WEBVTT METADATA Video-Count: 1 Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=1UjAiqrGw2M NOTE MEETING SECTIONS: Part 1 (Video ID: 1UjAiqrGw2M): - 00:00:00: Meeting Call to Order, Attendance, Pledge of Allegiance - 00:04:29: Public Comment Introduction, Lodging, Data Center Restrictions - 00:08:20: Town Farmland, Lease Renewal, Preservation Discussions - 00:11:54: Town Farm History, Renewal Initiative, Development Integrity - 00:16:46: Open Public Hearing and Biodiversity Environmental Committee - 00:21:21: Motion to Approve Ordinance Amendment on Bees Committee - 00:21:55: Referral for Disposition: Town Lodging House, 75 Oliver - 00:39:03: Public Comment: Deed, East Hampton Historical, Community - 00:45:17: Public Comment: Precedent History, Community Decisions - 01:01:48: Public Comments: Continued Discussion on Town Lodging - 01:28:34: Motion to Continue Public Hearing Until May 6th - 01:58:34: Public Comment: Councilor Kisinski's Thoughts on the Program - 01:59:57: Councilor Shares Personal Story and Supports the Program - 02:01:37: Motion Passes, Affordable Housing Discussion Ends - 02:01:58: EMS Overtime Pay: $48,000 Request Explained - 02:03:07: Fire Chief Confirms Contractual Obligations for EMS Pay - 02:04:45: EMS Overtime Pay Motion Passes Unanimously - 02:06:13: Fire Department Funding Request for Various Expenses - 02:07:22: Fire Department Expenses Motion Passes Unanimously - 02:08:58: $500,000 Enterprise Stabilization Fund Explained and Approved - 02:10:46: Tax Collector's Office: Funding New Part-Time Position - 02:15:48: Concerns About Financial Implications, Position Withdrawn - 02:26:21: Disaster Recovery Infrastructure Project: $29,974.90 Requested - 02:28:34: IT Director Explains Need for Disaster Recovery System - 02:31:35: Public Asks About Cloud Backup, Cost Saving Options - 02:33:52: Councilors Discuss Urgency, Tabletop Exercise Recommendation - 02:37:23: Council Postpones Vote for Further Investigation - 02:39:02: Meeting Continues After Chrome Restarts, Server Issues - 02:39:34: $700,000 Transfer to Various Stabilization Accounts - 02:41:11: $700,000 Stabilization Accounts Motion Passes Unanimously - 02:41:42: Mount Tom Trail Head Park Funds to Capital Stabilization - 02:42:56: FY22 Land Grant for Reservation Road to General Stabilization - 02:44:41: Police Department Supplemental Appropriation Request Detailed - 02:51:32: Police Funding Request Motion Passes Unanimously - 02:51:46: $200,000 Water Meter Funding from Enterprise Earnings - 02:53:58: Water Meter Funding Motion Passes Unanimously - 02:54:30: Wastewater Treatment Plant Concrete Floor Repair Funds - 02:56:16: Wastewater Treatment Plant Repairs Motion Passes - 02:57:44: Emerald Place Water Project: $196,510 Requested - 03:00:57: Explanation for Using Capital Funds over Enterprise Funds - 03:03:14: Urgency to Restore Emerald Place, Auditor Recommendation - 03:05:28: Emerald Place Water Project Motion Passes - 03:06:18: Maple Street Water/Sewer Replacement: $168,100 Request - 03:09:34: Maple Street Water/Sewer Replacement Motion Passes - 03:09:53: Closing Public Hearing, Five Minute Recess Begins - 03:11:10: Reopening Public Speak, Climate Superfund Concerns - 03:17:18: Data Center Concerns, Tommy Lee Supports Restrictions - 03:18:25: Steve Linsky, Tobacco Liabilities, Urgency of Action - 03:19:50: Climate Superfund Resolution: State Action Needed - 03:24:41: Climate Superfund Resolution Passes Unanimously - 03:26:02: Data Center Restriction Resolution: Support Declared - 03:29:46: Data Center Restriction Motion Passes - 03:33:15: Yes in My Backyard Resolution: Promoting Housing Expansion - 03:36:34: Yes in My Backyard Resolution Passes - 03:36:52: HR Director Withdraws Request, Resources Conserved - 03:37:59: Police Chief Withdraws First Responder Wellness Account - 03:39:02: Mayor Shares Communication of Press Conference, Override - 03:40:23: Vice President, Commending We the People Unit 2 - 03:41:13: Councilor McQuade, EENET and Housing Choice Community - 03:42:21: Councilor Schmidt, Finance Updates and Budget Amendment - 03:44:59: City Council Finance Budget Passing Unanimously - 03:45:30: Extending Borrowing Authorization for Honeywell, 90 Days - 03:46:04: Property Committee Report - 03:46:19: Appointment Report and Recommendations - 03:47:46: Report from the Ordinance Committee - 03:52:38: Set New Public Hearing Date for Protection Ordinance - 03:52:55: Motion and Second Removed - 03:52:55: Setting New Public Hearing Date for Conservation Plan - 03:56:10: Subcommittee Reports - Continued - 03:57:16: Additional Council Member Commendations Part: 1 1 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:24.640 This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers. >> Good evening. Welcome to the East Hampton City Council meeting for Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026. The meeting tonight is being recorded and broadcast 2 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:42.160 by E Media on Charter Channel 193 and live streaming on their web page, east hampton media.org. Councilors and participants in this meeting are gathered hybrid on the order extended until June 30th, 2027, allowing us to do so. I remind both the members 3 00:00:42.160 --> 00:00:58.000 of the city council and the public participating remotely to remain muted until recognized by the city council president. Also for the members of the public, please remove your camera for the duration of the meeting unless you are participating in the p in the public speak time or the public hearing. Thank 4 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:13.439 you. This meeting is now called to order. Maryanne >> JPenski >> here. >> Connie Denham >> here. >> Tamara Smith >> here. >> Felicia Jadzac >> here. Tom Peak. >> Jonathan Schmidt >> here. >> Amanda Newton >> here. >> Cam Jamrock McUade >> here. >> Nathan Marquee 5 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:49.600 >> here. >> Thank you Marian. Um, so we'll have a moment of silence. So, please do whatever you need to do to be present for this uh this evening. If you would like to participate in the recitation of the pledge of allegiance, 6 00:01:49.600 --> 00:02:09.759 now is your opportunity to do so. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I will work for 7 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:24.560 >> Thank you. Uh we have no uh minutes uh to report out on um public comments. Uh Council or Vice President Jedzik, >> I'd like to make a motion to suspend the 8 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:39.120 rules to allow for the swearing in of a new appointee. >> Second. >> So we have a motion and a second to suspend the rules. All in favor? >> I >> I motion passes. Um, I'd like to actually pass things over to councelor Smith who's going to 9 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:54.400 introduce um our >> uh thank you. We have uh one mayoral appointment today that we would like to have take the pledge and that is Patricia Kusco. I wanted to tell you a 10 00:02:54.400 --> 00:03:10.480 little bit about um Miss Kusco and why she's a great fit for this position. Um, right now she works as a senior tax workoff participant with the council on aging. So, Miss Krusco is there for 11 00:03:10.480 --> 00:03:26.159 quite a bit of time. Um, she does a lot of gardening there. She helps volunteer with put together flyers and updates the calendar regularly for the Council on Aging. So, she already is familiar with 12 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:40.560 the staff there. she's already familiar with the building and um she has also had experience in working in several municipalities in the past. So I'd like to call Pat Cusco up to the podium and 13 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:56.640 we will have um Maryanne give the citation. We'll read the >> So we need to appoint her first. >> I guess we should >> point of order. Do we need to um motion to swear her in? 14 00:03:56.640 --> 00:04:12.560 That's what's happening right now. Okay. >> So, I'd like to make I would like to make a motion um to accept Patricia I'm sorry, Patricia Krusco to the Council on Aging with a term expiration of 1231 2028. >> Second. >> So, we have a motion and a second to 15 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:29.280 approve Patricia Kusco to the Council on Aging. Uh any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor. Any opposed extensions? Motion passes. Thank you. So, Maryanne, I will have you swear 16 00:04:29.280 --> 00:05:06.479 Patricia in your attention. >> Okay. So, raise your right hand, please. Do you swear or affirm to perform the duties as a member of the East Hampton Council on Aging to the best of your ability? >> Thank you. Uh now we will have uh public comment. 17 00:05:06.479 --> 00:05:23.199 This is an opportunity for anyone in the community to address council regarding any topics not listed under the public hearing. You will have three minutes to speak. Um at the uh when you have 30 seconds left, you'll hear an alert. Uh that's just to indicate you have 30 seconds. Uh and then you'll hear a 18 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:38.160 second alert which is an indication that your time is up. Uh at that time, please wrap up your thoughts. Uh remember that uh city council cannot uh respond to your comments. Uh and please uh make sure that you address your comments to 19 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:54.800 the council. So if you want, uh state your name and address for the record. >> Kather Wisinski, Overlook Drive. I am up today um to request that the public hearing regarding the um town lodging be 20 00:05:54.800 --> 00:06:11.120 delayed as it's my understanding that the abuters have not been provided legal notice written notice about today's hearing. That's my request. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much, Kathy. >> Please state your name and address for the record. >> Thank you, Chair Denn. My name is Eric 21 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:27.840 Puland. I live in precinct 2. Happy Earth, everyone. Uh the theme of Earth Day 2026 is our power, our planet, which emphasizes collective action, community-driven solutions, and renewable energy adoption. The day focuses on empowering individuals to make a tangible impact through 22 00:06:27.840 --> 00:06:44.080 eco-friendly lifestyle choices, community cleanup initiatives, and systemic changes in environmental policy. In my opinion, it is therefore the perfect day for the city council to adopt the resolution in support of re of restricting the construction of data centers in East Hampton. While to my 23 00:06:44.080 --> 00:06:59.520 knowledge, no tech firms have made offers to build an AI data center in town, this is a proactive move to protect our water supply, air quality, and to reduce noise pollution, all of which would be in great danger if such a center would be built. This is a battle that is being fought in rural communities across the country, 24 00:06:59.520 --> 00:07:16.240 communities like East Hampton, who are discovering that any positive economic impacts that these centers bring is negligible and is far outweighed by the damage to local natural resources and infrastructure. While discussing this resolution with with folks around town, some people I've spoken with have brought up that the the 25 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:31.840 economic crisis that the city is in right now that this might not be the ideal time to pass such a resolution. However, I would argue that actually is the the perfect time for such a motion as big technology firms have repeatedly taken advantage of smaller communities such as ours that are experiencing 26 00:07:31.840 --> 00:07:47.680 challenging times. This resolution puts safeguards in place to guide our community against such construction. Additionally, communities that have built AI data centers have seen their utility bills skyrocket as a result of the strain these centers put on electrical and water supplies. To date, 27 00:07:47.680 --> 00:08:03.120 very few communities have passed such resolutions. In fact, I believe to my knowledge that LOL is the only municipality in Massachusetts to have done so. We can therefore be a model community that others can look to for leadership when it comes to stewardship of our land and resources. I ask you to 28 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:20.639 please pass this uh this resolution. I thank you so much for your time and consideration. And I particularly want to thank the counselors who brought this resolution forward. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next, please state your name and address for the record. 29 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:36.560 >> My name is Bill Chuin. I live down the street at the Chwin family farm at 116 Oliver Street. The Chickwin uh family has been leasing and farming the town farmland for some 40 odd years. We've uh 30 00:08:36.560 --> 00:08:51.920 never used herbicides, pesticides, or tilled the soil, but have kept the sod and microbiome intact. Uh harvesting the hay is all important to our uh grass-fed beef operation. Our 31 00:08:51.920 --> 00:09:07.920 cattle have a symbiotic relationship with the land. They receive the hay harvested and in turn the land is uh the land's fertility is maintained with their manure. 32 00:09:07.920 --> 00:09:24.160 The Chickwin family farm or the Chickwin family would like to acquire this parcel. It is a a necessity to our continued beef operation. we would uh never use this land for a 33 00:09:24.160 --> 00:09:40.880 solar farm. An article written uh by the conservation commission while I was serving on it in in 1982 was accepted on town meeting floor and voted on to preserve the town farm with an 34 00:09:40.880 --> 00:10:08.080 agricultural preservation restriction. uh that it may not meet the same fate as the other half of the town farm land did as it became the East Stamp landfill. >> Thank you. >> Please say your name and address for the 35 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:23.600 record, please. >> Uh hi, Ellie Chickwin. I live at 86 Tory Street in precinct one here in East Hampton. Um hello city council and thank you for um your time and efforts in preservation 36 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:39.600 um from land in East Hampton and particularly the town farm property. My father, Bill Chwin, who just spoke has maintained um and cared for the APR parcel hay fields um around the town lodging for 40 years. Last week, as the 37 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:54.880 fields um started to turn green, his request for a lease renewal was declined by the city of East Hampton. The town farm fields are a vital part of his farming and feeding the cattle at 38 00:10:54.880 --> 00:11:12.560 Chipin Family Farm. There's about um currently about 30 head of cattle, including um females that are going to give calf soon. Um, I'm here today to ask each of you to consider the cost to East Stampton citizens as a town farm is considered 39 00:11:12.560 --> 00:11:29.200 for disposal. I also ask that you consider um a proposal put together by myself and Chwin Family Farm in conjunction with MDAR um to purchase and to re revitalize that land. 40 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:54.079 Um, thank you for considering a project that would um serve a spectrum of East Hampton residents from school age to retirement age. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? No, >> please state your name and address for the record. 41 00:11:54.079 --> 00:12:10.959 >> Elizabeth Koko. I live on Oliver Street. Um, I live directly across the street from the town farm lodging house. My husband and I own our home since 1989 when it was newly built. This land has been part of our daily lives ever since. 42 00:12:10.959 --> 00:12:26.079 Not just something I passed by, it's something I've lived alongside and watched for decades. The town farm was established in 1890 with a clear purpose to care for the town's most vulnerable residents. It wasn't just housing. It 43 00:12:26.079 --> 00:12:42.959 was a working farm connected to a mission providing both support and dignity. The land and the lodging house were meant to function together. That history matters. I also come from a military family and I understand how important it is we 44 00:12:42.959 --> 00:12:59.120 support our veterans not with just words but with meaningful opportunities for housing, purpose and community when they return home. The proposal from renewal initiatives and the farmers veteran coalition does exactly that. It carries 45 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:15.120 forward the original mission of this property, serving those in need while preserving the land, maintaining agricultural use, and respecting the historical intent. It keeps the property whole. It honors what is meant to be, and it creates 46 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:30.079 something sustainable and valuable for future generations. I would also encourage the council to consider strengthening this proposal by incorporating local oversight and accountability such as governing structure that includes community input 47 00:13:30.079 --> 00:13:47.279 and by ensuring that any nonprofit involved contributes meaningfully to the city. For example, establish establishing a minimum payment in lie of taxes would ensure that this project benefits all of East Hampton residents and sets a responsible standard for 48 00:13:47.279 --> 00:14:02.880 nonprofit use of municipal land moving forward. If this land is divided or pri prior prioritized for standard multi-unit development, we risk losing something that cannot be replaced. The integrity of this historic 49 00:14:02.880 --> 00:14:18.720 property is its and its purpose. Once it's gone, it's gone. >> But today, we have an opportunity to preserve it and to let it continue serving people in a meaningful way. The land, this land was meant to serve those 50 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:44.079 in need. Today, you can ensure that legacy continues with people who have say served us. Thank you for your time and consideration. Yep. Thank you so much. >> So, we have one more and then we're 51 00:14:44.079 --> 00:14:59.839 going to start our public hearing. >> Uh, so my name is Chris Cleland. I live at 34 Carolon Circle in East Hampton. Um, prior to that, we lived on Crown Drive. So, we're just inside the neighborhood from the town farm. Uh when 52 00:14:59.839 --> 00:15:17.680 we were looking to move from Crown, um we ran into some issues because we couldn't find a location that we liked any better than the one that we were at. And a large part of that was due to having those hayfields and the beauty of 53 00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:34.639 the town farm um right there. It's uh a character of um provides a certain rural character to that aspect of the town that I would hate to see um compromised with any kind of multi-unit 54 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:52.480 development um particularly when we have proposals from the Chicelin family. um the veterans proposal that we just heard um that really maintain the integrity of what that land is for and the character 55 00:15:52.480 --> 00:16:10.240 of it for um really the entirety of the town. Um you know I fought the steplark crossing development that went in on Loudville Road and was told a you know that we need more affordable housing. Um, and 56 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:27.600 those go for about $700,000 each. So, I know that with this, I would just want to make sure that, um, whatever comes of it, um, I would like to find a solution that really benefits 57 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:46.560 everybody involved. Um, and that involves keeping those the fields and the farm as intact as possible. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. Thank you so much. So what we are going to do now is we have a public hearing that we need to 58 00:16:46.560 --> 00:17:02.240 start. So uh once we have that public hearing and it concludes, we will open up public comment again at the end. Right. And so those people online will also have their opportunity uh to speak at that time. Um but I will take a motion to open the public hearing. >> Second. Second. 59 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:17.120 >> I have a motion and a second to open public hearing. Any further discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? I. Any opposed abstensions? Motion passes. Uh we will start with uh peace committee. Uh chair Jamra McUade. 60 00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:33.919 >> Thank you madam president. Um so this proposed ordinance change would amend um the general ordinance article 3 division 12 section 2- uh 76.1 um to restructure the membership of the biodiversity environment and ecological 61 00:17:33.919 --> 00:17:51.200 sustainability the bees committee. Um it would replace the current seven member structure which currently includes um designated seats for certain members of certain uh city boards and commissions. Um and it would replace it with an 11 member body consisting of eight atlarge residents. Um two of those would be on 62 00:17:51.200 --> 00:18:07.600 other boards and commissions. Um all of those would be appointed by the mayor and subject to normal city council approval and then one city council member appointed by the city council president. Uh the amendment also removes uh superseded language uh related to secession um and also adds a 63 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:22.720 transitional clause allowing the current membership to stay on until um the new people get appointed. >> Great. Any questions? Any questions? Is there anyone from the 64 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:37.760 committee that you would like to have speak to this? >> Yeah, sure. I mean, I would like to invite uh Sean Abbott, the chair of the peace committee if that's >> Yep. So Sean, please state your name and uh address for the record. >> Yep. I'm Sean Abbott. I live at 21 Summer Street. Um and I'm the chair of 65 00:18:37.760 --> 00:18:53.840 the bees committee. Um the reason that we're putting this forward is um the original structure of the bees committee um has been great, but we the resource that we are most lacking is time. um the uh committee members that are also on other committees um are already 66 00:18:53.840 --> 00:19:09.440 extremely strapped for time and a number of the original committee members um have had like career changes where we end up we are spending more time um with our day jobs than we have been able to contribute to the committee. So the hope with this ordinance change is essentially to um free up some ability 67 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:25.120 to have more people with more time more often so that we can actually um you know accomplish more of the work that we have set out for us. We have a long list of ideas. We are u making traction with those ideas. But right now we are slowed down by the fact that every single me member of the committee has no more than 68 00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:42.880 a couple hours a week at best to give. And we are um very hopeful that with this expansion that we would be able to um accelerate the amount of work that we're able to do for the city. >> Awesome. Thank you so much, Sean. >> If there are any questions. >> Yep. Any questions? 69 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:59.520 >> All right. Seeing no questions. I don't I don't have a question, but I did have a comment. >> Um, as the city councelor that sits on the bees committee, one of the things that I'm so impressed about is the really wide professional knowledge base that the volunteers on the bees 70 00:19:59.520 --> 00:20:16.960 committee has. And so to imagine having even more people with an education in environmentalism and uh pollinator protection, I just also am really enthusiastic to see this increase from its current size to 11. >> Great. Thank you for your comments. Uh I 71 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:33.679 do have one question. So quorum is not impacted by this increase. So they'll the current uh group will be able to function and continue to work and quorum is not impacted >> is to my understanding. Yeah. >> Yeah. Great. Also, previously I served 72 00:20:33.679 --> 00:20:49.840 on the bees committee and same thing, right? Uh incredibly dedicated group of people. Um it certainly was a real pleasure to to be out there uh working with you all on the bike path and things of that nature, right? So, it's it's great to to know that more people will 73 00:20:49.840 --> 00:21:05.200 be able to have that opportunity and there'll be more organizing within that particular group. Awesome. Um, would you like to make a motion? >> Well, do we have members? >> Oh, members of the public. Anyone from the public have want to make a comment room? Seeing none, anyone online wish to 74 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:21.840 make a comment. Uh, looks like Steve Linsky would like to make a comment about the bees committee. That may have been, >> but is that from before? >> Okay. Um, so seeing none, would you like 75 00:21:21.840 --> 00:21:37.600 to >> make a motion? >> I would like to move that the city council approve the general ordinance amendment uh to section 2-76.1 um these committee membership structure uh changing it from 7 to 11 members. 76 00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:55.679 >> Second. So, I have a motion and a second to amend uh city ordinances chapter 2 article 3 division 12 section 2-76.1 to add uh to go from uh seven members to 11 members. Uh any further discussion? 77 00:21:55.679 --> 00:22:12.799 Seeing none, uh all those in favor? >> I I any opposed? Abstensions? Motion passes. Great. Thank you for that. Chair Jamre McUade. Um, referral for disposition and 78 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:28.640 resolution to declare surplus and disposal of 75 Oliver Oliver Street, also known as Town Lodging House. Uh, Chairwiski. >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh, I'm pleased that we gather here today to 79 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:44.000 take on the traditions that were set up back in the 1890s when the city in its ultimate wisdom decided to have a lodging house to utilize for folks who were in need. 80 00:22:44.000 --> 00:23:00.880 If you were in need, you would go to the lodging house, work the farm, become part of the community there, and enjoy the benefits of those farming laboring efforts. We have the opportunity today 81 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:15.200 to continue that tradition by looking at the options available to us. The property committee worked very diligently to uh evaluate the potential 82 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:32.240 of the property and what we found was we have a a a location beautiful approximately 54 acres of land ideally situated in East Hampton or what a community resource this is. It is 83 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:50.480 encumbered by three restrictions. three restrictions overtime, the agricultural preservation restriction, the historic preservation restriction, and the affordable housing restriction all managed to contribute in 84 00:23:50.480 --> 00:24:06.799 its own way to the development and growth of the property. Unfortunately, today some of those restrictions now encumber the land such that it cannot be sold for its highest and best use outside of those 85 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:23.039 restrictions. But it gives the community an opportunity to proceed and utilize those restrictions. So what does this mean? It means the property must be used for agricultural purposes as we understand it around the two acre 86 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:40.320 parcel or plus or minus of the house so that the agricultural land that's there would remain in agricultural use. Great. uh that requires an act of the legislature in order to have 87 00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:56.480 any changes to that preservation restriction. Don't get an act of the legislature every day. That's not this body. That is the state legislature. Uh I don't think 88 00:24:56.480 --> 00:25:12.400 they have made changes uh to date in their agricultural preservation restrictions. Someday, who knows? Maybe we'll all be eating something. Who knows what? And maybe there won't be the need. But that's why the the provision exists to 89 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:28.799 change it sometime in the future. That being said, what about the historic preservation restriction? It requires that the building, particularly the outside of the building, be maintained in a way that is 90 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:46.080 captures the the historic nature of the property. It was built around 1890 by the by this by by the city or taken over by the city. And at that time uh well it's been what how long has it 91 00:25:46.080 --> 00:26:03.600 been? Uh 100 plus years uh since then. Uh this preservation restriction requires any changes to go before the historic commission at the state level. So the state level uh folks would be 92 00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:18.400 involved with any changes. Well, what does that mean? It means, you know, they they like to see the outside of the buildings maintained to the extent that they are. Okay. And and to the extent that they have they were built, I should 93 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:36.559 say. Uh well, unfortunately, the property's fallen into some disrepair since it's gone into disuse over the last several years. It's the incumbent upon the city to get the resources to make it happen to keep it 94 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:51.120 up to up and up to snuff. Uh the city isn't in the in a position to do that at this time. Uh the city as you know may may or may not know is in quite dire straits. Uh and that becomes clearer and 95 00:26:51.120 --> 00:27:08.000 clearer each day. Uh so that makes it important that we find a buyer who is has the capacity to make those exterior and interior renovations. the interior because there's an affordable housing 96 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:24.000 restriction which has multiple uh years left on its uh remaining balance. Originally it was thought it would be 2030 and that would expire. It may be sometime after that to accommodate for the years of disuse. 97 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:40.720 uh that being the city would be oblig obligated to maintain it to the level where it could rent it out and keep it operating. This makes uh for a situation that really if we can locate a buyer 98 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:56.320 who's interested in the property, live within those three restriction areas and utilize this the the property that would be a home run for the city and I think a benefit to any organization who meets those 99 00:27:56.320 --> 00:28:10.960 restrictions. So we've developed a proposal that has a request for a proposal going out to accommodate all those areas and include those restrictions, include those details. 100 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:35.919 We've also added a few other details of uh to to the mix. The property was uh if if the the currently the property has no generating revenue for the city. If 101 00:28:35.919 --> 00:28:53.200 this property is sold to a nonprofit, it will have no generating revenue for the city. We've provided a provision which would require that there be at least a 10% uh property tax which would then be able 102 00:28:53.200 --> 00:29:10.399 to be utilized by the city as revenue in the future. It would be negotiable upwards from that amount with the potential prospective successful bidder. So they would make a proposal, we would look at it and that would be negotiated. 103 00:29:10.399 --> 00:29:26.640 uh that provision is there. There also is provision for having local input into a local board. That is whoever has the property. It would be important that we have an observer, someone to look at 104 00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:43.679 what is going on locally, the governing board, governing body of the organization so that the city would stay in touch with what's going on. We want this to be a community resource, a place where uh folks can benefit on all levels 105 00:29:43.679 --> 00:29:59.520 for this uh particular property. Uh it has a food and agricultural potential. We'd like to see that benefit for all the citizens uh of East Stampton. There may be a proposals that come up with ideas like 106 00:29:59.520 --> 00:30:13.840 food for the schools. Who knows? That remains to be seen. We'll see what the proposals are. We also have established criteria where we have uh highly advantageous, advantageous and disadvant 107 00:30:13.840 --> 00:30:30.799 advantageous as criteria. The way it is written, the property committee would review uh the the bids that come in and make recommendations to the mayor for that process. Uh I would like at this 108 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:51.120 time if we have our city planner and our uh purchasing agent who were very much involved in this process to pick up the details from here. >> Just one moment a question. >> Yeah. Could uh speakers put the mic in 109 00:30:51.120 --> 00:31:07.200 front of their mouth so we can hear better? >> Uh yeah sure. uh planning director if you'd like to stay or who's going to go first in the city? >> Yeah, I'm Michael Owens. I'm the procurement officer for the city. Uh 110 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:24.080 give you a quick thumbnail sketch. Uh this building was leased by the city from the city by uh Smok South Middle Sex Opportunity Council. Uh I think at the end of their uh use of the property there were between four and six people 111 00:31:24.080 --> 00:31:39.919 living there. They were offering affordable lodging house accommodations. Uh that uh entity simply walked away from the property. Did not renew the lease with the city. Uh back in 2018 we advertised again for uh someone to come 112 00:31:39.919 --> 00:31:55.039 in and operate it as an affordable lodging house and we received no responses. About four years ago, we worked with the Valley CDC to see if we could come up with an affordable housing project to save the building. Uh that uh 113 00:31:55.039 --> 00:32:11.919 also did not work out. Uh would have added uh uh a lot of units to the to the property and the neighborhood uh was uh was not uh thrilled with that plan and uh so we we uh the city abandoned that. 114 00:32:11.919 --> 00:32:26.559 Uh it's important for people to know that the city is not uh considering a proposal at this time. Uh the steps that the city council will take this evening are the first steps required by Mass 115 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:44.320 General Law to declare the property surplus and available for disposition. Uh if the city council votes on this resolution tonight, they will also be setting certain conditions for the reuse of the property. Uh uh if this uh if 116 00:32:44.320 --> 00:33:00.240 this resolution passes, uh staff will then take the RFP uh work with the property committee to set the dates for release and the dates that uh proposals would be due uh and uh then we would move forward from there. But at this 117 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:17.440 time, no one the city is not considering any proposals because we haven't issued the guidelines to receive those proposals yet. And that's what this process is about tonight. >> Please state your name and role for the city. >> Hi, good evening everyone. Alice 118 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:33.120 Emanuel. I'm the planning director. Um, I I think councelor Kwisinski did a pretty uh good job sort of summarizing all of what went into drafting the RFP and the process that sort of and and Michael led us through the process that 119 00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:50.640 brought us here. I do want to reiterate um in case folks weren't able to hear it is a little bit hard to hear back there. Um the property is subject to three deed restrictions. The farmland is under an agricultural preservation restriction and cannot be used for any other purpose. the structure, you know, the 120 00:33:50.640 --> 00:34:06.240 main house and the garage are under an historic preservation restriction. Um, and the house is un subject to an affordable housing restriction. So, the property is very very limited in what can be done with it. Um, and significant 121 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:24.720 change we we don't expect proposals with very substantive changes to what has been done there in the past. I do have a question just regarding the question that was um raised by a 122 00:34:24.720 --> 00:34:40.240 resident at this time. Do Abutters have to be notified that the city is wanting to um dispose of this property? >> No, there's no requirement for a public notice. This is not a zoning hearing. It's not a >> Can you move to the microphone? Sorry. >> No, there's no requirement for that. 123 00:34:40.240 --> 00:34:54.879 This is not a zoning hearing. It's not a uh planning board hearing. So, no no abut butter notification is required. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. >> I will speak to that if I may, Madam President, and say that >> because there is no notice required and 124 00:34:54.879 --> 00:35:12.320 there's nothing specific about that as there is in zoning and planning board meetings. We insisted that this be a public hearing so that the public be as fully informed of the process as possible. A public 125 00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:27.839 hearing is not necessary. It is not a requirement. We asked for it. We want the public to be involved in this process to be knowledgeable. This is a public asset that is critical to the city. Very important. Uh and a beautiful 126 00:35:27.839 --> 00:35:44.800 one. So, it's important that we all think it through and get it right. >> The questions. >> Yeah. I I have um two clarifying questions. So, you mentioned the property is about 50 127 00:35:44.800 --> 00:36:00.560 acres. Is that what you've said? >> About 54 acres. >> Okay. >> But then I I thought I heard you mention that this was only a proposal to dispose of 2.5 acres of farmland. Is that true or did I hear you wrong? >> No, I didn't say that. I said that 128 00:36:00.560 --> 00:36:16.480 >> in under historic preservation is a section that is about two acres. >> Okay. So that's an additional restriction in addition to the restriction on the agricultural portion. It's the house. 129 00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:32.000 The house is the historic piece. The land is not the >> but the rest of the land has the agriculture >> the agricultural preservation restriction. And then the other clarifying question was um in section like 2A about the pilot uh program, it 130 00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:48.480 says that if we enter into an agreement to sell the property for less than the appraised value, we would do the pilot. What if we sell it for at appraised v value or more? I'm glad you raised that because I I've been giving that much much consideration as we learn more 131 00:36:48.480 --> 00:37:04.640 about the city's financial situation and just where we stand. And it seems to me that it would make sense to alter what's written there to eliminate the first clause, the conditional clause if it's 132 00:37:04.640 --> 00:37:22.720 sold for less than appraised value and just remove that. But that's a separate matter which I will bring up at a future a future time here. Uh so what what the answer to your question is if it's sold at or above appraised value there is no 133 00:37:22.720 --> 00:37:37.920 pilot. >> And when can we change that? We can't change that tonight. >> We can change that tonight. Yes, we can change it through amendment. And I intend to propose such amendment. >> Great. >> Thank you for your question. >> Other questions? >> Questions. up. 134 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:53.680 >> I just want to add one clarifying point. >> State your name again, please. >> Yeah. Alice Emanuel, planning director. The agricultural preservation restriction covers all but one acre that surrounds the house. So, it's basically like a square around the house about 1 acre in size that is excluded from the 135 00:37:53.680 --> 00:38:11.040 agricultural preservation restriction. However, it is subject to the historic preservation restriction and the affordable housing restriction. >> Thank you for the clarification, Allison. >> Other questions? uh chair or councelor jam muade. >> Thank you, madam president. Yeah, I just 136 00:38:11.040 --> 00:38:27.920 wanted to um point to the fact that um the city or in this RFP we've also established the right of first refusal for the city. So um and just um in response to you know something that I heard from the public like the fact that this is public land is something that we 137 00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:44.800 all should you know really be thinking of deeply and being really mindful about because once it is gone it is gone. Um, so that's something that I really appreciate about this um, RFP is that the city, if this group or if the next buyer um, isn't able to continue operating the property, we'll have 138 00:38:44.800 --> 00:39:03.520 another bite at the apple. >> Mhm. Great. Thank you, >> Chairinski. Do you have other comments before I invite the public to speak? >> Uh, I think we'd love to hear from the from the public. So, if there's anyone from the public in the room, if you would like to speak to this, please, now 139 00:39:03.520 --> 00:39:27.040 is your opportunity to do so. >> Hello everyone. >> My name is Elodie Chickwin. I live at 86 Tori Street and East Hampton and grew up on Oliver Street at Chickwin Family Farm. I'm um would like to comment to um 140 00:39:27.040 --> 00:39:42.640 all present here and um the board. I have in my hand the will um >> so speak to the >> I have the deed written in um n 1890 and the language of the deed um when this 141 00:39:42.640 --> 00:39:58.000 parcel of land was given to the city of East Hampton. It says, "I do hereby give and grant and bargain and sell and convey unto said inhabitants of the said town of East Hampton." So this the town lodging is um been given to the 142 00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:14.760 inhabitants of the town of East Hampton. And that language is not only on the deed but is also repeated in both versions of the APR, the Agricultural Preservation Restriction Acts. Thank you. Great. Thank you. 143 00:40:16.320 --> 00:40:31.920 Anyone else who wants to please state your name and address for the record? >> Uh, my name is Kathy Wisinski. I live on Overlook Drive. Um, I think given what Elo just said about the fact that the 144 00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:47.920 property was deed to the inhabitants of East Hampton and not the government of East Hampton, this this public hearing would have been required and could have been challenged if you didn't have it. So, I appreciate that you did. Um, I think it's really important that the 145 00:40:47.920 --> 00:41:04.560 residents of East Hampton know what's happening and the fact that our historical commission did not know what was going on with the property and was not included in this process until one of the people proposing an RFP updated them yesterday is kind of concerning. I 146 00:41:04.560 --> 00:41:20.560 mean, they're the ones that are supposed to be helping to maintain um the historical preservation of our city properties and they are often unaware of what's happening with the property committee in regards to city um 147 00:41:20.560 --> 00:41:36.079 properties that are of historic nature. This property was allowed to deteriorate even though the city was obligated to keep it up after it was put put on the National Historic Register. And because it was loud allowed to deteriorate, we 148 00:41:36.079 --> 00:41:53.920 are now once again um looking to make a property um excess property. Same thing we did with the schools. They were allowed to deteriorate and now we're moving to make them excess property. Seems like a pattern. I hope it doesn't continue. I would ask that the city 149 00:41:53.920 --> 00:42:08.640 council make an amendment to the proposal allowing the chickwins to farm the hay for the season. My guess is the RFP is going to take a little while and there's no reason why that those fields need to be left unused. Um they've been 150 00:42:08.640 --> 00:42:26.520 stewards of that land for 40 years and to tell them with no notice that that their lease is not going to be renewed is disingenuous and frankly just poor judgment. Thank you. >> Thank you. 151 00:42:30.240 --> 00:42:46.640 I just need to say something real quick. >> Yes, >> I did meet with uh Michael Owens, procurement officer for the city. Met with Bill Chowin last week. He knows he can hay that field this summer and uh as long as it's not sold by the city. He's been maintaining it for many, many 152 00:42:46.640 --> 00:43:03.520 years. So, that's not an issue at all. >> Great. Thank you. >> Hi there, folks. I'm Avery Lavali, 90 Oliver Street. I'm pretty much probably the closest person to the lodging house. I'm 43 years old. I've lived there my whole life. Um I used to help bail the 153 00:43:03.520 --> 00:43:19.760 field when I was a little kid um with Bill and James and Corbin and the Chickwin family. Um I watch that field every day. I see that property every day. I've come to the town and city on multiple occasions and offered free labor to help upkeep the property, removing the old trees, mowing the 154 00:43:19.760 --> 00:43:35.440 grass, doing whatever needs to be done. Nobody ever returns my call because as I will reiterate from what I've heard previously from other people that the city sort of unfortunately in my opinion purposefully allowed the property to get to where it was so that 155 00:43:35.440 --> 00:43:52.000 they could pass it off. Um we've tried and tried again to get things done there that we could do grassroots as a community that would save the city. Um but it just seems like at at every turn sometime or another they look to unload it. Um, the Chickwins have been 156 00:43:52.000 --> 00:44:09.119 maintaining that field forever, for a hundred years at least, several families, generations. Um, they deserve the right to not only continue to hay that field, but they should have the right to perhaps own the field and lease it back to whoever wants to use it for a property or uh just keep on bailing it 157 00:44:09.119 --> 00:44:25.119 for hay in perpetuity in my position and opinion because they have been the stewards of the land. We've watched them year in and year out. We've worked together as a community over there for decades. And to see it get pulled out without telling certain people and 158 00:44:25.119 --> 00:44:40.800 without mentioning or offering the property to the people that have been working diligently on it for so long. Um would be a travesty to say the least. And uh I will continue to fight to keep that land as it is and as it should be 159 00:44:40.800 --> 00:44:57.920 for as long as necessary. Even if that means reaching into my own pocket to help pay for whatever it needs to be done to that property, I will do it. And I know there are several people in my community and in that area that would be just as generous and willing to do so. I could talk all night long about this 160 00:44:57.920 --> 00:45:17.920 because I feel very passionately about it. But the truth of the matter is if that land belongs to anybody, it belongs to the people that have been taking care of it. And that's Bill Chuin and his family personally. Thank you. >> Thank you. Please state your name and address for 161 00:45:17.920 --> 00:45:34.160 the record. >> Chris O' Conor. Uh Ashley Circle in East Hampton. And um I was wondering if there is another uh piece of property in East Hampton that has or looked have we gone through this process 162 00:45:34.160 --> 00:45:49.760 before? That's a that's a question like with a similar setup and how did that work? And the other thing that I just want to and that can be a general question, but I'd be interested in knowing like is there precedent set before this. The other thing I'd like to 163 00:45:49.760 --> 00:46:06.960 know is that since it seems very clear with the deed and with the way the people talk here that it is a people thing versus a government thing and what when we go through that process, how will that process look? I hear that we haven't defined the RFP and all that, 164 00:46:06.960 --> 00:46:24.440 but it sounds like it might might be good to consider that there's different things to bring the people in and help the decision come from the people, not just a administrative decision. So, just food for thought. >> Thank you for that. 165 00:46:29.599 --> 00:46:46.960 >> Do you want to speak to that, Chair Kisinski, those questions? Um >> I did want to say that there is a public per process and a public purpose for the for the property and that process has to be followed. So one can't look to any 166 00:46:46.960 --> 00:47:01.680 specific individuals whatever the group or individuals may be. It has to be go through an RFP process and bids have to be made. So that's it's not possible to to to just 167 00:47:01.680 --> 00:47:17.760 go ahead and sell to one individual uh on on the QT. That shouldn't be that way. That's the why we have the public process. Uh uh in terms of there being other similar places, 168 00:47:17.760 --> 00:47:34.400 there isn't a similar place to this standing that I'm aware of in the country. We have a resource here that exists in East Stampton. Every other one that I'm aware of has been taken down. So, the old historic 169 00:47:34.400 --> 00:47:51.599 town lodging houses are no more. Um, and in terms of other types of sales, the only examples we have are the ones of the of the three schools. We've sold our other public property, Memorial Hall. uh when that was available that's 170 00:47:51.599 --> 00:48:07.280 on the corner of uh Pleasant Street uh around the circle. Uh now it had been a massage school at one time. Uh >> so that speaks to what we have for 171 00:48:07.280 --> 00:48:24.960 examples. Uh I think that I answered those questions. >> Director Manuel, do you have >> if I missed something, let me know. Yep. Uh Alice Emanuel, planning director, just agreeing that the process is laid out by state law, how how cities and towns can dispose of real property that 172 00:48:24.960 --> 00:48:42.480 they own. Um and just reiterating something that was said before, this isn't the end of the process by any means. What happens tonight, it will continue to be a public process. Um if if the council votes on the resolution that's before them, it will go back to 173 00:48:42.480 --> 00:48:58.800 the property committee to oversee the RFP process and to um make a recommendation to the full council on the ultimate um decision on who if anybody um what we're going to convey the property to. 174 00:48:58.800 --> 00:49:15.680 >> Great. Thank you. >> I have a question. >> A question from the council. >> Thanks, Councelor Newton. Thank you, councelor or President Denim. Um, is it possible to add any type of like severance clause? I know a lot of the community has been concerned about how 175 00:49:15.680 --> 00:49:31.599 long it has taken arch properties to get started with the schools um and the town has been holding on, you know, maintaining the schools for several years now. Is it possible to add something into the RFP that um whoever does get chosen needs to like start 176 00:49:31.599 --> 00:49:47.119 developing within a certain amount of time or relinquish their contract with the city? >> I I let me speak to the general provisions of the process of selling municipal property or public property. 177 00:49:47.119 --> 00:50:04.960 We as a council make the terms that we ex that we we decide it should exist. What are the conditions? So if one were to have a condition such as you've described, one would put that into the conditions of the of of the document. Uh 178 00:50:04.960 --> 00:50:23.440 the mayor then of any city has the right to agree or disagree. If the two parties, the mayor and the city council disagree, the property does not get sold. If the mayor and the city council have to agree on those conditions in order to 179 00:50:23.440 --> 00:50:43.760 have a sale of the property. So, yes, we do have the opportunity to make any changes we'd like. To have a severance clause is a possibility >> and we could do that tonight. >> We could do that tonight by amendment. >> Okay. Kathy Winski, Overlook Drive. Um, I 180 00:50:43.760 --> 00:50:59.680 understand that you've said a couple of times that the RFP process basically gets started tonight. However, the city has been working with one of the biders for over a year now, giving them an unfair advantage in this process. So, I think that should be known by the 181 00:50:59.680 --> 00:51:19.200 citizens that are interested in this process. Thank you, >> Councelor J. Mcuade. Yeah, if I can just respond to that, and I'm sure that planning director Emanuel will um have stuff to add. I think that this is a it's really common for developers to um do start doing pre-development work with 182 00:51:19.200 --> 00:51:35.559 cities um and towns with city own land. I think we have examples of Valley CDC who have come in and and done an investigation in the property and spent some money um to do that. Um so, yeah, I think that it's pretty typical. Mhm. 183 00:51:35.599 --> 00:51:54.319 >> Uh I just wanted to I'm sorry comment back on the the severance clause that was mentioned. Uh typically I and Michael you can correct me if I'm wrong. I think that would be included in the land disposition and development agreement which would be signed with the successful proposer. I 184 00:51:54.319 --> 00:52:09.359 wouldn't necessarily recommend including it in the in the um resolution tonight just because depending on the proposals that come in the timeline might might need to change just to be reasonable. Um and we that is included in the school's 185 00:52:09.359 --> 00:52:25.960 land development and disposition agreement and they are within the timeline that we agreed to. So, if they don't comply with that, we again, similar to what you're saying, have the right to um exit from the the deal, so to speak. 186 00:52:26.400 --> 00:52:41.839 >> Thank you for bringing that to our attention of what goes in at the mayoral level in terms of negotiations with the potential developer. So if we understand you correctly, 187 00:52:41.839 --> 00:52:56.720 we can expect that there would be a severance clause, a an ability to sever the agreement if the work is not initiated by a certain time frame depending on what the time frame is, who the de who who the developer is, what 188 00:52:56.720 --> 00:53:12.319 their what their plans and schedule is. And that may be something that we're we're clearly not privy to. We we're not part and parcel to that process. Yeah, it would seem to me that we would be covered. >> I would look to the other counselors for their understanding of this. 189 00:53:12.319 --> 00:53:27.839 >> It is it is generally based on different thresholds. In the case of the schools, there's a number of tax credits that they need needed to obtain as part of their um financial plan for the schools and so they laid out a timeline that they thought was reasonable to um obtain those tax credits and if if they don't 190 00:53:27.839 --> 00:53:43.599 then we could exit. In the case of this property, there might be other grants or things that they want to have. So, um there's typically different milestones that that should be met. Um and I I would fully expect that to be included. It's very similar to a 191 00:53:43.599 --> 00:54:01.040 due diligence process for closing on a house. It's just obviously extended quite a lot given the magnitude of the um development that's usually proposed. So really what this resolution does is it declares it surplus and it disposes 192 00:54:01.040 --> 00:54:16.720 of the property. >> Authorizes the disposition of the property. >> Authorizes the disposition of the property, but it doesn't engage in what feels like more contractual correct obligation. >> Does that answer your question? >> Yeah. And I think so the city would 193 00:54:16.720 --> 00:54:32.960 still be able to lease it until the contract is negotiated and could we could add a clause. The mayor could choose to keep leasing it until the work is started. Is that correct? >> I in this case in this case we really 194 00:54:32.960 --> 00:54:48.079 don't want to add additional incumbents. >> No, I'm just asking >> while we're putting it on the street for an RFP. >> I hear that. I'm just asking for the public because I think that is a concern that I'm hearing from people of the public. Well, as I said earlier, I had a discussion with Bill last week and he's going to 195 00:54:48.079 --> 00:55:03.839 >> I hear that property. But beyond just this year, like because the schools have taken I I don't know what year they were disposed of, but it's been several years at this point. Um, >> I think it would be reasonable to expect that if the development was going to 196 00:55:03.839 --> 00:55:18.960 take 18 months that next summer Bill would again be able to pay the field. >> Okay. As soon as the I if if there's a proposal that is uh competitive and meets all the city's requirements, requirements you folks are going to set 197 00:55:18.960 --> 00:55:35.680 tonight, the city gets sold. We have no say in what goes on. You need to understand that. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Yeah. And I guess I'll say to you guys, I'm just hearing a lot from the public that that doesn't feel good to have a 198 00:55:35.680 --> 00:55:53.280 property sitting there. um not actually being used when it was given to the people of East Hampton and to have whoever is going to develop it just sit on it for a while. So I think we do need to consider that. >> Mhm. >> Great. Thank you for that 199 00:55:53.280 --> 00:56:09.280 >> comment. No, >> I simply wanted to say if I may, council, >> I would expect that with any process requiring development, it would take time. There's going to be it's not going to happen overnight. It's not going to 200 00:56:09.280 --> 00:56:26.400 be three months, six months, uh, in terms of having someone get up and dig the ground unless they come in with cash, all cash for the deal, and they're going to go ahead and move forward with all cash. It's general generally to be expected that they would look for 201 00:56:26.400 --> 00:56:45.040 financing perhaps public financing at the state and federal levels maybe other grants and that those funds take time to all package and put together as councelor Jamro Mccle mccuade had mentioned that it's a process uh so 202 00:56:45.040 --> 00:57:01.359 it may be a year two it could be two and a half I'm not I don't know it depends on what comes in for bids With the schools, I think we're all anxious to see something be done that the schools not be mothballled and we're feeling perhaps 203 00:57:01.359 --> 00:57:17.119 we need an update from the the the folks about how things are proceeding and maybe we could make that request either of our own staff uh to allay some of those concerns because I think it's something that's shared. >> Yeah, let's stay focused on this though. But yeah, 204 00:57:17.119 --> 00:57:34.079 >> but I think we should also expect this set the expectations for this. >> Yes. >> Other comments. >> I'd like to speak >> again. Elo check. >> Sorry. Uh, councelor Marque. No, I just 205 00:57:34.079 --> 00:57:50.480 wanted to um state that um we live in a representative democracy and the people of East Hampton represented us to represent the people of East Hampton. And in terms of wills or leases and stuff, when somebody says um we're 206 00:57:50.480 --> 00:58:06.400 willing this to the people of East Hampton, they have to understand that the government, an elected body like this, we represent the people of East Hampton. My inbox is always open. My phone number is attached to almost every single email. I am all ears to anybody 207 00:58:06.400 --> 00:58:21.760 that ever want has any concerns and stuff, but as far as like language like that, when it's left to the people of East Hampton, the government essentially has to decide in a representative democracy. And that's all I have to say. Thank you, >> Council Jam. 208 00:58:21.760 --> 00:58:38.240 >> Yeah. And and just to add to that, I think that's something that is unique about um this process that we're setting up is that the property committee will be the um RFP review committee for these proposals. So that means that you know with the schools, I'm pretty sure it was like an ad hoc committee from advisory 209 00:58:38.240 --> 00:58:53.920 committee from the mayor. In this case, it will be your public representatives um that are representing you on the property committee um reviewing these RFPs. So if there are any concerns or advocacy that the public wants to do regarding um which proposal is chosen um 210 00:58:53.920 --> 00:59:12.799 that is more than welcome and the property committee is is open. It's public meetings. So um we'll definitely um invite that uh participation. >> Colin say your name again. >> Ellie Chickwin um 86 Tory East Hampton. Um, I just wanted to take a moment to 211 00:59:12.799 --> 00:59:28.640 comment on the lease of the town farm APR land um to Bill Chickwin and the recent um discovery that the town was not um going to renew the lease. And that happened during a process where I wrote a grant um that would restore 212 00:59:28.640 --> 00:59:45.599 parts of the hayfield. There's some um historic tile drainage that um um drains the hayfield so that it is more productive and it manages manages the water on the hayfield and was working with IMDAR to obtain a $50,000 grant to 213 00:59:45.599 --> 01:00:02.799 restore those hay fields and um through the process of non-renewal of the lease the hay fields in the city of East Hampton lost that opportunity. So, please consider this as you're um working the the towards the RFP and um 214 01:00:02.799 --> 01:00:18.559 the impact on community members. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I'll be quick. A Valley 90 Oliver Street. Again, um I may be wrong on this one, but if the assessed if the land is sold for less than the assessed value, I don't believe the city has to put it out 215 01:00:18.559 --> 01:00:34.640 to bid. And doing the right thing would mean taking care of the people that have been working the land. Not to sound like a broken record, um, it would be the right thing to do. I mean, no offense, but let's just talk about right and wrong here for a second. Are we going to 216 01:00:34.640 --> 01:00:52.319 crash somebody's legacy farm for a couple extra bucks, or are we going to take care of this land that's been beautiful and a beautiful piece and part of our city for, you know, since its beginnings? I mean, it just seems like we all know 217 01:00:52.319 --> 01:01:09.119 what the right thing to do is, and whether or not you all do it is anybody's guess, but I think that the city knows, and I think that the town's people, if given the opportunity to voice their opinion, would overwhelmingly say that this property and the surrounding property should be 218 01:01:09.119 --> 01:01:27.119 taken care of by people that mean the most. I see Bill coming. I'm going to shut up. >> Thank you, Bill. Please again, please state your name and uh >> Bill Chickwin, 116 Oliver Street. I just wanted to be clear that uh that uh the 219 01:01:27.119 --> 01:01:48.400 APR property can be separated from the house property just by doing a form A. >> That's it. >> All right. Thank you. >> Anyone else in the room for comments? Anyone online for a comment regarding 220 01:01:48.400 --> 01:02:05.680 this? >> I don't think he's for that though. >> Oh, dude. Uh, Steve. Oh, >> hello. >> Hi. Please state your name and address for the record. >> Jessica Lavali, 90 Oliver Street. Um, 221 01:02:05.680 --> 01:02:24.160 I live adjacent to the land at 75 Oliver Street. Um, I just want to voice my opinion that the plan to sell such a rare multi-use property um, and a public asset instead of exploring other ways to make it work for 222 01:02:24.160 --> 01:02:39.920 the community um, just seems like a copout and would be neglectful long term for generations to come. Thank you. Thank you, >> Steve Linsky. I see your hand up. Do you want to speak to this item? 223 01:02:39.920 --> 01:02:56.799 Actually, not uh I I was going to speak to the resolution that I thought was up earlier, so I can I can hold off if you'd like. >> Okay, great. Thank you, >> Julie. 224 01:02:56.799 --> 01:03:13.839 >> Hi, Julie. I live on Concord in precinct one. Um I think at this point to delay voting on this um um councelor Marque had I think it was councelor Marque had made a comment that ultimately it's the governing body which is you guys sitting 225 01:03:13.839 --> 01:03:31.200 there that makes the decision but it's the constituents that you need to listen to the voices of. Um and I'm wondering also somebody's answer is why haven't we ever used CPA to help restore this? review CPA to fix a clock to pull weeds 226 01:03:31.200 --> 01:03:46.960 out of lay. This is a really valuable part of our community and I think we need to look at maybe keeping it within the community utilizing CPA and then creating a body that will actually ultimately work over this a committee 227 01:03:46.960 --> 01:04:03.839 that can help keep this in our community and make it thrive. So why would you not use CPA funding for this? and help build upon that. >> Thank you. I appreciate your time. 228 01:04:03.839 --> 01:04:19.680 >> Uh, so the city did uh say your name again. I'm sorry, Alison Emanuel Planner. The city did allocate CPA funds to Valley CDC to do some um preliminary site assessments and also to the city to do like an archaeological study. Um, 229 01:04:19.680 --> 01:04:35.839 that was in the last few years. As was mentioned earlier, Valley CDC upon doing their due diligence determined that it was not financially viable for them to move forward with the project. So CP CPA funds have been invested in the property, not not a lot at this point. 230 01:04:35.839 --> 01:04:50.640 Um, but that's not to say that they wouldn't be in the future if an application came in. >> Great. Thank you, >> Liz Perry. >> Hi, I'm Liz Perry. I live in W three. 231 01:04:50.640 --> 01:05:06.319 Um, this whole conversation is so two years ago. Um, I think really the solution is the historical society needs to take their grasps off of the building to make it one less restriction and then we'll have a viable property and a 232 01:05:06.319 --> 01:05:23.039 viable con conversation, but also maybe we should just table this discussion right now because the agenda is very long and we have so much to get through. Thank you. >> Thank you for that. Julie, is your hand raised? 233 01:05:23.039 --> 01:05:39.440 >> Julie, >> sorry, I I've already spoken and I'd just like to add um to what um whoever just spoke said. I'm not talking about two years ago. I'm talking about now moving forward utilizing that CPA fund. As you can hear the voices of the people, they want to keep this in the 234 01:05:39.440 --> 01:05:54.160 community. Why can't we make that happen? We make everything else happen in our community. As you can tell by the passionate voices talking, this is an integral part of our community. Why can't we 235 01:05:54.160 --> 01:06:11.039 hold off making this vote and look at the feasibility of being able to keep it within our community? >> Great. Thank you. >> Not for housing, not for not for not for what we did two years ago and wasted that money on that. Okay. and giving them money because we give a lot of 236 01:06:11.039 --> 01:06:27.520 money for affordable housing for evaluations and so forth. Okay, I'm talking about now moving forward with everybody you're hearing now. Come up with a plan. It's going to take some time, but you know what? I think it's really worth the effort and I think that 237 01:06:27.520 --> 01:06:48.359 it would bring back what we've given in our tax money for CPA. Give it back to the people. You can't give it back to them monetary wise, but you can give it back to them this way. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> councelor Chief or 238 01:06:48.799 --> 01:07:05.839 Chairwismotion. >> I looked I looked into the back of the room. >> Chairwiski, >> how would you like to proceed? Well, I think we would uh look to the fellow counselors and see if they're 239 01:07:05.839 --> 01:07:20.720 have any willingness to say continue the public hearing. That's an option that we have uh now that we've heard from the public in a more formalized way or we could proceed with what we have on 240 01:07:20.720 --> 01:07:37.760 the table. Uh if I say if we do proceed with what's on the table, there is uh no requirement of the city to accept any proposal. Let me state that again. There is no 241 01:07:37.760 --> 01:07:53.839 requirement. The city has the full right to refuse any and all proposals should it decide it's not in the best interest of the city. that would be a decision which the mayor would be involved in. Uh 242 01:07:53.839 --> 01:08:12.319 so moving forward with the RF the the uh disposition and getting to the RFP does not require the sale. That being said, if we'd like to give more thought to what's been said tonight, I certainly would have no 243 01:08:12.319 --> 01:08:29.120 objection to a continuence. Uh, I think it's it's often good to have the public input at this point and then to have a period of reflection. So, I certainly would be meanable to that. Any discussion on that, 244 01:08:29.120 --> 01:08:44.799 >> Councelor Marky? >> Um, I agree with you. I think that the public should have more input. Um, I am not opposed to the city of East Hampton disposing of this property eventually, but I certainly would like to know and 245 01:08:44.799 --> 01:09:02.239 hear more about how the public feels. If the motion went forward tonight, I would abstain on a vote. Um, but I that's just where I'm at right now. >> Um, Council New, >> thank you. I would also abstain today if 246 01:09:02.239 --> 01:09:17.839 it were to go forward on a vote. I um I came into this thinking this was going to be a no-brainer and I appreciate that so many people have come forward and been able to like let me know that this is not a no-brainer. This is something we need to consider much more carefully. I think there's a lot of val arguments 247 01:09:17.839 --> 01:09:35.199 about how this is so special to our city that no other city in America has this that we really need to consider whether this is what we want to do because it is permanent for the most part. I know there's a right of first refusal, but yeah. So, I would abstain as well. 248 01:09:35.199 --> 01:09:51.520 >> Council J. Mark. >> Yeah. I mean, I definitely hear the concerns of the other counselors. Um, I guess what's tricky for me is I'm not sure that anything that we heard tonight changes the underlying conditions of the property and what the city like the 249 01:09:51.520 --> 01:10:08.239 position of the city to actually do anything. Like I agree that we should be using CPA funds to support um the properties that the city owns and that we have such historical heritage um to protect, but you know, the amount of money that needs to go into that property to bring it up to habitability 250 01:10:08.239 --> 01:10:25.280 is millions of dollars and that's not something that the CPA can reasonably outlay for for something like this. Um, so I think that no matter what, unless we are able to push for the legislature to remove historical restriction, remove agricultural restriction, 251 01:10:25.280 --> 01:10:41.600 the city isn't in a place to do anything but let that building continue to sit and rot. And I think that there's definitely um input to be had at the property committee level once we start get and there's the potential for people in the community to see that we're 252 01:10:41.600 --> 01:10:57.199 putting out an RFP and coming up with ideas for their own proposals for the property given what the restrictions are. But I don't think that anything we're putting into this RFP or into this resolution is above and beyond what's required by law. And this sort of just 253 01:10:57.199 --> 01:11:15.600 sets us in motion to be able to see something happen with that property, whether it's a dream of someone in this room or, you know, some of the proposals that we've already gotten wind of. Um, but, you know, I just I think that we're in a housing crisis and we're also um we 254 01:11:15.600 --> 01:11:30.000 have people who are interested in this property and want to invest money in our community to to bring it up to that um point. So, I think that I'm not necessarily um on board with with waiting. >> Councelor Marquy, 255 01:11:30.000 --> 01:11:46.640 >> um I um just to clarify that I have also heard about the potential proposal um coming from somebody and I think it I think it's a great proposal. I think it's a one in a lifetime proposal. Um, I just feel that we should have another 256 01:11:46.640 --> 01:12:04.480 public hearing at least and let more people weigh in, contact us directly, have more conversations around it. And that would is why I would abstain on the vote. Um, it's not that I don't feel that the property should generate revenue for the tax based revenue for 257 01:12:04.480 --> 01:12:21.520 the city of Eastampton. it could have u greater purposes and not be left abandoned, unmaintained, etc. But I just feel that just pump the brakes once and um let more people kind of voice their opinion and that's kind 258 01:12:21.520 --> 01:12:37.840 of where I'm coming from. >> Thank you, Vice President Jadzik. >> Thank you, President Denim. Um I I really appreciate everyone who's come out tonight. I think it's been very valuable input and this is um what this is all about is to 259 01:12:37.840 --> 01:12:54.480 get public input. We've heard a lot of different back and forth. Um personally, I probably tend to agree with councelor Jan Mcuade. Um I am a little concerned that if we were to move for a continuence that it would just be more of the same and we would end up right 260 01:12:54.480 --> 01:13:10.800 back in this exact position having this exact same discussion. So I just want to voice my concerns around that and especially for the public here tonight in the room and listening. Um, I do want to to make it really clear that the property committee is another venue for you to continue to voice everything that 261 01:13:10.800 --> 01:13:27.840 you've shared tonight in a way that's going to be very real and tangible. So when you're having questions about the process and clauses and you know amendments and things like that, that's where that that's where the real work happens. So, um I personally am positive 262 01:13:27.840 --> 01:13:43.440 to move forward on this, but if the will of the council of my other council members wish to have more time, uh I'm I'm amanable to that. But for the public, I do think it's really important to note that this probably won't change much. It's just going to give you more time to share, but you also have other 263 01:13:43.440 --> 01:13:58.480 avenues to share even if we were to move forward tonight. >> Thank you, Vice President Jazzik. Councelor Schmidt. >> Uh thank you, Madam President. Um, so just taking all of this in and and sort of reflecting on what everybody is saying, I think it's clear that, you 264 01:13:58.480 --> 01:14:15.040 know, our decision in front of us is uh to sell or not to sell. There's nothing here about, you know, what would happen uh in terms of how we might sell this property. Um, and uh this question that's been raised of, you know, what what could the city have done 265 01:14:15.040 --> 01:14:31.920 differently, uh, I think is a valuable one. Um I had a very brief opportunity to serve on the property committee uh at the end of last year and that was one of the first questions that that I sort of brought forth because I recognize this is you know once it's sold uh it is hard to kind of go back on that and um I 266 01:14:31.920 --> 01:14:48.560 wonder uh if um since we have so many people paying attention right here in this conversation um if uh procurement officer um Owens might be willing to uh come to the podium again and just say a little bit more about uh the steps that the that he took over the past several 267 01:14:48.560 --> 01:15:05.920 years uh to uh kind of do that assessment of of if it's something that we could uh utilize and maintain without selling it. I found the conversation really useful and I would love to hear more about >> you know uh I guess I would just say that uh in 2018 we offered the property 268 01:15:05.920 --> 01:15:22.560 for lease to any affordable housing provider. Uh got no response. Building's been empty since about 2017. Uh it's estimated just to bring it up to a reasonable condition is about $1.2 269 01:15:22.560 --> 01:15:40.320 million. Okay. Now, even if you were going to spend the $1.2 million on that structure, what do you then use it for? Uh the city does not make a good landlord. Okay? We are not affordable housing developers. We are not the 270 01:15:40.320 --> 01:15:56.400 housing authority. We are not landlords. Okay? Uh I think this and and I would encourage people to read the resolution, read the draft RFP, uh without getting that knowledge in 271 01:15:56.400 --> 01:16:13.280 your brain, uh you really will not understand what we're trying to do here. Uh I believe the uh the resolution and the RFP uh is a reasonable effort by the city to uh declare the property surplus 272 01:16:13.280 --> 01:16:30.560 and see that it's reused for the benefit of the community. Uh that's the bottom line here. Uh the city does not have the resources uh to put into that property right now. Now, I think we're we're putting about 273 01:16:30.560 --> 01:16:46.480 close to $3 million into city space, but we're doing that because there's a use for the city space after that process. It'll be a performing arts center. If we were going to say to ourselves, let's put $1.2 million of CPA 274 01:16:46.480 --> 01:17:03.199 money into the lodging house. What do we then do with it? There's no plan what to do with it. I mean, again, we are not landlords. We I think this RFP really represents uh uh again a reasonable 275 01:17:03.199 --> 01:17:19.280 effort to see the property reused uh rehabilitated and and to really be used in a way that speaks to its original purpose to assisting uh uh persons that uh are 276 01:17:19.280 --> 01:17:37.840 underresourced and underskilled. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. and and this is the process that starts that. Uh again, we are not accepting proposals tonight. Uh we are setting the conditions under which proposals will be submitted to the city 277 01:17:37.840 --> 01:17:56.480 for consideration. Uh that consideration will be done by the property committee uh with uh support from staff. >> Does that kind of answer what you were trying to get at? >> Yeah, a little bit. Um I recall in in 278 01:17:56.480 --> 01:18:13.520 one of our property meetings um you you kind of gave a bit of a timeline for me in terms of the city's assessment and I think you've you've more or less uh covered that. I think it's clear that um you know there there has been an amount of due diligence done to make sure that 279 01:18:13.520 --> 01:18:29.679 uh there were no paths forward that were feasible to to kind of keep this within the the city's purview and ownership. Um and so I appreciate you speaking. >> Yeah. I mean, we can talk about the historic commission or the historic the historic society or the historic commission here in town. They don't have 280 01:18:29.679 --> 01:18:46.080 a budget, folks. They got no money. Uh and you're going to need a big bucket of money to save this building. Uh and the city doesn't have those funds at this time. Uh but again, I would encourage you to read the resolution, read the 281 01:18:46.080 --> 01:19:01.520 RFP, and and again, this is a a reasonable effort by the city to uh put this property to reuse uh to rehab it, and it really does speak to the original purpose of the farm of 282 01:19:01.520 --> 01:19:19.120 the town farm, uh to help the uh underresourced and the uh underskilled. >> So, it says that right in there. Well, well, >> I I would I would I would encourage folks to read the RFP. I'm I'm not going to explain the RFP to you up here now. 283 01:19:19.120 --> 01:19:34.239 It's not a good use of my time or yours. Got a really big agenda tonight. But when you know been in government a long time, and this might seem harsh, but when you come to a meeting like this and you want to speak to a public hearing, you got to read the document first. You 284 01:19:34.239 --> 01:19:56.239 got to read the document first. Thank you, Mr. Owens. Councelor Smith, >> um I've heard a few people tonight say that perhaps they would use CPA funds and come up with um a new proposal. So, I was just wondering if you could speak 285 01:19:56.239 --> 01:20:12.320 to the timeline of this coming out versus a group being able to put together a CPA um proposal and whether or not those two would overlap each other. >> This this RFP will be out on the street 286 01:20:12.320 --> 01:20:27.520 for about uh four weeks, maybe five weeks required by mass general law. uh we are going to ask, you know, if you if you're if you uh look at the RFP, uh people are going to have to give us a business plan. They're going to have to 287 01:20:27.520 --> 01:20:44.880 give us a uh a sources and uses statement of of what their plan is to to reuse the building, rehab the building, and and put this property back to public use and connect 288 01:20:44.880 --> 01:21:04.960 it with the community at the same time. But in terms of those four to five weeks that you're talking about, would that happen before or after our next >> there's no expectation that we get a proposal back and they have all their funding in place. Everything the you 289 01:21:04.960 --> 01:21:20.000 know the million dollars is all accounted for. >> Uh that generally does not happen. Uh we will look for a business plan. We'll look for everything that was outlined within the RFP. But then the city uh if the property 290 01:21:20.000 --> 01:21:36.480 committee chooses to select that RFP, they feel it's competitive enough and it uh meets all the requirements that you folks are setting tonight, then the city enters into a a purchase and sale and a land development disposition agreement. And that's where the details really come 291 01:21:36.480 --> 01:21:54.239 in. Uh are you are you uh anticipating applying for CPA funds? Are you seeking uh funds from private sources? Are you doing fundraising? Uh the uh the proformer you've pres presented in uh the proposal response. Uh can you expand 292 01:21:54.239 --> 01:22:10.320 on that? How much of this is uh is committed? How much of it is uh on deck, so to speak? Uh no one comes to a responds with a proposal for every single penny unless they're 293 01:22:10.320 --> 01:22:26.000 Elon Musk maybe or someone very very rich. Can I just I just want to add about the CPA process, too. The CPA committee would want all of that same information before they granted any funds to a project. They want to know where the other sources of financing are coming from. They need to know it's a viable 294 01:22:26.000 --> 01:22:46.880 project. So, it would be very premature for them to um award any grant funds to any project without the city first going through this process. Council or Chair Kisinski, >> I have to uh 295 01:22:46.880 --> 01:23:02.000 express my appreciation to everyone who's giving their input tonight. This is an open and public process and I think we all want to consider everything and every possible plan that could be on the table. As I look around, 296 01:23:02.000 --> 01:23:18.159 as some counselors have mentioned and our staff has mentioned, I'm not sure that the bottom line will change because the underlying conditions that we're in will not change. What I think needs to 297 01:23:18.159 --> 01:23:37.440 be settled upon is that folks who are paying attention now, and we tend to pay attention now more than ever as we get closer and closer to something imminent happening, feel that their ideas have been heard, 298 01:23:37.440 --> 01:23:54.000 digested, and considered. And given that, I would recommend we give a two-eek continuence on the public hearing just to be able to have folks understand we're thinking about it and we are still 299 01:23:54.000 --> 01:24:11.600 available at that level of the process in case there's a change to one of the conditions. So that would be my recommendation. Is it going to change the bottom line the underlying conditions? I don't think it will change the underlying conditions, 300 01:24:11.600 --> 01:24:28.159 but I think the public deserves a right to have the time to make that input. >> Council Jam. Yeah, and just to add to that, I think the conditions might not change, but I on thinking about it a little bit more, I'm realizing that this might give a 301 01:24:28.159 --> 01:24:44.000 little bit more time to someone who might not have known about this process and might be interested in putting forward a proposal now that it's, you know, now that people are paying attention. Um, I would support a continuence just to give them a little bit more time to potentially pull together a proposal. 302 01:24:44.000 --> 01:24:58.239 >> Great. and and councelor Marquee. >> I just want to um I want to thank um Chair Kasinski um for potentially that we'll have a twoe continuence. That's 303 01:24:58.239 --> 01:25:14.080 more of um my thought process was what um councelor Jim Mcquade I think that giving people letting more people know about this ultimately I think there should be a vote and I 304 01:25:14.080 --> 01:25:31.840 think that it should be fairly soon. Um but yes I I echo Chairwinsk's sentiment with this. >> Great. Thank you Vice President Jetik. Um, this is a question for Chair Quisinski. Does the property committee 305 01:25:31.840 --> 01:25:49.320 have a scheduled meeting coming up in the next two weeks that the public would be able to attend in this interm if we were to take this continuence forward? >> I think we could proceed with or without a property meeting if you thought that uh 306 01:25:49.760 --> 01:26:06.159 it might make sense to have the property committee continue. But I I wonder if that's I wonder I wonder if it is a an appropriate step. I think having those voices appear before all of us is an important step and something for all 307 01:26:06.159 --> 01:26:22.159 counselors to hear. It it tends to be that as we break up into our committees. Yes. As we do the business of the city, we do it without a lot of ne necessary I mean necessarily a lot of input. I want to be 308 01:26:22.159 --> 01:26:39.520 sure that everyone hears this. This is an important project, an important process and I think it's important for all of us. So that would be my recommendation. >> Okay. I I was just thinking in terms of >> maybe others have different opinions >> of having avenues for people to provide input but I appreciate that process. 309 01:26:39.520 --> 01:26:55.280 >> Any other comments again? Right. Uh so thank you for all of that. This is all very important uh discussion. Um certainly information for all of us to consider. um some of the things that we probably hadn't been thinking about in terms of of how we go about this 310 01:26:55.280 --> 01:27:12.800 process. Um again, I I just want to remind people that this is a is a resolution to declare surplus and authorization to dispose of the property. It does not preclude anybody in this room from partnering, 311 01:27:12.800 --> 01:27:27.120 from working uh to uh put together your own proposal for an RFP, right? I think there's lots of things that people are able to do, right, if they are wanting to keep this 312 01:27:27.120 --> 01:27:43.920 work not only within their community but for the community, right? And so I think there's there's lots of opportunity and and I would think that there's opportunity for partnership that maybe we hadn't been thinking about. Um so councelor Kwisinski, would you like to 313 01:27:43.920 --> 01:28:01.040 make a motion? >> Sure. I'd just like to follow up on your thought process. I appreciate that as we talk you talk about partnering. I think that partnering should be something that or could be something maybe that individual any individual or 314 01:28:01.040 --> 01:28:19.199 group would like to see pulled together. Uh and I'd like to encourage that idea. Uh maybe there are people in this room who may partner together. Uh and we'd love to see that. Uh, I would like to uh have the public uh hearing on this be 315 01:28:19.199 --> 01:28:34.400 continued and I will put that in the form of a motion until our next meeting uh >> Tuesday or Wednesday, May 6th. >> Wednesday, May 6. >> Second >> at 6:15 p.m. >> in these chambers. >> Second. 316 01:28:34.400 --> 01:28:49.199 >> So, I have a motion and a second to continue this public hearing until May 6 at 6:15 in these chambers. Any further discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed 317 01:28:49.199 --> 01:29:09.520 abstensions. Motion passes. >> Thank you to everyone who participated in that. Um we now have a series of supplemental appropriations. The first appropriation we are going to start with Vice President Jadzik for the CPA. I am 318 01:29:09.520 --> 01:29:25.760 going to ask that councelor Schmidt um step out >> and then we will invite councelor Schmidt back in. >> Great. So this first appropriation is um request is made for approval of for the 319 01:29:25.760 --> 01:29:42.080 amount of $13,250. >> Sorry, can we take a can can we can we >> could Could people please be silent as you leave? We are continuing our business. Conversation can be held outside of the building and towards the 320 01:29:42.080 --> 01:30:00.239 back, but we need to continue our business here. Thank you. >> You don't have to read this bit just yet. >> Okay, I'm going to restart this over. So, this is a um CPA appropriation request for $103,000 to 103 250 I can't 321 01:30:00.239 --> 01:30:18.320 talk tonight. $13,250 from the fund balance reserved for historic preservation to the library annex design. Um, and we have Ava Gersl here to speak to this. Hi, I'm Ava Gristle. I'm the CPA coordinator. Um, I I work in the planning department and 322 01:30:18.320 --> 01:30:35.760 this uh CPA recommendation is for $103,250 um for the library annex renovation design. Um, and this is $9,000 over the original requested amount of 20 of $94,250, 323 01:30:35.760 --> 01:30:51.840 which is 50% of the estimated design cost. Um, so the library applied for 50% of their design um cost for the for the library annex renovation project. Um, and over the course of the conversation 324 01:30:51.840 --> 01:31:08.960 with the with the library, uh, with the library board and with the CPA committee, um, as well as receiving some guidance from our partnership organization at the state level, the Community Preservation Coalition, given that this property is being treated as a historic building, um, as it is a 325 01:31:08.960 --> 01:31:25.440 contributing member to the Main Street Historic District, and um, it is applying for CPA funds under the historic preservation um, category of CPA funds. It was determined that enlisting essentially a peerreview historic preservation consultant for the 326 01:31:25.440 --> 01:31:42.080 additional $9,000 to review their design plans in as they're being produced to ensure compliance with the Secretary of Interior standards for historic rehabilitation was recommended. So that got us to our final number of 13,250. 327 01:31:42.080 --> 01:31:57.120 >> Great. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> Councelor Kazinski. Um, I was just curious if there's been any formal review by 328 01:31:57.120 --> 01:32:14.520 the entire council of all the CPA expenditures receiving the reason I asked that question is receiving what we've just received news of there being 329 01:32:15.199 --> 01:32:30.320 millions and millions of dollars of indebted of of shortfall in our budget. It gave me pause as I reflected on that subject to say what do we all really understand about all the funds the city 330 01:32:30.320 --> 01:32:46.000 are is spending in terms of CPA funds also although CPA funds are separated and it's not part of the general uh contributions that could go anywhere to help with any shortfall. 331 01:32:46.000 --> 01:33:01.360 It still made me think maybe maybe we should have an update of all of our funds before we really get into any expenditures of any CPA funds. Just wanted to throw that 332 01:33:01.360 --> 01:33:17.600 out. I am concerned that we at least have an opportunity to hear all those possibilities and I haven't heard of a recent update of all of our situation. So, 333 01:33:17.600 --> 01:33:32.480 have you heard of anything where the council has been informed of all what are the plans? What are the annual what's the annual report? >> Councelor Kisinski, we're focused on >> I am this and I I I'm trying to get to a point where I won't vote no on something 334 01:33:32.480 --> 01:33:49.040 that I support fully. >> So, every CPA a recommendation comes in front of this council for a vote for appropriation. So, every piece of funding that has been appropriated to a CPA project in the last 22 years of the 335 01:33:49.040 --> 01:34:04.639 CPA's existence in East Hampton has been appropriated by the city council. >> Right. I was looking for an overall our overarching what's our plan for this year? What what do we see upcoming? What do we have? What do we have outstanding? I know we have city space and they're 336 01:34:04.639 --> 01:34:19.360 going to be they're looking for so much money to >> so the the CPA >> I know you guys do a do a lot of work on those areas and are very much informed but we make the final decision and I want us to be sure we're doing our due 337 01:34:19.360 --> 01:34:37.360 diligence in that process. So the CPA committee compiles and submits a budget um each year which is reviewed and approved by this council as part of your overall budget from what you just did. 338 01:34:37.360 --> 01:34:54.639 >> Yep. And we just did a FY2026 uh preservation plan update was really a revamp of the preservation plan. This is a annual required update, but we have been out of compliance for the last couple years. It involved um a a 339 01:34:54.639 --> 01:35:10.560 townwide survey and several opportunities for public engagement. I engaged over 200 residents directly with the CPA plan survey um which directly fed into the goals as outlined in the preservation plan. I'd be happy to 340 01:35:10.560 --> 01:35:26.960 provide preservation plan copies for the counselors if that would be helpful for your review. I would just like to have all that information reviewed by all of us before we make any financial commitments at this time given the news that was 341 01:35:26.960 --> 01:35:43.120 presented to us just last two weeks ago by the mayor. >> And I will just review for clarification that CPA funds per state law can only be spent on open space, recreation, historic preservation, and affordable housing. And that's why I'd like to pump 342 01:35:43.120 --> 01:36:00.239 the brakes just once on this. >> Um, counselor. >> Yeah. Um, I will say that in preparation for this CPA supplemental appropriation, I did go on the planning department portion of our East Hampton website and 343 01:36:00.239 --> 01:36:15.040 they did a really deep dive and I think all of that information is there and if you go to the if you can get into the file folder system, you can. I mean it took hours but you can go through and find all of the documents and stuff. So 344 01:36:15.040 --> 01:36:31.520 I was able to read that. So it is available. >> I think it's just not it's a little bit >> more timeconuming to access but yes >> it it is available and I also attended the meeting recently that you went over all of your plans and proposals for the 345 01:36:31.520 --> 01:36:48.480 next year etc. So I think that information is out there and available for um folks to to see. I I recognize the concern that um you have regarding the city's financial budget. I I do believe that 346 01:36:48.480 --> 01:37:04.639 this is a separate set of funding uh for the city uh for specific uh you know projects. Um so I don't know that those two things are related, but councelor Marquee, you have a question. Um, I just 347 01:37:04.639 --> 01:37:22.320 wanted to um also state that I along with councelor Schmidt, who's in the back room, and um, President Denim, we all attended that CPA um, thing a few weeks ago. I think I bolted a little bit early, but it was very informative and it kind of laid out a lot of the plans 348 01:37:22.320 --> 01:37:37.840 that were coming out. Um, they had pretty much set um, a lot of what they were doing and there was several people that came to the mic and kind of like pitched their case before you. I'm not sure. Maybe about a month ago. Am I remembering correctly? 349 01:37:37.840 --> 01:37:53.280 >> March 19th, there was a publicly advertised um Yes. >> public hearing of the preservation plan process. >> I remember that. Yep. >> Other comments? >> Good. >> Um councelor Jam. 350 01:37:53.280 --> 01:38:09.360 >> Yeah. I mean, I just want to applaud the CPA committee and um Ava as a coordinator there. Um, I remember getting an email like months ago uh asking for input on what you know the I think this was um as part of the housing partnership um to see what we would like 351 01:38:09.360 --> 01:38:25.440 to see um coming from the CPA. So I really appreciate that sort of proactive outreach that you guys have been doing. Um I'll also just add um or respond to councelor Kisinsk's point. I think that, you know, we we have a committee of appointed individual like we have the 352 01:38:25.440 --> 01:38:40.800 CBA committee that's their job to sort of steward these funds and we also have a member of our city council that sits on that committee um to also sort of serve as that accountability um and an oversight from us. So I definitely think that it's you know incumbent on us to to 353 01:38:40.800 --> 01:38:56.400 seek out that information and um and be prepared in advance of of this. Um so I definitely feel and speaking to the um appropri appropriation itself um I think that this is a great idea. I think this is a great um use of public preservation 354 01:38:56.400 --> 01:39:14.560 funds. Um I've had the privilege of attending um programming at the library annex and it's an incredible space. So I just um support this work. Thank you. >> Other comments. I wanted to reiterate the library annex 355 01:39:14.560 --> 01:39:30.159 is a fabulous space. I've attended several events there. Many people in the public have. It is indeed a a jewel of a public resource. I don't have an issue with the specific project. I just wanted to be sure that 356 01:39:30.159 --> 01:39:45.360 I think the public had a full understanding of the overall process of the CPA and how much we're giving the year and there and what's left and are there other plans for example we did 357 01:39:45.360 --> 01:40:01.360 hear tonight about $1.2 $2 million maybe. Well, how would that affect our priorities and what would we really look at? I thought a pause to examine this would be appropriate at this time. Not a 358 01:40:01.360 --> 01:40:16.639 no, but a pause. >> The CPA reviews applications on a quarterly basis and so any project application would come in front of the CPA committee. were in the midst of fourth quarter of FY26 which applications were received and we 359 01:40:16.639 --> 01:40:32.320 reviewed some of them at the April meeting. We will review the remainder at the May meeting and then they will vote in May. Our next deadline is in July for the next quarter of applications. >> As we consider our financial situation, Madame President, 360 01:40:32.320 --> 01:40:47.119 the public will be looking at us to be sure that we do everything in our with with regard to due diligence. Otherwise, we could face a situation which would call for a revocation of the CPA 361 01:40:47.119 --> 01:41:04.600 legislation as it refers to the city of East Hampton. The city has the right to do that. And I want to be sure that we do have every take every every every expenditure as fully 362 01:41:05.360 --> 01:41:22.639 under concern as possible. Otherwise, we could very well lose the pro the funds that have been the jewel of the city of East Stampton. I could go through every single project and how proud we are of the things we're doing with CPA monies. 363 01:41:22.639 --> 01:41:39.360 It is the one thing that keeps East Hampton afloat. I don't want to lose it. I want to keep it. Vice President Jessic, >> I think we're getting a little off track here and I I really um I don't think this is fair to a to Ava or the CPA 364 01:41:39.360 --> 01:41:56.400 committee. I appreciate your comments um councelor Kisinski, but I think that perhaps that should be a separate discussion that we have separately. We need to address this particular appropriation request among many tonight. And I think that your concerns are valid and fair. I also feel like 365 01:41:56.400 --> 01:42:12.480 perhaps it's been a little bit swayed by the amount of discussion we've had earlier. And I'd like to bring us back to the point at hand, which is this $13,000 and $250 for the library annex design um plan. And I think that the questions 366 01:42:12.480 --> 01:42:30.000 about what money is being spent in the plans, and this is we've reiterated over and over, this is separate from the budget. So, I don't appreciate you um in my opinion fearmongering a little bit. I want us to be very clear about what we're talking about right now. And so I would like to see if we can maybe limit 367 01:42:30.000 --> 01:42:45.280 our discussion to the item that is up for discussion right now and allow Ava to address any other questions about this particular request for appropriation so that we can go through and vote um and see where the votes lie at that point. 368 01:42:45.280 --> 01:43:06.159 >> Any other questions? Any other questions for Ava? Do we want to make a motion? >> Yes. >> Do we have to put it out to the public or >> Oh, anyone from the public? >> Yes. Great. Thank you. >> Uh Julie, 369 01:43:06.159 --> 01:43:23.600 >> hi. It's Julie again from Precinct One. Um first off, I think that counselor JP is very valid in his point because let me tell you, I was looking on the CPA site to get to what you guys even spent the money on. You have to dig through that. It is not very transparent. We 370 01:43:23.600 --> 01:43:40.719 don't know what was taken in as as a community member. I don't know what was taken in every year and what is being spent every year. When I finally did get through the folder, there was only what was spent, not what we had in place. What he's looking for is for transparency. And I, for one, as 371 01:43:40.719 --> 01:43:55.520 a constituent, appreciate that. And I don't think it's fearongering at all. This is information that should be put out before you even vote on this is what we have. this is what we're spending. So, please don't insult him by saying he's fearongering because he was 372 01:43:55.520 --> 01:44:11.600 certainly not fear-mongering. Thank you. Do you have the balance for the historic preservation? >> Yes. Um, after this pending application, 373 01:44:11.600 --> 01:44:27.440 the historic preservation specific set aside would have 27,751 remaining. The undesated account, which could be used for any of the four categories of CPA, open space, recreation, historic 374 01:44:27.440 --> 01:44:43.679 preservation, or affordable housing, has a total of 648,000 and some change. >> Great. Thank you. >> Any other comments from the public? >> I will also note that that spreadsheet is not kept live on the city website as 375 01:44:43.679 --> 01:45:00.719 it is frequently changed. However, it is showed at every CPA committee meeting which meets monthly third Thursdays. >> Awesome. Great. Thank you very much. So, that is made public. Great. Any other comments from the public? All right. Seeing none, do you 376 01:45:00.719 --> 01:45:18.800 want to make the motion? >> Yes. Yes, I'd like to make a motion um in the form of a request hereby made for approval of the following appropriation amount requested. $13,250 to be appropriated from 02400243242. Fund balance reserved for historic 377 01:45:18.800 --> 01:45:40.159 preservation to be appropriated to account 0242981-54002500. Library annex design $13,250. The amounts requested will be used for the following purpose. The funding is to design the library annex renovation in accordance with historic preservation standards. 378 01:45:40.159 --> 01:45:54.960 >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to appropriate $13,000 $250 from fund balance reserved for historic preservations to library annex design. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all 379 01:45:54.960 --> 01:46:11.520 those in favor? >> I. All those opposed? >> No. >> I uh abstensions. Um motion passes. Thank you. >> Should we call that? >> Um councelor Schmidt. 380 01:46:11.520 --> 01:46:31.040 All right. >> Uh if you could continue with this next CPA uh for affordable housing. Um, if I may, may I just clarify to the public why I left the room? I just wanted to make sure everybody's aware, just for the purposes of avoiding any suggestion 381 01:46:31.040 --> 01:46:47.920 of conflict of interest during that previous discussion, I will be stepping out of the room uh when that happens in the future as well. >> Um, >> because you >> because I work at the library. >> Because you work at the library. All right. Very good. >> So, uh, I will be doing my best to lead 382 01:46:47.920 --> 01:47:03.840 us through uh the rest of these. Um, it sounded from what I heard that we weren't originally reading it in the form of a motion to start. We kind of had the conversation first as >> had the conversation first and then once the conversation is over, we will read the motion. >> Okay. Uh, and would your preference be 383 01:47:03.840 --> 01:47:24.480 for me to do the other CPA appropriation request at this time? >> Yes, because we have standing. Uh so the second request uh is for $150,000 um from the CPA uh balance reserve for 384 01:47:24.480 --> 01:47:41.679 affordable housing uh and the CPA reserve fund uh to be um which those num I'm going to save reading those numbers until the motion um to be appropriated to uh this be the valley CDC additional mortgage mortgage subsidies 385 01:47:41.679 --> 01:47:59.840 um which is a continuation of a um existing program is the city's third time uh supporting this program um but I'm sure Ava could share more about it. >> Certainly. Um so Valley CDC is a is a nonprofit who the city has collaborated 386 01:47:59.840 --> 01:48:16.080 with before um to assist affordable housing. Um and Valley CDC here put forward an application for three additional down payment grants. Um they're actually loans that are uh become grants after 19 years of home 387 01:48:16.080 --> 01:48:32.480 ownership. So these are three $50,000 grant/loans to be given to low or moderate individuals um households or individuals who are attempting to purchase a home in East Hampton. Um these $50,000 grants 388 01:48:32.480 --> 01:48:47.280 are um given at the time of of closure. So only a family that is in the process that is like about to purchase the home. Um and they are uh under a first come first serve process. You have to have completed Valley CDC's financial 389 01:48:47.280 --> 01:49:03.600 training um and screenings. um and they do a very thorough assessment of the property that is in question and um the person's related finances who's attempting to purchase the home. And the reason we have an even $150,000 in front 390 01:49:03.600 --> 01:49:18.960 of the council today is that about a year ago in 2025, Valley CDC put forward an application for over $200,000 for three $50,000 mortgage subsidy grants and the necessary administration costs. 391 01:49:18.960 --> 01:49:35.920 um and financial literacy to run to administer those three $50,000 grants. Um and fortunately the 50 the three $50,000 grants um were expended rapidly. Um there was a shift in the housing market and Valley CDC was able to get 392 01:49:35.920 --> 01:49:51.840 three low or moderate individuals/families into homes really quickly and they didn't utilize all of the admin the admin funds set aside for that process. Um, so it's really a a happy situation that they had extra admin funds and they said, um, we could 393 01:49:51.840 --> 01:50:08.719 just ask for three more subsidy grants and use those existing admin funds to put three more households into, um, into home ownership and wealth generation in our community. >> Great. Thank you, AA. Any questions? 394 01:50:08.719 --> 01:50:29.520 >> Any questions from the public? Seeing none, Council Smith, do you want to make a motion? >> Yeah. So, I would like to make the following in the form of a motion. A request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested um $150,000 to be appropriated 395 01:50:29.520 --> 01:50:51.440 from 0024.0024.3243 0024.3243 CPA reserve for affordable housing in the amount of uh $59,77 uh as well as 024.29995966 CPA reserve fund in the amount of 396 01:50:51.440 --> 01:51:12.800 $90,923 to be appropriated to 024.29825400.2471 2471 FY26 Valley CDC additional mortgage subsidies the amount of $150,000. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose to provide three 397 01:51:12.800 --> 01:51:27.760 additional down payment assistance grants to accompany financial training and admin costs from the FY25 Valley CDC grant. >> Second. So, I have a motion and a second to approve $150,000 from CPA reserve for affordable housing and CPA reserve fund 398 01:51:27.760 --> 01:51:44.880 for FY26 Valley CDC. Any further discussion? Um, Councelor Smith. So, this particular grant would help three families within the city. Okay. 399 01:51:44.880 --> 01:52:00.239 I'm going to be voting no for this simply because I think that's such a large amount to put towards such a small number of people. I would like to see the funds um raised by by different nonprofits in the area rather than the 400 01:52:00.239 --> 01:52:19.760 city. That's my personal opinion on that. >> Any further discussions? Councelor >> very much in favor of anything that has to do with getting folks into into stable home housing. Uh but given that 401 01:52:19.760 --> 01:52:38.000 I've spoke enough about the overarching need to have uh a report directly to the council from the CPA committee at this time. I will be voting no. I have a comment. Oh, councelor Newton. 402 01:52:38.000 --> 01:52:54.400 >> I think I have to agree with um Councelor Quizinsky and Councelor Smith. >> Could you lean into the mic? >> I do um actually agree with Councelor Kisinsky and Counselor Smith that it does feel like it's such a limited number of people and although it is wonderful, um I'm concerned at this time 403 01:52:54.400 --> 01:53:11.119 about how limited in scope it is. Um, Eva, can you just remind me that I think you may have said this and I and I apologize, but can you just remind me in in the past they've given grants or these similar funds, but they were too 404 01:53:11.119 --> 01:53:27.920 small in order to help people get into the housing. Is that accurate? >> Yes. There was an FY2022 CPA appropriation which involved three $25,000 mortgage subsidies. Um, two of those were spent over a period of three years and one of those was ultimately 405 01:53:27.920 --> 01:53:44.800 rolled into the FY25 grant that I mentioned earlier. So, those $25,000 grants were not substantial enough given the level of need in our community. One other thing I'll note um about Valley CDC is that they're they do substantial amounts of financial literacy training 406 01:53:44.800 --> 01:53:59.760 with those admin dollars that are left over from the FY25 grant. um that extends beyond just the three individuals they ultimately put in homes. Um so that's a program that serves the purpose of both educating the people who will utilize the mortgage 407 01:53:59.760 --> 01:54:15.280 subsidies but also educates the broader community about what it takes to become a home buyer. Um particularly if you're someone of uh of low or moderate means in our community >> and I think we're trying to diversify who can live within our community. 408 01:54:15.280 --> 01:54:30.080 Council Jam McQuade. >> Yeah. Just echoing off of what you you just said, um, President Dunham, um, I think that we live in a time where we're all aware we're in a housing crisis and, you know, I hear the concerns, um, from councelor Smith about this helping such 409 01:54:30.080 --> 01:54:45.280 a limited group of people. And, you know, I think that while this is a band-aid, like, you know, we're living in a broken housing system where home ownership has become the primary means for people to increase their wealth and it's become an 410 01:54:45.280 --> 01:55:01.199 investment for people. Um, and that has led to home ownership being something that is gated to people who can afford it, who have generational wealth, who have, you know, that's something that, you know, I'll be upfront, I benefited from, me and my partner benefited from when we were able to buy our house, 411 01:55:01.199 --> 01:55:18.320 having a big chunk of money that we were able to get generationally. Um, and this is something that I think allows a little bit more diversity and it makes it so there are people in our community who can stay here and can set down roots without needing to 412 01:55:18.320 --> 01:55:33.840 be coming from, you know, money. So, um, I wholeheartedly support this. Um, I think that we've had great success in the past with this program. Um, and like I said, it's definitely a band-aid for a broken housing system. Um but I think that there are very few other 413 01:55:33.840 --> 01:55:49.840 opportunities for this uh kind of thing to happen. So >> other councelor Marque um I just want to um echo councelor Jamrock McUade on this. I will be voting yes on this. Um I 414 01:55:49.840 --> 01:56:06.719 might be correct me if I'm wrong. I might be the only renter on council. I do not own my own home. Um, and I am always very much looking, not personally, but generally looking to there's a there's a 415 01:56:06.719 --> 01:56:23.440 line like that's almost impossible to leap at this point as far as home ownership is concerned. It used to be like you have a job, you can own a home. And I'm finding this more and more as a reality that I may never own a home 416 01:56:23.440 --> 01:56:40.000 because I won't ever be able to traverse that line. And so I just want to credit um the city of East Hampton or CPA or whatever nonprofits help um folks like me or folks I know that are like me to kind of jump from 417 01:56:40.000 --> 01:56:54.400 here to there to be able to actually purchase their own home because I'm a renter and I probably pay more in rent than a lot of people pay on their mortgages. So um I will be voting yes in favor of this. >> If I could make um one more comment too. 418 01:56:54.400 --> 01:57:11.520 So, in the CPA's preservation plan process that we discussed earlier tonight, they outlined eight broad guiding principles for projects evaluation and selection. Um, that they review as they receive applications. Um, and the first bullet point there, um, 419 01:57:11.520 --> 01:57:27.840 they're in no particular order, but the first one is demonstrates depth of community benefit, produces a major impact on the city or its residents. So the committee definitely the CPA committee definitely thoughtfully reviewed this application um and determined that it was in high alignment 420 01:57:27.840 --> 01:57:43.520 with that particular uh guiding principle that the depth to the three residents as well as the the dozens others that are that utilize the financial literacy trainings and first-time home buyer programs by Valley CDC um is substantial enough to 421 01:57:43.520 --> 01:58:01.920 constitute this being a worthy CPA project. Council Schmidt. >> Um I appreciate everybody's comments. I, you know, very very well taken across the board. I wanted to reiterate something that I think uh you mentioned earlier, Ava, which is that um this is a 422 01:58:01.920 --> 01:58:18.719 uh 19-year loan that turns into a grant. Uh and so uh where I do hear, you know, the the direct impact is on a relatively small number of folks. I think that particular element encourages the people who are recipients of this money uh to stay in Eastampton and to continue 423 01:58:18.719 --> 01:58:34.880 contributing to uh the city and the community, be it, you know, time, effort, or or financially. Um and so I see through that the indirect benefits of this potentially um being much greater than just the three. And I just wanted to kind of put that out there for consideration. 424 01:58:34.880 --> 01:58:52.320 >> Any other comments? Councelor Kisinski, >> I just want to say I I'm with this program 100%. I wish that it were brought up in two weeks. I wish that it was something that we could vote on after hearing a full presentation. Just 425 01:58:52.320 --> 01:59:09.119 after hearing what the mayor put out to us, it just this is a this is a devastating budgetary crisis that we >> Again, please keep your comments to this item. I'm trying to explain my feelings and 426 01:59:09.119 --> 01:59:26.320 the reason for the vote. If this were brought up at any other time other than a crisis for the fiscal wherewithal of East Hampton, I would say absolutely. Great idea, great expenditure. I'm with you 100%. Do we 427 01:59:26.320 --> 01:59:42.960 need to be 50,000? We probably do given the cost of housing. Yes. So, I'm with the pro I'm with this program. the educational benefits. I just wish we all felt that we were getting what I've 428 01:59:42.960 --> 01:59:57.760 described earlier as a better full understanding of the entire picture. Thank you. I think this has been well explained and well justified. >> Great. Thank you, Council Kinski. Any other comments? >> Oh, public comment's already over. 429 01:59:57.760 --> 02:00:12.800 Sorry. Um, >> we're in the motion. Sorry. I apologize. We've already said our motion. Um I do want to say that I am in support of this and in part um I grew up in poverty and 430 02:00:12.800 --> 02:00:29.920 I know what it is to not have a home. Um at the same time I've had the uh privilege of living in my home for the last uh 13 years. Uh and in part that has to do with the fact that my partner and I did a first-time home buyer uh 431 02:00:29.920 --> 02:00:46.960 program class. Um, for anyone who's interested, we're ahead of our payments, right? So, it's working. Um, but I do think that this is something that is of of benefit. Um, and one of the reasons that I moved to East Hampton was because it was economically diverse and I think 432 02:00:46.960 --> 02:01:05.400 that programs like this allow East Hampton to continue to be um economically diverse. Um, I think that is a priority and I agree with the sentiments of of um the fact that right now homes are um 433 02:01:06.159 --> 02:01:21.360 they're incredibly expensive and I think that that people are buying them up in ways that limits who can afford to live here. So, uh, I want to thank you, uh, for all the work that you've done on both educating this council on on the work that that goes into these 434 02:01:21.360 --> 02:01:37.920 affordable housing grants. Um, any other discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I >> I uh opposed? >> No. >> I abstensions. One extension. 435 02:01:37.920 --> 02:01:58.480 Uh, motion passes. Thank you so much, Ava. Appreciate everything you do for us. >> Thank you all. >> And I encourage any city councelor to come to a CPA committee meeting at any time. >> Yes. Excellent. Thank you so much. Uh, Councelor Schmidt, um, in the future, 436 02:01:58.480 --> 02:02:15.840 uh, just for sake of your own time, uh, when the, um, when there is an explanation of what it is, you do not have to read all the the numbers that are associated with that account. >> Gotcha. Excellent. All right. 437 02:02:15.840 --> 02:02:32.000 Uh so um before we get to those numbers, our next one uh moving into the >> and we could probably just start at the top there. >> Yeah. Moving into the regular supplemental appropriations, uh we have the request for $48,000 438 02:02:32.000 --> 02:02:50.719 uh from free cash for EMS overtime callbacks and personnel parame paramedic stipens. Again, that's $48,000. Um 39,000 of that is going towards the EMS incentives. Um the uh their contract was 439 02:02:50.719 --> 02:03:07.000 finalized after the budget was finalized. Uh which is why these funds are remaining uh to be uh you know they came out of that that negotiation uh process. Uh and then the 9,000 that remains is for the overtime emergency pay. 440 02:03:07.040 --> 02:03:24.080 Great. And I believe Chief Norris is on the call. Uh if he's still there or we have uh Deputy Chief as well uh to weigh in if necessary. >> Chief Norris, are you on the call? You are there. >> Good evening everyone. Chris Norris, 441 02:03:24.080 --> 02:03:39.920 fire chief city. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Mhm. >> We can hear you. >> All right. >> We see we see Deputy Chief Benson in the back. He's quite upset that he's not the one speaking now, but go ahead, Chief Mars. >> Yes. feel to call to the floor if you need, but uh I apologize I can't be 442 02:03:39.920 --> 02:03:55.679 there in person, but thank you for bringing this forward. Um as councelor Smith outlined. Um this request here is really based on the um settlement of the union's collective bargain agreement after the budget was uh already finalized for this fiscal year. Um so 443 02:03:55.679 --> 02:04:10.800 that's what that's what we're looking at u for uh this upcoming reading of the 39,000 and the $9,000. I'm happy to answer any questions from anyone. >> Any questions? So, Chief Norris, as I understand, these 444 02:04:10.800 --> 02:04:31.280 are contractual obligations. >> Yes, that is correct. Um, the $39,000 one is for their paramedic incentive pay for every member of the collective bargain agreement. And then the $9,000 is uh contractor requirements mainly for the callbacks for u the town of West 445 02:04:31.280 --> 02:04:45.840 Hampton which the city of East Hampton has a signed contract to provide 100% be services to that community. >> Great. Any questions for Chief Norris? 446 02:04:45.840 --> 02:05:07.199 >> Any comment from the community? Any comment from anyone online? >> Great. Uh, do you want to make a motion? >> Yeah. Um, I'd like to make the following in the form of a motion. Um, request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount 447 02:05:07.199 --> 02:05:23.040 requested $48,000 to be transferred from free cash to be transferred to 23105131 the amount of $9,000 as well as 23105142 448 02:05:23.040 --> 02:05:40.560 in the amount of $39,000. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. uh the 9,000 the the funds will go towards uh the EMS overtime callbacks for the remaining part of the year uh as well as funds for personnel uh paramedic stipens 449 02:05:40.560 --> 02:05:55.280 um needed due to a change in contractual requirements. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to approve $48,000 from free cash to EMS overtime callbacks and personnel par personnel paramedic stipens. Any further 450 02:05:55.280 --> 02:06:13.199 discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I >> opposed abstensions. Motion passes. >> Great. The next is >> Thank you. >> Oh, nope. Don't go ahead. The next is for uh $79,500 451 02:06:13.199 --> 02:06:30.320 um to be taken from free cash uh for a variety of purposes from the East Hampton Fire Department. Uh including 7,500 for overtime pay, uh 33,000 for uh sick leave buyback, which is a uh state requirement when one of our uh 452 02:06:30.320 --> 02:06:47.599 firefighters retires. Um 27,500 for vacation buyback. Same deal. uh 4,000 for uh their uniform allowance. Um also following a contractual change. Uh and then 7,500 for a uh handicapped 453 02:06:47.599 --> 02:07:06.159 accessibility button uh to be installed on the front door of the safety complex. >> Any questions? >> Uh and I did realize I I didn't give the um finance committees uh you know feedback on this. They did uh vote to 454 02:07:06.159 --> 02:07:22.480 recommend three to zero. Um all of these did come before finance last week. >> Any comment from anyone in the room? Comment from anyone online? Seeing none, do you want to make a motion? 455 02:07:22.480 --> 02:07:40.480 >> Uh yes. Uh so I'll make the following in the form of a motion. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested 79,500 uh to be transferred from free cash to be transferred to 220005130 456 02:07:40.480 --> 02:07:55.920 for $7500. 22000.5153 for $33,000. 220005156 for $27,500. 22000.5181 457 02:07:55.920 --> 02:08:13.280 for $4,000. and 22000.54397 $7,500. The amount requested will be used for the following purposes. Overtime needed for the remaining fiscal year. Uh needed sick leave buyout for retirement. Needed for vacation buyout for two personnel. 458 02:08:13.280 --> 02:08:30.079 Um IOD and retirement. Uh needed for uniform line item due to a contractual change. Uh and request to bring the public safety complex into current compliance for handicapped accessibility. >> Second. So, I have a motion and a second to approve $79,500 459 02:08:30.079 --> 02:08:44.719 from free cash to miscellaneous sick leave and vacation buyout, overtime, uniform and handicap accessibility for the public safety complex. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> Opposed? 460 02:08:44.719 --> 02:08:58.560 Abstensions? Seeing none, motion passes. >> Okay. Uh the next one is for $500,000 uh from our enterprise retained earnings uh to uh fund the enterprise 461 02:08:58.560 --> 02:09:19.520 stabilization fund. Um also voted 30 by the finance committee. Um, just trying to decipher my notes here, but I wonder if somebody in the room might want to uh explain the the the 462 02:09:19.520 --> 02:09:37.199 enterprise stabilization. Um, >> or I'll do my best if not. >> Is Greg Dman online? >> Yep, I'm I'm here. Good evening, everyone. Gregman, director of public works. >> Um, this appropriation was put forward by the city auditor as a recommendation. 463 02:09:37.199 --> 02:09:54.800 uh so that that funding the enterprise does not have to wait for that funding to be available when FY26 is retained earnings close out next year. Great. Any questions? See any questions from anyone in the room? 464 02:09:54.800 --> 02:10:11.520 Anyone online? Seeing none. All right. Do you want to make a motion? >> Sure. Uh I'll make the following in the form of a motion. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $500,000 to be transferred from enterprise retained earnings in the amount of 465 02:10:11.520 --> 02:10:29.119 $500,000 to be transferred to enterprise stabilization the amount of $500,000. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose to fund enterprise stabilization account to provide stability in the current financial environment. >> Second. I have a motion and a second to approve 500 $500,000 from enterprise 466 02:10:29.119 --> 02:10:46.000 retained earnings to fund enterprise stabilization. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor. >> Uh opposed, abstensions. Motion passes. >> All right. The next is for $5,000 uh from free cash uh to be used to fund a 467 02:10:46.000 --> 02:11:02.560 new part-time uh position in the tax collector's office for FY26. Um if I'm remembering correctly uh so this uh hiring for this position was uh is taking place before the new fiscal 468 02:11:02.560 --> 02:11:19.920 year. Um un it is unknown if the new position will uh coming at least coming out of our finance meeting unknown if the new position would still be in the new budget. Um but the purpose of this uh is to you know help that office in in doing its job of uh you know collecting 469 02:11:19.920 --> 02:11:34.880 taxes um which is obviously critical to the city's um finances and functioning. Um if you want to say anything uh mayor to to further um our understanding. >> Absolutely. Um Mayor Derby. >> So just to back up a little historical 470 02:11:34.880 --> 02:11:50.079 perspective, there was reorganization that happened um you know in the previous uh terms uh of the collection office where water and sewer were housed um within DPW for collections. um that 471 02:11:50.079 --> 02:12:04.639 was restructured and it went from a department because of attrition um that was I believe around four people down to two um and I can attest that the collectors are busy on a daily basis. there's people going in and out of that 472 02:12:04.639 --> 02:12:21.520 office regularly. And so it's for an office of two people, it becomes a yman's job to try to keep up with, you know, making sure that all because there's very specific procedures that need to take place when they're doing collections. And when you add water and 473 02:12:21.520 --> 02:12:36.320 sewer collections on top of that, they're also responsible for parking tickets. So really, this is one of those situations where you spend some money to make more money. Um, if you have a collections department that's running like a welloiled machine, you're going 474 02:12:36.320 --> 02:12:53.599 to be able to, you know, process and take in more money, um, which at this point we need to be able to do. Uh, so this is a part-time position, non-bened, um, and it is going to help relieve some of the pressure that the collections office does feel. 475 02:12:53.599 --> 02:13:08.880 >> Questions? Councelor Kuisinski? >> Um, mayor, uh, I see that it's $5,000 from free cash. Okay. Are we using other funds to pay for the part-time person? And this is being added to those funds 476 02:13:08.880 --> 02:13:25.599 and if so, how much is the salary and what are the hours? >> Yeah. So, this is going to be get us through the end of the fiscal year. Um, and then, you know, again, we're going to have to reassess where we're at um to see whether we're going to be able to maintain this. I'm hoping that we can 477 02:13:25.599 --> 02:13:41.199 because again being able to, you know, capture these funds and not fall behind on things like parking tickets is pretty critical for us. So, um I'm trying to remember the rest of your question, which was is this >> how much how much is the 478 02:13:41.199 --> 02:13:58.320 >> the person to be who is part-time to be hired? >> So, I can't remember the exact paid $5,000. >> Yeah, I can't remember the exact >> some other salary. >> Um and oh, yeah, good point. Um I can't remember the exact grade that the person's coming in. It's kind of like a a lower to mid-level grade to start. Um 479 02:13:58.320 --> 02:14:14.560 but one of the things that we are exploring right now is because of a lot of the um work that is being done in that office is related to enterprise um looking at um funding some of this position if not all of it from enterprise. But that is going to require 480 02:14:14.560 --> 02:14:29.920 um a agreement with the BPW which is going to take us to the end of the fiscal year. So, one of the strategies that we're looking at is potentially funding this position out of enterprise, which would then take the pressure off the general budget. >> So, I guess councelor >> Kazinski, 481 02:14:29.920 --> 02:14:44.960 >> I still was asking, >> is it a salary at $20,000 a year, $30,000 a year, 40? because it looks to us like it's a $5,000 salary and we're approving 5,000 and then we're going to 482 02:14:44.960 --> 02:15:02.400 be asked presumably in the budget to continue that position for next year. >> Well, like I said, like I said, we're going to try to >> we're going to try to negotiate with Enterprise to get this funded through the enterprise, >> right? and and that's this this allows 483 02:15:02.400 --> 02:15:17.360 us to buy us to the end of the fiscal year to allow us to have those discussions with Enterprise to see if we can fund this position through Enterprise. And and I unfortunately I don't have the the grade that this position is at. I all I remember is that 484 02:15:17.360 --> 02:15:32.560 it's kind of a lower to mid-level grade to start. So um I can't tell you the yearly salary, but I can tell you we're working to get this position out of the general fund, >> which is great. I I think that's wonderful. I just would like to know if 485 02:15:32.560 --> 02:15:48.079 it's a $5,000 job or some other job, some other salary amount. And just so we know what we're doing in terms of adding a person when you bring us other numbers. >> So, if I understand you correctly, this 486 02:15:48.079 --> 02:16:05.840 position is new. It's new >> and it is only going to be working until June 30th >> because it's until the end of the year fiscal year. Uh and then at that point you may be creating a new position that will be coming out of 487 02:16:05.840 --> 02:16:22.880 >> the enterprise correct fund. Yep. >> Right. So right now $5,000 I think is from here to June 30th. >> June 30th. >> All right. That's correct. Councelor Jam McQuade. >> Yeah. Um, I'm definitely sympathetic to the idea of that you have to spend some money to make money. I I'm just curious and it's not really it won't necessarily 488 02:16:22.880 --> 02:16:39.120 weigh on how I vote on this, but do you have an idea of how much money we're leaving on the table? Like what is the maximum that this could help bring in? >> Well, I mean, I think it's I don't know if there's a maximum. I think it really depends on the day and how busy the collection staff are. I do know that we 489 02:16:39.120 --> 02:16:56.000 have been struggling to keep up with parking tickets and so getting those processed in a timely fashion is really important. Um, and you know, while we don't have a pay to park system here, there are a significant number of parking tickets that do get issued. Um, and so, you know, one of the the things 490 02:16:56.000 --> 02:17:12.399 that having an extra person in the office would provide relief to is the constant stream of people coming into the office to allow some of these administrative things to get caught up on so they don't fall behind. And just so you know, like this was something 491 02:17:12.399 --> 02:17:28.880 that we kind of identified pretty early on. So we've been talking about this position for probably about seven or eight months now. Um and we've tried a lot of other things to try to help the office that didn't cost any money. So trying to reduce um the times when 492 02:17:28.880 --> 02:17:44.240 people can come in and pay their taxes to give the staff a little bit more time to process stuff um and to get caught up. and it's still they're just so slammed that even that extra time didn't really give the relief that we were hoping it would give. Um and so, you 493 02:17:44.240 --> 02:18:01.920 know, this really is a bit of a pressure valve to allow them to have the space to get caught up. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. Welcome. >> These So, this is 5,000 for the end of the year. I totally get that. Um, is this listed as a temporary position or 494 02:18:01.920 --> 02:18:18.719 will this person if they you cannot fund it through enterprise would it be considered a layoff if you are not able to fund it for FY27? >> Um, I am not exactly sure how it was. Um, and that would be a question for our HR director which I don't think she's on 495 02:18:18.719 --> 02:18:36.960 the call. Um, but she potentially >> Emily Russo there. So the question is, is this written or I don't know if the person's hired already. Is it written as a temporary position that ends at the on June 30th or is this a ongoing position 496 02:18:36.960 --> 02:18:52.000 that could potentially be a layoff if we don't get the funding for FY27? >> It would be an ongoing position. It was not listed as temporary. And um as far as the grade and wages go, it would be 497 02:18:52.000 --> 02:19:09.840 in line with the clerical positions that fall within the union. It is not unionized, but it does fall under the union contract as far as wages. So I think that would leave it at a grade C, which would be um somewhere between 22 498 02:19:09.840 --> 02:19:30.399 and $25 an hour, I believe, is where we hired. So, if we can't fund this for 27, does it mean that we would have to pay like unemployment benefits at that point to this position? >> Yes, that is correct. >> Any other questions? That was a very 499 02:19:30.399 --> 02:19:50.960 good question that was just asked. Thank you, Councelor Newton. Um, I think in light of what will Oh, actually, any comments from the public? Any comments from anyone online? Um, 500 02:19:50.960 --> 02:20:07.200 given that fabulous question, um, I think that that raises some concern. Obviously, giving our budget constraints that if we create this position and then in two months or next week, uh, we have to find that we have to lay off people, 501 02:20:07.200 --> 02:20:24.800 it it it it brings pause to me. Even though I supported this and I support the challenging conditions that uh folks are working in our tax collector's office uh which I think are uh I I I think are incredibly challenging given 502 02:20:24.800 --> 02:20:40.399 not just only the amount of work that they have but also just the face toface um communication that they have to navigate um with folks particularly around collecting bills and things like that. I I am certainly very um 503 02:20:40.399 --> 02:20:54.960 empathetic to to the conditions that they work in. Uh however, this does create financial uh question for me in regards to um this >> any further that being said, I will take 504 02:20:54.960 --> 02:21:12.240 a motion. Um I have have a further comment if I may which is just I did want to note um we did not have all this information at the time and so uh the finance committee did move to uh move this forward with no recommendation. >> That's right. >> Uh and um I do want to I kind of want to 505 02:21:12.240 --> 02:21:26.960 echo that as well. I think that this is uh an important perspective and I feel as though you know if somebody were brought on early to start to help early, you know, they're going to need to be trained and I feel like it, you know, by the time they are up and running and and 506 02:21:26.960 --> 02:21:42.160 helping the individuals in the office uh as opposed to just taking more of their time to train that person um to then have some uncertainty about uh whether or not it will appear or how it would appear in the new budget. Um, definitely 507 02:21:42.160 --> 02:21:59.280 grants me some pause as well. Um, >> councelor Kisinski, >> I was wondering if I might ask a question of the human resources director. >> Yes, >> Emily Russo. Yes. >> Yes. And that question was 508 02:21:59.280 --> 02:22:15.120 >> since this seems to hinge on the temporariness of the position, if this were posted as a temporary position and not a more formal employee position, but something where we needed someone to 509 02:22:15.120 --> 02:22:31.920 come in, work on projects as a I'm going to call it a consultant, but not a consultant. Uh would there be unemployment requirements or that would be have to be unemployment expenditures that would be the burden become a burden 510 02:22:31.920 --> 02:22:49.200 on the city or could it be done in a temporary way? >> Likely we would still have to pay unemployment expenses. They would be very minor um given the salary and the amount of hours this employee works. So 511 02:22:49.200 --> 02:23:06.319 they calculate um unemployment based off of a percentage of an employes's weekly wages >> and so it wouldn't be an astronomical amount. It would be very very minor. >> Yeah. Followup. >> Councelor Guisinski. 512 02:23:06.319 --> 02:23:23.040 >> Uh approx. I I had been told that unemployment benefits were uh to be paid at about 33% obligation of the of the municipality. I don't know if that's an accurate figure or an inaccurate figure or some other 513 02:23:23.040 --> 02:23:38.080 calculation would be involved and maybe it's just a formula that is very complicated and but uh can you elucidate that for me? Um I I don't have the exact percentage in front of me right now. I'd have to 514 02:23:38.080 --> 02:23:53.840 look it up, but it is a Massachusetts general lawmandated percentage. So, and then there's a maximum amount that an employee can receive and a maximum amount of weeks that they can receive it for. There are 515 02:23:53.840 --> 02:24:10.000 various factors that go into that. Um, but they do a calculation and the state would make that determination. >> Great. Thank you, Vice President Jansik. >> Um, thank you. I have a question for I guess either uh Millie Russo or the 516 02:24:10.000 --> 02:24:24.720 mayor. Could this position be something that a senior tax writeoff uh person could also handle? probably not just because of the cash 517 02:24:24.720 --> 02:24:41.920 handling that is involved and um the way that they're working so closely with the treasurer and stuff like that. I think it just has a little bit more confidentiality than typically we like to give to our senior tax people. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. 518 02:24:41.920 --> 02:25:00.880 >> Any other comment? M >> um given our unknown financial circumstances, uh is this an item that we would like to maybe uh withdraw without prejudice until we 519 02:25:00.880 --> 02:25:16.720 find out in a couple of weeks perhaps what we might be fiscally able to do? And if so, would you like to make that motion? >> Um I I would. Yes. Um, so I would make a motion to withdraw without prejudice uh 520 02:25:16.720 --> 02:25:31.680 the supplemental appropriation request um made for $5,000 uh transferred from pre-cash um to be transferred to the collector part-time um do we need more than that to withdraw the motion? 521 02:25:31.680 --> 02:25:47.120 >> Just just reading. Okay. Uh to fund new uh a new clerk's position in the tax collector's office for the remainder of FY2026. >> Second. So, I have a motion and a second to withdraw the motion for $5,000 from free cash to fund new part-time position 522 02:25:47.120 --> 02:26:04.399 in tax collector's office for FY26. Any further discussion? >> Just to clarify, without prejudice. >> Without prejudice. Thank you for that. Uh, any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> All opposed? 523 02:26:04.399 --> 02:26:21.840 Abstensions? Seeing none, motion passes. >> All right. Uh the next one for $29,9749 uh you see is to be transferred from pre-cash uh to be transferred to um this number that you see here but essentially 524 02:26:21.840 --> 02:26:38.520 for the purposes of uh requesting uh or rather um to put forward a portion of the total cost of the city's disaster recovery infrastructure project. Uh that entire project is $59,446.90. 525 02:26:39.840 --> 02:26:56.960 Um there are two kind of main expenses to go along with that. Uh one being two Power Edge R670 servers which cost $41,958.70. Uh as well as one Power Vault ME5224 526 02:26:56.960 --> 02:27:16.080 storage system which cost $17,48820. Uh this equipment would be necessary to support timely recovery of the city's critical on premises systems in the event of a hardware failure, cyber security incident or prolonged outage uh and to reduce the risk of disrupted uh 527 02:27:16.080 --> 02:27:31.200 disruption to essential municipal operations and services. Um and I will note uh this was another one that the uh finance committee voted to move forward without a recommendation. Um, we were unable to 528 02:27:31.200 --> 02:27:48.600 get additional information from the technology department at the time. Uh, and so I don't know if we have a representative from that department here with us now. >> Karen, are you on the call? Karen, yeah, there you are. 529 02:27:49.040 --> 02:28:16.720 Ken Kamote, are you on the call? I see you on the call. Karen, >> looks like she unmuted herself, too. >> Yeah. So, >> Karen, are you there? We can't hear you. >> Of all the people, we can't hear. 530 02:28:16.720 --> 02:28:34.399 >> It person. >> I'm going to give one more try here. Karen, can you hear us? >> I think she just left. Oh, okay. So, she might be coming back. So, councelor Kisinski, >> may I suggest we continue this matter 531 02:28:34.399 --> 02:28:51.040 for for two weeks since we don't have the information that I believe would be helpful? >> Um, yeah, we can do that. I also spoke with Karen earlier in the evening and she had said that this is something that they have 532 02:28:51.040 --> 02:29:04.720 been working on. >> Can you hear me now? >> I we can hear you, Karen. Yes. I'm so sorry about that. >> Please, can you provide us with more detail on the item? 533 02:29:04.720 --> 02:29:23.280 >> After our last tabletop exercise, it was recommended to us to have an additional secondary disaster recovery environment. We do have backups of our systems, but in in the case of a disaster, a fire, a 534 02:29:23.280 --> 02:29:40.479 cyber attack, we we don't have a space where to run that those systems from. So, what we're requesting is capital to create a disaster secondary location from where 535 02:29:40.479 --> 02:29:59.120 we could run essential systems. So, it's a smaller data center from where we could download our backups and have our systems running within hours instead of perhaps days. 536 02:29:59.120 --> 02:30:15.520 Many of our systems are on premises. So, I think one of the questions that um were raised was can we operate without this system? Yes, we could. we had been, but it means that we're accepting a 537 02:30:15.520 --> 02:30:33.280 higher level of risk. In an event of a disaster, it would take more time for us to be able to bring up systems like our payroll, our water, our accessories database, our safety systems for police, 538 02:30:33.280 --> 02:30:54.399 for fire. >> Any questions? Councelor Jam McQuade. >> Yeah, I mean this is just a comment. I think that um I would agree with the fact that we need to be extremely um aware that we're in a time where public 539 02:30:54.399 --> 02:31:11.200 entities are seeing cyber attacks. Um the city holds a lot of private data from people in the city, tax tax data. Um so there can be sort of an incentive for private actors to hack and hold um public resources public computer systems 540 02:31:11.200 --> 02:31:35.760 um oage. So, I definitely think that it's a good um proactive step just to make sure we're safe. I think that um it makes a lot of sense to me. >> Any other comments? >> Yeah. Comment from the public? >> How exciting is this in my area? 541 02:31:35.760 --> 02:31:52.000 >> O Connor, uh Ashley Circle. Um I was just wondering are we using the cloud for um this at all or have we considered that as a backup? >> Yes. >> Yes. Thank you for the question. See many of our systems are run on premise 542 02:31:52.000 --> 02:32:07.040 on premises on our own hardware because it's >> less expensive to run systems with our environment instead of running subscriptions email for Google the website. There are systems that are 543 02:32:07.040 --> 02:32:24.479 cloud-based and those will be running regardless of our database, our data center having a disaster situation. Um our backups are we have backups on cloud and also on prem but 544 02:32:24.479 --> 02:32:41.359 even though we have those backups we we don't have a space a hardware where to run those systems from >> just a quick where we're looking. Yes. I I apologize. I I'm trying to not make this too long, but just I am curious. So, have we entertained like other like 545 02:32:41.359 --> 02:32:58.240 talking to Northampton, uh sometimes in in in my past lives, we've used other uh premises and shared off-site things. So, it's a it's could be potentially a less expensive uh option. Have we considered anything like that? 546 02:32:58.240 --> 02:33:14.880 >> No, we haven't. It's something that we could consider. >> Absolutely. something that um one of the things that we must do and we are now in this budget situation we're going to be forced to do is looking at 547 02:33:14.880 --> 02:33:30.960 the school systems and how the city and the schools can merge data centers and and then provide reliance to each other. Um Northampton or other cities could be an option. >> Okay, I'll stop. 548 02:33:30.960 --> 02:33:52.800 >> Thank you. Thank you. Anyone online? See none. Any other questions from counselors? >> Councelor Kazinski. >> Just to follow up on the public's question. Thank you. Uh Dr. Camort, is it possible, 549 02:33:52.800 --> 02:34:08.479 is there urgency to this decision tonight or is it possible to pursue the option that's available or or that was was presented and you thought might be a good idea uh while we uh consider this matter or is it 550 02:34:08.479 --> 02:34:23.280 something that you thought we had to vote on tonight because of urgency? >> Fair question. The first question is is really a recommendation that was brought up to us as part of our cyber security 551 02:34:23.280 --> 02:34:40.240 table ex tabletop exercises something that we must have in place. However, we had been without it for years. >> Um, >> thank you. >> Great. Thank you. Other counselor. 552 02:34:40.240 --> 02:34:55.600 >> Yeah. I I guess I'll just say I I feel a little bit like this falls into a similar realm as as the last matter to some degree. Um I definitely hear the value of it and the important of it importance of it uh in in today's 553 02:34:55.600 --> 02:35:12.800 environment. Um, it sounds, if I'm hearing everything right, it sounds like uh this is not so much that a a security risk as it is um something that like if something were to happen, uh this would help us shorten the amount of time it 554 02:35:12.800 --> 02:35:27.680 takes us to get everything back up and running. So, there's safety involved in that. Um, but it doesn't feel 100% critical in this moment when we're not sure, as we've discussed at length, what is 555 02:35:27.680 --> 02:35:43.359 coming of the budget in in the next weeks and months. Uh and so it seems to me it would behoove us to perhaps consider um not putting this aside by any means uh coming back around to it um but you know perhaps allowing some of 556 02:35:43.359 --> 02:35:59.439 that time for for things to come to light in in our current situation. >> So uh are you suggesting to remove this without regist? uh I suppose or I believe it it seemed like there was also some conversation 557 02:35:59.439 --> 02:36:16.160 about uh I guess be extending the public hearing although I I know these kind of appropriations often come up at the end of the fiscal year so I'm not even sure if it would be that it makes sense or be feasible for it to come up before then but >> councelor Kazinski >> it would seem to me that it would be 558 02:36:16.160 --> 02:36:31.600 reasonable to anticipate perhaps a longer period of time for an investigation by the technology department two weeks I wouldn't expect that they could get that all accomplished in a proper way, but I would ask Dr. Kahort if she thought that 559 02:36:31.600 --> 02:36:51.760 might be a good idea and if so, how long to report back to us so we could make a decision and we would then continue rather than remove. >> Absolutely. I can come back in two weeks and at least see how far we can get. Um 560 02:36:51.760 --> 02:37:08.800 I I think it's fair enough in the current budget situation to take a second look. Um but I do think it's my responsibility to bring it up to you the in a disaster what situation we will be at if we 561 02:37:08.800 --> 02:37:23.359 couldn't run payroll or safety and police couldn't run efficiently within hours. Um but absolutely I could come back in two weeks and report what other options >> and you felt that that would be more 562 02:37:23.359 --> 02:37:40.080 reasonable than uh perhaps four weeks or to our second meeting. >> I'll have to hang on. >> Apologies. Um Chrome has restarted. So if anyone is watching on media, we have to just restart. 563 02:37:40.080 --> 02:37:58.479 >> Is is this a sign? Okay, I think we're back. >> Are we still recording? >> Good question. >> Apologies for that. We just had a little bit of a restart with our Chrome. Um, >> can can you hear me? 564 02:37:58.479 --> 02:38:12.800 >> Yes, we can hear you. Great. I'm just going to restart the recording. >> I'm so sorry. >> No, no. Okay, please go ahead. I >> I don't I don't know if you could hear me with my question. It was, would you prefer, would you have a better opportunity to get us perhaps a positive 565 02:38:12.800 --> 02:38:27.920 response from another community if we were to wait until the second meeting in May? >> Yes, absolutely. I think given the circumstances of our budget, I could definitely come back in two weeks with 566 02:38:27.920 --> 02:38:44.800 different options. I do think it's my responsibility to share with you our situation and the place we'll be at in a disaster, a fire or a cyber attack from which we can use data in the current in 567 02:38:44.800 --> 02:39:02.560 the current state if we couldn't run payroll or our police and fire department couldn't run their systems. >> Thank you. >> But in two weeks I think it's reasonable. Well, if that's reasonable, I would >> councelor Kazinski, >> I would move to uh continue for two 568 02:39:02.560 --> 02:39:19.120 weeks. >> Second. >> So, I have a motion and a second to continue for until >> until the next meeting >> until May 6th uh at 6:15 in these chambers. The item of $29,9749 569 02:39:19.120 --> 02:39:34.720 from free cash to fund equipment necessary to support computer systems. Any further discussion? No. All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Abstensions? Motion passes. >> Okay. 570 02:39:34.720 --> 02:39:50.399 >> Next item. >> Shall we continue? >> Yes, please. >> Uh so uh the next few of these anyway are uh moving money into our stabilization accounts. Um you'll see the first is let me get to the right 571 02:39:50.399 --> 02:40:07.359 page here. The first is $700,000 uh to be transferred from free cash uh and to be transferred to um general stabilization in the amount of 400,000, capital stabilization in the amount of 200,000 and tax rate stabilization in 572 02:40:07.359 --> 02:40:24.399 the amount of 100,000. Uh and I'll just note that the finance committee voted to recommend three to zero. >> Any questions regarding this? >> Any comments from the public? Any comments from anyone online? 573 02:40:24.399 --> 02:40:40.399 Seeing none, council, would you like to make a motion? >> Uh, I would like to read the following in the form of a motion. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested, $700,000 to be transferred from free cash to be transferred to fund 574 02:40:40.399 --> 02:40:55.760 084. >> You don't have to do the numbers. >> Okay. >> Just >> uh to be transferred to uh general stabilization, $400,000. Capital stabilization $200,000. Tax rate stabilization $100,000. The amount 575 02:40:55.760 --> 02:41:11.520 requested will be used for the following purpose. To fund general stabilization to provide stability in the current environment. Uh to fund capital stabilization to meet capital needs and to fund the tax rate stabilization to help reduce the impact of debt exclusions on the tax rate. 576 02:41:11.520 --> 02:41:26.720 >> Second. So, have a motion and second to move $700,000 from free cash to general stabilization. Oh, I'm sorry. $400,000 to general stabilization, $200,000 to capital stabilization, and $100,000 to tax rate 577 02:41:26.720 --> 02:41:42.880 stabilization. Um, any further discussion? Um, seeing none, all those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Abstensions? Motion passes. >> Great. Uh the next is uh another 578 02:41:42.880 --> 02:42:01.680 transfer. Um it's the amount of $364,42944 uh transferred from the Mount Tom Trail Head Park development to be transferred to capital stabilization. Uh the funds will be used to return uh to return them to the capital stabilization fund. Uh the funds were originally allocated to 579 02:42:01.680 --> 02:42:18.080 demonstrate fund availability for the state park grant application related to the development of the Mount Tom Trail Head Park. uh and so are no longer needed for that purpose. >> Any questions? Any questions from the public? Any 580 02:42:18.080 --> 02:42:34.760 questions online? Seeing none, would you like to make a motion? >> I'll make the following in the form of a motion. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation amount requested. $364,000 uh $364,42944 581 02:42:36.479 --> 02:42:56.800 uh to be transferred from Mount Tom Trail Head Park Development $364,42944 to be transferred to Capital Stabilization $364,42944. >> Second. I have a motion, a second to transfer $364,4944 582 02:42:56.800 --> 02:43:11.760 from Mount Tom Trail Head Park Development to F to Capital Stabilization. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all >> in favor? Opposed? Abstensions? Motion passes. Okay, we 583 02:43:11.760 --> 02:43:32.160 have uh another transfer of $247,91 uh transferred from a FY22 land grant for reservation road uh in that amount uh which be transferred to the general stabilization fund. Um the requested funds will be used um to return to the stabilization fund. They 584 02:43:32.160 --> 02:43:49.439 originally utilized for the acquisition of 5 and a half acres of open space on reservation road covering the purchase price, closing costs, and due diligence expenses. >> And we're not used for that purpose. >> Any questions? Any questions from the public? Any 585 02:43:49.439 --> 02:44:05.439 questions online? Seeing none, do you want to make a motion? >> Make the following in the form of a motion. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $247,91 to be transferred from FY22 land grant for reservation road the amount of 586 02:44:05.439 --> 02:44:23.200 $247,91 to be transferred to general stabilization the amount of $247,91. >> Have a motion a second to transfer $247,91 from FY22 Land Grant Reservation Roads to General Stabilization. 587 02:44:23.200 --> 02:44:41.359 Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Opposed? Abstension? Motion passes. >> All right. So, the next we have uh an amount requested of $102,3941 uh to be transferred from free cash to 588 02:44:41.359 --> 02:45:06.160 be transferred to uh police sick leave incentive in the amount of $29,963.64. Police unused vacation $7,25548. Police overtime $56,274.89 and police dues and memberships in the amount of $8,900 amount requested. Uh we'll cover the 589 02:45:06.160 --> 02:45:20.880 following. >> Okay, you don't want to just ask. >> I or if Chief Alexander would love to weigh in on this, I'd love to hear about it. >> I just noticed he was on. >> Hi, good evening counselors. Chad Alexander, chief of the police department. Uh thank you for hearing me 590 02:45:20.880 --> 02:45:37.920 tonight. Uh in front of you is a request for a supplemental appropriation in the amount of uh $102,3941. Uh it covers three separate uh topics which I'll run through. Uh if the council has no objection, I'll just run through all three and then answer any 591 02:45:37.920 --> 02:45:55.040 questions. >> Great. Please. >> All right. Uh first is a request in the amount of $37,21912 to cover unforeseen contractual uh payout to Detective Rick Regowski. He retired October 2nd uh 2025 and that is 592 02:45:55.040 --> 02:46:14.479 the total of his acred uh sick and vacation time uh that he was contractually owed at the time of uh retirement. Uh, next is a request for overtime expenses in the amount of $56,274.89. Uh, this is overtime that is uh 593 02:46:14.479 --> 02:46:30.080 unanticipated um through FY26. The majority of this request is due to we have five uh members, full-time members that are members of the National Guard. uh a couple two of them uh did extended deployments of approximately 60 days 594 02:46:30.080 --> 02:46:45.439 throughout the year uh which required overtime and then one officer uh officer Ryan Perolitus uh he was actually deploy deployed to South Africa uh for a total of approximately 400 days uh covering this fiscal year was July 1st 2025 the 595 02:46:45.439 --> 02:47:01.359 first day of the fiscal year uh and he returned to us January 14th of 2026 um those uh were the majority of the added costs uh in incurred uh and required to fill overtime for minimum manning. Um I I 596 02:47:01.359 --> 02:47:18.080 should just note out quick um just a few facts. Uh one being the uh national average for police officers is 2.4 officers per thousand residents. Uh which Eastampton should according to the national average have 41 officers. Uh we're we're currently at 30 full-time 597 02:47:18.080 --> 02:47:34.800 officers. Um since I took over we have done everything we could. that I made some changes um to throughout the ranks uh in a ways to try to minimize overtime. Um and it should also be noted I I went back uh 10 years and so in FY26 598 02:47:34.800 --> 02:47:52.240 when our personnel services uh was quite a quite a lot less salaries have gone up substantially um our overtime budget for that year was 195,500 and for this fiscal year was 150,000 um you know if if we were getting raises on 599 02:47:52.240 --> 02:48:08.160 the overtime budget to match the overtime or or the personnel services um I'm confident that we would have stayed well under. Um those are the reasons for that overtime amount. Uh and finally, uh is a request for our dues and memberships line in the amount of 600 02:48:08.160 --> 02:48:23.040 $8,900. Um when I was appointed chief, uh then Mayor Lashel made it clear that her her top priority and I concurred with her was um to pursue becoming accreditated through the mass uh Massachusetts Police 601 02:48:23.040 --> 02:48:38.240 Accreditation Commission. Um along with that our annual costs uh in the amount of $3,220 which was prorated because um we didn't actually join until a few months into the fiscal year uh and our budget was 602 02:48:38.240 --> 02:48:54.399 already approved and voted on uh prior to me taking over. The additional 59 uh50 is it's a uh cost for a personnel management program. Um, it's actually 603 02:48:54.399 --> 02:49:10.080 going to fall under the IT department going forward. Um, it's a uh a cloud-based program which essentially um covers all things policing uh specifically to policy management. I met with Dr. Camart. We spoke with different 604 02:49:10.080 --> 02:49:27.120 companies and this was by far the best suit for our department as well as was the uh cheapest of the available programs. Um so we decided to go with that. So that amount will be going to it. Uh but the bill did have to be paid for this year. Uh and those are the 605 02:49:27.120 --> 02:49:42.640 three items that I'm requesting the appropriation for. >> Great. Anyone have any questions? Any questions from the community public? Anyone online? Seeing none. Uh Council Schmid, do you want to make a motion? >> I will make the following in the form of 606 02:49:42.640 --> 02:50:04.840 a motion. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $12,3941 to be transferred from free cash to be transferred to police sick leave incentive $29,963.64 police unused vacation $7,25548 607 02:50:04.880 --> 02:50:25.200 police overtime $56,27489 police dues and membership $8,900. Second. >> The amount requested for the purpose. >> Uh the amount requested I'm sorry we hadn't been doing that for the past couple. Um >> so but happy to do it. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. To cover the cost of the 608 02:50:25.200 --> 02:50:42.399 contractual payout for the retirement of Detective Rick Regowski effective October 2nd, 2025 uh to cover a shortfall in overtime as a result of one officer on military deployment for approximately six months in FY26. Two officers on extended periods of deployment with US military. five 609 02:50:42.399 --> 02:50:58.640 officers serving intermittently with the National Guard, one new officer in the Massachusetts Municipal Police Academy until May 7th, 2026, and minimal special officers available due to the police reform bill and post requirements. Uh, as well as to cover the cost of seeking 610 02:50:58.640 --> 02:51:14.960 accreditation through the Mass Police Accreditation Commission. This requires an annual membership with MPAC at 32 at $3,220 annually uh with a prrated cost for 20 FY26 at $2950 and a polic policy 611 02:51:14.960 --> 02:51:32.240 management system with PMA human capital at $5,950 annually. >> Second. So I have a motion a second to transfer 102,000 394 and 1 cent from pre-cast to please sick leave incentive unused vacation 612 02:51:32.240 --> 02:51:46.800 overtime and dues. Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> Opposed? >> Abstensions. Motion passes. >> Thank you, councelor. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. 613 02:51:46.800 --> 02:52:03.600 Uh so next we have a request of $200,000 to be transferred from enterprise retained retained earnings to be transferred to uh FY26 water meters. Uh the amount will be used um to fund the purchase of water meters 614 02:52:03.600 --> 02:52:20.560 and associated metering equipment. Um I'll just say on this that uh we did vote to recommend three to zero. Uh, and I'll just remind folks, these are enterprise funds. So, it's essentially money raised by uh the um Department of 615 02:52:20.560 --> 02:52:36.640 Public Works uh or you know, the water department um for the purpose of you know, providing those services. And so, this is a way to sort of turn that money back around and invest it back into the city uh to improve those services. >> Greg Nettleman, are you on the line still? 616 02:52:36.640 --> 02:52:51.920 >> Yeah, I'm still here. >> Yep. Do you want to speak to that? >> Um, sure. Councelor Schmidt pretty much covered it. Um, in the early 2000s, the water department really started making an effort towards a touchless uh metering equipment that that operate off of a radio, and they have about a 617 02:52:51.920 --> 02:53:07.120 20-year battery lifespan in them. So, we're seeing an increased amount of failures uh in every um reading cycle that we're going through. So, we just need this additional funding to be available to keep up with the equipment that is uh needing to be replaced. >> Great. Any questions? Uh councelor Kisinski. 618 02:53:07.120 --> 02:53:24.160 >> Uh just a question for uh Mr. Nuttleman. Refresh our memory please. My memory in terms of where normally these funds come from. Are they proposed in your budget or is this something that always goes to 619 02:53:24.160 --> 02:53:41.680 retained earnings? >> So it we've generally there is a line item in the water and sewer budget for water meter replacements. However, we've all also historically funded it through a capital appropriation. So a dual system of funding this this 620 02:53:41.680 --> 02:53:58.399 Okay. Thank you. >> Order of Yeah. >> Any further questions? Questions from the public? Anyone online? Want to make a motion? >> Make the following in the form of a motion. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested. $200,000 to be 621 02:53:58.399 --> 02:54:14.479 transferred from Enterprise Retained earnings $200,000 to be transferred to FY26 water meters $200,000. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. Uh the appropriation will fund the purchase of water meters and associated metering equipment. 622 02:54:14.479 --> 02:54:30.720 >> Second motion and second to transfer $200,000 from enterprise retained earnings for water meters and metering equipment. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none. All those in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. Motion passes. 623 02:54:30.720 --> 02:54:46.640 >> All right. Uh we have another request from um DBW. Uh the amount requested is 150,000. Uh also transferred from enterprise retained earnings. Uh this would be transferred to uh the FY26 WWTP 624 02:54:46.640 --> 02:55:01.520 concrete floor repairs account uh for $150,000. Um it would fund uh concrete floor repairs in the sodium hydrochlorite containment area at the wastewater treatment plant. 625 02:55:01.520 --> 02:55:18.000 Uh, Greg Nettleman, do you want to speak to this item as well? >> Uh, yeah. So, we have we did appropriate some retain earnings funding a few years ago um for what we had anticipated to be a significantly smaller resurfacing project on the floor uh in the sodium hypocchloric containment area at the plant. Um, when got into that work and 626 02:55:18.000 --> 02:55:35.200 found um some significant uh significant deterioration that was not uh just superficial that needed uh further evaluation and some structural um assessment. So, um, and what it's kind of it's just turned into a much larger project, but this funding will cover a complete repair of that and restore our 627 02:55:35.200 --> 02:55:51.120 ability to store bulk sit hypocchloride at the wastewater plant. >> Any questions, comments? >> I just want to make a comment. I I said this the other day also, uh, Director Nelman, but I just want you to to to 628 02:55:51.120 --> 02:56:07.600 know that we recognize that the employees at the wastewater, uh, treatment plants deal with a lot of harmful chemicals. Um, and certainly um, the work that they do is greatly appreciated uh, to keep um, the public 629 02:56:07.600 --> 02:56:24.160 safe and and whatnot. So certainly appreciate all the work that that your department is doing in regards to that. Any questions from the public? Oh, uh comment from uh councelor Jam McQuade. >> Yeah, I just because uh councelor Peak 630 02:56:24.160 --> 02:56:39.920 isn't here to make the comment that he makes in this case. Um I think that he would definitely um say that there's studies to be shown that wastewater treatment operators and wastewater treatment has saved more lives than doctors in the past like 100 years. Um, so I think that this is really important 631 02:56:39.920 --> 02:56:56.160 that we support and make sure that like this is a critical public safety issue. So >> great. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other comments? Right. I will take a motion. >> Okay. I'll make the following in the form of a motion. Um, request is hereby made for approval of 632 02:56:56.160 --> 02:57:11.279 the following appropriation. Amount requested. $150,000 to be transferred from enterprise retained earnings. $150,000 to be transferred to FY26 WWTP concrete floor repairs $150,000. 633 02:57:11.279 --> 02:57:28.240 The amount requested will be used for the following. Uh the appropriation will fund concrete floor repairs in the sodium hydrochloride containment area at the wastewater treatment plant. Second >> and a motion and a second to transfer $150,000 from enterprise retained earnings to FY for FY26 634 02:57:28.240 --> 02:57:44.160 uh oh >> uh waste water >> wastewater treatment plant concrete floor repairs. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstensions? Motion passes. 635 02:57:44.160 --> 02:58:00.399 >> Okay. Uh we have another here. uh amount requested is $196,510 which would be transferred from capital stabilization and transferred to the FY25 CDBG Emerald Place water account. 636 02:58:00.399 --> 02:58:15.760 Uh this appropriation would fund construction restoration work on Emerald Place, including pavement, sidewalks, and landscaping. Um, I'm going to let Director Nettleman speak to this uh in in length, but I'll just note um that this ties back to some of the work that 637 02:58:15.760 --> 02:58:32.319 I believe was already done uh over in that area replacing a water man um believe unexpectedly. Uh it was uh an asbestous man which cost quite a bit but essentially there was less room than expected and so some additional work needed to be done resulting in an 638 02:58:32.319 --> 02:58:47.279 overrun from construction. Uh but director Nuttleman let me know if I forgot anything. >> No, that that's that's basically all of it. The um it was a pretty challenging project just in the limited rightway with there and a limited ability to work and get the new main installed. Um it 639 02:58:47.279 --> 02:59:03.520 was significant we we can abandon the asbesus cement pipe in place. But in this situation we we were not able to do that and a lot of it had to be removed which led to some additional cost and led to additional black top needing to be removed which led to additional cost. So, it just kind of snowballed from having that limited right away to work 640 02:59:03.520 --> 02:59:20.479 within. >> Great. Any further any questions? >> Uh, councelor, >> thank you. Um, why is this one not coming from enterprise retained earnings? Uh the city auditor recommended this 641 02:59:20.479 --> 02:59:36.160 appropriation be be from um city u capital stabilization funds >> due to the nature of the work remaining on the project. >> Is it eligible? >> She had feelings with the funding going back to capital stabilization from the 642 02:59:36.160 --> 02:59:54.080 mount um project that she recommended it come from capital stabilization. And is it eligible to come from enterprise retained earnings or is that not a possibility due to the law or is that is that possible? 643 02:59:54.080 --> 03:00:09.359 >> Um in a conversation with the city auditor her recommendation was that it come from capital stabilization. >> So she didn't cover whether it was legally able to come from enterprise. >> Uh she she was more comfortable with it coming from capital stabilization rather than enterprise given that it was um 644 03:00:09.359 --> 03:00:26.319 restoration work of the roadway and sidewalks. I do have reservations. >> I mean, I don't want to speak for her, but that was my my um perception of the conversation her and I and the mayor had regarding this funding. >> Yeah, I think like we definitely need to do this work. I just I'm I know that 645 03:00:26.319 --> 03:00:41.680 this appropriation was made well before we knew the full financial picture of everything and I'm concerned about it coming from capital stabilization when possibly it could come from enterprise which is really restrictive. Is that >> Yeah, I do I do remember her mentioning also though that the capital 646 03:00:41.680 --> 03:00:57.840 stabilization funds could not be used to support the city budget. >> Mayor Derby, do you have something to >> So sorry. Um I think part of the when um the DPW director and myself and the auditor had this conversation was that 647 03:00:57.840 --> 03:01:14.640 the scope of the work was not necessarily um focused just on the enterprise piece of this that there was road restoration which is considered highway which is general fund uh and sidewalk um fixing the sidewalk. So that because of the kind of scope of the 648 03:01:14.640 --> 03:01:34.640 project that she felt that we were in a better position to go from capital stabilization as opposed to enterprise because enterprise could be questioned whether that blacktop restoration and the and the work on the sidewalks was a enterprise expense. >> Any councelor Kazinski 649 03:01:34.640 --> 03:01:51.600 Mr. Mayor? >> Sorry mayor. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Mayor Derby. I following up on uh councelor Newton's thinking process. Is it possible that a portion or maybe uh director Newton 650 03:01:51.600 --> 03:02:08.640 Nuttleman rather could answer this question? Sorry. Uh that uh perhaps a portion of the funds could be broken up rather than the whole 196,510 coming from the capital stabilization 651 03:02:08.640 --> 03:02:25.200 but rather from enterprise retained earnings 25% of the project 10% maybe director Nuttleman can comment on that >> I I don't feel like I have enough information to comment on that >> thank you I 652 03:02:25.200 --> 03:02:41.680 >> director Nutleman do you can you comment on that >> yeah I mean I I would say that this the enterprise is on a solid enough footing to certainly contribute to this um or I of the mindset that I don't argue with the city auditor and this this is the way she wanted to fund it and so that was uh the way this appropriation was put forward. 653 03:02:41.680 --> 03:02:57.120 >> I I just wonder if if if the it's brought back to her and maybe she'll come back with a recommendation that it be broken up and we'd rather see that than not. So, I would entertain a be in favor of a uh 654 03:02:57.120 --> 03:03:14.000 continuence on this matter. >> Other comments? Um, the only thing I'd like to add to that is we do have some people in the neighborhood out there waiting for their their yards to be restored, their sidewalks, their front walkways to be put back together. Um, and we were unable to sign a change order with 655 03:03:14.000 --> 03:03:31.680 Baltazar to get that work underway as as this as this waits. >> Vice President Jazzik. >> Yes, thank you. Um, yes, I just wanted to reiterate what Director Nuttleman just said. So, this particular neighborhood has been under a lot of construction work. They've endured a lot 656 03:03:31.680 --> 03:03:48.800 over the last several years really, but this particular project was was pretty disruptive. So, um I am inclined to say that if the auditor felt that this was the right way to approach it, I would not want to delay the process because these um these residents have been 657 03:03:48.800 --> 03:04:04.160 waiting to have basically their, you know, their front lawns and their sidewalks restored. I am heartened to see that we've already um allowed for the the cash from the Mount Tom Trail Head Park redevelopment to go back into 658 03:04:04.160 --> 03:04:21.600 capital stabilization which more than covers this entire amount. So I think that to me feels like a good balance in terms of some of the dynamics that we've been chatting about. Other comments? I do have some other cost information 659 03:04:21.600 --> 03:04:37.040 for this if if you'd like me to just explain a little bit more about the the city share and what came from CDBG to support the whole effort. >> I think we're looking >> Are you you're >> I think we're good. I think we're good. Okay, Greg or Director, thank you. Did 660 03:04:37.040 --> 03:04:53.439 you want to make a motion? >> Yeah. Um so I'll make the following in the form of a motion. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $196,510 to be transferred from capital stabilization $196,510 661 03:04:53.439 --> 03:05:10.960 to be transferred to FY25 CDBG Emerald Place water $196,510. The amount requested will be used for the following. The appropriation will fund construction restoration work on Emerald Place, including pavement, sidewalks, and landscaping. >> Second. I have a motion and second to 662 03:05:10.960 --> 03:05:28.640 transfer $196,510 from Capital Stabilization to FY25 CDBG CDBG Emerald Place Water for construction restoration work including pavement, sidewalks, and landscaping. All those in favor? 663 03:05:28.640 --> 03:05:43.040 >> I'm sorry, further discussion. Councelor Kazinski. >> Thank you. Uh I'm not comfortable voting yes on this. I would request the the continuence. I would put that in the form of a motion, but since this motion is the one on the table, I'll be forced 664 03:05:43.040 --> 03:05:58.399 to vote no. >> Um, any other discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? >> I I >> opposed. >> No >> abstensions. >> Abstain. I 665 03:05:58.399 --> 03:06:18.880 >> two abstensions >> information. >> Did you vote yes? Uh motion passes. >> All right. Uh we have a another one. This one is coming out of an enterprise retained earnings uh in the amount of 666 03:06:18.880 --> 03:06:33.120 $168,100 that be transferred to the FY26 Maple Street water and sewer replacement. Um the requested uh amount would be used to fund design, bidding, and construction phase engineering services to support 667 03:06:33.120 --> 03:06:52.319 the reconstruction of Maple Street. Um, it was recommended three to zero by finance. >> Uh, Greg Nelman, do you want to speak to this? >> Yeah. So, we're just trying to be forward thinking here and knowing that, uh, Maple Street is in significant need of rehabilitation, uh, knowing what we 668 03:06:52.319 --> 03:07:07.279 what we know about the water and sewer utilities under that road being, you know, reasonably original to its construction, um, that there will be a need of, um, significant replacement work on the water and sewer utilities. Um, and with the affordable housing 669 03:07:07.279 --> 03:07:23.200 project uh kind of on the forefront, the old the former Maple School, um, having this design underway or nearing completion, uh, the design nearing completion as work may uh, start to begin on the Maple Street School puts the city in a really strong position to apply for um, EOHLC or other type of 670 03:07:23.200 --> 03:07:39.200 state funding that might be able to support uh, some of the infrastructure work in the area and take the burden of that off of the water and sewer rateayers or or the city as a whole. >> Great. Thank you. Any further questions? >> Not a question, but a comment. Thank you, Madam President. Um, I would just 671 03:07:39.200 --> 03:07:56.319 like to reiterate uh some of what Director Nettleman said and um point out this is this is one of those instances where uh the DPW has really done uh its work to make sure that that they're prepared to make best use of funding sources wherever they come from and 672 03:07:56.319 --> 03:08:13.760 whenever they arise. Uh, and so I really appreciated, uh, Director Nutterman, your your approach in, you know, looking to align this with the school building renovations so that we could have potential access to those grants and of course, you know, saving the money of repaving just to do it again once, you 673 03:08:13.760 --> 03:08:29.600 know, we do replace this infrastructure. Um, and so I think, um, from my perspective seems a, uh, smart use of funds. >> Thank you. >> Any further comment? Seeing none any comment from the 674 03:08:29.600 --> 03:08:44.160 community comments online um agreed. I think what people don't understand within the community a lot of these projects take years and years and years and what we're seeing right now is this this is the first step right for this particular project and and the 675 03:08:44.160 --> 03:09:01.279 restoration that can h happen around on and on Maple Street right so well done to uh Director Nunan and his staff. Would you like to make a motion? >> Make the following in the form of a motion. Uh request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $168,100 676 03:09:01.279 --> 03:09:17.279 to be transferred from Enterprise Retained earnings in the amount of $168,100. To be transferred to FY26 Maple Street Water and Sewer Replacement, $168,100. The amount requested will be used for the following. The appropriation will 677 03:09:17.279 --> 03:09:34.240 fund design, bidding, and construction phase engineering services to support the reconstruction of Maple Street. >> Second. So, I have a motion and a second to transfer $168,100 from Enterprise Retained earnings for FY26 Maple Street water and sewer replacement. Any further discussion? 678 03:09:34.240 --> 03:09:52.760 Seeing none, all those in favor? >> Opposed? Uh, abstensions. Motion passes. I will take a motion to close the public hearing. >> Second. >> I have a motion, a second to close 679 03:09:53.760 --> 03:10:09.359 Uh, are we closing the public hearing or we continuing the public hearing >> to close those that have been >> Yeah. So, we're closing We're continuing >> those items that need to be continued >> numbers four and five, I believe. 680 03:10:09.359 --> 03:10:26.240 >> Yes, four and five. And closing the public hearing for the remainder. >> And, uh, >> question. >> Could we take a break after this? Yes. Um so motion so motion second to close the 681 03:10:26.240 --> 03:10:41.680 public hearing. >> All those in favor? Opposed? >> Absent? Seeing none, uh motion passes. I will take >> five minute recess. >> I will take a motion to for a fivem minute recess. >> Second. 682 03:10:41.680 --> 03:11:10.240 >> I have a motion and a second for a fivem minute recess. Any further question? Any any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Opposed? Stain motion passes. >> So we are back after our public hearing. 683 03:11:10.240 --> 03:11:28.319 Uh we have some items for immediate. Were >> you going to reopen public speak? >> Oh yes I was. Uh, I was going to reopen public speak. Um, is anyone here for public comments by the look on people's I see Tommy Lee 684 03:11:28.319 --> 03:11:44.720 online for public comment. You have three minutes to address anything that wasn't on the public hearing. >> Our things are on the agenda. We should come up. >> Yes, you should come up now. >> We're coming up now. >> Yes. >> Hi. 685 03:11:44.720 --> 03:12:00.479 Please state your name and address for the record. >> My name is Julie Slavit. I live at 14 Nichols Way and I just want to commend you all for your patience and staying awake and really considering all 686 03:12:00.479 --> 03:12:15.920 these things. I it's really remarkable. So even though it's feels terrible, I'm sure sometimes um this is representative government and all its beauty. Um so what I want to talk about is I want to address um 687 03:12:15.920 --> 03:12:32.880 support for the act establishing a climate change super fund. Um and I'm going to be really brief. Um we have known since the early 19th century that climate change existed and that we were changing our you know the 688 03:12:32.880 --> 03:12:49.680 heat and our atmosphere. Um and we haven't done enough you know honestly to stop using fossil fuels. we've missed some of the um sort of the standards that we set, the levels that we wanted to to reach. Um but you know, one of one 689 03:12:49.680 --> 03:13:06.080 of the things that we need to do is really deal with what the impact is going to be. So it's not just about trying to slow things down and do the right thing and stop using fossil fuels. It's also trying to figure out how we're going to adapt to a warmer world. And 690 03:13:06.080 --> 03:13:21.279 the impact is global. you know, virtually every place in the earth is going to is going to be facing this. Um, and every town um will be facing this, too. And we've already started to see it. Um, and communities don't have the resources at the local level or the 691 03:13:21.279 --> 03:13:37.200 expertise to deal with the kind of things that we're seeing as impacts from climate change. You know, heat, flooding, infrastructure. Um, we've built in all the wrong places cuz we thought it was okay and now waters are rising. I mean, we have a lot of work to 692 03:13:37.200 --> 03:13:53.680 do to try to maintain the kind of communities that we're talking about where we're fixing sidewalks and fixing roads and doing all those things. Um, so, you know, the state and at some point um in the future, the feds will need to come back and start funding 693 03:13:53.680 --> 03:14:09.279 these kind of things again because there isn't the resources at the local level. Um, so we, you know, I want to say that how much we support this this resolution because the state needs to set up a climate change super fund. There I am. Go ahead. 694 03:14:09.279 --> 03:14:26.800 >> Climate change super fund. Um, and this resolution puts forth the council saying to the legislature, can you please get on this and start start looking at this and considering this and getting this passed? >> Um, so that's what I wanted to say. We 695 03:14:26.800 --> 03:14:43.279 really hope that you will support this resolution um and that council will vote on this. I think it's a really important message as you know folks in Boston are thinking about what priorities are. This is a priority. Um and we know that any kind of deferred maintenance and stuff 696 03:14:43.279 --> 03:14:59.840 is just going to get more and more expensive. >> Great. >> Um two things that really >> I think your time is >> my time is up. >> Time is up. >> Two great books. The water will come and the heat will kill you first. I highly recommend. >> Thank you though. Thank you. Thank you 697 03:14:59.840 --> 03:15:17.200 very much for that. I do believe we're having some technical audio troubles. Can you now hear us? >> It's working now. >> It's working now. Okay, great. >> Um, please state your name and address for the record. >> My name is Lesie Button. My address is five Run, East Hampton, Massachusetts. 698 03:15:17.200 --> 03:15:33.120 I'm here to speak on behalf of the climate resolution proposal and encouraging city council to endorse it. Um and to actually to ask the general court to move it out of committee. >> Go ahead. Someone 699 03:15:33.120 --> 03:15:51.680 >> and um and report favorably on it. >> Okay. Um, this will have no cost impact on the city of East Hampton given the conversation tonight other than have somebody, if it's approved, type it up 700 03:15:51.680 --> 03:16:08.479 and send it off to wherever it needs to go. Um, I want to echo some of the things that Julie said. Um, climate change is real and it's been happening for a long time and we see this, we witness this every year, probably multiple times a year through these horrendous supertorrms and we're having 701 03:16:08.479 --> 03:16:25.840 those more frequently. Um, the fact that Mountain Farm, uh, Mountain View Farm sustained such a horrible, you know, incident a couple years ago that cost $650,000 which came from the state monies. That is monies that we pay. Um, I'm old 702 03:16:25.840 --> 03:16:41.920 enough to remember the WR Grace cleanup in conquered, Massachusetts. Other such horrendous super fund cleanups have been funded by the US taxpayers. Um, this fund should be created by the companies that are actually benefiting from 703 03:16:41.920 --> 03:16:58.880 selling fossil fuels. Um, this is part of the social contract that we should all expect at this date and time. Unfortunately, companies have abandoned it, but enough is enough and let's reinstate it. So, I encourage you to vote favorably for this. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. 704 03:16:58.880 --> 03:17:18.479 Any anyone else in the room? >> Anyone online? Tommy Lee, I see your hand is up. >> Hello. >> Great. Please state your name and address for the record. 705 03:17:18.479 --> 03:17:35.600 >> Uh, I'm Tommy Lee. I'm a former WI 3 resident. and I'm currently a Greenfield resident. Um, but I wanted to speak today on Earth Day in support of the city adopting the resolution restricting the construction of data centers. Um, I 706 03:17:35.600 --> 03:17:52.000 want to support the adoption of this resolution because many people that I share community with and um have long friendships with live in East Hampton um and I care about them. And um also East Hampton adopting this resolution sets an 707 03:17:52.000 --> 03:18:08.399 example and creates a pathway for other local cities and towns to follow. And you know ultimately I would like to see all of the towns and cities in Massachusetts adopt similar positions on this. Um especially my city Greenfield. And I think you guys taking the step to 708 03:18:08.399 --> 03:18:25.600 protect your community uh kind of helps everyone move closer to taking that step as well. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. Steve Linsky, I see you have your hand up. >> Yeah, I'm still awake. >> Good. 709 03:18:25.600 --> 03:18:41.920 >> After three and a half hours. Well, I'm, you know, for in the interest of time, I submitted a my testimony to the clerk's office and ask that it be adopted into the record. I'm not going to repeat it. Um, but I will make just one comment u 710 03:18:41.920 --> 03:18:58.160 from adding on to what Leslie just testified to that that there would be no financial incurrence on the city in adopting this resolution. But I would say that if it fails to adopt the resolution, there ultimately will be significant cost to this community and 711 03:18:58.160 --> 03:19:14.960 many others. Um, that we know that we face. Uh and it's it's it's it's very important that we move in this direction right now because there really isn't going to be uh an alternative to funding uh the kinds 712 03:19:14.960 --> 03:19:31.439 of infrastructure needs that we will have and are having presently as a result of climate change. Um I had personal experience with the tobacco products liability uh cases and this is the same thing. The people who make the mess should clean the mess. um um and 713 03:19:31.439 --> 03:19:49.640 that's what we should be in teaching uh ourselves and our children. So, I thank the five counselors who co-sponsored this uh resolution and would ask that the council take action this evening. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else online? 714 03:19:50.080 --> 03:20:06.239 Anyone else online? Anyone else in the room? No, you're good. Okay. Just All right. So, we will move on to items for immediate attention. begin with resolution in support of an act establishing a climate change super fund. >> Okay. Uh 715 03:20:06.239 --> 03:20:22.239 >> uh Council Schmidt, >> I will be I will be reading this for us. Um >> well, before you do that, can you just briefly say what it's about and then we will ask if anyone has any opposition and would like to send it to committee. So just a very brief brief >> Yeah, of course. Um well, we've just 716 03:20:22.239 --> 03:20:37.200 heard a little bit about it from our our public speak public comment folks, but um it in short uh this is as our resolutions often do. Um this is sort of stating uh the city council's support of 717 03:20:37.200 --> 03:20:55.279 uh this uh state level bill. Um, for those who would like to support that, uh, it's House Bill 1014 and Senate Bill 588, uh, an act establishing a climate scient change super fund. Um, and it's essentially recognizing, uh, the 718 03:20:55.279 --> 03:21:10.399 costs that are headed everybody's way, uh, due to, um, extreme weather and the other effects of climate change. Uh, and as was noted, um, asking the people who made the mess to, um, or not even asking, but requiring the people who 719 03:21:10.399 --> 03:21:26.560 made the mess to, uh, contribute to, uh, cleaning up that mess. Um, >> great. Just stop you right there. Does anyone want to send this to committee? It's your right to send this to committee. >> None. So, go ahead if you would like to read this as a motion. 720 03:21:26.560 --> 03:21:43.120 >> Absolutely. Um, I read the following resolution in the form of a motion. Um, East Stampin City Council resolution in support of an act establishing a climate change super fund. The impacts of climate change pose existential challenges at both global and local levels. Cities and towns have 721 03:21:43.120 --> 03:21:57.920 no choice but to face these local impacts headon. As climate change worsens, communities like Eastampton face risks like extreme heat, increased winter precipitation, and flooding. Addressing these impacts on road and water infrastructure, as well as public 722 03:21:57.920 --> 03:22:14.399 health, will come at a substantial cost to communities, many of which are already stretched thin and struggling financially. Establishing a fund to help cities and towns reduce climate change adaptation costs is a critical step towards ensuring local resilience to climate impacts. 723 03:22:14.399 --> 03:22:31.120 Whereas in the 194th General Court of Massachusetts 2025 to 26, Bill H1014 and S588, an act establishing a climate change super fund was filed to require the largest fossil fuel companies to pay a 724 03:22:31.120 --> 03:22:46.800 proportional share into a fund based on their historic greenhouse gas emissions. And whereas the Senate and House referred these matters to a study in November 2025 and January 2026, respectively, effectively stalling their progress despite the urgent need for 725 03:22:46.800 --> 03:23:03.920 climate adaptation funding. And whereas the city of Eastampton faces severe climate hazards, including a projected temperature increase of up to 5.4 4 degrees Fahrenheit by 2030 and a rise in extreme heat days from a baseline of 5 days per year to potentially 75 days per 726 03:23:03.920 --> 03:23:22.080 year above 90° F by 2070. And whereas Eastampton is experiencing warmer, wetter winters with winter precipitation projected to increase by up to 17% by leading to more frequent riverine flooding from the Connecticut and Manahan rivers. And whereas the 727 03:23:22.080 --> 03:23:37.760 catastrophic impacts of these changes were demonstrated in July of 2023 when extreme precipitation led to the closure of Route 5 and Fort Hill Road and caused over $650,000 in agricultural losses at Mountain View Farm where 45 acres of 728 03:23:37.760 --> 03:23:53.359 community sorted supported crops were destroyed. And whereas these hazards place an unsustainable financial burden on the city of East Hampton to repair and harden utility infrastructure and roadways in floodprone areas like Lower Fort Hill Road, West Street, and 729 03:23:53.359 --> 03:24:10.479 Metobrook Drive. And whereas the cost of necessary climate resilience projects far exceeds the reasonable constraints of East Hampton's local operating budget, and this legislation would provide the funds necessary for our community to adapt without placing the entire burden on local taxpayers. Now 730 03:24:10.479 --> 03:24:25.520 therefore, be it resolved that the East Hampton City Council expresses its formal support of H1014 and S588 and calls upon the general court to favorably report these bills out of committee and move them toward a floor vote. And be it further resolved that 731 03:24:25.520 --> 03:24:41.279 the city clerk forward a certified copy of this resolution to Governor Mora Healey, Speaker Ronald Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, State Representative Omar Gomez, and State Senator John Ves to serve as a formal request for legislative action. >> Second. 732 03:24:41.279 --> 03:24:56.479 >> I have a motion and a second to adopt the East Hampton City Council resolution in support of an act establishing a climate change super fund, House Bill 1014 and Senate Bill 588. Any further discussion? Councelor Jam McQuade. 733 03:24:56.479 --> 03:25:13.520 >> Yep. I'll keep this brief. Um I think there's a lot of questions that often get brought up at city council about why are we doing these resolutions? And I think there are two tonight that we have um that are specifically requesting that the legislature act. And I think that this is in um emblematic of the fact 734 03:25:13.520 --> 03:25:29.840 that communities and individuals across the state feel like the legislature is not adequately responding to the needs that are facing communities and are facing um people at the ground level. Um so I just, you know, I hear that there's we're all here late and there, you know, 735 03:25:29.840 --> 03:25:46.399 it doesn't feel like we're doing much by doing this, but I feel like it's really important to put pressure on the legislature. So that applies to um both this and the other resolution. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Any further questions, comments? Great. Um, 736 03:25:46.399 --> 03:26:02.720 all those in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. See none. Motion passes. >> Um, then a resolution in support of restricting the construction of data centers. >> Um, Vice President Jadzik, 737 03:26:02.720 --> 03:26:17.680 >> thank you. I'm going to keep this brief. Um, so essentially this resolution is going to have us formally declare our support for restricting data center construction here in East Hampton. It also calls on us at the city council level as well as the city level to look into working with other stakeholders in 738 03:26:17.680 --> 03:26:33.760 the community to explore zoning and other general ordinance amendments to that effect. Um we've already heard a lot about this tonight and it basically we want to make sure that um East Hampton is a community that thinks really carefully before we were to go forward with any kind of allowance of 739 03:26:33.760 --> 03:26:50.720 having data centers come into our city. And as someone else mentioned earlier, this would be I think make us the second city in the state to have such a um a restriction. But this is a resolution in support of that. >> Okay. Does anyone want to send this to committee? 740 03:26:50.720 --> 03:27:06.319 Okay. Seeing none, exactly this is a motion. >> Yes, I'm going to read that in form of a motion. So, this is East Hampton City Council resolution in support of restricting the construction of data centers. The city of East Hampton continues to be guided by the 2024 East Hampton climate action plan aiming to 741 03:27:06.319 --> 03:27:23.279 achieve a Oops, excuse me. One moment. This is what happens when you rely on technology to try to read out your your uh forms. One second. All right, here we go. I got it. Uh, let me start this over. The city of East Hampton 742 03:27:23.279 --> 03:27:38.399 continues to be guided by the 2024 East Hampton climate action plan, aiming to achieve a net zero energy community by 2050. The city is also committed to smart growth that provides maximum benefit to residents, balancing environmental concerns with those of residents and locallyowned businesses. 743 03:27:38.399 --> 03:27:53.359 The construction and operation of data centers in East Hampton, particularly those serving the growing demand for artificial intelligence, would be detrimental to these goals and commitments due to the extensive strain these facilities put on local energy and water resources. Whereas a data center 744 03:27:53.359 --> 03:28:08.479 is defined as a building or series of buildings with the intended primary use being commercial that houses and supports the high performance servers, storage systems, networking equipment, and related computing infrastructure and equipment necessary for storing, processing, and distributing data and 745 03:28:08.479 --> 03:28:25.120 applications. And whereas data centers increase local electric utility rates by driving up overall energy demand, which constrain grid capacity and force utilities to invest in costly infrastructure upgrades. These costs are passed on to residents through higher rates. Data centers also have typically 746 03:28:25.120 --> 03:28:41.840 secured long-term power agreements which reduce the available supply and push prices up for other consumers. And whereas a single data center can consume up to 2 megawatt hours of power equivalent to the power used by 2,000 homes and millions of gallons of water annually for cooling straining local 747 03:28:41.840 --> 03:28:58.239 resources and infrastructure. And whereas while advanced cooling methods like liquid immersion and directtochip cooling offer energy efficiency improvements, current technologies force a trade-off between energy and water efficiency, limiting sustainable solutions. Whereas tax breaks for data 748 03:28:58.239 --> 03:29:14.640 centers have been shown not to deliver the promised economic benefits such as high-paying jobs, and they reduce local tax revenues while shifting financial burdens onto communities and schools. And whereas data centers massive energy demands are prolonging the operation of fossil fuel plants and undermining state 749 03:29:14.640 --> 03:29:30.720 renewable energy goals as STEM states like Michigan, Virginia, and Nebraska. And now therefore, be it resolved that in order to mitigate the community impacts of data centers, the East Hampton City Council supports any changes of zoning necessary to prevent any new construction of data centers 750 03:29:30.720 --> 03:29:46.479 within city limits. And be it further resolved that the city council shall work with other stakeholders in the community to pursue amendments to the city of East Hampton general and zoning ordinances to prevent any new construction of data centers within city limits for no less than 3 years. 751 03:29:46.479 --> 03:30:01.840 >> Second. >> I have a motion in a second to adopt the East Hampton City Council resolution support of restricting the construction of data centers. Any further comment? >> I do. >> Uh Councelor Schmidt. >> Thank you, Madam President. Um I just wanted to to note I couldn't help but 752 03:30:01.840 --> 03:30:17.040 notice when uh director of IT uh Karen Camort was speaking earlier um she referred multiple times to data centers as it relates to the equipment that uh the appropriation was uh that she was seeking um was was for uh and so I just 753 03:30:17.040 --> 03:30:32.479 wanted to kind of make sure that uh I'm reading this properly. Um we see you know here a definition of a data center as something uh that is primarily used for commercial purposes. And so I just wanted to kind of state for the record I am I'm voting for this with the understanding that anything that the 754 03:30:32.479 --> 03:30:49.359 city needed to do on their end to expand you know data capabilities would be unaffected because that is not for commercial purposes even though it's uh being potentially you know done within city limits. Uh and so I just wanted to bring that to the four uh so that there wasn't a potential future instance where 755 03:30:49.359 --> 03:31:06.000 that came up as a point of contention or confusion. Um, that was all. >> Councelor Kuisinski. >> Um, following up on Councelor Schmidt's question leads me to think, well, I heard Dr. 756 03:31:06.000 --> 03:31:23.600 Cameart say we were taking the data and using the cloud. If we use the cloud for our data, where does that data go? >> Is it to somebody else's data center? And is that the right thing to do? And 757 03:31:23.600 --> 03:31:40.720 if it is or it isn't is a question that we should be thinking about, >> right? I don't think that has to do with this resolution >> has to do with whether or not we we have and support data centers in East Stampton because at some point someone will be coming and asking us for a data center and how do we differentiate a 758 03:31:40.720 --> 03:31:55.840 good data center from a bad one. So that's to this particular resolution. >> Councilor Jamro McUra. Yeah, I think um those concerns are definitely um well taken and I think that the impetus behind moving this forward was the 759 03:31:55.840 --> 03:32:12.880 current sort of pressure at the market level to be building these data centers to um achieve or um to really fulfill the demand on AI uh coming from AI. Um so I think that there's been efforts both at the state and federal level to you know put a moratorum on that 760 03:32:12.880 --> 03:32:27.840 construction until we have adequate regulations around the impacts on energy and resources. Um, so that's definitely why we we put in here um the idea that this would be um that we we put in the idea of a time limit saying like no less than 3 years because I think that the 761 03:32:27.840 --> 03:32:43.760 idea um of some of these efforts in general is just to push for um clear regulations around the impacts of the demand on communities and then we can allow them again. It's just sort of a wait and see wait and um until the 762 03:32:43.760 --> 03:32:59.040 regulation can catch up with what's going on. I hear you and my question is is this a reg a resolution or a moratorum? >> I think that this is a resolution that starts the process of us it's setting the intention of us going forward and 763 03:32:59.040 --> 03:33:15.200 and creating a zoning ordinance potentially to to do this >> or or or a moratorum of itself, right? >> Yes. Yeah. And that I think that moratorium would take the >> take the form of an ordinance that is time limited. >> As a principle, I would agree. I I just had those questions and wanted to pursue 764 03:33:15.200 --> 03:33:31.359 it a little bit further. >> Mhm. Great. Any further questions? Uh all those in favor? >> I >> I opposed motion passes. And the final one, resolution in support 765 03:33:31.359 --> 03:33:47.520 of an act to promote Yes in my backyard. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam President. Um so this resolution is mainly um it like I mentioned it's uh calling on the state legislature to act on legislation that um we feel like where I feel like and 766 03:33:47.520 --> 03:34:03.600 members of the community felt like would be beneficial. Um so I it does uh the job of recognizing that the housing crisis can't be solved by individual municipalities and that we've taken steps at a local level. Um but we're calling on the state to um codify those goals at a state level. 767 03:34:03.600 --> 03:34:20.800 >> Okay. Does anyone want to send this to committee? >> Seeing none, would you like to read this in a motion? >> Thank you, Madam President. Yes. Um, East Hampton City Council resolution in support of an act to promote Yes in My Backyard H uh 1572S 768 03:34:20.800 --> 03:34:37.120 2836. The city of East Hampton has taken positive steps to identify goals and priorities for increasing housing production. Both the East Hampton housing production plan and the affordable and fair housing partnership zoning recommendations reflect the city's commitments to addressing the statewide housing crisis. This was also recently affirmed by the passage of the 769 03:34:37.120 --> 03:34:53.680 East Hampton housing crisis task force resolution. However, East Hampton is a part of a broader housing ecosystem and the housing crisis cannot be solved by a single municipality. We have been ahead of the curve, but f further action is needed through state legislation to reduce the systemic barriers to housing production across the state. Whereas, 770 03:34:53.680 --> 03:35:10.080 Governor Mora Healey directed the Executive Office of Housing Livable Communities, EOHLC, to conduct a statewide housing plan to ensure that sta safe safe, affordable, stable, appropriate, well-maintained, and sustainable housing is available to all residents of the Commonwealth. And whereas the resulting statewide housing plan identified that Massachusetts needs 771 03:35:10.080 --> 03:35:25.439 to build 222,000 net new homes to address our statewide housing shortage. And whereas the statewide and regional housing shortage drives up the price of rental and home ownership units in East Hampton by forcing residents to compete against each other and institutional investors for the limited stock of available 772 03:35:25.439 --> 03:35:42.080 homes. And whereas Eastampton is a part of the broader Pioneer Valley Regional Housing Market and housing availability in East Hampton is impacted by housing availability in neighboring municipalities. And whereas the MTVA commun MBTA communities act and the affordable homes act have already led to 773 03:35:42.080 --> 03:35:59.040 thousands of new homes in construction or in the development pipeline indicating the ability of state legislation to stimulate housing production by addressing restrictive uh local zoning laws. Now, therefore, be therefore be it resolved, the East Hampton City Council supports Massachusetts House Bill H1572 and 774 03:35:59.040 --> 03:36:16.960 Senate Bill uh S2836, an act to promote Yes in my Backyard, which would enable uh increased housing production across Massachusetts by, among other provisions, legalizing small multif family housing, reducing and removing minimum parking requirements, eliminating minimum lot size requirements, and streamlining lot 775 03:36:16.960 --> 03:36:34.160 splitting for larger lots. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution will be sent to state representative Omar Gomez, state senator John Buis, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and Governor Mora Healey. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to approve East Sanity Council resolution support of an act to promote Yes in my Backyard, 776 03:36:34.160 --> 03:36:52.160 House Bill 1572, and Senate Bill 2836. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? I >> opposed. Abstensions. Motion passes. Great. Uh actually this should be correspondence. So a letter from human 777 03:36:52.160 --> 03:37:13.040 resource director Emily Russo asking to withdraw the request to amend chapter 7 section 7-18 exhibit B pay plan from council agenda. Um director Russo are you still on the line? >> No. No. All right. So essentially uh I 778 03:37:13.040 --> 03:37:28.319 will just read this. Uh, in light of the city's current financial position and in an effort to conserve resources, the city is formally withdrawing its request to amend chapter 7 section 7-18 exhibit B pay plan which proposes proposed modifying the wage scale structure by 779 03:37:28.319 --> 03:37:45.040 removing two steps from the front of the scale in a and adding two steps at the end. The city remains committed to valuing its employees, supporting retention and maintaining salaries that are competitive with industry standards. However, at this time, it is necessary to prioritize fiscal responsibility and 780 03:37:45.040 --> 03:37:59.680 focus available resources on essential services and operations. Thank you for your understanding. We will address this when it gets to uh the finance committee. So, we'll have to um address that. Then uh the next item was from 781 03:37:59.680 --> 03:38:15.520 Chief Police Police Chief uh Chad Alexander to withdraw the request for the creation of a of a first responder wellness account from the city council agenda. Police Chief Alexander, are you still on the line? 782 03:38:15.520 --> 03:38:30.960 >> I am. Good evening again, counselors. >> Yes. Would you like to speak to this? >> Uh just very briefly. So the proposed account um it had locked in specific items that were uh basically docketed to be purchased through a donation account. 783 03:38:30.960 --> 03:38:46.000 Um after looking over it and looking a little more deeply, it's kind of twofold. One um is if we were able to raise that amount of funds, there may be other um items that would be better for the first responders me mental health 784 03:38:46.000 --> 03:39:02.000 and wellness. Um, but further on top of that, if the amount of money requested wasn't raised, then it brings into question what to purchase with that out of those items. And it it was just kind of messy how we submitted it to you for 785 03:39:02.000 --> 03:39:18.319 for that reason. Um, we're just looking to uh have that removed from the finance committee's agenda. um and at a later date submit a better suited proposal for a creation of a donation account for first responder me mental health and wellness. 786 03:39:18.319 --> 03:39:34.800 >> Great. Thank you very much, Chief Alexander. And again, I think that both of these uh items I think it represents the uh commitment that our department heads have to just the fiscal responsibility of the community right now. And so I certainly appreciate you 787 03:39:34.800 --> 03:39:51.200 taking the time to to to to speak with us this evening and also for us to uh remove those items from the agendas and we will do that. Um uh oh that's actually from the finance department. The other one is from the ordinance committee. Right. Thank you. 788 03:39:51.200 --> 03:40:06.239 Uh >> thank you. >> Thank you very much Chief Alexander. Um >> good night. >> Good night. Mayor's communication. uh he just asked to let us know that there is a press conference tomorrow at 5:00 pm uh uh outside. I believe it's going to 789 03:40:06.239 --> 03:40:23.279 be outside. So uh regarding the um override uh uh communication about the override. So again, that's press conference uh tomorrow 5:00 pm outside. Um president and vice president 790 03:40:23.279 --> 03:40:41.520 communications. Uh just want to acknowledge uh the great work of We the People. Um they participated in the national um uh championship uh and uh they they didn't win, but uh uh unit two 791 03:40:41.520 --> 03:40:57.359 uh did come in first place. So that's certainly very exciting for those students and certainly very exciting for for the community. Um so just want to acknowledge them. I will invite them to city council for a small short presentation, but we'll do that uh at a 792 03:40:57.359 --> 03:41:13.920 later a later date. Uh vice president Jazzzac, do you have anything? >> Uh nothing to offer tonight. >> Okay, great. Um any counselor's communications? Councilor Jamre McUade, I believe you have something. >> Uh yes, thank you, Madam President. So, this is my usual reminder that the EENET and Tenants Union meets every Thursday 793 03:41:13.920 --> 03:41:30.960 in these chambers from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Um, they have a special meeting scheduled for April 30th. Um, and that will be attendance rights training with attorney Joel Feldman. Um, so great opportunity to um get that expert uh uh 794 03:41:30.960 --> 03:41:48.080 input. I'll also add um that I just wanted to give kudos to the planning department as well as the mayor's office and um H proousing voices across the community for helping contribute to us receiving um or being redesated as a housing choice community. Um this is a 795 03:41:48.080 --> 03:42:04.960 statewide grant program that um allows designated communities to exclusively apply for those funds to support housing construction. Um, it also allows us to better leverage uh other programs uh like mass works grants like potentially to to do um infrastructure improvements. 796 03:42:04.960 --> 03:42:21.279 Um I think when we're talking about Maple Street, um this sort of puts us in a better position to leverage some of those state funds. Um so I just wanted to thank the work of the people that that got us there. >> Great. Thank you very much. Um Councelor Peak is not here. Uh councelor Schmidt, 797 03:42:21.279 --> 03:42:37.920 do you want to take finance? >> Sure will. Um, you folks have already heard about most of the things that were before us at our meeting last week. Um, but I will also note that we discussed the city council budget. um like our line specifically. Uh and 798 03:42:37.920 --> 03:42:56.880 uh President Denim had brought up to uh at the meeting a desire to given you know the the evolution of the city's finances uh since submitting the original budget request. Um asked that we uh remove the suggested amount uh for 799 03:42:56.880 --> 03:43:12.640 education and training for this year uh in response to those anticipated hardships. Uh the finance committee did uh vote to make that amendment and then uh approve the new budget uh with that 800 03:43:12.640 --> 03:43:29.920 amendment um 3 to zero uh which I I suppose we bring here tonight. Um should I make a motion on that? >> Does anyone have any questions about the the city council budget? >> Seeing none. Sure. Go ahead and make a motion. >> Um and I'll uh let's see. Please like to 801 03:43:29.920 --> 03:43:45.359 make a motion to uh amend the proposed city council budget by removing $2,385 uh from the education and training line uh and approve that budget. 802 03:43:45.359 --> 03:44:14.960 >> And what's the total budget then? >> I don't have the number in front of me. >> Oh, do you have that? I don't think I have any. Let's >> see. Maybe I can find that. There it is. 803 03:44:14.960 --> 03:44:40.960 Um, oh, I got to do math. your phone. >> So, uh, it's 70,000. >> Say again. >> Uh, 80,000. >> 70,000. 804 03:44:40.960 --> 03:44:59.439 >> 70,000. All right. So, I'll take a motion after the amendments to approve the city count council budget of 70,000. >> Okay. Um, yeah. So, so moved. >> Oh, yeah. Sorry. So, 70,000. 805 03:44:59.439 --> 03:45:12.319 So, I have a motion. >> Second. >> Second. I have a motion and a second to approve the city council budget for 70,000. All those in or any further discussion? >> All those in favor? I 806 03:45:12.319 --> 03:45:30.239 >> I opposed abstensions. Motion passes. >> That's all I got. >> Um >> I need to extend the Honeywell. >> Oh, right. There are those things. >> Uh yes, we have to extend. Um, so I'd 807 03:45:30.239 --> 03:45:48.000 like to make a motion to extend the uh Honeywell rescending of funds for let's say 90 days. >> Second. >> So I have a motion and a second to 808 03:45:48.000 --> 03:46:04.479 extend the rescending of borrowing authorization for city space restoration and Honeywell energy construction project by 90 days. All those in favor any further discussion? All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes or extensions? 809 03:46:04.479 --> 03:46:19.760 Motion passes. Uh and that's everything that you have on that. >> Public safety. >> Yeah. So, we have not met since our last meeting. Our next meeting is April 28th 810 03:46:19.760 --> 03:46:38.960 at 6 p.m. in conference room 1. I think that's all I have for you today. >> Good appointments. >> Uh, thank you. The appointment subcommittee last met on the 21st at 811 03:46:38.960 --> 03:46:55.439 6:00 and we have four numeral appointments to review. Um, all four of these were passed um at a 200 vote. So, the first is Pat Krusco, which we already did. Um, the second is Jennifer 812 03:46:55.439 --> 03:47:11.120 Sandler for the community relations committee with a term expiration of 123127. Ethan Abel for the Manhan Rail Trail Committee 123128 and Wendy Taylor Jordanian for the 813 03:47:11.120 --> 03:47:30.160 planning board 123128. kind of motion. >> Do you want to say anything about those individuals or >> um No, we all have their full resumes and um I I'm okay not really involved. 814 03:47:30.160 --> 03:47:46.160 >> So, I have a motion and a second to approve approve three mayoral candidates or applicant or appointments. Uh any further discussions? All those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstensions? Motion passes. 815 03:47:46.160 --> 03:48:01.680 >> And uh the committee also uh reviewed the handbook and are planning on requesting that Evan, the assistant to the mayor, um comes to our next 816 03:48:01.680 --> 03:48:18.239 meeting. So I'll be asking that of him. And thus concludes. Great. Thank you so much. Uh chair Jam McQuade ordinance. >> Thank you, Madam President. Um, so the committee has not had a regular meeting uh since the last full council meeting. I think our last one was before the day 817 03:48:18.239 --> 03:48:34.160 before the last full council meeting. Um, but we did have a joint public hearing with the planning board last night on April 21st to discuss the first four sections of the affordable for housing partnership zoning recommendations. Um, all four of the proposals were voted forward with recommendation to the full council. Um, 818 03:48:34.160 --> 03:48:50.000 so in the form of a motion, I would like to schedule a public hearing for Wednesday, May 6th at 6:15 in these chambers for the following zoning ordinance amendments as proposed by the affordable one for housing partnership amended and approved by the ordinance committee and planning board. Number one, replace all references to the 819 03:48:50.000 --> 03:49:04.960 Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, DHCD, with the Executive Office of Housing and Lovable Communities, EOHLC. Number two, adopt a blanket parking minimum or blanking minimum minimum of 1.5 spaces per unit for all multif family housing, modifying 820 03:49:04.960 --> 03:49:20.800 table 10-3, which can be reduced to an average of one space per unit based on unit mix and project location. Number three, modify language in sections 8 uh.34 and 8.6 that contradict or is superseded by state housing law 821 03:49:20.800 --> 03:49:35.920 and defer to state law wherever applicable. Uh, number four, modify definition of family and section one definitions to read all the people who occupy a single housekeeping unit regardless of their relationship to one another. And number five, remove, 822 03:49:35.920 --> 03:49:50.720 rephrase, or clarify big and subjective references to character throughout the zoning ordinance and replace them with clear objective criteria. >> Second. So, I have a motion and a second to set a public hearing to address the five zoning ordinance recommendations 823 03:49:50.720 --> 03:50:09.600 set by uh the uh ordinance committee. Um any further discussion? >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstensions? Motion passes. So, that's May 6th at 6:15 in these chambers. Um 824 03:50:09.600 --> 03:50:25.840 and just a reminder that the rest of the proposals from the housing partnership particularly related to um land use and um dimensional requirements are still under review. We're going to be moving forward with a couple specific recommendations. Um and that's an ongoing discussion with the ordinance committee housing partnership planning 825 03:50:25.840 --> 03:50:40.800 department and aquifer protection committee. Um, next thing as mentioned previously, uh, the human resources director, Russo, has asked to withdraw the request of amendment to chapter 7, section 7-18, exhibit B, pay plan, um, given the 826 03:50:40.800 --> 03:50:56.160 budget issues with the city. So, I would like a mo I would like to make a motion to remove without prejudice the request to amend chapter 7 section 7-18 exhibit B to modify the current wage scale structure. >> Second. I have a motion and a second to withdraw without prejudice the request 827 03:50:56.160 --> 03:51:12.479 to amend chapter 7 section 7-18 uh exhibit B pay plan. Um any further discussion? All those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstensions? Motion passes. >> All right. Next thing. So as I mentioned 828 03:51:12.479 --> 03:51:29.279 at the last council meeting report out um the conservation commission has been working on a wetlands protection ordinance for the past few years. It was presented to us at the last city council ordinance committee meeting. Um, we wanted to make sure that the commission had time to hold their scheduled information sessions before bringing it to a final vote in committee. Um, but 829 03:51:29.279 --> 03:51:44.479 now that those have happened, uh, the committee will be discussing this during our next meeting on the 28th and hopefully voting on that. So, I at this time would like to move to set a public hearing for the general ordinance amendment proposing a wetlands protection ordinance for Wednesday, May 830 03:51:44.479 --> 03:52:02.960 6th at 6:15 in these chambers. >> Second. I have a motion and a second to set a public hearing. Where are you? >> On the general ordinance amendment. >> On the general ordinance amendment for the wetlands protection. 831 03:52:02.960 --> 03:52:22.800 I can't find it on here. >> Uh general ord sorry general ordinance amendments proposing a wetlands protection ordinance uh for May 6. at 6:15 in these chambers. Any further discussion? 832 03:52:22.800 --> 03:52:38.960 >> Is it possible for us to just be mindful of how many um public hearings we're having on one day? Because I know we just we just set one for that same date and there might be some others already set, I think. >> Yes. Do you want to set that for second 833 03:52:38.960 --> 03:52:55.680 meeting in May? >> Uh sure. Um all right. I will lodging houses next time. >> Right. So, let's You're right. The I forgot the lodging house. So, can someone remove the second >> for that? I'll >> remove my second. >> I will remove my motion. 834 03:52:55.680 --> 03:53:11.600 >> Motion and then set a new motion. >> All right. I would move to set a public hearing on the general ordinance amendment proposing a wetlands protection ordinance for Wednesday. >> It's May 20th. >> May 20th at 6:15 in these chambers. Thank you, Marian. >> Second. So, I have a motion and a second 835 03:53:11.600 --> 03:53:27.040 to set a public hearing for the general ordinance amendment proposing a wetlands protection ordinance for May 20th. >> 20th at 6:15 in these chambers. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? I opposed 836 03:53:27.040 --> 03:53:43.920 >> extensions. Motion passes. >> All right. Um, and the last thing is just that our next meeting is on April 28th at 6 p.m. in conference room 1. We're going to be discussing the wetlands protection ordinance um and potentially doing some other housekeeping of the items on our agenda. This concludes >> Great. Thank you so much. Just going 837 03:53:43.920 --> 03:54:00.160 back really quickly to the finance. Can we remove that item from finance? >> Sure. Um I would like to make a motion to remove without prejudice uh the police chief Chad Alexander's request uh 838 03:54:00.160 --> 03:54:15.920 to create a first responder wellness account. Second, >> I have a motion and a second to remove without prejudice the creation of the first responder wellness donation account for the purpose of receiving funds designated for the proposed first responder wellness project. Any further discussion? 839 03:54:15.920 --> 03:54:31.760 All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. Uh property >> no report this evening. >> We've dealt with it. >> We've dealt with it, have we? 840 03:54:31.760 --> 03:54:49.520 >> That that's the big one. All right. >> No report. >> Uh, rules and government relations. Chairwiski. >> No, no report this evening. >> No report this evening. >> All right. >> Right along. >> That takes care of everything on our uh 841 03:54:49.520 --> 03:55:06.000 report outs. We have one new item for new business and I will turn that over to Vice President Jadzik. Yes, we have a um interdep departmental transfer request for uh community preservation act CPA to transfer $7,950 from the CPA 842 03:55:06.000 --> 03:55:24.000 undesated fund balance to CPA admin expenses. So, I'm going to read this request in the form of a motion. Um >> or just just reading it. >> Just I'm just reading it. >> It's the first reading. >> First reading, excuse me. And then um I'm going to be referring this to finance committee. So, this request is 843 03:55:24.000 --> 03:55:38.960 hereby made for approval of the following appropriation amount requested. $7,950 to be transferred from account 024. >> Just read the read the word >> to be transferred from CPA undesated 844 03:55:38.960 --> 03:55:54.960 fund balance $7,950 to be transferred to CPA administration expenses $7,950. The amounts requested will be used for the following purpose for professional services such as appraisals and planning support. >> Second. 845 03:55:54.960 --> 03:56:10.960 >> I have a motion and a second to move the inter interdep departmental transfer request community preservation act CPA transfer $7,950 from CPA undesated fund balance to CPA administration expenses. 846 03:56:10.960 --> 03:56:26.399 Any further discussion? All those in favor? opposed extensions. None. Motion passes. And then do you want to set a public hearing for this for 847 03:56:26.399 --> 03:56:42.319 uh >> May 6th May? >> May 20th. >> May 20th. >> Yeah. >> I suppose I would love to set a public hearing um for this item for May 20th. 848 03:56:42.319 --> 03:56:59.600 >> Second. I have a motion and a second to set a public hearing for the interdep departmental transfer community preservation act CPA transfer of $7,950 from CPA and designated funds balance to CPA administration expenses for May 20th at 6:15 in these chambers. Any further 849 03:56:59.600 --> 03:57:16.560 discussion? All those in favor? I opposed abstensions. Motion passes. I will take a motion one quick >> one comment. One quick congratulations to council for your filling in on finance and doing a remarkable job for 850 03:57:16.560 --> 03:57:32.479 somebody who's never served in the role of bringing things forward. >> Thank you. >> And I'd like to congratulate Vice President Chadzik for the same thing in terms of bringing forth the new item. >> Um motion >> I will take I will take a motion to 851 03:57:32.479 --> 03:57:41.640 adjurnn. I have a second to adjurnn. All those in favor opposed extensions. Motion passes.