Not just scared because like It's not the way in the back. In the back. I need our mask.
So [Music] now with some That's what we need to do. [Music] Justice. [Music] [Music] Good evening and welcome to the personnel committee meeting. Today is
Monday, April 28th. It is now 6:46 p.m. Voting members present. To my left, we have councelor Anna Levy, the vice chair of this committee, councelor Wendy Luzon, and to my right, councelor Fedellina Santiago. Pursuant to chapter 20 of the acts of 2022, this meeting of
the personnel 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 at the city council chamber or use our
Facebook or YouTube uh channels. At this time, can you please join me in a moment of silence um in in honor of the pope that we that the entire world has has lost. And now join me in the pledge. I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Indivisible liberty and justice for all. Okay, I see we have some individuals here, but I think that's for budget and finance. Uh
counselors, we don't have any minutes to approve. We don't have new items, new business items for the personnel, but we do have a table matter that um in recent like a week or two ago, I I got
an update on. So, can I get a a a motion to unte item 38-25, confirm appointment of Pamea Gonell, Assistant Commissioner of Health and Code Services? Motion has been made. Is there a second?
Second. Proper seconded by councelor uh Luzon. All those in favor say I. I. And the eyes have it. Uh councilors. I'm just pulling out my phone to read you a email that I received at my in my city
email. The last time we discussed this item, we were waiting to hear back from the ethics commission to see if everything was okay. I did receive this Ethic Commission um uh email and letter
with the letterhead or the attorney that that um that provided the service to Miss Gonell. And I also had our city attorney, attorney Hooton, look it over and review it to ensure that I was interpreting this letter correctly. And
I'm going to read you what um Attorney Hootin wrote to me on April 10th. I am happy to speak about this, but it appears that filing a disclosure and abstaining from any decision involving her husband's company, she is free to be
appointed permanent. So that is the advice that she received from the the ethics commission and I also let me forward this to you guys actually. So excuse me while I forward this just in case if you want it for your
records. It is a lengthy letter. Um, and it does get a bit confusing uh in some sections of it, which is why I had our city attorney review it to ensure that I was uh understanding it correctly. So, with that being said, that this item was
tabled pending this letter. Um, it appears that she she is all set to to go if we move forward with this appointment. Um, so I'm leave it to this committee to see how you guys would like to move forward.
[Music] I think that we [Music] already thank you madame chair. So I think so that's uh the last meeting that we have. We already discussed it. We already interview Miss Panella Goner and
I think that we should send it to the full council with a favor recommendation. Yes, I do it as a formal motion to I would like to amend to add something to the motion or after that.
Let's get a second. Second. and count on the other. Yes, I would like to add the motion if she can accept H pending the information from H
from her college like Pensson or the the assignment she did it already. I know. I don't see it here, but I do believe she I do believe she has that now. So um
council levies would you accept that as uh council chair I don't think so that we should uh do this you know the requestment of this curriculum so I think so that she already presented all of it uh the
paperwork that she needed and beside I think so that she has more than what is been looking at the the request that we did it on on the on the newspaper or the the
application. So that's a not yes just for the record. However, councelor what we can do as part of the discussion I I do recall speaking to the to the director and if needed she does have that paperwork so
we can ask her to provide that. We can ask her to provide that. Is it on? Yeah. Um at the full council meeting, councelor. Okay. Okay. So, looks like
we're all set. All those in favor say I. Any naysay? The eyes have it. Thank you. Thank you. Um wondering if there's anything else. Counselors, can I
have can I have a motion to unte item 393-23 police chief position search committee and update? Someone. Motion has been made by councelor Santiago, seconded by councelor Levy. No discussion on tabled
matters. All those in favor say I. I. And the eyes have it. Now, can I have a motion to withdraw this item? So move. Motion has been made by councelor Levy, seconded by councelor Santiago. I'm just going to say real quick, we all know
where this process is at at the at the moment. So I don't believe we need this item at the personnel uh meeting pending that we are aware that there might there is a name coming down. Um, councelor Sher, councelor Levby. Okay. Can we take
it out of table also? Item 2 1022. Let's Yeah, let's finish with this one. Um, with the vote. Can I All those in favor say I. I. And the eyes have it. Can I have a motion to untab item 1022, appointment of Modesto Maldonado to the
Lawrence Redevelopment Authority Board. Uh, motion to withdraw. So, wait, we need to untab it first. Um motion has been made by councelor Levy, seconded by councelor Santiago. All those in favor say I. I. And the
eyes have it. Uh councelor Levy motion. This is item 1022 is an item for withdraw. It's been there for a couple of years right now and I already spoke with Mr. Mardonado and he said that he's not interesting in that. Okay. So you're
you're making a motion to withdraw. Motion to withdraw. Yes. Second. Motion has been made by councelor. Motion to withdraw has been made by councelor Levy. Seconded by councelor Santiago. All those in favor discussion on withdraw. Seeing none. All those in
favor say I. I. I. Any nays? The eyes have it. Looking at um any other items? Um all right. I'm not seeing any if there's any other table it tabled
items that you guys would like to counselors would like to unt on my end I'm not seeing any as I don't have updates for them yet but if anyone else has an update on any all right so we're good to go at this point then can I have a a motion to
adjurnn motion to adjurnn second motion has been made by councelor Levy seconded by councelor Santiago those in favor say I I and the eyes have it thank you counselor A little reminder that this is a citation over there for everybody to sign it.
April 28th, 7:36 in the evening. Thank you so much for your patience as I waited to have quorum. Uh voting members present, I have the uh council president to my right, uh councelor Javanni Rodriguez,
and to my left, councelor Wendy Luzon. 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 use any of the any of our uh social media channels, YouTube and Facebook. At this time, can you join me in a moment of silence to honor Pope Francis? And now join me in the pledge.
Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Counselors, we don't have any minutes to
approve, so we're going straight into new business. The first item on our list, we have item 154-25, authorization to expense $50,000 towards the of the Mosaic Municipal Match Grant, brought to us by
Sufin, our manager of financial and administrative services. Miss Frink, you have the floor. Good evening, counselors. The Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership, also called Mosaic, funded by the Mass Department of Public Health,
Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, and powered by the Rise Massachusetts Foundation is a unique public private collaboration designed to fund initiatives that are addressing the opioid op over overdose crisis in
communities and populations that have been historically underserved and have experienced a high rate of opioid related overdose deaths. In the late fall, the Lawrence Mthuan Community Coalition, LMCC, in partnership with the city, applied for a $50,000 Mosaic Municipal Matching Grant
to continue the coordination of support services and responses for high-risisk individuals that have experienced opioid overdoses currently being represented at the Lawrence Hub by providing transportation to treatment centers. The hub consists of 40 local service
providers and agencies, including LMCC and the Lawrence Police Department, who meet weekly and work collaboratively with individuals and families identified as having elevated or acute risk of harm and need access to services from more than one community
agency. $50,000 was the maximum a municipality could apply for, and we are matching that with $50,000 from the opioid settlement funds that the city has received. The city will enter into a contract with family services of the mermac valley
which is the fiscal agent for LMCC. These funds will be used to support a 0.5 FTE client resource navigator who engages with the clients for recovery services and the intent is that person will be someone with lived
experience. 0.05 05 FTE of the program manager who provides program oversight and supervision 10 FTE of a program administrative support for tracking and reporting fringe for the above positions
transportation to recovery and detox and some costs for program office space and supplies. Thank you counselors. Any questions or comments? Council President Chair is that the matching
amount is 150,000 from No, the match is 50,000. It's a dollar for dollar match. So, it's a total of $100,000. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? I have a question, Miss Pink. How how is
this going to how is this grant going to I guess complement the funds that we already have um and the activities currently happening through through the through your office? So, LMCC um had some funding that was providing the cost for the transportation to detox and that
funding program ended and they were also going to be able to hire that um client navigator using these funds. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? I'll make a motion through you, council president. I'll make a motion to send it
to the full council with a favor recommendation. Motion has been made by the council president. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by councelor Luzon. Discussion. Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. And the eyes have it. Thank you, counselors. Thank you, counselors. I'm going to go to
item 156-25, appropriation transfer in the amount of $5,000 from business and economic development instate travel to office supplies brought to us by Kate King, our finance officer from the planning and
development office. Uh Miss King, you have Thank you. Um the business and economic development would like to do this transfer. um they are hoping to purchase some new computers slashlaptops for um their staff members. They currently only have one laptop for the
um business and economic development division. So sometimes if there's two meetings, it's a problem. They have to borrow a laptop. Um I think it would be more efficient if they were to have laptops and in case they needed to work remotely. So I
mean but it's just a small transfer. Thank you counselors. Any questions or comments? Council president. Uh there is anybody working remotely currently? Working with what? Remotely. No, I'm
just saying if they're at an event and they need to work remotely or do some stuff like sometimes we'll be like, you know, different location different locations and we have to, you know, they're doing a small business event tomorrow, so they need to have laptops and be able to access stuff while
they're there. Any other questions or comments? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion. Make a motion to send it to the full council with a f recommendation. Motion has been made. Is there a second? Second. properly seconded. Discussion seeing none, all those in favor say I.
I. And the eyes have it. Thank you. Okay. [Music] Um, now we are going to So, councilors, I am skipping around a little bit because we do have um what? I have one
more transfer, right? Okay. 157-25 appropriation transfer in the amount of 5,200 from the business and economic development instate travel to the other purchase services brought to us by Miss King again. Miss King, you have the
floor. Yeah, it's supposed to be um planning from planning um instate travel to planning other purchase services. Okay. This is to um cover the cost of some appraisals that have come up lately. Um the planning department has
to do appraisals of certain properties. Um there's also D filings that we don't always know about in advance and we have to pay for those. And right now in the um 5380 I don't have any funds left to cover those. So council any questions or
comments? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion. I'll make a motion to send it to the full council with a f recommendation. Motion has been made. Properly seconded. Discussion. Seeing none. All those in favor say I. I. And the eyes have it.
Thank you. Thank you. Um, now we're going to So item, just so uh, council, just so you know, we were just talking to uh, director McCarthy. Item 158-25. I'm not tonight will be I'm not
going to entertain it because I'm going to lose quorum as a council president would have to recuse himself due to a potential conflict of interest. So, what we're going to do is uh I'm going to ask you to be prepared for the full council meeting. I will. And uh we'll take this
out of committee at that level and we'll we'll discuss it as a full counsel. Very good. Understood. Thank you. Thank you. Um Okay. Um Okay. Next item. We have item 159-25, authorization to expend
$25,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of the Attorney General for Nikki Jam Music and Arts Center design agreement brought to us by Theo Rosario, our acting city engineer. Is he here tonight with
us? No. Um, advisor, senior advisor. Hi, good evening. uh uh committee chair infante, city council president uh Rodriguez and councelor Lson uh for reasons of
conflict of interest uh the uh Theo cannot address this issue. As a matter of fact, we have made decisions to uh for him not to serve in that capacity any longer. So I'll be here to to uh provide an answer to the
best of my ability. Um as you know that we uh the state is managing the um the Marramac Valley revolving phone uh fund and uh portion through the mass safe program and portion of this uh these
funds we have recommended to use for the uh design um of the um of the Nikki Jam Center which is 147 uh Haveril Street. We want to proceed as uh quickly and
expedite this project. Um and we have submitted um before we have already submitted uh and have discussions with with the uh attorney general's office in regards to this project for us to move forward. But before doing so, we would like to your approval for us to move
forward. So I'm sorry, repeat again. So, the $25,000 um from the attorney general's office is going towards what? Specifically, the design the design of the uh we did renderings as you already know uh in uh
in preparation for the uh remember at that time Nikki Jam came to the community, but we also wanted to have more or less an estimate of what the cost would be uh and what it would look like. Uh we presented that to to you and the community. uh it was uh uh properly
posted and now we're we're trying to move as as expeditiously on this matter and in order for us to seek additional funding, we need a a design. Thank you. Before opening the floor, I do want to
give some background information um particularly about this project. It's been a while since we've spoken about this project. Correct. Um, I had the pleasure of working with the mayor's office, uh, in terms of bringing the artist here and and having that
opportunity with him and his team. And when this project came about, I do want to inform the public that his team connected us to other organizations like the Latin Grammies Foundation, um, Tito's Vodka, uh, Corporation, um, that are more than willing to help
the city of Lawrence in some way. um they offered could be through scholarships um curriculum instruments etc. So there's more to this project than what people actually know. Um we just have we're just still in the in the
planning phase and um it's good to see this moving along. Yeah, we um just so you may know and in just uh in anticipation of uh so this would be the first step for the design. We will come before you again because some of the the
funds of the uh the the Marramac Valley revolving uh fund would also be used for energy saving program. I mean once the we have the design we're looking at the window the roofs that may be part of of
another uh approval that we will be seeking uh from the city council. So this is the first step. Thank you. I just wanted also to make sure that I stated a little bit of the background because there has been questions on why are we doing this? Where where is money is all the money coming from the city of
Lawrence etc. So I did wanted to um to make a point that outside help um or partnerships collaboration has been offered and and we've had m we have made those connections and um build those relationships for this. Uh, and that
being said, any any questions or comments? Madam Chair, if I may, Luzon, so this project is over $25,000. Did this went to a bidding uh because it's over $25,000. And I see my chair that the same company is being
used for L uh and it's also used for the design. It had is being used. So I just want to know if this project went Okay. Yeah, I can give the answer. The uh it's
the other way around that um we have uh there is the um we have in-house doctors and we do have uh architects and engineer that is part of it that are in-house uh they call them house house doctors uh that
provide consulting for the city. Uh this company that you see as part of it is a is the company that uh the architectural company that worked on the parking spaces. Uh we uh they were selected like
three years ago together with also wooden and current that is currently doing other studies for us. Uh as well as uh environmental partners. uh that is the reason why you see that the LRA is
uh also using the architects because it went through the procurement system uh within the city. So we are also using wooden and current for other other studies that we have. We just received through the LRA uh a report from them
for us to present uh uh for information for us to present to both state as federal delegation and also the governor's office. Madame Chair, if I may, uh, senior advisor, uh, so, so this specific project doesn't need to go
through a bidding process. No, because it's exempt from, uh, 30B. Thank you. Yeah. Any other questions or comments? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion. I'll make a motion to send it to the full council with a f recommendation.
Motion has been made. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by councelor Luzon. Discussion. Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. And the eyes have it. Thank you. Next item is item
160-25. Authorization to expense in the amount of $17,500 uh for the firefighter safety equipment grant program for turnout gear round two of funding for the fiscal year 2025. And
we have our acting chief, acting chief Delaney. Good evening, madam chair, counselors. So, can you tell us a little bit about the Sure. This is this is a grand 17,500. We plan to purchase five sets of
gear. What's good about this gear? It's uh PASF free. PAS is poly floral alkali substances that it's it's actually a water and oil repellent, but it's an it's linked to an increased cancer risk. It's something in our gear that's that's
causing us cancer. So, this new gear is p fast free. So, it's it's a good thing in the fire service and you know, we're looking forward to it. And with with this grant, we could set um we could buy five full sets which will replace
members members gear who's gone over like 10 years. Once your gear your structural firefighting gear is over 10 years old, it it should be taken out of service. So this will be replacing some of those some of that gear.
Thank you. Counselors, any questions or comments? See none, I'll entertain a motion. Motion to send to the full council with favor of recommendation. Motion has been made. Is there a second? Second motion. Seconded by council president. Discussion.
Uh council. Council president. Oh, I want to take this opportunity to welcome you as chief. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Any other comments? Seeing none, all those in favor say I.
I. I. And the eyes have it. Thank you very much. All right, going back up top. Item 155-24-25 report and presentation on the creating a thriving Lawrence program. And we have Miss Fank and the senior
advisor Spanner here um to present this to present this presentation. Committee members again. Uh, as you may recall, um, I have the date here, June 20th, uh,
2023. The the mayor submitted a a request to the city council in which you have approved the uh, creating a tribing Lawrence program. And also together with approving the
program, uh you have also authorized um uh the staff to work with with the different community organization through RFP process to expand a total of $4.6 6 million plus dollars
uh which was a portion of the $16 million uh of funding that was transferred from ARPA funding through to the uh to free cash. There was a series of organizations
uh that applied. Uh the numbers I think shortly uh Susan is going to uh present to you. However, uh based on our review, we are very much satisfied in the program, how it was
executed and also our community partners, how effective and efficient they have been in making these funds uh reach and help uh our community at different levels. So whether it would be a youth program, whether it would be
education, whether it included our senior citizens, whether it included citizenship programs, voting programs, uh funding that was utilized for our uh disabled uh members and uh people in our
community. But we are happy to say that we as staff and the mayor has been very satisfied. But now it's turn to present it to you uh as the committee as the first step and also uh report this uh to
uh to the city council as a whole. The we have invited all of the organizations because this is a unique opportunity that was provided and presented to all these organizations that are doing a wonderful job in the community.
Unfortunately, we weren't able to support maybe the all the organization that are working uh within uh is assisting and supporting our community. But we are happy that those that did apply that did receive funding uh did it
in a satisfactory manner. Um as part of the requirement we have uh promised the city council that by the end of the or close to the end of the program that we will present you a report. We have
requested all the organization to submit uh their reporting which have they they have been doing uh throughout the course of of the I think it's almost 18 months that they have been involved uh with the program in implementing and executing
the program. So that information has been presented through the office of uh planning and development. Uh as you recall both uh uh Susan Frink uh Kate King and myself were the person
that were uh responsible for this pro program and we are ready to present and we have invited all the organization uh to to come before you. We expect that this presentation and we're going to try to do it as short uh uh as short as
possible considering the considering the time. Uh but we are we we think that we can do it in more or less in 35 minutes for questions and answers. We have um we've invited all the uh organization that receive funds and I believe those
that are not present I think some of them are also uh online. We have made it mandatory because we think that this was a great opportunity for them and we are also taking notes uh to who were invited who excuse themselves because this is a
commitment to the community and um we have to report it. Thank you. Hello again counselors. So, the creating a thriving Lawrence, use the arrows. Um, the amount that has been funded to the nonprofits is
4,445,000 through an RFP process. To date, which is actually as of last week, we had um dispersed $2,514,555. There are pending payments in the system right now of just over 84,000. So, we've got 1.85 85 million
roughly left to to expend by June 30th. Um you'll have to excuse my pronunciation here, but Kambiando Elmundo de personas conac. Um Oh, thank
you. Thank you. um um worked with um families that have um children with special need special education needs and help them work to become advocates. Um they graduated over
150 parents through their process and created 50 strong community leaders. Uh, Teneo, Dominicano, Dane Noeva, Inglotera, um, Ran the Bohemian Sunset. Thank you everybody. Um, ran the
Bohemian Sunset program which, um, is a landmark tourist attraction for the city, 12 weeks from June through September. Um, they generally have about 300 people that attend each week. Um, and it brings art, music, and culture to
our community. Um, the institute cultural day Puerto Rico did the Bomba Eplaner Festival and they had over 500 people attend and distinguished artists from the Puerto Rican traditional bomb
and plan music genre are there to provide um again music and culture to the um community. The international book fair um happens every year and they served
um quite a few people, 725 adults, 429 children youth. They had 27 writers, six artists, and five professors for a total of 1,192 participants. They had a children's fair um at the Lawrence Public Library and youth fair at
Lawrence High School in the fall. The Hispanic Image Smart Women's Biz Hub, Inc. hosts monthly breakfasts for um local Latina business women. Um they provide professional development. They also have a conference
for um their members and they also have a gala where they give out awards to um local businesses. Um, sharing hope does a program of healing through art and it fosters creativity. It
enhances skills and builds confidence and has therapeutic benefits to the children. There's some great pictures of the participants there. So, yes. Where is sharing hope located some of the stuff? I think her office is just recently. Oh,
there we go. What is it? 599 Canal Street. Thank you. Okay. Unfortunately, we're having some techn Oh, there we're back. Okay. Okay. Um, Straight Ahead Ministries works um with um formerly incarcerated
um youth. They had um 35 that graduated with woodworking skills from their vocational training program. 21 received a diploma or their high set and 116 DY youth were served
with mentoring and peer support. So, and where is straight ahead located? Um, their headquarters are in Worcester, but they they work here in the Lawrence area. Nice. Thank you. You're welcome. Um, Elevated Thought. Oh, I'm sorry.
Sorry. If Well, I'm all right. Um, being asked for you to mention the location of um, well, I'm also wondering as well of these organizations, please. Okay. Um, forward. I'm going to have to ask some of the organizations to help me
out on that because I didn't bring the um the addresses with me. Um Elevated Thought is located in the Everett Mills that I do know. Um they we provided support for the I am art I am change apprenticeship program and they served
um over 60 youth. Um and they had seven full-time staff, six of whom were from Lawrence, and they taught and coord coordinated the program as well. There were um four tracks, photo and video, visual art, creative writing, and social
justice. And the youth were able to um visualize creative careers and put these visions into action in ways such as public art projects, clothing, and workshop facilitation. and they were able to take um some field
trips and they went to the the Leica Gallery, the MoMA, and the Addison Gallery. So, they exposed the youth to um art outside of our community. Beyond Soccer
um served 1,29 um youth in their inner in the in city league and winter football. There were junior coaches, um youth jobs, 83. There was a summer enrichment program that served
481. Um they did academic after school tutoring. They have a um inschool soccer and wellness program that work directly with students at the Allington and Gilmet middle
schools. Over $12,000 was used to support um former players to run the year- round program. And there's a there's a really nice quote from um one of the coach mentors. Um I won't read the whole
thing, but it um he's a 5 and a half year coach and he's a student at UMass Lowel. Um they used funds to help provide um gym rental costs and youth wages. Again, um they
received 448 hours of tutoring through the program. And in the winter, 334 youth played football, which is in sort of an indoor soccer-like game. And 100% of that play was run by 18
former players, which are now junior coaches and coach mentors. Groundwork. Lawrence did um a community style cooking class, a meals that heal, and it seeks to empower residents to improve their family's nutrition by learning um healthy cookie
um cooking experiences. So, year one, they had a session of five classes with 15 participants. In year two, they had two sessions. um one just ended April 8th with 15 participants and their second class has
20 participants and that will end in June. So the Laurens different things such as what does it mean to be healthy? Um reading food labels, shopping on a budget, using um healthy swaps in
recipes. Essex Art Center had the Fiesta and Laalier, which is a free summer block party um on Island Street, which has live music, dances, and activities, and a community-based art exhibit. And each July, the party brings over 2,000
visitors to Island Street to celebrate the vibrancy of our our community. Um Mil City Investment is now called Nectra Community Investments. They've rebranded themselves. They were awarded $800,000 with the primary goal of
providing financing capital to large small businesses. Um, a subset was intended to help businesses purchase um their own commercial space. They have done such a thing. Um, Sweet Grace Heavenly Kinks, I'm sure
you remember they were um a victim of the the fire where Sweeney, they were in the same building where Sweeney Lurkers was. Um so that commercial space was um rebuilt and they provided um
$490,000 250 towards that. So they are actually becoming a wholesale producer of baked goods which will hopefully increase their revenue and there are four residential units in that building as well. Great Alarms Community Action Council's
healthy homes program is dedicated to creating safe and healthy living environments um which is achieved by helping um families address hazards in their home. They really worked with their um early
learning division clients and offered solutions such as childp proofing hazards um promoting safer environment, the importance of emergency preparedness, fire prevention, and empowering individuals to protect their rights as
tenants. So they supported 139 families in um 2024 and provided them with some essential supplies such as fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, dehumidifiers, and more. And as of March 2025, they have supported 87
families with the same type of supplies. Lazarus House Ministries um in FY24 provided 54,317 meals through their soup kitchen and 75,127 guests were provided groceries at
their food pantry. And through the first half of FY25, um they provided 31,887 meals and 44,19 guests provided um groceries. in their shelter and
housing programs. There was in FY24 6,514 emergency shelter bed nights and 19,796 um bed nights at their transitional housing program. And again, in the first
half of 2025, 3,511 emergency shelter bed nights and 9,227 transitional housing bed nights. The Bread and Roses Heritage Festival is held annually on Labor Day weekend. It honors the 1912 Bread and Roses strike.
It's a free festival open to everyone. It features music, art, education, local vendors, promotes workers rights, social justice, and immigrant stories. And they estimate um attendance at approximately 2,000
people. Last year's theme was literacy and democracy. And this beautiful um logo was designed by a student from Lawrence. They do um they did a a story
walk on camping young common which allowed the attendees to engage in an interactive outdoor setting with literature and they do all sorts of um fun things during their festival. Another wonderful festival also held on Labor Day weekend is the Feast of the
Three Saints. And last year, not this past fall, but this fall before, it was the 100th anniversary. And we provided funds that helped um offset the cost of the police and fire details.
um as you all know that's a a wonderful um organization that provides scholarships and um promotes the Italian um culture. Top-Notch Scholars is a youth leadership um organization. It helps
youth find their life passion and career goals throughmies, internship and mentorship sessions. So through their attendance at their differentmies um at keynote speeches, scholarships
given out and mentoring sessions, they impacted over 1,190 um youth at their entrepreneurship academy. They um have accounts where they're they're selling the top-notch water. Um and
they've also awarded scholarships um $15,000 in 2023 and 20,000 in 2024 to students pursuing um programs that will um from the entrepreneurship
funding their internship academy. They had um experiences four to six hours per week at the um various health centers in the area. They worked in the emergency room, attorney, pediatrics, ultrasound, human resources, financing, pharmacy,
outpatient, and more. They engaged in um one-on-one mentoring, and they are they have a waiting list of 88 students, so they're looking for more partners to um partner with them. the Lawrence Adult Learning Center
um did a program for citizenship um for low-income residents to become citizens. So, they do outreach um ESOL education, one-on-one tutoring, and voucher support for the N400 program application. So, they have five
classes, two evening and three on Saturday. They had community citizenship forums, provided financial assistance to 20 students, increased um community outreach and did over 200 200 hours of mock interviews. And the results were 70
students became citizens of the United States. Um there are 27 students right now in enrolled in the classes. There are 11 students awaiting their naturalization interview and there are over a hundred students
um in their ESOL for citizenship classes. The Great Alarms Community Boating Program um served over 250 children from the recreation department every Monday and Wednesday, which included lunch and
membership for those attendees all summer long, seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. They have their lunch program, arts and crafts, gyms and games, the science program, field trips, puzzles and staging, and water safety
education. and they have been serving um the citizens of Lawrence for over 46 years. Senior's basketball does um basketball after school. They have 260 students um ages 7 to 18, both girls and
boys. They also have teams in the AAOU circuit, 11 teams competing, nine boys teams and two girls teams. and 30 youth attended two basketball camps in Spain last summer. They do academic tutoring. Um
they do a reading program and they help um students with their applications to private schools and enrollment support, transportation support and 38 youth attending private
and or school choice. And they also help with college readiness and health and wellness. They talk about substance um use and mental health and youth development, you know, healthy relationships and positive
well-being. And they also have leadership development. They um involved in a youth tobacco prevention movement to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco and vaping. And they have year- round um youth jobs, summer youth jobs,
and they have coaching training for their older students. Serving Stars is the first and only tennis program in Lawrence. Um there were 31 participants in the afterchool program, 250 in their summer
program. Um so they used these funds for transportation to and from the program. They had fitness tracking devices. They um helped students with um applications for competitive opportunities. They did field trips to
Brook School, Harvard UN University and more. And they have a high school mentor program. Um, Lawrence Sports Alliance um is a partnership effort of championing
championing her game that introduced hundreds of Lawrence girls to free quality sports experience for a full week every February. Um, since co there's been a sharp decline in participation at in girl sports at Lauren High School, which
is kind of sad. There was a 50% drop in basketball, softball, track, and field. The field hockey team folded entirely. The freshman and JV teams are unable to fill rosters in multiple sports. So, we want to they want to reverse these
trends by exposing um kids to um sports. It's kind of hard to see, but they had um folks from the New England Revolution, Marmac College, the Red Sox, um the YMCA, [Music]
um and the kids were able to experience various sports during this week during the summer. So there were over a thousand girls impacted in 2024 and 25. 16 different sports activities, 30 partners contributed um
and nearly a thousand items of sports equipment and gear were distributed to the girls who participated. Olive in July um offers citizenship classes and education to English um learners and
speakers of other language. So they um were able to support staff and teachers for the ESOL um and citizenship program. They had three courses
um in FY24. So there were 64 um new English learners and they successfully completed the course and advanced to the citizenship classes becoming US citizens. And in um
2025 they have 68 new citizens who can now contribute more actively to our local economy and community. Lottown boxing is um recently funded um as as you're aware
and they are actually expanding beyond just boxing. They're doing um gym as well. They're doing health and fitness on Wednesdays. They have a women's night to create the um opportunities for um more females to participate. Um, Officer
Fabian of the police department has um been down there training with the with the youth. Um, you can see him there in a little video box thing there. Um, Sana Hispana um was founded in 1979
by Isabelle Melendez, a community activist and community organizer and it was inspired by attendance at a festival in Boston and a desire to celebrate the Hispanic culture in Lawrence. And it's aimed to showcase the rich traditions of
various Latin American countries through music, food, and dance. During the cultural fair, all Latin American countries are able to share um their food and traditions and at the festival that's held on Campyong Common. It's a two-day
festival. Um there are generally um lots of vendors, um food, cultural merchandise, music from local artists and international Hispanic artists. And it's a main gathering for family and in the surrounding communities as well.
Downtown Lawrence Association Association maintained 18 planters on Essex Street during the summer and holiday season. They coordinated the installation of 80,000 LED holiday lights on Essex Street and 40 poles with holiday garlands and bows.
They collaborated with Elevated Thought on the design and production of a welcome to Lawrence mural in the Essex Street Alley. They worked um and helped launch the C. Lawrence marketing campaign and coordinated collaborated
with Mass Development's TDI district to install banners with the branding message and developed a high quality video for small business owners to showcase on their social media page. So phase one is beautifification and branding.
Joey Fornier Services is dedicated to violence prevention, education, victim support, and public awareness. The second step teaches children to change the attitudes of behaviors that contribute to violence and drug abuse by encouraging to think
about others feelings, solve problems cooperatively, and manage their anger in a positive way. Um it's an after-school program that uses enrichment activities um pro-social skills of empathy, impulse control, and problem solving, anger
management. And 50 children participated, 25 in each of the fiscal years, and they were in three days of afterchool classes for an hour and a half each day for 22 weeks. And there was a a nice article in the Eagle
Tribune on October 26th of 2025 recognizing the testament of um the Joey Forier services to um Lawrence. The New England Cultural and Arts Center provides art lessons. So
young artists learn visual arts and use various medium. There's also a modeling program and they say confidence starts with the strut. So students are inspired to treat every fool like a runway and feel good in the skin that they have. Learns good posture, a great walk, and
how to give a beautiful smile. And there are music lessons. So they're learning to read music, play guitar and piano, and keep an ear out for future um composers and musicians. The noestro cosme beauty certificate
program was an initiative to certify five men or women looking to acquire a cosmetology license to work as buticians in Lawrence and included manicure and pedicure certifications as well. They initially were planning on five students but it grew to nine
students. Um and right now eight of those students are awaiting their licensing exam. family services of the Marmac Valley um used the funding to help um support the mental health clinic and the capital
campaign capital a campaign to build change to renovate its main office. So the main the mental health clinic provided um services to over 300 individuals providing more than 5,000 hours of therapy and through their campaign to
build change they raised $3 million and completed the building renovations on time and within budget. And as you can see, um the $100,000 was um uh a small amount of the
um operating for the mental health clinic. Um so it was very important in the renovations. Um they improved the client experience through um reconfiguration of workspaces. They did accessibility
enhancements, energy efficiencies, and safety and security measures. and a small amount of our funds went towards that renovation. The Boys and Girls Club have um two programs funded through this um creating a thriving Lawrence. Um and the
Cub goal is to break the cycle of poverty. Their first program is planning for the future. So it helps uh middle and high school students determine what's next. Um they get guidance on admission to college and trade school, prep school. They do visits, application
and financial aid. There's workforce development. Um students participants have been accepted to Central Catholic High School, St. John's Prep, Parker Academy, um Lawrence Technical High School, UMass Law, Brown University, and
on and on. Um their other program is a music instruction program and they there was a study of a 100,000 students and music students scored higher in both in all in science,
math and English. Um so music is very important um for education. So 70 members had one-on-one weekly lessons in guitar, bass, piano, drum, digital production, singing, and ukulele. 85 members play instruments during their
free time and they've done um performances and as we say potential um improved academic performance means a stronger community. Great Lawrence Family Health Center um we're all familiar with.
They're the primary care provider for the Marmac Valley since 1980. Um it's just some statistics about them. Um, we were able to provide funding for them to purchase some some new equipments such
as handheld ultrasound machines, microscopes, hearing screen units, visual screen units, um, lead testing machines, um, germoscopes, and some other um, equipments helping us to maintain a
healthy community. The Lawrence Partnership received funding mostly for their revolving test kitchen and that provides a low barrier entry point to food entrepreneurs into the food industry to incubate and responsibly grow local food businesses,
create sustainable businesses, and contribute to the local um economy. So they've got um 17 active um local food entrepreneurs working out of the revolving test kitchen right now and
graduates have moved on to established brick and mortar establishments um three Garcas Cocoa Rays Fine Bakery Jesse's Placeed Donuts Urban Farm and Wings on Wheels. It also helps um support their
general operations. Um on the second Thursday of the month, they have a program called Know Your City. Um they have 10 sessions and they bring about different speakers um to educate Lawrence residents about the inner workings of the local government
agencies and resources. And not to put a plug in, but next Thursday night, May 8th, we'll be um on the open space plan and the storm water resiliency plan, and I will be one of the presenters that night. So feel free to come on down to the
library. And last but not least, um the Lawrence Theater Festival. Um it highlights local and global theatrical talent. Um revise classic work and promotes um contemporary plays. It brings people together. Um fosters
inclusive spaces. There were workshops for acting, writing, and directing. and they uh at the 2024 festival over 600 people attended. And the very last thing, which I don't have a a slide on, but you all
have, it's just a a breakdown of each of the awardees, how much they were funded, how much they've spent, and any pending payments, and the remaining balance on each um organization. And as Octavian said, if you have any specific questions
for the the agencies, here they are. Okay. Before we get into the questioning, I do have one comment. So, while while you were presenting on the Lawrence Downtown
Association, I went on on their website as you were presenting it, the downtown.org. Okay. Beautiful website. Um, and then I went on the city of Lawrence website specifically to the visitors page. It would be great to have the organization work with the city of Lawrence to have
like their link there to guide people to their um website because it's all about downtown which is a you know in our city. So, it would be great to include that in in our main um city of Lawrence website. Okay. On our main. All right. I
I will make a note of that and I will speak to the appropriate people that can make that happen. Thank you counselors. Any comments or questions? Any other comments or a question? Did I have Can I add um just uh maybe some lessons learned um through
this process? Um I'll have to say that all these organizations were great to work with. Um some of them are are first timers, some of them I'm familiar with through um the CDBG program. um they're all very um eager to work and
provide the appropriate documentation. Um I'll have to say this was a lot of work running this program. Um in hindsight, I would say that it might have been better if we had hired um an additional staff member to to work on this. Um I was chatting with Octavian about
this earlier. Um because it's a it's a lot. There were 30 um 35 contracts that had to be written. um Kada had to do purchase orders for all of them. And then when they send in their their invoice with all their receipts, it's a matter of matching everything up, making sure they've got their proof of payment,
they've got the right invoices, they're on the right time frame, they match their their budget line item. Some needed to have their budget tweaked. So, it it was a lot of work. Um but right, as Kay said, on top of our our regular work that that we're doing.
Um but again, they're doing some great work. I'm really happy with all of the um the work that they have done. Um another thing I might have done differently is to do what we do with the
CDBG program is bring everybody into a class at the beginning and go through the process with them. I think it might have been a timesaver to do it that way rather than having to do a lot of it one-on-one with each individual. um not every organization, but several organizations needed a little bit more
um one-on-one time. So, that might have been something I might have done differently had we um if we ever do a program like this again, that's something I would suggest that we do. If you do do a program like this again, if we do um this probably not during my tenure, this is actually this would
actually be a great opportunity for the city to consider um hiring a finance intern at the who's probably a junior senior in college. This would be a great opportunity for them to to get on their to have on their resume. So something to think of for the future. Yeah, that's a
great idea. I would like to take a moment to thank the team. Uh it's it's really a team effort to Kate uh and the rest of the OPD staff. Everybody's one way or the other involved and like um Marisol was
great. Marisol was a great help. Everybody chimed in, I mean uh worked and helped. Um and also um under uh difficult circumstances, they were always there. Um obviously like Susan
said, nobody, you know, this is the first time that we did it. And remember, uh when first we had this discussion during the city council meeting, I remember both of you were here, the council president as well as yourself. um you know the fear was you have so
many millions of dollars were we able to do it today we can we could say that um thanks to um number one the mayor to present it number two thanks to you in having the confidence in the staff uh
and we could say that so far because the program hasn't ended yet that the work is being uh done um uh according to to plan and we're reaching and achieving our goals as you can already see. Um I
would also uh like to inform you that what we're planning to do is send out a survey to all the organizations uh to see how we can improve maybe for in the future. Uh we need to work on secession planning because uh so we can
have other staff member also prepared to do it. Thankfully that during the process we were healthy in the sense that someone didn't get sick uh or someone and and there were accidents. I mean as a matter of fact somebody did
break your elbow. Yeah. And and we've been going back and forth and not to make it long but at least um you know I'm very grateful for for the job that you guys have done. Um the one of the the and and after we had the conversation uh Sue and I because we had
to be realistic where did we uh how well did we do and how did we uh feel that we can improve and one of them which I wanted to do was to basically have uh staff go and surprise visits
uh and also not only to supervise but also to interact and sometimes visualizing and being together with these uh all the organizations that we work with and remember we had more applicants I think it was 60s something
or 80 58 I believe yeah 58 applica uh applicants and some didn't bother to apply because uh there was the uh reimbursement criteria I'm sure that if that was not the case we would have um
you know more organizations uh that would have applied um And um so I would like to thank you as well as city council to to have the cons uh the uh the confidence in in in us and and in in staff in general and we
appreciate and we hope that maybe with all the budget cuts that's going on we can um you know probably at a smaller scale continue to help these organizations. If there's any questions um you know feel free to ask. uh we we
have uh each one of the representatives if you feel or you deem that it's necessary you can ask them directly. Thank you counselors. Any questions or comments? Council President you madame chair. Thank you for the opportunity. Well, essentially I
wanted to just first uh just say thank you for for putting everything uh that you have put together. Uh there is a lot of information. It is a matter of just going over to see it how satisfied the
program was. Uh but I'm pretty sure that it's a lot of positive impact on there. Absolutely. Uh just just a quick question. Uh how you get how you how you guys figured it out the reimbursement uh portion of it? I know that a lot of organizations that were struggling with
that at some point and uh and then uh at some point they kind of figured it out and then uh they went over and and be able to get access to the funds. So how you guys did that? So it it we were able to work with each individual organization to set what we call their
their benchmarks and what they felt that they could accomplish and then submit a reimbursement request for. And we're very flexible. Some organizations wanted to do just one reimbursement per fiscal year. Some wanted to do two or three.
Others have done five or six. Um even some some might even have done more than five or six. So we are very flexible in in working with the organizations understanding that some of them are small and don't have the cash flow. Um as you um recently saw one of the
organizations um we talked about doing very small reimbursements and we were able to work with that organization to accomplish that. So we try not to do more than one a month but and if we have to we have to. We're we're willing to
work with organizations to make them successful. Another question that I have uh um it will be best practice and uh and something to uh to kind of like you know make sure
that we we do put everything together and that's to have a a chart drive with that uh with all documentation in case we uh we need to respond to any type of request for this uh for this program.
Uh I'm assuming that every organization have a folder individual folder that you guys maintain and keep record of everything that they have uh submit and everything that they have uh been provided through the program. Uh that will be essential to have um
make sure that you know all those all those uh potential invoices, contract and uh and any other response to the RFP or anything like that any important documents as minimal as it could be uh
to maintain our individual folder to in case that is any any kind of request or petition. In general, I want to make a comment to when it comes to Lawrence. I mean, uh, we need to with this program, we need to, uh,
get like the true the true impact on our community. uh when it comes to the uh short-term and long terms and uh what is expected um I know that the ARPA fund it's an special fund from the federal
government that um we don't foresee in seeing any seeing in any anytime short. So essentially uh having uh a short and long-term impact on the program will help us to figure it out uh what could
be funded in the future with our own fund and how important that is uh for the community when it comes to the local local economy when it comes to local sport when it comes to uh the pipelines to help out others uh that stay in the
city that leave the city come back and so forth so on. So those are important data and tenchmark that we need to make sure that we target so we know in the future what are the best practice to be able to accomplish uh those result that
we're looking for. Um and uh and in general especially in the sport section uh we need to work we need to work hard to ensure that the pipeline to our schools and the sport for our schools is also there. We have invest a lot of
money and I hear a lot uh you know saying that okay we provide hope for kids to go out uh but we do also have we also enjoy our sport here in Lawrence. We're very competitive community and uh
having a pipeline that allows that those uh varsity teams at the Lawrence High and also at the school different schools uh that belong to Lawrence. uh it's important. So in Swiss we invest in money that could be used for the
development of our own youth. Uh I think that the target should be how we can develop the pipeline for uh Lawrence High and those those sport facilities that we have um and greater Lawrence Tech. Of course that's why that's why I
say that's why I say school belonging to Lawrence just thinking about you. So yes uh it is it is extremely important that we can provide that pipeline um and not only to I mean a lot of people seeing that you know leave the
community it's it's a good thing. Yes I got it but we also encouraging kids to stay and encouraging kids to to to kind of like you know see the benefit of our community is that's also something that
we should be looking into as well. Um so that's that's a a general comment when it comes to sport and the pipeline that we need to develop here in ours. So thank you Madam Chair. Madame Chair Council Lazone. Uh thank you Madam Chair to you madam chair. Uh and as always uh
Sue and K thank you for your leadership. Thank you for the dean and I know it was a uh it was a lot of work working with uh each individual um institution um nonprofits. So thank you so much for
that. My pleasure like always a great job. But I have a suggest a suggestion knowing that the phones are only available now that we may not have the phones available for next fiscal year. if there's any possibility
of of um utilizing workshops for this nonprofits for grants. Um if that if that is a possibility, I think it will be beneficial for especially for the
younger uh the organizations that just started. Uh so creating that space for them to continue doing the great job that they've been doing for the city and I'm pro art uh and I think they need
support uh and they need funds because some of them I'm concerned about some of them and the ability for them to keep to provide to continue providing the great services that they do for the city of Lawrence. Once again, thank you for your
leadership, Kate, Sue, and for the entire team. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for your kind words. I have a few my little notes here that I wrote. Sure. Um, so I I addressed the the
downtown Lawrence uh website. I would also like to know um pertaining to Neestor Community Investments, how many Lawrence businesses have they helped um fund for their businesses? Are they here
tonight? No. No, they're not here. Okay. I don't think they're here, actually. Um um also what I would like to and this is
perhaps something that you can communicate with Lawrence Sports Alliance. Um it was saddening to hear that the field hockey program at Lawrence High is no longer there. Um just a little fun fact I guess. Uh the
city of Lawrence, the Lawrence public schools used to have field hockey as a program in in our middle school. So I played field hockey seventh and eighth grade at the Frost School and that's how I was introduced to the program. So perhaps this organization along with the city of Lawrence can work with Lawrence public
schools to see how we can bring it back into the the middle schools so that it could continue through the high school and um we can integrate more more students uh more student athletes into that program so that this doesn't happen again when they when they bring it back
because they'll bring it back hopefully eventually. I will have to comment on that. my daughter played um field talkie for Lawrence High School and the very first time she picked up a field talkie stick was when she was a freshman at Lawrence High School there at that time there was no um program in in the um in
the middle school and I found that when we went to other communities or they came here you could tell which communities had a feeder program for the high school so I think that's a great idea. Thank you. Um and then I have a question regarding straighter
ahead. I saw that they have in with within your presentation that Dys was referred was um referred in your presentation. Do they work directly with DYS? They do. Yes. Okay. And when do you know how many students or or young adults they work that are from the city
of Lawrence? Um the numbers that were in the presentation were all Lawrence. Okay. I'll look I'll look back. I believe it was 116. Um GS I can I can look back at it. Um, and then my last question pertaining to straighter ahead, where where do they work with these
young adults when they are in this within our community? Um, I wish I could answer that question, but I can't. I will I will reach out to them and and find out that answer for you. Okay, thank you. And then I have two last comments.
if you could get me the contact information for the student that designed the bread and roses logo, the one that went for 2024. Okay, that would be great. Thank you. And
um lastly on for me, I I was happy to see Serving Stars. Again, tennis is an amazing program. I played varsity tennis at Greater Lawrence Tech, so I know the training that comes with it. And I'm happy to see a program outside of our high schools to train our students and
keep them active because we all know once the youth if we got our youth active in a young age, they're most likely to not do bad things um that they're not supposed to be doing. So I was happy to hear about all the programs that we're doing pertaining to our
youth. And I thank every single one of you that are here contributing to our community and um in helping us helping working together to ensure that our our city continues to move forward. Anything else? Uh council president.
Yeah. Um a quick message to how many organizations do do you have in total? Um there were 33 organizations that were funded. How many of them u uh show up in person? total.
I'm assuming everybody signed in a couple people didn't sign in. All right. So, we have two Lawrence sports online. I don't know who
um Lawrence Partnership is online too. 23 in person and I believe there were three four we have Lawrence Sports Alliance on Zoom um Beyond Soccer uh Lawrence Partnership and there is one name of an individual I'm not sure who this individual is with um
Ernie um Sitron I'm not sure all right I just want to make sure like you know if they hire somebody with uh through this through these funds uh they should be here or at least online. I
mean uh this is a compromise. This is serious. Uh and we definitely appreciate every organization that is here. Uh but I mean uh I hope that you guys get a a good excuse for them not to be here. Whoever didn't show up and if they
didn't and then and then that should be noticed on the contract. So, I did send out a um a letter to the organizations back in March um telling them about coming to this meeting and also to the full city
council meeting and asking them to provide the slides which um I pulled together. I didn't create those slides. It was a it was a team effort for the from these wonderful folks behind me. Um and then I did a reminder and there was
some changes of dates. So they got reminded about the change of date, the two different switches of dates. Um so they received multiple reminders um about the the meeting. No. And I and I agree. Hopefully you get you get a good email saying as to why they were not
here. But if they hire somebody with these funds, that somebody should be here because that's that's a person that is going to respond to any type of question and there may be some financial implications to not being here as well. Yeah. So, uh just make sure that you
mention um on the follow-up email that we at this mentioned that I will definitely follow up with all the the people who have not signed in. Councelor Lazar, thank you madam chair. Just a quick question uh Sud are the
organizations that received this funds are they going to be uh taken in consideration for CDBG funds? Is that a possibility? Um, we've already had our CDBG application round. Um, so some of some of these organizations did receive CDBG or will receive CDBG funding. Thank
you so much. We're a little bit behind this year because the grant amounts haven't been announced yet. So, thank you, Council President. Um, last year we didn't have any community the community organization that received fund from the CDBG. That's
correct. Yes. So, are you considering the organization this year? So, we already did our round our funding round for FY26. So, we've got a a list of organizations we're going to be funding in FY26. Back to Yep.
And you will see some some names of organizations you saw here tonight. Uh, lastly, is there are you looking for a vote? Is there a vote that is needed? This is just a presentation. It's just a presentation. just accept the report I
guess. Mhm. We can do great. All right. Well, I think we're all set unless there's anything else that you would like to provide. But thank you so much again for for your presentation. Thank you to all of you that waited so patiently. We did start a little late. We usually have budget and
finance on Wednesdays, not Mondays, so there was a little schedule mix up and I had to wait for quorum. But uh thank you all. Thank you Sue. Thank you advisor. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you Kate. Thank you everyone. Yeah. And if anybody's wondering about the construction, we apologize for that.
It's going to be uh also um chambers eventually. [Music]
Good. Congratulations. Thank you guys. Just grab my bag here. What? You didn't want her back. You didn't sign in. I didn't sign in, but my team did. As long as someone from Yeah. Yeah. I want to make sure. I'll make sure that
they seriously Okay, I [Music] better thank you. [Music] They're very [Music] Eric, I did use
Do you need support? Oh, no. I thought they Can I stay? Yes. Have to. So counselors I know um I would like to so no I know I for item
155-25 I would like to send it as a committee report so that the full council can have the presentation um not necessarily go over the entire presentation but a lot of good information is here and I think the counselors should have it
[Music] um huh Huh? Okay. So, we can still Yeah. So, so I'm looking to I'm looking to have um item 155-25 cents as a committee report.
I'll make a motion to send it to the full c to the full council as a committee report and after that I would like to add for discussion through you. Okay. Um second motion has been made properly second in discussion. Council president. Yes. Thank you madam chair again. Uh I have one final question uh
that we have for this item. So, u I know that uh the budget personnel and the administrator just left, but we wondering uh uh what's what is going to happen with the $400,000 that uh that were supposed to
be under this program for the uh organization called Federana. Okay. We have um I think a budget we're in budget season and there's a lot of things that's happening uh
recently uh and we it's going to be presented before you. Our recommendation uh both uh our calf and myself when we met with the mayor was for us to uh put some of the expenditures on hold. So
monies that has not been expended uh because we don't know how much more cuts it's going to be to be quite honest with you. Um from DPH even though these cases are in court and in some uh cases
uh the whether it's on on a f it's a state request or a federal judge that is blocking certain uh cuts that are imposed by the federal government. But we don't know to what extent uh it's going to impact us. So we
made a recommendation to the mayor to for some of the funds that has not been used for us to hold on that and transfer it into uh you know for us not to use them. That's the fear.
Right. just to make sure the only way that we have that we have appro the only way that we have approved that those funds is through this program uh and obviously the reimbursement uh uh requirement and everything that is built
in the program. So if it is any type of uh intent change or proposed, we as a council would like to be involved and and and uh and and if a council council board is required for any type of changes, we need to be uh part of it.
Otherwise, we are very awake about the program and we want to be part of anything around this program. We understand about the cuts. We respect that. At least I respect that as a council president. Uh but uh we
want to make sure like if it is any type of allocation around this program uh that have to be around the proof uh program that we allocate the funds. Yeah. Just be re reassured council president that uh you know in full
transparency we don't do that. I mean at least if even if I myself as the adviser to the mayor we know that this uh you know I mean it hasn't happened there has been requests uh but um I would leave further comments to our caffo because I think she's
coming before you with the budget and would have the opportunity to you know reason uh to give you our justification to certain things but we we're not making any decisions without without your consent I your approval No, no, no, no problem. I just want to
make sure like we we're aware. So, I'm just wondering the the funds that we put together, this $4.7 million uh that we did for the per for this program, do we put it on a specific account that is called it as uh yes, it's based on a in
a separate account. So, it's not mixed. So everything whenever there's a request whenever there's a reimbursement it comes from the specific account from the the creating a a thriving laws and those funds were part of this program.
Yes. So that how that interact with the budget? Um I think they just presented with it's within your document to see what was the actual funding that was used and what is remaining so far. Yeah. Yeah. I know. But I mean
uh you you were mentioning a second ago that um every fund has been put on hold due to the potential cuts from the federal government and other cuts. But I'm wondering like um is these is the intent is to
potentially use any type of fund that we have on this program for something else in case no it's not going to be used. is whatever went be came before you and which you have approved like these organizations
um all those that uh were able to reimburse were uh funded. Those that were not able to be reimbursed are those that we later found out that they were incomplete or whatever it is. I think it's very few. I
think it's one or two or three. Uh I'm not quite sure. Um, I need to um That would have been a good question for Sue. She would have responded. Um, let me see if she's still here. Okay, good. Have any other questions? Yeah. I mean,
that's fine. If we have any other questions, we'll definitely ask at the full council, right, once we entertain this item. Yes. Okay. So, just wondering, Madame Chair, council, we have here uh Sara Perez from Federasio.
Can I excuse myself? Uh, council, uh, maybe chair, I need to just take a small little break to Yep. Go ahead. We're not We're not on that item yet. So, um, you've made your last comment.
This is for the um the vote to send as a as a community report. Um, any other last final questions or comments? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. And the eyes have it. Thank you. Councilors, can I
have can I have a motion to unte item 117-25, review of Lawrence Redevelopment Authorities Financials? To unt it. Motion has been made. Is there a second? Second. Probably seconded. Um, no discussion on table
matters. All those in favor say I. I. And the eyes have it. We have the chair, Chair Walker. Thank you so much for your patience. I appreciate it. You're very welcome. So, I guess until Octavian gets back,
you could just do a little intro um and tell us. So, we have the management report. We have a letter from Kara's Community Investments and um the LRA letter that was submitted to Mayor Deena.
um on February 26 pertaining to the re fiscal year 2024 report. So just an intro on on this and when gets back we can continue with him. Okay. I think that uh as far as I know you have everything we had in terms of the
financial reports and and the rest. Oh and he's here. Okay. Thank you. All right. So now we're taking off your senior advisor hat. And now you're here as the executive directive of the Lawrence Redevelopment Authority. Y um
this this item I put I put on the agenda because the the city council did allocate $2 million to the LRA. We just want an update on how that's going to be in use. $2.5 million and um you know and you did
provide three documents. So we we appreciate that. Um, so yes, I would just like to uh um I want to make sure and and uh vice president if you can confirm
that we have our attorney as well as our uh accountant online is Ernie Cron because if there's any questions Ernie is here. Yeah. Yes, I'm here. And Ernie, I'm sorry. Ernie is is Ernie Inron is is
uh the L's um accountant. Okay. So, I would like to start because they have been online for a while. Yeah. I don't if you don't mind. I don't see the attorney here. Yeah. Brian Coran. Yeah. And I did request for him to be present. Yes. Well, he was he confirmed that he
was there. Okay, give me one second or can I can we begin by uh having Ernie Cron uh give you a a summary and overview of our financials? Yes. And you can ask questions. In the meantime, I can contact uh Mr. Corgan. All right,
Ernie. Um if you could for the record introduce yourself and um state your your address and then you can go into the the financial report. Yes, my name is Ernie Cron. Um the company represent Business Solutions.
We're located at 60 Island Street, um Lawrence, Mass, 01840. Okay. Uh can you give us an can you give us uh an overview of of the financials of the report we have? I'm looking right now. We're looking at the management
report for the period. Yeah, that report was prepared by me. Um, is it 2024 that you're looking at? Yes. Yeah, I was prepared for 2025. I'm sorry. I
will pull 2024. I apologize. And I'm also looking at the individuals that have logged in and out of Zoom. And his name is not I I just spoken to to uh Attorney Coran. He's going to be Okay.
He said he's going to log in. Okay. Okay. So, I'm ready. Okay. You have the floor, Ernie. Oh, that's December. So, you want the full year or just the month of December? The full report. We're We're going to go over the full report.
Let's see. Okay. All right. So, the income for the year uh let let me know if this is uh the report that you're looking at is 1,82. Yep. 600. Yep. Okay. Very good.
So for advertising and prof profession uh promotional services the expense on that was 28,97870. Uh bank charges and fees are $30. Contract labor which include admin services
31,37150 board steepen of 50,833 with 17 cleaning services of 1300 bucks and fund development director of 84,000
uh for a total contract labor of 167,5046. 67. Uh we're going to demolition and remodeling. That was 442967. We have a fundraising expense of 13,567.50. There was an insurance
expense of 1,348. We have legal and professional fees. The accountant uh 7500 the architect was 33,91750 consulting services of 117,104.33 the interpreter services was
2600 uh legal services was 36,725 and there was a traffic study of $84,000 for a total legal and professional services of 281846.83. We have a meal expense of
4,96751. We have office supplies and software of 6,197.79. Parking reimbursement of $40, postage and shipping of $185.85, 85 repairs and maintenance of
$162. Supplies and materials of 13,306.25, training reimbursement of 5,000, transportation expense of 1,390, travel and conference expense of
5,87390. We also have an utility expense for electric, gas, and internet. for electricity, 1426.50 volt. For gas, 3,76715 and for internet
86286, which is a total of $6,56.51. The website was 6,831.08 08 for a total expense of 986,254.19 which leaves a net operating income of 96,345.81 and the net income is uh there
was an interest earned of 27 27,266.25 which leaves a net income of 123,612.06 06. Um we have a balance sheet which lead the assets we currently have in Bank of New England checking account
ending in 9301 250,000 Bank of New England shadow account of uh also ending in 9301 1997,845.86 86 citizen urban renewal account ending in 8648
uh 48,639.80 liabilities are matching uh the total liabilities and assets of 496485.66. We have a statement of cash flow net income 123612.06 06
uh net cash provided by operating activities 12361206 uh opening uh balance equities was -32 net cash increase for the period 90,906.78 cash at the beginning of the period was 455578.88
88. And on the bottom of that, there's a list of all the items that I just discussed by line item. Um, any questions? Thank you, counselors. Any questions? I just
um if I may uh also wanted to remind the city council that the uh the LRA uh prior to the transfer of city funds to the LRA I believe there was an opening balance
of $600,000 of which some of that or $400,000 sorry $400,000 that um was basically from the the LRA and their Um I believe Ernie the income that we have
is based on some of the the properties uh that is owned by the LRA in which most of them are easements and uh some of them are being paid by uh we have a lease agreement with uh some of the uh with tenants. uh as a good example would
be for instance Attica there's a the terrace uh is owned by the LRA so they're paying a uh uh a monthly or a yearly fee for that as part of the lease agreement the if I could may
continue the um our financials is reflective of the what we came before you with the ask and the request for funds. Uh and number one is to comply with the elimination of blighted conditions or engage in urban renewal
projects. Uh our focus or the focus of the LRA has been to uh implement and execute the urban renewal plan. Therefore, uh we require the assistance of uh several
consultants uh including community uh caris community investment uh the environmental partners that did traffic studies for us. Uh we had the uh Nakota architects uh that performed uh
renderings and also worked on a uh uh project that we have on three parking spots within the downtown area. One is in partnership with Northern Essex uh community college that we're looking at a stateowned property uh as part of uh
parking. uh the now we're looking at uh some of the other projects uh parking project possible project uh projects and parking project spaces in in the city.
Um, as part of the revenue, we did receive $134,000 or we are going to receive $134,000 from the office of um from the executive office of housing and livable
community uh through the one-stop program. Those funds are to do feasibility studies in terms of projections of uh all the revenues that could be possibly generated
um to once these projects are completed in terms of tax revenue. Uh we're doing also a study uh not a study a uh cost analysis of um
utilizing south canal as a bus route and also as a bike route. Uh once development is you know there's a a projected development three development or four developments are are going to take place simultaneously
uh within the area. So we wanted to look at the the possibility of using South Kal canal which is parallel to Marramax Street for um during congestion for the bus routes.
Um the obviously um some of our expenses and the major expenses are uh we do have an attorney that we're paying that is uh Mr. Brian Corrian uh together with um uh
as we came before you and presented within a document also stipen that is being paid to our uh board members. Uh and that's basically it and some of the renderings that we requested to be to be
prepared. Council has any questions or comments to you madame chair and um it's the advertising and promotion
promotional is kind of expensive. So, I see here that you paid uh uh the sport checks that I'm seeing. Um it may be more, but I mean you guys are paying the L is paying a lot of money
for videos. Um you might explaining uh why and um I'm also aware that two of the payments were returned. So that is not reflected in here. Two of the
payments to virus deportivo was returned because I I believe was used uh for something else uh and not for promoting the er so that
is not reflected in here. Can you explain that uh sure definitely uh please be reminded that this uh the management report is for 2024 is not reflective of 2025. So you would have that uh report
once uh the fiscal year is over. So this so what you're asking for is not reflected in this report. So you're saying that you're you're saying that you're saying that you guys uh the L spend more money than the ones that is
reflected here? Of course. Yes. Okay. In in advertisement and uh so where where have you guys used the advertisement videos cuz I haven't seen L videos. Yeah, they've been they've been uh publicized on social media. As a
matter of fact, uh it was very productive. Um is there an L social media page? Uh there's another social media page. We did it on uh we are working we have worked with the uh the
company to uh promote the create a website, promote the on LinkedIn and other Instagram and social media. uh and that has been publicized uh as a result. The first notification that we got, we
had 28 uh respondent to letters of interest and that's not a that's not a few for a city to have 28 and anybody in the industry would know that that's a quite a lot of uh letters of interest. From the
28th, we received 20 uh respondents that submitted an RFP and from the and there were three or four three other organization that didn't submit our company the developers that didn't submit because they were
late. So that's if you look at a success rate that's very successful based on the promotion that we have. We did get a return. Madame chair if I may uh I would like to know how much money the L had
spent in total in advertisement and also senior advisor. Um most of your um developers are from Lawrence or connected to Lawrence in some way. Uh so
those that were selected Yeah. Well yeah but not the applicants. We had people I would like to know uh how many applicants uh uh you received the L received just to match how um beneficial
was the money that you spent in advertisement. I what I have noticed is that the one the the one that you selected the developers are from Lawrence or connected to Lawrence in some way. But I
you know I would I I I'm looking forward to see uh that. Yeah. But I would like to clarify it as well uh madame counselor that the that was we went through a process that is mandated by the state. Uh we had a CAC uh community
advisory committee that participated and we also had the Lawrence redevelopment authorities board that made the selection. uh you know once they submit the uh developer submitted the RFP or responded
to the RFP there was no guarantee that we were going to select or the board was going to select a company uh whether local or um or outside the state. However, if you
go on the website that was created and which also part of the marketing and and advertisement the uh you can see all the projects that were submitted you can see the presentations as well if I'm not
mistaken and um and you could see it told so it was open to the public uh to you madam chair I have seen your advisor uh and I have seen it I we just had a I have as a
counselor of district questions that my constituents have sent especially when it comes to the finances. Uh another concern that we have is that I don't see no invoices here and I would like to see
some of the invoices uh in the next meeting if possible. Madame chair well that will be discussed in the board. the board once they vote it will be provided to you as a private a quasi public entity there's no requirement for us to
do it to you as a board as a city council but we can of information um as a point of information I wanted to clarify what you just mentioned you are required to provide any
information of the $2.5 million that we prov provide through the ARPA fund. It is not up to the board. It is not It is not up to the board because those funds are from the ARPA fund from the $400,000 that you
have prior to that. That's something else. But for the $2.5 million from ARPA, you are required to provide any type of documentation that we asked for a point of information. And let me clarify because
I think you didn't understand what I said. Yes, of course. It would present it to the board. The board would vote on it and then they would as a board present it to you just like all the organizations that were here had to
present it in the same manner. But yes, through you madam chair council it's my understanding that some of your board members have requested the invoices and you haven't provide the invoices for
your own members. So, it's important for this council to see uh those invoices so that at least we can have something to answer back to my to the constituents that are asking questions. Yes. And I can respond to that. Uh the reason why
some statements and invoices invoices were submitted. That's hearsay. Invoices were submitted uh with detailing each one. There were questions concerning some of them, but that was presented to the board. Sometimes you have a board member or
board members that, you know, they're not good at recordeping and they may have uh because some of these invoices are uh and documents have been discussed in previous meetings. Uh however, they were presented. We did encounter a
situation in which um I think it was two accounts that would was with a former bank. I would like not to mention the bank right now because just to be for accuracy uh that we had dealings with uh or I
believe it was citizens bank and which these accounts were closed. Uh some of them we were not quite sure uh uh there were payments that were made or uh funding that were not properly
reported not by the LRA but by the bank itself that we have requested um statements. Uh to be in full transparency, there's we are still awaiting uh statements from the bank. Uh since
these accounts have been closed for a while, uh it takes them the bank has taken a little longer uh to produce them. Uh to you, Madame Chair. Uh thank you senior advisor for responding but I
mean as a counselor I would like to see invoices attached to your report. Another um concern that I have is I don't see here your treasure uh I think it was uh she shouldn't be
here uh tonight presenting this. not only you accounted but you have a board with titles and it will be uh beneficial to have her here for the next meeting. Yes, unfortunately due to personal circumstances she was not able to attend
uh but definitely we can have it a subsequent meeting. We'll be happy to have her here as well but she did excuse herself. Thank you. Thank you. Before before we get to you, uh, Council President, I just want one more comment pertaining to advertisement and and
promotion. Um, I know this is this is last year, so I know this isn't this isn't accurate information, but $28,000 almost $29,000 is a lot. Um, I don't have Facebook on my phone, so I couldn't I couldn't research the Facebook, but I did
research Instagram, LinkedIn, and I looked up the website. Beautiful website, by the way. Left eyee creations did an amazing job with this with this website and the videos and pictures that you see was part of the other company as well. Okay.
Um let me go to these pictures. So I'm looking at I was so this is the same so the same video that we have on the I'm saying we cuz you know to generalize it but is the same video that's on the LinkedIn that was stated that it was
used for advertisement. I'm I'm assuming social media promotion social media ad um I don't see it here as a social media ad and also just for the future for the for the organization the video that I just watched there there are like four
to five different videos that you could create to promote the LRA. Um, and I know this, this is my professional background, so I know what I was seeing. And this could one, it could have been done a lot better, and two, you have all these different scenarios within this
one video. And I'm not seeing anything particularly advertising the process itself for the sites that we were just told. So, that's something to take into consideration for the future. Um, if you are going to spend this much money on advertisement
to promote the LRA, it should be done in an efficient way. It is some it it is the organization that helps move our city forward in terms of development and um this is just I I think it could have been done a lot, but I know not that I
think I know it could have been done a lot better. Yeah. the uh some of of the work and production was not only to promote it wasn't necessary to promote the LRA but also to promote the city of Lawrence and there were
uh quite some meetings that we had and we had to ensure that some of the uh presentations and if you go on each one of them there's 20 um there's 20 uh meetings recorded
Okay, just just for the future, um I I suggest actually you guys to sit down as a board and review it and see the difference. Like you could have for I can say for about $6,000 to $7,000, you you could
have gotten at least five social media videos to promote the LRA. And that's and that's just minimum. it could be a little higher, but um from the work that I've I've done and from established agencies that I've worked with in my professional career, I
know that that that's the standard. So, vice president, we value your opinion. I'll bring it to the board. Council President, Madam Chair, so there is a couple of things just uh concept wide that I would like to kind of understand.
So, do you have that uh the the boat we took for that uh driving Lawrence? Oh, I mean for the $2.5 million that we approved from the ARPA. Do you have the original document that you guys provided? Yes, I do. This memo that was presented with a breakdown of the
expenses I mean with the the funding allocation. Um no, just for the 2.5. Yes, this is the the document that was presented with a memo. Can I see the document if you don't
mind? I can. All right. You mean with the annual uh the reporting? Yes. this one where it states to honorable Brian Adena. I I I this this is something that I was
thinking that I was thinking of. Um well concept wise I would like to kind of like you know uh potentially differentiate the expenditures that you have for general operation of the
L and the actual $2.5 million that uh we allocate for that uh to to focus on that uh on the urban renewal plan. Correct. So because what we have in front of us is is it look like a general general
operation uh uh budget or perhaps a uh a uh a report but not necessarily uh a management report but not necessarily uh focusing on the project itself. uh as we treat the other the other organization
that we just have today uh they were providing us with fund that they have spent uh related to the funds that they've received uh through the ARPA fund and I'm not seeing that here because I mean if if it is it it is probably altogether
uh because we would like to know like more like how you have expended $2.5 million that we provide. No, we haven't expended to correction. We haven't expended $2.5 million. No, no, no, no. I'm not saying that you have spent all the money. I say that you have provide us with the expenditures of the
organization, but it look like it's a general expenditures uh not necessarily focusing on the urban renewal plan and and I will say I'll say that for multiple things expenditure that I have seen here that not necessarily corresponds to the urban renewal plan.
A good example of that is perhaps that uh the demolition and remodeling that you spent $442,000 on that and uh and as far as I know based on the meeting that I have seen, you probably spend that money on
that uh on on on that old electrical plant that we have that you you guys have correct on that project. But that's not part of the renewal plan. Okay. If you recall when we uh we came before you um in regards to
the expenditure and I don't want to mix one thing with the other but it was said that the and that applied also to other organization they they should seek ways in which they can capitalize on the funds that we're giving so they don't have to be
reliant on the city funding on a regular basis. That's why I was asking if you have the original vote and you refer to this document and this document. No, no, no, no. This vote, this this document that was presented before you with the
break breakdown of allocation. It says uh the resolution authorizing allocation of free cash funds to the Lawrence Redevelopment Authority for $2.5 million. Yeah, it's it's it was I I can request the city council uh I mean the clerk uh
to provide the information. We we want to do it at that one digital. Can you also send it via email? Uh I didn't send it via email. No, but can you also send Oh, yeah, sure. Definitely. Also send it. Yes. I just want to get because it's unfair for me
to to say something without the original vote that we took back. Absolutely. Understood. Um, so I want to see what we actually the current vote that we took and not necessarily what you have in your statement, but perhaps what the actual
vote was and related to the $2.5 million. So in that way I can correlate it to the actual statement you have because I'm I'm very focused on that $2.5 million how you spend that. Yes. and the and some of the expand and I
understand is correct and the some of the uh items or activities that we proposed we haven't got to that as some of them which would be uh the we consider a funding for a gap loan
uh for uh it's on the document that has been presented once you see the copy is what we submitted together with the agenda item because we didn't consider consider that first of all we wanted to see uh you know the different activities
that was funded through the business through the office of economic development um and to do the gap financing of probably a portion of other you know other priority I think self-sufficiency
was one of them as well so we just focus on the implementation of the urban renewal plan for now and remember that you have $500,000 for the small businesses on correct correct it's within the document that is going to be presented so remember we haven't
finished yet and the trans second transfer of funds uh the L received the funds later uh this year in February late in February was the
transfer so anyway my point is is that I want I My point my point around this is because I wanted to see if all these expenditures were related to the $2.5
million or your general operation because you were having general operational expenditures before. Yes. Uh that are they were not related necessarily to the urban renewal plan the plan that you actually get approved for. So I want to make sure like any
there is any differentiation between everything that you have presented here with the actual vote that we took back then and 2022 and uh and our relationship between two if it is needed if it's not and then we can actually uh make sure that we we
because we as an organization we need to hold you accountable correct as an organization because those are fund that are public funds and those were fund that we believe it could be used uh in a way that is better for the community through the organization and that's why we allocate those funds is a fair ask.
Um I hope that Ernie is listening as well. So uh maybe they can do uh you know I can speak to our accountant to make sure that that that could be reflected. But I'm I'm understanding now what your what your request is. I am
listening I am listening by the way and I will make those adjustments to reflect the expenses. All right. And another thing is I mean I want to I want to leave my last statement before I get there. Uh so if anybody have any
questions any further questions? I know you councelor Lozone you have a question pertaining to another tabled item that's also related to the L. Um, so this is another
item. So you want to make it. Okay. Council President, you're going to finish out of the $2.5 million from our part. Um, just
M. So I want to make sure like um I I just read the vote. I I hope that this is um I will check with the clerk to make sure that this is uh also um reflected in reflect the common record that we have. But I appreciate that that
information. Um so that point $2.5 million and I'm going to keep on pushing on that. Um it is essential for the uh for the uh me to perform business when it comes to developments.
Uh and I see it here that there is there is legal services uh related to the urban renewal plan perhaps 36,725. Um are those legal services uh also reflecting this year's legal
services? No, what you have right now is to just 2024. The the there's more legal services. As a matter of fact, there's a lot of them because one uh for instance, the city uh I mean on the L attorney needs to review
every time that we publish a document or if there's a contract a contract with consultants uh uh the review of uh strategies in which what we can legally negotiate what
we cannot legally negotiate. We have uh uh selected project managers in preparation of uh sitting at the table and negotiate because just like a bank, you go to the bank and if you have a project a construction project, the bank
always has a uh construction expert that knows uh about conru construction to say hey are the numbers correct? Um so we they're they have developed contract he has responsibility whenever we submitted
the first minor amendment that he had to review prepared those documents submitted uh correspondences that we need to uh to um uh to send um we work a good
example would be the Essex uh company that owns the the uh it's yeah the canal. So we are have dealings with them in which we go back and forth there's legal questions. Um,
so not only um in regards to the urban plan, renewal plan, but you have other issues that the LRA is um responsible for that we need legal advice. And uh attorney Krian Corrian has been with us,
I think, with the LRA for quite some time. I think at least 5 years if I'm not mistaken. and he's been performing his duties uh at a very uh inexpensive charge based on what we're requesting
him to do for us as the LRA. Is the L getting ready to sue the city? Um I would not I would refer that that answer to our attorney. Is he here? He's online. He's not
online. Okay. I can answer it in this way. We are we want a definite answer as to uh you have two two city entities. One is the city council two bodies and one
is the redevelopment authority and we have been going back and forth as to through the city attorney that is giving information to you that we are in disagreement with. We believe that our
council and other councils that we uh have sought advice and other redevelopment authority authorities that we have communicated with are saying that we are within our rights. So uh we need
clarification because we need to work with you. There's a second there's a major amendment that we're working with. we have to go start the entire process again and to be at odds just because of a question and a legal opinion doesn't make it doesn't make us you know in a in
a comfortable situation. I think both for the LRA I think uh that we and the board needs to get a uh clarification and also your body you may rely on your city attorney but we are an
impass. So who's right? So before you before you you answer this I I want to make something clear. Um, yes, both the Lawrence City Council, the LRA, they're both city agencies or city bodies, but we're not in the same
playing field. This is the legislative body of the city of Lawrence. Correct. And I just want to make make sure that you're not putting us in the same playing field as a Quanzi agency of of the city. Like, no, I do. No, no, I didn't mean if you misunderstood what I
said, and I'm very clear. I I think I did. So, that's Yes. Yeah. I just want to make clear that uh you're legislators. Correct. Thank you. And we obviously correct you have a definitely you have a say but uh in this case the L
doesn't want to be in a position uh in a opposite um opposing position with a city council just because of a question. I think if it is normal if you have uh uh two bodies that are uh
conflicting based on a legal opinion it happened it happens all the time that we need the clarification and the and the question was are you are you uh is the L ready to sue the city and based on your answer is I will say yes I would say
that we're looking for a declaratory judgment so the which is different than a than uh you know let's play semantic let's play semantic here you are going to the court to seek for an opinion correct
through a through a lawsuit I mean yes I mean but but it's a it's not something that be we're playing semantic we're playing I think that I learned a a little bit of English when I went to college so it is it is it is a it is what it is and I and and that's
respectful that's fine But I want the public to know about this too. Of course, I want to make sure that the people that are seeing this meeting and seeing this this conversation uh and I think that that uh it's been very clear that yes, we are we are ready
to uh we are ready to as the city council is about to be sued by the L uh because of an opinion related to the urban renewal plant. an urban renewal plan that we provide $2.5 million to the
ele uh and an urban renewal plan that took that we the council approved back in 2016 and December uh about the the revitalization of the
city and a plan that uh by by many uh believe that need to be updated and uh and as you mentioned uh you guys are getting ready to do a major amendment to the to the plan which a major amendment that this this major amendment will
require a city council vote. Correct. Uh as per the urban renewal plan that we that we actually approved back in 2016. But it it also uh reflected the intent of the LAR the intention of the LAR of going through the court system to
be able to avoid the city council at some point one way or another to be able to approve uh and the transfer of those properties. It will be uh a a battle that it will
uh it will it will uh essentially be up there to the public and to everybody and I want to make sure that we have this conversation uh uh at this uh plane level field which is basically the city council floor. Council president, I
respectfully uh respectfully disagree. This is part of the beauty of our democracy. We're Americans. Uh and if we see it right now, we have the states suing the federal government. We have the federal government suing cities. Why? Because
they're an impass. And that's the beauty of us as a organization to be able to do that and stand for the community. I believe that you are doing it as well. I think that uh the advice that are provided to the city council uh and
based on industry experts uh is incorrect and that needs to be clarified. As a matter of fact, this is not the first time that it has happened in this city that some information is provided or advice is given by council
and uh at the end of the day uh whether we lose the lawsuit, whether there's a difference of opinion or there's a there's a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the law. And I think our city attorney made that clear that night. It was his opinion. No
problem. And uh and by the way, we have we have we have you on record saying that that uh the vote we took back in 2016 um uh do not reflect the transfer of
those properties because we didn't adopt that uh the resolution that was supposed to be adopted. So we're clear. We understand. Yeah. And we want to work with you, city council. We want to work with all of you. Uh, and it happens. It
happens. There's a there's a difference of opinion, but in no shape, way, or form, this is personal. Uh, and we respect you. And sometimes it's uncomfortable uh as a representative uh just like uh uh councelor Lon said tonight, and I'm sure that happens with
you. You may have in one district that you may have people that are opposing redevelopment. They're comfortable. They don't want to hear about traffic. They don't want uh sometimes it's discriminatory. Uh but when you are in a conflicting position, it's not an
opinion of of a group of people. It's something that we're working towards the the the benefit of the community and we respect you as well, council president, for your opinion and and uh we will continue to work. It's nothing personal.
It's not it's not about Joani Rodriguez. It's about the community. It's not about the LAR. is not about Tavian. Yeah. It's about the community chair. We will have we will find a solution to that. Um overall, we need the city council. We
need the LRA. Uh working together like like I mentioned earlier, the L is part of of the future, right? It's part of progressing our city. And
um I'm sure court or without court we will get an answer. Yeah. Um that uh this is not necessarily about it just the city council because the thing is is like uh like in the way that
you know potentially the LA want to foresee this or want to seek this uh through the community is like it's a problem with the city council and it's not. It is a matter of uh a document that we have approved for the city of Lawrence and that document require the
city council approval for any transfer of the any property. So it's not about the the L city council issue it's a matter of the process. So that of L uh city council differences it's it's
not necessarily that it's a process that we actually put together in a document that it was uh approved by the city council back then and signed by the mayor at the moment uh that that was the process that we need to follow. So it's not sorry one against all or the L
against the city council. It's about the process to how to follow it. I understand this one. Thank you, Council Luzon. U Thank you, Madame Chair. And before we get to the court, before you sue uh the L sue, the city council, what we have in front of us now is uh
invoices are missing. So, I would like to see those invoices. I also want to see those invoices um expenses um Amazon. You spend a lot of money ordering from Amazon. So, I
would like to see those uh invoices because for now what I have in front of me is incomplete and I need to have an answer for my constituents. Uh and I hope the L can produce that. I would like um if I may, Madame Chair, we clarified that Ernie
has has mentioned pertaining to the $2.5 million that we allocated to the L and it's budget 2024. So, you going to have that information. We we are going to provide the financials. We we're once once we're going to follow our process
of uh financial stewardship. So with the I will ask you to have the necessary patient to do that. It's not going to happen tomorrow. It's going to happen once we have uh the uh just like we did for you right now. Uh we provide all the
information that's within this fiscal year. this current uh the 2024 and that's when I'm asking um senior advisor I also run a company and I know that I have to produce invoices for my accountants
um and for me what you have what I have in front of me is incomplete. I will also would like to request a president of the treasurer if we have another meeting in regards to this. We will yeah we will have another once once we have
those documents once you guys organize and you mentioned something about a vote on your end etc. And if I may, Madame Claire, I'm just uh giving um my questions are based on requests by my constituents. They also
uh I would like to know the responsibility of Andrea Traficante. Andrea Traficante, what her responsibility and how much I know it's it shows here how much she's getting paid, but I want to know her responsibility to the L. Um we are not
going to speak counselor without respect to you we are not going to discuss individuals we are not going to we are not going to do madam chair if I may already so yeah I know oh duties okay what is her title my job descriptions
that's yeah so so t so on on the l we have the executive director who what other positions do we have within the l we have paid position uh paid positions paid positions paid position is the fund development person. We have a part-time
office uh we call her office manager that does it that works with Ernie on uh was hired as a part of the LRA. Uh and then we have consultants okay that we pay uh I'm going to ask I'm going to
request again if I may so this is what we're going to do. Let's go through fund development office managers their their primary duties and how they assist the L. In order for it not to be reflective as bias, I would suggest the three
positions that it is there. The exe starting with the executive director and the other staff members that you mentioned. Otherwise, it's going to be seen as if it's personal. I and and that I think that would be a fair a fair we agreed we agreed on that and um an
overview and I believe you mentioned this earlier because the consultant um fees are also reflected in the budget but just an overview I believe you said the L has two consultants we we have several consultants one of them has I I
requested Caris because he's more active uh than the other ones because some of them have provided Ed just like one service or multiple service but just two or three uh and others are subconsultants of one of these that have
been paid through uh probably James Caris other engineers but that's that involves uh traffic study like I mentioned before uh an assessment of properties that we're looking at as possible uh redevelopment sites uh
parking uh studies that have been uh because the dynamic change changes and you know as well that we've been um trying to uh work with some of the developers which will be affected indirectly by certain
parking and lease agreements. Uh and uh we need to prepare this document because when we go before uh the our governor and our state uh uh senators and congresswoman, we need to make sure especially now that we are advocating
for the funding projects that are shovel ready. Thank you. Okay. So now let's go through the three main physicians that are reflected in in in the budget that that are being paid out. Um well I don't have the job
descriptions that are printed. If you would like we I can we can always come back to you or through a memo we can submit it to you and if you deem that this would be requiring our presence but I think at this point we do this um when
we get the updated uh uh uh what's this called the the management report for 2025 and and the the invoices. Let's include the three main uh job descriptions with that and I think that
covers it all because it is part I'm assuming personnel is being paid from from the from the uh money that we allocated but that can be also confirmed through through your accountant. So we'll we'll have that let's properly organize that and ensure that yeah I
would ask you to be be patient. I think you uh the council, some of you as well are traveling to Washington. Remember, it's coming pretty soon. Uh there's a lot of work that we're doing. It's not overnight and it's not being disrespectful not to provide you with
the information, but the information has been provided and uh and is easily accessible. We can give you the information about the books that have been bought or whatever it is. So, that won't be a problem. We can provide you. So, let's let's do that for the for I'm
going to say the next meeting, but we'll be in communication to see where where you guys Yeah. We can forward the information and then we can with with with if you will allow us then we can have another meeting table the item. Yep. With some because we don't have we
don't need a vote. We need to just do the reporting and then if that reporting is missing or counselor you feel that it's missing, we'll provide you with the information. Perfect. Thank you. Okay. So, I'm at this point I think we have
we've had ample discussion. Um there's no need for further discussion as we are waiting for updated reports. So, can I have a motion? I don't know where my agenda is to ret item motion to table. Item SE
117-25. Motion has been made by the council president. Is there a second? Seconded by councelor Luzon. All those in favor say I. I. I. Thank you. The eyes have it. Council, can I have a motion to adjurnn? Has been made, probably seconded. All
those in favor say I. I. And the eyes have it. Thank you so much, counselors.