being time. I now call the Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 Garden City Council meeting to order. The clerk, may you please now call the role. Council Brooks, present. Council Craig Formir. Council General Lawitz, present. Council Hardner, present. Council Heath,
present. Council Hegel present. Council Kazinskus present. Council Mack, Council Tone, Council Tivo Minos, and President Tyrus present. Please rise for the opening prayer and pledge of allegiance.
Almighty God, we thank you for bringing us together this evening. inspire us to deeds and direct us toward city government and inspire us that we may liberate unity in harmony. Amen.
I pledge 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. Announcement of open meeting
recordings. Any person may make a video or audio recording of an open session of a meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium subject to reasonable requirements of the chair as to the number, placement, and operation of equipment used so as to not interfere with the conduct of the meeting. Any person intending to make such a
recording shall notify the chair forth with all documents and exhibits used or referenced at the meeting must be submitted in duplicate to the chair as they become part of the meeting minutes. Is anyone recording this evening meeting? No response. Reading of minutes of prior
meetings. February 18th, 2025 regular meeting. March 3rd, 2025 regular meeting. Councelor Kazinskus. Mr. President, I move that we wave the reading of the minutes and accept them as presented. Second. Motion made by councelor Kazinska, second by councelor Brooks to wave the reading of the
minutes and accept them as presented. Is there discussion? All those in favor? I. I. All those opposed? No. Motion passes. We have no public hearings. There are no communications from the mayor. We have no petitions,
applications, communications, communications, reports of standing committees. Public welfare committee, a measure authorizing the administration to enter into an intermunicipal agreement with the town of Winington for
veteran services for FY 2025 through FY 2027. Council Hegel. Move to refer to the finance committee for additional study and review. Second. Motion made by councelor Hegelin, second by councelor journal allowance to refer the item to the finance committee. Is there
discussion? Councelor Hagglin. Thank you. Just to sort of give some background to that. I did get a chance to watch the meeting uh and I know welfare is in favor of this. However, given there is a financial piece to the contract, I felt it pertinent that the finance committee have a chance to review it as well. Uh we should have
plenty of time to get this done uh per any deadlines in May. And so uh that's why I made the motion. Thank you. Thank you, Council Heg. Any further discussion? All those in favor I. All those opposed, no. Motion
passes. Finance Committee item 11482, discussions regarding the city's health insurance payments and trust fund. Councelor Heg. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh given that this is just discussion, we really just wanted to provide the council with an update since this has been sort of something that
ongoing that the finance committee's had a chance to monitor and review. Uh you know, we know that we had made some increases to the rates a while back at this point that the fund was not exactly where the city was hoping it would be to be healthy and stable. It's currently
sitting at 1.4 million. Uh so not as comfortable as the city may wish, but it's in a better spot than it had been. The Insurance Advisory Commission, we also learned at our meeting, has gotten an update that for FY26, there will be some additional increases to those
rates. Uh 12% for the health insurance and 3% for our dental insurance. This also came up too as the um the city was reviewing other options like the GIC or other health insurance providers and looking at the rates and and what was anticipated with those other proposals
or options. Blue Cross Blue Shield is currently still one of the uh lower rates that we're expecting to see and so the city is feels it's in the best interest of all of our employees and the city to stick with Blue Cross Blue Shield for now. Um and so there'll be an open enrollment for city employees in
May. Uh and that's currently where things stand. So again, we just wanted to provide an update to the council on that. Thank you. to confirm. Councilman, did you place the communication? So, we still have the item with the finance committee as well. So, this is purely just discussion and
update. Um, so I don't think we should need a motion for this one. Thank you, council. Be there no objection, but this will remain with the finance committee. Item 11521, an order authorizing
$282.36 of prior year salary expenditure from solid waste enterprise account to the transfer station monitor. Council allowance. Thank you, President Tyrros. Uh this was an over there was an oversight for the step increase for the transfer station monitor um was not given at the correct time. So this
remedies that oversight um paying the um employee the $22.36. The finance committee was in favor and I move the order. Second motion made by councelor, second by council Hegeland to move the order. Is there discussion?
All those in favor? I All those opposed? No. Motion passes. Item 11522, an order transferring $10,000 from community development clerk assistant salaries and wages to community development professional
services operating expenditure. Council journal. Thank you, President Tyros. This order is to fund a contract for the now retired and former administrative assistant in community development planning department to come in uh and train the new assistant in um the role. Um we have done this in the past for
other uh positions in the city. Um so it's not out of the ordinary. Uh the finance committee was in favor of the order. Um the contract itself was is for $5,000. Um, and I would be I'll be making a a motion here now um to reduce
the amount though to that $5,000 amount. So, um I move to approve the order um an order transferring $5,000 from community development clerk assistant salaries and wages to community development professional services operating expenditure. Second. Motion made by
councelor journal. Second by councelor hegeland to clarify to reduce to amend the motion to $5,000. That's how you want to phrase it. that the mo there was a motion on the floor. I'm making a motion to approve an order to approve the order. Thank you. Council approve an order but of $5,000 and not
10. Thank you. Uh motion may council second by councelor Heglin. Is there discussion? Council just to clarify further um thinking about this more. We did discuss we um about having you the mayor was going to come back and update us if further expenses were needed and we were going to go that route. I just
think it's cleaner for us to just keep it at the $5,000 for what the contract is for and if further monies are needed. Uh the mayor can come back and update us on that at that point and we can transfer at that point if necessary. If not, um things will just stay as is. Thank you.
Further discussion, council, I'll just add in support of that. Um, we really did have a good conversation about this and I think the feeling from the finance committee at the time was that it was understood sure the 10,000 would help in the case that the contract had to go longer be extended the mayor
wouldn't have to come back before us and that's to what councelor Dalow's point was going to maybe require just a quick letter updating the c the finance committee or the council about the change. However, I do think this is a nice concrete way of just ensuring that we do get some updates or we find out if
things are going longer or or more help is needed in that office. Uh so I support this motion. Thank you. Further discussion council. Uh just kind of to support uh the well I I agree and I'll be supporting this uh the motion or the
amended amount to $5,000. I think this is a it's a kind of unwritten best practice that we've done in the past to have them um if there is any question to come back and and um ask for more. I mean obviously the contract's at 5,000
so we want to keep it there now but uh in my opinion this is a good practice that we have set in place and um I trust that we'll get the updates and see you know how it goes moving forward. So I'll be supporting it. Thank you councel. Is there further discussion council? Uh,
thank you, President Tyros. Um, I'll definitely be supporting this. Um, I just want to say it's actually awesome that, you know, Miss Christine, I don't know how to say your last name. Fuchsial. Is that how you say it? I don't know. Miss Christine Fuchial, I just want to say thank you for um be willing to come back and help us out and
uh train, you know, new new employees. I don't think I would go back to my old job and help train them. So, thank you. That is all. Is there further discussion? We'll take a roll call vote. Please call the role. Council Brooks, yes. Council
Dawitz, yes. Council Hardra, yes. Council Heath, yes. Council Hegland, yes. Council Kaziscus, yes. Council Tios, yes. President, yes. Eight. Motion
passes. Item 11524. Order. An order accepting donations for the gardener flower pot program. outs. Thank you, President Tyros. Uh this is we received donations for the flower pot program as many know those
throughout the city. Um just just less than $9,000 um from my quick calculations has been donated so far for those. Um however, donations must be approved by the council. The finance committee was in favor and I move the order. Motion made by councelor second
by councelor Heglin to move the order. Is there discussion? just like to thank everyone who uh has taken the time to make this um flower park program a success. Um a lot of people in city hall putting extra extra time in um to make sure this happens and
um it doesn't go unnoticed. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Kazinsus. On that note, specifically to the council, I'd like to thank councelor Mack um for her efforts for this and um working with the departments as well. Um that's all. Thank you. Thank you, councelor. discuss
further discussion. It's a roll call vote. The clerk may please call the role. Council Brooks, yes. Council Dawitz, yes. Council Harter, yes. Council Heath, yes. Council Heglland, yes. Councelor Kaziscus, yes. Council Tibbo, yes. And President Tylers, yes.
Eight. Eight. Motion passes. Item 11525, an order accepting donations to the gardener animal shelter. Council journal outs. Thank you, President Tyros. This is another approval of donation. this the donations this time for the animal shelter. Uh there's an extensive list of items that is in our
packet both monetary contributions and actual physical items for the the shelter. Uh which is obviously greatly appreciated. The finance committee was in favor and I move the order. Second. Motion made by sorry motion made by councelor Dowitz to move the order. Second by councelor Hegman. Is there
discussion? Roll call vote. Please call the role. Council Brooks. Yes. Councelor Dawitz. Yes. Council Hard. Yes. Yes. Council Heath, yes. Council Hegund, yes. Council Kazinskus, yes. Council Tibo, yes. And
President Tyrus, yes. Eight days. 8 days. Motion passes. Item 11526, a measure author authorizing the city to enter into a contract for up to 5 years for on call engineering services. Council General. Thank you,
President Tyros. This measure will allow the mayor to negotiate a contract for engineering service for up to 5 years. Uh without this approval, the mayor could only negotiate a contract up to three years. Uh this gives more flexibility in negotiations. It doesn't necessarily mean that's how long the contract will be, but it just has the
ability to negotiate up to um that threshold. Um this is a pay as you go type of contract. Um they're on call services. So whatever services we um ask the engineering firm to do, that is what we pay for. Um questions were asked about is there a retainer upfront cost at all? That is not how it works. is
just um alocard I guess as you go pay for the um uh services provided. The finance committee was in favor and I move to authorize the measure. Motion made by council journal allowance to authorize the measure. Second by council he was there
discussion roll call vote. Please call the roll. Councelor Brooks. Yes. Councelor Dawitz. Yes. Councelor Harder. Yes. Councilor Heath. Yes. Council Heglin. Yes. Councelor Kazinskas. Yes. Council Toss. Yes. and President Tyrus.
Yes. Eight. The motion passes. Economic and Community Development Committee item 11530, April Economic and Community Development Update. Council Kazinskus. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh we had a
meeting earlier this evening for the economic and community development committee and we are updated on a number of items from Director Stevens. They have been busy work over the past month. Uh I would as always I would encourage the um public to watch the meeting on
YouTube. There was um a lengthy update. Um he covered the rare main street project, the mass trails along Crystal Lake Drive, the master plan steering committee. um which includes the hazard mitigation
plan, the gardener redevelopment authority work that's been done uh specifically regarding the garbos property uh the planning board has met and and what they've been up to. uh the Gardener Cultural Council and the
projects under the assistant director as well, including the Greenwood Pool 205 to 213 Main Street and the community development and block grant um application that has been submitted to the state from the department. Uh that was an incredible amount of work that's
been done in the past month or so. it's moving along um the existing projects that uh we have we've asked for updates on and we've wanted to um be sure that the department is supported and so that we see progress in these different areas
and I mean specifically the rear main street project um in about two to two and a half months um we're going to be able to see the work that um we were originally contracted to start for uh from the last
update, if you'll recall, there was um discovery that there was a lot of kind of cleanup and other work that needed to be done. And that's going to be my really really short summary of of what was said in the meeting. Uh but since that's been recognized just a couple of
months ago, it is being remediated and we're going to see that work started in in the next um couple of months from the original contract which we were um nowhere near doing that before um you know we had really questioned it. So uh that is very
encouraging and uh also notably the master plan steering committee that's been uh put together. Um the mayor has a number of people on that committee. Um there's other people appointed to that committee and there's a lot of benefits
to having a master steering I'm sorry master plan um steering committee to get the master plan together but there's a lot of benefits to the master plan itself. Uh it helps develop our new economic development plan updating our our urban renewal plans. Um, this is
actually the first master plan gardener has ever had in its history. Um, and one of the other benefits is to to having it helping develop the hazard mitigation plan is you become eligible for a number of federal grants, which is federal dollars that can come to the city and
help accomplish things we need to do and we can use our city dollars elsewhere. Uh so there's a lot of benefits to the planning piece of it, but there's also a lot of uh benefits that are financial as well to that master plan. Uh and then
also uh as I'd mentioned the uh the gardener cultural council received its aotment from the state and so what our gardener cultural council gets to do is award that to the different projects and see where that goes within the community. So
that's been kicked off. Um and then the other notable things underneath the assistant director's supervision being greedwin pool and the demolition um bid closes on April 24th which is coming up and that's for a 30-day period. And uh a
lot of good information there about the demolition and how that could affect the the swim season and how um the different historical items within the pool have been preserved already. And um so again, I would check out the meeting, but that is a really that was a really good um is
a really good outlook on that project to see what we have moving forward going into the summertime. And then also 205 to 213 Main Street, I'm sure people have seen downtown. Um that there's been a lot of work going on around those couple of buildings and it's going to look very
different once that continues, of course. Uh and then also the number of projects submitted on the CDBG um submission as well. Uh those the CDBG met on Friday. I'm also a member of that committee and um you can again watch
that meeting right on YouTube as well. But there is uh a number of projects on there that get submitted and they're going into the next step. So the state has to look at it and see that we meet certain parameters and then how possible how possible funding could get allocated back to the city for those different
projects. So this is all one month of progress and this is the updates that we you know request and um he's really hitting all the different areas that the department should and uh so it was a really thorough update for us to to get
for this month and that's all I have. to your motion to place the item on file. I will so moved. Second. Motion made by councelor Kazinska second by council during allowance. Place the item on file. Is there discussion?
Councelor. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh I just a few questions about um I wonder if if so it's a question through the president to um counselor um Kazinskus. Um is there
are there any updates on um uh timeline for demolition for school street school and any updates? I assume this is through economic community development for um the the committee that's looking at Stonefield or um anything updates
regarding Helen May slaughter what kind of where we're going with that. Well, we had two items two of the items have been brought to the council. So, I'm not sure how we want to proceed on that. Helen May Slaughter and Stone Field. Um School Street, we do have the
mayor here, but those weren't things that were brought up at the meeting and that's what the update was for. So, I mean, I it's at the um at the president's um discretion how you would want to answer that, but we did not get updates at the meeting. So,
yeah. Thank you. Um thank you, counselor, because that is correct. Those items were not discussed in relation to this item. So, I would save that uh request for an update outside this meeting. Okay. And it's certain it's certainly something too that you can I would if I may um that you can you know submit to the council president for
an update at a future meeting. We can do that as well. Thank you. Is it further discussion? Council Heath. Thank you. Um President Tyros um just for clarity because I know during the meeting there was some confusion between the sitewalk the um time frame for the bid but it's
actually 14 days. It's not the 30 days that um councelor Kinska said for the people at home. If I'm if I'm correct, it's 14 days in which the timeline of the building being taken down should be before the pool opens. That is all. Thank you. Thank you, Council Heath. Is
there further discussion? All those in favor? I I. All those opposed, no. Motion passes. Item 11510, an order authorizing the creation of an economic development and finance manager for the position for the
position for the community development and planning department and approving the job description for said position. Councelor Kazinskus. Thank you, President Tyrros. Item 11510 and 11511, if I may, I'd like to take up together. Yes, councelor. Uh item
11511 an ordinance to amend the code of the city of gardener chapter 171 thereof entitled personnel to amend schedule E thereof entitled non-union compensation schedule to add position of economic development and finance manager. Thank
you. Uh thank you Mr. President. the economic development committee uh requested um additional information from the department uh regarding these two items and so I would make the motion to
refer the items back to the economic development committee um because there is more requested so there's been no recommendation from the committee at this time so that is the motion is to refer them back to the echoev committee second motion made by councelor kazinskus second by councelor during allowance
uh refer back to the economic development committee items 11510 and 11511. Is there discussion? All those in favor I. All those opposed? No. Motion passes. Item 11514 a communication from
the mayor regarding the appointment of an ad hoc advisory committee to take part in the drafting of the city's first master plan. Councelor Kazinskus. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, I make a motion to place the communication on file. Second. Motion
made by councelor Kazinska, second by councelor dur allowance to place communication on file. Is there discussion? All those in favor? I. I. All those opposed? No. Motion passes. We have no unfinished business or matters for your consideration. We
have no new business. Councelor comments and remarks. Are there councelor comments and remarks? Councelor Brooks. Uh, thank you, Mr. President. My family roots go back 12 generations to the early 1600s and to Roger Conan, the Puritan who arrived in the Plymouth
colony in 1624 and later established the town of Salem and whose statue stands overlooking Salem Common. My Brooks ancestors arrived in Salem about 10 years later and gradually spread across New England and the country. My family was in New England at the time
of the American Revolution, which started 250 years ago on the Lexington Green and the Old North Bridge in conquered. Being old Yankees, I'm sure they were educated and valued their independence and their individualism. They would acquies to
decisions made by the group, but objected to being told what to do by outsiders. They believed in no taxation without representation. They objected to the import duties or tariffs on tea which was an attempt by the British government to help the
profits of the East India Company. They objected to judges being dependent on the king for their tenure in office and the payment of their salaries. In the end, they objected to even having a king, a person who could decide all matters for himself with minimal
restraints or limits on his power. 12 years passed between the battles of Lexington and conquered and the writing of our US Constitution. Over the next 12 years, we will be celebrating the 250th
anniversary of those events. And I believe that celebration is welld deserved. In celebrating, let us not bask let us not only bask in the glory of our accomplishments and of this great nation, but let us also commit ourselves
to safeguarding who we are and what we have accomplished. Our forefathers knew that if we were not careful, what we have and who we are could be quickly lost. Thank
you. Thank you, Councelor Brooks. Further counselor comments. Councelor Kazinskus. Uh I would just like to actually thank uh President Tyros as he was a council designate to the capital improvement planning committee
previously and I am now the a designate from the council to that committee. Uh we met last week and I just wanted to mention that the process by which the projects are submitted has changed and that is due to a suggestion by councelor Tyrros uh by president Tyrros. Uh city
engineer Rob Oliva is the chair of that. He adopted a new form that was the suggestion of president Tyrros and uh I just wanted to mention that it really adds to um the detail that we get. It's
um much more formal. There's much more transparency to the process and it gives the departments requesting the funds a fair seat at the table I would say. Uh and so it was really helpful for my
first meeting on that committee to have that in front of us and uh uh chair Oliva is doing a fantastic job moving it forward to kind of amend the process to make it more uniform and to have more information moving forward and uh it was
a really good meeting and I just uh I really wanted to say thank you to council to president Tyrros for that because it certainly made it um much more helpful and I think it kind of goes with the mission of what we are trying to do when it comes to um you know disperse funds throughout the city and
and hit the projects that are the big uh items that are big priorities and it's and you know we have a lot of priorities here in the city but it helps to have the committee to get together to do it which we obviously do have this one. Um but that just it was a nice way for me for my first meeting to start off that process. So I thought that was really
helpful. And then the second thing is my mom wanted me to announce and uh councelor Ron Cormier always used to do this as well but I told my mom I would so here I am. The friends of the Levy
Haywood Memorial Library used book sale. Uh the members preview night is Thursday, April 24th from 4 to 7. And then the book sale is open to the public on Friday, April 25th from 9:00 to 4:30
and Saturday from April 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is an incredible um it's an incredible event for the library. I mean, people just would not believe how many books they have available and how many go through the
library and through that sale, as I know councelor Brooks can attest to. Uh, but I want to be sure everyone in the community knows about it because it's a great thing we have at the library and it's very helpful for our library. And that is all. Thank you, Council Kazinskus. Thank you. Any further remarks?
I'd like to just take a brief moment to highlight some of the good work that a board and commission that our city has done recently. Um, and I think it's it's a testament to the hard work that Chair Heath and the mayor have put forth in making sure that our boards and commissions are staffed and with qualified individuals um that care about
our community. Um, recently I learned the disabilities commission is actually putting a lot of effort behind connecting health, fitness, and wellness uh, organizations in our city and transportation agencies in our city to connect their constituents and the the members of our population that they're
focused on uh, to bridge those connections to make it more accessible uh, for for those members. And I was just wildly impressed with that discussion with the work they're putting forward. And I think it's important to appreciate uh that, you know, we have dedicated individuals that are putting
in time often in a voluntary basis to make our community better. So I'd like to do that more often uh in councelor remarks as well. So with that, I'd entertain a motion to adjurnn after the closing prayer. So moved. Motion made by councelor Kazinska, second by councelor Heath to adjurnn after the closing
prayer. All those in favor I. I. All those opposed, no. Motion passes. Almighty Father who ceased over all as we adjourn, we thank thee for the opportunity of joint deliberation and action witnessed during the course of this meeting. Bless, O Lord, all who are
gathered here and the people whose representatives we are and do thou attend to our common welfare until our next meeting. Amen.