call this meeting into order. Um, first of all, you read this. The York is an intergovernmental relations committee, a subcommittee of the Lawrence City Council is meeting here on Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 at 7 p.m. This meeting is conducted as a virtual meeting with a proceedings broadcast on
the immediate outlets provided below. Those include the Zoom link, the Lauren City Council Facebook page, and the Lawrence City Council YouTube page. Um, so at this point I'll ask the uh I'll ask the the clerk to please call the role. There'll be roll calls for
everything tonight. You're on mute. >> Uh, roll call. >> Roll call. >> Yep. Uh, councelor Selena Reyes >> present. >> Council Gregory Del Rosario >> present >> and chairman Mlan
>> present. Uh, what we typically do in these meetings is that we do salute the flag. So, we're going to stand up here and do the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I will ask that everybody please uh put on mute while you're waiting. We're all old hats at this at this point, so we're probably pretty good at this. Let me get
rid of this. So, um we're going to start off with uh we have minutes um for approval. They're in our packet. We have the August 26th uh 2025 minutes. I'm looking for a motion to approve.
>> So motion approve. >> Motion made by councel U. Del Rosario, seconded by Vice Chair Reyes. Discussion. See no discussion. I'll call I'll ask for a roll call vote. >> Council del Rosario.
>> Yes. >> Council Selen Reyes. >> Yes. and chair Mer Plan. >> Yes. The minutes are adopted. Uh we are going to start off as we mentioned uh we are going to start off with document number 39425.
This is an author authorization for a contract of over three years contract number 7220. And I believe we have um Missfink who lives here. Miss you have the floor. >> Good evening council. Um, in February of
2020, the city entered into a contract with Groundwork Lawrence for services for the renovation of Okonnell Park, which included community outreach, survey, design, subcontractors, and construction management services.
Fortunately, we all know what happened then. COVID hit um and we delayed our community outreach and the project ended up being stalled. During this time, the city did apply for a grant from the land and water conservation fund. Um, and we were very
um thankful to be awarded that grant. Um, so we also needed some additional electrical subcontracting work. Um, we decided at that point to change design firms. We were not happy with the original design firm. Um, again, we were
a little bit delayed. Project went out to bid. Bids came in well over our budget. um we had to revise our plans and eliminate the band stand um much to um some of our dismay um put the project
out to bid again. The project is mostly complete at this point, but there are a few um things that need to be tweaked. There was some drainage related issues that need to be addressed and there was um an equipment malfunction with the spray park portion that needed to be
addressed. Um, so we needed to keep groundwork Lawrence on um a little bit longer. So I'm requesting a no cost contract extension until December 31st of 2025. >> And this is for the grandstand. This is
>> no the playground area. >> Playground area. Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. And this will just extend the work that I thought that was completed. The ground playground area. >> It is. But after construction was completed, we noticed that there was some drainage issues when the spray park was running.
>> Right. Sorry. >> To be out to address those. >> Yeah. Okay. Uh looking for a motion or a comment on this. Looking for a motion. >> Uh council del Rosario. Uh, thank you to your chair. So, since like groundwork
does a lot of work for us and renovating parks, who is in charge from the city to supervise this this this work and prevent for this to happen before before it it it happens? Like I know groundworks is in charge, but do we have any engineers or any people from the
city uh and in any capacity to supervise this this this things? like uh a few years ago they built a basketball court and the basketball court wasn't even but nobody from the city knew anything about it until the kids start playing. So anybody from the city assigned and
supervised this this work besides groundworks doing all the work and supervising and giving us the the great work that they do and then all of a sudden something is not working. Um, I'm I'm the person that works with groundwork for the city on most projects
and I'm a finance person. >> So, >> not an engineer. >> Not an engineer. Correct. >> So, that's a no then. So, okay. That's I mean it it's to me it's it's for the years that I've been sitting in city council, I've been
asking the same questions. I mean they they get the money, they do the work, but nobody in the city actually supervised and and some some part of works again they do great works. I like them but some things that they have done comes with issues that nobody knew and
then like the basketball court uneven uh basketball hoops 10 ft one six feet uneven and and we don't have anybody from the city supervising this then and it's concerning but I'm assuming that motion to extend the
contract. Yes. >> Motion made. Is there a second? >> Second. Second by Vice Chair Reyes. Any further discussion? See none, I'll call I'll ask the clerk to call the role. >> Councelor Selena Reyes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Gregor de Rosario.
>> Yes. >> And Chairman Mlan. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Our next meeting, just so we're all clear on this, I think is next Tuesday. Today is the 14th, is it? So that would be the 21st. So our next meeting, full council meeting on the
21st. Everybody who's online should know that uh because everything that's been adopted or approved or sent up will be at that at that meeting. Thank you, Mel. >> You're welcome. >> Chairman Chairman Llan. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um that was sent to the full council
with favorable recommendation. Correct. >> That's correct. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. Uh in order, we have the um Auto Recycles Group LLC junk dealer permit. Uh there are several people here um
speak on this issue. Um it was actually put on by Dan O'Brien. So Mr. O'Brien, since your name is on this, do you want to lead or begin this discussion? Why why are we dealing with this issue here tonight? >> Sure. Well, we're uh we are applying for
a license. We already have a license. We are applying to renew our junk dealers's license with the city of Lawrence. >> Okay. First thing we're going to do is make sure that things are u approved by the various departments
the fees are in. I see um the clerk's office um and and the city council has not approved it yet. It looks as though this it looks as though this the information is
approved or at least recommended by the various departments. And so do you do you have a current license? >> Yes, we do. >> Current. And is that that expire when? >> Well, there was a little confusion on that. Um, it would it re our original
three-year license expired. It was set to expire, I believe, in earlier this year. Um, I can tell you I think it was like maybe or June. And so when I went to reapply, um, licensing actually gave me a
license, but it's not it wasn't in the correct manner. So he actually issued me a junk dealer's license good through the end of the year, but when I spoke with the the clerk, she like she like that was not correct. So what we need to do is you need to go through all the
process with the city council. So technically I have a license, but it's not the light. It's, you know, it wasn't approved properly through city council. >> When is the uh >> it's a three-year license? You see,
durational license. >> It's a three-year license. That's correct. >> So, it I'm looking at the the laws with respect to this. It looks like it's the April 30th is the April 30th is the magic date for the duration of a license. So, if if this city council
approves, I'm presuming it's a three-year license. I'm going to have to guess that it's going retro to last April. >> I would assume that would be the case. Yes. >> So, we're in 2025. So, this would be expire in April of 28.
>> That was my assumption as well. >> Okay. Um, when we when you're looking for a junk dealer's license, uh, what does that mean? What kind of work are you doing? It says auto sales
group LLC. So, just give me I mean, this is a very be a very long meeting, so I'm just looking for a very brief synopsis as to what >> Sure. So, we we buy scrap metal from the public. Um, and we both buy it with our trucks and we go pick it up and drop off dumpsters at businesses and, you know,
other entities like construction sites. And we also have a yard that's open to the public with a scale. So, anyone in the city of Lawrence can come down, give us their license, we, you know, we put them in the system and then they can weigh up their metal and they get paid for it. So, we pay for all sorts of, you
know, if you have an old water heater, if you have old tools, if you have copper pipe, any of that stuff, you can bring down. Okay. >> How long have you had a license? How long you been in business in Lawrence? >> We've been in Lawrence since 2014. >> Um,
we recently have gone through something like this and I think that's why the firefighter might be joining us this evening to maybe give us some background. But um have there been any incidents uh within the last within their cycle in this current cycle
licensing cycle that we should be made aware of any irregularities any discipline anything that would be of any kind of concern? >> Are you asking me sir? >> I am. >> Yes. No there has not. Okay.
>> Uh I want to make is it firefighter Rosa? Is that your proper title? >> Yes, it is. >> Okay. Uh Mr. Rosie, you're here to speak on this matter as well. What What can you add? >> Uh so we met with them initially about a month ago. I believe the 17th of
September. Um, we gave them a few things that that needed to be tidied up um around their business and it looks like they um we showed up today, me, firefighter Nova, and uh building inspector uh Stevenson who is here right now. Um and everything kind of that we
gave him on a list, he started working on. So, um we had some concerns with the walls leaning uh on the around the perimeter. They took care of that. Um you know, annual inspection report for their fire alarm system. They did that. Um, as far as I can tell, uh, and with
my opinion, uh, they've put in a good faith effort and willingness to comply with us. Um, I don't see any reason why, um, I would stop them personally. >> So, at this point, have they complied with all your requirements? Is that definitive? Everything is it met your
satisfaction? >> Yep. They pulled the the proper permits. Um, they've started to work on things. They still have some things to take care of, but uh, most of it's just house um, housekeeping. Nothing really uh dangerous um to the citizens. >> Okay.
Okay. Uh council, are there any questions for for the uh for the applicant or for Mr. or firefighter Rosa? >> Rio, >> Mr. Del Rosario, >> I mean inspection of service, what do
they have to say about it? Um, before we do this, I before we do this, I believe that we need to have them with us. Well, they're here, but we need to have a reading report. I mean, look what happened the last time. All kinds of violations with the other junk chart.
Nothing to do with that with this one, but we approved it. I don't know if you remember, we approved it before having paperworks in our hands with all the violations. before we go move forward with this, I believe that we should have a written report that we can go by it.
Um because we don't want nothing to happen like it happened the last time and then some of us says it's already approved for three years. So we need to have some type of reading writing material from even the firefighters should send us something in writing and says you know there's some housekeeping
to be done but this is done we need to have it to me. I don't know how about how my colleague feels, but I I'm not going to approve if I don't have things on writing from the inspectional department and also from the 55s. >> So, uh, Phil Stevenson here with the inspectional service department. So, I
can speak on that. I did, uh, do a joint inspection today as well as September 17th, I believe it was the 16th with um, firefighter uh, El Rosa. And, um, we do have a written report that we can actually um, have that prepared for you and send that over. Um it pretty much
just details the original violations that we did find which was the high stockpile. Uh they had some obstructed egresses and um they needed to apply from for some um permits with the fire department as well as their uh periodic
inspections. So uh they did take care of that and they are still actively working on stockpile as well as like like uh Rosa mentioned some uh house things that need to be taken care of. But u aside from that I can um provide you with the document that we have as well as the uh
written correctional that we put together >> and once again I believe that we should move forward again that's me thinking without having this proper documentation with us and our files. Um that's how I feel. Uh what I recommend for you chair
and you the chair it's to table this matter until we have all this information with us and then move forward in the next and the next have ordinance meeting so that way we can review those documents and have it with us on file before we move on this
because again I drive through there all the time and it's and it's messy and we know what happened the last time and it wasn't them. It wasn't them. But but I mean I I don't even know why we have those type of business in our downtown
and and and right on downtown that that it I mean obstruct that obstruct the beautiful city that we have with all the messes they have. I mean the traffic is crazy ch if you drive one time through there to see the people. I mean they to see the people how they drop what they
have. It's lines to lines of cars, traffic congestions, all kinds of stuff. So, we got to make sure that everything is in compliance before we provide this extension on the license. And and and I'm hoping that we can we can somehow control everything that happens there,
before another fire happens or before something happens. Uh it seems like they've been they've been flying low and we haven't we haven't seen we now inspection service is there and they here but they in the in the four years that I've been on the console that they
have been to renew the license. I never seen an inspectional service go by there. So to me again, it's not I'm not you guys are two of you and you're the chair, but to me, we need to have all that paperwork on our files before we
move forward with this. >> Before you make a motion to table and which will be in order here in a moment, uh Mr. Stevenson, so I mean, as I asked Mr. firefighter Rosa. Um, is everything would you recommend that the that this permit be uh approved or
is everything that has been said to your satisfaction? >> Yeah, at at this time I do feel that this permit could be could be issued um because all of the fire hazards have been taken care of. Um, I'm sure that by tomorrow the biggest issue that we had
today was the high stock piles and to my understanding uh Mr. O'Brien mentioned that he'd be stopping by the fire department to take care of that as of um this morning at around 11. So aside from that um we I can present you with this
um as early as tomorrow what I have in what I have with me u the detailed correction order. U so I think as of that they're they're good to go. They do need to do some, like we mentioned, in-house maintenance such as their graffiti and the fencing that just need
to be taken care of. It It's just an eyesore for the community. So, they're going to be working on their fencing. Uh, we agreed to give them an additional 30 days to work on that or I don't know. It's up to you guys if you want to um schedule that to have that taken care of by the next meeting, but um you know, we are working with them. They they did put
their best foot forward. >> Thank you. So, it appears that the the Mr. Res offering a motion to table for the purposes of getting the paperwork complete with written uh written recommendations from two departments from the fire department and for inspectional services. Uh so I I expect
that to happen. I'll be supporting uh if there if there's a second I'll be supporting that. There's two ways we can do it. What Mr. Del Rosaro is planning to do is perfectly acceptable and it makes a lot of sense. So uh Mr. Del Rosaro, do you want to make a motion? >> Sure. went through your chair before I do anything. Graffiti and fence is not
my concern. Graffiti and and fences are at the minimum at the minimum. My concerns are pollution. I mean cause of fire, dangerous traffic, all kinds of stuff. I mean, they're going to clean it up to get the the extension of the license, but how long it's going to take
for the inspection department to go back and do another inspection, making sure that they not that they don't have that pile all that high because somehow they clean it up today and two days later they have the pile higher than Empire State Building. >> Yeah, that that that >> I mean service
>> that's not and the service is not always behind them. It takes years as you seen the fire that happened the other day and when when we asked the inspection department on the other junkyard place they had no report of going there at all when that thing is visual. That thing is like if you drive through there you see
how visual that is. I mean again the pilot is as high as Empire State Building. But with that said I'm going to offer yes a motion to take >> motion made. Is there a second? Second. Um I'll ask the clerk to please call the role. >> Roll call uh to table this item.
Councelor Selena Reyes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Gregory de Rosario. >> Yes. >> And chairman Mark Lan. >> Yes. The motion is table. I would advise the applicants that um uh that our next ordinance committee meeting is typically
two weeks from tonight. Uh uh so we would hopefully get something from both departments um that is satisfactory. Mr. Del Razar did explain a little bit about the history of of why we're a little more sensitive now than we have been in the past regarding these things and we we learned our lesson. We don't want to
be burnt twice. So, um that's why we're being cautious as as he recommended. So, uh please uh both departments please get that information to us within the next couple of weeks if you can. That way we can take a vote on it and then set up to the full council for a meeting in probably in November. Thank you guys.
The next item tonight, The next item tonight is um we're going to deal with the police department and stuff. Uh Detective Heggerty, welcome. >> Good evening, Council.
>> So, um I have I think we all have I'm not sure Mr. Delire, I'm not sure if you got your packet, but we have um >> I think there's I think there's three. >> Yes, I have three. Let's start up with the with with the ones that are a little
bit uh easier, I think. Uh the first one is document number 38025. Give me a second to find that on the agenda. >> Yes. >> 38025 is no parking Irving between Hampshire Street and Bennington Street
from 78 p.m. to 7 a.m. Officer Detective Hegy, go ahead. The police department has a favorable recommendation for the no parking unrer Irving a >> okay >> motion full council with a favorable recommendation
>> second >> motion has been made and properly second uh here's what um this is document 3825 so whatever this is worth and we got to look it up on our packet it has
Let me see here. It has uh 700 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the document that the recommendation was 6:00 p.m. to 7 a.m. Was that was that just a typo? >> No, I believe there was an email sent out. >> Okay. >> Um I don't know a specific date of a
they amended it to 6:00 p.m. to 7 a.m. >> Okay. I don't have that in front of me. >> Um, so they're looking for 6 PM to 7 a.m. >> Correct. And I believe councelor Delazario has
actually spoken to a lot of the business owners down there regarding the parking issues and the problems they've been having down there. >> That's correct. uh through your chair and last week they had a community meeting where they have the community met the business owner the mayor was
there the police and the chief of police including Rocky from from uh from Clean River Projects and they were all in agreement so they they waited for the day to come and speak on a on a public hearing which hopefully will be uh next Tuesday.
>> Right. All right. So, I have an email from I do have an email. The most recent one was on September 15th. Does that sound about right? Yes.
Yes. Time amended from 6 pm to 7 a.m. Okay, hang with me. So I'm not seeing it quickly but this is is this is your district council delivers. >> Uh it it the works started in my
district but I end up there. So they put the two large counselors on that. I remember that they asked for the time of the business closed which it closed at 6 and the time the business open which is a seven. They want to be on those on those. We're good with So we're good
with that. Okay. All right. So um is there a motion on the floor? >> Yes. Motion's been made and properly second to have it from 6:00 p p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Um, and I think that's been amended uh here at this level. So, please make a note of that uh clerk that there was an
amendment to that here so that people are looking for it. If there's no further discussion, I'll ask the clerk to please call the role. >> Roll call for document 38025. >> Councelor Selena Reyes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Greel Rosario. Yes.
>> And Chairman Mlan. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Motion carries. I don't know when the public hearing is going to be on that, but we are sending this up to vote for a public hearing at the next full city council meeting. Um Mr. uh Detective Heggerty, the next one would be document
37525. >> Correct. >> And that's Hillside AB one way from Nope, sorry. Aim Street one way from Hail Street to Yale Street. Um, go ahead.
>> Police Department has a favorable recommendation. >> Do we have any Thank you. Do we have anything on file from DPW? I know that this is one thing I do recall is that they they look and the engineering department does look on the one-way streets. Uh, we've been burnt. It's been
a burnt We've been burnt on oneway streets in the past. And so, have do we have anything from DPW on this? >> Not that I know of. >> No. >> Um, Teresa hasn't given me anything. So, I don't think so. >> Okay.
I I would re I would strongly recommend just because I remember what happened in district B at one point and how ugly that was when there was obvious these one-way streets. I would highly recommend that we that we table this matter here to thank the police department for their recommendation and then uh request that the city engineer
provide for us their um their recommendation either for or against uh for that. That would be my recommendation. So you share that one is uh >> uh D3 uh >> D3C >> C.
>> Yes. >> Okay. >> From D3C uh we can send with the full console with the documentation pending. >> We sure can. U do you think we'll get it in time? >> Yeah. >> Okay. You feel confident? >> Yes. >> Okay. There you go. Well, that's the
other way we can do it as well. I mean, if the council feel if the committee feels as though we can get a response uh in time, then let's do that. >> But to your chair, I to you because I think if I'm not mistaken in the package, it's it's another one that is attached to this one. So,
>> if I'm not mistaken, it might it might be in combination with another request there. Uh >> 74 and 75 go together. >> Yeah. >> Sure. Okay. >> All right. So um so I'm looking for you want to make the motion councelor um or
councelor >> delar opportunity to my colleague Rosal council >> the motion I can second it >> motion motion to sign in the full council with a f recommendation pending DPW uh uh report on that
>> correct all right motion's been made properly made is there a second >> motion is properly seconded I'll is there any further discussion see now I'll call ask the clerk to please Call the role. >> Councelor Selena Reyes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Gregory Del Rosario.
>> Yes. >> And chairman Mark Lan. >> Yes. Uh can we amend that to send correspondence to if we didn't is it not part of the motion to to the city engineer for their for their review so they know we're waiting for it? >> Yes.
>> Okay. Pending. Okay. The next document is document number 37425 which is uh hillside a oneway from Yale Street to Hel Street in subly direction. Council Delazar I guess this is your item as well. The same dynamics are in
play. >> Yes. Uh chair. So motion or second of full council refer recommendation pending uh DPW report and also send a correspondence to the engineering department >> second
>> motion's made improperly second and I didn't hear this officially from detective heard but the police department does favorably recommend correct >> yes they do >> got it properly second ask the clerk to please call the role >> councelor Selena Reyes >> yes
>> councelor Gregor de Rosario Yes. >> And Sherman Mlan. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Carries. >> All right. Last one, I think, detective. Um, this is document number 192.
>> Um, >> 16. >> No, that was um I'm looking for more information on a removal of a no parking. >> Okay. >> Handicap parking. I don't actually have that one in front of me right now.
38725. Let's check that one out. 38725. I see it at five Durant Street. >> Yeah, I got a I don't have that one in front of me. Uh, excuse me. Um, >> I have it right here. Would it be Would you want me to just read this to you so
>> Yeah, >> I actually have it from Scanland. Hold on. >> Officer Scanland granted a handicap parking several years ago and they want it removed now. And then the counselor wants no parking put up there, but I
just want uh there's no reason reasoning of why they want the no parking. So, I'm just looking for more information. >> Oh, wait. >> Thank you. Um
hang with me. Where am I looking? John, [Music] we're going to go live. [Music] >> I don't see her. >> No, no one there. So if you want to change the view just
to have the speed. [Music] >> All right. Um Okay. So So I might not have submitted the whole thing. I might have sent that by accident without completely finishing my uh my report.
>> I'm actually missing a a sheet on this. Hang with me. Is there another sheet over there? You have this cover sheet right here. It goes with this. Yeah, that could be it. Let me see. Was that the cover sheet?
That's it right there. Um, no. Okay. I have the Okay. So, what we have, detective, is we have the officer Scandlin. the officer scan memo. >> Yeah. >> Uh recommending handicap parking at the
site on seven Durant Street. We have a memo from you to Council Luzon. Uh no, not to council Luzon, but to apparently to Theresa Vega. You want more information as you just mentioned?
>> Yeah, that's that's all I have regarding that. I just need more information because they want the handicap parking sign removed. and no parking put up there. And in the worksheet that's submitted to us, there's no guidance or information as to why they
want no parking there all of a sudden. >> Unless unless there is no longer somebody there without a handicap need, >> right? I have no problems removing the handicap parking, but they want no parking sign put up there also.
So nobody can pocket. >> Oh, okay. Maybe they're just trying to be trying. I don't I don't know. Your your point's well taken. >> We're just speculating, >> right? >> All right. So what we can do here I
think to cure this is to um is to table this matter here and to send correspondence to councelor Luzon uh and and asking her to get in touch with the police department and specifically you detective he just to have a conversation about what it is that she's trying to do
um and that way you can um you can report back after having a better handle >> uh and give us a better handle on that. So that would be my recommendation. Yeah, because we want to to remove the handicap parking and they at the same
time request no parking sign at the same address. >> Yeah, I can guess why that's happening, but rather than guessing, let's just get the information. So, um I'm looking for a motion to send correspondence to Council Luzon asking her to to get in contact with Detective Hegy or the
police department to discuss this matter to provide more background information. um she certainly can contact the chair and and the committee. Uh but that way we can move on this quickly and then a motion to table after that happens. That's the motion I'm looking for. >> So move. >> Motion made. Is there a second?
>> Second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, I'll call the question. Oh, I'll ask the clerk to call the role. >> Councelor Gregor de Rosario. >> Yes. >> Councelor Selena Reyes. >> Yes. >> And chairman Mark Llan.
>> Yes. motion table. That's document 387. >> All right, I think that's it for our city employees. Is that right? I think we took everything. >> Thank you, Council. >> You're Thank you, detective. All right. Um, out of fairness, we're just going to go on order. Um, the next folks that are
in order, um, according to our agenda are this national grid. Uh we have 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, and 412. Um does anybody wish to These are install J. Let's start with 40725.
Install a J pole at Berkeley Street near Montgomery Street, National Grid. >> Yeah, those are all uh new midspan poles that we are proposing to install. uh uh just just a very brief summary why
we why do we need a JO poll at this location? >> Sure. So basically this project is uh is this project comes under the category of lizard. It's a fault location isolation and service restoration. So we are
installing uh reclosure which is a equipment that needs to be mounted on a pole uh as per the national good standard. It has to be on a clean pole. Uh by clean I mean uh there should not be any angle on the pole and uh it should not have any transformers or
existing switches. Uh that being said all those proposed new locations were proposed initially because at the adjacent locations there was not a viable pole to get the closure installed in itself. Um technically this this
equipment is just to maximize the reliability. Uh it improves the efficiency and the grid control as well as um it enhances the grid monitoring system. So one reclosure manages 500 customers. Uh and those are the only
viable solution for us to install a new poll and put the reclosure on on top of that pole. >> So let me just distill this into one simple qu point. >> Sure. >> Adding more customers. You need to know J pole. Is that is that the the distillation of what you just said?
>> Uh sorry. Can you come again? >> Because you are adding new customers. You're you're >> No. So we we we want to monitor those new customers as well as if there are any fault isolation program that needs to be done, we can monitor through that
equipment that we are proposing to install in that new boat. >> So there's a phrase and I don't want to go into too much into the weeds, but there's a phrase I'm not familiar with. What is the monitoring program? What what are you isolating? What are you monitoring? >> So it's a reclosure. Uh it it is it
detects the fault. It isolates the program if there is a fault. You said fog. F O G. Fog. >> Fault. F A U L T. F. >> F. >> Like wage. Fault. >> Spell it again.
>> F A U L T. F. Thank you. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Sorry. >> All right. So, because there's faults and there's problems, you want to monitor the problems and the faults. And so, this is what this will do. Um, okay. >> Yep. and you're having problems which
I'm presuming has taken away access for people to I guess >> yeah so it increased the reliability and let's say in storms there is any fault that needs to be taken care of highly advanced automation cap capabilities
increase the reliability as well as the monitoring system so it helps the grid as well as the customers too >> this uh is this a new technology what's the science on this what kind of rays are being exposed I this has been a while but I'm always asking question when there's new things being adopted.
Go ahead. >> Yeah. So there are basically six voltage sensors uh that dramatically increase the reliability as well as the safety and the functionality. I hope that uh these sense like this at least somewhat gives you an hindsight of
it. If you want I can go in deep uh into that closure but there are six sensors. So it's six IBS, six voltage sensors that monitors the uh voltage calculation on both sides, source and the load side.
>> Now I will ask you I will beg for you to to be as simple as you can >> talking to people without any kind at least I can speak for myself very non nontechnical background. So, um, I'm just concerned. I just the stuff that I'm reading, I just want to make sure we're clear that we're going through new
technologies is that there's emissions that are being done at these places whether they're I think you know the argument. I don't need to go through it. So, the question here is is are we adding to that with this? Is what's the safety issue?
I how close people's homes that kind of stuff. >> No, it's not a safety issue. Basically there is a switch already that was manually operated like crew has to go out there and manually do it. With this one we don't have to go out and do it
manually. We can do a digitalized way. >> So it increase the reliability. >> So if there are any errors we can be fast and efficient. >> Okay. >> Nothing is changing as far as the techn the technology is changing about efficiencies and quickness. That's be
able to do it remotely as opposed to actually going there and pulling a switch and again and leaving. That's what Okay. >> I think I that's enough. I know enough now to be dangerous. That's all I need to know, I think. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. Um that's it for my questions on anybody
has any questions for motion. Um council >> are we are we taking all the block? >> Um not necessarily because I'm not sure if these are I was unclear. Are these all the same kind of dynamics? Is this all the same? >> They're all the same. >> We certainly can do this as long as we
tell the addresses. Uh, we certainly can do it. >> Wow. Two of them. If >> I may add on, chair, um, >> go ahead. >> The two other petitions that were tabled on July 7th, they also um are the same
thing, essentially installing this new reclosure technology on these midspan poles. Um, and yeah, reclosers are pretty much just big on and off automatic switches. Um, >> they work pretty well. >> Yeah. Question that I have. I don't know if they have the answer through you.
>> Yeah. >> It's all these changes on the jail poll that we have in the city is that was trigger all these companies to come into our neighborhoods and try to tell the people that you guys are doing some type of work could change them from
electrically company or whoever is the provider is. I see it's an increase of of uh unknown company on our neighborhoods. >> I think >> saying that National Gret is doing some type of work and they want to access the
electrical bill >> or whatever they house you pay your bill and they trying to get these people to buy the electrical from them or whatever. Well, is that what's triggering this type of business now in our city or
on our neighborhoods? So, great question, Gregory. Uh, I have heard of this before. Uh, it seems like there are >> I just I just ask that you treat the the membership here with a proper last name. So, it's councilor Del Rosario. Go right ahead. >> Sorry about that. Yeah, thank you very
much for the correction. Um, sorry about that, Delario. But, uh, essentially, I've heard of this. It's when uh companies want to sell their supply over national grid and that is something people can do and I've heard of towns even recommending it like the town of
Uber and I've heard has um done something similar but uh national grid uh these reclosers wouldn't impact anyone like that. um this that's just selling supply at either a fixed rate to hopefully get people to have cheaper
um electricity rates, but uh I find it to be a bit of a gamble when you're doing that. But um no, I don't think reclosers and stuff like that wouldn't be impactful. We're just increasing reliability for customers by installing these reclosers. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Um clerk uh on these remind me again on these on these motions. Do these require a public hearing or just straight up and down adoptments? Do you recall? >> Uh I think they do require >> a public hearing.
>> Public hearing. Yes. >> Okay. All right. I am uh I'm going to read all these into the record and then ask to vote them as a block. 40725 and saw a JO poll at Berkeley Street near Montgomery Street. 40825 install a JO
pole on Winthreb near Derso app. 40925 install a J pole on Marlboro Street near South Union Street. Uh help 410 is install J pole on Brookville Street near Bowden Street. 411 is
install J pole on Shepard Street near Glen Street. 41225 is install J pole on Andover Street near the intersection of Tukbury Street and Kulage Street. And on page three of our agenda, document 29825
install one JO Paul and one I'm not going to do that one cuz it's it's got a little something different. So let's just do those as a block. Is there a motion that we in that we that we have combined these all as a block. Looking for a motion. >> Mot motion to send recommendation to the
full council to order a public hearing >> or that uh to we're going to amend it as a block. It's a favorable recommendation. order of public hearing uh that's been made and seconded. And I just want to make sure National Grid folks that the stuff on Brookfield Street, Shepherd Street, Andrew Street,
those are all the same identical stuff, right? That's all deals with that that that um the poll. Okay. And my last question before we take the the final vote on this or vote here is are there so we're not adding any new polls. We're
installing it. This is what's really weird. We already have a dynamic there. We're adding another pole in addition to the poll that's already there that we're trying to facilitate some. >> So those poles that we're adding are completely new poles. So um the poles
adjacent to the new pole are already equipped with new equipment that we can't install this reclosure. So in order in order for it to work, we have to put a new midspan pole. I think we're looking for we're not
looking to add poles if there's one already there. We're looking to if if there's if there's one pole, we want everything to go onto one pole rather than having multiple poles at an intersection. >> Yeah, I agree chairman. It's it's just the national grid standards. This reclosure needs to be on a team pole
like no equipment on it because it's a big equipment. Um like if I were to give you it needs certain clearance spacing just so the crew members who are working on the pole are safe as well as um pedestrian and then the customers too.
>> Do you have a picture of what one of these looks like? >> Yeah, sure. I can I can >> Mr. Delario. >> Now I'm concerned because I don't want to see double poles all over the city like it used to be. So you guys got to clarify that because I'm not the last
double poll even though some of those are not coming or none of those are coming in my district but the last double poll that I had it took us a while to take it out and and concerns. So if it's going to be double poll chair I'm I'm concerned what's going to happen
if they're going to just add a poll to the one that is there until they figure it out because if you know how national gr works they make you a double pole there and it'll be two years before they remove it. Uh so when you said double polls it's usually we are waiting for Verizon to
transfer their coms to the actual poll and then it has to be removed because it's a >> J but yeah but I understand let them finish you got we got speak this is hard we got to speak one at a time could you finish your uh thoughts sir before
council zaro rebutts >> go ahead council delario >> so why don't work in uniform and that's that's What that's that was the issue that I have with the last double pole that it was in my district. Why they don't work in uniform? Why they don't go to Verizon and get Verizon ready to when they come install those jail pole
everything is removed to them. Why do they have to do the work? Put double poles there a chair and then wait for Verizon. You see now now it's not now it's not national now we got to deal with Verizon. If Verizon is not here to defend himself or to tell us how long
it's going to take. So why not national? contact Verizon, right, and let them know when the jail pole is going to be installed and have Verizon do the same work and take the pole right away. Those double poles are dangerous. And if you have seen the work that they do, they even put a piece of wood between them to
put stuff between those poles. So it and again, it takes years uh and it's going to be mostly in your district chair. It takes years for them and years for them. And then now he he stated it. It's not going to be national regret. Now we got to change the horizon. Verizon is not
here. So why they don't work in uniform and and inform Verizon? When are they going to install this before we approve it or after we approve it and get all that done in one day or or the day that they doing it all combined in uniform? Why do we have to? Because National is going to do the work and
they're going to disappear. And do they need to ask for more permission to put another jail pole? In the meantime, you have two poles on your district, >> which is dangerous. And it's also taking space from the sidewalks or whatever they're going to place, but they have nothing to do with it.
Once they pull it, they it's they're going to tell you, even if you call them, they're going to tell you it's Verizon. They got to do the work. So, we got to make sure they would do the correct thing. >> So, do you want to rebut that? I don't want to go too far back and forth here, but is there a a reaction to council
Rosario's concerns? Um I will have Brian answer for this one because uh he have much information on dealing with Verizon. >> Uh thank you very much. Uh so uh to
answer your initial question um we will be installing brand new poles into new locations. So there will be no double poles with these. These are brand new poles going down. Um so there will be no replacing of poles. So no double poles will be added. Um to go back to
double poles in general, uh there is communication between us and all these telecom companies when we do these things. Uh it's just an incredibly long list and we do push them. We do work with towns to push them to get these
resolved because they do cause issues. You're correct. Uh we understand that. Um, so we do push them along as much as we can, but at the end of the day, I think it comes down to manpower and scheduling. Um, but we can definitely put priorities on things and hopefully
get them to do things faster. I understand faster doesn't always mean right away, but uh, we are trying our best. >> Thank you. >> Uh, that you want to say something. Go ahead. >> They go to to share the picture to us to
see what is the main double pose. I think uh you can share with us tonight some picture when you show what the double post what means. I would love to see especially what you mention and now
uh is for in char a new port but in the past what might mention uh you in double pose and you not remove the other port. So, we want to make sure it's not the case.
>> Yeah. Um, >> try to find out the picture to show us tonight. >> Yeah. Do you happen to have a photo of what one of these devices look like? >> I don't have one right off the bat right now. Um, >> here's what we're going to do. This is
We have a lot more to deal with this agenda and I and I appreciate you can I I can appreciate where you're coming from. You want to get these things through. You have customers you're looking to serve. You want to get some of the liability away and and and who doesn't want to remove liability? That's a great thing. We all want that, right?
So, but we do have questions and and as we're listening to this discussion, I mean, there's thoughts in my mind of saying that that what we need to do perhaps as a policy or is whether it's written or not written that we have no that we have a no new net pole additions
that if one is going up, one's going down. I mean, no more polls. I mean, and and maybe maybe I I don't know how that plays out or if another community does that, but if it's Verizon, if it's National Grid, if it's whatever the other utilities are that are sharing a
poll, then I then I think we should be the last stop. Tell us that that those polls are going to be going down, then come to us for the poll and say, "Yeah, that poll on whatever street it is is going down." Or the point here is that all I've been on the council now, this is my 20th year. This is not the first
pole problem we've been facing. We have not come to a satisfactory resolution. We've gone through cycles of poll problems throughout the city and it doesn't stop and I don't see it stopping until we start to be a little more forceful and it gets cyclical. And so as my colleagues here and both council
Rosario and vice share are suggesting is that we're we're a little the people that we represent even though the beneficiary of what that poll represents and the the power and the communications and all the other stuff we we're all dependent clearly on it. Um
there needs to be a happy medium about dealing with a reasonable number of polls and the and why it should not take as long as it is. So, what I want to explore, not tonight, we don't have time. What I want to explore with National Grid and the utilities is this.
What can we possibly do to say, and I'm going to throw a number out, we have in the city of Lawrence, I'm making a number up. We have in the city of Lawrence um 5,000 polls. I have no idea. That's close. Little lot. I have no idea. 5,000
polls. And that's the maximum number of polls that we're going to have in the city. We're not going to add a new one. So if somebody wants to add a new one, someone's got to take one down so that we're not constantly adding poles. At least that's a first step. So we're doing no harm. We're not adding more. And hopefully the idea is you've got
one, you got two in a central location, you take one of them out and put another one in or whatever it is or figure that out. I just think we've got enough. Um so I don't want to hold this hostage. I I don't I don't want to stop progress from going forward. But you can
understand the frustration that I hope that you're hearing from three counselors here and I dare say we represent I think many of our colleagues on the full city council who also share this very same concern. So if we can take care of this here I think you'll
see far more uh what's the word I'm looking for? Uh folks who are more willing to work and and do whatever we can to move it. We have been very good players. I can't. We have very rarely have said no to a poll in this city. I don't recall. It's It's highly unusual.
Extremely rare. These things happen all the time. But now we need a little something. We need this to go down. So, can I task you National Grid with this? Can we task you with this? Can we ask you to think outside the box a little bit and try to find a way where we're
not the first person you go to, we're the last person you go to because you've already taken care of everything else to get rid of some of these polls and now you want to bring some new polls in. Can we ask you to to to see if you can seriously take that as a as an as an action item?
>> Um, I can definitely take as an action to make that suggestion and to see what I can do moving forward from here. Um, I am relatively new in the company, so I'll be reaching out to my supervisor for this and kind of trying to push it along the chain and see how far I can go
with it. Um, but just so we're all on the same page with what you guys want from me or from National Grid here, >> um, you want us to remove unnecessary polls that are in unnecessary places.
>> Well, I'm sure there's polls that are necessary. What we're trying to do is that there are some poles that they're right next to each other. There's one, two, and they're tied in. Some are halfway down, some are cut somewhere. They're just unsightly. There's some of that. And so, a lot of things like that. I'm sorry to interrupt. You got the
floor. Go ahead. >> Okay. Um, so what you were just describing to me was a double pull. Is that correct? >> Okay. Yes. So, we can I can definitely I have a contact for uh pushing those through. I can try my best to just
continue to encourage them to keep pushing through double poles. Um I understand that there is when we replace a pole and we do what we do to attach the poles together to support everything. Um the pole that's to be
removed by Verizon or whoever is just supporting their wires at that point. So once that gets cut down and removed then they can take that pole away. Um I know we want to try shortening that time gap. I think that's the biggest issue here, right? Um, so I agree. I do want that to
be more uniform. I do want that to happen closer to together. Um, but I guess what's the word here? I'm trying to say it's difficult to I guess from my understanding being new
into this company and new to all these different situations in different towns um there is a software that communicates between us Verizon and of course I think there's other communications that happen too I think it's called the engine um some towns use it as well because
there's um fire lines and other uh town wires that run through poles sometimes as well. Uh different towns do different things, but um every pole is listed on this program called the engine. And essentially when we make an update to the engine saying,
"Hey, we're taking this poll down on this day and it's scheduled then everyone gets an update and they're supposed to be going through that list and at some point Verizon's on that list and they take down their stuff as well." Um it's been in use for a very long time
is what I've heard. Um, but I think it comes down to manpower and I think it comes down to when they can hit these numbers, when they can hit these polls, um, on this ever growing list that just seems to get
longer. Um, as polls either wear out because of age or unfortunately due to accidents that clash with poles. Um, so that list can can definitely get much bigger. Um, >> so >> I will push us through.
>> Thank you. Let's do this. I We can certainly talk about this some more. I hope that my colleagues if we can park this, table this, all these matters. I know there's a motion on the floor. We can leave that motion as you can withdraw the motion. Doesn't make a difference, but we can table no matter what happens. Um, we haven't we haven't
had a vote yet. Um, and and we do ask you that you take uh that you really take this this this seriously. Uh I I'll leave you with this one thought before I I ask my colleagues if there's any last last comments which is this you know in a city like Lawrence
um there are it it's sometimes uh because we are very we have people who are trying to make ends meet. We have people who are focusing on trying to survive and doing the right things in our neighborhoods. um we um and and and
people are focused on so many other things and they're relying on people like us to advocate for their interests on things such as this because they're dealing with other stuff. And so when we see the opportunity to do this to try to do something that makes the appearance of our city better, the safety of it,
etc., even though you're probably going to say there's no safety issues, which is fine, but we're trying to the the appearance and and not make it look like we're working hard to try to improve our appearance. We really are. Um, >> and we just we we just we we need private sector like yourself to step up,
step up your game and not put us on the back burner. We need to be on the front burner. Um, we're not Andover, we're not Newton. We're not Welssley. We're Lawrence. We're an inner city. We're doing the best that we possibly can and we got to be treated. Just because we
don't have folks calling National Grid in there and their CEO's office doesn't mean that we don't care. We do care. Um and and and and we need that kind of cooperation from this company or your companies, not just National Grid, but the other utilities as well. And you
just happen to be here tonight to get this. So, um are there other I'll stop there. >> Last words before I ask for a motion to table if that's where we're going. >> J. >> Yeah. >> And and this are services that National
Greg going forward decided the city needs. It's not our people asking for this type of services if you know that I mean we need to upgrade to bring greater energy faster energy and all that stuff but you don't have anybody in law asking for
none of that. >> So we a few years ago I had an argument or an item and the and the agenda that we approved because national grid treat us or treat the city of Lawrence like we could do anything that we want to do in Lawrence and and and and they get it done. We'll get it
done and that's it. and and then we walked away. And and I'm glad you feel that way, Chair. And we need to restart putting a stop on this huge companies that come here into our city and do any type of work that they want to do without following up afterwards. They
make holes, they break out streets, they install polls everywhere, and they don't come back never ever to fix it. So, we need to start here to let them know. and I'm sorry that they here and they're the one they got to take the message back to let them know that this is not
acceptable anymore. So we shouldn't we shouldn't be approving everything or anything that they throw at us because again they holes on the streets poles installed double PS our street we fix it national comes and breaks it
sidewalks broken and they don't come back and fix it and we continue to approve all this type of work that they want to do and and some of us need to put our foot down and let them know that no it's not acceptable anymore. We try to clean our image. We try to look
better. Our city is moving forward and we need companies private sector like you said they move forward with us and and and and no this is this this should stop here. We have the power to stop it here and send them the message and say this is how we're going to work. So
>> looking for a motion >> motion to table. >> Motion to table these six items I've already read off. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion made and properly second. No discussion on the the table of matters. Uh National Grid, you know what we're looking for. We we willing to work with
you. Uh clerk, I ask you to please call the role. >> Roll call. Um councelor Selena Reyes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Gregor Del Rosario. >> Yes. >> And chairman Mark Lan. >> Uh yes. Motion's been tabled. We will
take up because uh Mr. is Safler, you're here. As a courtesy to you, I mean you will take these two items up as well. Uh 29825 and 29925. 298 it's installed one JO pole at a midspan pole and the other one is 29925 install J pole and a
midspan pole on Mount Vernon Street near James Street. So both on Mount Vernon once at Crestwood Circle, the other on James Street. These seem similar. It says install one. I think the arguments I think apply to this one as well as to the previous ones regarding adding more
poles and it says install. Are we missing anything? Is that is that the arguments the same here that is there a difference here between this and the other six? >> Uh no, unfortunately it would be the same thing. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh councilors, um just to make
this move meeting move a little quicker, I'm looking for a motion to table these two items, the same instructions as the last six items, uh that that we can have this further discussion with National Grid and their partners, frankly, if need be. Verizon, whoever else is got stuff on the poll. Looking for a motion to table.
>> Motion. >> Motion made and seconded. No discussion. Clerk, please call the role. >> Councelor Selena Reyes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Gregor Rosario. Yes. >> And chairman Mark Lan. >> Uh chair votes yes. >> Thank you. Motion.
>> Gentlemen, thank you very much. Um reach out to us. I'm easy I'm easily accessible. Find my name on the city's website. Give me a call if you want to talk about this in further uh or any one of us frankly. You can >> I think we're all willing to speak with you, you know, away from here. All
right. Thank you. Thank you guys. >> I appreciate your time. Have a great night. You're welcome. Good night. >> Thank you. Have a good night, guys. >> Yeah. Good night. All right, in order. Um, 41625
Life, Health and Wealth Community Cleanup Walk at 2025, Arlington School at Howard Park. Mr. Emil, are you still with us? >> Yes, I'm here. >> Thank you for your patience. This is a long night. Appreciate you. Go right ahead. >> Appreciate you guys. So, I'm just one of
the organizers for the Life, Health, and Wealth Community Cleanup SLwalk. Uh what we're trying to do is start at the Alllington School, work our way up through Exchange Street, meet at the Howard Park right there. We're going to have, you know, volunteers throughout the time cleaning up on each side of the sidewalks. So, we're going to avoid the
streets. Um once we get to the park, we're going to be giving out families resources like child safety kits. I'm a life insurance agent, so I'm going to be providing free accidental coverage, some job opportunities. We're going to have a DJ there to create a great environment. Um so just bring awareness to more of
financial health and wealth um items. >> Okay. So this is on Let me take a look at Jordan. Let me see here. Um >> starts at the Arlington School. >> Yep. >> Then we're work walking our way towards Exchange Street and then walking up Exchange. So it's about five blocks
total. >> So just so you're aware, we don't handle the streets. That's held by the police department. All we have would be the >> uh let's see here. You're looking Arlington School, the Howard Park would be the the place >> and Arlington school is questionable, but definitely Howard Park. Uh I did
receive I think council I think committee members, I think we all received an email from the city clerk saying that there's been no objection. Those facilities are free on that day from the recreation department. So that's not a hindrance. >> Um let me just pull up one more item.
>> Yeah. and the recck department told me as long as I avoid anyone kind of walking on the streets then the police um the police officers should be okay with not having one on the scene. Um, so the other thing too, this is council del Rosario's pet peeve, the
music and loudness. You want to speak on that, council del Rosario? You want me to? >> I wondering if they contacted the city council to represent that desert at le. >> Do you know who that could be?
>> I mean, I I don't know. I mean I I had there was there was a a a a organ sorry they organ somebody organized a cleanup at the croning parks right and I was driving out of my house and I see the cleanup pretty great which
I agreed it's good but no invite nobody contact the city council for that district so it's cool but that's fine I everything they have to be with cleaning I agree with it and then and then um Mr. Severino said that I don't get involved. But this organization don't invite you
at all. So you find them cleaning. You find them cleaning and you're not going to jump in and try to clean. They don't call you and say, "Hey, did we have this?" No, you got to, you know, but I mean I I agreed. I mean, if they want to clean up, the only issues that we have is the loud music. We have
neighbors around and they call us. Uh you got to be mindful of the neighbors when you have the DJs and stuff because we get tons of calls. It's churches, nonprofits, they organize all these events. They don't take in consideration the neighborhood. We got the permit.
We're going to play the music and that's that's what we care about. But we have the neighbors on the area calling us with the loud music and calling the cops. So, I just want you to be conscientious of our neighbors around that area. >> Perfect. Yeah. Um, with the invite, you
let me know. I'll send you the invite right away with all the help we take. Um, but with the noise violation, yeah, make sure the DJ is well aware and he's aware that it's a community event, so keep the music pretty clean. >> Very good. And I I just put a pl a
shameless plug for council Dario. Whenever there's a cleanup, he enjoys picking up. He likes to clean up. I'm surprised he's not working for DPW. So, if you bring him on board, you're going to see amazing things happening. He does like to bring a broom and pick and do stuff. Am I right, counselor? I'm not
I'm not going to show up on the nothing, but if I get invited, I'll be there. >> You'll definitely be invited. >> Thank you. >> Bring extra food. All right. Um I'm looking for a motion. Is there a motion on the floor? >> Motion to send full cost with a favorable recommendation. >> Motion made and seconded. Uh any further
discussion? Clerk, please call the role. >> Councelor Selena Reyes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Grego Rosario. >> Yes. >> And chairman Mark Lan. Chair Bautias. Uh, next meeting as I already mentioned is next Tuesday. Uh, thank you very
much. >> Thank you guys. >> Okay. Uh, I think this is our last next item is document 417 25 dedicate the square. >> Did I skip? Oh, wait a second.
>> The YWCA hay ride. >> Which one are you? What? >> YCA ride. >> Oh, I did skip you. >> 416. >> Did you come in late? >> No. Oh, I've been here. >> Okay. All right. Sorry. 4:1525. Yeah, we got Okay. So, uh, I think we
got this is the Hey, White Hay ride, excuse me, at Halloween event camp October 24th from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Um, I believe we also received u an email from the city clerk from the recreation
um department saying that that site, which would be >> the camp common uh is free on that date. Is there anything Mr. Martinez, anything else you want to add on this? >> No. Uh, it will be a repeat for the last
two years we've been doing the hay ride and it has been a popular uh ride during our Halloween uh events. Um, we usually closed uh and we have that approved through the police department. Uh, we usually close um all the way from Common
Lawren Street all the way from Common Street to Low Intersection. Um and then the last three years we've been doing we added a this will be the third year we added a hay ride uh that takes uh off from the intersection of common and
Laurens. Uh we stay in the pavement. We never hit the grass in the Common. Um and then we turn and we come out on the intersection of uh Habil Street with Lawrence. Um the truck loops all the way
around and and picks up the next group and uh we do some you know clowns, cartoons, spooky stuff um during the ride. >> Okay. So the key here is you're staying on the pavement. >> We stay on the pavement. Yes. >> Super. I'm just curious what kind of is
it a is it like a like a truck? >> It's a flatbed. So the first year Cody's uh donated it, the second year uh hook and go, and this year will be hook and go again. Uh and usually we set up railings in the back of the truck and
some steps and uh we take people for a ride uh around uh that intersection of the common where we do some uh storytelling, spooky storytelling. >> Excellent. And it's going to be dark out. So there you go. So >> it's going to be dark. Yes, we don't
need the lights or >> Okay, I'm looking for uh either questions from the committee members or a motion from the committee. >> Motion to senator full council with a favorable recommendation. >> Second. >> Motion made by councelor de Rosario, second by vice chair Reyes. Any further
discussion? Seeing none, clerk, please call the role. >> Councelor Selena Reyes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Greg de Rosario. >> Yes. >> Chairman Mark Lan. >> Yes. Motion carries. I Let me just say one more thing. Um Mr. Martinez, this
was I think sent up as an emergency. Uh um I I'm asking the the the group that you're with is very sophisticated, has been around the block a few times. Um I would just ask that we a little more planning, put it
on the agenda. We really should be keeping emergencies for true emergencies. Hay rides are not emergencies. Um >> Yes. Yes. Yes. They did uh they did mention that to us. Um I apologize for that. I did put the application about
five weeks ago. Um but they asked me to do it at least two months ahead for the next time. >> Okay. Please do. Okay. So that's coming to the full council uh uh next week. Thank you. >> All right. Have a good night. Uh the next item is document 417. Thank you
folks for being with us here. I think it'll the last ones. Uh 41725. I would dedicate the square um to honoring Lieutenant Margaret Shaheen at the intersection of Saratoga and Lauren Streets.
>> So, um sorry about that. >> So, uh who is going to lead off that discussion? I know that councelor Marl wanted to join us. I thought I I saw her earlier. She said she was going to come on by Zoom. One of our folks did come by and said she was on. We looked. I could
not find her. So I I just just to let you know she tried to come on. I think she did. I didn't see her, but I know that she made the attempt. So, >> you know, it's a busy time and I appreciate you guys that I know that you got you guys have a lot to do and uh and
my apologies also for my uh all my folks remember that they not the night that they should be sleeping right now. >> Yeah. >> But I thank Todd and um Steve. Steve um he's there. is one of the main guys here
to talk about Margaret. Um that she was born and raised here. She got married with one of those uh chians. So we have three members in one house that served during the war in Vietnam.
And to me, um, looking and finding only one person, uh, a female veteran, especially nurse, 10,000 deployed, and 7,000 was nurse. And that's amazing to me, you know, like u
the job that they they they do, the stuff they they go through uh patching soldiers, helping imputating our arm and legs, and also watching soldiers dying in their hands. So, it's a tough one.
And to me, those nurses that came back, uh, not all of them was recognized as a as a as a as a uh, veterans in being heard from Lawrence. I think it's
a good thing to put her her name in Saratoga Street. um is something that we as a as a as a citizens to this great city say thank you at least we got one female hopefully
it's more to come you know in yes we don't want to fill the whole street but we can put a pictures of each soldiers in each polls if they continue coming hopefully it's more but Margaret she think it's just a great uh start
uh for us here in the city of Florence. >> You you gave some stats earlier. What were those stats? I I didn't understand. There were thousands like say those >> during the war Vietnam like 10,000 >> Vietnam Vietnam war. >> Yeah. >> Why? Why you All right. So Vietnam, go right ahead.
>> Okay. That's what she That's what she went through. and uh in like 10,000 females uh signed up and 7,000 was nurse. >> Are you tell are you telling me that that Lieutenant Sheen served in Vietnam?
>> She was a nurse in Vietnam. Yes. >> She did not the documentation you said she served in World War II. >> Yeah. In Vietnam. >> Not in Viet not in Vietnam. >> Well, World War II was in Vietnam. That's an important distinction because we've had in this city council chambers
that I'm not in right now lots of discussions regarding veterans during World War II. Um and and we had so many but so but I just want to make sure that we're clear. This is not a Vietnam veteran. Not that but it's an important distinction. We lost 330 people uh
during World War II from the city >> and not all of them not all of them got a corner or something named after them. Most did not. most. >> Oh, no, no. I I understand that it does it's impossible to to do that. But
knowing um we don't have a female veterans. I mean, we put people that haven't done nothing for this country and we put a corner in their name. >> You just said that we have people done nothing for this country. Can you give me an example?
uh we got artists that they have not nothing for the city and we put their name in on the street. Um I think a nurse uh the job that they
do is just like the soldiers on the line remember they keep it alive with the little thing that they have in their hands. They don't have the right tools to keep a soldiers alive. They doing everything they can to for them to
survive. And like I say, those who survive is great, but those that pass is a hard thing. and uh to see I can imagine I don't want to leave that life and uh and to recognize like like I said a lot
of them female still fighting for the right to equal opportunity and a lot of soldier didn't even have that especially female they didn't have that the right to become uh a veteran when they serve we just
have one here in my watch uh from the campon the pass few days ago, seven years in the in the army reserve. He passed and they didn't recognize him and we fought to get to get him recognized and never happens. Never happens which
is horrible. So at least with this it start with her uh we can do something about it like and so hopefully and I hope that more family say hey in and I have one too but I've been searching and I don't see
nobody else but like I say who know the story more than me is Steve he's uh Steve Battle he's uh he's the brother story and uh and I love to hand him like I say my apologies the all my guys they're not here remember they not 20
years old and they know the story especially him that I think he he was there and three family members uh going to war in one house that that's amazing and being from another country to me to
me that's my my expectation >> let's listen Mr. battle is here. I I I don't I I I You're actually touching something that I have a lot of I'm probably one of the more informed people about this and I love you for that. >> I am not I'm not an expert, but I'm
probably more informed than others. I don't have all the answers. I just want you to know that. >> Oh, I am I'm curious to learn more like how many nurses served in World War II from the city of Lawrence? >> I I would love to know what that number is. get that number and I
>> love to and I love to but right now all we found is just one so we start with one starting you got to do the first step >> let's do this Mr. Battle wants to speak let let me he I think he's the moderator let Mr. Battle speak and then we can we
can continue ahead Mr. Thank you, counselor. Um, when we started researching Margaret, we went down to the city hall and um, we couldn't find any women uh, any women's name, any nurses or or anything. There
was no records of them. What we had to do was go to the tribune and find her name. Um, because they weren't recognized. And we started it because uh this when I go down to the city
squares and I know you you do your job and you did a good job of going to uh World War I uh cemeteries in uh France and I appreciate that and everybody else does. But when I would like to see when the kids go to school, they're going to
see her name on that corner. There's a woman that's on there that was a nurse and uh that's what started it and her three brothers out of 11 children that they produced u immigrants to this city and that
that's what we would like to see and that was the start of it. It wasn't so much it was a veteran who was killed because we all know there's we can name every quarter after someone who was killed, but no one sees
a woman's name. >> And so that's how how we got it started. >> Okay. So I I what I don't want and I don't want to monopolize this conversation, but it's something that I'm very much in the middle of right now um tremendously. Um, we're I don't want to go into what the project is. Just
suffice to say that I've done a lot of research, a lot of research over the last five, six, seven years. Actually, since 200 uh 17 probably is when I first got it started on on doing the research um across our city, not only veterans, but non-veterans who have done things
that are amazing or have been receiving. Now I what I want to say is I don't always agree uh as my colleagues will know I don't always agree that for sometimes I voted against folks on some corners because of the standards that I apply to it based on the research based
on values based on things that that I've seen over time and every counselor it's not there's no right or wrong on this quite frankly the counselor has a prerogative on it that's that counselor's view right um so I'm not I'm not here to bismerch or criticize anyone
for whatever it is that they think is worthy of something. Um, but I know where I stand. Um, and and one of the things that that comes up, at least for this particular one, is that back back in the 1950s in the council
chambers that you can't see that's in front of me here, there was a discussion regarding what are we going to do about the folks in World War II that have come back because you know what was going on? Everybody wanted their loved ones to have something named after them.
Couldn't do it. I would. And so what they decided to do back in the early 50s when these folks were coming back is because what you're dealing here with the Sheen, the two brothers and and the and and the and the nurse, the sister, uh she, you know, I've looked a little bit into this. It's been a while since I last looked at it, but I remembered a
little bit of their stories since I was able it was given to me, but they are. So what they decided is on camp common. You can go there today and you will see the listing of of everybody who has died in our city and I don't think Mr. Battle
you you're I believe you're a veteran and I believe you probably know this uh probably more than most and Mr. Severino we got a lot of veterans here on on this call right now. Um this city almost almost every family
almost every family was impacted by by the war in World War II. Most there were hundreds hundreds of families brothers mostly and there were some because I've done the I've been in the archives. I've sat in front of a
microfilm. I've gone manually to the Eagle Tribune. I've read the articles as much as I possibly can and I know there are hundreds of families who had loved ones. Many of them all came back. Some of them died. Some of them came back and
died. I mean, some members died there and some were able to return. >> They span they they span the gamut. >> The nurse question really resonates to me because there are no answers. I I can't get an answer. But I do know that Margaret Shaheen, Lieutenant Sheen, is
not the only nurse from the city of Lawrence. >> No, I All right. >> I've seen I I when I've been going through the research, I have seen other nurses. I've read the articles about other nurses from the city of Lawrence. Now, I'm not saying there were thousands. I'm not I don't overflating
this, but there was a substantial What does that mean? I don't know. I I haven't read every newspaper, so I can't tell you that. But I can tell you there were I don't know the number, but I can tell you there was there were numbers. Why? We're and and the concern that I have from where I'm sitting is like what
we had in the 1950s in the city council back then, which is how do we how do we say yes to this and no to that and yes to these brothers and no to that brother. Why don't you open up that box? You are now saying I had we're still
having we still have World War II people alive today. You have three brothers and why why can't I have that? How do you say no to any one of them? Mr. Severino intimated earlier that we need to do more of these. I I I where I'm coming
from it needs to be special. The camping was the the I mean that's a park and I grant you that. But that was when you lose three brothers in a war. You deserve a park named after that family which we did in in the city.
Many of the others and I can't defend all of the corners over the last hundred years but most of the corners that we have or things named after people have done with something remarkable. Now I'm not bismerching anybody who served
because of the greatest generation. Those we are not speaking German and we're not speaking Japanese today because they are the ones that came out and served. Many of them came back home and were thankful. They were so thankful because we're much better off because of
their service. But there's a but that was a common story >> right >> back in the 1940s during that war. Very common. It was a spirit. So the question is what makes this so special? And if you're telling me it's because of the
nurse >> then I want to know more about the nursing. I want to know more about that because what I don't want to do is is as we do this one we have three other final like oh my sis my grandmother was a nurse and all of a sudden we're doing more I I mean we you know where I'm coming from and I'm trying we're I'm
trying to make this counselor I know exactly what you're saying I know what you I know exactly how you're feeling. >> Yeah. I took on this project not knowing how many nurses or how many uh air uh
wax or uh Navy personnel and I just thought this is a project of one woman that I know the family of and that's what started it and it has nothing I don't know the research I give you credit for going down there and going
through the archives and looking at it takes a lot of time and I didn't go through the archives guys. I had a tough time trying to find her and my my as a Vietnam veteran and and as going to
school and seeing the names on the corner, I just thought this might be a good idea for the city of Lawrence. Immigrant family out of 11 children. She went to war. Her three brothers went along with it. And uh
and I just thought there should be somewhere named after it. And that's what I started it and that's how that's where I am today before you. And um counselor, you do a good job. I'm not complaining. And I understand you just
summed it up. There might be 20 there might be 2,000 women from Lawrence that >> I I I don't think that many. No, no, >> no. I know. But uh you know so that's where I am and um that's where I presented before you and and uh so
>> I don't want to minimize it Mr. battle your family as many families in the city have done amazing things and because of them we're thankful and I and there's no reason why you or any one of us this is a lurention we all can be proud of that served in our country and and did an amazing thing that when they were called
and they did something so there's no shame there's no shame and and frank I have military as you do I do in my family as well >> uncles aunts grandpa you name it you know they may not have received any medals they may not have gotten a purple
heart uh been shot at, but they served our country like many others did. Um and so I don't diminish I do not diminish that. And I just I just want to make sure that's perfectly clear uh because we're we're thankful. Um uh the question here is when we when we give somebody a
distinction, I think it needs to rise to I think I think it needs to rise to a certain level. Um and I'm willing to listen to what that is. Um, so that's why when you when you talked about nurse Shaheen, I wanted to know more about her. I wanted to know I wanted to know
if there's only three in our city. I don't know if that's the right number. I know there's more than that. I think that we should have a nurse's corner if that's in fact what you know if that but then if we go down that route, are we going to have something for the guys that jump out of airplanes? Are we going to do in the in the in the submarines
and submarine corps that they do something incredibly dangerous under the water during our wartime? I mean, are we looking at several and I know Mr. Severino very passionately talked about these nurses holding the hands of our loved ones who have served in the army
and who are who are wounded and they are the last maybe the last people they're seeing or they're giving them hope. These nurses are amazing. So I I I get that. But everybody had a role to play in that war. And all these wars, you too, Mr. Battle, we all had to
put not me. I'm not I'm not a veteran. I am not a veteran. I've never served in our nation's military. I never did. I just want everybody to know that. So, I'm not like saying I deserve any. I don't. But I do appreciate those people who did like you didn't. >> You don't have to be a veteran, but
you're a patriot and that's where your soul is. I understand what you're saying. >> All right. I don't know. Counselors. I I what what I would like to do is I mean, from where I'm sitting, I I I'm very passionate. We're all passionate. I don't mean to I don't mean to come out in a very argumentative and and and
hostile way. I I just hope I I don't appear that way. It's not what I want to come out as. But um I I just I I just would like to know more about the nursing in our city. Um I I can be sold on the nursing if I can get more detail,
if I can get a better handle on that. I just don't want to be opening that door. the family thing that to me that's a for me a non-starter because there were so many there's so many families that served that's not unusual back then and I just feel really weird about singling
a family out when there were so many others that did similar things uh but the nurse thing intrigues me and that's why I'm like I'm I'm eager to know more about that I'm eager to know what we're doing so I but but I I I don't have that data I would love to get that data I
would love for you to find that data for for me. You're the proponent now. You know, at least for one vote. I can't speak for anybody else. But you know where one votes coming from. You can give me that data. I can support this. If I don't have the data, I'm going to be put in a tough spot. I don't know if I could support something without just saying I don't know what the information
is. I'm just going to go with it because I just I just Anyway, that's where I stand. I'm speaking way too much on this because I'm passionate and so are you. I'm so sorry. So, counselor, I I'll I'll be quiet. I don't know since my colleague want to mention something but uh I totally agree
we need more data more information to know >> a little bit more about the person >> uh >> that is going to be tough to get anything out of the state because when we call the state they didn't have anything either and because they weren't
considered veterans >> exactly >> at the time. So it was kind of like we got the Eagle Tribune and that's what we were able to get. She served in Germany. She served at Fort Deon. Um and she served long after the war still taking
care of patients and still taking care of wounded soldiers and marines and sailors or whatever. So that's that's what I have because I can't say I can't say I I could go down to the archives in
in Boston because they don't have it in Washington DC. Forget it. That's out of my pay grade, you know, just so this is what I have. This is what I presented to you. And that's uh I
know councelor uh Llant, you have more information. uh on how to get get uh information. I don't have that knowledge. And so as a as a novice, this is the best I could produce. And and uh so that's where I
am. >> Somebody invite me to New to Patterson, New Jersey, and they walk me through the one of the main street, and every post has every picture of each soldier. And I was surprised that the next day I went
through Habro and I like oh but Habra have that they have every sergeant in their post. That was amazing except Lawrence because Lawrence is special when it come to veterans. They don't really they if you see for what I deal
with with veterans I the one that dying and that's an everyday things to me. So if you walk with me one day, you realize that uh heroes is not the one they die and then we give them all the glory. Uh
we can do that alive before they die. We can do that. We can give a little bit more than what they deserve. And like I say, for you to run, you have to walk first. And for you to walk, you got to do the first step. and this is the only
thing that we have right now. uh she wasn't a flying but she could have say you know what hell with this I want to put my life in danger I'm going to the hospital and working and be safe with the citizens here in in their town not
putting her life uh take a plane and travel so many miles to put her life in dangers that's a hero to me I don't do it and neither us we haven't done it so that's why maybe we do understand but
Sometime we we don't understand why it is like I say that we get people here we put it in every corner just because they sing or they do this but do they serve the country the right way that they did or they deserve to be in that corner but
that's not the problem. The problem is uh this is the first person that we got. Yes, it's not enough information but we got one. If you got one in your city, why not? Why not start >> the first starting point?
>> Can I can I say something? >> Have to fly. >> Hero is the one to serve. So, >> yeah. >> Do you know the name of Todd? What's your last name? Todd. >> Todd Quinn. >> Go ahead, sir. >> Yeah. So, anyway, the DAV is backing Margaret Sheen to be recognized. Um, I
understand many of other people have served. all these other people have, you know, done great things and other family have done great things. It' be get good to get more information of what she did. Um I think that the what the key thing here is that women don't get recognized
and there's not one woman that's recognized um in the city of Lawrence on a plaque or something like that, right? >> That's not true. True. >> That's not true. >> Is that not Is that not true? >> That's not true. >> Okay. It's not true. Louise Mulligan two years ago that I was instituted has has
something that she was very involved in in her husband's return from Vietnam that Mr. Ser was talking about. >> Is she a veteran? >> Uh she was not a veteran, but she was a wife of a veteran and she worked in the highest levels of government to try to return the PS from Vietnam of which one of them was James Mulligan who served in
Vietnam for seven years and was one of the longest held of the Ps uh in Vietnam. >> Sure. And and I I think that is great. That's really good. I'm talking about someone who actually served as a veteran that as a woman. >> Okay.
>> What I would finish your thought. Go ahead, sir. >> So, she's a veteran with three brothers that served and she is a veteran that that at a time when they were not recognized for being veterans. Okay. So,
this is one this is one woman that the DAV is pointing out that wants to recognize her in Lawrence at the park. And I was hoping maybe we could do that for her. Um, not not a woman that is
helping a a veteran that was in there. And I understand that. I'm talking about a veteran woman. So, that's where I, you know, I just want to express that. So uh just so you know there is a monument in the camping known common
that I went to this evening before showing up to the city council meeting. It is dedicated to quote to honor all women who serve their country in all wars. So it may not be an individual but I just took a photo of one in our common across if you're interested anybody who's interested in seeing it on the
campaign common across from the YW.CA. Um you can see that that monument right there that does that. Again, it doesn't represent one individual person, but I didn't do it during my time, but >> yeah, that that's the that's the point we're trying to make is there's not one woman that's recognized. I understand
all that. There's a lot of men that are recognized for serving. I serve in Desert Storm. >> You know, do I have my name on a plaque or anything like that? No. But I risk my life. My friends didn't almost come back or anything like that. I'm here. Um, I'm disabled 100% by the VA and I suffer
from PTSD and all that, but do I want recognition and to be on a plaque or anything? No. I was just a priv privilege to serve the country. So, I like, you know, but when I go through warrants, I go through other places, I don't see one woman veteran that's
recognized as a woman veteran in a park or something like that. So, I just want to express that because I think I think it's really important that that we we do that. >> Okay. >> I mean, that's my argument for there. Yeah.
>> I'm not here to debate you. I'm here to listen. I I think I already debated already this evening, so I'm not I'm done with the debating. I'm here to listen. >> Yeah. So, I don't think it's a big I don't think it's a big deal >> to put her name, you know. It is a big deal because she served. But I think if we start something like that, it can go
in other places too. And I know that she comes from a family of they've all served, you know, and I think that just by that alone, uh, what she had to go through back in World War II and how women were treated, I I think she's being recognized by the DAV and that we
need to recognize her and hopefully the city will recognize her. And that's all I'm going to say. Yeah. I just want to say one more thing about what Mr. Severino said. There's other way. There's many ways of doing this. Mr. Severino talked about Hil. I never been to Patterson, New Jersey. I don't know what they're doing in Patterson,
but I do know what's going on in HAL. In the city of Haveril, to their credit, the Chamber of Commerce has a program where they go ahead and I think it's maybe maybe it's a fundraiser. I'm not sure. But they are the ones. It's not the city that does it. they get permission from the city, but it's the chamber of commerce that that raises the
money, puts up the pictures when you go downtown and you do see it. I have seen it in other communities as well. I I do know that that happens. Um, and that's something m the DAV if they're looking to do something like that in our city. I would support that. I would support if you're looking to get that kind of
situation and get the approvals to use. We've got double polls all over the place. Let's put some veterans pictures on there. Let's just do that. Right. So, I'm I'm all I'm all in favor of that. Uh and and maybe and maybe that's what you maybe that's what we do. And if you want to find that veteran if it's a it's
Lieutenant Margaret Shaheen, let's tell her story on that poll. Let's do that. I I don't have a problem with with >> That's all it is. >> So, you said you got you got 5,000 polls. That's what you said tonight, right? >> That's that's all it is. >> I you threw a number out. I had no idea.
>> Yeah. So anyway, I I just throw that out as a suggestion. There there are many different ways of doing things. We do have things at Veterans Day. We we have a Veterans Day coming up. We look to honor people and maybe Margaret Shaheen should be the principal uh the person that we speak about at it's not too late
for this Veterans Day, but the next Veterans Day where you tell her story. I I don't think that we need to always have something named after someone. The important thing in all of this is telling the story of the individual so we all know. I think this is all we're talking about here is that we we don't forget and we remember and there's
different ways of doing it. It doesn't have to be a corner. It doesn't have to be a park. Those are ways that we can do it. But there's other ways that we can do it as well. And I just encourage you to to maybe just because there's so many questions regarding this one that maybe there's another a different way to get to where we all want to get to, which is
trying to remember. In this particular case, Margaret Shaheen if she's got backers and my god she does. You guys have been here for two hours now waiting. So you I know you're strong about this. So I I throw that up and I I I I don't know where we're going with this, but I I kind of wanna I think I Is there anything that we're missing on
this argument? Not argument on this discuss. >> No, no, no. We It's not about winning. It's about doing the right thing here. >> Sure. >> You know, I don't like to win. I like to get things done. That's >> I didn't say win. I just want to make sure we win. >> What I'm telling you is like um like I said in Habro, they got pictures
in from Avery Soldiers. Let's put Mar's picture in. Let's sit it down and then we continue moving on if and in and their cost city doesn't have to spend one penny which is here >> you know that's come from us like the
funding for the veterans they never there so might as well so we we we get it and we do it >> I pay for my um pictures there it's not going to hurt nobody >> I got you on uh Mr. Mr. Gil Rosario, we haven't heard from you. Yes, sir.
>> Thank you. I mean, when it comes to data, like the job, the project that you're doing, which I I congratulation for it. I'm assuming that if we're going to do Margaret, it will be great. They have that data in it with the barcode, all the
scanning that you can tell the story of what you did. I mean, >> the same way you're doing it, right? Another question that I have I mean if the data is there and let's say we say yes we create that people scan it and it will tell the stories and that's what
they did that I'm assuming we're looking for >> more than anything else and also how do we picked Lawrence and Saratoga Street to put a how do we end up with that that street there
actually live in 155 Saratoga Street So that's the starting point. It might it might that's right that's what I say from the beginning. Uh we start there and then we take
Broadway in SS3 and we put post all the pictures if that's what that's what it is or whatever it is Margaret just start there. So I'm talking to Margaret here. >> So we start there and it's a simple little thing. It's not want to hurt nobody. uh people will learn from it
>> especially the new generations when they scan the the name they will see that she was a nurse that she went and served hopefully they inspired the new generation to do the same >> today >> and also I mean that's great but also
what I don't agree is that we dedicate things to people that hasn't done anything for the country that's an opinion that you have that's that's the opinion that you have and we respect the corner. >> No, that's the opinion that you have. You should also respect the opinion of
other people that voted for. >> No, no, no. >> I cannot I cannot come. I had argu not arguments. I had this agreement with consular plan about why do we have this? He without not respecting him with the correct correct
words for it, you know. Um because everybody that is somehow recognized in the city has some meaning to somebody and saying that they haven't done enough for this country or for anybody I think me is disrespectful to whoever put those
damn end that to me and I'm not against recognizing Margaret. It's just the way sometimes that we present things. >> Uh we passionate about it. We passionate about it and and and and because we passionate about it what we want to do. we forgot that somebody else was passionate about what they wanted to do
to put that corner recognize that person there. So that's what I have to say. I'm not against it at the end of the day. I mean, I don't have the information. I'm glad you guys brought it up to me. you brought it up to the correct
uh subcommittee which I believe when it comes to that he said he doesn't have all the knowledge but Marley Plan council plan is more knowledgeable and and he's been throughout his career he's been he's been fighting and representing the the veterans and trying to he have
going places that we don't I don't think I'm going to go to to search for veterans that that they used to live in Lawrence and they died and they buried somewhere house and now he has his project recognizing these veterans and and in every block in every corner. I
think you should to be honest if I would have if I was you guys I would have sit down with Mara Plan not in a meeting somewhere and this this is what we have. What can we do for Margaret? How can you help us out to get this through now that you have this project going on instead
of have it here and and Mr. Sabrino I'm sorry and and trashing the other people that they are artists or or or or people they had seen which I that's what I don't agree. I would have sat down with with with council Lelan I remember that I was I was going to change or I was
trying to propose a change of a park one time here on Park Street and I picked up the name and I went I don't know if you remember Mr. a plan consular plan. I said, "Well, who was this person?" And you tell me, "Well, it wasn't a veteran. It was a street. It was going through that street on Park Street." And that's
how we end up naming that plaza there, which they haven't done anything for it, but but I remember that I went through you, but I think you guys should sit down with them and see how we can help you get this through. Um, and again, whatever that that they committed aside
tonight, I'm I mean, I'm not against it, but I mean, I'm not the one with the knowledge like he does. >> Yeah. No, but I um I just want to let you know I didn't I'm not trashing anybody. That's your word, not mine. So, we got to be careful with that. Uh, we're not
>> No, you Yes. Yes. I politician. >> I believe I believe Yes, we have. >> No, we are not in politicians. >> No, no, no. I believe I believe we have we we need to be careful. But you are the one expressing the way you feel about those people that have corners, not me. I'm I'm just I'm just saying
what you're saying and and people are listening. I mean, I'm just saying no. You said No, you said it. And you're not in the radio. We listen. >> We're not in We are not in the radio. We in the meeting. >> No, no, no.
We're moving off the subject here. >> And I said, >> I got to leave the meeting. >> I think I'm moving off the subject. I think we're moving off the subject here. We're moving. We're moving some place that uh we shouldn't be going basically.
>> I think I have the same. I think I have the floor. And I deserve the floor because I do have the floor. >> Yeah. >> So, >> I have the floor. Listen. No. And I'm going to check through. I have the floor and I'm going to leave it as this. He was presenting what what he wanted us to do for Margaret and I and and I've been
saying as I got the m as I got the floor that I'm not against it. What I'm against it is the way he presented it for all the corners that were there and now he's he's been he's talking to me about politics. But he was the one that presented it the wrong way. And and and what we're trying to do is recognize our
veterans. But whoever has corners there, whoever has corners there, somehow they got it for some reason, which cons most of the time did not agree on. But he did not say that they did not deserve it, that they did not this, that they didn't
do anything for the country, none of that. in in concert plan with all the respect he said as most of the time some of the time he said it I don't believe and maybe voted against it and we respect that with all the respect this is not the radio but it's it's how you
present your stuff that's how also you win spots at at at at this subcommittees it's how you present it to us you know and again I'm not against it if the if the subcommittee wants to go forward with this I'm all for
not against it. It's just how people present things without thinking that this subcommittee is being watched by somebody else. Maybe one of those family members or those people that have a corner place there and I raise my case with that. >> Okay. I
I'm trying to I'm not sure how to do this. Mr. Sabrino, I I'm trying to unmute you. I don't know how. But um >> I could I say something? >> Mr. Sabino, can you hear me? I can't hear you. Um, >> can you mute it?
>> Can you You're muted, Mr. Severino. I just >> Okay. >> Loud and clear. >> So So just I I don't want it I don't want this thing to devolve. Uh I Let's let Mr. Del Rosario have his word. I I think I understand where both of you are coming from. I I think this may be a bit
of I don't want to I don't want to go down this rabbit hole. I It's not going to serve anybody any anybody any good. Um I think that Mr. Battle wants >> It's not my role. I I I I I'm willing I'm willing to if this interests the the advocates
if this if this interests you at all. I'm willing to meet to talk about what possible things can can be done. I can't do all the heavy lifting on it, but I'm certainly willing to meet u and and have a candid conversation and extend this beyond tonight. Uh there's probably more
to be said, more that I need to hear and I'm I'm willing and I'm willing to if if the committee's okay with that, I'm I'm happy to do that. U but I don't want to drag this down anymore. Not drag down, but I we're it's weighing right now. So we need to move. Um if there's anything more critical that needs to be said on
the issue, not about what we just said, whatever on this issue, I'm listening to it now, but we're going to move on. Last words. >> Thank you. >> Okay. We are Mr. We kind of moved off the subject of Margaret, her patriotism,
>> a woman, >> and it was kind of we get into a heating argument that we didn't want to go. I understand what you're saying. I It was probably my fault for not being a novice trying to present this to the city
council and I thought it was a good deal. I thought this woman deserve her name. So the children when they go to school, they're going to see this woman's name because you don't see any other woman's any corner in the city of
Lawrence. And growing up in the city of Lawrence, I could testify to that. So I thought it would be a good deal. She's a combat served in I can't say she served in combat, but she served in Germany and she took care of the wounded. And for
patriotism, go ask the mothers because they're the ones who are the real patriots who send their sons and daughters off to war. So, let's not get into who's more patriotic than the other one. Council of the plant, you do a good job and thank you
very much. You're very informative and the council was very good. Like you say, if we want to have another discussion on this, I'm all well and good. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you everyone. I appreciate that. >> Do you Bill, you want to talk about something? You want to talk about
something else? He doesn't want to talk about this one. I don't think so. >> On this item number very briefly. >> Sure. >> Thank you for letting me in the meeting. >> Sure. Uh just want to thank all the members of chapter 2 DAV and actually
Irving and his wife are both members of the auxiliary of chapter 2. They do great things for veterans and um maybe there's a way to salvage this uh attempt and like Steve said who's also a member of chapter 2. Um, you know, we're noviceses at this. Uh, we're not
professional advocates and, uh, lobbyists, but perhaps if we think in terms of putting the whole family on that corner, the three brothers and the sister, and there's a I'll reference the Diodati brothers who have a corner named after them, nine brothers that served in
two different conflicts. So, this family, the Shian family of immigrants had a very big business presence in that area for many years. I believe on that corner. I don't know if they still do. I haven't been down there in a while. But hopefully we can make something of this
and honor the family, the three brothers and the sister together on some kind of a plaque if that's a possibility. >> Thank you, Mr. Collins. Thank you. Um looking for um um I'm looking for a motion to table uh this
matter at this point so there can be further discussions that we could have uh to pursue what Mr. Collins discussed. to pursue. Mr. Severino, Mr. Battle, I'm willing to discuss this and get more information. A lot of good stuff. Um, that's what that's what I'm looking for at this point. Counselors, it's a motion to table.
>> So, move. >> Motion made. Is there a second? >> Motion's made and properly second. No further discussion. I'll ask the clerk to please call the role. >> Councelor Gre Rosario. >> Yes.
>> Councelor Selen Reyes. >> Yes. and chairman Mark Lan. >> Yes. Uh all of you have my phone number. You all know how to reach me. Please do and we can take it from there. Thank you. Um
Mr. Mr. Collins, you've got an item up as well. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh Bill Collins, past commander, DAV chapter 2 and Lawrence. >> Yes, sir. What's your what's your item number? >> 41325. And thank you for letting me in the meeting. I was on hold for over an
hour and apparently you guys didn't know it. Uh, but I did listen to the >> It was worse than that, Mr. Collins. Not only did we not know it, we didn't I didn't see your name on the list until just when I when you kicked in. So, um, and councelor Marl was actually looking to come on and I couldn't see her name
either on the list. And so, fortuitously after we texted, I saw your name come up. So, I'm glad. Thank you for your patience. >> 413 was the number >> 13. This is uh and unfortunately I'm using a phone and I'm not at home so I'm
gonna have to wing it. I don't have the actual letter I sent to the council in front of me. >> Sure. >> But this has to do with uh falling in line with other cities and towns in the state of Mass that have doubled their abatement to disabled veterans
uh locally. uh the information I sent to you, if you look on the sheet that I sent, we did a a survey of local and uh larger cities in Mass, disabled veterans, zero uh 10% to 99%
get $400 real estate abatement annually. Every other city and town I've surveyed gets at least $800. That's double that. And this goes back to the Hero Act, which was passed by the state in August of 2024. one of the provisions of the
act, actually two provisions, that allows municipalities to double the current exemptions for disabled veterans. And the other part of that act, there's about 17 parts of that act, but the other part that pertains to uh disabled veterans and real estate
abatements and it also allows for the cola to be included. And the sheet in front of you, I'll point out that Habil not only has doubled their abatement to four to um
$800, but they also put a cola on there and that cola for next year will be $856. So they look at the CPI and a water cola. Now other towns like Andover give 800 for the lower tiered disability uh
veterans up to 99%. North Andover gives 800 as a real estate abatement. Mthuan gives $1,200 as an abatement. Ben, fantastic job, Mthoran. LOL gives 400. Worcester gives 400. And I have a list of other towns. Melrose, Somerville, on
and on. They all have doubled it. Some have doubled it over two or three years ago during COVID. Some did not wait for the Hero Act. Um, and if you get to 100% disabled, which many of our veterans are,
especially ones that were in combat, they get $1,000 right now. That's the uh real estate abatement for 100% veterans. It's $2,000 in all the other cities and towns I mentioned, with the exception of Mthuan, which gets $4,000 in a real
estate abatement. and uh Andover actually if you're combat disabled from combat you get a full abatement on your real estate. So all the other cities and towns have carried the water for veterans. Somehow their assesses or their
leadership in the town move forward without being asked and increased those abatements. DAB Chapter 2 sponsored this item so that we can be in line and get equity with our fellow veterans in other cities and towns across the state. The
most important thing of this uh item is we would like your help very much to push to get this done for this tax year. As you know, the abatements for veterans will not be due until December. So there is time to treat the veterans fairly in
this city that have been so underserved for so long and get them that abatement they need. Obviously you'll have to contact the assessor, probably the catho and I'm sure the mayor's office, but this is very doable. There's always a surplus of overlay money in that
assessor account and this will not make much of a dent at all. And besides, it's really you're honoring your commitment to serve the veterans, widows, and the families of veterans in the city of Lawrence. >> Are all the disability are all the
disabilities service connected? >> Uh yes, all disabilities are service connected. 10% to 99% you get an abatement. And uh there are people that get 0% believe it or not. And there are some it's very uh a lot of
classifications in the VA. The veterans agent is on board with this. He couldn't be here tonight. And I I just want to say I I know the council chamber is being worked on. However, there's quite a few veterans and even at the state level, I've contacted our mass
department DAB people at the state house, state agent, and they wanted to weigh in, but uh some of them had trouble getting through on Zoom. And of course, most of the veterans of Lawrence, seniors, they they're having I'm even struggling with the technology.
I can count on one hand the times I've done a Zoom meeting. So, if you can appreciate the fact that they're really missing this opportunity to speak to you individually, but uh any questions at all? Anything I can do to be of further help? >> Council, any questions for Mr. Collins
or we got Mr. Seabino here as well, still any council's questions? Uh Only thing I think we need I think you're right, Mr. Collins. I think what we need to do is to um I am aware of the Hero Act. Uh I I don't have the the statute here in front of me. I I do
think there are certain things that we need to do to access it. I think it's a lot easier than uh it's I don't think it's a challenge to get this done. Uh but I do I think I think as part I can only speak for myself. I I would want to know I think you're right by the way. There's plenty of money that's uh that's
in the in the uh in the fund that we could probably tap into, but I want to hear that officially kind of like what my council colleague from district C says, it's good to get that in writing. How much money do we have? What's the impact of that and getting that from the assessor's office? But I'm I'm supporting I I support what we're trying to get done here, but I also think we
got to get that information to the full council so we our eyes are wide open when we take the vote on it. So we how much what's the impact on that? >> So what are you chair? >> Yeah, Mr. Delverario. I love I love the work that Bill's put in into this. Um, also what I would like
to know is how many veterans does some of the cities have uh like MUAN, how many they have, you know, how many veterans are they helping with that? Um, and and the other cities compared to to us. Um, and I agreed. I mean, we don't
do as much for the veterans as other cities when it comes to funds and and funding. Um and I think we should do more but again at the end of the day it's all end up with data uh like bill provide great data right now that the amount the other cities are given you
know the other the only things that I need to be attached is how many veterans they have uh taking advantage of this and that way will give us an idea how we can approach to bring that amount up um or or to make it a fair amount compared to the other
cities. Thank you, councelor. Appreciate that. To answer one of your questions, a rule of thumb that veterans organizations use and the state uses is every city and town generally has about 10% veteran population. Now, it's been pointed out
in Lawrence obviously we have a lot of new stakeholders. We have a lot of immigrants. So, it's probably less than that. It may be 5%. But even if it is 5% and Lawrence as we know is well over 100,000 in real population that's 5,000
veterans. So there's a number that you can use as a benchmark more or less. And and actually out of the 5,000 possible veterans at Lawrence probably uh only a quarter of them receive some kind of compensation that's compensible
over 10%. >> Thank you Bill. Um, my recommendation on this counselors is that that either we get more information from Alexi Vega, the assessor's office on that. Um, uh, I I'm glad to see that our director of veteran
services is on board. That's good to hear. Um, um, it'd be good to it would be good to hear his voice in this discussion. Quite frankly, I would love to hear he's kind of our de facto veterans guy. would love to hear his voice uh in this discussion
um if he's willing to but I do think we definitely need to get something from the assessor's office. So um what we could do here counselors is um look to get something in time for the next ordinance committee meeting by next Tuesday. send a letter to the assessor saying uh please we can ask him to
attend because there are some there are some steps that we need to take and I want to make sure we take those steps correctly um and ask him to come here bring us some information on on those steps what the economic impact is going to be if any uh and then we can take a vote on it and set up to the full council uh in November uh in time for a
December uh a December um action. So that would be that would be my recommendation. >> That sounds like a great plan, Mr. Chairman. and counselors, thank you for your support. Let's keep the ball rolling. >> Motion to send correspondence assessor's
office and invite him to our next meeting uh to our next um ordinance meetings and also the director of veteran services send correspondents and also invite him to uh the next meeting and after all that motion to table this item till our next meeting
>> which is made and properly seconded. We'll call the I'll ask the clerk to please call the role. >> Councelor Selena Reyes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Gregory Del Rosario. >> Yes. >> And Chairman Mark Lan.
>> Yes. Motion carries. Thank you for your I listen I know we got a lot of veterans on here. It would I I just give me one more second. Thank you for your service. I really mean that. We have a lot of folks here that have done a lot of brave and amazing things and decided to serve their country and and we and I I can I can't
speak for anybody else but myself. Thank you so much for all that you do. I I want you to know that despite whatever words were said here this evening, I do believe all my colleagues agree with me on that. I don't think there's going to be a difference of opinion that we all appreciate your service. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
>> All right, we're going to move on um to the top of the agenda and we should go through this as quickly as possible. Um uh document 39525 authorization to post advertise and fill the finance officer's position. This is vacant for longer than
6 months. Um I I don't see anybody here from the administration that typically comes here to give us why we're we're doing this. Um, I think it's fairly self-explanatory, but as is our custom, we like to have them here so we can ask
questions and not take it for granted. >> Motion to table. >> So, there's a motion to table and to invite um personnel directed to our next meeting. Uh, motion's been motion made improperly second. I'll call the question. All in favor say I. >> Roll call.
>> Uh, thank you for the roll call. Roll call. >> Counselor Selena Reyes. >> Yes. Councelor Grego Rosario. >> Yes. >> And chairman Mark Lelan. >> Yes. Like to take the next documents that are
handicapped parking as a block. I'll read them all and then hopefully we can just send them to the police department. 39925 handicap park and 288 Lawrence Street 425 handicap park and 376 Essex Street 40125 handicap. >> Excuse me. Chair plant.
>> Yeah. What happened? >> I'm sorry to interrupt you. Um councelor Selena. Yes. >> Um Teresa gave me a note regarding 425 document 425. >> 425.
>> Yeah. So time about not being in the agenda with Eileen. >> It's in the agenda. 425. >> Yeah. That's what she wrote here. She gave me a sticky note on that one. 400 425.
>> Yeah. Uh what the city cler with this item? >> Uh well as I'm sorry um Teresa just brought that um that number saying that uh it was not put on the it was like the
last minute not put on the agenda. So but I know I did see it that it's on here. So I just wanted to double check that with you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Word now. >> Okay. Go ahead. Sorry. >> I see I see it here. It's on here. >> I know. Yes. Uh
>> maybe the item. >> It may >> maybe it's another item. I don't >> It might be. >> I'm just double checking. >> No, I appreciate that. Thanks for the the interruption was welcomed. Uh four. So we'll continue. 4125 Handicap Parking 25 Belmont Street. 40225 Handicap
Parking 81 Bucker Hill Street. 40325 Handicap Parking 94 Draket Street. Uh 20 40425 Handicap Parking 52 Bass Wish Street by Council Greg Del Rosario. Uh, and that's it for the handicap parking. I'm looking for a motion that we contain
this as a block to send it to the police department for their review. Is there a motion? >> So move. >> Move. Second. >> Motion made and properly second. Uh, discussion. See none. I'll call the question on all of these items. All in favor say I.
>> I. >> I'm so sorry it's getting late. Roll call. Yes, please. Uh, >> roll call. Councelor Gregory de Rosario. >> Yes. >> Councelor Selena Reyes.
>> Yes. And chairman Mark Lan. >> Yes. Thank you. Um document 405 again is a block. Uh 40525 resident parking on 68 Mona Street put on by councelor Wendy Luzon. 40625
resident parking. It's a Blakeland Street by Council Del Rosario. Did I pronounce that correctly? Correct. >> Lakeland. Um, as a motion, I'm looking to as a block and to send those down to definitely the police department. And I'm always a bit iffy. Is that is that
an engineering one or just police? >> I mean, it's an engineering one. So, motion to send police department and also the city engineer reviews. >> Second. >> Motion made and properly second. Any discussion? Seeing none, clerk, please call the role. Councelor Selena Reyes.
Yes. Council Gregory Del Rosario. >> Yes. >> And chairman Mark Lan. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Motion moves on to the else departments. We did the Jo polls.
Uh we did the 403. I think I think that's it folks. >> Yep. >> Um we did a lot. Um, now we now I'm having flashbacks from COVID when we had to do this all the time and we never liked it then and we
don't like doing this now that uh people try to get on. I can't see them. It just I and if anybody's still watching this um meeting who try to get on, please know that I just the names are not coming on to the screen. I can't see the names of someone who's trying to come
on. I did happen to see once with Mr. Collins but I didn't see anybody else's. Uh we were as soon as I saw that we put them brought them in. But anyway, that's the issue. Um that's it. All right. Uh there's no other matters. I'm looking for a motion to adjourn. >> Motion to
motion >> and second. Um discussion. Seeing none, clerk, please call the role. >> Councelor Selena Reyes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Gre Rosario. >> Yes. >> And chairman Mark Lan. >> Yes. We are adjourned. Thank you
everyone for your patience this evening. Thank