to see if I can take a cruise by [Music] >> get started and we'll just take police. >> Uh we'll call this meeting to order for Friday, October 17th at 8:02. If the clerk would please call the role, >> uh present.
>> Councelor Harter, >> present. Council folks >> present. >> First item on the agenda is reading of the minutes of prior meetings August 28th, 2025 and September 12th, 2025. >> I move that we dispense with the reading of the minutes of both meetings and approve them as presented. >> Second.
>> Motion by councelor Brooks, second by councelor Harden to wave the reading of the minutes and accept them as printed. All in favor? >> I. >> I opposed. Motion carries. Department updates. We will uh skip the police department for the moment. We will move
on to building department. [Applause] >> Good morning. Um start with staffing and Tim continues to learn quickly and perform well as his role in local inspector. our full-time
local inspectors or the second position is still needing to be filled. Um workload and operation the inspector's workload has resulted in approximately a 3 week uh lead time for
permit review and two to three wait for inspections. We're trying to keep it under 3 days though cuz it's long time to wait. um technology and systems councelor Craig Cormier, thank you for
joining the Govwell um exploratory meeting this week. This platform appears to be a strong fit for gardener and to everyone else or police chief and fire chief Angela was there. Um,
this is my plug for for Govwell and it's it's easier for both staff and residents to use, including unlimited support offers and it offers advantages of having workflows professionally built for us. Residents will be able to ask
questions directly to Govwell instead of going through us. Um, reducing the burden on staff. The best part is they help you build the workflows so it's not added to our plates or anyone in our staff's plate. Um, and I'm really hoping
that the other departments will give their input and be open to creating workflows that's consistent across the city. Uh, a fresh start would really help. The scanning project remains in the planning phase and Kathy Burgerer is gathering quotes for the building department maintenance and se several
others. Once finalized, I'm optimistic that we can create a phased plan that aligns with our long-term budget. Um, I'm planning on going to Norwood to see the operation and work through some logistics in early November. And please reach out if anyone would like to join.
Um, community development. I've really enjoyed working with gardener residents and builders. Uh the people here are down to earth and our department is committing to making this permit process easier to navigate.
I have noticed that the building department isn't being included early enough in the process across the board. This may be a result of the turnover in building commissioner the building commissioner role. My hope is that other departments will begin to loop me in earlier,
particularly during the planning planning stages so we can identify issues proactively and keep projects on track. Um, needs and challenges. As I mentioned in my 30-day report, additional maintenance support remains a key need so I can
fully focus on my responsibilities as building commissioner. um our efforts on are moving in the right direction but continue continued support and staffing consistency will be essential um to sustain progress
um and to improve coordination across departments. I'd like to establish a more uh this is this must be my old draft. Oops. Yeah. Um,
so for needs and challenges, uh, I guess I'd just like a little bit more guidance in, um, in how Hold on. I'm just going to have to give myself a second because now I my mind
just went completely blank. H so planning board has a uh committee that helps them or kind of checks in with them regularly and I was wondering if that is something that we could start talking about for the building department
>> having a committee. >> Yes. I'm not sure if this is the place to do that or not. >> Okay. a council committee or >> Yes. Um that and and I'm not sure if this is where I talk
about my other responsibilities like ZBA and uh the building maintenance or is that for a different check-in? >> Okay. >> Oh, I can talk about that here. Okay. Well, I'm working with Ry, of course, uh, for ZBA, and the maintenance that
I'm doing is is consistently a problem, not just for a building commissioner, um, but for the ZBA part of it. I would like to be able to help the residents a little bit more in in the process cuz it's incredibly confusing and even for some of us. So um and
for maintenance we are we have a workflow and Angela was gracious enough to help me create that so we can we can hopefully um have people submitting requests through this and then I'll be able to uh
outsource you know if I have enough requests then I can get somebody in here to to help like for a day and that's what I was talking about yesterday with um the mayor. And I think that's that's all I have.
Does anyone have any questions for me? >> Uh thank you, Melissa. I think it's quite an undertaking for you to to come in and I think you're starting with virtually no staff, correct? >> That's what it Well, yes. >> Over the over the first couple of months
between injuries and other things, it's just it's that's what's happened. Um, but it's a lot to a lot to handle. >> Um, and and I would say just keep at it. It'll it should get it'll get better. >> Um,
my experience in in uh going into a new position when I went into downtown Pittsburgh was to spend some time just figuring out what was going on and how things were working um and and what my priorities were and stuff. I was probably a month
into the job before I even uh kind of began to formulate what what do I need to do and how do I need to do it. Um, so I think your your goals are ambitious, but I guess I would
as an old guy counsel that that you know just just relax. There's time and and make sure the basic job is getting done and then as that gets done you begin to work work the other issues that need to
be fixed. Um, >> so And I'll and I'll stop with that. The other piece I would say is that if you to me if you have questions, uh your your direct report is is the mayor. And that's to me that's the person you should be talking to as a committee. I
think we're here not even as oversight. We're just here to to learn about what and I forget the word that we've used in the in the uh council rules. We we have charge of the issues that come before the city council,
>> right? Um it's more just uh it's not oversight because we don't necessarily have any power over it. We don't really have any oversight as you want to do things. In my opinion, that should be directed to the mayor
because he's the he's in charge of of city government of the city departments and so on. And we can be a source of information. Uh we can be support along the way. But if you want to make changes and someone in my opinion that that goes
to >> that's helpful. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> That was very very well put and I would say um we spoke a few times on the phone. I've called you about my ward and um I think he said it perfectly. I mean
all you can do is take day by day and every day you'll learn something new and and after a while it will get easier. We hope. But thank you for taking this on. >> Oh, my pleasure. >> I like how you know same executive function, but we can offer whatever
support even if it's just an extra voice in your corner for sure. >> So, Kesler, you mentioned my my primary role focusing on that first. And um to me, it seems like they're all pretty important and if nobody does it, it
won't get done. So I mean that's my perspective on like this getting project and getting everyone um on the same system. >> Um so that's a perspective but I think they might be kind of in
alignment. Um but I will talk to the mayor about that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Uh fire department morning. Uh okay. On the uh on the personnel side,
um we are fully staffed. All positions are still filled at this time. Um the three uh new recruit firefighters that um um I um let you know about last month, they they did graduate the academy. They're assigned to regular
shifts as part of the firefighting force and um they came before the council at the last meeting for swearing in. Um we continue to have one firefighter that is on modified duty um due to an on the job
injury with still no um anticipated return date at this time. Um so we are fully staffed and just at the one the one position out on leave. So, um the staffing situation is right now looking
good and and continuing to be stable. Um and along with that, um the fire both fire uh and ambulance overtime expenditures during the first quarter of the fiscal year were extremely high due to the vacancies. Um and now the last
few weeks they've they've stabilized and come down um where we're close to full staffing. So, it's definitely slowed down. Um and and hopefully that that trend will continue through the rest of the year. Uh on the the grant side of things, um
we received some excellent news. Um on September 24th, the application for the FY2024 FEMA AFG assistance to firefighters grant program for new portable radios was approved.
Um the amount of the award is $363,000 941.96. Um, this will provide the funding needed to replace our current 15year-old um, radios that we're using with new state-of-the-art
um, fire service rated portable radios um, which are a absolute critical lifeline for firefighters that are operating in hazardous locations or conditions. Um so there with this grant there is a
uh 10% match required by FEMA of local funds. Um so the 10% um amount for the city is going to be $33,08564. So I would anticipate in the not too distant future there'll probably be a a
free cash request coming up for that before the council. um that I am tickled that we finally landed this award. Um it's much needed um equip money to replace obsolete
equipment, obsolete important equipment. Um and it's taken this was our fourth application um uh under the program and I'm I'm just very happy that we landed at this time. Um, of course, right now
we're kind of in a holding pattern because the federal government is shut down. Um, so, um, I'm working on getting specs finalized and programming and everything like that. So, as soon as we get, um, the go-ahad from FEMA that
we'll be able to uh, go ahead and and place the order and make the purchase. And uh compared to a lot of other fire equipment that we've ordered over the last few years, there's a pretty short lead time on these radios. They're saying 6 to 8 weeks. So So this one
should be completed and done in a relatively short period of time compared to all the other uh major purchases that the the fire department's done over the last few years. So that's great news for for you know fire department operations
and the safety of of the men and women working over there. Um on the the fleet side of uh the department um the the council recently approved the $25,000
um to purchase the used ambulance from the town of Westminster. Um, so that's that's great for um ambulance operations. Um, the purchase will be completed once Westminster takes delivery of their new ambulance, which
is expected right around the first of the year. Now, um, the the used ambulance that we'll be purchasing, it's a 2016 Chevrolet chassis with a Brun ambulance module on it. Um it will serve
as a backup to the current um 2024 and 2018 units that we have in service right now. The 2018 model Rescue 4 uh continues to be out of service for mechanical issues including a uh
replacement of the turbo on the motor and also now we've had an electronic module control failure um which um we have about a 4-we lead time on that. So once again, lead times for parts to keep these trucks in service is is a
challenge. Um so having this this backup ambulance will be a very good um safety net for the city. Um and the headquarters um roof replacement project uh work is now
underway on the interior um to complete repairs to the the damaged areas of the ceiling in in the apparatus garage. Um previous temporary repairs are being removed. Uh damaged insulation is being
replaced and new drywall and plaster being installed. And when all that work is complete, the entire ceiling will be painted. Um, it's moving along at a very good pace. Um, and with the goal of completing this before real cold winter
weather sets in. Um, and the the important goal here is to reduce the cost of heating that apparatus garage. um because it's been it's been exorbitant over the last couple years because of the lack of insulation and
stuff in areas where it was damaged and had to be removed due to uh contamination concerns. So, we're hoping that's going to be done within the next few weeks. Um and we'll be able to cross that project off the list completely. Um
so, that's that's good. Um and that's my brief report this month. Um, so that's all I have. >> Uh, thank you, Chief. The grant for the rainers, you said it's a FEMA grant, >> correct? >> Which is a federal grant. >> Yes.
>> And are we at all concerned about the money suddenly not being there? Uh, given given the fact that we are in a blue state. Um >> and and and you know just in reading there have been a lot of comments made
both both about FEMA and um federal. >> Yeah. Um so I mean my understanding at this point is that this is you know funding from FY24 that's approved and in place. >> Okay. >> Um
the the the the city's contractor grant writers worked with me on this too. So that's I'll definitely give them a plug that they assisted on this grant and this was the year it was approved. So um and they've
their information that they have is that the the AFG program is not in danger of being cut. >> Okay. Um what they said is it's a it's a very popular program, a very you know needed program and um they they didn't
feel there was any concern with it. >> Okay, good. >> Glad to hear that. Thank you. >> Yes, >> no questions. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Chief. All right. Public health. Good morning.
>> Morning. >> Uh so we'll start off with our our staffing updates. Um we have had vacancies for both of our admin uh positions. So, we offered the position for the full-time administrative
assistant to someone who will be starting on Tuesday. Um, so we still have a vacancy that we're looking to fill at least part-time for an administrative coordinator to provide assistance to the newly hired
administrative assistance. Um the transfer station supervisor uh as of yesterday has retired. So there's going to be a vacancy there and I have submitted my resignation which will be
uh my last day is going to be next Friday the 24th. Um, so Angela will be the acting director once that happens. And I have complete confidence in her and her abilities to do the health director
position um even on a full-time permanent basis if that's what gets decided. But she's fully capable of of handling that role um as long as she's supported by the the number of staff that we need. It's been extremely busy
in the health department office. Um, we get phone calls constantly throughout the day. Like every 5 to 10 minutes, we're getting a phone call about something new, some problem that we have to go inspect and address. Um, so we are
stretched extremely thin and going to be even more so for the the next little bit here. So, um, we're still working on, uh, bringing in the applicants for the the part-time position, and we'll start looking at,
um, what we're going to do as far as restructuring or hiring somebody else at the transfer station to replace the supervisor. Um, so the I think the health department may need additional assistance from other departments um for some of the
administrative tasks that are kind of citywide for the the interim while we're getting back to fully staffed. Um, for budget, the the biggest challenge is going to be the uh the
leech collection system at the landfill. Um, we completed the bid process. Uh, we got one bid for an amount of $224,828 to completely repair and replace the leech collection system. Um, we
currently only have about $115,000 uh available for that, but it is a critically needed repair. The system is at its very end of its life stages. We're currently having the leech pumped
via a pump truck on about a bi-weekly basis. Um, and we're having to physically monitor the leech levels continually throughout each week um, just to make sure that
uh, it all stays contained within the system. Um, so we're going to be definitely needing to to get this project done, we're going to be needing the additional funds to to cover those repairs. Um,
and also DP, I've been updating them about the situation, so they're they're well aware and monitoring the situation as well. Um, and just we'll be continuing to do that as we go forward. Um, the landfill also has a need for uh
erosion control repairs, which u there's currently no funding. Um, the last estimate for that was around $200,000 for repairs to the uh let down channels on the landfill cap.
We have after negotiating with a few different trash companies, we've decided to continue using E Harvey for curbside collection. Um, we were able to negotiate them down to uh a much better
price and uh decided that that along with the continuity of service and their willingness to help us with the transfer station improvements in getting trash compactors out there. Um, will definitely help with transfer station
costs. um a reduction in in trip fees will not take too long to actually kind of pay for itself as far as whatever costs are incurred when putting in the compactors. Um that's also going to increase safety for residents um cuz we can kind
of eliminate the situation we have now where you're climbing up to the edge of a a big open container and there is a a fall risk associated with that. So um so yeah, we will be continuing with Eel Harvey for the next contract which is
2026 to uh 2031. Um for food establishments, we haven't had any new food board illness complaints since the last update at the last meeting. Um
for Title 5 and wells, the board of health voted on new well regulations for private wells. Um with the main difference in that being the addition of PAS to the water quality testing requirements. Um so I think that's a
really timely change that we made and the new private well regulations are going to go into effect on January 1st of 2026. Um, we haven't had any recent uh alcohol
or tobacco violations. Um, we're essentially at the end of the uh arbo viral season, so the risk for triple E and Westnile virus is going to
stay low. Um, we definitely recommend people still use precautions, especially on warmer evenings if they're doing something outside. Uh but the recent weather has been extremely helpful in keeping the mosquito population low.
Uh and then we have also had uh we have we're having a total of three flu and COVID vaccine clinics. Uh we've already had two one at the PACC, one at the Benol House. Um we're having one at city
hall on October 20th from 9 to 12. that's going to be open to the public and any city staff. Um, COVID vaccine was not available for the very first clinic. Uh, but it was available for the Benol House clinic. It will be available
for the the city hall clinic coming up. Um, as far as additional challenges, we have had a recent kind of dramatic uptick in bed bug cases around town. Um, and they seem to be
compounded by difficulties with that. It's normally um impacts a lot of seniors who are single um and unable to kind of perform the necessary tasks that
are associated with the their responsibilities when it comes to a bed bug infestation. So, moving furniture, bagging up clothes, laundering everything, possibly getting rid of furniture. Um, we have a lot of
individuals who are just not don't have the capabilities to handle that or have the capabilities to recognize the severity of what's happening to them. And we're kind of struggling to find any resources for these individuals as far
as assisting them with carrying out those instructions for bed bugs. Uh it's kind of a two-way problem where some the responsibility for treatment falls on the landlord or property owner. Um but the occupants also have responsibilities
as far as addressing their own personal belongings and sanitation within their unit. Um, so we are working with property owners and occupants and trying to get them as much help as we can, but we do need
um there's a need there for additional assistance for people who are just lacking the capabilities to to handle that. Um, and then I lastly just wanted to add that I I definitely support um any kind of changes from open gov to
govell. Um, we've been able to make Open Gov work for us because of Angela. She's kind of a magician with that. Um, but it's definitely kind of a lot of customization and very specific editing
of forms that it seems like uh, Govwell would kind of eliminate some of that and definitely streamline streamline the processes. And then as well as the uh file scanning project, we have um a
whole lot of files that have been sitting and just taking up space in our office and they're very difficult um takes a lot of time just when we get we get a lot of public records requests. So uh it's very timeconuming to go through
those and try and find things and uh scan them and and get them ready for those records requests. So, I definitely support that project as well. And um that's all I have. I'm going to hand it over to Angela for some of her updates.
>> Yeah. So, I did just wanted to expand on um what Micah said about the staffing shortage in the board of health because I do feel like it is a public health and safety concern. Um we have been short one administrator for almost nine months. We had a full-time person who uh left the position back in February. Uh
the position was not refilled, was not filled, was not advertised, we were told after the fiscal budget was approved that we would be able to consider whether or not we'd be able to fill that position. Um and even though I've been advocating for that position to be posted at either a full-time or
part-time capacity, um it just got posted this week when the other administrator gave her notice. And the reason she gave her notice was because she was overwhelmed. um she had taken on about 50% of the tasks including learning munice and paying the bills and receiving
um you know AR AC um and she became overwhelmed. She felt like she reached the the the her maximum ability to do the job and she felt like she was not doing enough. um I took on the other half of those tasks from the full-time
position and for the last 30 days I've been serving as the only person who's doing most of the administrative tasks that um our inspectors were not trained for and our director has never done because it's not part of the job. Um the only reason I know how to do it is cuz I was the administrator in the office
before I became the assistant director. Um and I know we say we have somebody who's starting next Tuesday. She has limited um public health experience. She has no city municipal experience. She does have a lot of administrative uh
experience. So, I do have hope, but that hope is in the training and the ability to support her and not overwhelm her and set a good foundation for her so that we don't lose her almost immediately like we have done in the past. Um, and and my other question would be if if the funding is there, if we were fully
funded for two full-time people, why are we posting a part-time position, especially when our other administrator is brand new coming into the office? Why are we looking for somebody to work 19 hours a week when I need I need a full-time person? Um, and we are still short staffed with uh the director
leaving. I'll be taking over those responsibilities and the transfer station supervisor, our other inspector, has taken over those duties. So, we are all already stretched very thin before Brandy left and before Micah leaves. So, I would like to ask because it is a
public health safety concern for any advice or any help from any of the city departments that are willing to offer. And I want to thank um Melissa McDonald, our new building commissioner, for already offering some assistance with her staff training one of our new staff members on Munis so that it can be done
correctly, thoughtfully, thoroughly, so it's not stressful, so that it's not done in error where it makes more challenges for many other departments like the treasur, the auditor, me, um so that bills can get paid and keep the doors open in our office. and I'm just very concerned about this and I want to
make sure that you guys are aware of what's going on. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any questions? >> I have comments, but um I can hear the stress in your voice. >> Thank you.
>> It's got I mean going to work every day is we we do it >> when you have to go in there and tackle that kind of stress. It's it's tough. And yes, the board of health is a very very important very important to the city and its
people. I call quite a bit about my ward. >> Mhm. >> Um we do have some interesting problems and who you have constantly helped me with and I want to thank you. Um, I don't, you know, rat problems and trash
problems and I could just go on down the list, you know. >> And my question is, so you're saying that they're they're trying to hire someone for 19 hours a week, but you need a full-time person. >> The position was historically a full-time position. >> Um, for for a senior administrator.
>> May I ask you that? Why do you think that's changed? I mean, you don't know. >> I I don't I have I I have ideas, but I don't have direct knowledge. I hate to speculate in a public forum. >> I will try to get some answers on that. >> One thing that I neglected to mention
that um while Eric and I um the inspector and the assistant director are doing the coverage for these tasks, inspections are not being performed. That is actually the public safety challenge that I speak of. Um we cannot get inspections done on a timely manner. Um, I think I've done three food
inspections in the last 30 days and they were for the Garden Public Schools, which is required for their FDA funding because I'm doing all the administrative tasks. And when I'm not covering the front office, Micah is covering the front office or Eric's covering the front office so I can do financial tasks
with um, focus and attention to detail. >> Um, like I said, I will do some homework with this. Okay. >> I appreciate that. Thank you. and sir um will be missed. >> Oh, thank you. Best >> you'll be very missed by me a lot. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Um just just to um agree with my fellow counselor here. Uh Mike, we will miss you. Um and I wish you well in in wherever you're headed.
>> Thank you. That the um enriches your life. Additionally, um and and and I wish you well. I do see that there's challenges within the the health department.
Um I was having a conversation with someone and it was similar to what I had expressed earlier in the meeting that that to me the the first line first responsibility lies with the mayor that the mayor oversees all departments and I was reminded that
that the the health department can be a little different because technically it reports in the board of health and not the mayor and all that okay fine but I still think it's it's ex exe executive responsibility to to make sure things
are running, that the city departments are running. Absolutely. Um, I think we have provide some oversight and I think we can do some, you know, if there's things that are outlined, we can certainly come in and look at things, but I don't want to find us in a position where we're um
airing out grievances of that are going on with departments and what's going on in the city in kind of a public forum. And we're not we haven't we're not we're not but I just don't want to keep moving in that direction. I think it's more like okay there's a problem here let's let's deal with it.
>> Yeah. >> And not carry on. Um I think you know an answer as to uh what position should be there would be looking at the budget and saying what was what was funded in the budget. Did they fund two two administrative positions or one and a half is is the
first that should be an easy answer. Um, and then I think it's important to to begin to refill this department just as we have started to do with the building department just as we have done with the community development department
and and and getting those departments back up and running in good shape. Um, we do have some challenges that the the landfill challenge certainly is u going to be interesting because there is there is no funding for it. There's no funding
source. There's no stream of revenue that's coming out of the city budget. And we have an obligation to make sure that the landfill site um stays I want to use the word clean and I
know we're pumping out leech but clean in the sense that it's not uh contributing to uh worsening conditions around it. We're maintaining what we have to maintain and taking care of it. Um, and that's a responsibility the city took took on years ago when we when we
closed the landfill. One question on on solid waste. Where is where is the solid waste going now? When it's being transported out, do we know where it's going? >> Um, like the from the transfer station and curbside.
>> Curbside. Where does the curbside does it go to Fitsburg or does it go further out? >> I I think it goes >> Fber and Shbury. Fitchburg and then eventually it ends up in another state um like Alabama or Ohio is where it's its final destination usually is. So
there's almost no open landfills in Massachusetts anymore. Um they're working on closing more and there's challenges with um we have wheel arraider that waste energy
facility kind of has maxed out capacity and there's some environmental concerns with that. So, at the moment, our our trash eventually gets shipped out of state after it gets processed in Fitsburg or um their other facility, I
think in Westboro or West. >> Westboro. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Cuz I know Fitsburg Landfill could be close to closing. >> It is. The last I heard was that it would should be closing in the next 5 years. >> So, so in other words, the trash in the
state is going away. >> Yes. That's that. All right. Thank you. >> Uh thank you and I will also wish you well in uh your future endeavors. Uh and we will offer whatever support we can
add and our voices to yours to just make sure that the department is being supported in every way it possibly can. Uh thank you Commissioner McDonald for your assistance. We appreciate that too. Right. And just feel free to reach out
and keep reaching out to us. >> I will. I've I've included several people in my communications including human resources and the mayor. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh since our last update a month ago, um there actually has been some quite a bit
of activity. Uh we received notification that um we'll be making a obviously this won't be this meeting won't be posted till later. So we're doing a press release on a grant we received that we'll be making our domestic violence advocate full-time. This has been
something that's been in the plans in the works for quite some time. um we identified it as a as a a large need in the community um as it is a concern here and a problem. Uh so that's going to be some exciting news we're doing later on. We have the perfect person in the
position already. Um she's will she wants to go full-time and this is going to make her full-time. She's a true asset to this community and I can't be happier that this is going to be happening. Um, we also received notification that we got our annual uh
municipal road safety grant uh $31,000. That's for mobilizations and also um I receive a lot of uh asks for electronic speed signs now in people's neighborhoods. Seems to be the thing that people want now, but um they're
usually $4 to $5,000 a piece. Um so we've been writing them into the grants as we can for equipment pieces for the last few years. So, um, as we identify areas, we've been trying to put them out there as well. Um, staffing, um, that's what our biggest issue has been. And,
uh, for the last month, we've been focusing on trying to hire for the last few positions. So, we've had a couple rounds of interviews. We just finished yesterday. Uh, we've identified several viable candidates. Very pleased. Uh, we'll be making conditional offers next week. Um, obviously based on how well
they do through the process. Uh but we're hoping to get them on into an academy early next year. Uh additionally, um I appreciate the support from the council regarding the body camera. That contract has been signed. Uh it's currently in process and my hope is to have body cameras deployed
no later than January 1st of 26. Um obviously there's a training piece to it. So once we receive them we have to train we have to make sure that the uh unions are also we have to agree with the uh policies uh which we have been working with them all along. So there's
never been an issue with that. Um budget wise I have been short obviously I have collective bargaining uh obligations I have to fill with time off as well. So overtime is depleting very quickly. I'm near my $200,000 um limit. Well, what I was budgeted for
this year, my average usually for the last few years is is a little over $400,000. Um, and I don't suspect that will ever go down. Uh, a lot of that is um back uh we do receive uh reimbursement funding for that. So, that number is probably a
little bit smaller than than the I think it was 426 last year. I think it's a little bit small in that because we do receive reimbursements from the DEA, Municipal Road Safety, Shannon. So, a lot of that stuff is brought back into the budget. Um, the city coffers. Um,
animal control is very, uh, stable right now. Uh, we, the three animal control officers are functioning very, very well. Uh, the brand new officer u has hit the ground running. She's doing fantastic. Um, dispatch also is very stable right now.
We're only one short. This is the most stable I've seen it since my in the three a little over three years I've been in in the position. Um so I'm very pleased with that. Uh civil defense is our other major project. Um I think I had mentioned it
previously. We're using encumbered funds and some encumbered grant funds and things like that to finish that kitchen that was uh supposed to be done when the initial building was completed but it was it had to uh be cut due to budget cuts. So, it's been sitting there for
the last 10 years doing nothing. So, we've been able to put together some money and uh money tech will be finishing the project for us. I've been working with uh the the building commissioner to address if there's any ADA issues, things like that because we want to make sure that, you know, I don't want to do it again. I want to
make sure it's done correctly the first time. So, um, but everything else is is about the same um this last month, but I'd be happy to take any questions or, um, any concerns or anything.
>> Numb, but thank you for what you do. >> It's not easy. >> I'm all set. Thank you. >> I have no questions. Thank you for the update. Uh if you haven't already, can you just make sure you please email the clerk and myself updates provided today.
Uh next item under old business 11552 communication from the traffic commission regarding another vehicle towed in the city's winter parking procedures. Uh there is an ordinance that has been written. Uh it has been provided with the law department and is still under review with the law department. Uh so pending that we will
ask for more time if there's no objection. [Applause] Item 11692 communication with the traffic management looked for a measure to adopt MGL chapter 90 section 17C establishing 25 mph speed limit in thickly settled or business district in
city or town. Uh under uh doing some research we found that this was actually adopted by the city council in 2021. Um so we have accepted that. Uh believe the only step that needs to be done is the traffic commission needs to notify
the Mass Department of Transportation uh that we've adopted it. And if they have a list of specific streets, it can either be townwide or specific streets. They have a list of specific streets. So they need to provide that to the Department of Transport Station as well. Uh all the other towns that have adopted
this have not codified which streets uh for the city. So I don't believe we need to either. I believe it's all just with the traffic commission now. >> So I if we have no further action, I would move to place this item on file. >> Second. Recommended by councelor Brooks,
second by councelor Carter to move to place the item on file for full counsel. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. We have no items present on the agenda. Council has questions, concerns, or comments?
>> Oh, you don't have enough of the day to listen to all my concerns, but thank you. >> I'm also take a motion to adjurnn. >> Make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second by councelor Hartman, second by councelor Brooks to adjurnn. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries.
>> Thank you everyone.