Good evening everybody. I'm calling to order the Greenfield City Council meeting. It is 6:32 p.m. Hey everybody. It's summer almost and we already passed the budget. So it makes June a little bit easier.
Um, thank you all for being here. This meeting is being reported recorded by the city council and GCTV9. If any other persons present are doing the same, you must notify the chairperson at this time. Greenfield recorder in the house. Thank you.
All right. So, um, our first order of business is taking the roll call of members. Councelor Golop here. Councelor Gordon here. Councilors Master Toro, Master Tataro,
Bonum Lee, Healey, and Toronto will not be in today. Councelor Bullock present. Councelor Perry here. Councelor Brown here. Vice President Garrett here.
Councelor Minhas not here at this time. President Wandelowski here. Madame President, you have a quorum. Thank you so much. Uh next is our pledge of allegiance which is voluntary. Could I ask a counselor to read page
five motion? Sure. Uh, the city council moved that it be ordered uh that the city council weigh the rules of procedure section 565-8 order and disposition of business to allow the agenda items be taken out of
order. Majority vote required. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor? Any abstensions? Motion passes. Fantastic. So, I'm going
to take out of order and um move up to um appoint our newest uh city councelor from precinct six. So, that is I'm looking way down and trying to find it
on the agenda. Uh where are we? There it is. Uh it's under 10 on page 26. Uh could I have Katherine read that please? Sure. Just going to open the page.
Order number fiscal year 2500106. The city council moved that it be ordered that the Greenfield City Council, pursuant to charter section 211, approves the appointment of Patricia Williams to fill the precinct 6
city council seat vacated by Sheila Gilmore until December 31st, 2025. 2/3 vote required. Nine This one is a This is a nine. So, we're gonna wait and
amend to the end of the night. Councelor Minhas did text that he's not able to come tonight. Wait, sorry. Can uh asking if we have unanimous consent
of the council to place this item on the next regular meeting agenda. Yeah. Councelor Perry, I want to vote. I I thought that the charter says twothirds vote of the counselor's present.
Uh, councelor Garrett, I um after we had councelor Perry rather brought that up, I also looked up the section of the charter and it does say 2/3 vote of the counselors present. Can you site which? Yeah, I can read the whole thing. says section 211 filling of
vacancies. A vacancy should occur in the office of precinct counselor within 90 days prior to the next annual city election. It shall remain vacant to the election. Otherwise, the council president with the advice of the committee chairs may fill the seat by appointing a person residing in that precinct for which a vacancy exists
subject to twothirds vote of the councilors present to serve until the next annual city election at which time a person shall be elected to fill the unexpired term. That's section 211 in the city charter. It's also in section 1-7 under majority
vote that shall a major the words majority vote shall mean a majority of those present in voting provided that a quorum of the body is present when the vote is taken unless a higher number is required by law. Okay. So this is fine for this.
All right. So I think we circumvented and didn't ask for the second. So, can I get the second on this? Second. Okay. All in favor? I Any abstensions? Okay. Oh, I have
discussion. Oh, that's fine. Oh, wait. Okay. Since we didn't do discussion really quickly, um, if anybody has any comments, let's take them now. Councelor Perry. Uh, I'm just for the public. Uh, councelor Garrett just read the charter
and it says that the council president may and can doesn't say must, but it say may and can. And so, uh, we we received one letter from precinct six. One letter and that person came in and interviewed
with the chairs committee and there was no competition. So, what do we do? Do we say, well, one's not enough, one's not good enough. Or do we say, you know, well, someone was interested, someone put in, and they deserve to serve. And now I've got a lot of uh, you know, if
we leave the seat vacant, does that put us in trouble for the rest of the year because, you know, that's one less vote, one less representative, one less person on the committees that have to do some of the work behind the scenes. And so, to me, it's a no-brainer. Some people
have asked me to vote no because they don't agree with the individual's politics and they feel that if there was more competition there would have been better say. But if I voted no based on my politics then I'm being political. So
I'm here to vote yes on this uh application. Thank you councelor Perry. Uh and this was unanimous in um chairs. Uh we had a good discussion. So we're very excited to have Patty join. And I think Patty,
as I said in committee chairs, um comes from a labor background and so did Sheila. So it's a really good continuation of uh what Sheila was doing as as that precinct. So if she was voted in, um I I believe that Patty would be
and she has to run again in like two months. So um now we can do the oath. So welcome [Applause]
All right. Our next order of business is to approve the city council meeting minutes um which are on page six. Do I have a motion to approve? So moved. Second. All in favor?
Anyone abstain? Okay, motion passes. Uh the schools are not able to be here tonight. So, um we're going next to um communications from the mayor, city officer, and employee. So, um I think
mayor is first. Hello everybody. Um, I've only got a few things for tonight. Um, I want to compliment our incredible economic development team and local housing partners for Greenfield winning the housing hero award and thank
the people that came down that day. It was very, very nice of you, very much appreciated. Um it was wonderful to receive that knowing that people around the state are recognizing us for our efforts in housing. Um I heard Pride was
fantastic last week. I actually missed that because I had an emer family emergency but um Aaron marched along with there's several counselors that were there and um I heard it was actually one of the most successful ever. So, um um we are monitoring the
state and federal grants and how they're impacting us. We have bi-weekly meetings with the attorney general's office for updates where we learned that the federal grant system is putting new demands on grants and that Massachusetts is joining with other states to sue the federal government. So far, most of
their lawsuits have been met with success, but it is a major battle right now. We will continue to update you on anything that we receive. Um, want to thank our state delegation for the earmarks that Greenfield received
this week. I'm sure that you're aware of them, but just in case, we received a $25,000 earmark for vehicle vehicle maintenance or upgrades. There was one thing I was holding on to just in case we got that that I didn't put forward
for capital requests. And also, um, the schools are getting an earmark for $50,000. And I, having been at school committee, I have an idea of what they might be using that for. Um, but thank you to them for their advocacy. They're
they work very hard on behalf of the city. Um, July 4th, the fireworks are coming up on Saturday, July 5th, with festivities starting at 4. And as always, thank Christy Moore and her incredible recreation department for
their hard work. Um they we we are dependent on community donations and fundraising continues. There's a trivia night. Um is it th it's June 26th next? Yeah. Next week at the Elks Lodge if any
of you care to participate. We'll have a team there. Um and no promises that our team will win. Although I've heard Erin and John are very good. I'm terrible at that. Um I I just also lastly want to make sure that we are all thanking DPW
Recreation and Central Maintenance for their hard work and dedication getting all the parks ready. There's so much that goes on behind the scenes. Um and we have so much to be grateful for. So they just go above and beyond. And I
think all of us really couldn't thank them enough for this the work that they did prepping all of those. So that's it. I have I will take any questions and I know there was one new thing on the agenda. If anybody had a question for me about that, I'm happy to answer it.
Councelor Gordon, thank you so much for the updates, Mayor. Um and I hope that your family emergency was resolved. Okay. Um just had a question about uh grant federal grants um and federal funding in
general. I think we had talked before budget season or I had maybe asked director Numberow about um getting a complete list of all of the federal money coming into Greenfield including the money that's coming through the state because I think that there are a lot of there's a lot of federal money
that that you know communities and and states receive or communities receive that comes through the state and people don't necessarily realize that it's actually federal in origin. Um and then we kind of put that aside during budget season because everything else was so busy. But does a list like that exist and could it be shared with council?
It it does exist. I know that a Amy Cahill was putting all of that together and we could Will you Will you write that down that we should You want us to send that to council? Yes, that'd be wonderful. Thank you. Absolutely. We can do that.
Councelor Garrett, just looking at some of the items that you brought to us regarding the summer fund in particular. I know that um in the past we've talked about programming in Court Square, you know, various summer events. Is there anything planned for that space? Um
yeah, and if there isn't like is there any moves we could do to get some more stuff happening there? Like there have been events in the past and they've been really successful. So more of that would be great. Okay. There are some things that happen with recreation. I don't know what all of the
plans are. There there may be a there's a um a business um Hawk and Reed that had four concerts last year there as well and I'm sure that Amy's reaching out to them again um to see if that's
going to happen but certainly we'll pass that along. Mayor, could you could you just explain to the council why we got the heroes award because I think there was a great partnership on that. It would be good for the rest of the council to hear about it.
So, um it was Yes. I I mean Susan Morgic's here here from our you know she she's been working so hard behind the scenes
and was there as we received the award. She's now um the the um city's representative to the housing authority that was appointed by the governor and she's been a a dog um housing advocate
um along with our economic development um committee and it's multifaceted. many of the things that are downtown. I think they were particularly impressed with our um you
know what we did with the warming center holding a um uh that spot the parking lot that will be be utilized are all of the um zoning changes that um councelor uh vice president Garrett so
thoughtfully you know put forward that make it it's so much easier to put the housing right on top of each other. So there were many zoning changes. They were celebrated as well. So I think there was multi- um faceted efforts that got us to the
finish line with that and that was very helpful. It showed that we were thinking about housing and what was the best way to do it. Thank you, mayor. Any other questions? Oh, councelor Bulock. Yeah, there was a
stat that said like 800 new units or maybe it was 600. Forgive me, I haven't read it in a week, but do you know how that was calculated? Because when I added up the like actual projects I know about, it wasn't that many. Um, I
actually thought that myself when I was listening to it and so no, I don't. um because the ones that I knew of didn't really add up to the number that we were getting credit for. But I thought I'm was sitting there in the audience and I thought I'm although I frequently correct people's math, I didn't feel
like that was the time for it. Thank you so much. I also just want to mention the state has a website that is has a calculator of all of the losses in federal funding um that cities and towns
and nonprofits can add to so you can see the full burden. And I don't know the URL off the top of my head. All right. Um, next up, uh, as part of our regularly inviting, um, different departments to come and speak to us, uh,
we've got the local cultural council chair, Tim Fisk, to talk to us about all they're doing with the cultural district. So, thank you, Tim, for being here. Thank you for inviting us. And my first
and learn how to work the microphone. And Tim, we're going to give you like roughly five minutes and then and then counselor's last questions. So you wonderful. Um so just to review in the 2025 grant cycle um which was awarded in December, we awarded $22,973
to 40 applicants. um which is different than what we had done in previous years where we were trying to take that same amount of money and spread it over all applicants. So like 80 organizations and we weren't able to fully fund any of them. This uh this cycle we were able to fully fund every single applicant that
we did and it was informed by a public survey that we put out in the summer of 2024 to the public about certain priorities. um the local cultural council is able to actually im implement local priorities which we hadn't done in
the past and so we did uh this time and those included um things like the art must take place in the city of Greenfield or in a neighboring community. Um the types of actual uh events that would be prioritized, live performances and
festivals, social justice and cultural diversity events and public art. And then also um a section where we promoted diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the community by prioritizing applications that were um speaking to the experience of or were
created by historically disenfranchised communities. So that was all part of the new local priorities that we implemented for the 2025 cycle. Um, in 2026, what we have planned uh is to hold a grant makingaking workshop, which we haven't
done in a while. But now that we have these local priorities, we really want to give all applicants an opportunity to understand them, ask questions so that they're coming in with the strongest applications as possible. We're hoping to do that hybrid um getting closer to the grant announcement, which usually happens around September 1st. So, we'll
hope to do that probably by the end of the summer or shortly after we announce the grants. Um and then looking forward uh what we really would like to do is identify some regranting organizations so that we can bolster the money that we get from the
state and maybe get to more than 40 organizations in future. So we have the ability to do that. We have the ability to apply for grant funding and there are lots of organizations out there that give to cultural councils to regrant money. So, it would be really nice if we could, you know, find more um because 80
applicants really demonstrates a need in the community and we want to be able to meet that need. Um I do know that there are a couple of ordinances that haven't been voted on yet. One is to decrease the number of council members from nine to seven from nine members to seven members. And I just want to um go on the
record to say I support that. Um we currently have four, so we're looking for either um three or five at this point. Um, and then also to have a cultural council member uh sit on the crossroads cultural district committee
which I also support. Councelor Gul, I just first just want to thank you for your work. It's exciting to hear about positive things happening in the community and the priorities that you've set. Um and just to piggyback on that so
that that counselors um who are not on ANO are aware that there will be two ordinances and so that the community is aware as well that there are two ordinance they will be coming for a public hearing at ANO next month and then we'll u probably be on the council
agenda for next month and those are to make those changes to um the both the local cultural council which you represent and the crossroads cultural district. Um, yeah. So, it's great to hear that you support those changes. Thank you for
letting us know that. Tim, could I just ask a really basic question? If you could just do a like quick overview of what is the purview of the council um and then where is the crossroads district for those of us who are not familiar? So, the local cultural
councils in Massachusetts are funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and um they receive funds uh based on population size. Uh and that allocation happens and it's different every year. Um and so we receive those funds from
the Mass Cultural Council. There are a set of guidelines for us to uh administrate grants to individuals and to organizations, but as I said, we can create some of our own local priorities. um our goal is to basically give out money. That's really what we're trying
to do. Um we do have the capability of um keeping 5% of those funds to do administrative things. So if we did have a big idea um and we wanted to take something like the public survey to a different level or we wanted to um do some more digital outreach then we could
actually allocate some of those funds. But historically we've taken a 100% of the funds and giving them out as grants. Any other questions? Councelor Garrett and then councelor Gulip. This is a really basic question, but you know, I look around town, I see
some lovely public art coming up. I don't know if you folks are involved or not in individual projects. Is there a way to tell like, oh, we should be given, you know, the cultural commission credit for this? So on the website there is a list of grantees but that doesn't
necessarily speak to the art itself. Like you might not know because it just has the name of the organization doesn't describe the project. I think you bring up a really great point and perhaps it would be um interesting and also celebrate some of the work that's happening in town if we put out some
sort of annual report that not only just listed the grants and the amounts but like talked a little bit about the organizations and the artists and culture makers themselves. and it would really set us up also to find other funding somewhere else. We probably have to do that anyway. So,
that's a great suggestion. Just to follow up to councelor Wandowski's question, do would you be willing to speak to the crossroads cultural district committee and the distinction between your committee and that? And if not, that's okay. I I'll tell you what I know and that is just
that it's a different pool of fund funds coming from the state with a different set of priorities and there are crossroads cultural districts that are designated in Massachusetts that receive this specific funding. Um so because we're both working kind of in the same
ecosystem, we thought we'd want to have some sort of synergy between the two. Um though I think that they should work independently from each other because one is is about the geographic area of downtown mostly. Um and then of course the cultural council we have a broad
reach. Thank you. All right. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Good job. Great question. Okay. So, we don't have any other questions or any other city employees at this time. The other ones who are here
are for when we get to votes so they can answer questions about specific things. So, um I'm going to open up the public comment period right now and it is uh 6:59. Um, and it's just as a reminder,
everybody has three minutes and um, when you come up, you can state your name and your address for the record. Um, and then you have to push the button for the green light to come on. And, uh, the council president,
so I don't I'm seeing on the agenda to hear from Liam for the Franklin Land Trust. Is that good? That's when we get to the to that vote. Yeah. We just didn't know how to get it on the
agenda in the right place. So, it's not a So, if anybody is um in Zoom and wants to be on com make a comment, just put it in the chat to be recognized. It is 7 PM and I'm closing public comments.
Is that a record? Okay, that's going to be in the paper, right? No comments. Okay, thank you all. All right. So, um we're going to move to public hearing and second reading. And
um so the first item is all around the community preservation budget. And I believe that councelor Perry was going to read our second reading. So was I right? By default.
By honor. You're honored to do it. So, the public hearing in accordance with the home rules charter, the Greenford City Council will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 18th at 6:30 at the John Zan Community Center, 35 Pleasant Street, and on Zoom
meeting uh to discuss the FY 2026 Community Preservation Budget, appropriate $276,000 for the FY26 operations of the Community Preservation Committee, appropriate $7,000 from Community Preservation ation
act funding to the Green Public Library for the local history room collection. Appropriate $8,000 from Community Preservation Act funding to the Greenwood Housing Authority for Conway Street additional units. Appropriate $15,000 from Community Preservation Act
funding to the Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity for the Bert Street Project. Appropriate $15,000 from the Community Preservation Act funding to the Greenfield Housing Authority for the Security Deposit and Rental Assistance Fund. Appropriate
$17,178 from Community Preservation Act funding to the community to the Franklin County Agricultural Society for phase 2 preservation of Greenfield's agricultural history at the fairgrounds. Appropriate $18,000 from Community
Preservation Act funding to the Greenwood Housing Authority for Winsole preservation. Appropriate $32,000 from Community Preservation Act funding to the Greenfield Recreation Department for Hillside Park STEM installation.
appropriate $45,984 from Community Preservation Act funding to the Cataculate River Conser Conservatory for Franklin First County Courthouse Rehabilitation uh project phases one and two. Do I have to read that next part? The
city council may consider the same on Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at John Community Center, 35 Pudson Street and Zoom. Uh ms can be materials can be obtained from the city clerk's office, 14th core
square from 8:30 to 5:00 Monday through Friday or phone 413772155 extension 163. Laura Wandowski, Greenfield City Council President. We're opening the public hearing at 7:03
and at this time we don't have anybody signed up for comments. Um if anybody is online and would like to be part of the public hearing, put it in chat, please. And at 7:03 we're closing the public hearing. Nope.
Oh, sorry. Where do you have to read the second reading? It's the same thing. Okay, let me scroll back. My apologies. City Council second reading June 18, 2025. FY2026
Community Preservation Budget appropriate $276,000 for the FY26 operations of the Community Preservation Committee. Appropriate $7,000 from Preservation Act funding to the Greenfield Public Library for the
local history room collection. Appropriate $8,000 from Preservation Act funding to the Greenfield Housing Authority for Conway Street additional units. Appropriate $15,000 from Community Preservation Act funding to
the Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity for the Birch Street Project. Appropriate $15,000. Sorry, the thing skipped. Hold on. Sorry. Appropriate $15,000 from Community Preservation Act funding to the Greenfield Housing Authority for
the Security Deposit and Rental Assistance Fund. appropriate $17,178 from Community Preservation Act funding to the Franken County Agricultural Society for phase 2 preservation of Greenfield's Agricultural History at the
Fairgrounds. Appropriate $18,000 from Community Preservation Act funding to the Greenfield Housing Authority for the Winslow preservation. Appropriate $32,000 from Community Preservation Act funding to the Greenwood Recreation Department for the
Hillside Park STEM Installation. Appropriate $45,984 Community Preservation Act funding to the Connecticut River Conser Conservatory for the Franklin First County Courthouse Rehabilitation Project Phase 1 and two.
[Music] 7:06 and we're closing the second reading. Thank you so much. All right, our first order of business is the conservation restriction um from
Princey Stos and I don't remember which committee this went to. It says majority. That's okay. So, could I have a motion? I don't remember which committee. So,
it was I think it was going to go to the economic development subcommittee, but the meeting was cancelled. Uh, councelor Bullock, would you feel comfortable reading it for us? Yes, I'd be happy to. Let me just get It was out of order, I think, in the back.
That's on page 30 if that helps. Yes. Order number FY25-104. The city council moved that it be ordered that the city council approve the conservation restriction to Francis K. Princy Stos individually and as
trustee of the Douglas G. Starts and Francis K. Stoots living trust, care of Douglas G. dots 54 factory Hollow Road, Greenfield, Mass 01301, pursuant to section 32 of chapter 184 of the General Laws of Massachusetts on a
parcel of land currently owned by Francis K. Princy Stos individually and as trustee of the Douglas G. Stott and Francis K. Stott's living trust to be transferred to Franklin County, Massachusetts constituting approximately
25 acres as described in exhibit A. description of the premises in exhibit B. Reduce cop reduced copy of PL of plan of premises and further authorize the city council president to sign on behalf of the city council.
This says majority vote required. So, do we have a second? Okay. And and now I'll open it up for discussion. And we also have Liam here from the Franklin Land Trust to answer any questions. Um, two things. Just one.
Um I think councelor Bulock, you skipped a line and I don't know if that's needs to be read in order for it to be entered accurately. Um where it says to be transferred to the Franklin Land Trust, Inc. and partially located in the city of Greenfield, Franklin County,
Massachusetts. Does that matter? I just want to make sure that it's entered. Do you want me to reread that section? Okay. Um to be transferred to Franklin County. Nope, it's one above it. Sorry. It's all caps.
It's so hard. [Music] Uh, and it's all a run-on sentence, so there's not even a beginning. Um, to be transferred to Franklin Land
Trust, Inc. and partially located in the city of Greenfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, constituting approximately 25 acres as described in exhibit A. Okay, councelor go. And then the second thing is that at committee chairs I had committed to reaching out to David Brule
from the Nolan Beika project and I just and I received a response and um he said that I I knew that there was a interest in battlefield preservation there and he says that as far as um the potential conservation restricted on the factory
hollow lane. I think that is land I think that is likely a good move that I do not that I do not think would impact on any future plans for battlefield preservation. So yeah, so one of the values in the conservation restriction discussed is
historic and archaeological resources and archaeological investigations will still be allowed under the CR. So that could all still happen. Any other questions, councilors? Councelor Garrett,
I was the one at committee chairs that was very interested in the battlefield designation. So, I'd be curious if you know anything about how that's going. I know this is not your project. Um, but if it's on land that might be potentially preserved by you guys, I don't know if you know anything about
the progress on that. I I don't know much about the progress at all actually. Um, okay. Yeah. Sorry. That's cool. I'm thrilled this is happening more. I'm just gonna I'm sorry, Councelor Perry. And then I'll have Councelor Gord. Oh, sorry. I mean, I didn't mean
that. Uh um I just when this first came across, I was just very excited to read it. You know, all the all that entails and that piece of property is very exciting because it is historic. It is beautiful and it is has so much history
to it and means so much to people generationally that it's exciting to see this happening. Thanks. Yeah, we're we're really excited about it too. Yeah. So, I know that um actually the majority of acreage of this site is in
Gil, right? Um, and I'm just curious a like assuming that we pass this and the Gil Select Board passes this, is there any other kind of coordination that needs to happen between the communities in the sort of ongoing administration of this or is that just up to the Franklin
Land Trust once the um approvals is what the municipalities need to provide and then from there Franklin Land Trust will continue to monitor and if necessary enforce the terms of the restriction, which we don't want to do, but sometimes it needs to Yeah.
Do you anticipate any public access or trails or I'm not sure what what the intended use of the property is going to be? Well, so the property will continue to be owned by the Stoz family. Um, and they have retained their right to keep
it private. So, it's going to be really their decision in the end of the day, and we're fine whichever way they choose to go. Um there are a significant amount of mountain bike trails especially on the gill side and Marks who lives with
his mother Princey is a cyclist and has hosted a cyclacross race there in years past. So that may continue to happen. As far as regular access that would be something that the family would need to decide for themselves and I think right now it it would it's more of a matter of
asking permission. Great. Thank you. All right. I think if there's no other questions, I think we're ready to vote. So, all in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you so much. Thanks
for being here to answer questions. Yeah. And I just want to mention that right now we don't have the final approval from the state to have you all sign yet. Um, so I just wanted to be clear about that. Um, so we're getting close to that and I could be in touch
with you and provide that final draft if that sounds good and that it could be discussed at a future meeting. Okay, great. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Next, we have mayor's appointments and reappointments. Um,
councelor Golo for that motion. Order number fiscal year 2500105. The city council moved that it be ordered that the Greenfield City Council pursuant to charter section 210 affirms the following appointments and reappointments by the mayor. Cable
advisory committee Andrew Curran term to expire December 31st, 2028. Council on Aging, Margaret Margaret Sier, term to expire December 31st, 2028. Sustainable
Greenfield Implementation Committee, Nancy Hazard, term to expire December 31st, 2028. Majority vote required. Second. And this received a positive unanimous recommendation
with gratitude. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I don't see any abstensions or oppose. So motion carries. Uh next up is the fee schedule from the clerk's office. And I'm actually going
to ask councelor Brown from uh ways and means to give a break to councelor Perry if you're able to get to page 66. Thank you. Um the city council moved that it be ordered that the Greenfield City Council
in accordance with Mass General Law um 40 section 22F votes to approve the fee schedule attached as exhibit A as submitted by the city clerk. This fee schedule shall become effective as listed on exhibit.
Do we have a second? Thank you. And I know Ways and Means didn't meet. Um we did talk about this at uh committee chairs and I'm not sure um if you want to speak to it or if if Kathy mentioned anything before vacation.
There's not much to say about this, but this is the first time the clerk's office has increased their fees since 2013. And with the price of basically everything going up, we are just requesting to update our prices to more
modern standards. Seems fair and they're not crazy amounts going up from what I can see. Any other questions or comments from council? I think we can move to a vote. So all in favor say I.
Okay. No abstensions or nos. Motion carries. Okay. Um adoption of Mass General Law Chapter 44. Uh could I ask Councelor Garrett?
This came through um committee chairs. Order number FY25107. The city council move that it be ordered that the Greenfield City Council accepts Massachusetts general law chapter 44 municipal finance section 32 submission of city budget to city council
procedures for approval rather procedure for approval rejection or alteration attached as exhibit A majority vote required. Do I have a second? Second.
Uh councelor Gulib. Yeah, I would like this actually to go to ANO. Um, there's been so many different contradictory legal opinions on this that I think that we're not even yet sure if we need to vote on this. Um,
and I know that Kathy brought this forward and she's not here tonight to answer questions that there's several counselors that aren't here tonight. Um, I know we've specifically had qu have had requests from counselors who aren't here tonight to give them more time to ask questions about this and really look
at all the different opinions and there doesn't seem to be any rush to do this. So, I would like to table this and have this sent to ANO. So, I with that rationale I'm going to make a motion to table. Second. Can we do a roll call on the motion to
table? Thank you. Councelor Gulip, yes. Councelor Gordon, yes. Councelor Bullock, yes. Councelor Williams, abstain.
Councelor Perry, yes. Councelor Brown, yes. Vice President Garrett. Yep. President Wandelowski. Yes. And yes. The motion fails.
You do not have a majority of the counselors here voting. Yes. You need seven for the majority to vote to table. You have one abstension,
right? So, you had six positive, no, seven positive. I'm totally lying to you guys, so I do apologize. I apparently need to go back to remedial math. The motion passes. All right. Uh, next on the agenda is
approving anou between the city and the sheriff's office. Um, this was added to the agenda late um and there was some urgency on it. Uh, the the mayor is here to answer any questions should those come up on theou.
Um, who is willing to read this from page 95? So, we can read it. I have a question too. Uh, FY25-108. The city council moved that it be ordered that the city council moves to
approve the memorandum of understanding between the city of Greenfield and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office to join the regional animal control services program. Okay. Uh any discussion or questions? Councelor Bulock. Um, my only question
is, so this takes like a city employee off our roles and then puts it under a regional jurisdiction. Is there um like an increased cost or is the cost to the city the same?
Mayor, do you want to come up? Thank you. or is it less because we're now sharing, you know, sharing. That's what we're hoping for, right? That's that would be great. Yeah. This is what I was hinting that you might have had a question on
because it's new. Um is less and um I think it's like seven or $8,000 left. Don't have that right in front of me. Um, but this is something it was. We had three cities, three towns that were
doing this. Montigue, Deerfield, and us. They had pulled out and gone to the um, you know, sheriff for animal control. And, um, then we were, you know, talking with our new sheriff to see if if um,
the sheriff's office could take this on. And um we we just got a memorandum of understanding from them on Thursday. I just want to you to understand why it came to you, but the whole thing was supposed to be starting July 1. When I sent it to the attorney, he said, you
know, you have to get the approval of city council. And I'm like, okay. Everything was all, you know, eyes were dotted, tees were crossed. It is 7 to $8,000 less than the full cost. Seven plus branch. seven,000
plus 7,000 plus fringe and you know we've been working with the the unions etc etc. So awesome. And the other question I have is does does it mean we have the same amount of coverage or does it increase or decrease coverage at all?
It's supposed to be the same coverage. Perfect. Great. Another question. Councelor Williams. Um could you tell me how this affects the present uh animal control officer that we have now in Greenfield? Right. So we were in touch with um we've been in
touch with the with the current animal control officer. Um so the he will not be doing the same he won't be doing this job but um he has another full-time job. I don't know how I'm not going to say much more
about the individual person and their things, but um that person was okay with this. Okay. Thank you. Anything else? Councelor Gol, I'm trying to see if I
have a question here. I don't know that I do. I'm just I'm I'm um grateful that this is that we have the clarity that this is happening as we work on the animals ordinance. Um and I do see a piece on dog bites here. That's
something we're looking at as we review the ordinances. So just that folks are aware it's Yeah, we talked about this at the last ANO meeting. So it's helpful to know that this piece is in place. So we've had had a long time sharing of
services between the three towns and then it's you have to look at something different when the other two are pulling out. So that was the impetus for this happening. I don't see any other questions so we can move to a vote. All in favor say I.
I. I'm seeing no opposed or abstensions. Motion carries. And now to the community preservation budget. You ready, Councelor Perry? Yes. Fantastic. And um we also have Susan
here in case any questions come up. So thank you for being here. So, it's order number it's order number FY25094. City council upon recommendation of the mayor to appropriate the sum of $276,000
for the FY26 Community Preservation Committee budget. Move that be ordered that the sum of $276,000 be appropriated for the FY 26 operations of the Community Preservation Committee. Majority vote required.
Any questions? All in favor? Oh, councelor Garrett. Sorry to take time. What? Why is the Connecticut River Conservatory involved with the courthouse? uh the the Connecticut River Conservancy
is the occupant of that courthouse. Okay. And this they are doing a massive re- um development of that courthouse. So that uh and this is just for one small section of it and uh areas that
right now they do not have funding for. Um so it will be the windows that are in the back. There's some uh masonry work that will be done and that will both make it safer and will also preserve it and we'll make and um we'll allow that
there be a a community room accessible to the entire community for meetings as well. Awesome. That's a lot of courouses for one town. Three of them. Councelor Gordon, that that was what I was going to clarify in case anyone listening to this is
confused that this is not the current what people think of as the current courthouse, but this is the the building on federal. This is the old This is the old courthouse that was there before the city hall became the courthouse before then the courthouse that's now there is the courthouse. Yes. At least they all
have the same name. It's interesting. Yes. Any other questions about this one? Um, I'd like to just add some information that you may not have yet. Yeah, absolutely. Feel free to talk about all of them if
you want. The preservation uh of the windslow. Um, that's going to deal with the cornice and a couple of other small things. Um I am pleased to say that as a member of the GHA board I can announce and uh has been announced by the state that uh for the full preservation of and
rehab of that building we have have been awarded 5 uh $7 million to be able to develop that to put in a new elevator where right now uh the elevator is is uh being held together with ceiling wax and
uh and gum and um to the point where we've actually had to relocate people while we get it fixed because we can't um because it can't it's not usable for those folks who absolutely need it. So, this will be a major rehab and um we're very excited about it and we just
received notification this week. [Applause] So, all in favor of this motion say I please. I I don't see any abstensions or opposed. So, we'll go to the next motion. Um, and Susan, we'll just keep you. Yeah, we're
just going to do each one. That's fine. I I didn't know if it was for the whole thing or for one. Go ahead. Yeah. And I think because of rules, we will ask you questions about each one instead of Absolutely fine. Blowing up the system. Absolutely fine. Yeah. You know what else have I got to
do? Order number FY25095. The city council upon recommendation of the mayor an order to appropriate $7,000 for community preservation act funding to the Greenfield Public Library for the local history history room collection be
ordered that the city council approved the appropriation of $7,000 from community preservation art act funding to the community public library for the local history room collection. Majority vote required.
Do I have a second there? Any questions? I didn't know there was a local history room. There is. It's on the second floor. Thank you. So, it's really fascinating. I highly recommend the local history room at the library. It's It's fascinating. It's great. And and
this funding will allow for the repair of some of the documents there and also to make them available to the public at large because right now they're in pretty bad shape and are not really usable. Excellent. Uh, does our history teacher want to ask
any questions? I didn't have any questions, but I can make one up. Um, are there any good maps in there? I don't know. I have not seen all the specifics of of this particular um collection, but there are some good
maps in there I know um other than this collection. So, okay. Sweet. All right. We'll go to vote. All in favor say I. I. I. All right. Motion passes. We'll go to the next one.
Order number FY25096 the city council upon recommendation of the mayor in order to appropriate $8,000 for community preservation act funding to the Greenfield housing authority for Conway Street additional units. Move that it be ordered that the city council
approve the appro appropriation of $8,000 from community preservation act funding to the Greenford Housing Authority for Conway Street additional units. Majority vote required uh discussion comments uh councelor Gordon I actually would
love to hear a little bit about what this is because obviously unless it's like a shoe box we're not building any whole units for $8,000. So, I'm curious what No, this is this is for pre-construction work. Um we um the uh there's an island if you know Conway
Street and Elm Street, there are there's an island there in the middle. Um and that's where the housing will be. There'll be five units, one of which uh because it's all ledge there. We had originally hoped to build five to totally accessible units and it the
ledge will not let us do that. But we will have one fully accessible unit and we will also have four more that will be kind of uh up upstairs downstairs uh two-bedroom uh units that will be available. All will be affordable um and
available. We you know and we're hoping to do it prefab. So if we can do it prefab then uh it'll be there a lot faster than if we have to do it stick built. Thank you. That's really exciting. All right. All in favor say I. I.
Motion carries. Oh. Order uh number FY25097. The city council upon recommendation of the mayor. In order to appropriate $15,000 from Community Preservation Act funding to the Pioneer Valley Habitat for the Humanity for the Bert Street
Project, move that it be ordered that the city council approve the appropriation of $15,000 from community preservation act funding to the Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity for the Bert Street Project. Majority vote required.
Any discussion, questions? All in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. Order number FY25098. the city council upon recommendation of the mayor in order to appropriate
$15,000 from community preservation act funding to the Greenford housing authority for the security deposit and rental assisted fund. Move that it be ordered that the city council approve approves the appropriation of $15,000 from community preservation act funding
to the Greenfield housing authority for the security deposit and rental assistance program. Majority vote required. discussion or questions. This is just a great one. I'm sorry. This is just a great one. Thank you for doing this one. This will really help
some people who in need for for those who don't know. Um this what this is for is uh section 8 uh and mass um MRVP mass uh residential voucher program uh people when they go out to
look for apartments in the private market often there are four or five people that are there all looking at the same apartment and if they get approval from the landlord uh they often have to have a very quick turnaround to give
them security deposit or um or sec or last month's rent and they often don't have that. So, this is this fund will allow people to have those funds really quickly. There are other sources that we can use, but they don't turn around really quickly and this would allow us
to do that so they don't lose the apartment. That's that's what this is for. Councelor Garrett, I think this is excellent. And um I had a question about a kind of similar program that we created last year, the elderly and disabled tax fund. Is that
also would that be eligible for having CPA funding assigned to it? Because I know there's a lot of restrictions on what you can and cannot. Um, it likely, you know, one of the things that we need to look at is what the what's requested and then if we've got
any questions, we have a statewide uh coalition that helps us figure out whether we've whether we can do it, but it's likely that it will be acceptable. Okay. Well, thank you. No pressure if there isn't an answer to this, but I just imagine that $15,000
is a an amount that could be used up pretty quickly. Are there is there any plan or ideas around replenishing this fund? They uh gha has said they probably will come back um for for further funding. this isn't a revolving fund.
So, we're not expecting that the tenants will pay us back on this. Um, but cons especially this year considering what's happening with section 8, we may not have the opportunity to use it very much at all. So, um, we're but we're hoping that um that it will be, you know, that
um we it's not a lot of money, but GHA felt like this was an appropriate amount to request. So, I'm I'm going to go with them on this. I'm seeing no other comments. Um, all in favor I I. Okay.
Motion carries. Order number FY25099. the city council upon recommendation of the mayor in order to appropriate $17,178 for the community preservation act funding to the Freckton County
Agricultural Society for phase 2 preservation of Greenfield's agricultural history at the fairgrounds. Move that be ordered that the city council approves the appropriation of $17,178 from community preservation act funding to the Franklin County Agriculture
Society for phase 2 preservation of Greenfield's agricultural history at the fairgrounds. Majority vote required. Any questions, discussion? All in favor? I motion passes.
Order number FY25100. The city council upon recommendation of major an order to appro appropriate $18,000 from community preservation act funding to the Greenwood Housing Authority for the Winsow Preservation.
Move that it be ordered that the city council approves the appropriation of $18,000 from community preservation act funding to the Greenford Housing Authority for Windsor preservation. Majority vote required. Okay.
Any discussion or questions I just have a quick I can't remember which building is the Winslow. Winslow is on the corner of Wells and Maine. This is the building I was talking about that needed the cornice work done and some other work done and was also that
we've gotten the major state funding for. It's just so you know it's 55 um apartments, small apartments uh basically single room occupancy apartments. Um and we're hoping that we can build two more that will be fully accessible as part of this project. Um,
and the all of these are 60% of area median income or or less. So these are these are among our lowest income folks in town. All in favor? I. Okay, the motion passes and I think this is next our last one.
Order number FY25101. The city council upon recommendation of the mayor in order to appropriate 30 thou $32,000 from community preservation act funding to Greenfield recreation department for hillside park stem
installation. Moved that it be ordered that the city council approves the appropriate appropriation of $32,000 from community preservation act funding to the Greenwood Recreation Department for hillside park stem installation.
Majority vote required. Any questions, discussion? Uh, councelor Williams, could you explain what STEM means? This is a wall that will be, um, kind of an activity wall that will be used for kids to study math, science,
um, as part of their, um, as part of just doing the activities that they're they're going to be doing. And um so it's it's part of the effort to make Hillside Park um much more appropriate and helpful to the population that's in
that particular part of the ne that neighborhood. Thank you. All in favor? I Okay, we do have one more. It wasn't tagged. Sorry. Order number FY25102. The city council upon recommendation of
the mayor in order to appropriate $45,984 from Community Preservation Act funding to the Connecticut River Conservatory for Frightton First County Courthouse Rehabilitation Project phases one and two. Move that it be ordered that the
city council approves the appropriation of $45,984 from community preservation act funding to the Connecticut River Conservatory for the Franklin First County Courthouse Rehabilitation Project phase 1 and two majority vote
required. I'm wondering if this should read consery instead of conservatory. Can we add that um amendment so that all right any questions about the fish ladders that are going into the
courthouse? [Music] All right. All in favor say I. I. Okay. The motion carries. Thank you, Susan. and thank you for all the hard work of the committee. We really appreciate it. Thank you. Well,
thank you. We appreciate your support. I I just want to also comment that a lot of the CPA is being used towards housing and I know that has been one of our priorities. So, it's good to see that coming. Um I think it's important to have the mixture between historic
recreation and conservation as well as housing. So this this feels like a really good mixture of projects this year. Thank you. So um going down the rest of the agenda, we don't have report of the committees,
unfinished business. Anybody have old business? Um do we have any presentation of petitions or papers? Um the only new business I have is um the reappointment of Wisty Roarbacher um
for the council's appointee to the community preservation committee. So you'll get Wisti back. Fantastic. Any motions for reconsideration? Anybody have any second thoughts?
Don't. Um it's kind of early. I don't know if we should adjourn, you guys. Motion to adjurnn. Oh, dang it. Do we have a second? Second. All in favor? I. All right. Quickest council meeting ever.
This is fun. Congratulations. It must be our new counselor. Yeah. Yeah, I know. I've been here.