Good evening and welcome to the uh regular meeting for the Lawren City Council. Today is Tuesday, May 5th, Cinco de Mayo 20 2026. Pursuant to chapter 20 of the act of 2022,
this meeting will be hybrid allowing participation both in person at the city council chambers and remotely. The zoom link for this meeting was provided to anybody that requested. This meeting will will also be live at the Lawren City Council as Lawren City Council
Facebook page as well as the Lawrence City Council YouTube page. Malang Clair Roco. >> Councelor Gonzalez >> present. >> Councel Miguel >> present. >> Councelor Marmal is noted as absent. Council Infante >> present. >> Council Reyes
>> present. >> Council Del Rosario >> present. >> Council Lant. I got him. Um Council Vice President Levy >> present. >> Council President Rodriguez. >> Present. Uh please join me for for a
moment of silence uh in honor of retired uh Lawrence Fire Department uh Lieutenant John Gilmoly, a Navy veteran. Now join me for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> I don't have any minutes. I'm so sorry. I just had So we are going straight to public
participation. We have a few people that have signed uh to be able to speak. The rule for public participation are as follows. You're going to have 2 and 1/2 minute to speak
related to any topic uh that you desire. Please refer to this council as a whole. at the 30 minute at the 30 at the uh 2 minute mark you're going to hear a beep a sound or an indication that you still have 30 seconds.
So we're going to start with the first person is H Mali name and address for the record please 53 Chester Street. Good evening honorable members. We the citizen are proud and grateful for Lawrence Police
Department. One of the best police department in the nation. Lawrence police with the impeccable leadership by honorable chief Morris Agler doing excellent job to protect our citizen. Thank you for making Lawrence a safe
city. Lawrence is a beautiful city because of our hardworking DPW workers and leadership. Thank you for make keeping Lawrence a beautiful city. We the citizens support our inspection department and their union. Thank you
for excellent job. Lawrence public school with the impeccable leadership by honorable superintendent Ralph Guerrero doing excellent job and million thanks to honorable director Wu. Lawrence teachers proud of you. We support your
awesome union. Because of you Lawrence we rise again. Lawrence always strong. Lawrence always unite. In this important month of Memorial Day, we are proud to support our veterans. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice.
We must hire two new position in our veterans department. We must have the best commission for elders. In this important meeting, as we honor the best police officers and the officer for first responder, we support our
firefighters union, Lawrence Fire Department with the impeccable leadership by honorable Chief Delaney, one of the best fire department in the nation, Lawrence Police Officers, thank you for excellent job. We are united to
support your union. Thank you. Right. The next the next person is uh Mark plan councel plan president three items real fast. Um the LSB Lawrence Square initiative continues
this upcoming >> Thursday May 7th at 4:30 where we remember Fred Galbout. Uh he was a World War I veteran who received the uh silver star twice. The Quad de Gare from the country of France. Uh did not die there but died when he came back to the city
in 1937. His area is actually a very unique area. It's not actually a corner. It's the Manchester Street Rotary. So, um, that's going to be taking place on the 7th. On the 14th, a guy name of Brooksie Harrison, Fred Brooksie Harrison, another World War I guy, very
popular back in Lawrence in the day, was a baseball player, very well loved, had quite the quite the athletic career post war, but served in the war. So, his sign is going to be rededicated at the intersection of June Street and
Riverside Drive, May 14th, and that's at 4:00. The last thing I want to just briefly touch is council. I put something on the city council agenda as old business. It did not get on there. I just want to um say that I think this is a poor precedent that if any city
councilor wishes to put something on as old business, they should have that right to be able to do that and let this body determine whether or not they want to discharge or not discharge. It's not mandatory. But to take away that option, I don't think is a good thing for this body, whether this body, the next
council or any succeeding councils. Thank you. Let Let's hold the applause for the ant. So, thank you. All right. The next person that we have is uh Rich Russell. Councelor Russell.
>> Good evening, councilors. Rich Russell, 34 Cross Street. Let's cool off from all that's happening. Talk about snow. On or about March 17th, I submitted a public record request asking for expenses incurred by all the private snow removal contractors to include names, dates,
hours, types of vehicles that have been involved in plowing, sanding, assaulting operations from uh November 1st of 2025 to the present time. the end of March, I received an email from the city attorney listing the number and types of vehicles
along with the number of hours that they worked. I was told that when the bills were paid, more information would be forthcoming. At one of the last council meetings and a conversation with the CAFO, I was told that those bills had been paid. I as of yet have not received
any information regarding the amounts of money paid to whom and for what equipment. What I want to know is who fell asleep and failed to fulfill my public record request in its entirety regarding this issue. We are approaching 7 weeks since I filed this. Next, a
little bit of show and tell. Who gave who gave these people the right to use the General Dunovan school parking lot to put snow plows in? We as citizens in
the neighborhood have limited We have limited space to park in yet these vehicles are parked there. Uh, is this a case of it's who you know in the city, they get you a permission card to do what you want. Would the public be
damned? Do they have to go to or do I have to go buy the council a bunch of the $15 Timu hearing aids because at times the council seems to be obliviously deaf to
the citizens concerns. Lastly, to the uh Mexican community, happy Cinco de Mayo day as always. Thank you for the time. >> The next person that we have is uh Jeffrey Petrillo named for the record.
>> Jeffrey Petrolo, 341D South Broadway. Since the mid 1990s and 2026, our family has stood our ground regarding commercial usage and/or commercial or residential building of any kind on lot number 18 at 341 South Broadway with five zoning wins and two
Superior Court zoning winds as well. As of last Tuesday, April 28th, I asked Commissioner Blanchett if the city granted any building permits to the new buyer owner of lot number 18, and he said yes. You see, councilors, this completely disregards three to four city
zoning laws, especially 29-11 combined with 29-23 paragraph number two, citing that no garage may operate within 100 ft of the nearest residential zone lot in the same block. And when combined with state fire and safety laws, it becomes 200 feet. In
the past, city zoning officials changed city and state laws to deny people like Steven Brian senior or Henry Nassa and even Paul Mno senior to not to deny them building permits andor special variance permits. Why now has the city changed uh
chose to a a different route because they want the tax revenue for lot number 18? We don't fault the new buyer or the new land owner for buying lot number 18 with intentions of building a two family home for a profit. We fault the city's
zoning and planning and development for allowing anybody for getting their foot in the door by never enforcing or changing the zoning laws and by never finding either Mr. Memo or Mr. Martino Jr. as admitted in a meeting with Peter
Blanchett on Friday, July 18, 2025, when he said, "I never find either party." This now tells us the reason why Commissioner Blanchett never finded either party. Because if he had fined Mr. Melmo for four violations per day for eight years at $300 per violation,
Mr. Memo would owe over $3 million and never pay any fines. Guess what? Nobody can get any building permits unless all their fines are paid in full. Meaning Mr. Matau or Memo would never have become enabled to sell lot number 18 for
many years. As we know, to ensure the city's master plan for tax revenue income in 2019, somebody changed the classification of lot number 18 from 1320 non-buildable to 1310 potentially buildable land.
Thank you. All these names are going to be submitted for the record. So counselors now we have today we have an special day and uh we are receiving here uh many of the students and families from the
Lawrence um Lawrence High School. Um and we are um as per rule uh as per the city council rule we are going to be honoring and and uh presenting them a proclamation of this
body. Uh with that said I going to be uh reading all those names and all the accomplishment all of that uh of the student here present. Eventually, we are going to be calling each students to be
able to um say a few words to the council, to the city, and uh to their families if they desire. Um it is not an obligation, but we were going to present you with the opportunity. So, councilors, at this moment, I going to pass the gabble to council vice
president Levy and I going to go to the podium with the assistant of councelor Infante because we have quite a few. So um uh items that are uh that are going to
be discussed today are item uh 20 20626 20726 208 26 209 26 210 26 to 1126 to 1226
to 13 26 to 14 26 215 26 uh to 16 26 217 uh 26 218 26 219 26 220 26 20 uh 221 26
222 26 223 26 22 24 26 225 26 and 226 26 all uh and in a moment we're going to be we're going to be reading uh the names and the accomplishments at the high school. So
There we go. So counselors, as we continue, it is an honor for me as the president of this council to be in front of you, in front of everybody, in front of the families, in front of the students to present this proclamation resolution
uh to uh the students that are going to be called in a second. So I'm going to read one. Most of them are similar. The accomplishment the accomplishment for every single one of them are different but the main body and the proclamation
itself the language is the is almost the same. uh the city of Lam's uh proclamation whereas the city of Lams take a great pride in recogn recognizing uh those individual who thought extraordinar extraordinarily dedication
and perseverance achievement and greatness to bring honor to our community and that speed of honor uh in this case Gomar Rodriguez a res of Lawrence and a distinguished senior of the Lawrence High School whereas Gomar
Rodriguez was recently acknowledged as an Ava Lawrence Academy Fidelity Scholar and whereas during his high school career, Gom Rodriguez participated in the summer
uh performing research and at the program at Marma College whereas he researched uh the mental health impact of im of immigration or immigrant within our community. uh is seeking out opportunity to uplift uplift others as
well. He volunteered with the YDO, a local program here in the city of Lawrence, supporting uh the the Bay Club at the at the organization and uh teaching uh middle school students uh during research and participations uh
with the skills that he actually acquired at different program including the Mara College. uh whereas uh through the his advocacy, research and mentorship he bring empathy, initiative and strong sense of uh purpose to all of
those uh to consistently working to uplift other and create meaningful change within our community with us beyond the cl beyond classrooms. Gomar Rodriguez is highly motivated and
communitydriven student knowing uh for his initiative, leadership and uh commitment to advocate deeply uh is he is a deeply passionate about immigration justice and actively seeking for opportunities to engage in civic in
civic and legal spaces. uh after connecting with uh public defendants from the com uh from that uh committee of public console services uh who came to speak in one of his classes. uh Gio
secure an internship where he contribute meaningfully uh to that office and during February uh break he demonstrate social and strong initiative that uh was invited to return alongside with uh
others uh to cohort on that program. Now whereas be it resolved that the city of Lawrence city of the city of the city council of the city of Lawrence on behalf of the citizens of Lawrence herby extent it most sincere congratulations
uh and uh commemorations to Gomar Rodriguez for his academic achievement and his contributions uh to our community during the uh his high school career serving as a role model for
excellence uh for our youth in our city. Uh the city of Lawrence, the city of Lawren City Council or the city council hereby set his hands and the seal of the city to affirm today
uh signed by all nine city council uh as well as uh attested by the uh city clerk of the city of Lawrence, Eileen Bernard. Uh we would like to present this resolution to Yomar Rodriguez.
We also have many other students that are um in similar situations and we're going to be reading a few of those in a second. Congratulations. >> Uh I going to be reading a few of the
accomplishment of all of the students that we have here and I'm going to be reading based on this document. So yar congratulations. Now, Jared Martinez,
um, as one of the only seven student that was accepted into the ELA, uh, as a s as a sophomore, uh, throughout his application and interview process, uh, for transferring students and quickly
become an uh, an a member of the ELA communities, his challenge, he challenged himself with a rigorous council load. uh Jarrett have uh has been one of the incredible students uh that ELA. And
with that uh the city council would like to recognize uh Jared Martinez Mahia. Dariel Rodriguez. He was um the recipient of that uh Questbride Scholar who matched uh with
Yale University where he was uh enrolled. He will going to be enrolling this fall. He was accepted uh through that um scholarship and uh Jared was um
a captain of his uh basically soccer team. Uh he have an extraordin extraordinary GPA and he's going to be studying financial finance and economics. Congratulations
Giani Ortiz. Jon Ortiz was u uh she's going to be going to Central College and she was the recipient of the post scholar. Uh Joanie, congratulations. Jordi Jordi Sidiako. He is going to uh
Witman College and he was the recipient of the red pine uh and his future story is going to be environmental uh science. Congratulations. Uenni Burgos, she is going to Yumas anhors and
she was the recipient of of their uh red vine scholarship. She's going to be studing uh psychology. Joes Rosario de Orbe. She's going to UMass Boston and she is going uh she was the recipient of the
red pine u scholarship it uh great GPA of 4.53 uh and I hope and we wish the best in your studies. Edgar Castillo, he's going to UMass Low
and he was the recipient of the Fidelity Scholar. Uh he was part of the GOTC uh as well. Congratulations, Dariela Ordon, Brendis University.
uh she was the recipient of that uh craft scholar. She was a mentor at the Boys and Girl Club and she's going to be she have a a drought in her GPA of a 4.1. Uh congratulations
your ladies fas. uh Nor Eastern University. She was a uh a touch scholar member of the MIT team program. CONGRATULATIONS. >> Annabel is Mahia.
uh she's going to Bendley College and she was that uh the Bendley Presidential Scholar. She's going to be uh studying finance and psychology. Ashley uh Jay De Los Santos. He's sorry. Uh Jay
De LOS Jay De Los Santos is going to tough university and he was the recipient of uh the Quest Bride Scholar. Great GPA 3 4.39. CONGRATULATIONS >> Ashley Martinez Gomez.
SHE IS going to bring um Binmar College. She was the uh recipient of the post scholar and a great GPA of 4.1. UH CONGRATULATIONS >> Ashanti Vargas. She was she's going to Swansmore College
and she was the recipient of the poses scholar. Great GPA. Congratulations, L. Diaz. LSE was the uh the class president. Congratulations. She was accepted to
she was accepted to uh Princeton and also Harvard. >> Congratulations and Parker >> Angelina. >> She's going to Nor Eastern University, a great GPA of uh 4.47.
Uh and she's uh she's going to be studying health science. Congratulations, Jennifer Pan, she's going to Marma College. Congratulations. She's going to be studying account accounting.
Anel Gonzalez Liiano. Anel is going to uh Western New England University and uh he was the recipient of the Red Pine Scholar. CONGRATULATIONS, >> Liz Martinez. No, Le
Ramirez. Yes, I'm sorry about that. Le is going to UMass Amherst and he was uh she was the recipient of the Red Vine um scholarship. Congratulations Nazarees.
She is going to Emmanuel College red and she was the recipient of Red Pine. Do you know that um um that Emanuel College almost was here at Lawrence one time? >> Did not know that. >> Yes. Congratulations. >> Kitty Amy's Huin.
>> She is going to uh Marma College. She was the recipient of uh Fidelity Scholar and she's going to be studying psychology. CONGRATULATIONS. >> So all of the students, I would like you to please come over. I would like you to take this
opportunity and uh speak through the mic to the city of LRs. They're going to be looking at you and watching. So, one at a time, please. Take that easy.
>> Um, hi. Oh, okay. My name's Jedi Frias. Um, thank you for having us and I just want to say the city should be incredibly proud of all our students, Abbott, LHS, all of us all together equally. Thank you.
Hello, my name is Jay de los Santos and first and foremost I just want to thank my family, my mom and dad to teaching me the incredible values of education. I love them to death and I'd just like to shout out the Abbott Lawrence Academy community. I think it has a community like no other. I think the teachers
don't get recognized enough. I don't think they get paid enough. And um I think the students are incredible. I just for some of them around here, I just like to recognize some of them. They're incredible. They're so driven. They inspire me every single day. And
yeah, that's all I got to say. Hello, my name is Joani Ortiz and I just wanted to say thanks to YDO and Tessa specifically because I was never even going to apply to Posi and then the deadline ended up getting extended and
she made me apply. So, thank you Tessa. My name is Jubernosio and I just want to thank my mom and all the support that I've gotten from LHS, especially for my friends and my counselors. I just want to say that I wouldn't have done it without my counselors and my friends with all the support. Thank you so much.
Um, my name is Gomar Jesus Rodriguez. And I would like to thank all of my family back in the DR since they were the ones that taught me all of the things that I live for till this day, even though I haven't lived there in a while. And I would like to thank all of
my friends at Abbott, who almost everybody is here today, since they've all been such a good support system. very great motivation. I honestly don't think I would have accomplished anything if it wasn't for Abbott. And I would like to thank Tessa so so so much for
being such a good help with applying to college, applying to all the scholarships, just being such a great motivation. And yeah, >> Hi, my name is Ashanti Vargas. Um, I would like to start saying thank you to my mom and my dad. Uh, just three years
ago, I was just Thank you. a regular child who couldn't speak English. And now seeing where I am, I want to say thank you to all of my teachers, to Miss Zippage, uh, for always believing in us, for pushing us
to go forward, and putting ourselves in what we often think are uncomfortable situations, but they're growing pains essentially. Thank you to the YDO team, and to all of my friends in Avid for all of your hard work, passion, and
dedication. Thank you. Um, hi, my name is Jordi Sidiako and I would like to start thanking my family for all the support they have given me during this transition of going to high school and applying for college and especially again to YDO and Tessa who's
here who has been a huge help with this since it's all like kind of new to me and coming from the DR and then learning all this new processes and stuff and then they have mailed like made this process of transition very easy. And the I would like to thank also the city of
Lawrence and my school for having such a great program like the YDO that works with them and help students uh find what to do with their future. Thank you. Hi, my name is Jennifer and I want to thank my mom and dad because they always
tell me that everything I'm doing is a learning experience and I want to thank my teachers for teaching me and I want to thank my classmates for always being there and helping me in like any time. >> Good evening. My name is Amavell and today I would like to say thank you to
my mother and to Tessa. They were my main support through college. And now I can I I would like to also say thank you to Lauren High School that provide me with the resources that I need to now say that I'm ready to go into college and become the friends in my family uh
in earn a bachelor degree and become part of the 20% of Latino womans who hold a bachelor's degree in the US. Thank you. Anyone else? >> Yeah, of course. >> Hi, I'm Jolie Frius. Um, I was very
nervous first time around, but I just want to give a very big thanks to my big sister, Jocidi. I don't think I would have been able to make it this far into my college application process without her being a firstgen student. And I want to again thank Tessa because she pushed me to apply to Torch and I would not
have been able to afford college without her. And I'm very excited to join the 16% of women of color in physics. So thank you so much for celebrating us. >> Any other students? Now we're going to
Okay. Uh I'm Jay. Y'all already know me. Thank you to the Yo team. I forgot to shout them out. Lawrence is so lucky to have them. Tessa, Althia, Coral, just an amazing staff. And yeah, thank you to Cyprus as well.
>> My name is Nash La Reyes and first I want to thank God for giving me my dreams and the drive that I have to work hard every day. I want to thank my parents for inspiring me and for making sacrifices for my education. I would also love to recognize the amazing
village I have, including my peers and my teachers and all the other amazing staff members and especially Tessa as well. I love Tessa so much and I really could have had such a hard time. Um, there's a lot of ups and downs and Tessa has helped me through it all. So, thank
you Tessa. >> Well, now I would like to call u L Diaz their class president. Thank you for having us here. Um, I would like to thank my family. I would like to thank my friends. I would like to thank Yio again, Althia, Coral,
Tessa. They were all great. Um, I obviously wouldn't have gotten this far without them. Um, but I also want to thank the teachers. Um, shout out to Miss Mory, my physics teacher, Mr. Wler, my English teacher, and Mr. Muik, my engineering computer science teacher.
They're my recommendations. I love them so much. They took me so far. And I'm proud to say I'm going to join the 2% of Latinas that are engineers in the US. Um, and yes, teachers deserve so much. Yeah. Thank you.
>> Before we go into it at a fivem minute races, I would like to u um to say a few things to the students. Lawren uh is an open door city. They open the doors to your family, therefore to you. And once
you go out, remember that Lawrence is going Lawrence is the city of Lawrence is going to be here for you. Once you finish your education, Lawrence is going to be here waiting for you for those services that you're going to for those skills, knowledge that you're going to that you're going to have, you're going
to take out of those in institutions. Lawrence needs it and Lawrence needs your expertise and your future and we're gonna be here waiting for you to lead the city of Lawrence and the future of the city. Thank you. So let's take a
minute. >> Um madame vice president motion to take it. >> Madam Madam Madame vice president. >> Okay. >> If I may real quickly I also want to add to the thank yous. We have three ad the superintendent and two administrators. I
think more in the back that support the teachers and the overall school districts that ultimately support the students to achieve their their goals and their dreams. So, I want to say thank you to the administrative team for the entire city of Lawrence, the
Lawrence public schools uh for the encouragement, the support and um just your everyday work that you provide in order to ensure that the students have what they need and to get to get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Marramac, UMass, and all the other schools that we
heard tonight. Congratulations. >> A motion to uh to have a five minute respect. >> So moved. >> All in favor? >> I there have it. >> Thank you so much. Let's take a five minute break and then take a quick
picture and then we can bring your family take a picture with you and so thank you and congratulations. Can you Just go All right. And now we are uh going to uh
open the mic again to uh to keep on celebrating uh those uh proclamations and recogni recognition of the students uh in the city of Lawrence. Uh Victor from the uh from the Lawrence High School. Please uh give us a few word.
>> Thank you uh council president and again thank you for this a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our kids and our families and the great effort of our staff. I just wanted to take a minute to make a very special announcement in conjunction with the Abbott Lawrence principal. So tonight we're recognizing
students who have achieved great distinction and have uh been admitted to wonderful schools but when it comes to ranking right you have you the top 10% you have the top 5% and then you have the top
student. And so tonight, someone in this crowd or two individuals in this crowd will be crowned valadictorian in addition to a salutator. So I just want to take this as an opportunity to make this public announcement and celebrate uh this night
with the family. So for upper school academy, USA Academy is Rodriguez is the official valadictorian of upper school academy. Dariel was admitted to Yale University,
passed three of his AP classes with fives, which is the highest score you can ever achieve. So, I want him to be very proud of his achievements, and I want his family to and his mom, please, if you can come up. to be recognized tonight for this
wonderful feat. So, congrats Kel again for this wonderful achievement. >> Thank you. Um, it is an honor and privilege to serve as the principal at Abbott Lawrence Academy. And it is my privilege to now announce first our saludiatoran, the number two student in
our class who has the honor and privilege of being the keynote speaker at our senior banquet. You've already heard from her, but please congratulate me in welcoming up with her and her family, Miss Ashanti Vargas. CONGRATULATIONS.
And you can remain here. Our number one student who will be the valadictorian at this year's graduation ceremonies and serve as the keynote speaker alongside our other valadictorian from upper school is you guessed it, Miss L. DIAZ.
Congratulations and thank you again for this wonderful opportunity. We have never announced validictorian or saludiatoran in this manner before and I'm very excited for this to be the first what I hope will be a tradition in the future. Thank you so very much and congratulations.
Congratulations again. That was great. Thank you. So, congratulations uh and thank you to the families and all of the students that were honored tonight. Uh with that said, we are going to go back to the top of
the agenda. So, thank you all for being here. It's on table. >> It's on table. Yeah. >> Can I get a motion to >> So, can I get a motion to uh >> It's off. It's It's off.
>> Can I get a motion to unte it 154? >> So, move. Second. >> There's a motion to on table 15426. Uh properly second. Discussion. Uh all those in favor, please say I. >> I. I have it. Uh item 154. Madame chair
from the portional committee. >> Item 154-26 appointment of Modesto Maldonado to the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District Committee was sent up as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. Second motion on the
table properly. Second discussion discussion. >> Uh great great decision to have council president Modesto Maldonado. Thank you for your service and uh to continue serving the city of Lawrence. Thank you council president uh
councilors. It's a great pleasure to be here. Madame clerk brings good memories when we were serving together in the city council. I think it's a great honor to uh to be able to serve again uh uh in
a different capacity uh to this city. Uh just briefly, I'm going to deviate from from my conversation with you. Uh I don't know whether you noticed when the council president was mentioning or
reading the grade average that almost every one of the students was above 4.0. >> And those of you in my time when we went to high school, 4.0 was the max,
>> the perfect score, the perfect GPA. And to see so many students doing so great uh way above some of them way above the 4.0 I think is wonderful and that says a
great deal about the education uh that we're giving our students in the city of Lawrence. That means we are moving forward and that's wonderful. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, again, uh, I know that I'm retired from politics, but, uh,
obviously, uh, I would like to continue, uh, giving the city a little bit of my time, and that's why I chose to put my application to serve in this board. So, uh, I hope that, uh, it missed your
approval and that I can continue giving a little more of my time, uh, to the city of Lawrence. Thank you. Thank you, counselors. Any questions to the applicants? >> Council Abraham, >> thank you very much. Um, this is two weeks in a row. We've got council
presidents coming before us who have been >> uh put on various boards and commission. It just goes to show that uh we can continue to serve. We don't need to be at this day to serve and that service comes in many different ways. And I want to thank you, Council President, for for your service to our city in many, many
years. And I'm glad that you had a chance to um to find a place. And I know based on my firsthand experience with you, your dedication to the city and your eager and earnestness to try to understand the issues and work on those issues um is a testimony to to your uh
skill set. And I I expect I expect good things as as I did when you were in this chamber full-time. So I want to thank you. If you don't mind sitting down for one second, this has nothing to do with you what I'm about to say. So if you wouldn't mind, >> you're you're so you're so welcome. >> Um this has nothing to do with the
council president. Maldonado. I will be supporting him this evening. This does have something to do though with the way that we approach these things. And um it it um the person who um that council president Maldonado is replacing is a
gentleman by the name of Tom Connors. Tom Connors has served many years um on the GLSD and I don't think he was officially notified that he was not being asked to serve anymore. And while it is the mayor's prerogative to send
whoever he wants down because it's at the whim of the mayor and for us to say yes or no to whoever we want based on their credentials etc. It just saddens me that that when somebody, and it's not the first time, what saddens me when someone has dedicated a portion of their
life to work to try to improve our city, um that it's my understanding that that it that that there was not even an official, we're going to replace you and we we we're moving on with somebody else. So, um I want to thank Tom Connors um for his service to our city and his
service in many ways, but in this particular way is being a member of the greater Lauren sanitary district. And I I wish him all speed and success and I hope that he continues to find a place to contribute in our city even though he may not be in that position as a board member. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Um any other counselors? Council >> President Council Levy Council President Levy Mr. Maldonado, no I don't have a question. Just only to say thank you for all the service that you've been doing to this city in the past and now that's
uh you want to come back after a couple of year that you are >> out of the city. You know I think so it's a plus for us to have you and to for your dedication for your love and for everything that you've been doing uh to the Lawrence.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Council Land. Just like you, uh I'm really uh happy uh that uh it's not going to be easy to replace Tom. Uh I have known Tom Connors
for quite a while, many years back, and I'm really happy that he has served the city so well. So I feel the same way as you that uh that he has done a fantastic job. Definitely. >> Any other questions? Any other
questions, counselors? >> Thank you. >> There is none. Um, at this point, I'll call the questions. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Any nays? Um, the eyes have it. Congratulations, Council Council President Maldonado, and your appointment. So,
let's go back to the Bon Finance Committee. U Madame Chair from the Bon Finance Committee. Council President, um thank you um through you, Council President. I'm going to start off. I was told that there um time is um of the essence
tonight. So, I'm going to start with item 159-26, appropriation transfer in the amount of $25,000 of free cash allocation from airport to office of planning and development was brought to us by uh
senior advisor Spanner on behalf of the mayor and this was brought this is brought up as a favor recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. >> Second motion in front of us properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I.
>> Any nays? Uh motion carries. Council >> Madam Chair, let's go now to all business, >> right? >> Yep. >> All business item 156 uh 26, right? >> Item 90.
>> Oh, sorry. Item item 9026, which is the proposed modification of ordinance uh 020481. Uh, councelor Infante. >> Thank you, Council President. Um, I see here, >> wait, hold on one second.
>> Hold on one second. Uh, we have received a notice uh that the mayor have veto this item. It was put on the agenda for to move uh to move along of any other of the desire of the council councilors. What's the motion?
>> We need a motion to >> Yeah, we need a motion. If this if the council decide we can we can have a motion to our right. >> Uh there is a motion. >> Uh can you hear a second? >> Second. Just over to override the veto.
>> Just to override the veto. >> Second. >> Supremely second. Discussion. >> Discussion. >> Councelor uh Infante. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh council, there's a few now it's going to be a week. All right. uh uh senior advisor. Um it's going to be about a
week or so, but uh the senior adviser and I were going uh back and forth a bit via email pertaining to these ordinance. And I did clarify to the s uh to the senior adviser that this particular modification to ordinance uh 02.04.081
was just to eliminate the term um provisional. Uh, and I explained that the council took a vote two years ago that passed and ultimately was signed to eliminate the term and definition
provisional from the administrative code section of the the municipal code which is the the over the title of the of our ordinances. I did just briefly speak with the senior adviser. um he was not aware that this was still being vetoed
but I think there's an understanding that there is no further action for this ordinance. This particularly I this particular item in front of us is just to eliminate the term provisional that is no longer ex existence um in within our ordinances.
>> Counselors any other any questions to override the veto we need uh six votes. If there is no other questions, I will call the qu I'll call the u call the vote. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any names?
You pass unanimously. Uh >> thank you. >> Uh the veto have been override. Uh let's go back to top of the agenda by finance committee. budget item 128-26
payment of prior prior year invoices in the amount of 60,000 with the vendor flock safety was sent up as a committee committee report and I make that as a formal motion >> there is a motion to accept the community the committee report any questions properly second
>> any discussion I hear none all those in favor please say I >> uh any names the eyes have it was the motion Motion to approve. >> There's a motion to approve properly second. Discussion. >> Discussion. >> Councelor plan.
>> Thank you. The reason why I did not support I wanted I sent I wanted to send it up. I also wanted to make sure that uh that this board had the opportunity to think about and address and discuss
how we're dealing with the surveillance and the cameras. throughout our city. What's happened here and there's been some corrections that have been made is that a set of cameras um I think there are plate
readers uh that were purchased. This happened to come before us because it's a prior year authorizations are going this money was spent last year. They got to use this year's money spent for last year's bill. And so this happens unfortunately but it happens. So
that's the only reason why it's here before us. we already purchased this, we need to pay the bill. So, having said all that, what's fascinating about this and it's it's partly about timing is the police chief was good enough to
actually very soon after when he realized this gave us a report. I think all of us a report that talked about at some level of detail the the readers and that was a good that was a good faith effort to to correct this.
But what's what's because we're about to enter the budget season right now and because when we're at the budget committee and we asked the question do we expect to be spending more money on this again next year and I think the answer is yes.
Our ordinance is very clear whether it's a prior use, a current use or a new use dealing with surveillance cameras including plate readers. It is in the language specifically. If we the reason why is it was important
for us to have a kind of a consensus to how we're going forward is because there is language inside our ordinances if we do not if they if if agencies don't follow the procedures
they shall not be funded for that purpose in the next year or be funded. So there's a there's a question here. We're about to fund something. There's been no public hearing on it. We have a report. It doesn't meet all the criteria
of what the report requires, but we have something which is better than nothing. And this is our first shot out of the box. So, unfortunately, we don't we have not been able to figure out as a group how are we going to address this?
Maybe relying on legal counsel to help guide us through this. We don't have it. I've got a proposal that is now before the ordinance committee to help with this possibly, but it's all about timing. This is before us now. We have a bill to pay. Um there's no real good
vote on this. I I think I'll be voting in favor of it tonight because I don't I think we have to pay the bill. We just can't not pay the bill. But the question is is what are we doing going forward even if we pay this bill? And we're not going to I don't think we're going to answer that question tonight. I think it's going to be still outstanding. But
it has to be what I want is for my colleagues, council president, to know the issue. To know the issue. The issue is again to repeat, we're about to pay something that we have to we we have to pay. We But how we got to that point didn't measure up to our ordinance.
Thank you. >> All right. Any other councils? I hear none. All those in favor say I. >> Any name? I have it. Uh, Madam Chair, item 12926. >> Item 129-26, authoriz authorization to
transfer funds in the amount of 175,000 from police administration to computer software were sent up as a committee report and I make that as a formal motion. >> Second motion in front of us properly second discussion. >> Discussion council >> to add to my earlier conversation that
both tied in together. One of the principal underpinnings of the ordinance is for transparency and for the public to understand what what we are doing as a city with respect to cameras. Whether it's the
police department, whether it's DPW that we found out in the budget committee got cameras at the yard or whether it's in city hall in the third floor or wherever they are in city hall. We need to have transparency and the law strictly talks about that and we're not
following it. So I'm hopeful that we can move on this at least have a we're not going to get a public hearing on this. There going to be a vote on this tonight, but one of the key points is to have a public hearing so the public has a chance to listen to what the proposal is and to
speak on it. That's rare that we actually have something like this in our ordinances. It's unique, but we have it and we're not doing what we're supposed to be doing. But I'll be supporting it tonight. Why? We have a bill that has to be paid. This is going to be interesting
when we get to the budget for 2027. What we're going to do, I don't have an answer, but we got to start putting our heads together on how we're going to deal with this collectively. It's not my job to figure this out by myself. It's all of our jobs to figure this out with the with our with the folks that are our
departments. Thank you. Any other questions? Any questions? I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Any nays? >> You guys have it. >> Do you accept the committee report? >> Um, that was a part of the committee.
That was a committee report. >> Committee report. >> All right. Uh, now what councilors was the motion? >> Motion to approve. >> That's a motion to approve properly. Second discussion. >> I hear none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any nays? Have it. Item 15526.
>> Item 155-26. Transfer um funds in the amount of 400 400 457,000 from free cash to department to fire department overtime account was sent up as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. >> Second.
>> There's a motion in front of us properly. Second discussion. >> Which one is this again? 15526. >> All those in favor, please say I. I >> the eyes have it. Item 15826. >> Item 158-26.
Approve an extension on the creating a thriving Lawrence funding awarded to Sana Espana was sent as a favorable recommendation and I make that as a formal motion. >> There's a motion in front of us. Properly second discussion.
>> I ask for a roll call vote. Uh Madame Clair, please call the role. Council La Plant, >> yes. >> Council Del Rosario, >> yes. >> Council Reyes, >> yes. >> Council Infonte, >> yes.
>> Council Maml is noted as absent. Council Miguel, >> yes. >> Council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Vice President, >> yes. >> Council President, >> yes. >> Motion carries. It uh 15926. >> We just said that. We have under old
business though 15 156 that's >> no that was 158. >> Yeah 158 was the >> 159. >> Yes we >> yeah we already did one because we did that first beginning. Hold on. >> I don't.
>> All right. Uh now before we um let's there is no housing uh housing economic development reports. Uh madame chair from that u okay before we go to the ordinance committee let's go to all business so we
can have most of the employee um out as soon as possible. Item 15626, authorization to spend $10,000 m dot save route to school uh signs and lines project. Uh for that item, I'm going to
have to recruit uh myself out of this vote due to a potential conflict of interest. The document is tabled at committee. So we need a motion to pull from committee. >> Okay. So which one is the >> 156 under?
>> So I have >> motion to pull from committee. >> Okay. So councelor uh we have item 15626 to pull it out from the committee from the or business is the authorization to
expend $10,000 from math dust say route to school s and line sign and lines project by malta hall.
>> Hi >> motion to pull from committee. Yeah. >> Second the motion. >> Correct. >> You have to vote. >> All those in favor say I.
>> Okay. Motion to approve. >> No. >> No. discharge. >> We have a motion to >> we we support the charge >> to discharge >> to the chair from the committee >> and you ask in favor. >> Okay. All those in favor?
>> Any none? >> Okay. Motion to approve. >> Motion to >> It's already approved. >> Motion to approve item 156-26. >> Second. >> Second. All >> in favor? >> Discussion.
>> Discussion. discussion. >> Thank you. >> Uh $10,000 for lines. Um my district houses the high school. We also have the green school as well. Um and so there's a pretty substantial uh and South Florence East. And so we've got a lot of
schools in a very short amount of space. I'm seeing that there is um lower Tower Hill which I used to represent and I love just for the record love lower Tower Hill but I represent a place where there's a lot of needs for lines that are really really a lot of schools. Can
we can regardless of this grant can we see some lines for for the areas that where the schools are? >> Good evening counselors. Alicia Miller uh mayor's health task force. um this this this this grant funding comes
from Safe Roads to School. In order for schools to be eligible for this, they have to be active participants with Safe Roads to School. >> Okay. >> Um presently we we have a few schools and of all of the schools that are actively actively um involved, the
Gilmet was the only one that qualified right right around now. Uh the Arlington was the first school in the state to receive this grant. uh the frost didn't need it. Uh and when we were working, the ley was still about to get into their new space. So they so they weren't
qualified at the time. Um for schools, the one thing I will say is is uh to ask schools to be more involved with safe roots to school. The Lawrence public school system as a whole is a safe rootsto partner but the individual schools have to make that decision to be
part of the activities of safe roots to school to qualify for this money. >> Thank you. Uh this is and I'll make this very brief. So thank you for the explanation. I understand now that there's qualifications and there was a school Gilmet school that qualifies. Congratulations to the Gilmet school for
getting their act together and for being awarded the money. That's fantastic. The uh the the other point here since we're talking about safety for children and this is a grant for lines. >> You know what a real important safety feature is that we don't do in the city?
>> Shovel the sidewalks in a snowstorm. So kids are walking, adults are walking in the street because the residents think, "Oh, it's a city's job due to the sidewalk or the city doesn't get around to it or the business, god forbid." Like I said, I have a couple of major corridors of
major schools and this year for the first time, I pushed and I pushed. I finally got traction after god knows how many years to get some. But I'm just hopeful that we can expand on that because there's plenty of residents who aren't doing
what they're supposed to be doing, required by law to shovel to shovel the the the sidewalks. to our students that we care so much about. We celebrated them earlier, we care about them, but when it comes to shoveling snow,
we don't care as much. We don't care as much. We Yeah. somebody else's job. So, I'm hopeful with your help that we can get some traction because one thing to get money, which is fantastic. I'll be supporting it. >> But the reality is is that we get
there's places to improve. Thank you. Any other question or any other discussion on this item? So there is a motion to approve everybody. >> All in favor?
>> I. >> So may I have it? Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. >> Your mic was up. >> Can you let the council president know that we're all set with that item? Thank you.
Thank you. >> Right. Let's go back to uh back top of the agenda ordinance committee. Um on the ordinance committee, uh we need to finish up with one item before 9
uh 9 p.m. because we have the translators and there is a and they're going to be finishing up by 9 if we have no need. So item >> 171-26 >> item 17126
m for the ordinary committee. So item 17126 is the saving heart youth event 2026. It says the resort fair at the campon park on Saturday,
May 16, 2026 uh from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday, June 5th from tw uh 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. um was submitted to the full counselor
with favor recommendation and I make it as a formal motion. >> Second. There's a motion in front of us. Please second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any names? >> The eyes have it.
>> We're good. Thank you. >> 171. She says they're 16. They are 163 >> 1636. >> All right, let's go back to top of the agenda. >> Okay. >> All right.
>> I think they need translation. >> They already live. >> 16. The one >> 16. >> What? We wait >> 163.
>> We can do 163. Okay, no problem. >> Okay. >> All right. Let's go back to the agenda. Item 4826. >> Item 4826, Madame Chair, from the from the ordinance committee. >> Okay. Item 4826 is the creation of billing analysis position for the water
department that was submitted by the personal director and it was sended to the full council with favor recommendation and I make as a formal motion. >> There is a motion in front of us. So also to send it to public hearing.
>> This is to order a public hearing. Uh uh properly second. It's been second by Wakansson. Who who second it? >> Second. Properly second. Uh discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> This is the order of public hearing. The
eyes have it. Uh what is what is the item? >> Okay. Perfect. Item uh 12726. >> It 12726 is a home rule petition uh for the credible survey for Lawrence police
officer as submitted by councelor Stephanie Infante was sended to the full council with favor recommendation and I make it as a formal motion. >> Second. There's a motion in front of us properly second discussion.
>> Councelor Blank. >> Thank you. So I've got the package here. I saw the emails. Um I see that the officer Keno is here. I also see the um uh uh Gina Rizzo, the executive director of the Lawrence Retirement Board is
here. Um, I just have I what I don't have I I read directors uh Rizzo's comments in the email regarding the lack of it's not going to cost the city any money. Uh but I I still have a question regarding that. So uh could I ask Miss
Rizzo to please come before so so welcome director and appreciate you being here. So my my question here is I remember very distinctly having very similar conversation two years ago, three years, I forget the
length of time. >> Um and we did not support it at that time. Uh I think there was funding issues, there was ambiguities regarding it. There's a lot of different things that were coming up. What separates this particular vote from the vote that we took two or three years ago when it was
a much bigger universe of potential employees? >> Sure. So, the retirement board will take a neutral stance in this. Um, you know, as lawmakers, it's up to you. If you decide you want to create a home loan petition for Mr. Pano, it's up to you. Um, we will provide you with the
information that we can. Um so the the what came before you two years ago was very broad. It left um a lot of openings for other people to come in. This is you know they had taken out two other pieces
in this and this this one little petition is just for Mr. Kano. It only affects Mr. Kano. Um we did do a cost study and an analysis through our actuary and um you know she came up with two figures. there's there's a a cost to
Mr. Kano. If the city wants to pick up um the other cost, they can or if Mr. Cono wants to pay for the whole thing. There's, you know, according to her, she's the expert, um they're saying that the approved liability will be zero to the city, you know, and it will just
allow Mr. Kano to purchase um something he's not able to purchase right now. It is um state service but um the MBTA does not allow um people to purchase this. You know, they didn't enter into the retirement system. So, it's not pensionable
service. This law will only allow him up to two years of creditable service. And again, you know, we take a neutral stance on this. Um the way it was written before, it was very broad. would have opened up and left room for anyone with outside service to come into the
city and purchase, you know, time if they had it with a non-chapter 32 um entity. So, this is just specifically for Mr. Aano. Um I spoke with our our attorney, our board attorney. I also spoke with the perrick attorney. So, Perrick is the oversight board for all
of the retirement systems in the Commonwealth. And they said it's not uncommon for cities and towns to do things like this. Um, it's really a matter of what you prefer to do and we will follow, you know, the law that you create. >> Uh, just just say your name and address
for the record, please. >> Oh, my name? Sure. Gina Rizzo. I'm the director of Lawrence Retirement Board. >> And the address for the for the retirement board. >> I Oh, for the retirement board, 354 Mary Street. Lawrence. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> U Thank you. So, thank you. So, so you
said that there was two options here if we wanted to go forward. So that's my question is the two options and my other question is is while this home rule petition believe this home petition is strictly for one individual
>> do we have other individuals no matter where in city service that could say oh I've done something like this and I should be able to get what Mr. Ko is receiving. How many other
how big is that universe? So, I really would have no idea, right? I mean, this, you know, I don't think Mr. Kano created this he created this home rule petition or but I'm sure he found some similar language in another home rule petition. >> I mean, there are entities across the
state that, you know, aren't not too many, but there are um entities that don't um conform to Chapter 32. They're not part of chapter 32. But I I have no idea. I mean, but they would have to do the same process. They would have to come before you. They would have to do a
cost study. They would have to, you know, do the whole like exactly what was done here. >> What is the um how how strong is the retirement system? I we have a choice here. The choice here is we can say it'll be no cost to the city
>> and Mr. Canó has to pick up the entire thing or there's a cost share that the city or the retirement board or the city's got to pick up a portion of it. How strong is the retirement board? We never bored the retirement system. >> What do you mean >> for I mean uh for I mean sometimes I'm hearing these horror stories that we're
underfunded >> and that and that as we go through time we don't have enough retirees and people to be able to pay the pensions as we go forward. So how strong is the retirement? >> I mean we are slated to be fully funded in 2036. We're about 69% funded right
now. Um you know I mean that's about all I can tell you. It's, you know, >> is the if if we go and split this, is is that coming from the retirement board or coming from the city who's going to be paying the the half the $7,200?
>> Sure. So, the city pays an appropriation. Um, it's, you know, it's about 25 million right now every year until 2030. Well, it changes. >> I'm going to go back just to this just to Mr. Cano. So, that's a whole big one. So, it says here, Mr. Cano pays his
portion. The cost will be 9 $9,960 for him and approximately $7,200 for the city. That's the city. That's not to be confused with the town retirement >> board or whatever the retirement >> commission the appropriation on the city. We increase the cost of the appropriation approximately by that
amount. There are no exact figures. Everything changes um every year. I mean, they came up with this because like anyone that's paying into the system, you're funding your own retirement to a degree. >> Yeah. So, our actuary takes, you know, all of his funding. He's funded, you
know, most of his retirement already. This will continue to fund it. It'll add the two years to him. Um, and you know, if if he pays the whole portion, there will be no additional cost according to the actuary for the city. So, the appropriation would just stay status
quo. If you approve this and he paid the whole thing, if not, your appropriation would go up. If you bought the two years, approximately 7,200. >> Okay. Now, are you familiar with state employment and 03s and contractors? Are you familiar with that idea? So, what happens and and maybe there's an
analogous situation in city employment? So, in state employees, there are these they're called 03 consultant/contractors. So, they're going to be paid. They're working every day as a state employee. >> However, they're not a state employee, meaning they're not putting money toward
a pension. Mhm. >> So there are times, for example, that if someone transitions over from a zero an 03 consultant contractor to a regular state employee, at some point, you could
buy back your time as a as an 03 consultant and apply that to your time as a regular for your pension purposes. So my question is, I'm not sure if there's something like that similar or if you're at least knowledgeable about that as to how the Commonwealth deals with something like this. Do they
require when you say we're going to buy back the time, does the employee have to buy all of it or is the Commonwealth pitching in like the state's pitch potentially pitching in some money? >> So, um I know for Lawrence, I can just tell you we have our own bylaws. We
wouldn't allow that time. that wouldn't, you know, we you if you're paid on a 1099 via a W2 from the city, um you will never be able to purchase that time through our board unless somebody came before you and did a home rule petition. State maybe has their own set of rules.
Um if it's time that you know somebody didn't contribute, but it was um chapter 32 service, it could have been they were temporary, it could have been provisional time, it could have been temporary time, um we do allow them to buy back, but the city doesn't pick up any cost of that. person picks up the
entire liability. >> What is before us right now? Did we pick a is there a motion picking one of these or what came out of the committee? >> Favorable recommendation >> didn't say which one. >> No, there is no no options. >> I mean if we can three
>> says favor just uh just answer the question then we go back to councelor plant uh with his questioning and then uh we we open up for another counelors. So, do we have a answer for that specific question? >> Yeah, we didn't choose any, but uh
officer LL officer can know actually stated that he was waiting to pay the full amount, no cost to the city. Yeah. Bingo. Right. >> Can I >> All right. Councelor Llan, do you have any other questions? >> Councilors, any other questions? Give me a second. >> Council President,
>> Councelor Infante, >> thank you. I I do want to say aside from that, it is um if if you look through your documents on the um committee report, it does say on the record um officer a no president willing to pay
full amount of $17,200 for the two years that he's looking to get. a point of information just two things. >> So before we continue uh madame cler please offer us some information when it comes to that uh this uh this matter. I
just wanted to provide a point of information with regard to the um item that's before you council plant raised a good point when he asked like what are you voting on there's a document on the table literally on your desk um it looks like this and it has two yellow highlights in it that's the most recent
version and the two yellow highlights are the most recent edits um he's asking for up to two years because if it takes a while and he's only needs to buy a year and a half he rather than buy the full two years he wants to up to two years and then he's paying the regular
interest. So those two changes are on there. I just want to make sure people know when you ask what you're voting on I believe what you're voting on tonight is this version with the two yellow highlights. >> That's clear. Counselor council you have the floor.
I was just to clarify that it is on the record that um that the ordinance committee report that um he stated uh that he does he is willing to pay the full amount um in this and Gina uh sorry director uh she she already said some of
the things I was going to say and and one comment I was going to say is that this is not uncommon for municipalities um to do. As you know, two years ago, I came before this body to try to introduce this in a broader aspect, but there was um concerns from the city
council pertaining to expense. And I think we can all well, I'm not going to say we I think but at least this counselor feels good about what we have in front of us. Uh particularly because there is no additional cost to the city and officer Kano is is looking to to do
that. And quite frankly, for the future, if there is someone who who is eligible and is willing to do the same thing to pay for their for the full cost of of their of their years, I wouldn't be opposed to it either. That's all I want to say.
>> Council President Council Levy. So we had a officer Ko over here and I know that he want to to talk to us and just let him know what he said to us at the ordinance committee and you know that we supported like the full group. So the
other committee supported his petition officer. >> Good evening honorable counselors. Uh Aelano 94 Maple Street. Uh to reiterate um my my um my petition
uh based on when I went to the ordinance, I am committed to paying the full amount, the city amount as well as mine. And um it is up to two years because I'm not sure how long the process will take. So it may be um after it goes to the state may have less than
a year, it may have a year time that I could purchase back or it could be a year and a half or two. So if I have that opportunity and you allow this, uh I'd appreciate it. Any other counselors?
Um I'm going to pass the gabble and express my opinion about this. Um I going to be on the opposition of this matter for a couple of things, couple of reasons. Um and the reason the one of the the main
reason was because uh when I joined the Mazdot back then 18 years ago uh that was uh one of the topic that uh was discussed during that time. didn't know anything about it. But I mean uh I know that uh people were not happy about uh
situations similar to this one which is a single route for the benefit of one particular person and uh that was around uh the discussion of the employees uh throughout the district that I was serving and uh and essentially uh even
though the city might not have a direct impact but that uh the pension uh compensations uh will be and and essentially even though um we we are
um we are not having a direct impact directly but I mean somebody's somebody going to have to pick up these uh uh these funds and I want to be consistent with the with what I with my experience
um when it comes to pensions in Um, at the end of the day, those are funds that we're going to have to uh um somebody going to have to come up with those funds at the end of the day. Uh I I'm all in favor of uh supporting
our uh employees and I believe that uh the employees have something to give us which is the services and and I and I I truly believe that if if an employees is willing to um stay with us and and um and be able to
provide those services we willing to uh pay for their pension and that's the uh that's the entire situation. Um, with that said, um, I going to be in the opposition of this >> council. Any other question or discussion on this matter?
>> All in favor? >> Uh, no. >> Council Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Council Miguel, >> yes. Council Marmal is noted as absent. Council Infante, >> yes. >> Council Reyes,
>> yes. >> Council Dazario, >> yes. >> Council Lan, >> yes. >> Council um council president, >> no. >> Council vice president, >> yes. >> So >> motion carries. >> Thank you.
>> Um all right, moving on on the agenda. Um item 161 >> council >> council president. >> Thank you. Thank you counselors. >> No problem. >> Thank you.
>> Congratulations. Um item 16126. Madam chair from the ordinance committee. Item 16126 the five star express transportation renewal of the tassel leader license. Uh
we have in here uh officer Ibam Sto was sended to the food council with favor recommendation and I make it as a formal motion. >> There's a motion in front of us properly second discussion councilors three questions that we have in the past. >> Discussion council plan go right ahead. Go ahead.
>> Good evening honorable members of the city council. Honorable Madame Clerk Bernol, Officer S from the Lawrence Police Department, 90 L Street, and I appreciate the opportunity to address you this evening. I'm here to present FiveStars uh Express Transportation for the renewal of their delivery service
license. Five Stars Express has been a valued transportation provider in our city since January 26 of 2011. Their fleet includes seven buses and seven vans, and they currently employ 18 individuals. Each year they diligently
complete the required business packet for the city obtaining all necessary signatures and stamps. I am pleased to report that for this renewal all paperwork, signatures and stamps have been properly submitted. Additionally,
all required background checks and licenses have been issued. Before I conclude, I would like to note that the representative from FiveStars, Miss Milildra Diaz, is present this evening and available to answer any questions the council may have. At this
time, I respectfully request the city council's final approval for their 2026 license renewal. >> Right. Um, any any questions? Council >> President Councelor Rosari, >> thank you to you. Just a comment. Um, and I made a comment at the at the
ordinance committee. I believe that we need to revise whatever is holding some business owners to what uh building owners are not paying to the city. Uh this is a perfect example one business owners that the u occupancy permit was
hold due to the fact that the owner of the building wasn't paying the city what they owe. And it's frequently happening in this in this city. Well, if they owe water, they owe taxes and anything the business owners cannot get the proper documentation that they need. And there's not such a ordinance or
anything. I don't know who actually pursue that. I got a document that I requested and it's briefly that. But I believe they shouldn't be the business owner put in this in this position. They've been coming here for 3 weeks to try to get to renew their license. What throughout the years they've been paying
the taxes. They've been employing people, but they've been punished due to something that we have here in the city that we punish business owners instead of the buildings owners. So we as a body, we need to revise that and see how we can change that because business owners should not be paying by the building owners are not paying the city
and should they shouldn't be put in this position. And that's my comment and we should revise what is there and and and make some changes cuz at least this business will be able was able to go through but some business are going out of business due to the fact that they cannot renew the license because the business owner owe water or taxes and
it's not their fault. Thank you. Um any questions counselors? I hear none. All those in favor please say I. I. >> Any nays? The eyes have it. Ian um 16326.
>> Thank you counselors. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Just wait for >> Give me one second, please. Yeah, you're good. 1631 >> United Healthcare.
>> All right, I got it. Item 16326 is the United Healthcare Care Community Plan Resource Fair at the company Park on Thursday, June 11 from uh 2026 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Uh
Cecilia Fujo United Healthc Care Community Plan was sended to the full council with favor recommendation and I make it as a formal motion. Second. >> There's a motion in front of us properly. Second discussion change you here. So tell us about the
fair. >> Uh it's actually I believe our second time doing it. The previous ones was before CO and we are trying to resume again to do a resource fair um within the um within the area and vicinities
community. We have approximately 3,000 members which we plan to invite at least a thousand of those members and we are anticipating that 10% will attend. Um this is a resource fair for membership but they're also um able to bring a
friend to to to the to the event. We anticipate that we would have approximately 10 to 12 um resource vendors in the area from providers officers uh food pantries, churches and valuable information that they will be able to provide.
>> Any questions counselor? Any questions counselor? I hear no. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Any nays? The eyes have it. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Let's go. Top of the agenda. Public hearing. Madame Clair, please read the notice for item 13226.
Excuse myself. >> All right. >> And I'm also going to excuse myself. >> Are you excusing or recusing? >> I recuse myself. >> Okay. Sorry. >> And excuse myself. Do both.
>> Um, document number 132-26. Notice is hereby given that the Lawrence City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 5th at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 200 Common Street, Lawrence Mass, pursuant to rule two, excuse me, pursued to chapter 2 of the acts of 2023 and in accordance with the
recently revised city council rule 2. This meeting will be hybrid allowing participation both in person and remotely to accommodate participants with health consideration that prevents them from participating in person. To receive access codes for remote participation, please contact the city clerk at eileen.branernal city
oflorence.com or 978-620-3230 or view the meeting on Facebook and YouTube. The purpose of this hearing is to gather testimony, information, and public input concerning the proposed annual action plan for fiscal year 2027 for the city of Lawrence, Mass as
follows. The community development block grant CDBG in the estimated amount of 1 The ad is published should not say the word estimated just for the record. I apologize. In the amount of $1,665 $66,570
in home grant in the amount of $831,58.18. A copy of the proposed FY2027 HUD annual action plan and proposed budgets referenced herein may be examined, viewed, and copied at the office of planning and development 360 Marramac Street, entrance K, unit 270 Lawrence
Mass and the office of the city clerk, room 107 200 Common Street, Lawrence Mass, any business day during normal city hall business hours. Persons wishing to be heard shall be afforded the opportunity. >> Public hearing is now open. and anybody from the public that would choose to
speak. Public hearing is now closed. Uh councilors, what's the motion? >> There's a motion to approve properly second discussion. >> Uh I hear I hear none. All those in favor, please say I >> I
>> uh the eyes have it. Councelor Mark Lan and councelor the Rosario have recent themselves on this vote. Uh uh madame cla please read the notice for item 14226. Congratulations. >> Can you let them know to come back? Can
you let them know? Thank you. >> Document number 142-26 notice. Oh, can we maybe a motion to wave the preamble? >> Motion to wave the motion to wave the preamble. Can I hear a second? >> Properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor say I. >> I.
>> The eyes have it. Madam chair. Madam clerk. Document number 142-26 um be ordained that the city council of the city of Lawrence that the revised ordinances of the city of Lawrence are hereby further amended
by adding the following sub paragraphs to section 2.72.070 070 of the municipal code finance officer. A position established. There is established the position of a finance officer in the inspectional services department be appointed by the mayor. SubV powers and
general and powers and duties generally performs a variety of functions including accounts payable, reconciliation and department budget management and recordkeeping duties. Repairs invoices for payment by the city controller. repairs deposits of accounts receivable and cash receipts by ISD
departments. Management of departments payroll processing creates and tracks purchase orders and contracts. Performs a variety of clerical duties that require significant decision-making ability response to general requests from the public including foyer requests.
Supervision provisions provide significant assistance to the ISD director with oversight of reception office including ISD clerical staff of four subd qualifications. Bachelor's degree in business administration 7 to 10 years
accounting experience preferably in municipal environment in a municipal environment or an equivalent combination of education and experience. must be familiar with Munis systems and citizen serve system software experience in contract management desirable position
requires strong interpersonal skills ability to manage many tasks attention to detail ability to meet deadlines and knowledge of general office equipment and software and sub e salary and benefits the finance officers are grade 21 which is 66,885
through 76,86284 in the SEIU local supervisor's union and shall be entitled to receive all benefits provided to union employees regularly employed in the administrative services of the city. Persons wishing to be heard shall be afforded the opportunity. >> Councelor I mean
public hearing is now open. Anybody from the public that wishes to speak? Public hearing is now closed. Councilors, what's the motion? >> Motion to approve. >> There's a motion to approve. >> Second >> properly second. >> Discussion. >> Discussion. Councelor Fante.
>> Thank you. Council President Theo, I would like to know a little bit about the discussion that occurred in the ordinance committee. Uh what will first why do we need this position? Um and secondly, so far my my issue with this is section
C of the of the ordinance the supervision provides significant assistance to the ISD director with oversight of reception off office including ISD clerical staff of four. we about a year ago or so. I'm looking at
you because I understand you're in the city, you know, but just um a year a year and a half ago. I don't quite remember the exact timeline, but this body approved a position of a
deputy director for that ISD department. So now why why is this department now needing help with supervision when they have two directors and plus an overall director because ISD is under the office of planning and development. So I I'm
not understanding the whole dynamic here. So if anyone has some information on that that would be helpful. >> Okay. First Tim Hooton city attorney. And first I want to apologize because of the people you've had here tonight. I think my GPA just brought everybody down because I did not make over a 4.0.
Sorry. Um, but secondly, uh, what they're talking about is a financial supervision. In other words, so that everybody that gets monies in, they would have this particular person, not supervision of what your job is. This is not a boss position. This is a position of I'm collecting all the money. I'm seeing where the receipts are coming in.
I have four people that also accept the money. They have to respond to me because I'm creating the charts. I'm doing the reports, etc. So, it's not what you think that position is a managerial position of people. This is not a managerial position. It's a supervisory as far as anything that
involves money. >> Can we um Is it an order to amend this ordinance to include specific language to ensure that there is no future confusion as to what the supervision? >> By all means, u by all means that's an
order. There is an order an a motion to approve right now. And if you want to uh provide changes to the uh to the ordinance, this is in order. >> Um thank you. Can I council president? I'm I'm going to really
>> looking for the qualifications >> um >> or the uh the duties. >> I'm looking I'm looking at C supervision >> supervision. I'm going to release the floor to have a minute to find out.
>> Any other any other uh questions? Council LA, >> I'm going to ask you an unfair question. I don't expect you to have an answer. Uh with this job, we have 9,000 unlawful units throughout the city. According to
Mayor Depia, how is this going to help this position? >> How's it going to help? I I don't think it will. >> I don't expect an answer, but go ahead, try. >> I I don't think it will. I think this this is strictly on collecting of fines and I mean maybe if these people are getting fined it's they're responsible
for collecting make sure they're paid but they they would not be involved in that whatsoever. This is you know any any tickets that are not tickets but any fees that are paid for permits etc that make sure that they're appropriately collected make sure they're
appropriately paid. So I, you know, if someone isn't applying for a permit for and has an illegal appointment, obviously this person would have no say in it whatsoever. >> So we're we're going to re I'm going to be very harsh. We're going to rearrange the deck chairs here. We're going to get this thing set up, but the real problems facing that department are not going to
be dealt with. Maybe I think the real problem is dealing with unlawful apartments and doing what we have to do. in in the light in the new era, the dawning era of ADUs, the a accessory dwelling units, this fantastic new dawn that we're facing
where more and more units are being throughout the entire city. I want to know what's going on with unlawful units and we're going to be talking about this. That's fine. Um, we got to deal with it. So, we're going to deal with it. I can't wait to hear what this motion is going to be for this amendment. I got some thoughts on that, too. Thank you,
>> counelor. Any other any other questions? any other potential changes and going back to you um councelor Lfante. >> Thank you. All right. I have um that was quick. So something along the lines provide significant assistance to the
ISD director with oversight of and I was writing financial receivables. You mentioned that they received money financial receivables of reception office including ISD clerical staff of four.
>> I have no problem with that. I understand >> I would she just want to be specific as of what the position is going to be. So >> how about fiscal management? >> Fiscal management oversight of fiscal management of Okay. So supervision
provides significant assistance to the ISD director with oversight of fiscal management of reception office including ISD clerical staff of four. >> Yes, >> that's my friendly amendment. >> That's a friendly amendment was out of
motion. >> You have the motion is from councelor um Selena Reyes seconded by councelor G. >> Councelor Reyes, do you accept the friendly amendment? It's under section C of their uh of their ordinance
and uh it read as follows. >> That's here. So just so this doesn't say anything specific about financial stuff. So just to add um provide significant assistance to the ISD director with fiscal
management oversight of reception office including ISD clerical staff of four. All right. The the motion has been um modified. >> Further discussion. >> Uh councel >> based on the amendment. So we're offered an amendment. I I have no problem with
the amendment. I think that's fine. But but but I'm not full hearty enough to think that just because we wrote this down, it's going to happen because I've seen what happens in that department. And I know there's people who are supposed to be working on that floor who are not working on that floor. So you can write all the great words we want on
that piece of paper to say what we are expecting. And I have no expectation that's going to take place. But let's give it a good ch college try. Let's see what we can get from it. Maybe it'll work. I have no idea. But I'm I'm supporting it. Let's see if it works. But I'm just I'm under no illusions that it's going to. Thank you,
>> Council President. >> Council Fant. >> Thank you. I agree with my colleague Council the Plant, not just within that office department. We see it across uh municipal departments where we we do take times to create these laws and more
often than not the language or the law is not being followed. However, then we come when it does come before the city council, then we then we um where we're in front of a situation where then we ask, well, why wasn't this part of the ordinance? So, now we have to modify the
ordinance. So, it's best do this now. Thank you for the support. I appreciate that. and hopefully uh we can figure it out. But councelor the plan is there do you have a suggestion to straighten this because I I don't know what the answer could be or
>> to my my good friend and colleague District E uh I I I don't have a suggestion on how to make it better only because um I just I'm fairly jaded at this point with respect to how uh things are developing and I just I I it's it's
sad for me to say that but I am um um I'm hope always hopeful because no one likes to have a Debbie Downer. We all want to be positive and see the good things happen and I do as well. But having seen what's going on, it it just council >> I just don't I just I just have nothing
I can do to add. Thanks for asking though. >> Thank you. >> Any other any other any other questions, counselor? Any other questions? >> All right, I hear no other questions. U I have one more question. >> Okay, councel Infante. >> Thank you. Um I know it says grade 20
for the salary. Does anyone have the >> grade 21? >> Grade 21. What is >> grade 20? It says here >> it says 21. >> Salaries and benefit. The finance offices a grade 20. >> It says grade 20. Yeah. >> 20. >> Where do you see this? >> Okay. That I'm looking at the ordinance
and it says 20 and that's what we approve. >> I'm just looking at the draft and it has 21 with. So what happened at the um at the committee meeting the money was not in there and they asked that I put it in there. I I put the grade the grade was
incorrect. It was grade 21 with the salary. It's actually 668.885 to 76 682. >> The the publication the publication on the newspaper was grade 21. The ordinance
this document. >> You see it says grade 20. >> I think >> and that was what the ordinance committee discussed. I think you and I council president uh since I still have four um we were looking at the same page which is this one. >> Yes.
>> But I see it now. My question was what's the what's the what's the the numeric amount but it is in the ordinance. So my questions answered >> in the actual ordinance language that was >> because it was not when I was before the committee and I added that before I came here.
>> Thank you. >> All right. It was a modification at the committee level and now is a grade 21. >> Yes. The salaries as between 66,885 to 76,682. >> Yes. >> And it's a union position based on the
SEIU local supervisors units. >> Correct. >> U any other questions coun uh it is important to recognize uh Tim that you have a bachelor's degree with 7 to 10 years of experience. How you going
to warranty? How you going to make sure that that happen? >> That would be the when the position gets filled when it's posted. Obviously, that's up to personnel to make sure the people have the qualifications. >> Again, I got you. I I know that council
you understand that this is not my position. I I I'm just here because the >> No, but you provided the answer. >> Yeah. >> It is It is not within your department. I I we understand. Any other questions, counselors? I hear no other questions. All those in favor, please say I. I.
>> Any nays? Uh motion carries. >> Thank you very much, Council. >> All right. Uh top of the agenda. Um matters public matter pending public hearing. There is a list of it. Uh communication from the
mayor, city official, city of Chenny. There is none. Um we finish with the budget and finance committee, the housing committee. There is no report. Ordinance committee that is is is finished. Personal committee. There is no report. Uh public safety and emergency management committee. There is no report. Committee of of the hall.
There is no rep. All business is done. Uh councilors any uh table matters that we want to discuss? >> Council president. >> Uh councel infant. We actually we have two one two we have three table matters
that we we um >> yeah so could I make a mo motion to withdraw from table matters items 66-26 87-26 and 88-26 and also
um where is it um item um item 154-26 No, 154. We approve it. >> I'm sorry. So, >> so the previous two items, uh, can I can I get a motion to unt and also to withdraw. >> Uh, motion to untable and withdraw.
>> Second, >> properly second. Discussion. I hear none. All those in favor, please say I. >> Any nays? >> The eyes have it. Any other items from the table matters? All right, we go back. We got top of the agenda. New business.
Item 17226, the appointment of Christopher Berkeley to the municipal hearings as a municipal hearings officer. Uh that's going to the personnel committee. Item 17326 that is in reference to item 23625
reauthorization uh of that uh um uh value cemetery uh revolving funds accounts expenditure limit 95,000 that's going to the bon finance committee item 17426 uh reauthorization of council on agent
revolving funds account um up to expenditure limit 150,000 000 that's going to the uh banana finance committee. Item 175 17526 reauthorization uh recreation of uh recreation and park self-supporting
services revolving account. Uh that's going to that um budget finance committee. Item 17626 pre-authorization of the veteran memorial stadium revolving account uh with the expenditure limit of $100,000.
That's going to that ban finance committee. Item 17726 reauthorization of a liberty program revolving fund accounts um expenditure limit $50,000. That's going to the B and finance committee. Item 1786,
reauthorization of PE assess uh and cable related funds revolving fund account um appropriation of $350,000 that's going to the banana finance committee. Item 17926 reauthorization of
that PE assets cable related funds account revolving fund account for the amount appropriation for the amount of $100,000 that's going to the bon finance committee item 18026 authorization of DPW recycling revolving funds account
expenditure limit $300,000 that's going to the um finance committee item 18126 transfer of front litigation re revenues $1 million and free cash $1 million to legal services uh $450,000
uh to court judgment accounts uh for the amount of 1 million uh 550,000 that's going to the ban finance committee item 18226 approval of uh bond authorizations for the amount of 10
million uh 149,973 uh from April administration to build. Um that's going to the budget and finance committee item 18326 transfer of 1 million7
uh 282,286 uh from the retainers earning um 293590 to uh 2943105650 to fund GLSD uh fiscal year 2026.
Uh that's going to their bay finance committee item 18426 authorization to spend uh 10,933 and 136 13 cents from uh for students award of fire education safe program and
4,168 and 38 cents uh for senior safe program for fiscal year 2026 that's going to the bay finance committee item 18526 a transfer of 110,000 from uh ARPA free
cashache uh for the development of economic development master plan um that's going to the boy and finance committee item 18626 transfer of uh 10.8
8 uh million from free cash uh reserve uh 03590 to various accounts that's going to the banana finance committee. Item 186 uh 186uh 26 request um investigation
from the unclaimed properties and uh city of Lawrence listed of missing money.com that's going to budget >> budget and finance committee item 1862
request to vote uh to opt in the property assess uh clean energy base program. That's going to ordinance committee. Item 18926, amend ordinance uh 0116150,
municipal hearings officer. That's going to the personnel committee. >> Oh, that's going to the ordinance committee. Item 190 1926 request a sidewalk assess for uh
products displayed uh 276 broad rate uh that's going to the um ordinance committee item 19126 Len house Lawrence housing authority uh a family selfsufficient program
>> let's send it to housing committee. Item 1922, uh, 14143 Hanker Street, review of sale conditions. That's going to housing committee. Uh, item 18326, no parking area, 1414
LE Avenue. That's going to the uh to the ordinance committee. Item 1942, 20-minute parking, 67 East Haver Street. Uh, that's going to ordinance committee. 19526 one way uh on Bourne Street. Uh request traffic study.
That's going to ordinance committee. Item 1962 uh Fulton Street. Uh that's going to ordinance committee. 1972 uh Mechanic Street. Ordinance committee. Uh 1982 resident parking on at um Oakut
A. Uh ordinance committee. 1992 residential park in Steam Avenue between uh Lawrence Street and Saratoga Street. That's going to ordinance committee island 236 evang evangelist outreach 2026 company on
common June June 7 2026 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. That's going to ordinance committee item 10 uh 201126 rescuing the spirit event uh added born park July 18 2026 uh from
12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. That's going to the ordinance committee. Island 2022 26 Condraendo Futuro Aventto Familiar 2026 at Del Corner Park July 20 July 24th from 2 PM to 6 pm and July 25th from
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. That's going to the ordinance committee item 20326 G uh get to know your church s U companion common um May 23rd 2026
from 5:00 p.m. from 2 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. That's going to the ordinance committee. Item 20426, reappoint of Danielle Foley uh to the Lawrence Municipal Apore U. That's going to that
um personal committee. Item 2056, appointment of Carmen Garcia Kint to the Lawrence Municipal Apore Commission. That's going to that personal committee. The rest the rest of this item has been um uh already uh take care of by this
council tonight. So committee meeting oh before we go to the committee meetings counselors uh we are uh we are working with the internship program and uh you are going to be receiving information or communication related to this program.
Um if you uh they already you some of some of you already have if not all. Um but the intent of this internship program is to um pass those u um knowledge that we already have and also working with that uh with the needs of
the council when it comes to a specific project that that we're going to have in the future. Counselors any uh committee meetings at this point? >> Next Tuesday. So, ordinance next Tuesday, >> which is um >> what what day?
>> The 12th at 7 p.m. >> May 12 7 p.m. Uh any uh budget and finance committee? >> Budget and finance May 13th at 700 p.m. >> So, Wednesday? Yeah.
>> 7 p.m. >> Um, housing committee >> housing council. We have two items. >> Yeah, we have um counselors of the housing committee.
>> Um, can we do Thursday? >> Would you want to do it before budget findings like six o'clock on Wednesday? >> Wednesday at 600. Wednesday at 6. Okay. >> All right. Wednesday, 6 p.m.
>> And then personnel is going to be Monday the 11th at 700 p.m. >> Any other committee meetings? >> No. But council president, one more thing on the um internship program counselors. I earlier when I when I
called regarding the the internship program, I'm going to ask if you can provide me your ideas and feedback before the end of the week. That would be great. Um I would like to submit a draft of the posting to HR um before end
of day Friday if possible. >> Any other any other business council to adjourn? >> There's a motion to adjourn. Second properly second discussion. I hear none. All those in favor. There's it motion to pass 10.
Good job.