This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers. Welcome to the East Hampton City Council meeting for Wednesday, February 18th, uh, 2026. The meeting tonight is being recorded and broadcast by E Media on
Charter Channel 193 and live streaming on their web page, eastampton 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
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 public speak time or the public hearing. Thank you.
This meeting is now called to order. Mary JPinski >> here. >> Connie Denim here. >> Tamara Smith >> here. >> Felicia Jazzac >> here. >> Tom Peak >> here. >> Jonathan Schmidt >> here. >> Amanda Newton >> here. >> I am Jamrock McUade >> here. >> Nathan Marquee
>> here. >> Um for a moment of silence, I just want to um acknowledge uh a couple of people that we lost in our community in the last couple of weeks. Um first individual was Marvin Ward. And this council uh knows Marvin. He often uh sat
in the front row and was often a participant in our um conversations um for public speak and also attended a number of our um committee meetings uh in particular public safety. He was really very passionate about public
safety. He cared very much about members of the community and making sure that they were safe on our roads. Um so uh his his presence is is very missed. Um, I'd also like to acknowledge uh Janie Thurber. Um, she was a member of the uh
Leip community and she was very active in the peace and justice activities within the community. Um, and so I'm particularly feeling her uh loss um as we think about what's going on in the world. So, just want to take a moment of
silence for um those two individuals and anyone else that that folks are thinking about this evening and um anything that folks need to to be thinking about to help themselves be present for this evening. Thank you again. They will be uh very
missed. Um for anyone who would like to participate in the recitation of the pledge of allegiance, now is your opportunity to do so. Algiance 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 for all. Great. >> Thank you. Um, we have some meeting minutes. Um, I will take a motion to approve. >> They'll be available next time. >> Oh, pardon. >> Oh, they'll be available next time. Thank you. Um, public comment. Is there
anyone who would like to uh address any issue that is not on uh the agenda or under public hearing? No one in the room. Anyone online? Online.
Okay. Um it is not 6:15, so we're going to continue. Um, we have no items for immediate attention, no communication, correspondence, mayor's communication. I do not see the mayor and I do not believe he's online.
Okay. >> Oh, there he goes. >> There's the mayor. Would the mayor like to participate in mayor's communication >> already? Yes, sir. >> Why you guys are quick? >> Yes, I would. >> Great. >> Thanks for waiting for me. Hey.
>> Um, so, uh, just want to I have a few things since I missed you all last last time. Um, so I wanted to give a quick update on Pepin. Um, because you might see some action there and I want to make sure
everybody's in the know. So, last week more than one sprinkler head broke. Uh, it wasn't necessarily the cold, it was more it was rusty. Um, so we had to turn off the water to Pepin. I had
conversations with um, DPW Director Nuttleman, who's also our facilities manager, um, and he recommended that we shut the water off at the street and potentially shut the power off. So that created a broader conversation with the
fire chief because having a building of that size in a neighborhood, we wanted to make sure that we weren't going to do anything that was potentially hazardous to the surrounding buildings. Um we discussed it, realized, you know, the majority of um Pepin is brick and
masonry. It's a very um nonflammable building. And really, if we turn off the electricity, the only real potential hazard for a fire there is someone squatting. Um, so that's why I wanted to update you. You're going to probably see some boards going up to to further
harden the building against people getting inside. So, I just wanted to make sure everybody was aware that that's the reasoning. Um, and I do uh have a a quick little update um on the schools. So, I I think I might have mentioned maybe the last time I was here that I was going to try to get um an
audience with the Lieutenant Governor and Secretary Augustus um which I was able to get yesterday. Um and uh we talked uh about our school reuse project and you know I expressed to them some of the challenges of carrying these older buildings over multiple years um and
trying to find ways to expedite the process of turning these beautiful old buildings into beautiful housing for our residents. Um they were very I got to give them credit. They were really receptive. Um really willing to work with us. Um one of the affordable housing rounds had just closed. Um the
other ones opening up like next week and so they were double-checking to make sure that we are in the queue. They're double-checking to see if there's anything that we they can do to help expedite the process. So it was um that ended up being a really productive um opportunity. So I just wanted to um uh
update you on that. And the reason why I was able to speak to them, I was uh yesterday it was um a really great honor to be able to go up to Pittsfield and be part of a grant award ceremony. Um so uh Sierra Vista was granted $165,000
for um affordable rental units. Um so this was umund uh so 30 30 units of 60% u of uh you know average median income uh I believe
it was six units at 30% and then there was um a handful of units for people with disabilities. Um, so that that was a really uh and that was a a mini grant. And if anybody has any questions on that, I do have I can I can just um give you what the printout is about the the
grant if you're interested. Um, so I just wanted to make sure that you all update on that and knew that was happening. Um, I wanted to also let you know budget process is underway. Uh, so you know now we're meeting with departments um and going through and taking a look at the numbers as these
things kind of continue to materialize. Um, you know, we'll keep the finance committee in the loop. I know that we just set our meeting with, uh, President Denim, um, and Vice President Jadik to do the city council budget. So, that meeting is forthcoming, too. Um, I I
also there's a I have a long list. I'm so sorry. Um, I was asked by uh, Councelor Kisinski to give an update on cultural chaos. Um, and I just wanted to make sure that people were aware of what's going on. And um and again this is not something
that has uh you know originated from my office. This is um the ECA uh came to me and let me know that um over the years cultural chaos um has become a more difficult event to to facilitate. Uh while it has great value to the
community and I want to acknowledge that and like the years of cultural chaos have done a lot of things in our cultural district I think and have been a meaningful experience for a lot of people. Um, you know, one of one of my goals as mayor is to not to, you know,
um, tell people what to do, but to listen to the people that are on the ground doing the work. and and I you know when they came to me and let me know that you know not only was this a significant use of their time and energy
um that the volunteers have um kind of uh fizzled in a way and that this is pretty much their entire budget for the year. Um you know they asked if if you know it was okay to take a reprieve for this year. Um, and I think that this,
you know, while it is bittersweet, I think that and and I don't know if they've made the the the ultimate decision and and voted, you know, officially to to not do it this year. Um, but I do know that if they don't, I I think it's on the table for next year to look at again and maybe like a
modified um where, you know, because a lot of the expenses for cultural chaos come from public safety, you know, because we have to pay them overtime and we have to have a pretty good contingent there to close the roads and and whatnot. So maybe looking at like a closing from Ninis to Brasscat. So that
way it's less um disruptive to the traffic flow and you would need less public safety presence to manage traffic um and to find uh you know creative ways to uh coordinate with you know art in the orchard um which is a by yearly event and so maybe have you know them
alternate so maybe one year you have cultural chaos next year it's art in the orchard. So things like that to try to find and I will say also there's like plans um and I have full faith in ECA and the creative vision that they have to do some things that are going to be amazingly great and are not going to
like there will be things for people to do but there will be many more days of things for people to do and I think the quality of it will be really great too. So you know um while it is a sad thing for for some people I think it's also an opportunity and you know hopefully we'll get it back next year too. So I just
wanted to put that out there. Um, I I found out today that uh I was I I put my hat in the ring um for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission um to be the alternate for our sub area for the MO uh which is the Municipal Planning Organization um which is a pretty
important board uh that basically looks at all of the highway projects um and federal money and state money that are coming to Western Mass Region and kind of allocates those. And I found out today that I am the alternate now for District 3. Um, and so Gina Louu Sakar, the mayor of Northampton, is the
primary. And so in her absence, I am now for the next two years um on the MO as an alternate, which is really good news for East Hampton. Um I would be remiss to not say thank you um to the National Pond Committee for Winterfest and
hopefully people were able to get out and enjoy it. I really was bummed. I missed the polar plunge. I saw President Denim out there jumping in with that. Must have been >> Thank you for the reminder. >> Yes. Yes. I I was hoping to be there with you, but unfortunately I had a scheduling conflict. Um, so next year we
can we'll jump it whole new meaning to jump in a lake, right? So, okay. Um, >> just a couple other things I think are important. Um, number one, wastewater >> treatment plant. Uh, just want to give an update. There is more scheduled
maintenance starting next week. There is the possibility for uh, smell. So hopefully it'll be cold and people will have their windows closed and it won't be too bad. But I did want to just make sure like that came through my office today. I wanted to make sure I let
people know because I know it's stinks when it's a surprise. Um uh and then finally finally um I did want to just let people know that um starting in March um the first Thursday of the month I'm going to
have open office hours um for anybody that wants to you know complain about the the smell of the wastewater treatment plant or talk about good things that are happening in East Hampton. Um and I have 20-minute blocks and they can schedule those blocks if they just email mayor eastamptonm.gov.
And that concludes my lengthy report. So, thank you. >> Uh, I just have a couple questions. Um, so related to the sprinkler um at that school, did that cause any substantial damage? >> Um, no, not not any substantial damage
that wasn't already damaged. Um I will so I did tour the building um a couple months ago and last year a water man had broken and did damage the gym floor um which is why I didn't um make the gym
available this winter for people which was one of my plans um because the floor is buckled so there already is some damage in there um but this this particular one didn't cause any it was just on a l n l n l n l n l n l n l n l n l n l nolum floor. Mhm. >> Yeah. Okay.
>> Uh, councelor Kwisinski, thank you councelor Jamro McQuay for that question. Councilinski, >> I have a question for the mayor. >> Uh, with regard to the the the Pepin building, I hear that you're going to be putting up secure blockage so folks
can't get inside. That that's great. I often see plywood across windows and doors and all over the building and wherever. And it really can be kind of >> an eyesore. >> A real eyesore. Is there any plans
anywhere or any funds to do something creative? I don't know how long they're going to be up. They may only be up a few weeks. Could be I'm I'm imagining for the rest of the season or longer perhaps. And if so, that's a long anore for quite a long time. Is there any way
to make it different or beautify it or put like an artwork or have the kit be creative and have students draw something that could be posted on these? >> Sure. And I will say I will I will take that. I think yet the answer to your question is yes.
>> Absolutely. Um I think the the more practical kind of consideration is you know how would we get that done? So I think that's something that I'd be happy to talk to our planning department in Pascalina. um and see if there is any interest for like cuz we also have some plywood up at Maple School. We had some
vandals there that threw rocks through the windows and obviously, you know, my my goal is to try to get those buildings back into action as soon as possible. Um but, you know, in the meantime, obviously, we don't want to create an eyesore. So, I think that could be a great project for, you know, an art
class at one of the schools. Um that's not necessarily my forte to coordinate, but I can set those wheels in motion. Mhm. >> I'd be happy to do that. >> Great. Thank you. Uh it is 6:15. Are there any other questions? We'd have to wait till after the public hearing
done. Thank you, M. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate you. >> Uh it is 6:15. Uh I will take a motion to open the public hearing. >> So moved. Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Um any further discussion? Great. Uh all in favor?
>> Opposed? Abstensions? Great. Motion passes. Uh I will turn it over to uh Chair Peak. >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh so yeah, this is an item that has been on our agenda for quite some time uh to the point that many of you I think were not
uh on the city council when it was introduced. So um I'll I I can talk about I'll give a a brief summary of kind of where we were but um to avoid burying the lead. We had met and discuss this and I think that at the end of the
night my recommendation is going to be to withdraw this without prejudice for now and I'll talk about why and sort of what some of our ideas are going forward. But um the idea of this was to adopt um a section of the Mass General
law that would effectively allow the city council under certain circumstances with under the with the recommendations of the school committee to actually reallocate money away from some other fund if we can all agree on on a funding
source um and towards the school budget. Um there's a lot of c uh specifics about exactly how that would go down, but um you know this was something that I think was seen as attractive. Uh some of you
were either here for or in some other way a stakeholder and paid attention to sort of how the there was a particularly tricky budget year in 2022 uh where councelor Kazinski actually introduced this as a um as an item for us to
consider. Um but it didn't pass in part because it would have required um um you the mayor would have been able to veto it. it was quite clear that the mayor was was going to do so and so it just kind of wasn't worth consider like just you it sort of died there. Um
we were in a situation last year where we had an interim mayor who was a city councelor at that time and who had sort of seen things through that perspective and so uh you know I had received some communication from a few members of our school committee at that time saying
let's put this forward and have a conversation about it. Um, and there's a few things that uh sort of transpired there, but but one one of the things that I think is worth pointing out is that uh
I think the the level of anxiety that this provoked from other departments like it's understandable from their point of view, but I don't think that myself or um the folks who who had recommended this from the school committee fully understood sort of how
that dynamic would be viewed in that situation. So this ended up being a little bit more divisive than I ultimately thought it was going to be. Um so there was a thought at the time that it made sense to wait for since we were this was weeks before the municipal
election, there was a thought that it would make more sense to wait until after the election uh when we had a fully sworn in an elected council to vote on this. um which is why it was sort of uh deferred until now. Um I
think that a few things have come up in the meantime. Uh one of them so I had a meeting uh last week uh with school committee chair Laura Scott who it looks like is here on uh online so I'll I'll let her uh speak uh her own opinions on
this but um and then also with with Mayor Derby. And um I think that there was a couple things. One of the things that uh we sort of discussed was that uh there wasn't a feeling from the school committee that at this time this
was seen as a priority for them. There's some different ways that the budget things are working out with with the new mayor and there's thought to sort of it would make sense to let that play out and see how that develops. Um, and the other thing is that it just
there sort of the there the the optics around it and sort of the reaction that that it got maybe made it more of a distraction than it needed to be at the time. Um there was a feeling though uh that from myself and and from Chair Scott and I think to some
extent from from Mayor Derby that um there is like notwithstanding this particular thing uh there there probably is um under all of this as part of the motivation for talking about it um a
desire to maybe revisit some things about the checks and balances in uh our charter. uh our charter was established 30 years ago. Uh East Hampton is in a different place than it was 30 years ago. And and also I think that there's some things that we've seen play out in
ways that maybe make us think that uh we should just revisit like this made sense to the people at the time. Have we learned any lessons? Have there been things that maybe we decided don't work so well or or work better? There's there's a few ways to do that. Um, one could be through a charter review
committee that would then make a recommendation to uh the legislature and ask them to revise our charter, which is what we've historically done. The other option would be to actually do a full-on charter commission where um members are
actually elected uh to serve on this commission and to then make a recommendation that then goes before all the voters, which is something that I personally find very attractive. Um the benefit that both of these have is that they'd be more comprehensive. Uh the reason why the thing that we introduced
pertained only to the schools is because the there's only an option to do these sorts of things for the schools in mass general law. There isn't something more comp that more comprehensively addresses uh those concerns. Um we could do that
though through a more uh a more complete process. And if the feeling from the school committee is that there isn't an urgent need to adopt this for this budget cycle, then my thought is that what would make sense would be to dismiss this particular item without
prejudice and then sort of pivot towards pivot my own efforts and the efforts of anyone else who would like to to to join me in this conversation to pivot towards trying to figure out what's a more uh robust and holistic way to address uh
some of the what I think are kind of legitimate concerns about the checks and balances within our charter. Um, so that, you know, I'm sure there's probably questions and I I know that there's probably a couple people who want to speak to this, but just for what it's worth, um, you know, after everyone's had a chance to speak, what
what I would be doing is is, uh, making a motion to to dismiss this matter without prejudice. we could always bring it back if it seemed like the dynamic had shifted and it was going to be something that was necessary. But, um, that's sort of where I personally, uh,
am at this time. Okay. >> Uh, thank you, Chair Pete. Questions? Uh, >> I guess I have a question. >> Wait a second. Councelor Marquee. Um I um I agree with um councelor Peak's take
on this. I think that um having a robust commission I also would be in favor of a commission in this particular instance would serve us well rather than um amending our charter as is and um putting it up to the voters and stuff.
That's all I have to say. >> Great. Thank you, Councelor Marquee. Councelor Schmidt. >> Yeah. Uh thank you. Uh my my question is just if you have any um any idea councelor Peak um as to how uh how lengthy a process it would be um
either the the review versus the full-on commission. >> Yeah. Um I do have some thoughts on this. I want I hold on I was going to go I was going to get there. I was just going to say there the one concern I have is that that that topic is not
technically what we're talking about. So I would love to talk to you oneonone about this but I I don't don't feel like I can deliberate about it here >> but I have a lot of thoughts and I'd love to talk about it >> uh councelor Jamron McQuait. >> Thank you madam president. Um so I've
spoken uh from that side of the podium um related to this and I think immediately on a level of principle I definitely support the idea of you know more democratic control over our budget and um less you know moving power away
from one individual executive and and spreading the love. Um that being said, um I definitely think that there are really valid concerns that were brought up from other department heads and other um members of this body um that I think are definitely worth taking a step back and um I think looking ahead at a more
holistic process um makes you know I think that there are other ways that we can address those um concerns that I have. So I I would agree with uh removing this without prejudice. Other questions, comments?
>> Uh, councelor Quisinski, >> could we hear from the public? >> Uh, yep. I was just >> before making comments also. >> Um, anyone from the public who would like to speak on this item? Anyone online who would like to speak to
this matter? See none. Councelor Kazinski, did you have a question or comment? >> Just a comment. I think >> I agree with councelor Peak that uh the impetus to move this forward
was really precipitated by the interactions between the mayor, previous mayor and this council, previous council. Uh so it became such that the council felt absolutely powerless. I
felt to be able to influence the mayor in this in the process. Powerless. And that isn't a good situation to be when you're seeing something and the community that we represent sees something that really is
180 degrees from the mayor's position. We need to have a situation where there is more balance. And this was a way this this measure was a way of establishing some way of having a required
communication between the mayor and the council on the subject. And that's what was missing. There wasn't that communication. I as much as I hate to see that opportunity be lost for the future for the time being by not bringing it to
a four to the to the forefront, I do see the the the benefit of having a remedy that in includes the charter and a remedy that includes the charter would enable us to establish a process where there would be limits.
that limit at this point I would suggest uh be language that would include more than the required six votes. So what I'm suggesting is that should we have further discussion, one of the
amendments I would propose would be that it'd be an in super majority super super majority that would be required to override the mayor's veto or rather the yeah the mayor's yeah the mayor's the mayor's that there be a supermajority. Six votes
really isn't enough. You can get six votes on this council. you can get six people to agree to override and fund the mayor fund fund the say for example in this case the schools. I think that we need to have
more than that number to take such an action at this point. So that would be my thoughts on the subject. I would agree with councelor Peak that we uh put it uh off the agenda for the moment and without prejudice.
Great. Thank you. Other comment. Um, Chair P, do you want to make a motion? >> Uh, I would. >> I just want to point out one thing uh before I do. Um, which is that I think uh Dan Gilbert here came uh because he
wanted to speak to what a charter review or a charter u like revision process would look like. And then the conversation that we had was sort of about how that's not really what we should discuss. So I'm wondering if we couldn't respectfully just briefly reopen public speak at the end of this
process so that he could get that comment in in that context. >> Sure. >> Um I just think there was a misunderstanding about how that would >> Sure. We can suspend the rules after after this. Um, I would uh make a motion to uh
dismiss the city council action request to adopt chapter 329 of the acts of 1987 uh without prejudice. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to uh remove city council action request to
adopt chapter 329 of the acts of 1987 um without prejudice. Any further discussion? I'd actually like to say something if no one knows this. Um I I appreciate the uh
level of thought that um went into this item. I recognize the challenges there are within the um uh perceived process. Um I also want to
acknowledge that one of the ways that um we were able to the the council was able to stop the president or the mayor at that time um from cutting the the school budget and being able to go back. was
that that councelor Peak and I exerted our power um in the finance committee where we sent the item back to um the full council without recommendation. And I think that that then also led to other counselors saying, "Hang on a second.
This needs further discussion." Um and so I I think there are ways that um council has power and we oftentimes choose not to use it. Um so I just want to acknowledge that. But I also um want to acknowledge the the department heads
who uh expressed a great deal of concern around this particular item. I think that we are in a financially precarious time. Um, and their ability to provide service to the community and their ability to ensure
that their uh employees are taken care of was uh was um uh this created a lot of issue and anxiety uh for them. And uh I hope that uh you know moving forward
we can we can have a more uh robust and thoughtful conversation where perhaps more um community members are involved in that conversation. And I think that that's just uh I think a a fair um uh
you know a fair process because I think at the end of the day for myself I don't want to speak for everyone uh uh you know my goal is in the next couple of years if if the financial forecast of the city you know holds true and and there are concerns around cuts that I'm going to do everything that I can to
make sure that we get everyone across and through that uh collectively. Um and so that is that is a priority for me. So, including the schools, you know, and I say that as an educator, right? Um, there's nothing more important to me than educating our young people. Um, so
I'm I very much appreciate the fact that uh this is being uh removed without prejudice and I look forward to future conversations. Um, so if there's no other discussions, I will uh all those in favor
>> uh any oppose abstensions? Great. Motion passes. >> I will take >> to close the public hearing. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. >> Move to suspend the rules. >> Well, hang on a second. Uh uh any
further discussion? All those in favor? >> I I opposed extensions. Great. Motion passes. >> Move to uh suspend the rules. >> So I have a motion to suspend the rules. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to suspend
the rules. All those in favor? >> I I Any opposed? Abstensions? Motion passes. So we will suspend the rules and I will reopen the um public speak. Um so
so please go uh to the podium, state your name and u address and we will give you three minutes give or take. Um so please. >> Sure. Uh my name is Dan Gilbert. I live on Parson Street. Um, councelor Peak
asked me to come tonight to talk a little bit about the charter commission process. Um, which is something that I've already well started the very very first few steps of. Um, so the charter commission process is is very different
than the charter review process. Charter review is just a committee that makes recommendations. Charter commission um is not a process that's initiated by the city council. um it's initiated by petition. Um so, uh currently in East Hampton, based on our last election,
we'd need a little bit over 2,000 um registered voter signatures in order to start a charter commission. Um that is a you know, it's a doable number. It would take a a fair amount of work from a number of dedicated people, but it it's very doable. Um there's no
time limit in that. Um so it can go over the course of months or years to collect that. Um once that happens uh it triggers on the next city election two things. One ballot question. Shall we have a charter commission? Voters vote
yes or no at the very same time on the same ballot. We elect nine people to that commission. If the voters say no, then that's moot. But it does happen on the same ballot. Um, that then starts an
18-month process where those nine people meet. There's various public hearings. They they produce a new charter or a charter revision. That charter does not go to the state legislature. It goes to the attorney general for review of legality. Um, and then it goes back to
voters the next cycle or the next cycle after that committee finishes for approval or not. If if it doesn't pass, the charter doesn't change. If it does pass, then that's your new charter. Um, so it's a
very powerful tool to um I'll, you know, I don't want to waste your guys' time and I'm very happy to answer any questions anybody has about this. My personal interest in this is that it is a check on the state legislature for our own home rule.
>> So, uh, there are various home rule petitions. Um there's one I care about a lot um and there's others as well that the legislature has failed to take action on. Um so this is the way that we can amend our charter uh the other way.
Um and if they fail to act, this is our only way of um amending our charter. So um so this is the this is the check on the state legislaturator's refusal to act. Um while at the same time it's a
very convenient way of making charter revisions for the city um just because of all the democracy involved in it like the number of public votes and the nine people who are elected. Um the one other thing I'll add is that there is no restriction to who can serve on that. Um
you have to be a registered voter in the city but that's it. So, you can be the mayor. You can be a city councelor um and run for this slate of nine. >> Good. >> That's all I got. >> Great. Thank you so much, Dan. Appreciate you. >> Sure. You
>> I've reopened it, so anyone else would have comment. >> None. All right. Thank you so much. Uh so, we're continue on with the agenda. We need to close public speak. Uh no we
I public speak is closed, public comment is closed. Um so moving on to president vice president communication. Um, in specific uh regard to uh the adoption of 329,
uh I told uh our uh school committee uh chair uh Laura Scott that I would be um committed to participating in any trainings that uh the the school committee has regarding finances uh etc.
And um uh we will be doing that. actually four of us will be participating in that on March 21st. Uh so we will be uh uh attending that with a couple of uh school committee uh members. Um and we will be going through the same uh training that they do and
and giving some information on um kind of their finance process as well as just other items uh related to to their work. So uh I am committed to that and I will be uh participating in that with some other individuals. Um,
uh, Mayor Derby brought this up. Uh, I will, myself and Vice President Jadzik will be participating, uh, with him in a budget discussion on, uh, March 3rd with the finance team, going over our, um,
not robust budget, but enough of a budget, right, that uh, we'll be uh, meeting with them to discuss that. Um, so that will be happening on uh, March 3rd. Also uh also want to just extend thanks um to Beth Tiffany and everyone
else on uh the National Women Pond Committee that uh put together Winterfest. Um it was really a wonderful um community event. Uh it was it was great to see uh people of all ages jumping in the pond as well as participating in the other activities.
Um, so it was for a first time pond jumper, although I have been in the pond uh with the fire department being rescued. Um, but it was a it was a really a great great uh community event. Um, and I I really appreciated that. I
didn't appreciate the photo of me on the gazette coming out of the water, but uh, nonetheless, that was a really positive positive experience. And so, um, want to thank everyone who participated in that for their work. Um, Vice President Jazz, do you have anything that you want to
communicate? >> Yes, thank you, President Denim. I just have one item. Um, and I'm sharing this both for folks in the room and I see some elected officials online as well. So, the uh, Mass Municipal Association is holding a leadership conference on
March 27th for any women who are elected municipal officials. Um, any woman who is an elected municipal official in Massachusetts is considered a member of what they call WEIMO and is invited to this conference. So, if anyone's interested and has not received that
communication, please let me know and I'll be happy to forward that along to you. Awesome. Great. Thank you so much. Um, council communication, any announcements uh from counselors? Uh, councelor Jam Mclay, I know you have something. >> Thank you, Madam President. Um, so just
reminding everyone again about the East and Tenants Union. They meet uh weekly every Thursday from 5:00 to 6:30. Um they were meeting in city council chambers now because it's gotten that big of a group. Um they're sharing resources resources on tenants rights and building solidarity empowered numbers. Um and I will just say um I've
been going for a number of weeks now and they're consistently getting dozens of people. >> Um it is a really powerful group and and they're sharing some really important information. And um I'm giving a presentation tomorrow night related to the rent stabilization work we're doing in the committee or in the community. So
>> great. Thank you. And I've also had the opportunity of sharing in that group. So it's really a great opportunity. I encourage anyone uh to uh attend that and hear what your constituents are saying. I know council Newton you've also attended. So uh really a a positive
experience. Um anyone else? Just want to make sure no one else. All right. Great. So we will start with our uh committee reports. Uh chair peak finance. >> Uh thank you madam president. Uh finance has not met since the last time that we
met. We will be meeting next week um at our regularly scheduled time but I believe the room is going to be different because >> city council chambers. >> Okay. >> Because of the port of public works meeting in room one. You'll be meeting up here.
>> Yes. So we'll be here. Um and but same regular 5:30 time. Um and uh we'll be discussing uh uh a financial report from an update from our auditor as well as
the new business that we'll be introducing uh later this evening. >> Great. >> This concludes. >> Great. Thank you, Chair Peaks. Chair Newton, public safety. >> Yes. Um so we have not met since our last meeting but we do have one scheduled for March 3rd um in conference
room 1 and uh director Nuttleman of the DPW will be with us that day. Um there is one item on here which is the roadway infrastructure and pedestrian safety items that we would like to and I don't know how to make this motion but we
would like to extend it so that it doesn't have a termination date. It's just something that we can continue to talk about. >> Would you like 60 days, 90 days? >> Can we extend it indefinitely or is that not possible? >> Um, >> like so the public safety quarterly
review one is just like there's just a start date. There's no end date. >> So for now, let's just do a 90 days and then we'll figure that out. >> Okay. Thanks. So I have a motion to extend the roadway infrastructure and pedestrian safety
items uh for 90 days. >> Second. >> So we have a motion and a second. Um any further discussion? None seeing none. All those in favor. >> Any opposed? Abstensions. Great. Motion passes.
>> Okay. Thank you. This concludes public safety. >> Great. Thank you. Uh, Chair Smith, appointments. >> Okay. Thank you, President Dum. We met last night um at five o'clock to discuss
the mayoral appointment for Marlene Machonssky for the parks and recck commission with a term expiration of 123129. Um this is a reappointment to the uh commission and the chair of the
commission was um anxious to have her reappointed. So we voted did we vote three to zero? I don't have my notes in front of me. Did we end up voting three to zero or did we just say we would bring that to
the full council? >> I don't I don't believe we had a vote for that. Okay. >> Yeah, we did not vote on that. >> Okay, >> I'll double check it. >> So, I'm okay to pause on that, but that will
mean that the date for her appointment will be on 22126. So, guess that will just move forward. >> And then, um, the other thing that we have is an action committee is your my name.
>> Mr. Chair Smith, one second. >> If you don't mind me jumping in, I'm just looking at my um meeting minute notes, we actually >> did vote to approve U. Marlene Chonsky for reappoint. Um barring any concerning information that may arise in the
interim um because I believe you would reach out to the parks and rec committee to see if they had any concerns. The vote was 300 in favor of her reappointment. Okay, that was that was my memory as well. Okay, so I guess we will move that mayor
appointment to the full city council. Um and then I need to recuse myself from the next appointment and I will move it to >> Okay. So before we do that, do you want to make a motion to approve Marlene Mashonsky? >> Sure.
>> Okay. >> I'll make a motion to uh approve Marlene Machonssky. >> Second. So, we have a motion and a second to approve one mayor appointment. Um, any further discussion? All those in
favor? Great. Any opposed? Abstensions? Great. Motion passes. Okay. >> And then we'll turn it over to Vice President Jadzik. >> Thank you. I'll I'll take over at this point. So, um the next um vote that we held or the next appointment that I'd
like to move forward to full counsel rather is for councelor Smith who is being appointed to the bees committee as the city council representative on the bees committee. Um councelor Marquee and myself had a uh a discussion with
councelor Smith about her interest in this position. I don't think I could tell anyone who knows councelor Smith. She is a huge uh gardener. um is very invested in um this type of work. Uh I know has held many uh personal
interactions and workshops uh around things like winter sewing and and the like. And so uh we both felt that it was a great fit for councelor Smith. And so, um, we recommended her, uh, well, this is where it's a little bit of a gray area, but
her term expiration date would be December 31st, 2028. Um, while the appointment does not need to be did not need to be approved by our committee. We agreed that um, at this council level, we had agreed that in the future, we will be inviting city council
presidential appointees to meet with the appointments committee for the sake of transparency and prudence. And so that is what we did last night. And so um I'm not sure if we have to formally recommend or not, but >> Yep. So the the uh presidential
appointment to the bees committee does have to be approved by city council. Um so and it goes through the appointments process. So it sounds like you voted two to zero to approve her. >> Um yes. >> Right. All right. So do you want to make
a motion to approve? >> Yes. So, I'd like to make a motion to approve councelor Smith's appointment to the bees committee with a term expiration date of December 31st, 2028. >> Great. So, we have a motion and a second to approve uh councelor Smith to the
bees committee. Um any further discussion, I'll make a comment. Um, as someone who served as the uh, city council representative to the beast committee, I am that it is a a really wonderful and terrific group of people and I know that
you're going to be uh, uh, you're going to fit in great and you're going to be a huge advocate uh, for them. So, I I appreciate you being the next person in city council to take that over soon. Great. Um, any comments? Great. Uh, all those in favor? I
>> I any opposed? Extensions. One abstension. All right. Great. Motion passes. Anything else for appointments committee? >> That's it for appointments tonight, president. >> All right. Great. Uh, moving on to ordinance committee. Chair Jam Rod
McUade. >> Thank you, Madam President. Um, so ordinance committee has not met since um January 20th, so not since our last meeting. Um, but I do have some updates. I did have uh the chance to meet with city staff to finalize some of the draft ordinance related to short-term rentals.
Um and we're going to be presenting that at our next ordinance meeting uh tomorrow uh February 19th at 6 p.m. and that's down in conference room B. Uh we're going to be continuing that discussion and hopefully finalizing um that ordinance um and moving it to get approved by the city solicitor. Um,
we're also going to release an advisory info sheet alongside it that sort of clearly lays out the recommendations and regulations um, for people who, you know, aren't comfortable reading an ordinance. Um, I also want to clarify, so the public hearing for the general
ordinance and zoning ordinance changes. Um, we extended those at the last city council meeting to Wednesday, March 18th. So, I just wanted to put that again in the public record. Um, and that will be at 6:15 PM in these chambers on March 18th. Um, the other item on the
agenda that I wanted to give an update about was the affordable housing partnership zoning recommendations. Um, so the housing partnership met with the aquifer protection committee uh on January 22nd to discuss some of the uh use and area uh dimensional regulations
side of the zoning recommendations um particularly with their concerns about how it would impact the aquifer. Um we had a great presentation with um Bob Newton who's a retired hydrogeeologist who sits on the aquifer protection committee. He gave us a whole rundown of the hydrogeeology of the valley and the
Mount Tom Barnes aquifer system. It was very interesting and instructive. Um so if anyone wants to watch that, that's the January 22nd joint meeting between the housing partnership and aquifer committee. Uh we decided at the end of that meeting to move uh to gather
further information on where the most vulnerable parts of the aquifer are um and where um in the community is most sensitive to potential additional development. Um that could look like potentially getting a map or geologic survey done of the clay layers and the
you know I won't get to in in detail. Um I think that there's still some work to be done about what parts are okay to move forward without that additional information which we're going to work on. Um and then we are going to continue discussion um or the housing partnership
and the aquifer committee is going to continue discussion on information gathering at the next joint meeting between those two committees and that's going to be on March 5th at 6 p.m. Um I also wanted to remind the public of the joint public hearing related to the first section of those zoning ordinance
recommendations related to the language community character definition of family that is happening. Um, that's a joint public hearing with the planning board and the ordinance committee and that is happening on Tuesday, March 3rd at 6 PM. Um, I'm also pretty sure it's in these
chambers. Um, and then I think that that's it. Again, I'll remind everyone that our next ordinance committee meeting is tomorrow at Febru February 19th at 6 p.m. in conference room B. And that's concludes. >> Uh, great. So, we have two items that need uh their deadlines extended. Uh the
ordinance review committee final report has a deadline of 227 and the request for general ordinance amendments regarding short-term rentals that has a deadline of 3 uh 126. So that's before our next meeting. So >> all right. Um so I will move to request
an extension for the request to review um or the ordinance review committee's final report for 90 days. >> Great. So >> second. I have a motion and a second to extend the ordinance review committee's
final report by 90 days. Uh any further discussion? None. All those in favor? >> I I opposed. Abstensions. Great. Motion passes. >> And then I would also like to make a motion to extend the request to review general ordinance amendments uh
regarding short-term rentals uh for 90 days. Second. Right. So, I have a motion and a second to uh extend the deadline uh to review the general ordinance amendments regarding short-term rentals by 90 days. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor?
>> Opposed? Abstensions? Great. Motion passes. Thank you. >> Good motion. All right. Great. Uh councelor Kisinski, property. >> Yes. The property committee met and uh discussed the town lodging house referral for disposition.
It was uh presented to us the an appraisal from the uh pro procurement officer Michael Owens who presented the the appraisal and it
was for $45,000 for the property uh at uh Oliver Street and uh Park Hill Roads uh including the farmland and the house. Uh I think the property was valued lower primarily because of the three major
restrictions on the property. The affordable housing restriction, the historic preservation restriction and the uh act for protection restriction which limits how all the pieces can fit together and really someone would have
to buy the property and assume all of these restrictions. Uh but that did put us over the $35,000 limit for uh procurement. So we have to go out to an RFP in order to move that along. Uh that
process will is part of the process for uh the city council to come up with the terms along with the mayor as to what we're going to uh have in that uh proposal. uh because with the two parties have to agree according to Mass General law in order to sell the
property if that be the case. Uh and we'll be discussing this matter on uh 225 at 6:45 p.m. So 2:25 >> next uh at at uh 6:45 p.m. At a room to
be determined >> 6:45 p.m. >> 6:45 >> Okay. >> I believe that's a Wednesday. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay, >> that concludes uh property >> uh before you move on. So, town lodging house referral for disposition has a end
date of March 3rd. Would you like to extend the deadline for that? >> Sure. Extend for 90 days. We make a request to extend for 90 days. >> Second. >> So, I have a motion and a second to extend the town lodging house referral for disposition uh for 90 days. Um any
further discussion? All those in favor? I I >> uh opposed abstain. Great. Motion passes. Uh rules and government relations again. Chair Kazinski. >> The rules and government relations committee met and discussed the uh
resolution in support of the water operator retirement reclassification. It was decided to uh get some additional information on that matter. So that was continued with regard to the code of conduct for appointed members and boards and committees and commissions submitted
by councelor Riley. Uh that matter was discussed. We had uh broken up some of the responsibilities and tasks of the uh involving various department heads and uh also contacting other communities about this matter uh
and about how they handle uh codes of conduct. The general principle will be that we'll be reviewing all con hopefully making a policy for all conduct for all boards and committees uh
however appointed or elected for the city and that these boards and committees would follow that policy. So we're reviewing the internal policies of city employees and putting that in conjunction so to come up with a plan. So
>> that matter will be continued. Mhm. >> Uh with regard to rule 11A, that matter will be continued and hopefully we'll have a motion on 11A for the uh next meeting. >> Mhm. >> Uh for rule 11 L, the filing of many
committee minutes that we do have some suggested language uh changes on that. They're minor. I believe the packet or not the packet, but their information was provided to counselors. Uh basically it contains some language changes. There currently
is a requirement that the minutes be submitted and published and be available within uh three meetings from the date of the initial meeting. We thought that was a little long perhaps. Sometimes it's more time expires. So we are
suggesting that the minutes be available within 30 days from the date of the meeting. We could take that up tonight in the form of a motion or we could discuss that uh at the f at the next meet next full council meeting whichever that be the choice of the council.
>> It's up to you. What would you like to do? Chair Quazinski. >> Uh I wanted to be sure folks felt comfortable with the voting on this looking around. Are there any questions? Uh, councelor Marquee, >> I don't know if it's a qu a question rather than a suggestion, though. I um
in favor I'm in favor of having timely minutes and months don't roll by without minutes. I think I I feel that 30 days might a be a little bit too short and I would be more comfortable like 45 days or something like that, but that's just
my personal opinion on the matter. That's it. That's something we could discuss if the motion were brought forward. >> That's the question. So, we're we're now we're in this we're having a convers. So, why do we bring the motion forward and have the conversation? >> Sure. The uh current lang we disclose
the current language. Uh and the proposed mo uh language would be final and approved minutes of all committee meetings shall be sent to the city clerk for public availability within 30 days from the date of the meeting for which the minutes are documented.
We go on to suggest the committee meeting minutes and meeting agenda templates are as follows. And you'll see in on your desk two different uh documents. One is the public meeting notice
which adds a Google meeting link for sure on the form and also adds mayoral communications uh on the committee minutes. Uh that would be a suggested format. These would be in the form of suggestions to make it
easier for people who come on board and end up doing minutes or preparing agendas and that would be included within the rules. >> Second. >> Okay. So, uh Okay. So, do you want to do each of
these individually or do you want this all as one motion? uh we could uh present it however the president decided. However, it probably would be simple to do it in one motion and if then someone wanted to pick different sections apart, they could or
amend different sections. >> Okay. Why don't we just why don't we do them? It would be easier for me just to do them each individually since that way it's not confusing, right? So, if we go back to amendments rule uh to amend rule
11 a >> 11 11A is being discussed at a future time. >> Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry. >> 11 L is tonight. >> Yes. So, uh 11L um councelor Marquee indicated he would like to
>> to amend that to make it 45 days instead of 30 days. Okay. So, just one second. So, I put this forward uh and I uh said 30 days because that's actually in line with open meeting law. >> Okay. So, by open meeting law, we have
to have it submitted within 30 days. I know that 30 days might seem like a short amount of time. Uh, but 30 days is kind of what is expected by Mass General Law. So, um, Counselor
Newton, you have a question. >> Yes. So for example, the public safety committee right now is meeting once a month. >> Mhm. >> And so we approve the previous meetings minutes at that once a month, but if it were like a 31-day, you know, month, we
would not be able to even approve them within 30 days. >> So I mean, I think if you're talking a couple of days, it would seem fair. I think what has happened in the past is committees have met and then they don't
meet again for like three or five months and so the reality is is they're just going to have even if they meet within those 30 days to approve the minutes it that just seems what's going to have to happen because I know watching meetings people have gotten in and said I don't know if we have meeting minutes because
I don't even remember when the last time we met was right and so and that's not to mock I think that's just the reality that we all had busy schedules and sometimes we don't remember and in the last year in particular we had a turnover right and so the clerk for that
committee then stepped off and then so there was just a lot of confusion around that so I think that if we're talking within a couple of days of that I think that we should aim but also if you know that you're not going to meet again for a couple of months then I think it's
just our responsibility to the community to make sure that we make RB minutes available in a timely manner, but we can talk about that also. Uh, Councelor Schmidt. >> Thank you, President Denim. Um, I just want to to clarify the wording here
because it seems to communicate that um the 30-day limit is on uh submitting the minutes to the clerk and not necessarily approval of the minutes by the committee. And I wonder if other people share that interpretation
or if that's just me. I don't >> which I think that 30 days is totally reasonable and is does not seem um dependent on the the schedule of the meetings to approve necessarily.
>> So um this was taken directly from what the uh is in the rules now. Uh and all I did was change the 30 days or what it was three business times to 30 days. Um, but I think that it technically it's
supposed to go to the city clerk after it's approved. And so I think that's the logic behind giving it to the city clerk within 30 days. >> Right. So we're not supposed technically we're not supposed to send them to the city clerk until we've had a meeting and approved them. Right. >> Uh, Vice President Chadik.
>> Um, yes. Just to thank you, President Denim, just to follow up on what councelor Schmidt's question was. Um, I think that there could be a little bit of a sort of delay, if you will, depending on when um, committees are meeting to approve the previous meeting
minutes. However, if a committee is meeting, in my mind, if a committee is meeting and approves the previous meeting or the previous month's minutes, then they're approved. And so theoretically for the clerk of that committee, it's as simple as just sending an email even during the meeting
to the city clerk with the approved minutes to stay within that time frame. Um so I do think that where there might be some cases here and there where we may have a little bit of um wiggle room, if you will, the spirit of this um
without being too prescriptive with number of days, the spirit of it is to make sure that it that these processes happen in a timely fashion. So, as someone who's clerked and currently clerked, I can say it can get very complicated, especially when you forget about things. And so, a best practice
that we might want to think about in conjunction with if we adopt this particular um amendment is for clerks to just immediately send amended or sorry, approved minutes to the clerk to the city clerk rather um once that meeting
concludes. >> Councelor Peak. Yeah. Um, in terms of the the proposal for the amendment to turn it up to 40 to 5 days, I I do kind of feel in the context of of what you shared, Madam President, that we should stick with the 30 uh just because I do
think that we should be doing our best to stay within open meeting law. Now, obviously, like things will happen. Not everything will be perfect. There will be times where you have a meeting to where you're planning to approve the minutes and there's a weather delay or someone gets sick or whatever. And so,
you know, we're imperfect, we make mistakes, things come up. But I think saying this is the expectation and then when those things arise, you say, "Hey, we tried and look, this thing happened." You know, that's one thing. But I do think that that at least stating in our
records that the expectations that we're going we're going to organize around meeting this goal, I think is sensible. >> Uh, Councelor Jamrod McUade and then councelor Guisinski. Yeah. So, my first um thing was just in response to uh
Councelor Schmidt's comment. I I do think that the language reads pretty clear that final and approved minutes of all committee meetings shall be sent to the city clerk. Um but that brings me to a question I have, which is per open meeting law, are approval of meeting minutes required to happen in a public
meeting or could the clerk or could the city councilors circulate the minutes ahead of time and just approve it? Yes, they have to happen there. It's a part of the agenda, right? So, you would basically if you know that you're not going to meet for another few months, if
you've had a meeting, then you would have to call a meeting in order to approve your minutes essentially. And so, you would you would have to do that. That would be my interpretation, but I'm open to someone else's opinion as well. >> Council Kazinski, >> um I think we're still debating the 45day question. Yeah, I'll withdraw my
amendment. And I >> we actually by process we still didn't approve to even get to that particular point, but >> Okay. >> We were still kind of in the comments >> in the comments before. I just wanted to clarify that. >> All right. Now, that being said,
>> I I I think it would behoove every council to publish every committee to publish a a meeting just before this council meeting to approve minutes. And that be as a practical matter
for to think about as a way of meeting the deadlines of changing to of of keeping within the 30 days is to say look whether we have a meeting a regular meeting to discuss other matters. Let's all let's all meet to approve minutes just before our regular meeting. So we
could have several meetings go on quickly approve the minutes then they could be available and the clerk could have them. and they could be published and we could be within the law. I think that makes sense as a kind of conceptual process for us to do rather than to say, "Oh my gosh, we got to pull a full
meeting together, do a full just get the minutes out in the time just before a regular meeting." >> When you say regular, sorry, just a point of clarification. When you say regular meeting, you mean the city council? >> It's a full a full city council meeting. Okay. >> We meet generally twice a month, at
least once a month. uh that would give us all an opportunity to have the minutes prepared and to go over the so I think if the committees kept that in mind that might be an an alternative a way an alternative way to meet the 30-day deadline. >> Yep. And just to remember that they
would have to publish that 48 hours. >> 40 hours in advance it would be published etc. But at least it could be done. >> Okay. Uh councelor Pete >> I was actually going to say a similar thing. Um although I don't know that it it it depends from committee to committee. like for finance I wouldn't necessarily do that because we generally
meet every two weeks so there's not really a need for it but that's definitely like you know if if the idea of doing a meeting for a committee that has doesn't really have anything on its agenda for the sole purpose of >> find of approving your minutes seems
daunting that is a mechanism that I've seen used before is to schedule a meeting with the only thing being approval of minutes for in that room for 5:45 on a Wednesday before city comes, you just go in, you prove the minutes, you're done. You don't need to like set
up a whole thing and have everyone. So, like there's ways to do it like that. If you uh if if if you don't if you're if you know you're not going to be meeting or you suspect you're not going to be meeting for a while, just get that over with. >> Yeah. Great. So, I think these are all great suggestions for us how to be able
to do it, but sticking with this. Yeah. Councelor Kazinski. >> I just wanted to add one more point. I think that uh really is a much better way and suggested way of doing things than to have serial communications >> among the various committee members to go over the minutes and oh gez that
isn't what I said or it is what I said that could create real open meeting law >> problems other comments regarding the amending of rule 11L right um so I'm seeing No other
comments. I will take a motion. >> I thought we were we >> Well, what happened was we started doing all three, but we're doing each of them individually. So, >> happy to read it again. I mean, yeah. to change to uh replace the existing
language regarding uh 11L with final and improved minutes of all committee meetings shall be sent to the city clerk for public availability within 30 days from the date of the meeting for which the minutes are documented. Suggested committee meeting minutes and meeting agenda templates are as follows. >> Okay.
>> And we'll stop right there. >> Yep. Stop right there. All right. So, um >> is there a second? >> Yep. So, I have a motion. >> Second. >> Second. I have an emotion. I have a motion and a second uh to amend rule 11L uh to read uh final and approved minutes
of all committee meetings shall be sent to the city clerk for public availability within 30 days from the date of the meeting for which the meeting minutes are documented. Um any further discussion hearing none. Uh all those in favor I
>> any opposed extensions? Motion passes. Great. Uh moving on to the I think we could do the next two maybe together, but it felt like those that one was going to have further discussion. So Sure. Um again uh I will turn it over to you, Chairwinski.
>> So adding to what we just approved, the language I would uh move to be approved, the suggested committee meeting minutes and meeting agenda templates are as follows. and the two attachments for
committee minutes and public meeting notes. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to approve. Um any further discussion about either of these question are we just approving the um
the adoption of the templates? Are we actually talking about the the changes on uh the additions to the templates? >> So the templates >> both of those things. Okay. So so the discussion is about the templates. >> Um in that case >> y >> um my my sole recommendation uh or or
request or or whatever it would be um is that mayoral communications and public speak appear in the same order. I don't have real strong feelings one way or the other but the inconsistency drives me hus. council or vice president Jazz.
>> Yes. No, thank you, Council Schmidt. It's an oversight on our part um just dealing with a lot of different documentations for this particular situation. So, I believe and I'll ask councelor Kisinski to back me up on this, but I believe we had agreed to put mayoral communications in um as the
second item. So that would mean that mayor communications on the minutes template should move before public speak. >> Okay. >> So the change would be to move mayoral communications before public speak.
>> Yes. And the thought process behind that was in case the mayor had scheduling concerns. um we don't always know how long public speak will take and so that way the mayor could come in share any communication that the mayor has and then leave if needed and then we can move to public speak.
>> The only other if I may the only other thought to that subject is that there may be things that you would want to have the public speak refer to that you'd want the mayor to hear before they came necessarily with communications. So
that became the the qu only question in in my mind. So um we were happy either way, but thinking of accommodating the mayor and the mayor's time schedule was to make it number two. If the council felt otherwise, it would be number
three. >> Okay. So, we have an amendment uh to move the mayor's communication on the committee committee uh committee meetings templates to before public speak. Uh any further discussion?
Seeing none. So, all those in favor to approve the uh so I need a motion. So, there's a motion. I need a second. I'll second that. Okay. So, there's a motion and a second to move the mayoral communication before public speak on the committee meetings template. Um, any further
discussion about that? >> All those in favor? >> I I opposed abstensions. Great. Motion passes. So, now we're back to the primary motion. Uh, other questions about either of these.
Councelor Peak, >> I apologize for this being unbelievably as >> in the uh the the the meeting notice uh template. >> Yes. >> The seal at the top
>> should probably move just like a centimeter to the right being clipped. And if we're making this an official document that everyone's using, it's going to drive me crazy for years. I don't even know if that requires a vote. I'm just saying. >> I'm not sure.
>> So, I think that there is a another template that we have for that if I'm not mistaken. >> So, the the seal is not >> what's important to this. I think to the discussion that we we could accommodate that I think. >> Councelor Jam Mcuade. Yeah. I guess I
was related to that. I was just I was going to ask a point of clarification. Um, so if we already like the actual document that is created here isn't like the one that we're forced to use. It's just as long as it looks the same and has all the same elements in the same places, it'll count.
>> May I May I speak to that? >> The language is suggested. >> Okay. >> In in in the mo in the previous motion adopted, it was suggested. >> Vice President Jadzik. >> Um, thank you. Uh, I just wanted to go
back to councelor Peak's request and to say that this is just a printing error that on the actual document the full seal is there. So again, these documents I think are mostly meant to live digitally. So I don't foresee that to be an issue, but thank you for pointing that out. Um, and then to just again uh
plus one to councelor Kazinsk's comment to councelor Jam Mcuade. Um, we I think had a long discussion about this. We would like to highly recommend that committees use these formats so that really it's for the public's sake so
that everything looks consistent because what happens right now is that there is no real consistency. So it does differ from committee to committee. So by using the same general format the public understands where to look for information and what information they
should be what order it's going to be presented in. That being said, um, for example, you know, if you would like to have, in my opinion, if you'd like to have minutes with a smaller, um, header, you know, I don't think that's the end of the world, but it was really, you
know, we're not going to force anyone in this recommended language, but the spirit again is that people do follow these formats so that there's a just a consistency um across all the committees.
And um council does have a folder on the drive that every counselor can access and these documents once approved if they're approved will be made available there and you can easily
kind of download them and pull them so that we have that easy accessibility to that. All right. Great. So um any other comment discussion?
All right. So we have a motion and a second for approval. So discussion. So, all those in favor to uh approve the um agenda or I'm sorry to uh
adopt the uh committee minutes template as well as the meeting agenda template. Um all those in favor. >> Any opposed? Abstained. Great. Motion passes. Thank
you so much to the committee for working on those. I think that again in the spirit that this is, it's to make uh our meetings more accessible uh for people to be able to kind of follow to have the information that they need um so that again that we are just more accessible
to the public. Councelor Kazinski. >> Um the other matter that was new to the uh committee, the resolution in support of establishing a housing crisis task force. Councelor Jamrock Mcclaid has
asked us to not discuss at the last meeting. So, we'll be having our next meeting on March 11th at 6:00 p.m. March 11th at 6 p.m. >> and we'll discuss it at that time. >> Okay. >> This concludes.
>> Great. Uh, just really quickly, did you discuss the ad hoc committee council president appointments >> that we we we uh we did and we were going to present that at the next >> at the next one. Okay. Next. Yeah. Just wanted to make sure it's follow. All
right. Great. Thank you so much. Uh there is no old business uh new business. I will turn it over to Vice President Jadzik. >> Thank you, President Denm. So to start off with, we have um five new mayoral appointments. And one second as I pull
those up. So these appointments um which I'm going to read out in the form of a motion to send these to the appointments committee. First, we have Kay Collins to the Community Relations Committee with a term expiration date of December 31st,
2027. Second, we have Alexander Baron to the Energy Advisory Committee with a term expiration date of December 31st, 2026. Third, we have Steven Linsky to the Energy Advisory Committee with a term expiration date of December 31st, 2026. Fourth, we have Lydia Barry to the
Energy Advisory Committee with a term expiration date of December 31st, 2026. And then finally, we have Angelie Baker to the Veterans Council with a term expiration date of December 31st, 2027. >> So, I have a motion.
>> I have a motion in a second to send five mayoral appointments to the appointments committee. Any further discussion? I just have a comment. >> Yeah. Um I don't, you know, I think that this could be said for most of the times that we move these appointments through. Um, but this time I actually had a
chance to go and read the letters that were written and everything. And I just wanted to comment and say that we're really lucky to have such a strong group of people, you know, someone with a PhD, someone with with extensive um experience. >> Yep. We're This is just about sending
the appointments to the I mean, I think you could phrase it as I enthusiastically send these appointments to the committee. >> Yeah. you know, I overall I just want to like thank everyone for applying and I enthusiastically, you know, want to thank. >> Okay, great. Uh, so I have a motion and
a second to send uh five meal appointments to committee. Um, any further discussion? >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Abstain. Great. Motion passes.
Next. Next, we have a mayoral request to create a healthc care costs stabilization fund. And I would like to um make a motion to move this request to the finance commission. >> Second. >> So, I have a motion and a second to to uh send the mayoral request to create a
healthc care cost stabilization fund finance. Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstensions. Great. Motion passes. Um, regarding uh C, mayor request to add
eight additional liquor licenses through legislation. Um, I'm I'm holding that uh because I've been in communication and I've talked to the mayor and I've also been in communication with um Representative Gomez. He is actually uh
getting more information uh regarding um liquor licenses um and the number of liquor licenses etc. So I am waiting for that information so that um that information can be sent with it with the motion with the item to the committee
right so I don't want to do that those things separately so I am holding that it for the next meeting it will be an old business and then we will address it then right um and last item >> great and then our final item is um an interdep departmental transfer and so um
I'd like to make a motion to go Tom. >> Oh, >> Tom has to do with first. Sorry. Go ahead. >> Uh, this is an inter interdep departmental transfer. Uh, I So, what I'll do is I'll I'll make a motion to do a first reading to send this um to uh
finance for review and to schedule a public hearing for our next meeting, which is March uh 4th >> at 6:15 in these chambers. Um so request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount
requested $20,000 to be transferred from to be transferred from mayoral mayor clerical salary $20,000 to be transferred to city attorney professional services $20,000. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. Legal costs build for
fiscal year 26. Since the last appropriation, we have received $22,518 in legal fees and have yet to receive bills for February through June. >> I have a motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second uh to
approve the following appropriation um of $20,000 to be transferred from mayor clerical salary. $20,000 to be transferred to city attorney professional services $20,000. Um any further discussion? Um all those in favor? I opposed
abstain. Great. Motion passes. And that is everything on our uh agenda. I will take a motion to adjurnn >> to I have a motion to adjurnn. I have a motion and a second to adjurnn. Uh all those in favor. I opposed.
Great. Motion passes. Great. Thank you everybody. All good. I got to go every day.