City Council Meeting 03-23-26

The meeting was called to order by Council President Stephanie Smith.

• Present (10): Councilor Guerline Alcy Jabouin, Councilor Michele Capone, Councilor Anthony DiPierro, Councilor Holly Garcia, Councilor Stephanie Martins, Councilor Wayne Matewsky, Councilor Vivian Nguyen, Councilor Peter Pietrantonio, Councilor Katy Rogers, and Council President Stephanie Smith.
• Absent (1): Councilor John Hanlon.

Multiple residents and representatives spoke on agenda and non-agenda items:

• Item 9 (Wage Theft Ordinance):
  • Chris Snook (Resident): Spoke in favor, stating it "protects workers... and it levels the playing field for contractors for a competitive bid."
  • Justin Antwitz (Lynn Wage Theft Advisory Committee): Discussed the importance of local tools to address worker exploitation, noting a case in Lynn that took three years to resolve without local ordinances.
  • Joe O'Brien (North Atlantic States Carpenters): Supported the ordinance to protect honest contractors and taxpayers from the costs of dishonest vendors.
  • Stephanie McCullough (Planning Board): Emphasized the need for ethical contracting during Everett's growth period.
• Data Centers and AI:
  • Stephanie McCullough: Urged the Council to ban data center construction due to concerns over air quality, noise, and utility rate hikes.
  • Jeff Parente: Expressed concerns regarding energy consumption and the use of AI in military planning.
  • Alex Elsevar: Provided a counter-perspective, advocating for the use of AI to help local entrepreneurs build community-based web applications.
• General Budgetary Concerns:
  • Peggy Serino: Questioned the use of "free cash," tax increases, and the necessity of additional bike stations.
  • Paula Storidi: Criticized the lack of enforcement for existing ordinances and raised concerns regarding the stadium agreement and the Silver Line extension.

The Council took action on the following license requests:

• Item 7: Renewal of a Class II motor vehicle dealer license for Broadway Gas and Service Inc. at 356 Broadway.
  • Outcome: Passed 9-0 (Councilor Matewsky not recorded in this specific roll call).
• Item 18: New mechanical repair license for 3rd Street Auto Repair, Inc. at 363 3rd Street.
  • Outcome: Passed 10-0.

The Council collectively confirmed the following appointments by a vote of 10-0:

1. Erica Cobelli: Commissioner of Veterans Services (Term expiring March 9, 2029).
2. Paul Segarino: Library Board of Trustees (Term expiring March 23, 2029).
3. Michelle Gaudi: Library Board of Trustees (Term expiring March 23, 2029).
4. Nancy Ehler: Library Board of Trustees (Term expiring March 23, 2029).
5. Mary Broderick: DPW Public Works Commission (Term expiring March 23, 2029).
6. Patricia Chiva: Elections Commission (Term expiring March 23, 2029).
7. John T. Spaulding: Zoning Board of Appeals (Term expiring March 23, 2029).

The Council discussed "An ordinance promoting fair labor standards and preventing wage theft in the City of Everett."

• Discussion: Councilor Capone expressed concerns regarding the city's capacity to enforce the ordinance and potential legal liability, stating, "I don't see this as just a union issue... what would we even be able to enforce?" Councilor Martins clarified that the Attorney General remains the primary enforcer, but the ordinance allows the city to deny contracts to bad actors.
• Action: Motion for favorable action for enrollment as amended.
• Vote (Roll Call): 9-1.
  • Yeas: Alcy Jabouin, DiPierro, Garcia, Matewsky, Martins, Nguyen, Pietrantonio, Rogers, Smith.
  • Nays: Capone.

An order amending the City Council rules to update public participation procedures.

• Summary: The amendment consolidates agenda and non-agenda speaking into a single three-minute period per individual at the start of the meeting. Councilor Rogers noted the current format was inefficient and potentially "unconstitutional" by making residents wait until the end of meetings to speak on non-agenda items.
• Outcome: Passed 10-0.

The Council addressed several financial requests from the Mayor's office:

• Item 10 (Fire Apparatus): Appropriation of $780,000 from the General Fund Budgetary Fund Balance (Free Cash) for a fire suppression apparatus. The purchase aims to achieve a 50% cost avoidance and bypass a 3-4 year wait time.
  • Outcome: Passed 10-0.
• Item 1: $115,000 from Free Cash for an outside audit by Roselli, Clark, and Associates. Referred to Ways and Means.
• Item 2: $150,000 from Water and Sewer retained earnings for emergency repairs. Referred to Ways and Means.
• Item 3: $40,000 from Free Cash for citywide legally required advertising. Referred to Ways and Means.
• Item 6: Acceptance of a $43,103.44 grant from Second & Vine, LLC for a Blue Bike Station. Referred to Ways and Means following Councilor concerns regarding sidewalk space and maintenance.

• Item 19 (Fire Regulations): An ordinance proposing amendments to the city's fire prevention and protection regulations was enrolled as amended by a vote of 10-0.
• Item 20 (Chelsea Street Park): An order to borrow $1,326,928 for the Chelsea Street Park renovation project was postponed to the next meeting.
• Items 21-24 (Administrative Code and Chief Officers): The confirmation of Monica R. Lamboy (Chief Development Officer) and Omar Boukili (Chief Administrative and Financial Officer), along with related Administrative Code amendments, were referred to a public hearing at the next regular meeting.