2026-10-13 - City Council

00:03date is October 13, 2026. Our 17th

00:07regular meeting for this year and the

00:09first one for the month of October. We

00:11are gathered here tonight for the

00:12purpose of conducting of any and all

00:13business for the city of Lynn. This

00:16meeting has been recorded live on comm

00:18community television. Roll call, please,

00:20Mr. Clerk.

00:21>> Council Avery,

00:22>> present.

00:22>> Council Field,

00:23>> present.

00:24>> Council Vice President Hogan,

00:25>> present.

00:25>> Council Lepia,

00:26>> present.

00:27>> Council Matul,

00:28>> present. Council MLAN

00:29>> present.

00:29>> Council Meanie

00:30>> present.

00:30>> Council Medi Madre

00:32>> present.

00:32>> Council Net

00:33>> present.

00:33>> Council PZ

00:34>> present.

00:35>> Council President Ellens

00:36>> present. I now request Thank you. I now

00:38request that everyone if you are able to

00:40please rise for a moment of silence and

00:42pledge of allegiance. Any special

00:44prayers from the counselors.

00:46>> Uh I would like to remember the Marakus

00:47family.

00:48>> Thank you councelor Avery.

00:49>> Mr. President, we'd like to remember the

00:50family of Harvey Row Jr.

00:52>> Thank you councelor Field.

00:55>> Okay. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag

00:58of the United States of America and to

01:00the republic for which it stands. One

01:02nation under God, indivisible, with

01:04liberty and justice for all. Thank you.

01:06Accept minutes of our September 22,

01:082026.

01:10>> Accept those.

01:10>> Motion by councelor Fields. Second by

01:12councel Avery. All those in favor?

01:14Opposed? Eyes have it. Do we have any

01:16communications? Attorney Lammana,

01:17>> we do have a number of communications.

01:18First, the communication. Dear clerk

01:20Lammana, pursuant to section A-506,

01:23subsection A, you are hereby notified

01:25that I am appointing the director of

01:27public health, Lisa Tobin, to also serve

01:29as the chief of health and human

01:31services effective immediately.

01:32Sincerely, [clears throat] Jared C.

01:33Nicholson, mayor.

01:34>> I will entertain a motion.

01:36>> Motion to approve.

01:37>> Motion by councelor Avery, second by

01:38councelor Matau. Discussion.

01:43>> I'll have a quick discussion. You know,

01:44this was a lot throughout the

01:46administrative code working through

01:47this. Um, I've known Lisa Tobin since

01:49I've been a kid. So, congratulations,

01:51Lisa. Much deserved. And, uh, look

01:53forward to working with you in your new

01:54role. And, uh, winter's coming, so I'll

01:56be in contact with warming and cooling

01:57centers. Best of luck.

01:59>> New role, expanded role. So, uh, let's

02:02vote first. Name vote only. Council

02:05Avery,

02:05>> Chief Lisa Tobin, Council Field,

02:08>> Lisa Tobin,

02:09>> Council Vice President Hogan,

02:10>> Lisa Tobin, Council Laapier,

02:11>> Lisa Tobin,

02:12>> Council Matul,

02:13>> Lisa Tobin,

02:14>> Council Mlan,

02:15>> Lisa Tobin,

02:16>> Council Meanie,

02:17>> Lisa Tobin,

02:17>> Council Medi Madre,

02:19>> Lisa Tobin,

02:20>> Council Net,

02:20>> Lisa Tobin,

02:21>> Council PZ,

02:22>> Lisa Tobin,

02:23>> Council President Ellens,

02:25>> Lisa Tobin, we have 11 counselors voting

02:27and 11 in the affirmative. The matter

02:28carries. [applause]

02:31I would like to request Lisa if you can

02:32join here. Yep. just say a few words.

02:36>> Jesus chief,

02:41>> thank you so much for your continued

02:43support um in my roles, not only as a

02:46public health director, but in my new

02:47role as the chief of health and human

02:48services. Um it's a big role, but I'm

02:51really excited to fill it and I think

02:53that um I'm looking forward and I don't

02:55think I know I'm looking forward to

02:56working with all of you guys and I think

02:58I can do this for you all. So, thank you

02:59very much. I appreciate

03:00>> Thank you, Lisa. Congratulations. What

03:02is the second um communications

03:04attorney?

03:04>> Communication dear clerk Lammana

03:05pursuant to section A-502 subsection A.

03:08You are hereby notified that I'm

03:10appointing the human resources director

03:11Drew Russo to also serve as a chief

03:14administrative office and effective

03:15immediately. Sincer sincerely Jared C.

03:17Nicholson, mayor.

03:18>> Any motion?

03:19>> Make a motion uh to approve Chief Drew

03:22Russo.

03:22>> Second.

03:23>> Thank you, Councelor Avery. Second by

03:24councelor Field. Discussion.

03:28>> Roll call. Name vote only.

03:29>> Councelor Avery. Chief Drew Russo.

03:32Council Field.

03:33>> Drew Russo.

03:34>> Council Vice President Hogan.

03:35>> Drew Russo.

03:36>> Council Laapier.

03:36>> Drew Russo.

03:37>> Council Matul.

03:38>> Drew Russo.

03:39>> Council Mlan.

03:40>> Drew Russo.

03:40>> Council Meanie.

03:41>> Drew Russo.

03:42>> Council Medi Madre.

03:43>> Drew Russo.

03:44>> Council Annette.

03:45>> Drew Russo.

03:45>> Council Az.

03:46>> Drew Russo.

03:47>> Council President Alens.

03:48>> Russo. We have 11 counselors voting and

03:5111 in the affirmative. The matter

03:53carries. Congratulations.

03:55>> Dur Russo. Can you invite you to say

03:57something? [applause]

04:06Thank you, councilors. I just want to

04:07say thank you again to Mayor Nicholson

04:09for placing his confidence in me in this

04:11new role and to all of you who I have

04:13enjoyed working with uh in some cases

04:16for the last seven and a half years. I'm

04:18also excited to lead the new office of

04:20administration, working with great

04:22department heads like our IT director,

04:24Mike Quietch, our chief librarian,

04:26Terresa Hurley, uh, and boards like the

04:29board of library trustees uh, and the

04:31Grand Army of the Republic uh, Museum

04:33and Hall Board of Trustees as well. Um

04:35it's a great opportunity and I look

04:37forward to extending my public service

04:39with the city uh in this way and thank

04:41you to all of you for the confidence

04:43that you've placed in me uh and the

04:45support that you've given not just to me

04:47uh but my colleagues uh in services

04:50department heads. So thank you very very

04:52much.

04:52>> Thank you Drew and good luck.

04:57>> Next our boards and commissions

04:59appointments and reappointments. Let's

05:01vote individually. First one attorney.

05:03This was a corrected communication that

05:04came up late earlier uh earlier today.

05:06Dear counselors, I'm hereby appointing

05:08Audrey Gimenez, 11 Lynen Street, Lyn,

05:10Massachusetts, to serve on the park

05:11commission. This Gimenez's term is

05:13effective immediately and will expire on

05:15June 1st, 2031. Sincerely, Jared C.

05:18Nicholson, mayor.

05:19>> Any motion?

05:19>> Motion to approve our second.

05:22>> Second by councelor Field. Roll call.

05:24Yes or no?

05:25>> Council Avery. [snorts]

05:26>> Yes.

05:27>> Council Field.

05:28>> Yes.

05:28>> Council Vice President Hogan.

05:29>> Yes.

05:30>> Council Laier,

05:30>> yes.

05:31>> Council Matul,

05:32>> yes. Council Mlan,

05:33>> yes.

05:33>> Council Meanie,

05:34>> yes.

05:34>> Council mead,

05:36>> yes.

05:36>> Council Net,

05:37>> yes.

05:37>> Council Pas,

05:38>> yes.

05:38>> Council President Alens,

05:40>> yes. We have 11 councilors voting, 11

05:42affirmative. The matter carries.

05:43Congratulations, Audrey. Second

05:46appointment.

05:47>> Second board appointment. Dear council,

05:48I'm hereby appointing Herman Sanchez, 11

05:50Evelyn Street, Lynn, Massachusetts to

05:52serve on the zoning board of appeals as

05:54an associate member. Mr. Sanchez's term

05:56is effective immediately and will expire

05:58on January 15th, 2031. Sincerely, Jared

06:01C. Nicholson, mayor.

06:02>> Any motion?

06:04>> Make a motion to approve.

06:05>> Motion by councel Avery, second by

06:06councelor Field.

06:08>> Discussion.

06:10>> Roll call.

06:11>> Council Avery.

06:11>> Yes.

06:12>> Council Field.

06:13>> Yes.

06:13>> Council Vice President Hogan.

06:14>> Yes.

06:15>> Council Lepier.

06:16>> Yes.

06:16>> Council Matul?

06:17>> Yes.

06:17>> Council Mlan?

06:18>> Yes.

06:18>> Council Me?

06:19>> Yes.

06:19>> Council Medi Madre?

06:20>> Yes.

06:20>> Council Net.

06:21>> Yes.

06:21>> Council PZ.

06:22>> Yes.

06:23>> Council President Alens.

06:24>> Yes. 11 counselors voting, 11 in

06:26affirmative. The matter carries.

06:27Congratulations. Third appointment.

06:29>> Next appointment. Dear councels, I'm

06:30hereby reappointing Sandy Answer 451

06:32Eastern Avenue Lin Mass to serve on the

06:34Lin Cultural Council. Miss Answer's term

06:36is effective immediately and will expire

06:37on December 31st, 2028. Sincerely, Jared

06:40C. Nicholson, mayor.

06:42>> Any motion?

06:43>> Motion to approve.

06:44>> Motion by councelor um MLAN. Second by

06:46councelor Field.

06:49Roll call.

06:49>> Council Avery.

06:50>> Yes.

06:50>> Council Field.

06:51>> Yes.

06:52>> Council Vice President Hogan.

06:53>> Yes.

06:53>> Council Laapier,

06:54>> yes.

06:55>> Council Matul,

06:55>> yes.

06:56>> Council Mlan,

06:57>> yes.

06:57>> Council Meanie,

06:58>> yes. Council mere.

06:59>> Yes.

07:00>> Council Net.

07:00>> Yes.

07:01>> Council PZ.

07:02>> Yes.

07:02>> Council President Ellens.

07:04>> Yes. Congratulations Sandy. We have 11

07:06counselors voting and 11 in affirmative.

07:09What is the fourth and what is the next

07:12one?

07:12>> Dear councils, I'm hereby appointing

07:14Elani Ma Morell 21 Margin Street Lin

07:16Mass to serve on the Lin Cultural

07:18Council. Miss Morell's term is effective

07:20immediately to expire on December 31st

07:222028. Sincerely Jared C. Nicholson

07:24mayor.

07:24>> Any motion to approve? Motion to

07:26councelor Matau. Second. Second.

07:29[snorts] Roll call.

07:30>> Council Avery.

07:31>> Yes.

07:31>> Council Field.

07:32>> Yes.

07:32>> Council Vice President Hogan.

07:34>> Yes.

07:34>> Council Lapia.

07:35>> Yes.

07:35>> Council Matul.

07:36>> Yes.

07:36>> Council Mlan.

07:37>> Yes.

07:37>> Council Meanie.

07:38>> Yes.

07:38>> Council Medi Madre.

07:40>> Yes.

07:40>> Council Net.

07:41>> Yes.

07:41>> Council PZ.

07:42>> Yes.

07:43>> Council President Ellens.

07:44>> Yes. We have 11 councils voting 11

07:46affirmative. Congratulations. Next

07:48appointment.

07:49>> Corrected communication that came up

07:50earlier today. Dear councils, I'm hereby

07:52appointing Harry McCabe 16 Reservoir

07:54Road Lin Massachusetts to serve on the

07:55council on aging. Mr. McCabe's term is

07:57effective immediately to expire on June

07:591st, 2028. Sincerely, Jared C.

08:02Nicholson.

08:02>> Harry McCabe. Any motion?

08:04>> Motion to approve.

08:05>> Motion by councelor PZ. Second by

08:08councelor Matul. Roco.

08:11>> Council Avery.

08:12>> Yes.

08:12>> Council Field.

08:13>> Yes.

08:13>> Council Vice President Hogan.

08:14>> Yes.

08:14>> Council Laapier.

08:15>> Yes.

08:16>> Council Matul.

08:17>> Yes.

08:17>> Council Mlan.

08:18>> Yes.

08:18>> Council Meanie.

08:19>> Yes.

08:19>> Council me.

08:20>> Yes.

08:21>> Council Net.

08:21>> Yes.

08:22>> Council PZ.

08:23>> Yes.

08:23>> Councelor President Allen.

08:25>> Yes. Congratulations, Harry. Thank you

08:26for your service. Uh what is the last

08:28one?

08:29>> Uh corrected the corrected the

08:31communication. Dear council, I'm hereby

08:32appointing Sarah Kellyanto, 56 Greenwood

08:34Avenue, Lin Master to serve on the

08:36council of aging. Miss Kelly Antto's

08:38term is effective immediately and will

08:39expire on June 1st, 2030.

08:42>> Any motion?

08:44>> Motion by councelor Pis.

08:46>> Second by councelor Mlan. Uh Roco.

08:49>> Council Avery.

08:50>> Yes.

08:51>> Council Field.

08:51>> Yes.

08:52>> Council vice president Hogan.

08:53>> Yes.

08:54>> Council Laapia.

08:54>> Yes.

08:55>> Council Matul. Yes.

08:56>> Council Mlan.

08:57>> Yes.

08:57>> Council Meanie.

08:58>> Yes.

08:59>> Council me.

09:00>> Yes.

09:00>> Council Net.

09:01>> Yes.

09:01>> Council Pas.

09:02>> Yes.

09:02>> Council President Alens.

09:04>> Yes. We have 11 counselors voting. 11

09:06affirmative. Congratulations to all of

09:08you. If any of you are present tonight,

09:11can you please stand up?

09:14>> Well, if you're watching,

09:15congratulations.

09:16>> They're standing at home.

09:17>> They're standing at home. Thank you for

09:18your service. Thank you for your service

09:20to Lynn.

09:21>> We're in line.

09:23>> Uh, do we have public hearing? Attorney

09:24Lammano. two public hearings. The first

09:26public hearing on a petition of Mass

09:27General Bighgam for a signed permit at

09:29480 Lynfield Street.

09:31>> Is there anybody here wish to speak in

09:34favor? This is a public hearing. Anybody

09:36here wish to speak in favor? Anybody

09:38here wish to speak in favor? In favor?

09:41See none. The part of the hearing is

09:42closed. Anybody here wish to speak in

09:44opposition? Opposition.

09:47Opposition. See none. The part of the

09:49hearing is closed. What is the wish of

09:51the council? Councelor Mie.

09:53>> Yeah. Sorry, Koko. We we want to um I

09:55want to make a motion to uh just push

09:57that to October 27th. There was a

09:59scheduling conflict with the um the

10:01person with the sign.

10:03>> So there's a motion to move it to

10:04October 27 which is our next meeting.

10:07>> Second.

10:08>> Second by councelor Pis. Was that you?

10:10Councelor Pas.

10:12>> Roll call.

10:12>> Council Avery.

10:13>> Yes.

10:13>> Council Field.

10:14>> Yes.

10:15>> Council Vice President Hogan.

10:16>> Yes.

10:16>> Council Laia.

10:17>> Yes.

10:18>> Council Matul.

10:19>> Yes.

10:19>> Council Mlan.

10:20>> Yes.

10:20>> Council Meie.

10:21>> Yes.

10:21>> Council mere.

10:22>> Yes.

10:23>> Council Annette. Yes.

10:24>> Council Pas.

10:25>> Yes.

10:25>> Council President Alvin.

10:26>> Yes. 11 councilors voting. 11

10:28affirmative. See you in October 27th.

10:30What is the second public hearing?

10:31>> A public hearing is a proposed ordinance

10:33amending the ordinance prohibiting

10:34certain sales of drug paraphernalia in

10:36the city of Lynn.

10:37>> Let's open this for public hearing.

10:39Anybody here wish to speak in favor? In

10:41favor.

10:43In favor. See none. The part of the

10:45hearing is closed. Anybody here wish to

10:47speak in opposition?

10:49Opposition.

10:51Opposition. Seeing none, the part of the

10:52hearing is closed. What is the wish of

10:54the council?

10:58Was the sponsored by councelor Laierre.

11:00>> Uh thank you, Mr. President. As chair of

11:02the ordinance committee, we did have

11:03this set down a couple of weeks back, a

11:05few weeks back now, and we heard from

11:07director Tobin and uh council Cronin. Um

11:11just some updating and coming aligned

11:13with um what the state is doing uh

11:16prohibiting uh certain sales of drug

11:19paraphernalia. So, this um did get

11:21through council subcommittee with

11:23unanimous support to set it down for

11:25public hearing and tonight obviously I

11:27would be um making a motion in favor of

11:30this after the public hearing of course.

11:32>> Second. Thank you councelor Lier. Second

11:34by councelor Hogan. Do you want to add

11:36anything um attorney Cronin or is

11:38sufficient enough?

11:43I'd just like to note for the record

11:44that before it even went to the

11:46ordinance subcommittee, we did uh send

11:48it to LPD for Chief then Chief Ready's

11:52and soon to be Chief Kelly's approval.

11:54They did both review it and they did not

11:56have any concerns with respect to the

11:58updates that were made.

12:00>> Thank you, Attorney Cronin, for the

12:01added information. Discussion.

12:05>> No discussion. Roll call.

12:07>> Council Avery, absent. Council Field,

12:09>> yes. Council Vice President Hogan,

12:10>> yes.

12:11>> Council Laapier,

12:12>> yes.

12:12>> Council Mullell,

12:13>> yes.

12:13>> Council Mlan,

12:15>> no.

12:16>> Council Meanie,

12:17>> yes.

12:18>> Council Madre,

12:19>> yes.

12:19>> Council Net,

12:20>> yes.

12:20>> Council PZ,

12:21>> yes.

12:21>> Council President Alan Suggs,

12:23>> yes. We have 10 counselors voting, nine

12:26affirmative and one no. The matter

12:29carries.

12:30Do we have any public hearing to be set

12:33down, Mr. Cler?

12:34>> Two public hearings to be set down.

12:35Petition National Grid to install one J

12:37pole on Essex Street beginning at a

12:38point 78 feet north of the center line

12:40on the intersection of Essex Street in

12:42Rogers Avenue. National grid to install

12:44J pole at number 78-50 Essex Street.

12:48Second public hearing to be set down

12:49petition grid for a grant of location

12:51for replacement gas regulation statement

12:53station on summer street at Austin

12:55Square.

12:56>> Motion to set him down.

12:57>> Sent down by councelor Field. Second.

12:59Second by councelor Avery.

13:02>> [snorts]

13:02>> Uh all those in favor opposed the eyes

13:04have it.

13:05>> Committee reports downtown development

13:07committee joined by councelor pies and

13:09councelor mei madri.

13:12>> Um so this was the first downtown

13:14development committee meeting. Uh during

13:17that meeting we heard from different

13:18residents and um folks that work in

13:21different service providers in the

13:22downtown area. as um has been noted from

13:27multiple uh folks um there is an

13:30evolving um rise of unhoused folks in

13:34our downtown area. Um so addressing what

13:39is happening in those areas and how the

13:41council should move forward. There was a

13:43conversation around the possibility of

13:46having an encampment ordinance within

13:49the city of Flynn in which we discussed

13:51um how important it is to be mindful of

13:54all of the people that would be impacted

13:56in with that response and that we will

13:59continue doing that work. Um we also um

14:02talked a little bit about the mayor's

14:05ordinate um executive order um revolving

14:09a downtown task force in which both

14:12counselors Maji Madri and I will be a

14:14part of and will continue to um discuss

14:17with the council as um as that continues

14:20to evolve and council want to add you

14:25want to add any of this information.

14:27>> She covered it.

14:27>> She covered the whole thing. Well, I

14:30just want to commend both of you. Um, I

14:32think this should be an ongoing um,

14:35meeting and communication. It's

14:37important for us to listen to our

14:39residents, not only uh, from the

14:42residents or the business owners, but in

14:44in the vast. So, I really really

14:45encourage you to continue doing this.

14:49Um, okay. Uh, so is there a motion to

14:52accept that education?

14:54>> Motion to accept.

14:55>> Accept a motion by councelor Mlan. A

14:58second with councelor Madri. All those

14:59in favor

15:00>> opposed. The highest have it.

15:03>> Downtown election subcommittee,

15:05councelor Avery.

15:06>> Uh thank you, council president. We had

15:09no action on any votes. We had an in uh

15:12information session with our wonderful

15:14city clerk and chief of elections

15:16attorney Jim Lammana who discussed early

15:18voting dates, hours, and locations. Also

15:21went over the active voter list uh and

15:23the voting locations. As a reminder, uh

15:26please get out and vote and um yeah,

15:29make a motion to uh accept uh the

15:31election subcommittee.

15:32>> There's a motion by councelor Avery,

15:34second by councelor Matul. All those in

15:36favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. For

15:39the record, this is the first time I

15:40heard somebody call you wonderful.

15:42>> I probably heard it.

15:43>> Usually how I go to bed when [laughter]

15:45my wife tucks me in.

15:49>> Committee of the whole public safety

15:51committee.

15:53>> I got to follow that, huh?

15:55[laughter]

15:55We too had a wonderful discussion uh

15:58>> committee of the whole councelor field.

16:00>> Thank you Mr. President. Um we had a

16:04anformational

16:05open hearing um public hearing for the

16:08um folks from the community and

16:11community partners to to offer their

16:13testimony on our flock system. Currently

16:15the license plate reader um system that

16:18the city um is contracted to use. Um

16:21number of community members spoke, a lot

16:24of chief um Kelly spoke um and there was

16:29a motion made by councelor Avery and

16:32seconded by council meeting um to

16:34continue this for uh a 90-day period and

16:37we decided that the first meeting in

16:40January will continue um this discussion

16:43and and obviously the the time up

16:46leading up to that date. So I make a

16:48motion to approve that.

16:51>> Second.

16:52>> Seconded.

16:52>> There's a motion by councelor Field,

16:54second by councelor Lapier. All those in

16:55favor?

16:56>> Oppose. Discussion.

16:58>> Dies have it. Council appointment

17:00subcommittee. Councelor Magadri.

17:03>> Thank you. Uh thank you council

17:04president. Um the council appointment

17:06subcommittee met and we had a unanimous

17:09u vote to appoint Natia Bastian Shaw to

17:13the Lynn Human Rights Commission. I'd

17:16like to make a motion to approve.

17:17>> Seconded.

17:18>> There's a motion by councelor Maji

17:19Madri, second by councelor Avery. All

17:21those in favor?

17:22>> I post both eyes have it. Thank you for

17:24applying and good luck for your new

17:26role. Uh, [clears throat] veterans

17:28military affairs and military families

17:29committee. Councelor Mlean.

17:31>> Um, no votes were taken. We did hear

17:33from our VSO Mike Sweeney who talked to

17:35us about upcoming events and the

17:37rescheduled first responders veterans

17:40and first responders parade. October

17:4216th, we have the 251st Navy birthday

17:45happening in the foyer at 11:00 a.m. We

17:47have a salute to our veterans that was

17:49created by our committee and Anna Lali.

17:52So, we want to send a thank you to Anna

17:53Lai for these discounts. Veterans,

17:56please take advantage of these. They are

17:58on our website and um they are on my

18:01Facebook meet social media page as well.

18:03Um please take advantage of those on

18:05November 11th. The Veterans and First

18:08Responders Parade has been rescheduled

18:09to May 16th, 2027. We encourage all in

18:13residents to come out and um support

18:16this parade. And then um we are doing

18:19another Veterans Day event next month,

18:21November 11th, 2026, um in the foyer, as

18:26uh the VSO does every year, his

18:28department. Um 8:30 a.m. there will be a

18:30breakfast and 10:00 a.m. there will be a

18:32ceremony in the auditorium. So, uh,

18:35without without there being any votes, I

18:37make a recommendation to approve.

18:39>> Recommendation to approve. Second.

18:41>> Second.

18:41>> All those in favor? Opposed? Eyes have

18:43it. Thank you, Anna. Thank you, Mike.

18:45Thank you, Veterans Committee. Now, the

18:48inaugural meeting of the new committee

18:50for this chamber environment committee,

18:53councelor Pas.

18:54>> Yes. Um, it was a good meeting. Uh, so

18:58we spoke about munipal aggregation. And

19:00for those on the council or watching at

19:03home who don't know what that is,

19:05essentially it is the opportunity for a

19:08municipality to have control over its

19:11suppliers. So for who is supplying the

19:15energy source to um to its residents. So

19:18it's still um charged by national grid,

19:21but it does allow us to have a more

19:23stable um account of where our energy is

19:27going and having more stable prices. Um,

19:30it also allows us to have more renewable

19:32energy sources in our grid. Um, and it's

19:36an easy um, way to go back and forth in

19:40your energy bills. So, um, in that

19:43committee meeting, we also had a

19:44presentation from Mass, um, sorry, um,

19:50Mass Power Choice, who, um, we made a

19:54motion to allow the mayor's office to

19:57sign a contract to move this project

20:00forward. Um, so putting it towards the

20:02council to approve that decision.

20:07>> Second.

20:08Okay, there's a motion by councelor Pi.

20:11Sorry, I was reading and second by

20:13councelor um field. All those in favor?

20:17Eyes have it.

20:18>> Licensing committee councelor field.

20:20>> Thank you, Mr. President. We have a

20:22unanimous vote by our committee. I make

20:23a motion to approve.

20:24>> Second.

20:25>> Second by councelor Hogan. Discussion.

20:29Roll call.

20:30>> Council Avery.

20:31>> Yes.

20:32>> Council Field.

20:33>> Yes.

20:33>> Council Vice President Hogan.

20:34>> Yes.

20:34>> Council Lapia.

20:35>> Yes.

20:35>> Council Matul.

20:36>> Yes.

20:37>> Council Mlan. Yes.

20:38>> Council Meanie.

20:39>> Yes.

20:39>> Council mere.

20:40>> Yes.

20:41>> Council Net.

20:42>> Yes.

20:42>> Council PZ.

20:43>> Yes.

20:43>> Council [clears throat] President

20:44Ellensson.

20:44>> Yes. Thank you. Councelor Field. Uh Ways

20:47and Means Committee. Councelor N.

20:48>> Uh yes, Mr. President. We have a

20:51unanimous vote of the committee. I make

20:53a motion to approve.

20:55>> Second.

20:56>> There's second by councelor Matul. Would

20:57the clerk read the transfers and take

21:00them?

21:00>> I'm going to read them as a whole.

21:01>> Yes, please. $197,592

21:04from the wage expense account to the

21:05payroll line items of various

21:07departments to fund the 193 CBA retro

21:09through June 30th, 2026.

21:11$1,800 from the ID ISD school expense to

21:14fund ISD school bill of prior school

21:16bill of prior year. 900 from ISD expense

21:19to fund ISD bill of prior year. $4,94.75

21:23from ISD expense to fund DPW from DPW

21:26expense to DPW bill of prior year. $245

21:28from DPW expense to fund DPW bill the

21:31prior year. $66783

21:33from DPW expense to fund DPW bill the

21:36prior year. $925 from DPW expense to

21:39fund a DPW bill the prior year. $57980

21:43from DPW expense to fund a DPW bill of

21:45prior year. $1,000 from DPW expense to

21:48fund a DPW bill the prior year. $1569

21:51from library expense to fund a library

21:53bill the prior year. $175 from the

21:56planning expense to fund a planning bill

21:57the prior year. $17,136.18

22:00from street light expense to fund

22:02Streetlight bill the prior year.

22:04Certified funds $44,960 to the mayor's

22:07office from the Massachusetts Executive

22:08Office of Public Safety and Security to

22:10fund the FFY27 Municipal Road Safety

22:13Grant Program. $854,55

22:16to the mayor's office from the

22:17Department of Homeland Security to fund

22:18the FFY25

22:20assistant to firefighters grant which

22:22will be used to fund the replacement of

22:2381 SCPA [laughter] units and face

22:26pieces. $150,000 to the mayor's office

22:28from the Massachusetts Department of

22:30Health to fund the prevention and early

22:32childhood grant program. $125,000 to the

22:35mayor's office from the executive office

22:36of housing and livable communities to

22:37fund the ADA self-evaluation and

22:39transition plan phase 2. $2,645 to the

22:43mayor's office from the Phoenix Hub to

22:44fund the FY27 Phoenix Hub community

22:47grant project. $1,541,625,000

22:52to the Lyn School Department by Desi for

22:53the FY27 Prism FC592 program. $641,250

22:59to the LIN school department by Desessie

23:00to fund the FY27 CPPI FC719 program.

23:05$459,312

23:07to the Lynn School Department by Desi to

23:09fund the FY27 RTAP implementation FC221

23:14program. $300,000 to the Lin School

23:16Department by Desi to fund fund the FY27

23:18early college support FC 460 program

23:22$120,90

23:24to the Lin School Department by Desi to

23:26fund the FY27 CFCE parent child plus

23:29FC23

23:31237 program. $190,42

23:35to the Lind School Department by Desi to

23:36fund the FY27 CFCE FC237 program.

23:41$180,000 to Lind School Department by

23:43Desi for the FY27 comprehensive school

23:46health pro school services program.

23:48$32,816

23:51to the Lind School Department by Desi

23:52for the FY27 BRYT LVTI program. $65,325

23:58to Lind School department by Desi for

24:00the FY27 Innovation Career Pathway FC419

24:04program. Finally, $250,000 to Lynn

24:06School Department by the BA Foundation

24:08for the FY27 for the continued support

24:10of the city's arts and science academy.

24:13>> Thank you, Attorney Lammana. We have a

24:15motion by councelor Net, second by

24:16councelor Matau. Any discussion? Roll

24:19call.

24:19>> Um uh

24:20>> yeah, I just want to credit um all of

24:23our hardworking employees in the city.

24:25There was uh a lot of bills from past

24:27year, but there was also a lot of good

24:28grants in there uh including um some new

24:30tanks uh for the fire department. So

24:32kudos to Chief Sullivan and his entire

24:34team and also some um traffic updates to

24:37uh the LI police. So uh great job to

24:39everyone uh and uh keep working to get

24:41these grants uh for us. So thank you

24:43very much. And there were emergencies on

24:44that.

24:44>> Thank you, Councelor Avery. Any other

24:46discussion? Roco.

24:48>> Council Avery.

24:49>> Yes.

24:49>> Council Field.

24:50>> Yes.

24:50>> Council Vice President Hogan.

24:51>> Yes.

24:52>> Council Laapier.

24:52>> Yes.

24:53>> Council Matul.

24:54>> Yes. Council Mlan,

24:55>> yes.

24:55>> Council Meanie,

24:56>> yes.

24:56>> Council Madri,

24:57>> yes.

24:58>> Council Net,

24:58>> yes.

24:59>> Council PZ,

25:00>> yes.

25:00>> Council President Allen,

25:01>> yes. Do we have any emergency council?

25:04>> Yes. Yes, Mr. President. Uh, the

25:05committee voted for all emergency for

25:08all of the transfers.

25:10>> Motion by councelor Ned, second by

25:12councelor Field. Uh, discussion. Roll

25:16call.

25:16>> Councelor Avery.

25:17>> Yes.

25:17>> Council Field.

25:18>> Yes.

25:18>> Council Vice President Hogan.

25:19>> Yes.

25:20>> Council Laapia,

25:21>> yes.

25:21>> Council Matul,

25:22>> yes.

25:22>> Council Mlan,

25:23>> yes. Council Meanie,

25:24>> yes.

25:24>> Council Madri,

25:25>> yes.

25:26>> Council Net,

25:27>> yes.

25:27>> Council PZ,

25:28>> yes.

25:28>> Council President Alan Sugg,

25:30>> yes. Thank you, Councelor Net. Do we

25:32have any other business? We're done. We

25:34do.

25:35>> That's it.

25:35>> Thank you. Utilities Committee Councelor

25:37Matau.

25:38>> Thank you, Mr. Mr. Chair. We

25:39[clears throat] had a unanimous vote.

25:41I'll make a motion to approve.

25:42>> Second.

25:43>> Second by councelor Vice President

25:45Hogan. All those in favor?

25:47>> I post eyes have it. Ordinance

25:49committee. Councelor Leierre.

25:52>> Um, Mr. Mr. President, that meeting was

25:54rescheduled so we did not meet this

25:56evening.

25:56>> Rescheduled. Thank you. Councelor Leier,

25:59rules committee. Councelor Nette.

26:00>> Yes, Mr. President. And uh today is our

26:03first meeting in a while and uh we uh

26:05had discussion among committee and plus

26:09uh with attorney um Cronin and we

26:12decided to uh continue discuss this

26:15matter and uh we scheduled for our next

26:17meeting in I think on November 24th. Um,

26:22so I make a motion to accept.

26:24>> Thank you, councelor Net. There's a

26:27motion.

26:28>> Second.

26:28>> Second by councelor Mlean. All those in

26:30favor?

26:31>> Opposed? Dies have it. Do I have old

26:32business? Attorney Lana,

26:34>> there is no old business this evening.

26:35>> Do we have new business?

26:36>> Uh, first item under new business is a

26:38presentation by CBIS,

26:40CPA's

26:42PC regarding the fiscal 2025

26:45annual city of Lynn audit. counselors in

26:48your packet you have this thick uh I saw

26:52that

26:53>> packet you can u use this as reference

26:56guys welcome you can approach the podium

26:59or you can use this with your

27:01presentation

27:06[snorts]

27:09>> thank you so much for coming to council

27:11chamber

27:12>> yes thank you for having us

27:14[clears throat]

27:14uh my name is Scott Warki I am a

27:16shareholder with CBI CPAs and with me is

27:19my associate.

27:21>> I'm Sarah Cordock. I'm the manager in

27:23charge of the city's audit.

27:25>> All right. So, we'll like you mentioned,

27:27we're here to talk about the results of

27:28the fiscal year 2025 financial statement

27:31audit of the city. And first, I thought

27:33I'd start with um kind of, you know, why

27:38the financial statements are prepared

27:39and and what the audit is. So the city

27:42as I think many of you know um issues

27:45debt on the public markets and as a

27:47result they produce a set of financial

27:49statements um for those debt holders to

27:53use to evaluate the financial condition

27:55of the city.

27:56Now those financial statements are

27:58prepared in accordance with a set of

28:00accounting standards called generally

28:02accepted accounting principles as set

28:04forth by the governmental accounting

28:06standards board. And what the city does

28:08is hire uh ex uh independent external

28:12auditors to provide an opinion on those

28:14financial statements. [clears throat]

28:16Um and let me talk about that audit for

28:18a little bit because I sometimes the

28:20word audit is thrown around and you know

28:22as an auditor it is a term of of

28:24science. Um you know the procedures that

28:26we perform. So the audit that we perform

28:29is in accordance with a set of standards

28:31set forth by the American Institute of

28:33Certified Public Accountants and that's

28:35called generally accepted auditing

28:37standards and those standards are

28:39designed um for auditors to provide

28:42reasonable assurance on a set of

28:44financial statements. Um not absolute

28:46assurance but reasonable assurance and

28:48what that means is we are not looking at

28:50every transaction. We are not auditing

28:52every balance, but we um employ um

28:55different analytical procedures,

28:56different statistical sampling

28:58techniques in order to render that

29:00opinion. [sighs] So, with that out of

29:03the way, um you know, happy to report

29:05that the 2025 financial statements

29:08contained what we call an unmodified

29:10opinion or that's a clean opinion.

29:12That's the, you know, the best grade you

29:14can get on the set of financial

29:15statements and that's what um the bond

29:18holders of the city would expect.

29:21Um now we'll go through um some of the

29:24more uh some of the results of the

29:26audits and uh some of the required

29:28communications that we have. Now if if

29:30we encountered certain items like fraud

29:34or legal acts, we would be required to

29:37report that to a body such as

29:38yourselves. But happy to report there

29:40are no such matters to report. Um the

29:44financial statements um you might have

29:46them in your packet here but they are

29:47available on the comprollers's website

29:49for the public to uh read at their

29:51leisure. Um in those financial

29:54statements there's a lot of information

29:56um about the city's operations. Um most

29:59importantly is probably the general fund

30:01I think is which is the most important

30:03operating front of the city. um and it

30:05can show and it'll show the balances

30:08as of June 30, 2025 as well as um the

30:11revenues and expenditures um for that

30:13fiscal year. Um there are also other

30:17pieces of information within those

30:18footnotes such as um you know

30:21liabilities for pension to the city's

30:23employees, liabilities for

30:25post-employment health care to the

30:27city's employees that are valued by

30:29actuaries and reported in the financial

30:31statements and audited by us.

30:34Um, with that, I'll turn over to Sarah

30:36who will go through some of the other

30:38results of of the audit.

30:42>> Yeah. Some of some of the other required

30:44communications we have are like if we

30:46had any significant difficulties during

30:48the audit, we were required to report

30:49those to you, but we did not encounter

30:52anything while we were performing the

30:54audit. Um we had no disagreements with

30:57management and there were no significant

30:59or unusual transactions that occurred

31:02that we found as part of the audit. Um

31:06the financial statements also includes

31:08what's what's called required

31:09supplementary information which is kind

31:11of towards the back of the statements.

31:13Uh we don't provide an opinion on those

31:16but we do compare them to the

31:18information that's in the statements and

31:20we didn't find any issues with with that

31:23information as well.

31:25Um we found no instances of

31:27non-compliance and there was no

31:30unadjusted audit differences.

31:33There was um a couple of findings that

31:35we provided to the city. One was in

31:38regards to the retirement system and the

31:40other was some suggested um internal

31:42control improvements that the city

31:44should consider uh looking into.

31:49And I guess I'll round this out by

31:50saying that I think, you know, we do a

31:53lot of these presentations and this is

31:54all very very positive. Um, you know, if

31:57we were here and had a a robust

32:00discussion, you know, that's means

32:02something probably went ary and

32:04something, you know, did not happen the

32:05way it should happen. So, uh, always

32:07tell committees that if, you know, we're

32:09having a mundane kind of boring meeting,

32:12that's kind of good in this respect. Um,

32:14so I guess with that I will entertain

32:17any questions the counselors may have.

32:19>> Yeah. But before the question I just

32:21would like to personally say thank you

32:22to all of you. Uh, you've been doing

32:25this year after year. Correct.

32:26>> Correct. It's an annual exercise.

32:28>> It's an annual exercise. I would like to

32:30give credit to Attorney Cronin because

32:32every now and then, Attorney Cronin and

32:34I, we review some of our packets. And in

32:37the charter, actually, it clearly says

32:40the city council

32:42is uh mandated to hire you to do audit

32:47for the city. And I said, I've been

32:49counselor for 5 years. I've never seen

32:51you guys. So, this is just an I'm not

32:53saying somebody's wrong here, but I

32:56think let's make this an annual thing

32:57that every audit or report you have, as

33:01you mentioned, there's no nothing to be

33:03flagged upon or serious about, but make

33:05it as a

33:07a practice for you to report to the

33:10council of your findings. Uh, make that

33:12as a tradition of some sort moving

33:14forward.

33:15>> Happy to do.

33:16>> Okay. Uh, since this is the the body

33:17that is responsible for for that

33:19request. Any question for the

33:21counselors? Councelor Leier.

33:23>> Thank you, Mr. President. I just had a

33:24followup to what you had said around um

33:27giving some guidance to the city around

33:29retirement and could you go into more

33:31detail and then internal controls? Could

33:33you be specific about what that

33:35directive was?

33:37>> Sure. On the um on the retirement side,

33:40it was there's been a delay in getting

33:43some of the census data information from

33:45the departments to the retirement

33:47system. Um, and it causes an issue

33:50where, you know, you know, information

33:51is going in, but it's there,

33:53everything's not there that needs to be

33:55there. Um, and it just makes it

33:57difficult.

33:58>> That's [laughter] better than I thought.

33:59I thought you were going to go like OP

34:00liability and things like that, how

34:02we're looking in terms of the account

34:03itself, but that's okay. The census is I

34:06could go with that.

34:06>> Yeah. Yeah. No.

34:07>> And the other one,

34:08>> the other one is some just some internal

34:10control improvements that are needed in

34:13the city. And some of it is just um you

34:16know kind of cleaning up some

34:17reconciliations that are done. Like the

34:18reconciliations are being done, but

34:20sometimes some of the reconciling items

34:22aren't being cleared in a timely manner

34:25and and some stuff like that.

34:26>> Signoffs from various departments and

34:28that sort of thing.

34:29>> Um some of it.

34:32Yeah, we we have had some of that with

34:34sign offs on like some invoices and

34:37stuff like that that have been that have

34:39been missing, but that just comes

34:41through like bits and pieces. Um, and

34:44yeah, most of it's reconciliations. We

34:46have some with some documentation around

34:50pay rates and union contracts that are

34:54being negotiated every 3 years, but the

34:57whole contract isn't being put together.

34:59there's just been like anou attached to

35:01the back of it

35:02>> and it was to the point where it was,

35:04you know, there was fiveus attached to

35:07the back. So, in order to determine

35:10what's in it, you're

35:11>> you're having to add through a lot of

35:13pieces.

35:14>> That need to be melded agreements in

35:16total. I get it.

35:17>> Yes.

35:17>> Thank you.

35:18>> Thank you, councelor Leier. Councelor

35:20Avery.

35:20>> Yeah. Um, I'm assuming we just I just

35:23got this asification, so my apologies,

35:25but everything you just said, the

35:26findings are in here. Um

35:28>> yes, they should be.

35:30>> So everything you mentioned is good. So

35:31we'll be able to deep dive. Great. Um

35:33also just want to thank uh our uh city

35:36um financial team uh you know uh Bertino

35:40and and Spencer and his whole entire

35:42office uh and you guys as well. So uh

35:44thank you so much for being good

35:45stewards and uh helping us uh make sure

35:47that we're good stewards of our taxpayer

35:50dollar. Thank you.

35:51>> Thank you. Any questions?

35:54>> That's it. Thank you so much. See you

35:56next year.

35:57>> All right. Thank [laughter] you.

35:58>> All right. Any other new business?

36:00Attorney Lammano.

36:01>> Next item under new business is a

36:03request from Council Mlan to set down a

36:05public hearing regarding concerns

36:07involving Marian Gardens residents and

36:09the organiz organizers of the Shoe City

36:11Classic.

36:12>> Yeah, this is a late addition. That's

36:14why it's in the new business. Is there

36:15any motion to set this down? Councilor

36:18McLean.

36:18>> Yeah, I will make a motion to set it

36:20down. I have talked to the residents of

36:22the Marian Gardens who have some

36:24concerns that they would like to have on

36:26the record and I believe it would be

36:28great if the organizer of the Shoe City

36:30Classic could also come and voice his

36:32opinion of um the matter at hand as well

36:35and um my hope is that this body would

36:38be able to hear from both parties and

36:40make a recommendation to the park

36:41commission for future applications. Can

36:44I make a request also if you can work

36:46with Terry and attorney if we could set

36:49send formal letters invitation to them.

36:51Okay, that be great.

36:52>> So there's a motion by councelor Mlanes.

36:54Any second?

36:54>> I'll second that.

36:55>> Second by councelor meanie. Discussion.

36:58>> All those in favor?

37:00>> Opposed? Eyes have it. City of the third

37:03uh new business turn.

37:04>> This is a continuation of what was

37:05presentation that was came out of the

37:06environmental affairs committee uh

37:09language drafted by the law department.

37:10City of Lynn Municipal Aggregation

37:12ordered that the Lin City Council hereby

37:14authorizes the mayor to execute on

37:15behalf of the city of Lynn the attached

37:17consultant agreement with Mass Power

37:19Choice LLC, a Massachusetts corporation

37:21to provide the city with municipal

37:23aggregation consultant services. Further

37:26ordered that the mayor be authorized to

37:27execute any and all documents required

37:30to accept and effectuate the above

37:31referenced agreement, all of which are

37:33subject to review by the law department.

37:36>> What is the wish of the council? I

37:38invite I invited them. Are you guys

37:40still here?

37:42>> No, they already left.

37:43>> Oh, they left. Okay. What is the wish of

37:45the council?

37:46>> Councelor

37:47>> I'd say yes. Um

37:48>> councelor Pias

37:49>> had voted for it during the

37:51>> Okay. Any second by councelor Pias

37:53motion?

37:54>> Second.

37:54>> Second. Councelor Mlan.

37:57>> All right. So, are we allowing the mayor

37:58to go to?

38:00>> All right. Roll call.

38:01>> Council Avery.

38:04>> Yes.

38:04>> Yes.

38:05>> Council Field.

38:06>> Yes.

38:06>> Council Vice President Hogan. Yes.

38:08>> Council Laapier.

38:08>> Yes.

38:09>> Council Matul.

38:09>> Yes.

38:10>> Council Mlan.

38:11>> Yes.

38:11>> Council Meanie.

38:12>> Yes.

38:12>> Council Miji Madre.

38:13>> Yes.

38:14>> Council Net.

38:14>> Yes.

38:15>> Council Pers.

38:15>> Yes.

38:16>> Council President Alens.

38:17>> Yes.

38:18>> All right. Um

38:21what is the last item for new business?

38:24>> Uh two more items on

38:25>> two items. Okay.

38:26>> What is the Lin City Council hereby

38:27authorize the mayor on behalf of the

38:28city of Lynn to execute the attached

38:30grant of easement granting an easement

38:32to Massachusetts Electric Company

38:34National Grid for nominal consideration.

38:36said easement area is located at or near

38:38671 Washington Summer Street as set

38:41forth set forth in exhibit A that the

38:43grant of location entitled WR

38:46uh number sign 31210531

38:49sketch to accompany easement for pole

38:51transfer replacement and anchor

38:53insulation between P64 and P7 summer

38:56street LN. The purpose of uh set

38:58easement is to allow the the grantee to

39:01replace three existing poles and replace

39:03one additional new anchor from the pole

39:05identified on exhibit A as P3 to support

39:08infrastructural improvements to the

39:10grant's overhead electrical intelligence

39:13transmission systems. The instit

39:14installation of any additional poles or

39:16anchors not currently identified in the

39:18attached exhibit A will require further

39:20review and approval of the city council

39:22except in the case of an emergency. The

39:23grant of an easement shall be subject to

39:25the approval of the law department.

39:26Further ordered the mayor is authorized

39:28to execute any and all documents

39:29required by the law department to accept

39:31and effectuate the above referenced

39:33grant of easement.

39:35>> So there's a motion.

39:36>> Make a motion council

39:37>> to approve.

39:41>> Second by councelor field.

39:44Yeah. Further order that the mayor be

39:46authorized to execute any all documents

39:48required by law. It's in the last page.

39:51All right. Um all the all in favor.

39:53>> This should be a roll call.

39:54>> Uh a roll call.

39:55>> Have a discussion. a discussion.

39:57>> Uh I would like to thank uh attorney

39:59Mora Cronin and Lauren Drago from the

40:01planning department uh for working with

40:04me uh through this to understand and

40:06make sure as there's a potential um

40:09project down at this field. Uh they've

40:12ensured me that this will not interrupt

40:14any of that and uh I would like to thank

40:15them both uh for their work on this.

40:18I'll make uh so thank you so much.

40:20>> Thank you. Any other discussion? I know

40:21our battery is like going down. We have

40:24a long day today. We're almost done.

40:26Done. Colleagues, uh, roll call.

40:29>> Council Avery,

40:30>> yes.

40:30>> Council Field,

40:31>> yes.

40:31>> Council Vice President Hogan,

40:32>> yes.

40:33>> Council Laia,

40:33>> yes.

40:34>> Council Matul,

40:35>> yes.

40:35>> Council Mlan,

40:36>> yes.

40:37>> Council Meanie,

40:37>> yes.

40:38>> Council mere,

40:39>> yes.

40:39>> Council Net,

40:40>> yes.

40:40>> Council Pers,

40:41>> yes.

40:41>> Council President Alensson,

40:43>> yes. Okay. Um,

40:46last but not the least, Attorney

40:48Lammana.

40:48>> That's a presentation from the Citizens

40:50Advisory Board. I would like to invite

40:52the chair of the citizen advisory board

40:55and members

41:01and the team. Oh my gosh, you guys are

41:03complete.

41:07>> This is exactly what we wanted to see.

41:11>> So, we we we're handing out just some uh

41:13paperwork that we're going to talk about

41:15u during this presentation. Um, but can

41:18you please introduce all of yourselves

41:19so we know and the public knows? Also,

41:22>> thank you so much.

41:23>> Thank you. So, I'm Michael Satwait. I'm

41:26the uh chair of the citizen advisory

41:28committee.

41:30>> I'm Alicia Bingham. I'm the vice chair.

41:34>> I'm Richard Willis. I'm a member.

41:38>> We have Brenda Wulmarmac over there. And

41:40uh we just had u one uh he had a leave

41:44at a 7:00 uh meeting.

41:45>> Mhm.

41:46>> Staff,

41:46>> thank you for coming.

41:47>> And we have the staff. Yes. Uh so good

41:50evening uh council president, members of

41:52the city council, city officials, fellow

41:54members of the citizen advisory board,

41:56and residents of Lenn. Uh thank you for

41:58the opportunity to speak with you

41:59tonight. I am the chair of the citizen

42:02advisory board. And my name is Michael

42:03Satderwite. And I'm here with Vice Chair

42:06Alicia Bingham.

42:08Uh I'm an appointee of council member

42:09Nicole Mlan and Mrs. Bingham is an

42:12appointee uh by the mayor. We want to

42:15take a few minutes to explain something

42:16that we believe deserves more attention

42:18in our city. The work of the citizens

42:20advisory board commonly known as the

42:22cab.

42:24What is a citizens advisory board? Why

42:26does it exist? What does it actually do?

42:28And perhaps most importantly, how does

42:30it work to affect the lives of lend

42:32residents? These are the important

42:34questions because while many residents

42:36are familiar with the city council, the

42:37mayor's office, and our various city

42:39departments, fewer people understand the

42:41role of the citizens advisory board, the

42:43responsibilities entrusted to us. Our

42:46goal tonight is to change that and to

42:47inform the council as well as the

42:49general public of what we do.

42:54>> Great. Thank you, Mike. So, let's start

42:56with the first question. What is the

42:59citizens advisory board? The Citizens

43:02Advisory Board is a communitywide ad um

43:06adversary body established to promote

43:08public participation in Lynn's housing

43:10and community development process. It

43:13origins back to December 11th, 1974

43:17when Lynn adopted a formal citizens

43:20participation plan. That means that the

43:23board has been part of our city's

43:25community development framework for more

43:26than 50 years.

43:28Our purpose is straightforward. To help

43:31ensure the residents have a voice in

43:33identifying community needs and shaping

43:36recommendations about how resources

43:38should be used to address them. The

43:41board works with the mayor, the Lynn

43:43Housing Authority and Neighborhood

43:44Development, and the Department of

43:47Community Development. We help

43:49facilitate communications between

43:51residents, community organizations,

43:54city officials, and the professionals

43:57responsible for administrating these

43:59programs.

44:05We also provide advice concerning

44:07housing, economic develop, economic

44:10development, public services,

44:12neighborhood improvements, and other

44:14community development priorities.

44:18I want to make one clear distinction.

44:21The citizens advisory board is not the

44:24city council and it's not a city

44:27department. We are an advisory board.

44:31Our responsibility is to listen,

44:34review, ask questions, consider

44:37community trends or needs and provide

44:40recommendations through the established

44:42process.

44:43We do not replace authority of elected

44:45officials or the responsibilities of

44:48city departments.

44:50Instead, we contribute another important

44:53perspective, the perspective of

44:56community members that want to see Lynn

44:58improve.

45:00And that perspective matters because the

45:03people who live in our neighborhoods

45:04often understand the challenges facing

45:06these neighborhoods in ways that cannot

45:08always be captured in a spreadsheet or

45:11in a report.

45:13So, Michael Net will now explain why

45:15this matters and what the board actually

45:17does.

45:19>> To understand why our work matters, we

45:21must first understand the funding and

45:23the programs involved. The city of Lind

45:25receives federal funding through

45:27programs administered by the US

45:28Department of Housing and Urban

45:30Development, including the Community

45:32Development Block Grant Program known as

45:34the CDBG

45:36and the Home Investment Partnership

45:38Program and the Energy Solutions Grant

45:40Program known as ESG. These programs

45:43help support eligible activities that

45:45address housing needs, improve uh public

45:48facilities, provide community services,

45:51encourage economic development, and

45:53assist people in experience or at risk

45:55of homelessness. As a city, we know how

45:58important that is right now. This is not

46:00simply numbers in a municipal budget.

46:02They represent opportunities to improve

46:04parks, support youth programs, help

46:07residents access housing assistance,

46:09strengthen lo local organizations, and

46:12provide services to people who need

46:13them. They also come with rules,

46:15eligibility requirements, and public

46:17accountability obligation. Our job is to

46:20help ensure that the community needs are

46:21part of the conversation at the city as

46:23the city develops its priorities and

46:26funding recommendations. This means

46:28listening to organizations that work

46:30directly with residents, examining the

46:32needs they identify, and considering how

46:34proposed activities fit within the uh

46:37city's community development priorities.

46:39It also means recognizing that funding

46:41is limited.

46:43There are always more needs than

46:45available resources. Not every

46:47organization can receive everything a

46:49request and not every worthwhile

46:51proposal can be funded at the level an

46:53applicant would like.

46:55that makes the process important. We

46:58have to consider the requests carefully,

47:00ask questions when appropriate, and

47:02recognize that every funding decision

47:03has consequences for the organization

47:05and residents involved. The goal is not

47:08to simply simply to distribute the

47:10money. The goal is to help direct

47:11limited resources towards eligible

47:13activities that address real community

47:16needs.

47:18Let me explain what the uh process is

47:20like in practice. So, one of our most

47:22important responsibilities is public

47:24participation. The board helps provide

47:26opportunity opportunities for residents

47:28and community organizations to learn

47:29about the community development program,

47:31identify needs, and offer input on

47:33proposed activities. And how do we do

47:36that? We do that through a public

47:37hearing, a long public hearing.

47:39[laughter]

47:40Sometimes we're there till 10 or 11 at

47:42night. And uh that allows for the

47:44community engagement. Uh we allow for

47:47the uh participants to speak and we we

47:51time it. And then afterwards we are able

47:54to ask questions and organizations

47:56seeking uh funding have an opportunity

47:58to explain what they do, whom they

48:01serve, what needs they see in the

48:02community and how their proposal would

48:04help address those needs. Residents also

48:06have opportunities to share their

48:08concerns or priorities.

48:10That matters because community

48:11development should not happen in

48:12isolation. It should be informed by the

48:14people who live here, the organizations

48:16serving them, and the neighborhoods that

48:18will be affected. The board also reviews

48:20funding proposals and uh provides advice

48:23through the city's established community

48:24development process. We consider the

48:27needs being addressed, the services

48:29proposed, and the relationships between

48:31the individual applicants and the

48:32broader priorities identified by the

48:34city. We help connect community concerns

48:37with the officials and the professional

48:39staffs responsible for planning

48:41implementing these programs and we

48:44maintain communication with our

48:45respective city councilors concerning

48:47housing and community development

48:49issues. In other words, our work is

48:51about connecting people, identifying

48:54needs, and contributing to the decisions

48:55that affect the future of Lynn. Um

48:58Alicia will finish off with the rest.

49:02>> Thank you. So, Michael just walked you

49:05through the process. So, now I'll show

49:06you who comes through it. So, one of the

49:10best ways to understand our

49:11responsibilities is to look at the

49:13funding applications themselves.

49:16In the 2026 application process,

49:19according to the materials provided to

49:20the citizens advisory board, 28 organiz

49:24organizations submitted application

49:26requesting a combined amount of

49:291,47,746.

49:34The previous year, 29 organizations had

49:37submitted applications requesting

49:381,496,539.

49:43Those numbers tell us something

49:46important. There is a broad range of

49:49organizations looking to resources to

49:51address needs throughout our community.

49:54Behind each application is a proposed

49:56program, a service, a community

49:59facility, or an effort to help

50:02residents.

50:04Consider the range of activities

50:05presented in Lynn's community

50:06development funding plans.

50:09Youth employment and youth programs,

50:13community outreach,

50:15community policing,

50:18parks and recreation services for older

50:21adults and people with disabilities,

50:23programs that support children and

50:25families, housing rehabilitation and

50:29homeowner assistance,

50:31economic development and assistance for

50:33small businesses.

50:36improvements to playgrounds, public

50:38facilities, and neighborhood

50:39infrastructure,

50:41and services for people experiencing

50:44homelessness or struggling to maintain

50:46stable housing. These are different

50:49needs, but they share a common

50:51connection. They affect the quality of

50:53life in Lynn.

50:56The board's work helps bring these needs

50:58into the community development

51:00conversation. We must also remember that

51:03organizations serving Lynn residents are

51:05not all the same size. Some have

51:08substantial infrastructure while others

51:10operate with limited resources and rely

51:12on a small staff or dedicated

51:14volunteers.

51:16Their proposals must consider through

51:18the appropriate process. But

51:19understanding the range of organizations

51:21and the people they serve is an

51:23important part of understanding our

51:25community.

51:26We cannot discuss community development

51:28development only in terms ter terms of

51:30buildings construction and dollars. We

51:33must also discuss the people who depend

51:36on the services that these dollars can

51:38support.

51:40So what does that funding um actually

51:43pay for? The citizen the city's fiscal

51:47year 2027 and federal fiscal year 2026

51:51funding materials provide a concrete

51:52picture of the types of activities that

51:55are involved. For example, the CBB the

52:00CDBG public service allocations include

52:03fun funding for summer youth employment,

52:07community outreach,

52:09community policing, parks and

52:11recreation, and various youth, family,

52:13and community programs.

52:16The proposed community facilities

52:18allocations include improvements

52:20associated with Ames phase 2, Sagamore

52:24playground,

52:26Sheridan playground,

52:28Andrew Street street lights, and the GR

52:32facade restoration. The economic

52:35development allocations include small

52:36business, legal technical assistance,

52:39Lin Main Street,

52:41and facade and the facade program. The

52:45housing activities include

52:46rehabilitation loans and grants,

52:49homeownership assistance, and other

52:51housing related program delivery.

52:54The ESG allocations include rental

52:56assistance, housing,

52:59stability and utility assistance,

53:02homelessness prevention through Haven

53:04through the Haven project, outreach

53:06health services, and the homelessness

53:08management information system. These

53:11examples illustrate how community

53:13development funding can reach different

53:15parts of city life. A playground

53:18improvement can provide a better public

53:21place for families. A youth program can

53:24create opportunities for young people.

53:27Housing assistance can help residents

53:30pursue stability.

53:37Homelessness prevention

53:39can support efforts to keep people from

53:41losing their housing. Economic

53:43development programs can help strengthen

53:45the business and commercial areas that

53:47contribute to Lynn's vitality.

53:51These activities are different and each

53:53has its own requirements and intended

53:55outcomes, but together they demonstrate

53:58the breadth of the community development

54:00process. I also want to emphasize that

54:02the funding figures in these materials

54:04represent program allocations,

54:08not a claim, not a claim that every

54:10proposed activity has already been

54:12completed or that every requested dollar

54:15was awarded. We should always be precise

54:18about the distinction between funding,

54:20implementation,

54:22and measurable results.

54:25But residents deserve that transparency.

54:29Okay? and and transparency is part of

54:31our large larger responsibility to the

54:33public. So, Michael will speak about

54:36that now.

54:39>> Serving on the citizens advisory board

54:41is responsibility, not simply a title.

54:43Uh we have to approach the work uh

54:45thoughtfully and recognize that there

54:46are real people behind the proposed

54:48proposals we review. Uh we listen to

54:51applicants thoroughly. We consider the

54:54needs they identify and understand that

54:56limited resources require difficult

54:58choices. We also have to recognize the

55:00importance of public trust. Residents

55:02should understand how the process works,

55:04where they can participate, and how

55:06their concerns can be communicated.

55:08Community organizations should

55:09understand that their proposal will be

55:10considered through an established

55:12process, and elected officials should

55:14understand that the board exists to

55:16contribute community input to advise the

55:18city's planning process. That is why

55:20public participation cannot be an

55:22afterthought. It must be a part of how

55:24we approach community development. The

55:27more residents understand the process,

55:28the more meaningful their participation

55:30can become. The more community

55:33organizations understand the city's

55:35priority, the better they can explain

55:37the needs they are trying to address.

55:40And the most effective we communicate,

55:42the better positions we are to identify

55:44gaps, recognize opportunity, and develop

55:47recommendations that reflect the city

55:50that we have in real time. It's easy to

55:53to look hindsight, right? But to be in

55:55to be in it as it happens is a is a

55:57healthy thing for the city. So we should

56:00start asking ourselves, are we reaching

56:01the people we need with these programs?

56:03Are we listening to the neighborhoods

56:04affected by our decisions? Are we using

56:07available resources responsibly? And how

56:09are we knowing that the programs that we

56:12support are making a difference? And

56:14that's the question that the board

56:15members ask every single year when

56:17there's an applicant before us.

56:23Thanks. Yeah. So, I think the best way

56:25to answer those questions is is to hear

56:28from the people.

56:30So, I I want to take this opportunity to

56:33encourage residents to become more

56:35involved.

56:36You don't you do not have to serve on

56:38the board or hold a public office seat

56:41to contribute to the future of Lynn. You

56:44can attend public hearings. You can

56:46share your experiences. You can learn

56:49about the programs available in your

56:51neighborhood. You can tell your city

56:53council what you believe your community

56:55needs.

56:57And if you represent a nonprofit or a

56:59community organization, you can learn

57:00about the community development process

57:02and the opportunities to participate.

57:05Our city has people working every day to

57:07address challenges involving housing,

57:09youth opportunities, public spaces,

57:12economic development, and family

57:14stability. We should recognize that

57:17work. We should definitely recognize

57:19that work and understand where the gaps

57:20remain and continue looking for ways to

57:23strengthen our collective efforts. As a

57:26board, we should also continue working

57:29to make our role more visible and

57:31understandable. If residents do not know

57:34what the citizens advisory board does,

57:36they may not know when or how to

57:38participate.

57:40This is something we can improve through

57:43better communication and continued

57:45outreach.

57:49Community participation should not be

57:51limited to those who already know about

57:53how city hall works.

57:56It should be accessible to residents who

57:58learn who are learning about the process

58:01for the first time.

58:04Thank you.

58:05>> Thank you. We look forward to uh the

58:08future. I believe the citizens advisory

58:10board has an important role in uh to

58:12play in helping Lynn identify its needs

58:14and consider opportunities for

58:15improvements and um we should continue

58:19to uh encourage meaningful public

58:21participation. Uh we should continue uh

58:23asking thoughtful questions about

58:25programs and projects on the

58:26construction and we should continue

58:28communicating with uh city officials,

58:30community organizations and residents

58:32and we should continue looking beyond

58:33the application in front of us to

58:35understand the broader needs of the

58:36community. And we should want to know

58:39not only what resources are available

58:41but also what challenges remain.

58:44not only what programs are being funded,

58:46but also what those programs are

58:48accomplishing. And not only which

58:50organizations are applying, but also

58:52whether the city's planning process is

58:54hearing from the people and

58:55neighborhoods that need to be heard.

58:57This is how we can help make community

58:59development more responsive, more

59:00transparent, and more connected to the

59:02residents it's intended to serve.

59:05Clearly, the board, city council, not

59:08one person can solve every challenge

59:09facing Len. Not no single board,

59:13department, organization or elected

59:15official can do that alone. But we can

59:16contribute to the process. We can

59:18listen. We can ask questions. We can

59:20encourage participation. And we can help

59:22ensure the community needs remain part

59:24of the conversation. I want to close

59:26with a simple point. The citizens

59:28advisory board is not about any one

59:30member. It's not about any one

59:32organization and it's not about any one

59:34funding cycle. It is about creating a

59:37process through which the needs of our

59:39community can be heard and considered.

59:41For more than five decades, Lynn has

59:43recognized the value of citizens

59:44participation in community development.

59:46That is a a tradition worth preserving

59:48and strengthening. As chair, I believe

59:50our responsibility is to approach the

59:52work with care, communicate clearly with

59:54the public, and remain focused on the

59:56purpose of the board. We should be proud

59:58of the organizations that work hard to

1:00:00see len residents while remaining

1:00:02committed to carefully review

1:00:04responsibility, responsible

1:00:06recommendations, and public

1:00:07accountability. And we should remember

1:00:09that behind every application, every

1:00:11program, and every funding allocation is

1:00:13an opportunity to make a meaningful

1:00:14difference in someone's life. That is

1:00:17why this work matters. That is why

1:00:19public participation matters. And that

1:00:21is why the citizenry board matters.

1:00:23Thank you to the city council, Len

1:00:25Housing Authority, and neighborhood

1:00:26development, the department of community

1:00:28development, my fellow board members,

1:00:30the community organizations serving Len

1:00:32and the residents who take time to

1:00:33participate in this process. Most

1:00:35importantly, thank you for the people

1:00:36throughout Lyn who continue to work to

1:00:38make Len a better place to live, work,

1:00:42raise a family, and build a future.

1:00:44Thank you.

1:00:45>> Thank you.

1:00:46>> Thank you so much. This work matters.

1:00:48You matters because you volunteer your

1:00:51time doing this work. You know, a lot of

1:00:54people don't know this that you're not

1:00:56paid even a single dime to do this job.

1:00:59I posted

1:01:01an an available position on Facebook for

1:01:03a council appointee and I made it clear

1:01:06that this is a a volunteer position and

1:01:09a lot a lot of the comments there were

1:01:11laughing like you know who has the time

1:01:13to do all this thing. You have the time

1:01:16and all the members of our boards and

1:01:18commissions have the time. We cannot do

1:01:20this alone but we need people like you

1:01:22who really share your time for us. Any

1:01:25questions from the council?

1:01:28Um,

1:01:28>> councelor Pas.

1:01:29>> Yeah, I don't have a question, but thank

1:01:31you so much for giving the time and

1:01:33really being thoughtful about the

1:01:34community and what those needs are and

1:01:36really explaining that. But I did want

1:01:39to share in your packet, you also have a

1:01:41few dates for people at home um to get

1:01:44involved. So, there are going to be two

1:01:46different public meetings. One Tuesday,

1:01:49March 9th, 20

1:01:52uh 2007. So, there's plenty of time to

1:01:55ask for a day off. Um, get some

1:01:58babysitters, etc. Um, and that's going

1:02:01to be at 6:00 p.m. at the Elhand

1:02:04Community Room. And then another one on

1:02:07Tuesday, March 16th, 2027

1:02:10um right here in So

1:02:12>> So the CAB public hearing, yes, that is

1:02:15open to the general public and that's

1:02:16where um we get the presentation from

1:02:18the city to see what past funds have

1:02:21done to to to make progress uh to our

1:02:24city. There's typically a video that's

1:02:26directed by um a high school or someone

1:02:29that the the mayor's office collaborates

1:02:31with, which is great. And that is where

1:02:33you can actually hear local

1:02:35organizations seeking funds. If if if

1:02:38you know, we talk about this at the end

1:02:40of the year.

1:02:41>> Donate to a charity for a tax write off.

1:02:43This is an an opportunity for for you to

1:02:45get there to see these organizations how

1:02:47much money they're offering. And if you

1:02:48want to write a check to that

1:02:49organization because you like what

1:02:50they're saying, then do it. You know,

1:02:52because we again, we don't have enough

1:02:54money to give everybody what they want.

1:02:56So, it's a good opportunity for our

1:02:57community to be there to hear and to

1:02:59contribute financially and volunteer for

1:03:02that organization.

1:03:04>> I I know some of the counselors went to

1:03:06your meeting. I've never been to one of

1:03:08your meetings. So, I would promise that

1:03:10I will attend all of us have

1:03:12representatives in this in this uh

1:03:14advisory board. So, it's vital for us.

1:03:16Counselor,

1:03:17>> I was just going to mention um I had the

1:03:19I saw you first meeting um and it was a

1:03:22really long long meeting. We were there

1:03:23till like 11:30 at night. Um, so keep up

1:03:26the great work. And I also want to give

1:03:27a shout out to Allison Perry and Shirley

1:03:29Kelly, um, from the city and from

1:03:31housing.

1:03:32>> 100% who were here tonight. So, thank

1:03:34you so much.

1:03:35>> Yes,

1:03:36>> guys. Uh, councelor Laier.

1:03:37>> Yeah, if I could and, uh, knowing the

1:03:40hour, I'm going to economize my words,

1:03:42but the Citizens Advisory Board, who I

1:03:45who I had the privilege of sitting on

1:03:47uh, many moons ago, I was

1:03:48>> when you were 15 years old. I remember

1:03:50that one.

1:03:50>> Like Alicia was. Yes. In fact, it was

1:03:521992. I remember the year. And it's when

1:03:54I first met Terry Young because Terry

1:03:57started in community development before

1:03:58she came over to this illustrious hall.

1:04:01And um I echo uh counselor Avery's uh

1:04:04sentiments around the whole community

1:04:05development department, their staff. I

1:04:07know Alice and her colleagues are here,

1:04:09Shirley, and so forth. But also um for

1:04:11Michael and uh Alicia to present to us

1:04:14tonight, a special shout out to my

1:04:16appointment who's also here, Richard

1:04:18Willis. Richard Willis predated me back

1:04:20then. If I got on in 1992, I believe

1:04:23he's approaching probably what 40 40

1:04:26years.

1:04:27>> Wow.

1:04:28>> Um approaching 40 years of service and

1:04:30uh Richard's a tremendous uh asset and

1:04:34great uh citizen in the Lind community.

1:04:36So, uh special hats off to the citizens

1:04:39advisory board. We all get appointments

1:04:41to that. As been mentioned, the mayor

1:04:43has several appointments. I think six as

1:04:45well. But this is a board that gets

1:04:46along. They have a lot of needs, a lot

1:04:48of requests, and it's worthwhile work.

1:04:51As Michael said, it's um it's just a

1:04:54wonderful place. Uh and and not every

1:04:58community lays it out like Lynn lays it

1:05:00out. And I wanted to be uh clear about

1:05:02that is that citizens actually

1:05:04organizations from little leagues to

1:05:06cheerle have voices at this table and

1:05:09it's all because of you and your

1:05:11participation. So, thank you very much.

1:05:12>> Thank you, Councelor Laierre. Thank you

1:05:15so much. Thank you.

1:05:16>> Keep up the good work. What is the wish

1:05:17of the council? Councelor Net. I make a

1:05:19motion to journ this

1:05:24journal.