Yep. Good evening and welcome to the budget and finance committee meeting. Councilors, can I have a motion to return from recess? >> Motion to return. >> Motion has been made by the vice chair. Is there a second? >> Seconded by the plan. >> Seconded by councelor the plan. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in
favor say I. >> I. The eyes have it. >> And just a reminder, pursuant to chapter 20 of the acts of 2022, this meeting of the budget and finance committee is being conducted both in person and via remote participation. A reminder that persons who would like to listen or view this meeting while in progress may
either attend here in the city council chamber or view this meeting through our Facebook, YouTube, channel 22 on Comcast or channel 42 on through Verizon. At this point, we will proceed with the budget hearings.
And this is the final night for the FY27 budget hearing. Tonight, we have uh the public library, the cemetery, the airports, the municipal airport, the department of public works, and also the department of water and sewer. And I
can't seem to find my list, but I think let's go with the public library first. Oh, we also have the parking enter enterprise fund tonight as well. 37. >> Good evening, director Abra.
>> I know some people pronounce it differently. >> Honestly, Abrau Abu >> I'm not rel related to any baseball players. Sorry. I wish I was, but I'm not. All right, director, walk us through
your intro and then we'll go into um your budget. Just remind us what page your budget starts on and then we'll get the hearing started. Okay. Janella Brew, 51 Lawrence Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts, director of the Lawrence Public Library. With me today, I have my
assistant director, Crystal Aras. Um, in front of you on page 137 will be our public library expenditure and budget. I also had my team do the liberty of
delivering you um a package um that does have supporting documentations regarding our budget hearing. Um, again, I do want to apologize. Our goal is to every year get this to you with more anticipated time in advance. Um,
>> hold on. Sorry. I think >> What is it? Is it >> that is it? Yes. >> I think that I have one copy here is in the car. >> It's okay. >> I didn't realize it was supporting documents. >> Yep. So, we are emailing it.
>> That's perfectly fine. We are emailing it similarly to last one. And one of the thing we're trying to do is be again super transparent um in alignment with our request. A lot of this is just really knowledge in regards to what it is to meet um the municipal appropriation requirement that we
discussed as a library and to continue to be certified. So the number is the same. Our calf will specifically her duty to meet us right on the dots. Not a penny more, not a penny less in order to continue to get certified. Um, also the
union negotiation for our CBA was finalized and a lot of those numbers are also reflected on this as well. >> Okay. I just want to make sure if you have any questions. Um so you'll see before you in the uh increase um in order for us to meet the MAR which is
the municipal appropriation requirement for the state of Massachusetts our budget needed to be um 1,736582 exactly and we actually did meet that in the supporting document for budget hearing you will see what that was on.
Not only were we meeting the CBA requirements like our increase in the uh I guess personnel, right? Um we were also meeting the increase or decrease specifically in staff development and we were able to do that um and increase the amount on education
uh which would allow our staff members to expend if anyone has not touched it and to continue education whether pursuing a master's degree that $3,000 pool. What you will see here that's significantly difference is that we are requesting an administrative position
for an assistant director role. In this package you will see the breakdown of how both assistant director roles do serve each other but also work two different roles. I want to make this very clear. Okay. I have in those supporting documentations we are
rebuilding what was taken down 15 years ago. There was always two assistant directors. There was always an ad administrative assistant. There was even an associate director at the branch. So we had three full positions. An associate director, two assistant
directors, and an executive assistant. We are rebuilding what was taken down. >> But also during sorry also during that time we had two public libraries opened. Right now we have one. >> Correct. Still serving the same constituent number. So I just
>> two different infra no I will say that remember there was an associate director for that branch not an assistant director an associate director before the the supporting documents you'll actually see in the um archival the memorandum from the minutes of January
5th 1994 which was similarly around a couple years after we got out of the certification procedure and in there you'll see from Mayor Kennedy at at the time and the library director at the time Joe Dion where he actually gives a
copy of the goals and objective and as well as the organizational chart. I will say we've gotten more fancier nowadays so it is not as appealing but in your documenting your supportive documentation of the organizational
chart you will see here that there was actually two assistant directors and that's before the associate director for the branch in an alignment to our five-year strategic plan both available in English and in Spanish for our constituents
you'll see where the five years and why this role is necessary. Um I do have additional copies here in English. So if anybody was not able to review, we do have those documents here available as well. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you.
>> I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you. I think um before you you continue, do you know that if it's if the city has a requirement to have departments um uh create a five-year plan or strategic
plan? >> No. Okay. Continue, director. >> Um I will say that in order for us to be available or eligible for federal funding, you should have a long range plan, whether it's a threeyear or fiveyear one. We did do our long range
plan in addition to our five-year strategic plan. Um I again it's with a commitment to be fully um uh transparent with the community. In there you'll see any grant funding we seek similarly to like our our recent grants like the MBI
$100,000 grants um is in alignment with our fiveyear strategic plan. uh a lot of the hopes and wants with funders and donators, including the work done with our friends of the libraries, is in alignment with our five-year strategic plan. So, if there's any grant out of
that, we'll accept it, of course, but we want to make sure that we're being intentional with the support we're getting and we're being responsible with the constituents money. Now, I have one extra copy of the city council supporting documents I can give to you guys. I know you still have it in
your mailbox. I saw Mark Lelan had his. >> Is that for the position? The assistant director. >> Everything's here. The job description, where it falls in alignment, where the um sorry, >> did you need it? So in that package, not
only will you see where it falls in our organizational chart, you'll see the job description, the grade, and you'll see as well in addition to that the the manage managerial role of that assistant director. And then you'll also see the
information that's provided by the state as to the required number to meet the M All right, counselors. Are there any questions or comments so far? I guess I'll break the ice. >> Councelor Marmal, I'm just going to
break the ice a little bit. >> That's fine. Um, I'm not here to discredit or say that these positions are not needed. I'm I'm sure that every department that comes before us, they're going to advocate um to need more personnel. And I'm for it
if we were to if we were to have the funds, I was I will always say yes to to adding to the department because I know that um every year there is an influx. you know, the population um of the city
is continuously growing and >> as you were mentioning, we are down to one library. So, I could see how uh maybe your the the only library that we have in the city is probably feeling strained, but it doesn't take away from
the concerns that I have that I'm when I'm looking at the budget per se, and I'm not sure if I'm going ahead of myself cuz normally when we do these budget sessions, we start off probably on page uh 138 and kind of going over
any questions regarding >> No, no, no. I'm willing to, you know, give up the mic to make sure that usually when we go over these bud like for every department that we've done uh during these budget sessions, we go page by page and normally we'll start on page 138 kind of
going over every line item if there were any questions regarding these line items. Um I'm going to just jump to 139. Um, and again, I'm looking at and I could be wrong, but it this department jumps at me uh with the with
the amount of new positions considering other departments where is not as much. So, I'm noticing your department there are a lot more new positions that are being requested for this budget and um kind of just wanting to gain a little bit of um knowledge as
to how we could justify these new positions. Absolutely. during uh like the budget constraints that we have and how I've personally seen with other departments where we don't have those resources to um properly fund.
>> I ask that if if there are any side conversations to please have them in the hallway. This is something that I've been stating to to departments and visitors in the gallery throughout these hearings. If I can hear you over here, then that means that we're having difficulties hearing the discussions
that are happening. So I ask that if a conversation is needed before your hearing, please take it to the hallway. Thank you. Okay. So let's start with page 139 like I was mentioning. Um there's a reduction in the auto audio visual coordinator and catal uh
children's librarian. Are these open positions or uh positions that you're completely eliminating? So those positions are actually completely eliminated because they are actually renamed. So what ended up happening is our audiovisisual coordinator is not our
digital navigator. Similarly to the world that we're facing now with constraints of digital um the digital ecosystem we're facing like the development of AI. These position just reflect where we're heading. So at the same time where we had an audio visual coordinator who was responsible for the projector for the film, we don't use
that anymore. So the name just really was shifted to be a digital navigator. So it was really just a a change in name that was reflected in the union contract CBA at the time that we needed to reflected in the budget. >> Okay. And the children's librarian is that also a change in name? >> Nope. So the children's librarian was
the children's coordinator and then what we're doing is that we're actually having the children's coordin librarian which is specifically assigned to libraries because they have to hold a master's degree and to work in an educational institution like the library per state um recommendation.
>> Okay, I'm so sorry. Hold on one second. So we're eliminating children's librarian and it's now uh being renamed. No, it was children's coordinator. It's okay. It was children's coordinator. It is now children's youth service
librarian. Um, and a youth service librarian requires a master's degree position for librarianship, which normally is an information science master's degree. >> Okay, give me one second. Food service. I see.
Okay. And I think I should share Vivian based on the question that and if I think that's what I got from the question you were trying to put together was that a lot of the changes in our budget is is administrative right but we have to actually consider what was the loss when we got descertified 15 years
ago and a lot of it was our our positions our roles our our our our leadership our administration all that is what was able to put us in that waiver to begin with. So when we got out of the waiver, thanks to the council and the mayors and the constituents, um we
have to continue to meet these guidelines. So what you'll see is only the flexibility to meet the MAR. So what does that mean? That means that if I have to increase the budget by let's say 30,000 based on the state recommendation
for the municipal appropriation requirement, what we do as administration is that we sit and think about where does that mean? where does that money best utilize? And what we saw was that the best thing we can do is one, give raises to our staff members who've been with us, some for over 20
years that needed to be renegotiated. We needed to look at the structure of our cost for operations in addition to changing our hours of operation that needed to be renegotiated again in the union contract. And then the default is is that part the administrative
structure, right? What is succession planning for the city of Lawrence when it comes to election? What is succession planning for the city of Lawrence when it comes to new administrative teams coming in? In order to ensure that we have a successful tier is to build that. And then what we realize our deficit was
is because we're spending X amount of dollars specifically for something we can have hired in and actually spend less money on that. And what do I say? when it comes to communication, social media, branding, when it comes to all our information, both Spanish and
English, we outsource that, right? So, we pay vendors. Um, if I was to take that on, then we wouldn't have what you would see in a supporting document um, index 3 when we talk about the grants we've been eligible for. we can't manage that and continue to obtain our
accreditation as a library by also worrying about the I wouldn't want to say small stuff or mundane because really we are in that era of social media and and and word and press and public relations but we want to make sure that we're meeting the guidelines that we're not sending information just to send it we're not using a basic AI
portal to submit or create these platforms but really genuinely having someone that has the expertise and the knowledge to do this intentionally because we are branding not only the library, we're banning the city as a whole. >> Okay. The only position left to question
um as like new positions is program outreach coordinator. If you don't mind touching a little bit on what would be their role, the the need uh for this department to have this this position.
>> So, prior to actually making that position, thank you for that question, counselor Marmal. Um, we actually had a grantf funded position by the Mariam Valley Credit Union that gave us a commitment of $50,000 and we've had a part-time literacy coordinator under
that grant. And that was specifically to see if it was actually a need for our city before we actually committed to making it a permanent position for the city. And what that position did entailed that it was the growth because we we're not, I guess, oblivious to our
literacy rates, right? It's not news to any of us. we have to do better on that. But what we realized that the literacy coordinator was doing something beyond that. It wasn't just literacy when it comes to um grammar or contextual phonics. We're talking about literacy from financial from um um you could say
financial literacy um uh curriculum literacy. All those developments are made from this this specific role which is this part-timer who required at the time the role was made and designed for someone holding a
masters in education and what we've noticed was the huge need and what you'll see is our statistics jump. So as of 2022 when we received the grant and we were able to obtain a literacy coordinator in 2023 our programs went somewhere between 300 and something now
to 520 and you'll see the statistics on the platform there and then what we we were able to do with that person they became the liaison that we needed for those partnership to save money for the city. Right? So let me give you an example. The naturalization courses that
were being given at the at the school, we gave a support letter to Greater Lawrence Community Action Council who received a grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where Lorie Trannon was present over the amount of 300,000. And you know, one of those stipulations was that the classes needed to take place at
the library. That was conversations with our literacy coordinator and the coordinators of GCLC. Okay. So we outreach but this is an out like it the word outreach is within its position. So are they doing any outreach and if so how is that the case? So to refer back
to why I mentioned the literacy coordinator is because this was a grandfunded position that was titled literacy coordinator. But what we realized is that the city doesn't need a literacy coordinator. They need a program outreach coordinators for those connections. And that's why when we negotiated the CBA for the union, we
made sure to reclassify the name only to outreach program coordinator where it literacy does fall under that but it extends that part right the outreach going out to the community speaking to these other nonprofits or profitable companies and bringing that back into the institution.
>> Okay. I do want to add um I guess uh in support of you director within your five-year strategic plan page two >> year one FY26 foundation strengthening
and engagement. This specifically mentions that that um position that you that we're discussing right now. And what I like about this is well first let me it says strengthen communication and outreach. Hire dedicated staff or contractors to lead messaging and
community engagement ensuring visibility in multiple languages. Partner with local colleges and universities on research and campaigns. Measure out outreach effective effectiveness effectiveness through surveys and analytics. And you attached well you
your your board of trustees your whole team attached a KPI to this and it's hire both communication and outreach roles by Q2 of 2026 achieve a 20% increase in community awareness by year
end. So you're what I like about this and why I'm particularly I'm pointing this out is that you're here in front of the council or front of the budget committee asking making it your pitch or trying to convince us as to why this should stay in the budget. Um and not
only that but you're but you you're holding yourselves accountable with with this with what you're asking. you're asking for something but also saying, "Hey, this is the part that that we're going to bring to the table." And with that, I always I want to add I
always enjoy having you in front of the city council. >> Thank you. >> Because you are you're welcome. You're extremely prepared. You come with numbers. You know your department inside out. You're very professional even when you're frustrated. You are one of the the the directors that I love having in front of us. >> Thank you.
>> And I want you I wanted to publicly state this. >> Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. >> Oo, we're going to ruffle some feathers. But you come hunting >> and even offense. Thank you. >> But no, but you know, ruffling some feathers, but
we get asked many things. We get asked for votes, we get many, many things. And um sometimes, as you pointed out once during during the during one of the hearings, we would love to be best friends with everybody, but when we're sitting here, we have a job to do, right? >> Yeah, I get that. And at times people
take that personally >> and make their comments outside of meetings and etc. And it always gets back to us. >> Yeah. >> Um but my experience with you particularly has been the opposite. >> You hold your professionalism. You come with your numbers. You come you come
with with answers. You come very prepared. And um and I and I'm pointing this out because I believe this this should be an example across the board. even for us. Even for us, cuz we're not perfect either. Um, so that's that's why I wanted to publicly point this out.
>> Thank you, counselor and Fonte. And on that, you mentioned KPIs and I know that a lot of people might not know what that means, but that means key performing key performance indicators, right? So that's a metrics that we can use to see if something's actually working for us. Like I said, this is something based on
focus groups, intentional surveys, and if it doesn't work for our community, it might not work, but we at least have a metrics to stand by. Um, and hopefully it does continue to work because I really see that this is going to be very um beneficial for a community that I hold really dear to my heart. Remember,
I come here not serving specifically as a librarian. I come here from a city uh born and raised person and really having what I say my passion really fuels my purpose for what I'm doing and I think that I landed in the right institution to do so.
>> We see that. My last question before I I give up the mic is um going back now on page 138 out of curiosity um line item books and subscriptions. I'm seeing the fiscal year 26 actual
through May 6, which is $11,485, but the budget is for $60,000. Um, considering the drastic um balance, if you don't mind touching on that, the need in maintaining this budget to to
remain at 60K. Um I'm actually if it's okay with you especially part of the succession planning part I would like to call up my assistant director Crystal Aras and she will go ahead and explain a little bit more about the importance of the books and subscription and in the impact that we really have in that
5-year plan to actually increase that and I think we need to be really honest with our community because we're not here to ask for less in the world that we're living in today. The reality is that we're looking for more because just like we're talking about subscriptions and and material price on everything has
been inflated. So we're not ever looking to this number to decrease. If anything, we're looking for this number and the commitment from a city to increase this. And if we have to continue to do continue to do our part to do any ways to help create revenue for that, then we'll continue to um I guess scout our
avenues for that. But I think that the best person who can share a little bit about that part would be Chris Larius. Good evening, counselors. My name is Crystal Aras. I'm the assistant director for the library, 51 Lawrence Street. Um, in terms of books and subscription and collection development as a whole, um,
it is part of our requirement for state certification, we have to make sure we meet, um, 12% of the municipal income. Um, in terms of the balance that you were mentioning, councelor um, Marmal is due to the highest vendor that libraries had, Baker and Taylor. I'm not sure if
you guys are familiar, but that is the biggest vendor that most public libraries nationally use to um buy the collection development that we receive and the physical books and subscriptions that you see in our library. They became bankrupt in the middle of the fiscal year. Um, that was a huge turnover for
my team cuz we had to now pivot and see what other vetted vendors that we can utilize to ensure that our collection still stays diversified in terms of making sure that we have Spanish collection, foreign language, um, youth services um, books, children's books. Um
because of that, we actually did not start ordering our materials until January of 2026, which is a huge change of compared to the other years where we start um purchasing books July 1st. That had to do with the bankruptcy of Bank Baker and Taylor. Um a lot of other
public libraries had dealt with the same situation and it will be stated in our um survey this year, our financial report that we submit to the state. Um the balance that you see will be actually expended by the end of this month. My team has been working incredibly hard in making sure that the
shipment that comes in, the invoices are submitted on time because it is a requirement for certification. As much as as we would like to make sure we receive our municipal appropriation requirement, um we don't get certification if I don't expend the money either. So, we have to make sure that I um at least me and my team can do
that. And we have that 11,000 will be expended by the end of by June 30th of 20286. Um I I believe that these um numbers and correct me if I'm wrong were submitted to date of probably February or March and um those 11,000 are already
encumbered in POS and will be submitted to our main vendor that we had to change to which was Ingram Library Services and Macken Book Company. Um but my my biggest thing is making sure that we do increase our collection development as we increase our M our MER which is
expenditure requirement will increase every year as well. Um, one of my biggest things is that state aid is utilized the most for that collection development. And personally, I would love to use state aid for innovation. Um, to make sure that the library increases in capital improvement, not be
able to use mun municipal funds because that state aid is given to our public library for a reason. Um, and I don't think it should be used to meet requirements that um is part of the municipality as well. Um, so my that was one of my uh requests this year and it unfortunately did not go through but
hopefully next year we increase that budget line item and it will be expend and every will be expended. >> Almost councilors any other questions or comments council president >> through mad chair. So um
just wondering there is any any grant reimbursement or styping or anything related to that that compensate the salaries those salaries they have here. So in another word there is people that make uh an stipen based on grants or
based on other things. >> Yes. So currently right now we have a literacy coordinator that was under a grant through the Marag Valley Credit Union. That was a promise made by them for $50,000. Um and that now that position grant funding has been expended um for what
was received to us and now we've translated that position because of the need to outreach um program coordinator. >> So but >> with a a less of a salary compared to the grant itself. So, but I mean uh in another word we have departments that
they have grants and stuff like that that the salary gets supplemented uh through a grant. >> So, basically none of these salaries >> No, >> this is straight what it is. >> Correct. And all the positions within the library are unionized. So, they're straight what it is. None of them are grant funded.
>> Just want to put in perspective. Um, so basically we have a lot of people that are making $22 an hour, 20 less than $25 an hour. >> We renegotiated currently through the
union contract to have that increase. So we have we have people here that make 40 I mean know you cut that one but I mean make 49 $49,000 or like $50,000. So less than 25 perhaps 24
dollar an hour. >> Correct. We have a long way to go as a city, as an institution. Uh we did our best um to negotiate the CBA for the union contract. I will say I'm very extremely proud of my team. Um we know where the deficit lies. A lot of it
comes down from the the the structural, right? So um things about performance evaluation, what are the requirements, right, to be a part-time library assistant, maybe an associates degree, right? So really trying to navigate what that looks like in the climate of the
world now. Um and really what because you'll be surprised that a lot of it doesn't even only come to salary. Sometimes it comes to benefits like vacation, health insurance, staff development, um, college reimbursement, um, and those outweigh sometimes, right?
And of course, I I I really have to be honest with it, work environment, right? Workplace environments. Um, when you come to work and you're actually given a purpose and most importantly, you're acknowledged with that purpose. We invest every month to our constituents
one st I mean to our staff members one staff development a month the first Thursday of every month we close to the public why because we're financially not only investing in them we're also taking the time to make their work more accessible more understanding and and do
I feel like as a city as a whole we need to do better at that absolutely I will say that but I think that we we have created a system that feels supported and I think like I said are we working on the salary. Do as a city we need to get there. Absolutely. But do we also complement things like staff development
and invest and enrich them in another way? Yes. >> Thank you. No more questions. >> Council La. >> Thanks. >> Welcome director. >> Thank you councelor Lan. >> Uh first do you have any cameras in your
building? >> Yes, we've had them I believe since the the creation of the building. Since when? >> I think since the creation of the building, we have a we have a lot of cameras. Every floor has cameras. >> Security cameras. >> Security cameras.
>> Sure. So, just be aware coming before the full council next Tuesday is uh we are as a group going to decide how we're going to be dealing with our ordinance and that's coming up. And I think one of the fundamental things is asking for an inventory of where cameras are throughout the city. So, just be on
notice that we'll be asking for that. Are there any designs to acquire more cameras for your building? >> I actually had the opportunity of meeting a vendor company um through the MHC uh conference. And one of the things that we actually were is within our
strategic plan is safety, right? Public safety. We wanted to enhance the current cameras we have and and expand on that. Um so we did actually have a vendor come out and quote us. Um they talked about regulations. They talked about what is needed in a public institution. They
have already um done it for other libraries. So we made sure when we vetted them through the MHC um I guess contract, right, that we have as a whole um that this was a vendor that actually that knew what they were doing. So we did get a quote for them. I'll be more than happy to share that
with you guys. It is a big ask. So what we're doing is is that we would need to break this out in phases. Um but currently it is not within our plan because I think that our community has been really has done really well with the shape and the development of the
library that I always see that we need to entrust in our community. So what we're doing is we're putting that right now on stage three of our 5-year strategic plan and you'll see that regarding the development of technology. Um and in reality the ask I think was for that vendor over $300,000.
Um and and I think that's one of the things right when it comes to um you know doing the best as directors. We're always put in a place where we want to make sure that we're saving our constituents money and we're doing our best to save our city money. But we also have to make sure that we do that in a
way that aligns with our ordinances and most importantly that it aligns with our laws and most importantly it aligns specifically with our our our with our rules and regulations and policies that every department has. Um that's something that needs to be examined and sometimes we want to do the work inside
but sometimes it's better just to pass it to a company that actually knows that they are eligible and have the requirements to do so. So yes, we can provide you that that quote if needed. >> So I um I don't I don't necessarily need
to see the quote. However, what we would be expected to look at is if you decide that you may want to apply for a grant or apply for that this is unorthodox and I will grant you this is different than any else that we deal with as a
municipality. Even before you apply for a grant, you need to come before the coun for cameras and surveillance. You need to come before the council. That is different than anything else your traditional way of dealing with things in the city. So, I don't need to see that. But what I do need when I say I, I
mean we. What we do need to see is uh if you decide to act on that and you want to get a grant or you intend to go ahead and purchase before you do that, this you've got to provide that plan to the council. That's citywide. That's not
library, that's police, that's fire, that's DPW for later. That's all across the city. So, uh you just be aware of that. I'm catching a lot of people offguard with that, but it's in our ordinances. Um it's it's it's in there and I can certainly refer that to you.
It's 9.025 is the ordinance. If you if you look up camera or surveillance on in unit on our ordinance, you will see the what what the requirements are. It's all there in black and white. Thank you. Number two, Sunday uh on weekend hours. I know you and I have talked about that.
Can you tell me what the update is, successes, failures, where are we on that? >> Thank you for that. I was hoping to be able to plug in an event that's really been really beautiful for the community, but um our summer hours, something that hasn't been done in a in quite some time again, um we now have evening hours and
weekend hours um in the library for the summer. And what does that look like? So Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays, we're open from 9 to 5:00 p.m. And Tuesdays and Wednesdays is our late days, and we're open from 9:00 a.m. to
900 p.m. We've introduced an amazing program called Books and Melodies in the Courtyard, and you're able to take some time. I I know that we live in what we call an urban heating zone. So sometimes being to be able out with family, listening to some live music, being able
to be close to our resources. We have now one before we call them free libraries that come through donations and they one includes children books, one includes adults and young um adults and young adults books. One has a craft station. We just got donated a bunch of
Play-Doh from an insurance company. And we also have a um a sharing box which you can do games like dominoes, unos cards, and it's just really a place for all um it's even pet friendly, believe it or not, our courtyard. So, it's just really a place where the community can
come um as a family. And we kind of had the opportunity to take advantage of that um during Wednesdays, our late days. And of course leaving the opportunity for other organizations that we knew are doing an amazing job creating these spaces like Essex Arts Center at we made sure to pick a date
that doesn't overlap with theirs because the more available to the community the better. >> So I just want to um thank you I guess and to congratulate you. That's probably a poor choice of words, but acknowledge perhaps even
better word uh your success in uh getting these hours. If we're going to be a worldclass city, we need a world-class library and a library that this doesn't just doesn't open Monday through Fridays. Uh if you go to other live other major cities, cities with a
with intent and purpose and vision, some of your words, um those they have those cities, those municipalities have libraries that that reach out and do things innovative and become available as opportunities for its residents. So I think that's important. I'm going to
move on and just kind if you don't mind just kind of keeping the rest of these answers brief if you can. Y >> the uh one of the things that's close to me is the archivist. Um tell me how that's going in your in the library and how close are you to getting a permanent
archivist? >> Uh so currently we just finished the interviewing process again talking about strategic plan. One of the things that we've been able to do is we've been able to foster promotion within because that's the biggest thing, right? You talk about pay raise, but if there's nowhere to go and there's nowhere to
move, then you understandably understand that essentially your your position becomes collateral or just plateaus. Um, we had the fortunate opportunity of interviewing amazing candidates. We've even had candidates apply from Vegas, from Florida, you name it. We had over
30 applications per position. So, it's amazing the trajectory we're getting, but we do invest within and we actually have one of our internal candidates who has his archival master's degree who worked with the Lawrence History Center
and has actually been um recommended for the role. Um, and I think that this would be a book plus to the city. He's a Lawrence born and raised citizen. He still resides in the city of Lawrence. He's one of our youth members. And I think that um this position will soon be
filled by someone internally. >> Is that the Is he currently working for us? >> He is currently working for us as a library assistant. >> And I am working with him. >> Correct. You are. >> Got it. I know you're talking about Okay, good. >> Uh >> good as in good job, Jan.
>> No, I I do think that that in person is has shows a lot of promise. Um >> and I think we'll be capable. >> Yeah, >> I think that's a good thing. Um I just I just want to commend you again. I will be very candid with you. You are
you inherited a building that uh that is uh it's tough to market. >> Uh it's it's a you by the by one of the charter schools. Um, but what you're trying to do there
is to be commended with the outside. You call it a desert, a heat desert, whatever you just called it. So, I I just think it's uh I just think u it's not easy. And I I want to let you know that I'm I'm seeing it. I'm watching it. And I'm hoping that
you can pull some magic out of some a very difficult place. So, anyway, I just I just want to comment on that. you don't need to comment on it, but I just want you to know that I'm I'm watching and I'm pulling for you on that. >> And I also underliningly understand your ask well and that's something that we do commit to.
>> Two more things real quick. I think one of the best things about the library. Um I think and you can speak to it. It's being utilized. I have a hard time reserving it, which is in your second floor. You have the uh you have the
those pods that are there. I do my pod counselors. I do some tech tech stuff, too. you're not the only one. So, I do some stuff on u YouTube and such uh for the city for the the projects that I'm working on >> and I use that space and so um and and
the point I'm driving at is you are driving people there because I have to reserve and sometimes I'm looking to make a reservation. The place is stacked and I can't get in. So, and that's a good news and bad news. It's bad news that I can't get in but good news that is being utilized. So, um I don't know.
That's just observations. it's working >> and and and again these platforms and these digital platforms like we pay subscriptions for like the reservation platforms really help us keep statistics so that we can keep on top of our KPS right so we know where to find the
funding to create more of these private spaces because of the demand of the city. >> Sure. >> Um I think I think that's it. Oh my no that's not it. Save the biggest one for last. Um, I have to ask you this question and I think I know the answer and I think you
know where I'm going. >> I know where you're going. >> Just uh let's see if you can read my mind. Start the answer. >> So, in regards to any update regarding our branch library at South Lawrence, am I spot on yet? I was
one of my questions. >> Um, we still are responsible for the management and the operations of that building. What do I mean by that? that mean operational cost, right? So, making sure that the oil tank is filled because of the winter, making sure pipes don't
burst. Our custodial team goes out to the building and does building checks. At this current state, I will, as as much as it pains me to say this, we have to see at a federal level where our administration aligns with what the
vision of a library is, right? If those libraries or funding is being um I guess threatened, then that limits us in the opportunity. We did have an assessment done on the building. We know what it's going to take us to get that building up and running. Did we have access to
grants before like new construction and reconstruction grants through the MBLC in the state to have that project happen? Absolutely. Did they get threatened through this administration and have those reduced? Absolutely. So what does that mean in this time is that as a board we stay in
alliance with having that happen. The ask is $10 million and I know that the city can right now use that in better ways and I think that we are serving our constituents if our numbers are showing that we have over 79,000 foot traffic and our population is of 89,000. I think
that we're doing our work about getting the resources out there. Our hopes is that we can align the funding with the administration so that we will become eligible to hopefully open that space for the the city and if it's not that space plant we will open a branch and
that's my promise to the city. Okay. >> Um thank you. The last is a probably broader broader point madam chair and this is reflective for all the departments that are here tonight. I am a little I am a little
bearish. I said a bullish on this budget. Um I'm concerned about the overall budget. I am concerned about revenues. I'm concerned I'm concerned that we're not going to be able to to get to where we need to go.
And I don't know with that concern ultimately where that's going to lead. Um um I think I think across the state I'm going to be careful with my words. Across the state we are
seeing municipalities who are facing challenging times and with those challenging times certain things um have to be revisited as far as will they be able to continue funding certain things. And those are never easy
decisions to make. And I'm not just talking about the library. These are recent things that I've come to to to learn and to witness and see. So, it's my first time having a chance to talk about it. So, you just happen to be the first person up. >> So, it has nothing to do do directly
with the library by any stretch, but I just think that I just think that there there can be there may times very soon there will be some very difficult decisions that are going to have to be made by policy makers at all levels of this government. So anyway, whatever
that's worth, but I support you. I think you're you're doing the best you can with what you have. Thank you. >> Um, and yes or no question. Um, >> I'm not looking for much more than that. >> Are are we on track to maintain the level of our
>> status? >> Pardon me. >> Losing our certification >> certification with with the state of Massachusetts. Are we still in a good place? >> We are in a good place if this is passed. And now we're back to square one. Um and and just in light of what you shared, I
again I am I'm fully aware because I I do keep myself in tune with politics going around us. I think it's very important. I think a lot of department heads do that here because we understand the climate of the world. We're impacted it as by it as well. Um I do think that it you really have to consider the
educational component um and where the library stands for that, right? an educated community becomes educated citizens that creates the avenues needed to have a wellfunded city and a well-funded town. Um, so when you look at this and you look at those cuts and
you look at where they need to be made, always think about the educational component that does come with that because if the community is not educated, then we and technically indoctrin and enslavement in them and they're not able to go out there and get the information. So, let's do the best
we can to keep those avenues open and those resources flowing and hopefully the way you guys meet the community, the community can meet you guys as well. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, Council Lang asked one of my questions pertaining to the South
Florence branch, but I want to add to that because I was recently in the area um dealing with some public safety components for the school and also the residents of that area. I noticed the condition of the the park behind it. And
we have DPW tonight who's another valued um partner and does a tremendous job throughout our our community. I want to make sure that activities that are happening in that park close to the to the library and also school. So just, you know, I ask
that you work with the DPW director since the library is still in charge of overseeing and maintaining that building that you also take note of like there's a yeah of what's going on there. Yeah. >> I and if I can through you um councelor
Infante, interesting fact again in the archive world, I did find a deed and I reached out to Frank Serillo who got me in contact with Susan Flank. Um, and there was some type of paperwork at one point where the library was actually in ownership or trying to buy the the park
or in ownership of the park at one point where they were responsible for the cleaning and the maintenance of the park in conjunction to their library. I found those records recently and and I do want to do a deep dive on what that means and if that deed is actually active and at what point did we transition to the
state to take over, right? Um, so yeah, maybe that's something for the future to come. Well, I have no more questions. Uh, any other questions or concerns? >> One last question. >> I have a comment. It's very quick. Go ahead. >> I looked at Well, I looked at >> It's a very quick It's a very quick
comment. I just wanted to recognize and thank the library um for your partnership with me on the Laurens Square project. DPW's been a part of there's many others. It's not just the Mark L plant show. It's a lot of folks, a lot of people, a lot of institutions are helpful in your institution. It
played a part in it with just everybody knows with placing each of our signs and the Spanish English translation that's on YouTube on your Queen City blog and having that there and working with Jaden's been a joy. So, uh, thank you for, uh, for being a part of what we're
trying to accomplish and educating our residents about some of the people in our city. I just want to thank you. >> Thank you, Coun Council President. >> Yes. Uh I don't know if this was mentioned before but I know it's one of your programs so I want to I want to know more about it. I know that you guys
have expanded that that program which is the ticket available to go to different places. Can you expand a little more on that? >> Of course. Um so we in including to all MVLC so as long as you're a library holder specifically Lawrence residents have access to the couponing system that
we have at the library. So, you have reduced or free tickets to the Museum of Fine Arts, to the Boston Aquarium, to um there's so many. I can't think of Salem Witch Museum. Like, there's so many. So, we invite you to go on our website and there's actual something called Cultural
Pass. And within that, you'll see a little bit of the institution. You either have a discounted rate and I mean, we're talking discounted rate where you're talking about big families, right? So, you're saying either completely half off or for a whole family of four, maybe just $30. And each museum, specifically for the Boston
Science Museum, it's like 30 per person. So having these reduced rates have really opened up the cultural incentives and the educational component from the library, we pay packages to be able to do that. We're actually exploring to offer more um because we're aligning our passes with our organizations around us.
So what does the Boston Public Library offer, right? What does the Andover Library offer? Right? And we're doing that um strategically. So you do have access to the Boston Children's Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts. You can reserve that because it does need to be reserved because one pass might be just one family for that day, but you're able to
see the full calendar through our software system. And if you're not able to do that there, please come in person. We can do it for you. >> Thank you, director. Um, at this point, we are done with your hearing. Thank you so much, and we will see you on Monday
for the special. >> Thank you so much, you guys. I appreciate everything you do. Keep up the good work. >> Thank you. Um, next we have the Belleview Cemetery. >> Actually, before CF, is there anything else you would like to add pertaining to libraries budget? You're good. Okay.
>> Welcome, Director Lopez. >> Good evening, counselors. >> Um, she'll tell us the page now. Um I'm Carmen Lopez W7 Ceminent Terry 170 Main Street and that's my team
>> director the assistant director and >> Omar >> the foreman and we are here to respectfully seeking the council's approval for the fiscal year 2027 Belleview Cemetery budget of
$614,000 900 Where does your budget start? What page does it start on? >> Oh, I'm sorry. I was just reading my summary, but we're going through the budget. >> Yeah, just we we'll follow along as as we uh
>> 126. You can still read your summary. I'll we'll just look at the numbers while you speak. >> 126. Okay, director. >> So, my executive summary, I was just going to summarize it >> because we're respectively just asking
for your approval of our level funded budget with the increase of 35,254,000. You would not think it's level funded because there is an increase. But this adjustment is strictly driven
by nondiscretionary labor costs and modification of specialized software maintenance for the cemetery offsets with it um revolving funds.
So in essence it is leveled Okay. Uh, walk us through um I see some changes here. >> Well, I could just tell you um the adjustment was um the 3% from of course our CBA
commitment to the union all my employees at union and that's what happened. except with my position which is not and I got a two 2.4 40 40% increase. So that's the difference.
The core financial breakdown was personnel and salary variance of $38,000. That was the increase that you would just see in the budget. >> Okay.
But then to offset it, all the other line items were either the operational cost was a aggressively offset to you know
minimize to reduce the reduction. We could go to page 127 and if you lose you look at your purchase of my purchases of services and supplies for fiscal year
27 then you'll see the offsets. The only thing that changed was the personal services where you see the increase due to the >> questions or comments so far pertaining to the information we just received
council the plant. >> I wanted so two things to start off with. One is I'm just curious about the assistant director. How long have we had an assistant director at the cemetery? >> Since last year. since January of 2025 or 26.
>> 25 26. Sorry. >> So the la six months. >> Yeah. >> Last fiscal year. >> Uh did we did you when I wasn't here on that Monday, did you talk about revenues from the cemetery? Would that was that brought up at all?
>> No, we usually you have them. Yeah. >> Monday. Yes. The overview. Yes. the or you and the revenue from the cemetery. >> We've also um >> I was told that was one of the best meetings of the year. >> It was. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The careful
your department still has the crown. >> Thank you. >> Um Yes. >> I just want to review this again. Sorry. Maybe this for the second time for the rest of the group. Um, so well I I am actually going all the way to the right hand side. I'm going to
see if we're going up or we're going down. And it looks like on two of the accounts we're going down. Am I reading that correctly? Reducing reduced revenue. Why don't you help me understand this a little bit better? Are we how are we
trending with revenues in you have internment sale of lots and graves. >> Well, remember we're cemetery. >> Yep. >> So, >> I just I'm curious as to how business is so to speak. >> How's business? How how are the how are
the coming in? >> I have no axe to grind on. That's just I am asking for personal I'm just asking for a reason. >> It's um It fluctuates. Okay. Being a cemetery, it fluctuates. Um,
one month could be extremely busy because everybody decides they want to die to get in there. No pun intended. And it could be a month where everybody's happy to stay in this world.
are so >> so but the sales if you look at it >> yeah help me with this >> since I've been on board are just growing they interments are pretty consistent and increasing
sale of lots but that's business how you sell is selling of lots that's like sales so that's consistently growing but um in terments that's all has to do
with burials that all has to do with death so that just there's nothing I could you know that's just life but everything is just growing so it is growing when I see parenthesis that I
usually that usually means to me that there's it's going down that's not what this means even though I'm seeing parenthesis across almost every number and this is was this generated by you or by the by the cappo? >> No, the parenthesis >> help me understand this. >> You have to explain that the parenthesis
means >> yes good evening council for monos. So in our ERP system the the revenues are credits. So these are all revenues. Okay. So if you look at the actuals which is the third column that is the uh
the revenues as of June 3rd 2026 >> third column >> third column from the left >> is June 3rd of this year just a couple weeks ago or last week. Okay. >> Yes. >> Why why are the numbers recorded as negatives though?
>> Those are credits um in our ERP system. Credits are revenues and >> Got it. Okay. Debits are >> Yep. Yep. Yep. >> Are you >> expenses? >> I'm just It's It's I realize that the cemetery is
a unique department in the city. We're required to have it. You're dependent like as you mentioned on people dying. Uh if you're not dying, you're not you're not going to be a customer of the cemetery unless you unless somebody's purchasing you purchase a plot in while
you're alive and but the interament thing comes later. >> Um >> pardon me. >> It's unfortunate, but that's the reality of of >> that's just I mean we're being real. We're all going to end up in one of these places and that's just the way it is. So um we don't have to we can just take the shine off of it and just talk
in reality. But you know my question is is in in the cemetery business these days with with cremations and such uh is there are you seeing any kind of difference? Are you seeing a lack of people purchasing because cremations are going up? Does that make a difference at all?
>> No. What I have just seen is a growth. The takeaway that I could give you is there's a zero, you know, the zero discretion and the reality of all of this is if you subtract even what I'm presenting to you
this budget actually just it looks like I'm asking for more but actually it's $555 less the last year's budget. >> What page is the budget on? >> No, this is just me. This is my my
executive >> um summary and the math. But what I'm saying is um if if even when you approved my re um my revolving fund, >> you rep you approved my revolving fund
and you have it there because that that was what you approved. you know, I I gave you I give the city, you know, the cemetery maintains and supports itself not to
cost any taxpayer money. So any infrastructure, any equipment it needs, the cemetery with it involving fund, what you approve with, that's what it's supports itself with. >> It's almost like an enterprise like
fund. In other words, it's self-sufficient. You're not supposed because you do that. What you do is the the employees, you do the the that you you need to do the employee. What we're asking for, what I'm here asking for the
employee part, right? >> Right. So, if you look at, you know, the bill revolving fund, you know, um in expenditure, you know, I I could have spent 20 $48,000, but I gave you back 319.
just this year. So that that that could answer maybe your question of why you're asking how you're doing. >> Can I can I stop you right there? That was there's a point there that I didn't want to gloss over. You said and and these words are important. You gave back to us $319 >> city. They're just in the container.
>> You gave back to this. Now we're going to rephrase it. You gave back to the city $319,000. So from the money that you receive from any of these charges of services, $319,000 was given to the general fund. Is that
what you're suggesting? >> You see that part that's only that's above my grade that the city would know and that's her specialty how that's divided. >> I like to ask the capital you the cavo will always know
>> how the money is dispersed >> in the funds. So >> because we the cemetery does a 3060, >> right? So that we could I was explaining the 3060 of the 4060, right? >> 40 60,
>> right? I was explaining how he wants to know how we support ourselves. >> I'll ask the question so she can hear right from me. So thank you though. So I'm I'm hearing that despite the cemetery being an enterprise like fund and in most of the enterpris funds that
we see the money that is made within that department stays in that department and cannot be co-mingled with anything else. A water and sewer bill can't go to pay for a book in the library. That's got to stay in water and sewer. So when
I heard that there is money that's being generated by the cemetery and is being returned to the general fund, I just have questions like how does that happen? >> So um when the cemetery has uh a cash
receipt, it's broken down between interments uh sale of lots and so forth. So percentage of that >> damn turn a percentage of that goes towards their revolving fund and a percentage goes to the general fund. The
revenues I just gave you this is the general fund portion that comes to from the cemetery to the general fund. Then they have a percentage that sustains the revolving fund as well. Is this unlike any other evolving fund
or any other enterprise like fund in the city? >> Right. So this the city has currently three enterprise funds. >> Airport >> port >> consumer >> parking >> parking right. >> Yep. So those the revenues and and the
expenses stayed with each fund. The cemetery >> thing I'm going off. the cemetery is part of the general fund and that's why you see it um in in on the page section that it is. >> So it's not true when I just call it an
enterprise like fund. It really isn't. It generates some of the money. It keeps some of the money but some of the money returns to the city by agreement. >> You were there was some cross conversations regarding ratios 6040 30 70 >> whatever.
So 40 60 40 the cemetery keeps 60 the city takes or% >> we've never been able to figure out >> if you're going to speak can you come to the podium please thank you >> and by the way I'm asking not to bust anybody's I'm just trying to learn about
how this how this breaks out >> it's um so it's 40 40% goes to the city >> I always heard it >> can you just state your name and and it's okay >> I'm Elizabeth Charlton Uh I'm the Belleview chairwoman of the board of
directors and I live at 506 L Street, Lawrence. Um so the 40 the city gets 40% of a lot sale. >> Okay. We keep 60%. It's been that way
>> going I don't know how far back. >> How why statute? >> That's I don't I think it's in the ordinance. I'm not even but I've never seen it in the ordin ordinance. You see what I'm saying? So I don't see it either. >> I honestly don't know because out of
that 60% >> okay >> we're supposed to pay for our equipment. >> Everything. Everything we need. >> Everything but salaries. >> Everything but salaries. >> That's why I say we pay everything but salaries. Now, going back to Mike
Sullivan, I was told that the Belleview the Belleview um the 40% went because of to pay the salaries of the employees. That was before I was on the board. I was told that. You see what I'm saying? I don't understand that. We did have a
second revolving fund which the city took, it was an enterprise fund. They took that away from us. Uh, I think I had just gotten on the board and that was like in 2005. You see what I'm saying? Nick was on the council at that time. Um, but I've never
understood that why that is. Other cities and towns don't do that. You see what I'm saying? And like we're not like the other departments where if, for example, DBW needs a dump truck, they put it in the budget and it's paid for. That's not how we operate.
>> We have to buy >> We have to buy everything. You know what I'm saying? except for what you were seeing here in this budget. >> So just just hear me out here. So this year's bud this so this is the sheet that I just received is the 40% that the city gets you, >> right? >> The city gets 40% and these are the
numbers I reflect from the city gets. >> Well, how you doing? That's that's portion you're getting from. So, let's just let's just play this out and thank you for everybody's time. In the the actual as of June 3rd, the amount of money that the city is receiving from
the revenues generated by the Belleview Cemetery is I'm going to use a round figure to make it easy to to remember, $160,000. And let me look at how much money is going to cost the city for its work. >> The salary part
>> the salary. What were the budget? What's in the budget? the the budget is $614,000 almost six. Let's say just say I'm sorry that's the that's the mayor's recommendation. The approved budget for 26 is 580,000.
It's a little less than that. So there is quite we're nowhere this I'm not I'm an observation not a not a judgment. We're nowhere near this 40% is nowhere near just paying the the the administration of the cemetery.
I'm not sure what that means except that if at one time during Mike Sullivan or Kevin or whichever Sullivan was mayor they were looking to get that. I don't know how they we've we've gone in totally different direction because that's not happening now. And I
don't even know frankly if there's a requirement for this. I don't even know if we need a requirement. I'm Anyway, this is cemetery and it's >> we're >> always befuddling. >> We're an unfortunate necessity. >> It's Well, you are. >> You see, and
>> and you know the thing I think the thing that bothers me is like we've had this happen twice that I'm aware of. um under the Buckley administration and under Kevin Sullivan, they took the trust funds,
okay, and kept the interest when the trust funds because it's up to the board to invest the funds >> when the trust funds were given back to us. We were never given that interest, you know. >> Okay. >> You what you read was just interments.
I'm sorry. Um councelor Lel Okay, take a look. But I'm I'm looking at this and going >> actually I'm I'm actually reading. >> Yeah, you were just looking at interments 160,000 >> as of June 3rd.
>> Inter sales of lots foundation sales recording another fees as of June 3rd. It's 160,000. >> I would be here. That's what we need. >> And what is this? >> That's the budget of the 26.
>> I may just sit back and just let this ruminate in my head and let other people ask. I need to absorb some of this. So you >> Okay. All right. So >> I mean are we I just want to make sure we're on the same page though, director. I mean I am looking at the right number 160.
>> If I'm wrong, I want to be corrected and I want to apologize. >> I apologize. You are correct. >> Okay. No worries. I give up the floor so I can you I apologize. >> No worries. Good. >> Okay. So, council the plan is uh deciding to marinate a little bit on this discussion. So, I'm going to open
the floor for other counselors if you have um questions or comments for the for the cemetery team. >> Uh council president. >> So, So u uh looking at these numbers uh not
per not per se the amount but uh looking at how uh the cemetery function and how you generate funds uh what type of outreach you do for people to um
u kind of like get prepared and buy lots ahead of time perhaps not when when people are in need perhaps and more importantly uh when they not necessarily need it and
they and and and they work proactively. Do we do you have any program to do some type of outreach and let people know like how much is a lot >> perhaps? I mean when they look at your website because they need it,
>> right? >> And that's you know what I mean? >> That's what you're saying. Yeah. So, but I mean um >> what I what I I have is just Belleview cemetery flyers, you know, funeral homes. That's all. And I don't
we don't we don't do any any outreach. Do you think that that may be important for it for >> that would be ideal to do that? >> Except to be honest with you,
the Belleview Cemetery is not prepared for that. >> Why? >> Because we need land. >> We need >> land. >> We're running out of land >> to bury. >> So you guys are running out of land. >> Yes.
>> So what happens? Uh >> yeah. So I really it's not like I I'm looking for people to come. >> What happens to a cemetery if they do run out of land? >> We need to do a demand domain. >> Yeah. What do you have to take property?
>> I'd have to take people's property. >> We actually >> that's >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> I don't want to. >> Right. >> Um we have >> I don't even want to be around for that one. >> I Yeah. Me neither. Uh we actually have squatters right now.
>> Right now I have >> uh there are two squatters encroaching upon our property. One of them put a deck on it. Okay. I'm not making this up. >> Okay. But but >> All right. Let me let me ask your question to this. But but right now to answer your your we're not we haven't we
don't do outreach because we're not prepared for it. So, uh, how big is the cemetery right now? >> Right now, we do have two and three interments a day. And with the staff that we have, there's my foreman and
director, that's we only have a staff of four to do burials. >> And it's about >> that's more than enough. >> It's 119 acres right now. >> That's more than enough to maintain. We don't even have the staff. >> We don't have the staff. We're not prepared.
and we don't have the grounds. >> No, >> because I think that that my question is going away from what I'm what I'm looking for. >> Uh something that we have >> you'd like a brochure >> perhaps. >> Oh yes. >> Something like that. Like a brochure so the people could come and you know we
could sell them lots or andor help them out you know. >> Oh they come. They come. >> Is that what you're looking for? >> No no no. just, you know, the only thing that we have secure is that we're going to die. >> That's for sure. >> That's for sure. And if you're in the
city of Lawrence, you're either going to be buried at the Belleview Cemetery or at the St. Mary's. >> Yeah. >> One of the two places. That's that's the reality of life. >> It's true. >> It going to cost us our life.
>> That's the reality of the debt. In 2024, you have a lot more debt. That's why you have a lot more profit. >> Yes. Yeah. >> So people don't want to say it that way, but it's been the blonde person here today is because that's the reality of the gig. >> Yeah. >> If you're alive, you're going to die.
>> Yes. >> So the fact that we're going to die at some point and there is people that don't want to realize that and there is others that leave their life knowing the fact that they are going to be at that place at some point.
Why don't we and when it comes to educating the community like telling them like this is what it's going to take for you to be very at this place. >> I see >> you either get prepared now or get prepared when you have a family have an
emergency. A lot of us think ahead of time. I say a lot of us but not ready yet. >> But that's the reality of the gig. I mean, can we go out to the community, to the neighborhood associations, to other places perhaps and say a lot on our
cemetery, this is how much it cost. >> We we >> and and and talk about that because I mean, why not? >> They were going to make that decision for me multiple times two years ago. Um I still have not purchased a lot to
>> be, you know what I'm saying? I'm a last minute person and I'm not going to care when I'm not here. >> Uh, another question that I have, um, uh, I asked you how much land you have and my next question was going to be how much available land is there today based
on the 118 uh, acres that you guys own. >> No, there's we still have we have some >> we have um, one section Mont W. >> Yeah. Well, there's >> the far and we have Mthuan >> and
>> which that's our next conversation. >> Yeah. They there's also the land that a bunch of >> Barker Street. Okay. >> Which is Lawrence. >> There is also um the land what is that? Do street I think it is.
>> Yes. >> It was part of your district I think and now it's yours. Um you know what I'm talking about. that is also there's a small section in there uh we can get creative if we have to which is like um
you know going and doing musleium type things columbarium things all of that and then like I said >> that's what I want to do in high gate those are niches >> stand up niches >> there you know eventually at some point
we would probably have to use Mount Belleview which is going to be My venue is engineering. >> Yeah, >> that's that's beautiful. So, >> uh you mentioned methan. So,
uh what is uh can you give us more detail on that? >> That is that's when you're driving on Barker Street, you when you're going to enter the cemetery coming up from Methuan, if before you enter Belleview, you see all forests. That's our land.
That's Bel. And then it backs up to the neighborhood. I forget the street. The next street >> that's I think that's um >> uh about um another question is about four years ago uh there was two lanes. >> So we have to clean that out and that's
that's the rest of the cemetery. >> It's going to have to be and then the roads have to be laid in you know it's going to have to be leveled. Um >> it has to be engineered. >> Yeah. and and clearcut and then probably some soil testing so that we don't run into a large amount of water.
>> So, uh like four years ago, the city of Lawrence uh transfer over two different parcels uh one that that is on May Street and the other one that is behind around the rotary >> behind there. I don't know the name of the street, but I mean it's it's around
there. Um and and and that was the discussion around those transfer of those properties were specifically for a specific for your plan. >> Yes. >> And we haven't hear anything then since >> they have put a driveway on one of them
and the deck is on the other. >> That's what we're talking about. >> That's those are our squatters on main street and I did. >> Okay. Though the reason why I was hesitant back then when I bought it in favor of it, it was because we either use it, >> we would sell it. Yes.
>> And at that point, those land those L were value for over $100,000. >> Mhm. >> Revenue that could have come to the city, but instead we actually let >> uh let the transfer go to >> let the transfer go to the cemetery.
So now we have an issue with um uh people on the on those places like >> right where you don't one like I said is put a driveway in there. Okay. So >> he actually built the driveway. >> We actually have to get him to remove that driveway without >> pardon me. without permits,
>> without nothing. >> Is our is our >> quarters? >> Why put a deck? >> There's a deck. And there's graves underneath it. >> A deck with graves. >> And so here's my my thing is like you should never hear about a cemetery. It
should never be on the front page of the news unless we're having Memorial Day or something like that. Now, if we turn around and we just go in with a bulldozer, which we would have every right to do, we'd be getting phone calls. the globe would come out. You see what I'm saying? And so that's the
problem. That's why we haven't done anything. We need to literally go in there and bulldoze it because that's actually high highly valuable land. We sell by the inch. We don't sell by the acreage or thousand square feet. We sell
lots by the inch. >> So that's what I'm saying. So essentially the city passed over those land, those two parcels, buildable lands. >> Right. Right. uh because of was a plan and now there is something changed. What is the what is the approach that the cemetery is
going to take when it comes to taking over those parcels back? >> If we have to we'll just move the fence over and you'll be getting phone calls. I'm sure >> it is what it is at the end of the day. We we border in favor of doing those
transfers back four years ago. >> Mhm. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions or comments? >> See, councelor Le, >> I don't have no more comments on the numbers. I just got a question on
something that's kind of gotten some publicity and that is the um the movement of the uh police memorial. And I and I guess I was wondering if the the board of directors had a vote on that or not.
>> No, we were not informed. Well, we're not even aware of it. >> Yeah, they just came in and did what they did. Um, they've left some pieces behind. Again, that's >> what I'm sorry. I can hear you. >> They've left a couple of small markers behind. >> Yeah.
>> And um I think there's a dog in there. >> Dog. Dog. >> I think there is a police dog interred in there. We didn't know about it. I heard about that later. But there's a dog in there. But the the the monument and the name and whatever that was there
has been taken out and to this is the one that's going to be used at the new police station or something. >> That's my understanding. >> In all fairness, I must say this in all disclosure. >> I want fairness >> because I have all respect.
>> I I I I've met um I looked at the going back to 1997. The Belleview Cemetery granted that land in favor. The board then granted that um in as a gifted it so the police station
police officers of the city >> the patrolman. >> So it's a to the patrolman unit association as a gift. >> So that they could do their own memorial for all our officers. So the memorials lay there not for one particular officer but for all our
officers to use to memorize their loved ones. >> Okay. >> So that land is there for their usage. >> That land is there for all officers to memorize their loved ones. >> I came there so there was nobody really
but um our late Tommy Cuddy used to work with me in upkeeping it because I always wanted to upkeep it. So he used to help me with that. That went on and then suddenly it was just gone. One day I came to work and that was gone.
>> Everything was just moved. >> No communication. So then I did call >> um the chief, the our president chief and he worked with me and connected me with the person that was in charge now of their association. And they said
because there was people that were very upset about this happening and do and they have the right to be upset. >> It's a memorial. You don't take down memorials. >> I I get that. >> So
>> that being said, and um the police said they were going to try to recreate it. I gave them information on the person that could help them with this and I would assist and we're waiting on that.
That's all I could say. >> Yeah. >> But other than that, the cemetery had nothing to do with it. >> Yeah. I'm afraid about going too deep into this because I don't know all the facts. >> Right. We don't. And then I mean all we know is that's what happened. But but the thing that's what's interesting is
that the board never took a vote, but it's your understanding that the board of directors deeded it over to the >> we gave it to them and that's going way way back. >> Okay. As long as they continue to maintain that. >> This is going way back. >> This is in 1997. >> I I get it.
>> Okay. And I wasn't on the board. And it's a funny thing to bring this up because Sean Sean was there as part of the color guard. Okay. And the thing was was he remembered it, but it was there was a like >> there was a whole ceremony. >> Yeah, it was a whole cere you know you know the whole thing but uh there was
never a deed. It was never a piece of property deed over to anybody. >> No, it's just Well, there is a contract, >> you know. It was like a memorandum of understanding kind of thing and there was all the the fire department did the same thing. They pulled their monument out. I'm gonna I'm
gonna I'm gonna for me I'm gonna end this part of the conversation with this statement. I I there's a lot of moving parts here, but I I my my sense and just knowing what I know as little of it that I do know is that communication is
always the key and communicating with people who have a vested interest in that site because they've lost loved ones and they're there. having that kind of communication uh I think would have been critical and not um offending
>> offending family members and and it it just seemed as from where I'm sitting it just seemed as though that did not take place and something that happened that didn't need to happen and we have enough of that in our city that we don't need more
>> open wounds that are self-inflicted. So u anyway I'll stop there. Thank you. I appreciate I give up the rest of my time. >> Thank you. We're actually um I don't think there are any other comments or questions, so I'm going to wrap up uh
the cemetery hearing with saying that um I have a lovehate relationship with cemeteries, as you know. Um two weeks from now is actually going to be my dad's fifth year death anniversary. So,
it's it's a very tough topic for me, but I'm not oblivious to the work that people put into upkeeping these cemeteries, including the ones in our city. The one that we have in this city is large. And the fact that there's only
four of you maintaining it, that's incredible work. So, I do want to publicly thank you for that. And I'm sure that the families that do visit their loved ones appreciate um going there and the work that you guys are doing there. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you so much.
>> All right. Thank you so much. That wraps up your hearing. Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> All right. Next. >> Good. >> We're good. >> So far, I'm not told. Uh, next we have Department of Public Works.
>> You can turn a little bit. >> Oh, yeah. >> Thank you. >> Oh, that's weird. You're not >> um I usually I would be cool, but Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. >> Good evening, director.
>> Good evening. Uh, Jorge Himer, director of public works for the city of Lawrence, 200 Common Street. Uh, good evening, Madame Chair. Good evening, uh, Council President Rodriguez. Uh, members of the city council, thank you, uh, for the opportunity to present the
Department of Public Works budget for fiscal year 2027. The proposed budget is 15,612,349. Compare to the last year's meeting to the last year's budget of 15 millions
$295,485 the repres this represent an increase of $316,864 of approximately 2.1%. I am pleased to report that this is a balanced and responsible budget. Most of
the increase is related to personal services cost that require that are required on the contractual agreements. All the operating expenses have been carefully review and manage to minimize impacts in the city's finances. This boy
allow us to continue providing essential services to our residents that depends on it a everyday uh sorry this budget allow us to continue providing the essential services our
residents depend on every day. Parks, public spaces, and public infrastructure will continue to be a priority as we work to create and preserve facilities
like for example this council chamber. We are extremely proud that dedicated team whose hard work and commitment make projects like this possible. My team remains dedicated to providing a section
of public services while maintaining a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and the prominent stewardship of taxpayer resources. I can see that several supervisors,
foreman, and laborers are here tonight. To each and every one of you, I want to express my sincere gratitude for all you do to keep our city moving. Whether it's a snowing, raining, or
extremely hot, whether it's during the day or in the middle of the night, whether is a regular workday or a holiday, you are always there serving our residents with dedication and professionalism.
Your hard work often goes unnoticed, but is deeply appreciated. On behalf of the city and the residents we serve, thank you all for your commitment, your sacrifice, and your unwavering dedication to our
community. Can you please stand so counelors can see my team tonight? >> Thank you. So what we've done direct in the past u I appreciate when departments bring their whole team u and I know this is a long process so thank you for being patient and thank you for being here
tonight but we've actually gone around and had people introduce themselves their name and and what they do for their department. So we would like to do that with your team. >> We can do that. So do you want me to do it now? >> Yes. Let's just do it now. Let's they're already up. >> Let's do it now.
>> Let's do it now. Let's start over here with the manager. Kathy, >> could we start with him? >> And then Kathy, manager,
>> Gary, building and facility supervisor. William finally supervisor. Gonzalez department. >> Welcome. Thank you again for being here and thank you for your for your patience as we go through this.
>> Before I conclude, I would like to mention that today is my birthday. Happy birthday. >> While >> your your birthday gift from the city council budget and finance committee. Why I I'm not sure if it is appropriate
to include birthday wishes in the in the budget process. I can think of a birthday gift that will make me very happy and that is your support for the DPW budget tonight. Thank you. >> I think I think you might have dethroned
the capital department. So we we have a we have a joke. the f the first night we had the CAFO's department and there was a lot of funny jokes throughout the night and ever since that night we haven't had so much laughter or jokes and I I I think you might have you're
challenging the the capital's department right now >> so counselors I I would like to thank you for your continued support to the department of public works so that that means a lot to us if you have any question I'll be happy to answer >> thank you uh director just like um our
public safety safety departments. Your department has various uh sections. So what we did with the police and fire, we had them go through each section. Then we would stop at the end of each budget or department or office uh for
questioning and and comments. So let's start off with the public works administration budget. After uh you give us an overview of this budget, we'll I'll open the floor to the counselors for any questions pertaining this this particular section.
>> So as you can see there is little changes on that. We just move uh some money to from one account to the other but there is no a lot of increasements there. Well, walk us through. What do you mean moved some monies to account?
>> So, we from office supplies we moved like uh uh and and they gave us 600 extra I think Ramon and and that gave us 500 $5,600 and we move it from the um
from the account 5420 to the account 5425. So to operating supplies that is almost the same thing but it will give us uh a little bit more window. That's for operating supplies for the office for the administrative office.
>> Okay. And then walk us through now the personnel services summary. >> Yeah personal services. So it's contractual agreements. So, we just uh working with the contract right now and we just did the increasements to that uh line item uh to to comply with the um
with the agreements with the unions. >> All right, counselors, any questions or comments pertaining to the admin portion of DPW? >> Albert, Council Marl, >> director, happy birthday. >> Thank you. Um
so um I want to start off uh by thanking you and also showing my appreciation to your employees. Um I am deeply grateful for your employees. Um and I understand the hard work that
they do. Um, I'm also grateful at the fact that I I believe I have a good relationship with you, your deputy director, and the majority of your employees. Um, so I just wanted to start off by saying how I understand the needs uh of why you're advocating for your
department. Um, and how much I appreciate each one of your employees. Um, however, I must start off by saying, and I'm sorry that I'm gonna veer a little bit left here. Um, okay. No, I'm just waiting. All right.
I'm going to veer a little bit left. In one token, how I am showing deep appreciation for your department. I feel that your department also is by far the one department that probably has the most problematic employees. Um,
but because I understand the needs that the city has and how important your department is is why um I'm going to focus on the positive and how the positive of your department outweigh outweighs the negative, but I
do need to reinforce how it's important on your end because at the end of the day, each one of your employees is a reflection of you and um and the title that you hold and the responsibility that you hold um for the people under you if you understand where
I'm coming from. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Um when I was going like this on operating supplies, I do understand that um given that extra amount of money, do you just mind touching uh a little bit on why why
the transfer? What exactly is the purpose of transferring that money uh to the to that account and what purpose does it serve? >> It's because it's the same is is it's like the same uh uh account office supplies and operating supplies. They
sounds the same. They always the same. We just want to put it in one account where it makes sense. So, uh again, it's it's not a big change. is just to cut some line items that we have uh and and just consolidate uh that account.
>> But what what exactly happens under operating supplies cuz supplies is completely different. >> We buy papers, you know, uh materials for the office that's what it is. >> Okay. But why the transfer though? Cuz obviously that account is better than
the office supply one, right? So if you if you see when you go to supplies uh the account says office supplies and if you go >> where we transfer the money so it's it says operating supplies is it's basically the same thing. >> Okay. >> We're just trying to consolidate and
make less you know accounts to to be able to manage it better. >> Okay. I'm going to move on to page 110. Um I'm seeing the finance officer is uh is that because the position is no longer needed needed or is just a
happens to be an open I can't talk today. It happens to be an open position. It happens to be an open position to which you're potentially looking for that position to be filled. So remember when I came in front of you to create the manager office the finance
and administrative services my commitment was to move that person from finance officer to be the manager. So that's why I'm closing that position this year. >> All right. So the man that's that's a new position
or I'm assuming they've already started. >> She's here. >> Yeah. Yeah. We are we have it here present with us. >> Okay. You're going to have to I know you guys introduce yourselves and I'm thank you for doing that. And in part, I'm glad I don't remember because sometimes
when I attach a face and a name to a position, it could potentially become um a conflict. If people think that there's a special, you know, we're playing favorites if we happen to, you know, h have some sort of friendship or, you
know, there could be a lot of uh lines that could be misconstrued if we know the name that's attached to the title. So on my end when I'm speaking on a on a specific position I trust me that I I
forget who who is the specific person. Um so when I look initially on that position I'm noticing that it's an 8% increase as opposed to maybe a typical three four you know if we're being generous. Why the the 8% increase on
this position? um considering that you know we'll touch on it when we move further along on other departments where I'm not seeing an increase at all. So why this position is an 8% increase? >> I know that that is a union position. It could be one of the um agreements that
CVA that we have. So probably Ramona can can tell you a little bit more about it, >> but uh I know it's a is a union position, so it goes by steps. Thank you for clarifying that. Um, and I already have an understanding that the data
clerk uh the data entry clerk uh which is um removed from the mayor's department coming into your department. Why the need for this position and what role would this person have for your department? >> So, it's going to continue with the same role and we're going to add to it. So,
uh we're going to put a position under the buildings and facilities. it makes sense to be on their buildings and facilities because it's at the entrance of one of the buildings. I think it's been a plus for people who come to visit city hall. They always look lost looking
for departments and that person is from my point of view I think he's doing a great job guiding person and bringing them to the right uh uh places where they are looking for. And then we're going to add some duties because uh
buildings and facilities now is growing and and they receive a lot of invoices and things like that that that uh Glen Gotti who is a supervisor for buildings and facilities that he will need that help and and we really can do you know a
lot with that position under buildings and facilities. >> Okay, I'm all set up for this department. Council councelor Lplant. >> Thank you. One of the bigger from where I sit one of the bigger changes that you
have done in your department at least in this portion of it is by the way happy birthday is the um deputy director. Um I just want you to know and I want to say this publicly that you've always have
been available to me when I needed to talk to you about any particular issue. So the response time even during a little less with snowstorms for obvious reasons but but very good and I have nothing to complain about with respect to response. Um but what you were able
to do in selecting someone who I thought has and has shown herself to have aptitude. Um, and then I have frankly have relied more on your deputy than on you recently uh to get answers on things and I think that's the way you want it to be and if things rise to a certain
level then I know I can always access you and have a conversation with you. But quite frankly that has been relatively rare. Why? Because the the your staff most specifically that individual um has done a pretty good job. And I just felt compelled to um say
um I know there's sometimes there's personnel positions that I scratch my head after we authorize it or support it. I'm thinking, "Oh my god, what a nightmare." You know, I just I'm thinking this person was just awful or I
I don't want to not what I not what I expected and not what the city deserves. But in this particular case, it's the other way. So I just feel compelled to to say that the rest and I just um since you are part of this as well as a department of public works, you have a
very it's a challenging city. It's a challenging city for all our for all our departments and all of our department heads. Um and and you um we always talk about public safety and and DPW sometimes doesn't get the the the the
attention that it deserves. Uh especially when it comes to snowstorms and other things. I mean, you always get brought to the carpet every February. Not every February, but when we have a massive snowstorm and people want answers. I think there's always room for improvement.
I think room for improvement for you, for me, all of us can improve. Um but I think that you're open to improvement and um I'm I'm happy with the job that you're doing. And I just want to say that publicly. Nobody's perfect. I'm going to find reasons to complain during
this budget. Um, but when I say complain, I mean constructively criticize. Not to criticize to demean or to put people down, but to criticize to how can we improve. So that's how I would look at it when I when I get to those points that that are going to come up. But just thank you.
>> Thank you, counselor. I'll pass that compliment to my team. That's that is because of them. We have a good team and and I appreciate what they do in an everyday basis. Thank you. Any other questions to any other questions or
comments? >> No. Okay. So, I have uh before we move on, I echo both of my colleagues's colleagues um sentiments towards you and your availability and your willingness to work with us and to the deputy
director, Miss Santana. As you know, all the emails that I sent to you guys with requests, I reach out to both of you directly all the time. And even was it last week? Last week you met with me and you you weren't feeling well and you're like, "Counselor, I'm sorry. I don't know if it was allergies or something."
But I appreciate what you guys do. I do have some areas that um to council the plan's point that I I may be um providing constructive feedback later on in the budget. Um but overall I do
appreciate the efforts that you guys make as leaders and and your team. Um, now on the flip side of that, uh, going back to the comment that Council Marl made about how your employees are your a reflection of you. Um,
some of the what I mentioned earlier about uh, what city employees say about city councilors and how I get back back to us. I've had heard some things from employees of DPW and
if things are said in your personal time or whatever, I don't care about that. That's your personal time. Do whatever you want. But when negative things are happening or being said during work time, that's that's a problem cuz now, you know, I have a whole budget in front
of me and you have the director asking us to approve it and to support you. Um, so again, I echo that a department is the reflection of the leadership and I know you tried your best to work with all of us and I don't, you know, I'm not
oblivious to that and I appreciate that. Um, but I think there's some work to be done when it comes to some of the employees within your department. I >> I absolutely agree. So that's not that's that is not what they see from the uh leadership of the department. So and and
that's something that we can work on. Definitely. Definitely. Yes. >> All right, director. Let's move on to Oh, I'm sorry. I did have a question. Um, page 110, water and sewer office supervisor
that is under does the water and sewer department I mean I know it's under DPD DPW but is there a separate budget for them? There is a separate budget for them but the position is created on the ordinance with that name but it's because the same department so it fits
perfectly with the DPW. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. All right. So let's move on to public works engineering. Is that the one second? >> Okay. Okay, under engineering there is
no changes as as as you see just uh again contractual agreements with uh the unions salaries and wages. >> Any questions or comments pertaining engineering council?
>> Thanks. So in a city like Florence and you know the city as well as or better than most with all the engineering issues that we have, we have a half of an engineer.
It just it just startles me uh that >> so that's that's called counselor. Sorry that I interrupted. >> Please interrupt because maybe I'm going the wrong way and you're going to straighten me out. That's be because it's budgeted
you know through water and and our administrative office. So since budgeted half of the salary okay >> we pay it from DPW half of the salary is paid uh from water department. That's why you see half of the >> position there. >> They didn't ask you which halfs in the
DPW and which happens in the water. But but does the city engineer is the city engineer current with all the proper certifications that's required for the ordinance? >> No. So we haven't been able to find
someone with the qualifications. So we've been in conversation with the unions trying to do different you know things to make it you know a little bit more attractive for engineers with the licenses to come and work with us but uh
we signed an MOU with them. So I I I need to review it again because uh I think we still need u an engineer with the um with a PE license but uh because of union issues we can we're not able to
offer the salary that that they are looking for. So right now so we are in that process but again so we we are going to find one. Do you you seem optimistic about it, but I will say to you that this has been ongoing
for quite some time now. It's been multiple I think multiple years. >> Absolutely. >> Where we haven't had an individual uh with the proper credentials. It's been like a long time. I mean it may be I don't want to guess a long
time. I'll just I'll stick with that. I and I don't know what's what's impeding us from getting somebody that's cred with the proper credentials. My first reaction is are we providing enough resources? Is there enough funding?
I I don't know what's going to attract somebody with the proper qualifications. I mean, we have an engineer among us here. I could probably say I probably should be asking Mr. Rodriguez that question. I mean, what would it take for Mr. Rodriguez to be the city engineer? I mean, what what would you what would
what would we be looking for to for an engineer with the kind of credentials you have to work here? Is that >> are we lowballing through you? >> Uh well, let me tell you something. >> What's the number? 100,000. Is that the is that the going rate total?
>> Probably $130,000. >> Well, half of it right here is >> No, no. That we need to find out from a guy who is in the field how much would attract somebody. The most the problem here is is is sometime the salary but I mean it's more than that
sometime you don't mix your your engineering uh professional with with a lot of stuff that is going on in a such a political department. So sometime professionals on that area
think about that as well and that and work in a in a place that sometime decision are made based on people that not necessarily understand uh just for the political desire that's an issue. So to me I mean
>> I'm not asking you for I wasn't being serious. >> No I mean I'm I'm serious. Yeah, >> that's what he that's the reality. But I mean to get to your point, we have Felix uh that was the city engineer for quite some time. He have the credential and he left to Matuan like probably like maybe
three four years ago. >> Who was that? >> Felix. >> Felix Garcia. >> That's right. >> So three four years ago. And then we have a couple others. Magros. Uh she also served. >> Yeah, good point. She was also a P
>> Ryan Pñena and also Carlos Hakas. He was not >> the city engineer, but he had the credentials. >> So they all have left and uh and at some point we're going to get to the point that we can get the PE for the position.
So, let me end with this and construct a criticism, not to beat you down, but rather to let you know where we're coming, where I'm coming from that would lift up our city a little bit more and especially from your department. We need somebody here uh we need I'm not saying
whoever's filling in is doing a bad job necessarily, but we need somebody there who can pick it up. um because there's a lot of demands a lot of demands and and we need somebody with some expertise to provide that even from the ordinance committee when I was a chair of the
ordinance committee relying on plans for example on streets and such and trying to get those and working with the police department and trying to figure out what works for a safe street you get driving and that just a small part of it and that's a small part of their job it's a
much bigger job so anyway I think that would be helpful if we can really get somebody with the qualific ifications to serve. >> Yeah, believe me, councelor, we're looking forward. >> I hear you. Thank you. Preaching to the choir, >> council president. >> Um, thank you, Madame Chair.
Essentially on this department, uh, something that I believe it is going to be needed is that is the the configuration of the department. We we have a person and a person doesn't make a department. So essentially we need to do a physible
study to see what is it that we need and and with within that design the signed a department with a specific positions a city like Lawrence uh perhaps with uh close to 100,000 people it's a lot of
vehicles that's one of the biggest revenue that we have which is SA taxes but with that a lot of other things come as part of the responsibilities and Um you know as as an engineer I can tell you that it it is it is important to
have a traffic engineer in place because I mean uh without that uh oh with that it will be uh a lot of in uh in-house uh little project that can be done that we can
save some money and some a lot of analysis that we can uh we can um uh we can use that person to do uh we can they can do th those those analysis traffic analysis and uh and sometime
uh those are also savings. Um, I think that you should have somebody that, you know, is a drafter, an auto cut uh drafter that can do a small designs in combination with the uh traffic engineer
and the city engineer to do some in-house work uh especially during the downfall uh time perhaps winter and uh and I think that the configuration of the department uh is going to lift up the department
the the DPW in general uh with a lot of a lot more uh expertise perhaps um I just want I just want to make sure like I'm clear when I my previous statement I'm not referring to uh you uh
as the person that is going to guide the department you are very wellqualified with a lot of experience um and we have talked about different issues when it comes to the department but what I mean by political decision is
not necessarily from the director it's from the politicians so far the director haven't become a politician yet but I mean you're not the polit politician that I'm referring to you know just to be clear and
uh but yeah I mean I think that the configuration of the department of the engineering department will be nice to see at some point um adding positions that we need even though we probably don't fund it but see the intention as of uh why we need those
and um and I think that that will help. >> Thank you. >> All right, moving on to public works street maintenance. So again, there is little changes on the department. So other than uh contractual
agreements too. So we're going out to $37,843 just uh uh to pay salaries for unions positions. >> Any questions or comments regarding
street maintenance? Uh, council marble >> director. Um, on page 114, I'm noticing if you don't mind reminding me cuz I'm assuming this is abbreviated the positions of cho and
ho. >> So, you want you want to know what that means? >> Mhm. >> So, SMO is a special HMO. >> Say that again. >> A special HMO. Okay. Special. >> So that's >> what makes them special.
>> It's is like >> Yeah. Is it's the license that they uh that we require for those positions. So like like let's say an MO is a motor equipment operator that is a basic license. Uh and then as you go up like
high special HMO so then you will require a CDL um and a hosting license. So that's what it is when you go to a special HMO. So it's going to require CDL license and then uh it will be
combined like with a sign makers. They will need certain licenses too. So it it depends the equipments that you're going to operate. So you you going to require those type of licenses. >> Okay. So the HMEO don't doesn't have a license. an HMO is a high uh motor
equipment operator that that needs a CDL license. >> Okay. The reason why I'm asking this is because I'm looking at the salary and to me it's it's a little disappointing to see this position. Well, for one, the SH
the SHMEO there is not even a a 3%, you know, there's no increase. Um, and we're speaking to the fact that there's three positions. Um, and I divided it by three. I'm not sure
if one obviously depending on their longevity to the position, um, that there's a difference amongst all three positions, but if I was to divide it by three, it the average would be $45,739.
So again, when I look at the budget and I see salary increases from certain positions where I'm like asking how is it 8% for example, um, and I've done this across the board with other departments.
I just have a hard time, you know, and I feel bad for these positions at less than $50,000. How are they even This is not even a a dignified pay. And I don't know the the gravity and the
depth of what they do, you know, what are the responsibilities for these positions, but I'm talking about $45,000 for the SHME and then the the one below that turns out to like an average of 49. when I'm looking at salary increases and
I'm not seeing that these positions um when I'm looking at the salary I I I I'm I'm trying to make sense as to how we feel satisfied in approving a budget where a lot of these employees that are
the boots in the ground the ones that are you know not to say that the ones in the office are not doing the hard work but you know I think it's time that our budget starts reflecting the appreciation um that we have for the employees that
are, you know, are out there and and sacrificing the long hours, the regardless of the weather that they're out there doing the work. So, I'm just trying to see if you can make sense of why the the one with the license that you mentioned, why no salary increase
for that position. >> Counselor, I do agree with you. They should be making more money, but those are contractual agreements that I cannot violate. So they just going to pay what the union negotiate. They're going to get a 3%. It's going to be retroactive
and I I have to tie to to that. So I cannot pay them more than that. They had to go by a steps and and and that's what it is. I would love to pay them $100,000. They you know, but I cannot. >> I got it. Hold on. I'm going to feel a little bit frustrating. Uh >> yeah,
>> I'm feeling a little bit frustrated. I don't know if I'm coming out of pocket counselor. I'm not sure if this gesture was meant like, oh, obviously, and I'm sorry if I'm misinterpreting that, but I also like when I when I hear, oh, you know, it's a contractual obligation or
we're just following the steps. The reason why I'm annoyed a little bit with that is because depending on who it is, depending on who it is, we find the ability somehow magically to put them at a certain step where they're able to
start at a certain step and a certain a certain grade. So that's why, you know, I ask these questions to better un, you know, I want to be able to understand as to why certain positions I'm seeing a very low and I get it that we have to
start from the bottom. I I I'm a union employee myself and I remember getting paid working for Lawrence District Court at $32,000 uh a year. It was like $15 an hour back then. Um and again, I don't even know how I made it. Um, but when I
look at the times that we're in now, $49,000, I'm sorry, like the cost of I back and I don't even remember what year that was, but $32,000 was is like I managed, >> but 49,000 now, and I'm I'm speaking at
the times that we're in now, I I don't know how they're managing, and I I don't personally think it's a dignified salary, but I completely understand that this is probably beyond your control. Um, >> but again, I want you to understand that >> when I see certain positions that are
coming in, >> there's ways where we're putting them in in a certain step and a certain grade >> and and in that case is because if you are an employee that you're going to be moved in the same department and you've been working with the city of Lawrence
for 40 years, 30 years, of course, you're not going to start in step one. But if you are a new employee, so that's what the the agreement says to start in step one. But if you uh probably has been with the department for you know
long period. So of course you're going to jump maybe to a different step. So that's probably what you have seen when you see that some employees they go to a different step in in in in in the salaries. So the storekeeper for
example, is that like that's a step >> $10,000 change? >> The storeke keepers, they both the ones that we have, they were moved from other departments. Let's say um one of the storekeepers went from the parking uh to
u buildings and facilities and the other one it probably has f five years of experience right now. He's going to go to a different step that that we take that in consideration too. And I love that you said that there's there's discretion. >> No, no discretion. It's because
you said consideration, which is fine. I think that that's absolutely >> you should, you know, I I me as an employee, if I come with certain credentials, I would I would love for you to take consideration, but that's exactly the point that I'm trying to make. It's the discretion that we have to take consideration of, you know, the
the background and experience um that some of these employees have. Um, and I feel like sometimes, and I'm not speaking to you directly. I I'm I'm generalizing here with with this administration, that that discretion is
dangerous. Um, but I just wanted to make sure that um I had an understanding regarding why one specific position didn't have an increase. >> To to be honest with you, my myself, I don't take the decision where they going
to. So what they going to get paid? So it goes to personal department. That's their responsibility to put them in the step that they go take in cons consideration the uh uh the the experience and all of that. So we just do the recommendation. Salary is another step.
>> Okay. Thank you. I appreciate your your explanation. >> Any other questions or any other questions or comments council president? uh under uh on the stipens uh uh these are the styping
related to the uh to the union agreement related to the licenses. >> Yes, that that's when you get um a license like a hosting license. So the city will give you I think $1,500 as an incentive
uh for them to to or to motivate them to get licenses to work for the department. Yes. So if somebody have a license, they also have a responsibility to use those license, right? >> Absolutely. >> Is that's the case? >> That's the case. Yes. >> Okay.
>> All right. Thank you, Council. >> I just want to say a quick for you. Um a quick thank you through on the project that I'm working on, the Lawrence Square project. I know that Director Santana has been very involved in helping me out, but also Christian, I think, is in
this part of the budget. That's where he is. Street operations. >> Yes. So, I want to thank him and and the rest of the team as well for um for being consistent and thorough and and doing a good job and getting the the stuff done every Thursday for 4:00. So,
just a nice plug and appreciation. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I think that's um Thank you. I have a question and a comment in page 113. Advertising $18,000.
Why do you need $18,000 for advertising? >> So, we we do a lot of advertisement. Let's say when there's no when this is no season, we need to advertise. We have to we must to advertise certain things like when the um
trenches are going to be like uh prohibited. So, we had to advertise that when the season is open again for construction, we had to advertise that uh when we going to do the tours or let's say the bridge that we going to be closed for 7 months. It's good to advert
to advertise that and let the public know. Also, we do a lot of bits that we had to advertise to and uh yeah, things like that. >> Okay. My second I guess question slash comment street maintenance we're talking
about street marking street signages all the things that we hear the most from constituents correct >> yes >> right okay so what my comment earlier about my constructive feedback this is this is where it's going to begin it's I'll keep I'll keep it short
but um I'm very as much as I love this department and you know I support this department a Um, but I'm also very frustrated to see the conditions of the street markings within my district. Um, and the comments that have been made
to me about counselors not sending requests in. Um, I don't work for DPW 247. I'm not a full-time employee for the city. I assist you guys and you guys help me out. Um, and I know it's not, none of us
are blind to see that there's um crosswalks, double yellow lines that are basically now invisible throughout District D. And my frustration is there was a campaign season that a lot of the work from DPW was mainly focused in
North Lawrence. And what further frustrates me is that there's an area within Mount Vernon. Um, it's the I I'm forgetting the streets at the moment, but it's further up Mount
Vernon, closer to to North Street, the the Andover line where street pavings that I've been advocating for since 2022 magically gets accomplished 3 days before the general election.
And it wasn't because of me. I can tell you that much. So things like this frustrates me. Um and I and I hope to see an improvement moving forward. And this is a little bit about that politics within this department that we see. And
I know sometimes things are out of your control because you do answer to a boss and I understand that. But we have to keep this in mind. And I wasn't the only one that noticed. I've received calls from constituents. They noticed it. They they weren't so happy how that came
about either. Um so I know that I'm not going crazy or overanalyzing things when people are coming to me and stating the same things. So, I just want to say that um I also I I emphasized this before um when we had
the the hearing on the on the the snow situation that when we think about the city and I it's not just north or south. It's the city. It's the city of Lawrence. And I understand sometimes for a project majority of the resources need
to be focused in one area, but we can't just 90% focus on one area. We have to we have to find that balance that if we're doing a project in North Lawrence that something is happening in South Lawrence, too, because again, we're one city. And I just want to emphasize that
because I'm seeing a lot a lot of the my markings disappearing. >> Yeah. I I would like to say councelor that construction doesn't happen overnight. It doesn't happen in 3 days. I I you have to trust me if I tell you when you requested those streets maybe
you had to wait for years for those streets to be those we need to do procurements. We need to do we need to get fundings. We need to do a lot of things. It's it's not because of because someone is campaigning or not. It's not because the boss requested it. So he
requested a flag pole to be pled on Marson Street and the mayor waited for two years. So he requested whatever he wants. He has to wait for the procurement process because I'm not going to do a mistake just because a boss is requesting me to do it. So I
assure you that is not because of because there was an election because right now we investing millions of dollars dollars and there is no election coming up. So right now we paving, we are doing markings and all of that. We're not
going to stop and uh we so I I can assure you that none of them my employees uh is is hearing like do something in the south, do something in the north, something in the north. No, we go and work in Lawrence as a city. We
don't see the river. We go out out there every day to clean our parks, to clean the streets. I don't see the river when it when when when we doing our job. So I have here uh supervisors and they know that I had never them requested
something from them like go and do this in the north because of this or though go do this in the south because of this. No, we don't see the city that way and I can assure you that. So if you see that those streets were paved, there were years of work behind uh that to happen.
>> Thank you. And I I appreciate your your explanation. Um >> so also with with the painting I I can tell you so right now we painting more than ever. So I've been in the department for 16 years and and I have uh Katy she pays the
bill. She never have pay more bills for painting than you know before than now. We painting we we doing marking uh painting a lot. We we as you can see. So the city needs a lot of improvements and
we doing it. We we have uh a limited budget. We getting some uh help from uh the state. We getting some help from grants and we investing that money, you know, as we get it. So, but we going to get to the point that the city is going
to look a lot better and we working on that. >> I believe it. I believe it under your leadership. I but I I still wanted to make this comment and and share my my concern and I appreciate your explanation and clarification on that. I
also even even besides aside from my comments, I want to re-emphasize that I do see the work that your your team does and I understand that sometimes is um there's a there's a lot of there's a lot going on and I understand that. Uh, but
at least let's use street markings for an example. I'm going to use South South Broadway. It's visible. We all travel down up up and down South Broadway and Broadway. And the middle of South Broadway, that double yellow line has been missing for months now, if not
maybe almost a year. And we all see it. So, I I don't understand that process behind it. But I think I I've made my point and I think I think you heard it loud and clear and I and I appreciate it and I also appreciate you um giving some insight on on the process behind the scene.
All right. Uh I was about to call you counselor director. Next one. Public works sanitation. >> That's page 115. >> Yeah. >> So again, no changes on that.
uh uh personal services. >> Counselor, any questions, comments regarding sanitation? >> All right, moving on. >> I do. >> Oh, councelor Le. Um during this past year, uh
illegal dumping seems to be crawling upward and also the homeless population and the stuff that is left behind, especially under our bridges. Um I know we had that
fire, but continues to mount and I I know it's a difficult battle, so I'm be I'm very empathetic. Um, but I just don't know what I just don't know if we're doing enough
with respect to the damage that's being done by our own residents who are leaving things aside and dropping things in areas and or people who are coming from other places and living and obviously they
just leave stuff wherever it is. There's no trash pickup under a bridge and you know there's no collection days for that. So, I I just I I I'm I'm looking for an in an innovative way that can start moving the needle back in a different
direction. I know we're not going to get full compliance. I know our streets are going to be magically clean forever. Uh I know there's always going to be something there, but I'm looking to see a change. And I and I don't know and I'm asking you um have you given
that some thought about how we can improve on that and if so what's holding us back from following through on the thoughts that you have. >> So counselor I have a lot of ideas but I'm limited to clean the mess. So to uh
to have a plan to deal with the homeless as and that that problem is the police department I think is doing a good job on that and OPD. So I just received that the call uh to you know where to go and clean the mess right
now. It's not my responsibility you know to to to do a plan to to work with that issue. So right now, so my budget is being drained is we training our budget just picking up dumpsters or full of
trash from those bridges, you know, from the um rivers and all of that. But you know, my my function is just limited to to clean uh the mess and and and other departments, they have the responsibility to to work with the plan,
you know, to the homeless is just a subsection of a bigger problem. I just throw that out there because it's it's it's it's um it's isolated and where where it's happening. There's a lot of it. Um I will give you an example
of dumping or things going on habitually and every district has their space, right? I've got my space too in district F. So my space in district F and everybody has one or at least or more than one is Shasheen Road near the Breen school and you and I have walked it. We
try to figure out some ways to deal with it. But I will tell you it's it's just a consistent location where I am believing that it's locals and I'm just trying to figure out because this is under our budget. We have recycling, trash collection, solid
waste disposal, and I you know what we haven't talked about is I'm surprised that the numbers aren't going up. I thought for sure our tipping fee would going up and it's not. I'm surprised. Um and that the contract Well, it's a very significant contract. So, uh for the
trash pickup with with capital that's under here, right? >> Yeah. But outside of that, I will say this. The I make a lot of calls to department heads over the course of my career on the council. The one call that
I've historically hated to make always is a call to a DPW director asking them, "I've got a mattress or some tires or something that's been tossed out in front of the yard. Can you come or somewhere, can you come pick it up?
Because all that is that someone, a resident, someone that I represent maybe has decided that they didn't care about anybody else and or going by the rules and they were just going to throw it out there and let the rest of us pay for
picking up their whatever it was that they had out there. And the and why I hate it saying because it was self-inflicted. It was one of our folks that did this. The rest of us are paying for it. And that's coming out of your t out of the taxpayers's budget. And I always hate making that call because I
it just grates on me, but I have to make it and I do and just want you to know that I hate that call when I make that to you. Um, but I want to know what we can do to start moving the needle. I know money is an issue and we're and it's going to be an issue. What have you
thought about? Can you give me some ideas on how we can move this? Still, it's still a problem. >> So, councelor, I have the same frustration. the same frustration that you have. So I know the inspectional services they go and put a camera on
Shiaosin uh road and then uh illegal dumping stop magically and they you know for a little bit but they go and move the cameras and start again and not finding someone and put it in the local paper for people to
see it. So it frustrate me a lot believe me. So I think I know that you mentioned that probably if if somebody did an illegal do an illegal dumping and and the city can uh find them. So if we put like a citation or a ticket that money
can go to my budget for me to be able to replace the money that I'm spending just because of that. So I know my budgeting trust is not going out but you can remember when um ground Lawrence used to call for a lot of volunteers to come and
clean the river and clean the parks and all of that. By the time by the time that they do the call now we already clean up all the parks and they just come two or three volunteers and before we used to bring 10 containers to different locations and now maybe one
and we put it at the city yard. So uh we are my team is working hard you know uh since you know weather permitting start cleaning early so that way people can they see uh when they come and visit our
city they don't see all the trash that they used to see before because they we just were waiting until those clean apps you know happens. Right now we are we we we are proactive on that. Right now if you go and see the river like the
speaker river it looks amazing but uh we we continue maintaining those areas and when people see that the area is very clean so maybe the neighbors are now watching and they can call us and tell us if they see like a vehicle and we can
get a plate and we can do a citation on that. But again, I think cameras is is is is what we need to pull all over the place uh to see those that are driving with a truck full of trash during the night because there is no uh places
where to bring the trash during the night. So if they going to if they if they going to be driving in the city, they going to go to maybe to the river or under the bridge to do the illegal dumping. But I think cameras I I think is what we will need to continue, you
know, installing. So people are afraid of them. So they probably go somewhere else and and and do those illegal dumping so they can get or they going to be motivated to go, you know, to a transfer station to do it.
>> How many cameras do we have in DPW? >> DPW doesn't have cameras. We have a lot, but we don't manage them. that since conf we have a lot but we don't own >> there is a lot of cameras in our buildings but we do not manage any cameras >> okay how many cameras are in our
buildings >> or you said outside cuz you're looking at cameras outside for illegal dumping so it's not just in our buildings right >> yeah I don't know how many cameras inspectional services has I don't know how many cameras the police department has and I I cannot tell you from the top
of my head how many cameras we have in each and every one of the buildings uh is a lot. >> So, but it's not under your jurisdiction. >> No, it's on the IT department. >> You don't purchase the cameras, you know, >> we we we can help purchasing the cameras
uh to secure our buildings. Yes, we can do that. >> So, you where is where is your camera budget in here? When you do purchase cameras, where is this in the budget? >> So, there is uh probably capital capital funds like that are dedicated for IT
department. So and is is is managed under the capital improvement asset asset manager. So there is uh there is funds there. >> So the only time you get money is out of the capital improvement budget. So there's there's there's capital line
item for cameras. >> I know like most of the technology that is in this room is from capital uh money that that there was aside to do that >> for this room. Yes. cameras in this room which are
>> like TV microphones. >> Yeah, we're talking about surveillance cameras more than television cameras that these are but um so but you don't have >> we do not monitor any camera. >> I we we can drill down not tonight. Uh
there's an entire item on this that's going to be before the full council on Tuesday. My colleagues here already know this. Um we're going to be having a conversation about this. We're going to try to figure out a smart and intelligent way on how we're going to deal with this issue. We will probably
uh try to get an inventory at least have an assemblance of who's got the cameras, where are what are they used for that kind of stuff. Are they outdoors for are they outdoors for surveillance for trash or for crime or
whatever. Um but you work. So anyway, so just be ready that if you don't have any, you don't have any, but if you do, we'll want we will want to have a we will need to have a public hearing on those items that they're out there. So we just need to be aware of that. Uh how
are we doing with recycling? >> So recycling, uh yeah, we're doing okay. So we are uh we are creating a plan now to uh go um after they the students come back to school in September. So to go
and uh and and do educational you know uh maybe meetings with the students and all of that. So we are going to hit the schools to the students to bring the message to the parents. Do >> you have any metrics that shows either improvements or lack of improvements on
recycling? How are we trending? Are we are we are there must be numbers? I'm sure they're calibrated. How are we looking? I I can tell you because of the bills when the bills go high the the recycling is is is we increasing the recycling. So uh recycling is a good
thing but it's expensive. So uh when when our bills go high is because we're recycling a lot. Is it still worth recycling when China and other most specifically China is not taking our products and they haven't for
years and is it is it is it more expensive to recycle than to not? >> It is more expensive. >> So it's less expensive if we don't recycle is that what you're suggesting >> so what I'm saying is uh consular so it's good for environment but it's not
good for our accounts to be honest with you. And what kind of discrepancy are we looking at? >> It's I I'm I'm throwing stuff at you and so I'm not looking for precise. I'm looking for ballparks to get an idea. So we had to pay to collect the recycling.
We had to pay to pay to dispose the the recycling. So in the past we didn't used to pay you know to the you know for the final disposal. But now yes under the new cont under the new contract and we we didn't used to pay for you know to
dispose of recycling in the past because the company that that had the contract they had they have their own plant right now. So we we we have a company that they they don't have their own plan to receive the recycling. So right now we
had to pay for the final disposal and the collection tool and it's a little bit more expensive than the trash. And if it's contaminated, so then we're going to receive fines and things like that. >> Yeah.
All right. Moving on to parks maintenance, >> parks maintenance. The only big increase that we have there is $130,000. That's for the landscaping contractors that are mowing our parks and is under
all the purchase of services account 5380. So other than that is just contractual agreement too. >> Any questions pertaining to parks maintenance? Council Mar >> Director, do you mind giving details
regarding um 5380 other purchasing services that I I see $130,000 um to be increased to that line item. >> So we never budgeted that um contract.
So what we doing now is is budgeting right and putting it in the um operating budget because we all we used to pay it uh from capital funds but again capital funds are uh sometimes are not available. So we would love to have it
in uh in the operating budgets you know to know to know come like uh every year so and and and request capital funds to uh comply with that contract. Okay. >> And again, those are contractors that
are um mowing our parks in a daily basis. >> Okay. Almost set up for now. >> Any other questions or comments? Council the plan. >> No. >> Oh, I thought you meant Okay. >> Moving on to fleet maintenance.
>> So, no changes on fleet maintenance. Uh just $14,000 for contractual agreements. Again, personal services. >> How many take-h home vehicles do you have under in your fleet?
>> So, from the top of my head right now, I don't know, but I know that information was sent to you a couple of times already. So I know you have that information but again are just supervisors on call and uh all those
that are able uh or they need to be on call all the time. Let's say to to be on call let's say I have the buildings and facility supervisor here. So, he needs to take a vehicle home because he can be called at 2:00 a.m. in the morning and
uh and he needs to be uh able to uh come to the city and and respond to an emergency in that case. The same thing with the super streets and park supervisor. So again, he supervises streets and and and parks and he needs
to take the vehicle home. That's the only way that I can assure that we have those resource resources available if I need them. So, but laborers, they do not take vehicles home, just supervisors.
>> Okay. So, um I'm assuming because you are aware that these numbers were sent to us, I'm assuming that you know the discussion that we had the first night about the GPS's. >> Um, >> no. No. >> Okay. So, the first night with the IT
department, we had a discussion about take-home vehicles and and GPS's and the usage of um city property being used for personal. And we were told that there has been discussions with the DPW
department, meaning the director, about purchasing GPS's again or replenishing some of some that already have some but may not be working. And um I express that I I believe it's a good thing. Um I do believe that we need to keep track of
how city property is being used because it's a vehicle, but it is city property. And um I'm hoping that there's a positive outcome from those discussions in the future. And I know money is is always a problem. Always always I'm looking at the CAF. I'm like I know. But
hopefully something, you know, we can figure something out. Yeah, GPS is a good thing, but we need to take in consideration that we need to get in negotiations with unions, right? >> Yeah, that was discussed as well. Yep. Yep. >> And uh and I know people think that we
in the past had GPS. We use GPS for the contractors. There's no contractor. We need we used to give them a GPS that way. Uh I don't remember which one of you called me one day. They never passed by this street. And that person sent me
the screenshot that they went like 20 times, you know, for on that street. So that's why we used to give them GPS uh to the contractors, not to the city vehicles. >> But we have, you know, we have the numbers and and we have we can see, you
know, how many times vehicles get fueled with their gas and and and the cost of that. So, um, taking that into consideration, it to me it is important to start monitoring how these vehicles are being used outside of working hours. And I think that might alleviate some of
the costs that we see aside from the rise of gas um that's currently that's been happening uh throughout the last few months. Counselors, any other questions or comments pertaining to fleet maintenance? Seeing none, moving on to facilities
maintenance, buildings and facilities. So, there is an increase of $43,000 for personal services. There is also an increase of $5,000 for water and sewer charges. Believe it or not, our department pays
sewer and water charges and uh repairs means buildings and grounds $10,000 and all the purchase of services $10,000 as I uh told you. So uh the buildings and facilities is growing. Now we have
four um carpenters and and we able to do a lot of things in house but that for that we need materials also. uh to to be able to do the job. So that's why we increasing some of the uh line items on
that to be able to keep them busy. Counselors, any questions pertaining facilities maintenance. You know what? All right, let's continue. Snow and ice ops. Our favorite subject.
>> So there is no increase is level funded. The budget is $500,000. Um but we all know that it's going to be a little more than but it's is you know I remember in the past we used to fund just $100,000.
Now at least we funding $500,000. >> All right. Questions pertaining snow and ice operations. >> Council Lant and then Council Mar. >> Yeah, it it's hard to ignore this one. Uh just when the temperature is 92 degrees out there. >> I I mentioned this earlier this week.
I'm just thankful that we don't have elections in February and March because I don't think any of us would win. Um, so it's, yeah, it's we're glad it's they're in November. Um, obviously this is an issue. Uh,
I don't know what we can do to improve. I I think I will repeat what I said when you you were here earlier in the year. You're you're placed in an impossible position. Um, I know that we have may have a difference of opinion regarding parking
strategies, but the reality is we have 50,000 more vehicles. No matter where you put the decks on the law, on the on the Titanic, they're still going to be there. It's just where are they going to be placed? We're still going to have 50,000 new cars. No matter where we go, you know, one side, two, it's it's it's
just the reality. how I don't know how we're going to get for you guys for DPW to use the contractors to um to to um plow. Um I've talked to ISD about the
sidewalks. I know that's not you. You guys kind of do this around the schools, so I'm told. Um, but I now that we're in the summertime and now that we're a little more sane, we're not crazy taking phone calls like and calling you all the
time. I'd like to get your thoughts on what we could have done better now that you've got some hindsight and some breathing room regarding that. I mean, now is the time, not tonight, but relatively speaking, this time of year is the time to really focus on policies for the winter when we're
not impacted because we can't make good decisions in the middle of of a crisis. >> So, I I think this is the time I know cons uh Mr. President Rodriguez is been uh we've been in in a conversation. We need to review ordinance uh and and and
and like you, he's worried about what is happening right now. So I know that the best way to do it is if everybody just go to one side of the road when it is snowing. But again, there is not space for residents to park. But that is
letting us in a bad position because then those same people that are parking the wrong side of the road are the one calling you that we didn't do our job. So is we do not win on that uh situation. is pretty hard to work with
both side of the road like um full of cars and there is no way to do a good job and again if we go out there uh with enforcement with the police department. So those companies that work for us the towing company they just have the
capacity to bring maybe what 100 cars to their yard and 100 cars you can find that in a block. Then what is going to happen with the rest of the streets 638 that we have? So it is frustrating and
and you spend the whole night you spend three days, four days, five weeks in a row, five days in a row working trying to open the streets but again cars are on the on our way and we cannot do our
job that way. Again, I know that the blue lights uh they were like put out there with intention that we just hit the button, the lights go flashing and then everybody goes and move to one side of the road, but that is not happening.
We do a lot of effort. We go to radio shows. I don't see other cities going to radio shows to posting a lot of information in social media making phone calls robocalls all time effort for people to understand that is for their
their safety that we need then to move to one side of the road but that is not happening and I think it's from this room that we need to take you know hard decisions I know that the city cannot be responsible if I buy two cars if I buy
three cars. The city is not responsible for that. I think uh everybody has to find, you know, where to park their cars to be able to give us the, you know, the roads for us to make our job. I think
again it's frustrating to spend, you know, 24 hours, 36 hours, 72 hours working out there and the city looks like if you never touch those streets because also when they move the cars, they throw all the snow back into the
road. Uh, and that's no fear when I have these guys working, you know, for more than 24 hours straight. Uh and again from this room in a sunny day is when we need to uh talk about it and take a decision and and it's going to be a hard
decision but it's going to be for the safety of the city. >> I'm done. >> Council president. >> Yes. Uh 3 mill chair, one suggestion is that uh uh we need to start thinking about
designing a new shed for the salt that is double or triple the capacity because that during the winter is something that come up as a need all the time and that that can uh put the city in a better position if we do that. So that's something that we're planning on the
future. Yeah, you of course uh councelor the thing is when you're right when we spend a couple of days you know working out there and putting salt on the streets then our shelf goes empty and then is when we are fighting with the
company you know asking them to bring us uh the deliveries but other cities are in the same situation and then is when we uh get afraid so if we don't get the salt then what we going to do? But it's it's about a space. The city yard uh is
not uh big enough to create uh the the that big space that we need. And guess what? Next to the river. So we cannot continue growing like next to the speaker river. So we need to find another location. I know that um we
don't we don't see a lot of spaces, a lot of land in the city of Lawrence, but I think we need to uh I don't know, buy houses and buy a neighborhood and do a a a bigger yard for for the DPS because
again we bring a lot of uh trash and contamination and and again we next to the river and uh we we're not happy doing that. All right. Any other questions or comments? Seeing none, moving on to
parking division. So, parking division. So there is uh no changes there other than $10,000 for personal services and those are also contractual agreements.
>> Counselors any questions or comments pertaining to the parking division? >> I do >> questions councelor the plant and then council mar. >> So when I think of parking division I think of meters. When I think of meters I think of disaster. So, uh, help me
only because I I think overall it needed to be done. I just am concerned again about some of the locations where there's residents and not strictly businesses. And now that we're going, I think we're making some good money. What's what's our This is
probably a good time to ask the question on the revenue side. What are we bringing in for revenue on the meters? So the meters is um $1.2 million every year that they uh give us as as as a
revenue. So and um and then if they pass certain amount of money, I know they have to give us a percentage of that. I I don't think they haven't hit that amount yet, but again, it's $1.2 million a year. >> And how much longer is that contract, do you recall?
>> So it's going to expire next year. So when next year 2027 date >> yeah 2027 >> June end of the end of the fiscal year >> around June. Yes. >> All right. So end of the fiscal year. So we're one year away. >> Yes.
>> One. Okay. Have you thought about Now's the time to start thinking about it, right? Have you started thinking about what happens when the contract expires? uh me and and Dave we having conversation about it and we had to
bring our ideas you know to the administration to see what what they thinking uh about that. I know there will be changes uh and it has to be changes because there is a lot of people angry out there. I know we need the
system to manage the parkings because right now if you go in front of city hall, you're not going to be able during the day to find a spot and and and there is parking meters. Can you imagine when there was no parking meters, it was too hard to find a spot. I remember when we
got into that agreement. So the mayor was very worried about nervous about to getting into a parking meter contract. But then businesses started started coming to the city hall of assessor. If you don't if you don't put parking meters then we're going to we're going
to lose our business because people they don't find a place to park. They park here and they go to New York and 3 days after they can come and pick their car. So people they they they didn't move in the past right now. So the meters I know that there is a lot of complaints about
that but it's helping not the way that we are that we expected but it's helping a lot. So but there is always you know uh space to improve in that. >> I'm just we talk about the businesses. I'm not going to harp too much. We can
spend an entire meeting on parking meters. But the concern that I'm hearing is even on our main street on SX Street that um some of the businesses have been closing down. Some of the restaurants have been closing down on Essex Street,
I am told. Um, and the blame is because patrons can't find a place to park to go eat. Um, and that's that's an impact and that's counter to what we're trying to accomplish. We're trying to accomplish a vibrant city, a city that has got a
major street like street that is a hub, right? Hub of activity. It's our commercial spot. and and I just I'm I just don't know. Anyway, I'm I'm looking forward to end of this contract and I'm looking forward to hearing what the plans are for the next contract if there
is a contract u and what that might mean. Uh how are we dealing with u with ticketing? You got are you in charge of ticketing too under this? >> That's correct. Yes. So, >> but not with the company, not with the
um PCI uh company, but with the traffic control units. >> How are we? So, we have more cars than ever. I would imagine people looking for a place to park and they're probably willing to take a chance or two, stay a little longer than they probably ought to or park in places they probably
shouldn't be just because they're desperate for a parking spot. How's our ticketing situation coming? Is it going up, down? Where are we on trends? Do you have you have numbers that you can share? >> So, right now, I don't know if Davey has numbers with him right now, but yes, we
are, you know, uh targeting every neighborhood, especially those corners where, you know, the fire department call us, you know, these uh cars, you know, uh right at the corner and uh we go and install those signs and we
enforce that. But uh David can give you a little bit uh more information about it. >> Hi counselors. As of uh I think last week uh during the winter we issued uh 8,700 tickets for the winter parking ban and in total we've
issued 11,000 I think 500 tickets in general. Uh we're way ahead. We think we're like a thousand or 2,000 ahead of you know the prior years. And I'm talking about traffic control. >> This is not a means to make money for the city and it's supposed to be
changing behaviors, but the offset is revenues coming in. How much money are we bringing on these tickets? >> So, we you know, we're close to 800,000, which we we we haven't been in in that vicinity for a while. >> Have we ever been in that vicinity? >> Uh we've been close 900 I think
something thousand that we you know, but this is in a year. We're talking about six months. So you had $800,000 in ticket revenues in eight month uh in a half a year. >> Yeah. And that's because of the winter. >> The winter was really >> because of the winter. >> Correct. And the tickets went up to
$100. >> Gotcha. All that money goes into the general fund, I presume. >> Yeah. Correct. >> Okay. >> What What was our forecast? Did you guys ever forecast this at all?
expectations were do you forecast? Do you have set expectations? I'm not saying you have got a ticket number that you're trying to meet, but when you look at your budget and you look at the amount of work, do you say, "Yeah, we expect to get x number of tickets etc. Is there is
this exceeding anything that you had planned that or do you not do that?" So we you know our expectation are like that people behave and not to have to give them tickets and things like that.
So we never expect to have a penny just because of that. So we will never do that but we had to go out there and then enforce if they do not behave. That's that's what we do. >> Yeah. All we're looking for is compliance and you know having >> totally agree >> you know corners for fire department to
be able to turn and you know those type of things. >> I want to wrap my comments. Dax is getting late. What is the biggest infraction you're seeing? >> So it's it's uh no parking hit a corner 20 ft from an intersection. That's that's our biggest one. The the biggest complaints come from fire department ambulance not being able to turn on some
of these you know smaller streets. >> And how quickly do you how do you get these? You get these by police calling you in. Residents >> residents calling PD. Um we have a website that we get complaints from neighbors. I it goes, you know, I read it most of the time.
>> You have a website. Who's that website? >> It's a it's a it's called help desk and they they send it to it and they send it to me and if problem areas we address it. If it's, you know, abandoned cars, uh people parking and double parking, no, you know, vehicles unregistered and stuff like that.
>> How many feet from the curb? Well, if it's, you know, 20 feet >> intersection, I mean, >> yeah, intersection is 20 feet. >> 20 feet. >> Correct. >> I will let you know that that I just sometimes I see signs and they're not 20 feet. It seems like it's sometimes it's
30 feet, sometimes it's 10 feet where the signs are. I think what the point here is we can improve a little bit on accuracy of when we put the signs. >> No, that's correct. If you go to Jackson Street, it's 50 feet. And you know, there's plenty of parking, but people look at it when they park. It's like we I'm not next to the corner, but the sign
says no parking hit a corner is usually like 50 ft. >> 50 ft. That's >> maybe we're going to prove that. I mean, you know, it's a it's usually engineers, I think, that that do that. I'm not >> Well, I I will listen. We all know the parking crunch. If that's a if that's two parking spaces on Jackson Street, which is not my district. I think the
people would love to have the 20 ft and a couple of parking spaces. I think that would be great. >> Correct. So maybe that's small a small thing that you can do to improve a tiny bit around and just see where the if those make sense if the signs are parked
put in a proper place so that we have more parking. That's it for me. Thank you. Thank you council marmal. >> No I share the same sentiments as my colleague and I was uh pretty much it's right on the money in terms of what I was going to ask. Um, it's good to hear
that this contract expires in June of 2027. Um, I'm going to be honest though, I'm not sure where administration or your department and how much say does do you have when it comes to renegotiating their contract. Um, personally for me, I
won't speak on behalf of the council. Um, I don't I don't want to continue to do business with a company that given the opportunity and a moment to listen to our residents frustrations that the way that they decided to handle
the situation is that they did not even want to answer questions. And I know I personally have requested data due to uh upon discovering the fact that this company was charging residents during holidays. Um and when and this was on
one particular holiday to when I had requested more additional information to see what other holidays that they have been charging our residents. And what they decided to do is that they wanted to lawyer up and instead of responding
to us or, you know, answering our questions, it was always, oh, talk to our lawyers or talk to our attorneys and never an explanation, never a response every time we wanted to receive additional information or at least have an understanding as to what's happening.
If there's an error, you know, if there's mistakes being done, why can't we have the conversation of trying to rectify that now? Why do I Why do we have to wait for a contract to end? And I'm sorry, like a a a business, a company that is already demonstrating
that they have no wiggle room to be held accountable and to show efforts to to want to fix their mistakes. And I I just don't see how we could continue to do business with them. So again, I'm not sure to what extent you have a say um
and what is the current conversation that is being had, but um I'm hoping that you guys take into consideration and not forget because I I think we we we struggle and we're quick to forget because it happened two years ago the
the the frustrations. So, um, let me allow you to to respond to that if you have anything to say in regards to do you have a say when it comes to these contract negotiations. >> It was a contract that it was discussed here in the city council chamber and it
was approved. I wasn't >> I know then but you know uh it was approved here and it was discussed >> uh for um hours and uh and I they they've been very responsive with us every time that we request something
from them. So they always come they always travel to the city of Lawrence. So if they call them right now to show up tomorrow I'm pretty sure they're going to send someone from the high level to come. So I I cannot make those, you know, or agree with those comments
because they are a vendor. If they go if we go out to beat and they win, you know, the uh the the the beat. So I cannot tell right now that I'm not going to give it to them. So I'm not I'm not going to get into that right now. So but
uh but again, so when we get into that process, we're going to pick the company that that is is going to be beneficial for the city of Lawrence. So that's what I'm going to say right now. So if if you have any concern, of course, bring it to
us and we're going to be able to reach them and bring them to the city of Lawrence to respond. I know that there is a lot of uh posting in social media that they say, "Oh, they gave me a ticket." and uh and and and I pay when you see uh the the receive they pay
after they got the ticket most of the time because we see that happening a lot. Sometimes I come and I park over there at 8:30 and I park for a little bit making taking maybe taking a phone call and I see people that they get out
of the cars, they they look, you know, down the street and they don't see the guys, they walk into city hall and they get out and they got a ticket. So that's how they make money. So we need to understand that is because for people to get in compliance, I'm not going to
defend them. So I'm I'm uh I'm going to defend the city of Lawrence again. But again, so not everything that you see out there is is is not all true. You know what I'm saying? So I need to uh
give them that that window. No, I am. >> And again, I cannot say I cannot tell >> that I'm not going to give them a contract that we are not even discussing right now. >> But that's not what I had referred to. who I was referring to the fact that this company was charging residents
during holidays. Um I'm not sure if Mr. Rodriguez um maybe if you have an update uh when it comes to >> so I know during the holidays the meter so move motion has been made. Is there a second? >> Second
>> seconded by councelor Leard first. All those in favor say I. >> I have he's just he's on his it's already done. you had a point of clarification on this? >> Yes, I do. Sorry, let's let's keep it.
>> Well, just just to clarify a few things what you just said about the contract. Uh when the contract coming in front of us, it was for one particular reason not to not to approve the contract because we were not able to change the
contract. The contract was already presented to us and the suggestions that we made uh you actually tell us that we were that you were going to receive data and then potentially make those changes. But
we were not able to make any particular change to the contract and the only thing that we approved was the extension of the time from three year to five years of that contract already drafted and already approved uh by you guys and
designed. So we we didn't discuss the terms of the contract. We discussed the time the time extension from three years to uh five years. So just to clarify that in case people are listening.
>> Thank you. Any further comments or questions? >> Well, I want I had asked if Mr. Rodriguez had an update regarding the fact that there was correspondence sent to the company if they could answer to the fact that residents were charged
during the holidays and I know when I had sent the request that they were not responding back. So I'm not sure if they responded to you. >> There was no update. Um they lowered up. >> Okay. >> They lowered up and after those holidays I started going to the meters and checking them and they were off.
>> Okay. Um the last thing I'll say regarding parking and meters is um there there needs to be a revamp whenever we're renegotiating this um because I don't think the issue is that the city has uh for the city to have meters. we
understand the need um the the necessity of it is just ensuring that we're also being conscious in analyzing um and understanding statistically as to where they belong and if it makes
sense. So I I know that there were some concerns regarding some of the meters didn't make sense because it was more in a residential area. So whenever that comes into, you know, whenever we come to renegotiating, hopefully we do some sort of revamp in terms of the location
of uh some of these meters, that's it. >> Yeah, of course. I I can tell you councelor that uh the other day a group of people from Lawrence Street they came to city hall because they wanted the city to install meters on Lawrence Street after Park Street because what
happened is because there is meters on one street people they just go to another one and they spend the whole day and that's the pro that's a problem that's why you know we were extending to certain areas uh uh because people were
complaining that Because there is mirrors on Essex Street. They go to garden and then they come in front of you because they want a resident's parking sticker only. And we have uh you know a lot of streets that we had to uh
they you had to create ordinance to allow the residents you know to find that spot uh you know with that uh with a sticker resident parking sticker only. But again, you're not going to believe that people are coming from other neighborhoods because they want to get
parking meters, believe it or not. So, uh, and we are not moving on that because that's a change in the contract. That's why we didn't move. Uh again, so they they come and they ask us to put meters on certain areas just because
people go and park in front of their houses or in front of their businesses and they don't move for 9 10 hours and sometimes 24 hours. >> All right, any other questions or comments?
Seeing none, I think that wraps up DPW. Um, thank you. I think you have to stay though for water. >> So I have >> Yeah. So or are you off? I know it's your birthday. Sorry. >> Thank you. Thank you. Billy Hill here
to, you know, answer any question. >> Okay. So you have one more >> parking enter enterprise fund. So we're going to go to page 150. >> So Ramona, thank you. >> See, I was trying to get you off the hook.
I would have to do it if you left. >> Okay, that's just revenue. So, it's a very short iron. So, >> and uh Ramon, I imagine that the revenues are 1.3 million. >> That's the projection, right? >> All right. So, actually it it starts to
break down on page 51, 151, and 152. Um 153. >> All right. Walk us through these revenues. >> Okay. I do see um an increase on that. I see $22,000 on the purchase of service.
I imagine Davey that that's for envelopes. >> Envelop. >> That's envelopes. The envelopes that we use to parking tickets. >> Yeah. For parking tickets. >> Good man. >> Council president.
>> Uh you mentioned envelopes. I was reading at the ordinance and I believe I read that if you get a ticket without envelope that ticket is not valid. Is that correct? >> Can you come to the Can you
>> David? David, can you can you stand next to the DPW director in case there are any questions that you may be able to answer quickly? >> Yeah, I don't I don't believe so, counselor. I mean, if you're parking legally, your envelope is not going to make a difference on the fine. >> I mean, we might charge you for the
envelope. Something that um that I said before when I get another revenue sheet from the cemetery is that something that is secure in the city of Lawrence is that you going to get a ticket if you park in the wrong place.
>> So that's for sure. So, no, I mean, I just want to, you know, bring this second bring this thing up in a in a in a joke way, but I mean, uh, uh, the the work that you guys do when it comes to
maintaining, uh, order, I I think is necessary because it's is not about this that we get in revenue. is about uh the fact that we're going to change people's behavior and also um we have to
do that and also uh to maintain order. I mean it is extremely difficult to turn uh left or right uh without having the risk of h of somebody hitting your vehicle because I mean you cannot you're not able to see so those type of u
parking enforcement so so much needed. I I mean it it was a rough winter and in a sense you know because I do the hearings also for the city. So it's you know it was rough and and I think the biggest uh revenue generators is the uh no parking hit a corner or parked in restricted
areas. They're running out of parking. They're going to park you know they come late or whatever and park wherever they want >> and we have you know three shifts going at it. >> There's people parking blocking driveways. >> Absolutely. That's a that's an all day thing that we're working on now too. I
have one for you. La Fet A the no parking from here to corner. We're working on that. But >> that's going to be an area for you. >> Absolutely. We'll add it to the agenda. I mean, it's a it's a quality of life kind of thing going on there, you know, so it makes sense.
>> Any other questions or comments? Council L. >> Museum Square garage. How is that looking? How are revenues? I know that you did amazing amount of work. >> You know, Museum Square is a it's a two sword. We we have the contract with Museum Square that they can have up to
so many spaces which is 240 spaces and I think we have 400 spaces available. So the city doesn't really have a lot of spaces to to work with. >> Our our our revenue is created with uh reserve parking and transient traffic which we we call transient traffic people that go in and out of court or
pay $2 an hour to park. And you know, it's it does well, but it doesn't do as well as should as it should because we still got to keep spaces for Museum Square in case you know, somebody moves in. >> Last question, I swear. What's the your
revenue expectations for 2027 are up by $200,000. That's a significant increase. Can you explain why? So, um there is another department that is moving to uh downtown and they going
to use our parking garages and also you know I think we going up in prices uh with the lots and the garages and uh I know what that we going up I I I don't remember Dave how much uh but I think $5
extra to park >> at which garage. So, we're doing the the whole city, you know, the lots and the garages in general because we're I mean, if we look at the the stats, we're we're still a little below what, you know, I mean, in in a lot, we charge 5 $55 a
month. That's that's not, you know, really a lot a day, but it's just it gives residents somewhere to park, but the city, you know, has to take off the overhead paying the attendant and and the maintenance, you know, the plowing and lines. And so, you know, we haven't had an increase, I think, in a maybe
three or four years, probably even longer. And we're looking to get an increase there. >> And Buckley Garage, I'm just How is that operational at this point? is that my my fear about the Buckley garage is
that everybody whenever a planner decides they're going to have to do some sort of project or school and they need parking, everybody uses the Buckley garage as the place that they're going to be putting and it I don't know how many it serves, but whatever it is, it's
being used for four times that is for developers uh projections. Um, >> so I mean it works because >> is it full? Is it packed? >> It's it's pretty full. So So it works. Parking is a you know some people go to work, some people come in, some people
leave and people come back. So it it kind of works but it's it's it's it's almost to capacity. We're you know we're running out of room. And I you know the the the roof is one of the less areas that is used. And you know, we we can put some more in there, but we we're
not, you know, we we try not to exceed it because then in the winter, everybody comes in because, you know, they go outside to park because they want to walk or whatever, but the winter it gets pretty full and snow makes it hard. >> And and one constructive criticism, one of the places where I'm hearing concerns
is the cleanliness of the garage, especially the stairwells. Uh there are unmentionable things that are around there. um that need attention. >> I I think the the uh the director added
money for overtime for that reason so we can uh we've we've actually used the sheriff to to pressure pay the the hallways and we're working on it and you know we are uh to capacity with with attendance. So, you know, it's it's getting a lot better. Uh there used to
be a lot of complaints that you know we haven't heard them as much but you know the other problem was the homeless and and and the food place and and you know when when they feed them they leave and the homeless stay and and you know they they go >> are you talking about the Wednesday nights that I guess used to be there and
I don't think they're no long they're no longer >> Yeah. But that was one of our our biggest problems >> that you know >> but they're no longer there, right? they're they're no longer there and and it makes it easier and it's been a lot better to to control, but we still can't control them because they go in there to do their stuff, you know, and we don't
have cameras in the hallways and you know >> that's it. Thank you. >> Do you have cameras? Thank you for saying the magic word. >> We do have cameras. >> You do? >> Correct. >> Okay. So, be prepared after next week for more. We We'll need more information about the cameras. Thank you.
or >> house president. Uh one thing that uh three man chair one thing that we that we that we approve uh was that uh the city hall uh schedule changed on Tuesdays
and uh it happened to be that uh some employees enough employees of the of city hall they go to the Berkeley bring the cars to the parking lot right next to right right behind us and stay
to 7 when it's time to leave. And the main intent of that of those changes on the schedule is because we want people to come over to city hall and and get those services. Uh but the fact that there is no parking is it's a contradiction. So I believe the city
should have a policy uh that u that if employees are parking there um they should pay. Uh it shouldn't be just by because they want to park and the parking should be uh obviously uh
for the benefit of people that come over uh to do some business during the extended hours. That was the intent. So u I know that we're talking about something that you might you might not have control of it, but I think that a policy at least should be developed when
it comes to parking. uh on that parking lot. Uh and in the way that I believe they doing it is just moving their car over so that way when when it comes to 700 p.m. uh they're not going to have to walk to
the Berkeley garage. So that's something that can that can work out with the mayor's office. So uh the problem there that the the custodians that work over here, the parking attendants, they work from 8:30 to 4:30. That's when they leave and that's when people start
getting into the parking lot. But again, so it's something that we can we can uh work on it. >> And I'm talking specifically on Tuesday after extended hours. Okay. Can they Tuesday? >> Can I interject on on Tuesday? So the
the city hall attendant is doing the the city hall hours >> and which and we do that to try to prevent you guys from not having nowhere to park. So he's there till 7:00 on Tuesdays. No, the issue is employee park employee taking up parking
>> are taking the parking for the for the people that actually come over to to get some services >> because they move the car from their uh from their uh from the garage to this parking lot and then that way they don't walk over at 7 p.m. when it's time. >> We can bring that out to the
administration. >> Yeah, please. Okay. >> Thank you. Any other questions pertaining the parking um reenterprise fund I'll add I'll chip in and add um
I know again this parking lot right here I I know it's not designated for anything in particular. It's a it's a city-owned lot. It's there for the public. Um, but even aside from Tuesdays, the long hours, uh, sometimes
if I'm able to, I'm here a little early for meetings, etc., and I do see city employees parking taking up the full day. And, um, I've had heard comments about them not paying, etc. Um, some do,
some don't. So that's I guess that's that's what we need to figure out if we're going to allow city employees to use this parking lot. Is it going to be free to city employees or are they going to pay? And whichever option we choose,
it has to be enforced across the board. Um I personally don't think that city employees should be parking there. I think it should it should be left for um residents that come in and do business in city hall. But again, that's a conversation that you guys need to have
or should have with the administration and come up with, you know, a a a happy medium to see what we can work out. Those are my two cents. >> All right. I think this wraps up DPW. >> No, he's the commission. Yeah. All
right. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you to all the employees that sat through this. And um dressed up. >> Welcome back. >> All right, we have right into airport
airport enterprise fund. Walk us through your your your budget. >> Good evening, counselors. I am um I'm honored to be here tonight to talk about the airport. uh budget. As you know, we are an enterprise fund. Uh what I
present to you is the FY27 uh FY27 budget, which is a balanced budget supported by the users and tenants of the Lawrence Municipal Airport. Uh we are generate our revenues through land leases, uh landing fees,
parking fees, and fuel sales. Uh with me this evening is Chastity Rodriguez, our uh our principal a house clerk in title, but uh she also serves at the airport uh
handling the finances of the airport. Um so um if we could turn to page, we start at 154. Uh we're submitting a budget of 783,000. Uh and what was approved by the mayor's
office was a change of $81, which brings us to $782,919 uh,000. It's only a change of 81 council. Any questions for the airport? Council President, >> um through you, Madam Chair. There is
that I saw it um a request for proposal for the restaurant section of of that uh of the apron. How that goes? >> It's going well. We do have a a candidate that was selected as part of that process and that is for the new building uh which we are currently in
the design phase. Uh we are waiting for the FY27 budget from the state to see where we are where we will be. But right now the projection is that the state is going to support us uh with the uh with that request. And so in the next uh this
season next couple of months we should be in bidding phase for the new uh building. And the process and the and the reason why we went to market if you will for the restaurant is so that we could build side by side. The state is not going to fund the
restaurant. The state's only funding a shell. So that restaurant tour would have to make an investment. They that was made very clear through the RFP process. And so it was part of also learned lessons in other airports when they also went through the aspect of the
grants. some mistakes were made where the floors had to be uh demolished. The the layout of the the the space had to be redone. Uh there was a lot of uh loss in revenues and also construction costs that were uh not done properly. So I think the the request of the state was
uh for us to proceed in this direction, go side by side and have somebody that could design spend their own money in the design phase and work with our uh design team and then the construction team to again not tap into the roof and
and the roof line and all the other things that they may need to know because there are some investments heating uh HVAC um a makeup air unit and various things that are not c won't be covered by the state grant that the restaurant tour will be in charge of or responsible for.
>> Right. Um is the new design for the building uh going to be with the intent of having a remote uh uh remote operation from the login? Is that going to be a correlated? >> No. No, we're not. We're we're we're not there. No, that's not part of the grant.
So remote operations uh that is like a mass u uh that is not you know the large municipal airport is one of 36 relieve airports in in the commonwealth. Uh we're not part of massport. Uh we don't
have that capacity. We're limited in in space and scope. And so what we are good at is teaching uh new pilots how to fly. Every commercial pilot starts in in in a small Cessna. Uh those are things we are good at. We're good at our helicopter
program. We're good at uh relieving small uh airplanes that uh congest the airspace at places like Logan so that the big jets commercial space could actually operate. Uh if you try to land a Sesna at in Logan, you can, but you'll
going to be paying some $550 to to have that where you don't pay those fees in a place like Lawrence. But the reason is because we welcome that type of traffic so that again Logan could operate safely. They could not have as much as congested and put that stress onto those
air traffic controllers. Uh and obviously that is a very uh topic that you probably see any any given time around the state and and the country. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? >> No questions.
We have >> water. >> All right. Well, I don't think there are any questions or comments. >> Wait, actually, one more. >> Yes. >> Um, so it's only it's it's only a a
twoperson operation. >> You're you're No, in terms of the administration, well, the besides the board, I don't >> Yeah. So we have uh two other employees uh where at least we're >> three person operation. >> It's a fourperson operation. So >> Okay.
>> Yes. Was there an intent to bring every employee here this? Okay. Just >> No, no, no. I was like it's a massive, you know, so I'm only seeing two. So absolutely. No, we're very lean because my my book wasn't open to the personnel page. If I would have had I would have seen it before asking. So
>> thank you, counselor. No, we're very lean. We're very uh we I do have a a very dedicated team. We're currently are in the process of onboarding a new uh person uh for maintenance at the airport uh part of the union contractual um and looking forward to uh again
continuing to to deliver to the users and tenants of the airport. >> I do have a question. >> All right. How are the plant >> cameras? Do you have any? >> We do have cameras. Yes. >> Okay. Uh >> I think I think everyone has heard your your pitch about
>> I know. I know. So he's ready for it. >> He's ready for it. >> So continue. >> Sure. So our cameras were installed as part of obviously after the uh attacks of 9/11. Um the state grant u did deliver some cameras. The new camera
systems were replaced some uh 10 years ago if memory serve. Uh they were part of a mass uh dot aeronautics grant as part of the enhanced security. Uh we do have a link to North Andover Police Department uh for said cameras. Uh
they're part of our access control. Uh so they're tied into one another. They don't record uh sound. Uh but they are there to uh again uh they're uh proactive reactive, right? So something happens, you have a record to go back to.
>> Uh you're a interesting case. When I say you, I mean the airport is an interesting case. Um you're in North Andover. It's an enterprise fund. It's I >> I I don't know if our ordinance speaks to that. But it may I something we have to like we have to evaluate that and see
if the language does incorporate the airport. But just like you already heard what I said earlier, just be we're going to be talking about it on Tuesday. to be ready for some followup. >> Yeah. No, absolutely, counselor. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> I think this wraps up your budget here.
>> Thank you very much, counselors. Uh, thanks for your dedication and more importantly, your support to the airport. >> Thank you. If I would have known this was, I would have taken you guys up sooner. >> Oh, no worries. Not quick. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your patience. >> All right. Next, we have our final
budget. Good evening, counselors. >> Good evening. Water and sewer. >> William Hail, Water and Sewer Commissioner, 400 Water Street. >> Um, so tonight I have a recommended budget in the amount of 21,897,293 and that is an increase of $4,62
from last year. And I'm on page 160 gives you an overview. Um so for sewer we have um an increase of $504,458. Um that was most transferred from other organ orgs in the department. Um in the
water administration we were we went down $491,15. In water maintenance operations we went down $8,751. If you turn to page 161, that starts with sewer.
Um, so you can just if you want me to run through everything or do you want to ask specific questions? >> Okay. >> Give us an an overview of the sewer division. >> So, so mostly it's the salaries were just collective bargaining agreements that were increased. Um, longevity had
gone down. We had some people that retired. Fuel costs have gone up. Um, we moved postage and printing and mailing. We just combined those two into org 210 um, which is in the water administration, I believe. Um, we
consolidated $1,000 just small um, repair um, tools and equipment. We just couldn't put that into a different account for repairs and maintenance. Um, and then we increased GLSD's budget by 525,000. So that was just money that we saved on
the other end, but we needed to increase that cuz the um we're short on the assessment for that as we I was here recently to transfer that. >> Yeah, we Yep. Yep. >> Um and then >> All right. Any question? >> You flip to page 162. That gives you a
rundown of the positions. >> Any questions pertaining to the sewer division? Seeing none or if you do come up with something let me know but in the meantime let's move on to water administration. >> So in the water administration
so salaries and wages um it was up 56,563. Um and then purchase of services we reduced the um repairs and maintenance for vehicles. we just bought brought it down to what we were actually spending um more in line with that. Saved a
little bit of money there. Um same with our repairs and maintenance for office and then as well as legal services. Um and then we added in from the other from sewer the postage and the printing mailing. That's where we combine those accounts to make it more simple.
And other purchase services, we've increased that by $5,000. and medical bills were reduced um by 40,000. That was just in line with what we've been paying. I worked with Ramona with that.
Um intergovernmental that's pension assessment went up 47,000 and our insurance went up 20,000. Um, and then on page 164, we reduce, that's the line item for the
machinery and equipment. We reduce that by 25,000 just because we need to be conservative with the budget right now. Um, so we've been utilizing the vehicles that we have. Um, instead of purchasing new equipment, we just been servicing it more. Um, and then our debt service dropped
off. So, we reduced it down by 558,955. That was just for like loans that were paid off. And then the total for the water um administration is we were saving for compared to last year $491,15.
Why why do we have another is is it the same position or is there another a second position but it's water water and sewer office supervisor. So that was also listed under the DPW. >> Yeah. So they utilize that position name
for for a manager supervisor in that department. But this w the water and sewer office supervisor has always been in the water department and we have a separate person. >> Two two separate people. Okay. >> Yep. >> Um
>> so we do have the billing analyst position that's new. >> Mhm. >> So that's um going before council I believe for a public hearing. >> So that was an increase of 70,980 for the salaries. >> Council president. Thank you, Madam
Chair. U I was going to talk about that position now, but you bring it up something that um that I think that our system need to reflect or need to be updated a little bit or maybe walk me through because I don't know if you can
get it. I mean, uh, how many ways, uh, you have to be able to pay to pay your bills? Like you you can send a check, you can pass by and and drop a check as well out here uh, uh, Water Street or
and and do it online or just do it through your bank and then they send the check, right? >> Yeah. You can set up auto pay through city hall systems. You can pay one time with a credit card or um electronic check or you can come in person and give
us a physical check. >> So for for your uh for you to do that, you need your your bill number, right? The bill >> um account number or bill number? >> Account number or bill number? >> Yes.
>> And for you to be able to get that, you need to get a paper. Um, you can call us, but yeah, normally you have a bill at your house. >> That's that's the issue. >> Yeah. >> A lot of people they kind of like tend not to keep the paper
and having a phone call. Um, it's kind of like, you know, it's it's like it should be a better way than just, you know, having those two options. So, I was wondering to see if a system can be incorporated into uh your
current system so people can search for the bill and for the for the account online and not necessarily making a phone call because you need that person that person need to pick up the phone or wait for the bill or be late.
So there is a way that you can you can think of about potentially have a database uh built online so people can get in and then get the account over you know with multiple check factors uh that you can have built in like okay
what is your you know questioning or whatever but I mean something that they can do it online that is not dependable of a phone call because you know things are changing a little bit now. >> Yes. So, we do offer the customer portal. So, we sent that flyer out. We'll we will be sending it out again
this year. Um, so every customer has the option that they can have an app on their phone to log in and see their usage. It has their account number, all the information. So, they'll always have that available and then they can just >> so they can have now they have the portal that they can get that information on the portal. >> Yes. It's not a bill paying portal. It's
more to like look at your water consumption, but you will have your account number available right there on your phone. So, you can just transfer it into city hall. >> That's that's a way. I haven't download that portal yet, so I need to I need to look into it because I mean I as far as I know, the only way that you can get
the bills is making a phone call or getting the or receiving the bill. >> Yeah, I would recommend that everybody sign up for the customer portal because you can set parameters based on your regular usage. If you have a leak, it sends you an email or a text message to let you know. >> Can you send us the information to the
council? >> Sure. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Was there a recent issue with um the system that residents use to pay their their water tax? >> There was. Yes. >> Okay. That was brought up to me on Monday at the neighborhood meeting and I
had no idea about that. So, anything um >> I sent an email. >> I sent an email. Oh, so I apologize. So, you did send an email. I just didn't see. I was going to ask for an email. So I >> So there was a social media message that was sent out. It was uh just a temporary um bug with the um the data that we had.
So the file transfer didn't appropriately go there. So they just had to work something out on their end. >> Okay. Okay. I know they they they received the answer, but they were looking for another it was resolved, but I was looking for more information, but that that was sent already. Thank you.
Um counselors, any other questions or comments? Uh councelor >> cameras. You've heard the story already. Do you have any? >> Yeah, I think we have probably around a dozen cameras. We have them at each of our pump st sewer pump stations. Um and then we have maybe like we have a few at
the reservoir and then we have maybe three or four at Water Street. Um >> just just be aware any application for them. We'll we'll get in touch with you after next week, but we'll we'll get more details on how we're going to go forward on that. >> Uh enterprise fund again help me. and
probably number 101. I don't remember how much money you're bringing in. All the money you're bringing in stays there. And does that also pay for salaries? This these salaries are coming out of the general fund as opposed to the enterprise fund. >> No, we're we're self-sufficient.
>> So all the money that's from here. That's right. That's right. That's right. All the money from here comes from the money that you receive, revenues from the water. Correct. Got it. and we've been talking a lot so I about revenues and the new system and
potential increases and all that. So, well, >> yeah, >> I think we're good. >> Okay, any other questions? Seeing none, let's move on to water operations. >> So, we had a reduction um of $45,000 for
salary and wages. that was a redlinined position in the union. Um so once they retire that person that that's that's exed out of the um union but we utilize that money for the other position for the billing analyst some of
it. Um and then we have so longevity went down a little bit just some collective bargaining increases for the salaries. Um fuel prices again up. Electricity we increased it by 25,000.
Um the costs have been going up. Engineering and architectural we increase it by 50,000. Primarily we utilize a lot of those funds for um storm water. So like storm water um when you develop
a building you need to have a storm water plan. So, we have a third-party um agreement that they will have the plan reviewed. So, um it's a benefit for the city because so we get reimbured for that in the end, but we we need to have it in the line item for right now. Um
and then they also do like on call work. So, if we have like a huge, you know, water emergency or something like that, um we have an on call contract and then they will send an engineer out um to oversee that type of work.
Um, so we have the professional services. That's our water treatment plant contract. Um, so that just goes up by the CPIU, which is a consumer price index. So we increased that by 1 and a.5%.
So that ended up being $29,597. Um, that's a 10-year contract that runs through um, fiscal year 28, I believe. um chemicals, we reduced it by 50,000 just because we didn't utilize as much funding as I thought um from last year.
So, we can able to save a little bit there. And then the charcoal filters, which is our carbon filters at the plant, we rotate those out. We clean two and um reactivate the carbon. That's for PAS and um cleaning the water. Um so, though that went down, we went out to
bid on that and it came in a little bit lower. So, we reduced that by 26,000. If you flip over then to page 167, that's our positions. Um, there's really only you see the craftsman position. It's minus one. That
was the redlinined position for 46,000. But the only other change really is cross connection inspector. We reduced it from three to two, but we brought back the chief cross connection inspector. Um, so that was a position that was also redlined from years ago,
but I believe that the city needs that position because it's a very important um, division in the department protecting public health um, and you need a leader in the office to to run it day for day-to-day operations. >> All right, counselors, any questions
pertaining to water operations? Seeing none, Commissioner, you know how I feel about your leadership and your and what you're doing. Um the work that you and your team are doing and I do share the same
sentiment as you. I believe this this department in the future should be its own department with all the work that >> water and sewer does. So thank you. Thank you gentlemen. Thank you. And I want to thank my team, too. My administrative team and operations, everybody. I don't say it enough. So,
and they showed up tonight. Lewis is the construction supervisor. Derek's a new finance officer that you approved. Um, the girls, you know, on Water Street, they do an amazing job and we got the bills out. That was, you know, we had issues. Everybody works really, really hard. So, I just appreciate that. So,
and thank you for your support. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. >> Have a good night. >> All right, counselors. That wraps up the FY27 budget hearing. As a reminder, we will have the special meeting on Monday, June 15th at 700 p.m.
here in the city council chamber. No, here I don't here in the city council chamber and also um a on we we have the 17 scheduled as a in case we need it. So, at this point, can
I please have a motion to adjurnn? >> No, send it to the council. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, yes. I forgot I did that last. >> Can I have a motion to send item this item to the full council as a committee report? >> So, move.
>> Motion has been made by the vice chair, seconded by the council president. Any further discussion on the FY27 budget? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. The eyes. Any nays? The eyes have it. Now, can I have a motion to adjurnn?
>> A motion has been made. Is there a second? Probably seconded. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. The eyes have it. Thank you so much, counselors, for the work that you did this year.