

3:22:17single conversation and having everybody

3:22:19only focus on data center and then kind

3:22:21of losing some of the other stuff that

3:22:22people are interested in talking about.

3:22:24We've separated the conversations and so

3:22:26the public meeting is only to talk about

3:22:29data centers. There will be separate and

3:22:31additional conversations at a future

3:22:33time to talk about some of the other uh

3:22:35zoning recommendations that we'll be

3:22:36bringing forward to the council. Um but

3:22:38right now we're really trying to get an

3:22:41answer about data centers um and and see

3:22:44what people's feedback is. So we have a

3:22:46couple options. They're available online

3:22:48and we really welcome people to either

3:22:50send comments or or or if they are able

3:22:52to take time uh to attend a public

3:22:54meeting. We will have translation

3:22:56services available at that meeting in um

3:22:59Spanish uh Portuguese and Kami.

3:23:03>> Thank you. It is now 10:00. Do we have a

3:23:06motion to continue past the at 10:00 by

3:23:08Council Robinson, seconded by Council

3:23:11Rook? Roll call.

3:23:15>> Council Mercier,

3:23:16>> yes.

3:23:17>> Council New?

3:23:18>> Yes.

3:23:19>> Council Roberts?

3:23:20>> Yes.

3:23:21>> Council Rook,

3:23:22>> yes.

3:23:22>> Council Scott,

3:23:23>> yes.

3:23:24>> Council Cha,

3:23:25>> yes.

3:23:25>> Council Dakota,

3:23:26>> no.

3:23:27>> Uh,

3:23:29Mayor Gia,

3:23:30>> no.

3:23:31>> Council Jiren,

3:23:32>> yes. Council Leang,

3:23:34>> yes.

3:23:35>> Council Mcdana,

3:23:37>> yes.

3:23:39Stain.

3:23:41[clears throat]

3:23:41>> Motion passes.

3:23:45>> Is this still conversation?

3:23:50>> Uh,

3:23:50>> Mr. Mayor,

3:23:52>> I know we're going over the rule, the

3:23:54city council rules. I always thought it

3:23:57was two nos kill it and that's it. I

3:24:00think that might have been a

3:24:01misinterpretation, but I will leave that

3:24:03to the city solicitor.

3:24:10>> Well, uh, now is as good a time as any

3:24:12for me to give, uh, my interpretation of

3:24:14this rule. Um,

3:24:15>> I know you've said this before.

3:24:17[laughter]

3:24:18>> So, the way I have always read rule five

3:24:22is in the second paragraph, I'll just

3:24:26read it quickly because I know it's

3:24:2710:00 at night. Provided that an agenda

3:24:29item is not under consideration, city

3:24:31council meeting shall uh adjourn at or

3:24:33before 10:00 p.m. and all unconsidered

3:24:36items remaining on the agenda at

3:24:38adjournment be forwarded to the next

3:24:39regularly scheduled meeting unless

3:24:41otherwise voted by a majority vote of

3:24:43the city council. So I've always

3:24:45interpreted that as saying a majority

3:24:47vote would take it past 10:00. Um

3:24:49historically I I think for a long time

3:24:52before it was always a suspension of the

3:24:54rules. So you're suspending the rules to

3:24:56go past 10. That's the way it's always

3:24:58been done. So, all it takes is two

3:25:00counselors to kill a suspension of the

3:25:02rules. Um, but my interpretation is

3:25:07uh different.

3:25:08>> I did not ask for a suspension of the

3:25:10rules. What I asked was a motion to go

3:25:13past the 10:00 rule. So, I never said

3:25:16suspension of the rules. So,

3:25:17>> correct.

3:25:18>> All we did was get a motion. It was

3:25:20passed by majority. So, we can keep

3:25:22moving.

3:25:24Motion to accept the information report

3:25:27and place on file by councelor Ror

3:25:30seconded by councelor cow. All in favor

3:25:34signify by saying I. Any opposed? So

3:25:36ordered.

3:25:37>> That

3:25:397.3 communication resignation. Uh Mr.

3:25:42Manager.

3:25:42>> Uh thank you very much Mr. Mayor 3 to

3:25:44the council. Uh councils I want to thank

3:25:46uh Mr. Buby Hunter Barubi who was a

3:25:48youth commissioner. He actually took a

3:25:50new job. He was working with us um down

3:25:52the street. Took a new job. So, he is

3:25:54coming off. Uh, Mr. Callahan uh is has

3:25:57rescended or would like to rescend his

3:26:00um

3:26:02he'd like he'd like to rescend his

3:26:04resignation.

3:26:06>> Mr. Mayor,

3:26:09[clears throat]

3:26:10>> um,

3:26:11>> so obviously we got that that letter

3:26:13from Mr. Callahan. Is is it your intent

3:26:16to

3:26:18extend Mr. Callahan another term? I know

3:26:21there's a couple other zoning board

3:26:22members that terms have expired as well.

3:26:25So I I don't know how you're going to

3:26:26proceed on this,

3:26:28>> Mr. Manager.

3:26:28>> Uh yes. Uh I would coun through you, Mr.

3:26:31Mayor, through the council. Yes, I would

3:26:33bring him forth as I've been talking to

3:26:36Miss D. Roes about it's a constant who

3:26:39is off who is on and as as a matter of

3:26:41fact I think uh mayor put out something

3:26:44that um we could always use help on

3:26:47trying to fill some of these some of

3:26:48these uh boards but yes it would be my

3:26:50intention to bring it forward.

3:26:52>> Okay. Thank you councel Durant.

3:26:55>> Thank you very much. Um as I read the

3:26:57resignation um by Mr. Callahan. It was

3:27:00effective immediately on on September

3:27:0317th and I don't think the resignation

3:27:05requires acceptance by the city council.

3:27:07So I don't think they can be rescended.

3:27:10I think it is effective and I think it

3:27:12would be a hurdle to try to un or to to

3:27:16rescend it. So at this point I think

3:27:18it's effective.

3:27:22>> Sic.

3:27:25>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I guess I do

3:27:28have a question. Maybe someone over to

3:27:30my left knows. Is his um Mr. Mr.

3:27:33Callahan is his term still is he still

3:27:35within his term or beyond? Um

3:27:37>> beyond.

3:27:38>> So if it's beyond then the manager would

3:27:40have to bring forward a reappoint. Um so

3:27:43perhaps the

3:27:45rescending the resignation really

3:27:48doesn't mean anything to councelor

3:27:49Geran's point, but um the manager could

3:27:52bring forward his reappoint. Um,

3:27:56>> so if there's a meeting

3:27:58coming up, he resigned before they come

3:28:02back with the approval. He's no longer a

3:28:05member. That's what I think Council

3:28:06Dire's saying.

3:28:12There's no He put in a resignation

3:28:14immediately.

3:28:18All right. So then I suppose it would it

3:28:19would hinge on whether or not that was

3:28:21accepted.

3:28:23by the manager

3:28:25um in this scenario.

3:28:33>> Mr. McDana,

3:28:34>> thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um

3:28:38that question aside and I I agree I

3:28:41share the question but um I I do just

3:28:44would like to take this opportunity as

3:28:46we think about new appointments and in

3:28:49your motion earlier and the current

3:28:51resignations rescended resignation

3:28:53resignation thing. um that when we look

3:28:56at our boards and commissions um they

3:28:59have

3:29:01especially the statutory boards uh have

3:29:03tremendous amounts of power in the city.

3:29:05Um whether we kind of are all

3:29:09comfortable acknowledging that whether

3:29:11residents realize it or not they are

3:29:12they're incredibly powerful bodies. They

3:29:14they review uh and approve or deny all

3:29:17sorts of things that affect the quality

3:29:19of a neighborhood, the quality of your

3:29:20life every day. Um and I do think it is

3:29:24important um

3:29:26for the city that we

3:29:30asking for more applications is one

3:29:32thing. It is also difficult to get more

3:29:36applications when you have people who

3:29:38spend, you know, very very long times on

3:29:40a board and want to continue seeking

3:29:42more appointments. Like I I wouldn't

3:29:44apply either, right? Like if if we kind

3:29:47of know that that board has Bob, Jimmy,

3:29:50and Sue and Bob, Jimmy, and Sue have

3:29:51been on for 10, 13, 14, 15 year,

3:29:54whatever.

3:29:56Not saying that there's term limits. I'm

3:29:57just saying that I I I do think that

3:29:59there is uh there's merit in in trying

3:30:01to open up some of some some positions,

3:30:03not not constantly going for reappoints.

3:30:05That's all. Thank you.

3:30:07>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

3:30:09>> Thank you, Vice Mayor. No, through you

3:30:10to Manager Golden. Under the

3:30:12communications, that means that you

3:30:14accepted someone's resignation. That's

3:30:16why you put it here and you're just

3:30:18making the board aware that you accepted

3:30:19someone's resignation. Correct.

3:30:23>> Thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor. Three to the

3:30:24council. Uh that's how I would take it.

3:30:26Yes. It's on the agenda.

3:30:29>> So, there was an immediate resignation.

3:30:31Okay. Thank you.

3:30:47Motion to accept and place on file by

3:30:50councelor Leang, seconded by councelor

3:30:53Dian. All in favor signify by saying I.

3:30:56Any opposed? So ordered.

3:30:59>> 7.5 communication. City manager request

3:31:01approval of one out ofstate travel LPD.

3:31:04Motion to adopt by councelor

3:31:08Cow. Seconded by councelor Robinson.

3:31:11Roll call.

3:31:13>> Council Mia.

3:31:15>> Yes.

3:31:15>> Council.

3:31:16>> Yes.

3:31:17>> Yes.

3:31:17>> Council Robinson.

3:31:18>> Yes.

3:31:19>> Council Ror.

3:31:20>> Yes.

3:31:20>> Council Scott.

3:31:21>> Yes.

3:31:21>> Councilor Chow.

3:31:22>> Yes.

3:31:23>> Councilor Dakota.

3:31:24>> Yes.

3:31:24>> Mayor Gia. Yes.

3:31:25>> Councelor Direan.

3:31:26>> Yes.

3:31:27>> Councelor Leang.

3:31:28>> Yes.

3:31:28>> Councelor Mcdana.

3:31:29>> Yes.

3:31:32>> Votes. Eight votes.

3:31:34>> Mr. Mayor.

3:31:35>> Bundle.

3:31:35>> Can I make a motion to bundle?

3:31:38>> Yeah.

3:31:39>> 81

3:31:40to

3:31:438 8.

3:31:48>> You're going to have to omit 85 and 87

3:31:50because they've already been taken up.

3:31:52>> Yes.

3:31:52>> Right.

3:31:53So motion by councelor Robinson.

3:31:55>> Very good. Congratulations.

3:31:58>> 88 also. Motion by councel Robinson to

3:32:02bundle 81 82 83

3:32:0684

3:32:07and 86 seconded by councel Mercier.

3:32:11>> Yeah. And 8.8. Are we not

3:32:14>> just not to do that? Oh, council rock.

3:32:18>> Only because I know there's been um

3:32:20statements made uh against one of the

3:32:23votes. I think we should take 84 on its

3:32:25own and then take the other ones uh as a

3:32:27as a bundle.

3:32:30>> Motion by councel Robinson to bundle

3:32:328.1, 8.2, 8.3, and 8.6. Seconded by

3:32:36Council of Mercier.

3:32:38>> Yes.

3:32:38>> All in favor signify by saying I. Any

3:32:41opposed? So ordered. 8.1 vote accept a

3:32:44gift of $1,000 from the Conan family.

3:32:478.2 vote accept expend $142,49

3:32:52BH OAP grant. 8.3 vote accept expend

3:32:56$51,225

3:32:59FY26 Edward Burn Memorial Justice

3:33:02Assistance Grant. 8.6 [snorts]

3:33:05vote authorizing city manager extend

3:33:08contract with Passport Labs, Inc. Any

3:33:11[snorts]

3:33:12comments on any of those? Council,

3:33:15>> thank you very much. Um, on 8.2, I met

3:33:18with the Council on Aging on the 14th

3:33:21and heard about the important work that

3:33:22the case workers who are funded by this

3:33:24grant are doing to address the needs of

3:33:26our elders. Um, in particular, I learned

3:33:30that the case workers are being asked to

3:33:32help increasing numbers of elders who

3:33:34are facing eviction or otherwise

3:33:36becoming unhoused. Um, often because of

3:33:39economic reasons. um but sometimes

3:33:42merely because they're unable to

3:33:44physically stay in their home or their

3:33:46families can't care for them. So this is

3:33:48clearly an important grant but I think

3:33:50the issue across the US um of unhoused

3:33:55elders is um a growing issue. It is the

3:33:58largest demographic uh or sorry it's the

3:34:01demographic where homelessness is

3:34:04increasing the most across the country.

3:34:06Um, so I think um, as we think about uh,

3:34:11councelor uh, Scott's motion earlier

3:34:14about dealing with homelessness, I think

3:34:16we have yet another dimension to attack

3:34:20here as a city. Um, and these the

3:34:24problems may be very different for the

3:34:26different demographics that are

3:34:28struggling here, but I think we need to

3:34:31figure out something that we can do to

3:34:33address all of these concerns. Thank

3:34:35you.

3:34:36>> Thank you. Any other comments on any of

3:34:38the ones put forth?

3:34:40Motion [clears throat] to adopt 8.1,

3:34:428.2, 8.3, and 8.6 by Councelor Robinson,

3:34:46seconded by Councelor Nune. Roll call.

3:34:50>> Council Mercier,

3:34:51>> yes.

3:34:53>> Councilor Non,

3:34:54>> yes.

3:34:54>> Councelor Robinson,

3:34:55>> yes.

3:34:56>> Council Rook,

3:34:57>> yes.

3:34:57>> Councelor Scott,

3:34:58>> yes.

3:34:59>> Councilor Chowo,

3:35:00>> yes.

3:35:00>> Councelor Dotto,

3:35:01>> yes.

3:35:02>> Mayor Gia,

3:35:02>> yes. Council Jiren.

3:35:04>> Uh, yes.

3:35:05>> Council Leang,

3:35:06>> yes.

3:35:07>> Council Mcdana,

3:35:08>> yes.

3:35:08>> 11 years.

3:35:09>> 11 years. Motion passes. 8.4 vote. Amend

3:35:12council meetings October November

3:35:15December 2026. Wave full reading and

3:35:18second reading by title. Vote to amend

3:35:20the council meeting in October,

3:35:22November, and December to be held only

3:35:24on the second and fourth Tuesdays of

3:35:27each month. Motion to adopt by

3:35:29>> I object.

3:35:32The rule 27.

3:35:34>> Rule 27.

3:35:35>> I object to the second reading.

3:35:38>> You you

3:35:39>> I object to the second reading.

3:35:40>> Explain that please,

3:35:44>> Mr. Solicitor. That means we can't take

3:35:46it up, right?

3:35:56>> Can't take it up.

3:35:57>> They can't take up the motion.

3:35:58>> So, so why deny the bones to

3:36:00>> Excuse me. Why deny the council a vote?

3:36:02You taking away the the priv you're

3:36:04taking away the the voting right of a

3:36:05council where they with semantics and

3:36:09>> it's part of the rules. I I you

3:36:10understand.

3:36:11>> I hope people are paying attention too.

3:36:14>> 8.8 vote transfer 43,000 in salaries.

3:36:20Mr. [snorts] Manager,

3:36:20>> do we get I'm sorry. We get a rule from

3:36:22from the solicitor on the uh objection.

3:36:24>> We can do that. Mr. Solicitor.

3:36:28So yes, that is um what rule

3:36:30[clears throat]

3:36:3227 states. Um I suppose

3:36:38>> we can make a motion to suspend the

3:36:39rules.

3:36:39>> Another version of coward politics.

3:36:44>> Thank you.

3:36:46>> If I could, Mr. Mayor.

3:36:48>> Um m Mr. Mayor, this is

3:36:50>> point of personal privilege.

3:36:51>> Point of personal privilege. The reason

3:36:53I objected is that this is

3:36:57incredibly similar, right? If we want to

3:36:59play the game of on the game of

3:37:01semantics, this is incredibly similar to

3:37:03a motion that was previously made that

3:37:04the council discussed that went to a

3:37:06rule subcommittee that came back

3:37:07unfavorably. The council still

3:37:09discussed. This is in effect looking to

3:37:11achieve the same outcome as that goal uh

3:37:14as that conversation which did generate

3:37:16substantial public comment. This is a

3:37:19very long agenda. Given the amount of

3:37:22public comment that was generated the

3:37:23last time something to this effect came

3:37:26forward. I am objecting because I would

3:37:28imagine that a similar amount of public

3:37:31comment that came forward the last time

3:37:33something to this effect came forward

3:37:35would would come again except that this

3:37:37is an incredibly long agenda.

3:37:41>> That's all

3:37:43>> you want.

3:37:44>> There was a motion that was filed that

3:37:45was sent to a subcommittee. You know

3:37:46this will be the first time that sub

3:37:48sorry

3:37:49>> ask for a point of personal privilege

3:37:50please

3:37:50>> ma'am I please please please please

3:37:53my first priv speak

3:37:54>> yes

3:37:54>> thank you Mr. Yeah. Um,

3:37:57it was a motion filed. It was sent to a

3:37:59subcommittee. You know, I can't remember

3:38:01in the history of city council when a

3:38:03three member subcommittee decides the

3:38:05fate of a motion. That's all. And then

3:38:07last meeting, I just asked to bring it

3:38:09back just for a final disclosure. Either

3:38:11way, I don't think it was going to pass.

3:38:12But again, it's outstanding motion

3:38:14that's out there and I think it deserves

3:38:16a vote.

3:38:17>> Thank Mr. Mayor. I I'll I'll withdraw

3:38:20the objection. Take the vote.

3:38:22I I I resended my objection on rule 27.

3:38:26Take the vote.

3:38:28>> We already moved on to the next item.

3:38:30>> Withdraw.

3:38:31>> We can withdraw it. Okay, let's let's

3:38:32go. Let's just take the vote. Okay,

3:38:34we're going to withdraw that portion.

3:38:37Councelor Durant.

3:38:38>> Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. So, I do

3:38:40think rules are important. Um and I do

3:38:44agree with uh council roor that the rule

3:38:47subcommittee does not have final say

3:38:49over the proposals that are brought

3:38:51before it. It has an obligation under

3:38:54rule 33 to report on the change which is

3:38:58what we did at the last meeting.

3:39:00However, rule 33 also says that no

3:39:04amendment can be made unless it's

3:39:07approved at a regular meeting by the

3:39:09vote of six counselors and each

3:39:11counselor has received a written copy of

3:39:13the proposed change at least one week

3:39:15before the regular meeting at which the

3:39:17vote is to be taken and the committee

3:39:20has to report in that change. Now you

3:39:23may argue that this is the same uh

3:39:26motion as was or proposal as was made

3:39:29before but it's not. That proposal was

3:39:32to change the subcommittee structure and

3:39:35to tie it to a change to the meeting

3:39:38schedule. This proposal which is a vote

3:39:41now in front of us without um you know

3:39:45uh public hearing or anything else is

3:39:47only to change the meeting schedule. So

3:39:51I don't think we are achieving what rule

3:39:5333 requires which is at least one full

3:39:56week's notice. Um and I um you know and

3:40:02this is just living with the rules as we

3:40:05have them today. I don't think this is

3:40:08um where we I where we are. I don't

3:40:11think this is really possible. Thank

3:40:13you.

3:40:14>> Solicitor Williams.

3:40:18>> Mr. to me if I could which I would have

3:40:19stated that the motion stated the

3:40:21subcommittees change as well if

3:40:26you know the rule 27 wasn't brought up

3:40:28so just clarification

3:40:32>> thank you Mr. there. Um, clearly this is

3:40:35not a rule that is um, utilized very

3:40:38often within the council. So I I think

3:40:41that is clearly playing a role here. Um,

3:40:45I do think that um, to not vote in my

3:40:49opinion. Um, certainly doesn't align

3:40:51with the spirit of what rule 33 is

3:40:54trying to do. I mean in my mind it is a

3:40:56change to the council rules is a

3:40:58significant change. It's an important

3:40:59one which is why it has to go to the

3:41:01subcommittee. It goes there, it comes

3:41:03out with a recommendation and um and

3:41:06then the full body gets a vote and uh

3:41:08Council Direan is is correct. There is a

3:41:11a written copy uh a week before as a

3:41:15requirement. Um I'm not sure if there is

3:41:17are any councils here that don't feel

3:41:19prepared to vote on it because they

3:41:21didn't receive that. That may or may not

3:41:23be true. I I don't know. I just think

3:41:25generally the spirit of this is get an

3:41:28opinion from the subcommittee and get it

3:41:29back in front of the the full body for a

3:41:32vote one [snorts] way or the other.

3:41:37>> Council Mcdana waved his objection under

3:41:40rule 27. So

3:41:44>> roll call.

3:41:44>> Do a motion.

3:41:45>> A motion to Where am I now? Motion

3:41:49[clears throat] to adopt by councelor

3:41:50Rook. Seconded by councelor

3:41:53C. Who's seconding it? Motion to adopt

3:41:56by councelor Rook.

3:41:58>> So I'll second it.

3:41:59>> Seconded by just comment on council

3:42:01Scott. Of course you can.

3:42:02>> Just real quick. It's just um I actually

3:42:04was opposed to the idea of this

3:42:05originally, but this is somewhat I

3:42:07consider it a pilot. It's for three

3:42:09months just to see how it works with the

3:42:11subcommittees. Um, we have a lot of

3:42:13subcommittees that haven't been

3:42:14scheduled and I'm hoping that we are

3:42:16able to refer more items to the

3:42:18subcommittee for meaningful discussion

3:42:20on some of the discussions that we have.

3:42:22Um, I feel if if it doesn't work, then

3:42:23we can go back at the end of that

3:42:25period, but I'm just considering it a

3:42:27pilot and that's why I am supporting it.

3:42:29So, thank you.

3:42:30>> It is now 10:20 and we're doing every

3:42:32other week. So,

3:42:34[clears throat]

3:42:35>> roll call.

3:42:37>> Council Mercy.

3:42:38>> Yes.

3:42:40Councelor Non. Yes. Councelor Robinson.

3:42:46>> Before I vote, does this do we have

3:42:48subcommittees lined up to change with

3:42:50this?

3:42:51>> No.

3:42:54>> No. The mayor would

3:42:57>> No. Council Rock

3:42:59>> as of right now. No. But the motion

3:43:00would request the mayor to go to six

3:43:02subcommittees, schedule those on the

3:43:04opposite Tuesdays going forward.

3:43:06>> Not on there.

3:43:07>> Right. That that's it. That was the

3:43:09motion.

3:43:10>> [laughter]

3:43:10>> cuz again I was going to bring it up but

3:43:13uh those cut off.

3:43:14>> The answer is no.

3:43:16>> Okay. Because I don't know who are going

3:43:18to change to what position and where for

3:43:20six subcommittees to bring down. Some

3:43:22people have requested chairs of the

3:43:25committees they're on. So if I reduce

3:43:27that down, they're no longer the chair

3:43:29on the committee that they're in. So it

3:43:31could be a very difficult

3:43:32>> That's the job of the mayor to decide

3:43:33that.

3:43:33>> No, I I agree. Council Rook, I mean

3:43:37councelor Robinson.

3:43:41>> The vote.

3:43:42>> No.

3:43:44>> Okay.

3:43:44>> Council Rook,

3:43:45>> yes.

3:43:46>> Council Scott,

3:43:47>> yes.

3:43:48>> Council Chow,

3:43:49>> yes.

3:43:49>> Councilor Dakota,

3:43:50>> yes.

3:43:51>> Mayor Gia,

3:43:52>> no.

3:43:53>> Council Guran,

3:43:54>> no.

3:43:55>> Council Leang,

3:43:56>> no.

3:43:57>> Council Mcdana,

3:43:58>> no.

3:43:58>> No.

3:44:02>> No. Two/3s. Motion fails.

3:44:07[clears throat]

3:44:08>> Can I get a point of personal privilege?

3:44:11>> We got more points of personal

3:44:12privilege.

3:44:13>> If if if

3:44:14>> we did want to do a pilot, something

3:44:17similar to this,

3:44:18>> the changes with the subcommittees and

3:44:20all that though, what would be the way

3:44:22we'd have to go about that?

3:44:24>> I would have to reappoint all the

3:44:25subcommittees down to six as suggested

3:44:28by council Rook.

3:44:30>> Yes. and and the two motions would have

3:44:32to go coincide

3:44:34as one.

3:44:35>> Oh, no. You could have voted this

3:44:37through tonight and then that would have

3:44:39been the wish was to do that. It's up to

3:44:41the mayor as as council Rook said. We

3:44:43keep the 20, you can go down to six. The

3:44:46the question would be how do you define

3:44:48them all into a Tuesday night as council

3:44:50Rook had put forward in the motion

3:44:53original motion.

3:44:56The original motion was break it down to

3:44:58six subcommittees and then have it every

3:45:00other week and then those six

3:45:01subcommittees would meet on the off

3:45:04week.

3:45:07>> All right. Thank you.

3:45:10>> 8.8 vote transfer 43,000 in salaries

3:45:14wave full reading and second reading by

3:45:17title

3:45:23vote. I just got to do this first. Vote

3:45:25to transfer funds from the city manager

3:45:27salary and wages account to the tor

3:45:32the manager.

3:45:33>> Uh thank you very much Mr. Mayor. Um

3:45:36council is my apologies. The job is that

3:45:38we're looking for is actually in case.

3:45:40So I'd like to take this back if it's

3:45:41okay with you so I can make that fix and

3:45:44bring it back in two weeks. My

3:45:45apologies.

3:45:46>> Withdraw 8.8. Thank you Mr. Mayor.

3:45:50>> Oh if I if I may, Mr. Mayor.

3:45:52>> Yep. Are you creating a new job at case?

3:45:56>> It was an existing job, but we had extra

3:45:59funds out of the mayor's office that we

3:46:01were going to transfer and put it

3:46:02together because the intern had left and

3:46:05we really were looking for someone to

3:46:07get back a job that was laid off and we

3:46:09had the fun extra funding sources to do

3:46:11it. So, we're going to put it together

3:46:13so that they were able to travel to

3:46:15events with all of us and take pictures

3:46:17and do all the background stuff and all

3:46:20of the um history stuff. But managing,

3:46:23>> if I may add, uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor.

3:46:24Three to the council. Um, that

3:46:26particular job we're looking at is a

3:46:28temporary intern. The full-time job with

3:46:31the benefits that we would put out to

3:46:33people who were laid off um would be is

3:46:37out of case. That's the full-time

3:46:38benefit of job. The job that I

3:46:40mistakenly put into the the mayor's

3:46:43office was uh it's an internship job.

3:46:46So,

3:46:46>> are we looking to bring somebody back

3:46:48that we laid off? I would I would I

3:46:51would recommend

3:46:54>> they would encourage all of everyone

3:46:55that was laid off to to reapply.

3:46:57Correct.

3:46:59>> Just hope we're not opening up Pandora's

3:47:01box here.

3:47:1010 reports of subcommittee 10.1

3:47:12neighborhood subcommittee September 15

3:47:152026

3:47:22>> Jan I think it's

3:47:23>> council Jan are you in the neighborhood

3:47:25>> no that's that's me if I can give that

3:47:27next meeting please

3:47:28>> next week

3:47:28>> yeah please

3:47:29>> thank you [clears throat]

3:47:32>> 102 wire inspector reports one national

3:47:35grid request the installation of a new

3:47:37pole

3:47:38utility pole at 26 Cadell A and two

3:47:41Boston Gas. Request replacement of

3:47:43oldcast iron gas man with new plastic

3:47:46gas man on Middle Sex Street from Mod

3:47:49Street to Saunders Street. Motion to

3:47:51accept in place on in order adopt the

3:47:56order by councelor Noon, seconded by

3:47:59councelor Cow. All in favor signify by

3:48:02saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 11

3:48:05petitions 11.1 claims one property

3:48:07damage motion referred to the law

3:48:09department for report and

3:48:10recommendations by councelor Mercia

3:48:12seconded by councelor Mcdana all in

3:48:14favor signify by saying I any oppose so

3:48:17ordered

3:48:18>> 11.3 miscellaneous Mary Alvino request

3:48:21removal of handicap parking sign at 19

3:48:24Washington Street motion refer to

3:48:25transportation engineer for report and

3:48:27recommendation by councelor Rook

3:48:29seconded by councel Duran all in favor

3:48:31signify by saying I any opposed so

3:48:33ordered

3:48:3411.4 Boston Gas request to relocate gas

3:48:37main on Starkbridge A first region.

3:48:41Motion to refer to a public hearing on

3:48:43October 6, 2026 at 7 p.m. by Council

3:48:46Leang, seconded by Council Dakota. All

3:48:49in favor signify by saying I.

3:48:51>> Uh Mr. Mayor, could we do 11.56 and 7

3:48:56because they're all going to the same

3:48:58public hearing?

3:48:59>> Yep. Motion to bundle 11.5, 11.6, 6 and

3:49:0311.7 by councelor Mercia seconded by

3:49:06councel Mcdana. All in favor signify by

3:49:08saying I. Any oppose? So ordered.

3:49:10Request to replace gas 11.5 Boston gas

3:49:14request to replace gas man along

3:49:16Lawrence in Woven Street. 11.6 Boston

3:49:19Gas. Request to replace gas man on Leroy

3:49:22Canal in Grove Street. 11.7 Boston Gas.

3:49:25Request to replace gas man on Llewellyn

3:49:28Beacon Third and Bennett Streets. Give

3:49:31first read and second

3:49:34motion to refer to a public hearing on

3:49:36October 6, 2026 at 7 p.m. by councelor

3:49:40Leang, seconded by councelor Dakota. All

3:49:43in favor signify by saying I. Any

3:49:45opposed? So ordered. Any announcements?

3:49:49[snorts]

3:49:49>> Yes, Mr. Mayor.

3:49:51>> Council me.

3:49:53>> I have a very important important

3:49:57announcement.

3:50:00I know everybody's breathing and you're

3:50:03breathing. I think that we should know

3:50:06that today is Kim Scott's birthday and I

3:50:10want to say happy birthday, Kim.

3:50:15>> What a fun birthday it's been.

3:50:17>> She had a new title down.

3:50:20>> What is it?

3:50:21>> She saw counsel earlier. Former

3:50:24counselor Yam earlier.

3:50:27>> Thank you very much.

3:50:28>> Scott, do we have to sing happy

3:50:29birthday?

3:50:29>> No. No, no, it's it's late enough. Thank

3:50:31you,

3:50:32>> Council J.

3:50:34>> Thank you very much. I actually have

3:50:35several announcements. The first is that

3:50:37the uh Garden of Peace is going to be

3:50:40dedicated uh on uh Friday, September

3:50:4425th at 10:30 a.m. This is at the top,

3:50:48excuse me, [clears throat] the top of

3:50:49Fort Hill Park. Uh so everyone in the

3:50:52city is uh invited to dedicate uh that

3:50:55as a place where families, friends, and

3:50:57the greater LOL community may remember

3:50:59and honor the lives of those taken by

3:51:01violence. So that's Friday, September

3:51:0425th, 10:30 a.m. top of Fort Hill Park.

3:51:07In addition, um there will be a tour of

3:51:10the Duck Island Water Treatment Plant um

3:51:12on Thursday, October 1st at 5:30m. Um

3:51:17it's an opportunity to uh actually walk

3:51:19around the facility with the um with

3:51:22Aaron Fox and his team. Um to learn

3:51:25about what happens to our wastewater and

3:51:27how they try to also uh reduce the odors

3:51:30from Duck Island. Uh if you you can find

3:51:34it by just searching for Duck Island

3:51:35Tour on Facebook, but I think it's worth

3:51:38it for folks to attend. Uh you should

3:51:41wear uh sturdy closed toed shoes to

3:51:44participate. Um the there will also be a

3:51:49uh Nigerian flag raising on October 3rd

3:51:53at uh noon and then a flag uh to

3:51:57celebrate the city's uh UNESCO learning

3:52:00city designation on October 10th at

3:52:0310:30 a.m. So public is welcome. Thank

3:52:06you.

3:52:07>> I have one more. I'm sorry. Sorry.

3:52:10Sorry. uh the Alternative House for

3:52:13Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Um

3:52:16there's a vigil uh uh please join the

3:52:20Alternative House for a community vigil

3:52:22in honor of survivors of domestic

3:52:25violence. Remember we have those that we

3:52:28have lost and to stand together for a

3:52:31future free of violence. That's at 12:00

3:52:34on Thursday, October 1st, right outside

3:52:38the steps of Lowel City Hall. Thank you.

3:52:41>> Thank you. Motion journ by councelor.

3:52:44>> I'm sorry, councelor R. Quick point.

3:52:46Personal privilege, please.

3:52:47>> Yep.

3:52:48Thank um you know I uh I'm here with uh

3:52:52great humility um and a heavy heart um

3:52:56and a deep sense of uh gratitude but um

3:52:59this evening I announced my resignation

3:53:00uh from the L city council uh effective

3:53:03immediately I will submit my letter to

3:53:06the clerk tomorrow morning.

3:53:08Serving the people of LOL has uh been

3:53:10the greatest privilege of my life. Uh

3:53:11when I took the oath of office, my goal

3:53:14was simple. It was to listen to our

3:53:15neighborhoods, fight for the families,

3:53:18uh and help our historic city move

3:53:20forward. Whether we're debating

3:53:22neighborhood revitalizations, working to

3:53:24improve local schools, uh navigating

3:53:26through tough budgets, or even a very

3:53:28difficult high school location battle, I

3:53:30truly believe that, you know, my

3:53:32decisions was uh was right and was best

3:53:34uh for the city. I think we have

3:53:36accomplished a lot together over the

3:53:38number of years. Um, we've worked to

3:53:41support small businesses, invest in our

3:53:43parks, infrastructure, and and keep our

3:53:45community uh very connected through

3:53:47challenging times.

3:53:49Um,

3:53:50you know, I'm very respectful of uh of

3:53:53all the counselors uh that I serve with

3:53:55in this council as well. Um, you know, I

3:53:58understand that we have difference of

3:54:00opinion. Um passion though remains

3:54:03constant with everybody and um you know

3:54:06it took me a while to to respect that

3:54:08but I'm glad that uh I was able to um

3:54:12but I do want to make a special mention

3:54:13of what I feel was the most important

3:54:15vote that I have taken as my time as a

3:54:17city councelor and that was the vote to

3:54:19make uh Tom Golden our city manager. Um

3:54:23I still feel today I felt the same day

3:54:26of of March of 2022

3:54:28um that he was has been remains right

3:54:32for the job. Um the accomplishments of

3:54:34this council in the city of law working

3:54:37together alongside administration have

3:54:39been unprecedented over the past five to

3:54:42six years. Um we have done things here

3:54:45in the city that have not been done

3:54:46before. you know, we're talking roads,

3:54:49311,

3:54:50um traffic improvements, um you know,

3:54:53finally getting over the high school

3:54:54debate. Um it's all been for the

3:54:57betterment of the city, uh and a

3:54:59positive. Um the team that the manager

3:55:02has, uh has put in place, uh I believe

3:55:05is second to none, uh in the state. You

3:55:08are all extremely talented and dedicated

3:55:10professionals uh that I'm sorry to

3:55:13leave. Um the city of law obviously

3:55:15success um succeeds when we all work

3:55:18together as a council as an

3:55:20administration and along with the public

3:55:22and u I'm not hopeful that this it will

3:55:25continue but I I know it will. U public

3:55:28service does require an incredible

3:55:30amount of energy and time from my

3:55:32elected officials uh but also from my

3:55:34family and friends uh behind us. I can

3:55:37now serve um the city as a counselor uh

3:55:42and as a mayor uh without a single day

3:55:45without the sacrifices of our close

3:55:47friends uh but also of my family behind

3:55:51me. I'm very fortunate uh to have a

3:55:54wonderful family, parents, brothers, um

3:55:58extended cousins, so forth uh that have

3:56:01been every step of the way uh that still

3:56:04remain close to me today. Um, and I'd be

3:56:07remiss, you know, not to mention uh my

3:56:10wife, April. Um, you know, she is the

3:56:13rock of just of me, but of the family.

3:56:16Um, my sounding board, the constant

3:56:18support that I've gone through. Um,

3:56:22and just very, very lucky to have her,

3:56:24uh, Haley and Zachary, uh, to be

3:56:27supportive. Um, you know, having kids at

3:56:30a young age and and, you know, being

3:56:32fortunate to have them, uh, grow up. um

3:56:36you know with a father that's a city

3:56:38counselor or public official I think is

3:56:40a benefit to them because they get to

3:56:41know you know what the city is all

3:56:43about. They get to go to different

3:56:44events. They get to meet different

3:56:45people, different ethnic backgrounds. Um

3:56:47they're not stuck in the same place. Um

3:56:50you know I'm very proud um of them too

3:56:53for you know expanding their horizons

3:56:54and being part of um the city at a very

3:56:58young age and hopefully they stay uh

3:57:00involved as well. But, you know, I'm not

3:57:02here today. Uh, we're talking about

3:57:04April, Haley, and Zach. Um, you know, to

3:57:06keep me grounded most of the time, but

3:57:08also to to be there uh when I need their

3:57:11attention. Um, and just to listen to me.

3:57:15Um, you know, at this point in time,

3:57:17wouldn't be fair uh to the city um you

3:57:20know, to continue um you not being

3:57:22allin. Um so I wanted to give some an

3:57:26opportunity through you know the

3:57:27election process to uh to consider a run

3:57:31um to take a seat over you know for the

3:57:33course of a year uh and then decide

3:57:35going forward you know what that person

3:57:37wants to do but obviously um you know

3:57:41protect deserves someone as soon as

3:57:42possible. I hope you know through the

3:57:44mayor and the administration they can uh

3:57:46you know get that process started. Um

3:57:49you know a special thanks to this

3:57:50particular council um that I've served

3:57:52with um you know for the past couple of

3:57:54terms in the new council since January

3:57:58um you know the spirit of the debates

3:58:00just a few minutes ago um you know the

3:58:03shared late nights the um you know in

3:58:05the collective dedication that we do all

3:58:08have and share um you know that is

3:58:11something that I'll always take with me

3:58:13uh going forward and uh you know believe

3:58:15it or not I am thankful for that um the

3:58:18dedicated city employees, uh, you know,

3:58:20not just the city administration and

3:58:21people that work at city hall, our first

3:58:23responders at DPW,

3:58:25um, you I've gotten to know a lot of

3:58:26them personally over the years and a lot

3:58:28of them have become very close friends

3:58:30of mine. Um, people that I wouldn't

3:58:31trade uh those friendships with um, for

3:58:34anybody for any reason. Um, you know,

3:58:36they keep low running every day and and

3:58:38they make us what we are. We are the

3:58:40greatest city in the Commonwealth and

3:58:42I'm just very fortunate and happy to be

3:58:43a very small small part of that. um you

3:58:47know you all going forward and take that

3:58:49and uh and continue to do what you do

3:58:50best and that's by push forward uh and I

3:58:53am just very thankful to be as part of

3:58:55these teams over the past years uh and

3:58:58this team here as well um you know I do

3:59:01leave with no regrets um but a very deep

3:59:04appreciation uh for the city that I was

3:59:06born in that I grew up in that I raised

3:59:08my family in um there's no other place

3:59:10I'd rather live work and raise a family

3:59:13in L Massachusetts um I know L future is

3:59:16bright. Um, you know, with the mayor and

3:59:20the city manager's leadership and with

3:59:22with this council. Um, I wish nothing

3:59:24but the best uh wisdom, courage, uh, and

3:59:28all the success in the world to, uh, to

3:59:30keep it going and, uh, it's just time,

3:59:32Mr. Mayor. So, thank you for the

3:59:34opportunity to, uh, you know, for the

3:59:36plan, privilege, and, um, you know, God

3:59:40bless all of you. God bless the sea of

3:59:43law and all the best going forward.

3:59:45Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

3:59:47[applause]

3:59:57[applause]

4:00:10>> Councelor Dakota.

4:00:13Well, uh, that's not the way I thought

4:00:15the meeting was going to end, but, uh,

4:00:17that was a stunner. Um,

4:00:22councelor,

4:00:23you've made an imprint on this city.

4:00:26You've been the catalyst for the front

4:00:28runner city,

4:00:30and hopefully we have some big news

4:00:32coming up that the city manager will

4:00:33share hopefully. Um, and you were the

4:00:36catalyst for that.

4:00:39the years that you've given this council

4:00:42the professionalism

4:00:44as the mayor,

4:00:46you you really made a mark on us and you

4:00:48made a mark on me and I want to thank

4:00:51you very much, sir. Thank you,

4:00:53>> Council Scott.

4:00:56Going down the line or

4:00:58>> we can go down the line if you want to

4:00:59start this way.

4:01:00>> No, no, no. That's right. I just just

4:01:02wish Council Ror well. I'm really kind

4:01:04of in shock right now, honestly. Um,

4:01:07I've greatly enjoyed serving with you.

4:01:09Um, you're you're like a little brother

4:01:11that drives me crazy. We don't agree on

4:01:13most issues, but somehow we still just,

4:01:16you know, find our way together, get

4:01:18along, work things out. Um, you're just

4:01:20always cooperative, and you're just

4:01:22you're just a great counselor. I'm

4:01:24disappointed to see you go and and I'll

4:01:26miss you,

4:01:28>> Councelor Chow.

4:01:30>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, as councelor

4:01:34Scott mentioned, it's a shock to us all,

4:01:37but uh, I want to thank councelor Rook

4:01:40for Mayor Rook uh, for his service to

4:01:42the city. Um, when I was mayor, I was in

4:01:45the public a lot and councelor Rook was

4:01:48next to me often made joke that uh,

4:01:51we're brothers. Uh, we we look alike.

4:01:54Um, nobody could understand us.

4:01:57And I I swore when we first got on uh

4:02:00together um he would be probably the

4:02:04last person that I would get along with

4:02:06and uh build relationship closely with.

4:02:09But as soon as we start talking about

4:02:11issues,

4:02:12uh we really connected. Uh we talk a lot

4:02:15of um a lot of policies, lot a lot of

4:02:18motions and uh just as much as I respect

4:02:22him and he respected me. Um we usually

4:02:25vote differently but we took that time

4:02:27just to talk it out uh share our ideas

4:02:30on different motions and even though we

4:02:33disagree on on some motions uh we became

4:02:37closer friends because we knew that work

4:02:39was one thing uh friendship and being a

4:02:42community members uh was was another

4:02:44thing. Um just just a great guy and when

4:02:46you were mayor uh council work I never

4:02:49thought you would be uh the most

4:02:51diplomatic guy I know actually if you

4:02:53know uh him personally he became very

4:02:56diplomatic very ambassador ambassadorial

4:02:59I was very very impressed uh when you

4:03:01were mayor um impressed uh you as a

4:03:04counselor and plus you as a friend and I

4:03:07want to thank you and your family for

4:03:09your sacrifice and your service to the

4:03:10city

4:03:13>> council

4:03:15Thank you very much, M. Mayor. I too am

4:03:17in shock. Um, but I do want to thank

4:03:19councelor Ror for um um just reaching

4:03:23out uh to me as a new counselor and um

4:03:27you know

4:03:29really allowing me to get to know you. I

4:03:31am sad that it's uh ending now. Um, but

4:03:36I really wish you all the best and and I

4:03:38do want to echo um, councelor Dakota's

4:03:41points about your leadership as mayor

4:03:44um, and as a representative of the city

4:03:47um, with the front runner program, but

4:03:49just in general. Um, I wish you all the

4:03:51best. Thank you,

4:03:54>> Council.

4:03:56>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And thank you, uh,

4:03:59Council Rock. uh takes me a while to

4:04:03sort of like understand you um and

4:04:07[laughter] and and and now sort of like

4:04:09okay you know you're leaving I mean so I

4:04:13I I learned a lot for the little you

4:04:14know the short time and trying to

4:04:16understand uh this tough love or this

4:04:19this thing that you have and uh you know

4:04:22it's

4:04:24your heart that I'm you know beginning

4:04:26to to to learn you know and uh Sorry

4:04:29that I didn't, you know, get to know you

4:04:31more, but uh hopefully I I can learn

4:04:34some more stuff from you,

4:04:37>> Council Mcdana.

4:04:39>> Thank you. Um I uh am also in shock. Um

4:04:44I I I do just I I I want to say that um

4:04:48Councelor Ror, we obviously don't agree

4:04:50on very much. And um despite that um in

4:04:55years of following city politics um

4:04:58which is kind of embarrassing cuz I'm

4:04:5931, but for you know all the LTC viewing

4:05:02um I have never doubted um that

4:05:06councelor Ror or when he was the mayor

4:05:08back to councelor Ror doubted that he

4:05:11does nothing and and votes no way other

4:05:13than what he believes is in the best

4:05:14interest of the city. Um despite our

4:05:17frequent disagreement um I truly enjoy

4:05:19the spirited debate. Um, I I find myself

4:05:23before council meetings, I I there's 11

4:05:25of us, but I usually have councelor Roor

4:05:27in my head when I'm trying to think of

4:05:28what uh what someone's gonna say back to

4:05:30me, like what what's the counterpoint

4:05:32that I'm going to have to try and

4:05:33defend. Um, and I'm going to miss that.

4:05:36And, uh,

4:05:38yeah, I guess I hasn't been a year, but

4:05:41in these short months, um, I've gained a

4:05:43tremendous amount of respect for you.

4:05:45Uh, you've made me a better a better

4:05:46city counselor, and you've made the city

4:05:48a better place to live. So, thank you.

4:05:50Council Mercia

4:05:53>> Danny boy, you're making me cry and I'm

4:05:56so pissed off at you right now. I can't

4:05:58even stand it.

4:06:00But I [snorts] feel like we adjourned at

4:06:0210:00. I went home and went to sleep and

4:06:05I woke up and had this nightmare that

4:06:08you left us. And I just feel so horrible

4:06:12because we're not just colleagues. We're

4:06:14very good friends.

4:06:16It all started many years ago when I got

4:06:19to know your aunts, your mother, your

4:06:21father, the every everybody in your

4:06:23family. And as luck would have it, you

4:06:26married one sister and my son married

4:06:28the other sister. So, in some way, we're

4:06:31kind of related, but [snorts] I'm going

4:06:33to miss you tremendously, my Danny boy.

4:06:36I'm just so sad that I have to go home

4:06:39and cry now again. This is not a good

4:06:42thing, but [snorts] I don't really like

4:06:45you. I love you. You're just a good good

4:06:48person and you're like one of my

4:06:50children. So I I really [snorts] am

4:06:52going to miss you. I'm sorry.

4:06:56Council.

4:06:58>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

4:07:02None of us here know that this is

4:07:04coming. It's a shock. I think shock to

4:07:07everyone.

4:07:09uh council broke and I we don't agree on

4:07:11a lot of thing

4:07:13but we agree when come to important

4:07:16stuff um you know I I I first motion we

4:07:20filed together was to name

4:07:25the student center at the high school

4:07:27after the former mayor's former head of

4:07:30school build Sam Harris

4:07:34and from there on we became close

4:07:38and I Thank you for introducing me to

4:07:40the Irish coffee at brew awakening.

4:07:43That's the first time.

4:07:46Yeah, first time. First time. Uh then

4:07:48since then we had half a dozen of it

4:07:51other time, you know, talk about other

4:07:54thing, you know. So I appreciate you

4:07:58for all you've done for the city. Yes.

4:08:02You know, council of the code is

4:08:03correct. the front the front runner

4:08:05city. You were a strong ambassador for

4:08:08the city.

4:08:11We owe it to you.

4:08:15Thank you for your service. And you you

4:08:17could you're going to still be around

4:08:18anyway, right? So, um let's grab the

4:08:21next Irish coffee soon.

4:08:26Thank you,

4:08:29>> Council Robinson.

4:08:31>> Thank you. Um

4:08:35crazy.

4:08:39I mean, I I met Council Laor when I was

4:08:42an employee for the city, I believe, and

4:08:44then our parents, our fathers grew up

4:08:47together, good friends.

4:08:50to be able to come and serve with them

4:08:52um through all ups and downs. It's it's

4:08:56Danny's Council Rock's always been

4:08:59somebody that would take charge of the

4:09:03very important issues that we needed to

4:09:06get over the hurdle. I can remember for

4:09:09how many years was the Rook Bridge

4:09:10stagnant?

4:09:13one phone call to to council.

4:09:17We got it moved through and and pushed

4:09:20prioritized from the state down and

4:09:23everyone showed up to celebrate that.

4:09:25But but councelor Roy working with Jimmy

4:09:27Collins as you remember really

4:09:30spearheaded those efforts and got it off

4:09:32the ground. front runner city.

4:09:36To this day, some people think it's

4:09:37crazy, but that is an initiative that

4:09:43when that pans out, it's changes the

4:09:47face of our community.

4:09:50Not only did people think it's crazy,

4:09:52but councelor Rock had the courage to to

4:09:54take that shot for our residents of L.

4:10:00even earlier tonight

4:10:04putting together the support for

4:10:08the gentleman out of Pucketville, Mr.

4:10:11Musgrave.

4:10:13That was councelor Rook. He saw an

4:10:15injustice and and he called people

4:10:19one at a time regardless of

4:10:21personalities or or get along, not get

4:10:23along. He organized the troops to to

4:10:26rally to correct that. I think over the

4:10:30past 9, 10, 11 years, Council Ro's been

4:10:33on on the council, he's shown leadership

4:10:37repeatedly. Whether you agree or

4:10:39disagree with them, he's still going to

4:10:41prove and show his leadership. And it's

4:10:43been an honor through anything we've

4:10:45ever gone through

4:10:49to be able to serve with you. And I'll

4:10:51miss serving you.

4:10:54Thank you.

4:10:58I don't even know what to say.

4:11:01You know, I I grew up in a family with

4:11:02two brothers and and every time two

4:11:05brothers, there was always some kind of

4:11:07argument back and forth and somehow you

4:11:09figured out how to be a family and we've

4:11:12come here for three terms together,

4:11:14Danny. And uh you know, we've had our

4:11:17ups, we've had our downs in between, but

4:11:19always kept it civil between each other.

4:11:21and you were always someone who would

4:11:24pick up the phone and call me or I'd

4:11:25call you and we were as frustrated as

4:11:28could be and somehow at the end of it we

4:11:30would laugh and walk away from it. Um

4:11:33I'm in shock that we're sitting here

4:11:36saying goodbye. But I think it's opening

4:11:39a whole new door for you and your

4:11:40family. And I think that as you said in

4:11:44your statement about your family and how

4:11:46much love you have for them and where

4:11:48you're going, I think that's the

4:11:49important thing in life. and Council

4:11:51Rook, I thank you for everything you did

4:11:53for me. Um, the ups, the downs, the

4:11:56inbetweens, everything. This city is a

4:11:58better place as you outlined and I I

4:12:01hope that we can still fulfill that need

4:12:03going forward. And I thank you, April,

4:12:07Zach, Haley, amazing. You know, every

4:12:09time I seen your family, they're always

4:12:12nothing but pleasant and pleasurable to

4:12:14me. And you have an amazing family, and

4:12:17that's where you're going. So, thank you

4:12:20again for everything. Um, you always

4:12:23been a friend even though we disagree

4:12:26and the public will say whatever they

4:12:27say, but um, thank you again, Manager

4:12:30Golden.

4:12:32>> Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor.

4:12:36[sighs and gasps]

4:12:37>> What to say? [laughter]

4:12:43Well, who am I going to fight with?

4:12:45[laughter]

4:12:47I fight with Danny more than anybody

4:12:48else, but uh on behalf of the city of

4:12:52LOL.

4:12:55Thank you,

4:13:00>> Mr. Mayor.

4:13:00>> On behalf of our family, we love you.

4:13:04Thanks for everything.

4:13:07Council,

4:13:07>> I was trying to help out city manager

4:13:09Golden there, but uh um I don't want to

4:13:11end with this, but I think we need to do

4:13:13this through you to the city manager.

4:13:15Please uh start the special election

4:13:18process at this time.

4:13:20>> Thank you.

4:13:20>> Mr. Mayor, once you're out, you're out.

4:13:23[laughter]

4:13:25>> Next,

4:13:25>> if you just would have listened to me,

4:13:28>> if you just would have listened to me,

4:13:29we left at the

4:13:30>> hell out of here.

4:13:31>> If we would have left at 10:00 on that

4:13:33vote, we wouldn't be doing this. So,

4:13:35motion to adjourn by councelor Rook,

4:13:38seconded by councelor Scott. All in

4:13:39favor signify by saying I. Any opposed?

4:13:42So ordered. I do also want to say I am

4:13:45being recognized at the state house of

4:13:46senator.