City Council Meeting 09-22-25

I'd like to call this meeting of the Everett City Council to order.

Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

Councillor Alcy Jabouin.

Present.

Councillor Garcia.

Present.

Councillor Hanlon. Councilor Marchese. Present. Councilor Matewsky. Here. Councilor Pietrantonio. Present. Councilor Rogers.

Here.

Councilor Van Campen. Here. Councilor President Martins. Present. We have nine members present. Nine members present.

We do have a quorum. Please join us in saluting the flag.

Congratulations to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which

I believe Councilor Smith was in the back, too. Might be making her way out. Okay.

Madam Chair, move to open a public participation. Second. Second motion.

Motion has been made and seconded to open public participation. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. We have open public participation. We're starting with agenda items. Each speaker will have two minutes, and if you can please state your name and address for the record. Mr. Clerk, who's the first speaker?

On agenda items, it's Peter Napolitano.

Mr. Napolitano.

Good evening to the members of the city council. For the record, my name is Peter Napolitano and I've grown up and lived in the same house on Cottage Street in Ward 1 my entire life. I'm here to speak on item number six on today's agenda regarding an order requesting approval that 945,000 be appropriated by borrowing to renovate the Chelsea Park playground. For the longest time, all six wards contained at least three parks and playgrounds. Less than 10 years ago, Ward 1 lost the Line Street Park and Ball Field. This was given over to Encore in exchange for the cleanup of the old GE property and became River Green Park with substantially more land than we lost. In spite of the addition of Rivergreen, the residents of Ward 1 still lost a large park. Florence Street Park is a great place for children and adults. For now, it has been the only place in Ward 1 for our residents to enjoy, as the only other remaining playground on Chelsea Street has been used as a dog park for the past 12 to 16 months. Many of our residents are excited about the appropriation to construct a family-friendly park, especially for seniors and people with mobility issues. Passing this appropriation would go a long way to restoring some of the recreational options for the residents of Ward 1. I'd like to add one more comment. My understanding of the appropriation is that the estimates are based on last year's numbers. As the economy is dramatically different today, I hope that someone on the council addresses this to ensure that this project is properly funded, accounting for interest rates and inflation. In closing, My family and I have great memories of the time spent using these facilities when my children were little, and many memories as a city council giving out ice cream on the 4th of July at all three Ward 1 parks. Passing this appropriation will ensure our residents have the opportunity to experience their own memories. Thank you for your time and your consideration.

Our next speaker is Paula Sturini.

Good evening, Paula Streety, Hunter Cleveland Ave. Regarding the legal invoices, it looks like the mayor and the school committee settled the lawsuits with the former superintendent. My question to the mayor is when is he holding the press conference to announce the settlement and the amount and the details? Or is he too afraid to share with the residents what his behavior and the behavior of the school committee members named in the lawsuit and the former HR director cost the taxpayers? This whole mess didn't happen overnight. It supposedly started back in 2020 with the vote to put the mayor on as a voting member on the school committee. Jobs were offered to members to pad their pension, to get the kids jobs for years full. Then all of a sudden we had city workers out of the blue run for school committee. Why? Better paying jobs, jobs for their kids, grants to their kids. Then we have the rush to the state house to approve the charter change during the pandemic. 72% of the residents of Massachusetts voted that the state auditor be able to audit the state house, specifically to stop the use of tax dollars being spent for NDAs and settlement, and letting the victims be forced to remain silent while the people who did the damage were let free to do it once again. There's no consequences for the people that cost the city millions of dollars and must be millions because The school committee has insurance up to 2 million and the city has insurance to at least 1 to 2 million So if they're asking you for money that means they've used all the money Insurance money for both the city and the school committee And I think we need to know what the total was and stop the destruction of the data

Thank you. Thank you.

And President, next speaker is Maria Malchiona.

Yeah, good evening, counselors.

Tonight, I'd like to ask a question in regards to stadium, the soccer stadium. Many citizens have stood up here over the past few months with repeated requests that the proposal for the soccer stadium be put on the ballot for every voters to vote on, yes or no. When the casino was proposed, it was put on the ballot and received more pro votes than cons. And Everett citizens had made the decision for their city. It was fair for the Everett taxpayers to decide for a casino or not. However, for some reason, after many, many citizens asking for this proposed stadium to put on the ballot in November, the Everett voters were denied to have a vote yes or no for a soccer stadium in their city. They were not afforded the privilege to cast their vote. Why? Thank you.

Maria Malchiona from Thurmond Street. I just want to know why it's going to cost a million dollars to renovate the park on Chelsea Street. It's a very small park. Are you making, like, marble benches or something? Why is it costing a million dollars of money that the city does not have? We're borrowing the money, and then we're going to pay interest on top of that money. Just don't understand it. What are they doing? Can you tell me what they're actually doing for a million dollars? Thank you.

Our next speaker is Laura Fahey.

I was at the last city council meeting for a different issue, but while there I listened. And I was quite frankly disturbed by two things. The first being a discussion about moving a bus stop from Ferry Street further up the street, which I absolutely have no problem with. What I did have a problem with is when the city engineer stated that the city could move it as long as it was to an area where it would still be ADA compliant. And a city councilor joked and stated something to the effect of, we'll move it in compliance and then just do what we want with it. Let me remind the council that ADA Subchapter 2, Section 121.31 states that one, a public entity is made up of any state or local government. That would be you. And that a qualified individual with a disability means an individual with a disability who with or without reasonable modification applications to rules, policies, or practices, the removal of architectural, communication, or transportation barriers, or the provision of auxiliary aids and services meets the essential eligibility requirements for the receipt of services or the participation in programs or activities provided by that public entity, including writing the T. Section 12132, discrimination states, subject to the provisions of this subchapter, no qualified individual with a disability shall by reason of such disability be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefit of services, programs, or activities of a public entity or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity by not being able to get on the bus. So please let's remember that while it appeared to be a joke, it was not funny to those with disabilities. At the rate the city is asking for money for lawsuits, maybe we could stay away from a lawsuit for the Americans with Disabilities Act. Just a thought. Also, while here last week, I heard about a taut lot at Maddie English, and I 100% agree it should be replaced. But the engineer stated that it would cost $75,000 to replace broken parts and $150,000 to fix the whole thing. Why would we pay to fix half and then wait for the other half to break? That's like replacing my roof but going every other shingle. It just doesn't make sense. The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result, but that's what we're doing here.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Dave Fortin.

Good evening. David Fortin, Ward 4. I just have a comment here to make on one of the communications from the mayor, if I may. It's number two, in order requesting approval to appropriate $185,000 from the capital stabilization account to three DPW one ton pickup trucks. That number to me sounds awfully familiar. Does it to you? Thank you.

Mary Fortin's our next speaker. Good evening.

Mary Fortin, Ward 4, Cedar Terrace. In regards to several things on the agenda, I can talk about those, right? I request that all of you give serious thought to not approving the release of any more money until we're absolutely sure why and where and how come. I don't approve of just dropping money when he wants it, when we can't even get an audit done. It's important that you have an audit done. Every time there's a change of administration, there should be an audit. This only makes sense. Not that we're against the current mayor, but it would make sense. I mean, I get a report from my bank once a month telling me, What's in it, what was sent out of it. And you guys are dealing with a whole lot more money than I am. It makes sense. Insist on it. Take it from his little pile of cash that he has on the side and takes from all at all times a spare cash. The other thing is I don't approve of Are hiring any new positions at this point until January? That would only make sense to me. Because they're going to be under a different mayor, maybe. Maybe not, but probably. And it would only make sense that the person elected knows what they're doing. And Is not being paid a humongous amount of money. That's ridiculous. Because from what I've seen, the current salaries are sad. Thank you.

Bill Thompson is our last on agenda items.

Good evening, councillors. Bill Thompson, Sacro Plaza. What I'd like to is number three on the agenda. And this is pertaining to what I just found out a few minutes ago that they settled the lawsuit with Former Superintendent Priya Talaani, etc. Well, I just want to say one thing. I know I'm pretty sure none of the city councilors here went to any school meetings. I went to most of them until they got Priya rid of her. They would not renew her contract. I watched, it was only 10 feet away from the mayor. And he was controlling the votes on that school committee. They did not want her. Never came up with the 10 complaints that they used to part with Priya. She was well-liked. I spoke to her many times. And to put it bluntly, she got screwed over. So the payment that's coming up, or whatever, I think, and all the information should be made at least public to the city council, not destroyed. So I don't know how everybody feels about that. But again, a lot of money is going to, I'm sure it's a lot of money. That's it. Thank you.

Our first speaker on non-agenda items would be Sal Sacro. Just hit the button on the right, Sal.

It's just so the people at home can hear you.

See, some people know the difference between the right and the left. Okay, Madam President, Stephanie Martin, ladies and gentlemen of the city council, we're so fortunate to have such a decent council through the years. We have a problem at three of our buildings. I need definite documentation, and if we can't figure out whether or not a sprinkler, city sprinkler shutoff valve is working, I need to have that in writing. I also need to know if there's a backup system to our buildings that we have in the city If there is a backup city, backup valve or valves to the main shutoff that runs our sprinkler system, we need to do upgrades. Our buildings are getting old, and pipes, sprinkler heads, shutoffs, and tamper switches and flow switches need to be changed. And we've been working on this for a long time, trying to find the right company with the right terms, the right conditions, and on and on. And we have a fire department permit to start the work. But I need a competent answer from the city water department. with other people present, maybe a city father or two, so we can analyze why city sprinkler, like safety, are covered up with hot top. Now, we don't have electronic magnetic systems to find pipes that belong to the city. But somebody has them or somebody subcontracts the people that have it like the cities do. We have city engineers that live in our buildings that say, Sal, this is what you got to get the city water department to do. Well, the city water department knows how to find valves better than me.

Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

So that's my issue.

Thank you.

Thank you. Our next speaker is Paula Starita.

Good evening again, Paula Street, 100 Cleveland Ave. Does anybody remember the trash overflow and that the city didn't have, couldn't find $48,000 to do it? They found a lot of thousands of dollars to do a lot of work that I don't see anyone getting any approval for. There's 20, 30 speed bumps installed. Anybody get approval? Anybody? The money? Next, rats and rodents. We'll never get rid of the rodents until we get rid of the food source. Developers are supposed to have a mitigation plan to address rodents before they break around. Does anyone think that this has worked? Ask the people in the village what happened once they broke ground for the apartment building on Air Force Road. Rat nests were disrupted and they fled into the neighborhood. Then we have the trash. We may see the overflow containers on trash there, but these overflow trash containers are sitting on the backyards and side yards for rats to feast all week long. This is because absentee landlords primarily are renting their apartments, not to families, but using them as boarding houses. So instead of trash for four or five people, an apartment can have up to 10 people housing them, or have the people checking food off their porches into their backyards, or just leaving food out in their yard. Then we have the dumpsters that if you walk around, you'll see most of them overflowing and not closed. Then we have people feeding birds in normal times and not an issue. But when you're having a health crisis with rats, you have to stop any kind of food source. Then we have almost no trash barrels by corners or by any stores. But oddly enough, we have them by City Hall. Thank you.

Our next speaker is Laura Fahey.

I apologize, I may have gotten the agendas mixed up. But I was here last council meeting for the tree waiver of liability form, and quite frankly, it's absolutely ridiculous. I pay taxes in the city. The city expects me to maintain my property in a certain way, rightfully so. If I don't mow my lawn, or if I don't shovel, or if I have excess trash, I get a ticket, right? I pay my ticket, that's what I do. Okay, but where do I send the ticket for when the city isn't maintaining their property? Those trees are their property. It's not my property. So when the city won't maintain their own property, whether it be a tree or a pothole or graffiti on a building, where do I send the ticket? Who's going to pay it?

Because you have no problem ticketing me and then you want me to sign a form and To say I won't sue you for you to maintain your property.

I really don't even know how to comprehend that that's like a real form. It literally states, I waive all liability. from the city to sue for any reason, for any damages to my property, to my well being, I kind of like breathing. So if you drop a tree on my house, I would like my husband to be able, I'm sorry, to sue the city so that he could bury me. I don't think that's too much to ask. It doesn't make any sense. I'm not sure who wrote it. It wasn't a lawyer, because a lawyer would know full well that words matter. And that was very, very clear where it says, you will not sue the city.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Maria Malkiano. Hello again.

I just want to ask how much money of how much taxpayer money is being paid for all these flowers that are all over the city right now. Flowers are beautiful. I love flowers. But what I see is way too many of them. At the Connelly Center, there's 15 flowers around one tree. You don't need that many flowers. Why are we paying for all these flowers? And on top of that, why aren't we just putting in perennials? Instead of flowers that are going to be dead in two or three weeks, I've already seen a lot of dead flowers all the way around. They dig them up, they put new ones in. Who's paying for all these flowers? I think the taxpayers are, and I think we're really upset about it. Put in some perennials that'll last. I see in the springtime, they have beautiful tulips. Then they dig them up, leave them in the ground. They'll come up next year. But next year, they plant some more at the taxpayers' cost. It's ridiculous. My second thing I want to talk about is Ferry Street, between Chelsea Street and Broadway, or Elm Street, sorry. Why are they digging up the sidewalks again? They just replaced those sidewalks. And who's paying for them to redo them again? Is it the taxpayers again? That's all I have to say. I hope I can find some answers.

David Fortin is our next speaker. Good evening again.

Just a couple things here. Speed bumps. To me, they're a waste. I thought the speed limit in the city was 25, not 10 or 15. Come down around Bradford Terrace and take a look and see where they got that speed bump. It's probably supposed to be on Bradford Street, but they dumped it on Bradford Terrace. And believe me, the way Bradford Terrace is set up, you're not going to be able to speed down that street, no way, even without the speed bump. So please come out and check. I don't like going slower than funerals. The VSO is no longer listed in the... employment. Is there a new person? Is Antoine still there? Antoine's name is still on the VSO thing, but it's also Danny from Revere. Is there some way we can meet him? I have no idea what this part-time secretary, part-time 12-hour secretary works. So I'm not going to bother calling ways to call or go down and waste a time. It'd be nice if we could find that out from somebody. Appreciate it. Thank you very much.

Mary Fortin is our next speaker. I'm going to repeat some of what he said.

We happen to live together. Issues. The speed bumps are horrendous. If I break an axle in my car, I'm going to sue the city. This is ridiculous. The curbs, we've all been complaining about this, the round curbs they put in that extend out into the street and interfere with turning a corner. Our main streets have gotten very narrow. I'm not surprised it's an accident every day. We need to do something about that. As far as the trash can issue, I've been fighting this one for a while and was told it would cost me $150 to buy an extra trash can. That's absurd. The trash cans are smaller than the recycle cans. It should be the other way around. Give me a break. So if somebody could think about that more, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.

Our final speaker this evening is Bill Thompson.

Are you microphone Billy?

Good evening again. A couple things real quick, going back to jogging my memory about the school committee meetings. I never saw the charter. I heard this and that about the charter. This suggestion, let the current mayor, who's ever mayor, attend these meetings. So say I address one of my city councilors, and then they can bring it up to the mayor if he's here. You know what I'm saying? I think that's a good idea. The second thing, I've noticed recently, because I'm out there a lot lately, there's many motorbikes riding the sidewalks. It's an accident waiting to happen, okay? A lot of them, believe me.

And we have bike lanes.

Some of them are using the lanes, but some of them are going fairly fast on the sidewalks. They shouldn't even be on the sidewalks. And my suggestion also is helmets, because if they take a spill and hit their head, they got a good chance of having a fractured skull, broken neck. And if they hit a kid, You know, not every parent is holding their kids. I mean, and they're right nearby, but it's just, it's not safe. And I don't know if something could be done about that from, well, that's got to go to the state legislature. I don't know. So is there any way put online the charter so at least we can see what the heck is on there? Because I don't know, but I've heard about, oh, we can't do this, the charter can't do that.

Thank you.

I'd like to see the charter.

Thank you. Move to close public participation.

Second. Motion has been made and seconded to close public participation. All in favor? Opposed? The ayes have it. Do we have any department plans?

Madam President, move to suspend the rules. Take item 6 from the calendar.

Second. This has been made in seconds. Suspend the rules and take item number 6. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Mr. Clerk, please read item number 6.

Item number 6, Madam President, is a... Order offered by Councillor Stephanie Martins as President. An order requesting approval that $945,000 be appropriated by borrowing to renovate Chelsea Street Park.

Councils?

Move to invite Mr. Lattanzi before us.

Second. Which is made and seconded by Mr. Lattanzi. All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? The ayes have it. Good evening, Mr. Lattanzi. Do we have any questions for Mr. Lattanzi? Or would you like to provide an opening statement and information?

Sure thing. For the record, Matt Lattanzi, Director of Planning and Development. So before you today is the request to appropriate $945,000 for the renovation of the park. This is, as stated in previous meetings and earlier today, it is currently being used as a dog park as a very temporary solution to utilize something that otherwise is in a pretty bad state. So this is very much focused on multi-generational recreation, leisure, and play. It is right across the street from the Connolly Center. It abuts the stadium. It's near schools. There's a lot of walking over there. There's bus routes that drive right through there and stop there. Given that, we didn't want to build just a tot lot. We wanted something to be multigenerational. So a lot of the equipment that you see there is geared for multiple levels of physical ability. So if you're immobile, if you're in a wheelchair, you can still utilize this park. You can go around the walking path that we have. There will be some fitness equipment in there that is for folks who have limited mobility. There are still areas for dogs to be and way stations. There's water fountains. I provided a... A few documents. One is the actual plan itself. Another is a cost breakdown of all the equipment and how we got to that figure. It's not just buying equipment that installs. We have to do a lot of site work. There's drainage work. And there's obviously the actual installation and the construction and the labor costs. But all that is broken down in a sheet.

Councilor Garcia. Thank you, Madam President, and thank you for giving us this. I did go to the meeting at the Conley Center last year when you were asking folks what they would like to see. My only question is, looking at the design, are you expanding what's already there? Because this looks a lot bigger. So you're cutting into the hill part of the stadium?

So it will expand very slightly toward the hill. It will not... At one point, we were discussing potentially grading and leveling that hill. That cost was extraordinarily high. So it does come out very slightly that way. Where the biggest expansion is is the L shape, I suppose. Right now, it's a rectangular park. But the L portion of it behind the houses before the hill, that will be added. It is still open park space right now, but it is not enclosed that way. So it's not currently utilized in the playground area. That will be for, there'll be a small recreation seating area there. There'll be some shade trees and there'll also be a bocce ball court implemented over there. And that was from that community meeting that you had just spoken of at the Connolly Center. That was a thing that a lot of those who were voting on these projects were And just for an overview, when we did this meeting, we put before those who were in attendance a variety of options, kind of a menu of options for them to vote on. And we chose some of those pieces of equipment, some of the facets, some of the layouts, and we implemented them here. So bocce ball was actually something surprising to me, is it's very popular among those who use the Connolly Center. So that's why that was slated to go over there.

No, and that's great, and I agree with the water fountain having the water refill station, especially for kids. They all carry around their reusable cups, so that's great. Thank you. You got it. Councilman Campion.

Thank you. Mr. Lutanzi, I was just reading the committee report from... I think it was September 15th. I'm not mistaken. So this is a concept at this point. Is that my understanding?

We're at a 90% design, so we do still have to wait for the 100% design documents that we would... I would request those upon receiving the funding.

Okay, so... My question, I guess, is that the appropriation request is for 945,000. And I note that the committee did not make a recommendation, presumably, to give the city council the ability to review these documents. How confident are you that when you are at 100% final design, you're going to be under the 945,000?

I think... Had the moment I got the 90% design documents, if I received 945,000 right then and there, I would say with 100% certainty. Given that these were submitted in March of this year, but all of the pricing was based on a 24 model, there is a... Strong likelihood that it could come in excess of that, but with this cost breakdown that you see, a lot of it is for equipment. And a lot of that equipment, I don't want to say is optional, but there are things that could be stripped out without making severe material changes to the design of the park. That could then be added later when more funding comes in place. This does also have a relatively strong contingency for the construction. I believe it was 20%. And in the notes to the cost breakdown, it did note that every year you should raise about 3% to 4% to adjust for inflation. Inflation might even exceed that right now. So I can't say with 100% confidence that everything that is on the cost breakdown sheet will come in at or under that budget of 945. But we will be able to construct a very meaningful park, potentially with one of those items removed until we have further funding.

And then my last question is really the timing of the project. And I ask you this question, and I'm not shooting the messenger, but I ask you this question because Council Garcia and I and others have been pushing for the Central Ave Park to get done. That funding was in place, I think, two or three years before my time on the City Council, I think. That funding was in place. What I don't want is... For us to have this shell game with this neighborhood like we do in Central Ave, where these folks have been waiting for these improvements for years. These funds were in place for years. Inflation continues and the costs continue to escalate on the equipment, on the metal, the steel, all of it, and the labor cost. What's the timeline on this one? Because I don't want to have another Central Ave Park on Chelsea Street, because I understand there is a great need for this type of space in that neighborhood. What are we telling those residents? When is this going to be done?

As for Central Park, I genuinely, full transparency, I've not had any involvement in that, so I can't speak to that schedule, the timing, or why it's taken so long. For this, I'm not 100% sure either of when it will actually start construction, but I have been meeting with our procurement officer. She's quite confident that we can get First, we would need the 100% design documents, but an RFP to actually construct very quickly that we could turn that around. I'm hoping for a Q2 of next year, but I'm not 100% sure. Okay, thank you.

You're welcome. Also, Alcy Jabouin.

Thank you, Madam President. Hi. I wanted to ask, what was the urgency with this park that we're pushing for... $945,000 when we have other parks that are in line to be done and we're not focusing on them. And also, I do think that all of our parks should be accessible to people with disability, not this park. And if I may ask, what is Boche? Is it something the whole community will be able to use?

I think everyone will be able to use it as to do they know what it is. I can't speak to that. It's relatively new to me. I think it's an Italian recreational activity traditionally, but it's low intensity. Instead of a basketball court, obviously, you can have a lot of kids play basketball. Very difficult to have a senior play basketball. This is something that, though it tends to skew a little bit on the older side, anybody can play it.

I'm not against doing our parks. I think that's part of beautification in our city. But I will not be voting for this because I believe that there are other parks that are in line that have been waiting for years to be done. Thank you.

Councilor Matewsky.

Thank you, Madam President. Time does fly. The last time this plaque was done over, what year was that?

Quite some time ago.

I think it was about 30 years ago. And I was there for the grand opening of that. But what's happened over the last... couple of years, it's gone into complete disrepair. There's some of the best homes, Winter Street, Spring Street, the residents of Park Plaza. We have a new development down the end of the street. These people who are moving into these apartments in that particular area don't have any green space, really. And this is going to be a big asset to that. I was there the other day. A man was with his baby carriage and his dog and his baby. And I said, where are you headed? He said, I'm going to that little park, although it's a little unsafe. There's been reports of needles and bottles. It's just a complete pig pen. And it's resorted now to a dog park, which I'm an animal lover. But what I see here is going to be a transformation for the neighborhood. And it's hard to believe that I was there for the last grand opening. I hate to admit that, but I had my niece with me. And I recall, these things that they put, these plastic animals, they cost thousands of dollars. And I have nothing against that, the bounty, the slides and so forth. But this is a whole different concept. This is gonna be enjoyable. You have a beautiful view of the stadium, am I right? You do. And I like that little alcove there where you call it the swing in the privacy area. But I can tell you this, having represented this area for many years, the people that live in that area are in favor. And I'm going to be in favor. Nothing's perfect, but this is probably going to be the nicest little park in Everett. Thank you.

Thank you. Council Rogers. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Mr. Lattanzi. I have to echo some of my colleagues' concerns, and I hate to compare it to the Central Ave project, but the other day I was walking on Central Ave, and I'm losing credibility in that neighborhood because of inaction. So I can't, at this moment... Even though I do think under a million dollars is very reasonable and I do like the plan for this. My recommendation would be to delay this until I see some kind of action on Central Ave Park because there's kids playing in there and it's not safe. The other day I was there and there was like at least six children playing on broken equipment. So I don't think that we should be allocating more funds when that one hasn't seen any action yet. So for me, it would have to be delayed tonight in order to get my approval until I have some tangible action at Central Street. Thank you.

Any further questions, Councillor? Before we speak for the second time, let me go to Councillor Smith.

Thank you. So I sit on this committee and I think a big reason why It came out no recommendation is if you look on the agenda packet, one, we didn't get these plans before the committee. It says September 2024. So that this administration waited almost an exact year to give us these plans. And with inflation, like you said, I don't in these costs, if they came out in March, I just don't know why we waited to put this before us to a month before election time when you're looking to beautify the city. Now, this is my neighborhood park. I live the closest out of any city councilor to this park. I go by this park every day. I actually think it is a reasonable amount, but to echo some of my other colleagues' points, there's Fuller Street, there's Maddie English Park, there's Lafayette, there's Central Ave, there's all these parks that we already appropriated money for, and I know that just because we appropriate does not mean that the CFO is going to automatically go out and borrow the money right now, even though interest rates are low. It's a good time to go borrow money. But I have to echo that I am disappointed in the timing of this and that we have so many other parks on the list that need to get done at the same time. I want to be in favor of this, but again, there's three parks I know of that kind of come before this on the list. And again, I'm just disappointed in the administration waiting a month and not even just, I mean, waiting a year and that it wasn't in front of us at committee. Again, that just shows the urgency that I feel the administration has given the city council.

Councillor Hanlon.

Thank you, Madam Chairman. Again, I would like to thank you for the plan that you gave me. And also, fortunately, my wife found the one that I had at home. So I did have one. My question, my problem is now not the park itself, because I looked at it all. It looks pretty nice. It looks like it's going to be a good job. And it's a large central area that's just plain grass, which is kind of nice. My big concern is the money that's going to cost $945,000. So I'm in favor of this, but what I want from you or from your department or whoever's going to be in charge of this is I want to report on what's done and what it costs so far and if you're going to meet the $945,000 as the total price. And that's all I want, okay? So if you'll guarantee that or say you will anyway, I will vote for this.

So you'd like reporting during the construction? Yes. Okay. Okay, thank you. Easy. Thank you.

Thank you.

For the second time, Councilman Campin.

Madam Chair, I don't have any questions for Ms. Lattanzi. I hear the members of the City Council, so I'll defer.

Councilor Rogers, do you have a question for Ms. Lattanzi? Madam President, I was just going to make a motion to postpone this piece with a request for a timeline included for this project as well as perhaps an update on the incomplete parks so that we can make a more informed decision because I do think the sentiment of this council is to support this, but I do think we need some more information.

Second. Excuse our guests.

Excuse our guests.

Excuse our guests. Excuse our guests. Excuse our guests.

Excuse our guests.

Excuse our guests. Excuse our guests. Excuse our guests. Excuse our guests. Excuse our guests. Excuse our guests. Excuse our guests.

I would say until the information is available that is requested.

Okay, and a motion has been made in second. All in favor of postponement?

Aye. Can I speak on that motion?

And on the motion, sorry, we took a... Yeah, sorry.

Thank you. I'm one of the few that reserve my comments until a guest leaves. I think that's very... Fine, to delay it until we get some answers. But government can do more than one thing at a time, believe it or not. Central Park is in the works. It's taken way too long, but it is in the works. Fuller Street should be getting done in the spring. To hold this hostage just to continue this game of political football is not the right move to make. If you want a timeline, that's reasonable. But take the vote once we have that timeline. Thank you.

So we have voted to postpone.

On the motion.

Yes. So we already took the vote with Mr. Kowalski.

Thank you, Madam President. You know, I agree, Fuller Street. Now, there again, Rosie LaCause was the councilwoman in that area. And years ago, my memory feels me, but I'm going to say 30 years ago. We spent a million dollars in that park for a little basketball court and some plastic animals and some slides. And my comments were at the time, a million dollars for some plastic animals and a slide. And that was 30 years ago, pretty close to it. But this park right now is in need of repair. In Central Ave Park, it's been a mess for a while. To hold it up, to get the information from Mr. Lattanzi on the other parks is okay. I'm in favor of that. But this park is a mess. I don't know who's been down there lately, but I have. It's a pigsty. There's needles in there. There's people going in there with their pets. And babies and so forth. It just needs to be done. This was in committee. Now, the committee usually makes a recommendation, but they didn't, evidently. And that's okay, too. But I am the representative of that ward. And as council, I don't live... I think if we measured, I'd live a little closer, maybe. I think so. Yeah, well, we can... figure that out later. But the truth of the matter is, I only live four blocks away, all right? This is next to one of the nicest neighborhoods in the city, Cabot Street, Revere Street, Walcott. Those are nice homes. Those people deserve a nice little park to go to. The residents of Park Plaza, And so forth. So I'm prepared to vote in favor tonight. And I'm not going to postpone this. It's going to happen anyway, whether it's this council or next year's council. This PAC needs to be done. And to delay it is just not the right thing.

Thank you. So we already took a vote to postpone already. So it was a voice vote. So the item has been. So would you like to be recorded as a no? Let's see.

Roll call. Move for a roll call vote on the motion to postpone.

Wait, so we already voted on this. Do we have to reconsider to take another vote?

Move to reconsider at the council's request.

Second. Motion has been made and seconded to reconsider item number six. All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? The ayes have it. So the item is back before you. Roll call vote. Do we need a roll call on the reconsideration? No. Okay, so we have voted to reconsider, so now the item is back before you. So what's the pleasure of the council?

Move for favorable action and a roll call vote be taken.

Second. So the motion to postpone takes precedence.

Madam President, there is no motion for postponement because we reconsidered. I'll move to postpone this matter. No.

I heard three people on this side trying to postpone it.

Oh, I didn't hear. I'm sorry.

So motion has been made and seconded to postpone, and we also have a motion for favorable action, but postponement takes precedence.

Yes, it does.

For postponement, Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

On that, I did hear Councillor Van Kipman say ask for a roll call, right? Correct. Okay. Is this on postponement? This is on postponement, yeah.

until we receive the information.

Okay. Okay.

So roll call on postponing the item. Yes.

No.

Yes.

Councilor Hanlon? No. Councilor Marchese? Yes. Councilor Matuszewski? No. Councilor Pietrantonio? Yes. Councilor Rogers?

Yes.

Councilor Smith?

Yes.

Councilor Van Campen? Yes. Councilor President Martins?

Yes.

Eight yeas, three nays, you have so postponed.

The item has been postponed. Now we're back to item number one.

I'm going to take item number 20 off the calendar.

Which has been made in second to suspend the rules and take item number 20. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Mr. Clerk, please read item number 20.

Item number 20. Madam President, there's a resolution offered by Councilor Peter Pedrantonio that a representative from the legal department come to our next meeting and explain what the tree waiver form is for.

Councilor Pedrantonio.

Can we invite Colleen Mejia, I think? Second.

This has been made and seconded by the city solicitor. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thanks for being with us, Ms. Mejia.

Good evening, Colleen Mejia, city solicitor.

Thank you for coming. Did you get a chance to look at that letter?

I did.

I did some research. Well, let me tell you how that come up. I guess the person wanted a tree cut in front of her house. And the tree warden went and dropped off the waiver saying, you want that cut, you got to sign this waiver. Now, this is a tree that's on the city property, didn't have to go on the person's property at all. I mean, is that procedure now with that waiver?

My understanding is we would require a resident or a property owner to sign a right of entry or a waiver of liability if we're going to be entering onto their property. I'm not aware of the facts that you just laid out that wasn't presented to me.

Yeah, because I remember we always had that waiver. If we had to go on someone's property, we would make them sign a waiver. But the tree warden actually gave this to the resident and said, you want that tree trimmed, you got to sign this waiver. That's how that waiver came about. He's the one that dropped it off to the resident. And then after I investigated, because I kind of know it was in my, I did it for like 28 years. I called the tree warden and then he realized that, no, I shouldn't have dropped off that waiver.

Right, I would say if the city is going to be entering onto the property owner's property to trim the tree, then we would either request a right of entry with a hold harmless clause in there or a waiver of liability. But we can't ask the resident to waive all liability. Gross negligence would be exempt from that. The waiver that the tree warden emailed, I revised and sent it back.

Okay, you did. Yeah. I mean, I think after I talked to him, he understood that he shouldn't have gave that waiver to that resident. Correct. For trimming the tree, a city tree. Correct. On city property. Right. I think he understood after we talked. Okay. I even talked to the operations manager, and he kind of agreed with me. Yes. So we had all kinds of agreement. I just don't want it to happen again to another resident where they're giving, you know, they're making a resident sign a waiver if they're cutting a tree down on 74.

I hope that doesn't happen again. I'm not entering onto the property owner's property.

Okay, and you did it. You did it. You did that just that way, but you changed the wording on it. Okay. I did. All right, good. All right. Thank you.

You're welcome. Any further questions for Ms. B?

Yep.

Motion to excuse our guests.

Second. Made and seconded to excuse our guests. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thank you.

Refer back to sponsor.

Motion has been made and seconded to refer the item back to sponsor. All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? The ayes have it. The item has been referred back to sponsor.

Regular order of business, Madam President. Item number one is a order offered by Councilor Stephanie Mines as president. An order requesting approval to accept and expend the grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Department of Mental Health, in the amount of $90,000 to support an outreach clinician position to help deliver services to the community in conjunction with police personnel.

For the Committee on Ways and Means? Second.

Second.

The motion has been made and seconded to refer the committee in ways and means. All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number two.

Item number two is an order offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins as president. An order requesting approval to appropriate $185,000 from the capital stabilization account for the three DPW one-ton pickup trucks.

Motion to refer this item to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Second. Motion has been made and second to refer the item to the Committee on Ways and Means. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it on the motion to refer, yes.

Can I just make a suggestion that I want to see if the DPW can bring down the maintenance reports of the trucks that are being replaced? Can I make that request? I want to see the maintenance reports of the trucks that are being replaced.

Okay. So referring to committee with the request that we see the maintenance reports. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number three.

Is an order offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins as president. An order requesting approval to raise and appropriate $36,975 to the legal department professional services account to fund fiscal year 2026 legal services. The legal department is requesting these funds to pay legal services performed by Gallagher and Kavanaugh. Councilor Smith.

Thank you. So I met with the city solicitor and reviewed these invoices and And as we stated, and I'll leave it to the pleasure of this council, we did not fund her with any legal services because we wanted them to come before us. I did review them. She provided them in the packet. I would request that we suspend the rules and favorable action on this today. But if my colleagues have additional questions, I'm happy to go to Ways and Means. But I just wanted to say that I did review them with the city solicitor. They are for the lawsuit from the previous year's superintendent. And as we discussed, she would bring all those matters before us before it got appropriated.

Second.

The motion is made and seconded to suspend the rules to take a vote on this appropriation here and not send it to committee. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. So we're suspending the rules. And now to take a vote on the appropriations. Please call the roll. On the motion, Councilor Alcidwin.

I just wanted to say that I will not be voting for this item as I refuse to vote for anything that is redacted where I cannot see what the bills are for. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. So, Mr. Clerk, please call the roll on the appropriation.

Councilor Alcy Jabouin.

No.

Councilor Councilor DiPierro. Yes. Councilor Garcia.

Yes.

Councilor Hanlon. Yes. Councilor Marchese. No. Councilor Matewsky. Yes. Councilor Pietrantonio.

No.

No. Councilor Rogers?

Yes.

Councilor Smith?

Yes.

Councilor Van Campen? No. Council President Martins? Yes. Seven yays, four nays, and we were appropriating, so that motion failed. You need a two-thirds vote. Madam Chair, I'd like to move reconsideration.

The item to reconsider all in favor opposed the ayes have it and madam chair like to refer item three back to the committee on or Refer it to the committee on Ways and Means Second which has been made and second to refer the item to the committee on Ways and Means all in favor opposed the ayes have it Okay now item number four

Item number four is an order offered by Councillor Stephanie Martins as president. An order requesting approval to appropriate the amount of $2 million by borrowing for streets and sidewalk construction throughout the city.

Move to refer to the Committee on Ways and Means and request a list of streets and sidewalks to be included. Second.

Which has been made and seconded to refer to the Committee on Ways and Means and request a list of the streets and sidewalks. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number five.

Madam President, item number five is an order offered by Council President Stephanie Martins, a petition requesting a new auto repair license for Romero Auto Repair at 2081 Revere Beach Parkway.

Move to refer it to the Committee on Community and Business Development.

Second. Which has been made and seconded to the Committee on Community and Business Development. All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number seven.

Item number seven is an order offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins as President. In order, requesting approval to appropriate $1,782,072 from the capital stabilization account for 19 capital improvement projects and purchases as delineated on the enclosed attachment.

Which has been made in seconded for favorable action.

And accept the committee report.

And to accept the committee report, Mr. Quirk, please call the roll.

Counselor, I'll cede you a button.

No.

Counselor DiPierro. Yes. Counselor Garcia.

Yes.

Counselor Hanlon. Yes. Counselor Marchese. No. Counselor Matewsky. Yes. Counselor Pietrantonio. Oh, sorry. Counselor Pietrantonio, it's for the $1,782,000 capital stabilization account for the capital improvement plan.

Yes.

Yes. Councillor Rogers.

Yes.

Councillor Smith.

Yes.

Councillor Van Kemp. Yes. Councillor Martins.

Yes.

Nine yeas, two nays. You have so passed the order.

The order has passed. Item number eight.

Is an order offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins as president. An order requesting approval to accept and expend funds from the Department of Energy Green Communities Competitive Grant Program in the amount of $126,675 to fund energy conservation measures in municipal facilities.

Councilor Smith. Can the clerk please just explain or read the committee report so that the... The residents know exactly what this is for.

Ms. Jenkins Sullivan, the planning project owner, was present. Ms. Sullivan explained that the grant would be utilized to replace the failing steam boiler at the Ferry Street Fire Station. and replace it with a rooftop unit heat pump with cooling capabilities for the summer. She assured the committee that there was enough stability in the roof at the fire station to hold the new unit. She did mention that there was expected to be an additional cost of $10,000 once installed, but that cost would be covered through a program with National Grid. Committee referred back with a favorable recommendation.

Accept the committee report and favorable action. Second. It has been made a second to accept the committee report and favorable action. Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Number nine is an order offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins as president. An order requesting approval to accept and expend funds from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in the amount of $216,434 to improve the connections between the Northern Strand Community Trail, Main Street, the Village Neighborhood, Wallington MBTA Station, and Medford via West Street and Wallington Avenue.

Move to accept the committee report and favorable action.

It has been made and signed to accept the committee report and favorable action. Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

Councillor Alcy Juin.

Yes.

Councillor DePiro. Yes. Councillor Garcia.

Yes.

Councillor Hanlon. Yes. Councillor Marchese. Yes. Councillor Matewsky.

Yes.

Councillor Pietrantonio. Yes. Councillor Rogers.

Yes.

Councillor Smith.

Yes.

Councillor Van Campen. Yes. Councillor President Martins. Yes. Eleven yays, zero nays.

Nays, zero nays. The order has been approved. Item number 10.

Item number 10 is an order offered by Councillor Stephanie Martins as president. An order requesting approval to raise an appropriate $299,750 to fund the local 25 DPW collective bargaining contract recently ratified.

Move to accept the committee report and for favorable action.

Second. Second. Questions have been made and seconded to accept the committee report and favorable action. Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

Councillor Alcide-Button.

Yes.

Councilor DePero. Yes. Councilor Garcia.

Yes.

Councilor Hanlon. Yes. Councilor Marchese. Yes. Councilor Matewsky. Yes. Councilor Pietrantonio. Yes. Councilor Smith.

Yes.

Councilor Van Campen. Yes. Councilor President Martins.

Yes.

Tenyes.

Zero nays. Tenyes. Zero nays. The order has been approved.

Move to suspend the rules. Madam President, take items 11, 12, and 13 collectively.

Second.

The motions are made and seconded to suspend the rules and take items number 12 of 11, 12, and 13 collectively. All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? The ayes have the support.

In favor of the actions?

Well, please read the items and then we'll have a motion for favor.

Items 11, 12, and 13 are all orders offered by Councillor Stephanie Martins. All appointments in order confirming the appointment of Betty Martinelli to the Council on Aging for a term of two years expiring September 1st, 2027. Twelve in order confirming... The appointment of Noreen Feeney to the Council on Aging for a term of two years expiring September 1st, 2027. And 13 in order confirming the appointment of Patricia Albano to the Council on Aging for a term of two years expiring September 1st, 2027.

Councilor Marchese has made a motion for favorable action. Do we have a second? Motion has been made and seconded.

We also need to accept the committee report. So moved.

To accept the committee report and favorable action, Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilor Alcid, do you mind?

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Item number 14 is an order offered by Councillor Stephanie Martins as president. An order recommending the consideration of amending City Council Rule 7.1c Agenda Item Submission Deadline. It was met this evening and it was reported out with a favourable recommendation.

Move to accept the committee report and favourable action.

Second. Motion has been made and seconded to accept the committee report and favourable action. Ms. Clerk, please call the roll.

On the motion, can we just, for the people that were not in the meeting, and this affects the city council, can we just tell them what the new submission deadline is to the administration?

Yeah, it's just moving back from 5 p.m. on Wednesday to noon on Wednesday, or if there's a holiday, you know. the day before, 5 p.m., so it would be a Tuesday if we have that Monday holiday. This is just so the staff back there can handle the last-minute agenda items that come in and won't be here until 10, 11 o'clock in the evening on those Wednesday nights.

I completely was in support of this. I just wanted everyone to be aware of what the submission deadline now is for both the administration and the city councilors. Thank you.

On the motion, Councilor Alice, did you win?

On the motion, can we also add a limit of how many items can be on the agenda so we won't be here till 11 p.m.? Like a number?

You could write an amendment to our council rules.

That would be a separate rule if you want to submit it at some point. You can work with the legislative assistant and they will draft something with you. But you can create a rule if your members agree.

So an amendment to the council rules. So on the motion for, is this an ordination?

No. It's one vote, yep, it's an order, and we need entire membership. Councilor Alcide-Juan?

Yes.

Councilor DePiro? Yes. Councilor Garcia?

Yes.

Councilor Hanlon? Yes. Councilor Marchese? Yes. Councilor Matuszki? Yes. Councilor Pietrantonio? Yes. Councilor Rogers? Yes. Councilor Smith? Yes. Councilor Van Campen? Yes. Councilor President Martins? Yes. Eleven yays, seven nays, so amended your rules. Item... 15 is an order offered by Councillor Stephanie Martins as president, an order recommending consideration of amending City Council Rule 20 so that not all non-civil service appointment orders are automatically referred to committee. This, again, met this evening and had a favorable recommendation. Move to accept the committee report and for favorable action.

Second. It has been made and seconded to accept the committee report and favorable action. Ms. Quirk, please call the roll.

Councillor Alcy Gibbon.

Yes.

Sorry.

Councilor DeVero? Yes. Councilor Garcia?

Yes.

Councilor Hanlon? Yes. Councilor Marchese? Yes. Councilor Matewsky? Yes. Councilor Pietrantonio? Yes. Councilor Rogers? Yes. Councilor Smith? Yes. Councilor Van Campen? Yes. Councilor President Martins?

Yes.

11 yays, 0 nays.

Yays, 0 nays. The order has passed. Item number 16.

On unfinished business, item number 16 is a Madam President resolution offered by Councilors Wayne Matewsky and Stephanie Smith that the city provide an update in regards to the vacant lot on Summit Street.

Council Matewsky. Council Smith.

Thank you. I was just wondering if the city has an update. I can call the Chief of Staff before us.

Motion has been made and seconded to invite the Chief of Staff. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thank you, Ms. Stephanie, for being with us.

Good evening, for the record, Erin Devaney, Chief of Staff.

Thank you for the inquiry. This parcel, in case anyone is not familiar, is currently vacant. The mayor had previously solicited input from the surrounding community to see what type of active or passive use that they would like. The request was whether or not they wanted any open and recreational space. But based upon the feedback from the neighborhood, They were not inclined, they didn't want to see more park space. Based upon the community and the neighborhood sentiment, the mayor has asked the city solicitor and the chief procurement officer to go forward to seek proposals. To see how the city could offer the parcel for bids and competitive bidding opportunity. for an appropriate project that would offer residents an opportunity for first time home buyer. The sentiment from the community members was that what they envisioned would fit into the neighborhood and help a community need would be potentially having townhome structures that would be suitable. I think it could potentially fit for And the mayor would be interested in seeking organizations that would be able to do it to create a path to home ownership for lower income residents who might not be able to afford it. So we're looking to see the way that the city could do it both from a legal perspective and what procurement steps we would have to take.

Thank you. So I talked to this neighborhood and they want a parking lot. because there's no parking over there for a lot of this, the duplexes. But I obviously support home ownership versus condos. I think the houses that we built at the old Lafayette were some of the nicest houses we have in the city now. I forget how many years ago that was now when we turned the old school into those townhouses. And thank you for your update. And I would just hope when this does go out, The townhouses need to have parking, 100%. I will not vote to sell any piece of land unless there is parking on site. If it's two bedrooms, they need to have two parking spots because the neighbors are concerned about parking in the neighborhood. And if we're going to put up houses and not give parking spots, that is completely against what the neighbors want. So thank you for the update. I'll look forward to the RFP and hope that There's parking included from these developers.

Thank you. Any further questions for Ms. Devaney? Motion to excuse our guest. Motion has been made and seconded to excuse our guest. All in favor? Opposed? The ayes have it. Thank you. Council, what's your pleasure?

I'd like the city to provide an update in the first meeting of December with what the plan is.

It's a motion to postpone this item to the first meeting of December to receive information on what the plans are in an update all in favor Opposed the ayes have it so now item Number 17

Item number 17 is an order offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins as president. An order requesting approval to accept and expend funds from the Mass Gaming Commission in the amount of $2,453,500 to fund programs and services provided by fire, police, planning, and transportation. This has a favorable recommendation from committee.

Councilor Smith.

Thank you. So this was laid over from the last meeting because there was concerns, not about the fire police portion of it, but of the planning and transportation and the fact that Everett Square was put in under our nose after we voted against it. So I don't know if the chief of staff has any update to tell us exactly what they're planning to use these funds for in regards to Everett Square. The transportation director could not tell us if he was going to change the street or not, which was our main concern. But sidewalks, green space, I think we agreed to. We just want to know exactly what this is for. And I hate to hold up a grant of $2.4 million to the fire and police over something that hopefully the administration can give us an update for. So I ask if Ms. Devaney can come up with one.

I think we had requested a copy of the plans to see what the work was going to be. We haven't received anything, right? Is there any update from the administration or... So no updates. So what's the pleasure of the council?

Do we know if there's a timeline of when we need to accept this grant by if we lose it?

No deadline.

Okay. Then I request to lay it on the table to our next meeting with hopes postponed to... hopefully get the plans for exactly what's happening with Everett Square.

On the motion, Madam President, can I just request that if at all possible, it would be helpful for whatever we get from the administration to actually be in the packet so that we can see it before the meeting rather than receive it the night of the meeting or hear a verbal presentation. So if that is possible, the clerk could work with the administration to make sure we have actual information in our packet.

Made and seconded to postpone the items of the next meeting which is going to be on October 14th with the request that we receive the actual information to be included in the packet ahead of time all in favor those the ayes have it item number 18 is a president resolution offered by councillor Stephanie Martins and girly announcing to blend that the administration provide a status and the business opera grant application decisions and information on the committee Council I'll see you did win

I'd like to invite Ms. Devaney.

Second. Thank you. Second to invite Ms. Devaney to provide updates from the last meeting. All in favor? Aye. Opposed?

The ayes have it.

Good evening again, Erin Devaney, Chief of Staff. To update the councilors from the last meeting, we still have 16 applicants for the small business ARPA grant who owe the city of Everett outstanding information. To the concerns that several councilors raised at the last meeting, the city has not disqualified any applicant who has not yet provided the additional information that we need. Outreach is being made and they've all been contacted by the Chamber of Commerce. So to the concern of the council, no applicant has been denied at this point because they haven't answered all of the questions to determine eligibility. At this point, we are concerned that We are forced to hold up the entire process for the rest of the applicants out of consideration for these 16. So we are contemplating putting a response deadline for these individuals. to be able to either furnish the information to us or to indicate at least if they're not going to be able to provide it. But while we appreciate the council's offers to reach out to each of these businesses, that was the reason why we have the partnership with the Chamber of Commerce. So no applicant at this point is being denied because they owe us information. But at this point, we are growing concerned about the remaining applicants not being able to get their money because we don't know how much we are going to be able to give them.

Thank you, Ms. Devaney, for the update. As I stated last time, my offer still stands to go knock on doors and get you those information that you're waiting for. I don't know if the Chamber of Commerce just simply sent an email or if they're actually having people go talk to these businesses that are in the city. Again, it's unfair to the people that did provide all the information, but I also want to know who those businesses that are holding the process back so I can go talk to them. I'm pretty sure President Martin would not mind doing the same. We're offering our help to make it happen. We would love to see that happen. I haven't received a list of people that are still outstanding. I'd like to get that list so I could go talk to them. Thank you.

Councilor Hanlon?

I think I'm going to pass.

Okay. Councilor Smith?

Thank you. So I have heard from some small businesses that are waiting on this money to pay their rent and other expenses, their electricity, et cetera. So do you know when we might be putting a timeline on it?

Well, at this point, we've gone now. I believe that the businesses would have been notified by the middle of September. Apologies. Businesses would have been notified by the middle of September. I think. In fairness, because this is information and we are dealing with small businesses, so we're trying to be equitable. I think at this point, we would give them at least 30 days from the original notification. that we gave to them to see if they're going to be able to furnish the information to us. If there's information that they're not going to be able to produce at all because they don't have it, that would be helpful for us to know. If there's information that they're in the process of trying to compile, We obviously in those situations want to again be equitable and recognizing that for some organizations this is a heavier lift than for others. But we would agree with the sentiment that we have to look at the totality of the program to try to help those individuals that have complied with all of the requirements to this point. But again, it's out of the Out of the, it's actually 46 applications. Out of the 46, two previously had been determined based upon their submissions not to be eligible. So of the remaining, it's 16 that still have information that they have to provide to the city.

Okay, I echo Councilor Alcidobon's comments that we're happy to chase them down to just ask if needed. And I would ask that we get an update, maybe I'll leave it up to the sponsor to determine when the next update is, but there are businesses that have been contacting me about this, so I do want to make sure that we're being fair. I obviously want to be fair to everyone, but doing everything that we can and just finding out can they supply it, is it because they are trying to gather a document or they just don't have it, to your point, is going to be very helpful, so I'll leave it up to the sponsor to decide, but I think we have to keep it to the forefront of our agenda.

Councilor Hanlon.

Thank you, Madam Chairman. The APA funds, is this the original amount that we received from the government, or is this new monies?

This is part of the original amount that the city received.

So are we getting more money all the time on it?

No, this is part of the original amount that was received and 745,000 of that original amount was allocated for this purpose. So this is just one component of that original ARPA funding. We are not continuing to receive new ARPA funding sources.

So what we have is the end. If we spend it all, it's gone? That's it, that's it, no more ARPA funds?

No, there are no more opera funds coming to the city.

So what is our current balance that we still have, approximately?

The money that the city received has all been allocated, that had to be done by December of 2024. So that has been allocated, the amount that has been expended, I would have to get that information for you. Because some of that money has been allocated to organizations throughout the committee. They were able to receive some money up front, but then they would subsequently submit requests for additional funds on a reimbursement basis. We'd have to get you that information.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Just two points I wanted to ask you, Ms. Devaney. So it just seems like this is bureaucracy at its finest, and I'm concerned we're holding up the disbursement of these funds when there's probably a simple way to get Everyone's information so my first question would be who's the point of contact that can reach out to these folks for the administration to gather the the incomplete information and then my second point. Same question to you is is there a perhaps a language barrier or something with these particular business applicants that we could. be doing a better job at communicating with them about. So I guess if you could help fill in the blanks, it just seems like we're talking about $750,000 out of 47 million, by the way, that's going into these applicants, and they just have to finish their application. How do we help them do that? Short of knocking on their doors, which I know Councilor Alcy Juban and President Martins are more than willing to do, how do we help them get over the finish line so we don't hold up the others?

Language access has not been identified to the city, but we have, I apologize, your order of questioning. The Chamber of Commerce is partnered with the city of Everett to do the outreach for the applicants. They were helping to get the information out. They were helping to work with the applicants, evaluate, did they provide all of the requested documentation? So they have been liaison with organizations in the community. We have let the city, the Chamber of Commerce know that the city does have translation and interpreter services available. So if language were to be an issue, the chamber could let us know and we would make those services available. So that's not a barrier and impediment similar to what we did in our information sessions. And the applications were available in multiple languages. There is very specific information as to what is outstanding for those 16 applicants. So we know exactly what to say. They're not being asked to go through. All of their application materials again, they're being asked for exactly what information that they need to be able to finish to comply. And the reason that we're doing that is so that we know that they are in fact eligible to receive the funds. And the city and the organizations aren't in any situation where subject to any future audits by any outside entity. Either the organizations would have to return funds to us or the city would have to return funds for not properly awarding.

So that was a lot of words, but I just feel like we have to figure out a way to get across the bridge. Because we're hurting other businesses that have been waiting. These funds were received by the city of Everett how many years ago? Four or five years ago? Maybe shorter than that?

The final determination on the allocation of The city was required to submit to the city council how the funds would be spent and that plan needed to be acted upon December of 2024. So we're under a year for this particular purpose, but the point is well noted. Where it's been expressed by the council for the desire to have as broad an outreach and impact as possible. At a certain point in time, if the businesses aren't going, they're not all businesses. If the entities aren't going to be able to furnish the information, then the decision is going to have to be made that despite best efforts. We've got to move forward. So the other organizations will have the ability to Spend and access the funds.

Okay. Thank you. So I'll just echo the other counselors. We're here to help So if there's a way we can help communicate out to finalize these applications, please Let us know counsel.

It's Antonio How long we've been waiting for the 16 entities to get back to us do we know that time I

The deadline for applications was June 30th. And the applications were reviewed by Accenture to look at eligibility in the information. And I believe off the top of my head, there was a determination that was made the end, I think the last city council meeting was the 15th. So the end of that week prior or right around September 15th. So about two weeks.

So we're leaving the, for these 16 applicants, we're leaving the Chamber of Congress to chase them down?

So we've asked the Chamber of Commerce to do the outreach. The determination as to the completeness of the applications is a review being done by Accenture. So now going back to the applicants, explaining to them the information from Accenture, what documentation or questions has to be answered, the Chamber of Commerce has been doing that.

Can't we put someone in City Hall here to go after that information and leave it up to the Chamber of Congress? Is there someone at City Hall that could run with this to close it up, whether they qualify, don't qualify, they can get the information? Can we have someone at City Hall do that? You know what I mean? I think someone at City Hall might have a little more power than the Chamber. Um... Because we have all, excuse me, we have all the language, there's a language barrier. We have people that speak different languages at City Hall that can communicate with the people, correct? Does Chamber of Congress have that? They don't have that, right?

We will make the same language. We told the Chamber of Commerce that they'll have access to the same language services. The city took on the responsibility for translating. informational materials in the applications themselves. So the same language services that our employees would use, we've also made available to the chamber. I can't say that I have evidence to suggest that people are not responding to the Chamber of Commerce because it's the Chamber of Commerce. I don't believe that they're withholding any information. I think that the potential challenge could be whether or not these organizations have the information that's been requested of them.

Okay, but I think we should make a decision. Okay, listen, you guys don't have it. You had your chance because we are holding other businesses up. I think the city should make a little more strong effort to try to resolve these 16 entities, whatever problems they got, just so the other companies don't have to suffer.

And that's agreed, we're trying to balance the interest expressed by the council to have the broad based impact with this funding. To not unjustly deny funding opportunities because organizations have different level of ability to handle documentation. But it's agreed that at a certain point, we would have to look to the greater good. And are we doing more harm to the community and eligible applicants by continuing to hold this out?

Yeah, I mean, we don't want to cut anyone out of getting the money, but we don't want to hold up for the people that did their application, did fill it out, did get it in on time, in a timely manner, I should say. And they're sitting there waiting, waiting, waiting. I mean, it just doesn't seem fair. But I mean, if the city can push it a little more, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you, Counselor. Counselor Alcy Jabouin.

Thank you. To be fair to the businesses, when this first started, they didn't even have a proper email to email someone to get information. Every time they emailed someone, it came back that the email was not working. That was one thing. And number two. Number two, if the city is not aware that there's a big language barrier in the city, shame, shame, shame on the city. There's always been a language barrier in the city, always. Last time you were here, I offered to go knock on doors so I could get you those information. Here we are, the next meeting. Nothing was sent to me, I could have had that information. It's just a small walk throughout the city. And how much are we paying enter for them to reach to people in the Chamber of Commerce? Are they doing it for free? Is there a fee?

Point of clarification, the administration has never said that we don't recognize that there are multiple languages and language access is important. The statement that I made was the city has not been notified that the reason why any of these 16 applicants are still outstanding is because there's a language challenge. We've made the effort to make sure information on the applications was available in multiple languages. We let applicants submit their applications in different languages as well. So we do recognize that there is an access issue with respect to languages for purposes of clarity. There is an agreement in place. Yes, there is compensation to the Chamber of Commerce. Do we know how much? I don't have that information off the top of my head, and I don't want to misquote it. Do we know how much we're paying in, sir? I guess we have a contract with Accenture previously answer. I don't know the exact value figure. They are, but to be clear answer, I'm sorry, Accenture in this process is valuing for technical compliance. They're identifying what is outstanding. The chamber is the one that is doing the community outreach to obtain the information and explain what information is outstanding.

Would the city be willing to share that list with us so we could help you gather that information that you need? As the counselor said, we can't punish the people that did submit them on time just because we're waiting for more information, which we've offered to help to get that information to you.

Yep, at this point we will because at this point we have contacted all of them to let them know. The chamber is once again going to do the outreach. So at this point in time, it's not because the city hasn't had contacts made with them. At this point in time, it would be because the applicants need to respond.

So we can expect a list from the city to help out with that process? Yes. By when?

I'll send it to you depending upon how late this meeting gets over, tonight or tomorrow. Thank you.

Thank you, Council President Martins.

Thank you. I'll keep it short. So it was my hope for the city of Everett that by paying somebody $140,000 a year to do DEI work, that we could advise the city as to how to work with our diverse communities. Because this problem would have been easily solved if, number one, we had in-person multilingual workshops during accessible hours at City Hall and actually had assistance on the spot to fill out the applications and provide the documentations. And I don't understand, because it really was my hope that we would have a person here that could advise the city as to how to operate with a diverse community, and it appears that we don't. But my concern now is, so there haven't been any updates sent to everybody else, so they don't know that all of this is happening, that we're waiting for the other people. Is it possible to send out any email updates? And we appreciate the work of the chamber, but I do think the language barrier is an issue, and we would love to help out, as we did with getting the application out there, which, to my knowledge, Nobody walked out of City Hall with a flyer to drop at the businesses. It was really word of mouth and people fighting at the last minute and door knocking and WhatsApp groups. Otherwise, and again, it goes back to not having a person to advise the city as to how to even go where these people are at and the means of information that they use. And we're paying somebody to do that, and it's not happening. So, yeah, so my question was, can we provide updates?

Well, to be clear, I think you've mentioned a couple of different topics. This agenda item was for the business ARPA grant application. If you're looking for information about DEI activities, then that was not specified in the scope of this, nor did we receive any questions asking for the role of DEI.

Well, the fact that we don't understand that this is a DEI matter is an issue, because it is. It's intertwined in everything we do in the city.

As I previously stated and I will restate, we do recognize that there are language issues and diversity issues, which is why we translated the materials, which is why we gave applicants the ability to submit information in their native languages and not have to submit it in English. And the reason why we didn't make people come in specifically and take time out of running their businesses and organizations, which is why we taped information and the translation of the application information. So it was available on their time, not on city hall time. So yes, we are trying to make access available from an equity and a diversity perspective. But if the council would like more specific information from the DEI office, then we would be happy to respond to that if it's on the agenda.

We don't have a DEI question. It's just a concern that this should have been advised by DEI actively as to how to find people, how do they prefer to share information and learn how to fill out the applications and how to walk through the whole process. But that's my only comment.

Any other questions for the mayor chief staff Oh council Garcia. I'm sorry.

Did you want to be I was gonna say motion to excuse our guest with the customary things Thank you very much for appearing So make a motion to postpone the item to the next meeting of the 14th with an update on whether we received all the applications and if the applicants that are waiting have been notified

Motion has been made and seconded to refer item 20 to the October 14th meeting of the City Council while we wait for the additional information and any updates on the applicants. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Okay, we are under new business.

No, I think we have one more.

Unfinished business. I'm sorry. Item number 19. Which one? I think we're on 19 now.

Clerk, read item 19, please. I'm sorry. I'm getting a little old.

Mr. Chair, it's a resolution offered by Councillor Stephanie Martins that the administration provide information on the process to ensure APA funds distributed to local organizations are being properly advertised and distributed in accordance with each applicant and intent.

Councillor Alcindor-Wynne. I would like to postpone it to our next meeting.

Thank you.

Motion has been made and seconded to postpone this items of the next meeting for any further updates all in favor Opposed the ayes have it an item number 21

Item number, we're under new business. Item number 21 is a resolution offered by Councilor Anthony Councilor DiPierro that the Department of Engineering or Public Works take steps to address the curbing at the intersection of Sycamore and Ferry Streets as there have been reports of residents tripping on them.

Councilor Councilor DiPierro.

Thank you. I'm not sure it's so funny, but I did send some pictures to Mr. Mangan. I'm not sure if they ended up in the packet. On each of the corners at Sycamore and Ferry, the handicap ramps are surrounded by a curb border. And I know two people personally, one an elected official, not myself, has fallen there. And I'm not saying they need to be removed, but maybe more clearly identified. There is enough room where you could possibly put some planters along them or some tall flower boxes, paint them, just to differentiate that curbing from the sidewalk. And that is my suggestion, and I refer it to the departments listed.

Second. Which has been made and seconded. Refer to the Department of Engineering and DPW. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number 22.

Our final item is item number 22. Madam President, it's a resolution offered by Councilor Michael Marchese. A resolution proposing that the city, through Senator Saldi, the medical request that the Army Corps of Engineers dredge the appropriate portion of Chelsea Creek to provide a better flow from the culvert outflow pipe.

Yes, I spoke of this in the past. The outflow pipe is backing up because it's not deep enough when the tide changes. It's always been like that. I was down there recently and someone built some kind of river through it, which is really not going to happen unless the water can flow. You can throw it back up if you want. If it doesn't flow, it's not going to flow. The Army Corps of Engineers was here during... I believe Senator Birmingham's time, and they dredged out the harbor and made it deep. But they didn't come down the last, like, 50 feet and dredge it. I don't know what the cost is on that. It's probably crazy, but it probably... would be the answer to what we're looking for instead of us still flooding on the other side of Ferry Street. And if not, maybe the city can get down there and get a large backhoe, a big front load, and maybe they can access the the front of that outflow itself, because we do own the property around the outflow. If you go to Chelsea and you sit on the outflow on the market, we own all the property to the right. Maybe you can get some kind of machine there and try to do that. But I think it's worth, for Senator DeDomenico, to see if he could get the Army Corps of Engineers there. Maybe they could put a float up there and pull everything out of there, and I think that'll be the solution for the water problems down in

Second Street area made and second to refer this item to so do the medical would you like a response back council?

Yes, I would by the next meeting They'll never see next meeting, but you know say within a month

Okay, so motion has been made and seconded to refer the item to Senator Domenico with an update within a month. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it.

Move forward. Are we adjourned? Yes. Sorry, I wanted to make an announcement on item number three. After discussing with our legal counsel, our outside legal counsel, item number three did pass because it is only required to have a simple majority, again, after discussion with outside legal counsel. So the reconsideration and the subsequent ways and means vote will be null and void. The favorable action stands, and that piece does pass. I just want to let you know.

Before we adjourn, I just want to remind the public that we do have a special meeting of the City Council on Monday, the 29th at 630, where we're going to have a presentation by the forensic auditors.

Move for adjournment. Second.

Motion has been made and seconded for adjournment. All in favor? Aye. Opposed?

The ayes have it. We have adjourned.