##VIDEO ID:6QaV8HJuvCM## e e e spe spe spe okay good take your time can e for e for for that's where I used to e e spe we together for r spe he good evening and welcome to the budget and finance committee meeting today is Wednesday January 29th it is now 5:24 voting members to my left I have councelor Wendy lzone to my right the vice chair of this committee councelor Vivian marmel and council president javanni Rodriguez pursuant to chapter 20 of the acts of 2022 this meeting of the budget and finance committee is being conducted both in person and via remote participation a reminder that persons who would like to listen or view this meeting while in progress May either attend here in the city council chamber or uh view through our uh Facebook or YouTube Pages at this time can you please join me in the pledge IED Al to FL unit states of Amica [Music] Maria I gave you a sheet that's pertaining to a table item we have um I don't know if you need one but just in case for the record it's there thank you all right counselors we have minutes for approval can I get a motion to approve minutes from the meeting from October 23rd 2024 and December 11th 2024 so move motion has been made by Council marmel councilor marmel is there a second second second by councelor lone discussion seeing none all those in favor say I I and the ice have it all right new business the first item we have under new business item 22-24 appropriation transfer in the amount of $300,000 from various account to the Child Care Circuit and is brought To Us by Sue Fink who is the manager of Financial and administrative Services of Miss think mam chair it's 2225 2225 sorry um advisor SP senior advisor sper you have the floor good evening Vice uh chair um uh Stephanie Andante City councilors good evening uh we're going to do it any questions that you have uh we're here to respond but basically for the for you as well as for the the the public uh mayor dep is requesting uh additional funding for the Child Care Program um and for to help the Lawrence families um that are already enrolled in the program the total amount I believe is $300,000 that is requested uh as you may know fun for this program has always been limited as it was initially a pandemic emergency program uh the mayor uh is advocating uh as well as most of you for this program to continue uh but however we need additional uh program um and we anticipate this program to last an additional 3 months the reason why this fun these funds are very important is is to help those families that are enrolled or at least the children that are uh take are benefiting from this program for the parents to have uh to be allowed the time to seek other additional funding sources um to just abruptly finish this program and leave them up in the air is not um is not a good uh a good process or policy to follow so uh the mayor is requesting these funds uh to help those family family during that transition council's any questions um yes I saw um Council Marc I'll be brief senior advisor are you able to my thing is not working right no you always you always have that luck senior advisor are you able to give an explanation as to why these organizations have declined their funds like uh speak to me um as to what the process entails considering that uh These funds at one point was um approved for these organizations to operate um and now they're declining it do you mind just you know going by what that process entails and why these funds are being declined well I don't have the full scope of it um Susan you know good evening counselors um so both the gr alarms Family Health Center and Lawrence General Hospital declined their funding um because they did not want to um proceed with the program with the modello pregnancy tracker both of them were going to be starting a program with that um the lawtown boxing gym was not able to front the money um as you know the creating a thriving Lawrence program is a reimbursable program and they did not have the funds to front the um $80,000 that they were awarded so they they declined their funding as well um saman Hispana we reached out to them on multiple occasions through email through voicemail and we never got a response back and they never even entered into a contract with us and the airport um did not want to take a loan from the city it was set up as a loan all the These funds were on a reimbursable basis is that those were the terms yeah that's the terms of the creating a thriving lws program it was a reimbursement bases the nonprofit had to use their own funds and then request reimbursement providing proof of payment and invoices councelor was on um thank you um M sheer um to um it do they need to spend the entire amount can they spend 5,000 and get a reimbursement how does it work oh they can they can request multiple reimbursements so they didn't have to spend the whole amount up front they could have spent you know 5,000 or 10,000 they do they are they aware of that that was me clear to them it it and I know that nothing to do with you of your department I mean I see Sana here and I know they every year they struggle uh looking uh phone Racing for uh for S Espana so it's kind of I don't I don't understand why as I said we did reach out to them several times by email I sent them documents that we needed to have filled out so I could prepare the contract um someone asked me to send them to a different email I did that I never got a response um then someone else in the office tried to reach out to them they never got a response but we do have their contact information if if if uh if you so wish we can provide that information that you can UN in the record uh Council you still have the floor um oh yeah thank you thank you my counselor U marmel so do these organizations initially apply for these funds knowing um what the what the requirements are it was made clear in the application that it was on a reimbursement basis okay I'm just struggling to understand you know that they're applying for something knowing off hand that they they wouldn't be able to you know accomplish such as lot on boxing so it's like I just wanted to understand if they knew offand before applying for this it is in the it was in the application that they completed council president are you celor thank you through you um I have a few things here the first thing that I would like to offer because there are completely different uh concept of the funds here I understand that as far as I understand this this whole thing uh probably I'm Prett I'm pretty I'm pretty I'm pretty sure that based on what my research and what I have um seen here how this these things have developed is that um the greatest lawence Family Health Center in the hospital um uh as well as the aort they probably don't don't they probably rejecting the funds for multiple reasons uh so I would like to offer to split this this item into a and b so we can we can have a discussion and be able to approve part of the fund is possible and then we can continue the discussion so I would like to offer an amendment to the item uh through a motion to split it into a and b a being uh the 100,000 plus 50,000 plus the $20,000 from the April um meaning the greatest La greatest Family Health Center 100,000 the LA General Hospital 50,000 and the APR uh another 20,000 to split into a and then having um the um thean ispana and the L Town funds is split into B so we can have a conversation with the with those two organization so I would like to make that as a formal for motion to split those two motion has been made by the council president president is there a second Council presiden mind oh I'm so sorry we need a second for a discussion second second by Council marmel discussion council marmel do you mind going over how you split A and B again so um so a would be great alarm family yeah the 100,000 for the greatest Family Health enter uh plus the the 50,000 from the Lawrence General Hospital and the 20,000 from the a meaning 150 170,000 uh into item number a and then uh keeping item number B as SE span at 50,000 and low time boxing 8,130 total okay so 170 on one side and then one uh one3 in the other side we that's the motion then so we can get into engage into a discussion and and just for clarity purposes this is uh just to gain an understanding um and having an explanation from these two organizations as to why they're declining the funds yes essentially uh I'm I'm very clear based on my research that I have done with the uh with the he Center and the clinic and the and the and the a that they have been they don't want to proceed with the Modelo uh Modelo uh pregnancy uh tracker or application development and uh in the aort uh they they have expressed multiple times when it comes to the loans that it's not their desire so that money is clear to probibly go to this important U scholarship that we've been offered to the families from LS the other two are not quite clear yet so instead of just holding the entire amount we can release partial uh partial uh 170 if this go well and then we can proceed with the discussion with other two organization and if that's the case and then we can proceed with the second item which is B councilors if would be helpful I believe I have a letter from lown boxing that vot to you it explains their ration y that will be part of the resource that that that's help that help a lot that was that was my question for you miss Fink if you got in contact with these two organizations um ltown boxing and Sana with them any like confirming that they don't need these funds and that they're they're okay with not having it well I I absolutely have a letter from ltown boxing but no no no response at all from saman after reaching out to them multiple times okay um I'm I'm going to say I I don't agree with with splitting this I my Sol and councelor Le plant received uh an email on December 18th from constituent very worried about the funds regarding the child care circus um circuit and um I was in contact with director valz over over that week um and she was on vacation so I really appreciate the fact that she that she answered uh so this I've been waiting for this and I know she she did inform me that that you guys were working behind the scenes on this and and just that that email that I received was very um worrisome so I I don't agree I I agree that that we should be some we should be putting all $300,000 into into this program but I'm only one counselor yeah I'm council president so essentially the biggest difference that I have seen on these allocation and the previous allocation for the circuit is that we have Maria here from the from the childh uh childh circut which she explained to us as of how much a scholarship will you be able to give given and how much that will mean when it comes to funds I I not I don't want to ask that question to either one of you guys because you guys don't know about that stuff you guys not running the program so I think that is essential for us to have uh other full council meeting and and uh to have Maria meller which is the the the the person in charge of running the program to actually come in front of us to keep on explaining to us as of why uh this fund is important how having partial funds going to the organization is not going to AB brly stop the program I have received those emails as well that's why I'm splitting it into two items 170,000 going immediately and then be able to be able to respond I'll be be able to get an answer from these two important organizations uh from lens that we're counting on those funds as well but for one way or another way I don't know why they not able to come up with a money so if what I'm saying is especially for the L toown boxing gy because I know pretty sure I'm pretty sure M span have a bunch of expenditures that they have done since last year Bunch that Festival go over 150,000 on expenditures so if they submit that funds I'm pretty sure that only one bill will cover that that reimbursement because they have PID they have PID to the police they have PID to different bors they have paid to the state stage they have the fund they have the receipt to actually be able to get reimbursed I'm pretty sure about that uh a lot Town boxing I know that they need a lot of funds because they are free program they don't charge and that's one of the reason as of why they not able to produce uh the funds to be able to reimburse to get a reimbursement but they probably don't know that if they actually buy one case of water and somebody and and and they get that receipt they be able to get reimbursed at $5 so probably having them here and explain in a single manner like if you have a $5 receipt you'll be able to get a $5 receipt a $5 back so that's the thing like I don't know I'm not 100% confident that that explanation was going to them just like that plain and simple if you spend $5 you'll be able to get the $5 back understood thank you pel did have conversations with lown boxing after they sent in their letter she reached out to them and and did discuss it with them thank you um Maria can you do the roll call for um the the motion on the table is to split item 22-22 yes yes oh yes yes no motion carries thank you so now Madame chair I would like to offer a motion to send uh with a favor recommendation uh to the full Council um item uh 22 2225 2225 2325 right 22 2225 a which is 170,000 to the full council with a favor recommendation motion to send 22-25 a to the full council with a favorable recommendation has been made is there a second um seconded by councelor marmel discussion seeing none all those in favor say I and the eyes have it m chair I would like to offer another motion now uh to to a couple invitations one that is going to be to the uh circuit um what's the name of it circuit chco circuit Maria M to be here with us next Tuesday at the full Council and also to invite uh people from the low toown boxing gym to be here uh either are the subcommittee or the full Council whenever that this this next item goes and some M SP as well second by c marel um I think sorry I just realized I just saw the senior advisor left and we're going to untable an item that's under his name um yeah can you check Maria please well the can we get letter we're going to we're going to he has another meeting H I think he has another meeting meeting yeah um okay so motion has been made to to send correspondence to Maria from Child Care Circuit who else comes president uh represent LA boxon and a representative from it's been probably seconded by by counselor been properly seconded by councelor marmal to appear at the next council meeting next week uh discussion seeing none all those in favor say I I and the eyes have it can I get a motion to table item 220 I mean 22-24 B I mean 25 B motion has been made by coun councelor President there is there a second second second by councelor marmel um no discussion all those in favor say I I and the eyes have it um mad chair I just want to CL from the previous motion that s low boxing is going to be on the next subcommittee bu finance committee for the next councils can I have a motion to untable item 56824 transfer in the amount of $400,000 from arper free cash which was previously allocated to the Hispanic Federation um to small bus to small business to the prospering Lawrence grant for are you ready um yeah can I have a motion to un table you guys are on table but that was not our request can I so so let me so so we we haven't even discussed this cuz last time when when this was on the agenda no one from the mayor's office was here uh to to he was just waiting for us to give him feedback right can I can I uh hold on can I can I have a a motion to to on table motion has been made is there a second seconded by Council marmel all those in favor say I I and the eyes have it uh Madame chair we uh subsequent to the council meeting we have contacted um uh several organizations that we are going to work under the recommendation of uh I believe it was your recommendation council president in terms of um trying to see if we can work with uh based on the needs of other organizations that wanted to um to to disperse the money or were in need of the money uh we have met so far with Lawrence partnership uh to identify the different um needs um we were not ready to prepare to talk about this item because we haven't requested it to be on table but I know that uh Frank serido uh the director of Economic Development was going to reach out to our organization as well to find out by now every organization should have a list of let's say businesses um that are in need of a of a grant help and what type of assistance but we did meet with the um with Lawrence partnership but we need we would like to meet with mcci we would like to meet with uh some of the other um organization as well to provide assistance and to have a clearer understanding and bring uh a recommendation to the mayor and as well to the city council councilor any comments or questions um yes Madam chair councel L on um um to the senior advisor just keep in mind that uh um we uh well I I think that it will be important for uh people that apply for the forms to the toed commerci they should be taken in consideration when you meet with Lawrence partners because they serve a total different group of business owners they're different from the ones that are part of feder so if you can somehow uh take in consideration of this people that apply the business owners that apply and I don't know how uh just a a suggestion if that can be taken consideration to include members of feder the commerci as a potential applicants uh and and it can be done through uh Lawrence partners because they some of these business owners are not part of Lawrence partnership or or the mcci mcci correct so just open if it's possible to open a window of opportunity for that great well we'll be helding conservation as well thank vice president u m chair ccil president yes uh as we have discussed this we we we did two things last meeting as as far as I remember that we actually invite the that uh the feder isci to be here with us so we can hear them all as of their point of view so we can we can actually have a good perspective as of U uh what happened they here today and also all right we took um and I want to for the record we have not had a budget and finance meeting since since that last meeting so this is the next meeting that we requested uh the president of um the Federation to be here so and also uh we I said we we took the initiative as a committee to put something together for the administration to uh to consider because uh it is it is important to actually have a a clear process as to how we're going to distribute the funds um we're going to provide this with we're going to provide it with a copy I have to Paras oh Paras we're going to provide you with a copy so you can take a look at it and then see if it is a a good a good um a good program to distrib the 400,000 well the council president does that I I have a comment um I'm glad to to hear that you guys are are digitally working on this my how do Inc and to how do you say in yeah English Engish my concern there you go I was saying the word in Spanish and I was forgetting getting it in English my concern about this and I and I can send you U senior advisor screen recordings if if needed um throughout the month of December into early January our mayor has been on the radio asking people to call their counselors to to basically not PR pressure is not a very a very positive word but to to to um H to speak on in favor of of this item and I don't understand why the mayor has gone on the radio and said this multiple times when what I'm hearing is that the administration is still working out logistics for this and and it's you guys seem to not be fully ready yet to fully present a plan or to have a a discussion on this item so that's not that's not like that's not fair to the council and I'm sure the mayor is aware of of the activities and the job that's being done for for this item um so I don't understand why he's going on the radio and saying saying things prematurely when we're not there yet well uh Madam chair I'm not uh I'm not aware of of of the mayor going to the radio or to the media talking about I have the clips I can send it to you senior advisor I'm here as as part of of making sure that uh the directives of both and the wishes of both the mayor and as well as the city council is um is you know um accomplished uh what I can say is the reason why we wanted to meet is to make sure that we gave a fair chance to the other organizations to find out you know because there's two type of businesses one I mean three type of business in Lawrence but two are mostly uh in need of the grant one is the startups and we know that 80% of the startups they fail but they need a fair chance uh to to uh to have their Enterprise the other group are those that are transitioning from start to grow up uh to growth and those are the businesses that employ uh more than two people most of the time and have already proven themselves in the market and that's why we're contacting some of these other organizations to make sure that you know there's a balance between startups and also the other companies that probably need funding for instance to purchase a facility or a gap financing uh or uh to complement their loan request at the bank so that's why we're going through the process and that's the reason why I didn't request this item to be um ontable until further notice and I think uh you have also received uh as a background information and history uh when the legal department at advis the uh the mayor uh not to change the The Rules of Engagement during the process uh the reimbursement of the funds and we have requested a City attorney to come before you and just as a reminder uh if there's any changes then you know this is your the body that makes that makes the changes um and uh we're not going to get involved in that we can make recommendations we can be you know on behalf of the mayor we're not happy happy with this we're not happy with that but you're the ones that sets the rules for ARA in fact uh we are also requesting all the organization that receive funds to start preparing their reports because we need to give a report to you as to how funds have the arpa funding has been that that was converted into free cash was expended thank you um as you as you spoke I just remembered another in in um incident this was was also in December during the lse cafe uh relocation uh grand opening uh the mayor also threw I was the only counselor there uh threw a little job about this being um approved so again like I like I like I said I'm hearing that you guys are working on it I'm hearing that that you want to come back and and just present a more a more thorough um uh uh plan just please go back it's it's not fair to the council um being mentioned for the mayor of of our city saying telling people to call us when a plan or nothing is concrete yet um that we don't have anything in front of us to to even make a decision on so just make sure that you relay that message to himage thank you all right can I have a motion to excuse myself meaning okay thank thank you huh oh I'm sorry yes we have uh no no uh we have the president of of the of Hispanic Federation here with us Sarah perz which is which is why is on table Sarah uh name and address for the record please I'm Sarah Perez I'm 1719 mck Le lawence Massachusetts 01843 thank you um so we we invited you we requested your presence to get your your your your point of view on on this and um we would love to hear what what you have for us oh well my point of you um you guys approve it then U the mayor beat to it and I guess what he wants to do is to be able to give the money out himself like he did last time and there's not much I can do about that Madame President can I ask is on can you go back uh a little bit before before the money was approved uh if possible some convers I and I um do you remember what the major specific asked you when before approving this money and it has to do with me being the president of the organization did you recall that that you need to resign and you did yes because he didn't want this to turn into a political drama okay can you repeat that and you use my name so stays in the record yes wend needed to be out of the organization in order to be able to get the money because he didn't want this to turn into a political drama political issue and you resign for the you know so we can get the help we needed and there was a lot of business Hest here with us um asking for that money yeah thank thank you thank you for uh for your respond I just want that end the record because uh some of the um and and it's in record that in some of the meetings I I I I have to leave the meetings because of conflict of interest uh but I mean before everything the item was sent to uh to the city council um the mayor had had this conversation with s about asking me to resign uh several times he did that and not in a nice way thank you s for responding that thank you Council D any other questions or comments council president thank you thank you mam chair for the opportunity uh s uh s Miss Perez for sometime we just not you the formality but M Perez U thank you for serve as the president of the organization it is very important to have committed people to serve and the way you have done it for multiple years um a couple of things the first thing that I would like to bring up is to to keep up with the conversation as of uh why or how this come along that the the distribution of those funds were not uh you guys were not able to give it out so of the issues just for the record is also that it's a reimbursement uh it's in a reimbursement base so basically you guys need to give out grants and then get reimbursed by the city but not necessarily having the funds uh to give the initial grants and that was one of the problems as well uh just for the record um also I think that any type of U restructure of the program or reallocation of the program the first organization that need to be taken to consideration is you uh or the organization that you uh you preciate present Ting right now let me put in perspective and me let me let me let me be clear about about the situation here if we reallocating funds from one account to another account and we creating the second account that doesn't prohibit the feder the commerci for being part of it so we just setting up if the mayor wants he we just need to set up a new rules and regulations as of how this 400,000 going to be distributed and transfer from one account which is basically on this situation account uh I don't have it in front of me account X to Y and and have another set of Regulation which is not reimbursable and that way they can give out the money that was not the case the mayor wanted to give out the money me personally if the money is been given without a a second plan different than the first amount of the the first set of funds the 500,000 I'm not voting in favor of it because in the way that we give those 500,000 it was extremely political and I be I be straightforward with this it was extremely political the committee that recommend uh these probably they recommend something different we don't know uh or probably was under the pressure of the administration I don't know either but at the end of the day what I'm seeing is is that I'm personally not voting in favor of anything that is similar to the first program of the $500,000 distribution we have present it is an idea to the administration you have a copy uh for the distribution of this of this $400,000 and and essentially um I would like to say the basics of this program which is only and exclusively for uh uh F fa fa yeah exactly for the frontage only and exclusively from for the frontage and the visibility of the business and why we I proposed this why I proposed this it was because uh essentially going to go to physical business and essentially going to go for people that already are uh providing a service to the city uh and and I think that at some point the administration need to focus on whether or not they're going to help out the startup in business the people that have 3 years or less which was the idea of that of that Federation uh business that have business for three years or less and business that are three year to six years and so far so on and they need to Define what is it that we're going to what is it that we're going to provide help as a city but in the meantime this this this type of this type of uh project that we have designed it is not it doesn't have the the the limitation of of timing but it have the limitation of physical locations uh which basically if you have a business and you need a frontage uh and then the loan of the grant will be available uh with a series of uh a series of uh requirements uh one of them being that eventually we we're going to follow up the the cdbg funds kind of like ideas that once the Committees have select uh those business and and the mayor have recommend those businesses and then they they going to have they're going to have the final approval at the city council level uh that's all built up into this program it is an idea uh please take a look as an organization I think that your voice on this grant cannot just be uh quiet your boys and your organization's Boys on this grant that belong to you guys and we approve it for you guys with a clich and the law that we were not able to get out I think that anything that we're going to do with these funds have to be uh something similar to what you already have uh and that's what we have done on the past thank you council president to keep this meeting moving along last question for you Miss Perez um can you explain to council president's Point These funds were approved for the Hispanic Federation can you tell us why the Federation um has decided not to accept the $400,000 and we have not decided not to a sec that city is not giving it to us got it it's different but we have a lot of business owners I need I know the fac in the front of the business might look good but most of the business in Lawrence they need something else they need different type of help some of these people they don't know how to keep the books on order they don't know they need um equipments they need a bunch of other things and if I need a if I have a BGA or something I need a new refrigerator um it's having a beautiful front it's not going to bring me my business I need that fig so that's what we as a federation we were working with it's like like the things that they really need that will bring the business to the next level or to keep the business business open so to clarify it's not that the Federation declin the funding it's that the city no longer wants to provide the funding to the to the Hispanic Federation yes the mayor be um the order and after that thank you then we don't have $400,000 to give out and then you know reimburse and that's why we came here to ask you guys to very quick um what I'm going to do I'm going to pause this we do have a a second committee meeting after this as well I'm I'm going to request to table this for now until we have a a plan um from the administration so we can have a more thorough conversation and I want um and we'll repeat what what's been said tonight so so it could also be part of the record for the next or whenever the administration is ready to come back with with uh tentative plan um man chair before we close them this item um can I have can I can I have a motion to table item 56824 let me let me say one more thing one more thing to table no wait let me say one more thing make it quick yep it is important to recognize uh that the mayor when they he gave the 500,000 he didn't do a through reimbursement 500,000 500,000 the first the the first 500,000 he didn't do it through reimbursement so why don't we get these 00,000 to the Federation this in the same way that he give about 500 so again council president this is these are questions that we don't we don't have answers to at the moment the the administration is not ready to discuss to discuss this so at this point can I have a motion has been made to to table item 56824 by Council Lon there second second by Council marmel all those in favor say I I and the eyes have it we will be in contact once once I hear from the administration thank you thank you than you miss pz all right back to new business item 23-24 authorization to expend 30,000 23-25 thank you authorization to expend 30,000 towards the project safe neighborhood initiative we have director Shephard from Support Services of the police department here with us tonight director you have the floor thank you good evening city council R sheeper director of support service at the Lawrence Police Department and I am here to uh Pres and this grant the massachusett State Police Department extending invitation to Lawrence Police Department to participate to the uh in the PSA Initiative Program of the or the project safe neighborhood this um this grant is to Target all the program is to Target GS violence illegal firearms and narcotics so these funds will be mainly used to um paid for the overtime for the uh for the uh narcotic um for the uh extrem Nar enforcement unit which is s Su thank you C uh council president so um just in general I know that you have like about 58 grants that you you bring in front of us about 50 something right something like that yes I want I want to get some somehow some type of clarity because I hear the sent over and over and I want I want to I want to kind of like you know be clear like most of this fund is been used for hourly payments to the police officers we understand that's important but I'm scared that we kind of like you know sometime not developing the a program that actually use part of the funds to develop the program also part of the fund to pay for the hour uh and the overtime for the police that is part of that so kind of like you know I want to get like a good clarity as of how much funds out of those are being used for pay the for paying the officers and also how much funds in general for each Grant is being used for the actual program itself and what is the program int take because I mean if you read through this what you have in front of us it's like we highlighting the the payment of of the officer but now the program itself like what is it that we're going to do uh on those got it yes all right thank you so we're looking for an item itemized budget um for this gr any other uh questions or comments seeing none I'll will entertain a motion I'll make a motion to send this item with a fav recommendation to the F motion has been very properly seconded discussion seeing none all those in favor say I I and the eyes have it next item we have 24-25 authorization to expend in the amount of $299,825 with 91 cents for the of the Shannon grants from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security um again from the police department director Sher you have the floor the Lawrence Police Department has applied and was it was awarded for the Shannon Grant uh which is from the eops $299,000 866912 and um we've been grateful that we being awarded every time we we have applied for so this grant is used to partners with commun with partners with the with the community such as YWCA uh Lawrence Family development at lawen change the play son basketball Boys and Girls Club why uh ynca uh we as well we do the open jeans in the junior Police Academy on the under this grant Council has any questions or comments sure council president uh how much is the average that we're going to be providing to each organization usually I remember that it was a set amount specifically before what is the amount for this year as of today is $330,000 per um partner and the police department will get $6,000 plus the overtime that is dedicated for them you see this Grand is a little different we have more specific like what is you guys going to do something like that not a problem and and I know in the past we I've been asked to bring uh partnes speak on behalf of the grant um to tell you a little bit about the service that they they have on this uh using these funds today I brought Sergeant caral he oversees the junior Police Academy as well the uh um P School the school resources sw's basketball was here but unfortunately she needed to step out I can if you if I make can I can tell you exactly what she wrote that the servic services they they have on the this gr okay sure um I'm going to word by word how she wrote it um Jackie says we have served 112 Youth and 25 parent 25 parents with a sh and Grand as a basketball organization we have come to realize that our role goes far beyond the game many of our kids face challenges like depression an anxiety and ADHD which struggle with that without the channel support they cannot they uh they can lead down to dangerous path that's why they made uh mental health as a priority um through psycho psycho education coping with tools and a strong sense of community we are not just teaching them basketball we are teaching them how to navigate life instead of turning to negative cop of mechanism like sust and abuse gangs or violence they are learning to manage their emotions in a healthy way build positive relationships in and uh and find and strength in one another we already seen how this initiative has transformed lives life and now we are spending to include youth girls as well um every dollar invested in this program helps to equip the kids with tools that they need to help them to thrive not just as a athlet but as a confident resilient individuals by investing in this mental health and physical health we are keeping them off the street and giving them a future together that can change life they also provide mental workshop for kids and parents that's um the services that sun baset provides thank you any other questions or comments see a none at this point I'll entertain a motion I'll make a motion to send b for Council recommendation motion has been made properly seconded discussion seeing none all those in favor say I I and the eyes have it all right next one on our list is item 25-25 authorization to expend $ 37,40 um from the bja fy4 Edward bran Justice assistance grant also from the police department director Shephard you have the floor um we had applied for the Jack Grand the bar bar gr for 37,40 and this is to uh to purchase a fully equipped Cruiser um however this grant will also just partially upset the total of the of um a total of the what a police Cruiser cost which is 62,200 to pay for the cruiser and of course we become uh the police dep we we pay for the difference thank you any questions or comments councilors would like to make a motion to send it to the F councel with have a recommendation motion has been made is there a second probably second in discussion seeing none all those in favor say I I and the eyes have it all right last item on our list we have item 26-25 authorization to expend $5,000 from the minig grant bja comprehens of opioid stimulant and sub and substance use program again from the Lawrence Police Department director Shephard you have the floor we have apply for to the um for the SS County Outreach mini Grant in the amount of $5,000 and this grant will be used mainly to purchase uh essential supplies for the Cather for the homeless uh in the City of Lawrence such as Club hats Co and blankets and will be distributed uh in events at any events at the police department of the city of to have councilors any questions or comments just uh through you man chair just to since uh Lieutenant last item is here just to give us some uh some uh how you you have done in the past if you have done it how you have an good ideas so how that might work and stuff like that sure good even Council than your council president So within uh when we're working with the uh this population sub us s population many of them are um are homeless so when we do our Outreach when we're offering them Services they don't immediately take our services we have to build that that trust and the way we build that trust when we're doing our Outreach especially in time of cold weather we offer them different things like uh hand warm is gloves hats um things that we really take for granted as as our own but they really have nothing it's uh we've been given um some donations as far as boots or what have you but as you can imagine uh with this population we go TOS quite a bit so we' like to augment that and we work very closely with the Essex County Outreach that's a that's a regional organization that that uh addresses the problem within the uh the entire ESS County they ask us if uh if anyone at specific communities needed some assistance to apply for that Grant so we applied for that what they call Mini grant for just $5,000 and we'll augment our program by buying U those essential items so we can go out there and in a humane way deal with them and offer them uh not only services but some uh some humanitarian needs do you have any match up from the city for this gr no there's no match for the city for this grant we just something they offered they offered us um the opportunity to apply for the grant so we just put in for we are fortun enough to to get that Grant and we we we uh we work closely with the um the uh Community Development and the M Health task force we work with them so we kind of coule together many grants together to kind of you know push these Services forward think because we have U I think that way the the city should just match up this grant as we get in it because I mean it is important to actually uh not just do those formal activities and event that we do but this is kind of something that develop that trust between an individual and that individual between an individual and the police department that individual might talk to the other and then create that trust between the police department and the homeless Community we as take great strides and try to rebuilding some of that trust as you can imagine throughout the years we had a fractured relationship with this population and I I'm I'm here to say we we we've done really good job of building that relationship we go out now when we we're really on a first name basis with a lot of these individuals and we haven't um we're really getting some real inroads you know good example I'll give you very good example happened this weekend there was some you know small camp that was in a in a Dugout in the in the place to park uh we got called we went there arest and post just using our enforcement Powers we went there and we very politely handed out some handw gave them some jackets and gloves hey guys and women you can't be here we gave them a bag to clean up this place when we went back there Monday this Monday with DBW the place was all cleaned up they had all bags all neatly you know bagged up and they moved along not to say they're no longer homeless and they're no longer somewhere but at least they they have that mutual respect when we respect their dignity and give them some some um some items they they they they respond in kind they they they hit they uh you know they they adhere to our requests you know get you know not being in certain places that you know our community also uses that shared space thank you thank you m thank you um we do have Chief Bona Chief if you don't have anything to add that's okay but I do want to give you the opportunity do you do have four I mean we sent the other three but I'll give you the opportunity you do have four items that involve your department there's anything you would like to add or say yeah going back to good evening C going back to the Shan Grand they were talking about the police uh Union police academy uh I had an opportunity uh this um last year de yeah summer yeah this past summer they had a graduation and they wanted me to speak on on on commencement and with me I brought four officers that were part of that program that are now integrated into the Lawrence Police Department I believe that I have talked to councelor gavan about uh he was asking well if you have the police academy why don't we just stay with these kids and through through you know through all those years and they could become police regular police officer that's what we want to do and I have talked to S carabal I mean to see four police officers that can M that Academy and I believe some mother from other previous Academy right and this is what we need if you want to hire kids from the city that you know Bor raised here went to school here we have to provide them what they need you know counsel whatever we need to do so that they when they come of age even pay them for the test because we need them in the force right now we're down 28 28 20 and we got five in the academy and U I was doing an interview the other day car was with me me and U there was this kid that came in I swear to God I thought he was like 14 years old that was on I could mention the name right no all right I got to but this kid looked like he was 14 years old but he you know when we interviewed him he just he he nailed it and just like that is what we want and in this program I think this is a good asset and we need this program and I'm so proud of what you do there I want to commend this s because he has something to say too if you allow two minutes thank you thank you uh just want to give you guys a brief note on how Shannon impacts us like the chief said we run our junior Police Academy over the last two years we've had about 80 kids graduate from our junior Police Academy it's a free program that we run with the help of Shannon for our kids it runs two weeks during the summer through the program we provide them with uniforms we give them book bags we give them notebooks they get some cool police swag some I'm sure you see the kids walking around with Lawrence Police lanyards it wasn't cool to have police here now these kids are actually doing that so we enjoy seeing that some of the outcomes of the programs is again we're giving the kids we're introducing them to the career of policing now we're starting to see the fruits of that working with some of these kids makes me feel a little old because they were once my Cadets now they're my co-workers uh this past summer was actually pretty cool we moved we we started something new with 4 45 of our Cadets were certified in CPR through the American hot Association which again we're equipping them with a life saving skill to benefit not only their families but the community so I think they're getting things that they're bringing back to our community um also through that program we run on our open gym since September we've had 27 over 2700 kids attend our open gym we run that four nights a week and again if it just gives our kids a couple hours out of the cold a place to go play basketball play volleyball it's been great we've made some inroads with some of our students our Sr which most of you know I'm I'm part of the SRO unit we are now mentoring kids we're finding kids jobs we're writing college application for kids so no longer are they just looking at us as police officers they're there to enforce the law no they're looking at us as their friends and their Partners you know they think it's cool when we put our shorts on and play basketball with them so I I think the program is great and Shannon's been inal thank you council president can you specify the date and locations as of where those open Gans runs and that way the kids might look at the video of the parents or the grandparents yes I don't know we actually we're on Facebook we're on Instagram we're trying to keep up with social media and the kids but uh Monday nights we start at 5:00 pm at the gilmet school Tuesday nights 5:00 pm. we're at the Arlington Middle School Wednesday nights we're back at the gilmet at 5:00 p.m. and Thursday nights we are at the South lawence East thank you can you um for for Tuesday can you put together a summary or or short presentation for all all the counselors this is good information important information that I think they should know and and they should know uh or at least have you know a copy of um the the the improvements that you guys have made and thank you my goddaughter is 5 years old and she wants to be an officer and every time she sees a Lawrence Police um suited up in uniform she goes crazy I have many pictures of her with lawen officers she gets really excited so thank you thank you for what you're doing for the kids we're very passionate about what we do we're all city kids and this is we love what we do thank you thank you thank you okay yeah you guys are good thank you so much um at this point we have no further items can I have a motion to adjourn motion to adjourn motion has been did we send this to approve yeah yeah yeah that was yeah oh we did oh that was the first that was the second that was the second police item you did we sent it I just gave him the opportunity yeah yeah I just gave him still the opportunity to speak to journ item hold on item it was item 20 25 24-20 oh I'm sorry can I can I have a motion um for item 26-25 motion to send it to the F Council a recommendation May properly seconded discussion seeing none all those in favor say I I and the eyes have now can have a motion to adjourn to adjourn motion has been made by councelor Mar by council president all those in favor say I I and the eyes have it thank you person for for for for for e that's approprate s for call think e uh voting members we have tonight to my left we have councelor at large Anna Levy councelor and and vice chair of this committee councelor lone to my right we have counselor fidelina Santiago pursuant to chapter 20 of the acts of 2022 this meeting the Personnel committee is being conducted both in person and via remote participation a reminders that persons persons who would like to view or listen to this meeting in progress May either attend here um at the city council chamber or follow through or access one of our uh live streams through Facebook and YouTube at this point can you please join me in the pledge United States of America counselors we have sorry Mia unplugged the uh the make no no I fixed it councilors we have minutes to approve from our meeting um from December 11th 2024 can have a motion mtion to motion made by councelor Santiago secutive by councelor Levy discussion on the minutes seeing none all those in favor say I I and the eyes have it council's first item under new business is item 13-25 the appointment of Daniel McCarthy as planning director it was brought to us by the uh senior advisor but we have our acting HR Director Attorney Carol Garcia attorney congratulations and welcome to your first person well your second not well not including your interview your first first at all meeting as the acting HR Director you have the floor attorney thank you yes uh we are submitting uh Dan McCarthy to the position as uh planning director uh Mr spanner uh does apologize that he could not be here for this meeting he uh has the L meeting and it conflicted with him um so the mayor's resubmitting U Mr Dan McCarthy uh is named for planning director all right thank you um can you repeat the last counselor sayic to you R the last the mayor's uh is resubmitting Mr Dan McCarthy's name for planning director thank you um so I did I I did touch base with the senior adviser on this and he did inform me there there was a few things that um uh that came to light pertaining to work load and and all of that can you talk a little bit about he did mention that that you were aware of this as well uh the only thing that I was uh made aware of as you know I have about a week underneath my belt as uh acting director was that there was some internal responsibilities uh in the department that they wanted to make sure were made clear thank you uh counselors uh one one of the things that was communicated to me and I think uh Mr McCarthy can can definitely uh uh attest to this and I'm only going to speak for for myself cuz um I'm only going to speak for this councelor right here but as you know Mr McCarthy I've had moments where I've I've called out certain things of things being submitted late or Etc and it it came to my attention that uh I mean we we knew but I'm glad that that it was started out and and a conversation was was had between you and and the administration that your plate was was overfilled you had responsibilities that perhaps weren't really should have been um given to to another person or or that you needed help and I think for my understanding that was voiced prior to to your item to this item being resubmitted to the council and um I'm glad that somewhat of a of a plan or or or an understanding has been met because uh now that you're going to to be hopefully confirmed um there's probably going to be even more responsibility so I'm I'm glad that whatever you don't have to do you probably don't have to do anymore more responsibility maybe I don't know but you know the little responsibilities that perhaps shouldn't have been on your plate sounds like it it's been hashed out so I'm I'm happy to hear that and with that being said it's a perfect transition to you Mr McCarthy thank you thank you I appreciate the uh opportunity U um I I think you all know me I've I've been with see 21 years uh working in the uh in the planning department uh I've been a planner since my the beginning I've been the director of planning on occasion I've been uh in different uh terminology uh during the entire uh six administrations that I've worked for uh but uh I think essentially I've been doing the same job uh all around I provide you a copy of my resume as you can see I cover a lot of boards um I think at the current time I'm providing a lot of backup for some of the department heads and and some of the the employees who are new to the field so because that's basically just a an an effect or an award for being here 21 years that you get a lot of experience so I've helped write the housing production plan and worked on our Economic Development plans and stuff like that uh certainly uh outside of the field of planning but uh something that I enjoy doing and again I I do this all cuz I I enjoy working for the city I I like uh seeing the city move forward more productively uh better planned I hope so I free to answer any questions thank you before we go into the questions I do see uh the director that we recently confirmed of the O overall Department here director pel director if you have um any words and support of of this confirmation you have the floor yes good evening counselers uh thank you so much for this opportunity uh Willa pimento OPD director um I just want to say um director McCarthy has really been a guidance um not just for me but for all the directors in our office um he is really a source of information guidance and support he helps all of us um even in other projects and he has been completely um you know full and his plate has been completely full with projects and uh just different workloads but this is why we wanted to make sure that we restructure everything correctly um and position everything to put him um at an advantage um so that now the rest of the team can also support him and what he needs to do um for the city and for this Administration because there there's a lot of projects that we do in our department and he really has been leading that on his own he didn't have uh an assistant so um you know just to keep that in mind so he was doing all this work on his own um he's really been a a Beacon of Hope for all of us and supporting all of us as well in all our other different projects so I hope that you guys can definitely give a positive recommendation for Mr McCarthy who has been a support and guidance to all of us thank you thank you director councils at this point um I'm going to open the floor for any comments or questions comments or questions first I'd like to apologize for my attire I usually dress more professionally I'm going to be going out tonight for the uh for the annual count of so we make work boots you you are totally okay councelor Santiago you have the floor yes I would like to know what is the salary because between 65 oh you have to use the other mic that mic does not Hello I would like to know about the salary for the position because I see 65 and 75 and I am a little confused about the salary all right so right now um I'm I'm in the position as a land use planner which is a union position my salaries uh controlled by Union contract um I'll be going to position as a director that will be on the Collins report that will be a Class C Level job and I believe my salary the max with the max is 120,000 we do have we we do have it here it was included in the job post um it's grade c as as you mentioned uh Mr Mar and the starting range is $81,900 and it goes um up to uh 120 $124,800 that's correct that's the salary range for this position and it's nonunion so he'll be transitioning from Union cor to non-un if if I'm confirmed it's okay thank you you're welcome uh any other counselors no I just um you I just wanted say congratulation to you so well I I don't know for how long I know you so who was the the director by the D that you started yes who was uh Mayor Mike Sullivan Mayor Mike theor of the prior to you starting who who who was the director prior to you stting this uh prior to Li when you start when you started Who was the start the director of the department was forgot Fred cry Fred cry long time ago long time ago yes so I did so that I know you from that time and I see you you know doing uh a lot of things in the city and anytime practically most of the time that you need we need something uh at this the community in development they always say oh go he is the one who knows what what we are going to do what are the uh uh the developments that we've been doing who are so practically you well that the hand the right hand for the Community Development uh for many many year so thank you for the work that you've been doing and you are very grateful is very grateful to have you here in the City of Lawrence thank you thank you I appreciate that thank you councilors at this point I will entertain a motion motion to send to PO council with favor recommend Commendation motion has been made properly seconded in discussion seeing none all those in favor say I I I and the eyes have it thank you counil welcome thank you next item and on our list under new business item 27-25 the confirmation to appoint Sadie s Li Camilo permo to the zoning board of appeals and this is brought to us by attorney hoen but we have attorney Garcia do you know anything of this so no we need her yeah but he's not here is that no no we have it we have it we have it so I I usually if the sponsor is not here I usually table the item but I to make an exception because you've been here waiting and I I appreciate your your patience so we do have we do have your resume and from what I see it's to finish a term for someone um wait where did I see this hold on give me one second from so yep so from the memorandum that we received from May depena I mean uh from attorney hen to Mayor depena um this appointment would be to finish the unexpired term of beatric tares who um I'm assuming resigned and that expiration date is January 1st of 2026 so we have the candidate um Sadie counselors you do have her her application her resume and towards the back um the application of the city does have about eight questions that she took the time to to respond to in depth with thank you I I read over it and thank you for doing that for us um at this point what I'm going to do I'm going to give you a chance to introduce yourself um tell us a little bit about your your background experience and why why would you like to join the zoning board of appeals well good evening everybody my name is s cam pero and I am a realtor and I live in the city of Lawrence um I own my house in I'm by East havil Street well in hail up in Prospect Hill um for eight years before that I owned another one in byona um and most of my life I've lived in the City of Lawrence and I've been working as um um for customer service for I work through an attorney Stephen James Wright also from the City of Lawrence um I've worked with a general contractor for 12 years which that's what I did before I became a realtor and I've had a lot of involvement with the city because I used to come to do the building permits um I've also done presentations for the zoning board for consultations for other people so I am very passionate about the city and I'm very passionate about seeing things that develop the right way and projects that will be in you know a positive outcome for the community and I'm also um I'm also very involved with my church in the community um don't know if you have any other questions you counselors any questions or comments I would councelor Santiago and welcome society and thank you for H apply for this position really when I saw your resume it is really impressionate and for me and when I see your community service and does H make me proud because I thought the people when they really like to help they coming H to the community and and do it the great job because they do it with the heart thank you so much thank you El is any other questions or comments councelor lone oh I just want to say thank you s uh I know S I know she's going to be a re access to this uh to this uh board I know her love for this city and and what else can we say thank you for doing this it it's appreciated thank you any other comments or questions I just hold hold on I we other other counselors no all right I you want to say C no you're right so I do have I have a comment and have a question so I I I I have interacted with um one of your bosses Joey many times and I know he takes very great pride of his work so fact that you've been with with um with him for so long speaks a lot because I know he does not play when it comes when it comes to his his company and and his field so that that speaks for for me that speaks volumes um but I have a question for Mr McCarthy uh quick question say what is what is the process say there is there's a client of the um Zen gel's re um reality company that comes before the zoning board of appeals um what is the what is the process that STI should take if confirmed by the if she becomes a a board member well upon getting confirm one of the first things she's going to have to do is take the uh State ethics test and the ethics uh requirements of the state and say that anything that she would have an interest in or former interest in that would be Financial beneficial she would have to recuse herself from that so it's a common uh it commonly happens we usually have uh attorneys Engineers people of that sort on these type of boards and they have to accuse themselves that's why we have regular voting members and Associate members who can step in for those persons uh when that time is necessary but um we've discussed this and S understands that thank you I I'm aware of that but I wanted that to be part of the record and I'm going to ask the same question if you guys don't already say it um next week just so I could be part of the record and and people who are listening at home or watching know what what the state ethics uh law is and that you guys are are aware aware of of of that so all right thank you thank you okay now I will entertain a motion motion to send to full council with favorable recommendation mo may proberbly seconded discussion seeing none all those in favor say I and the eyes have it thank you so much we will see you next week than you congratulations congratulations counselors at this point can I have a motion to untable item where is the rest of my item 39323 police chief position search committee and update motion to un table motion has been made by Council Santiago is there a second second second by Council lzone uh no discussion on table matters all those favor say I I and the eyes have it thank you attorney I know I know you only have a week but it's it's been it's been what a week to start in the HR department huh go easy on me all right no yeah I'll go easy I just I I just want to know um from since since you've stepped in into the acting role has there been any um movement on this do we have any updates that that you can publicly share uh with the Personnel committee so I did speak to the administration earlier today can you can you speak a little thank you so I did speak to the administration earlier today and um so so I can find My Notes the mayor is expected to announce the members of the of the committee uh to we to which I will then reach out to them so that we can set up a meeting and um along with uh uh the the consultant I can tell uh the committee that everyone that is that has been selected to be on that committee has been confirmed already so they've um they've accepted the role and they are willing to to serve on the committee so that I can tell um so the names will be released sometime this week in a press release thank you that's all that's all I have for you you know thank you it's it's for for your first week I'm glad you have some type of an update thank you thank you we do have um with us this evening um Lieutenant Rosell and Sergeant samard I know Lieutenant you you had a few a few updates for us last time and um I would like to give you the opportunity to see if you have any anything you would like to add or I do um thank you again for allowing me to come back up with the email you sent me earlier I um um I've been working with at the attorney Garcia when she was in the law office and I'm glad you're in the HR role now too and I I believe we have a excellent working relationship uh already established um and my name is Jim Razzle I'm the accreditation officer with the Lawrence Police Department I'm also the union Executive Board member along with the president Mike San I'm here as the union Executive Board member of status and I'd like to re uh read a prepared statement if I can yep go ahead so again I as like last week I am exercising all my rights under Mass General law 149 section 158 The Whistleblower lot and the LPD anti-harassment policy 423 be advised that I've been have requested here by the city council to Prov update and information about certain city issues including the chief search and I was speaking on matters of public opinion I do feel comp compelled that there was an attempt to violate My First Amendment rights of free speech last week I think my protected rights under the uh can you speak closer to the mic please than under the uh current CBA 2022 to 2025 article one section two says uh Union activity are protected I think the last week in front of this personel committee I think there was an attempt on that to be obstructed obstructed I did go through the city chatter and I found city ordinance uh 2-04 d130 which I made copies of can I sh yep so in in this ordinance the the the ordinance is is titled appearance of city and employees before the city council it allows the city councils to call any employ to provide information I do not believe the ordinance grants the mayor the authority to grent the city coun from the prevent the council from having a designated individual Affair like you did last week and you did this week Mr SP spanner asserted that permitting of constitutional protections are only invoked when employee is called to provide testimony before the subcommittee my understanding is the employee is about to give um testimony that may lead to self-incrimination they are entitled to invoke the fifth amendment in all other circumstances I believe there's no legal precedent that allows a mayor to deny the council's request for the pl to people to speak and be present I also believe the city council has possessed the authority to issue subis to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents during their inquiries it is my understanding that although the city council was not prly designated as an investigative entity it retains the authority to cond conduct investigation as part of its legislative decision making on Municipal issues even though specialized committees lack the the oversight responsibilities the primary duty of City attorney and I I'd love to get Carol Garcia's opinion is to safeguard the interest of the city government in providing legal councel representation to the city council the mayor various City departments and agencies that includes all of us the city council should evaluate the performance of The City attorney given the assery city's attorney is appointed by this Council it is my belief that attorney hooton is prioritizing the protection of the mayor over providing the council with necessary guidance regarding the risk associated with this administration's distrust for rules laws investigations I believe the city council should investigate this further excuse me I do not believe the CLE had the authority to prohibit contractors Consultants hired experts or investigators from attending a council meeting as I stated last week uh by John Felman he informed me that he received the call 5 minutes before he was supposed to be on Zoom last week and instructing him not to attend I think that was a clear violation of his res of responsibilities I understand now the C has retired uh but what happened last week was wrong CLE was asked to leave as soon as I walked in by attorney Hoon C and felma would have cleared up a lot of information last week during the full council meeting last week I stayed and I listened to um the full Council many who Express concerns over the Bennett and MAV report and cas's contract to return to Chief of Staff we still don't know and the public doesn't know if that contract was legal U Council has provided a city chatter stating the City attorney needs to draft I'm unsure of the exact language I would love to hear attorney Garcia's opinion the contract was signed by Castro and M depen um was that illegal I I I think that's fair to ask for as a legal opinion so my my understanding of the CH of the city Charter um all contracts shall be written by by the City attorney so that that's currently the language that we have in our in our city contract uh City Charter and that was uh what was being questioned um last last week and we do have a second special meeting coming up so got it next week y over and over again questions were asked about the Maverick report and it was decided that the schedu would be tabled until the Maverick report was released president for that discussion was attorney hooton who said as soon as it's released soon as he receives it he would make the redactions as as he done in the better report it did not appear that city the city attorney hooton had this report at the end of meeting around 9:00 last Wednesday night I find it concerning that somehow an unredacted report included all emails confidential information as well as personal information ended up on a flash dve in a report as mailbox just a few hours after this meeting last week and then it was publicly posted on the internet first thing 12325 which was the day after I woke up to multiple text on the the link to the report uh starting at 6:30 um less than 12 hours since attorney hooton was saying I have no idea where it is it is our belief again the superior officers Union that that report could only have been submitted in hand or email to a small number of designes and individuals at City Hall however this is a point we are confident we can verify and respectfully request that is looked into immediately it is concerning to me that this confidential so many Law Enforcement Officers for the officers for the city along multiple emails memos my confidential was at least neg negligently released by the city at the worst and at the at at the most it was intentionally now I'm not saying it was in lease but very few hours on confidential information and some of that stuff that got got out there uh shouldn't have out there and that that's 100% the city's fault uh either negligently or intentionally the report included unredacted information employees and victims information selected emails not all the emails selected emails selected test text messages and E more importantly why I'm here tonight even the emails I sent to this this city council starting on January 14th were in that Maverick board that Maverick board had nothing to do with the city council evils and that's why I feel I'm being targeted because somebody waited for those emails um got them in the Maverick report released them within hours after I was talking about it which had nothing to do and had nothing to do with the original scope our Union is asking that a thorough and transparent investigation of how this report was leaked and why so quickly we did 150e which is a demand for information request earlier today uh Chief B responded immediately gave us what he could uh no response from the city I am concerned that the city city will not respond uh as they have not responded for months regarding promotions regarding hostile work environment complaints other emails from our local napba 145 Union has filed multiple multiple and there's just no answer and we had a zoom with our Representatives today and they're just like how how do how does the city not answer since the last meeting I according to the police chief since the last meeting I was in contact with Mr Felman a few times last week he was asking me about the search committee he was under the understand the committee was sworn in has to be sworn in and he believed on the city Charter when I asked if selected members needed to be from the Lawrence Police Department he stated there should be the command needs input from day-to-day operations uh I heard today that the m are selected and I I guess we're not sharing who are selected but I believe that I know I wasn't selected I I was selected by our chief I was selected by the former HR director because of my policy and procedure status because of best practice because I'm going to follow the law now I'm assuming that other members of law enforcement were selected that are outside of Lawrence and I'll work with anybody to get the correct the best Chief in here but I I I find it unreal that they wouldn't pick somebody from the police department now if it's a personal I I I I know people's feelings gets heard but if it's a personal feeling that they don't want me I think we really need to select somebody that understands the policy procedures the rules and regulations the policing in Lawrence the community policing the city council the mayor the City attorney and nhr now I don't know how two selected law enforcement members whoever they may be uh can do that and I did ask John Felman is that is that normal it's not normal but he didn't say it was uh not possible um and I asked him if he recalled ever doing a fair and transparent process without members from hiring the other department he did not he said something that St stuck with me he's like sometimes this truth is worse than fiction or Better Than Fiction because I've been talking to this guy since October I was selected to be on this committee we can play the game that I wasn't appointed I was selected I took it on my own I talked to this guy for months and every time I talked to him it was one thing after another couldn't believe what was going on uh you know I don't know how much you can share but the last time I talk he was supposed to be up here this week and if he didn't get up here that's this week the last email that I sent to the city council was he was tied up till March or April like I said last week we have 12 to 15 good candidates a couple internally and the rest externally but there are people waiting to take over this job and M berer he he he he's doing a job but he it's clear he he doesn't want he doesn't want the job he he wants to pass it on and that's what we need we need some leadership some guidance and some direction uh and like I said I I'm I'm hoping we're going to get it the last phone call I had with John felo was Saturday uh as then he stated he would he has a new point of contact I'm assuming it was attorney got he said from HR and they were playing phone tag all last week I'm I'm assuming they could they they spoke I have not reached out to him uh I was not ordered not to reach out to him but I I I just I I'm confused to what's going on I heard there was going to be a press release on Monday uh certain officers were going to be disciplined I heard the press release was on Tuesday uh that nobody won first it was going to be a PR press conference but they didn't want questions okay then we'll just do press release we could hide by by behind a type statement as you can see I'm I'm frustrated and we are the police department is frustrated and in closing We Believe formal that there has to be more of a formal investigation into these matters it is not necessary but Al it is all is only not only necessary but also essential to protecting those negatively impact by the adverse decisions herein I listened to a few minutes of the budget and whatever meeting was before us there's a problem with this Administration that's clear and and I I I'm so grateful you for for doing it this way you know I I I I thought I I was told earlier that I wouldn't be able to come up and speak and then I I would document stuff by email but we have been nothing but fair and transparent and I don't know how much more you can speak but I we spoke on the frustration of this Administration we spoke on the promotional process that they're just not doing we spoke on the hiring improper hiring practices and we fixed all that along with attorney Foley now I got nothing against attorney who I just I you know I just I tried calling him the next day and I said hey what's going on you were you weren prepared I was grilled for three and a half hours up there how unprofessional is that and I called them to try to help and again I'm not calling anybody a liar but I I I'm just I'm calling people out because I think it's time and and I I can't say enough I I appreciate the uh reaching out you guys did and you know I I think everybody on the city council is getting this you know where do we go from here you know there's still no transparency up to now you know I I have uh some information from John Felman on a timeline can you gra that and the timeline shows how far we're behind and I don't know if attorney Garcia has but this is the timeline that started and you know where where I have not so this this is a timeline and like the the first thing to sign the contract the number two is kickoff meeting with Mike Owens consulted uh said client draft this draft that and then then we have a check sheet now if attorney Garcia hasn't seen a this we we're still where we were in October when we lost Mike Owens we we we lost a chance to get a fair and transparent police chief Council was on you said it best last week you know so so all this caused inter agreed you know so the Castro was ordered for a suspension the director was HR Director gone and I think you used the word Fair no it wasn't fair um you know and somebody sent me this ordinance last night I I really I shot I I really think I was attack last week um and and in constitutional rights and it becomes intimidation of witness the intimidation of witness Statute in Massachusetts is not that you have to be afraid of someone it's the intent to harass now I drove in I parked right next to the M's car he can't come down here and talk I get text all day I I I I'm not able to listen to him on the radio station but I really wish I could I get text all day he said this he said that you know how do committ explain it to you don't don't hide behind a a microphone in a radio station does he not think everybody's listening you know I as you can see I I got a few more years here before I retire I want to get this place accredited uh I want to get this best practice she's listened to me about accreditation accreditation is so important it's a game book every all other city councils it's the police chief arguing about engaging they don't ask you they engage with the city council here's the best practice here's an or chat all the stuff that John felmer was you know asking for now I'm assuming he still doesn't have any of the stuff I stopped calling on Monday because it pretty much that you know after that meeting I I they don't want me on the committee and that's fine I'm a big boy they're not going to hurt my feelings but put someone on it and I have to work with I have to get the org chat I I you got to Blindside the chief if you have improper search committee members and there already appearance of impropriety there's already appearance of conflicts let's fix that you know hide hide in a radio station you know like like hiding on the inboard of you know keyboard Warrior whatever you call it you know something has to change and and I can see the frustration from you guys last week you know I I have more information on the benett report I have another whole speech and I hope I I'm hoping I can be called back for that you know there's there's so much stuff but other than that you know I I could go on I know everybody's times are valuable I I don't know if you can say anymore I think what what I'm going to do um what I'm going to do I'm I'm not going to have attorney Garcia speak on this because uh the main attorney on on this issue is attorney Huen and he's not here this evening uh but we have I mean not we I'm going to speak for myself I have similar questions to those that you asked tonight I've been holding off un additional comments or questions until the special meeting um I think that's more suitable for me it's mostly pertaining to the report and um so similar similar concerns um so I'm going to leave it at that I don't I I don't I don't want to put atony Garcia under under you know a micro when she's trying to to get a hold the I'm taking it easy on you today don't get used to it though 100% tomorrow we'll do an interview to fill all our positions we'll be together half the day tomorrow we we have a good reworking relationship and I I I don't have that with Tim Ho is that Tim Ho's fault I I don't know the only reason I brought so much up about the contract is because I mean the bck report is because it included the emails it just shows that I'm a Target it it shows retaliation clearly to me yeah and and that's going to be one of my Qui I am curious to to hear from from M uh the response as to why those emails were included because it has nothing to do with Castro's in investigation your questions or your concerns were pertaining to the police Chief um search committee right not the investigation that that that that was being done on on former provisional Chief Castro so I I I will be asking those like I said I have I have my list I did read took me a few days but I did read all 400 pages of the report I had to read it a couple times you keep find I do I do want to put on the record I called W Moore the consultant for Maverick investigations and I asked him how come my emails are in there he's like I don't know I didn't say anything about them but they gave them to me I asked him a lot of other questions that I don't wanted the schools at this point but he told me a lot of stuff I asked him if he'd come in here I don't know if there's a confidential requirement so from my understanding uh the council president has requested twice um has asked the administration twice to provide a a a waiver to the conf conf confidentiality clause for both um Consultants as of now I I don't know if there is an update I haven't asked the council president so I'm I'm unaware as to where we're at with that uh but in terms of going back to the investigation of how the the the marick report got released prior to to the city council receiving it um my understanding is that there is an investigation being done by the the city attorney's office but at this point I also don't have an update for that I've been like I said I've been I've been reserving myself for the special meeting um to get to get answers with all for all of us be easy to see what Maverick did with it you know I know what he told me you know but I I I don't know what what's going to come out after that you know there's only a few people that they could have negligently put this somewhere but for this to get to where it got I don't think it's negligent and I remember Council was on last week saying you know I wasn't calling Li you tell me if you're too nice and you were mentioned to cover up um something's going on if we don't flesh this out and I don't think it should be fleshed out behind closed doors it should be flushed out right here that's the problem you know the internet's blowing up on conspiracy theories I I I have plenty more but if you don't have any questions I know your time's valuable and Council any comments or just for the record and and and you mentioned the ordinance 2.04 point 130 and you are totally correct uh the council has the right to have any employee to call for the presence of any employee of the city the mayor doesn't hold that Authority so thank you for bringing that up we have this conversation with different colleagues and you are correct what happened here uh in the last meeting a specializ meeting it it was an appropriate and I we we are paying attention I'm paying attention and I know my colleag is uh the vice chair uh celing fanten is we are paying attention and we are doing our homework but I want to uh ask two questions before you leave and thank you for the statement can can we have a copy of that cop please thank you and I want to before you continue um Council lone the statement that was provided by the union did you guys did you did you you guys get any legal advice from your um attorney from the Union's attorney making sure you guys are good because I don't want anybody to come back and and try to to you know we got this statement just yeah in general yeah so you guys did consult with your attorney everything is better we had a 2:00 Zoom it is probably right now because you already this is already recorded yeah yes this did this but in case in case anyone comes back uh to you just never know to challenge any anything specifically within your statement I just want to make sure that this statement was was vetted by by your attorney yes and I have an email confirmation it uh this city doesn't care about violating rights I don't think you know so it am I going to get suspended or say I did something wrong you know they didn't do it last week they you know I I million things was going through one9 last week you know should I sit down should I not and uh I didn't I chose and I chose to come back this week uh you know this is the right thing to do and this is 100% truth I I all the stuff that I'm say and I have factual data to back it up you know I I I have you know I have John Felman I had a lot of conversations over the phone but I could back up some text messages like I saw last week some emails um you see the matter report there's a lot of emails going back and forth but that was a targeted investigation I don't I don't know how anybody can look at that and say that wasn't a targeted investigation if if Bennett concluded his investigation with Castro and and and said there was no recommendations or he didn't do anything wrong then the city has to make a decision terminate Castro don't you know he he was halted or whatever words were going to play on the investigation was done and then the hi hi guys gone you know that the news story last night people what is going on my can I ask my question and um and I know that the attorney mentioned that the the mayor working in in the the committee members are um they agree to participate it's any Committee Member from the police department you don't don't need to mention the name cuz I myself do not have quite yet yeah once it's released then I but based on your conversation attorney car um thank you uh did they do they mention anyone from the police department no no okay so I'm assuming we'll still have him as the representative I didn't inquire as to there was any specific uh even if I did have the list and there I I've only been in the department for so long so I don't know officers uh let alone by name just by name so I wouldn't be able to tell if there's anyone from LBD there okay and just just for the record I know you just got there and unfortunately in a really hectic um moment but thank you attorney and my next question is for Ross so I and this is for the records I know maybe you mentioned it in the last meeting but are you aware of any interference on the search on the search for the chief by the administration are you aware of any interference I think they're interfering with me right now you know I I have emails ma me the uh the consultant and then you know emails from maella saying he doesn't didn't know we had a consultant and the purchasing agent who happened to leave to chimed in on the email like we have a consultant and then marck would for me em forward for me emails from the consultant asking for some of these documentation um I don't know about intentional interference but I I was getting no guidance and this is from my point of view as a city counselor I I believe that there's any interference from the administration in this process uh in the last meeting I asked uh if anyone from the city from from the city from the administration had made a call to the consultant moving uh Mr Castro to the second round that looks like as an interference for me it doesn't look like fair and transparent yes yeah yeah and um just for the record I know we went over this uh I I uh we went over this last week have you have any conversation with Mr Castro in regard to the process do you recall any conversation personal via email with Mr Castro in regards to the process of uh the chief of police uh search yes I do can you please chair with the com with this committee yeah um so C was Chief from October 23 to March 24 uh December 23 they uh announced a police chief position it was on it was be before this one it was posted on their website it was very discreet but it was uh police chief open it I apply for I applied for it again I had a good working relationship with Chief Castro I called him I said hey I applied for the police chief he goes to m not making anybody from internally why you guys already always trying to you know cut me off and I was like Chief do you you want me you want me to withdraw my name and that that that search that was even a search committee that was open closed um all the emails went to so your your application originally we had about 14 applications one of them you were one of the original 14 yes and then when June and July came out with the search committee I thought I'd be more beneficial on this side and it was a hot decision I was going to put my name in the Hat and I I spoke to family and friends and I said hey I'm not going to put my name in the Hat I have a lot of experience with the accreditation I'm a licensed attorney I want to work I want to work on this search committee especially if Mike Owens was chair he did that guy did more for the City of Lawrence and then you know I saw the news story last night put two and two together so I in January I spoke to Castro and Castro told me you know the M that the May's not he doesn't trust anybody he's not going to make money internally that has nothing to do with my conversations with John Felman Castro's name never came up then but uh over a year ago when when I put in for it you he he he told me that there'll be no internal candidates and he seemed to be taken back and I put in for it uh December of 23 and thank you so much for your answer thank you m and Sher a lot um speak in in in the spirit of transparency and fairness like I mentioned earlier I I want to make sure that individuals that are supposed to be part of this conversation are present of course um I appreciate the copy of this because there's some things that I'm I'm going to include in my questioning for next week um other than that I don't have anything else anyone has anything doesn't look like the rest of the committee does but re I do have a lot more conversation with that Bennett report and I can either email it to you but you know similar stuff that and again it's all connected you know the only reason I said it tonight like I said that those emails had no reason but the email bills they in the benit report or you know I'm not saying I'm going to atten leaked it but it doesn't help the city with that thing being leaked look at look at some of the stuff look at the instruction look at the retaliation look at hosal work envirment is not being answered look who put it all together that's h Garcia can you um the hosel work environment aspect is really concerning uh to me rather it'ss within the the police department or any Department can you provide the committee a n the total number of um of hostile environment reports that the HR department has received and we no no details obviously no I I don't think we need that the the details cuz it's confidential but um total of of hostile environment M um reports and how many of those have been either resolved or addressed Etc and how many we still need to U get through uh pertaining to specifically LPD in general the city in general uh so including LPD so I know from LPD there there's at least one that just today I was able to find um a possible vendor that's an outside Source that's going to investigate if that matter okay um off of the top of my head there may be one or two but I I can't be certain so I I I don't want to misinform the council yeah so if if you can provide us a a report again uh we don't need the specifics you could include I think the department is fine uh we don't need names or anything like that you can that's confidential information but um where we're at with total of number um work environment hostile work environment uh reports how many have we addressed whether if it's um assigning it to an to to an external vendor or an internal investigation and how many we still need to uh address absolutely H absolutely thank you um I mentioned this and I I mentioned this before and and I know there's there's a lot more that that we're going to go through next week and and question and get answers to but the the hostile work environment particularly is is is one and I mentioned this in in a committee meeting before that um bothers me a lot because I've experienced it in my career and that experience I mean I've I've and that time I reported it to HR and everything like that so i' I've been through it and I know how uncomfortable it is and I know how how much it affects your mental health as well and there has to be a process by the city there has to be a process in place I can share with you would officer filed the hostile work environment and that was in the Maverick report he was questioned on why he filed the hostile work environment I don't know how that hostile work environment got to the Maverick investigation but there's an email jail well we're we're going to get a re a report from the HR department um use the word since we're using this word so much of redactive report fair enough from the HR department to see is looking for guidance on what to do with hostile work environments we we've got no guidance uh and that's why I cite that whistleblower statute or anti-harassment statute but there's there's got to be and I'm sorry to hear that you went through it there's got to be some feedback they they got to be vetted out and it shouldn't be six months later it should there should be a response hey I got it I'm working on you are you okay do you need Services what type of hostile work environment is someone scaring you or someone you know intimidating you but there's no feedback at all well I did see attorney attorney Garcia take notes throughout this this while while you were making your statement and discussion so I'm sure she has her her little list of homework to do on the HR end and um we'll be like councelor lzone said we're we're we're paying attention um and and we will be asking questions but at this point uh I'm going to close it and she's a breath of fresh a I'm going to close CL it because like I said to to keep it fair to everyone that should be in this conversation we should have we should have everyone here thank you so much for your time officers uh counselors can I have a motion to retable item 39323 so motion has been by counselor Levy seconded by councelor Santiago all those in favor say I I and the eyes have it um at this point we have no further matters so I'll entertain a motion motion May second by counselor probably second and all those in favor say I I and the eyes have it thank you counselors thank you councelor thank you we do pledge our support for the new HR Director we've had a great relationship so we're glad that she's there she's probably not e