Hello. How you doing? >> Good. Good evening and welcome to the special meeting for the Lawrence City Council. Today is Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Uh the location for this meeting is uh the city council chambers pursu pursuant
to chapter 20 of the act of 2022. This meeting will be hybrid allow participation both in person in the city council chambers as well as remotely. The Zoom link for anybody that requested was provided through the city clerk's office. This meeting also going to be
transmitted live through the Lawrence City Council uh Facebook page as well as the L city council YouTube page. Uh Roco Malang. >> Councel Council Gonzalez >> present. Council Miguel
>> present. Councelor Marmal >> present. >> Council Infante >> present. >> Council Reyes. >> Council Del Rosario is noted as absent. Council La Plant >> present. >> Council Vice President um Levy >> present.
>> Council President Rodriguez >> present. Um please join me for a moment of silence. Now join me for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of
America and to the stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Uh today, um we're going to entertain public participation as any other meeting. Um
we're going to have two and a half minute to speak. Um and at the two minute mark you're going to hear indicating that uh you still have 30 second to go. Please refer to this council as a whole.
So okay the first name that we has is H Mali name and address for the record please. Morning 53. Good evening honorable members. In this new year we the citizen led to support
police officers union. Nor police with impeccable leadership by honorable chief angler doing excellent job to protect our citizen. The Lawrence police doing excellent job to protect our citizen. Lawrence police
this union of pride and honor. One of the best police department in the nation. Lawrence police. Because of your hard work and excellent service, Lawrence is a safe city. Million thanks to all hardworking DPW workers. Lawrence
is a beautiful city because of your excellent job. Lawrence inspection department. Thank you for excellent job. We support your union. We must hire more inspector. Lawrence public school with the impeccable leadership by honorable
superintendent Ralph Burough moving forward. Lawrence teachers, thank you for excellent job. We are proud to support your union. Lawrence teachers, because of you, Lawrence will rise again. We the Lorian proud to support
our brave members of of the veterans. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. We must hire two open position in the veterans department. We must create the best commission on elders. Lawrence always a
strong Lawrence always unite. In this new year, we wish the best new year for Lawrence police officers and the first responder. We pray for the safety of all police officers. Lawrence fire department with the impeccable
leadership by honorable chief Delenny, one of the best fire departments in the nation. We are proud as a Lorian to support Lawrence police, the new building, the home to the best police department in the nation. Lawrence
police, a shining superstar in a sky of Lawrence. Thank you. Okay. The next person that we have is Rich Roso. Councelor Roso. Name and address for the record, please. Wow. Microphones. Uh, good evening,
council. Rich Russell, 34 Cross Street. It's complaint time again. Why aren't there more blue lights in the city? Why can't some sort of blue light notification be put on the city's website so people don't have to lose a
parking spot to drive around to find if there's a h a blue light emergency? And why aren't we putting somebody that knows a snowstorm in charge of turning the damn blue lights on? I know that there are uh
I know that there are some that cringe when I address I am addressed by the honorrific title of counselor. When I lost in 2023 election because of illness, I left several issues
on the stove. Why should the citizens have to pay for rads in the newspaper for public hearings? Those that benefit should be for the ones that are forced to pay partially for those things. Why should I
pay for Joe Jamokco who wants 15minute parking to sell bananas so you can park out in front of his store? Why? Uh when are the two sidewalks in the district's ENF that I complained in the fall of 2023 to when are they going to be worked
on? I remember I held up the pictures uh sometime last spring. Still nothing's been done. Uh when are the PL and last and a real pet peeve of mine, when are the plaques on the Melendis, the Stockton, and the TUMI
monuments going to be replaced? Uh money was supposed to be in the FY2025 budget. Remember the honor's name is supposed to be bigger than the politician's names on those plaques. As
always, thank you for the time to express my uh concerns. Thank you. All these names are going to be submitted for the record. Uh counselors u at this time I going to u uh there is no public hearing communication city officials uh the
mayor, city officials or city attorney. There is no there is no committee reports uh budget and finance housing or personnel uh public safety public safety economic development and committee of the hall. There is uh uh no new business not u committee reports on any of those
and uh there is no old business. Um but today we have a new business. Uh before we get into into the new business counselors, I I want to uh take a point of personal privilege and appreci and u and say thank you to uh and uh to the
counselors for take taking first the time to run for office. Second, the vote uh to those that were uh the winners of those uh positions uh to take the time to serve the community. And it is extremely important
that we recognize uh those men and women that have take their time away from their families uh to be able to uh put the city of Lance first. Uh we have new two new counselors join us today uh on the first official meeting uh for the uh
for the city council of the of this new term 2026 2077. And uh definitely appreciate uh those that um that um that are serving here and all of the other counselors, school committee members uh representing the
public school and as well as the representing the the vocational school uh during the inauguration uh last night, but more importantly recognizing the mayor that was the winner Brian Edena uh that is going to serve us for the next uh four years as a mayor. So
thank you all for time your time dedication and uh and more importantly putting Lawrence first. Uh the new business that we have uh today's 00326 and this is the authorization the
authorization to purchase an airplane hunger the Lawrence municipal apron. It was John La Boy the superintendent of this greatest Lawrence Technical School. And um at this time counelors we entertain
this as per rule number four all of the items at the agenda need to be sent to committee. uh if the fact that we have an a special meeting uh is because uh due to the importance of this uh item whether or not this item going to be
sent to committee uh that could be decide if the council decide to entertain this item tonight uh at least for that uh um out of courtesy to the superintendent to the mayor's office and to everybody that
have worked on this item I'm going to ask the counselors to u suspend Rule number four so we can entertain this rule number six. >> Motion >> so we can entertain this item at this point. >> Motion to suspend rule six. >> A motion
>> motion to suspend rule six properly second by councelor Marm. Um uh at this time discussion uh council plan >> I had a chance to talk to superintendent Lavoy last week. I don't think there's a need to actually suspend this rule. I
think that we can send this over to the committee. Do the committee do its work. The concern that I'm feeling on something like this is that while there's not a lot of time, there is some time. And when we do have some time, we should take advantage of it. We should not be trying to jam something quickly. This this is not something that we
typically do. This is a very unusual in many respects with I know we're dealing with the airport and we're dealing with the and I don't have a problem conceptually with what this is trying to accomplish which is updating the hangers and making it more up to speed but I what I don't want to do is to to
fasttrack something that's unnecessarily fasttracked and for that reason I will not be supporting the motion to to um suspend that rule. Yeah and I understand definitely understand your concern council la plan. Um that doesn't mean that based on the discussion have
evolved whether or not we have some time uh whether or not we're going to be sending it to committee. If we do have time that we can actually um understand the item more and understand the meaning of sending it to committee and and and understanding the the fact that it is we
have some time and and the discussion above in a way that yes we do we definitely want to send to committee uh if that's the case if it's not and then we we we will do what the the council decide. Any other discussion
at this time? All those all those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any naysay? >> No. >> Madame Clair, please call the role. Council, >> no. >> Councilario is noted as absent. Council Reyes. >> Yes.
>> Council, >> yes. >> Council Marl, >> yes. >> Council Miguel, >> yes. >> Council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Levy, >> yes. Council member, >> I vote on the affirmative. Motion carries. So, at this time, we we will
entertain this item here and I would like to expand an opportunity to the superintendent and the mayor's office uh to talk about this item as to why we're here today. >> Good evening, uh, President Council of Pres, uh, of the city council and
members of the city council. First of all, thank you for giving me this opportunity and for considering this motion that is so important to the school. Uh I do want to say uh at the onset that I am uh requesting something very unusual. I would not uh be
requesting it if it wasn't necessary. the person that is selling the hanger uh uh Bob Davis is uh wants to sell the hanger quickly because of he has two
other buyers and uh if we're not able to commit to him by tomorrow, he's going to sell it to his second buyer uh because he's fear of losing those buyers. Uh that's really what the urgency is. This
particular hanger uh is adjacent to our existing hanger. Uh the difference with this >> um um superintendent, we just want a a little bit of background before we get into the specific so people up there and
the public understand a little more. So what is it that we're doing? We're buying a hangers of why. >> Yeah. >> And uh and so one people people get to know a little bit more and then we get into the specifics uh why we need it. uh is urgent. >> So, we're looking to purchase a new
hanger because uh this new hanger offers opportunities to uh that it's larger. Number one, it has a bathroom uh which ours doesn't have. It has heating and air conditioning, which ours doesn't have. It has more space for our
classroom, so we can have uh more students out there at any given time. Uh the problem with uh we've allocated to upgrade our hanger uh to have a bathroom and to have the things that this particular hanger has that ours doesn't
have in order to get a final approval to turn it into a classroom would cost us in the range of $400 to $450,000 because of particularly most of the rationale for that is because the shoreline we have to put a shoreline in from Hangar
all the way up to Sutton Street which is uh we estimate uh somewhere around $300,000 to put that shoreline in just in order to have a bathroom. We can't have a classroom space without a bathroom. So that's the uh challenge we
have. We were uh going to proceed in that direction. Uh but the uh because of the um timeline and the cost and having this opportunity made more sense for us to purchase this
other hanger. We only we purchased this hanger knowing we had to upgrade but it was the only hanger available at the time. We were trying to get approval from the uh uh FAA and without that uh hanger we could not have gotten approval
for the program. That's why there was an urgency and we couldn't uh continue to search for something and hangers rarely come available at the airport. It's unusual. So, this particular hanger coming out was unexpected. Uh but this gentleman uh want he's wants to sell
quickly because he's purchasing another hanger at Conquered Airport in in New Hampshire. Uh the new hanger uh also has better lighting. It's all painted. It's got better insulation. Uh so the new hanger uh has more land, more space in
order for us to have space to work with kids outside this uh hanger. Uh and uh everything about it offers a much better opportunity for educating our st students in this particular program. Our goal is to purchase this hanger and then
sell our existing hanger to uh invest that money back into what we spent on this particular hanger. This hanger is at uh $975,000 uh dollars is what he's uh looking for. Originally, in uh looking uh getting
some uh idea of what the value of that hanger was, we reached out to uh Falcon Air who has hangers that they've sold and built and they valued that hanger at 1.2 million. Uh they value our hanger at somewhere between 3 and $350,000.
uh to give you a sense of the difference in value. But if you look at our hanger at $300,000 and you add the 4 to $450,000 to that cost, we're at $750,000 and still not anywhere near as big as this hanger. And the quality of the
facility is not as good even after we've done the re uh renovation to our existing hanger. We he feels >> the green one. >> Oh, the green one. Okay. uh he feels that the um hanger uh that we have uh
would sell quickly because of the uh very rarely did the are there hangers out at the Lawrence airport that go up for sale. And he sells hangers and has he he himself has uh recently sold uh uh couple hangers from a new uh hangers
that they built out at the airport. So uh he feels that uh selling the hanger will not be a real challenge. It's something that we can make happen. But >> so superintendent um just to people to understand you you're looking to buy a hanger because we have a program
aviation program at the school. >> Yeah. >> And then and then uh the city of Lawrence together with the other community purchase a hunger that is going to serve the kids from the school uh that are part of that program. >> Yep. This hanger will be at no cost to
the communities. We have uh we're looking at our uh excess and deficiency account that we are able to utilize as part of it. The other part will be selling the other hanger and um we've already allocated 400,000 into the
hanger we have which we can now use towards this hanger. So it'll be a minimal amount of cost uh above what we already have invested in this existing hanger and uh so there would be no cost to the communities. We have yesterday
uh I had uh uh someone out at the Andover city I mean board of selectman meeting in Andover North Andover and I spoke at Mthuan yesterday. All of the communities were in favor of us doing purchasing the hangar and we also have
to make a change in the charter because we have to lease the land again as we did with the existing hanger. So we just have to get a change again a vote on the charter for that. Then that's where lies the problem for us uh in terms of the timeline. Uh they h that has to be done
at uh at a town meeting which happens in uh May. So that's why we can't uh the gentleman won't wait that long and we have to purchase it from because of our charter again we can only purchase from a m municipality. We can't purchase from
a third party. That's why the necessity for uh having Lawrence who was so gracious to help us the last time um uh purchase our last hanger is required again in with this particular hanger. Uh but it is a a really for amazing
opportunity for us to have this facil for this facility to add to our our program. Uh and it also will house all of we have two air we have one airplane and a a jet out there right now. We have another airplane coming in this month.
Uh so that hanger will be able to house all three of them as well as all of our trainers, classroom space. Uh so it does offer uh everything that we need to uh move our program forward. >> Counselors, any questions? >> Council President.
>> Uh Council, >> thank you. Uh for cl clarification, Superintendent Lavoy, um what I'm seeing here, the exact language that is needed uh for a motion. There is essentially an an initial expenditure for the city of
Lawrence that would be paid back by the by the school. Correct. So, okay. So, so at the beginning there is, but obviously we we're going to be taking care of that later on. Uh my other question for you is how many I know um this new hanger
provides more space for the instructors and and students. How many instructors or trainers does this program have? And do you do you have any students um yet that have committed or that have been um um accepted into the aviation program?
>> So this is our first year offering the program and uh we are going through the exploratory process now. So the beginning of March we'll be selecting our first class into the program. uh 20 students. We know we've done uh uh
halfway through exploratory we do a survey an assessment of students interest and we have close to 100 students interested in this program already. Um so there are we expect a lot of students and um interested in this
particular program. We feel like that uh it'll be a very strong program. >> Thank you. Um, if I may, Council President, I have a question for Senior Advisor Spanner. >> Good evening, counselors. Octavian
Spanner, senior advisor to the mayor. >> Well, first of all, congratulations uh for all of you that have been here before and also the newly elected and also uh this is our place that we do business, so it looks really well. I wasn't here to um be present, but I did
see the on the social media that you guys celebrated. So, I wish I would have been here because uh here we spend our hours working very hard for our city. >> How you like the place? >> Beautiful. I love it. I love it. Yeah. >> Thank you.
>> Through you, Council President. I just um advisor Spanner, I just want to confirm on the record that we do have the 975,000 initial loan so to say that that the city could provide to Greater Lawrence Technical School.
>> Yes. And to uh the answer is yes, we do have. And um uh just to uh brief you a little more uh on the subject today um I've um called uh our council president
as well as the um uh vice president. Um but primarily we went over with um our cafo and also our treasurer to make sure that you know uh this is not going to hurt us. this uh to our understanding
and uh the council president can confirm that this would be and the superintendent this would be uh um um a easy transaction meaning that it would not uh take uh it would be a short
transaction in order for the city to receive the money back if it if you approve it. Uh the mayor um was uh initially we were not briefed uh I think because of the holidays and and uh other
activities that were taking place and preparations for um uh for yesterday's event. Uh but I did uh receive information from the superintendent that clarified. Um I would like to stress um councelor Infante that I would have to
say just for other communities because this is not you know last time we came superintendent came you guys approved uh we we issued let's say a loan but uh the city of Lawrence is in good financial
state and we have the free cash that is necessary to help not only the vocation of school but also in other activities that has to do with uh loan programs that benefit let's say if there's a
water and sewer uh situation and I want to clarify that so that message can go across to other communities because this money and this whatever transaction is transpiring is helping how many other communities five six >> three
>> three other communities and um and we need to highlight ited that Lawrence, we take care of our business. Well, >> speaking of that, um, Advisor Spanner, in addition, there's a sentence here in the motion that the last part of the
last sentence that states, um, that the Grid Lawrence Technical School will pay back the city of Lawrence plus any additional costs incured by the city during the holding period. How is the city planning to um, keep track of those additional costs, if
any? We um that would be through our CAFO. Um I mean um we have to go through the um as councelor Lel plant uh um I think we we're we're approving but there are
details in regards to the because it's different other steps appropriation all of that and I think in conversation with CAFO we are going to come up with a memo or memorandum uh which will be uh mutually agreed upon
and that will be presented to to uh to you how the transaction is going to transpire. uh for me to go now in total details then I would overstep my boundaries uh of the CAFO and I would prefer in conversations but we do know that we have the money uh and uh any we
even in our discussions today we spoke about uh interest rate that was something that the mayor was considering or any uh additional cost but for now I would leave it up to the cafo to to give you the the the correct response into
how she wants to handle this. Well, >> thank you. Um, if it was up to me, I, you know, graduate from Great Lawrence Tech, I wouldn't even be asking questions, but I report to 16,000 people, so I'm sure that, um, I just I ask these questions to make sure if anyone does within my district ask me
that I I know the answer. So, thank you. Thank you for your answers. >> So, um, councilors, any other questions? Councelor Maro, >> through you, council president. Um, Superintendent Lavoy, the process of buy
Well, let me start off by saying that um I I did have an understanding with council plants um wanting to uh submit this to committee. I feel like it is important to um submit certain items and
uh follow the process. But understanding how real estate works, I do understand the the sense of urgency with this item considering that uh when you're submitting an offer, there are deadlines um to these offers being accepted. And
I'm assuming that that's probably the case at this point. And um usually the the seller is not going to wait around um and and is just going to move forward with with any potential offers that that that seem attractive. Uh but with that
being said, the process of buying or selling this property, I mean, well, this space, the hanger space, will this cause any disruptions or challenges with the current program that we're having for this school year? because you're saying that by March is when these
students are selecting the programs and I believe this is a process that's going to take five months. >> It'll take it'll take till uh town meetings are held but Oh, it'll take till town meetings are held but >> if we move
>> No, no, it's perfect. Fine. >> Okay. >> It'll take till uh >> excuse me till town meetings are held. That's why the five months, but it won't impact the program because that space won't be utilized until they're in the 10th grade, which will be next year. And we would need once we purchase in in uh
next summer, we would be setting it up, putting all the trainers in, the equipment, and uh setting up building the classroom and everything in that space during the summer. So, it'll be ready to go in September so that the 10th graders can use that space. >> Okay. Um,
what is your current standing with the aviation department and the committee? Um, because I know >> getting this program started, they have their concerns with safety and uh for you to communicate with them. So, I'm just trying to make sure that
>> you buying the process of you buying this bigger hanger space. I I want to ensure that you Great Lawrence Tech is always in good standing with them. um ensuring that we continue to collaborate and and in order for us to continue to
do business with them that they're also happy with you. >> Yeah, I think the well I believe the committee is uh happy particularly with the program having the program. The program was approved by the Department of Education and by FAA which was a
three-year uh certification process that we had to go through with FAA. It was not an easy process. So safety is up the mo is the most important factor in this program particularly when you talk about uh aviation uh to the point where every
exam that students take in this particular program is scrutinized by FAA uh from 10th grade when they're full-time in the program till they graduate. They look at every exam that students take uh and we have to keep
them locked in a safe in a safe to ensure that nobody uh has access to it. So in terms of the program safety, in terms of the school committee, I think they're very um positive and thrilled with the opportunity for us to have this
particular program. >> Excuse me. >> All right, senior adviser, this would be my last question. Um, >> do we h do we have anything um written uh for this uh proposal uh like any
contingencies in place if this deal falls through? Like how does the city protect itself in the case of you know any issues that will affect >> uh thank you for the question. We also met with city attorney today to give us
uh uh spoke to the cafo and that's why I my answer to uh councelor infante was that we would have we provide that within a memo in memo form that it would be documented we don't know all the details because it came to us I know
urgency as well um but in conversation that we had with a cafo the superintendent uh the opinion of the uh of the the mayor and also conversation that we have with the with with the council president today. Um we need to know the facts. We
don't know who the owner is. We don't know uh all the details, but that will be provided within the memo to the council to this body and for you to make that determination. >> Okay. So, we're submitting an offer that's due tomorrow, but we don't know who the buyer is.
>> Oh, we know who the buyer >> I mean, not the buyer, the the seller. >> The seller. We know who the seller. >> Oh, okay. >> Bob Davis is the seller. >> Okay. >> Uh Bob Davis is the seller. He owns four hangers. This is one of four hangers.
And he's selling this hanger so he can purchase a new hanger in conquered New Hampshire because he lives in uh northern New Hampshire and wants to have access to his airplanes closer to his home. Uh but he owns he owns two hangers in Florida and two up north here. So
yeah. >> All right. Council president. >> Any other council? >> Thank you. >> All right. I'm feeling better about it, but I'm not there yet. Um you said the capo has you had a chance to talk to the
capo. Although I have nothing in writing here. I'm understanding by your testimony, if you will, that the the CAPO is clear and uh would approve a a vote this evening on this if there was a vote. Is that is that what's being represented tonight? >> Um,
councelor Lelant, I'll give us a short uh response and I think would give uh councelor Marmo also more details into it. For instance, one of the questions that I raised was in terms of 30B, >> you know, if you have to sell, purchase
or sell a property procurement laws. >> Uh, do you need an appraisal? >> The response that I received was it's incumbent upon >> the >> the uh Lawrence Vocational Schools to provide that information. So in in
responding both and because that would give more assurances to um councelor Mar as well uh we need to have some sort of document some sort of agreement that would provide this information to to this body
but we don't have it now because I believe that information what you're looking seeking for is that the um that uh the city council of Lawrence is to well, first of all, that the the
funding is available and that um the transaction is almost similar to the one that we initially approved and then you're seeking the city council this body's approval in order for the transaction to happen
>> and therefore you have also the agreement with the other >> point of information councel >> the other cities right >> point of information council >> thank you uh maybe this will be helpful councelor Llan in the email provided in our documents sent by Superintendent
Lavoy on January 2nd, 9:59 9:59 a.m. Uh, first sentence of the third paragraph, it says, "Based on valuations provided by Falcon Air, the current hanger owned by GLTS is valued between 300,000 and 350,000." I'm
assuming that is the appraisal that that is in question. >> Your new hanger. >> Oh, the new hanger. Okay. Sorry, my >> our hanger. That's the value of our hanger. The new hanger he had >> uh what he had told to me that the he
thought the value was somewhere between >> Oh, I'm sorry. And this also included Yeah. And >> up to $1.2 million based on his experience and and selling of hangers himself and comparing it to all other hangers at the airport. He said this is
the best hanger in uh in the Lawrence at the Lawrence airport. This is by far the most valuable hanger out there. >> I see it here. Second second second sentence, same paragraph. The adjacent hanger under consideration is valued
between 7 775,000 to 1.2 million with a proposed purchase price of $75,000. So that's the the appraisal. >> Yes. >> Thanks. So back and it seems as though there's other
steps involved I think a lot I'm going to say the word rush we're trying to rush to get this thing these are the things that make me feel that we don't have the langage there's some concerns
fully clear today on this city today with the city attorney for that's his job and I'm not sure that that that's happened yet. I'm not saying this guy want to kill it. I'm not trying
to kill this thing. What I'm suggesting and and and the last thing and what I haven't heard anything about yet is is the airport commission involved in this. Are they involved in this? There's been nothing in our packet to deal with that. Number one, I haven't heard anything from the executive director, Francisco Urano about this.
>> He's on he's online. Have any questions for him? >> He's online. I can't see him. >> So, yeah. >> Okay. >> Listen, it'd be good to get that this will help. I'm not sure it's going to all my concerns, but I think this will be helpful if he's here. Yeah, I just asked the question. He's
>> he's here online. So if you have any questions, he he'll be able to answer. >> So let me I I will ask the question to to the executive director of the airport. Are you Hello, Mr. Urana. Commissioner >> Commissioner, Commissioner, can you hear us? >> Can you hear us?
>> Can you hear us? Yes. Unmute yourself. Okay. >> Just just uh you probably not be able to have some uh Okay. Uh difficult challenges, but I mean >> Okay. So, I'll just continue. >> You're talking to me? Yes, I can. >> Oh, yeah.
>> Go ahead. Super. >> Yeah. Can you hear me through the council president? Can you hear me, Commissioner Urina? Director Urina, >> this is not going to be very good conversation if you can't hear me. >> He mut.
>> So, so there's three elements. says the city attorney. There's there's the cafo and and the >> counselors. Uh you are muted. >> No, I have to be muted. Uh can you hear us? >> I mean yeah
can we cannot be muted. I I don't know. It's only one person. >> This is Francisco Urana, airport manager. I now hear you unmuted. Uh I don't know if you all had a question, but I'm standing by. Um >> yes, we we do have questions.
>> Good evening. Good evening, Director Uranda. Can you hear me? >> I can. Yes. >> Super. Thank you for being here this evening. I'm not sure if you've heard the conversation this evening. Uh but the question that I have is I just wanted to make sure uh that there are different components of city government
and the airport board in my estimation that have some involvement in this. I want to make sure that everybody's had a chance to review and at least have a chance to weigh in on this. I have not heard anything from the airport commission and I was hoping you could represent the airport's commission's view on on this proposal.
>> Sure. I well I can't speak uh on behalf of the airport commission. Uh the airport commission is scheduled to meet on for their January meeting which is the first time they will meet since this uh this offer this this opportunity has uh
come to the table. Uh the airport chair uh of the airport commission is favorable to supporting um but short of a vote they have not yet deliberated. uh that is the process for anyone buying selling a hanger specifically buying
needs to present themselves before the airport commission uh to receive support uh so that they could proceed with a sale. But again based on the the the greater good here uh the opportunity these hangers hangers don't come for sale often especially one adjacent to a
a current uh one that the school uh currently owns. It is a 5,000 foot hanger. is a a much uh enhanced opportunity uh for everything that the superintendent spoke about. Um and again
it's it it meets the the standard of what the airport will be looking for that it is used for aviation purposes. >> Thank you. I I am not here to debate the uh the merits of the proposal as it stands. By all accounts, this seems really good. The point that I'm
projecting is a protection of our process of the people that we represent to make sure that we don't put the city in a bad place. And I just want I want to make sure that we're doing things uh that makes me feel comfortable to vote yes. So remind me again uh director when
is the airport commission meeting for this vote? >> The airport will meet on Thursday, January 15th. >> January 15th. So, I do appreciate the fact that you've given me what the the chair has said to you, your own impressions. I think
>> correct. >> I'm sorry I was distracted, council president. Um I do think it's important that that we hear from the airport director himself. So, um so thank you, director. I appreciate your comments. >> I do have one more, but M through you, Mr. Lavoy, did you want to
>> I just want to speak to your concern. >> Sure. So, uh, what I would what I would suggest and, uh, the owner understands this. >> Stay a little the owner understands this that you could you should have in the
purchase and sale clause that in order to finalize the purchase, the airport commission must vote in favor of us purchasing. Anybody who buys this hanger has to be approved by the airport commission, not just us. So if you put
that clause in there and we're not approved, then the purchase is null and void. So that's what I would recommend. >> Sure. And and and and and these are the and here's the thing you and I had I hope I'm not disclosing anything out of bounds. I hope that what I'm about to
say is is we're okay. We've had a conversation and um my understanding in that conversation is that we do have some time and that we actually have at least a week uh to be able to get something done. um here and um I I just
think that a given it's not a lot of time but it is some time and we're dealing with something here that is complex. We've already talked about four different entities, four different departments within the city getting involved. Nothing has really been completed. Yes, a lot of the work has
been done outside of the city. You mentioned Andover, I think and and Mthuan, I think, and and North Andover. Those are the two other three communities. So, I think there's been some groundwork, some positive groundwork made to get to that point. Um, but I I just the reason why I didn't
vote in favor of not sending it to the committee was because I think we needed to go and do that extra step and then bring it before this council again once we get more things finalized. I want to be the last group if I can to be able to e execute this contract, not be in the
front end of this contract. Uh, we own the airport. I know that's a North Andover thing as well. Uh, but I I just want to make sure that that I I'm comfortable with my vote and that's what I'm looking for tonight. I'm looking to to to move this to not to a vote this evening. We finalize all the paperwork
and then bring it back before this council so we can have a final vote. >> So, could I just address that? >> Sure. Super. >> So, um, I spoke to the owner. He called me again yesterday very concerned that
uh he didn't was he didn't come aware of the city having to purchase the pro uh the hanger because when we originally talked to him we were going to purchase the hanger our attorney told us we could not purchase the hanger had to we had to work with the city. him being informed
of that made him more uh nervous and that's why he said to me that he needs an answer by tomorrow because he's concerned that he has another buyer uh that's willing to move immediately on purchasing it. uh that's the only reason
for the urgency and I understand you know the position the city's in uh and if it can't happen I mean it can happen but um we would lose a really amazing opportunity that just won't happen again. It's not it's not like there's a
bunch of hangers out there and someday we're going to be able to buy something else. This opportunity will never uh come up again. Just uh just to clarify the time um our long time frame here at the city council next week we're going to meetings
and then after that we're going to meet again reconvene for the second meeting of the month uh which is or the third meeting of the month which is going to be on the 21st. >> The 20. Okay. On the 20. So, do we have that
specific time when it comes to this specific deal? >> Yeah. So, um I'm not sure uh from what he was speaking to me yesterday, I'm I'm not confident that he'll wait.
>> Understood. The last thing last thing I would add is I would encourage um and I would offer a motion to this end that we authorize the council president to to speak on behalf of the council of our willingness to go ahead and engage in
this. But the c if if this is what the group agrees upon that the council will feel more comfortable and understand this is a very unique challenging time where we're in the middle of the holiday season. We just went through a change of leadership. we have gone through an election. Uh now we're being told we've
got to vote on this within within within a days. Uh this is not the kind of this is not what we do typically. We don't force ourselves with a gun to our head and say if you don't do this you're going to miss out. I don't like being told that. I want to be able to do our due diligence. I want to be able to make
sure that and if we authorize the council president on our behalf to go ahead and make that phone call to the individual and explain to him that he doesn't his understanding that there doesn't seem to be a lot of opposition from the council, but he does believe the council does want to do its due diligence and not rush in and but we will move as fast as we possibly can on
it. That's what I like to see happen. >> Yeah, I mean I have no issues whatsoever taking that into uh into consideration. Of course not. I'm willing to do that. That's not an issue. But uh I just want to point it out that it's going to be it's not going to depend on us to say
yes uh uh that we that they going to wait. It's going to be upon them then later on to move to the next uh buyer if they choose to even though we potentially have different conversations. Uh I have no no problem whatsoever. Uh
but we need to also consider what I just said. Um so but we are debating the issue. Um it's up to the council to ask more questions or >> uh propose a potential motion to move
forward. >> I I would like to make a motion. Council President, if there's no other questions or comments, >> council, >> I make a motion to allow the city of Lawrence to purchase a hanger at
Lawrence Municipal Airport for 975,000 on behalf of Greater Lawrence Technical School with the understanding that Greater Lawrence Tech will repurchase the hanger from the city within 5 months for 975,000
plus any additional cost incurred by the city during the holding period. >> And there is a motion on the table. >> Second >> properly second. Discussion >> council council and levy. So uh can we make the amendment
regarding that's uh that you it's going to in case that if needed that you can be part of the transition and >> can we have that as a friendly amendment? >> Yeah. Uh there is a friendly amendment
that include the city council present uh to be part of the uh the discussion. >> Correct. And also I have a question through you and levy. >> So uh do we need appraisal for that?
>> Do we need an appraisal for the hanger for the do you have appraisal? >> They they do have a value estimated value of the >> they have an estimated value like the appraisal. We haven't had a
>> we haven't had an actual appraiser come out which you could also put into the purchase and sale that that the appraiser agrees that the value of the hanger is at 95075,000. So that could be part of the purchase
>> mean 975 or whatever the appraiser is. >> Yeah. For whatever the purchase may be. >> Let me know if it's >> that could be part of the agreement. >> Yeah. Um I mean uh >> is that a friendly amendment? >> No, you can actually make it as part of your amendment.
>> So I'm going to include that as part of the motion. >> I want it to be contingent on the approval of the commission. >> Sure. >> Contingent. >> Yeah. So contingent on the approval of also adding contingent on the approval
of um the airport commission. >> All right. Uh any other questions? point of parliament. I I just like to see the motion restated again because it's been through two friendlies and I'm not sure I understand. Um >> madame clerk, do you mind um going over please? >> Yes, sure.
>> Not quite right. You let me know. Um, so we have a motion for the city of Lawrence to purchase a hanger at the Lawrence Municipal Airport for $975,000 on behalf of the Greater Lawrence Technical School with the understanding that the Greater Lawrence Technical School will repurchase the hanger from the city within 5 months for the
$975,000 plus any additional costs incurred by the city during the holding period. Similarly, um there's some friend the motion is subject to allowing the council president to part the negotiation process as needed. It is
subject to the appraisal um appraising at at least the $975,000 and also subject to um or contingent upon the approval of the airport commission or whatever the prices. >> Yeah. If it doesn't appraise at the 975,
they can either renegotiate the price or we can walk away. >> Who's who's negotiating? >> Uh the negotiation will be the school. >> The school. >> Yeah. But the 975 if it doesn't approach it if >> let's say the appraisal is $800,000 we cannot pay either
>> pay $800,000 or you can walk away like if it doesn't appraise >> I'm just at or above >> at or below at or above or above you're right at above at or above >> I just I'm just I just need clarification. I'm not sure what >> I offered the idea was to have the
council president get involved in this before we get to an agreement. This says we're going to get to an agreement and he's going to talk to them. I just not sure what the council president's role is in this conversation. >> Well, uh, as per the motion, uh, the motion was to, uh, what was just stated
and a friendly amendment was for the council to be for the council to be represented by the city council president during negotiation as needed. Uh, what is needed that's going to evolve during the conversation, we don't know. But today we have a conversation
perhaps that we actually uh uh discuss uh some of the u some of the intakes that we we have in it today. So part of that will be uh and it's a matter of just making sure that everybody's working together uh for the purchase of
the hanger. >> U council president when did you say your next meeting with I could give the gentleman a call now >> and ask for more time. Uh, our next meeting will be
on uh January 20. >> Okay. I I I could, if you're comfortable, I could tell them that the council seems uh receptive to the idea, would like to vote yes, would would like just more time to get some documentation
and everything from capital in order to make their final vote, but they are absolutely in favor of moving forward. Can we could uh he wait till the 20th? But we we feel I feel very confident. >> You know what what happened? I just don't want you to call me later on and
say we need another special meeting. >> That's what's going to happen. And then the night if he's not willing to wait till the 20th. Well, no >> a fivem minute recess. >> Uh there's a motion to go to five minute recess. >> Give me the call. All right.
>> Uh probably second discussion. There is none. Please I don't know. Fore not placed on the Go a little pictures. I see
No, you somebody Oops. It's on now. Now it's off. Get out of Can I get a motion to get out of recess? >> So moved. >> There's a motion uh on the table to get a resist properly second. >> Uh discussion there's none. All those in
favor, please say I. >> Any names? You guys have it? Uh superintendent, you have an update for us? speaking to the gentleman. I explain to them >> I tried to explain to them the uh challenges that the city has that they
need uh you know feel confident in um speaking to the next committee in order to vote and uh but he's nervous about the fact that it's going to take that much longer and he'll lose a second buyer if he doesn't respond to him. So,
he's not willing to wait. >> All right. Uh, we have a motion. Malanch, do you mind reading the motion? Motion before the body is a motion for the city of Lawrence to purchase a hanger at the Lawrence Municipal Airport for $975,000 on behalf of the Greater Lawrence Technical School with the
understanding that the greater Lawrence Technical School will repurchase the hanger from the city within 5 months for the $975,000 plus any additional costs incurred by the city during the holding period. This is subject to the um council being represented by the council
president as needed during this process. Um, it's also contingent upon the property appraising at at least the $975,000 at or above that valuation and contingent upon the airport commission um approving the transaction as well.
>> And councilors, any other questions, comment or any additions or any further amendment to them to the what we have in front of us? >> At this time, I will call the questions. All those in favor? All those in favor, please say I. >> I.
Any any nays? >> Nay, please call the roll. >> Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Miguel, >> yes. >> Council Marl, >> yes. >> Council Fonte, >> yes. >> Council Reyes,
>> yes. >> Council Del Rosario is noted as absent. Council Ella Plant. >> No. >> Council Vice President Levy. >> Yes. >> Council President, >> I vote on the affirmative. >> Motion car. Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Congratulations.
>> I just want to thank the council for their confidence in uh what we do in voting and supporting our program. Um it will mean a lot to the to the students in particular and to the school uh to have your support as I'm very fortunate
as superintendent to have a relationship with such a professional group of uh uh members within this council. So thank you very much. >> Right. No problem counselors. Uh uh next week we're going to have committee
report uh committees uh subcommittee meetings uh and uh to do the organization of their uh of those committees. So budget and finance committee will be meeting on uh January 13 at 7 p.m. Housing
committee will be meet and all that all this information will be sent to every council. Housing Committee will be met on Monday the 12th at 6 p.m. Ordinance committee will be made on Tuesday uh the 13. Budget and finance will be met at 6. Uh
ordinance will be met at 7. Personal committee uh will be meeting at 6:30. >> Where are you? >> We have to at 7. >> This is on Monday the 12. >> Oh, sorry. Let's go back again. counselors budget and finance will be
made on Monday the mon Monday the 12th at um uh 7 p.m. Uh housing will be made on Monday the 12th at 6 p.m. Ordinance will be made on Tuesday uh the 13 at 7 p.m. Personal committee will be meet on
the 13 at 6 p.m. Public safety uh going to be meeting on the 15 at 6 p.m. and economic development will be meeting uh on the 15 at 700 p.m. on Thursday. Committee of the hall. There is no need
uh to meet uh for the organization of that committee. >> Council President, >> councelor Infant, >> I just want to put this out there um for when you and Vice President Levy start planning committees. Um
just in case I will not be in the city January 15th so I'm unavailable. >> Okay. So those two days we have public in those committees >> right. Okay, counselors, uh we're going to be meeting next week for the organization
and any other item that we have on those the committee distribution will be sent uh to all of you guys uh this week uh before obviously before next week and all this information we're going to be sent going to be sent out to all of you
uh through email um this week as well. Any other questions counselors? Um entertain a motion to adjourn. >> No, there's a motion to adjurnn. Properly second discussion. There is none. All those in fa please say I.
>> I. >> The eyes have it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Francisco. >> Great. Thank you, counselors.