City Council Meeting 11-24-25

And now we're waiting.

Good evening. I'd like to call this regular meeting of the Everett City Council to order. Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

Alcy Jabouin. Present. Councilor DiPierro. Present. Councilor Garcia.

Present.

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

Present.

Councilor Rogers.

Here.

Councilor Smith. Present. Councilor Van Campen. Present. Councilor President Martins. Present. Eleven members present.

Members present, we have a quorum. Please join us in saluting the flag. pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And tonight we have another birthday in the chambers. Our mayor-elect is turning 21. Close 30. Happy birthday. And I will now entertain a motion to open public participation. So moved. Motion has been made and seconded to open public participation. All in favor? Opposed? The ayes have it. We have open public participation. Mr. Clerk, how many sign-ins do we have?

We have four on agenda item and two on non-agenda.

Okay, we're going to start with agenda items and the speakers will have two minutes to speak. And if you can please first state your name and address for the record.

and the Clerk will let us know who the first speaker is. Madam President, the first, the only two on the other side are also the two, first two on the edge. Would you like them to just go back to back? That way we can...

Yes, so if you sign in to speak on agenda and non-agenda, we'll have you do the first two minutes on agenda items and then the next two minutes on non-agenda.

Okay, our first speaker, Madam President, is Peggy Serino, who has signed in on both.

Okay, Ms. Serino.

Good evening. Peggy Serino, Everett, Mass. Why is the council appointing people to these councils? Why aren't you delaying these appointments until the new administration comes in? The people of the city voted for change and transparency, not more of the same. The Council wants to spend $100,000 to water trees. Give me a watering can and I'll consider doing it for $25,000. Maybe my ears are on a different frequency, but this $100,000 sounds insane to me. Why are we borrowing money for the police station's roof? What happened to what you call free cash or I call the overtaxing of the people of Everett? Since when do you approve donations to a function like the homecoming celebration after the fact? I believe this is the second time monies have been donated after the fact. Didn't the guy in the corner office make the statement that he found the money for a homecoming so the city would be paying for it, not the school department? Where did the money come from?

Did it come from the Department of Public Works budget? If it did, will they be coming up short if we have a snowy winter? This is something that needs to be investigated. Once again, the people of Everett voted for change and transparency. I don't want to go from the guy in the corner office to the guys and the gals of the council in the corner chambers. I really don't want to do that and now non-agenda items. The people of Everett voted for change and transparency, not the continuation of the good old boys network. Isn't it bad enough that Billy Hart, everyone says he's a good guy, no one says he isn't, seems to represent the good old boys network? Billy doesn't have any of the credentials the state requires to be a superintendent, but he has a temporary license and was just given a contract extension and monies. Is this what we want at City Hall? The people voted no.

But if a qualified person is told not to apply for a position because a person has the votes, not the qualifications. Isn't this the good old boys network at work? Do we want the good old boys network or do we want qualified people working at City Hall? A lot of people don't vote because they feel their vote doesn't count. Are you going to prove them right? Once again, I don't want to go from the guy in the corner office to the gals and guys of the council in the corner chambers.

I hope you and your family have a very happy Thanksgiving.

Good evening, Paul Oster reading. Regarding the data center, I understand why you're objecting to the data center because of the power and the environmental concerns. But I ask, where's the same concerns about the stadium? You pushed out animal testing and what did it get Everett? Did we get an award? Did we get grants? Did we get money? did it attract other businesses? Or did it close the door or send a message to businesses, you're not welcome in Everett because City Council doesn't want you here? The opera, regarding the opera, words cannot explain what a total eff up this is. We paid answer hundreds of thousands of dollars to manage this project. And what did we get?

We got community leaders that didn't want to be recognized because they didn't want, they were afraid of what would happen to them. We have the people who were chosen picking who was going to get the money that ended up being them. How can you pay... a consulting firm hundreds of thousands of dollars and have the whole system messed up. We didn't get a dashboard for two years. We didn't get any information pushed out for two years. We had the money. from May 2021. And we still have not given money to small businesses. But what we did give was rental assistance and mortgage assistance. And you know who got the most money? the 600.

If you look at the number of people that got rental assistance that were at the 600, you'll be astounded. Not $2,000, but $5,000. Thank you.

That was the agenda item, so we're starting non-agenda.

Is anyone concerned that we don't know what our tax assessment is going to be? I am and I hope everyone else is because every city is raising their taxes, having layoffs, and cutting their budgets. Cambridge, which has a $200 million rainy day fund, is laying off people, raising their taxes, and cutting their budget for fiscal year 2027. I'm not sure why This is like a last minute thing if someone didn't do what. But we pay people a lot of money. This is not some place where we have Larry Moe and Curly doing the assessments. We've hired someone once the guy left.

So why aren't they even here telling you why you didn't get it? As Peggy said, people voted for change, and I think it's important that everyone stand by the fact that people do not want business as usual in this city. They want people in the community to be involved in what's going on and the opportunities that are in the city to be open to everyone in the city, not just the people in the circle. I say this because there's a lot of money that's available for people for help, but the only people that seems to know about it are the people in the circle. If you asked, I've asked multiple people in my neighborhood if they know about rental assistance, mortgage assistance, utility assistance. No one has a clue.

but the people in the circle, like the people at the 600, Garvey Street, do know about it. And that's a problem because the people who built this city and have Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you.

Okay, our next speaker we have on agenda items is Philip Spadley.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of Council. My name is Philip Spaulding, and I am a volunteer for a cleanup effort. We recently learned about a new data... Company, come into Everett. We are concerned about how this can impact the city of Everett. Water and electricity usage. I hope we can find things that are better for the Everett residents.

And our final speaker is Bruce Conrad

Good evening. My name is Bruce. I don't know a lot about the project, but I have many years' experience working in data centers, so I don't have any stake in it, but I'm generally in favor of it. The biggest concern is that data centers do require an awful lot of power, electricity, air conditioning, and generators. But they're generally good neighbors. They'd be generally very quiet. You know, there's obviously whatever company would build it would need a high amount of infrastructure and investment and they'd probably want to be there for a long time. Since they're spending a lot of money, but I think it'd be good for the city. So that's basically all I wanted to offer. Available for any questions if you have them, but you're welcome.

That was our final speaker.

Motion to close public participation.

Second. Motion is made and seconded to close public participation. All in favor? Opposed? The ayes have it. We have closed public participation. I think we have a couple department head sign-ins.

Madam Chair, move to suspend the rules. Take item 12 from the calendar.

Second. Motion has been made and seconded to suspend the rules and take item number 12 off the calendar. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Mr. Clerk, please read item number 12.

Item number 12 is an order on the committee reports offered by Councillor Stephanie Martins as president. An order requesting approval to adopt the city's municipal aggregation plan attached herein. and authorize the City Administration to take any and all necessary action to prepare the plan for submission to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities pursuant to MGL Chapter 164, Subsection 134.

Move to accept the committee report and favorable actions.

Second. Motion has been made and seconded to accept the committee report and favorable actions. Clerk, please call the roll.

Alcide-Jabouin, DiPierro, Garcia, Hanlon, Marchese, Matewsky, Pietrantonio, Rogers, Smith, Van Campen, Yes, Council President Martins.

Yes.

11 yeas, 0 nays, Madam President.

The order has passed. Thank you.

Madam Chair, I move to suspend the rules and take item 6 from the calendar.

Second. The motion has been made and seconded to 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 six is an order offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins as president, an order requesting the approval of an additional amount of $455,000 to be appropriated by borrowing for the Everett Police Station roof improvement project.

Madam Chair, move to refer to the Committee on Ways and Means.

On the motion to refer to the committee on Ways and Means, Councilor Marchese.

Yes. So we're actually borrowing money to do this?

I guess we'll be discussed in committee.

What? will be bought. They can't be used. None of the money from the roof on the upper money we use for the roof in high school. We can't. If you want that question, we could add it for Mr. Demas.

Would you like to add to the committee? Yes, I would. Okay, so motion has been made and second to refer the item to the committee on...

Ways and Means. And I would just also add to the motion, Madam President, that we invite the Procurement Officer and Representative of the Police Department to appear at that, and our Facilities Director to appear at that time.

So motion has been made. And second, would you like on the motion, Councilor Pietrantonio, would you like to add something to the committee request?

Yeah, can we add on why can't we get it from pre-cash? Instead of borrowing, because we're borrowing free cash. It's our cash. It's already been appropriated. Maybe we can take it out of free cash.

We're referring to committee. We're asking why we can't use ARPA funds from the school and free cash and inviting the members that Councilman Campen mentioned. All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? The ayes have it.

It's motion made to take items 7 through 11. Favorable action?

Second. Motion's been made and seconded to take items number 7 through 11 collectively off the calendar. Mr. Clerk, please. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Mr. Clerk, please read items number 7 through 11 collectively.

7 through 11 are all renewals of licenses, and they're all offered by Council President Stephanie Martins. 7, a petition requesting renewal of a Class 2 motor vehicle deal license for Parkway Auto Sales. At 1673 Revere Beach Parkway 8, a petition requesting the renewal of a Class II motor vehicle deal license for Carolina USA LLC at 353 3rd Street 9. in petition requesting the renewal of a Class II motor vehicle deal license for Casino Auto Sales at 163 Ferry Street 10 in petition requesting the renewal of a Class II motor vehicle deal license for White's Auto Sales at 79 Vine Street and 11, a petition requesting the renewal of a lodging house license for 134 Linden Street, LLC at 134 Linden Street, all paperwork.

Councilor Marchese, you made a motion for feeble action also. I'll Motion has been made and seconded by action on the motion, Councilor Pietrantonio.

The 134 Linden, didn't they knock that house down? I'm sorry, is that on number 11? I can answer that. Didn't they knock that house down on 134 Linden?

They did, and it was rebuilt to code. It's beautiful now if you saw it rebuilt.

Okay, so it's a lodging.

Yeah, it stayed a lodging house. They tore it down, dilapidated a piece of property, and they made it a beautiful piece of property. If you see it down the street, it looks really nice.

I'm not saying it's not beautiful. I'm just questioning, so it's still a lodging house? Correct. I thought it was apartments.

No, because the Zoning Board of Appeals didn't approve them to do units. and by right they could continue to be a lodging house. So he did his by right 12 rooms. So that's what he chose to continue to do. And that was by right, so that's why he did that.

I thought it was a problem. Thank you.

Madam President, if I may on the motion, can we actually, can we refer item 15, excuse me, item 11 to, I'm not sure which committee, but I... I was not aware, that's in Ward 5, I was not aware that, I don't know that the residents in that neighborhood were aware, were they? That this was going to continue to be

They fought actually the Havid departments and some of them were actually more in favor to keep it a lodging. I spoke to a few, I was at one of the meetings. Surprisingly, yes. But I was at one of the meetings, and I know the gentleman, Peter, that lives, I think, right next door, is actually more in favor of it staying a lodging. I can't... Answer anything? But yes, they were all aware. It was posted, and they knew. Actually, if you remember, so just very briefly, the person who... Built it originally, did make it a little bit too wide, so there was a complaint. Came back before him, Mr. Rossi represented him. They shrunk the footprint. It was a long process. I mean, I was at at least two of those hearings. and the neighbors were well informed. It's your right to hold it over, but this is a renewal and he is, you know.

We had a motion that had been seconded to favorable action on 7 through 11 collectively. Councilor Van Campen, would you like to change that?

No, I'll maintain my motion. The renewal is for a year, so if there's any issue with this property, we'll get it next year. Absolutely. Thank you.

So on this motion of favorable action, Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilor Halsey-Jabouin. DePierro, Garcia, Hanlon, Matusky, Pietrantonio, Rogers, Smith, Van Campen. President Martins.

Yes.

Ten yays, zero nays, Madam President.

Ten yays, zero nays. The petitions have been approved. Item number 13. Should we revert back? Yes. Number one.

Madam President, move to suspend the rules. Take items one and two collectively.

Second. Move to suspend the rules and take items number one and two collectively. All in favor? Opposed? The ayes have. Mr. Clerk, please read items number one and two collectively.

One and two are orders offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins as President. One, an order requesting approval to accept and expend donations in support of the City of Everett's Homecoming Celebration as follows. Andrew and Jessica Erickson, $1,000. American Contractors Corp., $1,000. Anthony Ferraro, $1,000. Favorable action.

which has been made in second for favorable action items number one and two. Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

Alcee Jabouin, Yes, Councilor DiPierro, Yes, Councilor Garcia, Yes, Councilor Hanlon, Yes, Councilor Matewsky, Yes, Councilor Pietrantonio, Yes. Councilor Rogers?

Yes.

Councilor Smith?

Yes.

Councilor Van Campen? Yes. Councilor Martins?

Yes.

10 yas, 0 nays.

10 yas, 0 nays. The donations have been approved.

Sorry. Move to suspend the rules. Take items 3 and 4 collectively.

May, do we have a second? May, then second to suspend the rules and take items number three and four collectively. All in favor? Opposed? The ayes have it. Mr. Coyle, please read items number three and four collectively.

Addams, three and four are orders offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins as president. An order requesting the confirmation of appointment of Elizabeth Cordero to the Food Policy Council for a term of three years expiring November 30th, 2025 and four... in order requesting the confirmation of the reappointment of Christina Neese to the Food Policy Council for Term 3 as expiring November 30, 2025. Councilor Smith.

Thank you. Does the Clerk know if these are paid positions?

Food Policy Council.

I have information here that it's 1,500 for the Food Policy Council. and number four appears to be unpaid. Actually, no, it's the same one. Sorry, so $1,500.

Sorry.

Okay, thank you.

Refer to the Committee on Legislative Affairs and Elections.

Second. Which has been made and second to refer items number three and four to the Committee on Legislative Affairs and Elections. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. The items have been referred. Item number five.

Item number five, Madam President, is an order offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins as President, an order requesting approval to accept and expend a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation in the amount of $100,000 to be used for watering trees.

I'm just a little curious. Do we water trees now? And where are these trees? Is that like a new farm somewhere? I noticed down there BJ's, I mean, Costco's. It looks like a plant thing there. Is that for that area maybe?

Do we have any additional information?

There's no additional information, so you can send it to committee. It could be because we do take care of the rotaries, and those actually stay property, but we water them, so it's potentially for some of that, but it's something that you could ask in committee.

You know, I'm just curious. It's a lot of money to be watering trees. You know, we have... You know, we have weather all the time that seems to work.

Could be because of the area that's under the supervision of DCR, but I'm not sure. Councilor Pietrantonio? Well, I'm not quite done yet. Oh, you're not? Okay, I'm sorry.

No, as I said, there is an area that's kind of a mystery to me as I drive by there. I go to that little park to walk my dog sometimes. And just before the... I don't know what the Home Depot area in the back there is. It looks like a small farm of planting. That could be the... I'd like to know where $100,000 is going.

Would you like to refer the item to committee to ask that question?

Yes, what committee would you suggest?

Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee. I think that's a good idea. I'm just curious.

Sure. So motion has been made and second to refer the item to the Committee on Ways and Means. And on that motion, Councilor Pietrantonio.

No, that's fine. I'll get my question answered at Ways and Means. I don't want to waste time. Thank you.

Okay. So 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. The item has been referred. Thirteen

Item number 13 is an order offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins as president in order requesting the confirmation of the appointment of Gabrielle Ponce-Limas as a member of the Transportation Advisory Board for a term of one year expiring November 30th, 2026.

Accept the committee report and favorable action. Second.

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

Jabouin, Clerk, DiPierro, Garcia, Hanlon, Marchese, Matewsky, Pietrantonio, Smith, Councilor Rogers, Councilor Smith, Councilor Van Campen, Councilor President Martins, 11 yeas, zero nays.

The appointment has been approved. Congratulations. Item number 14.

We're on to unfinished business. Item number 14, Madam President, is a resolution offered by Councilors Wayne Matewsky and Stephanie Smith that the City provide an update in regards to the vacant lot on Summer Street.

Councilor Matewsky.

Thank you. As the co-sponsor, I was just consulting with Councilor Smith if she had any information. This plot of land, which is pretty substantial, but it is sloped. It's a very awkward plot. The homeowner blew it up, I don't know, was it 10 years ago? Or something like that. And it's been vacant. The neighborhood deserves to know what's going to happen there. and as was brought up at the previous meeting if there is building there the neighbors would like to see some parking for each unit adequate packing that is but uh it's been sitting there for quite some time so do we don't have any update from anybody there's no response um in the packet We'd like to, the sponsor and I would like to lay this on the table till the second meeting in December with some kind of explanation as to what's going to happen.

Thank you. Councilor Smith. Thank you.

I just want to note that this has been on the table since August. So the administration has not provided us an update since August 11th. So I'm really disappointed in the lack of information to give us an update. So just wanted to state that this is not just one meeting. It's August.

So we have a motion to postpone this item to our meeting of the 8th. On the motion, Councilor Pietrantonio? Oh, the second meeting of December, the 22nd. Sorry, Councilor Pietrantonio.

The question I have, how can we force someone that's building something, how we as a council can force them to tell them to make sure they have adequate... adequate parking when we have the ZBA board they make the rules how do we how does the council tell them we want adequate parking if something's built there we already have rules in place that's the question I have

Madam President, I'd like to try to answer that as best I can. The City of Everett has taken that property. We own it. We can make the decisions, from what I understand, to parking requirements as the owner to whoever we may develop and might buy it. And that's what my understanding is.

So motion has been made and seconded to postpone. I'm sorry, Councilor Pietrantonio, you have another question? Go ahead.

I mean, I would think we could be sued for that. rules are in place, we do own it. So when we sell it, we don't own it anymore. I mean, I think we've never sold other property in the city. Madam President. We've never sold other property in the city where the ZBA controls it?

That would be a question for when we have the discussion at the second meeting that it's been postponed to. But if we have somebody from the administration that's going to show up that can answer questions, then we can ask.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Councilor. Councilor Garcia, did you have a question? No. Councilor Smith, did you have a follow-up? No. So it's still city-owned. The motion is to postpone it to the second meeting where we're going to ask those questions. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. The item has been referred to the second meeting of December. Item number 15.

is a resolution offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins and Gurleen Alsi. Jabouin, that the administration provide a status on the business opera grant application decisions and information on the committee.

So that is on the ARPA being paid to the businesses that we got the list recently. And have we received any updates as far as when the payment is being disbursed? I think we got an answer on one of the two items.

I thought there was an email a couple hours ago.

Okay, it was the second one. Okay, so Councilor Alcy Jabouin.

I'd like to invite somebody from the administration to come and talk to us about this item that's been on the agenda.

Well, they have been invited and did not appear.

Anybody? I don't think we have anyone present to speak on it tonight. What I'd like to know is that are we shut down? Is the government shut down? I know the businesses are wondering. They're making us look bad in front of our constituents. They won't come and talk to us. They're not showing up for work. If the government is shut down, they should not be getting paid. And if people abandon their position just because we just had an election, they should let us know. because this is frustrating. They are holding hostage checks that should have been cut already to the businesses. This is not acceptable. It makes us look bad. It makes the administration look bad.

Pietrantonio,

I think we should all realize that we're probably not going to get no answers from here out till the administration changes. I really don't think we'll get any answers. I mean, I had a constituent call, email me. 2021, she put an application in and she still can't, she's still trying to get information where the money went. She's a Small business owner in Everett. She's been in Everett for 15 years. And she's emailed me. I think I forwarded to Guerline. I think, Guerline, you made contact with her because you know more information about this than I do. and she can't get information on this ABBA money, this ABBA grant money. I mean, this is really a sad situation with this money. But again, we better realize we're not getting no answers from here out. from anyone in the administration. My failing.

Thank you.

Councilor Alcy Jabouin, what's your pleasure on this item?

I actually have a question. I don't know if it's something that we can answer. This is taxpayers' money. This is government grant. Since the administration decided to hold it hostage, is there somebody at City Hall that can bypass the mayor and get those checks cut to the businesses? So just because they decide not to show up for work, we're just stuck. We can't do our jobs.

Would you like to refer that question to the CFO or another department? I've emailed. So which clerk is suggesting if we should refer back to sponsor and hope that the next mayor will audit and make sure the payments get out. Councillor Smith.

We can't refer this back to sponsor. This is small business money. Every week, if not every other day, I'm getting a call because people are trying to pay their rent with this money. They promised their landlords they were getting a check for whatever, $16,000. They'll pay their money. They can't pay it. This is unacceptable, and I'd like to refer this to Monica Ford, the Treasurer, and see when the checks could be cut. Over a month ago, Erin said we could do a special check run. Where's the money? I'm not referring it back to sponsor. The administration has to finish the job. So I'd like to refer this to the treasurer, the CFO, the chief of staff, and get an answer. Unacceptable. Like Councilor, I'll see Jabouin stated. This is small businesses' money. This is their livelihood. They're getting shut down. They can't open because they're depending on this money to get through. And we haven't given it to them. Let's hold up every single piece of business that the administration is asking for and don't pass anything until they give the small businesses their money. Thank you.

So we also have information that we started asking this question back on August 11th when I remember of the conversation that the checks were getting cut in two weeks. Council Pietrantonio?

Can we hold up the checks, the payroll checks for people that are supposed to give information? Let's hold up their payroll checks. Let's see how they like it. We'll hold up their payroll checks. Can I make a motion on that? to hold up their payroll checks until they cut this ABBA money?

I don't think we have the ability to do it, unfortunately. So is the motion to refer the item to the next meeting and demand an answer? Yes, and I've emailed them today.

Well, Madam President, if I may, I would... I would suggest that the motion be, to Councillor Smith's point, her motion, but the motion's instructing the City Treasurer and the CFO to communicate with the President of the City Council by close of business tomorrow. What the status is so that we have that information. By close of business tomorrow.

So motion has been made and seconded to request an answer by the close of business tomorrow on the status of cutting the checks that have already been approved. So all in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number 16 Item number 16

Madam President, it is a resolution offered by Councilor 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.

The last request was to get the copies of the MOUs and the subrecipient applications so we could see what they agreed to. Did you receive any updates? I think that's the one that we received an email on.

It's not in my... Hold on, wait. It is in my packet. This is my packet. From this afternoon, yes. I am resharing with you the information that the administration previously provided to the council in response to this item to confirm that organizations that received APA funds are required to participate in quarterly compliance meetings. No questions have been received from any other member of the City Council since it was shared initially. If there are questions the Council would like answered, please feel free to share them.

I believe you sent them an email.

I did send an email asking for information which I did not receive. What I was asking for, they just beat around the questions. Again, frustration, frustration. If they're not showing up for work, if they don't want to work here anymore, they should not get paid. We have to show up. We still can't do our jobs because the information we need... to provide to our constituents, we don't have it. It's not being provided to us. So do they want us to stay home too? Because we can't do our job without the information that we're requesting from them. So what's your pleasure on this? We have a new mayor, but the sitting mayor is still responsible to answer to questions and his administration and his staff.

I just postponed it.

Yes.

Okay, so do we have a second? So motion has been made and seconded to postpone the item to the next meeting. The Councilor has emailed the questions and we hope to get the answers by the next meeting. All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number 17.

Smith. Excuse me, item number 17, and present is a resolution offered by Councilor Stephanie Smith that the administration and the Traffic Commission provide answers to the attached list of questions in regards to newly installed speed bumps.

Councilor Smith. I know that Sergeant Gaff had said he was working on this. Have we gotten a response?

I have none in my packet.

Okay, I'd like to add a question. In addition to the questions I already asked, now that they're taking up the speed bumps, are they filling in the holes so that the water does not seep through and then the ice spreads and cracks the streets? and then our brand new street, Foster Street's brand new. Is it gonna expand because we didn't fill in the holes? So I'd like to add that to my list of questions and I'd like them to please provide the answers. I wanna know how much the cost, So install them, how much it costs to take them up, how many people, when are they going back, what about the filling in the holes. I will refer this to the next meeting in hopes that I get a response.

Second. A motion has been made and second to postpone this item to the next meeting and ask for the responses to the questions that have been submitted and the new question that was just mentioned right now. All in favor? Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number 18.

Item number 18 is a resolution by Councilors Stephanie Smith and Holly Garcia that the administration provides an update for when the overflow trash day this year will be as discussed during budget hearings.

Thank you. As I'm sure there's no update, I'm going to refer this to the next meeting because it is now getting to the holidays and I'd like an overflow trash day, not just put out an extra bag day. I want an overflow trash day. like the mayor and the administration promised us because we saved money in the budget. So I'd like to refer this to the next meeting.

Second. Which has been made and second to refer this item to the next meeting for an answer. All in favor? Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number 19.

From the New Business, item number 19, Madam President, is a resolution offered by Councilor Stephanie Martins that the Licensing Commission reconsider their probationary period policy on new licenses in order to truly support new businesses.

Refer to Licensing. Second.

Yes. Motion has been made and second to refer this item to the Licensing Commission. All in favor? Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number 20.

Item number 20, Madam President, is a resolution offered by Councilor Anthony DiPierro, a resolution requesting the City Council to investigate the feasibility of increasing the residential tax exemption from 25% to a percentage between 26 and 35% per MGL in the future.

Councilor DiPierro.

Thank you. This was something that I was thinking of recently, especially now that the state allows municipalities to go up to 35%. I don't think it's prudent to do it this year until we actually look into it and understand what implications and benefits come with increasing the residential tax exemption and for those that don't know It essentially just shifts the burden amongst residential properties from those that are owner-occupied to those that are not. I've had a conversation with Mayor-elect Van Campen about it. We both think it's something that should be looked into and understood a bit more before we move forward with it. So I would like to refer this item to the new administration, as I was told I could do such.

Second. Which has been made and second to refer this item to the new administration. All in favor? Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number 21.

Our final item this evening, Madam President, is a resolution by Councilors Katie Rogers and Stephanie Martins. A resolution recommending a temporary pause on the processing and approval of data center facilities.

Councilor Rogers. Thank you, Madam President. So this was brought to my attention by some members of the planning board who noticed on a Davis Company proposal that there were unidentified data centers in the plans. I think it's important that residents are aware that the distinction with the Davis Company project is this is the largest scale project the City of Everett has ever seen. So there's many moving components to it, whether it's battery storage, whether it's data centers, whether it's animal testing, whatever it may be, there's a lot of different parts going on with this. So I think it's extremely important that any time we're introducing a new industry that we really have a thorough understanding of what the benefits and consequences are of each of those industries.

under the circumstances of being in a transition, I don't want to see something rushed as far as being put before the planning board or the ZBA. before our new mayor-elect has a chance to fully understand that, before the council has a chance to fully understand what a data center is. I'm not the most knowledgeable about exactly what it is. Maybe there are some that have benefits, but from my research, there are concerns in other communities throughout the country where there's noise complaints, there's a lot of water usage, there's a lot of power usage. In this case, I just think we need some more information on the specifics of what a data center and what type of data center would be. And I think that needs to involve our new mayor-elect, as well as the city council. So my recommendation is a motion to

refer a letter requesting a temporary pause on the approval of anything that says data center to the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals. just at least until our mayor-elect has an understanding and has time to have a conversation about exactly what the vision is here.

Rogers, so much has been made in second. I think you also had a formal resolution that you filed, right? Because we can just... refer that resolution to them as a sentiment from the council.

Yes, that's fine. We can refer the resolution.

Do you have it on? Because we could read it. Do we have to suspend the rules to refer if it's a

The expression of sentiment, so yes.

So which one?

I don't know which item number, which rule number, but you can just say suspend rules. No, 13 is the financial one. I don't know if it's 17 or 21.

I apologize, I don't remember the new... Give us one second, because I wanted to read the... Because you did submit it via email, the actual text of the resolution for approval. Because we can send that to the planning board.

So unless there's any objection, I'll make a motion to add the entire City Council.

Yes, the motion has been made and seconded to amend the item to add the entire City Council.

All in favor?

I'd like to speak on it now that we are all included. I agree with the council's intent here. You know, I had a different vision for that area. 25 acres is already committed to the lithium energy storage facility. and I was hoping that maybe something positive would be built in that area that would enhance the casino area, the homeowners that are living there now. Believe it or not, there's some homes being built right on Robin Street. people are committed to live in that neighborhood and to restrict that whole 75 acres to some kind of energy Data Center would be very restrictive. And it's not the vision that I was told we were going to have down there. I thought it was going to be similar, and we've all heard it, to Assembly Square Mall possibly.

So I support this endeavor and I'd like to know more about it. And the new mayor should definitely know more about it. So with that, I support this. Thank you.

So we need a motion to suspend Rule 18.

So moved.

Second. The motion has been made and seconded to suspend Rule 18. On that one, we have to have a roll call. So, Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

This requires a two-thirds vote. Van Campen, Councilor, excuse me, Council President Martins. Yes. Eleven yeas, zero nays. You suspended the board.

We suspended it, and now we can make a motion to refer the... The Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board. Okay, so all in favor of referring the resolution? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. I'm sorry, DiPierro.

Yes, I just want to wish my colleagues and the people of Everett a very happy Thanksgiving and remind everyone that we have the tree lighting on December 5th and I'll see you all there. Thank you.

Motion to adjourn. Motion has been made and seconded to adjourn. All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? The ayes have it. We have adjourned.