2026-10-13 - City Council

00:03Thank you guys for coming.

00:14Thank you. [music]

00:50cookies.

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01:17>> How's it look?

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01:35>> Yeah, it was uh drawn through

01:38>> but very impressive.

01:52Yes. [music]

01:57[music]

02:15Okay.

02:37>> [music]

02:47>> Don't free to

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02:58[music]

03:03>> October 13th, 2026 LOL City Council

03:06meeting come to order. City prayer. Dear

03:09God, today as this session opens, we

03:11pray that your presence will be before

03:13us and everyone who serves in the

03:14decision-making process of our city. We

03:17pray for direction which will lead our

03:18city to be strong and unified. May we

03:21continue the legacy of our founders. May

03:23we be granted this day the wisdom to

03:26make decisions which will be for the

03:27good of our city. We also pray for your

03:30special blessing on all those who are

03:32working to transform our city and make

03:34it a better place to live and work.

03:37Amen.

03:39>> I pledge allegiance I pledge allegiance

03:41to the flag United States of America to

03:44the republic for which it stands. One

03:46nation under God, indivisible, with

03:49liberty, justice for all.

03:57>> Roll call. Mr. Clerk.

04:03>> Councelor Robinson

04:04>> here.

04:06>> Councelor Scott

04:07>> here.

04:08>> Councelor Chow

04:09>> here.

04:10>> Councelor Dakota

04:11>> here.

04:11>> Mayor Gia

04:12>> here.

04:12>> Council Jirean

04:14>> here. Council Leang

04:15>> here.

04:16>> Council Mcdana

04:17>> here.

04:17>> Council Mercier

04:18>> here.

04:19>> Council New

04:20>> here. And present.

04:21>> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Are there any

04:23moment of silences?

04:25>> Seeing none, we'll move on to mayor's

04:27business. 2.1 communication remote zoom

04:30participation. Motion to accept and

04:32place on file by councel Robinson,

04:34seconded by councelor Scott. All those

04:36in favor signify by saying I. Any

04:38opposed? So ordered. I need a motion to

04:41suspend the rules by councelor Robinson,

04:44seconded by councelor Mercier to take to

04:47have Peg Shanahan from LOL City of

04:50Learning present Patrick J. Morgan

04:52Learning City Awards. Peg, if you could

04:55please come to the mic.

04:58Thank you, Mr. Mayor, counselors, um

05:02manager Golden, it's my privilege once

05:04again to speak to you about LOL City of

05:06Learning. Um, as you all well know, last

05:09Saturday we had a wonderful event in

05:10front of city hall when we raised the

05:12flag for the f to celebrate ll is the

05:15first UNESCO learning city in the United

05:17States. It was a warm and great event. I

05:20want to thank the L team for making it

05:22so and especially councelor Jirean, not

05:25only for her the countless hours that

05:27she spent to put this uh learning city

05:31project forward, but everything that she

05:32did to make the the event as warm and

05:34inspiring as it was. The speakers were

05:37wonderful. The donuts were delicious. It

05:39was all in all a good thing. One really

05:41cool thing that happened was that Mayor

05:43Gia had declared October is learning

05:46month in LOL. There's a lot going on. I

05:49promise to spend less than two minutes

05:51telling you about it. There are three

05:53signature events that I want to

05:54highlight tonight. On Monday, you're all

05:56invited to the Patrick Mogan Learning

05:59City Awards. We'll be recognizing the

06:02work of Dr. Robert Ferrant Ferrant who

06:04you all well know, Phil Sison, president

06:07of Middle Sex Community College, and

06:09also what Middle Sex Community College

06:11is does for learning in the city. Um,

06:14that's at the uh Donahghue Center from 5

06:16to 7:00 p.m. There will be cookies,

06:19really good company, and a lively

06:21conversation between the awardees, Bob

06:23and Phil, moderated by Laura Smith. The

06:26second event I want to tell you about is

06:28something that I think is an important

06:29life skill that you all need to learn.

06:32On Tuesday,

06:35October 23rd, at the Pollid Library from

06:373:00 to 5:00 p.m., there'll be a balloon

06:40twisting workshop. This is guaranteed to

06:43make you the life of the party. Not only

06:45that, you'll learn to make hats,

06:47fabulous hats that you can wear to any

06:49party. You can register for that at the

06:52L City Library events page.

06:56The third event is also important for

06:58anybody that wants to learn more about

07:00what a learning city is and what a

07:02learning city does. We'll be having a

07:04conversation on October 27th at 11:00

07:07a.m. in the morning on Google Meets with

07:10Edmonton, Alberta, the first Canadian

07:13learning city, Cork Island, the first

07:15Irish learning city. And of course, Lel,

07:19Massachusetts, the first learning city

07:22in the United States. I can't say that

07:24often enough. There's a lot going on. I

07:26encourage you to go to our website, ll

07:30cityoflearning.org.

07:31Check out all of the events. Come

07:34participate. Celebrate.

07:36I'll see you on the learning studios of

07:38Lel. Shine on Lel. Thank you again, Mr.

07:41Mayor, for the time. I appreciate it.

07:43Good night. Now,

07:45>> thank you, Miss Shannon, and thank you

07:46for everything you do from the city

07:47council.

07:49[clears throat]

07:50>> Mr. Mr. Mayor, council. Um, Senator, we

07:53on the uh uh part of suspending the

07:56rules. Could I ask to take uh item 6.1

07:59out of order? We have a representative

08:02here that might be able to answer

08:03questions or comments.

08:05>> Motion by councelor Chow to take 6.1 out

08:08of order. Seconded by councelor Dakota.

08:11All in favor signify by saying I. Any

08:13opposed? So ordered. Six votes from the

08:16city manager. 6.1 vote authorize city

08:19manager execute release of land

08:21restrictions low housing authority

08:24wave full [clears throat] reading and

08:25second reading by title vote authorizing

08:28the city manager execute a release of

08:31rights order takings reservations

08:33easements and restrictions on various

08:36properties owned by the l housing

08:38authority in the city of l

08:43council

08:46No, I don't have a comment. Just move.

08:48>> Make a motion to adopt.

08:49>> Yes.

08:50>> Yes. Thank you.

08:50>> Motion to adopt by council chow,

08:52seconded by council me

08:55>> comments. Council Robinson

08:57>> going through that. Um

08:59there was one property

09:03that had a a deed parcel with the

09:0630-year open space restriction.

09:08Um,

09:10so we're releasing that final year and a

09:12half with this vote of the deed

09:15restriction to keep it open space

09:18>> and that that would be the 7:30 Marramac

09:20Street.

09:21>> Man,

09:23>> thank you very much, Mr. Mayor of the

09:24Council. Um, Mr. Martin is here, I

09:27believe, from the L housing authority,

09:29but that would be uh eliminating the 1.5

09:31the remaining year and a half. I want to

09:33make sure I said that correctly.

09:41Martin.

09:41>> Yes. Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor,

09:44counselors. Um, my name is William

09:46Martin. I'm an attorney with offices 491

09:49Dutton Street. I actually represent

09:50Trinity Financial in this uh proposed

09:53transaction, properties currently owned

09:55by the Wool Housing Authority and would

09:57be leased. It's been approved for a new

10:00housing u construction development and

10:02there are a few of these restrictions

10:04that would prevent construction were

10:07these restrictions to remain. One of

10:08them is in fact the 30-year open space

10:11restriction. When the city deeded the

10:13land to the housing authority was

10:16intended to be used as open space that

10:18was a restriction in the deed that was

10:20going to last 30 years. As you point

10:22out, we're in year 28 of that

10:24restriction and are looking for that and

10:27a few other similar type things to be

10:28released to allow the construction

10:30project to proceed.

10:34Thank you. Um and and another one was um

10:39[clears throat] the 32 Decada street the

10:4290 1995 deed to low housing from the

10:44city contains revert language that the

10:46apostles would convey would revert to

10:48the city if not used by LHA within 5

10:50years for the construction of the

10:52multi-ervice the center was built 32 is

10:55served as attached open space parking

10:57center for the so that's just basically

11:00that that was built they were in

11:01compliant with that at the time in 1995

11:04and and so this is the additional parcel

11:07where the parking is.

11:09>> Manager Golden Solicitor Williams.

11:14>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yeah, this is

11:15something that should have happened a

11:16long time ago. It was satisfied and this

11:18is just a formality to release the deed

11:21from something that had already

11:22happened. Had it not happened at the

11:24time within that time frame, uh you

11:26know, the reverter language would have

11:28theoretically applied and could have

11:29been used. But um since they had

11:32satisfied the conditions a long time

11:34ago, this is um the city's way of

11:36releasing the deed.

11:40>> Okay. And and um number six, 53 to 63

11:43Salem Street, old tax from 1986. These

11:46parcels do not appear on our current

11:48list of tax title accounts. So that's

11:50just land that that we've been sitting

11:53on and and haven't done anything with

11:59>> on on that one. And I think that these

12:01were tax takings against an owner prior

12:03to the lull housing authority. The taxes

12:05were already paid. They're not shown on

12:07the tax title accounts as due, but the

12:10releases were never filed.

12:13>> And and who would be the um the current

12:17owner of the 53- 63

12:20>> L Housing Authority?

12:22>> Thank you.

12:25>> Any other questions?

12:28Vice Mayor Non, could you take the uh

12:30podium for a minute, please?

12:49>> The mayor.

12:50>> Thank you, Vice Mayor. No,

12:51[clears throat] question to attorney

12:53Martin. Attorney Man, after the year and

12:55a half restriction, would that have been

12:58released to the city or back? Because

13:00it's the city's property that got

13:02>> it would have just expired. It was a

13:0430-year restriction. It would just

13:06expire by its terms. So, we're asking

13:08for that year and a half to be

13:10accelerated to today.

13:11>> So, who actually owned the land in the

13:13beginning? Back

13:14>> that the city sold it to the housing

13:16authority.

13:16>> Okay.

13:19[clears throat] And I guess my other

13:20question is

13:21when they built that building, was there

13:23another parcel that should have been

13:26open space that wasn't used as open

13:27space? I know they were used for

13:29parking, but that really isn't open

13:30space,

13:31>> right? So the city did have a program at

13:33one time where they the city would sell

13:36off parcels to abuing owners. uh it

13:39wasn't unique to this particular parcel

13:41and often it was a condition that the

13:43parcel just go with the ab budding owner

13:46and be used as open space not be

13:48developed into another multif family

13:51house or something like that so that was

13:53the program as existed I think when

13:55these properties were conveyed to the

13:58housing authority after that time they

14:00came up with these plans for the Mercia

14:01center and now this plan to have Trinity

14:04build um more affordable housing units

14:07on this site

14:08these restrictions um would would be in

14:12the way of that.

14:14>> Thank you.

14:27>> Council Mcdana.

14:29>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so I I guess I

14:32I'm still

14:36I'm still confused on 32 Decar Street. I

14:38I understand the year and a half waiver.

14:40I I think that the the year and a half

14:42on the open space on the other

14:43properties I can follow. That makes

14:45sense to me. This seems pretty

14:47straightforward stuff. Um, Decator

14:50Street, I guess I'm I my confusion is

14:52just

14:54it stems from the notwithstanding any

14:56condition subsequent automatic revision.

14:57I I guess I'm just

15:00I'm just trying to figure out what that

15:02original vote what that original vote

15:04was. If this is just kind of us clearing

15:06a clerical mess or if we are actually

15:11changing anything in a substantive way

15:14from that original agreement. If that

15:16question is not clear, I'm sorry. It's

15:17been a really long day, but Mr. Mayor

15:19through you to probably the city

15:20solicitor.

15:21>> Solicitor Williams.

15:23>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yeah. So there

15:25would be no change to the substance of

15:27the original intent. It's just as often

15:31times happens, time passes way beyond

15:33when these things should be initially

15:35addressed. Um not blaming one side or

15:37the other. And that's sort of the point

15:39that we're at.

15:44>> Roll call.

15:47>> Council Robinson.

15:49>> Yes.

15:50>> Councelor Scott.

15:51>> Yes.

15:52>> Councelor Chow.

15:53>> Yes.

15:53>> Councelor Dakota. Yes.

15:54>> Mayor Gia.

15:55>> Yes.

15:56>> Council Jirean.

15:57>> Yes.

15:57>> Council Leang.

15:58>> Yes.

15:59>> Council Mcdana.

16:00>> Yes.

16:01>> Council Mercia.

16:02>> Yes.

16:02>> Council N.

16:03>> Yes.

16:04>> And

16:05>> thank you, Councilman.

16:06>> Thank you very much.

16:08>> Thank you.

16:10>> Three. City clerk 3.1 minutes of rules

16:13in election law subcommittee. October

16:166th. City council regular meeting.

16:19October 6th for acceptance. Motion to

16:21accept and place on file by council

16:22Mcdana. Seconded by councel Yang. All in

16:25favor signify by saying I. Any opposed?

16:28So ordered. Four. City council motions.

16:324.1. Council Scott. Request the city

16:34manager work with the appropriate

16:36department to develop and implement a

16:38system that provides the public with

16:41real time access to search for building

16:44permits as they are issued. Seconded by

16:46council mercy or council Scott.

16:49>> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Uh this motion was

16:51at the request of some residents that

16:52have been reaching out to me asking me

16:54about different projects that are

16:55happening. And right now we post a

16:57monthly a after the month has gone by we

16:59post a monthly list of all the permits

17:02um and they would like to know what's

17:03happening in real time um so that they

17:05can follow them. Um I did look I know a

17:07lot of other towns use open gov other

17:10products to to post the permits in real

17:12time. Um I don't know what the cost

17:15around that is so you know I'm just

17:17asking for a report right now. Um, even

17:19if it's a spreadsheet link like that's

17:21live that people can just see in real

17:23time, I think they would appreciate it.

17:24And just in the interest of

17:25transparency, thank you,

17:28>> Council Mcdana.

17:30>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just wanted to

17:31say that uh I I do fully support this

17:33motion and also uh I think Mr. Manager

17:35and Mr. Assistant Manager, this this

17:37would go a long way in alleviating at

17:39least some of the calls that I know I

17:40make on on the weekend. And I'm sure

17:42other counselors are making as well cuz

17:43at times contractors pull permits to do

17:45work on a Saturday or a Monday holiday

17:47or whatever and it's you can't even call

17:49the city to check cuz we're closed and

17:51so there's nowhere to check. Residents

17:52are like why why do I hear a cement saw

17:54or it's 7 o'clock on a holiday morning

17:57or or whatever. So this would this would

17:59alleviate a lot of that. Thank you.

18:01>> Thank you councelor Mcdana. Councelor

18:02Noon.

18:03>> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um so it's very

18:06good motions. Um thank you councelor

18:08Scott. I know that uh when somebody's

18:11when you know petitioner file for a

18:14special permit and or variance certainly

18:16a resident uh from you know those area

18:20will be notify either through the ad of

18:22the lo sun and whatnot. So um that's one

18:25way to do that. they've done that

18:27already and so you know soon enough

18:30before hearing uh you get this permit

18:33and or special permit or permit or

18:35variant uh is it's it's right there. I

18:38mean you're going to post it anyway,

18:40right? So the sooner you post it online

18:42so that residents see it, I think is is

18:46is good to to really, you know, have

18:48them sit there and wait and wondering

18:50what happened to that. you know if they

18:52could not attend the the hearing of

18:54zoning or planning board for that

18:56matter. So it's a good it's a good

18:58suggestion by council Scott to have this

19:00um you know uh uh post in real time when

19:03this happen you get out of the meeting

19:05you know you go back into your office

19:07just put it out put it out there you

19:09know a stamp of approval if it approve

19:11if it deny or whatever. Thank you.

19:15>> Thank you councelor noon. See no no no

19:18other questions. All in favor signify by

19:20saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 4.2.

19:24Council Scott requests the city manager

19:26work with the traffic engine to develop

19:27a plan to improve safety along Wuben

19:30Street, including evaluating the

19:32prohibition on on off of on on street

19:36vehicle parking along 178 to 194 Wen

19:40Street to improve sight lines and

19:42visibility for pedestrians and

19:43motorists. Seconded by council of Juran.

19:46Council Scott.

19:47>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh this is another

19:49area that's been of great concern to to

19:51residents in that area. Um there's a a

19:54turn on Wuben Street um that starts

19:57right in front of the Gulf station. Um

19:59and on the right hand side there,

20:01there's been a line of box trucks pretty

20:03much consistently parking there all the

20:05time. Um the students cross the road

20:07there to get over to the bus stop at the

20:09corner of Eastn Street. Um the parents

20:11have all had concerns about not being

20:13able to see past the box trucks while

20:15they're trying to cross the road. um and

20:17the cars pulling out of the side streets

20:19like a Dro Street and Carmine Street,

20:20they can't see past the line of trucks.

20:23So, similar similar to what we did at

20:25the end of Lawrence and Moore Street

20:26where the sight line um is an issue. Um

20:30it's something that I think we need to

20:31look at at this specific spot. Thank

20:34you.

20:36>> Thank you, Council Scott. Manager

20:37Golden.

20:37>> Uh thank you very much, Mr. Mayor to the

20:39council. Council, just for edification,

20:41that's a open spot. Is someone parking?

20:43Do you know if someone's parking there

20:45overnight or is it they're utilizing the

20:47I say the Duncan across the street. Is

20:50that what they're Do you have any idea

20:51because we'll we'll put somebody on it

20:53just trying to figure out what

20:54>> Yeah, they're utilizing the Duncan.

20:55>> They got

20:56>> throughout the whole day like and

20:57there's just a line of trucks parked

20:59there all and and it's a a large um

21:01trucking uh depot that opened up down in

21:04Tukbury and it's increased incredibly

21:07since then. So

21:08>> So thank you.

21:08>> Thank you.

21:10>> Thank you, Council Scott. All in favor

21:11signify by saying I. Any opposed? So

21:14ordered.

21:15>> Mr. Mayor.

21:16>> Councelor Robinson.

21:17>> I'd like make a motion to bundle 4.3

21:20with motion response C.

21:25>> Motion by councel Robinson to bundle

21:284.3. Motion response 4 point motion 4.3

21:32and motion response C. Seconded by

21:35councelor Mercier. All in favor signify

21:37by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered.

21:394.3 Council Robertson request the city

21:41manager have the proper department

21:43provide a report on the newly installed

21:45mini forest as well as the pollinator

21:48garden in Senville motion 5.1 motion

21:51response C reservoir councelor Robinson

21:54>> thank you um I got quite a bit of

21:57questions from neighbors around the new

22:00installations just asking what is our

22:02plan it is pretty unsightly right now I

22:05get it based on the response and see

22:09that's why I bundled them. Um, they want

22:10to give it a full growing season to see

22:13where we are, what what took, what

22:15didn't take. Um, moving forward, I hope

22:18that before we plant anything, we do

22:20have a solid plan for the watering and

22:22everything else that goes along with it.

22:24Um, and as far as the reservoir, I'm

22:28hoping we can take a look at that. Let's

22:30see in the spring, you know, next year,

22:32how the two new installations did. and

22:35then if the grant window opens, I hope

22:38that we're going to pursue that and then

22:39look to further that. So, thank you very

22:41much.

22:42>> Thank you, Council Robinson. See no no

22:45other hands. All in favor signify by

22:47saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. Then

22:50a motion to accept and place on file

22:53motion response C by Council Robinson,

22:56seconded by Council Noon. All in favor

22:58signify by saying I. Any opposed? So

23:00ordered.

23:024.4 4. Council Robinson, Council Dakota,

23:05request the city manager have the the

23:06proper department provide a report

23:08providing a path forward to implement a

23:11pilot camera program on a selection of

23:14school buses assigned to transporting

23:16LOL students. No seconded needed.

23:18Councelor Dakota.

23:20>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, want to thank

23:22councelor uh Robinson for in doing this

23:26motion. Um, understanding that uh next

23:29year's budget will be just as

23:31challenging as this year was, I really

23:34think this is a a revenue stream that

23:36that needs to be looked at. Um, I

23:39believe that um the school department

23:41has been notified of this. Now, the

23:43school department has well over 100

23:45vehicles that transport 9,000 students

23:47in district and out of district. I'm

23:50hoping that we can look at a possible

23:52pilot program where we could have 10

23:54large school buses and five specialed

23:57buses and put these cameras on and see

23:59how it goes. I know there's been some

24:01reservations, but I think this is worth

24:02trying. More than a revenue source, this

24:05is also something for the safety of the

24:06kids. And actually

24:09today I went to market at Shadic at

24:14around 2:30 today and I had 12

24:18violations that could have been right

24:20there of cars going right through that

24:22intersection. So once again I I think

24:26this is a revenue source, but more than

24:27anything um in my years of

24:30transportation in this city, the amount

24:32of close calls that we've had, I think

24:34this is something that would be a

24:35deterrent for that. So, um, I'll let

24:38Councelor Robin speak as well.

24:40>> Thank you, Council Dakota. Councelor

24:42Robinson.

24:43>> Thank you. Uh, thank you to my colleague

24:46again.

24:48This is about safety

24:50for the kids on the buses. Now, it's

24:52dark early. I mean, we did bring this up

24:54a while ago. I don't know where that

24:56went. Um, through you to the solicitor.

25:00Is this something that

25:03the city can implement or require on our

25:05side since we do pay transportation

25:07costs or reimburse for transportation

25:09cost? Um a pilot program it let's see it

25:13and send a message that running those

25:16stop lightss that come out especially

25:17now where early in the morning I'm on my

25:20way to work and it it's still dark out.

25:21It's still pretty dark and it's going to

25:22get darker. Uh we're just heading into

25:25that time of year and and

25:28the last thing we need is someone half

25:31asleep going to work not paying

25:32attention running that stop sign and and

25:35you know this is the second time we had

25:37to put something forward to try to look

25:39we we we we brought a vendor in that sat

25:42up here and walked us through this all

25:44and and kind of addressed any questions

25:46or concerns the council had. Um and here

25:50we are still asking for it. So, please,

25:52I hope we can get this going like

25:54yesterday. As far as a pilot, what is

25:57our path forward to doing that? And and

25:59I look forward to the response. Thank

26:00you very much,

26:03>> Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor,

26:06>> what? Um,

26:07>> Council Dakota,

26:08>> piggybacking on Council Robinson's

26:10thoughts, um, would the next process be

26:13for you to bring this in front of the

26:15school committee on a motion or how

26:16would we go about this? Maybe the city

26:18solicitor can let inform us, but I would

26:21imagine you'd be the conduit to that.

26:23>> I am doing it right now as you speak.

26:27>> I

26:27>> Good job. We'll be doing your review

26:30soon. All right. Good job.

26:32>> Thank you. Um, anyone else wishing to

26:34speak?

26:36Seeing no one, all in favor of the

26:38motion, signify by saying I. Any

26:40opposed? So ordered. [clears throat]

26:43[snorts] Five 4.5. Council Duran request

26:46the city manager have the DPW and

26:47transportation engineer prepare by early

26:502027 or as appropriate plans for which

26:54streets and sidewalks will be paved

26:56otherwise repaired or traffic calmed in

27:002027 and how consistent the

27:03prioritization is with the decision flow

27:06charts. Seconded by councel Leang,

27:08councelor Jirean.

27:10>> Uh thank you Mr. Mayor. Um, I know that

27:13the window for 2026 road work is closing

27:16soon and it's early to think about 2027,

27:19but many residents are anxious to know

27:21if their streets are going to be

27:23repaired and where um, trafficcoming

27:26will occur. We all get these requests, I

27:29think, constantly. Um, we've received

27:31wonderful reports from DPW back on March

27:3424th outlining the flowchart of how they

27:37and the city engineers decide which

27:38streets will be paved and repaired. And

27:41we've uh with that report was a a

27:43detailed history of the work done over

27:45the last five years and then planned for

27:47this year. Uh it would be great to have

27:49a similar review of 2026 and a plan for

27:522027

27:54um at the right time. I don't know when

27:56the decisions you know get made but um

28:00uh you know earlier is obviously better

28:02but when it's appropriate so that you

28:04know things are rather um thought

28:07through uh so that folks can know how

28:10things are going and whether the

28:12flowchart has been or you know tweaked

28:14or needs to be tweaked and um residents

28:17can understand what the plans are and

28:20get both the information they want and

28:22the confidence that they deserve that

28:23our limited resources resources are

28:25being allocated thoughtfully and fairly

28:27as as I expect they are. Um similarly,

28:31back on February 17th and March 24th, we

28:34received reports from the transportation

28:36engineer about how trafficcoming

28:38determinations are made and on the

28:41city's website there is even more

28:43information about all of that. Um, but

28:46getting a plan from the transportation

28:48engineer about what work was or done

28:51this year and planned for 2027 and how

28:54the determinations line up with the

28:56criteria that's set forth in in all of

28:59that documentation would again um

29:01similarly inform and reassure our

29:04residents and um I think it would help

29:07all of us to understand where the

29:09resources are being spent and how um and

29:12what the plans are going forward. Thank

29:14you. Thank you, Council J. Manager

29:15Golden.

29:18Council New Council.

29:19>> Oh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, the

29:21flowchart from 20 26 with street and

29:26sidewalk, you know, it need to be paved,

29:28need to be done. If you not get done

29:302026, you carry on to um you carry that

29:34on to 2027 and maybe then add on to it,

29:36right? So uh maybe instead of uh you

29:39know a motion by councelor Juran you

29:42know 2026 and now 2027 we should have it

29:45every year there be a flowchart whatever

29:48we didn't finish 2026 and go to 2027 and

29:5328 that should be a carry on all the

29:55time and that should be all listed as to

29:58uh so that resident know what to expect

30:01it you know so that that would be a good

30:04thing instead of us filing a motion you

30:07know uh every year on this. Thank you

30:11>> councelor Robinson.

30:13>> Thank you. Um I agree. I think a

30:16carryover that from year to year makes

30:18sense but the only thing we have to also

30:21consider is

30:23certain roads that have heavier traffic

30:24volume deteriorate faster. And so adjust

30:29um ratings and and positioning on that

30:32list may fluctuate from year to year due

30:35to the amount of usage. Uh perfect

30:38example with the cso work. We're routing

30:41a lot of traffic up roads that normally

30:43wouldn't have seen that impact for the

30:44next 3 years. And so I mean that is

30:47something also that we have to be

30:48mindful of. weather conditions also how

30:51much salt was put out this year compared

30:53to last year and and all that impacts

30:56your road safety ratings and and the

30:58conditions. So if we're going to do a

30:59carryover there is going to be

31:01fluctuation from year to year. Roads

31:04that we think are next in line may drop

31:07a few based on all those other factors.

31:10So thank you. [clears throat]

31:14>> Uh thank you very much Mr. Mayor and

31:16three to the council council. This is a

31:18very timely motion. Councelor, thank you

31:19very much. Um, we meet every two weeks

31:21on the construction, myself, uh,

31:24assistant city manager Mashado, the

31:26commissioner St. Seir, as well as our

31:28engineering team. And when I say team, I

31:31mean all of them, uh, Mr. Gleason, um,

31:33Mr. Biotti, and Miss Olman. So, you're

31:37all correct. It does, uh, take time. It

31:40is very timely.

31:44My hope would be

31:46mid to late late November, maybe

31:49December, we will have a better idea of

31:51where we're going to be, what we've

31:53wrapped up in 26, what wasn't wrapped

31:55up, what is going to carry over, but a

31:59lot of what happens into 27 is we're

32:01still having and and that's calendar

32:02year 27. We're still having discussions

32:05with the utilities as well and that

32:07causes a little bit of shift for for uh

32:09people but the utilities where they're

32:12going to be where we should be and

32:14following along with any type of

32:16emergency situations i.e. culverts that

32:19may have uh released and something that

32:20we need to deal with. So, um, my hope,

32:24you know, December I'll have I'll have a

32:26list for you folks to look at and it

32:28will be the carryover. It will be the

32:30continuing to 27 and then of course we

32:32get into the finances already of FY28

32:36which is really right around the corner

32:37where we're already looking at that type

32:39of stuff now. But, uh, it is very timely

32:41timely motion and I hope to have

32:42something to you in the next four

32:45weeksish. I'm going to give that thing

32:47uh just until we uh we close out the

32:49rest of the year.

32:52Thank you, Manager Golden. Councelor

32:53Dan.

32:54>> Yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, and and

32:56I appreciate uh Councelor Non's um

32:58perspective on having this kind of

33:00report every year. Um but I also agree

33:03that I think there will be variation

33:05from year to year. This is not just a

33:07flowthrough. I do think looking at the

33:09flowchart, as I think our teams do um

33:12sort of from scratch to see what's going

33:14on and you know, how priorities have

33:16changed um is important on an annual

33:19basis. and that as long as the criteria

33:23are clear and um and you know residents

33:26can understand them, you know, I think

33:28hopefully they can understand and

33:30respect that things may have shifted

33:32their street which maybe was hopefully

33:34going to get done as now not as high a

33:36priority unfortunately for them. Um but

33:40uh I think that that will be a great

33:42resource and I know I have relied on

33:45that data a lot this year. So I look

33:47forward to getting it on a continuing

33:49basis. Thank you.

33:51>> Thank you, Council Direan. All in favor

33:52of the motion signify by saying I. Any

33:55opposed? So ordered. 4.6. Council Duran

33:58request the city manager of the property

33:59department explain benefits and cost of

34:02having firefighters and fire trucks

34:04respond to non-fire calls including EMS

34:07and helipad calls and the cost and

34:09feasibility of alternatives. Seconded by

34:12councel non councelor Jan. Uh thank you

34:15Mr. Mayor. Um, so I know that residents

34:18want us in government to provide safety

34:20whenever possible, including from fire,

34:22from crime, and medical emergency. And

34:25obviously that means supporting our fire

34:27department, police department, and and

34:30local EMTs. And we'd all like that

34:32necessary uh, sorry, equipment and

34:35expertise to be immediately available to

34:38us whenever we need it. But we also know

34:40we can't have a fire truck, a police

34:42cruiser, and an ambulance on, you know,

34:45every corner along with their related

34:48trained team members. Um, so as we have

34:52all been digging into the fire

34:54department overtime question, I think we

34:56need to better understand how our

34:58resources are being used and whether in

35:01the long run there are things we can do

35:03differently to do them better. Um, we've

35:06heard about firet trucks responding to

35:08medical emergencies even though we have

35:10EMTs and ambulances in the city. And I

35:13think there may be good reasons why

35:15that's the case, but there are also

35:16costs to such responses. Um, and and the

35:21city council, I and other residents need

35:24to fully understand both the benefits

35:26and the costs so that we can make

35:28informed decisions. um you know answers

35:31like well it's always been done this way

35:34might be part of the explanation but I

35:36don't think that allows us to think

35:38about whether there are other

35:39approaches. Um for instance maybe better

35:43triaging requests for help can avoid

35:45having to send a fire truck and a police

35:47car and an ambulance to every situation.

35:51Um perhaps we need more ambulances in

35:53the city so firefighters and their

35:55trucks don't have to be called out to

35:56act as EMTs. Um, I understand that, you

36:00know, most firefighters are EMTs, but

36:02not all of them are. So, how do we

36:04actually ensure that we're helping

36:06people when we send firefighters to

36:08medical calls? Um, we had a discussion

36:12last week about the helellipad at the

36:14hospital and the fact that it has or

36:17doesn't have a fire suppression system.

36:19So would having one there, a fire

36:21suppression system at the helipad

36:23eliminate the need to have the fire

36:25department wait for hours for a

36:26potential helicopter crash landing as uh

36:30our mayor suggested last week and if so

36:32what is the cost? Um I mean we seem to

36:36have a structural problem with staffing

36:38with overtime with how the resources are

36:40being used and I don't think we can

36:42simply throw more money at the situation

36:44even if we had the money and say that's

36:46appropriate. we may need to think about

36:48doing things somewhat differently. I

36:50know I'm not someone who tends to throw

36:52the baby out with the bathwater. Um, but

36:55I think we need to at least understand

36:57if we can change some things or why we

37:00can't rather than merely assuming that

37:03the status quo is the best way. And then

37:05if changes are appropriate may not be

37:07possible to make them immediately or

37:10even you know over a couple of years but

37:13we should have a vision for where we're

37:14heading rather than just continuing on a

37:17path because it's easy. So um I think

37:20you know this kind of deep discussion

37:22would benefit all of us. Thank you.

37:25>> Thank you councelor Jan. Councelor Non.

37:27>> Thank you Council Durant uh for motions.

37:31It's it's timely. Uh know this motion,

37:34you know, the council should have filed

37:36this, you know, a while ago uh because a

37:39concern a concern

37:42with, you know, uh cost, right? I know I

37:46know we all hear public safety is first

37:48priority for all the council, but we

37:51want to want to do it in a way that

37:53balance that, right? Uh balance that. We

37:56understand that you know having uh what

37:59we've done now is certainly can improve

38:01service integration and efficiency but

38:06it's also incur cost a lot of cost

38:10associated with it. We have to do it in

38:12a way we have to balance looking for a

38:14balanced approach so where we can

38:16provide uh safety uh at the same time

38:20you know uh uh uh looking out for

38:24taxpayers as well because you know when

38:26you have a fire truck go out you know

38:29not only that it costs for fuel uh

38:33mainten

38:34but also you have a service p service

38:37personnel is there too and I know that

38:40one of The pet peeve for the mayor is

38:42that the ollipad you know and why why we

38:48incur cost on that you know uh what can

38:51we do and how can Low general help us in

38:54that so so a lot of those question need

38:56to be answered uh we need to uh I know

38:59opportunity arrive now very soon with

39:03the managers and the fire union uh with

39:07regard to contract I know the contract

39:09is uh is coming up. I know discussion

39:12may start sometime in January or so.

39:15This is one of the topic uh uh to be had

39:18at at you know on the at the table about

39:22uh how can we do you know provide

39:26safety

39:28with a balanced approach

39:31looking at cost as so as as also an

39:34important factors as well. Thank you.

39:36>> Thank you councel new and councel

39:38Robinson.

39:39>> Thank you. I think this is a great

39:40motion. Um, and I appreciate Thank

39:42Councelor Jirean for bringing this

39:43forward because in the past I had filed

39:46looking at could we explore potentially

39:50outfitting a couple of the houses with

39:52SUVs to respond to medical calls, but

39:55the cost would be tremendous. You're

39:57talking additional staffing and and

39:59everything else. Uh the wear and tear on

40:02our vehicles is is outrageous. Just

40:05going back and forth to medical calls

40:06and and as everyone's well aware, we

40:09just spent a significant amount of money

40:11on on capital improvements to the fire

40:13department

40:15um apparatus. So having them respond

40:18back and forth all day to medical calls,

40:20[gasps]

40:21those new vehicles are taking a beating.

40:23Stop and go, stop and go, stop and go,

40:25especially with the speed bumps and

40:26everything else that we're installing.

40:27So, um I think this is a great motion

40:29looking at is there efficiencies one

40:32with staffing and employees to be had as

40:35well as mitigating that wear and tear on

40:38on these newly purchased vehicles

40:40because uh there's no ARPA parachute

40:43coming in the near future. So, we're

40:45going to have to maintain what we have

40:47for quite some time and plan

40:48accordingly. So, thank you for this

40:50motion, Council Jur.

40:52>> Thank you, Council Robinson. Councelor

40:53Mercier.

40:54>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Last week I did

40:57talk about how my husband was not well

41:02and he had infamous COPD and 99.910

41:08of the time that I called an ambulance

41:11the fire department was there.

41:15I was so happy. I don't care if it was a

41:18DPW truck if they had oxygen on it. I

41:22wanted their help. and this happened to

41:24be the fire department

41:26and now I'm hearing let's do away with

41:29that. I can understand looking into it.

41:33I'd like to get some information as

41:36well, but I'm still going to stand by

41:38the fact that if you have a loved one

41:41that's dying, you don't care who gets

41:44there first. And it's just my luck. It

41:47was the fire department 99.910

41:51of the time. and I'm very very grateful.

41:55And if you want to eliminate that,

41:57that's on you, not me.

42:00>> Thank you, Council Marcia. Council

42:02Mcdana.

42:03>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, ju just

42:06as the discussion is centered on the

42:08helellipad, it has got me spinning. Um,

42:11and so I I guess in addition to the

42:13information that councelor Duran is is

42:14looking for, I I'm

42:17looking without maybe without building

42:19off of this motion, without waiting a

42:20week and putting it in would be

42:23presumably the helellipad at LOL General

42:25is used by a whole host of communities

42:27that are not the city of LOL. I think

42:28that's the benefit to having a regional

42:31uh a large regional hospital that I am

42:33personally happy that I live very close

42:35to and would not require a held I'm

42:38going somewhere else if I need a

42:39helicopter to get from Market Street to

42:40L General. Um so it does seem in

42:46addition to whether or not we should be

42:47sending a firetruck I I understand the

42:49rationale for sending the fire truck. I

42:51do though wonder if other communities

42:54are giving like so so we're transporting

42:56other LOL General is transporting you

42:59know people who desperately need care

43:00from from that community to l General as

43:03the the large hospital in the area that

43:05gets the helicopter landing the city of

43:07LOL then pays for the fire safety for

43:09that landing and then the other this is

43:12a common theme with the city council and

43:14city of LOL so I hate to point the

43:15finger out but I'm going to point the

43:16finger anyway the other community that

43:19then pays nothing for the the safety of

43:22that flight that's landing with their

43:23resident landing at our hospital. If the

43:25hospital was in Dunable and I'm not not

43:27just at Dunable, but if the hospital was

43:29in Dunable, it would be Dunable Fire and

43:30we'd be getting the free ride. But in

43:32this case, if it's, you know, Drake or

43:34Dunable or Westford or Chelmsford or

43:35whoever it is that doesn't have a

43:37helellipad.

43:38Okay. I I just I think that might be in

43:40addition to wondering whether we should

43:42send the firetruck, I do think it might

43:43be worth reaching out to uh some of our

43:45neighbors here to see how much usage

43:47we're getting for for their town's

43:49medical needs at at this large hospital

43:51that's not, you know, that we're paying

43:53the fire safety for. So that's it. Thank

43:55you.

43:56>> Thank you, Council Mcdana. Council Yang.

43:59>> Thank you, Mr. May. Uh my question is um

44:03when 911 is called and beside the fire

44:07department uh going because of the fire

44:12is is there any other systems that the

44:15uh fire truck uh are going out?

44:20>> Manager Golden.

44:26>> Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Uh, I'll

44:28try to answer the best I can. If it's a

44:29motor vehicle accident, we're definitely

44:31sending police. We're sending fire. Um,

44:34typically fire, and I hope I'm not over

44:36my skis on this one, would have the the

44:39material, the jaws of life, if you

44:41would, to get someone out. Uh, and of

44:43course, an ambulance. Uh, to a regular

44:45call at a at a home. Uh it it once again

44:48as has been stated earlier sometimes our

44:50fire department gets there if not

44:52sometimes a lot of times our fire

44:54department gets there before our other

44:57uh folks. But uh so that's a it's a kind

45:00of a difficult question. Everyone's

45:01called depending on what it is. Um

45:04there'd be a 911 question that I'd

45:06gladly be able to ask of our

45:08superintendent of police. Uh it probably

45:10depend on how the call exactly comes in

45:12as to who they're going to dispatch into

45:14that area. My the the thing is that with

45:16with the police, we do have the uh the

45:18non-emergency call, the 3,200 numbers.

45:21Um but at the same time, there's nothing

45:23with fire. So everything has to call 911

45:26and then all three system goes. So, and

45:30I'm I'm assuming, you know, because as a

45:33former, you know, E EMT member, I was

45:37that um the fire department has a lot of

45:39uh I guess um people and skills and

45:44while the ambulance go BLS can only

45:46transport. So I I just wanted to see the

45:49balance and the cost saving of life as

45:51well as we're seeing that if we I'm I'm

45:54not sure it's even possible to take out

45:57the uh fire department from going and

46:01just the police and the uh the ambulance

46:03in this case. So I I just want to go

46:05deeper into the costsaving of it.

46:08>> Manager Golden.

46:09>> Uh thank you very much Mr. Mayor through

46:10to the council. I can speak with uh

46:12Superintendent Hudon to talk about when

46:14the 911 calls come in. The non-emergency

46:16line is typically uh you know 100%

46:19probably officer related I would

46:21imagine. Uh but once again I would stand

46:23to be corrected at any point in time.

46:25Most people will will exercise the 911

46:28and I and I believe because I've been in

46:30the the 911 call center multiple times

46:33and typically they're bouncing back and

46:35forth between say fire uh e EMS or even

46:38police. But that's something that I

46:40would uh feel more comfortable talking

46:42to the superintendent about that and

46:43actually getting his uh his input on how

46:46how that would happen. But when in

46:48doubt, I do know this uh you know, car

46:51accidents and things of that nature. Uh

46:53multiple people are calling in multiple

46:57if we all saw a car accident, there's

47:00going to be 11 of us here that are going

47:02to call in something very, very

47:04different than what might actually be

47:05happening. And I think that's our public

47:07safety professionals are dealing with

47:09that and our our operators are dealing

47:11with that trying to keep people calm.

47:12So, um I'd like to defer to the

47:14superintendent on that and try to get

47:15you an answer and maybe at some point,

47:18you know, this would be a great

47:19opportunity to if it's the will of the

47:21council to go to the public safety to

47:22find out how we can drill down on this.

47:24This is kind of one of those um pieces

47:27that I think would be worthwhile to

47:28drill down on to find out how we can

47:30better serve the residents of the city.

47:32>> Thank you.

47:33>> Thank you, [clears throat] Council Le

47:34Council Durant. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

47:36Yeah, and I I think what I set forth

47:39here should suggest to everybody that

47:42we're not eliminating anything. We are

47:44looking at everything, which is I think

47:46what we should be doing. That includes

47:48triaging calls and who gets sent on

47:51them. So that's part of um the concern

47:54here, but also determining whether there

47:56are ways to be more effective with our

48:00resources so that um not all three um

48:04you know types of response go to every

48:07um you know every problem and maybe that

48:10is the right thing to do. But without

48:13but just assuming that it has always

48:15been done in a particular way will not

48:17get us to a future that is um you know

48:21both effective and efficient. Thank you.

48:24>> Thank you councelor J. Councel.

48:27>> Thank you uh Mr. Mayor. Uh I think I

48:29heard uh city manager suggestions that

48:33um uh if we could Mr. mayor um you know

48:38get a report and then send this to the

48:40subcommittee so to really uh digest it

48:43you know I mean looking at the cost

48:45benefit to it and you know what's the

48:47alternative it's like councelor Jirean

48:50said uh you know we uh we we wait to

48:53hear from our expert in this case is you

48:56know uh the uh fire department and the

49:00EMT and those involved have bring them

49:02all together and see you know what we

49:04can come up with you You know, thank

49:07you.

49:07>> Thank you, councelor Noon. See no other

49:10questions. All in favor signify by

49:11saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 4.7.

49:15Mayor Kiter request the city manager

49:17have the traffic engineer monitor the

49:19traffic being held back on Beacon Street

49:21from 9:05 to 9:30 a.m. and again at the

49:25Robinson school dismissal between 2:05

49:28and 2:25 p.m. There is also a need for

49:32cleaner signage or a training cross

49:35guard during these heavy times. Seconded

49:38by councelor Noon. Mr. Manager if you

49:40can just look into this for us. You

49:42Thank you.

49:44All in favor signify by saying I. Any

49:47opposed? So ordered.

49:505.1 motion response. Vacancy ordinance.

49:53Council Mcdana.

49:55>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh and thank you

49:57uh to the manager and to uh assistant

49:59city manager um for for the response. I

50:03understand that the building is owned by

50:05a subsidiary of the Commonwealth and so

50:08we there are limits to one's authority

50:11here when

50:13um I I would just ask um in reading

50:16through this and then I did a nice

50:18probably 45 minute walk I didn't know

50:20how many places and nooks and crannies

50:22you could get into around the ICC but

50:24boy when someone's passionate and wants

50:25to show you everything you really can

50:27see a lot um but e even without getting

50:30into the nooks and crannies I I think

50:32just remembering that the the ICC and

50:34that whole parcel over there is an

50:36island um and doesn't have a clearly

50:39defined front and so the the kind of

50:42front of the the the street front of the

50:45ICC does look lovely. Good job to

50:48everyone at the university just trying

50:50to make sure that that same level of

50:51care is taken along what might be

50:54considered the back to some but then is

50:55the front to a whole host of my

50:59neighbors and then also to the community

51:01college and to a few other there's some

51:03businesses over there kind of on um in

51:06the back of Prescott Street. We do have

51:08a couple of businesses that have now

51:09opened up kind of canal side. uh there's

51:12a new restaurant, there's a small store.

51:14And so making sure that the that kind of

51:17minimum maintenance and aesthetic

51:19standard that it looks really nice when

51:20you drive past is also true when you

51:23have to walk past or walk through. Um

51:25and then lastly, not necessarily on the

51:27ICC parcel is that the property lines

51:30are very confusing over there. Um I've

51:32tried to make sense of it. I think um

51:34someone one of the three of you has

51:35tried at some point to explain this to

51:37me. Um MCC has tried to explain it to

51:39me. They get confused. the UN everyone.

51:41It's a confusing area. Um, also just

51:44making sure that the city is doing our

51:45part as far as, you know, paint on

51:46bridges and lights working and all that.

51:48So, thank you.

51:50>> Thank you, Council Mcdana. Council

51:51Robinson.

51:52>> Thank you. And, uh, I thank my colleague

51:54for this motion and and the

51:56administration on the response. Um,

51:59I see the part where it says the staff

52:01have taken a worse first approach. Um,

52:03and I know economic development the

52:06department is is

52:08they're struggling with women and

52:11manpower over there currently. Um, I

52:14think it's 279

52:16Appleton. It might be 279 Appleton. Uh,

52:19um, was the restaurant supply place

52:23there?

52:24That that place has been sitting for

52:27quite some time vacant. Commercial

52:30retail first floor. And I don't know

52:31what's going on upstairs, but it looks

52:33like there's a couple floors of of

52:35residential.

52:36That's a prime example of of a property

52:39that's kind of slipped through the

52:40cracks. It seems like that offers

52:42exactly what we've been talking for the

52:44downtown district storefront, ground

52:46level with residential up above. Uh do

52:49you have any info on that property?

52:52>> Manager Golden.

52:53>> Uh thank you very much, Mr. Mayor to the

52:54council. Council that has been uh fined

52:56in the past. It's uh I don't want to

52:58speak out of turn, but there's uh some

53:00internal thoughts uh from the the

53:03current owners of what they want to do.

53:04Uh they fully understand that in a

53:07second year they'll be fine again, but

53:08they're trying to uh they're trying to

53:11work through it sometimes. Um

53:14I've referred to some of these pro

53:16properties as legacy properties. They've

53:18been in families for a long long time.

53:20Um and we still have some legacy

53:22properties, but the good thing is we

53:24don't have as many legacy properties as

53:25we did. But my hope is that they're

53:27going to come forward with some plan or

53:29an idea. But they have been fined in the

53:31past uh when this council actually the

53:34previous council took the step to find

53:36the vacant uh parcels and they came in

53:40they paid it with I don't want to say an

53:42apology but yet we're working through

53:43this but they it was paid at that time.

53:46>> Thank you. Um and again I I think this

53:50is something we keep hearing. Um 279 the

53:54Duncan in downtown. I don't know if uh

53:56if there's movement on that in

53:58particular right in on Marramac Street

54:00that's been since they've gone out. I

54:01don't know if there's been movement on

54:02that. Um I think that is the edible

54:05arrangement still vacant across the

54:07street from the Duncan right there on

54:08Marramac Marramac and Central. No,

54:10there's movement over there. Finally,

54:12>> manager Golden,

54:14>> assistant city manager Rose.

54:17>> Uh the Duncan site is inactive lease.

54:21They they're advertising the space to

54:23try to find a tenant. Um, and the former

54:26edible arrangements is occupied now.

54:29>> Excellent. Thank you. But so I brought

54:32the scoff law piece forward and and I'm

54:34glad it passed and and we've heard

54:36nothing, but it's it's a great tool. We

54:39might need to take a a revisit of that.

54:41Are we allowed? So like we just had a

54:43subcommittee prior to this. We're going

54:45through on the scarf law properties and

54:47we're finding these property owners once

54:49a year and then we wait for the next

54:52year to go through you to the solicitor.

54:56Would we be allowed to to pass or alter

55:00the existing structure on that to

55:05something different on the penalties?

55:07So, we're not waiting a year. Like, I

55:10get it. People are trying to figure out

55:11and think through what they want to do,

55:13but in the meantime, I mean, they

55:15haven't sold a pot of pan out of that

55:17location in probably 8 to 10 years. And

55:20so with with all the residential

55:23upstairs as well,

55:25could we do a monthly basis? You you

55:29find X for this month. If we don't see

55:31any movement the next month it's some

55:33it's again and and would the council

55:36have the the jurisdiction to adjust that

55:39component of that scoff ordinance?

55:42>> Solicer Williams.

55:43>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so before I

55:46sort of uh unleash the dogs here in

55:48terms of the city council being able to

55:50do that, I would like to do a little

55:52more research. I know there are specific

55:53statutes that apply to this thing, which

55:55is why the fines are already

55:58significantly higher than they are in

56:00say we're the last ordinance amendment

56:03we were talking about in the housing

56:04subcommittee. Um, so there likely is

56:07language in that statute that will

56:10provide some other avenues that the

56:12council could consider. I just want to

56:13make sure I go through it and sort of

56:15present it to you in a more organized

56:17fashion. Um, but I suspect there will be

56:20something else in the statute. Thank you

56:22very much and through you to the manager

56:24or or maybe uh Miss Bayz Rose,

56:28I see one of the initiatives coming out

56:30of the state is is investment in

56:33repurposing

56:35commercial and and residential

56:36properties and

56:39are we tapped into that pipeline that

56:41that we could go to these kind of

56:43property owners and say, "Hey, look at

56:45you have an ideal situation that you own

56:48street level retail, residential up

56:50above.

56:51How can we incentivize you? How can we

56:53help you to start that process to rehab

56:56and repurpose this so we can get people

56:58in there?

57:00>> Manager Golden.

57:01>> Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor through

57:02to the council. Councils, yes, we do,

57:04counselor. Uh that is true. Uh the

57:06assistant city manager has a whole

57:10bag full of things to try to help. And

57:12uh it's important for the viewers at

57:15home, I know the counselors know this,

57:16but it's important for the viewers at

57:17home to know that we're not looking to

57:19find. We call, we talk, we discuss, we

57:23try to get people to uh to the point of

57:25getting to yes and then we do offer some

57:28of the programs that we have or through

57:30the state etc etc etc. So it is not just

57:33find first and ask questions later.

57:35We're actually trying to um encourage

57:38them to do this and some of some of it's

57:41worked well. um some of it hasn't to be

57:44quite frank and we're just going to have

57:45to I know that this council has asked um

57:49if there is something in the ordinance

57:51that we could make stronger but I think

57:52that from the solicitor's standpoint we

57:54can look to see if um the folks who are

57:57not listening uh at all because we do

57:59have a couple of those can this get um I

58:02hate to say this but a little bit more

58:03aggressive uh and I don't hate to say it

58:06but we we offer every tool period you

58:09know that that is available uh it is not

58:13a fine first mechanism here. We are

58:15trying to get people to actively do

58:17something and to try to move forward.

58:19And I think that you know once again the

58:21proof is in the pudding and I I hate to

58:23say this but on Market Street at one

58:24point in time 3 to four years ago uh

58:27there was a certain section of Market

58:28Street that was vacant and now it's not.

58:30There are certain sections of Marramax

58:32Street that were vacant that are not and

58:33that's because of the work of our uh

58:35planning and development crew and

58:37everything that we're offering to do out

58:39there.

58:40>> Thank you, Mr. manager. And I agree. I

58:42think you hit it right on the head. And

58:44and and by strengthening where we can

58:48and then also tapping into incentives

58:52and positives where we can, I think we

58:54are in fact trying to offer a wide array

58:56of resources and tools for people to

59:00become productive parts of the housing

59:02or or or retail or commercial community.

59:06Um, last thing I I'll bring up is have

59:09we been in conversations with the

59:11property on Market Street at the end

59:13across from Wings over?

59:17There is medical upstairs. I know they

59:20have a sizable parcel there. They do

59:24have some restrictions on their own

59:25within their own bylaws, but from what I

59:29hear is they're more than willing to

59:31entertain potential something there that

59:34fits what they what what their bylaws

59:36are. So,

59:37>> assistant city manager by Rose,

59:41>> we have been in touch with that site.

59:43Um, we had some difficulties uh getting

59:46them to agree to register initially. Um,

59:49it's a site that we have sent, we've had

59:51a lot of interest come in to DPD and our

59:54economic development folks. We have sent

59:56quite a lot of potential tenants their

59:58way. Um, and they never work out. Uh,

1:00:02and so we tried to have negotiated

1:00:04conversations with the property owner.

1:00:06We understand that they because of the

1:00:08organization that they are have, you

1:00:10know, a certain kind of parameter um of

1:00:14tenant that they are looking for. We

1:00:16feel like

1:00:18that has been used as an excuse to avoid

1:00:21investing the necessary investment uh

1:00:24that is required to get that space up

1:00:26and running. So, that is a location that

1:00:28we um escalated that we had a lot of

1:00:32conversation with and ultimately we we

1:00:33chose to push for uh mandating a

1:00:36registration and and potential fines uh

1:00:39for that site because we just felt like

1:00:41we've done quite a lot to try to bring

1:00:43some people to the table and there

1:00:45wasn't we didn't feel like enough

1:00:47reciprocal effort um to actually get the

1:00:49space lease. So, that is a site that's

1:00:51very high on our radar. It's, you know,

1:00:53a prime location right on Market Street,

1:00:55uh, next to locations that the city's

1:00:57done a lot of direct investment in. Um,

1:01:00and so, you know, I think that's a good

1:01:01example of a place where we tried to use

1:01:05the resources we have available to get

1:01:07some positive momentum, but ultimately

1:01:09did have to lean back on on the

1:01:11ordinance language and the finding

1:01:13structure to get some response.

1:01:17>> Thank you very much. I'm glad to see you

1:01:19have your finger on the pulse of it. And

1:01:20um I I have to say kudos to the team

1:01:24because I am seeing again brand new um I

1:01:28think we have something coming in on

1:01:30Marramac downstairs at the old Brian's

1:01:32Ivy Hall. I saw beginning with the C

1:01:35restaurant coming in uh on the bun seems

1:01:38like they're off and running

1:01:39tremendously. Um, we are seeing a lot of

1:01:43investment in new openings as well as

1:01:46some of the old staples seem like

1:01:48they're hanging in there and surviving.

1:01:50So, kudos to the whole team. Thank you.

1:01:55>> Thank you, Council Robinson. Council New

1:01:57>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So

1:02:01the idea for the vacancy ordinance is

1:02:04not only

1:02:06a compliant tool

1:02:09but also a structure communication

1:02:11channel that allow low a formal method

1:02:17sort of a formal method method formal

1:02:19way of reaching out uh to property owner

1:02:22who has been probably been vacated more

1:02:26than 90 day uh through notice and

1:02:28whatnot. but also sharing resources,

1:02:31helping them and give them incentive of

1:02:33how if you need help, we help you. Um,

1:02:37and you know, that kind of engagement is

1:02:40important with property owner. Uh, but

1:02:44also at the same time, if you have a

1:02:46property

1:02:48in the downtown area, in this case, we

1:02:51applied to the downtown right uh that

1:02:53have been vacated for more than 90 day

1:02:55and they're not complying. They didn't

1:02:57bother the node you send first node

1:02:59second node whatever they're not

1:03:01complying then you know this is more

1:03:03like a carrot and stick a carrot and

1:03:05stick approach it's important that we do

1:03:08that but making sure that we do that you

1:03:11know you un juniformally not just with

1:03:14one property owner and not the other um

1:03:18back to the motion respond I think the

1:03:20motion respond here really zooming on uh

1:03:25you low Okay. Uh the uh I know that uh

1:03:29in the report third paragraph indicated

1:03:31that uh the site now owned by UMass

1:03:34building authority, right? EMBA. Uh so

1:03:36it's not really UMass Low is it that own

1:03:40this property? It's a it's a UMass

1:03:43building authority,

1:03:45right? So so I know that you Mr. manager

1:03:49have been uh in communication or in

1:03:52dialogue with uh UMass Low uh about the

1:03:56future of this ICC and it been sit here

1:04:00I believe since the

1:04:02since the home you know it was used for

1:04:06homeless shelter so to speak that was

1:04:09closed in sometime July right so July so

1:04:14it now been over 90 day uh So EMBA has

1:04:19not yet list their property. I know they

1:04:21take care of it. It's fine, but they

1:04:23have yet to list this property with the

1:04:26city. Has they been

1:04:29>> manager Golden?

1:04:31>> Uh thank you very much, Mr. Mayor

1:04:32through to the council. Council, they

1:04:34haven't yet listed it, but there are

1:04:35there have been many discussions. Uh

1:04:38just last week I met with the congress

1:04:41the chancellor

1:04:43president Sison uh the congresswoman and

1:04:46u the delegation to have a discussion of

1:04:49what where we're going to be moving

1:04:51forward.

1:04:51>> I see a plan moving forward future for

1:04:55this

1:04:55>> plan. always been a loose plan and I say

1:04:57loose because we don't own it but uh I

1:05:00have every indication from the chair of

1:05:02the board at Umba as well as the

1:05:04chancellor as well as the president of

1:05:06the university that what the city is

1:05:08looking to try to accomplish in that

1:05:10area and we've talked about it m

1:05:11multiple times here uh with uh LOL

1:05:14District Court what we're trying to push

1:05:16there what we could be pushing in that

1:05:18parking lot area what we could be could

1:05:20be pushing at the ICC there's a lot of

1:05:23um you know irons near the higher.

1:05:25They're not in it yet, but there's a lot

1:05:26of discussions about what could happen

1:05:28and the financial implications from the

1:05:31from UMB's standpoint, which is you are

1:05:34correct. It is owned by Umba, but also

1:05:35UML. So, there's kind of a you know, I'm

1:05:38I'm quite confident the deed just says

1:05:40Umb, but UMass LOL is also in there from

1:05:43a financial standpoint. So, there's a

1:05:45lot going on with the finances of the

1:05:47actual building itself.

1:05:48>> So, you've been discussed about the

1:05:50future of ICC. Would you if possible for

1:05:54you to share what that future would look

1:05:56like?

1:05:58>> Thank you,

1:05:59>> man.

1:06:00>> Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Uh,

1:06:01three to the council. Um, I can only

1:06:03share with you potential ideas. I do

1:06:05know that I've been speaking with

1:06:07Chancellor Chen and she is probably

1:06:09looking to come forth and speak with the

1:06:12um the economic development subcommittee

1:06:15about this as well as the at some point

1:06:18in time the entire council. So, uh, and

1:06:21it really comes down to finances on

1:06:22that. I mean, there are there are many

1:06:24things going on there. Um, I don't think

1:06:28I'm breaking any confidences here with

1:06:30this. There's just a lot going on

1:06:32between Umba, UMass, LOL. But, uh, I've

1:06:35been assured that the city uh has a seat

1:06:38at the table and in and further proving

1:06:40that, we hosted the city actually hosted

1:06:43that meeting last week with all of our

1:06:44elected officials. Middle Sex Community

1:06:47College President Phil Phil Sison, the

1:06:49chancellor, and we'll be doing that

1:06:51again within the next couple of a couple

1:06:52of months. Thank you.

1:06:55>> And thank you, Council New Council

1:06:56Mcdana.

1:06:57>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Two seconds. Um I

1:06:59just some of what councelor Robinson

1:07:01said, um and thank you to Councelor Non

1:07:03for reiterating that it's not

1:07:06registered. um is just that both at this

1:07:09property and then also all of the vacant

1:07:11properties in the city. Um as much as we

1:07:14don't want to fine or in this case we

1:07:16can't but as much as we don't want to

1:07:18fine um it's that the vacant properties

1:07:20as the council said when they adopted

1:07:22the ordinance in the first place they

1:07:24negatively impact the businesses and

1:07:26properties around them as well. um just

1:07:29through the kinds of activity that

1:07:30vacant parcels can I'm not saying this

1:07:32is not directed at the ICC um just the

1:07:35kinds of activities that a vacant parcel

1:07:36can attract. Um and so I I would be

1:07:39wondering if it if as the city solicitor

1:07:41is looking to see if there are ways to

1:07:43increase the fine. um if we might also

1:07:46see if there's a way to use a small

1:07:48portion of of that like a set portion of

1:07:50that money for for some of the routine

1:07:53um

1:07:55you know maintenance I won't say

1:07:56maintenance costs the kinds of things

1:07:57that happen when you have a business

1:08:00that is open located next to several

1:08:03businesses or prop they're not business

1:08:05several properties that are vacant you

1:08:07know frequent window breaks um just the

1:08:10kind of you know

1:08:13small small amount relatively small

1:08:15amounts of money per incident, but that

1:08:17are more common when you have many

1:08:18neighbors who have decided not to put

1:08:21anything on the street fund. That's all.

1:08:22>> Manager Golden.

1:08:23>> Uh thank you very much, Mr. Mayor of the

1:08:25Council. Council, uh those are typ

1:08:26typically general fund receipts and

1:08:29given in the downtown area especially,

1:08:31we have uh I'm going to say two and a

1:08:32half people that are consistently down

1:08:34there. Um so that's something that I

1:08:36think we would be doing anyhow on a

1:08:38day-to-day basis. But I also think that

1:08:40once again in speaking with the council,

1:08:42we have some prop some sale of property

1:08:44in the future. I hope, knock on wood, uh

1:08:47that we'll be coming to the council um

1:08:49hopefully sooner rather than later with

1:08:51a plan of an idea to get into that um uh

1:08:54economic development mode opportunity.

1:08:56Once again, when we sell a piece of land

1:08:58here in the city of LOL, it comes in as

1:09:01a direct fund to go I'm checking with

1:09:04the CFO. It's a special revenue account

1:09:07and we're we're going to look to make

1:09:08sure uh if it's the will of the council

1:09:10to move that into an economic

1:09:12development account. So there's a lot of

1:09:15um there's a there's a lot of irons

1:09:17around the fire here, but your your uh

1:09:20your point is very well taken. I think

1:09:22that we do take that for that and that

1:09:24some of this some of this will come

1:09:25forth with special legislation in the

1:09:28future future weeks if the council

1:09:30wishes to move in that direction.

1:09:33>> Thank you, Council Mcdana. Motion to

1:09:35accept and place on file by council

1:09:37Yang, seconded by councelor Direan. All

1:09:40in favor signified by saying I. Any

1:09:42opposed? So ordered. 5.1B. Motion

1:09:44response short-term rentals. Mr. Clerk.

1:09:47>> Uh registered speaker, Mr. Mayor. Um

1:09:51Mesi SA Abun.

1:09:56>> I don't think I got that right.

1:09:58>> It's okay. [laughter]

1:10:00Yeah. Uh my name is Morai. Uh Mr. Mayor,

1:10:03council members. Um, so I was one of the

1:10:06operators.

1:10:07>> Just please state your address for the

1:10:09record.

1:10:09>> Uh, my address is, uh, 238 Pleasant

1:10:12Street Low, Massachusetts.

1:10:13>> Thank you.

1:10:14>> Yep. Um, so I was one of the operators.

1:10:16I got a warning recently. I think it was

1:10:18a, um, citywise thing that you guys

1:10:22started enforcing. Um, once I got the

1:10:24warning, I complied. I took down the,

1:10:27um, listing to keep it 30 days minimum.

1:10:31Um, my question is,

1:10:33is there a legal route the city is

1:10:37considering for

1:10:40for residential properties under 30

1:10:43days? Because I looked it up and I see

1:10:46that there's an option for a tourist

1:10:48home special permit. And looking online,

1:10:53looking everywhere, there's no specified

1:10:55definition for what a tourist home is.

1:10:58And I know there was a motion in 2021 to

1:11:01get more clarity on what a tourist home

1:11:04is and what would fit under that. And I

1:11:08wanted to get an update if that was ever

1:11:11addressed again and if we have a clear

1:11:14definition for operators like because

1:11:18from the list I saw on the short-term

1:11:19rental, there's a lot more operators on

1:11:24on the platform compared to that list.

1:11:27And I don't think it would necessarily

1:11:29stop people from registering to be a

1:11:31host because the only requirement is to

1:11:35connect with the Massachusetts tax

1:11:37connect and pay your taxes to the state.

1:11:41So there's no real definition when

1:11:44someone else goes online and tries to

1:11:47host.

1:11:48Yeah.

1:11:49>> Thank you. [clears throat]

1:11:51>> That may be something that should go to

1:11:52a neighborhood subcommittee. Um,

1:11:55councelor Juran or councelor Chiao, who

1:11:58wants to go first?

1:12:00>> Okay, I'll [clears throat] I'll go

1:12:01first. Thank you, by the way, for that.

1:12:03Um, if you have can stay a minute, I'd

1:12:05like to grab your contact info just to

1:12:07learn from you. Um, so uh thank you to

1:12:11um assistant city manager uh by Rose for

1:12:15this report and for outlining the

1:12:17enforcement mechanism that the city was

1:12:19able to has been able to undertake. Um,

1:12:22however, I'd asked for a summary of the

1:12:24regulations regarding both short-term

1:12:26rentals and rooming houses, and this

1:12:28report doesn't tell us what those

1:12:30regulations are. And so, I don't know

1:12:33and can't point residents to where the

1:12:35boundaries of the law are. Um, I also

1:12:39don't have any idea how how or if

1:12:41rooming houses are are regulated or even

1:12:44how they're defined. And yet, the term

1:12:47um I know has been used by some

1:12:48residents. So, I'm confused. So, as I

1:12:51noted in June, I was easily able to find

1:12:54clear rules about the rentals of 30 days

1:12:57or more, but language about short-term

1:13:00rentals was just not clear to me. Um, so

1:13:02I'd like the report revised to reflect

1:13:05the regulations regarding short-term

1:13:06rentals and rooming houses. And if that

1:13:10requires clarifying the rules and

1:13:12definitions perhaps as part of the

1:13:14zoning rewrite, then so be it. But at

1:13:16this point, at least my request wasn't

1:13:19addressed. Thank you.

1:13:22Thank you, [clears throat] Council Jun,

1:13:23Councelor Chow.

1:13:24>> Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I want to

1:13:26thank the speaker for coming to speak

1:13:28and that uh 2 minutes I learned more

1:13:31about the the report than the actual

1:13:33report itself. So, and it I was going to

1:13:35ask something uh similar to that because

1:13:37the list is not it's not a long list.

1:13:40It's very very uh it's a very short

1:13:42list. But I also noticed that they are

1:13:46uh there's one individual that are tied

1:13:49to uh five separate properties. Um

1:13:51that's one. But it's also interesting

1:13:54that the speaker mentioned that there

1:13:55are a lot more operators um that he

1:13:58knows of um than what's listed here. And

1:14:03so um uh my question is um twofold. One

1:14:07is relate to the list.

1:14:10I see that at some properties there are

1:14:14a couple that had uh multiple visits,

1:14:16second or third visit. Uh so that mean

1:14:19even after the first visit they al are

1:14:21still operating after would they issue a

1:14:25um a fine or some kind of obviously they

1:14:28issue a warning but there were obviously

1:14:30was no fine of some kind that's why they

1:14:32continue to do it. Um and the uh the

1:14:37second question is about what the

1:14:39speaker mentioned there are a lot more

1:14:40operation to see that we know of um I

1:14:43know it's difficult to track with

1:14:45different online and um as in the report

1:14:48mentioned um you know there no address

1:14:51available until somebody booked it but I

1:14:54understand that there are some other

1:14:56municipalities that have a tracking

1:14:57system. Are we able to learn from other

1:15:00municipalities different ways to track

1:15:02online listing? um through you to the

1:15:05mayor to the assistant uh city manager.

1:15:08Uh but first want to thank you for the

1:15:09report and uh building commissioner. It

1:15:11it did open um a lot of eyes and um

1:15:14questions to this. Thank you.

1:15:16>> Assistant city manager by Rose.

1:15:18>> So sorry what was the first question? Um

1:15:22the the first question was that when the

1:15:26site was the multiple visits yes

1:15:29multiple visits do not indicate that

1:15:32somebody was not fined. It means that

1:15:34maybe we needed to find them again. So

1:15:36you know sadly not everybody complies

1:15:38the first time.

1:15:39>> Um sometimes a warning is all it takes.

1:15:42Sometimes it's a warning with some

1:15:44additional education and sometimes we

1:15:45have to keep finding people until they

1:15:47sort of get it together. Um, so just

1:15:50because there were multiple visits does

1:15:52not mean that there were not fines

1:15:53issued. It may mean that it just took us

1:15:55a while to sort of get that property

1:15:57into compliance or we had to take

1:15:59additional steps in order to get that

1:16:01compliance. Um, and then to your second

1:16:03question, sure. Yes, we would love to

1:16:05learn what other communities are doing.

1:16:07It is a little bit like we've got a

1:16:10staff person who um does uh enforcement

1:16:13for this and you know could I pay a

1:16:18significant portion of her salary for

1:16:20her to like troll on the internet

1:16:21looking for this information um and find

1:16:23more locations? Yes, there are other

1:16:25things that she needs to do and so she

1:16:27has to balance sort of that uh research

1:16:30with um her other duties. But but yes, I

1:16:34think we'd be happy to figure out how

1:16:35other communities are doing it um and

1:16:38what they do uh with so many sites with

1:16:42the ability for individuals to put up

1:16:45and take down listings pretty quickly

1:16:47and easily um depending on how much

1:16:50energy and effort they want to put into

1:16:51it. It is a little bit of a cat-and-

1:16:53mouse game um and you know can be

1:16:55incredibly timeconuming but but

1:16:57obviously um any time that we can learn

1:17:00from peer communities we're happy to do

1:17:01that.

1:17:02>> Right. Wonderful. Maybe um as a starter

1:17:05maybe contact gentleman right here how

1:17:08he would know that the other operators

1:17:09in the city and uh and again thank you

1:17:12for speak and um council will continue

1:17:14to explore that tourist home uh tourist

1:17:17rental that you mentioned about and

1:17:19thank you for being here.

1:17:20>> Thank you. [clears throat]

1:17:21>> Thank you. Could I add just it's 30

1:17:24seconds. Um in in reference to the

1:17:27tourist home whenever um city council

1:17:30ends up trying to get a clear definition

1:17:34of it. I would assume a tourist would

1:17:36not be staying more than 30 days um when

1:17:39they're visiting the city of Low. I've

1:17:42hosted a lot of states. For example, the

1:17:45Bay State Marathon that's coming up this

1:17:46Sunday. We have a lot of influx of

1:17:49people coming into the city and with low

1:17:52not having a good hotel system. A lot of

1:17:57people are forced to, you know, stay in

1:18:00different cities and we try to influence

1:18:03you know the local businesses here

1:18:05having members stay in the city. Um I

1:18:09there's a lot of conferences that happen

1:18:10at the Sonia Center. I have families

1:18:13that need, you know, a kitchen instead

1:18:16of staying at a hotel with just a fridge

1:18:18and microwave. So, it does bring a lot

1:18:20of, you know, good relationship to the

1:18:24city from people visiting low and

1:18:27getting to experience the city fully

1:18:29instead of staying in Tubesbury or

1:18:31staying in Chsford where their hotel

1:18:33options are.

1:18:35>> Thank you. Motion [clears throat] to

1:18:36accept and place on file by councelor

1:18:40Chowo, seconded by councelor Jirean. All

1:18:44in favor signify by saying I. Any

1:18:46opposed? So ordered. 5.1 motion response

1:18:48D. Mayor Portrait Palmer. Um Mr.

1:18:52Manager, if you can please thank the

1:18:53historic board for me and hopefully we

1:18:56can get this done. Thank you.

1:18:59Motion to accept and place on file by

1:19:01councelor Robinson, seconded by

1:19:02councelor Mercier. All in favor signify

1:19:05by saying I. Any opposed? So ordered.

1:19:08[clears throat] 5.1 motion response E.

1:19:11Social districts. Councelor Robinson.

1:19:14Thank you. Um thank you very much for

1:19:17this report. I think um it's pretty

1:19:20thorough and and I appreciate the the

1:19:22part where

1:19:24you break down all of the steps to

1:19:27activate something like this. and and I

1:19:30I think on face value, it's definitely

1:19:35something that we've been talking about

1:19:37doing for quite some time. Um,

1:19:40with what you touched on here,

1:19:44there is really a ton that goes into it.

1:19:47So, I would hope

1:19:50I think this would be better served to

1:19:52send I'd refer this to neighborhood

1:19:55subcommittee

1:19:57or econ uh you think economic

1:20:00development

1:20:01subcommittee that that works. Um, and I

1:20:05really hope though that we can reach out

1:20:10and invite in specifically

1:20:13the downtown neighborhood group because

1:20:16they represent the people that live in

1:20:17this area. Um, out of all our residents,

1:20:21they would probably be the ones that

1:20:22would be most inconvenienced by any kind

1:20:26of programming that we look to put in

1:20:28down there at some point. And I think

1:20:31it's only fair that they kind of help

1:20:33guide and direct so that everybody, you

1:20:37know, has some input on this as well as

1:20:39the business community down there and

1:20:41all the others that you mentioned. So my

1:20:43motion would be to refer this to the

1:20:45economic development.

1:20:46>> Motion by councelor Robinson to refer

1:20:48this to an economic subcommittee

1:20:50seconded by councelor Scott. All in

1:20:54favor signify by saying I. Any opposed?

1:20:56So ordered. God bless you.

1:20:58>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1:21:00it the report and I understand that says

1:21:04the Commonwealth of Massachusetts does

1:21:06not allow social districts by right. I

1:21:09know that the governor uh designated

1:21:12that social district when the uh FIFA

1:21:17World Cup games came to this to Boston.

1:21:21I certainly don't support that.

1:21:25I'm not saying uh I know people go out

1:21:28and have that outside seating. That's a

1:21:32different story. But to open to carry

1:21:35open containers, designate a certain

1:21:39area in the city for that. I don't want

1:21:42to go on record as supporting that. I I

1:21:44I don't want to support that in my city.

1:21:47I'm sorry.

1:21:49>> Thank you, councelor Marcia.

1:21:52Motion to accept the response

1:21:56by councelor Robinson, seconded by

1:21:58councelor Scott. All in favor signify by

1:22:00saying I. Any opposed? So ordered. 5.2

1:22:04Resignation of James Harmon Veterans

1:22:08Nelli Pimeintel Veterans Judith Harbor

1:22:12Council and Aging Kevin Dylan

1:22:14Conservation Commission. Motion to

1:22:16accept and place on file by councelor

1:22:19Leang. Seconded by councelor Dakota. All

1:22:21in favor signify by saying I. Any

1:22:23opposed? So ordered. Councel Robinson.

1:22:26>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um it seems like

1:22:28the past couple weeks we've been getting

1:22:31good amount of vacancies from boards. Um

1:22:34are we doing anything to try to push

1:22:36this out? You put it on our page, social

1:22:38media blast, something like that to let

1:22:40people know that we have these openings.

1:22:42>> Manager Golden.

1:22:43>> Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor, through

1:22:45the council. Um yes, councelor. The

1:22:47mayor had brought this up. We are

1:22:49working once again on our list and if

1:22:51anybody has anybody uh would love to

1:22:53hear from you. Um we I just met with u

1:22:56Mr. Roas today in regards to this. So we

1:23:00will be looking for people and what's

1:23:02prompting either the reappoints or the

1:23:04resignations or the fact that Mr. Roas

1:23:06is making those phone calls to see if

1:23:07people are still interested in serving

1:23:09and some people we we thank them. We

1:23:11always send them letters uh thanking

1:23:13them for the service and we have a

1:23:15another slew of folks that are trying to

1:23:17apply right now. Uh but I want to

1:23:20encourage all of the residents and all

1:23:22of the counselors that uh if you know

1:23:24anyone that's looking, we probably have

1:23:26an opening on any one of the boards. Um

1:23:28sometimes they're rather difficult to

1:23:30fill. It's a lot of work and but we do

1:23:33appreciate it. So, uh, I hope to have

1:23:36mayor's, um, response in the next two

1:23:38weeks and I know that our folks in the

1:23:41office will be pushing this out when we,

1:23:44uh, head back to, um, the neighborhood,

1:23:48excuse me, the neighborhood meetings,

1:23:49which are now starting back up.

1:23:52>> Thank you very much.

1:23:53>> Thank you, Council Robinson. 5.3 has

1:23:55been pulled from the agenda.

1:23:58Seven reports 7.1 rules and elections

1:24:02law subcommittee October 6 2026 council.

1:24:07>> Uh thank you very much Mr. Mayor. Uh so

1:24:09the rule subcommittee which includes

1:24:10councelor Scott and Mcdana. Um we

1:24:13continued the discussion of updating the

1:24:15city council rules that we started on

1:24:17August 18th. At that first section uh

1:24:19session we had discussed in detail the

1:24:22existing rules and suggested various

1:24:24clarifications, updates and a few

1:24:26changes. Um the um there were various

1:24:30changes suggested to things like section

1:24:32numbers and other numbers in the

1:24:34document but also some more substantive

1:24:36thought. Um and first assistant uh city

1:24:40solicitor Garrett Bo Bolu uh revised the

1:24:43rules after that August meeting to

1:24:45reflect that discussion and the

1:24:47revisions were the focus of our

1:24:49discussion uh last week. Um we were

1:24:52comfortable with most of the changes uh

1:24:55or updates made to the document and

1:24:56asked um Mr. Beloo to tweak or clarify

1:25:00just a few items. Once uh he has a

1:25:03chance to make those additional updates

1:25:05and finalize the uh revised document,

1:25:08then the revised rules will be presented

1:25:11to the city council for its review and

1:25:14its determination of how to proceed. Um,

1:25:17as the rules note, amendments to the

1:25:19rules may only be made at a regular

1:25:21meeting of the city council and by a

1:25:23majority vote. And each council has to

1:25:26have received a written copy of the

1:25:28proposed changes at least one week

1:25:30before the regular meeting at which the

1:25:32votes to be taken. So that will um, you

1:25:36know, indicate the timing that this

1:25:38won't come up on a Friday agenda and

1:25:40you'll have to vote on it or you know

1:25:42take it into consideration for the next

1:25:44Tuesday. you will have a full everybody

1:25:46will have at least a full week to review

1:25:48it. Um when you when this is presented

1:25:53to you um by Mr. Bill well once he's

1:25:57done with the changes you'll see most of

1:25:59the changes are straightforward

1:26:00clarifications. Um, we did suggest

1:26:03incorporating some concepts from

1:26:05Worcester such as a consent agenda in

1:26:08which we've pre in which uh the city

1:26:10manager can pre-bundle some votes. Um,

1:26:13always subject to unbundling. Um, but no

1:26:16matter what, we look forward to

1:26:17discussing the revised rules at a city

1:26:20council meeting since these rules

1:26:22represent, you know, the will of the

1:26:24entire body, not just the three of us

1:26:26who are on this subcommittee. Thank you.

1:26:28>> Thank you, Councelor Jirean.

1:26:31[clears throat] Motion to accept the

1:26:32report as a report of progress by

1:26:34councelor Dakota. Seconded by councelor

1:26:36Chow. All in favor signify by saying I.

1:26:38Any opposed? So ordered. 7.2 housing

1:26:41subcommittee October 13 2026. Councelor

1:26:44Robinson.

1:26:45>> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um, Vice Mayor Non,

1:26:48Councel Chow, and myself met today,

1:26:50housing subcommittee, uh, working with

1:26:53Marmac Valley Project, I believe, um,

1:26:56and amongst many other community members

1:26:58to begin kind of evaluating and and

1:27:02dissecting and discussing the roll out

1:27:04and application of a potential ordinance

1:27:07that would uh, afford distribution from

1:27:11landlords in our city to the tenants. um

1:27:15notifying them of all their rights that

1:27:16that are afforded to them. So, we've

1:27:18been working through that. Um it's going

1:27:20to be a continued process. Um

1:27:24Miss Yvani by his roles. Um we had the

1:27:27solicitor's office, Mr. Williams. Um we

1:27:29had inspectional services. I think it

1:27:31was a very productive first meeting. Um,

1:27:34in the meantime, we're going to be

1:27:36fielding some public input from large

1:27:40small landlords, from residents, and

1:27:43before we convene the next meeting to

1:27:45discuss this draft ordinance again. And

1:27:48um, I'm looking forward to seeing where

1:27:51this document goes and and hopefully

1:27:54shortly we'll be able to bring something

1:27:56back with a recommendation to the full

1:27:58body. So, thank you very much.

1:28:00>> Thank you, Council Robertson. Motion to

1:28:02accept the report as a report of

1:28:04progress by councelor McDunnana seconded

1:28:06by councelor Duran. All in favor signify

1:28:08[laughter] by saying I. Any opposed? So

1:28:10ordered. 8 8.1 claims one property

1:28:14damage motion refer to law department

1:28:15for report and recommendation by

1:28:17councelor Scott. Seconded by councelor

1:28:19Mercia.

1:28:20>> Yeah I don't mind second it but I have a

1:28:22question. Mr. Mayor,

1:28:23>> Council Mercia,

1:28:25>> on this uh claim that we got, it said

1:28:29that this person owns the building and

1:28:32on May 10th, 2026. I thought they had a

1:28:36month. I thought they had 30 days to

1:28:39file a claim. This is five months ago.

1:28:43>> It doesn't mean it would be accepted,

1:28:44council me. They're just putting it

1:28:46forward so that the city solistic can

1:28:48look at it. That's all. It doesn't mean

1:28:50it's going to be accepted if they don't

1:28:51put it within the time frame. So,

1:28:53they're just going to look at it

1:28:56>> for review. Oh,

1:28:58>> does that make sense to listen?

1:29:00[clears throat]

1:29:01>> Yes. Thank you.

1:29:02>> I heard you say it before.

1:29:03>> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So,

1:29:06where it's a public meeting, you know,

1:29:08anyone can submit um a claim or or a

1:29:11petition to the city. It certainly

1:29:13doesn't mean that it's timely. We get

1:29:14many that are untimely. So, it comes in

1:29:17through the council. it gets sent up to

1:29:19me and then we'll take care of it from

1:29:22there.

1:29:22>> Oh, good. I thought there was a limit on

1:29:26the amount of time you could file a

1:29:28claim.

1:29:28>> There is.

1:29:30>> So then how how come there there is and

1:29:33there isn't. So

1:29:35>> it doesn't mean it will be accepted. We

1:29:37just have to send it to them.

1:29:40>> So if you know anybody 10 years ago who

1:29:42has a claim, send it to him.

1:29:45>> All right. [laughter]

1:29:48Motion refer to the law department by

1:29:51>> we already have a second.

1:29:53>> All in favor signify by saying I. Any

1:29:55opposed? So ordered.

1:29:57>> Nine announcements.

1:29:59>> Yes.

1:30:00>> Council Mercia.

1:30:01>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. There is an

1:30:03announcement I have. Today is Tuesday,

1:30:06but this Thursday, October 15th, at

1:30:10Lindsy's, the Bridge Club of Greater Alo

1:30:12will present its person of the year,

1:30:14which this year is Kevin Coughlin. And

1:30:17the uh keynote speaker, you may have

1:30:20heard of him, is John Cox. So, it's

1:30:23going to be a great time and I'll try to

1:30:26make everybody laugh. Thank you.

1:30:28>> MC by no other. Read the mercy.

1:30:30[laughter]

1:30:32>> Council Dakota.

1:30:33>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, just want to

1:30:35thank the city administration. The

1:30:37sidewalk work and the repaving at

1:30:39Chester Street looks fantastic. Well

1:30:41done.

1:30:42>> Myself.

1:30:42>> Well, I know you did. [laughter]

1:30:45>> Good job. especially at 11:07 in the

1:30:48morning. That good job.

1:30:49>> Thank you, Conto.

1:30:51>> Also, uh this Sunday, the Bay State

1:30:53Marathon. So, the bridge will be closed.

1:30:57So, people understand Sunday bridges

1:30:59will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 2 p uh

1:31:0312:30 p.m. And the streets will be

1:31:06closed from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. So,

1:31:09everyone knows so they don't have to

1:31:11call everybody afterwards and tell them

1:31:12how bad they were. So, hopefully the

1:31:13runners have a good race. Manager

1:31:16Golden.

1:31:16>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Three to the

1:31:17council. Council is a great little

1:31:19chamber of commerce tomorrow 12 to 2 is

1:31:21having an event. They wanted to make

1:31:22sure that you know about it. Uh if you

1:31:24have the availability to go, uh please

1:31:26let Mr. Baldwin know. Uh and we can take

1:31:28care of that. Sorry for the late uh late

1:31:30announcement, but they called us today.

1:31:33So,

1:31:35[clears throat]

1:31:35>> motion journ by councelor Dakota,

1:31:38seconded by councelor Durant. All in

1:31:39favor signify by saying I. Any opposed?

1:31:41So ordered.

1:31:50>> [music]

1:32:10[music]

1:32:13>> Heat. Hey, Heat.

1:32:16>> [music]