Good evening and welcome to the budget. Oh, actually this is not a regular budget meeting. Can I have a a motion to resume from recess? So move. Motion has been made by the vice chair, seconded by councelor Luzon. All those in favor say
I. I. I. And the eyes have it. Councilors, we're on day three of our budget hearing. Today is May Thursday, May 22nd. Tonight, I think we have almost all of them. Tonight, we have um Council on Aging, Veterans Office,
Direct Department, and Inspectional Services. I did speak with our acting chief of of our fire department. His son is graduating from Central Catholic tonight. So, um, they will be rescheduled for next
week. All right. I'm going to look at our calf vote before we get into this. CAF, is there anything you want to begin with or say you're all good? Okay, perfect. So, let's start with the Council on Aging. We have the the director, Director Martha Vez.
Good evening. Martha Vez, director of health and human services. I oversee the Council on Aging, Recreation Department, and Veteran Services. Uh along with me is um Victor U VSO director, Adalie, recreation director, and Lisa the
program administrator for the Council on Aging. Um our budget is What page are we on? Uh 130 starts the Health and Human Services. Okay. So, the total budget for the Health and
Human Services is $1,426,441. There's an increase of $5,972. and we break it up by uh first at 131 is the Council on Aging. Um it's pretty much um level funded. Um the increase that you see are raises for um non-union
that they received. The ones that didn't receive it um in 2023 received it um this year. So our budget changed by that much. Um as of right now, we have 10 employees, seven from the city, three from grants, and you will see it there.
It's the director, the assistant director, which is Lisa, um the confidential secretary, community health specialist, coordinator of elder programs. There's three program
assistants that are full full-time, a Vietnamese coordinator, a maintenance coordinator, and then longevity. Councilors, any questions or comments specifically on the council on aging? Council Marmal. Councelor
Marmal. Um, do you mind just uh touching base on I'm looking at the program assistant. It goes from from four to three, but then there's there's an increase. Um, could
you help me understand that section? Sure. So, we used to have four part-time outreach um program assistant. We went down to three full-times for it. It really covers the Council on Aging Better. It was hard to find part-time, 18 hours a week with people not doing um
not getting any benefits. So these three ladies are there full-time and um the increases the raise for the three of them that was part of um the 3% I believe right Kathle
yeah I think it was 3%. It's just something that works better for us as it as it was really hard to fill in the part- timerrs. We tried to get part-time positions and you know people it's like 8:00 to 12 or like 12 to 4 and it and no benefits and people
just Is there a reason why you guys went that route to begin with? Um it was experimenting. Oh it was like that forever and that's the change that I started to make as I started to see the um need in our community. Okay. All right. I have a few
questions. Um, do you have anyone council? Yeah, thank you, Madame Chair. So, um I mean I'm going to uh go uh and follow uh district uh counselor uh Marl
Lee on the program assistant uh because we see a potential salary raise here. So, you went it. Do you follow me? Yeah. Yep. Um where it says 41 now from 36, correct?
And then I see a a a potential salary raise of $4,710. Um can you explain that of7,000? 4,000 $4,710. Mhm. Yeah. When I put them all together to be full-time, the money they were
making with a full-time, it came out to a little bit more than what they were making four at part-time because it was only 18 hours before or someone would work 15, someone would work 18. So, it was different hours for all four of them. So, we brought them into 35. All three of them
worked 35 hours. So, now we're going to have three full-time downstairs in the uh as you walk in. Yes. benefits and those that's why we're seeing this potential salary raise just to give the people that are watching my chair
Um how many people uh we serve um at the council on a council on aging? Thank you. Um last year we served over 6,900 um that's delivery of service. Um over probably
210 units of service, which means that we serve people numerous times. Um we provided 76,000 meals that went to homebound elders. We um we also do many many activities. We do educational. We
do um last year we had about a hundred people go through our citizenship classes. We have classes for English. We have arts and crafts. We have exercise. Our exercise class every morning Monday through Friday is about 60 to 90 people strong. Thank
you for saying that. Just to give an idea to the people that are watching why uh instead of having uh part- timerrs, it's important to uh have um three full people uh full-timers instead of four.
The other thing that we do now that wasn't done before is we have uh my senior center. So everybody that comes in is actually entered into a database so that we could have intake forms. We can see what we're serving them for, what activities they're going into, what
the needs are, whether they have um you know SNAP, whether they need a a social security, if they're going to retire, where do we refer them to? Thank you. I don't have any more questions. Thank you. Um I have three
questions. I'm going to start off with the one I just wrote that just came to mind because you were just talking about the database. Yeah. Who has access to this database? We do. The veteran services, recreation. So, we put the veterans into that
database. We put um the summer program into that database and we're the ones that log in. It's a login. So, but is it like the directors, the secretaries or all of you guys? So everybody everybody has different
access, right? Directors have the ability to do the administration part, make changes. Um like Lisa, she really oversees that and she's the one that checks to see if everything's being entered, if it's entered right, what information are we missing, do we need anything else that we need to add,
change, or whatever. the staff downstairs only has the ability to enter the information, make appointments for us if they need to make appointments and just basically um share like flyers or anything like that. Other than that, they like nobody but us has Okay. The
reason why I I asked this question um we've we've had an we had a situation where confidential documents were leaked right to the media before. Um and this database we've mentioned that it was it
hasn't been done before and automatically my brain goes into election season who has access to this elder population is already you know a vulnerable population. I want to make sure that staff members are not using
that data for anything else other than what the work that they're supposed to be doing. So only administrators have the right to print names and phone numbers and and so on. So if something like that happens, it's not because a staff member went in there and like was able to print out. I
have to put it out there just try to be you know I understand cuz if something has already happened once and you know we we the city become liable all of us become liable if something were to happen. My next question is pertaining to the
titles and positions. I'm seeing that one, two, three. There's three um uh positions being added if I'm reading this correctly. The assistant council on aging director, community health specialist, and the V Vietnamese coordinator. So, it's not being added to
this. This is grant funded. It's in our budget, but it's grant funded through the formula grant. Okay. Thank you for clarifying that. And then I have one that actually came from a constituent. Sure. And it's regarding the Council on Aging um committee. They haven't met
since 2016. Are we going to see any That's the They're appointed by the mayor. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So, that's a mayoral. Thank you for that clarification. Sure. I appreciate it. Um Okay. I think that is it for me. Counselors, any other questions for the
director? Uh, madame chair, yes, I have council. And now that we have director here and that you responded your question. Thank you. I have a followup question on that. Not having the uh council u
um meeting since 2016. You said madam chair. Isn't that a violation of the city ordinance or any state law? And I know it's not you don't you don't appoint members to that committee, but
um I received a few questions in regards to that. Sure. I mean, I know that it's been posted in the past and people have not applied. Um and when we did have people um there was really never quorums like I would keep track of whether there was quorums or not and there wasn't. Um
it's an advisory council. So I mean they set policies and procedures um and they help in making sure that people are aware of what's going on at the uh council. So that's as far as I can answer. How many members through you madam
chair? How many members uh do we need? Usually it's nine. Nine. How can we be helpful? How can the council be helpful for you and your department to to fulfill this committee and and get this committee going? I
think if you know people that want to do it, I mean, if you publicize it, it it has been publicized that I will say it has been publicized because um whenever a new mayor comes in, they ask and all of us send, you know, this is who what we need and this is who we are and it gets published and then people either,
you know, uh apply for it or they don't. And um you know it it's also really important to note that you know when you have a committee like that it is to help right it's it's not to become political it's not to it's really for the well-being of the seniors how do we
change policy and procedures how do we do better things for the comm the elder community in our community got it and madame chair to you if I may and and it it has to be nine members because I mean getting so many people to form a
committee sometime is difficult So, I always saw the nine members, but I could check that. I really don't know the answer to that. I can I can find out for you. Yeah. Thank you, Director. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, once you look into that information and connect with Mayor
Deena, feel free to to connect with Theesa, our office, to see, you know, send us the information because you've gotten questions. I've gotten questions about it. And if all you need is for us to share and just let our constituents know, we're more than happy to help out.
Perfect. Any other questions or comments? All right. Next department or office? Next department, veterans um services. So, Victor is this is his first budget
uh oh meeting. First meeting. So, introduce yourself. Uh Victor Aortega, director of veteran services for Union Street. Awesome. All right. Well, walk us walk us through our budget. Your budget. We see that there is a 23,400
$450 change. Walk us through those changes and and why those changes are being made. So the $23,000 uh moved from uh account reimbursement from uh purchase on services and reimbursement. Uh we move
that to uh purchase of services for uh the office of veteran services. that will give us the flexibility to uh to be more uh adapt to when it comes to events for veterans or the needs for veterans for like beautifification day, memorial
day, veterans uh day. Uh that amount being on that uh veterans reimbursements uh is a bit difficult to maneuver through that budget. Moving that to uh uh purchase those services under the office of veteran services will give us
more flexibility to uh use that that amount to what the department needs. Okay. And I'm seeing here there's a decrease in longevity. So you guys no longer have an employee that qualifies for longevity. Yes.
Okay. All right. Change. All right. Councilors, any other questions or comments? Councelor Marl, um, this is really minor, but under office supplies, there was an increase of 290. Um, could you
walk us through um and operating operating supplies and the operating supplies? if you could just uh give a little detail so what caused the increase um and and let us know what's what's new in the department. So, uh, operating supplies,
uh, that that money was put into that account. So, we are, uh, able to buy, uh, new desk for the office, uh, trying to keep it up to date with, uh, oper to keep operational, uh, with new, uh, chairs, new desk, just to make sure we
are up to par with the rest of the city hall. Okay. Um, director Valz there's a question now that I'm thinking I mean it's under the same umbrella. So I'm just kind of pertaining to both um the dues and memberships. What dues
and memberships are you guys part of in the veterans office? Uh dues and memberships we do uh once a year we do a a Massachusetts uh veteran services office conference. Okay. Uh we do that once a year. Membership when it comes to
uh uh associations for uh the VSOs uh new northern eastern association and Massachusetts association we include those uh costs on our doa memberships. Okay. Thank you. And how much?
Oh, that's that's also for uh uh the new system that we'll be implementing in the future, which will be uh VA uh claims accredititation that's going to be covering that cost. So excited about this. All right. And this is for um madame
director. Uh and I'm sorry if you already stated this. That's okay. The instate travel under council on aging, what does that cover? That covers everybody that travels. So everybody under my department. So where would you like give an example where would you like he goes to the Cape for meetings or
he goes to Whistler or anybody that's doing home visits or if I go to a conference or anything like that. Got it. Um thank you council Marvel. You had a question. Um with this uh new fisc year budget, what would you say is any
added services to veterans um that will be offered in your in your department? Uh can you repeat the question? What would you say with this fiscal year's new budget? Are any new or additional services that your department will be
offering to veterans? So with this uh new budget, uh I think one of the big uh uh steps that we have accomplished is to get accreditations to be do VA claims. uh from what I'm been gathering information will be uh the first time in
a long time that the office will be able to do VA claims independently. VA claims VA claims. Yes. So it's federal benefits from the U Washington. So that's something that's um not been done through our office and the DAV does
it but we want to partner so if the DAV ever has a problem or like we can share any information or ask people to come here if they're overwhelmed with just to make sure that I'm understanding and I heard you correctly you said that you that your office is working to getting accredit accreditation in order to be
able to do these claims. Okay. So that requires training or correct some sort of license or certification and you have to have the software for it and that's what this um that's what the um dues and memberships is. Um, and the other thing is like Victor's just coming on and one
of my goals is to really identify what the needs of veterans are. And as we maybe come before you next year and say we need more staff because we see more veterans that have more needs and have somebody that fills out these forms and uh really target what the um services
are for veterans for your department to be operating at its full capacity. What would you say um you would actually need in terms of budget monetary wise? Do you do you feel that the budget that you have or that
what's recommended by the mayor is sufficient? Uh I careful. This one's for you. Well, no. I think we should answer that honestly, right? Um well, he would know if he needs more. Go ahead. You could No, no, no. I'm No, I'm saying like
listen like that. No. Yeah. Yeah. Uh uh I I will say to uh to keep uh operational uh there's sometimes that I have to be out of the office for a few days and and uh my confidential secretary can only do so much when it comes to chapter 115 or benefits. Uh so
having a uh an assistant part-time uh VSO we hope a lot to catch up uh in the times that I have to go to conferences or meetings that I would not be present that assistant BSO will be trained in the same capacity to cover
while I'm gone of the office to keep the office running and that's our long-term goal to I think for full capacity like you're asking I think um a part-time person sometime halfway down the year or maybe next year is having that person that can also assist with doing home
visits. We have a lot of um veterans that are older that are homebound and you know they're very lonely and he's he's doing it and and through the mayor's health task force I'm trying to build a coalition that we bring um communities community members and also
agencies that will sit together to decide okay what is it that you're offering as a nonprofit? What can we do? What can you do? and work better to address like um we just met with AgeSpan um to really discuss what is it that they offer and what kind of programs and
how do we um you know um put somebody in their program and how can they help us when we have someone that needs other things who can they connect to so we're really working towards that um I think that come six months down the road when you know u Victor he's had to learn the
system the munice system the the everything system in in the city. I think we're working towards that. And you know, one of the things that I'm very proud of is the team that we built because the recreation director and Lisa, they're not just recreation and not just council on aging. And I try to
tell everybody, we're one family moving the the car together. And sometimes, you know, it's us helping him and other times they're helping us. And and you know, we're we're always helping recreation because, you know, we have to do more for our children, more for our community. And the way that we do it is
by what assets can you give and if we put them all together then we do something good for the community. Your your department is everywhere. When I don't see one of your staff you or one of the staff members I'm like where's where's Martha's team? We're so used to seeing you guys.
I mean, I I ask these questions because sometimes I feel like um departments such as, you know, veterans and um the elderly um are often times overlooked and when it comes to budget, it is not
the department that gets the biggest piece of the pie in terms of, you know, fi financially. Um, so I wanted to make sure if you guys felt that with the recommended budget that you guys are able to operate efficiently. Um, and if
there's anything on our end that we should be doing better um, to ensure that you guys are be are you you guys are able to run um, at full capacity to be able to serve our community better, then by all means, let us know. And I I appreciate that and I thank you very
much. Um, I do feel that our capo um, listens. um we do share our concerns and she really tries to like work with us and I think that when it's needed I think our job as directors is not just to always ask but find ways to fund too
right so if I can and that's what I was saying to Victor you know if I can find ways to partner with partners that can bring money into us also and not have to come up with it all because I think Ramona would like me better to go and say Ramona I got $60,000 can I get 20
she would be like Okay, let's see how we can work this. And I think that's how we've always worked. I just want you to know that, you know, um I've been blessed that through the Council on Aging, I've I've formed many great partners with people that have filtered money into the senior center and have
filtered money into staffing and so on and so forth. So that's the way that we were able to grow. Um and anybody that knows Matavilla is when I need I will speak. Right. a moment. Madam chair council
uh and again I'm going to mention the advisory council for the veterans uh that has been tabled um and maybe for the ordinance committee is also a
um it should be a concern too but it's been tabled since uh 4224 you were not here But I just want you to remind you that constituents are some constituent are
asking about the veterans advisory council and not having that is a violation of the ordinance. So um hopefully you can speak with um the direct director and with the administration and
as madame clerk mentioned at the beginning we are here to help if anything that we can do because I I think that um it's necessary to have an advisory council uh as is per the
ordinance of the city. Uh we need to have one. I have questions on page 135, the next page about purchases and services. Um, we see a change of
$25,000. If you can explain uh why is that, director? Sure. Um, as the director mentioned, what we did is um this is under um like dispersements. dispersements are chapter 115. That's the money that
people get reimbursed for. And we just felt after um really speaking with the CAFO and letting letting her know what we were purchasing and what our needs were on the other side, it was just I think more it was clearer as far as accounting is concerned. Am I right,
Kathle? to have it um where our purchase of services are to really be able to broaden what we can purchase without anybody questioning whether that is for veterans because we didn't take any money from the reimbursement of chapter 115 and we've also been I mean I
shouldn't say we uh Victor has been really diligent making sure that the state gives us back the money that they owe us. So chapter 115 works. 75% of it comes back to us probably six months to a year after we've paid it and 25% comes from the city budget. So um there is a
process for chapter 115 and for all the veterans if you're listening um and you have any doubt I don't want you to have a doubt. I want you to come into the office speak with Victor Ortega and ask if you qualify for Chapter 115. You know things are tough, things are expensive and we understand that. So
there's no harm. the we he has to put it into the computer. It goes out to the state and the state is the one that says yes or no whether it's reimburseable or not and once it is then he they do it into munis and then the cal everybody signs off and the veteran gets back their money or we pay whatever it is we
they do pay for rent for some people if they have a a hardship if they pay for medicine they pay for things that are needed by a veteran director to you madam chair so is that under other charges and expenses because I see a an uh a
370,000 dollars there. That That's the chapter 115 reimburseable money. That's what that's what that is. Thank you so much. All right. I think we are all set with veteran services. Thank you, director. Thank you.
Next office. Director VZ. [Music] Adie Gonzalez, director of recreation. Good evening. Before we start, can I make an announcement if you guys don't mind? So, I just want to let the viewers out there
that our summer program applications are open. So, if you have any kids ages 6 to 12, pass by our office at 155 Hilo Street and ask for the recreation department in the second floor. Thank you. Y are you going to hire students to work?
Yes, we are. Yes, we are. We actually did a whole day of interviews today. Nice. We've done three days of interview. There's 25 slots and we have 50 applicants. Nice. Behind me. Thank you, Madam Chair. And before we go into recreation department, if if possible uh
if it's possible to get um how many veterans we serve? Sure. Uh for the next meeting for a Do you want it for a whole year or for the fiscal year? Yep, we can do that. Yeah. Thank you. and do a minute or two.
All right. If you look at our budget, when it comes to I'll start with salaries, nothing has changed. We did lose um vacation as you can see it goes to zero, but that's due to union negotiations. We usually have a option of buying back a week of vacation. So
once the negotiations with the union happens, you'll probably see that change again. When it comes to our overall budget, as you can see, not much changed from last year from 25. We did get rid
of um again the 2550 for vacation. It electricity stayed the same at 18508. Office supplies and operating supplies are still 500. So the difference is only negative 2551 for our
budget this year. So, how does this affect your office? Because I recall last year you guys standing before us stating that you don't have enough to to continue properly funding the citywide
recreational events that we need for for our community. So, how how are you managing is this still the case? And if if so, how are you managing the funds and getting through? So, it's it's still the case, but work, like Martha said, working with the Council of Aging and
the different departments, we're doing our best with the resources that we have to get as much done as possible. And when we hire our summer program staffers, we use many of them to run most of our programs in the summer. So, it makes it easier for my department to
get things done. Okay. So, I also want to say that um because I do have to like put my two cents in all the time. Um we still have a little bit of opera money left so that we we should be good. And that was something that we discussed with the CAFO and they're well
aware because um our goal and even if we understand that we're financially, you know, going into a different way that we were two years ago. Um we also have to understand that we have to keep our kids busy, right? and we have to offer but and and be frugal at the same time but
also understand that we we have to do these things. So, one of the things that Adalie and I have done is created partnerships and we've been we've now are really good partners with the Red Sox Foundation. We've actually last year spoke to the um Patriots Foundation which we're working with. We for this
year we're going to run a tennis we're with the tenn American tennis um association. They're gonna come in and run a whole like tennis workshop for like um for six weeks. Um we're looking, we also spoke to the Celtics Foundation
and we're working to see if we can um get some kind of traction there and seeing if we could work with the school department to let us use their um gyms during the fall and winter to run basketball camps and to do things with the police department. So, I'm looking to see how we as a recreation
department, like I said, with assets, it's how do we partner with the school department, with the police department, with the recreation department, and you know, it might be that the recreation department doesn't get a lot of money, but if we can do the outreach for the kids and be part of this program and build our program and build our needs, that's how we're doing it. So, um, a lot
of that is being done. Awesome. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? House of Marl. Have there been any programs or events that you guys have had to cut back uh in recent years because of funding issues? No, but I
will be back next year when I'm like set and there's no money. I'm coming because I believe that um our children need it and I really believe that um we have to do better in sharing assets and open doors.
So I will be touching bases with all of you. Fire for our youth. That's right. Well, you know, and it's our youth. Um my my whole um thought process when I became the director of the Council on Aging,
you know, a senior is part of a family. A family is part of a community. A community is a whole, right? So if I help a young kid that a grandmother is help is raising or taking care of and that kid has something to do and doesn't drive his grandmother crazy or doesn't
she doesn't have to worry about where he is and what's happening and they're in sports or they're in a program. It helps us all right and our mental well-being is about socializing. Our mental well-being is about being together and coming together to do different things and really understanding like I I said
when I came into the recreation department, we can't just be about baseball. We have to be about everything. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Councelor Lzone. So, it's only three people that work for the recreation department. I see only
three staff here. So, there's three staff. Uh, three full-time staff. Um, and then, um, there's a young lady that, um, through Massion and through some grants that I've gotten at the council and agent, she works for HHS, she works for me. Um, so Massion is about
equitable use of parks. So, I use her to work in the recreation department. We've created systems in the recreation department because of this grant. So now I'm trying to get um the national uh recreation park society in Washington to recognize us as parks so that we can
apply for grants that have to do with us. And I asked the question because I know the city is growing and yes uh the city is not just only about softball
or baseball. this other sports that our community enjoys. And when I see a department that with so little and I mean doing so much and with only basically three three and
three and a half um it's very concern as a counselor is is very concerning and also when I compare uh the salary uh director salary to others is is it doesn't see
uh fair. That's the only way that I can call it. Uh because I know the great work that you guys do and and and it's a lot for such a little department uh to do all the things that you guys actually do in the community.
[Music] Um when this is put together by the mayors are you guys are able to suggest do because this is doesn't knowing my community and knowing the work that you
guys do this budget is right not much. So again, I want to go back to the fact that this mayor actually, you know, gave us a good amount of ARPA money to be able to do recreation, right? And we've
been able to and and when I say recreation, like the recreation department got some ARPA money to do parks and do some stuff and the HHS department got some ARPA money to do events and everything else that we do. So it was two sets of monies to be able to do these things. as money starts to
run out. I'm not going to lie to you. I will I will be saying, you know, we have a need and we did have an honest conversation when you know I want to get I also want to say that I truly appreciate the fact that yes, we did have meetings. Yes, we you know, we wrote memos about what we need to what
we needed and you know and I understand every department has a need. Every department has you know wants um I think that you're absolutely right. You know, it it does seem like the recreation, Veterans, and Council on Aging, and for as long as I've been here, it's not now have always been at the bottom of the
totem pole when it comes to money. Um, but I really do believe that just like you're saying, there are more seniors and we're baby boomers are becoming seniors. There are more people that need more services. There are more children. We're making more schools and kids are in schools, but then in the summer, we need to keep them busy. What do we do
when they have school vacations? We're thinking about this when there's like December. What are we going to do in December? We're having these conversations. How do we pull in partners? But yeah, it am I going to be here and say we need a little bit of money? Yeah, at some point we're gonna we're going to have to decide, you know,
what is it that we want to do? Um I don't know. I have a blessing. I can turn a penny into a dollar. That's for sure. I just wish and thank you uh director uh um for your response, but I just wish
that the director position in that department, it it has a a a salary that reflects the amount of work that this department is doing in the city. Um hopefully we'll see a change at some
point, but I think uh for the amount of work that you guys do as a department, much funds are needed. I second, third, and quadruple that. Um not because he won't say it. He's very humble. Um he is a hard worker. There's not one thing
that I've ever asked Adalie Gonzalez to help me with and he says no. I mean, and you're right. I mean, I actually did. I thought that council on aging did a lot of things, but the recreation department in what we go through with when there's baseball leagues, soccer leagues. I
mean, everybody's at home and we're still answering phone calls, going to parks, shutting off lights, putting on lights, you know, there's a problem here, there's a problem there, need to call the police, need to do this. We're on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, just about almost. But thank you for saying that because I know uh
especially during summer, it's a 247. Yes. because we get calls and then I have to we have to call them and that's why I I will say again this salary doesn't reflect the what is that the
director and this department deserve because of the amount of work that you guys put together. uh just to put it out there uh as a suggestion to the administration and like my uh fellow uh council uh Marl mentioned it's like it's
you guys are in the battle at the end of the priorities um to not to say it in a different way so hopefully is noted and the administration u takes this into
consideration uh thank Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate your kind words and for acknowledging that. Thank you. Thank you. I would like to add um so far from the budget hearings that I've heard, not that the others weren't good because they all been very
informative um thus far, but I'm really impressed with how your department has been thinking outside of the box. I'm hearing a lot about collaborations, partnerships. I'm not hearing as much with other departments who who are in
need of financial assistance. And um I think Martha, you're you're a hustler. We know that you're you're a hustler. So um I don't expect anything less out of you and your department. Um but I I really even though the difference in
your department is only $5,972. So it's really level funded. I mean all across the board is level funded. Um, I enjoyed hearing what's been going on within your department and how you guys are are leveraging, if you really
think about it, the challenges because it sounds like it's making you guys stronger, making you guys think outside the boss box and bringing new things to the city that we haven't had before. So, I applaud you guys for for that work. Thank you very much. Thank you. Have a
wonderful night. You as well. Thank you. All right. Next we have so our last department we have inspectional services fires rescheduled. All right, director. What page are we
starting on? 87. Oh, I voted. 87. Page 87. In case anyone at home is following us as well, right? 87 is when we started. Yeah. 8 87. 87. Yep. Okay. Page 86 87.
Yeah. Okay. Okay. 87. So, um the the most um significant change uh um to this uh to this section admin uh was uh adding of the assistant um director and the enforcement prosecutor. These positions
were budgeted for FY25, but they were just recently filled. Hold on. Can you repeat that? The what in the So, so um these positions were budgeted in FY25. Um but they were just recently um
um recently filled. Okay. Um what was the enforcement prosecutor and what was the other one? And assistant director which we just voted on. Um walk us through I mean overall your
department overall has an increase of almost $100,000. So wa walk us through those those changes within each section of your department. Okay. So, um the the main um addition of the
increase of the 1273 $230 is that because of the um cuts that from the public uh Department of Public Health. um because of the the um public health um cuts from the
administration and in um um so we added we added two health code inspectors um uh and that increased the that's going to increase the budget by 127,2 because we're going to lose five
um um at the end of uh June June 30th we're going to lose five inspectors and these are the grant inspectors that we call the COVID 19 uh CO uh 19 uh contact tracing. Okay. Um going keep going. Mhm. So then
um on page 9192 um we have a supervisor's position that we uh we want to reclassify to uh financials officer. That would be an increase of 14,000 because it's it's a uh it's a union position, right? capital
is that yeah union position. Um um so that's the difference on that. Um weights and measures uh page 93 94 there's there's no changes on that. Um the public the public health uh on page
9596 uh we have two um public health nurses and the increases on on those would be um step increases. Um it would be step four and step and step five that they would um go from step four would be
93,000 it bring them up to 93,000. Step five will be 104. Um also at the on this at the public health we have a u one uh board of health uh minute taker. It's 200 $200
a you uh a meeting and times 12 would be 2,400. Also the licensing which is the next page 9798. Um the ordinance uh we we we didn't ordinance change the name and the
the salary increase by 1,321 from 65,000 to 66 uh 321. There are also two active board members. Um the board calls for three members, but there we for several years
now, we've only had two uh two board members on on the licensing uh licensing board. Uh also licensing board, we we have a a board minute taker also and there's 24 meetings which comes out to $4,800.
It's like a quick summary of of our budget. Counselors, any questions or comments? Give us one second. Yes, madame. Council was on page uh 88. So your assistant director position
is not union. Uh director Ruiz, assistant director position. Is that that is not a union position? No. No. No, it's not a union position. No. How about your enforcement prosecutor? Is that a union position?
No, it's not. No. So your director is making less money and I'm assuming your director assists you. Yeah. Uh and response to the entire department is making less money than the
enforcement prosecutor. No. So that's that that's uh that's that's that's an error that I I I just picked that out. Um um so with the step increases it would go up to 104. It would be the same as the prosecutor.
The uh I still have an issue with that. So your assistant director that responds to the entire department is going to make and I hope this gets corrected. Madame chair uh is going to make the same amount of
money of of the enforcement prosecutor. So it's very concerning. Yeah. So because they do they have so according to um according to the you know the the you know the non-union classification that's what it calls for. So it calls it
starts you know it starts at 63. I'm sorry I there's no light here so I'm trying to Sorry about that. Hold on a minute. I'm sorry. Hold on. Oh, thank you. See, so um so according to the non-unit
classification plan, so the instructional services uh assistant commissioner of health and code where we say assistant it starts uh the first step is 63 no 63,700 and at the fifth step the maximum it goes to 104. Um, also the the the the
two public health nurses are exactly the same. 637 to 104 and also the enforcement prosecutor 637 to 104. Uh, 2104. So two 104. Yeah. All so all three of them are exactly the same according to the non-union
classification plan. Yeah. And I'm my um comment is based on the responsibilities that I'm assuming the two different uh position have uh have to do. Um we're just going just going to
leave it there for now. Um you know maybe um exc that's the way it's I shouldn't budget. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So but that's So may my question will be is that do
they need to make the maximum of of the of the study of the salary? So so you usually um when you hire somebody you know depending on their their experience and everything like that you you know you could you could hire you know you could start them at
step two step three step four whatever step and then every six months there's a you know increase. Um, so you know, so it's like I said, it starts at 63 when you, you know, if there's no experience, just bare minimum, and then every six months it'll go up until it goes to the
This is how I see it because maybe I'm sowing to uh the chain of not No, it it is a chain of command. It's a chain of command. This is the assistant director of ISD. The assistant director should not be making less than a prosecutor.
Exactly. Thank you, Madam Chair. I I feel the same way. So, we are in the same page. Yeah. Yeah, we're in the same page. Oh, yeah. I'm assuming your assistant director is standing right next to you. No. Yeah. And know and um No, she's assisting you. Yeah. Yeah. No, and I I am in agreement, but I have to
follow, you know, the non-un classification. That's I I I know you have to. Well, they're both non-union, right? Yeah, they're both non-union, and they both making the same amount of money. Oh, what is what what is the the the salary range? Do we have that? The
classification. It's right here. You guys have it. Okay. So, I think that's what he read. Yeah, that's what I read. It's from 637 to 104. 637 to 104 for both and the two public health nurses. Okay.
All right. and the enforcement. So, I think what happened was that was the the budgeted amount last year and it was just kept the same. Um, not sure where everybody is in terms of their actual salary. Um, but that's just the way it
was budgeted last year and it looks like it was just kept the same. Yeah. Okay. All right. Can we look into that, Kafo? Can we look into these salaries before the special meeting?
Thank you. Thank you. Oh, yes. One other question. Sorry. Assistant director of ISD. Um I'm trying to remember. Maybe my colleagues can can help me out here. Is that the title that we have ordinanced?
No, the title is should be the assistant commissioner of health and codes. Okay. So, can we also correct the title for the Thank you. I mean, we already have the budget, but we can just we it could just be like we're verbally reported or or sent to the counselors. I just want
to make sure because you never know. Thank you. Can the sheet be redone with the assistant commissioner of healths and codes? Okay. Even though we know it's it's you know. Yeah. Yeah. We just it's so long. We just say assistant director. Assistant director.
It's easier. It's easier for everybody to understand. All right. Council Marmal, you have the floor. I swear I'm not trying to be mean. Um and this is not to take away No, I don't want to be mean. Um and this is not to take away the experience that and mind you, I
didn't even know if you are or I didn't know I didn't know your title. told um and I don't know your experience and what your resume is. Um but I must say that never in the years that I have worked and I have been a state employee
for I'm vested so I've 10 plus years working for the state and um and I've held different positions and I've never um I've never been hired earning at the highest step. I don't know. I've never I've just I've never seen that. To me,
that is so rare and not common practice. I just don't understand why, considering that how we're struggling with our budget, because we are. We've been struggling since 2025's fiscal year that we're
making these type of moves. And again, it's not that these positions are not going to eventually reach these steps. I just don't quite understand how we're justifying hiring people initially and they're earning at the very last step.
Um, and again, it's not to take away your experience. I'm pretty sure you deserve it. You earned it. But there's been times that I've been hired uh knowing very well that I was far more experienced and deserving of more money
and I had to earn my way to to reach a st a certain step or grade. Um so that that's something I I I felt like I had to say. Um I'm not sure if you wanted to answer before that um she's not at tops pay right now. She she's at mid-level
pay right now cuz I'm Okay. Uh we have to put 104 because you know in which position are you referring to council? Um so assistant director you said there was an error. You said that there was an error of the $90,000. It should be 104. It should be 104 because in 6 months she
would go up to the next level which you know I bet off. That's step four. And then another 6 months you'll go up to to 104. That's how that's how the the steps. I know she'll eventually reach to 104 but I'm looking at 90. So maybe I'm misunderstanding you. I'm saying 90,000
no change. But you said that that is incorrect. It should be 104. Am I wrong for misunderstanding that? Yes. Maybe with all respect maybe we are speaking about another position. And I have started at the 63 level. Yeah. At the first level. And
then you it was mentioned how is it that an assistant director makes less money than an enforcement prosecutor. And it was said that that was an error that it would be 104. And isn't that the whole point of why we're saying we need a we need a we need a uh rectify this? I mean
even I feel like I'm misunderstanding. Yeah. No. Okay. Um so like I said, I'm following I'm following the non-union um uh reclassification which she started at the 63 when she started about a year
and a half ago. Okay. So every every every six months you get a step in automatic step increase. I have to put it in. they get it and then six months I you know they I do it again until they go they go all until probably take a what two uh six so it'll probably take
two and a half years to get up to the you know to the to the full for the to the full 104 which that's the you know that's the okay that's the the the the 104 should that that should that know so that's wrong right there with the 90 it
should be 104 but even with the enforcement prosecutor being But they should not be at the same level as an assistant director of an entire department. Yeah. So if I'm just following the nonusing non-UN classification, which I was told that's what I have to use. I think for the
enforce enforcement pure security is because she was a previous employee from the city, right? Um no, it's it's it just goes it just goes um when I spoke to um with Mark Iela when he was here uh we spoke about this. Uh we had some I
had some issues with it also. Um, and then, you know, he's the one that told me that I had to follow this chart. He's the one that gave me this uh, you know, this non-union classification plan and and I had, you know, I mean, I I could I could pass it around. Look, if you want to take a look at it, you can send you
can send it to us. Just Yeah, send it to us by all means. I I understand the need for for the positions. Um, I think you did a great job justifying what your department needs. Um, but I think coun I think it was the first night council
Marmal Council Marmal stated something along the lines that we we were too lenient with salaries and we've seen these increases that ultimately and I've said this publicly before and I I I don't mind saying it publicly again. We've seen salary increases so for
individuals that not may not be 100% qualified for for their positions and that's a mistake on the council side. I think we we acknowledged that coming into it this year and now we're making it known that we're looking we're actually looking at this even closer than before just just so you know just
so we're clear you know so this is like this this is the or this is ordinance um 2.15040 it's the it's the hiring range so let me just pass around so you can take a look at it so that you know
understand that's an ordinance no we understand so if we can if We can just make the the corrections just a sheet that we can just paper clip to this sheet. On the same page and we all, you know. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Madam clear, but I No, I think it's the same. It's just one. Um, so if you look on the right hand side, you see it's it's a city ordinance. No, we we get that. We we we get that. Yeah. Yeah. We just want to make sure that we make the corrections that it's
it's just and that's what I was trying to bring out that was a mistake on my part. I probably put 90 and it should have been 104. Okay. All right. You say that you you continue you continue to say that it should be 104 for fiscal year 2026. Is that what you're saying?
Because because because in in she's she's she's at mid level right now. So she's going to go to the 93 and then the next step which is step five you see on the on the schedule is going to be 104. Madam chair if I may. Okay. The last
comment on this. Yeah. But what's going to be the next step for the enforcement prosecutor. The same thing. She's already in the in the next she she she's middle of also. She's middle of also. Yeah. We just need a new Yeah. So,
we long story short, we just need a new sheet with the corrections. We understand what you're saying, director. I think we don't I don't agree uh with this chain of command having a director uh making the same amount like
Marmu councelor Marmu mentioned uh than than uh the uh the same amount of the uh enforcement prosecutor. That's that's that's my concern. Yeah. Also uh and can we move to the next pages? Yeah. Yeah.
If you guys have any questions regarding in total how many new positions is the department creating or or is the mayor uh mayor depa proposing? So the administration. So we're adding we're adding two um
health code uh health code um equity one enforcement uh enforcement code enforcement to to the budget. Those are the two that we're adding because we're losing five. So, we're losing five. Yeah, we're losing five through the grant. It's all grant paid. Okay. But
we're los So, I I requested I put in a request uh for two more. Um the the mayor's office approved it. Um and that's, you know, that's what that that's the biggest change that why that's why we're not level funded because of those two those two positions.
Also, too, just to um uh let you know that um we we we you know, we we We're part of the shared services grant with Mthuan and we going we're going to get one more inspector that's going to be assigned to Lawrence but Mthuan is going to be paying them through that grant.
So you're losing in total how many you're going to lose five positions. We're going to lose five but we're going to try to gain back three. Okay. And Okay. So, how about in page 90 92 you're creating a new position for a
financial officer. Is that accurate? You expect that? Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah. So, but the is the we spoke about it about the the supervisor
uh financial supervisor. So this is a request uh per director. Um he would like to switch uh the position of a supervisor and make that uh position be a finance officer. So that you'll see the minus on the supervisor
and then the adding the finance officer and the net of the two positions in dollar amount will be $14,000. Okay. So do we have is this this is another position that is this already ordinance? Do we know this position? Yeah, the Yeah, the finance. That's an
ordinance position. I believe an old Okay. Yeah, it's a union. It's a union and finance and if passed, I'm assuming it's going to be posted and all of that. Is this a new new hire or is it go through the regular channels? Okay. Um, councelor. Thank you, Madame Chair.
And um page 96, a salary raise of 14,000 for the nurse. Yeah. Yeah. I don't have I cannot see the last three numbers. $14,663. Yes. So I see a a U salary raise there.
Yeah. So right now the the two public health nurses they're they're at the 93,200 925 um range and according to that non-union also the non-union classification uh in in in in 6 months
they would go up to the to the to the I mean I mean they will go to step four to the 93 925 and then in in another 6 months they would go to the 104. Also, this is going to sound maybe out of place, but we I'm just I'm
just following that chat which I was told. I know, director Ree is nothing. This is not uh um I'm just asking questions. No, no, no. I'm just I have in front of you. I I I I understand, but I'm just I'm following the the you know the the non-union classification chart
that I was told that I had to use and I'm trying to make sure we approve a budget that is yes conservative. I understand. Uh but where do they are where do they where are their offices for the nurses? They're on Park Parker
Street. Parker Street. Parker Street. Yeah. We don't have no room. And um so what happens a public health nurse they go they do all the TB you know the tubil tub tuberculosis tuberculosis um um they got to go to the houses they go to low they go everywhere they work with the
hospital they also do um um they also do um sharp collections. Yeah, the they do interviews, they do intakes. Um, and then that's what one of them does mainly. And then the other one, she does all the public health stuff with with the state with the reertifications,
um, border health stuff. Um, she also um goes to all the border of health meetings that that you that you know that that are required. Uh, she meets with the largest 14 cities u Worcester, Boston, that's a that's a you know we meet we meet we meet with them
regularly. um um the DPH, the Department of Public Health, they deal she deals directly with that with that with that person. Um and she's also a uh um um epidemiologist, which is about disease
and all that. So she, you know, she's qu, you know, she's a qualified nurse and she works out of, so we the school department let us have let us use two a couple of offices over in the one Parker Street that building over there because
um we have I have 30 something I think 30 something employees and we're so crowded in there and because it's medical and HIPPA laws they need to be in in a place where it's quiet and they could interview people
And it's all confidential information. Well, that that that is good to know. Uh um what is the building? You say Parker Street. When you mentioned Parker, I'm thinking about Great Orange Family Health Center. I don't know if you remember Mr. Tux. Uhhuh. Right across
the street right there. Oh, Parker. Used to be a tattoo place right there on the first floor. So, there's a school there. So they have a lot of offices there and um now I made a connection with someone and they offered to let us use three offices there. Thinking about park not
Parker. Thank you Director Reese for um uh letting us know I don't have no more questions for now. Let me start from the beginning. It's always inspectional services. No,
you know what? We are the black sheep. You're the black sheep of the fence. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. It's funny because as we're having these conversations and I know u our madame chair had spoke highly of um director Valz and
recreation and this is not to um to be super critical of other departments, but um your department and DPW is by far the one that I I personally feel that the city heavily relies on. So, we have to
be super like we're going to be super intense and super critical and um we're going to ask more questions than than any other department because we need you guys. We rely on you guys and you guys do a lot of the heavy lifting. I understand that. Yeah, you should be.
You should be because we're the heartbeat of the the whole city. Everything goes and there's so much work that needs to be done. It is. I don't I'm going to hold it is the hard it from like the from I guess in-house when it comes to inside city hall but outside it they don't you know
they can do the work anyway that's unimportant but oh inspectional services well they need their systems. Page 87 instate travel. I see that it went from $0 for fiscal year 2025 to
$10,000. Please explain the details as to why that is, who is traveling, where and what is being done. So this is um we have um we have uh how many? Three, four, we have the building commissioner. We also
have the three building inspectors. Um they they go away uh for conferences. That's mandatory. So they get their certification. So they they they need they they all um they go I think it's the three or four days they go um that
covers the hotel um driving um mileage and all that. That's that's a that's a that that's a mandatory for building inspectors. Okay. What do you use the advertising budget for? Advertising
the five grand. So you usually we have um we create flyers. We have a we have a we have a a clerk now that um that um that that person was um he graduated uh from school and and graphic design and
he's helping us create um a lot of pamphlets um brochures and then we need to to print them and send them out to to everybody. Yeah. And sometimes we conduct like workshop or community community engagement that we bring some goody bags with information checklist to
give to out to the community as well. Sorry. Okay. Page 92, the finance officer. I see it as a new position. So we currently don't have a finance officer. Well, it it's it's the office supervisor.
Oh, it's the supervisor. Okay. The office supervisor. So, with with the office supervisor, that position, they they have um they have uh like like a lot of added duties because they do the uh what do you call those things?
The when they request records and we we get tons of those, the foyer requests. So you know they be that person does that plus all her financial duties with you know with munice and helps with the budget. She does all the purchasing. Um
so that person is more like like the financial officer and that's what we want to we want to um make sure that you know they're compensated you know you know as they should be. Oh as a result are we doing away with the supervisor? Yes. Yes. That would be exchange. Yeah
we would be doing away with the supervisor. It would it it would just be a difference of um it's a it would be the same position but we just want to change it because um I would like to have that person be part of of the union and you know and then because they do so
much work you know that person does a lot of work um you know they they would get according to the union pay scale that's the difference of I think it was like I forget I have to look like a merge yeah so it' be like a merge so it wouldn't it wouldn't be an extra position Page 96. I'm seeing salary and wages
temporary. Um an increase of $2,400 in that in that line item. Uh walk me through who are we hiring? Is this interns? Is this um someone perdm?
94 96 96 96 96 96 I don't I don't I don't see that line item there. It um it it is right after the grant fund
reimbursement. Okay. Oh, temporary wages. That's the minutes. Okay. So, that that that's um so s that that's the the board of health uh minute taker. That's $200. It's $200 uh a month for um equals to 2,400. So that so that
that that needs to be changed because it's wrong. Also, did you say that again? What is wrong? That needs to be changed because uh Oh, no. Okay. No, it's right. The change. Okay. Yeah, they the change was made. Okay. 2400. Okay. And then page 98, I see board member stipen. I don't see the amount of
board members. Um I I do see 9,800, but um how many board members are we talking about? So that's for the that's for the um the the licensing department. There's um the chair which makes um the chair makes 5,000 as a stipen and then you
have um the two other the the two other members at $2,400 each three. So there's three right now there there's only two though. So two members how much again? So it's 5,000 for the chair and 2400 for for the two other uh
board members. So, what I would like to see moving forward, um, kind of like not kind of like how the council's budget is. So, the council president is is listed separately because the council president makes more than than the than
the rest of the council. And then the the rest of the council, we're grouped together with an overall total of of how much our salaries come in together. So that would be nice to see that itemized um for this budget as well for the future for for for the licensing board.
So for the licensing board. Yeah. Yeah. So board member stipen you know just to itemize that like the chair and then members. Yeah. Okay. All right. All right. I don't have any you guys covered. Thank you. Yeah. Um, any other
questions, comments? Nope. All right. Not for now. You survived. Not for now. We might come back. Okay. Duly not. Thank you so much. Actually, it would be appropriate for you to talk
about. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Let's do that. What page is that? So, what page is that again, Carol? Is that the beginning? Right. I don't have that section.
So, what line which line item are we looking at specific? Oh, just license and permits in general. Most of those come from Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. page 178 28 23
[Music] 25 we collected. So the licensing department and it's on its own. It's one person. It's the clerk. Um they bring in 215,000 last year they brought in with all the all the alcohol licenses and all
the permits and well that's yeah that's for the the alcohol beverages. Then they have the the common victuals. We bring it we brought in 20 21,300 uh auto automatic amusement 2,000. Uh
auto auto dealer license 23,300. Uh lodging houses um $550. Um entertainment fees um 5,200.
uh pool. Uh just one second. You're reading FY25. 25. Yes. Okay. So, we're looking at FY26, mayor's recommendation. Yeah. And the change for that. So, let's go back. Okay. Um
26. Let's go back to Okay. So, the alcohol beverage. Yeah. So, alcohol beverage is 2,00 210,000. So, we made a revenue of 10,000 or we're going we're anticipating a revenue of 10,000. An increase increase increase.
Yeah. Okay. Um uh common victual's license 20,000. That's an increase of 5,000. Um last year auto dealer's license 20,000. Auto dealers license. Yep. There's no change there from last year. Um lodging
house $1,000. No change there. Uh one day permits uh zero. Uh entertainment license fees 3,000. Uh pool uh pool permits
500. Um marriage. No, we don't do marriage license. Can you go back to Madame Chair? Yeah. Is that one day permit for alcohol?
No, that's um I'm not sure. I'm not sure what those are right there. I would like to know. Yeah, I'm not sure what that is. Yeah, because that would make sense on one day because we do we do we do a lot of uh one day permits. They're $125, I think. So, why why is this listed as zero then?
Uh I'm not sure. Okay. Can we get the Can we get an answer for that, please? And thank you. Um building building fees on 1,100. Um plumbing and gas 110,000 occupancy permits
uh per 100,000 food inspection fees 55,000 [Music] why is why is there a decrease in gas and liquid storage a decrease of 500 00. That's um that's that's the fire department. We don't we don't have
that. That's a that's a fire department um permit. We don't that's not ours. Um milk milk fees 4,000. Um that's that's the fire department. Storage of payment. That's the fire department.
Also truck tank that's the fire department. That's fire department. Small detectors fire department. These all that the rest is all fire department. So okay. So I'm a little confused. So these are okay revenues that come in
through. So most of the bigger ones are the smaller ones. Okay. They're ycrease. Okay. Council Burma and the other I'm sorry and the I just want to make a point too
that also um um that the the ticketing process now um um right now I think it was uh what 30,000 we collected last year I think it was something like that was like 30,000 but it's it's it you know as the prosecutor um um starts
doing collecting the fees it's going that's going to rise substantially. I have two questions. The first one is um as director, are there any licenses and permits that uh especially the ones
that there are zero dollars in in in changes um or or in revenue? Have you given it thought as to um any licenses of permits that uh we should look into and well kind of like increasing or uh
Yeah. So maybe some some of them are need requires attention. So the the the the fees have remained the same for for many years and um I was thinking I was I was talking with the assistant director um that we're going to do we're going to do a we're going to do a study to see
what other cities and towns um are charging. I' I've I've done it before. Um I think I did it a couple years ago or yeah for the fire department when I was there. I you know working with them and and the our fees are way lower than than everybody else. If you could once
you complete your study could you please share that with the with the committee. Um the second question is like for example the dog license and occupancy permits which this is like for rental units correct occupancy. So So anytime
anytime you guys keep track like dog dog licenses how do you um we don't do dog that's not ours. That that's um that's um city clerk dog license. city clerk. So, they're kind of bunched in. Yeah. I mean, I I could I could send you a report of what we, you know, what we do because we use citizen serve. That's our
licensing and permitting portal and that tracks everything we do. Everything goes in there. All the permits, um, licenses, everything goes in that system and that's how we track everything. Um, so I could I could run all kinds of reports from that system. So, I whatever you
report you want, I can send them to you. Um because I know with dog licenses, someone can have a dog. It's like how do we keep track as to someone doing their due diligence and actually getting the license as they should. Are there any penalties for that? But I know that that's not your department. So when it
comes to occupancy permits, like I have knowledge where I I know I've come across units where I know for a fact that there is no permit. So is there anything that your department is doing to mitigate that? Yeah. So like um so you know you know as you know I I
started last year which we're revamping a lot of the stuff that we do um and the rental registration um um wasn't being adhered to back then and we started we just started doing that. So we we are seeing the revenues going up. Um I have one person assigned. That's all they do.
Um is rental registration and occupancy permits. Anytime somebody moves out they're supposed to, you know, get an occupancy permit. Um, and then every anybody that has a a three family and up, um, they're supposed to do, uh, rental registration. Um, and it hasn't
been followed in the past, but we are we are we are work I have somebody that's dedicated just to do that. What's the penalty for for $300 for a property owner that doesn't get the required? So, so the way we track it also is that um, so say, you know, we we we get a lot of
complaints daily. you know, we probably get 15, 20 complaints, you know, illegal trash, graffiti, like if I get stuff from the counselors. So I send inspectors out um if they if you know they'll do an investigation and if they
don't adhere um you know in in you know in the proper time period what we ask them to do then we you know we'll issue uh you know first well we do you know we like to do um we'll issue like a a warning uh then written warning then we
might you know we we could issue from one to two to $300. We might issue them $100 one depending how how bad it is. Um so you know once we do that if they don't adhere to it you know we'll issue another ticket. Um so and that's how we you know we you know right now I have
inspectors going around um um doing all the you know illegal dumping. Um you know we've seen in South Canal Street you know big mess over there. We have cameras up there. Um, so we have like 23 or 24 cameras that you
know, anybody suggests them, we we go and put them up. Um, and we know we have somebody that every every day they monitor those those cameras. Any other questions? Or councelor Luzon? Yeah. Thank you, Madam Chair. Is the residential dump feeds uh it's it's
increasing. Where is it at? Is that residential dump fees? Oh, that's a good one. Yeah. Let me see. Can you talk which one? Talk about that. 44 64. And I apologize for not having
the proper lighting. Where do you Where do you see where do you see the increase? Counselor. I think she said it should be. Oh, no. No. Me. Here. You see that they making is that part of the inspection? Residential dump fees. That's that that's not our change.
That's No, no. What I'm saying, Madame Chair, that they are collecting uh the fees. They're doing their job. Yeah, I'm not sure. Um is that part of the inspection service? No, that's not part of the inspection services. No, it might be it might be um DPW. Maybe DPW.
Okay. Yeah, it might be DPW. Okay. I thought I thought it was open. I could give you um when we created citizen serve um we have we keep track of every single license and permit and permit and we have a list we have all
the codes um and I can send you that so that way you see every single permit that we have in the city and every single license. So I can send I can send you that if you wish. Council Mar are you are you finished? Oh sorry sorry. I do want to mention director is
that that I see uh a increase I mean I see that the job is it's is it's taking place but in other uh I don't see any change or enough uh revenue. So it looks
like uh that some of the things like councelor Marmu mentioned and then I know it's not I don't the dog permit doesn't belong to your department but that's an example that there's certain things here that is not they're not getting enforced
um and I understand because your department somehow that they're not enforced by us but sometime they are handled by the fire department or sometime there's also a permit that fat, oils and grease that is handled by the water department that but somehow
it's reflected in ISD. So that's why maybe you should see some just just like the the the um quarterly inspections for vacant properties. Um you know the fire department actually does that but it but it show I think it shows up on ISD for
some reason. Well it which we're going to we're going to fix all that. Yeah. Okay. But that that that made sense. That made sense. So, but thank you for explaining it. Thank you. All right. Any other questions or counselor Marvel? Um, and this is just
in reflection to the conversation we're having. Sure. Does your department have any data in regards to the dollar amount of any unpaid fees? Yes, we could get that. How? I don't know off top of my head, but I could run I could run different reports for you and send them
to you of whatever you want. If you can send what you want, I'll get it for you. Yeah, I I'm just curious as to how how much money are we talking about of unpaid like unpaid balances or fees of uh because of people, you know, being penalized for certain things. Um, and could you break it down in terms of what
like what is in regards to is it because of an an inspectional service? Not inspectional service, whether it's that you visited a property and there's trash or it's like a bu building code uh enforcement. Um, so if you could give us
a breakdown of what those unpaid fees are for and the dollar amount. Yeah. Yeah, we could we could do that. That's easy. U, we could um we could um I'll run some reports for you and I'll send them I'll send them to you. Awesome. But, you know, I just want to say that,
you know, um we're we're heading in the right direction. Um I started like, you know, like in May, it's going to be I think it's a year now. Um you know, we are we you know, we are it is a year. I got the Facebook memory yesterday actually when I posted your congratulations. I just want to say that
you know that the assistant director of Amela is doing a great job. She's creating um she already created like five SOPs. Um you know she's really doing you know doing what you know what I need. I needed somebody a right-hand person to you know to assist with all
this other stuff that because you know I have 30 people. I have you know building you know contractors coming in. I have um you know uh people that the mayor sends down. I have to talk to them. I have to go visit them. Sometimes there's issues. I got to go people's houses. I got to do inspections myself. And I'm
holding a flashlight. Yeah. Yeah. So, so um so, you know, we're trying to, you know, we're trying to we're trying to make um ISD, you know, um a department that's going to flourish and, you know, collect all their fees and and do what
we got to do. And also too, um, just so you know, um, according to Department of Public Health, every single inspector now within two years needs to be needs to be certified just like a building inspector. And if they don't, they won't be able to do inspections anymore. Great. Is that that's something new?
That that's that's uh Yeah, that's according to the new state law now. Okay. Yeah. So, they're working on that now. Right now, we have um you might probably explain it better because you've been doing them. I haven't done it. Yeah. There's now a a regulation that called um safi that every inspector
has to meet certain certification like tier one, tier two, tier three. So there's also for food inspectors and also for housing inspectors and it it's not it's not a certification that you go, you show up, you actually do the tier one, you have to do all these
prerequisite courses and and they really test you and you have to know your stuff. Then you go to tier two um for this is for food and house housing code inspectors and then tier three actually somebody from the state comes in they go out with you and then you have to pass
um you have to pass the test with them that you that you did you did all these inspections according to according to law right well regulation sounds great all right well thank you and for the job your oney one year anniversary I don't think uh you know we asked tough
questions but I don't think this council ever doubted your leadership cap um capabilities. That's why you got a unanimous vote. Um and we continue to we we're looking forward to continue to see the changes and the improvements. It looks like you guys are making a great
team so far. So, we're expecting a lot out of this department. Yeah. I'm just, you know, I just want to say that, you know, I could be retired and and you know, be in Puerto Rico right now, but you know, I'm 37 years with the city. Um, but I chose to come back and try to bring this help this department grow.
Yeah. And thank you for being responsive. Thank you. I I try to be I know I know a few times you brought it to my attention. You brought it to my attention, Madam Chair. No, no, I I sincerely like I understand
you guys get a brunt of like the the calls and and you you it's a department highly challenged and again this is the reason why I said like we we rely on you guys 30 to 40 emails a day and unfortunately your department along with
DPW again my opinion I feel like we're going off of results like we some other departments could uh you we don't rely as much on physical results, but with you guys, I have to physically see that you're doing certain things that we're requesting you to do.
Um, so yeah, by all means, you know, don't take any of our line of questioning. Oh, no. We don't we don't I mean, we um, you know, we're here to work together. Um, you know, one purpose to make the city a better place. Um, you know, my my my my kids went to Lawrence
High, you know, um, the Greater Lawrence, you know, they they they came back to work in the city. Um, and they love the city. I love the city. I came back to live in Lawrence. I moved out, but I came back. So, um, you know, this is my city till the day I'm gone. Thing is, you and your son are in my district,
too. So, I I'm listening his complaints as well. So, I was like, I have to send them to you. Yeah. Yeah. Send them. Yeah. except was all right. Thank you so I think we're all set withd any final comments, questions, thoughts.
I like the purple, by the way. It's my favorite color. Thank you. Thank you. Hope there's no scary moment tonight. No, no scary moment. Okay. So, I just want to clarify something. asked for the director. So the direction for every department is level fund the budget. Every
department does their own budget. I don't do their budget. The mayor doesn't do their budget. Every department is responsible for their budget. Now if there's any changes in terms of things that they ask for, they submitted a memo. The memo is reviewed and um based
on the priorities. Some departments get what they ask, some based on affordability don't. But um each department is pretty much we don't I mean I know I I'm here to help but a lot of the times I don't know the answer
because we allow them the flexibility to um you know fill in their salaries and in you know within line with the union negotiations and and the calling center um non-UN um list.
With that said, um if you guys have any questions in terms of um what is being charged or what information you might be looking for, I do have my computer with me so I can look up things um in units if you have any questions in terms of details. That way we don't hold you up
or we don't need to send you anything the next day. So um that's it. Awesome. Thank you. We knew. We knew. But thank you. All right. You're welcome. Have a good night. Get some motion to adjurnn. Oh, wait, wait.
Motion to recess. Motion has been made by council mar, seconded by councelor Luzon. All those in favor say I. I. And the eyes have it. Thank you, councilors.