City Council Facebook page as well as the Ron City Council YouTube page. Uh, roll call. Mana clerk. Councelor Levington present. Council La present. Council Del Rosario
present. Council Marvel present. Council Rea present. Council vice president present. Council president Rodriguez present. All right. Um, please uh join me for a moment of
silence. Now join me for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge to the flag to the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. Participation. So today we're going to have the privilege of having public participation uh twice to if possible. So, we are going to proceed with public participation. The rules of public participation are as follows. You're
going to have two and a half minute to speak. Uh, and at the two minute uh mark, you're going to hear a beep, a sound or an indication that you still have 30 seconds to speak. Please refer to this council as a whole. Um,
if your name is not uh listed here, we provide you with the opportunity to for you to list your name. The first name that we have is H. Mali. Name and address for the record, please. [Music] Job to protect our citizen. Lawrence
police. this union of pride and honor. Thank you for making Lawrence a safe city. Million thanks to our DPW workers and leadership. Thank you for making Lawrence a beautiful city. Lawrence inspection department. Thank you for
excellent job. We support your union. We must hire more inspector. Lawrence public school with the impeccable leadership by honorable superintendent Ralph Guerrero. moving forward. Lawrence teachers, thank you for excellent job.
We support your union. Lawrence teachers, because of you, Lawrence will rise again. Lawrence, always strong. Lawrence always unite. We are proud to support our veteran. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your bravery. We
must hire two position in the veterans department. We must hire the best commission for elderly. We must pay our long-term city employees the same wages like the new hire. We pray for the
safety of all the police officers and the first responder. Lawrence fire department with the impeccable leadership by honorable chief Delenny doing excellent job. We the Lentian proud of the new police department
building the best in the nation. Lawrence police, a shining superstar in the sky of Lawrence. Right. The next person that we have is uh Rich Russell. Councelor Russell, name address for the record, please.
Evening councilors. Richard Russell, 34 Cross Street. You notice I did not use the word good with the word evening. This political campaign has taken all the good out of Lawrence. Is the election workers paid suspension
going to turn into another junior Tahita type of punishment? A paid suspension for a month and then termination? Let me guess what she did wrong. She followed the rules as required by the various MGLs that the elections are held under
and not the rules wanted by the campaign central on the third floor. Am I close? I think so. Uh, regarding agenda item 393, the appointment of Jackal and Maul unenrolled voter to the board of
registars. My comments are not intended as a slam towards Jackie. In the past, we have campaigned for several candidates and as things happen in life, our interests went in different directions and our friendship wayne. I at one time about 10 years ago attempted
to become a member of the board of registars only to be rebuffed because I was an unenrolled voter. Then the city clerk told me unenrolled and voters were not allowed to be on the board of registars. I even ended up testifying
before a joint state house committee about the unfairness of un of disallowing unenrolled voters to this position. To the best of my knowledge, nothing has ever changed. So why the sudden change to place an unenrolled
voter on the board of registars? Why at this point so close to an election and how long is this position been vacant? It appears that there might be election issues in the background. I I apologize for being a conspiracy theory fanatic. I
thank you for the time to express my concerns. The next person that we have is Rosa Valerio. Name my address for the record, please. My name is Rosa Valerio. I live at 11 Lawrence Street. Salutations, counselors.
I want to address the item number 555124, proposed anti-amping um ordinance. I have a series of questions. I know they're not going to be answered, but I'm going to put them out there. But plans are there are being considered for the unhoused. How long can a police
station hold someone who was arrested from these encampments? So then what? Where are these unhoused people to go? What services are being provided? So the unhoused are now out in the streets out without any services just locked up in a
police station for a while and then back again in the streets like a revolving door. Thank you for your time. The next person is um Anna Javier. Good evening, counselors, um, city officials, and members of the of our
community. My name is Anna Javen. I live at 250 Marramax Street in Lawrence. I want to also address item number 551 um 24 which is an item that um it's the proposed anti-amping ordinance and this
seeks to prohibit unauthorized camping in public spaces here in Lawrence. The item has been on the agenda for the last year as you all know and a public hearing was scheduled last month. Um, unfortunately it was scheduled it was
rescheduled for today and today I came to find find out it was rescheduled again for November 6, 2025. Now by that time temperatures will be dropping, the cold months will be here and we and we will
and we will not have real a real compassionate plan in place to address the reality of homelessness in the city. this continues. If the discontinued rescheduling, which will seem like a it seems like a small administrative delay, but for
those that are outside, every day matters. Cold weather is not just uncomfortable, it is also dangerous and for some it can be life-threatening. We are considering a law that could criminalize camping in public spaces,
but we have yet to identify where people are supposed to be going afterwards. We have individuals in Lawrence that struggle with substance abuse disorder, mental health challenges, or simple economic challenges or hardships. Many
can't afford even a room house, and rent continues to rise while wages lag behind. Anyone can end up homeless. Passing an ordinance without a comprehensive housing for services or service plan does not solve homelessness. I simply it simply moves
it out of the site. It just puts it aside. Often into a criminal legal system, we would be asking that resources will be available when this these this ordinance takes effect. These are some questions that I would have. Where will people go when
encampments are cleared? And how will be they be protected with dignity and safety for our most vulnerable residents as winter approaches? I urge city council to approach this issue with both urgency and compassion instead of focusing so solely on banning
encampments. Thank you all for listening to me and good night. Yeah, if anybody from the public or at this table that would like to uh some uh to have their equipment for translation support, they're available. Uh the person is is available on the public. So
if anybody would like translation services, please let us know. Uh the next person that we have is Julio Meta. No m evening everyone. Uh Julio Maran from
the Marramac Valley Dream Center. We're part of the Dream Center network which is uh 60 dream centers throughout the United States and 15 in different countries. Um we are here located in Lawrence and we work with individuals that are unhoused. Um I know that as
Anna Javier was mentioning here that uh this has been a discussion um for probably about a year. I'm just following up on unfortunately following up on it now. It was scheduled to be for today and then it's scheduled for I guess next next month. you know,
obviously um some of the things that I want to say is um you know, traveling through other states um that's declining states like Seattle, San Francisco, other things where they try to implement the antique camping uh doesn't work, you
know, and all I ask is on behalf of the community and those that we serve is that we find a good and effective solution because we know that anti-amping pretty much is criminalizing homelessness. you know, um, and you know, it's wasting taxpayers money. I
don't know what the purpose is by anti-amping. If you if they're picking them up, are they arresting them, they're letting them go, what the case may be, or they just going to continue ripping up the tents and having them, um, disperse to other areas. you know important thing is um you know back in
the 90s things were very uh you know there was something that was uh tried to put at the same time when I was homeless in those 90s and they tried some of the anti-apping thing that didn't work you know what happens is people spread out different areas and it makes it harder
for social agencies to go find the um you know to go help them to find them you know support services that they need. Um and study shows that it's cheaper to invest more in support services than obviously uh enforcing
this with you know court time jail cost fines things like that like things like that you know so we're asking um it also damages community trust when these individuals want to get the help at the end of the day remember these are single these are human beings and they
all deserve regardless of whatever the situation they put they put in there they're somebody's mother somebody's sons somebody's uncle, somebody's brother, sister, they're human beings. You know, back in since time's been recorded 2,000 years ago in Israel, you
know, there's been poor people and on and on homeless people for a long time and for civilization. And at that time, Israel used to when they used to have their farming things like that. I don't know if you believe in God or whatever the case may be is, you know, God ordered this the people that parts of
the farms around were for the individuals that need assistance that were homeless, unhousing, they have food and things like that because it was all about compassion and finding ways and and proper solution to be able to help them. Thank you. Thank you so much. Uh the next person
that we have is Natasha Alva. name and address for the record, please. Good evening, council members. Natasha Alba, 236 Lawrence Street. The proposed camping bill or an anti-amping ordinance is not a solution. It is a way of
punishing some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Being homeless, which includes children and the elderly, living with those living with a mental health illness, or struggling with a substance or alcohol use disorder, should never be treated as a crime. These are human conditions, not
moral failures. We cannot arrest our way out of poverty, addiction, or mental illness. Adding another charge to someone's record does not fix homelessness. It only makes recovery and stability harder to achieve. These individuals are part of our community, whether we acknowledge it or not. We
have a moral responsibility to respond with compassion, solution, and not penalties. Instead of criminalizing survival, homelessness, mental illness, let's bring together our local agencies, service providers, and community members
to build coordinated responses. Those approaches that actually reduce homelessness and improve public safety. None of us are immune to hardship. It just takes one unexpected event, a job loss, a car accident, the death of a
loved one, or a mental ill mental illness crisis for any of us to find ourselves in a similar position. We can support community safety and law and order, but true safety comes from proactive, effective solutions, not
incarceration. Let's be a city that leads with empathy and not fear. I ask, how will this law improve and reduce homelessness, a crisis nationwide? Let's create solutions and not more laws. Thank you.
Right. Uh the next person that we have is councelor La Plant. Mark Lant, Council President, I'll wait off to the next meeting to present my plan. Thank you. At this point, the all these names are going to be submitted for the record and we still have few a few names that are
going to be for next meetings. Councilors, we have uh what we have no public hearing in this special meeting. We have no communication from the mayor's uh city official city of Chenny and we have no report from any committees. But we do
have we have no business on no items on the old business. We but we do have a new business uh which is item 41425 which is a vote to confirm the location of the October uh city council regular
meeting which is going to take place next if this vote uh is on the affirmative. For that, we're going to need a vote to suspend the rules and to be able to
discuss rule number two to allow us to change the location of the meeting. And uh and and then we we should take a vote because uh without without that vote, we won't be able to perform business on our
next meeting at this location. So councilors um as per the recommendation of uh the city attorney and the city clerk uh will take this uh vote u to suspend the rules and be able to discuss rule number two. Can I get a motion for
for that? Motion to suspend the rules. Motion suspend the rule properly second. And this this is with the intent of changing the the location of the of the next meeting properly. Second discussion
quick discuss is just for the next meeting, right? Yes, that's it. Thank you. Yes. Uh on the next agenda, we have an item on the agenda that's going to we're going to be able to discuss uh that same situation for the next meeting. So,
we're going to do it meeting by meeting as we need it. Um, any questions? All right. At this time, we need to take a vote to be able to discuss to suspend the rules and then be able to to vote. Right.
Part one is to suspend the rules. Um, so because we're not telling Dr. Yeah. now and then second vote on um okay we'll if there is no other questions or discussions we take a roll
call um council Reyes this to suspend the rules yes council marmal yes council Um, Del Rosario, yes. Council Luzon, yes. Council Lant, yes.
Council Levy, yes. Council Vice President Inonte, yes. Council President Rodrigo, yes. So now, councilors, we needed um C mad clerk, do you just for the purpose of uh clarity, do you mind reading rule number two?
Um, thank you. Rule number two um begins with um the city council shall meet at 7 o'clock in the evening every Tuesday except as may otherwise be provided by city council order. And then the second piece of that reads the place of such
meeting shall be the city council chambers city hall unless some other place may be agreed upon by majority vote. So based on that language of the majority vote um document 414 is put on your agendas. Oh
can I get a motion to suspend rule number two and allow this meeting to take place then next regular meeting to take place at 65 Graph Street at the South Lawrence East complex.
So move second the table properly. Second discussion. There's no discussion. Discussion. Councelor Levy. It's just only a question. Uh what about the
the meeting of the different committee? uh that we are going to have a a discussion on the next agenda related to the same topic which is um it's going to bring up subcommittees and potential potentially our next city council
meeting as well but and the way that um I anticipate or potentially we could do it is uh doing it through Zoom to facilitate issue Um counselors if it is if it is no further questions I'll call the
questions. All those in favor please say I. Any nays? Um do we need a roll call? It just says by majority. So it all right. All those in favor please say I. I. The eyes have it.
All right counselors. If it is no other business related to the special meeting I'll call a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. There's a motion to adjurnn. properly second discussion. All discussion all those in favor please say I have it. Good evening and welcome to the regular
meeting for the Lawrence City Council. Today is Tuesday, October 7, 2025, and this meeting is taking place at the South Lawrence East uh auditorium, 65 Craf Street. Pursuant to chapter 20 of the act of 2022, this meeting will be
hybrid allow participation at the location where we are 65 Craf Street as well as that as remotely. The Zoom link for this meeting was u um submitted and provided to anybody that requested through the city clerk's
office. This meeting is also been transmitted live through the Facebook Lawren City Council page as well as the uh YouTube Lawren City Council um page. ML Clair, please call the role. Councelor Levy present.
Council Lant present. Council Luzon, Councelor Del Rosario, present. Councelor Marl, present. Councelor Reyes, present. Council Vice President Infante, present. Council President Rodriguez, present. Um,
now we are we are Can you please join me for a moment of silence? Now join me for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic to which it stands, one nation, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Anelers, can I get them? Um, can I get a motion to approve minutes from August 11, 2025 and August 19, 2025? Some moved. Second. It's a motion on the table properly.
Second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any naysay? The eyes have it. Uh, we are going to public participation now. If anybody from the public that wishes to speak on public participation, we provide you with the opportunity. You
just need to let us know. We have a few names that u are here for this meeting and the first person that we have is councelor blank mark Good evening, councilors. Mark Llan, 29 Duro, right here in district F. Um, what
I'm here to speak about tonight is this thing called the Lawrence Square project. U, you may have heard about it. You've been invited to the the two that have happened so far already and one tomorrow. And what the Lawrence Square project is very simple. It is telling the story of the
individuals who have have served or have done something with great distinction and who've got a corner or a square named after them in our city. All too often we would go by a sign, see a name, and not know their story. Or sometimes a
sign would be there one day, a snowstorm comes and the sign is gone for years and we don't even know what that sign was about. So through the help of the cultural council, this is not costing the city taxpayers anything. Through the cultural council, they have provided a grant so
that we were able to go ahead and put some 50 signs up throughout the city telling the stories of the individuals who have their have them have something named after them. Um, so far we've done two. We're doing them once a week. Two
weeks ago we did Robert Charles Beard at the intersection of East Haveril and Ferry. Last week we did uh David PJ Bed Roan at the corner of Maple and Lauren Street. Tomorrow 4:30 PM we're going to
be doing um Paul Arjouro which is at the intersection of Jackson and Unicry right at the entrance way to Campon Common. The week after that on Thursday the 16th, Father Herbio Carabo is going to be remembered. He is at the
Holy Rosary Church. the corner there is at Common Nope, excuse me, Essex Street in Union Street. Um, I invite you all to be there. I will continue to send reminders. We're doing the once a week. They're going to continue this year into next year. 50
weeks is almost a year, so it's going to take a while to get there. But I think it's so important, counselors, council president, that we go ahead and we remember the stories. We have forgotten so many of them. It's time to remember them, and that's what this project's about. Really quick, here are the to
thank yous. Lawrence Cultural Council, thank you so much to them for funding this. Mayor Brian A. Dea, without the mayor's approval on this, we probably wouldn't be able to go forward on it. The Lawrence DPW, they were helpful in facilitating and bringing these things and making these things happen. the
Lawrence Public Library. Uh they are we're putting this on a blog so your constituents, my constituents, our neighbors, anybody can go ahead and see this, see the information about the individuals. And finally, Yadira Batans Maldun. If you see one of these signs,
there going to be certain elements that are going to be consistent. a picture of the individual, the city seal, if they're in the military, the branch of service, their name, a small little indicator, a quote or some background information. And here's the thing,
there's a QR code, English, and a QR code, Spanish on the signs. So all we have to do whether you're a native Spanish speaker or English speaker is press the QR code to get that full story of that individuals. I do the one in
English and you dare the one in Spanish. I'm so thankful for them and all the partners. I again I invite all of you to join me at these. And by the way when I'm I'm getting kind of flustered when I go to these there's a lot of folks and things happening. Please tug my sleeve. Tell me you're here because I want to
acknowledge you when you're here. I want to make sure people know that you're there because you care about you have the time. There's no commitment, but if you make the time, I want to make sure people know that you're there. And I I thank you all for your support as we go through this project both this year and next year. Thank you.
Next on our public participation list, we have Council President Giovanni Rodriguez. Uh, council president name and address for the record, please. Uh, Johann Rodriguez, uh, city council president. Uh, I reside
in 32 Gala Street, Lawrence, Mass. Um, essentially standing up today in front of you because, uh, I am very concerned as a citizen and I'm concerned about the elections coming up. The process of the election and the integrity of the of the
election is for the benefit of all. Not for the benefit only of the candidates or for the benefit of a few. If we have a fair election elections, Lawrence, the city of Lawrence is going to be
it's going to be better in every aspect of the process in every aspect of the city. Having a fair election uh will means that the city will grow, the city will advance and the city will manage
issues that potentially we were not able to manage in the past. Having a what happened this week is something that I'm very concerned a suspension of an employee from that department
uh without the proper due process. And when I said without the proper due process is because if a a strategic way of doing this was put in place. So uh this person
didn't have the opportunity to potentially defend herself until something else uh happened. It is concerning that we are going through this situation in the city of Lawrence. It is concerning that we as a
Loren are putting one of these one of the most important department 29 days 28 days from the election day on job dice. We are putting a a department that is so important for the upcoming election
for failure. And essentially we are the the the the administration is recommending already people to come and hope. They are recommending people to come and hope specific names that they want
people to come. Why? Potentially create doubt about the result of the election. And if they create doubt about the result of the election that in core will sustain
and that's very dangerous because what they proposing is to bring people up that have run the election in the past for the city of Lawrence that have their own mindset about how to
run an election and essentially what that what uh what they potentially could is uh with no disrespect of the professionalism that they're going to bring is that potentially they're going to create doubt about what should be
done on any specific situation that is presented in front of the people that are running the election. That is concerning because what is happening in Lawrence is that we need to we must we shall work
together on every aspect because we as a citizen deserve better. We um I I'm very concerned as a as a citizen. I'm very concerned on every aspect of me participating on society
here in Lawrence about this upcoming election. If we don't do something later on, we're going to regret it. So, with that, I finish up my comment. Thank you so much. Thank you, Council President.
That was the last name on our list. Do we have any other individuals that may want to participate? Seeing none, um, public participation is now closed. All these names are going to be submitted for the record.
Oh, all right. I just want to correct um the address that I mentioned for this meeting that I I believe I believe I said 165, but um I pro I probably say 65. So the address of this location is 6
165 CO street at the South Lawrence East uh complex. All right, we are going to public hearing. There's no public hearing on these matters at this time. Communication from the mayor, city of Chenny and um
or any city officials. We have it 7825 which is the approved vote by mail locations. Um I'm sorry I apologize because I forgot my glasses today. Approved vote by mail uh local election September 16
and November 25. Uh we are we are going to provide an update on that item and the and the city clerk will take over from here. I think it's good. Thank you, council president.
Um, with regard to this document, after you had voted on it, it was sent to the mayor and he did veto the item. We then later clarified with the state that it was not vetoable. It should not have been sent to him. And um unlike most matters that come before the council,
this was unique as it was the enactment or opting out of a state policy that only the council had the right to opt out of. So the um head of the elections division for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under Secretary Galvin is an attorney named Michelle Tazineri. She
did send us some correspondence on that and I'll read it in its entirety into the record then. It just says um and I apolog It's really doc up here. Um, thank you for your email and your legal analysis. This was in response to someone telling her that they thought
they did have the veto power. She says, "Thank you for your email and your legal analysis. However, we believe your conclusion is wrong. It remains our position that the vote taken by the city council to opt out of early voting by mail is not subject to either approval or veto of the mayor. It appears that
your rationale relies upon the conclusion that the vote taken in accordance with Mass General law chapter 54 section 25B sub A1 constitutes a vote or on a measure subject to the mayor's veto power under the provisions of the city charter. We
disagree. It is a position of this office that the action of a municipality to opt out of the provisions of section 25B sub A1 of chapter 54 is not a measure adopted by a municipality municipalities legislative body as
supported by case law C. Andrade v city council of Gloucester. Rather, the vote taken was an executive action of the council to opt out of a voting requirement using a spec specific process enacted by the state legislature and as such is not a measure passed by
the city council subject to a veto. Similarly, the vote taken by the city council is not a measure subject to the citizens initiative process outlined in section 9.2 of the city chada. The provision provisions of section 25B sub A1 of the chapter 54 give the city
council exclusive authority to vote to opt out and therefore the citizen initiative process could not be used to force a ballot question vote. Additionally, if the legislative intent was to provide for approval by the mayor for such vote, the legislature would have included that provision as it did
in other statutes. For example, section 18A of chapter 53 of the general laws allows for the placement of non-binding questions on a municipal election ballot by the vote of the city council of such city with the approval of the mayor where so required by the city charter.
Section 18B of chapter 53 provides for a vote of the council acting with the approval of the mayor subject to the charter of the city for local acceptance of the law relative to providing information relating to local ballot questions. Also in general law chapter
59 section 21C, the local authority that can vote to place a question on the ballot is defined as in a city the council with the mayor's approval when required by law. Those key words are missing from the provisions of chapter of general law chapter 54 section 25B
sub A1 which further demonstrates that the mayor has no approval role or veto power over the vote taken by the city council. As mentioned in my original conversation and email to the chief of staff Castro, we received multiple complaints regarding candidates and campaigns conducting that negatively
impacted voters and may have violated state law which are continuing to review which we are continuing to review. At no point did I indicate that we have reached a conclusion on any complaints. We have consistently remained impartial over the many years in which we've been working with the city of Lawrence
relative to elections. We are committed to ensuring that all legally qualified voters have a fair and unimpeded right to exercise their franchise in a manner consistent with state and federal law. Our focus has been and continues to be on ensuring that the voters of Lawrence
have the ability to vote with confidence and free from interference. As such, we expect to meet with the city clerk and elections department to review plans for early voting in person and for election day to make sure that candidates and campaigns are aware of
the rules and regulations governing conduct. I've included the city attorney on this response in the event that he has a different legal interpretation to share. And then sign Michelle Michelle Kazineri. Um that's thank you. Thank you for reading this
for the record. Uh, Council Mante, thank you. I originally wasn't going to make any statement regarding this item, but as I was listening to Madame Clerk read the last email from the state, I think it's
important for me to say something. I first want to say I think it's disgusting that over mail in ballots, US counselors have been targeting each other. I'm going to keep it general. Over mail in ballots.
I think it's disgusting that counselors have been yelling and intimidating employees behind closed doors over elections. I think it's disgusting that us as a body have been going on public media
misinforming the public about this vote. For the last few weeks, I've been putting out fires from or constituents have been calling me. Union members have been calling me regarding this vote. I think it's disgusting that
it's okay for for a group of individuals to attack another group of individuals on the council, but when we're trying to do the right thing as a whole for some reason, there's certain there's certain counselors who who always get deemed as
as evil or or the wrong or or horrible for trying to do what's best for the overall community. This isn't about us. We're not going to be leaders forever here in the city of Lawrence. Well, we may, some of us may. Some of us may may be interested in
other positions or or etc. I can tell you for one, I have an amazing career in marketing that this is this I do this because I I love serving my community. Elections integrity, political integrity goes way beyond nine individuals that
serve as city councilors. And I think that now that I think I know we should be better examples because what's going on is truly disgusting. We're supposed to be leaders of our
community. But we ch pick and choose when to be leaders. I also believe that when the letter was sent to the secretary of state's office in in July, I don't believe the council as a whole thought that
there was there was actually an opportunity to fix our wrongs, our wrongdoing. And that's why I believe that that letter was sent and why certain counselors from the other team were being attacked. But now that that we try
to fix the problem, it's for for whatever reason, those same counselors are still the bad the bad people. Again, I know we're all leaders in our own right. We all have different leadership styles. And I and I see that our community see that in us and believe
in us. If they didn't, we wouldn't be sitting here today and we wouldn't be where we are in during our campaigning and election process. But overall we need to do better because we look like children, right? Um
despite at this time uh communications from the mayors, city officials, city attorney will be closed unless somebody else want to speak up on this matter. All right, we'll proceed with the agenda. We have
uh boy and finance subcommittee um have a three reports that uh are going to be presented to us and the first one is item 36125 authorization to spend 122,9371 cents from the office of planning and development grant from m from
Massachusetts department of public health madana vice president and the chair of the b and finance committee in thank you through you council president item 361-25 authoriz authorization to expend $122,938 with.71
um from the office of planning and development grant funds from for the office of planning and development grant funds from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for winter protocols and temporary placements of fire victims was sent up to the full council as a favorable recommendation and I make that
as a formal motion. There's a motion on the table. Can you hear a second? Second. Properly properly second. discussion discussion council during the meeting and I didn't have a chance to watch it during the meeting did did they say where folks would be
placed they did you council president they they did um I believe this facility if anyone remembers 100% I don't remember the list 100% but I do believe this facility that we're in currently is is one of them um
right here the South Lawrence these I would recommend um I should have probably had that on me. But I would recommend to for you to reach out to the office because I I don't want to misspeak um as I don't have the list in front of me at the moment. So essentially um yeah
or the question is where are they going to be meeting or where they going to be having those place? Well, they're going to be working with different different organization as they did in the past and they're going to pursue the plans that they have uh from previous years. Last of South is
one of the the organization that they're going to be working with and potentially they're going to be also open up opportunities there for the people that are in need and um and and all the places that uh they have done it in the past. I I believe this is one of the
base that they use in the past and um and I know for sure that they're going to open up one in south, one in north and uh one location south, one location north and working with different organizations and just council president through you and I don't mean to put anybody on the
spot on this uh but if you know the information that's helpful um because I don't think the person is here who is sponsoring this but I would ask that individual if they were here. Um, is there a difference between the winter protocol and the fires? So, if it's a winter protocol, I'm presuming it's just
a temp very temporary, it's during the day or something, or is it overnight? Are you putting students in this complex overnight during the school year? Um, I I just don't know. I mean, this is my district, so I'm curious to how that plays out. Yeah. So, um,
it's it's temporary placement. Um this will this these facilities the public facilities would be used more until they find like hotel rooms or a semi more embroidery temporary or or it's temporary but semi
more a more stable location. This is just these areas will be used well until they they get their planning together and everything. Yes. U during emergencies because sometimes if you need at the moment you need a place to just place them and so they're able
to figure out where to house them for the for the time being. Final question is a very specific number $122,938.71 not 72 not 70 it's 71 cents. So clearly there's some some sort of um there's a reason why that's there. My question is I have no idea if that's a lot, a little
are we what happens if we get to 122 and 938 and we have somebody here. Um are are we going to go into free cash? I mean what happens in the in the event that again I have no idea of context. Maybe there's a lot of money here. Maybe there's a tremendous buffer. Maybe it's
we may not get there or maybe it's tight. And what happens if it is tight? What happens at that point when Yeah, I I can respond to that. Essentially the first thing that uh just to add to the previous question an an emergency to be declared for them to be able to use these funds.
An emergency perhaps a fire is also been considered for this fund to be spent and if it is a weather a weather related emergency that's also u a way to spend this money. Uh
yes, she mentioned that it was a little bit of uh a little bit of money, not much, but this is one of the funds that they use to uh leverage that operation. That doesn't mean this is the only funds they use. It could be all the funds that
are in place already and this is going to be an add-on to any other uh funds that they currently have. Thank you. No problem. Any other questions, counselors?
I love this mic because it tells me who who have the mics on. All right, councelor Luzan. Um, just a good question. Uh, in the past, and I understand this is a gr uh a one-time
uh grant. In the past, the city worked closely with um Hill Lawrence, but there's another organization in in Lowel that I don't DTA. Um, say that again. DTA,
no. Um, I think it's that one. I I but my in general the city worked closely with that organization in law uh also along with uh great Lawrence Community Action Council. They were the
ones dealing with uh fire victims in Lawrence. they will fund raise um and they actually did an amazing job providing resources to the fire victims
what we that we had in the past. So my question is the city uh is opening a door to be the one uh resolving facilitating
financial assistant and other resources to fire victims in the future. Um, is that where we heading or this is it looks like is this is an
emergency grant or a one-time grant, but we cannot put aside that we go through a lot of fires in the city unfortunately. So, are we ready to move to the second step? Is the
city moving to a second step of being a provider uh for future fire victims? I think maybe what I'm trying to put up there is a question or a concern instead of us working with agencies that
we had worked in the past and they did an amazing job. We creating um opening a door. should put it out there. Council president, I respond I can respond to that because that was one of my my uh my my question
to that uh current uh person that is in in charge of this department perhaps. And uh what I see uh out of her answer is that yes, we are going back to what uh this position was
before which was basically uh facilitating different resources and different organizations uh to allocate proper resource when it comes to uh fire victims or when it
comes to uh um homeless or people in need that that are underest circumstances. Uh essentially that's what I get from her. U was she's very professional about what she's doing. Uh and what I see is
that she will help out to leverage that u department as a potential low between the community and that uh and organizations and people in need. That's what that's what I I get out of her answer on that.
So hope we have hope. I understand council president. Thank you. And just for the record, I was not present at this meeting unfortunately. Um but I think we have so many nonprofits in the area that the city uh
had worked with them in the past and they continue working. So it it it looks like that this approach is opening a door for the
city to become another to take the place of any of other nonprofits that are already doing the job and that receiving assistance from the city. Just to put it out there concern. Thank you councelor. Thank you,
Council Council Rosari. Thank you to you. And when I watched the meeting, what I understand is the city will receive the money and they continue to work with those nonprofits. Um the nonprofits will be the part of it. The only thing is the grants are coming to the city. So she will distribute the
money to the nonprofit for them to continue the work that they've been doing with the city. That's what I got when I saw the meeting. So it it's not that the city is going to work directly with this money itself. They're going to provide this amount this this funds to the nonprofit. They are already working with they've been working with the city.
They have the experience with the displacements and the fires victims and also the winter protocols. So, they just going to uh receive the grant and distribute the money through through the nonprofit that been partnership with the city. Thank you.
Any other counselors? All right. At this time, there is no other questions. I'll call the questions. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any nays? The eyes have it. Now we go to item 36425. Authorization to spend a million200.
All right. Council President Fante. Item 36425. 364. Thank you, Council President. Item 364-25, authorization to expend 1,28,942 with 73 cents um for the of the 2026
Massachusetts Municipal Public Safety Staffing Grant was sent up to the full council as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. Second. There's a motion on the table properly. Second, discussion. discussion
out of that. Let me just comment again on the very um challenging times we're facing as a country with respect to our budgets and how much we are reliant on um state federal aid. Uh the Commonwealth
received about $16 billion in federal aid. A good chunk of that goes to public safety in which we are the beneficiaries through I believe the the the state public safety agency and u while I'm
going to support this tonight the $1.2 million and that sounds like it's a done deal and we're going to get that money. Um I I will tell you that I'm still concerned uh with with the with government shutdown right now with the budget reconciliation the act that took
place earlier this year. I'm still concerned that those monies will actually be released. So, um I just hope that the administration slash the police department um when they get this they spend it and spend it soon. Um just because I just don't have a lot of conf
and spend it wisely. Don't just spend it for spending sake. It's got to be clear. But um but we we that's a concern and it's going to be a concern of all these things and it should be a concern of all of us um as we go through this. Um, so I I there's nothing we can do here at our
level to impact what's going to go on in Washington DC. Uh, we're like every other municipality across the country uh that's going to be facing challenges and maybe even more so in a state like Massachusetts uh because of our political dynamics in McFondo. Uh we may
feel it a little bit more and with this administration and this commerce. So uh I just think we've got to be mindful of that as we go forward as we accept that. And I would encourage Miss Rosa uh to take that um sorry Miss Shepard to take that
my my apologies director director Shepard uh take take that message back um and and just know that at least one counselor and maybe others uh are are somewhat concerned about the political environment that we're in and minds. Thank you. Any other counselors?
Let's open the opportunity to Miss U. Director Shepard. She's here with us. City Councils. My name is Rosa Shepard, director of support services at the Lawrence Police Department. Um, as I was here on my last meeting, I'm here to present our grant, the municipal grant
for FY26. Um, we've been having this grant for the past 12 years and has been definitely very beneficial for the police department. The amount that we were granted was a,208,942.73. Um on the last meeting it was requested for me to provide a breakdown of how
much will cost to send a new recruit to the uh to any academy whe is lean lo or northernes community college. Um as of right now it will cost around $46,000 just to send a new recruit. That is not
counting uh once they graduated from the from the academy. And that is including um the physical psychological uniform the uniform and all the equipment um even the ammunition that they need to they need to use to be trained plus the
firearms as well uh that needs to be purchased for the new recruits and that I'm and on this uh I'm also including the tasers which is actually is part of the police department. So the um this um the municipal staffing grant they can uh they are allowing us to um to purchase
tasers once the new recruit graduate and become a new officer. Um quick question on that. Do you include that uh the time that they've been u the payment of their salary by the time that they've been on the
academy? Yes. They will be paid 1,7960 per week for 26 weeks in the amount of 28,69.60 for the whole 26 weeks while they are in the academy. And the total amount is you you can you
just quick mention it again? 28 28,69.60 and uh and the total amount for the total amount is $46,27.70. Right. Chancellors, any questions in regard to this grant? I just want to say
thank I just want to thanks to that uh to the state delegation that have helped tremendously. Uh I know uh leader Moran have worked tremendously on this grant. Uh Senator Payano currently also uh the former senator for Lawrence. uh Barry
Fangle and the state reps that are uh also representing Lawrence uh Representative Estella Reyes and Representative uh Francisco Pawino. They've been helping out tremendously with this grant. So I just want to say thank you to them.
Any questions? Councilors this point I entertain a a motion. All those in favor please say I. I. Any nays? Nice have it. Now we going to item 36525. Malang. Um, vice president and the chair of the Bay Finance Committee.
Item 365-25, authorization to pay prior year bills in the total of $32,865 with 53 cents was sent up as a f from the police department. U was sent up as a favorable recommendation and I make
that as a formal motion. The motion on the table. Can I hear a second? Second. Hopefully second discussion. All right. I hear no discussion. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any nays? I have it. Now we go to personal committee. Item 38825.
Madame uh m chair of the of the personnel committee. Item 388-25 contract renewal for city clerk um for our city clerk was sent up as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. Right. There's a motion on the table
properly second discussion. I have the city attorney here. Any questions? Any questions to the city chain? All right, I hear no questions. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any nays? Have it. All right.
If I might, Council President, I just wanted to add one thing. I know that the um the reason I'm here is because it's t it's hard to blow your own horn when it's your contract, but I want to let you know with all the things that's going on in the election department, I am in constant contact with the state.
The state has been nothing but complimentary about the city clerk and her office. They are they're just the the work that they work together and I talk to them every day is just fantastic. So, I wanted you to know that the other people appreciate what the city clerk does in this city.
Thank you so much. Thank you for your input. Um, now we're going to thank you for staying so late. Uh, now we going to ordinance committee. Uh, the chair of the ordinance committee, council plan. Yeah. Thank you, council president. Before I start, you'll see a bunch of withdrawals and and the reason why just
I'm not going to explain this every time there's a withdrawal. The reason why it's being withdrawn is for probably a number of reasons, but probably the most basic reason is that this has been on our agenda now for two years or more. Um and so if counselors really wish they want to move on something it's been around for a while hasn't moved uh they
certainly can move on it if they if they wish I would I would encourage so so that's that's the reason why most of them are withdrawn other ones will be as self-explanatory first one document 4723 uh ordinance committee sent the proposed change of ordinance chapter 2.1609
union classifies plan schedule a chart message that's interesting chart a sent to the full council with the recommendation to withdraw and I make that in the form of a motion. Second. Second. There is a motion on the table properly second. Discussion none. All those in
favor please say I. I have it. Any guys have it? Item 4923. Change Broadway is one Pablo Darte Boulevard sent to the full council with the recommendation to withdraw. That's the motion. Second.
There's a motion to withdraw item 4923. Properly second. discussion counselors um do we get in touch with that u with mass vida uh to withdraw this item I know that they've been interested of not changing
the name Broadway but actually adding or extending the one Pablo Dart Boulevard all the way to the Muan line council and and and I think this has been done we we expanded from common all the way
to the Muan line so it has done. So, it's we did we did approve it. I don't remember when, but it has been approved. I don't know why it's still on the agenda. True. So, I don't want to say Yep. I mean, it was it was it was the it was the the park. The sign up. Yeah, it was the park.
Oh, I know it's a sign up, but I mean, I just want to make sure like if it's something else, but uh No, but it was the park. We did the park and I think if I'm not mistaken, two years back we did expand it from Common Street all the way to the Muan line. So it has been done.
Yes. I just want to make sure like we uh before we withdraw it if it is anything that need to be done uh that was been take care of before we withdraw. So the research has been done that this
is all said ready to go. Yes. No. Good. So as far as I know we extend the the the Broadway. Um, yes. From SX Street. That was from SS
Street to Park Street. No. Yes. And there is something right now. Um I'm not part of the uh this committee but uh I know there is something right now that has been talking regarding the park that
is is going to get the name also uh as a part of the boulevard I think so that they going to come in front of the city council to talk about it. All right, we will draw it um then if everything has been done. Um all those any other questions around 4923.
I hear none. All those in favor please say I. Any names? The eyes have it. Item 6323. It's a clarification of grounds of the basis if any for the issuance of charter objection this sentence to full council with the recommendation to withdraw. That's the motion. Second to withdraw properly second
discussion. I hear none. All those in favor please say I. The eyes have it. Item 13323, loading zone um 232 Bruce Street, Monday through Friday, 6:00 am to 6 pm. This is sent up to the full council with a recommendation to withdraw. That's the motion. Second.
There's a motion to withdraw. Probably second. Any discussion? I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any names? The eyes have it. Item 14623. Proposed ordinance regarding stipens. This is sent to full council with the recommendation to withdraw. That's the
motion. Second. Motion to withdraw properly second. Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. I. The eyes have it. Item 14723. Proposed ordinance regarding required public notices to impact a resident prior to imple implementation sent up to
the pool council with the recommendation to withdraw. That's the motion. Second. Motion to withdraw. Properly second. Discussion. I hear none. All those in please say I. Item 14823. This is a disclosure of a conflict by a municipal employee who sent up to full council with our recommendation to
withdraw. That's Juan Alcantara. Make uh make that in a form of a motion. Second. There's a motion on the table properly. Second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I have it. Item 16623. This is one way on I always get this name. Bone. Is that right?
Bo. Say it again. Boy. Bone. Yeah. Yes. Okay. Bone street. Uh was drawn. I make that in a formal motion. Second. Second. Motion to withdraw. Probably second. All those in favor please say I. The eyes have it. Item 20723.
A four-way stop sign in Mount Vernon Street Sparkle Drive and Mount Vernon Circle. Set that to the full council with a recommendation to withdraw. That's the motion. There's a motion on the table properly. Second to withdraw discussion. Councelor Rante. Thank you. There you council president.
I believe what we have a two-year I think a two-year rule or items. Yeah. Um, I'm in I I I will be voting in favor in this, but this will be brought up again uh eventually. We're still having issues and not just the street. I'm looking
into other long uh roads within the district as well, but we're still having issues with the speeding. We keep I keep hearing as a district council there's a plan, there's a plan, there's I'm not seeing anything. So, we need to figure out an alternative. And I believe
increasing four-way stops for longer streets like Malveron, for example, may help with speeding. I'm not 100% sure, but there's still some work being done that on that. So, you may see this again in the future. There's a motion on the table properly second discussion. I hear none. All
those in favor, please say I. I. The eyes have it. Item 22323. This is a no park in 104 Bennington Street from 8 a.m. to 5:00 pm was sent up to the full council with a recommendation to withdraw. That's the motion. Motion to withdraw properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in f
please say I. The eyes have it. Item 22523. West oneway sent up to the full council with favor recommendation to withdraw. That's the motion. Second. So motion. Can you hear a second? Second. Properly second. Uh I will bring this
back eventually um because I truly believe this is going to be the solution of this whole area around there. But for now we can um discussion here. None. All those in favor please say I the eyes have it. Item 22823
animal control ordinance regulating animal breeding was sent up to the full council of the recommendation to withdraw. That's the motion. The motion to withdraw properly second. All those in favor please say I. I the eyes have it. Item 24823. Uh this is an ordinance regarding
commercial vehicles and commercial overnight parking. We send it up to the full council with a recommendation to withdraw. That's the motion. Second. There's a motion to withdraw properly. Second discussion. Council vice president. Can I curious about that one? Why
ask the chair why is this being this is an ongoing issue? Yes. Throughout the city. Why is this item being withdrawn? uh working at all. So I think a couple things are are in play. One, this has been on there since 2023. So we we were looking blind at this. We weren't looking at okay, what's
been on the agenda that hasn't been moving, hasn't anything. There's been no action. It's been stagnant. So that's number one. Number two, I it is an issue, right? I I I agree. I do know that we have another counselor as well who's been working on it. My my my personal hope is that the counselors who
have the two major principles on this who have an interest in this can work together. I think they have a similar goal on this. I'm talking about the counselor from district C um and my atlarge counselor to my left. Those both of those counselors have an interest in this and so my hope is it doesn't really
whatever angle we take that it gets to a final resolution. So we can withdraw, we can not withdraw but the thing is we had similar documents we needed to act on. want to should have two. Uh do what is the other the other documents that we have related to to this item or to this topic? Can you repeat your question please?
Okay. What is the other documents that we currently um have that is similar to this? So there's another one and the author is here um the sponsor but very generally the deal specifically with the school buses and and and the weight of the
vehicles and school buses are are the he can speak more or better on this. That's the principle. It may go beyond that. He could be the judge. But that's how I understand is different and through you through you cons. And there's also there's also another item similar which the police is actually
uh deciding what kind of size uh of the vehicles is which were brought out to us by a Canaano. So they they actually uh taking a look they it's been a while. So we need to sometime go back onto our table items and and and revise it. um it's mine that it's that it's working on
the school buses which is it's those are commercial vehicles and also there's one for trucks but they deciding what weight in what size actually are those commercials uh to prevent them to park on the street. So they we have two similar items on table right now besides
this one. So essentially, councilors, what I understand we have from the city of Lawrence is that we have an an estate law regarding to regarding to uh
buses that transport uh students, school buses. that allows um uh drivers to be it's more um easier when it comes to parking within our neighborhoods and most of
those vehicles on sometime they are under 24,000 uh GP uh GPW which is the weight uh but this one specifically 24823 is related to commercial vehicles which is basically one of the biggest issues that uh we
currently have on places that we have no parking throughout the city. And essentially um is because uh when we actually give out uh business certificates, one of the main concerns that the city have is that if you live in a residential area, you're not
allowed to park vehicles, commercial vehicles with uh on there within a specific weight. It could be commercial vehicles that are under a limit limit amount of weight. Yeah. Uh-huh. But there is others that are prohibited and
we have an ordinance on that. What I think we need to do is potentially bring up that uh that um bring up the people that enforce those ordinance here to discuss the current ordinance we have in place and be able to
request a change based on the current need that we have on the city of L. It might not might not help because we're going to have to bring this up again. Maybe what we should do is send correspondents to the inspection services that are the enforcers of this ordinance and uh and potentially read
the ordinance that we have in place and be able to update it as a living. Yeah. Thank you, Council President. Also, I think that the police department that is the one that is been working right now on the side of the vehicle that can be parked or know in some in
some area. So there were a lot of issues on like I think that was in Saleon street a lot of uh truck well parking right over there and there was u we have
to call we have to call or the people has to call the police so um um Mr. Cano is one of the one who's been working on this proposal and working with uh with other also member of the police department. I think so that we
should again put it back and table this uh iron and bring them to over here and see what they are doing and how we can miss the ordering and and the changes and the proposal that they are having
right now. I believe that yes uh the best course the best the best course of action at this moment should be sending correspondents to the different departments so they can bring up and bring the law that we currently have uh and Lawrence and I I have no issues by u
just keeping it here at this level or sending it back to committee if it is uh if it's needed but we need to have some type of uh plan as of we're moving forward on this specific issue and on the school loss. Um there is a different
set of laws that are in place and then take that opportunity to also move forward on that because when we talk about parking throughout the city, this is something that is been uh an ongoing issue all the time especially on district that are very congested
uh and uh and and it's an open an an eyes opening situation that we find out once we walking on the streets. uh and we see the issues. So, this is a great opportunity to open up the uh open up
this topic um instead of withdrawing. Council, if I may, if I may, um enforcement to to council Levy's point, enforcement is a huge one. I I can tell you we have an issue on one particular
street within the district that I believe they even do mechanic work on big on big um commercial trucks from their driveway and I' I've received so many complaints about it and it's still happening. We can continue and
we've mentioned this as a body numerous of times. We can continue putting these ordinance and putting these ordinance or trying to to improve existing ordinance but that makes absolutely it it doesn't it it doesn't help the situation because it's it 50% of it is enforcement and
when you speak to like say perhaps ISD the police department or whomever the the appropriate personnel department the appropriate city of department is they bring in traffic control then you ask who's who's in charge of traffic control
sometimes they say is is DPW or or the police department. There is no direct answer. So, we need to also uh councelor Levby if if this does get tabled and and it it passes to state, I believe you as a as a sponsor and I and council de
Rosario, you with your other um ordinance, please emphasize that we we need a a a centric answer or centric plan to then be able to to branch out and actually establish these these ordinances for for the city.
Yeah, I I believe so. But what I think is important on these cases is that sometime when we write laws and we put ordinance together sometime we miss the uh the department perspective. Um, and now if we bring them up again, they
might be able to tell us this is the lack or that all the information I need to be able to enforce this easier and we can open up that um those opportunities to discuss and be able to fix what is wrong that for years potentially they
didn't bring them up. So bringing them up and and seeing what is what is it that they need to be able to enforce better and to define on the ordinance who is responsible for the enforcement. I think it will be essential
council Rosari and at the beginning of this week I actually made contact with uh one of the biggest school buses company which is NRT and I sent an email with pictures of how they parked. I know there is a state law, but it's also an inconvenience and
and and it's unsafe to have all those big buses in some certain streets which elderly try to cross and they can look around you behind a bus, you can miss a kid. But I emailed them. I got a response. Then I I prepared another email, copy the police department and I got a respond for Captain Guerrero
stating with the with the ordinance number that we have and and he told me, "How do you like me to proceed?" But because the conversation just started, I said, "Let's see how the company actually react to it." And then we go into when it comes to enforcement. So that conversation when it comes to the school buses, I already started it with
them in some areas that it was hunting my district and all the pictures that I got and they sent me. I know it's hurting the whole city and hopefully we can work something together, but it's some some things uh needs to be done. And again, I mean, if you want to leave it here, we can leave it here. But I
know for a fact there is two items similar to this one table somewhere and an ordinance. Right? Let's put it all together and then we can discuss this this whole issue. Um I know it's different perspective on different issues because the school bus have an state law that
protect them from uh of parking on some neighborhoods and actually overnighted. I have a case that here in Lawrence that we have that situation u and they they they fought it and they won it. So let me
Yes. Another complaint is about also the food trucks that sometime they they park you know inside the the the garage or the in the house but they are complaining that somebody sometime they are a little bit scared because of the
of the gas that they leave it in there and that's also another kind of of situation that we are having with all of this foods most of the time definitely essentially what we what I going to I going to go back to the uh to my original point is that when you open
up opening up a business, the first thing that that um that the city tells you is that whether or not you're going to park a vehicle on your property and if this vehicle is commercial for your company, you're not allowed to. You you supposed to find a a locations where um
uh those parking are allowed by law in a commercial area. So there's definitely a violation of of the law, local laws and enforcement would be essential on these points. Council, I have a question on that. I I
um when you can I I don't mean to put you on the spot right now. Can you give me that ordinance later that says that it's it's prohibited from putting commercial vehicles on? It's on the actual application. Can you can you on the what application? On the application to actually get a
business certificate. So I so that business comes out of the clerk's office I believe. So um if I can get a copy of that that would be great because that's a question that we really haven't gotten an answer to on a lot of things and so council president you're saying that this evening might be the answer and I
want to make sure I want to see the basis on that. So that and by the way it probably needs to be based on an ordinance not just on a piece of paper guidance. So that would be helpful. So if we got anything on that that would be very helpful. Thank you sir. Yep. No problem. Counc.
Um, so counc can I make a motion to keep this item right in here and to say correspondent to uh motion? My motion is to withdraw. So the opportunity so we can uh you can make a motion to
table because I have an underlined motion to withdraw but if you make a motion to table recognize it. Can I make a point before you make that point? It's a very quick point. Uh if we make a motion to table this evening and I don't really have a problem with that. We have to make a motion to table. Our new rule says that if we don't take
action by the end of this year on things that weren't introduced this year. Well, that's on the subcommittee though. Pardon me. That's on the subcommittees, not at the full council. No, that's at the full council level. That's at the full council level. That's at the full council on the table of matters of full counsel.
So, uh the the safest course of action would be to send it to the committee. Safest course of action in case we don't get to it this year, things could happen. That's one. Number two, the other the reason why we have that rule that we voted all voted in in favor of it was the reason is because that was
two councils ago. That was the council of 22 23. We're now in the council of 2425. This thing doesn't pass this year, it's going to be the council of whatever 26 27. So we talk about transparency. We talk about openness. We want to make sure things are fresh and not and by the
way I agree with the issue on the issue. I'm there. I'm pardon voting yes on it when the issue comes up for a vote because I think it's important but I'm just looking at the process if we open up the door here for this one. Are we opening that up for something else and that's my concern. I just want the counselor to think about that and maybe we send it back to the committee. Maybe
that's the way we do it. I'm I'm just throwing that out there because just thinking through I mean we already have the 10-minute discussion on this. Sending it to committee another 10-minute discussion will happen but we need to take we need to take action. Let's send correspondents to that uh to
uh yeah I mean let's send our respondents to the inspection services and also to the police department related regarding to these items so we can put some type of documentation together and we can start working on something because I mean uh if if we just send it to committee which is going
to come back again uh for withdraw at some point. So the motion is the I mean it should be something else another motion. Motion to send correspondence I think.
Motion to table and send correspondence one one at a time. Okay. Motion to table. It's a motion. Motion to send correspondence to the police department pertaining item 248-23.
Second. Oh, I understand the motion, too. I would also encourage as a friendly amendment that we put a time date on there so they they understand the sense of urgency. So, today's what? September. We're in October. October. What? It's October. What's today's date? November. Seventh. If we give them I don't know.
Give them two weeks, three weeks, I don't care. Second meeting of November. Uh, first meeting in November, maybe. Second meeting. There you go. So, I I accept the uh council of the plans from the amendment. Right. This is a send correspondence to
the inspection services and also to the police uh police uh department related to this item. So they can come in front of us with the ordinance and the plan to enforce those. Counc
that's a that's a let's before a let's can I hear a second second properly second this conv uh can we also have at the time or whatever the time that we discuss this is the ordinance that we already have
also in place. Yeah, that we can maybe we can miss everything together and have just only one item. Yeah. Uh we I just mentioned that we will have the ordinance and the plans to enforce that was part of the motion. Thank you.
I missed that part. Right. Right. Council Lope. Okay. Right. Um any questions related to the correspondence? I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I. Have it. Now I entertain another motion.
Motion to table. So motion to table to table. Can I hear a second properly second discussion? No discussion on the table matters. All those in favor please say I. I. The eyes have it. Uh item 286 23. Request a traffic study intersection of
summer street. Send up the full council with the recommendation to withdraw. That's the motion. The motion to withdraw. Properly second discussion. Hearing none. All those in favor please say I. I. Have it. Item 29623 hawkers and peddlers license sent Gandhi
Fragerio and Brolio Gul sent up to the full council with the recommendation to withdraw. That's the motion. Second. So it's Gandhi Rihario and Ralio Gurujong. So all those and any questions? I hear
none. All those in favor please say I. I. The eyes have it. Item 1925. Uh this document uh is handicapped property one lin industry was sent up to the full council to order a public hearing. That's the motion. Second. Motion to order a public hearing properly second. Discussion hear none.
All those in favor please say. I the eyes have it. Item 27325. Hampshire street dropoff area west side between Bradford and Hable Street was sent up to the full council with a favorable recommendation order public hearing. That's the motion. There's a motion on the table properly
second uh to a public hearing. Um discussion there's none. All those in f please say I I have it. Item 24525 childcare parking 366 harvester send to the full council with the table recommendation order of public hearing.
That's the motion. All right. There's a motion on the table. Please second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor please say I. I. The eyes have it. Uh, councelor Lan, do you mind taking item 347, 348, 349, 350, 369, 370, 371 as a package?
Make a motion as as read the block. Uh, councelor President, if there's no objection, one levy. Yes. Uh, the 350 has to be out because this is for withdraw. Sorry. Yeah, 350 is for withdraw.
That's right. So item 347, 348, 349, 369, and 370 and 371 as a block. Yes. So second motion on the table properly second to order a public hearing on all those items. Discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I.
The eyes have it. Um item 35025. Uh should I read those? I I think I should probably read those items out. 34725 is handicap parking on two Fairmont Street. 34825 is handicap parking on 6th Street. 34925 is handicap parking at 62 Washington Street. 36925
is handicap parking at 93 Greenwood Street. 37025 is handicap parking at 288 High Street. And 37125 is handicapped parking at 14 40 Albian Street number one. Albian Street number one. Thank you. All right. Uh motion pass. Motion
carries item 35025. Uh this was sent the handicap park and the seven end cost was sent up to the full council with a recommendation to withdraw. That's the motion. Second. Motion to withdraw properly second. Uh all those in favor please say I. I. All those in favor please say I.
I. The eyes have it. Uh okay. We conclude with the ordinance committing. There is uh no public safety committee, no economic development reports, no committee of the whole reports and 373. You're missing one.
I missed one. Yes. 373. Oh yeah. Sorry. Item 37325. Uh the chair of the ordinance committee. My apologies councelor especially councelor Reyes. Uh childcare parking at 80 coolage street. Interestingly um set
up the full council with paper recommendation order public hearing. That's the motion. Second. There's a motion on the table properly second discussion. None. All those in favor please say I. I. The eyes have it. Uh public safety committee. There is no report. Economic development committee there is no
report. Committee of the whole there is no report. and all business that is uh no item and there are any table matters that we would like to discuss tonight I hear no so we going straight to all new business our counselors please with
me I have no glasses on me so first it's usually treated like something All right. Item 39025, accept acceptance of a of donated
vehicle from NICV to the Lawrence Police Department. This is going to the budget and finance committee. Item 39125, authorization to spend $1,5400 MBP grant from the office of energy and
environmental affairs. This is going to the budget and finance committee. Item 39325 appointment of Jack uh Jack Jacqueline Marmal unroll the border to the reg uh to the board of register. This is going
to personal committee item 39425 authorization uh authorization for contract over 3 years for contract 70 to20 with the groundwork Lawrence the corner park renovation. This is going to
the um or ordinance committee item 39595 authorization to post advertisement and field uh financials offices positions and this going this is going to
this going to the ordinance committee. Yes. Item 39625 Auto Recycle Auto Recycle Group LLC and John Deer Prime of 4850 Medford Street and this is going to the ordinance committee item
39725 auth, [Music] 1904 cents PSA 911 training grant this is going to finance committee right 39825 authorization to spend $299,961
$1 2020 2020 26 uh CH grant from the executive office of public safety and then um and security. This is going to finance committee. Item 39925 handicap parking at uh 28 288 L street. This is
going to the ordinance committee. Item 425, Hendic parking at uh 376 uh Exit Street 376 Es Street, no apartments. This is going to the ordinance committee. Item 40125,
handicap parking at 25 uh Belmont Street, no apartments. Uh this is going to the ordinance committee. Item uh 40225 um 81 Bunker Street. Handicap parking there. Boner uh Boner Hill. That's going
to the ordinance committee. Item uh 40325 Helica parking at 94 Draker Street. And that's going to the ordinance committee. Item 40425 Hendica Parking at 52 Boswell Street. That's going to the ordinance committee. Item
40525 resident parking uh 6A Mom Street. That's going to the ordinance committee. Item 40625, resident parking on uh Buckling Street, that's going to the ordinance committee.
Item uh 40725, install J Paul at B uh Berkeley Street and Mongomed Street. That's going to the ordinance committee. Item 40825, install J Paul at uh Winrop A and Dorson's A. That's going to the
ordinance committee. Item 40925, install a J o on Malbor Street and South Union Street. That's going to the ordinance committee. Item 41025, install a J Paul on Brunfield on Bronford Street and Baldwin Street. That's going to the
ordinance to the ordinance committee. Item 41125, install a J O Cher Street near Glen Street. That is going to the ordinance committee. Item two, 41225, install a J ball on Landover Street and near the
intersection of Tuxberry Street. That's going to the ordinance committee. Item 41325, review an an amount of real estate abatement for uh disabled veterans. That's going
to the ordinance committee. Item uh 41425 vote to confirm location of the October council meetings uh for the city council as per rule number two items. Uh
councilors this item we need to discuss this here today. But before that I would like to continue with item uh 41525. Um these two
please one more to be declared to the agenda. Item 415 and 20 uh 25 and 41625. Those two item need to be declared an
emergency and those those read as follows. Counselors you have it in front of you on your desk or on your table. Uh the 4:15 2025 is hair ride for Halloween event at the companion common
October 24, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 1000 p.m. Uh this is the uh YWCA Northeast Massachusetts. this item and it to be declared as an emergency due to uh it's going to be
it's going to be done. You can send it to committee. Yeah. Yeah. All right. This item will be sended to uh the budget on the ordinance committee. Sorry. Item 41625 sent. Yeah. So we just need to vote to declare
an emergency so we can add them to the gender. Yes. uh life health and uh and wealth community cleaned up work at uh work for the 2025 at the Allent School to uh to Harvard School and October 25, 2025.
These two items need to be declared an emergency. So we be able to add it to the agenda since they were late file and subsequently be able to send it to the ordinance committee counselors. If possible, I would like to ask upon a
motion to declare this item as an emergency to be able to add it to the agenda and proceed with the course. So, can I get a motion? So, move there's a motion to declare item 41525
and 41625 second to declares an emergency. It's been properly second discussion for the benefit of the community. emergency. You just need six. Yeah, we have another item as well. If we
amend the motion, go ahead. Amended. Yeah. Uh just to add it to the agenda and then subsequently be sended to committee. Council, there's a third item. There's a third item. It is to adopt a square honoring Lieutenant Margaret
Sheen. in the square would be at the intersection of Saratoga Street and Lawrence Streets. This was sponsored by councelor Vivian Ml and councelor Wendy Luzon. This did come in timely and I apologize that's not on the agenda because of me. The other two um are through citizen serve and those come in
um ble but they do are timely. They need to be voted on prior to the um to get them to be done by your meeting on the 21st. They need to be added to the agenda tonight. if you take all three as emergencies to add them to the agenda and all three would be being referred to committee. So none of them have to be
voted on tonight. So counselors any question? Can I get a an a not day motion or a friendly amendment to add? Friendly amendment that um friendly amendment. Do you accept that as a friendly amendment? Yes. All right. This set is a friendly amendment. Uh counselors, any questions?
Can you just one more time? We've got three items. What's the new document? 417. So the newest document 17 is adopting a square honoring Lieutenant Margaret Sheen. There are paperwork in front of us on that item. There is not I that's Yeah, but it will be sent to committee.
It's going to committee. Um it's honoring Lieutenant Margaret Shien. It'll be at the intersection of Saratoga Street and Lawrence Streets. And I can get packages out to all of you tonight or tomorrow. Um so you'll have it well in advance of the committee. So everything is going to be declared emergency. I I'm struggling to find in my role and I we're going to get to the
same result. I don't think we need to declare it as an emergency. I think that under the under there's a rule that says that it's a late file, which is what two of these apparently are. They were enough to get us onto the agenda, but they're a late file. They just need seven votes of the council to put on on
as a late file. I'm trying to find that rule real quick and I'm not able to find it as quickly as I'd like. I know what you're referring to, but I mean I also thought that it was supposed to be declared as an emergency, but if we can clarify if that will fine. Yeah, but was not but for that that
corner. Yes, but not for the other two. The other two were on the agenda. No, they're on the agenda as of tonight. As of late as of tonight? I put those on there for your convenience. Those are But it says posted on October 30. What's today's date? So this is a revised agenda, but those
two item were not po that were not part of that agenda that was posted on that day email today with this new agenda on it. There's no revised agenda. Okay. I just we just got to be careful in the front page right it says yeah says posted
Yep. But she didn't post it. That's why that was just send it to us. It's not a late file. These three are e fascinating. We just made this ed which is fascinating. It's easier to have an emergency than it is to have a late file. Think about that for a second. Emergencies are really
easy. Late files. We need seven votes. Thank you. I'm done. That's why we declare an emergency. That's our rules. All right. Uh, counelors, any questions? I hear none. All those in favor, please say I to declare this as an emergency. Roll call vote.
Roll call vote, please. You, Council Reyes. Yes. Council Marl, yes. Council Del Rosario, yes. Council Luzon, yes. Council Lant, no. Council Levy
here. Council Vice President Infonte. Yes. Council President Rodriguez. But yes. So all these items are now been declared as an emergency. Can I get a motion to add it to the agenda? Motion to add to agenda. Second. Uh there's a motion to add it to the
agenda properly. Second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor say I. I. Any have it. Now that we have it on the agenda, item 41525 will be sent will be going to the um the
ordinance committee and item 41625 line health and wellness community cleanup will also be going to the u ordinance committee. Item 416 4 7 uh 41725 is also be going to be going to that um
ordinance committee. Um, now let's go back to the business counselors and um I believe that on item uh 41525 the
reason that I put it on here is because uh first we need to we need to suspend the rule not to be sended to committee and then uh the second vote as we did on the first meeting we need to take a vote whether or not we're going to have this meeting
next our next meeting at this location. So I can give you I can give you a heads up if you if any of you guys have passed by the chambers. Uh there is no no no desk no furniture at this point. They raising up the platform.
So we can be about um anywhere between 7 to 10 in u above the ground. So we be able to to look at the end of the chambers. So they are uh they right now doing that. So
sequentially they will uh they will bring the furniture new furnitureures that we're going to have at the chambers and that going to take a little bit of time as well and and we doing that in house.
That means that if something happened on any of the over 50 buildings that we have in the city, those people need to be dis uh deployed to that new location. So, uh, I'll ask the counselors to
please vote in favor of item 41525 so we can have the next meeting here. So, can I get a motion to suspend the rules so we can u not send this item to committee? So move. There's a motion to suspend the rules prop. Can I hear a second?
Second properly. Second discussion. I'm going to just suspend the rules. Just suspend the rules. I'm okay with it. All those in f please say I guys have it. Now we have this item here. Counselors uh are interested in a
question a motion a motion to be able to open it for discussion. So the motion will be around moving suspending road two so we can have the meeting on 165 Brford Street at the South Lawrence South Lawrence East
um complex. our next general meeting. So I I I don't Is that what the your recommended motion is or is that what the proposal is? I'm looking for the proposal. The proposal is to change the well this is the this the as per the rule number two as we discussed previously right
we have to take a vote majority vote to be able to change the location of our meeting. Got it. So now we're looking for a motion to be able to have our next full council meeting at this location. I'd like to make a motion. I like to
make a motion that we have our next full city council meeting at the school department building on the same block as city hall and that way it makes it easier for everybody especially on a Tuesday night and for other department heads um and com and committee meetings as well. That's my motion.
So we uh before we go into that and to accept uh or actually approve this motion, we need to make sure that equipments are available to be able to do what we do. Uh here we do have it. I mean I think it's awesome to come over to South to have a city council meeting.
We haven't had this for a while. I represent the south. My constituents will not be offended if there's not a city council meeting here. I think that people I also represent the south. I that's very good there. Thank you. I don't know how to retort that. You do.
We've got councelor Reyes. We have a lot of people represent. We have four people that five people that represent the self. So the long and the short of it is this. I I I think that we should be looking into a it's close. If we put a sign on the building that says city council is office is or the chambers is closed.
Please go down the street half a block for the meeting as opposed to the city council chambers are closed. Please travel to South Florence East to get in time for the meeting. I think again to make it easy for the our constituents, easy for the residents on a Tuesday. It's much easier frankly for department
and city employees just to go downstairs right there. It just makes more sense. I whenever poss here's my point. Whenever possible, we should try to make that accommodation. We're already doing this accommodation. Uh I don't think we have we asked anybody to see if we can do it there. Have we asked to see? I mean, they used to have school committee
meetings there, so I think they might have some equipment at that location. You you work. Oh, good. So, what do you have through you? Do you mind me asking a few questions? So, you're going to stand up. Do you mind? Go ahead. She might need to go to the mic, though, so we can all hear her.
So, go ahead. I'm making her watch. I'm sorry. We could have brought the mic to you. I'm sorry. Um, so the idea here is to obviously for the reasons I just mentioned, what would prohibit us from
having meetings at because I know that L for example have their meetings there. I've seen some some videos there. There's no video equipment anymore. There was a school committee meeting, but when the building was when the city the school committee moved out or the school department moved out temporarily,
that whole room was disassembled. So we we assembled this. It takes us a couple of hours to put together because this is used as a theater classroom during the during the school day. Uh so for for the LA meetings, we assemble everything that you see here. Uh so for a a Tuvos
meeting or something that they have for the school department, it's it's a Zoom or it's there's there's nothing physically in place down downtown at at the moment. Thank you, Council Lang. I think you need to trust a little bit more of the of our judgments
and uh is the basic of having being a little fair to the work that we've been doing. Uh I understand that the subcommittee is uh potentially we can do it on Zoom. Uh but for the main for the main council meeting, I think that we have done uh a good amount of work to be
able to have it here and changing it without even finding out whether or not it is appropriate to have it there. I think it's it's it's whatever you want to say. It is. So, we have a motion to change it to the to downtown
council president. um based on the testimony that we just received. I just and I and I and I appreciate the the information and um obviously we're looking if if if this motion was truly to be here the South Florence East, it would be on this
piece of paper in front of us that would have said South Florence East. I don't think I see it on here. I did give you I have it right here on your agenda. And before we keep on discussing this, I will I need a second. Can I hear a sec?
Can I get a second? All right. It's been second by councelor Marmo. All right. We might continue. It's right there. Okay. Yes. Thank you. So, I just worked off of my iPad. Um
Okay, that's fine. U I'm going to withdraw my motion um with this caveat. I I do think um well I it's it's How long do you think this is going council president? You got that smile on your face like you have got the answer. What is how long are we
going to have this issue at the at the in the chambers? I don't think it's an issue to be honest with you. Okay. How long do we have this fantastic opportunity to have these meetings here? If I will ask that question, I will give it an answer tomorrow because that though that that crew as I just
mentioned we doing this inhouse that's why it take for a while but if we we need to be uh in support of first of all uh doing more in-house work as we always said to save money and we doing this in house so I to give you an answer I don't
know okay potentially that's why I put this item on the agenda for the next meeting. Hopefully by the next meeting we don't well for November 6 meeting we don't have to have a meeting up outside of the chambers
and uh we we just end with it next next next time uh we'll discuss this if we need another another another meeting to be uh somewhere. Sure. So so I I have nothing else to add. I'm going to withdraw my motion. Council
President, clearly I I I don't have all the cards here. You do. Um as far as um being prepared to speak on this. I thought that one idea was a good idea. Clearly that's doesn't is not operable because of changes that have happened within the last year or whatever the recent time was. So um that's not such a
great idea at this point unless unless things can move over there quickly without a lot of cost. if that's the case and I don't know if that's the case. Um, and at this late hour on before the meeting, I don't know if anybody has the appetite to go down that rabbit hole. So, I'm going to withdraw
my motion. I'll be honest with you, the chambers or this place, it's full of people compared to all the meetings that we have. It's a lot of people today out here. I love it. Yeah.
But compared to what we have on other meetings, so anyway, uh yeah, we had to beat them away. Um anyway, the the meeting the proposed location for the uh for the next meeting
will be 165 Cross Street at the South Lance East complex. So, can I get a motion to approve the new location for the next meeting? There's a motion to approve a new location. properly second. Uh discussion
that is none. All those in favor please say I. I need a vote. Um it just says a majority. So do you need I just want to measure. All right council they know all the items at this time. I don't entertain a motion to
do we know what our next ordinance committee meetings and all. You see Mark we need you here. Giovani I'm here for you. You see Mark, we need you here so much. Your 20 years of experience are great. You not forget about things. Uh
ordinance committee uh to be taking place online on Zoom. Please uh attend through Zoom next Tuesday 7 p.m. Next Tuesday 7 p.m. Um personnel committee personnel committee will be Monday
holiday. Oh, no. Holiday. You want to work on a holiday? I I I work regardless. So, um All right. Wednesday the 8th at the 6:30. I mean, I'm sorry. Wednesday the 15th at 6:30.
Wednesday the 15. Uh budget and finance. Wednesday 15 the 15th at 7 p.m. 7. All right. We are going to have we are going to be having u the subcommittee meetings online through Zoom. So please
be aware that if you want to join those meetings request those uh Zoom links they are going to be available throughout. We're going to have we're going to make a huge effort uh to send it to everybody and uh they're going to be post with the agenda. Correct. Uh
clar with the agenda. So, anybody that would like to join us, they're going to have um they're going to they're going to be welcome to join us on Zoom. Um I just want to recognize uh somebody in the public very quick. Uh Mr. Flet, the one of the security offices from the
city of Lawrence and the schools. Thank you so much, Fleta, for everything you do for the kids. Uh we love you at the Gilmet. I don't know if they love you here. I'm pretty sure. Thank you, guys. Um can I get a motion to adjurnn?
There's a motion to adjurnn properly second discussion. There is none. All those in favor please say I. The eyes have it. We'll take them. We got to get them back to the building. Yeah, we'll work with gra. Honestly, why don't you leave them on
the table? Make any paper that you want. You'll leave those on the table. We'll grab that. We'll get them back to city hall. That's a great question. So, please guys, leave the papers that you want to draw out on the front. The the papers that you want to draw