Calling this meeting to order. All rise for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nation indivisible with liberty and justice for
all. Okay, clerk, please take the lead with a roll call. >> Council Tennari Garcia is absent. Councelor Jimenez Rivera >> present. >> Councelor Cooper >> here. >> Council Taylor >> here. >> Council Robinson is absent. Council Tesh
>> here. >> Council Kelly Garcia >> present. >> Council Santa >> present. >> Council Oega. Council Brown >> here. and councilor Jesus >> present. >> Eight members present. You have a quorum. >> Awesome. Thank you, cleric. Moving on to
memoriams and celebratory resolutions. >> First resolution on the agenda introduced by councelor Kelvin T. Brown. Whereas it is fitting that as elected representatives of the city of Chelsea, the Chelsea city council should recognize those residents who are celebrating milestones in their
venerable lives. And whereas on Monday, December 15, 2025, representatives from the city of Chelsea, including several counselors and the city manager, joined family and friends to celebrate the lives of several centinarians at Cohen Florence Levine Estates on Admirals
Hill. And whereas Carmela Tracia, born in the year 1925, will celebrate her 100th birthday on Saturday, December 20th. And whereas Charles Charlie Kenter, born in the year 1924, will celebrate his 101st birthday on Monday, December 22nd. And whereas Guillotana
Ida Dem Michelle, born in the year 1925, celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday, December 8th. And whereas Maria Stella Garcia, born of the year 1923, celebrated her 102nd birthday on Thursday, October 16th. And whereas according to statistics and projections
from the Census Bureau, Centinarians currently make up 0.03% of the overall population of the United States and are expected to reach 0.1% in 204 from an estimated 101,000 people to around 422,000.
And whereas longevity of life is an immense blessing not just for an individual but for their family, friends, and the community at large. all of whom benefit from the knowledge and experiences these individuals bring to us all. Now therefore, it be a result that I, Council Kelvin T. Brown and the
members of the Chelsea City Council hereby congratulate Carmela Tracia, Charles Caner, Guillotana de Michelle, and Maria Garcia on the celebration of their status as centinarians and on behalf of the residents of the city of Chelsea extend our best wishes for many more happy years of life.
>> Thank you, Cler. What a beautiful resolution. Councelor Brown. Seeing no objections, you have the floor, counselor. >> Thank you, Madam President. Just want to congratulate um our residents, our four residents here in Chelsea. This
afternoon, we had a celebration that was cancelled. So hopefully if you're watching, we wanted to congratulate you all on going beyond 100 years old, 10 decades. uh a lot of significant monuments or accomplishments in our
lives. Um we were looking forward to being with you this afternoon, but we got the short notice that the celebration was cancelled. We're looking forward to when that celebration is rescheduled to be with you to also share the resolutions and join in with your
family and friends. Congratulations on 100 plus birthdays. Thank you, Madam President. >> Thank you, councelor. Counselor Lisa San. Yes, I just wanted to say congratulations as well. What an accomplishment especially in these crazy
times to forge on and um we should all live so long. So uh one of the phrases in Italian that you say when you are saluting is chantani is a hundred years. May you live a hundred years. So you have all done it. So chantani.
>> All right. Seeing no other comments, moving on to our next resolution. >> Next item on the agenda, you have a resolution introduced by councelor Tesh. >> Councelor Teshi, you have the floor. >> Thank you, Madam President. I introduced
this resolution for El Santene restaurant. Uh they are now having their 25th anniversary of being in Chelsea. And here I read, "Whereas the city of Chelsea is strengthened and enriched by the vibrant contributions of its Latino
community whose civic, cultural, and economic impact continues to advance the progress and unity of our city. And whereas the Salvadorian community in particular has played an essential role in shaping Chelsea's identity through cultural preservation, entrepreneurship,
leadership, and unwavering commitment to family and con and community. And whereas Elsanteneo restaurant and its owners Orlando Flores, Francisco Sepeda, and Julio Cesar Flores have devoted 25 years of distinguished service promoting
Latino excellence, uplifting Latino voices, and demonstrating steadfast dedication to the people of Chelsea. And whereas Santano's work has embodied the values of community pride, compassion, hard work, and integrity, contributing
immeasurably to the advancement of the well-being of countless residents. And whereas the city of Chelsea Council, the Chelsea City Council recognizes that such exceptional service to our community strengthens the social fabric of our city and reflects the very best
of our shared civic spirit. Now therefore be it resolved that the city count uh Chelsea city council hereby honors El Santeneo for 25 years of exemplary service to the city of Chelsea commence its owners Orlando Flores Francis and Francisco Sepeda and Julio
Cesar Flores for representing the Salvadorian community with distinction leadership and heart and call attention to Santano's enduring legacy legacy and meaningful contributions to our community. Um, Madame President, would you give me the privilege to reading it
in Spanish? >> Absolutely, counselor. >> Thank you. Cultural in particular Santanco restauranto. Chelsea, Chelsea. Orlando Flores Flores.
>> Thank you, Council. Could you please state your motion for the record? >> Yes. Um I move to accept and file um the resolution and adopt under suspension if there are no objections. >> Seeing no objections, council.
>> Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you, counselor. Move to suspend the rules. >> Absolutely. >> Absolutely. Councelor Brown. >> Thank you. I want to congratulate my dear friend. >> Counselor, your mic.
Sorry. Um, congratulations on your celebration. Um, I've known you for pretty much all the years. Um, I obviously get my haircut right next to your restaurant. Um, at TCA, um, at the barber shop, Santiago's barber shop. Um, the father and the son is here and his
family's here. Um, not only are have they been there for 25 years, but every day of the week, either the father or the son, and the son always tell me the dad is kind of getting closer to retirement. But, um, I just want to commence you. Your staff is wonderful.
Your food is wonderful. Um, your place is really nice. I enjoy when folks come in from out of town. We really enjoy the food there. It's amazing that for 25 years you've kept that corner on the corner of six and chestnut very poised
and people come here all the time. So we're so grateful of the resolution that you received your recognition for 25 years in our community and we wish you many many more years of success at that restaurant. Thank you >> councelor Rick bro.
So yeah, that's it. >> Thank you, counselor. >> Good stuff. >> Okay, rules are suspended for pictures. >> Five minute recess. You should have brought some treats. You should have brought some sandwich.
>> I'm going there tonight. So voting number. Let's let's resume our meeting. Moving on to uh there is no public hearing today. Is
anyone here for public speaking? No. All right. Moving on to approval of the minutes. >> Councelor Brown. >> Okay. Thank you, Councelor Brown. Seeing no objections, >> those are minutes for the special
meeting dated December 1st. We also have minutes for the regular meeting dated December 1st. >> Motion to approve the December one regular meeting minutes uh under suspension if there are no objections. >> Thank you, counselor. Seeing no objections, we'll move right along to communications from the city manager.
First item, >> what are we having a speed meeting? First communication received from the city manager responding to council order 25131, working group for 2026 allameric city awards. Dear counselors, I'm writing in response to council order
25131 requesting the creation of a working group to complete and submit an >> file the communication of the no objection. >> Thank you councelor. Seeing no objections, moving on to the next item. >> Next communication received from the city manager regarding teen center potential partnership with Boys and
Girls Club of Boston. Dear counselors, I am writing to share truly exciting news regarding a long- aaited priority for our community and for this council. Chelsea will soon have a dedicated teen center on Broadway. The city acquired 440 Broadway from the Salvation Army in
2017 with the intention of revitalizing the site for community benefit. Since then, we have worked closely with the developer to bring forward a transformative project that includes 29 affordable home ownership condominiums. Over the past year, we have focused on bringing a dedicated teen center for the
ground floor space. For many years, the city council has asked for safe, enriching, and accessible spaces for Chelsea's teens. A teen center located on Broadway is in every sense a dream come true. It sits in the heart of our downtown within walking distance of our middle schools and only a short distance
from Chelsea High School. >> Seeing no objections, councelor, you have the floor. >> Um, okay. Now, I would like I would like ask the city manager a couple of question if it's possible to ask the city manager a few questions because I have some questions regarding this that
I would like to be explained. So can I ask him the question and then he can answer them. >> If you could suspend the rules then we can go through the chairpus. >> Seeing no objections to the rules being suspended. Um city manager if you could join us please. >> Okay. One of the first one of the first
questions I got it. This is not a community center. It's a teen center. That's correct. >> So, this is going to be together. It's going to run the same way as the Boys and Girls Club is being run is being run by the Boys and Girls Club of Boston
with Chelsea. Is that what it is? Is this is going to be like an extra Boys and Girls Club? >> Yes, it is going to be like an extra Boys and Girls Club dedicated to teens only. >> That's it. But those teens can come like from anywhere. They don't necessarily
have to be Chelsea teens, right? I I don't know that that the Boys and Girls Club will restrict. I don't I don't know the answer to that question. I I assume that it's not >> question for you because I know already there's no restrictions on them. So that means they can come from East Boston.
They can come from anywhere. That is the question. That's a good thing that anybody can get accessibility to it no matter what it is. The next question I have is >> did the city purchase the building? Does the city own that building? >> We own that building.
>> So when we lease it, are we paying money on it or we leasing it because we own that building? >> So we we we own the building. Uh we will retain ownership of the bottom floor. The upper floors will be sold as condominiums. So
each each one of those property owners will own their their their specific condominiums. So, it's going to run like a a condo association, but the city will uh uh retain ownership of the bottom floor. Um the the structure of the lease
that we are contemplating right now with with the Boys and Girls Club is that they will pay all the fees in the future. >> Okay. So, in other words, the city don't have to pay any money for that building. So, who's being actually being leased to is to the Boys and Girls Club. That's right. >> They're leasing it and they're going to
pay us. >> That's right. And in return, they're going to help us with our use. >> Exactly. >> So, okay, that was one of the the major questions I had concerns about like why are we leasing something that we own? I didn't in here didn't specifically say
what you just said. So, it's good that you said it so the rest of the public can understand how it operates. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> And I can too. >> So, this is a good thing. This is just one step towards going to a community center. There'll be the next step. >> That's correct. >> Everybody can use it. It will be the
greatest thing. So this is good. A city is growing and it does need an additional center because that Boys and Girls Club is full. Yes. >> So this one, >> what is the capability? How many people can actually go to this club? >> So it's about 4,000 square feet. So it's
not as big as as a a community center, right? Then a community center uh uh I would expect to have a basketball court. I would expect I hope to maybe have a pool, you know, but it's more things. This is is a uh uh is a commercial space on Broadway on on the first floor,
right? So So it's going to be like like a uh when you walk into the CVS, right? Down on Broadway. It's going to look like that where it's it's one floor. It's like a store, right? It looks like a store. Uh um it's hard to say how many people are going to be in there. They uh
we toured the center in Matapan, which is similar, and they have about 50 teens in there. 50 50 teens. >> So this is a scaled down version of a boys and girls. It's it's that is just focused on teens. Just focus on teens from 13 to 18.
>> Do they have to apply or can they just walk in? >> They can just uh uh walk in. The Boys and Girls Club uh uh uh requires memberships, but the memberships are free. So, you have to be a member, but but uh uh the memberships are free.
>> So, but in this this will be the same format. >> Yes, it will be exactly the same format. Thank you. No more questions. >> Thank you, counselor. Seeing no other comments, let's move on to the next item. >> Next communication received from the
city manager regarding second appeal submitted for FEMA case COVID food distribution. Dear councilors, I am writing to notify the city council that we have submitted the second appeal to FEMA requesting reimbursement for food distribution efforts during the CO9 pandemic. Madame President, I move to
wave the rest of the reading and accept and file the communications if there are no objections. >> Seeing no objections, thank you councelor. Moving on to the next item. >> Next communication received from the city manager regarding a DPW practice change towing during snow parking bins.
Dear counselors, I am writing to share that our department of public works will be making a change in practice as it relates to towing during snow parking bins. Historically, DPW has issued parking bans for large snows storms or after consecutive snowstorms. While well-intentioned, the parking bans have
a huge impact on our residents. Residents scramble to find parking when a snow ban is in effect. The parking bands are called based on weather forecast that can completely miss the mark. We all recall storms that are forecasted to be large only to get a dusting in Chelsea. Parking bans are enforced with towing that are labor
intensive for our police. >> Mr. President. Um, I'd like to wave the rest of the reading accept under communication. If there are no objections, then I'd like to speak on it. >> I'd like to speak on objection. >> Could I object? I just want to, you know, the rest to be read for the residents. >> I I I think it's I just want to make sure that we highlight the specifics
rather than just saying like reading a whole communication that you know, let's just highlight the thing. >> Council, >> there is only one more paragraph to be read. >> Let's proceed with the reading. >> Uh, you just want the next paragraph, right? Sure. Um, after careful review and meeting with neighboring
communities, DPW recommends a change. Beginning January 1st of 2026, only vehicles parked on the even side of each of the emergency arteries will be required to move. During even numbered years, the snow parking ban will apply to vehicles parked on the even side of the street, and vehicles on the odd side
of the street can remain in place. In odd-numbered years, like 2027, the ban will apply to vehicles on the odd side of the street, and vehicles will be permitted to park on the even side. Thank you clerk. >> Councelor uh recuper motion and then you have the floor.
>> Okay. Um accept and file the communication if there's no objection and I'd like to speak on it. >> You'll have the floor counselor. >> Okay. Uh thank you. This is very well. The city of Chelsea finally understands that we have a parking problem. That is
a great thing to the residents outside. You see, the city does think of you sometimes. So, it's better for all of us. Thank the city manager and thank DPW for finally understanding that we have a big parking issue and this is going to resolve some
of it. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Jimenez. >> Um, I'd like to move to suspend the rules so that I can ask city manager a question if there are no objections. >> See, >> I object. >> Sure. Um, like to speak on it anyway. >> You have the floor, counselor. Um, I
would love to hear from the city manager at some point. Um, uh, how we are planning to communicate, what strategies we're going to use to communicate with people. Um I think it's important that we have conversations about the topics that are um up here um with you as well so that we can make sure that we better
understand uh what the city is going to be doing um and how the council can be helpful to you um in this process because I think it's you know if there will be doornocking and that kind of thing to make sure that that um our residents are aware of these changes and know which side is going to be towed that we actually you know can be helpful
to you if we if that is something that you would like. Thank you so much. >> Thank you councelor. I have councelor Sneig and then councelor Teshi. >> Um yes, I would just like the city manager as this program gets developed and communicated to consider uh the
handicapped spots and to make them exempt regardless of what side they're on. Um so if you're sort of doing that, I think that's important because for those people it would be difficult to move a car in any circumstance that
involves a storm. So, if you could think about that. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Teshi. >> Yeah, I mean, uh, I think the city manager might already be planning to do this, but, uh, you know, flyers on the streets would be really good to, you know, in the moment off, uh, people will
be out in the street trying to find a way to park and having a flyer that telling, hey, you can do it here, but not on the other street on the other side. That would be good. >> Awesome. Councelor Kelly Garcia. >> I'd also like to advocate for robocalls and text messages. I find those
incredibly effective. I think we push out a ton of language and flyers out and and sometimes um folks don't read it. Um and so robocalling and and text uh are super effective and so I would only advocate
for that. Thanks. >> Thank you, councilors. Moving councelor Brown. >> Thank you, Madam President. Yeah. Again, um the city already sends out the notification phones, robocalls, and also we have the lighting to indicate it. So, it's these are just for emergency
situations um regarding snow emergencies, but we do still have the lighting to indicate that you know um the ban is in effect. So, um you know, we post it on our website. Um counselors, if you have social media
accounts, that's something that individual council members can do, but again, the city is trying to address this under circumstances of emergency practices. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Thank you, city manager, and our departments. I know
Steve goes in long hours during these emergencies, so really grateful for the team that we have. Moving on to the next item. Next communication received from the city manager providing a draft capital improvement plan fiscal years 27 through31. Dear counselors, I am happy
to report that we have a draft capital improvement plan for fiscal years 2027 through fiscal year 2031. Effective capital planning is crucial to building a thriving and resilient community. I am proud of the investments we have made and continue to make with the incredible support of the city council. We have
upgraded our fire equipment and apparatus. We have improved our public buildings and we have expanded the number of parks in our city. Our progress continues with this capital plan, tackling the big issues that our residents need. Better roads and sidewalks, improved parks, and effective
public safety. We had a first community session to kick off our budget season. We will continue our community outreach after the new year. This capital improvement plan is $34 million with 35% funded from state grants. The largest project in the plan is the full reconstruction of the Park and Pearl
area, which the council has made a priority for many years. We will purchase a community support vehicle for our Chelsea Fire Department. This support vehicle will allow residents in emergencies such as fires and floods to stabilize and get rest outside of the elements following a crisis. The plan
continues to fund the Chelsea Opportunity Academyy's new home at 26 County Road, a multi-year project that will greatly benefit Chelsea High School. We will renovate CM Park, continue upgrading Highland Park, and continue our work on Lewis Howard Latimer Overlook Park. Attached, you
will find a draft of the proposed capital improvement plan for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. We welcome the city council's input and look forward to answering any questions. We will submit the plan formally as required under section 5-4 of the charter at your second meeting in January. As
>> to move as to move this to um committee on conference. There are no objections. So, um, we we would technically have it die if if we do that. >> Is that your intent, counselor? Because of the the next meeting that we have,
the time limit on it, it would technically die if we move it. >> Why is it okay? >> Why is it going to die? >> Point of order. >> Point of order. >> Yeah. >> Because the council does not carry over any items that are residual. So if the subcommittee is not scheduled before
December 31st of 2025, when the new term starts, all pending subcommittees are deemed default and we start over again. And this is technically the draft capital approval. Now Atlanta, it won't be submitted anyway until January. So council does typically refer that to conference anyway when it gets submitted
in January. >> Either way, but >> yeah, >> understanding that that's what >> right even at the first meeting we could make a vote to take up any business from the previous year um and
take a vote on it so that we're clear on on what it is. >> Uh councelor Brown, >> I'll be brief just to uh refresher. It's just a draft. So, normally we get the full context and we actually have exactly what council Robinson is
speaking of. Um I think we can just take it as the draft and wait to the full version come out and then move make motions to move wherever. Thank you, Madam President. Okay. So, the motion that sits on the ground, is that is that an objection to
the motion on the ground or can we proceed with councelor Robinson's? I just want to make sure I'm interpreting. >> Okay. >> Either way, the motion will be reintroduced next term. Okay. Thank you,
counselor. Moving on to the next item. Next communication received from the city manager providing the FY2026 annual assessor report. Dear counselors, I am writing to share the annual report from our assessing department. The report is fantastic and is a great way to get a snapshot of our financial achievements
and challenges. One of our biggest challenges is new growth. Fiscal year 2026 had the lowest new growth value in over a decade. This year's new growth was almost a quarter of the new growth we saw at our peak. New growth is the way we expand city services and support our residents without burdening our
existing taxpayers. New growth is critical to our community and it is the only way we will be able to achieve the city council's priorities. >> Madame President, I move to wave the rest of the reading and accept and file the communications. If there are no objections, >> see no objections. Thank you, councelor. Moving on to the last item.
>> Final communication received from the city manager regarding the CAP collaborative program from March to May of 2026. Dear counselors, I'm writing to share the exciting news that I have been accepted into the civic action projects collaborative program. The CAP collaborative begins March 10th, 2026
and runs for nine weeks, concluding on May 5th, 2026. Sessions are one day a week, Tuesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The CAP collaborative is a cross training initiative that brings together 20 senior leaders from both the public and private sectors in Massachusetts. These include government officials,
corporate executives, and community leaders. The program fosters deeper understanding, trust, and collaboration between business and government. Leaders engage with experts from the public and private sectors to learn about successful public private collaboration and develop a shared vocabulary on economic development.
>> Madame President, I move to wave the rest of the reading um congrats um to the city manager um and accept and file the communications if there are no objection. >> Seeing no objections. Thank you, councelor. Moving on to communications and petitions to the council.
>> First communication received comes from council Kelly Garcia providing Chelsea public schools indicators of success for November of 2025. >> Like to make a motion to accept and file and if there are no objections I'd like to speak on it. >> You'll have the floor counselor. >> Hi team. Uh before you you have this
month's indicators of success. There are two additional updates. Um on the last meeting the school committee proudly extended Dr. Alia Beda's contract. She's she'll be with us for an additional five more years. In addition, uh our senator
Sali Dominico was awarded uh the educator I'm sorry, the champion for education award for his 15 years of service. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Moving on to the next item. Uh my
apologies. Yes. Next item. >> Next, uh we have one more communication received. comes from the assistant parking clerk regarding the agenda items approved at the December 2nd, 2025 meeting of the traffic and parking commission. >> Thank you. Is there a motion
>> accept and follow communication on the suspension if there are no objections? >> Seeing no objections. Thank you, councelor. Moving on to committee reports. >> Motion was accepted and filed. Our sole committee report on the agenda comes from council Taylor, chair of
subcommittee on ways and means from the meeting held December 9th, 2025. >> There a motion >> like to u accept and file the committee report under suspension. If there's no objections and I would like to give the report.
>> You have the floor counselor. >> Okay. So there were there were uh three items uh that were uh discussed in the latest ways and means uh committee. The first uh was the uh report on the
community preservation committee on awarding grant funding for FY 2026. And um the the awards broke down as the following. $50,000 for stitching against heat to
provide cooling features at hightra public places. Funding will be provided to the department of housing and community development in collabor in collaboration with the senior center. Next, there was $200,000 for the Creekide Commons Park rehab and
renovation, restoration of the park's shade features, repair of the splash pad, and replacement of outside instruments in the music garden. Uh, the next one was $200,000 for the
Fitzpatrick Prattville pre-development. Funding will be utilized in the planning phase as the Chelsea Housing Authority works to replace the outdated residences of the Fitzpatrick public housing complex.
And the last one was $50,000 to TND top off rental assistance. Grant funding would be utilized to provide flexible rental assistance, particularly in cases where the state's $7,000 cap for raft assistance is
insufficient. TND executive director Raphael Maris uh explained the program is provided to all Chelsea residents who meet the income guidelines as opposed to strictly residents of TND properties.
The second item uh that was discussed was just the uh exception sorry acceptance of the donation of athletic equipment uh for the department of recreation and cultural affairs from the good sports foundation.
And the third was um the uh donation of athletic equipment to the department of recreation and cultural affairs uh from the good sports foundation specifically for baseball and softball equipment.
And that is the uh conclusion of my report. Thank you. >> Thank you counselor. Moving on to our second readings. First item under second reading, you have an order introduced by council
Taylor being read for the second time. Order that in accordance with Mass General Law, chapter 44B, section 53D, and chapter 2 of article 7, division 3, section 2-330 of the revised code of ordinances of the city of Chelsea, the Chelsea City
Council acts on the report of the community preservation committee on the awarding of grant funding to FY2026 Community Preservation Act projects. We had further ordered that the Chelsea City Council appropriates the following amounts from Community Preservation Act open space reserved. Uh $50,000 for
stitching against the heat and 100 thou $100,439 for Creekide Commons Park rehab and renovation from the affordable housing reserve $200,000 for Fitzpatrick Bradfield pre-evelopment and $50,000 for TND top off rental assistance. and from
the budgetary reserve $99,561 for Creek Side Common Park rehab and renovation. >> Thank you, Cler. Is there a motion? Councelor President, uh I believe a few of the counselors had questions about some of the items. So, I move to divide
the uh order into each of the items to make sure that any counselors who have additional questions about any of them can choose to do it uh for any of the specific items rather than all four. Um, if there are no objections, >> so we're reading it individually and voting individually. >> Yes,
>> I believe so. Whichever way is the clerk believes is appropriate. >> I object I object to this. >> Um, then it's a majority vote on the adoption of dividing it.
Non-debatable, I believe. >> Councelor Brown. >> Thank you, Madam President. I just I mean for the council and also for time sake we had this order we had this order at our last meeting. The order was stating that it would go to a subcommittee on ways and means anyone
had questions could attend those meetings and actually get those things addressed. Two weeks have transpired. We're at the last meeting before the session and I'm not sure why counselors are stating that certain counselors have issues where unless they were out of
this country but again we we had these here and they've were told that if you had questions there was a meeting and I think it was a later meeting normally an earlier date but this was a meeting that everyone time was available so I think we should move forward and adopt this
under a roll call vote >> madam President, >> it's my understanding that it's a non-debatable motion. Um, and if the council does not wish to proceed in this way, that's fine. But I that I don't have questions, but I believe others might. So, that's that's all. >> Thank you, Councelor Himenez. Uh,
councelor Rupo, and then if I may get a chance to speak from the >> I believe it's fair. We should all if you don't like what's there, you should reject it if you don't agree with what it is. So, I believe it's fair what he's talking about. That's right. Let's all vote on it individually. If you have
some reservation about what you're voting on, you should make your your voice be heard regardless if it is or if it's not. >> Well, I'm going to vote in favor of what he what Mr. Gimenez wants to do. >> Okay. Council um
clerk, could we get clarification as to the debate >> on the ground? The um um the motion on the floor initially was to make a motion to separate the items individually for individual roll call
votes. Council Taylor objected. Um technically it's not a motion to amend as there's no amendment pending on the floor. Technically under council rules there's nothing prohibiting the individual items from being voted on separately. Um, council does have the ability to
approve, reject, or limit or lower the amounts for each of the items as approved by CPC. But my personal recommendation would be if a majority of council wishes to move on with separating the items individually, so be it. But I would recommend it be put for
a majority vote for council. And if a majority decides to separate them, so be it. >> Point point of order. >> Counselor. Uh, councelor Jimenez said that is a non-debatable motion. Is that is that true, Mr. Clerk? >> Technically, there's not a real emotion. It the motion was to
I believe the motion was technically to adopt individually by roll call vote, which is not in itself a non-debatable motion. Um, council Taylor objected to separating them individually, but that was the only pending motion. So technically the motion on the floor would be whether or not council wishes
to accept them individually or not. If a majority wishes to not then another motion can be made on the floor at that point for approving them all together rejecting individual amounts. Council does have the ability to amend each item individually if they choose.
>> I think that's better. >> Okay. Council attention >> just mentioning I I wouldn't want to divide them. Why? Okay. So, uh if I may get an opportunity to speak from the chair. Okay. Full transparency, I have reached out to the
agencies on the um on on the um on the order that we are about to vote on. Um and I am also part of ways and means. During Ways and Means, I had an opportunity to ask questions on the
projects that were being presented. However, I have since then today received information that concerns me with just a few of the items within this order. Unfortunately, by having to
vote for it all together, that doesn't give me the opportunity to vote in favor of the items that I actually do not have concerns for. So, um, just want to make that clear for the record that due to the concerns I received today, I would have appreciated. And once again, I have
reached out to these agencies for further conversation. Um, yeah, councelor Teshi, >> um, I really don't want to put you on the spot, but, um, I don't know if it if it's possible, you know, that that those who want to state their concerns about
these projects uh, may be made public just because I don't know of any of those concerns. And if that would sway my vote to a no, then I would also like to have that info so I could back my voting on that. Um, and any is anybody's welcome to do that.
>> Absolutely. So my efforts in not disclosing was to be able to have conversations with the agencies. So I will make very clear that I have not spoken to these two agencies and I have not heard their side of the interpretation of this data that I
received today. However, um for two projects that are dear and near to my heart as I have worked with both of these agencies to support our low-income families. Um first is the um neighborhood developers uh proposal for
funds um to aid our families that are um on the verge of homelessness. Um, and the other one is our Chelsea Housing Authority uh partners that are looking to support our families in the Prattville area. I've been informed um
through my work with some of the um docket and eviction record um efforts in Chelsea that these two agencies are actually um leading the charts in our evictions in Chelsea. Um, this is simply what the data shows in our Chelsea
District Court. Once again, all of this is important for us to be able to speak to these agencies and understand what each one of these cases that came before courtroom and essentially was evicted, what was the cause, how did we support
them in reaching some type of service um, and some type of aid so that they can sustain their home. um and I have not had the opportunity to speak with the agencies that I myself have many many years worked with. So I would like the opportunity to do that before I
continue with this vote. However, if you guys would like to proceed in an entire um order, we can do that as well. Councelor Teshy, councelor um Taylor, >> sorry, councelor Tesh has already spoken. >> I would just say I I object hearing that
I would please um hearing um you know hearing what you mentioned I I do trust you as a as a leader of this council and and I would I would like to split them after hearing that. >> Okay. Councelor Taylor.
>> Uh by council rules a a counselor is allowed to speak one time and and and a counselor is not allowed to speak twice unless and there there shouldn't be any back and forth. Uh, so you're violating the council rules by doing that.
>> Counselor, I am not trying to dismiss any comments on a vote that we are about to take. If you have something to add, >> I do I do have something. So I think that this I I I think this this is highly
inappropriate that this is the last meeting of the year and all of a sudden oh we have some objection after we were we have already been through this process through the process of the subcommittee of which the
counselor is on and now we we we can't do it because Uh, oh, some new information has come to light. Well, I'm sorry. This is the last meeting of the year, and if you want to vote no on it,
vote no. Uh, but we ought to have our vote. We had a subcommittee. Every counselor could have come and ask questions about this. We should move this forward. And you know, I if if
counselors want to vote no on this, then you know, they have to live with that vote. So, um I I I I suggest we take a vote on whether we want to separate these things out. If the majority wants to separate them out, we'll vote on them separately. If not,
let's vote on it as a whole. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Council um clerk, if I can have you clarify, if um these projects do not get voted in favor, do these agencies have an opportunity to resubmit for the same
amount in the new term? >> Um to be entirely honest, I'm not 100% familiar with how the CPC conducts their business. The only thing I know for sure is if council does choose to reject the grant funding proposals, I believe the
funds as allocated will return to their respective individual CPC line items and the CPC would have another round of um grant funding requests, I believe, sometime in calendar year 2026 to wrap up fiscal year 2026.
>> Thank you, Cler. point of information, >> Robinson, >> they would have to wait till the next round whenever that is in the new year in order to reapply for these monies. >> I believe that would be um I think this count this round was their fall round.
So I think it would be spring of 2026 whenever exact month I don't know but it would be spring of 2026. >> Okay. >> Thank you counselor. All right. So there is a motion on the ground right now to uh get votes for whether we continue
splitting or continue with the order as it reads. So councelor Jimenez Rivera made a motion to separate the line items individually. Council Taylor objected and my al my personal recommendation would be to have a roll call vote on the motion to
separate. So that motion is pending on the floor. majority vote would would rule. >> So a yes vote will be to separate each individual grant funding proposal to
have them be voted upon separately. A no vote would be to reject the motion and have them all be presented before you as one lump body. Still subject to amendment. So the no vote. So the yes the vote is to whether or not to separate
individually or vote in one mass. >> Everyone clear? >> Yes. >> Yes. Let's proceed with the vote. >> Council Tenary Garcia. >> Council Jimenez River. >> Yes. >> Council Gubo. >> Yes. >> Council Taylor.
>> No. No. Council Robinson. >> No. No. >> Council Tesh. Yes. >> Yes. Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Sandig.
>> Yes. >> Council Vega. >> Council Brown. >> No. >> No. >> Council Jesus. >> Yes. >> Six members voting in favor, three opposed, two absent. Motion adopted. End
of items can be vote can be amended and voted upon individually. Thank you, Claire. Proceeding now with the items to be voted individually. Um, personal suggestion, if council doesn't object, um, the two specific
funding items for Creekide Commons, they're funded separately under two separate line items. Um, if council would consider lumping those together to save on roll call votes, it would be possible. Otherwise, we'll proceed on five individual roll call votes.
>> I guess we just vote. I would say do the five because we just voted in favor of doing it that way. >> So, your first item before you would be approving the community preservation committee's request for $50,000 for
stitching against the heat. Any debate? >> Seeing no debate. >> Act for a roll call vote on the adoption. >> Roll call vote requested. Majority vote for approval. Council Tari Garcia.
Council Jimenez. >> Yes. >> Councelor Cooper. >> Yes. >> Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Council Robinson. >> Yes. >> Council Tesh. >> Yes. >> Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. Council Santig, >> yes. >> Council Lee is absent. Council Brown, >> yes. >> And councelor Desus,
>> yes. >> Nine members in favor, zero opposed, two absent. Individual item approved. >> Thank you, Cler. Next item before you, a request for $100,439 for Creekide Common Park rehab and
renovation from Community Preservation Act open space reserve account. >> Is there a motion? >> Motion to adopt under road call vote. Madam President, >> seeing no madam president, I would I would move that we combine the two creek
side so we can save the the It's all It's all the same project, just the separate funding sources. >> Seeing no objections. >> To clarify, that would also include adding in the budgetary reserve request
of $99,561 for Creekide Common Park rehab and renovation. Roll call vote requested, majority vote to adopt. Council Tenari Garcia, yes. and council Jimenez River. >> No. >> No. Council recuper.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Council Robinson. >> Yes. >> Council. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Council Santig.
>> Yes. >> Council Vega. Council Brown. >> Yes. Council Dus, >> we combined one and three, >> two and um >> two and five. >> Madam President, >> two and five.
>> Uh no >> no. >> The vote is seven in favor, two opposed, two absent. Majority vote required. Approving funding request approved. Next item before you, a request to appropriate $200,000 for a Fitzpatrick
Prattville pre-development from Community Preservation Acts affordable housing reserve account. >> Is there a motion? >> Move to adopt on a roll call vote. >> Seeing no objections. >> Roll call vote requested. Majority vote
to adopt. Council Garcia. Councelor Jimenez. >> Yes. Yes. Council recuper. >> No. >> No. Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Robinson. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tesh.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Santigette. >> Yes. >> Council Vega is absent. Council Brown. >> Yes. >> And councilus. >> This is number three. >> Yes. >> That would be correct. >> No.
>> No. The vote is seven in favor, two opposed, two absent. Majority vote requested. Funding request approved. Final item before you would be a request for $50,000 from Community Preservation Act affordable housing reserve for TND's
top off rental assistance program. >> Move to a roll call vote on the adoption. I'd like to speak on it. >> You have the floor, counselor. So, I'm just going to repeat what I said in the Ways and Means uh committee on
this on this particular uh item and I will be voting yes on this but um the policy the policy was to uh exclusively use this money for in
conjunction with RAFT and there they adopted the rules for RAFT which only go up to um or or maybe I'm getting this wrong. Uh correct me someone if if I'm if I'm saying this wrong, but
the only people that got this money were people that were at 60% AMI or less. Now, I think they said that was the rules of RAFT and that raft kind of dictated those rules. That's why they
did that. I merely asked the question as to why we were excluding people um at other affordable rates like 80% AMI and and
um you know I I just think that if the city is giving money to an organization um for rental assistance um we ought to we got Consider everybody. Not everybody's in the same
financial boat. There are families at 80% AMI who are struggling. There are people at 30% AMI who are struggling. Why are why are we automatically excluding or letting one of these recipients exclude
um uh people? I I I didn't think that that was right. So um what I had asked the city to do was to provide the receipts and we should be doing this anyway for any organization
in this city that gets city funding. We need to have the results about who's getting the money under what circumstances and and to see if these um programs are actually
um succeeding or not. So, I'm going to vote for this, but I really want the city to provide um or to require these entities who are receiving
money to give us more data so we can decide we can make an educated decision on which programs are actually working and where we're just throwing money away. I I I think that that's like an
incumbent responsibility on us all to be responsible with the taxpayers's money. We all want to help people, but we want we don't want to exclude anybody. We want to be inclusive and
we want to be fair. So, um I would just ask the city to take that into consideration and I will be voting yes. Councelor uh sorry, councelor Teshi had already asked and then councelor Ruble bro.
>> Yeah, I mean I would say you know seeing how this is the end of the year and and you know that um if we vote no on this it does not preclude them from applying again you know in in two to three months. Um you know with with valid concerns being raised it feels a little
bit uneasy to say yes when we don't have all the answers. Um you and I would really appreciate if we could have uh organizations come you know every now and then to the council and and present on the programs that they're doing. Um I think it's also responsibility of each
counselor to reach out and find out what they're doing but it helps because then we can provide that on the public uh forum for everybody else to see. Um so you know I I would say that I would be voting um against uh the $50,000 on on
this next issue. Councelor Rupro, >> uh, I understand what my fellow council is saying. That's why I put in an order. There is an order tonight requesting that these agencies provide
where the money is going and how are they using it. So, as far as what he's my fellow council is saying, it is correct. Everybody should be entitled to it. You shouldn't exclude anybody. And for that reason, I'll be voting no
because everybody should get it. If the city gives them money, those are taxpayers money and everybody is paying. So, everybody should have a reasonable opportunity to get something out of it. And if you're excluding people from it,
then you're not doing what you're supposed to do. >> So, you applying for something that you're going to give to the public, but yet the public is not entitled to get it, but it's the public money that you are using. So my fellow counselor is right in that way. I don't know why he's going to vote yes when he's actually
saying the wrong way. So I I I can't figure that out, but as far as my I'm going to vote no. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Robinson. Yeah, I did attend the E meeting and raised a couple questions and one of the questions I already got
some feedback from the city manager in regards to the payouts to certain groups or certain landlords that would um are receiving some of these monies. But my other question, I hope that I'm going to
follow up with the city manager on is how many people are repeaters every year and we seem to be giving the same people the same dollars every year and not being able to reach other residents who
might be in need because we're having a cut off at 60% of the imi. So those are couple things I'm looking to get feedback but also want to thank the city manager for the due diligency and get me the print out of what I asked for.
>> Thank you, counselor. If I may briefly, I promise um get a few minutes to speak from the chair. All right. Thank you, counselors. My fellow counselors might be surprised, but I fully agree with councelor Taylor and councelor Robinson. I think it's
important for us to get data. I think it's important for us to go back to having these agencies come before us during the budget season and share the outcomes and the impact where the money that we are investing is going. But I also am really glad that councelor
Robinson shared this because it's important for us to ensure that we are providing a service and I mentioned this during our ways and means meeting. We are providing a service of stability long term. So we cannot help someone pay their rent without ensuring that they
will not end up in the same situation again. Which is why we need to provide wraparound services. Simply giving someone enough money to pay the rent for two or three months is not enough. Connecting them to higher paying jobs, connecting them with workforce development, that is how we're going to
be able to make this invested money go further by providing that long-term stability. So I am really excited to continue to work with you all next year on this uh very important topic. I think now we proceed to a vote.
Councelor Taylor. >> Thank you. I just wanted to say one other thing. If if if we reject this, the reason why I am voting yes is because if we reject this, then they
won't be able to get that funding to give to those people that that do need it. The fact that they're being kind of, you know, non-inclusive about the people at 80% AMI, I think can be corrected on the next goound. And if we get a pledge
to do that, great. Um, but you know, I I I think that voting no on the money means that those people aren't going to get that money for this goround. So, you know, I I I
this is the Christmas season for for for for whatever it is. I'd hate to be a Grinch on on uh on that. Uh but uh you know people vote how they're going to vote and stand by it. >> Councelor Himenis and councelor uh
Robinson. >> So I guess first of all I want to uh thank you madame president for allowing counselors to speak more than once this time around. Um >> you noticed that. >> Yeah. We want to make sure that everybody gets an opportunity to speak. Um, and um, I I just I want to say
I think this this motion is likely to pass, so I'm just going to vote in favor of it. But I I I agree with a lot of what has been said about making sure that we are continuing to do our due diligence, not just about the financial orders that are coming here to us, right? But specifically, you know, the work that the organ these organizations are doing beyond that. Um, and
especially, you know, if what you're saying is that, you know, these two organizations are the top two organizations evicting, right? Why is that? is that, you know, are these valid reasons? Are there are they not? And and just making sure that that we're doing our due diligence to make sure that when people bring up this information to us,
making sure that we have answers for them and that it's not, you know, like, oh, we we didn't know, right? It we now have this information and we're going to act on it, right? And and make sure that we continue to do that. So, um I I will be voting in favor of this and um just we will get on that as soon as the next
term begins. >> Councelor Robinson and then councelor I just want wanted to be able to say if we did not vote for this then the alternative is we would be dealing with a lot of evictions from people not being able to pay their rent. So that's the alternative we'd be looking at.
>> Councelor Rubro >> your mic counselor. >> If that's how everybody puts it that's the way it's going to be. I'm going to vote in favor too because we don't want to be the Grinch. We want to help people. We're in the business of helping people, not not helping them. So maybe for next time
when they apply, there'll be a different way that we can understand it better and maybe vote on it a different way. But for this time, that's your Christmas gift. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Sanate, >> I was just wondering if there's a way to vote yes with conditions.
>> No, >> nothing like that. The only changes council can make are um accepting, rejecting, or lowering the amount granted. That's all. >> Councelor Kelly Garcia, >> I'd like to make a motion for a roll call.
>> There you go. >> I was going to ask the city councelor to uh the city manager to share some of his perspective, but we can go straight to it. Yes, councelor Brown. >> Thank you. There is a motion. >> I was not going to say anything at all, but again, this is $50,000. This is a a
well-known organization that's been in our city for quite a time. Just do a lot of great work here. Um we've had these folks up with our city manager. We have um leadership over top um discussing and watching these fundings to go out. I'm
not sure unless we have evidence of some wrongdoing then that's the only reason why we should be considering trying to hold this up or bring these folks back before us. But it's been the practice in the past that anytime that we would like to have folks come up prior to this type
of communication at the end of the year that we had they would come up. Um these organizations for whatever federal laws allow that this specific grant here there's a cut off whether it's 80 60 30
whatever the percentage is. It's just that but they have others that go for other type of um loans and in assistant programs. This is a $50,000 um
request for helping folks in hardship with potentially evictions, rent assistance and it probably go to numbers of folks and I believe that the city has been in good communication with them and
we're not worried that someone is doing anything wrong but if they are that's something we should look at and just have an annual review come before us. so we don't have to have all this discussion at the last meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. So, right before we go into our vote, I will say that
definitely my comments stirred up some conversation today. Good conversation. Um, I think similar to how we voted as a body this year to have the first ever in the state goodstanding policy for uh property managers that we continue to uh
look closer at the situation. It's a complex issue. No one in this body is going to solve the housing crisis alone. We may not solve it all together, but I think that it's worth us continuing to have these conversations and not just
relying on our department, but using some of our own research and our own experiences as we go out to see our constituents and hear from our constituents. Again, I have nothing against these two agencies. Very, very well respected and I have worked with them for many, many, many years. Um, I
do believe that, um, city manager, we have some work to do so that we can close the loop on some of these situations and keep an eye out, um, from different perspectives on how this housing crisis is impacting our community and how we can work better with partners on the ground. And I do
think that, you know, in in the in the last few weeks of this year, I will be having lengthy conversations with all of our partner organizations on the ground to ensure that I have a better understanding. But because this information got to me and because you all know that housing is near and dear to my heart, I am sure that this will
pass, I will continue to vote no tonight. Um, and I will continue to schedule my conversations with these agencies. All right, let's move on to a roll call vote. Majority vote. He has vote to adopt.
Council Tenari Garcia. >> Council Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Councelor Coopo. >> Yes. >> Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Robinson. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tesh. >> Yes. >> Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Councilor Sandig. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Leve. Absolutely. Councelor Brown. >> I'm proud to vote yes. >> And councilus. >> No. The vote is eight in favor, one opposed, two absent. Funding request approved.
>> Thank you, clerk. Moving on to the next item on the agenda. >> Next order introduced by councelor Taylor being read for the second time. Order that, pursuant to Mass General Law, chapter 44, section 53A1-2 and section 3-5 of the City of Chelsea
Code of Ordinances, the Chelsea City Council hereby accepts the donation of athletic equipment to the Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs from Good Sports Foundation as detailed in the inventory below, totaling $10,352.85. >> Thank you, Clark. Is there a motion?
>> Move to a roll call vote. >> Seeing no objections, moving on to a roll call vote. Roll call. Vote requested. Yes. Vote to adopt. Councelor Tenari Garcia. >> Councelor Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Councelor Cooper. >> Yes.
>> Council Taylor, >> yes. >> Council Robinson, >> yes. >> Council Tesh, >> yes. >> Council Kelly Garcia, >> yes. >> Council Sandig, >> yes. >> Council Vega is absent. Council Brown, >> yes. >> And councilus, >> yes. >> Nine members voting in favor. None opposed, two absent.
>> Order adopted. >> Thank you, clerk. Next item. Next item under second readings. Order introduced by councelor Taylor being read for the second time. Order that pursuant to Mass General Law chapter 44 section 53A1-2 and section 3-5 of the city of Chelsea's
code of ordinances. The Chelsea City Council hereby accepts the donation of athletic equipment to the Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs from the Good Sports Foundation as detailed in the inventory below totaling $7,554. >> Is there a motion? Move to roll call
vote. >> Seeing no objections, moving on to a roll call vote. >> Roll call vote requested. Yes. Vote to adopt. Council Tennere Garcia. >> Council Herman Rivera. >> Yes. >> Councelor Cooper, >> yes. >> Council Taylor, >> yes. >> Council Robinson, >> yes. >> Council,
>> yes. >> Council Kelly Garcia, >> yes. >> Council San, >> yes. >> Council Vega, absent. Council Brown, >> yes. >> And councelor Deus, >> yes. >> Nine in favor, zero opposed, two absent. Order is adopted. >> Thank you. >> Final item under second readings. We have a communication received from the
city manager being voted for the second time requesting council approval of appointments to boards and commissions. Dear council, pursuant to section 4-2 of the charter of the city of Chelsea, I'm writing to recommend the following individuals to boards and commissions in the city. For appointment to the
planning board, Miss Jenner Herrera of Chelsea appointment to the tree board, Miss Lauren Patterson of Chelsea. for appointment to the cultural council Miss Floyd de Maria Guerrero Alana of Chelsea appointment to the cultural council Mag Mr. Magna Garcia of Chelsea
reappointment to the board of registars of voters Mr. Jacob Resnik of Chelsea and reappointment to the Community Recreation Advisory Board, Miss Hillary Paul Medcaf of Chelsea. >> Madam President, I'd like to move this to a roll call vote on the adoption. I'd like to speak on it really quick. >> Seeing no objections, you have the floor, counselor.
>> I would just like to thank Miss Patterson uh who is being appointed to the tree board for joining us tonight and would like to share that Miss uh Paul Metaf uh who is being appointed to the community recreation advisory board mentioned that she was unfortunately not going to be able to make it, but sends the council her best. Um and uh with
that just move to a roll call vote. Thank you. >> Seeing uh councelor Brown >> just also want to thank um Lauren um Patterson for being here. We know you introduced yourself to us earlier. Appreciate your patience and sorry the meeting was so long but thank you again
for your attendance in the audience tonight. >> Thank you counselor. All right, moving on to a roll call vote. >> Roll call vote requested. He has votes to approve. Council Garcia, >> yes. >> Council Hermenzer, >> yes. >> Council Rupo, >> yes.
>> Council Taylor, >> yes. >> Council Robinson, >> yes. >> Council Tesh, >> yes. >> Council Kelly Garcia, >> yes. >> Council Sandigette, >> yes. >> Council Leve, absent. Council Brown, >> yes. >> And council Dus, >> yes. >> With nine members in favor, zero opposing, two absent. Appointments and
reappointments have been approved. >> Thank you, clerk. Moving on to new business. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. The first item under new business order introduced by councelor Rupuro ordered that the city manager look into providing a parking pass for city councilors to use in the city hall
parking lot while attending to city business. >> Accept and file the communications objection. >> Seeing adopt under susp suspension >> suspension. >> Seeing none councelor. >> Oh okay. Moving on to the next item.
Next item under new business, we have an order introduced by councelor Rubbero. Ordered that the city manager work with relevant departments to provide the city council an accounting of how community preservation committee grant funding was allocated and spent by organizations that received funding in fiscal years
2025 and 2026 to date. >> Council member Cooper >> adopt under substion if there's no objections like to speak on it. Seeing none, you have the floor. Counselor, >> here's the order that we spoke of
earlier. I already had put that order in to make sure that all the people outside understand and know where their money is going. So, thank you very much to the city manager for eventually providing us
all the information that we need. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. You're ahead of the game. >> I know. I'm never ahead. Moving on to councelor Kelly Garcia. >> Um, clerk, can I ask what the process
would be for this order? I think a lot of us are in agreement and I would love to learn more about what the process would be on how I mean or so would it be that the nonprofits would
come to us such as departments do during budget time or is this a decision that is made amongst this body? I would personally suggest that that would actually be a decision better left to council as a body
>> if council wishes to I'm assuming the city manager will provide a communication detailing the information you've requested. >> Okay. >> If council so decides that they want to send it to conference and invite all the community organizations to attend, council is well within their perview to
do so. >> Great. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah, I was just wondering what the process would be like for for that. >> We've done it we we've done it in the past. >> Oh, great. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor Garcia. Moving on.
>> Our final line item under new business order introduced by councilo. Order that the city manager provide an update on the status of the Eastern Minerals fund that was set aside for beautifification efforts in district 6. >> Accept and file the communication or adopt under suspension and uh I would
like to speak on it. You have the floor, councelor. >> Um, each year Eastern Mineral has a fund that is specifically slated for district 6 and it goes into escrow. So I would like to
know exactly like I asked once to put welcome to Chelsea waterfront which is part of that and the city paid for it and I really I like it but I don't like it's made out of wood. the wood's going to rot. So if East Mineral provides us
with the money, we should have put it on a granite, which would have lasted a lot longer. So my my thing is how much money is in there and how much is that money is being used on district 6 to be fixed? Because that money is slated for
district 6. I don't see any flowers in my district. I don't see any nice curb sides with all beautifulation things. The city don't have to pay for it. that money is given for that purpose. So like I would like to see how much money is
actually in that account and how much money is being slated for that district. It's fair enough. Fair enough question. If the money's for that district, it should be used for that district. So thank you very much. >> Thank you, counselor. All right, that
concludes our items. Uh any public announcements or announcements this evening? No public announcement. >> Okay. Any any um Well, I have a public announcement. Councelor Brown, you have a public announcement. >> Yeah. Just want to wish everyone a happy
holiday season. So, a very happy holiday season. Um and enjoy yourself, enjoy your families, and be safe. Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Uh counselor. >> Okay. Uh councelor Taylor.
Um, I also wanted to wish everybody a uh a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, whatever you're uh celebrating um during this season. Um we we had a uh lovely albeit cold lighting of the
manara uh celebration in Chelsea Square earlier this evening. Um, and I think it's just incumbent even in this city council to try to lower the temperature
uh amongst us in in this in this holiday season. We should we should try. There's there's way too much um violence as we've seen uh this last weekend. Um and uh um
I think we all should try to work harder to uh to try to make that stuff go away because uh this is supposed to be the season of uh love and light instead of darkness and uh grief.
Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Um if I may just briefly share from the chair, I echo the words of my fellow counselor Brown and counselor Taylor and I want to wish all of my colleagues a very happy holiday season. I hope you all got your rest
during the break, but also I I hope that when we come back in January under new leadership that we are able to continue to have conversations, continue to work with our city manager guiding him with our priorities as a body. Um, but most
of all continue the efforts that we started uh more heavily towards the end of this year and that's being on the ground. Whether you're handing out a box of food at a pantry or you're visiting some elder or homebound folks that are not able to leave their home, let's check in on our neighbors. Let's make
sure that we are also knocking on those doors and seeing folks face to face. Um, but most importantly, let's not forget that we are a sanctuary city and we serve everyone regardless of where they're coming from or what their status is. Happy holidays to all of our
families in Chelsea. and I will pass the mic to councelor Sanagate. >> Yes. Um I also want to reiterate uh best wishes for a happy festive season and I also wanted to thank my fellow counselors because this is the official
end of my first term. So I just wanted to thank you for your guidance and support. Um I was new at this and I appreciate all the help that I received and I'm excited um for my second term. Thank you, councelor. Councelor Brown.
>> Thank you, Madam President. Again, um I just want to one of our council members who's not here tonight, her last um council meeting, official council meeting. Um Miss Vagger, Melinda Vega. She served this community violently, um courageously,
um you know, she worked very hard, um over the years, first as a school committee member and the last few years as a district council member. So I want to wish her well, thank her for her service, her dedication to our community. Not only not only her
dedication, but the dedication of a mother to work very hard to help folks here in the city. And unfortunately, she's not here today, but just wanted to say, you know, I really appreciate what you do, what you've done, and you know, I hope you all the best in your future.
>> That's beautiful, counselor. Thank you. With that being said, we'll move on to moments of silence. Councelor Ricro, >> I'd like to have a moment of silence on one Miguel Ramos. He used to work in the senior center. He died as a young man
and left three little daughters behind. He lived in my district for many years. He lived on Maverick Street. A great person. And may he rest in peace. And God took him too young. I also like to uh have a moment of
silence for my father-in-law. Uh my wife's father passed away. We'll be doing the service this week. Um not only my wife who lives in Chelsea, but other kids um that live in Chelsea um that's watching. Um my condolence to you and
your family and um ask for your prayers and your thoughts as we prepare to go down and do the service. I would also um ask for a moment of silence to the two students that were killed at the uh
Brown University shooting. >> Taylor, >> Australia. >> And I I would also add a moment of silence uh for the uh 15 so far that were uh massacred in Australia. Thank you counselor meeting.
>> Cliff