All rise for the pledge of >> allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one indivisible with liberty and justice for
all. >> Thank you everybody and welcome to the council meeting of June 8th. Um we will start with calling the role of the members. Mr. Clerk, >> council Taylor >> here. >> Councelor Cupo >> here. Councelor Jimenez Rivera >> present. >> Councelor Hines
>> here. >> Councilor Tener Garcia >> present. >> Council Tesh. Councelor Kelly Garcia is councilor Sant >> here. >> Council Jesus >> present. >> Councelor Brown >> present >> and councelor Robinson
>> here. >> Nine members present. You have a quorum. Mr. President. >> Thank you Mr. Clerk. I'll just flag councelor Kelly Garcia is running a few minutes late because of a work commitment but she is on her way. um just wanted me to share that with everyone. Um all right, so now we will uh move on to memoriams. So um just
reminding folks uh we now have moments of silence at the beginning of our meetings. Um and I just wanted to uh read one uh first that came to us from uh staff. Um this one for Allison Shepard, a longtime and active member of the historical commission who sadly
passed away back in March. Um so we had this written up by a community member. Allison Shepard was a dedicated member of the Chelsea Historic Commission for many years. Her passion for historical preservation, architecture, and community were evident by how she insisted that people coming before the commission consider the ramifications of
their choices on the wider aesthetics of the neighborhood. One of the most visible dividends of this passion can be seen by the granite pavestones on Wimmit. When they were at risk of being lost to history, Allison led a charge to retain the historic character of the neighborhood and in the process preserved the streetscape that has a
history dating back to colonial times. In addition to this work, Allison was an accomplished architect with a reputation across greater Boston and many colleagues that respected her zest for her craft. Her attention to detail and deep knowledge will be missed, but she will never be forgotten. I encourage everyone to take a walk down the
cobblestones of Wimmit and envision all the people who have walked over those stones over the years including Allison. So, she's our first um memorial of the night. If anybody has any other moments of silence, please um councelor uh Taylor and then councelor Brown.
>> I'd just like to um mention the passing of Kathy Weber who uh was a wife of uh Ken Weber who's I'm in the Chelsea Rotary Club with. They were married for 57 years and um and uh just
my heart goes out to the family, the kids and grandkids. Um she was a terrific she was just a terrific person and uh it's a real loss and I'm I'm I'm very sad about it. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. President, I yield because I thought my colleague would say the same that I'm about to say. Kathy Weber. Um, prayers and thoughts go out to that family. Um, very pillow in our community. See, did a lot of stuff. Um,
volunteer and her and her husband Ken. Um, just, you know, terrific folks. I know them over 35 years up on Kimble Road. Um, they always helped out um, different organizations and, you know, again, I just wanted to say that. That's why I yield to councelor Taylor.
>> Yeah. >> Councelor Robinson. >> Um, also just briefly on Kathy Weber and Ken, they uh belong to the Somerville Yacht Club. They sponsor the veterans um boat ride every September. I think we
that need to be mentioned. but also uh the passing of Richard Richard Smith, longtime Chelsea family, Ralph Alilla, longtime Chelsea athlete, Chelsea resident, and Natalie Sniderman Bloom
who passed all this past weekend. >> Thank you, councelor. Any others? All right, let's take a quick moment of silence. Thank you. All right. Now moving on to celebratory resolutions. Um we have three. The first
one that we have is to celebrating Junth. Mr. Clerk. resolution before you introduced by the council president and all members for Junth. Whereas on June 19th, 1865, two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation,
Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were free. And whereas African-Americans in the southwest who had once been slaves, began commemorating June 19th, commonly known as Junth Independence Day to
further inspire future generations. And whereas Junth celebrations declined significantly as many states began passing Jim Crow laws, disenfranchising African-Americans and restricting their ability to participate in the political process. And whereas Texas became the
first state to make Junth a paid state holiday in 1979. And whereas local activist Ben Hay, founder of the National Junth Celebration Foundation, created the Junth flag in 1997 and later revised its design in 2000. And whereas
Junth became a federal holiday in 2021 after President Biden signed the Junth National Independence Day Act into law. And whereas the Chelsea black community will host its annual Junth celebration at Washington Park on Friday, June 19th from 12:00 to 5:00 pm. Now, therefore,
it be a resolved that the Chelsea City Council recognizes June 19th, 2026 as Junth Independence Day in the city of Chelsea and continues to support the nationwide celebration of Junth to provide an opportunity for the people of the United States to better understand the collective experiences that have
shaped our nation. >> Thank you, Mr. H. Councelor Brown. make a motion to adopt the resolution under suspension. If there's no objections, please. >> Seeing no objections. So moved. >> I can speak briefly. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Again, this
resolution speaks for itself, but I just wanted to add that on next week, Friday, there will be a celebration, kickoff celebration. Everyone knows we just the last few years, we've had great weather. We've come together, embraced our community, and showed a really great
time up at Washington Park. I spoke to the president, Joan Cromwell, CBC. She states this um event will be taking place at 12:00 noon to 5 um to 5:00 p.m. be some music, some food trucks, some dancing, a lot of activities for the
kids. And again, it's just another activity, another event in our community to bring us together. So hopefully we'll have good weather next week and we'll continue to have festivities. Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you, councelor. All right, with
that, we move on to the next resolution on Pride Month. And before we do that, I just want to quickly remind folks that our new process for public comment, um, we have the signup sheets right up here. There are three public hearings for specific topics. So, if you're speaking on one of those, you need to sign up for the correct sheet. If you are just here
for general public comment, that is going to be the sheet on the right all the way to the right. Um, make sure that you take a look at that. I there's big headers on each page uh that highlight what topic each one of them is for. I just want to make sure that people can sign up and then uh we'll call people in
the order that they are on the sheet when we get to that. Thank you. Um, Mr. Clerk, >> next resolution introduced by the council president and all members for Pride Month. Whereas during LGBTQ plus pride month, celebrated annually during
the month of June, we recognize the determination and resilience of individuals who are fighting to live freely and authentically and affirm our obligation to uphold the dignity of all people and protect the most vulnerable among us. And whereas the 1969 law enforcement raid of the Stonewall Inn in
New York City sparked demonstrations that served as a call to action that continue to inspire us to live up to our nation's promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all. And whereas members of the LGBTQ plus community face disparities in education, employment,
health care, housing, and many other areas central to the pursuit of happiness, while LGBTQ plus youth, especially those of color, are at an increased risk of suicide, homelessness, bullying, violence, and human trafficking. And whereas while substantial progress has been made since
Stonewall, many states still do not provide legal protections for fundamental rights and dignity in hospitals, schools, public accommodations, and other space. While many in the LGBTQ plus community face discrimination, inequality, and overt acts of violence. And whereas the
Chelsea LGBTQ Coalition in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and City of Chelsea held its 11th annual Pride flag raising on Saturday, May 30th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Senior Center due to rain conditions with an official flag raising schedule for a later date. Now therefore, it be a result that the
Chelsea City Council recognizes June 2026 as LGBTQ plus Pride Month in the city of Chelsea, acknowledging the val valuable contributions of LGBTQ plus individuals in our community, state, and nation, and reaffirm our commitment to stand in solidarity with LGBTQ plus
Americans in their struggle against discrimination and injustice. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Do I have a motion? Councelor Brown. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Make a motion that we adopt under suspension if there's no objection, please. >> Seeing none, so moved. Thank you so
much. All right, moving on to our last uh celebratory resolution. >> Your final resolution introduced by Councelor Robinson on behalf of Hillary Paul Metaf on commemoration of being selected for the World Masters Hockey World Cup team. Whereas Hillary Paul
Metaf, a Chelsea resident who resides in the city with her husband and their three children, was an all-state field hockey player and two-time state champion at Conquered High School in New Hampshire and an all-American at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. And whereas Hillary began competing in field hockey at the age of six,
initially balancing hockey and competitive dance before opting to focus exclusively on hockey in the 10th grade. And whereas further demonstrating that she is one of the best field hockey players in the country, Hillary has been selected to play on the United States national team that will compete in the
World Masters Hockey World Cup in July in Roderdam, Netherlands. And whereas she will be the only player representing Massachusetts on the 18 member 035 national team. And whereas a former science and technology engineering support specialist with Mass Department of Elementary and Secondary Education,
she has also worked as a science teacher and track coach at Chelsea High School before taking her current job with Stanford University. And whereas in addition to her work, she serves as a our community as a member of the community recreation advisory board. Now therefore be a resolved that the Chelsea
City Council hereby congratulates Hillary Paul Metaf for her selection to serve on the United States national team at the World Masters Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands and wishes her luck as she proudly represents our city and nation on the national stage. >> Council Robinson, I ask adopted
unanimously under suspension. Just a couple brief words that Hillary lives here in this community has given back in this community. I think it's such an honor for her to be selected to go and represent the US field hockey
team in Amsterdam. I felt that we as a city should be able to recognize her. We got the World Cup stuff that's going on. We have another individual from Chelsea that's going to carry our name outside of the country and represent us well. So
therefore, I just wanted to do this resolution in her honor. >> Thank you. Councelor Hillary, if you could please stand. >> Mr. President, may I speak? >> Oh, sure. I figured we could do a round of applause and then uh and you know, just I just asked her to stand, so just just wanted to recognize her and then we
can Yeah. >> Go ahead, Council Brown. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to congratulate Hillary on her dedication and hard work. I know exactly how hard it is to get where you are and it's at the extreme level, the elite um you know
um as a mentor and also a person that traveled up to the Olympics training camp at Lake Plac um and didn't make it any further than that. But you've gone on further than that. So I know exactly what dedication, what commitment you put into this um field hockey and the work
that it takes to get there. Not only that, but being a mom of three and leaving them with your husband to take care of them while you're out traveling. So, I'm excited for you and want to congratulate you and wish you well and wish you um the gold medal if you guys
come up to compete. >> Any others? Oh, sorry. I think right, Councelor Garcia, go ahead. >> Councelor Robinson already spoke. Um, so I think it's I think he just wants to do the the picture, but No, no, you're totally fine. Go ahead.
>> We just want to thank you for being here. It's so beautiful to see your kids here. Um, it is an honor for us and Chelsea to have you represent, you know, um, a sport that women usually don't get honored for. So, thank you.
Thank you for representing women. Thank you for representing mothers. And thank you for representing Chelsea. So, thank you. Thank you so much. Um, seeing no other counselors motion. Oh, councelor Hines, please go ahead. >> I'd like to echo similar sentiments as the counselors have expressed.
I know it takes countless hours to put in the work that you put in to be able to go and represent not just this city, but the country as a whole and playing your sport. I can't imagine how much pain your body has been through making this happen. But, um, I commend you and
thank you for being here as well. All right, motion carries. Um, now, uh, we'll take a five minute recess to just do some quick, um, pictures and present the certificate. All righty. Calling the meeting back to order.
Calling counselors back to the deis. Um, just really quickly for uh folks in the audience, if you are here to speak for public comment, you're gonna need to sign up over here. Um you you if you're here for public comment, you want the rightmost sheet.
If you are here for any of the public hearings on the first three topics, there is one sheet for each of those. Oh, if you need interpretation, interpreters in the back. All right. Cliff, uh, leave the public comment one
out there. So, we're now moving into the three public hearings. This first uh, one will be only for the proposed eminent domain taking at 305 common. So if you are not speaking about that,
just wait until your time is up. Go ahead, Mr. Clerk. First public hearing before you on an order introduced by the council president regarding a request for proposed eminent domain taking of parcels at 305 coming.
Seeing nobody um signed up for the public hearing on this um we will now close the public hearing for the taking uh for 305 common way and we will move on to the next public hearing.
>> Oh um yeah actually um so we now have the item in front of us. Um we can choose to uh have a motion on the item itself. Um, yep. So, we will now uh do we need to read it, right? Uh, read it in
>> Mr. Click if you want it. >> Yep. So, we'll now read the order itself. Whereas by section 30, chapter 43, section 14 of chapter 40, and chapter 79 of Mass General Law, all as amended, it is provided that the Chelsea City Council may take by eminent domain
easements in the name of the city for any municipal purpose upon land within the limits of the city not already appropriated for public use. And whereas the city's administration has identified and recommended a parcel of land in Chelsea for which easements are necessary to be acquired in order to promote and effectuate the city's
protection from flooding and long-term economic development. And whereas the taking by imminent domain of easements on the lands herein after described has been recommended by the city administration. And whereas there is funding available for the anticipated expense of acquisition as required by
the A for said sections of chapters 40, 43, and 79. Now therefore, by virtue of and in the pursuance of the authority conferred by said chapters of the general law, and by every other power and authority, it there to enabling the city of Chelsea by a city council, does
hereby take temporary and permanent easements on the land here and after described, and all privileges and apparent thereto belonging for the purpose and use as accessory thereto, as described herein below, intending to take and hereby taking of temporary and permanent easements included within such
description by whatsoever whoever the name may be owned. >> Right. Is there uh is there a um councelor I'll just open uh for discussion? Councelor Taylor, go ahead. >> Yeah. Uh I I don't have any discussion. I was just going to make a motion, >> please.
>> Yeah. Uh yeah, I'll I'll I'll make a a motion to uh approve. >> Right. Um do we need a roll call vote on this? Yes, we need a roll call vote. >> Right. See um Yeah. So, so move the motion for a roll call on the adoption.
>> Roll call vote, please. >> Roll call vote been requested. He has vote to adopt. >> Council Taylor, >> yes. >> Yes. Councelor Cupo is absent. Councelor Jimenez Rivera, >> yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hines, >> yes.
>> Yes. Council Tenari Garcia, >> yes. >> Yes. Council Tesh is absent. Councilor Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Sandigette. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council De Jesus. >> Yes. Yes. Councelor Brown. >> Yes. >> Yes. And councelor Robinson. >> Yes. >> With nine members voting in favor, zero
opposed, two absent. Order has been adopted. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. All right. Moving on now to our second uh public hearing on the proposed amendment to um for the Chelsea Mixeduse Overlay District. Um we do have four people signed up to speak on this. Um first we
have uh Melissa Omana. Go ahead. And then we have uh Melvin Ieta, Nicholas Pavilla, and Luis Alfredo. >> I'm right. I'm good. >> You are all set. And >> all righty. >> You have three minutes.
>> All right. Um, good evening, city council members. My name is Melissa Mana and I am a lifelong Chelsea resident. I have lived in Chelsea for all of my 25 years of my life. I am here today because the loss of affordable housing is not just a policy issue. It is
something directly affects me, my family, and so many others in our community. People often say that if housing becomes too expensive, families can simply move somewhere else. But it's not that easy. Packing and uprooting your life, your children's schools, and
their doctors or their support system and my community. It is not something families can just do overnight. Market rate housing is already out of reach for many of us. Even now, I am working hard just to stay afloat. Chelsea has always
been known for its unity, diversity, and compassion. We should not be pushing families, seniors, immigrants, or lowincome residents just to make room for the wealthier developments. Pardon my language, wealthier classes. If increasing revenue comes at cost of
displacing the people who build the community, then we need to ask ourselves, where's the humanity in that? I am a mother of two children. My kids already have it tough. My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 2 years old and my son recently just
got diagnosed with autism. Their support system, schools, and medical care is all local here. And it's their home where I spent the last 25 years. I have only had my own apartment for the last three years and during that time I have gone through so many property managers and
challenges rent increasing. What I want is not luxury. What I want is stability. Affordable apartments gives families like mine and opportunity to build a future without feeling less than or less of. My childrens deserve the same chance they deserve safe quality apartments.
They deserve to grow up with the opportunity to dream as big as well as without having their both parents needing to meet a amii of 80%. >> Because that's unfair affordable. That's unfair. Unaffordable housing is not a
handout. It is pathway to stability, opportunity, and dignity. Please do not take that away from families like mine. Keep Chelsea cities where families like mine can dream big. My kids can dream big like their like their mom. Thank you for your time and remember, let's all
keep Chelsea rising. We all as Chelsea residents and community members deserve to be heard. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I'm just I just want to quickly um so I I so this I just want to make sure that people understand this is this
portion this public uh hear and comment period is for the West Chelsea overlay district, not the inclusionary zoning. Um, it's totally fine. >> Okay. >> That is for the >> So, we're not we're not going to Yeah, like you spoke now. It's fine. Just
don't speak when it's public comment later. Um, but I just want to make sure. Um, so Melvin, Nicholas, and Luis, are you all also speaking on inclusionary zoning or are you speaking about the West Chelsea Overlay District? >> Inclusionary zoning.
>> Say that again. So, so the same thing as she was speaking. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So, so let's hold off uh for um I I'll have you um for the inclusionary zoning piece and then Nicholas um and Luis, are you guys here?
Uh the inclusionary zoning Okay. Nicola Louis. Um, okay. Nicholas. Um, Nicholas. Okay, great. Perfect. All right. Seeing nobody here to speak about the West
Chelsea overlay district. Um, >> counselor. Counselor. Counselor. Hang on. Um, okay. Nobody's here to speak about the West Chelsea Overlay District. Going once, going twice, sold. All right. Um, I am now going to close public uh the public hearing for the
West Chelsea um overlay district. Um, and we will now move to the reading of the um zoning ordinance. Um, this is not inclusionary zoning. We will talk about that in a second. Whereas the master plan has identified
the need for new growth in the city to expand its tax base and address the region's housing crisis. And whereas the master plan and West Chelsea economic development studies have identified West Chelsea as a strategic area for transformative growth. And whereas the city wishes to allow for mixeduse
development by right with active ground floor space to bring vibrancy and dynamism to an underutilized area. And whereas the city wishes to see more housing production to meet the current and future needs of Chelsea residents. And whereas the city wishes to capitalize on the area's transit density
to maximize its full social and economic potential and allow for multimmodal transportation access. And whereas the city wishes to transform Everett Avenue into a walkable mixeduse boulevard to connect Chelsea's commuter rail station with the city center. And whereas the zoning amendment will create an urban
form that promotes an engaging and enjoyable pedestrian experience. And whereas the zoning ordinance will increase open and green space that a publicly accessible and lend themselves to community activity in an area devoid of such space. And whereas the city wishes to establish a sense of identity
and place for West Chelsea that promotes live, work, play, learn space. And whereas pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 4A, the petition was forwarded to the Chelsea Planning Board for a public hearing which was held on Wednesday, April 15th, 2026. Now therefore, be it ordained that the
following petition for adoption of amendments to chapter 34, article 11, section 34-190, West Chelsea Mixeduse Overlay District of the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Chelsea, which are attached as exhibit A be adopted pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 48.
>> Councelor Taylor. Move to adopt on roll call vote. >> Speak on it. >> Uh seeing no objections. Uh councelor Himenez, you have the floor. >> So I just want to just want to further clarify um you know, as councelor Rupo uh just mentioned a couple minutes ago,
the the West Chelsea area, right, is the the area around market basket. I just want to clarify what the difference is between this and the inclusionary zoning piece. This does not impact um affordable housing requirements. Um that will be done under the inclusionary zoning piece. What this does is
essentially allow for the development of what's called mixeduse uh buildings which are uh buildings that have uh commercial spaces in the first floor and then housing on top. All of that will be subject to whatever inclusionary zoning ordinance the city has whether it is the current ordinance or whether it is
something that we change in the coming weeks because there is also that conversation but this piece does not impact affordable housing um at all. Um so I just want to make sure that everybody understands the two different pieces that we are discussing today. Um, I will be supporting councelor Taylor's
um motion to adopt. >> Seeing no other speakers, moving to a roll call vote. >> Roll call vote requested. Yes. Vote to approve. Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Cupro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Hines. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Councilor Tener Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Tesh. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Sandigette. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor De Jesus. Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Brown. >> Yes. >> Yes. And councelor Robinson. >> Yes. >> With all 11 members voting in favor,
zoning ordinance has been adopted. >> All right. Now we are moving on to the third and final public hearing on the fiscal 27 uh city budget. I am now opening. Um well, we don't have anybody signed up. So um I will open in case anybody is here to talk about the
budget. Seeing none, I will now close the public hearing on the budget. Um thank you everybody. And now we will move on to the items themselves. >> First item related to the FY27 operating budget. We have an order introduced by council council president Jimenez
Rivera. ordered that the following sums as classified and designated with respect to each department or undertaking as salaries, operations, and maintenance and capital are hereby appropriated in the general fund of the city of Chelsea as listed below and as summarized. Salaries in the amount of
65,277,21 operations and maintenance in the amount of $26,770,291 and capital in the amount of $330,800 totaling $272,378,292. >> Councelor Taylor. >> Motion to adopt under roll call vote.
>> So moved. speakers. Yep. Um, any speakers on the budget? Right. Seeing none, Council Brown, please. >> Thank you, Mr. President. So, I'll be voting in affirmative on this here. We actually just had the budget hearing. Um, we covered a lot of the stuff. Um,
we know that moving forward that money is getting tighter and tighter, but we know to be able to keep our u community safe, to be able to keep our schools open, to keep our families together at this time, we have to continue to try to
stretch our budget. This is something that, you know, it's real difficult because, you know, when you when you pass these things here, everyone expect it to be a continuation, but the the serious hard um notes are that we have
to really start tightening up our belt here in the city of Chelsea. But this is the spirit of what we want here. This is what we want to see. This covers the development, some of the development, some of the projects that we need to work um continue to work to to meet the
goals that we want our residents to feel that we're doing all we can as your elected officials to have this opportunity to support our city manager and his staff for their ideas and their continuation of just bringing Chelsea together and making it better for all.
Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you, councelor. All right. Moving on to the vote. Also, there will be four votes on the four different components of the budget, just so everybody is aware. >> Roco vote requested. Yes. Vote to adopt.
Council Taylor, >> yes. >> Yes. Council Rupo, >> yes. >> Yes. Council Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hines. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tenari Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council, >> yes. >> Yes. Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Santigette. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council De Jesus.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Council Brown. Yes. >> Yes. And council Robinson. >> Yes. >> All 11 members voting in favor, zero opposed. FY27 operating budget general fund has been adopted. >> Next item before you related to the budget. Order introduced by the council
president concerning sewer enterprise fund. Order that the following sums designated as appropriations are hereby appropriated in the sewer enterprise fund of the city of Chelsea as follows. Salary in the amount of $900,260. operations and maintenance expense in
the amount of 12,454,751 and capital appropriations in the amount of 1,555,744 for a total of 14,910,755. >> Councelor Taylor >> move to adopt on roll call vote. >> Go ahead. >> Roll call vote requested. Yes. Vote to
approve. Council Taylor, >> yes. Yes. Council Rupo. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Hines. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tennar Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tesh. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Santigette. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council De Jesus.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Council Brown. >> Yes. >> Yes. And council Robinson. >> Yes. >> Yes. All 11 members voting in favor. FY27 sewer enterprise fund approved. >> Next item related to the FY27 budget, water enterprise. Order that the
following sums designated as appropriations are hereby appropriated in the water enterprise fund of the city of Chelsea as follows. Salaries in the amount of $900,260. Operations maintenance expense in the amount of 8,247,193 and capital appropriations in the amount
of 1,48,46 for a grand total of 10,555,859. Councelor Taylor. >> Move to adopt under roll call vote. >> Seeing no objections, moving on to a roll call vote. >> Roll call vote requested. Yes. Vote to
adopt. Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Cooper. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hines. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tener Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tesh. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Sandigette. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Council De Jesus. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Brown. >> Yes. >> Yes. And councelor Robinson. >> Yes. >> Yes. All 11 members voting in favor. FY27 water enterprise fund appropriations approved. Final item before you for the FY27 budget concerns
free cash. Order that the city appropriates and assessments in the general fund are to be financed in part by certified free cash of the city of Chelsea as follows. Free cash in the amount of $4,495,000. Councelor Taylor. >> Move to adopt under roll call vote.
>> Seeing no objections. So moved. Roll call. Vote requested. Yes. Vote to approve. Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Cupro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Jimenez River. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Hines. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tener Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Tesh.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Santigette. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor De Jesus. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Brown. >> Yes. >> Yes. And councelor Robinson. >> Yes. >> Yes. All 11 members voting in favor. Zero opposed. FY27 free cash
appropriations approved. That concludes your FY27 budget. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. >> Thank you to the counselors for all the time spent in those meetings and to the city hall staff for all their hard work on this. Um, we are now going to move on to public speaking. Uh, we will be
opening to everybody who was here. I will start with the three folks who had um signed up for the wrong sheet and then I will read off of the list. Um, if there are other folks that have not signed up, um, is there a sheet over there, Mr. Clerk? Um, in case anybody has not signed up yet. >> Okay, there is still a sheet over there.
So, please sign up over there and I'll make sure to read it out. Um, you will have three minutes. Um, Mr. Manager, >> if we have Sure. Um, So, let me see. >> Yep, we are getting addresses from folks
who have signed up um on the sheet. Um so, uh you don't need to include your address when you're going up there to speak because it's already here. Um and then you will have three minutes and we don't have that. We have three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine speakers. So, um yeah. So, first we have Melvin Ieta and then Nicolas and then Luis Alfredo. >> And just so everybody knows, when you hit two minutes out of the three, I will just say you have one minute remaining
um so that you're aware. Don't let me distract you from continuing. Thank you. >> Good evening, council. Um, first I'd like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to speak on behalf of many Chelsea residents who share concerns about uh this issue which is uh
gentrification. I'll begin by saying that I am 20 years old and I have spent every one of these 20 years right here in Chelsea. Admiral Hill is where I learned to ride a bike. Bellingham Hill is where I spend time with friends. And I was brought home
from MGH to a house in Broadway. I was raised in small apartments on Spencer Avenue and Shammit Street. And today, I help my mother and my baby sister and my sick father pay rent uh in u Clinton Court. In my 20 years here, I've
witnessed business businesses open and close along Broadway. I've seen old buildings torn down and new ones rise in their place. I've watched outdated technologies fade away as our city adapted to new innovations. I've seen renters work tire tirelessly until they
could finally and proudly call themselves homeowners. But one thing I have seen remain constant is the familiar faces that make up the heart of our community. They are faces that look like mine. Faces of people who have been in Chelsea longer
than I have. People who have lived through the city's hardships and remained loyal enough to see Chelsea recover and stand back on its feet. people who open restaurants, boutique shops, barber shops, and bodegas. People who in one way or another have
helped this city running for generations. Because of that, Chelsea should not be allowed to f uh fall into the jaws of gentrification. Personally, I do not want to see elected officials who are meant to represent us actively support policies that push longtime residents
out of the city we call home, especially to accommodate those who do not need to work two or three jobs just to live comfortably. I have seen gentri gentrification swallow entire neighborhoods and when it does, those same neighborhoods often
emerge more divided, segregated by both race and class. My name is Melvineta and I urge this council to protect our law uh lowincome tenants and the residents who have built this community. Thank you. Thank you,
>> Nicholas. Hello everybody. My name is Nicholas. I'm a re I'm a Chelsea resident. I'm a young adult and a father. I'm a student as well. And as many other workingclass young adult, I'm aware of how important is keeping our city affordable.
Affordable housing units available as an option for me and many others like me. I know for sure that most people that makes these decisions never really face the consequences of those decisions. Consequences that are real that working people face. Restricting a affordable
housing access for fact decreases communities quality of life and destroys unity and s of belonging of those h communities. If those affordable options are not there for working families, it forces
them to move somewhere else further and cheaper, but with less access to education, jobs, and opportunities as well as higher transportation costs and longer commute times. This increase of costs of living that we are facing now.
and not fighting for keeping life affordable destroys the working base of communities. Communities that were made by working people by immigrants. People that have been fighting for this city for generations. We all deserve dignity,
education, and opportunities. We should have the right without being rich. We shouldn't be kicked out of our communities and our cities just because we cannot afford it.
We don't have nothing and they want to take everything from us. Thank you so much. Next we have Luis Alfredo. If people are speaking with an interpreter, the time that this the interpreter is speaking does not count for their three minutes. >> Good evening to all all you all all the
people that takes care of decisions and making decisions. I've been living here for 23 years. And I want to thank you that because you've been doing it really well and you're keeping it doing well. And since I've been a resident from 22
years and I have a concern that I've what I have heard recently And I have something in my mind. I mean, for the things that you are thinking and planning. I want to have I want to for you to clarify to me if you are thinking
or you already have in your minds and your hearts that you have made this decision and I want to be able to know if I can have time to stop and to do something about that. Chelsea
Chelsea. Well, for whatever what you are seeing here and this is the first time I'm learning about this. Uh it says that you it's it's been said that you had published this somewhere else in your websites. However, I I don't know about this maybe because I come from a place
that I work and work and all the people that I know work and work. Um, so I want to ask you, have you asked about these topics to the community? Have you asked the Chelsea residents? Because my 23
years, I haven't had that to know. And the last thing I want to ask you if that you have like already one thing last thing I want to ask you have you ever explained to us what are the benefits for Chelsea for us the
residents or just to to know what to do or the billionaires will take care of this will take over us. That's what I want to ask you. >> Thank you so much, Musha. Gracias. >> All right. So, we next have Ray Bell, Ro Sanchez, Lures Alvarez,
Car um Caroline Ellenberg. Oh, this you're not speaking. >> Okay. Okay. Um, so no re so lures Caroline. >> Hello. Good evening. I've been a resident for two years. My family comes
from the republic, the Dominican Republic. >> I had to wait for 16 years to get my It was my dream and my children's dream to come. >> Sorry. Can you just speak into the mic? >> Yeah. Sorry. It has been my dream and the dream my my children to speak to come here to study in the universities
of the city. Chelsea collaborative And my dad has my step, sorry, my father-in-law came here more than 60 years ago. And this is uh been a
beautiful thing. I mean you the council people and all the wonderful people that has been working for us Fidel Martiva Green Roof everybody that supports all the people that come here comes here because coming here is really
a really difficult task coming to a new different world that we have living. administr My country sell us the idea that you the United States was the country of opportunities and I've been a po a public servant a worker if I'm handling
the public funds and my hands are clean and I'm asking to that God uh that you have equity with human the for the humans you can love the your neighbors you display your ethic and for my
children and myself that I've been living in this earth for 60 years and two of those years have been here living here as a resident forch. And I want to conclude. I mean I want to be a part of this collaboration. I want
to help whatever I can uh with the knowledge that I have and for the city. If anybody can give get my help to this city, I mean I'm here with my wife, my ch children, they are studying and I
want to keep my life in this city. I don't want to go anywhere and if you allow me, I can defend the city. Uh I will take care of the city here. You have to take care of the people who lives in the bottom, in the middle, and the highest up. I want to defend this
city wherever if you allow me to do so. >> Thank you. Gracias. >> Um, >> Ray. Yeah. Yeah. So, let's do Lordes, Caroline, and then we can go back to Ray. >> Uh, good evening, uh, council members.
My name is Lura Salvarez, a Chelsea resident at 180 Central A. I'm here because I believe in the integrity of local government and right now that integrity is being tested. The current process for changing inclusionary zoning has far has been far from transparent or
inclusive. You just adopted a very expensive budget that um it shows a lot of overspending under the promise of future development and yet it's unlikely that that money will be materialized by next year. So hentrification is not a
revenue source that I would like for this council to promote. And I know that you are preparing to vote for an inclusionary zone in amendments that probably you have more changes to make while a feasibility study is still underway and no timeline has been shared
with the public on when the economic analysis will be released. And that is important for everyone to hear because it hasn't been shared with anyone. the planning board voted in one and only meeting without even being informed about that feasibility study contracted.
Uh, and that contract has been there since May 5th. I personally share that contract with the public before this administration did. To be clear, $65,000 on a feasibility study is being paid by Mass Housing Partnership. that it's
taxpayer money that the state, everyone in the state pays. Uh I have emailed the council president and the city manager asking for a timeline for that feasibility study and I'm still waiting for the answer. This is clearly not a transparent government. This is a
shortcut and shortcut in zoning policy have real consequences for families, developers, affordable housing advocates and for everyone who lives here. Voting before the study concludes does not only ignore the evidence and it signals then
that the conclusion was already decided before the process could speak >> one minute. >> We are asking here not for too much. We are just asking here to slow down the process and respect a feasibility study. Uh you don't need to have a quick win
that could be hard to re to write birds. So please think about that. This is literally the minimum bear of accountability that we can ask and also we are looking at you. Everyone here, everyone in Chelsea, it's watching and we will remember this at the polls.
Thank you. >> Good evening counselors. My name is Caroline Ellenberg and I'm a Chelsea resident and also director of Kumunat Cindraas Community Land Trust here in Chelsea. Um, Kumunat Cindraades is a nonprofit that was founded by Chelsea
residents who are seeking a solution to the displacement in our community. Um, and I'm here actually to speak on two topics, both of which have to do with affordable housing. Um, so we our land trust works to create permanently affordable housing in
Chelsea, especially home ownership and to get land into the hands of the community so that the community can have a say in how it's used. Um so first tonight I want to ask you um tonight you're going to hear see a proposal from the community preservation committee and
the ways and means committee to allocate CPC money uh to a pre-development fund for Kona and I'd like to ask your support of that or encourage your support. Um, these funds will help us to do due diligence when we're considering new opportunities
for creating and preserving affordable homes in Chelsea. Having funds that we can act on quickly uh to assess a possible project and also that allow us to assess a project can make a really will make a big difference uh between a
project going through or not. So, um, but I also wanted to briefly address inclusionary or not, you know, in address inclusionary zoning, um, because there's a new amendment on the table and also we were part of the working group
that was part of informing it. Um, and one of our priorities in the community land trust model is for the community to have a voice in land use decisions. That's why, you know, we're getting land into the hands of the community so that we have a say. And land ownership is
power, right? And when when do you get a seat at the table? When you have a voice, have access, have land ownership. We heard tonight already the voices of many very powerful voices expressing what it means for home housing to be
affordable here in Chelsea. Um we joined the working group because there had been no feasibility study and no no community input into the efforts to amend this policy. Um there has been no feasibility study. Perhaps there's the potential of one. Um
but this process needs time. Um you need data to see what's feasible and you need community input so that you can use numbers to connect them with values. We heard tonight the values some values. Do you value deep affordability so that it's actually affordable to Chelsea
residents? Do we value value the number of units? Do we value the size of them? These are conversations that need to be happening not just in a working group but more broadly so that we're informing things. That being said, I will say that city council president Gimenez's proposal proposed amendment reflects the
work of the working group up to this time. Uh and I appreciate his experts to capture that. Um and I guess you know what we will take this proposal back to our membership and others in the community to discuss further. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. >> Sorry. Now I have um Patricia Ebanks and then Christian Laa. And if anybody else has signed up, we'll go get that in a second. But if you would like to speak and you have not signed up yet, just make sure that you sign up on the sheet over here. Good evening to you all.
>> Patricia, my name is Patricia. >> Sorry. Can you speak into the mic? >> My name is Patricia. I've been living in the city of Chelsea for the past 32 years. Hill. Chelsea Chelsea. Chelsea
Chelsea. One question that I have if were the neighbors of that address hill they were here and they had the opportunity to speak about they didn't want the fish fisher fish shop and for us we haven't been asked about this what do we want
what we what are you doing I mean we were had a this government body with Latin representation and I I felt like I was protected because I had Latin representation. However, we we were not informed. Everything has been passing
without anything of us having to know any any of this. And I don't want to I want to know what's happening, what's developing. However, I say that Chelsea is ours. I've been living here for 32 years and I'm going not going to move
away. >> Thank you. Uh, Christian. >> Hello. My name is Christia Manuel Laa. Um, I'm co- secretary of the um, Chelsea's Community Land Trust, Kum Readas.
And, um, I also am I'm a Chelsea resident. I work in Chelsea. I've um I decided to join the community land trust because housing is a big uh it's a big uh uh cost for me. So uh I've done a lot
of activism and advocacy uh around uh housing and I'm also a case manager for a lot of Chelsea residents and I help them apply for RAFT which helps them through rent. A lot of people are um and graph only does so much. Um it's only a
temporary fix. People are already being priced out of Chelsea and people are generating debt when they should be generating wealth or generational wealth. And honestly, I I don't think that's the American dream that people
come here to do, just to keep accumulating depth. Um, I also, um, so tonight I'm here to ask you to support the proposal to allocate the CPC money to, uh, a pre-development fund for, uh,
Desadas. Um, with this money, we'll be able to follow our mission with creating and preserving affordable homes in Chelsea. Um, I also want to touch on inclusionary zoning. I was at the inclusionary zoning planning board meeting uh, just a few weeks ago. Um,
the city manager's proposal prioritizes households at 60% AMI and 80% AMI. And while only 47% of Chelsea households earn below 50% AMI, according to the EOHLC.
So, yeah, I just want to make sure that um I be heard and I hopefully especially um I get support from my city council member Todd Taylor. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um,
sorry, Mr. Bell, if you'd like to go up. Also, I don't have anybody else signed up. Just want to make sure that everybody knows. Um, uh, I see Miss Cromwell, so we'll go to her and we'll add her there. >> I wasn't sure if was on or not on
tonight, but, um, I hear everything everybody said here. Um, my name's Raymond Bell. I grew up on Popular Street, a stones throw from here. I've been here 53 years. I never left. I don't want to leave. And I hear everything you say because I have a
daughter that's living in North Carolina right now because she can't afford to live up here. Um I live up on Madison A now. Um I was able to buy a house many years ago when it wasn't like it is now.
My son is 28. He has a sickness too. He cannot leave the house. So I understand that plight. But I think what this comes down to is a macro issue. This is a national issue. It's something people have been running on and it it's I hate to say it. I mean,
we have to look at capitalism. Does it really work? I I I think like this because I see what people are saying. But on the flip side of that, if we just stifle no, no, no, no development, no
development. Now, my interest is staying in my house when I retire and my income reduces. How do I keep up with the taxes? Because Chelsea has very good tax base right now with I think it's a 35% exemption, which I see what people pay.
I work I represent people in the postal service. I see people that are struggling that live 45 an hour out of town because they can't live here. So, I understand that plight, but I'm coming as a homeowner and I'm worried about if we don't have any development and
everything is no, no, no. I'm worried about that 35% exemption being looked at as well. We'll just dip into that. We can't afford it anymore. So, these are the decisions that I'm an elected official, 2,000 members I
represent. We have to make decisions on the great on the whole, not on the loudest one in the room or whoever shows up. >> One minute. >> There are a lot of concerns here. And the problem is I don't think we can fix here locally what is a national and a
macro issue. But we cannot not do anything because when we stop the revenue coming in, what happens? What happens? anything, even goods and services, like Calvin said earlier, about tightening the belt. Even as a homeowner, you tighten the belt.
You don't want to go up in your rent on your tenant because $100 a month is not going to help me. It's going to hurt the tenant. It's the only one tenant that I have downstairs. So, back to leadership. You get elected to these positions and I read the materials
at election time. This is the type of votes and issues that you get elected for to make There's no for against there's no such vote as that. Not where I'm from. You either stand for something or you don't. And you stand to be counted. So I'm just asking you to think about the bigger
issue. I And somebody said about humanity. There is no humanity in capitalism. I hate to say it. It It's a terrible thing. I have two kids that are going through it >> times. So, I'm just asking you to remember because I can organize the home
voters, too, which I will because my concern is the homeowner exemption. Thank you, >> Joan. Uh, Miss Cromwell. >> Oh, yep. >> So, right. So, you guys have not signed up. So, I just want to remind people you
need to sign up. you can sign up. I just want to make sure that if if you if you are here to speak and you have not spoken, >> please anyway um sorry Joan and then and sorry and then Jose and then I think we're all set. Um all right, go ahead.
>> Good evening counselors and thank you for this time and hello community. It's good to see you all. First I just want to say June 19th is Junth. It's a celebration of freedom and I think everyone in this room knows what that means and we take it very very personal
right sitting here and speaking to that on any issue is it is is your right and it's it's good to stand up and it all boils down to freedom. So it's June 19th at Washington Park 12 to 5. We celebrate
as one community black, Latino, white, Asian, we represent everybody. Um, so please join us. Lots of activities, good food and a great time as well. It's a music and a food fest. So bring your dancing shoes and a good appetite and
enjoy. Um, I also want to speak to um, inclusionary zoning and um, I'm for it and I want to say that um, there's no conspiracy theory because if we think like that, we get nowhere. The mistrust
and the back and forth is really unfortunate. And I give this counselor and our city manager credit for speaking to that because you don't always see in a brown and black community a Latino city manager to have to speak to that
because we're not used to those conversations. We're used to affordable housing and fight for your rights and things like that. I come from a family of 10. I come from uh section 8. I come from fair share sitins, but I also come from a neighborhood that was barren. No
resources. And I said before at the last meeting, it was a sidewalk in chalk. It was a mattress in a field. So there were no resources to provide programming for kids like me who have been here through
the 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s to date. And affordable housing is beautiful. We're number three in the state. We're doing what we got to do. But I just want to say that um we need to make a change. And I never really stand on this side of
the coin because I'm always for my community, for my people. But this is for my people. This is for you because it's going to bring greater resources for your children, for your grandchildren. You don't have to leave the city. We need to bring development in. We need to respect affordable
housing. But we also need to remember it's just not us. there's other people in this city that need to be accommodated for and spoken to and included in these conversations. So, I think the city and the manager has been really fair in having people come to the
table and having these conversations. The problem is you don't always get what you want, so you feel like the conversations aren't being held. That's not the truth. But I do advocate for the inclusionary zoning and I do advocate for our community. And you know if folks
show up whether whatever organization you're from teach them teach them the impact of what will happen if this doesn't happen you know so just um yeah that's what I speak to. Thank you. >> Thank you >> and hope to see you on June 19th.
Thanks. >> Go ahead. >> All right. Um hello council. My name is Jose Sereta Salana. I think that took my three minutes. Um, and I live at 73 Essex Street. I'm here today to speak on the
agenda items 26 26 C15, 26 C18, and 26 C5, which all have to do with inclusionary zoning. Also, I want to ask about the West Chelsea mixuse overlay. I have a question about it. um especially because there is a clause about
affordability in it which I my question is whether or not uh the overlay district is going to supersede inclusionary zoning uh or the amendment. So because the language right now it says that it will. So just a question about that. Um I know you can't answer.
Uh I am in support of strengthening. >> I think the city manager wants to answer that question after you're done. Just just a heads up. >> Sounds good. also as I am in support of strengthening our inclusionary zoning policy particularly by ensuring deeper levels of affordable affordability
especially within larger development projects. Inclusionary zoning leverages the profitability and momentum of new development to create much neededed affordable housing helping to share the benefit of growth with everyone in our community. Inclusionary zoning can help
counteract a long history of inclusionary exclusionary zoning practices which have too often reinforce economic and racial segregation. Instead, we can build sustainable mixed income housing uh communities where everyone has a fair share to thrive. Um,
as we face budgetary deficits and recognize that public funding for affordable housing is limited and often uncertain, enclosure and zoning is one way or one of the few tools we have to produce response uh, reasonably priced homes without relying on significant
public sub subsidies. This is a smart use of scarce public resources and an essential step towards meeting our community's housing needs. I acknowledge that the proposed amendments to our inclusionary zoning are moving in the right directions. As we weigh in um to
final details, I urge you to support a policy that prioritizes the greatest benefit for the most vulnerable of our community. I recognize that there's many challenges and you're in a very tough spot. But every community must tailor their elements of to their local
conditions. And I still believe there is a uh an opportunity for deeper community engagement uh and bringing housing experts to assess the visibility of the policies that are being proposed. Uh so I urge you to ensure that our policies deliver the greatest possible benefits
to the existing community particularly those with median or lower incomes who cannot afford market rate prices. So, thank you for the opportunity to speak. >> Thank you. >> All righty. As always, the council cannot respond. Um, please follow up
with either the city manager or the counselors up here for further conversation. Thank you all so much. And with that, we are closing public comment. Uh, and moving on to >> Mr. President. Councelor >> wondering if my colleagues would entertain the idea of moving the item
that's on this subject to now so that at least the public can hear if there are any comments regarding that item that's on the agenda today. >> Um so that would be a motion to move the item out of order. Um are there
objections to that? I am not seeing objections. However, I do have one um one quick objection um just to make sure. Uh Mr. Clerk, do I need to step down to speak on my objection?
Okay, then councelor swap, I guess. Or wait, can >> Right. Right. Right. No, I know. I know. Yeah, I don't think she can. Um it has to be somebody else. It goes to Leo. Yeah. Um, Council Robinson, would you
like to step up for the motion really quick? >> I know I would like to speak on my objection if I can. Um so my objection is because uh there is a communication that I introduced um for an amendment to
the um inclusionary zoning piece that I think warrants going first so that we can have a full conversation on this rather than the conversation on the proposal that came back from planning and then a separate conversation. So I would ask that the motion be to do the communication first and then the
inclusionary zoning amendment sent to us by planning and then essentially having a conversation about all about about both if that is okay. >> Okay. >> Any objections?
Seeing none, I'll ask the clerk. >> First item related to inclusionary zoning. You have a communication received from the planning board addressed to the council president. Dear council president Jimenez Rivera at a duly posted special meeting of the planning
board held Tuesday, May 19th, 2026. >> Sorry, Mr. Clerk. I I thought we were going to do the communication that I sent first. >> Uh strict order. It's communications and petitions to the council in that order. So, this one was received first, then yours. >> Oh, got it. Got it. Okay. Got it. Sure.
>> Thank you, Clerk. At a duly posted special meeting of the planning board held Tuesday, May 19th, the board voted 5 to3 in favor to recommend that the council amend section 34-156 to the zoning ordinances of the city of Chelsea with two conditions. One,
replace ZA2605 proposal with a revised proposal submitted by the city manager attached as exhibit A and deleting the last sentence of section 34-156F2 of the revised proposal which reads, quote, "This fee may be adjusted upward
by a majority vote of the council." >> Excuse me. Excuse me, counselor. Counselor, you have the floor. councelor. >> So I this is not the communication that I had that um but but I I I'm happy to
just really quickly talk about what the communication includes which it applies to this as well. I don't think it's out of order counselor. Is that is that correct? >> No, you can speak on So um so really quickly there is an amendment that has that I
have introduced to the inclusionary zoning uh proposal that came back from planning. Um so a few weeks ago the council voted to send the city manager's inclusionary zoning proposal to the planning board. Right. However at that time many of us voiced that the proposal that we sent needed further tweaks and so we were going to continue to engage
in conversations to arrive at an updated proposal that we could ultimately support. Shortly thereafter, a working group was brought together by the city manager, other community leaders to hash out a proposal that struck the right balance. This group brought together developers, housing advocates, and a few
counselors, including myself. The amendment included in that communication is the culmination of the working group's effort to this point. Not all of the members of the working group support the proposal, but a super majority of them do, including both advocates and developers. We wanted to ensure that the council had ample time to review it
prior to the meeting on June 22nd when we will have the public hearing for the proposed changes and most likely a final vote on the various proposals. So none of this is being voted on today. I do want to highlight that one thing we have broad agreement on in that group is that the current inclusionary zoning ordinance is not working and it is
largely preventing the development of affordable housing units. Over and over, both advocates and developers agreed that we need to change this policy so that we can build more housing and particularly so that we can build more affordable housing. So, I hear you when you talk about the need for affordable
housing and I do believe that changing this policy is necessary so that we can generate additional affordable housing. I'll be happy to have this conversation with each of you because I do believe in protecting our residents from displacement and I want to make sure that there can be an understanding of why this is necessary and actually uh
needed much needed for developing more affordable housing units. The original proposal in my opinion did get rid of affordable housing requirements that we need. That is why I did not and still don't support it. However, the amendment that I'm proposing strikes an adequate balance uh to ensure that we can protect
Chelsea families. I want to take a moment to thank all the people who put in their time and energy to get a better grasp of what is a very complex policy that is ultimately impacted by a large number of factors that range from local to you know big picture economics across the globe. I hope that between now and
the 22nd councilors will continue to engage in conversation about the various proposals and then we will take up all the proposals to make sure that everybody understands and then we will take a final vote on all of them. Thank you all for listening to me. Councelor Cooper.
>> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. First thing I want to tell you is you didn't know what that meant because you don't know the >> counselor to the chair. >> Okay. Can I to the chair? Um I'd like to tell the people if they
really understood what that meant. I'm sure that maybe a couple of them understand what it meant. The rest of them are trying to figure out what all these mass chapter laws and all these laws are. They're not really explaining what it is. And here's something else.
They keep bringing affordable housing. Affordable housing. I'm not against affordable housing. But you have to tell these people the truth. Affordable housing is not affordable for you. What it does is it makes developers that build affordable housing pay less tax.
The tax goes on to you, the tenants. Any affordable housing unit that you build is doesn't mean that they don't pay the same tax. They don't. tax.
Affordable housing. No tax. Affordable housing market rate and B income based amount affordability is market rate affordable housing.
affordable housing. Affordable housing. How many people you think get affordable housing when they build a 100 units? How many do they build? 20. What's the rest of them? So my point is I'm trying to tell you to make you
understand that if this city does not build you are going to pay twice as much and you have no things to help people because the city has no money. So you have to make a choice between affordable
housing or keeping what you have. And and if you're going to do that, how much affordable housing are they going to make? and how much AT CHELSEA PEOPLE ALLOW THIS affordable housing council. >> Thank you. That's it. >> Councelor Orise.
>> Thank you, Councelor Robinson. Um, so I wanted to share my thoughts on this and and before sharing, I mean, for the public or for anyone in the room who I'm an open book. I I just became a homeowner not too long ago. Um, and I have been a resident of this community
all my life. I've moved around every part of the city as a renter and so I my opinion and my views come one from my constituents that have reached out with concerns and reached out to talk to understand and two from my lived experiences in this community. Um I've
had several conversations too with my colleagues here on the council and I think we're all heading in the right direction in terms of looking at the 30% increase. I think we're all heading in the right direction and trying to um understand and digest this better. Um
however, I I still don't understand why we cannot wait a few months and and have this visibility test done. I think the community has spoken loud and clear multiple times. all ages, all backgrounds, all different paths of life
have come up and shared their concerns and their um demands of us as their representatives, as their elected officials. I think that also the panel of experts that our city manager put together spoke loud and clear at the community uh senior center meeting where
they shared that in almost every other community that they have held this type of change this really big big change that impacts the community they have had feasibility studies done to support those decisions in backing that they're going in the right direction. Um, I'm
also wondering like if it doesn't cost us anything and it's being paid by the state, then why wouldn't we take this opportunity to continue to support our growth in the right direction? And we're all in agreement. It's change that we want. It's not building affordable
units, but what is it doing? Can we actually study it and digest it and make sure that this test this this study is done so that then we can move forward? it. We're not asking for years of of of uh research and data collection. We're asking for a few months. Um and last but
not least, we have seen just a few weeks ago while we were all gathered in the senior center how this is not the only barrier that developers are seeing. Just a few weeks ago, there was a developer at the
planning board who was committing to build 11 units of affordable housing within their large development. However, because of the obstacles, challenges that they received at that meeting from that board, they said, "You know what?
I'm going to remove this project and I'll come back when you guys decide to break take off these barriers and I don't have to build affordable housing then. So, I'll see you guys when that new changed um inclusionary zoning is done. So I think that even if this study
says city manager departments you've done a great job let's move forward with this test and then let's continue to work with all the other challenges so that this is a holistic approach. I would be okay with that even if this study says that we have been right all
along. But I don't sit right with not doing this study when it's free of cost and our community, the people who put us in these seats are asking us to take that time to do it and it's just a few months. >> Council Duran,
I just want to echo several sentiments that have been heard today. Um, I think that we're all having we all have the same concern and the same mission. We want to generate more affordable housing. And I think
what councelor recuper keeps keeps hitting at is that affordable is a term that doesn't encapsulate all income thresholds. Um, and when we talk about the inclusionary zoning policy and we start talking about 80% AMI or 30% AMI,
it's really easy to get lost in these percentages when when we don't know what the numbers are to back those different percentages. So just for context and I had mentioned in um a meeting prior about how 80% AMI that income is roughly
like 92,000 which is high and 30% AMI is roughly 25 27,000. So there's a large gap between what is affordable to one person and what might be affordable to the next. Um, but I think where I align with a lot
of the conversation and as someone who pointed out the guard rails that initially hit the table is that I'm also not a fan of the process and how fast that it has been moving. And I think that we've been working really hard to get the train back on the tracks. I
think that we've been having a lot of conversations about inclusionary zoning to try to figure out how to balance community integrity and not expedite the gentrification process that even myself is worried about. Um, and also balancing something that can actually bring in the
development that we as a community need to keep all the social services that that we have to not raise taxes on homeowners and and to do more of that work. I also want to include that none of these conversations are happening in a vacuum and and I hate to point a
couple months back but the Wolfish project was discussed was mentioned here today and that project not coming here has led us to this conversation that we're having now right so if we do not figure out what is going to happen with the conversation
that we are having right now what is going to be the next conversation what is going to be the next thing that we're talking about that is, you know, uh the change that we don't want to see happen. And to be quite honest, I I again, I entered this conversation as
someone who doesn't believe I'm anti-development. I'm anti- bad faith development. I'm anti- big development that doesn't want to give anything to the city. I'm I'm anti- any development that comes to the community and doesn't want to create affordable housing for the workingclass individuals of the
community. I'm I'm I'm for it all. And I think how we get there is by continuing these conversations. Um to to the point of a feasibility study, you know, for or against I I think a lot of work
was done to get to where we are right now. That's all I really have to say. Council Taylor. Okay. So, there's a lot being left out of this
conversation. We're all kind of assuming that if we pass the inclusionary zone reforms, no affordable housing is going to get built. Absolutely false.
In fact, passing the zoning reforms is going to bring enough money into the city so that we can actually build 100% affordable buildings with deep
affordability, including 30% AMI. Now, if you rely on the developers to do this, I guarantee you, I don't need a phys feasibility study to tell me about
economics. Those developers are not coming to Chelsea. They're going to go to River. They're going to go to Everett. Now, for those of you out there who are being scared to death that you're going to have to move
and that you're gonna you're going to be forced out if this passes, I would ask you to do one thing. Call your senator, Senator S. He's he stood right here in this chamber
in the meeting and explained to everybody this is what they did in Everett. Now, I'm going to ask you and I'm going to ask all the the the organizations here if they support their Senator S. Do they trust Senator S?
I think they do. Then why then why all of this? The city has to have money to operate. The organizations in this room will not
get the money that they get now if this does not pass. It's really simple. It's not about how this is going to a it's it's not how this is going to affect affordable housing. It's about the revenue coming into the
city. That's what's important. We have to have money to operate and to have the latitude to do these kinds of things. If we don't, guess what? No affordable housing. And who's that going to hurt? All the people that are
here saying, "Please, no." You know, you you're being told exactly the opposite. And I'm I'm trying to I'm and and anybody, by the way, anybody whether you live in my district or not, I'll be happy to talk to you about this and
explain why it works this way. But if you don't want to talk to me, there's also a video on the on the website of the of the city with uh Carlos from Util who's doing our master
plan and he talks about it. He talks about why we need zoning reform. No one is building here. No one is investing money in Chelsea. When I hear people say that the
developers come here and give nothing, you know what? They give tax revenue. Do you know what market rate market rate buildings give us so much more revenue than affordable housing?
So, it makes more sense for us to get the deeply affordable units that you all want by building them ourselves. And I would also say >> council 30 seconds >> the Chelsea housing we need to work
closer with the Chelsea Housing Authority because they have a Chelsea preference and they have a veterans preference. So please give me a call, send me an email. I'll sit down with you. Anybody who wants to talk you you don't speak English, that's okay. We'll get a
translator. Thank you. Council Garcia Kelly. >> Thank you. Uh good evening everyone. Good evening counselors. Um uh this conversation is not easy. It is personal. I grew up on Washington A with
my sister and other siblings. Um and my mom and dad could not afford 80% or let alone 60% AMI. And so when I sit here and I'm thinking, you know, two um the reality is there are two
truths here that we're balancing. The city needs to grow while we also need to protect our families who built this city and who many are here in this audience. But my role as a counselor
is to again to balance both of those things. And so when I look at the working group proposal that I have in front of me, I want you to know that all of that was taken into consideration. I didn't want to thank the working group for their countless of hours. It felt
like the majority of the time was spent really working on a proposal that included more 30% and 50%. And so I truly thank those members for listening to the community, for bringing their
those stories to the table. And to not uh to city councilors uh de Jesus's point, we are getting better. We're we're we're getting to a um I would say a a better place than
where we started off that included no 30% AMI, which is not okay. Um and so with that, I do have faith that we will eventually get to a point where again we are protecting our families but
also protecting the future of this city as well. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, counselor. Council Jets, sorry about that. Council Sanate.
>> Hi everyone. Um, I just wanted to say that although I only was part of one of the working group meetings, I have been working on my own to try to tackle this uh contentious issue in the community.
Um, and one of the things that may make sense for me, and I am really I I'm so happy because from the very beginning of this process, I wanted something with 30% AMI and I know that that's we were
told that was hard for the developers, but um I thought that they could do better and this working group proposal has something that um I think would really
I I I endorse it right now. If it is if I had to vote today, I I would vote for that because I think that it includes um what I wanted it to include from the beginning. Even if it's one family's
dream to live in um new development, I'd like one unit for 30% on there. Um, but what I think as far as the feasibility study goes in the work that I did, I have talked to some housing
advocates who have said at this point that they don't think a feasibility study is necessary. Um, but since we do have the opportunity to engage and have it done for us, and I
guess I have to say that I disagree with Miss Alvarez who spoke earlier as far as the fact that we had contracted someone. There was a list that of tasks and the task for a feasibility study hadn't been
engaged. It was there for us to use, but it had not been decided on. So, there was no contract with Chelsea and I think it was um MP MHP
>> and that was there to contract with Judy Barrett for a feasibility study, but we didn't have one and it was never decided that we would go. It was one of the tasks that that organization could do for us, but we didn't decide to. We
hadn't decided to do it if the funding is there. And I think Judy Barrett may have even said yes, other places have feasibility studies, but I don't think she said we had to have one. And she's the expert that
would have been hired to do it. So, but if it's there, I think we can do two things at the same time. I think that we can vote on something now and ch the amendment and contract have M uh HP
contract Judy Barrett and what we have to do if we do that is get our trust back because that's what's missing from this whole thing in my personal opinion. Trust was lost from both sides very early on in the process. And so we've
got to work to get that back. And we should do the feasibility study and trust that the council body will make changes after we get results if they
differ from what we have passed. I think we're in control here to say we want to go ahead and review this and change it. >> 30 seconds. Council, >> so that's what I think should happen. >> Councelor Tish,
>> thank you. Uh, Mr. Chair, um, from the beginning, I was one of the first ones to speak against the initial proposal because it was a complete deletion of all the protections that we had for um, affordable housing. Um, and we arrived
at a at a proposal, the city manager that we together sent to the planning board. Um, it has now been amended. I will say I don't think I ever got an invitation um to to be part of the group that created this new proposal. Um, so I'll have to take my time and look at this new proposal and see how that um
can be implemented. Um, like I expressed in the very beginning, it's very difficult for me to make a decision if I don't feel like I know at least the the entirety of the scope that this would impact. And by doing that, you have to consider what's going on with the
finances of the city. You got to consider who is your population. You got to consider who elected you to represent voices because at the same time, we we have to represent the voices that elected us in the first place. And in my case, the the primary population that
elected me are primary renters. District 7 is mostly renters. Um and so I want everybody everyone to know that um that's who I'm going to have in mind when I make my decision in voting. Um but you have to put into perspective
that at the moment we only as a city we only have one project before the planning board. What's going to happen after that's decided on? We're going to have zero projects before the planning board, meaning there is no new development in
Chelsea at all. And how is that going to impact our financial future? Are we going to have to let go of city staff? Are we going to have to cut programs? If somebody reaches out to me and asks
me, "Hey, can you cut down a tree?" and I ask the city manager and he tells me we don't have the money to cut the tree or ask me for some kind of help and I have to say we don't have money for that then then what happens right so we have to balance the financial status of the
city while making sure that we also protect the most people as possible and I when it comes to the physibility study I do think I was again one of the first one who said we did not have the correct numbers to start with. Um I do
think that conversations have been developing and that we now have a bit of a wholeer picture um to proceed on. Um but um I I will have to see what the council as a whole wants to do in terms of uh either delaying the process or
making a vote. Whatever it is, if we have to vote on June 22nd, I'll be ready for it. And you know, again, I'll be having my uh constituency in mind when I do that. Mhm. 30 seconds, counselor. Thank you.
>> Thank you, councelor. Councel, >> I'd like to make a motion to accept and Oh, >> can I m Mr. President or Mr. Chair? >> I'm sorry. >> That Oh, sorry. to have I'll I'll wait to make my >> motion
>> the ladies first. >> Thank you budding everyone. Um I have to echo the sentiments of Manuel Teshi. I also want to mention something that I think it's
very important. Um what is AMI? Right? A lot of people don't understand the lingo that we are speaking right now. Right? when we say 80% AMI right so is housing and urban development.
So they create the standards and they create the they distribute the funds for housing, right? I just want to explain these things to you because I feel like a lot of I didn't know this in depth, right? Um
so what happens is they look at the surrounding cities around us, right? Boston. Let's use this as an example. Boston, Quinzy, and Chelsea, right? Boston makes $100. Quinsey makes $100 and Chelsea makes 75. But because
Chelsea, HUD doesn't measure it correctly or doesn't. And um they use census to determine the AMI. Chelsea's AMI isn't accurate, right? Um, so if
Boston was 100, Quinsey was 100, and Chelsea was $75, right? Chelsea's AMI would be $91. A lot higher than what what it's supposed to be, right? I don't know if
you guys are getting me. I'm trying to explain it in simple math because I had to explain it to myself like this in order to get it. Um, and 80% of that AMI of those $75 is $72.8, meaning you're going to spend most of
your money on rent, right? Um, and it's it's an inaccurate and an injustice to the city. And that has always happened because we don't advocate at Congress level
and state and federal level. And we we need to get to HUD to be able to change this. Um and that's just something that I was, you know, um studying and and wanted to
mention to the community because I feel like we we must do something to to change it nationwide, right? Um but that's it. I I echo the sentiment of many of my colleagues, but
I also understand that the city needs growth. Our kids need better educations and better schools. Um, we need to change things and >> 30 seconds. >> Of course, keeping our families in mind.
So, thank you for coming today and thank you for speaking. Um, and Bati, we hear you. Okay. Thank you, councelor. Councelor Brown. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I'm going to be very, very brief. Um, you know, we
were elected and everyone's talking about elected officials. We're elected to do a job. Um, the last few years we've been in some very heated debate and conversations. Um, last year we had a great opportunity to have quite a few
jobs for our residents here in Chelsea that was mentioned here to probably lead us to this decision we have today. We're elected for the opportunity. I don't know if you've read the Boston Globe a few weeks ago. It talked about people
are watching Chelsea. opportunity was gone when we lost, you know, potentially a hundred jobs at a great salary where people can meet those AMIs. What we're talking about now we're talking about the holding off of um
opportunity for homeownership and for renters to continue to stand out. If we keep doing this, we're not going to have anything at all to to be able to sustain our community because if we lose jobs and we don't have folks that can afford
the housing and one way or another, you're out of the system of Chelsea or the resident area zip code of Chelsea, then we're not doing our job. you know, it's there's nothing being discussed behind doors to try to, you know, hurt
the city of Chelsea. For the last 10, 12, 14 years, everyone has been saying Chelsea is doing everything right. We are still trying to keep that momentum of doing what's right. This is a tedious task here, but we have some brilliant
minds here. The city manager works his butt off. his his staff. They don't live here, but they're here at every important meeting for the residents to give their opinion and also let them know what's going on. We're here for
you. You have to let us do it our job. Our job is to make sure that you have opportunity to live and go to school and do what you want in a reasonable fashion in the city that you stay at. But if we can't create jobs for you, we can't
create um this afternoon or this evening we're talking about a developer was coming in here wanted to do 11 affordable housing because whatever we have on the board is not allowed and say I'll come back later when I don't have to do anything. Those are not opportunities for you if we can't get
those things. We're here for you and let us continue to onward forward. We didn't win three American all-American cities because we're playing a mule here. We're working. We're we we're using our brain
here. Um and one of my colleagues said the senator, we have senators. We have representation at the state level, whether it's um Judith Garcia, Saudi Dominico, they they work for these opportunities to bring people attention to Chelsea to make sure that we can
offer these opportunities for you. So, uh, I just wanted to say that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Councelor Robinson, permission to add one thing to this conversation. >> Yeah. Well, you already spoke on it on the audience. >> I'd like to make a motion to accept and file the communication under
communications. If there are no objections, >> see no objections and it's filed. Clerk, read the next order, please. Was that a motion to accept and file the from just from the planning board or yours as well? >> Both.
>> Both communication. >> Sorry. Could could you clarify what you just said? >> The motion is to accept and file under communications both the communication from the planning and the communication from me which includes the amendment. >> The clerk the clerk will read read >> the communication received from the
council president read as follows. Dear honorable members of the city council, over the past few months, I have been part of a working group that was brought together by city manager Fidel Maltes to come up with a more adequate proposal to change our inclusionary zoning ordinance. This group includes developers, community advocates,
>> um, I'd like to wave the rest of the reading and accept and file under communication. There are no objections. I think >> I said what's in there. >> Both communications have been read. We move on to the zoning ordinance itself taken out of order. Whereas the city
seeks to advance economic development. >> We got no we got to one order. >> There was no objections. >> There was no objections. >> Whereas the city seeks to advance economic development opportunities in Chelsea. And whereas the city seeks to increase housing and unlock new growth
in Chelsea. And whereas the Chelsea City Council finds that a proposed amendment to chapter 34156 to the zoning ordinances of the city of Chelsea advances an amendment that is a legitimate aspect of public interest, promotes economic development and housing production to support the
growing needs of the city's budget and encourages the most appropriate use of land throughout the city of Chelsea. And whereas pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 48, a petition was forwarded to the Chelsea Planning Board for a public hearing which was held on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026. Now therefore, be it
ordained that the following petition for the adoption of amendments to chapter 34, article 7, section 34-156, inclusionary housing of the zoning ordinances of the city of Chelsea, be moved to a public hearing prior to adoption pursuant to master general law
chapter 48. So, uh, this needs to be now moved to a public hearing. Um, I'll make a I'll make I'll make a make a motion to move it to a public hearing. >> All right, we have a motion to move it to a public hearing. Um, seeing no objections, uh, motion uh, carries.
Councelor Tesa, do you want to say something as well? Okay, great. Um, so just for the public, we will have the public hearing for the inclusionary zoning amendment. Um, the entire topic, everything that has been discussed will be on uh, the 22nd of June. And at that meeting, the council will um has the
opportunity to take a vote on this or delay it. You know, it is up to the council um to do what the council will with the order. So, please engage with your counselors and um thank you all so much. And we are now returning to the regular order of business. We have approval of
the minutes coming up. Um I will give a minute for the public to exit. And folks, if we could please um move out quickly. Thank you. >> Um let's recess for five. Squeeze
this for five. All right, calling the counselors back to their seats. >> All right, >> where are we at? This is yours. Where's mine? All right. So, next we have um we have
approval of the minutes uh minutes of the May 4th, 2026 regular meeting. >> Seeing councelor Garcia, make a motion to approve. Um seeing no objections. Um minutes approved. Um moving on to communications from the city manager. Mr. Clerk,
>> first communication regarding fiscal year 25 annual comprehensive financial report and independent audit. Dear counselors, I am pleased to transmit the city of Chelsea's fiscal year 2025 annual comprehensive financial report and independent auditors report for your review and consideration. Our administration is committed to fiscal
responsibility, transparency, and sound financial management. The independent auditing firm Reliev Clark and Associates issued an outside report finding that the city's financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the city in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. This
outcome is a result of diligent work and strong internal controls that have been established across city government. Chelsea maintains a comprehensive framework of internal controls designed to safeguard public assets. Ensure >> councelor Garcia >> make a motion to um wave the rest of the
reading. There no objections. >> Seeing no objections and I believe we need a motion to refer this to subcommittee. >> Motion to refer to subcommittee. >> Seeing no objections. So moved. Um, we will refer this to schedule subcommittee on conference to review the audit.
>> Next communication received from the city manager regarding community preservation act request for 50 Beacon Street. Dear councilors, I'm writing to respectfully request that the city council amend the current funding or recommendation for the community preservation act to application CP2609
50 Beacon Street by reducing the recommended award amount to $0, effectively voting down the project at this time. First, we want to sincerely apologize for the confusion and concern that this application has created within the community and among stakeholders. The CPC takes his responsibility
seriously and remains committed to ensuring CPA funds are invested in a manner that is transparent, equitable, and align with the community's priorities. In general, Community Preservation Committee is supportive of efforts to preserve Chelsea's historic resources and acknowledges the
importance of maintaining the character and history of our city. Through the course of public discussion and subsequent review, it has become clear that the use of CPA funds for historic preservation work on private residences is more complicated. This is a policy area that requires deeper evaluation and
more discussion with the city council and our broader community. While such projects may be appropriate under certain circumstances, we do not believe this. >> Councelor Brown, >> uh, please turn on your mic. Your mic is off. Motion to wave the last sentence of the
reading and and ask for a roll call vote to um >> on this here. >> It's coming up under committee report. So this is just a communication. So um motion to wave the rest of the reading. Um any objections? Seeing none, >> can I just briefly
>> Yes, you may. >> I know it's coming up. So after several concerns arose on arose on the spending, I want to thank the city manager for bringing it again to our attention, but not only the city manager. I got a number of phone calls from residents and emails who want to thank them on their
work. Um this is clearly not the criteria, the spirit of what this money was for. Um community preservation money's purpose is to historically save and preserve um community stuff. and where it's a touchy situation here where
we wanted to try to do the right thing but obviously um it feels that we're doing something that the money shouldn't be used for and this is for residents um property. So I want to thank everyone for following up with us. Thank the city
manager for asking us again to withdraw this motion. I mean, this funding, uh, it was a lot of money and it did, um, raise some eye eyebrows and I'm glad we're going to be, um, deleting this funding tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Uh, councelor Sagate.
>> Yeah. Um, I absolutely agree. Um, but I do think there are some circumstances and in other communities there are funds available um, for individual homeowners, but I think that we don't have any guidelines for doing that. But I do
think it is possible and especially for historic homes. So I think we just need to put something together if we do want to help individual homeowners in such a way. >> Thank you. All right. Seeing no other
comments, moving on to our next communication. >> Next communication from the city manager requesting council approval of FY27 operating budget. Dear councilors, I'm writing to request the city council vote to support the Chelsea council. >> I make a motion to wave the rest of the reading.
>> All right. Um seeing no objections to that, um we already voted on the budget, so this is um accept uh sorry >> make a motion to accept and file. >> Motion to accept and file under communications. Um seeing no objections, so moved. >> Next communication received from the city manager requesting approval of
reappointments to boards and commissions. Dear councilors, pursuant to section 4-2 of the charter of the city of Chelsea, I am writing to recommend the following individuals to boards and commissions. Reappoint to the zoning board of appeals, Mr. Hugo Peromo of Chelsea for a new three-year term. Reappointment to the affordable housing
trust fund board, deputy city manager of operations Devon Fields and Chelsea resident Alexis Turjan for new two-year terms and reappoint to the community preservation committee historical commission representative Michelle Mirthths for a new three-year term. President Garcia, >> make a motion to uh move this to a
second reading >> and wave the rest of the reading. >> Um seeing uh sorry, no need to wave the rest of the reading. We're all done. Um but uh uh seeing no objections to the motion for to moving to a second reading. Uh so moved uh moved to a
second reading. >> Next communication received from the city manager requesting approval of year-end financial requests along with the requisite orders attached. Dear council is I'm writing to request votes to address additional endofear financial matters for some supplemental appropriations reauthorization of
revolving fund accounts and the FY27 cable PEG access budget details and individual orders are as follows. First, salary deficits funded by salary reserve. Treasury Department regular salary $8,970.
Treasurer's Department overtime 2220. Permitting and land use department. >> President wave the rest of the reading and send it to subcommittee. >> Yes. So, um so we have so we have the communication first and then we have all of the items. We can move all of the
items together to ways and means um as they are all under this one communication and they are all going to ways and means is that >> I would love to do that if there are no objection >> or to a second reading if you know if there are no objections. >> Are there objections to a second reading? >> There are yeah
>> all financial orders need to go to ways and mains. >> Okay. Moving it to subcommittee. >> So u so the motion is to um >> move all of the orders. Uh so um items 26F26
through 26F-31 to the Ways and Means Committee. Um if there are no objections. >> All right. >> Just for the public, those are my Tuesday meetings. So you can join me here at city hall 5:00 pm with my friends in the city manager's office. So
see you all Tuesday. >> Thank you, counselor. Um yep. And these are all of the financial requests that come at the end of the fiscal year, which is in a few weeks at the end of June. Next, communication received from the city manager regarding the March 2026
report from the Chelsea electricity choice program. Dear counselors, I am pleased to share a summary of the latest performance report for the city of Chelsea's electricity choice program. Since its launch in June 2024, the program has continued to deliver substantial financial benefits and price
stability for Chelsea residents and >> um turn your mic on, please. Um thank you. Go ahead. >> Wrong button. I'd like to make a motion to wave the rest of the reading and >> and um >> accept and file. >> Accept and file. >> All right. Um seeing no objections to accepting and filing or waving the rest
of the reading. So moved. And um >> next communication received from the city manager regarding Chelsea's Fiesta football in our downtown. Dear counselors, I'm pleased to share that the city of Chelsea will be celebrating Fiesta football this summer in Chelsea Square. This exciting family-friendly event will bring residents, families,
and visitors together to celebrate the World Game while showcasing the energy, diversity, and vibrancy of our community. Fiesta football represents a tremendous opportunity to activate our downtown, create a welcoming public gathering space, and generate a muchneeded foot traffic for our local businesses. As we continue to invest in
the vitality of our commercial districts, events like this help support our restaurants, retailers, and small businesses while creating memorable experiences for residents of all ages. Over the past several months, our team has built incredible momentum around this event and has invested significant time and energy into planning,
promotion, and community outreach. We are excited by the enthusiasm we have already seen from residents, community organizations, and business owners. We are fully aligned with our public safety partners, including Chelsea emergency management, the fire department, and police department. In addition, Catalo Ambulance Service will be on site and
available to support the event. Our collective goal is to provide a safe, enjoyable, and welcoming environment for everyone who attends. I would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to Eastern Minerals for their incredible partnership and support of this initiative. Their commitment to Chelsea has helped make this event possible. In
particular, Eastern Minerals has generously purchased a giant viewing screen that will serve as a centerpiece of the celebration and allow residents to come together to enjoy the matches in a festive community setting. Fiesta Football reflects the spirit of Chelsea, a city that embraces diversity, celebrates community, and creates
opportunities for people to come together. We are proud to host this event and look forward to welcoming residents from across the city and beyond. Councelor Garcia. >> Um team, I am so excited for this event. I just want to extend my sincere gratitude to the entire planning
department to all those members involved. Um I know the local businesses in downtown really took a hit with the construction and this is a great opportunity for them to bounce back and so I'm really excited. Cultura is also very football, very soccer driven and
and I can't wait to see the the students um really engage in this opportunity as well. >> Thank you. Councelor Lur Robinson, did you want to >> uh Yes. I think this is a wonderful event that's going to take place in in our community and I think as
representatives of this community, I like to see us all participating and going down and watching the games. Um I think our anticipate our participation I think is very important to show this community that we're in unity uh here on
this board and I would encourage everybody to find time to go down and take a look at I think a special thanks goes out to Shayla Mahoney and Joe Mcnammy for stepping up and doing what they do for this community and every
community should have a Shayla and Joe in it. I just want to thank them publicly. Thank you, councelor. I have councelor Sanagate and then councelor Rupo. >> Yeah, I I don't really know anything about soccer, but I do know that this is
so exciting for everybody here and so I am like living off the enthusiasm of everyone and I can't wait to go to a watch party, which will be my first one ever in my life. Um, but I want to also say that I was down at the Mary C. Burke
complex recently um for a school visit at the Solowski school and the doors of the classrooms are decorated for the World Cup teams and they are magnificent. So the energy at the school
for the young ones who know all the stats etc is uh palpable when you walk into the building. though it's going to be fantastic. And as someone who lived in Zambia where football was so huge, I'm going to give you the Zambian chant
which is Chipolo Polo. Council Okubra. >> Uh, I'd like to thank also Eastern Mineral for supplying the big screen and I like to say to the people, enjoy what the city puts up for you and when you go
there, try to be courteous to other people and no fighting, none of that stuff because sometimes I've been in places where football matches or soccer matches erupt into one against the other. So that is the number one thing.
make sure that that does not happen because you want to enjoy it. That's what the purpose of it is is to enjoy it instead of that. I've seen it so I know. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. Councelor Brown. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I want to
thank everyone um that came together to make this um particular the city manager and and Charlie um for working with the communities and the schools. Uh, I know we hear a lot about the surrounding communities where they um have extended
their liquor hours to 3:00 am, but the city of Chelsea, we went further than that. We want to make this a familyorienting. So, we don't have that extended hours of alcohol and we don't have that outdoor. So, it's great that our city manager and the workers around
this here put the youth first that we can go out, we can enjoy it on the outside. We can go to a lot of the local restaurants, curies and the different restaurants right there in the square and we don't have to worry about keeping our youth out after 10 or 11:00 at
night. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Hines. I just want to add when we talk about and and what we talked about during the um the budget meetings like this is a great showing of community pride and like a cultural awareness to have an event like this in
a community like ours that has roots in this sport specifically. Um I I think it's a beautiful thing and I really hope that everybody from the community comes out. Um wear your best soccer gear. Um I don't have any yet but I will get some.
Um, and I hope to see you all there. >> Councelor Taylor. >> So, I just want to uh also extend my gratitude to Charlie Gaffrida and and the city manager
and our representatives on Beacon Hill for for uh getting us some of the funding to to have this event. Uh let's to the public
uh take this as an opportunity to go watch some soccer, have some fun, and most importantly, go out and eat at one of the restaurants close by. These these
people are in need of your patronage and we ought to all support our local restaurants because they are having a hard time. Everybody always comes up here for help. You know, help with this, help with that. Well, let me tell you,
our restaurants need our support. So, go out and have a good meal and enjoy some soccer. And I think the United States is playing on Thursday. >> All righty. Thank you all so much. >> Next communication received from the
city manager requesting council acceptance of La Calabativa grant to the city of Chelsea. >> Mr. President, I'm going to recuse myself because of my ties with the organization. >> Thank you. >> Dear council, I am writing to request a necessary >> make a motion that we wave the rest of
the reading um and accept the grant of $15,000 for youth transportation to outings. um experience in lock cap. >> So, so move to um accept in file
communication and um then adopt the um uh the order. Correct. >> Correct. >> Great. Um so we do need to um uh No, it it um uh we need a to a roll call vote, right? Yeah. Yeah. So so the um so the waving can be done um
unanimously, but the uh order does need a roll call vote. So we'll move. Yeah. Thank you. >> Um, councelor Robinson, >> to the chair, was the city part of a grant what the collaborative and auditor received this money? >> Uh, do we know? >> That is a great question. Um, uh, Mr.
Manager, >> Mr. Sagarino is coming to the rescue. Mr. mouth has. >> While the manager is looking this up, I'm going to give the um mic to Mr. Hines who has a comment on this. >> Go ahead, councelor. to clarify what I think the question is and I'm I'm pretty
sure the city manager will will attest to um but I believe this is fun that funding that is coming from Larabativa to the recreations department to support was that was that the question? >> No. >> Oh, sorry. >> The question was was the city part of a
grant with the collaborative? >> Oh, was the city part of the application itself? Okay, I see. >> I just want clarification with Yep. >> where why and when? Yeah, th this this was a grant of funding
received by Lacativia to the city of Chelsea. Um so so the um I I think the answer is no, counselor, to your question. This is this is a a grant that that Charlie applied for to Lacoriva uh
and and Lacordiva was uh uh granted that that that grant. >> Okay, that answers my question. Thank you. Great. Thank you, councelor. Um, thank you, Mr. Manager. All right. Seeing no other um comments or questions.
>> Just that it's unusual for somebody to give in the city money as opposed to us always doning out money to these groups. >> We will now move on to the roll call vote. >> Roll call vote requested. Yes. Vote to accept and approve the grant. >> Council Taylor. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Councelor Cooper. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Jimenez Rivera. >> Quick question. Do we need eight for this or? No, just six. Okay. Um, >> yes. Sorry. >> Yes. Councelor Hines. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tari Garcia is absent.
Council Tesh is also absent. Council Kelly Garcia is also absent. Councilor Sandiga. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council De Jesus is absent, marked recused. Council Brown. >> Yes. >> Yes. And council Robinson. >> Yes. >> Yes. Seven members voting in favor. Zero
opposed. Four members absent with one recused. Grant accepted and approved. Next, communication received from the city manager requesting council approval of donation from Eastern Minerals to Chelsea Recreation Department. Dear councilors, pursuant to Mass General
Law, chapter 44, section 53A1 and 2. I am writing to request that the city council formally approve a donation of a max 169 mobile LED screen to the Chelsea Recreation Department from Mr. >> Chairman. ask to wave the rest of the reading and accept and file the communication.
>> Seeing no objections, so moved and accepted. >> Filed. Move on to the order itself. Can >> I speak real briefly? >> Uh yes. Yes, you may. >> Just real quick. I bumped into Charlie today and he was sharing about the screens that it's a it's a great investment for the city even though it
was a it was gifted just because it's not just for the football the soccer games. we're going to be able to use these screens for gaming stations, for all these different interactional like activities with the youth. And so I'm really excited about the creativity and
the you know the thinking outside the box that we're doing with our with our uh recreation department. So shout out to Charlie. >> Thank you councelor. So now now we are moving on to the order to um actually accept the um the
donation. Is there a motion on the order? Need a motion to um adopt. >> Motion roll by roll call vote. >> So moved. Uh councelor Taylor made the motion to um adopt under roll call vote.
>> Roll co vote requested. Yes. Vote to approve the donation. Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council recuper. >> Yes. Councelor Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hines. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tener Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tesh is absent. Councilor
Santic. Councelor Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Santigette. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council De Jesus. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Brown. >> Yes. >> Yes. And council Robinson. >> Yes. >> Yes. 10 members voting in favor. Zero opposed. One absent. Order approved.
Donation approved. >> Moving on to another uh donation from Eastern Minerals. This time to the Chelsea Police Department. Dear councilors, pursuant to Mass General Law, chapter 44, section 53A1-2, I am writing to request that the city council formally approve a donation of
$10,000 to the Chelsea Police Department from Eastern Minerals. The donated funds will be used to support the police department's build the base youth camp. The program blends structured physical training with classroom instruction focused on discipline, leadership, accountability, mental wellness, and positive engagement between youth and
law enforcement. >> Do I have a motion on the communication? >> The follow communication. Uh we can take up the order ask for a roll call vote on the order. >> Right. So we have a motion to um accept file of communication. No objections. So moved. And then uh we will now uh we
have a motion for the roll call vote, but we'll open for discussion. And councelor Hines, you have the floor if you would like to speak on it. >> Right. Right now or after the vote. >> Right now if you would like. >> Okay. I'm sorry. I'm just breaking the rules all day today. >> You're totally fine. Um, first and foremost, I I'd like to say what we
witnessed with the build the base program both during the u February and the April break was a beautiful showing of uh building relationships between law enforcement and with kids um and the youth of the community. what um all of
the officers in C in SRO's who volunteered their time to put such programming together um through a boot camp, through building character, through through teaching youth resilience. I think it was a tremendous showing of of who we are as a community
and the unique capabilities that we have here in having the police force that we do. Um, I want to extend um a direct gratitude to um all the officers involved. Um and I look forward to see what what continues to come from this.
>> Thank you, Council Council Brown. >> Yeah, I just quickly want to echo um it's a great program. Um had a chance to go down and spend some hours with the kids. A few of the kids even through our um budget hearings have been up here and some of them came up tonight and they asked me, "You remember me?" I said,
"Yes." But it's it's really good. Star and the rest of the offices have done a terrific job of entrusting and embracing our youth and hopefully one day they'll be our men in blue and our women in blue here. Thank you.
>> Seeing no further comments, we will move on to a roll call vote on the on the adoption. >> Roll call vote requested. Yes. Vote to approve the donation. >> Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Cupro. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Hines. Yes.
>> Yes. Council Tenari Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Tesh. Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Santigette. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council De Jesus. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Brown. >> Yes. >> Yes. And council Robinson. >> Yes. >> Yes. 10 members voting in favor. Zero
opposed. One option. Order approved and donation approved. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. >> Mr. President, my apologies. Just for the record, I'm going to have to excuse myself. I have a travel plans tomorrow with work and um yeah so my apologies. >> Thank you councelor. Safe travels
>> travel safely. >> Next item under communications communication from the city manager requesting approval of donation from Mass General Brigham Division of Clinical Research to Public Health Division. Dear counselor, pursuant to Mass General Law, chapter 44, section 53A1-2,
I'm writing to request the council formally approve a donation of $1,000 to the public health division from Mass General Bighgam, division of clinical research. The donated funds will be used to cover transportation costs for the United Ability different ways one community event in celebration of
disability pride month. >> Move to accept and follow communication if we can take up the order. I'd ask for a roll call vote on the order. Seeing no objections, so move on the communication and motion for the roll call vote. >> Any discussion?
>> Seeing none, we will move to the roll call vote on the adoption. >> Roll call vote requested. Yes. Vote to adopt. Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Cooper. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Jimenez River. >> Yes. >> Councelor Hines. >> Yes. >> Council Tener Garcia.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Tesh is absent. Councelor Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. Councilor Santigette. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council De Jesus >> is absent. Council Brown. >> Yes. >> Yes. And councelor Robinson. >> Yes. >> Yes. Nine members voting in favor. Zero opposed to absent. Order approved.
Donation approved. Next. Communication received from the city manager regarding Community Preservation Act FY27 budget. Dear councilors, I'm writing to request approval of the Community Pro preservation acts FY27 budget. The proposed budget order as adopted by the
Chelsea Community Preservation Committee is attached. As you will see, the proposed CPA FY27 budget reserves for appropriation 95% of the estimated revenue with 10% allocated to each of the three statutory reserve accounts and the remaining 65% being allocated to the
budgeted reserve. All of these accounts are subject to future appropriation by the council based upon recommendations from the community preservation committee to fund specific projects. For the remaining 5% of estimated revenue, the committee is requesting an appropriation for administrative
expenses which are expressly allowed by statute. Most communities use these administration. >> We have the clerk read the last please no paragraph and you move and accept and follow communication if there are no objections. >> Seeing no objections so moved.
>> Please note that administrative funds can be used only in the fiscal year for which they are appointed appropriated at the end of the fiscal year. Any unspent administrative funds will be transferred to the budget or reserve account and available in the following year for funding of specific projects.
>> Um move motion was to accept and file. Councel >> motion was to accept and file communication. >> Seeing no objections. >> Moving on to the item itself, the order. Um councelor. Um yep. Sorry, say that again.
>> Do you move uh we need a motion on the order itself now? um which would go to ways and means probably. >> I'll actually u make a motion to move it to ways and means if there are no objections. >> Seeing none. So move to ways and means.
Thank you councelor. >> That concludes communications received from the city manager. Moving on to communications and petitions to the council. First agenda item came from a planning board was taken out of order. Next item under regular order, communication received from the assistant parking clerk regarding agenda
items approved at the May 5th meeting of the traffic and parking commission. >> Uh council bro, can you can you please turn on your mic? Um, so then yeah, go ahead. >> Last time this happened, people complained because they couldn't get to their house. >> Council, can you just clarify which item
number you're talking about? >> Shutting the street between Central Avenue and and Congress Avenue. >> This is number nine for for counselors. Um, so this is for spirit day at the early learning center. Okay. Um, sorry. Uh, go
ahead and All right. I don't know. >> Last time people complained because for one, the fire engine made all kinds of noise. They said people were working and for the second they couldn't get to their houses because it shuts. So, I don't know if I want to shut the street.
>> Okay. >> Okay. Um, yeah. Is is there a motion >> motion not to accept and send it back? So, um I think we can
Yeah, I think I think we can have a motion to have that vote separate and then vote on everything else and then we can >> separate. >> Okay. Um so, we will vote on every item except for item nine and then we will vote on item nine by itself or or have further conversation item whatever the council wants to do.
>> I want item 12 um to be taken out separate. >> Okay. So, we have a motion from councelor uh Robinson to take out agenda item number 12 separately as well. Any other items that anybody would like to take out for further conversation? Seeing none. All right. So, we will move
to a vote on all of the items except for number nine and number 12. Um Oh, sorry. We will do number nine and then number 12 and then we will vote on the rest. So, let's do um agenda item nine, the approval of the closure of Shortlift Street. Councelor Raupro has
spoken out um against the amendment. Um any other any further conversation on the amendment? >> Yes. Can can I explain why? >> I will I believe you already did, but I will give you a minute. >> Okay.
I'm not against the day. I'm just the people didn't want it. They would complain to me. one because the fire engines were too loud the last time they did it. And like I said earlier, they couldn't get to their
homes. So, I'm not against whatever they decided. I'm just expressing what the people's concerns were. So, that's up to when we take this vote is up to the rest of the council what they want to do with it. But, they should take into consideration the people that live
there, too. >> Councelor Taylor, did you want to say something? Um, >> I got a question. Oh, sorry. Uh, councelor Brown, go ahead. >> Yeah. Do we have any idea what time this is? Because it's a school. It's the closing of the year. It's a celebration. So, I'm just trying to find out if
there's a certain time. It's only a few hours. I mean, >> I believe councelor Sanagate has an answer given. >> Yes. um have as a former employee I know that field day once the kids come in and have breakfast then they start to go
outside and do various activities and um having access to the truck is one of the activities. So and it goes until I think around 1 or 1:30. >> Great.
>> Other comments Oh, sorry. You had a comment as well. You can I did you can go ahead and then councelor Taylor after >> I just think it might be possible given uh councelor recubo's feedback from the community >> to perhaps um
ask the fire department to not um make as much noise with the truck. The kids can still go on and just not have the siren go off as much. Maybe that would help. And as far as closing the street, it's just for a few hours. And
>> yeah, they can go around. Councelor Taylor, >> I have a question on item uh number seven. >> Sorry, we're on number nine right now. Um we're we're doing them separately. So we're doing number nine, then number 12, then the rest of them. Okay. Um any
councelor Garcia >> as a former educator u there are hours spent in planning field day and so Mr. I can't speak directly to a counselor but um you know from the chair it is it is one
fun day for students and there are so many hours put into planning this day that I would hate for the plans to have to be restructured. Um, again, I really like the accommodation that councelor Sanneade asked, right? And maybe the
fire trucks can shut off the engine. Um, but I I do think uh it'll be really inconsiderate of us to have the school department or the school um have to restructure their entire day. >> All right. Um, seeing no others. Um,
is there a motion for a roll call vote or are we I need a motion either for rollot >> roll call vote, Mr. President. >> All right. We have a motion for a roll call vote number. >> Can we add what she said? >> Can we amend what she said? >> We cannot. So, the vote is on what is
here. If there are requests that we would like to send to the fire department, that could be sent separately by people after this meeting. That is not what we are voting on. We are voting on either approving the the item or not approving the item. >> All right. Well, >> um, Council Robinson,
>> I would ask if the council would like to reig on his motion and allow it for >> allow the event to happen. >> Take the motion away. I listened to what she said and we'll send the fire department to shut them.
>> Okay. >> All right. So So now we're we're just not taking taking that up. >> Um so next we're moving on to item 12. Um councelor Robinson, go ahead. >> Okay. In in regards to 12 is the construction management plan for the
veterans home. And I and I think and I know that they've gone before the traffic commission, but they have not shared any of this in the neighborhood. I think it's appropriate for somehow that they have a meeting with the people
in the neighborhood to explain what they're doing, where they're going to be staging their uh workers, where they're going to be parking. Um, also an issue that came to my attention
is that when they did the um knocking down the building, we don't know if they actually did a rodent um abatement before they started tearing down the building as people are not and on Summit
Avenue now are seeing some of the rodents coming across the street and entering their property. So they have some concerns. >> Just to make sure council, are you asking for us to take a separate vote on this item or is it just just for you to just speaking on it?
>> Well, I think that I'd like for this group to have a call for a public meeting with the residents of the soldiers home area. >> Sure. But in terms in terms of voting on the item, Yeah. >> is there anything that you're requesting for this vote or are we just taking it as part of the rest of the items here?
Well, I'd like to hold off on voting on number 12. >> So, um, clerk is clarifying that if the council does not act on this, it goes into effect in 30 days. So, we have to our the options before us are vote yes, vote no, or take no action. But if we
take no action on July 8th, it will go into into effect. Um, councelor Brown. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Do we have any idea when the construction would begin? >> That is a question for the city manager
who I see is uh up there and ready to answer. >> Thank you, councelor. Uh and thank you uh councelor Robinson who who uh uh raised this to Paul and I on Thursday uh with the rodents uh and and also uh
has a council order uh about an update on on a community meeting. So we we um have reached out to Penrose uh and Conigley. Uh we will have a community meeting at the merit club. uh they are are in the process of of scheduling that
uh and we expect that to happen in the next 30 days. Uh and and in that meeting uh we'll discuss you know uh any concerns uh uh uh uh in the project uh and we'll also uh uh specifically
address the the parking issues. >> Okay. >> All right. So um >> do we do we have a time frame on when that meeting will take place? I think uh time is of importance here. >> Absolutely. They they said that that
they were reaching out to the American to schedule it uh and it's going to happen within the the first the next 30 days. >> Okay. I'll hold you to it. >> So with that, is there a motion to take this item?
Is there a motion on this item? I'll wave my motion at this time. All right. So, we are back to the original list of items. Um, councelor um Taylor, I believe, had a um had something to say. Are you asking if to take it out or it's just a comment?
>> Yeah, sorry. >> It's a clarification on item seven about uh restricting right-hand turn onto Fifth Street from Washington. >> Uh Mr. Manager, is that something you'd like to address? >> Yeah. Um this is from Mass DOT. So as
you know uh uh Mass DOT at some point next year is going to redo uh Bellingham Square, right? Uh and as part of that that uh modification uh we are installing a a traffic signal that is going to allow all movement. What they
uh uh are are requesting is is a is is a slight modification uh um uh to to the traffic pattern. And you see it in your packet what they're requesting. Uh um it's it's a a >> I see it but I don't understand it.
>> Sure. Sure. So, it's a safety improvement that basically when when uh um when vehicles are at Dunkin Donuts, right, and the buses are are are queued up uh um uh vehicles making a right uh
uh uh from Washington into Fifth Street uh creates a bit of a of a safety issue with with uh uh with the buses and and the vehicles. So they are are requesting a modification uh uh as a safety improvement as they see it.
>> So So what is the So is it that you're not going to be able to turn explain what this actually does? I understand that it's to to improve the MBT the MBTA's requesting it so they can fit three buses instead of two. That's right.
>> But what but I mean so what is that going to mean for cars? >> Okay. that that that that's what I'm that's what I'm asking. >> Yeah. Yeah. The >> I know there's going to be a traffic s but just >> Yes. Uh um I don't know I I'm not
familiar uh uh with the question uh specifically, but my understanding is is that they are are are uh trying to restrict the motion of of vehicles that are are are going from Washington Avenue and making a right onto Fifth Street.
Now, please remember that that uh um the reason why we're doing this is is to allow more mo more motions in general, right? That so so once once the traffic sign once the traffic signal is installed, you'll be able to make a left from from Hawthorne into Fifth Street,
you will be uh uh right now a lot of vehicles make the loop around city hall in order to get on on Fifth Street and and Hawthorne Street. So, we think that that uh uh um overall this this is uh is going to result in a better product for
vehicles, for car drivers, less traffic, too, but not on Fifth Street. >> Okay. >> It'll just be a different route. Councelor Sanagate, >> does that mean that if you're coming down Washington, you can go on
>> Cherry >> to get to Fifth >> on Cherry or >> prior to the intersection? So, um there's still a way to get there. You just can't do it at that intersection. Right. >> That is a proposal. >> And Cherry is I think
>> that's one way. cherries. It's a very small piece of cherry and I don't think it's in great repair. >> So I think um watch that because if that's going to be the way people get down there, it >> it'll get worse faster. Um so just and
it is narrow and >> we should take this. >> I mean I I don't know about this. I mean, >> sorry. Um, Council Hines and then Yeah, Councelor Taylor. Um, sorry, Council Hind.
>> I feel like we >> I feel like we're voting on this, but we won't know more until this meeting takes place. >> So, the the um Mass DOT and the MBTA came before the pling the planning, sorry, the traffic and parking
commission and gave a whole presentation about this. uh uh um I will get uh uh more clarity on on the the vehicle impacts uh of this proposal because cuz I I think that the the question that the the counselor is asking is is uh will
this result in vehicle impacts? How how how mass dot is framing it is that it has it has a lot of safety upgrades, right? And and I see it today if uh if you're at Dunkin Donuts and a bus is is going through, right? It's really hard
to make that right turn on onto Fifth Street and and if you can imagine right if you're a vehicle >> and you and you're trying to cut through a a bus is is not safe. It's not a safety. >> So So it's not that cars won't be able to enter for the street, but the way to
get there would be to come down Broadway rather than coming down Washington. >> That's right. On Broadway, on Cherry, on Chestnut or or on Hawthorne, uh >> making a left on on >> just not just not at Washington. Just not in in >> no >> just just not at at at Washington your
mic is councelor Brown your mic is on and yep sorry I have councelor Taylor and then counceloro >> okay so so a question and then a comment the the the question the question is if
we if we pull this item out and delay it until the next meeting to to approve. How does that affect the does it have to go back to the >> I can answer that um because I think that that would be a clear question not it um so if we
don't vote on this today the item would go into effect in 30 days. However, >> we're coming back in two weeks. >> We are coming back in two weeks. So I think at that point we would be able to take a yes or no vote which I think would be >> so so my so so my my question to the city manager is before the next city
council meeting can we please get clarification and additional information on uh item number seven as far as that goes and and uh I I just I don't feel comfortable voting on it because I don't
I don't really this is not enough for me to understand it. I'm sorry. And and and so uh if we could if we could if we could just get some other clarification um is that possible? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. So I would make a motion to pull
item seven out until we get that clarification at the next meeting and then we can vote on it. >> All right. So um sorry. So the let me just make sure. So we're we're the motion is not to vote on this item, right? So um so it's just to pull it out and then
>> vote on the rest >> keep that item out. Um councelor uh sorry >> yeah there is a so we'll take that motion. Let's open the debate on that motion. I think councelor Cooper has a comment and then we will vote on that unless anybody else has any other
comments on voting to take this out. Counselor. >> Yes. there is where there's a disconnect between us counselors and what we get here and what we vote on because I don't understand what that configuration means
to me either. If anybody can understand what this is, it's you know come explain it to me. It's so that that seems to be the disconnect between us the parking commission and what goes on in a city. I think we need to be more connected and
truly understand what goes on because uh the traffic in our city is bad enough as it is. Thank you. >> All right. So, are there any objections to moving item seven out um and holding it until two weeks from now? Seeing no
objections, we will we will take that item out. And then now I need a motion to accept the other items. >> Motion to accept the other items. Do we need a roll call? >> Um, we do not. >> Yep. Uh, we do not need a roll call vote. So, um, all those in favor say I.
>> I. >> Any against say nay. Hearing none. The eyes have it. So moved. Next communication and petition received to the council. >> Robinson, can you sit? I need to step down to speak. Next communication received comes from
the council president. Dear honorable members of the city council, I am pleased to share that by the end of June, I will be announcing the formation of a charter review commission. This commission will conduct a comprehensive review of its Chelsea city charter in order to ensure that our system of government adequately addresses and
balances issues. >> Council Robinson, I'd like to move to wave the rest of the reading and accept and file the communication and I'd like to speak on it real quick so that we can get a quick summary of the communication rather than the whole thing. >> No objections. See no objection. You have the floor council. >> Great. So, um, you know, since I joined
the city council, you know, this point over two years ago, multiple counselors, including myself, have raised concerns that there's portions of the charter that need to be updated. Um, there have been ongoing discussions about gaps in, you know, boards and commissions, um, so on and so forth. And there have also
been concerns about the strength of the community engagement during the 2020 charter process. It was co, it was not through the fault of any person that was on that committee. They all, you know, tried their best, but it was COVID. There was not enough community engagement. So, really what we're trying
to do is jumpst starting this um process again. Back in December, there was a vote to send what had been done in 2020 to the state legislature for a vote. The council chose not to so that we could have a process. Now that is the process that we are now starting um so that we
can go over the city's constitution, our charter and define what it is that we want to have for our government moving forward. Right? So um the goal um the the commission the committee will include three city councilors, one school committee member and five Chelsea
residents. Um people uh need to submit a letter of interest. Um you can send it to me um at rheelsemma.gov. that is up on the website. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call. You can also drop it off here at our office in the third floor of city
hall. Um the deadline for um expressing your interest is uh June 18th. Um I'm just realizing the communication has the wrong date there, but it is June 18th. I did have a question to pose to the counselors um because part of the reason why um the deadline feels a little tight
is because this is something that we had want I had wanted to start earlier but because of the conversations around inclusionary zoning I was not able to get to but if the council would be okay with extending that deadline a week or two we could add additional time for people. However, we would need to name
those people prior to the council returning from break. So, we could have that announcement and I would be happy to communicate that out to everybody both in the community and to the council, but we would want to make sure that in order for the the work to begin and be able to get something done by
January of 2027, we would want that group to start meeting. So, I happy to change that deadline if that's what the council would like. I think it would be worth it. >> Point of point of inquiry. Are we just looking for names to be submitted for
the process or applications from >> Yeah. So the so the application right is is basically submitting a resume and a letter of interest explaining you know who you are, why you want to be on it and and you know what you bring to it. Um but you know I I think that the really important piece here is
there is no like set type of person. It's really just we are looking for a diverse group of people who bring different perspectives and different backgrounds and the ultimate group will ultimately depend on who submits an application and and I think it's really important that we encourage as many
residents as possible to to submit so that we can have a good group of people >> and we're looking to move the deadline to give more people time to do that process. >> Yeah. So we would be able to move it, you know, end of the month, right? And then early July I would put out something through the city's channels.
um to name the people. >> You all >> Yes. >> You want to >> We don't need a We don't need a motion. Um because the like it's not a >> changing a piece of document. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But Yeah. Yeah. But but we don't we don't need to motion for
it. I I just want to make sure that the council is okay with essentially me moving the deadline. Yeah. >> There's no objection on that. Council Taylor, >> I you know I we've been through similar things like this before where we've
tried to move the deadline to encourage public participation and that it ends up being the same as it as it as it is. So I'm I'm really skeptical that that you know moving it is going to make any difference at all. I I I mean, I say
that if I if I I wish it was otherwise, but you know, I I've been here long enough to understand that that, you know, things are what they are and and us wanting them to be different doesn't make them different. So, so I I would say just stick to the schedule and and
let's get it let let's get it done and over with. >> Council recoup, >> I'll just have one question. Can someone's resume just be a resident with nothing else? Just being a resident that lived here for 40 years.
>> Happy to answer. >> So what if he writes on his resume? What is your reason to want to do? I'm a resident. I'm interested in how the city works. >> A letter of interest. >> So just a letter of interest. That's it. >> Thank you. >> Can I just clarify real quick to to answer the question? So there's two different things, right? There is a
letter of interest and that can just be I'm a resident. I want to be part of it, right? Um, the resume is more just like a summary of your experience, right? Just to make sure that we, you know, understand what perspective you bring, right? Because if you just say, "I'm a resident, there's 50,000 people that can
say that." So, we want to make sure that we're building a group that has, you know, different perspectives. And so, that's I think what we want to make sure that we're getting out of the application. >> Yeah. >> Somebody just puts that down, right, that wouldn't automatically be disqualified, right?
>> No. I just want to put that >> also, you know, if somebody doesn't have a whole lot of information, I will be making sure that I reach out to people to have the conversations with them >> to the chair Calvin Brown. >> Yeah, you can a resident can just put 40-year resident, homeowner, renter, and
that's it. That's defined who or she is, and it gives us some idea. We may want that to fill out the membership. >> I have >> Council Kelly Garcia. >> I have a few follow-up questions. um in terms of the the process. And so as we
live out the process, folks will express interest whether it be by the date that you >> whether it be the date that you proposed or we make an extension, whatever it be. And then from there, are we um are we also seeing that or or receiving these
documents as well to sort through who can be on the on the committee or how does that work? >> So the the prior the president is that the president of the council names the committee. However, all of the application documents are going to be publicly available because they will be submitted as part of a public process
and that those are all public records. So that will all be available. Um yes. >> Beautiful. And then my second follow-up question is what are um what are our ways of advertising this um committee? >> Yeah, so um the city manager has been uh
very helpful already and has put it out on the social media for the um for the city. Um I will be reaching out to him to do that a couple of more times between now and the deadline. Um I myself put out a video um on my Facebook
um that is now on the Chelsea MA. that's happening giving a little bit more context about what it is that we are going to be doing um as part of this process. Um so I asked the council I have already asked a number of counselors in private conversations to just please reach out
to people who you think would be good at this. Um and to anybody watching still if you this is if this is something that is of interest to you right looking at a document that is the basis for our government and to think about options and have conversations about how we can best have a civic engagement in our city
apply. So that's yeah we're looking for anybody and everybody and anybody who wants to be part of these conversations and have thoughtful conversations about the future of our city. >> Great. And then for the public to know are these meetings going to be held here in the in the city hall? Are they going
to be livereamed open to the public? How does that work? >> So the body itself, right, the committee will be a public committee. So it will be subject to the open meeting law. So all meetings will have to be publicly posted with the requirement uh the the
timing requirements of um uh 48 hours um prior to the meeting uh with an agenda. Um all of the documents and everything communication about the the subject matter will be public record. Um the rules of the committee are going to be
set by the committee members. So kind of how they decide to break down the different hearings um will all be uh up to the members of that committee. But I think it would be worth it for us as a council to encourage them to have um you know robust public input opportunities
for the public to introduce ideas um for the for consideration by the committee um and and kind of have as public of a process as possible so that we can have the robust process that we really deserved but were unfortunately denied because of COVID. Um I think I answered
all of your questions. >> Thank you. Council, I I just got a question because it's echoing in my head. You said that you would be the only one that's making a selection of the members. >> That is correct. That is that is how the process was done um in 2020.
>> But you you're going to elect the three council members. Wouldn't it be fair if you had the three council members because you'll be the president for council member? Why wouldn't they have an opportunity to go through the resumes? This is just the process that has been
followed in in prior times. Um so that is the process that that is being followed um under the rules um of the of the city council. Um so I happy to have conversations and I I know I have spoken already to a couple of the counselors who have expressed their interest. Happy to have those conversations as well with
everybody else. I'm I'm simply just following >> following the rules of the council. That's all. >> It it is up to the president to select a committee. I just want to say councelor Jimenez um I thank you for for taking this on and leading this and um clarifying right now in this moment with
all the questions being asked. I I believe the original inquiry or request was to extend it a couple of weeks so that to give more people an opportunity and I I understand that you know we we probably don't have um everybody's not
the most civically engaged in a process like this. However, I I think it is on within our responsibility to keep creating space for people to meet us at the table and when they meet us, we make sure that it's made for them. So, um I'm all in favor for extending for extending
this. I know a couple of people who are who have expressed interest and I'll relay the information that you shared so that they can get that information over to you and hopefully, you know, they're part of the people that you consider for for this process. >> Great. And one thing I will note is I will try to um keep the clerk up to date
on applicants so that you get them kind of as they come in rather than you know all at the end. Um I actually just saw that somebody else just submitted an application like 10 seconds ago. So you know they're they are coming in. I have like a handful of them and I'll make sure that the the council has access to all these documents. Um and I'm kind of
looking at the calendar ahead and I'm thinking that July 2nd um gives us two additional weeks. Um, and that would allow for um, you know, basically a full month of people um, being able to apply. And then that is leading into uh, July 4th weekend when I'm assuming people will not want to do this. So I think
July 2nd is probably the right amount of time and then at that point I will reach out to the council to make sure that you all know who is on the committee. Um, and if anybody has questions, please call me. I am happy to talk about any of this with both counselors and anybody
from the community. There any other questions or concerns? Next auto >> committee reports. >> Our final communication or petition received comes from the >> committee reports again. >> We still have one communication from the
assistant parking clerk traffic and parking commission meeting agenda items approved June 2nd, 2026. >> Need a motion. >> Sorry. Um uh is this a motion to accept and file uh communication >> voice a voice?
>> Yep. So um motion to accept and file under communications. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All the second >> and no nos. >> Yay. >> All right.
>> All right. >> Don't go to sleep now. Let's go. >> Moving on to committee reports. First committee report received comes from the council president. So the meeting subcommittee on conference held May 4th. >> If we can make a motion to uh
take all committee reports together. >> Uh there is one committee report that has an order attached to it. But um if there is a motion to accept and file all of the other ones, we can do that. >> Make a motion to accept and file all the other ones. >> All right. So, um, councelor Rupro has
made a motion to, um, accept and file all of the committee reports except for the one that has an order attached to it. >> Committee report 26 CR16 conference May 4th. Accept and file. Next committee report comes from the meeting of ways and means held May 18th with a
recommendation for an order attached. We need a motion on the report. >> So, we need a motion to accept and file the report. >> I'll make the motion to accept and file the report. There are no objections. >> Seeing none. So moved. And now we have the order itself. >> The order referred back to council from
committee comes from councelor de Jesus being read for the second time regarding project grant funding recommendations on the community preservation committee. The ways and means committee recommended that the funding for 50 beacon street be reduced to zero and council adopt as
amended. >> Um is there a motion on the adoption? Make a motion to adopt. >> Motion to adopt. Um on a roll call vote. >> Okay. Yes. >> So moved. Moving to a roll call vote on the adoption.
>> Roll call. Roll call vote requested. Yes. Vote to adopt the order as amended. Striking funding for 50 Beacon Street project to zero. >> Can you clarify the vote? The vote will approve all grant funding projects submitted to council from the community
preservation committee with the exception of funding for the 50 Beacon Street facade restoration project which is reduced to zero on both lines. >> Thank you clerk. >> Roll call. Vote requested. Yes. Vote to adopt. Council Taylor. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Council Rupo. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Jimenez Rivera. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Hines. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tenary Garcia. Councilor Tesh is also absent. Councilor Kelly Garcia, >> yes. >> Yes. Councilor Sandigette, >> yes. >> Council De Jesus is absent. Council Brown, >> yes.
>> Yes. And councilor Robinson, >> yes. >> Eight members voting in favor, zero opposed, three absent. Order has been adopted as amended. Moving on. Final committee reports were all accepted and filed. Subcommittee on conference held May 18th. Subcommittee on conference held May 19th.
Subcommittee on conference held May 20th. All budget hearings and meeting of arts, culture, and recreational affairs held May 28th. All accept and filed. We move on to second readings. First item under second readings, you have a
communication received from the city manager being read for the second time regarding appointments to disability commission. Dear counselors, pursuing to section 4-2 of the charter, >> can we wave the rest of the reading and take a roll call vote? >> Seeing no objections, so move. Can we
just read the three names? >> Uh, for appointment, Fran Rosnowski, Amy Jimenez Aoyo, and appointment Jennifer Rosa. And for reappoint, Marie Montgomery, Karen Zlaya, Alexander Floyd, Vargas.
Roll call. Vote requested on approval of appointments and reappointments. Yes. Vote to approve. Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Rupo. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Jimenez Rivera. Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Hines. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council Tenary Garcia. Absent.
Council Tesh. Yes. Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Sandig. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council De Jesus. >> Absent. Council Brown. >> Yes. >> Yes. And councelor Robinson. >> Yes. >> Eight members voting in favor. Zero opposed. Three absent. Appointments and reappointments approved. Final item
under second readings. Order introduced by council de Jesus is being read for the second time. authorizing a loan order in the amount of 15,385,68 to pay cost of sewer separation and utility improvements. >> And I'd like to make a motion for roll call and wave the rest of the meeting.
>> All right. Um motion seeing no objections. We are waving the rest of the reading and we are moving to a roll call vote on the adoption. >> Roll call vote requested. Loan authorizations require twothirds. Council Taylor. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councelor Rupro. >> Yes. Councelor Jimenez.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Council Hines. Yes. >> Yes. Council Tenari Garcia is absent. Council Tesh. ABS. Council Kelly Garcia. >> Yes. >> Yes. Councilor Sandicate. >> Yes. >> Yes. Council De Jesus. Absent. Council Brown. >> Yes. >> Yes. And council Robinson. >> Yes. >> Eight members voting in favor. Zero
opposed. Three absent. Two-thirds in the affirmative. Loan authorization approved. Moving on to new business. First item under new business was a zoning amendment taken out of order. Resuming regular order. Order introduced by councelor Recupo. ordered that the city manager work with the department of
housing and community development to provide the city council an itemized audit detailing how organizations that have received funding from community preservation committee over the last three funding cycles have spent the money received. >> Council bro, >> accept and file. >> Uh I believe we need adopt a motion to adopt.
>> Yes. Motion to adopt. >> All right. Um seeing no objections. >> Can I speak on it? >> Yes, you may. >> Okay. >> Did you have a >> No, just quickly. >> Okay. I I I won't take long. This is just for all of us to understand where
this money is being used and how it's being used. That's all that is is to figure out who's using the money and how it's being used. >> Thank you, councelor. Moving on to the next item. >> Next order introduced by councelor
Robinson. Order the city manager provide an update to the city council on the soldiers home development. specifically if the developer has resolved concerns related to the number of meals veterans will receive and if they have met with neighbors to address parking concerns. >> Council Robinson >> motion to accept uh adopt um under
suspension. If there are no objections um seeing no objections so moved. Councelor do you want to speak or you spoke earlier? Okay. Thank you >> for the community meeting. >> Perfect. Thank you counselor. Final final item under new business order
introduced by councelor Cupo. Order that the city manager work with the department of housing and community development to reimplement the city's program that provided funds for homeowners to rehabilitate their homes. >> Council, >> there's no objection. Like to speak on it. >> Motion to adopt. And seeing no objections, go ahead.
>> Um, this is a program that's not The last time we asked at the meeting, they said that this program was expended. It's no longer in existence. Then I went downstairs and I was told that it does still exist but there was no money. I would like to know
does this program actually still exist where people can get their houses fixed not under HUD rule they can get their houses fixed and how many people are actually getting it each year. That's the point. How many people are actually getting I put that in before and I think
within five years two people got it. Now they say they have uh a list. They told me there's 10 people in there. So, I was wondering how many actual people do they help each year to fix their homes. That's that's it. And I wanted to know
if the city reinstager puts back the funds to help homeowners. I think homeowners need help, too. Everybody gets help. Let them get some help, too. >> Thank you, counselor. All right. Um, we are now moving on to
announcements. Public announcements. Any announcements? Seeing none, we now move to adjourn the meeting. Motion meeting adjourned.