2026-09-14 - City Council

0:01I will call the city council to order.

0:038:00 Monday evening, September 14th,

0:062026. This meeting is being recorded.

0:10Please join me in the pledge of

0:11allegiance

0:14to the flag of the United States of

0:16America and to the republic for which it

0:18stands, one nation under God,

0:22indivisible, with liberty and justice

0:24for all.

0:28We have it agenda and I'll ask the clerk

0:32to please read agenda item number one.

0:34>> Minutes of the city council meeting

0:36August 17th, 2026.

0:38>> Council Biden.

0:39>> Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion

0:41to accept and place on file the minutes.

0:43>> Motion's made and second to accept and

0:44place on file the minutes. Any

0:46discussion on the motion? Seeing none,

0:48are all those in favor? Opposed. The

0:50minutes are filed and the vote is 100.

0:53Agenda item number two. Now is the time

0:54for the continued public hearing on the

0:56petition of Mass Electric and Verizon to

0:57install one joint own pole on Hildra

1:00Street. Beginning at a point

1:00approximately 276 ft west of the center

1:03line of the intersection of Hilder

1:04Street and Church Street and continuing

1:06approximately 14 ft in north direction.

1:08National Grid is proposing to install a

1:09new 45 ft midspan pole class H1 on

1:12Hildwood Street. The pole to be labeled

1:14P850 or number 26-1009796A.

1:20Council facil

1:22Mr. President. Um, having spoken with

1:24the city engineer, we're still awaiting

1:25some more information regarding this

1:26one. So, move to continue the public

1:28hearing to our meeting on September

1:3028th. Motion made and seconded to

1:33continue the public hearing until

1:34September 28th. So, we get additional

1:36information from the applicant as well

1:38as information from the city engineer.

1:41Any discussion on the motion? Seeing

1:43none, all those in favor? Oppose. Motion

1:46carries. The public hearing will be

1:48continued until September 28th. The vote

1:50is 100. Agenda item number three.

1:53>> Now is the time for the public hearing

1:54on the petition of Comcast to install

1:56new underground conduit system on Donald

1:58Lynch Boulevard to provide cable service

2:00on Donald Lynch Boulevard. Order number

2:0226-1009818.

2:04In addition, we have a communication

2:06from assistant city engineer Ashley

2:07Miller regarding recommended conditions

2:09for the petition of Comcast on Donald

2:10Lynch Boulevard.

2:11>> Okay. This public hearing we've taken up

2:13in four stages. First with the public

2:14speak in favor. Second, questions from

2:17the public. Third, public speak in

2:19opposition. and fourth questions from

2:21the city council. So, I'll open the

2:22first part of the public hearing with

2:24the public speaking in favor. I'll ask

2:26the applicant to come on up, state their

2:28name and address.

2:40Good evening. Dave Falling, Comcast, 9

2:42Forbes Road, Wen, Massachusetts, would

2:44like to speak in favor of the Comcast

2:45petition to install a new conduit system

2:47for the purpose of providing service to

2:49the businesses of Donald Lynch

2:50Boulevard.

2:51>> Can you give a little update? Is this

2:53just what the services of what Comcast

2:54will be doing on Don Lynch Boulevard?

2:56Jay,

2:56>> we're going to be excavating uh to

2:58install one 4-in PVC conduit. There's

3:01going to be six uh 12in x 18 vaults.

3:04We're going to build the the conduit

3:06system to the curb line with the hopes

3:08of being able to provide the service to

3:10the businesses if they choose to uh

3:14Comcast service.

3:16>> Thank you, Jay. Any other members of the

3:18public speak in favor? Any other members

3:21of the public speak in favor? Any other

3:23members of the public speak in favor?

3:25Hearing none, I close that portion of

3:27the public hearing. Questions from the

3:29public?

3:31Any questions from the public?

3:34Any [clears throat] questions from the

3:35public?

3:37Hearing none, I close that portion of

3:38the public hearing. Public speaking in

3:41opposition.

3:42Any members of the public speak in

3:44opposition?

3:46Members of the public speak in

3:47opposition.

3:49Hearing none, I close that portion of

3:50the public hearing. Questions from the

3:52city council. Council Ducet.

3:57>> Thank you very much, Mr. President. Just

3:59for clarification, um, how what's the

4:02distance that this conduit's going to

4:03go?

4:04>> Oh, it's, uh, it's like 2200 ft of

4:06conduit.

4:07>> Okay. 2200 ft. So,

4:08>> hopefully. Yes.

4:09>> Okay. Something around a/4 mile type

4:11thing

4:12>> pretty much. Yeah.

4:12>> Okay. Okay. And it's not going to

4:14disrupt any traffic while during the

4:16installation.

4:16>> We have We're going to have traffic

4:17plans. We've met with the city engineer,

4:19reviewed the engineering, then made

4:21suggestions, and we're going to have a

4:22traffic plan that will take care of the

4:25traffic, and it'll it'll be open at all

4:27times. So right

4:28>> there'll be no traffic jams.

4:29>> Okay. Thank you for that. You're

4:30>> welcome.

4:30>> Thank you, council ducet. Qu council or

4:33>> thank you Mr. President.

4:35>> Thank you Mr. President. Um I had almost

4:38the same question but you've explained

4:40that now but my other question would be

4:43how much disruption will be in the road

4:45and how will you repair the road to make

4:47sure it's within the same standards that

4:49it was before you started? This is the

4:51reason we met with engineering to get

4:53the engineering specs from the city to

4:55make sure that we meet the requirements

4:57of the restoration of the roadway to

5:00make it basically back to the way that

5:02it was prior to the excavation.

5:04>> If I may, how do you do that? Do you

5:06repave and then rescarify it and lay a

5:08new pavement?

5:09>> The excavation will be um there'll be

5:12they'll do a certain amount per day.

5:14They'll back fill temporary patch and

5:16then finish the job and then per

5:18whatever the requirements are for the

5:20city engineer. We will return to do

5:22final restoration whatever that may be

5:24dictated in the permit.

5:26>> Okay. And I do know the city requires a

5:28certain shut off for the time you do it.

5:30Obviously there could be settling over

5:32the winter if you do it before winter.

5:34Mhm.

5:34>> I would just ask that you pay attention

5:37to that and I'll talk with the city

5:38engineer about making sure that road

5:41looks the same way it did before you

5:43started just so it's back in the same

5:45condition. Thank you.

5:46>> You're welcome.

5:47>> Thank you, Council Orum. Any other

5:48questions from the counselors?

5:50Any other questions from the counselors?

5:53Any other questions from the counselors?

5:55I close that portion of the public

5:56hearing and the entire public hearing.

5:58Councelor Fill.

5:59>> Thank you, Mr. President. Having

6:00received uh the notice from the

6:03assistant city engineer, Ashley Miller,

6:05um regarding the date of the plans and

6:06the attached standard conditions, I move

6:08to approve the petition with the um

6:12conditions submitted by the assistant

6:13city engineer.

6:14>> Motion made and seconded to to approve

6:16the petition with the conditions

6:18identified by the city engineer. Any

6:20discussion on the motion?

6:22Seeing none, all those in favor?

6:24Opposed? The petition is approved. The

6:26vote is 100 with the conditions

6:29identified by engineering.

6:31>> Thank you.

6:32>> Thank you, Jay.

6:34Agenda item four. Now is the time for

6:36the public hearing on the application

6:38for a special permit from attorney

6:39Christopher Flood on behalf of Boston

6:41Bruins LLC to construct, own, and

6:43operate a drive-through only coffee shop

6:45in an existing building at 2 Mount Royal

6:47Avenue. Order number 26-100

6:499819.

6:50>> Okay. This public hearing will be taken

6:52up in the same four stages. First,

6:54public speaking in favor. Second,

6:56questions from the public. Third, public

6:58speak in opposition. And fourth,

7:00questions from the city council. I'll

7:02open the first part of the public

7:03hearing with a public speaking in favor.

7:05Starting with the applicant. Please

7:06state your name and address for the

7:08record.

7:13>> Additional hand.

7:14>> Sure.

7:42Mr. Clerk, my name is Christopher Flood.

7:44I'm an attorney here in Malbor. On

7:45behalf of Boston Bruins LLC and

7:47Stonefield Engineering and Design, I'm

7:49pleased to pronounce an application for

7:51a special permit for a new Seven Brew

7:53coffee shop to be located at Two Mount

7:55Royal A. Uh the additional handout we

7:58just passed out was not included in the

8:00original submission, but is included in

8:02the um the submissions that we have in

8:04the PowerPoint today. So, we just want

8:05to give the council a color one. Um the

8:08site is a 20,100 square foot site or 4.6

8:11acres. The applicant proposes to put a

8:14new seven brew coffee shop and it's a

8:15drive-thru coffee shop. Um what they're

8:18going to do is build a 510 square f foot

8:20prefab building and additional 250

8:24square ft um detached cooler to for on

8:26the site. The site will have two

8:28drive-thru lanes and the site plans that

8:31you'll see in a minute will show both a

8:33bypass lane and a drive-thru increase

8:36and um parking, lighting, landscaping,

8:40utilities, signage, and storm water

8:42management. So, the engineering firm has

8:44thought of all of that. The site will

8:46have no indoor seating and it will have

8:48no on-site food preparation. It's mostly

8:50designed as a drive-thru site. Um the

8:53lanes will have 22 stack spaces. So

8:56there's going to be two lanes, 10 in one

8:58lane and 12 in the other to be stacked

9:00up to. And the site site layout will

9:03have access from Mount Royal. So you'll

9:05access the property from Mount Royal.

9:07They do have frontage along Lakeside AB,

9:08but the access will be from Mount Royal.

9:11Um the site is designed to organize the

9:13cars coming into the drive-through

9:15coffee shop so they can be properly

9:17stacked for safe ingress and ingress to

9:19and from the site as well as Mont Royal

9:21A. We believe this site will show

9:23significant upgrades to an existing

9:25site. It's going to take a just remove

9:27the asphalt parking and any existing

9:29improvements and put a brand new

9:31building. It'll also have increased uh

9:33better appearance, uh increased

9:35drainage, a nicer use, and it's going to

9:37provide service of coffee, something

9:40most of us drink every day to the

9:41neighborhood and surrounding area. want

9:43to do now is I'm going to turn it over

9:44to the principal engineer Jason

9:46Salverson from Stone Hedge uh Stonefield

9:48Engineering Design and he's going to

9:50walk you through the plans. Thank you

9:52very much.

9:53>> Thank you, Attorney Flood.

9:57>> Evening members of council. My name is

9:59Nick Salvon. I am a design engineer at

10:01Stonefield Engineering uh located at 120

10:05uh Washington Street, Salem,

10:06Massachusetts. Been working as an

10:08engineer for the past four years. And as

10:10Chris stated, uh we are proposing a

10:12seven brew drive-thru coffee shop. Um

10:16I'm going to walk you through the

10:18operations of the drive-thru um to give

10:20you a clearer picture on the proposed

10:23use. [snorts]

10:25The concept for Seven Brew coffee shop

10:27is like Chris said, drive-thru only. Um

10:31they prepare beverages of all kinds from

10:33teas, coffees, smoothies, milkshakes um

10:37as well as um a prepackaged muffin top.

10:42Um so there is no cooking on site, only

10:44the preparation of the beverages.

10:47[snorts] A uh if you could go to the

10:50rendering, the colorized rendering that

10:52we handed out.

10:53>> I I don't um

10:56>> Okay. Uh C sheet C4.

10:59>> C4. that one.

11:01>> Sorry. Back one.

11:03>> Sorry.

11:07>> Um, as Chris stated, uh, cars will enter

11:10through Mount Royal Avenue.

11:12>> So, Nick, if I could interrupt just a

11:13minute. You got to be close to the mic

11:15or you can take the mic out and if you

11:16want to take it off the standing point,

11:18but you need to be close to the mic so

11:20that the folks at home can hear you.

11:22>> Understood.

11:22>> Thanks.

11:24Cars will enter in through Mount Royal

11:26Avenue, enter into the drive-through

11:28lanes where they be greeted by a Seven

11:30Brew employee or texter as we call them.

11:33They will have a um tablet where they

11:36will be able to facilitate a

11:37conversation with the customer. Uh walk

11:39them through the different options they

11:41have. Um the iPad will then process the

11:43order, uh give it to the employees

11:46inside where they will then make the

11:47coffee or drink or beverage. um where it

11:50will then be delivered by another seven

11:52Brew employee. [snorts]

11:57The ordering does not rely on menu

11:59boards or speaker boxes. Um it relies on

12:03uh persontoperson interaction uh where

12:06they will you know facilitate the order

12:09throughout the site as well as being

12:11able to maneuver traffic through the

12:13site.

12:15[snorts]

12:18Um, some items to note are in the winter

12:22months, um, obviously it gets colder

12:24here, so we want to make sure that our

12:25employees are safe. So, we equip them

12:28with gear such as hats, jackets, gloves,

12:31as well as a heated canopy, which you

12:33can see over the drive-thru lane here.

12:37[snorts]

12:39Um, we appreciate this opportunity to

12:42present this to the city council. If you

12:44have any questions on the operation or

12:46engineering of the site plan as a whole,

12:48we're happy to answer them.

12:50>> Thanks, Nick.

12:52>> Attorney,

12:54just taking questions.

12:55>> Okay. Any other members of the public

12:57speaking in favor?

12:59Any other members of the public speaking

13:00in favor? Any other members of the

13:03public speaking in favor? Hearing none,

13:05I close that portion of the public

13:06hearing. Questions from the public?

13:10Any questions from the public? Any

13:14questions from the public? Hearing none,

13:16I close that portion of the public

13:18hearing. Public speaking in opposition.

13:22Any members of the public speak in

13:23opposition?

13:25Members of the public speak in

13:26opposition. Hearing none, I close that

13:29portion of the public hearing. Questions

13:31from the city councilors. Councelor

13:33Ducet.

13:36[clears throat]

13:36Thank you, M. Thank you very much, Mr.

13:38President. Um, so on the diagram that's

13:42there, where are the orders being taken?

13:45>> Um,

13:46>> uh, outdoors. You said they're outdoors,

13:48right?

13:49>> Correct.

13:49>> So I can see the ranks of the cars. Are

13:52you just are you like are you if there's

13:55a bunch of cars, are you at the tail of

13:56the car? You are you waiting at the end

13:58to take the orders and then processing

14:00them? That's just my own curiosity.

14:02>> Absolutely. Um, so the texters will walk

14:05down the provided sidewalk and walk down

14:08and take as many orders as they can

14:11before traffic begins to move. Okay.

14:13>> Um, and as they're taking orders, they

14:14will be delivered uh with another by

14:16another employee. [snorts]

14:19>> Um, and then they have this twoft

14:21striped lane in the center where another

14:23employee would then also be walking down

14:26um, taking orders as the cars come in.

14:28>> Okay. So uh it is not expected to have

14:31any non-emp employee within those

14:33buildings.

14:34>> Correct.

14:34>> Okay. Is there restrooms in the

14:36buildings?

14:37>> There are for the employees only.

14:38>> Okay. Thank you.

14:40>> Yes.

14:42>> Any other council vital?

14:45>> Thank you Mr. President. Um my first

14:48this is a franchise. Yes.

14:50>> Yes.

14:50>> And there are hundreds across the

14:52nation.

14:52>> Yes. Has there been any act I mean my

14:54first instinct is like I know the way I

14:58behave before I have my first morning

15:00cup of coffee is not always rational and

15:03I'd be worried about safety concerns

15:05with people who haven't had their coffee

15:08driving around people who are coming at

15:10them with an iPad. We're hoping that

15:12with all the signage that's going to be

15:14there, the lighting and the striping

15:17that's going to define the lanes as well

15:20as the striping in the middle for the

15:22employees that's going to be welld

15:24designigned for everyone's safety as

15:26well as safe ingress and egress for the

15:28employ.

15:28>> This model has been used across the

15:29country, right?

15:30>> Correct.

15:31>> Thank you very much.

15:31>> successfully.

15:32>> Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr.

15:34President.

15:34>> Thank you, Council Vital. Council

15:36Presiato.

15:37>> Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for

15:38being here. Um I have a question about

15:41the uh conditions. Say there is some

15:44extreme weather. What happens to

15:46employees then? Do you just give them an

15:48extra poncho and an umbrella or like do

15:52they go inside and call it quits for the

15:53day or what is the deal with that in

15:55those situations?

15:57>> Yes. The expectation would be they would

15:59receive additional uh garments such as

16:02raincoats, jackets, um and then using

16:06the canopy um and the inside of the

16:10building to shelter themselves from any

16:12weather.

16:13>> Gotcha. Even in like extreme cold or

16:16extreme heat, you would still have your

16:18employees outside. Mhm. So, the canopy

16:20is equipped with heaters that they would

16:23be able to use for additional warmth as

16:25well as heated vests and uh additional

16:27garment.

16:28>> What do they do? What do they do during

16:29the summer? [clears throat]

16:31>> Um, in the summer, same thing. They

16:34would be able to go inside to uh take a

16:36break in between shifts and then having

16:38additional employees um so they can

16:41rotate through

16:41>> and the canopy would shade them from the

16:43sun.

16:43>> Gotcha. Just curious because we do have

16:45some pretty extreme weather nowadays. Um

16:47we got some heat advisories and some

16:48also some frigid temperatures. Um so

16:51what is the appeal of like this process

16:54as opposed to having just like a box on

16:56one end that takes orders?

17:01We see this as a better opportunity for

17:04um the community to

17:07create a relationship with the employees

17:09of the seven brews. Um as well it feels

17:12more personal. um you know you wake up

17:15in the morning, you have a conversation

17:16with someone instead of you know

17:17screaming into a loud box and you know

17:20them screaming back at you and you know

17:22miscommunications and you know it's hard

17:24to hear sometimes. So uh find this to be

17:27a better uh

17:30>> I think people should appreciate being

17:31able to speak to someone instead of a

17:33box or a or a voicemail or

17:35>> Got it. Understood. Yeah. Um what is

17:38currently on the site right now?

17:40parking.

17:40>> I think it's just parking. Just

17:41>> existing an existing asphalt parking

17:43area as part of the uh the overall park

17:46that's up there just past 495 on the

17:48left hand side.

17:49>> And this uh this building is a pre-built

17:52unit. Is it is it like a shipping

17:54container or is it like a prefab like

17:56actual like a building?

17:58>> It's a pre-fabricated actual building

18:01with a muffin top design is what they're

18:04calling it. uh seven brew logo and uh

18:08nice colors that kind of blend well with

18:10the the surrounding.

18:11>> Gotcha. And I see you have some pretty

18:14uh quite a bit of space in the middle

18:15right there or like towards the end off

18:17to the building. Do you have any plans

18:18for that? This is just going to be like

18:20patch of grass and like a dumpster at

18:22the end.

18:23>> Yes. So, we are showing a dumpster uh

18:25right at the entrance here. Um but then

18:28this area in the middle we are saving in

18:30case we need to do anything with storm

18:32water in the future.

18:34I see. Okay. Um and I guess you are at

18:37the on that hill. Um so what kind of

18:40water mitigation would you guys be doing

18:43um both at the entrances and and on in

18:46the that establishment or in in the uh

18:48property?

18:50>> We are showing water flowing to catch

18:53basins um and then will flow into the

18:56existing um

18:59drainage system

19:00>> for the sweet. All right. Thank you.

19:03Yes.

19:03>> Thank you, Council Presiato. Councilm,

19:06>> thank you, Mr. President. Um,

19:09interesting concept. My concern more is

19:12the fact that the this plan that you

19:14gave us all, I don't know if you have it

19:16up on the presentation.

19:18>> The one that

19:19>> this is the plan. I think you have a

19:20color. Okay. Static color.

19:22>> Well, 495 is right next to you. And I

19:25know there's a gas station right before

19:27you. And I've seen out there some issues

19:32with traffic. Not at your place

19:34obviously, but at the Dunkin' Donut/G

19:37station. Have you had a traffic study to

19:40make sure there's sufficient safety

19:42factors built in? Because as was

19:44mentioned earlier, people are moving

19:46fast in the morning and they move fast

19:48onto highway ramps as well as I've seen.

19:52Have you done any traffic studies and

19:54safety studies for that purpose? There

19:55is a traffic study that I believe was

19:57included with the initial submission

19:59package. Um the traffic engineer was

20:01hoping to be here by uh remote today,

20:04but that's not possible. So, we're going

20:05to try and make him available if we get

20:07to the next level of urban affairs. And

20:10just for clarification, the entrance to

20:12the site is going to be on Mount Royal.

20:14So, you won't you won't enter this site

20:16from Lakeside off from Route 20 or

20:18anywhere near where the uh the ramp to

20:20495 will be.

20:22>> See, this map shows entrance in and

20:24entrance out. So, it's not going to be

20:26that way. The way I see it, again, I'm

20:29looking at a colored one, but it looks

20:31like the entrance.

20:34You can get in there by going in, but if

20:36you have to go onto this property

20:39through Mount Royal, where is that

20:40entrance?

20:41>> So, Mount Royal has an entrance to the

20:43office park.

20:44>> Yes. But where is it? Is it near? Can

20:48you point it out on that? It would be

20:50using this drive aisle below the site

20:52>> and they would drive down, stop at the

20:55stop bar where they would then enter the

20:57drive-thru lanes and exit on.

21:00>> I think I'll once I get more documents

21:02on this, I'll have a better

21:03understanding cuz I thought they were

21:05coming right into this property right

21:07near the 495 entrance, but they're not.

21:10>> That's not the designs.

21:11>> Okay. So, if you could show the

21:13entrance. I thought it was right next to

21:16where it shows it on this plan. it shows

21:19an entrance in. If it's not, that's

21:21great because I the closer it gets to

21:23the 495 entrance, the faster the

21:26traffic's going and maybe not paying

21:28attention.

21:28>> That concern is understood. Yes.

21:30>> When it gets to committee, I look

21:31forward to looking at your other

21:32documents, especially the traffic

21:34documents.

21:34>> Okay.

21:35>> Thank you.

21:37>> Thank you, Council Orum. Council Gold.

21:41>> Thank you, President. Um

21:44there's a lot of hotels in this area

21:47with a lot of teenagers coming into town

21:50for hockey tournaments etc. Um

21:53[clears throat] what is going to prevent

21:55them from trying to walk to your

21:57establishment to get coffee?

21:59>> So there as is actually a walk up window

22:02for any pedestrians uh that might want

22:05to get coffee without having to get into

22:06their car. Um so we show and this was

22:11this was discussed with um the planning

22:15department um in our initial uh informal

22:18reviews. Um, but since this is a

22:20existing office park with, you know,

22:23many different offices and people

22:24coming, going to work, wanting to get

22:26coffee, maybe they need a coffee in the

22:28middle of the day, including a cross

22:30access um from the existing sidewalks

22:34into our site uh where a walk up window

22:38would be just next to the shown uh

22:40picnic table.

22:41>> Okay. [snorts] Thank you.

22:43We did an informal site plan review to

22:45get some concerns and that was one of

22:47the things that was added after

22:48concerns.

22:50>> Thanks council gold. Any other questions

22:52from the counselors?

22:54>> Any other question? Councelor Presiato

22:56said one more question. What are the

22:57proposed hours for the establishment?

22:59>> Yes, they are typically 5:30 to 10

23:03Monday through Thursday and then Friday

23:06through Saturday 5:30 to 11:00 p.m.

23:09>> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions

23:12from the counselors? Councelor Roby.

23:15>> Thank you, Mr. President. So, I guess I

23:18have the same concern as councelor Orm

23:20on the entrance. Um, I know I did a um

23:24bird's eye view from the GIS map and you

23:27can see that you can turn onto Mount

23:30Royal from Route 20 if you're traveling

23:32Oh, yeah. East.

23:34>> Um, so people will probably turn down

23:37that street and then enter. Um, so my

23:40concern then becomes articles that I saw

23:44on Facebook and Google about recent

23:47promotions that you have done at your

23:50establishments across the country that

23:51have caused massive traffic jams when

23:54you're giving away toys. Um, and the

23:58ability to handle that amount of traffic

24:01at this location or actually it sounds

24:04like any of your locations. So, how

24:06often do you have promotions like that?

24:09That would be a concern.

24:14>> It's I don't know the answer to that

24:15[laughter] question.

24:15>> Seemed like they were on a weekly basis.

24:18You were giving something away. Yes.

24:20That became very some of them very

24:23popular and people were waiting in line

24:26for three and four hours blocking roads.

24:29Um so that's a concern. Um, and I'm not

24:32sure I guess then it becomes a police

24:35issue if you're actually blocking 20 or

24:37even blocking Glenn Street where people

24:39would be the other way to go. Um, the

24:41other concern I have is my understanding

24:44is this facility blasts noise from

24:48opening at 5:30 till you close. Um,

24:51there's a daycare center in the building

24:53that's very close to where you are

24:55parked. Um, there's a school on the

24:58other side of that. How loud is this

25:04loud music?

25:07We we will definitely have in the

25:09special permit that you must meet the

25:12code for loud noise. So if you don't and

25:16it's an issue upfront. Um that's a

25:20concern if the police are there

25:21constantly or if you're getting code

25:23enforcement violations. Is that

25:25something you've

25:27>> So I probably two answers to your two

25:29questions. one is we'll have to get back

25:31to you on the toy giveaway. Um that is

25:34not something I was familiar with in any

25:36other locations that you seem to have

25:38found, but we'll see if we can get you

25:39an answer. So when it comes time to

25:40urban affairs, we know that will be a

25:42question we'll try and have an answer

25:43for you. Um I'm certain they will comply

25:46with the noise ordinances of the city of

25:48Malro. Um I don't know much more about

25:50the the music that's played, but if any

25:54>> Yeah. and we would pass that on to the

25:55operations team of the seven brute to

25:57ensure that they are meeting the noise

25:59ordinance requirements.

26:00>> We'll make sure they're aware of the

26:02requirements and see if we can answer

26:03your question whether any outside music

26:06is played.

26:07>> That's not something was conveyed to us.

26:09>> All right. And I know I meant to

26:11actually go there. Um, but looking at it

26:14bird's eye view, this doesn't look like

26:16a very huge parking lot with a lot of

26:19space between where the existing

26:20building is and where you're going to

26:23remove the current asphalt and put in

26:26two lanes of traffic and a building. So,

26:29how how far away are you really from?

26:34And do do the employees I don't know if

26:36the building is just the daycare or if

26:38there are other

26:40>> the daycare is just a portion of the

26:41building.

26:42>> So other businesses are there is that

26:45parking area is not needed for the

26:48parking count for the building.

26:50>> That's correct. So that's been reviewed

26:51and an informal site plan review that

26:53they still meet their requirements. And

26:55in informal site plan, they asked us to,

26:57you know, add the additional walkway

26:59should some of the people from those

27:01businesses want to come get coffee to

27:03make sure they're still safe as well.

27:05>> So that was done.

27:07>> Um, as far as the distance between the

27:09buildings, um, I don't have an answer

27:11right now, but that might be something

27:12that Nicholas can give you. [snorts]

27:18I can take a look actually

27:21>> if the drawing is representative.

27:24There's two parking aisles

27:27>> between the building.

27:28>> Yes.

27:29>> Right. An amount of space, two parking

27:31areas, another amount of space, another

27:32parking area just and then the building

27:34there.

27:34>> And is there anything after that parking

27:37space

27:38um to separate the backside of the

27:42building and the property? Will there be

27:43fencing of any kind or is it just going

27:45to be open? Because you're going to have

27:47cars

27:48pulling in, parking in those spaces

27:51while people are also pulling in to go

27:53into the drive-thru lane.

27:58>> The drive-thru lanes are separated by an

28:01aisle that you come down. These parking

28:03are so you can drive down the aisle and

28:05pull into a parking space or continue on

28:07and enter into the drive-through aisles.

28:10So, it appears to be designed to allow

28:12the efficient flow of traffic through

28:13the site while providing parking should

28:16anybody need it, including employees.

28:18>> So, if someone's parked on the back side

28:20of that lot or the the aisle, no, the

28:25>> You mean up here?

28:25>> No, there where your finger is. If

28:28they're parked in there and they have to

28:30back out, can they go I can they go

28:34either direction and circle around to go

28:36out the other end or can they circle

28:38around? It is two ways of travel.

28:40>> Yes.

28:41>> So if somebody's coming in while

28:43somebody's trying to back out, there is

28:46that potential conflict.

28:49>> Okay. Um

28:50>> as probably in most parking lots. Yes, I

28:52think that would be correct.

28:53>> All right. So we will take this up in

28:55urban affairs. Uh as soon as you send

28:58the uh draft special permit and we get

29:01comments from department heads, we can

29:03set up a meeting in the future.

29:05>> Very good.

29:06>> Take this up. Thank you. Thank you,

29:07councelor Roby. Any other questions from

29:09the councils? Questions from the

29:11counselors? Any questions from the

29:13counselors? Hearing none, I close that

29:15portion of the public hearing and the

29:17entire public hearing. And this is in

29:19urban affairs.

29:22>> Thank you, Mr. Carrian. Thank you very

29:23much.

29:24>> Thank you.

29:24>> Thank you. Thanks for coming.

29:26>> Agenda item five. Now is the time for

29:28the public hearing on the application

29:29for a special permit from attorney Brian

29:31Faulk on behalf of 36 Jefferson Street

29:33LLC to construct four townhouse units in

29:35a fourcar garage to the site's existing

29:38single family house to include a total

29:40of 18 spaces, garage and surface at 36

29:42Jefferson Street. Order number

29:4426-1009820.

29:48>> Okay. This public hearing will be taken

29:49up in the same four stages. public

29:51speaking in favor, questions from the

29:53public, public speaking in opposition,

29:55and then questions from the city

29:56councilors.

29:59The the

30:01uh I'll open the first part of the

30:03public hearing with the public speaking

30:05in favor. Please state your name and

30:06address for the record.

30:08>> Thank you, President Osing uh

30:10councilors. I'm attorney Brian Faulk

30:12from Myrick 100 Front Street in

30:13Worcester. Here on behalf of the

30:15applicant, 36 Jefferson Street LLC. Uh

30:18and with me tonight is property owner

30:20Rayundo Neto. Uh this is an application

30:22for a special permit for a small infill

30:25multif family project at 36 Jefferson

30:28Street known as the Greenway Overlook

30:30Residences. Uh the project would add

30:32four new townhouse style homes to the

30:36existing single family home at the site

30:38with garage parking and close access to

30:40the Asabet River Rail Trail. Next slide,

30:43please.

30:45So the property is in the yellow lines.

30:47um on this overview. Um located on the

30:50southwest side of Jefferson Street, uh

30:53the lot has approximately 27,000 square

30:55ft. This is across the street from

30:57Kellerfield. Property backs up to the

31:00Asabet River Rail Trail. Uh right across

31:03the street is Jefferson Landing, which

31:05was developed a few years ago by Stas

31:07Berdon under a special permit from the

31:09council. Um property is zoned residence

31:12B and that was changed in 2022 from

31:15commercial automotive. So, we're now in

31:17residence B. Next slide, please.

31:21So, backing up a little bit, see that

31:22the property is in a growing

31:24neighborhood, has seen a few new uh

31:27infill projects in recent years. Um, and

31:30that's boosted by its proximity to the

31:32rail trail and walkability to downtown.

31:34Um, I mentioned Jefferson Landing right

31:37across the street that has 11 uh

31:39apartment units. Um, just down the road

31:42at Lincoln and Highland Street is

31:43Lincoln Heights, which has 12 units. And

31:46then across the rail trail uh opposite

31:48our property um is Alta French Hill.

31:52This is an established residential and

31:54mixeduse neighborhood which is well

31:56positioned for moderate projects that

31:58benefit from existing public services

32:00and walkability. Next slide please.

32:05This is the existing site. This is

32:07Raundo's home. Um and that will stay his

32:10home. Uh he is personally pursuing Yes.

32:12in my backyard. Um the open space area

32:15that you see is where the project uh

32:17would go. Uh Roando had his landscaping

32:19items in this area previously. Those

32:21have all been moved to his location in

32:24Hudson. Next slide, please. This is the

32:27view of the property from the rail

32:29trail.

32:31Next, please. This is our site plan.

32:34Building uh areas in brown, parking and

32:36driveways in gray, and open space um

32:39landscape and lawn areas are in green.

32:43Um the existing home is on the far left

32:45uh portion of the the brown area. Um

32:48between um the existing home and the new

32:51town homes will be a fourcar garage uh

32:54one story that is for uh Roundo's use.

32:57And then connected to that garage and

32:59making a one consistent multif family

33:01are the four town homes. Um these would

33:04all be two bedroomedroom. each would

33:07have a twocar garage um in the basement

33:10level and a dedicated space outside the

33:12garage. Uh so we exceed the parking

33:15requirements um for multifamilies in

33:18this district. Um project complies with

33:20all dimensional use requirements for

33:21multifamilies in the RB district. Um we

33:24also have the required lawn area in the

33:27bottom left portion of the property

33:29that's required for multif family uh

33:31projects in the RB district. um a a

33:34specific recreational lawn area with a

33:36grade of not more than eight uh 8%. The

33:39property will be connected to city water

33:41and sewer and the buildings will all

33:43have fire suppression uh sprinkler

33:46service.

33:47All five units will be served by one

33:49driveway. Um we eliminate the existing

33:52driveway that goes to Raondo's home.

33:53That will become lawn area. So all five

33:56will access from from one driveway off

33:58of Jefferson Street. Um, we had an

34:00informal meeting with the site plan

34:02committee last week. Um, and

34:04conservation officer Priscilla Ryder

34:06mentioned some other projects along the

34:08rail trail that had um, landscaping

34:10conditions um, to help further beautify

34:13the rail trail. Um, she thought that

34:15would be a good idea and we'll certainly

34:16include something along those lines in

34:18the draft decision we provide to urban

34:20affairs.

34:22Um, and that's something that was done

34:24for the trailside terrace project up on

34:26Asht Street. If you go by there, you see

34:28that they have landscaping along the

34:30trail that helps, you know, beautify the

34:32area. Uh, lucky for all of us, Raundo is

34:34a landscaper, so that won't be a heavy

34:36lift. Uh, next slide, please. This is

34:39back to our front view rendering.

34:41Overall, we think this is a good fit in

34:42the neighborhood. Uh, you may recall

34:45last year, Raundo was before you looking

34:47for a zoning amendment to include the

34:49parcel in the neighborhood business

34:51district. He had a larger project in

34:53mind. Um, a number of neighbors weren't

34:55happy with the size of that project. Uh,

34:58so Roundo listened and took a look at

34:59the existing RB, what what could he get

35:02what could he do under the existing

35:04zoning to make something work in that

35:06neighborhood. Um, he's been working with

35:08Stas Berdan, his [clears throat]

35:10neighbor across the street, on options.

35:12You'll hear from Stas tonight, uh,

35:14working with Raundo on this design. Uh,

35:16Stace went from a no to a yes. Um, and

35:19several other neighbors that Raundo has

35:21spoken with over the last year. um are

35:23also in that camp. Um they like the

35:26changes, the the more moderate um um

35:29number of units on the property. Um

35:32[clears throat]

35:33in addition to folks you might hear from

35:34tonight, I submitted two letters of

35:36support to the city clerk um that can be

35:38part of the record of the hearing. Uh in

35:41terms of process, um if the council

35:42grants a special permit for the use, we

35:44would then go for formal site plan

35:45review with the site plan committee. As

35:47I mentioned, we started our informal

35:49meetings with them last week. Um, we

35:51look forward to working with the site

35:53plan committee, urban affairs, and the

35:55council on this project. Um, that

35:57concludes our formal presentation. We

35:59look forward to your questions. Thank

36:00you.

36:01>> Thank you, Attorney Faul.

36:02[clears throat] Any other members of the

36:03public speaking in favor? Any other

36:06members of the public speak in favor?

36:09Again, please state your name and

36:11address for the record, please.

36:24Good evening.

36:31Good evening. My name is Taz Bordan. I

36:34live uh 27 Jefferson Street, unit 203,

36:37which is directly across the street from

36:39this project. And um I um

36:45I'm gonna take read from my notes a

36:48little bit uh if you don't mind. Um so

36:51as you um many of you probably know I

36:54was against the previous proposal last

36:57year to change the zone in this parcel

36:59from the RB zoning to the neighborhood

37:02business. And uh I was joined by many

37:05other neighbors and we spoke in in

37:07opposition. And after that um uh

37:11proposed change did not go through uh I

37:14mentioned to Raundo that uh there's and

37:17I believe still and I believe then that

37:19there's a way to uh design a project

37:22that would work for the owner that would

37:24fit into the requirements of the RB

37:26zone. And uh so I mentioned that to him

37:29and after discussions that followed I

37:32ended up helping Ray Mundo uh designing

37:35this project that's uh in front of you

37:37today. And um it was interesting for me

37:41to a help with the design and have some

37:46influence on what the project would be

37:48on one hand and being the neighbor

37:50across the street on the other and also

37:53have access and uh support of all the

37:55other neighbors that are active

37:57neighbors on the street. And uh as a

37:59result I kept everybody um in the loop

38:02of what we were doing and we had a

38:04couple of iterations of the project and

38:07uh we also met with uh uh John Irish and

38:11some other neighbors in uh prior to uh

38:16uh uh prior to submitting the

38:18application for the special permit. And

38:20the neighbors are everybody that I know

38:23are in favor. I don't know of anybody

38:24who is against this project at this

38:26point. So, uh, it feels good to, uh, a

38:29help the neighborhood and b be, uh,

38:31myself a happy neighbor with this

38:33design. Um,

38:38uh, so this project uh, meets all the RB

38:41zoning requirements and even though

38:44there um, the zoning requirements would

38:46allow six units on this lot, we could

38:49only fit five uh, because of the lot

38:52coverage uh, which is 30% here. But I

38:56think that we've uh in in in a

38:58retrospect this is um this allowed us to

39:02save the existing house which is a

39:06economically feasible more feasible than

39:09demolishing it and building a larger

39:10project and b keeps uh the existing

39:13context of the neighborhood and

39:15something that people are familiar with

39:18as part of the project. um and also uh

39:22adding more housing to it and uh that

39:25complement the the the street view and

39:28the uh all of overall appearance and

39:30architectural style. So I believe that

39:33that is a benefit and a win-win for

39:36everybody um even though we couldn't

39:38really achieve another unit. Um

39:47and so um with all this today I speak as

39:51a neighbor and I'm here to support this

39:54project. Thank you for your attention.

39:56Thank you.

39:56>> Thank you. St.

39:59>> Any other members of the public speaking

40:00in favor?

40:04>> Hi, my name is Daniel Rodriguez, 20

40:07Jefferson Street. I'm the abuing

40:09property. Um, so if you were looking at

40:12this photo right here, I would be the

40:14property directly on the left side.

40:17While I'm not thrilled that there are

40:19tons of town homes shooting up all over

40:21Mboro, especially, you know, the

40:24building that was just added to French

40:25Hill, uh, when things are done properly,

40:28I do have to support it. The initial

40:31iteration of this was outlandish, and in

40:34no way could I support it. This I've

40:36gotten behind after speaking with

40:38Raymondo a couple of times and him

40:40discussing how it was going to impact my

40:42property and working with me to ensure

40:44that my property was not going to be too

40:46impacted. We worked on landscaping

40:48together, talked about a fence, talked

40:50about retaining some of the trees that

40:52have been there for hundreds of years,

40:54and uh he seems to be open to working

40:58with the neighborhood. So, just wanted

41:00to support it.

41:01>> Thank you, Dan. Any other members of the

41:03public speak in favor?

41:07Hi, good evening. My name is Jonardo

41:09Shaz. I'm 23 Jefferson Street and uh so

41:13this project is look much better than

41:15the previous one. I'm here to support

41:18Harundo and uh I hope get a good new

41:22neighbors on the the property.

41:27>> Thank you.

41:28>> Thank you very much. Any other members

41:30of the public speaking in favor?

41:33Any other members of the public speak in

41:35favor?

41:36Any other members of the public speak in

41:38favor? Hearing none, I close that

41:40portion of the public hearing. Questions

41:43from the public?

41:45Any questions from the public?

41:48Any questions from the public hearing?

41:50None. I close that portion of the public

41:52hearing. Any members of the public

41:54speaking in opposition?

41:57Any members of the public speaking in

41:59opposition?

42:01Any members of the public speaking in

42:02opposition? Hearing none, I close that

42:05portion of public hearing. Questions

42:08from the city council. Council Irish.

42:11>> Thank you, Mr. President. Good evening,

42:13uh, Attorney Faulk. Uh, and I want to

42:15say thank you to Arando for meeting with

42:17myself and the abutters that evening.

42:19Uh, one question did come up when I met

42:20with the abutters is if this go if this

42:24special permit is granted um having no

42:27construction vehicles parked on the

42:29street and I'm thinking that there is

42:31enough space on the property that all

42:33construction work and material can be on

42:35the uh the applicant site. Thank you

42:39attorney. Thank you Mr. President.

42:40>> Thank you councelor Irish. Councelor

42:42Fill.

42:43>> Thank you Mr. President. Thank you

42:45attorney Faulk. Thank you for being

42:46here. Just one quick question. And I

42:48know you uh mentioned this earlier and

42:50emphasized that all the landscaping

42:52equipment has been taken off the

42:54property. Um I had noticed that it

42:56looked like there was one if not two

42:57wood sheds on the property. Just

42:59confirming that those would be taken off

43:00as well. I didn't see them in the plans

43:01at all. Just want to confirm those will

43:03be taken away. Right. Just be this one

43:06larger structure with the existing home.

43:08>> Correct.

43:08>> Wonderful. Looking forward to talking

43:10about this in urban. Thank you both.

43:12>> Thank you, Council Fill. Council

43:14Presiato.

43:15>> Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you so

43:16much for being here. Um, I had a

43:18question about the site. Um, will there

43:21be any improvement on the sidewalks? It

43:24looks like you have some work being done

43:25on there.

43:26>> Uh, yes. Um, council Piato, uh, if you

43:29see on the plan and the one we file with

43:31the application is much larger, easier

43:33to read. Um, shows ADA um, slope

43:36improvements along the sidewalk to make

43:38it um, a better um, better fit in the

43:40neighborhood and and better for our

43:42residents.

43:42>> Gotcha. Um,

43:46so th this is kind of in line with what

43:48we've been seeing from the MEDC. There's

43:49like more units that are they're

43:52smaller, but they fit in with the

43:53character of the neighborhood. Um, so I

43:56I you know, I I really like this project

43:58as opposed to the previous project which

44:00was um I think a very outstanding no

44:03from on the council. Um, but I do like

44:05what that you're willing to work with

44:07the neighborhood and and have changed

44:08your plan quite dramatically in order to

44:11both fit in and also provide more

44:14housing for people. So, I look forward

44:15to seeing this in urban affairs. Thank

44:17you.

44:18>> Thank you, Council Presado. Council Orm.

44:21>> Thank you, Mr. President.

44:22[clears throat] Welcome. Uh, first

44:25question, are these owner occupied?

44:28>> Um, the intent is that these would be

44:30rentals. They wouldn't be condos. Y and

44:32the other question is where are you

44:34putting 18 vehicles? You said 18. I know

44:37you got garages. I don't know how many

44:39cars can fit in the garages, but if you

44:42don't know, you can submit a plan when

44:43it goes to Urban.

44:44>> So, each of the If we could stay on this

44:47one and then maybe go to the site plan.

44:49Each of the of the four town home units

44:52have um tandem space spaces for two cars

44:55each, plus a space outside the garage

44:58that's dedicated to that unit. Plus,

45:00along the um the portion of the parking

45:03area closest to the lawn, there'll be um

45:06visitor spaces there, too. And then

45:08Raundo's um garage, which kind of looks

45:10like a breezeway at this point, uh

45:12between the town homes and the single

45:15family, that's a fourcar garage.

45:18Thank you. Yep. Thank you, Mr.

45:20President.

45:20>> Thank you, Council Orum. Any other

45:22questions from the counselors?

45:25Questions from the councils? Councelor

45:26Roby.

45:27>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I too am

45:30impressed with the design change. I

45:32think it certainly does fit the site a

45:35whole lot better. It it is deceiving

45:38though looking at the picture that you

45:39have on the screen and how flat that

45:40driveway looks versus knowing the slope

45:44of the road and the fact that there is a

45:48brick wall and it's hard to tell from

45:50your site plan whether part of that wall

45:52is coming out to provide for the new

45:55driveway and how much of a slope down

45:58that hill there will be to get to the

46:00new driveway.

46:02>> So council there's a bit of a slope. It

46:04does comply with the city's driveway

46:05requirements, so we're we're compliant

46:07with code there. Um, and the wall is

46:11intended to stay the same.

46:12>> Okay. And I understand you're doing just

46:15the sidewalk in front of the site then

46:17to make it ADA compliant.

46:19>> That's correct.

46:21>> All right. Um, on your plan itself, I

46:25was looking. It's It's hard to tell on

46:29the um bathrooms in them. You have a X

46:33on some of them and you have what looks

46:35to be a bathtub on others. Is one a

46:38shower, one a bathtub? Are they both

46:41showers? Um,

46:44you have you have two bathrooms.

46:48One looks like it's part of a bedroom

46:50for a master bedroom and then one that's

46:52closer to the second bedroom.

46:54>> I I apologize, Council Roby. I don't

46:56have floor plans with me. Um, but we'll

46:58certainly take a second look to clarify

47:00that at urban affairs.

47:01>> All right. because I would have hoped

47:02that you would have a shower for that

47:03second bedroom. Um, and it's not clear

47:06on this. And then my last question is I

47:09was at site plan. Um, I know it was

47:12preliminary. It was a concern of the

47:14building commissioner and uh the

47:17engineering that this is actually a

47:18three-story building. Have you submitted

47:21what they asked for to make sure that

47:23you are compliant with code?

47:26>> Yes. So, we met with um building

47:29commissioner Payton the next day um to

47:31to go over our plan. And is essentially

47:34that lower level, which is the garage,

47:36which is not an occupied um floor

47:39doesn't count as a story. Um the way our

47:41zoning is written, so long as we have

47:44sufficient um grading in the back um so

47:47that the majority of that floor is um

47:49below grade, then that doesn't count as

47:51a story. So that's not a story, but we

47:54have um two and a half above u that

47:56level

47:57>> and he was in agreement with that.

47:59>> That's my understanding. Stace met with

48:00him. I was not that medium, but I've

48:01looked at the zoning and I've talked to

48:03our engineer. Engineer is confident we

48:05can grade appropriately so that we'll

48:07meet zoning. We're not seeking a

48:08variance for this. So uh we will have to

48:10meet the two and a half story

48:12requirement and we know that. Um but

48:14with with appropriate grading of the

48:16site, we can do that.

48:18>> And the there's a fence in the backyard.

48:21There will not be a path from the

48:23backyard to the rail trail.

48:26>> We we haven't gotten to that that level

48:28of detail with the landscaping plan.

48:30That's probably when we would do it. It

48:32does slope quite a bit. Um but that's

48:34something that we would look into. I

48:35think that would be a great amenity for

48:36the residents to not have to walk up and

48:38around to get onto the trail, just go

48:39right from their site.

48:41>> It would be nice. If not, then the plan

48:42is to kind of clean up the

48:45stuff that's on the rail trail in the

48:47back, which is really just weeds and a

48:49lot of overgrown trees, which would be

48:51nice, even if it's just a partial

48:53section of it. Maybe as Priscilla said,

48:56eventually other people will or the city

48:58will decide to to clean it up. Um, then

49:01the other thing I know that you have

49:03your site planned, but it was also a

49:06concern of the fire department that they

49:08can't reach the back of this. Had you

49:10thought at all about angling the

49:13building out so that you could not you

49:16but the fire department had would have

49:18access. Is that a possibility at all?

49:21>> I I don't think so. Um but I will note

49:24when u deputy chief Emanuel raised that

49:26at the time he wasn't aware that the

49:28building was going to be sprinklered. He

49:29didn't think we were bringing in fire

49:31suppression uh sprinkling service which

49:33we will. Okay. um he his view of the

49:35plan he didn't think that we had the

49:37proper size connection but we've worked

49:39with our architect um it is and it will

49:41retrofit so all five units including

49:43Rundos will have sprinkler systems so um

49:46my understanding is once he heard that

49:48the building was going to have fire

49:49suppression um his concerns about being

49:52able to get to the back went away.

49:53>> I'm sure they did. Thank you very much.

49:55um as soon as you get your uh draft to

49:58us, it'll go out to uh department heads

50:01again for comment and then we will set

50:03up a meeting.

50:04>> Okay. Thank you.

50:06>> Thank you, councelor Roby. Any other

50:07questions from the counselors? Questions

50:10from the counselors? Any questions from

50:12the counselors? Hearing none, I close

50:14that portion of the public hearing and

50:16the entire public hearing and this is in

50:18urban affairs. Thank you very much.

50:27Good.

50:27>> Good.

50:28>> Okay. Agenda item six,

50:30>> communication from the mayor guiding

50:31grant acceptance the amount of $13,950

50:34from the Massachusetts Emergency

50:35Management Agency awarded to the city of

50:36Malro to be used for the purchase of

50:38necessary supplies and shelter equipment

50:40and work at the Whitam School.

50:42>> Councelor Irish.

50:42>> Thank you, Mr. President. Motion to

50:44approve the grant, please.

50:45>> Motion made second to approve the grant.

50:47Any discussion on the motion? Seeing

50:49none, all those in favor? Opposed? The

50:52grant is approved. The vote is 10-0.

50:55Agenda item seven,

50:56>> communication from the mayor regarding a

50:57grant regarding a request to increase

50:59the spending limit for the public safety

51:01revolving fund from $143,520

51:04to $182,672.35

51:07or number 26-1009753E.

51:10Councelor Irish.

51:11>> Thank you, Mr. Motion to approve the

51:13request to increase the spending limit

51:14for the public safety revolving account,

51:17please.

51:17>> Motion's made in second to increase the

51:18spending limit for the public safety

51:20revolving account. Any discussion on the

51:22motion? Seeing none, all those in favor?

51:25Opposed. Motion carries. The vote is

51:27100. Agenda item number eight.

51:30>> Communication from the mayor regarding

51:31proposed order authorizing the mayor to

51:33enter into additional agreements for the

51:34purpose of implementing the lowincome

51:36community solar discount rate program.

51:39Council Nean.

51:40>> Thank you very much, Mr. President. Um,

51:41councilors may remember back in

51:43December, um, we took this up, the

51:45original version of this, um, to help

51:48Colonial Power and the Municipal

51:50Aggregation Program, um, institute a,

51:52uh, discount for lowincome electricity

51:55customers. Um, it's a program that we

51:57all pay for in our electricity rates.

51:59Um, you may recall, um, and this allows

52:02us to be able to take advantage of it.

52:04Um this is a program that allows us to

52:07work with Colonial Power um to create a

52:09solar development um working with solar

52:12developers so that we are able to then

52:15provide a discount to our low-income

52:17residents um or lowincome electricity

52:20users um that are part of national grid.

52:22Um it's always good when a program

52:25works. Um it's not always great when you

52:27have additional low um income

52:29electricity customers. However, um it is

52:31the case where um there is a greater

52:33need and in order to continue to provide

52:35the size discount that we were hoping to

52:37um which I believe is 2 cents um

52:39approximately 2 cents um we need to

52:42increase um the size of the solar

52:43project. So this u this order from the

52:47mayor allows us to do just that. So um I

52:50would motion this evening that we

52:51approve the order from the mayor. Thank

52:52you. Motion's made in second to approve

52:54the order. Any discussion on the motion?

52:56Seeing none, all those in favor? Oppose.

53:00Motion carries. The orders approved. The

53:02vote is 100. Agenda item number nine.

53:04>> Communication from the mayor regarding

53:06draft intermunicipal agreement with the

53:08town of Pullbrook for the purpose of re

53:09regionalizing our dispatch operations

53:11with a proposed impleation

53:13implementation date of July 2028.

53:16>> Councelor Irish.

53:17>> Thank you, Mr. President. Motion to

53:18refer to the finance committee, please.

53:19>> Motion's made and second refer this item

53:21to the finance committee. Any discussion

53:23on the motion? Councelor Ducet.

53:26>> Thank you very much, Mr. President.

53:28First [clears throat] and foremost,

53:30excuse me on that. If you told me that

53:32the town I grew up in is going to make

53:34an agreement for the town I'm a city

53:36councelor in today, uh I would have been

53:38gobsmacked back then. Graduated well uh

53:42spent formative years in Hullbrook. Um

53:44also this emergency response center

53:47covers the towns of Sharon, uh Abington,

53:50Canton, Wittmann, Rockland, Sherburn,

53:52East Bridgewater as well as North

53:55County. So they have a big footprint. So

53:58I'm actually pleasantly surprised that

54:00this situation is going on. I hope we

54:02can learn from them because I would say

54:04we should be considering doing something

54:06like this with the new facility that

54:08we're going to be building at the other

54:10side of town. But thank you folks.

54:12>> Thank you councelor Ducet. On the motion

54:14to refer to finance. Any further

54:15discussion? Council Orum.

54:19>> Thank you Mr. President. Um I've been

54:22involved with a town where I work

54:24part-time in Sherban where they have and

54:26there's pros and cons and if you look at

54:28the community advocate this week north

54:31bro indicating pros and cons as well. So

54:34I would say when it gets to finance we

54:37take a look at the pros and cons of

54:39having the regional center either in

54:41Hullbrook. I know we've discussed it on

54:43this floor that the possibility when the

54:45new fire station was built maybe it

54:47could be in Malbor. Uh, but I would ask

54:50that we look at the pros and cons in

54:52finance. Thank you.

54:53>> Thank you, councilor. Any other

54:55questions or comments on the motion?

54:58Seeing none on the motion to refer to

54:59the finance committee. All those in

55:00favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Let's go

55:03to finance. The vote is 100. Agenda item

55:07number 10. Application for a special

55:08permit from attorney Brian Faulk on

55:10behalf of MRG Real Estate Ventures LLC,

55:13American Thrift Stores to use the

55:15property as a transportation terminal

55:16and freight depot for the collection and

55:18distribution of donated clothing and

55:19household goods. The site will consist

55:21of parking for employees personal

55:22vehicles during business hours and

55:24overnight parking for company box trucks

55:26and parking for 50oot trailers to

55:28collect goods until shipped out. The

55:29site will have a parking area but no

55:31building at 38 Airport Boulevard, lot

55:34three. Council Roby.

55:36>> Thank you, Mr. President. Move to refer

55:37this to urban affairs to set a public

55:40hearing date for October 5th and to

55:43advertise.

55:44>> Motion made in second to send this item

55:45to the urban affairs committee. We'll

55:47set a public hearing for October 5th and

55:49advertise. Any discussion on the motion?

55:53Seeing none. All those in favor?

55:54Opposed? Motion carries. This is going

55:56to urban affairs with a public hearing

55:58October 5th and advertise and the vote

56:00is 100. Agenda item 11. Communication

56:03from Central Mass Mosquito Control

56:04Project regarding personnel will be in

56:06the community responding to residents

56:07concerns about mosquitoes on various

56:09dates in September 2026.

56:12>> Council, thank you, Mr. President.

56:14Mosquitoes are still out there. Uh

56:16thankfully it's getting colder at night,

56:18but if people want to get the service

56:19from the Central Mass Mosquito Control

56:21Program, they can either look at the

56:23clerk's office on the website to find

56:26out how to reach them and you still can

56:29request services from Central Mass

56:31Mosquito Control Program. I'd ask that

56:33we accept this and place it on file.

56:35Motion made a second to accept and place

56:37on file communication. Any discussion on

56:39the motion? Seeing none, all those in

56:41favor? Opposed? Motion carries. The item

56:44will be filed and the vote is 100

56:46minutes.

56:49>> Councelor Ducet.

56:50>> Thank you very much, Mr. President.

56:51Motion to accept and place on file the

56:53minutes.

56:53>> Motion's made in second to accept and

56:55place on file the minutes. Any

56:56discussion on the motion? Seeing none,

56:59all those in favor? Opposed? Motion

57:01carries. These will be filed and the

57:03vote is 100. Claims Council Naven.

57:07>> Thank you very much, Mr. President. Uh,

57:08please let the record show that I will

57:09be recusing myself from item number 13.

57:11We will let the record reflect that you

57:13will not be participating in agenda item

57:1513. Councelor Ducet.

57:17>> Mr. President, motion to submit the

57:19claims to the legal department.

57:21>> Motion's made and seconded to set to

57:24submit the claims to the legal

57:25department. Any discussion on the

57:26motion? Seeing none, all those in favor?

57:29Opposed. The claims are going to legal

57:31and the vote is 90 with one abstension.

57:34Reports of committee.

57:38Councelor Irish.

57:39>> Thank you, Mr. President.

57:41Finance Committee met on August 31st,

57:432026 at 6:30 p.m. Uh, we had one item on

57:47the agenda that evening. Uh, order

57:49number 26-1009808.

57:52Uh, communication from the mayor,

57:54proposed order for the acquisition of 40

57:57Lock Drive. Uh, Chair Irish read the

58:00language for order number 26-1009808.

58:04uh that the mayor is authorized to enter

58:07into an agreement uh to acquire any

58:10necessary interest in the real property

58:12known as 40 Lock Drive Malbor Mass uh

58:15for municipal purposes including new

58:17fire station by friendly eminent domain

58:20taking uh for the sum of $4,50,000

58:24subject to the terms and condition of

58:26the agreement and in any applicable laws

58:29and the following conditions uh

58:31completion of uh terms and condition of

58:34the agreement ment and any applicable

58:35laws completion of any required due

58:37diligence and favorable uh vote for the

58:40city council authorizing acquisition of

58:43the property as referenced in the

58:44agreement. Uh in furtherance, therefore,

58:47the city council by a twothirds vote of

58:50all its members hereby authorize an

58:52appropriation of 5,92,666

58:57to provide funding for the acquisition

58:59of real property for the new Westside

59:02Fire Station. uh including any and all

59:05damages, services, and costs relating

59:07there to and any design or construction

59:10costs associated with a new Westside

59:13Fire Station. and to meet said

59:15appropriation by reappropriating

59:17$5,92,666

59:21uh currently in land acquisition account

59:24number 1 1930000006-5812

59:30uh to be available for all such

59:32purposes. On a motion by council vital

59:34seconded by the chair the committee

59:36recommends approval of the order as

59:38written by the mayor and he request for

59:40a suspension of rules at the next city

59:42council meeting. Uh the vote did carry 4

59:45to zero. Uh the meeting adjourned at

59:476:49 p.m. That's the end of my report,

59:49Mr. President, and I will be asking for

59:51a suspension this evening on order

59:53number 26100 9808, please.

59:56>> Motion made in second for suspension of

59:58the rules. All those in favor, opposed.

1:00:00Suspension carries. The vote is 100.

1:00:03Councelor Iris. [clears throat]

1:00:04>> Thank you, Mr. President. Move the

1:00:05recommendation of committee to approve

1:00:08the order. Please. Motion's made and

1:00:10seconded to approve the recommendation

1:00:12of the committee which is to approve the

1:00:14order. Any discussion on the motion?

1:00:17Seeing none, all those in favor?

1:00:19Opposed? Motion carries. The order is

1:00:21approved. The vote is 100. Any other

1:00:24reports of No, you cannot.

1:00:28Councelor Irish.

1:00:29>> Thank you, Mr. President. Just a public

1:00:31service announcement. Uh finance

1:00:32committee will be meeting on September

1:00:3421st, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Thank you.

1:00:3921st December.

1:00:40>> Yep.

1:00:42>> Reports of committees. Councelor Roby.

1:00:44>> Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to

1:00:46ask for a suspension of the rules to add

1:00:48something to the agenda.

1:00:49>> Motion request for a suspension of rules

1:00:51been made in second. Any discussion? No,

1:00:53there's no discussion. All those in

1:00:54favor of the suspension opposed.

1:00:56Suspension carries. Votes 10. Council

1:00:58Roby.

1:00:59>> Thank you, Mr. President. So, council

1:01:00order number 261009791,

1:01:03the proposed zoning amendment to add the

1:01:05floodplane protection district was taken

1:01:08up at the city council for a public

1:01:11hearing tonight. The planning board had

1:01:13its public hearing um for the process to

1:01:16continue. Normally, we had planned a

1:01:20city council urban affairs meeting for

1:01:22the 29th with then a potential vote on

1:01:24October 5th because there's sort of a

1:01:27push at the state level to get this done

1:01:30sooner rather than later with the

1:01:32permission of the president and with the

1:01:36work of the planning board's

1:01:39administrative assistant and the city

1:01:42clerk. We have a letter from the

1:01:44planning board tonight with their

1:01:47recommendation

1:01:48uh which is a favorable favorable

1:01:51recommendation on the zoning change. So

1:01:53I would like to move to remove from

1:01:56urban affairs the item and bring it back

1:01:59to the full council so that we can vote

1:02:01on it tonight, get this approved

1:02:04hopefully by the full council and then

1:02:06it can be done without waiting for the

1:02:10typical U. So, I don't know if I need to

1:02:13move to suspend again.

1:02:15>> Suspend the rules to remove it out of

1:02:16committee.

1:02:16>> Suspend to move it out of committee and

1:02:18bring it back to the full city council.

1:02:20>> There's been a motion made and second we

1:02:22suspend the rules to remove the flood

1:02:24plane ordinance report from the urban

1:02:26affairs committee and put in the hands

1:02:27of the city council. Any discussion on

1:02:29the motion? All those in favor? Opposed?

1:02:32Motion carries. 10. Council Roby. So I

1:02:35would like to move the recommendation of

1:02:37the planning board for a favor the

1:02:40favorable recommend recommendation of

1:02:42the planning board to approve the zoning

1:02:45change as submitted by uh city engineer

1:02:49depio.

1:02:49>> So I think you first need a suspension

1:02:51to accept the communication from the

1:02:52planning board. Right.

1:02:53>> I thought that was your first suspension

1:02:56to add something to the agenda.

1:02:58>> Oh I circled the wrong one. My bad.

1:03:01Okay. Motions made and seconded to

1:03:02approve the flood plane ordinance that

1:03:05the

1:03:06planning board just gave us the

1:03:08communication that says they're on

1:03:09board. We had the public hearing here

1:03:11that no one uh there's no opposition or

1:03:14no questions and the city engineer and

1:03:17the conservation officer are kind of in

1:03:20a little bit of a hurry to get it done

1:03:22so we can still have everybody have

1:03:24their uh uh insurance the flood plane

1:03:27insurance that's needed. So motion's

1:03:29been made and seconded. Any discussion

1:03:31on the motion? Councelor Ducet.

1:03:34>> Thank you very much, Mr. President. Just

1:03:35for clarification, we did approve uh

1:03:39taking the order out of committee and

1:03:41then a second approval for accepting

1:03:43this.

1:03:44>> That is correct.

1:03:44>> I just wanted to make sure I kept track

1:03:46of both. Thank you.

1:03:48>> Thank you, Council Ducet. Any other

1:03:50questions from the counselors?

1:03:53Hearing none. This is an ordinance

1:03:54change, so we got to go through the four

1:03:56stages for an ordinance change. All

1:03:58those in favor suspending the first

1:04:00reading and approving the second. All in

1:04:01favor? Opposed? That carries 100. All

1:04:05those in favor of the passage to be

1:04:06enrolled. All those in favor? Opposed.

1:04:10That carries 100. All those in favor of

1:04:13the passage to be ordained. All in

1:04:16favor? Opposed. That carries 100. Is

1:04:20there any objection to passage in one

1:04:22evening?

1:04:26Hearing none, the flood plane ordinance

1:04:28is approved. Vote is 100.

1:04:32Any other reports of committees? Council

1:04:34>> just for those who had marked their

1:04:36calendars for the 29th of September for

1:04:39an urban affairs, please keep it open.

1:04:41We are hoping to take up 36 Jefferson

1:04:43Street that night and it will be at

1:04:457:30.

1:04:51Any other reports of committees?

1:04:55Okay. Hearing none. Agenda item 14.

1:04:57>> Order number 26-1009780.

1:05:00Application for junk dealer secondand

1:05:01dealer license by Paulo Dumont DBA

1:05:04Amigold Financial LLC 257 Simano Drive

1:05:07Sweet 150. Recommendation of the public

1:05:09services committee is to approve.

1:05:11Councelor Fillo.

1:05:12>> Thank you Mr. President. Move the

1:05:13recommendation of committee to approve.

1:05:15>> Motion made second to move the

1:05:17recommendation of the committee which is

1:05:18to approve the junk dealer license. Any

1:05:20discussion on the motion? Seeing none,

1:05:23all those in favor? opposed. The junk

1:05:25deal license is approved and the vote is

1:05:27100. Agenda item 15,

1:05:29>> order number 26-1009811,

1:05:32the appointment of Lynn Fa to the zoning

1:05:33board of appeals as a permanent member

1:05:35for a three-year term to expire from

1:05:36date of council confirmation.

1:05:38>> Councelor,

1:05:39>> thank you, Mr. President. I would ask

1:05:40that we move this for approval. Uh Lynn

1:05:43has already been to the personnel

1:05:45committee within a month, I think, or

1:05:48two months. So, I would ask the city

1:05:50council to approve this recommendation.

1:05:52Motion's made and seconded to approve

1:05:54the appointment of Lynn FA as a

1:05:56permanent member of the zoning board of

1:05:58appeals. Any discussion on the motion?

1:06:01Seeing none, all those in favor?

1:06:03Opposed? The motion carries. Lynn's

1:06:05approved to the ZBA is a permanent

1:06:07member and the vote is 10.

1:06:10Council Naven

1:06:13move to adjurnn.

1:06:15>> Motions made and seconded to adjurnn.

1:06:17All those in favor? Opposed? Motion

1:06:20carries. We are journed at 9:06.

1:06:23Thank you everyone.